This gamble had a relatively low qualifying rate. But dogs of every jump height did manage the interesting change of directions, and the qualifying performance. IMHO it was a combination of foundation training for the dog, and canny handler aptitude.
The handling that I liked best was what I call a layered Tandem. Note that the handler works to the landing side of jump #2 in a path parallel to the dog's; but at a lateral distance so that, at the corner, the handler can show movement to convince the dog into the left turn.
The interesting thing about this moment is that a fairly large number of handlers did convince their dogs to turn to the left. However, after making the turn too many of them simply ran the line (rather back towards jump #1). So by not giving any focus to the #3 jump the dog doesn't have much reason to want to do it. This explains why I drew the little red man facing and pointing towards the #3 jump.
Some handlers solved the riddle by some "outside the box" thinking; by drawing the dog into a tight wrap with a Front Cross after jump #1 the handler was able to introduce jump #2 at a tight slice with a line that fairly favored the approach to jump #3. I was somewhat lenient about the refusal at jump #2, giving the handler some latitude to draw the dog into the Cross even though the question of whether the dog had started the approach to jump #2 tended to be a bit fuzzy at times.
The handling that failed most often was the raw Rear Cross. An important attribute to the Rear Cross is that it creates a tightened turn on the landing side of the jump. And in this puzzle the handler shouldn't really be ordering a tightened turn, at all.
I shouldn't leave this riddle without a discussion of "consequential path". A significant number of handlers put their dogs on the red-line approach as shown in this illustration. Note that the consequence of the given approach leads to a right turn being the natural turning direction after jump #2. That means the handler would have to fight or be especially compelling to get the dog to turn to the left.
The blue line shows an approach to jump #1 at a fairly aggressive slice… creating an approach to jump #2 that modestly favors a left turn as the natural turning direction.
Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston: BudHouston@hughes.net. And Check out my latest publication the Just For Fun Agility Notebook #30 available at www.dogagility.org/store.
In the context of ongoing League Play I get to play a lot of games that aren't much in the mainstream. Many of these are an absolute hoot and would make extraordinary fun for the canny handlers to play in the TDAA. This is a game that Marsha and I invented some five years ago… we just wanted a game called "Heinz 57" because it is a term sometimes applied to the all-American muttly dog. This is the game we came up with.
Obstacles can be taken twice for points, but back-to-back performances are never allowed. Another obstacle must be performed before the dog can be redirected to an obstacle (whether or not it was faulted). The collapsed chute has a special value, it is a doubling obstacle, and can be taken twice, like any obstacle, and can be taken at any time during the dog's run. If the dog touches the table at any time scoring ends and the run is over.
No specific faults are associated with the weave poles. However, any error must be fixed or the dog will not earn points for the obstacle.
With the exception of jumps, if a dog commits to any obstacle he is required to reattempt that obstacle until it is not faulted to keep the handler from doing something unsafe for the dog should the dog volunteer for an obstacle unaccounted for by the handler's strategy. No new points will be awarded until that obstacle has been performed.
In this course the dog getting on the table marks the finish of the course. The table becomes live after the dog has earned one point (the Mr. Banks Rule). The handler should exercise caution when directing the dog to obstacles near the table because if the dog gets on, then the game is over, without regard to the handler's intentions.
Heinz 57 is scored points then time. 57 points is the benchmark. Any amount over or under 57 will be subtracted from 57 to determine the dog's final score. 57 points are required to qualify at any level.
This depicts a Heinz 57 dog. Heinz 57 Original Watercolor painted in 2009; 4 x 4-1/8; Watercolor on board; Unframed; $800. Available at: www.pbuckleymoss.com; Code: 09_00206.
Mulligans… yep, I want a do over!
I'm afraid that I wrote this long and rather insightful blog yesterday about a Masters gamble I judged over the weekend. And then the fates and the psycho fickleness of MS Word caused my system to crash… and I lost the entire file. I probably could have just sat down and rewrote the whole thing. But it was about three hours of work out the window and I was pretty depressed about the whole thing.
Instead, I turned my attention to more mundane matters, like chores and getting caught up on some of the work on my desk.
I actually have a pretty good looking calendar on my computer, but it hasn't been available in updated form for people to look at in quite a long time. Marsha and I are fairly busy updating what our training and camp schedule will look like next year. And so you'll have to wait a few days before I can make the link public.
All of our training, classes and camps, will now have a Work Study payment option. I've put up a permanent page for you to look at: http://wp.me/PmSZZ-oy. I'm quite serious that just about anyone who is willing to work hard will be able to … with just about everything paid for, but the cost of travel to get here.
Over the last couple of years I've had great trouble with my web store. It has crashed several times and the servers have been hacked. And my technical support really hasn't helped me keep up with it. So I'm working now about dropping the web store and moving all eBook product sales to a service provider rather than doing it myself.
I'm off to a really slow start: http://wp.me/PmSZZ-or.
I have to go train my dog now… and set the building up for the evening fun run. I'll try to catch up again tomorrow. Maybe I'll rewrite that weblog entry that I lost yesterday (or just shoot myself).
It certainly was an adventure, a last minute emergency call to be a stand-in judge in Nashville, TN. The people in that part of the world are genuinely salt-of-the-Earth very hospitable and friendly. And, they have some great agility dogs, by the way.
Taking the field with another judge's courses is really quite different you know. Typically the judge on the field is also the designer and the architect of every challenge and so must on some level take responsibility for the designs of those challenges. So judging for someone else I mostly had to make every effort to honestly present the challenges intended by the designing judge.
I was favorably impressed by the courses that I had the opportunity to judge. There might have been little things where I'd think to myself "I wouldn't have done this!" The real truth is that it wouldn't have occurred to be to do such things. I've believed for a long time that most judges have their own reference library of interesting moments and challenges which will appear routinely in their course design work. To be sure there are also some accidental moments of the found poem created serendipitously in the final attempt to stitch and bind the course into a finished product.
IMHO, this course designer had real flow and rhythm, serving up challenges that looked harder on paper than they ran in competition.
So I spent the entire weekend watching handlers making their various strategic assaults on courses designed by another judge. I'm convinced as much as ever that almost all errors on course are handler errors. And I'll probably share snippets with you over the next several days of some of my observations.
There are little course segments that I find fascinating. And surely they'll show up in my own classes and maybe even seminars.
The turn into the pipe tunnel at #3 yielded a predictable number of wrong course faults as the dog went into the wrong end of the pipe tunnel. Unfortunately I'm not showing the chain of events that brought dog and handler to this moment. But I will try to state this as a matter of probability (if not obviousness)… the dog was far more likely to take the wrong course entry to the pipe tunnel if the handler approached the moment with dog on right.
The change of directions from jump #7 to #8 yielded a fair number of refusals at jump #8. The dog comes accelerating out of the pinwheel in a line that nowhere near address jump #8. The most elegant solution was for the handler to assume a position with dog on right on the landing side of jump #7 for a neat little Front Cross to jump #8. Less successful (but successful for many nonetheless) was for the handler to push or bend or use a Get Out on the landing side of jump #7, with dog on left.
The jump that yielded the most faults is probably the least obvious in this sequence… jump #5. I've observed for many years that the pinwheel is a problematic arrangement of jumps, mostly because most handlers don't actually appreciate the shape of the dog's path… and don't necessarily understand the handler's "job" in the pinwheel. So we got a good number of refusal faults at jump #5 and just about every time because the handler failed to support the dog out to the jump. There were certainly other factors at work here. The handler was surely consumed by his or her need to get position downfield to solve the #7 to #8 transition. And also, being a wingless jump #5 had less visual acuity for the dog. After jump #4 if the handler is showing no interest in jump #5… why would the dog take it?
The jumper segment is just about the right size to fit into my training building. Of course if I want to practice the jumping sequence with my own students I need to wedge in some other obstacles that don't detract from the intended challenges of the original Jumpers course.
I'd also like to use this set of the floor to play with the Sunday Masters/PIII Gamble. I'll talk about that tomorrow I suppose.
I thought that I would share this interesting opening to a Starters Jumpers course. Just a little bit of course analysis would serve to enhance the chances for success.
In the illustration I drew a red line through the center of the first two jumps to demonstrate that they don't precisely line up with jump #3. We had several dogs on that path that gave a refusal at jump #3. While refusals are not faulted at the Starters level it still takes time to correct a missed jump.
