Smorgasbord – Something to think About – The R's of Life – Survival in the Modern World – Rejuvenation!
Rejuvenation: The desire to recapture the vigour, appearance and lifestyle of youth.
Never before in our history has there been such a drive, and even addiction, to reclaiming all the attributes of youth, from spending massive amounts of money on non-invasive procedures to undertaking serious cosmetic surgeries. We are surrounded by images of those who according to the media are the epitome of beauty and it is not just the more mature who are being influenced. The young who are still in their prime are being told that they are not attractive enough and lured into enhancing their faces and bodies. With long lasting consequences.
Current publicity photographs of some of the more mature stars, clearly show the after effects of surgery, and that attitudes towards aging is still the same in Hollywood today.
They have it all don't they? Fame, wealth, good looks, red carpet junkets, jewellery and designers falling over themselves to dress them and be showcased. Large houses with fabulous pools and people to do everything for them as they swan about in their magnificent luxury cars.
But all that comes with a price. That constant drive to stay young, bankable and in the public eye is responsible for broken marriages, displaced children, addiction, suicide and a private life that is a myth. Especially when the vultures within the paparazzi have your life on speed dial.
Imagine living in a fish bowl?
Even those who are wannabe famous, and who litter the headlines in their attempts to establish themselves, have fractured private lives that belie the external and often enhanced beauty they crave. Those who cannot afford to pay for licensed cosmetic surgery head off to even less regulated countries for cheaper procedures that lead to dangerous health complications. All so that they can whip their tops off and show their new and plastic cleavage to what they hope will be an adoring public.
Apart from high profile stories of celebrities who have had surgery to repair botched procedures, thousands of non-celebrities have become cosmetic surgery tourists in search of the star treatment at a cheap rate. Many have paid the full price as far as their health is concerned when they return home and have to undergo further surgeries to correct the damage.
The message that we are sending our young is that aging is toxic, that we all end up unattractive, on the heap and have no life after the first few wrinkles have etched themselves into our faces.
Above all else, having seen the results of plastic surgery that follows on from multiple procedures, I also have to call into question the ethical nature of some of these cosmetic surgeons who keep taking the money, despite the risks to the patients from the physical and mental consequences.
And I am not immune to the clarion call of the cosmetic industry that promises that a newly found ingredient will either smooth, eradicate or blur the signs of age on face and body. To be honest I have a couple of products that don't do a half bad job unless I put my reading glasses on.
And we cannot blame this culture on the modern world, as women in particular have been looking for the elixir of youth from the moment they first saw their reflection in a still pond of water! In days when your existence relied on being considered attractive and desirable was not just preferable but essential, anything that enhanced your look was considered, whatever the side-effects.
The ancient Egyptians had some pretty nifty concoctions they added to the daily beauty regime. These included copper, lead and kohl for their eyes made from soot, fat and any scrap metal that was hanging around, including antimony and lead. One of the important factors that these early seekers of youth did not taken into account, is that skin is porous, and allows elements in and out. Absorb enough antimony and you are facing serious physical and mental health issues. This stuff is used industrially in a number of processes including fire retardation of cloth used in cars and in safety equipment, and in batteries.
The symptoms of antimony are numerous and include respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, skin complaints, confusion and certain compounds can cause cancer.
Over the centuries other metals that have serious side effects have been introduced to potions to whiten skin, improve texture and add fullness to lips, including lead in lipstick, mercury in mascara and arsenic in face powder.
Whilst the cosmetic industry has become more regulated, it is not necessarily completely safe. Red lipstick has had a rocky ride even as recently as 2007 when a percentage of those tested under laboratory conditions were found to contain what was considered to be dangerous levels of lead. And if you think mercury is no longer in the products we buy, it is still used as a preservative.
There is no basis for concern by the consumer for the presence of mercury in cosmetic and personal care products purchased in the United States that comply with FDA regulations. The FDA limit of 1 part-per-million of mercury allowed in most cosmetics does not present a risk to health. The trace level of mercury that FDA allows for use some eye care preparations is too small to be of concern for health reasons but is sufficient to prevent bacterial contamination of the eye care product and serious eye infections in the users of the eye care product.
This does call for another type of clarion call – don't just check food labels for ingredients but also cosmetics and toiletries as they both enter the body too..
Apart from the toxicity of metals in cosmetics, more and more in our modern age our drive to regain our youth has resulted in us going under the knife.
There is a temptation to absorb the marketing by cosmetic clinics in women's magazines, and go for a little enhancement beyond the use of the magic potions we can buy over the counter (the ones without the metal elements). This however does not include the latest trend on the high street, in health and beauty salons, pharmacies and even dental surgeries; Botox and fillers in your lunch hour!
It's never been a better time to be a beauty entrepreneur. Forbes estimates that there are at least 40 prominent beauty startups today founded by women, making the $445 billion (sales) industry one of the most prevalent places for women to self-start their way to big-time success.
Firstly, I do admire the cosmetic surgeons who originally developed their skills to repair the damage done to face and body in war time or accidents. My hero as a teenager and considering a career in nursing was Sir Archie Mcindoe. I read his biography and was hooked. His pioneering work on repairing the damage caused by fire to young pilots was inspirational.
Catwoman Plastic Surgery is an extreme case of Plastic Surgery gone Wrong. If we talk about an extreme woman, some people will guess we are talking about Jocelyn Wildenstein. She is a very famous woman for her unique and extreme changes. She has changed her appearance into a cat. No wonder she is also known as a the catwoman. Based on a story, the 70-year-old woman decided to change her look because she loved her husband and her husband loved a big cat. She wanted to look like the big cat her husband loves.
Jocelyn Wilderstein had a different obsession, but the result is one that is becoming more and more common and not in the case of women but also men, particularly those in the celluloid industry of Hollywood.
An American Society of Plastic Surgeons report found Americans spent more than $16 billion on cosmetic plastic surgeries and minimally invasive procedures in 2016, the most the U.S. has ever spent on such operations.
That is just in the United States.. in the UK it is estimated that there are over 1 million procedures each year and growing… However, there are concerns that this is under reported due to the lack of regulation on non-invasive cosmetic procedures, such as botox and fillers by unlicensed operators.
Invasive cosmetic surgery – The Risks.
Infection that will require anti-biotics and if not treated could be serious and require the removal of implants.
You might well be asking where I am going with all this….
It is no good recapturing your youth on the outside if you neglect the aging process of your body on the inside.
As of 2016, 28.2 million U.S. adults were diagnosed with heart disease. In 2015, nearly 634,000 people died of heart disease, making it the leading cause of death.According to the American Heart Association, approximately every 40 seconds an American will have a heart attack. The estimated annual incidence of heart attacks in the United States is 720,000 new attacks and 335,000 recurrent attacks.
We are more than our bodies and looks. We have a brain which is allegedly the most advanced intelligence in nature (that is debateable). With age and experience, and before our modern lifestyles catch up with us (just kidding), we become wiser and therefore have a great deal still to offer society.
We can still look amazing even with a few wrinkles, silver hair and a little more weight than when we were in our 20s and 30s.
We can regenerate most of our organs and new research has identified that even the brain can do so as well. There is nothing more attractive than a quick mind and a spirited conversation.
Remaining young is about our attitude, energy levels, ability to laugh, make people feel good about themselves and to inspire the younger generation. We need to make them feel valued in this shallow modern world of ours and to see their strengths not their weaknesses.
We need to consider just how far we would go to hang on to our own youthful appearance and what message it sends to our children and grandchildren about what is important in this world. Making them afraid of a few wrinkles that are a badge of honour is doing them a disservice.
Thanks for dropping in today and as always your feedback is very welcome.. Sally.
Posted on April 2, 2019 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.
I packed up boxes of clothes, all of which no longer fitted or were worn only once or twice, shoes that I wore occasionally to a formal event or the jackets that I wore to work as part of my 'senior executive uniform'. Everything that had been in the wardrobe, drawer, or even worse a suitcase in the cellar, and had not been worn in the last two years was tried on. I did find some clothes that still fitted that had been in hiding and that was like Christmas!
Also I am female, and I do like to look reasonably attractive so buying new clothes gives the illusion that you are donning plumage, and are therefore noticeable… In fact you will find that many women admit that their boyfriends and husbands rarely notice unless you prance in front of them as you serve dinner wearing your new dress and six inch heels. (Or possibly slightly less).
Don't get me wrong; I still get a huge kick out of buying new clothes, but I do now have a debate with myself as to whether I need it or not. I have to say regrettably that the answer is usually no. The odd item still finds its way home, but I do try to get some decent wear out of it. My prancing days are over however and it is usually girlfriends who will comment on a new outfit!
Nothing that I own would come under the classification of designer… I might have bought the occasional jacket or skirt from a designer outfit like TKMaxx, but I have never paid full price for anything. These days I would be hard pushed to find anything in my size within the Gucci, Armani and other couture ranges, but when I look at some of the prices I am probably well out of it.
Why else do we buy stuff?
Buying stuff is not just restricted to making ourselves feel better; it is also about making a statement of where we are in the pack. The old expression 'Keeping up with the Joneses' applies to the items that we surround ourselves with. Perhaps a new suite every couple of years, the latest flat screen television or the latest electronic devices such as telephones and tablets. No self-respecting teenager would be seen dead with my old-fashioned Doro with big numbers! Each year landfills are expanding as we throw out barely used clothing and household effects.
There are sales yards full of second hand cars that are only a couple of years old. Usually they have been part-exchanged at a fraction of their value for a newer model straight off the production line.
Depreciation is simply the difference between the amount you spend when you buy a car and the amount you get back when you sell or trade it in. It's often overlooked or ignored when buying a new car but for many, depreciation is the single biggest factor affecting running costs adding more to cost per mile than fuel.
Later you will see the actual amount of textiles and household goods we throw away annually; and the cost is staggering.
One of the biggest rip off… Children's shoes and clothes.
Children are as influenced by advertising and peer pressure as much as the rest of us and if someone is wearing £110 Ugg Pink boots or £200 Fendi sneakers, then a child is going to wonder why they cannot too. Of course there are usually cheaper versions on the high street, but those tend to range from £30 to £50 as well. This is very expensive considering, between the ages of 2 to 10 years old, a child will need a new size of shoe two to three times a year!
What irks slightly is that often these shoes are labelled as guaranteed long-lasting; considering they only have to last three to six months that is just a bit over the top.
The same applies to the millions of pounds spent on clothes for babies and children each year in the UK. How quickly does a child outgrow their everyday clothes, and how often will they wear that special dress or suit bought for an event? If there are younger family members they usually will get clothes and shoes passed down, but if not, then once a child has outgrown them they are disposed of.
Just a thought. Are we perhaps dressing our children for their needs or for our desire to present them to the world in a certain image rather than being practical?
It is estimated that in our lifetime we girls will spend around £100,000 on our wardrobe (I know, that does not seem near enough!) whereas men only spend around £30,000. Although having visited a men's clothing department recently, and seen both the 'must have' season's arrivals and the average cost, I think guys may catch up to us at some point.
As you can see from the image, designer clothes can sometimes be a bit on the skimpy side but can set you back thousands of pounds to have that fancy label.
