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image credit: canva.com

Recently there has been a lot of talk about technology making inroads into the legal world, allegedly transforming the legal profession or even making lawyers redundant. One of the most prominent titles that come to mind in this context is Richard Susskind’s book “The end of lawyers?”, later changed into “Tomorrow’s lawyers”. So is the future for lawyers all doom and gloom, or are they here to stay and flourish? Presently, I argue the latter. Here’s why.

1. Law is everywhere

Law is intrinsic to human nature. No human project is possible without the need for some kind of authoritative and binding structuring — find people and you will find law, which is a basic function of the human mind. Fascinating research by John Mikhail, among others, shows just how deeply legal principles are embedded in us. According to his research, three- to four-year-old children are “intuitive lawyers,” capable of drawing intelligent distinctions between similar cases using their intuitive jurisprudence that shows many characteristics of a well-developed legal code. Children deploy the concept of intent to distinguish between two acts. They are capable of distinguishing moral violations like theft from mere social conventions (like inappropriate clothing) and use proportionality to determine suitable punishment for principals and accessories.

Humans need law to create order out of chaos, survive and develop as a society. To say that technology will make lawyers redundant is to say that technology will replace humans. It’s no coincidence that Philip Wood says that lawyers have replaced priests in modern societies. The more complex societies get, the more legal framework they require. It is impossible to decouple human endeavors from law. Therefore, law is not going anywhere.

2. Do robot lawyers dream of electric sheep?

Human communication is at least as much about what is not being said as it is about what is being said. It is about understanding the context, reading between the lines, alluding, implying, influencing and creating with carefully chosen words. It’s about nuances and shades. A good lawyer untangles a complex matrix of facts, evaluates the evidence, develops a strategy, convinces the client, writes a powerful brief, cross-examines the witnesses, disputes with a judge, and. convinces the judge. This is an immensely complex mental process which encompasses and reflects all facets of what it means to be human. Again, to say that AI will be able to do it is to say that AI will replace humans, not just lawyers.

Assuming that such AI is possible, a number of interesting questions arise. For example, who will own it, can it be ethical to own it, how much would a robot lawyer charge for its services, and would it be regarded as discrimination to pay it less than its human “colleagues”? Also, would a judgement produced by a robot judge be acceptable for humans? Can a robot lawyer reassure its client or understand its motives? In the author’s present view, this is pure sci-fi, currently as realistic as time travel through black holes or the world of Philip Dick’s Blade Runner. So the lawyers are not going anywhere either.

3. Exhibit S: Smart contracts (are not really smart)

Along with blockchain, smart contracts are currently being hailed as the cure for almost everything that ails us. A smart contract is basically a code programmed to automatically execute particular steps according to an agreed system. At its heart, it is an automated “if, then” structure. It cannot eliminate the need for lawyers due to a number of reasons:

  • Smart contracts can only carry out what is in their software code to be carried out. They cannot analyze, interpret or check whether, for, example a “material adverse change” has occurred or “reasonable endeavors” have been applied.
  • Smart contracts do not make legal rules obsolete. They can incorporate some of them to a certain (and very simple) degree.
  • What happens when there’s a breach of smart contract? Let’s say, if a party refuses to pay? A lawyer will have to take care of this issue in the usual way (e.g., lawsuit).

Smart contracts are probably a useful contract management tool, but no more than that. Just as the legal technology is useful to analyze comprehensive documentation in due diligence or disclosure. There are tools that support lawyers, and smart contracts look to be no different.

4. So is it just hype?

In my view, the answer is, yes, to a substantial degree. I recently attended a conference where one of the presentations was held by a legal tech advisor, naturally, on the merits of legal tech. After the event we spoke for a while about what exactly his firm does, until he somewhat wearily said: “If you have a good command of Word & Co you probably won’t really need us.” Legal technology is currently in its infancy, a tool restricted to relatively straightforward contract automation, contract management and document review. Innovation is great, but relentless hyping is not innovation; rather, it is selling. For now, let’s produce some truly great innovations and sell them later.


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Social Media Classroom — Training wheels that don’t come off.

The Social Media Classroom is a web service created by Howard Rheingold that provides a space for students to engage in many of the most popular social networking activities out there. It includes blogs, wikis, forums, social bookmarks, user profiles and chat. The goal is to provide a very low threshold environment for students and faculty to learn about and to use social media as a way of augmenting the classroom.

Scott Leslie set up an installation of Social Media Classroom the other day and offered for others to take it for a spin. I gave it a try and here is what I think.

The Social Media Classroom does exactly what it says that it will do. The user interface is quite impressive, making thing really easy to jump into. Sarah Perez on ReadWriteWeb said that “its ease-of-use and educational slant make its introduction an impressive and potentially game-changing move for the educational system as we know it”. I think she would be right, if it were not for some big obstacles that the platform faces. These are:

  1. It seems to be closed off and private by default (although this may have just been the system I used). If outsiders can participate (as has been shown by Jon Beasley-Murray, Jim Groom and D’Arcy Norman) magic can happen. We need to let the world see what students are doing in university.
  2. The “Social Media Classroom” is missing one little word in the title. A game changer would rather be a “Social Network Media Classroom”. Although students can edit their own profiles in the Social Media Classroom, there is no way to form groups or to add people to their network. The network is often the most powerful part of any social media applications and it is a terrible oversight to not include it.
  3. The training wheels don’t come off. This application is great for students who do not know of, or use social media tools. However, it sucks for those that do. They are not able to use their current networks or applications. Most people who have blogs would want to use their own blogs for a class. Or use their own social bookmarking service. These people (the ones who would be very useful in this environment as they could guide their peers and instructors in the use of social media) will feel alienated and resent having to use the Social Media Classroom. If an education-based social media application is ever to be successful it has to provide an easy way for experienced students to show others the tricks of the trade and for novice students to take the wheels off of the bicycle and use real tools when they are ready for it.

The bright side is that these are relatively easy things for the social media classroom to fix. Jim Groom is already taking care of the training wheel problem at UMW blogs with his BuddyPress, FeedWordPress, WordPress and mediaWiki experiments. UBC’s OLT also has some of this in the works. I’m sure that Drupal is powerful enough to do the same for the Social Media Classroom. The network part simply takes adding some features and making it open… well that should be just flicking a switch.

The Social Media Classroom is a good service and I really wish that more people had taken Scott Leslie up on his offer of trying it out on his hosted server. If you are in education, check out Social Media Classroom. Despite all of my complaints above, I would still far rather use it than any course website that I have ever used (Blackboard or otherwise). With a few simple, yet fundamental changes, it could just be a game changer yet.

Related from around the web:

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EMERGE: Evidence-based Measures of Empowerment for Research on Gender Equality

In 2017, UN Women reported that there are few to no measures for 80% of indicators aimed at Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)5: Gender Equality and Empowering all Women and Girls. That same year the EMERGE project was funded to address the gap by compiling and reviewing gender equality and empowerment (GE/E) measures used in health and development research (access via www.emerge.ucsd.edu). GEH researchers categorize measures by GE/E dimension and psychometric properties. Information is also included in terms of measure items, scoring procedure, sampled populations, and citation use. Development and piloting of novel GE/E measures is supported through partnerships with multi-disciplinary scientists and survey researchers in India. For additional details, please visit the EMERGE site.

*Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Selected Publications
EMERGE Learnings Report 1: Learnings from International Scoping Meetings on Quantitative Measurement of Gender Equality and Empowerment

EMERGE Learnings Report 2: Findings from Workshop and Scoping Meetings on Gender Equality and Empowerment Measurement in India

EMERGE Learnings Report 3: Findings from Interviews with Experts in India on Quantitative Measurement of Gender Equality and Empowerment

EMERGE Project Report: Theoretical and Definitional Basis for Identification of Measures of Gender Equality and Empowerment

Primary Investigator
Anita Raj, PhD

Project Director
Namratha Rao

Where We Work
  • South Asia
Related Work
  • Gender Empowerment


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CNA Certification Discovery Week 2019

Have you ever thought about obtaining your CNA certification medical-surgical nursing? January 27th, CCCI – February 2nd is CNA Certification Discovery week!

The CNA Certification program offers the only nationally recognized nursing specialty credential. Certified nurses are committed to an advanced standard of professional competence directly correlated with improved patient outcomes.

