This inspection took place on 12 July 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.
As part of the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service, including notifications. A notification is information about events that by law the registered persons should tell us about. We reviewed feedback from the commissioners of people's care to find out their views on the quality of the service. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection, we spoke with one person who used the service and four relatives. We also spoke with the manager, the deputy manager and four staff.
We observed the delivery of care and support provided to people living at the location and their interactions with staff. We reviewed the care records of two people and three staff files, which included pre-employment checks and training records. We also looked at other records relating to the management of the service including complaint logs, accident reports, monthly audits, and medicine administration records.


Help the youth raise money - enjoy all you can eat soup and grilled cheese sandwiches!
corn chowder, chili, crawfish bisque, broccoli cheddar soup, red beans and rice, and taco soup. And once again this year, we'll have John Meek and his famous grilled cheese sandwiches!
$7.00 per person or $25 for families of 4 or more.
Jesus, homemade soup, and football... All in one day! How much better can it get? I'll tell you.
We will also auction off the youth for a donation. You need yard work or spring cleaning done? We have just the right youth at just the right price! Bid on your favorite youth for your job!


text:
Geografia
Saint-Tropez, famosa città della Costa Azzurra.

Televisione
Saint Tropez è una soap francese dal titolo originale Sous le soleil (Sotto il sole).

Cinema
Saint Tropez - Saint Tropez è un film del 1992, diretto da Castellano e Pipolo.

Musica
 Saint Tropez – gruppo musicale francese
 San Tropez – brano musicale dei Pink Floyd dal loro album del 1971 Meddle
 Saint Tropez – brano musicale dei Dusty Trails dal loro album del 2000 Dusty Trails

Altro
 San Torpé, conosciuto anche come Saint Tropez, santo pisano martirizzato da Nerone.
 St. Tropez – marca di autoabbronzanti

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Teenage girls most often victims of unwanted sexual advances
Lily Tran, Feature Editor
It isn't easy being a girl — especially a teenage girl. Teen females have to deal with developing bodies, menstruation and, unfortunately, sexual harassment.
"More than half of all female students from grades seven through 12 were sexually harassed at school," a 2011 study by the American Association of University Women said.
It's a sad reality: teen females are easy targets for sexual harassment. Finding a teen girl who hasn't been catcalled or been the target of inappropriate comments is rare.
"I hear guys in the hall hollering and hooting at a girl, saying how much they want to tap that and grab that," senior Hallie Briscoe said.
Not everyone agrees on the root causes of sexual harassment: some people place the blame on the victim, while others blame the harassers.
"It's the way [girls] dress," junior Huy Nguyen said. "Whatever they put on, like crop tops in winter, it's for attention. It's just a natural thing that males do."
"I started dressing in more baggy clothing because if I wear tight clothes, I know people are going to look and say something," Briscoe said.
Apparently, the problem isn't that boys have a lack of self-control. The problem is obviously that girls dedicate their entire existence to tempting boys to sexually harass them with their wardrobe.
"Teen females are young and vulnerable and that makes them easy targets," Briscoe said.
Harassers latch onto vulnerability and expect that the girl won't fight back.
"Some guys feel like a girl can't protect herself or tell them off," senior AJ Fuentes said.
"It's just easy for guys to make comments and most girls will just internalize [the harassment] and keep it to themselves," senior Samantha Maynard said.
However, silence seems to prompt harassers to continue their actions.
"If the girl steps up and tells the guy how she feels and just matches their level of intensity and persistence, the guy will just go away," Fuentes said.
Sexual harassment is a very real fear for many girls. It happens so often that people are blind to it. The problem is that males don't actually understand that some of their actions actually constitute as sexual harassment.
In an informal poll conducted by "The Bruin Voice," 36 out of 50 high school males could not correctly define what constitutes sexual harassment. Seventy-two percent of the 50 males surveyed did not understand the line between sexual assault and sexual harassment.
"Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature," the Sexual Assault and Prevention Awareness Center said on their website.
The site also provides examples such as "unwanted sexual statements, which can include dirty jokes, comments on physical attributes, spreading rumors about or rating others as to sexual activity or performance, talking about one's sexual activity in front of others and displaying or distributing sexually explicit drawings pictures and/or written material."
Unwanted personal attention like pressure for sexual/romantic favors or dates, letter and telephone calls and unwanted physical or sexual advances like touching, fondling and touching oneself sexually for others to view are among the other examples.
"I know a lot of girls who have been sexually harassed," Maynard said. "Most of them haven't shared their stories because they're embarrassed."
"Girls stay quiet because other people will judge them about it," junior Juliana Pena said.
"[Being harassed] lowers your confidence," Briscoe said. "It made me feel dirty and it made me want to cover up head to toe because I didn't want them to look at me."
Some believe that sexual harassment has become so normalized to males that they don't even realize that their actions or the actions of their peers constitute as sexual harassment.
"[Males] are so surrounded by sexual things," Briscoe said. "They have their [porn] videos, aggressive lyrics in songs and so many things that just downgrade women. They think, 'If it's okay in here then why wouldn't it be okay in real life?'"
Lily Tran, Feature Editor, Staff Writer
Alohamora. That's the opening spell in the wizarding world, so it's perfect to open up my introduction. Please, call me Lily. I am a senior who is co-captain of the Varsity cheer squad. I am also...
Dear Santa: Covid – the gift that just keeps giving
Dear Santa: let me #livelaughlove
Dear Santa: skip my house
Dear Santa: i want to exploit my passion for money
Dear Santa: I'm not letting a fat man sneak into my chimney
Dear Santa: if Kanye can do it, so can you
Dear Santa: just a few months of happiness
Dear Santa: don't forget my PS5
Dear Santa: I need robux NOW
Dear Santa: happy endings aren't for everyone

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: GLSURFACEVIEW SAVE to PNG - ERROR glReadPixels I am trying to render the output of a glsurfaceview to a PNG on the sdCard and am having some  issues. I have spent a few days trying to sort through similar SO queries and this is simply above my level of expertise. Can someone pls help me sort thru the Logs below and see where I might be going wrong.
Many thanks.
Log:
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864): FATAL EXCEPTION: GLThread 2712
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864): java.nio.BufferUnderflowException
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at java.nio.Buffer.checkGetBounds(Buffer.java:177)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at java.nio.DirectByteBuffer.get(DirectByteBuffer.java:66)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at java.nio.IntToByteBufferAdapter.get(IntToByteBufferAdapter.java:105)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at java.nio.IntBuffer.get(IntBuffer.java:234)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at com.research.glgrade.GLLayer.grabPixels(GLLayer.java:865)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at com.research.glgrade.GLLayer.saveScreenShot(GLLayer.java:810)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at com.research.glgrade.GLLayer.onDrawFrame(GLLayer.java:794)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at android.opengl.GLSurfaceView$GLThread.guardedRun(GLSurfaceView.java:1527)
12-16 12:09:18.831: E/AndroidRuntime(29864):    at android.opengl.GLSurfaceView$GLThread.run(GLSurfaceView.java:1240)
12-16 12:09:26.849: I/Choreographer(29864): Skipped 478 frames!  The application may be doing too much work on its main thread.

Here is my current code:
From Main Activity :
GlobalVariables.setPrint("true");
mView.requestRender();

From Render Class
public void onDrawFrame(GL10 glUnused ) {
GLES20.glClear(GLES20.GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GLES20.GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);
    final String vertexShader = getVertexShader();
    final String fragmentShader = getFragmentShader();

    final int vertexShaderHandle = ShaderHelper.compileShader(
            GLES20.GL_VERTEX_SHADER, vertexShader);
    final int fragmentShaderHandle = ShaderHelper.compileShader(
            GLES20.GL_FRAGMENT_SHADER, fragmentShader);

    mProgramHandle = ShaderHelper.createAndLinkProgram(vertexShaderHandle,
            fragmentShaderHandle, new String[] { "a_Position",
                    "a_TexCoordinate" });

    // Set our per-vertex lighting program.
    GLES20.glUseProgram(mProgramHandle);
            // Set program handles for cube drawing.
    mMVPMatrixHandle = GLES20.glGetUniformLocation(mProgramHandle,
            "u_MVPMatrix");
    mTextureUniformHandle0 = GLES20.glGetUniformLocation(mProgramHandle,
            "u_Texture0");
    mTextureUniformHandle1 = GLES20.glGetUniformLocation(mProgramHandle,
            "u_Texture1");

            GLES20.glActiveTexture(GLES20.GL_TEXTURE4);
            // Bind the texture to this unit.
    GLES20.glBindTexture(GLES20.GL_TEXTURE_2D, mTextureDataHandle4);
            // Tell the texture uniform sampler to use this texture in the shader by
            // binding to texture unit 3.
    GLES20.glUniform1i(mTextureUniformHandle4, 4);

    // Draw some cubes.
    Matrix.setIdentityM(mModelMatrix, 0);

    Matrix.translateM(mModelMatrix, 0, mTransX, mTransY, mAngle*0.05f);
    Matrix.rotateM(mModelMatrix, 0, 0.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f);
    drawCube();

    int width_surfacea =  width_surface ;
        int height_surfacea = height_surface ;

    if ( GlobalVariables.getPrint() != "false" ) {

        String mFrameCount = "1";
        saveScreenShot(0, 0, width_surfacea, height_surfacea, "/save/test.png");
        GlobalVariables.setPrint("false");

    }

}

    public void saveScreenShot(int x, int y, int w, int h, String filename) {

    Bitmap bmp = grabPixels(x, y, w, h);

    try {
        String path = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/" + filename;

        File file = new File(path);
        file.createNewFile();

        FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(file);
        bmp.compress(CompressFormat.PNG, 100, fos);

        fos.flush();

        fos.close();

    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

public Bitmap grabPixels(int x, int y, int w, int h) {

    int screenshotSize = w * h;

