text:
Motivation is fleeting, habits are solid.
We all have habits. Unfortunately, most peoples daily habits are highly arbitrary. I know mine used to be.
Anything can become a habit.
If you think negative thoughts every day, soon enough it will become a habit. If you never miss a day of brushing your teeth, that too will become a strong habit. If you drink a liter of water first thing in the morning, every morning, a habit will form.
The human mechanism is incredibly complex. There are so many different ways to move and think, so many different things to do. So a part of our brain power goes into discerning what actions we need to do most frequently, and allows us to sort of set it on autopilot.
That’s what allows us to drive a car without consciously thinking about it, or sing in the shower. It’s way more efficient that way, because conscious action takes effort.
The brain makes it easier for us to do those things that we do a lot. That’s why it’s easy to brush your teeth with your right hand and almost impossible to use your left. Switching hands like that will require a conscious effort on your part.
But it also becomes easier to actually make the decision to brush our teeth, as long as we’ve done it every day for the last three years.
This is all pretty common knowledge. We’ve all heard of the notorious 21 days required to instill a habit. But that misses a crucial aspect of habit building, which is reward. You can poke your hand with a needle for 21 days and be absolutely ready to drop the habit the next day, because there’s no inherent reward in that action.
The most powerful thing you can do when trying to build any positive habit, is to clearly discern what the reward will be. Visualize it, make it so that every time you do the action, you see yourself reaping the inevitable rewards.
Exercise is a good example. I like calisthenics, or body weight exercises. When I’m actually in the middle of doing the exercises themselves, I’m normally not enjoying myself too much. But I keep the image of a stronger, healthier version of myself in my mind the whole time. And it pushes me through the times when I have little motivation.
Or going out for a run. Sometimes I just don’t feel like it, but when I weigh the rewards, like the wonderful feeling of runner’s high, or being out in nature, or better sleep from burning off excess energy, I go out anyway.
In my experience, the most difficult habits to cultivate are the habits with the most intangible benefits, like meditation or keeping a journal. Although we’ve all heard of the increased focus and calm tranquility from daily meditation, it’s hard to imagine the benefits when you haven’t actually experienced them.
What worked for me was to break those habits down to the smallest possible amount of work. So with meditation, I would decide to meditate for just 5 or 10 minutes at a time, once a day. It’s such a short amount of time that you’ll only experience a tiny fraction of the possible benefits, but at least you’ll experience something.
With journaling, you would start with a paragraph a day. Or even just a sentence. Just to get a feel for it, and for the possibilities hidden within that particular action. Sooner or later you’ll start to actually want to write more and more. I’m up to 3-4 pages a day, and I’m not sick of it yet!
That’s the real starting point. You really need to know where a habit will take you before you can convince yourself to go all in.
That’s all well and good, but what about our bad habits?
Those are more tricky to navigate. Sometimes they’re so subtle that you won’t even notice them at all before someone points them out to you.
I used to have incredibly negative thought patterns. Pure habit. As far as I knew, everybody’s thoughts were negative like mine. Well, that was a major misconception. Many people think negative thoughts habitually, but many more think positively. And it’s a way more enjoyable way of life.
We may not always be able to control the thoughts that come up in our minds, but we can choose which thoughts to cultivate. We can choose where we direct our attention.
Awareness is the first step to overcoming a bad habit. If you don’t know that you have a bad habit, there’s no way to break it.
Of course, there is a big difference between a bad habit and an addiction. Quitting nose-picking is quite a different beast from quitting heroin. Addictions most often have an intense biochemical factor.
But breaking a habit of negative thought patterns for example, doesn’t have to be too much of a challenge. Recognizing the habit is half the battle.
In the case of negative thoughts, what was most beneficial for me was replacing the negative patterns with positive ones. Enter affirmations. That’s all affirmations really are, replacement thought patterns.
The only reason negative thoughts have such a hold on the mind is because of repetition. You’ve repeated the action of cultivating negative thoughts so much that it’s become like brushing your teeth: automatic.
So it stands to reason that if you allow yourself to repeat positive thoughts often enough, the will eventually replace the negative ones. I urge you to try it.
Awareness is the most important ingredient for building habits consciously. The power of awareness really can’t be overstated. Awareness is the difference between a human being and a machine.
Cultivate your awareness, expand it, and be grateful for this incredible opportunity to reach for the stars.

domain: psychology


text:
The situation of the changes of the coaching staff is starting to irritate me a little...too many rumors and innuendos are flying around when what the team needs is decisive action. This situation has festered around too long. After the 1997 season, Mackovic and his staff was ousted immediately. Texas shouldn't be playing around now with these decisions...make like 1997 and make the changes and go from there. This is turning into a results show of Dancing with the Stars (Mrs. PaLonghorn has to watch that) the you're safe, and you're still in jeopardy thing.
The Politburo at Bellmont has made the decisions already...and now the staff is awaiting their fates inside Lubyanka. I can see it now...
Greg Davis gets another medal and a promotion, and will be seen waving from the Kremlin walls every May Day.
Bobby Kennedy and Mike Tolleson...well, the NKVD squads have left them laying on the tiled floors of Lubyanka.
Mac McWhorter has been sentenced to 30 years hard labor...the Gulag life expectancy is four months.
Mad Dog Madden was never seen again.
Younger officers like Will Muschamp and Major Applewhite are promoted and given the powers of their predecessors...but they better not get too powerful...
So please, for the future strength and stability of the program...make the decisions now...politics, friendships, and recruits be darned. This is getting silly...and all the rumors and stories out there are showing instability within the program.

domain: news


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text:
Tehran, 26 October 2005 (CHN) -- The restoration of the tallest brick dome of Iran will start in a near future by the restoration experts of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of the northern province of Golestan.
A tomb tower in Gonbad-e-Kavus in Golestan province is called Mil Gonbad, or Gonbad-e Qabus. This tomb tower was built by order of Shams ol-ma'ali Qabus ibn-e Woshmguir Al-e Ziyar, one of the Ziyarid rulers of Tabarestan (what is now the provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran), in the early years of the 11th century in order to be his tomb forever. In addition to being a brilliant warrior of his time, Qabus was well known as a poet, a philosopher, and a student of astronomy; his most famous book is Qabus Nameh.
72 meters tall, Mil Gonbad overlooks the plains of Central Asia from one side, and the Caspian Sea from the other. It can be claimed as the world's tallest brick dome.
"The restoration plan of Gonbad-e Qabus is prepared by the restoration experts of the province and will be delivered to the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran in a near future," says Jebrael Nokandeh, , an archaeologist and expert of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Golestan province.
Today the restoration of the dome is an urgent matter, with humidity threatening many parts of the building.
The Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran is planning to inscribe it on the UNESCO List of World Heritage.
... Payvand News - 10/27/05 ... --

domain: history


text:
Marilyn Monroe made history by standing over a subway grating in a white pleated halter dress designed by William Travilla. Hubert de Givenchy immortalized the Little Black Dress with a single opening scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. A red nylon jacket signaled to audiences that James Dean was a Rebel Without a Cause. For more than a century, costume designers have left indelible impressions on moviegoers’ minds. Yet until now, so little has been known about the designers themselves and their work to complement and enrich stories through fashion.
Creating the Illusion presents the history of fashion on film, showcasing not only classic moments from film favorites, but a host of untold stories about the creative talent working behind the scenes to dress the stars from the silent era to the present day. Among the book’s sixty-five designer profiles are Clare West, Howard Greer, Adrian, Walter Plunkett, Travis Banton, Irene, Edith Head, Cecil Beaton, Bob Mackie, and Colleen Atwood. The designers’ stories are set against the backdrop of Hollywood: how they collaborated with great movie stars and filmmakers; how they maneuvered within the studio system; and how they came to design clothing that remains iconic decades after its first appearance. The array of films discussed and showcased through photos spans more than one hundred years, from draping Rudolph Valentino in exotic “sheik” dress to the legendary costuming of Gone with the Wind, Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Bonnie and Clyde, Reservoir Dogs, and beyond.
This gloriously illustrated volume includes candid photos of the designers at work, portraits and wardrobe tests of stars in costume, and designer sketches. Drawing from archival material and dozens of new interviews with award-winning designers, authors Jay Jorgensen and Donald L. Scoggins offer a highly informative, lavish, and entertaining history of Hollywood costume design.
About TCM: Turner Classic Movies is the definitive resource for the greatest movies of all time. It engages, entertains, and enlightens to show how the entire spectrum of classic movies, movie history, and movie-making touches us all and influences how we think and live today.
Get recommended reads, deals, and more from Hachette