“Obtaining my medical-surgical certification through the Canadian Nurses’ Association has been one of the biggest milestones of my career. The credential of being a certified medical-surgical nurse has helped me to establish greater trust with my patients and colleagues. Doing CNA certification is a journey in which you end up feeling validated in your knowledge and more confident as a practitioner. My medical-surgical certification has benefited me in my roles as a staff nurse, educator, and researcher. I am proud to now be of the five medical-surgical certification nurse mentors in Canada and I hope to help others benefit from certification as well.”

– Laura Vogelsang, RN, PhD(C), CMSN(C), CCNE, CCCI

2019 Membership is now live!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new membership registration platform! All memberships are valid for 12 months. We have 4 categories of membership:

  • Full active license $50/year
  • Retired with license $35/year
  • Retired without license $35/year
  • Student nurse: $35/year

Membership with CAMSN grants you:

  • Access to our quarterly newsletter
  • 20% discount on CNA fees
  • Access to CAMSN’s Standards of Practice
  • Up-to-date information about CAMSN activities
  • Discounted CAMSN Conference registration fees

Join Canada’s largest network of medical-surgical nurses today!

Don’t forget to like our Facebook page:

Canadian Association of Medical-Surgical Nurses (CAMSN)

CNA’s Intra-Professional Collaboration Survey

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is gathering feedback from Canadian nurses on ways to enhance nursing intra-professional collaboration.

Please take 15 minutes to participate in our online survey. This is the first of two surveys that will help CNA determine strategies and priorities to support intra-professional practice. In the second survey, you will be asked to rank or prioritize key items identified in the first survey.

Your responses are confidential and will not be connected to you in any way.

Please complete the survey and have your voice heard:

Canadian Nurses Association
613-237-2159 Ext. 229 | 1-800-361-8404
50 Driveway, Ottawa, ON K2P 1E2 | | |

Common Nursing Negligence Issues in Canada

The Canadian Association of Medical and Surgical Nurses would like to thank Connect Medical Legal Experts for providing CAMSN members with access to all four articles in a series exploring the most common nursing negligence issues in Canada. These articles can also be found under the Education Corner tab.

1 – Miscommunication the Leading Cause of Malpractice Lawsuits Against Nurses
2 – Legal Issues in Nursing; Assessment
3 – Legal Issues in Nursing; Medication Errors
4 – Legal Issues in Nursing; Infection Control and Equipment Errors

Chris Rokosh is a popular speaker on medical legal issues in nursing across Canada and the U.S. She is an RN and founder of Connect Medical Legal Experts, a Calgary-based leader in Expert Witness Services, with a database of hundreds of medical, nursing and cost of future care experts across the country.

Chris Rokosh has recently published a book titled, “Shift. Change. Empowering Nurses with Medical Legal Knowledge.” It is now available for purchase at:

Connect Medical Legal Experts
Since 2001Connect Medical Legal Experts has been a bridge between the Medical and Legal worlds, providing healthcare expertise to lawyers and medical legal education to healthcare.

Our mission is to openly share medical legal knowledge and expertise, with a goal of improving healthcare and legal outcomes.
Our vision is to positively impact healthcare by creating mutually beneficial relationships between healthcare and law. This vision drives us to serve tirelessly, with great passion and unscrupulous integrity.

A Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) is a licensed, registered nurse who performs a critical analysis of clinical and administrative nursing practice, healthcare facts and issues and their outcomes for the legal and healthcare professions. For more information on LNC or if you’re interested in getting involved with Connect Medical Legal Experts, visit


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Novel In a Day 2014

Novel In a Day 2014

Last weekend, I took part in the annual Novel in a Day writing event, hosted by Literature & Latte.  I didn’t actually write an entire novel in a day, that would probably be impossible.  At least for me.  No, NaiD is much more interesting than that.

Along with 24 other writers, I received an outline for one chapter in a novel.  I got bare bones character sheets for the characters I needed to include.  I got a basic setting sheet for the locations.  That’s it.  I had less than 24-hours to write the chapter.

It seems like a lot, but it’s really not.  I had to guess how the character would react in the situations.  I couldn’t describe the setting in too much detail in case it clashed with what someone else wrote.  Do I need to introduce the side characters by first and last name, or would other writers introduce them?

When I received my chapter assignment, I had no idea what to expect – not even the genre I was supposed to be writing.  As I read my brief, I realized the book was a spy mystery set in London.  Not my genre or my country.

But the more time I spent playing around with my outline the main character, the more comfortable I became.  It didn’t matter that the book was a genre I wasn’t familiar with.  I had a character, I had her start and end points, I knew where I had to take her.  I just had to keep pushing her forward.

It was a fun experiment and I’ll definitely do it again next year!

Read Section 7 (NaiD 2014)

My chapter is sixteen, but I definitely recommend reading the whole exciting book!


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A- A+

The Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Directory includes contact information and maps for all Regional Chamber Members in Greater Des Moines (DSM) — more than 6,400 local businesses! To search by business category, select the links below the search bar. To search by business name, select “0–9” for business names that begin with a number or “A–Z” for businesses listed in alphabetical order.

Additionally, The Partnership relies on Investors to support its mission as the economic and community development organization serving Greater Des Moines (DSM).

For more information about The Partnership, its Investors, Affiliate Chambers of Commerce and Chamber Members, visit the following pages:

Allender Butzke Engineers Inc.

  • Professional-Design Services/Engineers
3660 109th St.
Urbandale, IA 50322-8101
(515) 252-1885
(515) 252-1888 (fax)
  • About

    Located in Central Iowa, Allender Butzke Engineers Inc. (ABE) provides geotechnical, environmental, and construction quality control services to both public and private clients in Iowa and the surroun


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A- A+

The Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Directory includes contact information and maps for all Regional Chamber Members in Greater Des Moines (DSM) — more than 6,400 local businesses! To search by business category, select the links below the search bar. To search by business name, select “0–9” for business names that begin with a number or “A–Z” for businesses listed in alphabetical order.

Additionally, The Partnership relies on Investors to support its mission as the economic and community development organization serving Greater Des Moines (DSM).

For more information about The Partnership, its Investors, Affiliate Chambers of Commerce and Chamber Members, visit the following pages:

De Bloemen Hof

2017 Washington St.
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-2571
(641) 628-1245 (fax)
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Sat 8am-4pm
Closed on Sunday
  • About

    Retail Garden Center and Pittsburgh Paint Dealer.

  • Directions

    We are across the street from Fareway Grocery Store which is on the west side of town.


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Sunday, 17 February 2019 01:14 GMT

Jordan Ahli Bank net profit up 60pct at JOD21mln

(MENAFN - Jordan News Agency)
Amman, Feb. 10 (Petra) -- Jordan Ahli Bank posted a net profit (after tax and provisions) of JOD21.3 million in 2018, signaling a major increase of 60 percent compared with JOD13.3 million in 2017.

In a disclosure published on Sunday, the bank said its pre-tax and pre-provision 2018 earnings shot up by 65 percent to a total of JOD33.2 million against JOD20.1 million in 2017. Non-performing loans edged down to 5.88 percent after the bank reduced interest rate on non-performing assets.

The bank's gross assets picked up by 2 percent or JOD55.5 million to a total of JOD2.8 billion. The bank's capital adequacy ratio rose to 14.9 percent at the end of 2018 compared to 14.4 percent at the end of 2017.

10/02/2019 16:56:00

Jordan Ahli Bank net profit up 60pct at JOD21mln

  Most popular stories

Day | Week | Month


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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that people experience at a particular time of the year or during a particular season. The episodes of depression tend to occur at the same time each year, usually during the winter. The symptoms often begin in the autumn as the days start getting shorter. They're most severe during December, January and February.

Most people feel more cheerful and energetic when the sun is shining and the days are longer and perhaps people tend to eat and sleep more in winter. For those experiencing SAD, the seasons have a greater effect on mood and energy levels, leading to symptoms of depression that can have a significant impact on day-to-day life.

For some people, SAD is so disabling that they cannot function in winter without continuous treatment. Others may experience a milder version called sub-syndromal SAD or ‘winter blues’.

