While many "diet and exercise programs" would lead you to believe you can, the cold hard truth is no, you can't reduce belly fat by doing sit-ups. As noted, doing sit-ups does no good as far as losing belly fat, but they (and their close cousin crunches) are beneficial at strengthening your abdominal core muscles. We know that to lose a pound of weight per week, you have to burn more calories than you consume – 3,500 to be exact. BodybuildingFrom tubs-of-lard to beanpole body types, these bodybuilding articles and workout tips below can help you sculpt your natural gifts to knock-out perfection. CelluliteSome people say that cellulite is nothing more than stored fat and others say it is water retention and toxin accumulation. DumbbellsThere's nothing dumb about using dumbbells and the enclosed free videos and instructions to build muscles and strength, tone your body and drop the weight.
ExerciseExercise tips that are about more than fitness alone; exercise helps your mood, health, stamina, your looks, how you age and your overall quality of life. FitnessImprove your fitness level to keep your body from feeling old and worn out beyond your years by using the following to improve your life for the better. KettlebellsKettlebell workouts using these 21 Kettlebell exercises is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to burn fat and build muscles for both men and women.
NutritionWhen you want to get fit and stay fit, you want to be smart about fitness nutrition from eating right to consuming good fitness nutritional supplements. Weight LossIf you want to lose weight effectively then check out the articles in the weight loss category below to improve your looks, health and your social life. YogaLearn more about Hatha yoga for beginners, Vinyasa yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga and how to get started practicing these life improving techniques. Disclaimer: The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. In 2005, a new technology was discovered that uses Cryolipolysis to destroy fat cells without harming any other cells in the process. Crypolipolysis is the science behind the Coolsculpting equipment that was developed and trademarked by Zeliq Aesthetics. Coolsculpting was specifically designed to target and cool only fat cells underneath the skin such as belly fat – literally freezing them to the point of elimination! If you would like to learn more about the Coolsculpting procedure and determine if it is right for you, please contact the Jasin Facial and Body Rejuvenation Institute in Tampa Fl. The Jasin Institute is a fully accredited medical facility under the direction of Dr.
Naturopathic doctor Serena Goldstein says that coconut oil can, in fact, help reduce belly fat. Kristen Trukova, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, CSO, Clinical Oncology Dietitian at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, agrees.
Medium-chain fats are either metabolized straight away for energy, or directly into the liver, where they're turned into ketone bodies.
Digesting extra-virgin coconut oil takes more energy for the body than digesting many other foods; eating coconut oil, then, forces the body to produce more energy, and energy is produced by burning fat. There are several major types of coconut oil you'll find in stores, so be sure you pick the right kind to reap all of the benefits. Once you're armed with a jar of the unrefined stuff and you're ready to try adding extra-virgin coconut oil to your diet, here are a few of our favorite ways to use it. Coconut oil's slightly sweet flavor makes it a natural topping for oatmeal, and it can even be stirred into your morning coffee as a vegan alternative to bulletproof coffee. Coconut oil is great for cooking as well, as it can withstand temperatures of up to 350 degrees F.
As though the belly fat burning properties (and tasty, tropical flavor) weren't enough, coconut oil actually boasts a few other benefits. The one thing to bear in mind, however: coconut oil, like everything, should be consumed in moderation.
This level of saturated fat means that people watching their cholesterol should consult a doctor before adding coconut oil to their diets. Almonds are from the family of nuts which are very tasty and are the favourites of many people.
Almonds are packed with several nutrients including vitamins, fibre, and minerals, which make it suitable to be titled as one of the healthiest foods in the world.
Almonds are also gluten-free and also contain important minerals like potassium, manganese, calcium, zinc, selenium and iron. Munching on almonds in food breaks can give you a feeling of fullness which keeps various cravings at bay.
According to a research, almonds contain unsaturated fatty acids which are considered as good fat. Keep a packet of roasted almonds in your office or college bag, and eat them whenever you feel a pang of hunger. Add almonds to your breakfast or you can make it an early morning snack, which will keep you going until lunchtime without feeling hungry.
If you are prepared to burn off belly fat and make lifestyle changes that may help you maintain a healthy weight, the belly fat diet plan can help.
Reducing fat in just the abdominal area is touted as spot reducing, but the body does not work that way.
During the good times when food is plentiful, we store fat so we have an excess supply to use as energy during the lean times. We also know there are two ways to have a calorie deficit, working out and eating foods lower in calories (or a combination of both which actually works the best). One, you have to increase your heart rate by performing a warm-up routine so your muscles are getting the maximum amount of oxygen. Your focus should be on eating food low in saturated fat and carbohydrates, but high in fiber and protein. Information or products represented here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. When it comes to extra-virgin coconut oil, claims have been floating around that it has the wonderful ability to reduce belly fat – and wouldn't we all like a magic potion for that?
But before you start slathering everything you eat in the stuff, listen to what she has to say next. One study showed that eating 1-2 tablespoons of extra-virgin coconut oil a day could increase energy expenditure by 5 percent, helping to give your metabolism that extra boost it needs.
Khara Lucius, ND, FABNO, Naturopathic Oncology Provider at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, cites a few studies to this effect, particularly in the case of excema sufferers.
Unsaturated fatty acids like oleic and palmitoleic acids found in almonds help lower bad cholesterol known as LDL and VLDL hence improving the good cholesterol level which is HDL. This helps in controlling the insatiable thirst for junk food and keeps a check on weight gain.
Good fats do not get stored in your body and are very hard to get metabolised and hence stay in your stomach for a longer time which reduces the amount of food you take. They will make it heavy, so that you can eat less, gain more nutrition and still satisfy your hunger. Hemant Gupta is a veteran in Ayurveda bringing over 30 years of expertise in Panchakarma, Marma Therapy, Natural healing, Yoga and more. Two, you have to exercise your body as hard as possible (while monitoring your target heart rate) by doing intense workouts, such as cardio exercises, going on long runs or bicycling a long way. Such broad choices include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, seafood, beans and lean meats to name a few. It can even be used as a lubricant during sexual activity, according to Goldstein, so you may want two jars — one for the kitchen and one for the bedroom. Another important nutrient found in almonds is vitamin E, which protects against sunstroke and heart disease. Almond raita is full of protein and good bacteria, which keeps your digestive system healthy and also helps in weight loss.
Basically, we all have the same amount of fat cells, however the difference between individuals is how much fat is kept in each of their fat cells.
And don't forget to add in some of the good fats – the poly and monounsaturated fats.
Since there is also a proven connection between the accumulation of belly fat and also the morbidity involved with cardiovascular disease, you should really do everything in your power to burn off your central obesity before it might be too much of an irreversible problem.
Our fat cells come with an unlimited ability to keep expanding, therefore the key to getting rid of belly fat is to stop this expansion. You should always do your own due diligence before buying goods or services online or offline.
One of the ways we can do that is by concentrating on the right foods.AsparagusAsparagus is a great source of many essential micronutrients and antioxidants nevertheless its high concentration of folate makes asparagus an especially beneficial food for reducing belly fat. Folate combats insulin resistance, that is a condition in which the body doesn't properly react to the blood sugar lowering effects of insulin.
However, when done right this is one of the most effective exercises that can be used to banish that unsightly belly fat.
Crunches are a good exercise to do because they concentrate on the fat around your waist.Reverse crunchesLie flat on the floor with your hands by your side palms facing the floor.
When insulin is correctly regulated it converts blood sugar into energy rather than fat and also increases the burning of fat that's already kept in the visceral area. YogurtJust one cup encourages the growth of good bacteria in your gut, wasting other bugs that can cause bloating.
Loosen your legs and bring it to your chest.Vertical leg crunchLie flat on the ground with your legs extended upwards and one knee crossed within the other. Oat groats are also gluten-free and well tolerated, meaning they're less likely to cause belly bloat.
Now that you have positioned your body perfectly, perform the same as you would have done the crunches. Soak them overnight, rinse, and blend with water, stevia, along with a little cinnamon for a healthy oatmeal.Extra Virgin Olive OilWhen consumed daily, extra virgin olive oil has been proven to prevent excessive accumulation of visceral fat and encourage weight loss.
Jogging, swimming, walking or other cardio exercises are extremely helpful in achieving this goal. Because of its high concentration of monounsaturated fat, olive oil can help control levels of insulin in the body, thereby reducing visceral belly fat. Simple Exercises to Reduce Belly Fat FastCaptains chairTake a seat on a chair with straight spine. For maximum benefits, simply add 1-2 tablespoons to vegetables or use it during cooking.Brazil NutsBrazil nuts are one of the most convenient belly fat-reducing food sources around.
When they are comprised of sizeable amounts of monounsaturated fat, Brazil nuts will also be incredibly rich in the powerful trace mineral antioxidant selenium. Regularly consuming selenium-rich foods might help reduce belly fat while also protecting against numerous chronic diseases including heart disease and cancer.
Only one ounce of Brazil nuts contains over 700 percent of the daily recommended intake.BarleyUsing a regular dose of barley can decrease the existence of visceral belly fat. It has been shown to significantly lower blood levels of insulin, which helps to inhibit belly fat accumulation and weight gain.
Because of its content of protein, eating tuna can help reduce stored belly fat by increasing the rate where it's mobilized and used for energy. Tuna is also a great source of other key nutrients including healthy fats (omega-3 fatty acids) and vitamin D, which collectively promote bone health and prevent disease.Garbanzo BeansGarbanzo beans (or chickpeas) are an incredibly nutritious, belly-fat fighting food source. Besides the wide array of essential micronutrients and antioxidants they house, chickpeas contain vast amounts of dietary fiber and protein, each of which regulate blood glucose and levels of insulin in a way that beneficially prevents belly fat buildup. Because of high compositions of fiber and protein, eating chickpeas may also greatly increase the sense of fullness within the stomach and reduce overeating, which assists weight management.Foods that Help Reduce Belly FatRed Bell PepperRed bell pepper contains a natural chemical called capsaicin, which has been proven to considerably reduce stored belly fat. Consuming foods rich in capsaicin also causes dramatic spikes in metabolism, which further promotes fat burning and weight loss. To reap the entire benefits of red bell pepper, add it to omelets, salads, soups, stews, chili, and stir-fried preparations.
15.04.2016 at 18:42:49 Over a month & just started full-on you will.
15.04.2016 at 10:30:59 Good - to me, it is an EASY food cream, due.