domain: artistic


Vietnam speaks out about the Australian plane being intercepted by China in the East Sea
On the afternoon of June 9, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang answered a reporter’s question about the information that the Australian plane was harassed by Chinese fighters in the airspace of the archipelago. Truong Sa island of Vietnam.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stated that Vietnam believes that the activities of all countries should be in accordance with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the provisions of The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which does not increase regional tensions, makes practical contributions to maintaining peace, stability, security, order, cooperation and development of the region and the country. economic.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang
“Once again, Vietnam affirms that it has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence for its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, in accordance with international law” – Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized.
Within the framework of a press conference, expressing their views on the information, Western officials said that Cambodia’s Ream naval base, which was just started on June 8, is for the Chinese military to use to strengthen its defenses. China’s maritime influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated: “Vietnam’s consistent position is that it always wants to maintain and strengthen the cooperative relationship. At the same time, cooperation between countries should make a positive contribution to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region and in the world.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: 24h.com.vn – Read the original article here


Adventure and lifestyle photographer Corey Rich has traveled the world on assignment for many of the best editorial and commercial clients in the industry. He is a Contributing Photographer for National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine.
As a climber, adventurer, and photojournalist, Corey has photographed a wide array of assignments, including rock climbing in Mexico, surfing in Panama, freight-train hopping in the American West, ultra-marathon racing in the Sahara Desert, and snowboarding in Papua New Guinea.
Additionally, Corey is on the Board of Directors for The Access Fund, he is Vice President of Aurora Photos and has to his credit, the coffee table book, My Favorite Place: Great Athletes In The Great Outdoors. Corey lives in South Lake Tahoe, CA.


text: Amid slowing growth in an increasingly crowded market, Starbucks announced it will close 150 under-performing, company-operated U.S stores in 2019. Historically, the Seattle-based chain has closed about 50 stores per year. The upcoming store closings will occur primarily in urban markets saturated with Starbucks locations. However, Starbucks’ sales are also slowing, as the company expects just 1% growth in same-store sales for the third quarter of 2018—the worst performance in about nine years. One reason is increasing competition from trendy, independent neighborhood coffee shops and artisan roast cafes that offer customers an experience. In addition to the more upscale, independent coffee shops, competition is heating up from lower-priced fast-food chains, including Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s.


text:
We talk with Dr. Tom Marcotte about the use of driving simulators for use in research and clinical practice in neuropsychology. Dr. Marcotte has decades of experience using various simulators in different populations.
A pdf of the transcript for this episode is available here.
Dr. Thomas Marcotte is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and Co-Director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, which has conducted clinical trials of cannabis for over 20 years and has an active, ongoing portfolio exploring the effects of cannabinoids (plant-based, synthetic) in various medical/psychiatric conditions. He is currently the principal investigator on studies addressing the effects that cannabis has on driving performance, both alone and in combination with alcohol, including methods for detecting cannabis-related driving impairment (bodily fluids, standardized field sobriety tests, and tablet-based measures). He is also the principal investigator of an NIH-funded take-home study of cannabis for the treatment of pain, and previously was a co-investigator on cannabis studies addressing pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Dr. Marcotte has served on the editorial boards of Neuropsychology and the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, was co-chair of the Research, Data and Technology subcommitte of the State of California Impaired Driving Task Force, and a member on the California Office on Traffic Safety Impaired Driving Blueprint Roundtable. He is co-editor of the book Neuropsychology of Everyday Functioning, 2nd Edition (Marcotte, Schmitter-Edgecombe & Grant).

domain: medical


text:
Human Papilloma Virus
HPV is the name of a very common group of viruses. They do not cause any problems in most people, but some types can cause genital warts or cancer.
HPV affects the skin. There are more than 100 different types.
How HPV is spread
Many types of HPV affect the mouth, throat or genital area. They're easy to catch and you do not need to have penetrative sex.
You can get HPV from:
- any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area
- vaginal, anal or oral sex
- sharing sex toys
HPV has no symptoms, so you may not know if you have it.
It's very common. Most people will get some type of HPV in their life.
You do not have to have sexual contact with a lot of people to get HPV. You can get HPV the first time you're sexually active.
Conditions linked to HPV
Most of the time HPV does not cause any problems.
In some people, some types of HPV can cause:
- genital warts
- abnormal changes in the cells that can sometimes turn into cancer HPV types linked to cancer are called high-risk types.
Cancers linked to high-risk HPV include:
- cervical cancer
- anal cancer
- cancer of the penis
- vulval cancer
- vaginal cancer
- some types of head and neck cancer
You can have HPV for many years without it causing problems.
You can have it even if you have not been sexually active or had a new partner for many years.
How to protect yourself against HPV
You cannot fully protect yourself against HPV, but there are things that can help.
- Condoms can help protect you against HPV, but they do not cover all the skin around your genitals, so you're not fully protected.
- The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, as well as some other cancers. It does not protect against all types of HPV.
Testing for HPV
HPV testing is part of cervical screening. There's no blood test for HPV.
During cervical screening, a small sample of cells is taken from the cervix and tested for HPV.
Screening is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. It helps protect them against cervical cancer.
Some sexual health clinics may offer anal screening to men with a higher risk of developing anal cancer, such as men who have sex with men.
For local information visit Cervical screening programme
Treating HPV infections
There's no treatment for HPV. Most HPV infections do not cause any problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years.
Isle of Man HPV Vaccination Programme
This is delivered by School Health Team. During the school summer holidays, a letter explaining the vaccination programme will be sent out to all parents or guardians of students aged 12-13 across the Island. This will be accompanied by a consent form and leaflet providing further information about the virus and answers to some frequently asked questions.
It is vital that this consent form is completed and returned in the return envelope provided or directly to
Community Care Directorate,
1st Floor, Crookall House,
Demesne Road, Douglas,
Without your consent your child will be unable to receive the vaccination as scheduled.
Two doses of the vaccine are required for full protection and these are provided in-school during year 8. The first vaccination session will normally be held in in the Autumn term, with the second in the following Spring term. In both cases, the vaccinator gives the vaccination in the upper arm.
If you have any further queries, please contact the HPV Vaccination Team on +44 1624 642602.
Privacy and GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became Isle of Man law in August 2018. No change is required to the way in which parental agreement is obtained. Schools should continue to work with the healthcare teams providing vaccinations in schools, who will provide information resources and parental consent forms.
Manx Care is committed to protecting your privacy and will only process personal confidential data in accordance with Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality and the Human Rights Act 2001.
For more details on how they do this visit the Manx Care Privacy Notice.


