NEW CASTLE —
•Accident. Officers said a motorcycle ridden by Kimberly A. Darges, 49, of Bethel Park, went down on McConnell’s Mill Road at the intersection of Mount Hope Furnace Road at 1 p.m. Saturday. Another motorcycle ridden by Bridgett A. Burns, 42, of Pittsburgh, also went down as she trying to avoid Darges’ disabled bike. Police said both women reported moderate injuries and were taken to Allegheny General Hospital.
•Accident. Police said Gary L. Hutchinson, 42, of Enon Valley, was driving west on Haggerty Road in Little Beaver Township around 9 p.m. Thursday when his car was sideswiped by an unidentified car that crossed the center line of the highway and didn’t stop. No injuries were reported. The left rear tire on Hutchinson’s vehicle went flat.
•Accident. Mary J. Schwarz, 46, of New Castle, was driving east on Interstate 376 about 7:35 a.m. on Nov. 11 when she hit a deer, police said. She sustained minor injury. Her car was disabled and the deer died.
•Accident. Police said a pickup truck driven by Krystal M. Rocco, 25, of New Castle, left the road, struck a fence rolled over and hit several mailboxes after she failed to negotiate a curve on Edinburg Road in North Beaver Township around 10 p.m. Sept. 5. No injuries were reported. Police said Rocco was cited for DUI, careless driving and traffic violations.
•Burglary. Jewelry and other items were reported stolen from a Meyer Avenue house between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday.
MELISSA A. AMODIE
•Sarah Marie Wrzesinki, 25, of New Castle, charged by the New Castle Area School District with compulsory school attendance violation.
New Castle police charged the following:
•Wendy Quear, 32, of New Castle, simple assault and harassment.
•Brian K. Arrow, 44, of New Castle, simple assault and harassment.
•Michael J. Rubin III, 53, of New Castle, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and similar misconduct.
•Anthony D’Ambrosia, 23, of New Castle, impersonating a public servant, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
•Jason Edward Lambright, 23, of New Castle, two counts of defiant trespass.
•William Carter Knight, 28, of New Castle, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and harassment.
•Richard Kohlmetz, 46, of New Castle, public drunkenness and similar misconduct.
•Joseph Michael Brown, 56, of New Castle, public drunkenness and similar misconduct.
•Ana Martinez, 57, of New Castle, disorderly house.
•Guy Lieske, 53, of New Castle, disorderly house.
JERRY G. CARTWRIGHT
•Leon Platt, 26, of Rochester, Pa., charged by Ellwood City police with possession of firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license and recklessly endangering another person.
•William J. Cunningham, 36, of New Castle, charged by state police with harassment.
•Jesse Demond Harris, 33, of New Castle, charged by New Castle police with obstructing the administration of law or other government function and giving false identification to a law officer.
•Terrence D. McCaster, 22, of New Castle, charged by Union Township police with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
State police charged the following:
•Krystal Marie Rocco, 25, of New Castle, two counts of driving under the influence and one count each of driving an unregistered vehicle, disregarding traffic lane, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and failure to use safety belt.
DAVID B. RISHEL
•Wanda Arlene Lockley, 60, of New Castle, charged by Hickory Township police with retail theft and defiant trespass.
Shenango Township police charged the following:
•Andrea Jo Atwell, 35, of New Castle, retail theft and defiant trespass.
•Charles A. Puz, 48, of New Castle, two counts of driving under the influence.
•Leslie L. Wawryznski, 48, of New Castle, two counts of driving under the influence.
•Scott A. Sloan, 40, of New Castle, two counts of driving under the influence.
NEW CASTLE —
- Police Reports
Jeep flips onto roof in Falls Street accident
A Pulaski woman was injured when her car collided with a van and flipped onto its roof, trapping her inside. The accident occurred around 11:15 a.m. Thursday on Falls Street at the intersection of Lowry Street.
Felon arrested for drugs on Halco Drive
Narcotics investigators found cocaine and marijuana while serving a sealed search warrant on Halco Drive Thursday. They also confiscated oxycodone pills and a loaded .38-caliber pistol.
