WAFFLES: Christmas decorating is the BEST! Check out all the new toys, Boss! There are lots of sparkly stringy things. They even light up!
WAFFLES: Lots of red balls.
WAFFLES: And look! Glogirly even hung some up for me to whap. Don't you just love getting ready for Christmas, Boss?
KATIE: Not when it involves wearing this ridiculous collar.
WAFFLES: If you don't like your collar, I'll borrow you my Santa suit, Boss.
KATIE: Yeah, that's not going to happen.
Get Out the Twinkle Lights!
Thanksgiving is so last week. And you know what that means! Glogirly is busy getting the twinkle lights untangled, unpacking the Christmas balls, and making sure Waffles still fits in his Santa coat.
His coat is a favorite around here. It's styled like a harness, which Waffles has always seemed to be very comfortable in. And though he can wear a harness for a few hours with no problem, we still only slip him into his Santa coat for the occasional photo op.
Last week Glogirly decorated our real Christmas tree, which she planted outside last year. It's a beautiful Colorado White Fir and shaped just like a Christmas tree. She put both traditional colored bulbs on it and small white twinkle lights so it really sparkles. We'll try to get a picture of it!
We still have a few of our 2019 Desk Calendars! If you'd like to order one, just click one of the PayPal buttons below.
It's a pop-up desk calendar, 5" wide by 7" high, featuring 14 of our best photos printed on high-quality, heavyweight paper stock.
Just unfold it to stand, then flip over each month as the weeks and days fly by. You're guaranteed a giggle and a smile every month.
If you'd like to have one of your own or give one as a gift, purchase them directly from us (below) and we'll ship them to you directly from Colorado.
The calendars sell for $14 each.
We're also offering two for $24.
Shipping within the US is just $5 for either 1 or 2 calendars.
Shipping is also available to Canada and worldwide. See costs below.
Ordering is safe and secure through PayPal. If you have any questions, please send us an email at glogirl@visi.com.
A portion of each calendar sale will be donated to a local cat-only rescue organization. Angels With Paws Cat Rescue and Adoption Center in Lakewood, Colorado is a small but powerful rescue organization that works hard to make a difference for cats and the people who love them.
And to make the proceeds from our calendar go even farther, we'll be forwarding them to Angels With Paws on Colorado Gives Day, Tuesday, December 4. It's AWP's most important fund drive of the year.
Waffles is so ready to help decorate!
A Colorado Christmas sounds SO awesome! We aren't doing anything for the holidays this year... but my human has resolved that next year is going to be a GREAT Christmas season!
we love that you planted last year's Christmas tree - our grandpa used to do that when mom was a kid (now they have a fake tree in the house).
Can't wait to see a photo of your outdoor tree!
Waffles always looks so stylish in his coat!
You look good in the Santa suit, Waffles.
Whapping ornaments is what Christmas is all about!
Don't chew on the wires of the lights.
They look adorable. Got my Christmas tree up and just a few decorations.
You both look so darling and festive! Can't wait to see the outside tree.


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Ворне-Пюттен () — острів у Нідерландах в дельті Рейну і Маасу. Колись це були два окремі острови — Ворне (на заході) й Пюттен (на сході) — розділені річкою Берніссе, але поступово річка замулилась і зникла, й два острови злились в один.

На півночі острів відокремлений від острова Розенбюрг озером Брілсемер, на північному сході від острова Ейсселмонде — річкою Ауде-Маас, на південному сході від острова Хуксевард — річкою Спей, на півдні від острова Гуре-Оверфлакке — естуарієм Харінгвліт.

Джерела

 Фото
 Топографічна карта
 Інформаційний портал
 members.chello.nl

Острови Нідерландів
Південна Голландія

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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CAPTION: A rehearsal for the ordination services is filmed in preparation to livestream them for the first time
Exeter Cathedral ordination services to be livestreamed for first time
Posted: 9th September, 2020
Sixteen new curates are being ordained into the Church of England this weekend in a series of Covid-secure services at Exeter Cathedral led by the Bishops of Exeter, Plymouth and Crediton.
Instead of one big service there will be four separate ceremonies with four people being ordained at each one.
As with weddings and funerals, there will be just 30 people present at each service instead of the usual 2000 who would attend normally.
The services are being livestreamed for the first time by the Diocese of Exeter Communications team to allow friends and family to watch from home.
An ordination service is the occasion when someone who has been training to become a priest officially becomes a church minister.
A newly ordained person is allowed to wear a dog collar and conduct weddings and funerals and eventually lead a church.
Vanessa Pestridge says preparing for her ordination feels a bit like getting ready to get married
Vanessa Pestridge is a former teacher who has been training for ordination at St Mellitus theological college in Plymouth, she said "It's been a bit of an adjustment because initially you think it's going to be this big thing and it's not going to be any of that, but I plan to be there and God will be there so I guess that's kind of all I need.
"It's going to be that line in the sand moment. It feels a bit like when you get married and you have that day approaching. It's actually about being married and not just the day.
"I can't wait to make the ordination promises in front of my family and God but it's about starting the next part of my journey."
Jon Devereux, who will be starting a new church community in the Ford area of Plymouth once he is ordained, said he was glad friends as far away as the United States would be able to watch his ordination online.
Jon Devereux is interviewed by a BBC film crew about his ordination
"I am looking forward to getting ordained and excited to get cracking in my new role but it is a strange time to be doing it, wearing a face mask and with only 30 people present.
"There are people I hoped would be there but can't be."
The Reverend John Fisher, the Diocesan Director of Ordinands, who oversees those training for ordination, said "Every part of life has been affected by Covid-19 and the ordinations are no different.
"Everything feels changed but the candidates will still be ordained and embark on their new vocations in public ministry. For me this feels really significant, for them, their families and the wider church in which they will serve.
"Landing in their new parishes at such a challenging time will be hard.
"We pray that the candidates, their training vicars and their communities will have grace, imagination and patience to help everyone flourish in these difficult times."
You can view the ordination services and download an order of service here.
Follow this link to hear Vanessa's story.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Monday Night Hiking and Prayer Group: The Summit Mission Area group will hike every week on Mondays at 5:30pm. Contact Mother Julie or Trudi & Terry Gunter if you are interested in carpooling to any of the hikes. Contact Sally Goodall with any questions at sallygoodall@hotmail.com. September 24 Indian Spring Trail Munroe Falls. 521 S.River Rd. October 1 Hudson Springs 7095 Stow Road, Hudson October 8 Ledges Trail in Boston Heights. On Kendall Park Road, 1 mile west of Akron Cleveland Road or Truxell Road, 2.2 miles east of Akron Peninsula. October 15 Beaver Marsh. Ira Trailhead, 3801 Riverview Road, Cuyahoga Falls. October 22 Let's see how dark it is when we get closer to this date. October 29 Maybe short walk and Winking Lizard for refreshments?


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Keine Kommentare zu The EU's Google Android antitrust decision falls prey to the nirvana fallacy — Truth on the Market
The EU's Google Android antitrust decision falls prey to the nirvana fallacy — Truth on the Market
Today the European Commission launched its latest salvo against Google, issuing a decision in its three-year antitrust investigation into the company's agreements for distribution of the Android mobile operating system. The massive fine levied by the Commission will dominate the headlines, but the underlying legal theory and proposed remedies are just as notable — and […]
über The EU's Google Android antitrust decision falls prey to the nirvana fallacy — Truth on the Market


In this week's episode of Soul-Sized Wednesdays, I'm making a confession – and walking my talk.
If you have enjoyed these videos over the past months and years, then it's really important that you watch today's video. It could be the end of an era… Or maybe not?
So, as I said in the video, I need to stop splitting my energies. But I'm still going to be sharing the same kind of inspirational messages with you – it's just they'll be on a Monday, instead of a Wednesday, and I'm going to talk more about how to use the techniques, insights and strategies to grow your business, your career or make a difference in the world.
If you'd like to stay with me – and I would be honoured if you choose to – then register for my 5Minute.Biz newsletter and we can keep hanging out together.
I really hope it still resonates with you.
Is It Time To Be Authentic?
Isn't it time you started experimenting with being who you really are?
Most of us spend a lifetime, trying to be who we think other people want us to be. And the real us never gets to come out to play.
It's the source of so much inner conflict.
How about, even just for the 10 minutes, you started experimenting with being 100% authentic – 100% who you really are? I wonder how it might change things for you?


