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prevalence of depression among the elderly
prevalence of depression among the elderly prevalence of depression among the elderly Instructions attached. It is 5 full pages including some outside references. Detailed instructions are in the RUBRIC. ORDER NOW FOR CUSTOMIZED AND ORIGINAL ESSAY PAPERS depression.pdf ebp_instructions.docx pico_t__worksheet_1.docx n4325_assignment_ebp_project___finding_the_evidence.doc n4325_assignment_ebp_pr Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2014;5(3):105-111 doi: 10.15452/CEJNM.2014.05.0004 ORIGINAL PAPER FACTORS AFFECTING THE INCIDENCE OF DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY O?ga Kabátová, Alena Urí?ková, Andrea Botíková Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Work, Trnava University, Slovakia Received May 2, 2014 Accepted July 8, 2014 Abstract Depression belongs to the most severe diseases of the elderly people. Quite often, depression is not diagnosed and treated at the older age. Consequently, it leads to deterioration of the overall physical, psychological and social state of an elderly person. Aim: The goal of the quantitative research was to roughly estimate the prevalence of depression among persons who live in houses for the elderly or similar institutions and to find the factors which influence the occurrence of depression. Methods: The sample of the elderly comprised 84 individuals who were intentionally chosen. The quantitative research was based on the use of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Other statistical tests were used to evaluate the influence of individual factors on the prevalence of depression among the elderly: Pearson's chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: The GDS revealed depression in 28.6% of individuals in the tested sample. The appropriate statistical tests showed increased depression rates among the elderly who were lonely, widowed, suffering from chronic diseases or pain, and those with impaired cognitive thinking. Conclusion: Depression among individuals living in houses for the elderly or similar institutions is a grave and contemporary problem. The solution of this problem depends on the timely recognition of depression and analysis of factors which influence the prevalence of depression among the elderly. Key words: elderly, depression, GDS, nursing, risk factors. Introduction Life expectancy of the population increases rapidly (Topinková, 2005, p. 4). Mortality in Slovakia is expected to decrease in both sexes by 2050. This in turn will drive the increase of life expectancy of the population at birth (Husáková, Rievajová, 2010). It should rise to 77.13 years in males and to 84.01 years in females by 2050. Such life expectancy of the Slovak population will catch up with the life expectancy rates in the most developed countries in the world (Va?o et al., 2002). Nurses will work with more elderly people, which will impose new challenges on proper identification of the needs of the elderly, especially because these needs may change as a result of involutionary processes (Pokorná, 2010; Martinková, Lajdová, 2010). Depression is a state of pathological affect with predominantly sad mood that influences awareness, learning and emotional experience (Topinková, 2010). It is the most frequent affective disorder which occurs at the older age. Weber et al. (2000, p. 126) states that every sixth old individual who visits Corresponding author: O?ga Kabátová, Faculty of Health and Social Work, Trnava University, Slovakia, Univerzitné námestie 1, Trnava, e-mail: [email protected] © 2014 Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery a general practitioner has a varying degree of depression. The etiopathogenesis of depression is not clearly defined because it is a disease of multiple etiologies. The occurrence of depression at the older age is associated with certain factors. Thus, it is important to define such factors and to actively search for their existence in order to diagnose depression early in a patient. prevalence of depression among the elderly The most significant factors mentioned in the literature (Cole, 2003; Weber et al., 2000; Topinková, 2005) which lead to the development of depression in the elderly are previous occurrence of depression, disease, pain, disability, brain disease, cognitive impairment, drugs, death, loneliness, low socio-economic status, female gender, etc. Praško (2012, p. 45) mentions other stressful factors which are also potentially associated with depression such as a loss (of a spouse, friends, constant contact with children, career, physical health, independence), conflicts in relationships (with a spouse, children, other close people), learning to embrace a new role in life (retirement, change of social environment) and social isolation. Many of these factors are directly associated with care provided by institutions such as houses for the elderly. The main goal of care for the elderly is the 105 Kabátová O, Urí?ková A, Botíková A. maintenance of their maximum possible independence and dignity while remaining in their own homes (Ruda?ková, 2009). Individuals who cannot live by themselves or with their families due to social or medical reasons are taken care of by institutions such as houses for the elderly (Weber et al., 2000). This is associated with many risks despite the fact that the care is professional and the stay in a nursing home is the optimal solution for a particular elderly person. Care provided by an institution is one of the risk factors that lead to the development of depression (Hegyi, 2003). Depression occurs in 7– 15% of people older than 65 years who live in the community but the rates reach 20–30% among people who are either hospitalized or receive longterm nursing care (Topinková, 2010, p. 145). Depression profoundly affects the physical health, longevity and socio-economic status of a suffering individual. The treatment is available and highly effective mainly during the onset of depression. However, Weber et al. (2000, p. 126) states that only 10% of the elderly suffering from depression who are in need of a proper treatment actually receive one. Therefore, it is recommended to actively search for the elderly with developing depression in order to diagnose it early on. Also, it is recommended to particularly pay attention to vulnerable groups of the elderly in which the rate of depression is significantly higher (Raboch, La?ková, 2008). There are standardized scales for depression used for screening of depression such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) or the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) developed by Sheikh and Yesavage (Topinková, 2010). Aim The goal of this research was to roughly estimate the prevalence of depression among the elderly who live in houses for the elderly or similar institutions and to determine the risk factors and the extent of their influence on the occurrence of depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale. Methods Design The chosen design was a prospective quantitative study that used a questionnaire. Sample The sample was intentionally selected. The participants had to be 65 or more years old and they © 2014 Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2014;5(3):105-111 had to live in a house for the elderly or a similar institution. The exclusion criteria were a diagnosis of depression and treatment with antidepressants since the goal of the study was to diagnose developing depression. The sample contained 84 individuals, of whom 83.3% were women and 16.7% were men; a total of 84.5% of the participants were widowed. The subjects had various levels of education. For example, there were 29.8% of individuals with only elementary education and 14.3% with a university degree. As many as 64.3% of the participants had at least one chronic disease. Even though the participants were not equally distributed in terms of education level, individual subgroups in the sample were still statistically comparable. Data collection The data were collected using the standard GDS questionnaire filled in with each individual separately. prevalence of depression among the elderly The short form of the GDS questionnaire contains 15 questions. The evaluation of answers is done in the following way: an examined individual receives 1 point for a so-called depressive answer, which means "yes" for questions number 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 15, and 1 point for "no" for the remaining questions 1, 5, 7, 11 and 13 (Weber et al., 2000, p. 131). It takes approximately 3 minutes to fill out one questionnaire. The GDS is a simple questionnaire which is easy to use in practice. There are only two options (yes/no) which are associated with receiving 1 point for each answer depending on the question. It is capable of evaluating the current state of an elderly person and differentiating three groups of people – without depression, with minor symptoms, and those in need of a psychiatric intervention (Sheikh, Yesavage, 1986). The questions are designed to focus on symptoms of depression typical for the elderly (Tomagová, 2009, p. 313). The normal result is considered to be between 0 to 7 points (Tomagová, 2009, p. 313). However, Topinková (2005, p. 224) and Weber et al. (2000, p. 131) indicate that normal values are between 0 to 5 points. The GDS is a useful screening tool used in clinical practice in order to simplify the diagnosis of depression among the elderly. More than 5 points obtained in the GDS should be a reason for psychological examination of that particular individual. In the study, the level of cognitive functions was assessed with Folstein's Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), the level of independence with the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), the level of pain with a five-point numerical scale, and the marital status with an additional question. The data were collected from November 106 Kabátová O, Urí?ková A, Botíková A. 2013 until December 2013 in three houses for the elderly located in the Trnava Region. Data analysis The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient. The SPSS 16.0 software was used for processing and analysis of collected data. Results The prevalence of depression among the elderly is high. The present study found out that in a sample of 84 elderly people, as many as 60.7% of them suffered from some degree of depression; of those, 32.1% suffered from only a mild type and 28.6% suffered from severe depression. Various factors influence the occurrence of depression among the elderly. The present study focused on chronic disease, pain, marital status, independence and the level of cognitive thinking. The relations between cognitive impairment and independence and the occurrence of depression among the elderly The Barthel Index of ADL showed that 52.4% of the participants were independent, 19.0% were slightly dependent, 23.8% were moderately dependent, and 4.8% were completely dependent. The MMSE showed that 67.9% of the subjects had appropriate cognitive functions, 11.9% had cognitive functions just on the border between appropriate and slightly impaired, and 20.2% had mild dementia. Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a weak yet significant correlation (? = -0.225; p < 0.05) between cognitive impairment and occurrence of depression among the residents of houses for the elderly. Those with cognitive impairment demonstrated an increased prevalence of depression compared with their counterparts without cognitive impairments. The relation between independence of an elderly person and the prevalence of depression was not statistically significant (? = -0.082; p > 0.05). Therefore, it may be concluded that the prevalence of depression among the elderly is not associated with their independence. The Spearman's correlation coefficients are presented in Table 1. The relation between marital status and the occurrence of depression among the elderly Loneliness is one of the most frequent risk factors leading to depression among the elderly. The loss of a spouse is the main contributor to loneliness at older age. Therefore, it was expected that widowed © 2014 Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2014;5(3):105-111 participants would demonstrate greater prevalence of depression than the single elderly or those still living with a spouse. prevalence of depression among the elderly The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis analysis was used to test the hypothesis because of low numbers of individuals in the compared groups. The results of this test are shown in Table 2. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.003) in the occurrence of depression between the single, married and widowed elderly, with the latter having the highest GDS score. On the other hand, the married subjects had the lowest GDS score. Table 1 Cognitive impairment, independence and the occurrence of depression (n = 84) Depression Spearman's correlation coeff. p N Cognitive impairment -0.225* Independence 0.040 84 0.458 84 -0.082 p – level of statistical significance, N – relative number of individuals Table 2 Marital status and the occurrence of depression (n = 84) Marital status/depression Marital status Single Married Widowed N 6 7 71 Mean GDS score 30.50 15.93 46.13 p 0.003 N – relative number of individuals, p – level of statistical significance The relations between chronic disease and pain and the occurrence of depression among the elderly It was hypothesized that the elderly suffering from chronic disease and pain would have higher GDS scores than those without the conditions. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the hypothesis. The result, as presented in Table 3, was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The elderly with chronic disease had higher mean GDS scores. A total of 44.0% of the elderly were found to suffer from pain at the time of the study, as assessed using a five-point numerical scale for pain, with 5 representing the worst pain. The results of MannWhitney test for pain are presented in Table 4, with statistical significance of less than 0.001. The elderly with pain had significantly higher GDS scores than those without pain. 107 Kabátová O, Urí?ková A, Botíková A. Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2014;5(3):105-111 Table 3 Chronic disease and the occurrence of depression (n = 84) Chronic disease/depression Chronic disease Yes No N Mean GDS score Mann-Whitney U test Z p 53 31 47.06 34.71 580.000 -2.254 0.024 N – relative number of individuals, p – level of statistical significance Table 4 Pain and the occurrence of depression (n = 84) Pain/depression Feeling pain Yes No N 38 46 Mean GDS score 55.18 32.02 Mann-Whitney U test Z p 392.00 -4.362 0.000 N – relative number of individuals, p – level of statistical significance Discussion Depression is characterized as a syndrome consisting of sad mood and the lack of interest or enjoyment while doing the majority of daily activities. These symptoms have to be clearly distinguishable from the normal behavior of a given individual and they have to last for at least two weeks (Pokorná et al., 2013, p. 21). It has been reported that depression occurs in 15% of the elderly living at home and in 30% of persons living in houses for the elderly (Mat?jovská Kubešová, 2009). The present study found out that the prevalence of depression among the elderly reaches 60.7%, and on top of that, 28.6% of them suffer from severe depression. Holmer et al. (2006) obtained similar results in their study; Topinka and Neuwirth (1997) diagnosed depression in 50.6% of individuals living in houses for the elderly. Thus, it may be concluded that approximately a half of residents living in houses for the elderly suffer from some degree of depression. The main reason for the occurrence of depression is the stay in a house for the elderly where a person leaves his or her natural social environment behind, loses contacts with his surroundings, and has to adjust to a new routine. Studies focusing on depression show that adults who suffer from depression are equally or more likely to suffer from deterioration of bodily functions than those who suffer from chronic diseases of heart and lungs, arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes (Yan et al., 2012, p. 1143). Depression represents a severe health issue, which not only decreases the quality of life but also threatens the life itself. prevalence of depression among the elderly The occurrence of depression at the older age is undoubtedly associated with certain factors. It can be associated with physical diseases such as ischemic heart disease, hypertension, stroke, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, rheumatism, hypothyroidism, and © 2014 Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery some autoimmune diseases. Depression can even worsen the above pathologies. Physical impairments are more difficult to treat and rehabilitation after the treatment may not always be immediately available (Praško et al., 2012, p. 46). Holmer et al. (2006) and Jongelines et al. (2004) showed a statistically significant relation between chronic disease and depression (U = 580; Z = -2.254, p < 0.05). The studied individuals most frequently suffered from cardiovascular diseases, stroke, rheumatism, diabetes mellitus, and also blindness or allergies. Based on these studies, it may be concluded that the elderly who suffer from chronic diseases and consequently have deteriorated health are at greater risk of developing depression. Another risk factor contributing to the development of depression is pain. Pain may not only stimulate the development of depression, but also worsen the already present degree of depression. Pain is also a risk factor for suicide especially in those who already suffer from depression. Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional phenomenon caused by actual or potential damage of the tissue or by psychological factors. One of the possible psychological factors causing pain is depression (Topinková, 2010, p. 54). A study conducted by Jongenelis et al. (2004) found out that persons living in houses for the elderly who suffered from severe depression were affected by risk factors including pain. The study comprised 333 residents of houses for the elderly. This finding was confirmed by the present study. Cognitive symptoms represent a core of depressive impairments and influence many bodily functions of a patient. Some evidence indicates that depression increases the risk of deterioration of cognitive functions and development of a functional disability (Lebowitz et al., 1997; Charney et al., 2003). 108 Kabátová O, Urí?ková A, Botíková A. Currently, it is believed that depression mainly influences episodic memory and learning ability. Pokorná et al. (2013, p. 21) state that depression itself does not decrease the long-term level of cognitive functions, but it reduces the ability of a patient to adequately use his or her cognitive capacity. Consequently, it worsens the health of a patient, complicates the treatment and cooperation of a patient with care providers, and ultimately it negatively influences a patient's comeback into his or her regular life. A patient has most often an attention deficit, a memory deficit, awareness problems, learning and judgment problems, or a slowdown of a psychomotor activity. If the assessment of depression is not sufficient, the above symptoms may hide the symptoms of actual depression. Consequently, a patient is often considered to suffer from dementia, but in reality, he or she suffers from undiagnosed depression. This scenario is named pseudodementia. In the present study, the level of cognitive functions was tested with the MMSE. Subsequently, the relation between results of the exam and the occurrence of depression among the tested elderly was assessed. There was a significant correlation between the occurrence of depression and a decreased level of cognitive functions. Thus, it may be concluded that reduced cognitive functions increase the risk for development of depression and vice versa. Independence is defined as the ability to take care of oneself and it is influenced by the physical state of …prevalence of depression among the elderly Get a 10 % discount on an order above $ 100 Use the following coupon code : NURSING10