State and local health departments across the U.S found out in June they’d be losing the final two years of a $1 billion investment to strengthen the ranks of people who track and try to prevent sexually transmitted diseases — especially the rapid increase of syphilis cases.
The fallout was quick: Nevada, which saw a 44 percentage-point jump in congenital syphilis from 2021 to 2022, was supposed to get more than $10 million to bolster its STD program budget. Instead, the state’s STD prevention budget went down by more than 75%, reducing its capacity to respond to syphilis, according to Dawn Cribb at the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
Several states told The Associated Press that the biggest impact from having the program canceled in the national debt ceiling deal is that they're struggling to expand their disease intervention specialist workforce. These people do contact tracing and outreach, and are a key piece of trying to stop the spread of syphilis, which reached a low point in the U.S. in 2000 but has increased almost every year since. In 2021, there were 176,713 cases — up 31% from the prior year.
“It was devastating, really, because we had worked so hard to shore up our workforce and also implement new activities,” said Sam Burgess, the STD/HIV program director for the Louisiana Department of Health. His state was slated to receive more than $14 million overall, but instead got $8.6 million that must be spent by January 2026. "And we're still scrambling to try to figure out how we can plug some of those funding gaps.”
While men who have sex with men are disproportionately impacted by syphilis, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health officials across the country also point to the increase in pregnant women who are passing syphilis to their babies. It can cause serious health issues for infants, including blindness and bone damage, or lead to stillbirths. In 2021, there were 77.9 cases of congenital syphilis per 100,000 live births.
Disease intervention specialists often link infected mothers and their partners with care for syphilis, which has mild symptoms for adults, like fever and sores. Doing so in a timely manner can prevent congenital syphilis. The specialists also can help pregnant patients find prenatal care.
“When you have a mother who didn’t know (she had syphilis), it can be very emotional trying to explain ... it could have been prevented if we could have caught it before,” said Deneshun Graves, a public health investigator with the Houston Health Department.
Lupita Thornton, a public health investigator manager in the health department, said she is worried about being able to treat pregnant syphilis patients “before 30 days of delivery, for the baby’s sake.”
The Houston Health Department is in the midst of what it calls a “rapid community outreach response” because of syphilis cases increased by 128% among women from 2019 to 2022, and congenital syphilis cases went from 16 in 2019 to 151 in 2021.
Its STD/HIV bureau was set to receive a total of $10.7 million from the federal grant, but will end up with about 75% of that.
The department has used the money to hire disease intervention specialists and epidemiologists — including Graves. But Thornton said she could use “double of everything," and had planned to bring down the caseload for her investigators by hiring even more people.
It would help Graves, who deals with more than 70 cases at a time.
“You got people that don't want to go in and get treatment. You have people that don't want to answer the phone, so you got to continue to call," Graves said.
Mississippi is also seeing an uptick in congenital syphilis cases, which a recently published study showed rose tenfold between 2016 and 2022. Health officials said a combination of funding shortages and poor access to prenatal care compounds their ability to stop the spread of syphilis.
The Mississippi State Department of Health was supposed to get more than $9 million in federal grant money over five years to expand its disease intervention workforce. Agency head Dr. Dan Edney said one of his top priorities now is finding money from other parts of the state's health budget.
He said the state has been “challenged because of limited state funding” and will need to "cannibalize resources from every program we can so that we can increase our diagnostic rates or treatment rates, and then close the loop with our investigations.”
Arizona has the highest rate of congenital syphilis in the nation: 232.3 cases per 100,000 live births. The federal money helped the state Department of Health Services clear out a backlog of several thousands of non-syphilis STD investigations that had been stalled for years, said Rebecca Scranton, the deputy bureau chief of infectious disease and services.
“We were finally at the point where we were able to breathe again,” Scranton said, “and start really kind of tackling it.”
Scranton acknowledges syphilis will take awhile to fully address, and will look to preserve some of the unspent grant money for what lies ahead.
“You don’t know what challenges are going to come. You know they’re going to come, and you just keep getting creative because our job is really to get services to the folks,” she said. “And that doesn’t change just because you get a funding cut.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Kenya Hunter, The Associated Press


