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Spirituality and Mental Health
Research on how faith in God impacts one's emotional well being.
[herewith are four articles/perspectives]
[herewith are four articles/perspectives]
It had been barely four months since starting my clinical training at Harvard's McLean Hospital and no less than 15 patients had approached me to speak about spirituality. I guess my kippah gave me away as a safe person to approach about the subject, but this was starting to get ridiculous. And so, I approached my advisor for advice.
"Rosmarin, these patients have spiritual needs that we're not addressing.""I agree. I've been saying this for years!""But we need to do something about this problem. I want you to start a group to address patients' spirituality in our program."McLean's Spirituality – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
And so, McLean's Spirituality; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group was born. Fortunately, I had received training in this subject – a rarity for a clinical psychologist, even in this age of spiritual awakening. My graduate school supervisor Kenneth I. Pargament, Ph.D. (Bowling Green State University) literally wrote the book on Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy, and his 100+ scientific articles have consistently highlighted the importance of spiritual and religious life to psychological health. In just over one year, the group has provided spiritually-integrated treatment to over 150 patients. And feedback has been overwhelmingly positive – a full 25% of patients requested more such treatment and none provided negative comments.
Given Freud's characterization of religion as neurosis, this is a big step forward. My colleagues were somewhat surprised.
"Yes, I know that a lot of people believe in God, but does it really matter to mental health?"Given the history – from Freud's characterization of religion as neurosis, to mechanistic biological models of mental illness – marginalization and discounting of spirituality (as opposed to disparaging it) is actually a big step forward. But even a cursory glance at the empirical literature reveals that spirituality does indeed matter to mental health – in a big way.
Over 47,000 scientific articles have been written on the subject of spirituality and health (PubMed search – June 2011), of which at least half relate to psychological symptoms and wellbeing.
It is now recognized that this domain can protect against depression, anxiety, and facilitate greater self-control. Moreoer, it is now patently clear that religion can (and often does) serve as a vital resource for individuals coping with life change. For example, among individuals with advanced cancer, turning to religion can greatly enhance quality of life. Further, simple involvement such as weekly attendance of religious services has been associated with full 7-year increase in lifespan in some studies and some have argued on this basis that church is more cost effective than Lipotor. Source with footnotes: Spirituality-Mental Health
Prominent scientists show the efficacy of trust in God to treat anxiety.
(excerpts from original article, link included)
[…] In short: "The Gate of Trust in God." The pages were an excerpt from the book Duties of the Heart, written by Rabbi Bachaya Ibn Pekuda in 11th Century Spain. "I don't know if you should speak to a mental health professional about your anxiety," the rabbi said to David, "but I do know that reading these pages will help you. Learn them for 10-15 minutes each night before you go to bed, and contemplate deeply what is written here." Excellent article (Source Aish: G–d vs. Prozac)
[upon rereading this text] "The Gate of Trust in God," this time analyzing the text from a psychological perspective. "Less than three pages into my reading," David remembers, "I realized that the text could be understood as a complete psychological theory of the etiology of human anxiety. This ancient piece of Jewish wisdom elucidated a secret method of eliminating human anxiety based on spiritual wisdom. I presented the material to my academic supervisors who were equally impressed by Rabbi Bachaya's insights."
A Torah Approach to Anxiety Relief
By Sara Esther Crispe
[…W]e need to know that a certain amount of anxiety in our lives is normal. It is part of life. We are shown this in the beginning passage of the Torah: "In the beginning . . . the earth was without form and void . . . and darkness was on the face of the deep . . . And G‑d said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. G‑d saw that the light was good, so G‑d separated the light from the darkness . . . And it was evening, and it was morning, one day." (Genesis 1:1–5)
From this seminal passage we see that: Darkness preceded light.
In order for light to exist, it had to be created. It didn't exist on its own. And even when light was created, it was still mixed together with darkness and had to be separated from it. A full phase of revelation—"one day"—is complete only when it includes both darkness (evening) and light (morning).
And in the fifth verse of the Torah we read, Vayikra Elokim la'or yom, "And G‑d called the light 'day.'" What this teaches us is that "day," which consists of both light and darkness, is the same word that is used for just light. This means that even though light and darkness may both exist, what is dominant and what defines the day is the light.
It is known that the darkest part of the night is just before the dawn. Often it is easy to think that life would be so nice, so easy, if it were simply smooth—a life filled with only light and no darkness. But just as on an EKG, the sign of life is a heartbeat that goes up and down . . . so too our lives have bumps in the road, and the ups and downs are all a part of living. The question is not if there will be bumps, but rather how will we deal with those bumps when we hit them.
There are numerous times in the Torah which speak of anxiety, but there is one important passage that teaches us some very practical ways of dealing with the anxiety in our lives. Clearly, this is not going to be a solution for someone suffering from depression or mental illness who is in need of professional help and perhaps medication. But rather, it is for the typical bumps we encounter in our lives.
The sign of life is a heartbeat that goes up and down, The statement is in Proverbs, which was written by King Solomon. It reads: "Anxiety in the heart of a person causes dejection, but a good word will turn it into joy." The Hebrew for this is: Da'agah belev ish yashchenah, vedavar tov yesamchenah (Proverbs 12:25).
Here we see how complex the Hebrew language is, and how understanding its various levels of meanings lead to multiple teachings of the subject at hand. We find that the word for "dejection," yashchenah, has three different meanings, depending on how the word is read.
It can mean: 1. to suppress. 2. to ignore. 3. to articulate.
Depression – It's Nothing New Mental Illness in Jewish Tradition
by Azriel Hauptman
Rabbi Hauptman is Director of Relief of Baltimore, a recently established mental health referral service. Contact him at email@example.com or at 410-448-8356
[…T]here is a notion that it is somehow un-Jewish to suffer from depression. Shouldn't the Torah infuse our hearts with happiness – or at least provide the remedy for depression?
In order to address these misconceptions, we must realize that not only are mental health disorders as real as other medical conditions, and have been around since we left the Garden of Eden, but also that the Talmud itself discusses depression.
The Talmud (Shabbos 30b) tells us that it is permitted to extinguish a candle on Shabbos because of an "Evil Spirit," since the Evil Spirit can possibly be fatal if the patient is exposed to the candlelight. This is perplexing. What is this Evil Spirit that the Mishnah is describing? What kind of spirit can be life threatening if the candle is not extinguished?
The Rambam (1138 – 1204), in his commentary to the Mishnah, writes, "The Evil Spirit is referring to melancholy. There is a type of melancholy that will cause the ill person to lose his mind when he sees light or when he is amongst other people. He finds peace only in darkness, in solitude, and in desolate places."
"Melancholy" is the ancient term for depression and was until the 20th century the word of choice in the English language as well. (The word comes from the Greek for black bile, as the ancient Greeks believed that the cause of depression is an excess of black bile. In classic Rabbinic literature, the term mara shehora is used for depression, which also means black bile.) The word depression was coined by the mental health profession, causing the word melancholy to be used much less frequently in a clinical sense.
So now we recognize that (according to the Rambam) the Talmud is teaching us that a person can be in such a deep depression that he needs to be in the dark in order to retain his sanity, otherwise he might lose his mind in a way that can be life threatening. But is light sensitivity indeed one of the symptoms of depression?
Well, light sensitivity (also known as photophobia) is not one of the common symptoms of depression, but it definitely is a symptom that some people experience. Dr. Kathleen Digre, professor of ophthalmology and neurology at the University of Utah, said that some people can tell how depressed they are by how light sensitive they are. The other symptom that the Rambam mentions is the desire to be alone. Social withdrawal is a common symptom of depression. There are many symptoms of depression, and a diagnosis of depression is based on the presenting symptoms of the individual. Obviously, this diagnosis must be made by a competent mental health professional.
Incredibly enough, the Rambam also offers advice for people who suffer from depression. In Shemona Perakim ("Eight Chapters" – the Rambam's introduction to Avos) in Chapter 5, the Rambam writes, "If a person develops melancholy, he should eliminate it by listening to music and songs, by strolling in gardens and amongst beautiful buildings, and by sitting amongst beautiful images, and other ways of broadening the mind, and then he will remove the distress of his melancholy."
Clearly, the Rambam's advice is based on the information available in medieval times. Today, mental health professionals have many different tools in their toolbox to treat depression, ranging from psychotherapy to psychotropic medications.
However, one lesson we can learn from the Talmud and the Rambam is that "there is nothing new under the sun," and that people have been dealing with depression for thousands of years. There is nothing shameful about it, and nothing un-Jewish about seeking treatment for depression and other mental health disorders. Additionally, just as the Rambam enlightens the Torah for us in so many ways, he also shines a bright light into the mental health field, advising us to use whatever means are available to us to treat mental health conditions. Source: Depression . . . Nothing New


