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The Supreme Court, Same-Sex Marriage and Religious LibertyMay 9th, 2015 | By Dr. Jim Eckman | Category: Featured Issues
On Tuesday, 28 April 2015, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the same-sex marriage case, Obergefell v. Hodges. The Constitutional question being asked the Court is whether the US Constitution requires states to allow same-sex couples to marry. The Court will not hand down its decision until the end of June, but there is little question that this case will change the definition of marriage within the United States; I believe the decision will be a 5-4 decision that will legitimize same-sex marriage in the United States. I also believe that this decision, coupled with the other significant cultural developments dealing with same-sex marriage, will pose a significant threat to religious liberty in this nation.
- First, a few comments about the oral arguments before the court in late April. During the oral arguments, Justice Samuel Alito asked Obama administration Solicitor General Donald Verrilli whether a religiously affiliated college that opposed same-sex marriage could lose its tax-exempt status if the Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. Verrilli replied: ?It is going to be an issue.? I am glad that Solicitor General Verrilli was being honest, but his candor demonstrates the growing fear many have that reducing religious liberty in the US is the price we must pay to legitimize same-sex marriage. Theologian Albert Mohler correctly concludes that ?Verrilli?s answer put the nation?s religious institutions, including Christian colleges, and seminaries, on notice.? Chief Justice Roberts further asked about campus housing: ?Would a religious school that has married housing be required to afford such housing to same-sex couples?? The Solicitor General did not answer ?no.? In effect, he said it was up to the states. But if a school cannot define its housing policies on the basis of religious beliefs, then it is denied the ability to operate on the basis of those beliefs. ?The ?big three? issues for religious schools are the freedoms to maintain admission, hiring and student services on the basis of religious conviction . . . All three are now directly threatened. The Solicitor General admitted that these liberties will be ?accommodated? or not depending on how states define their laws. And the laws of the states would lose relevance the moment the federal government adopts its own law.?
- Second, how serious is this threat to religious liberty, to the freedom of conscience? Four days before the oral arguments were heard before the Supreme Court, an administrative-law judge from Oregon proposed a $135,000 fine against Aaron and Melissa Klein, proprietors of Sweet Cakes bakery in Gresham, Oregon, for the ?emotional distress? suffered by a lesbian couple for whom the Kleins, citing their Christian belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, had declined to bake a wedding cake in 2013. Although same-sex marriage was not legal at the time of the Klein?s decision, they were found to have violated the 2008 Oregon law forbidding discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation. There are similar situations throughout the US involving other bakers, florists and photographers, many of whom employ gay people in their business, but, because of their Christian beliefs, preclude their providing services to same-sex weddings. As Charlotte Allen recently reported, ?Many states are treating those acts of conscience as ordinary bigotry and, by levying or threatening fines, forcing those small business owners into costly and potentially ruinous litigation.? California Supreme Court Chief Justice, Ronald M. George, who wrote the 2008 decision legalizing same-sex marriages in California, wrote: ?Affording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other persons.? That is simply not true! The threat to religious liberty, to freedom of conscience is genuine and deep. These small business owners who are Christians exemplify the genuine threat that does exist. The legitimizing of same-sex marriage, once thought unthinkable, became an issue of debate, and over the last few years became acceptable. Consequently, it will soon be the law of the land. Christians who have deep convictions that marriage is rooted in God?s Creation Ordinance, not cultural accommodation, are now at risk.
- Third, the speed of cultural accommodation to same-sex marriage has been staggering. The legal aspect of this accommodation has largely been by judicial action. Albert Mohler extensively cites Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, whose majority opinion for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in late 2014 was a masterpiece of logic and a compelling argument or rule of law. There were six key arguments from Sutton?s opinion that are germane to the legal dimension of same-sex marriage now being considered by the Supreme Court:
- Sutton clearly rejected the idea that a small number of judges should ?make such a vital policy call for the thirty-million citizens? who reside in the sixth circuit and now for 330 million people nationwide.
- Sutton argued that the original intention of the framers of the Constitution?s language would support the claim that the states have the right to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. ?Nobody in this case argues that the people who adopted the Fourteenth Amendment understood it to require the states to change the definition of marriage.?
- Sutton masterfully insisted that ?A dose of humility makes us hesitant to condemn as unconstitutionally irrational a view of marriage shared not long ago by every society in the world, shared by most, if not all, of our ancestors, and shared still today by a significant number of states.?
- Sutton argued that the biological basis of natural marriage, based on the complementarian nature of the male-female union, is a natural and lawful concern of the state. The state is within its proper domain in defining and limiting marriage to the uniquely procreative union of a man and a woman.
- Sutton also asked why marriage is still to be defined in terms of monogamy. ?If it is constitutionally irrational to stand by the man-woman definition of marriage, it must be constitutionally irrational to stand by the monogamous definition of marriage.?
- Finally, Sutton eloquently pleaded that if society is really evolving on this issue, which he conceded it was, then the advocates of same-sex marriage should allow the democratic process to work.
- Finally, a thought about a relatively new legal principle being used in the legal debate about same-sex marriage?the doctrine of dignity. Supreme Court justice Kennedy invoked the term ?dignity? five times during the oral arguments and other lawyers invoked it 16 times. It was also central to Solicitor General Verrilli?s opening statement: ?The opportunity to marry is integral to human dignity. Excluding gay and lesbian couples from marriage demeans the dignity of these couples.? This concept was also central to Justice Kennedy?s 1992 Casey decision: ?Our law affords constitutional protection to personal decisions relating to marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education . . . These matters, involving the most intimate and personal choices a person may make in a lifetime, choices central to personal dignity and autonomy, are central to the liberty protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. At the heart of liberty is the right to define one?s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life. Beliefs about these matters could not define the attributes of personhood were they formed under compulsion of the State.? In the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas case, Kennedy added that an individual?s interest in dignity trumps the majority?s interest in preserving traditional moral values. Justice Scalia immediately recognized the sweeping danger of Kennedy?s new synthesis of dignity with liberty and equality: ?This effectively decrees the end of all morals legislation,? he argued, predicting the demise of ?state laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity.? Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, argues that the greater challenge to the use of ?human dignity? is that the Court itself has not provided a clear definition of ?dignity.? The court is certainly not anchoring dignity in humanity being created in the image of God or in the gracious provision of salvation God offers because He loves us, and or that as Creator, He considers humans of infinite value and worth. So, how does the Court define dignity? It is an elastic and elusive legal term that ends up having very little actual meaning. It is another piece of evidence that Western Civilization is one firmly anchored in mid-air. It is a civilization that has no framework for ethical or moral decision-making. God has provided the needed framework in His Word, but our civilization long ago abandoned that. Expect to see more moral and ethical confusion. It is indeed a sad state of affairs, a state of affairs that also poses lethal danger to religious liberty!
See Alert Mohler in www.albertmohler.com (28 and 30 April 2015); Charlotte Allen?s op ed piece in the Wall Street Journal (1 May 2015); and Jeffery Rosen, ?The Dangers of a Constitutional ?Right to Dignity,?? in www.theatlantic.com (30 April 2015). PRINT PDF


