While some questions surrounding Obamacare remain unresolved heading into 2019, more Virginians will be eligible for health care coverage courtesy of the state's Medicaid expansion, and the ACA marketplace will have a new provider, Virginia Premier, available to metro Richmond residents.
The most profound impact will come from Medicaid expansion, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam in June. It goes into effect on Jan. 1 and will make Medicaid coverage available for 300,000 to 400,000 more people.
Under current guidelines, Medicaid coverage is unavailable in Virginia to adults without children, nor to people with disabilities with income of more than $9,700. Coverage for 2019 will be open to adults with no children in the household and who have an income of no higher than $16,754 (that's about 138 percent of the poverty level). It also expands coverage to people with disabilities who have an income of no more than $16,754. Income-level restrictions are adjusted by household size.
The Medicaid expansion will also provide coverage to Virginians who went without health insurance because they made too little (below the poverty level) to be eligible to purchase coverage through the ACA marketplace.
There will be work training and education requirements, but those have yet to be announced. You can check on whether you would be eligible for coverage and find additional information at coverva.org.
Peter Cunningham, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor of health and behavior policy, says it would be hard to imagine another piece of legislation that would have as significant an impact on health care. "What it means is we are going to see several hundred thousand people who currently don't have health insurance to be enrolled in Medicaid," he says.
Funding for the expansion is 90 percent federal dollars with a 10 percent state match. Hospitals with acute care facilities will be taxed to provide the match, with exemptions for VCU and for the University of Virginia's hospital. Hospitals are expected to roughly break even as the expansion is expected to result in fewer uninsured people and more paying patients at their facilities.
Cunningham says the expansion could lead to a 30 percent increase in Medicaid enrollment in Virginia over the next couple of years, which could lead to more demand for services of primary and behavioral health care, but there may not be enough providers available in some portions of the state, such as southwest Virginia, says Cunningham.
Free and low-cost clinics are trying to determine the impact of the Medicaid expansion on their service populations.
"We will continue to serve those who do not qualify for Medicaid and evaluate the best way for Health Brigade to serve in the future once Medicaid is fully rolled out in Virginia," she says.
The nonprofit health care center Daily Planet estimates that approximately 37 percent of its patients, about 2,700 people, would qualify for Medicaid coverage under the expansion, according to Maureen Neal, COO for advancement. About 13 percent of those seeking care last year were covered by Medicaid. That number would rise to 50 percent counting the patients who would qualify under the expansion.
That scenario has multiple implications: More financial reimbursement for services, more people seeking additional services, and the need to find additional staffing and the ability to provide the services, she notes. It may be harder to find enough providers to work with the population, and also, Neal notes, the patients have had limited experience with health insurance and may need additional help from the social services staff in explaining benefits and procedures.
There are also changes in store for Virginia residents seeking Obamacare coverage in 2019.
Nationally, Republicans failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but tax reforms approved earlier in the year have affected ACA by ending cost-sharing payments to insurers and by eliminating the mandate that individuals must have health coverage or pay a penalty.
Those changes may exacerbate problems that are already occurring, with rising premiums and fewer providers from which to choose.
"I think there's a lot of concern about the viability of the marketplaces going forward," says Cunningham.
In much of metro Richmond, Cigna is the only provider offering ACA marketplace coverage in 2018. Virginia Premier has filed paperwork to enter the marketplace for 2019, marking its first entry into the individual plan market.
For 2019, Virginia Premier is partnering with VCU Health and Bon Secours Health System, and will offer a network that includes providers and facilities from both. It has filed plans to offer care to residents of the city and the counties of Amelia, Caroline, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan. It will include one gold plan, two silver plans and one bronze plan. Virginia Premier is owned by VCU and currently offers Medicare and Medicaid plans.
"We really wanted to create more access," says Linda Hines, CEO of Virginia Premier. The provider has taken a methodical approach to entering the market and will be starting small and assessing as they go. Hines says they didn't want to make a big initial splash only to have to scale back coverage later. They may eventually expand their individual policy offerings, she says.
Potential providers must have their plans approved by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and by the Virginia Bureau of Insurance. Healthinsurance.org takes a deeper dive into the state of Virginia's ACA marketplace.


What Vacuum Cleaner Do Professionals Use?
Whatever room in the house, office or workspace you may be looking to clean, there's no doubting that a good vacuum cleaner can tackle high levels of dirt both indoors and outdoors. However, you may be looking to upgrade your current machine to one that provides a deeper clean.
There are multiple things to take into account when purchasing a new vacuum cleaner, including the price, brand and even cable length. But what vacuum cleaners do professionals use and how can you use them in your home?
With a massive 20L capacity and stainless steel bin to house both wet and dry materials, the Sealey industrial vacuum cleaner is a great option for professionals to use when cleaning both inside and outdoors.
The filters on this machine can be easily changed depending on the intended usage, and the robust features allow it to be quieter than most other devices on the industry market. This machine can also clear heavy duty items like leaves and dirt when used externally.
Despite being commonly known for their amusing design, the Numatic range of machines are also a popular choice for cleaning professionals.
Also known as the 'Henry hoover', the Numatic vacuum cleaner has a compact and lightweight design that can easily be transported around various rooms. It also features an efficient filtration system that allows less energy consumption; enabling you to save money on utility bills when completing a large cleaning job.
Although it's one of the more expensive vacuum cleaners available, the Nilfisk GM80 is an excellent option for industry professionals.
Its' light aluminium design makes transportation easy, and the exhaust air is located at a higher point to avoid dust disturbance below the machine; which is extremely useful if you're vacuuming a dirty and unclean area.
Red vacuum cleaner cleaning a carpet.
The ability to clean both wet and dry areas comes naturally to the JCB 70130 and the 1.5m anti crush hose permits it to be used in more rugged outdoor areas.
This vacuum cleaner also has a 5m cable length and 8m cleaning radius, which allows you to use the machine over a wide area without the need for constantly switching from plug socket to another power supply.
Unlike the other machines we've listed in this article, the SEBO vacuum cleaner has an upright design and is powered by a twin motor.
The lightweight design allows the machine to be used for long periods of time; an essential feature for many professional vacuums. The motorised brush included in the composition also 'fluffs-up' the carpet you're cleaning, making it look brand new.
As you can see, there are a number of machines that work well for professional cleaners, many of which are available at glotech.co.uk. If your current machine isn't up to scratch, you may want to consider one of these high quality alternatives or booking a repair to asses why your current vacuum cleaner isn't working effectively.


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Loggerheads
PG13, 1 hr.30 min.
Art House & International , Drama , Romance
Directed By: Tim Kirkman
In Theaters: Jan 21, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Mar 21, 2006
Loggerheads Reviews
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Emotionally captivating and beautifully told story that any person (gay or straight) should see with their parent(s), whether adopted or biological. The movie tells its story in 3 parts simultaneously, set a couple years apart each. The slow build is as beautiful as the scenery. Easily one of the best indies I've ever seen.
Love M
A meandering tone that unfolds delicately with a cast to compliment it. 23/8/2013
Tony B
A decent little Indy film, but nothing to rush out to rent.
Sheila C
Deft interweaving of 3 connected stories, deeply moving
This movie was compelling and real.
Gregory K
Tim Kirkman, the director, whom I've worked with countless times on television productions, has such a wonderful little movie here. It's a very subtle. Believable performances. I liked it quite a bit! Well done, Tim haha
Lewis P
Slow-paced like a turtle *** This review may contain spoilers *** At the beginning of 'Loggerheads', we're introduced to three pairs of seemingly unrelated characters. To make matters even more confusing, we're informed (via titles on the screen) that the action is taking place in three separate time lines (between the years 1999 and 2001). It takes a great deal of time but eventually we come to see how the three pairs are related: Mark Austin, a young man in his 20s, gay and HIV Positive is estranged from his conservative parents, Elizabeth and Rev. Robert Austin. Mark is now a drifter and arrives in Kure Beach, North Carolina, a seaside town, where he meets George (sensitively played by Michael Kelly), a gay motel owner and they eventually become involved with each other. Meanwhile, Mark's birth mother, Grace (played by Bonnie Hunt) has come to the point in her life where she has decided to find the son she gave up for adoption when she was 17. Similarly, Mark's adoptive mother, also has decided to track her estranged son as she misses him (despite the misgivings of her homophobic minister husband). 'Loggerheads' we're told is based on a true story and that perhaps is its Achilles Heel. Director/Writer Tim Kirkman tries too hard to create scenes fraught with dramatic tension where there is very little to be found. Take Mark and George?they're both sensitive souls who have little to disagree about. There's some slight tension when Grace faces off against an Adoption Agency Director who is forbidden by law to give her any information about her lost son as well as a slight conflict with her mother who denies that she disapproved of her when she became pregnant as a teenager. No sparks fly either between Elizabeth and Robert since the good Reverend has adamantly insisted from the beginning that he has no intention of reconciling with his son. 'Loggerheads' is similar to 'Brokeback Mountain' in that the gay couple are the good guys and the straight males (for example, the Kure Beach cop and the Reverend) are the baddies. The biggest letdown of the movie is that there is no interaction (and hence no dramatic conflict) between Mark and either one of his 'mothers'. Mark is already dead before either the birth or adoptive mother has a chance to reconcile with him. Kirkman's theme is both a plea for tolerance and an exhortation for family members to express their heartfelt feelings before it's too late! Kirkman's sentiments are for the most part well-intentioned but they do not make for good drama. Loggerheads moves along at a snail's pace without providing any new revelations (or suspense) regarding such topics as AIDS, Adoption and Homophobia. Ultimately 'Loggerheads' fails due to its slow pacing.
Mareen K
Beautiful movie because of a great screenplay, wonderful actors and not least because of it being filmed and set in North Carolina, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Björn C
A subject that is close to my heart, this movie was good and emotionally destructive.
Salonikios V
that's an exceptional movie!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Executive offices for lease, 5 to choose from, 4 are 12 x 13 and 1 is 13 x 13 and includes a conference room and kitchen. Price includes utilities.
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Saturday March 1 2014
Mazzola: 'Close the Juventus Stadium'
Sandro Mazzola, whose father died in the Superga tragedy, believes the Juventus Stadium "should be closed for a year" after offensive banners.
The Bianconeri only received a €25,000 fine when two banners were shown during the Turin Derby mocking the air crash that killed the Grande Torino squad on May 4 1949.
The players were returning from a friendly in Lisbon when their plane crashed into the Superga Basilica in the hills around Turin, killing all 31 on board, including Valentino Mazzola.
"I say that stadium should be closed for a year, maybe even forever. Only in Italy can these things happen," blasted Mazzola on Radio Kiss Kiss.
"People then forget everything and stop talking about it. I am still furious. The Disciplinary Commission punished those banners with a fine of only €25,000. It's ridiculous and shameful.
"I want to underline the Juventus directors had nothing to do with it. We must punish those who showed those banners, but also those who stood next to them and allowed it to happen without lifting a finger.
"I met Brazilian journalists who told me only Il Grande Torino came close to playing on a par with the Brazilian teams."
Sandro Mazzola spent his entire career at Inter, winning the European Cup twice, while he won the Euro 1968 trophy and helped Italy finish second in the 1970 World Cup.
Il Grande Torino are considered to be one of the best teams in football history, winning the Scudetto five years in a row and forming most of the Italy squad at the time.
Highlights: Torino 0-0 Spezia
Liveblog: Serie A Wk18 Saturday
Cairo stands by Giampaolo
Giampaolo: 'Torino incapable of creating'