    ByteBuffer bb = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(screenshotSize * 3);
    bb.order(ByteOrder.nativeOrder());
    bb.position(0);
    GLES20.glReadPixels(0, 0, w, h, GLES20.GL_RGB, GLES20.GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, bb);
    int pixelsBuffer[] = new int[screenshotSize];

    bb.asIntBuffer().get(pixelsBuffer);
    bb = null;

    Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap(w, h, Bitmap.Config.RGB_565);

    bitmap.setPixels(pixelsBuffer, screenshotSize-w, -w, 0, 0, w, h);

    pixelsBuffer = null;

    short sBuffer[] = new short[screenshotSize];
    ShortBuffer sb = ShortBuffer.wrap(sBuffer);
    bitmap.copyPixelsToBuffer(sb);

    //Making created bitmap (from OpenGL points) compatible with Android bitmap
    for (int i = 0; i < screenshotSize; ++i) {
        short v = sBuffer[i];
        sBuffer[i] = (short) (((v&0x1f) << 11) | (v&0x7e0) | ((v&0xf800) >> 11));
    }
    sb.rewind();
    bitmap.copyPixelsFromBuffer(sb);

    return bitmap;

}

A: You have array length mismatch.
The line of code:
 bb.asIntBuffer().get(pixelsBuffer);

Causes an exception because the length of bb.asIntBuffer() is only (w*h*3) while the length of pixelsBuffer is w*h*4 (of course I am speaking about bytes).
So the get() throws an exception as it should (according to the docs)
http://developer.android.com/reference/java/nio/IntBuffer.html#get%28int[]%29
Update:
Try this code (warning: I haven't even try to compile it):
public Bitmap grabPixels(int x, int y, int w, int h) {

    // Allocate byte array of H*W size assuming that we retrieve only R,G and B values
    ByteBuffer byteBuffer = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(screenshotSize * 3);
    byteBuffer.order(ByteOrder.nativeOrder());
    byteBuffer.position(0);
    // Read RGB values to our byte array
    GLES20.glReadPixels(x, y, w, h, GLES20.GL_RGB, GLES20.GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, byteBuffer);

    //Now we need to convert the 24bit RGB data to ARGB8888 format
    // I like arrays, they are honest :)
    byte[] pixelBuffer = byteBuffer.array();
    // This is an array that we going to use as backend for the bitmap
    int[] finalPixels = new int[w*h];
    // Let the magic flow
    int j = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < pixelBuffer.length; i += 3) {
        byte red = pixelBuffer[i];
        byte green = pixelBuffer[i+1];
        byte blue = pixelBuffer[i+2];

        finalPixels[j++] = 0xFF000000 | ((int)blue << 16) | ((int)green << 8) | red;
    }

    // Create a bitmap of ARGB_8888
    return Bitmap.createBitmap(finalPixels, w, h, Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888);
}

A: Sample code for extracting frames from an MPEG file can be found on bigflake.  The video frames are rendered with GL, and the saveFrame() function uses glReadPixels() and Bitmap to save it to disk as a PNG.
There are some fairly significant performance pitfalls that you need to be aware of; see comments in saveFrame() for some notes about how best to use NIO.  You'll also want to make sure your EGLConfig matches your pixel read format (glReadPixels() may get very slow if the source and destination formats aren't the same).
Update: there's now a slightly more general implementation in Grafika -- see EglSurfaceBase#saveFrame().

A: I think ByteBuffer bb = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(screenshotSize * 3); is wrong.
It should be ByteBuffer bb = ByteBuffer.allocateDirect(screenshotSize * 4);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Banquet in a Box supply exclusive, gourmet meals and dishes. Our dishes are carefully chosen for the superior quality and their taste and texture. You cannot buy these dishes in a supermarket � they are individually hand-prepared and air-blast frozen. This is restaurant-quality food, but in the comfort and convenience of your own home.
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Absolutely hassle-free, delicious and delivered direct to your door. Perfect for your special day.


text:
Bengals-Broncos Finale Is ESPN's Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed "Monday Night Football" Game in 2015
ESPN spins the numbers for Monday, December 28 and the season to date.
[via press release from ESPN]
MNF Helps ESPN Win the Night on 13 of 16 Mondays This Fall
This week's ESPN Monday Night Football season finale - a Denver Broncos' 20-17 overtime victory over the Cincinnati Bengals - delivered a 9.4 US rating and 15,806,000 viewers, based on Nielsen ratings, giving ESPN its highest-rated and most-viewed MNF telecast of the season. The game peaked from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET with an 11.2 rating and 18,580,000 viewers.
ESPN led all networks (broadcast or cable) in viewers, households and all key male and adult demos, while MNF led all the night's programs in those same categories.
In Cincinnati, the game delivered a 15.6 rating on ESPN and a 28.6 on WLWT-NBC, for a combined 44.2 rating in the market. In Denver, the game delivered a 17.7 rating on ESPN and a 24.3 on KTVD-IND, for a combined 42.0 rating in the market.
2015 MNF Season Highlights
ESPN's presentation of the 46th season of MNF (17 telecasts in 16 weeks) in 2015 averaged an 8.1 US household rating, 9,392,000 households and 12,898,000 viewers (P2+), according to Nielsen.
·	ESPN won the night all 16 weeks of the 2015 MNF season among all key male demos and adults 18-34 and 18-49; ESPN won the night 14 weeks among households and 13 weeks among viewers.
·	ESPN's MNF was the No. 1 telecast of the night all 16 weeks of the 2015 MNF season among key male demos and adults 18-34; 15 weeks among adults 18-49.
·	Top-10 metered markets for the MNF season: Las Vegas (14.0), New Orleans (13.0), Denver (12.3), San Diego (12.2), Norfolk, Va. (12.1), West Palm Beach (11.8), Richmond (11.5), Seattle (11.4), Dayton (11.2) and Phoenix (11.1).
The 2015 season is ESPN's 10th year presenting Monday Night Football.
This season, MNF games on ESPN Deportes averaged 0.3 Hispanic Household rating with 47,000 Hispanic Household impressions and 69,000 Hispanic viewers (P2+). The highest-rated game of the season was 49ers-Vikings on Sept. 14 (0.5 Hispanic Household rating with 72,000 Hispanic Household impressions and 107,000 Hispanic viewers, P2+).
Across both ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 12.5 million Hispanic viewers (P2+) tuned in to MNF this season. On ESPN Deportes alone, 2.8 million Hispanic viewers (P2+) tuned into MNF this season, according to Nielsen.
Note: It was announced earlier this week that ESPN Deportes will televise Super Bowl 50 in Spanish through an agreement with the NFL and CBS. Release.
ESPN Digital
Monday's Bengals-Broncos game had an average minute audience on WatchESPN of 154,000, up 71 percent compared to Week 16 last season. The game drew 460,000 unique viewers and 35 million total live minutes viewed, up 63 percent and 77 percent, respectively, over last year. ESPN Digital Media on Sunday had an average minute audience of 667,000, up 8 percent over Week 16 last season. Specifically, the ESPN Fantasy Football app accounted for 40 percent of ESPN's total digital audience for the day, attracting 4.9 million unique visitors and an average minute audience of 268,000 - up 26 percent and 65 percent, respectively. Of Sunday's total NFL audience on digital platforms, 80 percent came from mobile devices.
The 17 Monday Night Football games (over 16 Mondays) this season generated an average minute audience of 178,000 on WatchESPN, an increase of 68 percent compared to 2014. WatchESPN also recorded its top 15 (and 16 of the top 18) highest audiences ever for MNF this season, its largest being the Vikings-49ers opening night doubleheader game that attracted an additional 230,000 average minute impressions to the TV audience. Additionally, nine of the top 10 best days ever for ESPN Digital were recorded on NFL Sundays during the 2015 season, including its best day ever on Sept. 13 that attracted an average minute audience of 1.27 million across platforms, eclipsing the previous high set on Sept. 7, 2014 by 24 percent.
NFL Playoff Game to Air on ESPN and ABC during Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 9-10)
ESPN's Monday Night Football team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and reporter Lisa Salters will call a NFL playoff game during Wild Card weekend, Jan. 9-10 (teams/time TBD). The game will air on both ESPN and ABC for the first time, in addition to being streamed live on WatchESPN. The MNF crew will also call the NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
· MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN)


