I was originally going to celebrate my birthday with a party, but I don't think I want to do that anymore.
I've always wanted to hang out at a house right on the ocean for a week or two. There are several east coast states I haven't been to, so I was wondering if someone could suggest an area or place to relax at that isn't outrageously priced. Where there is a grocery store within the area. Maine, New Hampshire and the Carolinas sound nice.
Come to Rhode Island! We are the Ocean State.
Cape Cod is very nice.
Delleware is one of the cheapest places to beach around. Also, southern east tip of Maryland.
The Outer Banks in NC is great. Jersey shore is also very nice. I'm not sure what you'd consider 'outrageously expensive' of course, and the time of year makes a big difference.
Maine is fantastic, but it stays pretty chilly for a long time, and the beaches are, from what I remember, rocky and the ocean is coooold. Are you looking for sand dunes or rugged beauty? I have friends who adore NC beaches.
Come to Rhode Island! We are the Ocean State.15 hour drive to Rhode Island.
Long Island, NY?I've been to Cape Cod.
The Outer Banks in NC is great. Jersey shore is also very nice. I'm not sure what you'd consider 'outrageously expensive' of course, and the time of year makes a big difference.Outrageously expensive meaning over $200 a day to rent. I'm looking at August.
How about the west coast? The Washington and northern Oregon coast lines are simply awsome!
Maine is fantastic, but it stays pretty chilly for a long time, and the beaches are, from what I remember, rocky and the ocean is coooold. Are you looking for sand dunes or rugged beauty? I have friends who adore NC beaches.I don't mind chilly. I'm not one who lays out. I'd like to sit out on a porch by the ocean, read and write and listen to the waves. I've heard Maine is beautiful.
The Hamptons are crazy expensive, and you usually have to rent for a whole season or at least a month. Fire Island, NY is more affordable. It's nice (no cars) and low key (well, depending on the area).
Outrageously expensive meaning over $200 a day to rent. I'm looking at August.
It will be tough to find something on the ocean in August for $200/day. Is *near* the ocean acceptable?
How about the west coast? The Washington and northern Oregon coast lines are simply awsome!The west coast is beautiful. I've been to several places in Cali. I'll be vacationing alone and thought a rental on the ocean would be perfect.
I've heard Oregon is beautiful and my mom's favorite city is Seattle.
The Hamptons are crazy expensive, and you usually have to rent for a whole season or at least a month. Fire Island, NY is more affordable. It's nice (no cars) and low key (well, depending on the area).I figured the Hamptons would be expensive. I think my cousin has vacationed at Hilton Head.
It will be tough to find something on the ocean in August for $200/day. Is *near* the ocean acceptable?NO! I really, really want to get something on the ocean. I thought with today's economy, people might have a problem renting and prices might be lower than normal.
The price of rentals actually went UP for Long Island beaches this year, since fewer people are in the mood to buy anything. But other areas might be different.
However, they do rent by the week - I just don't know how quickly they book up.
You can do a quick search of OBX rentals through http://www.joelambjr.com/ and see what you can come up with. They're the realtor we've been using for years and they're quite good. I do think it's going to be tough for you to find a place, though. Most oceanfront homes are pretty extravagant.
What about on a sound or bay? Those can be really nice, they're less expensive and you're practically at the ocean.
Years ago, my ex and I vacationed on the Outer Banks and we were able to get a house right on the ocean for, say $500-$600 a week.
Now that was YEARS ago - early 90s, but I'm wondering if it's still a good deal?
Other than that, I'd say Delaware or Md. would be next in line. Jersey tends to be pricey but because of the economy, maybe there are still bargains to be had.
This is going to sound crazy but I'm just putting it out there: have you thought about Costa Rica? That's if you are willing to fly, of course. Beaches are fantastic and rentals (I think) are not so terribly expensive. I think August has nice weather on the Pacific side.
Actually, it hasn't been as crowded this year as usual, so that might be something. But as others have said, I don't think it's relatively cheap.
The Gulf coast is so much nicer. Have you thought about going down there? You can get a really nice condo in Gulf Shores for about $700/week right now.
I don't think you're looking to rough it, but there's a really nice state park on Hunting Island, SC...cabins are available for about $600/week. Parts of GI Jane and Forest Gump were filmed there; it's really beautiful. Plus, there's a great pub just outside the state park gates.
Wherever you land, check out www.vrbo.com. You can sometimes talk owners down in price, when they have a vacancy they're trying to fill.
The price of rentals actually went UP for Long Island beaches this year, since fewer people are in the mood to buy anything. But other areas might be different.I wasn't really thinking NY or NJ. Nothing against you guys, it's just I'm picturing obnoxious kids running around the beach, crowds, etc. I was really looking for something a little more away from people. :D Somewhat secluded from crazies.
Just a thought ;)It's starting to sound like I won't be renting a home on the ocean.
What about on a sound or bay? Those can be really nice, they're less expensive and you're practically at the ocean.Thanks for the link. Looks like a good resource.
Other than that, I'd say Delaware or Md. would be next in line. Jersey tends to be pricey but because of the economy, maybe there are still bargains to be had.Thanks, and I have no clue what you mean by the "Outer Banks."
This is going to sound crazy but I'm just putting it out there: have you thought about Costa Rica? That's if you are willing to fly, of course. Beaches are fantastic and rentals (I think) are not so terribly expensive. I think August has nice weather on the Pacific side.It just isn't the same. If I was to travel, I'd go back to Ixtapa, cheap and isn't touristy like other places.
Wherever you land, check out www.vrbo.com (http://www.vrbo.com). You can sometimes talk owners down in price, when they have a vacancy they're trying to fill.I was just in Clearwater in April, so I'd like to try another area.
Thank you so much for the link. Another good resource.
ToT, a couple of pics of the Washington coast. It's a bit more rugged with rocks and old-growth forests.
I wasn't really thinking NY or NJ. Nothing against you guys, it's just I'm picturing obnoxious kids running around the beach, crowds, etc. I was really looking for something a little more away from people. :D Somewhat secluded from crazies.
The beaches are actually not crowded in many places out here because there are no hotels--your ONLY option is to rent or stay at a friend's house. The traffic to get there--that's another story.
I'm probably biased, because I grew up there, but I'll agree with those who've suggested Delaware.
Best bet if you want to rent a house (although good luck this late in the season) is Bethany Beach or Fenwick Island. You're also very close to both Ocean City, MD and Rehoboth Beach, DE from those points, so you can hit several different beaches.
http://www.terragalleria.com/images/np-pacific/olym1005.jpegGorgeous, Hobbes. This is exactly what I was picturing. Is this Oregon or Washington?
These pics are of Washington. You might also like Seaside, OR or Cannon Beach, OR, but while beautiful, might be a little touristy.
My mother-in-law has a house on the ocean (sorry, she no longer rents it) at the extreme southern part of NC on an island called Holden Beach. You might be able to rent a very small, older cottage (I'm thinking 30+ years old) on the water there for $1400/wk. There are several other islands below Wilmington, NC, that aren't as commecialized as the Outer Banks (tho I love that place too!) so the prices are less. You might look into condos, also.
One other consideration in looking at the east coast -from the Virginia coastline (where I live) on down the water is affected by the gulf stream and it gets very warm in the summer (around 80 degrees), as opposed to the northern beach waters which are much colder.
I'm salivating for my beach fix now!!!!
Beaufort is a good suggestion. It's a pretty town, too.
A while back, I used to spend the last week in July on LBI (lost it when I broke up with the guy... missed it more than I ever missed him!) - From what I remember, it's not like Seaside crowded - the beach is HUGE and was never overrun with people. Like I said, no boardwalk, so no games or rides and not a whole lot of rowdy people. They generally flock to Pt. Pleasant, Seaside, Seaside Park, Ocean City, Wildwood. You find a lot of families at Wildwood Crest (I think that's the family-oriented one).
There's also Cape May - which has a lot of Victorian houses and B&Bs - don't know how many kids you get there. I think they'd be bored, myself.
ToT, Google Images "Rialto Beach, WA." I think you'll like.
I knew I could count on all of you for awesome suggestions.
Tot, check out Beaufort, SC. Nice low country area. Check out this one: http://www.vrbo.com/45429 This is pretty. I'm going to look into it more when I get home.
I'm salivating for my beach fix now!!!!Thanks for the information. I can do $1400 a week, and I don't care if the cottage is 30 + years. As long as it's clean and roaches won't crawl all over me while I sleep I'm fine.
ToT, Google Images "Rialto Beach, WA." I think you'll like.Ooooo! Now that's nice. This looks nice to go with my family, but I'll have to get my prescription of valium filled before then. :D I'm keeping this for possibe future vacations.
Hey - come visit me at the shore! I'll be in Lavallette off and on all summer!
My husband is from NJ and he keeps trying to convince me of that.
I'm kidding. There are many beautiful areas in NJ. It gets a bum rap!
LOL! I think you should work for the Chamber of Commerce for NJ. It's funny how people have certain perceptions of places. Let's take Chicago for instance, it isn't always cold and not all of us are armed. And we've learned to duck for drive-by shootings.
I just googled Lavallette, NJ (http://www.newjerseyshore.com/lavallette.shtml) and it looks cute. I believe you're younger than me, which is a problem. You see, when I'm out with younger people, I tend to forget how old I really am and wind up doing stupid things. And they ain't pretty.
Well, I'm almost 37, so it's not that young anymore - we do the family stuff now - Pt. Pleasant with the kids (Jenkinson's - more kids than you could ever want to see ;)) I tend to stay away from Seaside because that's where most of the clubs and club-chippies and young studmuffins hang out - I tend to stick out a LOT!
:DThanks, Cray. You're always looking out for me.
I can take the winery refinery tour next time.
Again, thanks everyone. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
The refineries are at the northern part of the state. The best shore is the southern part.
Yeah, JerseyChick, I'll agree with you there. People think of the Parkway, Elizabeth oil refineries, city skylines. Out by me in western Jersey, it's nothing like that - a lot of rolling fields and farm land. There IS a reason it's called the Garden State. Head out toward Cumberland County and it takes on another personality entirely.
When I was young we went to Asbury Park (before the riots) which is now seeing an incredible resurgence. But my favorite places are Ocean Grove, Pt. Pleasant (get away from the boardwalk and into the downtown - good antiquing) and Cape May and even Wildwood.
So Train, Jersey really does deserve a look EVEN THOUGH it probably will be on the pricier side. But who knows? You may get a deal.
Umm...Have you considered the Great Lakes? They've got beaches, and water, and cooler temperatures.
The Outer Banks in NC is great.
That's the ticket. Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk.
I like going there in the offseason, especially October. Cheaper, fewer people. In fact, I went there for my honeymoon.
meh....i think it's a step up from oc, nj but in recent years ocean city, md has become nearly as busy (maybe more) as the new jersey beaches.
tot needs some peace and quiet as near as i can tell.
Well, it is a family oriented place. But I think finding a quiet seaside resort this time of year will be tough.
Btw, I was in Key Largo, today. Going home, I was shocked at how light the traffic was going South (into the Keys). Normally, the late afternoon on a day before a holiday--especially the 4th--has bumper to bumper traffic, all the way down. It was still busy, but not like in the past.
Oh, and I guess the Keys would be another good suggestion for ToT. Then she can come see me! What a bonus for her!
Umm...Have you considered the Great Lakes? They've got beaches, and water, and cooler temperatures.Umm... yeah I live close to one - Lake Michigan. I want to hear the waves rising and falling on land, and not worry about beach closings because of toxins in the water. Thanks for the suggestion, Smiling Ted. I hope you're still smiling, because I can be funny.
http://www.oceancitycam.com/Thanks for the link, RT. I'll check it out. I don't want to overlook anything, and if I can do some bargaining, I might find something cheaper.
I like going there in the offseason, especially October. Cheaper, fewer people. In fact, I went there for my honeymoon.Ooooo.. Another linky pooh. Thanks so much for the information. I'm definitely going to take a look at all these links and see what kind of costs I'm looking at.
And you're right about the traffic, they've already been showing a percentage decrease on the news for travelers. People just can't afford it. I passed by a few gas stations by me and it's $4.35 a gallon - price gouging, and on July 1, our sales taxes went up to 10.25%. Bastids.
Mystic CT, Point Judith R.I., Stonington CT.
The surrounding little towns in the CT River valley are fabulous too - Haddam, Essex, Deep River, etc. There's Gillette Castle, the Haddam Opera House, all kinds of nice stuff.
:)WOW! Beautiful pics, NerdsRus. I'm checking into rentals today, so I appreciate the suggestions.
25 Northeast Getaways (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/travel/escapes/04short.html?_r=1&ref=escapes&oref=slogin)Aw, you are too nice, Wendy. Thank you very much.
WOW! Beautiful pics, NerdsRus. I'm checking into rentals today, so I appreciate the suggestions.
Aw, you are too nice, Wendy. Thank you very much.
If you go to Mystic, CT, I could meet you. It is about an hour away from me.
No no no, not Delaware!
We are crowded, lots of traffic, muddy waters. Terrible. You don't wish to come to Delaware.
NJ shore isn't all crowded. The town I live in, and the town just south of me, are small and very quiet. There's a boardwalk but that's it. No amusements, not even miniature golf. But the house rentals are expensive, esp. on the ocean. I live in southern Monmouth County, which is central east NJ.
If you go farther south, like toward the tip of NJ, there are a few quiet towns with far less expensive ocean-front rentals. Wildwood Crest even has ocean-front condos. I think the barrier islands down there have less expensive houses and are quiet. Cape May is expensive.
As others have said, try Delaware or Maryland, too.
(Also, there is a *bit* of a drive to get here if it's 15 hrs from where you are to R.I.) But I think that a hefty drive would be true of most of the places on the coast you could drive to. Have you considered, if it's someplace coastal you're after, staying closer to home along the Great Lakes? Lake Erie has some beautiful sunsets, and there are plenty of small little communities that dot the shores of Erie and Ontario.
If you go to Mystic, CT, I could meet you. It is about an hour away from me.I'm looking at so many places and now I'm getting confused.
ChristinaLOL! Thanks for the offer. I'll let you know.
As others have said, try Delaware or Maryland, too.Thanks, Stormie. I'll look at the southern part of NJ.
(Also, there is a *bit* of a drive to get here if it's 15 hrs from where you are to R.I.) But I think that a hefty drive would be true of most of the places on the coast you could drive to. Have you considered, if it's someplace coastal you're after, staying closer to home along the Great Lakes? Lake Erie has some beautiful sunsets, and there are plenty of small little communities that dot the shores of Erie and Ontario.Do you, huh?
Anywhere on the east coast will be about a 15 hour or more road trip. I don't mind once I figure out where I'm going, and I can make stops along the way. If I hop on I-80, it will take me through IN, OH, and PA and then depending on where I want to go will shoot up or down.
I reserved two places for my 40th road trip celebration. :D One is cheaper than the other, but the other is a lot more private. Anyways, they are both in Mystic, CT.
I have stayed at both, many times at the Whaler's, which of the two I like better because it's more New England in that they're happy to socialize with you if you feel like it and happy not to if you don't. Both places take very good care of you.
From the Whaler's you can walk up the road where Mystic Pizza was filmed (I recommend you rent that before you come, it's a fair representation of some of the local life), along which are the ocean, tons of shops/pubs, and the real Mystic Pizza. Since the film they have more than one location, all are excellent but the original place is, well, the original place.
is there for touring when it's not out to sea full of students learning the old ways, and shipwrights still build small boats there the old way, which you are free to watch as long as you like. Best lemonade in the world, squeezed right in front of you onto ice and sugar.
and Watch Hill R.I., all within a stone's throw.
Wow, sometimes the "Small, Small World" music is so loud! It's pretty amazing that someone watching this thread has stayed at both places.
Maybe you can meet for coffee or a drink, if you're both free? Buy me one, too; I've been living vicariously in this thread.
I'm so jealous. Enjoy your trip!
Well, I didn't always live in a steaming frothing pit of humanity. That's just lately. CT is my home state and I have been everywhere in it - not hard to do since it's the size of a stamp.
I hope ToT and I can meet, I'm not that far away, just over the state line in MA. Come see us, Maryn. I don't know where you are but if you can, do.
Oooohh..... Mystic is NICE... I was there on vacation when I was about 12 (and haven't made it back, much as I'd like to) and the seaport was INCREDIBLE. So was the aquarium, if memory serves..
If you're looking for both serenity AND ocean, you will probably wanna steer clear of New Hampshire. It's my home state and I love it dearly, but the coastline is all of 15 miles long, and the primary oceanside lodging (Hampton Beach) is a bit like NY & NJ beaches. Fun, but hectic & touristy.
As for Maine, you might want to look into Boothbay Harbor and or Bar Harbor. And possibly even the Camden/Rockport area. Cozy smalltown havens right on the water. There'll be tourists, but not too many, and most of 'em will be types just lookin' to kick back and relax.
ETA: Heh. Shoulda' read the entire thread before posting, huh? Got all excited when I saw the NH thing. Anyway... Mystic is also truly lovely. Excellent choice!
and Watch Hill R.I., all within a stone's throw.The Whaler, huh? Thanks for the information. It is cheaper, yet the Seaport is private. :D From what it looks like on the map, they're right over the bridge from one another. I saw the castle and put that on my list of things to do. I'm so excited because there's also a winery nearby (me likes wine). Thanks for all the information.
I'm so jealous. Enjoy your trip!Thanks, Cranky. I'm going to relax and get the most out of the things on that side of the world.
I hope ToT and I can meet, I'm not that far away, just over the state line in MA. Come see us, Maryn. I don't know where you are but if you can, do.;) I'll send you a PM.
;) I'll send you a PM.
Hey! What about me? I can go to Mystic.
Hey! What about me? I can go to Mystic.Psstt... I'll send you one too.
Psstt... I'll send you one too.
Excellent. Maybe that could be a movie title: Meet Me In Mystic.
Sounds more like a thriller: Play Mystic for Me.