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O-Zone: Believability
John Oehser
Jaguars Senior Writer
JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Wade is Woke from Westside
The season has not turned out like many had expected or hoped. Should we expect some sort of changes this offseason? Maybe on the coaching level or higher up? Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Sounds like the Jaguars in a nutshell.
This premise is intriguing. While many Jaguars observers certainly hoped they would contend this season, did many really expect that? Really? This was a team that won four games over the past two seasons and by any measure had a depleted roster that had to begin rebuilding. Head Coach Doug Pederson was entering his first season with the organization. Not only did he have to implement a culture to move on from the mess that was the Jaguars under former Head Coach Urban Meyer, players had to grow and gain experience in a new offensive system. And quarterback Trevor Lawrence had to continue to grow and develop in that system. The Jaguars are on pace to win five or six games this season. I expected them to win six or seven, and many local media projected about the same. While Pederson wanted to win more games, I don't believe deep down he is shocked that they have struggled at times in his first season. The encouraging thing is that the Jaguars in Pederson's first season have been close contending – closer than many believe. They absolutely squandered an opportunity or two – or three – to be at or about .500. They weren't close to that last season. Or the season before. As for potential coaching/front office changes … I don't sense they're happening because my sense is the approach will be that the Jaguars were in the first season of a rebuild this past season and that development/growth is happening. I could be wrong. The Jaguars have played 12 games. The NFL season lasts 17 games. We're not at a time where changes are likely yet.
Brendan from Yulee, FL
I posted awhile back stating the flaws I see in Josh Allen's game this season. After a few more games, it's safe to say I am proven right. I consider Allen to be a major disappointment this year. What do you see as the biggest disappointment/whiff of the Jaguars in 2022?
Outside linebacker John Allen's certainly up there in terms of this question. I expected him to be a force defensively, and I expected him to play at a Pro Bowl level. I expected him to approach double-digit sacks. He expected the same things and they haven't happened. I think some of it may be a confidence issue and a matter of pressing too hard because I think he has been better than this in the past. I could be wrong about that, too. I'm often wrong.
John from Cape May Court House
With all these questions concerning the failure of first-round defensive picks, I remember a wise man once saying: Draft offense, buy defense. Wait … I was that wise man. That is all. As you were.
There's some truth in those wise words. It's sometimes a little more likely to find help in spots in free agency defensively than offensively. But perhaps that wise man also realized that the reality is it's better to draft everything. Free agency in the NFL far more often than not is fool's gold. We see it time and again, and yet every offseason we forget. Alas, I say. Alas.
Original Paul from Saint Johns
I guess there is another Paul in Saint Johns. I'll have to create an Alia's going forward.
Ya gotta do you, I guess. Whoever you are.
Marcus from Jacksonville
Every year there is a reason to push off expectations another year. A new quarterback and head coach in 2021, a new coach and scheme in '22. Now it appears a rebuilt defense will be the reason in '23 why we shouldn't expect much until '24. Guess we'll have to wait until then to figure out why we need to wait until '25 and beyond.
I expect the Jaguars to be improved next season and to have a real chance to contend for the postseason. I expect defense to be an offseason issue and for there to be changes. I don't have a feel the extensiveness or nature of those changes.
Ben from Cuba, MO
Is it easier, in your opinion, to build a consistent 3-4 defense or 4-3 defense? Would you picture Walker as a better rushing linebacker or hand on the ground defensive end in a 4-3 scheme?
It's easiest to build a defense when you select and sign good players – particularly good and impactful players on the defensive front. I can picture Travon Walker playing really well with his hand on the ground.
RAF from PVB
We beat the Los Angeles Chargers soundly. We're not that good. The Detroit Lions kicked our butts. We're not that bad. Right now, we are like a majority of NFL teams in that we are not good enough to win consistently this year. The difference between us and that majority of .500-and-below teams is we have quarterback Trevor Lawrence and they don't. We may not win another game all year, or we may win them all because this is the NFL. Of course, it's more likely we finish somewhere in between, and then it's 2023 and we have Trevor and they don't.
Lawrence is the key. If he is developing as well as he appears to be developing, then the Jaguars' offense should continue improving as it appears to be improving this season. If that happens, the Jaguars should be competitive and allow the team to build around him. That's not to say he's everything, but he can – and should – be the main foundation piece.
Frank from St. Augustine, FL
The irony of Griffin's bad back. Any chance we can get two first-rounders for him? Maybe trade him to the Rams?
I guess there's some irony to Jaguars cornerback Shaq Griffin having the same injury that tragically ended former Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey's time with the Jaguars. The Jaguars can't get two first-round selections for Griffin. I doubt they will be able to trade him to the Rams or anyone else.
Dave from Chorley, UK
So, this is my 10th season as a Jags fan. As much as the losing seasons make it hard sometimes to be a fan, I remain glad I picked the Jags because the fan base I have spoken to over the years has made being a Jags fan a joy. What make being a Jags fan hard though is seeing the consistent ability to get be inconsistent. One week, we turn up to play; the next week, nobody's home. Even in 2017 we went on a run of win a game, lose a game. The common theme of Khan's ownership has been inconsistency and all we have to show is the "2017 season" and year after year of silver lining victories with the most recent one being that we are "keepers by games close." How can we get up this "inconsistent play" hump that has plagued us for so long?
Lawrence can continue to improve, the offense can get better around him and the players drafted in recent offseasons can develop into core players. Then the Jaguars can continue to draft and develop and supplement – key word: supplement – the drafted players in free agency. That's the way.
Allen from St C
Not a football question; where's Ashlyn?
Working Philadelphia Flyers pre- and post-game for NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Kay from Jax
What do you make of Coach P's comments about needing to fly in Sunday, treat away games as business trips and get rid of the distractions? This team has a lot of flaws right now (particularly on defense) but I hadn't had the impression that lack of focus or low effort was among their issues, especially coming off a big win against the Ravens. Was this team out partying and looking past their opponent? With 4 wins all season?
I think Pederson was asked about this after a frustrating road loss and said something sort of vague about treating road games like business trips. I don't get the idea that lack of focus or energy on road trips is a trend for this team, and the Jaguars weren't "out partying" Saturday before the Detroit Lions last Sunday. That's almost impossible to do on Saturday night on the road, with all players required to be in team meetings and in their rooms at a very reasonable times.
Mario from West Kelowna, BC
Zone. Do you realize how much power you hold over all these readers who believe every single word you say? How do we know that? Because they get mad at you when your words don't materialize. Stop letting people down All Powerful King Of All Funk!
I am the king of all funk.
O-Zone: So far, so good
Senior writer John Oehser answers your questions.
O-Zone: Different times
O-Zone: Fun times
O-Zone: Big Sky Jags
O-Zone: No fatigue
O-Zone: Toasty
O-Zone: Easy to like
O-Zone: Turn, turn, turn
O-Zone: Looking ahead
📧 O-Zone Late Night: Chiefs 27, Jaguars 20
Senior writer John Oehser answers all your questions after the Jaguars 27-20 AFC Divisional Playoff game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs
O-Zone: Every single time
Article | O-Zone Podcast: Walker Little
Jaguars LT Walker Little joined senior writer John Oehser for this week's 2022 Divisional Playoff O-Zone Podcast: "It has been a really special end of the year and beginning of the new year; this team has been so much fun to be a part of and I've been really happy to play a role in it…"