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for about the last two weeks. I was eating alright last week...then from Friday through the weekend I ate horribly and Monday, too. I haven't really felt great since then...partially b/c of my bad diet I am sure and partially b/c of female issues. Bleh...
Needless to say, I haven't weighed since I lost those last two pounds. We went grocery shopping yesterday - that was a BIG problem. We didn't have the kitchen stocked and were eating out a lot more than we normally do and that's never good b/c I always seem to fudge a bit more if I am out rather than cooking at home.
My mother gave me a "Get back on the wagon" speech today so I hope that (along with the healthy stocked fridge) will get me motivated again. I bought my wedding dress last week so I have to think about that for motivation, too!! Another thing I haven't been doing enough is drinking the right amount of water. I have a water bottle that I have been drinking on to and from work and refilling - that will help and at night trying to drink water instead of tea (no sugar) w/ dinner.
Michael and I discussed working out/doing something in the evenings. Even if it's just walking around the complex - and he is good about telling me when I am eating badly. Today in my mail I got a flyer about the new fitness center being opened at my complex and the door code for it. Maybe we'll go check it out. We have been before, but nothing worked and it felt like a waste of time. I got more out of the walk across the complex to get there!!! I just need to get over the tired hump and get my butt working out - some kind of physical activity, any kind is better than nothing.
We're cooking stuffed bell peppers tonight (mine will be sans the rice) and yellow squash - Yummy! I bought stuff to make tuna fish salad, too. I'll have to make that tonight to bring to work tomorrow!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Alligator Attraction
We have over 200 animals including alligators, tortoises, frogs, lizards and much more! Education and Conservation are strongly encouraged. Have you ever wondered what a baby alligator is called? How many teeth alligators have? Which President owned a gator in the White House? You will learn the answers to these questions and much more at the Alligator Attraction! Perfect for kids, teens, adults, and families - everyone has fun at the Alligator Attraction!


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Unique Features To Consider When Renting Moving Containers
There are many benefits to using a moving container for your move. You have the ability to load the container up as you please, and when you are ready, the company you rented it from will load it on to a truck and transport it for you. If you are ready for it to be delivered, they will deliver it to your new location, where you can unload it. However, if you don't know where you are moving yet or your new home isn't ready, the storage container can be placed in storage until you are ready for the contents to be delivered. When you are ready to rent a moving container, there are many factors you need to consider, such as the size and price of the container. But, there are also some unique features you may want to consider as you go about selecting a company to rent from. Here are a few features some companies offer in their moving pods and why these unique features may be something you would want in a moving container.
Translucent Roofing and Side Windows
Translucent roofing and/or side windows on a moving container allow more light to shine in. This can be helpful as you load or unload the container in the day time. If these features are not on the container, the only way that light gets inside is through the door. If you have a long container, it can be dark towards the back of the container, even with the doors open. This feature helps increase the amount of light so that you can see clearly into the whole pod.
Ground Clearance
Some moving pods have no ground clearance. This means they sit flat on the ground. Others have skids, or feet, that help lift them slightly off of the ground with a ground clearance of four inches. Ultimately, you have to decide if you want a moving container with ground clearance or no ground clearance, as there are pros and cons to both. The advantage to having no ground clearance is that there is only a tiny lip where the door is to go over as you load your belongings. This means you can easily roll a furniture or appliance dolly with heavy items in and out of the unit. However, if it is raining and water starts pooling or puddling outside of your unit, it can enter the space if you have no ground clearance. Ground clearance helps lift the container off of the ground so water won't so easily enter. If you live in an area with little rain or are moving at a time when it shouldn't rain, you may want a unit with no ground clearance. However, if it's the rainy season where you live when you move, finding a unit with ground clearance may be important to you.
Roll-Up or Swing Open Doors
Another feature to consider when you are selecting a moving container is whether the unit has a roll-up door or swing open doors, and how much space you have. A roll-up door is pushed upward, and slides into the storage unit, much like a garage door opens. Swing open doors typically have a panel on the left and right side that each swing open. You need to allow enough space for those doors to swing all the way open. The doors measure the width of the container and generally, they're split evenly down the middle, so if the width of your container is 10 feet, each door will be five feet in length, totaling 10 feet. This means you must leave at least five feet of open space in front of and on each side of the container to open the doors. Always ask a moving company what the width of the container is and how many feet the doors are to ensure you have enough space. If you don't, a roll-up door may better suit your needs.
You have many factors you need to consider when renting a moving container. Some of these include translucent roofing, side windows, different ground clearances and roll-up doors instead of swing open doors. Learning what unique features are available in moving pods, and then determining if any are useful to you, will help you find a company that offers the features you most desire in a moving container in order to make your move go as smoothly as possible.
Contact a local company, such as Father & Son Moving & Storage, to see what options they can offer you.


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1 Comment
One Response to "Winter Drumline Win"
Ann Miller on
April 9th, 2018 3:32 pm
Winter Drumline did a great job this season. Congratulations to everyone of The Drumline participants!
All comments are moderated and can be tracked back to the original user/computer.
If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a gravatar.


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New Study Examines Methods for Technology Transfer from Federal Labs to Industry
Study finds that the distinctive missions of federal laboratories, management strategies and resources, statutory requirements and incentives for researchers were key factors determining an agency's particular approach to commercialization of federal laboratory results.
NIST Press Release:
A new report sponsored by the U.S. Commerce Department (DOC) – the results of the first independent study of its kind in almost 10 years-describes both barriers and effective strategies for the transfer of technology developed in federal laboratories to industry for commercialization.
Based on a literature review and interviews with technology transfer experts at 26 different federal research laboratories as well as 33 additional organizations, the study was released on June 14, 2011, at a meeting of the department's National Advisory Committee on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, held at Howard University.
Agencies interviewed as part of the study also suggested a range of strategies for increasing the speed and extent of dissemination of federal technologies. Strategies included streamlining licensing; increasing cash, royalties, awards or other incentives that reward researchers for excellent technology transfer efforts; and raising the visibility of available technologies through showcase events, intellectual property databases, and networking at conferences and workshops.


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Agencies: St Louis County Police Department Missouri | Richmond Heights Police Department Missouri
Last updated: 10 months ago
23-year-old Terry Tillman was shot and killed by police in St. Louis County after a foot chase that started in the Saint Louis Galleria.
Here is what we know so far about what happened,
St. Louis County Police Department spokesperson Ben Granda held a press conference shortly after the shooting Saturday afternoon.
The man killed in the shooting has been identified as Terry Tillman.
Granda said a security guard at the Galleria was notified a man inside the mall was 'potentially armed' and then he told a uniformed Richmond Heights police officer. The officer then tried to contact Tillman, but he ran. The foot pursuit ended at Simmons Bank and that's when an officer shot Tillman. The officer who fired his gun is 50 years old with 23 years of experience, Granda said.
Granda did not know how many shots were fired. He did not know if Tillman pulled out his weapon or if he fired any shots.
"It's premature to answer that, but those are great questions," Granda said.
A weapon was recovered from the scene.
5 On Your Side has reached out to officials every day since the shooting.
An employee who works at Build-A-Bear Workshop said the mall didn't tell them. She said she found out there was a shooting afterward, when a relative of another employee called the store to ask if everyone was OK.
A vigil was held for Tillman outside of Simmons Bank on Sept. 1


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Tooth Whitening
Take the first step in looking great and feeling even better with a whiter and brighter smile! Whitening your teeth can transform your smile in a very short period of time. It is one of the most popular procedures done today.
At Inline Smiles, we trust in the take home whitening system that uses custom trays and dentist strength bleach to notably improve the shade of your teeth in only a few applications.


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Sea of Yardmen at Central Station.
Bradley Quinn's photograph 'Sea of Yardmen' taken as part of the CCG Yardmen Cycle and Walk on April 1st is currently displayed at central station Belfast as part of this years East Belfast Arts Festival!
Get down to central station and check it out!


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About our schools
The educational system in the kingdom witnessed prominent development and unpredictable gesture in the kindergarten grade in the recent years after the studies approved the importance of this grade in acquired knowledge, skills and different experience.
So Intilakah School was the initiative in this field with its idea and its extended branches in Riyadh city neighborhood.al Intilakah School established in 2009 with five branches distributed on riyadh city neighborhood under a series of al intilakah school to establish other branches in the region of our beloved country. We started together with an artist feather in each hand so our colors were blended, created a magnificent painting with anise spectral colors. This journey is leaded by a specialized teachers, administrators and educational in a kindergarten field learnt the art of human creation. And parents who improved their sons tour, so their efforts are integrated and produce a fruitful effort and distinguished achievements for our kids level with the compassion of god.
Intilaka schools
Intilaka schools for early education and kindergarten grade from age(3-5)years one of tadrees schools company.
what characterized us?
services and care
enjoying and joyful
curricula and programs
children in each group
educational staff
development for our staff
educational environment
our distinct identity
our goals
Create and prepare safe and organized environment both financially and socially supportive and stimulating the growth process for the child.
Intreset in different aspect for the child growth and enrich these aspect.
Exclutivity to provide a distinctive model in environment,content and director for kindergarten.
The development of child skills and let him to gain different experience with the preservation of our religious identity and islamic belief.
our mission
to empower our child to creation and acquiring knowledge in asafe and joyable environment to prepare them for successful future.
our values
responsibility, descreting, caring, pridde, high quality.
our vision
the leader ship of early childhood education.
Our ambitions
intilaka kindergarten is an idea followed by study.a dream comes true, a leaps of growth and development reflect the meaning of intilaka kindergarten logo.we launched after god blessing,now emulate the finest and best kindergarten committed to quality standard and level of excellence in performance and output and constant search for renewal and development and spreading ,asking god success and reliable to that which is good for our kids.
Administrative structures
Our curricula and languages
Studies have shown that 80% of human intelligence is formed in early childhood. and study the foundation of natural science and mathematics support the human success and the economic status for him in the future.therefore we dedicate special care for the curricula that are provided to our children from plans, formulating objectives, building concepts by a supervision team of natural science.we find our children are practicing :addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, skip counting, applying graphs, measurement in unit of capacity, length, read fraction sand know the four directions, talk about natural phenomena and earth rotation and the names of planets, formulating sentences, linguistic structures in away that combines learning, fun and playing.
To mimic the minds of a generation of progress and technology with a high skilled concepts, moving them from the world of perceived to abstract in fun and interesting way. through special curricula of our schools that accredited by the ministry of education.studies have shown that children are easily learn and acquired languages before the age of six. intilaka school launch to support and enrich our children mother language by offering a curriculum in which children offering acurriculum in which children were able to distinguish pronouns, prepositions and distenes, tanwin(final post nasalized or long vowels)in addition to distinguish the sound of the letters with diacritics extensions. as we accredited a rich and balanced curricula capable to broaden the child capability and enter him into well known spaces in English language followed and supervised by a competent native English persons.


