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Home Funerals and Burials in Massachusetts
This article comes from the NOFA/Massachusetts 2013 March Issue Newsletter
By Luke Pryjma
As Ann-Elizabeth Barnes of Sacred Undertaking looked
over my rough draft she said, "You also want to die how
you lived your life. That is the key thing for me because
otherwise here I am organic my whole life [then I am] shot
full of embalming fluid and taken out of my own home."
Ann-Elizabeth started doing home funerals when an elderly
friend at church asked her to do his. Although a seemingly
strange request, it wasn't completely out of the blue; in their
church, a home funeral was often preferred. Her friend
died April 4, 2007. She had guidance and assistance from
Joe Roy, the town funeral director, and the laying out, wake,
and funeral went well. Then a few weeks later a friend died
of cancer and Ann-Elizabeth laid her out, organized her
wake, and officiated at her funeral. In May, another friend
died and in June, her father-in-law passed away. In July,
her aunt and a neighbor's wife died. In all, Ann-Elizabeth
organized twelve home funerals that year. Joe taught her
what to look out for and how certain deaths require certain
procedures. He offered advice (for instance, don't do
septicemia) and helped with paperwork or transport. Now
Ann-Elizabeth has a new partner, Jonitha Hasse. They
work together in both New York and Massachusetts and
continue to work with Joe, referring people to him for
services they do not do. When Ann-Elizabeth and Jonitha
were bringing people to a small cemetery in New York
State, the owner approached them and asked if they wanted
to take over its management. They said sure and now run it
as a non-profit. "Is it a green burial cemetery?" I ask. "It is
The subject of home funerals and burials is a huge one. I
first had an inkling that something was "up" with our
current funeral system when I read The American Way
of Death by Jessica Mitford written in the 1960s. What
Fast Food Nation was to the industrial food system, The
American Way of Death was to our industrial funeral
system. My suspicions were confirmed after going to my
grandparents' funerals and feeling like I was in a hotel
museum. Years later, I just wanted to know are there simple
caskets and home funerals and burials? If the legalities of
farming can seem daunting, this was a quagmire and I left
the idea alone. Recently, however, a series of events have led
me to a better understanding of home funeral and burial in
I belong to the Western Massachusetts Permaculture List-
Serve. We have discussed a variety of topics from rocketmass
heaters to holistic investing. Of course we talk about
growing food, too. About a month ago a member wanted
to know if anyone had heard about home funerals and
burials. For the average question posted to the list-serve
we get between two to three responses. Within five days
of this question, there were 46 responses and allusions to
more off-line discussions. They ranged from praise for a
much-needed topic, to revulsion, to shock at the naiveté of
such an undertaking (pun not intended), to offering support,
experience, and references for resources for home death.
People shared their experiences of simple home funerals.
Less than a week later my community center hosted a
forum called "Spiritual Views on Death and the Afterlife,
An Interfaith Forum" organized by the Rimon Resource
Center for Jewish Spirituality. Representatives from many
religions spoke on death and dying and Ann-Elizabeth
spoke about home funerals. Like a midwife making the
environment more welcoming for birthing life, the people at
Sacred Undertaking create a healthy and safe environment
for saying goodbye to life. At the talk, Ann-Elizabeth
related some historical events that led to embalming as
common practice. The Civil War was the first time when
many people could not grieve over the bodies of their
loved ones. Soldiers were dying hundreds of miles from
home. Traditionally they were buried where they lay or in
mass graves, but a change in consciousness was occurring
around death. Families were requesting their loved ones
be brought home via train in a casket. Sometimes the
journey could take weeks and the bodies were in no shape
to be viewed or mourned over. At this time, embalming
was viewed as barbaric and unsanctified. Then Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated and embalmed for his long trip
home. This allowed the funeral train to stop in towns along
the way and the public was able to grieve over the loss of
their president. Embalming became more accepted and
the modern funeral industry was born. No longer were the
women of the family able to care for their dead at home.
Now professionals were needed, special equipment, and a
beautiful funeral home for a "proper" send-off.
Every state allows an unembalmed loved one to be
remembered at home. Planning is the most important
step in having a home funeral. Do you want your organs
donated or your body given to science? If you do, then a
home funeral and burial is not possible. What do you want
to do with your belongings? Is your will written? Having
your affairs in order ahead of time will make things easier
for your family (these may include naming a health care
proxy and writing down your wishes for after death care).
There is a lot to plan for and prepare. If you work with or
take a class from Ann-Elizabeth, she will go over the many
steps involved in the home funeral, from the paperwork
and transport legalities to purchasing or building a casket
to the rituals for washing (with water and essential oils) and
laying out of the body. Just to reiterate, it is within your
rights to have a home funeral and you have access to all
the necessary forms and permits. The do-it-yourself home
funeral is feasible; between you and your community, you
probably have most of the resources you will need.
The average American funeral costs $6,500. Ann-Elizabeth
charges $600 for her help, if it is needed, but she encourages
people to do as much as possible without her there. Ideally
a person has attended one of her workshops and doesn't
need her at all, though she is always a phone call away.
Other costs for a home funeral include the permits ($50)
and the medical examiner fee of $75 (which I found out
is not always needed). Dry ice costs $100. A cardboard
coffin is $100. Cremation fees range from $400 to $1,600.
Cemetery fees are another cost. With proper planning,
a DIY funeral would be the most affordable, and like
anything, the more you want to do on your own, the more
potentially rewarding the experience.
You can plan a home burial, too. You must clear it with
your board of health well in advance. (An inexperienced
board of health official told a friend the DEP would need to
be involved, but that is not in the law.) The spot you choose
has to be 150' feet from a water source, 25' from a utility,
and 2-3' deep. There may be a small fee to sanctify ground.
The area you declare Sanctified Ground has to be registered
in your deed and fenced. "I think it improves the property
value, most don't," Ann-Elizabeth states dryly.
I had a conversation with a friend who practices
permaculture, prepared a home funeral, and researched a
home burial option, whose story put into perspective that
most outside reliance, specifically the relationship with the
funeral home and/or home attendant, is not necessary.
Most hurdles to home death and burial can be examined,
planned for, and taken care of by you. My friend has a
strong desire to find more healthy ecological ways of living
which include home funeral and burial. I am inspired by
that pioneering spirit as I focus into settling into a healthy
home and reexamine what I rely on in my life. My wife-tobe
and I own Second Hand Farm. We make the most of
second hand resources to improve the health of our land,
animals, and ourselves. That said, I have a ways to go
before I reach my friend's permaculture self-reliance and
Please explore the links at the end of this article; there are
more stories and resources. Hopefully with our push for
increased self-reliance, we may bring back the intimate
tradition of bereaving and burying at home.
By the way…would you be interested in a NOFA class
taught by Sacred Undertaking or an experienced home
funeral DIYer? Email Luke Pryjma at secondhandfarm@
gmail.com and if we get enough interest we'll put it
Major Links:
Sacred Undertaking
Funeral Consumer Alliance
For rights by state
Green Burial in Massachusetts
Green Burial Council
Natural Burial
FTC Funeral Rule
Before You Go, You Should Know a Funeral Consumers
Alliance publication
Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love A Complete
Guide by Lisa Carlson (for those making funeral
arrangements with or without a funeral director)
Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death
by Joshua Slocum and Lisa Carlson (Lisa Carlson is the
grandmother of the home funeral movement and is the
Executive Director of Funeral Ethics Organization. Josh
Slocum is the Executive Director of the Funeral Consumers
Personal Stories:
The Surprising Satisfactions of a Home Funeral
Home funeral and burial documentary: A Family
NOFA Summer Conference
NOFA Summer Conference with keynote Tim LaSalle
Organic Certification
We can help with your Organic Certification
Raw Milk Network
Buy fresh, unpasteurized milk from a local farm.
Soil Carbon Restoration
Read our Soil Carbon Restoration white paper
Soil Technical Assistance Program
Help with soil balancing


