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Fatigue, boredom, and lonliness are any road warrior's constant companions. Occasionally, retail therapy can help perk up my mood. By that I mean satisfaction derived from interacting with an eager sales clerk, thumbing through a well-designed catalogue, or surfing a gewgaw-loaded website. Sometimes only the fresh crinkle of a new credit card can satiate the curiosity, the wanderlust … the inclination to succumb to the siren's song of the total shopping experience.
Business travelers who have spent many a layover morning or afternoon killing time window shopping are intimately acquainted with the vast numbers of peddlers of competing wares that line the walls of airport shops. Wares, which, I might add, are of dubious value. Mind you, the peddler who years ago invented those weirdly crescent-shaped neck pillows is right now probably killing time playing polo at his Palm Beach estate. That supposition must be what is animating so many other entrepreneurs to strike it rich by marketing noise-cancelling headphones or All-In-One phone chargers or whatever.
If you've been to Heathrow Airport lately you're well aware that the luxury goods and fashion industries which have taken root in Terminal 1 are busily sprawling outward, like dandelion weeds. Even in today's business climate these purveyors seem to be doing a brisk business selling not the flagship products of their line, but tony, impulse-driven affectations like wallets and cufflinks and scarves (looking at you, Burberry.) It's clearly working well. I imagine their best customers are guilt-ridden husbands buying apology gifts for their home-alone work widows; or maybe it's ladies who are so road-weary as to let their budget guard down just long enough to be seduced by the Bally shop only steps away. Psychographically, there isn't anything quite like the business traveler. S/he is the perfect captive audience.
In terms of expensively useless — or uselessly expensive — if not outright odd products, I won't dwell on the classic SkyMall catalogue. The jokes tell themselves. The longevity of this retail inflight phenomenon, however, speaks volumes — since its main avenue for reaching its audience is via airliner seatback pockets.
Since lots of things become hailed as the "next generation" of something-or-other for people on the go, I thought it might be amusing to review some of the ones, which, when you see them in action, just make you laugh. Clearly, these gadgets satisfy a unarticulated but fundamental urge. These retailers have obviously tapped into what George Bailey's father said about it being "…deep in the race for a man to want his own roof, walls, and fireplace." It must work the same for the neck pouch/bib that is designed to hoard passport, ID, cash, and boarding passes. I mean, you'd have to have an It's a Wonderful Life -like inspiration to come up with the khaki-colored concept that celebrates the glories of hands-free travel. After all, if you feel two hands are not enough to manage your passport, your problems extend far beyond being stuck with a long layover.
Then there is the passport holder. This notion is actually a Trojan Horse for designer brands like Mont Blanc and Louis Vuitton to realize a nice margin on scrap material from their workshops. It is aimed at the traveler who feels compelled to seek out ever-more-specialized ways to align his personal brand with luxury labels, yet is sufficiently vague on the use of a passport to think it requires a "holder."
Finally, there is the e-reader. Oh, the humanity! Destined to haunt the museum that somewhere must collect samples of products that didn't quite make it, like the infamous laserdisc, the e-reader is an example of a fair-to-middling idea, which, decently executed and enjoyed by a certain select few, doesn't have the critical mass to survive. One wonders how many more faux Peter Baileys of the world are busily brainstorming — and busily mistaking — e-readers for things that actually satisfy a fundamental urge. Or an actual business travel need.
Road Warrior • Miami • www.us.amadeus.com


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NMBR's Long-term BFGoodrich KO2 Review: 15,000 Mile Preview
BFGoodrich Tires 37x12.50R17 KO2 after six months and 15,000 miles beneath the NMBR Rubicon. Over half the miles logged on these tires have been on dirt, aired down between 11 and 14PSI. Tread depth is currently a bit over 12/32nds; the tires measured a bit under 15/32nds when new. No punctures, no failures. Stay tuned to www.newmexicobackroads.com for the 15,000-mile/6-month (midpoint) update in the yearlong KO2 review series. Wheels: American Expedition Vehicles 17" x 8.5"JK Salta in Black (dust not included).

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the two best feelings a kid can have is that immediate king of the world, I've got this life thing all figured out of learning how to skip a stone across a body of water (the other is the freedom of learning of how to ride a bike, I think). But that smug satisfaction of throwing rocks that jump like 2-4 times would be crushed if you knew the world record for skipping stones was 88. 88!
I mean. What. That's unfathomable. How is that physically possible? What type of rock is it? What's the salinity of the water? Can this be considered a superpower? Is this legal? Is there a special grip involved? How long do you have to practice to do this?


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Published August 24, 2015 in category: Uncategorized with tags: energy efficient water heater, los angeles water bill, los angeles water conservation, los angeles water heater, los angeles water heater repair, tankless water heater, tankless water heater installation, water heater installation, water heater replacement.
We've mentioned before about the advantages of tankless water heaters when it comes to energy efficiency and the environment. But just how much more efficient are tankless water heaters?
A few years ago the Chicago Tribune published an article on tankless water heaters and found that efficiency was the best quality. (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-02-12/classified/ct-home-0212-water-heater-chomes-20100210_1_tankless-water-heater-hot-water)
One of the conveniences is that a tankless heater doesn't operate or "chug away" in the middle of the night. A tankless unit is only in operation when you're using the actual appliance or bath. It produces hot water only when needed, meaning you don't have water sitting idle in a tank that's using energy to heat it up, 24/7.
The article cites the U.S. Department of Energy as saying that a tankless water heater reduces energy use by 10 to 15 percent and uses less fuel to operate. THE DOE also said that the average annual cost of operating a tankless water heater is $272, compared to a storage water heater at $388.
You have two options as far as how you choose to power your tankless water heater, gas or electricity. Electric tankless heaters are 99 percent efficient, but they do not qualify for an Energy Star rating or rebates. Also, in some older homes, a new tankless water heater may require upgraded wiring. Gas-powered tankless heaters are about 60 percent efficient, but, most brands do qualify for a $300 federal rebate and some states offer rebates as well.
The bottom line is that if you're wanting to save money on your utility bills and be more environmentally responsible, a residential or business tankless water heater installation or water heater replacement may be just what you need. We install and service several brands of heaters in the San Fernando Valley, so call or email us today for more information.


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Aging is an issue worldwide. Dorine Ré, Global Economic Transformation & Technology (GETT) student, took part in the Silver Awards, a student challenge to help build solutions to some problems facing the elderly now and in the future. Her team ranked third.
Written on 11 December 2019.
I decided to participate in the Silver Awards because of my taste for creation and also because my previous experiences working on projects (like the hackathon or longer ones) were all very enjoyable moments of stimulation and exchange of ideas. I also feel concerned about the theme of aging, a major issue for the future of our society.
Furthermore, the Silver Awards Challenge was an opportunity to learn more by meeting people who work in this field and coming to realise that innovation is crucial.
The theme of the project on which my team chose to work was "Digital Harassment" (the other three were "Connected Health", "Family Caregivers" and "Retirement Preparation"). Digital harassment includes many issues related to the technological isolation of elderly people (spamming, untimely calls, dematerialisation of procedures). It was the latter aspect that interested us the most.
I was in a team of 4 students, with Max Boudou and Youri Spiler, both M1 students at ESME Sudria (engineering school) and Emma Theault, Master's student in Management of Institutions and Services for the elderly at Infa and UPEC.
The project started in the evening of November 15th and ended at 5 pm the next day.
As in every project of this type, the phase following the research is the most exciting one for me. It is the particular phase where a proble
m speaks to all of us and the solution begins to emerge. Right from the start, our group was on the same page, so it was even more pleasant! Our backgrounds and personalities proved to be very complementary, so our ideas also matched. I also enjoyed meeting the Silver Valley workers - often unseen, who actively participate in the well-being of seniors.
During a hackathon, you shouldn't try to imagine a "magic wand" solution. You have to give up certain aspects in order to focus on the main issue. To achieve this, it is necessary to know how to communicate your arguments in an adapted, clear and, synthetic way. It is also necessary to be able to quickly visualise your goal to avoid getting lost because time is limited. In addition, since the aim is to create a business, we had to take into account the technical, financial and marketing aspects of our solution. It is, therefore, necessary to capitalise on everyone's skills and knowledge.
Also, it is necessary to know how to convince the jury, whose members have different backgrounds and therefore, know how to offer a solution that will cover all their areas of expertise.
Above all, empathy is important.
The solution we considered is in the form of a virtual assistant (voice and written). This 3rd place confirmed that our ambitious project could be very useful, but above all, convinced the members of the jury, who were elderly and people working in the Silver Economy field.
The challenge is also a window of opportunities for us with partners from the publishing industry. Many of them promised to help us if we decided to develop our project. Others simply contacted us to find out more about our project afterward.
All these positive outcomes reinforce our strong belief that our solution can have an impact.
The theme of this hackathon is totally in line with the objectives of the GETT, which is to be opened to future issues. I picked the digital theme, because it is one of the areas that interests me the most and, for which I had chosen the GETT.
Since my teammates did not attend business schools, I was able to discover how the programme helps us make decisions easily and move forward in an entrepreneurial project smoothly, without being afraid of the unexpected.
It's something very valuable because the whole group was reassured to have a profile like mine in the team. We all focused on our own strengths.
In addition, the virtual assistant we imagined fits perfectly within the framework of the programme. Since it requires a long development, the very advanced knowledge of my two engineering schoolmates in this field will be very useful for me in the future.
We are still working on this project outside school hours. We are all extremely motivated to take it further than these two days.
I am therefore very grateful for this opportunity that I have benefited from through the GETT programme!
Related resources:
Meet Dahlia Hawili, MIM GETT student
Meet Pratik Jain, MiM GETT student
Meet Hannah Bismuth, GETT student
Meet Johannes Engelhardt, GETT Alumnus
Meet Ludovic Cailluet, MiM GETT programme director
EDHEC and Ecole 42 become partners
Meet Carola Andrea Limone, MiM GETT