Symptoms include sleep problems, lethargy, over-eating, anxiety, depression, apathy, social problems, loss of libido, mood changes and a weakened immune system.

Find out more

We all have times when life’s problems affect our mental health. Maybe you are feeling down and need a safe space to chat, or you would like to meet new people or try something different? This website lists over 100 groups in and around Camden, many offering free or low-cost activities. While some will help with a specific problem, others offer everyday activities to encourage us all to get out and about. Why not find what appeals to you. You can make a list of the groups that are of interest with ‘My Shortlist’.
How useful was this page? Please tell us.'


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Review: L’Oreal EverCreme Conditioning Cleanser

Hey Kittens,

Today I wanted to write a review on the  L’Oreal EverCreme Conditioning Cleanser. I recently learned about cleansing conditioners and how it is suppose to be amazing for thick hair so I decided that I needed to give it a try. Even my boyfriend was saying that this might be the miracle hair product I have been praying for. I have very thick medium length hair but it is not straight but not curly either, more close to frizzy and poofy{?} and I tend to get a bit oily after a day or so but this winter with the constant hot and cold my scalp has been a bit dry.

So before I give you my thoughts on the product let me give you a few details. The 8.5oz bottle is very slim and small and runs around $6 bucks. I picked mine up at my drugstore for $8. It has a pump which is nice because I hate fiddling with a cap in the shower however one of the cons about the pump is that is pumps so little product, by little I mean the same amount as my facial moisturizer pump. Also I must add that there are very little details on how to use it, it didn’t seem complicated so without looking into it I just started using it.
Cleansing conditioner is like a glorified 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner duo but from what I  have read on it, it has a ratio being one part shampoo and two parts conditioner.It smells very strong like coconut or vanilla bean, a sweet smell, so if you don’t like products like that then this will probably not be for you.
I was hoping that this product would be nourishing to my scalp and make my hair soft and luxurious.

Attempt 1: It comes out as a thick cream and I thought since it is a cleansing conditioner then I would just apply like regular conditioner. This was not a good idea. My hair felt clean and I rinsed my hair several times to ensure I got all the product out and I did notice during the rinse that the product does get soapy when mixed with water. The problem was when my hair dried [ I let it air dry] and I felt that my hair was very dry at the ends and greasy at the roots and I just blamed it on not rinsing it thoroughly enough.
Attempt 2: I thought that since my roots were feeling greasy and my ends dry I would wash my hair with the product at the roots first then rinse it out and then do the ends and then rinse that way my roots would get thoroughly rinsed by the end of the shower. This too was a failure, my hair felt the same.
Between attempt 1 and 2 and 3 I did rinse my hair in the shower with just water or used dry shampoo in hopes to relieve the greasiness that I felt but the relief was brief.
So I did some online research and read some reviews so for my third and final attempt: I pumped the product into my hands and rubbed my hands vigorously until the product went from creamy yellow to white then rubbed it into my roots {this was time consuming because the product does not get sudsy}. Rinsed. Then rubbed the product to the bottom half of my hair and left it in for a few mins. Rinsed again. Then before stepping out of the shower I rinsed my hair once again.

Surprise surprise. STILL GREASY!

So after using this product for over two weeks I can confidently say that I do not like this product and I would probably not recommend it to people who have similar hair type as me. If you tend to have oily hair then this conditioner is probably not for you. It doesn’t condition well enough and there is like this thick residue that builds up in the scalp and roots if you use this product back to back. My hair does not look bad or look greasy but from feel alone it was very obvious and I felt self conscience the times I had my hair down but it did solve my dry scalp problem. If you have drier hair and tend not to get too oily then this is probably what you’re looking for. You get very little product for the price and the time spent in the shower to use it makes it a product I won’t be repurchasing.

If you have used this product leave more your thoughts or recommend me something else to try!
note: picture provided came from the internet, not my own picture, and I plan on getting my camera really soon guys so you can have pictures to these reviews and things!

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Monika Sisay - Yewelo Lij (Ethiopian Music)

Ethiopian music video: Monika Sisay - Yewelo Lij

Ethiopia is a country of traditional music. The music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds. Ethiopian music uses a distinct modal system that is pentatonic with characteristically long intervals between some notes. The music of the Ethiopian Highlands uses a fundamental modal system called qenet, of which there are four main modes - tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoy. Contemporary music has been gaining ground since the 1960s, but most musicians who produce modern songs also sing traditional songs because there is a huge audience for it. The production of vinyl records was discontinued in 1978 in Ethiopia. Their disappearance starting in 1974 also ended, from the haptic side, a decidedly creative and fruitful stage in the history of Ethiopian music. The first blow came in 1974 when Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed a communist regime took power. The hitherto flourishing nightlife in Addis Ababa was harassed with closings, prohibitions, and raids, and music in general, especially decadent Western dance music, was declared superfluous and undesirable. This situation led to more and more musicians and activists leaving the country. From 1978, the Ethiopian music market finally belonged to the most cheaply produced or illegally copied cassette. The period from 1969 to 1974, however, is considered a miraculous explosion of musical creativity, for which there are hardly any equivalents in the global context. Addis Ababa was raging with soul, funk, fusion and jazz, every now and then even a little rock. The musicians moved with great sovereignty through the Western stylistics, but without imitations. They used Western stylistic elements to achieve higher goals. It seemed to be more about serving the rich treasure of Ethiopian music, its scales, and vocal styles by providing new musical environments.


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Grzegorz Krychowiak made just 11 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG last season (Picture: Getty)

Paris Saint-Germain are keen on offloading Grzegorz Krychowiak to Chelsea following their world record signing of Neymar, according to reports in France.

The Ligue 1 giants paid Barcelona an eye-watering £198million when they activated the Brazilian’s release clause earlier this month and have now set about recouping some of that fee by attempting to sell some of their fringe players.

thumbnail for post ID 8645468Man Utd coaching staff split on what to do with star as transfer axe looms

L’Equipe claims that Chelsea positioned themselves to sign Poland international midfielder Krychowiak a month ago but were brushed off by PSG who, at that point, were focusing all their attentions of finalising the Neymar deal.

Krychowiak has been coveted by a number of Premier League clubs in the past, earning a reputation as an imposing midfield enforcer by playing a prominent role in Sevilla’s recent Europa League domination.

MORE: Julian Draxler, Serge Aurier: Potential transfers Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd could target as Neymar nears PSG move

PSG are looking to recoup some of the money they invested in Neymar (Picture: Getty)

The 27-year-old moved to the French capital last summer in a €30m deal but made only 11 Ligue 1 appearances and failed to nail down a regular first team place.

Antonio Conte has spoken openly of his desire to add to his squad during what remains of the transfer window and may yet reignite interest in Krychowiak following the controversial sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.

Matic’s departure, allied to the sale of Nathaniel Chaloba, Tiemoue Bakoyoko’s injury and Cesc Fabregas’ suspension could well force Conte to field David Luiz in central midfield in Sunday’s showdown with Spurs at Wembley.

PSG, meanwhile, are also considering the sales of Blaise Matuidi and Julian Draxler, while former Real Madrid winger Jese completed his move to Stoke on Wednesday.

MORE: Chelsea should’ve brought Alvaro Morata on earlier vs Burnley, says Pat Nevin


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Let Your Light Shine

Let Your Light Shine [center]

Your inner light shines when you are at peace with yourself and the world around you. Let go of the struggle and feel the beauty inside of you. Allow all to just be and just be you (Joseph Cardinal Bernaardin)

Allow your light to shine and bring your own brand of positivity into the world. Even when you feel broken, remember the light shines brightest through the cracks.

