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Johnson & Johnson Loses Bid To Transfer St. Louis Talc Lawsuits
Missouri's highest court has rejected Johnson & Johnson's request to transfer thousands of talc powder lawsuits out of a St. Louis court.
By Laurence Banville
The Missouri Supreme Court has rejected a petition from Johnson & Johnson that would have seen over 2,000 talcum powder lawsuits transferred out of St. Louis. Missouri's largest city has become the hub for talc powder litigation, Reuters reports. In over 2,500 lawsuits, women who claim to have used talc as a feminine hygiene product for decades say the powdered mineral can cause ovarian cancer.
Most of these lawsuits have been filed in the 22nd Circuit Court for St. Louis City. Outside of Missouri, a Multi-District Litigation is pending in New Jersey federal court. A number of cases have also been filed in a state court in California.
Johnson & Johnson's Bid For "Friendlier" Jurisdiction Denied
Despite disputes in the scientific community, Johnson & Johnson has lost three straight jury verdicts in St. Louis, amounting to nearly $195 million in compensation for ovarian cancer patients and their families. The Honorable Rex M. Burlison presided over all three trials. Hoping to reverse this trend, Johnson & Johnson asked Missouri's High Court in a recent appeal to transfer the majority of 2,500 talcum powder lawsuits to a myriad of state courts around the country.
In court documents, attorneys for Johnson & Johnson argued that plaintiffs' attorneys had flooded the St. Louis market with television advertising and tainted the city's jury pool. The company's arguments were previously rejected by Judge Burlison and Missouri's Court of Appeals. Now, the State's Supreme Court has also weighed in on the issue, choosing to affirm the plaintiffs' right to file suit in St. Louis.
Johnson & Johnson has also been fighting to have dismissed a number of expert witnesses, who are testifying on behalf of ovarian cancer patients. Thus far, Missouri's courts have not been persuaded by this line of argument, although a state court judge in New Jersey, currently presiding over around 200 talc lawsuits, disqualified plaintiffs' experts in September of 2016.
Fourth Talc Powder Trial Begins In St. Louis
The next talc trial is scheduled to begin February 6, 2017. In her case, a plaintiff from Columbia, Tennessee claims that she used Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder for 36 years. The woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013, court documents state. The case accuses Johnson & Johnson, one of the world's largest consumer healthcare companies, of concealing talcum powder's link to ovarian cancer for decades. Johnson & Johnson maintains that talc-based body powders are safe.
Imerys Talc, the healthcare giant's main main supplier of talc, is also named as a defendant in the case. Imerys had largely avoided any liability until October of 2016, when a St. Louis jury found the company partially responsible for failing to warn the public of talc's potential risks. In that judgment, the jury awarded an ovarian cancer patient over $70 million, hitting Imerys Talc for $2.5 million in compensation.
About Laurence Banville
Laurence P. Banville, Esq. is the managing partner of Banville Law. He is a regular contributor on several topics including negligent security cases, child sexual abuse and Dram Shop and liquor liability cases.
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By Laurence Banville|2017-02-06T10:51:27-05:00February 6th, 2017|Prescription Drugs|0 Comments


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Aagot Kristine Støkken (July 13, 1923 – February 4, 2008) was a Norwegian actress.

Støkken was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. She engaged with the Oslo New Theater from 1947 to 1958, and after that with the People's Theater, Trøndelag Theater, and Norwegian Opera and Ballet. Støkken made her debut as a screen actress in Vi vil leve, and she appeared in six films between 1946 and 1975. She is buried in Vestre Gravlund in Oslo.

Filmography
 1946: Vi vil leve as Sussie Holm
 1957: Hjemme hos oss. Husmorfilmen 1957
 1958: Ut av mørket
 1971: Full utrykning as Mrs. Tellefsen
 1973: To fluer i ett smekk as a woman
 1975: Skraphandlerne as Aunt Tone

References

External links

 Aagot Støkken at Sceneweb
 Aagot Støkken at the Swedish Film Database
 Aagot Støkken at Filmfront

1923 births
2008 deaths
20th-century Norwegian actresses
Actresses from Oslo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We're still waiting for the official release of the iPad mini with Retina display. That wait could be a little longer — at least for many would-be buyers. It appears that Sharp is having significant issues manufacturing the advanced IGZO display technology used in the new device. As a result, Apple has asked Samsung to come on board to help increase supply, according to ETNews. According to the report, Sharp's manufacturing technique is causing burn-in on an unknown percentage of produced displays. While not visible to the naked eye, the affected panels can't be used because they don't conform to Apple's Retina display standards. The Japanese-based company is said to be responsible for 40 percent of all iPad mini with Retina display orders, with LG taking the other 60 percent. The addition of Samsung will change those percentages, of course. Unfortunately, that won't happen until 2014. First announced alongside the iPad Air on Oct. 22, the iPad mini with Retina display is supposed to launch "later in November." However, Apple CEO Tim Cook has already warned that supply will almost certainly not keep up with early demand. Last month, Rhonda Alexander, director of tablet research at IHS, noted that Apple would have a hard time keeping up with demand for the new iPad mini during the holiday quarter. She said that supply is one third the size of its shipments from this time last year. "Apple's 2013 iPad shipment growth is shaping up to be comparatively modest and the shift in launch cycles has played a major role in the slowdown." Alexander's comments followed those of KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said iPad mini supplies would be "highly constrained." For more information, see: The First iPad Air Reviews Are In: Form Factor, Power And Battery Life All Praised, and Adoption Of Apple's iPad Air Is Already 5 Times That Of The iPad 4.


Eggless Date and Walnut Cake is low fat, healthy, wholesome and delicious. It has a lovely flavour of dates and crunch of walnuts.
It is early late morning. The Sun is strong and angular, pouring golden hue on the tree tops. A flock of Parakeets fly in a line screeching and making their presence known. Soon they settle atop a tree that has some fruit or dry berries that seem to be of gastronomical preference to them.
Screeching gives way to sweet calls and whistles and the flock settles itself on the trees.
Later in the evening, we get busy baking our favourite cake. It is an eggless Date and Walnut Cake.
One recipe that is loved by the family is the Date and Walnut Cake. Whenever we have a tin of condensed milk at home, this cake is a must bake.
Pureed dates and crunchy Himalayan walnuts make it really delectable. It has been baked with whole wheat flour and oil. It is healthy, wholesome and delicious.
This is a great snack cake. Kids love it.
It has a great crust and an airy crumb.Walnuts add a great crunch and taste.
Grease and line one 8 inch round cake pan or one 8inches x 5 1/2 inch rectangular baking pan.
Sift whole wheat flour with baking powder and salt.
Take chopped dates in a large pan, add six tablespoons water and simmer for two minutes. Turn off the gas.
When dates and water mixture becomes lukewarm, add baking soda and let it rest for 20 minutes.
In the same pan, add oil, condensed milk, and milk. Stir till smooth. Add vanilla essence.
Add flour and mix well to get a smooth batter. Grease and line one 8 inch x 5 1/2 inch baking tin or, one 8 inch round cake tin.
Pour the batter and bake in a pre heated oven at 150 degrees C for 45 minutes or till a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and remove from the baking tin after 15 minutes.
Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. This recipe is egg less. However, you can avoid condensed milk, add 1/2 to 3/4 cup powdered sugar as per your taste. Beat egg whites, add powdered sugar followed by oil and then yolks. Then fold in rest of the ingredients. Add walnuts and dates in the end. Hope this helps.
Hi Avni, I think for 3/4 cup ata, two eggs would be fine. I have never tried though, but should work well. If you try this one, I would love to know your feedback. Happy Baking Avni!
tried the recipe today with 2eggs and 1/2 cup sugar. Added just a bit of cocoa powder.It came out nice and clean.
Its my daughter's first birthday today as per hindu calender...this cake will have a special place in my heart always.
Hello Avni, I am happy that your experiment worked well. I admire your baking skills Avni. I think next time when I try the same cake, i too, will add cocoa. Great idea.
Happy Birthday and good wishes to your lil angel.
I tried...really got good result. ThNk u so much.
Hello namita, is 1/2 tin condensed milk is equal to 200g ?
Yes Mitali, 1 tin condensed milk is 400g. Half would be 200g.


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Буккеро, буккеро-неро (, от  — щека и  — чёрный) — «чернощёковая керамика», разновидность керамических изделий древних этрусков, изготавливавшихся не ранее середины VII до начала IV вв. до н. э..