The refined table sugar we now consider a staple was once so rare and expensive it was called "white gold". Sugar cane, which was the first source of sugar, is a perennial grass that originated in Asia but is now grown in tropical and subtropical areas. (Before the arrival of sugar cane, honey and fruit were the only sweeteners.) During the Napoleonic war, when the supply of cane sugar was cut off, the development of an alternative source of sugar was discovered, beets. The sugar derived from these two sources is 99.8% pure sucrose, a complex sugar composed of glucose and fructose. There is some dispute as to which type of sugar is best, sugar cane or sugar beet. The fact is the refining process for both types now produces sugars of equal quality.
When using sugar most people think of it only as a sweetener. For example, adding a teaspoon to your coffee or sprinkling a little over strawberries. But when sugar is used in baking its role becomes more complex as it also adds volume, tenderness, texture, color, and acts as a preservative.
When a recipe calls for creaming together the fat and sugar this is not simply a way of mixing these two ingredients together. The purpose of doing this step is to get air into the batter. This mixing causes the sugar granules to rub against the fat producing air bubbles in the fat. Later when the leavener is added, the leavening gases enlarge these air bubbles and cause the batter to rise when place in the oven. The length of time you cream the butter with the sugar determines the amount of air incorporated into the batter.
Sugar also attracts moisture in the batter which reduces the amount of gluten formed in the flour. The result of this is twofold. First, less gluten in the batter produces a baked good with a more tender crumb. Hence, recipes that contain a high sugar content produce a baked good with a more tender crumb Second, because not as much gluten is formed, the batter will be lighter. When baked, the batter will be able to rise more and the result will be a baked good with more volume.
The ability of sugar to hold moisture also prolongs the shelf life of baked goods. Liquid sugars hold more moisture than other types of sugars. Just as brown sugar will hold more moisture than granulated white sugar.
You may have wondered why batters brown in the oven. The browning is the result of the sugar reacting with the protein in other ingredients (eggs, milk) when heated. The higher the sugar content the darker the crust.
There are different types of sugar and the size of the granules can differ. Sugars vary in color from white to dark brown depending on the amount of molasses added during processing. The size of the sugar crystal affects the amount of air that can be incorporated into the batter during the creaming of the sugar and fat. For example, granulated sugar will incorporate more air into the batter than confectioner's sugar. The size of the crystal will also affect how quickly the sugar will dissolve in the batter. Therefore confectioner's sugar will dissolve quicker in the batter than granulated sugar.
White sugar is a refined sugar derived from sugar cane and sugar beets. It is sold in many granule sizes ranging from superfine to coarse.
Granulated white sugar or table sugar has fine to medium-sized granules and is the sugar most often used in recipes. Try to find one where the crystals are not too large as they do differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. When heated granulated white sugar takes on a toffee-like color and flavor.
Superfine (castor or caster) sugar is granulated white sugar that has superfine granules and is good for making meringues as it dissolves rapidly. You can make your own by processing granulated sugar in your food processor for a few seconds.
Coarse (decorators or pearl) sugar is granulated white sugar that has been processed into small, round grains that are larger than the grains of granulated sugar. They are typically used for garnishing baked goods.
Crystal sugar is like coarse sugar except the crystals are pellet shaped.
Confectioners, powdered or icing sugar is granulated sugar that has been ground to a powder with cornstarch added to prevent lumping and crystallization. It comes in 4X, 6X and 10X but 10X is the one generally found in stores. 10X means that the granulated sugar has been processed ten times. Confectioners sugar is used in meringues, icings, confections, and some sweet pastry.
Invert sugar is mainly used for commercial purposes and is produced by heating cane or beet sugar with a small amount of acid, such as tartaric acid. It comes in syrup form and is used in cake and candy making. Invert sugar gives baked goods: added sweetness and crust color, prolongs shelf-life, and when used in icings it produces added smoothness.
Brown sugar is a refined sugar that varies in color from light to dark brown and has a full-bodied flavor and soft moist texture. In the past brown sugar was semi-refined white sugar where some of the natural molasses was left in. Now brown sugar is made by adding molasses back into refined white sugar. The color will depend on the amount of molasses added during processing of the sugar. The darker the color the stronger the taste so use the one you like the best. The same weight of brown and white sugars has the same sweetness. Because white sugar is denser than brown sugar, to get equal sweetness firmly pack the brown sugar so when inverted the cup of brown sugar will hold its shape. Substituting brown sugar for white sugar in a recipe will produce a baked good that is a little moister with a slight butterscotch flavor.
Brown sugar has the tendency to lump and become hard. To avoid this, store in a glass jar or plastic bag in a cool dry place. If is becomes hard, soften it by placing a slice of apple in a plastic bag along with the brown sugar for a few days. You can also sprinkle a few drops of water on it and seal in plastic bag for a few days.
Raw Sugar is what is left after processing the sugar cane to remove the molasses and refine the white sugar. In North America raw sugar is actually not "raw" as it has been partially refined to remove any contaminants. The color is similar to light brown sugar but it's texture is grainier.
Demerara sugar is a raw sugar that has been purified. It comes from Guyana and is a dry, coarse-textured amber sugar that has a toffee-like flavor.
Muscovada or Barbados sugar is another raw sugar that has been purified. It has a finer grain that Demerara and very moist. Its color ranges from light to dark brown and it has a strong molasses taste.
Turbinado sugar is a raw sugar that has been steam cleaned. It is light brown in color and coarse grained, with a slight molasses flavor.
- Place a slice of apple in the plastic bag with the brown sugar. Seal and leave for a couple of days until the brown sugar softens. Remove the apple.
- Place about one cup of hard brown sugar in a microwave proof dish, cover, and microwave for 30 seconds to one minute, or until softened.
- Place brown sugar on a baking sheet and bake in a 250 degree F (120 degree C) oven for about 5 minutes, or until soft.