Generally we tend to laugh this off and joke about us girls going to get some 'retail therapy', but the money we might spend on our trip is not where the buck stops. The aftermath is costing billions and is impacting the environment.
Of course there is the dark side of retail therapy! When used in revenge and involves maxing out a partner's credit card!
The average American throws away about 65 pounds of clothing per year, and along with other textiles that get tossed, like sheets and bedding, the total comes out to 14.3 million tons of textile waste per year. That's almost 6 percent of all municipal waste. While some of those textiles get recovered, most of it remains in the landfill, posing a variety of problems.
Today almost 50% of the textiles that are destined for the trash could actually be recycled, which means we as consumers simply need to get better about recycling our clothing and textiles.
There's an economic benefit to reducing textile waste. For example, if all of the textile waste we normally generate in a year didn't end up at the landfill, we would be looking at a savings of $375 million in fees alone.
In an age of "fast fashion", (the Primark Effect) 1.5 million tons of clothes and textiles go straight into landfill sites in Britain every year.
Oxfam said that 9,513 garments were thrown into landfill every five minutes, totalling one billion items per year and the equivalent of one in four garments sold. While every other type of landfill waste is reducing; textiles has risen.
What is our responsibility for all of this waste?
I am certainly not going to be preaching on this (being a former smoker I know how welcome that is). However, I know that all the clothes that I recently disposed of, went to a thrift shop, and if not sold then onto the local charity shops. We also disposed of all our excess to requirements electrical and household items. There can be a problem with furniture that does not have a fire resistant label, and also mattresses, but you will be surprised at how many people will still take them off your hands. Charity clothes bins are in car parks of major supermarkets and for baby and children's clothes you will usually find sites on social media to sell them or to donate them.
I take some comfort from my years of spending money on clothes, that somewhere someone else is getting pleasure from owning them now.
This brings me to the other major area of waste of money in our modern households which is food.
One of my bug bears when watching television dramas and films is the number of times people get up from a table having spent five minutes on dialogue, and no time actually eating the food in front of them. The plates are left laden with food or picked at minimally and unfortunately that is played out in reality too. Someone took me to task when I mentioned this on social media and said if was not real food. Well that maybe, but to the millions watching the programmes, it still says it is okay to have a plate of food in front of you and walk away from it, leaving it to be tossed away.
We as women are quite good at showing our love through feeding our families. After all the way to a man's heart is through his stomach so I hear! Our plate sizes have increased and there is instinctive urge to fill them, because a little mound of food in the middle of the plate would look stupid. Children in particular are always hungry and they can eat six smaller meals during the day, but will run out of steam when faced with an adult's portion of meat and two veg.
I also blame the trend in supermarkets to package fruit and vegetables in kilo or two kilo bags. They went from lb bags to double the size with glee! If you are going shopping twice a week, and depending on your family size, you are better off buying the loose produce, sufficient for three or four days. Buy what you need rather than what is so conveniently packaged for you, and you will also benefit from buying better produce than that chosen to go into the packets. And if you are happy to eat misshapen vegetables and fruit, you get all the taste for a fraction of the cost!
Recently supermarkets have begun to offer wonky vegetables for a fraction of the cost.. let's face it by the time you have peeled and chopped it doesn't matter what it looks like.
What is our responsibility towards food waste?
Shop sensibly for what you need rather than what the supermarket wants you to buy.
Avoid pre-prepared packs of cut vegetables and salads as they have not only lost up to 50% of their nutritional value as soon as they are cut; they lose more in the plastic bag and go off faster once you have opened them.
It might make sense to buy 'two for one' for goods that are not perishable, but for fresh produce, meats and fish just buy what you will use or make sure it is suitable for freezing. Be wary of offers for multiple buys on dairy items such as yogurts that can go off quickly. This applies to some salad items such as tomatoes that are already many days old by the time you buy them. Buy loose produce and work out in advance the amount you are going to use during the days between shops. A meal planner can help with that.
Make leftovers into soups and again these can be frozen for later use.
Use a food recycle bin or your own compost heap in the garden.
Change the size of your plate and those of your family. Unless the adults are working at very active jobs then they do not require a pile of carbohydrates on the plate. Moderate the size of the portions according to age. The young and the elderly are more likely to eat healthily if they are given six small to moderate meals a day rather than three large ones.
Make sure that you store opened jars, oils, packets of cereals and bread efficiently so that they last longer. This is particularly true in the summer.
For the next month keep a record of what you are throwing out and make a note to buy less of that item next time.
Check the reduced meats and other fresh produce for bargains. You can freeze the meat, fish and poultry and use later and you can cook the vegetables and freeze too.
Sell by dates are a guideline, and whilst I do not suggest that you eat food that has gone off; a day or two is not going to be drastic. Use your nose and that is usually a good indicator of freshness.
This is just two areas where 'retail therapy' not only impacts our pockets but the environment as well. There are many other ways to feel good about yourself and if you feel that you do indulge a little too much in retail… then find a different reward system that keeps the money in your pocket. Perhaps what you save, will pay for that holiday in the sunshine once a year or go towards a car or major purchase. Certainly having the money in your pocket rather than the retailer's account, (not to mention the government that take their percentage of everything you buy in the form of VAT or sales tax), is really rather satisfying.
If you are a regular to the blog you will have seen posts from our resident cookery and food expert Carol Taylor. Carol has a war ongoing on waste and also shares conservation efforts.
One of our most important buying decisions in the present and future is to stop purchasing items made of plastic, and using single use plastic bags. Our oceans are piled up with this stuff that is not biodegradable and will out live not just us but our planet if not dealt with.
Real life is seldom as cut and dried, and certainly less kind when it comes to rejection. This is why you have to boost your mental immune system, the one that keeps depression, despair, low self-esteem and unhappiness at bay. We are bombarded with messages about boosting our physical immune system, by eating our five a day and by avoiding antibiotics, but if you look at the headlines in the magazines and newspapers, you would be forgiven in thinking there was a conspiracy to make you emotionally and mentally deficient.
Because being made to feel that we are not slim enough, beautiful enough, rich enough, cool enough is a form of rejection. It puts us outside a relatively small segment of our society who are considered to be the 'It' people.
Most of us bounce back eventually from most of life's rejections because they happen to everyone at some point. We learn hopefully that often rejection is followed by something better at least for us.. As they say.. one door closes and another door opens!
But what about the rejections that make a much deeper impact on us at the time or throughout our lives. The rejections that can often take place before we are born resulting in a decision that leaves a child always wondering what they did wrong!
One of the first rejections a child has to face is one that cannot be prepared for and which can effect you for the rest of your life.
The one form of acceptance we should all have a right to expect is that our birth mother is not going to reject us. Unfortunately, not every birth is planned or welcomed especially if the mother is very young or in desperate circumstances. This leads to babies being put up for adoption into families who are ready and prepared for the responsibility of parenthood. Believe it or not, adoptions for that reason are way down on where they were in the 1970s and 1980s, when there was little family planning advice or available contraceptives such as the pill.
If a young woman became pregnant up until fairly recently, it was considered shameful. Many were sent off to maternity homes where their babies were taken from them immediately as the only option open to them if they wished to remain part of society. I can remember at 16 being told in no uncertain terms, that if I became pregnant, I would be shown the door and left to my own devices.. Best contraceptive known to man.
Today there are a number of options available to someone who finds themselves pregnant and in most of our western countries, a welfare state to support the mother.
However, it takes two to conceive, but if the man is not willing to accept responsibility, he is the first to reject the child even before it is born. I have very strong feelings about this, as I believe that even if a couple are not together, the father should bear some of the burden of caring for the baby. It should not be a case of sow your seed and scatter!
Of course there are occasions when the mother may be uncertain of the identity of the father and that is extremely sad.
Although newborn adoption rates are way down, the number of children taken into foster care is increasing. The sad fact is that not every mother and father, single or otherwise, is prepared or able to bring up a child or children. Whilst the majority of children in the state's care have been removed from a parent for one reason or another, their time within the system is still a form of rejection. By a society who feels that they are not worthy of adopting, mainly because it is newborn and toddlers who are the preferred age group.
"The number of children in care has reached a record high, with 90 young people entering the care system each day, figures show.
Amid ongoing cuts to children's centres and local family support services, the number of looked-after children in England and Wales reached 72,670 in the 12 months to March 2017 – marking the biggest annual surge of children in care in seven years.
And thank goodness for the thousands of wonderful foster parents out there who devote their lives to taking children in and giving them love and a sense of family. Of course there are the occasional negative story about life in a foster family, but in reality they are few and far between. However, a child in foster care often faces a lifetime of doubt and a sense of disconnection from others who grew up with birth parents.
The situation in the United States.
Whilst being in foster care may not be the perfect answer, there are countries where even that basic care is not on offer.
Some countries have far more orphans per capita than others, but each nation contributes to the worldwide total estimated by UNICEF. The estimated number of orphans in the world is 153 million, or almost 11 percent of children in the world. While the reasons and locations vary, these children share common needs that are most often met through donations.
However a child is separated from its mother, there is going to be a sense of rejection and abandonment. There can be acceptance as a child that you are with a loving adoptive family or part of a group in a foster home, but it also brings questions that may never be answered. Who was my mother? Who was my father? What are my origins? Where did I come from? Do I have brothers and sisters? Why did my mother give me up?
In many countries it is now possible for both birth parents and adopted children to petition for details of each other. Many children from the 1960s and 1970s have been reunited successfully, but others have often been rejected for the second time for a number of reasons; leaving the adopted child still without answers about their past and families. Unfortunately, many thousands will never know their birth families and live with doubts and a sense of rejection all their lives. In the last few years with DNA testing sites opening the door to finding familial matches for genealogy purposes, the job of finding long lost relatives has become more of a reality.
Another reason that children are abandoned is because they are disabled and in China for example, this is now the primary reason for a child to end up in the care system. Finding adoptive parents under these circumstances is even more challenging and many countries are not equipped to deal with long-term care of children who have to remain in the system. This leads to appalling conditions and very high mortality rates.
There have been some amazing stories recently about school children working together to support disabled classmates, especially during sporting events. These are terrific to hear about, but generally a disabled child is likely to feel outside of the group both in the classroom and playground. I produced a documentary for a Cerebral Palsy unit and visited schools where some of the centre's children attended. The saddest thing that I saw was a ten year old boy watching from the sidelines as all his classmates played football. Not an intentional rejection but just young children being children and getting on with their lives.
Most women develop into being great mothers but some do not. Even those who plan on having a child, realise once they are mothers, that it is simply not in their make-up and behave appallingly as they resent the 24/7 job they have taken on. This is particularly so for single mothers who have made the decision to bring up their child by themselves without a strong support system in place. A young woman who finds herself isolated and with little chance of realising her expectations, and little assistance to do so. Resentment is the bedfellow of regret.