По одной из альтернативных версий итальянское название происходит от латинского слова «poculum» (бокал, чаша, сосуд для питья). Со временем, после открытия оригинальных изделий этрусков в конце 1830-х годов в Черветери, где были сосредоточены ремесленные, в том числе гончарные, мастерские (другими центрами производства были Вейи и Тарквиния), название «буккеро-неро» сократили до «буккеро» и стали сопоставлять с похожей «чернолаковой» керамикой коренных жителей Южной Америки, которую обозначали по-испански  или португальским словом . Это название обозначало особый род ароматической глины, которую туземцы использовали в косметических целях. Её же применяли для изготовления сосудов. В конце XVIII — начале XIX века в Италии возникла мода на имитацию древнеамериканской керамики, образцы которой привозили в страны Западной Европы, что привело к отождествлению названий.

Этрусские буккеро находят на галльско-иберийском побережье, в Карфагене, Великой Греции, самой Греции, нижнем Египте, а также на Сардинии, Сицилии и Кипре. К изделиям этого типа относят сосуды, чаши, черпаки-киафы, светильники, жаровни, холмосы (котлы) причудливой формы. Значительная коллекция подобных вещей имеется в Санкт-Петербургском Эрмитаже. Она была приобретена в 1861 году благодаря хранителю (с 1863 года директору) императорского Эрмитажа С. А. Гедеонову в числе прочих произведений античного искусства из собрания итальянского археолога и коллекционера, маркиза Дж. П. Кампана.

Вопреки распространённому мнению, изделия буккеро не покрывали лаком. Предварительно лощёную поверхность из красной или серовато-охристой глины подвергали обжигу без доступа воздуха, во время которого происходило восстановление содержащейся в глине закиси железа. Вместе с дымом, копотью и маслом, при помощи которого лощили сырую глину, поверхность изделия приобретала матово-чёрный блеск. Отдельные детали, в том числе скульптурные: маскароны, фигурки животных и людей, лепили от руки или отминали в гипсовые формы, а затем, до обжига, прикрепляли с помощью жидкой глины к тулову сосуда. Этрусские мастера использовали также гравировку, ряды точек, лепные валики, насечки и прорезные детали декора. Основные формы заимствовали из древнегреческой керамики. Многие элементы, безусловно, заимствовали из более дорогих металлических: серебряных и золотых сосудов, вероятно, привозимых в Италию с Востока. Об этом свидетельствует то обстоятельство, что некоторые из этрусских гончарных мастерских использовали имитацию металлических изделий, покрывая поверхность сосудов буккеро тонкими листами серебряной фольги.

Группу ранних, архаичных изделий буккеро, связанных с культурой Вилланова, называют импасто ( — плотно, пастообразно). Обычно это изделия цвета тёмно-красной или желтовато-охристой глины, вылепленные от руки, без применения гончарного круга. Однако итальянские специалисты часто применяют этот термин и в более широком значении, включая любые изделия с лепными деталями.

К началу 600 гг. до н. э. появились тонкостенные сосуды, с гравированным узором, названные «тонкостенные буккеро» (bucchero sottile; с толщиной стенок в отдельных случаях менее 2 мм), которые формой и блеском имитировали дорогую металлическую посуду. Они, скорее всего, предназначались не для бытовых целей, а для заупокойного культа. Постепенно, в связи с романизацией, оригинальность этрусской керамики утрачивалась. В VI в. до н. э. появились богато украшенные рельефными деталями «тяжёлые буккеро» (bucchero pesante). Но и они не могли выдержать конкуренции с продукцией греческих мастеров Южной Италии: полихромно расписанных сосудов самых разных форм и назначения.

Примечания

См. также
 Арретинская керамика
 Терра сигиллата
 Гнафия
 Мегарские чаши
 Камарес (стиль)

Ссылки

История керамики
Виды керамики
Виды декоративно-прикладного искусства по алфавиту
Этруски


text:
Robert Whittaker takes pride in being the Aussie MMA veteran, but doesn't want to be known as the 'old dog'
Jayden Collins
It seems only yesterday Robert Whittaker was the Aussie newcomer on UFC's The Ultimate Fighter.
Now, almost a decade later, he's solidified his position as longest tenured UFC fighter from Australia and New Zealand.
At only 31 years of age, you wouldn't consider Whittaker to be an 'old dog' from Australia, however, he's certainly done more than enough to solidify himself as a veteran of the game.
A post shared by Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma)
He told SPORTbible Australia and reporters: "It is a weird concept for me to get around that I am the old dog now.
"And I do believe the best is still to come and I'm only just now hitting my stride."
The former middleweight champion has put the Australian MMA scene on his back and carried it with him on his journey to the top of the UFC mountain.
He's seen the sport grow leaps and bounds Down Under, and has been a pioneer for the past decade.
He continued: "It's a pride that I hold that I've had a hand in bringing a spotlight to the sport in Australia.
"When I started the sport, there was nothing like this.
"The sport wasn't as big, or well known, and we didn't have the support for the athletes to help it grow faster than it could have.
"For the UFC to have done what it has done here in Australia and add support across the board and give avenues for careers to the athletes, to a point where we're doing a PPV card in Perth, and from top to bottom is just Australian fighters, it is absolutely unbelievable and I'm very proud of that."
Credit: Px Images / Alamy
As for the 'old dog' tag, he's not the biggest fan. Although, it does come with some perks.
He added: "I get in the showers first - we have a gym rule that goes oldest to youngest.
"But it (the tag) doesn't really do much for me."
"But I do hold the title of the oldest ANZ fighter tenure proudly."
Whittaker will be taking on Brazilian Paulo Costa at UFC Perth in what will be his sixth major UFC event to be held in Australia.
And while he admits he loves the cheers that come with being in front of his home nation, it always comes with a bombardment of requests.
He said: "I've got more friends and family hitting me up like, 'Hey bro can you get me tickets?'
"Let me just squash that, no, no I can't get anybody tickets."
Whittaker takes on Paulo Costa at UFC 284 on February 12, 2023.
Featured Image Credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy. @robwhittakermma/Instagram.
Topics: Australia, MMA, UFC, Robert Whittaker
Paulo Costa says UFC 'lied' to Robert Whittaker after UFC Perth bout is cancelled
'Who let this guy in?': Robert Whittaker stunned by 'giant' Alex Pereira
Paulo Costa shares brutal meme hinting at reason why Rob Whittaker fight was cancelled
Israel Adesanya Exclusive: 'The Lingo I Speak Is Violence And I Plan On Talking To Whittaker Very Clearly In My Language'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ruža is another beneficiary of CRP that received a Convention passport, which gives her a full freedom of movement for the first time in her life. Ruža, as a stateless person, also got a permanent residence. We hope that Ruža will soon, though after many years, achieve her right to Croatian citizenship.
by PGP Sisak · Published 10. October 2017. · Last modified 16. October 2017.
by PGP Sisak · Published 22. June 2017.
by PGP Sisak · Published 30. May 2015.


Salem State is more than the largest institution of higher education on the North Shore of Massachusetts. As one of the largest employers in Salem, with over 39 percent of its alumni living in Essex County, the university is a key player and major contributor to the economic development of the region. The university welcomes collaborations with area businesses and encourages the Salem State community to take advantage of what the North Shore business community provides the region.
See how your business can make a connection with Salem State.


The marvellous Alalunga 78 is a motor yacht available for crewed charters throughout Greece. This beautiful Alalunga 78.3 delivered in 2008, accommodates up to 10 guests in four luxurious cabins. Presenting a light and stylish interior with elegant lines and creme colours. It is the ideal yacht for lounging and relaxation.
• General amenities: TV/DVD, Sat TV, indoor/outdoor audio system, generator, water maker, ice maker, onboard WIFI internet access, full A/C, home cinema, mini Mac.
• Tender & toys: Tender: 4.2 new Novurania 60HP YAMAHA, waterskis, SUP, Snorkelling and fishing equipment.
You will receive a customized answer within the next 24 hours. Please note that the proposal is based on the information you initially provided. So, do not hesitate to include in your request any information you consider important or to contact us again if you need more information/clarifications.


text:
Engordany és un dels nuclis tradicionals que formen la ciutat i parròquia d'Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra). Engordany es troba a 1.109 metres d'altitud als vessants meridionals del pic de Padern a la dreta de la Valira d'Orient, davant la confluència amb la Valira del Nord.

Era un petit llogaret vinculat a les Escaldes, a l'altra banda de riu i units pel Pont d'Engordany. Hi havia l'església de Sant Jaume d'Engordany, avui enderrocada. A l'antic camí d'Engordany a Andorra la Vella travessa la Valira del Nord el pont dels Escalls, romànic del  i on se signà l'acord dels Pariatges l'any 1278.

