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Nursing - Non-Certified Nursing Assistant (Full Time)

Expired Job

Genesis Healthcare LLC Lafayette , CO 80026

Posted 7 days ago

Under the direction of a licensed nurse, the Resident Care Attendant delivers efficient and effective nursing care while achieving positive clinical outcomes and resident/family satisfaction. He/she will function within the standards of practice as accorded by his/her Certification. The Resident Care Attendant performs various resident care activities and related non-professional services essential to caring for personal needs and comfort of residents.

1.Provides resident care in a manner conducive to safety and comfort. Resident care includes, but is not limited to:
2.Assist resident with or performs Activities of Daily Living (ADL);
3.Obtains and records Vital Signs and weights per policy;
4.Assists residents with ambulation and transfers;
5.Positions residents in correct body alignment in and out of bed;
6.Applies adaptive equipment as ordered;
7.Cares for personal belongings;
8.Assists physician and/or licensed nurse with treatments and procedures as needed;
9.Makes both occupied and unoccupied beds;
10. Accompanies residents when transported outside the center for appointments as requested;
11. Ensures residents are ready for scheduled therapy and transports resident to meals and to outside appointments;
12. Participates in the Service Plan process and implements care according to Service Plan;
13. Performs skin care treatments, as permitted by state regulation and Service Plan;
14. Feeds or assists residents with meals and provides additional nourishment and hydration per Service Plan;
15. Records resident's ADL Performance;
16. Answers call light or bell promptly, delivers messages, cleans areas of spillage or accidents;
17. Uses Standard precautions when caring for all residents. Adheres to Contact and/or Droplet Precautions as indicated.
18. Participates in the orientation of new nursing assistants/aides;
19. Reports changes in resident's condition, resident/family concerns or complaints to charge nurse and/or supervisor;
20. Collects and bags soiled linen to be laundered;
21. Assists with the orientation of newly hired Resident Care Attendant /Aides;
22. Promotes a culture of safety to ensure a healthy practice and living environment;
23. Collaborates and coordinates with other departments to provide timely effective care consistent with the individual's needs, choices and preferences;
24. Contributes to an environment that is respectful, team-oriented, and responsive to the concerns of staff, residents, and families;
25. Participates in quality improvement activities as requested;
26. Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive Protected Health Information (PHI) at all times;
27. Stays and works beyond scheduled shift if needed to meet staffing requirements and/or needs of residents;
28. Performs other duties as requested.

SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. A minimum of a high school education or high school equivalency diploma is preferred.2.

Basic knowledge of computer use or willingness to learn.3. Completes required continuing education.4. This position requires that the employee is able to read, write, speak and understand the spoken English language to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our patients and visitors at the work site when responding to their medical and physical needs.5.

Must provide verification of TST (tuberculin skin test) as required by state law and in accordance with Company policy. TSTs will be administered at the work site if required.

Position Type: Full Time

Req ID: 295626

Center Name: PowerBack Rehabilitation, Lafayette

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Registered Nurse Home Health Full Time

LHC - Icims

Posted 3 weeks ago

VIEW JOBS 12/26/2018 12:00:00 AM 2019-03-26T00:00 Overview The Registered Nurse RN in Home Health provides and directs provisions of nursing care to patients in their homes as prescribed by the physician and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and agency policies. Also, The RN Registered Nurse job coordinates total plan of care with other health care professionals involved in care, and helps to achieve and maintain continuity of patient care by planning and exchanging information with physician, agency personnel, patient, family, and community resources. All done within a Point of Care setting. LHC Group is the preferred post-acute care partner for hospitals, physicians and families nationwide. From home health and hospice care to long-term acute care and community-based services, we deliver high-quality, cost-effective care that empowers patients to manage their health at home. Hospitals and health systems around the country have partnered with LHC Group to deliver patient-centered care in the home. More hospitals, physicians and families choose LHC Group, because we are united by a single, shared purpose: It's all about helping people. Additional Details * Provides clinical services within the scope of practice, as defined by the state laws governing the practice of nursing, in accordance with the plan of care, and in coordination with other members of the health care team. * Makes the initial and|or comprehensive nursing evaluation visit, determines primary focus of care, develops the plan of care within State specific guidelines, and submits accurate, complete, and timely documentation, per policy. * Regularly evaluates and re-evaluates (as warranted by changes in condition but at least every 60 days) the patient's nursing needs. * Performs patient comprehensive assessments at designated time points and develops the appropriate POC, in collaboration with physician orders. * Ensures patients meet home health eligibility and medical necessity guidelines as defined by payer source. * Initiates, develops, implements and makes necessary revisions to the plan of care in collaboration with the physician and other health care professional's involved in care. * Makes referrals to other disciplines, as indicated by patient's assessed need. * Responds to outcome coordinator|coder and Patient Care Manager requests for clarification to OASIS assessments on the same day that the request for more information is sent. QualificationsLicense Requirements * Current RN licensure in state of practice. * Current CPR certification required. * Current Drivers License, vehicle insurance, and access to a dependable vehicle or public transportation. LHC - Icims Lafayette CO

Nursing - Non-Certified Nursing Assistant (Full Time)

Expired Job

Genesis Healthcare LLC


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Premium Auditor

Expired Job

Memic Manchester , NH 03101

Posted 3 months ago

Under minimal supervision, the Premium Auditor is responsible for visiting insureds or accountants, in an assigned territory, to perform physical inspections of payroll/financial records to determine the final earned premium on expired policies. In addition, the Premium Auditor provides expert opinion on the proper classificationof insureds. The Premium Auditor will audit more complex risks requiring a high degree of technical communication skills.

  • Performs premium audits within an assigned geographic territory, maintaining high quality with timely service.
  • Verifies all audits with state and federal filings.
  • Maintains favorable relationships with insureds, agents, and other company personnel. Takes prompt, customer-focused action to resolve complaints/audits disputes and report and problems to Director of Premium Audit that may require attention.
  • Submits activity reports, expense accounts, and any other reports as required by management.
  • Visits producers and agents to discuss problems/opportunities.
  • Transmits audit electronically in a timely fashion.
  • Assists in training of new Premium Auditors.
  • Assists Premium Audit Manager with special projects.
  • May require expert witness for bureau hearings and disputes.
  • May review contract fee audit work for quality assurance and billing

  • This position requires a Bachelors Degree in Accounting or Management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience in accounting, finance or insurance field (audit experience preferred).
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Must have strong organization skills and attention to detail.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills a must.
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Premium Auditor

Kaufman Financial Group

Posted 4 weeks ago

VIEW JOBS 12/21/2018 12:00:00 AM 2019-03-21T00:00 Responsibilities Premium Auditor responsibilities include: * Individually scheduling appointments with clients to obtain necessary information * Submitting projects via web-portal and AFIRM's exclusive premium auditing software * Contacting clients and communicating via phone, email, and face to face discussions * Examining commercial businesses' payroll and tax records * Evaluating operational practices * Adhering to customer requirements and quality standards * Maintaining confidentiality and acting with integrity Qualifications Qualifications for the ideal Independent Contractor: * Act with professionalism and urgency * Ability to observe and evaluate business operations and write recommendations * Excellent skills in time management, verbal /written communications, and web-based applications * A functional home office including a laptop (suggested but not required) * Valid driver's license and reliable transportation * Bookkeeping or accounting experience is helpful * Requires basic knowledge and education in premium auditing If you are inexperienced, please reach out to a recruiter for details on potential training opportunities. About Our Company Are you looking for a new career that offers limitless development opportunities? Take control of your earning potential and enhance your career in this vital and growing industry. Join AFIRM and become a part of a dynamic organization. AFIRM is looking for premium auditors to work on an independent contractor basis. Founded in 1988, AFIRM is one of the nation's largest providers of Premium Audits, Inspec Kaufman Financial Group Manchester NH

Premium Auditor

Expired Job

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Certified Scrub Tech Labor and Delivery

Rockville, MD
May 16, 2018
Jun 19, 2018
Full Time
AdvertisementAdventist Healthcare

The Operating Room Scrub Technician, under the guidance and supervision of the registered nurse, participates as a member of the OR team in planning, preparing, and producing a safe and effective OR experience for patients undergoing surgery. Actions and attitude that contributes to the critical success factors of the organization (i.e. Best place to work, most extraordinary experience, superior outcomes, financial success for reinvestment, valued as a faith-based organization, and a growing organization vital to the community).