Even if a child is part of a family group they can still face rejection as they fall short of their parent's expectations, and that rejection is very painful. It manifests itself in many ways both verbally and sometimes physically. That can undermine and determine a child's future just as surely as if they had been dumped on the doorstep of an orphanage. In some respects even though it is not ideal, a child who is adopted is going to parents who actually want a child and accept the responsibility and give that child a loving home. There are millions of children who live with their birth families and never know that kind of security.
So there are some examples of rejection where a child has very little choice about the matter.
The use of the a very important word in our vocabulary growing up.
When I was growing up I was accustomed to the word NO from a very early age. I learnt that there were certain things that I couldn't do, say or attempt because they were either too dangerous or beyond my abilities. I was not always happy about this and it was not unknown for me to get into difficulties because I did not believe that NO meant NO. I would often find a work around that obtained the same objective. At age seven, it nearly cost me my life as I nearly drowned having defied my mother about playing on seaweed covered rocks. A good lesson that tempered my rebellious spirit somewhat.
A child pushes boundaries and it is a natural instinct. Children need to understand their limitations at a very early age otherwise it can be dangerous for them and for others. No to sticking their fingers into electric sockets, touching hot liquids, not running into the road and it would seem an endless list of life threatening hazards.
Our family were not known for throwing around compliments, and back in the 1960s and 1970s there was not the money for lots of toys and to buy the latest fashions. Most clothes were home made and I also benefited from having two older sisters. I went out to work part-time at 14 and from that time on I was responsible for buying my own clothes and paying for my recreation. But at that time, apart from envying Lulu and Twiggy their freedom to wear mini-skirts, there was little in the way of advertising on television or even in the magazines; so we were simply not exposed to the media in the same way. Consequently our expectations about our future were much simpler and usually attainable.
Today it is very different and it is a nightmare for parents who have children who are bombarded daily with messages about the latest phones, sneakers, music, video games and other must haves. It must be very difficult to keep saying NO when it would seem that proving your love for a child comes with a price tag. If a child keeps getting what it wants without too much effort except a little emotional blackmail and nagging it becomes embedded in their nature.
Get into their teens and there is an expectation that they can have everything they want. They watch the reality shows like the X-Factor and see kids of their own age getting the attention and possible fast track to fame, and they expect that short-cut as well. YES is the word that they want to hear and because they do not understand the concept of NO.. they are totally unprepared for the rejection that happens to us all.
You only have to listen to a seventeen year old who is in tears because they have been rejected by the judges and worse still by the public… 'I've wanted this all my life, I don't know what I am going to do now.' You only have to read about the twenty-five year olds who did get through, who are now burnt out and finding it impossible to deal with their moment of fame that is now fading.
Building a robust emotional and mental immune system.
To build a strong physical immune system we have to be exposed to the world and its grime and germs from an early age. Nature intended that we would scrape our knees and get dirt in the wound, get stung by a bee, catch a cold and be exposed to pollen and other allergens. Germs lived liberally on the surfaces in the kitchen and in the bathroom and as we grew, our developing immune system would learn how to fight off the less dangerous varieties so that we could battle the fatal ones such as measles.
Today we have a spray cleaner that can eradicate up to 99% of all known germs…many children do not even have access to an outside environment, where they can damage themselves a little to teach their body how to fight serious disease.
And in today's world of materialism and media advertising, combined with peer pressure, it is very hard to build a strong and resilient mental and emotional immunity.
We are encouraged to tell our children how beautiful they are, how talented and how they can have anything they want in the world. It is only since the increase in the reality shows such as X-Factor, The Voice, Pop Idol and such, that we get to see, not just those that actually have talent, but those who have been told they have it and don't.
Which is more damaging? To tell a child that they are a great singer repeatedly and then to have those expectations dashed so publicly on live television.. And let's be honest; who has not laughed at the selection of no-hopers paraded before us during the auditions as 'entertainment' value. For a young person that initial humiliation is compounded when the episode is aired. You would have to be very thick skinned to face your school or work mates the next day.
Of course many children do have a natural talent such as singing, dancing, art, but it rarely develops into a career without dedicated training and endless practice. An overnight success is a rare phenomenon and most successful artists have spent years honing their talent. Usually they have had supportive parents or mentors who have ensured that they have the opportunity to develop a skill or talent. It is a tough road for a child without this level of intervention.
But what about preparing children for life's realities?
The truth that they will fall in and out of love and that is going to hurt. They will be turned down for the school football team or fail to get the part in the school play. They might not get A + on all their exams despite doing the best that they can. The fact is that some of us are not academically minded, however clever our parents tell us we are. And we are not told that being great at working with our hands is actually brilliant, or that all of us have strengths that can be developed so that our weaknesses are not as apparent.
I know that there are many of you reading this who have great kids who are well adjusted and who understand that life is not always fair. Kids who understand that overnight success is very rare and that most genuine and successful artists, business people, doctors and other professionals have studied and worked very hard to get to that point. Including facing numerous rejections on the way.
But, as I read yet more headlines on the role models that millions of kids follow, I am not surprised that those children and young adults have such a confused expectation of life. They see families such as the Kardashians who do nothing for their wealth and fame except show up and behave badly for the cameras. Most kids do not see that these so called perfect bodies and faces have been 'enhanced' by surgery and therefore unattainable for the majority of us. They also do not comprehend the price to be paid for that fame, in the form of rejection by much of society, and a breakdown of their relationships that are under such intense media scrutiny.
It is not all down to their parents not preparing them for rejection, nor the media which forces its way into our homes 24/7. Our current education system is also compounding the problem by treating every child as a future academic. Grooming them to apply and be accepted by colleges that have been re-titled 'Universities' to take degrees in subjects that will never provide them with a job in the real world.
I have interviewed hundreds of applicants during my career in industry, at all entry levels, and in the last forty years there has been an epidemic of young people who might be clever enough to take a degree, but have little to offer in the workplace. Many assume that a degree qualifies them to enter an organisation in a mid-level position in a managerial role that actually requires a completely different set of vital skills.
It is actually summed up in the following article.
According to an article in The Daily Telegraph, a third of working graduates took jobs as cleaners, office juniors and road sweepers six months after leaving university!
That is thousands of young people that have been sold a false and potentially devastating expectation.
To me this is one of the most calculated and deplorable forms of rejection that is perpetrated over an extended period from the age of four when a child enters school and then for the next twenty years depending on secondary education and further education attendance. All children deserve the opportunity to do well and learn, but if they do not fit into the rigid limits of the state designated curriculum, then they are not offered viable opportunities to thrive and go onto be able to find work they can excel at.
For those graduates who are in sectors that actually require a degree such as the law, medicine, engineering and other sciences there is still the uncertainty of finding employment within those sectors, but if they are lucky, they will find entry level positions that pay in the region of £30,000. After three years that is likely to increase to an average of £35,000 depending on their specialisation or increased demand for their services.
But a degree is not the only way to achieve a fulfilling and successful career. A qualified plumber after his apprenticeship can expect a salary of £35,000 a year and that can increase dependent on specialised skills and increasing demand for their services.
There are some essential trades that are crying out for young people to train for. But where are the apprenticeships such as the one my father completed 80 years ago that led to a highly successful career in the Royal Navy? Where are the trade schools and technical colleges such as the one I attended to get my diploma and enabled me to walk into a good job and progress up the ladder to senior management?
What we have done is set thousands of young people up for rejection as they flood the market with qualifications that will never get them jobs they have been led to expect would be waiting for them. Not only that, the average student will leave university with a student loan to be repaid, and thousands of pounds in debt.
This chapter is about rejection and as I have already stated, there is no getting away from it any age. Those of us who have spent years having our expectations challenged, occasionally met and sometimes exceeded, can roll with the punches.
My concern for the future is that we are doing our young a great disservice. We are failing to provide them with the life skills they need to be self-sufficient and responsible, not just for their own futures but of the families they will have one day. Whilst we are focused on getting students through to higher education we are leaving a trail of rejected young people who are not being given the necessary education in the basic skills that might get them into work. They face repeated rejections when they do attempt to find work and then find themselves rejected by society when they are reliant on welfare.
Of course there is an argument that there are manual labour jobs that anyone can do. But, is that really true? You still have to get through the interview process and anyone who applies who has the basic ability to read and write, is going to get the job ahead of someone who is functionally illiterate. Because there are still forms to complete and possibly written elements to the interview and required in the position. How many applicants who cannot read or write are going to be brave enough to apply when it may identify this basic lack of education?
There needs to be a concentrated focus on reading and writing in the early years at primary school. A child at that age has a brain like a sponge and can absorb huge amounts of information. We need more dedicated teachers and smaller classes and money spent on education that is now spent in areas such as defense and in some cases overseas aid. Charity begins at home and 7.2 million people leaving the school system without basic literacy qualifies in my book. Incidentally the figure quoted when I first posted this series was 5.6million. An increase in 1.6 million functionally illiterate adults in a country the size of the UK has to be setting off alarms…SURELY.
Apart from being able to read and write some of the courses at school that I consider to be essential are rarely on the curriculum. One of these is domestic science and when I left school 47 years ago, I knew how to prepare three square meals a day and a basic knowledge of nutrition. Something that both girls and boys would benefit from as they head out into the world. Perhaps the fast food industry would veto a return to this as part of a child's education!
In my opinion…selected 'universities' should be reverted back to technical colleges, and they should be offering a wide range of courses for girls and boys that provide diplomas for essential jobs. Certain degrees such as nursing should also revert back to a diploma to encourage those with lower level entry requirements to enter what is a brilliant career. A degree can always be studied for if a nurse wishes to advance to a higher grade.
We need to give those kids who have been rejected, because of a lack of academic skills, their chance to make a mark in life and become productive citizens of the future.
Finally on the subject of rejection. Not only are we on the receiving end of rejection but we also hand it out, often thoughtlessly.
Letting down someone gently is not always possible depending on the circumstances but wherever possible a rejection should be honest and couched in terms that leaves the recipient with some dignity and a way to move forward.
And if you are rejected.. What have you learned? …. What are the positive things you will take from the experience? What changes do you need to make to your behaviour or skills to reduce the chances of being rejected next time? Because there will be a next time.. and a next time until you succeed.