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Here I present to you my lovely readers one of the cutest and funniest yuri manhua out there: Tamen De Gushi which translates to 'Their Story'. Tamen De Gushi is a funny, romantic story, currently on chapter 122. The story relates how Qiu Tong and Sun Jing met and fell in love. Thus far Sun Jing has confessed her feelings to Qiu Tong but the feelings were not reciprocated.
In the last few chapters Sun Jing's basketball team are playing a match against their rival school. We are now introduced to the bullies of the rival school who have been creating havoc throughout Sun Jing's school, from throwing basketballs through the window glass to the theft mobile phones.
In the last panel of the previous chapter we see a brief glimpse of the class president who is a handsome, tall beast. We also found out that Qiu Tong attends Sun Jing's rival school and is about to watch Qiu Tong play basketball, after cancelling their hang out. So much has happened within the plot that I cannot explain it all in one article, and also you should just read it, because it a brilliant, sweet manhua that must be shared with the world! I'll leave to it at the end.
So where is this next chapter going to take us? Let's find out!
The first panel gives us another glimpse of the Class President and everyone around him is in awe of his height. He's a really tall bloke! We find out that his nickname is Tree (Ashu) and we're then sent 7 years in the past for his backstory. The little ones are about to play basketball together and Tree asks if he could join. We find out that he was a tiny little tyke and is, to put it bluntly, a bit of a weak runt. He really struggles catching up with the other children. We then find out that the reason he's called Ashu is because everyone regards him as a place holder, Ashu overhears this in a conversation which brings him to tears.
He then starts drinking lots of milk and starts exercising as much and has hard as he can so he can become strong. Ashu's height shoots up at miraculous speed, however his appearance wasn't able to catch up (so he basically looks like a massive man-child). He never stops training and he ranked from 'place holder' Ashu to 'dependable Ashu'. His skills in the basketball arena do not improve though. He goes home one night and decides that people should do the things their good at so he studies hard and becomes class president, completing Ashu's life. The last panel shows Sun Jing asking him to help them with their basketball game
He's only been in this one chapter and I'm already completely in love with him! He seems like an absolute cinnamon roll! He needs to be protected. He's so cool he glitters! I also love the fact that he cannot play basketball. How will they win? Will they even win? One thing I absolutely love about this manga is how funny and mischievous it is, and it's completely adorable.
You all should definitely read this manga! I cannot recommend it enough!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Seductive Powers of SUP
For a campaign of the European Commission, we documented the seductive powers of single use plastics. Working on this project was great, together with creative partners in crime Mostra and Walking Men. bereadytochange.eu
Project info
Keywords for this project: « overview
Related Works
Together with D'M&S Communications we created this commercial for Metarelax. We at Hoaxland took care of the special effects and made sure no humans were hurt during the shoot. Relax!
Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco contacted us for the international relaunch of his GA compressor. The 3D movie was made at Hoaxland and presented at Antwerp Expo as a holographic projection.
Zespri Kiwi
Together with Gutzandglory we made these dancing kiwis for Zespri! You can have a look at the yellow one right here.


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Saturday's early game in the Premier League is a real humdinger!
Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford, with both teams battling to finish second behind runaway leader Manchester City, securing a Champions League spot.
The two teams played out a tedious goalless draw in the reverse fixture in October, with United boss Jose Mourinho parking the bus to try and stop Liverpool's attacking threats.
United are unlikely to be so negative at home, but Mourinho will remain wary of the form Liverpool have shown away from home. The Reds have won their last three away games, scoring 10 unanswered goals.
That said, United have a very good home record this season, losing just the once and that was against Manchester City.
The two teams clearly want to win, but avoiding defeat may be an even more powerful emotion. The last four matches between these two sides in all competitions have ended as draws, and we at Lap of the Odds think another stalemate is likely.
Recommendation: United/Liverpool to end as a draw, 1 pt, at 12/5, Betfair
Please subscribe for notification of up-to-date tips and news, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.


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For inventors, by inventors. Go Gear Direct is a marketplace built to help inventors launch new outdoor gear and firearm accessories as well as to provide access to proven, high quality gear by seasoned American Made brands.
The last in the list of items for the perfect turkey hunt is luck and it always takes a little. This spring we had a bit of luck and I felt compelled to write about the perfect turkey hunting day. Let's see if you agree. All you need... A best friend, 'wished for' weather, good gear, an outfitter with a piece of God's country, happy turkeys, a patient and knowledgeable guide and luck.
I was inspired when I read about the Connecticut turkey conservation success story. I also liked hearing about how challenging wild turkeys can be. As my children were leaving the nest, I was casting about for a hobby that would involve the outdoors and appeal to my husband Ken. He loves duck and dove hunting so I thought turkeys might work. It does, which means my best friend is my ready-made hunting partner.
Looking at the weather as I packed a few days ago made me smile. Mid 60s and sunny. We have had so much rain. I had bagged an early season turkey hunt due to flash floods and rain so the good weather was welcome. The one thing I always forget is you leave at 4 in the morning and you need to be warm enough until the sun comes up. The 30 degree start was tolerable with a bunch of layers and the promise that the day would continue to warm up.
I have some 'go to' gear for turkey hunting. My Remington V3 shotgun – packable, balanced and rugged. It also has a magazine disconnect that is a nice feature when you are hunting several days and getting in and out of vehicles. The other couple of items that I wouldn't do without are:
- Meopta 8 x 42 binoculars – we have talked about the benefits of these guys many times and you can buy them here.
- RYO Binocular straps – light weight, flexible binocular straps. Easy to use.
I also recently added the Triggersafe. It added a measure of safety by covering the trigger guard as you were spotting and stalking turkeys.
Western Gateway Outfitters in SD wrangled by Russ Roberts offers some of the most beautiful, big sky country I have ever seen. Once the sun came up and we were moving from our first location, we could easily walk out on a ridge with 1500 yard views. That is when we were 'jacked up' by all the …
Talk about HAPPY, right away and within view of our ridge, we saw 13 Toms – 2 big groups, a couple of pairs and 2 singles and they were talking. The guides had not seen this many out in the fields this season.
Clayton Bischoff has been guiding for over 10 years and he knows this country. Bow hunting deer is his favorite and I think turkey will be moving up on his list after this morning. He certainly was a key reason we were so successful. Clayton knows the land and had an idea of where he wanted to scout the night we showed up. Of course we wanted to tag along. Who doesn't like to see turkeys making their way to the roost? At about sunset, he let off a crow call and the answering gobble told us where to be in the morning. We got back to camp for a late dinner and turkey hunt preparation.
We actually went to bed early with the anticipation of a 3am wake-up call and a day in the field. It was a little cold (30 degrees) but the day promised to warm up. We were excited and it turns out those happy turkeys were excited as well. First off, Clayton placed us right under the roost and he sat a distance behind us with a slate call. As the light came up, you could see two big toms up on the branches – gobbling and drumming.
We got a 20 minute show before the first birds pitched down. 3 Hens dropped in the flat, 20 yards away and the toms were just out of sight down the hill. Clayton would call and these birds were talking but also a lot of other birds were making noise. We moved up the ridge. He then had us looking out over the land where all these birds were out sunning and strutting. It was spectacular. A particular group of 4 toms were fun to watch as they strutted back and forth following one hen.
The next part shows Clayton's experience. I would have wanted to go after the larger group but he took us after one lone gobbler to our North. We set up with some boulders and scrub oak behind us. With that kind of back drop, you blend in and don't silhouette. We see that lone gobbler working up the hill fast looking for the hen (Clayton with a slate call that appealed to that old boy). I am anxious and the bird is on my side. In a whisper:
- Me: How far is he?
- Ken: Too far, just wait. He is coming!
- Me: Is he good now?
- Ken: I wouldn't shoot him.
- Me: He is stalling?
- Ken: Just be … boom.
I couldn't wait anymore. I did not want him to walk off trying to pull the 'hen'. He was down at 59 yards. I looked up the pattern spread at 50 yards for a 5 shot with a full choke barrel. The pattern stays pretty tight and this one went down. I am usually more comfortable inside 40 yards but I was excited.
After tagging and pictures, we found a new spot and settled down to listen and decide which bird to hunt next. The birds quieted down, and I wondered if we would get another chance. Right when I was getting a little bored, Clayton said look to the right. A group of 4 hens and a jake were quietly walking downhill about 100 yards away. We watched and Clayton thought they might make their way around a rise in front of us and pull toms with them. We packed up and quietly made our way south with Clayton crawling up each ridge to check the lay of the land. On the third crawl up, he quickly crawled back down and got Ken to slide up and get set up. He had seen the 4 hens and better yet, he saw a Tom chase the jake off. This gave him an idea to set Ken up, pull my bird out and use it as a decoy.
It was perfect. That tom started up the hill in our direction. He disappeared in a small draw in front of us. Right when we were thinking we had lost him, Ken saw movement on the left. It was that tom and ken had a perfect shot.
Well, we had some today.