I am always looking at nature, looking for that glimpse, the one that makes the heart flutter, the one that lets you see the world differently, like seeing the dark cool wet greens of growth that smell of decay and nourishment at the same time, or seeing a reflection of a tree that dives deeper than the shallow pool will ever know. It is this paradox that attracts me. I like my paintings to be individual but respectful of the original image, like the moment itself, a portrait of that subject whether a tree, a ski hill or a barn. The subject carries in it the lifetime it has possessed, its own history. The composition reveals its relationships. The light and texture place it in time.
I feel each brush stroke should have its place and, whether small or large, it should be equally important to the final outcome. The space left between the brush strokes gives it energy and keeps it from becoming just an illusion of reality. Like music or mathematics the painting must gain a life of its own.
After graduating with honours from the Vancouver School of Art, Laurie lectured at the school now known as Emily Carr University and went on to teach at the Banff Centre and for the Federation of Canadian Artists. She participated in several museum exhibitions, and has shown widely in Canada and the US both in group and solo exhibitions. Recently, with the Canadian Art Collective, Laurie exhibited in New York City and at the Boston International Fine Art Show in Boston. The American Art Collector magazine highlighted Laurie in their "Art Lover's Guide to Collecting Fine Art in Canada" October 2012.


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De Oude roldersklacht is een cantuslied. Het wordt gezongen tijdens het laatste, stille gedeelte. Meestal is dit zelfs het allerlaatste lied op de cantus. Dit lied wordt door iedereen ingetogen meegezongen en iedereen gaat rechtstaan wanneer het zijn beurt is, zoals aangegeven in de tekst.
Volgens de codex dient het refrein slecht eenmaal gezongen te worden, bij de meeste clubs is het echter de gewoonte om het tweemaal te zingen.
Dit lied is een Nederlandse bewerking van het Duitse "O, alte Burschenherrlichkeit".

Studentenlied

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


On Mind, Body, Heart and Soul today, Christine Heart Savage interviews George Seraphim, author of "The Truth". A deep, philosophical book packed with spiritual knowledge and wisdom. The Truth has a point of difference, it is written in old biblical language. This book is interesting and thought-provoking book. Join us at 11.00am.


I explained that for most people, most of the time, the value of X is unknown. The important thing to keep in mind is that whatever its value may be, it is finite.
Living with this formula in mind might sound depressing, but the Stoics knew that doing so could prevent them from wasting the time they have left to them. Should you spend today having a stupid argument with a co-worker or relative? If you keep in mind that your days are numbered, you will realize that doing so would be a waste of a precious resource.
The activity in question might be something trivial, like playing hopscotch. I suspect that my X-value for this activity is 0. The activity might also be something poetical, like catching a snowflake on your tongue; something unpleasant, like paying your taxes; or something delightful, like having dinner with close friends.
No matter what the activity, the value of X will be finite. This is because we have finite time remaining to us, and the things we do all take time.
One logical consequence of the above formula is that for every activity we do, there will be a last time we do it. This fact recently came to mind when my lawn mower, which had been in a long state of decline, finally died. As I drove to a hardware store to get its replacement, it dawned on me that this would likely be the last time in my life that I bought a lawn mower.
My previous mower lasted twenty years. If the mower I was buying lasted that long, I would be in my eighties when it died. Would I still be living in a house with a lawn then? If I were, would I still be mowing it myself, or would I be paying someone else to do it? And indeed, would I even "outlive" the mower I was buying? Would it watch my decline, and on some summer day in the future wonder whatever became of "the mowing man"?
When I shared these thoughts with friends, some of them spontaneously emitted the "Awwww" sound of sympathy. It was, they believed, a dark thought for me to be having and a sign that I needed cheering up. But no cheering up was necessary. For a Stoic, the realization that you might be doing something for the last time is a profoundly life affirming thought to have.
The Stoics do not advise us to dwell on the fact that we might be doing something for the last time. What they recommend is that while we are doing an activity, we allow ourselves to have a flickering thought that this could conceivably be the last time we do it—that for this activity, our X=0. By having this thought, we increase our chances of becoming fully engaged in the activity instead of merely sleepwalking through it, as is so often the case.
Along these lines, it is one thing to kiss someone you love when you think that the kiss can be repeated at will. It is quite another to kiss that person when you do so in the knowledge that it will be—or even might be—the last time you kiss them.
And there is another important thing to realize about the above formula: you probably have it in your power to turn X into X+1! You need only go out of your way to do something one extra time. At this very moment, there are X more times you will kiss the person you love. But if, as the result of reading this, you go give him or her a kiss that you otherwise wouldn't have given, you will increase this number to X+1. And chances are you will have fun doing it!
Is your mother still alive? Then realize that you will talk to her only X more times in the course of your life. The exact value of X is unknown, but realize that it is necessarily a finite number: either your death or hers will end the possibility of conversations. But you have it in your power to increase the value of X to X+1: all you need to do is pick up a phone and give her a call! And while you have her, ask her to put your father on the line.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged kiss, last time, lawn mower on September 3, 2014 by wbirvine.


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Good News, Gramps
Author: Kristen PhilipkoskiKristen Philipkoski
Brain power is not inevitably lost as we get older, according to the latest research on aging.
Researchers at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto found that older brains can compensate for cognitive decline by routing tasks away from weak areas of the brain toward other, stronger brain circuits.
"This suggests that the aging brain does show some resilience or ability to reorganize itself," said Randy McIntosh, a scientist at Rotman and assistant psychology professor at the University of Toronto.
McIntosh, along with researchers at the University of Toronto and Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, published the findings in the 25 October issue of Current Biology.
If the brain is capable of retraining itself, perhaps elderly people with cognitive problems could be rehabilitated by retraining their brains, McIntosh said. "Theoretically, we could use a simple task and build up from there – work with what they can do and train the brain to work up."
"This research is pretty consistent with one line of thinking: that we don't lose brain power as we get older, we think differently," said Dr. Cynthia Napier Rosenberg, chief of geriatrics and executive director of senior health services at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Researchers are increasingly questioning the idea that cognitive decline is an inevitable result of aging.
"Some people think this is part of something called a 'wisdom component,'" Rosenberg said. "We think that a person who is a healthy older person with no dementia or Alzheimer's disease can bring into play their experience, and make associations that give depth to their thinking that a younger person might not have."
For the study, 10 adults in their 20s and nine adults between 60 and 80 took the same visual, short-term memory tests while their brain activity was measured by positron emission tomography (PET). Participants looked at pairs of vertical grid patterns on a computer screen and were asked to select which one had the higher spatial frequency. Researchers measured the skill of the subjects at half-second and four-second intervals.
While the subjects were being tested, PET measured blood flow in regions of their brains and marked which brain areas were used during the memory task.
The study found that all of the participants performed the memory tasks equally well, but the PET showed that the pathways used to perform the tasks were different between the young and old.
The younger subjects used mainly the occipital, temporal, and inferior prefrontal cortices during the test. The older individuals showed weaker neural communication in those areas. To compensate, the elderly brains recruited the hippocampus and dorsal prefrontal cortices.
The hippocampus is often used for more complicated tasks, such as memorizing the lines of a Shakespeare play, or navigating around a convention center. But since the elderly brains recruited the hippocampus for simple tasks during the test, that leaves the hippocampus unavailable for more complicated cognitive functions.
"If the hippocampus is being recruited for simpler functions, then for harder tasks the resources are not available because the hippocampus is already engaged," McIntosh said. "This could be a cause of the age-related changes we see in memory."
Researchers say the study paints a brighter picture of the golden years.
"This is a whole new way of looking at the aging brain," Rosenberg said. "It's really very good news because the standard teaching has been that as you get older it's a lose/lose world. The newer studies are showing that's probably not true."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