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purity and danger book review
She follows Emile Durkheim in defining dirt as that which is out of its place (ketchup in fine in the bottle or on the plate, but not on my shirt). There are sections which are all citation, where no idea is really developed, and then there are sections filled with assertions and assumptions that demand significantly more citation and justification. A good look at literary defamiliarization -. Gabrys and other waste theorists turn to Douglas as a starting point for thinking about the relationship between dirt and systems and then variously amend her conclusions and criticize her methods. In lively and lucid prose she explains its relevance for every reader by revealing its wide-ranging impact on our attitudes to society, values, cosmology and knowledge. looking at the familiar process of spring cleaning in unfamiliar terms as a secular ritual). Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. A great account of human nature. It also highlights a broad swath of examples from various cultures and religions. But it is impossible to have social relations without symbolic acts.", "It is the existence of an angry person in an interstitial position which is dangerous, and this has nothing to do with the particular intentions of the person.", TLS The Hundred Most Influential Books Since the Second World War, Mariah Carey Is Telling Her Own Story (and Recommending Books). Good read for a slow shift at work with citation potential ala hypothetical students of [hermeneutical] suspicion(s). outdated, problematic methodology for an anthropological study, but faults acknowledged by the author in the foreword to the new edition. Wit. Not only does Douglas highlight the logic inherent in all kinds of cultural systems, she shows that moderns are just as prone to developing such systems as pre-moderns. Please read and accept the terms and conditions and check the box to generate a sharing link. Access to society journal content varies across our titles. Readable, with occasional humorous comments from the author. New login is not successful because the max limit of logins for this user account has been reached. Professor Douglas makes points which illuminate matters in the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of science and help to show the rest of us just why and how anthropology has become a fundamentally intellectual discipline. But perhaps its most important role … Interesting concepts of the interplay between the taboo and the holy, morality and cleanliness, purity and danger; how societies frame their worlds. Refresh and try again. In other words - pure analytical win. "Taxonomy and Taboo"; Frazer is out, but Freud is in. Douglas argues that many of the taboos regarding "polluted" or unclean objects in various societies have more to do with moral and symbolic impurity rather than actual hygiene. By the time the book ends, with a discussion of the sacred. But perhaps its most important role is to offer each reader a new explanation of why people behave in the way they do. I mean, what does one really say about a classic of structuralist anthropology? A very academic read. The book has been hugely influential in many areas of debate - from religion to social theory. Alas, the ideas within were not transferable in any meaningful manner I could make out. Social rituals create a reality which would be nothing without them. To see what your friends thought of this book, Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo, This book is, of course, a classic. In Purity and Danger Mary Douglas identifies the concern for purity as a key theme at the heart of every society. I originally started this book to learn more about fascist purity politics, but instead got an impassioned critique of early modernist anthropology — particularly James George Frazer, the author of the Golden Bough. One can see in Douglas later shifts toward more imaginative writing in Anthropology. By the time the book ends, with a discussion of the sacred and the dirty, one has gained much wisdom and theory about the subject. For more information view the SAGE Journals Article Sharing page. The imprint of structural linguistics on this one is so fresh that at times it almost seems like a quaint historical document more than anything else. Gabrys represents Douglas as attentive to dirt as marking the boundaries of systems then presents as Serres as a necessary innovation in this thinking: "We cannot know systems without their dirt, he suggests" (670). In Purity and Danger Mary Douglas identifies the concern for purity as a key theme at the heart of every society. The language in this book is dated, but the information and subject of study - dirt and pollution - remains useful, even if just historically. I can see why Purity and Danger is claimed as a classic for cultural anthropology but I found this a bit too repetitive and outdated to my taste. The email address and/or password entered does not match our records, please check and try again. These might be useful categories in understanding the nature and stakes of this struggle.That's my argument, anyway, for coming back to this text. by Routledge, Purity and Danger: An Analysis of the Concepts of Pollution and Taboo. But--Douglas' other contribution is her emphasis on rituals of cleansing and polluting as both having a materialist (medical-materialist) and social-symbolic grounding (35) such that these acts work upon the viscous honey-snot anomaly (dirt) in ways that include but also surpass marking the boundaries of a system. Contact us if you experience any difficulty logging in. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click on download. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The e-mail addresses that you supply to use this service will not be used for any other purpose without your consent. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click on download. Some society journals require you to create a personal profile, then activate your society account, You are adding the following journals to your email alerts, Did you struggle to get access to this article? The book has been hugely influential in many areas of debate - from religion to social theory. If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. Douglas uses the term "primitive" too liberally to describe all the communities that aren't as skilled with technology as Western cultures. It is an anthro classic about the meaning of purity and pollution. Brilliant, Mary Douglas is one of the best, wish more people would read this. "Without the letters of condolence, telegrams of congratulations, and occasional postcards, the friendship of a separated friend is not a social reality. Many of the concepts fascinating, and I look forward to looking at it again. Create a link to share a read only version of this article with your colleagues and friends. Partly really good and interesting, partly not so much. Readable, with occasional humorous comments from the author. Revisiting Biblical Purity Constructions, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament. Purity and Danger, first published in 1966, justly deserves its place as a classic, and the. Douglas' work is yet another recommendation from Dr. J, who read it when she was 16, it is an old publication associating purity with secular manifestations (primarily dietary restrictions). We'd love your help. Find out about Lean Library here, If you have access to journal via a society or associations, read the instructions below. For it is very possible to know something and then find words for it. Gabrys and other waste theorists turn to Douglas as a starting point for thinking about the relationship between dirt and systems and then variously amend her conclusions and criticize her methods. In Purity and Danger Mary Douglas identifies the concern for purity as a key theme at the heart of every society. I just gave this a quick read-through this time, to get a general overview. Great for getting discussions going @ uni lectures. Two thumbs up! Login failed. I have read and accept the terms and conditions, View permissions information for this article, Click the button below for the full-text content, 24 hours online access to download content. Some faults in methodology (Chapter 3, 'The Abominations of Leviticus'), but these are acknowledged in the foreword to the 2002 edition (underlining the need to read around the work itself when approaching theses that can be considered classics). Book Review: Purity and Danger. Welcome back. How do we learn to live with some filth and yet recoil at other dirt? Lean Library can solve it. With all the inherent limitations of the field and the fact that quite a bit of this is dated, it's still a good start at thinking of purity independent of hygiene, morality, and the other ways modernists have tried to make sense of expurgation rituals. Mary Douglas criticises and debunks the claims of Robertson-Smith and Sir James Frazer that so-called primitive cultures were, collectively and individually, unable to distinguish between the 'sacred and the profane'.
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purity and danger book review 2020