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Have you been searching for used car dealerships near me? Are you looking to purchase a pre-owned Hyundai? If so, you'll be excited to hear about Team Hyundai. We're local to the Lexington Park, St. Mary's County, Mechanicsville, and other areas in southwestern Maryland.
In fact, we're the go-to for many local drivers looking for used cars and automotive service. To learn more about what we can do for drivers like you, check out the links on this page to find your service area. Or, keep reading for a brief overview of our services.
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At our dealership, we're proud to offer a large selection of used cars and certified pre-owned Hyundai models with the specs you need to get around town.
The Hyundai Sonata, for example, is a favorite sedan for commuters, while campers and beach-goers tend to prefer an SUV like the Hyundai Tucson.
Whatever your lifestyle, we have a model to match it. Feel free to work closely with a member of our sales team to determine the right used car for you. Get started by browsing our full inventory of used cars online.
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When you find a used car you love and are excited to drive it home, take a quick pit-stop at the finance center at our dealership and speak with one of our experienced advisors. They'll work with you to come up with loan terms that fit your needs.
When you're ready to go, they'll reach out to their network of local lenders to help you secure an auto loan rate you love. Streamline this process by completing our online finance application.
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If you're happy with your used car purchase, you'll probably want to keep your vehicle around for a while. To do that, we recommend staying up-to-date on your routine automotive service needs.
To help you out, we have a state-of-the-art service center on-site. We also have a team of factory-trained technicians who are dedicated to providing local drivers with high-quality automotive service, including:
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When you're due for service, use our convenient scheduling portal to make your appointment with the service center at our used car dealership near you.
Your Resource for Used Car Dealerships near Me
At Team Hyundai, we hope to be the answer to your question, "where are there used car dealerships near me?" Whether you want a pre-owned Hyundai or some other make and model near St. Mary's County, Lexington Park, or Mechanicsville, we're here to help. Contact us to start your used car search today!


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - The government's bailout of the financial system is expected to cost $89 billion, much lower than earlier projections, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing Treasury Department officials.
The Journal also said that Treasury officials were looking into ways to disentangle the government from its nearly 80 percent stake in American International Group Inc AIG.N.
The officials are hopeful that the bailed-out insurer could be on its own within a year, the paper said.
Last month, Reuters reported that the government was likely to follow an exit strategy similar to what it had used with Citigroup Inc C.N to untangle itself from AIG.
In April last year, U.S. congressional budget analysts had estimated the net cost to taxpayers for the government's financial rescue program to be $356 billion.
The $89 billion estimate is also 42 percent less than the savings-and-loan crisis, the paper said.
The figure, however, does not include losses at Fannie Mae FNM.N and Freddie Mac FRE.N, which are projected to be $370 billion through 2020, the Journal said.
The officials see a profit of $8 billion from the Treasury's investment of $245 billion in banks, the paper said.
A Treasury official did not have immediate comment.
Reporting by Paritosh Bansal; Editing by Diane Craft
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Google Chrome browser is totally affected to malware's/viruses and downloading logs, sending data and doing hidden services, and main problem is popups ?
Remove Virus to Google Chrome
Virus not affecting to only browser.
They also affecting to our mobile/PC and so many things. but sometime you have saw.
Whenever you open google chrome then, A pop-up are open automatically. and some times your chrome browser doesn't working getting error and "aw snap" and also hanging your browser and desktop too.
1 Method: Ad Blocker
You are totally frustrated to pop-ups, auto tab and auto downloading, and you are not able to remove that to your browser. ad-blocker can block all kind of malicious activities which affecting to your pc and browser. and it can also block Youtube video ads.
Download Ad Blocker For Chrome
Just visit in given link and install it into your google chrome and activate it.
2. Method: Clean Google Chrome Browser Virus
This is possible only in PC and it is very easy. google will find all affecting malicious viruses to your browser and it will remove all of them in just few minutes.
- Fast Speed
- Fast Downloading
- Virus Free
- Remove virus to google chrome
Follow these process to clean up your browser's malware/virus
1. Open google chrome
2. Go to settings
click on three dots from at the top.
3. Open advance settings
Go below and click on "advance"
4. Go Below in Last section > reset and clean up
Remove Virus to Google Chrome
5. Find and remove harmful software
Now it will take 3-4 minutes to check all malicious files and it will clean them.
3. Method: Malware Bytes
Malware bytes is free and paid both version is available.
it can block all pop-ups and also it will remove all malware's to your PC,.
this one is best tool to keep secure your data and PC. you have need to install it in your PC only and start scanning.
- Anti-malware
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Download Malware Bytes
- Open Malware Bytes
start scanning your PC it will cover everything all browsers and everything.
Quarantine malware's
Remove Virus to Google Chrome
More posts:
- How To Secure/Protect Website To Hackers And DDOS
- How To Secure Instagram Account To Hackers (Update 2018)
Don't forget to share this post


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The ability to state what you want to say concisely — I mean only once, without much superfluous information or redundancy, like not doubling what you already said, just only saying what you want to say once and then shut up without giving a host of detailed examples, is a skill not practiced by many. 🙂
As you probably just experienced when reading this first sentence, too much information leaves the listener impatient. They start thinking about other things, which gives the speaker the impression that they are not being listened to, which in turn encourages them to say what they have just said again. And voilà we have a vicious cycle of infinite boredom and lost productivity.
There are two solutions to this problem.
Work on your own skill
In coaching and team coaching, the skill of summarizing concisely what your clients have said and reflecting back the important bits can be very helpful. So, if you find yourself to lean toward the meandering side of communication, how do you learn to focus on a few, clear words?
One way of practicing is going to our YouTube Playlists of recorded coaching conversations (www.youtube.com/solutionsacademy) and select a recording. Play the video, listen closely to what the client says and stop the video after each contribution of the client. Pause and think and then write down or speak aloud your most concise version of what you would say back. This way, you learn how to use yours and everybody else's time wisely.
Use that skill in meetings to help others focus
Once you have mastered the skill of concisely summarizing of what is important to clients, you can start using it in meetings. Here is an example:
|I think we should consider, maybe, well, I've been thinking about you know, I think what we should really do is think about when we can meet next year. In my last team I always thought it was a good idea to set up dates in advance and if we could just maybe all take our calendars and you know what I experienced previously was that if we get clarity on…
|Thanks, Cindy. Brilliant idea. Clarity on dates next year is very important. Can we all get out our calendars and check?
|Yeah, that's what I meant!
|It's a great idea!
Here is another case:
|I really think we should use rubber duckies as our next marketing giveaway. They are so cute and everybody loves them. We can also have them in our company colors!
|I really want to second what Ernie said here. Rubber duckies are the best thing west of the Mississippi. My niece really loves rubber duckies and I don't think there is anybody who doesn't love them! And just imagine how great they would be in our company colors, I really like that idea!
|Yup, Ernie and Bert, brilliant — so we are looking for something cute and well-liked that we can brand in our colors.
|Yeah, that's what I meant!
|Okay what other possibilities do we have that would serve the same purpose?
The additional advantage of paying attention to the important words is that you have something to focus on — you don't give the impression of being bored. You are interested and constructive and using your coaching skills for everybody's benefit.
To experiment even more with these skills, join us at our free coaching meet up an exchange:
To register click here:
>>> https://www.solutionsacademy.com/registration/ <<<
Looking forward to seeing you!