Do the MATH: 8 individual Christmas books at $10 a book...you get ALL 8 stories plus an extra story for just $34.99. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this deal!!
I love Christmas. My Christmas roots run deep into a happy childhood filled with memories of decorated pine trees, warm nights of candlelight, and the miracle of Christmas morning.
Now I have a family of my own, and Christmas has become even more precious as I experience t with those I love the most.
The real story of Christmas is filled with wonder and awe. The enchantment of that single event reverberates throughout the universe two thousand years later, causing us to decorate our homes, light candles, sing songs, exchange gifts, and tell the story…over and over again.
As the father of eight children, I wanted stories that took longer than ten minutes to read, didn't confuse the truth with a tale, and above all, pointed to the Savior.
I couldn't find any, so I wrote my own.
My hope is that it will give you hours of snuggling time and Christmas enchantment, while pointing your children and grandchildren to the manger.
Click the button below to add the The Familyman's Christmas Treasury to your wish list.


Hi, my name is Natalia. I am 21 years old and I am a student in Poznan, Poland. I am studying in international relations faculty right now. I would like to know better american culture, places and people. I am a really nice, calm, happy person and I really like take care of children or animals also.
I would like to be an Au Pair abroad because I would like to work abroad in the future. I like to experience new cultures, places, languages. In the past I was looking after children. They were my aunt's children and I cared for them when she was leaving for a while.