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Sunday 31st January 2016
4th Sunday of the Year / Sexagesima
YEAR OF MERCY
(see also here)
The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy has begun with Pope Francis opening the Holy Door in St Peter's Basilica on 8th December. More information about events during the year, Holy Doors and the Indulgence is available on http://rcdow.org.uk/year-of-mercy/. Our Cardinal Archbishop wishes that throughout the Year of Mercy the customary "Hail Mary" in the Sunday bidding prayers be replaced by the "Hail, Holy Queen", in which we entrust ourselves to Our Lady as "Mother of mercy":
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
ORATORY BOOKSHOP & REPOSITORY REOPENED
The Oratory Bookshop & Repository is now open again after a re-fit and re-stock. Over the coming months more new stock will be added but here are a few new books:
Fr Michael Lang: Signs of the Holy One: Liturgy, Ritual, and the Expression of the Sacred - £12.99
Fr Jonathan Robinson: In No Strange Land (On St Philip Neri) - £13
Michael Hodges: Churches of London (Anglican & Catholic) - £25
Serena Fass: The Magi - £25 (£5 donation to ACN on each book sold)
The Gregorian Missal – A new edition incorporating the New English Texts - £25
Guaranteed opening times:
Sunday 10.45–1.15pm, 3.15pm–5.25pm. Tuesday–Friday 3.15pm-5.45pm.
The next event will be on Thursday 18th February in St Wilfrid's Hall: Sir Mark Allen, expert on the Middle East, on "Faith, Power and Culture: Deciphering Religion in the Middle East". Hot snacks and drinks from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm. Social after until 10pm. All those aged 18-35 welcome to attend.
ORATORY YOUTH GROUP
Teenagers are given the chance to meet up, deepen and discuss their Faith with those of their age. The meetings are led by one of the Fathers of the Oratory and sometimes an outside speaker is invited. The Group meets at 8pm on Fridays once a month, usually towards the start of the month. Free pizza provided! On Friday 5th February Dominic Sullivan, who teaches at the London Oratory School, will speak on "Love and Friendship". The following meeting will be on Friday 4th March. All aged 14-17 are welcome.
FOOD SHELTERS
During the winter months, the Oratory has been involved in the running of various food shelters. The Friends of the Oratory are running a Saturday evening kitchen at St Luke's Anglican Church in Redcliffe Gardens. The Young Adults are co-operating with our neighbours and friends at Holy Trinity Brompton at a kitchen in St Augustine's Anglican Church Queen's Gate on Wednesday evenings. Throughout the year the Young Adults are assisting at an afternoon drop-in centre at St Augustine's. Anyone interesting in helping should consult our website.
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
The Oratory has so far raised more than £40,000 for Aid to the Church in Need to help persecuted Christians. The crisis in the Middle East is ongoing, so please continue to be generous.
CRY ROOM
During the 10am, 11am and 12.30pm Masses on Sundays, St Gregory's Library, next to the Sacred Heart Chapel, is available for parents whose young children become restless. These children must be supervised by their parents at all times. There is no obligation for parents to take children into the "Cry Room". Children are most welcome at every celebration of the Holy Mass.
PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR THE JUBILEE YEAR OF ST PHILIP NERI
In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of our Holy Father St Philip Neri (21st July 1515), Pope Francis has granted a Jubilee Year with an attached Plenary Indulgence, subject to the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff). During the Jubilee Year, which runs from 25th May 2015 to 26th May 2016, the indulgence can be gained every day in our church (and in any other church of a canonically established Congregation of the Oratory). To gain the indulgence, a pilgrimage must be made, or one should take part in a service or devotion in honour of St Philip, concluding by saying the Our Father and Creed and prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Philip. The indulgence may be applied to the faithful departed.
HEAD TEACHER VACANCY
The Governors of St James's RC Primary School, Twickenham are looking to appoint an inspiring and energetic Headteacher who is a practising Catholic and will lead, guide and develop our pupils and staff in the development of living out their faith, build on the school's outstanding reputation and guide the school into the next chapter of its history with a strategic focus on our faith and teaching and learning. St James's is a three-form entry primary school with its own nursery and a unit provision for children on the autism spectrum. Visits to the school are warmly welcomed; please contact Mrs Reynolds on 020 8898 4670 or lynn.reynolds@stjames.richmond.sch.uk. An application pack and more details can be found on ETeach, vacancy no. 622245. Closing date for applications is 22nd February 2016.
The SVP is distributing 12,000 Vinnie Packs containing cold weather essentials to the homeless this winter. They would be very grateful if you could sponsor packs at a suggested donation of £3.25 per pack. Donations can be sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box 72264, London SW1P 9EZ with cheques made out to SVP or go to virginmoneygiving.com and type "SVP" into the charity section. "Vinnie Packs" is in the Campaign drop down box. Thank you so much for your support.
Cardinal's Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony: Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 14th May 2016 at 3pm. The Cardinal Archbishop invites to this Mass all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of their Catholic marriage in 2016. If you celebrate your wedding anniversary this year, please contact Fr Michael Lang on michaellang@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7808 0900 and send him the following details: husband and wife's names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or phone number, if no email) by 1st March 2016.
Matrimony: A calling to forgive! Retrouvaille offers a welcoming and loving space to couples who have been living with the misery of a failing marriage. Retrouvaille offers hope: hope that it is not too late, hope of a different and better marriage. Retrouvaille helps couples to show each other mercy through the opportunities it provides to listen, to forgive, to be reconciled and to move into their futures believing that God loves them and with His help and their efforts, their marriages can be healed and restored. Retrouvaille provides help for marriage problems/difficulties/crises. www.retrouvaille.org.uk Phone or text/ 0788 7296983 or 0797 3380443.
Scripture from Scratch series of talks: Biblical Models of Discipleship. Location: Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, SW1P 1QN. Time: 7.00-8.30pm. Dates: 25th Feb, 14th Mar, 12th Apr, 9th May, 11th Jun 2016. Facilitators: Brian Purfield and Fr John Hemer. Please book your place at livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk. If you do not have an access to the internet, please call at 0207 931 6078 and leave your name, contact phone and the date(s). Suggested donation £4. All talks will be audio recorded and uploaded on the rcdow.org.uk website.