2005 Volvo Xc90 Engine Diagram – Volvo has ever taken safety seriously. It is the first company to have City Safe technology, which helps in protecting not only the driver but also the pedestrian during a collision. It is a standalone and unique car company. A used Volvo can help you save a huge quantity, and you won't need to fret about the dreaded depreciation that hits a new model the minute you drive off the forecourt. Although purchasing a used Volvo can help you save you a fortune over buying a new one, there are a few things that you should start looking into before purchasing one so as to limit the odds that you wind up making a poor thing. While there are a number of things you will want to take into account if you are purchasing a Used Volvo from an auction, the truth is that you are able to secure a good deal on an excellent vehicle.
The purge valve is a fundamental part of the EVAP system. It is an important part of EVAP, and its proper working is essential to the system. It's possible to locate leaks by simply looking over. Coolant leaks are typical in cars that have weak or old radiator hoses.
One location where you can locate a used car is via an automobile auction. Among the popular methods for increasing the engine performance of a vehicle is to create forced induction. Looking after a vehicle is a really different process from preceding generations when a mechanic might have a very good grounding that would serve them well for all sorts of cars. While there's a need to look after your car throughout the year, you truly wish to think about giving your car more focus and attention in winter.
The vehicle is delivered with the purpose of attracting the most demanding car aficionados. In drive mode, it minimizes distractions, so the driver can focus on the joy of the road. As modern cars are extremely technical, there's a need to get a mechanic that's skilled and experienced in working with your manner of car. You also ought to make sure the specific car you're taking a look at is in good shape. It is very important to get your vehicle to a mechanic once you observe the very first warning signs. The car also provides an extremely large mileage. A Volvo car is the best way to get where you will need to without worrying about whether it is going to struggle when it regards such outrageous surprises as motorways, country roads and so on.
The car comes with electrically assisted power steering which lessens the sum of fuel that the engine should give ability to the power steering system. Your car is critical for making the most out of life so you would like to minimise the possibility of issues arising. For that reason, it's highly advised that you get your vehicle serviced and the engine oil changed regularly, as stated in the operator's manual. With a bit of research before the purchase you're likely to acquire a better car. The very first thing you ought to attempt to do is buy a newer used vehicle.
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We love cycling. We love stuff. We love geeking out on gear that not only is designed to improve our experience on the bike, but is also beautiful and unique. Our brands are not always the largest and most recognizable roll off your tongue types of brands, but we believe that they will fuel your passion and excitement for our sport. We want our brands to make you feel special, and that you are riding with gear that defines you more as an individual, or an innovator, and not a follower.
We are boutique. Special. Exclusive.


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House Republicans use first vote to gut IRS funding boost
The bill would remove money the IRS was directed to use to research the development of a free, agency-run tax return e-filing system. | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo
The House voted 221-210 to claw back more than $70 billion — or nearly 90 percent — of new funding for the IRS, underscoring Republicans' opposition to the agency expansion and a desire to keep tax enforcement issues in the public eye.
The legislation will certainly die in the Senate over staunch opposition from Democrats. But debate over the bill gives the GOP an opportunity to relitigate what the party views as one of the most unpopular provisions in Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, which provided $80 billion in new funding to the IRS over 10 years to bolster a wide range of agency functions, including customer service, taxpayer assistance and criminal investigations.
The White House blasted the House bill.
"With their first economic legislation of the new Congress, House Republicans are making clear that their top economic priority is to allow the rich and multi-billion dollar corporations to skip out on their taxes, while making life harder for ordinary, middle-class families that pay the taxes they owe," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement promising a veto by President Joe Biden in the unlikely event it shows up on his desk.
The statement also cited a study released Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that concluded the legislation would add $114.4 billion to the deficit by reducing tax collections.
The legislation, spearheaded by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), would rescind $45.6 billion directed toward beefed-up tax enforcement and $25.3 billion for agency operations support, which encompasses administration activities, IT development and telecommunications.
"The last thing [Americans] need is more IRS agents knocking on doors to conduct audits, yet this IRS funding is part of the broad Biden administration strategy to tax, audit exponentially more Americans," Smith said in his speech introducing the the bill.
Smith said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's instructions to the IRS would result in nine out of every ten new audits targeting families earning less than $400,000. Biden has promised the new windfall would not impact taxpayers making less than that threshold and that the new money is for increasing compliance on wealthy tax cheats.
The floor time also provided an opportunity for prospects for new GOP Ways and Means seats, such as Reps. Beth Van Duyne of Texas, Blake Moore of Utah and Claudia Tenney of New York, to flex their tax policy-speaking muscles.
Former Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) fired back that the funding would go to much-needed improvements to the agency's computer systems. "Or should we have an IRS that operates the way Southwest Airlines did last week, to the dismay of the American family," Neal quipped.
"This is theater tonight," Neal said.
The bill would also remove money the IRS was directed to use to research the development of a free, agency-run tax return e-filing system, as well as $50 million provided to the Treasury Department to implement Democrats' climate and health bill, among others.
It leaves untouched $3.2 billion for the improvement of taxpayer services and $4.8 billion for technology development aimed at improving customer service phone lines. Long call-wait times and poor communication between the agency and taxpayers has been a common grievance shared on both sides of the aisle.
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U of A Building-Bridges
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Concept for U of A B squared (or building bridges)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Beware of kicking the underdog - it just might come back to bite you
Labor has started so strong it has made the Liberal National Party the underdog. As Sean Parnell writes, that could come back to bite them.
Sean Parnell
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. (Photo: AAP Image/Dan Peled)
For the first time, everyone knew this election campaign was coming, and the October 31 date was set. There was no jockeying for position, no trying to capitalise on timing: this was an election both sides knew was happening in advance. And they had time to prepare.
So when Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk last week declared she expected the campaign to be "tough, personal and nasty" it was obvious Labor had already prepared its defence. That came in the form of several TV ads and online memes warning that Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington had secret plans to cut public services and frontline jobs. Labor's warning of a return to the Campbell Newman era of austerity was a significant angle in an avalanche of pro-Palaszczuk, Queensland-centric, "Stick with the Strength" style marketing. The incumbents dominated the first week of the campaign, defending themselves against an almost invisible political attack.
While the LNP had its own, more restrained marketing, Frecklington was effectively drowned out. She has been on the back foot for every day of the campaign, every misstep – and there have been a few – amplified by Labor's attack team, led publicly by Treasurer Cameron Dick. Surprisingly, the key campaign question is no longer whether the LNP risks a COVID-19 outbreak, with Frecklington now seemingly backing the border policy but still calling on Labor to show more compassion to those affected (an interesting nuance in the debate). Even Prime Minister Scott Morrison has softened his stance on the border, as the focus shifts to the economy.
Palaszczuk is keen to say that Queensland has been, and should remain, united behind her leadership on COVID-19. Labor has printed shirts saying as much. She has also warned of chaos if she does not secure a majority government. One would think there is a fine line between expecting loyalty after a difficult year and asking for it in future. Maybe strong leaders don't ask.
Central to Labor's pitch for re-election is that fact it has kept Queensland safe from COVID-19 and is well-placed to lead it out of recession. But it is worth remembering that the government has also centralised control, imposed more restrictions, limited transparency, and had police and the army on the streets to enforce new rules. Public and business activities have been disrupted, either by COVID-19 or the government response to COVID-19, and families separated. There have been victims, in a broad sense, and there is frustration over what has happened and whatever might happen in the future.
Palaszczuk might be strong, as the T-shirts say, but there will be voters who are nervous about that. The Premier rarely expresses hesitation, or reticence, about having to wield such power, and exercise such extraordinary control. She digs in, insisting the results speak for themselves, and a Labor government will make it all better again. Palaszczuk can come across as defiant, and unapologetic, which is fine if people want her to take up the fight – and, for most of the year, they have – but can also be isolating if people don't share the same confidence.
A good leader takes people with them, and checks to see if they still have confidence in the direction, not just expect everyone to follow. The subtle shifts in Labor strategy haven't been articulated as a response to any particular public concern, more a deliberate and expected turn. Don't get me wrong, strength is great, and necessary in government, but humility and grace are undervalued personality traits. What Queenslanders want from their premier at the moment comes down to individual preferences, and even then it could change by the day. Palaszczuk might need to be adaptable.
If this is to be a campaign on economic management it is worth noting that the state has seen better days but neither this Labor government nor the former LNP government was responsible for them. The Newman government record speaks for itself: a one-term experiment unlikely to be repeated. For Labor, the recession has come at a perfect time, silencing criticism of its debt-heavy budgets. Indeed, Dick can promise $4 billion for election promises and portray that as the responsible approach compared to as-yet-unspecified funding commitments from the LNP. Yet his is still a debt that future governments, and generations, will need to pay off (one might ask whether the cuts he warns of might simply be delayed).
Dick's LNP counterpart, would-be treasurer Tim Mander, has tried to take the attack to Labor without much luck (neither has a budget to work with, and voters should still expect the unexpected next term). For Mander, as with Frecklington, any misstep has been amplified. It may not be that they have a secret plan as an under-developed one. If the LNP even has answers to these questions, it is seemingly caught in some terrified stutter in response, and that hardly instils confidence. So much for conservatives being perceived as the better economic managers.
But, again, if there is incompetence on one side there is a touch of arrogance on the other, and that might unsettle some voters. Soon after becoming Treasurer, Dick vowed to fight off any NSW attempt to steal the headquarters of Virgin Australia. "New South Wales might want to bring a pea-shooter to the fight, we will bring a bazooka and we're not afraid to use it." Now, okay, there is that famous quote about not bringing a knife to a gunfight, but there is also that old David and Goliath story. Strength isn't everything in a fight – in fact, it can get you in more trouble, and turn the crowd against you.
That's why the tone of this campaign – an almost incalculable but so obvious factor – may be crucial in determining the victor. As the incumbent, Labor does not want to use its dominant position, all that airtime and attention, to appear aggressive, controlling, and defensive to the point of being offensive. It doesn't want swinging voters to flinch, to second guess their judgement calls, and vote in someone just to balance out the Labor excesses. That would give Palaszczuk a much-feared minority government – or cost her power altogether. It's probably unlikely, but not impossible. Stranger things have happened this year.
Maybe this is all just a matter of timing. After all, campaigns are scripted well in advance. Perhaps the LNP will go more negative, perhaps Labor will be humbled, maybe everyone in party HQ thinks voters have already settled on a favourite.
This election is different in that many voters will make a decision before polling day, locking it in with pre-polls or postal votes. So maybe most Queenslanders have already made up their mind, and the campaign matters little to them. Maybe the parties think they know that, with all their grassroots feedback and internal polling, and reflecting a pre-determined outcome.
But if Labor – or the LNP, for that matter – have somehow misjudged the mood, and are now pushing all the wrong buttons, then voters will go off. The year 2020 is like that.
Campbell Newman
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Queensland election
Treasurer Cameron Dick
More Decision 2020 stories
After his humiliating election fail, will Palmer ask for his money back?
Sean Parnell Wednesday, December 16
Mining lobby spent almost $400,000 trying to hold back the Greens
Sean Parnell Tuesday, December 15
Why Scott Morrison may pose the biggest barrier to this man becoming premier
Dennis Atkins Tuesday, November 24
One win doesn't turn the Sunshine Coast into Labor heartland: Ahern
Sean Parnell Tuesday, November 17


