Liver blood tests look at how well the liver is functioning and can indicate whether there is any damage or inflammation inside the liver. Until recently, liver blood tests were referred to as liver function tests, or LFTs. However, as most patients with abnormal liver blood tests actually have normal function of the liver, this term was felt to be unhelpful and often led to unnecessary concern. Therefore the term liver function tests, or LFTs, has been replaced by liver blood tests. This is a very important change, and the medical profession is working hard to ensure the new term is widely accepted and used.
Calling these tests liver blood tests is a more accurate way of describing what the test actually does and uses less frightening language.
What happens when I have a liver blood test?
When you have a liver blood test, a syringe with a fine needle is used to remove a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. The sample can be taken by your GP or a nurse at your local clinic, or by hospital staff (a person who is specially trained to take blood is called a phlebotomist). It will then be sent to a laboratory to be tested.
What is a liver blood test looking for?
assess how much liver scarring (fibrosis) there is in conditions such as non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disease.
These are enzymes found mainly in the bile ducts of the liver. Increases in ALP and another liver enzyme called y-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) can indicate obstructive or cholestatic liver disease, where the flow of bile from the liver is blocked because of an obstruction of the bile duct. GGT levels are also a potential indicator of how much alcohol a patient drinks and can also be higher in those with non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Bilirubin is produced when red blood cells break down, and is the main pigment in bile (a yellow/green substance made by your liver that aids digestion). An increase of bilirubin causes jaundice, characterised by a yellowing of the eyes and skin in liver disease.
This is a protein made by the liver that makes up about 60 per cent of total protein in the blood, helping to maintain tissue growth and repair. It stops fluids from leaking out of blood vessels and carries nutrients and hormones around the body. Albumin levels may decrease if the liver is damaged.
The levels of each of these will be given in numbers and values. The laboratory where the blood is being tested provides a 'normal value' or 'reference value' against which your test results are measured. This is a broad range into which people without liver disease will fall. An abnormal liver blood test result is defined as being below or above the normal range.


Why More Men Don't Get Into The Field Of Nursing Only about 10 percent of nurses in the U.S. are men. Research indicates that ideas of masculinity prevent men from pursuing a career in nursing.
MARTIN: Shankar is the host of NPR's Hidden Brain podcast and radio show. You can hear more research about masculinity on the latest episode.


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Pastor In Bhutan In Prison For Accepting Donated Funds
Pastor Tandin Yangwal, Google Plus Image
Pastor in Bhutan Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Funds for MinistrySecond pastor also convicted but freed after paying fine.September 12, 2014 By Our Bhutan Correspondent - Leave a Comment
Pastor Tandin Yangwal. (plus.google.com)
THIMPHU, Bhutan (Morning Star News) – A court in Bhutan on Wednesday sentenced pastor Tandin Wangyal to three years, 11 months in prison for receiving funds for ministry activities from a Christian organization.
The verdict from the court in Dorokha, Samtse District asserts the pastor received US$11,864 in funding from a foreign Christian organization to conduct trainings and spread Christianity in the Buddhist country, sources said.
A source on Thursday (Sept. 11) told Morning Star News that Wangyal had been granted a one-year bail after paying a fine of US$763. Today, however, the source said authorities had refused to release the pastor due to a technicality on the release papers. The release on bail will amount to year subtracted from his sentence.
Another pastor, M.B. Thapa (known as Lobzang), was sentenced to two years and four months for taking Wangyal to a village for a gathering for which he allegedly had not obtained prior permission, but he was entitled to pay a fine of US$1,678 "in lieu" of prison that enabled him to remain free.
Wangyal was convicted under Article 71 of the Civil Society Organization Act of Bhutan, which outlaws raising funds for activities "in contravention of the laws of the country" and without prior permission. The pastors were arrested in Khapdani village, Dorokha area in Samtse District, on March 5.
The pastor had 10 days to appeal, but in comments to Morning Star News hours before he was detained Wednesday night (Sept. 9), Wangyal said he had already filed an appeal in Samtse District Court and was hoping for bail.
"My case now dates back to the past records and findings on my laptop," Wangyal. "I do not agree to the charges."
Wangyal and his wife have three sons, ages 8, 5 and 2.
"I am worried about my wife and my three little sons," he said. "Please pray for me and my family."
The two pastors were apprehended after they had reached Khapdani village in Dorokha to attend a foundation-laying ceremony. The police confiscated Wangyal's laptop hard disk, mobile phone and a movie projector.
Before winning release on bail on April 22, the two pastors were detained for 49 days without formal charges. The evening of March 4, they had spoken at the ground-breaking ceremony for a new house at the invitation of another Christian in Khapdani. They were planning to hold a three-day seminar in the village the next day that included screening of a film, but as they were trying to transport a child who was ill to a hospital, police arrested them.
The Civil Society Organization Act puts restrictions on collections, stipulating that "No person shall collect or ask for any contribution or charity to aid or help any activity, which is in contravention with the laws of the Country, and a collection in a public place must not be conducted unless the promoters of the collection hold a public collections certificate from the Authority and the collection is conducted in accordance with this Act."
At the United Nations Human Rights Council's recent Universal Periodic Review of the Buddhist nation in Geneva, Switzerland, the United States and other nations urged the tiny kingdom to protect religious freedom by allowing people to freely practice their faith and by granting all religious groups equal opportunity to obtain legal status.
Among other international rights groups submitting reports, U.S.-based Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) called on Bhutan to address various religious freedom concerns. ADF noted that Bhutan has enacted several laws restricting fundamental rights of its citizens, freedom of association and freedom of religion and belief of individuals.
Wangyal had refuted Home and Cultural Affairs Minister Damcho Dorji's statement to Business Bhutan newspaper that religion was not a factor in the arrests, saying, "All this time they have denied that it was a faith-based arrest, but everything since day one has revolved around faith."
Thapa (Lobzang) said he was grieving for his friend and colleague.
"I was sentenced to less than three years, which was bailable," he told Morning Star News. "I paid the money against the prison term and will return home tomorrow."