We also had an appreciable percentage of dogs going wrong-course into the wrong side of the pipe tunnel at #5. For your benefit I drew another line in the illustration to show you which end of the pipe tunnel is probably presented to the dog without the intervention or advice of the handler to give other information about the possible direction of the course.
What I've observed here in Nashville (after day 1 of 3) is a reliance on fast dog handling… that means that the handler takes a behind and pushing working relationship to his dog. Note here that the Post & Tandem approach solves the subtle turn to jump #3 quite neatly. The real problem with this handling is that the Tandem has an accelerating quality and frankly puts the handler behind the dog by the time the dog gets to the landing side of jump #4… making the turn to the left-side entry (and correct entry) to the pipe tunnel at #5 problematic.
So, the handler solves the first riddle, but fails the second for being OOP.
Let me offer a possible handling solution to this opening. Note here that the handler is not going to attack the first two jumps in a straight line, but will instead seek a corner of approach in a turn between the first two hurdles that creates a straight line through jumps #2 and #3. You could call this a vee-set.
In the illustration the black lines and figures represent the opening line. The red figures and lines represent the approach to jump #2 out of the handler's Front Cross (or you could say "Lead Out Pivot").
An important attribute of our vee-set opening is that it gets the dog ahead of the handler in the pinwheel. And, as we all know, the faster the dog the dog is in a pinwheel, the farther ahead the handler gets.
So you see, the handler is easily forward of the dog for a easy peasy Front Cross on the landing side of jump #4 to direct the dog into the correct entry of the pipe tunnel at #5.
Yesterday I was contacted by Music City K9, in Nashville, TN for an emergency judging fill-in assignment. Today I spent about 8 hours driving. Tomorrow, and over the weekend, I get to judge another judge's courses. It wasn't a terrible imposition. I had to rearrange some commitments over the weekend. This is something I've done three or four times over the years.
It makes me wonder when it was exactly I stopped keeping track of the days of the week.
I received word yesterday that my old friend Zak, a Coonhound has died. It's true that I plied his affection with doughnuts. Barbara Ray, his mom, figured that he must have been a beat cop in a former life. Whenever Zak saw me, about once a week, he'd curl his lips back in a charming imitation of Elvis Presley in a wonderful smile of recognition. In agility Zak was mostly just sensible. He never saw much necessity for actually running through the work except for maybe the last three obstacles as he remembered that he would get a treat then, and maybe even a doughnut.
I sat down this morning intent on designing a working set of equipment for the Sunday mini-clinic that would be fresh and challenging and allow us to address a variety of handling and dog training skills. Faced with the blank screen I just didn't really know how to start. I've only been designing lesson plans for twenty years, you know.
Then I remembered that I have this product that I've been selling on my web store for something over a year: Agility Training ~ Concepts and Design ~For a Small Universe ~ Volume I (available at www.dogagility.org/store). So I opened up the .pdf and went hunting for oblong sequences. I'm determined to split the floor length-wise on Sunday.
Small Universe is really kind of a cool tool. It has hundreds of training sequences for different spaces. Once you find the sequence you like just click on the square in the upper-right corner of the picture and it will spawn straightaway into the Clean Run Course Designer. Then you can mirror it, nudge stuff around, replace equipment, and even design a variety of different sequences using the same set of equipment.
This one is kind of interesting it provides for some implicit layering or distance work with the pipe tunnel tucked under the dogwalk. There's also some subtle play with the Hobday box arrangement on the dismount of the dogwalk.
I'm not completely thrilled with this set. However I do want to do some discrimination work with my students and so the tunnel/A-frame is a nice central focus. The problem with the set is that it won't be terribly easy to find a variety of sequencing options… at least not enough to keep a group occupied and interested for up to two hours. But, I'll give myself permission to subtly move things around from sequence to sequence so that it continues to be fresh and compelling.
Note that I've substituted some equipment in the sequence. Mostly what I'll move around as we work will be the pipe tunnel and jumps #3 and #4.
These days I typically will do a sanity check for spacing before I commit to the set of the floor. In CRCD you can set the dog's path properties to show the interval spacing between obstacles. This is something that I routinely do when I'm reviewing courses for the TDAA. It tends to flag when obstacles are too far apart or too close together. Close together is fine in the TDAA… but when I'm designing for mixed group classes or for courses in competition I always design with that leggy fast Doberman in mind. Make it safe for him, and it'll be safe and fair for everyone.
I got the two working sets side-by-side on the floor. I also added a set of 12 weave poles in that little dead space between the two working sets. The weave poles will be a shared obstacle, which means that it can be used by either side… though not at the same time.
From here I'll design a series of five or six training exercises for both sides of the building. Note that my students will be waiting stage left in queue.
This evening (Thursday) I'll have students showing up for our Thursday night fun run. So I sat down with the set of equipment for the weekend determined to find a standard course sequence that has nice flow and subtle challenge. This is what I came up with. It really wouldn't be a legal course in most venues. There's no teeter… and it's very unusual to finish a course with a contact obstacle. But it will serve for our evening fun.
Mostly I'm just being lazy. I'd like to have very little equipment movement between tonight's work and the Sunday mini-clinic.
When I initially combined the original two sequences on the same course map I had the dog's path properties set to connect to numbers. And this is what I got as I put the two together. I'll have to remember this the next time I have a discussion about the angry lines of a course. LOL!
On Sunday night we had a killing frost. It was the final twist of a week that had been cold, wet and just on the edge of depressing. That unhappy weather was followed by a warming trend a blissful little Indian Summer that let me outside in nothing more than a tee-shirt without getting terribly chilled.
So I turned down the garden today. The leaves of the tomato and pepper plants had all curled up dead. I managed to salvage a quart or two of jalapeno peppers, a half dozen or so bell peppers, and four fat green tomatoes. And I dug up my potato crop and was very pleased to have a nice bunch of white potatoes with pale thin skin. This was my first attempt at growing potatoes and wanted to see how they grew… so I didn't plant so many. Next year I'm bound to plant a lot more.
I broke the soil up with a spade and a garden tiller. And I added a heap of compost. I'm intent on improving the soil every year as what passes for "topsoil" around here would make dandy potters clay.
About mid-day the Japanese beetles began to swarm up out of the woods. It made just being outside somewhat unpleasant. Marsha and I spent awhile vacuuming them out of our windows inside the house. We literally filled up a vacuum bag with them that in the evening we threw in the fire-pit outside.
This reminds me of the first day in New Hampshire last year at the 2008 Petit Prix. It was only the one day that they were so annoying outside. So I'm hopeful that the "swarming" event is pretty much over already.
I hate the Japanese Beetle and I figure we should find the guy that brought them over here (to control aphids?) and string him up. These are not the gentle lady bugs of my youth. And like so many things in today's world they represent a world in which nature is out of balance.
That reminds me you know… I've had a tomato garden just about every year for like three decades or so. And you know this is the very first time my tomato garden was not ravaged by the rhinoceros caterpillar. In fact, I didn't see a single caterpillar on my tomato plants all year long. Now, I've cursed these bugs for years. But something just doesn't seem right about not having them. I can't tell you what it means. I certainly don't know.
The table is an obstacle that provides the opportunity for a lead-out from the dog. It's a funny opportunity… somewhat unlike leaving the dog at the start line. At the start-line the judge doesn't count. And, of course, the handler isn't faced with table faults at the start line. These are curious pressures.
I'd like use this sequence, beginning on the table, to use a lateral path lead-out. You'll have to humor me here for a moment.
The traditional lead-out has the handler moving forward on the dog's line. Note that this gives the handler terrific advantage forward of the dog at jump #2; but in this illustration the advantage might have completely evaporated by the time dog and handler get to the landing side of jump #3. So the lead-out wasn't all that effective.
In the lateral path lead-out the handler gets the advantage in real estate where it's needed which is lateral to the dog's opening path.
If you don't practice it, you can't own it.
Cartoon by Terrence Nowcki, Jr.
You know, to tell you the truth one of the real difficulties of the tunnel wrap to A-frame is the implicit handler's riddle: Does the handler know how to make the performance of the A-frame safe for his dog. And I'm always surprised at how many handlers are completely unconscious in their role as "architect" of the dog's path.
The problem is so universal that the new raft of AKC rules seeks to forbid judges from using a tunnel wrap back up and over the A-frame (when the tunnel is under the A-frame) in their course designs. I teach the "skill" to my own students who might compete in other venues where there is no such restriction.