Jazz singer Magos Herrera recently came out with the album "Dreamers" with the string quartet Brooklyn Rider.
A friend of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has filed a lawsuit against an Israeli company that he says provided the spyware that allowed the Saudi government to spy on their conversations. Plus, Canada's debate over statues honoring its founding father Sir John A. Macdonald. Many Canadians feel it's time to reassess his legacy. Those stories, and the news, today on The World.
Sir John A. Macdonald is as close to a founding father as Canada has and monuments in his memory are sprinkled across the country. But now Macdonald is being remembered for a crueler aspect of his legacy: the infamous residential school system.
The collaboration between Magos Herrera and Brooklyn Rider just released a 360-degree video of the song "Balderrama" shot in studio.
Protests in France that initially targeted an increase in the gas tax have turned into a broader anti-Macron demonstration. Over the weekend, protesters torched cars and smashed windows in the worst disturbances Paris has seen since 1968.


So, I was just randomly lurking the site and found this, and I'm on it!
So I wanted to know why or how it's measured, considering that Notch got an ∞!
And what about Notch's ∞?
How could anyone be more awesome than Notch?
Also, if he finds it and clicks on himself he will get to the password recovery page seeing as he told Eli (I think?) that he had forgotten the password.
Loudest yet most ignored coming through!!!
And you're seeing a traveller now.
I modified my post to include smiles .
I'm on the awesome list. Woo me!
That's remarkable! You exceed number two, by four times!
I had a change of name. I think I'm still regarded as "Masochist", in the database.
Interesting that I'm on both the "interesting" and "rambling" lists. Connection?
You're currently not in the interesting list. The lowest (non-zero) score is 6.4, so a few dozen members share it, which means you enter/leave the top-16 'interesting' list more or less at random.
There is no connection, btw.
Hardly anybody is using it.
As the most rambling one, I tell you that we're not interesting. Awesome is.
I activated it, and seems fun . But now I noticed (not sure if related) that in the JGO top bar it says: You have received 4 medals and 1 highlights.
Your guess it's unrelated eh?
If I highlighted MY posts, and now I see them with a nice green backgound , how did I "have received medals AND 1 highlight"?
I mean, someone highlighted a post of mine? How do you do that?
If "recived highlights" means that I had changed that option in the profile, why is 1 and no >100?.
You can highlight post of anybody, by the same process: go to their profile and pick 'highlight posts'.
It would be nice if we get to choose the colour, that way I can highlight many users with different colours.
Just one, but I'm sure she's orange haired, likes to walk around with a hatchet and is featured in a certain anime. In short: Just my type.
Weird. I never thought being without a computer for 1 week, 1 day, 20 hours and 34 minutes could do this to my head.
Women are on the internet?!?


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Contraception Is Free To Women, Except When It's Not
Kaiser Health News | By Michelle Andrews
BSIP
Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Insurers sometimes don't cover certain contraceptive methods for free, though they are supposed to cover most by law. Even for long-established methods, like IUDs, insurers sometimes make it hard for women to get coverage by requiring preapproval.
For Stephanie Force, finding a birth control method that she likes and can get without paying out of pocket has been a struggle, despite the Affordable Care Act's promise of free contraceptives for women and adolescent girls in most health plans.
The 27-year-old physician recruiter in Roanoke, Va., was perfectly happy with the NuvaRing, a flexible vaginal ring that women insert monthly to release hormones to prevent pregnancy. But her insurer, Anthem, stopped covering the branded product and switched her to a generic version in early 2020. Force says the new product left her with headaches and feeling irritable and short-tempered.
After talking to her OB-GYN, Force tried an IUD. But that made her feel worse: She had bad cramps, gained 10 pounds and developed severe hormonal acne. Plus, she was charged $248 for an ultrasound her provider used to guide the insertion of the device, a charge she successfully fought.
Force also considered a couple of birth control products approved in recent years: a non-hormonal vaginal gel called Phexxi and a vaginal ring called Annovera that can be used for a year. But Phexxi isn't covered by her employer health plan, and she would owe a $45 copayment for Annovera.
Despite the Affordable Care Act's guarantees for free contraception coverage, Force's experience illustrates that even for women whose health plans are subject to the law's requirements, obtaining the right product at no cost can be onerous. New types of contraceptives aren't automatically incorporated into the federal list of required methods that insurers use to guide coverage decisions.
In addition, some health plans continue to discourage use of even long-established methods, like IUDs, by requiring providers to get approval from the plan before prescribing them.
Consumer advocates who have studied the issue say a process is spelled out in federal rules for women to get the contraceptives they need, but far too few people know that's an option. (For more on how to do this, see the final section below.)
Ultimately, Force went back to the generic version of the NuvaRing, despite the side effects she continues to experience. She'd prefer to be on the branded NuvaRing, which didn't give her problems, and the ping-ponging from method to method has left her exhausted and furious.
"I cannot believe what hoops I have had to jump through between September 2020 and June 2021," Force says, "between switching from the generic NuvaRing to the IUD and then back, fighting my insurance and OB-GYN's office on the ultrasound charge."
In a statement, Anthem says, "Anthem health plans cover 222 contraceptive products at $0 cost share on our ACA Preventive List." The company went on to say that it covers "at least one product" in each of 18 categories of contraception methods approved by the FDA.
A policy meant to cut contraceptives' costs
Contraception is a very personal choice, and what meets one woman's needs may not meet another's. If avoiding pregnancy is a woman's top priority, a virtually fail-safe method like an IUD may be the right solution. But for someone who's considering getting pregnant soon, a readily reversible method like a birth control pill might be the best option. Side effects are important to consider as well, since women respond differently to the hormones in various birth control products.
Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) required no-cost birth control coverage, researchers estimate that up to 44% of women's out-of-pocket health care spending went toward contraceptives. The ACA requires most commercial health plans to cover a comprehensive list of Food and Drug Administration-approved methods without charging women anything.
Church plans and religious nonprofits, as well as employers and schools that object to contraception, are exempt from the coverage requirements. Plans that were grandfathered under the law are also exempt. Uninsured women don't benefit from the mandate either.
But the federal rules do not require health plans to cover every single contraceptive. After the ACA passed in 2010, the federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) developed guidelines for women's preventive services.
Those guidelines say women should have access without cost sharing to a list that covers the 18 FDA-approved methods, including oral contraceptives, vaginal rings, cervical caps, IUDs, implantable rods and sterilization. Under federal rules, health plans must cover at least one product in each category.
New products are left out
Neither the HRSA guidelines nor a birth control chart published by the FDA addresses newer methods, including Phexxi, a gel that regulates vaginal acidity to reduce the odds a sperm reaches an egg. It was approved by the FDA last year.
Nor do they incorporate fertility-awareness mobile phone apps the FDA approved in recent years such as Natural Cycles, which tracks a woman's temperature and menstrual cycle to avoid pregnancy.
"There's a real need for new guidance that keeps up with new methods," says Mara Gandal-Powers, director of birth control access at the National Women's Law Center.
Many insurers have balked at covering Phexxi, says Rameshwari Gupta, director of strategic markets for Evofem Biosciences, which markets Phexxi. A box of 12 single-use applicators — consumers use one before having sex — costs $267.50 without insurance, she says.
"When I started talking to payers, they all said, 'Where are you on this FDA chart?' " she says.
According to an FDA spokesperson, the birth control chart is for consumer education purposes only and "was not created with the intent of driving coverage decisions." The agency is in the process of updating it.
In a statement, the HRSA says it is reviewing the evidence on contraceptives and expects to complete its review late this year. If it opts to make revisions, it will publish draft recommendations to update the women's preventive services guidelines. These will be finalized after a public comment period and become effective a year later.
At this point, health plans consider Phexxi to be a spermicide and are required to cover only one type of spermicide without cost sharing, says Kristine Grow, a senior vice president at AHIP, a health insurance trade organization.
"If Phexxi is indeed considered a new method of contraception, both the FDA and HRSA would need to make this clear," she added.
Cost sharing and preapprovals limit access to some methods
The vaginal ring Annovera, approved by the FDA in 2018, is typically covered by health plans, according to Grow, though it may not be available without cost sharing. The average retail price is $2,457 a year, according to GoodRx.
One way plans have made it difficult for women to access certain contraceptives, even those on the list of approved methods, is by requiring that their providers get approval from the insurer first, often by providing documentation that the product is medically necessary.
Under UnitedHealthcare's coverage policy for Phexxi, for example, before coverage will be authorized, members must have documented reasons that they are unable to use eight other contraceptive methods, including oral contraceptives, the contraceptive patch, a vaginal ring, injections and spermicides. Providers also must attest that they have counseled patients that Phexxi is less effective at preventing pregnancy than some other methods.
In a statement, UnitedHealthcare says it covers "a broad array" of generic and brand-name options, and it follows scientific evidence to develop its list.
Yet consumers have a way to get the specific method that is most appropriate for them, according to a report by the National Women's Law Center.
How to get a birth control method covered
Under federal rules, if a doctor or other health care provider determines that a patient needs a particular contraceptive, even if it's not on the list of approved products for the patient's plan, the insurer is required to have an expedient process for the patient to seek a waiver.
"It's not up to the insurance company whether to cover that method — it's up to the provider," says Adam Sonfield, executive editor for policy analysis at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and advocacy organization focused on women's reproductive health.
But according to the National Women's Law Center report, many insurers, patients and their providers aren't aware of the requirement, and state agencies don't enforce these so-called exceptions policies.
If patients run into trouble getting the method they want, "we typically recommend filing an appeal with their insurance provider," says Gretchen Borchelt, vice president for reproductive rights and health at the National Women's Law Center.
Stephanie Force says she was unaware of any process she could have used to get the NuvaRing covered without cost sharing. Neither her health care provider nor the insurer mentioned the possibility.
She recently had an appointment with a new provider who she hopes will be a better advocate for her.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues.
Copyright 2021 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit Kaiser Health News.
Michelle Andrews