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India tour of Australia 2014 -15 »
Indians are not converting enough fifties into hundreds
Tags: India tour of Australia 2014 -15, India, Australia
Published on: Dec 18, 2014
India's batting in the ongoing Test series against Australia has been reasonably good, but for one factor. While a lot of them are getting starts, not enough of them are converting their starts into bigger scores
India's batting in the ongoing Test series against Australia has been reasonably good, but for one factor. While a lot of them are getting starts, not enough of them are converting their starts into bigger scores. So far, Indians have only played three innings in the series, but there seems to be a pattern developing for their batting. At Adelaide, Murali Vijay got fifties in both innings while Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane both got half-centuries in the first innings. However, when it came to going on to make hundreds, only Virat Kohli managed one in both innings.
Things have been charting a similar path at Brisbane. Murali Vijay came up with a brilliant hundred, but the rest of them top and middle order disappointed, when it came to going on after getting starts. Rahane got a second fifty in the series, but could not carry on. He has been batting exceedingly well during the series, but it would be great for India if he can go on to make big hundreds. It is what matters in Test cricket. It is not just about Rahane, but the batting of Team India in general. Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, all fell in 20s or after getting into double figures.
India need to display significant improvements in their game if they want to complete with Australia on an even level. In Test cricket, big runs is what matters. Only one player standing up and making a big hundred won't count. This is what has been happening so far in the series. Kohli got tons in both innings at Adelaide, yet India lost as the team managed scores of 441 and 315 in their two visits to the crease, falling short of Australia by a slender margin. In contrast, three Aussie batsmen registered tons in the first innings itself, which proved to be a telling difference between the two sides.
Fifties and sixties look good on the scorecard, and even enhances the average of the player, but when it comes to winning Tests, it often counts for nothing since it is equivalent to a 20 or 30 in one-day cricket. What India need to learn is to keep out the good balls. There is every chance in Australian conditions that you might get an unplayable delivery. If you perish you cannot do much about it, but if you survive, you must ensure that you make the best of it. This is where Indian batsmen have been failing. If they can work on this aspect of their game, they can certainly do better.
India's lower order and tail also needs to make good contributions throughout the series. The loss at Adelaide had a lot to do with the fact that Rohit Sharma and the batsmen to follow could not hold one end up. The wickets in both innings fell in a heap. As a result, the hard work done by the top and middle order went in vain. India often get themselves into a comfortable position during the first half of the innings, but falter in the latter half. The tail must realise that they too have a responsibility to score a few runs, or at least hang in with the specialist batsmen if there are any left.
--By A Cricket Analyst
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Home TV News Is Monica (Kelsey Asbille) Pregnant in Season 4 of Yellowstone?
Is Monica (Kelsey Asbille) Pregnant in Season 4 of Yellowstone?
Fans of 'Yellowstone' are emotionally immersed in the ups and downs of the Dutton family.
Fans adore moments that advance the Duttons' individual tales, whether it's Beth's friendship with Rip or the revelation of Jamie's son.
The show's fourth season is nearing its conclusion, and along the road, fans of Kayce and Monica's romance have received more exciting news.
The pair discusses an important family topic in the eighth episode of season 4, which alludes to Monica's pregnancy.
Is this truly the case? Is there going to be a new member of the Dutton clan? Allow us to put the record straight on this!
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Is Monica Dutton Pregnant in The Yellowstone Season 4
Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and her husband, Kayce Dutton, are having a hard relationship in the fourth season of 'Yellowstone.'
Monica is put in jeopardy after the Duttons' enemies launch a coordinated attack on the family members.
Tate, Monica's son, is compelled to intercede and shoot the assailant. The incident traumatises Tate and confirms Monica's fears that staying on the ranch is dangerous for both her kid and herself.
Monica's objections are taken into account by Kayce, who decides to relocate his family away from the ranch.
The couple finally buys a home close to the Brocken Rock Reservation. Not only does Tate return to his regular intuitive condition with a change of scenery, but Monica and Kayce's relationship also takes a turn for the better.
Kayce spends more time with his family now that he isn't so obsessed with safeguarding the property.
During this period, Kayce and Monica rekindle their romance, and it appears that the duo has some exciting news to tell.
Monica and Kayce discuss giving Tate the sex talk in the eighth episode of the fourth season, titled 'No Kindness for the Coward.'
Tate, Kayce claims, doesn't need the discussion because he grew up on a ranch. After that, the couple talks about their first date and Monica's first pregnancy.
Monica takes advantage of the situation to inform Kayce of the big news. She reveals that she is expecting a child in a vivid manner.
Monica and Kayce are pleased by the news. Tate is also informed by the pair.
That's all there is to it! There will be a new member of the Dutton family in the near future.
However, it will be intriguing to observe how Monica and Kayce as a relationship and as individuals are affected by the baby's impending arrival.
Despite their difficulties, which arise from Kayce's relationship with his family, the couple always manages to find their way back to each other.
If anything were to happen to their unborn child as a result of the Duttons' adversaries, Kayce and Monica's marriage would suffer a catastrophic blow.
For the time being, the couple's spirits are high, and their mood is upbeat as they prepare to welcome a new family member.
Is Monica Pregnant in Season 4 of Yellowstone
Is Monica Pregnant in Yellowstone Season 4?
Kelsey Asbille
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PICS: Has Kim Kardashian finally reached her weight loss goal?
Cape Town – New pics of Kim Kardashian show the reality star looking skinnier than ever before.
The photos show the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star leaving the offices of Dr Simon Ourian on Saturday, where she had a nonsurgical tummy tuck and a skin-tightening treatment just a few days before.
Kim has been posting a lot about her weight loss journey on social media and also recently revealed that her weight loss is all due to the Atkins diet and her exercise regime.
In a video posted on Kim's Snapchat earlier this week, she can be seen in a tight black dress looking in the mirror, saying, "You guys, doesn't my waist look like Photoshopped? It's so crazy, it's getting small."
Kim also shared a pic of her feet on a scale on Snapchat on Friday showing the reading at 123 pounds (55.8kg), which means she is almost at her goal weight of 120 pounds (54.4kg).


