Amber and Danny Masters thought they would never pay off their debt. After grad school, the couple's student loan burden came to $600,000 — more than 27 times the average for college graduates in their 20s.
But now, Amber, a licensed attorney, and Danny, a practicing dentist, are focused on paying off the debt, and quickly . They aim to have the total eliminated in five years.
Amber and Danny finished undergrad at Brigham Young University with virtually no debt at all. "We were lucky to receive scholarships, Pell Grants and the help of some family members," Danny tells CNBC Make It .
Then, the two decided to further their education. After receiving her bachelor's degree in sociology, Amber went back to BYU for law school. Danny, who earned his bachelor's in business, attended Barry University for a master's in biomedical science and Roseman University for dental school.
"Danny's master's [degree] cost about $60,000. Then each year of dental school cost about $55,000," Amber says. "Dental school is four years. Without interest, that put his debt around $280,000."
For Amber, law school was just under $50,000. However, interest started accruing immediately, with rates as high as 7.9 percent.
At first, they "thought the debt would magically go away," Danny admits. "We just assumed that we would both have high earning potential after we graduated and that it would all work out. We never looked realistically at our debt until the end."
"Our beautiful son was born my third year of law school. Having a child is not the cheapest thing I have ever done, but it is the most incredible," Amber writes on Red Two Green, the couple's student loan advice blog. "[Our son's] birth was the start of us looking more seriously at our finances, and starting to make a plan for how we were going to manage [them]."
Most people told Amber and Danny to pay the debt gradually with an income-driven repayment plan, or not at all. "We scoured the internet, talked with colleagues, financial advisers, our school's financial aid offices, anyone at all who was willing to talk to us," the couple writes. "But in the end, most people agreed that there was basically no way on earth we would ever be able to pay off our debt on our own."
The couple knew that not paying the debt wasn't an option, either.
Amber and Danny started thinking of ways to increase their income while they were still in school. "We resolved that if we could live within a modest budget and commit to working hard and smart, we could make enough money to pay it off quickly," they write.
Amber worked full-time as an attorney while Danny finished his last year of dental school. The couple also took on odd jobs. They sold $5,000 worth of miscellaneous items they had gathered throughout college. They took online surveys for pay and part-time jobs. They took photos for people to bring in extra cash. And they started collecting coupons.
They are also starting two business to earn additional income. The first is a 90-day fitness and financial program meant to get people in shape, physically and financially. The other is an undisclosed idea they say they are "really excited about."
The couple paid off Amber's law school loans only 18 months after she graduated, so they're well on their way to paying off the balance in five years.
Their advice to those in debt: Take charge. Create a budget.
"Neither of us are over-spenders," Danny says, "so we never felt compelled to make a budget in school … but we also weren't thinking ahead about paying off our student loans. If we had a budget in school, we would be able to pay off our loans even faster."
He said there are many pros to budgeting. "First, it teaches you self-discipline. You do your best to try to not overspend in each category of your budget. Then, you can accurately predict where your finances will be in the future.
Now, Amber says, she and Danny will occasionally sit down "with a calculator and Excel sheet and crunch numbers" in order to determine the income they need to pay their loans off in a reasonable time-frame for them.
Thanks to budgets, says Danny, "you don't waste your money and can put [it] to better use, such as paying off debt, saving for a home or [for] travel."
Nearly 44 million Americans owe more than $1.4 trillion in federal student loans and more than 4.2 million borrowers defaulted in 2016. Given that these issues are nearly universal, Amber and Danny hope to teach others the lessons they learned through their own experience and to "raise awareness about the student loan debt crisis."
They say that, when it comes to debt, you should "take the bull by the horns."
"It is tempting to bury your head in the sand and ignore the weight of your debt," Danny says, "but you really have to lean into your situation to get a handle on it. The earlier you come to understand and manage it, the less painful and more manageable it will be in the end."


I'm trying to figure out a way to do at least a little fieldwork at Walakpa this summer. I've got a proposal in for major fieldwork (3 field seasons) but decisions aren't made yet, and even if it is successful, fieldwork couldn't start until next summer. That'll be great, but there is a remote possibility that we could have another storm as big as the one that took over 11 meters of the deeply stratified deposits last Labor Day weekend.
Sites like Walakpa, with deep, frozen layers with good organic preservation can be seen as a special type of Distributed Long-term Ecological Observing Network of the Past. In addition to the artifacts and structures left by past humans, these sites contain residues of human subsistence activities, in the form of stratified layers, often several meters deep and spanning millennia, of the remains of animals and plants gathered from the surrounding area. These remains are samples from past ecosystems that cannot be replicated, absent the invention of a working time machine. A column sample from such a site is similar to an ice cores or a lake or bog core, with the addition of samples from a wider area. It can tell us all sorts of things about the environment through time when analyzed with the right methods. Information about how environmental change affected important subsistence species would be incredibly useful for those attempting to manage such species in today's changing environment, and thus important to the food security of Northern residents.
Unlike ice cores, there is no elaborate infrastructure set up to collect and preserve such samples. We really want to get a column sample from top to bottom of the site, just in case the worst happens. It will only take a small crew, and maybe a week or so, since the bluff should be thawing in from the side as well as from the top, making excavation faster.
It looked like maybe it would be possible for the North Slope Borough Department of Iñupiat History, Language and Culture to run a camp there, which would have let students be involved. I was writing a grant application to try for support for food, fuel and transportation to the site for that camp. On Friday, we learned there was a conflict, so now I am trying to figure out another approach. It is looking like it may need to be a volunteer effort, since most quick turn around funding sources don't pay salary :-(.
If anyone has any ideas, or might be willing to volunteer to help out (digging, loaning camping gear, moving stuff to or from the site, camp cook, basic lab work afterwards), or would be interested in analyzing data from the site, please let me know. This site is really important both a a part of Iñupiat Heritage and a source of long-term environemtal data.


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Must have bath toy for your little one! Each Squirt is made from BPA free and Phthalate free silicon. Choose from 5 different animal characters.
We are so excited to bring to you Marcus & Marcus MOLD FREE bath boys. While at the ABC Kids Trade show in 2016 we discovered these amazing squirting bath toys that can be taken apart and washed (even in the dishwasher) after use to avoid mold as seen in many mainstream squirting bath toys.
Detachable design for easy cleaning - dishwasher safe!
I love the concept of these coming apart to clean but even though i kept screwing the head back on (we have the giraffe) it pops off after squeezing it a few times. I don't know if it's defective but it wasn't really worth the price. I wanted to love it.


than the most talented hypocrite.
and to encourage others to help finish the task.
Tax receipts available for these donations.
Please take a tag from the tree at the back of St. Stephen's church.
and items needed will be purchased on your behalf.
Every single donation is appreciated.
Items are required by 16 December.
last session for 2018, 3 Dec. 1:00 – 4:30 pm.
Classes resume 14 January 2019.
will take place from 4:00 to 6:30 pm on Sunday, 9 Dec.
at the Union Hall in East Chester.
Dine in, Take Out, Delivery within 10 miles.
Hair Salon, 6 Pig Loop Road at 902-275-5966.
Please drop recyclable bottles at the Union Hall.
Angels for the Memory Tree Service at St. George's.
will take place on Sun, 16 Dec.
and 11:00 am at St. Stephen's.
and to Sheila Hirtle for St. George's.
at 7:30 pm in St. Stephen's Church.