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Witness says gorilla was 'trying to protect that child'
Witness describes Saturday incident at Cincinnati Zoo
Brittany Nicely was among the witnesses to Saturday's incident at the Cincinnati Zoo.
A 3-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure after climbing over a 3-foot barrier and falling around 15 feet into a moat which surrounds the gorilla's habitat. Video shows Harambe, a 17-year-old male lowland gorilla, drag the child through the water.
Harambe was eventually shot dead by zoo employees, a decision the zoo stands behind.
Nicely said she saw the young boy make his way across the barrier.
"(I saw him) just out of the corner of my eye," she said. "I saw him. I tried (to stop him), but I wasn't fast enough."
The child crawled over a barrier, crawled through bushes and fell into the gorilla's enclosure, which is surrounded by a moat filled with 1.5 feet of water.
"Before I could reach for him or grab him, he was already in the water," Nicely said. "He jumped. He didn't fall … He wanted to be in the water. He was going all in."
Nicely said Harambe seemed to act affectionately toward the young boy.
"He was trying to protect that child," she said. "I don't feel like he wanted to harm him. He was in there for 10 minutes. So you'd think if he did want to, that would've already happened."
The zoo's Dangerous Animal Response Team shot the gorilla dead. Zoo director Thane Maynard stood behind their actions, saying Monday tranquilizing the gorilla was not an option.
"This child was being dragged around. His head was banging on concrete," Maynard said. "This was not a gentle thing. The child was at risk."
Nicely said zoo employees escorted guests out prior to shooting, but said her children still heard it.
"(It was a) sad, sad day," Nicely said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved - the parents of the child, the Cincinnati Zoo and the other gorillas that lived with him. Just very sad."


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Polk County Home Prices Still on the Rise
Median sale price of $125,000 was up 20.2% on an annual basis.
LAKELAND | Polk County home prices kept rising in July.
The county's median sale price of $125,000 was up 20.2 percent on an annual basis, according to the Florida Realtors association.
Realtor groups in Polk recorded 537 existing homes sold last month, increasing 22.3 percent from 439 homes the year before. July's total was up from 512 homes sold in June.
Statewide, existing home sales climbed 20.9 percent from July 2012. Florida's median sale price was $177,500, for an annual gain of 18.7 percent.
The state had a five-month supply of unsold homes in July, indicating market conditions that slightly favor home sellers. Economists say a six-month supply of homes is considered the norm in a balanced market.
"New listings have been up, year over year, for all of 2013. This suggests that sellers are more eager to place their homes on the market," said John Tuccillo, economist for the Florida Realtors organization. "In addition, the months' supply of inventory numbers have remained fairly static for the past three months, suggesting we may be reaching the bottom of the inventory decline."
In Polk, Lakeland recorded 278 homes sold in July, up 20.3 percent from last year. East Polk sales increased 22.8 percent on an annual basis, to 232 homes. Lake Wales had 11 homes sold in July, three fewer than last year. There were 15 homes sold in Bartow, compared with five the year prior.
The figures reflect transactions by local Realtor associations.
U.S. existing homes sales were up 17.2 percent from July 2012.
The national median increased 13.7 percent to $213,500.
"Mortgage interest rates are at the highest level in two years, pushing some buyers off the sidelines," said Lawrence Yun, economist for the National Association of Realtors.
"Although housing affordability conditions will become less attractive, jobs are being added to the economy, and mortgage underwriting standards should normalize over time from current stringent conditions as default rates fall."
[ Kyle Kennedy can be reached at email@example.com or 863-802-7584. ]


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Thursday, February 23, 2012
One Year On
People have an instinct to leave flowers in a place where something terrible has happened, by the roadside where there was an accident, in front of a building where someone was shot. It's not like bringing flowers to a grave where the body has been laid to rest. These flowers are not the same. Someone dies a horrible death, and suddenly the bouquets appear. It's a desperate instinct to leave a mark of innocence on a violent wound, to mark the place where that last twitching nerve of innocence was stilled. ..
Flowers were the very first thing we needed. Before bread. And long before words.
--Anne Michaels in "Winter Vault"
Yesterday as part of the commemorations of the earthquake anniversary, flowers were cast into the city's rivers, and placed in all the road cones around the city (and we have a LOT of road cones, with all the ongoing repairs to underground drainage).
My daughter's comments on the first anniversary of the quake are here.
Posted by Catherine at 10:58 pm
Labels: Christchurch, earthquake
3 comments:
- Kay Cooke said...
What a beautiful post Catherine. The quote is lovely and your daughter's words wonderfully written. Thank you.
- 12:24 pm
- Melissa Green said...
Dear Catherine, the Anne Michael's quote is profound. My thoughts have been with you all throughout this year--impossible to believe the suffering has gone on so long and been so terrible.
- 10:42 am
- Anonymous said...
Hello Catherine,
Thanks to you and your daughter for sharing and posting those comments.
And the flower photos.
re the flowers...I think it's also a need for colour and brightness. I went through a stage of wanting to splash paint around in a big way!
- 11:40 am
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Pacer Soft 8 Wheel 15×8 Boltpattern 5×4.5 ( 5×114.3 ) Offset -12 Hub Bore 83.82 Partnumber 297B-5812
Product Features
- Lugs are Not Included with wheel purchase.
- Pictures are ment to show the style of the wheel not necessarily the Bolt Pattern. Please refer to Product Specifications below for exact product information.
- Center Caps are NOT included with your purchase


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Endodontists in
San Francisco
Our Location
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Fax. (415) 398-0147
About Endodontics
Endodontics is a specialty branch of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association dealing with treatment of the pulp and surrounding tissues of a tooth. When you look at your tooth in the mirror, what you see is the crown. The rest of the tooth, the portion hidden beneath the gum line, is the root. The outer portion of the root is a hard tissue called dentin. The inside channel, or root canal, contains the pulp, a soft tissue consisting of blood vessels and nerves. Bacteria introduced into the pulp because of tooth decay, periodontal disease, or a fracture can cause inflammation, pain and severe damage to the pulp.
To save the tooth and prevent further problems, the root canal is treated. After successful therapy, your general dentist will restore the tooth to normal function.


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Hello. I am looking for a decent dermatologist that can remove moles. Does not need to be able to speak English. I live near the Nampo area, but can travel.
I know there are a ton of dermatologists around, but was wondering if there's a place where people can recommend. Thanks.


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The Cake Eaters
'Cake' is full of family issues and affairs
- |
The local butcher, Easy (Bruce Dern), and his docile-faced son Beagle (Aaron Stanford), seem to be getting on just fine in "The Cake Eaters," a slow-paced drama set in a time-warped village in upstate New York. All's well, that is, until the older son, Guy (Jayce Bartok, who also wrote the screenplay), comes home for the first time in three years, a month late for his mother's funeral. The three wander the house in her absence, trying to act as men should: They talk to their beers instead of each other and overdose on cholesterol-drenched breakfasts. They pursue women with varying degrees of success.
The butcher's long-time paramour, Marg (Elizabeth Ashley), brings zany grit to the often-plodding plot; Ashley and Dern share sparks. But the most sustained flickers of life come from Marg's granddaughter, Georgia, played by Kristen Stewart two years before her star burst with "Twilight," no doubt the impetus for the film's current limited release to the big screen. ("The Cake Eaters" was shot in 2006 and made the round of festivals starting in 2007.)
A romance between Beagle and Georgia further entwines the two families, and the tangle of all the relationships is the heart of the story. Georgia seeks asylum from the terminal neurological disease she suffers - and from her hyper-protective mother (Talia Balsam) - by deciding it's time to have sex. She discusses this frankly with her bourbon-swilling grandmother as they motor through town in a classic white convertible complete with fuzzy dice. Yet the quirky tenderness of these moments only magnifies the awkwardness of her mother's relentless demand to photograph Georgia half-clothed to apply for a Guggenheim. There are only so many story threads an ensemble cast can hold.
In her first film as a feature director, Mary Stuart Masterson brings a sympathetic eye to the lives of her characters. As for Stewart, it's clear her beginnings have come to an end. There's a reason she's booked for eternity.