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Vision and News
Valentyn Badrak
Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies(CACDS), Ukrainian writer and security expert.
Author of several books on the psychology of success in various fields of human activity, more than 100 publications and studies on state security and defense aspects.
Oleksiy Gridin
Chairman of the Volunteer`s Council of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which brought together representatives of more than 35 civic and volunteer organizations in its ranks. Under the leadership and with his direct involvement, a number of projects focused on the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were implemented in 2016 by the Volunteer`s Council.
Serhiy Zgurets
Defense Express Media & Consulting Company, Director. Author of a series of popular books on Ukrainian weapons and military equipment.
Throughout his 20 years of expertise has been involved in a number of research and public events that have contributed to strong government security decisions.
© Ukrainian Security Studies Institute / 2023 year


There were eight students in the class -- all seniors. We talked a lot about how newspapers, and reporters' relationship with readers, have changed in recent years — and how there's likely to be even more change in the near future. We had lots of guest speakers, including Bud Kennedy, Andrea Ahles and Jeff Wilson.
The students had a mini-project for their final grade, which was to create and disseminate a video about the subject. If you have a moment, please take a look at the videos and share them with your friends. Let me know what you think. If you like one video more than the other, share that one. Or if you like them both, share equally. Part of the students' final grade is to get people to watch their video.
I suspect I learned more from the students than vice versa.