Why Mentoring Is Good for You!
Those of us who have had great mentors are quick to attest to the many benefits. Being mentored made us feel more grounded and confident, it helped us gain clarity, focus, and direction. So I love connecting people with potential mentors, because I know how valuable it is to be mentored.
However, I have yet to have someone reach out to me to be a mentor. Now as someone who has made a career out of being a mentor, I want to share with you why I think mentoring others is good for you!
#1 Build Your Legacy: There is so much we learn in our lives and careers, passing your experience and expertise on to another is just one of the things you can do to build your own legacy.
#2 Sharing is Caring: Just as it is wise for organizations to maintain institutional wisdom, it is wise for you, as a professional, to share the knowledge and experience that can only be gained from walking the talk. Your first-hand experience is a rich source of learning for a potential mentee.
#3 Reinforcements: Sometimes we take for granted what we know and the expertise we have developed; having the opportunity to share what we know with others is often a good reminder of just how much we do know and how much we have to contribute to our profession.
#4 You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks: Sometimes we can forget that there is still more to learn about ourselves and our work. When we open ourselves up to share and teach others, we open ourselves up to learn and understand more about ourselves and our work.
#5 Be of Service: There is a significant amount of fulfillment I experience when I am serve others. It is unlike any other experience. It is the "selfish" part of generosity; it just feels good to do something for someone else. So be generous with your time and experience, it'll earn you some serious karma points.
So go out there and find a mentee! Don't let age or experience get in your way. Everyone has something to share, and everyone has something to learn.
Have you found that one mentor who meets all of your developmental needs?
I have had lots of mentors throughout my life that have shaped both my personal and professional development. And as I get older and my career evolves, I continue to have a need for mentors.
However, finding the right mentor can be hard!
Fortunately, technology is not only making it easier to connect with potential mentors, but also changing our understanding of mentoring all together. Traditionally, mentors were found at work, and as subordinates, we had limited access to them in addition to potential conflicts of interests.
E-mentoring has been around for a while, but in recent years it has begun to evolve. Today we can utilize a wide range of technology to assist each other to grow and learn in a safe and supportive mentoring relationship.
Today, organizations use sophisticated mentoring software programs, like Chronos or Insala, to match mentors and mentees. These programs allow the mentor and mentee to write profiles and review potential matches. This has helped mentees play a much larger role in the selection of their mentor, as well as facilitated better matches.
These types of websites are creating a new culture of sharing and learning among new and seasoned professionals. Now as mentees you can cast a wider net and interact with people you might not otherwise have access to as mentors. It also creates a much more democratic and transparent selection and matching process.
Not only is the mentee is in the driver's seat in the selection and matching process, but also by having a mentor external from your workplace the power and politic dynamics are removed.
To take it a step further, now social network sites like LinkedIn create an "anytime, anywhere, anyone" mentoring environment. As a mentee, you can access a vast pool of mentors, anytime, and from anywhere.
Create a profile that is searchable, professional, and personable. LinkedIn is not on "online resume" site, it is a "networking" site. Use the Background Summary to share your story, journey, and passion.
People want to know who you are as much as they want to know what you can do.
Use key search terms in your Professional Headline and in your Experience summaries. You want potential mentors (and employers) to be able find you too!
LinkedIn steers you in the direction of potential connections so use them. On both the Home and Profile page, LinkedIn offers you a list of People You May Know and People Who Have Viewed Your Profile.
Review the lists and reach out to people who you think may be great connections or mentors.
But don't just click connect! Make it personal. When you connect, you have the opportunity to personalize the message.
Just going through my connections and you came up as someone I may know. I've had a quick look at your profile ad I'd love to learn more about what you do.
PS Just go ahead and click "ignore" if you would rather not connect.
I see that you've viewed my profile. I love to connect with others in [insert field of interest]. Let's connect.
Don't ask for anything in the first correspondence! Just share relevant information, ask their opinion, and build up trust and rapport.
LinkedIn Groups are growing in number, activity, and access. With the number of groups available, you will be able to find a variety of groups to meet you diverse developmental needs or fields of interest.
LinkedIn Groups encourage and support peer interaction and learning when used effectively and consistently. These groups are a fantastic forum for informal mentoring which is casual and unstructured, situational, serendipitous, and self selected mentoring. They support some very rich and dynamic discussions that inspire learning and growth.
These type of interactions in LinkedIn groups can be as equally as effective as traditional mentoring relationships. But, finding the right group can be tricky!
Size Matters: Choose a Group that has a lot of members, this gives you a larger pool of mentors to draw from and is likely more active.
Activity Level: You want to be part of a Group that is engaged with one another. When you search a group, LinkedIn identifies the level of group activity by labeling it Active, Very Active, or lists the number of discussions the Group has had recently.
Discussion Quality: Unfortunately, there are lots of Groups that people just use for self-promotion. Avoid these Groups and target ones that are having great discussions and sharing information.
Once you have joined some Groups (10 makes you more searchable), jump in and start participating. Post questions, follow discussions, and offer feedback on shared resources.
Most importantly, share your knowledge and expertise. Don't limit yourself to being a mentee, you can also be a mentor.
You can also use Groups to make a 1:1 connection with a potential mentor. LinkedIn allows you to connect with other Group members so if and when you come across an individual who you think you could learn a lot from, reach out to them.
I just came across your profile in the [name of Group]. I've had a quick look at your profile ad I'd love to learn more about what you do.
What do you do once you've connected with someone?
Once someone has accepted your connection request from People You May Know, People Who Have Viewed Your Profile, or a Group, send a message to follow up and learn more about them.
Thank you for connecting here on LinkedIn. It is always great to connect with other [insert field of interest].
I like to learn as much as I can about the people in my LinkedIn network, and I also like to refer them business wherever possible.
So please let me know a little bit of information about you and what makes a good prospect for you so I can keep that in mind for potential referral opportunities.
Thanks again for connecting and I look forward to learning more about you and your business.
An effective mentoring relationship requires two people committed to learning and a mentee who is motivated and open to change. You will find a host of these people in your LinkedIn network and Groups.
E-mentoring has facilitated a new approach to mentoring that allows you to define your mentoring relationship. Now you can access mentors in real time and find solutions to challenges you are facing in the present.
You no longer have to limit yourself; you can have more than one mentor and custom design your mentoring needs with multiple mentors who meet your different learning needs.
LinkedIn fosters these connections and create endless possibilities to develop mentoring relationships virtually.
Want to know more about finding and selecting a mentor?
Watch my upcoming social media training LIVE online here!
On Sunday, the Breaking Bad series and saga of Walt White came to an end!
How would Jesse's twenties have been different had he never "re-connected" with Walter White?
Your twenties is an incredibly influential time in your life when you say goodbye to your childhood and tackle the complexity of adulthood. And not much different from High School, the people you surround yourself with has a huge impact on who you become and the career path you choose.
Jesse Pinkman was a standout favorite in the Breaking Bad series. The writers had prescribed his death for the end of season one, but because of his likeability and the talents of Aaron Paul he averted death. And he ultimately escaped death in the series finale, making fans across the globe happy to know his journey will continue.
Could Jesse have followed a different path, had a different teacher seen him fall from the roof that fateful day?
A mentor is a trusted adviser who shares their passion, expertise, and knowledge with another to ignite their passion. An ideal mentoring relationship would be a reciprocal learning relationship with mutual respect.
A great mentor will use your untapped potential to lead you towards a better path.
Walter was not a mentor, but a Machiavellian influence that robbed Jesse of all the things and people he loved at a time when his life could have gone in a different direction.
Machiavelli was a political theorist who wrote The Prince for Lorenzo de Medici in the 16th century. Machiavelli proposed political and military tactics for the Medici family to protect and maintain their wealth and power in Florence, Italy.
Today we identify Machiavellian leaders by their intense desire to maintain power by any means necessary including force, deceit and violence.
They are narcissistic and control and manipulate others, even those they love, if the result is a gain in power. Even at the cost of another's dignity and rights.
Machiavellian leaders have a low moral compass and focus on what works rather than what is right!
When Walt was Jesse Pinkman's chemistry teacher, he said that Jesse just needed to "apply himself". Walt used Jesse's untapped potential to further his own cause, pulling Jesse deeper into the drug trade and applying himself to a life of crime.
Obviously, it is unlikely you will have a mentor that has you running from Drug Kingpins and White Supremacists, but the point is that you can easily be guided by someone who has their own interest ahead of yours.
Lots of mentors enter into relationships with the best of intentions, but can fall short when they aren't committed to the relationship or do not enter into the relationship with a sense of equity.
So how do you avoid Walter White?
Establish clear expectations for the amount of time you both want to invest in the relationship.
Discuss the channels of communication you want to use.
Set SMART goals early in the relationship.
Monitor and evaluate the relationship as it progresses.
Find mentors and supporters who are going have your best interests in mind and are going to encourage you to be the best version of yourself. Don't waste your time with those who don't!
This question was posed by a young man I met last week at a conference to a room full of professionals.
1. Reach out to colleagues.
2. Try to make a connection with people you respect face to face or via Facebook.
Good advice, but I don't think either of us thought it was particularly new or groundbreaking. More importantly, I was fairly confident that it was something he had already tried or that it didn't address his need for support in the present.
All that being said, it was an excellent question! And it reinforced my belief that young people/professionals are looking for guidance and struggle to find it.
I know people who have successfully found mentors using any or all three of the above suggestions, and they've even worked for me and could work for you.
Yet, I think you can benefit most from drawing on your immediate circles, you know, those people who are already around and more readily available to offer their support and insight.
Perhaps it seems obvious, but it is easy to overlook those people who are a part of your everyday life. You may already have access to those best positioned to provide the perspective or solid advice you seek.
Mentors don't have to be people with title or prestige (but these people shouldn't be excluded),they might be a colleague, classmate, friend, professor or advisor, or perhaps a former youth leader or someone you've volunteered with before, or even family.
My mother is still one of my most valuable mentors, I've relied on her professional expertise most of my life. Her advice and support has gotten me through important job interviews, conflicts at work, and critical professional decisions.
So before you start sending out those emails to request those coffee meetings, I'd suggest you not stray too far from home and look to those with whom you are already connected.
They may just be waiting for you to ask!
Download 5 Quick Tips To Find a Mentor now!