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Burt Brooks
The Matheny Medical and Educational Center's Arts Access Program in Peapack, NJ received a challenge America Fast Track grant to help fund our signature 2013 showcase event, Full Circle. This event is designed to highlight artistic works created by artists with medically complex developmental disabilities in the visual, literary, and performing arts.
This was our 20th year anniversary since the Arts Access Program was established and in honor of this milestone, we wanted to take our event to the next level. With the help of the NEA funding, we were able to feature more artist's work than ever before, increasing the number of artists featured from the traditional eight, to an impressive fourteen. In addition, we were able to bring in professional directors, actors, and dancers to help bring the artist's work to life.
The result was an unprecedented level of success and community engagement.
In addition to selling out the entire house, in attendance were state dignitaries and community leaders. Congressman Leonard Lance presided over the event as our honor chair and opened the event with eloquent and heartfelt marks, setting an anticipatory tone for the arts extravaganza that was to follow. Those who were return guests were blown away by the work created by the Arts Access artists, claiming it to be "the best Full Circle yet." Our newest guests however, were exposed to an arts experience that has been described as "life changing."
For the first time, they were able to see dancers with and without wheelchairs, moving together to choreography entirely laid out by choreographers who don't have full control of their legs. They saw complex, abstract paintings created by artists who cannot hold a paintbrush. They experienced plays & poetry written and performed by dramatists who have never spoken a single word in their entire lives.
Though, as much as the audience enjoyed witnessing the show, that's nothing compared to the satisfied and smiling faces of the artists whose work was featured. Too often, individuals with such a high-level of disability do not have access to experiences such as this one. Sharing a thought or an emotion through the arts has even previously been considered an impossibility for some. This event challenges the old way of thinking and instead celebrates the hard work and talents of this underserved population. As the artists mingled with the guests during the reception, they were showered with praise and inquiry into their artistic process. Conversations between artists and art patrons were being shared without any hinderance by anyone's perceived ability level. After participating in the event, when asked how they felt about being a part of Full Circle, the overwhelming response was "proud." These artists were proud of their accomplishments as artists and as individuals. They left the event with their heads held high. A well deserved moment of triumph for those who have worked so hard to attain it.
This is the kind of impact the arts can have on individuals and the communities in which they live. We are grateful to the NEA for its continued support in making the arts available to every American, no matter the race, creed, religion, or ability level.
A showcase video of Full Circle 2013. Directed by Burt Brooks, Edited by Adam Tyree, Director of Photography: Ian J. Keeney

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text: Past Event 2019 Special Election for Public Advocate Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is a non-partisan special election for New York City public advocate. Make your voice heard! Polling Station Locator Building Number Street Name Zip Code Details Date: February 26, 2019 Time: 6:00am - 9:00pm Venue Organizer NYC Board of Elections


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Remote parts of Blue Mountains National Park have been closed until further notice due to dangerous fire conditions.
The closure covers all walking tracks, canyons and rock climbing below cliffs out of Mount Wilson, Bell, Green Gully, south of Katoomba to Woodford and into the Grose Valley.
Closured canyons include all those flowing into the Grose Valley, except Grand Canyon (Mt Hay / Butterbox, Fortress, Arethusa, Hat Hill, Claustral, Ranon, Thunder, Yileen, Dalpura, etc, etc).
All canyons north of Bells Line, including those that flow into the Wollangambe and Bowens Creek, are also closed.
Empress Canyon is closed, along with the lesser visited creeks flowing off Kings Tableland.
Blue Mountains National Park closures
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Izmir's first Archaeology Museum was opened in 1927 in Basmane in Ayavukla Church. On those times in the Museum, works from prehistoric times till the Byzantine Empire were exhibited. In the following years, because of the newly found historical remains, there was a need to open a new Museum. Thus a new modern Museum was […]Read more
Agora of Izmir City in Roman Period Agora, a word originated from Ancient Greek, comes to the meaning "gathering place, city center, market, bazaar". In Antique Times, with the commercial, political and religious functions, Agora's, was also known as a place where lots of social events occurred and art intensified. In Antique Times, in each […]Read more
Izmir Government Art & Statue Gallery Museum was first opened in 1952 in Kültür Park Fair, afterward, it was relocated to Konak (Izmir City Center) In its new place it was divided into 3 sections. In the 1st Section which serves as Museum, Turkish art & statues from the Tanzimat Period to our day are […]Read more
Izmir Lady's Museum is the First Lady's Museum in Turkey. It's found in Basmane neighborhood in Izmir. It consists of rooms like exhibition, video art, women from past to today, studios, women in antique times in Anatolia, leader women, personal collections… In this boutique Museum, personal items of the first WOMAN writer in Turkey, first […]Read more
Tire on the footsteps of religions Tire, that was referred to as the land of monks by Pachmeres, the land of brothers by İbn-I Battuta, the recent crown town by Katip Çelebi and therefore the bed of scientists within the Aydın written account, is like an outside depository with its profound history, superb cultural assets […]Read more
Şadırvanaltı house of worship is found within the Şadırvanaltı neighborhood within the market. it's mentioned as Ulucami and Niflizade house of worship in Katip Çelebi's book and as Bıyıklıoğlu house of worship in Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname. The name of the house of worship was registered as Şadırvan house of worship between seventeenth and nineteenth century […]Read more
Izmir in 19th-century travel guides elements concerning port in guides begin with a way to get to port. The neighborhoods of port, its streets, amusement culture, antique ruins, museums and travel routes round the town area unit different data contained in 19th-century travel guides. In the nineteenth century, traveling was a privilege solely enjoyed by […]Read more
These are some of the synagogues in Kemeralti-Konak Bahçeli Synagogue (Jewish Community House) Beit Hillel Synagogue Bikur Holim Synagogue Etz Hayim Synagogue Hevra (Talmud Tora) Foresters Synagogue Portuguese SynagogueRead more
Oldest Synagogue in Izmir(Shalom synagogue) Shalom Synagogue It took its name from the Jewish who had come from Aydin to Izmir. It's one of the oldest Synagogues in Izmir although the certain time for its construction is unknown. Something odd happened during the "Big Fire of Smyrna", although all the city was burning, the fire […]Read more
Estimated to be constructed in 17th century, with its big iron gate, women's gallery and a beautiful garden, Signora Giveret Synagogue is like a diamond. It has a big prying & worshipping area decorated with historical paintings. Synagogue is estimated to be constructed by the benefactor Donna Gracia with the nickname "Signora" who had been […]Read more