Chimney fire damages home
A chimney fire caused damage to a North Beaver Township home this week. The North Beaver Township Volunteer Fire Department was called to the home of Joe Procopio at 325 Reed Road.
Man jailed for assault facing drug charges
A man jailed Wednesday in connection with an alleged burglary and assault is now facing drug charges, too. New Castle police said that when they arrested Glenn David Samuels III, 22, of 304 E. Lutton St., at his home just before noon Wednesday, they found him to be in possession of about 8 grams of heroin and 3 grams of crack cocaine, all broken down into individual packages for sale.
Man charged after hitting Capitol Grille
An East Side man is facing charges after a December accident when his truck allegedly hit the Capitol Grille building. On Wednesday, New Castle police charged George A. Stevens, 58, of Apt. 412, 814 W. Washington St., in connection with the accident that occurred around 1:50 p.m. Dec. 31.
Police arrest woman wanted in Florida
An East Side woman whose car was stopped by New Castle police is wanted on felony charges in Florida. New Castle police have charged Vivian Lynn King, 54, of 1819 E. Washington St., as a fugitive from justice.
McGrath Manor raid leads to man’s arrest
One person was charged following a drug raid at New Castle’s McGrath Manor. Daymond Waller, 20, of 814 W. Washington St. was charged after the raid by New Castle police and the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force Wednesday morning.
Man charged with break-in
A New Castle man is facing 15 charges stemming from a break-in on the city’s West Side. Glenn David Samuels, 22, was charged with burglary, aggravated and simple assault, criminal trespass, prohibited possession of a firearm, robbery, carrying a concealed firearm without a license, endangering the welfare of children, theft, receiving stolen property, terrroristic threats, recklessly endangering another, defiant trespassing, criminal mischief and harassment.
Sex offender jailed on escape charge
A Neshannock Township man was jailed on $100,000 bond after being charged with escape Wednesday. David Wayne Talbert, 19, of 259 Cathcart Drive was arrested after he allegedly cut off the electronic monitoring device he had been wearing as he awaited sentencing on sex charges.
‘Person of interest’ interviewed in fatality
Police have a lead in a deadly hit-and-run accident last week. According to Shenango Township police, officers have interviewed someone they described as a “person of interest.” The name of that person was not released.
- More Police Reports Headlines
- Jeep flips onto roof in Falls Street accident


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Kolkata: The first Advance Estimate (AE) of GDP for FY22 has indicated GDP growth at 9.2 per cent and GVA growth at 8.6 per cent.
According to a research report on Sunday from State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department, authored by Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, SBI, ” Nominal GDP growth is whopping at 17.6 per cent.
Notably, this is the second-highest nominal growth achieved with 19.9 per cent nominal growth registered in 2010-11 and 17.1 per cent growth in 2006-07. “
” The data indicates that the overall GDP growth is 1 per cent above of the pre-pandemic level (FY20). Almost all sectors except ‘trade, hotels, transport, communication & services related to broadcasting’ (which are still 8 per cent below the pre-pandemic level) reached the pre-pandemic level (on constant prices), ” Ghosh said.
” On the expenditure side, private final consumption expenditure is still 3 per cent below the pre-pandemic level. Taking into account the revised GDP figures of today, even if we consider the additional spending announced by the Government in early Dec’21 fiscal deficit of the Government still comes at Rs 15.88 lakh crore or 6.8 per cent of the GDP. For FY23, the fiscal consolidation should remain limited to 30-40 bps from the current fiscal, ” Ghosh added.
” Cases have been rising significantly in India as well as across the globe. However, studies so far reveal that the current Omicron variant is less severe than the Delta variant. Data also substantiates this fact. While the number of new cases increased from 1.3 crore in Oct’21 to almost double to 2.5 crore in Dec’21 the number of deaths remained constant (just 2200 more deaths occurred in Dec as compared to Oct). “
” Even SBI business activity index is at its all-time high of 114.6 for the week ended 3 Jan’21, indicating that economic activity is not getting affected by the sudden bout of infections. The index has been above the pre-Covid level since mid-Jul’21 barring some minor exceptions, ” he stated.