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Braves: Breaking down the minor league lottery ticket relief arms signed thus far
Leave a Comment / Braves, MLB Free Agency / By Clint Manry / February 10, 2021 February 10, 2021
As Jake reported yesterday, Braves pitchers and catchers report for spring camp next Thursday (February 18), and with another small signing on Friday, GM Alex Anthopoulos is beginning to round out the 2021 roster. The talk of the offseason regarded the lineup and whether or not slugger Marcell Ozuna would return as the team's power-bat. But with that settled, attention has been pointed elsewhere.
Exactly how will the Braves bullpen be structured this coming season?… Who will fill in as the team's new closer? … and will Atlanta bring back one of Shane Greene or Mark Melancon (or both)?
Those questions will almost certainly get answered in the coming days. However, let's look at each of the minor league lottery tickets the Braves picked up this winter, which feature a trio of arms that may or may not help shore up one of the major's top relief cores from last season. All three pitchers below will fight for a big-league spot this spring, and given such a bare-minimum investment, all could perhaps provide some extra value as well. Either Chase or Jake has already profiled the relievers listed below at the actual time of their signings. Still, here I've broken each pitcher down by examining their biggest strength and weakness, along with my expectation for them this upcoming season.
Victor Arano
A late-January waiver claim — that also included the addition of outfielder Kyle Garlick (who has since been DFA'd to make room for Ozuna) — the 26-year-old Arano is a former top 25 prospect out of the Phillies system, thanks to a filthy mid-80s slider that allows him to rack up a solid amount of strikeouts. Recently more of a fringe major-leaguer, he didn't pitch at all in 2020 and only logged 8.2 innings two seasons ago because of elbow surgery; however, in 2018, Arano was absolutely dominant for Philadelphia's big league club, recording a 2.73 ERA (3.36 FIP) in 60 relief appearances (59.1 IP).
Biggest strength — His Slider
Weirdly, Arano's dominant slider doesn't appear dominant according to FanGraphs Pitch Values, but don't let his low rating there fool you. During that 2018 campaign with the Phils, the righty leaned on his slider nearly 62% of the time, allowing just a .200 AVG from opposing batters, including a ridiculous 64% whiff-rate. He has other pitches in his repertoire (a 4-seamer and sinker), but it's rather evident that Arano's slider is a legit strength of his on the mound.
Biggest weakness — Lack of recent work
Essentially any non-major league regular from the last year will enter the 2021 season without much of a recent workload, though Arano's potential rust could be a bit more dramatic. Thanks to COVID and the aforementioned elbow surgery the year prior, he's hardly faced any live hitters over the last two seasons, which ultimately could mean nothing. Luckily, Arano seems to be a pitcher that's always displayed above-average control on the mound (career 2.8 BB/9 as a big leaguer), so it's not as if he has some underlying control/command issue to work through on top of his lack of innings.
My expectation for 2021: The upside to Arano is impressive and gives him a shot at earning some type of role in the Braves major league bullpen this coming season (obviously dependent on his performance this spring). Although, on the other hand, Atlanta has a pretty substantial surplus when it comes to fringe-type arms, and I'm not so sure Arano would jump in front of guys like Sean Newcomb, Bryse Wilson, Kyle Wright, Tucker Davidson, or Patrick Weigel — all former or current prospect pitchers that the Braves will most likely want to get a good look at in 2021. Let's call it a cup of coffee for Arano, but I predict that if he remains in the organization, he'll log 80-90% of his innings with Triple-A Gwinnett this season.
Carl Edwards Jr.
Edwards — who's entering his age-29 season — has a respectable track record as a big-league reliever over his six-year career, highlighted by the 2.1 fWAR he combined to produce from 2017-18 with the Cubs. Although a strained pitching shoulder in 2019 and a forearm injury in 2020 caused him to tally just 21.2 overall frames over the last couple of seasons, which as an effect, has really damaged his stock recently. The Braves signed the right-handed Edwards to a minor league pact on January 29.
Biggest strength — Home run suppression
Edwards currently owns a career home run rate of 0.75 allowed per nine innings, a mark that could be even lower if not for a disastrous 2019 campaign in which he surrendered three homers in just 17 innings (1.59 HR/9). This isn't to say he's necessarily better than everyone else at keeping the ball in the yard (granted, Edwards does rank just outside the top 30 in all of baseball in homer rate since 2016). Still, for him, it's certainly one of his better strengths and a skill-set that should be much-appreciated in Atlanta.
Biggest weakness — Walks
Going back to the 2016 season (his first full year in the majors), Edwards currently ties four other qualified relievers with the major's fifth-highest walk rate (13.7%). His five walks per nine over his career is far from ideal, and despite a small sample in 2020 — in which he posted 1.9 BB/9 — Edwards really hasn't shown any improvements in that area. To put it in perspective, save for last year, Edwards has finished a season with less than five walks per nine innings only once, when he logged 3.5 BB/9 in 2016.
My expectation for 2021: Steamer and Depth Charts project just eight major league innings for Edwards in 2021, and both peg him to run a walk rate higher than 4.7 per nine. If that's the type of performance he gives this spring, then — barring multiple injuries to the Braves bullpen — I don't see Edwards even cracking the big league team at all. However, I really don't believe Anthopoulos would take a chance on Edwards — even if it is just a minor league deal — if he really thought the righty wasn't capable of wielding some sort of control on the mound. So I'm at least optimistic relative to the projections. Assuming he keeps his walks under control while in Northport this spring, I could see Edwards assuming a role similar to that of former Braves righty Darren O'Day (in his career, Edwards has 13.6 K/9 versus right-handed batters).
Nate Jones
Atlanta's most recent reliever signed on a minor league deal (Tuesday); 35-year-old Nate Jones was a failed-starter in the White Sox system after being drafted in the 5th round back in 2007. Of the relievers mentioned in this post, it's Jones that appears most likely to earn a regular role in the Braves bullpen this coming season. But like Edwards and Arano above, he too has his own strengths and weaknesses.
Biggest strength — Velocity
Jones is primarily a two-pitch pitcher (sinker & slider), but he occasionally uses a 4-seamer and changeup (though less than 2% combined in 2020). The sinker is a hard one, averaging 96 MPH last season, to go along with a spin-rate (2,457 RPM) — that ranked in the 87th-percentile a season ago. Jones has been one of the game's hardest throwers ever since he cracked the majors in 2012, as he's sixth in sinker/2-seamer velocity among all relievers with at least 300 innings in that span, according to FanGraphs (97.4 MPH). High-90s heat isn't as big a deal as it once was, but it's still a rather effective way to get opposing batters out, nonetheless.
Biggest weakness — Age & durability
While I think Jones could serve Atlanta's bullpen well in 2021, a lot of his success ultimately comes down to whether or not he can remain healthy, which is something he hasn't been able to consistently do over the last four years. A stint on the paternity list caused him to miss some time last season, but Jones was a question mark all spring leading up to the regular season with forearm issues that stemmed from the 2019 campaign. Two seasons ago, his season was cut short after just 10.1 frames due to that mentioned forearm injury, which resulted in surgery. At the time (May of 2019), that was Jones' third procedure in four years, and from 2017-20 he's totaled just 70.1 innings altogether, though still producing a respectable 3.82 ERA (4.86 FIP) in that span.
My expectation for 2021: If his body holds up, I believe Jones will win himself a low-leverage role in the Braves bullpen this season, as a guy that can go up against both righty and lefty batters. Over his career, the right-handed Jones has actually been a bit better versus lefties, holding opposing left-handed batters to just a .206 AVG (as opposed to a .260 AVG vs. RHB). With a career-worst season with the sinker in 2020 (.421 AVG allowed), I think Atlanta's staff can get Jones to lean on his filthy slider a bit more, which hopefully will enable him to miss more barrels in 2021. Look for Jones to open the season as a Braves reliever.