The Best Free Things To Do In Sydney - Adventure, baby!
Sydney can be quite a pricey city. Food, hotels and attractions can see visitors spending quite a lot of cash on a visit. If you're visiting and have a budget to stick to, you can still have an incredible trip with this list of the best free things to do in Sydney.
There are over 100 historic sites and buildings, the oldest house being Cadman's Cottage, built in 1816. Drop by the Rocks Discovery Museum, a free museum located inside a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse with an interactive kids corner upstairs.
The world's tallest steel arch bridge connects the northern suburbs of Sydney with the CBD. Take a stroll over the Sydney Harbour Bridge the two access points to the pedestrian walkway are up Cumberland Street in The Rocks in the CBD and near Milsons Point train station in the north. Climb 200 stairs to the Pylon Lookout for stunning views (admission fees apply).
It's free to wander into Australia's oldest library (it was established in1826) and check out their exhibitions which include, at time of print, the touring May Gibbs: Celebrating 100 Years exhibit. The library also runs free activities for kids. Check out their calendar to see what's on when you visit.
A gorgeous spot for a picnic and to enjoy the sweeping views over Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. Located in The Rocks, the hill is also home to the Sydney Observatory, a heritage-listed museum and public observatory. Sydney Observatory runs adult-only and family tours and activities throughout the year.
The gardens and Domain are gorgeous all year round. Take a leisurely walk through 30 hectares of lush foliage in the Royal Botanic Gardens down to Mrs Macquarie's Chair (for perfect harbour photos!), and then back up through the Domain to the Art Gallery of NSW for one of the most scenic garden walks you'll ever find. Wrapped around Farm Cove just south of the Sydney Opera House, the gardens, which were established in 1816, occupy one of Sydney's most spectacular waterfront positions.
Stroll through five levels of masterpieces including an extensive collection of Aboriginal art, European masters, Asian art and visiting exhibitions. The general galleries at the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) are all free to enter. Visiting with kids? Children can use online booklets to explore artworks or download free audio tours that have been created just for kids. The AGNSW frequently runs free activities for kids on Sundays and school holidays.
Wander through galleries of exciting modern art from leading Australian and international artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA). Grab a coffee at the rooftop cafe and sculpture terrace and enjoy the stunning harbour view. The MCA runs lots of free and small donation activities for kids throughout the year too, from their monthly Sunday Family Fun Days to a drop in activity room and school holiday crafts.
The Sydney Opera House is a performance venue on Bennelong Point, well-known for its distinctive series of "shells" covering the roof. The Sydney Opera House opened in 1973 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. While you need a ticket to see a show, visitors can walk around the outside, including up the famous steps, and inside the box office area to take a peek.
Sydney's newest harbour precinct is the result of a transformation from a disused container terminal into a stunning 22-hectare waterfront destination. Pack a picnic lunch and sit on the hill facing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or unleash the child within and roll all the way down to the bottom. Kids will adore climbing the large rocks around the waters edge.
The beautiful St Mary's Cathedral, located across the road from the northern end of Hyde Park, is the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney and stands on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia. Take a walk through the cathedral, built from local sandstone in the Gothic Revival style, and enjoy the soaring roof and lovely stained glass windows.
The ANMM is Australia's national centre for maritime collections, exhibitions, research and archaeology .Grab a free ticket from the front desk for admission into the permanent indoor galleries and under 5s play area.
In Sydney's north you'll find Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, famous for its Aboriginal heritage site. Take the Red Hands Cave walking track from the Resolute picnic area along an easy bush track to see rock art of the Aboriginal people of the Guringai North. It's only a short walk to the cave with ochre handprints left behind by the people who once lived in this part of Sydney.
Located on the North Head of Manly, Q Station is a 30 hectare site once used as a Quarantine Station for migrants entering Sydney via boat. As of 2008, Q Station is now a hotel and function venue. Wander the grounds on foot enjoying the beautiful bush lands and harbour views or take the complementary onsite shuttle buss that runs 24/7 between locations. Be warned, Q Station is rumoured to be haunted. Take a ghost tour if you're feeling brave.
The Georges Head battery, located in Mosman, is a must to see military fortifications daring back to World War 2. Wander through tunnels and passageways while enjoying spectacular views of Sydney's North and South Heads. It's also a great spot to let kids run off steam while exploring all of the nooks and crannies.
A serene spot in Lavender Bay, the garden was created in 1992 by Wendy Whiteley, wife and muse to artist Brett Whiteley, following her by then ex-husband's death. Follow the weaving pathways through lush foliage and past beautiful sculptures.
Get more into on Wendy Whitely's Secret Garden.
Walkers, runners and cyclists all enjoy the Bay Run, is a 7-kilometre-long path that encircles much of Iron Cove. The scenic path runs right on the water front and is an enclosed loop which makes for an easy start and finish location. Popular places to begin are King George Park, Leichhardt Park or Callan Park.
Located at the very tip of the Balmain peninsula, Ballast Point Park was once home to local Aboriginal tribes before European settlers arrived in the early 19th century. The park's indigenous history is recognised in a dual name – Walama – which means 'to return'. The2.6-hectare park opened in 2009 with several design features that highlight its history. Ballast Point Park has stunning harbour views and is a popular picnic and barbecue spot for families.
Catch the train to Newtown Station and wander the streets of one of Sydney's most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods. Walk down alley ways to discover works of art painted on buildings around almost every corner, grab a bite to eat on King Street and let kids run off steam at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park. There is an excellent gated playground in the park.
To get there: Take a 30 minute train trip from Central Station to Olympic Park Station or a ferry from Circular Quay to Sydney Olympic Park Wharf.
Get more info on visiting Sydney Olympic Park here.
Nearby Bicentennial Park is a beautiful park that combines mangrove wetlands with 40 hectares of gentle hills, meadows, lakes, playgrounds and picnic shelters. Driving to this park is the best option.
Located on Sydney's busy road, Oxford Street, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens are an oasis of calm. Built completed in 1864 as part of Sydney's third water supply to contain water pumped from Lords Dam at Botany Bay, the Paddington Reservoir was restored and opened as a garden in 2009. The Paddington Reservoir Gardens are now state heritage-listed.
Get more info on the Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
This 6km return walk will take you past some of Sydney's most breathtaking scenery. Starting at the iconic Iceburgs Dining Room and Bar at the south end of Bondi Beach, the walk winds south along the rocky cliff face past Tamarama to Bronte Beach. Start at either end and either walk or take a bus back to the starting point. There are plenty of cafes and facilities at Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beach, or you can bring a picnic lunch.
Travelling with kids? Sydney has plenty of playgrounds to enjoy, the most centrally-located, as well as one of the best, being the playground at the Darling Quarter, in Darling Harbour. With a 21-metre flying fox, water play area with pumps and buckets and plenty of slides, climbing structures and swings, it's a must for kids visiting the city.
Sydney has over 100 beaches to explore! From bustling surf scenes to tranquil bays, there is a beach for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Get tips on the best beaches in Sydney to visit, from iconic Bondi and Manly to hidden gems like Parsley Bay, and plan which beaches are on your hit-list.
Take a scenic walking tour of the city and see what Sydney does best – stunning nature. Choose a walk that takes you through the city and past its stunning coastline and through lush national parks. For ideas on the best walks in Sydney head here.
Please note that Australia has expansive areas of bush where it's easy to get lost. Take a map or compass with you on all bush walks plus water and snacks, and always tell someone where you are going.
Sydney has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, ferries and light rail. If you're in Sydney for a few says, buy an Opal card to use public transport – the one card gives you daily travel caps and enables you to use all four transport systems, plus lets you use the $2.50 per person Sunday cap. Taxis and Uber in Sydney are expensive so walking plus public transport are your best options.
To see a lot of Sydney and its surrounds, it's advisable to hire a car. International visitors may use a foreign driver's licence in NSW. Note that all speed limits are strictly enforced with cameras and it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 per cent or higher, or to drive under the influence of illegal drugs.
Sydney is the perfect year-round travel destination due to its temperate climate. It does, however, get extreme heat in summer (December to February). While the average maximum temperatures are around 26°C (78.8°F), it can reach over 40°C (104°f) during this time of year. Summer is also the most humid time of year to visit, with average humidity of 65%.
Winter (June – August) average maximum temperatures are around 16°C (60.8°F). Sydney's highest rainfall is between March and June.
For a short stay, hotels in the CBD particularly around Circular Quay and The Rocks will make it easy to get around as they're close to public transport as well as main attractions. Darling Harbour is also a good choice particularly for families. My fave hotel to stay at is The Langham Sydney in The Rocks.
Get hotel rates in Sydney from Booking.com.
This blog post contains affiliate links. This means if you book a hotel after clicking on a link through my site I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Adventure, baby!


text:
Q: SOAP-ERROR: Parsing WSDL: Couldn't load from (Working on SOAPUI bu not on my Ubuntu) I am facing a weird problem. I am trying to consume a specific webservice, which you can see on:
https://api-hom.amil.com.br/operadora/tiss/LoteGuias/soap/v30301?wsdl
Through the soap client I can consume and receive result properly.
But, when I am consuming through my PHP code I got "SOAP-ERROR: Parsing Schema: can't import schema from 'https://api-hom.amil.com.br/ssg/wsdl/tissWebServicesV3_03_01.xsd?serviceoid=477f074ec66fee8e74f533c102c312ff&servdocoid=477f074ec66fee8e74f533c102c31348'" error
My code is below:
    public function webservice_request($soap_request, $partner) {

    $context = stream_context_create(array(
        'ssl' => array(
            'verify_peer' => false,
            'verify_peer_name' => false,
            'allow_self_signed' => true,
            'trace' => 1,
            'soap_version' => SOAP_1_1,
            'exceptions'=> true,
            'encoding' => 'UTF-8',
            'compression' => SOAP_COMPRESSION_ACCEPT | SOAP_COMPRESSION_DEFLATE,
            'cache_wsdl' => WSDL_CACHE_NONE
        )
    ));

    // Transformando em Array
    $json = \GuzzleHttp\json_encode($soap_request);
    $xml = \GuzzleHttp\json_decode($json);

    $client = null;

    try
    {

        $client = new \SoapClient($partner->webservice_url, array('trace' => true, 'stream_context' => $context));

        $result = $client->__call('tissLoteGuias_Operation', array($xml));

        return $this->check_response($result, 'NORMAL', $client);

    } catch (\Exception $e) {

        if (isset($client) == false) {

            return $this->check_response($e, 'WSDL_ERROR', null);

        } else {

            return $this->check_response($e, 'FAULT', $client);

        }

    }

}

Observations:
[1] The problem happens on line:
 $client = new \SoapClient($partner->webservice_url, array('trace' => true, 'stream_context' => $context));

[2] when I execute the same code on my Macbook it works, but in my Ubuntu server and Ubuntu Desktop it isn't working.
What I am doing wrong?