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Man critical after shooting at apartment complex | News
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- A 21-year-old man was shot at a DeKalb County apartment complex overnight.
The victim, whose name was not released, was hurt early Thursday at the KRC Bridge Apartments off North Hairston Road near Stone Mountain.
Police said the victim claimed he was approached and then shot by two men. Robbery may have been the motive, but the details were not immediately known.
The victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
No one has been arrested or charged in the shooting.


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The Orchard House is worth £400,000 and was abandoned sometime in 2017. A couple used to live here a husband and wife, sadly sometime in 2016 the husband passed away. We are not sure of the exact date when the place was abandoned.
There is a workshop also at the back of the property.
John (webb7photography) and his team also found a letter dating 25th September 2019 saying that they owe over £212,000 for the property.
Thanks to everyone For this amazing stunning explore!!!
Please Check out My Facebook For More Videos And Photos and Follow...


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Why Giving Employees Autonomy Is So Important
Why Giving Employees Autonomy Is So Important
If you're looking for more evidence supporting employee autonomy, here is a recent study from the University of Melbourne supporting the practice.
Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.Join For Free
Having control over what, how, when and where we work has been proven time and time again to be incredibly motivational to the modern worker. If further evidence were required, however, then a recent study from the University of Melbourne might provide it. It reveals that giving employees autonomy over their work results in higher performance levels and greater loyalty towards the employer.
The study centered on a management style known as being "autonomously supportive." This runs counter to being controlling and micromanaging employees and instead encourages and supports them. It's largely analogous to the servant leadership that was popularized by Robert Greenleaf in the 1970s.
The research found that workers around the world were more likely to be intrinsically motivated when they had autonomy over their work activities, especially if they felt mastery over their tasks were surrounded by supportive managers, mentors, and peers.
"We found better workplace wellbeing and motivation when employees were not reliant on external events like rewards or sanctions," the authors say. "Our study showed that autonomy support leads to positive outcomes like intrinsic motivation, wellness, engagement and more committed and loyal employees, no matter the national culture."
Global Trends
The researchers examined dozens of previous studies with a collective sample size of over 30,000 employees from around the world, and the conclusions were the same regardless of the location. Those who are intrinsically motivated don't need external rewards because their work itself is reward enough.
"These practices have a positive influence on employee work motivation, performance and psychological functioning. Employees are less likely to suffer from burnout," the authors explain. "They might seek out new challenges and learning opportunities or take steps to develop relationships with peers. Decades of research document the positive effects of satisfying these three needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness — and autonomy support is an important contributor."
So what can you do as a leader to support greater autonomy among your team? The research suggests that such leaders will do things such as:
- Provide ample opportunities for staff to make their own choices and input into decisions
- Encourage self-initiated behaviors within structured guidance and boundaries
- Show interest in their perspective and demonstrate empathic concern while avoiding controls that restrain autonomy or sanctions or rewards.
Do that and the rewards appear to be evident, both for you and your team.
Published at DZone with permission of Adi Gaskell , DZone MVB. See the original article here.
Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.


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Dave Trottier of KeepWriting.com is a produced screenwriter, award-winning teacher, top-selling author, and distinguished script consultant. He's helped hundreds of writers break into the business, and was kind enough to give us little insight into his life as screenwriting pundit.
Q: How did you first get involved with screenwriting?
Dave: As a young adult, I did an amateur film just for fun to pull some young adults together into a cohesive group, and we won an amateur film festival. All told, we had about 40 people involved.
Q: What's it like eating and breathing screenwriting everyday? Do you ever get burnt out?
Dave: Ya gotta love it. It feels good to be creating. The burnt out part is with all the other stuff that must be done other than the screenwriting. With many writers, this is making a living until the screenwriting can pay for itself. Of course, with me, it's not just screenwriting that is fun, but also book writing, curriculum writing, article writing, and script analysis.
Q: What can a writer expect at your Screenwriter's Sundance Retreat (pictured left):
Dave: A nurturing atmosphere in which to create and a great deal of instruction aimed at revising your script. Since it is limited to 15 writers, it's "the little writing conference that could." There is a great deal of interaction with other writers. We're sold out for 2016, but you can get on a waiting list.
Q: What are you personally itching to write next as a screenwriter?
Dave: A religious drama (not biblical, but contemporary) and a family-split-apart-coming-together script. There are several others…
Q) What advice would you give someone about to put pen to paper on their first screenplay?
* Relax and have fun! Writing should be fun. If you don't like the writing part, then it's not for you.
* Read a couple of books, take a class, and start writing simultaneously. It's imperative that you write while you are learning. Don't think that you have to learn everything before you start writing. You will do better at both if you do both concurrently. Writers write.
* Write that first script from your passion. It is likely to be somewhat autobiographical. Go ahead and write it without regard to market. This inner stuff needs to get out to clear the creative pipes for more good things to emerge.
* Understand that the writing business is a business, and that you will spend nearly as much time selling as you will writing.
* Don't write something you've seen in another movie unless you can give it a fresh twist. I already know before you start writing that the first scene is a dream, the love interest will eventually be kidnapped, and that the hero is "ruggedly handsome."
* Think small. Everyone is trying to break in with a blockbuster. Consider breaking in with a "smaller" picture that has many more potential buyers. This is after you've written your first script. Good luck and keep writing!
You can reach Dave Trottier to request his services through his website, and also make sure to follow him on twitter @DRTrottier.


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A destination mostly unknown, Devkund is a waterfall with blue-green clear water that is a view worth a watch, and is only about four hours from Mumbai.
This Secluded And Beautiful Waterfall Is Only Four Hours Away From Mumbai
What Makes It Awesome
The towering and thin waterfall is located in the forest of village Bhira, which is close to 140 km from Pune and can be accessed via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway {unless you're traveling on a bike, in which case you should take an alternate route.}
You can go with a couple of friends to the area {the earlier it is in the day, the better and less crowded}. If you're directionally challenged, and can't usually tell your lefts from your rights, It is most advisable, however, to hop on to a ride organised by a travel company.
An easy hour-long hike from the village Bhira leads you to the rock, opening down to the waterfall which is beautiful, clear and pristine.
The pool of water at the bottom of the fall is made of colours that are indescribable, and will probably make you slightly emotional. Every tear's a waterfall? We think so!
You should take along food for the ride, and keep walking shoes on you, as the trek, while fairly easy, is not a walk in the park. From the point of the trek till the actual waterfall, it will take you around 1.5-2 hours to make it to the waterfall.
A mosquito repellant would be a good choice too, if being a feast for parasites is not your idea of fun.