text:
Lavender and Old Lace by Myrtle Reed
I. The Light in the Window
A rickety carriage was slowly ascending the hill, and from the place of honour on the back seat, the single passenger surveyed the country with interest and admiration. The driver of that ancient chariot was an awkward young fellow, possibly twenty-five years of age, with sharp knees, large, red hands, high cheek-bones, and abundant hair of a shade verging upon orange. He was not unpleasant to look upon, however, for he had a certain evident honesty, and he was disposed to be friendly to every one.
"Be you comfortable, Miss?" he asked, with apparent solicitude.
"Very comfortable, thank you," was the quiet response. He urged his venerable steeds to a gait of about two mles an hour, then turned sideways.
"Be you goin' to stay long, Miss?"
"All Summer, I think."
The young woman smiled in listless amusement, but Joe took it for conversational encouragement. "City folks is dretful bashful when they's away from home," he said to himself. He clucked again to his unheeding horses, shifted his quid, and was casting about for a new topic when a light broke in upon him.
"I guess, now, that you're Miss Hathaway's niece, what's come to stay in her house while she goes gallivantin' and travellin' in furrin parts, be n't you?"
"I am Miss Hathaway's niece, and I have never been here before. Where does she live?"
He flourished the discarded fish-pole which served as a whip, and pointed out a small white house on the brow of the hill. Reflection brought him the conviction that his remark concerning Miss Hathaway was a social mistake, since his passenger sat very straight, and asked no more questions.
The weary wheels creaked, but the collapse which Miss Thorne momentarily expected was mercifully postponed. Being gifted with imagination, she experienced the emotion of a wreck without bodily harm. As in a photograph, she beheld herself suddenly projected into space, followed by her suit case, felt her new hat wrenched from her head, and saw hopeless gravel stains upon the tailored gown which was the pride of her heart. She thought a sprained ankle would be the inevitable outcome of the fall, but was spared the pain of it, for the inability to realise an actual hurt is the redeeming feature of imagination.
Suddenly there was a snort of terror from one of the horses, and the carriage stopped abruptly. Ruth clutched her suit case and umbrella, instantly prepared for the worst; but Joe reassured her.
"Now don't you go and get skeered, Miss," he said, kindly; "'taint nothin' in the world but a rabbit. Mamie can't never get used to rabbits, someways." He indicated one of the horses--a high, raw-boned animal, sketched on a generous plan, whose ribs and joints protruded, and whose rough white coat had been weather-worn to grey.
"Hush now, Mamie," he said; "'taint nothin'."
"Mamie" looked around inquiringly, with one ear erect and the other at an angle. A cataract partially concealed one eye, but in the other was a world of wickedness and knowledge, modified by a certain lady-like reserve.
"G' long, Mamie!"
Ruth laughed as the horse resumed motion in mincing, maidenly steps. "What's the other one's name?" she asked.
"Him? His name's Alfred. Mamie's his mother."
Miss Thorne endeavoured to conceal her amusement and Joe was pleased because the ice was broken. "I change their names every once in a while," he said, "'cause it makes some variety, but now I've named'em about all the names I know."
The road wound upward in its own lazy fashion, and there were trees at the left, though only one or two shaded the hill itself. As they approached the summit, a girl in a blue gingham dress and a neat white apron came out to meet them.
"Come right in, Miss Thorne," she said, "and I'll explain it to you."
Ruth descended, inwardly vowing that she would ride no more in Joe's carriage, and after giving some directions about her trunk, followed her guide indoors.
The storm-beaten house was certainly entitled to the respect accorded to age. It was substantial, but unpretentious in outline, and had not been painted for a long time. The faded green shutters blended harmoniously with the greyish white background, and the piazza, which was evidently an unhappy afterthought of the architect, had two or three new shingles on its roof.
"You see it's this way, Miss Thorne," the maid began, volubly; "Miss Hathaway, she went earlier than she laid out to, on account of the folks decidin' to take a steamer that sailed beforehand--before the other one, I mean. She went in sech a hurry that she didn't have time to send you word and get an answer, but she's left a letter here for you, for she trusted to your comin'."
Miss Thorne laid her hat and jacket aside and settled herself comfortably in a rocker. The maid returned presently with a letter which Miss Hathaway had sealed with half an ounce of red wax, presumably in a laudable effort to remove temptation from the path of the red-cheeked, wholesome, farmer's daughter who stood near by with her hands on her hips.
"Miss Ruth Thorne," the letter began,
"I am writing this in a hurry, as we are going a week before we expected to. I think you will find everything all right. Hepsey will attend to the house-keeping, for I don't suppose you know much about it, coming from the city. She's a good-hearted girl, but she's set in her ways, and you'll have to kinder give in to her, but any time when you can't, just speak to her sharp and she'll do as you tell her.
"I have left money enough for the expenses until I come back, in a little box on the top shelf of the closet in the front room, under a pile of blankets and comfortables. The key that unlocks it is hung on a nail driven into the back of the old bureau in the attic. I believe Hepsey is honest and reliable, but I don't believe in tempting folks.
"When I get anywhere where I can, I will write and send you my address, and then you can tell me how things are going at home. The catnip is hanging from the rafters in the attic, in case you should want some tea, and the sassafras is in the little drawer in the bureau that's got the key hanging behind it.
"If there's anything else you should want, I reckon Hepsey will know where to find it. Hoping that this will find you enjoying the great blessing of good health, I remain,
"Your Affectionate Aunt,
"P. S. You have to keep a lamp burning every night in the east window of the attic. Be careful that nothing catches afire."
The maid was waiting, in fear and trembling, for she did not know what directions her eccentric mistress might have left.
"Everything is all right, Hepsey," said Miss Thorne, pleasantly, "and I think you and I will get along nicely. Did Miss Hathaway tell you what room I was to have?"
"No'm. She told me you was to make yourself at home. She said you could sleep where you pleased."
"Very well, I will go up and see for myself. I would like my tea at six o'clock." She still held the letter in her hand, greatly to the chagrin of Hepsey, who was interested in everything and had counted upon a peep at it. It was not Miss Hathaway's custom to guard her letters and she was both surprised and disappointed.
As Ruth climbed the narrow stairway, the quiet, old-fashioned house brought balm to her tired soul. It was exquisitely clean, redolent of sweet herbs, and in its atmosphere was a subtle, Puritan restraint.
Have not our houses, mute as they are, their own way of conveying an impression? One may go into a house which has been empty for a long time, and yet feel, instinctively, what sort of people were last sheltered there. The silent walls breathe a message to each visitor, and as the footfalls echo in the bare cheerless rooms, one discovers where Sorrow and Trouble had their abode, and where the light, careless laughter of gay Bohemia lingered until dawn. At night, who has not heard ghostly steps upon the stairs, the soft closing of unseen doors, the tapping on a window, and, perchance, a sigh or the sound of tears? Timid souls may shudder and be afraid, but wiser folk smile, with reminiscent tenderness, when the old house dreams.
As she wandered through the tiny, spotless rooms on the second floor of Miss Hathaway's house, Ruth had a sense of security and peace which she had never known before. There were two front rooms, of equal size, looking to the west, and she chose the one on the left, because of its two south windows. There was but one other room, aside from the small one at the end of the hall, which, as she supposed, was Hepsey's.
One of the closets was empty, but on a shelf in the other was a great pile of bedding. She dragged a chair inside, burrowed under the blankets, and found a small wooden box, the contents clinking softly as she drew it toward her.
Holding it under her arm, she ascended the narrow, spiral stairs which led to the attic. At one end, under the eaves, stood an old mahogany dresser. The casters were gone and she moved it with difficulty, but the slanting sunbeams of late afternoon revealed the key, which hung, as her aunt had written, on a nail driven into the back of it.
She knew, without trying, that it would fit the box, but idly turned the lock. As she opened it, a bit of paper fluttered out, and, picking it up, she read in her aunt's cramped, But distinct hand: "Hepsey gets a dollar and a half every week. Don't you pay her no more."
As the house was set some distance back, the east window in the attic was the only one which commanded a view of the sea. A small table, with its legs sawed off, came exactly to the sill, and here stood a lamp, which was a lamp simply, without adornment, and held about a pint of oil.
She read the letter again and, having mastered its contents, tore it into small pieces, with that urban caution which does not come amiss in the rural districts. She understood that every night of her stay she was to light this lamp with her own hands, but why? The varnish on the table, which had once been glaring, was scratched with innumerable rings, where the rough glass had left its mark. Ruth wondered if she were face to face with a mystery.
The seaward side of the hill was a rocky cliff, and between the vegetable garden at the back of the house and the edge of the precipice were a few stumps, well-nigh covered with moss. From her vantage point, she could see the woods which began at the base of the hill, on the north side, and seemed to end at the sea. On the south, there were a few trees near the cliff, but others near them had been cut down.
Still farther south and below the hill was a grassy plain, through which a glistening river wound slowly to the ocean. Willows grew along its margin, tipped with silvery green, and with masses of purple twilight tangled in the bare branches below.