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Home › The Goods › Flint
The Goods — Flint
Carl & Alexis of Goodfit Kitchen: Health Is Wealth | The GOODS
Flint, Michigan natives Carl Johnson Jr. and his wife Alexis are making people's lives easier and healthier with Goodfit Kitchen, a meal prep delivery service that promotes health and wellness. The company's name was inspired by the couple's motto of only wanting to align with things that are a good fit.
TaWanna Anderson: Dare To Do It Scared | The GOODS
Mental health advocate TaWanna Anderson has been doing her part in the mental health field for several years, and in turn, is changing the way we look at mental wellness. The Flint native and mother of two was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2016.
Tierra J. Anthony: Creating Her Own Culture | The GOODS
Tierra J. Anthony is a mother, wife and boss who has found success on YouTube by consistently showcasing her many talents and keeping it real with her viewers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Demonstrates the penetration depth of different wavelength.
The teacher holds laser pointer onto his finger in clear view of students and "shoots" different wavelengths through.
Which one can students still see on the other side of the finger?
Demonstrates how a light sheet illuminates a sample.


Sac Area Median Prices Up More Than 25%? What?!? | Sacramento Real Estate Video Blog with Forth Hoyt Sacramento Real Estate Video Blog with Forth Hoyt: Sac Area Median Prices Up More Than 25%? What?!?
Sac Area Median Prices Up More Than 25%? What?!?
After talking with a client, I was researching some information online. I found this website and no wonder her was confused... I came across this article claiming that Sacramento median home prices have been rising across the board. It talks about the number of sales and the large gains in median sale price.
Much of the reason that median home prices have risen is because more larger homes are selling, and this is increasing the average sales price. In areas where the median price has gone down, that means that more small homes are selling and less big homes are selling.
This doesn't mean that your home is worth a lot more or a lot less money right now. Your home could be worth less than it was last year, but the median price in your area could still be rising. All of this data is rather misleading, so this just goes to show that you cannot take everything you hear for granted.
If you want accurate real estate information, then I recommend that you ask me instead of believing everything you see online. Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions!