” Going forward, we believe even if the rising infections could impact mobility, yet economic activity is not expected to get affected much. We believe that NSO’s estimate is on the conservative side, as the calculated GDP growth for H2 FY22 for construction comes at –0.9 per cent and for Financing, insurance, real estate & bus. Services is at a mere 2.0 per cent for H2 FY22 ” Ghosh said.
” We still believe that real GDP will grow at around 9.5% in FY22, ” he added.
Meanwhile, this estimate, however, has a shelf-life of only two months and is only used as an input for budget arithmetic.
The NSO will release the first revised estimate of FY19, FY20 and FY21 on 31 Jan’21 and we believe that for FY22 the figures would be revised again in Feb’21 and May’21.

domain: finance


1600 CC, N/A, nearly all stock, Bosch 009 distributor, new carb, timing set per specs, mixture adjusted per specs... idles smoothly, however it loses power when accelerating...sometimes. Tends to bog down at low RPM, basically making it impossible to drive at 5-10mph. If i apply throttle with no load on the engine (in neutral) and hold it constant, the RPMs after a few moments, will tend to decline without any change in throttle position and the engine begins to run rough. If i do not make any further correction with the throttle, the engine dies. But if i let off the throttle, it goes back to idle and is quite happy there.
I have pulled off the oil bath air cleaner, and peered into the carb barrel as i pull the throttle, and can clearly see a nice smooth stream of fuel being injected down the barrel so i dont suspect the accel pump. I'm pretty sure i've got all the vacuum lines either blocked off or attached correctly.
Im not sure if im missing something obvious, or if i just need to spend some extra time fiddling with the timing/mixture settings. Any suggestions or insights are much appreciated, thanks.


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Why QueBIT for Life Sciences
Driving Profitable Growth & Strategic Value in Fast-Moving Life Sciences Businesses
Advancements in research technology, new scientific breakthroughs, and introduction of new products has transformed the Life Sciences industry. The industry is steadily transitioning from research-oriented companies to commercial entities. This transformation increases pressure on management to provide investors with strategies to improve business performance.
QueBIT and our client partners have established a roadmap for the alignment of operations with planning, budgeting, and reporting. Track and allocate costs, calculate KPIs and performance metrics, and collaborate on future plans with ease. We have helped our Life Sciences customers with:
- Gross to Net reporting and calculations for historical periods and forward looking plans
- Clinical Trials financial management and reporting
- R&D financial management, including allocations and forecasts
- Workforce Planning across business units and globally
- Inventory Planning as part of the full S&OP cycle is critical to delivering for patients
Accountability becomes a reality to help Life Science businesses to adapt. See how Arthrex meet customers' needs in a changing world through the power of Predictive Modeling.
xP&A for Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical development process is complex and calls for significant investment in financial and human capital. xP&A encompasses both the goal of increasing efficiency while reducing bias through integrated planning, as well as the means of achieving the goal.
- Significant increases to efficiency - Analysis across a diverse portfolio of pre-commercial drug programs to make fast and reliable decisions.
- Streamlined global planning process - Streamlined ability to allocate expenditures activities at each level of the organization while streamlining the budgeting process. With a single source of truth, analysts and managers alike can focus on the achievement of departmental and organizational goals ahead.
- Increased collaboration and accountability - Empowered the ability to customize the user planning experience via security without sacrificing reporting.
Predictive Demand Planning & Forecasting for Medical Devices
Many factors can impact sales of your products beyond traditional seasonality, including production capacity, market conditions, COVID, pricing, and many more. How do you react to changing conditions? Is your demand plan detailed enough to answer your stakeholders’ questions?
QueBIT’s unique approach demand planning and forecasting gives your business the flexibility to react to the modern business and the accuracy to make decisions that help achieve your financial goals.
- Exceptional Detail: We build our forecasting model at the lowest level, often at the product by geography level. This low level makes use of all available data so that users can make the best decisions.