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Kim Weatherall owner of Beyond Your Office has profiled Lynda. If you are interested in learning more, please look at the following Link.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged bereavement support, Beyond Your Office, loss of multiples, loss of triplets, loss of twins, triplet loss support, twin loss support on November 23, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Kim Weatherall owner of Beyond Your Office has profiled Lynda. If you are interested in learning more, please look at the following Link.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged bereavement support, helped me along the way, multiple birth families, resources, support on November 12, 2017| Leave a Comment »
MBC recognizes anyone who has made a significant contribution to the world of multiples. It could be someone in your local support Chapter, a doctor, nurse, lactation consultant, newspaper or magazine reporter, funeral director, photographer, charity, organization, magazine or someone who has a made a difference for you and your family in your multiple-birth journey. You can nominate any one whom has influenced your life.
It's really easy. Here is their link, complete with a list of past winners. Please let someone know how much you have appreciated their support.
Posted in Grieving, Loss in the Womb, twin loss, Uncategorized, tagged death of twins in utero, funeral for twins, grief, loss of a twins, no answers from autopsy, twin death in utero on November 6, 2017| Leave a Comment »
In 2006 I gave birth to fraternal twin boys who were sadly stillborn. I was 34 weeks pregnant. They weighed 5 pounds 4 ounces and 6 pounds 3 ounces. I am also the mother of 4 living sons.
In August the year before, I had [had]my tubes tied so we would not have anymore children. I started to get sick after the procedure and told the doctor. She said that I might have an infection from the procedure. I also complained of pain, so she sent me for a ultrasound cause she said I most likely had cysts on my ovaries. A week after the ultrasound was done I called to get the results and found out I was pregnant again and this time with twins. My husband and I needless to say were very surprised but extremely happy about the news as we thought we no longer could have children. My first question was if they were OK because I had the surgery around the time they were conceived. The doctor did not check before I had the surgery to see if I was pregnant.
Everything was fine right up till the end. Two weeks before they passed away, I went to the hospital in extreme pain on the left side of my stomach. I was given Tylenol, hooked up to a fetal heart monitor and then sent home. I was told what ever happened inside my uterus my babies were tolerating it well and that was it. No further tests were done. The next day I saw my doctor and told her what happened. She said if it happened again to go back to the hospital and only to come back to see her in two weeks. I never got to see her again. A week and a half later I had a ultrasound that was booked weeks before anything went wrong. [At that time] I was told they were perfectly healthy little boys. I had noticed that the baby on the left's heart rate was lower than it normally was and I asked why. She said it was because there was really no more room left to grow, he wasn't active and probably sleeping at the moment.
On the Tuesday after my ultrasound I went for a nap before my husband had to go to work. I woke up and started to get supper ready for my four boys. I cleaned and then received a phone call from my sister-in-law that she wanted to take my youngest son for the night. I got him ready. By the time I had a few moments to sit, I [realized] that I did not feel any movement since before I went for my nap. I went to get something to eat and drink because usually that would make them move. When that didn't work I tried to move them myself and nothing happened. I called my husband at work and told him I was going to the hospital. I told him I would call him because he was not allowed to leave unless I was in labor as I already called him home many times that week. I went to the hospital and they told me that they had one baby's heartbeat but the other baby was probably hiding so they were going to give me a ultrasound to see and hear them better. That was the moment my heart truly broke. The doctor on call told me that both boys were dead. They said that they picked up my heartbeat earlier. I asked them to call my husband at work. They couldn't tell him anything on the phone and just told him that he needed to come. He arrived almost a hour later cause he went home first to change because he thought I was in labor and he gets really dirty at his job. When he arrived I heard the nurse tell him in the hallway just outside my room. I remember feeling so numb, how could this be happening to us?
My stay in the hospital was very emotionally straining because of rude comments I had to endure from medical staff (which I did make a formal complaint about). It was hard enough to deal with what I had to go through then I had to deal with what these (so called) medical professionals were saying to me. EXAMPLE: A lab technician said "You had a baby?" I said "Yes, I had twin boys" she asked "Where are your babies?" I said "They passed away." She replied "Oh you're the one they are talking about downstairs. You don't want any sick or mal-formed babies anyway. It's for the best they died." My sons were not sick , they were not mal-formed. They were healthy little boys. There were other comments as well.
I was told that Lucas died first and he was the baby on the left, the side I first had problems on, and the baby whose heart rate was lower than it normally was. I have yet to receive the results of the autopsy report. I was told by the doctor who delivered my sons that the test they received back showed no cause. I can't deal with the fact I am being told I buried two healthy little boys. I delivered my boys by c-section and it was discovered later that I had an infection from the surgery. L. was born at 2:16pm and weighed 5'4 lbs. R. was born at 2:17pm and weighed 6'3 lbs. I remember returning to my room it was 4:30pm. The nurse brought in my babies and placed them both in my arms. I remember thinking they just look like they were sleeping but I knew they would never wake up from this sleep. I kissed each of their little heads and told them I was sorry and that I loved them. The nurse came and took them to another room. I later asked for them again because I wanted to hold them individually.
We had two services for them because we live so far away from home. We had a service where we live which was open casket and which was the choice of two of my older children. I'm glad we did that because I was feeling a bit better from the surgery than when I originally saw the babies and this time I got the chance to kiss them good-bye without feeling all groggy from pain meds. We had to transfer their bodies ourselves back home which was a hard, long drive (7 hours). My aunts put together the service back home which was more than I ever expected. I hadn't been home in 2 years and it was really something to see how many people cared. My boys were not planned but I wanted them more than anything in this world and as each day goes by, I miss more then I think my heart can handle at some times.
Posted in Do we still have multiples?, Grieving, Multiple Birth Loss, tagged Do we still have multiples?, grief, Grieving, loss of a quadruplet, quadruplet loss, triplet loss, twin loss on November 2, 2017| Leave a Comment »
After giving birth to our quadruplets at 26 weeks, our son died at 19 days old. We have a very supportive family, but I continue to struggle. It is getting worse now that we are going out more with the babies and are getting the comments – Wow, you have triplets!! Sometimes I give more details and sometimes I just say yes…but I feel guilty that I don't let them know about Devon. It's nice to read that no matter what I say…it's the right way.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Devon. That has to be heart breaking and I have no doubt you feel as if you are abandoning him when you agree you have triplets. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Your heart knows the truth and we do not have to explain everything to strangers. It may not feel appropriate at the time. On the other hand, you may feel that you would like to acknowledge Devon's birth at another time. If you feel that way and tell a little of your story, that is right too. Sometimes you want to explain and sometimes you don't. You call the shots. When you choose not to say any thing, you aren't denying him, you are acknowledging him within you and that may be enough for that particular day. You are his Mom now and forever. May your path be gentle and your challenges manageable.


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April 03, 2014 | Active Management
While risk is often defined by various statistics, the broadest definition of risk to investors is failing to achieve one's investment objectives. There are three basic portfolio risks that can prevent an investor from reaching his/her goals:
Capital Risk - the possibility of sustained losses over the investment time frame.
Reinvestment Rate Risk - the risk of investing at low rates of return, thereby failing to achieve total returns over your investment time frame sufficient to meet your goals.
Inflation Risk - the chance of lost purchasing power resulting from negative inflation-adjusted returns.
Different asset classes generally provide exposure to and/or a degree of protection from different risks. As such, there is an inherent tradeoff between types of risk. For example, short-term fixed income securities (i.e., Treasury Bills) generally provide protection from Capital Risk, but may increase exposure to Reinvestment Rate Risk or Inflation Risk (depending on the duration of the securities and the market, interest rate, and economic environments). In contrast, stocks generally provide better protection against Inflation Risk, and to a lesser extent Reinvestment Rate Risk, but greater exposure to Capital Risk. Risk management within a portfolio should focus on prioritizing the importance of protection against each risk. The chart below shows which common asset classes (i.e., short-term Treasury Bills, long-term Treasury Bonds, and stocks) tend to provide the greatest protection from and exposure to each type of portfolio risk. However, the most relevant risks facing long-term investors can change as the market environment changes over time. Prudent risk management should focus on prioritizing the importance of protecting against each risk and understanding which risks are the highest under current market and economic conditions.
Recent stock market volatility and the scars of the 2000-2002 and 2007-2009 bear markets have driven many investors to focus on assets perceived to be less risky, such as fixed income securities and dividend paying stocks. However, it is important to recognize that market volatility is not the same thing as Capital Risk. In fact, given the current historically low interest rate environment, owning bonds could result in greater Capital Risk concerns than stocks as interest rates rise. Furthermore, long-term investors should avoid over insulating their portfolios against the Capital Risk associated with owning stocks and unintentionally exposing themselves to both Capital Risk and Reinvestment Rate Risk within their fixed income assets.
Reinvestment Rate Risk is important to investors with a long-term time horizon for their investment assets, because a generally low or falling return environment may not offer returns sufficient to meet long-term goals. The most obvious example of Reinvestment Rate Risk over the last thirty years has come in the form of the generally falling interest rate environment for short-term fixed income securities. For example, an investor who earned annual returns as high as 14% - 15% on a portfolio consisting solely of 3-month Treasury Bills in the early 1980s saw rates fall to near zero since the end of 2009 as fear and market volatility have driven investors to safe haven investments. However, the chart on page 3 shows that returns for U.S. Treasury Bills have remained at or below their historical average for approximately a decade. While an increased emphasis on shorter-term securities may be appropriate for near-term defensive purposes in the face of Capital Risk (sustained losses over your investment time horizon), and/or as an alternative to longer-term fixed income securities in an environment with the potential for rising interest rates, reacting to near-term volatility by increasing exposure to short-term bonds increases exposure to Reinvestment Rate Risk.
Likewise, stocks at times are susceptible to Reinvestment Rate Risk. In the face of recent stock market volatility and the current low interest rate environment, many investors have been drawn to high dividend paying stocks. While dividend yields, in some cases, may now represent an attractive source of yield for investors with current income needs, investors with long-term goals that do not need current income should consider the Reinvestment Rate Risk implications of focusing on high dividend paying securities. Companies that are generating excess cash flows and paying out dividends to investors are saying that they do not have internal projects or investments that are likely to generate a return on investment that exceeds what investors can earn on the cash they receive in the form of dividends. Given the current low growth economic environment, long-term investors focused on capital growth may not be in the best position to meet their objectives if they focus on companies with such limited growth prospects.
Another form of Reinvestment Rate Risk in stocks is investing in over-valued stocks, as an investment in these securities can result in lower future return expectations. Furthermore, while longer-term bonds tend to be a good hedge against Reinvestment Rate Risk, investors should be aware of the impact that call features commonly associated with preferred stocks and longer-term fixed income securities can have on their portfolios. Callable securities are structured so that the issuer can retire the securities at specific dates and prices prior to maturity. This is typically done when interest rates are significantly below where they were when the securities were issued. When securities are called in a low-to-moderate and/or declining interest rate environment, an investor may have little choice but to reinvest the proceeds from the called securities at considerably lower rates of return. Thus, call features can cause preferred securities and long-term bonds to behave more like short-to-intermediate-term fixed income securities, increasing an individual's exposure to Reinvestment Rate Risk.
The current interest rate environment, stock market conditions, and economic environment are all key inputs in determining an appropriate asset allocation. Overall, portfolios designed to meet long-term needs should generally focus on long-term asset classes to protect against Reinvestment Rate Risk. However, this long-term asset exposure should be diversified across multiple asset classes, with an emphasis on attractively valued securities, in order to reduce the probability of experiencing a prolonged period of sub-par performance. In the end, like all investment risks, Reinvestment Rate Risk should be actively managed based on the current market and economic environment rather than overlooked by investors reacting to yesterday's risks, or even worse over reacting to volatility, which comes and goes.
Perspective on what's trending in the markets and how it impacts investors
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Packaging that Gives Back February 27, 2008Posted by smooregasbord in Beauty, Eco/Green, Shopping.
I love shopping. While I may be helping our economy, I certainly don't think that my habit is helping the environment. Product packaging has reached a tipping point in terms of its effect on the environment. Think about how much is trashed every time you purchase something new. I recently purchased new eye cream over the internet. This little tiny jar which is only about 1.5″ wide came shipped in a box at least 10 times that size. Think about food packaging, especially meat items like burgers, steak, and chicken, packaged on a foam tray and wrapped in plastic wrap. The list goes on and on.
Well, I'm glad that some companies are thinking outside the box and coming up with new solutions to combat our consumer waste. Skincare items made by Pangea Organics are packaged using a "new Zero Waste process with 100% post-consumer paper and organic seeds like sweet basil and amaranth. Simply slip off the label, soak the box in water for a minute and plant it in the earth."
Cargo Cosmetics is taking it one step further. Not only is their new line of 20 lipsticks, called PlantLove, beautiful; each tube is made of corn, the packaging can be planted and will bloom into wildflowers, and they will donate $2 from the sale of each tube to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Talk about giving back!
- 1. Rochelle - February 27, 2008
I am also happy that people are starting to do something about our environment by finding new ways of resolving our ever increasing consumer waste. Love the article. Especially the part about Cargo Cosmetics. Way to go! Thank you.