Havia estat un poble diferenciat de les Escaldes i el més antic, ja que ja era habitat pels voltants del segle II o I aC. Amb el creixement d'Andorra la Vella, les Escaldes i d'Engordany, les tres poblacions han format un conjunt urbà del qual actualment les Escaldes i Engordany formen una sola ciutat anomenada Escaldes-Engordany i constituïda com la setena parròquia d'Andorra des del 1978, any en què va deixar de formar part de la parròquia d'Andorra la Vella.

Referències

Vegeu també
 Escaldes-Engordany:
Les Escaldes
Els Vilars d'Engordany
Engolasters
El Fener

Geografia d'Escaldes-Engordany


It might not always be obvious, but there are highly desirable smartphones that make a splash on the international scene, but don't come to the West. Thankfully, that isn't the case here.
Thanks to their strong partnership with T-Mobile, Sony is bringing to the US their highly acclaimed flagship, the Sony Xperia Z1, in the form of the Xperia Z1S.
Here's our detailed hands-on review of the Sony Xperia Z1S!
For all intents and purposes, this is truly a Sony device. With its robust and highly angular design, this is a phone that has a dramatic appearance, and one that will garner interest from curious onlookers for its pronounced presence. It has a very premium appearance to it, and is a joy to look at. While it features the same glass finish all around, this time, Sony has opted for a plastic skeleton that wraps the phone in its entirety.
There's very little aesthetic differences between the two devices, with even fewer changes to the physical layout. As you can see from the image above, Sony has placed the headphone jack in the middle of the Xperia Z1S, as opposed to the left side, where it was found in the original Sony Xperia Z1.
The button layout remains the same with the silver power button, volume rockers, and dedicated camera button on the right. And, for those that have used mobile devices as extensively as we have – it's a nice touch to have a dedicated camera button for those moments when you need to grab a quick snap.
This is one of the few water resistant devices that are available on the market today, so if you're clumsy, or have a history of losing devices to water damage, or just tend to work and live in harsher environments, this is definitely a device you should consider.
Somewhat interestingly, the Xperia Z1S is a smidgen longer than its Z1 brother, which isn't significantly noticeable. Very few will be able to distinguish the devices, that is, unless they see the branded T-Mobile moniker on its back.
You get the same great design, heft, and build quality found in the original Xperia Z1, and for those that have ever owned an Xperia device – they know that Sony has some of the best build quality of any manufacturer out there.
Sony has put what appears to be the same display found in the original Xperia Z1 in the Z1S, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Packing a 1080p resolution into a 5-inch Triluminos display, backed by the Sony BRAVIA Engine, it looks absolutely fantastic head on. In our review, we found it comparable to what we would expect a small Sony TV to look like.
You get rich colors, great response times, and a wide color spectrum. If we were to have a complaint, it would be simply not the display itself, but the bezel around it, which adds to the overall girth of the Xperia Z1S. This is only an issue because we've been spoiled by other devices that feature very thin bezels, and Sony has added a lot of real estate all around, especially on the top and the bottom, that could have been shaved off to make for a smaller phone overall.
Toting the industry leading Snapdragon 800 and robust Adreno 330 GPU, the Xperia Z1S simply flies, and can handle everything you throw at it, and then some. Sony's UI is very true to Android; in a word, minimalistic, which we really like. Power is never in short supply and you'll be multitasking and ripping through content, media, games, pictures, and more in record time.
Despite its plastic skeleton, the Z1S comes with the same IP58 certifications that made the Z1 water resistant and dust proof. It's deeply comforting to know that this device can withstand the trials of life, the bush, or even a good party. Want to use it in the shower? No problem. Take it hot tubbing? No worries there either. It's something that we've come to appreciate so much that we look upon other manufacturers that don't incorporate this into their design with increasing amounts of aspersion knowing fully well that they are capable of it too. In reality though – for those of you that demand more from your mobile device, or work in environments that are harsher than the confines of an office cubicle – you would be wise to take a close look at this one.
As is the norm with Sony devices, expandable storage is included. Bolstering an already healthy 32GB of memory, microSD support is always a treat. The usual bevy of connections are included, along with support for T-Mobile's 4G connectivity, which is quite fast and comparable, or even better, than Verizon in some parts in the US. Other interesting connectivity options include an FM radio, which is always a nice addition. Finally, it packs a 3,000 mAh battery, which keeps the device powered for a long, long time. Sony has one of the more adept development houses in the world of Android, and their power saving features baked into the Xperia UI will ensure that this device can go for well beyond a day with even heavy usage.
As anyone that has an Xperia Z1 will tell you though – image quality is, for the most part, inconsistent, with low quality results that come from lackluster processing. In some images, darker tones tend to show up fuzzy and lack detail. In others, colors actually look alright most of the time, but the camera might not expose the scene properly, in either direction. While excellent low light shots with this low aperture lens should be possible, they won't come out very detailed. We would have expected better from Sony in this regard, considering they make the image sensor that's in many flagship devices on the market today.
Make no mistake though – this is a very powerful camera, and Sony could fix many of these if it were to perform a proper update to the device, which we expect will happen shortly. This is a powerful camera; it just doesn't bring the kind of quality you would come to expect from a company that created the full frame A7 and the great performing compact, the Sony RX100.
When it comes to software, the Xperia UI features a mostly stock operating system, with some additions. The most noticeable addition is "Small Apps," which is found the Recent Apps screen. These are small overlay apps that cover a small area in your current workspace.
You also get a host of applications that add Sony's experience to Android, including Walkman for playing music, and Album for photos and videos. PlayStation Mobile does make an appearance, but unless your specifically looking for the apps that are included, you're probably already enjoying the Google Play Store offerings.
Because the Sony Xperia Z1s is available from T-Mobile, you'll also find the usual carrier additions, that are mostly for account management, and some proprietary media consumption.
The Xperia UI continues to work as well as it always has, thanks to its minimalist take on Android, and its penchant for putting in some useful additions, without going overboard.
Gone are the days when you'd have to pick up a Sony smartphone at full price if you wanted one. On T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan, you can pick up the Xperia Z1S for $0 down, with the addition of $22 to your monthly plan, over a period of 24 months, which works out to a total of $528 for the phone.
Considering the $0 down payment for this phone, T-Mobile is giving you a very easy entry into the full high-end Sony experience, with what's one of best Android smartphones to release in 2013.
And so, there you have it. What's the takeaway here? The Sony Xperia Z1S is bringing Sony into the United States market, where Sony's presence has pretty much dwindled in the past couple years. The Sony experience fits right alongside the other top players in the game and here's to hoping that they continue to grow in the American market.
Let us know what you think of the Sony Xperia Z1S!


People from the city, the suburbs, the country, and everywhere in between. We're an eclectic mix of people from different vocations, different life experiences, different political views, and diverse interests. We are an inter-generational church with people of all ages. We find common ground in following Jesus. We believe that Jesus offers a new way of life that centers on peacemaking in the world. That's why we focus on bringing justice to people who are hurting. We love and value kindness, rather than judging or condemning others. And we walk together humbly, knowing that nobody has it all figured out, and we're all in this journey together.
Dress in what makes you comfortable and come as you are. We are a casual group of people, and the most important thing for us is that you are able to connect with God just as you are. We value authenticity over formality. We believe that when we are real with each other in every way, the most meaningful relationships will be built.
Whether you've been here 20 times or this is your first time, every aspect of worship should be accessible to you. Our worship band will lead us in music, the worship leader and pastors will lead us on a journey of praise, confession, assurance of forgiveness, and prayer. One of our pastors will offer a message from a Bible passage, and we'll respond to God with another song. Because we value relationships as a priority, we dedicate time during the service to sharing our prayer requests with each other, and then praying for what was requested. We begin worship at 10:00am, and usually wrap up at 11:00am.
We usually serve communion the first Sunday of every month. In the Reformed Church in America (the larger group of churches that we're connected to), we have an open table, which means that anyone who desires to follow Jesus is welcome at the table. We serve communion by the method of intinction, which means you'll come forward, take a piece of bread, dip it in a cup of juice, and then eat. We always offer a gluten free option for those that have specific dietary requirements.
What should families with young children know?
For families with newborns through three years of age, we have a fully staffed nursery. Children may be dropped off upon arrival, and picked up after the service.
We value the experience of families worshiping together, so the beginning of the service is designed to allow children to experience some elements of worship with their families. Halfway through the service, children ages 4-10 are invited up front for a blessing of the children. They are then dismissed to go to their "Worship Centers". Worship centers are age specific gatherings where our volunteer teachers will offer the children a worship experience that is tailored to their age groups.