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and regional business associations from across the Commonwealth have joined to
create the Massachusetts Business Coalition on Transportation (MBCT). The
group's mission is to develop and promote a collaborative statewide business
agenda for transportation to increase ridership on public transportation,
decrease road congestion, and improve bridge and road conditions.
formation of the MBCT is driven by worsening traffic congestion and increasing
demand for more and better public transit, as well as the business community's
dissatisfaction with the current pace of improvements to our state's
transportation systems and services. While MBCT members represent a wide range
of business advocacy groups and geographic areas, each with their own unique
and complex transportation systems and agendas, all Coalition members believe
that improving our statewide transportation infrastructure is an urgent policy
priority, particularly as it relates to the support of business, commerce,
economic competitiveness and growth.
addition, the MBCT feels that the business community has a responsibility to
partner with government on solutions, particularly when it comes to issues like
public/private partnerships, workforce scheduling and applications of
technology as well as sharing expertise on complex issues of financing,
governance and management, contracting, and project delivery.
MBCT will be chaired by James E. Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater
Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC); Timothy P. Murray, president and CEO of the
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Wendy Northcross, CEO of the Cape Cod
Chamber of Commerce, and Richard Sullivan, president and CEO of the Western
Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC). A complete list of all
participating business groups can be found at the end of this release.
The Coalition's mission is consistent with Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo's call to the business community to join the conversation on statewide transportation policy proposals and builds off of Governor Charlie Baker's Commission on the Future of Transportation. In addition, the Coalition's conversations around new revenues for transportation initiatives will be coordinated with the efforts of Senate President Karen Spilka's working group charged with examining the state's revenue sources.
and particularly public transportation, is a critical component to Greater
Boston's, and indeed the state's, talent and workforce strategy, housing crisis
strategy, economic opportunity efforts, climate resiliency, and our commitment
to improving the overall quality of life for the people who live and work in
Massachusetts, said Rooney. "It's time for a united voice from the business
community that can be a powerful driver of progress. I'm proud to work with my
colleagues from across the Commonwealth to deliver results to GBCC members and
work towards achieving the world class transportation systems that our entire
state needs to thrive."
modern and efficient statewide transportation network presents the opportunity
to address the Commonwealth's critical housing and economic development needs,"
said Murray. The MBCT's goal is to provide pathways including possible funding
mechanisms on how to create a state-of-the-art transportation system across
Cod's two automobile bridges and surrounding roadways are at the top of the
Chamber's list for transportation investment. They are not only key to our
economic health they are critical to our wellbeing," said Northcross. "We did
not hesitate to step up and work with our colleagues across the state to
advance transportation solutions. We know that when the rest of the
Commonwealth does well, Cape Cod thrives as well."
"It is imperative that there be regional equity
in all future investments that are made to our transportation system, said
Sullivan. "There needs to be an appreciation for the regional differences and
needs of our residents and our businesses. The definition of
transportation infrastructure needs to expand beyond just roads and bridges to
include broadband, internet and wifi investments so that the less populated
regions of the state can take advantage of new technologies, uber-like
solutions, and innovative solutions to transportation."
So far, the MBCT has met twice to formulate a mission and shared principles and to discuss transportation policies that will become a formal agenda. Although the Coalition will work to formulate a common business community statewide transportation agenda, participation does not preclude members from advocating for region-specific programs and projects, and the MBCT expects to develop additional strategic collaborations during the process.
Massachusetts Business
Coalition on Transportation (MBCT) Members
495/MetroWest Partnership
A Better City
American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Boston Municipal Research Bureau
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce*
Construction Industries of Massachusetts
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce*
Massachusetts Business Roundtable
Massachusetts Competitive Partnership
Massachusetts High Technology Council
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
NAIOP Massachusetts – The Commercial Real Estate Development Association
New England Business Association
Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce
North Shore Chamber of Commerce
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
South Shore Chamber of Commerce
Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce
The New England Council
Trucking Association of Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council*
Worcester Chamber of Commerce*
*MBCT Chair
List as of April 10, 2019


text:
Connecting across the world
Lawrence's sister cities exchange programs connects people across the globe and results in a continental love story
In 1989, at an event celebrating the beginning of a relationship between Eutin, Germany and Lawrence, a member of the German delegation spoke of his hope for a unified Germany. Less than two weeks later ― after the delegation had returned home ― the Berlin Wall fell.
Over the years, as East and West Germany grew back together, Eutin and Lawrence developed and strengthened bonds as sister cities. Those bonds have stretched past institutional bonds between the cities to include close relationships, even marriages, between the people of Eutin and Lawrence.
"We kind of came together right at that moment when Germany was uniting again," said Bill Keel, director of Undergraduate Studies in the University's Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, and founding member of Lawrence's Friends of Eutin.
The relationship between Lawrence and Eutin, and the exchange programs that have resulted from it are mirrored in cities around the world. The sister cities program was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower under the idea that if individuals could form relationships and get to know people in other countries then they'd be less likely to go to war with each other. That vision for close relationships across borders and oceans, at least in Lawrence and Eutin, has succeeded.
Arne Scholz didn't want to go to Kansas. He had been to the states before, even studying for a year at Penn State in college, but the high school English and history teacher was uncomfortable with the idea of spending five weeks in Kansas living with a family he didn't know. Despite his protests, his principal insisted and Scholz spent September of 2013 in a high school exchange program in Lawrence. At the time, he had no idea that less than a year later he would move there for good.
"Sometimes you have to force your luck, as we say in Germany," Scholz said.
Upon arriving in Lawrence, Scholz met Kelly Herndon, University alumna, chairwoman of Lawrence's sister city advisory board and single mother to two teenage daughters. As part of her role as chairwoman, she showed Scholz around Lawrence, bringing him to a Lawrence Free State football game and on a boat ride on Clinton Lake.
"I was just showing him a good time and hospitality in Lawrence," Herndon said.
"I kind of liked that good time and hospitality you showed me," Scholz said.
The couple went on their first date on September 23, 2013, but Herndon didn't realize she was on a date until she was getting in the car.
"I kind of realized it was a date," she said. "I wasn't sure."
Scholz had only two weeks left in Lawrence and they dated for the remainder of the time. By the time he was ready to leave, they weren't ready to end their relationship.
"We realized there might be something between us that we would want to figure out what that was," Herndon said. "And being 5,000 miles away, it's not that easy to do that."
Before he left Lawrence, Scholz booked a ticket to come back over Christmas. They then began a long distance relationship that crossed an ocean and 4,650 miles. They FaceTimed daily, Scholz waking up at 5 a.m., Herndon waiting until 10 p.m. in Kansas.
"We never missed a day," Herndon said.
In November, when Scholz had to commit to his next year of teaching, he went to his principal, the same man who had insisted he go on the exchange in the first place, and requested a leave of absence.
"Pretty early on I was exactly sure what I was doing, there were no doubts whatsoever," Scholz said. "Sometimes in life you know exactly what you must do. It's a chance that you have and if you don't do it it will never come again, and if you don't take it you will spend the rest of your life wondering what if."
When Herndon came to visit that March, he proposed.
"I was not expecting him to propose," she said. "I thought 'I like where this is going, but I don't know where he lives, I don't know his people.'"
When the couple began the immigration process, they said it was alarmingly simple and quick, only taking about six months.
"Everything with this situation has just fallen into place," Herndon said. "It was very much meant to be."
In August of 2014, Scholz arrived in Lawrence with two suitcases, a backpack and golf clubs that he hasn't touched since. The rest of his belongings were left in Germany with his parents, who, despite initial surprise, were incredibly supportive of his move.
"My parents were like, 'You want to do what? Oh, sure, how can we help?,'" he said.
The couple got married in a small family ceremony on a beach in Hawaii.
"It was just beautiful and dreamy," Herndon said.
Arne Scholz is now the German teacher at Lawrence High School and every summer takes American students back to his hometown for four weeks. Although he wasn't particularly eager to take the exchange his first time in 2013, Arne believes the program is incredibly beneficial and he and Kelly consistently host exchange students.
"When you go to a country as a tourist, you get to know the country," Arne said. "When you do this exchange, you live with an American family or a German family and see what they do. You get to know the people and that makes a world of a difference you find out 'They are pretty much like me; we are not that different.'"
Pierce Saturday is a current LHS junior, who went with Arne to Germany in 2016 as well as on the exchange to Lawrence's sister city in Japan, Hiratsuka. Both times he arrived in the country with little ability to speak the language but left with close bonds anyways.
"We became really close, because we'd all spend time together every evening," Saturday said. "Those were the times I had the most fun was just spending time with the Germans that were our age."
Kelly, now going by Kelly Scholz, saw something similar when she sent her daughters on exchange programs to Hiratsuka and Eutin. She was able to go with her daughter the year she went to Eutin and watched as the American students were quickly welcomed by the people of Eutin.
"It is just amazing to watch the kids and how much fun they have together and the camaraderie and how quickly they figure out what things they have in common," Kelly said. "And the families, how they take care of some stranger's child like it was their own. It really warms your heart to see that as a parent."
The cities of Eutin and Lawrence are very different. Eutin is much smaller and has a much longer history. The people within the cities, however, aren't that different.
"The personalities of the individual people are very similar, they're very friendly and open and very welcoming of Americans," Kelly said.
After his own trip to Germany, Saturday can't wait to go back. He is hoping to participate in the exchange another time and is even considering college in Germany. All of this is the result of the sister cities program.
"Those experiences that made memories that I'll never forget is kind of what makes me want to have a future there," Saturday said.
In addition to opening doors to new experiences and new people, Scholz expressed gratitude for the sister cities program because it brought him to an area of the United States he never would have visited otherwise.
"As a tourist from Germany, you wouldn't fly to Kansas," Scholz said.
Prior to coming on the exchange he had spent time on America's east and west coasts.
"The most friendly people I ever met were right here in the middle," Scholz said. "I would never had met them had I not been on that exchange program."
— Edited by Brianna Childers


text:
The heart of Taroko National Park in Central Taiwan is an ancient one made of marble. Winding through the park along the Taroko Gorge, a river cuts through the
majestic marble mountains with water cold as stone, and clear as crystal. During typhoons, the river rages through marbled walls. Other times, silence can be heard through wind and breezes; within waters flowing gently through mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
Forests carpet the hills and peaks. Summer sun warms the valleys and heats the soul. In the aboriginal language of Truku, "taroko" translates as "magnificent".
And it truly is.
nestled in forests
a mountaintop pagoda
guarded a
somnolent gaze
peaceful as
Poem © 2010 by R. Burnett Baker
Photos © 2004 by R. Burnett Baker
Photos of Tianfeng Pagoda and White Robed Guanyin, and Taroko Gorge in Central Taiwan taken by R. Baker, 2004.


