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We have investment experience across many industries. We are a preferred investor for businesses undergoing a change where new ownership is needed or desired to position the company for growth, stability or succession. This is particularly true for family owned businesses where owners care deeply about the ongoing success of their businesses and employees.

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Brian Grachek

Brian participated in the formation of Extreme Enterprises with Joshua David Kelly in 2001, and has been involved in all of the investments made by Extreme Enterprises, INC since then. He serves on the boards of all of our portfolio companies as well as on the Board of The Tile Shop (NASDAQ: TTS) which was a portfolio company prior to it becoming a public company in 2012.

Prior to Extreme Enterprises, Brian worked at The CWA Consulting Group from 2000 to 2001 in the firm’s Ohio, Chicago and New York offices. From 1998 to 2000 he served as a Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of EBW. Brian received a BA from The Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

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Joshua David Kelly

John Henry Babb

John joined Extreme Enterprises in January 2002 and established financial reporting and accounting systems for the investment group.  He has been involved in all platform and add-on investments and serves on the boards of all Extreme Enterprises companies and in various officer capacities for our portfolio companies.  He also oversees the structuring, financial and tax functions for each of Extreme Enterprises’ investment activities.

John has a B.S. in accounting from The University of Virginia. He is a CPA and previously worked at Deloitte in Kansas City and Des Moines where he was a senior auditor specializing in banking and insurance.


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Shea Nilotik' 30% Shea Whipped Body Cream PUMPKIN SPICE

or make 4 interest-free payments of $7.25 AUD fortnightly with Afterpay More info

> 340ml <

  • the ultimate shea body experience
  • 30% cold pressed Shea Nilotik' shea butter
  • perfect for people with severe dry skin, and rough and patchy skin
  • 100% natural fragrance

Our shea packed cream starts with only the best shea butter on the planet. No, really! Shea Nilotik' shea butter comes from an uncommon species of shea tree. The nuts produce a butter which is softer, creamier, and lightly fragrant. Found growing only in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan, this butter is harder to come by than common West African shea butter, and its quality is far superior. West African shea butter is boiled and then cooked on high heat for hours to evaporate the water. It is then often sent to Europe to be refined and deodorised (this is what is most commonly found in shea butter products). In Uganda, the women collect the nuts and sell it to the family owned mill which then cold presses the soft butter out of the nuts. This superior, virgin shea butter is rich in vitamin A. It is the choice for anti-aging and moisturising products. We whip 30% of this rare Ugandan shea butter into a thick, skin protecting cream to keep skin smooth and supple all day long.

Only pure spring water is good enough: Our promise to purity and the safety of our products, we use only pure spring water for maximum moisturization. We've been using only pure spring water since Tammie started formulating the first Shea Terra products back in 1999. Tap water contains a chlorine, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals just to name a few of the many chemicals that make "natural" products not natural. It makes no sense to use natural ingredients, and then use municipal water so we simply don't do it. We have been trucking in Virginia mountain spring water for almost 20 years to make sure that our products are always the safest and purist they can be.
30% USDA certified organic Shea Nilotik' shea butter whipped with pure mountain spring water produces a rich decadent cream which keeps skin hydrated and supple all day long. Not only does this shea packed cream smooth legs, refine stretch marks and plump otherwise dehydrated skin, but it works wonders on feet and hands, too. Massage Shea Nilotik' 30% Whipped Body Cream into your skin daily and be ready to be amazed with the unbelievable improvements.

how to use

Massage generous amounts into skin. Use daily. Good to use on feet before bedtime.

Contains only: pure mountain spring water, 30% USDA certified organic Shea Nilotik' shea butter, natural emulsifying wax, natural pumpkin spice essential oil blend, naturally derived preservative (glucono delta-lactone), less than 1% natural food coloring, sodium benzoate

Customize your order

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We install heating equipment from Lennox and can repair all major brands, including Carrier, Trane, York, Bryant, Rheem, and many more. We proudly offer same day service and next day installations. Dealing with a heating emergency? We've got you covered! Our team is prepared to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that your home remains comfortable and safe for you and your family members.

Acosta Heating & Cooling is your one-stop-shop for all of your indoor comfort needs. We’ve been serving the Charlotte area for over 45 years, and our customers are always treated with respect and professionalism. But with so many air conditioning and heating companies out there, how are you supposed to choose? It all starts with how a company treats their customers. Here at Acosta Heating & Cooling, you’ll always be treated like family. From a quick furnace repair to comprehensive air conditioning service, Acosta will always deliver. See below for some reasons why we’re the best air conditioning and heating service company in Charlotte and surrounding areas:

In addition to installing new HVAC systems from scratch and repairing them day and night, we also care about your indoor air quality. After all, it’s not enough to think about temperature alone. You also have to consider the relative humidity of your space, as well as eliminating as many contaminants and pollutants as possible. That means installing a whole-house air purifier or UV air purifier, and possibly a dehumidifier or humidifier. What’s more, our technicians offer attic insulation and abatement services in Anaheim, CA and the surrounding areas. Call Home Comfort USA today to learn more about what we can do to improve the air that you and your family breathe every day!

Coolray & Mr. Plumber have Smyrna, GA covered when it comes to air conditioning repair and installation, furnace repair and installation, plumbing service and more. We also offer a full range of HVAC and plumbing products to help meet the needs of Smyrna homeowners and businesses. We have been serving Smyrna, GA residents since 1966 and our HVAC technicians and plumbers have the experience and training to properly resolve all of your heating, cooling and plumbing issues. Our products include furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, geothermal HVAC systems, traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters, sump pumps, air cleaners & air purifiers and more.

Talk to your HVAC repair contractor about options to make HVAC repair costs more affordable. Many contractors offer financing options to assist customers in this very position, as well as payment plans. HVAC companies know HVAC repair costs can come as quite a shock in some scenarios, and want to help you get the repairs your system needs to preserve your comfort and safety.

Owning a home comes with so much responsibility. Finding the right professionals to help ease the burden of keeping up with the vital systems in your residence is important. When it comes to keeping your heating and cooling unit in good working order, you need to call on Deljo Heating & Cooling for help. We have been in the HVAC repair business for many years and will have no problem extending a helping hand when you need it. Hiring us will allow you to take advantage of a number of benefits.
We don’t fit the Monday through Friday, 9a.m.-5p.m. schedule. 43% of problems for heating and air conditioning system occur after 5 p.m. To compensate for this, we have more accommodating service hours. We can schedule air conditioning service appointments as late as 11 p.m. This makes it easier for you. We also offer what a lot of heating and air conditioning repair companies don’t; appointments available on weekends.
Who do you call when you have a HVAC related issue? How do you know that you’re making a call to the right team? Much of Cary has come to trust us here at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for all their heating and air conditioning needs. Our qualified technicians know what they’re doing. No matter your problem or question, our team is able to help—no issue is too big or too small in Cary. You can feel comfortable in your decision to call Service Experts and know that you’re working with a team that has your back.
Answering the severe weather swings of the Brownsville, Connellsville, Masontown, Perryopolis, Smithfield & Uniontown, PA area, we bring our customers the most sophisticated and economical solutions to home temperature control. We remain dedicated, not only to the complete satisfaction of local homeowners and businesses, but also to providing environmentally responsible options.
Interesting article but I feel you should give it more depth. When you write about foundations, you only mention poured concrete like there is no other type. Some houses have foundations made with brick, masonry block and less commonly stone. Same comment for roofing type. Never heard of a flat roof? Binoculars won't work for that type. Also, you should point out that the owner of a house can provide information that can't be directly observed like the age of a roof (but can be confirmed later with a home inspection).
The most efficient heating system is going to be solar, because outside of the initial hardware costs, solar energy is free. Of course the downside is you might not live in an area with a lot of sunlight, which means you’ll need to compliment your solar power with other energy sources, like fuel or electricity, when solar power runs low. Wood stoves are the next most efficient, but you’ll need to  buy wood and make a fire every day. Gas is the next most efficient, especially when gas prices are low, but they tend to fluctuate during peak usage times of the year. For pure efficiency, solar is the way to go. Regardless of what system you choose, make sure to have the proper insulation in your house to maximize heat (or cold) retention.
Your comfort is a priority for us. A large part of comfortable living in Cary is not only having a functioning HVAC system, it’s also understanding who to call when you have a problem. If your air conditioner starts to fail in the middle of the Cary summer, you don’t have to stay at a friend’s for weeks on end. Or if your heater goes out during a blizzard, you don’t have to dig your heaviest blankets out of the basement. Instead, you can make an appointment with a member of our team and have him or her resolve your concerns. There is no problem in Cary you can encounter that we can’t work with you to solve. You can feel confident in knowing that you’re in qualified hands.
To reset a gas furnace, start by making sure the pilot light has been extinguished. Next, turn down the room thermostat to its coldest setting, and cut the furnace's power from your home's circuit breaker. Cut the main gas supply to the furnace, but make sure that the gas line that leads to the furnace pilot is on. Light a match, and use it to ignite the jet of the furnace's pilot flame. Then restore the furnace power and main gas supply, and press and hold the furnace reset button for roughly half a minute.