Athlete. Student. Mom. Engineer. Administrator. Breast Cancer Survivor. Friend. Problem-Solver. CSU, Chico Provost for Academic Affairs Deb Larson carries these identities with her, and explores the assumptions that are made about us based upon the traits and roles with which we identify ourselves, and the ramifications that these assumptions can bring with them.
Dr. Larson shares how others' assumptions affected her at critical times in her life and development, and how she reacted then and now. Though others' perceptions and assumptions about Dr. Larson affected her childhood, her education, and her career, the message that she gives to her audience is clear: Be cognizant of others' assumptions, but do not let them stand in your way. Focus your energy on living your true life and pursuing your true, authentic self.


Ensuring members' funds are invested responsibly is a concern for the trustee's directors, as it is for many members. This section details our approach as we navigate this important but complex issue. It also brings together a range of discussion documents and news items on responsible investment from around the world.
In this Q&A, Noah Schiltknecht, Director of NZ Institutional at Russell Investments, our investment manager, looks at the trends and challenges associated with responsible investing and explains how Russell Investments incorporates responsible investing into its processes and practices.
Our investment manager Russell Investment's has a long-term strategy to address environmental, social and governance issues. "We believe that responsible investing and performance can be complementary. Our responsible investment solutions aim to capture the right exposure without jeopardising return." This document sets out Russell Investments' approach to responsible investing.
Being an active owner is central to Russell Investments' commitment to responsible investing. Its active ownership activities aim "to promote changes that protect and enhance shareholder value and shareholder rights". The company's approach to active ownership incorporates proxy voting, corporate engagement and participating in groups dedicated to environmental, social and governance issues. The company reports annually on these activities which support its commitment to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment and other stewardship codes.
Since 2017, our portfolio has excluded investments in companies that manufacture tobacco products or nuclear weapons. This followed a decision by our investment manager, Russell Investments, to exclude these types of investments from its global fixed interest (bonds) and equities (shares) portfolios. These portfolios account for around two-thirds of UniSaver's assets, but it effectively means tobacco and nuclear weapons investments are excluded from the entire exposure. The exclusion, for example, doesn't extend to Australasian shares, which are managed by third-party managers. However, there are no tobacco companies or nuclear weapons manufacturers listed in New Zealand or Australia, so this isn't an issue. The two exclusions were in addition to the existing exclusions relating to companies producing anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions.
The links and articles posted here are intended to canvas international discussion on issues concerning responsible investment. This content does not necessarily reflect the views of the trustee or individual directors of UniSaver Limited.
The trustee's investment beliefs constitute the investment philosophy of the scheme and guide the investment of UniSaver's assets. One of these beliefs is that responsible investment can reduce risk and impact returns positively.
Our policy includes not investing in companies involved in the manufacture of cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines, nuclear explosive devices and tobacco.
We require our investment manager Russell Investments to abide by the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) when making investment decisions on behalf of UniSaver.
Russell Investments was one of only 20% of firms to receive the highest possible overall score of A+ from the UNPRI.


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Q: Visual Studio 2010 x64 __setReg Equivalent Compiler Intrinsic I have an application I have written in C where I really need to modify the value of one of the processor registers before calling a function. Normally I would do this with inline assembly, but as we all know that has been removed for 64 bit applications. I also cannot do this in a separate .asm file that is compiled with ml64 due to certain project constraints. So basically I need to execute the equivalent of the following code inline:
_asm mov r10d, 0xDEADBEEF

Does anyone know of a creative method or some other compiler intrinsic for x64 that will allow you to modify the value of a register inline?