You must have seen those videos of Hawaiian sweet rolls filled with ham and cheese and baked in the oven. They're really easy to make and you can feed a bunch of people in one easy method.
But what if we leave Hawaii behind and head for Paris? I'm talking about switching the rolls for croissants guys because today is National Croissant Day!
I was stoked how these turned out, especially the croissants and how they took on a super crispy flaky texture. These weren't fancy croissants at all, just the small soft ones from my local store. These are now on my easy breakfast items list.
Unlike the ham and cheese roll recipe, the croissants don't fit snug together but that's okay because all of that gooey swiss cheese just morphs together for even more deliciousness.
There's also a layer of dijon mustard on the bottom of every croissant just to add some extra french flavor, then a layer of swiss cheese followed by a layer of smoked ham and then ANOTHER layer of cheese. Too much cheese?
But the thing that really make these ham and cheese croissants way more special than others I've tried, is the everything bagel seed sprinkled over the top.
Seriously friends if everything croissants are a thing and I just haven't met them yet, point me in the right direction.
If they're not, then they need to be.
Making your own homemade everything seed topping is not difficult at all. It's even easier if your store has a bulk section where you can buy small amounts of the four ingredients. Poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion and sesame seeds are all you'll need to get that authentic bagel taste.
Get those Monday pants on!!
This recipe will be one of my favorites. I love Croissant sandwich!
Thanks Carlos!! They're really tasty!!
Do you have a recipe for croissants?
What a killer croissant sandwich – seriously mouthwatering!!
This looks delicious and will be perfect when I have winter visitors (getting out of the snow and cold up north) here in Arizona! Just brilliant!


23 Oct 2018, 11:30 a.m.
Westside Meats buyer, Mark McCashney secured the first pen of CVLX steers.
Northern cattle slaughter were checked on the back of recently reduced supply and stronger market prices.
Northern cattle slaughter were bathed in red this week on the back of recently reduced supply and stronger market prices.
Kills in Queensland for the week ending October 19 were trimmed by seven percent while the NSW slaughter was eased two percent. Steers was at the heart of the revised kills however down south the Victoria kill was checked one percent while SA and Tasmania both made positive gain but was insufficient to arrest the overall weekly loss of four per cent down to 135,025 head.
Meanwhile, with phase two of the southern spring lamb season on the cusp of breaking open the eastern states lamb kill was awash with green with a 6.5 per cent rise across the board. The rise lamb in processing activity was strongest NSW where numbers jumped by 15pc to 99,8111 units while Victorian numbers were up two per cent and SA five percent.
Tasmanian slaughter activity saw rises in cattle, lamb and mutton with numbers up 10pc, 29pc amd 35pc respectively.
The story Surging prices curbs beef kill first appeared on Stock & Land.


text:
Texas soccer falls 4-1 to Texas A&M in NCAA first round
Chris Bils Hookem.com Staff
Texas is building a perennial NCAA tournament soccer program, but there's still a wide gap between the Longhorns and the top team in the state. Texas A&M beat Texas 4-1 on Friday night, as the Aggies and Longhorns renewed a dormant rivalry in the NCAA first … Read More
Friends or foes? Texas and Texas A&M ready to reunite in NCAA soccer clash
There's been no trash talk between Texas and Texas A&M soccer players this week. If anything, it's been the opposite. The conversations that have taken place are akin to old friends preparing for a reunion. There's little, if any, bad blood between the programs. Why should there be? Like football, … Read More
A look at Texas and Texas A&M's postseason meetings over the past eight years
When the NCAA's soccer tournament gets underway this week, a rivalry will be renewed in College Station. Texas (11-7-1) is set to open its 2019 postseason run on Friday with a match at Texas A&M (13-4-3). Texas and Texas A&M's soccer programs have played 25 times … Read More
Champions, club comrades and a Canadian among UT's seven soccer signees
On Wednesday's National Signing Day, Texas announced the addition of seven soccer players to its athletic department. Two of the soccer signees — Highland Park forward Presley Echols and Houston Memorial midfielder Kelsey Hranicky — have won state championships in high school. Read More
Texas soccer makes NCAA tournament, will face Texas A&M
The lights will be bright on Friday night in College Station when Texas and Texas A&M face off in soccer for the first time since 2011. The Longhorns and Aggies were paired together in the first round of the NCAA tournament, with the match taking place … Read More
Texas soccer beats Oklahoma in double overtime
Cameron Brooks scored in the 108th minute to lift the Texas soccer team to a 3-2 double overtime win over Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. on Thursday. Brooks scored her second goal of the season with help from Carlee Allen. The Red River Rivalry win moves Texas to 11-7-0 overall and … Read More
Texas surrenders late goals in 2-1 OT loss to No. 17 Texas Tech
Texas center back Atu Mshana needed five stitches midway through the match Sunday against Texas Tech, but the final blow didn't come until much later. The Red Raiders, down 1-0 with less than 2 minutes left, rallied for a late equalizer and scored the winner in … Read More
Texas soccer beats Iowa State in rescheduled match
The Texas soccer team beat Iowa State 3-2 early Friday at Myers Stadium to hold steady in second in the Big 12 standings. The match moved to Friday morning after lightning postponed the Thursday night contest. The game was knotted at halftime before Texas (10-6-0, 5-2-0 Big 12) scored twice … Read More
Julia Grosso balances national team duty during busy Texas season
Julia Grosso turned 19 years old in August, barely two months after she returned from her first World Cup. She's been a member of the Canada senior national team for the better part of two years. Yet inside Grosso there's still the 8-year-old who asked Canadian … Read More
Texas falls out of 1st place with 2-0 loss to No. 18 Oklahoma State
Instead of enjoying a Sunday off, Texas will be stewing over a 2-0 loss to Oklahoma State that dropped the Longhorns to third in the Big 12 standings. "I wish we played Sunday, to be honest," Texas coach Angela Kelly said. "It's a long week to … Read More
Cyera Hintzen clutch again for Texas soccer in 1-0 win over TCU
Texas forward Cyera Hintzen knows an opportunity to win a match when she sees one. On Thursday against TCU, she made sure Cydney Billups saw it, too. "Honestly, I didn't really see much," Billups said. "My head was down. But I heard Cyera screaming her face … Read More
Texas goalkeeper Nicole Curry named Big 12 defensive player of the week
Texas goalkeeper Nicole Curry earned honors as the Big 12's defensive player of the week, the league announced Tuesday. Texas took two road shutout victories to open conference play. Curry played the entire 180 minutes over the two matches. She had one critical save against Kansas on Thursday. Curry followed … Read More
Julia Grosso scores late, lifts Texas to 1-0 win over K-State
An 87th-minute goal by Julia Grosso gave the Texas soccer team a 1-0 win over Kansas State as the Longhorns completed a weekend sweep through the Sunflower State. Cydney Billups stole the ball off a K-State defender to set up the winning play, and junior Haley Berg delivered the pass … Read More
Cyera Hintzen powers Texas soccer to 1-0 win over No. 17 Kansas
After missing three matches with a head injury, Cyera Hintzen plugged right back into her usual role for Texas on Thursday. That is, scoring match-winning goals. Hintzen struck in the 70th minute as Texas upset No. 17 Kansas 1-0 in the Big 12 opener for both teams. The Longhorns (6-4, … Read More
Texas soccer begins Big 12 slate with eyes wide open
Texas sophomore Carlee Allen barely had time to celebrate before she was engulfed in a mass of humanity. Teni Akindoju got there first, followed by Cameron Brooks and Mackenzie McFarland. Soon, no fewer than seven teammates had Allen wrapped up. The match had long been decided, … Read More
Texas soccer falls to Providence in OT
The Texas soccer team fell to .500 with a 1-0 loss to Providence in overtime at Myers Stadium on Thursday night. Elayna Grillakis scored the golden goal in the 98th minute of action to take the win. The loss moved the Longhorns to 4-4 on the year while Providence improved … Read More
Texas soccer shuts out Washington
After a scoreless first half, the Texas soccer team broke through twice to beat Washington 2-0 at Myers Stadium on Friday night. Cyera Hintzen and Haley Berg each scored to help Texas improve to 4-2 on the season. Washington fell to 2-2-2. The win is the second straight clean sheet … Read More
Haley Berg named Big 12 player of the week
Haley Berg earned the honor of Big 12 player of the week after a pair of Texas wins over the weekend, the league announced Tuesday. Berg scored three goals and assisted on two others over the weekend. The Longhorns won games against Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It's … Read More
Early goals lift Texas soccer to 3-0 win over Corpus Christi
An unorthodox first career goal for Kailey Smith helped spark Texas to a 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday at Myers Stadium. Smith scored 46 seconds into the match on a sweetly struck right-footed volley that smacked the right post and hit Islanders goalkeeper Kyleigh Hall in the … Read More
Texas soccer wins 3-1 on the road over SFA
Haley Berg scored twice as the Texas soccer team recorded a 3-1 win over Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches on Friday. The Longhorns trailed early before scoring three straight times to take the win and improve to 2-2. Stephen F. Austin fell to 1-3. Texas outshot the Ladyjacks 22-10 with … Read More