I have placed equal squares around the head on both Savina's Owl and the photograph to show just how far out the proportions are. Also note that the blue lines show the angle of the beak and area immediately above the beak are out of alignment. It is always worth using some kind of drawing aid when drawing animals – our Square Drawing system work well here. This is a shame because Savina has made a very good job of the colouring of this bird and with a little more attention to the line drawing this will turn out well. With pastel pencils this error can be adjusted by using an eraser to remove some of the pastel then redrawing the owl closely following the reference picture.
Feathers are really trick and I am not surprised Savina is finding it hard going, however so far it is not coming out too badly so I would stick with this picture as I feel it is worth doing. The only thing I would add it that the orange colour of the feathers would look better if Savina used the same colour as those around the face (see red arrows).
The eye is also a little too almond shaped in the painting whereas the photo shows it more rounded.
To get feedback on your artwork from Colin Bradley, sign up for one of his membership packages starting at just £3.99 per month!


Two weekends back, I got to visit Arendal town, as Bruno my work colleague was speaking at TEDx Arendal, on his Eco-art project. His presentation was both moving and inspiring, as he was one of the surprise guests speaking about his passion and work in Uganda.
There were also several amazing speakers, workshops and a boat ride to view Arendal from the seaside which I'm sure by now you've realized I enjoy. One of the evenings also had an epic performance by speaker Petter Amundsen a cryptologist and organist in the beautiful Trinity church.
Arendal is a pretty town, with old wooden houses, benches where you can relax and feed some birds, especially when the sun is out. If you find yourself in Arendal, you must walk to the old town Tyholmen, check out the old town hall from 1812.
We stayed at Clarion Hotel, where breakfast was a delicious feast with fresh rolls, fruit, waffles and cheese as the sun glazed on the water and boats rolled out on the harbor. On our last morning here, one of the presenters had a waffle tour made with a-gazillion waffles for his Snap-chat fans…I want to be this cool some day!
Taking a walk later in the day was refreshing, to see some cheerful faces, walking past buzzing shops, cafes and groups of tourists.
Tyholmen is the best preserved part of Arendal, built on some of the seven small islands that the city spread across. and was accredited for its efforts to combine preservation with adaptability for modern use. It has two parts, an upper and lower. The lower part mostly with cafes, hotels and the upper more residential.
My favourite view of the town was at Eureka Kompetase, which was miles and miles of blue *in-love-emoji … In my dream-life, I'd like to live in a small town like this, where there aren't so many cars,so I can walk or bike everywhere.
Before we set off for Oslo on Sunday, with Max, a dope photographer from TedX we dropped by his lovely parent's home. It reminded me of my big brother and my mum, who's always asking him to stop by on the weekends-or else! haha!
I hope you got a glimpse of this cool weekend, as I hope to start sharing more of these brief trips as much as I can with my experience here in Norway.