- Highly Accurate: Distinct models are built at each level so the best algorithm for each product combination can be modeled separately for higher accuracy. Automatic outlier detection helps clean and smooth your data.
- Explainable: Forecast outputs are paired with metadata about the seasonality, error, and model selected so that users can a high degree of confidence in the system’s predictions.
- Flexible: Our robust user interface not only shows the system forecast but allows for adjustments, overrides, and approvals. We can adjust the system to your business rules, not the other way around.


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Bridging the gap between the first film and the second, STAR TREK the Video Game will launch before In Darkness hits theaters. Now, as we get closer to release, Namco Bandai have announced some pre-order incentives.
Film-licensed games have an extremely poor reputation, but from all the previews we’ve seen, STAR TREK The Videogame looks absolutely fantastic. Supporting co-operative play with Kirk and Spock, players must combine their talents to solve puzzles and outwit enemies to progress a brand new story, written by BAFTA award winner, Marianne Krawczyk.
Surely anticipation for the game couldn’t be any higher? Well, with its April 26th release date fast approaching, NAMCO BANDAI have today announced that all pre-orders of the game will gain access to the ‘Elite Officer Pack’
- Stealth Pack – Kirk and Spock stealth uniforms, plus Starfleet Type IV Stealth Sniper Rifle and extra ammo
- Brawler Pack – Kirk leather jacket costume and Spock Vulcan Science Academy costume
- Kelvin Pack – Kirk and Spock U.S.S. Kelvin uniforms, plus U.S.S. Kelvin Hand Phaser
- Academy Pack – Kirk Academy Uniform, Spock Officer Dress Uniform, plus Academy Phaser
- Kobayashi Maru Pack – Kirk and Spock Kobayashi Maru uniforms
We wish this one would beam into our consoles sooner rather than later.
(Source: Namco Bandai)
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domain: entertainment


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[Check Against Delivery]
President of the European Commission
Remarks by President Barroso following the 'Smart regulation in the EU' conference
Brussels, 14 October 2014
Today the European Commission organised a very impressive high-level conference to take stock of what we have achieved in making EU law lighter, simpler and less costly during the two mandates I had as Commission President. It was to some extent, also a bilan in terms of this area.
Today is also the moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Edmund Stoiber. He and his High-Level Group on Administrative Burdens have been of great support in making smart regulation a reality in the European Union. Their final report presented today shows to which extent their work has been a success. It also contributes to the debate on our smart regulation policies.
Let me start with a more general remark: EU rules are not wrong or burdensome by definition as some tend to believe. On the contrary: when some people think that ideas like "one in - one out" would be a great achievement, we often do "one in - 28 out". This is something we have to explain: very often, a single European regulation replaces 28 different regulations, namely in the single market. It's extremely important and it should be appreciated. This in itself, provided a new European regulation adds real value, can facilitate lives for citizens and business. And what is it that adds real value? Well, first and foremost those measures which are geared to create growth and jobs in Europe, through a functioning single market and through a competitive, sustainable and inclusive economy.
As I said many times before: Not everything that is good has to be done at European level. There are issues that can dealt also at national and regional - or even local - level. This is the principle of subsidiarity. We only need European Union action on issues that can be better tackled together than at national, regional or local level. "Being big on big things, and being smaller on small things", as I said some time ago in the State of the Union address, has been our motto.
I believe we have focussed on the right priorities. We see a more integrated, a more open and stronger European Union than back in 2004 when I started off as Commission President.
Why can I say that? Because in fact we were able to keep Europe united, responding to the biggest crisis ever we faced since the beginning of the European integration. But we haven't only kept Europe united. If you look at 2004, we were 15, now we are 28 countries. We almost doubled the European Union membership in the midst of all these crises and we have done it remaining open to the world, promoting global solutions like we have done in the G20. And also because of our reforms, the governance reforms, namely in the euro area, and the reforms that are going on in our member states, I believe now Europe is stronger because it is better prepared to face the challenges of globalisation. This is why it's important to look at the big picture and to see the trends, and not only this or that event.