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The Mia Team
Hi I’m Katie Mia, Partner
I started hairdressing on leaving school and took the traditional apprenticeship route, training “in-House” I was fortunate to have been trained by some of the most respected stylists in the area’s leading salons, including Toni & Guy.
Once qualified I gained further experience working as a stylist and specialising in colouring and cutting and have been working since 2000 in some of Torbay’s best known salons.
During this time I have gained a wealth of experience as well as a great understanding of client care and attention to detail.
In making the move to open my own salon, I intend to build on this reputation and offer an unsurpassed service to all my clients past and future.
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Hi I’m Stephanie, Partner
After obtaining my City & Guilds I spent 3 years working for a “Master of the Guild of Hairdressers” and Chief Examiner as an improver.
I then worked mainly in and around Torbay in some of the most prestigious Salons including “Malcolm Charles” as well as “Giovanni’s” in Ipswich. I have enjoyed success with competition work and was a regional finalist for “Hairdresser of the Year”.
Having worked my way up to managing a chain of Salons in the area for “Hair Care” I eventually left hairdressing to raise my family.
I look forward to welcoming you to the Mia Hair Salon soon.
Hi I’m Donna, Stylist and Barber
I have been involved in Hair Services for the last 27 years. I am a fully qualified Stylist, Colourist and Barber for the last 15 years I have also been an Assessor/Lecturer and IQA with City & Guilds NVQ.
My Passion is for everyone to have fabulous hair.
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I am an active member of, conference reviewer for, and contributor to the Association for Consumer Research, American Marketing Association, Consumer Culture Theory Consortium, and Chicago Consumer Culture Community (C4).

I am a member of the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Consumer Research and Journal of Marketing, and an ad hoc reviewer for the European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Consumer Psychology, Journal of Interactive Marketing, Journal of Marcromarketing, Journal of Consumer Marketing, and Current Sociology.

I have served as a doctoral student mentor at the Consumer Culture Theory Qualitative Data Analysis Workshops and at the Association for Consumer Research Doctoral Symposium.

I am an elected board member for the Consumer Culture Theory Consortium and a past Council Member for the American Sociological Association section on Consumers and Consumption. At Northwestern, I serve on several search committees and the Provost’s Advisory Council on Women Faculty, edited MedillMatters, chair the curriculum committee, advise students, and engage in a range of interdisciplinary activities across campus including the Culture and Society Workshop.


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Michelle Howard – - Paranormal and Contemporary Romance Author
Paranormal and Contemporary Romance Author

Weekend Warriors-Arak’s snippet

Welcome back to another wewriwa and the second week of March. On my side of the world, we had daylight savings or steal sleep as I call it. LOL. We had to move our clocks forward which means we’ll feel off kilter tomorrow with the “loss” of time. BUT on a good note I’ve got my 8 ready 🙂 Last week Kyele and Arak were on the roof about to enter a Marenian facility where they hope to rescue Lindsey.  If you like sneak peeks of authors work in progress feel free to hop along with the blog www.wewriwa.com.

Arak worked quietly but efficiently as he unscrewed the bolts in the steel panel mounted to the roof then slid the heavy weight to the side and eased through the narrow opening. He hooked his ankles for support on an overhead rail pipe mounted to the ceiling. A slight adjustment as he bent from the waist and Arak slid the panel back in place before flipping to land several feet below on silent feet then crept down the hall, keeping his back to the wall.

Arak reached the first door and twisted the handle. His gloved hand muffled the slight creak when the jam separated from the wood frame. He stiffened when he heard a muffled thump from inside and dropped to a crouch. Arak pushed the door open all the way and rolled into the interior aiming for the wall to his left. A laser blast hit the wall above where his head had been spewing chunks of rock all over him.

Alright savvy authors, I have a question. The last line of the 1st paragraph feels awkward and I need to know if its me or if there’s a better way to say this part…”before flipping to land several feet below on silent feet.” It’s saying the word feet so close together that’s niggling at my brain every time I read that line so I’m open to suggestions and grateful to any help. Thanks

24 thoughts on “Weekend Warriors-Arak’s snippet”

  1. GemGem

    Intense, well-choreographed scene. Great snippet!

  2. Victoria AdamsVictoria Adams

    Great snippet. I didn’t even notice the 2 uses of feet n the sentence until you pointed it out.

  3. Cara BristolCara Bristol

    You can eliminate the second set of feet. Just say: “flipping to land several feet below.” We’ll assume he’s on his feet.

    • michellehowardwritesmichellehowardwrites

      Thx Charmaine. I keep asking myself what are silent feet other than he landed quietly but for some reason that seemed too obvious?? LOL

  4. Alexis DuranAlexis Duran

    Very nice portrayal of action. He could just land silently. We’d assume he landed on his feet unless you said otherwise. Funny, isn’t it, once you begin pulling apart a sentence how many ways there are to say the same thing.

    • michellehowardwritesmichellehowardwrites

      Its only when reviewing certain sections that I suddenly become obsessive about each sentence Alexis. LOL.They sound great the first time, okay the second time and downright wrong by the tenth time 🙂

  5. Teresa CypherTeresa Cypher

    I like it, Michelle. Very intense scene.

    I’m a wordy person, so I fight this sort of thing in my writing all of the time. My sentences all too often border on being run-ons. But I have learned (mostly from the kindness and generosity of wewriwa writers) that when writing action scenes, to up the tension, shorten the sentences as much as possible, and remove extraneous words while still maintaining enough description to keep the reader in the scene. I know. It’s a fine line, and sometimes I manage. Sometimes I don’t.

    Word order is a riddle. And it can be done a lot of different ways. here’s one suggestion for the last para:

    “Arak reached the first door and twisted the handle. His gloved hand muffled the slight creak when the jam separated from the wood frame. A muffled thump sounded from inside; he stiffened. Dropping to a crouch, he pushed the door open. He rolled inside, aiming for the wall to his left. A laser blasted above where his head had been only seconds before, spewing pieces of the wall all over him.”

    And I’m never offended if you think your way is the better option. 🙂

    • michellehowardwritesmichellehowardwrites

      You’re right Teresa. With these scenes short sentences work best. I’m going to review your response later and see what I can rewrite

  6. Jenna JaxonJenna Jaxon

    I think everyone has given you all the good advice. But I like how the action flows so well in the scene, feet or no feet. 🙂 Great 8!

  7. Evelyn JulesEvelyn Jules

    Very exciting snippet, Michelle! The laser blast at the end has me on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait to see what happens next! 🙂

  8. elainecsc2013elainecsc2013

    This is a great action scene. I think ‘flipping to land on silent feet’ suggested by Charmaine is a nice alternative if you feel you should change it.

  9. Patricia GreenPatricia Green

    “Arak slid the panel back in place before flipping to land several feet below on silent feet then crept down the hall, keeping his back to the wall.” You don’t need the “on silent feet” at all. We know he was quiet, or else he’d be caught. I’d be more concerned about the multiple instances of “Arak.” We know it’s him, so it’s okay to use “he.” Just mix up the openings so that every sentence doesn’t start with “he.” I hope my observation isn’t offensive. It just jumped out at me. Otherwise, I think it’s an excellent scene, very visual and intriguing.

    • michellehowardwritesmichellehowardwrites

      I didn’t notice that Patricia but maybe in the overall context in that section it didnt jump out to me. Not offended at all 😉

  10. Gemma ParkesGemma Parkes

    I thought the snippet worked really well, but, seeing as you asked, I would simply say …’before flipping to land silently several feet below. He crept down the hall…’ Great imagery though, you’ve paid a lot of attention to detail!

  11. veronicascottveronicascott

    The ‘two feet’ issue bothered me LOL but I think there’s been great discussion of that already in the comments so I’ll just say I enjoyed the excerpt and thought it was highly dramatic and well described action.

  12. Kate WarrenKate Warren

    “…before flipping to land on the silken carpet below…” Apologies if that’s already been suggested. I haven’t read the comments above.

  13. Mary DMary D

    rather than flipping try; with a quick spin in the air he landed on silent feet.

    • michellehowardwritesmichellehowardwrites

      Another good suggestion Mary 🙂 I worked it out yesterday and left it alone or I would play with it forever. LOL

  14. danijacedanijace

    Great tension in this action scene. I really enjoy your writing style!

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Championing for Adoptive Parents, by Alex Fittin

Almost four years ago, my husband Bryan and I sat in a classroom with several other terrified couples to complete our training to adopt through foster care. Unlike the other terrified couples, I was 7-months pregnant with our first biological child. It takes a special brand of crazy to pull off what we did, and apparently, Bryan and I fit the branding.

We had Grady in December of 2014, one month before our home officially opened for adoption. The two boys from the Heart Gallery we had our eyes on fell through, so we waited until the following August before getting our first adoptive placement. Clark had turned 14 the day before moving in with us, and he went by a different name back then. He moved in on a Sunday and started high school on Monday with a new school, new town, and new family. Although it didn’t feel like it at the time, this was the calm before the storm.