text:
NB pension changes look like a step in the right direction - but devil's in the details Français
Jun 01, 2012, 07:00 ET
MONCTON, NB, June 1, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is meeting New Brunswick's changes to public sector pension plans with guarded optimism.
"Finally, we have a government acknowledging that status quo, defined benefit public sector pension plans are unsustainable. And they've clearly done that," said Leanne Hachey, CFIB's Atlantic vice-president. "The massive challenges facing these plans are detailed admirably by the task force and echo what we've been saying for years."
Some positive changes include increased transparency, the removal of automatic indexing, bringing the age of retirement in line with the private sector and an end to the one-off top ups that have been a regular feature of public sector plans.
In fact, a just-released CFIB report Canada's Hidden Unfunded Public Sector Pension Liabilities figures Canadians have injected an extra $1.27 billion per year into these plans between 2001 and 2010.
However, there are also lots of questions and some concerns with the changes, which include the lengthy transition period of 40 years, as well as increased cost to taxpayers to fund the new plan.
"If it's truly being billed as a shared-risk plan, why would taxpayer contributions need to increase more than employee contributions?" asked Hachey. "We will be working to find out what these changes really mean over the next days and weeks.
"We'll also be asking governments across the country when they'll start making similar reforms."
To read CFIB's recommendations to the Task Force, visit: http://cfib.ca/a3359e
As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 109,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy.
For further information:
or to arrange an interview with Leanne Hachey please contact Jocelyn Mattatall at 506-855-2526 or email [email protected]


text:
Peace, Circa Waves, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Magic Gang and Ash lead the announcements for Live at Leeds 2018, joining up-and-coming local bands, such as The Howl & The Hum as well as those from abroad.
It may still be winter, but attention is already turning to one of the curtain-raisers of the summer festival season, with artists from all across the musical spectrum set to descend upon Leeds city centre on the early May Bank Holiday Saturday.
York-based, The Howl & The Hum combine their rumbling, melodic dark pop with haunting, evocative lyrics, and a hypnotic yet energetic live show, creating songs that recall the likes of The National and Massive Attack. Following acclaimed sets at Neighbourhood Festival and Loopallu, and a debut tour of the Scottish Highlands, The Howl & The Hum are down as a band to watch on their keenly awaited second tour.
Live at Leeds, now in its eleventh year, has become a go-to destination to see the artists that will be making their mark in the months and years ahead. Guaranteed to provide festival-goers their next favourite band, the multi-venue event has previously played host to the likes of The 1975, Bastille, James Blake, Years & Years, Rudimental, Stormzy, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and more on their way to global acclaim.
2018 will see Boston duo, Vundabar, play LAL as part of their extensive spring tour, which sees them playing across North America, including a stop at SXSW, before heading over to the UK and EU. The sludge-indie band have built a massive following through non-stop touring and their signature brand of jittery, rambunctious post-punk, yet much of their music hints at something darker beneath the surface.
Last year's sold out festival, held in around twenty official and fringe venues across the city, included a diverse mix of headline performances from Rag'n'Bone Man, Slaves and Teleman. This year also promises an eclectic variety of local acts, such as the excellent guitar three-piece Caro and exciting singer-songwriter Martha Phillips, along with artists from further afield, such as Icelandic folk-pop singer Axel Flovent.
Live at Leeds is a core event in the 2018 programme of Leeds International Festival, an annual celebration of new ideas, local creativity and international culture taking place from 28th April to 12th May 2018.
Tickets are on sale now, starting from £36. For further details and information, head to liveatleeds.com.
Words: Mike Powell


text:
'Changing the tide'-Quirky 'back to the future' film.
Wellington's 'Back to the future' short film (6 mins) Time travel to Wellington, 40 years from now. Thanks to this great work from 'Film for Change'. See how one mother responds to her child's challenging questions, and the common struggles families have with the Climate change issue.
Share with as many friends as you can. Climate Change can't be addressed by one or two, but requires a mass movement, and a response from not just head but heart.


text:
The following video is brought to you courtesy of the Stefan Molyneux YouTube Channel. Click the video below to watch it now.
"My name is [X] and a few months ago now my long term (and at that time distance) boyfriend of 4 years broke up with me because I was unable to provide him and us with what we needed to have a successful life together. Because I thought I had wanted a career in science, I was hardcore pursuing a Ph.D. and I had become very cold and busy. Since the breakup, a lot of this has crystallized and I see the errors I made and deeply feel the weight of that loss, yet still feel unable to rip myself from the path I've paved for myself. I'm about to turn 25 this summer and I'm nervous about where my life is going, where it came from, and how to make the changes needed to have a fulfilling and more traditional life."
Audio: https://soundcloud.com/stefan-molyneux/phd-or-baby-freedomain-call-in
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text:
The idea that an understanding of the genocide, that a memory of the holocausts, can only lead people to want to dismantle the system, is erroneous. The continuing appeal of nationalism suggests that the opposite is truer, namely that an understanding of genocide has led people to mobilize genocidal armies, that the memory of holocausts has led people to perpetrate holocausts.
The Egocrat finds "community" and "communication," not by smashing the elements of the spectacle in his reach, but by surrounding himself with like-minded individuals, other Egos, who reflect the Golden Thought to each other and confirm each other's validity as possessors of it. Chosen People. At this point the Thought, if it is to remain golden, must evermore remain the same: unsullied and uncompromised; criticism and revision are synonyms of betrayal, "Thus it can only exist as a polemic with reality. It refutes everything. It can survive only by freezing, by becoming increasingly totalitarian." (Camatte) Therefore, in order to continue to reflect and confirm the Thought, the individual must stop thinking.


text:
Post 1–6 di 6
4 mesi fa
Greetings ..
There is such a request ..
You added numbers - thanks, very convenient ..
Can you add directional arrows ?.
In the game, there are arrows-doors to the pillar, but I would like the designations on the walls of this type ← ↑ → ↓
Ideally, I would really like the alphabet, at least English, otherwise you won't write anything normally ..
Thanks in advance..
4 mesi fa
Hi ПсихокантроП,
I also thought about the alphabet, but unfortunately there are people who don't write "welcome". And then it is written for all times what could offend or disturb others. So I think Firefly has given up the alphabet. But I also hope that more and more decals will come ...
4 mesi fa
Arrows seem like a great addition! Why aren't they in the game already? :-)
For letter stickers: I get the appeal. Right now the holo scroll takes on the role of verbal communication, but I can see that it is both too complex and too limited for having visible messages in the game world. I'll think about this.
4 mesi fa
Loki_TR, yes, I agree, there will be people who will write something offensive and this is an argument against the alphabet ..
But if someone wants to insult, he will insult, no matter how you try to protect yourself ..
Firefly, you do everything right - the game is constantly getting better ..
Sorry for the bad English, I use Google translator ..
4 mesi fa
Us Pros combine the Tiles (left) and Tiles (right) block to make arrows :P.
Post 1–6 di 6


text:
Congratulations to the following players who were selected to our 2019 8U Patriot teams. Thank you to all the players who tried out this year. There was a lot of talent and the decisions were very difficult.
Best of luck to all players in their upcoming seasons and hope to see everyone at tryouts again next year.
|8U Patriots Red
|8U Patriots White
|8U Patriots Blue
|Franklin Borree
|Colin Davis
|Daniel Barron
|Finnegan Browe
|Henry Diversey
|Jax Chupaila
|Jack Bottcher
|Benjamin Emerson
|Gavin Eggener
|Charles Freund
|J.P. Karlin
|Luca Falleroni
|Samuel Gall
|Kane Kearney
|Jack Friedman
|Jack Gluck
|Colin Konicek
|Jillian Kramme
|Tyler Hudgins
|Archibald Levesque
|Rhys Silversten
|Owen Kramer
|Mason Menyhart
|Justin Simmons
|Connor Leydon
|James Murphy
|Cayleigh Steele
|Colin Loftus
|Evan Shin
|Cooper Thalmann
|Logan McLeod
|Elliott Sims
|Luke Trigg
|Wynn Mooney
|Lawson Spieldenner
|Matthew Wycklendt
|Rob Loftus (Coach)
|Michael Murphy (Coach)
|Brian Eggener (Coach)