text:
Private Magazine
Month: March, 2014
Quote | March 28, 2014
Finding True Love At Sex Addicts Anonymous
Disclaimer- Sex Addicts Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, etc. ask that addicts keep fellow addicts anonymous, hence the name; therefore, all names and verbatim sentences are fabricated to protect those involved. Also, members of the SAA program depicted in this article, as stated in their booklet, "are not [SAA] representatives or claim to be spokespersons for the press, radio, TV, films , or the Internet.
One month ago, I briefly dated a sex addict. It's hard to be sure, because I'm fairly certain that he's also a pathological liar. Then again, from what I know, many addicts are also liars.
I only went out with him because he wouldn't leave me alone. He kept showing up at my job.
"So, when are we going out to dinner?"
It went on like that for a couple of weeks, until finally, I relented. We went to Taste of Siam. Over dinner, he opened up about his wife who suddenly died of cancer four months ago. I realized he was still wearing a wedding band.
"Isn't that a little quick to be dating?" I asked my 81-year-old friend Annette, afterwards.
"No, you'd be surprised how quick men are able to move on."
I figured Annette knew what she was talking about, being 81 and all. But only a week into our frenzied fling, my stalker opened up to me at Spot Coffee.
"I'm a sex addict," he said, looking over his thick black frames. "It's how I've been grieving. It's hard. I'm dating multiple cougars…" He began to scour the Spot scene with frantic eyes. "You're the only non-cougar I am seeing."
He then called over a random woman and invited her into a threesome with us. Not many situations embarrass me, but that did. I never spoke to him again.
He still stalks me at my job.
That confession of his has never left my mind. I don't think about it daily, but sometimes I wonder if he was truly sincere. Probably not. But that isn't stopping me from investigating the reality of being a sex addict by attending a local chapter meeting of Sex Addicts Anonymous.
I called a phone number I found on the Sex Addicts Anonymous database two days ago; apparently there's a suburban Christian fellowship that hosts many AA and SA meetings. I pull up outside; a few women are smoking cigarettes in their cars. Armed with a venti Starbucks, I attempt to project a seen-it-all, done-it-all demeanor. In reality, I have no idea what to expect.
I'm worried that my all-black outfit is too sexy for Sex Addicts Anonymous. I mean, vintage leather mini skirt? Hugo Boss blazer? Motorcycle boots? Stockings?
Upon entering the building, I'm greeted with inspirational Christian banners. A few women are heading into an alcove at the left side of a roomy foyer. I follow them. A pot of coffee is steaming on its burner, but it appears to be decaf. Fuck! They start talking about "back when they were drinking."
"Um, I think I have the wrong meeting," I meekly express.
"This is a womens-only AA meeting," says a 30-something with a pleasant face. "What group are you looking for?"
"Well…. well, I must have the wrong place…Maybe it got rescheduled?" I say, walking into the carpeted foyer.
"What group are you looking for?" she asks again, following me.
I swivel around once we arrive in a shadowy corner.
"The sex addicts!"
"Oh, they meet in the basement pretty much every day."
I go down a few steps into an olive green annex. A guy in an olive green dress shirt, cuffed loose-fitting slacks, and orthopedic shoes beckons me into an adjacent room.
"Is this – Sex Addicts Anonymous? I called Tuesday – are you Bruce?"
The guy in olive green confirms that he is Bruce. He facilitates the meetings. I look around; only one other person besides Bruce is present. He's well into his 70's and wears sweatpants. There are a few mismatched recliners and armchairs to choose from, but I opt for the folding chair by the window.
I'm surprised there are only three of us here. That is, if you include me, and I'm not even an addict. Or am I? Why the hell am I here? Why do I have a compulsion to do these things? My thoughts aren't that different from the others in this building. I'm given a blue pamphlet which lays out today's meeting, two green books about beating sex addiction (which Bruce wrote, impressively), and the monthly group newsletter. We begin with the Feelings Check.
"Russell, would you like to start, since we have a newcomer?"
Russell begins by choosing two adjectives to sum up his feelings of the day.
"I feel appreciated -"
"Yes you are!" Bruce reinforces, winking at me.
"And, um, hopeful."
"Yes you do!" I chime in this time. For some reason this makes me blush. Then it's my turn. I start to sweat, and roll up the sleeves of my blazer. This exposes the burn from my stove on my wrist and armful of bracelets. Great, I probably look like a cutter.
"Hi, I'm —-, and I am a recovering sex addict. Today I feel calm, because well, this is a pretty laid back setting – and inspired, because I like meeting new people."
"Yes you are!"
We then recite the Serenity Prayer ("God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…") together. However, the group maintains a casual, open, accepting, non-religiously affiliated vibe. I actually learn a lot from Bruce. For example, AA meetings (12 Step programs) originated in the 1930's, when people asked God to fix problems instead of seeking medical explanations. Bruce finds error in the fact these methods are still used today to mend complex addictions. The man who developed AA in the 30's apparently got sober from alcohol, but remained a smoker, compulsive spender, and sex addict until his death.
Right in the middle of our Validations – "I am acceptable, competent, and focused; I trust my own thoughts and emotions; I have positive expectations for today and for tomorrow, etc" another man walks into the room. He's clutching a liter of Coke and filling the room with the aroma of a Marb.
"Are you here for the meeting?" asks Bruce.
"Yeah, uh, SA?"
"Yes, are you Patrick? Weren't you here last week?"
"Yes I was."
He takes a seat, and I catch him looking at me many times. He probably wants to bone, I think to myself. But what's so erroneous about that?
We continue the meeting, reading through a chapter in the green book about the basis of sex addiction. According to Bruce, his group uses the most up to date, medically sound information regarding the nature of addiction. While medical knowledge 25 years ago relied on pegging addiction as a "disease," that isn't entirely true. Also, the only addiction relying heavily on genetics is alcoholism.
Rather, addictions which are "learned behaviors," like sex, shopping, eating disorders, and gambling, can also be un-learned. It all goes back to conditioning and feeling abandoned as a child. This "trauma" increases the likelihood you will develop the Addict Personality.
I wasn't abandoned as a child, but I have an Addict Personality. Bruce says some people with Addict Personalities weren't traumatized as children. Addiction can just form from faulty wiring in the brain, dopamine and seratonin receptors. He tells me you can work hard and re-wire the brain, if you work at it every day for three years.
Staring down at my sex addict literature, I'm forgetting that I'm not really a sex addict. Or am I? No, I'm not. Our generation just has a problem with intimacy as a whole. I'm sure some will wind up in SAA when they're a sweatpants-wearing age 70. But while I'm not a full-blown addict of any sort, I know that I chemically possess the Addict Personality. Sex addiction was never my problem, not at all. I've already marked a nearby wine store, so I can buy a bottle of pinot grigio after this meeting. Am I an alcoholic? There have been downward spirals and self-destructive benders, over the years. But I think I manage to toe the line before I hit full blown addict rock bottom. I have too much to lose; I always have to keep myself in check.
The meeting draws to a close, and I thank Bruce. I might return, because I don't want Bruce to feel Sad during the Feelings Check, sad that I never showed up again. Sad that I gave up my recovery and returned to an addiction that I never really had.
This thought almost makes me burst into tears, as I walk to my car, smelling a clove cigarette in the night air.
But I need to stop with always putting others' needs/wants before my own…I need to affirm my own needs/wants…Maybe I will check out the womens-only AA…
I am competent and capable.
Movie Date at the Video Liquidators Theatre
My estranged friend and former colleague, Rory from Manitoba, has come for a visit. We're trying to decide what to do with our Saturday night. He has crossed the border with grace and elegance, so the least I can do is show him a proper Buffalo Night Out.
"Listen, I had an idea yesterday, for my new blog. It's kind of sick. Twisted, even."
"Oh?" Rory replies, with a raised eyebrow.
"There's a porn store down the street called Video Liquidators. It has a 24-hour porn screening room. What kind of people go there? I need to know."
Froth from Rory's Southern Tier has foamed around his beard.
"But! We need to blend in and not draw attention," I say authoritatively. "We need to be one of them. This is a journalistic expedition."
"I'll be discreet!" Rory declares, lacing up his steel-toe boot.
We drive the miniscule distance to Video Liquidators' Elmwood Ave. location. It can't really be detected from the street, save for a bland black and white sign. Once you turn into the parking lot, "Video Liquidators" glows lasciviously in red letters. The building itself is yellow brick. Red and yellow supposedly increase one's appetite; that's why McDonald's employs these colors. It must make those with perv-y predilections salivate for miles around.
"It's packed in here tonight!" I shriek, eyeing the half dozen cars in the lot.
It's dark, cold, and silent in the city tonight. My watch reads 9:30 pm. The fluorescent bulbs inside the store snap me awake. I'm half baked. Some guys scurry around the store's periphery like bugs; they hide in the corners once we strut in.
I lead the way through aisles of sex toys and suggestive polyester "lingerie" vacuum-sealed in plastic. Navigating around racks of nudie mags, we make our way to the theatre door at the very back. There's not a big to-do with this theatre; the door could be a closet. A neon sign flickers above. I look around helplessly.
"Hey! You need to pay to go in there!" exclaims a blonde, tie-dye clad woman behind the cash register.
"Oh, how much is it?" I say, walking over to her.
"Well, since you're a couple, you're free," she says to me. "For him, it's $10 to choose either the Couples Theatre or the Singles Theatre. It's $15 if you want to switch between both."
"$15 for both of us, for both rooms?" I'm already taking a twenty from my wallet.
"BUT!" The cashier leans into me, eyes wide. "If he leaves the room, you HAVE to go with him. You CANNOT be left alone, under ANY condition."
"We'll stick together."
Rory and I creep down a concrete hallway. We pass a few empty rooms, each with a TV proclaiming "No Signal," a bench and a mop bucket. This is it? Then, we see the door marked Theatre #2. We go inside.
It's pitch black. I tip-toe, inch by terrified inch, leading the way. It's impossible to know what is inside this room. I could be walking into a closet full of violent offenders, with venomous snakes slithering across the floor. Grabbing Rory's sweaty palm, finally, a dim glow from the movie screen vaguely lights our way.
The theatre is vacant except for a faceless couple in the last row. I can't tell anything about them, just that they aren't naked and aren't engaged in any, um, activities. I'm relieved. We sit down and start to watch the film. It looks like it's from the 90's; a blonde is walking around a house in a modest French maid outfit. In the background she speaks a monologue – "He always was an ass man…So I'd be sure to bend over in my maid outfit…" We watch a fuzzy montage of her walking through a house. The man behind us coughs and groans and sucks down an iced fountain beverage.
"This is a boring movie, let's hit the singles theatre. There might be more action there."
We go to Theatre #1. Upon entering, it's easier to see, there's graphic sexual acts on the screen, and a room of ten guys. The movie screen is much smaller than your standard theatre variety, but it does the job. Two guys in front of us are having a conversation like this is Kelly's Korner or something.
"Yeah man, the scene down in Cleveland is really something. There was this Canadian couple that would always be there…"
They must be a part of the Public Porn Scene. I realize that now I can finally cross Watching Porn With a Room Full of Strangers off of my bucket list.
The next movie starts. The actress is very beautiful. Both films fit the theme of POV, or Point of View, porn. The point is to be a professionally-directed porn, made to look like a really well-shot amateur movie. The director is also an actor, a participant. I find it to be artsy and Post Modern.
My eyeballs are starting to water profusely. I realize it's because I haven't blinked in about five minutes. This is really riveting stuff. I feel something poke me in the arm. It must be Rory's hand. But was it? I'll never be sure.
To my far right, in the aisle across from me, a pudgy guy in a dress shirt and tie is casually whacking it. That's somebody's dad, I think to myself. Shit.
After the second film comes to a close, I turn to Rory and we decide to leave. I need a whiskey, neat, and some ice cream. We go back to my car, and check the time. 11 o'clock. Damn, time really does fly. We decide that it was pretty fun.
When we get back to my apartment, I Google "Video Liquidators cinema." I want to see if anyone has already written about it. Nothing really comes up. The only item of interest is a message board/forum called CityXGuide, which apparently never got off the ground, but should have. On the site, there's a public forum called Streetwalker Reports, where Buffalo's gentleman can tip each other off as to where to find a hooker.
"Oh. My. God. This shit is great," I say. My face is practically pressed to my laptop screen and my contacts are super dry.
I spot a post from three years ago by "Dariusz" that reads "Best BBBJ I ever had was in Bflo. In the Video Liquidators on Elmwood. They have couples nights on Saturdays and one time this hot 40s girl was there with her
husband. Give me a great BJ."
BTW, the site is a great place to pick up obscure acronyms. Type in "BBBJCIMNQNS." It's a real thing.
There's no excuse to be bored. Who needs cable at home with the Video Liquidator's theatre a stone's throw away?
Rave Scenes and Roadside Assistance
I'm in my apartment, waiting for my date James to arrive. We met a few days ago, after being isolated together at the LL Cool J concert. We had both been day drinking with my downstairs neighbors beforehand. I guess we must have lost track of the rest of them, because we ended up in the beer tent together. I guess at some point, James became slightly smitten.
He called me up. Turns out, we had both been invited to the Aphrodite show at Broadway Joe's. I suggested that we go together.
"Oh, like, a date?" he asks.
"Um…Sure, maybe?"
"I don't really have a ton of money to blow, er, I don't think it should be a wild night."
"No, definitely not," I conclude. "I have to work early the next day."
So here I am, getting myself primped and ready for a drum n' bass rave party. I'm not typically in the glow stick crowd – but then again, I don't roll with any crowd. I decide to wear a black and white minidress and some boots. Suddenly, there's a rapping on my third floor door.
"Who is it?" I call out. My little loft is practically impossible for a stranger to access.
I open the door. James is standing there drinking a Four Loco.
"How'd you get up here?"
"I went through Mike and Jack's downstairs," James replies. This means he walked through their outside door, passed absentmindedly through their second floor apartment, up another flight of back stairs, and up to my unassuming, unmarked door.
"Oh – I didn't know you knew where I live. Ok, let's go."
James drives the two of us in his car to Broadway Joe's, everyone's favorite Main and Minnesota destination. We get a pitcher of Rolling Rock to sustain us. Glow sticks illuminate the dance floor; ravers with hula hoops shimmy around; EDM beats boom out of giant speakers. I apparently missed the fashion memo; every other woman is wearing scrawled-on bell bottoms, bikini tops, fur leg warmers, glow-in-the-dark tiaras, feather boas, poppin' molly and sweatin'.
I run into three long lost coworkers. We hug each other and go out to the back patio. Clouds of marijuana mushroom into the starry sky. I launch into a photo shoot of James in front of a graffiti-tagged garage. The night is turning out to be really fun.
James and I go back inside, and I can't say I'm feeling him romantically but this night doesn't totally suck. This show, this Aphrodite show, is totally random actually. Aphrodite, the drum n' bass/jungle DJ, is actually quite a big deal in the UK. How he came to be performing for a small crowd at Broadway Joe's is beyond me. I lean into the bar, squinting through the neon inferno.
A skinny guy runs up to James. "Hey, man, they towed a bunch of cars out of the parking lot next door! You better hope you didn't park there, man. Because…if you did…your car is most likely gone. Gone, dude."
"What? WHAT?! Fuck! No!"
With various tweaked-out exclamations, a bunch of guys vacate the bar with urgency. I'm a little buzzed, and watch scantily-clad background dancers gyrate on stage. Do they get paid? Maybe in drugs… Suddenly, James is back.
"My car is there, but it's…" He looks side to side with growing suspicion. "Moved."
"Moved?" I say.
He looks extremely confused. Dazed. He turns and nervously walks outside. I continue drinking. Five minutes later, James is back.
"I tried to drive my car, and it's…fucked up!!"
"What do you mean, fucked up?"
"I tried to drive it, and something is wrong with the back end. I think he tried to tow it, fucked it up, and left!"
The two of us go outside. Sure enough, his car is sitting at the other end of the lot. James is pacing around, back and forth. It's after three in the morning. I have to work at nine. James continues to pace.
"Look, I have AAA. We can call them."
"But – but – my car! What are they going to do?"
"I don't know…maybe they can tow it somewhere until the morning?"
"Yeah..yeah, ok." He breathes a heavy sigh. "I'm really sorry this turned out to be such a wild night."
I get on the phone with AAA, and end up taking a cab home to my bungalow alone. I guess James was OK.
From Drunken Makeout to True Love
We are at DBGB's, Jennifer and I, posted up at the bar. Suddenly, a kid who looks like a 21-year-old version of Drake, in a red t-shirt, wobbles up to us.
"Isn't that red dress a little excessive?!" he says to me, bobbing to and fro slowly, like a pendulum.
"…It's a Christmas party."
Then, he leans in close to me and his breath absolutely reeks of like, pure mildew.
"Go away!"
I turn to my right. There sits a seemingly-normal gent in a New Era cap, with a mellow demeanor. He tells me his name is Chris. Apparently Chris is a waiter downtown. He tells me his goofy, Drake-esque accomplice is Justin. Justin wanders over to his bar during the day regularly. He also works downtown. Today, the two hatched a plan to partake in the free buffet at the DBGB Christmas party.