But what have we achieved concretely? The figures speak for themselves:
1.Firstly, we have exceeded the 25% reduction target for administrative burdens in thirteen policy areas. The initiatives proposed by the Commission since 2007, by the way often inspired by the Stoiber Group, and adopted by Council and Parliament amount to an estimated reduction of around 33.4 billion euros of savings per year for business. This is an impressive result.
2.Secondly, the Commission applies the 'think small first' principle, considering the impact of legislation on Small and Medium-sized enterprises. And micro-companies are often exempt from EU legislation unless overriding public policy objectives so demand. It's important to know this. Big companies, transnational companies always have the means to deal with complex legislation and regulation. They have the best lawyers. But for a small company in Europe, for a micro-company - by the way, those are really creating jobs in Europe - the complex legislation that we produce in Europe is sometimes a very big burden.
3.Thirdly, the Commission's REFIT programme for Regulatory Fitness and Performance has become the focal point of all our smart regulation efforts since 2012. About 200 individual actions are being implemented. Under REFIT we simplify EU law, we repeal existing legislation that is no longer necessary and we withdraw proposals that do not find agreement in Parliament or Council. We also evaluate entire policy areas in order to identify further opportunities for simplification and burden reduction. This is taking place without putting into doubt the EU's policy objectives in areas like the environment or health. Overall, since 2005, the Commission repealed over 6100 legal acts and withdrew almost 300 proposals. A yearly scoreboard identifies the progress made.
4.Finally, in preparing its proposals, the Commission has ensured that smart regulation principles are followed and our tools improved. Stakeholder consultations, impact assessments and evaluations are carried out systematically and contribute to evidence-based policy making. Over 680 impact assessments have been produced since 2007. And I can assure you that the Commission's impact assessments are independent.
To conclude: Making EU law lighter, simpler and less costly has become a Leitmotiv of the Commission and the positive results are clear for everybody. The new Commission can build on very solid ground to move the smart regulation agenda further. And I'm confident they will do it.
By the way, if you compare the debate ten years ago and now, the difference is very important. When we proposed the better regulation agenda, it met very strong opposition in many quarters of Europe. Today, I can say, in the last European Parliament elections, with the exception of the extreme right and the extreme left parties, all the other political forces, from the central left to the central right, were very strongly in favour of better regulation. That was not the case ten years ago. So some kind of cultural matters have been also changing in Europe. The idea that we are not more European just because we produce more legislation, that we have to look at the quality of legislation. I think from that point of view the situation is completely different now than it was before.
This is a very delicate issue and we always have to find the right balance. It's a mistake to be against all legislation of Europe - and sometimes some people present themselves as very much in favour of this agenda but they in fact are putting in question the European Union acquis and that's a mistake. But it's also a mistake to think that you are more European just because you produce more legislation. So the issue is the quality of legislation. Smart regulation, this is the important point, based on the principle of subsidiarity.
And this is why I believe we have now the conditions to move forward in the agenda. Once again, thank you Dr Stoiber, dear Edmund, for your contribution, that is going now to be discussed by the European institutions - the Commission, the Parliament and the Council. One thing is clear for me: it's not only Brussels that can determine these issues. If we want to keep the support of the European citizens, if we want to be sure about the legitimacy of our project, we have to listen to people's concerns and we have to be sure that this agenda of better regulation is really owned, not only by Brussels but by the Commission, the European Parliament, the Council, and by our Member States.
I thank you for your attention.

domain: news


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Spellbound in Samoa
First impressions can be powerful, inspirational and pure magic. None more so for me than the first dreamy images seen through the open windows of our taxi van, as we headed to Aggie Grey’s hotel in downtown Apia. In the wee small hours of a steamy still night, we sped past pacific blue fales, and down deserted shadowy streets shrouded in darkness. On beyond hedgerows of hibiscus flowers – flashes of colour under solitary street lights. Past luminescent churches looming out of the blackness, and beneath groves of leaning coconut palms reaching out for the restless reef. With mixed feelings of excitement and a little intrepidation, we had raced on towards our unknown destination.