High school or GED

Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technician Program

One year hospital experience preferred

Strong customer service skills

Able to handle a multi task environment

Written and verbal communication skills

Requires judgment that could affect positive patient outcomes

Team Player

Working Conditions

Work Schedule

In this role you will work full time days

Tobacco Statement

Tobacco use is a well-recognized preventable cause of death in the United States and an important public health issue. In order to promote and maintain a healthy work environment, We will not hire applicants for employment who either state that they are nicotine users or who test positive for nicotine use.

We will withdraw offers of employment to applicants who test positive for Cotinine (nicotine). Those testing positive for cotinine are given the opportunity to re-apply in 90 days, if they can truthfully attest that they have not used any nicotine products in the past ninety (90) days and successfully pass follow-up testing.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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Justice: The crooked judges of Slovakia

19 November 2012

Respekt Prague

The funeral of Juraj Majchrák, the vice-chair of the Slovak Supreme Court. A still from "Disease of the Third Power".

The funeral of Juraj Majchrák, the vice-chair of the Slovak Supreme Court. A still from “Disease of the Third Power”.

Almost a year after the so-called “Gorilla” file lifted the lid on corruption in Slovakia, a new documentary reveals a Slovak judiciary controlled by a clique of unscrupulous judges ready to thwart those who resist them. Its director, Zuzana Piussi now faces up to two years in prison. Excerpts.

A delicate blonde woman with the squeaky voice of a child has proved capable of enraging people high up in the Slovak judiciary. Her documentary on the diseased Slovak justice system, called “Disease of the Third Power”, has become a symbol of rebellion against the closed circle of judges who mock justice itself.

Zuzana Piussi has already felt the power of this clique for herself: one of the judges the film portrays has filed a criminal complaint. And the young investigator questioning her at the police station said apologetically: “You know, there are pressures around here.” If convicted, she faces up to two years in prison.

A man named Harabin

The Slovak judiciary is run by a group of judges who treat the justice system as a milk cow and rule favourably for “mafia groups”. Some 70 percent no longer trust it. Even the current Minister of Justice Tomáš Borec says that confidence in the system “could not be worse.” The assessment of the World Economic Forum, which puts Slovak law enforcement at 140th place among 144 countries, is also crushing.

How could something like this happen in a country that otherwise belongs among those that managed the transition from communism to democracy successfully?

The man who has left the deepest mark in the modern history of Slovak justice is Stefan Harabin (55). A former communist judge and a good friend of former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, he has been the head of the Supreme Court for years and was also a Minister of Justice. Harabin’s greatest impact, though, has been as the long-time head of the main lever of power within the judiciary – the Judicial Council.

To some he comes across as a dance-floor charmer, to others as a vulgar tyrant with a thirst for power and revenge against his critics. Thanks to servile judges around him, Harabin has already sued Slovak media for many tens of thousands of euros for “damage to his reputation”.

Harabin has taught members of his clique other tricks, too. In October he even won a lawsuit against the Slovak state. The judge awarded him 150,000 euros in damages from the General Prosecutor’s Office for having damaged Harabin’s reputation a few years earlier by publicly confirming the authenticity of a private phone call between Harabin and the Albanian drug baron Baki Sadiki, which was published in the media. Sadiki escaped, and was later sentenced in absentia to 22 years in prison in Slovakia.

In 2003 the Judicial Council became the symbol of independence and the highest body in the system of judicial self-regulation. However, the Council came under the control of persons with bad reputations and began crushing its critics.

The originator of the idea, the prominent vice-chair of the Supreme Court, Juraj Majchrák, was the first casualty. When in 2009, as head of the Supreme Court, Harabin instituted a series of disciplinary proceedings against him for alleged dilatoriness and demanded the strictest punishment – removal of a judge from office. Majchrák fell seriously depressed. In April 2011 he hanged himself in the garage of his home.

At the funeral, which despite the solemnity turned into something of a demonstration against Harabin, one of the judges said openly that “bullying” had played a part in Majchrák’s death.

The story of Judge Marta Lauková is also a sad one. In spring 2009 she received a note from her superior pressing her to release from detention a man suspected of belonging to an international gang of human traffickers – it was a “request from the ministry” (then controlled by Harabin), she said. Lauková refused and filed a police complaint alleging an attempt to influence her verdict.

She soon began to be bullied from higher up, was transferred to civil law, had her attendance checked, and was humiliated. She collapsed and fell ill. The Judicial Council denied her sickness benefits, alleging that she was faking her illness. Shortly afterwards, she fell into a coma and died of heart failure.

Her senior colleague, who was taking revenge on her and forcing the stopping of her sickness benefits, was Helena Kožíková. This is the judge who has now filed a criminal complaint against director Zuzana Piussi for capturing on film the dramatic moment when the daughter of the dead judge blamed Kožíková to her face for having played a part in her mother’s death. In addition to imprisonment, Kožíková wants to sue the Slovak television director for 40 000 euros in damages in a civil trial.

Change is on the way

The deaths of two judges were perhaps the proverbial droplets that woke the silent majority from their sleep. “It must not be wasted,” rang out at a public meeting of the new judges’ initiative ‘For an Open Judiciary’. “There are about 50 of us,” says association President Judge Javorčíková. “Thanks to the media, more and more people are hearing about us, so today they won’t dare bully us as they did a few years ago. And the public is starting to be more sensitive.” The Slovak Republic has some 1,400 judges, of whom a relatively small part (some tens) created the clique that controls the tip of the hierarchy.

And there is already something happening. While Harabin still controls the Judicial Council, he no longer has a majority. The disciplinary proceedings against recalcitrant judges, which resemble criminal tribunals under the communist regime (the wrongdoers, after all, “are damaging the reputation of the justice system”), are attended by colleagues come to show solidarity and by the media and European ambassadors as well.

The case against Zuzana Piussi is being followed too. A petition has begun to make the rounds, in the style of petitions under the Communist regime. The signatories approve of the alleged offence of Piussi – a shot of Judge Kožíková included in the film without her consent – and demand the same punishment for themselves. Hundreds of well-known names have signed the petition.

The film ‘Disease of the Third Power’ has been posted for free on the Internet, where tens of thousands of people have already watched it.

“What has it come to that people sign a petition to defend others, as used to happen under communism?” Zuzana Piussi asks. “Without that support, though, I would probably go to jail.”

Translated from the Czech by Anton Baer

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iPhone battery replacement

My iPhone 6 plus was going slow, so I got a battery from ebay and followed the ifixit iPhone battery replacement tutorial – my phone is now much faster (it feels like a new phone again)

starting – all my tools ready

screen open

screen detatched

battery removed

new battery tape

new battery fitted (notice the protruding connector on the roght of the battery – I had to fix that

closeup of the fixed connector

screen attached

booting back up!

Tags for iPhone battery replacement

Battery Iphone Open Screen Slow Tools Tutorial


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The Best of 2018: Seymour Hersh on Trump, Barbara Ehrenreich on ‘Wellness,’ and Amos Oz Remembered

Listen HERE
Our most popular interviews of the year, starting with Seymour Hersh, one of our heroes; he says “don’t underestimate Trump.” He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1970 for his expose of the My Lai massacre—he was a 33-year-old freelancer at the time. Since then, he’s won pretty much every other journalism award. He’s worked as a staff writer for The New York Times and The New Yorker. He’s also written a dozen books, most recently ‘Reporter: A Memoir.’
Also: Barbara Ehrenreich is another hero of ours– the author of more than a dozen books, including the unforgettable “Nickel and Dimed.” Now she has a new book out, a bestseller, and it’s terrific: it’s called “Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainly of Dying, and killing ourselves to live longer.”
Finally, Amos Oz died on Dec 28 –He was an Israeli novelist and unyielding critic of the occupation of the West Bank and a campaigner for a two state solution. His novels were translated into dozens of languages, and he also wrote for The Nation. Here we revisit an interview we did with him in 2004, about mideast politics.  1/2/13


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Modern Warrior

Capturing the spirit of the woman warrior, enriched with distilled refinement, metallics, smoky eyes and dark mouth, magnetic reflections, rich and multifaceted layered expressions where the preciousness, as in the most concrete style, is communicating by subtraction. Futuristic textures, epitomized by the sculptural perfection, that looks bold and sophisticated, irresistibly visionary. Celebrate the warrior spirit … Continue reading


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Joshua Belliardo

Be a part of #TeamJoshuaB

MORE TO ME - Official Music Video

Dream With Me - Official Music Video

Reverbnation playlist

Dream with me

Available for download on

JB-Final Light-1.jpg

Joshua Belliardo

Joshua is a singer/songwriter from Portland, Oregon. Joshua's melodic sense is something he takes pride in. He is able to instantly come up with beautiful melodies with ease. His lyrics are an expression of his story and an outlet for his emotions, sharing his experiences with his family of fans.