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Welcome the great selection of different country designs. There is a wide selection of different places and some of their landmarks. A Wonderful way to mark a holiday to some of these lovely places


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Authorities have released the name of a woman killed in a double shooting Friday night in Birmingham's Central Park community.
Birmingham police identified the victim as Lakandria Rush. She was 34, and a mother.
Officers from the city's West Precinct responded about 10:30 p.m. to the 4800 block of Terrace S. Once on the scene, they found Rush sitting in the passenger seat of a GMC Yukon suffering from a gunshot wound to the body, said Lt. Sean Edwards.
Rush was sitting in the vehicle with a man who was shot in the left jaw and left arm. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he is expected to recover, Edwards said. Authorities have not released his name, but acquaintances say he is a local rapper.
Edwards said that detectives have learned that Rush and a female friend met the male at the location to make some kind of transaction. He didn't elaborate.
While they were sitting in the Yukon, a dark-colored SUV or truck pulled up next to the Yukon and fired several shots into the Yukon, hitting both rush and the man. The suspect vehicle fled in an unknown direction.
No arrests or motive have been announced. Edwards said they don't believe Rush was the intended target.
Rush is one of two people killed in overnight in the city. Early Saturday morning a man was shot to death at the Sun Inn motel on Bessemer Road, not far from where Rush was killed. Police said that deadly shooting stemmed from a dispute between two men and a suspect was taken into custody for questioning.
Anyone with information on Rush's death is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.


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Duration: This is normally a half day class (3 hours).
Class Size: Approximately 30-35 is best.
Audience: All employees
This class covers the different types of bias and stereotypes, including how they form and how they impact the workplace. We also discuss tips for reducing bias and for dealing with bias-related conflict.


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According to a blog post from her father, Aimee Copeland has spoken her first words since being hospitalized for flesh-eating bacteria.
Andy Copeland reportedly posted the following to his blog:
"Today…May 27……is AIMEE DAY!!! Sunday, Aimee has finally spoken her first words. I will follow with details tonight."
He also promised to provide more details later.
It has been just days since doctors had to amputate both of Copeland's hands and her remaining foot in order to keep the disease from spreading. Even though she still remains in critical condition, she has been showing signs of improvement lately. She has just recently starting to breathe on her own, no longer needing a ventilator and on Tuesday, she had surprised doctors by sitting for five hours when she was only expected to sit up for an hour.
Copeland, 24, has necrotizing fasciitis, which is an infection that spreads rapidly and causes the destruction of skin and muscle tissues. She contracted the infection after falling from a homemade zip line and cutting her leg open by a creek near her home.
Her left leg had to be amputated and doctors initially rated her chances of survival as "slim to none." Her struggle has inspired well-wishing and support from many people across the nation, thanks in part to a plea on Facebook from Copeland's father asking people to "believe and pray for a miracle to happen."
For more information: https://www.imperfectparent.com/topics/2012/05/12/young-woman-with-flesh-eating-germ-may-lose-more-limbs/
Source: foxnews.com


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This isn't necessary, but before playing Sun and Moon, you may wish to download and complete the Pokemon Sun and Moon Special Demo , available for free from the Nintendo eShop, if you haven't done so already.
Now that you've got the full game, you don't need to experience the demo. However, by completing the demo, you can transfer the exclusive Ash-Greninja to your full game, as well as a variety of useful items, depending on your demo progress.
The items from the demo are somewhat handy early on, when items and money are scarce, but the main draw is Ash-Greninja, who--at the time of writing--cannot be obtained via other means. Thus making it an interesting novelty at the very least.
This version of Greninja has the "Battle Bond" ability, which transforms it into its stronger Ash-Greninja form after defeating one Pokemon. Normal Greninja have the Torrent or Protean abilities and it's not possible for them to acquire Battle Bond.
You can transfer Ash-Greninja or any of the items you've unlocked by speaking to Professor Kukui in the Pokemon Centre. Be sure to have Sun or Moon (with a save file where progress has been made) accessible on the same 2DS/3DS as the Special Demo.
Proving your Worth
Because Ash-Greninja belongs to Ash and not you, it follows the same behaviour as other Pokemon acquired through trades--this means it won't obey your command until you've conquered the second grand trial, after which all Pokemon Level 50 or lower will obey you.


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The Science behind the Alexa Prize: Meeting the AI Challenges – AWS re:Invent 2017 Video
In this session, scientists from the Alexa team explore and discuss some of the AI challenges behind the Alexa Prize. Learn about the challenges of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and conversational interaction through stories from the founding members of the team that also built Amazon Echo and Alexa. We'll address the early difficulties of designing the algorithms for noise reduction for close-talk, near field, and far-field Alexa devices, and methods and frameworks they use for ASR, NLU and conversational interaction.
This video is from the fine folks at Amazon Web Services (AWS).