The exotic beauty of this legendary land and surrounding seascapes, coupled with the charismatic charm of the Pacific Island people, have captured travelers hearts and imaginations since ancient times. When I visited Samoa for the first time ten years ago, I went simply for a good time with friends to relax lagoon side. Little did I know then that this place would caste a spell on me that would draw me back time and again, and ignite an interest in painting.
We stayed on the stunning island of Savaii – the larger and more traditional of the two main islands. Down at the bustling market alive with a heady mix of aromas, laughter and colour, we feasted on freshly baked pork buns, bananas in coconut cream and chop suey. All washed down with a welcome bottle of Vailima beer.
Our beach fales nestled on the whitest of white sand, beneath towering hibiscus trees with blooms the colour of the fiery orange sunsets. Fluttering like a swarm of butterflies to the ground, they magically transformed to become ruby red. When I stepped out of my hut on the first morning in the soft half light of dawn, the balmy air was fragrant with the intoxicating scent of frangipani. A carpet of scarlet hibiscus lay scattered at my feet.
From that moment on I became entranced by the larger than life plants that seemed to grow bolder and brighter in the overnight rains. I was by no means the first to have become captivated by the bounty of botanical beauties that are an integral part of everyday life in Samoa. Back in 1916 traveler and literary great W Somerset Maugham commented in his notebook of Savaii
‘ After the rain when the sun is shining and you walk through the bush, it is like a hot-house, seething,humid,sultry,breathless and you have a feeling that everything about you, trees,shrubs,climbing plants is growing with an impetuous violence’.
Beneath broad leaved breadfruit trees we sipped Pina coladas served by a massive mini skirted Fa’afafine (man with the manner of a woman) wearing a tight purple tank top and a yellow hibiscus in her hair. With gleaming toffee coloured thighs the size of whopping tree trunks, ‘Juanita’ flirted and fussed over us, as the setting sun slipped seductively into the depths of the Pacific Ocean. We were later to learn of her pig hunting prowess on the bush clad volcanic slopes behind the village, and her raunchy moves as a dancer at the Tropicana night club in downtown Apia. “She is world famous in Samoa” a grinning local told us.
My fascination for all things tropical subsequently morphed into something of an obsession which inspired me to paint canvas’s depicting the islands larger than life tropical beauties. I became literally spellbound with the delicate smoldering scarlet hibiscus flower and could think of little else. Every waking moment was consumed by thoughts of their alluring shape and sensuous form. Printed on lava-lava, on traditional tapa cloth, and growing rampantly in a kaleidoscope of colour around the island. I shopped till I dropped at the Salelologa markets, purchasing one lava- lava for each day of the week, along with woven grass bags, shirts for my boys back home, and tablecloths. Each one skillfully crafted by local villagers and featuring the hallowed hibiscus in various designs. So frenzied and out of control had my shopping expedition been, I felt like a woman possessed. Sadly my three sons did not share my passion for vivid floral. The stunning shirts I purchased for them in the heat of the moment were not received with the enthusiasm they deserved. They remain tucked away in the back of their wardrobes for any ‘island’ nights.
It was a habit of mine to walk every morning and I continued this in the small village we were staying in. Many villagers wore a hibiscus flower tucked behind their ear. I was to learn later that this signaled the availability of the wearer to any would be suitor. Innocently I had picked a newly unfurled red bloom from a bush by the bus stop and placed it my blond hair. A passing tropical shower had sprinkled diamond like raindrops over the petals and they sparkled irresistibly in the sun.
Every day I would discover something knew about traditional village life. The men setting off in their outrigger canoes to fish the deep beyond the reef, and throwing nets in the mysterious moon-lit lagoon. Chattering children and laughing women at the freshwater pools, scrubbing piles of washing on black volcanic rocks. Machete wielding villagers working in the taro and banana plantations. Clucking chickens, barking dogs and pigs destined for the umu wallowing at the water’s edge - blissfully unaware of their inevitable fate. There are definitely no mod cons in this part of the world. Most locals on Savaii continue to live a communal, subsistence way of life, steeped in the traditions of their ancestors.