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Marmoset is seeking an HR Coordinator

This full-time opportunity requires someone who has introductory-to-moderate experience with general HR duties and responsibilities  ideally working with a company size of 20 or greater. Experience as a studio or office manager or in a business affairs support role is preferred. We’re looking for someone who is highly organized, a master of details and is open to learning new systems and policies. We need someone who’s demonstrated flexibility and hasn't yet developed too many rules or rigidness in their approach. Essentially, we’d like you to begin with us as a student  one who will first listen, study, and learn  then quickly grow into the role of a critical thinker who is constantly looking for ways to improve systems and processes.

Click HERE for position details and how to apply.

Posted on April 23, 2015 and filed under Marmoset.


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Traditional vs. Blended Learning of Pharmacology

Len V Hua, OD, PhD, FAAO
Denise Goodwin, OD, FAAO
Alfred Weiss

Blended learning integrates online learning modules with traditional in-classroom lectures. Little is known about the effectiveness of blended learning in optometric education. The goal of the study is to compare traditional vs. blended learning by optometry freshmen, focusing on the essentials of medical pharmacology. The results suggest a positive trend in understanding pharmacology with blended learning and warrant further implementation. Even with advanced technology, instructors still must know why, what and how educational technology can enhance learning. Further, instructors should start slow and be flexible to change.

Key Words:  optometry, pharmacology, online learning, blended learning, Moodle

Read Full Article


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Tweeting Is Believing? Understanding Microblog Credibility Perceptions

Twitter’s real-time updates makes it uniquely suited for broadcasting breaking news. However, the service seems to attract hackers and pranksters, ranging from a political impersonator‘s unusual policy suggestions to a bogus report of Obama’s supposed assassination. How does a reader determine what is true on Twitter?

A 2012 paper from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft Research presented at the annual Computer Supported Cooperative Work conference, “Tweeting Is Believing? Understanding Microblog Credibility Perceptions,” analyzes how users assess a tweet’s credibility. The researchers examine survey and experimental data captured from college-educated participants ages 18 to 60 who found tweets in a variety of ways; collectively, the survey group found them through “searches on (84%), clicking trending topics on the Twitter homepage (84%), searching for tweets using Bing’s and Google’s social search functionality (72%), or serendipitously encountering tweets mixed into the results of general Web searches (81%).”

Key study findings include:

  • Users assessing the credibility of an isolated tweet divorced from contextual markers such as the author bio and number of retweets are forced to rely on limited — and unreliable — cues such as subject matter or author prominence.
  • Perceptions of the author’s influence, topical expertise and reputation all enhance a tweet’s credibility. Additional measures include the public profiles of tweeters and how often their posts are retweeted. “Features that often are obscured in the user interface, such as the bio of a user, receive little attention despite their ability to impact credibility judgments.”
  • Typical users are not unduly concerned with the credibility of tweets on celebrity news and restaurant reviews, but are concerned with the veracity of breaking news and political content. They tend to most trust tweets from individuals they follow and trending topics listed on Twitter, and are very concerned about the credibility of tweets they find through Twitter searches and online search engines.
  • While the perceived credibility of a tweet was linked to its author, it was not associated with the truthfulness of the tweet itself. This held true regardless of the assessor’s experience with Twitter; in fact, more experienced users typically rated tweets as more credible overall. “Those with more experience with a given technology view it as a more credible information source” than those with less experience.
  • Tweets on science topics are rated as more credible than tweets on politics or entertainment topics; tweets with a topical user name relating to the discussed topic (i.e., ScienceNow) are rated as more credible than those with traditional (i.e., John Smith) or Internet (JSmith84) style user names.
  • Users represented by the default Twitter icon are perceived as significantly less credible than users with any other type of icon image.

But even under the best circumstances, the authors caution, “Tweet consumers should keep in mind that many of these [trustworthy] metrics can be faked to varying extents.”

Tags: ethics, technology, news, cognition, Twitter

Last updated: March 21, 2012

We welcome feedback. Please contact us here.

Citation: Ringel Morris, Meredith; Counts, Scott; Hoff, Aaron; Roseway, Asta; Schwarz, Julia. "Tweeting is Believing? Understanding Microblog Credibility Perceptions," Microsoft Research, Proceedings of CSCW 2012, February 2012


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Ticklish Business Episode 6: The Killing (1956)

This week I sit down with Jacob Haller to talk about Stanley Kubrick’s 1956 film noir, The Killing.

Send suggestions, questions and comments to Feel free to leave me a comment on iTunes and be sure to follow Ticklish Business on Twitter, @Ticklish_Biz.
NEXT WEEK: You’ll be getting a special minisode as I talk to Madeline Kahn biographer William V. Madison about his new biography on the comedienne.

Kristen Lopez View All

I'm a college student getting my Master's in English, but dreams of getting an additional degree in Film. I'm a movie reviewer for several sites, but I also write classic film reviews for several other sites. I stretch myself pretty thin these days. You can usually find me at a bookstore, or a movie theater. I dream of the day when the two are combined. I base a lot of my friendships on favorite movies.

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Hearing Services of Cape Ann

Call Us Today
Beverly 978.921.4327
Gloucester 978.283.6888

Audiology and Hearing Aid Services

Assistive Listening Devices

A variety of products are available to enhance your listening experience, with or without the use of personal amplification.
Amplified telephones and television listening devices are two of the most common products. There are also devices that can be placed in the middle of conference table and link wirelessly to your hearing aid.

Hearing Services of Cape Ann works closely with the school systems to provide the optimal FM system for your child.

BlueTooth Technology

"Blue Tooth" is a special wireless link used to connect cellphones, printers, personal data assistants, and other digital devices. This technology was developed in Norway and was named after an old Norwegian king who famously sported blue teeth!

Learn More

Comprehensive Audiological Evaluations

A combination of medical history and results from specialized auditory assessments are used to diagnose the hearing problem. The
audiologist analyzes and reviews each aspect of the audiological evaluation to create a profile of hearing abilities and needs.

Tympanometry is one aspect of the hearing evaluation. In this test, we gently introduce air pressure into the ear canal and introduce special sounds that elicit a measurable response from the ear. Tympanometry measurements are valuable in evaluating the outer and middle ear. This testing assists in the detection of ear infection, perforated eardrum, wax blocking the ear canal, or other problems that may indicate need for medical evaluation.

Learn More

Ear Molds: Swim molds & Custom-made noise protection earmolds

Floatable swim plugs can be made in a variety of colors for adults and children. Noise protection molds come in different styles for different situations (shooting firearms, playing in a band, etc.).

Learn More

Hearing Aid Sales & Service

Some of the most advanced digital hearing aids are made by Widex, Siemens, Phonak, Oticon, and Starkey. Types of aids include micro-canal, canal, in-the-ear, behind-the-ear, and the newest: open-ear fitting.

Digital Processing enables feedback cancellation, microphone directivity, wide dynamic range compression, and precise tuning of the amplified spectrum.

We include a two-year warranty with every new hearing aid, and always allow a 60-day trial period. Hearing aid servicing at the office is always free. This includes: cleaning, hearing aid checks, changing of earmold tubing.

More than just a hearing test!

View Our Hearing Aids

Hearing Aid Repair

Some minor hearing aid repairs can be done in the office setting in a short period of time; others will need to be sent to the manufacturer for repair.  Your hearing professional can help determine what kind of a repair is necessary if you feel your hearing aid is not working properly.

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In-Office Services

We encourage ongoing cleaning and maintenance after your hearing aid purchase to ensure you receive optimum performance and benefit from your hearing aid(s). We encourage all our patients to come in for regular hearing aid check-ups and cleaning.

Repairs, Maintenance, Cleanings, and Warranties come with all brands of hearing aids. We offer in-office repairs when possible on most makes/models.

Musicians Earplugs and Monitors

Musicians practice and perform in a variety of different settings. They are exposed to high levels of sound, sometimes for long periods, which may put them at risk for permanent hearing damage.   Musician’s ear plugs are custom-made devices that help to limit the sound exposure from instruments, while still providing a rich musical experience for the performer or audience.

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Tympanometry is an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and the conduction bones, by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.