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Man Abducts Woman He Met on Craigslist: Police
By Matthew Stabley	• Published May 26, 2009 • Updated on May 26, 2009 at 8:15 pm
FAIRFAX, Va. -- A Fredericksburg man abducted a woman he met on Craigslist, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Gregory Rother, 26, visited the 23-year-old victim at an apartment in the 12100 block of Elm Forest Way Saturday evening, police said. Once inside, he allegedly carried her into a bedroom and ordered her to get undressed, police said.
Brandishing two knives, Rother allegedly blocked the door with a piece of furniture and smashed several things inside the apartment before ordering the woman to get dressed and forcing her to get into a car outside, police said.
Rother is accused of forcing the woman to drive him at knifepoint.
Washington DC 35 mins ago
Man Charged in the Murder of 17-Year-Old in Brightwood Park
Charles County 1 hour ago
100+ Snakes Found in Maryland Home With Dead Man
Police became involved when Rother and his alleged captive drove past a George Mason University police officer, who the woman signaled. The officer followed them, and at a stop sign near Stoughten Road and Stonewall Avenue, the woman jumped out of the car and ran to the officer, police said.
Rother was charged with public drunkenness, aggravated sexual battery, abduction, felony destruction of property and assault.


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The Anglican Parish of the Huon is the southernmost parish in the Anglican Church in Australia. It has its beginnings in 1839 with the consecration of a wooden church (St Mary's) built for the settlement by Lady Franklin. St Mary's was replaced by St John's Church, designed by the great Pugin disciple Henry Hunter which was consecrated in May 1864. Sadly, St John's church was deconsecrated on August 10 in 2014.
In the 1840s there was also a stone church at Southport associated with the Probation Station. The first church of St James', Ranelagh was built in 1853 in brick. This was replaced by another Hunter designed timber church in 1880, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1885.
The current church building was completed in 1896. The existing church was consecrated by Bishop Montgomery on the 8th of November 1896. It is now heritage listed.
By the second half of the 19th Century the Parish included the Huon Valley, the Channel and the Far South with 12 church centres. It was a big area on horseback or foot for a rector. Towards the end of the latter half of the 19th century Cygnet-Channel became a separate parish, and by the 1940's the Huon had become three parishes all with rectories — in Franklin, Geeveston and Esperance.
The latter half of the 20th century saw a gradual amalgamation back into one parish. In recent times many church buildings have been either closed or destroyed by bush fires. These include St Andrew's Mountain River, St David's Crabtree, St Peter's Cradoc, St Andrew's Port Huon, St Bartholomew's Strathblane, Southport & Glendevie, St Paul's Dover, St John's Franklin, St Peter's Geeveston and St Luke's, Judbury.
Currently about 50 people regularly worship each Sunday at St James Ranelagh. Set in a picturesque landscape of sweeping hills, rivers, mountains and fertile dales, the Valley is known for its diversity in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. The area borders the Hartz Mountains and South West National Park.
Information for people researching their family tree (including Baptismal records) can be gained from the State Library of Tasmania.
We are a part of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania. Click here to visit their website.


Carleigh, 'Cat,' and Bryan, are a real geek chic couple. They are kind, considerate, and know how to have fun. Their romance stretches back more than nine years! Cat and Bryan grew up together; first, as high school friends traveling in the same group, until their relationship naturally eased into a romance. They've shared countless adventures, are proud owners of two adorable bunnies, and now they are husband and wife.
An intimate pre-ceremony moment honored Cat's mother who passed more than a decade ago when Cat and her sister were still young adolescents. The couple and wedding party wrote special messages to Mom, sharing the words they would have said to her, were she still alive and with them on this day of all days. The balloons were gathered together, and Cat and Bryan released them high into the sky and towards the heavens.
The couple selected the American Visionary Art Museum for the ceremony and reception. This beautiful Baltimore treasure stands apart in the wedding venue world, with iconic artwork around every corner, like a pink tulle poodle, and a larger than life statue of John Water's Divine.


Amazon niche sites. Everybody wants to build them. Everybody wants to have them. Why in the world are Amazon niche sites so popular? You hardly hear anybody ever talk about building Adsense niche sites anymore. Heck – when I started building niche sites, Adsense sites were THE thing. Very few people were talking about building Amazon sites. But now it's the other way around. And it's been that way for most of the last 2 years.
The point is – Amazon sites have been popular partly because people are more willing and more likely to share them. But that's not all.
Amazon sites are really straight-forward. You pick a product (or a group of products) and you build an entire site that highlights, promotes and sells those specific products. And since you can buy just about anything imaginable on Amazon right now, the possibilities for niches that you could build a site around are almost never-ending.
First off – I'm going to be totally honest with you. My motivation for writing this post stems from a product launch that happens to be going live the same day that this post is going live. You may have heard of the AmaSuite bundle of software programs. I've been using AmaSuite for well over a year and it's made a huge difference in how I approach the research phase for building Amazon niche sites. Well – that was version 3 that I was using previously and now version 4 is out.
Don't worry. I'm not just here to sell, sell, sell. I'm going to show you exactly how to use these tools to find awesome Amazon niches and tons and tons of keywords.
Even now, well over a year after I wrote that post – it continues to get good traffic and is still one of the most popular posts on this blog.
Note: This video was created using older software versions of AmaSuite and Long Tail Pro. Today (2017 and beyond) there are newer and better versions of each tool available. The information provided in the video is essentially the same and can be applied with the newer versions of AmaSuite and Long Tail Pro.
Or CLICK HERE to watch the video directly on YouTube.
Most niche site builders tend to look for a main keyword to build a site around. Something that has at least 1,000 monthly searches. Sometimes you can find a couple of highly related main keywords that have higher search volumes and build a site around both of them. I too used this strategy for the longest time. But I don't think it is totally relevant anymore.
There's really no reason to try to rank a site for one keyword. Most of your search traffic will come from long tail keywords anyway – so why not just target those to start out with. Forget about having one main keyword. Just pick a topic and find lots and lots of related keywords that have lower search volumes and that will be much easier to rank for. Produce articles targeting those keywords and then sit back and watch the organic traffic flow to your site.
I've been using this strategy lately and it is working wonderfully. Even on my older niche sites where I originally targeted one main keyword. I did deeper keyword research and now produce lots of articles based on lower search volume keywords. I'm talking search volumes below 200 per month and sometimes I'll even write articles for keywords with less than 100 searches!
The main purpose of this post is to show you how I find profitable niches and keywords for Amazon niche sites. Specifically, how I use a few of my favorite tools to make this task really fast and easy. I think I've provided you with enough information in this post, especially if you've taken the time to watch the video and/or look at my previous post.
I created an 1,800-word guide on exactly how to produce content specifically for Amazon niche sites. Just click the button below and enter your email address and I will automatically send you that downloadable and printable PDF.
Any questions? I'll be happy to try to answer in the comments section below.