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The way to increase sales in a particular shopping center is a group effort. The different stores in that shopping center can all get together and construct a booklet of coupons that will promote shopping in that area. The coupons included will compel customers to browse in the area and the shopping center will gain more awareness. To make it worthwhile, all the stores in the center should pool in and put this coupon booklet together; and by doing that everyone can split the printing and shipping costs.
Even just a mini booklet will be a great tool. Because of their small size, it makes them portable, and those who receive it can put it to good use if it is jam packed with great coupons. Mini booklets can be cost efficient to print if everyone pitches in their part for the printing and shipping cost. This makes the price per store much less so the more stores that are in on the deal, the less each store's cost is.
Having all the coupons for one shopping center in one booklet makes it convenient. By making it convenient for the customers to find the coupons top all the different stores, it will increase the traffic, and ultimately the sales, for the whole shopping center.
For a slow shopping center, before you do anything drastic, you have to figure out what it is that your shopping center is lacking compared to other shopping centers. After you have established what the reason is, figuring out what to do to make your center booming again will be simple. Mini-booklets can be the stepping stone to a great advertising campaign. The more positive attention that you draw to your center, the more traffic you generate, and the more increase in sales you will receive.


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Hemp has got to be one of the most misunderstood superfoods of this generation! And NO, eating hemp seeds cannot get you "high" since they contain no THC. This whole food contains essential fatty acids (EFA's), protein, fiber, carbohydrates, natural vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol. We loaded each GORP bar with 2 teaspoons of power-packed hemp seeds!
Fat Gets a Bad Rap
There is a common misconception out there that FAT IS BAD, when in reality it does your body a world of good. Did you know your brain is 90% fat? So it makes sense that when you feed your body the right fat, your brain benefits. Your body needs fat to run properly. In fact, if you aren't getting enough good fat, you are creating the perfect condition for your body to get or stay fat. Essential fatty acids send signals to your brain that says it's satisfied, so you won't overeat, and it also allows your body to break down and let go of stored saturated fat. Good deal!
DISCLAIMER!!! Now, we aren't going to get all crazy and tell you that GORP bars can cure every ailment known to man and provide every single health benefit listed below... because that's SO not allowed :) We just want to give a shout out to our awesome ingredients for YOUR education... so you can see all the awesomeness we INTENTIONALLY pack into our bar and perhaps inspire you to incorporate some of them into your diet more often :)
Why We Love Hemp Hearts
Hemp seeds contain more essential fatty acids than ANY OTHER KNOWN PLANT ON THE PLANET!
Things You Should Know About Essential Fatty Acids
EFAs enable you to manage stress better. They help stabilize nerve and brain functions and increase the activity of electric currents across the brain's cell membranes. This helps you feel more calm and allows you to focus. It is now accepted that EFAs can be used as a method to treat acute joint inflammation without using the typical drugs. Nice!
Using hemp oil externally has proven to improve the overall integrity of the skin and help prevent stretch marks, improving dryness and itchiness as well. EFAs are integral for the healthy function of brain cells. Since the brain is 90% fat, EFA's are critical in keeping brain cells healthy and flexible. Infant formulas are now required to be fortified with EFAs because they are essential for the development of the baby. Omega-3 deficiencies in children can lead to slowed growth of the nervous system, brain, and eyes. In countries where omega-3 is plentiful in the standard diet, there is 90% less clinical depression.
Hemp seed contains all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids needed to make it a complete protein. No other plant can boast that it contains all the essential oils necessary to nourish your muscles and also be in a form that is perfectly suited to the human digestive system. Soy and whey, along with other side effects, can cause bloating and gas. Not to mention the fact that even though soy contains a higher percentage of protein, less of it is usable by the body. Hemp seed also contains the perfect ratio of Omega-3 to 6. To obtain the health benefits of hemp, try to consume 3 tablespoons a day – just toss some in a smoothie, add to soups, or sprinkle it on your oatmeal – easy ways to reap big rewards from this powerful little seed.
EFA's and Athletes
Athletes benefit greatly from including ample EFAs in their diets by reducing inflammation and helping muscles recover faster. Increased endurance and strength combine to provide all-around better performance. By increasing the metabolic rate, EFAs help to prevent the buildup of yeasts and bacteria. They also cause cells to be less prone to infection by strengthening membranes. By adding EFAs (essential fatty acids) to the diet, in the form of hempseed oil or seeds, the following conditions have been helped:
It's time to redefine how we think about fat and blast out those myths: Eating fat will NOT make you fat. Just make sure you are staying away from trans-fat and industrial highly-heated fats. Fat is absolutely required for optimal health and your body can't run properly without it! By restricting calories and healthy fat intake, your body is at risk of going into "famine mode" which means it's taking the calories it's given and storing them as fat, then feeding on muscle for energy instead because it's anticipating a food shortage. The healthiest way to combat this is by eating the right fats, filling the body with high quality food, and not skipping meals.
Hemp As Part of a Weight Loss Strategy!
Hemp can be used as part of a weight loss program for those of us wishing to reduce the old waistline a bit! EFAs in hemp can increase your metabolic rate and burn more fat into carbon dioxide, water, and energy, which can aid in shedding pounds. When your cells are being nourished by healthy fats, their structure is stronger and they can work more efficiently at taking in nutrients and flushing out toxins. When our cells are working properly it boosts our metabolism and we burn more fat! Good fats also help you feel fuller longer and build lean muscle tissue. One pound of lean muscle tissue burns 50 calories per day, compared with the 2 calories a day burned by a pound of body fat. That's a big deal!
Hemp For Lookin' Good!
We can't ignore the beautification benefits of hemp either…the linolenic acid in hemp is responsible for not only giving your skin moisture from the inside out, it also speeds up healing, increases vitality, and can improve your immune system. High five to that, Hemp. You heard us. High five to that…


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"Albert Johannes" - Sailing ship
A proud three-masted gaff schooner
A lightship is a manned or unmanned vessel, anchored at a certain position and equipped with a lighthouse similar to a lighthouse, which serves as a navigation sign for maritime navigation.
"From 1875 to 1988, "Borkumriff" was a lightship position about 30 kilometres northwest of the island of Borkum in one of the main shipping lanes of the German Bight. The used ships had during the active employment on this position the designation lightship "Borkumriff".
Type: Lightship
Owner Förderverein Feuerschiff Borkumriff e.V.
Home port: Borkum
Nation: GER
Length: 54,50 m
Width: 9,00 m
Draught: 4,50 m
Choose the first letter of the name of the sailing ship.
A proud three-masted gaff schooner
A luxury sailing yacht from the past
A special traditional ship
A beautiful brig with red sails
Active sailing ship with a special flair
A modernized charter ship
A lovingly maintained freighters
The fastest square-riggers in the world
A special service boat
Cog replica from Bremerhaven
Two-masters from the Netherlands
Choose the first letter of the name of the motor ship.
A frigate of the German Navy
A navigation sign from the past
The task of the lightship "Elbe 1" was to provide navigation assistance for other ships.
A seaworthy harbour tugboat
A working vessel of the water and shipping office Bremerhaven
A special excursion boat
Sea rescue boat
Customs boat of the Coast Guard
A modern event ship
A ship for sustainability


