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Jemma Mindham – CEO
Jemma joined Rainbow Services as CEO in August 2017. She has 14 years' experience working in the charity sector in both direct delivery and senior management roles. With an NVQ Level 5 in Personnel Practice (Volunteer Management), she has been responsible for the delivery of volunteering programmes within health and social care services across the East of England, including supported volunteering in South and West Essex.
Jemma has compiled various good practice toolkits and training programmes, including the Youth Social Action in Health and Social Care Toolkit (supported by the Department of Health) and Disability Awareness Training.
In recent years, Jemma has had a national remit developing programmes and generating funds for the charities Volunteering Matters and The Children's Society. She has also worked closely with NAVCA and NHSE in supporting the sector to engage with Personal Health Budgets, facilitating a series of workshops and briefings around England.
Jemma has in depth, working knowledge of co-production in service design and the effective implementation of personalisation across health and social care. She is particularly interested in how voluntary and community organisations can successfully develop and deliver sustainable services to support individuals and communities and is a firm believer of the power of the voluntary and community sector to create sustainable change. Jemma is committed to strengthening the voice and involvement of the sector locally.
Jemma is also the Company Secretary for Rainbow Services Harlow.
Click here for full register of interests.
Wendy Letch – Operations Manager
I joined Rainbow Services as Operations Manager in July 2009, having worked for a local authority for over 20 years.
I am responsible for the day to day running of Rainbow Services with far too many individual tasks within the role to list, but suffice to say that there is never a dull moment!!
Working in the voluntary sector generally and within Rainbow Services specifically has been extremely rewarding as we definitely do make a difference to people's lives and I feel proud to be associated with Rainbow Services.
Debbie Tee – Administrator.
I come from a Customer Service and Sales background, working many years for Pearson Education in Harlow.
I joined Rainbow Services as a volunteer receptionist in 2017 and became a member of staff in November 2018. I now work in the role of Admin Office on a Monday and Tuesday and share this role with Julia.
Julia Spong – Administrator
I joined Rainbow Services in November 2019.
I have an extensive secretarial/administrative background, with experience working in the charitable sector as well as for corporate organisations.
I love working with such a great team at Rainbow and seeing the difference we make in people's lives.
Kelly Tarling – Community Builder
Kelly has lived and worked in Harlow for most of her life. Her early career was with Pitney Bowes moving on to other large businesses working in Customer Service.
Kelly moved into the Voluntary Sector in 2008 when she worked for Voluntary Action Epping Forest and Rainbow Services as a Funding Officer for five years. She was then employed by us as a Community Builder using Asset Based Community Development and most recently working to reduce loneliness and isolation for older people in Harlow.
Jenny Pankhurst – Community Builder Assistant
I moved to Harlow in 1977 and have had a varied career in Hospitality, Retail and Education within the town while raising my family.
I joined Rainbow Services as a Volunteer as part of the Community Connectors team helping combat Loneliness and Social Isolation for Harlow Seniors in 2017.
In January 2018 I became part of the Community Builder Team and work part time helping to run the Social Clubs and organise our monthly events.
I meet some wonderful people in this role and enjoy knowing we are making a difference to their lives.
Carol Coombe – Community Builder Assistant
I love Harlow, I have always lived in Harlow and I'm proud to now be part of the Community Builder Team in my local area. I have worked at Rainbow Services since February 2018 and am enjoying meeting our club members and getting involved in the events that I hope enrich people's lives.
Jemma Wright– Assistant Community Builder
I have lived in Harlow since 2001. I worked in offices in London for many years until I had my daughter. From 2011-2018 I worked in a primary school in Bishops Stortford. I had been wanting to do volunteer work for some time and so I joined Rainbows as a Volunteer in March 2019. I recently became part of the team as a Community Builder Assistant and am looking forward to seeing what the future holds within this role.
Jason Shaves – Workshop Supervisor
I have lived in Harlow all my life and currently live near the Town Centre and Wych Elm, so not a long commute to work for me!
I have worked at Rainbow Services as the Workshop Supervisor since February 2014, but actually started as a sessional supervisor in October 2013.
My previous jobs have been as a European coach driver for 6 years and before that I was in the building trade for as long as I can remember!
I really enjoy my work at Rainbow, apart from keeping my very busy, I feel that I am really making a difference to the lives of the community service workers by giving them the opportunity to develop their skills or learn new ones.
Mark Savill –Workshop Co-ordinator
Born in Harlow, I have lived here for most of my life and now live just a few minutes from Wych Elm, so a brief jog to work for those that are inclined to do so (which is not me).
Having previously worked as a security consultant, I started as a workshop volunteer in the summer of 2018 and moved to co-ordinator in June 2019.
Working with Rainbow Services, especially their youth projects, has been extremely rewarding so far and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in the future.
Workshop Assistant
Kate Greer – Business Engagement Officer
I have worked for Rainbow Services for a few years, initially at the Harlow Health Resource Centre and then as the Information Officer creating the weekly e-bulletin for Voluntary Sector Forum members. In August I started a new role as the Engagement Officer for the new Business Engagement Project.
Since 2010 I have worked both in Harlow and in Hertfordshire as a Youth Worker. I am currently in the final year studying for a degree in Youth Work and Community Learning and Development and in 2014 I completed a Certificate of Higher Education in Charity and Social Enterprise Management at Anglia Ruskin University. The knowledge I have gained whilst studying will be put to good use in my new role.
I am really looking forward to working in the local community bringing Harlow's businesses, charities and the local community together!
Lisa Brayshaw – Finance Officer
I joined Rainbow in 2015 after spending 5 years at home raising my family. I have a financial background having worked for a large blue chip company in my early career. Rainbow's flexibility and understanding has helped me with the transition back to work by enabling me to manage my time between my work and family life.


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Tarom Series
The Steca Tarom is the high end solar charge controller, optimally designed for demanding telecom applications and complex off-grid PV hybrid system architectures. A vast assortment of exciting features allows the user to adapt this controller to the particular needs of the installation in question. Steca's optimised SOC calculation is implemented in the Tarom.

subset: commoncrawl


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We are proud to offer oilfield servicing with highly qualified and experienced millwrights. Equipped with a fully rigged service truck ready to be dispatched to remote locations for troubleshooting and service, we make sure you get the best service possible. We have the equipment and skills required to deliver critical repair jobs.
As a leader in the industry, our engineers and machinists take pride in what we do. We provide competitive design, repair, and maintenance solutions to the oil and drilling industry. Our specialized experience and expertise can be relied on to perform maintenance tasks ranging from maintaining equipment, identifying critical problems and on-site repair.
Our team of experts service all standing and running rigs of all sizes. We have maintained and built extensive relationships throughout the industry and we are thankful to the many clients that we have served so far. Quality Millwright is determined to provide quality oilfield services across Alberta. Feel free to discuss your project with us, give us a call today for more information!


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The trolls is an entertaining video slot from Net Entertainment having a theme of fantasy. It is a 20 win line slot machine which has as much as 120,000 coins on offer. This game comes with some special symbols and features, which includes free spin that is activated when three or more scatters are spun. Your winnings are multiplied by 3 during this mode. Winnings made with use of wild symbol is also doubled. Golden Wild Symbol on middle reel is also worth noticing as it multiplies winnings by 4.
How to play
When you open this video slot, you shall be able to see some buttons at bottom of screen. These buttons are used for operation of the game. You can use the Coin Value button for setting value of the coins. Its value is increased with every click of the mouse. The exact coin value can be seen in a bar at bottom. To determine the number of paylines you wish to activate, you will have to use Bet Lines button. An alternative way of activating paylines is to click on any number at side of the reels.
For setting the amount of coins that you would like to bet for each line, you shall have to use Bet Level button. All the settings are visible at bottom of game's screen. You can also choose to play at highest bet level with max number of paylines by using Max bet button. On clicking this button, the reels start spinning immediately. Otherwise, you can manually spin the reels by clicking middle round button. To stop the spinning of reels faster, you can again click on the button.
Symbols and prizes
Being a very busy slot game, Trolls features all sorts of funny symbols on the reels. The décor and background of this game perfectly suits its theme. You are offered a chance of winning as much as 120,000 coins. The Golden Wild Symbol is offered to make up for the absence of any bonus game. This symbol appears only on the 3rd reel and it replaces every other symbols. If you use A Golden Wild in your winning combination, your winnings shall be multiplied by 4.
To net profit from Wild Symbols, you need at least 2 of those. You get 10,000 coins if you win five Wild Symbols. Apart from Scatters, these symbols also replace other symbols. Thus, you have more chances of creating winning combination. Your winnings are paid out twice the amount if you create winning combination using Wild Symbol.
Your winnings are also multiplied if you create winning combination with the help of Scatters. Free Spins are also granted by Scatters, 10, 20 and 30 of them are offered by 3, 4 and 5 Scatter Symbols respectively. During Free Spins, your winnings are multiplied by 3. During these rounds, you can win extra Free Spins.
Final thoughts
The Trolls slot game does offer a pretty enjoyable gaming experience. It has beautiful graphics and accompanying sound to go along with the 120,000 coins that it has on offer.