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Tag: Single Review: Chasing Stars feat. Bertie Blackman

With the release of her first two singles “Touch” and “Almost Here,” which both amassed over 900,000 streams on Spotify, the Melbourne, Australia-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Annika Schmarsel, quickly exploded into the national scene with her solo recording project Alice Ivy. Adding to a growing profile, Schmarsel played Australia’s festival circuit, including sets at Strawberry Fields, Paradise, Queenscliff, Listen Out and NYE on The Hill, BIGSOUND and went on two national, headlining tours before a series of dates in Singapore and the States.

Slated for a February 9, 2018 release through Last Gang Records, Schmarsel’s forthcoming, full-length debut I’m Dreaming was written, recorded and self-produced in her home studio and features the up-and-coming Australian producer and pop artist collaborating with the likes of Georgia Van Etten, Cazeaux O.S.L.O. and Tim De Cotta, RaRa, E˄ST and Charlie Threads and ARIA Award-winning singer/songwriter Bertie Blackman, among others.  Interestingly, I’m Dreaming‘s latest single “Chasing Stars,” a collaboration featuring Bertie Blackman can trace its origins to when Schmarsel met Blackman while they were both opening for Urthboy, and they quickly bonded over a mutual appreciation of each other’s work. As the story goes, Schmarsel reached out to Blackman with a slickly produced instrumental track that featured shimmering and soaring synths, trippy blasts of horns and thumping beats that that reminded (and gave) Blackman the sensation of flying. And although Schmarsel typically takes the reins of the entire creative process, she let her collaborator take the lead lyrically; in fact, Blackman’s tender and aching vocals add a yearning quality to the endeavor, with the ARIA Award-winning artist’s lyrics reaching for something that’s just beyond her grasp.

“’Chasing Stars’ is one of my favorite moments on the album,” Schmarsel explains in press notes. “Being given the opportunity to work with Bertie was a dream come true for me. The dynamics of the instrumentation are the perfect fit to the strong and sometimes fragile moments of Bertie’s vocals on the song, which are so rich with emotion and meaning. Bertie and I started writing it over email, however the finished song came together in a couple of hours in the Joyride’s studio above a pub in suburban Sydney. The vocal tracking only took three hours; however, the instrumentation is what took the longest. I’ve hung onto this song in demo form for about a year and a half now. Lyrically, ‘Chasing Stars’ is about Lincoln Beachey, the first man to do a loop to loop in an airplane. The music has many layers which depict the endless landscape of the sky.”


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Are You Aware of How Much Equity You Have in Your Home. You May Be Surprised.

CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 675,000 US homeowners regained positive equity in their homes in 2017. This is great news for the country, as 95.1% of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation.

U.S homeowners with mortgages (roughly 63% of all the properties) have seen their equity increase by a total of $908.4 billion since the fourth quarter 2016, an increase of 12.2%, year over year.”

Price Appreciation = Good News for Homeowners

Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist, explains:

Home-price growth has been the primary driver of home-equity wealth creation. The CoreLogic Home Price Index grew 6.2 percent during 2017. The largest calendar-year increase since 2013. Likewise, the average growth in home equity was more than $15,000 during 2017, the most in four years.”

He also believes this is a great sign for the market in 2018, saying:

“Because wealth gains spur additional consumer purchases, the rise in home-equity wealth during 2017 should add more than $50 billion to U.S. consumption spending over the next two to three years.

This is great news for homeowners! But, do they realize that their equity position has changed?

study by Fannie Mae suggests that many homeowners are not aware that they have regained equity in their homes as their investment has increased in value. For example, their study showed that 23% of Americans still believe their home is in a negative equity position when, in actuality, CoreLogic’s report shows that only 4.9% of homes are in that position (down from 6.3% in Q4 2016). The study also revealed that only 37% of Americans believe that they have “significant equity” (greater than 20%) when in actuality, 83% do!

This means that 46% of Americans with a mortgage fail to realize the opportune situation they are in. With a sizeable equity position, many homeowners could easily move into a house (either larger or smaller) that better meets their current needs.Fannie Mae spoke out on this issue in their report:

“Homeowners who underestimate their homes’ values not only underestimate their home equity, they also likely underestimate 1) how large a down payment they could make with their home equity, 2) their chances of qualifying for mortgages, and, therefore, 3) their opportunities for selling their current homes and for buying different homes.”

Bottom Line

If you are one of the many Americans who is unsure of how much equity you have built in your home, don’t let that be the reason you fail to move on to your dream home in 2018! Let’s get together to evaluate your situation! You can find a local Wallick & Volk Mortgage Professional at


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The Three Trees

At dinner this evening, my children were talking about their hopes for their future. That conversation reminded me of this story.

The Three Trees – A Folk Tale

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”

Then the second tree said “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”

Finally the third tree said. “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me…”

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter.” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree so I’ll take this one” and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and women came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said “peace” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the king of kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

2 thoughts on “The Three Trees

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mowbray 4
  • 473 sq ft
  • 2 x identical apartments (1a &1b).
  • Single storey building (taxi office) vacant on possession.
  • Converted into retail ground floor with two additional floors added (2007).
  • These had entrances from Mowbray street over 65 Middle Hillgate.
  • 65 Middle Hillgate became a café in 2013, and the two flats have been residential use ever since.


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Thoughts from Posidonia 2018

It’s an even-numbered year and it’s June, which – for those in shipping – can only mean one thing: it’s Posidonia time! And, Posidonia it was, the 50th occasion of the international shipping community convening to Athens for the industry’s flagship event.

The cold facts: it has been reported that more than 100 countries have been represented, more than 1,800 exhibitors showcased their trades and more than 22,000 visitors attended the event with an estimate of half of those visitors originating outside Greece. No one could doubt, based on such enormous numbers, the significance of the event to the maritime industry, and, by association, the importance of Greece and the Greek shipping community to the maritime industry. Posidonia has been a truly “must attend” shipping event for its size, the wealth of market info available, and, this being Greece, for its fun, party scene and the great weather!

Having attended Posidonia for numerous times now, one can get a “feel” of the market and observe a lot by just watching, in the immortal words of Yogi Berra. Here have been a few of our observations:

In June 2008, when the shipping markets were white hot and the BDI was topping 12000 points, the Posidonia attendance was standing at just 16,000 visitors; now, ten years later and the BDI at a tenth of its former glory (presently appr 1300 points), the Posidonia attendance was higher by almost 36%. It does seem that Posidonia 2018 was marginally better attended than Posidonia 2016 which was better attended than 2014, which was … Posidonia once again proves that it’s an exhibition with eternal appeal, in good and bad times, where participants congregate to seek market intelligence.

Given the state of the freight market in the last decade, there has been no exuberance this time around with the by-now famous “Posidonia party scene”, since long are the times when company parties were esteemed by the number of Russian models in attendance. However, we have noticed that there have been many more corporate events and receptions than in previous times, quite often discreet and with less noise; mostly dinner receptions where guests could discuss market developments under the full moon in the Greek summer breeze with a drink in their hands. Seeing greater social activity but of less noise and of higher caliber has been an encouraging observation, in our opinion, as it’s a sign that the market gets back to fundamentals and away from the pretense of the past times.

Although freight markets are weak, and frankly the crude tanker freight rates downright painful, we noticed an air of solid perseverance and mild enthusiasm. Posidonia traditionally has been one of the most optimistic conferences in shipping, in our opinion; however, this time we did not notice vainglorious enthusiasm of “bring it on” but rather guarded optimism that since we have survived these terrible markets so far, there is little else that can shock us. Things are getting better, or at least they will get better. Probably this weird mix of sarcasm, resilience and enthusiasm is another sign that the market is reverting back to the fundamentals and logic and away from unfounded enthusiasm and speculation.

And, what a better sign of speculation than newbuilding orders? While in the good times Posidonia was a time of announcing of massive newbuilding orders – just to keep up with the Joneses – this time around, there barely have been any newbuilding announcement; for sure, there have been a couple of them, mostly from well established shipowners and with an LNG focus, but the majority of the market has been keeping clear of new orders. Probably another encouraging observation that the market is slowly shifting back to fundamentals.

Newbuilding orders cannot take place without plentiful and cheap financing, and speaking of the devil, there barely were any financiers in the whole greater Athens region! In the past, shipping banks hosting Posidonia parties used to be a parallel event of its own; this time around, just a handful of banks held discreet dinner parties for their clients and closed advisors with little outward attention. And, even more importantly, a complete dearth of equity fund, hedge funds, mezz funds, credit funds, alternative capital funds and other representatives of “master of the universe” species… Most of the financiers we saw were traditional long-term shipping market players who have been through the ups and downs of the industry a couple of times. Gone were the opportunistic or speculative investors who were de rigueur in previous Posidonia, another sign of the market’s efforts to revert to the mean. On the funny side of things, shipping financiers seem to be getting special attention as shipping finance is very hard to come by these days, and shipping financiers are as precious as the apple in one’s eye these days.