A week-and-a-half after Clark moved in for his six-month trial placement before adoption finalization, I found out that I was pregnant. This was a huge shock for us and seemed to be the worst timing imaginable. We had a brand new teenager and a still-nursing 8-month-old. What even? The tears dried and life moved on. I even got to the point of excitement for the new baby who we were thrilled to find out was a girl! Literally, the day after we had our gender reveal party, I got a call from Clark’s caseworker. Thinking that this was a run-of-the-mill check-in call, I launched into our struggles and any issues we were having at the time. She patiently waited until I finished this ridiculously unimportant information before dropping the bomb on me. Clark’s biological mother had delivered a baby and abandoned him at the hospital. We didn’t even know she was pregnant, and apparently, this baby was 2 weeks old now and being released from the NICU. She asked if we would be willing to adopt him as well as Clark. I was dumbstruck. I immediately called Bryan. We started off the call saying “We can’t do this, right?” And ended it by saying “I mean, we kind of have to do this, don’t we?” A few days later, I was 16 weeks pregnant and being handed a drug-addicted newborn.

This is a nutshell version if there ever was one, but I wanted to get to the good stuff as quickly as possible. Because like many new adoptive parents, we thought that the story above was the ending that tied into a bow and led to the happily ever after. We had heard of trauma disorders and drug addiction, but we didn’t realize how prevalent they were or how likely it was that this would impact us not once, but twice. This led us to so many small lessons that wrap up into two very different adoption stories.

Let me start with our oldest. Clark has a long history of abuse and neglect that are not my story to tell, but what is my story to tell is how his story impacted our family and how stories like his are more often the rule, not the exception. When Clark was removed from his home, he was placed in a group home for his next three years. During that time, he had eight different therapists that were most often fresh out of school and in transition to their “real job.” He never had the opportunity to open up or for anyone to determine the depth of his trauma. When we were handed his file to consider for adoption, it told us that he was a normal, well-rounded kid. Shortly after he moved in, we realized that this could not be farther from the truth. Clark has a trauma disorder called RAD, or Reactive Attachment Disorder. This was a term we heard loosely in training, but like most of the other things, we assumed it was not likely to affect us. Briefly, RAD causes a disruption in brain development that prevents a child from forming attachments with other people. This sounds very clinical, so let me break it down. It means that Clark has difficulty feeling empathy or connection to others. He doesn’t really get those emotional feelings that typically come with any relationship, positive or negative. This makes RAD kids extremely well-versed in the art of manipulation. It’s a survival skill for them. It is also exhausting and mentally wearing for caregivers because it is so hard to diagnose, explain or present to anyone else, and very difficult to treat.

Before we move onto the “lesson learned” part, let me move over to our other adopted kiddo, Roc. Roc was born with a myriad of drugs in his system. It took him about 4 months to fully detox and withdraw from them. Those were some dark days for us. Roc had both uppers and downers in his system, so he cried almost 24/7 and also had tremors and reflux issues. No one got a lot of sleep during those months, and attachment with him was hard at first. We pushed through though and things got much better, even now, at three years old, that drug abuse still haunts us. It has caused him to have impulse control and emotional regulation issues, sensory processing problems, and loads of behavioral difficulties. On top of all of this, he was also newly diagnosed with a genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome. This has nothing to do with his trauma disorders, but it is life-threatening and all of his specialist appointments are made much more difficult because of his regulation issues.

Many of you reading who are adoptive parents may be freaking out right now wondering why I am seemingly dissuading others from joining us in this crazy-pants calling of adoption, and that’s a fair concern, but it is not my goal. You see, when we started this journey, I thought I was going to step up and be a champion for adoption and for these kids who are most definitely considered to be “the least of these.” Instead, God had another plan for me, to champion for adoptive parents in the hardest years of their lives. There are so many resources out there helping parents to raise these children better, to connect more, to attach quicker, and those are so important, but where the gap lies is in resources for the parents themselves.

We can never know how much secondary trauma can affect us until we have lived it, and by then we are often already on the brink of giving up. We are weary and exhausted and lonely and just DONE. I am a firm believer that with more information and preparation comes power. If we know about these trauma disorders and how to spot them and how to manage them up front when we still have our excited faces on, then that burn-out won’t come as quickly or maybe never. We’re doing a disservice to adoptive parents by brushing over the yucky truths so as not to scare them.

This is why I started The Adoptive Mom Podcast. It’s an interview-style show that highlights adoption stories and helpful resources from all angles of adoption: adoptive parents, birth parents, specialists, adopted kids, adopted adults, support systems, grandparents, therapists, and the list goes on. We talk about failed adoptions, disrupted adoptions, placing a child into in-patient treatment, adoption of kids with disabilities, and so much more.

As parents, we are often burdened with the pressure to be great at everything. Every time we lose our temper, don’t get those dishes done, or don’t handle a situation even close to correctly, we add another notch to that shame tally. We never stop to think of where these kids might be if we hadn’t said yes, and how our measuring sticks have to look different than a typical parent’s. We can’t measure ourselves by catching these kids up to their peers and then some. That’s too heavy. We have to hold their stories up next to their lives now and remember that we are saying yes to the hard stuff. We are doing what many say that they can’t do when they really just don’t want to. We are changing these kids’ stories for the better, and Jesus is saying “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Knowledge is power, and we as the adoptive community have a duty to stand up and tell people how hard this is, and then tell them all of the reasons it is worth it.

Alex Fittin is married to Bryan and is the mom of Clark, Grady, Roc, and Jane. She is the host of The Adoptive Mom Podcast and loves to speak on adoptive parent support, secondary trauma prevention, and how to find resources to better stay in the adoption game. Alex loves Jesus, coffee, and wine, connecting with friends, and going to the movies any chance she gets. Alex and her family live in Northwest Arkansas.

One thought on “Championing for Adoptive Parents, by Alex Fittin

  1. This was a very well written article. From what you have written it appeared obvious these children needed parents.
    I am not totally against adoption, especially when all avenues to help their original
    family, including grandparents,
    aunts/uncles etc. have been exhausted.
    My negative issues are about young women being coerced to sign surrender papers because they’re told they’re not good enough to raise their own babies. “Every baby needs 2 parents who can give them everything” and “you’re just being selfish if you keep him/her” or “it’s Gods will that you give him to a loving couple”.
    Much of the time all these mothers need is support, emotional & financial. To be told “you can do it and I/we will help”.
    I would love to see people getting together to help fund
    Homes to support mothers;
    where they could take their baby to live with them – that would provide daycare while teaching parenting skills and
    allowing the mother to finish their education. They could be helped to apply for Welfare with an agreement that a third goes to house for rent & expenses, a third in a bank account for her to rent & furnish an apartment & a third to the mother for her own needs. These homes should be able to support several mothers & absolutely no
    talk of adoption.
    Please don’t think I’m totally against adoption, I’m not. I am
    an adoptive mother of a now 41 yr old son , but I’m also a birth/first mother who was definitely coerced into surrendering my son when I was young & vulnerable & scared with absolutely no support system.
    I’m sorry for going on so long but I felt I had to say it.

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To launch MIF15, Damon Albarn, Moira Buffini and Rufus Norris took Lewis Carroll’s iconic tale of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and reworked it for the digital age. In, Carroll’s rabbit hole was transformed into the internet, a place where 12-year-old Aly could escape from an unhappy home life and build herself a new identity – but also a place where things aren’t ever quite what they seem… Touching, funny and spectacularly designed, was a huge hit with local audiences after its world premiere on the first day of MIF15. At the end of 2015, the show was staged as the big Christmas production at the National Theatre in London, before travelling to Paris in June 2016.

‘Inventive delirium reigns in Albarn’s Alice… The best – and oddest – new British musical for families in a long time’ The Sunday Times

‘Surreal, silly, supercharged with energy… A triumph’ Manchester Evening News

A Manchester International Festival/National Theatre co-production. Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, National Theatre and the Théâtre du Châtelet.

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The Knowledge Migrant entering the Netherlands

Various immigration law procedures allow foreign employees to enter, stay and work in the Netherlands.
Entry and stay in the Netherlands depend on nationality and duration of stay.