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The 5th season of Enfusion Reality has started recording and they are hosting their first round of fights tomorrow at Chaweng Stadium on Koh Samui, Thailand. There is a sole South African representative in Ferial Ameeroedien, who is flying the flag high! This season really has a collection of some of the best female fighters in this divison from around the world, so definityl worth checking it out if you are in the area. Or wait for it to come on TV soon!
1. Reserve fight
Nevenka Mikulić (Croatia) Vs Maria Pantazi (Greece)
Iman Barlow (England) Vs Simone Van Dommelen (The Netherlands)
Samantha van Doorn (The Netherlands) Vs Filipa Correia (Portugal)
Fatima Pinto (Norway) Vs Sammy-Lee Brown (Australian)
Marina Zueva (Russia) Vs Meryem Uslu (Germany)
Johanna Rydberg (Sweden) Vs Ferial Ameeroedien (South Africa)
Anissa Meksen (France) Vs Adi Rotem (Israel)
Ashley Nichols (Canada) Vs Soraya Haurissa (Indonesia)
Isis Verbeek (The Netherlands) Vs Lizzie Largilliere (France)


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Vail Valley Voices: Pot issue difficult for Eagle
Vail, CO, Colorado
I find it interesting that marijuana seems to elicit such passionate feelings from the community, and the referendum earlier in the year was fairly involved. But when it came time for input regarding the regulation of that same business, the public was silent, less one member and the current owners of the only marijuana dispensary in town.
The Town Board was nearly silent, as well, since there were almost not enough trustees for a quorum. Two were absent, and one abstained from the discussion without referencing why. The four of us still at the front spent nearly two hours blowing the time estimate (I think so, anyway, as honestly, time was lost) going through 19 pages related to the licensing of the business.
In the end, the result seemed solid, and there will be only one business allowed until the population in Eagle reaches 10,000.
Besides the marijuana issue, there was public comment that took up almost an hour.
First up was district attorney candidate Bruce Brown (http://brucebrownforda.com) introducing himself.
Next was an FYI presentation on a proposal to improve the Eagle County Fairgrounds to attract horse shows. The mayor and Trustee Turnipseed vocalized excitement about the possibility, although the fate of this project seems to lie with the county commissioners when they review the 2013 budget.
The town requested an update on the farmers market, which was provided by KZYR, which took it over this year. In 2012, it moved to Eagle Ranch, but it seems it will move again – this time away, as KZYR did not see it coming back in 2013. There was discussion and questions related to the viability of a market in Eagle, especially on Friday nights, along with the challenges faced this summer.
A liquor license renewal passed with no issues, which made the Pastatively owner in attendance happy.
Although this probably isn't typically exciting, it seemed the extension of the CenturyLink cable systems franchise agreement through February 2013 will be a great thing for Eagle. This agreement will give a good chance to the company approving a project that will improve bandwidth, among other things, the first of its kind in a community with less than 10,000 people. The representative at the meeting, who graciously sat through the marijuana discussion, seemed optimistic and excited about this project for our community.
The next ordinance was not approved, since it related to attempting to enforce people's trash habits. The goal of this was to decrease bear activity in town, but given the probability of excessive staff time issuing fines and writing warnings, the board preferred to go the route of an education campaign first.
Also not approved was the Eagle County memo of understanding for the jointly purchased parcel 111 Violet Lane. Nobody seemed to think the agreement made a lot of sense, and it needed to be more equitable and specific than was written.
Staff presented sales tax numbers for the second quarter (down slightly but with a cover memo stating some delays in reporting), along with the Eagle Information Center financials (the town took over the center from the Eagle Chamber in January). The numbers did not seem complete to this trustee, and I've asked for details to clarify what I am missing.
The goal-setting session recap was tabled until a future work session to ensure we can give it the proper attention, since it is important direction for the board for the next two to three years.
Given the lateness of the hour, the open discussion did not last long. There was a request to hear about the mayor's trip to visit RED Development in Kansas City, a thank-you to staff for two-sided copies in the board packet and a request for more cover memos, as was done with the sales tax, to decrease the questions at the beginning of each item since our agendas will only become more full.
On this particular night, an executive session regarding personnel took additional time, pushing the meeting past 11 p.m.
If you are curious as to what will happen next at 200 Broadway, or better yet, if you'd like to use your last chance for public comment on the Haymeadow sketch plan review, the next meeting is today at 6 p.m.
See ya'll at Town Hall!
Brandi Resa is an Eagle trustee maneuvering through her first political appointment. She writes about her experience at http://www.brandi
onboard.wordpress.com. She does not speak for the full Town Board.
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Vail, Beaver Creek opening more terrain, hoping for full season
A Nov. 30 to Governor Polis and the Eagle County Commissioners from Beaver Creek Resorts Company – as well as the towns of Vail, Avon, Eagle and Minturn – requests a variance program which would allow businesses to remain open.


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Breaking down the AUTOSAR C++14 Coding Guidelines for Adaptive AUTOSAR
Adaptive AUTOSARAdd bookmark
The automotive industry has undergone radical changes in the last decade. New functionalities that have been introduced to modern cars have fundamentally changed them into computing centers.
This is reflected in the development of the platforms that are used for building the automotive software, specifically AUTOSAR. The "classic" approach which assumed static configuration at compilation time, no dynamic memory allocation, and predominance of the C language is no longer sufficient. New features require a lot of advanced code, such as:
- Automated driving
- V2X communication (vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication)
- Continual over-the-air updates
- High definition multimedia
- AI computing, image recognition
These new features also require changes in the paradigms that were sufficient for the classic approach. To address these challenges, the AUTOSAR Consortium, which includes most of the car manufacturers in the world, released the new edition of the AUTOSAR standard in March 2017, called Adaptive AUTOSAR. The release of the new standard does not invalidate the Classic Platform, it will still stay as a primary choice for control units with no connectivity needs, limited hardware requirements, and hard real-time functionality.
Adaptive AUTOSAR defines a platform for developing automotive control units which provide sophisticated functionalities like advanced driving assistance systems, media streaming, or software updates via internet. The platform contains the specification of interfaces that define services and APIs. Some of the novelties introduced in Adaptive AUTOSAR are:
- Object Oriented approach
- C++ programming language
- Service oriented architecture
- POSIX operating system
- ECU configuration changes during system runtime
- Over the air deployment and updates
C is not enough
Adaptive AUTOSAR was an answer to the growing complexity of requirements for modern cars and new challenges that the "connected world" paradigm imposed on the automotive systems. The C language, which was the primary choice in the past for automotive developers, became a blocker, or at least the slowdown. The complexity of the systems forced a switch from the C language to C++, which offers better support for structuring the large and distributed systems, and provides better mechanisms for data encapsulation.
Adaptive AUTOSAR relies on the C++14 language standard. The choice of the language standard version was a selection between "not too old" and "not too new". On the one hand, we have C++98 and C++03 which are still widely used in the automotive industry, but they are outdated and do not correspond to the modern development patterns. On the other hand, we have the C++17, standard which is still very fresh. The argument to leave behind the C++98 and C++03 was:
- Substantial evolution/improvements of C++ language
- Availability of better compilers
- Availability of better testing and analysis tools
One of the main reasons not to go for C++17, was that the new features introduced in the standard may bring security risks to the systems – detecting and understanding security vulnerabilities require some time. In addition, C++ compilers that comply with C++17 standard are still very new and require more testing and better support for use in safety-critical development. So, the choice was made to rely on C++14 standard as a reasonable middle option.
What about coding guidelines?
The release of the Adaptive AUTOSAR platform increased the adoption of modern C++ in automotive projects. This made one specific problem to be very visible: while the C++ language evolution speeded up in the last years, the automotive coding standards seemed to fall behind. At the time when C++11 and C++14 were released, the most popular automotive coding standard for C++, MISRA C++2008, was already seriously outdated and was addressing only C++03 version of the language.
With every year, the problem was growing and becoming more nagging. Developers widely accepted the new features of the latest C++ standards, and started using them without appropriate guidance. This situation was especially problematic for teams developing safety-critical systems which are required by ISO26262 to use static analysis with suitable set of coding guidelines.
To solve this problem, the AUTOSAR Consortium released the dedicated guidelines document as a part of Adaptive AUTOSAR platform, which is titled, "Guidelines for the use of the C++14 language in critical and safety-related systems." Relying on unmodified MISRA C++ 2008 would simply be an offense. The situation is depicted by the timeline below:
1998 – C++98 standard is released
2003 – C++03 standard is released
2008 – MISRA C++2008 (covers C++03)
2011 – C++11 standard is released
2014 – C++14 standard is released
2017 – AUTOSAR C++14 (March)
2017 – C++17 standard is released (December)
AUTOSAR C++14 Coding guidelines
The AUTOSAR C++ 14 guidelines document is meant to be an update for MISRA C++ 2008 and provides coding guidelines for modern C++ as defined by ISO/IEC 14882:2014. The main application of this coding standard is the automotive industry, but it can be used in other industries where embedded programming is required.
The standard specifies 342 rules:
- 154 rules are adopted from MISRA C++ 2008 without modifications (67%)
- 131 rules are based on existing C++ standards
- 57 rules are based on the research or other literature or resources
The standard is well documented and provides traceability to the other existing C++ standards, such as HIC++ 4.0, JSF, SEI CERT C++, C++ Core Guidelines, and of course to MISRA C++ 2008.
AUTOSAR C++14 follows the rules classification approach from MISRA C++ 2008. The rules are classified according to obligation level:
- Required rules: mandatory for claiming compliance with the standard
- Advisory rules: recommended but without mandatory status
In addition, the rules are also classified according to enforcement by static analysis tools:
- Automated: can be fully supported by static analysis tools
- Partially automated: can be supported by static analysis tools but may require additional practices such as code review
- Non-automated: cannot be supported with static analysis tools.
And finally, rules are classified according to allocation target: implementation, verification, toolchain and infrastructure. Rules in the AUTOSAR C++14 standard are tagged with the information about classification, for example:
How do I become compliant?
In 2016, the MISRA consortium released a document titled, "MISRA Compliance:2016 Achieving compliance with MISRA Coding Guidelines." This document was very well-received in the industry, as it addressed a very important need of defining the process of achieving compliance, specifying what exactly it means to be compliant.
AUTOSAR C++14 does not provide any similar guidance on the process of achieving compliance, at least not directly. But given that AUTOSAR guidelines are based on MISRA C++ 2008, it is reasonable to refer back to the MISRA standard to look for the guidance about the process of achieving compliance.
MSRA C++2008 discusses the compliance requirements with fewer details and attention than the "MISRA Compliance:2016" document; however, in section 4.3, we can find some hints on the process adoption:
- Produce a compliance matrix which states how each rule is enforced
- Produce a deviation procedure
- Formalize the working practices within the quality management system
Fulfilling these requirements means some additional paperwork. The first thing that should happen is a definition of the compliance matrix, which is effectively a declaration of how we are going to enforce every guideline (example below). The desired situation is to have a static analysis tool that covers as many guidelines as possible. The rules that cannot be enforced with static analysis will most likely require manual reviews, which are expensive.
In addition to the compliance matrix, a deviations handling procedure needs to be established. The deviation procedure formalizes the steps that need to be taken when development needs to deviate from a specific guideline. As MISRA prescribes it, "is expected that the procedure will be based around obtaining a sign-off for every deviation or class of deviations."
This is a very important piece of the puzzle – it prevents abusing the deviation concept by developers deviating at will. Effectively, we will need some kind of formal tickets stored in our system that document every deviation in the source code. The same pertains to the compliance matrix and any additional configurations and process descriptions created to enforce compliance. MISRA C++2008 is very clear here and requires "formalization within quality system."
Finally, if all of the procedures described in MISRA C++ 2008 point 4.3 are in place, we can claim compliance by demonstrating the following:
- A compliance matrix has been completed that shows how compliance has been enforced
- All of the C++ code in the product is compliant with the rules of MISRA C++2008 document or subject to documented deviations
- A list of all instances of the rules not being followed is being maintained and for each instance there is an appropriately signed-off deviation
The "MISRA Compliance:2016" document updates the directions given in MISRA C++2008 for establishing the compliance process. Some teams may prefer to use it as a base for the AUTOSAR C++14 compliance process, as it is newer and more detailed. Just as with MISRA C++ 2008, "MISRA Compliance:2016" requires a formal process for handling deviations and you must document stating enforcement methods for every applicable guideline. This document is called the Guidelines Enforcement Plan (GEP).
"MISRA Compliance:2016" extends the requirements for the compliance process and introduces some new concepts, like the Guidelines Recategorization Plan (GRP), which documents in a formal way any changes that are introduced to rule categories, and the Guidelines Compliance Summary (GCS), which is basically a final artifact from the compliance process that presents the level of compliance that was achieved for every guideline.
"MISRA Compliance:2016" also uses rule categorizations that were introduced in the MISRA C 2012, and are different from those in the MISRA C++ 2008 and AUTOSAR C++14 standards. These differences, however, do not seem to be fundamental, and adopting "MISRA Compliance:2016" as a base for AUTOSAR C++14 is certainly an option.
Where do we go from here?
The automotive industry is dynamically evolving. Among many other changes, we are witnessing the transformation of the car to a device more akin to a mobile phone, perhaps. The concept of purchasing a specific functionality of a car in form of an app is a reality. Long drive for vacation? Why not to buy a cruise control for 2 weeks?
To cope with these challenges, the automotive industry needs constant innovation in the area of hardware and software platforms that are used in modern cars. These innovations need to be supported with appropriate standards, on various levels, which assure functional safety, quality and security. AUTOSAR C++14 certainly contributes to this process. But standards themselves are just a piece of paper (if we print them) and their implementation is simply not possible without tools that bring automation to the practices and process and enable automotive software development teams to focus on delivering better and more advanced functionalities.
The only practical way to enforce compliance with a coding standard like AUTOSAR C++14 is with a static analysis tool with sophisticated reporting that aligns with the requirements imposed by the standards. To get started with compliance, it is important to start with a phased and organized approach, especially when cleaning existing code bases. It is a recommended practice to start with the subset of the rules from the standard, and progressively increase the number of active rules as cleaning of the code progresses. Great reporting will allow you to constantly monitor the progress of your codebase, control the deviation process, and make educated decisions about extending the rule set on your path to compliance.