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia: identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS)
Gary J. MacFarlane (Corresponding Author), Ejaz Pathan, Stefan Siebert, Jonathan Packham, Karl Gaffney, Ernest H. Choy, Raj Sengupta, Fabiola Atzeni, Kathryn R. Martin, Gareth T. Jones, Linda Dean
Applied Medicine
Around 1 in 8 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) also meet criteria for fibromyalgia and such patients have considerable unmet need. Identifying effective therapy is important but to what extent fibromyalgia-like symptoms relate to axSpA disease severity has not been established. The aim of the current analysis was to determine whether distinct clusters of axSpA patients exist and if so to determine a) whether they differ in terms of prevalence of fibromyalgia and b) the features of patients in clusters with high prevalence.
The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-AS) recruited axSpA patients from 83 centres 2012–2017. Clinical data, and information from patients was collected (including research criteria for fibromyalgia). Cluster analysis was undertaken using split samples for development and validation both in the whole population and the sub-group which met fibromyalgia criteria.
One thousand three hundred thirty-eight participants were included of whom 23% met research criteria for fibromyalgia. Four clusters were identified. Two exhibited very high disease activity, one which was primarily axial (n = 347) and a smaller cluster (n = 32) with axial and peripheral disease, and in both groups more than half of members met criteria for fibromyalgia. The remaining two clusters (n = 437, n = 462) had overall less severe disease however the one which showed greater disease activity and poorer quality of life had a higher proportion meeting fibromyalgia criteria (16% v. 4%). Within those meeting fibromyalgia criteria there were three clusters. The two main groups were defined by level of symptom severity with a smaller third cluster noted to have high average swollen and tender joint counts and high levels of comorbidity.
The major feature defining clusters with a high proportion of persons meeting criteria for fibromyalgia is high axSpA disease activity although clusters with features of fibromyalgia in the absence of high disease activity also show moderately high prevalence. Management may be most successful with pharmacologic therapy to target inflammation but enhanced by the concurrent use of non-pharmacologic therapy in such patients.
BMC Rheumatology
MacFarlane, G. J., Pathan, E., Siebert, S., Packham, J., Gaffney, K., Choy, E. H., ... Dean, L. (2019). AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia: identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS). BMC Rheumatology, 3, [19]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-019-0066-7
AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia : identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS). / MacFarlane, Gary J. (Corresponding Author); Pathan, Ejaz; Siebert, Stefan; Packham, Jonathan ; Gaffney, Karl; Choy, Ernest H.; Sengupta, Raj; Atzeni, Fabiola; Martin, Kathryn R.; Jones, Gareth T.; Dean, Linda.
In: BMC Rheumatology, Vol. 3, 19, 20.05.2019.
MacFarlane, GJ, Pathan, E, Siebert, S, Packham, J, Gaffney, K, Choy, EH, Sengupta, R, Atzeni, F, Martin, KR, Jones, GT & Dean, L 2019, 'AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia: identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS)', BMC Rheumatology, vol. 3, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-019-0066-7
MacFarlane GJ, Pathan E, Siebert S, Packham J, Gaffney K, Choy EH et al. AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia: identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS). BMC Rheumatology. 2019 May 20;3. 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-019-0066-7
MacFarlane, Gary J. ; Pathan, Ejaz ; Siebert, Stefan ; Packham, Jonathan ; Gaffney, Karl ; Choy, Ernest H. ; Sengupta, Raj ; Atzeni, Fabiola ; Martin, Kathryn R. ; Jones, Gareth T. ; Dean, Linda. / AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia : identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS). In: BMC Rheumatology. 2019 ; Vol. 3.
@article{c9ede4d31c6a45b59760eca4f89fe867,
title = "AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia: identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS)",
abstract = "BackgroundAround 1 in 8 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) also meet criteria for fibromyalgia and such patients have considerable unmet need. Identifying effective therapy is important but to what extent fibromyalgia-like symptoms relate to axSpA disease severity has not been established. The aim of the current analysis was to determine whether distinct clusters of axSpA patients exist and if so to determine a) whether they differ in terms of prevalence of fibromyalgia and b) the features of patients in clusters with high prevalence.MethodsThe British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-AS) recruited axSpA patients from 83 centres 2012–2017. Clinical data, and information from patients was collected (including research criteria for fibromyalgia). Cluster analysis was undertaken using split samples for development and validation both in the whole population and the sub-group which met fibromyalgia criteria.ResultsOne thousand three hundred thirty-eight participants were included of whom 23{\%} met research criteria for fibromyalgia. Four clusters were identified. Two exhibited very high disease activity, one which was primarily axial (n = 347) and a smaller cluster (n = 32) with axial and peripheral disease, and in both groups more than half of members met criteria for fibromyalgia. The remaining two clusters (n = 437, n = 462) had overall less severe disease however the one which showed greater disease activity and poorer quality of life had a higher proportion meeting fibromyalgia criteria (16{\%} v. 4{\%}). Within those meeting fibromyalgia criteria there were three clusters. The two main groups were defined by level of symptom severity with a smaller third cluster noted to have high average swollen and tender joint counts and high levels of comorbidity.ConclusionsThe major feature defining clusters with a high proportion of persons meeting criteria for fibromyalgia is high axSpA disease activity although clusters with features of fibromyalgia in the absence of high disease activity also show moderately high prevalence. Management may be most successful with pharmacologic therapy to target inflammation but enhanced by the concurrent use of non-pharmacologic therapy in such patients.",
author = "MacFarlane, {Gary J.} and Ejaz Pathan and Stefan Siebert and Jonathan Packham and Karl Gaffney and Choy, {Ernest H.} and Raj Sengupta and Fabiola Atzeni and Martin, {Kathryn R.} and Jones, {Gareth T.} and Linda Dean",
note = "Parties can apply for access to data from the BSRBR-AS through the British Society for Rheumatology Registers Committee. Information is available from the corresponding author. The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) Biologics Register in Ankylosing Spondylitis is funded by the BSR and they have receive funds for this from Pfizer, AbbVie and UCB. These companies receive advance copies of manuscripts and can provide comments but have no input into determining the topics for analysis, publication and no input into the work involved in this analysis. This analysis is part of the Fibromyalgia Optimal Management for patients with axial Spondyloarthritis (FOMAxS) study funded by Versus Arthritis (formerly Arthritis Research UK) (Grant No: 21378).",
journal = "BMC Rheumatology",
T1 - AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia
T2 - identifying distinct patient clusters using data from a UK national register (BSRBR-AS)
AU - MacFarlane, Gary J.
AU - Pathan, Ejaz
AU - Siebert, Stefan
AU - Packham, Jonathan
AU - Gaffney, Karl
AU - Choy, Ernest H.
AU - Sengupta, Raj
AU - Atzeni, Fabiola
AU - Martin, Kathryn R.
AU - Jones, Gareth T.
AU - Dean, Linda
N1 - Parties can apply for access to data from the BSRBR-AS through the British Society for Rheumatology Registers Committee. Information is available from the corresponding author. The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) Biologics Register in Ankylosing Spondylitis is funded by the BSR and they have receive funds for this from Pfizer, AbbVie and UCB. These companies receive advance copies of manuscripts and can provide comments but have no input into determining the topics for analysis, publication and no input into the work involved in this analysis. This analysis is part of the Fibromyalgia Optimal Management for patients with axial Spondyloarthritis (FOMAxS) study funded by Versus Arthritis (formerly Arthritis Research UK) (Grant No: 21378).
N2 - BackgroundAround 1 in 8 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) also meet criteria for fibromyalgia and such patients have considerable unmet need. Identifying effective therapy is important but to what extent fibromyalgia-like symptoms relate to axSpA disease severity has not been established. The aim of the current analysis was to determine whether distinct clusters of axSpA patients exist and if so to determine a) whether they differ in terms of prevalence of fibromyalgia and b) the features of patients in clusters with high prevalence.MethodsThe British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-AS) recruited axSpA patients from 83 centres 2012–2017. Clinical data, and information from patients was collected (including research criteria for fibromyalgia). Cluster analysis was undertaken using split samples for development and validation both in the whole population and the sub-group which met fibromyalgia criteria.ResultsOne thousand three hundred thirty-eight participants were included of whom 23% met research criteria for fibromyalgia. Four clusters were identified. Two exhibited very high disease activity, one which was primarily axial (n = 347) and a smaller cluster (n = 32) with axial and peripheral disease, and in both groups more than half of members met criteria for fibromyalgia. The remaining two clusters (n = 437, n = 462) had overall less severe disease however the one which showed greater disease activity and poorer quality of life had a higher proportion meeting fibromyalgia criteria (16% v. 4%). Within those meeting fibromyalgia criteria there were three clusters. The two main groups were defined by level of symptom severity with a smaller third cluster noted to have high average swollen and tender joint counts and high levels of comorbidity.ConclusionsThe major feature defining clusters with a high proportion of persons meeting criteria for fibromyalgia is high axSpA disease activity although clusters with features of fibromyalgia in the absence of high disease activity also show moderately high prevalence. Management may be most successful with pharmacologic therapy to target inflammation but enhanced by the concurrent use of non-pharmacologic therapy in such patients.
AB - BackgroundAround 1 in 8 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) also meet criteria for fibromyalgia and such patients have considerable unmet need. Identifying effective therapy is important but to what extent fibromyalgia-like symptoms relate to axSpA disease severity has not been established. The aim of the current analysis was to determine whether distinct clusters of axSpA patients exist and if so to determine a) whether they differ in terms of prevalence of fibromyalgia and b) the features of patients in clusters with high prevalence.MethodsThe British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-AS) recruited axSpA patients from 83 centres 2012–2017. Clinical data, and information from patients was collected (including research criteria for fibromyalgia). Cluster analysis was undertaken using split samples for development and validation both in the whole population and the sub-group which met fibromyalgia criteria.ResultsOne thousand three hundred thirty-eight participants were included of whom 23% met research criteria for fibromyalgia. Four clusters were identified. Two exhibited very high disease activity, one which was primarily axial (n = 347) and a smaller cluster (n = 32) with axial and peripheral disease, and in both groups more than half of members met criteria for fibromyalgia. The remaining two clusters (n = 437, n = 462) had overall less severe disease however the one which showed greater disease activity and poorer quality of life had a higher proportion meeting fibromyalgia criteria (16% v. 4%). Within those meeting fibromyalgia criteria there were three clusters. The two main groups were defined by level of symptom severity with a smaller third cluster noted to have high average swollen and tender joint counts and high levels of comorbidity.ConclusionsThe major feature defining clusters with a high proportion of persons meeting criteria for fibromyalgia is high axSpA disease activity although clusters with features of fibromyalgia in the absence of high disease activity also show moderately high prevalence. Management may be most successful with pharmacologic therapy to target inflammation but enhanced by the concurrent use of non-pharmacologic therapy in such patients.
UR - https://bmcrheumatol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41927-019-0066-7
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/axspa-patients-also-meet-criteria-fibromyalgia-identifying-distinct-patient-clusters-using-data-uk-n
JO - BMC Rheumatology
JF - BMC Rheumatology
M1 - 19
10.1186/s41927-019-0066-7Licence: CC BY
AxSpA patients who also meet criteria for fibromyalgia
© The Author(s). 2019 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
https://bmcrheumatol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41927-019-0066-7
http://www.mendeley.com/research/axspa-patients-also-meet-criteria-fibromyalgia-identifying-distinct-patient-clusters-using-data-uk-n