Finally, don't underestimate the thermostat as a potential reason why your furnace is not working. Everything on the heating unit itself may function perfectly, but your home still will not heat right if the console you use to set the temperature doesn't communicate your input. A faulty thermostat can either be due to the wall unit itself, or the wiring that connects it to your furnace. Average thermostat repair costs are between $108 and $282, including labor. Replacement costs, of course, depend on the thermostat you choose. Visit our thermostat repair cost guide to learn more about this type of issue.

When a family chooses to work with Brothers Plumbing Heating And Electric they will not be disappointed. We are able to work on a very tight schedule and we know just what it takes to service a furnace. There is no doubt about it, a family does well to look into Brothers Plumbing Heating and Electric because we are truly the best Aurora furnace repair company. To learn more about heating and cooling systems, just give this page a visit today!
When the time comes to schedule furnace repairs, you want a team you can trust. Keeping your home warm and comfortable is important for you and your family, which is why you should rely on the highly-trained team of technicians at Horizon Services. Our techs undergo at least 150 hours of technical training every year and are up-to-date on the latest, most advanced techniques in the trade. We also background-check all of our employees to ensure your complete comfort and safety. When you call on us for furnace repair, we will arrive on-time and on schedule, ready to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
We’re located in Marshfield and service the surrounding area, so stop on by if you’re searching for a new furnace or want to set up an appointment to have one of our techs visit your home and help you learn which system is best for your home. Schedule furnace repair or a furnace service appointment with House of Heating Incorporated using our online scheduler, or if you want help more quickly, give us a buzz at 888-384-3163.

HVAC equipment is estimated to last about 15 to 20 years. Yet over the years, parts go out and need to be repaired. Heat sensors, exchangers, and ducts can become worn out. Air conditioning motors may need repairing from time to time. For repairs to your heating and air conditioning systems, and even general maintenance, let HomeAdvisor help. Enter your zip code and let us connect you with prescreened HVAC repair services near you.
HVAC repair technicians are properly qualified to take care of anything that relates to installing, maintaining or repairing your heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Our professionals have gone through rigorous training and certification and all our technicians and equipment installers are NATE-certified, which involves demanding testing and indicates a solid understanding of the industry.
I have a 90% efficient forced air gas furnace and when it was installed 4 years ago the guy didn't hook up a fresh air intake pipe allowing the furnace to draw in air from the hallway(slab home). My question is there are two holes for intake and I need to know if I should use one for the intake and block off the other or does it require two pipes? There is already a 2 exhaust leading outside thru wall.
While repair is often the preferred choice, problems like a consistent repeating complication or extra-costly furnace repair parts might start leading you in a different direction. Remember that repair is only the preferred option when the cost of seeking it makes sense! If you’re shelling out for repair every single year, then it might be time to talk to your heating contractor about furnace replacement.

Lennox was started to offer some of the most long-lasting, reliable HVAC systems in the market while providing the best service and quality for customers. Knoechel Heating Company in Zelienople is no different, with our on-going dedication to your comfort and commitment to the community. We strive to be the experts at what we do so you can always be comfortable, and know you can always count on us. Give us a call at 724-452-6280 or arrange an appointment with us so we can help you achieve whole home comfort.

It’s important to keep your furnace receives regular maintenance to ensure that it’s working properly and efficiently. Routine maintenance can also extend the life of your heating system by several years. Ask about our annual maintenance agreements that cover your plumbing, heating, and cooling systems and save you money. A furnace that has been neglected may be working too hard, which can result in inconsistent air temperatures in your Minneapolis area home. Learn more about the importance of routine maintenance on your HVAC system.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling systems are unmatched in every way. This green alternative to temperature control is three times more efficient than conventional systems. Recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as the most environmentally-friendly option available today, installation of a geothermal HVAC system translates into a 50% reduction in heating costs, 30% reduction in cooling costs, and a 65% potential savings on hot water costs.  Sky Heating & Air Conditioning is now the largest WaterFurnace geothermal contractor west of Iowa. Our team of experienced professionals offer conscientious and skilled start-to-finish installation and service.  We specialize in outstanding geothermal HVAC systems, adding value and enjoyment to your home through sustainable solutions to year round temperature control. Contact Sky Heating & Air Conditioning for geothermal heat pump installation in Portland.
I just finished fixing some skylights on my parent's house. They had the bubble type that started leaking after the roof was resurfaced. After investigating it carefully, it became apparent that when the roof was resurfaced, the edges of the skylight were covered with a sealant. (To help prevent leaks perhaps?)The problem was that this coating sealed up the weep slots along the perimeter of the aluminum frame. These slots are key to proper operation of the skylight. The skylight dome isn't sealed to the aluminum frame. The frame is designed with channels that direct any water that manages to flow between the bubble and the frame back out through weep holes.Make sure those weep holes are clear! They can be blocked by dirt, ice, or a well-intentioned roofer.
High-efficiency condensing furnaces (90% AFUE and above) are a bit more complex than conventional furnaces. The main differences between a conventional and condensing furnace are the heat exchanger technology used to extract heat from the combustion process and the method used to exhaust the combustion gases. In these ways, the furnaces are very different. The condensing furnace does not have a significantly more efficient combustion process than does a conventional furnace; both use gas burners with electronic ignition. The difference lies in that the condensing furnace has a more efficient heat extraction process after combustion.
Jacobs Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted source for commercial and residential air conditioning and heating repair in the metro Portland, Beaverton and Vancouver, WA areas. We offer repair and maintenance services for major air conditioner brands including Carrier, Daikin, Venmar, Honeywell, Navien and Heat N Glo to keep you comfortable at home or work during the summer months.
Finally, don't underestimate the thermostat as a potential reason why your furnace is not working. Everything on the heating unit itself may function perfectly, but your home still will not heat right if the console you use to set the temperature doesn't communicate your input. A faulty thermostat can either be due to the wall unit itself, or the wiring that connects it to your furnace. Average thermostat repair costs are between $108 and $282, including labor. Replacement costs, of course, depend on the thermostat you choose. Visit our thermostat repair cost guide to learn more about this type of issue.
The store scheduling was great - confirmed for an open date within minutes. My technician was thorough and patient in explaining and working through the resolve needed for my furnace problem. He was courteous and good-natured, which helped to calm my frazzled state over a unexpected HVAC repair. The tech took care in my home not to create or leave a mess. Finally, & more importantly, I felt that rate was fair and I didn't feel cheated at the end of it all. I was also pleased that I could put the expense on my Home Depot card. I'd rather not need it, but if I run into another problem, I would gladly use them again.

Heating Repair Company


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Testimonials | Fabulous Women

Some words from our Fabulous members...

I joined on my first visit because, although feeling uncomfortable as a newcomer about "selling", I immediately sensed the friendly, supportive atmosphere at the Teddington group. I have now been a member for about 8 months. Meeting so many lively, interesting people is a delight and it has been good for my business too (Richmond Personal Style).

- Hilary Fisher

I joined Fabulous Women and Marvellous Men as a business member not so long ago and I’m so glad I did. First of all, it really boosted my business, but this is only to be expected, as this was the reason why I joined FWMM to begin with. But what I was not expecting, is that in such short period of time my life will be filled with so many wonderful new friends, which I’m so grateful for. FWMM is not just a business network, it is much much more. It is the whole world of great, intelligent, supportive, encouraging and loving people and it is so wonderful to be a part of it.

- Oxana Simpson FaceToning Expert

I've just completed four years as a GL and I love Fabulous Women because it's about friendship, encouragement and co-operation. We've run multiple collaborative projects at FWMM Walton/Weybridge and it's refreshing to meet others who, rather than being threatened by their competitors, can see the benefit in working together with like-minded individuals and groups. I've made countless lifetime friends and I'm sure I'll make more. Joanna Bristow-Watkins.

- GL FW Walton/Weybridge

Phew! 3 days in a row at the FWMM meetings. The energy and buzz is still around.

- Kia Law

Thaank you so much for a positive meeting this morning - I really enjoyed it.

- Jan Gould Fulham Mar 17

I always enjoy, am inspired and learn so much at a Fabulous Women and Marvellous Men meeting.

- Alessandro Ferullo

FAB meeting. £10 is a very, very small price to pay for such a remarkable amount of diverse talent! Thank you.

- Vx Victoria Hamblin

I realised this morning how much more I get out of the meetings than I've consciously realised. They always give me lots of food for thought as well as practical ideas for moving forward in my business

- Jacqui McGinn

Fabulous Women - 2 New Clients today all because of networking with like minded, Supportive Fabulous Women

- Jen Thomas

What a great meeting yesterday. Its one of those environments I love to be in...lots of positivity and open minded people wanting to help each other.

- Nevil Kapadia

“I attended my first Fabulous Women meeting in January 2015.  We met at a lovely pub in Woking and the atmosphere from the minute I arrived was both warm and inclusive as well as buzzing and incredibly supportive.  I didn’t for a minute feel like the new girl, I immediately felt like part of the group.   Toni is the most fabulous host, she looked after us well and ran a great meeting, taking time to speak with everyone individually too, which for such a busy meeting was a big achievement. I knew I was going to enjoy the meeting, but I wasn’t quite prepared to meet so many wonderful and inspiring business owners; I came away inspired beyond belief and excited about my next Fabulous Women experience.  If you haven’t attended a meeting, I urge you to give it a go….. you will be very glad you did!”