It was on one of my solitary sojourns that a woman had waved out to me to join her for breakfast, as was the local custom. She plied me with dark sweet freshly ground cocoa ladled from a large pot over an open fire, and delicious Samoan porridge.
“You know many of us are watching you walk about our village and we see that you like to wear the Aute in your hair like us. But you must not wear the red one because it is the favorite flower of three spirit women that roam our islands. They will get very angry and jealous because they think you are trying to be more beautiful than they are. The ghosts will put a curse on you and you can get a terrible sickness. This has happened to many many people” she whispered.
The sinister overtone of the legendary hibiscus story stayed on my mind, feeding my overactive imagination. In my naivety I had not fully realized the spiritual and cultural significance of my actions and the story shared with me. Within days of my return home I came down with a dose of the flu. Coincidence? – maybe – or the island spirits warning me should I return and meddle in things I knew little about. But the three spirit women and I do have one thing in common. Our shared passion for the red Aute. Simply on that level alone, I think we are in fact kindred spirits.

domain: geography


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As we previously blogged, “agricultural employees” are excluded from coverage under the federal National Labor Relations Act, which governs unionization. The National Labor Relations Board’s Division of Advice (which determines which cases to prosecute) has now weighed in for the first time as to what this means for cannabis grow workers. In an opinion just released, the Division of Advice found that workers in an indoor greenhouse are excluded from the NLRA’s coverage because they “substantially engage in the primary agricultural functions of harvesting,… More
Monthly Archives: January 2021
The Cannabis Control Commission has filled its last vacant seat, ending a prolonged stretch without a full roster of Commissioners. Filling the void left by Commissioner McBride’s resignation late last year, Governor Baker, Treasurer Goldberg and Attorney General Healey recently appointed Ava Callender Concepcion as the Commission’s newest member. A Dorchester native and graduate of New England Law School, Concepcion joins the Commission from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office where she most recently served as Director of Governmental Affairs and External Partnership. … More
For the first time in nearly a decade all three branches of the Federal Government are controlled by Democrats. The Democratic Party has a plethora of agenda items it is looking to enact within this unified government. One of those policy issues is the federal legalization of cannabis.
House Democrats recently passed the MORE Act, which would federally legalize cannabis. The House leadership intends to re-introduce the MORE Act and pass it in short order.… More
Unlike states like South Dakota and New Jersey, who are experiencing stumbling blocks with respect to the implementation of their voter backed adult-use cannabis referendums, Arizona has already hit the ground running. By way of background, Arizona’s Proposition 207 was passed by 60% of voters, and broadly legalized the possession and use of marijuana for adults aged 21 years and older,… More
Though the final results of the 2020 presidential race took a few days to become clear, it was obvious by the morning of November 4 that cannabis legalization had run the table: from deep red Montana, South Dakota, and Mississippi, to purple Arizona, and blue New Jersey, voters overwhelmingly favored state ballot initiatives to legalize adult use and medical cannabis. The same Election Day, California voters approved an aggressive expansion of the California Consumer Protection Act (the “CCPA”) (already among the strictest state privacy laws) into the California Privacy Rights Act,… More


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It’s hard to deny by now that basket bags are indeed one of the most popular bag trends in the fashion industry today. These chic and versatile bags aren’t just a summer fad; they are classic and absolutely stunning. Basket bags can be worn in any season and on any occasion, and that’s just one of the reasons why a lot of fashionistas totally adore them.
And of course, Hollywood celebrities and fashion icons have also joined the hype of the basket bags. Plenty of these ‘best-dressed personalities’ were seen flaunting a basket bag on different occasions. Kirsten Dunst, for example, wore her chic wicker bag during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival.
Today, we’ve made a list of some of the hottest celebrities and fashion icons who were spotted toting their very own basket bags. See how versatile and function these basket bags are:
Vanessa Hudgens is a Boho goddess. She loves experimenting with her look, and she’s not afraid to try new things. Vanessa also loves sporting her basket bag collection. She has been spotted numerous times going out with a basket bag.