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SportzBuzz - December 2016
In a season in which the Episcopal Knights dominated virtually every opponent, there was one final hurdle they couldn't quite clear, as Episcopal dropped a 57-39 heartbreaker to Fort Worth All Saints' Episcopal in the SPC 4A championship football game.
"We had an incredible group of seniors who were great teammates and tremendous leaders," said Knights head coach Steve Leisz. "Even though injuries were a big part of our season, our guys came out of the blocks and battled hard each and every game. We put up a lot of points and beat some really good teams this season, including some big UIL public-school programs."
Senior quarterback Gavin Geib threw 32 touchdown passes this season, while junior receiver Jaylen Waddle scored 30 touchdowns for an offense that averaged an amazing 55 points per game. Defensively, Jack Graham led the way with four interceptions. "We also had so many guys step up, especially with all the injuries," said Leisz. "Camden Miller did an outstanding job at running back when we lost Jake Levrier for several weeks."
Liesz also had high praise for 6-7, 300-pound offensive tackle Walker Little. "Walker was just sensational. He not only blew defenders away on offense, but Walker also played a lot of defense for us. For a big guy like that to dominate on both sides of the line of scrimmage is pretty impressive. Our kids just played hard and left everything on the field."
It wasn't a championship victory, but it was a special trophy presentation following the Kinkaid Falcons' decisive 42-9 win over St. John's in the 66th annual meeting between these tradition-rich rivals. The inaugural McMillan-Lee Trophy, which was named in honor of the two legendary coaches of the respective schools, was proudly accepted by the Falcon players after the victory.
"Those are two great men who created this rivalry," said current Kinkaid head coach Nathan Larned. "Coach McMillan is a legend at Kinkaid and a mentor to me. He's a coach I truly love and respect. For us to bring this trophy home with his name on it is special."
The Falcons dominated the game itself despite being without two of their best offensive weapons in quarterback Matthew Maggi and running back Johnathon Thomas, who were both sidelined with injuries. Sophomore running back Josh Williams led Kinkaid with four touchdowns on the night while also making several big plays in the defensive backfield as a two-way starter. "Josh pounds the ball, runs hard, and has great agility and vision," said Larned. Meanwhile, junior quarterback Zach Evans played a flawless game while stepping in for Maggi. "Zach did a tremendous job managing the game. Really, it was an all-around great team effort."
Despite a move up from UIL Class 5A to 6A, the Stratford Spartans girls cross country team proved that it can more than hold its own against the state's top teams. Stratford, which finished fifth in the state in Class 5A last season, dominated the District 15-6A meet before finished a strong third at the UIL 6A Region II meet. The Spartans missed out on second place by a mere four points. "Our girls welcome the stronger competition," said Spartans girls cross country coach Jennifer Clouse. "It's actually made us a better team. They're actually pretty fired up to run against the state's best."
Leading the way for Stratford this season has been sophomore Grace Custer, who finished fourth overall at the regional meet in a time of 18:47.19. "The thing about Grace is that she's just such a competitor," said Clouse. "She pushes herself to the limits and just gives 110 percent every single time she races."
Finishing behind Custer at the regional meet was freshman Hope Sage in a time of 19:51.72. The rest of the Stratford runners included junior Sydney Lawrence, freshman Olivia Hirst, freshman Faye Gibb, sophomore Ella Gibb and junior Maddie Harms.
"For us to finish in the top three without a single senior on the team is pretty exciting," said Clouse. "We ran three freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors at regionals, which is pretty amazing. We're still learning how to run in those really big races, but our girls set their goals and have been up to every challenge."
Editor's Note: Todd Freed is the Emmy Award-winning co-host and producer of the KUBE SportsZone, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. on Channel 57-KUBE. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email [email protected].
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(Adds PKN Orlen, Triton)
Jan 30 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1430 GMT on Thursday:
** Textbook publishers Cengage Learning Holdings and McGraw-Hill Education, who announced last year that they would merge, have extended their merger agreement to May 1, the companies said on Wednesday, as some countries are still reviewing the deal.
** Guidon Energy, an oil exploration and production company majority-owned by Blackstone Group Inc, is exploring a sale that could value the Permian basin operator at more than $2.5 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter.
** Japan's Daiwa Securities Group Inc said it would invest 14 billion yen ($128 million) in a marketing company Katana, aiming to diversify revenue sources as stock transaction fees are expected to shrink.
** Four Saudi aquaculture firms have merged in a 500 million riyal ($133 million) deal, state news agency SPA said.
** PKN Orlen, Poland's biggest oil refiner, does not currently expect to raise its bid for utility Energa , PKN Orlen Deputy Head Patrycja Klarecka said.
** Triton has emerged as a front runner to clinch the purchase of Volkswagen's transmissions unit Renk, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. (Compiled by Arundhati Sarakar in Bengaluru)


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It is important for political travelers deep in the weeds to reference and recognize patterns that encompass significant geopolitical events. Businessman Donald Trump has, as a natural disposition of his approach, always maintained a specific engagement pattern of respect toward his adversaries; he carries this same approach into the diplomatic role of the presidency.
Tomorrow President Trump will be speaking to the U.N. General Assembly. There is a great deal of anticipatory media reporting circling how international community are evaluating the administration; and how President Trump will outline the "Trump Doctrine".
CTH readers have already identified the specifics of the Trump Doctrine not through high-brow analysis, but simply by looking at the action taken and the geopolitical approach of using economics as transactional leverage to gain national security objectives.
When President Trump discusses the issues with North Korea tomorrow, there will be a clarity of purposeful intent broadcast toward the larger international community. However, the specific target of that address as it relates to the DPRK will be squarely aimed at Beijing.
How can an interested follower be assured of this prediction?
Simple really, it goes back to the diplomatic pattern recognition. When POTUS Trump is planning on delivering a bitter pill of truth, he takes the lumps out in advance via direct contact with the economic adversary who will bear the brunt of internal demands for response.
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Xi Jinping of China to discuss North Korea's continued defiance of the international community and its efforts to destabilize Northeast Asia. The two leaders committed to maximizing pressure on North Korea through vigorous enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolutions. (link)
This uniquely Donald Trump approach, straight forward eye-to-eye clarity (even when the engagement is potentially adversarial), is one of the reasons that international leaders respect President Trump even more than they espouse to their internal audiences.
Trump's approach is a really unique geopolitical engagement. The way Trump speaks boldly, righteously and simply about events and seriously substantive issues, has thrown the entire diplomatic nexus within the international administrative state off their game of intrigue, nuance and scheme of shadow motives.
In no small measure this is why President Trump's foreign policy strategy has been so intensely effective. He's not a politician, doesn't standardize his message via political obfuscation, customs and diplomatic norms. Trump is respectful, but honey badger really doesn't give a shit about how sunlight might disrupt the international community.
Oh, and for those who were wondering about war or military conflict with North Korea, relax. Again, as we have repeatedly shown, it's just not part of the Trump Doctrine to use the military that way. If POTUS Trump was tipping the scales toward a military option, he wouldn't be dismissively using the term "Rocket Man". [Rocket Man = Gnat]
Trump's tour-de-force, as keenly evident in the Trump Doctrine, is to use his own personal skills to advance U.S. objectives from the front lines and keep the military option visible but well in the rear.
President Trump's primary strategy is about using economics, seriously strategic geopolitical economic maneuvers, to create outcomes. Trump has decades of thought and strategic planning in his toolbox in this regard. It's actually quite stunning to see him work though the logical consequences to carefully positioned leverage; it's also enjoyable to watch economic adversaries realizing there ain't a darned thing they can do about it.


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Astro Wifey is a freelance manicurist. Dipped in polish since 2008, AW by way of Chicago, began working on her nails (not finding the designs she wanted) which soon caught attention, landing her decision to get educated and start taking clients. Inspired by the wellness of natural nails, Astro Wifey can turn any fingertips into treasure. The self-effacing hustler also continues to build her brand at events, private parties, photoshoots, and with her newest venture, merchandise including stickers, buttons, and streetwear t-shirts: 'Worship The Wu' and 'Go Hard In The Nail Paint'. To provide support for the nail art community, she also started the first U. S. Nail Art Lifestyle Magazine, Tipsy Zine. She takes pride in producing nail designs that are 100% original, customized specifically for clients.
Nails Edit
- Nail Labo USA: Marcato # 39 - Presto Gel
- Deborah Lippmann: Supermodel
- Nails worn during ARTPOP Ball Tour (May-Nov 2014)


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It appears that the missile that was detected in Hawaii sometime ago was real after all. This article examines the timelapse recorded from an Observatory in Hawaii. The question now is who sent the missile? Who launched the missile?
The Galactics clearly intervened to stop the missile from reaching the island. The Galactics are back! And they are no longer allowing any kind of global violence.
Here is the frame by frame analysis of the scene.


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- Male
- 1-3 years
- Adopted Dec 14, 2013
- Good with Cats? Yes
- Good with Dogs? Both
You'll appear on this page - "Sponsored by ......".
Your $25 will pay for food. Goobs thanks you!
GOOBS will be adopted this weekend. Two paws up!!!!!!
Goobs is a size large one year old boy. He's goofy and playful.
Goobs just joined us, so we have a bit to learn. However, he passed his temperament test with flying colors. He loves to be handled, he loves affection, he wants to be near his people. He also likes playing with dogs; if others won't play, he's happy to hang with them.
We will post more when we get to know him.