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Into His Marvelous Light
(through Mary's Seven Sorrows)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9)
In 1992, the year that I returned to the Catholic Church after being separated from it for almost thirty years, I went through ten months of counseling with a Dominican sister to help me come to that decision to "come home." Part of the process of that counseling was a powerful beginning of the healing of my heart and soul from the wounds of four abortions that I had had as young woman.
As I stated, it was a very powerful beginning in which I actually experienced the presence of God loving me. When I ended my counseling relationship with Sister, I immediately had a strong sense that God was calling me to share the story of my spiritual journey—the story of His infinite Mercy—and I began to write it. When I shared the first couple chapters with two Catholic friends of mine, they immediately said, "No, don't ever share this with anyone else!" I knew that they wanted to protect me from being condemned by others, and I was afraid to share it with anyone else.
However, I continued to experience a deep inner sense that the Lord wanted me to share my testimony with others. Yet I was deeply conflicted about it, so I prayed and prayed, asking the Lord over and over again if He truly wanted me to share my story with others.
One night I had a dream that I was kneeling at the end of Mass, making the Sign of the Cross very reverently, bowing my head before the Lord. Then I looked to my left across the aisle from me, and I saw a monk. His name, I knew, was Brother Raphael, and he was looking at me very intensely. Then, in an instant, he was standing behind me, saying, "Be in the world in the truth of your life. Christianity is your master."
Since these words came at the end of the Mass, I saw them, when I pondered the dream, as the "dismissal," which is also the "sending forth" of us as disciples to share with others what the Lord has so generously given to us—Himself! I believe that the Lord was communicating to me that the way to love and serve Him was to "be in the world in the truth of my life, who is Jesus Christ; not to be concerned about what the world thought of His plan for me.
For many years I struggled to write a book about my spiritual journey. At first I would write a couple pages and then throw them away, sure that my writing was not any good, and ashamed to share the story of my life with others.
My healing journey continued, and the more I healed, the more I was able to accept writing about and sharing the story of my spiritual journey with others. I would go for months without writing, but I stopped throwing away the chapters.
A few years ago I completed my first spiritual autobiography, and I submitted it to several Catholic publishing companies, but none of them were interested in publishing it. One editor was kind enough to write and say, "Don't stop writing," even though, she said, they were not publishing that kind of book at that time. The spiritual director that I had at that time said, "Well, maybe the Lord just wanted you to write it for your own healing. Let go of it now." It was disappointing, but I let go of it, giving thanks that I had received a lot of healing from the writing of it.
Then in the last three years the Lord started communicating to me again to write a book about my spiritual journey. "Why would I do that?" I thought, with some irritation. "No one would want to publish it."
Recently the Lord has become more urgent and intense in His direction to me to write the book. One morning, when I began to pray, an image came of Ecce Homo, Jesus standing—mostly naked, bleeding from large gashes all over his body, crowned with thorns—before the crowd who had gathered to condemn Him. His hands were tied, and He said in a frustrated tone: "My hands are tied!" My heart sank, because I guessed correctly that I was the one who had tied His hands. "Your hands are tied about what, Lord?" I asked Him in my journal. He answered: "It is important that you share your testimony…Share it in every way that you can share it. I am speaking through you. You are My voice."
I called my spiritual director, and he reminded me that St. Teresa of Avila (a saint that he and I both love) wrote her Life in obedience to the Lord and to her spiritual director. "I admonish you," he said, "to obey the Lord's command to you." The word admonish got my attention and reminded me that obedience to the Lord is not an option, if I want to love Him in more than just words. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"
(John 14:15).
As I pondered all of these things it occurred to me that I (as well as my two Catholic friends who had strongly "counseled" me not to share the sins of my past with others) had been like St. Peter in the following Scripture:
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:21-25)
And, so, "here I am, Lord," finally beginning again to write the story of my spiritual journey, in obedience to You and to my spiritual director. You will decide what to do with it. I'm sorry that I kept Yours "hands tied" for so long. It seems to me that you are in a hurry for me to share this testimony, so I plan to send it to my spiritual director, one chapter at a time, and, when he approves it, I will send each chapter out to the little handmaids and others and post it on our website.
Father also communicated to me again that my writing is primarily for the sake of the Little Handmaids of Our Sorrowful Mother, the women's prayer apostolate that the Lord, through Our Sorrowful Mother, called me to found in July, 2010. Again he referred to St. Teresa of Avila, who had written her spiritual writings primarily for the sake of her Carmelite sisters. He told me that the little handmaids need to be "fed," as all souls need to be fed.
So, little handmaids, my beloved sisters, I am writing this account of my spiritual journey with the hope and prayer that it will feed you: your souls and your hearts. I trust that God will call any others that He has in mind to be fed by it.
"…we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations…" (Romans 1:5)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."12 Elizabeth greeted her: "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."13 It is for this faith that all generations have called Mary blessed.14
149 Throughout her life and until her last ordeal15 when Jesus her Son died on the cross, Mary's faith never wavered. She never ceased to believe in the fulfillment of God's word. And so the Church venerates in Mary the purest realization of faith.
May we, my sisters, in union with Our Sorrowful Mother and her Suffering Son Jesus, grow in obedience of faith…for the sake of His name among all the nations"!
Jesus and Mary's little handmaid,
Little Handmaids of Our Sorrowful Mother
And Mary said, "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Lk 1:38)