Ruth opened the window and drew a long breath. Her senses had been dulled by the years in the city, but childhood, hidden though not forgotten, came back as if by magic, with that first scent of sea and Spring.
As yet, she had not fully realised how grateful she was for this little time away from her desk and typewriter. The managing editor had promised her the same position, whenever she chose to go back, and there was a little hoard in the savings-bank, which she would not need to touch, owing to the kindness of this eccentric aunt, whom she had never seen.
The large room was a typical attic, with its spinning-wheel and discarded furniture--colonial mahogany that would make many a city matron envious, and for which its owner cared little or nothing. There were chests of drawers, two or three battered trunks, a cedar chest, and countless boxes, of various sizes. Bunches of sweet herbs hung from the rafters, but there were no cobwebs, because of Miss Hathaway's perfect housekeeping.
Ruth regretted the cobwebs and decided not to interfere, should the tiny spinners take advantage of Aunt Jane's absence. She found an old chair which was unsteady on its rockers but not yet depraved enough to betray one's confidence. Moving it to the window, she sat down and looked out at the sea, where the slow boom of the surf came softly from the shore, mingled with the liquid melody of returning breakers.
The first grey of twilight had come upon the world before she thought of going downstairs. A match-safe hung upon the window casing, newly filled, and, mindful of her trust, she lighted the lamp and closed the window. Then a sudden scream from the floor below startled her.
"Miss Thorne! Miss Thorne!" cried a shrill voice. "Come here! Quick!"
White as a sheet, Ruth flew downstairs and met Hepsey in the hall. "What on earth is the matter!" she gasped.
"Joe's come with your trunk," responded that volcanic young woman, amiably; "where'd you want it put?"
"In the south front room," she answered, still frightened, but glad nothing more serious had happened. "You mustn't scream like that."
"Supper's ready," resumed Hepsey, nonchalantly, and Ruth followed her down to the little dining-room.
As she ate, she plied the maid with questions. "Does Miss Hathaway light that lamp in the attic every night?"
"Yes'm. She cleans it and fills it herself, and she puts it out every morning. She don't never let me touch it."
"Why does she keep it there?"
"D' know. She d' know, neither."
"Why, Hepsey, what do you mean? Why does she do it if she doesn't know why she does it?"
"D'know.'Cause she wants to, I reckon."
"She's been gone a week, hasn't she?"
"No'm. Only six days. It'll be a week to-morrer."
Hepsey's remarks were short and jerky, as a rule, and had a certain explosive force.
"Hasn't the lamp been lighted since she went away?"
"Yes'm. I was to do it till you come, and after you got here I was to ask you every night if you'd forgot it."
Ruth smiled because Aunt Jane's old-fashioned exactness lingered in her wake. "Now see here, Hepsey," she began kindly, "I don't know and you don't know, but I'd like to have you tell me what you think about it."
"I d' know, as you say, mum, but I think--" here she lowered her voice--" I think it has something to do with Miss Ainslie."
"Who is Miss Ainslie?"
"She's a peculiar woman, Miss Ainslie is," the girl explained, smoothing her apron, "and she lives down the road a piece, in the valley as, you may say. She don't never go nowheres, Miss Ainslie don't, but folks goes to see her. She's got a funny house--I've been inside of it sometimes when I've been down on errands for Miss Hathaway. She ain't got no figgered wall paper, nor no lace curtains, and she ain't got no rag carpets neither. Her floors is all kinder funny, and she's got heathen things spread down onto'em. Her house is full of heathen things, and sometimes she wears'em."
"Wears what, Hepsey? The'heathen things' in the house?"
"No'm. Other heathen things she's got put away somewheres. She's got money, I guess, but she's got furniture in her parlour that's just like what Miss Hathaway's got set away in the attic. We wouldn't use them kind of things, nohow," she added complacently.
"Does she live all alone?"
"Yes'm. Joe, he does her errands and other folks stops in sometimes, but Miss Ainslie ain't left her front yard for I d' know how long. Some says she's cracked, but she's the best housekeeper round here, and if she hears of anybody that's sick or in trouble, she allers sends'em things. She ain't never been up here, but Miss Hathaway, she goes down there sometimes, and she'n Miss Ainslie swaps cookin' quite regler. I have to go down there with a plate of somethin' Miss Hathaway's made, and Miss Ainslie allers says: 'Wait just a moment, please, Hepsey, I would like to send Miss Hathaway a jar of my preserves.'"
She relapsed unconsciously into imitation of Miss Ainslie's speech. In the few words, softened, and betraying a quaint stateliness, Ruth caught a glimpse of an old-fashioned gentlewoman, reserved and yet gracious.
She folded her napkin, saying: "You make the best biscuits I ever tasted, Hepsey." The girl smiled, but made no reply.
"What makes you think Miss Ainslie has anything to do with the light?" she inquired after a little.
"'Cause there wasn't no light in that winder when I first come--leastways, not as I know of--and after I'd been here a week or so, Miss Hathaway, she come back from there one day looking kinder strange. She didn't say much; but the next mornin' she goes down to town and buys that lamp, and she saws off them table legs herself. Every night since, that light's been a-goin', and she puts it out herself every mornin' before she comes downstairs."
"Perhaps she and Miss Ainslie had been talking of shipwreck, and she thought she would have a little lighthouse of her own," Miss Thorne suggested, when the silence became oppressive.
"P'raps so," rejoined Hepsey. She had become stolid again.
Ruth pushed her chair back and stood at the dining-room window a moment, looking out into the yard. The valley was in shadow, but the last light still lingered on the hill. "What's that, Hepsey?" she asked.
"That--where the evergreen is coming up out of the ground, in the shape of a square."
"That's the cat's grave, mum. She died jest afore Miss Hathaway went away, and she planted the evergreen."
"I thought something was lacking," said Ruth, half to herself.
"Do you want a kitten, Miss Thorne?" inquired Hepsey, eagerly. "I reckon I can get you one--Maltese or white, just as you like."
"No, thank you, Hepsey; I don't believe I'll import any pets."
"Jest as you say, mum. It's sorter lonesome, though, with no cat; and Miss Hathaway said she didn't want no more."
Speculating upon the departed cat's superior charms, that made substitution seem like sacrilege to Miss Hathaway, Ruth sat down for a time in the old-fashioned parlour, where the shabby haircloth furniture was ornamented with "tidies" to the last degree. There was a marble-topped centre table in the room, and a basket of wax flowers under a glass case, Mrs. Hemans's poems, another book, called The Lady's Garland, and the family Bible were carefully arranged upon it.
A hair wreath, also sheltered by glass, hung on the wall near another collection of wax flowers suitably framed. There were various portraits of people whom Miss Thorne did not know, though she was a near relative of their owner, and two tall, white china vases, decorated with gilt, flanked the mantel-shelf. The carpet, which was once of the speaking variety, had faded to the listening point. Coarse lace curtains hung from brass rings on wooden poles, and red cotton lambrequins were festooned at the top.
Hepsey came in to light the lamp that hung by chains over the table, but Miss Thorne rose, saying: "You needn't mind, Hepsey, as I am going upstairs."
"Want me to help you unpack? she asked, doubtless wishing for a view of "city clothes."
"No, thank you."
"I put a pitcher of water in your room, Miss Thorne. Is there anything else you would like?"
"Nothing more, thank you."
She still lingered, irresolute, shifting from one foot to the other. "Miss Thorne--" she began hesitatingly.
"Be you--be you a lady detective?" Ruth's clear laughter rang out on the evening air. "Why, no, you foolish girl; I'm a newspaper woman, and I've earned a rest--that's all. You mustn't read books with yellow covers."
Hepsey withdrew, muttering vague apologies, and Ruth found her at the head of the stairs when she went up to her room. "How long have you been with Miss Hathaway?" she asked.
"Five years come next June."
"Good night, Hepsey."
"Good night, Miss Thorne."
From sheer force of habit, Ruth locked her door. Her trunk was not a large one, and it did not take her long to put her simple wardrobe into the capacious closet and the dresser drawers. As she moved the empty trunk into the closet, she remembered the box of money that she had left in the attic, and went up to get it. When she returned she heard Hepsey's door close softly.
"Silly child," she said to herself. I might just as well ask her if she isn't a'lady detective.' They'll laugh about that in the office when I go back."
She sat down, rocking contentedly, for it was April, and she would not have to go back until Aunt Jane came home, probably about the first of October. She checked off the free, health-giving months on her tired fingers, that would know the blue pencil and the typewriter no more until Autumn, when she would be strong again and the quivering nerves quite steady.
She blessed the legacy which had fallen into Jane Hathaway's lap and led her, at fifty-five, to join a "personally conducted" party to the Old World. Ruth had always had a dim yearning for foreign travel, but just now she felt no latent injustice, such as had often rankled in her soul when her friends went and she remained at home.
Thinking she heard Hepsey in the hall, and not caring to arouse further suspicion, she put out her light and sat by the window, with the shutters wide open.
Far down the hill, where the road became level again, and on the left as she looked toward the village, was the white house, surrounded by a garden and a hedge, which she supposed was Miss Ainslie's. A timid chirp came from the grass, and the faint, sweet smell of growing things floated in through the open window at the other end of the room.
A train from the city sounded a warning whistle as it approached the station, and then a light shone on the grass in front of Miss Ainslie's house. It was a little gleam, evidently from a candle.
"So she's keeping a lighthouse, too," thought Ruth. The train pulled out of the station and half an hour afterward the light disappeared.
She meditated upon the general subject of illumination while she got ready for bed, but as soon as her head touched the pillow she lost consciousness and knew no more until the morning light crept into her room.