Christians are generally allowed to meet in homes or private halls to worship but face obstacles and persecution in trying to do so. Bhutan has numerous Buddhist monasteries and a few Hindu temples, but no church building.
The miniscule Christian community remained underground until 2008. Bhutan transitioned to a constitutional democratic monarchy in 2008 after a century of absolute monarchy.
(Updated Sept. 12, 2014)
If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/donate/?
© 2014 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News.
Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News' mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription or to make tax-deductible donations, contact editor@morningstarnews.org, or send check to Morning Star News, 24310 Moulton Parkway, Suite O # 157, Laguna Hills, CA 92637, USA.
Crown of Life Blog
The Martyrdom of ST Stephen, Pietro da Cortona, 1660
News and Information about
Persecuted Christians from all around the
Persecuted saints benefit most from your heartfelt and earnest prayer.
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so
that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
(NASB)
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971,
by The Lockman Foundation
HOW TO READ A PERSECUTION NEWS STORY
Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.
"God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. Well, Christian, may this not account for the troubles through which you are passing? Is the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow? Is it for this reason He contends with you?"
Read Why Do I Face Trials?,
by Alistair Begg, Truth for Life Daily, at One Place
Christian persecution is just a phenomenon in the
Middle East.
Christians aren't greatly
impacted by persecution.
Whatever persecution there is, the damage is superficial - more a loss of multicultural diversity than anything else.
Christians supposedly bring persecution upon themselves by proselytizing.
Persecution couldn't
happen here.
Please read 5 Myths about Persecution of Christians, by
Kristin Wright, at Religion Today.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Film Society of Lincoln Center: Jane Campion Talks Cannes, 'Top of the Lake: China Girl'
During the 70-year history of the Cannes Film Festival, writer-director Jane Campion is the only woman to win the Palme d'Or. She received the top prize all the way back in 1993 for "The Piano" starring Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel. (Sofia Coppola became the first woman in 56 years to win Best Director this year for her Civil War thriller "The Beguiled.")
Over the years Cannes festival director Thierry Frémaux has received flak for the dearth of women filmmakers who have won awards or even been represented at the festival. Campion, who was born in New Zealand and now lives in Sydney, Australia, has been carrying around the "only woman to win Palme d'Or prize mantle" for much too long, as she's often said.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is presenting a film retrospective of Campion's work through September 17, showing every single one of her films on 35 mm, along with a presentation of her television works and shorts. It's an impressive and comprehensive series and not to be missed. It's also about time.
Amazingly it is Campion's first retrospective. She's declined previous attempts she told Dennis Lim, the director of programming at the Film Society of Lincoln Center Friday night during a conversation, because she "liked looking forward and not back."
The filmmaker agreed this time she said because of the upcoming sequel to her highly successful 2013 crime drama "Top of the Lake," starring the very hot Elisabeth Moss. "The Handmaid's Tale" star reprises her performance as officer Robin Griffin in the gritty Sundance six-hour Australian miniseries, "Top of the Lake: China Girl," which premieres Sunday, September 10. (Saturday evening the Film Society will screen the first two episodes.)
The filmmaker has written a major role in "China Girl" for her 23 year-old-daughter, Alice Allegra Englert. She plays Robin's complicated and bratty daughter, who she gave away for adoption 17 years earlier. "Writing a part for Alice was part of what inspired me to do the show. She's spent so much time with me (while I was) focusing on my work," Campion said, that "I wanted her to be a direct part" of this.
Elisabeth Moss as Detective Robin Griffin – Top Of The Lake: China Girl _ Season 2, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: See-Saw Films/SundanceTV
Campion's last feature film was the lyrical Keats drama "Bright Star" in 2009. Going into television seemed a natural segue because movies began to feel too commercial.
"When I first got involved in cinema, when I first fell in love with cinema, it felt like the most dangerous, exciting, edgy place for ideas," said Campion, "but as time went on it felt like a more and more conservative crowd pleasing event."
She rediscovered some of this same excitement in the miniseries format.
"I really love novels and I love that sort of length. i was watching television one night and I saw 'Deadwood,' and I rose from my chair and I went, "Oh my God, television can do this?' It was so brave and amazing and incredible and raw and touched me and inspired to think this is where freedom is actually."
Campion's win of the Palme d'Or is often trotted out as an example by Cannes administrators of the festival's feminism. Rarely though do they mention that she shared the top prize that year with the male director of "Farewell My Concubine."
Campion walked the red carpet again at the Cannes Film Festival this year, holding David Lynch's hand. During Friday's conversation she cited Lynch as a major influence on her work
As for Cannes poor track record for showcasing the work of female filmmakers, Campion remarked, "The festival has been good to me, but every year I have suggested to Thierry the idea they should have an all-female jury. I think it would be great because for the very first time, all those male filmmakers would have to think, 'What are the women thinking? What are the women going to like about my movie?'"
She added, "I've spent my whole life thinking, 'What are the men thinking?' I really think it's about time, and would be beautiful for them if they started thinking in a different way than they've ever had to think before."
The film that garnered her the Cannes top prize was also the most commercially successful indie film of all time. "We were actually pretty surprised," said Campion of the film's success. "We thought we were making a small art house movie."
Asked why she thought the film resonated so much with audiences, Campion said, "I guess it's such a female point of view and the fact that she doesn't speak… Her stubbornness and strength… I think it speaks a lot about women not being given a voice in the world, which is not to say we don't have an opinion."
Making a film where the protagonist doesn't speak was a challenge Campion admitted. But she and Hunter talked it through, deciding on how to use sign language and to make the character understood.. Also Campion said they had a shared sensibility. "We're kind of blokey girls in a way. There's a good bloke in each of us."
But by the end of the film, Hunter told the director, "I feel so sad.' And I said, 'Why Holly?' And she said, "Well this is almost the very last scene that we're shooting and I still haven't said anything."
Portraits of Jane Campion by Sally Bongers
There is the podcast of the interview: https://www.filmlinc.org/daily/the-close-up-jane-campion-talks-top-of-the-lake-and-her-career/.