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Fruitive Grants Crystal Harper Inaugural Live Your Health Award
by Grace Silipigni | Jul 9, 2018
Fruitive's Ghent location celebrated yet another milestone on Thursday, July 5 with the presentation of its first ever Live Your Health award. Award recipient and 13News Now meteorologist Crystal Harper received a potted Calamondin tree with a custom plaque designed by local potter, William Kemp. The event was streamed live at noon on Fruitive's Instagram.
Harper, a longtime Fruitive fan, was diagnosed with cancer in May 2017. At only 25 years old, Harper underwent a series of chemotherapy treatments that often rendered her weak and breathless, but successfully declared her cancer-free in January 2018. She has since adopted a lifestyle that places health at the forefront. She returned to her former running club, North End Run Club, shortly after she defeated cancer and successfully completed her first post-cancer 5K in March 2018. She also emphasizes the significance of mental health and adopting a diet rich in organic ingredients.
"I'm so excited to work with Fruitive and bring awareness to the importance of a whole food plant-based diet. I've worked really hard to raise awareness of cancer during my battle, however it's equally important to learn what we can do to make ourselves healthy before a cancer diagnosis or to get back on track after beating cancer, and a proper diet is a huge part of that," explains Harper.
Her food philosophy is strikingly similar to that of Fruitive CEO Gregg Rozeboom. Their mirroring approaches to leading a healthy life are what initially sparked Rozeboom's interest in granting Harper the Live Your Health award.
"We're proud we can honor Crystal in this way. Her ability to thrive even after going through such an incredibly trying time deserves to be recognized," says Rozeboom. "We hope through our platform, we're also able to help raise awareness about cancer and the causes important to those who receive the Live Your Health award for years to come."
To honor Harper beyond the award, all Fruitive locations in Coastal Virginia and Washington, D.C. will instate a Roasted Red Pepper Panini to their menus throughout the month of July. The panini is a collaboration between Fruitive and Harper made with flax and spelt bread, cashew cheese, spicy aioli, roasted red pepper, zucchini, spinach and a dash of cayenne pepper. A portion of proceeds from each Roasted Red Pepper Panini purchase will benefit local nonprofit GotCUREage.
Stay up to date on more Coastal Virginia happenings by subscribing to our free e-newsletter here.
Grace Silipigni
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ALS Assisted Dying Crime Disability Japan
Two Doctors Indicted for Murder of ALS Woman, Yuri Hayashi, at Her Request
The Kyoto District Public Prosecutors Office on Thursday indicted two doctors for allegedly killing a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an intractable disease, at the victim's request.
By Barrier Free Japan, Jiji Press
KYOTO – The Kyoto District Public Prosecutors Office on Thursday indicted two doctors for allegedly killing a woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an intractable disease, at the victim's request.
The two suspects, one aged 42 and from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, an one aged 43, from Tokyo, are suspected of administering Yuri Hayashi, 51, with a drug via a gastrostomy in a conspiracy when they visited her apartment in the western Japan city of Kyoto at her request between around 5:21 p.m. (8:21 a.m. GMT) and 5:37 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2019, and causing her to die of acute drug poisoning at a Kyoto hospital around 8:10 p.m. on the day.
The two doctors were not the ALS patient's attending doctors and had never met her before their visit to her home, informed sources said. They started to exchange messages with the patient on social media at least a year before the murder, according to the sources.
A total of 1.3 million yen, believed to be a reward for the alleged assisted suicide, was remitted to a bank account of the suspect from Tokyo on two occasions right before the incident.
The patient's condition suddenly worsened after the two doctors left her home. A caregiver for Hayashi, who was in a different room at the apartment at the time, contacted her attending doctor, and the patient was sent to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead. Barbiturate sedatives were detected from her body, according to investigative sources.
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With a stay at Casa Don Gustavo Boutique Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Campeche, steps from Sea Gate and Museum of Mayan Architecture. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of Casa Número 6 Cultural Center and Campeche Library.
Make yourself at home in one of the 10 individually furnished guestrooms, featuring iPod docking stations and LCD televisions. Your room comes with a Select Comfort bed. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature designer toiletries and bidets.
Pamper yourself with onsite massages or enjoy recreation amenities such as an outdoor pool. Additional amenities at this Beaux Arts hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, wedding services, and tour/ticket assistance.
Grab a bite to eat at the hotel's restaurant, where you can enjoy drinks at a bar, take in a garden view, and even dine alfresco (weather permitting). You can also stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours). A complimentary continental breakfast is included.
Featured amenities include express check-in, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request), and free valet parking is available onsite.
Remarkable historical home of very prosperous merchant from the 18th century has been converted into an elegant luxurious hotel. Staying there was like time travel to another era.The manager Aaron was efficient and hospitable but also an expert on the history of Campeche. The dining room was charming and the food was terrific. We had a wonderful time.
Location is perfect, right in the middle of the action, but quiet and calm.
Staff is indescribable friendly and helpful, food is awesome, they have local original recipes to die for.
Anything you may like, they will do all they can to make it happen, and not as expensive as you may think considering the overall quality.
Nelly at the front desk was the best, so Frank at the restaurant and Julio who's always attentive of what he can do to make your stay a pleasant one.
This is our place while in Campeche!!
A nice experience in a first trip to Campeche, located in the heart of the historic district, walking distance from everything, a beautiful 1700 house with modern touch pampered by the friendliest staff ever, everyone at the hotel took the extra step in service to make us feel the best way possible, highly recommended ..
Beautifully decorated and well appointed boutique hotel in an old renewed building with beautiful patio.
Large rooms, separate bathroom & toilets area. Good cosmetics.
Very conveniently located in middle of the tourist area.