domain: library


According to Platts.com, Israel Petrochemical Enterprises Ltd. (IPE) is selling a 45% stake in its Avgol Ltd. subsidiary to private equity company Ethemba for $106.8 million.
Parties have reportedly agreed to an additional $16 million payment dependent on 2013 results. Following the sale IPE will control 21% and the remainder is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Platts says.
Avgol is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of nonwoven fabrics.
“IPE, which owns a minority stake in Oil Refineries Ltd, decided on the sale in order to ease its $500 million debt burden to bondholders and local banks,” Platts reports.


text: My all-time favorite dessert as a child was a banana pudding (or ice cream) that my great-grandmother made and put in metal ice trays to freeze. It had bananas mixed in it. I have looked for something similar for years but haven’t been able to find it. I think the Junket was banana flavored, but I’m not sure. This would have been about 1950, and my grandmother died a few years later. I would love to be able to make it now!


text:
Playing the sakura game will be more exciting if players are more creative in creating certain locations with unique decorations and properties. Now, players can also get it directly via props id.
There are lots of unique and cool shared id props out there. Including airports, mansions or mock locations that actually exist in the real world.
How to enter it, open the game that has been installed on the smartphone. Then, select the menu item and navigate to props. Select search by props id. copy the id props and paste it. Select the apply button and OK.
- Performance improvements - Minor bug fixes

domain: game


Quality is delighting customers
An organization can also use performance testing as a diagnostic aid to locate computing or communications bottlenecks within a system. Bottlenecks are a single point or component within a system's overall function that hold back overall performance. For example, even the fastest computer will function poorly on today's web if the bandwidth is less than 1 megabit per second (Mbps). Slow data transfer rates might be inherent in hardware, but can also result from software-related problems, such as too many applications running at the same time or a corrupted file in a web browser.
Performance testing can help identify the nature or location of a software-related performance problem by highlighting where an application might fail or lag.
Performance testing can also verify that a system meets the specifications claimed by its manufacturer or vendor. The process can be used to compare two or more devices or programs.
As per software testing services Performance testing is a type of a non-functional testing which is performed to determine how the software applications will perform under their expected workload and under overload conditions.
- It is performed to ensure responsiveness and stability under various workloads.
- The main objective of Performance Testing is to eliminate performance bottlenecks.
Below are most common tools used for performing Performance testing:
2. HP LoadRunner
3. LoadView Testing


text:
I didn’t do a piece of art for day 5. When I watched the video on Monday I felt it was much of the same as previous ones, ie an encouragement to play with paint etc and go with the flow of our intuition whilst reflecting on the discoveries of the previous days…. or something like that. I’m writing this on Wednesday.
However, what I did do surprised me. I used my art from the week as a way of illustrating my sermon on Sunday morning at one of my churches 9the 10.30am service). I had planned to simply do the vicar’s report/address for the annual meeting which was to follow on from the service. However, as I read a couple of things on the way home on Saturday afternoon in the car whilst having a mild panic about the fact that I may have to preach at the 9am service, I started to make connections between the art and our spiritual lives. Anyway, I was relieved to find that I was not preaching at 9am.
When I got up early enough to pray and think about what I might say at the 10.30am service I was increasingly sure that the vicar’s report would not do. I felt I should preach using the art as an example of how God guides us. I took the pieces I’d done during the week into church and held them up for people to see. However, when I looked at the video of the sermon I realised that those watching on line couldn’t see them. So I decided to edit the film and create a video of just the sermon with the images of the artwork full frame for people to see. I enjoyed the creative process and it didn’t take up too much time.
If you want to see it, here it is: https://youtu.be/GCHNaBCvQb0
Here’s the creative art produced during the week of breadcrumbs challenge:
A quick glance down my inbox of emails showed a reply from one of the publishers I’d approached for my book. I didn’t look at it before worship on Sunday and I convinced myself it was another rejection. However when I did get around to being brave enough to read it I was delighted to see it was an offer for my to consider them publishing with me contributing towards the cost of publishing. They would still market the book etc. After consulting with my hubby I decided to ask them to send me the figures and contract for consideration. I had begun to think that the book would never be published and perhaps I was foolish to even consider it. Perhaps God thinks otherwise. We will see. I will continue to do all I can to delight myself in the Lord.
I have started to prepare for next Sunday’s sermon for All Saints Day. Preaching on Revelation chapter 7 – a scene of countless people worshipping the Lamb upon the throne, washed in the blood of the lamb with rivers of living water….. Oh and there are angels and living creatures mentioned too. I have started a picture – whether it gets finished or shared……. watch this space!


Hey everyone I am a Rural Mail Carrier and recently purchased a 99 Ranger to run my mail route on. This is the first car Ive bought with my own money and I’m rather fond of it. The first time I ran it on the route I noticed the AC would stop working completely before the route was done. It takes me about 7 hours to run the whole route. At first the AC will cut off for a couple of min. and then cut back in, but the intervals between coming back on will lengthen as the day wears on until the cold air never comes back. I live in Alabama and our summers are absolute hell, AC is not an option but a necessity. I have had a mechanic I trust and have used for years who used to be the head mechanic at a Ford dealership before going out on his own look at it several times and he cannot figure it out. He as replaced the radiator fan clutch, messed around with the electronics making sure there are no bad connections, and changed a switch I believe as well. He claims the compressor is fine as it runs cool air when I drive normally not on the route. Nothing has worked, and the hotter the weather is outside the faster the AC goes out. Someone please help me out before I die delivering advertisements!
The problem might be with the expansion valve at the evaporator. The expansion valve is what controls the refrigerant pressure into the evaporator so it’s converted from a liquid back into a gas. When driving down the road and the compressor is rotating faster it opens more. When driving slowly or when idling and the compressor rotates slower, the expansion valve closes slightly. If the expansion valve fails to close slightly when driving slowly or when idling when the compressor is rotating slower, the refrigerant pressure at the evaporator falls off and the AC stops cooling.
+1 to Tester’s comments.
It sounds like you need an automotive AC specialist.
Carry a quart spray bottle filled with water and the next time the problem occurs spray the condenser down thoroughly while the engine is running and the AC is switched on. If the AC quickly comes back to life the system may be getting too hot. If so, an auxiliary fan on the condenser would probably get the system cooling again.
Strange question to ask here, does the fan speed inside the cab of the truck sound and feel like it is blowing the same amount of air when the temp drops back? If it is falling off maybe the evaporator inside the dash is actually freezing over? That is a long shot though. Our 93 Ranger looses fan dash speed under moderate acceleration, I am thinking vacuum leak on ours. Maybe from the 93 to the 99 more of the dash controls are covered with vacuum control and could be causing some issues. Extended idle and low throttle angle should be the best condition for vacuum leaks to be masked but you never know with vacuum leaks.
Where at in Al, I’m there also.