Twenty minutes pass. It seems like Chris and I are hitting it off… although, I am rather tipsy.
"Can I get you something from the free buffet?"
I see Chris get accosted by an untidy hobo in the buffet line. So I wander over there and begin gnawing on a mouthwatering wing. The hobo leaves. Chris turns to me…and I notice that both of his front teeth are chipped. Like, bad. I think to myself that he must be a hockey player or UFC fighter, even though he already told me that he's a waiter. But maybe he's undercover…
All of a sudden, Chris kisses me right in front of the buffet table. I am completely taken aback. When I pull away, Chris takes hold of my bottom lip with his partial two front teeth and kind of bites me. Like, it feels weird because not all of his front teeth are present.
Now that I have been Bit in the Buffet line, I scamper off and break up Jennifer and Justin. Then, Jennifer and I go back to my apartment to make an oven pizza, take a bleary-eyed scroll through the Newsfeed, and tipsily discuss the evening's events.
Two nights later, I receive a text from Chris while at work.
"I'm going to a show at Nietzsche's and it would be cool if you came with me."
I accept the invitation, then text Jennifer.
"Should I give him a chance? Even though he seems like a dope/doesn't have all his teeth?"
"No" is her reply.
Wondering and skeptical of how this night will go, we make plans to meet up at Providence Social, because Chris doesn't have a car. Providence Social is within walking distance of his house, evidently. What is up with that? Men… If they got a car, they live with their mama. If they got their own place, they have no ride. Maybe they even have no job.
I walk into Providence Social and am immediately welcomed by a warm, candlelit aura. However, Chris is nowhere to be found. I glance around and suddenly he appears, swilling a half-full pint.
"Oh, hey…" I look at his glass. "How long have you been here?"
"Oh, I don't know. Five minutes? I ordered some soup."
A waiter seats us in a cozy booth in the back and leaves. I have no drink. What the hell is he doing ordering everything without me? The waiter comes back.
"And what would you like to eat?" the waiter asks.
"Those Sriracha wings," Chris says.
The waiter leaves. Seriously rude, I think. What if I hated sriracha wings?! I don't know why Chris is so oblivious. I steer the conversation. He is looking glassy-eyed and buck-toothed.
"So, what's new?"
"Nothing really," he says.
Dinner is going in a totally boring direction, because I guess Chris can't carry on a conversation/has nothing going on in life. It's going to be a long night.
"So…what are, like, your hopes and dreams?"
We conclude our meal and I drive us to Allentown. Upon entering Nietzche's, the place is dead. I suggest we go across the street to the Buffablog party. Once there, Chris takes it upon himself to get me a PBR. I'm not a high-maintenance bitch or anything, but I don't like PBR.
"So, what's your last name?" I ask.
The place is packed full of people; the band playing is super-loud; I swear that he tells me his last name is "Booby." Glancing around the room sideways, I'm pleading with the universe that I don't run into anyone I know.
"Listen, why don't we just sit in the dark corner over there?"
"All right," Chris says, kind of spitting on me through his broken teeth.
We sit side-by-side. Chris decides to nurse his PBR and stare off in the distance. I'm barely sipping mine and ready to fall asleep.
"Yeah, sorry I'm not more entertaining," Chris says.
'It's ok," I reply.
"I"m just tired; I worked three days in a row. Let's go to Caffe Aroma for tea?"
Tea sounds like a great idea, and I'm joyful inside – the night is drawing to an end.
We drive to the café. It's closed!
"I have tea at my apartment," Goofy Tooth suggests.
I have to drop him off anyway, I think to myself. Eh, why not? Definitely not going to see this guy again. Jennifer was right. He is a major dud. It's crazy how better they look while drunk in front of a dark Christmas buffet.
The night has turned into a frozen downpour. I drive my dull companion to his residence on the Lower West Side. He invites me up for some tea. Opening a rusty razor sharp screen door, Chris ushers me into a dark hallway. "It's right up the stairs," he says.
"Um, can you go first? I have no clue how to navigate your stairs in the dark."
So he ascends the ramshackle steps; I clutch the railing and gradually get vertigo. Then Chris opens his apartment door; a wretched unfurnished garret greets me. Taking a chipped dirty mug from a dusty cupboard, he plops in a putrid chamomile tea bag. "Thanks," I mutter.
"So – do you want to go in my bed?"
I zero in on the chipped, slimy front teeth inching their way towards me. They are ready for action. Like an overzealous beaver, Chris attempts to grab my face again for a little gnawing action, chewing, spewing chamomile…
"I really have to go. I have to get up early tomorrow. Will you walk me to my car?"
Thunder cracks outside as we walk the dreary avenue. Clouds converge in the gloomy nothingness above.
"Yeah – I had a really nice time, thank you Chris."
I turn to unlock my Pontiac as Chris swivels on his skate-shoe clad heels and runs – literally runs – away from me.
Names Have Been Changed to Protect the Innocent
A fire burns inside of #54. It's a soft, welcoming cocoon of holiday cheer. Outside, snowflakes ferociously converge like bumblebees, and I hope Dan will get here soon. He's my date for the night, to the Pearl Street Grill Christmas Party. I'm hoping that he gets here soon, because I'm ever-so-steadily sipping bourbon from a pint glass with my downstairs neighbor, Michael. If Dan doesn't get here soon, I'm going to be drunk. Very drunk.
It is mandatory that a true lady remain sober and in control for an entire date. I already fucked it up. Bah! My phone rattles and dings like a goddamn slot machine. Dan has arrived!
I'm clomping down three flights of stairs in precarious and uncomfortable Forever 21 platforms and some outlandish beaded top. Must go and meet Dan in the parking lot with dignity.
Now, I met Dan last month, when I was on a date with his friend John at the casino. Dan was there, too, with some girl named Jamie. It was a double date. But after John won $3,000 and was determined to spend it all, we went to Wine on Third to wet our whistles. And there, amid hazy drunken revelations, Dan and I developed a crush on one another.
So I invited him as my date to the Pearl Street Grill Christmas Party. Everyone who lives at our apartment, # 54, is attending – myself, my downstairs neighbor Michael, Jack (a 31-year old dubstep burnout who wears sunglasses backwards on his head), and Kurt. I went to college with both Kurt and Michael. Kurt moved away to California but he's back now. I hooked up with Kurt on Election Day after he drank a box of merlot and couldn't ride his bike back to Kenmore. He's gotten many DUI's, so he doesn't drive. Kurt is a hot mess.
Just as I'm settling in with Dan on Michael's couch, with a background symphony of cacophonous jam-band melodies, Kurt struts through the living room, clad in a dress shirt, tie, and vest. A cigar is sticking straight out of his mouth. My back stiffens. Ugh! Could he get more cocky and conceited?
Kurt continues to walk through the living room and onto the balcony. I turn to Dan.
"Ugh, that's just Kurt," I tell him. I really like Dan. He is extremely laid back, with a good head of hair. He's even put on a dress shirt for this party. Kurt isn't going to tarnish my mojo. So I toss back some champagne, re apply my lip stain, and pile into a cab with the entire group.
The scene at Pearl Street is intense – wall to wall people, and for some strange reason, I cannot get my footing in these fucking Forever 21 pain in the ass platforms! I can't control my wobbly, bobbing to and fro body! I feel like the room is circling around me. I need to get some air and have an intimate, passionate moment with Dan.
As I pull him under the stairs, Dan looks at me in confusion.
"What…what is it?"
"I just…I just…wanted to share a passionate moment and get away from it all!"
"Oh, uh..huh? Ok."
I grab Dan's fuzzy beard and pull his face into mine.
"Let's get out of here."
"But we just got here, oh, uh, ok!"
In my mind's eye, the two of us are rushing out into the cold, dark night to have passionate sex in my bungalow. What really happens, well…
Dan and I arrive at the foot of the ladder that leads up to my twin size loft bed. I say,
"Go ahead – it's easy! It's only nine steps."
"Don't you worry that you'll fall out of there?"
"No, never!"
And the two of us go up to the bungalow.
My dry, bloodshot eyes snap open to the shrill beeping of my phone. Time to go to work! Put me out of my misery. It's going to be one of those days.
I walk Dan down to his car, and shower away the sinfulness and inebriety of the previous night. I'm combing my hair in front of the bathroom mirror. Suddenly, my apartment door opens with a chilly gust of wind. I'm only wearing a pair of Victoria's Secret leopard print underwear. My hands snap up to conceal my boobs. What the fuck!
Kurt struts in, still clad in last night's apparel.
"What the fuck, Kurt, leave Kurt! Don't you know how to knock, Kurt? Can't you see I'm trying to get ready, Kurt? I have to go to work, asshole! Hey! I'm talking here! WHOAAAA!"
I work myself up into such a frenzy in my tiny bathroom, I fly backwards – arms flailing- into my little cabinet and tall stack of magazines. A container of cosmetics crashes on top of me, with a cascade of lipsticks falling around me. I'm lying in a heap, on my back, practically in the nude.
"HELP!!!! Somebody! I've fallen and I can't get up! Seriously! HELLO????"
Finally, I muster the strength, wrap myself in a towel, and charge out into my apartment.
Kurt is standing naked in my kitchen.
"Kurt, get out, you are still drunk from yesterday…BLAHAAHGHHHAH!!"
He decides to pick me up straight off the ground and spin me around pseudo-romantically. It's not exactly the most chivalrous deed, to barge into someone's home and strip down naked. But whatever.
"I just thought we could spend some time together."
"Your timing is off, and I have to go to work. Now get out!"
He pecks me on the lips suddenly. I ever-so-politely push him out the door.
When it rains, it pours…I think to myself, leaning against my door with a sigh. Still have to put some damn clothes on. I wonder if things will work out with Kurt.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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You are here: Home / News / Culture News / California Internet, L.P. DBA GeoLinks Awarded $87.8M to Expand Rural Internet...
California Internet, L.P. DBA GeoLinks Awarded $87.8M to Expand Rural Internet in California and Nevada
August 29, 2018 /in Culture News, featured, Press Releases /by Lexie Smith
GeoLinks awarded $87.8M in the in the FCC's Connect America Fund Phase II Auction, becoming the largest winner in the state of California, and 5th largest winner in the nation.
August 29, 2018 10:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time
CAMARILLO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On Tuesday, August 28th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially released the results of its Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) auction, allocating $1.488 Billion to close the United States' Digital Divide. Innovative award winning telecom, GeoLinks, headquartered in Camarillo, California, received a total of $87.8M to expand rural internet in California and Nevada, making it the largest auction winner in the state of California, and 5th largest winner in the nation overall. Ousting big telcos such as Verizon, Frontier, and AT&T, this is the first time the largest winner of CAF in California has been an independent operator and not an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC).
"GeoLinks' founding mission is to close the U.S. Digital Divide," said GeoLinks Co-Founder and CEO Skyler Ditchfield. "With this promise of capital from the FCC, GeoLinks will be able to further expand our network into rural areas of both California and Nevada, ultimately providing more than 11,000 rural locations with Internet at 100 megabits per second. We are excited that this new infrastructure will also reduce the cost of bringing high speed broadband access to anchor institutions such as Schools, Libraries, Hospitals, and Community Colleges. You can expect to see GeoLinks fully close the digital divide in California in these areas in the next 2-3 years with the help of our corporate partner the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC). From the beginning it was expected to see the incumbent providers take home big portions of the total fund. However, I am absolutely thrilled that our company, a mid-sized ISP with true rural beginnings, was able to secure the largest grant in CA and be in the top 5 nationally. Not only does this secure a bright future for the rural communities we will service, but it also allows our company to have a secure future and bring more jobs into our local economy."
As stated by Chairman Ajit Pai in the FCC's formal release, the successful conclusion of this first-of-its kind auction is great news for the residents of these rural communities, who will finally be able to share in the 21st-century digital opportunities that broadband provides. By tapping the mechanisms of the marketplace, the CAF II auction served as the most appropriate and cost-effective way to allocate funding for broadband in these unserved communities, bringing the highest-quality broadband services to the most consumers at the lowest cost to the ratepayer.
"As part of its efforts to promote ubiquitous broadband access for all Americans, the FCC created the CAF II auction to enable Internet service providers to build and maintain infrastructure in unserved areas throughout the US," commented GeoLinks' General Counsel and VP of Government Affairs and Education Melissa Slawson. "I am elated to see that a capable company of our size was granted substantial funding to further propel our mission connect rural California, Nevada, and beyond."
More information is available at https://www.fcc.gov/auction/903. A map of winning bids is available at https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/caf2-auction903-results/
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact Lexie Olson at [email protected].
GeoLinks
Headquartered in Southern California, GeoLinks is the Fastest Growing Telecom in California and a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) public utility, nationally awarded for its innovative Internet and Digital Voice solutions. Ranked in both 2017 and 2018 as one of Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in America on the Inc. 5000, GeoLinks delivers Enterprise-Grade Internet, Digital Voice, SD-WAN, Cloud On-ramping, Layer 2 Transport, and both Public and Private Turnkey Network Construction expertly tailored for businesses and Anchor Institutions nationwide.
GeoLinks' accelerated success is largely due to its flagship product, ClearFiber™, which offers dedicated business-class Internet with unlimited bandwidth, true network redundancy, and guaranteed speeds reaching up to 10 Gbps. Named "Most Disruptive Technology" in the 2018 Central Coast Innovation Awards, GeoLinks' ClearFiber™ network is backed by a carrier-grade Service Level Agreement boasting 99.999% uptime and 24/7 in-house customer support. With an average installation period of 4 to 7 days, GeoLinks is proud to offer the most resilient and scalable fixed wireless network on the market.
Recognized as a thought-leader in closing the digital divide, GeoLinks proudly sits on an array of national boards, coalitions, and working groups including the Schools, Healthcare & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), the Broadband Consortium of the Pacific Coast (BCPC), and the FCC's Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee's (BDAC) Streamlining Federal Siting Working Group.
More about Connect America Fund Phase II Auction:
A total of 103 providers ultimately won support in the CAF II auction to expand broadband across 45 states. The funding, which will be distributed over the next 10 years, will connect 53% of all rural homes and businesses with broadband download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second. 19% will have gigabit service available. And 711,389 locations—all but 0.25%—will have at least 25 Mbps service available.
Lexie Olson, [email protected]
Tags: CAF II, California, Connect America Fund, Digital Divide, FCC, GeoLinks, Melissa Slawson, Rural Internet, Skyler Ditchfield
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As I sit here and type this, I can remember exactly what I was doing at this exact moment 8 years ago. I had been started on pitocin 27 hours previous and had been in active labor going on 18 hours. I was done. I was exhausted. I couldn't dilate past a 7. I just wanted this stubborn baby out. We didn't know what we were having. We decided to make our first pregnancy that much more exciting and not find out, to all of our family and friends dismay. I was sure it was a boy. Most everyone else was sure it was a girl. A boy, Bryce Jeffrey. A girl Ryann Moranda. By midnight on Mother's Day, I had officially had enough. When the nurse said I could possibly be dilated to a 9 and another nurse checked and confirmed I was still a 7, I was over it. The epidurals hadn't worked for me either so I was feeling it all. By 1am my heart rate jumped and the babies dropped and a c-section it was. I was in so much pain from the spinal, I told the anthologist I may just pass out. He said that was fine, I could. Um...no! I didn't know what we were having! When Bryce came screaming in to this world, I remember the Dr was shocked that we didn't know what it was. He held him up, covering the boy parts and then moved his hand. I remember Steven saying, "Its a boy!". I said, "I know!" (because I always had that feeling). We took a quick picture with him, I looked at his sweet smushed face and I passed out.
8 years later, this boy has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. He gives me so many firsts. In his first 3 years, he was his Daddys sidekick. He was always silly and always screaming, even just for fun. He's loud and loves to make anyone laugh. He will do anything for a laugh. He's gentle and soothing and sweet, other than to Jake. He and Jake have a love/hate relationship. They fight constantly, but are completely lost without each other. Bryce is smart. Things come to him easily. Its hard watching him not put effort in to things because he knows he can just do it and you know that if he put a little more effort in to it, he could be amazing, but he doesn't need to be amazing in his world, he already is and I love that about him.
Bryce has been a source of strength, forgiveness and understanding in this short life of his that has dealt him some major blows. He continues to move forward with an opinion, a voice and a light heart.
I love this kid beyond words. He made me a mom. He is a spitting image of his Dad, and he loves unconditionally. I look forward to the next 8 years with him, although the thought of him being 16 in 8 years scares the crap out of me. Taking it day by day with this kid. He blows my mind and I love every bit of it.