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Total COVID Cases In Delhi Stands At 14,053: Delhi Govt To Add Up More 1500 Beds For COVID Patients
The national capital, Delhi continues to battle COVID-19 with 14,053 confirmed cases and 276 deaths.
With the COVID cases rising every day in the Capital the Delhi government has decided to ramp up the health care facilities. The Delhi government is adding up 1500 beds for COVID-19 patients at the state-run Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. watch to find out more.
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As Sydney Harbour fills up with the tears of lachrymose cricketers, transgressors of a law of the game, rather than of the land, one can't help but think how hysterical the response has been, and ask why. How does the game of cricket, (cricket I ask you!), provoke such wailing and blubbing? It seems to be the case that the further up the ladder you climb as a player, the less you play for the reason you started. For fun. Yes, we all understand that the money at stake means winning is vital, but unfortunately it has spawned televised cheats who lost sight of the world around them. Messrs Smith, Warner and Bancroft aren't alone of course. They just got caught. Lengthy bans, national outcry, peer group finger pointing…..all rather distasteful.
How refreshing, therefore, to be able to watch top sport played for fun here in UAE. That's not to say there isn't a competitive edge, but we are blessed with incredible facilities that attract the best in the world to train and compete, and it seems the sunshine calms them down. Perhaps it's the rather genial crowds following them that help create a festival atmosphere, the sense of privilege we sand dwellers feel when strolling around the Emirates Golf Club watching Rory McIlroy smash it 350 yards down the immaculate fairways; the same fairways where, a week or so before, I may have topped it 200 yards into the rough.
No sandpaper, swearing, bile or vein popping anger from the sidelines. Just families on a day out getting up close to the action.
You can take your pick here in UAE, not just with golf, where the leader of the free world has built a very decent course in partnership with Damac, the property giant run by the highly respected Hussain Sajwani, but pretty much anything. New stadia are being built, smack bang in the middle of Dubai, as evidenced by the development of the 30,000 seater just off the Sheikh Zayed Road, on the sight of the old Dubai prison. Prime real estate, virtually adjoining the impressive new City Walk retail and residential scene, given over to spectators.
Cyclists can follow the Dubai Tour and the Tour of Abu Dhabi, where the world's best compete. They can also give it a whirl themselves at the incredible Al Qudra Cycle Path, an 86 kilometer track consisting mainly of a 50 kilometer loop in the desert, where you will see oryx and gazelles. A welcome distraction from fluorescent Lycra.
The Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi has played host to Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer, and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis attracts an equally impressive list. Local events, sponsored by local businesses, showcasing the best in breed.
Yes, UAE, and Dubai especially, attracts clubs and players to train with the sun on their backs, making use of some of the best facilities on the planet. Pre-season, even mid-season, tours are commonplace, with Manchester United swapping their Carrington training ground in January for Nad Al Sheba, and the Trafford Centre for the Dubai Mall. No doubt a welcome shot in the arm for retailers as Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and their wallets hove into view.
County cricketers make use of the incredible ICC nets, pitches and gym at Sports City, where Surrey (with a decent young seamer or two on display), Lancashire, Glamorgan and UAE all played a series of warm up matches at the end of March. Alec Stewart, Surrey's Director of Cricket, could not have been more complimentary about the facilities, staff and logistics and, importantly, will be back next year.
And yet all round these marvellous tracks, courses and pitches are huge amounts of residential property development. The attraction is, of course, that you can walk from your apartment or villa, straight to the first tee.


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I'm pleased the press pack mentioned the word quadrupleganger. That's what this rather unusual film amounts to. You know, the kind of magazine cover image where there is a picture of the magazine cover with a picture of the magazine cover….
Synecdoche is such a seriously weird film, that the weirdness makes it almost fun to watch. I didn't understand it. But it's sort of about life and being afraid of breaking relationships and serious illness. There are a lot of bodily fluids and quite a number of funerals.
Basically you have this theatre director who builds a mock-up of bits of New York in a warehouse, and has actors pretend to be him and his family and friends, and then you need someone to pretend to be the ones pretending, and so on. As his life falls to pieces, more and more actors are incorporated into the warehouse set-up.
But why was the house on fire?
You could analyse Synecdoche forever, but only if you go and see it first. Very surreal.


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Tommy Dreamer recently took part in a media call to help promote his upcoming match against Eddie Edwards at Impact Wrestling's Slammiversary event on July 22nd. He was asked about balancing all of the various promotions he works for and whether he has signed a contract with anyone. Dreamer revealed he hasn't signed a deal even though WWE offered him one in 2015 when he returned to team with The Dudley Boyz in a six-man tag match against The Wyatt Family.
"I learned a lot of lessons in my life. Everyone talks about ECW and the greatness that was ECW and it was. But none of us ever knew that Paul Heyman was in bed with WWE the entire time. I had to live with those effects for a long, long time. I would not sign a contract with anyone. WWE asked me to sign a contract when I went back with The Wyatts and they offered me a lot of money to close House Of Hardcore and I refused."
Dreamer was asked if ECW would be even more successful if they existed today and had social media as a tool. He didn't seem too hopeful that a promotion like theirs would be able to survive in today's world. Several things have changed that would make it extremely difficult to remain the extreme rebels they used to be in today's litigious culture.
"Honestly, I think we'd be out of business and here's why," Dreamer explained. "Everything we did in ECW, most of it was illegal. Music, which was such a huge part of ECW we wouldn't be able to use. If you want to talk about conflicts and drama -- I mean we would have riots all the time.
"Now think of the era of the cell phone camera. Now think of we would after shows party with fans. Or have fights in bars. Or think about if stuff went down with the owner not paying people or even writing bad checks -- that's illegal. I said it on the WWE Network, most people want to b---h about Paul Heyman but most of them chose to stay."
If you use any portion of the quotes in this article please credit Wrestling Inc. for the transcription


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This is an original 1923 black and white print of Richard T. Robb whose interests included racing cars, hiking and billiards.
Period Paper has obtained an unusual collection of prints with character sketches of Chicago movers and shakers from the 1920's. These men (yes, they are all male) were active in the business, industrial, and professional life of the city, and they are depicted here in a cartoon-style format with an illustrative and humorous verse by J. P. McEvoy.
This 88+ year old Item is rated Near Mint / Very Fine. No aging. No creases. No surface rub. No tears. No water damage.
Collections: 1790's Hand-Colored Copper-Engraved James Sowerby Botanicals, 1880's Original Chromolithographs of World Cultures, Ancient Egypt — A History Include Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia and Assyria (1903/1904), Antique & Vintage Art, In Stock, Limited Edition & Rarities, Mini Posters, New York City at The Turn of the 20th Cenutry (1893-1903) — Views of the City, Buildings, Historic Markers, Other Art, Picturesque Europe — Extraordinary Original Steel Engravings Plus Wood Engravings (1876-1879), Railroads & Trains
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Onyx Rug
Product Description
A dramatic reinterpretation of pink onyx. This saturated, beguiling design revels in fuscias, greys, blacks and whites.
Embracing the silky lustre of bamboo to play against the impression of Tibetan Wool, this rug is a visual and textural showstopper in any interior.
Onyx measures 2.4 metres x 3 metres