Top of the Lake: China Girl
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// This class represents the Default COM+ binder.
//Marked serializable even though it has no state.
// an AmbiguousMatchException is thrown.
// The most specific match will be selected.
// doesn't have a name that matchs one of the named parameters so we don't consider it any further.
// references or value classes).  We mark this condition by placing a null in the argTypes array.
// If we have named parameters then we may have a hole in the candidates array.
// This is a valid routine so we move it up the candidates list.
// we are in the situation were we may be using default values.
//  then we need to create a argument array.
// Add the exact match to the array of exact matches.
// now either p1 and p2 both use params or neither does.
// let's see which one has the most matches without using the params array (the longer one wins).
// Find the most specific method based on the parameters.
// If the match was not ambigous then return the result.
// Check to see if the methods have the exact same name and signature.
// Determine the depth of the declaring types for both methods.
// The most derived method is the most specific one.
// The match is ambigous.
// Check to see if the fields have the same name.
// The two methods have the same name, signature, and hierarchy depth.
// This can only happen if at least one is vararg or generic.
// Check to see if this method is on the most derived class.
//  in the paramOrder array.
//  don't have matching names are then stored in the array in order.


Size Up Apparel was resulting from need. The supplement stores were doing great, indeed, so great that individuals continued asking me where they can "purchase" those shirts I was giving ceaselessly free. Light and couple of years after the fact (2017), I propelled Size Up Apparel.


text:
Marvin Clark of Tigard missing – for 92 years
by: Amy Frazier
Posted: May 8, 2018 / 10:00 AM PDT / Updated: Mar 16, 2019 / 07:10 PM PDT
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — On Saturday, October 30, 1926, Marvin Clark left his Tigard home and boarded a motor stage to visit his daughter in Portland. Later, his wife, Mary, learned he never arrived.
He disappeared and has never been found. His case is one of the oldest unsolved missing person cases in the country.
The then-and-now search for Marvin Alvin Clark
Pam Knowles is the great-great granddaughter of Marvin Clark, who went missing on October 30, 1926. The case is one of the oldest missing person cases in the country, May 2018 (KOIN)
"I wonder who he was and why he left, or was there some sort of foul play or why did he leave the family and not come back again," his great-great granddaughter Pam Knowles told KOIN 6 News.
She said she doesn't know a lot about him other than what her grandmother — Marvin's granddaughter — told her.
"He was a sheriff in Linnton and lived in Tigard," Knowles said. Her grandmother described Marvin as adventurous.
Marvin and Mary Clark had 4 children, Knowles said. "The pictures of them together show them as being a very loving couple. They had at that time what I would consider probably a very nice home in Tigard. And my grandmother and her siblings always talked fondly of their grandfather."
Marvin Clark's home in Tigard, undated. Marvin Clark left this home on October 30, 1926 on his way to Portland and was never seen again or since. (Courtesy: Pam Knowles)
His disappearance was an immediate mystery that drew the attention of the region.
"Tigard man, 75, missing," was the headline in The Oregonian. "Marvin A. Clark last seen at stage depot."
The Oregonian described him as a "well-known resident of Tigard" who had lived there for 15 years at the time of his disappearance. The article stated relatives began "a frantic search" for him.
"The missing man is afflicted with paralysis on one side and is side to have a halting gait," The Oregonian wrote. The paper also announced the family offered a $100 reward for information.
"They did?" Knowles asked. "Wow. That's a lot of money for then."
The search continued, but as time passed hope faded.
Photos: The search for Marvin Clark
The twist 60 years later
In 1986 some loggers discovered very old skeletal remains in the hills above Highway 30. KOIN 6 News was there as investigators recovered the remains and discovered some unusual items suggesting the man had died decades earlier.
Very old skeletal remains were found in the hills above Hwy 30 in 1986 (KOIN, file)
"We did find some coins in his pocket. They were dated 1919 and the others were dated around the same era," Deputy Medical Examiner Bigoni told KOIN 6 News at that time. "It's been many, many years. There was a revolver next to the body and the clothing, which is deteriorated."
Investigators at the time thought it might be Marvin Clark. But there wasn't enough evidence to know for sure.
"At the time, it was deemed a suicide, based on the police report," said Multnomah County Sheriff's Sgt. Rian Hakala, who was the missing persons detective for the sheriff's office in 2014 when he got involved with the case.
Hakala said investigators in 1986 also found "some remnants of old shoes, a pen that had 'FOE' — Fraternal Order of the Eagles — engraved on it, just some miscellaneous items. Sears Roebucks pocketwatch, some items that kind of go back, have an old era that has some historical aspect to it to tell us the bones had been there for a long time."
The bones were taken to the medical examiner's office, where they sat.
DNA samples and new technology
As the missing persons detective in 2014, he worked closely with Dr. Nici Vance, the state forensic anthropologist. "Nici had some bones that were there at her office that were unidentified," he said.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Rian Hakala, April 2018 (KOIN)
They had DNA from those bones, and he worked with a genealogist to track down Pam Knowles that year.
"I started to think about, well, this would be kind of interesting to find out about this family member that went missing so long ago," Knowles said. "What he basically wanted me to do was give them a swab to see if there was, if this truly was the bones of Marvin Alvin Clark."
She said she was hopeful — and her son was very interested in the case.
"I brought my son with me because they wanted another swab, and he's very into this kind of stuff, as well."
Hakala said everything pointed to the bones being the remains of Marvin Clark. "I would have bet that it was him," he said.
Photos: Press coverage of the disappearance of Marvin Clark
But the DNA test from family was necessary to absolutely confirm it.
"We sent (the DNA swabs) off to the University of North Texas, where you have to wait and wait," he said. "Unfortunately, to get the results back on DNA is not as fast as it is on TV. I want to say it took about 4 to 6 months to get those results."
He admitted it "was kind of agonizing because we knew it was him and everybody was ready for it. We just needed confirmation.
"And it wasn't him. It wasn't him, unfortunately."
One mystery became 2
Two mysteries remain: Who died in the woods? And what happened to Marvin Clark?