Shipping finance has been a hot topic of the exhibition, as one would expect. Despite selective activity, most shipping banks keep exiting the industry and dumping shipping loans, while the cost of capital keeps going up for most, not to mention the increasing interest rates that pose an additional risk to the industry at a time of soft freight rates. Chinese leasing has been a strengthening trend as well as preference by shipping banks for corporate loans (instead of asset-based ship mortgages), while institutional investors kept bearing the deriding scorn of “dumb money” in shipping and the sinners of a tonnage oversupplied market.

But the critical topic of Posidonia 2018 has been the upcoming regulations for fuels and emissions; and, here, we left the exhibition as uncertain as we were when landing in Athens at the beginning of Posidonia. Multiple panels and presentations and opinionated discussions on emissions, but we drew the conclusion that no-one really has a crystal ball on the subject; the possible outcomes ranged from this being a non-event (postponement into the future) to being a catastrophic event (too costly and not enough volumes clean fuels) that would reset the industry to this being the greatest thing in shipping in the last decade (accelerated scrapping and disappearance of less-capitalized shipowners.) A wide range of opinions indeed that render decision-making in such a challenging environment not dear for the meek in the heart; but again, that’s how money is made.

The Greek shipping community still stands strong, and, in general, in the news in the last few years, especially when it comes to opportunistic vessel acquisitions in the secondary market. Despite market challenges, Greek shipowners keep buying ships (occasionally even at high financing costs), and this purchasing activity contrasts them to other shipping nations that have been less active, or even net sellers of vessels. Thus, a few self-congratulatory remarks were to be expected here and there.

Posidonia is for sure the shipping event to attend; so much info to be learned as the as the vastness of the big ocean itself!

Posidonia 2018. Image credit: Karatzas Images

© 2013 – present Basil M Karatzas & Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.  All Rights Reserved.

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Welcome to the Wordlady blog!

This blog is about the fascinating, fun, and challenging things about the English language. I hope to entertain you and to help you with problems or just questions you might have with spelling and usage. I go beyond just stating what is right and what is wrong, and provide some history or some tips to help you remember. Is something puzzling you? Feel free to email me at wordlady.barber@gmail.com.
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Thursday, January 18, 2018

Hebrew and Yiddish Words Talk in Ottawa

"English Schminglish: Hebrew and Yiddish Words in English" with Katherine Barber

Hebrew and Yiddish words have enriched the English language for much longer than you may think, and continue to do so. From messiah to maven, sabbath to schnook, English wouldn’t be the same without its Jewish heritage. Whether you are familiar with Hebrew and Yiddish or not, this fun lecture will open your ears to an important source of English vocabulary.
Lecture, discussion, and visual presentation
  • Day: Thursday, May 24th, 2018
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: Room 124, Leeds House Building, Carleton University, Ottawa
  • Fee: $30.00 (HST included)
  • Enrollment capacity: 55 participants
Carleton University parking passes are available for purchase at the time of registration. The parking pass fees (including HST) are $6.00 for each one time evening lecture held on campus.

Registration begins on Tuesday, January 30th, at 9:00 a.m.

Online registration form will be available on Tuesday, January 30th at 9:00 a.m., and can be accessed using the following link: carleton.ca/linr/online-registration/. You can also send your registration via e-mail or leave a telephone message at or after 9:00 a.m. Please note that any registrations received prior to 9:00 a.m. on January 30th will not be considered.
Additional registration details can be found on the website: carleton.ca/linr/registration/.

Friday, January 12, 2018

I'm fed up

It's hard to imagine life without  the phrase "fed up", isn't it?

So I was quite surprised to learn that is only a bit more than a hundred years old.

According to the OED, it originated in military slang:
  fed up adj. colloq. (orig. Mil.) having had enough of a person or situation; annoyed, unhappy, or bored, esp. with a state of affairs that has persisted for a long time; also in intensifying phrases, as fed up to the back teeth
[1879   F. Arnold in London Society June 567/2   He himself essentially belongs to ‘the sty of Epicurus’... Fed up to the eyelids himself, it is no care to him that there are other people all otherwise than so well off.]
1900   B. Burleigh in Daily Tel. 20 Oct. 7/1   'Oh, I'm about fed up with it', is the current slang of the camps when officers and men speak of the war.
1914   Evening News 19 Sept. 4/1   We have also seen hundreds of German prisoners, mostly looking ‘fed up’.
1919   C. Dawson Test of Scarlet iii. iv. 208   The infantry are fed up to the back-teeth with the way in which the guns have failed to keep in touch with them.

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Of Charlatans, Mountebanks, and Cheap Jacks

This time last year, Wordlady investigated the word "toxin" and had a few choice words to say about "various charlatans seeking to separate us from our money by convincing us that our bodies are chock-full of 'toxins' that we need to 'cleanse'."

This got me wondering about the word "charlatan".  I am so happy it did, because I was led to the Oxford English Dictionary's delightfully Victorian entry for this word:
A mountebank or Cheap Jack who descants volubly to a crowd in the street; esp. an itinerant vendor of medicines who thus puffs his ‘science’ and drugs.
The etymology section of the entry is even more entertaining:
< French charlatan ‘a mountebanke, a cousening drug-seller, a pratling quack-salver, a tatler, babler’ (Cotgrave) [a French-English dictionary published in 1611],
< Italian ciarlatano = ciarlatore babbler, patterer, mountebank, < ciarlare to babble, patter, act the mountebank, < ciarla, chat, prattle

The entry does have this note:

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889).

Who'da guessed?  Wouldn't every 21st-century lexicographer use "mountebank" and "Cheap Jack" as defining terms? (Fear not, the OED lexicographers will get around to revising this in the fullness of time.)

Of course, the meaning of "charlatan" has since broadened to include

An assuming empty pretender to knowledge or skill; a pretentious impostor.

No shortage of THEM around at the moment.

What about "mountebank"?
An itinerant charlatan who sold supposed medicines and remedies, frequently using various entertainments to attract a crowd of potential customers. Later also (more generally): an itinerant entertainer. Now chiefly hist.
Etymology: < Italian montambanco, montimbanco (late 17th cent.), contracted form of monta in banco (1598 in Florio [an Italian-English dictionary), lit. ‘mount on bench’, with reference to the raised platform used by itinerant salesmen

I don't know what it says about Italy that both of these words originated there.

"Cheap Jack" seems to have originated in mid-19th- century Britain and gone through a vogue for about 75 years, but has been petering away more recently.

Here's wishing you robust good health in 2018 so that you can avoid all "pratling quack-salvers"!

Want to learn more fun facts about the language like this? I'm offering my Rollicking Story of the English Language course again starting January 17! You can sign up for the whole 8-week course or just drop in for the lecture(s) of your choice (so long as you book in advance). More info here:

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Dictionary leaves out thousands of words!

Shock horror. The Oxford Junior Dictionary does not include the following words:
acorn, adder, ash, beech, bluebell, buttercup, catkin, conker, cowslip, cygnet, dandelion, fern, heron, ivy, kingfisher, lark, mistletoe, nectar, newt, otter, and pasture
This piece of news was the object of much indignation before Christmas as trigger-happy fingers clicked on a petition demanding their reinstatement.  Apparently their omission is contributing to species decline and childhood obesity (I'm not making that up, it was in the petition). Such luminaries as Margaret Atwood have complained about this failing in the dictionary, so clearly something needs to be done.

My eyes couldn't have rolled any more.

I've got news for you. There are TENS OF THOUSANDS of words that the Oxford Junior Dictionary doesn't include.  It's a SMALL dictionary. Perhaps all those petitioners should have had a look at it before they got so righteously indignant.

Here's a picture of one page (8x6"):

Some space-gobbling features to notice (all of them designed to be child-friendly):
  • the typeface is very large
  • parts of speech are written out in full
  • plurals of every noun are given, written out in full (not, for instance as -s), and introduced by the word "plural", also written out in full
  • all verbs are conjugated and written out in full
  • a full blank line between one entry and the next
  • when a word has more than one part of speech (e.g. heat, noun and verb) each part of speech has its own entry instead of the two being run together
  • within each entry, each definition starts on a new line
  • the definitions are very chatty, and often include example sentences
  • very handy homophone-disambiguation boxes  (hear/here, heal/heel)
As a result, there are by my estimate only about 5,000 words in this dictionary (compared to about 120,000 in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary). Tell me now, which 5,000 words would YOU put in a dictionary for 7-9-year-olds? Go on, I dare you. I double-dare you.