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Artificial Stupidity. That's what our blog is about. We've used AI to help write our blogs that are SEO focused. Hence, this is the L-AI-zy blog. The posts themselves are largely meaningless so you're encouraged not to read them but instead, just sign up for a free trial to experience first hand what we're all about.
Whatsapp's web application and Desktop versions are also available for you, but first of all, having it installed on your mobile phone is necessary, because every WhatsApp account must be directly linked to a single phone number .
Whatsapp is a free mobile application that uses your phone's internet connection to allow you to chat with other WhatsApp users without text messages. Whatsapp uses phone numbers from your phone's contact list to display an updated directory of WhatsApp users you already know .
For example, if a political message comes to them via WhatsApp with a link to more information, they may not have access to the rest of the internet to verify the content of the message. Whatsapp and Facebook do some" dumbphones" ( phones without a data plan ), Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp" free of charge" ( apps are also installed by default on some such phones ). Whatsapp is used for internal and external communications, and politicians can even use it as a direct channel for voters, some of which are placed in WhatsApp groups up to 30 times a day, or participate in nearly 1, 000 groups at once.
They mention that they can send up to 10 messages a day via WhatsApp - first by conducting quality surveys to identify the target audience and then by setting up a database of phone numbers to send messages .
Researchers believe that the messaging platform will serve both to mobilize and interrupt :" the trend is for people to organize themselves in WhatsApp groups around candidates and schedules, while people who want to destabilise their campaigns will also work quite intensely in WhatsApp groups," said Yasodara Cordova ova in an article from Brazil .researchers believe that the messaging platform will serve both to mobilize and interrupt :" the trend is for people to organize themselves in WhatsApp groups around candidates and schedules, while people who want to destabilise their campaigns will also work quite intensely in WhatsApp groups," said Yasodara Cordova ova ova in an article from Brazil.
These campaigns were shared and discussed in private groups of e-mails, such as Telegram and WhatsApp.
Protected by the unlimited resources of Facebook, WhatsApp can choose to play the long game as they find a way to milk their users .
Telegram and Whatsapp started as text messaging mobile applications and thus both of them were fulfilled to the brim.
Whatsapp users are clearly absent from the huge cool features and convenience Bots bring to mobile messaging and communication.
With WhatsApp, you' ll get quick, simple, secure messages and free calls available on your phone worldwide . As part of the last 2. 18. 51 update for the ios version of WhatsApp, it will now allow you to view it directly from WhatsApp - all online with your current conversation . Whatsapp uses the Internet connection of your phone ( 4g-3g-to-edge or wi-fi, as available ) to inform you and call your friends and family . Switch from SMS to WhatsApp to messaging and receiving Messages, calls, photos, videos and Voice Messages.
Online WhatsApp marketing is beneficial for small businesses in terms of promoting a Product or Service with multi-media content . In addition, you may not be able to send many messages from a single whatsapp account . Whatsapp messaging can only be done via whatsapp channels ( which are phone numbers verified ) and you can send a very limited number of messages from a single channel ( only 25 days ).
Political activists distribute photos, messages and calls to action through WhatsApp groups, both large and small . Since WhatsApp communication is based on senders who have access to the number of recipients, telephone numbers are a key asset for the campaign . Zero score is a practice by which the telecommunications operator offers free data to mobile phone users if they use Facebook or WhatsApp only.
Non-stop images and videos you receive on WhatsApp can eat your mobile data and fill the storage space on your phone, which will result in a hanging image . Whatsapp limits users only to have one account, but if you have a dual sim Android device, you can run multiple WhatsApp accounts on one device . Not everyone knows, but WhatsApp backups all your messages every day at 2 a. m. and if you want to restore your old messages, you must first remove WhatsApp from your device . When you sign up for your WhatsApp account, you will receive a backup message . Tap' Restore' and WhatsApp will Restore all your old messages, including the ones you have deleted by mistake.
Instead of paying crazy data fees, you can use WhatsApp and send free messages to anyone in the world . Whatsapp was founded in 2009 by two former Yahoo employees who want to make free communication available to everyone . Data charges are crazy, which is why WhatsApp can come in and be successful immediately . In addition, WhatsApp has nailed the content sharing formula, making imessage users choose the application via the native iphone text.
Assuming you have your WhatsApp password at hand, let's see how easy it is to use WhatsAPI . As you may know from your smartphone customer, you can send different types of messages via WhatsApp : in addition to text, you can send audio and video files, locations and contacts.
NOTE: Contacting people that have not given you consent to do so, is against the terms and conditions of this platform; even though, it is technically allowed. It is mandatory to obtain active opt-in consent from your users before sending them any form of messaging. We strongly advise against sending users unsolicited messages and spam. Doing so violates our terms and conditions.


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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
~me and my angles~
30 comments:
Oh my great capture of a quiet little charmer, lost in the woods! That odd shaped tree makes you wonder what or why it grew in that odd manner. You sure do have the twisted and tangled angles and leaners and they are handsome trees!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous9/12/2012 09:33:00 AM
Those are some terrific angles....I like the one with the deer peeking around the corner.ReplyDelete
very nice organic angles!.ReplyDelete
I LOVE the Hillsborough Sate Pk shot. That tree has personality! And the one you angled, yum!ReplyDelete
the weirdly angled tree looks like it was a trail marker - have heard native americans used to tie them down to create that bent trunk to mark a direction.ReplyDelete
i like your leaners. :)Replies
thanks T! i think you are right about THAT!! it sure seems to be a directional marker!!Delete
Beautiful forest walk!ReplyDelete
The elusive deer rock!ReplyDelete
Very nice.
The tree with the 'S' bend fascinates me.ReplyDelete
lovely leaning trees and wonderful photos as ever m'dear xReplyDelete
Beautiful old trees Laura! I can just imagine the angle you were at when you took that last pic!ReplyDelete
Amazing trees - I bet they make an almighty crack when they do eventualy go. And I'm loving the shaped tree from Hillsborough State Park.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous9/12/2012 06:00:00 PM
What I enjoyed most was the air one must be able to breath at this forest. Thank you very much for the memories of home. Please have you all a good Thursday.ReplyDelete
I also love that tree with the "s" bend in it. Wow!ReplyDelete
Love them! Great theme.....I like the curvy shot with the deer. Very cool catch. You could have come to our place and capture our bamboo! It's becoming very curvy and driving me nuts! Everytime it rained it would bend over the walkway! Drove me nuts. But I do love a tree with personality:)ReplyDelete
At first I thought your title was 'Me and My Angels', but, turned on my spellcheck, and saw it at an angle, haha! These are cool photos, looks like each could tell a story. And, your last was the best, oh, to be able to stand still without rocking backward and get that shot! The trees on your property look forest-like...it looks neat, and, I see what you mean about them sometimes going Boom! Hope you're having a good week Laura! See you soon!♥ReplyDelete
Very nice anglular stuff :0) - love the deer and the boulder.ReplyDelete
I'm bereft og ideas on this one - it's exam time, report-writing, marking and more marking -oh for some time to go somewhere with my camera and look for some angles !!
Laura, I loved all your trees. It is a neat theme to work with too. Great captures, have a wonderful day.ReplyDelete
Love these pictures! I'm always looking for interesting bends and configurations too! People who hike/walk quickly miss so much if they don't take the time to look around a bit.ReplyDelete
Awesome, awesome pics!! And a great quote that made me laugh! :):)ReplyDelete
Laura, you certainly found some great additions for this weeks theme. I like your description of "Bone Beach" it diffidently fits the photos you posted. How is that last tree still standing after such a damaging lighting strike?ReplyDeleteReplies
i know what you mean...but i guess sometimes the tree just heals from within...Delete
wow- that tree in the Hillsborough state park looks like its trying to bend down and kiss the earthReplyDelete
@ www.cre8space.blogspot.com.auReplies
thanks kel...i like that description...kissing the earth!!Delete
I live your pics. Amazing photos. I like photography, painting, nature and rain forests. Beautiful blog. Would you like to visit my blog.ReplyDeleteReplies
thanks for stopping by leo...i will come visit your place!Delete
I love your sense of humor! And I look at bare trees as if they were bones as well. Some nice shots here!ReplyDelete
Your trees are much nicer than mine! I find myself willing the leaners to stay up just a little while longer. I always feel a little sad when gravity eventually catches up with a leaning tree. I know this is how nature is supposed to work, but you always want to root for the underdog.ReplyDelete
Those are some incredible trees! Awesome pictures!ReplyDelete
Firstly, love the quote at then end!ReplyDelete
Secondly, great pictures! Isn't it amazing that despite angles, or grooves or weird obstacles to grow around, a tree will always grow as good as it can?


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In a media-saturated landscape, are you interested in showing off the world through your own lens? Moore's Photography major fosters the technical, theoretical, and artistic skills students need to succeed in the evolving, expanding, and increasingly global discipline of photography. Working in both analog and digital formats, you'll learn to process and print images, utilize video and other established and emerging technologies, master professional lighting techniques, and create sophisticated bodies of work informed by the history and theory of the discipline. (Photo above: Emily Costello '19)
- Computer lab designed specifically to support digital photography, multimedia and web media
- A free camera rental center
- Expansive facilities with a wet darkroom, lighting studio, a digital video lab and 2D animation lab
" I most enjoy the small class size and the individual attention each professor gives to their students. [In our] major, we have most of our classes together and become very close, which gives us a chance to really get to know each other's art and give meaningful feedback."