7pm for tyre kicking food at 730pm. Can you confirm your attendance well in advance please as we might have to pre-order food as the meets are gradually getting more popular.
Will hopefully make this one so put me down please Ads.


text:
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text:
Midwestern Skiers, Snowboarders Will Compete In Olympics
1st February 2010 | Mike Terrell, Regional Editor
Resorts in this article: Boyne Mountain Resort, Buck Hill, Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area, Lutsen Mountains, Mad River Mountain, Ski Brule, Spirit Mountain, Terry Peak Ski Area
The Heartland will be well represented in this year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver Feb. 12-28.
Lindsey Kildow Vonn, who grew up skiing at Minnesota's [R89R, Buck Hill], is America's top female racer and one of the best ever in the sport. She is just the latest ski racer to come out of the Buck Hill racing program taught by legendary coach Erich Sailer. That program produced past champions Kristina Koznick and Tasha Nelson, among others.
Vonn, who was enticed to the Buck Hill racing program by doughnuts and hot chocolate served after ski race training, was racing every night at Buck by the age of 7. She will be competing in five events and could medal in all. She now lives in Utah, but still has lots of supporters in the Gopher State and across the Midwest who will be cheering her on.
Snowboarder Louie Vito grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio, riding at [R223R, Mad River Mountain] with his dad, Louie Sr. Showing early talent, he attended Stratton Academy in Vermont for high school and burst on the snowboard scene in 2005 with big superpipe victories in New Zealand and Australia. Today, he excels in all aspects of the sport: pipe, slope style, rails, and back-country kickers. He's probably best known for his technical expertise and back-to-back 1080s.
While Vonn and Vito are the best known Heartlanders to compete in this year's Olympics, there are several other Midwestern U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team members that could make an impact in this and future Olympics.
Ski racer Kaylin Richardson of Edina, Minn., started skiing at [R185R, Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area] near Minneapolis when she was 5. She was the 2006 U.S. slalom champion and downhill champ in 2007 and last year.
Snowboarder Mason Aguirre, who grew up riding at [R416R, Spirit Mountain] in Duluth, was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Snowboarding Team in 2006 when he just missed a medal finishing fourth in the half-pipe competition.
Nick Baumgartner, an Iron Mountain, Mich., native who honed his skills at [R370R, Ski Brule], has wrapped up the fourth and final U.S. Olympic berth in men's snowboardcross for the Vancouver Games. The 27-year-old is ranked third in the U.S. and fourth in the world in snowboardcross. He won a bronze medal at last year's world championships.
Snowboarder Steve Fisher, originally from St. Louis Park, Minn., won a World Cup half pipe event in 2005 and finished second in a U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix in Colorado last season.
Sterling Grant, another Sailer protégé, began skiing at age 2 at [R478R, Trollhaugen Ski Area] along the Wisconsin/Minnesota border before joining the Buck Hill program. She was last season's NorAm slalom champion and finished second in the 2007 National Championships.
Freestyle aerialist Jana Lindsey from Black Hawk, S.D., began skiing at nearby [R459R, Terry Peak]. She competed in the 2006 Olympic winter games and won last season's national championships.
Another freestyle aerialist Allison Treleaven, Fort Wayne, Ind., was the FIS Rookie of the Year in 2008.
Other Midwest ski racing and freestyle past champions include: Chuck Ferries, Houghton, Mich., two-time Olympian during the 1950s; Barbara Ferries, Houghton, won a bronze downhill medal in 1962; Cindy Nelson, who grew up skiing at [R221R, Lutsen], was the 1976 Olympic downhill bronze medalist, won three World Championship medals, and seven U.S. titles; Cary Adgate, who grew up skiing at [R73R, Boyne Mountain], was a two-time Olympian and won four U.S. slalom titles; Trace Worthington, a Minneapolis native and two-time freestyle Olympian, won 37 World Cup events, 12 U.S. titles, and two gold medals at the 1995 World Freestyle Championships; Steve Roxberg, from Lakeville, Minn., was a two-time U.S. freestyle champ; and Ian Edmondson, from Birmingham, Mich., a 1999 World Freestyle champion, won 11 World Cup Events.
The Midwest has a long proud history of producing great champions. Stand tall Heartland hopefuls.