text:
Nabors Announces Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders
HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) ("Nabors") announced today that all proposals presented at its special meeting held on Monday, April 20, 2020 were approved, including: (i) an amendment to Nabors' share capital to effect a reverse stock split of its common shares at a ratio not less than 1-for-15 and not greater than 1-for-50, with the exact ratio to be set within that range at the sole discretion of Nabors' Board of Directors before the effective date of the reverse stock split without further approval or authorization of Nabors' shareholders, together with a corresponding proportional reduction in the number of authorized common shares and a proportional increase in the par value for such authorized common shares (ii) an increase in Nabors' authorized common share capital by 100% following the proportional reduction in the number of authorized common shares as a result of the reverse stock split and (iii) an amendment to Nabors' Bye-Laws in respect of its share capital.
In addition, Nabors announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a reverse stock split ratio of its common shares of 1-for-50 that will be effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2020. Nabors' common shares will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a split-adjusted basis when the market opens on April 23, 2020. The new CUSIP number for Nabors' common shares following the reverse stock split will be G6359F 137.
The reverse stock split will result in 50 pre-split common shares automatically combining into one new common share, without any action on the part of the shareholders. Nabors' authorized number of common shares will also be proportionally decreased from 800,000,000 to 16,000,000 common shares and the par value of each common share will be proportionally increased from $0.001 to $0.05. In addition, Nabors' authorized common share capital will increase by 100% following the proportional reduction in the number of authorized common shares as a result of the reverse stock split. No fractional common shares will be issued as a result of the reverse stock split. Any fractional common shares of registered holders resulting from the reverse stock split will be rounded up to the nearest whole share.
The reverse stock split will not impact any shareholder's percentage ownership of Nabors or voting power, except for minimal effects resulting from the treatment of resultant fractional shares of beneficial holders.
Nabors' transfer agent, Computershare, is acting as the exchange agent for the reverse stock split.
The information above includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, as disclosed by Nabors from time to time in its filings with the SEC. As a result of these factors, Nabors' actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Nabors does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.
About Nabors Industries
Nabors (NYSE: NBR) owns and operates one of the world's largest land-based drilling rig fleets and provides offshore platform rigs in the United States and numerous international markets. Nabors also provides directional drilling services, performance tools, and innovative technologies for its own rig fleet and those of third parties. Leveraging our advanced drilling automation capabilities, Nabors highly skilled workforce continues to set new standards for operational excellence and transform our industry.
For further information regarding Nabors, please contact Dennis A. Smith, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-8038 or William C. Conroy, Vice President of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-2423. To request investor materials, contact Nabors' corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda at +1 441-292-1510 or via e-mail [email protected].
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nabors-announces-results-of-special-meeting-of-shareholders-and-1-for-50-reverse-stock-split-of-its-common-shares-301043786.html
SOURCE Nabors Industries Ltd.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Borough of Poole is half way through its £9 million project to replace approximately 17,500 street lights in Poole.
So far 8,500 new lanterns on existing lamp posts and approximately 3,000 complete lamp posts have been successfully replaced with energy efficient LED lighting.
Over the next 18 months a further 5,800 complete lamp posts, which are over 40 years old will be replaced.
Virtually every road in Poole will be affected by these works at some point. Once each road is completed the residents will benefit from better quality 'white' light which closely resembles daylight. The new lights will stay switched on throughout the night but will be dimmed, where appropriate, during hours when use of the highway is reduced.
Volker Highways, who also maintain the street lights in Bournemouth, have been contracted to complete this major project.