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Good news! The blue houndstooth men's apron is back! I sold out of this fabric during the holidays last year, but luckily came across some more recently. And guess what? This time he brought along a girly friend in hot pink! If you're the matchy matchy type, or know someone who is, they would look amazing as a set. Both are available now in the shop.
I've also been keeping busy sewing up some merry holiday goodies for you. Luckily the fabric was beautiful enough to get me in the spirit, because listening to carols in October felt way too weird. If I stay productive through the weekend, they'll be available next week. For now, here's a little peak at some of my finished products. Look at all that red on my sewing table in the background! Haha! Good thing it's my favourite colour.
Have a great weekend everyone!
E xo
Shop Update
Labels: apron, Etsy, shop update, sneak peak
Meet Your Maker: Abigail MaryRose Clark
I seem to have a soft spot for porcelain lately. My last interview was with a porcelain pottery artist and today I have a porcelain jewellery artist. Please welcome Abigail MaryRose Clark of StayGoldMaryRose. Abigail's stunning bracelets, pendants, rings and brooches are all made from reclaimed vintage ceramics such as teacups and plates. She has been creating and selling her work since 2004 and last year began selling her teacup bracelets in Anthropologie stores across the US and UK. As an antique china lover myself, I adore everything that she makes and am always looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. To top it all off, she's a super sweet girl, lives in an old Victorian schoolhouse near the ocean, and has recently taken to calling me "Poppet"!
WHO are you? Tell me a bit about yourself and your work.
I am Abigail. I am a Northern-born girl living in the South of England, right by the ocean. I have never been able to keep my hands still for more than 10 minutes. I never took Art GCSE [General Certificate of Secondary Education]. :)
WHAT inspires you?
Making/drawing/designing/collecting/documenting is pretty much my life. I am obsessed with the history of British-made objects, especially the heritage of British china and British tailoring/fashion. I love vintage illustration, Ernst Haeckel and James Audubon; colours and shapes in nature; kaleidoscopes and symmetry; old bygone processes and communications such as playing records, sending letters, using typewriters, drawing and painting with pencils/charcoal/ink, taking photographs on 35mm film, polaroids, screen printing/ lino printing; music; books; film. I could go on forever.
WHERE do you work? Describe your workspace.
I live in a beautiful old Victorian building that was once a school. My workshop is one of the old red brick outhouses in the courtyard. I have one workshop where I make all of my noisy ceramic mess with my machines and another that I use for designing peacefully, packing, drinking coffee, typing and pondering.
WHEN do you feel most successful? frustrated/insecure?
I feel most successful when I have a collection or a design taken on by a company/shop. I thrive on seeing a range of my jewellery on a website or in a catalogue such as Anthropologie. It's a lovely feeling seeing something that was once an idea in your head or a scribble on a page in your scrap book become a piece of jewellery selling around the world.
I feel most frustrated when I see my designs or my maker friends' designs being reproduced or copied.
WHY do you do what you do?
I think I would go insane if I couldn't make. It is a release. It has become a slight obsession. I have found a way to vent at least some of the images and ideas that constantly swim around in my head. I see objects as having their own life and purpose and if I see it being discarded or thrown away, then something in my head decides to change that. I guess some people call it upcycling.
HOW do you do what you do? Describe your creative process and/or your typical work day?
I make a lot of mess. Working with china is a messy process. I am blessed to have a great workspace and a lot of friends and contacts who work in the ceramics industry. I don't really have a typical day, as it all depends on the orders I get. I love days when I've finished my orders and can just experiment in the workshop to create new pieces.
FINAL WORDS: Anything else you would like to add? Advice for new artists or entrepreneurs?My advice would be to go with your instinct. If you have an idea, then run with it, even if people aren't so keen on a design/idea. Don't give up on a project, always finish one, even if you come back to it years later. Be as professional as possible and be honest. Don't copy. Be original and you'll do well.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Abigail. I wish you the best of luck going forward, although with such talent and passion, I don't think you'll need it!
Labels: Etsy, inspiration, interview, jewellry, Meet Your Maker
Cue Soundtrack: A Very She & Him Christmas
Does this make you as excited as it does me? Christmas! Ok, I know that word doesn't make everyone as ecstatic as me, quite the opposite most likely. But what about a She & Him Christmas album! Surely the sweet combo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Mard would melt even the scroogiest heart. The album comes out on October 24th, which you can pre-order here, along with a special red vinyl edition and matching red mittens!? I want! I want! I want!
While you've got your wish list out, don't forget the Dear Edna holiday line. Despite how it might seem from what you just read, I usually try not to think about Christmas too early (I need limitations or I'd have my tree up year 'round), but I'm a business now and that means two months before the big day is seriously behind schedule. The countdown is on! I'm hoping to have festive accessories in the shop by November, so this weekend and all next week I'll be Christmas-cramming. Carols will be cranked, eggnog will be spiked and the halls will be decked in little red and green fabric scraps!
If there are any items you'd like to see in the holiday line, I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments below.
Fa la la la la la la laaaaaa!
E xo
P.S. If you've been having difficulty commenting on my posts recently, the problem should now be resolved. Thank you for your patience... now comment away!
Birthday Bow
Monday was Mikey J's birthday and look what I made him — a bow for my beau! Heehee! Doesn't he look dapper? I've noticed him looking at bow ties a lot recently but knew he was wary of dropping the dough for a trend he wasn't too confident about sporting, so I figured I'd give it a go with some of my scraps. I found this free pattern on BurdaStyle that seemed simple enough and, after a few attempts and adjustments, came out with this. I had to revise the pattern a little because I didn't have the sliders required in order to make it adjustable and the pattern seemed small, so I made the pieces a couple inches longer and just sewed them together at the back. It's a couple inches too long now (blerg!), so I may hunt down some of those sliders after all. But all in all I'm pretty proud of the overall look, my new bow-tying skills, and my ability to keep all that sewing a secret. Happy Birthday Mike! xo
Very Important Date
This past weekend was Thanksgiving for those of us that call Canada home. Aside from Christmas, Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday and this year certainly didn't disappoint. For one, the weather was gorgeous: I don't think I can remember a time when I could sit on the patio all day in a skirt and t-shirt on Thanksgiving! Two, I was lucky enough to be invited to two home-cooked turkey dinners, and they were goooood. My bloated tummy can attest. I contributed a dessert platter this year and decided to try baking a new treat: date squares. Aside from Dads, who universally seem to worship the old-fashioned bars, I've discovered most people are extreme in their love or hate of them. Haters out there, this recipe has the power to convert. I know from personal experience. Give it a try -- they just might surprise you. For the lovers, you're welcome.
Date Squares
Adapted from recipe in Breakfast, Lunch, Tea
Date Filling:3-4 cups (400 grams) pitted dried dates
1 cup (240 ml) water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Oatmeal Crust:
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Place the dates and water in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the dates are soft and have absorbed most of the water (about 5 - 10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let cool to room temperature and then puree in your food processor until smooth. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in center of oven. Butter an 8 x 11 inch or a 9 x 9 inch pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon. Then add the butter and knead until the mixture is crumbly. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the base of the prepared pan.
Spread the dates evenly over the oatmeal crust. Sprinkle the remaining dough evenly over the top of the dates. Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a wire rack to cool. Once the squares have cooled, cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator at least one hour or until firm enough to cut easily into squares..
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Update: The April 25 show at U Street Music Hall has been canceled.
Dave Portner had more than a cold.
While touring in the fall of 2012, Portner (a.k.a. Avey Tare) came down with laryngitis, forcing his band, Animal Collective, to cancel a New York show.
A bout of strep throat struck the following year, resulting in the postponement of seven concert dates in March. Along with the personal frustration of not being able to perform the yelps and shrieks in the band's songbook of avant noise-pop, Portner, 35, felt he was letting down fans.
"That was really getting me down last year," he says by phone from his home base of Los Angeles. "I had to find a way through it. Wanting to not let a lot of people down and realizing that I suddenly was in this position, that was kind of heavy for me."
There also were lingering issues from Portner's final years of living in New York: separating from his wife, having a sister diagnosed with cancer, the death of his grandmother and feeling ungrounded because of constant touring. Portner touched on these events on his 2010 solo record, "Down There," and still talks about that time with trepidation.
"There was a side of last year that forced me to be at home and kind of face all this stuff and look at it and look at myself a bit more," he says. "I feel like in the past couple years, especially in my last couple New York years, it was more like facing myself in a dark sort of way."
Rather than wallow, Portner took his recuperation time to learn about the mind and body and how stress can affect health, and to find new ways to take care of himself. He also found solace in music, strumming a guitar around the house and coming up with the skeletal parts of new material.
"Casually being able to sit around and play acoustic guitar, and not having to be stressed about stuff, and facing the fact that what had to happen was happening, and not sort of fighting it too much, it allowed the music to just sort of comfort me at home," he says.
It also led to a side project. Inspired by the work of such minimalist composers as Steve Reich and Terry Riley, Portner decided the parts he had written needed to be fleshed out with keys and percussion. For that he recruited his girlfriend, Angel Deradoorian, formerly of Brooklyn indie-pop band Dirty Projectors, and Jeremy Hyman, drummer for the defunct Baltimore art-rock group Ponytail.
But the sound of their new band, Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks, is anything but minimal. Debut album "Enter the Slasher House" is a dexterous whir of twisting guitar tones, vigorous drumming, cosmic synthesizer squiggles and shifty, sneakily catchy vocal melodies.
The music is a bit more stripped down and traditionally rock than Animal Collective, but the band's willingness to experiment with form, and to obfuscate pop structure with effects and trickery, dovetails nicely. Such tracks as "Blind Babe," "Modern Days E" and "Strange Colores" are big-tent psychedelic romps driven by Hyman's propulsive percussion, while "Catchy (Was Contagious)" and "Little Fang" slink along like loungy love songs written by extraterrestrials obsessed with '70s rock-and-roll.
The band name and press photos of the mask-wearing trio wielding knives and standing in a pool of fake blood add to the fun-yet-eerie feel, a nod to the soundtracks of amusement park haunted houses and spooky old cartoons.
But the frenetic energy comes from an entirely different source: jazz.
In 2011, the members of Animal Collective had reconvened in the Baltimore suburbs of their youth to record their most recent album, "Centipede Hz," and Portner began listening to more '70s free jazz. The bucolic setting of the Maryland suburbs only stoked his interest.
You won't find horns or stand-up bass on "Enter the Slasher House," but there's a clear connection to jazz in its verve and how the musicians play off one another.
"It's just kind of a one-take feeling or one mike in a room trying to capture energy," Portner says. "Even though our recording process is a little bit different, it's still trying to be inspired by that ideal. . . . There are definitely free moments on the record that are just a little bit more improvised."
As for what's next with Portner's main project, Animal Collective, the only plan is that there is no plan. Bandmates Noah Lennox and Josh Dibb also have been working on solo projects, and Brian Weitz and his wife just had another baby. Per usual, they'll bounce ideas off each other, but other than that, Portner says, "we kinda just plan to go off and do our own things and then get back together when it feels like we're ready."
Portner says he's ready to take a bit of a breather from music. Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks is in the middle of a relatively small run of shows, after which Portner hopes to return to California to pursue a more domestic life and explore visual art, not necessarily professionally.
"Lately, it feels like it has actually dawned on me that I maybe put more time than I should into [music]," he says with a laugh.
Still, when you hear Portner reflect on his prodigious songwriting, dating back to the members of Animal Collective tinkering with sounds in high school, it's hard to imagine him doing anything else.
"I think it's just turned into a hobby," he says. "Something I can really enjoy doing and have, for myself, an easy time doing, just in terms of feeling like I'm always learning something or finding something new."
Weigel is a freelance writer.
For a sampling of Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks' music, check out:
From "Enter the Slasher House":
"Blind Babe"
"Little Fang"
"Duplex Trip"
"Strange Colores"
Appearing Friday at
7 p.m. at U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. 202-588-1880. www.ustreetmusichall.
com. $15.