Out of the performance of the tunnel the dog's first vision of the handler is mashing back towards the A-frame (and tunnel, frankly) in such a way that the dog gets no support for any kind of path that might have made the performance safe and fair.
I show the consequential dog's path as dumping off the side of the A‑frame; but that's probably unrealistic. Few dogs will have sufficient impetus coming out of the tunnel to actually dump. More likely they will scratch and claw in an effort to get up and over the apex of the A-frame… not having sufficient oomph to stride up and over in a run.
To tell you the truth, some handlers get away with this terrible handling all the time. They are covered by a dog who comes barreling out of the tunnel so that by simple dint of their momentum they'll find enough room for an approach that allows them to get back up to speed. Or, the dog is powerful enough in his back leg to gather and frog jump up onto the ramp… though there is a real possibility of a missed up contact when the dog is asked to frog-jump into the performance (for those venues that account for the up-contact).
All handling should really begin with a visualization of the dog's path. The handler is the architect of the dog's path and must understand his own discipline in order to conduct his dog upon that path.
In the tunnel wrap to the A-frame the handler must visualize a corner of approach to the A-frame that a) gives the dog sufficient approach to get up steam to get up and over and b) is square enough that the dog's forward impulsion doesn't dump him over the side. I've put an "X" out on the field so that you can see what I've visualized for the dog. Some dog's might require a bit less of an approach; and some, more of an approach. Know thy dog.
Supporting the dog to the corner is important. The dog tends to move in a path parallel to the handlers path. The dog gets his directional cues from the set of the handler's shoulders hips and toes.
Note the picture of the handler as the dog emerges from the pipe tunnel. The handler is moving and facing in the direction of the "X" corner on the flat; supporting the dog's movement in that direction.
When the dog arrives at the corner of approach… the handler will conduct a Front Cross. You'll note that I have the handler leading back towards the A‑frame with his inside shoulder without changing lead hands. I know this is contrary to the way many handlers do a Front Cross. There's a hidden lesson in sublime movement here.
The dog turns when the handler turns; and so, when the dog gets to the corner of approach and only when he gets to the corner, the handler will conduct the Cross.
Note that the handler's opposite lead comes up only after completing the rotation of the Cross.
I try to teach my own students that the handler should accelerate out of the Front Cross. A dog gets his speed cue from the handler's speed cue. So especially on the approach to the A-frame the handler will want to give a terrific speed cue with his movement… moving with intent and determination. You've got everything lined up… attack the A-frame.
Dare to Double is an interesting dog's choice game in which winning the game is a matter of multiple performances of the A-frame. Dare to Double is a popular TDAA titling game; so I should like to contain this discussion to the performance of the teacup A-frame.
Some will say that this is an arduous game for small dogs. I've heard the observation that the poor little guys will be "clawing and struggling to the top" on their fifth and sixth performance of the A-frame in this class.
I'm hoping that my discussion above helps to shed some light on why small dogs will struggle on the A-frame. Frankly the problem with performance is about 95% of the time complete handler error.
One of the philosophical questions we should ask ourselves in agility is whether testing to see if the handler knows how to keep the game safe and fair for his dog is the kind of riddle the course designer should be posing. The real problem with this philosophical question is that we would have to ban dog's choice games altogether if we believe that we should never challenge the handler to be a savvy conductor of the dog.
On the other hand, if all of our games were "follow the numbers" so that safe and square were entirely the purview of the course designer then handlers would never learn. You'll note that some of the best handlers in our game come from venues like the TDAA and the USDAA in which an implicit foundation of dog's choice games have trained a wicked smart handler who has come to understand his or role as the architect of the dog's path.
Dear handler: Do you want the course to be safe and square for your dog? Good! Just remember that it's your job.
Used drawing, new text, by Jess.
Fashioning a lesson play is often a game of "What Do You Make of This?" I'd very much not like to spend the day moving equipment around. And so with a single set of equipment I should like to examine a variety of challenges and handling skills without making the whole thing seem repetitive or boring.
For our Sunday mini-clinic I have several parts of the floor that will each have a different set of equipment.
This first sequence features at least a couple interesting riddles. The approach to jump #2 is at quite a depressed angle. Either the handler needs to open up the approach or trust that his dog understands the jump even when presented at such an angle.
In the transition between jumps #4 and #5 the handler needs to give the #8 dummy jump a miss. There might be a couple ways to do this: → the approach to jump #4 could be vee-set; → the handler could use a static post at jump #4 drawing the dog out of obstacle focus (and away from jump #8); → the handler might use an RFP on the landing side of jump #4.
If you want to have a bit of fun with the sequence, encourage your advanced handlers to layer to the opposite side of jump #4 while the dog does the closing sweep of jumps after the table performance.
What I always look for in an opening like this is that the handler has the sense to line his dog up for the course… rather than squaring to the first jump. Sometimes teaching is a game of repetition.
Given downfield considerations the turn from jump #2 to #3 suggests a Front Cross. Tho a number of my students live and die (mostly die) with behind and pushing logic and handling (meaning they'll post from #2 to #3 and push off in Tandem for the turn to jump #4).
Out of the #3 to #8 pinwheel the handler will probably want to Front Cross on the landing side of jump #7 in order to have dog on right for the wrapping turn at jump #8. Many handlers will force the turn against the natural turning direction (turning the dog right instead of left) resulting in a longer path, and considerably more risk.
While jump #2 has a challenging oblique presentation, mostly the opening of this sequence all the way through jump #6 is intended to build up very nice ripper of a run for the dog. And then, of course, it concludes with this interesting technical bit in which the handler must direct the dog through two wrong-course options to get him into the counter-side entry to the #7 pipe tunnel.
Finally handlers get a good look at the serpentine sequence that cuts through the center of this set of obstacles.
Of course some of my students may be looking to use the Blind Cross to solve the serpentine. But frankly, I use the serpentine to teach the Blind Cross. It really doesn't make much sense in this sequence. I'm afraid I'd have to publish a rather elaborate paper to explain why it doesn't.
However, I've given a kindly approach to jump #7 with the dog in an obedience position on the table. So the handler should be able to take a modest lead-out before starting the dog, into a quick Front Cross to solve the turn from jump #7 to #8. No big deal at all.
I didn't mean to overlook the oblique approach to jump #2. But that's been an ongoing theme in this lesson plan.
This sequence introduces the dreaded threadle. Take note that dog on right on the approach to jump #4 will have an extraordinary high fail rate. Frankly the best handling for the threadle (is what I call a serpentine Front Cross (#4 to #5); the handler begins with a simple Front Cross, and then continues to draw the dog around on a tight Post for the approach to jump #5. If you analyze the dog's path it describes something of an "S" shape… thus the serpentine Front Cross nomenclature.
One last little wrap at jump #8 will finish the sequence. But it's quite a handling riddle because the handler probably wants dog on right for the approach to jump #8, and dog on left for the approach to jump #9. This requires a fairly advanced combination movement.
The opening line to the table might be handled in a couple different ways: → Post through the first three jumps and Tandem to the table; #4 to #5) → Or, a neat little Front Cross on the landing side of jump #2.
Oh my… I've given them another threadle from jump #6 to #7. There might be a couple of solutions to this. I see a Bend & Post; but frankly I still like the concept of the serpentine Front Cross.
Once the sequence is solved, the handler gets to take the dog on a ripper run around the outside. Watch out for that table though. Never take options for granted.
I'm not done with the lesson plan yet. I'll share more tomorrow.
It looks like I'm back in the business of designing training plans. While I have a modest number of students in this part of the world I'm pretty much going to do the same for them that I did back in when I was doing the big training center thing..
Coming next month I'll be adding two training nights during the week, and reintroducing league play. Our league play now will be run under the rules and sanction of the CWAGS CCAP program. I will probably hit Agiledogs this week with a call for other training centers around the country to join our league play so that we can compare notes in terms of performance. We'll see how that develops.
Posted in Dog Agility Training | Comments Off on What Do You Make of This?
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The Kingdom of Rolldovia is in turmoil. Her royal highness, the Queen, has decreed that there will be a new capital after the old one was sacked by hordes of barbarians and bandits from the south. As leaders of one of the country's influential noble families, players vie with each other to establish their provincial city as the best home for Rolldovia's new capital. You must choose your city's path in gaining the approval of all others in the kingdom.