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Mar 25, 2016 | Posted by Craig McKenzie in Movies
Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice finally gives DC and Warner Brothers the right to add themselves to the club of having a cinematic universe. It is only two films deep but that was Marvel once upon a time and other attempt to replicate that have been unsuccessful so it is a club that only really has two members. Before I begin I'm going to refer to this film as Batman V Superman because the full title is just too long and wordy.
The title and the film both share the problem of being too long. At 2 and a half hours it's an absolute beast and it really feels as long as it is. I personally find it difficult to have a 2 and a half hour running time be justified even on films that I enjoy and this one is no exception. It doesn't earn its running time nor does it make proper use of it.
Batman V Superman is a film of two halves. The first half is far more interesting and the second half I'll come back to. As a starting point the film uses the events of Man of Steel as a springboard for what happens here. Superman is a divisive presence in the world, some people think that his help is what the world needs and others think that he has too much power to feel safe around. I liked this angle as Superman often enjoys near universal adoration in the comics so seeing uncertainty surrounding him and people being afraid of him is an interesting idea that starts to be explored well but is never really organically resolved.
Superman is facing an existential crisis because of the way the public see him as he doubts whether he actually is doing any good or not. Are his actions helping people or simply intensifying the paranoia and creating more problems? There are some great scenes where Superman wonders what he actually stands for and whether it's right for him to interfere the way he does. It gives Superman a degree of depth as a character and more for Henry Cavill to work with as a result.
I liked Cavill in Man of Steel and I like him here as well despite the fact that his Superman is a fairly bland character. As I said there is some degree of depth to him here but his crisis is never resolved and there isn't enough time spent exploring who he is as a person for any of it to come across well. The character isn't written or performed with the effortless earnestness of the Christopher Reeve incarnation so he often comes across as a function of the plot as well as a collection of ideas and principles rather than a fully realised character in his own right.
Feeding into these doubts of Superman is Bruce Wayne AKA Batman (Ben Affleck). This version of Batman is a lot older than we have seen him before and has been fighting crime for a long time with no real dent made in the criminal population. He goes out night after night and makes very little difference so there's a weariness about him that constantly comes across.
Superman represents unpredictability to Bruce Wayne. He has seen good people go bad and thinks that Superman will be no exception so takes it upon himself to make sure he's prepared to take him down.When Ben Affleck was cast I really had my doubts as I have always found him bland as an actor. It turns out that his blandness works in his favour here as there's a flatness to his performance that feels almost eerie. It's impossible to tell what he's thinking or what he might do next and that really works for this version of Batman.
I'm almost prepared to say that this is my favourite big screen version of Batman which is something I never could have predicted going into this. This version is unhinged and almost terrifying which really works for me. I've never been the biggest fan of the character but I like him being the scary guy in the shadows that is beyond understanding. I also found it interesting that every dream Bruce Wayne has is a nightmare and the suggestion that he wants to defeat Superman because he's scared of him. It is established that he overcomes his fears by taking them down so that really fits in with his hatred for Superman.
The first half of the film builds towards the title fight between Batman and Superman but there's an underlying conflict beneath that concerning their ideologies on protecting people. Superman is very much the sort of guy who swoops in to save the day and doesn't really consider what he's doing where Batman is more calculating and aware of the consequences. I really wish the film had made more of Superman being a loose cannon as that was a solid motivation for Batman to consider him a threat. He's new at the crime fighting business and has too much raw power that he seems to misuse.
I really enjoyed the visual spectacle that was the fight advertised by the title of the film but considering the hype around these two characters fighting one another the whole thing doesn't last very long. In context there's only so long it could go on for but honestly I was expecting a little bit more than we get here. Still, it's an excellent looking film as you'd expect from Zack Snyder.
Almost all plot is abandoned in the second half. Most of the character arcs started in the first half all but disappear and give way to pure action spectacle. I'm not saying the first half was lacking in action but there was plenty of interesting content surrounding the action sequences to make them feel worthwhile. To explain what goes on would be going into major spoiler territory but much of it makes sense in context despite the fact that it feels like it belongs in a different film. Perhaps this film should have been split into two parts so that the central conflicts could be resolved in the first part before giving way to the impressive action that takes up so much time here.
This film features the first cinematic appearance of Wonder Woman unless you include The Lego Movie. Gal Gadot is great in the part and her appearance is brief enough that she doesn't overpower an already overstuffed film yet significant enough that her presence feels worthwhile. She gives off a really exotic quality that fits the character well and is able to conduct herself believably in the action sequences. I'd say she's a worthy choice for this part and any doubts that people had about Gal Gadot's ability can surely be put to rest now.
Jeremy Irons' Alfred was one of my favourite additions to this cast. Alfred has been slightly altered to be more of the Q to Bruce Wayne's James Bond rather than simply his butler and confidante. It's a good change for the character and allows him to directly challenge Bruce in a way that I really haven't seen before.
Amy Adams' Lois Lane is another problem this film has as the script really doesn't know what to do with her. At first her relationship with Superman seems to be something she is struggling with as well as investigating Lex Luthor in her own way but come the second half she just seems to be there because the script says she needs to be. I wonder if this film needed her at all or if she would have been better served disappearing entirely once her role in the story is over.
Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) takes on a villain role in this story. The character was uneven to me as it seemed like both the script and Eisenberg were trying too hard to make him a quirky character which just comes across as cartoonishly immature. There are some scenes where he projects some real menace and his intelligence is never in doubt but there was something about the character that just didn't click for me. I feel that he doesn't fit in with the tone of this film so he stands out as being out of place to me.
Speaking of tone, this film has a really bleak one. I don't really want to contribute to the Marvel Vs. DC debate as there's enough of that already but in this case I feel that my upcoming comparison is a necessary one. Marvel have concentrated on building a Cinematic Universe where superheroes are largely fun and even their darker stories are handled with a fairly light touch that stops them from being too grim. I'm talking exclusively about the films here not the Netflix shows which are an entirely different entity. DC have gone for a more serious tone in their Cinematic Universe which isn't a good or bad choice, simply a different one. There is certainly room for both and the choice made by DC is valid. It all comes down to personal preference what you will personally respond to.
It's interesting to note that in the Marvel films super powers are considered to be cool things to have and people manage to have a lot of fun with them where Man of Steel and Batman V Superman portray super powers as dangerous things that have visible effects on their surroundings. Every time Superman takes off it is accompanied by a harsh sound for instance. There are other examples of the use of abilities causing unintended destruction as well.
Before I post the verdict enjoy the first comic book depiction of Batman and Superman discovering the identity of the other when they double booked a cruse ship
A long review but I'll sum up by saying that I liked it. The whole thing is too long and largely falls apart in the second half but there are some interesting ideas surrounding Superman that get some exploration and Ben Affleck might be the best big screen Batman yet. If you liked Man of Steel then you will probably enjoy this one too, though maybe bring a cushion.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice - 8/10
an impressive first half
Ben Affleck's Batman
some great visual spectacle
the whole thing being too long
a disjointed second half
Read on at your own risk!
This will be a relatively short spoiler section as there weren't many surprises that haven't already been either talked about or shown in some way so I'll keep it brief and use headings to separate out the main points.
As with Marvel this film uses some of its running time to set up future films by featuring cameos of other super heroes. We get a glimpse of Ezra Miller's Barry Allen aka The Flash, Ray Fisher's Victor Stone aka Cyborg and Jason Momoa's Aquaman in a really tacked on scene that doesn't work at all.
I'm all for setting up future movies but having Wonder Woman sit in front of a computer opening video files that show her these other metahumans it feels like having cameos for the sake of having cameos. I would rather they didn't do this at all and simply have the lightning bolt symbol -for example- be displayed to tease the appearance. Man of Steel did this well with the Wayne logo appearing in one scene. It often doesn't need to be any more than that and this film demonstrated a complete lack of subtlety with the cameos.
Anyone who has seen the trailers will know that Doomsday is in this film. In the comics Doomsday is known for killing Superman and that's about all he does. He serves no other purpose so as soon as he appeared I knew that Superman likely wouldn't make it out alive. He does the heroic sacrifice and dies a hero who protects his people but that feels at odds with the mistrust people have of Superman earlier in the film. Does his sacrifice prove that he was a hero to everyone? I doubt it considering it's Kryptonian technology that caused this in the first place so I'd have liked to see some evidence of people being glad he's dead.
I do like the idea of Batman and Wonder Woman forming the Justice League as a way to honour Superman by bringing together people with powers to keep fighting the good fight in his absence. There is also the hint of something bigger coming to make a super powered team necessary. The hint of Superman's resurrection at the end was expected as well but I'd rather have that left out.
See, I told you it'd be brief. There wasn't that much spoiler talk to be having so I kept it as brief as I could. There's a lot to like in this film and a lot to dislike as well so you can only make up your own mind.
Tags: Amy Adams, Batman, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Justice League, Lauren Cohan, Laurence Fishburne, Movies (2016), Superman, Zack Snyder
Mar 25, 2016 | Posted by Craig McKenzie in Movies | 1 comment
Comments (One Response)
31st March 16 at 12:44 pm BST
This is probably the only review of yours that I have been scared to read. As you know, I mostly agree with your opinions when it comes to the shows we watch. But.. I am a huge Batman fan and I had a feeling I wasn't going to agree with you this time.
I am writing this before I even read the review, because I have the feeling you are going to be all for Superman and completely against Batman.. I guess I'll see..
So, I was wrong.. I actually really expected you to hate Afflecks Batman, where I thought he was the perfect representation of him, especially this version of him.
I don't really know what else to say.. I guess I am sorry for jumping to conclusions, and your review was possibly spot on as usual. I have been looking forward to this movie since it was first announced and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Sure it was long, but I still loved it.
Kneel Before Blog - The Flash - The Race of his Life says:
25th May 16 at 9:15 pm BST
[…] reality from what is "supposed" to happen as it is. Does that mean that the world shown in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is an offshoot of this one? Does this also apply to the […]
Kneel Before Blog-Kneel Before Pod-Batman V Superman Ultimate Edition says:
23rd August 16 at 6:05 pm BST
[…] podcasts continue with a discussion of the divisive Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Myself (Craig), Aaron and Angus got together to discuss the recently released Ultimate Edition and […]
Kneel Before Blog - The Accountant says:
25th October 16 at 12:27 am BST
[…] never been a fan of Ben Affleck as an actor but he does a great job here. I enjoyed him as Batman because being bland and emotionless really suited his version of the character and the same applies […]
Kneel Before Blog - 5 Worst Films of 2016 (Team) says:
[…] don't think all hope is lost for the DC Cinematic Universe as I enjoyed Man of Steel and Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice so I still think there's a chance for Wonder Woman and Justice League to impress in 2017. If not […]
Kneel Before Blog - Live by Night says:
10th January 17 at 6:29 pm BST
[…] Affleck has never really impressed me as an actor -other than playing Batman or in The Accountant– so I find his directorial efforts to be something of a double edged […]
Kneel Before Blog - The LEGO Batman Movie says:
5th February 17 at 9:02 pm BST
[…] history for this film to take on. Surprisingly it references it all from the early movie serials to Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice. It's a lot of ground to cover and the film doesn't really dwell on any of it. The […]
Kneel Before Blog - King Arthur: Legend of the Sword says:
[…] vividly remember coming out of last year's much anticipated Batman vs Superman, and uttering the words "I don't think I have ever seen such a joyless movie", and for just […]
Kneel Before Blog - Wonder Woman says:
1st June 17 at 4:25 am BST
[…] DC's Extended Universe continues on with Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman; the origin story of the character that was introduced in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. […]
17th November 17 at 4:02 am BST
[…] audiences alike with Man of Steel criticised for its cavalier approach to widespread destruction, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice criticised for being overlong as well as dour in tone -among other things- and Suicide Squad being […]
[…] Craig's review of Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice […]
[…] is where the genesis of this idea came from. During the long form action sequence I was reminded of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and how that botched Superman's death by robbing it of all meaning. There just wasn't […]


text:
Q: How to remove unwanted sections theme customize area? I don't really need some sections in WordPress Apperience customize area.

For example, i want to remove, colors, and static page options sections in this area ?
How can i do ? Is that possible ?
P.S:
I just want to use, header image and Site Title & Tagline sections.
here is my code for header image option area.
$homepage_image = array(
    'width'         => 1900,
    'height'        => 872,
    'default-image' => get_template_directory_uri() . '/assets/img/home-bg.jpg',
);
add_theme_support( 'custom-header', $homepage_image );

Thanks.