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Despair, for me, is a gift rather than a debilitating condition in life. Somehow, in all its ironies, I found joy and contentment instead of pessimism.
Years back, I was in dire desperation: I blossomed into unprepared motherhood at 31. My partner had left without a word even before our son, Tarko, turned one. I was jobless and, thus, penniless. I was torn between wanting to be a hands-on mom and returning to office work to earn a decent living. I had not prepared myself for single parenting.
Those desperate years were almost crippling, but I was never the type to give up. So I moved on.
My only-human nature was pushing me to get back to real work so Tarko and I could have more, buy more, and live with more. My maternal instincts, however, suggested that I should spend more time with him. But I felt a certain void, a hole somewhere inside me, when I had almost everything. That experience made me follow my instinct: I stayed home with him, engulfed myself in motherhood, and sought freelance writing work online.
My first year as an online freelance writer was not very lucrative because I had to juggle parenting responsibilities and household chores. I hardly had restful sleep or an enjoyable bath; everything seemed to have a deadline. And in spite of all the hard work and sleepless nights over heaps of paperwork, I was living a hand-to-mouth existence with Tarko. I sometimes even sought financial assistance from my parents when work payments were delayed. I was tempted now and then to chuck freelancing, but I managed to keep my faith, believing something good was going to come out of this. As long as my son didn't starve, it was all good.
Eventually, I realized that working from home so I could see my son grow every single minute of his early life was, in fact, the best decision I'd ever made. Living a penniless life with him, I learned the value of little things and appreciated them. I was surprised by how such minute details could actually give you absolute happiness and meaning. And most of all, his presence tugged me closer to my faith and dreams.
Money, of course, is a necessity, but now I don't let it run our lives. Instead, I am a mother and father to Tarko every moment of his life: we watch kites fly in the summers, jump at the sight of airplanes hovering above us, dance in the rain, goof around on lazy days, run to the beach when we feel like it, and snuggle at night in prayer.
Today, I am no longer interested in the glitter of money and fame because I am enjoying a simple life with Tarko—all that I really need. You could say he revived my passion for writing, and then I made despair my creative engine. Although lucrative writing assignments have been tossed my way lately, I have become a bit wiser, not losing sight of what's essential in life.
With my son, there is an entirely new meaning and purpose in life. We don't have much, yet we are happy. And when you don't cling to fleeting material indulgences, you learn more of life. I realized all I needed was a son to show me the way. And that beneath my despair and destitution actually lay my life's real gem.
Lorela U. Sandoval writes for print and online magazines, provides Web and e-book copies to freelance clients, and is a happy single mom to Tarko, a hilarious and hyperactive boy.
(First published in the "Blessings" section of the April 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines; adapted for use in Female Network. Photo by Christopher Dannug via Flickr Creative Commons; used for illustrative purposes only.)
Despair, for me, is a gift rather than a debilitating condition in life. Somehow, in all its ironies, I found joy and contentment instead of pessimism.


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IDEAlliance Launches New Mail.dat User License Code Program
ALEXANDRIA, VA—January 28, 2013—IDEAlliance has announced a revision in its popular Mail.dat User License Code program that will substantially reduce the fees paid by mail preparers and facilitate the transition to electronic postage payment. The Mail.dat specification specifies a User License Code to accompany files for the purpose of uniquely identifying the sender through the postal supply chain. The Mail.dat specification, and the software infrastructure upon which it's built, defines mail preparation today and is developed and maintained by IDEAlliance, a non-profit industry association, in cooperation with the United States Postal Service (USPS).
In January 2013, IDEAlliance undertook a program to reduce the cost of User License Codes by providing the codes seamlessly through mail preparation software. Under the new program, IDEAlliance will now provide Mail.dat User License Codes through Royalty License Agreements with participating software providers.
"IDEAlliance is responding to the needs of the industry to more widely distribute Mail.dat User License Codes," said Christopher Lien, director, IDEAlliance, and vice president of software marketing, Bell and Howell. "At the same time, mailing software developers from across the industry are stepping up to annually fund the development of Mail.dat and Mail.XML through a royalty license. We support IDEAlliance as the independent body that works cooperatively across the industry with the US Postal Service to create the standards of the future."
As a benefit to participating in the program, mailing software developers will be authorized to provide User License Codes directly to their customers as part of their Mail.dat generating and editing solutions. Organizations can still purchase separate User License Codes directly from IDEAlliance at a nominal fee.
Under the program IDEAlliance will be enforcing its rights under its trademark to insure compliance. Under the new program for the distribution of Mail.dat User License Codes, IDEAlliance will provide Royalty License Agreements in three categories:


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Indico 85 – Ist Floor Apt. – Ref:2002
1st floor apartment. The Apartment Is Very Well Situated Just A 2 Minute Walk From The Hacienda Riquelme Restaurant, Bar And Supermarket And Pro Shop. The Resort Is Just A 20 Minute Drive From San Javier Airport And To The Many Blue Flag Beaches On The Mar Menor And 3 Minute Drive From The Local Village Of Sucina.
The apartment is very well furnished with all mod cons including TV with multi channels and free wifi. There are fitted wardrobes and drawers in the bedrooms and each room, including the lounge, has a ceiling fan. I've tried to make this a home from home, not just a basic rental property as I also spend time here with my family. There is a telephone in the kitchen but only for calls inside the resort and Polaris World network. There are twin beds in each room but these can be zipped together to make a double. The apartment is light and airy and very homely and comfortable.
Goldenbear Holiday Homes are the only selling agent on Hacienda Riquelme who offer a cashback incentive to clients wishing to purchase a property on this wonderful golf complex.
Owners, if you are wanting to sell your apartment you can benefit from our very low commission which means more money in your pocket and also gives you a much better negotiating position.
Some agents charge well in excess of EUR6000 to sell a property on Hacienda Riquelme which leaves you with very little room to negotiate. With our low commissions you are in a much better bargaining position when you use Goldenbear Holiday Homes.
Say no to high commissions. Our cash back incentive gives the benefit to both buyer & seller. Goldenbear Holiday Homes is becoming more and more popular as a selling agent and is fast becoming the agent of choice for both sellers and purchasers on Hacienda Riquelme.
Having an on-site property manager is a must have for any apartment owner. You will have complete piece of mind knowing that your key holder / property management team is residing on site and able to respond swiftly to any emergency situation that may arise.
Goldenbear Holiday Homes offers you that piece of mind.
Established on hacienda Riquelme since 2007
Offering owners and rental clients a wide range of services
Property management specialist
Baby equipment hire
Taxi service
Apartment cleaning & changeovers
Welcome packs
Airport transfers
Meet & greet service or key safe
Sleeps up to: 4
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
WCs: 1
Furniture: Single Beds (4), Sofabeds (1), Dining Seats (4), Lounge Seats (4)
General: Central Heating, Linen and Towels
Appliances: Fridge, Freezer, Cooker, Microwave, Toaster, Kettle, Dish Washer, Washing Machine, Clothes Dryer, Hairdryer, Iron
Entertainment: TV, Satalite, DVD Player, CD Player, Internet Access, WiFi Available
Outside: Balcony/Terrace, Shared Swimming Pool
Other: Secure Parking, Lift Access
Suitability: Wheelchair Accessible, Suitable for Children, Pets Not Considered, Smoking Permitted
Changeover Day: Optional
Outdoors The apartment has excellent views over the large communal swimming pool and 11th fairway. One of the best features is the large balcony, making it excellent for al fresco dining. Or for a change, you can take a short stroll up the original Hacienda Riquelme which offers an outside bar/terrace and restaurant.
There are plenty of areas to visit including Murcia and Cartagena cities, the Mar Menor with it's many splendid beaches and towns and the bustling town of Torrevieja and all the superb beaches along the coastline. A car is advisable to fully enjoy the area but it's not essential if you want to relax or have a walking holiday. My key holder offers a taxi service for the days you do want to venture out.
There are numerous golf courses too. If you are a golfer, you'll know them but first there is Hacienda Riquelme on your doorstep and La Torre and other courses in the Jack Nicholas Trail, not to mention Las Ramblas, Campoamor, Villa Martin, La Manga. Tempted?


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Best kept secret in the investment world!yusolutions Jan 24, 2009 11:04 PM
Best kept secret in the investment world!
The Forex market involves the buying and selling of the various world currencies which are constantly changing in value. Forex is the largest (2 trillion per day), most lucrative and liquid financial market in the world, but few people know it exists. Neither your banker nor your broker are going to tell you about it because, quite frankly they can't compete.
The way most people are discovering the forex market today is by word of mouth.(friends telling friends)
There are only 3 ways to participate in FOREX...
- Hire a professional trader : to trade your money for your (relinquish control)
- Buy A self trading course-Spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours teaching \\ \\ \\ yourself how to trade currencies and hope you're not among the 95% who fail in their first \\ \\ \\ 60 days.
- Forex Robot - Set it and Forget it proprietary Software.
Set it and forget it Forex trading system:
It does not teach people how to trade but rather, how to use proprietary software to set up their own trading account at the brokerage of their choice so that it buys and sells currencies for them. Takes about an hour to learn and just a few minutes per week to possibly average more gains in your account
monthly than many banks and mutual funds average annually.
We make profits on the difference in interest that various contries' Central Banks set on their respective currency. (Banks have been doing this for years with your money and call this (Carry Trade Investing)
If your portfolio is set up correctly , you'll be paid daily interest on the money you control.
This interest is not just paid on the portion of money that we've invested from our brokerage account, but on a considerably larger amount of money our Forex Brokerage has allowed us to Leverage in the Market.
The only company to offer proprietary Internet accessible technology that takes the complications and guesswork out of investing on the Foreign Currency Exchange (Forex) and allows you to start trading with as little as $50 is below:
You can Join FabTurbo for a $149 one time set up fee, Create your own trading account in an hour or two, sit back and watch it go to work for you.
No classes, No books, No learning to read charts and graphs and no staying up late at night staring at a computer screen for hours "guessing".
Set it and forget It!


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- Article
- Backgrounder
- Blog Post
- Book
- Conference Call
- Contingency Planning Memorandum
- Council Special Report
- Event
- Expert Brief
- Expert Roundup
- Explainer Video
- In Brief
- Infoguide
- Interactive
- Interview
- News Releases
- Podcast
- Policy Innovation Memorandum
- Quiz
- (-) Report
- Task Force Report
- Teaching Notes
- Testimony
- Timeline
- Tracker
July 27, 2020United Nations
African UN member states should act as unifiers and conveners rather than dividers. More coordination could help them overcome the structural challenges they face at the United Nations.
January 30, 2020Global Governance
Sessions were held on the future of the European Union, a global governance of migration, the weaponization of economic interdependence, the French nuclear deterrence strategy, European strategic aut…
January 30, 2020Health
Mitigating potential communicable disease in refugee populations is a subset of efforts for human rights, equality, and dignity. A basic multilateral framework could improve health care in these situ…
January 30, 2020Health
Refugee health needs in non-camp, urban settings have increasingly shifted to noncommunicable diseases. Providing preventive care and specialist treatment requires a massive influx of resources, but …
December 18, 2019Conflict Prevention
In CFR's annual Preventive Priorities Survey, U.S. foreign policy experts assess the likelihood and impact of thirty potential conflicts that could emerge or escalate in the coming year.
June 14, 2019Global Governance
Sessions at the Council of Councils conference were held on global change and world order, managing the global risk of nuclear weapons, the challenges of rapid urbanization, the future of freedom, and managing the conflict in Yemen.
November 27, 2018North Korea
Sessions were held on denuclearizing North Korea, addressing global health among the world's aging population, managing energy and the environment in Asia, and the intersection of technology and nati…
August 20, 2018European Union
In July 2018, the Council on Foreign Relations' Center for Preventive Action convened a workshop to examine areas of cooperation between the United States and the European Union. The workshop was mad…
June 18, 2018Global Governance
No state can successfully manage migration alone. The adoption of a global compact and the consolidation of relevant institutional architecture would help states facilitate regular migration, cope with illegal crossings, and humanely respond to forced migration.
May 23, 2018Southeast Asia
The United States' strategic and economic relationships with Southeast Asia are deteriorating fast and may be seriously diminished by 2030. However, the United States can take several measures to bolster its strategic and economic ties with Southeast Asia to counter China's rise in the region.


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Raising a child with strong Christian ideals is becoming increasingly more difficult in today's world. Movies, TV shows, games, and books all expose young people to different messages; many times these messages conflict with those that are being instilled in the home.
Apologia has long been known for their wonderful science programs. Now they've put themselves back on the map with a new series of Christian character-building curriculum's. The "What We Believe" Series is a wonderful tool for parents and educators that help develop and instill aspects of the Christian faith.
The series is student-directed and Biblical-based. The books that we reviewed, Who am I?, helps students develop a healthy self-image based on Biblical truths. Intended for children ages 6 to 14, this program is easily adaptable for younger children; making it perfect for a large family that wants to teach multiple levels at the same time.
An aspect of the program that appealed to me is the notebooking journal. This full-color, spiral-bound notebooking journal includes lesson plans, artful graphics, imaginative prompts for writing and drawing, puzzles, activities, and mini books. We are very big on narrations in our homeschool curriculum and this notebook offered a wonderful way for my boys to reflect and record thoughts and feelings about the teachings.
Overall I was really impressed with this program. It is intended to be student-directed, but I had a very hard time figuring out how my younger learners, ages six and barely eight, would complete this on their own. It was definitely more successful with my full involvement with the younger boys.
Another mom I know is familiar with this very series and has offered to let me quote her thoughts on my blog review as well. She used the program with her two girls, ages six and eight and writes, "I like how the curriculum uses stories to "sneak in" a conversation about God. I also like how the authors include historical or cultural information about the setting or time periods of the stories. They are learning on lots of levels." She also pointed out to me that she had to direct the lessons for her kids, making me think that this as a self-directed program is much more effective for older learners.
I encourage you to visit the website and check out the Who Am I series. Although it is Volume 2, there are no prerequisites. The books range in cost from $8.00 to $39.00. I would also like to point out that this series is not designed specifically for homeschoolers. In fact, the other mom I quoted does not homeschool her kids. The program is designed for any family that wants to deepen the faith development of their children. I strongly believe that parents are the most important teachers when it comes to teaching about faith. This series will give you the tools to get started.
Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Group, I received the above mentioned products free of charge in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I received no other compensation.