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Crew Crash Out of Playoffs as Rapids Move on to Face Sporting KC
COMMERCE CITY, CO - October 27, 2011 - The Colorado Rapids earned a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew on Thursday night, and will host Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the home-and-home Conference Semifinal series this Sunday, October 30 at 5:30 p.m. MT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. An Omar Cummings goal just before halftime was the difference in the match as the Rapids continue their quest to repeat as MLS Cup Champions.
The Rapids now turn their focus to defeating Sporting KC, which finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 13-9-12 record. The Crew face another uncertain offseason where players will likely be lost in the Expansion Draft and new young talent will be added through the SuperDraft.
Chicago Fire Clip Columbus Crew 3-2 in Season Finale
CHICAGO, IL - October 22, 2011 - The Chicago Fire (9-9-16, 43 points) used a first half brace from rookie Jalil Anibaba before two Crew goals inside six minutes set the scene and Diego Chaves’ dramatic 80th minute winner catapulted the Fire to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew in the Fire’s finale Saturday night at Toyota Park.
The Fire closed out the season strong, winning seven of their last 10 matches, and remain unbeaten against the Crew in their last seven visits to Toyota Park, going 3-0-4 since 2007. Looking to finish the 2011 campaign strong, the Fire put their stamp on the match, winning multiple dead-ball opportunities close to the Crew goal. The home side broke through in the 11th minute off a cleared corner kick when a deflected shot from winger Patrick Nyarko fell to the feet of Pavel Pardo. The Mexican international sent a looping ball back into the penalty area, finding the head of Jalil Anibaba who glanced his header past William Hesmer to record his first career MLS goal. The Fire rookie tallied a dream brace on the half-hour mark as a similar sequence saw Cory Gibbs send in a driven cross to the top of the Fire penalty area where the first-year defender tucked a looping header over Hesmer and inside the back post to give the Fire a 2-0 lead in the 30th minute.
The Crew nearly pulled one back four minutes later as defender Josh Gardner collected the ball on the left before whipping in a cross to the near post for Andres Mendoza but the Peruvian striker’s headed effort went just wide of Johnson’s goal, taking the Fire into the half up 2-0. After the break, the visitors continued their attempts to cut into the Fire lead and came close in the 67th minute as a seemingly deliberate buildup eventually saw midfielder Dilly Duka fire a swerving blast from outside the penalty area. The effort caught Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson on the wrong foot, but the athletic keeper recovered to make a kick save to keep the lead intact.
Columbus finally broke through six minutes later when Eddie Gaven connected with Emilio Renteria. Driving down the right, the bearded midfielder whipped in a low ball that the Venezuelan met with a half-bicycle kick, smashing his effort past Johnson in the 73rd minute. Playing with more confidence after the first goal, Columbus equalized six minutes later as substitute striker Jeff Cunningham sent in a hopeful cross that found Anibaba. The Fire defender misplayed his clearance and the ball fell to Duka who finished past Johnson from close range to knot the score at 2-2 in the 79th minute.
The deadlock lasted only a minute as the Fire caught the visitors pushing for the winner. Guatemalan international Marco Pappa collected the ball at midfield before hitting a perfect ball into the path of the speedy Dominic Oduro. The fleet Ghanaian drove into the penalty area, hitting a low effort that Hesmer did well to save but for the second straight week, Diego Chaves was there to finish the opportunity in the 80th minute, giving the Fire a 3-2 victory to close out the season.
Crew Race into the Playoffs
FOXBOROUGH, MA - October 15, 2011 - Andres Mendoza scored a pair of goals – sandwiched around the first career tally for Dilly Duka – as the Columbus Crew rolled to a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
The Crew (13-12-8, 47 pts.) clinched a spot in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs with the victory, while the Revs (5-16-12, 27 pts.) suffered their fifth straight loss in what was their home finale. Mendoza scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 31st minute to give the visitors a halftime lead, while a Duka goal and a second strike from Mendoza added to the Crew’s advantage in the second half.
Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth earned his second straight start between the pipes with Matt Reis still nursing a right hamstring strain, while Franco Coria replaced Ryan Cochrane in central defense to mark the only change from the Revolution lineup which suffered a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend. Both sides created a series of half chances in the early stages, but the Crew came closest to opening the scoring in the 27th minute. Mendoza used a clever pullback to create space for himself in the box before firing just wide of the left post with a quickly-executed toe poke. Mendoza found more success four minutes later, making the breakthrough in the 31st minute to give the Crew a 1-0 lead. Emilio Renteria rose to flick a long pass into the path of Mendoza, who eluded the challenge of Darrius Barnes before blasting a left-footed drive past the right hand of Shuttleworth.
The Revs responded well and almost equalized immediately, but Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer did well to react quickly and kick away Milton Caraglio’s deflected long-range effort. Columbus doubled its advantage to 2-0 in the 59th minute when Duka notched his first career goal. Duka corralled a half clearance 25 yards out before dribbling into the left side of the box and finishing low back across the face of goal and inside the right post.
It took just four more minutes for the Crew to extend its lead to 3-0 as Mendoza grabbed his second goal in the 63rd minute. Sebastian Miranda began the scoring sequence with a long pass down the right wing for Renteria, who delivered a cross to Mendoza at the back post. Mendoza made no mistake with his first-time effort, blasting a left-footed shot into the near upper corner. New England responded by making a pair of substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on forwards Rajko Lekic and Zack Schilawski in place of Monsef Zerka and Caraglio, but the Revolution’s best chance – an 85th-minute free kick from Chris Tierney – was easily saved by Hesmer.
The Revs will close out the 2011 season next weekend when they travel north of the border for an Eastern Conference clash with Toronto FC on Saturday, Oct. 22. An afternoon kickoff from BMO Field is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.
Gaven Saves the Day and Perhaps the Season
COLUMBUS, OH - October 2, 2011 - Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven returned to the Columbus lineup after an eight game absence to lead the Crew to a critical 2-1 win over D.C. United Sunday afternoon at Crew Stadium.
United took an early1-0 lead, but second half goals on an own goal and a incredible diving header by Gaven gave the Crew their first win since a 2-1 decision over Philadelphia (Aug 20). Columbus were determined to get off their winless slide (one point in six matches) as they came out and pressed for the first goal.
“We were pushing for the goal early, but it just did not happen,” Crew Head Coach Robert Warzycha said. “It’s important to score when you have the momentum.”
Although the Crew had the early momentum, it was a free kick in the 37th minute that put them behind. United defender Daniel Woolard got on the end of a Dwayne De Rosario free kick and was unmarked as he knocked in the first goal.
United would hold on to the goal and went into the break leading 1-0.
“We came in at the half and challenged guys,” Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer said. “If you want to be a championship team, now’s the time, there’s no more time to mess around.”
As exciting as Woolard’s tally in the first was, he was definitely not happy with his second goal of the day. After Andres Mendoza possessed the ball in the box for the Crew, the ball pinballed around the box, eventually falling to Woolard’s foot, which bounced backwards and into United’s net. The own goal tied the game up after just two minutes of soccer after the break.
“I knew that some way or somehow we were going to find the game winner,” Gaven said after the game.
After missing the last eight games with a leg injury, Gaven knocked home the Crew’s game winner with half an hour to play. Chilean defender Sebastian Miranda put a cross into the box from the right side. Gaven overran the cross, but put his head to the ball and scored on the diving header.
“I was going to use my foot, but I dove at the ball, closed my eyes, and prayed for the best,” Gaven continued.
Gaven’s fifth goal of the year gave Crew fans a breath of fresh air as Columbus defended well in the last half an hour, along with some great goalkeeping by Hesmer to preserve the much needed three points.
“This is definetely a big win for us,” Gaven added.
The Crew now are 12-12-8, while United fall to 9-10-11.
The much needed three points balloon the Crew into a tie with the Philadelphia for second place in the Conference, but just a point ahead of the Houston Dynamo. The Crew end their season on the road with matches in New England and Chicago.


text:
This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 46; the forty-sixth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.
Every morning, every sunrise,
With new chores we rise,
like a phoenix reborn from ashes, alive
Amidst the desire to survive.
Everyday is a hard fought battle,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle.
Life might be an empty dream,
goals might not be the same as them seem.
Never give up, never give in,
For, we gotta wrangle to win.
A thousand winds might blow,
But, after the hurricane comes a rainbow.
Just like this, the page will turn again,
Through the clouds and rain
Sorrow and darkness would dwindle away,
Happiness and joy shall never go gray.
--> Sulaiman Sait
The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

domain: literature


text:
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domain: entertainment


text:
|Dress | Heels|
I decided to let the dress be the focal point and not busy-up the look by adding too many prints. So, I kept it really simple and added a pair of nude heels and gold hoop earrings. I really love how the look came together and can't wait to wear this look out!
Shop this look here!

domain: design


Could the myth of “passive income” be damaging your health – or at least your psychological well-being – as Daniel Priestley, author of Become a Key Person of Influence, proposed in a talk recently?
He argued that the notion of “passive income” was founded on the idea of making money by doing something one didn’t want to actually do, when in reality, money is more often made by doing what you’re truly passionate about.
It was interesting to hear this the day after experiencing TEDx Observer, a day of truly passionate speakers with “ideas worth sharing”. Speakers who were intent on changing the world for the better, each in a different, specific way: charity workers, bloggers, academics, entrepreneurs, artists, people with “causes”. Speakers who were not necessarily doing what they love so much as doing what they felt was important. More on this another day.
But Dan’s point was also interesting in the context of James Geary’s new book about the role of metaphor in thought, I is an Other.
Among many other interesting ideas, James draws attention to the metaphors we use for money markets. He says: “Psychologist Michael W Morris and collaborators studied a slew of financial commentaries and identified two primary market metaphors.
“What they call “agent metaphors” describe price movements as the deliberate action of a living thing, as in “the NASDAQ climbed higher” or “the Dow fought its way upward”. In contrast, “object metaphors” describe price movements as non-living things subject to external forces, as in “the NASDQ dropped off a cliff” or “the Dow fell like a brick.” The researchers found that “agent metaphors tend to be evoked by uptrends whereas object metaphors tend to be evoked by downtrends.””
James goes on to explore the effect of these metaphors on the behaviour of traders: all fascinating stuff.
Because, of course, the metaphors in our language influence the way we think. You don’t need to disappear into a morass of Sapir-Whorf (or more memorably, Sapir-Wolf, “if you talk like a Klingon, you think like a Klingon”) for that to be pretty self-evident.
So what happens when we think and talk about “passive income”? It’s a slightly odd phrase, because what it’s meant to mean is that the recipient of the income is passive. But what it actually says is that the income is passive.
In other words, the income is an agent, which could presumably go clambering up the cliffs of the markets, feeling the sea breezes and taking the occasional risk. But instead it chooses the life of a couch potato, putting on weight but not gaining fitness.
In this metaphor we’re comparing income, inevitably, to a human agent. So if you believe that it’s a good thing for humans to live passively, then you’ll be comfortable with the idea of “passive income”.
Personally, I’d rather my money was working for me, rather than being “fattened up”: surely it will make it more resilient to the inevitable twists and turns of financial fate?
So I’m with Dan on this one: I agree that the myth of “passive income” could indeed be damaging your financial, psychological and even physical health! What do you reckon? Please comment below.