Non-visa nationals (e.g. US nationals) can enter with their passport. Visa nationals (e.g. Indian nationals) require an entry visa.
For periods of stay exceeding 90 days in a 180 day timeframe, additional residence authorization is required.

In the tangle of immigration law procedures, the so-called knowledge migrant may obtain a combined entry and residence permit with work authorization. This expedited immigration route is only available for employees transferred to or hired by a Dutch company registered as a recognised sponsor with the Dutch Immigration Authorities (IND).

The employee must be on an assignment or obtain a local contract of minimum 4 months and must meet the salary threshold of € 4189 (over 30 years) or € 3071 (under 30 years) (2015 threshold) gross per month.

As every year, the salary threshold for knowledge migrants will increase as of January 1st. Although the official 2016 salary thresholds will be published later this month, an increase of 1.6% is anticipated. Since it is possible to submit applications 6 months prior to the employment start date, it is advisable to file the knowledge migrant application before year end (thereby securing the 2015 salary thresholds).

For any immigration and international tax related questions please contact our firm.

We provide legal advice on immigration and tax (including immigration- and tax compliance) for:

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When It Comes To Gun Safety, Everyone Seems To Agree – Kind Of.

Since I truly believe in the Mafia adage, “keep your friends close but your enemies closer,” I tend to watch Fox chat shows from time to time.  And I have to admit that in all my wildest dreams I never believed I would see Sean Hannity being as polite and well-spoken to someone like Dan Gross who, as head of the Brady Center, must rank pretty high on the Fox Top Ten Enemies List.  After all, in addition to being an outspoken gun-rights advocate, Hannity promotes gun products on his radio show and by putting his face and name on various gun websites.  But there he was last night introducing his “personal friend” Dan Gross for a five-minute chat on where they agree and where they disagree about guns.

Well it turns out that Sean and Dan don’t seem to disagree, or at least I didn’t hear much last night that struck me as any real difference of opinion about the ownership and use of guns.  Both stated that they supported the legal ownership of guns, both stated that they wanted everyone to lock their guns up or lock them away, and both stated that they wanted to keep guns out of the ‘wrong hands.’  Of course the devil’s always in the details, and if you got Wayne-o to calm down for a minute and stop worrying about Obama’s secret plan to disarm America before January 20, 2017, he’d be happy to come on the Hannity show and basically say the same thing.

brady2                But nice-sounding platitudes aside, I find it interesting that someone as pro-gun as Hannity would give Dan Gross an opportunity to appear before a large Fox audience to prove, if nothing else, that he’s not Lucifer in disguise.  Because although Hannity threw in a couple of red-meat comments that are de rigueur on Fox when anyone mentions guns, such as his fear of the ‘slippery slope’ of gun control, he basically let Dan tell the audience how much gun owners had in common with supporters of the Brady Campaign, which is entirely contrary to what usually erupts from the NRA.

Ever since the Brady law was voted in 1994, the NRA and other pro-gun groups have kept up a steady drumbeat of anti-Brady commentary designed to convince gun owners that any expansion of background checks is nothing short of a conspiracy to take away all guns.  Here’s a typical comment from the NRA in 2013 after Brady mounted a video to mark the 20th anniversary of the original background-check law:  “The Brady Campaign’s proposed expansion of federal background checks would force even many family and friends to get government permission for firearm transfers amongst each other and subject all lawful gun transfers to federal paperwork and recordkeeping requirements, the prerequisites for a national registry.”  Of course this statement is simply untrue, but it plays directly into the old slippery-slope gun control nonsense that Hannity found necessary to mention on the show.

I have been saying recently that the smartest thing Brady and Everytown have done is to move into the safety space which until now was owned lock, stock and barrel (pardon the pun) by the NRA. But while everyone’s in favor of safety, there’s one safety issue which puts the two sides as far apart as the Brand Canyon’s rims, and Hannity gave it away when he said that no matter how many laws were passed to prevent guns from getting into the ‘wrong hands,’ criminals wouldn’t obey laws anyway, so what was the point of passing more laws?

The pro-gun community falls back on this argument every time that any new measure is proposed that would increase regulation of guns.  The problem is that if we only passed laws that criminals would obey, there wouldn’t be any laws at all. Which is actually what the pro-gun community would prefer as regards gun ownership, particularly when a Democrat happens to be renting living space at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

1 thought on “When It Comes To Gun Safety, Everyone Seems To Agree – Kind Of.

  1. Mike,

    Thanks for your thoughtful comments regarding the Hannity interview of Dan Gross. When I first heard about it I, too, thought Mr. Gross was going to be disemboweled in the process – called a liberty-hating commie, etc. But then, I don’t watch Fox and was responding only to what I’ve heard about them from folks like myself who are more on the left. Of course Fox News does represent the right and that apparently comes through clearly in their broadcasts. But, from this particular interview, I’ve learned that I can’t truly judge them if I’ve never personally exposed myself to them.
    Regarding background check laws – they tend to under-perform, as you’re certainly well aware, due to their loopholes and jurisdictional limitations (of which you’re also certainly well aware). A clear and complete explanation of how & why background check gun laws would work (and they would work if tightly written, well funded & well enforced) has never been put forth – at least I’ve never seen one as long as I’ve been involved in the gun violence issue. It’s one of the biggest oversights of the sensible gun law lobby.

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It’s quite amazing how feelings have been cornered by words in a sad song. Thoughts continue to refuse to dwell upon a mind that eagerly calls upon them for inspiration. Trying to write down something deep but the mood feels wrong. No impact, no affection. The music in the background is loud and un-relatable; posing … Continue reading MOFYA

  Midnight quickly extends one arm out and he dives into its midst wide awake and mentally charged. Peace like cold strong air has been locked outside the door; the door that is a simple pathway to his world and that at large. This same door doesn’t close all the way leaving a few inches. … Continue reading POMPA

With all the acts, trials, and women that confused me, All the suffering and wisdom infused in me I still can't reach my intended destination, Still can't feel the pleasure of living without any oppression. Homely, in solitude express my feelings About wars, loveless deaths, suicides, and misfits of racial killings. Sometimes even wish there … Continue reading JUST WISHING


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Cosmic Quote #83

“No serious futurist deals in prediction. These are left for television oracles and newspaper astrologers.”–Alvin Toffler.

And stock market predictions are the province of charlatans–and economists.  For cogent discussions of what the future might be, and all the issues it may entail,  be sure to visit my futurist blog and podcast at

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20180324_132627 (2)I am composing my post as we are heading home. We are riding with Winter Storm Uma as we head south. It was starting to snow as we left the Family Vacation Home in the North Carolina High Country at 8:30 a.m. Saturday Morning.

Dear husband is driving and I found a way to write as we ride through the rain on I-77 towards Charlotte NC. I did not have a lot of time to write this week. I spent the time observing and discovering. I took lots of pictures as we drove (When husband was at the wheel of course).

I am amazed how much I feel at home in the mountains. I feel at home in Florida too. It is where my friends and family are located. Florida is where my roots run deep. Florida is one of the biggest vacation destinations in the Country. However, when I think about vacation, the first place I think of is the mountains.

Why? I asked myself. The answer I discovered was: I have roots in the mountains too. It started when dad decided to take us to see the Great Smokey Mountains. The day after school let out for summer break we set out for adventure in Gatlinburg, TN. Our family station wagon pulled a pop-up camper. My sister and I had never been to the mountains let alone the Great Smokey Mountains! We were in awe of nature’s creation. I think somewhere between driving through a rainbow on a mountain road and snow on the last day of May at Clingman’s Dome, I fell in love.

At about nine years old, I didn’t know a lot about terrain and weather. But I knew what I loved. Ever since then I have tried to return to the mountains at every chance I could grab. Right now my Dad is not happy with my plan to move to the mountains. But I suppose I could say he opened the dream in my soul. Right now, I don’t think I should remind of that fact! {hee hee}

God must have known me better than I did because, I fell in love with a man whose family had roots in Florida and the mountains. It all boils down to the old adage: “Home is Where The Heart Is.” It makes picking a hometown much easier. There really are no mistakes only curves in the road.