text:
There are no two ways about it: a photo can make or break an auction.
Attractive, clear, well-composed photos will excite your customers and get you more money for your items. Poor photos, however, will make your item ? and therefore your auction ? less desirable. And having no photo is tantamount to auction suicide. None of this should surprise you. But there's a lot to think about when it comes to taking photos, transferring them to your computer, preparing the files, and putting them in your auctions.
See [Hack #55] and [Hack #56] for tips on taking good auction photos.
Probably the biggest hurdle that most sellers face is getting photos into their computers. In most cases, this involves an investment, not only of money for equipment, but of time taking photos and preparing them properly. If you do it right, though, the investment will more than pay for itself in a very short time.
The first step involves taking the photos, as explained in [Hack #55]. Naturally, this requires a camera, and in this department you have several options:
Easily the best choice for taking auction photos, a digital camera allows you to see your results immediately and get your photos online quickly.
Better digital cameras have better optics and take higher-resolution photos (more megapixels); the one you choose depends on your budget and your needs. But since the largest auction photos are typically no bigger than 800 x 600, which translates to only about 0.5 megapixels, the camera's resolution will not be that important. If you're shopping for a camera specifically for shooting auction photos, look for one with a good macro (close-up) lens.
If a digital camera seems expensive, consider that the extra money you'll get for your items by having good photos will more than pay for a digital camera (which you can buy used on eBay!).
An alternative is to buy a video-conferencing camera ? the kind that sits on top of your monitor and connects directly to your USB port. Since they have no internal memory, no LCD screens, and no optics to speak of, these cameras are remarkably cheap (with prices starting at under $10), and most support taking snapshots of at least 640 x 480. Make no mistake, however ? the quality is pretty lousy, so it should be used only if you have no other choice at the moment.
Never fear?film purists among us will not be left out in the cold. Flatbed scanners are cheap and relatively easy to use, and allow you to transform any print into an image file in about a minute.
Furthermore, many film developers include CDs (or floppies) with film processing, sometimes at no additional cost. The quality is nothing to write home about, but it's convenient nonetheless. You can also send your undeveloped film to an online photo service, such as Kodak's Ofoto (www.ofoto.com) or Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com). In a few days, you'll be able to download high-quality scans from their web site.
Any way you do it, however, you'll be subject to the limitations of film photography, namely the film and developing costs, and, of course, the wait. With digital, you know right away if the picture came out, which can be especially hard to predict when taking close-up auction photos.
Regardless of how you take your photos and get them into your computer, you'll eventually end up with one or more image files. But before you send them to eBay or upload them to your web server (as described in [Hack #59]), you'll need to prepare your images, and for that, you'll need an image editor.
A good image editor will be able to do the following:
Read, write, and convert all popular image file formats (see the next section)
Basic image manipulation, such as crop, resize, and rotate
Basic touch-up, including clone, line, and text tools
Basic color adjustments, such as contrast, brightness, and color balance
Batch processing (converting or modifying a group of files in one step)
Here are some of the image editors currently available, including both free and commercial applications:
Easily the best photo editor available, Photoshop will do just about anything you'll ever need when it comes to processing auction photos. The Windows and Macintosh versions are practically identical, meaning that the Photoshop-specific instruction in this book (which covers Version 7) should be easy to follow. The down side is that Photoshop is rather expensive, and is probably overkill for most eBay sellers.
Essentially a scaled-down version of Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements offers many of the basic functions ? without the sophistication or the steep learning curve ? of its older cousin at a fraction of the price.
Although not nearly as capable as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro's strengths lie in its support for every conceivable image format and its ability to easily and quickly convert between them. Supports Windows only.
A free image editor for Windows with a good assortment of tools.
Also free, IrfanView is a basic image viewer with some image manipulation tools.
A free image editor for Unix, Windows, Macintosh, and even OS/2!
iPhoto and MS Paint are free image editors that come with Mac OS X and Windows, respectively. Although they support only rudimentary functionality, these programs have the significant advantages of being free and already installed on your computer.
Most of the specific instruction in this chapter covers Photoshop and, where applicable, Paint Shop Pro. Although most image editors work similarly to these programs, the usage and location of the various features will likely be a little different. Refer to the documentation included with your favorite image editor for details on its tools and capabilities.
Of all the different image file formats, the only one you should ever use for your photos is the JPG (pronounced "jay-peg") format. JPG files support 24-bit color, which is sufficient to reproduce all the hues you'll ever need for auction photos. JPG files also support compression (discussed in the next section), which means that they will be smaller and will load more quickly than the same images stored in most other formats.
Other image file formats you might encounter include:
GIF files support only 8-bit color (256 shades with an adaptive palette), which makes for pretty lousy photos. But GIF also has "lossless" compression (as opposed to the lossy compression used by JPG), which means that it's a better choice for logos, drawings, and text. GIF images are supported by all web browsers.
The Windows Bitmap format is the default format used by MS Paint, the rudimentary image editor included with Microsoft Windows. Not all web browsers support BMP files, and with good reason?the BMP format doesn't support compression, so even the smallest photos consume huge amounts of data. Never put BMP images in web pages.
TIFF is the default file format for many flatbed scanners. If your scanner supports JPG but your JPG scans look bad, it's because your scanner software doesn't allow you to adjust the JPG compression, explained in the next section. In this case, your best bet is to save your scans as TIFF files and convert them with a suitable image editor (covered in the previous section).
The PNG format has all the advantages of JPG with some of the added features of GIF (such as animation). Unfortunately, the format was established years after the web browser, so many older browsers don't support it. In a few years, when the older browsers have mostly disappeared, PNG files will be a better choice.
Any decent image editor should be able to convert files between any of these image file formats.
Before you put a photo in your auction, you'll want to take the following steps:
Crop the image to remove anything that isn't for sale.
Resize the image. If you're using eBay's Picture Services to host your photo, the image doesn't need to be any larger than 400 x 300 (or 800 x 600 if you're using the "supersize" option). Although eBay will shrink your photo down for you, it will turn out better if you do it yourself. Plus, you'll have less data to send when it's time to start the auction.
If you have access to a web server and can host your own photos [Hack #59], you have more freedom as to the size of your photos. But it's still a good idea to keep your images no larger than 800 x 600; otherwise, your bidders may be annoyed by photos that take too long to load and run off the sides of their screens.
If necessary, touch up the photo using any of the techniques outlined in [Hack #57].
Save your photo as a JPG file. See Dialing in the JPG Compression for more information.
Dialing in the JPG Compression
The JPG file format supports adjustable "lossy" compression, which means that some information is lost when the image is compressed. The higher the level of compression, the more data is thrown away, and the worse the resulting photo will look. Conversely, a lower compression level will provide crisper photos, but at a cost: the resulting files are larger and take longer to load.
A good compromise is somewhere in the middle, with a slight bias toward better quality. The confusing part is that different programs represent compression levels differently. For example, the "quality" setting in Adobe Photoshop ranges from 0 to 12, with 7 typically being a reasonable compromise. In Paint Shop Pro, the "compression factor" ranges from 1 to 99, with 15 being a good compromise. And digital cameras typically have three settings: Fine, Normal, and Basic, with Normal often being the best compromise.
You may wish to perform a few experiments before settling on a single compression level. For instance, one of the example 300 x 225 photos in this chapter saved with the lowest quality setting (representing the highest level of compression) produced a 17 KB file and a miserable-looking image. Conversely, the same image saved at the highest quality setting (and least compression) produced a 50 KB file. While the high-quality image looked excellent, it was virtually indistinguishable from the same image saved with a medium-quality setting of 7, which topped out at only 27 KB (roughly half the size).
Naturally, your mileage will vary with the photos you take and the software you use. Note that eBay's Picture Services, explained in [Hack #59], tends to over-compress photos, which may be reason enough to host them yourself.
When your photos are ready to go, the last step is to put them on the Web so they will appear in auction photos. The easiest way to do this is to use eBay's Picture Services, which allows you to upload the files to eBay as part of the Sell Your Item form. If you want more control, however, you may want to host your own photos [Hack #59].


text:
Platform › Activate
The Account Intelligence your sales team dreams of
Master the art of alignment to help SDRs deliver more meetings, and AEs close more deals.
208% higher
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Only 23%
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38% higher sales
win rate
From teams who report tight marketing and sales alignment.
The ultimate tool for sales and marketing alignment
The data is in – aligned sales and marketing teams drive over 200% more revenue than their collaboration-troubled counterparts, and top-performing sales teams know it. But different data systems and conflicting KPIs are the top blockers to working efficiently across the aisle.
Mastering the art of alignment isn't easy, but Account Insights will set you on the right path by unifying marketing and sales data and giving both teams full visibility into the activities and intelligence needed to plan account based sales and produce results.
Engagement, Intent, and Campaign Touchpoints delivered to your CRM
Here's how Account Insights will help you and your sales team set more qualified meetings with ABM
Tearing down inefficiencies between you and sales starts by getting everyone on the same data. Terminus is the only platform built to empower marketing and sales by helping everyone work from the same data. See account-level engagement, intent, and contact-level activity in your CRM, where your reps live.
Prioritize the Most Engaged Accounts
Prioritize accounts with your SDRs and AEs with out-of-the-box reports. Help them figure out who to contact, and what to say.
Sales is a numbers game – every activity needs to be optimized for the highest likelihood of getting a response, adding value, and building prospect interest. That means everything from when you send, to what you send, to who you send it to.
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(Barely under the wire, I just finished writing this now, and have to run to work)
This is, once again, all SLWendy's fault. I am not entirely sure how it happened, but I have once again signed up for her annual TBR Challenge. Considering I have already managed two full reviews this year, I'm cautiously optimistic that I may last longer this time around than I did two years ago (when I lasted all of five months *wince*).
Anyhoo, this month's theme is shorts, and happily there are a number of anthologies in the humongous TBR mountain range. Behold, my brief review of the four short stories in
Charmed Anthology, by Jayne Castle, Julie Beard, Lori Foster and Eileen Wilks
This anthology was originally published back in 1999, but I didn't get it until a couple of years ago (or something like that, all I know for sure is that it's been a while). And the main reason I bought my copy is because the first story is written by Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick, aka an author I usually enjoy (though I see with extreme surprise that I haven't reviewed anything by her yet—under any of her names!). I was also happy to see that the last story is by Eileen Wilks, an author I wanted to try…because I have a couple *coughorahandfulcough* of her full-length Lupi novels in the aforementioned TBR mountain range.
At any rate, as is often the case with fickle lil me, the anthology languished in one of the many TBR shelves until now. So, and without (too much) further ado…
The mercifully short back cover blurb:


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20 August 2018
Environment & Climate Change USA
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently released a draft toxicological profile for perfluoroalkyl compounds which asserted that they may be harmful to human health at low levels. The profile includes minimum risk levels for various perfluoroalkyl compounds, which are estimates of the daily human exposure to a substance likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse non-cancer health effects over specified exposure routes and durations.
Although different in kind from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) 2016 70-parts-per-trillion drinking water health advisory for two perfluoroalkyl compounds (perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), the minimum risk levels would probably translate to lower health advisory numbers than the EPA's.
Due to their non-stick properties, perfluoroalkyl compounds have been used:
Perfluoroalkyl compounds have been associated with a number of possible adverse health effects. The comment period for the draft toxicological profile for perfluoroalkyl closed on 23 July 2018. The EPA has separately begun to focus on perfluoroalkyl compounds, having held a summit in May 2018 at which various regulatory approaches were discussed.
For further information on this topic please contact Samuel B Boxerman or Jim Wedeking at Sidley Austin LLP by telephone (+1 202 736 8000) or email (firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com). The Sidley Austin LLP website can be accessed at www.sidley.com.
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Which stores offer teacher discounts? We've done the searching for you! Below, find a great selection of teacher discounts from retailers, service providers and offers from NEA Member Benefits.* From discounts on clothing for teachers to deals on theme park tickets, make this your go-to shopping list!
Don't miss exclusive offers negotiated just for NEA members. Offers have recently included deep-discounted Restaurant.com certificates, New Balance shoes and HearthSong toys. You'll also find curated web offers that can help you save money on clothing, electronics, housewares, dining and more. But deals go fast and change often, so see what you can save today.
Take advantage of these ongoing teacher discounts and special offers to save money on all your home and classroom needs.
Books, magazines and more
- Barnes and Noble. The B&N Educators Discount gives PreK-12 educators, librarians and homeschool teachers 20% off publisher's list price on select purchases for classroom use including most hardcover and paperback books, toys and games and up to 25% off during Educator Appreciation Days.
- Half-Price Books. Educators, teachers and librarians can save 10% year round on in-store (not online) purchases of books and educational supplies with an Educator Discount Card from Half Price Books. Stock up for your classroom or get yourself a treat to read.
- NEA Click & Save. Get great discounts and earn WOWPoints to spend later at the NEA Click & Save Bookstore!*
- NEA Magazine Service. Choose from over 800 selections covering news, sports, fitness, entertainment, hobbies, family and education—at the guaranteed lowest introductory price available!*
- The New York Times. An education rate is available to K-12 educators. This includes digital access.
- The Wall Street Journal. Through the Journal-in-Education Program, students get a discount off the regular rate. Professors receive a free 6-month subscription and a $25 Amazon.com gift card when students subscribe.
Classroom supplies
- A.C. Moore. Present your school ID, pay stub or other qualifying identification to get 15% off regular and sale priced purchases of arts and crafts supplies at A.C. Moore.
- Ben Franklin Crafts. Receive a 10% teacher discount on classroom material purchases.
- Blick for Educators. Save on Blick art supplies!Dick Blick offers discounts, coupons, lesson plans and more on art and classroom supplies for schools.
- JOANN Teacher Rewards. Save 15% on purchases at JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores with their teacher rewards discount card.
- Michael's. Save 15% on in-store purchases. See a store associate for details.
- Office Depot/Office Max. Office Depot/Office Max stores' Give Back to Schools Program lets you give your PreK-12 public or private school 5% of the purchase price on qualifying school supplies such as notebook paper pens, pads and binders.
- Party City. Provide a signed letter from your administration and receive a 10-20% discount on in-store purchases. Read the details to get started.
- Pencils.com. Save 10% on purchases with their educator discount program.
- Staples. Enroll in the Classroom Rewards program and receive up to $250 to use on classroom supplies from Staples. Parents donate 5% of their purchases to a teacher or school of their choosing, so you'll need to enroll before parents can choose you as a recipient. Earn $5 rewards dollars just for signing up.
- The Container Store. Sign up for the Organized Teacher Discount Program and get discounts sent to you throughout the year. Program ends December 31, 2019.
Classroom resources
- A to Z Teacher Stuff. Get low prices on teaching eBooks and ready-to-use classroom activities created and classroom-tested by teachers in the US, Canada, and around the world with no membership or shipping fees from A to Z Teacher Stuff. Many downloads are free.
- Every Kid in a Park. Are you a fourth-grade educator? You can get free passes to national parks for your student. These passes gives them free access to all national parks, lands and waters through August 31, 2020.
- Kennedy Space Center. The Educator Study Pass offers Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands K-12 teachers complimentary access to the Visitor Complex and KSC's Educator Resource Center (ERC). By using the Educator Study Pass, you can get tips for field trips, learn about new education programs and find interesting facts to integrate with your science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum.
- PBS Learning Media. Register free for access to thousands of classroom-ready, curriculum-targeted, digital resources and lesson plans aligned to Common Core and national standards. Basic service is free to PreK-12 educators.
- Restaurant.com. Get special member pricing on dining certificates through NEA Click & Save.*
Electronics and software
- Academic Superstore. This online software outlet offers thousands of top software titles and other technology items at great discounts.
- Adobe. Adobe offers significant discounts on software, including 60% off Creative Cloud, to students and educators.
- The Apple Store. Save on a new Mac or new iPad with a teacher discount on Apple products at the Apple Store for Education. Education pricing is available on Macs, iPads, accessories, apps, iBooks and iTunesU courses.
- Bose products. Educators and members of educational associations save up to 15% on Bose products including music systems, surround sound systems, headphones and earbuds and portable music devices for home and school.
- JourneyEd.com. Provides discounts on software and technology products to students, faculty, staff, educational institutions and public school districts.
- Microsoft for Education. Shop the Microsoft Education Store and you can save 10% on Surface, select software and more.
- NEA Click & Save. NEA Click & Save has gathered all of the top electronics brands into one place where you'll get exclusive pricing and earn 2X WOWPoints on every purchase. Find great deals on products from Best Buy, Samsung, Gamestop, The Sharper Image and more at the NEA Click & Save Electronics Store!*
- AT&T. Save with a 15% teacher discount on AT&T cellphone service for you and your family.* AT&T is the only unionized wireless company.
- Sony. Educators can find discounts through Sony's Eye on Education Program. Learn more about their pricing here.
- Western Digital. Save up to 20% through the Western Digital Store.
- 1800Flowers.com. NEA members save 20%!* Get teacher discounts on flowers, wine, chocolates, snacks, meat, seafood and more from the entire 1800Flowers family of brands: 1800Flowers.com, 1800Baskets.com, Cheryl's, Harry & David, Fruit Bouquets, The Popcorn Factory, Simply Chocolate, Wolferman's, Personalization Universe and Stockyards.
Gym memberships
- Openfit. Participate in live online fitness classes, on-demand programs and get nutrition advice. In late March, 2020, the company kicked off an extended 60-day free trial just for educators. Click this link, and use your .edu email address and the code EDUCATOR2020 to get access now.
Home goods
- NEA Member Benefits Home Store. Get special members pricing at Macy's, Sears, Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Williams-Sonoma and more through NEA Click & Save.*
- NEA Member Benefits Food & Wine Store. Get exclusive pricing on items from Omaha Steaks, Harry & David, Lindt Chocolate and more.*
Health & wellness
- NEA Dental and Vision Insurance Program. As an NEA member, you have access to comprehensive dental and vision plan options that are both affordable and easy to use.*
- NEA Hearing Aid Program. With your NEA member discount you can save 20-50% off the average local retail prices of name-brand, high-tech hearing aids.*
- NEA Member Benefits Health & Wellness Store. Get exclusive deals on fitness equipment, gym memberships, food plans, wellness products and more.*
Insurance & protection plans
- NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program. Call for a free quote and receive a complimentary $25 Amazon gift card.*
- NEA Complimentary Life Insurance. The NEA Members Insurance Trust makes valuable benefits available at no extra cost to Active, Staff, Reserve and Life members.*
- NEA Pet Insurance Program. NEA members in most states are eligible for a 5% discount.* Plus, take advantage of 24/7 veterinary advice powered by whiskerDocs via call, chat or email.
- LEGOLAND California. Free admission for California teachers! See the 2020 dates.
- LEGOLAND Florida. Free one-year pass for Florida teachers. Read the details.
- Local Museums. Check with your local museum, as many offer an educator discount.
- Movie Tickets. Save up to 30%! Find a theater near you and purchase discount tickets through NEA Click & Save.*
- Popular Musicals in NYC. Get the best seats available at a special discounted price through NEA Click & Save.*
- Theatrical Development Fund. TDF members get special access to deeply discounted tickets available online and in advance for hundreds of Broadway, Off Broadway and off-Off Broadway theatre shows, dance performances and music concerts. Once you're a member ($35 your first year), tickets cost only $9-$47! Save up to 70% on hundreds of theatre, dance and music shows daily.
- Theme Park Tickets. Save up to 50% on Six Flags, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and more through NEA Click & Save.*
- NEA Vacations. Enjoy a world of travel discounts for teachers and education professionals. Save now on airfare, cruises, resorts and attractions that fit your needs and your budget. Save even more with Travel Dollars!*
- Car Rental. Get special NEA member discounts from our five car rental partners through the NEA Car Rental Program.*
- NEA Click & Save Travel. Get exclusive NEA member savings on hotels, flights, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises.*
- Red Roof. NEA members and their families can enjoy a 20% discount at any of Red Roof's 600+ locations nationwide.*
- Trafalgar Guided Vacations. NEA members receive an extra 10% discount from Trafalgar, a global leader in creating guided vacations highlighted by local insights.*
- Banana Republic. Enjoy a 15% teacher discount on full-priced purchases in Banana Republic stores with a valid Teacher I.D.
- J.Crew Teachers and College Student Discount. Show a valid school ID at checkout to take advantage of a 15% discount on in-store purchases.
- Loft Loves Teachers. Sign up for Ann Taylor's Loft Loves Teachers emails list to get teacher-only exclusive perks and a 15% teacher discount when you shop in Ann Taylor Loft stores.
- NEA Member Benefits Apparel Store. Get exclusive pricing on items from Macy's, L. L. Bean, Land's End, Under Armor and more!*
NOTE: Information in this article is accurate as of December 2019
*NEA Member Benefits programs are available only to NEA members and their families. Interested in becoming a member of the NEA? Learn more here. As a member, your spouse/domestic partner, children and parents are eligible for many NEA member benefits.
Questions? Contact us or call the NEA Member Advocacy Center at 1-800-637-4636 (Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET, Sat: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET).