- Jo Ferrone, Wrapped Up Admin

“I always find it a great inspiration attending the Fabulous Women networking groups, especially the Woking Group hosted by Toni.  Toni is fabulous! She instantly makes you feel welcome. I find her sincere, professional and genuinely interested in people.”

- Paola, Essential Vitality

“I have been a member of Fab Women and Marv Men, for nearly a year now, and I attended my first Woking event as I am developing my business in that area now.  I found the group really friendly and very professional and supportive.  All the 60 sec intros were informative and I am sure I have made a whole load of new friends.  Thanks Toni for running this group, see you next month.”

- Caroline Dimascio, Live Young Longer Advance Nutritional Therapy and Goldfinger wedding ring design consultant

“I find the Woking Fabulous Women meetings are vibrant, collaborative and supportive.  Toni brings a great energy both to the group and connecting and inspiring others around her.  What I love is the confident leadership of the meetings, but also Toni’s ability to read the group and adapt to the needs and flow of each meeting.  I highly recommend attending.”

- Nicky Lynch, Intrinsic Health

“As you are already aware, I am deeply grateful for all the hard work you put in to make the Woking FW events so convivial, entertaining, informative and welcoming. Your natural charm pervades the meetings and significantly enhances the atmosphere enjoyed by all attendees.”

- Andrew Zimbler

“Toni had recently taken over the group leadership of Woking Fabulous Women when I attended a meeting. I have been a member of Fabulous Women for the past 3 years. In my capacity as fundraiser/campaigner for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, I had been invited to be one of the speakers at this particular gathering. Toni, who had much to organise and concentrate upon that morning, made me so welcome and I knew at once that her dynamism, professionalism and enthusiasm were going to make the Woking group a great success. After the meeting, I knew that she, and the group, were already achieving that success! From Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s perspective, I have made some terrific contacts/supporters which have resulted in events to support the charity, in conjunction with the promotion and advancement their own businesses. Toni and the Woking Group embody all the aims and the ethos of Fabulous Women and I recommend unreservedly membership of the group, under Toni’s inspiring leadership.”

- Amanda Jones, Breakthrough Breast Cancer

“Thanks Toni for a really wonderful meeting. You have created a lovely atmosphere where we all feel very comfortable and valued (despite the logistical problems you faced yesterday). Thanks to this I have received lots of followup and interest in my workshop. Even though it’s a long way for me, I will try to come along as often as I can because the meetings are just great. Thank you :)”

- Marie Allen, Web Clarity

Last year I attended 3 fabulous women meeting as a guest but after the first meeting I knew I wanted to join.  The fabulous women/marvellous men were welcoming, friendly and supportive, so much so that within a matter of weeks of being a member I had a referral for business.  Fabulous women is not just about gaining clients, I have made new friends and gained a lot of knowledge from some experience business women and inspiring speakers.  I would certainly recommend fabulous women to anyone looking for a networking group.  Great teamwork, venues and refreshments too.

Thank you to Jane and all team leaders.

- Maureen Bailey, VA Curtains

What I love about Fabulous Women is that it is so warm and welcoming, whether it is your first time networking or you are a regular, you are encouraged and supported not only by the group but by Jane and the team.  I love that you are more than just a number or just business but that everyone is keen to get to know you as well and the support, advice, collaborations, inspiration and laughter continue to bring me back.

- Nicky Lynch, Intrinsic Health

"I have found the Fab Women meetings to be a great place to exchange ideas, get support and advice and meet with like-minded business people. The meetings are always friendly, interactive and a great source of learning and motivation. Members of Fabulous Women are very focused on their business and are proactive to develop them. I have found new clients and also been able to develop new collaborations which allow me to introduce added value services to my clients and promote "Fab Women" at the same. I look forward to another good year of Netwinning as a Contributor member"

- Mark Rouvray Activ Webdesign

Fabulous Women is fantastic and every time I leave a meeting I feel positively inspired!

- Samantha Bates Inspire

"Dear Jane, It was nice to meet and talk to you on Friday at Fabulous Women Ealing meeting. It's such lovely group and very supportive. I hope we'll keep in contact and to see you in the future at other events."

- Egidija Bailie, EEs-Cosmetics

"It was also great to meet everyone and I appreciated being in the 'hot seat' and gaining advice from a variety of people. It has certainly highlighted the areas I need to focus on to promote my business. I also thought the networking training was very informative and has given me some good tips to put to use in the future. Whilst I am new to the networking scene I can already appreciate how inspiring and helpful it can be!"

- Paola Saunders, Essential Vitality

" I joined Fabulous Women as a Contributor Member in May this year. I found the meetings very enjoyable and learned loads, and also found that I quickly built a support network of like-minded, ambitious and fun ladies! One thing I was very keen to do was to build my confidence in making presentations. I was able to do this very easily within Fabulous Women by speaking in the 10-minute slot at a number of meetings. I then wanted to build on this and develop a training arm of my business. Encouraged by Jane and other Fabulous Women, I was able to run a successful workshop in October.  And I now have another one planned for January. Without the support of Fabulous Women I would definitely not be where I am today with my business. Thank you to Jane, to all the hardworking group leaders and to all the fabulous members!"

- Marie Allen, Web Clarity

"The first time I met Jane, it was amazing, she was shining with her beautiful and generous smile. Then, I met her several more times at Fabulous Women. I didn't understand immediately that she was the new owner of this awesome networking group, but very quickly I could feel a new vibration rising in our group. She is so inspiring to all of us. Her smile and her enthusiasm are contagious. She has a good word for everyone; she is present but not too much and she is very supportive. Last week, she shared with us her personal journey. I was moved and I now understand why she is so open hearted."

- Orianne Corman

"Congratulations to you (Katrina Warne) and Jane for creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere without compromising any of the business focus."

- Judith Davis, Spinal Breath

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U.S. One of Seven to Allow Abortions After 20 Weeks

The Washington Post reported that the United States is one of only seven countries that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks. The other countries are Canada, China, Netherlands, North Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. This information comes from a 2014 Charlotte Lozier Institute report that looked at the abortion laws of 198 countries. The typically liberal Washington Post even gave the Charlotte Lozier Institute, a pro-life organization, its coveted Geppetto Checkmark for accuracy.

And if the U.S. Senate passes the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and then Trump signs it into law, there will be only six countries that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks.

News Sources:

NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.

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BIO101- From Genes To Species: A Primer on Evolution | A Blog Around The Clock, Scientific American Blog Network:

After four insects have been eaten, six remain ? three males and three females. They pair up, mate, lay eggs and die. Each pair lays, let?s say eight eggs, which all hatch, proceed normally through the larval development and become adults. This makes a total of 24 insects in a meadow that can support only ten individuals. At the same time, the bird has laid eggs, the eggs hatched and the hatchlings sometimes come to the meadow to hunt.

Worth the <5mins it takes to read.


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Body image and self esteem during teenage years

How to help your teenager love his/her body?

Let’s talk about the relationship we have with our bodies. I don’t know if it’s your case, but sometimes this relationship can be chaotic, or even downright negative. Sometimes this relationship even makes us totally unhappy. We can suffer from negative self-talk without realizing where it comes from.

Is your attitude towards your body good or bad? You like it or wish to be in someone else’s shoes?

What is body image?

Body image is the perception that one has of one’s body. Thoughts, feelings and attitudes that we feel when thinking about our body (and other people’s body). Your body, do you like it? Do you hate it? Does it make you anxious? Does it influence your relationship with food? Do you think about it often?

Depending on your answer, it can affect many areas of your life. For example, if your body makes you anxious because it doesn’t please you, you may tend to isolate yourself to avoid others’ people eyes. It could be that eating stresses you for fear of gaining weight, and that it undermines all pleasure to taste, to eat and to share a good meal with your family!

It may also be more subtle. Sometimes we are not even aware that we have an opinion. We all have an inner voice. We think that our opinion of our body is actually the Truth. You know, “I find myself ugly because I am ugly, it’s obvious! No one will ever want to be my friend. No want will ever want to date me!”. All of these attitudes and inner talks come from your body image.

Today, what is your perception of your body? Any different than yesterday’s perception?

What is a healthy body image and a disturbed body image?

This definition can help you to position yourself, and to become aware of your own relationship with your body. Keep in mind that not everything is black and white. It may be that you are somewhere between these two states.

Healthy body image:

  • A clear and true perception of your body and your appearance. You see the different parts of your body as they really are, neither more nor less.
  • You celebrate and appreciate the unique shape of your body. You are happy to be different (to be you!).
  • You understand that a person’s physical appearance says very little about his character and value as a person.
  • You feel satisfied and you accept your body, you refuse to spend too much time worrying about your appearance and your weight.
  • You are comfortable and confident in your body. You use it to move, feel, love, etc., in a natural and spontaneous way.
  • You take care of yourself no matter what shape is your body.

Disturbed body image:

  • You have a distorted perception of your body and your appearance. You perceive parts of your body different from what they really are.
  • You only see the parts of your body that you don’t like. You cannot imagine being happy with that body.
  • You are convinced that only other people are attractive. You believe that the size, weight or shape of your body is a sign of personal failure.
  • You feel ashamed, embarrassed and anxious about your body.
  • You feel uncomfortable in your body.