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It's that time of year again, and it came too quickly for most of us. Time for the kids to get ready to get back to school. That means shopping for school supplies, new clothes and everything else that the little ones need to make sure they are prepared the new school year. Now that we are thinking of all of the stuff that is needed for them, especially with multiple children, it is a good time to think about how all of those items are going to be stored and organized.
Let's take a look at some ideas that can help ease the stress of getting back into the school routine. A great way to keep the whole family on the same page is to create a family bulletin board. The bulletin board is a visual organization board that can keep everyone updated on the important tasks at a quick glance. Another idea for school organization is to have a designated area for the kids to do their homework. This should be a spot that is distraction free so that they can sit down and focus. This way the kids get done faster, which for them is important because it means more play time and for you it means they are completing what is required of them and learning.
A couple of ideas that can help reduce the stress of a typical school day morning:
These are just a few examples that can help lessen the stress of getting back to school and also during the school year. Moms and Dads all across the nation are coming up with new and clever ideas to make their lives less stressful. The most important thing is, if you want to have a less stressful back to school period and school year, implement an idea that you believe will work for you and make it your own.
"WISA's work on our kitchen remodel and basement upgrade exceeded all expectations. They made significant concessions to come to an agreed upon price, there were no hidden fees, started when we needed them, completed prior to expected completion date and their quality of workmanship and materials were second to none.…"
"This is the second project WISA has completed for me, and once again, they did an absolutely fabulous job. Daoud and Waris were fabulous with their estimate and communications, and Eduardo (the carpenter) made sure everything was perfect. I love my new counter and will call them again for the…"
"WISA stands behind their work, which is high-quality. Waris and Daoud are very communicative and were very helpful in getting work done on time. Some of their rates were a bit higher than other competitors, but for the quality of service and work, it's worth it!"
"WISA Solutions is a top notch contractor. We reached out to numerous contractors for our kitchen, foyer and half bath renovation. WISA was by far the most responsive, detailed and affordable of the three quotes that we received. Working with Waris and Daoud was a breeze. This was our first…"
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Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm | Sat: By Appointment
WISA offers the best value in exterior and interior remodeling in Northern Virginia, thanks to our efficient design/build approach and competitive prices. With a Class A building license, we are able to execute any type of remodel, from to-the-studs renovations to wall removal or bump-outs. Our design and remodel teams take care to involve you every step of the way to ensure that the final product is a home you will love for years to come.
Call us at 703-337-4344, visit our showroom, or contact us online to schedule a consultation for your home remodel in Northern Virginia! We service all of Fairfax County and the surrounding areas, including Falls Church, Lorton, Fairfax, Alexandria, Annandale, and Arlington!


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New year may bring new snowstorm — and definitely cold temps — to Shelton
There is an increasing likelihood that an extended winter storm — and bitterly cold temperatures — could hit the area late Wednesday night and continue into Friday, possibly extending the Christmas vacation for Shelton students.
"Several inches of snow are possible — particularly across the interior," according to a hazardous weather outlook issued Monday for southwestern Connecticut by the National Weather Service (NWS).
"Closer to the coast, accumulating snow could be accompanied by a period of sleet and freezing rain," the NWS said.
Shelton public schools are scheduled to reconvene on Thursday, Jan. 2, having met last on Friday, Dec. 20 due to the winter holiday recess.
A dusting to something major
There is still a lot of uncertainty over these forecasts as the potential storm is more than 48 hours away. Depending on which weather forecasts you look at, the storm could range from a dusting to something major.
The weather is, however, expected to get much colder in the coming days and after falling below freezing on Tuesday, New Year's Eve, it might not top 32 degrees again until Sunday.
In the teens for the ball drop
Forecasts for the Shelton area call for a low of 12 on Monday night, Dec. 30, followed by a high of 31 on Tuesday.
The overnight low on New Year's Eve's night — when many people will be out ringing in the new year — is expected to be 19, according to the NWS.
Snow expected Thursday and Friday
On Wednesday, New Year's Day, the high could be 29 before falling to 22 at night. There is a 30% chance of snow developing that night, the NWS said.
On Thursday, Jan. 2, snow is "likely" for much of the day, with a high of 24. The snow should continue on Thursday night as the low drops to 11.
On Friday, Jan. 3, there is another 60% chance of more snow along with a high of 16 before the temperature drops to almost zero that night — with a predicted low of 1 above, the NWS said.
Saturday's high is expected to be around 22 before it warms up on Sunday into the upper-30s. However, more snow — perhaps mixed with rain this time — is possible late Sunday into Monday.


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Hi Resurrection Family!
I'm excited about this weekend's worship and the sermon I'll be sharing with you. We're spending the next month in a back-to-basics series on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and this week my focus is on The Seemingly Impossible Ethics of Jesus.
We'll focus on Matthew 5:17-48 where Jesus takes several of the Ten Commandments and reinterprets them. "You've heard it was said of old, Do not murder, but I say to you, do not get angry and if you call someone a fool you'll be in danger of the fires of hell." Yikes! Which of us hasn't gotten angry and called someone a fool, or worse? By the way, I'll share with you the grace 1,000 elementary school kids gave their parents on a parenting report card when it came to anger.
In this section Jesus went on to say it wasn't just adultery that was wrong, but looking with lust after another, and telling his disciples to pluck out their eyes or cut off their hands if they cause them to sin in this area. If we did this, how many guys would be missing an eye or a hand? We're going to consider Jesus' teachings, how we read them, and how they speak to us today.
Don't miss this weekend in worship and invite a friend to join you at cor.org/live Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 7:30 am, 9:15 am, 11 am or 5 pm (CT) or on KSHB Channel 41 for worship at 11 am.
Don't forget to go to cor.org/next to register your attendance, give online, submit a prayer request or see our weekly announcements.
I'll be on vacation this coming week so I'll not be hosting Tuesday Night Vespers. I've enjoyed doing these, and if you missed a week, they are all posted here.
Last week I spoke about the power of a song with a 17-minute devotion on singing in the Bible. If you missed it, you can view it here.
Thank you to those of you who completed the survey last week and provided input on when you would be comfortable returning to in-person worship. Just over 20% of all who took the survey indicated you were ready to return to worship in July. Close to 40% would be ready in August. We've also reviewed the health data from Johnson and Jackson counties.
Here's our best thinking at this point: We've already started reopening the building for support groups to gather. We're exploring other kinds of things we can do in July to begin gathering people in groups. Then in August, as schools reopen, we restart in-person worship as well.
We're anxious to get back together physically, but the situation is fluid, and the health and safety of our congregation and community is our priority. So that's our recommendation as of now. We also recognize that the survey shows most members anticipate continuing to worship online going into the fall, and we'll continue to share the best online worship experience possible.
This week we held a special blood drive, by reservation only, and this drive became one of the largest in our history with 748 units of blood collected. Thank you to all who came to give blood this week!
We received a note from the Community Blood Center with great thanks for replenishing the supply of blood for the Kansas City area – they had been down to a two-day supply.
Yesterday a group of volunteers sewed 2,000 cloth masks for children in our partner schools in KCMO and KCKS in preparation for the new school year.
This week volunteers have been preparing Vacation Bible Camp Kits for over 1,000 children who will be participating from their homes and neighborhoods. Our kids staff will be leading online lessons and activities and the kits include all you'll need to have VBC at home.
If you haven't registered your children or grandchildren yet, you still have time, but do it today! The deadline is July 1. Here's the link.
I want to remind you that our pastors and staff are here to care for you and offer support for all aspects of life. If you are ill, going through a difficult time, or need prayer and pastoral care for any reason, please contact the church.
We know the uncertainty of the times can be especially challenging to people dealing with the disease of addiction. If you or someone you know have been affected by substance, drug or alcohol abuse or addictions of any kind, Resurrection Recovery Support Groups welcome you to meet on Thursday evenings at 7 pm, either in person at the Leawood Campus in Building B or online via Zoom.
Contact Pastor Tom Langhofer for more information and visit our website for testimonies and resources.
Following George Floyd's death, we spent three weeks focused on race and racism in America, and how God might call us to respond. One author has called racism "American's original sin." From the time we began the church, addressing racism has been a part of our vision. It is part of our 2030 vision approved by the church last year.
But how we speak about race and racism is challenging. A pastor friend said to me, "I'm always worried I'm going to say the wrong thing – that one part of my congregation will feel I didn't say enough, or I said it wrong, and another part will think I said too much, or disagree with whether there is even a problem." I think many pastors feel that.
In the three-week sermon series' focus on racism, I heard from many who were grateful for the sermons, and others who took issue with one part or another. I didn't hear from anyone who said, "We don't have a problem with race," or who didn't agree racism was wrong. But some took issue with a word, phrase or idea here or there. Some felt I'd not said enough. Some felt I'd said too much.
I've yet to preach a perfect sermon in thirty years as your pastor. These two sermons (Rev. Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III preached the third in the series) were no exception – not perfect, but my feeble attempt to hear what God would say to us about this critical issue of racism that was at the center of our national conversation the last month. (Here are links to the sermons: A Dream Still Deferred and Jesus, Protests and Repentance.)
That leads me to the statement the Church Council approved last week regarding our vision for racial justice. The writing team, half people of color in our congregation, half Caucasian, including laity, staff and clergy, drafted the statement. They were challenged to, and wanted to, boldly lead, and for Resurrection to boldly and clearly state that we were opposed to racism, that we recognize that we continue to have a problem in our country and that we as Christians are often blind to it, and that we want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. While we've sought to address racism over the last thirty years as a church, there was more we could and should have done.
While Kansas City area corporations were speaking out about race, we felt it important that the church not remain silent. I am proud of the team's work. Here's the link to the statement.
Most of the responses we received were positive – people were proud of the statement and grateful for it. But there were some who felt uncomfortable or disagreed with this or that word or phrase.
One man wrote, "I agreed with 95% of the statement," but there were phrases or words that he was not comfortable with and felt like there needed to be time to unpack these and to discuss. I appreciated his note and I know that words and phrases mean different things to different people and some require unpacking and discussing. We'll be talking about some of these things in the Wednesday Night Beloved Community class in a couple of weeks – I'm joining Pastor Tino for the last session. But I also love the idea of a conversation we might plan around this for those who are not in that class.
A lot more could be said, but I'm running out the door to record this weekend's sermon on Jesus' teaching about anger, and lust, turning the other cheek and loving your enemy!
I'm grateful for you, Resurrection, and proud to be your pastor!
See you in worship (online!) this weekend!
13720 Roe Ave.
Leawood, KS 66224
(913) 897-0120
24000 W. Valley Pkwy
Olathe, KS 66061
(913) 538-7800
1601 Grand Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 979-1330
601 NE Jefferson St.
Blue Springs, MO 64014
(816) 389-8900
8412 W. 95th St.
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 642-4400
Can't find something? Let us help.
Call the Downtown Campus office at (816) 979-1330, or email using the form below.