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Home » World of Warcraft: Shadowlands announced at BlizzCon 2019
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands announced at BlizzCon 2019
By Chris Inglis November 4, 2019
Blizzard Entertainment's annual BlizzCon event, held in Anaheim, Los Angeles, was very well received this year with three major announcements to please fans around the world. The first two games announced, Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV, both look amazing in their own fields, and to round out the big three is the announcement of the eighth expansion to Blizzard's 15-year running MMORPG, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. True to the form Blizzard has come to be known, the cinematic trailer is an amazing one to behold.
Sylvanas Windrunner, fallen leader of the Horde, has pierced the veil between Azeroth and the realm of the dead, setting in motion a series of events that threaten to upset the cosmic balance between life and death. Azeroth's heroes will confront the wonders and horrors of the afterlife as they deal with the consequences of Sylvanas' actions.
Explore the realm of the dead
For the first time in World of Warcraft, cross into the Shadowlands, a realm of infinite afterlives where wonders and horrors abound. Five new zones will be added including Bastion, Ardenweald, Maldraxxus, Revendreth and the Maw, including a new player hub called Oribos, The Undying City. Oribos is the arrival point for all souls who enter the Shadowlands. At this crossroads, the dead are judged by the impassive Arbiter before being sent to their final destinations, and Oribos' denizens swap gossip and anima—soulstuff that serves as both power and currency.
Pledge yourself to a covenant and shape your destiny
The Covenants who hold dominion over the zones introduced in Shadowlands are eager to recruit Azeroth's champions. Each has unique story line and an array of powers they bestow upon those who pledge their cause. Choose between Bastion's valiant Kyrian or Revendreth's cunning Venthyr, fight for the mighty Necrolords of Maldraxxus, or seek renewal with the untamed Night Fae of Ardenweald. You'll gain access to your Covenant's Sanctum, where you'll accept unique quests, undertake a sprawling covenant campaign, and call upon your allies to embark on important missions. You'll also earn unique abilities based on your Covenant and class, acquire a unique mount and visual appearance, and forge bonds with powerful souls, drawing on their essence to further customize your skills.
Take on the boundless challenge of Torghast, Tower of the Damned
The vilest souls in existence are damned to suffer eternal torment in this horrific, otherworldly prison. Torghast is an endlessly replayable, ever-changing roguelike dungeon that you can challenge alone or in a group of up to five players. Your runs will differ each time, but you'll need to explore cautiously. Death comes at a terrible cost. Defeat enough of Torghast's unpredictable challenges, and you'll be rewarded with unique abilities and items to ensure your present survival or bolster your next run. The further you progress, the greater your likelihood of retrieving materials to craft the legendary weapons and armour that will help you restore balance to the Shadowlands.
Journey through a new levelling experience
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will smooth out the levelling experience and better prepare new adventurers for what's to come. The current max level of 120 will be 'squished' back down to level 50 upon release of Shadowlands. Players will level up to 10, at which point they can then choose which expansion content they would like to level up in, which I think is an awesome feature. Once at level 50, players will journey to the Shadowlands and progress to the new level cap of 60. Blizzard have adjusted the experience curve to make it faster than ever to prepare for the newest challenges, and each level along the way will provide more meaningful increases in progress and power. All expansion zones are getting more flexible, too; they'll be able to scale to you and your friends while you level to 50, so it's easy to try a zone you've never played.
All these features have been summarised in a great overview video.
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is now available for pre-purchase in-game and through the Blizzard Shop! For more information on Shadowlands, visit the official site.
Previous ArticleDiablo IV announced at BlizzCon 2019
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Chen Xiang was feeling no small pressure as he wanted to arrange a large array on his own. He remembered that some array grandmasters had a.s.sistants helping them in arranging the array. Last time, Xue Xianxian and Leng Youland cooperated together to arrange the array.
"Smelly Dragon, help me out a bit!" Chen Xiang only had Long Xueyi to help. Aside from the fact that she was quite powerful, she had sufficiently powerful divine sense, making her the best a.s.sistant.
Whereas, as inept as Su Meiyao and Bai Youyou were in arrays, they were quite intelligent. It was just that they were weak. Chen Xiang was worried for their safety.
As reluctant as Long Xueyi was, she still came out honestly under Chen Xiang's coercion and persuasion.
The wolf slave's eyes went wide with the sudden appearance of a twelve-year-old little girl. Long Xueyi scoffed tenderly at him as she said, "What are you looking at, quickly do what I say."
The wolf slave felt weird noticing that this cute little girl wasn't afraid of him. Chen Xiang nodded at him, indicating him to follow Long Xueyi's orders.
As such, the wolf slave started digging a designated place, whereat drawn were few symbols by Chen Xiang. All in all, a total of four deep pits had to be dug.
Chen Xiang wanted to arrange an illusion array here from the memories of four array grandmasters that could trap someone to death. The victim of the trap would encounter a maze once they entered the array, making it extremely difficult for them to get out. Whereas Chen Xiang could see everything clearly, and control the offensive array inside the illusion array to kill the victim. Of course, he could also attack the victim from the outside.
This array was huge. It was like a river across the dark forest canyon. Fortunately, the process of laying out the array wasn't that complicated.
The first thing that Chen Xiang had to do was engrave spirit patterns on the ground, which for him was quite easy. Chen Xiang dug many small crisscrossing tunnels under the ground by releasing a fair number of flame b.a.l.l.s and controlling them thereafter. These small tunnels were just large enough for a mouse to traverse.
In fact, these esoteric spirit patterns were precisely what const.i.tuted the array. However, neither Chen Xiang understood these spirit patterns nor did he knew how he should combine them, nevertheless, he knew that these spirit patterns were necessary of the array. So, he just copied them. An entire day had pa.s.sed after he was finished carving the spirit patterns under the ground at the center of the dark forest canyon.
Meanwhile, Long Xueyi had already dug four pits in accordance with the places marked by him. As Long Xueyi and the werewolf had worked together, they were faster than Chen Xiang.
Suddenly, glarings rays of light flashed in the pitch black forest. Whereupon, Chen Xiang took out a fair number of relatively bigger top-grade crystal stones and threw them to Long Xueyi before he spoke, "Draw the Spirit Qi out of these top-grade crystal stones and condense it into liquid form, and then, pour it inside those pits."
It was not that hard for Long Xueyi, on the contrary, it was boring. She let out a snort as she caught the spirit stones and made herself busy.
Chen Xiang was extra careful as this was his very first array and he didn't know whether it would work or not. He too took out a top-grade crystal stone quickly and extracted the pure Spirit Qi out. And then, he let the Spirit Qi in liquid form pa.s.s through those pits and into the spirit pattern tunnels that he had dug under the ground after having compressed a large amount of Spirit Qi into liquid form.
Those spirit patterns were no different than rat burrows, covering the entire ground in a crisscross network from underneath. Once these spirit patterns were filled with energy, the array would be half-way done.
This step was relatively faster; it was just that the consumption of the top-grade crystal stones was too much. After all the spirit patterns had been filled with a lot of Spirit Qi, Chen Xiang buried all the pits completely except for one, wherein he placed a relatively larger top-grade crystal stone as it was the base of the array.
Chen Xiang and the wolf slave left far away from here after having buried the final pit as well. As a matter of fact, the array was sort of one last step, which was activating this large array, for which, a major part of one's spirit had to be fused with the Spirit Qi inside those spirit patterns under the ground.
In line with those memories of the four array grandmasters, Chen Xiang released his divine sense and poured all of it into the array base at center, letting his divine sense flow into all the spirit patterns, and thereby controlling the Spirit Qi inside and compressing it together, and even integrating it as well!
This process was a lot harder than Chen Xiang had imagined because half of his divine sense had been consumed just at the beginning. However, his consumption of Spirit Qi slowly decreased a lot in the end and the array was gradually under his control.
"Finally!" said Chen Xiang, gazing at the front as he stood atop a tree.
As the large array was formed, the illusion array covered a large part of the dark forest canyon from the center. Meanwhile, Chen Xiang began to use his imagination to create a dreamland.
An illusion array was a very special kind of array. Anyone's mind would be affected once they entered the array's area of effect. Although everything encountered inside the array was created out of Chen Xiang's imagination, it would appear extremely real in the mind of the victim's, and therefore, the divine sense requirement for laying out an illusion array was very high.
Chen Xiang infused the scenes he had imagined into the array base. Now, as long as anyone entered the illusion array, they would encounter some non-existent things inside. And these things were all created from Chen Xiang's imaginations. The only reason why the victims would believe everything inside to be true was that their mind had encountered an attack, and as such, array master's consciousness would appear in their minds.
The dreamland that Chen Xiang had imagined had a beautiful blue sky, and a garden filled with all kinds of precious and rare herbs. It was extremely beautiful and had incredibly rich Spirit Qi. So long as anyone entered the array alone, he or she would be completely enthralled.
This was what the strong part of the illusion arrays. Only some martial artists with very powerful divine sense could tell the difference between true and false.
Obviously, Chen Xiang would not be affected by the array as it was arranged by himself. Chen Xiang went inside the array, carrying a large bag of Hundred Beasts Dans, which he placed at one place, so as to disseminate the fragrance of those pills and lure those evil demons here.
In the past, the Little White Tiger was also lured by the Hundred Beasts Dan. Any beast who liked the Hundred Beasts Dan would have a hard time resisting this kind of temptation, let alone those evil demons who desired to have a pure energy!
In order to not let those evil demons sense him, Chen Xiang hollowed out the trunk of a large tree and arranged a shielding array so as to prevent the leaking of his and the wolf slaves aurae. And then, monitored the illusion array through a small hole.
At the first place, Chen Xiang's divine sense was extremely strong, which became even stronger with the help of the energy stored in those spirit patterns. As such, even the so-called evil demons would find it hard to get out this illusion array; they would feel everything they saw extremely real once they were inside.
Not long after, Chen Xiang perceived a group of evil demons approaching.
The wolf slave said, taking a deep breath, "It's the smell of that stupid bear."
"Does this guy have demon heart?" inquired Chen Xiang.
"Yes, he is stronger than me as well. If I am right, he should be going to the spirit river along with his tribe to cultivate," replied the wolf slave.
Chen Xiang was a bit nervous as it was the first time he had arranged an array. However, no matter what his worries were, they would not be helpful; all he could do was wait patiently, wait for the prey to fall into the trap!
Upload: 07-Feb-2018 09:29


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Q: How to initialize linked list whose node is matrix? In c++, can I initialize a linked list whose nodes are the matrix? Can I use std::list< double[2][2]> mylist,
which means every node in the linked list is a 2*2 matrix?
If I cannot initialize like this, how can I achieve it?

A: You need to wrap your matrix in a struct or class, e.g.
#include <list>

struct D {
    double a[2][2];
};

int main()
{
    std::list<D> mylist;

    D d = { 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 };

    mylist.push_back(d);
}

LIVE DEMO

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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NCC Administrator Robert F. Smith Awarded a Fulbright to Visit Russia
Smith is one of five people nationwide chosen for academic exchange program.
Dr. Robert F. Smith, assistant dean of humanities and social sciences at Northampton Community College (NCC), has been selected to participate in an International Education Administrators (IEA) Seminar in Russia, a U.S. Fulbright program. The Fulbright IEA program is a prestigious academic exchange program and highly competitive. Smith is one of five people nationwide selected for the program. He will visit St. Petersburg, Tver, Moscow, and possibly other locations. The trip will culminate with a debriefing at the American Embassy in Moscow.
Smith, a native of Lansdale, PA, who currently lives in Hatfield, is the author of Manufacturing Independence: Industrial Innovation in the American Revolution and of articles published in the online journal Encyclopedia of Philadelphia and a forthcoming article in Military Collector & Historian.
During his visit to Russia, from March 30 – April 13, Smith will serve as an expert in community college administration and speak with Russian colleagues about how the American community college system works, how NCC serves students, and how programs and course offerings are determined. Major goals are to establish partnerships with Russian schools within the ESL (English as a Second Language) and student exchange areas and to gain cultural understanding to return to the United States with the ability to speak to American colleagues about the benefits of Russian partnerships and to build a beneficial relationship between the two countries.
"I'm honored and amazed to have been chosen for this program," Smith says. "A Fulbright program in general is an honor, but I think this one is of critical importance in our current political climate. I think our nation has more in common with Russia than we tend to realize. Our bitter past rivalries seem to put us at odds, but we don't have to be that way. I think that if we came to understand each other more, our two countries could be successful partners in both trade and global politics. I'd like to play a role in helping build the bridges that make partnership possible.
"I'm also happy at my selection because it will open doors for our students, who can benefit from meeting Russian students. I took NCC students to Moscow in both 2012 and 2013. Students in each trip were enthralled with Russia and commented that the trip gave them a new outlook on the world. Russians, still today, are painted as unending cold-warriors, but our students found that the Russian people are friendly, fun-loving, and generous, just like we are."
Christine Pense, dean of humanities and social sciences, is enthusiastic about Smith's upcoming visit. "For us, any perspective that helps us improve our teaching, and think differently about how we interact with our constituent community, is good," she says "Russian schools work with a very different set of constraints (how much funding, and where it comes from; and what students want and need) but they problem-solve every day, like we do. Seeing what other schools do there will help Bob to do his job here. I expect we will all learn."