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US President Donald Trump has apparently been hoodwinked by Saudi Arabia into believing that the kingdom will be able to make up for a projected drop in Iranian oil exports after the US sanctions take effect in November, Iran's Press TV reported citing the head of the country's OPEC governor.
"It seems President Trump has been taken hostage by Saudi Arabia and a few producers when they claimed they can replace 2.5 million barrels per day of Iranian exports, encouraging him to take action against Iran," Hossein Kazempour Ardebili said.
US Back and Forth on Iran Oil Trade
The White House said last month that Saudi Arabia's King Salman had promised Trump to raise oil production and that the kingdom had two million barrels per day of spare capacity to boost output to offset a decline Iranian oil supplies..
Late last month, a senior US State Department official said that countries buying Iranian oil should bring their Iranian crude imports down to zero by the time Washington re-imposes sanctions against the Islamic Republic's banking and petroleum sectors.
Washington later backed off a bit with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying in July that the United States might grant waivers to countries seeking relief from sanctions the US has threatened to impose.
Trump's U-Turn on Iran
On Monday, President Trump said he would be willing to meet his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani without preconditions to discuss how to improve ties, but Tehran flatly turned down Trump's offer dismissing it as worthless and "a humiliation" after he acted to re-impose sanctions on Tehran following the withdrawal from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal.
"Sanctions and pressures are the exact opposite of dialogue," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Tuesday.
Trump's overture towards Iran came a week after he threatened the country with "consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before," in an all caps tweet.
On May 8, President Donald Trump said he was withdrawing the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran and promised to impose the "highest level" of sanctions on the country's energy, petrochemical and financial sectors despite objections from Europe as well as Russia and China — the other parties to the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
READ MORE: US Must 'Show it is Trustworthy' Before Iran Will Negotiate New Deal — Scholar


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It's nice for a patient to return to the comforts of home. Homes are more peaceful than hospitals and more private. They offer a familiarity that can be much more inviting than a bustling clinical setting out of town.
But patients will still need assistance while they are recovering or experiencing side effects. They will need someone to help with tasks they are too fatigued for, assistance with errands and monitoring their health for positive or adverse changes.
Homecare provides a unique balance between the high-level care of the hospital in the familiar setting of a patient's own home.
What Is Homecare for Mesothelioma Patients?
With homecare, families may hire a caregiver who works in patients' homes, providing assistance with daily tasks as well as companionship. A caregiver may help with medication as well as basic health and hygiene tasks that may have become too difficult for the patient. This includes assistance with dressing, bathing, and dining.
Some caregivers will cook for patients, crafting up wholesome and nutritious meals. They can also take the reins on house maintenance and upkeep, providing or managing the cleaning of the home.
In addition to assisting with basic personal tasks like these, at-home caregivers often have the ultra-important role of monitoring the patient's health. This means observing the effects of treatments and watching for critical changes in wellbeing.
Caregivers can note any unusual side effects or concerning signs and ensure the patient discusses this with their doctor. On the other hand, a caregiver may also be the first to notice positive indications.
Benefits of Homecare for Mesothelioma Patients
The benefits of homecare can be looked at in contrast to the advantages of hospice care. While hospice care is associated with palliative care, home care is beneficial for any patient, including those with early-stage mesothelioma and those with relatively good prognoses.
Often early-stage patients will just be coming off treatments. They may be recovering from radical surgery or in between rounds of chemotherapy. This is often when non-palliative patients need the most help.
In other cases, homecare for mesothelioma can double as general senior care. Because the majority of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are older (the average age of diagnosis is 73), some patients could benefit from at-home care despite having cancer. Having a caregiver to add ease to their day and provide a positive presence may provide value both in terms of their battle with mesothelioma as well as in terms of general assisted living.
As well as providing significant benefits for mesothelioma patients themselves, having an in-home caretaker can be advantageous for family caregivers. Family caregivers who need some relief or time to attend to their other needs, work obligations and relationships can take comfort in knowing their loved one is well cared for in the meantime.
Finding a Good Home Caregiver
Patients will not only spend a lot of time with their in-home caregiver, but they also entrust critical tasks to them such as medication management, health monitoring and food prep among many other things.
It's absolutely essential that you find a home caregiver that is dependable, trustworthy and up to speed. This is a very important job, and whether you select a skilled caregiver or someone who's less comfortable in the role will make a great deal of difference in a patient's life.
Some factors you will want to consider when selecting a home care provider include:
- How established the agency is
- Its hiring practices and training methodologies
- Benefits and policies protecting employees
- Transparency and communication with patient families
- Emergency management procedures
- Whether quality of service is monitored by supervisors
- Handling of confidential patient information
- Experience with cancer patients
- Channels for complaints or concerns
- Any specializations the provider may have
- Accreditation
In addition to carefully considering these factors and asking providers to demonstrate how and whether they meet your expectations, you should also request references. Get in touch with the references and get detailed feedback on the provider. Once you are certain of a provider's reputation, you can confidently move forward.
The accrediting agencies for providers are:
|The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc.
|Community Health Accreditation Program
|Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Financing Mesothelioma Homecare
Many insurance plans will cover home visits, but most do not cover round-the-clock care. Others will cover skilled care, but not personal care. Medicare and Medicaid will cover part-time home care from skilled medical workers. These include professionals such as doctors, nurses, and physical therapists.
Generally, individuals will usually have to pay for the services provided by homemaker/attendant care agencies. Private duty homecare agencies and independent providers will typically have to be paid for by individuals as well. Patients who meet the requirements of The Older Americans Act or VA's Skilled Home Health Care Services (SHHC) and Homemaker and Home Health Aide Services (H/HHA), can often have this type of care covered.
How to Decide if Homecare Is Right for You
Deciding whether homecare is right for you (or your loved one with mesothelioma) involves many considerations, including
- Family members' schedules
- Patient wishes
- Patient's ability to manage their own tasks
- Patient's disease stage
- General patient health
For some, hospice care may be a more appropriate option, and sometimes in-home hospice care can even be arranged. Luckily, most patients can find a homecare solution that works for them. This is because there are many options for homecare, consisting of various levels of involvement.
Patients can have a health aide, a less involved personal attendant or even just a companion to keep good company. At the end of the day, the choice is up to the patient and their family, but it's best to assess needs realistically.
Whichever type of care you choose, ensure the patient's needs are being met and that the quality of care is of the highest standard possible. Dealing with mesothelioma is difficult for all parties involved, so the patient's care, comfort and quality of life should be of the utmost importance.
We can answer all your questions about home and/or hospice care and provide informational resources to help in your decision making.


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Here are some simple, FREE tips for enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend:
1. Don't go shopping today. (Learn how Big Retail is trying to kill Thanksgiving)
2. Don't go shopping tomorrow. (Learn the Dirty Secrets of Black Friday "Discounts")
3. Seriously, don't go shopping tomorrow. (video of Black Friday chaos)
Wishing you and your families a happy, healthy, less expensive Thanksgiving! :)


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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my links.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Perfect Bloody Mary! Not too spicy, not too bland and oh the garnish! What's not to love about bacon, peppery and smoky it adds a wonderful twist to this familiar brunch cocktail. The best part about a bloody mary is that you can make it with alcohol or without and garnish any way you want to! Give our version a try!
The Perfect Bloody Mary
- 2 Parts Vodka
- 3 Parts Tomato Juice
- ¼ Part Worcestershire Sauce
- ¼ Part Lemon Juice
- 2 Dashes Hot Sauce
- 1 Teaspoon Horseradish
- 1 Pinch Ground black pepper
- 1 Pinch Salt
- 1 Stick Celery
- 1 slice crispy Pepper Bacon for garnish
- stuffed green olives and cocktail onions for garnish
- Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass. Pour into a chilled glass, rimmed with coarse ground pepper and filled with ice cubes.
- Garnish with and olive and onion skewer and celery and bacon
Serve this in mason style jars for a fun change or by the pitcher for a large party. Any way you do it, your guests are sure to love it!