text:
Healing Hearts/Pet Loss
2023 Pet Loss Workshop
Tues. Feb 14, 2023
7-9pm ET
4-6pm PT
Healing isn't easy, and it can be incredibly hard trying to put the broken pieces back together after the loss of a beloved animal companion. What makes it doubly difficult is doing it alone during a time when connection and support is needed most. And so, by request, I will continue to offer the Healing Hearts/Pet Loss Workshop in 2023.
Discussing life and death, and the animal afterlife, we parallel the human soul and animal path to understand the grief journey all with the intended purpose of adopting healthy healing patterns. We explore how to open up to the gifts from our dearly departed, and receive their signs and symbols from the other side.
This workshop is for those who have loved and lost - yesterday, or 20 years ago - and are seeking greater peace and deeper understanding, all in the name of heart healing. This session will include a guided healing visualization along with reiki administration.
To Register Visit: https://moderndaydolittle.as.me/HealingHearts
Questions? Email mv.dolittle@gmail.com subject "pet loss workshop"
Small-Group Intensive Training (Level 1)
4-Part Workshop:
Class #1
Mon. Oct. 18 2021
6;00-8:00pm ET
Mon. Nov 1 2021
6:oo-8:00pm ET
Mon. Nov 15 2021
Mon. Nov. 29 2021
Upon completion of the Foundations to Animal Communication Workshop you are welcome to go deeper. The Small Group Intensive Training Workshops Level 1 & 2 are for beginners who are ready to 'up the ante' on their animal communication journey. Participants can join out of personal interest, or with the intention to pursue it as a professional path.
These two-hour classes will be held bi-weekly on Zoom for a total of 8 hours of on-the-job training in a safe, fun environment where you can be open, and be yourself.
Each session starts with a discussion to build the right environment, including a warm-up to settle the group into a "neutral witness, receiver and observer" state, before jumping into the live reads.
Different grounding techniques to add to your toolkit will be introduced each class.
The facilitator will provide real-time feedback guiding students to deepen their two-way dialogue with animals to uncover richer, more in-depth information. This learning style will foster the development and familiarity with one's own inner guidance system to uncover themes and key learnings. In this group format, students will be encouraged to share openly and build upon each others' experiences.
Most of all the focus will be on "parking the ego," building confidence, and getting lots of practice in!
Email mv.dolittle@gmail.com for cost and more information.
Workshops hosted on Zoom. No account set up required.
*Students must sign up for all 4 classes as the content will progress based on the individual and group's aptitude and learning style. Class recording will be available in the event that you can't attend.
**Foundations to Animal Communication is a prerequisite for this Small-Group Intensive Training Workshops.
Tues Dec. 28 2021
Tues. Jan 11 2022
Tues. Feb 8 2022
Upon completion of Level 1 you will begin a second phase of training, including new topics and themes relevant to the animal communication practitioner journey. Level 2 includes four, two-hour workshops similar to Level 1.
In Level 1 &2 you will be introduced to different species each week, from all kingdoms (animal, aquatic, bird and reptile), here as well as past. In Level 2 we introduce nature, and connect to collective of animal species (e.g. pride of lions).
**Small-Group Intensive Training Workshop Level 1 is a prerequisite for Small-Group Intensive Training Workshop Level 2.
Program affiliates who complete Small-Group Intensive Training Levels 1 & 2 are welcome to pursue Level 3 and practical assessment to become MD Dolittle Certified Animal Communication Practitioners.
Contact for details.
© 2022 by Modern Day Dolittle


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Chudamani made a small start by leading self-help groups to get 20 students back to school. Even after she won the elections, she never lost sight of this vision. Over time, she has helped 250 dropouts get back to school. Understanding that education was in the best interest of all, she uses stories and simple language to explain the RTE Act and the benefits of education to mothers in a relatable way.
Independent, hardworking, and confident Chudamani is the sarpanch today but she has also seen her fair share of hardships. Hailing from a family in the throes of poverty, feisty Chudamani used to work in a school preparing mid-day meals, even when she was pregnant with her son. However, through it all, she believed that she could make a difference. This conviction inspired Chudamani to stand for elections, in spite of strict opposition from her mother-in-law and acquaintances.
Today, brave Chudamani does not like to depend on anyone for anything and is passionate about bringing awareness to people about their rights. Like she says, "…I am self-reliant and ride a cycle to all the eight villages. I am disciplined and understand the value of time."In 2007, Chudamani lost the elections. But this did not in any way blur her vision of empowering people with the right information and knowledge. Initially, she felt awkward talking to people more knowledgeable than her but later realized it was a learning opportunity and a chance for self-improvement. With her never-say-die attitude, she fought back with strength and resilience and in the end that paid off. Chudamani is today, doing what she loves most….helping people and giving them the power to help themselves.
During her tenure she has built roads for better communication with other villages, improved heathlcare services for women in particular, installed 40 tubewells for clean drinking water, facilitated forest rights schemes and helped the needy get homes and land. She has also helped hundreds of people get access to widow and old age pension, etc. so that they can live their lives with their head held high.
While this might be true in some way, in reality, it is women like Chudamani who with their firm resolve and strength of mind can do everything and inspire others to follow suit.


Mid-week birthday, great time, fizz opened.
A belated happy birthday! Glad you had a good time.
Thank you it was a really special day.
Thank you and I wish you a great weekend too.
Not nice to ask a giggley lady her age so I won't. Glad it went with a pop!
Oh yes it most certainly did!
Thank you, yes I had a wonderful time and even the weather was kind to me.
Happy birthday to you as well! I wish you health and happiness throughout the year.
Thank you so much for your wish. I also return the same to you.
Salute, G! My glass is raised in your honor.
Holding a glass of brandy to salute you too.
Sure was, here's to the next time.
Happy birthday and BTW – I love the name of your blog.
Thank you for your good wishes, glad you like the name of this blog.
Many thanks, had such a smashing time.
Oh no, open the "fizz" and if needs be take the alka-seltzer later! Thank you for your wishes.
Felicitations. I hope it was a good day.
Thank you, yes I had a really great day out with my husband.
Linking through from six-word Saturday. You got a lot into your six words? Your birthday?
Yes it was and a jolly good time I made of it.
Happy Belated Birthday! I am having a drink in your honor.
Thank you, I'll raise a glass to your health too.
Thank you, it was a day filled with fun and laughter.


Liam Fox who is a Senior Brexit minister has said there is a 50-50 chance of Brexit not happening if ministers reject Theresa May's deal. The international trade secretary seem to think that a deal is the only possible future for the UK. However, there was no mention of a deal on the ballot sheets when voters came to the polling stations on 23 June 2016. The vote was clear and now it seems as though politicians are willing to sacrifice democracy if it gets them what they want.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has been calling for another referendum and has urged remain campaigners to "keep fighting". His colleague MP Layla Moran who has been leading the charge for another referendum has said: "The only thing that is shattering the bond of trust between electorate and Parliament is the refusal of ministers like Liam Fox to trust people with the final say on Brexit." With all the fear mongering by the BBC, politicians and other media corporations, the vote could be quite different than the first.
Has Brexit been doomed from the start?


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I have DOJO editor , i will copy some content form some page i may contain images and other things along with text.
On pasting in the editor it will take only text.