Pam Knowles' DNA is now on file and Marvin Clark's case is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Database — NAMUS.
Marvin Clark on NAMUS
May is Oregon's Missing and Unidentified Persons Month
"If at any point in the future bones are sent in and it's Marvin, we will get a positive identification," Hakala said. "And who's to say he won't get found by a hunter or a landscaper or developer or something like that happens. So, there's a chance he could be found."
He said he would love to give Pam Knowles and her family some answers after 92 years.
"Even though Pam is so far removed from Marvin specifically, it would be neat to give her an answer. 'We found him. Here he is,'" Hakala said.
Pam Knowles said it's interesting to have one of the oldest missing person cases in the country be directly connected to her family.
"I just love the historical part of it and, you know, the mystery. So, what happened? What happened to him?"
She said it would be "interesting to see if anybody else follows up on it someday. I would love to have a tip so we could find out what happened to Marvin."
Follow Amy Frazier: On Twitter On Facebook
Marvin Clark (seen with his wife, Mary) was last seen October 30, 1926 in Tigard and was never seen again. His body has not yet been found, May 2018 (Courtesy: Pam Knowles)


This is a bread you make at home, cook in an oven, and take backpacking.
Mix the milk 1 liter, the dry yeast, the sugar, , honey, and the olive oil in a large bowel. I do not use butter and salt.
If you have an oven in your kitchen, you need not be nervous about the exact amounts. Bread is very easy.
dry yeast - two large spoon. if you use more yeast, the fermentation will be facilitated. The amount of yeast is related only to fermentation speed.
sugar - I may use 100 cc. It related to fermentation speed. if you use more sugar, the fermentation will be facilitated.
honey - I may use 50 --100cc. The amount of honey related to the sweetness. No other side effect. If you love sweet bread, you may use more honey.
olive oil - I may use 50-100cc. The amount of olive oil related to total calories. If you use more oil, you can get more high calories bread, but you may feel difficulties to eat bread.
Put the whole wheat flour 1 kg, rye flour 0.3 kg(I add rice bran a little) into the bowl, and mix with a big spoon.
Mix up the contents of the bowl on the the table of kitchen.
Return the contents to the bowl, cover with the plastic sheet or the lid, and leave for about half a day.
When the temperature is high, it should be put into the refrigerator.
Prepare two cases of bread, and paint olive oil to the side and the bottom of the cases. Halve the content, extend to about 15×40 cm with the roller or the hand.
Spread the walnut, cashews, and currants , et al.
Rolls it round and round like the rolled sushi, and put it into the case.
Make a lot of holes with the thin rod, and crush it with the fist to drive out air.
Correct the shape as to fit to the BearVault. Next, spread the egg to it with a brush.
Prepare the gas oven, and set the temperature at 180 C ( 350 F ) degrees. When the gas oven gets warm, bake the breads for about 15 minutes. Then, turn them upside down, and bake for 15 minutes.
If you want the bread lighter, bake the bread for about 20-30 minutes at 100 degrees.
Pack them in a food saver and boil them.


So last week there was a tragedy in Target -- the slushie machine was broken.
Cohen talked about this for the entire week so today I decided I wanted to buy him a Halloween shirt to wear tomorrow and he informed me he wanted to see if the slushie machine was fixed.
The cute little thing had a rain dance in the entrance of the store when he say it was up and running -- how do you say to no to that?
I went in for milk and a slushie and left with milk, a slushie, a smoothie, two shirts for Cohen and this adorbes outfit for Baby Sissy that was on clearance and I had been eyeing for the past month.
--Nivea lip care - $2.99. Use $3/2 (RP 10/27). Final Price: $1.49 each when you buy 2.
--Market Pantry pasta sauce - $1.00. Use $1/2 Target printable and 20% Cartwheel deal. Final Price: $0.40 each when you buy 2.
Not a great list but a few good deals!
It's been a long 36 weeks. This mama is pooped.
Now that I'm teaching full time AND spending my evenings chasing after a rowdy three year old PLUS carrying around a growing little fetus, I decided I needed some me time.
Don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy snuggling with my nugget in the evening after bath enjoying our favorite Nickelodeon shows before bed. But I needed a kid free evening. Not the kind of time where I run on a quick alone trip to Kroger or one lucky evening when I'm trying to watch TV over the sound of a screaming child. I wanted a night with my girls where we could relax, chat, eat some good food and enjoy the company of one another -- without the hustle and bustle of the kiddos (and let's be honest, husbands too).
This mama needs a night out with her girls!
I had been awake the other night (pregnancy induced insomnia at it's finest of course) and decided to lay on the couch and watch T.V. until my body decided it was time to fall asleep. Of course, as I turn on the television, the first channel that pops up is Nickelodeon. However, it was 10 o'clock and Nick. was no longer singing happy Yo Gabba songs about sharing or venturing into wild adventures with Mike the Knight -- it had transformed into a wonderful channel just for moms called NickMom! I was so excited! Now, I'm a huge Tia Mowry-Hardrict fan and had heard she was coming out with a new sitcom called Instant Mom. Apparently my stars had aligned that night because Instant Mom was actually premiering on NickMom right then!
How did the show rate?
Instant Mom was hilarious! It is the perfect laugh out loud show for moms when the kiddos are in bed. Tia was her usual cute and funny self and the rest of the cast had a great chemistry making Instant Mom even better. I can totally relate to Tia's character because I'm a step mom myself to a preteen girl and I could compare my experiences to what I saw on the show. I decided that this was the perfect show to share with my girls on our Mom's Night Out - so I set my DVR immediately for Sundays at 10:00 p.m. to record all the new episodes.
I decided to invite my mama friends over for a night of Cocktails and Mocktails, yummy snacks and a marathon of Instant Mom. Two out of the three of us were second time pregnant mamas while my other friend is a mother of two already herself. I knew this was the kind of night we ALL needed.
As any good friend would do, I needed to help unwind my un-pregnant friend so I made her one of my favorite drinks we call Mama's Mimosa. It's a sweet twist on the classic mimosa drink.