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Article (Published version) (1.3 MB) - Limited access to UNIGE
Other version: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1040618206002485
Dominant ENSO frequencies during the Little Ice Age in Northern Patagonia: The varved record of proglacial Lago Frías, Argentina
|Published in
|Quaternary International. 2007, vol. 161, no. 1, p. 46-55
|The global character of the time interval known as the Little Ice Age (LIA) is at present relatively well established. However, the forcing mechanisms behind this cooling interval are still elusive. Investigations in annually laminated sediments have shown that varved sediments are among the best climate archives to tackle these questions. Proglacial Lago Frías in northern Patagonia is fed by the Tronador ice cap (3554 m). Previous investigations have shown that this glacier has reacted sensitively to climate change during the LIA, with well-identified major glacial advances between AD 1800–1850. Results of a multiproxy study of Lago Frías sediments reflect variations in the transport of glacially derived clay and silt to the basin that can be directly linked to changes in climate. Sedimentological evidence combined with a chronological model indicate variations in varve thicknesses showing two frequencies centered at 16.4 and 10.5 years that have been previously attributed to the solar cycles and the Tropical Atlantic Sea Surface Dipole (TAD), respectively. The main frequency is, however, located between 2.5 and 3.0 years pointing towards a dominant El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal. Thus, the Lago Frías record provides new insights about the complexity of the various forcing mechanisms behind the cooling during the LIA in an area with a paucity of high-resolution climate records.
|Full text
(ISO format)
|ARIZTEGUI, Daniel, BÖSCH, P., DAVAUD, Eric Jean. Dominant ENSO frequencies during the Little Ice Age in Northern Patagonia: The varved record of proglacial Lago Frías, Argentina. In: Quaternary International, 2007, vol. 161, n° 1, p. 46-55. doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2006.10.022 https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:13134
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Life is all about choices. Sometimes you make good choices; other times you make bad ones. No developer has hung their hat on this conceit more than the folks at Telltale Games. After successfully taking a whack at franchises under the Image and DC imprints, it only seemed like a matter of time before they completed the set and went after a Marvel property. Though far from my first choice of brands for them to explore, bringing Guardians of the Galaxy in-house made complete sense. But in a year that already has a new film on deck, can Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series manage to keep pace with its cinematic counterpart?
Perfectly Mismatched
On paper, Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot are the perfect cast for a standard Telltale game. They have tons of personality, are constantly in conflict, and most importantly, they have a hilarious dynamic as a group. If you take a look back through the studio's history, for every earnestly dramatic game that they release, there's almost always an equally lighthearted and hilarious game in the pipeline. Even as far back as 2006 when they released their first Sam & Max installment, it has been obvious that humor was in the studio's DNA. For this reason alone, the Guardians brand seems like a fantastic fit.
Before going too deeply into the narrative, it's important to establish that the gameplay itself seems very hesitant to stray from the developer's standard formula for success. Everything from their traditional quick-time sequence anchored combat mechanics to time-boxed conversations trees are present and accounted for. The one major differentiating point is the production values. Without question, this is the best looking game that Telltale has ever produced.
Both in and out of combat, the quality of character models and environments are far more competent that I anticipated. Additionally, the primary set pieces are easily some of the studio's most impressive work to date. However, take that commentary with a pinch of salt. This praise is being seen through the drastically fragmented prism of some of Telltale's previously downright ugly visuals. When compared to the rest of the industry, Guardians would be considered middle of the pack. But given their notoriously mediocre presentation in the past, this is a dramatic step in the right direction.
Aside from the usual banter and battles, there are also a couple of puzzles nestled into the initial chapter. Hopefully these will become more difficult in future installments, because they were laughably easy the first time around. I can understand handling the player with kid gloves in the first episode, but the only way its spoon-feeding could have been more blatant was if I was strapped into a goddamn high chair. The one element that makes puzzles slightly more interesting is the introduction of Star-Lord's time-traveling-hologram-thingy. I am pretty sure that is its technical name. All joking aside, this device's ability to project holograms of what happened in a given room in the recent past is an intriguing wrinkle. Granted, this is a wrinkle that will inevitably be a canonical explanation nightmare in future chapters.
A Whole New World
Thematically, the first chapter in the Guardians' story seems to match up pretty consistently with the films. At least at first, it's hard to say if this actually takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, proper. This confusion is primarily because the narrative tends borrow heavily from the MCU's interpretation of the narrative's major characters. Then the first major plot twist hits, and it becomes blatantly obvious that this is a VERY different world from that of the flicks. The one consistent strand shared between the game and its big screen counterpart is their collective focus on the team as a singular unit.
After the aforementioned plot twist takes place, it also becomes apparent that all is not well in Peter Quill's collective of interstellar vagabonds. Without going too deeply into the spoiler territory, it's suffice to say that in-fighting among the team abounds. It's up to Star-Lord to try and hold the team together long enough to move onto their next job. Unfortunately, this is also where the game begins to feel like a chore.
Despite having been through so much together, all of a sudden the entire team devolves into a bunch of bitchy, overly-needy teenagers. As you try to make amends and patch up conflicts, it's hard to shake the feeling that this entire portion plays like a middle-management simulator. You are never going to be able to keep everyone happy, so you're better off just trying to mitigate the damage. I found this whole encounter to be extremely off-putting, simply due to each team member's lack of compromise. I get that they are supposed to be a family and that conflict happens, but if the primary conflict of the entire series will be from in-fighting, these are going to be a long five chapters. On the bright side, at least I can finally put that college minor in psychology to good use.
Where Are the Laughs?
The one thing that could have redeemed this entire segment, or at the very least prevented it from rendering certain characters as gigantic unlikable dicks, would be the trademark Guardians of the Galaxy humor. While there are still plenty of small chuckles sprinkled throughout, I felt like many of their attempts reeked of writers that were trying a bit too hard. Another key element that was missing from the dialog were the snappy dialog exchanges being fired around among the crew. There were plenty of attempts to re-create the film's chemistry between characters, but many of these comments merely fell flat. While still standing by these criticisms wholeheartedly, I still think that it's worth noting that the writing isn't bad. Essentially, the banter from the first film and graphic novel series is so damn entertaining that the bar may have been set a bit higher than usual.
On the bright side, Tangled Up in Blue is a solid first salvo for Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series. Though some of the early storytelling does prove to be disappointing, it is nice to know that they have plenty of room for improvement in future chapters. Given the nature of the conflicts dealt with in this installment, I am still extremely curious to see where things go from here. The sky's the limit for this series. Let's hope that Telltale is shooting for the stars.
Review code for Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series provided by publisher. Reviewed on PS4. For more information on scoring, please read our Review Policy here.


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The ultimate date spot. And also, bro-date spot.
Mason Pacific is somehow both a date spot, and a bro-date spot. It's romantic, but also bromantic. It has cloth napkins, but also fried chicken. It has rosé, and also ros... uh... beer. Yeah... beer. In any event, you're going to need to convince your bros it isn't a chick place and your chicks it isn't a bro place. And we, like a $200 robot designed to sweep your floors unless there's a chair leg in the way, are here to help...
If you're with a girl: Wait for your table in the foyer, pointing out the Surrealism in the finger-puppet artwork, making sure to milk all that you can out of that one Art History class you took sophomore year.
If you're with your buddy: They have beef tartare with cornichons and pretzel crostini or buttermilk fried chicken with sauce remoulade and green Tabasco... better order two of each, because you will be demolishing these.
If you're with a lady: They have more than 16 wines by the bottle or glass, including a red and a white specially made for the restaurant that're available in carafe form.
If you're with a bromo sapien: See: wine in carafes for $12 (!!), or seven craft beers if you aren't comfortable sharing a carafe...
If you're with The One: This booth is situated specifically to look outside and people-watch, it's amazing.
If you're with The One Friend: Dude, this booth is situated specifically to look outside and people-watch, it's amazing.