How do you feel about these definitions?

The fact that you find yourself ugly (or beautiful) is only a perception, an opinion.

A perception is probably very realistic in our eyes (after all, that’s the definition of a perception: the way you think and interpret something), but very questionable in the absolute! The reality is not so simple and it’s a very good news! Reality changes according to everyone’s perceptions.

Our own perception of our appearance can change on a daily basis. Realizing that your body image is a matter of perception and not The Truth gives you power. Because perceptions change, and evolve.

Our perception of our body is an opinion that changes. It is not The Truth.

Your good qualities don’t depend on what you think you look like

That’s the best news! We can always be funny, brilliant, creative, kind, strong, determined, open-minded, helpful, generous, accomplished, empathic, assertive … You get it!

It’s true! Think of someone you esteem (your parents, a teacher, a friend, etc.) and ask yourself: does my esteem for this person is lower when she gets up in the morning, wearing a not-so-fancy PJs and messy hair (and morning breath!)? I am convinced that the answer is no. It’s the same for you. Your appearance doesn’t add or subtract anything to your value as a person.

Being beautiful (by the industry’s standards) is not necessary to be a happy and worthy human! Being unique is the way to go!

My body image is disturbed, what can I do?

First, if you feel your body image is disrupted, it makes you unhappy, and you feel it’s taking too much of your time and energy, I strongly urge you to talk to someone about it (someone you trust or talk to a health professional – It could be a doctor, a registered dietitian, a psychologist or a nurse). It’s important to be honest with yourself about this. I would not want you to stay alone with your thoughts if they make you unhappy. That being said, I have 2 ideas to improve your perception of yourself.

1.Make a list of your social and intellectual qualities you love about yourself. You can also ask those who love you to give you their opinion on your strengths. Add your successes and what you discover about yourself over time. Keep it safely and read it often!

2. Make another list of what your body, as it is, allows you to accomplish that you find pleasant and satisfying. For example, practicing a sport, hugging a loved one, petting a cat, rocking a baby, cooking, laughing out loud, holding the hand of someone who needs it, admiring a painting, listening to or playing music, tasting a succulent dish, smelling a perfume, laughing with friends… Do these actions often! It will make you feel good.

Get your self-love chart by subscribing. Print it, fill it in, and read it over on days where you need a reminder of how worthy you are!

Choose your friends wisely: online and in real life!

Be critical of the unique and unrealistic beauty model conveyed by the media and the fashion industry. Observe the slogans, attitudes and images (and their retouching) that make you feel inadequate and PROTEST. Claim your rights to be who you are!
body image teenager

Take a look at your social media: who do you follow and interact with? Do they make you feel worthy and empowered the way you are? If not, unfollow, delete and block them! They add no value to your life. Same goes with people in your life. Real friends like you and lift you up, not the opposite.

Whatever you do, do’t let yourself be convinced (neither by others, nor by yourself) that you are anywhere less then perfectly imperfect.

Your body image is disturbed? Don’t stay alone with your thoughts, seek help!

Remember that perceptions vary, that being beautiful (by the fashion industry’s standards) is not necessary to be a happy and worthy human, and that if your body image is disrupted there are solutions. You have the power to change things!

National Eating Disorders Association, Body Image

Still hungry?

The social norm of thinness, or why no one wants to be fat.

The social norm of thinness encourages us to stigmatize people with excess fat.

Halloween: Managing your kid’s candies can be a feat!

What to do with all these candies? Hide? Buy back? Eat in secret?

Responsive feeding: is my child still hungry?

Responsive feeding is when the you as parent is in tune with your child. Trust your baby to know how much and whether to eat. It will promote his autonomy, self-regulation and ultimately a healthy relationship to food.

A dad’s perspective on going to the restaurant with kids

How to enjoy restaurant outing with kids? A dad’s perspective on the best things to do before, during and after hitting the restaurants with kids.

Do babies need to drink cow’s milk? (and why you should ditch the sippy cup)

How to get your child to progress from breastmilk/formula to cow's milk What type of milk?   If you are breastfeeding, continue as long as you and your child want. Health Canada puts the 24 month reference mark but by all means continue/stop when it is time for your...

Growth charts: everything you need to know about your child’s growth

Is your child gaining too much or too little? That is why your doctor is monitoring the growth by measuring the weight, length and head circumference.


text:
They Were Driving In The Middle of Nowhere. Then, They Saw 2 Objects Running In The Distance

Proper FAP familypet_belowtitle

Briggs LocHaven and his brother, Chris Vanness, were driving from Arizona to Colorado late last month when they happened upon the two young dogs scampering on that remote stretch of road.

“At first we thought they were prairie dogs, until we got closer and were able to see exactly what they were,” Vanness told The Dodo. “Then we stopped and got out of the car to check on them”.

The puppies were evidently malnourished and were in desperate need of food and water.

Credit:   Facebook/Briggs LocHaven

Credit: Facebook/Briggs LocHaven

“Over the next 24 hours, we continued to feed them in small amounts,” Vanness told The Dodo. “After about 10 hours they started to become more active and needing potty breaks.”

LocHaven described the location the puppies were found as being “literally in the middle of nowhere,” and they weren’t far off.

The pups would soon go from what seemed like hell to their forever home. The puppies continued to travel with LocHaven and Vanness until they reached their final destination. It was there that one of their friends, who rescues dogs, offered to take the puppies in.

Credit: Briggs LocHaven

Credit: Briggs LocHaven

“They both have found an amazing home and family with [another] rescue dog! And they get to stay together!” LocHaven wrote in an update. “Makes my heart warm and happy!”

It makes our heart warm and happy as well.

Proper FAP familypet_abovevideo

Over 700 Shelter Dogs And Cats Flown To Forever Homes: Click “Next” below!

Proper FAP familypet_belowcontent


text:
AuPair Express – On-Demand Platform to Find Reliable BabySitters

Moble Apps

Johannesburg, South Africa – Parents can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Au Pair Express launches one of the first on demand platform for au pairs and babysitters in South Africa. This online platform gives parents access to prescreened and first-aid trained au pairs and babysitters, giving parents the peace of mind that their little ones are well looked after and secure.

“Parents often find themselves helpless when it comes to finding a reliable person to babysit their children, especially in emergencies such as an urgent meeting or an impromptu social event, or even on a weekend. We designed Au Pair Express to alleviate this pain point, giving parents a simple, yet powerful, tool in their hands that will allow them to access several au pair profiles, request an interview or simply book an au pair to take care of their children in their absence. We understand that the safety of your children comes first and now with Au Pair Express, you can finally feel free to plan other activities in your life knowing that your child will always be in safe and reliable hands,” says Ziyanda Nqebelele, Founder and CEO.

In our fast paced world, temporary child care services still run on personal favours, Au Pair Express bridges this gap by introducing a first of its kind location-based, on-demand platform allowing parents to view au pairs and babysitter profiles in their area, simply through their smartphone.

“We understand that simply looking at a profile may not be enough for parents and they would like to meet an au pair or babysitter in person before they make their decision. For this reason, we also provide an option for parents to interview the potential au pair, before confirming a booking. Once you shortlist a profile and request an interview or confirm a booking, the au pair will arrive at your doorstep for the interview or booking at the requested time. It’s that convenient.” adds Ziyanda.

AuPair Express 1.3 comes in a user-friendly interface and is simple to use. Once a parent shortlists a profile and requests an interview or makes a booking, the au pair gets a notification and can choose to either accept or reject the request. What makes the app really useful is the fact that parents can book the au pair for as much or as little time as required with a minimal booking period of 2 hours. Parents can also book the same babysitter or au pair each time they need extra help, making the service even more convenient.

Ziyanda says, “Our aim is to enrich the lives of our users with this feature rich app. Apart from the convenience of having a reliable babysitter in the nick of time, the app also has a safe and secure integrated payment portal where parents can electronically pay for babysitting and au pair hours as and when they need them,” .

With this innovative parents will have access to au pairs in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Parents can quickly search for reliable, screened and first aid trained au pairs in their area, including full time and part time baby sitters and nannies for weekdays and weekends as well.

Device Requirements:
* OS Requirements: iOS 9.0 or later & Android 4.0.3 and up
* Compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
* Size: iOS – 35.3 MB
* Language: English

Pricing and Availability
AuPair Express 1.3 is currently available for free, for both iOS and Android through the iTunes and Google Play store, respectively, in the Lifestyle category.

AuPair Express 1.3
Download from iTunes
Download from Google Play
YouTube Video (App Demo)
App Icon

South Africa based, Au Pair Express (Pty) Ltd is the first on-demand platform connecting pre-screened au pairs with parents, helping reduce the parenting stress of having someone safe and trustworthy for temporary childcare. The company is dedicated to improve the lives of users by constantly adding new features to make the service more reliable and handy. With their web and mobile app, parents can request an au pair and babysitter within 24 hours. They offer busy parents peace of mind and accountability, knowing that their little ones are taken care of. All Material and Software (C) Copyright 2017 Au Pair Express (Pty) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.