Obviously my other preggo mama and I drank this sans the champs (which was a total bummer), but we still used the fancy glasses just so we could pretend.
As for snacks I prepared a variety of yummy and high calorie foods that all moms should appreciate once in awhile. As you can see, I may have went overboard a bit but seriously, when you're out with the girls it is totally okay to splurge. My family always makes this dip we cal Rich Dip because it's like dipping your crackers into liquid gold. It's so easy to make too!
Once the girls arrived, I got a fire burning in our fireplace and we sat down with our plates full and glasses filled to enjoy our night out together. We started our Instant Mom marathon and had a ball laughing together! The show was the perfect addition to the mommies' night together. It was fun to laugh along with the cast as well share our own stories and adventures in motherhood. Pretty soon all three of us will be joining the "2 Kid Club" so it was the perfect night to spend together before our lives become even crazier than before.
How fitting that there is a sippy cup in the picture, right?
Whether it's a night out with your best girlfriends or a quiet (and very rare) evening alone, Instant Mom on NickMom is your perfect go to show for moms who are ready to relax, laugh and truly enjoy themselves. This Mom's Night Out was past overdue - and it was the perfect combination of laughter and company.
Does anyone notice my dog's devil eyes in this picture? I couldn't crop him out because it was just too funny. I promise he's nice and not laser beaming my face off or anything.
Due date: November 25th -- 28th. I start my weekly appointments next week which is crazy to think! I've had some serious hip pain and pressure, so I'm interested to see what the doctor will have to say about it.
Gender: Girl...still I think we may have narrowed it down to a few names. But she still is nameless as of right now. However her room is coming around nicely and once it's done I'll be sure to post pics!
How do I feel? I'm still pretty tired which I'm sure is a combination of working on my feet all day and then tending to an extremely wild three year old at night. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm having crazy hip pain like in my flexor area. I'll be walking and have to completely stop because it feels like a huge Charlie Horse in that area. I never had this with Cohen either. I also have constant pressure and I notice that if I don't sit down, it gets pretty bad. I'm also having some good Braxton Hicks and there have been a few times where I flipped out and started timing the regular contractions. It is crazy how different pregnancies can be from one another!
Cravings/Aversions? Aversions - not really. Cravings -- sushi and wine. Actually, I want a really good, strong glass of Champs...mmm. But my meals definitely have to be smaller and more frequent because there isn't a lot of room in there!
How do my clothes fit? Oh clothes...did I mention how getting dressed in the morning is my least favorite activity? I refuse to buy anything else new since I am down to about a month -- and that includes a winter coat. Kurtis will just have to share his with me until after the baby's born. Does anyone else agree that maternity clothes are super expensive? Even at Target!
Sleep: I find it harder to wind down at night as I stress about all the things that are left to do still. But a good nap on the weekend makes this mama oh so happy! I'm pretty accustomed to not a lot of sleep since Cohen's been born (trust me - the kid doesn't sleep) so I'm just planning on developing a serious K cup addiction in my near future.
Movement: Oye this girl is busy. I just looked down a moment ago and my belly was completely lopsided. Her little feet are obsessed with my bladder...and I may have peed my pants once or twice. But she definitely wants me to know she's in there!
My Exercise Routine: Umm..this department has been quite neglected lately. I recently started doing my Barre video again and I totally notice a difference in my restless legs at night. I'm trying to be more active but the cold weather puts a damper on the evening walks. Hopefully we'll be able to bundle up soon and take brief walks before the hard winter hits.
I'll be sure to post another update soon -- including the room. My sister did an amazing job with the curtains and crib skirt. Thank GOD for a crafty sister!!
But in the meantime...I'll just keep waddlin' along.
I'm nearing the end of my second pregnancy. This time around has been different because I knew some of the things to expect - good and bad. One thing that I was more prepared for was the social slush of comments that people just spurt out without even thinking about it obviously. My husband and I refer to this as diarrhea of the mouth. Let's be honest - when you're pregnant you're already a mess of hormonal emotions. The last thing a pregnant woman needs is for these thoughtless comments to be expressed -- no matter how thick your skin may be at the moment.
1. Are you sure you aren't having twins?
Yes, I have been asked this. And yes, it took all I could do not to knock their front teeth out. I already feel like a whale and being pregnant changes your body in all different ways. Therefore let me make this clear for you - unless I have TOLD you I'm having twins, I'm not so don't even ask me that.
2. Did you get this big with your other pregnancy?
Gee, thanks for reminding me that my stomach is so big I can no longer see my feet or breath while I attempt to shave my legs. Some women show quicker and some carry completely small. Either way don't ask me about my size because that number that keeps growing on the scale is quite frightening and comments like that remind me that the number will continue to grow until the baby arrives.
3. When's your due date? (Insert my answer of around Thanksgiving.) Really? That far away?
Now that I have five weeks left, this reminder doesn't really bother me. However, when I was asked this a month or two ago I wanted to scream. Luckily I'm the type of person that just laughs, walks away and then vents about it to my friends later. But you may run into a pregnant woman on a not-so-good day and end up with a black eye after that comment.
4. Are you sure you're going to make it to your due date?
Once again, this one doesn't really bother me too much, however I still have a list of never ending things to do (including deciding on a name) before Baby Sissy arrives. Therefore in theory, this comment is okay but it really puts a strain on my anxiety and stress level.
5. Wow, you're really swollen.
This comment was from my mother when I wasn't even 30 weeks pregnant. Seriously?!?! My wedding ring still fits AND I didn't think I really had the cankles yet. Apparently I was wrong...well according to her at least.
6. Getting the hairy eyeball from the cashier as I purchase wine or beer at the grocery store.
7. Should you be doing that? I mean, you are pregnant.
I'm pregnant not incapable. Plus if I honestly thought I shouldn't be running or lifting weights or holding the box, I'd ask for help. But if you're referring to cooking dinner, giving Cohen a bath or doing laundry then yes, you are right. I probably shouldn't be doing that.
A. You are pregnant yourself.
B. You are a friend or family member.
But if you are a friend of a friend or someone I've said five words to in my entire life, you'll probably get the hairy eyeball and an answer like, "Oh just a few pounds."