When Olivia Longo or Hanna Pottinger perform an arabesque in dance class, a sense of accomplishment and pride can be seen on their faces, as well as their parents' and instructors' faces.
A group of dance students, who all have Down Syndrome, are learning ballet, jazz and even hip hop thanks to three teens who created the dance troupe The Huggables.
Carley Serena, Kelsie Chasten and Julia Malinowski, best friends for years and now seniors at Joliet Catholic Academy, started The Huggables this summer to give young girls with disabilities an opportunity they hadn't had before.
The instructors' desire to create the class stems from their love of dance, children and wanting to help others.
Helping others less fortunate is something all three come by naturally. The teens watched their mothers, who are also good friends, help those in need through the organization they created, Shorewood H.U.G.S. (Helping You Get Started).
Although H.U.G.S. runs out of Shorewood, the non-profit organization grants wishes to families in need all over the area. Serena and Malinowski live in Shorewood, while Chasten lives in Channahon.
The teens have been volunteering for H.U.G.S since the eighth grade, helping out at fundraisers and other events. It was through helping one family whose child has Down Syndrome that the teen dancers came up with the idea for The Huggables.
The program was started this past summer with just a few dancers. Now it has grown to include eight young girls. Serena, Chasten and Malinowski have seen their students' abilities grow by leaps and bounds.
"It's amazing what they learned from the first day," Malinowski said.
The instructors have a great rapport with their students. Once they put on their red tutus, the students are almost magically transformed, happily and ambitiously doing whatever is asked of them.
Autum Longo's first day in class didn't start out exactly as planned, said the teens.
At first Autum sat on the sidelines with her parents, keeping her head down. The instructors encouraged her to join in, but she kept refusing.
Suddenly Autum changed her mind and joined the class. Not only did she follow along perfectly, she had been watching and learning the steps the entire time. She knew exactly what to do. Now she loves coming to class every Sunday.
"Now she knows everything, she's awesome," said Chasten.
The dance class is held every Sunday at Nouveau Dance Company in Plainfield. Owner Lindy Wade was gracious enough to donate space in her studio for the program.
Christine Longo brings daughter Olivia all the way from Chicago Heights every week.
All three of the instructors will be focusing on child-related studies when they go to college next fall.
Malinowski intends to be a pediatric nurse; Serena a speech pathologist; and Chasten an occupational therapist or dietician working with children.
But The Huggables dance program will continue even after they head to college, perhaps in the form of a dance camp or another format, they said.
For now the instructors are having a riot teaching their students to sway their hips and turn their heads to hip hop music or strut across the dance floor, wands in hand, pointing each toe as they attempt that perfect ballet position.


A few years after her first daughter was born, Sharda Ram found out that the child had autism. This set her off on the search for the best places in her hometown Rajamundry to educate and empower her daughter.
She soon discovered there were few places and that led her to start Aarambh in 2010, which is a school for children with autism. Today, Aarambh reaches out to children in Hyderabad as well.
Before she launched Aarambh, Sharda did a diploma and training programme in autism spectrum disorder in New Delhi. She then moved to Hyderabad, and started the school in partnership with other parents who had kids with autism.
What sets Aarambh apart is that the primary focus here is on enabling families to reach out better to their kids. There are sessions where children and parents sit together. This helps strengthen the bond and build better understanding.
Parents must accept their child's disability and become aware of it. Mothers face a lot of family pressure and hence they are often de-motivated. At the same time, they are primary caregivers of their child since fathers are always out for work. So we focus more on catering to mothers. They are given awareness sessions and training on how to handle their kids. Most of the mothers work at our centre as volunteers along with our special educators. - Sharda Ram, Founder, Aarambh.
Aarambh has a larger goal as well, which is to create awareness about disabilities. It wants to make society empathetic towards children and adults with disabilities.
To do this, they conduct many important initiatives, Like lighting up the famous monument Charminar in blue on World Autism Day on April 2012. They hold autism walks and also convinced authorities to light up the famous Buddha Statue in Hyderabad in 2013. They build confidence in their children through regular talent and fashion shows.
Children between the age group of three to 25 years are part of Aarambh. Apart from basic academics, they are given vocational training too. Their handmade paper covers are sold at departmental stores and boutiques in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They even do saree paining, chocolate-making and handicrafts.
14-year-old Anish R is a student here. His mother Suhasini Rachaputre says Aarambh has enabled him in many ways.
"Anish was eight years old when he joined Aarambh. He has learnt self help skills from the centre and can do many things on his own now. Aarambh ensures that children are always engaged in some kind of work. When Anish comes back home, I make him do the same activities that he did at school. He is good at making products from paper, wall hangings and even painting diyas.".
At Aarambh, children also learn behavioural skills. Every effort is made to ensure the kids grow up to be well rounded human beings.


text:
South Metro 281859481
In Dakota County, most incumbents hold on to City Council seats
West St. Paul was an exception: the mayor lost to a man urging 'Chevy' spending.
By Jessie Van Berkel, Emma Nelson and Liz Sawyer Star Tribune
November 6, 2014 — 11:43pm
Incumbents in cities across Dakota County generally held on to their seats in last week's election — though often not by much.
Council members in Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville came away with slim majorities. Eagan council member Gary Hansen scraped by with 38 more votes than his opponent, and in Lakeville Bart Davis pulled out a victory with a margin of just 76.
The lone exception came in West St. Paul, where concerns over a major streetscape led to the mayor's ouster.
West St. Paul
A massive renovation of South Robert Street in West St. Paul could shift gears after a change in the city's leadership.
Mayor John Zanmiller was ousted by David Meisinger, a former mayor who has repeatedly denounced the current plan for the project and said he wants to trim ballooning costs by eliminating a long, landscaped median and the trees planned every 50 feet.
"I campaigned on the fact that we don't need a Cadillac. The Chevy will get us by," he said.
Meisinger, who owns a general contracting company, is returning to West St. Paul politics after a decadelong hiatus. He was the city's mayor and a City Council member in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He defeated the incumbent by 3,574 to 3,220 votes.
Zanmiller supported beautification of the street and said at a candidate forum that he hoped it would attract businesses to the street, which has numerous empty storefronts.
"I hope that the project is not abandoned," Zanmiller said, adding that a lot of work needs to be done to the street.
"I regret nothing in terms of the work I've put in for this city," he said, noting that he has tried to focus on policy rather than parochial projects.
Concerns over spending have been a focal point in all the West St. Paul races. Incumbent council members Ed Iago and Richard Vitelli ran unopposed and John Bellows beat John Ramsay for another open seat.
Iago, who has been on the council for eight years, said he expects "lively discussions" between council members and the new mayor over the future of Roberts Street, and other expensive projects such as renovating City Hall and expanding Harmon Park.
The council is not hard-set on any one option for the street project, he said. When the lowest construction bid it received was about $8 million more than anticipated, "that kind of put us back to square one," Iago said.
"The only way it's going to get done, and get done correctly, is if we all take a deep breath and respect what others' opinions are," he said.
Political newcomer Tim Pitcher edged close to incumbent and front-runner Jason Bartholomay, trailing by less than two dozen votes and snatching one of two open seats.
"I was really shocked that I got that many votes," Pitcher said.
In a city plagued by millions in debt and an unattractive business climate, the three candidates — including challenger David McMillen, who came away with about 1,800 votes — agreed through election season that there's a lot of work to be done.
Pitcher, who said he knocked on more than 6,000 doors, heard a lot of financial concerns from residents — namely, their worries about the city's debt and the resulting high property taxes.
Bartholomay, a member of the council that paid off about $10 million of the city's $42 million in debt over the past four years, said he heard similar complaints on the campaign trail. He said he's looking forward to working with Pitcher, a fellow fiscal conservative.
"He seems like he wants to continue down the path that we've put in place," Bartholomay said.
In Burnsville, first-time candidate Cara Schulz gave incumbents Dan Kealey and Bill Coughlin a run for their money. Coughlin, who won the primary but came in second in the general election, at times led Schulz by just a few hundred votes.
"Of course I'm disappointed that I wasn't elected, but I'm extremely pleased with the results," Schulz said. "It's incredibly difficult to take on incumbents."
Challenger Jake Nelson trailed the other three, with fewer than 3,700 votes compared to about 7,100 for Schulz and about 8,000 apiece for Coughlin and Kealey.
"I'd hoped it would be closer," Nelson said. "I wasn't expecting to win, but there was always that hope in there."
Mayor Sandra Krebsbach retained her position after defeating opponent Neil Garlock, a recently retired sergeant on the city's police force. Krebsbach garnered 61 percent of the vote, compared to Garlock's 38 percent.
Only two votes separated council incumbents Ultan Duggan and Liz Petschel, who were both re-elected Tuesday night after capturing just under 32 percent of the vote each. Their efforts were enough hold off challengers Joel Paper (24 percent) and Mark Misukanis (11 percent).
Mayor Mary Hammann-Roland will return for a fifth term after winning a landslide victory over challenger Gene Rechtzigel. Hamman-Roland garnered 72 percent of the vote while her opponent received 27 percent.
City Council incumbents John Bergman and Clint Hooppaw easily won re-election, receiving 42 and 39 percent of the vote, respectively. Newcomer Juan Montoya III received 17 percent.
Council incumbents Paul Bakken and Gary Hansen were re-elected on Tuesday, despite a tight race by challenger Gale Anderson.
Bakken, a veteran council member of 12 years, garnered 32 percent of the vote. But Hansen beat Anderson by only 38 votes; each candidate hovered just above 25 percent.
Mayor Mike Maguire ran unopposed in Dakota County's largest city.
City Council member Colleen LaBeau, a business owner and fiscal conservative, led the polling with nearly 40 percent of the vote. Fellow incumbent Bart Davis, narrowly escaped defeat from challenger Ron Robinson in his first run for office.
Both men received 23 percent of the vote, but Davis edged Robinson by 76 votes.
Mayor Matt Little ran unopposed.
Jessie Van Berkel writes about Minnesota government and politics at the Star Tribune. She previously covered St. Paul City Hall and local government in the south metro.
Jessie.VanBerkel@startribune.com jessievanb
St. Paul reporter Emma Nelson joined the Star Tribune in 2014, and has covered local government beats from Scott and Dakota counties to Minneapolis City Hall. She has also been part of reporting teams that covered the aftermath of the Norwood Teague sexual harassment scandal and the death of Prince.
emma.nelson@startribune.com 612-673-4509 emmamarienelson
Liz Sawyer covers breaking news, crime and corrections for the Star Tribune. She previously wrote about suburban life in the south metro.
liz.sawyer@startribune.com 612-673-4648 bylizsawyer
Minnesota BCA investigating man's body found in Hwy. 169 median • South Metro
Hastings boy who died after Welch Village skiing accident remembered • South Metro
June 8: 'Horrible idea,' says friend of U student killed in grain elevator fall • South Metro
Probation for unlicensed Cottage Grove care provider allegedly drunk with 12 kids in home • South Metro
School resource rooms offer bounty for underprivileged teens • South Metro