text:
Joy renewal
by Mark House | Apr 11, 2021 | Joy, renew, U2
As I stepped into rediscovering Joy, it is not a surprise it is related to creating things. Raised in a family of tinkerers, I was always in the process of either building something or helping someone build something. The wonder of imagining something that hadn't existed before was something that was second nature with my Dad, having built things even in his youth out of scraps around his house. He constructed model airplanes, and by the time I came along, that had progressed into "Radio Controlled" which were typically built very "solid" – read that as ugly 😉 But he absolutely loved the sleek form of the airplane that accidentally came to prominence in the 60's…
.. the long wings designed to fly in very thin air, 80,000 feet above the earth. Thought to be high enough to avoid missiles, it was a classified program until that turned out to not be true… and after being shot down, the world learned about the airplane called the U2. We had a plastic model that Dad and I built when I was little, and now he wondered whether he could build a scale version of it to fly. We used calipers to measure the small dimensions, and then slowly constructed a version that had an 8-foot wingspan. We painted it white, which actually made it almost impossible to see when it was airborne…
The last member of U2 for us to meet is Adam Clayton who was the first "musician" in the band. As they were just starting out, it was known that he "owned a bass and amplifier", and was invited to join. He used words like "fret" and "action", and they were all convinced that he knew what he was talking about, until someone figured out he was playing the wrong notes 😉 No matter – remember that really all of U2's members were not natural musicians when they started out. It is interesting that he and Larry really supported each other as they both got progressively better and provided the exact foundation for both The Edge and Bono to ride on top of.
On the Joshua Tree, the trip across the US before recording was particularly important to Adam. "The desert was immensely inspirational to us as a mental image for this record. Most people would take the desert on face value and think it's some kind of barren place, which of course is true. But, in the right frame of mind it's also a very positive image, because you can actually do something with a blank canvas, which is effectively what the desert is." The track for today was started as an "up-tempo" rock song, to bring some energy to the album. Bono wanted an actual "rock star" break from The Edge, and kept ratcheting up pressure, even kidding him that he was better on guitar. It was light-hearted, and it changed the session into a Joyful one that got this in mostly one take.
Dad had amazing Joy when he was on the flying field. The natural conversations with his friends about building, flying, debugging the models was where I saw him renewed and at his best. He was generous with his time, and helped countless people take the leap into building their first airplanes, and helped many learn how to fly by slowly mentoring them by standing behind them with his arms around them guiding the sticks. And the ratio of flying time to talking time was about 10 to 1 😉 but you could tell it was something that was just naturally Joyful in every aspect. He had found what he was looking for.
Sunday's were days we spent in different places and approaches for renewal. Church was non-negotiable, and I am still thankful that such a standard was in place. And, we would normally then load up the van with all of the equipment for an afternoon at the Flying Field. To fly safely, you would have to be far away from people and buildings, so it was normally a long drive out to an area where there would be a long grass strip mowed. We would park, and set up the tent, and get ready for mostly an afternoon of talking, punctuated with some fun minutes watching things that had been built on earth take flight.
This track is a good reminder of the pure Joy and renewal that is still available. Where do you regularly renew your own Joy? Is it away from the city, or close in with coffee shops and friends? Either way, as we wrap up this short treatment of Joy and the band whose name means different things to different people. For today what would help U 2 renew – In God's Country.
renewing Powerfully