text: UPCOMING EVENTS SEE ALL Camps / Summer Camps Hot Deals Narrow search by: Keyword: Results Found: 1 View On Map new search Sort by: A-Z Print Colorado Mountain Ranch Children's Mountain Day Camps with Horses, Gymnastics, Mountainboarding, Ropes course, transportation. Weddings, too! 10063 Gold Hill Rd Boulder, CO 80302 Map (303) 442-4557


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Addiction Treatment In Milford, MA
Searching for treatment centers is a little like searching for a doctor. You may want a more holistic doctor, while others may want one who specializes. Because each program has its own values, consider your preferences and situation before choosing an addiction treatment center.
Alcohol And Drug Detox Programs
It can be difficult or even dangerous to cope with the effects of withdrawal. An expert team can help you safely eliminate drugs and alcohol from your system, so you can transition into an inpatient or outpatient rehab program. Attempting detox without the help of a professional can put you at risk for relapse, or even overdose.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Inpatient centers give you a way to fully commit to the program. During the duration of your stay, you have access to professional help 24-hours a day, seven-days a week. You'll be encouraged to draw strength from the licensed caregivers on staff, as well as build relationships with peers.
Questions About Treatment?
Call now to be connected with one ofour compassionate treatment specialists.
Each inpatient facility will have its own approach to therapy, which may include anything from behavioral therapy to support groups and outdoor recreation. Inpatient programs provide integrated care, meaning they're ideal for addressing co-occurring mental health issues.
Outpatient Treatment
An outpatient treatment center works very well as a step-down service following inpatient rehab. Outpatient care requires you to have a reliable support system from friends or family. Programs range in intensity, which will determine how often you meet for treatment. Individual and group counseling, as well as education and peer support, from the backbone of outpatient care.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) works to reduce the physical and psychological stress associated with stopping opioid or alcohol use. MAT has been clinically developed to help you engage in treatment and adjust to living a balanced, day-to-day life for long-term recovery. FDA-approved medications are administered alongside behavioral therapy during treatment.
Aftercare And Alumni Services
When you leave recovery and return to Milford, you'll need a network of support you can rely on. Treatment doesn't end after a program, so it's important to ask the facility what long-term care is provided. Knowing the specifics of the aftercare provided, which may include counseling or 12-step support, can help you sustain lasting recovery.
Length Of Addiction Treatment
It's generally recommended that you spend as much time in treatment as you possibly can. Studies show treatment lasting less than 90 days do not have the best rates of long-term success, but remember there is no single treatment, or length, that works for everyone.
Whether inpatient or outpatient, programs typically break down into 30, 60, 90, or 120 days. Some can last a full year or more.
How To Pay For Treatment
United Healthcare, Humana, and Aetna are just a few health insurance companies that may cover part or all of the costs associated with treatment. Medicaid and grants are also available, or you can try to set up a fundraiser through crowdsourcing websites like GoFundMe. Another option is setting up a payment plan with the treatment provider.
Substance Use Trends In Milford And Worcester County, Massachusetts
Milford is located in Worcester County.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health collected the following data for the city and county:
- In 2017, there were six opioid-related deaths reported in Milford.
- Over 12,100 people were admitted for addiction treatment in Worcester County in 2017.
- Almost 60 percent of all patients reported heroin as their primary drug in 2017.
The number of formally reported overdoses in Worcester County is declining. Officials suggest this is due to overdose reversal medications like Narcan.
The Nearest Vertava Health Treatment Center: Swift River
Swift River is located about 105 miles from Milford, or just under a 2-hour drive. With a clinically trained staff, including medical doctors and nurses, you'll receive integrated treatment and care to support your recovery.
Our inpatient facility is located on more than 500 acres of natural beauty in the Berkshire Mountains. To learn more about treatment at Swift River, reach out to Vertava Health today.


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WASHINGTON — Bolstered by falling gasoline prices, consumers headed back to the malls to shop in September. And with confidence rebounding sharply this month, strong sales are forecast for the all-important holiday period.
Overall, retail sales fell by 0.4 percent in September, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
But that decline was skewed by the good news that gasoline prices plummeted last month, sending sales at service stations down by a record 9.3 percent.
Excluding service stations, retail sales posted a solid increase of 0.6 percent, the government said, as consumers used the money they saved on gasoline to spend on other items.
"Households continue to empty their wallets at a very rapid pace," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors, a private forecasting firm.
A second report Friday showed that consumer confidence, which had been depressed by surging gasoline prices, posted a strong rebound in October.
The University of Michigan's confidence survey rose to 92.3 in October, according to a preliminary reading, up from 85.4 in September. The October confidence level, the best showing in 15 months, was far better than economists had been expecting.
Signs of strength in the consumer sector lifted spirits on Wall Street, sending the Dow Jones industrial average up by 12.81 points Friday to close at 11,960.51. It was the Dow's sixth record close in the past two weeks and put the blue-chip index tantalizing close to the 12,000 mark.
Analysts said the rise in confidence, which is being fueled by falling gasoline prices, should translate into solidfrom Business 1
consumer spending during the upcoming holiday sales season and help keep the nation from stumbling into a recession.
Since peaking above $3 per gallon in early August, the nationwide average for regular gasoline has fallen by 78 cents per gallon.
Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at Global Insight, said this decline is like a huge tax cut that will give consumers nearly $100 billion more to spend on other items.
The economy skidded to a sharp slowdown in the spring under the impact of soaring gasoline prices, rising interest rates and a cooling housing market, raising fears of a possible recession.
Now, with gasoline prices falling and the Federal Reserve putting its two-year credit tightening campaign on hold, economists believe that growth will slow in the second half of the year but a recession will be avoided.
Behravesh said the overall economy, which grew at a 2.6 percent rate in the spring, probably grew by just 1.8 percent in the third quarter but should rebound to around 2.5 percent growth in the final three months of this year.
"Wage growth is improving, the stock market is doing well and gasoline prices are down. All of this is very good news for the consumer," he said.
For September, retail sales jumped 1.1 percent at department stores and were up an even larger 3 percent at specialty clothing stores, the biggest increase in this category in 11 months, as cooler weather last month put shoppers in the mood to buy the new fall clothing lines.
The Federal Reserve reported Thursday in its latest snapshot of regional business conditions that a number of areas of the country reported solid back-to-school sales.
Auto sales were flat in September following a 0.4 percent drop in August. Analysts said that automakers reported a rebound in unit sales in September but this did not pick up heavy discounting to move a backlog of unsold cars.
The nation's automakers have struggled this year with a glut of sport utility vehicles and other gas-guzzling cars.
Excluding auto sales, retail sales were down 0.5 percent, reflecting the big drop in the amount drivers were spending at service stations.
In addition to the big gains at department and clothing stores, sales also increased at furniture stores, hardware stores, sporting goods stores and restaurants and bars. Sales fell at grocery stores.
The various changes left retail sales at a seasonally adjusted $366.2 billion in September, down from $367.7 billion in August.
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This is a work that came about during my recent consolidation of images past, present, (and future?) . The projection happened in the early 90's when I was experimenting with arbitrary images I had shot on streets, off television sets and so on, then projecting them on houses, walls, backyards, etc. and re photographing them. The columns and woman in a dress were shot in the last two years. It seemed to come together when I noticed how the columns represented an ancient Ideal and the almost impossible task of achieving, and maintaining that, and how things have really played out despite our best intentions.
This picture is currently on display at Cafe Victoria in Verdun until the end of April. It is 20×24 inches, professionally framed and only costs $100.00. If you would like to purchase this, or a print, different sizes available too, please email me at neathatturcot (at) yahoo dot ca
I have become interested in doing a series on the original Woman in Red, Ana Cumpănaș, who apparently fingered John Dillinger to the FBI in the 1930's. It would probably be a short parody of the urban myths surrounding Ana and Dillinger, but who knows how the ideas could grow if we do it. Any woman who has a markedly red article of clothing, not necessarily a dress, a fun sense of theatre, and a free afternoon or two, and would be interested in collaborating on this is more than welcome to contact me at the email above.