Will the Dream of Riding Giant Robots Become a Reality? Kuratas has Emerged!
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I want to operate a giant robot"? Any fan of robot animation or robot games has longed to this. Well, the day when this dream comes true may finally be here.
At the Wonder Festival, a garage-kit event held in Japan on July 29th, attendants were astonished by one of the entries. The exhibit was a human-shaped, four-legged, engine powered, terrestrial battlebot developed and manufactured by Suidobashi Juukou called Kuratas.
The sight alone of a 4 meter tall robot weighing 4 tons with the capability for precision movement (enabled by about 30 joints) would be enough to blow anyone away, but the most impressive feature lies in the ability to climb inside and actually operate it yourself. When the pilot climbs up into the cockpit (situated in the chest area of the machine), it looks like a scene straight out of an anime or video game. The operation of Kuratas has been simplified by V-Shido (pronounced bushido), an operating system for human-shaped robots designed to allow for intuitive control over the machine through the pilot's own movements.
The Kuratas project was developed with the intention of mass-production and they have already launched a site to accept orders. The body alone costs $1,353,000; add to that an iron claw for $80,000; or, say, a hand-gun for $70,000. By choosing different options, the 3D modelling displays your Kuratas equipped with your choices along with your grand total. According to the developer's blog, there are already orders for more than 3,000 machines from both within Japan and abroad. Although it sounds like roughly the same number of cancellations have come in (from people who probably thought it was just a joke), there are apparently a few serious inquiries. For example, there's an American air gun maker who wants to use it for security, and a prince from an oil producing country who wants to have a look at Kuratas himself.
In a robot loving country like Japan, Kuratas, of course, was big news. The news was reported on a myriad of sites and was met with large response. Here are some comments taken from Twitter and other web forums.
There was also an interview with the creator and software designer (English subtitles) – make sure to check them out. Surprisingly, Kuratas was the work of mainly two people.
This story re-confirms the fact that Japanese people really love robots and, at the same time, shows the dreams and possibilities manga and anime can create. I would also like to operate a giant robot before I die.


text:
Southeastern Regional Hosts Plumbing Program Alumnus and Actor Brandon Scales
SOUTH EASTON -- Superintendent Luis Lopes is pleased to share that the school recently hosted alumnus and actor Brandon Scales to talk to students about his acting career.
December 2, 2021 Leah Comins Client News, School News
December 2, 2021 by Leah Comins
Southeastern alumnus and actor Brandon Scales visited students in Southeastern's Video and Performing Arts and Plumbing shops on Monday, Nov. 22. (Photo courtesy Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School)
Southeastern alumnus and actor Brandon Scales spoke with students about his journey to become an actor and participated in a question and answer session during his visit to the school on Monday, Nov. 22. (Photo courtesy Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School)
SOUTH EASTON — Superintendent Luis Lopes is pleased to share that the school recently hosted alumnus and actor Brandon Scales to talk to students about his acting career.
On Monday, Nov. 22, Scales visited students in Southeastern's Video and Performing Arts and Plumbing shops.
Scales is an alumnus of the school's plumbing program and spoke with students about his journey to become an actor. He told students about how he wanted to be an actor from an early age, however his grandfather wanted him to follow a career path such as plumbing.
Scales still pursued his acting dream, catching the attention of Director Peter Berg while filming "Patriot's Day" (2016). He has since been an actor in "Spenser Confidential" (2020) and "Free Guy" (2021), as well as local documentaries.
Scales also participated in a question and answer session. Students asked him about how he mentally prepares for filming, his favorite actors and self-care methods.
He encouraged students to set goals and work toward them each day. He emphasized the need to block out negativity and to take advantage of any opportunities that come along.
"We are always thrilled to welcome back Southeastern alumni to talk with current students," Superintendent Lopes said. "Brandon had a lot of valuable advice and lessons to share with our Video and Performing Arts and Plumbing students, and they were excited to ask him questions about his unique career path."
Scales also visited the plumbing shop and the Boot and Shovel Cafe, and met Superintendent Lopes, Principal Leslie Weckesser, Assistant Superintendent of Compliance and Human Resources Holly McClanan and Director of Student Life Christina Guarini.
The school plans to host Scales again in the spring.
Client News, School News
acting, guest speaker, plumbing, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, video and performing arts
Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School
Luis G. Lopes, Superintendent
250 Foundry St.,
South Easton, MA 02375
Media Contact: Leah Comins
Email: leah@jgpr.net


text:
Don't Be Afraid of Investing in Alphabet
Louis Navellier and the InvestorPlace Research Staff, InvestorPlace
Dec. 1, 2021, 02:00 PM
InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL), parent company of Google, is firing on all cylinders. But I can see why you may be looking to take profit with GOOG stock. After its strong performance so far this year (up 69%), you may feel that it's time to take some risk off the table.
Source: Tero Vesalainen / Shutterstock.com
The question is, should you? Not so fast. Selling now would be short-sighted. Even as uncertainties loom over the stock market, heading for the hills is not the best move. Instead, holding onto your position, or entering a long-term position today, is your better option.
This is not only due to its high quality. There may be some concern now that its growth will slow down in the years ahead. But there's plenty to suggest this won't be the case. To top it all off, it's reasonably priced compared to its long-term prospects, as well as compared to other FAANG (Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:FB), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), and Google) components.
With the latest bit of volatility in the markets, shares may continue to pull back slightly. Yet don't take this as a warning to steer clear. Over the long-haul, GOOG will likely deliver solid returns and hit new highs.
The Latest with GOOG Stock
In the month following its strong quarterly earnings report on Oct. 26, Alphabet shares continued to perform well. On Nov. 19, shares cracked the $3,000 per share mark for the first time. But with the most recent round of fear, uncertainty, and doubt that's hitting the markets, shares in the big tech powerhouse have slid back.
7 Tech Stocks That Could Rally In December
As of this writing, GOOG stock is recovering. Yet many holding shares in their portfolio may be contemplating selling into strength. Investors who don't own it yet may be thinking they should wait for another drop before entering a position. In this article, I'm going to dwell on the market and where it may be headed in the short-term.
What I will say is that it's a fool's errand to try and time the market. Put simply, trying to predict its next move is easier said than done. Worse yet, all the energy and time spent guessing can often result in little to show for it.
Now, I don't mean you need to make every stock in your portfolio a long-term position. As company-specific factors change, you'll know when it's time to tell. With Alphabet though, that's currently not the case. Its underlying business remains strong. It also appears set to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
Alphabet: A High-Quality Growth Stock
When talking about GOOG stock, "quality" is a term that first comes to mind. That's clear based on its high profit margins (29.5%), high, consistent cash flow ($89.4 billion over the past 12 months), and rock-solid balance sheet (with $142 billion in cash on hand).
Sure, you may be thinking that high quality/blue chip status means below-average growth lies ahead. And after seeing its revenue/earnings rebound following 2020's Covid-related impact to its advertising business, sales, and earnings, sell-side projections expect growth will slow down in 2022. However, based upon how it has handily beaten estimates several quarters in a row, results could continue to come in ahead of expectations.
Per recent commentary from Morgan Stanley's Brian Nowak, digital ad innovation could enable its main business to deliver above-average results in 2022. What about its Google Cloud unit? It grew revenue 45% year-over-year last quarter, and its narrowing losses may point to it getting closer to profitability. Looking further into the future, Alphabet has ample opportunity for growth via its "Other Bets." Besides Waymo, its autonomous vehicle (AV) division, the company is working on scores of other early-stage projects. These include projects in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and other areas that are just starting to take off.
Commentators have been critical of these so-called "moonshot" projects. So far, they've yet to pay off. Even so, the investments it is making today in these emerging industries could see their respective payoff moments down the road. In turn, this would enable the company, despite a market capitalization nearing $2 trillion, to continue growing at a healthy clip.
The Verdict on GOOG Stock
Although market volatility may have you concerned, now is not the time to take the money and run with Alphabet. With its strong stock price performance throughout 2021, you may worry that returns from here may come in more gradually. Or worse, shares will experience a sharper price slide.
Even so, there's no need to cash out or stay away. Reasonably priced at 26.4x this year's projected earnings, it's less vulnerable to a possible market-wide valuation reassessment. Furthermore, it stands to continue rising in value over time, in line with its earnings growth.
Coming in with a "B" rating in the Portfolio Grader, and with its strong chances to continue delivering above-average results, GOOG stock is still a name to buy and hold.
On the date of publication, Louis Navellier had a long position in GOOG. Louis Navellier did not have (either directly or indirectly) any other positions in the securities mentioned in this article. InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.
Louis Navellier, who has been called "one of the most important money managers of our time," has broken the silence in this shocking "tell all" video… exposing one of the most shocking events in our country's history… and the one move every American needs to make today.
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I am trying to find out how much Ivermectin I can orally give to my 3 dogs as I can no longer afford to buy the Heartgard Plus they currently are taking and I definitely do want them to get heartworms.... 17/10/2006 · Ivemectin is given orally (never use pour-on solutions for heartworm prevention). Dosage using Ivermectin 1% solution undiluted for heartworm prevention: give 1 drop from an eye dropper (one-half of 0.1 cc), assuming 20 drops per ml. Note the number of drops per ml can vary depending on viscosity and temperature, and what is used to create the drop.
Ivermectin is well absorbed orally, parenterally, and as pour-on formulas. Efficacy is greatest in oral, and in SQ treatment. Efficacy is greatest in oral, and in SQ treatment. Concentration of the drug remains in the body fluids for extended periods with the highest concentration being in the liver and fat tissues.... 29/04/2009 · Do you worm your LGD's with Ivermectin and if so, same dosage as the goats or different? I have Ivermectin Plus injectable and was hoping to give orally.
12/10/2010 · My vet told me giving dogs horse ivermectin, and in some dogs any ivermectin, was a guaranteed way to kill them. He told me never to leave around any of the syringes, or even drop any of the little end caps. how to get a cat to stop purring 13/09/2008 · According to the label Ivomec treats sucking lice and mange mites, but I was recently told by a friend that the effectiveness of the drugs against external parasites is compromised when given orally, which is how I've always given wormers.
Ivermectin is an anthelmintic agent that has been a safe, effective treatment for onchocerciasis (river blindness) when given in a single oral dose of 150 to 200 micrograms per kilogram of body how to keep a dog cool inside the house If you give a different wormer every time you worm, this builds up a resistance to all your wormers very quickly. It is best to stick with one wormer until it is no longer effective, or you could use the same wormer for at least a year, and then the next year use a different one.
Ivermectin Pour-on - A .5 % solution which is administered along the backline similar to flea treatments used in dogs and cats. The smallest container sold is 250ml which will treat 25 to thirty pigs.
Summary. Oral ivermectin appears to be effective for treating people with classical or crusted scabies. However, differences in treatment regimens and the length of follow-up make interpreting comparisons with topical treatments difficult.