One of the most useful tools for a new business owner is the planner. If you are starting up a new store or business, buy a simple notebook (one with pockets and dividers), and save yourself needless worry and disorganization. This notebook will become your bible so carry it with you at all times. Whether you are in a meeting with your contractor or with your accountant, you will have the necessary information at your fingertips. Remember, that disorganization can lead to missed deadlines, and missed deadlines will cost you extra money.
Organization is crucial, since there are a myriad of tasks to complete for any business start-up. First, divide the notebook into sections. To keep track of details, you will need a separate section for each of the following: Finances and Registrations; Suppliers; Trade Shows; Marketing; Staffing; Store Layout; Inventory Plan; Merchandising; and Office and Storage Area. You will also require a section that contains a calendar or "week at a glance." If the notebook is equipped with pockets, you can file brochures, design samples, measurements and the store's layout plan.
Next, transfer pertinent contacts, addresses, and telephone numbers to your planner, and include your bank, accountant, contractor, small business development office, realtor or landlord, suppliers, City Hall, utilities, and the local media.
Secure capital (that is, secure money!) – Visit Bank; See Loans Officer and bring along your business plan.
Seek alternative funding – Cash in RRSPs; Use credit cards; Solicit family; Re-mortgage house.
Open a business/commercial account at bank, and order cheques.
Open a Merchant Services Account. You may need two accounts.
Apply for Business Registration; Name Registration; Business License.
You will find that your check-lists may change from one day to the next; nevertheless, the check-lists will assist you in the overall plan. Check-lists keep you focused and on track. Add timelines and deadlines to the "week at a glance" calendar, and you will find that you can: schedule meetings ahead of time; complete research ahead of time; prepare answers for your contractor ahead of time; and maybe, complete projects while waiting for the electrician to arrive at your business.
Most importantly, if you feel overwhelmed with the dozens of tasks that loom ahead, concentrate on one section of your start-up and tackle one task at a time. Don't fret about upcoming challenges, but focus on the task at present.
The most important benefit of creating and maintaining the business planner is that the process itself both organizes and teaches you how to operate a business. Because that is what a small business owner does – prioritizes dozens of tasks, schedules appointments, makes decisions. At the end of the day, instead of being overwhelmed at the long list of challenges ahead, focus on the long list of accomplishments and the many tasks that you have completed!
A simple notebook will save you time and money. A simple notebook will ensure that you do not miss deadlines. A simple notebook will ensure that you become an organized, focused, and confident business owner. A simple notebook can save your sanity!


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Promoting tolerance and justice through knowledge and understanding
ABC in the Media
Cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments
Human Rights Debate
Human Rights Instruments
International Human Rights Organizations
Iran and Democracy
Iran in Perspective
National Human Rights Organizations
Testimonies of Victims and Rights Abusers
The Idea of Democracy
The Islamic Republic and Human Rights
- Collection - ABC in the Media Crimes Against Humanity Cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments . . . Amputation and Blinding . . . Flogging Human Rights Debate . . . Cultural Relativism . . . Death Penalty . . . Defenders Under Threat . . . International Justice . . . Minorities . . . Truth and Reconciliation Commissions . . . Women's Rights Human Rights Instruments . . . ABC Legal Guides . . . Administration of Justice . . . Human Rights Defenders . . . Human Rights Instruments: Philosophy and History . . . International Bill of Human Rights . . . Rights of women . . . Prevention of Discrimination . . . Rights of the Child . . . Guidelines For Reporting Human Rights Violations to UN International Human Rights Organizations . . . Amnesty International . . . Harm Reduction International . . . Human Rights Watch . . . International Commission of Jurists . . . International Federation of Human Rights . . . Others . . . Reporters Without Borders . . . United Nations Iran and Democracy . . . Pro-Democracy Movement 1880-1925 . . . Pro-Democracy Movement 1941-1965 . . . Pro-Democracy Opposition Since 1979 . . . Revolution and Pro-Democracy Aspirations Iran in Perspective National Human Rights Organizations . . . Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran . . . Committee of Human Rights Reporters . . . Defenders of Human Rights Center . . . Human Rights Activists Groups (EU/North America) . . . Human Rights Activists in Iran . . . International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran . . . Iran Human Rights . . . Iran Human Rights Documentation Center . . . Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights . . . Justice For Iran . . . Others Official Documents Testimonies of Victims and Rights Abusers . . . Islamic Republic Officials . . . Prison Memoirs . . . Victims and Witnesses The Idea of Democracy . . . Religion and Politics . . . Representative Regime . . . Ethics of Citizenry The Islamic Republic and Human Rights . . . Human rights violations in Iran: Causes and Modalities . . . Laws . . . Rationale against Human Rights . . . The Judiciary
- Type of document - Address Appeal/Urgent Action Book Book chapter Booklet Communique Court document International law Interview Journal article Laws and decrees Letter Newsletter Newspaper article Official document Petition Press Release Report Resolution Statement Video Web article
- Keyword - Charges . . . Corruption on Earth . . . Sexual Offense . . . War against God Democracy, Human Rights, and Justice . . . Accountability . . . Civil Society . . . Democracy/representative regime . . . Election . . . Equality . . . Individual Responsibility . . . Right to life/Death Penalty . . . Separation of Church and State . . . Tolerance . . . Transitional Justice, Truth, and Reconciliation Human Rights violations . . . Arbitrary arrest/detention . . . Arbitrary trial . . . Coerced confession . . . Cruel and inhuman punishment/amputation . . . Cruel and inhuman punishment/flogging/beating . . . Cruel inhuman and degrading punishment/execution . . . Extrajudicial killing . . . Legal discrimination/Gender . . . Legal discrimination/Religion . . . Obstruction of freedom of expression . . . Solitary confinement/coffin . . . Stoning . . . Torture Islamic Republic Institutions . . . Guardianship of the Jurisprudent . . . Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal . . . Shari'a law Other . . . Repentant . . . Victims' testimonies
- Language - English Farsi
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's Fate Unclear While Lawyer Javid Houtan Kiyan languishes in Jail
Amnesty International
Two years after an international outcry erupted over her sentence of stoning to death, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani remains imprisoned in north-west Iran apparently still facing a stoning sentence. Her lawyer, Javid Houtan Kiyan, arrested on account of his advocacy for her, remains held as a prisoner of conscience, and is reported to have been sentenced to a lengthy prison term. He is believed to have been tortured during his detention.
Recent but unconfirmed reports suggested that the Iranian authorities no longer intend to implement the stoning sentence handed down to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in 2006. These reports highlight the need for clarity concerning her fate.
According to a 25 June 2012 article in The Times [of London] newspaper, Mohammad Mostafaie, one of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's previous lawyers, said that he had heard that the stoning sentence had been "lifted" and that "she could be released" before completing her sentence.
While this would be welcome news, Amnesty International is not aware of any official confirmation that this is the case. If Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is no longer under sentence of stoning, the Iranian authorities should state publicly that this is the case, and clarify her current legal status, including any remaining prison sentence imposed upon her.
Under Iran's current Code of Criminal Procedures, an individual convicted of stoning must remain in detention until the sentence is carried out. The life of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani appears to remain in the balance: if her stoning sentence has not been lifted, then it could be carried out at any time as it has previously been sent to the Office for the Implementation of Sentences.
If Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani remains under sentence of stoning to death, Amnesty International renews its appeal to the Iranian authorities to overturn the stoning sentence and not to execute Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani by any other means.
Amnesty International would consider Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani a prisoner of conscience and call for her immediate release if she is being held solely in connection for having had consensual sexual relations.
Additionally, Amnesty International is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's last lawyer, Javid Houtan Kiyan. He was arrested in October 2010 along with Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's son and two German journalists, who have all been released. Javid Houtan Kiyan is believed to have been sentenced to at least four years in prison and given a five-year ban on practising law on charges including "spreading propaganda against the system" and "gathering and colluding with intent to harm state security", and may be facing trial on the charge of espionage, which can carry the death penalty.
A letter believed to have been written by Javid Houtan Kiyan while in prison in which he alleged that he had been tortured, surfaced in March 2011. Naghi Mahmoudi, Javid Houtan Kiyan's lawyer who has now fled the country, has reported that he has obtained a three-page letter written recently by his client, who remains in Tabriz Central Prison.
In the new letter, Javid Houtan Kiyan reiterated that he has experienced physical and psychological torture "like a soccer football kicked about" and that every day since his arrest, he has wished to die. He stated that he was transferred from a section of the prison holding those convicted financial crimes, to the "methadone" ward where drug addicts are held. He stated that he continues to be subjected to torture and that while he has written to various judicial officials to complain, his letters have made no difference and that he has therefore lost all hope. He adds that he has been deprived of seeing his young daughter as well.
Amnesty International is once again urging the Iranian authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough and independent investigation into the allegations of torture made by Javid Houtan Kiyan and for anyone found responsible for violations to be brought promptly to justice in full accordance with international fair trial standards.
Pending his release, Javid Houtan Kiyan must be given immediate access to his family, a lawyer of his choice, an independent doctor and all necessary medical care.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is a 44-year-old mother of two. Arrested in 2005, in 2006 she was convicted following an unfair trial of "adultery while married" for which the punishment is a mandatory stoning sentence. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani had previously been sentenced to flogging for "illicit relations". In May 2007 the Supreme Court confirmed the stoning sentence. Later still, the Amnesty and Clemency Commission twice rejected her requests for clemency.
She was also convicted of having played a part in the murder of her husband, Ebrahim Qaderzadeh, for which she was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. This sentence was initially upheld by the Supreme Court. However, according to Javid Houtan Kiyan, in 2009 a judicial review by the Supreme Court led to the conviction of murder being changed to "complicity" in murder. As a result, he says the sentence was reduced to five years – the maximum sentence for this offence although he was not able to provide any documents in this regard before his arrest.
From Iran's Azerbaijani minority, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's mother tongue is Azerbaijani Turkic and she may not have fully understood the legal proceedings she went through, since no translation from Persian was offered to her at any point.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Iranian authorities to decriminalize consensual sexual relations between adults. In the revised Penal Code, passed in February 2012 but which has not yet entered into force, the punishment of stoning was removed, although it would remain a crime to have sexual relations outside marriage. However, Article 167 of Iran's Constitution directs judges to use Islamic law to rule on a case in the absence of codified law.
The organization is therefore concerned that while the revised Penal Code does not explicitly provide for stoning to death, judges would still be able to pass stoning sentences using Islamic law sources, in line with this constitutional provision.
The new Penal Code would also continue to allow judges to decide on the merits of a case solely based on their subjective "knowledge" ('elm-e qazi) – one of many concerns Amnesty International has over the fairness of trial proceedings in Iran. The existing provision regarding "knowledge of the judge" in the current Penal Code was relied on by three of the judges who passed the majority verdict of stoning to death against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
Amnesty International considers stoning to be a particularly repugnant and torturous form of execution and opposes the death penalty in all cases as a violation of the right to life and the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
Death by stoning violates Article 6 [right to life] and 7 [prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment] of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a state party.
Iran: The Life Of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Remains In The Balance, 08 July 2011 , (Index MDE 13/066/2011)
Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani: A life in the balance, (Index: MDE 13/089/2010) 28 September 2010
Iran: Executions by stoning, (index: MDE 13/095/2010), 23 December 2010
Public Document
International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UK www.amnesty.org
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: [email protected]