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Tax Outsourcing is not just for small businesses or individuals. Larger businesses and CPA firms have found it advantageous to take advantage of this convenient service. Why would a company made up of accountants choose to outsource their taxes?
In the case of any business, completing your taxes every year is a required task, but not an income-generating activity. Time spent preparing your return does nothing to expand your business or to serve your clients. If you are looking for a tax agent in Werribee then you can check out various online resources.
Image Source: Google
Therefore, only a small fraction of the budget of most businesses is allocated to the resources and tools necessary for tax settlement. In short, most firms, CPA firms, in fact, do not have the right employees, expertise, software, and other resources for this very important task.
Tax Outsourcing allows even large companies to ensure that all details are managed without any additional cost to secure the necessary resources in the home. If you choose a reliable service for tax outsourcing, you will find that the best services utilize a number of software packages so that they have what they need to be compatible with what is already available in the house. This saves time and money for your document can be easily uploaded into their system, and when you return to work 24 hours later, your tax refund deposited in your desktop.


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There has been speculation after speculation about why Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are not yet married. The actress opens up and explains the wedding isn't what makes their relationship what it is.
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have been engaged for almost a year, and in that time have seen numerous rumors about the state of their relationship. The actress wants to set the record straight and let everyone know the couple is in no rush to be married.
VIDEOS: Jennifer Aniston breaks the good-girl mold >>
"We just want to do it when it's perfect, and we're not rushed, and no one is rushing from a job or rushing to a job," Aniston told the Associated Press.
For the couple, the title of being married doesn't mean as much to them as how they feel toward each other.
"You know, we already feel married," she added.
Brad Pitt slams Aniston marriage >>
Theroux and Aniston have been dating for two years, and were engaged on her birthday last year. They have weathered numerous rumors about the state of their relationship, which have ranged anywhere from a breakup to not wanting to conflict with her ex Brad Pitt's wedding to Angelina Jolie.
Aniston said all those rumors are untrue, and their wedding planning so far has gone exactly as they have planned.
"We have yet to set any dates," the 44-year-old actress explained. "There have been no canceled weddings. There have been no postponed weddings. There have been no arguments about where to get married. Just clearing all that up."
Adding to the delay, Aniston doesn't exactly seem like the wedding-planning type. She told E! News back in April that everything that goes into a wedding "might make me crazy."
How we'd style Jennifer Aniston's wedding >>
Though the couple is in no hurry to get married, it doesn't mean their relationship isn't as great as ever. However, Aniston is also still as busy as ever, which may postpone her wedding even longer. Her newest film, We're the Millers, co-starring Jason Sudeikis (another newly-engaged actor), opens in theaters Aug. 7.
Photo courtesy Apega/WENN.com
Read more about Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston talks hair: Jealous of Kate Middleton
Jennifer Aniston to invite estranged mother to wedding


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If you currently own property in Japan, you should be receiving your annual property tax bill this month or next. These taxes are owed by anyone who owns real estate in Japan, be it residential, commercial or otherwise. Those living overseas are taxed the same as those living in the country.
Tax bills are usually sent out around April or May each year, depending on the city, and are paid to the city where the property is located.
The tax is broken up into two sections:
- Fixed asset tax: 1.4% of the taxable value
- City planning tax: 0.3% of the taxable value
The taxable value of the property is not the market value. In many cases it is a lot lower. However, it is tied to changes in property values, so the taxable value may rise if the property market is improving. The amount is adjusted every three years, with the next adjustment due in 2021. Any large jumps in property values are usually offset with a special reduction to reduce any immediate impact on the property owner.
The taxes are usually halved for the first three to five years after the construction of a new home or apartment, so be aware of the potential for your tax bill to increase if you have purchased a new or near-new home.
Before buying property, find out what the most recent tax bill was so you have an idea of what to expect as the next owner.
Paying the tax
You will receive a letter from the city government with the tax payment slips. You can either pay the annual amount in one lump sum, or pay it in four installments. The deadline for the lump sum or first payment is typically in early May. Penalties apply for late payment.
Payment instructions are included with the tax slips. Payment options can include paying at a bank branch, at a convenience store*, or using a credit card on the city tax payment website*.
If you live overseas, your tax bill will be sent to the tax agent you have appointed. Haven't appointed a proxy? It's essential that you do so as soon as possible. It can be a friend, accounting firm or property management firm. We provide our buyers with referrals to tax agents before they make a purchase, to ensure they do not run the risk of having their home seized by the local government for non-payment of taxes.
The tax bill is sent to the owner of the property as at January 1 of each year. If you sold your property on January 5, for example, the tax bill for that year will still be sent to you and you will be liable for payment, even though you are not the current owner. To remedy this, the custom at the time of sale is for the buyer to pay the seller a pro-rated amount based on the previous year's or current year's tax at the time of sale.
If you have made changes to your property, eg. you have converted a retail space into a house, a house into a minpaku-style accommodation property, or made extensions, the tax may change accordingly. You need to inform the city tax department to have a re-assessment made on the property.
*Not possible for tax payments exceeding 300,000 Yen.
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Just a quick update.
As of this writing, we've raised $310 — just $90 short of our $400 goal — to give copies of Profiles in Courage and Do The Right Thing to the Mayor of Los Angeles and every member of the city council.
All to give them a not so subtle hint to show a little courage and do the right thing to protect the lives of everyone who walks, bikes or drives on the streets of Los Angeles.
You can donate through PayPal, or through the Zelle app using the email address you'll find here.
And I hope you'll join us in storming City Hall during Bike Week to demand safer and more livable streets for everyone.
Unfortunately, we have to change the original date, since the council won't be in session on Bike to Work Day.
Instead, we're in the process of selecting a new date, the morning of either Wednesday, May 16th before the Ride of Silence, or — more likely — Friday, May 18th before Bike Night at Union Station.
You can vote here if you have a preference.
If this doesn't put a smile on your face this morning, nothing will. Just in time for Bike Month, a new DIY PSA cobbled together from movie footage artfully makes the case for riding bikes instead of driving.
It's one thing to get dropped. It's another to get passed by a ebike rider like you're not even moving.
The Signal discusses upcoming events for May's Bike Month.
Heat maps from the newly combined SaMo, WeHo, UCLA and Beverly Hills bikeshares show the desperate need for decent east-west bikeways on the Westside.
A pair of mountain biking groups have repaired the historic Gabrielino Trail in the peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument above La Cañada.
The West Covina city council punts on an active transportation plan that would add over 50 miles of bike paths after they're unable to reach a consensus; they'll pick it up again on the 15th.
Good read from Peter Flax, who discovers what it's like to be a fish out of water. Or more precisely, a life-long roadie in a Manhattan Beach SoulCycle.
The Sierra Club goes bike packing along the Southern California coast through San Diego and Orange Counties.
The Bay Area celebrates Bike to Work Day a week earlier than SoCal on May 10th; a Sonoma paper offers tips on how to make the most of it.
San Francisco bicyclists once again form a people-protected bike lane to call for better bike infrastructure. To the best of my knowledge, no one's done that in Los Angeles yet, perhaps because they don't trust LA drivers not to run over them anyway.
A bicycle-riding Santa Rosa doctor says bike commuting is the key to fitness.
In today's edition of things that would never happen in LA, the Redding city council voted to close a little-used stretch of road entirely to make way for a new bike and pedestrian trail near downtown. Thanks to Casey Kerrigan for the link.
The new GOP-passed tax law includes plenty of tax breaks for corporations and the rich; bike riders, not so much.
Ten more bike companies have joined with Ford and Trek to develop a Bike to Vehicle (B2V) communication system, envisioning a world where you'll have to ride with a sensor on your bike to avoid getting run down by self-driving cars. Rather than, say, just building cars that can actually see people on bikes.
Bike Snob takes on the myth that bikes are frivolous toys for Lycra-clad fitness freaks.
Outside offers advice for parents on how to get more girls riding bikes.
Nice piece from Bike Portland's Jonathan Maus, who calls on everyone to just chill and be a little more understanding of other people on bikes.
Denver bike riders are told to keep waiting for more protected bike lanes.
The family of a fallen Texas cyclist has filed suit against the driver that killed him, as well as a passenger in the car, after the driver walked with time served, without spending a day in prison, despite a two-year sentence for manslaughter. Thanks to Stephen Katz for the heads-up.
A pair of Walmart heirs are making Arkansas a fat-bike destination.
A Minnesota bike shop owner is running for the local city council on a platform of opposing bike lanes and traffic safety improvements, insisting that bike lanes aren't used enough to justify their existence.
A Maryland town is installing 2,000 free bike lights to help reduce nighttime collisions.
Road.cc recommends their top eight front and rear daytime running lights. And yes, you should be using lights during the day.
Forget Copenhagen; traffic calming and an extensive bikeway network in Bogata, Columbia has resulted in 800,000 bike trips a day.
This is what we need. A new London bike map shows the safest routes, and where key interchanges are located.
A new British study suggests Google Street View can be used to estimate traffic patterns to help improve public health.
Ireland's Transport Minister calls on drivers to pass bike riders safely, following a 50% jump in bicycling fatalities so far this year.
A pro cyclist explains why Croatia is a world-class mountain biking destination.
A New Zealand writer offers a surprisingly fair and insightful take on the divide between people on bikes and in cars, noting that "the cyclist you're passing probably isn't the same one who ran the red light in front of you the other day," and the driver behind you probably isn't the one who doored you last week.
Singapore says slow that e-scooter down already.
Competitive Cycling
Wednesday's stage one of the Redlands Classic was cancelled due to bad weather in Big Bear.
VeloNews reports on the 11th edition of the famed fixie fest Red Hook Classic.
A 20-year old cyclist has bounced back from a near-crippling crash at the Red Hook Classic to become one of the few African American Olympic hopefuls.
Great cause. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka is using this year's Giro d'Italia to raise funds to put 1,000 African women and girls on bikes over the next two months.
In advance of the Jerusalem start of the Giro, Israel has made legendary Italian cyclist Gino Bartali an honorary citizen of the country for his clandestine work saving Jews in World War II.
A Palestinian cyclist who lost a leg when he was shot by Israeli soldiers during a protest says he's disgusted that the Giro will start in Israel.
You might want to skip the keto diet if you want to go fast. Who needs dockless bikes in trees when you can leave a car dangling from a bridge?
And bloomers and bikes sparked the feminist movement of the '90s.
No, the 1890s.