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Some Curves are Slippery and Scary

Several hours later we have stopped in Richmond Hill, Georgia for the night. We drove through a lot of snow and rain as we worked our way down the Carolina’s. Please enjoy a few drive-by pics from our road trip today. It’s time to rest for tomorrow’s Palm Sunday drive home.

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Have a Blessed Sunday

P.S: If you are interested in a vacation rental in the North Carolina High Country. Please keep our favorite managers in mind at: www.4seasonsvacations.com

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A Star Is Born

Thursday, 3/7, 7:00pm

Thursday Night Movies

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jackson coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.

2018, Rated R


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NUV-HD Single Silicon Photo Multiplier

  • High PDE
  • Four-side tileable
  • Highly transparent glass protection layer
  • Operating temperature range from -20°C to +50°C.

The AFBR-S4N44C013 is a single silicon photo multiplier (SiPM) used for ultra-sensitive precision measurement of single photons.

High photo-detection efficiency (PDE), Excellent timing resolution, Large dynamic range, High tile fill factor (TFF)

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The AFBR-S4N44P163 is a 4×4-pixel NUV (near ultraviolet) silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array developed in high-density technology[1] for the ultra-sensitive precision measurement of single photons.

The device makes efficient use of surface area by using through-silicon via (TSV) technology allowing for a high packing density without wires. Larger detector areas can be covered by tiling multiple arrays almost without edge losses.

The detector has a broad response in the visible light spectrum with particular optimization towards blue and NUV light. A thin glass layer that is highly transparent down to UV wavelengths protects the array, making it well suited for the detection of scintillation or Cherenkov light from the most common scintillators such as LSO, LYSO, GSO, BGO, NaI, CsI, BaF, and LaBr.

  • X-Ray and gamma ray detection
  • Nuclear medicine
  • Positron emission tomography
  • Time correlated single photon counting
  • Physics experiments
  • Evaluation and prototyping


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Lorell Mahogany Finish Solid Wood Coffee Table Mac Papers Inc And End Sets Argos Dinner Used Metal Legs Toy Storage Box Small Bedside Unit Teal Rustic Furniture Top Ideas Gold

lorell mahogany finish solid wood coffee table mac papers inc and end sets argos dinner used metal legs toy storage box small bedside unit teal rustic furniture top ideas gold

If you need to and if spending plan determines-- get the tables in one group as well as the sofa as well as various other furniture in another team. You will certainly discover it far simpler to coordinate lavish contemporary end tables with sofas and also chairs made in a different style than to attempt matching them to a coffee table from one more set.

The designer table is likewise recognized as the layer up table. Therefore, it would certainly be sensible for you to use a put away slim end table rather than cover your useful flooring space with a large table. The terrific ease with excellent appearances that this narrow table supplies for you can be said to be one of the excellent advancements in side table given that the previous 50 years or so.

Bear in mind the moment when people embellished their residences with couches, tables, as well as other furnishings pieces that matched? It made purchasing furniture easy, however took away a whole lot in regards to visual appeal. The spaces usually ended up looking entirely predictable with nothing much going on in terms of imagination and also inspiration.

The little and narrow end table uses a terrific combination of sophisticated appearance with energy. If your living space or any type of other room has portable areas, positioning this table in there would be a terrific enhancement to its appearances. When acquiring acrylic end tables, there are points that you should think about both on the tables as well as on your readily available room.


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Glass Metal Coffee And Side Tables Gyro Piece Table Set Ends Top End Sets Antique Pedestal Wall Red Cedar Wood Home Goods Ashley Furniture Reviews Dining Room Phoenix Pine Bedside

glass metal coffee and side tables gyro piece table set ends top end sets antique pedestal wall red cedar wood home goods ashley furniture reviews dining room phoenix pine bedside

They hold lamps, beverages and remote controls which are necessary functions in any type of room yet they typically go undetected in a corner or next to a bed or chair. End tables both little as well as huge could bring big design to any kind of room along with function. Still about the size and also room, remember that the design or the style of your end tables taxi figure out the amount of space it will certainly take up. It would be handy to very first establish where you will be putting your end tables prior to going shopping for the most suitable.

A clear space for doing arts as well as crafts - If the table is not going to be used for displaying things, it can be left clear for sessions like doing artwork, finishing crafts like scrapbooks, problems, or putting together playthings like wooden sets, autos, or robots. The small surface area of a coffee table is big sufficient for both products and some joint area, but it is fairly easier to clear as well as tidy away than the flooring or the eating table top.

Furnishings in the living-room - or the house for that issue - simply does not look rather full with an accent item that functions as useful furnishings. And if it is made use of in many methods, and taken care of properly, then it might quite possibly turn out to be one of a house owner's ideal financial investments.

An oval coffee table could bring out the ideal in a square or rectangular end table. If you are planning on putting your end tables on either side of the sofa, make certain the height of the tables is regular with the elevation of the sofa's arms. If you are planning to enhance your residence with contemporary end table, black side table or any kind of such pieces of furniture which could conserve space, after that consider all the above discussed points prior to buying.


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Hot Pepper Flakes

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We grow lots of different varieties of hot peppers, including ghost peppers.  I pickle some, freeze a few and make hot pepper jelly, but my favorite use for them is homemade pepper flakes.  My Montgomery Ward food dehydrator bit the dust a few months ago (it was a workhorse!) so I ended up with a basic one from WalMart.  They are processed on racks until they are crisp dry.  It takes a day or two.  I’m still picking and drying so will hold off on the last step.  I take my electric mini food chopper outside and give them a whirl.  We like spicy in our house, there’s nothing like some serious heat on pizza, in pasta sauce, tacos, vegetables… you get the idea.

8 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. HRSG
    Aug 10, 2012 @ 07:45:10

    Montgomery Ward? Good grief that thing must have been 15 years old, or more! Peppers look gorgeous!

  2. Jennifer
    Aug 11, 2012 @ 12:23:05

    I would be afraid to wiz those peppers around in the chopper! Hot pepper dust ! YOW! LOL. My parrots eat dried peppers and once and a while I’ll give them a kiss on the beak and my lips burst into flames. 😀

  3. Connie
    Aug 11, 2012 @ 12:43:54

    That’s why I do the last step outside!

  4. Toni Burnett
    Sep 09, 2012 @ 15:41:49

    I just bought a MW food dehydrator. Do you happen to know where I could get a manual for it?

    • Connie
      Sep 10, 2012 @ 06:21:28

      Hi Toni, I don’t know where to get one but if you have any questions, I’ll try to answer them.

      • Toni Burnett
        Sep 10, 2012 @ 17:20:41

        Hi Connie, thanks for replying. Are the trays dishwasher safe and what is the cleaning prodecure for inside the dehydrator? Never used one before and couldn’t pass up the deal on this one. I know I can get receipes online just need a little help with the cleaning part. Thank you.

  5. Connie
    Sep 10, 2012 @ 17:33:24

    It’s OK to use a mild detergent and a wet damp cloth. I’ve tossed the trays and tray inserts in my dishwasher. I still have the mesh inserts, I’m using them for a surface to drain my goat cheese on. 🙂

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The Interview

Although President Lewis is Elder Call’s stepfather, he has made a promise to remain unbiased towards the young man ashe conducts his interview In fact, the man feels inclined to be even harder on the boy as he digs to see if his son has ever felt sexual attraction to someone of his own sex.

It can be hard to talk to your father about sexual things, but Elder Call has always been a strong, stoic boy and he remains straight-faced as President Lewis probes him about whether he has ever broken the laws of chastity. The denial is immediate but is met swiftly with an even harder line of questioning. President Lewis wants to know if Elder Call has ever had unclean thoughts, leading the boy to admit that he has, but he has never acted on them, and he has never had such thoughts about other boys or older men.

President Lewis has always suspected that his handsome, athletic boy secretly harbored same-sex attraction, and he refuses to let up as the young man lies about his secret past of homosexual activity.
Read more . . .

The older man grows increasingly impatient as his stepson attempts to deceive him. President Lewis asks for Elder Call’s hand, pulling him close enough to place his own hand on the boy’s heart. Elder Call’s heart races as his nerves run haywire, revealing that he is withholding the truth from his concerned father and church leader.