"Working with PDF documents using Delphi and Gnostice PDF Tools - Create, Enhance, Re-organize, Transform, Convert and more"
with a nice compliment which still makes me blush. He was'nt sure whether the pronounciation of "Felix Colibri" was correct. It sure was. And thank you very much for this nice reference.
On our side, our experience with .PDF is quite old. To make the story short, in 84 we purchased a Laser Apple Writer and hooked it to our IBM PC. We then wrote a Turbo Pascal layer which would translate our propietary .ED text format (an Ascii file with some markers for bold, italic, bullets etc as well as vector graphics) into PostScript. We used the resulting .PS for books, magazines, letters. When Adobe gradualy replaced PostScript with Acrobat, we (as everybody else !) disliked the result very much, because the rendering was horrible: the letters were not equally spaced, and reading such a document was a pain in the neck.
Like many developers, we twiddled later with the .RTF format, but quickly found that it was not as complete as Postscript. Therefore we are still using today the .PS output for all our business letters. Later the .ED editor recieved an .HTML layer (used for this site) as well as a slides rendering layer. We added the slides rendering since Powerpoint is totally unable to build nice block diagrams. Visio was not available at this time. So for our .ED editor, we "included" the files generated by a separate .FIG vector graphics editor, with an interface like Delphi: Palette, Object Inspector and Designer. And those figures are referenced by the .ED files.
In addition since we had the vector graphics part, we easily added the UML symbols, and this UML graphic part is by an order of magnitude quicker and more flexible than Together. This certainly is the most valuable part of the whole exercise.
Now, where does Gnostice fits into this picture ? Well, we developped those .PS/.PDF layers ourselves at a time where nothing else was available. If you have to integrate some very specific kind of .PDF generation in a Delphi project, you might look at the .PDF format (which is public) and write you own Classes to build the .PDF objects, dictionaries, font specifications, outlines, annotations, trailers and what not. But if you do not want to invest so much in spelunking in the lower level .PDF plumbing, the Gnostice tools seem to be a much more efficient solution. And a more complete one: you can not only generate, but also analyze and modify existing .PDF documents. So, as usual, it's a simple matter of cost. If one of our customers one day asks for some .PDF handling, Gnostice would certainly be the route to go.


The museum offers a variety of STEM and Social Studies Programs with learning opportunities related to science, technology, engineering and math, as well as history (and other social studies fields).
All of our programs are free. Some materials for these programs are provided through the generosity of the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc. (Federal endorsement is not implied).
These programs are offered at the museum only and require a minimum of 25 students and a maximum of 36 students per session. For larger groups, please contact the Education Division directly before scheduling at 937-255-4646, 937-255-4652.
All programs meet national academic content standards.
All programs must be scheduled at least four weeks in advance to assure staff availability. To request one of these programs please complete a registration form.
See the box below to see what types of programs are available.
Note: These programs are restricted to students currently in the grade levels listed below.
Introduction to the basic concept of coding using a child friendly robot.
Students will learn about helicopters and the four forces of flight. They will play a rescue game to practice their new knowledge. The game also teaches how to chart coordinates on a graph, data entry on a spreadsheet, probability skills and teamwork.
Explores basic aerodynamic principles. Student will build and test fly paper aircraft.
Discover the interesting history of kites and the many types of kites, then build and fly a sled kite. May include a segment to determine altitude and forces on the kite. Flying time will be on-your-own at teacher's discretion.
Students will receive a 15 minute briefing on the museum's one-of-a-kind collection of Presidential Aircraft and a tour of the gallery including four walk-thru former Air Force Ones.
Students will learn about the history of code making and breaking from ancient Egypt to the present day uses for codes. After obtaining content, students will work together to create and break codes collectively. Paper "codes" are available online.
Students will build a sled kite and use it to explore and use formulas to compute areas and perimeters of common polygons. Flying time will be on-your-own at teacher's discretion.
Students will learn the steps of the Engineering Design Process by building and testing a model CubeSat.
Students will tour the Holocaust exhibit and see photographs and artifacts and hear the memories of local people who personally experienced some aspect of the Holocaust. This program stresses the importance of tolerance. It is limited to groups no larger than 80 students and is available on Tuesday or Thursday mornings at 10 a.m.
The program lasts two hours and cost is free.
In addition to this educational program, the museum also offers a Holocaust Tour Podcast. Click here for more information about this self-guided audio tour.
All Holocaust Programs must be scheduled through the Education Division.
Note: Limited grant money may be available to defer transportation costs for the Holocaust program. For additional information, call (937) 775-2878 or e-mail erc@daytonholocaust.org.


Security Stove & Mfg. Co. (Security) (plaintiff) manufactured a unique furnace equipped with a combination oil and gas burner. Security desired to ship the furnace from its office in Kansas City, Missouri to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the purpose of exhibiting the furnace at the American Gas Association Convention held in Atlantic City beginning October 11, 1926. On September 18, 1926, Security contacted American Ry. Express Co. (American) (defendant), a carrier, and requested American's services in shipping the furnace to Atlantic City. Security informed American that the purpose of shipping the furnace was so it could be displayed at the Convention. Security stated that the furnace needed to arrive in Atlantic City no later than October 8th so it could be set up in time for the Convention's October 11th start date. American agreed to this schedule, and picked up the furnace from Security on October 2nd. The furnace was packed in 21 separate boxes. American delivered the furnace to the booth Security reserved at the Convention in Atlantic City. When Security's president arrived at the booth, however, he noticed that the most important box was missing. The equipment contained in this box could not be replaced in Atlantic City. American located the missing box and promised to ship it to Security's president before the Convention ended. American failed to ship the box in time, however, and Security was unable to set up and exhibit the furnace at any point during the Convention. Security brought suit in Missouri state court against American, seeking damages for its expenses incurred in the course of attending and reserving a booth at the Convention. Security argued that it would not have incurred these expenses if it had not relied on American's promise to ship the furnace to Atlantic City in time for the Convention. The trial court awarded damages to Security, and American appealed.


Having a strong online presence is becoming increasingly important for all publishers.
You might be publishing news, reports, blogs or enabling your customers to generate their own online community by uploading their own content.
Whatever your bag, our CMS platform has the solution for you.
In addition we have modules to facilitate ads, job listings, digital first content workflow and classifieds.
Full integration with fulfilment systems allows for easy management of content behind subscriber only paywalls.
Launched in 2016, ESco built a full content management and publishing platform for the Journal of Dementia Care.
Allowing the publisher to publish news, keep the special stuff behind a paywall, promote events, and offer automated discounts to subscribers the site has been very well received.
One sunny morning in April 2015 we completed and launched a website for Painters Online.
Launched in July 2015, ESco completed Phase 1 development for Riviera Maritime Media.
The development consists of 12 branded publication sites as well as 10 branded events sites all running off the same content management system allowing centralised management of all content and eCommerce transactions. The site contains news, features, whitepapers, advertising and eCommerce for publications and events.
We can't praise the team at ESco and Isle highly enough. We are more than pleased (thrilled in fact) with the new site - and excited about the future possibilities.