Do you really think "cowslip" should be one of them? What will you have to get rid of to make space for "newt"? Which one of those words in the page depicted above are you ready to axe in favour of "adder"? Do you really think that "beech" is one of the top 10 trees?  Speaking of which, where will you stop with the trees? Here's a short list of trees:

If you want to add "ash" and "beech", aren't all the others also deserving to be in? And you're not even out of the trees yet. Now holier-than-thou complainants want you to include all the flowers, birds, and animals as well. Not to mention that some other complainants also took against this dictionary because it didn't include "bishop" and other church-related words.  C'mon everyone, jump on your particular hobbyhorse and complain to the dictionary that your words aren't in!

Bear in mind that this is in a day and age when people aren't willing to spend any money on dictionaries. Lexicographers are hyper-conscious about producing dictionaries at a price that people are willing to pay. They can't just keep making the dictionary bigger to include everyone's favourite tree, flower, and amphibian. This one cost me $17.95+5% tax (yes, I actually BOUGHT it to have a look at it before I started making pronouncements about it). I recall when I worked in dictionaries, people thought $9.95 was about right for a dictionary. They would buy the Compact Oxford Canadian Dictionary, a small paperback at that price that we lexicographers called "The El Cheapo Oxford Canadian Dictionary" -- and then write to complain that there were words we had excluded!

By the way, did you notice that the headwords are in blue in the Oxford Junior, to make them stand out better from the rest of the text and make it easier for the kids, who are just learning to use dictionaries? That costs more money too. I'm sure the lexicographers would have liked to add illustrations to the Oxford Junior but.... there goes more space... and more money. I can't imagine what people's reaction would be to a $25 price for a 280-page book. Well, actually I can.

When Margaret Atwood lets lexicographers tell her how to write novels, then she can start telling lexicographers how to write dictionaries.

Please don't sign this nonsensical petition.

Want to learn more fun facts about the language like this? I'm offering my Rollicking Story of the English Language course again in the New Year! You can sign up for the whole 8-week course or just drop in for the lecture(s) of your choice (so long as you book in advance). More info here:
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Monday, January 1, 2018

Happy 50th birthday to... these words

Some words turning (at least) 50 in 2018. A trip back in time to the late 1960s. Trudeaumania and uppers. Reggae, rip-offs, and rumpy-pumpy.  Some of these are older than you probably think, and some younger.

 As with all words, they may well have existed a little earlier than the OED could find earliest evidence for them.

aerobics, n.

Etymology: < aerobic adj.: see -ic suffix 2.
orig. U.S.

  With sing. or pl. concord. Physical exercise, typically of relatively low intensity and long duration, that increases the body's oxygen consumption in a sustainable manner and is aimed at improving cardiovascular fitness; any method of training involving such exercise, esp. vigorous callisthenics performed to music.

1968   K. H. Cooper Aerobics iii. 40   After five hours of that [sc. golf] you've walked well past the point where anaerobics leave off and aerobics begin.

alarmed, adj.2

Etymology: < alarm n. + -ed suffix2. Compare later alarm v. 8.

  Fitted or protected with an alarm or alarms, esp. a burglar alarm. Chiefly in predicative use.

1968   N.Y. Mag. 14 Oct. 46   Door is Alarmed.

cellulite, n.

Etymology: < French cellulite (1949 or earlier in this sense), transferred use (now only in non-technical language) of cellulite inflammation of cellular connective tissue (1833 or earlier) < cellule cellule n. + -ite -itis suffix. The fat deposits were so called because they were at one time supposed to be caused by inflammation of cellular connective tissue. Compare earlier cellulitis n.
Compare earlier occurrence of the French word in an English context:
1955   C. I. Gavin Liberated France i. 51   Women were plagued by a complaint shown by a puffy softness under the skin and called la cellulite, for which those who could afford it would undergo spa treatment.

  Deposits of subcutaneous fat causing dimpling of the overlying skin.Cellulite is often seen in the thighs of women, and various cosmetic treatments have been devised for its removal or dispersal.

1968   Vogue (U.S. ed.) 15 Apr. 110/2   In Europe treatments for cellulite vary from acupuncture..to sea baths.

cutesy, adj.

Etymology: < cute adj. + -sy suffix2.
colloq. (orig. and chiefly N. Amer.).

  Affectedly cute and clever, twee. Also with fanciful extension,   ˈcutesy-poo adj.

1968   N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 25 Feb. 10   Start with the cutesie title. Pursue the mysteriously jumbled chronology.

Nasdaq, n.

Etymology: Acronym < the initial letters of National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations.
Stock Market.

  In the United States: a computerized system supplying price quotations for over-the-counter securities trading, introduced in 1971. Also: the price index or stock market created by this system. Frequently attrib. in Nasdaq index. Cf. NASD n. at N n. Initialisms 1.

1968   Commerc. Financial Chron. 23 May ii. 13/3   The NASDAQ system will eliminate the necessity of separate requests for market makers quotations.

noogie, n.

Etymology: Origin unknown. Popularized by the U.S. television show Saturday Night Live in the late 1970s.
Chiefly U.S. School slang and College slang.

  In sing. and pl. A hard poke or grind with the knuckles, esp. on a person's head (see also quot. 1986). Frequently in to give a person noogies.J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang cites a New York University student in 1972 as saying that a ‘noogie is a kind of a punch or a jab you give someone with your third and middle finger. You do it on the forehead or on the shoulder.’

1968   I. Horovitz Indian wants Bronx 11   Now I'll give you twenty noogies, so we'll be even. (He raps Joey on the R. arm.)

out-of-body, adj.

  Characterized by the sensation that one's consciousness is located outside one's body. Chiefly in out-of-body experience.

1968   S. Smith (title)    Out-of-body experiences for the millions.

Parti Québécois, n.

Etymology: < French Parti Québécois (1968: see quot. 19682) < parti party n. + québécois , québecois Québécois adj.

  A French-Canadian political party which advocates independence or greater autonomy for the province of Quebec.

1968   Winnipeg Free Press 15 Oct. 42/3   The province's new political party, Le Parti Quebecois, is an embryonic coalition rallied around Rene Levesque and his idea of a ‘sovereign Quebec’.

perp, n.2

Etymology: Shortened < perpetrator n.
U.S. slang.

  The perpetrator of a crime.

1968   D. L. Pike Police Rep. 2 May in I. E. Robinson et al. Cases in Crisis (1972) xxxviii. 240   Perp was at back door of Apt 2 when he was shot in right thigh by victim.

power trip, n.

  An activity which confers a sense of power and authority on the person or people involved; the feeling of excitement or empowerment resulting from this. Cf. trip n.1 5c.

1968   Newsweek 8 Jan. 27/1   ‘He's an egocentric guy,’ says one acquaintance. ‘He's on a constant power trip.’

pulsar, n.

Etymology: < puls- (in pulsating adj.) + -ar (in star n.1), after quasar n.; compare -ar suffix4 (see quot. 1968 at sense 1). Compare pulsator n. 4.

 1. Astron. A celestial object which emits regular and rapid pulses of radiation, typically at radio frequencies but sometimes at X-ray or gamma frequencies, and is now recognized as a rapidly rotating neutron star.In quot. 1973 fig.

1968   A. Michaelis in Daily Tel. 5 Mar. 21/3   An entirely novel kind of star..came to light on Aug. 6 last year and..was referred to by astronomers as LGM (Little Green Men). Now..it is thought to be a novel type between a white dwarf and a neutron [sic]. The name Pulsar (Pulsating Star) is likely to be given to it... Dr. A. Hewish..told me yesterday: ‘..I am sure that today every radio telescope is looking at the Pulsars.’

reggae, n.