Luke and his team welcome you.
Grover Butchers - Lock's Heath updated their cover photo.
We are a traditional family butchers and sell only the finest quality Beef, Pork, Lamb and Poultry, we also sell seasonal game and a large selection of flavours of our own homemade award winning sausages together with an exciting range of our homemade burgers. For something a little different we also hand make a tempting selection of meal options ready to cook.
We offer a wide range of recipe ideas for you to take away to help with those undecided days! We are always happy to help, guide and suggest the best meat option for your needs.
We aim to source our meat locally, although when available we do offer beautiful Aberdeen Angus. We supply local Lamb, Pork and Poultry. Our Game is from a local game dealer – it's about sourcing the very best for our customers. We also make our own Biltong and Boerewors, deliciously South African.
Our everyday range starts from your basic meat cuts to the finer cut, have you tried our Pork Sirloin stuffed with cheese or our Beef Wellington or even our variety of Stir Fry's to name but a few..….all made by hand and by us in our shops! Why not come in and if you wish you can ask for something new, we're up for a challenge!
We are a thriving family business and are here to help and provide the best customer service and satisfaction….we would love to see you soon!
We offer various saving options, our 20/20 Loyalty Scheme, for every £5 you spend you get a stamp, after 20 stamps you get 20% discount off your purchase. Our Christmas Saving Club, you can save throughout the year as much or as little as you wish helping you spread the cost of Christmas! (Terms and Conditions apply – see in store for details).
Parking: Locks Heath Shopping Centre is served by a 450 space car park. Parking (for a 3 hour maximum stay) is free.


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"Crash Boom Bang" will begin after the advertisement.
Here is a colorful puzzle game. You need to destroy the monsters on the platform by using the friends above! They have different characteristics. Click on them and place them on the platform. Aim and release to see their impact!


text:
by drjamorrow August 12, 20141:27 am
The Covenants of the Prophet in Time Magazine
ISIS Is Ignoring Islam's Teachings on Yazidis and Christians
Here's what the Prophet and the Quran really say about how to treat the two faith groups
Sohaib N. Sultan @SohaibNSultan Aug. 8, 2014
The news coming out of Iraq is really devastating. The violent extremist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) continues to take over major parts of Iraq, brutally killing and oppressing any and all who come in their way. The worst of ISIS has been unleashed on Shi'ite Muslims, Christians and the Yazidis with hundreds of thousands killed and forced to flee.
The leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is as dangerous as he is delusional. In a sermon that he gave several weeks ago, the ISIS leader declared himself as the new "Caliph" of Muslims worldwide. In the sermon he attempted to reflect the personality of Islam's first Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Sadiq, in asking those gathered to help him when he is right and correct him when he is wrong and to only obey him so long as he obeys God and the Messenger. But, the Quran warns its readers to not be swayed by charismatic figures who, in reality, only spread evil in the world:
"Now, there is a kind of man whose views on the life of this world may please thee greatly, and [the more so as] he cites God as witness to what is in his heart and is, moreover, exceedingly skillful in argument. But whenever he prevails, he goes about the earth spreading corruption and destroying property and progeny [even though] God does not like corruption. And whenever he is told, 'Be conscious of God,' his false pride drives him into [even greater] sin …" (2:204–2:206).
So, I join the chorus of Muslims worldwide, Sunnis and Shi'ites, who oppose al-Baghdadi and ISIS as a whole. The killing and oppression of innocent people and the destruction of land and property is completely antithetical to Islam's normative teachings. It's as pure and as simple as that.
Ironically, when the Quran allows (and, sometimes, even encourages) Muslims to engage in just fighting and resistance, it is in order to deter those who wage wars without just cause and those who engage in religious persecution — exact crimes that the ISIS is engaging in Iraq today:
"Permission [to fight] is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged … those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying, 'Our Sustainer is God!' For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques — in which God's name is abundantly extolled would surely have been destroyed …" (22:39–22:40)
The Yazidis are an ancient community that have been in Iraq for centuries. Historically the Yazidis follow Zoroastrianism and other ancient Mesopotamian religions. Throughout recent history the Yazidis have been oppressed and their religion largely misunderstood as Satan worship (which it is not). The violence and suffering that ISIS has inflicted upon the Yazidis is heart wrenching. There is, arguably, one reference to the ancient religion of the Yazidis (referred to as Magians) in the Quran in which it simply says, "Verily, as for those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians [on the one hand,] and those who are bent on ascribing divinity to aught but God, [on the other,] verily, God will decide between them on Resurrection Day: for, behold, God is witness unto everything" (22:17). ISIS would do well to, truly, let God decide rather than act as tyrannical judges and lords over the Yazidis and others.
ISIS is also reportedly seeking to expel Christians from their homeland of Iraq where Christians have lived since almost the beginning of their history. Christians in Iraq are considered to be one of the oldest continuous surviving Christian communities in the world. Christians in Iraq have survived, and at times even thrived, alongside Muslims over the past 1,400 years. ISIS insistence that Christians either "convert, leave or die" defies the Quranic command: "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256).
ISIS has also given Christians another option if they want to remain in Iraq: to pay jizya. Jizya is a tax that Muslim empires imposed upon non-Muslim constituents in return for military exemption, protection against persecution and considerable religious freedoms. Most Muslim countries today no longer impose jizya on non-Muslims. The change in political order, rise of nation states and assumptions of citizenship today render certain medieval systems incongruent with modern realities and sensibilities. The Quran makes a reference to the jizya system (9:29), but its application is vague and it can very well be argued that such an imposition was only intended to manage troublesome and treacherous religious minorities. This is all to say that ISIS has no basis whatsoever to force Christians in Iraq to pay the jizya let alone the fact that they cannot even be considered a legitimate government by any stretch of the imagination and, therefore, cannot rightfully impose any taxes on anyone.
The strongest argument against ISIS persecution of Christians is the fact that such actions are in direct violation of the Prophet Muhammad's own treaties with Christians in which he guarantees the protection of religious freedom and other rights:
"This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)."
(The original letter is now in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.)
This and many similar covenants between the Prophet Muhammad and Christian communities are well documented and translated by John Andrew Morrow in his book, The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad With the Christians of the World. These covenants are a determining proof, among other proofs, that what ISIS is engaged in right now in Iraq is completely unlawful (haram) and violates Islamic teachings in every way.
To ISIS or anyone who sympathizes with them, know that Islam believes in a God of mercy, a scripture of mercy and a Prophet sent as a mercy to all the worlds. It is time to abandon persecution and violence, murder and mayhem. The enemy you seek to fight is within you. The pursuit of power is the problem. The pursuit of peace and social justice is what God really calls us to. Put down your arms. And raise your hands to the sky seeking God's forgiveness for unconscionable sins.
Sultan is the Muslim chaplain at Princeton University and directs the university's Muslim Life Program in the Office of Religious Life. He is the author of The Koran for Dummies and The Qur'an and Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated and Explained.
http://time.com/3093732/isis-iraq-yazidis-and-Christians/


You don't have to shell out big bucks to get the nutritional benefits of nuts.
Peanuts pack a real nutritional punch in each little legume — protein, fiber, healthy fats, a whole host of essential vitamins and minerals — and eating them may protect against cardiovascular disease, just as more expensive tree nuts do. We've known for years that people who eat tree nuts — almonds, walnuts pistachios, etc. — are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people who don't eat nuts. However, new research has found that peanuts (which are actually legumes) confer the same heart-healthy benefits. Buy them unsalted (raw or roasted) and aim for a handful (one or two ounces) a day. While eating them at snack time is a no-brainer, they're also delicious added to salads at mealtime. And don't forget to enjoy those walnuts too! They're great for your joints, brain and eyes.
Posted on November 23, 2015 by Ted Sobol and filed under nutrition.