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text:
Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter
Kou Kou, Donald W. Mittanck, Chong Fu, Peter Rotwein
The actions of insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and -II) are modulated by interactions with one or more of a family of secreted IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBP-5, the most conserved of the six known IGFBPs, is a 252-amino-acid protein that has been shown both to potentiate and inhibit IGF action. In previous studies, we have cloned and characterized the mouse IGFBP-5 gene and demonstrated that it is expressed in a hierarchical pattern in different adult mouse tissues and during rodent embryonic development. In this report, we describe the initial analysis of the IGFBP-5 gene promoter. By transient gene transfer studies, we show the orientation-specific activity of DNA fragments containing from 31 to 4,100 bp from the 5'-flanking region of the mouse IGFBP-5 gene in directing expression of the heterologous reporter gene luciferase in Hep G2 cells. DNA fragments with only 156 bp of 5'-flanking sequence mediated over 60% of maximal promoter activity, and a segment containing the TATA box and the first 120 bp of exon 1 still conferred some promoter function. Within the highly active 156-bp region, we identified a 37-bp segment from −70 to −34 that exhibited specific binding in DNase I footprinting and gel-mobility shift experiments with Hep G2 nuclear protein extracts. The footprinted region, which is almost completely conserved in the rat and human IGFBP-5 genes, was responsible for at least 70% of the activity of the intact promoter, as evidenced by the deleterious consequences of small internal deletions within this sequence on promoter function. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the mouse IGFBP-5 gene promoter has a simple structure, and defines a framework for examining the mechanisms responsible for the multifactorial regulation of IGFBP-5 gene transcription during development and in the adult.
DNA and Cell Biology
https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
Dive into the research topics of 'Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
mouse IGFBP5-interacting protein Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Medicine & Life Sciences 68%
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins Medicine & Life Sciences 16%
5' Flanking Region Medicine & Life Sciences 15%
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Medicine & Life Sciences 12%
TATA Box Medicine & Life Sciences 8%
Insulin-Like Growth Factor II Medicine & Life Sciences 7%
Kou, K., Mittanck, D. W., Fu, C., & Rotwein, P. (1995). Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter. DNA and Cell Biology, 14(3), 241-249. https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter. / Kou, Kou; Mittanck, Donald W.; Fu, Chong; Rotwein, Peter.
In: DNA and Cell Biology, Vol. 14, No. 3, 03.1995, p. 241-249.
Kou, K, Mittanck, DW, Fu, C & Rotwein, P 1995, 'Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter', DNA and Cell Biology, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 241-249. https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
Kou K, Mittanck DW, Fu C, Rotwein P. Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter. DNA and Cell Biology. 1995 Mar;14(3):241-249. https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
Kou, Kou ; Mittanck, Donald W. ; Fu, Chong ; Rotwein, Peter. / Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter. In: DNA and Cell Biology. 1995 ; Vol. 14, No. 3. pp. 241-249.
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title = "Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter",
abstract = "The actions of insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and -II) are modulated by interactions with one or more of a family of secreted IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBP-5, the most conserved of the six known IGFBPs, is a 252-amino-acid protein that has been shown both to potentiate and inhibit IGF action. In previous studies, we have cloned and characterized the mouse IGFBP-5 gene and demonstrated that it is expressed in a hierarchical pattern in different adult mouse tissues and during rodent embryonic development. In this report, we describe the initial analysis of the IGFBP-5 gene promoter. By transient gene transfer studies, we show the orientation-specific activity of DNA fragments containing from 31 to 4,100 bp from the 5'-flanking region of the mouse IGFBP-5 gene in directing expression of the heterologous reporter gene luciferase in Hep G2 cells. DNA fragments with only 156 bp of 5'-flanking sequence mediated over 60% of maximal promoter activity, and a segment containing the TATA box and the first 120 bp of exon 1 still conferred some promoter function. Within the highly active 156-bp region, we identified a 37-bp segment from −70 to −34 that exhibited specific binding in DNase I footprinting and gel-mobility shift experiments with Hep G2 nuclear protein extracts. The footprinted region, which is almost completely conserved in the rat and human IGFBP-5 genes, was responsible for at least 70% of the activity of the intact promoter, as evidenced by the deleterious consequences of small internal deletions within this sequence on promoter function. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the mouse IGFBP-5 gene promoter has a simple structure, and defines a framework for examining the mechanisms responsible for the multifactorial regulation of IGFBP-5 gene transcription during development and in the adult.",
author = "Kou Kou and Mittanck, {Donald W.} and Chong Fu and Peter Rotwein",
doi = "10.1089/dna.1995.14.241",
journal = "DNA and Cell Biology",
publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",
T1 - Structure and Function of the Mouse Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 Gene Promoter
AU - Kou, Kou
AU - Mittanck, Donald W.
AU - Fu, Chong
AU - Rotwein, Peter
N2 - The actions of insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and -II) are modulated by interactions with one or more of a family of secreted IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBP-5, the most conserved of the six known IGFBPs, is a 252-amino-acid protein that has been shown both to potentiate and inhibit IGF action. In previous studies, we have cloned and characterized the mouse IGFBP-5 gene and demonstrated that it is expressed in a hierarchical pattern in different adult mouse tissues and during rodent embryonic development. In this report, we describe the initial analysis of the IGFBP-5 gene promoter. By transient gene transfer studies, we show the orientation-specific activity of DNA fragments containing from 31 to 4,100 bp from the 5'-flanking region of the mouse IGFBP-5 gene in directing expression of the heterologous reporter gene luciferase in Hep G2 cells. DNA fragments with only 156 bp of 5'-flanking sequence mediated over 60% of maximal promoter activity, and a segment containing the TATA box and the first 120 bp of exon 1 still conferred some promoter function. Within the highly active 156-bp region, we identified a 37-bp segment from −70 to −34 that exhibited specific binding in DNase I footprinting and gel-mobility shift experiments with Hep G2 nuclear protein extracts. The footprinted region, which is almost completely conserved in the rat and human IGFBP-5 genes, was responsible for at least 70% of the activity of the intact promoter, as evidenced by the deleterious consequences of small internal deletions within this sequence on promoter function. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the mouse IGFBP-5 gene promoter has a simple structure, and defines a framework for examining the mechanisms responsible for the multifactorial regulation of IGFBP-5 gene transcription during development and in the adult.
AB - The actions of insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and -II) are modulated by interactions with one or more of a family of secreted IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGFBP-5, the most conserved of the six known IGFBPs, is a 252-amino-acid protein that has been shown both to potentiate and inhibit IGF action. In previous studies, we have cloned and characterized the mouse IGFBP-5 gene and demonstrated that it is expressed in a hierarchical pattern in different adult mouse tissues and during rodent embryonic development. In this report, we describe the initial analysis of the IGFBP-5 gene promoter. By transient gene transfer studies, we show the orientation-specific activity of DNA fragments containing from 31 to 4,100 bp from the 5'-flanking region of the mouse IGFBP-5 gene in directing expression of the heterologous reporter gene luciferase in Hep G2 cells. DNA fragments with only 156 bp of 5'-flanking sequence mediated over 60% of maximal promoter activity, and a segment containing the TATA box and the first 120 bp of exon 1 still conferred some promoter function. Within the highly active 156-bp region, we identified a 37-bp segment from −70 to −34 that exhibited specific binding in DNase I footprinting and gel-mobility shift experiments with Hep G2 nuclear protein extracts. The footprinted region, which is almost completely conserved in the rat and human IGFBP-5 genes, was responsible for at least 70% of the activity of the intact promoter, as evidenced by the deleterious consequences of small internal deletions within this sequence on promoter function. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the mouse IGFBP-5 gene promoter has a simple structure, and defines a framework for examining the mechanisms responsible for the multifactorial regulation of IGFBP-5 gene transcription during development and in the adult.
U2 - 10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
DO - 10.1089/dna.1995.14.241
JO - DNA and Cell Biology
JF - DNA and Cell Biology


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text:
const http = require('https');
const fs = require('fs');

let batchRequestBody = {
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};

// Set Genesys Cloud objects
const platformClient = require('purecloud-platform-client-v2');
const client = platformClient.ApiClient.instance;
// Create API instances
const conversationsApi = new platformClient.ConversationsApi();
const recordingApi = new platformClient.RecordingApi();