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A complete end-to-end connectivity solution from Belden helps HB Communications create an Audiovisual Ecosystem that provides a high-caliber communication and collaboration experience, and serves as a showpiece to help customers imagine what's possible when integrating AV and IT.
For more than 70 years, HB Communications has used technology to help organizations of all sizes improve communication. As one of the largest companies in its industry, HB Communications' team of 350+ designs, builds and supports AV communication environments that transform how organizations connect and communicate.
From video collaboration and digital signage to managed services and live event support, HB Communications' strength lies in custom AV/IT integration. It has helped well-known organizations like Mitsubishi, the Boston Celtics, New York Law School and Spotify build engaging AV communication environments.
During the recent renovation of its corporate headquarters in North Haven, CT, HB Communications wanted to reimagine how AV technology is implemented and integrated throughout not only its North Haven location, but also across the entire company.
"Using technology to connect used to be somewhat difficult at our headquarters," says Dan Barron, director of brand strategy. "We needed things to be truly simple."
Employees saw the opportunity to change the company's technology approach, making it easier and more straightforward to use. Creating a space like this would take advantage of decades of knowledge to showcase unique applications of technology and capabilities to customers, and improve internal and external communication and collaboration.
Working together, the marketing, finance, executive and IT teams created their concept of an Audiovisual Ecosystem, which serves as a showpiece and provides a state-of-the-art environment for meetings, impromptu collaboration and presentations to live or remote audiences.
The company had many goals for its Audiovisual Ecosystem:
At the center of the Audiovisual Ecosystem is the Hub, which provides space for collaboration, events and social gatherings. Several adjacent work areas offer customized spaces for small meetings, brainstorming and ad hoc meetings. Real-time data about HB Communications' managed services and clients is showcased in the new network operations center. An onsite content studio allows the company to produce its own videos, announcements and broadcasts.
"For being an AV company, we were so focused on what our customers needed that we didn't focus enough on how we could apply technology solutions to our own organization," says Daniel Barron, director of brand strategy at HB Communications. "So we analyzed our organization to identify opportunities to innovate and find out what employees needed and wanted, which drove our technology decisions. We used our technology specializations to enhance our own communication, collaboration and brand experience – just like we've helped so many of our customers do."
To support the technology that makes up this Audiovisual Ecosystem, HB Communications needed a cabling infrastructure that could provide seamless, constant connection and integration for all devices and content, including immersive video walls and digital signage, 4K video content and digital art, overhead audio and surround sound, and BYOD devices. Staff also wanted to integrate AV and IT to support a live, 24/7 connection between headquarters and remote locations.
"Our goal was to truly improve our business as much as we could through the use of technology," says Barron.
Working together on projects in the past, HB Communications was familiar with Belden and its reliable, high-quality, end-to-end connectivity solutions.
With the type and caliber of AV solutions being deployed in the Audiovisual Ecosystem, the company was confident that Belden could provide futureproof cable and connectivity solutions to bring these solutions to life, ensure constant uptime and provide smooth, reliable connections.
"We pretty much use just Belden cabling here," says Brian Metcalf, director of engineering. "From the audio and network cables to the HDBaseT and HDSDI cables, it's all Belden."
For AV transportation and video switching, more than 5,000 linear feet of Belden's 4K Ultra HD Media Cable supports a Crestron DigitalMedia system – a 32x32 DigitalMedia matrix switcher – which connects the Hub and a few other spaces to one frame and serves as the AV backbone, transmitting and distributing audio and video. "We're distributing 4K content across the board," says Metcalf.
A Biamp Audinate Dante audio networking system, which transports low-latency, uncompressed audio over IP networks, is supported by Belden cabling as well. This simple sound system allows users to enter a room, plug in a device and be ready to go. For sister company HB Live – the company's rental staging arm – the Audiovisual Ecosystem's sound system is set up to roll over a mixing console and plug into the Biamp audio network with a single cable to gain access to everything available in the built-in audio system.
More than 38,000 linear feet of Belden 10GX Category 6A cable support the needs of the Audiovisual Ecosystem, which required high-density connections and superb mechanical and electrical performance.
The REVConnect Connectivity System was also used to simplify termination. The connectors use a unique termination process with a universal core comprised of a cable manager and cap. Supporting devices requiring up to 100W of power, REVConnect creates highly reliable, gas-tight terminations for all Category 5e, 6 and 6A UTP and STP cables.
To ensure that installers were comfortable working with this new termination method, Belden provided onsite, hands-on training. "Once our technicians built competency with REVConnect, terminations went quickly and smoothly," says Metcalf. "We've had a winning record with them; very few reterminations were needed. REVConnect saves time and is quicker to terminate than a standard RJ45. A year and a half later, we haven't had any issues with terminations."
"REVConnect also reduced jobsite headaches. Ideally, terminations are tested with a cable tester once they're complete. When installers are under a tight schedule, however, this step is sometimes deferred. The cable is pulled, terminated and connected to the endpoint equipment. If the device doesn't work, the installer must deductively wade through many possible causes in order to confirm the root cause. But, when REVConnect is used, bad cable termination is easy to eliminate as the cause," says Metcalf.
By reimagining its headquarters and creating an Audiovisual Ecosystem for seamless internal and external communication, HB Communications proves that almost any type of collaboration is possible through the integration of AV and IT technology
"Our employees are confident with REVConnect," says Metcalf. "They're confident in how easy it is to use, and they want to use it. There has been a lot of growth in IP-based applications, particularly in teleconferencing and AV over IP. REVConnect improves HB's productivity, which demonstrates to our customers that they can enjoy this same productivity increase with a similar technology investment."
"Our employees are confident with REVConnect. They're confident in how easy it is to use, and they want to use it."
- Brian Metcalf, Director of Engineering at HB Communications


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An exploration of home: our amazing body and it's systems. How it works and what it needs. Inner & outer. Our physical environments. What we do in the world …our actions vs. our intentions and aligning the two. A balance of what we want vs. what we need. Everything tangible. How 'dis-ease' impacts our body causing illness and discomfort. Spotlight on self-care and physically manifesting what we want inside and out!
Posted by: Dr. Tina Morse PsyD, MFT
Topic: Body, Life Support
It may be more than the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Stop the hum and experience natural relief of tinnitus through healthy food and nutrition.
The phrase "driven to distraction" could have been coined with tinnitus sufferers in mind. Tinnitus, which stems from damage to the cochlea,read full article
Part 5 of 6 – Yoga fit challenge: Burn More Fat and Calories with Tara Stiles.read full article
Tone your whole body with Tara Stiles and get ready for summer!read full article
Let's lose the jiggle! Last week we focused on the bum, this week it's our legs. This is Part 3 of a 6 part series – and a guest post by Tara Stiles, the yoga instructor for Deepak Chopra.
Is it working for you?read full article
O.K., …we're getting bikini ready! Last week we focused on the stomach, this week it's our gluteus-maximus! This is Part 2 of a 6 part series. It is a guest post by Tara Stiles, the yoga instructor for Deepak Chopra.
Is it working for you?read full article
Summer is almost here! Are you bikini ready? It doesn't matter what other people think. It's what you think and how you feel that's most important.
I'm known to consistently challenge you to look and feel your best. What do you like to do to move your body so you'reread full article


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Want more tips to prevent fraud? We've got them!
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) has published simple steps any organization can take to identify and effectively manage potentially costly fraud losses:
1. Be proactive.
Establish and maintain internal controls specifically designed to prevent and detect fraud. Adopt a code of ethics for management and employees. Set a tone at the top that the company will not tolerate any unethical behavior.
2. Establish hiring procedures.
Every company, regardless of size, can benefit from formal employment guidelines. When hiring staff, conduct thorough background investigations. Check educational, credit and employment history, as well as references. After hiring, incorporate evaluation of the employee's compliance with company ethics and antifraud programs into regular performance reviews.
3. Train employees in fraud prevention.
Once carefully-screened employees are on the job, they should be trained in fraud prevention. Are employees aware of procedures for reporting suspicious activity by customers or co-workers? Do workers know the warning signs of fraud? Ensure that staff know at least some basic fraud prevention techniques.
4. Conduct regular audits.
High risk areas, such as financial or inventory departments, are obvious targets for routine audits. Surprise audits of those and all parts of the business are crucial.
5. Call in an expert.
For most accounting and law firms, fraud examination is not a core business component. That's why, when fraud is suspected or discovered, it is imperative to enlist the anti-fraud expertise of a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). The CFE credential is recognized by businesses and governments worldwide as the standard for fraud prevention and detection.
We can help you at Acuity Forensics. Give us a call at 360-573-5158.
Source: http://www.acfe.com/uploadedFiles/ACFE_Website/Content/documents/tips-to-prevent-fraud-2012.pdf


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Undersaddle Rider Help
Part 1 of 3
Red symbolizes
the riders position
Green denotes the would be change to be in balance
White dots are areas which are focus points or
Beings as
this photo was taken as Nichole and her horse were moving away from the camera the angle
is not the same as the straight line at the bottom of the photo. The
white line shows what the angle of the horse is in order to grasp the way of
The first
thing to be worked on is the upper leg. Specifically the rotating of the hip
joint inward. This will in turn adjust the thigh, knee, lower leg and foot.
When we look a the photo it is noticed that the leg is lying
"flat" and the knee is away from the saddle. When the leg lies in
such a position Nichole is not sitting in balance. The energy is flowing out and
back instead of forward. The green line denotes the leg wrapping
inward. Total explanation to the correction of the leg is found
in the Leg
Position page of Equine Riding Improvement section.
The red
line shows where the calf is resting on the horse. This is also influenced
from the thigh. If the calf was positioned in balance it would have
equal touching on the horse front and back thus denoting the green line from
center of side knee to the ankle bone.
The most noticeable
body part of the out of balance leg is the foot. The foot is pointed
to the outside. The energy also moves Nichole outward instead of
forward. The green line would denote a foot that is pointed straight
ahead or parallel to the horses side.
Which will be accomplished when the
hip and thigh is rotated inward. Thus the leg will be shaped to the
horses barrel. Even when we use spurs and rotate the
foot to have the neck touch the horse our body shifts weight and balance,
which the horse has to also adjust for the humans shifting. A great
spur that makes adjustments to this is the "Le Spur". The
teeth are positioned to the inside of the spur so no rotating of the foot
and calf are needed. This also makes the rider aware to have the lower leg
(below the knee) released and free from the horses side until the aid is to
be given.
The position
of the riders arms and hands influence the energy and communication with the
horses bit and mouth. The red line shows that Nichole's elbow to hand
is pointed toward the horses leg to the ground. The green line is clear communication from the
elbow to the bit. And the forearm and hand is to not go below this
line. Complete explanation
on the Wrist
position page of Equine
Riding Improvement section. But the forearm can also be more positioned as if you were
holding a platter full of food on the forearm and you can't tip it down. Especially
for curb and double bridle use.
The eyes
and head are looking into the ground through the horses ears. If the eyes
do this the rider gets fixed on one line. When that happens the body
in turns stiffens. The head allows the upper body to draw in or
collapse to itself, which the balance is lost. Nichole needs to
"loosen" up the eyes by looking parallel with the ground and then
looking around in a relaxed manor. Being aware of all the
I choose
the upper body last in this photo because all the above ties in to why the
upper body is hunched inwards. Nichole is not straight and tall. To
correct the slouching a rider can not just place the shoulders back.
This would only be a cosmetic fix and would stiffen the body. To help
sit tall Nichole needs to release the muscle contractions in the body or
relax with inner awareness. A rider can mistake sitting tall with
trying to over extend or stretch the body to much. When a rider over
stretches the pelvis will tip forward and the back will hollow to
much. To check for a good sitting tall posture the rider may place the
back of the hand on the small of the back. When the curve of the back
fits the flat back of the hand that is sitting tall. When the rider is collapsed
the small of the back will curve out wards like a balloon. When
the back is stretched to much upwards the small of the back try's to not
have contact with the back of the hand. The rider will also feel the pelvis
tip forward and the buttocks push backward. To help release muscle
tension and become aware from the inside out check out the page Detaching
the body from the use of muscle constriction .
to the posting trot photo's
Training Articles
Approach Articles
© Donna
Hildreth 1998 - 2009
DbarH Logo designed by Horsedesigns.