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Careers in ecstasy use: do ecstasy users cease of their own accord? Implications for intervention development
Gjalt-Jorn Ygram Peters1Email author,
Gerjo Kok1 and
Herman P Schaalma1
BMC Public Health20088:376
© Peters et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2008
Accepted: 28 October 2008
Ecstasy (MDMA, 3, 4-methylenodioxymethamphetamine) use is widespread in the Netherlands, with a lifetime prevalence of 4.3%, and two-thirds of dance party visitors being ecstasy users. However, research into Dutch ecstasy use patterns is lacking. In addition, recent studies suggest that ecstasy users cease their use automatically, which implies that interventions would do better to better focus on the promotion of harm reduction strategies than on inducing cessation. The current study addresses this process of ecstasy cessation.
32 participants from the Dutch dance scene were interviewed, and the results were systematically analysed using NVivo.
Most ecstasy users had started to use out of curiosity. During use, users applied a host of harm reduction strategies, albeit inconsistently and sometimes incorrectly. Most users appeared to cease ecstasy use automatically because of loss of interest or changing life circumstances (e.g. a new job or relationship).
It appears that cessation of ecstasy use is largely determined by environmental variables and not by health concerns. This supports the idea that health promotion resources are better spent in trying to promote consistent and correct application of harm reduction practices than in trying to induce cessation.
Negative Health Effect
Ecstasy (MDMA, 3, 4-methylenodioxymethamphetamine) use is potentially damaging to one's health [1–3]. A number of recent reviews and meta-analyses have summarized the growing body of research, finding ecstasy use to be associated to poorer neurocognitive functioning in a number of domains [1–5]. In addition, many users report negative effects that they attribute to their ecstasy use, such as decreased concentration, depression, insomnia and fatigue [6]. Nonetheless, ecstasy use remains prevalent. In the Dutch general population in 2005, 4.3% of all men and women between 15 and 64 had ever used ecstasy, 1.2% had used the past year, and 0.4% had used the past month [7]. Although these prevalence rates are lower than those of cannabis (22.6% lifetime, 5.4% last-year, and 3.3% past-month use), of dance event visitors, around two-thirds use ecstasy [8, 9], whereas less than half use cannabis [8]. With over 13% of the 15–35 year-olds in the Netherlands visiting at least one dance event each year [10], this high prevalence in the dance scene is worrying.
Although it is generally acknowledged that prevention activities are needed to reduce the detrimental health effects of ecstasy use, to date there is a lack of formative research that would enable the theory- and evidence-based development of such interventions [11, 12]. Recent research syntheses of ecstasy use correlates suggest that ecstasy cessation may be rather difficult to accomplish, since many ecstasy users may cease their use because of external events, such as a change in life circumstances (e.g. new job, relationship) or interference of use with 'normal life' [11, 13]. This might imply that a harm reduction approach could be more effective in promoting the health of ecstasy users than interventions promoting ecstasy cessation. This suggestion is further supported by the lack of effects of attempts to promote ecstasy use abstinence [14].
A recent meta-analysis [11] of the determinants of ecstasy use and related behaviour concluded that as yet, there has been no quantitative research into the determinants of ceasing ecstasy use, and that the determinants of using ecstasy do not seem to lend themselves well for health promotion interventions (quantitative research was defined as research analysing the significance and strength of associations between determinants and intention or behaviour). A subsequent qualitative review [13] showed that people's reasons to cease ecstasy use have been studied qualitatively (e.g. in studies using interviews or univariate analyses), and these reasons differ from reasons to use or to initiate use. An important reason to cease use was a change in life circumstances. Four of the ten studies reporting on reasons for cessation were conducted in Australia [15–18], two in the United States [19, 20], one in the United Kingdom [21], one in Germany [22], and two using the internet, with respondents from multiple countries [23, 24].
In Australia, the topic was touched upon in four qualitative studies. The first study was conducted by Solowij et al. [17], who reported the following reasons why one-to-three time users had not used again: it did not live up to their expectations, wariness regarding the effects, financial reasons, or having found the experience boring or unpleasant. Topp et al. [16] found that reasons for wanting to reduce use were financial difficulties, physical health effects, psychological problems, occupational problems, to improve their quality of life, relationship problems, and feeling dependent on ecstasy. Gourley [18] found that "interviewees attributed their declining use to the fact that they were going to raves and other social events less often and were therefore growing out of the ecstasy scene" (p. 62). Hansen et al. [15], stated that "significant changes in user patterns were generally linked to a change in life circumstances" (p. 190).
In the United States (US), Carlson et al. [20] reported a qualitative study and specifically detailed three cases. In one case, an interviewee had tried ecstasy twice: the first time, she found the experience unpleasant; the second time, she experienced nothing. Then, after college, she got a job and planned to get married, and commented, "Since I've been out of college, I've lost touch with it". Levy et al. [19] reported a variation of motivational factors related to quitting ecstasy use: negative personal experiences while using ecstasy, health concerns, addiction/tolerance, money, loss of interest, negative observations of others using ecstasy, and fear of legal consequences.
In Germany, Soellner [22] asked for motives to cease use, and found that 75% endorsed "fear of reduced efficiency", 62% endorsed "fear of damage to health", and 37% endorsed "addiction". Another 44% stated that they stopped using without special reasons. However, Soellner indicated that it remains unknown whether the reported fears were related to health promotion efforts or to one's own experience.
In the United Kingdom (UK), Verheyden et al. [21] asked ex-users to rate the importance of a list of possible reasons for cessation. The most highly rated reason was "MDMA quality" (6.3), followed by "long-term mental health" (5.8), "not enjoying drug" and "depressed" (both 5.6), "paranoia" (5.4), "anxiety" (5.3), "memory" and "stopped clubbing" (5.1).
Gamma et al. [24] asked respondents in a web-survey whether they would cease ecstasy use if it caused problems, and found that although 30% would definitely cease and 30% would maybe cease, 16% were not sure, 18% would perhaps continue, and 7% would definitely continue. This illustrates that even when users experience problems themselves, this does not guarantee cessation. Rodgers et al. [23] reported that the most frequently reported reason to cease ecstasy use was "moving on" (16%), followed by "negative effects" (14%).
None of these studies has taken place in the Netherlands, and it is questionable whether their results are valid for the Dutch situation. Because of the relatively liberal drug policy in the Netherlands, drug use patterns may differ from those in other countries, particularly regarding the application of drug use harm reduction strategies [25–28]. In addition, different dance drugs are used in the Netherlands than in other countries [29]. For example, methamphetamine use is prevalent in Australia [30] and the US [31], but virtually nonexistent in the Netherlands [32, 33]. LSD use shows a similar but less pronounced pattern [8, 34]. As recreational drugs have been shown to be each others substitutes [35], these differences may affect ecstasy use patterns. To date, there is hardly any qualitative information available about Dutch ecstasy users, with only one study reporting Dutch data. Although these results do point in the direction of automatic cessation of ecstasy use, they are based on an unpublished source [36].
In order to explore ecstasy use patterns in the Netherlands, and in particular, ecstasy cessation, we conducted a qualitative study among Dutch dance scene members. Ecstasy users, as well as non-users and ex-users, were recruited in order to enable balanced data collection regarding the three periods that seem to comprise an ecstasy use career: initiation, regular use and cessation. Although snow-balling techniques are frequently used in illicit drug research and there is some evidence that snow-balling [37] and respondent-driven sampling [38] may provide representative samples, we decided to recruit participants at dance events to ascertain recruitment of regular dance event visitors and to be able to control the inclusion of non-users, users and ex-users. In addition to ecstasy use careers, we addressed harm reduction strategies employed by ecstasy users. The current paper provides a summary of the results of these interviews.
In April and May 2004, we recruited 160 participants among visitors of three dance events in the Netherlands. Visitors were approached in the chill out areas and asked whether they would be willing to participate in a qualitative study on ecstasy use in exchange for monetary compensation. Visitors who agreed to participate were asked to fill out a small form where they provided contact information and information on their use of ecstasy, speed, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, ephedra and poppers. Specifically, they indicated whether they used each drug and if so, how frequently. If they did not use a drug, they indicated whether they had used the drug in the past but no longer used it now (ex-use) or whether they had never used the drug (non-use).
Afterwards, the 160 potential participants were called randomly. Although a minority of phone numbers turned out to be invalid, the majority of the potential participants that were invited agreed to participate in the study. Therefore, it was not necessary to contact all potential participants. The most common reason to refuse participation was inconvenience of the interview locations and times. Of the 32 participants that were recruited, 24 participants filled five focus groups, and 8 people were invited for individual interviews. Two non-using participants scheduled for individual interviews turned up together, and the interviewer interviewed them simultaneously. The other individual interviews were conducted with a non-user, three users and two ex-users. Of the five focus groups, one consisted of a non-user, two users, and an ex-user; one of a non-user, three users, and an ex-user; two of three users and two ex-users; and one of two users and three ex-users. The choice to combine focus groups and individual interviews was based on the lack of evidence as to how the interview method would affect the discussions about ecstasy use in this population. Combining both methods allowed provisional exploration of potential differences between the two methods.
Because both urban and rural participants were recruited, the focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews were conducted at three locations throughout the Netherlands. Two trained interviewers conducted the sessions, using both a detailed interview/FGD scheme and a shorter topic list. These documents determined in which order the topics would be discussed, starting with neutral issues like music, going out and use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Subsequently, ecstasy use was discussed, particularly the initiation of use, fluctuations in use, applying harm reduction practices, and cessation. The topics covered in the interviews partly depended on whether the interviewee was a non-user, a user or an ex-user, or, in the case of FGDs, on the group composition. Permission to perform this investigation was granted by the Ethical Committee Psychology of Maastricht University (the ECP).
The FGDs and interviews were transcribed and imported into QSR NVivo1.3 [39]. This allowed for coding of fragments using a flexible set of categories. Although these categories were initially based on concepts from the Theory of Planned Behaviour [40], a theory that has been found useful in explaining ecstasy use [41, 42], it turned out that categories were so quickly adjusted and refined as the coding process progressed, that these initial categories hardly guided the coding process. The relevant and recurring categories that emerged will guide the description of the results. When applicable, results will be illustrated with a quote from the participants, translated from Dutch.