A: Your editor code probably use SafePaste plugin, which sanitize clipboard content when pasting in the editor.
More info here:
https://dojotoolkit.org/reference-guide/1.10/dojox/editor/plugins/SafePaste.html
It is possible to disable it by removing its reference from data-dojo-props, example:

By default, it is possible to copy and paste HTML content including links to external images (attached internally to data-a-dynamic-image) using dijit/Editor, so the limitation it is most probably caused by SafePaste plugin.
You can have at look copy and paste (HTML enabled) here: demo dijit/Editor .

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


, ")0,, . . . e\ !' .. , .. . 1f .. . \. \ 1 ""-t ....... , 9 Y ß1! ,., \ 1. .. (. .-;i! .... - --. -..... ,,," .:21-' ... " .. .. ''''' ...'- ' 1 1 '\ :II.. ....... '" -- r .. 4- , .. - .... - . ' 7; sf w'iiJ" ;"-. . =-- . .- 'I: , -:t: . -..- II/' ... .. . \ I .. =- -;': -.- ........ ;::;: .. \ i . Jt> A Tale of TwO capital Cities Some things old & some things new, Ottawa and Toronto, capitals of Canada and Ontario, both boast magnificent natural settings and the best of a gracious heritage enhanced with much thats new and exciting- the brilliance of Ottawa's millions of Tulips blooming every springtime by pleasure canals and riverside parklands Bona Fide Double-Decker buses, scarlet clad Guardsmen Toronto's Island playgrounds, theatre and nightlife, concerts and carnivals, open-air markets, a hands on encounter with the world of tomorrow at the Science Centre, nifty flicks six stories high at Cinesphere, Ontario Place, a brand new zoo, the flavours of our fifty cultures, and to top it aU, the world's tallest tower. For more about our bright lights call COLLECT (416) 965-4008, or write: Ontario Travel, Dept. C.C., Queen s Park, Toronto M7 A 2E5 We'll send you our Traveller's Encyclopaedia .


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text:
Although Isle Royale is closer to mainland Minnesota, it belongs to the state of Michigan. Photo: Melanie Radzicki McManus, Special to the Star Tribune
Why isn't Isle Royale a part of Minnesota?
By Emma Dill Special to the Star Tribune
April 19, 2019 — 1:47pm
What are the origins of Minnesota Nice? Here are 3 theories.
Why does Minnesota tax Social Security benefits?
Why is Uptown south of downtown in Minneapolis?
Isle Royale sits roughly 20 miles east of mainland Minnesota and 55 miles west of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, yet the island in Lake Superior belongs to Michigan. But why?
That's a question Andrew Heintz has pondered for years. Heintz, a Star Tribune reader from Golden Valley, is an avid hiker who has backpacked along Minnesota's North Shore, but has yet to cross Isle Royale off his bucket list.
The query is not unusual. "A Minnesota backpacker or boater will ask the question ... quite regularly while a Michigan one won't ask it at all," said Timothy Cochrane, a former Isle Royale park ranger and author of a book about the Ojibwe and Isle Royale.
Still curious? Click to read other reader questions we've answered.
Curious Minnesota is a community-driven project that puts readers' inquiries at the center of our reporting.
It's also the latest entry to Curious Minnesota, our community-driven reporting project that invites readers into the newsroom to ask questions they want answered.
The answer to Heintz's question can be traced to faulty maps, "copper fever" and the dispute over a strip of land in northern Ohio, but first we first have to ask why the island belongs to the United States at all. Isle Royale is, in fact, closer to Canada than either Minnesota or Michigan.
America's Founding Fathers had something to do with it. In 1783, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, among others, signed the Treaty of Paris, an agreement which ended the Revolutionary War and established the nation's borders.
American negotiators might have been interested in Isle Royale's copper deposits and persuaded their British counterparts to draw the American border north of the island.
"There's this age-old rumor that somebody whispered in [Franklin's] ear and that he sort of fudged the line up and around a big island close to the Canadian border," said Seth DePasqual, the park's archaeologist. "The question is did he really know?"
It's unclear how much early European explorers knew about the area's copper reserves, but archaeological evidence suggests that Native Americans began mining copper on the island — which they called Minong or "The Good Place" — at least 4,500 years ago, DePasqual said.
The era's maps, which showed Isle Royale south of its actual location, also bear some of the responsibility.
Once part of the U.S., the state designation came down to timing.
"That's the bottom line. Michigan territory and the state of Michigan were created significantly before Minnesota, and that's why Isle Royale was included within those boundaries," said Ken Vrana, director of the Isle Royale Institute at Michigan Technological University.
Michigan became a state in 1837 while Minnesota gained its statehood more than 20 years later in 1858. This westward wave of settlement allowed Michigan to claim Isle Royale without challenges from neighboring states.
Nonetheless, a near-war between Michigan and Ohio led to Isle Royale's official designation after a dispute about their shared boundary.
Michigan wanted the border drawn east from the bottom of Lake Michigan. That boundary ran south of Maumee Bay, an area near present-day Toledo and a shipping and farming hub, said Bob Myers, the director of education at the Michigan Historical Society. Ohio's preferred border made land around Maumee Bay its territory.
The border debate escalated when both states mobilized their militias in 1835. The conflict didn't last long, resulting in a single casualty.
The states compromised, agreeing that Ohio would get the border it wanted, and, in exchange, Isle Royale and much of the Upper Peninsula would join Michigan.
And that's how Minnesota got cut out of the Isle Royale equation. History just wasn't on its side.
Emma Dill is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.
If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below:
Read more Curious Minnesota stories:
Where did the term Minnesota Nice come from, and what does it really mean?
Why can't Minnesotans figure out how to zipper merge?
What percentage of Minnesotans spend their entire lives here?
Were Minneapolis' skyways first created to combat the cold – or something else?
Why hasn't Minnesota ever produced a U.S. president?
How did Minnesota's indigenous people survive the extreme winters?


Game 5 pretty much played out much the way Game 4 in Toronto played out, as it was a close contest throughout, but again the Magic pulled away from the Raptors late, outscoring them 22–10 over the final 5:01.
This came after Chris Bosh scored the final four points of a 6-0 Toronto run that brought the Raptors to within 84-82 with 6:02 remaining in fourth quarter. But then, inexplicably, the Raptors went away from Bosh down low, even after Dwight Howard picked up his fifth personal foul and stayed in the game. Those would be the easiest points Bosh would score down low in the series because if Howard commits the foul, then he's gone, but instead they rushed things on the offensive end and instead settled for the outside shots that were their downfall all season long.
But Orlando just did what they've done all series long, which is pull away from the Raptors in close games, as they answered Toronto's 6-0 run with an 8-0 run of their own, including two big three pointers, by the two players who have killed Toronto most in this series, Keith Bogans to start the run and then Jameer Nelson to end the run. This brought the Orlando lead to 92-82 with 2:57 left, effectively ending the Raptors season three minutes early.
Tonight's effort overall was just ugly, as it started off like every other game in Orlando has, with Toronto down by double-digits early, this time it was 12-2 not even three minutes into the contest. But the Raptors used a 12-2 run of their own to tie the game at 14 and make a game of it throughout.
The Raptors led for most of the second and third quarters, with the Magic using an 8-0 run to regain the lead and hold a comfortable 74-68 margin entering the final quarter. Toronto couldn't make any inroads until midway through the fourth quarter, but then subsequently collapsed like in Game 4.
Overall, tonight nothing really went right for the Raptors, as they got off to a cold start and couldn't get anything going offensively. I just didn't see that desperation of a team facing elimination, instead I saw a team that knew it was going down and just wanted to get it over with.
Bosh led the way for the Raptors, scoring 16 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, but on 7-for-19 shooting from the floor. The PG duo of T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon would combine for 26 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 TOs, but only 4 of those points would come in the second half.
Anthony Parker added 11 points, while the Carlos Delfino (14 points and 7 rebounds) and Jason Kapono (13 points) were again solid off the bench, but they just couldn't get anything going overall.
The Magic were just the better coached team in this series, and I would seriously consider a coaching change this off-season for the Raptors if I were GM Bryan Colangelo. The team was awful for the really the final third of the season and that play continued in the playoffs. They didn't even look like a team facing elimination tonight, as I didn't see that desperation.
Bosh and the PG duo were the biggest disappointment, while the bench and Kapono and Delfino were really the two most consistent players of the series, amazing considering the bench's inconsistent play throughout the season.
The Raptors need major upgrades at the 2 and 3 positions, as they really don't have a scoring threat to offset Chris Bosh here or anywhere really. Parker is nice, but Moon is really more of a bench player than starter and not a serious offensive threat. Also, this franchise needs to keep a close eye on Bargnani this off-season, as he regressed horribly this season and was pretty much a non-factor in this series.
But serious changes need to be made, be it coaching or roster because this team as it is cannot contend in the revamped Eastern Conference and that was proven throughout the second half of the season and this playoff series.
You can go to www.mvn.com/nba-raptors/ to hear more about in-game commentary and about what potential moves the Raptors should make this off-season.


text:
Oscaecilia ochrocephala är en groddjursart som först beskrevs av Cope 1866.  Oscaecilia ochrocephala ingår i släktet Oscaecilia och familjen Caeciliidae. IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som livskraftig. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Externa länkar