Etymology: Origin unknown. Perhaps related to Jamaican English rege-rege in the sense ‘rags, ragged clothing’ (see F. G. Cassidy & R. B. Le Page Dict. Jamaican Eng. (1967) 380/1, and compare note below); a connection with this word in its other sense ‘quarrel, row’ is perhaps also possible. Compare also ragga n., ragamuffin n. 4. Compare later reggaeton n.
For an explanation of the term given by the musician Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert (leader of the band Toots and the Maytals, who recorded the song cited in quot. 19681), see:
2004   Independent (Electronic ed.) 4 June 18   Hibbert says his naming of the genre on the 1968 single ‘Do The Reggay’ was pure accident. “There's a word we used to use in Jamaica called ‘streggae’,” he recalls. “If a girl is walking and the guys look at her and say ‘Man, she's streggae’ it means she don't dress well, she look raggedy. The girls would say that about the men too. This one morning me and my two friends were playing and I said, ‘OK man, let's do the reggay.’ It was just something that came out of my mouth. So we just start singing ‘Do the reggay, do the reggay’ and created a beat. People tell me later that we had given the sound its name. Before that people had called it blue-beat and all kind of other things.”
orig. Jamaican.

 1. A dance characterized by bent knees and swaying improvised movements of the upper body, originally performed to the shuffling, syncopated rhythm typical of the earliest reggae music (see sense 2). Cf. rocksteady n. 2.

1968   T. Hibbert Do Reggay (song, perf. The Maytals)   I want to do the reggay with you, Come on to me, do the dance, Is this the new dance going round the town? We can move you baby, Do the reggay, do the reggay.

ribbit, int. (and n.)

Etymology: Imitative.
O.E.D. Additions I. (1993) notes that David Carroll, the programme manager of the television programme cited in quot. c1968, stated in a letter of 1986: ‘I am some seventy-two years old, and I recollect hearing the expression as a child.’ Other sources associate early uses of the term with ‘Mel’ Blanc (1908–89, U.S. voice actor and comedian), but conclusive evidence has not been found.
orig. N. Amer.

  Representing the characteristic sound made by a frog, or an imitation of this. Also as n.

c1968   in Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (annotated T.V. script for rebroadcast programme) No. 8. 62   That's right. Ribit! I am. I am a frog.

rip-off, n.

slang (orig. U.S.).

 1. An act of stealing, a theft; (hence) a fraud, a swindle; (more generally) any instance of esp. financial exploitation.Earliest in rip-off artist n. at Compounds 2.

1968   B. W. Gilbert Ten Blocks from White House ix. 146   There were the ‘rip-off artists’ and other systematic looters, who went to a specific store and looked for items to use or sell.

router, n.6

Etymology: < route v. + -er suffix1.
Electronics and Computing.

  A device, circuit, algorithm, etc., which serves to determine the destinations of individual incoming signals; esp. a device which receives data packets and forwards them to the appropriate computer network or part of a network. Cf. gateway n.1 Additions.

1968   Nucl. Physics A. 116 549   A router circuit sent the coincidences from the first unit to be stored in the first 200 channels of the pulse-height analyser and those from the second to the last 200 channels.

rumpy-pumpy, n.

Etymology: Reduplication with variation of the initial consonant and suffixation (compare -y suffix6) of rump n.1 (with the sense compare ass n.2 2).
humorous or euphem. slang (orig. Brit.).

  Sexual intercourse. a bit of rumpy pumpy: a (prospective) sexual partner; a sexual encounter. Cf. bit n.2 4h.

1968   Sc. National Dict. at Rump   Rumpie-pumpie, a jocular term for copulation.

scuzzy, adj.

Etymology: Perhaps blend of scummy adj. + fuzzy adj.
N. Amer. colloq.

  Dirty, grimy; murky.

1969   Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. li. 16   Scuzzy, groady, skoady, and grungy should probably be listed also under ‘Blends’... Scuzzy, for example, seems to imply fuzzy and scummy: ‘Your teeth are scuzzy.’

Special Olympics, n.

Etymology: < special adj. + the plural of Olympic n. Compare Paralympic n.

  With the. An athletic competition, modelled on the Olympic Games, for athletes with mental disabilities. First held in 1968 (originally called the Chicago Special Olympics) and now recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Special Olympics include international competitions held at two-yearly intervals as well as competitions on local and national levels.

1968   Chicago Tribune 30 Mar. ii. 11/5   The Chicago park district..will co-sponsor special athletic events for mentally retarded children in a Chicago Special Olympics July 20 in Soldier Field.

T-bone, v.

colloq. (orig. and chiefly N. Amer.).

  trans. Of a motor vehicle or its driver: to crash head-on into the side of (another vehicle). Frequently in pass.Earliest in to T-bone it: to be involved in a collision in which the front of one vehicle hits the side of the other vehicle.

1968   Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Jrnl. 9 May c5/1   Two oncoming cars T-boned it for a total wipeout.

telemedicine, n.

Etymology: < tele- comb. form + medicine n.1
Compare French télé-médecine (1969 or earlier).

  Medicine practised with the assistance of telecommunications technology, often to provide care in remote locations or to reduce the need for hospital visits.

1968   Boston (Mass.) Sunday Globe Globe Mag. 9/1   While he [sc. Dr. K. T. Bird] strongly feels the field of tele-medicine is just beginning, even in its present state telediagnosis offers an important extension of the eyes and ears of the doctor.

touchy-feely, adj.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: touch v., -y suffix1, feel v.
Etymology: < touch v. + -y suffix1 + feel v. + -y suffix1.
Compare later touchy adj. 6.
colloq. (orig. U.S.).

 1. Given to the open expression of affection or other emotions, esp. through hugging or other physical contact; characterized by this kind of open expression.Often implying a degree of disapproval or distaste on the part of the speaker or writer.

1968   N.Y. Times 20 Aug. 25/7   They have been dubbed the ‘touchy-feely’ groups, since their training involves touching and holding hands.

Trudeaumania, n.

Etymology: < the name of Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1919–2000), former Prime Minister of Canada + -mania comb. form.

  Enthusiastic or exaggerated admiration for Trudeau.

1968   Listener 4 July 5/1   With the phenomenal climb to power of Mr Trudeau a tremendous cult has developed among younger Canadians. It's known as Trudeaumania or Trudolatry.

upper, n.2

Etymology: < up v. + -er suffix1; compare up adj. 5.
slang (orig. U.S.).

 1. A drug (esp. an amphetamine), often in the form of a pill, which has a stimulant or euphoric effect.

1968   Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) 3 ii. 50   Upper, type of drug that makes you feel active. Amphetamine is a commonly used stimulant of this kind.

word processor, n.

Etymology: < word n. + processor n. Compare slightly earlier word processing n.

  Originally: a computer system used to produce, edit, and store text entered by means of a keyboard, equipped with a printer and frequently with a screen to display text. In later use chiefly: a computer program used to perform these functions.

1968   Office Oct. 70/1   Dura, Div. Intercontinental systems, Inc., 2600 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, Calif. 94306, introduces the Model 941 Word Processor designed for computerless text editing.

YOLO, int. and adj.

Etymology: Acronym < the initial letters of you only live once at live v.1 Phrases 19.
In recent use perhaps popularized by its use in the lyrics of the song The Motto, released in 2011 by the Canadian rapper Drake.
 A. int.

  ‘You only live once’; used to express the view that one should make the most of the present moment without worrying about the future (often as a rationale for impulsive or reckless behaviour).

1968   Florida Today (Cocoa, Florida) 30 June 42   Naming the vessels..is a chore that delights some owners. One fad is acronyms... Yolo is short for ‘You Only Live Once’.

za, n.

Etymology: Abbreviation of pizza n.
U.S. slang.

  = pizza n.

1968–70   Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) III–IV. 140   Za.., pizza.

911, n.

Etymology: < nine n. + one n. + one n. Usually written with numerical symbol.
N. Amer.

 1. In the United States and Canada: a telephone number used to contact the emergency services; the service provided when this number is dialled. Frequently attrib. Cf. 999 n.

1968   N.Y. Times 13 Jan. 62/2   A plan to establish a national emergency telephone number—911—with which police, fire and ambulance services could be summoned from any telephone in the United States was announced yesterday by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.

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Canada's Word Lady, Katherine Barber is an expert on the English language and a frequent guest on radio and television. She was Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Her witty and informative talks on the stories behind our words are very popular. Contact her at wordlady.barber@gmail.com to book her for speaking engagements; she can tailor her talks to almost any subject. She is also available as an expert witness for lawsuits.


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Number of documents to list: 20  30  40  50  60  70  80  90  100  110  120


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Saddle Up for Safer Families!

April 16, 2015

It was great saddling up with Alexandra Cantrell, the volunteer coordinator at the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center, this morning!

The third annual Boots and Bluebonnets “Saddle Up for Safer Families” trail ride is Saturday, April 18, and benefits the crisis center. It’s at LCRA’s Shaffer Bend Recreation Area, 706 CR 343A in Smithwick, and will give riders a beautiful view of the bluebonnets.