text:
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A brand born from the passion of engines and speed in the design capital of Milan now produces high-end watches in Geneva

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Kidco Community Centre at Horse Hill in North Edmonton is located inside Horse Hill Elementary School. We offer full and part time programs for children 5 to 12 years old, with a capacity for 24 children.
Horse Hill is a licensed and pre-accredited centre with high quality child care that embraces the individuality and diversity of each child and family in a safe and nurturing environment. Our learning through play approach is filled with creative activities to help minds, bodies, emotions and social skills develop. Our caregivers are trained to program and facilitate activities based on the children's interests and events happening in the world that surrounds them. They are experts in their field, trained in early childhood education as well as safety standards, first-aid and CPR.
My name is Krista and I am the Director at the Horse Hill Kidco Community location. I have a Level 2 from CDI and have worked in childcare for 24 years. In my free time, I love to be with my family, travel, read, and watch movies.
My favorite thing about working with kids is the things children say and do; I have many funny stories that have happened over the years. I have 2 grandsons and a granddaughter on the way and they just add to my love of children!


Last Updated: March 12th, 2018.
The year 2018 will be the year for the craziest and brilliant modifications in bob haircuts. Gorgeous Bob hairstyles 2018 have featured with some new experiments. It has made this hairstyle even more elegant and attention grabbing than ever before. Below are the trendy haircuts from the list of bob hairstyles that would be popular in this year.
Bob cuts have been the most popular, versatile and evergreen haircuts to have ever been invented. These hairstyles are always in fashion due to their potential undergoing massive transformations. It has also some great new experiments which also include a few eccentric ones. These hairstyles are not limited by the length of one's hair or any other such parameter. Bob cuts also suit on women with any sort of face cut.
The bob hairstyles are the ones that can never go out of fashion. They have worn since the time of silent movies. Yes! They have been loved by the ladies back then and even now the Mrs. Little of "Stuart little" can be seen wearing this magnificent haircut and flaunt it like no one else. It's your turn to make the world a bit bouncy with this extraordinarily beautiful haircut.
Bangs are the most loved haircut ever observed by the ladies. They consider it to be modern and chic but when combined with the bob hairstyle, it becomes tremendous and playful. The bangs can be of different types like front side swept bangs or the forehead covering bangs. Both are the best hairstyle especially for the ladies who have broad forehead. The bangs also help contour the face of the ladies and the ones with the oval face shape. If use the bangs with bob they get a nice cut to this beautiful face shape.
The curly hair and bob haircut, both together look exquisite. The side pin-up hairstyle or half open half tied hairstyle done with the curls in the bangs. They look so super cool that you won't imagine. The curls are the retro looks that are no doubt the best on you. Having long, medium or short hair like bob hairstyle, the suit best with all. Now is your time to get dressed up for the party tonight with the curls and your very own bob hairstyle 2018.
The hair color in the bob hairstyle for 2018 is the one thing that can make you stand out. If you are the great lover of adding up the colors in your hair try adding the different colors like pink, green, blue or purple at the endings of your hair. They will give an edge to your hair and as well as bring a life to your hair that you wouldn't be able to deny possibly.
The hair colors for the ladies who are stay at home moms is bit confusing, but the truth is that if your children are young try playing with the funky colors as it will be loved by them too and raise a color sense in them too and they will take your image to be softer.
The ladies who are looking for the wedding hairstyles while they have bob cut, try having a flower setting in your hair. Your hairs are no doubt short but they need to look pretty on the most special day of your life. So play with the flowers of different colors and get on with enjoying the bright beautiful colors of your new wedded life. Get a bob haircut or embellish it in different ways. Just don't forget to look pretty with confidence.
Among bob hairstyles 2018, this will be closest to the classic ones with some minor changes which will make the bob look stunning and beautiful. The sleek sides are obtained by the use of some brilliant products and straightening irons and are angled towards the jaw line. The bangs will fall from above on to your forehead towards the eyes hiding one eye completely. This bob haircut is best suited for women having thick hair however it can go with all shapes and kinds of faces.
This is one of the coolest bob hairstyles 2018 which has a prominent and clean look. It has side parted look along with shoulder length hair in a sleek straight manner and having blunt or razor-like ends. This style is made to look sleek by hair products and are straightened using hair straightening irons. This bob cut will be better for women having straight hair. Although as mentioned before, they can be straightened using high tech machinery.
This is also a great haircut from among the bob hairstyles 2018. The vampire bob cut has the adaptation of hair falling down a little below the jaw line but above the shoulders. This bob hairstyle has a center part with even lengthened hair. The hair on both sides of the face are angled slightly inwards to give a more elegant and stylish look. The style is the most ideal for those having thick hair and is considered as the most stunning haircut modifications in the bob.
This wavy bob deviant of the bob cut consists of a side parting and having waves giving a traditional yet stunning look. This is certainly not the recommended hairstyle for women having curls.
All these hairstyles will make it to the top of the list of bob hairstyles 2018. These bob cuts are elegant, stylish and bring something new to both the bob cuts and to the fashion world at large. Women who love bob haircut styles are in for a treat in this year as the bob cut will be experimented in a lot of new ways.


Jeddah, (UNA-OIC) – The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned, in the strongest terms, the terrorist attack on Mar Mina Church in the southern Cairo neighborhood of Helwan.
Riyadh, (UNA-OIC) – The decision by Saudi authorities on Saturday to open sections for women in the Kingdom's courts will facilitate procedures for women, especially in family and marital cases.
Ankara (UNA-OIC) � Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday praised Turkish people for their firm stance on the Jerusalem issue in his New Year message.


The list of breakthrough innovations in Thomas Dolby's 35 year career is continuous. As an early MTV icon he blazed a trail for electronic music with his imaginative videos. The same year as his own record reached the top of the pop/dance charts, he co-wrote and produced the first ever platinum-selling rap 12" single Magic's Wand by Whodini. His synth playing and production have graced the recordings of Foreigner, Def Lepperd, George Clinton and Joni Mitchell, earning five Grammy(TM) nominations. He appeared live with Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, with David Bowie at Live Aid, and with Roger Waters at The Wall in Berlin. And his self-penned She Blinded Me With Science became a Top 5 Billboard hit, going on to become an evergreen geek anthem of the 1980s that still pops up in Grand Theft Auto, The Big Bang Theory and Breaking Bad. Thomas has created original music for features films produced by George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Ken Russell; he has appeared with The Muppets, and on numerous TV shows from Soul Train toThe Late Show. Sought after as a consultant for tech startups and research companies, Dolby seemed to have a hand in every emerging entertainment platform, from laser disks and computer games to interactive TV, virtual reality installations and location-based entertainment. His name is on multiple US patents, and he has worked as an investment advisor for top venture capital firms. During the early Silicon Valley internet explosion, Thomas founded high tech startup Beatnik Inc and co-created the code that drove interactive audio in Java. When mobile phones began to play polyphonic ringtones, it was via his BAE technology, which Beatnik licensed to phone manufacturers to be embedded in over two billion cellular phones and devices. Between adding music to the mix as in-house Music Director of every TED Conference from 2001-12, Thomas taught himself to be a digital filmmaker; and in 2013 he won multiple awards for his groundbreaking film The Invisible Lighthouse, which chronicles the closure of a 250 year old lighthouse visible from his coastal home in Suffolk, UK. Since Fall 2014 Thomas has held the post Professor of the Arts at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He has recently released his first book The Speed Of Sound, on Macmillan/Flatiron.