Maskgroddjur
ochrocephala

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Latest: Cathay chief warns employees over HK protests
Protesters wear eyepatch during a protest at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. It is reported that police shot a woman in the eye with a projectile Sunday night during confrontations between protesters and police. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
An anti-riot vehicle equipped with water cannon shows its water spraying skill during a demonstration at the Police Tactical Unit Headquarters in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. Hong Kong police showed off water cannons during the demonstration of specially equipped armored cars came after another weekend of protests at Hong Kong's bustling international airport and on the streets of one of the city's main shopping districts. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
An anti-riot vehicle equipped with water cannon sprays water during a demonstration at the Police Tactical Unit Headquarters in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. Hong Kong police showed off water cannons during the demonstration of specially equipped armored cars came after another weekend of protests at Hong Kong's bustling international airport and on the streets of one of the city's main shopping districts. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
People hold signs which read " Black Police, Return eye," bottom center, during a protest at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International airport in Hong Kong, Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. It is reported that police shot a woman in the eye with a projectile Sunday night during confrontations between protesters and police. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
HONG KONG — The Latest on protests in Hong Kong (all times local):
The chief executive of Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways says there will be "disciplinary consequences" for employees involved in "illegal protests," as the airline joins a slate of businesses that have appeased and apologized to China in recent days over political flaps.
Rupert Hogg's comments Monday came just hours before the Hong Kong airport announced it was shutting down after thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators occupied the main terminal.
Hogg warned in an internal memo to employees that the company has a "zero tolerance approach to illegal activities," referring apparently to protests unapproved by the police force.
Companies from luxury fashion brands to bubble tea shops have been under pressure to distance themselves from protesters and declare their support for the ruling Communist Party's position on Hong Kong.
Hong Kong police have defended their tactics and use of force against protesters during another weekend of violent clashes, including using tear gas inside a train station, deploying officers disguised as protesters and allegedly shooting at demonstrators at close range with pepper-spray pellets.
The police attempted to fend off criticism Monday about widely shared videos from Sunday night's clashes, including graphic images of a woman who was shot in the eye and of an arrest in which officers dressed like protesters pinned a bleeding demonstrator to the ground.
Deputy Commissioner Tang Ping-keung acknowledged that police use decoy officers in some operations but would not go into details.
"Our decoy officers do not take part in any unlawful activities," Tang insisted.
Police confirmed that officers fired one shot of tear gas into a train station Sunday, saying it was necessary to disperse violent protesters. Addressing criticism of riot police firing pepper spray pellets at close range, officials said the weapon was not lethal but they would review the incident.
They said they were still gathering evidence about whether a young female protester who was pictured with a bleeding eye was hit by police.
Hong Kong's airport, one of the world's busiest, has canceled all remaining flights for the day after thousands of pro-democracy protesters crowded into the main terminal.
Hong Kong International Airport said in a statement Monday afternoon that the demonstration "seriously disrupted" airport operations. It said all check-in services for departing flights had been suspended.
It said only those flights that have already completed the check-in process will move ahead.
Hong Kong has experienced more than two months of mass protests calling for democratic reforms and an independent inquiry into police conduct.
The protest movement's demands also include the resignation of the Chinese territory's leader and an election for her successor.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to China in 1997 under the "one country, two systems" principle.
Hong Kong police showed off water cannons Monday as pro-democracy street protests stretched into their 10th week with no sign of either side backing down.
The demonstration of specially equipped armored cars came after another weekend of protests at Hong Kong's bustling international airport and on the streets of one of the city's main shopping districts.
Legislators and journalists were invited to witness the display of extreme crowd control tactics, which Amnesty International warned last week could lead to serious injuries if misused within Hong Kong's confined spaces.
During the weekend protests, website Hong Kong Free Press showed footage of one arrest that appeared to include officers pinning a demonstrator pressed to the ground. The young man, who said his name was Chow Ka-lok and asked for a lawyer, was shown with a bleeding head wound and said he had a broken tooth.
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China trade showed unexpected strength in August in a positive sign for global economic growth
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text:
The Simple Phrase That Will Help In Almost Every Negotiation
by Tom Koulopoulos
Negotiating is always about creating a conversation that moves all parties forward. Here's one of the best ways to do that.
I had a high school wrestling coach who loved to throw hypothetical scenarios at us during practice. They had nothing to do with wrestling. Instead they were life lessons that he tried to impart by way of asking us to unravel difficult problems, while we were bordering on passing out from the tenth round of spin drills.
One that has stuck in my mind for the past 40 years went like this:
You find yourself in backstreet alley with three tugs who want to get into a fight. There's no way to avoid the altercation. The only way out is through them and it's inevitable that you will have to take them on. One of them is much bigger and stronger than you, and far more threatening than the other two, who both appear to be easy enough for you to deal with. The question: In order to win who do you take on first, second, and third?
Think about it for a minute. Got it? Good, read on.
The strategy most likely to result in a "win," according to my coach, was to take on the big guy first. Dispatch that threat while you have all of your energy. Why waste time, wear yourself down, and risk injury on the other two who will likely head for the hills when they see how easily you take care of Mr Big.
The life lesson was that winners take on the big challenges first and let the smaller ones take care of themselves.
Generally speaking, it's a wonderful life philosophy and it makes great sense in many cases. Why get mired in minutia if you have really big challenges to take on?
Still, it always struck me as a bit backwards to start with the biggest basest guy. Personally, I'd prefer to buy time by getting rid of the two less threatening thugs, work up a head of steam, get my adrenaline pumping, and build some confidence in my bad-assness–all the while working on ways to outsmart someone I may otherwise not stand a chance against. At the very least, I'd end up with only one adversary to deal with. My coach would have said, "Koulopoulos you're overthinking it."
Clearly, we can debate the right strategy until the cows come home.
From Backstreets to Boardrooms
However, years later I'd find myself referring back to that same scenario but in a very different context; one that didn't involve backstreet brawls in an alley with leather-clad thugs, but rather business negotiations in nicely furnished boardrooms with wingtip shod execs.
At first my negotiation style was to take on the biggest baddest issues at the outset. After all, if I couldn't get my way with these, why bother negotiating details. I'd dig in my heels and try to out power my opponent. Sometimes it worked. I'd get my way as long as I was dealing from a position of leverage where I held most of the cards. But often the collateral damage to the relationship or partnership was considerable. And, on more than a few occasions, I'd reach an impasse which stalled or ended the negotiation.
What I came to realize was that I was focusing on the win as though it were a singular objective and zero-sum, when in virtually every negotiation there are numerous things to be decided and many individual wins. While their may be one central item to negotiate, it's always surrounded by a constellation of other smaller items that can act as either significant obstacles on the road to getting the negotiation done or be perceived as individual wins for both parties.
Back to our alleyway.
The big issue, or the central one, is always your ultimate objective in a negotiation. Which is why we all intuitively want to take it on first. But this is like taking on the largest thug first. You're starting with the fight that is has the greatest risk of failure.
The strategy that I've found to be invaluable in negotiations that get hung up on the intractability of the central issue, is to take a non-intuitive route.
First take an inventory of all the items to be negotiated.
Second, identify those issues that you have high confidence in being able to come to an agreement on.
Cluster similar items together so that you have groupings of several smaller issues that you can dispatch with relative ease as a group. (i.e. If we agree on A then we should be able to agree on A1)
I'm not saying that you should willy-nilly give away leverage. (See my earlier Inc article on negotiation) But instead, that focusing on items which are relatively easy to come to an agreement on establishes a positive trajectory for the negotiation.
This may seem like wasted effort since the big issues are still the ones that can kill the deal. However, the smaller issues can be just as destructive if they are left until the end. I've seen far too many negotiations sidelined or derailed by a relatively tiny thing that comes up at the very end, just as pens are being picked up to ink the deal.
In addition, consider that if you are negotiating the toughest issues and making absolutely zero headway both parties will eventually get the impression that there is no possibility of reaching an agreement.
By taking on the smaller issues and agreeing on them you create a track record of success and proof that a positive outcome is possible.
Hold That Thought
So, what is the most powerful phrase in this scenario? Simple, when faced with an issue that can cause the negotiation to permanently stall, say, " Let's set that aside for now and come back to it later."
Effectively, what you're doing is putting our hypothetical Mr. Big on the back burner while you take on the challenges that you know are more easily dealt with. You will come back to Mr. Big, you have to, but you'll also prove that progress is possible, you'll develop a dialog that forms the basis for future agreement, and you'll illustrate a clear intention to move forward.
By the way, although the strategy I'm describing is typically for setting aside big issues in a negotiation it isn't limited to them. You may also end up using it to delay a smaller point in the negotiation that has, for whatever reason, turned into a large stumbling point.
Using this strategy also doesn't mean that you will always set aside the central issue. If both parties are ready to to address the central issue, and making progress, the last thing you want to do is switch gears.
There is nothing magic or manipulative in doing this. It's simple and utterly transparent. In many ways what you are doing is giving license to both parties to proceed in developing a trajectory that leads to agreement rather than one that gets mired in disagreement. In addition, if the other party does not want to come to an agreement this strategy will make that abundantly clear since they will not agree to setting anything aside but rather look for excuses to impeded progress.
Be sure to make it a point to consciously come back to the issues that were set aside by pointing out that you are now going back to something you had earlier agreed to delay. This shows that you were not being dismissive of the issue and have every intention of working through it.'
Does this work in every negotiation? No. There are clearly other things that may influence a negotiation . However, I can tell you that in my experience, no matter the size of the deal, from negotiating with your child, spouse, or partner, to buying and selling a multi-million dollar company, I've used this approach consistently with great success. In fact, I cannot recall a negotiation where it didn't help.
As for the advice of my wrestling coach. Well, let's just say that that what works in the boardroom, where everyone wants to walk away a winner, may not necessarily work in a backstreet alley, where someone is always going to lose.
This article was originally published on Inc.
Tom Koulopoulos is the author of 10 books and founder of the Delphi Group, a 25-year-old Boston-based think tank and a past Inc. 500 company that focuses on innovation and the future of business. He tweets from @tkspeaks.
negotiation	2019-07-17
Tom Koulopoulos