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For a long time, the cure for diabetes type 1 and type 2 has relied on agonizing insulin shots for patients or insulin infusion via mechanical pumps. Regarding this, experts have been creating artificial pancreatic beta cells with the he…
Sleep tracking technologies are used to study the sleep patterns and are considered as a diagnostics tools for sleep medicine.
Scope of the Report:
The increasing prevalence and incidence rate of sleep disorders are expected to be the dominant factor driving the sleep tracking technologies market over the forecast period.
The global Sleep Tracking Technologies market is valued at xx million USD in 2017 and is expected to reach xx million USD by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of xx% between 2017 and 2023.
The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.
North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Sleep Tracking Technologies.
Europe also play important roles in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2017 and will be xx million USD in 2023, with a CAGR of xx%.
This report studies the Sleep Tracking Technologies market status and outlook of Global and major regions, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global market, and splits the Sleep Tracking Technologies market by product type and applications/end industries.
Market Segment by Companies, this report covers
- EMS Biomedical
- Inomed Medizintechnik
- Allengers Medical Systems
- Philips Healthcare
- Ambu
- Nihon Kohden
- Geratherm Medical
Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers
North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)
Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)
South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)
Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)
Market Segment by Type, covers
- Electroencephalography
- Electrooculography
- Electromyography
- Electrocardiography
- Pulse Oximetry Device
Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Ambulatory Surgical Centers


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There are two kinds of doing—automatic and doing what you wish. Take a small thing that you wish to do and cannot do and make this your God. Let nothing interfere. If you wish, you can. Without wishing you never can. Wish is the most powerful thing in the world."
—Kenneth Walker
Esteemed Reader of Our Magazine:
What is this experience of wish?
In children the power to wish is strong. As children we can want something so much it hurts. Every waking moment can be focused on the object in mind, with the feeling that possessing it will yield a state of utter completeness.
For me the object was something I saw in an ad at the back of a Richie Rich comic book when I was six. It caught my attention immediately in its elegant design and constructive use of spoiled vegetables. It was called a "potato gun" and, from what I could gather, was a device that propelled plugs of potato with velocity and accuracy. I remember the line drawings on the yellowed comic book paper showing a feisty boy with short, side-parted hair and a plaid shirt pelting his shrieking sister with bits of spud. The ad included an order form, showing a cost of $.75 plus postage and handling, which came to $.93.
It took me a couple months to save up enough money with my savings and an allowance of a dime a week. When I had saved the sum I carefully completed the form, addressed and stamped an envelope, and loaded it up with change. I remember the walk down our quarter-mile long driveway, moving from one track to the other to avoid pond-sized puddles, cradling the heavy, bulging package like a new kitten, finally placing it in the box, and ceremoniously raising the flag.
And then I waited for the potato gun to arrive. I waited a week. A month. I waited years. I was still waiting into my teens though I had moved a dozen times and there was clearly no chance that the potato gun would come. It was like the wish for the potato gun, my heart's desire, was the thread of yearning on which all the experiences of my early life were strung.
It was only much later, as I tried to reconstruct the details to understand how it was that this wish that was so important, that had even become my God, went unfulfilled and undelivered, that I realized what must have happened.
I found the Richie Rich comic book in a pile of other comic books while exploring the attic of the old farmhouse where we lived for a year. They were in the company of strange old objects like a worn, handmade flail, cookstove-heated clothing irons, and a collection of hand-crank egg beaters.
I was particularly intrigued by a device the purpose of which I couldn't fathom. It was in an impressive black leather-covered box with precisely shaped receptacles for several electrical discharge devices and a dozen bizarrely shaped hollow glass attachments. Apparently it was a machine designed to deliver therapeutic electrical current to various parts of the body. The purposes of some of the attachments became clear, while others did not. One attachment was a tube shaped like a rake or comb, apparently for invigorating the scalp, while others were so oddly formed that I was afraid to consider what parts or orifices they were meant to address. I used the device to test how far I could turn the knob while holding the delivering end, enduring the increasingly intense voltage.
Eventually bored with testing my capacity for electric shock, I sat down with the comic books and pored through the treasure trove of old titles. Perhaps it was my charged state that caused such a whole-hearted response to the ad for the potato gun.
In any case, though the comic books clearly weren't as antiquated as the quack machine, they were at least 20 years out of date, which meant that the company selling the potato gun likely no longer existed, which meant that I had sent my hard-saved 93 cents into the void.
At the time, I was not in possession of this kind of logical mentation, and all that remained was a gradually ripening disappointment and the final realization that the mail-ordered object would never arrive. Of course, if the gun had arrived I would never have remembered the vivid experience of wishing that developed into hope, and even a kind of faith, before the disappointment set in. Had the gun arrived, wish would have been subsumed by novelty, which itself would have worn out fast, as happens with all new toys.
Because the wished-for object never came, I was allowed to cook in the wishing, to know the flavor and texture of a heart longing for fulfillment, and to remember the naive but unalloyed purity of wish, which can only arise in a child, but which can be evoked even in the heart of a wizened adult, with an added capacity for discernment, as wish for Being.
—Jason Stern


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chords easy
Intro: Cm G x2 verse 1: Cm G Gather around with your hammers and hatchets. Cm G We?ll show these senators where the true power is. F G We?ll hit the streets with the fire in our hands. F G We?ll throw ?em down to the ground and beat them with their own crowns. Cm G Cm G Burn down the house. verse 2: Cm G Grab your family, grad your friends, grab the children in the street. Cm G Tell ?em we?re gonna go down where the devils meet. F G We?re gonna climb up that mountain of gold F G Shove their faces in the dirt and scream, ?This is our world.? Cm G Cm G And burn down the house. Solo: Cm G Cm G F G F G Cm G Cm G verse 3: Cm G Get the fat-cats in their well-primed mansions. Cm G Drag them out with all their hot shot has beens. F G Bring them here to show them how we survive F G With the mud and the blood and the lemons we drive. verse 4: Cm G Have them breathe in the air that they live above. Cm G Then tell them this is where we keep the people we love. F G This is the place we have to spend our lives F G With the beasties and the demons and the monsters that reside Cm G In the place we call home. Cm G Burn down the House. Cm G Cm G F G F G - repeat and fade
See also:Ira! - Coração Ira! - Teorema Ira! - NB - Núcleo-Base Ira! - Receita Para Se Fazer Um Herói Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary Ira! - Envelheço na Cidade
Other versions:Rust - Burn Down The House


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Connecticut education department unveils new standards for school evaluation
New Haven educators laud plan
In a move to redefine how schools receive state funds based on need that also could alter how Connecticut schools view success, the state Department of Education announced a Next Generation Accountability System that will evaluate schools along 12 indicators.
The previous system of evaluating school progress was criticized for giving a "snapshot" of a moment in time, by focusing solely on state test scores and graduation rates, drawing criticism for ignoring longitudinal progress and not giving a picture that is holistic enough to evaluate whether a school is successful.
The 12 indicators include three ways of measuring graduation rates — whether freshmen are on track to graduate and the four-year cohort graduation rate for all students and six-year cohort graduation rate for high needs students — as well as achievement on state assessments. The NGAS also looks at how a cohort grows academically, post-graduation career preparedness and college enrollment, the percentage of chronically absent students, physical fitness and access to arts.
"Our new accountability system will tell a deeper, truer story of how well a school is preparing its students for success in college, career and life," said Commissioner of Education Dianna R. Wentzell in a statement. "The new system moves beyond test scores and graduation rates to provide a more holistic, multifactor perspective of district and school performance. It also shows where we need to invest more time and resources to help kids in the greatest need and where we can celebrate and share school success stories."
Abbe Smith, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said New Haven schools scored high on the college and career readiness measures. For this year only, she said, the academic growth on state assessments was not considered because only one year of data exists for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium exams. In future years, growth will be tracked by assessing how well each cohort performs throughout their schooling careers, such as whether a third-grade class achieves higher on the math portion of the SBAC in fourth grade.
New Haven Superintendent of Schools Garth Harries said the changes offer a more "balanced picture of students, schools and districts."
"We're focusing on the students behind these numbers and building the plans so that our students can succeed as holistically as this accountability system tries to measure," he said.
Four New Haven schools were among 83 schools across the state with high-needs populations — students who are either eligible for free and reduced lunch, are non-native English speakers or have a disability — that outscored the entire district average in science. These schools were the Engineering-Science University Magnet School, Mauro-Sheridan Magnet School, Worthington Hooker School and Sound School. The latter three also outperformed the average science scores for the state.
Imma Canelli, New Haven's deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said the state consulted with the New Haven Public Schools for feedback on the new system.
"For us it's about the whole child," she said. "I think they really did a nice job thinking it through, and really, it's about the kids."
Canelli said the increased focus on multiple goals will give a clearer picture of student success.
"With this holistic approach, we're looking at students through more than one lens," she said.
For instance, Canelli knows New Haven struggles with chronic absenteeism, when students miss more than 10 percent of all days of instruction, but the district is working to eradicate it with its Attendance Matters campaign. Additionally, she said, the focus on arts and physical education can help draw a correlation between students' physical fitness and creative thinking and their success academically.
Hill Central Music Academy, which was identified as a turnaround school in 2012, is exiting turnaround status in 2016.
"You don't know how excited I was," said Canelli, who was a teacher at the school for 11 years. "It just feels really good when you put together a plan and actually see it working."
Harries said it was "gratifying to see on the new scorecard there's no label attached to them."
Connecticut education advocacy group Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now lauded the state for the changes.
"While we look forward to studying the new accountability system in more detail, it is encouraging to see that Connecticut has moved toward a new accountability system that takes a holistic approach to accountability that includes student achievement results, and takes into account a number of other factors that impact student learning and readiness for post-secondary education and careers of the future," ConnCAN CEO Jennifer Alexander said in a statement. "We are also encouraged that, under the next-generation accountability system, some of our schools high-needs areas have performed very well and are noted as schools of distinction."
Two charter schools in New Haven, Amistad Academy and Elm City College Preparatory School, were singled out as being "schools of distinction," among the 84 schools in the top 10 percent of the accountability index.
"This is a testament to the power of school choice and the dedicated educators and students at Amistad Academy and Elm City College Prep. Charter schools are public schools, and they are working for kids across the state," said Jeremiah Grace, Connecticut state director for the Northeast Charter Schools Network, in a statement.