A: If you use $wp_customize->remove_section('nav'); you will get a php Notice. Check https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/hooks/customize_loaded_components
and
https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/a/250368/97324

A: Not sure why you would want to remove this, but you will need to just edit the customizer.php file in your themes directory. Could you give me some background info on why you need to disable this. Maybe, we can find you a better solution. Also, check out the codex on the Theme Customizer here

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Tornado Watch, Until 3 a.m. Tonight
This evening, the National Weather Service issued the tornado watch, which runs until 3 a.m. on April 15.
According to the Watch (please see below), 13 Maryland counties, plus the city of Baltimore, have been asked to watch the tornado until early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight into tomorrow that could generate damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado. Heavy rain in thunderstorms may lead to isolated instances of flooding, the weather service says.
Tornado Watch, by the National Weather Service
Gov. Larry Hogan said: "I am asking all Marylanders to pay close attention to the updated weather forecasts for this evening and overnight. The National Weather Service is predicting severe storms, high wind gusts, and the potential for isolated tornadoes across the state. Residents should take every possible precaution, and stay indoors away from windows during thunderstorms. It is especially critical to make sure that emergency alerts are turned on in your mobile device settings."
Announcements, Weather | Fazlul Kabir April 14, 2019


text:
June 22, 1817, London
"This is a brothel?" said Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright, awed by the opulent interior of the Golden Pearl.
"Well, it isn't the theater. You, Frost, and Dare saw to it that we are not welcome until the damages have been settled," Simon Wyndham Jefferes, Marquess of Sainthill—known as Saint—replied drily. In truth, he was silently impressed with the brothel as well. One did not readily apply the words tasteful and resplendent to a nanny-house.
The establishment had been open for three days, and details about the exclusive palace of sin and its mysterious proprietress were being discussed in clubs, gaming hells, and card rooms. Every male in London was demanding admittance. Rumor had it, His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, had been granted a private tour before the Golden Pearl's massive oak doors had been officially opened, and had pronounced the experience worthy of his royal patronage. It mattered little if the tale was true. Once a few well-known gentlemen had been turned away, everyone wanted to walk through those front doors.
"Reminds me of a miniature palace," said Gabriel Housely, Earl of Rainecourt, his gaze shifting from the marble statues lining the front hall to the flesh-and-blood goddesses who were flirting with the guests while liveried footmen circulated through the rooms with silver trays laden with glasses of champagne and porter.
"Did Sin and Frost buy our admittance?" Lord Hugh, who preferred to be called Dare, wondered aloud.
All of them had acquired nicknames in their youth, both individually and collectively. Most were shortened versions of their surnames. Other names, such as Frost's, Reign's, and Sin's, were more a reflection of their true natures. The seven of them—Sin, Reign, Dare, Vane, Hunter, Frost, and himself—had been friends since they were boys, and they had honed their somewhat notorious reputations together. At some point, someone had dubbed them the Lords of Vice, and the sobriquet had stuck. In truth, they took pride in what had been delivered as an insult, and felt it was their duty to disrupt the tranquility of the wealthy and privileged world they'd had the good fortune to be born into.
"Does it matter?" Saint countered. "Knowing Sin, all that was required was for him to charm his way through the front doors."
Hunter laughed, drawing everyone's attention. At the imposing height of six feet, two inches, the handsome amber-eyed duke had already been approached by several women. "It took more than charm. I'd wager, our reputation has reached the proprietress's ears. Entertaining the Lords of Vice will only enhance the Golden Pearl's notoriety."
"As long as we don't have to thank Frost for this evening's diversion, I don't care about the details of our good fortune," Saint said, waving away the footman with a tray of champagne. His throat was dry, but he craved something stronger than sparkling wine.
Vane placed a companionable arm around him. The youngest of their group—though if one felt like quibbling, he was seventeen days older than Hunter—the twenty-two-year-old had not outgrown his youthful exuberance and annoying propensity to whine. "Agreed. We'll never hear the end of it, and I'd prefer to spend my evening with that pretty blonde near the staircase rather than listen to Frost gloating about his cleverness."
"Present him with the blonde you've been eyeing," Saint suggested, earning a few concurring murmurs from Hunter and Reign. "He'll put his clever tongue to other uses." With the intention of finding some brandy, he walked away from his friends.
Behind him, the conversation continued.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Frost and Sin have picked the best of the stable," grumbled Vane.
"Neither one of them is selfish," Reign said soothingly, leaving Saint to casually wonder if there was anything that could shake the earl's calm demeanor.
"Christ, that's the truth! I recall one evening when..."
Dare's voice faded away as Saint ascended the grand staircase. It was as magnificent as the plaster-work, marble statues, and tapestries that surrounded him. Overhead, the central relief of Adam and Eve's fall from paradise was a reminder that innocence had no place at the Golden Pearl. He nodded to several gentlemen while he slowed to admire the statues and paintings. No expense had been spared, and he silently congratulated the proprietress's astuteness to create a place that would appeal to the haughtiest aristocrat. The brothel could have passed for a nobleman's town house, and even he had to admit that he felt quite comfortable as he explored the establishment.
Once he reached the second landing, he noticed to the left that two extraordinarily large footmen stood on either side of what he assumed was a large gallery or ballroom. One of the footmen glanced in his direction, and then immediately dismissed him. These men were too large for their position. From their looks, Saint surmised they were pugilists hired to ensure that all troublesome guests were handled in a discreet and ruthlessly efficient manner. Over the years, he and the other members of the Lords of Vice had honed their fighting skills, but Saint had not joined his friends this evening to dally with a couple of ugly brutes. First, he wanted his brandy. Once he sampled the Golden Pearl's fine spirits, he would decide which of the numerous lovely females strolling about would give him a private tour upstairs.
It was then that he saw her.
The proprietress of the Golden Pearl. There were half a dozen rumors circulating about the mysterious woman, but everyone agreed that she was something of an original, who wore dresses and jewels that would gain the envy of most duchesses. However, it was the dark blue half-mask that confirmed her identity. It was said that the woman favored concealing the upper portion of her face with some sort of mask, and gentlemen were already placing wagers in the betting books on who would coax her to remove it.
Suddenly Saint wanted to be that lucky gent.
The woman was fashioned for sin. At five feet, six inches, she wore a white muslin dress with tiny bouquets embroidered into the fabric. The skirt was so sheer that at certain angles, he could see enticing glimpses of the dark blue bows that secured her stockings. Her breasts were high and firm, and a diamond-and-gold brooch was pinned between them to draw a gentleman's eye. She had a dark blue cashmere shawl draped over one of her shoulders to add color to her costume rather than modesty. Long white kid gloves sheathed her arms. As for her hair, golden blond tresses formed enchanting ringlets around her face. The back was braided and entwined with gold ribbons and pearls.
Noting his steady regard, the proprietress excused herself from her group of admirers and headed toward him. With her head held high, and a hint of a smile teasing her lips, the woman who had ensnared his attention was no shy wallflower who would wait patiently for him to approach her.
She came to him and inclined her head as she curtsied.
Her manners were as refined as the silk she wore. "Good evening, monsieur," she said in a distinctly accented voice that settled in his belly like warmed brandy.
The woman was not French; nor did she speak with an accent he had come to expect from an English noblewoman. From her lips, her voice was exotic and seductive. He held himself still, waiting for her to speak again.
She did not disappoint him. "I am Madame Venna. I saw you admiring my Golden Pearl. You are pleased with my humble efforts, oui?"
Saint could not recall a time when a female had tangled his tongue and thoughts so thoroughly. Even with the half-mask concealing the upper portion of her face, her beauty was evident. Pale flawless skin was smoothed over delicate bones that might have marked her as a noblewoman if not for her profession. Her lips were full and the hint of scarlet was designed to draw a man's eye to her mouth, which was quirked in amusement since he had not replied to her question.
He bowed. "Forgive me. I was being rude. I am Simon Jefferes, Marquess of Sainthill. And yes, I am very pleased with what the Golden Pearl has to offer."
Madame Venna smiled, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Merci. You are too kind."
She glanced over his shoulder and raised her gloved hand. Before Saint could turn, one of the footmen was at his side with a glass of brandy.
This was a woman who could anticipate his desires before he uttered them. A man could fall in love with such a beautiful and insightful creature.
"How did you know?"
"It is my business to anticipate my patrons' needs," she said simply. "What ever you require, the Golden Pearl will attempt to grant it."
Saint stepped closer. "And if my fondest desire is you?" he asked, feeling emboldened by her frank perusal.
A gent sensed when he had captured a woman's interest, and he suspected that the woman before him rarely denied her own carnal appetites.
Madame Venna's smile dimmed. "I must regretfully decline. The Golden Pearl places many demands on me. It would be foolish of me to place my needs above those of my patrons, no?"
"What if I was willing to generously compensate you?"
She sighed and shook her head. "You tempt me, monsieur le marquis. Still, I must decline. Now if you will excuse me, there are other tasks that need my attention." She curtsied. "With your permission, I will send several of my best girls to amuse you."
Without thinking, Saint caught Madame Venna by the elbow to prevent her from dismissing him.
Immediately he felt the narrowed gazes of the two burly footmen who were probably striding toward them with the intention of breaking his fingers for touching their mistress. He abruptly released her and stepped back. Over the years, the Lords of Vice had been tossed out of several respectable establishments for brawling. It would be a pity if they had to add a brothel, albeit a fancy one, to the list.
He bowed his head. "The brandy will suffice, Madame Venna. I can find my own amusements."
"Of this, I have little doubt." She hesitated and offered him an endearingly coy smile. "Enjoy your evening, Marquis de Sainthill."
Saint watched as Madame Venna approached her guards and assured them that all was well. One of fake footmen glared at him, but he returned to his post with his companion.
The heavy clap of a palm against his upper back managed to startle him out of his stupor. His mouth flattened into a grim line as he turned to confront his unwelcome companion.
It was Sin.
The gent's cravat appeared to be hastily tied, and his black hair was slightly disheveled. "Where the devil have you been? Frost procured several of the private rooms and managed to invite half of the brothel's occupants. It's quite a crush. Are you joining us or did you happen to settle on a wench?"
Saint glanced about the ballroom and saw no sign of the mysterious proprietress of the Golden Pearl. Oh, he had found the woman he wanted, and whether or not she was willing to admit it, the attraction was mutual. He was confident that in time he would coax her into his bed, but this evening he accepted his defeat.
Not one to sulk, he said, "Half the brothel, you say?"
Sin tipped back his head and laughed. The young marquess's eyes were full of mirth and mischief. "And most of them female. It will be an evening you shall not forget."
"Of this, I have no doubt," Saint replied, deliberately echoing Madame Venna's words. Whatever was between him and the proprietress, it was only the beginning.
From one of the balconies, Madame Venna observed Lord Sainthill and his friend's departure. Her interest in the marquess did not go unnoticed by her companion.
Anna Walters leaned forward, giving anyone who was glancing heavenward a revealing glimpse of her breasts. "Very handsome. Perhaps I should join their private celebration and introduce myself. Either one would suit me. Or both, if they prefer."
Madame Venna's stomach clenched at the thought of her friend offering herself to the marquess. It took her a second to adequately describe what she was feeling.
Jealousy.
Had she gone mad? Anna was one of her closest friends. No man had ever come between them, and she refused to start with the marquess. After all, she had barely spoken to the man. Appalled at her reaction, she acknowledged her friend's comment with a monosyllable, "Hmm."
"Abram tells me they are connected to a club called Nox. The fancy even have a name for these men. They are the Lords of Vice."
Madame Venna shrugged, pretending the information meant little to her, even though she longed to hear more details about Sainthill and his friends. Since it was possible that someone might overhear their conversation, it would be reckless to drop her guard. "With such a sobriquet, they will be regular patrons of the Golden Pearl, no?" she said, her mind already considering the possibilities of forming some kind of business arrangement with the gentleman. Perhaps Nox had use of her girls, just as she had use of the Lords of Vice's abundant wealth.
"What are you planning to do about Lord Sainthill?"
So Anna knew the marquess's name. The half-mask she was wearing managed to conceal her surprise. "Why, nothing at all," she said coolly.
Anna shook her head in disappointment. Madame Venna should have known her friend would see through such an obvious lie. "I saw how Sainthill was staring at you. If he could have gotten you alone, he would have done more than touched you on the arm. The man looked as if he wanted to devour you." She grinned. "And for once, you wouldn't have had to pretend to enjoy it."
"You exaggerate," Madame Venna said, her accent thickening as her throat tightened at the thought of the marquess pushing her into the nearest alcove and thoroughly ravishing her.
The brief moment his hand had gripped her arm, she'd felt the heat and strength emanating from him. It shamed her to admit that if they had been alone, she would have encouraged him to caress other parts of her body.
"And I saw how you were looking at him, Catherine," Anna said quietly.
Madame Venna bowed her head and closed her eyes. "It makes little difference. To indulge in an affair with Lord Sainthill or any patron invites scrutiny, and I have invested too much into the Golden Pearl to toss it away to satisfy my—curiosity." Her lips softened at her friend's concerned expression. "Do not fret, Anna. Men like the marquess are only thinking of their next conquest. Make certain our girls keep him and his friends distracted. Sainthill will seek his amusements elsewhere."
Even as she uttered the assurance, Madame Venna knew that she was lying to her friend.
Her instincts were warning her that Lord Sainthill was definitely going to be a problem.
Copyright © 2012 by Alexandra Hawkins