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URL: https://www.desy.de/information__services/press/press_releases/2012/pr_290112/index_eng.html
Press /
Press releases /
PR 29.01.12
Scientists X-ray key enzyme of common pathogen crystallised in living cells
Free-electron lasers open new routes for structural biology
Download [0 MB, 1253 x 1292]
Electron microscope image of an insect cell with a protein crystal sticking out. Credit: Michael Duszenko/Universität Tübingen (HighRes)
Hamburg, 29 January. An international team of scientists has for the first time crystallised a key enzyme of the pathogen for African sleeping sickness in a living cell and investigated it with the world's strongest X-ray laser. This new method will open new ways to study the structure of biomolecules, the scientists write in the professional journal "Nature Methods". In the case of African sleeping sickness that affects more than 60 million people mainly in Central Africa this method might lead to a new treatment approach against the parasite Trypanosoma brucei.
The three-dimensional structure of a biomolecule gives biologists clues about its function, and in the case of a pathogen it also offers the perspective to block a harmful protein with a tailor-made artificial molecule. For example, if the enzyme cathepsin B of Trypanosoma brucei is blocked, the parasite will die. However, the structure analysis of biomolecules is a difficult and time-consuming process. Normally, a sufficiently large crystal of the protein in question has to be grown in the lab before it can be investigated with X-ray light of a synchrotron radiation source.
Crystal growing is complicated and often takes weeks or even months. Therefore, the team of scientists – among them scientists from the universities of Tübingen, Hamburg and Lübeck, and from Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg – chose another approach. With the help of a virus, they inserted the genetic blueprint for cathepsin B into living insect cells. The infected cells started to produce the enzyme incessantly, and with the steadily increasing concentration, the enzyme eventually crystallised. After about 70 hours, the micrometre-small crystals became visible in the microscope, some of them even sticking out of the cells.
At the US accelerator centre SLAC in California, the scientists bombarded these crystals with the world's strongest X-ray free-electron laser LCLS. Although its intensive X-ray flash completely vaporises the crystals in less than a billionth of a second, it is bright enough to previously take a detailed diffraction image of the crystal, making it possible to calculate the structure of the crystallised enzyme. However, to gain the complete structural information the experiment must be repeated very often with a large number of crystals, which was not part of the study.
But the result shows that with the new technology it is possible to generate high-quality data of the protein structure of nanocrystals. "Our experiments have shown that the promise of X-ray lasers to revolutionize structural biology is indeed becoming true," said DESY scientist Prof. Henry Chapman from the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL). "We have shown that previous limitations to protein crystallography can be overcome by using pulses of X-rays so intense, that they transform the proteins into a dense plasma similar to the conditions inside the sun. Yet the pulses are so short that fine details are seen before destroying the sample," Dr. Anton Barty from CFEL added.
Apart from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research-funded young investigators group "Structural Infection Biology Using new Radiation Sources (SIAS)" of the universities of Hamburg and Lübeck, and the Hamburg School for Structure and Dynamics in Infection (SDI) of the State of Hamburg Excellence Initiative, the research was done with the participation of a team of scientists headed by professor Michael Duszenko from the University of Tübingen, a CFEL-group headed by professor Henry Chapman as well as other DESY scientists and international collaboraters. CFEL is a cooperation of DESY, the Max Planck Society and the University of Hamburg.
"Our result shows that the super lasers offer completely new possibilities for the structure determination of biological macromolecules, and perhaps the days will be over soon when we needed months or even years to grow crystals of certain proteins being large enough for X-ray radiation sources at synchrotrons" said SIAS leader Dr. Lars Redecke, one of the main authors of this study.
As from 2010, SIAS - an initiative of the structural research scientists professor Christian Betzel, University of Hamburg, and professor Rolf Hilgenfeld, University of Lübeck - investigates the use of innovative radiation sources for structural determination of proteins and other biological molecules.
The European X-ray laser European XFEL, currently being built in Hamburg, will open a unique opportunity for biomolecule investigation. Already today, DESY operates the free-electron laser FLASH for soft X-ray radiation.
About LCLS
The Linac Coherent Light Source is a Department of Energy Office of Science-funded facility located at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. LCLS is the world's first hard X-ray free-electron laser, allowing researchers to see atomic-scale detail on ultrafast timescales. The LCLS enables groundbreaking research in physics, chemistry, structural biology, energy science and many other diverse fields.
"In vivo protein crystallization opens new routes in structural biology"; Michael Duszenko et al.; "Nature Methods", Advance Online Publication; DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1859
Scientific contacts
Dr. Lars Redecke, SIAS, Universität zu Lübeck
+49 40 8998-5389, Redecke@chemie.uni-hamburg.de
Prof. Henry Chapman, Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY
+49 40 8998-4155, henry.chapman@desy.de
Prof. Christian Betzel, Universität Hamburg
+49 40 8998-4744, Christian.Betzel@uni-hamburg.de
Prof. Michael Duszenko, Universität Tübingen
+49 7071 297-3343, michael.duszenko@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Rolf Hilgenfeld, Universität zu Lübeck
+49 451 500-4060 , hilgenfeld@biochem.uni-luebeck.de
Dr. Thomas Zoufal, DESY press officer
+49 40 8998-1666, <presse@desy.de>
Sum of 988 single-shot X-ray diffraction patterns from crystals of Trypanosoma brucei's cathepsin B in different orientations. Credit: Henry Chapman/CFEL/Nature Methods (HighRes)


Wouldn't you know it? Just as it became clear that the Steelers were indeed passing too frequently, James Conner gets injured leaving Mike Tomlin and Randy Fichtner no other choice but to put the success of the Steelers offense on Ben Roethlisberger's shoulders.
Tony is hardly the first person to mention that, as all sorts of statistics have been thrown around over the last week or so correlating Steelers losses to high number of passing attempts from Ben Roethlisberger.
And numbers do reveal that the Steelers win far more often when Ben Roethlisberger throws less.
But does that really mean that Ben Roethlisberger plays worse the more he throws? And if so, how much is too much? Let's see what the numbers say….
Numbers do not lie. But if viewed without the proper context, numbers can certainly mislead. For example, the Steelers are 2-6 when Ben Roethlisberger throws between 50 and 59 passes. So that must mean that Ben Roethlisberger is getting getting sloppy and taking too many risks, right?
There are a lot of factors that fall outside a quarterback's control, such as defensive or special teams breakdowns, that can easily force him to pass a lot. In fact, if you take a deeper look at the numbers, you will see that Ben Roethlisberger's performance often dips after he passes a certain threshold – however, there are some very interesting exceptions.
Note, statistics come from Pro Football Reference, cover only the regular season and are current up to 12/6/2018.
Ben Roethlisberger has averaged 33 passes per game during his career. As my graduate school statistics teacher told me, the average represents the balance point of the data, so we've broken down Ben's performance on both sides of those numbers.
Ben Roethlisberger's career passing statistics above and below 33 attempts.
As you can see, the difference is pretty stark.
When Ben Roethlisberger is throwing 33 passes or less, the Steelers are winning almost 83% of the time. However, when Mike Tomlin or Bill Cowher have asked him to pass more than 33 times, the Steelers are only a .500 team.
The really interesting thing is that while Ben's performance drops a bit after he crosses the 33 pass threshold, the drop off isn't that dramatic. Yes, a little more likely to throw an interception, but he's also throwing more touchdowns.
Ben Roethlisberger's career passing statistics, broken down passing attempt ranges.
Ben Roethlisberger is .500 in games where he's thrown over 60 passes, but he's only done that twice, once last December against the Ravens where the Steelers won at the buzzer on a Chris Boswell field goal and earlier this season against the Chiefs when the Steelers defense couldn't cover to save their lives.
And next you see the famous stat of Ben Roethlisberger passing 50 times.
And, statistically speaking, that is when Ben Roethlisberger is almost at his worst, throwing a tell-tale 2.3 interceptions in those situations. The Steelers don't do much better when Ben Roethlisberger throws between 40 and 44 passes, as they're only winning 29% of those contests, and that's the pass attempt range that finds Ben Roethlisberger at his statistical worst.
However, a funny thing happens when Ben Roethlisberger breaks in to the 45 to 49 attempts range.
The Steelers record jumps to a 50/50 proposition, and Ben Roethlisberger's passer rating is actually above his career average.
Does this mean, somehow, that the 44-49 pass attempts range is sweet spot for Randy Fichtner to aim for?
No, not really. It is probably more of a statistical aberration, as you can see the same trend at work in the 30's, although the Steelers are winning far more of those 30 to 34 passing attempt games.
The Steelers, of course are at their best when Ben Roethlisberger is throwing fewer than 30 passes. But, while Ben's passing statistics are better, that success is also indicative of other things going well.
A good chuck of those games came when Roethlisberger had the likes of Jerome Bettis, Le'Veon Bell and/or Willie Parker to help ease the load on offense. He also had Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Ike Taylor and Aaron Smith to keep opposing quarterbacks in check. There's also the simple fact that when you're defending a lead, it is easier to relay on shorter, higher percentage passes.
During the 2018 off season a vocal contingent of Steelers Nation called for the Steelers to embrace running back by committee. Well, careful what you wish for ladies and gentleman…..
While Jaylen Samuels, Stevan Ridley and Trey Edmunds certainly offer potential, it is difficult to see their combined efforts matching what a healthy James Conner brings to the offense.
Ben Roethlisberger is going to have to throw it early and often. Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Vance McDonald, Jesse James and James Washington are going to have to make an extra effort to stay on the same page.
But at the end of the day, it comes down to Ben Roethlisberger himself.
The number show that throwing over 33 passes doesn't necessarily spell doom for the Steelers. And, while it is hard to prove with statistics, often times Ben Roethlisberger tries to do too much, but if he can resist that temptation, then the 2018 Steelers can still salvage a playoff run.