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The Linton Incapacitance Tester offers an automatic and reproducible assessment of analgesic potency by measuring the weight distribution on the two hind paws of a small subject. The force exerted by each limb (measured in grams) is averaged over a user selectable period thus indicating any tendency for the subject to shift its weight from one side to another, hence providing a quantitative measurement of Incapacitance.
The technique of dual channel weight averaging overcomes a number of deficiencies inherent in the traditional methods of assessment (Randall and Selitto 1957) by presenting continuous monitoring of both limbs and by eliminating the subjectivity of the withdrawal method.
The Incapacitance Meter has been developed and validated by researchers and engineers from the Neuroscience Unit of a leading Pharmaceutical Company where it is used routinely.
The instrument is easy to operate and apart from periodic checking of the calibration, requires no maintenance. The display unit on the front panel indicates experimental status information and results. Data can be logged to a PC via the serial interface which has the capacity to handle up to 256 units. A simple software program acquires and stores the results along with the experimental data assuring compliance with GLP guidelines.
Software Included
Foot Switch to trigger "Start" of measurement
Operates in "Stand Alone" mode or via Windows compatible PC (2000 or better)
Sensor Range: 1 Kg per transducer. Subject max weight is 1 Kg
Resolution: 0.01 gram-force


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"Monster Truck Hero"
This is a great Monster Jam racing game in 3D with 25 challenging racetracks. You have to reach the finish as fast as possible without crashing, but you also should try to collect as many bonuses and money as you can. With enough cash you can buy better and cooler monster trucks. You can also perform forward and backward flips to raise your score and you should smash a lot obstacles and stuff on your way. Based on the time you need to finish you can win a bronze, silver or gold medal. To unlock the next racing track you must beat the current at least before bronze medal time runs out.
Use ARROW KEYS to drive and to balance the truck.
(required: Unity 3D Plugin)
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text:
Leader Resources That Create Leadership Results
I look forward to connecting and communicating with you. Please let me know how I can help you with by leaving a general comment, question, media or guest speaker requests.
After submitting, please look for a confirmation email from us to complete the subscription.


text:
There are many times that we struggle to find an owner or manager of a business after he or she becomes the victim of a crime. Occasionally our officers observe or find suspicious activity around local businesses, but they do not have a contact with the business to call and ask questions about the activity. Below are some personal questions about your business. All of this information will be kept confidential. Please complete this form with your most current information and fill in the details you feel we should know. Any information such as leaving the register open, leaving lights on, etc. is important information to our officers. You only need to answer the questions you are comfortable with the Bridgeport Police Department knowing.
In addition to the form listed below, the Bridgeport Police Department currently uses Blackboard Connect to notify the community with trusted neighborhood level public safety and community information.
Including City, State, Zip
Someone with a key in case of burglary, theft, vandalism, etc.
This field is not part of the form submission.
* indicates a required field


text:
Hometown: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Professional background: All things mass communication with a global perspective: newspaper journalist, congressional press secretary, private foundation director, business/life coach, marketing and publishing. I've interviewed more than 15,000 subjects during my journalism career.
Education: BS Journalism; MS Mass Communication
Married to: Dana Hoggard Watkins. Three children, Adam, Emma, Sophie.
10 words that describe me: believer, journalist, adventurer, missionary, Southern, High D, rule-breaker, loyal, transparent, and OCD.
Pet Peeves: bad listeners, passive-aggressive behavior, chronic complainers.
Why I blog: I love writing, have lots of ideas and opinions, and the written word is how I best express myself. Why would I not blog?
One of the crazier things I've done in life, but glad we did it, is building this home away from home in Puerto Cayo, Ecuador. We spend time there writing, learning, and doing our best to live out the Gospel and show the love of Christ to others. My experience living in Latin America is one of the five things that's most radically changed my life.
In 2013, Dana and I were on an episode of House Hunters International. The episode is called "Livin la Vida Local in Puerto Cayo, Ecuador." You can catch it on Netflix.
Some "Don'ts" I've Learned: Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't freak out. Don't burn bridges, except every once in a while when you need to, then really burn them down.
Favorite writers: A.W. Tozer, Pat Conroy, Lewis Grizzard, Larry McMurtry, Kyle Idleman, David Platt, Donald Miller, Brene Brown, Ernest Hemingway.
Fear of: Heights and failure.
Favorite Bible Verses: "And God said, 'Let there be light, and there was light.'" – Genesis 1:3; "For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of you by the right hand, and says to you, 'Do not fear. I will help you.'" -Isaiah 41:13; "He must increase; but I must decrease." – John 3:30
Three things you'd be surprised to know about me:
- I grew up as a huge fan of professional wrestling. Wrestling where they used chains, threw chairs and Texas Tornado Death Matches. At 48, I had my photo made with Jerry "The King" Lawler, and it's one of my prized possessions.
- I'm an introvert who plays the role of extrovert only when it's necessary.
- I aspire to own a food truck one day soon.
Favorite quote from my favorite writer: "You don't learn how to write in a writing program. You learn how by leading an interesting life. Open yourself up to all experience. Let life pour through you the way light pours through leaves." – Pat Conroy
I'm not that good at: what I'd call meaningless chit-chat.
Favorite movies: Gladiator, Braveheart, Ragamuffin; Lonesome Dove, Hunt for Red October, Shawshank Redemption, The Way.
Favorite TV shows: Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday Morning, Seinfeld, King of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond, Meet the Press.
Most people who don't know me would call me: Guarded, hard to get to know and distant.
People who know me best would say: He'd do anything in the world for you.
Significant accomplishments: Ran 3 marathons in 18 months 2006-07.
Hobbies: yard work, reading, writing/blogging, art collecting.
DONE: In October 2015, I spent 7-weeks walking 500 miles across Spain on the ancient pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago. The experience thrilled me. I'm seriously considering a thru-hike attempt of the Appalachian Trail in 2017 – all 2,183 miles.
ALSO DONE: As a result of the experience above, I've completed my first book, #PilgrimStrong.
MY TRAIL NAME: High Roller.
A defining moment in my life: When a career pastor refused to baptize my father in the hospital because he could not be fully immerse.
My life philosophy summed up in three words: Let it Rain.
CONTACT ME at email@example.com or call me at 870-926-4055 (US).


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Want to Build Your Own Google Cardboard this Summer?
What's Google Cardboard?
Google Cardboard functions just like a stereoscope does, albeit with a phone as opposed to two static images operating as the object to be viewed. Essentially, taking two identical (neglecting distortion and slight angular differences) images and projecting them into the human eye will create the illusion of a 3-dimensional image, since our binocular vision gives us the ability to perceive depth.
Cardboard is powered by an Android phone, which, with the proper app, will divide the phone's screen in half and output two images; one to be projected into each eye. "Cardboard is great because it puts virtual, and augmented, reality into people's hands for little cost. It's just like the View-Master I had when I was a child except Google Cardboard takes it to the extreme," said Nicholas Sischka, Vision Engineer at Edmund Optics.
Ready to Build Your Own?
Edmund Optics has two discount lens options, in stock and available for immediate delivery, from their educational line perfect for this application.
Part # 28-278, Double-Convex Lens, 25mm x 43mm FL, Grade 1, $7.00 each when you buy 2
Part # 28-266, Double-Convex Lens, 25mm x 42mm FL, Grade 2, $5.60 each when you buy 2
Additionally, Google has made the source code available to edit and to modify, giving users the ability to create their own programs and perform unique tasks. To learn more visit https://developers.google.com/cardboard/.
About EO:
Edmund Optics® (EO) is a leading producer of optics, imaging, and photonics technology for R&D, electronics, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and military markets around the globe. EO is the world's largest supplier of off-the-shelf optical components. Customers can purchase items by contacting EO at 1-800-363-1992, via the catalog, or via the website at www.edmundoptics.com
Company Contact:
Kirsten Bjork-Jones
Director Global Marketing Communications
Edmund Optics®, Inc.
101 East Gloucester Pike
Barrington, NJ 08007 U.S.A.
Phone: 1-800-363-1992
Fax: 1-856-573-6295
email: email@example.com
European Contact:
Agnes Huebscher
Director European Marketing
Edmund Optics
Zur Giesserei 8
76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)721-62737-38
Fax: +49 (0) 721 6273750
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com