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Meanwhile, businesses have partnerships ALL THE TIME without divulging them: product placement in movies, magazines "reviewing" beauty products, etc.
Everything looks delicious! Princess Bride quote ftw!
Congratulations on the 15 lbs. lost!!!!
So glad to see more recipes! Every time I make something you suggest (salt and vinegar fingerling potatoes I LOVE YOU) it is a big hit! Matt did Weight Watchers last year and we found the online recipes to be tasty, realistic and delicious. I wasn't a fan of the portion sizes but since I was eating half a jar of peanut butter while Matt was at work, it turned out OK in the end-he lost 50 lbs and I got pregnant.
PS a Princess Bride reference makes my day, every time.
ohmygoodness that unicorn disclosure has me rolling on the floor laughing my head off. for reals.
also? that is some yummy looking food.
Well it's about damn time. I haven't eaten since the last time you did this.
I am going to make #1 this week! Yummmm.
Thank you for always entertaining me. I have several WW books and was even on their program for a bit last year. I lost 9 lbs and then fell off the wagon. Congrats on 15 lbs!


Is it just me, or does it feel like prepping meals for the family never ends? I chop, cook, wash, beg my kids to eat, and then begin the whole process over for the next meal. But here's the thing: I've started using some genius time-saving hacks — and, you guys, I'm slaying meal-prep now. Check out these tips and see if any of them might be game changers for you, too.
1. Add sheet pan dinners to your meal rotation. Cooking an entire meal on a cookie sheet is a genius way to cut down on your dirty dishes and active cooking time — and there are so many delish dishes you can make this way.
2. Whip up dinner in a slow-cooker. There are countless kid-friendly crock pot recipes, and many of them don't take much prep work at all. The food cooks throughout the day and by dinnertime, your meal is ready!
3. Rely on make-ahead breakfasts. If you're like me (super stressed out by morning multi-tasking), make breakfast ahead of time and save yourself the AM headache. There are tons of options, from overnight oats to hash brown and egg cups.
4. Use meal planning apps. They're an easy way to save time on grocery lists and shopping. These apps are also a great place to store fave recipes and cull your weekly meal plan with a few taps of your finger.
5. Prep your produce ASAP. Ideally, wash and chop fruits and veggies as soon as you get home from the grocery store. Sounds like a pain but it'll save you so much time on meal and even snack prep.
6. Make healthy snacks ahead. By having baggies of healthy snacks on hand, you'll be less tempted to reach for unhealthy processed foods when hunger strikes. Think jars of fruit or veggie sticks in the fridge, or baggies with portioned crackers, dried fruit, and nuts.
7. Cut up food with kitchen shears. If you're preparing meals for young kids who'll need you to cut the food on their plates for them, kitchen shears are so much faster than cutting with a knife and fork. Snip the meal into bite-sized nibbles in no time.
8. Sign up for a meal kit service. It will take the guesswork out of what to make every night, and the recipes are so easy to follow that kids can usually help. Plus, you can add the recipes you love to your regular dinner rotation!