Marine biologists are the new rock stars," proclaim Jessica Brater and Katya Schapiro, Artistic Director and Artistic Associate of Brooklyn-based theater company Polybe & Seats. Both are clearly excited about their company's newest project, which will encompass ocean conservation and mermaids.
Once upon a time, downtown theater took itself very seriously.


I wish all my readers a happy 2014! I will be on vacation during the next two weeks, so expect no blogs until I get back.
The last few days were very hectic. I gave more than ten interviews, about half by phone or Skype and the rest by answering e-mailed question. I prefer the second approach: I am a better writer than speaker. I am glad that there is so much interest in our results in the popular press.


text:
PC Mag Middle East | Software | Encryption - Products | TorGuard VPN | Feature
By Max Eddy
July 30, 2018, 11:11 p.m.
There's more to setting up a virtual private network than just signing up and activating the service. Our guide can help you get the most from this critical privacy and security tool.
Everyone should be using a virtual private network or VPN, whether you're connecting to the Internet on your computer or your smartphone. That may sound paranoid, but there are real threats out there, and they're only getting worse. On Wi-Fi networks, unscrupulous individuals can attempt to intercept your information. And whenever you connect to the internet, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has access to everything you send and has been given the green light from Congress to sell your anonymized information to advertisers, too. Out on the wide open internet, advertisers and spies can track your movements between websites and discern your location by peeking at your IP address. It's scary out there.
The fact is the internet was not designed to protect your privacy. It was created for easy information exchange, not user privacy, anonymization, or encrypted communication. While HTTPS goes a long way toward protecting your information, it doesn't guard against ISP snooping or local network attacks—a major problem if you ever use a connection that isn't yours, such as one at a hotel or a coffee shop.
So until a new, more private internet comes together (probably never), using a VPN is the easiest way to make sure that you're sharing as little information as possible. Make no mistake: You need a VPN.
What a VPN Does and Does Not Do
As with any security tool, it's important to understand the limitations of a VPN. After all, you wouldn't expect a kevlar vest to save you from falling out of an airplane or a parachute to stop a bullet.
When you switch on a VPN, your traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel to a server operated by the VPN company. That means that your ISP and anything (or anyone) connected to your router won't be able to see your web traffic. From the VPN server, your traffic exits onto the public internet. Unless you're headed to a site that uses HTTPS, your traffic is no longer encrypted.
Because your traffic appears to come from the VPN's server, your actual IP address is effectively hidden. That's important, because IP addresses are distributed geographically and can be used to infer someone's location. If someone checks your IP address, they'll see the IP address of the VPN server. This can come in handy if you want to spoof your location. By connecting to a VPN server in London, you can make it appear as if you are accessing the internet from the UK.
What a VPN won't do is completely anonymize your traffic. To do that, you'll want to use a service such as Tor. This excellent anonymization service is easily accessed through a special version of the Firefox browser. Instead of just piping your data through a single intermediary (that is, a VPN server) Tor bounces your data through several different volunteer computers. This makes it much harder for someone trying to track your activities to see what you're up to.
Additionally, websites can track your movements through cookies, browser fingerprinting, online trackers, and other tricky tools. Using an ad-blocker such as Privacy Badger helps suppress these ever watchful nasties and can make it much harder for advertisers to follow your movements across the web.
Finally, just because you have a VPN doesn't mean you can forget about the security basics. While some VPN services claim they can block malware, we recommend standalone antivirus software for your computer, because these tools are designed specifically to protect your computer from malicious software. You should also use a password manager, because recycled passwords are a major point of failure. Another precaution is to use common sense when clicking on links or opening email attachments. Phishing attacks—when an attacker uses a bogus website that mimics a familiar one to trick you into entering your login credentials—are so common as to almost be mundane, so stay alert.
How to Choose a VPN
When we review VPNs, there are a few key metrics we look for. One is that the VPN service should allow you to connect at least five devices at a time. Another is whether or not the VPN service allows BitTorrent traffic on their servers. Some do, some do not, and you don't want to run afoul of the company you're paying a monthly fee to.
Speaking of fees, the average cost of a VPN service is $10.53 per month. A VPN service that is charging more per month isn't necessarily ripping you off, but it should offer something significant, such as a great interface or lots of server locations to sweeten the deal. You can usually get a discount if you buy longer-term contracts, but we recommend avoiding those until you're certain that you're happy with the service.
Before you sign up with a VPN, be sure to read its terms of service. This document will outline what information the VPN collects and what it does with that information. Most companies say that they don't log traffic, which is great. Others go further, saying that they do not monitor user activity at all. This is important, because a VPN has access to all the information you're trying to protect from others. The best terms of service make all these issues clear, while the worst are opaque on the details and written in legalese. If reading one of these documents feels like you're trying to translate the Dead Sea Scrolls, consider trying another service. TunnelBear, for example, clearly outlines its operation in easy-to-understand language.
It's also useful to see where the VPN company is based. Keep in mind that this isn't always the physical location of the business, but a legal distinction that outlines what jurisdiction the company operates under. NordVPN, for example, is in Panama, while ProtonVPN is in Switzerland. That means that these companies are not beholden to data retention laws, which would require them to hold on to certain information that could be obtained by law enforcement. Hide My Ass VPN, on the other hand, is based in the UK, which has more intrusive laws.
The most important thing about a VPN is trust. If the location, pricing, or terms of service don't fill you with confidence, try another service.
Free or Paid VPNs?
We at PCMag recently conducted a survey of 1,000 people, asking questions about VPN use. According to our results, 62.9 percent said they didn't want to pay more than $5, and 47.1 percent said they want to use a free VPN.
Unfortunately, most VPNs are a far cry from free. Or even from $5. But you don't need to break the bank to get protected. If after trying out a service for a month or two, you can save more by purchasing longer-term contracts. Private Internet Access is an excellent and affordable service that costs just $6.95 per month for an albeit no-frills experience.
Many VPN services offer a free trial, but usually for a limited time. Others, like TunnelBear and AnchorFree Hotspot Shield Elite, have totally free versions but may limit some features to paid users. TunnelBear, for example, has a data allowance for free users. Hotspot Shield, on the other hand, has an ad-supported free version. ProtonVPN, from the creators of the secure email service ProtonMail, has a limited free version of its VPN, too.
The browser Opera has a free VPN baked in, and charges nothing for its use. Opera separately offers excellent VPN apps for Android and iOS, also completely free, extending protection to wherever you go.
See How We Test VPNs
Getting Started With a VPN
Once you've settled on a service, the first thing to do is to download the company's app. There's usually a downloads page for this on the VPN service's website. Go ahead and download the apps for your mobile devices as well; you'll want to protect as many of your devices as you can. Generally, you pay one subscription fee for a certain number of licenses (usually five) and then you can use the service on any device for which it provides apps.
We have found that when releasing VPNs for Mac, companies occasionally have different versions available in the Mac App Store and on the company website. This appears to be in order to comply with Apple's restrictions. Figuring out which will work for you can be tricky, but we've broken down the differences in our reviews.
Once you've installed the apps, you're prompted to enter your login information. In most cases, this is the username and password you created when you signed up for the service. Some companies, such as Private Internet Access assign you a username that's different from your billing credentials, in order to provide customers with more privacy.
Once you're logged in, your VPN app usually connects to the VPN server closest to your current location. That's done to provide better speeds with a VPN, as latency and speed reductions increase the farther the VPN server is from your actual location. That's it: Your information is now being securely tunneled to the VPN server.
Note that you do not have to install the VPN company's app. Instead, you can configure your device's network settings to connect directly to the VPN service. If you're concerned about the potential for surveillance within app ecosystems, this might be a good option for you. Most VPN services will have documentation on how to configure your device.
Choosing a VPN Server
Sometimes you might not want to be connected to the server the VPN app recommends. Perhaps you want to spoof your location, use BitTorrent via VPN, or you want to take advantage of some of the custom servers your VPN company has provided.
Many VPN companies include an interactive map as part of their app. NordVPN, for example, lets you click on countries to connect to those servers. It's a useful way to understand where your information is going, but there's probably a list of servers you can select from.
Choosing a server depends entirely on what you want to accomplish. For security and speed, you should choose a server that's close by. To access region-locked content, you'll want a server that's local to content you want to watch. If you're trying to watch the BBC, you'll want to tunnel to the UK. Some VPN companies, such as KeepSolid VPN Unlimited and NordVPN, have specialized servers for streaming video.
These specialized servers are useful because streaming services such as Netflix block VPNs. At issue are the licensing deals Netflix secures with studios. For example, Netflix has the rights to provide Star Trek: Discovery outside the US, but within the US you need to pay for CBS's All Access service.
It's also a good idea to check and see whether your VPN service allows BitTorrent traffic on any server, or just specific ones. NordVPN clearly marks the servers cleared for torrenting, and others do the same. TorGuard, on the other hand, is all about torrenting and allows its use on all the company's servers.
Other services like NordVPN and ProtonVPN have enhanced security options, such as access to Tor or multihop VPNs. Tor, as mentioned above, is a way to better protect your privacy, and lets you access hidden websites on the so-called Dark Web. Multihop VPN is similar: Instead of just routing your traffic through a single VPN server, a multihop connection tunnels you to one server and then another. Both of these offerings trade speed for enhanced privacy.
If you've opted to ignore first-party apps and configure your network settings manually, you will probably have to enter the information for each VPN server individually.
Advanced VPN Settings
The set of features in each VPN varies from service to service, so we can only generalize about what you may see when you open the Settings pane. But we encourage you to read through the documentation and try clicking some buttons. The best way to learn how to use a tool is to try, after all.
Most VPN services include some kind of Kill-Switch feature. Once engaged, this option prevents your computer from transmitting or receiving information over the internet unless the VPN is engaged. It's useful for when your computer disconnects from the VPN, and it can prevent little bits of data sneaking through unencrypted.
Most services offer an option to select a VPN protocol. This can be intimidating, since they have weird names and companies rarely provide information about what these are, and what changing the protocol will do. In general, this is something you can leave alone.
But if you're interested, the protocol we recommend is OpenVPN. It's open-source, so it has been picked over by many eyes for any potential vulnerabilities. IKEv2 is also a good, secure option if OpenVPN is not available. Note that on some platforms, such as macOS and iPhone, OpenVPN is not always available, because of additional restrictions placed on developers. The best VPNS for iPhone give you access to the latest and greatest protocols available on that platform.
When Should I Use a VPN?
For the best security, you should use a VPN as often as possible and, ideally, all the time. But that's an ideal, and it's not always achievable. At minimum, you should use a VPN whenever you're using a network that's not one you control, and especially if it's a public Wi-Fi network. But in general we recommend that users set the default on their VPN apps to be connected as much as possible. You can always disconnect if it's causing a problem.
VPNs for Android and other mobile devices are a little trickier, particularly if you frequently move in and out of cellphone coverage. Each time you lose and regain data connectivity, the VPN has to reconnect, which adds a frustrating wait. It's also just less likely that your cell traffic can be intercepted, but we've seen researchers prove that it can be done. And considering that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have effectively unfettered access to telecom data, it's a good idea to use a VPN even over cellular connections. Also, most mobile devices can automatically connect to any familiar looking Wi-Fi network. At minimum, you should use a VPN when connecting via Wi-Fi, especially because it's trivially simple to impersonate a Wi-Fi network.
Many VPNs have settings for how and under what circumstances they should reconnect if they become disrupted. We honestly cannot think of a reason you wouldn't want your VPN to try reconnecting and encourage everyone to make sure their settings reflect this.
If you're concerned about VPNs slowing your connections or blocking important traffic, you should take a look at split-tunneling options. Again, different companies give this feature different names, but the gist is that you can decide which apps will use the VPN for their traffic and which apps can transmit without the VPN. TunnelBear, for example, includes an option to not tunnel any Apple apps to ensure they function properly on a Mac. Frequent video streamers and gamers in need of a VPN may want to look into this as an option.
How to Use a VPN For Streaming With Chromecast or AirPlay
Chromecast and AirPlay let you share music and video from your computer or mobile device to speakers, TVs, and streaming boxes. But all of them require Wi-Fi, which can be a problem when you're using a VPN.
When a VPN is engaged, your traffic is moving through an encrypted tunnel, which prevents the devices from finding each other on the same Wi-Fi network. That's as it should be, since you don't want someone snooping around a network to see what you're up to. Sadly, it also means that Chromecast and AirPlay won't work when you have a VPN active.
The simplest solution is to switch off your VPN, but that's not your only option. You can use split-tunneling, as mentioned above, to route only the traffic you want secured through the VPN. You can use a VPN browser plugin, which only encrypts your browser traffic and nothing else.
Alternatively, you can install a VPN on your router. Doing so means that all the devices connected to your router—from your phone to your smart juicer—will have their traffic encrypted. That's a great option for a heavily wired smart home.
VPNs Aren't Rocket Science
Too many of you aren't using a VPN, and maybe that's because they seem like arcane security tools. But many companies have worked hard to make them friendly and easy to use. Most are now set-and-forget security tools, as it should be. And though opening your wallet to guard against potential threats is always annoying, buying a VPN is one of the best and easiest ways to guard your web traffic from, well, just about everyone.
TorGuard VPN
Private Internet Access ...
VPN Unlimited
The Tor Browser
IPVanish VPN
TunnelBear VPN
Tor Browser Has a Flaw That Governments May Have Exploited
12 Russians Indicted for DNC Hack, Stealing Voter Info
Private Internet Access VPN
Max Eddy Software Analyst
Max Eddy is a Software Analyst, taking a critical eye to Android apps and security services. He's also PCMag's foremost authority on weather stations and digital scrapbooking software. When not polishing his tinfoil hat or plumbing the depths of the Dark Web, he can be found working to discern the 100 Best Android Apps.
Prior to PCMag, Max wrote for the International Digital Times, The International Science Times, and The Mary Sue. He has also been known to write for Geek.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @wmaxeddy. See Full Bio
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The Community Services division encompasses the client-based services including Neighborhood Place, Community Action Partnership, Self-Sufficiency Services, and Outreach & Advocacy.
Basic demographics of volunteers from Volunteer Works Volunteer management system that records volunteer man-hours and payrate, site locations, contact information for volunteers and site.
Count of all audits and monitoring visits with findings during reporting period.
Client intake system for Monetary Applications paid to various different vendors as well as LIHEAP Subsidy/Crisis payments paid to LG&E, financial reconciliation with OMB and LeAP.
Shows client, application, benefit amount, etc. - from CASTiNET - Client intake system for Monetary Applications paid to various different vendors as well as LIHEAP Subsidy/Crisis payments paid to LG&E, financial reconciliation with OMB and LeAP.