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Feb 26, 2019
Feb 27, 2019
Allegorithmic had the best model, buy it out right, or make payments until you pay it off...then you own it. Now that they are in the Adobe fold we'll see what happens. I guess if it eventually gets bundled into my Creative Cloud subscription it could be OK.
That being said, I really don't like how Autodesk and Adobe are getting are gobbling up everything.
Ben Sanders
Feb 27, 2019
Francisco Areas Guimaraes
Feb 27, 2019
Mike McP
Feb 27, 2019
Feb 27, 2019
Fun little story: I used to work for a startup, and the designers in our team had an Adobe Creative Cloud license. One month, the company forgot to pay for the renewal fees, and the whole team was instantly blocked from not only working, but even opening the work they had already finished! It took two or three days for the problem to be fixed. Of course, this happened right before an important demo...
Subscription software is basically mafia software. You keep paying, otherwise you get into troubles!
When Adobe announced this a few years ago, I had initially hoped that would be a huge boost for libre and open source software, but people are people and habits are very hard to change...
So, for people reading this, please have a look at libre and open source software alternatives (Blender for 3D, Krita for digital painting, Inkscape for vectorial, Darktable for photo processing, GIMP for bitmap processing, Godot for game development), and think about how proprietary licenses impede your daily work.
Mar 01, 2019
Mar 01, 2019
Brian Goldberg
Mar 09, 2019
Mar 10, 2019
Don Pythno Miguel
Jul 09, 2019
Derpa derp
Jan 24, 2020
And anyone who thinks ANY subscription based software (with exception for games that have actual updates in content) isn't extortion, you are deluding yourself and need to do some hard thinking about whether you should be using a computer anymore, lol.


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In order for products and brands to be successful they first need well-planned marketing strategies to ensure they satisfy the goals set by the Corporate Marketing Strategy or Business Unit/Geographic Strategies. CMS's Marketing Strategy Certifications confirm a working knowledge of a framework for effectively managing the Marketing Strategy of any organization.
Participants will be able to define a product or brand's unique value proposition, target markets, and strategies to connect with defined audiences.
CSM Certified Marketing Strategy Professionals are facilitators who ensure that well-planned marketing strategies are in place to satisfy the goals set by the Corporate Marketing Strategy or Business Unit/Geographic Strategies.
Duration: 3 Days
Course Fee: £ 497.00
Exam Fee: £100.00
Marketing Strategy Professional
1. Introduction
Evolution of Sales and Marketing
Corporate Strategy and its Relationship to Sales and Marketing
Aspects of Sales and Marketing
Levels of Sales and Marketing Strategy
Marketing Strategy Overview
2. Analyze Market Opportunity
Determine Strengths and Weaknesses
Determine Opportunities and Threats
3. Define Competition, Targeting and Positioning
Identify Competition
Select Target Segments
Create Differentiated Positioning
4. Determine Pricing and Distribution Strategies
Determine Pricing Strategies
Determine Distribution Strategies
5. Determine Metrics, Objectives, Marketing Aspects and Budget Allocation
Determine Metrics
Determine Objectives
Decide Marketing Aspects and Allocate Budget
Classroom study materials
Engaging case studies
Full-length simulated exam
Chapter tests
Study guides
Certified Marketing Strategy Professional certification by SMstudy


text: Corrine 2,660 Posted November 4, 2019 Malwarebytes Version 4.0 has been released. The update includes the new Malwarebytes Katana Engine which has new detection technologies to provide greater security. In addition, the user interface has been designed: Following are the key features from the Announcement: Improved zero-hour detection – pinpoints new threats as they arise and before they can wreak havoc on your device Expanded malware detection – blocks even more malware for improved protection Signature-less behavioral detection – identifies the latest variants of dangerous malware families that attempt to evade traditional signatures through runtime packing, obfuscation and encryption, offering instant protection against new threats that traditional AV has a hard time detecting Faster threat definition process – streamlines the publishing of new definitions, reducing the time it takes to protect you from new threats Revamped user interface – Completely redesigned user interface that is intuitive, more informative and simple to use Threat statistics – allows you to see what Malwarebytes is doing for you in real-time and get a first-hand view of what threats are coming at you (and being blocked) Cybersecurity news – dynamic feed keeps you informed of the latest threats and other security topics Easier updates – more automation means you receive the latest protection with less effort See the referenced Announcement for Known Issues, FAQs and other information. System Requirements: Malwarebytes Version 4.0 no longer works on Windows XP or Windows Vista. However, Malwarebytes 3.x, will be supported for the foreseeable future. Windows 10 Note: Although Malwarebytes is an antivirus software, if you use another program as your antivirus (Windows Defender, McAfee, etc.) as your antivirus, it is necessary to make a change in Malwarebytes. Go to Settings > Windows Action Center, change the setting to "Never register Malwarebytes in the Action Center". Malwarebytes 4.0 will continue to run with the installed antivirus in compatibility mode. Update: Malwarebytes 4.0 can be installed over the top of your exist Malwarebytes programs. If you do not want to wait for the upgrade to be offered, you can download and run the installer from Malwarebytes Cybersecurity for Windows, Mac, Android & iOS (direct download link here) Malwarebytes 4.0 will automatically remove the old Anti-Malware, Anti-Exploit and Anti-Ransomware and upgrade them all to Malwarebytes 4.0. References: Announcing Malwarebytes 4.0 for Windows Malwarebytes User Guide 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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UK: Income Protection Immediate Support Payments
January 19, 2018
In the UK an income protection insurer (British Friendly) is now offering to make 'immediate' support payments, albeit at the end of the waiting period, even if there is incomplete medical information. The new found flexibility looks a lot like formalising some sensible discretion on the part of claims managers. In truth, claims managers may be subjects to conflicts between a requirement to be thorough, and a requirement to meet the needs of a client that is in trouble - already disabled, and probably in need of funds.
You can imagine the situation: say, there's a diagnosis, that kind of diagnosis is rarely wrong, but there is a standard test / procedure to check, and for whatever reason, that is taking time. Discretion to pay may be exercised already, but creating a process makes the rules fair for all. So the company makes the payment, subject to a maximum, and with the requirement that should it turn out the claim isn't valid, then the money advanced can be recovered from a future claim (it is not immediately repayable, remember, this person is off work). Anyone who would like to let me know if they have had cases where such discretion has been exercised, please drop me a line.


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Sometime during the last 24 months, our son (along with many, many others) has become fascinated with NBA MVP Stephen Curry. Well, imagine our son's excitement when in early December we surprised him with tickets to see Curry's championship Warriors play locally against the Charlotte Hornets.
It was the perfect game to purchase tickets for as Curry played remarkably. He scored (in just three quaters!) a game-high 40 points, 28 in the third quarter alone. The Warriors won and moved to a historical 20 - 0 season start. To add to the excitement, Curry's father Dell was being honored as one of the best Charlotte Hornets in history so the entire Curry family was present. Cam Newton, along with other local sport celebrities, were also in attendance to witness this momentous game. For a 14-year-old boy, it was the best early Christmas present ever.
In November of 2008, early into our stint in Cleveland, our son participated in the Cleveland Cavs High-Five club where he was able to high-five all the team members before a game. It happened very quickly, so my picture is not of the highest quality. But, right below the digital camera in this photo, our son is high-fiving a much younger LeBron James sporting his notable white headband. I thought it was appropriate to include this past photo in today's post so that my son can have one keepsake of his memories with this generation's basketball greats.