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When looking for a moisture meter, many installers make the mistake of choosing the cheapest or one that's given to them.
With all overwhelming options available, many people don't do any research and just choose the cheapest one.
But, we have great news: it doesn't have to be confusing!
Why is a moisture meter needed for every installation?
Wood is hygroscopic – wood gains and loses moisture to become equal with its environment (the installation area).
If the air is humid, wood gains moisture to be equal with the home or install area. If the air is dry, wood will dry to reach equilibrium.
Because the greatest comfort level in homes is between 35-55% relative humidity, manufacturers dry their wood floors to an average moisture content.
However, this moisture content can change depending on how humid or dry the air is before installation.
It is for that reason that wood floors need to be acclimated at every job site to a range of 6-9%. This is the equilibrium range of wood at 35-55% relative humidity. Learn more about acclimation in our video Acclimation 101.
Properly acclimating the wood floor avoids gaps, cupping, and many other wood flooring problems that later cause claims and failed floors.
So, this is why you need a good moisture meter:
- Wood floors need to be tested because they may be too dry or too moist. (Subfloors also need to be tested, see NWFA's article about it)
- Moisture meters can prevent claims by making sure the moisture content of wood is appropriate for the installation area.
- It can help determine why a floor may have failed.
What type of moisture meter should you get?
There are two types of moisture meters: pin and pin-less.
Pin meters use pins to measure the electrical resistance which is based on the amount of water in the wood.
Pinless meters use radio frequency based on the specific gravity of the wood species. All you have to do is place the meter on the floor.
There is a perception that pin meters are more accurate than pin-less. In a lab, this may be technically true within a very small, standardize scientific test sampling.
In practice, we have found pinless meters to be more accurate for the average wood flooring installer.
What to consider when buying a moisture meter:
Internal Species Correction
The average moisture meter is calibrated to measure the moisture content of Douglas Fir wood species. So unless you only install Douglas Fir, you'll most likely need to correct your meter for your install.
Why this is important: Better meters have internal correction settings to accurately read different species. You also can get charts with the specific gravity for other species.
Depth of Measurement
Most pin-less meters measure a ¾" depth and read the moisture content across that depth. Others provide a variable depth reading, usually the option to measure at ¾" and ¼".
Why this is important: This allows you to evaluate the top and bottom of the board. Sometimes the board is more or less moist on one side. You can also measure the moisture content of engineered flooring veneers.
Manufacturer Species Support
Many manufacturers do not provide any support for reading exotic species like bamboo, Brazilian Walnut, or Acacia flooring. Internal species correction also doesn't usually include exotic species.
Why this is important: You don't want to be Googling what the MC for your floor should be while your team and customer is waiting.
Lignomat routinely tests and provides correction settings for all kinds of species of flooring, and will provide needed technical support when asked. This is why we recommend and primarily use Lignomat meters within our company.
Our recommended moisture meter
While there are many options, the average installer needs to measure a variety of wood species and different types of construction.
In addition, you need the ability to measure a large sample of boards in different areas of the home. This is why technical support and confidence in the process is important.
It is for that reason that we primarily recommend the Lignomat SDM meter for our customers to purchase. We believe it is the clear leader in the industry and any of our locations can provide this meter for you.


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Eugene resident Simon Baum, better known by his stage name, RxN (Reaction), is a man equipped with an arsenal of artistic identities including recording artist, engineer, producer, and videographer. Creatively expressive, RxN's lyricism paints vivid imagery on the canvas of the mind via engaging storytelling and heterogeneous wordplay coalescing into a captivating combination of relatable hip hop, both old school and new school. His sonic-sovereignty doesn't stop there, but encompasses an array of eclectic styles ranging from classical to EDM (including dubstep and trap).
As with many colleagues in his field, music acts as his means for escape from life's ailments, trials, and frustrations- the emotional outlet. Much like the legend of the phoenix who rises from the ashes of turmoil to breathe in new life and new beginnings, revealing a true beauty manifested as music. It all began with a just-for-fun cover of the song "Rack City" by Tyga; receiving hundreds of hits and hundreds more compliments, the cover became an unanticipated first step towards emerging as the artist he is today. RxN could certainly be a poster-child for success through perseverance and dedication. As time has honed his skills, his skills have earned him higher-quality gear which, in turn, has yielded superior music and video production.
Recently, RxN secured a place among the final contestants in the MULA Competition hosted by TeamBackPack and has completed his internship for Tyler Johnson, an engineer/producer in North Hollywood, CA. RxN has since been preparing to release his "Cause and Effect" mixtape which is set for release on January 25, 2015.
Through all of his efforts, he has a positively inspiring message to share with the world: Never give up on yourself; reach for the impossible, disprove your critics, follow what drives you, and never settle for being "regular". If life is a game, you decide what type of player to be: a hero, a villain, or someone who watches time slip away.