You're looking at the beautiful expanse of your newly landscaped yard and still feel like there's something missing. If there's already a centerpiece (maybe a fountain or a gazebo) as well as lovely plants and blooms, then your eyes are most likely searching for the additional charm that only a stylish fence can give.
"Wrought iron fences are quite popular with home owners because they are durable, practical, and decorative. Wrought iron is hand or machine forged and can comprise of solid rods, bars, and various other shapes. It is primarily composed of mild steel. They can be installed at ground levels or on top of a wall.
When you decide to have a wrought iron fence or gate system installed by skilled professionals from a top fence company in Houston, expect positive returns on your investment. You won't only boost your home's curb appeal, you'll even increase its market value.
See to it that you choose a fence design that matches your home, and learn the right kind of maintenance it needs. After they are installed, check your fences regularly for any signs of damage, specifically spots of peeled paint, scratches, dents, and rusting. To truly enjoy the benefits of having wrought iron fencing around your property, you have to make sure that it is in tiptop condition at all times.


If you're looking for a well-constructed mattress, with all the qualities and pedigree of a high-end pallet then you'll be pleased to know that the DreamFoam Ultimate Dreams is priced at only a fraction of what you usually encounter in high-end mattress shops.
The DreamFoam ultimate dreams mattress is one of the few brands of pallets from the Dreamfoam bedding LLC based in Arizona. The company has been operation since 1995 and they have carved a name for themselves using the "Ultimate Dreams" high-end mattress brand. In fact, nowadays it is impossible to walk into any mattress stall and not encounter a Dreams mattress.
The mattress in 13 inches thick in total. The 13 inches are made of a 3-inch layer of 4 pounds gel of infused memory, and a 2-inch layer of 5 pounds memory foam.
According to the manufacturer's specifications, the Dreams can be used using a special bed or on a regular base. Either way, since it is a foam mattress not a box spring one, you can rest assured that any hard but stable surface should suffice.
Unlike other polyurethane mattresses, the DreamFoam makes excellent use of a multi-layer construction to give rise to an elegantly designed and constructed sleeping pallet. The uppermost layer is made of 3-inches of infused memory gel. The layer is crucial in giving the mattress a nice, pliable but firm finish, a factor that makes the DreamFoam a luxurious resting parlour.
The next band is constructed using an 8- inch layer of a mixture of polyurethane and polystyrene gel. The layer basically forms the skeleton or body of the mattress. Additionally, unlike other unibody mattresses, this layer feels rock solid and can easily support people weighing over 200 pounds without sinking or shrinking in size.
The last layer is typically a 2-inch thick band of 5-pound memory foam but with a denser less compressible memory foam. It is strategically placed as the last layer to offer a firm support to the overlying bands. At the same time, the layer is pliable enough to accommodate an irregular surface without necessarily transferring the pressure to the user according to wakeupinabetterway.org. Nonetheless, it is still not advisable to use the mattress on an uneven surface as this can considerably lessen its durability.
If you're a back or side sleeper, then chances are you'll find this mattress more than simply luxurious. The gel-infused memory on the uppermost layer is made to contour ergonomically to one particular body shape, before the polyurethane interior kicks to support you comfortably.
While the DreamFoam mattress might be one of the top-shelf sleeping pallets on the market today, it is not priced prohibitively like most of the competitions' products. In fact, it's only a faction of the insanely high quotes you're likely to see today on premium mattresses.


Wahoo! Monday! Another week to start with La-La Land Crafts Inspiration Monday. This week the inspiration is 'More Than One Fold'.
I've used the La-La Land Crafts Hot Air Balloon Die for my make today.
I've kept all the die details in the balloon part and I'll be showing you how I did this later, so keep tuned!
You've spotted my extra fold then?
That is right, it is in the sentiment.
The papers are all Studio Calico again, loving the neutrals of the Classic Calico papers at the moment.
Right I'll catch you all later. have a fun Monday.
So beautiful and true to your creative style, Kim. Everything works together perfectly.
This is stunning Kim, fabulous colours and details!
Beautiful colours and very clever coming up with that extra fold idea.
This is gorgeous Kim, I love the fun balloon die cut, and the metallic blue. And the folded banner is a lovely fun embellie!
Lovely, elegant neutrals (with lovely text background), and then that brilliant hit of metallic turquoise with the balloon – gorgeous!
I always love coming here your artistic flair really gets my mind buzzing WOW!