9. You look so tired.
10. Wow, I bet you're going to have a big baby.
And I bet you have a big mouth too My thought process at this time is refraining to talk back, ignoring that comment and continue to pray that my epidural works on BOTH sides this time around. Better yet, I continue to pray for a baby that is smaller than 7.5 lbs and only takes 3 pushes to enter the world.
Now I'm going to go out on a limb and say that many of you, pregnant or previously pregnant, have encountered at least one of these ignorant comments, if not more than one. But in the grand scheme of things it's these diarrhea-of-the-mouth kind of people that make you a stronger person as well as a smarter person.
Trust me, the second time around your skin is much thicker AND your mouth gets just a bit smarter so those people better watch out and hope they aren't speaking to one of us hormonal second time (or more) mamas.
What is the worst comment you've been given during your pregnancy?
I've been a slacker these past few days on my posts. I blame pregnancy - because I can use this excuse for the next 5 weeks for sure. I did run to CVS last night and grab some diapers. In return I got a $4 off a $20 purchase so I'm hoping to be able to grab one more round of diapers before Baby Sissy makes her arrival!
--Oral-B Cross Action brushes (2 pk) - $9.99 and get $5 ECB. Use $5 off (Oct PG). Final Price: FREE after ECB.
--Crest ProHealth toothpaste - $2.99 and get $2 ECB. Use $0.50/printable or Oct PG. Final Price: $0.49 after ECB.
--CVS multipack toothbrushes - Buy 1 and get $2 ECB.
--Pantene shampoo or conditioner - 2/$7. Use Buy 1 Get 1 Free (SS 9/15). Final Price: $1.75 each when you buy 2.
--Huggies, Pull-Ups or GoodNites big packs - $19.99. Use $1.50/Snug and Dry printable or $2/Lil Movers printable or $2/GoodNites printable or $2/Overnights printable or $2/Pull-Ups (pullups.com). Final Price: as low as $17.99.
What were your favorite ECB deals this week?
Since we have started the potty training game in June, Cohen has been completely day trained when it comes to #1. However, the kid refused to poop in the potty -- like he was absolutely terrified to do it. But I kept telling myself, "He's not three yet. When he's three then I'll work harder on this issue." And honestly it wasn't a fight I thought was necessary at the time.
But then a few weeks ago, before Cohen's third birthday, he informs me "Mama I have to go poopy."
He proceeded to walk to the bathroom, sit on the toilet and do his business like a real man.
And ever since he has been doing the majority of his manly duties in the toy-et as he says.
Once again it was just a reminder that Cohen will be ready on Cohen's time -- as he's been with every other milestone in his life.
So you're asking, what in the world does a fish have to do with this?
Well, this summer a few of our bribes incentives to get Cohen to attempt to conquer his fear of #2 in the toilet was by telling him we'd get him a fish. The second the kid started using the potty for both of his businesses, he reminded us that it was time to get his fish. Therefore this family made a trip to PetSmart to get Coco's first pet.
Meet Shark. Yes Cohen named him.
Okay, I'm going to be honest with you, this Beta was seriously depressed the second we brought it home. I may not be able to keep plants alive but I promise you I know my fish. Ask my mother. We had a goldfish that I won in third grade at my school carnival for over 20 years. That is for real yo. And the fish only lived in a bowl. But our buddy Shark wouldn't eat, barely moved and his little tank got really cloudy.
Exactly 1 week after we got Shark, he passed away to the Pearly Gates of Fish Heaven.
I was a little unsure as to how to break it to Cohen. I mean he asked about Shark everyday. He loved to feed him, look at him, open up the little door and peek in on his friend. How was he going to handle the death of his beloved first pet?
I decided to do what any other mom would do -- just not tell him right away and see if he noticed.
"Mama, Shark's dead. Aww man! Can I get a purple one?"
Yes, honey. Of course. Especially with a response like that.
Crossing my fingers we make a month AND continue to poop in the potty.
Oh the joys of mommyhood.
Last week was a great week for Target deals! This week, however, is a little slower but you can still grab some of last week's freebies this week too!
--Advil film coated - $5.99 and get a $5 Target gift card when you buy 2. Use two $2 off (RP 8/25) and 10% Cartwheel deal. Final Price: $0.90 each when you buy 2 after gift card.
--Quaker granola bars- 2/$4. Use $1/2 (RP 9/29) and $1/2 Target coupon (target.com) and 5% Cartwheel deal. Final Price: $0.95 each when you buy 2.
--Huggies Super Pack - $22.99 plus get a free 3 pack of wipes. Use $2/Lil Movers printable or $2/Overnights printable or $2/Snugglers or Movers (SS 9/22) or $1.50/any Huggies (SS 9/22). Final Price: as low as $20.99 plus free wipes.
I know I'm a day late however I decided to spend my week long Fall Break enjoying it how it should be spent -- not thinking about school. Therefore Sunday rolls around and I have yet to do report cards...however they are done my friends, they are done.
--Almay Intense i-Shadow, Liner or Mascara - $5.99 and get $3 ECB. Final Price: $2.99 after ECB.
There are a few other ECB deals that you can score, but these I felt were some of the best.
What's your favorite deal this week?
Oh how I enjoyed my final day of the week that I had off. You know how you have all these things on your To-Do list yet for some reason none of them get accomplished? Yes that was me this week but I totally think it is okay considering the fact that this was my last week I get to spend alone with Cohen before Baby Sissy arrives. I then spent last night going through a box of Kleenex as I as cried a river over Glee. Seriously - one of the best and most emotional episodes of TV I have ever seen.
So now I will share with you some deals this week at Kroger. You know we could all use the fuel points considering gas decided to jump $0.40 on Wednesday.
Now hurry and clip your Friday Kroger digital coupon for a $0.45 2 liter of Dr. Pepper 10!
Look at my cute little man enjoying his afternoon snack in my clean laundry basket.
Apparently it was a Win-Win situation for all.
Cohen got out of cleaning up his mess, Brady got a great afternoon treat and I didn't have to help clean it up either.