Participants' average age was 21 years, with 38% being female, 22% identifying as religious, and 47% living in an urban area (defined as a municipality with over 100.000 inhabitants). Of the 32 participants, 5 had self-identified as non-users on the recruitment form, 16 as users, and 11 as ex-users. During the interviews, however, it became clear that not all self-identified ex-users had decided to never use ecstasy again. In fact, most 'ex-users' did not define ex-use as a decision to 'never use ecstasy again', but rather as the circumstance that they did not plan to use ecstasy in the foreseeable future. Few 'ex-users' decidedly ruled out any future use. Most ecstasy users used ecstasy once a month or less, and quite a few only used a few times a year. The only variable that seemed to be associated with user type was age, with non-users having a mean age of 18, while the mean age of both other groups was 22 (t = 3.00, p < .01). The individual interviews lasted on average 45 minutes, whereas the FGDs lasted on average two hours.
Two differences between individual interviews and FGDs were observed. First, participants of FGDs seemed to speak less freely than those interviewed individually; for example, non-users interviewed individually seemed more negative about drug use than those in focus groups. Second, compared to those interviewed individually, users in FGDs seemed to be more concerned about appearing in control of their drug use. However, these differences may have been a consequence of the heterogeneity of the FGDs (combining non-users, users and ex-users); more homogenous groups may not have exhibited these patterns.
Regarding 'regular ecstasy use', the ecstasy use-related behaviour that has been studied most thoroughly, no reasons were reported that have not yet been summarized in an earlier meta-analysis [11] and qualitative review [13]. Basically, ecstasy using participants confirmed the observation that people use ecstasy because it enhances the perceived experience of a dance party. Specifically, participants indicated that ecstasy provided euphoria, energy and connectedness with peers, decreased social inhibitions, and 'levelled' individuals with ecstasy-using friends. Participants revealed a strong norm against using ecstasy to cope with problems: several users indicated that people should only use ecstasy when feeling good. We will not elaborate on these and alike reasons for ecstasy use, in order to allow for a more in-depth consideration of career transitions (i.e. from non-use to use and from use to ex-use) and application of harm reduction practices.
Not starting to use ecstasy
Non-using participants indicated five major reasons for refraining from ecstasy. First, they indicated fear for the direct and acute effects of ecstasy. Second, they reported the negative health effects as a barrier. Third, some participants indicated fear of addiction. Reported reasons for this fear included observing ecstasy-using friends who no longer visited parties without using ecstasy, perceiving oneself as particularly sensitive to addiction, and having a conviction that all drugs were destructive and addictive. The fourth reason to abstain from trying out ecstasy was related to such a conviction: for a number of non-users, their refraining from ecstasy did not seem to be the result of consideration of the consequences of ecstasy use, but rather of adherence to what seemed like a strict moral principle. The fifth reason was simply the belief that one did not need ecstasy to enjoy oneself, or more specifically, to 'act crazily', referring to ecstasy's disinhibiting effects. Non-users further revealed that they did not perceive any social pressure to engage in ecstasy use; most of them indicated that they had non-using friends. Moreover, they did not regard ecstasy use to be highly prevalent at dance parties.
Initiation of ecstasy use
The interviews clearly identified curiosity about the effects as the main reason to start ecstasy use, often initiated by interaction with ecstasy-using friends. Interestingly, many users indicated that among users it is generally 'not done' to encourage non-using friends to try out ecstasy. Yet, at the same time, users seemed to exhibit an enthusiasm about the drugs' effects that, through peer modelling, seemed to have quite encouraged non-using friends. Although they were curious, most users indicated that they were also quite nervous about negative effects when they tried out ecstasy. One user explained how he wanted to try out ecstasy, but in the end, was too afraid of its effects (a second attempt did succeed):
"I have all my friends in that scene, so it happens automatically. The first time I had . . . I was going to do it, then I said: 'No, let's not after all', because I was afraid, for the effects and for a . . . Well, the second time I did do it, and, well, it was not disappointing, let's put it like that."
(21-year-old male ecstasy user, focus group discussion)
Another user indicated that she waited until she had a relationship with someone who she trusted sufficiently. It appeared that once non-users had become curious about ecstasy, they waited for or actively created the right circumstances for them to try it out. However, even then, most users still exhibited ambivalence in that they remained wary about potential negative effects (mainly unexpected acute effects):
"Yes, look, you know that it's bad for you, period! Smoking is bad, alcohol is bad, drugs are bad. Ehm, and everybody who uses drugs knows that, everybody is always a bit afraid, like, 'what I'm doing now, it's not completely ok', but it feels so good, so, and I live only once."
During use: harm reduction strategies
Throughout their use, the large majority of ecstasy users remained quite aware of the health risks of ecstasy use, and most indicated that they applied a variety of harm reduction strategies. All users clearly seemed to be aware of the need to hydrate during use, and most indicated that they did so. Some participants, however, mentioned that they disliked drinking large amounts of water when they were high, and some others reported that they just tended to forget. A few users had the impression that alcoholic beverages and energy-drinks could also hydrate (whereas these actually dehydrate). Although most users indicated that they were aware of the need to eat during use, many revealed that they disliked eating while high, as ecstasy use causes a very dry mouth. Some users mentioned that they ate the fruit sold at dance events. To compensate for the low intake of food during ecstasy use, most users indicated that they tried to eat properly before use. However, it was generally believed that failure to do so would not have serious negative consequences. Accordingly, in situations of unplanned ecstasy use, many seemed quite willing to forego their intention to eat properly in advance. Moreover, a minority of users revealed that they took ecstasy on an empty stomach to increase its effects. Another harm reduction strategy that was generally acknowledged, was visiting the chill out with sufficient frequency to prevent a high body temperature. However, only a few users seemed to consider this important, and although most indicated that they visited the chill out occasionally, these visits did not seem guided by harm reduction motives.
All in all, our interviews suggest that most ecstasy users attempt to practice harm reduction strategies consistently, but that many were quite willing to let short-term pleasure prevail. Perhaps because of an awareness of their unreliable application of harm reduction strategies, many users claimed to consume healthy nutrients after use, such as nuts, milk and fruit, and in some cases vitamins. These nutrients were perceived as replenishing the body after drug use, and several users showed some lay conceptions of the serotonin depletion due to ecstasy use. Our interviews further revealed that many users tried to get enough sleep, both before and after use, in order to balance the health effects of ecstasy. Both the intake of specific nutrients and the assurance of enough sleep seemed expressions of a belief that ecstasy use damages one's body, and that rest and replenishment is needed to counterbalance the harmful effects of drug use.
Another important harm reduction strategy is verifying the pill contents, since the dose of MDMA (ecstasy's active component) varies greatly, and pills sold as 'ecstasy' may contain different substances [43]. Yet, pill testing did not seem to be a very popular harm reduction strategy. A few users indicated that they had used testing kits and some others mentioned that they had checked the internet for pill details (e.g., pillreports.com). However, the only reliable method to determine pill content is to have a pill tested in a laboratory. A Dutch government-funded organisation, the Trimbos Institute, organises over twenty pill testing facilities all-over the Netherlands. These are free or very cheap to use and anonymous. However, users indicates less use of these facilities than of testing kits and the internet. Major reasons for the unpopularity of pill testing were a trust in drug dealers or friends who provided ecstasy, as well as the perceived hassle to reach testing facilities.
Finally, many users indicated that they moderated their ecstasy use. Most users moderated the intensity of their use by planning how many pills they would like to take, and taking only that amount to parties. However, this strategy also seemed to be inspired by the possibility of being caught at the drug checks at dance events. Another frequently mentioned way to moderate the intensity of use was to start with a whole pill, but only take 'booster doses' of half a pill. Likewise, many users indicated that they moderated the frequency of their ecstasy use, and that they limited use to less than once a month or once every six weeks -one of the harm reduction guidelines promoted by health educators in The Netherlands. Most users had moderated their frequency of use from the start, but a minority reported that they had gone through a period of very frequent use, where their lives had revolved around dance events, before eventually diminishing their use.
Ceasing ecstasy use
The ex-users that were interviewed reported three main reasons to cease ecstasy use: responsibilities, loss of interest, and experiencing acute serious effects. The most frequently reported reason to cease use was changing responsibilities. Ex-users indicated that they had reduced their drug use when they noticed that their use interfered with their job or study. Additionally, changing jobs, entering a relationship, or having children were mentioned as reasons to cease use. Interestingly, the interviews with users suggested that they anticipate ceasing ecstasy use, and many referred to their current use as a 'phase' in their lives:
"Look, in this phase of my life I'm just at school, I study, in this phase I don't see myself stopping [with use] . . . After that there's a new phase . . . And see, whether that's the reason . . . Or, or . . . Wife, children, job, I don't know . . . That depends, but . . . I think that in any case, I will have stopped before I get to 30 . . . That is kind of like a deadline . . .
Specifically, the age of thirty was repeatedly mentioned as some kind of 'hard deadline' for ceasing ecstasy use and visiting dance events. However, the fact that the ex-users in our study had been recruited at dance parties indicates that at least some ex-users continue visiting dance events even after having ceased ecstasy use.
The second reason to cease ecstasy use that was frequently mentioned was loss of interest. Ex-users indicated that they had reached a point where 'they had seen it all', implying that the novelty of ecstasy use and dance events fades, perhaps in interaction with the introduction of new responsibilities. Third, a few ex-users indicated that they had reconsidered their ecstasy use because of experiences with acute and severe negative effects, such as being hospitalised themselves or having experienced a hospitalised friend.
Our interviews further suggested that ceasing ecstasy use was not perceived as a difficult thing to do. Most users indicated that they were rather confident regarding their ability to cease their drug use. Some ex-users reported that once they had decided to cease, this had indeed had been easy. Some others, however, reported that cessation was hampered by their desire to be 'on the same level' as their ecstasy using friends:
"No, I don't see that [stop using while friends keep on using] happening . . . I have considered that numerous times. [...] At some point you're just standing there, and you're completely sober, and you think like: 'ok, that guy is completely off it,' and then you don't really enjoy it any more, then you might as well go home."
(22-year-old male ecstasy user, individual interview)
Also, dance events were generally experienced as more pleasant when ecstasy was used, and accordingly, some users reported that ceasing drug use would probably go together with ceasing to attend dance events.
Not ceasing ecstasy use
The most worrying aspect of ecstasy use, potential long-term health damage, was not reported as a major reason for cessation. Although the interviews indicated that users were quite aware of the long-term health risks of ecstasy use, almost none of the users seemed to be worried about the long-term effects of their drug use. This lack of worry about long-term effects seemed to be related to the control users perceive to have over acute negative health effects, and the fact that almost nobody had experienced acute negative effects of their drug use -possibly due to the harm reduction strategies that were frequently employed- let alone long-term negative effects. Moreover, those who mentioned that they had experienced mild acute negative effects (e.g. a bad trip) tended to attribute such incidents to accidental factors like a bad pill. Participants who had experienced severe health problems among acquaintances or their friends, tended to attribute the problems to ignorance and misuse of ecstasy:
"What if a good friend of yours would end up in a hospital?"
"Then, eh, then I would first just ask how much he used. Because it's like this: for example, if I think he used too much, then it's just his own fault."
(21-year old male ecstasy user, focus group discussion)
First of all, our study suggests that ecstasy use among young people in the Netherlands has a strong social character. Many of the drug-using young people that we have interviewed, revealed that they had started using ecstasy because of curiosity and because they felt tempted by, and attracted to, the positive effects ecstasy seemed to have on their friends during dance events. They wanted to be part of the thrill their friends seemed to experience through ecstasy use; they wanted to be on the same level. And once they had experienced the thrill, it became common practice to continue ecstasy use while visiting dance events with friends. Generally, this meant using a few times a year, and rarely more frequently than once a month. For dance party visitors who refrained from ecstasy, the thrill of ecstasy use seemed not to outweigh their fear of ecstasy's direct effects and negative health effects. Moreover, non-users indicated that they did not need ecstasy to "freak out" at dance events. And, perhaps most importantly, they seemed to visit dance events with friends who also do not use ecstasy.
A second major result of our study is that ecstasy users seem to be well aware of the health consequences of ecstasy use, and of the harm reduction strategies they can employ to reduce or balance these consequences. Moreover, our study indicates that, although many users mentioned inconsequent and inferior harm reduction strategies, almost none of them had ever experienced acute health problems due to ecstasy use.
A third important outcome of our study is that ceasing ecstasy use seems to be something that 'just happens' due to circumstances, for instance because visiting dance events on ecstasy does no longer fit with other obligations, such as a job or study, or with changing social relationships. As such, ecstasy cessation hardly ever seems to be the result of a careful consideration of pros and cons, nor do negative health experiences seem to play a substantial role.
A fourth result of our study is that ecstasy users generally do not expect cessation to be hard, which is in line with the experiences of those who had actually ceased use. The only factor that seemed to hamper cessation to some extent seems the desire to continue visiting dance events with ecstasy-using friends.
These findings substantiate those reported by Ter Bogt et al. [36]: most ecstasy users seem to cease use of their own accord, either because it starts to interfere with their 'normal life', or because they lose interest. The findings also seem consistent with the results from other countries (i.e., Australia, the US, the UK and Germany), although a number of reasons have not been reported by the Dutch sample. Financial reasons, relationship or social problems, feeling dependent, and fear of legal consequences were not reported by the Dutch sample. The omission of financial reasons is likely a consequence of the low prices of ecstasy in the Netherlands, with pills being as cheap as 1 or 2 euro when bought in bulk [33]. Fear of legal consequences likely did not play a role because of the aforementioned liberal drug policy in the Netherlands (although this reason is not very prevalent in other countries, either). Finally, the low frequencies of ecstasy use may have prevented social and relationship problems, as well as feelings of dependence, from manifesting themselves. Paradoxically, these low frequencies of use may be an indirect consequence of the liberal drug policy as well [25–28]. This policy allowed harm reduction initiatives to flourish, and many users seemed to limit their use frequency conform the guidelines provided by Dutch harm reduction initiatives (e.g., Unity, a peer education project, and "uitgaan en drugs", an initiative from the Trimbos Institute).
These findings also corroborate earlier findings that ecstasy users' perceptions of ecstasy's risks approximate "its scientifically recognized risk relative to other drugs" [[24], p. 190], and that while acute negative effects may impact drug use, this should not be expected of the possibility of long-term neuro-toxic damage [24]. Non-users are aware of ecstasy's dangers, and it seems that among those that start using, this awareness does not disappear. This suggests that health educators have been successful in their endeavours to convey the health risks of ecstasy use, but that this information neither deters curious non-users, nor causes cessation in users.
The factors that do cause cessation, interference with 'real life' and loss of interest, seem hard to influence through health promotion interventions. What does this mean for future health promotion programs targeting ecstasy use? The link between ecstasy use and dance events suggests that banning dance parties might be an effective strategy to reduce ecstasy use. However, as the dance scene became popular through illegally organised dance events, this does not seem a viable solution. At illegal events, organised harm reduction initiatives would be precluded. Furthermore, ecstasy use may also shift to another context. In all, banning dance events would seem a harmful course of action. Second, increasing fear of ecstasy's health effects might help to discourage ecstasy use, but most users' estimates of ecstasy's dangers actually reflect the scientifically recognized risk. In addition, people have generally not experienced any risks themselves. Presenting risk information that is not supported by the scientific literature likely discredits the messenger. Moreover, fear-based information has been shown to be an ineffective intervention strategy [44].
Third, regarding ecstasy use prevention, intervening on non-users' fear of addiction may be successful. It may be possible to use the phenomenon that for ecstasy users, ceasing ecstasy use seems linked to ceasing attendance of dance events. This form of dependence may well be an undesirable outcome for non-users who consider trying ecstasy out, since in all likelihood, they will not want to find themselves in the situation where they have to give up attending dance events if they want to stop using ecstasy. This new argument to abstain may take away some of the casualness seemingly associated with trying ecstasy out. This argument can be combined with non-users' belief that they do not need ecstasy to have a good time, by informing potential users that trying out ecstasy might make them need the drug in order to have a good time.
The two other reasons to not start using ecstasy do not appear feasible intervention targets. First, because no publication has reported on the successful creation of negative moral norms regarding a target behaviour, there is no known method to establish a moral objection to (hard)drug use. Second, the fact that the main reason to initiate ecstasy use is curiosity, implies that non-users' trigger to start using ecstasy is unlikely to be a change in their belief that they do not 'need' the disinhibiting effects of ecstasy.
Because most users seem to cease regardless of health promotion efforts, health educators may be able to achieve more health benefits by promoting harm reduction strategies (HRSs). Although many users already attempt to apply these, not all users manage to correctly and consistently do so. In addition, many users are willing to neglect application when this interferes with their goals of having a good time [consistent with the hedonistic nature of the dance scene; [36]]. In fact, some users knowingly neglect certain HRSs, such as eating properly beforehand, to maximise drug effects. This has also been found for chilling out [45–47]. Thus, successful health promotion about HRSs has clear health potential. However, a problem for health promotion about harm reduction is a lack of evidence on which to base guidelines. Although there are a number of studies into which harm reduction strategies users employ [e.g. [48, 49]], there are no studies documenting the effects of these practices. Until this becomes clear, training users' skills to implement intentions to apply HRSs may be beneficial. In addition, the implementation of harm reduction strategies may be enabled or enhanced by improved party conditions, for example by providing on site testing facilities, food that is edible with a dry mouth, free water distribution, organised chilling breaks, and prompts to drink, eat, and chill out.
The current study is limited in several ways. First, the study has a cross-sectional design. It would be interesting to see which patterns emerge when a group of participants is followed over time. The Dutch NeXT study provides a good example of a design that would allow this [50, 51]. Also, Von Sydow et al. [52] have conducted a quantitative longitudinal study, and although they found that indeed, over time, many users automatically ceased or reduced their use, they did not examine reasons or determinants of these transitions. The second limitation is typical of qualitative research, which relies strongly on participants' self-reported reasons and self-reported causal links between reasons and behaviour. Although this qualitative methodology is particularly suitable for exploratory research, the downside is that quantitative verification of the results is required, the latter methodology being less dependent upon participants' introspective skills and allows statistical inference and thereby generalisation. A third limitation is that, although the employment of both FGD's and individual interviews provided preliminary indications as to differences in the way participants discussed their (non-)drug use, this issue has not been explored more thoroughly. It would be interesting to explore this topic in more depth.
Regardless of these limitations, this study contributes to growing evidence that health communication about the negative effects of ecstasy use may not be able to generate behaviour change [53]. Because of this, and the high probability that ecstasy users cease their use regardless of the efforts of health promoters, it seems wise for health promoters to focus on harm reduction.
The most important reasons to start using were curiosity about and desire for ecstasy's effects and a desire to be on the same level as friends. Those who refrained from using indicated that they did not need ecstasy to "flip out" at parties, and that for them, the fear of ecstasy's direct effects and negative health effects outweighed the thrill, and perhaps more importantly, that they generally visited dance events with friends who do not use ecstasy. Most users did not used frequently, and although all users applied harm reduction strategies, these were often inferior and applied inconsistently. Ecstasy use cessation seemed prompted by changing life circumstances (job/study responsibilities, relationships, losing interest in dance scene), rather by consideration of pros and cons of use, and accordingly, potential health effects do not seem to play a substantial role. Most users do not expect cessation to be hard, and most ex-users agree. The only apparent complication emerged for users who, while trying to cease, continued to visit dance events with ecstasy using friends. Furthermore, there is evidence that health educators have successfully conveyed ecstasy's health risks, as most users' risk perception seems to approximate ecstasy's scientifically recognized risk.
Differences with other countries in the saliency of reasons to cease seem may be explained by the Netherlands' liberal drug policy, which allowed harm reduction initiatives to flourish: many users seem to limit their use frequency according to the guidelines provided by Dutch harm reduction initiatives Unity and Uitgaan & Drugs, and these low use frequencies may have prevented the social, relationship, health, and dependence problems, that were cited by users in other countries, from manifesting. Ecstasy prevention interventions may focus on the fact that once somebody tries out ecstasy, chances are that they will use at most or all dance parties they attend, thus developing some form of dependence. This may take away some of the casualness associated with trying out ecstasy. In general, however, it seems that harm reduction interventions have the greatest potential for achieving health benefits. Improving party conditions, for example by providing free water and organising breaks to chill out, may prove very beneficial. Finally, there is an urgent need for more research into the effectiveness of the different harm reduction strategies.
This research was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The authors would like to thank the participants for sharing their experiences, Ana Regina Noto and Silvia Martins for their constructive comments on the first version of this manuscript, Anna Fink for the English language editing, and Mariolina Eliantonio for help in revising the manuscript.
GJYP conducted the study and the analyses and drafted the manuscript. GK conceived of the study, contributed to the interpretation of the data and critically revised the manuscript. HPS contributed to the interpretation of the data and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Department of Work and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Pre-publication history
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/376/prepub