text:
Q: select all the customers who had records on each month How to select all the customers who has records for each month?
Here customer will be chosen,because he/she had records for every month.
+----------+--------+-------+
| customer |  date  | spend |
+----------+--------+-------+
| a        | 201801 |   5.5 |
| b        | 201801 |    16 |
| c        | 201801 |     7 |
| a        | 201802 |   3.2 |
| b        | 201802 |   4.6 |
| a        | 201803 |     3 |
| c        | 201803 |   1.2 |
+----------+--------+-------+

desired output:
+----------+--------+-------+
| customer |  date  | spend |
+----------+--------+-------+
| a        | 201801 |   5.5 |
| a        | 201802 |   3.2 |
| a        | 201803 |     3 |
+----------+--------+-------+

A: I'll do like this:
select *
from customers
group by customer, date, spend
having count(distinct month(date)) =
                   (select count(distinct month(date))
                    from customers
                       )

A: Assuming that all the rows have dates for 2018, with this:
select customer from customers
group by customer
having count(distinct date) = 12

you can get all the customers that have rows for every month of 2018.
So you need to join it to the main table:
select c.* from (
  select customer from customers
  group by customer
  having count(distinct date) = 12
) t inner join customers c
on c.customer = t.customer
order by c.customer, c.date

If there are dates for other years too:
select c.* from (
  select customer from customers
  where substr(date, 1, 4) = '2018'
  group by customer
  having count(distinct date) = 12
) t inner join customers c
where substr(c.date, 1, 4) = '2018'
on c.customer = t.customer
order by c.customer, c.date

A: Assuming there is only one record per month per customer:
select t.*
from (select t.*, count(*) over (partition by customer) as cnt
      from t
     ) t cross join
     (select count(distinct date) as cnt
      from t
     ) tt
where t.cnt = tt.cnt;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Bank of Maharashtra cuts MCLR by 0.10 per cent
Oct 10, 2019, 1:35 pm IST
Business, Companies
Base rate has been kept unchanged at 9.50 per cent per annum.
The other tenors from overnight to six-months have been slashed by equal measure in the range of 8.05-8.30 per cent.
New Delhi: State-owned Bank of Maharashtra on Thursday announced a cut in its marginal cost of funds based lending rates by 0.10 per cent across tenors.
The benchmark one-year marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) will now be priced at 8.40 per cent with effect from October 8, 2019, the bank said in a regulatory filing.
The lender has also cut down the repo linked lending rate (RLLR) by 0.25 per cent to 8.20 per cent from 8.45 per cent earlier with effect from October 8.
Base rate has been kept unchanged at 9.50 per cent per annum, the bank said. Stock of the bank was trading at Rs 10.41 on BSE, down 3.61 per cent on BSE.
bank of maharashtra


text:
Fishing in Oklahoma: A Guide for Anglers
With more than 200 lakes and over one million surface acres of water, Oklahoma is the perfect place to cast your line. Our scenic lakes, rivers and ponds are home to more than 40 documented species of fish. No matter your method of take—from rod and reel to juglines, limblines, gigging and noodling—you're in for an angling adventure of a lifetime when you fish Oklahoma's plentiful waters. Below you'll find a rundown of some of the Sooner State's most abundant species and the best places to find them.
Serene waters create calming effects at Tenkiller State Park in Vian.
Photo Credit: Kim Baker
A special thanks to our advertisers
Check lake and fishing conditions, or peruse the Oklahoma Fishing Guide for day and size limits, along with general information on regulations and fishing areas. To purchase a fishing license, click here.
You'll find a wide variety of bass across the state, but the most common are smallmouth, largemouth, striped and hybrids. Smallmouth bass appear naturally in many eastern Oklahoma streams and tributaries, and they are especially plentiful in shallow waters around the Ouachita National Forest. Smallmouth fishing is strong in places like Lake Tenkiller and the Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park, but largemouth varieties are more abundant in the western half of the state.
If it's striped bass you're after, try your luck at Lake Texoma in south-central Oklahoma's Chickasaw Country. This 89,000-acre lake is home to some of the best striper fishing in the world, but you'll find plenty of other trophy-sized species here as well. Striped bass hybrids are also abundant here, but you may want to go off the beaten path to Great Salt Plains Lake in the northwestern part of the state, where you can fish in Oklahoma's only saltwater lake and take in the unique beauty of Great Salt Plains State Park for a one-of-a-kind angling experience.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has introduced two species of trout to the state's waters: brown trout and rainbow trout. Brown trout are identified by the orange and red spots on their sides, while rainbow trout are known for their iridescent coloring and black spots on the tail and fin. Whichever one you've got your eye on, these rare fish are fun to catch and great to eat.
Brown trout are less abundant than their more colorful cousins, as they are periodically stocked in just two locations: the Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow Lake and the Illinois River below Lake Tenkiller. Rainbow trout, on the other hand, are stocked approximately every two weeks at all of Oklahoma's trout areas. You'll find these beauties across the state, from Lake Wayne Wallace at Robbers Cave State Park in eastern Oklahoma to Lake Carl Etling at Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve in the panhandle.
Few species are as connected to Oklahoma's fishing and dining culture as the humble catfish. You'll find channel, blue and flathead varieties in lakes, rivers and ponds across the state. Channel catfish are the most abundant, populating waters from Lake Wister in eastern Oklahoma to the Fort Cobb Reservoir in the southwest. You'll find plenty of blue catfish in the lakes of northeastern Oklahoma's Green Country, while flatheads are common in most large impoundments and streams across the state.
There are plenty of ways to catch a catfish—from trot lining to old-fashioned rod and reel—but noodling, or hand-fishing, is the preferred method for adventurous anglers in the Sooner State. Fans of this distinctly Oklahoman method of take won't want to miss the annual Okie Noodling Tournament in Paul's Valley, where you can marvel at hand-caught monster catfish up close. If noodling's not quite your thing, you can still celebrate this freshwater favorite at one of Oklahoma's top-notch catfish restaurants.
Far and away the most common fish in Oklahoma, sunfish can be found in just about any lake across the state. Whether you're looking for bluegill, redear or green sunfish, this species is extraordinarily plentiful and almost always willing to bite. Their abundance and catchability make sunfish the perfect variety for introducing a youngster to the sport of fishing, so be sure to grab your rod and reel during your next family trip to one of Oklahoma's kid-friendly state parks.
May and June are the most active months for spawning sunfish. Whether you're trying your luck at McGee Creek Reservoir, Fort Gibson Lake or any of the waters at Beavers Bend State Park, late spring is the best time to cast your line for this plentiful species. While sunfish are frequently eager to bite, you'll increase your chances by using worms along shallow shorelines in areas protected from wind and boat traffic.
No matter your method of take—from rod and reel to juglines, limblines, gigging and noodling—you're in for an angling adventure of a lifetime when you fish Oklahoma's plentiful waters
Since its original introduction in Canton Lake and Lake Tenkiller in the early 1950s, you can now find walleye in most major lakes across Oklahoma. A member of the perch family, walleye can be identified by their spiny dorsal fin which—unlike its sauger and saugeye cousins—is unmarked by spots or stripes. While walleye are stocked statewide, this species is most plentiful in the lakes of Oklahoma's southwestern Great Plains Country, where you can enjoy the great outdoors among ancient granite mountains and stunning short-grass prairie.
The enclosed fishing docks at Foss State Park are a great place to cast your line for walleye. This unique oasis is home to the 8,800-surface acre Foss Lake, which also includes big populations of sandbass, striped bass hybrids and catfish. Tom Steed Lake is another great spot to fish for walleye, where you can enjoy a day on the water surrounded by the gorgeous Great Plains State Park. Be sure to stop by Tom Steed Bait Shop for burgers and beer after a long day of fishing.
Paddlefish
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees may be known for its trophy bass fishing—having been home to the Bassmaster Classic twice in less than a decade—but the Grand Lake Area is also gaining notoriety for a much rarer species: the paddlefish. Also known as spoonbills, these massive, primitive fish are one of the largest freshwater species in the United States. This unique species is well adapted to living in rivers and lakes, and you'll find them most frequently in deeper, low-current areas like side channels, backwater lakes and tailwaters below dams.
Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park is near the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Paddlefish Research & Processing Center, which collects important biological data, processes paddlefish meat for anglers and salvages paddlefish eggs. Those interested in this unique species will want to contact the department for more information during the research center's open period in the spring.
Sauger & Saugeye
Sauger is a unique species of the perch family, found primarily in the clear rivers of eastern Oklahoma. Anglers are likely to have the best luck fishing the Poteau, Illinois, Red and Neosho river systems, or—more rarely—in the tailwaters below Lake Texoma. This species' relative lack of abundance makes it a rare and rewarding treat for anglers looking for a challenge.
Saugeye are produced in state fish hatcheries through a crossing of walleye and sauger. This hybrid can be distinguished by the spots and bars in the webbing of its spiny dorsal fin. A more recent addition to the Sooner State, both saugeye and sauger are considered by many connoisseurs to be among the best-tasting freshwater fish in the United States, making it the perfect species for those looking to cook their catch.
Be sure to check out our overview of Oklahoma's top lakes, along with many other resources for more information about fishing in Okahoma.
See Related Pages
Fort Gibson Lake Area
Grand Lake Area
Great Salt Plains Lake Area
Lakes and Boating
Lake Eufaula Area
Lake Tenkiller Area
Lake Texoma Area
Outdoor Recreation Areas
Pauls Valley
2019 Oklahoma State Parks & Outdoor Guide
Chickasaw Country Kit
Choctaw Country
Grand Lake
Lake Eufaula
Find it fast on the map
Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park
Beavers Bend State Park
Black Mesa State Park & Nature Preserve
Broken Bow Lake
Canton Lake
Fort Cobb Reservoir
Fort Gibson Lake
Foss Lake
Foss State Park
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees
Great Salt Plains Lake
Great Salt Plains State Park
Lake Carl Etling
Lake Tenkiller
Lake Texoma
Lake Wayne Wallace
Lake Wister
Lower Mountain Fork River
McGee Creek Reservoir
Okie Noodling Tournament
Ouachita National Forest
Paddlefish Research Center
Robbers Cave State Park
Tom Steed Bait Shop: Beer, Bait & Burgers
Tom Steed Lake
Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park