text:
Snetterton Circuit
Norfolk NR16 2JU
Tel: 01953 887303
Fax: 01953 888220
Tickets for both the British Superbike and British Touring Car Championships at MSV circuits in 2012 are now on sale, with admission prices frozen at this year's levels until Christmas.
The 2012 BTCC season starts on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on 1 April, and will go on to visit Oulton Park on 10 June.
After a hugely successful round on the new Snetterton 300 in 2011, the BTCC returns to Norfolk on 12 August and heads back to Kent for the season finale on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on 21 October.
The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season also starts on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit over the Easter weekend on 6-9 April. BSB visits Kent a further two times; on 20-22 July and for the season finale on 12-14 October - both times on the GP Circuit - scene of this year's epic title decider between Tommy Hill and John Hopkins.
Following record breaking crowds this year, the Snetterton 300 round has been brought forward to May while Oulton Park will host two rounds, in May and in July. The traditional visit to Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday weekend will also take place in 2012 on 25-27 August.
BTCC at MSV Circuits 2012
Brands Hatch Indy - 1 April
Oulton Park - 10 June
Snetterton 300 - 12 August
Brands Hatch GP - 21 October
BSB at MSV Circuits 2012
Brands Hatch Indy - 6-9 April
Oulton Park - 5-7 May
Snetterton 300 - 25-27 May
Oulton Park - 6-8 July
Brands Hatch GP - 20-22 July
Cadwell Park - 25-27 August
Brands Hatch GP - 12-14 October
For more information on these events and to view the event calendar click this link, or call 0843 453 9000.


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One of the more interesting titles I've ever come across in kayo kyoku, seeing the singer's mane and hearing the opening notes remind me of Rod Stewart in his disco age. Just wanna put on those roller skates again. Kuwana's voice even reminds me of Stewart's in a way.Not sure if he ever owned a pair of leopard-skin leggings, though.
Masahiro Kuwana(桑名正博)was born and raised in Osaka. After a year in San Francisco, he returned to Japan and started up his own band, Funny Company, in 1971. The following year, the band debuted with "Sweet Home Osaka". But after leaving a couple of albums to posterity, Funny Company broke up, and in 1975, Kuwana launched a solo career. About 4 years later, he would get his big hit in the form of "Sexual Violet No. 1", his 4th single released in July 1979. I first heard it on "The Sounds of Japan", and my first reaction to it was, "Funkalicious!". It hit No. 1 in October of that year and stayed at the top for 3 weeks. Lyrics were provided by Takashi Matsumoto(松本隆), and the music was by Kyohei Tsutsumi(筒美京平). And in total, the single sold 600,000 copies.
My only question is how many glasses of sake were they imbibing when they came up with the title.
|"Roses are red, violets are...sexual?"


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I will have to confess...I've never been to a spa, let alone, had a professional massage! I know...I know, what's wrong with me? It's not like I haven't WANTED one, it's just, well, I guess I thought going to a spa, getting the special treatment, was more than what I wanted to pay for when I can get close to the same benefits at home.
At home, you say? Yelp! Thanks to Zakia's Morocco and their Traditional Moroccan Hammam Home Spa Kit, I can now enjoy a relaxing spa treatment right here at home! I can treat my hair and face with their Ghassoul Clay Skin & Hair Mask, indulge in a scented orange blossom lathering and skin softening shower with their Orange Blossom Black Soap and finish off with a skin exfoliating experience using their Kessa Exfoliating Glove and Zakia's Argan Oil.
Let me be the first to tell you...I've never seen black soap up front, although I've heard a lot about it. Zakia's Black Soap is this creamy smooth textured soap, that is a black/dark brown color, that will leave your skin feeling so soft (it too, contains Argan Oil.) You will first take a pinch of this black soap and apply it to a loofah or sponge. You will get more of a lather when using a bath sponge or loofah pouf. Lather your whole body with this, enjoying the nice scent it leaves. Rinse well and follow up with the Kessa Exfoliating Glove and Argan Oil.
OMG! I am in love with Zakia's Morocco Black Soap! My skin feels so silky smooth and soft after using it! I love the light scent of the Orange Blossom and love the feeling it leaves my skin afterwards! I'm totally sold on this stuff!
The Kessa Exfoliating Glove is used on wet skin that has been totally hydrated and cleansed after your black soap. You will place the glove on your hand, gently rubbing back and forth (NOT IN A CIRCULAR MOTION!) You will begin to see your skin peeling. THIS IS OKAY! You do not want to vigorously rub your skin, but rubbing back and forth with a little pressure. The peeling of the skin is your body's way of eliminating dead skin, removing toxins an impurities from your body. Your skin will thank you, trust me!
After your exfoliating, rinse well and follow up with Zakia's Argan Oil. If you've never used Argan Oil before, you don't know what you are missing! I am a die hard fan of Argan Oil! I use it on my face, my dry skin as well as my hair! It has tremendous results when it comes to dry hair, as well as your skin.
The Ghassoul Clay is another great product, included in this spa kit, that can be applied to your hair, skin or face. It has been proven to reduce dryness, improve skin clarity and elasticity and removing impurities and oil build up to leave your hair bouncy and voluminous. The Ghassoul Clay is 100% pure, Moroccan Lava Clay Ghassoul and so many people swear by using a hair clay mask.
Zakia's Morocco Moroccan Hammam HOme Spa Kit comes with an 8 oz. jar of Black Soap, 8 oz Ghassoul Clay Skin & Hair Mask, Argan Oil, Kessa Exfoliating Glove, bath sponge loofah and directions on how to use each product.
The Hammam Home Spa Gift Set has 8 scents to choose from:
*Argan Oil
*Amber Musk
*Moroccan Rose
*Tahitian Vanilla
*Fleur de Oranger (Orange Blossom)
All of this comes in Zakia's Morocco Large Toiletry Bag, making it an excellent gift to give to someone or just to keep for yourself.
You can purchase this spa kit, as well as other Zakia's Morocco products, Here:
***I may have received a complimentary product, in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. REGARDLESS.. All opinions expressed are ALWAYS 100% my own.***