text:
penn state serial flasher arrested
Asians behaving badly... serial flasher edition! Last week's police finally arrested a man who's been wanted for multiple incidents of indecent exposure in Penn State dorms and nearby apartments over the past two years. Caught in the act, sucka. Meet 33-year-old serial flasher Ryan Ho: Man charged for dozens of acts.
Three police agencies have charged Ho in at least 18 separate cases, including 15 counts of burglary, 18 counts of criminal trespass, 17 counts of indecent exposure; four counts each of indecent assault and loitering and prowling at night time, and three counts of open lewdness, as well as one count of criminal attempted burglary, a felony, and four summary harassment charges. Dude is a sicko:
Penn State police filed charges in 12 cases, all involving a man who entered residence halls and other campus buildings, found women alone in their dorm rooms, lounges, laundry areas, restrooms, even laboratories, and masturbated in front of them.
In some cases, police said, the victims reported that the man, who usually wore a surgical mask or ski mask, tried to touch them or touch their breasts.
At first, he fled when they screamed; as time went on, police said he'd ignore their cries and continue to masturbate. Sometimes he maneuvered to trap or hold them in a room until he was done, according to police accounts.
During each incident, the victims said, the man remained absolutely silent.
Police said that after his arrest, Ho confessed and provided specific details for each incident. He told detectives he wanted the women to watch him masturbate.
Ho was arrested on May 19 when he broke into an apartment and accosted a woman in her bedroom... wearing only a ski mask and shoes. People, please be careful and aware about who the hell is following you home. Stay vigilant, and don't let freaks like this dude get into your building. More here: Arrest made in burglary, indecent assault incidents.


text:
Giorgio A. Tasca, Ph.D.
We are pleased to announce that the 2-year impact factor for the Division 49 journal Group Dynamics has risen to 1.64 for the year 2017. This represents a significant increase from the previous year and puts Group Dynamics within the top 50% of journals in its category. The impact factor represents the number of times journal articles are cited by other scholars in a given year relative to the number of articles published. Congratulations to the editor, David Marcus and his team of associate editors for this achievement.
Tags david marcus, Editor, George Tasca, group dynamics, Impact Factor, journal, July 2018
Tags Continuing Education Committee, July 2018, nominations, sean woodland
Mary Karapetian Alvord, Ph.D.
We have been collaborating with Catholic University of America and conducting outcome research in our practice since 2009. Currently, we are in the third year of conducting a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of the Resilience Builder Program® (RBP; Alvord, Zucker & Grados, 2011), a cognitive-behavioral group intervention, in schools with a student population primarily belonging to ethnic minority communities, low-SES, with prominent learning, behavioral, social, and/or emotional difficulties. Our work was partially supported by a $14,000 grant through the Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health. To date 119 children have participated in the study. Preliminary results indicated that children who participated in the RBP reported higher levels of emotional control and reduced levels of negative emotion following participation compared to children who were assigned to a waitlist control (Rich et al., in press). The following NPR broadcast highlighted the program at one of the participating schools: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/23/613465023/for-troubled-kids-some-schools-take-time-out-for-group-therapy
For additional information contact Mary @ malvord@alvordbaker.com
Psychologist and Director,
Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC
Rockville and Chevy Chase, MD
Tags Catholic University of America, July 2018, Mary Karapetian Alvord, RBP, Resilience Builder Program
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (Division 29) of the American Psychological Association has opened nominations for the Editorship of the Division journal, Psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy is a highly ranked clinical psychology journal, published quarterly. It publishes a wide variety of articles relevant to the field of psychotherapy. Encompassing the many essential elements of psychotherapy, the journal strives to foster contributions from and interactions among individuals involved with training, practice, theory, and research. Thus, articles in Psychotherapy include theoretical contributions, original research, novel ideas, and examples of practice-relevant issues that would stimulate dialogue and/or debate among theorists, therapists, and researchers. The journal includes the widest scope of orientations to inform the readership. See http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/pst/ for more information.
The Editor would lead a very active and able group of Associate Editors and ad hoc reviewers. Qualifications include:
Open-mindedness and respect for contributions from all facets of (training, practice, theory, research) and vantage points on (e.g., theoretical orientation, treatment modality, patient population) psychotherapy
Extensive experience with the peer-review process at different levels of administration (e.g., ad hoc, editorial board, associate editor)
Creative vision for the journal's short- and long-term future
Strong leadership, staff selection, and communication skills
Member of Division 29, in good standing throughout the term of the contract.
This will be a 5-year term. Candidates should be available to start receiving manuscripts as the Incoming Editor on January 1, 2020 to prepare for issues published beginning 2021, when their editorial office will assume the masthead (current editorial office will be responsible for publishing the 2020 volume (57)). The new editor will receive manuscripts through December 31, 2024, publishing in the years 2021 (volume 58) through 2025 (volume 62). Editorial responsibilities take 15-20 hours/week. An honorarium, office expenses, and APA support are provided.
Please note that the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy encourages participation by members of underrepresented groups in the publication process and would particularly welcome such nominees. Self-nominations are also encouraged.
Laurie Heatherington, Ph.D., Division 29 Publication Board Chair, will chair the search. Please address inquiries to her, lheather@williams.edu. To nominate a candidate (or yourself), please go to https://editorsearch.apa.org/ to enter the candidate's name and a brief statement of support.
The deadline for accepting nominations is August 1, 2018, when initial reviews will begin. The search committee will contact nominees to assess interest and request additional materials, by mid August, Skype interviews will be conducted at the end of the second week in September, and, if needed, in-person interviews will occur in February. Final decisions will be announced by March 1, 2019.
Tags Division 29, Editor, journal, July 2018, nominations, Psychotherapy, Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy
Announcements Other Information
GROUP, the journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, is again looking for articles. We publish papers on any aspect of group therapy, group functioning, and group process. Based on the premise that a couple is a small group, we also publish articles on couple therapy. In addition to formal scholarly papers, we also publish informal articles and book reviews. If you have an idea for an article please contact the editor, Lee Kassan, at lee@leekassan.com.
Tags Articles, call for papers, Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, GROUP, journal, Lee Kassan
Recognition of Group as a Specialty: Approaching the Finish Line
Nina Brown, Ed.D., LPC, NCC, FAGPA President, Group Specialty Council
It was our pleasure in April 2018 to let you know that CRSPPP was recommending recognition of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy as a specialty for psychology doctoral, internship and postdoctoral training programs. While this is certainly wonderful news after the many submissions of petitions for recognition that was not the finish line as the APA Council has to provide the final vote which is scheduled to occur at the convention in August. We are not able to publicize the specialty until we receive the official notification about COR's action. However, there is enough reason now to celebrate the CRSPPP recommendation for recognition and to feel hopeful that the outcome of the vote in August will be positive.
The journey to now has taken a long time and lots of effort from many of the Society's volunteers as well as the contributions from compensated personnel. A short recap of the journey begins with the submission in 2010 authored by Sally Barlow and others. That petition was not approved by CRSPPP and the effort to gain recognition languished until the reformation of the Group Specialty Council in 2014 under the revised standards set by CRSPPP that specified that Councils should be composed or organizations, agencies and the like. The reformation continued with the election of the Council's president (Nina Brown) and secretary (Eleanor Counselman), and the development of Council Bylaws which are posted on the Society's website.
The new Group Specialty Council created and submitted new proposals in 2015 and 2016, which were also rejected by CRSPPP. It was in 2015 that the Council decided to use a professional writer as the major criticism of the petition was that it appeared to be the work of a committee which was accurate. A committee had created the proposal. With the help of funding from The Society, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the American Board of Group in Professional Psychology, and the International Registry of Group Psychotherapists, a professional writer was hired and a new petition submitted in 2016. That petition was rejected because we only described training at the doctoral and internship levels and CRSPPP asked for us to provide how specialty training could occur at the postdoctoral and post-licensure levels. In addition, APA's Commission on Accreditation asked for the competencies needed for the specialty at the postdoctoral level as they would align with the new Standards of Accreditation. (We started this process before CoA developed the SoA so we had to try to align the specialty with two different sets of accreditation standards.) CRSPPP did not want us to submit a totally new petition, they only wanted the guidelines and other documentation for the postdoctoral and post licensure levels. The latest petition submitted in 2017 and approved by them in 2018 had all of the requested information.
As noted before, many people participated in development of the successful petition and their efforts and contributions are appreciated. Following are the names of volunteers (in alphabetical order) who were involved in the many different aspects of preparing the petition.
Sally Barlow Marsha Block Richard Billow
Misha Bogomaz Loretta Braxton Gary Burlingame
Eleanor Counselman Joel Frost Robert Gleaves
Les Greene Joshua Gross Samuel James
Noelle LaForge *Nicole Millman-Falk Tony Shepard
Allen Sherman *Staci Smith Kathy Ulman
Martyn Whittingham * Professional writer, contributor
My special thanks are extended to Eleanor, Marsha, Josh and Noelle for their sustained efforts and support through all of these iterations of the petition. Thanks are also due to Craig Parks and George Tasca as Presidents of The Society who provided support for requested funding, and other actions to support the petition.
I hope to have a celebratory message in September.
We will arrive!
Tags APA Council, CRSPPP, Group Specialty, July 2018, Nina Brown
Columns Committee Reports
Expanding our Scope — Reactions to the 2018 Practice Leadership Conference (PLC)
Sean Woodland, Ph.D.
This March I was a first-time attendee at the Practice Leadership Conference (PLC). It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with other psychologists interested in advancing the practice of psychology. The PLC is full of forward-thinkers who have an eye toward advocacy, with an aim to equip all psychologists with the tools and the courage to advocate for themselves and the profession at large.
As a psychologist employed in a primary care setting, I naturally gravitated toward the talks and workshops related to the practice of health psychology. With that said, I also went in with my group and systems hat on, and believe that the following summary is relevant to all members of our division.
Advancing Practice Together
The theme of this year's PLC was "Advancing Practice Together." This has been a major focus of Dr. Arthur Evans since he became the CEO of APA, urging us as members to think more broadly about our value as psychologists, and to continually assert this value as the practice landscape continues to evolve in turn. In an introductory workshop Dr. Evans stated that we can no longer define ourselves as only psychotherapists if we desire to advance the discipline. Rather, we must clearly define the unique contributions that practicing psychologists make to healthcare, and to focus on the skills we can bring to many different settings.
Dr. Evans listed three areas unique to psychologists which we can better leverage: 1) training as scientist practitioners, 2) conceptualizations of problems, and 3) the ability to develop expertise in a wide range of specialty areas. Dr. Evans contends that making these areas more visible to other professionals in the settings in which we now and will yet work will prepare us to adapt well to current and future healthcare trends. Psychologists in the future will find themselves increasingly accountable for the results produced by interventions, and will be called upon in innovative ways to serve the private and public sector alike. Will we be ready to step in?
Improving the Leadership Group
Another theme that permeated the Practice Leadership Conference, as the name suggests, was leadership, be it in our practice settings, our state associations or divisions, and in our communities. The mood of the conference was one toward psychologists taking the lead in forsaking isolationism in these settings, broadening and deepening collaboration with a range of organizations and professionals outside the discipline. For example, APA currently has worked with the American Diabetes Association to create a clinician education program with the effort of training psychologists to help diabetes in behavior change. It was noted that the rate of depression in individuals with diabetes is twice that of the normal population.
The PLC also encouraged better leadership of our various boards. One speaker, Eloiza Altoro, spoke extensively on this topic. Ms. Altoro is an organizational consultant with a clinical psychology background. She emphasized that high-functioning boards find the "sweet spot" where personal purpose, organizational purpose, and role purpose converge. Successful boards are team-oriented and transparent, and are as flexible as they are formal. On the other hand, relationships in boards (and of course, groups!) break down when there is a lack of trust, misinformation, and lack of strategic direction. Another symptom of poorly-functioning boards is constant turnover.
The attendees at PLC were also encouraged to become leaders in their communities. This was communicated most clearly by Dr. Jessica Henderson Daniel, new president of APA. A main pillar of her presidential term is the "citizen psychologist" initiative, which aims to encourage psychologists to be more active in community settings, and to recognize psychologists who are already highly involved at home. She publicly recognized two such psychologists during a town hall meeting, and reports excitement to honor more.
Advocacy and Activism
The final theme at the PLC was advocacy. This was culminated the final day of the conference with visits to Capitol Hill. Tagging along with the delegation from my home state of California, I had the opportunity to go to the offices of three different California representatives to advocate for causes important to the practice of psychology. This included asking for co-sponsorship of the Medicare Mental Health Access Act, advocating for maintenance and expansion of Medicaid, and advocating for understanding of gun violence as a multifaceted phenomenon.
While it was indeed exciting to participate in his political process, perhaps the most moving piece of advocacy came during the above-mentioned town hall meeting. The first speakers to get up were the delegates from APAGS, APA's graduate student group. They called for greater diversity and inclusion, and were quite courageous in communicating the ways in which they felt that they had been marginalized throughout the proceedings.
As leaders in group psychology and group psychotherapy, I believe it is incumbent upon the division to continue to have a voice and a presence at this conference. Perhaps it could take the form of leading an intergroup dialogue, or a workshop to help psychologists gain a better understanding of group leadership. Or, in the spirit of advocacy, having a voice to communicate to leaders in the field the importance of understanding the complexities of group treatment in an ever-changing healthcare system. Furthermore, advocating for furthering research in group psychology and group psychotherapy also has a place at the proceedings, as there's a definite focus on enhancing the productivity, collaboration, and overall success of the professional groups in which we regularly are found. In short, the PLC needs experts in group! And notwithstanding this need for more group expertise, the PLC is also a great conference for anyone generally interested in leadership, advocacy, or in advancing the practice of psychology.
For questions or more information on the PLC, please contact Sean Woodland, PhD at seanc.woodland@gmail.com.
Tags Activism, Advocacy, July 2018, Leadership, Practice, Practice Leadership Conference, sean woodland
Leadership Minutes
April 2018 Spring Check-In Board Meeting Summary
Tags Board, July 2018, Meetings
Report from the winter meeting of the APA Council of Representatives
Sally Barlow, Ph.D.
The winter meeting was held in Washington DC from March 9-10 covering many topics including:
Council approved a joint 501(c) 3/501(c) 6 organization membership agreement, a move that will increase APA's capacity to advocate for a full range of issues. At membership renewal time this year, all APA members will become part of both a c3 and a c6 organization.
Council voted to amend minutes of its February 24-25, 2017 meeting— "Council voted to adopt as APA policy the APA Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults and approved March 2022 as the expiration date for these guidelines. Council also requested that a Professional Practice Guidelines [that addresses other issues, including those relevant to psychological practice with individuals] related to issues important to treatment of individuals who have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder be developed [in an expeditious fashion] as expeditiously as possible."
Council approved pursuing accreditation of master's level programs in health service psychology in areas where APA already accredits. This will be a multi-year project that will require council approval for a plan of implementation. Much debate preceded this vote. Two take-aways are 1) the exact title has yet to be decided, and 2) there should be standards for the scope of practice of master's level practitioners.
Council vote to receive a comprehensive report from the Council Diversity Workgroup. This will include recommendations for more inclusion of diversity at all levels of process and procedure. This workgroup is led by Clinton Anderson and his team in Public Interest and will take the next 6 months to develop a workable framework.
Council adopted the Clinical Guideline for Multicomponent Behavioral Treatment of Obesity and Overweight Children and Adolescents: Current State of the Evidence and Research Needs as policy of the association. This was preceded by very emotional debate about the painful aspects of being labelled "obese" while still focusing on the positive aspects of better treatment for this global phenomenon.
Council adopted as APA policy a resolution on Pregnant and Postpartum Adolescent Girls and Women with Substance Related Disorders. In part, this policy affirms that substance-related disorders manifest as behavioral and biomedical health problems, and recommends providing rehabilitative services rather than criminalizing pregnant women and girls' substance use by prioritizing substance treatment.
Council received as information an update on the new business in progress item, "Archiving the 2015 Resolution on Violent Video Games Due to Inconsistent Evidence-Based on Effects (NBI 35A/Aug 2017).
Council received three ethics updates as information. An update on the Board of Directors' consideration of recommendations stemming from the Report to APA Commission on Ethics Processes; an update on a new selection of the new Ethics Code Taskforce; and an update on a new business item, "Resolution to Amend Council's 2009, 2013, and 2015 Resolutions to Clarify that Psychologists May Provide Treatment to Detainees or Military Personnel in National Security Settings".
Council decided to rescind the 1991 Resolution on the use of anatomically detailed dolls for forensic evaluations, urging those who conduct such evaluations to be competent in their use, provide more research about the variety of such dolls available for purchase, and bring the standard of assessment into a more uniform practice.
Council agreed to adopt as APA policy the Guidelines on Core Learning Goals for Master's Degree Graduates in Psychology and approved March 2028 as the expiration date for these guidelines.
Council met in Executive Session to discuss ongoing litigation. Our very competent attorney, Deanne Ottaviano reminded us that we cannot discuss (or report on) anything regarding this litigation. I can report on the Amicus Curiae briefs, which include the recent cake decision as well as 4 others. If you want details (lots of legal language I am not competent enough to represent here) contact me at shb@byu.edu.
For those interested in the full minutes check out this link: http://www.apa.org/about/governance/council/minutes-spring-2018.pdf
Thank you for allowing me to represent our Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy. Sally Barlow
Tags APA Council of Representatives, Council, July 2018, Sally Barlow
Announcements APA Programming Awards
Dr. Yalom to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award and Give Live Interview in San Francisco
Martyn Whittingham, Ph.D.
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Irv Yalom, author of the seminal text, Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (2005), now in its fifth edition, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from Division 49 at the 2018 APA National Convention in San Francisco. His writing on group also includes other world-renowned titles such Inpatient Group Therapy (1983) and a work of fiction, The Schopenhauer Cure (2006). Dr. Yalom has also produced several videos on group psychotherapy that have served as teaching aids worldwide for decades. His writing, videos, theorizing and research have had a profound impact on group therapy around the world, and this award recognizes both the depth and breadth of his contributions to group.
After receiving this award, Dr. Yalom will then give a live interview, answering questions about his lifetime in group. We are asking for your contributions to this! Please go to our Facebook page, twitter feed and email address and submit questions you want Dr. Yalom to answer. We will then select some of the questions to ask him from these contributions.
We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco and hope you can make it to this award ceremony and interview.
Tags Convention, Interview, Irvin Yalom, July 2018, Lifetime Achievement Award, martyn whittingham, slider