text:
WIDREM Backs Capacity Building & Mentorship Programs
A research organization, Women in Infectious Diseases and Health Research Network in Malawi, WIDREM says enhancing capacity building and mentorship programs is crucial in developing the career of female scientists in the country.
WIDREM leaders at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, KUHES, Dr. Lucinder Manda Taylor, and Fatsani Ngwalangwa observe that there is a need to push for more female scientists, as statistics indicate that only 30 percent of scientists in Malawi are women.
Last modified on Monday, 06/09/2021
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text:
SCHEDULE TO
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)
OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. 1 )
EMERALD DAIRY INC.
(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Warrants to Purchase Common Stock
Having An Exercise Price of $0.94, $1.50, $2.04 and $3.26 Per Share
(Title of Class of Securities)
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Shu Kaneko
11990 Market Street, Suite 205
Reston, Virginia 20190
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications on behalf of filing person)
With a copy to:
Jeffrey A. Rinde, Esq.
Hodgson Russ, LLP
1540 Broadway, 24th Floor
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE:
Transaction Valuation (1)
Amount of Filing Fee (2)
Estimated for purposes of calculating the amount of the filing fee only. Underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11(b)(2) and 0-11(a4). Because there is no market for the securities, the value has been based upon the book value of the common stock of the Company, $0.46.
The amount of the filing fee was calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and equals $39.30 for each $1,000,000 of the value of the transaction.
x Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
Amount Previously Paid: $145.00
Form or Registration No.: Schedule TO-I File No. 5-83204
Filing Party: Emerald Dairy Inc.
Date Filed: April 24, 2008
¨ Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:
¨ third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.
x issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.
¨ going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.
¨ amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: ¨
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO TENDER OFFER STATEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to Tender Offer Statement amends and supplements the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (as amended, the "Schedule TO") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 24, 2008, by Emerald Dairy, Inc. Emerald Dairy has made an offer to holders of all currently outstanding warrants to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share ("Common Stock"), the opportunity to voluntarily amend their warrants upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Offer to Amend and Exchange and the related Election Form attached to Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1) and (a)(4), respectively. As of April 24, 2008, there were outstanding: (i) warrants to acquire 373,334 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.94 per share, (ii) warrants to acquire 1,333,333 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share, (iii) warrants to acquire 1,374,230 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.04 per share, and (iv) warrants to acquire 4,907,973 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.26 per share, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Amend and Exchange Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Offer to Amend and Exchange.
Items 1 through 9 and 11
Items 1 through 9 and 11 of the Schedule TO, which incorporate by reference the information contained in the Offer to Amend and Exchange, are hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
The Expiration Date of the Offer has been extended to Midnight Eastern Time, on Monday July 28, 2008. In order to reflect the extension of the Expiration Date of the Offer, "May 28, 2008" shall hereby be replaced in the Offer to Amend and Exchange, as appropriate, with "July 28, 2008".
Item 10 Financial Statements
The financial statements included as Item 7 in Emerald Dairy's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the annual period ending December 31, 2007, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Exhibits
Exhibit 99.(a)(1) is amended (i) to delete all references to the expiration date of the offer as May 28, 2008 and to replace such date with "July 28, 2008", (ii) to delete in its entirety, section 16, entitled "Forward Looking Statements" and (iii) to delete in its entirety the paragraph with the heading "IRS Circular 230", which is a part of section 13 entitled "Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences".
All references to "May 28, 2008" as the expiration date of the offer in Exhibits 99.(a)(2) through (4) incorporated by reference as Exhibits to the Schedule TO are hereby replaced with "July 28, 2008".
*99.(a)(1)
Offer to amend and exchange
Cover letter to warrant holders
Instructions to warrant holders
Election Form
** 99.(a)(6)
Press Release announcing extension of Tender Offer
**99.(a)(7)
Letter to warrant holders regarding amendment of Tender Offer
Previously filed.
Filed herewith
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
EMERALD DAIRY, INC.
/s/.
(Name)
(Date)
EXHIBIT INDEX


Put everything in a glass and refrigerate for at least one hour. Shake well, remove beans, and serve straight up.
Fill glass with ice. Pour grenadine over ice; add bourbon. Pour remaining ingredients into a blender-jar and mix well. Slowly pour mixture into hurricane glass. Add a peach slice to the edge of the glass.


text:
New job, system approved to track NH rape kits
By Holly Ramer, Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) � New Hampshire will implement a new system to keep track of evidence in sexual assault cases after finding that nearly 600 rape kits had not been submitted to the state crime lab.
The Executive Council on Wednesday approved a $104,000 federal grant for a Justice Department position and automated system to track the handling of sexual assault kits. When the state applied for the grant in May, there were 582 kits in more than 90 police departments that hadn't been sent to the lab.
The organization that trains nurses to examine victims estimates 300 kits are collected each year. It called the backlog unacceptable.
Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said he wants to be proactive and doesn't put New Hampshire in the same category as other states that have enormous backlogs.


Next month's Licensing Expo 2016 will kick off with a keynote discussion from leading executives from three top toy companies on the role that content creation is now playing within the toy industry.
The hour-long keynote session, titled 'Toys to Content: Where Do We Go From Here?' takes place Tuesday, June 21st, from 8am to 9am at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Taking part in the discussion will be Simon Waters, general manager and SVP entertainment and consumer Products at Hasbro, Laura Zebersky, chief commercial officer at Jazwares and Susie Lecker, chief brands officer, Toy Box Division at Mattel.
LIMA SVP Marty Brochstein will moderate the keynote discussion, which is open to all registered Licensing Expo exhibitors and attendees.
The keynote panel is part of LIMA's Licensing University programme that begins on Monday, June 20th with the Digital Media Licensing Summit, and run through to Thursday, June 23rd.
Each session is designed to help attendees acquire new strategies and develop innovative ideas.
"We're very excited about this year's line-up of Licensing University topics and speakers, highlighted by our keynote panel," said LIMA president Charles Riotto.
For an up-to-date schedule of sessions and to register for Licensing University, visit the Licensing Expo website.


I'm all for company perks; the Guardian has a lovely canteen and offers a cycle to work scheme (of course it does). It also offers a good parental leave package.
Like all things in life, however, there are fashions for employee perks – and enhanced parental leave and flexible hours are so last season. What a working woman really wants, according to Apple and Facebook, is the opportunity to freeze her eggs.
The tech giants have both added this extra to staff packages, allowing the lucky women who work for them to undergo highly invasive medical treatment in return for putting off family life so they can continue to work really, really hard in a sector where they have a less than 10% chance of making it to the top.
If I'm being broad-minded I can see why both companies might think this new perk is the answer to their – and their female staff's – prayers. They've analysed the stats and they've seen that they're losing the most women from their organisations around the time when they have children.
But they've missed the point. They lose women partly because the job-family juggling act that is now their life prevents them from giving the commitment necessary to make it to the board. Apple may have paid lip service to this with longer parental leave, but that still doesn't help women who have returned to work and and are trying to climb the ladder while being an at-least-half-present mother.
By telling their female staff to hold off on having babies, these companies are demanding their employees put them before everything else, before their families, before their health. Rather than saying, "have your children in your own time and we'll support you with well-paid parental leave and subsidised childcare", they're saying, "work really hard through your most fertile years and then when you may not be able to have kids anymore, you can give it a shot with the eggs we froze for you as a perk".
Apparently, Apple's head of HR asked staff what benefits they'd most appreciate. What a strange list of tickbox options that would have been: shorter working week, more flexibility, better pay, egg freezing. Who was picking the latter? Probably not the women at Apple who already have children and are trying to make a career work around them. Wouldn't creche facilities or childcare supplements have been more helpful? This isn't a benefit created to make life better for working women, it's a threat. Have children at the wrong time and accept that your career is over.
I'm sure there are some women for whom this benefit will be a bonus they're pleased about. I wonder how many are booking appointments at the fertility clinic not because they want to focus on spreadsheets but because they simply haven't yet found the right partner. But if being a working mother is hard, being a single working mother is even harder.
When are we going to wake up and realise that great employees want to be able to blend their work life with their home life, rather than another opportunity to focus entirely on their career? If you're an ambitious woman or man you know that sometimes work is going to come before family. But wouldn't it be nice if in return it was totally acceptable to leave work early to pick your kids up from school, or for a sports day to take precedence over a board meeting? I'm sure the employees at Apple and Facebook are driven and determined individuals but asking them to risk their health and future family to keep their nose to the grindstone for a few extra years feels like a toddler's tantrum - unreasonable and illogical.
Technology companies may offer generous maternity benefits, but do women workers get an incentive not to have children?