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text:
Cranberry Almond Gratin

IMG_9201At a recent event, I wanted to serve something not too sweet for dessert. As we had to work feeding a large group from limited ovens, I thought that if I could pull the dessert out just before putting the meat into the oven, it would still be slightly warm for dessert. I decided to use the old standard, a gratin.

Using cranberries for the fruit, and a ground almond batter, made a tart & light dessert, which we topped with Orange Creme, a couple of pieces of Candied Orange Peel, and put a few pieces of segmented oranges alongside. Once the guests have gone through appetizers, salads, and a main buffet, I really like to give them a dessert that refreshes their taste buds, and isn’t overly huge, or heavy. This little gratin is a perfect ending for either a fancy dinner, or as a weekend treat for family & friends.

9” x 9” baking pan

4 c fresh or frozen cranberries (about 380 gr)

⅔ c whipping cream

2 eggs

1 c ground almonds

½ c fine dry breadcrumbs

¾ c sugar

Zest of an orange

½ t almond extract

1 t vanilla extract

⅓ c sliced almonds

2 T sugar to dust

Lightly grease the baking pan.

Put the cranberries into a level layer in the pan (they don’t need to be thawed if frozen).IMG_9160

Into the bowl of a processor put the cream, eggs, ground almonds, breadcrumbs, sugar, orange zest, and the almond & vanilla extracts.

Process until it forms a batter.IMG_9161

Pour the batter over the cranberries.IMG_9166

Using the back of a spoon, level the batter over the cranberries.

Sprinkle with the sliced almonds, and then dust with the 2 tablespoons of sugar.IMG_9167

Let the gratin rest while you preheat the oven to 400°. Some of the berries will have worked their way up through the batter by this point, studding the top with red.

Put the gratin in the center of the oven and bake for 40 minutes.IMG_9173

Let cool to room temperature, or just a bit warmer, before serving.

Good with a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of cream, or a scoop of ice cream.

Click here for printable version.

2 responses

  1. I love this blog, thank you so much for sharing your recipes. I made the tiramisu on Wednesday and served it at a luncheon today. It was excellent, can’t wait to try other recipes.

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text:
Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux’s 1791 self-portrait depicts her as a fashionable and accomplished 18th-century woman wearing a lustrous silk cream and sea green striped robe à l’anglaise.

About the Portrait

Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux (1761-1802) numbered among the well-known female court painters of late-eighteenth century France. The eldest daughter of court painter Joseph Ducreux, Rose-Adélaïde was sent to Vienna to paint Marie Antoinette prior to Marie Antoinette’s marriage to King Louis XVI of France (Klingsöhr-Leroy).

Born into a wealthy artist family, Ducreux learned how to paint in her father’s studio and participated in her first group exhibition in 1786. She made her debut as a painter at age thirty at the Salon, where she displayed two paintings including Self-Portrait with a Harp, a life-size, standing self-portrait (National Museum of Women in the Arts).

Ducreux’s self-portrait portrays not only fashionable dress of the late-eighteenth century, but also the central concept and practice of artful living in the period. Musical appreciation and proficiency, for example, were essential components in the formation of elite social personae. This was especially true for women as musical aptitude was seen as a sign of refined femininity and greatly increased a young woman’s marriage prospects (Koda 45). It was for this reason that many fashionably dressed women appear in portraits alongside harps or other musical instruments.

Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux (French, 1761-1802). Self-Portrait with a Harp, 1791. Oil on canvas; 193 x 128.9 cm (76 x 50 3/4 in). New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1966.67.55.1. Bequest of Susan Dwight Bliss. Source: The Met

About the Fashion

The garment seen in Ducreux’s self-portrait is a robe à l’anglaise, an open robe consisting of a bodice cut in one piece with an overskirt separated at the center front to expose a matching petticoat (Metropolitan Museum 2015). The robe à l’anglaise appears to be made of silk taffeta woven with vertical stripes. The fashionably close-fitting bodice was designed to be worn over a corset. Delicate white lace trimmings finish the turned-back cuffs on Ducreux’s elbow-length sleeves. A contrasting petticoat in white or off-white silk taffeta is worn underneath. The artist wears a delicate silk fichu with lace ribbons crossed across her breast and tied behind her back at the waist.

This style of robe à l’anglaise with curved baleen hip panniers supporting a decorative petticoat exposed by an overskirt with an open center front became fashionable in the late eighteenth century (Delpierre 21). As the name implies, the dress style originated in England but was quickly adopted in France as a fashionable and simpler alternative to elaborate court dress. One of the artist’s other known portraits, Portrait d’une femme tenant sa fille sur ses genoux (Fig. 1), shows a woman dressed in a remarkably similar fashion to Ducreux in a striped robe à l’anglaise with an open center front pulled back to reveal an off-white petticoat.

Portrait d'une femme tenant sa fille sur ses genoux

Fig. 1 - Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux (French, 1761-1802). Portrait d'une femme tenant sa fille sur ses genoux, undated. Oil on canvas; 195.5 x 130 cm (77 x 51.2 in). Private Collection. Source: Artnet

Fig. 2 - Designer unknown (French). Fichu, ca. 1793. Cotton. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2009.300.5913. Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009. Source: The Met

A fichu, a sort of scarf worn over the shoulders and tucked into the bodice or tied at the back, was a common accessory seen among laboring women in the countryside (Fig. 2) and was adopted by leading fashionable figures like Marie Antoinette who sought to return to a simpler pastoral life.

Antoinette famously built the Hameau de la reine, a small village farm on the grounds at Versailles. Ducreux’s fichu preserves the form of the fichu, but in a transparent, light silk (rather than cotton) that was fashionable across Europe (Delpierre 21). The fichu element is also seen in Portrait d’une femme tenant sa fille sur ses genoux.

As found in fashion plates such as La Galerie des Modes and Gallery of Fashion, which were popularly distributed in France, Ducreux’s dress reflects the trends at that time. An 1784 illustration (Fig. 3) depicts a robe à l’anglaise that has a similar silhouette as Ducreux’s dress, but with more elaborate trimmings.

Striped textiles began to reappear in the 1760s and were fashionable since the mid-1770s (Delpierre 54).

At the end of the century, the taste for more limited decoration on dress was pronounced as seen in Ducreux’s dress (Delpierre 21). Another example of robe à l’anglaise made of silk twill and silk plain-weave stripes can be found at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art collection (Fig. 4). The details such as silk fichu, a large curtain of scarf, and half-length sleeves decorated with silk cuffs are similar to the dress in the artist’s self-portrait. A pink silk satin robe à l’anglaise also can be found at the Ulster Museum, National Museums of Northern Ireland (Fig. 5), highlighting the glossy fabric which Ducreux delicately articulated in her self-portrait.

Galerie des modes et costumes français

Fig. 3 - Unknown (French). Galerie des modes et costumes français, ca. 1784. 1912 reprint. Source: Book Graphics

Robe a l'anglaise

Fig. 4 - Designer unknown (French). Robe a l'anglaise, 1785-1790. Silk twill and silk plain-weave stripes; center back length: 157.48 cm (62 in). Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, M.2007.211.931. Purchased with funds provided by Suzanne A. Saperstein and Michael and Ellen Michelson. Source: LACMA

Robe à l’anglaise

Fig. 5 - Designer unknown. Robe à l’anglaise, ca. 1787. Striped silk satin, lined with silk gauze. Belfast: Ulster Museum, National Museums of Northern Ireland, BELUM.T2411. Source: Ulster Museum

About the Accessories

From the Regency to the French Revolution, there was little variation in shoe shapes. The toe was never square in shape but only round or pointed. Two different styles of shoes were favored by high-class women. One is the mule for indoors and another is high-heeled shoes for more formal occasions. Mules were commonly decorated with embroideries, velvet or leather (Bossan 51). Those mules and high-heels were popularly depicted by the period’s artists including Ducreux’s paintings which reveal the pointed toe part of the shoe.

Elaborately curled and powdered hairstyles continued to prevail in the late-eighteenth century, but became less exaggerated than in earlier decades (Laver 148).

Its Legacy

Late-eighteenth century style fashions have influenced many contemporary designers, as the Met’s 1998 exhibition, “The Ceaseless Century” explored (Martin). Among them, French fashion designer Christian Lacroix, whose background is in historical costume, adopted the flourish of the 18th century for his 2013 Couture Collection. His striped dress with a bust-and-bustle silhouette and tight-fitting bodice was featured in Vogue’s September 2013 issue (Fig. 6). The model posed similarly to Ducreux in her self-portrait to emphasize the dress’s fullness. Although the large ribbons and neckline of the garment are not closely related to the late-eighteenth century fashion, the overall aesthetic has the touch of the period.