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The family over at Dutty Artz stay busy building and stockpiling heatseeking missiles like Jahdan Blakkamoore's Go Round Payola. We're about 17 hours from finishing up the artwork for his debut album (everything else is DONE), more news real soon.
In the meantime, Frankfurt's Mr Leub, flipped Matt Shadetek's Payola riddim, swapping out JD and splicing in Busy Signal's 'Da Style Deh'.[audio:https://duttyartz.com/mp3/Mr. Leub – Da Style Deh Payola Refix.mp3]
for further listening:
Eddie Stats new Ghetto Palms blend which ends with a POWER TRIO of Busy Signal slackness in the form of cellphone-centric acoustic drumloop minimalism tunes, Da Style Deh included.
and Mr Leub's Rudebwoy Electroncia mix, which kinda reminds me of the first Toddla-T mix I heard, which is to say: stomping reggaeoid 4-4y thumpers. Very good music for weekend apartment cleaning, I can attest to this.


text: Week 25: #52 Ancestors – Same Name By Eilene Lyon One of the most problematic lines on my tree is the Orme family. My 3rd-great-grandmother was Christiana Orme, married to Martin R. Smith. Her parents were Nicholas Davis Orme and Penelope Permellee Pell. The Orme, Smith, and Pell families all have ties to Lewis County,... Continue Reading →


text:
Phone: 937-667-8454
Degrees and Certifications:
Mrs. Kandi Pierson
We will continue our distance learning until the end of the school year. Please continue to check my lesson plans page. Specific instructions and assignments will be posted in google classroom.
My contact hours are 9:30-10:30 AM (Monday-Friday). I also check my email throughout the day.
Please contact me via email if you have any questions or concerns.
I am a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University where I earned my bachelors degree in education. I taught for four years in Indianapolis before moving to Tipp City. After staying home with our children for a few years, I began substituting for Tipp City Schools before taking a full-time position. This will be my 4th year at TMS teaching 7th grade Reading and Language Arts.
My husband and I have two children, Ben and Natalie. These two keep us busy with soccer and other activities. We also enjoy traveling and visiting our families.
I am very excited for another year at TMS and the opportunity to partner with you to make the 2019-2020 school year successful.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Period 1 7:30-8:15 Language Arts
Period 2 8:19-9:04 Reading
Period 3 9:08-9:53 Language Arts
Period 4 9:57-10:42 Reading
Period 5 10:45-12:04 Red Devil Pride Period (Lunch B-11:10-11:40)
Period 6 12:07-12:52 Plan Period
Period 7 12:56-1:41 Language Arts
Period 8 1:45-2:30 Reading
***According to state standards, I am certified as a Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) which ensures the district, and parents, that I am offering a quality education for all my students.


text:
Date Posted... Jan 22nd 2018
Well, it has been a fun packed weekend with the highlight being the quad biking on Sunday.
Friday night was quite a quiet night as a number of the girls had parties to go to and some sleepovers had been arranged. While some of the girls were recovering in bed from their late night, the rest of the girls made their way into town or went to the gym. On Saturday evening we all sat down to watch The Voice and I was treated to a lovely singing session from the girls! There were a variety of songs and, at one point, we even had a rendition of silent night! As a result of this beautiful singing I have discovered that both Alex and Nana sing like angels, and I am now on a mission to get them into a school choir!
On Sunday, the girls were very excited about the quad biking and as you can see from the photographs we had a fantastic time. It was certainly the highlight of the year so far! The most memorable moment was Nana doing a little bit of off road driving on the beginner's track and ending up driving in the wrong direction. She also ran into problems on the main track as her bike tipped over and cut out at the same time! The girls got incredibly muddy and Freya even managed to get a 5mm layer of mud all over her face! Who needs mudpacks!
Best wishes,
Miss Hope, Resident House Tutor


text:
|The application of abundance sensitivity filters to the precise and accurate measurement of uranium series nuclides by plasma mass spectrometry
|Publication Type
|Journal Article
|Year of Publication
|Scott S.R, Sims K.WW, Reagan M.K, Ball L., Schwieters J.B, Bouman C., Lloyd N.S, Waters C.L, Standish J.J, Tollstrup D.L
|International Journal of Mass Spectrometry
|Date Published
|Type of Article
|ISBN Number
|Accession Number
|Abundance sensitivity; inductively-coupled plasma; isotope ratio measurements; juan-de-fuca; Lead-210; magma formation; MC-ICPMS; midocean; off-axis; physics; quadrupole; ra-226-th-230-u-238 disequilibria; radium; Retarding potential; ridges; spectroscopy; th-pa-ra; Thorium; time-scales; U-series; uranium; Uranium-series; volcanism
Application of retardation filters has revolutionized the use of multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) for the measurement of U-series disequilibria. Here, we present an evaluation of the application of retardation energy filters coupled with ion counting detectors for the measurement of U-series disequilibria by MC-ICPMS. We show that: 1) The RPQ minimizes backgrounds caused by ions experiencing irregular flight paths at high masses of uranium series nuclides. This reduced background is important for low count rate measurements and has enabled us to develop an improved method for the determination of Ra-226/Ra-228 ratios using a dual SEM/RPQ collector block. 2) Systematic biases exist for isotope ratios of U-234/U-238 and Th-230/Th-232 without the use of RPQs; thus, the RPQ is important for measurement of both of these isotope ratios. 3) That the RPQ makes possible Pb-210 measurements in geologic samples using MC-ICPMS, but that this application is limited to samples that have low common Pb, such as carbonates and silica sinter. Additionally, we present mass spectrometric and gamma counting data for U-Th-Ra disequilibria in rock standard reference materials including AGV-2, AThO, BCR-1, BCR-2, BHVO-2, BIR-1a, DTS-1, PCC-1, RGM-2, TML, and W-2a. Comparing this new data with values from published literature enables us to provide consensus or recommended values for U, Th, and Ra-226 concentrations and Th-230/Th-232 ratios for each of these standards. We note that this is the first compilation of recommended radium concentrations for rock standard reference materials. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|Short Title
|Int. J. Mass Spectrom.


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Final Fantasy VII Remake: Cid Highwind & Cait Sith Play Arts Kai Action Figure (Figures)
Street Date: TBA
Manufacturer: Square-Enix
Item Code: 662248821696
Request this item from your local retailer!
This set features Cid and Cait Sith! Cid's figure is created with design and functionality in mind in which not only is facial expression is detailed, but the modeling of his accessories such as his dog tags and goggles are also highly detailed. The jacket around his waist, his pants, and his ankles are made of soft material. Cait Sith can ride atop the previously released RED XIII figure!
Each figure also comes with a rich selection of exchangeable parts that includes hands, arms, a spear and a megaphone. To recreate the image of the characters in the film, the materials for Cid's clothing such as boots and gloves are recreated with care, and Cait Sith's coloration is highly aware of the delicate placement of its hair color. These details come together to create a spectacular finish!
Figure includes display stand and interchangeable hand parts.