// Get client credentials from environment variables
const CLIENT_ID = process.env.GENESYS_CLOUD_CLIENT_ID;
const CLIENT_SECRET = process.env.GENESYS_CLOUD_CLIENT_SECRET;
const ORG_REGION = process.env.GENESYS_CLOUD_REGION; // eg. us_east_1

// Set environment
const environment = platformClient.PureCloudRegionHosts[ORG_REGION];
if(environment) client.setEnvironment(environment);

// OAuth input
client.loginClientCredentialsGrant(CLIENT_ID, CLIENT_SECRET)
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// Process and build the request for downloading the recordings
// Get the conversations within the date interval and start adding them to batch request
function downloadAllRecordings (dates) {
    console.log('Start batch request process');

    let body = {
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    conversationsApi.postAnalyticsConversationsDetailsQuery(body)
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}

// Get all the recordings metadata of the conversation and add it to the global batch request object
function addConversationRecordingsToBatch (conversationId) {
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        .catch((err) => {
            console.log('There was a failure calling getConversationRecordingmetadata');
            console.error(err);
        });
}

// Plot conversationId and recordingId to request for batchdownload Recordings
function getRecordingStatus (recordingBatchRequest) {
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
        let recursiveRequest = () => {
            recordingApi.getRecordingBatchrequest(recordingBatchRequest.id)
                .then((result) => {
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                        console.log('Batch Result Status:' + result.resultCount + '/' + result.expectedResultCount)

                        // Simple polling through recursion
                        setTimeout(() => recursiveRequest(), 5000);
                    } else {
                        // Once result count reach expected.
                        resolve(result);
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                .catch((err) => {
                    console.log('There was a failure calling getRecordingBatchrequest');
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        recursiveRequest();
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}

// Get extension of every recording
function getExtension (recording) {
    // Store the contentType to a variable that will be used later to determine the extension of recordings
    let contentType = recording.contentType;
    // Split the text and gets the extension that will be used for the recording
    let ext = contentType.split('/').slice(-1);
    ext = String(ext);

    // For the JSON special case
    if (ext.length >= 4) {
        console.log('length' + ext.length);
        ext = ext.substring(0, 4);
        return ext;
    } else {
        return ext;
    }
}

// Download Recordings
function downloadRecording (recording) {
    console.log('Downloading now. Please wait...');
    let ext = getExtension(recording);
    let conversationId = recording.conversationId;
    let recordingId = recording.recordingId;
    let sourceURL = recording.resultUrl;
    let targetDirectory = '.';
    let fileName = conversationId + '_' + recordingId;

    const file = fs.createWriteStream((targetDirectory + fileName + '.' + ext));
    http.get(sourceURL, function (response) {
        response.pipe(file);
    });
}


text:
package de.leanovate.dose.product.model

import spray.json._
import spray.json

case class CategoryTreeItem(category: Category, children: Seq[CategoryTreeItem])

case class Categories(categories: Seq[Category], tree: Seq[CategoryTreeItem])

object Categories extends DefaultJsonProtocol {
  implicit val categoryTreeItemFornat = new RootJsonWriter[CategoryTreeItem] {
    override def write(obj: CategoryTreeItem) = JsObject(
      "category" -> json.jsonWriter[Category].write(obj.category),
      "children" -> JsArray(obj.children.map(write) :_ *)
    )
  }

  implicit val categoriesFormat = new RootJsonWriter[Categories] {
    override def write(obj: Categories) = JsObject(
      "categories" -> json.jsonWriter[Seq[Category]].write(obj.categories),
      "tree" -> JsArray(obj.tree.map(categoryTreeItemFornat.write) :_ *)
    )
  }

  def apply(categories: Seq[Category]): Categories = {
    val byParentId = categories.groupBy(_.parent_id.map(_.stringify))
    println(byParentId)

    def createTreeItem(category: Category): CategoryTreeItem = {
      CategoryTreeItem(category, byParentId.getOrElse(category._id.map(_.stringify), List()).map(createTreeItem))
    }

    Categories(categories, categories.filter(_.parent_id.isEmpty).map(createTreeItem))
  }
}


When the most damning evidence of Mr. Trump's lack of character was made public weeks ago I started a letter to the editor in my head. Essentially what I wanted to say was this: Our elected leaders who stand with Mr. Trump are supporting a racist, bigoted misogynist, and a pathological liar. The failure to classify his behaviors over the course of the campaign and his public life as anything other than this description is at best ignorant, at worst complicit. I wanted to close this letter urging my fellow Iowans to reject all of the candidates on the ballot this year who fail to reject Mr. Trump.
I never got around to sending that letter just like I never got around to putting that Hillary sticker on my car. There was so much written, broadcast, and discussed about how hideous Mr. Trump's campaign had become I didn't feel I had much to add. Plus, I didn't want to offend you. Even after eight years of listening patiently to your racist, sexist, violent and bigoted rhetoric directed not at an ideology or a set of policies, but a man.
Here is where I have to tell you how offended I am by your action. While you spent the last eight years maligning a respectable and capable man, you also couldn't help inflicting collateral damage on the office, itself. And now, after acclimating yourself to its debasement, you saw the Presidency to be such a demeaned thing that you could find a man fundamentally not worthy of our respect, worthy of it. You have elected to represent all of us as leader of the free world a man whose behavior, words, and deeds would not be tolerated in any elementary school classroom.
Would you allow your daughters to be groped by my sons? Would you ask that I tolerate the level of dishonesty he consistently demonstrates among my students? Would you tolerate his level of vulgarity from a high school debater?
Years ago civic, education, and political leaders – many of them Republican – got behind an initiative for teaching civic values to young people called Character Counts. There are six ethical values that "everyone can agree upon." Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. By any measure our next president has failed in every one of these areas – big time. Of course you will point to my candidate and say the same. But Mr. Trump's failures in the areas of Respect, Fairness, and Caring specifically are beyond the pale or comparison.
When I woke Wednesday morning I was in tears for our children. I cannot explain this world of adults who not only tolerate this behavior, they seem to revel in it. The worse Mr. Trump acted, the more you adored him. So again our children are failed by our 'do as I say, not as I do' hypocrisy. So I ask you with all sincerity: What do you plan to say to your children to explain why someone of such established grotesque character was found worthy (once again, not by most Americans) of being our leader and representative to the world? What conclusion do you expect they'll come to when they see a black man of great character reviled, and a white man of repugnant character celebrated? How do you reconcile this hypocrisy?
Ultimately, what has upended my world-view and disturbed my soul is that I have finally become fully aware who you are. I ignorantly saw you as 'the other' for so long: the white guy of a certain age in a pick-up truck. I ignorantly assumed your racism, sexism, and xenophobia was something isolated to the rural counties, the less educated parts of white society, and areas with white nationalists that I wouldn't know how to find and rarely would travel.
What has so shaken me is that you are so close to me: you are my doctor, my uncle, my cousin, my co-worker, my teammate, my children's teacher, my student's parent, my fellow parishioner, my neighbor. I realize that I can't live in a world without you and even if I could wish you away I wouldn't. I love you and it brings me to tears.
This love requires me to forgive, not to hate. It requires me to empathize, if not to agree. It requires me to dialogue, not to close you off. I'm not sure what else to write or say just yet because I am too raw and immature to attempt the answers on my own. But I do have a good start: I will refocus my efforts on telling the truth and fostering loving relationships.
I have held my tongue for far too long in an effort not to offend you. In doing so I have fallen short of living my most deeply held standards and beliefs in the misplaced assumption that I will lose the benefits of our relationship. But from now on I pledge that fear will no longer make me a hypocrite to my beliefs. Without fear of offending you or our new president, instead I choose to love you and your chosen leader. I choose to live in peace and harmony rather than anger. I hope that by doing so you may consider to do the same.
Your man of great character used his pen and his phone to undermine our system, to advance an agenda the people's representatives did not prefer, to stuff his (your?) progressive beliefs down the throats of Americans from a majority of states who thought differently. He saw great flaws in Hillary 8 years ago but somehow came to describe her as "the most qualified candidate ever". Give us a break!
As for Hillary, Benghazi, the Make Me a Millionaire Foundation, "Basket of Deplorables" and your man of great character did her in. A majority of voters in a majority of states said no more.
Of course Trump's actions were alarming, but less alarming than a 3rd Obama term and putting an enabler of even worse behavior, that her then President spouse exhibited in the 1990s, into the White House.
But, your man of great character said that elections have consequences so dry your tears and see if the people's choice from a vast majority of states can get our country back on the tracks our founders laid and the people want. We both don't want to see him fail.
No, we do not wish for failure. However, you must lest go of your hate if you wish to truly dialogue. I am glad to go back and forth with you about policies, ideas, and values. But, if you want to communicate with the plurality of this country you must set aside your vilification of the personalities and engage us with respect. Thank you for your comments.
my Iowa cousin shared this and it speaks to my experiences in rural eastern North Carolina. I'm sharing your thoughts instead of my own. I thank you.
Thank you Sarah. Please keep the dialogue going. Peace.
Gary, I think this is the crux of the issue. I need to understand your point of view just as much as I want you to understand mine. What sources would you have me go to to learn more?
I have a blog as well 365 days of kindness, and while my family and I are still on our path of a kind act every day, I have had a hard time blogging about it because of the election. Everything I wrote became a political statement and that is not what I wanted from my blog. After the election, in my state of grief, I have not been able to write anything. This post said everything my head and heart wanted to say. Thank you for this!
Wow! I had never known about your blog before, and I'm so glad to have happened upon it. Knowing you personally for years, having great respect and admiration for you as a human, as an educator, as a colleague, and as a friend, your words are consistent with your life journey. As a lifelong "R" who absolutely could not vote for our current President, your message resonates strongly with me. (At the state level right now, I'm humiliated and disgusted to call it "my party", except for the six "R"s who actually voted "no".) I am so sad for our country and our state, yet hopeful that the pendulum has swung far enough that many will make a decision to love, not hate, listen, not yell, and work together to build goodness in our world. It may be a long slog through a lot of muck to get there though. Hugs to you!! Thank you for sharing.