text:
Q: How to add formatted text to your clipboard using Javascript I need to be able to click a link and have the following copied to my clipboard:
Name Email [TAB] Address Phone [TAB] IP Address

How can I "copy" the tab key? And how do I add it to clipboard?

A: Here's a pure JavaScript solution. It works in Chrome 43+ and Internet Explorer. You'll need to use Flash or a library for cross-browser support.
You can use document.execCommand('copy') to copy a message from a (hidden) element onto the clipboard.
Clicking the button will copy a message to the clipboard:

var cutTextareaBtn = document.querySelector('.js-textareacutbtn');
var cutTextarea = document.querySelector('.js-cuttextarea');

cutTextarea.textContent = "Name Email\tAddress Phone\tIP Address";

cutTextareaBtn.addEventListener('click', function(event) {
  cutTextarea.select();

  try {
    var successful = document.execCommand('copy');
    var msg = successful ? 'successful' : 'unsuccessful';
    console.log('Copy text command was ' + msg);
  } catch(err) {
    console.log('Oops, unable to copy');
  }
});
<textarea class="js-cuttextarea">fdsfsd</textarea>
<button class="js-textareacutbtn">Copy to clipboard</button>

Code adapted from this HTML5 rocks article.
This works in Chrome 43+ and Internet Explorer, though support for other browsers is limited - see caniuse.com.

A: I think it's not possible with Javascript to do a copy/paste to the clipboard feature. You need Flash script to do that. Or, you may use this library but you'll still use Adobe flash:
https://github.com/zeroclipboard/zeroclipboard


text:
Q: How to avoid htaccess redirect-rewrite loop? My current htaccess does two simple url rewrites for two simple page. Here is the code.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule    ^home/?$    index.php#home    [NC,L]
RewriteRule    ^contact/?$    index.php#contact    [NC,L]

now mywebsites.com and mywebsite.com/home are the same pages. I am using the twitter bootstrap carousel to flip slide between page without actually loading them.
Unfortunately the number of facebook share on mywebsite.com/home is 2000 and on mywebsite.com/ is 29. So I want to 301 redirect mywebsite.com/ to mywebsite.com/home but that puts the htaccess into an infinite loop.
any help will be widely appreciated.

A: The following should allow for only ONE redirection.
RewriteCond %{ENV:REDIRECT_STATUS} 200
RewriteRule .* - [L]

Does that help?


text:
Fast food evolves around McDonald's iconic sandwich
CANDICE CHOI
NEW YORK — McDonald's is fighting to hold onto customers as the Big Mac turns 50, but it isn't changing the makings of its most famous burger.
The company is celebrating the 1968 national launch in the Pittsburgh area of the double-decker sandwich whose ingredients of "two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun" were seared into American memories by a TV jingle.
In 1967, Michael James "Jim" Delligatti of Uniontown, Pa., lobbied the company to let him test the burger at his Pittsburgh restaurants. Later, he acknowledged the Big Mac's similarity to a popular sandwich sold by the Big Boy chain.
"This wasn't like discovering the light bulb. The bulb was already there. All I did was screw it in the socket," Delligatti said, according to "Behind the Arches."
McDonald's agreed to let Delligatti sell the sandwich at a single location, on the condition that he use the company's standard bun. It didn't work. Delligatti tried a bigger sesame seed bun, and the burger soon lifted sales by more than 12 percent.
After similar results at more stores, the Big Mac was added to the national menu in 1968.
Other ideas from franchisees that hit the big time include the Filet-O-Fish, Egg McMuffin, Apple Pie (once deep-fried but now baked), and the Shamrock Shake.
"The company has benefited from the ingenuity of its small business men," wrote Ray Kroc, who transformed the McDonald's into a global franchise, in his book, "Grinding It Out."
But the Big Mac milestone comes as the company reduces its number of U.S. stores. McDonald's said last week that customers are visiting less often. Other trendy burger options are reaching into the heartland.
The "Golden Arches" still have a massive global reach, and the McDonald's brand of cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets and french fries remains recognizable around the world. But on its critical home turf, the company is toiling to stay relevant. Kale now appears in salads, fresh has replaced frozen beef patties in Quarter Pounders, and some stores now offer ordering kiosks, food delivery and barista-style cafes.
The milestone for the Big Mac shows how much McDonald's and the rest of fast food have evolved around it.
"Clearly, we've gotten a little more sophisticated in our menu development," McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook said in a phone interview.
Franchisees still play an important role, driving the recent switch to fresh from frozen for the beef in Quarter Pounders, Easterbrook says. They also participate in menu development, which in the U.S. has included a series of cooking tweaks intended to improve taste.
Messing with a signature menu item can be taboo, but keeping the Big Mac unchanged comes with its own risks. Newer chains such as Shake Shack and Five Guys offer burgers that can make the Big Mac seem outdated. Even White Castle is modernizing, recently adding plant-based "Impossible Burger" sliders at some locations.
A McDonald's franchisee fretted in 2016 that only one out of five millennials has tried the Big Mac. The Big Mac had "gotten less relevant," the franchisee wrote in a memo, according to the Wall Street Journal.
McDonald's then ran promotions designed to introduce the Big Mac to more people. Those kind of periodic campaigns should help keep the Big Mac relevant for years to come, says Mike Delligatti, the son of the Big Mac inventor, who died in 2016.
"What iconic sandwich do you know that can beat the Big Mac as far as longevity?" said Delligatti, himself a McDonald's franchisee.
Mixed results for local bank stocks in trading
After losing more than a dollar in trading last week, Cortland Bancorp held steady in trading Monday to open the ...
ALTA CARE RECEIVES DONATION: Alta Care Group in Youngstown has received $60,000 from the Children's Mental Health ...
Flex-Strut celebrates silver anniversary
WARREN — When Van Huffel Tube began moving its strut division to Chicago, Dale H. Gebhardt, a chief engineer at ...
Arconic declares dividends for second quarter 2019
WARREN — Arconic, which has a production facility on Warren Avenue in Weathersfield, declared Friday a ...
Cortland Bancorp continues steep slide to end week
After losing nearly a dollar in trading Thursday, Cortland Bancorp lost another 30 cents Friday, ending the week at ...
Dominion Energy's rates down 12 percent in July
WARREN — Dominion Energy's standard choice offer and standard service offer rates will be $2.51 per thousand ...