A: Unfortunately, after looking at possible workarounds, it seems that Hans was right and it's simply not possible to modify the contents of a register inline. There is no compiler intrinsic that exists to do it and the only alternative is to either write the entire function in 64 bit assembly as a separate .asm file and compile it with ml64, or do as Alexey suggested and allocate an executable block of memory before hand and write the opcodes to it. You can then create a function pointer and just call this code directly. So for example, if I wanted to do the equivalent of:
mov r10d, ecx
ret

Just create an array to store the opcodes:
BYTE copyValueToR10[] = "\x44\x8B\xD1\xC3";

You can then VirtualAlloc memory for this tiny function with PAGE_EXECUTE protection. Next just create a function pointer and you're good to go. Definitely a dirty way to do it, but given the constraints of not having inline asm or wanting to compile using ml64, this seems to be the only other way to do it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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MILITARY PLANS FOR TERROR STRIKE
Bradley Graham The Washington PostSOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL
The U.S. military has devised its first-ever war plans for guarding against and responding to terrorist attacks in the United States, envisioning 15 potential crisis scenarios and anticipating several simultaneous strikes around the country, according to officers who drafted the plans.
The classified plans, developed here at Northern Command headquarters, outline a variety of possible roles for quick-reaction forces estimated at as many as 3,000 ground troops per attack, a number that could easily grow depending on the extent of the damage and the abilities of civilian response teams.
The possible scenarios range from "low end," relatively modest crowd-control missions to "high-end," full-scale disaster management after catastrophic attacks such as the release of a deadly biological agent or the explosion of a radiological device, several officers said.
Some of the worst-case scenarios involve three attacks at the same time, in keeping with a Pentagon directive earlier this year ordering Northcom, as the command is called, to plan for multiple simultaneous attacks.
The war plans represent a historic shift for the Pentagon, which has been reluctant to become involved in domestic operations and is legally constrained from engaging in law enforcement. Indeed, defense officials continue to stress that they intend for the troops to play largely a supporting role in homeland emergencies, bolstering police, firefighters and other civilian response groups.
But the new plans provide for what several senior officers acknowledged is the likelihood that the military will have to take charge in some situations, especially when dealing with mass-casualty attacks that could quickly overwhelm civilian resources.
"In my estimation, [in the event of] a biological, a chemical or nuclear attack in any of the 50 states, the Department of Defense is best positioned, of the various eight federal agencies that would be involved, to take the lead," said Adm. Timothy J. Keating, the head of Northcom, which coordinates military involvement in homeland security operations.
The plans present the Pentagon with a clearer idea of the kinds and numbers of troops and the training that might be required to build a more credible homeland defense force. They come at a time when senior Pentagon officials are engaged in an internal, yearlong review of force levels and weapons systems, attempting to balance the heightened requirements of homeland defense against the heavy demands of overseas deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Keating expressed confidence that existing military assets are sufficient to meet homeland security needs. Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe, Northcom's chief operations officer, agreed, but he added that "stress points" in some military capabilities probably would result if troops were called on to deal with multiple homeland attacks.
The command's plans consist of two main documents. One, designated CONPLAN 2002 and consisting of more than 1,000 pages, is said to be a sort of umbrella document that draws together previously issued orders for homeland missions and covers air, sea and land operations. It addresses not only post-attack responses but also prevention and deterrence actions aimed at intercepting threats before they reach the United States.
The other, identified as CONPLAN 0500, deals specifically with managing the consequences of attacks represented by the 15 scenarios.
CONPLAN 2002 has passed a review by the Pentagon's Joint Staff and is due to go soon to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and top aides for further study. CONPLAN 0500 is undergoing final drafting here. (CONPLAN stands for "concept plan" and tends to be an abbreviated version of an OPLAN, or "operations plan," which specifies forces and timelines for movement into a combat zone.)


Est. 1969, delivering heating oil for domestic users throughout Westbury & surrounding areas. We can do next day delivery & competitive oil prices. Domestic & commercial skip hire within a 25 mile radius of Warminster.


Former Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Bato Dela Rosa has asked forgiveness from Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona of the Archdiocese of Caceres in Naga City, for the lives lost as a result of the government's war against illegal drugs.
"Bishop, ako po ay humihingi ng tawad sa lahat ng mga namatay sa aming war on drugs (Bishop, I am asking for forgiveness for all those killed in our war against drugs), Dela Rosa said during a roundtable interview with reporters recently at the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City.
He admitted that it was during his administration at the PNP when most of the deaths happened.
"It's within my conscience. Though I did not kill them personally, it happened during my watch. "Ako po ay maka Diyos na tao kaya humihingi ako ng tawad, kasama na diyan pati mga pulis ko na namatay sa war on drugs (I'm a God-fearing person and I'm asking forgiveness, including my men who were killed in the line of duty)," Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said he believes Archbishop Tirona will pardon him.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said he would be pushing for three important bills should he be given the chance to become senator.
Dela Rosa said the Philippines continues to be an illegal drugs destination because the country does not impose tough penalties on drug traffickers unlike neighboring countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
He said he decided to foray into politics to help President Rodrigo Duterte accomplish his mission of removing corruption in government and continue the war against drugs.
The former PNP chief was the guest of honor and speaker at the "Public Awareness on the Government's Campaign against Illegal Drugs" symposium held at the Naga College Foundation.


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You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / ALS Association of Iowa offers family asisstance
ALS Association of Iowa offers family asisstance
April 3, 2017 By Matt Kelley
Iowans who are fighting ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, can get some help for themselves and their family members through an effort being launched by the ALS Association's Iowa Chapter.
Spokeswoman Sarah Loghrysays the Volunteer Family Assistance Program pairs volunteers from all over the state with families affected by ALS — and more volunteers are needed.
"We need people who would be willing to do yard work, people who would be willing to cook, do grocery shopping, clean houses, walk dogs, water plants," Loghry says, "anything anyone is willing to help out with, we are looking for volunteers." Those with ALS generally live only two to five years after diagnosis. It's a progressive disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement. ALS robs you of your ability to walk, to talk, to eat, and ultimately to breathe.
"Being a caregiver is a fulltime job," Loghry says. "You have to eventually do everything for this person and it really drains the energy out of anyone who is taking care of someone with ALS. Volunteers come in and they can basically help out even in the smallest ways, just to give those caregivers and family members a little break." Some volunteers have lost a friend or family member to the disease and they see participation in the program as a way of honoring that person they've lost.
"We also have a lot of people who are retired who are just looking to help out in the community and they contact us to get connected with our volunteer program," Loghry says. "Anyone who's looking to volunteer, or has free time in the mornings or in the evenings, anyone who wants to volunteer can." Each volunteer will go through an interview, reference and background check before working with a family in their area.
To learn more, visit: www.alsaiowa.org
Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News