Now the real question is....Do you think the laundry is still clean?
Okay so I'm about to work on the Target match ups for this week and HAD to share this deal with you now before I post the entire list.
Fisher Price has some HOT coupons right now! Know any little ones having a birthday or what about the holidays? Never too early to start shopping -- especially with this HOT deal!
Play and Learn Puppy or Sis is just $4.18 this week!
I will be picking one of these up for Baby Sissy I believe -- or maybe for one of the 2734823 baby girls I know being born in the next few weeks.
This past Saturday we celebrated our little firecracker's third birthday.
Yes. I said THIRD birthday!
I am in as much denial about this fact that you are as well. It feels like I was just planning his first birthday and now he's a preschooler!
What's Cohen up to now?
Well, the kid is all about Angry Birds that's for sure. We had his Angry Bird themed birthday party at this great place called Recreation Unlimited. Basically it's an indoor showroom where they sell models of all these great playsets but the geniuses also host birthday parties. He had a BLAST! Plus the weather was super rainy and dreary so it turned out to be the perfect day for his party. My husband has the bulk of the pictures but here are a few shots that I got of the birthday boy.
Cohen recently woke up one morning and was talking in full sentences. The things he says cracks me up. For example on our way home from our 3 year wellness check at the doctor today he says, "Mom your car is faster than dad's." His class at school has also been talking about Halloween and his new favorite thing is to ring the doorbell, open the door and yell "Trick or Treat!" But the best part is most of the time when he opens the door it's just the poor dog standing there so every time he hears Cohen yell "treat" he gets all excited. I also love when he wakes up in the morning or from nap and he'll say in his sweet little voice, "Good morning!"
The things he knows amaze me . He knows all his colors and can count up to fifteen. Ask the kid to name any kind of truck and he can tell you the exact name. We have a subdivision being built by us and he pointed one day and says, "Hey look! A skid steer!" He totally made the connection from his Trucks book that he reads almost every night with dad. But I'm just astonished by how his little mind is turning and the things he picks up, learns and is able to apply. Unfortunately this is not always necessary - like the time we were walking into Target and he points at the man with the eye patch and yells, "Mom! A pirate! Arggg!"
Great connection - terrible timing.
I'm bracing myself for the year of the threes. I hear they can be more terrible than the twos but with the addition of Baby Sissy in a few weeks, I hope they are still manageable. But I really love watching this little monkey grow into a little man. Even though I'm tired, he knows how to wear my patience thin and is the master at testing the limits, I truly love the little guy and I wouldn't change the person he's growing up to be for anything.
What was your favorite age of your children?


Now if you're an avid reader of my blog (and I'm sure you are...), you may remember that way back in November last year I wrote about Starbucks' Christmas coffee cups, you know the ones, decorated above and beyond with all things Christmassy. (Don't worry, I'm not going to start talking about Christmas just yet, I'm on the side of the fence that's wanting this summer to last as long as possible).
And talking about what side of the fence you are, that brings me nicely to what my blog is about this week: Costa has launched limited edition rainbow coffee cups for Pride month and to support the LGBTQ+ charity GLOW (Gay Lesbian Out at Whitbread). That's right, over the next couple of months across eight different cities, you will be able to get a really funky coloured coffee cup from Costa when you next pick up your cappuccino or vanilla latte – whatever takes your fancy! And that's what it's all about, supporting all the individuals who are part of the LGBT community and who have the same right as everyone else to go after what/whom they fancy!
And if you haven't seen coffee cups, you are in for a treat – they look fabulous! I may have to travel to one of the eight cities in the UK to go pick one up for myself. I'm disappointed they're not coming to my home-county of Herefordshire.
Costa has made it known that it's a passionate supporter of GLOW and the LGBQT community, as last year the brand's baristas were serving up rainbow lattes and with many Costa employees taking part in Pride marches around the country.
And too bloody right, if you're in one of the eight cities (Edinburgh, Chelmsford, London, Glasgow, Brighton, Manchester, Leeds and Cardiff), make sure you totter on down to your local Costa and pick yourself up something tasty. And if you wouldn't mind – post* me back the cup so I can have a butchers….


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Court of Appeal quashes clearly unfounded certific...
21st June 2019 By Larry Lock
Hubs / Asylum / Court of Appeal quashes clearl ...
Court of Appeal quashes clearly unfounded certificate in Albanian asylum claim
This week the Court of Appeal quashed the certification of an Albanian asylum claim as "clearly unfounded". In SP (Albania) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 951, the court found that the Home Office had not properly investigated the appellant's account of being persecuted before deciding to certify the claim under section 94(2) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, contrary to its own policy on certification.
The court also gave helpful guidance on issuing "clearly unfounded" certificates, stating that the Home Office cannot certify asylum claims without first giving proper attention to all salient features of the case. Certificates under section 94(2) should only be given if, after assessing all the facts and the evidence provided, it's clear that the claim is so clearly without substance that it is "bound to fail", as was held in ZL & VL v SSHD [2003] EWCA Civ 25.
Albanian woman claiming to be a trafficking victim
SP had claimed asylum on account of her being a trafficked woman from Albania, though at the time no NRM referral had been made to assess the trafficking claim. At SP's asylum interviews, she informed the Home Office that she feared her trafficker, known as "AK", who had threatened to take her children away from her if she reported him to the police.
Trafficking is a real problem in Albania — data collected for the government's 2018 annual report on modern slavery show that almost a fifth of all adult potential victims of trafficking are Albanian. The case of AM and BM (Trafficked women) Albania CG [2010] UKUT 80 (IAC) also recognised trafficked Albanian women as a particular social group who may be at risk of persecution on return to Albania.
Despite all this, the Home Office case was that there was no objective basis for SP's fear of mistreatment, rejecting the claim that SP would be identified as a member of that group on return to Albania.
Certification upheld in the Upper Tribunal
In the Upper Tribunal, Judge McGeachy agreed with the Home Office that SP's case could not succeed even when taking the claim at its highest. Judge McGeachy mistakenly held the view that, while SP was a "victim of serious crime", she could not be a victim of trafficking under the Council of Europe definition, as her account had no cross-border element.