The key feature the 585Wi shares with any ultra-short-throw projector is its ability to project a big image from close to the screen.
Unlike most ultra-short throw models, the 585Wi comes with a wall mount.
The 585Wi design also lets you mount it so the image in projected downwards, creating an interactive tabletop.
The ports are on the side, hidden behind a removable cover.


I'm going to be making this post a short one since my computer is deciding to be super slow for some odd reason tonight and I don't have time right now to research why.
Today's card is a very fun and super quick one.
The base of my card is a folded half-sheet of Calypso Coral. On top of that is a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of Decorative Series Paper from the "Picture Perfect" 6" x 6" pack. I have hardly used this paper. I guess I thought the photo images were just too busy looking for my taste. I have used some pieces of the DSP, but they were from the backside of the photo images.
For this card I used the party horns image. On top of that I had die cut the "Happy Birthday from the "Happy Birthday" thinlits. I die cut them using the double sided sheet so my wording became a sticker. I removed the protective layer and affixed the words to the front. I was going to leave it as it was but I thought the card could use a little sparkle so I colored the words with the "Wink of Stella" pen. Now if I were to make more, I would color the words before affixing them. It would take less time, I had to be very careful not to get the Wink of Stella on the photo image piece.
It's a super quick card to make!!! And it's okay. Not sure I would make another one though.
I love this Picture Perfect paper to make a quick, fun card. Seeing the party horns would make the recipient smile, then stamp one of the cute sentiments inside and in the mail it goes. Enjoy your Memorial weekend.