It's been quite a loooooong time since I updated this site. My readers, mostly friends, kept on texting me to update this blog and post some photos because they wanted to see the "NEW ME".
I started on March 1, 2012 with a weight of 140.2lbs. The center set my target weight between 106lbs-112lbs. I was informed to order my REFEEDING PROGRAM (RF) once I am 2kg (5lbs) away from my goal weight. I ordered my RF when I reached 115lbs, and it was turned over to me two weeks after. My consultant advised me to go beyond 112lbs before I start my refeed. So I started RF on June 7, 2012 at 111lbs and ended June 25, 2012 at 110lbs.
I did RF for 19 days. First 4 days was a breeze. The rest of the days until day 19 were complicated. I made use of my general knowledge in Mathematics: Multiplication-Division-Addition-Subtraction. Whew! Back to basics. He he! And btw, this RF program is basically done to re-introduce food like carbs back into the body and bigger portions are added so the body won't get shock in the maintenance stage.
And yes, due to insistent public demand.. here's my before and after photos. TARAAAAAANNN!!!
This is my picture which was posted in Facebook Support Group the day I started my refeeding program.
This was my photo after the Refeeding program.
From XXL clothes down to Large, down to Medium and now I can wear FREE SIZE. New wardrobe. New lifestyle. NEW ME!!!!
Hi. May I ask if you've kept your weight off up to this time? I'll be starting the program soon and I just want to know how those who've undergone the program fared after sometime.


Environmental Health, Safety, & Security Plan — HazMat Environmental Group, Inc.
As a logistics provider specializing in the transportation and on-site management of hazardous materials and hazardous waste, the safety of the employee, the public, and the environment is paramount and every attempt will be made to reduce the possibility of accidental occurrence.
Safety shall take precedence over expediency or shortcuts.
The company will strive to achieve compliance with all Environmental Health, Safety and Security laws and ordinances.
The company is committed to training its employees regarding the importance of Environmental Health, Safety and Security protection and the role they play as stewards.
Top management shall support and be involved in the Environmental, Health, Safety and Security program.
objectives and targets and continually improve performance.
The company shall abide by the guiding principles of the Responsible Care Management System.
Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Policy shall be reviewed annually to reflect changes in Management or Policy.