Yes I submit posts at that other site. I've been there almost a year while only here a few weeks. Am I here because I'm not happy there? No. I'm actually 29 for 29 as far as payments go. I haven't reached payout here yet so time will tell.
My point is, I'm happy with both sites. If there was a third site as promising as the two I am on now I might join there, too. I'm wondering if there is anyone here in the same boat. Seems most of the posters here have deserted other sites or left sites that have folded. Is it possible to serve two masters and make them and ourselves happy?
Image Credit » This is my Microsoft Paint image.
I think Bubble Ooze is about to dump on my by refusing a payment after nearly a year of good service from them (and they from me). Not happy, not happy at all.
Sorry to hear that Kasman . I enjoyed following you at the bubble site. I'm 29 days into their supposed "30 day to redeem" policy for payment number 30. We shall see what we shall see.
I hardly every use a basket for eggs since they invented those nice cartons.
I came to Persona Paper because I don't want to rely on a single site for writing. I've done that in that past and found it not to be the best way of doing things. I'm glad to have found you here and wish you the best of success.
Thank you feisty56 . Seems &abbyg agrees with the eggs in one basket idea.
38 days for me and nothing yet - not looking good.
It's better to spread yourself out, I learned that the hard way, It's a bit more challenging that way, but it could also be more rewarding.
Once upon a time, I was very happy with that other place. Miss you here. Hope you'll be back soon.