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About Us
General enquiries
Children's MARS Hub
Hewson House
Station Road
Email: email@example.com
If you are concerned about a child
If you are concerned that a child is being abused or they may be at risk of harm, you should contact North Lincolnshire's Children's Services on:
01724 296500 (9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm Friday)
01724 296500 (answerphone – out of office hours and at weekends)
101 – Police non-emergency
999 – Police emergency
Children's MARS arrangements
The Children's Multi-Agency Resilience and Safeguarding (MARS) arrangements set out the arrangements for safeguarding partners to work together with other agencies, to identify and respond to the needs of children in North Lincolnshire
The intent of the Children's MARS arrangements is to:
- Co-produce with children, young people and families using their strengths and assets to develop services to meet their individual needs
- Make children's safeguarding personal and swift so they remain in families, in school
- Build children, young people and families resilience
- Drive an even stronger partnership with schools, colleges and local agencies
- Provide robust independent scrutiny and assurance to the partnership in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in North Lincolnshire
The appendices clarify the list of relevant agencies who are linked into our arrangements, along with the agencies who are statutorily required to engage in the Section 11 process, in which the Children's MARS Board seeks assurance that the agencies are fulfilling their responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
PLEASE NOTE – As early adopters of the multi agency safeguarding arrangements, our arrangements were originally published in October 2018. In line with our commitment to listen, learn, review and adapt, we refreshed our arrangements and republished in June 2019 (in line with statutory timescales).
Safeguarding Partners
In North Lincolnshire, the safeguarding partner organisations and the lead representatives are:
- North Lincolnshire Council – Chief Executive
- North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group – Accountable Officer
- Humberside Police – Chief Constable
All three safeguarding partners have equal and joint responsibility for local safeguarding arrangements underpinned by equitable and proportionate funding including through any contributions from relevant agencies. Locally, the lead representatives have delegated their functions and each partners has a lead responsibility for a specific portfolio area, which contributes to the delivery plan, as follows:
- Director of Children and Community Resilience, North Lincolnshire Council (Portfolio area – Stakeholder partnership, voice and engagement and Safeguarding Practice Review process)
- Director of Nursing and Quality, North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (Portfolio area – Scrutiny and assurance and Training)
- Designated Officer by the Chief Constable, Humberside Police (Portfolio area – Funding and Performance)
The Children's MARS Memorandum of Understanding provides further clarity regarding the safeguarding partners' roles and responsibilities.
Children's MARS Board
The Children's MARS Board brings together the safeguarding partners, and other relevant officers, to oversee, innovate and develop the Children's MARS arrangements and seek assurance regarding the standard of local implementation across the safeguarding system and to ensure children, young people and families are resilient and safeguarded.
The Children's MARS Board terms of reference provides further detail regarding the board arrangements.


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The hospital said the man was saved by an "exceptional" operation in its heart surgery unit on Tuesday
Doctors carefully removed the arrow and avoided massive bleeding
A man whose heart and lung were pierced by an arrow has miraculously survived after doctors were able to remove the weapon during a complicated and risky operation.
Molinette Hospital in Turin released a shocking photo which shows the 12-inch arrow embedded in the man's chest near his left nipple as he lay on a bed surrounded by medics wearing plastic gloves.
The image, taken shortly after the man arrived at hospital, shows the shirtless and tattooed 47-year-old with a mask and breathing bag before he was rushed into surgery.
Medics were shocked that the man - who was awake the entire time - didn't suffer "immediate death" when the arrow pierced his left ventricle and lung in a crossbow accident in Aosta, Italy.
A spokesperson for Molinette Hospital in Turin said: "Incredibly, in addition to the thoracic wall, the arrow pierced the left ventricle - the most important of the heart chambers - with an entry and an exit point, and then embedded in the left lung without causing immediate death."
The hospital said the man was saved by an "exceptional" operation in its heart surgery unit on Tuesday.
"Removing the arrow from its location could have resulted in uncontrollable bleeding," the spokesperson said.
A second photo released by the hospital shows the end of the arrow sticking out of the man's chest in the operating room.
Doctors carefully removed the arrow and avoided massive bleeding.
They then stitched up the cardiopulmonary perforations in one of very few operations of its kind in Italy.
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The surgical team, led by Dr Mauro Rinaldi, hailed it as a "complete success".
In a statement, Molinette Hospital described the surgery as "unprecedented" at the facility and a case of "exceptional rarity".
The exact circumstances of the man's injury were not revealed.
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Hello fellow readers,
I have been off the radar the past while because I have been so busy with work and wedding stuff. It is currently 6 weeks away until the big day and at this stage there is a lot of planning and confirming and counting to do. I'm finding my evenings filled with meetings and plans, however it has come to the stage when I need to relax and of course I turn to my books. For me reading has always been a form of escapism, disappear from the real world for a few hours and find a new place to explore. Last month I didn't get the time to do a wrap up and therefore I will be continuing on with any books I was reading and my chosen reads for October.
This week I will be continuing with reading some books off my TBR and hopefully starting a new read. Despite it being October I am looking for a sweet, light read so I have turned to a book that has been sitting on my shelves for some time. I want to be in the right mood to read it and I think this will be a good time to take my mind of any tough days at work and any last minute wedding mishaps. This week I am picking up The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez, it sounds wonderful set around the friendship of 5 woman in Afghanistan. I have a fascination with the Middle East and love reading books set there, I enjoy reading about different cultures and exploring new worlds therefore I can't wait to start this book.
So readers I hope you are having a great week and are enjoying the perfect reading season. I will be posting some reviews over the next few days so don't forget to check in.


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City of StauntonHome Menu
Let us do the driving. We plan and lead numerous trips to exciting events and destinations around the state and beyond.
View and register for upcoming trips.
Trip Policies
Overnight Travel Policy
All trips are to be paid in full when signing up unless another specific option is available where a minimum of 50% deposit is required for each person. Once a payment is received from a patron they are considered to have an official spot on the trip if there is space available.
All patrons understand that there is a no refund policy in effect unless the Recreation Department decides to cancel a trip. It is at the Recreation Department's discretion on the cancellation of trips and most will be done in a timely manner. In some extreme cases such as death or serious medical conditions a refund may be available to a patron of a trip minus any expenses the Recreation Department may incur.
Name changing fees may occur on trips involving plane flights. In cases regarding deposits, if the balance isn't paid by the deadline, the patron may lose their full deposit and spot on the trip. Before a registration
form is complete, you will be required to sign (or check in lieu of signature) that you have read, understand and accept this addition to our registration process.
Program & Day Trip Refund Policy
- In the case of a cancellation by Parks and Recreation staff, the refund will be issued in the form of a check through the City's Finance Department.
- Check will be mailed to the address on file. Please allow a minimum of 2-3 weeks for refunds by check.
- No refunds or credits will be given for any program or activity sessions missed by the participant.
- If adequate advance notice is provided, we will refund the full amount of the program less any non-recoverable expenses, as listed below. If there is a waiting list and we are able to fill your spot on a day-trip or in a program, you will receive a full refund.
- General Program or One-Day Trip: Full refund prior to the registration deadline, less any non-recoverable expenses (pre-paid meals, lodging, tickets, etc.)
- If adequate advance notice prior to the registration deadline is not given, and your space cannot be filled, all fees are forfeited.
Staunton Parks and Recreation values inclusion and strictly prohibits discrimination. Read our policy.


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After transforming our cloakroom into a Ramones toilet, complete with Joey Ramone bobblehead, I got the Silhouette Cameo out today, and I have now created a Johnny Cash bathroom.
Both Lee and I adore The Man in Black and I danced up the aisle on our wedding day to "Darlin'Companion." I also have such wonderful childhood memories of my lovely Daddy playing the 'Live at San Quentin' album as I was growing up. Also two of my sons love him too. Yep … Cash is pretty special to me!
So I spent the afternoon cutting, sticking and singing along to "Daddy Sang Bass" … and I just completely love the end result!
If you'd like the idea for your own bathroom I can create a decal about the music or movie icon of your choice of course …