text:
Home » Behind The Scenes » Falling Skies Season 2 Set Visit – Vancouver 2012
Falling Skies Season 2 Set Visit – Vancouver 2012
By: Robert Prentice January 1, 2012
Behind The Scenes, TV News aliens, Ben Mason, Colin Cunningham, connor jessup, Daniyah Ysrayl, drew roy, Falling Skies, maxim knight, moon bloodgood, noah wyle, peter shinkoda, Ricky, sci fi, skitters, will patton
Falling Skies is currently well under way at production of season 2 and we have kept you up to date on all the behind the scenes photos and news coming from the set. At the end of January will be giving you an even closer look at falling skies season 2 and the set in Vancouver. TNT doesn't want to keep all the surprises to themselves and we don't want to keep the surprises to ourselves either.
Three If By Space was invited along with a select few fans from around the world to visit the set on Vancouver at the end of January. Our good friend Kimberly at WormholeRiders News Agency was also invited and we cannot wait to meet up in Vancouver and get all the spoilers for you fans. We are very excited at the opportunity to meet the entire cast and crew and to get a behind the scenes look at how all of the production is done, and get a sneak peek of what is to come with season 2 at the hands of Remi (the director).
We want to hear from you. What do you want to know about season 2 of falling skies? Leave comments and tell us what you are most excited to hear about and what questions you would like us to ask. In fact, if we get to ask your question, your question and answer will be posted on our site and you could win a Falling Skies SDCC Collectors Pin Set. How cool is that?
We promise to post pictures during our trip and keep you up to date on twitter when we can. Remember to stay tuned here and on TNT for Falling Skies and watch us for all the updates coming out of season 2 production and look for season 2 to air Summer 2012. The trip is Jan 26th to 29th. A total of 15 fans worldwide have been invited.
Follow our set visit by reading these articles.
Robert Prentice
Founder and managing editor for Three If By Space. A Sci-Fi Geek who loves shows like Dr. Who, BSG, Caprica, Falling Skies, Terra Nova and much more. Loves to write about anything science fiction or fantasy. His sole mission is to help increase the awareness of online media and their influence on the media world and to expose its importance to an ever changing industry.
Jan 1, 2012 Robert Prentice
Sanctuary Recap - Sanctuary for NoneMerlin Season Premiere - The Darkest Hour Part 1 Recap
Manifest: Show Given OK For Second Season
Star Trek: Discovery – Family Reunion & Control's Big Move – Review Ep. 211
Star Trek: Discovery – Red Angel Reveal Delivers Twist On A Twist – Review, EP. 210
Captive State: Alien Invasion Tropes Arrive, But It's Still Fun – Review
Star Trek: Discovery – A Third Season for STD? Make It So


We're back in the saddle with a third mini-project this month!! Yeeehaa!
Introducing the Western Saloon No.2 mini-project, a sequel to one of our most popular mini-project from 2013. We have 6 models in this pack for all kinds of versatile layouts and sign designs. Heck, why not get our first Western Saloon mini-project which gives you a total of 11 different relief models to play with for only $50, you can't beat that deal!


"Select a Professional Carpet Cleaning Firm"
1.	Insurance, Licensing, Taxes — Firms should carry adequate business and liability insurance for consumer protection. They should comply with the licensing requirements of local, state, provincial and federal authorities. They should collect, report and pay appropriate licensing fees and taxes.
2.	Ongoing Training — Cleaning firms should require management and employees to engage in formal ongoing training, providing them with the latest industry technologies and techniques.
3.	Certified Technicians — Firms should have technicians on staff who are specifically trained in carpet cleaning. There are separate courses taught for residential and commercial carpet cleaning.
4.	Experience — The years of experience a firm has, combined with formal training programs, may contribute significantly to the proficiency of its employees.
5.	Knowledge — Professional firms use trained technicians who have the ability to answer basic questions regarding cleaning, maintenance, and spot removal procedures.
6.	Inspections and Pricing — Firms should offer estimating, consulting and pre-cleaning inspections. After inspection, the customers should be provided with a firm, written cost for the cleaning services.
7.	References — Firms should be willing, when requested, to provide customers with references.
8.	Trade Associations — Quality-cleaning firms are members of international, national or regional trade associations, which encourage high ethical standards and promote continuing education.
9.	Customer Courtesy — Firms should provide value-oriented service including, but not necessarily limited to: courteous personnel; quick and comprehensive complaint handling; appropriate recommendations for additional services, such as application of carpet protectors, carpet repair and deodorization.
10.	Product Safety — Firms should use products and cleaning techniques in a safe manner. Products should be used and disposed of in accordance with applicable local, state, federal and provincial laws and regulations.