text:
To Succeed at "Strategic Competition," Invest in Strategic Communications
Photo Credit: Mel Gurtov, "Testing Time for US-China Relations," China-United States Exchange Foundation, May 4, 2020.
"Just as water's flow avoids the high ground and rushes to the low, so, too, the victor avoids the enemy's strong points and strikes where he is weak"— Sun Tzu[i]
Recently, the White House reframed its relationship with China from "great power competition" to "strategic competition." Following guidance from the White House's Interim National Security Strategy, the Department of Defense announced that it will use this new characterization.[ii] However, the White House has yet to explain how it can transcend the rhetoric and signal a fundamental strategic shift. The semantic shift should encourage a more substantive change in policy— from a focus on augmenting hard power capabilities to investing in strategic communications.
America's Current Weakness: Strategic Communications
At present, China trounces America in the arena of strategic communications. In fact, America often neglects the significance of strategic communications — tactics to promote favorable views of both its political system and foreign policies. After the Cold War, America coupled its hard power— defense and economic coercion— with development assistance, diplomacy, and the attractiveness of its democratic institutions. However, over the past two decades, America's democratic institutions have failed to cope with modern problems, including rising economic inequality, partisan polarization, and waning American influence. As a result, America has alienated both staunch allies and potential partners. In response, China has seized opportunities to highlight America's weaknesses and offer a "better" alternative.
China outmaneuvers America at its weak points — development assistance and diplomacy— and evades America's strong points — defense. Learning from Soviet failures during the Cold War, China recognizes that competing with America in defense is both high risk and high cost.[iii] Although China continues to increase defense spending, it still pales in comparison with America's—in both absolute and relative terms. Instead, China focuses on strengthening its political partnerships through its power of attraction with economic campaigns such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)— promoting favorable perspectives of both its political system and foreign policies.[iv]
China grounds its strategic communications in the ancient principle of moral realism- the pursuit of realist policies within reasonable and ethical bounds.[v] As a result, China often retains respect from others while advancing its interests. On the other hand, China frames America as a specious superpower — one that lectures other countries about liberal ideals but continues to pursue its interests with an iron fist. In turn, China seeks to offer an alternative leadership style that brings substantive— not just rhetorical— equity to the international system. China draws from its experience in the Non-Aligned Movement to model leadership within the developing nation community, incurring favor from many in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia that feel America neglects them, or when it does attend to them, uses high-handed tactics.
In contrast, the White House neglects to explain its shift from "great power competition" to "strategic competition." Some analysts have blasted the shift as a political gimmick to differentiate the current administration from the previous one. Others speculate that it signals a greater willingness to cooperate with China on matters of shared interest. Regardless of the internal logic, the White House should align its semantic shift with a substantive shift in its approach to China: from a cold war confrontation to competition for global influence.
America struggles to counter China's influence because it fails in the two important components of strategic communications — signaling with actions and framing them with a strategic narrative. To succeed in strategic communications, America must invest in development assistance and diplomacy.
Signaling: The Tyranny of Defense over Development
First, America must improve its signaling with a substantive shift in policies and budget priorities. Although America should continue to invest large sums in defense to maintain international order, it should increase its relative investments in development assistance. At present, America spends about twenty-five times more on defense than development assistance.[vi] Congress should increase investments in development assistance to mitigate the threat of China, like how the Senate passed the Innovation & Competition Act to increase funding for basic scientific research and development in critical, emerging industries. Through its budget priorities, America signals to the world that it prioritizes coercion over supportive leadership.
Similarly, the foreign aid budget that funds assistance programs, with the inclusion of security assistance, has measured about fifteen times smaller than the defense budget.[vii] On the contrary, China emphasizes its economic ties — rather than defense prowess — in its relationships with other countries. As a result, most countries have perceived China as a helpful partner in the past.[viii] But given the fallout of the pandemic, and the attendant negative perceptions on Beijing, the U.S. has an opening to change this.
Although America attempts to project an image of benevolence with development assistance, it lacks the budget to substantiate such an image. For instance, most of the international community recognizes China's BRI. However, just a handful recognize the Blue Dot Network or the International Development Finance Corporation — a similar, but diminutive initiative from the State Department launched in response to China's. As a result, foreign audiences more often associate supportive leadership and positive relations with China rather than America.[ix] Such information asymmetries also exaggerate America's threat perception of China and marginalize other instruments of national power including diplomacy and development assistance.
The White House should shift its focus from "great power competition" — centered on defensive confrontation and arms races — to "strategic competition" — centered on competition for political influence on the global stage. In its shift, the White House should also better observe democratic principles – exercising power through persuasion instead of coercion.
The White House should work with Congress to increase investments in development assistance. In addition, the White House should promote this assistance as important for national security to galvanize public support needed for sustained investment. Over the past few months, the national security establishment has focused on rising tensions over the fate of Taiwan. Instead of responding to establishment concerns, the White House should take initiative and reframe its priorities for "strategic competition" including development assistance in regions such as South Asia and Africa. America can, then, establish better relations with other countries and compete for political influence with China through strategic messaging and development.
Framing: America's Atrophied Diplomatic Arm
Second, America must improve its strategic communications with respect to how it frames its foreign policies. At present, America does not face a crisis of hard power — economics and defense — it faces a crisis of persuasion: diplomacy.
Although most analysts focus on gross indicators of national power; "net stocks" provide more accurate assessments. Net stocks measure gross indicators minus the net costs of state maintenance including basic welfare, infrastructure, law enforcement, and homeland security. In "net stock" terms of economic and defense power, America continues to outpace China.[x] America must maintain the strength of its economy and defense, it must also consider how to combine and exercise its soft power endowments. In other words, America must better translate its resources into political advantage for desired outcomes.
America should invest in its diplomats who empower defense and economic policies with political meaning. Without a strong diplomatic corps, America cannot influence how other countries interpret its policies. Therefore, America needs a strong diplomatic corps to frame how other countries interpret its policies and how it justifies its political objectives.
While America prioritizes its hard power endowments at the expense of diplomacy, China explores new methods for conducting diplomacy. Over the past decade, the State Department has experienced dramatic setbacks, from marginalization, low morale, brain drain, and biases in promotion and retention: it has atrophied from deficient budgets and political subversion.[xi] While the last administration smeared and targeted career diplomats, the concerning trends transcend the time horizon of past administrations. On the other hand, China has more than doubled its foreign affairs budgets over the past decade and now maintains the most diplomatic posts in the world.[xii]
With a weak diplomatic arm, America often spouts rhetoric characteristic of its domestic norms and expects its message to resonate with other countries. On the contrary, China seeks out foreign countries' "pressure points" to better understand foreigners and frame their preferred policies in more favorable terms.
In its shift to "strategic competition," the White House should prioritize strategic communications including how it exercises and frames hard power. In turn, America can better orchestrate and implement its hard power instruments and compete for political influence, harnessing strategic diplomacy coupled with robust influence campaigns.
From "Rebalance to Asia" to "Rebalance to the State Department"
In the current strategic environment, China poses the biggest threat to American power in strategic communications. With much success, China has framed itself as responsible and America as specious. America has failed to thwart China's narrative and as a result, has lost significant non-defense forms of power. Therefore, America should invest more resources and attention in strategic communications— development assistance and diplomacy— to compete with China.
In other words, America must reinforce its "weakest link" to prevent China from reaping large political gains and influence at its expense. The State Department implements both development assistance and diplomacy. Therefore, America should seek to strengthen the State Department through larger budgets and institutional reform. The White House and Congress should increase the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs budget to increase the nation's strategic communications capabilities and better compete for political influence with China. The federal government should also invest more in the diplomatic corps' language and cultural skills so that America can better understand foreign audiences and persuade them to adopt its preferred policies. In addition, it should invest more in development assistance to help other countries address pressing transnational problems such as climate change, crime, and corruption.
In the short term, the White House should empower the State Department to lead on Indo-Pacific policies. In the long term, the White House must work with Congress to pass annual Department of State Authorization Acts that meet the challenges of the 21st century. Congress should provide the State Department with better tools for framing policies with social media and other new forms of communication. Congress should also reform the State Department's personnel systems to recruit diverse talent and increase the retention of minorities.
In 2015, President Obama published his second National Security Strategy which featured a long-overdue "rebalance" to Asia. The White House argued that America needed to shift its resources and attention to Asia — a growing center of global power.[xiii] Now, President Biden has announced a shift in how it characterizes America's relationship with China. For America and its "rebalance" to succeed, it must reinforce its weak points — the State Department — and once again succeed at strategic communications with strong diplomatic and development assets.
[i]Sun Tzu, The Art of War, Translated by Michael Nylan, W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 2020.
[ii]Daniel Lippman, Lara Seligman, Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey "Biden's Era of 'Strategic Competition,'" Politico, October 5, 2021, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2021/10/05/bidens-era-of-strategic-competition-494588.
[iii]Michael Mazarr et al., Understanding Influence in the Strategic Competition with China, RAND Corporation, 2021. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA290-1.html
[iv]Michael Mazarr et al. and others.
[v]Zheng Yongnian and Liu Bojian, "Non-Western Realism," The SAGE Handbook of Asian Foreign Policy, 2020.
[vi]Anthony H. Cordesman, "Before You Cut Foreign Aid to Fund Defense, Consider Where it Goes and What it Does for U.S. Troops and National Security," Center for Strategic and International Studies, March 13, 2017, https://www.csis.org/analysis/before-you-cut-foreign-aid-to-fund-defense-consider-where-it-goes
[viii] Julie Ray, "Image of U.S. Leadership Now Poorer than China's," Gallup, February 28, 2019, https://news.gallup.com/poll/247037/image-leadership-poorer-china.aspx.
[x] Michael Beckly, Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower, Cornell University Press, 2018.
[xi]Constanza Castro Zúñiga, Mojib Ghaznawi, and Caroline Kim, The Crisis in the State Department: We Are Losing Our Best and We Need to Ask Why, Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, July 2021.
[xii] U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, "China is Outpacing and Outspending US in Diplomacy and Development," Global Trade, August 30, 2018, https://www.globaltrademag.com/china-is-outpacing-and-outspending-us-in-diplomacy-and-development/.
[xiii]The White House, National Security Strategy, The White House, February 2015.
Published by Zachary Volpe
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Posted on November 16, 2021 November 15, 2021 by Zachary VolpePosted in Indo-Pacific, United States
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This is a difficult one- because it is easy to see it from both sides. The RGA may have a point, comparing this event to a 'freak show.' However, there are World Dwarf Games held every four years. Like the Paralympics do for athletes with all disabilities, these allow people with dwarfism to participate in sport safely and fairly.
Last I checked, wrestling is a sport, too. So, if people with dwarfism wish to wrestle, why shouldn't they be allowed to do so safely and fairly, in an environment where their needs are fully met?
After all, it wouldn't be fair to expect them to compete with people of full height. Yet I strongly believe that any person with any disability or difference has every right to participate in any sport they find interesting.
As long as all participants fully understand and consent to everything that happens, personally, I don't have a problem with events like this one.
You may disagree. As usual, your comments are very welcome.
I hope they win.As you say,it's their choice and their business. No one's forced to watch.
The promoters themselves have been selling these events as a carnival sceptical not seen since the Victorian era containing mid**t wrestling and dwarf tossing. This is not sport but a freak show to go to and gawk and ridicule people with a disability.
It just encourages all of the criminal abusers.
How come SOME people think that this is "a difficult one"???
So are – Tipping people out of their wheelchairs – 'Games' ok???
are – Starving disabled people to death – 'Games' ok???


In this book, the authors use DSC to determine ΔCPs for a series of DNA molecules, including ST-DNA, DNA duplexes, stem-loop motifs, hairpins with bulges, intramolecular three- and four-way junctions, triplexes and pseudoknots. In all cases, the resultant ΔCP is small and well within the baseline signal of the DSC and the unfolding of DNA molecules leads to a release of counterions. In a separate study, the authors present the differential scanning calorimetry method for evaluating and monitoring the effects of exposure to potential human and environmental toxicants. The obtained data contribute to better understanding of bacteria-metal interaction and could be applied to the bacteria stress-response studies. Later, the authors conducted a differential scanning mocrocalorimetry (DSC) investigation of the following samples: cell cultures of lymphocytes from vein blood of women 40-60 years of age with ductal carcinoma before and after treatment with a small synthetic bioregulator peptide epitalon at presence of Co(II) ions; fetus surrounding liquid of healthy pregnant young women; and lymphocytes cell cultures from vein blood of clinically healthy women 40-60 years of age who can be regarded as the norm. In the final study, thermal denaturation of hen egg white lysozyme in water-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixtures was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dual action of DMSO on the lysozyme properties was observed. The temperature of denaturation (T_d) decreases gradually with an increase in the concentration of DMSO. On the other hand, the enthalpy of denaturation (∆H_d) shows a complex dependence on the solvent composition.