text:
#include <linux/module.h>

#include <asm/bootinfo.h>

#include <loongson.h>

unsigned long cpu_clock_freq;
EXPORT_SYMBOL(cpu_clock_freq);
unsigned long memsize, highmemsize;

#define parse_even_earlier(res, option, p)				\
do {									\
	unsigned int tmp __maybe_unused;				\
									\
	if (strncmp(option, (char *)p, strlen(option)) == 0)		\
		tmp = strict_strtol((char *)p + strlen(option"="), 10, &res); \
} while (0)

void __init prom_init_env(void)
{
	/* pmon passes arguments in 32bit pointers */
	int *_prom_envp;
	unsigned long bus_clock;
	unsigned int processor_id;
	long l;

	/* firmware arguments are initialized in head.S */
	_prom_envp = (int *)fw_arg2;

	l = (long)*_prom_envp;
	while (l != 0) {
		parse_even_earlier(bus_clock, "busclock", l);
		parse_even_earlier(cpu_clock_freq, "cpuclock", l);
		parse_even_earlier(memsize, "memsize", l);
		parse_even_earlier(highmemsize, "highmemsize", l);
		_prom_envp++;
		l = (long)*_prom_envp;
	}
	if (memsize == 0)
		memsize = 256;
	if (bus_clock == 0)
		bus_clock = 66000000;
	if (cpu_clock_freq == 0) {
		processor_id = (&current_cpu_data)->processor_id;
		switch (processor_id & PRID_REV_MASK) {
		case PRID_REV_LOONGSON2E:
			cpu_clock_freq = 533080000;
			break;
		case PRID_REV_LOONGSON2F:
			cpu_clock_freq = 797000000;
			break;
		default:
			cpu_clock_freq = 100000000;
			break;
		}
	}

	pr_info("busclock=%ld, cpuclock=%ld, memsize=%ld, highmemsize=%ld\n",
		bus_clock, cpu_clock_freq, memsize, highmemsize);
}


If I've been in a car accident, should I seek medical attention even if I don't feel injured?
Should I speak to the police after a car accident?
Should I speak to the other driver's insurance company and give them my medical information?
It is always recommended that those involved in all but the most minor types of car accidents seek medical attention in order to determine whether any physical damage has occurred. Many types of injuries commonly associated with car accidents, such as whiplash, may not be immediately noticeable, sometimes taking weeks before they become apparent.
If you would like to know more about what you should do following a car accident, please contact the San Diego auto accident attorneys of Ritter & Associates today at (619) 296-0123.
As long as you haven't suffered severe injuries, it is usually advisable to speak to the police after an auto accident. However, it is important to remember to try and stay as calm as possible and avoid placing blame. Stick to explaining the facts of what happened as accurately and precisely as you can. This can ultimately help the court make a decision based on objective information.
If you were involved in a car accident caused by another party's recklessness or negligence, contact the San Diego car accident lawyers of Ritter & Associates today at (619) 296-0123.
Absolutely not. If the other driver in your accident was at fault, it is their insurance company that will be paying your medical bills, and they will look for any and every opportunity to weaken your claim. All communication with the other driver's insurance company should be conducted by your own legal representative.
If you would like to know more about how you should deal with the other driver's insurance company, or for assistance with your car accident case, contact the San Diego car accident attorneys of Ritter & Associates today at (619) 296-0123.
If you or a loved one have been involved in an auto accident, please contact the attorneys of Ritter & Associates today today for help. Call us at (619) 296-0123 to discover more about your legal options.
Learn more about your rights regarding auto accidents on our auto accident practice area page.