The primary challenge in managing heavy industrial equipment is outsourcing service tasks, which requires an efficient field personnel management solution. Ensuring that all equipment is performing optimally and according to specifications at all times is essential. This is relevant particularly in industries requiring regulatory compliance, such as with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.
Hormiga provides the ultimate solution for this type of industry, by retaining employee knowledge and automatically sharing it with all field personnel, thereby increasing efficiency and saving time by shortening work procedures.
An effective means of knowledge-sharing are insights - helpful tips, based on field experience that employees share with their colleagues. Linked automatically to corresponding work orders, products and customers, all relevant insights appear when a worker accesses any relevant work order information, eliminating unnecessary delays and increasing first-time-fix-rates.
Hormiga's knowledge base includes user manuals and operational guides written by company personnel, linked to each relevant product, together with the insights, allowing employees to access all the professional knowledge they need from one central location. This dynamic and up-to-date knowledgebase is an effective means of retaining field experience, ensuring workforces that are highly professional and productive.
Through Hormiga's asset management, a full history of every asset, corresponding WOs and warranties is accessible by all workers, including every task performed on each asset, which enables organizations to track their workforce activities closely, and provide far better and faster customer service.
The ability to update or retrieve information in the field instantaneously, such as completing an asset report and sharing it with the entire organization in real-time, plays a crucial role in efficient asset management, reducing troubleshooting time and costs.


text:
Understanding a work of art
by Claudia Viggiani
translated by Steve Barley
In order to understand a work of art it is almost always necessary to know its historical context and how it came about in the hands of the artist who conceived it and gave it life.
But when we think of an artist it often isn't possible to place him in the period in which he lived and the social context in which he developed, above all as a human being.
If then we discover a biography of the artist, one that is well-written with clear historical and geographical references and without romanticized frills, we realize how necessary an "in-depth" understanding is for our individual cultural awareness and for the pleasure and satisfaction which depend on it.
The word culture has a deep and absolute significance since it derives from an action: that of "cultivating" (colĕre in Latin) study and experience in order that we may thereby attain knowledge.
Having a wide and enhanced perception of something, retaining a notion in the mind, having an exact and precise knowledge of a work of art, possessing and knowing how to distinguish the experiences which are necessary in order to understand someone or something, in brief – acting in such a way as to allow us to discover, experiment, study and understand – is at the root of culture.
We cultivate our studies to gather the fruits of knowledge.
But cultural awareness can also be inherited, absorbed, by means of words and images acquired as we progress through the entire arc of our lives.
The most fortunate among us are exposed to a passive colĕre thanks to the cultural heritage of our country and the cultural awareness which our families bestow on us.
I am referring to oral testimony and to intellectual and monumental works: to ancient, ancestral knowledge, comprehended, narrated, written, built and passed on through the centuries to us in the present.
Our civilization is especially fortunate in this respect because it has benefitted from an exceptional wealth of cultural assets, material and immaterial, for which we are all at the same time both guardians and messengers.
Before we look at a painting, a sculpture, a piece of architecture or any work of art, we should remind ourselves that we must become familiar with the man or the woman who made it and try to understand the context from which it stems.
Only in this way can we sow within ourselves the seed of that information which will transform itself in erudition, in awareness and, only lastly, in culture.
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Ancestors of Christ: Nahshon and his Mother, c. 1511-12, fresco, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums
Talking about culture is unimportant; culture is action. Action which, through a series of well-defined processes, often brings us to an understanding not only of a work of art, but of the whole of humanity in its infinite expression.
In the first lunette, high up on the left wall as you enter the Sistine Chapel through the small door under The Last Judgment, you see, on the right, Nahshon (Naasson), son of Amminadab, chief of the tribe of Judah in the desert and commander of an army of 74,600 men. Nahshon's son, Salmon married Rahab and his grandson Boaz married Ruth (1Chron. 2:11-15; Ruth 4:20; Matt. 1:4-6, 16; Luke 3:32).
The young man is depicted reclining with one leg outstretched and resting on a wooden bench, his brow is furrowed and his arms folded, lazily hidden under his cloak. His surly attitude makes reference to the sloth and insolence which brought him to a refusal to read The Book of the Law which lies open before him.
On the left of the lunette is his mother, or perhaps his wife, looking at her reflection in a mirror, absorbed in a vanity which precludes her seeing anything else.
In the woman's hand mirror we see a figure which differs from apparent reality: the face is faded and gloomy and nothing of the woman's beauty, including her blond hair tied up in a ponytail and her wealth, denoted by her gold earrings, is evident in the reflected image.
Michelangelo wanted to depict these two ancestors of Christ, who did not want to recognize the laws dictated by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, blinded as they were by ignorance, self-satisfaction and presumption.
Claudia Viggiani2019-01-19T20:00:24+00:00Ottobre 10, 2016|0 Commenti


What does your garden and gardening style reveal about you? I have been cleaning up and prepping my beds for their New England winter sleep and thinking about my gardening plans for next year: what crops will I grow again, where will I plant them and what new plants do I want to add? As I'm working, it strikes me how different my thought process is regarding planning for my front and back gardens. I have two gardens and two completely different gardening styles, resulting in sort of a mullet haircut in reverse with a party in the front and all business in the back!
The right side of my front garden. Even with a lot of dead plant material removed, it still looks good!
The left side of the front garden. i love those pink Swiss chard stalks!
This summer, I planted a new garden in the front of the house consisting of mostly edible plants. Plant placement in this garden is fun and colorful, dramatic and welcoming. While the garden has been productive, I've been excited by the design possibilities and have been formulating a list of new exotic edibles to try next year. I'm looking for the WOW factor! I've enjoyed watching this garden develop and have been slow to remove plants or cross them off the list for next year. I'm excited to see where this garden takes me as a gardener.
My backyard garden is now half empty with only fall and winter crops remaining.
My garden in the back, however, is where the serious food production happens. I have six traditional beds where I grow nothing but vegetables and a few perennials (strawberries, rhubarb and two blueberry bushes). Each year, I try a couple of new plants to see how they like growing in my little micro climate. This year, I tried tomatillos and ground cherries. I also grew peanuts for the second year.
As I'm clearing out the beds I'm adding compost, then I'll be covering the beds with mulch to protect the top soil over the winter.
In this garden, I 'm looking for production and efficiency of space. If a plant spreads out too far or doesn't produce a descent crop, it doesn't make it back into the next year's rotation. If half way through the season a plant just isn't working I'll rip it out. In fact, this will be the last year for peanuts ( half a cup of peanut butter from 1/3 of a bed of peanuts), tomatillos and ground cherries. Next year, I think I'm going back to basics, focusing on the veggies we eat all year long and preserve for the winter: potatoes; sweet potatoes; carrots; beans and peas; winter squashes; Brussels sprouts; cauliflower and cabbage; leeks; beets; garlic; turnips; parsnips and tomatoes. No WOW factor here, although I think the beds are beautiful!
I guess these gardens fire different sides of my brain - creative and analytical, because I find them equally rewarding and satisfying!
Do you have different gardening styles for your gardens?
I am a avid gardener too. I just finished canning my home grown Olives a few months ago am in the process of freezing all the excess Citrus . Living in the southern part we don't get snow at all but the temperatures dip significantly. Any tips on the citrus ?
Hi Samira, I am not an expert on citrus trees but my understanding is your trees should be OK unless the temperatures fall below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Watch the weather and if a really cold spell is forecast, water your trees well and wrap protective fabric around the trunks. Lemons and L\limes are the most vulnerable to frost. I would suggest seeking out advice from your local cooperative extension which will part of your state university. Good Luck!


We have an odd little cranny in our closet that seemed impossible to fit anything into. It was extremely narrow and tall (9" x 12" x 5'). At the same time, we had a ton of cardboard boxes of various sizes from our move, which turned out to provide excellent shelving material for this particular space.
The key to having the boxes work out at shelves was exactly the narrowness of the space, which provided support for the sides and/or corners of the boxes. Another key to this contraption working out was rolling the clothes into tubes to fit nicely into the little nooks created by the boxes.
Tape the flaps to the inside of the box for security.
What I realized here is that the boxes don't have to exactly fit into the narrow space. They can be stacked on top of each other as in the photo, and the combination of the friction between box and wall as well as the support of the clothes in the cracks, will support the boxes.
Rolling the clothes up made insertion into spots very easy. I was able to fill in the entire 5' tall space and it's holding up very well after several months of use.


He learned guitar at a very young age, and began writing songs during his time at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham. This video led to mainstream rapper Example asking Sheeran to tour with him. Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire before moving to Framlingham, Suffolk. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards Sheeran gained a nomination for Best New Artist. Sheeran also released two albums, a self titled one in 2006 and Want Some? He was listed as a 'special guest' on Devlin's 2011 'Bud, Sweat and Beers' mini tour alongside Griminal and Tinchy Stryder.
. By the end of the year, Sheeran was seen to be one of the best unsigned artists in the country. Throughout 2010, Sheeran began to be seen by more and more people over the internet through Youtube and his fan-base grew incredibly, with him also getting credit from The Independent newspaper, England football captain Rio Ferdinand and even Elton John. In his time in Suffolk, he was known to have flourished as a hidden talent when it came to music. The album has also won Sheeran two Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act and Best British Male Solo Artist. The ceremony is later this year.
By the time Sheeran had left school, he was already certain that music was going to play a major part in his life, and therefore studied at Access To Music in Norwich before moving to London which improved his chances of getting gigs. . . . . .


With regards to your premises and bug control issues, you can never be excessively cautious, as the issue may winding wild rapidly. Things, for example, a couple of honey bees going into a specific territory of your garden from time to time, could be indications of something significantly more genuine. At the point when honey bees accumulate in a similar spot of your garden habitually it for the most part means just a single thing, they are shaping a home, and a settlement. Honey bee provinces can be extremely unsafe, particularly is you approach them and attempt to kill them without the best possible, proficient instruments. You should be knowledgeable about honey bee annihilation to dispose of a home or settlement, else you will be stung over and over, and you don't need that to happen. On the off chance that you see honey bees coming into your home and vanishing into a divider depression, you could have a considerably more genuine case to manage, as the state could be shaping inside the dividers of your home.