President Lewis picks up the interrogation again, circling back on the same subject in order to press Elder Call into confessing everything. If only the boy would let down his defenses, he could be guided to the loving and accepting embrace of The Order.

Finally, Elder Call is asked to prove his honesty by partaking in a test of sorts. President Lewis takes pleasure in watching his stepson remove his clothes, enjoying the delicious sight and knowing that the test will bring his boy one step closer to total submission to his authority.

But Elder Call has never been more scared. He does not understand why President Lewis has honed in on his sexuality so acutely, or why the severe man has asked him to take all of his clothes off. What will this help him achieve? How will this affect his status in the mission?

When President Lewis instructs Elder Call to put his arms behind his back, the boy’s fear kicks in even harder. His heart races faster and faster as President Lewis ties his wrists together and then takes his cock out of his underwear. The boy can barely believe his eyes as his stepfather blows on the head of his dick before exposing his own long shaft.

Entering the final stage of the test, President Lewis hooks his thumb into Elder Call’s mouth and instructs the young man to pull his underwear down. President Lewis eases his fingers into the Elder Call’s asshole, and the boy strokes his cock while staring into his stepfather’s icy blue eyes. Finally, the test is complete as Elder Call spasms in President Lewis’s arms, shooting cum all over his own stomach and chest as he masturbates. But now that the test is done, Elder Call is unsure of his next step in the mission, and even more unclear is how will this Interview will affect his relationship with his stepfather in the future. Perhaps he will learn the truth in time…

Published : 11/23/18

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text: 2020 Mitsubishi L200 Accessories, Specs, Price – The actual forth-coming 2020 Mitsubishi L200 can turn up with a few substantial renovations. The particular carmaker exposed the modern pickup truck with the number of updates that also includes the exterior in addition to interior adjustments. A virtually full revamp seemed to be an element of the


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Apple Pay to Debut in Japan With New iPhones

Apple’s newly announced devices, the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple Watch Series 2, will launch internationally in late-September, and when they arrive in Japan, they’ll come with Apple Pay.

Apple Pay to Debut in Japan with Support of World's Biggest Transit SystemThe mobile payment platform should get a big push in the country, too, thanks to a partnership between Apple and the JR East transit company. The latter will support Apple Pay with its contactless Suica payment card, which is also accepted by numerous merchants along transit lines.

Accordingly, Apple has also announced that its Apple Maps app will offer detailed transit support for Japan starting in October, a move that could help to encourage JR East ridership and commuters’ Apple Pay-enabled shopping.

Of course, Apple has also sought out financial services and merchant support more broadly, and to that end has already secured partnerships with card issuers like JCB, Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos, UC Cards, and more; and merchants including AEON, JapanTaxi, and Circle K, among many others. In a statement announcing Apple Pay’s upcoming debut in Japan, Apple also noted that the mPayment platform will be accepted wherever Suica, iD, and QUICPay are accepted, “encompassing nearly two-thirds of all transactions at Japan’s largest merchants.”

New Apple devices always make a splash when they debut, and it should be even bigger in Japan with the addition of Apple Pay.


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Modern Jeeper - Sharing Our Passion
Currie Jeep Beef: Upgrading My TJ to Currie F9 Currie Jeep Beef: Upgrading My TJ to Currie F9
Are You Ready to Beef Up Your Axles? Have you ever wondered how long it would take before you replaced the rear end in... Currie Jeep Beef: Upgrading My TJ to Currie F9

Are You Ready to Beef Up Your Axles?

Have you ever wondered how long it would take before you replaced the rear end in your Jeep?  For us, it was about 10 years.  Jeeps come from the factory with either a Dana 35 or 44.  How long it will last when you start getting more extreme?  Usually not very long!  You have options on replacements from Currie Enterprises though.  It just depends on how deep your pocket is!

After we started breaking axle parts, we made the call to Currie Enterprises ( for one of their axles, a family-owned company with nearly 60 years of history.  We ended up ordering their Currie F9 bolt in TJ replacement axle.  We opted for the Detroit locker, 35 spline axle shafts and the ford disk brakes on the end for some good stopping power.  The center section is a 9+ race case for added strength for the abuse we planned for this axle.  It took them a few weeks to build this and ship it to Fresno for us to pick it up.  After I got this hunk of Jeep Beef or Currie Beef home, we removed it from the crate, installed the emergency brake cables, put oil in it, and painted it silver to match the Jeep.

Currie F9 in the box

Installation – Call a Friend

I called a friend to help me install this beast of an axle into our Jeep.  It did not come with brake lines installed, so we bent up some brake lines prior to installing it in the Jeep, so we could work a little easier on it.  These were not my best bent brake lines ever, as this was the first time I had ever done something like this.  I have gotten better after replacing the hydraulic brake lines on our trailer that we use to haul the Jeep on.  That is another “how to” story for here later.  I had already removed the old Dana 44 that was broken and cleaned up all the control arms and things to be ready for this install.

Since this was a direct bolt in application, it went pretty smooth.  We did have to put a ratchet strap on the axle to get things into final place to install a bolt or two.  I do have adjustable control arms, and we had to play with them a little bit to get the proper pinion angle for the driveshaft.  We did have to order a new rear drive shaft, since this is a Ford 9-inch rear axle, and has the drop out center section.  I ordered driveshafts from Adams Drive Shafts ( out of Las Vegas.  I had to wait to order those until I had the axle installed for the proper measurement.  While I was ordering the new rear driveshaft, I also ordered a new front driveshaft.

F-9 Installation – Call a friend

Break-in Period

We had a very short break-in period on this axle, to almost no true break-in.  After the axle and driveshafts were installed, we headed to the Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari down by the Salton Sea of southern California event to meet friends, Del & Stacie Albright and play in the desert.  We also towed a small camper there for some added stress on the new axle for the break-in period.

The break-in trip to TDS with Del Albright who also sports Currie axles

Final Conclusions

We have now had this axle in the Jeep for 6 years.  How time flies!  We have put many miles on this axle on both the road and the trail.  I have changed the oil twice in it since new.  The first time was after about 500 miles on it to make sure we cleaned out any excess metal or break-in stuff out of it.  The last time I dropped the center section to change the oil and look at the ring and pinion, it all looked good.  Had a friend look at the setup, and it was still very solid.  When I put it all back together, I pinched the axle seal on the right-hand side, and had a small leak.  I ordered another seal and bearing kit from Currie and got it installed.  No more leak.  That leak was caused by me.

This axle is true beef for a Jeep.  The ring and pinion is on par with a Dana 60 for size.  I don’t carry spares for it, where before I did with the D-35 and D-44.

It did take a little bit getting use to the Detroit locker in the rear, as when you shift, or let up on the gas, the Jeep will move around.  Going around corners you can easily make the tires chirp a little bit.  Then when that Detroit unlocks, it will get your attention.  It makes friends riding along think that something has broken in the drive line of the Jeep.  We also have no rear sway bar installed, so the Jeep will heel over pretty good in a corner in town.  We did not install this to run around town though.  On the trail, the Jeep is point and shoot with the Detroit locker back there.  With the addition of the Atlas transfer case, I can run in 2-Wheel drive low all day long on most trails.  The axle is heavy, and even when we flex the rear suspension out, the rear wheels stay planted.  With that design of the F9, and the octagon shape to it, I hardly every hang the rear end up on a rock.

What Would I Change?

I would change just about nothing with the way I ordered the Currie F9.  I have debated installing a high pinion center section to see if that would lessen the minor drive line vibrations we have at 75 mph.  But other than that, this beef works!

If you are looking for new axles for your ModernJeeper Adventure rig, I would highly recommend a call to Currie.  They will take care of you and help you improve your rig.

Jeep ready for the Currie F9

Running with the big boys

Do your homework and research before you change out axles. Make sure you are choosing right for your jeep.  But you cannot go wrong with the beef from Currie Enterprises.

Todd Ockert Contributor

Retired Navy, land use advocate and oil man! ModernJeeper advocate and forum moderator. Todd has been involved in the Jeeping Lifestyle for longer then he can remember from when his dad took him on trails in Michigan. His educational and leadership in different organizations have helped in the ongoing battle to keep Public Lands Open to the Public. Todd currently calls Texas home after leaving California in December of 2017.

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