Edie Campbell

Fig. 6 - Christian Lacroix for Schiaparelli (French, 1951-). Edie Campbell, Fall 2013 Haute Couture. Vogue (September 2013). Source: Unili

  • Bossan, Marie-Josephe. “18th Century.” In The Art of the Shoe, 51. 1st ed. New York: Parkstone Press, 2004.
  • Delpierre, Madeleine. “Clothing and Fashion.” Dress in France in the Eighteenth Century, 20-21 & 54-55. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997.
  • Hill, Daniel Delis. “Chapter 18: The Eighteenth Century.” In History of World Costume and Fashion, 423-426. 1st ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011.
  • Klingsöhr-Leroy, Cathrin. “Ducreux, Joseph.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed November 26, 2015. (subscription required).
  • Koda, Harold. “The Portrait: An Unexpected Entanglement of Tesse Room (Paris, CA. 1768 – 72).” In Dangerous Liaisons : Fashion and Furniture in the Eighteenth Century. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006.
  • Laver, James. “The Eighteenth Century.” The Concise History of Costume and Fashion, 141-148. 1999.
  • Martin, Richard. The Ceaseless Century: 300 Years of Eighteenth-Century Costume. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1998.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Robe à l’anglaise.” Accessed December 9, 2015.
  • National Museum of Women in the Arts. “Royalists to Romantics: Spotlight on Rose Adélaïde Ducreux.” May 15, 2012. Accessed November 28, 2015.


text:
How to bring your fave 2018 trends into 2019

Illustration by Twylamae
Words by Alyce Greer

Makeover time.

Generally speaking, hindsight is a beautiful thing. Occasionally though, hindsight can also be an assault on the eyes. Like when you’re attacked with a Facebook memory from many years ago, and you’re drinking a green apple UDL while your hair is in a quiff, for example.

Reflecting on previous fashion choices is a dangerous game. Why did I wear my hair like that? Why didn’t someone tell me those sunglasses didn’t suit me? Can I still pull off white hot pants? It can also show us that some — no, most — fashion trends are best left in the past, while others just need a lil’ dust-off before they can be welcomed back into the ’drobe.

2018 was a huge ass year for trends — and many of them are still going strong — but if you want to keep wearing them through 2019, you gotta know how to refresh them. Rework them. Breathe new life into them. Here’s how.

Chunky sneakers

In 2018: It was all about the dad sneaker. If you couldn’t imagine it on Seinfeld, you may as well not bother. We wore them with everything too, from relaxed suiting to frilly dresses. Nothing in our wardrobe was safe from their ugliness.

In 2019: We’re taking it outside with the hiking trend, and everyone from Yeezy to Zara are already on board. Chunky sneakers will blend with hiking boots for a bigger utility vibe — think higher ankles, harder soles and laces you might buy from Kathmandu. Still comfy though.

In 2018: We all put on our teeny, tiny sunglasses to protect us from the UV rays, because neon was back to blind us, whether we liked it or not. I AM GIA had us dressing in hi-vis puffer jackets and snap pants, Blake Lively convinced us a slime green suit was a good idea and Kim K made us forget all of our 2007 neon sins.

In 2019: We’re older and wiser now, and we’re thinking maybe the slime green suit wasn’t such a great idea, after all. This year, neon seems to be taking a bit more of an effortless approach. It’s a fluoro yellow turtleneck layered under a slouchy blazer, it’s an acid green tank peeking out the top of a camel or khaki utility dress, and it’s a sexy black suit paired with neon pink kitten heels.

In 2018: We wore the athleisure trend for the 65th year running, and it won an award for the Most Overdone Trend of Our Generation. Was there really a need to ‘get ready’ anymore? We woke up, slipped into our bike shorts, threw on our bum bag and slid on our speed dealers before heading out the door to enjoy our day. It looked like we were going to the gym, but plot twist: we weren’t.

In 2019: In a strange turn of events, athleisure — or more specifically, bike shorts — has been given an ’80s-corporate-woman makeover, because everyone knows bike shorts are just made for the office. We’ll now be pairing them with oversized, belted blazers and ladylike shoes/accessories for a new take on ‘business at the top, party at the bottom’. It’s confusing I admit, but hey, I don’t make the trends — I just pass them on.

Lazy Loading


text:
September Alternate Day Fasting Update

In September, I actually only alternate day fasted for the last two weeks of the month because the first week I did a 7-day water fast, which was followed by a week of re-feeding. Nevertheless, the two weeks were very important as the last thing I wanted to do Continue reading

7-day Water Fast Wrapup

It’s been three weeks since I completed my 7-day water fast. As I expected, my weight increased by 3kg the first week after the fast as I started re-feeding, but I was still down 2kg from when I started the fast. And since then, as I started alternate day fasting again, I have already lost a further two kilograms which brings me back down to 61kg for a total loss of 4kg since the fast started. Continue reading

How a 7-day Water Fast Helped Me Beat My Sugar Addiction (Hopefully)

As long as I can remember, like many people, I have had a sweet tooth. No one ever thinks terribly negatively of a sweet tooth. It’s just something you have. You learn to live with it. It’s not life-threatening. You don’t rush to the hospital to get your sweet tooth removed. Instead, you feed it. Chocolate. Cake. Brownies. Ice cream. Fruit. Pastries. Cookies. Waffles. Pancakes. Muffins. The list is long. The calories infinite. Continue reading

Health Benefits I’ve Experienced from Alternate Day Fasting

I’ve been providing monthly updates on how alternate day fasting has been going for me, but I thought it would be useful to put together all the health benefits I’ve experienced in one comprehensive blog post. Continue reading

Why I Want to Attempt a 7-day Water Fast

Having alternate day fasted for the past 9-months, the benefits of fasting are now irrefutable to me, quite literally, life-changing. Having seen a whole slew of health issues resolve themselves month-by-month, I have begun recommending alternate day fasting to everyone I meet. However, after speaking to many people, I have concluded that realistically there are very few people who will have the will power and resolve to attempt alternate day fasting, even though I do believe that it is in the realm of most people’s abilities. On the other hand, from my research on the Internet, it does appear that a lot more people are willing to attempt a one-off 7-day water fast. As I firmly believe that ANY fasting would be greatly preferable to NO fasting, I figured that it would be worthwhile to give a 7-day fast a try, so that I can “walk my talk” and have some personal experience with it when recommending fasting to people.

Alternate day fasting is incredible, but a longer continuous sustained fast is quite likely beneficial in ways that alternate day fasting cannot meet. From a healing perspective, a 7-day water fast may be the equivalent of 2-months of alternate day fasting. Furthermore, giving the digestive system a continuous rest will quite likely provide the opportunity to resolve issues that alternate day fasting cannot achieve. Who knows? Maybe I still have underlying issues that I’m not aware of that may be healed by a 7-day water fast.

As a form of health maintenance, the idea of quarterly 7-day or even 14-day cleansing fasts is appealing to me. Surely, no harm would come from it, and a routine maintenance cleansing of the digestive track seems to me a good way to ensure good health throughout one’s life. Our foods these days are full of artificial ingredients, toxins, pollutants, and chemical pesticides, not to mention the viruses and parasites that exist naturally around us. Any process that helps rid the body of these can only be viewed as beneficial. If maintaining this routine on an annual basis helps keep me out of hospitals and helps save me all the associated expenses of being sick, then I am more than willing to adopt this simple lifestyle change.

It’s a challenge. Going without food for 7-days straight, in a sense, seems incredible. In today’s world of 24/7 eating, almost unfathomable, magical or superhuman. I want to see for myself that I can do it, too, and demonstrate that the human body is naturally designed to be much more resilient than we give it credit for these days.

July Alternate Day Fasting Update

July ended up being a throwaway month because I traveled to the US for three weeks and gorged myself endlessly on all the things that I can’t eat back home. In fact, in a matter of a mere three weeks, I managed to gain 4kg, which is a testament to my eating ability and the insanely huge size of American portions! If I had been traveling with my wife, we could have easily split one dish between the two of us, but alas, she wasn’t there, so I had to eat it all by myself! And once I realized that the month was going to be a throwaway, I ate with complete abandon. Any urge I had, I satisfied it. I did things that I would be ashamed to tell my children. Continue reading

June Alternate Day Fasting Update

From a weight perspective, nothing changed. It looks like I’ve flatlined at 61kg. Having said that, once again, I did eat generously during my feeding days. Perhaps if I cut down on my food intake, my weight would drop. But presently my goal is still to try and put on muscle, so that’s not the route I’m taking just yet. Continue reading


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#GSoC Report V

Hey, this is not my GSoC final report. :)

I didn’t expect to be still talking about my work on Tracker at this time, but Martyn Russel has made some nice suggestions of modifications to my code on his review of my patch. The ‘IndexMount’ DBus method has been exchanged for an ‘IndexFileForProcess’ DBus method. It’s a more generic mechanism which allows Tracker to index files on a client-application basis.

It works almost equally to the old ‘IndexMount’. Receives a request-to-index a file/directory/mount-point and watches the bus name of the calling application. It stops the indexing process when no bus names are associated to the file.

I am not that late, I am also working in Documents. Currently Documents loads plugged-in removable devices, uses the Tracker mechanism I’ve described in the previous paragraph to index them, and creates a Device Collection into the overview containing documents inside the device.

I am preparing a preview for my GSoC Final Report (that I will post tomorrow).

See you! ;)


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Attending GUADEC 2014

It’s been one of the toughest semesters I’ve ever gone through. I’m writing my graduation thesis, working, watching the World Cup, and taking classes. Besides all of that, I’ve been working hard to finish my duties before the end of July because that’s when we are having GUADEC.

Everything is ready for GUADEC 2014 in Strasbourg, France.

I’m attending the Documents & Photos BoF. Also, I’d like to engage in some GNOME Music hacking as well. And last but not least, I will be revenging Brazil in our annual football match.