On that basis, Judge McGeachy held that there would be sufficient protection available for SP on return to Albania. Further, she could internally relocate, as there was no suggestion that AK was part of a larger criminal network.
During the period after the Upper Tribunal's decision, the Home Office did eventually conclude that SP was a victim of trafficking. However it held that there was no risk of her being re-trafficked and so refused to grant her leave.
Failure to take the claim "at its highest"
The key question for the Court of Appeal was whether SP's claim had been taken at its highest. To Beatson LJ in FR & Anor (Albania) [2016] EWCA Civ 605, taking the claim "at its highest" meant assessing "the claim which has in fact been put forward, including the answers in interview and the contents of witness statements, the detail given and any supporting evidence submitted." Only by doing this and still finding that a claim is still bound to fail can certification be valid.
The court rightly noted that whether SP was at risk on return depended on the proper assessment of her account. Sir Ernest Ryder gave helpful guidance on the correct way to approach clearly unfounded certificates, saying at paragraph 25 that:
The correct approach when considering a claim at its highest following FR (Albania) is to consider the claim that has in fact been put forward by the appellant including all the information she has provided. If there is material provided by the appellant, including her answers during interview, which is capable of being objectively well founded and sufficient to establish a claim but which is not accepted by the Secretary of State, then an opportunity to have that evidence tested before a judge of the First-tier Tribunal should be provided i.e. certification by the Secretary of State would not be appropriate.
Sir Ernest Ryder held that the questioning of the Home Office in SP's screening and full asylum interviews lacked "sufficient particularity" to demonstrate her claim was taken at its highest. Whether there would be sufficient protection, or the option of internal relocation available on return, were questions that had not been adequately answered by the Home Office. This failure to take the claim at its highest damaged the Home Office's conclusions.
As has been alluded to in previous Free Movement posts, Albanian asylum claims are difficult to win, and the Home Office all too quick to certify them. Once a claim is certified, it can take many months of litigation to remove the certificate and to have the actual substance of the claim discussed again. The odds will be against your client — and so it's good to see the senior courts taking a firm view on excessive use of such a harsh measure.
Larry Lock
Senior immigration caseworker completing the GDL. Previously worked at Wilson Solicitors LLP and managed the Prisons Project at Bail for Immigration Detainees.
Tags: Albania, certification, Court of Appeal, Trafficking
TagsAlbaniacertificationCourt of AppealTrafficking
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Urquhart WRI has always been involved in the community and every year has contributed in kind to a chosen charity, sometimes local, sometimes national or international. For many years we donated home bakes and tablet to local care homes http://www.andersonscarehome.co.uk/ and http://www.spyniecare.co.uk/.
When they were no longer allowed to accept home bakes, we then moved on to providing Christmas gifts of toiletries for young adults who were being supported by the local Social Work Dept.
After that we packed shoe boxes with gifts for adults and children supported by the Blythswood organisation http://www.blythswood.org/shoebox/.


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Based on a true story: Billionaire Boys Club is a two-part TV movie that first aired on NBC in 1987. It told the story of the Billionaire Boys Club, and its founder, Joe Hunt, who was convicted in 1987 of murdering con-man Ron Levin. The film was written by Gy Waldron and directed by Marvin J. Chomsky. The miniseries was rebroadcast on NBC in 1989.
The Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) was an investment-and-social club organized by Joseph Henry Gamsky, also known as Joe Hunt, in southern California in 1983. It was originally simply named BBC; the initials of a business named the Bombay Bicycle Club, a restaurant Gamsky had frequented in his earlier years while growing up in Chicago.
The club enticed the sons of wealthy families from the Harvard School for Boys (now Harvard-Westlake School) in the Los Angeles area with get-rich-quick schemes. Because of the reputation of the organization being composed of young, inexperienced boys from moneyed families, jocose slang got around that BBC stood for Billionaire Boys Club.The organization was run as a Ponzi scheme, and money contributed by investors was spent on supporting lavish lifestyles for young members of the club. When funds ran short in 1984, Hunt and other club members turned to murder, and at least two people were killed as Hunt tried to raise more money.
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For Apple, gold is the new black with Apple Watch being the company's latest release in a string innovative products. It effectively enters Apple into the luxury fashion industry – garnering media attention from fashion capitals like New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Milan, and now Vancouver by way of The Pinnacle List.
Born out of Steve Jobs' garage in 1976, Apple has introduced groundbreaking innovative products throughout the years, with no signs of letting up. It began with Macintosh in 1984, continued with iPod in 2001 with iTunes, then to iMac in 2003, MacBook in 2006, Apple TV and the one-of-a-kind iPhone smartphone in 2007, and the new-age iPad tablet that Jobs proudly unveiled in 2010, before he also introduced iCloud in what would be his last keynote presentation at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2011 before his untimely death four months later.
The story of Apple cannot be told without the mere mention of Steve Jobs. His fingerprints are left all over the company, but now under Tim Cook's watch, he's breaking new grounds with Apple by introducing the new product category, smartwatch.
Appealing to a wide range of personal styles, Apple Watch Edition is available in both yellow and rose gold, "each as a custom alloyed, designed to not only be beautiful, but up to twice as hard as standard gold," said Jony Ive, Senior Vice President of Design at Apple.
"It begins at the molecular level where precise adjustments in the amount of silver, copper, and palladium in the alloy, result in very specific hues of yellow and rose gold," Ive explained.
The hand-polished finished design of Apple Watch Edition is gold that is "elegant, yet uncompromisingly durable," and it targets the lavish luxury lifestyle of millions worldwide, including the rich and famous. Celebrities like Pharrell Williams, Drake, Katy Perry, and model Christy Turlington are among the first in their fields to garner Apple Watch some impressionable clout by dawning it on their wrists.
Where we as a society ask what can possibly be next, Apple surprises us again by getting very personal with style. Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition in gold are products that dawn the inception pinnacle luxury technology with elegant fashion.