If you're one of those "I plug directly into the amp and don't need no stinkin' guitar effects pedals" kinda dude, then godspeed and thanks for stopping by. On the other hand, if you own a pedal board upon which you trip the light fantastic, stick around — this list of guitar effects pedals you must have will validate what you might know, illuminate what you don't know, and quickly help you generate a massive and highly versatile sound palette.
For more guitar effects pedals tutorials and information, check out Jeff McErlain's full course, the Guitar Effects Survival Guide, which is a must-have tone almanac for electric guitar players.
The simplest effect pedal is the clean boost. All it essentially does is boost the signal of your guitar. Guitar players loved this because it allows us to hit the front end of our amp with more signal. This increased volume level will drive the input section of your amp harder and provide some more gain.
The earliest boost pedals used a germanium transistor and was often in the form of a treble booster. The most famous treble booster is the Dallas Rangemaster which is rumored to have been used by Eric Clapton on the Bluesbreakers record, often referred to as the Beano record or Beano tone. (This is because Clapton is reading a Beano comic on the record cover). At the time Eric was using a Marshall JTM45 2×12 combo (commonly referred to as the Bluesbreaker because of this recording) and a Les Paul and man does it sound good. Allegedly he was using the Rangemaster to push the front end of the amp into more distortion. This has never been confirmed to my knowledge but is the source of much Internet speculation. But I have played an old Bluesbreaker amp with a Les Paul and it sounded pretty darn close.
Overdrive can be subtle and produce warm slightly overdriven tones, think SRV. Distortion is easy to see as simply more overdrive, these tones are more saturated and compressed. The spectrum of overdriven tones is huge, from BB King's slightly overdriven tube amp tones to Eddie Van Halen's cranked Marshall, to Metallica's thick distortion, to Smashing Pumpkins' fuzz tones. It is all actually the same idea is a general sense, these tones may be gotten with amps, pedals, or a combination of both but it is all the same idea, overdrive. What was considered a heavy distorted tone in the 70's is tame to the metal sounds of today.
The Ibanez Tube Screamer is the industry standard for overdrive pedals. Kicked into legendary status by the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Tube Screamer TS808 was first released in the late 70's and now catches a small fortune on the vintage market but fortunately there are reissues and many boutique clones out there. The Tube Screamer is not the only overdrive circuit of course, there are many excellent options, it is just clearly the most famous. What makes the TS so cool is the way it interacts with an already overdriven amplifier. It can add a nice amount of gain, sustain, and tonal shaping options. They do provide a bit of a boost in the mid frequencies that many people love as it helps to cut through a band. The list of TS users is extensive but Stevie Ray is the most notable.
A distortion box produces what we call hard clipping, as opposed to an overdrive pedal that produces soft clipping. What does that mean? If we were to look at a note on an oscilloscope we would see a wave (hence the term sound wave) with a nice rounded top and bottom. When we overdrive or distort a note the top and bottom of the sound wave flattens out, or clips. The more clipping of the wave the more distorted the note. A fuzz pedal produces so much clipping it is seen as a square wave, completely flat on the top and bottom of the wave. There are many excellent distortion boxes on the market but some classic industry standards are the Rat distortion box, the Boss Super Overdrive (a bit more of a distortion box really), MXR Distortion +, Boss Distortion, and the Boss Heavy Metal Pedal.
There are two distinct kinds of transistors used in fuzz pedals, germanium and silicon. In the early 1960's silicon transistors were fairly new and very expensive and germanium was the norm. Germanium transistors are susceptible to temperature changes and noise so they can be unreliable at times. They do have a very distinct tone, they also react very well to the guitar's volume knob by cleaning up very well. As silicon transistors became less expensive they largely replaced their germanium counterparts in pedals due to their stability. The Silicon fuzzes generally produce more gain but often don't clean up as well.
As a lover of fuzz pedals myself I have both kinds and find uses for them, they sound different and excellent. Other famous fuzz users are Eric Johnson, David Gilmour, Joe Bonamassa, and Stevie Ray Vaughan to name a few. When shopping for a fuzz, try to play as many as you can next to each other, even of the same model. Due to the transistor values the same model pedal can sound and feel very different from pedal to pedal.
The first analog delay units used magnetic tape to record the original signal and play it back shortly after. The most famous tape units are the Echoplex and the Roland Space Echo. As cool sounding as these units are they require a fair amount of maintenance and they are rather large and aren't practical for the gigging musician. But boy do they sound good!
Another early analog delay was the Binson Echorec, this unit recorded your guitar signal onto a magnetic disk much like a hard drive does. This unit was favored by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Analog delay pedals made their debut in the 70's with the use of what was called bucket brigade chips. These chips move the signal down a line like the way an old bucket brigade would pass buckets of water down a line to put out a fire. The most famous of these pedals is the Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man.
A fantastic sounding unit and U2's The Edge original delay sounds were a Deluxe Memory Man used on "I Will Follow" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Some cool added features to the Memory Man is the added chorus effect you can put on the delays. This is one of the coolest delay pedals ever. Many pedals now digitally model the sound of an analog delay pedal and come very close with the added flexibility a digital delay pedal provides like extended delay times and tap tempo.
The main difference between analog and digital delays is delay time and note clarity. Digital delays can produce multi second delay times whereas the Deluxe Memory Man offered a delay time of 550ms. Digital delay units also introduced the tap tempo function which is extremely useful when using delay as a rhythmic tool. There are many excellent companies producing excellent delay units, certainly a ground breaker was the Line 6 DL4 which is still popular today. Although I love the sound of a true analog delay, the latest offerings from companies like TC Electronics and Strymon offer so many options and analog emulation options it makes it a tough sell to stick with analog delays.
"Photocell Tremolo is found in mid-1960s American amplifiers. Those classic circuits used a light-dependent resistor to attenuate the input signal, coupled with a miniature neon bulb that is connected to the LFO. As the LFO oscillates, the bulb gets brighter and dimmer which in turn varies the resistance of the LDR. The varying resistance works with other circuit impedances to change the signal level, which produces a characteristically 'hard' sounding tremolo that moves between two levels, reminiscent of a square wave." Got that? Well it is tricky and they do sound somewhat different but essentially they produce the same effect. The pedal I am using here, the Fulltone Supa-Trem uses a photocell to produce the sounds found in the classic Fender amps and most common tremolo circuit.
The flanger is one of the more distinct effects out there, known for its jet-like sweeping sounds, it can also be very subtle as David Gilmour and Andy Summers have shown. It is similar to a chorus pedal in that it is a modulation time based effect. The flanger delays a copy of the original signal and mixes it in with the dry signal. The displacement of the time causes the swooshing effect. This can be done in multiple stages to produce a more dramatic flanged effect. "Originally flanging was done with tape machines" as explained here in a quote from Wikipedia. "The name "flanging" comes from the original method of creation.
Originally, a signal would be recorded to two tape machines simultaneously. The playback-head output from these two recorders was then mixed together onto a third recorder. In this form, minute differences in the motor speeds of each machine would result in a phasing effect when the signals were combined. The "flange" effect originated when an engineer would literally put a finger on the flange, or rim of one of the tape reels so that the machine was slowed down, slipping out of sync by tiny degrees. A listener would hear a "drainpipe" sweeping effect as shifting sum-and-difference harmonics were created. When the operator removed his finger the tape sped up again, making the effect sweep back in the other direction." Famous tunes using flange effects are "Unchained" by Van Halen, "Spirit of Radio" by Rush and "Bold as Love" by Jimi Hendrix. The flange on "Bold as Love" is credited as being the first recorded use of the effect in stereo.
The benefit of a compressor lies in that every note played will be at nearly the same amplitude, and therefore nearly equal in volume. This will help normalize tones that are sometimes lost in the mix because of complex overtones, and it will result in a more articulate sound. Notice that if you don't pick all notes of an arpeggio at exactly the same pressure you will likely get a different sound for each note, especially if you are playing a tube amp. Tube amplifiers react dynamically to stronger and weaker signals it's the allure of them and thus the non-uniformity of picking at different strengths will be exaggerated. A compressor will fix this problem and normalize all notes of the arpeggio regardless of the player's technique and equipment, which is consequently why many soloists prefer them.
The volume pedal is about as simple as a pedal can get. It is basically an external volume knob that you work with your foot. They are an excellent way to control the volume of your rig and can be placed at different places in your guitar chain. When placed first for example it can be great for volume swells (as we will see), reducing your amp gain by acting like your guitar's volume knob. If placed after your gain section it will bring down your overall volume without reducing changing your tone or gain. You can really experiment with the placement of a volume pedal to see what matches your needs.
The Wah Wah pedal is one of the coolest guitar effects ever. Released in 1967 as the Vox Clyde McCoy. Oddly enough Clyde McCoy was a trumpet player as the pedal was to be used when amplifying the horn. Fortunately guitarists picked up on the almighty wah. The name Cry Baby has become de facto for the wah as it became the most popular. A wah is basically an active tone control that boosts lower frequencies through higher ones by using the sweep of the pedal. A guitar's tone knob is passive and just rolls off high end, the wah electronically boosts frequencies.
What are your favorite guitar effects pedals? Let us know in the comments!


text:
Encephalartos villosus ist ein Vertreter der Palmfarne (Cycadales) und gehört zur Gattung der Brotpalmfarne (Encephalartos). Das Art-Epitheton villosus bedeutet behaart und bezieht sich auf die dicht wollige Behaarung der Krone und der jungen Blätter.