text:
Suvarna Home
Suvarna Garge (Editor)
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet whats in a name - William Shakespeare
Can Masdeu
Updated on Jan 09, 2018
Province Province of Barcelona
Address Camí Sant Llàtzer, 25, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Similar Serra de Collserola, Ernst‑Kirchweger‑Haus, De Blauwe Aanslag, Carretera de las Aguas, Tibidabo Amusement Park
Can masdeu una experiencia rurbana 23m
Can Masdeu ([ˈkam məzˈðew]) is a squatted social centre, residence and community garden in the Collserola Park on the outskirts of Barcelona. In 2001, an international group of activists organizing a conference to raise awareness around climate change squatted the former leper hospital, which had been abandoned for some 53 years. The squat became famous in 2002, when squatters in lockons and on tripods nonviolently resisted an eviction. During a three-day standoff, police were unable to remove the squatters, resulting in the case returning to the courts. After three years, the case was won by the owners, but no eviction notice has since been issued.
A day at can masdeu
The name Can Masdeu
Grounds, location and early history
Occupation and legal status
Local relations
Social centre activities
Renovations and functions
Most Sundays there is an open house and guided tour in which residents explain community living, consensus-based decision-making, ecological gardening and living, and the functioning of the social center. There is a collective meal and from 100 to 300 people come up to participate in free activities related to ecology, activism, and self-sufficiency.
Can means "property of" and "Masdeu" comes from the Masdeu family who once inhabited the farmhouse at the center of the valley. Thus, Can Masdeu can refer to any of the following:
the masia - a traditional Iberian patriarchal mansion or plantation house
the valley, or the community gardens which inhabit it
the community of squatters
the social center or the ecological project associated with it.
the nunnery or leper hospital which once inhabited the masia and the valley.
The grounds governed by the squat include almost a hectare of land in use as gardens, an abandoned nunnery and hospital facility and about 15 hectares (37 acres) of mostly hilly forests. The building spans four floors and is draped over the side of a hill. It includes 24 different rooms of various sizes including a large hall.
Can Masdeu is located up the hill from the Canyelles L3 Metro station in Barcelona. There is a sign for it before the 0.5 km (0.31 mi) walk up a dirt road to the site.
The building was built on an ancient Roman site, and was surrounded by vineyards before the city expanded into Nou Barris. Of the existing structure, first the temple (masia) was completed in the 17th century. In the early 20th century the living units, common space and kitchen were added. After functioning as a nunnery for some years, the facility was converted into a leper hospital. It was ultimately shuttered and abandoned in 1948. Fear of leprosy may have been a factor in this large facility being left vacant for over half a century.
An international group of activists spent over a year searching in Barcelona for the best location to occupy and in December 2001 they moved onto the abandoned hospital. The aim was to hold a conference to raise awareness around climate change. Can Masdeu became famous in April 2002, when over 100 national police came to evict 11 squatters. Using passive resistance over three days the squatters were able to hold off the police's efforts at forced removal. The squatters used a number of techniques to retain control of the space including, significantly, locking themselves to various precarious perches outside the building. This created a situation in which the police risked serious injury to themselves or to squatters in attempting to remove them. Some dangling occupiers locked themselves to the building, others balanced on a long seesaw, from which no single occupant could be removed without dropping the other. Many were suspended outside the building on frames and even a bathtub was used.
The police changed their initial strategy of forced removal with one of waiting for the squatters to get thirsty and hungry and come down. They waited for three days with growing local support and media attention. Hundreds of spectators came to see the occupation, many of them chanted slogans, and stopped traffic on the local highway. A Dutch solidarity organization organized an occupation of the Spanish Embassy in the Netherlands. After three days, the Barcelona judge overseeing the case ordered the police to withdraw.
The judge's ruling specified that human rights and safety are more important than property rights.
There have been both civil and criminal cases brought against the occupants of Can Masdeu since 2002. Most of these cases have been lost by the community, but it continues to occupy the site, in part because the hospital that owns the facility does not have the financial capacity to renovate the structure. Further complicating the hospital's plans to provide a suitable reason for improving the Can Masdeu site is the fact that immediately next to it there is another larger abandoned institutional building, which could more easily be used than the more dilapidated older facility.
Relations with the surrounding local population has been a focus of the efforts of the residents of Can Masdeu. Immediately after the occupation, the community encouraged local gardeners to come plant on their gardens on the grounds. About a dozen people at first, mostly older women responded to the offer and began planting mostly produce and some flowers.
The community hosts monthly or bi-monthly potlucks with local gardeners and there are regular meetings to manage the affairs of the garden. In 2006 a large second terrace of gardens was recovered from the surround bush lands and additional local gardens were planted. There are three tiers of gardens, the lowest is the new local gardens, the middle tier is production garden for the community and the top tier is the original local gardens. These neighbors initially came from the Nou Barris district, but increasingly locals involved with these community gardens who move to nearby locations continue to come to this site and maintain their plots..
For most Sundays of the year there are public workshops offered in the social centre, the PIC, or Punt d'Interracció de Collserola. These workshops and presentations cover a variety of topics including:
permaculture and organic farming
political resistance
independent film presentations
music, dancing and cultural expression
walking tours of the community grounds and building
An organic vegetarian meal served for around 5 euros.
The Social Centre and the 'Rurbar', a cafe serving local and organic meals and drinks, is open most Sundays from noon until evening. Activities are listed on the website, on the facebook page, and in the Infousurpa newsletter.
A substantial renovation was necessary to make the space livable. Squatters cleared out rooms and repaired them and moved on to the adjacent space for a period of over 3 years. Residents enjoy a low energy, low impact lifestyle with few low power electrical fixtures and a couple of woodstoves for the sprawling complex.
The community runs a bike shop and repair clinic, bakes bread for itself and local customers, provides space to the local high school for meetings and performances, and it also hosts meeting of progressive and resistance groups.
As of 2017, 22 adults and 5 children live in and share the house. Community participation includes bi-weekly meetings, organic gardening, housework, and two collective meals per day, and each member contributes 55 euros/month to food costs. The working languages of the house are Catalan and Spanish, but as it is an international group, English, Italian, French, Basque, and Esperanto are also spoken.
The community hosts some guests who are either friends of the community or involved in service projects or movements that the community supports. The community receives far more requests to host people than it has the capacity to provide.
Unlike most squats and even intentional communities, Can Masdeu has quite low turn over, with no new vacancies from 2007 to 2008.
Can Masdeu Wikipedia
De Blauwe Aanslag
Serra de Collserola
The Poof Point


Bitsboard PRO is one of those must-have app for teachers, parents, occupational therapists, and others who work with children and teens. This unique learning platform uses boards to help kids learn. Each board centers around a different topic and combines media and text to create a flashcard-style slideshow experience. Kids can then take each board and interact with it through a variety of games. Whether using pre-created boards or creating boards of your own, Bitsboard PRO helps you create an interactive and customized learning experience for kids and teens.
At first glance, Bitsboard seems a bit busy. This is because the main page comes pre-loaded with suggested boards and classes. However, these can be turned off in the settings area so that kids only see the boards you want to them to see. The settings are also allows users to customize the learning experience. This includes everything from the font and contrast in the app to the success sounds kids hear and the specific number of rounds in each game. The settings icon also takes users to the portion of the app where they can create or upload new boards, share boards with other users, and get help using the app. The settings section is extensive, but that's only because the app has so much to offer. Kids, however, will see a much more streamlined portion of the app with classes and boards clearly labeled on the home screen and games to interact with the boards clearly labeled with both the title and a descriptive image.
One of the highlights of Bitsboard is the ability to customize the learning experience. Users can choose the boards they want to interact with or even create boards of their own. The games can also be customized to help them fit kids' needs. For example, the Photo Touch game can feature images only, text only, or descriptions only.
In addition to offering a customizable learning experience, the app incorporates games and activities designed to help kids learn. Kids can learn keywords and information about virtually any subject with the flashcard-style boards and related activities. Its format is ideal for review of vocabulary words and key concepts, but it also works well for tasks such as letter and number recognition or solving basic addition and subtraction problems. One area where Bitsboard is particularly is with content for kids with special need. The format is ideal for creating social stories and other activities to help children learn how to express themselves verbally and emotionally. You can even customize the sounds on many of the pre-created boards so kids' can hear the voices and pronunciations they are accustomed to.
There are over 30 different ways kids can interact with each board. These range from simple flashcards to word search puzzles and memory games. That means kids could review each board a different way every day of the month if they wanted to. Users also have the ability to add or remove games, so if kids don't enjoy a particular type of game, it won't even appear on their menu of choices when they go to review a board. The game also offers positive reinforcement as kids complete the games and activities. Users can customize the success sounds kids hear to help make the app more enjoyable for them.
Given all that the app has to offer and the way it allows users to organize content, it is priced competitively. You could use a variety of free online programs to create content similar to Bitsboard, but the content wouldn't be nicely organized and it'd be hard for kids to maximize the effectiveness of the resources. With this app, it's all contained in one place, it's easy to use, and you can track kids' progress as they use it.
Adults should not that Bitsboard PRO does offer a child lock, but it must be turned on in the settings area. There are two options for a child lock – a traditional child lock that has users enter a string of three numbers or a password option that allows users to set a simple passcode to access content that is not designed for children. Turning on the child lock restricts access to the settings and search area, so kids are focused solely on the boards and classes that they have been given access to.