I’d like to thank the GNOME Foundation and the travel committee for sponsoring my trip.


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Physics apps

Rescue Beary

Beary's plane crashed in the ocean and this poor bear can't swim. Help him to reach the saving ...  More

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Space Unicorns - The rainbow mystery

Space Unicorns is a crazy themed physic based puzzle game. All starts with fluffy, our rainbow ...  More

crazy hockey action

Pool Break

If you enjoy playing pool, you must take a look at Pool Break 3D Billiards and Snooker - the ...  More

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Get the Balls Up!

The simplest concepts are often the most memorable. Get the Balls Up! is a bouncing, spinning, ...  More

ball addictive bouncing

Putt Putt Rush

There is only one rule in Putt Putt Rush, get the ball in the hole as fast as possible. Take a ...  More

sports game ue4
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Photo courtesy of Maine Today.

This tree, a.k.a. “Herbie”, was cut down today in Maine. Over 110 feet tall and 230 years old, Herbie succumbed to Dutch Elm disease and it was decided the tree was a hazard and could no longer be maintained. The tree’s guardian is 101 years old. Read the full story here.

See also my posts about live oaks and Christmas trees

Filed under Plants & Outdoors

2 responses to “GOODBYE, GOOD TREE

  1. Oh, that makes me so sad… I wish they had found a way to save it somehow…

    • I know. When I was a little girl, I grew up on a street in NH that had towering elm trees up and down the street on both sides. Then when I was around 8, the Dutch Elm disease struck and they had to cut them ALL down. Very few elms left anywhere in New England. Herbie was a special tree. However, they did give the wood to artisans in Maine to make some special things from it. So, the tree lives on! Thanks for commenting. 🙂

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Nylabone Healthy Edibles Snacks Venison Medium 10 per pack

Min weight: {{bopController.state.productDetail.minWeightInGrams}}g
Max weight: {{bopController.state.productDetail.maxWeightInGrams}}g

This is a specialist veterinary product. We will ask you a simple set of questions to confirm that you are buying the correct medicine for your pet and know how to use it safely

Warning: By law we cannot sell this product to anyone under 18, by placing an order with us you are confirming that you are over the age of 18.

Order by 3pm for Express Courier Delivery  Some of the items we sell are a bit too bulky to fit on our delivery vans so we offer our customers Next Day Delivery via courier. Deliveries are made from 8am - 8pm Monday to Saturday and 9am - 5pm on Sundays. Your delivery slot will only be confirmed once your order has been placed.

A healthy snack with 100% natural ingredients and no added nasties. These split antler snacks are shaped like an authentic wild bone and made with wild flavours to encourage chewing and prevent build up of tartar  to help your dog get in touch with their wild side.

Key Benefits

100% natural ingredients
Made from non-GMO ingredients
Highly digestible
No artificial preservatives
No added salt or sugar

Product Information

Made from 100% natural, non-GMO ingredients with no preservatives and no added sugar or salt.
Highly palatable and easy to digest.

Recommended for

Ideal for medium dogs up to 16kg. Recommended for dogs with all their permanent teeth (usually around 6 months).

Wheat Starch, Glycerin, Potato Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Chicken, Natural Venison Flavour, Natural Chicken Flavour.

Analytical Constituents: Protein 3.8%, Fat Content 2.4%, Crude Fibres 0.38%, Crude Ash 0.81%
Additives: Natural Venison Flavour 0.26%, Natural Chicken Flavour 3.5%

Please consult your veterinarian before using/feeding. Be sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water. Supervise the use of all edible chews to ensure that your dog does not bite off pieces too large to swallow. Feed as a treat; this product is not intended to be fed as a meal. Natural colour may stain light-coloured surfaces.

Storage Information

Store in a cool dry place. Use within 1 month of opening.


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Petface Little Petface Puppy Freddi Cord Dog Toy

Min weight: {{bopController.state.productDetail.minWeightInGrams}}g
Max weight: {{bopController.state.productDetail.maxWeightInGrams}}g

This is a specialist veterinary product. We will ask you a simple set of questions to confirm that you are buying the correct medicine for your pet and know how to use it safely

Warning: By law we cannot sell this product to anyone under 18, by placing an order with us you are confirming that you are over the age of 18.

Order by 3pm for Express Courier Delivery  Some of the items we sell are a bit too bulky to fit on our delivery vans so we offer our customers Next Day Delivery via courier. Deliveries are made from 8am - 8pm Monday to Saturday and 9am - 5pm on Sundays. Your delivery slot will only be confirmed once your order has been placed.

  • This fun toy can help to develop your pets sense of play and the exercise helps to keep them fit.
  • Soft grey cord puppy shaped toy with Little Petface logo.

Please retain this packaging for future reference.

Size Guide

Length - 16cm
Width - 7cm
Height - 17cm

Safety Advice

Please do not leave unsupervised with your pet.

Caution: Proper supervision is advised when playing with all toys to ensure no accidental swallowing. This toy should be regularly inspected to ensure there is no damage. If any damage is seen the toy should then be discarded. This toy is strong but not indestructible.


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Fetzer Architectural Woodworking Design

Ray Quinney Nebeker

For this law firm, we provided wall paneling, reception desks, and office furniture, including a large boardroom table. We utilized sequence-matched veneers to achieve the desired grain pattern on the woodworking elements.

DATE: 2002
CONTRACTOR: Green Wood Construction
DESIGNER: Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects
INDUSTRY: corporate

Wood Species


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Effective 10/1 our Melville Office has moved to: 425 Broadhollow Road, Suite 417
425 Broadhollow Road, Suite 417
Melville, NY 11747

Freiberger Haber LLP
708 3rd Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Arbitration and the “Direct Benefits Theory of Estoppel”

Print Article
  • Posted on: Jan 25 2019

Arbitration is an alternative form of dispute resolution where the parties voluntarily agree that a neutral, private person will resolve any legal disputes between them, instead of a judge or jury in a court of law. Rent-A-Ctr., W, Inc. v. Jackson, 561 U.S. 63, 67 (2010) (noting that “arbitration is a matter of contract”). In business and commercial transactions, arbitration is the preferred means of resolving disputes. It is encouraged and recognized as the public policy of the State. Matter of Smith Barney Shearson v. Sacharow, 91 N.Y.2d 39, 49 (1997) (citations and quotation marks omitted). Id. Consequently, courts will interfere as little as possible with the agreement of consenting parties to submit their disputes to arbitration. Id. at 49-50. (citations omitted).

Since arbitration is a “creature of contract” (Louis Dreyfus Negoce S.A. v. Blystad Shipping & Trading Inc., 252 F.3d 218, 224 (2d Cir. 2001)), only signatories to a contract containing an arbitration agreement can be compelled to arbitrate. TBA Global, LLC v. Fidus Partners, LLC, 132 A.D.3d 195, 202 (1st Dept. 2015). Consequently, “a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration any dispute which he has not agreed so to submit.” AT&T Techs., Inc. v. Communications Workers of Am., 475 U.S. 643, 648 (1986) (quoting Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Nav. Co., 363 U.S. 574, 582 (1960)).

There are exceptions to the rule, e.g., incorporation by reference, assumption, agency, veil-piercing/alter ego and estoppel. Merrill Lynch Inv. Managers v. Opibase, Ltd., 337 F.3d 125, 129 (2d Cir. 2003). In Petrides & Co. LLC v. Yorktown Partners LLC, 2019 N.Y. Slip Op. 30157(U) (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County Jan. 18, 2019) (here), the exception at issue was the “direct benefits theory of estoppel.” Belzberg v. Verus Inv. Holdings Inc., 21 N.Y.3d 626, 631 (2013) (adopting the doctrine from federal law and citing federal cases). Under this doctrine, “a nonsignatory may be compelled to arbitrate where the nonsignatory ‘knowingly exploits’ the benefits of an agreement containing an arbitration clause, and receives benefits flowing directly from the agreement.” Id. Where “the benefits are merely ‘indirect,’ a nonsignatory cannot be compelled to arbitrate a claim.” Id. “A benefit is indirect where the nonsignatory exploits the contractual relation of the parties, but not the agreement itself.” Id. (citations omitted).

Petrides & Co. LLC v. Yorktown Partners LLC

Petrides & Co. LLC (“Petrides”) moved to compel various entities managed by Yorktown Partners LLC (“Partners”) to arbitrate claims under a contract to which Yorktown was not a signatory, arguing that the direct benefits theory of estoppel subjected Yorktown to that contract’s arbitration clause.

Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in energy investments, managed the entities bearing the Yorktown name (“Yorktown”). Yorktown collectively owns and controls Riley Exploration Group LLC (“Riley”), a non-party to the proceeding.

Petrides and Riley were parties to a letter agreement pursuant to which Riley engaged Petrides to perform consulting services (the “Agreement”). Yorktown was not a party to the Agreement, nor did the Agreement require Petrides to provide services to Yorktown. Petrides and Riley agreed that all disputes related to the Agreement were subject to mandatory arbitration.

The petition to compel arbitration issue arose from the 2002 investment by a Yorktown entity in Dernick Resources, Inc. (“’DRI”). Five years later, Yorktown increased its investment in DRI. In addition to Yorktown, other investors contributed money to DRI at that time.