Find out all the details at

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Pakistan’s PM ousted, raising questions about democracy

Last month, Pakistan's Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Not a single civilian PM has ever served a full term in office. Naeem Sahoutara asks why.

Senin, 28 Agus 2017 09:57 WIB

Naeem Sahoutara

Protesters in Karachi demonstrate against corruption as the impact of the Panama Papers is felt in P

Protesters in Karachi demonstrate against corruption as the impact of the Panama Papers is felt in Pakistan (Photo: Naeem Sahoutara)

Last month, the Pakistani Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He was found guilty of hiding offshore assets while in office.

The ruling from the country’s top court followed months of investigations into allegations of corruption.

This is the third time Prime Minister has been ousted from office. And Pakistan hasn’t had a single civilian Prime Minister that has completed their full term in office.

From Karachi, Naeem Sahoutara explores the implications for democracy in Pakistan.

All of Pakistan held its breath. Glued to television screens across the country, last month they waited for the Supreme Court to announce a historic verdict.

By afternoon, five judges unanimously declared that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from the office of Prime Minister.

The court had thoroughly investigated allegations of corruption, first raised in the Panama Papers last year, and found that the Prime Minister failed to declare offshore assets, and a monthly salary he received as Chairman of a company owned by his son, and based in the United Arab Emirates.

The Prime Minister and the nation were shocked by the court ruling.

In the seven decades since Pakistan won independence, this is the first time that a sitting Prime Minister has been held accountable for corruption.

Despite compelling evidence that the Prime Minister was seriously corrupt, many are now criticizing the court’s decision.

“This is a defective judgment, which is harming democracy in Pakistan, and the space for civilian politicians,” stated Dr Tauseef Ahmed, Professor in Mass Communications at the University of Karachi.

Pakistan has a long history of dictatorship and weak democracy.

Military dictators have ruled the country, either directly, or indirectly, for 36 years out of the 70 years since independence.

Dr Ahmed says the court ruling has furthered decayed democracy in Pakistan.

“Questions are being raised about the survival of the democratic system, because the ousting of our 27th Prime Minister is having a direct impact on democracy,” Ahmed commented.

“It is the country’s irony that 27 Prime Ministers have not completed their tenure because of the establishment. The establishment means the army and the bureaucracy.”

Sharif is a civilian leader.This is the third time he has been elected as Prime Minister, and the third time he has been ousted from office before completing his term.

In 1993 Sharif resigned from office under pressure from the Pakistan Armed Forces. Allegations of corruption surrounded him then, too.

He was re-elected for a second time in 1997, but within 3 years, he was deposed by military dictator General Pervez Musharraf, who went on to install martial law.

Sharif isn’t the only civilian leader to be toppled by the military. Previous Prime Ministers suffered the same fate.

“This problem of the civilian Prime Ministers being sent packing exists in the country since its beginning,” stated researcher and journalist, Akhtar Balouch.

He says political parties are made vulnerable by the constant threat of being overthrown.

“The reason is that when the politicians parties come into power, they get weaker because instead of strengthening the political group, because they entirely focus on saving their governments due to fears of being toppled,” Balouch said.

“That’s the reason, in the event of a military coup, the same political groups are unable to resist as strong political groups.”

Observers say that the army repeatedly accuses civilian governments of corruption and bad governance, using it as an excuse to take power.

But at the same time, corruption is rampant in Pakistan.

According to the government’s own estimates, around USD $12 billion is sent out of the country and stashed in foreign banks each year.

Many politicians and bureaucrats face serious corruption allegations, but it’s extremely rare for them to be held accountable.

Meanwhile, journalist Akhtar Balouch says power is concentrated in the hands of the elite.

“The political parties themselves do not believe in local governments’ system, which is the nursery of producing political leadership and also resolving the public issues at their doorsteps,” he explained.

“This is why the existing political system in Pakistan has never been a participatory democracy.”

Political parties fear losing power at the grassroots level, and do their best to avoid local government. This year, local government elections took place for the first time in 10 years, and  only after the intervention of the Supreme Court.

Weak democratic governance leaves the country vulnerable to dictators taking control.

Meanwhile, even after being found guilty of corruption, former Prime Minister Sharif says he will challenge his disqualification in the Supreme Court. And he plans to run in elections next year.

“An elected representative of 200 million people should not be treated like this. Such insulting treatment is not tolerable,” Sharif told media.

“And history will find whether or not this court verdict was good for Pakistan.”

KBR percaya pembaca situs ini adalah orang-orang yang cerdas dan terpelajar. Karena itu mari kita gunakan kata-kata yang santun di dalam kolom komentar ini. Kalimat yang sopan, menjauhi prasangka SARA (suku, agama, ras dan antargolongan), pasti akan lebih didengar. Yuk, kita praktikkan!

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2018: Perform and Travel

Happy New Year, everyone! My husband and I rung in the new year with our family in one of our favorite locations: a family home in Rhode Island. It was filled with great food and drink, laughter, and fun games. I hope everyone had a wonderful time welcoming 2018!

I’m sure you were asked the popular question: What are your resolutions for next year? I know I was. Back in 2016, I wrote a post about why I think forming habits might be more productive than creating resolutions. Since 2015, I have created “themes” for each year and established specific, targeted goals for each theme. In 2015, my theme was “Control.”  In 2016, my theme was “Health.” And this past year (which I did not blog about) my theme was “Improve.” Throughout 2017, I worked hard to improve my skills in my job (area of focus) and education. I started graduate school to boost my skills in literature with the hopes of teaching English in higher education. I have transferred the skills I learned in the classroom to my current job in marketing/communications and public relations. My journey in academia has also helped boost my creative writing craft in the blogging world, where I have aimed to provide clear, concise, and engaging content for my readers (thank you!). The past few years have been my most challenging, yet successful yet—it’s been quite a ride, and I am looking forward to the future!

This year, I am thrilled to have two themes: Perform and Travel.

Here are my goals for Perform:

  • Try out and perform in a public setting for a local community theater
  • Practice my guitar/singing twice a week and share progress through videos

For those who do not know me well, I spent most of my childhood/teenage years on stage. From singing at All-State competitions to performing in local community and high school productions, the stage was my second home. When I went to college, my passion to perform got lost in studies and opportunities in my major, so I am excited to soon feel that rush of adrenaline and be back on stage. With the talents of singing and a love for music, I also used to play guitar and sing, which also fell by the wayside. Playing guitar and singing brought me such joy; I remember feeling so gratified when I disciplined myself to perfect that chord or song. I look forward to practicing again, learning songs, composing covers, and sharing them with you all (gulp!).

Here are my goals for Travel:

  • Travel outside of the country at least once and write about my experiences
  • Take more spontaneous trips and explore the state and area that I live in and write about my experiences

OK—so I am cheating a bit with the first goal. For Christmas, my husband surprised me with plane tickets to Ireland in March! We are both anticipating a trip that we have dreamed of for the last three years. While traveling around during the holidays, my husband and I realized the unfamiliarity we have with our own state. We decided that this year we are going to take advantage of the awesome places we can visit in our state and throughout New England!

I can’t thank you all enough for continuing to read my blog and supporting one of my passions: writing. What are habits that you want to form in 2018? Please share in the comments! Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

4 comments on “2018: Perform and Travel”

  1. I hope 2018 brings an opportunity for you to explore central Massachusetts, maybe the many literary sites here? I always enjoy reading..

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How long have you been photographing?

I first picked up the camera when I was in the 7th grade...I haven't put it down since ;)

©www.kellielizabeth.com_1-3-4 copy.jpg

I have been shooting professionally since my sophomore year of College at Brooks Institute of Photography in 2009.

Do you have a studio space?

Yes, I have a studio at 2507 1/2 Bammel Lane.

I shoot both indoor with strobe, and outdoor in natural light. Occasionally I also travel to clients homes for specific shoots as well.

A lot of your images seem to be outside during daylight...are you comfortable with flash?

Because I specialize in outdoor, ambient light, I am often asked whether I am comfortable with flash. The answer is YES. Living in Houston, I have to be comfortable with all types of photography. I have created a separate gallery of flash/indoor weddings for brides who would like to see them.

Do you travel for weddings?

Yes. I travel internationally for work. I have shot weddings all around the US, as well as outside the country. My Complete Wedding Coverage Package includes travel--with a few limitations.

I cannot afford to have you shoot my whole day - do you have customizable packages for brides on tighter budgets?

Yes, I do offer customizable packages for brides on tighter budgets. Please email me for more information.