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Join Date: May 2017
Realistic Point Gains
Hi there,
I need some help backing my design, or, putting it simply, regard or disregard it as realistic.
Let´s say I am creating a setting, so I want some truly iconic characters, and start by creating an NPC in a modern setting. So this character is born at 2,000 to a lineage of geniuses and athletes, and starts with:
(Strength-13; Dexterity-13; IQ-13; Health-12)
(which turns to be (Strength-4; Dexterity-5; IQ-7; Health-11) at age 0, and increases by the years)
(Ambidexterity; Discriminatory Hearing; Discriminatory Smell; Photographic Memory; Language Talent; Intuitive Mathematician; Sensitive Touch; Single-Minded; Versatile)
By "Back to School" she puts 150 hours/month to Education and 165 hours/month to Self-Teaching (4 hours a day from monday to friday plus 12 hours a day on weekends). Having born to a wealthy family, she is supplied with nootropics (TL8) and elite quality education, so final modifiers are as follows:
Single-Minded +30%
Elite Education +40%
Accelerated Learning +50%
Talent (from -30% to +30%, average +0% until 15)
Will (from -30% to +30%, average +0% until 15)
gaining 460.35 points by her fifteen birthday. She proceeds then to invest most of those points into "Pharmacy (Synthetic)", "Bioengineering" and "Surgery", which is roleplayed by having her following advanced programs and studying medicine, and then she research into cutting-edge nootropics (TL9, granting Accelerated Learning +100%), amphetamines (Less Sleep 4), horizontal gene transfer (ST+2; DX+1; IQ+1; HT+1; Beautiful; Combat Reflexes; Double-Jointed; High Pain Threshold; Longevity; Resistant (Acceleration+3; Disease+8; Ingested Poison+3); Voice) and surgery&biomods (HT+1; Fit, Very; Rapid Healing, Very; Pitiable) and by 2024 she has collected 1252.5 points to split among social benefits like wealth, reputation and rank, and skills. She also has (ST-15; DX-14; IQ-14; HT-14) and all of the other advantages. The maximum in any attribute is 16 (one in over a billion people, so there are six persons in the world with a 16 in any attribute).
Is this acceptable?
Last edited by Alonsua; 12-30-2017 at 06:17 PM.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Re: Realistic Point Gains
As a basic starting observation, 'points' and 'realistic' are concepts that belong in different spheres and should be brought in contact only with the most extreme caution. This does not appear to be anywhere close to extreme caution.
I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident.
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
Re: Realistic Point Gains
Realistically, getting addicted to meth and doing uncontrolled genetic modifications on yourself isn't likely to be a success story.
Join Date: May 2017
Re: Realistic Point Gains
*The unsuccesful story chances seem pretty interesting though.
Last edited by Alonsua; 12-30-2017 at 07:00 PM.
Join Date: May 2017
Re: Realistic Point Gains
Join Date: Jun 2005
Re: Realistic Point Gains
Someone with 16s across the board is not "realistic" in the usual sense. She's more like Clark Savage, Jr. than like any person you could actually meet or hear of.
I think you're not accounting for her starting out as a child. She'll initially have to buy off English (Broken/None), Innumerate, and Social Stigma (Uneducated), as well as an initially lower IQ that reflects lack of general education, before she can buy any of those advanced scientific skills. She also probably is not going to be putting all her study time into a small range of scientific skills from infancy on; very few people have that sharp a focus on one set of skills when they start out, especially on skills that are desired not for their intrinsic interest but for their usefulness in learning other skills. See p. 11 of Back to School.
You want her to do cutting edge research on things like nootropics. That sounds like the Inventing or Gadgeteering rules are being brought into play. The penalties for inventing such things are probably high, and the laboratory facilities are going to be insanely costly. Have you analyzed how difficult it will be for her to invent learning drugs?
If you're building her as a PC, she has whatever you can pay for with the character points the GM allows you. Arguments about "she could have spent this many hours a month on study" don't carry any weight. You get to start doing that kind of computation after she enters play, and if you then have her spend all her time obsessively trying to become a superwoman, she won't have any time for adventuring.
Bill Stoddard
A human being should know how to live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse. Specialization is for insects.
Join Date: May 2017
Re: Realistic Point Gains
Amphetamines: Concept (112 hours) + Prototype (80 hours) + Fixes (80 hours)
Nootropics: Concept (8 hours) + Prototype (320 hours) + Fixes (160 hours)
Cancer Vaccine: Concept (808) + Prototype (8960) + Fixes (120)
Gengineering: Concept (192 hours) + Prototype (8320 hours) + Fixes (560 hours)
Genetic Surgery/Biomods: Concept (8 hours) + Prototype (640 hours) + Fixes (120 hours)
Transplants/Biomods: Concept (8 hours) + Prototype (640 hours) + Fixes (80 hours)
Bodysculpting: Concept (8 hours) + Prototype (320 hours)+ Fixes (80 hours)
for a total of 22084 hours. She gets an average of 2973 hours a year, for a total of 2712 days (Around seven years and six months, so this can be done at around twenty years old if she gets to start at 15). As for the money, not counting that she comes from a wealthy family, she also develops the vaccine for cancer with private funding, so she gets to be billonaire. Do the calculus and backstory look right at all?
*I have been thinking of charging 1/3 of the attributes cost to develop a character from infant to adulthood, since it comes that an average character following average education gets to gain around 100-120 points over 15 years "((150/200)/4)*42*15=118.125" and the development from infant to tens reach 319 points, so that would turn to 119 points ought to be paid at fifteen.
Last edited by Alonsua; 12-30-2017 at 07:50 PM.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
Re: Realistic Point Gains
I'm fairly certain that the learning rules weren't meant to be used for every minute of a character's life, from birth onward, but if you do, I think you should certainly account for the fact that a lot of the time until adulthood is going to be spent on learning to be a functioning person, gaining around 10 in Attributes, accumulating normal defaults for someone of your culture and getting Cultural Familiarity and Native language.
Cultural Familiarity is actually a good example of a trait where the time to gain it correlates not at all with the learning rules. Despite costing only 1 character point, it can take years to develop and usually only by living in the culture. You absolutely cannot learn it in a couple of weeks of intensive training or even a semester of academic studies.
*Losing Reluctant Killer, gaining Combat Reflexes and adding points in combat skills could be the result of one gunfight which marked a person for life. And a higher Wealth level, Status and a multitude of Contacts can result from a single successful business trip as a young genius investor meets an angel investor who introduces him around, ending up with offers from several technology giants to buy out his company. Spending points gained through 'adventuring' is every bit as realistic as using a rule where every 200 hours sometimes equal a character point and quite a bit more realistic than believing that 1 character point always equals 200 hours of study.
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Re: Realistic Point Gains
One fundamental issue is that all GURPS time requirement rules are unrealistic in the interest of adventuring drama. For example nobody in reality is going to prototype a new drug in *80 hours* - the synthetic chemistry might not even be physically possible that fast - or even 80 days. Nor will any real person will be able to study (or do anything else) 8 hours a day, 365 days a year. These rules are all structured for larger than life heroes to be able to finish some vital task in a reasonable period of time in play, not to attempt to simulate out of play backgrounds.
MA Lloyd
Join Date: Feb 2016
Re: Realistic Point Gains
There are going to be very few realistic characters built on 1000 points unless they max out a couple of attributes (which will create characters that do not feel realistic, even if they are technically realistic). While exceptional people do exist, very few people are going to have 16's across the board (a character with 360 points in attributes is probably going to be a 1:1,000,000 type of person and will be a celebrated and well-known genius and athlete).
Concerning study times, they should probably be considered a workable average. Basic training and other intensive training regimes max out at 26 weeks because even exceptional human beings cannot devote more time than that before they crack. When you look at US colleges, 15 hours a week of classes (with 30 hours of week of self-study in the form of homework and readings) for thirty weeks tends to be considered an acceptable load to avoid overwhelming a student (which translates to 900 hours of study a year). With work and hobbies, a college study can probably gain a maximum of 6 character points per year (4.5 from study and 1.5 from work and hobbies). With four years of college, that is only an extra 24 character points, so massive gains in competency are unlikely unless you study for decades.
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nature & wildlife
new zealand ~ family time in bay of islands
December 30, 2013 – January 1, 2014 I'll never forget seeing my parents for the first time in over a year . . . standing on the Opua waterfront with Pete and Rae, our buddies from s/v Saliander. Early that morning, our dear friends had picked my parents up from the airport in Auckland and driven them up to Opua for us. … Continue reading
new zealand ~ the holiday season
November 28 – December 29, 2013 For Thanksgiving, along with s/v Elcie and s/v Sueño, we hoisted anchor and sailed to Roberton Island for the holiday celebration. A Thanksgiving turkey dinner was served aboard Full Monty, and it was great fun to be among good friends. Walks were taken ashore, and Wil attempted to … Continue reading
tonga ~ cave & snorkeling explorations
October 1 – 27, 2013 Photos of some of our Tongan cave explorations and snorkeling expeditions. Swallow's Cave ~ northwest tip of Kapa Island, Vava'u … Continue reading
tonga ~ the nature of it (whales)
October 2, 2013 Immediately following the first sea snake encounter in Swallow's Cave with s/v Gallivanter, our afternoon became even more incredible and turned into one that we will remember for a lifetime. We were just finishing up snorkeling in Swallow's Cave when we noticed s/v Sueño making their approach to Neiafu for clearance into Tonga. From the dinghies, … Continue reading
tonga ~ the nature of it (sea snakes)
October 2, 2013 More than once, we snorkeled and explored in Swallow's Cave on the northwest tip of Kapa Island. For our first trip into the cave, we'd gone with s/v Gallivanter. The caves are so large that you can drive your dinghy straight into them. Upon entering the caves, we learned how the caves must … Continue reading
suwarrow ~ a true treasure
September 2 – 16, 2013 Suwarrow, also known as Suvarov, is a nature reserve and small coral atoll belonging to the Cook Islands. It is located about 440 miles east-northeast of American Samoa, and there is not another island within 200 miles from Suwarrow. Every year, from April through October, the population of Suwarrow consists … Continue reading