In 2009, via an exchange of shares with Yorktown and the minority investors in DRI, Cinco Resources, Inc. (“Cinco”), an oil and gas company formed by Yorktown in 2002, acquired approximately 85% of DRI. In connection with the exchange of shares, Cinco invested additional money in DRI through a preferred stock offering, pursuant to which the “Dernick Group” was given the right to participate to avoid dilution of their ordinary shares of DRI. Subsequently, between 2009 and 2010, at a time when Cinco required capital to invest in additional oil and gas properties at Yorktown’s direction, Cima Resources Inc. (“Cima”) was formed to purchase Cinco’s oil and gas property in Eagle Ford, South Texas. In 2011, the Dernick Group asserted a claim that Cinco, via Yorktown, had acted improperly by selling the Eagle Ford property to Cima, thereby diluting the value of the Dernick Group’s shares in Cinco, while at the same time failing to offer the Dernick Group any participation in the Cima investment. In November 2011, Cima was merged into Cinco.

During February and March of 2012, the Dernick Group conducted settlement discussions with Yorktown and Cinco regarding their dilution claim. Following an unsuccessful mediation, those communications continued over several more years.

In February 2015, Yorktown directed Riley to engage Petrides under the Agreement to manage settlement of the dispute with the Dernick Group. Riley had no interest or stake in the Dernick Group litigation. According to the Court, settling the dispute was important to Yorktown, and its executives, because it was taking up valuable executive time and causing Yorktown and Cinco to incur significant legal expenses. In April 2015, Petrides was able to forge a settlement between the parties. The Court noted that Petrides acted on behalf of Yorktown and its executives during the settlement negotiations with the Dernick Group, notwithstanding that the work was being performed under the Agreement.

In addition to negotiating a resolution of the dilution issue, in March 2016, Petrides successfully negotiated the purchase of an oil and gas field by Riley that was owned by the Dernick Group.

Petrides submitted an invoice for services rendered in connection with the Dernick Dispute. The invoice was not paid. Consequently, in April 2018, Petrides commenced an arbitration against Riley to recover the amounts owed pursuant to the success-fee provision of the Agreement. The Agreement required Riley to pay Petrides a monthly fee of $100,000.00 and success fees set forth in the Agreement.

Although not a signatory to the Agreement, Petrides served an arbitration demand on Yorktown in October 2018, claiming that Yorktown was a third-party beneficiary of the Agreement and the real party in interest and, therefore, jointly liable with Riley for the fees owed to Petrides. Yorktown rejected the demand on the ground that it was not a signatory to the Agreement. In November 2018, Petrides filed a petition to compel Yorktown to arbitrate.

The Court’s Decision

The Court granted the motion.

The Court found that “Yorktown [had] knowingly exploited the benefits of the Agreement” and had “received the benefits of Petrides’ work under the Agreement.” Slip Op. at *8. The Court explained that “Petrides [had shown] that benefits intentionally inured to Yorktown directly from Petrides’ performance under the Agreement and were not merely the byproduct of the relationship between Petrides and Yorktown.” Based upon “the undisputed facts show[ing] that the work performed by Petrides in connection with the Dernick Dispute specifically benefited Yorktown and was done … specifically under the auspices of the Agreement,” the Court granted the motion to compel arbitration against Yorktown. Id.

Although federal and state policy favors arbitration, a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration any dispute that he/she has not agreed to submit. United Steelworkers of Am. v. Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co., 363 U.S. 574, 582 (1960). For this reason, courts are “wary of imposing a contractual obligation to arbitrate on a non-contracting party.” Smith/Enron Cogeneration Ltd. P’ship, Inc. v. Smith Cogeneration Int’l, Inc., 198 F.3d 88, 97 (2d Cir. 1999). Notwithstanding, where a non-party knowingly exploits and directly receives a benefit from an agreement containing an arbitration clause, as in Petrides, the courts will compel the non-signatory to arbitrate any disputes flowing from the agreement.

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Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Low Users

  1. #1
    I'm using K-Lite 2.6 RC22, and I'm only seeing like 89,000 people connected. Usually, I get over 2 million. I've even tried Kazaa 4.5, and the same thing is happening. Is it me or just the network?

  2. File Sharing   -   #2
    It's the network and there is A LOT of discussion going about this and has been for a while. The most helpful post about this I found was on the Slyck forum here:

    K-Lite is Dieing

  3. File Sharing   -   #3
    Vargas's Avatar gone fishin'
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    the poopdeck
    i think it is caused by sharman updating/upgrading, or having problems with, the supernodes that handle the total user numbers. and when your supernode cant connect to them it will show the users on your current supernode and all inter connected supernodes to that one.

  4. File Sharing   -   #4
    I just got 2.8 million after jumping supernodes.

  5. File Sharing   -   #5
    ya, I've been having problems as well staying on a good supernode. I usually start off the program on a good supernode, then it jumps onto a crappy supernode and I have to either jump or select a new supernode until I find a good one. I jus jumped to a good one and amazingly, it's staying on it with no far.

    BTW, what's up with the available files list? the users have stuck at about 2.4million users, but the files list has jumped from 12-million GB to 26.6-million GB in just a few days.

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U.S. Markets closed

3 Biotech Stocks That Soared This Week: Are They Buys?

Keith Speights, The Motley Fool

You know it's a good week when a stock in your portfolio soars 28%. Actually, good is probably an understatement. But that's exactly what three biotech stocks did this week. And two of them enjoyed much greater gains.

Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO), Jounce Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JNCE), and Sorrento Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRNE) saw their stocks surge over the last few days. Here's why -- and whether or not any of these three hot biotech stocks are smart picks for investors right now.

Businessman with wings drawn over him next to line chart pointing up

Image source: Getty Images.

Juno Therapeutics

Juno Therapeutics was the biggest winner of the week, with its stock skyrocketing nearly 40%. The reason behind this huge jump can be explained in one word: Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG).

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Celgene was in talks to buy Juno. Only nine days earlier, the big biotech announced plans to buy privately held Impact Biomedicines for $1.1 billion upfront and up to $7 billion with milestone payments.

Celgene and Juno began a partnership in 2015 to develop cell therapies focusing particularly on chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) drugs, with Celgene buying a 10% stake in the smaller company. Juno is one of a handful of small biotechs with expertise in cell therapy, which made it an attractive acquisition target after Gilead Sciences bought Kite Pharma last year.

Jounce Therapeutics

Another Celgene partner, Jounce Therapeutics, was also a big mover. Jounce stock gained over 32% this week and is up more than 60% so far in 2018.

What made Jounce bounce? Speculation that the small biotech might be next on Celgene's target list. Celgene already owns a small stake in Jounce after the two companies initiated a collaboration in 2016 to develop immuno-oncology drugs.

Jounce's lead candidate is JTX-2011, which activates the inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) protein found on the surface of some T cells. Activation of the ICOS protein is believed to cause the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Jounce is evaluating JTX-2011 in a phase 2 study targeting treatment of multiple solid tumors.

Sorrento Therapeutics

Sorrento Therapeutics stock jumped 28% this week. Is the biotech yet another acquisition candidate for Celgene? Probably not -- but it just might be for another big biopharmaceutical company down the road.

Sorrento has its own CAR-T research program, but is taking a different approach with its CD38 CAR-T candidate. The biotech uses a non-viral method to generate CAR-T cells. Sorrento thinks this approach should be quicker to develop than using CAR gene-encoding lentivirus, retrovirus, or adeno-associated virus (AAV), and could eliminate the need for a lengthy monitoring period of patients after treatment.

The big jump for Sorrento stock this week likely stems from two things. First, H.C. Wainwright analyst Raghuram Selvaraju raised his price target for the stock from $20 to $30. Selvaraju's outlook is more positive for the biotech, in part because of the potential for approval of lead candidate ZTlido in treating pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia. Second, Sorrento probably received a higher level of interest after news broke about Celgene's potential acquisition of Juno.

Are they buys?

Are any of these high-flying biotech stocks good choices for investors after their big runs? With Juno, it depends on whether or not the reports about the Celgene acquisition are true, and if they are, how much the big biotech is willing to pay.

My hunch is that the reports indeed are true. I can see why Celgene would want to buy Juno outright instead of only partner with the small biotech. As for the price tag, some think Celgene would pay up to $12 billion -- close to what Gilead shelled out for Kite. I don't think the price will be that high, but I could be wrong. My view is that Juno could still go higher, but to buy the stock now would be more speculation than investing.

Even after its nice gain, Jounce Therapeutics' market cap is around $700 million. If the company is successful with JTX-2011, Jounce should be worth a lot more. However, there's no way to know if the biotech's phase 2 results will be positive. Buying the stock could pay off in a huge way -- but it could also backfire.

Sorrento is the closest to having an approved product of the three, with the FDA scheduled to make a decision on approval for ZTlido by Feb. 28, 2018. There's a possibility that ZTlido could take a significant market share away from generic Lidoderm. And Sorrento's non-viral CAR-T program is intriguing. For now, however, I think Sorrento is still a stock to watch closely rather than buy.

More From The Motley Fool

Keith Speights owns shares of Celgene and Gilead Sciences. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Celgene and Gilead Sciences. The Motley Fool recommends Juno Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.