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Fer-de-Lance
by vetswriting on 04 Jan 18
by Elizabeth Hawes Unangst
"Forget it," the big man said, chuckling. "Out of the question. Far too dangerous for my clumsy little wife. You're not exactly athletically inclined, you know, babe." He gestured beyond the villa's veranda to the lush green terraces sweeping down to the ocean below. "Besides, silly girl, why would you want to leave this gorgeous view?" Without waiting for an answer, he laughed, kissed her on the nose, slapped her on the bottom, shouldered his clubs, and left, calling, "Wish me luck on the links, babe!" as he went.
She waited until the gate in the fence clicked shut and the sound of his spikes crunching on the oyster-shell path had died away before letting out her breath in a long sigh, then tossed the brochure for the jungle zipline tour into the pool and watched it sink.
It had been fun once, she remembered; it used to be exciting to be cosseted and cared for, to have her wine and meals ordered for her, to have Mark go shopping with her to critique and choose all of the beautiful clothes she wore, to let Mark take charge of every aspect of their lives. But now….
Oh, she had tried golf, years ago, but Mark had grown impatient with her. "You'd like it if you just tried," he would grumble as she stood, often in tears, after the front nine. And then he would leave her in the clubhouse and finish the back nine alone. Eventually, she stopped trying.
Skiing hadn't gone well, either. Mark had insisted she forgo the bunny slopes—"I came to ski, babe, not just mess around!"—so for two days she scraped precariously down the resort's steepest trails, paralyzed with fear, while Mark shouted instructions at her. Then, too, she had given up in tears and retreated to the spa for the remainder of the vacation. At least Mark didn't seem to notice her absence on the slopes, as long as she was dressed and ready to meet him for drinks and dinner when he was finished.
She slipped into the villa's little pool and began to swim. She had taken to swimming laps at home, too, while she waited for Mark to return from his day ("You want a job?" he had said, incredulous, when she'd brought up the idea shortly after they were married; he'd added, laughing, "Who'd hire a sexy blonde like you, anyway? You'd be a distraction in the workplace."). Babies, too, were out of the question: "We just don't have room in our life," was a favorite answer of his, usually followed by, "Besides, you don't want to lose that gorgeous figure of yours, do you, babe?" She swam on. Like an animal pacing in a cage, she thought, as the silvery lengths added up until she was tired enough to nap.
When the phone call came, it was not the one she expected ("Sweetie, why don't you put on that cute little dress I bought you and join me and the foursome for lunch?"); instead, it was the agitated voice of Alphonse, the concierge: "Madame, an accident…a terrible snakebite, a fer-de-lance hidden in the bushes near his ball…I will come for you."
Minutes later she was clinging to Alphonse's white-suited back as his scooter sped down from the old coffee-plantation-turned-resort to the port hospital at the bottom of the mountain. This was the first time during their vacation that she had left their villa, she realized.
"Doctor is stabilizing him," the clinic nurse had told her. "You cannot see him just yet. You wait."
The tiny waiting room in the stucco building was filled with coughing sick people, so she stumbled out into the blinding sunshine and damp salt heat and started to walk. She numbly picked her way among the flowered alleys toward the little harbor and came out in a fragrant fruit-filled market bustling with activity. She saw a group of giggling uniformed schoolgirls at a stall buying some kind of fried dumpling and discovered she was ravenous. Using her high-school French, she managed to order two of the pastries and sat to eat them at one of benches under the jacarandas in the square.
She didn't know how long she sat, but when the church bell in the square began to toll the hour she jumped up, hurriedly brushing the crumbs from her dress—Mark didn't approve of fried foods—and retraced her steps to the hospital.
She found the doctor, a stately man in a white coat with kind, tired eyes who told her, "Madame, we have done all we could, but his condition is grave. He is beyond the capabilities of our small clinic. Moving him would be very risky, indeed, but if he is to have any hope of recovery, you must take him to the mainland." Seeing the shock on her face, he rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "If he stays here, Madame, he will die: the mainland is his only chance." He turned to go. "I will let you speak with him alone, but only for a moment."
She looked at Mark, his ruddy features now grey and still. He seemed somehow much smaller under the bed's single sheet. She looked beyond Mark through the fuchsia-framed window and to the creaming blue sea beyond. She could smell the island itself on the breeze that stirred the curtains—salt and sun and sand, the fried and fruity smells of the marketplace, and behind it all a faint dark whiff of the damp jungle in the mountains above them. She thought about the zipline tour again, and pictured herself floating freely through the jungle, high above everyone else, deep in a world of green with only the shrill tropical birds and monkeys for company.
She bent her head to the unconscious man's ear. "Mark," she said, patting the swollen and already blackening hand, "Mark, don't you worry, babe. I know exactly what to do."
Elizabeth "Bitsy" Hawes Unangst is a former officer in the United States Navy. She served five and a half years in the aviation and intelligence communities. Prior to her service, she was a professor of history and English, and she served for fifteen months as a civilian instructor aboard U. S. naval vessels. She has degrees from Centre College and the College of William and Mary; her work has been published in O-Dark-Thirty and Proceedings.
← In the Shadow of Two Mountains
Twenty-two a Day →


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Psilomerus rufescens är en skalbaggsart som beskrevs av Dauber 2006. Psilomerus rufescens ingår i släktet Psilomerus och familjen långhorningar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Långhorningar
rufescens

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This paper re-frames virtual interactive characters as "subjective interfaces" with the purpose of highlighting original affordances for interactive storytelling through conversation. This notion is theoretically unpacked in the perspectives of narratology, interaction design and game design. Existing and imagined scenarios are presented in which subjective interfaces are elevated as core interaction mechanics. Finally, technical challenges posed by this approach are reviewed alongside relevant existing research leads.


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We don't want you to wait in all day for your delivery so we'll make sure you can see where you are in our driver's schedule and we'll let you know when we're just 30 minutes away.
If you're going to be out and you have a safe place where we can leave your parcels then why not set it up on our app? Just upload your safe place picture and we'll follow your instructions every time.
It's not often you get a second chance but with our app, if we missed you first time, we'll try to come back again, if we can see you're in*.
If you've got children then we can avoid delivering to you during the school run.
When you download our app, be sure to sync your wearable device so you can be even closer to your DPD Local deliveries.


Claudia is passionately committed to the development of human potential. Since she studied Psychology at University of Barcelona, she has been working to improve the wellbeing of her clients holistically through mind, body and heart.
After finishing her degree, she studied chiro-massage therapy following her grandmother's footsteps, who is a massage therapist and an acupuncturist, and strongly influenced Claudia. When she was a teenager, she received massage and acupuncture treatment from her grandmother. Therefore, she became aware of the importance of using the hands to massage and of conveying the energy of the therapist to contribute to the health and well-being of people.
Claudia, in her ongoing pursuit of human potential, became a certified professional co-active coach by the Coaches Training Institute. The powerful issue of this model is to be co-active with people in their lives, balancing between who they are and what they are doing.
She is firmly convinced that life is about changing, trying and failing, and fulfilling your dreams. She has been consistent with that, living for a period of her life in South America and now in Australia, constantly aiming for her professional development and getting to know different cultures.
Claudia believes that the heart and soul, i.e., the effectiveness as a massage therapist and life coach, is the relationship between the professional and the client. This bond contributes to their integral health.