If the idea of a relaxing trip to the dentist seems absurd, you'll be happy to know that over the last few years there has been a major focus on the patient experience by dental practices all over the nation.
From virtual reality to an office that feels like anything but a dental practice to sedation dentistry and even a new system that completely takes over your senses, allowing you to relax - there's so much going on in the world of relaxation dentistry today. If you are anxious about going to the dentist, find a dental practice that uses some of these new ways to help patients relax and sometimes even sleep through their treatments.


text:
Q: Renaming Image name with PHP So I'm just starting to use PHP and i pulled a script from online. the way it is setup is that if the file already exists it will not upload it. i want to be able to rename the files so it accepts all the photos.

Heres the Code:
    <?php
$target_dir = "uploads/";
$target_file = $target_dir . basename($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"]);
$uploadOk = 1;
$imageFileType = pathinfo($target_file,PATHINFO_EXTENSION);
// Check if image file is a actual image or fake image
if(isset($_POST["submit"])) {
    $check = getimagesize($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["tmp_name"]);
    if($check !== false) {
        echo "File is an image - " . $check["mime"] . ".";
        $uploadOk = 1;
    } else {
        echo "File is not an image.";
        $uploadOk = 0;
    }
}
// Check if file already exists
if (file_exists($target_file)) {
    echo "Sorry, file already exists.";
    $uploadOk = 0;
}
// Check file size
if ($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["size"] > 500000) {
    echo "Sorry, your file is too large.";
    $uploadOk = 0;
}
// Allow certain file formats
if($imageFileType != "jpg" && $imageFileType != "png" && $imageFileType != "jpeg"
&& $imageFileType != "gif" ) {
    echo "Sorry, only JPG, JPEG, PNG & GIF files are allowed.";
    $uploadOk = 0;
}
// Check if $uploadOk is set to 0 by an error
if ($uploadOk == 0) {
    echo "Sorry, your file was not uploaded.";
// if everything is ok, try to upload file
} else {
    if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["tmp_name"], $target_file)) {
        echo "The file ". basename( $_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"]). " has been uploaded.";
    } else {
        echo "Sorry, there was an error uploading your file.";
    }
}
?>

There is a if value that deals with the Pre existing files. I'm assuming i will change that out for a different If value to change the name? thanks for your help!

A: Change this line:
$target_file = $target_dir . basename($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"]);

To:
$target_file = $target_dir . 'this_is_my_new_name_whooah.txt';

A: You can rename file if the file being uploaded already exist.
if (file_exists($target_file)) {
    $target_file=$target_file."2";//Rename file by concating any other string
    $uploadOk = 1;
}

A: This is how we work around same named images
$fileCount = count (glob ("uploads/*.jpg"));
$name = ( $fileCount + 1) . '.jpg';
$newName = "uploads/" . $name;
$tf = fopen($newName, 'w');
fclose($tf);
move_uploaded_file($_FILES['fileField']['tmp_name'], $newName);

hope this helps you out!

A: The current solution does not account for multiple similarly named files, this is a quick scalable solution.
if (file_exists($target_file))
{
    $filecounter = 0; // initialize file count.

    // runs loop increasing filecount and appending to filename until untaken filename is found.
    do
    {
        $filecounter++;
        $target_file .= " - $filecounter";
    }
    while( file_exists($target_file) );
}

A: // Check if file already exists
if (file_exists($target_file)) {
    //echo "Sorry, file already exists.";
    //$uploadOk = 0;
    rename($target_file, 'your_new_filename');
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
IACC Home > About IACC
IACC Overview
IACC Members
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates Federal efforts and provides advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through its inclusion of both Federal and public members, the IACC helps to ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are represented and discussed in a public forum. The committee reconvened in November 2015 to begin a new session under the Autism CARES Act.
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) was originally established under the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-310, PDF – 546 KB). The committee was reauthorized and chartered as a federal advisory committee under the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-416, PDF – 49 KB) and was reauthorized again in 2011 under the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-32, PDF – 119 KB).
IACC Chair
Joshua Gordon,
M.D., Ph.D.
NIMH Director
Federal Members
Public Members
IACC Alternates


text:
Q: Background images not working in Outlook Email
when i send a same email to Gmail and outLook
its work perfectly on Gmail but in outLook its not showing background-image of div

A: Outlook supports background images and it's using VML. VML (vector markup language) is native to outlook. Below is the code you can use:
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<v:rect xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:[WIDTH]px;height:[HEIGHT]px;">
<v:fill type="frame" src="[IMAGE PATH]" color="#[FALLBACK COLOR]" />
<v:textbox inset="0,0,0,0">
<![endif]-->
[HTML CONTENT HERE]
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
</v:textbox>
</v:rect>
<![endif]-->]]>

All you need to do is change the height and width of the VML, add in the image path and you are good to go. Be sure to place this inside a table with a specific width or you will have tiled images.
Cheers


text:
Home ▸ Announcements ▸ A Mother on an International Mission
A Mother on an International Mission
Posted in Announcements | Tagged Alumni, Executive Master's in Leadership
Well-known figures like Chrissy Teigan and Meghan Markle are known for making headlines, but in 2020 they shared their miscarriage stories. This brought mainstream attention to an issue a Georgetown alumna has been creating awareness around for years. Sarah Slack (EML'20) and her nonprofit, the TEARS Foundation, has been providing financial and emotional support for pregnancy, infant, child loss, and youth suicide for the last 18 years.
"I started my organization, The TEARS Foundation, because 20 years ago my son was stillborn," Slack said. "I couldn't pay for my son's gravemarker for a year and it was enough that I had to walk this journey, had to go to the cemetery, visit my child, and there was no gravemarker. There was a number where he was laid to rest. And I just thought nobody should go through this. You're going to have to walk through the pain, but at least we're able to lift the financial burden and help with the funeral expense. So I started to figure out how to raise money so we could do this."
Slack began in her local community in Seattle, Washington. From there, it started to grow and at the 12 year mark, Slack sat down to write down a five-year plan, which included taking her organization to Washington, D.C., to be among influencers who could help further her mission internationally.
At the same time, she was considering graduate school, having already been accepted to the University of Washington in nonprofit management. So, she started searching for opportunities in D.C. and came across the Executive Master's in Leadership program. Seeing the broad focus on leadership development regardless of industry or function and the international component, she felt she found the perfect program for her.
"I knew Georgetown was for me because their values coincide with mine," Slack said. "The way that they believe in serving and the good of others, that's how I live my life. I'm so grateful to have attended Georgetown and to be a part of that community and it continues on. It's sad when you think you graduate and you're moving on but I've realized I'm a part of the community forever now, and I'm super grateful for that."
Slack figured out the logistics of traveling back and forth between Washington and Seattle, then started her EML degree in 2019. The connections, community, and mentoring Slack received while at Georgetown McDonough was unlike anything she could have imagined. She says the people she met in her cohort and the support they have given her has proven to be invaluable. Currently, one of her EML classmates sits on the TEARS Foundation Board of Directors. Her professors continue to mentor her and look for ways for Slack to grow the TEARS Foundation.
"One of my professors at Georgetown, who is a mentor to me now through EML, sent me an article and asked 'Did you see that Megan Markle had recently spoken out about this?' And he suggested that I reach out to her," Slack said.
The Washington Post actually has reached out to Slack and her foundation before because TEARS is the leading foundation for child-loss world-wide. At the moment, there are 32 chapters internationally and it continues to grow.
"It blows my mind sometimes to think about, in the most humble way, how we've been able to help people in a significant way," Slack said. "Georgetown is a huge piece of the puzzle for me to be able to continue this work and move it forward. I also think when I tell people that I graduated from Georgetown in leadership, it somehow gives me credibility."
Over the last 18 years, the TEARS Foundation and its founder have been recognized for their achievements. A few of the awards include the Pay it Forward Award and the Award for Innovation in Excellence. Most recently, Devin McCourty, of the New England Patriots, selected The TEARS Foundation as his charity for My Cause My Cleats during the week of December 7, 2020. He wore cleats specially made to honor his daughter, Mia, who was stillborn and to bring awareness to the TEARS Foundation.
"I can imagine that there are many people who have experienced this and may have never been supported or felt the opportunity to be able to speak about their loss because not everyone has that type of support," Slack said. "I want even the Georgetown alumni network to know that they are not alone. If they want to personally reach out to me, I would be honored to hear from them. I just want them to know that there are people that have walked this road before. It can feel really lonely, and I would want them to know that they're not alone."
If you are experiencing something like this and are in need of resources please visit the following link.
www.thetearsfoundation.org
Sarah has also graciously offered to speak with anyone who needs it; her email can be found below as well.
sarahslack@thetearsfoundation.org