Southwest Airlines Co.’s agreement to acquire AirTran Holdings Inc. will bring together companies whose retirement assets total $5.17 billion, all in defined contribution plans.
Southwest, Dallas, plans to acquire the holding company, which includes AirTran Airways Inc., Orlando, Fla., for $1.4 billion in a combination of cash and stock, pending approval of AirTran stockowners and regulators, according to a Southwest statement Monday.
Each company will keep its plans separate through 2011 as required under existing labor agreements, said Christopher White, spokesman for AirTran. Any merger of the plans wouldn’t take place until at least 2012, he added.
Executives from both companies will work on the integration and any combination of the plans once the acquisition is completed, Mr. White said. No time frame has been set on a decision regarding combination, he added.
Southwest had a $3.48 billion 401(k) plan and a $1.58 billion pilots 401(k) plan as of Sept. 30, 2009, according to Pensions & Investments estimates. The company contributed a total of $203 million to its plans in 2009 and $243 million in 2008, according to its 10-K filing.
AirTran’s 401(k) plan has $111 million in assets, according to BrightScope, a 401(k) plan rating service. AirTran contributed $1.4 million to the plan in both 2008 and 2009, according to the company’s 10-K filing.
Mr. White said plan asset totals and investment managers were not immediately available.
Paul Flaningan, Southwest spokesman, said he couldn’t immediately respond with information.


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domain: economics


text:
Horsetail P.E. (plant extract)
Botanical Source: Equisetum arvense
Available:Silica, By HPLC 7%
Horsetail is very rich in silicic acid and silicates, which provide approximately 2-3% elemental silicon. Potassium, aluminum, and manganese along with fifteen different types of bioflavonoids are also found in the herb. The presence of these bioflavonoids are believed to cause the diuretic action, while the silicon content is said to exert a connective tissue-strengthening and anti-arthritic action.
Some experts have suggested that the element silicon is a vital component for bone and cartilage formations This would indicate that horsetail may be beneficial in preventing osteoporosis.
Anecdotal reports suggest that horsetail may be of some use in the treatment of brittle nails.
The constituents are:
Alkaloids, including nicotine, palustrine and palustrinine
Flavonoids such as isoquercitrin and equicetrin
Sterols including cholesterol, isofucosterol, campesterol.
Misc: a saponin equisitonin, dimethylsulphone, thiaminase & aconitic acid.
Since it was recommended by the Roman physician Galen, several cultures have employed horsetail as a folk remedy for kidney and bladder troubles, arthritis, bleeding ulcers, and tuberculosis.
Additionally, the topical use of horsetail is said to stop the bleeding of wounds and promote rapid healing. The use of this herb as an abrasive cleanser to scour pots or shave wood illustrates the origin of horsetail's common names-scouring rush and shave grass.
Astringent, diuretic, vulnerary, diaphoretic
Horsetail is useful for:
• Brittle nails
• Rheumatoid arthriti
• Water retention
Horsetail absorbs gold dissolved in water better than most plants, as much as 4 ounces per ton of fresh stalks. Small amounts of gold is found useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and the Chinese used horsetail for this disease.
Horsetail contains a weak diuretic chemical lending support to its traditional use as a urinary stimulant.
Horsetail is also useful for water retention.
Horsetail is an excellent astringent for the genito-urinary system, reducing hemorrhage and healing wounds thanks to the high silica content. It acts as a mild diuretic. It is also invaluable in the treatment of incontinence and bed wetting in children. It is considered a specific in cases of inflammation or benign enlargement of the prostate gland. Externally it is a vulnerary. In some cases it has been found to ease the pain of rheumatism and stimulate the healing of chilblains.
Horsetail is often combined with Hydrangea in the treatment of prostate troubles.
Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine uses horsetail for such ailments as bloodshot eyes and conjunctivitis. Because it is rich in trace minerals, it is excellent as a semi-regular tonic.
Our products (Shaanxi Yongyuan Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.)
Cranberry Extract 25% (Vaccinium Macrocarpon);
Soy Isoflavones 40% (Glycine max);
Saw palmetto 25% 45% (Serenoa repens);
Garlic Extract (Allicin 1%, 2%)(Allium sativum);
Echinacea Purpurea extract 4%;
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract 24%/6%;
Milk thistle extract 80%/30%(Silybum marianum);
St. John's wort extract 0.3% (Hypericum perforatum);
Panax ginseng extract 80%;
Black cohosh extract 2.5% (Actaea racemosa);
Green tea extract 98% (Camellia ainensis);
Evening primrose extract 30% (Oenothem biennis);
Valerian extract 10:1 (Valeriana officinalia);
Horny Goat Weed Extract 10% 20% (Epimedium spp.);
Bilberry extract 25% (Vaccinium myrtillus);
Elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra);
Grape seed extract 95% (Vitis vinifera);
Ginger extract 5%(Zingiber officinale);
Aloe extract 10:1 Aloin 20%(Aloe vera);
Horse chestnut seed extract 20% (Aesculus hippocastanum);
Flaxseed extract 20% 40% (Linum usitatissimum);
Acai Berry Extract 4:1 (Euterpe Oleracea);
Curcuma Longa Extract 95%;
Stevia extract 95% (Stevia rebaudiana);
Goldenseal extract 4:1 (Hydrastis canadensis);
Chlorophytum arundinaceum extract;
White Kidney Bean extract 1%(Phaseolus vulgaris L.);
Cassia Nomame Extract 8%;
Cnidium monnieri extract 70-98%;
Honokiol, Magnolol, 90-98% (Magnolia officinalis.L.);
Spine Date Seed extract 2%( Ziziphus jujuba);
Piperine 95% 98% (Piper nigrum L);
Wolfberry extract 40% (Lycium barbarum L.);
Astragalus extract 40% (Astragalus Membranaceus);
Schisandra Chinensis Extract Schisandrins 9% ;
White Willow Bark extract 25% 50% 98% (Salix alba);
Hawthorne Berry extract 5-90% (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge);
Tribulus terrestris extract 40% 90%;
Trans-Resveratrol 98% (Polygonum cuspidatumSieb.Et Zucc.);
Siberian ginseng extract (Eleutherocus senticosus);
Kaempferol 98% (Rhizoma Kaempferiae);
Sea Buckthorn Berry Extract 30%(Hippophae rhamnoides L.);
Chinese Angelica extract 10:1 1%(Angelica Sinensis(Oliv.)Diels);
Yohimbine hydrochloride 98%
Lappaconitine HPLC 96%
Lappaconitine Hydrobromide HPLC 96%
Esculin HPLC 98%
Oxymatrine HPLC 98%
Contact Name: Linda
Company Name: Shaanxi Yongyuan Biotech Co., Ltd.
Street Address: No.69, Jinye Road,
Hi-tech Zone, Xian 710077, China
Member name: lindayy
Member Since: 08 September 2010
Total Leads: 131 lindayy Import Export Business Leads
Business focus: Herbal Extract
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Product Category: Spices or extracts

domain: biology