Merkmale

Die Stämme sind vorwiegend unterirdisch, mehr oder weniger kugelig und ragen selten mehr als 15 cm aus dem Boden. Sie haben einen Durchmesser von 20 bis 30 cm. Durch Wurzelschösslinge bilden sich bei älteren Exemplaren vielköpfige Klumpen. Die Krone ist dicht wollig behaart. Die Wurzeln sind zahlreich, dick, knollig und kontraktil. Die Cataphylle sind dicht behaart, rund 63 mm lang und 25 mm breit.

Die meist 10 bis 20 Blätter sind aufrecht, teils gebogen, hell bis mittel glänzend grün, 1,5 bis 3 m lang, 40 bis 50 cm breit, flach. Junge Blätter sind dicht weiß behaart. Der Blattstiel ist 5 bis 25 cm lang. Die Fiederblättchen sind 20 bis 25 cm lang, 1 bis 2 cm breit, lanzettlich, sichelförmig und mit 0 bis mehreren Dornen versehen. Zur Basis hin sind die Fiederblättchen in der Länge reduziert und enden in einer Dornenreihe.

Die weiblichen Zapfen stehen einzeln bis zu viert. Sie sind fassförmig, 40 bis 50 cm lang bei einem Durchmesser von 16 bis 20 cm. Die Farbe zur Reife ist leuchtend gelb bis aprikosen-gelb. Der Stiel ist 75 bis 138 mm lang. Die Sporophylle haben eine gezähnte untere Kante, die mit dem darunter gelegenen Sporophyll überlappt. Die an der Zapfenoberfläche liegende Seite des Sporophylls ist 40 bis 63 mm hoch und 31 bis 55 mm breit. Die Sarcotesta des Samens ist zur Reife scharlachrot. Die Sklerotesta ist abgeflacht lang eiförmig, 28 bis 31 mm lang, 14 bis 17 mm im Durchmesser, mit 9 bis 12 deutlichen Längsrippe, dazwischen ein Netz von zahlreichen undeutlichen Furchen.

Die männlichen Zapfen stehen einzeln bis zu viert. Sie sind lang kegelförmig, 40 bis 60 cm lang bei einem Durchmesser von 8 bis 10 cm. Die Farbe ist fahlgelb bis gelbgrün. Der Stiel ist 6 bis 16 cm lang. Die Sporophylle sind 3 bis 3,5 cm lang. Die an der Zapfenoberfläche liegende Seite des Sporophylls ist 10 bis 14 mm hoch und 25 bis 34 mm breit. Die Sporangien bedecken die komplette Unterseite der Sporophylle mit Ausnahme eines sterilen Blattrandes.

Die Chromosomenzahl beträgt 2n = 18.

Verbreitung und Standorte
Die Art ist in Südafrika heimisch. Sie kommt von der Östlichen Kapprovinz, nahe East London, ostwärts durch Transkei und KwaZulu-Natal bis in die südöstlichen Gebiete von Mpumalanga und Eswatini. Sie wachsen im subtropischen Küstengürtel in niederen Wäldern bis in temperate Gebiete mit milden Wintern, vom Meeresniveau bis in 300 m Seehöhe. Die Niederschläge betragen 1000 bis 1250 mm jährlich, die meist im Sommer fallen.

Sie ist eine der verbreitetsten Arten Südafrikas und eine der wenigen Arten, die schattige Standorte bevorzugt. Standortverluste und das Aufsammeln von Pflanzen haben die Zahlen reduziert, die Art gilt aber noch als nicht gefährdet.

Nutzung
In Südafrika ist sie eine beliebte Gartenpflanze.

Systematik
Die nächsten Verwandten von Encephalartos villosus sind Encephalartos aplanatus und Encephalartos umbeluzensis. Mit Encephalartos lebomboensis bildet sie natürliche Hybriden, ebenso mit Encephalartos altensteinii.

Literatur
 Loran M. Whitelock: The Cycads. Timber Press, Portland OR 2002, ISBN 0-88192-522-5, S. 240 f.

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks

 Encephalartos villosus auf Cycad Pages der Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.

Palmfarne
Cycadopsida


Well taking a walk with the dog tonight I was able to get another set of pictures taken. These pictures had been taken near the parking garages at the local mall. Mall security hadn't been to pleased to find me out there with a camera at 1am though. And quickly forced me onto public property before calling the police.


text:
Q: ColdFusion Dynamic Loop with jQuery Validation Plugin Creating Dynamic Rule I am using the jQuery Validation Plugin. I have a dynamic form that is created based on 1-5 depending on what number the user chooses for the loop. I am struggling on writing the dynamic portion to make each form field work correctly on each loop.
<!--- Looping Validation --->
<script>
     $("#form").validate({
         focusCleanup: true,
         focusInvalid: false,
    rules: {
phoneNumber_<cfoutput>#Add#</cfoutput>: {
            required: true,
            validatePhone: true
        },
},
        // Same for other fields
    messages: {
phoneNumber_<cfoutput>#Add#</cfoutput>: "This field is required.",
        // Repeat for other fields
    }
});

So the first example I tried creating, the rule works but only if it loops once. If the user selects two or higher it only works on the first one and not the second or higher loops.
// Validates Phone Number
jQuery.validator.addMethod("validatePhone", function(value, element) {
    return this.optional(element) || /^(\([0-9]{3}\) |[0-9]{3}-)[0-9]{3}-[0-9]{4}$/.test(value);
}, 'Please enter valid Phone Number.');

Then I tried this and it breaks the RegEx as well as only trying to validate on the first loop as well.
// Validates Phone Number
jQuery.validator.addMethod("validatePhone", function(phoneNumber_<cfoutput>#Add#</cfoutput>) {
    var value = new RegExp("^(\([0-9]{3}\) |[0-9]{3}-)[0-9]{3}-[0-9]{4}$");
    return phoneNumber_<cfoutput>#Add#</cfoutput>.match(value);
}, 'Please enter valid Phone Number.');

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance!

A:
I am using the jQuery Validation Plugin. I have a dynamic form that is created based on 1-5 depending on what number the user chooses for the loop. I am struggling on writing the dynamic portion to make each form field work correctly on each loop.

What exactly are you talking about "looping"?  I see no looping in your code.  You cannot call the .validate() method more than once on the same form.  You only call the .validate() method one time on your form to initialize the plugin.  All subsequent calls are ignored.  The actual validation of the form data occurs automatically based on events that are automatically captured by the plugin.  A loop is not needed and would be totally useless here.
If you need to declare rules onto dynamically created field elements, you would call the .rules() method immediately after the new fields are created, and anytime after .validate().
Target all fields that "start with" phoneNumber_...
$('input[name^="phoneNumber_"]').each(function() {
    $(this).rules('add', {
        required: true,
        validatePhone: true,
        messages: {  // optional
            required: "custom message for required",
            validatePhone: "custom message for validatePhone"
        }
    });
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The coupling of design and authority in a Google search, the "internet search authority," surprisingly results in entries which have more to do with the procedural and legislative aspects related to design: The "authority" issues rules for which the product of design or the designer has to comply with, or claims privilege in shaping the design product. Authority is usually attributed to an agent of enforcement regulating products and to an extent, that those produce design. Understood as a form of legitimized power, authority is realized only by the mutual recognition of those who hold power and those who do not.
A cliché argues that Italians cannot leave their moka pots behind when they go on a holiday, or the Turkish obsessively want their tea served in a specific type of glass, Japanese cars will nev-er reach the quality level of the Germans, the Chinese are the new rulers of the world of electronic gadgets and so on. Another recounts the obsession of those who hold possession of a unique or rare object carrying the signature of a famous designer and how it's valued. How do we account for the authority of designed objects in our daily lives, or in the way we value other cultures?
Digital culture, on the other hand, independent of any geographical, national boundaries, has been enthusiastically embracing all kinds of sharing platforms and collaborative tools. Digital design culture seems to have built its own peculiar collaborative environment. This collaboration does away with authorship by way of open-source software (which are generally not de-vised by designers), or by acts like taking and modifying scripts, utilizing algorithms shared on-line by various designers. Our way of teaching is, therefore, heavily influenced by the way we learn, question, think about and produce design. Call it the "digital elimination of authorship" or the "digital design knowledge of many hands," old authorial notions of intellectual property and copyright often remain meaningless in such a collaborative environment.
In what ways do design and authority come together?
How does design exert authority?
How can design resist authority?
How does authority shape design in shaping itself, its powers?
How do products of design have authority over lives, cultures, countries, histories or how do they lose the authority they once had?
When does design become complicit with authority in creating authoritarian structures?
How does authoritarianism enforce design regimes that hold sway over the field of cultural production?
In what ways can one explain the relationship of authorship, design and authority?
Is it possible to talk about the authority of collective authorship in design?