Another famous person who got caught in the basket bag wave is Alexa Chung. The well-known fashion designer is not shy to show the whole world that she loves the trend as she has been seen using different kinds of basket bags.
The famous Legally Blonde star can’t seem to have enough basket bags. She’s been spotted multiple times using beautiful basket bags. As a matter of fact, Reese Witherspoon has even released her own straw tote bag from her company, Draper James.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister is also a fan of wicker bags. Back in May 2018 during the French Open, she was even photographed wearing a cute crossbody wicker bag. FYI, she also brought a straw bag during her honeymoon in Australia!
Olivia Palermo is a fashion icon with millions of followers on Instagram. And apart from being always on point with her outfit, this best dressed New Yorker also shares a love for the basket bag trend.
Supermodel Jessica Hart has also been swept with the basket bag trend. Whether it’s a formal occasion or just a casual day, she has been spotted wearing a cute wicker bag.
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Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do To Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Updated October 2015
Workshop Overview § Welcome and Introductions (10 minutes) § Presentation (25 -30 minutes) § It’s Your Turn (15 minutes) § Wrap Up and Evaluation (10 minutes)
Today’s Goals § Learn about prescription (Rx) drug abuse. § Dispel common myths. § Reinforce your position as a role model. § Provide tips for communicating with teens. § Empower you to take an active role to reduce Rx abuse.
What is Rx drug abuse? § The misuse of Rx drugs is an under-recognized health issue that puts young lives at risk. § Misuse includes: § Rx drugs serve an important purpose when used under a healthcare professional’s supervision. § Misuse can lead to overdose, addiction and death.
The Problem § Six percent of 12 th graders report using narcotic drugs, among the most dangerous of prescription medications. § Fourteen percent of 12 th graders report using one or more of these prescription drugs: narcotics, sedatives, tranquillizers, and/or amphetamines. § Three percent of high school students report taking a prescription drug without a prescription. § Teens today perceive fewer risks associated with misusing or abusing prescription stimulants than did their peers in 2009.
Dangers of Abusing Rx Drugs § Increases in blood pressure or heart rate § Damage to the brain and other organs § Accidental overdose/poisonings § Physical dependence § Addiction § Breathing problems § Seizures § Death § Risks associated with mixing multiple drugs or combining with alcohol
Teens & Rx Drug Abuse § Teens engage in a variety of risk-taking behaviors § Period of uncertainty and self-discovery § Experimentation sometimes seen as a rite of passage § Teen brain is not yet fully developed § Poor judgment and insight and lack of impulse control § Rx drugs are now part of teen culture § Popularity of “pharming” and “bowling” parties
Why Are Teens Abusing Rx Drugs? § They’re easy to get § Thrill seeking § Friends are doing it § Escape problems or self-medicate § Lack of self-esteem § Seen as safer alternative with fewer side effects § Less stigma associated with Rx drugs § Parents less likely to disapprove
Why Are Teens Abusing Rx Drugs? § They’re looking for help. § Feeling good or getting a “high” is not as big a motivator as with street drugs.
Other Factors Driving Trend: Accessibility § Rx medicines can be found in homes of family or friends. § Many parents aren’t aware of the dangers. § Many parents do not know how to effectively talk with their children about Rx drug abuse.
Other Factors Driving Trend: Invincibility § Teens mistakenly believe: § It’s safer to abuse Rx drugs than illicit drugs, even if they’re not prescribed by a doctor. § Rx drugs have fewer side effects and are not as addictive. § It’s okay to share these drugs.
Other Factors Driving Trend: Pill-Taking Society § Rx medications are all around us…and teens notice. § Patients leave the doctor’s office with a prescription in hand in 7 out of 10 visits. § Direct-to-consumer advertising on TV and in magazines. § Many people don’t know how to safely use these medications or ignore their doctor’s instructions.
Source of Prescription Druga Among Those Who Used in Last Year Grade 12, 2007 -2014 (Entries are percentages. )
Teens Rx Drugs of Choice for Abuse How they work Abused by teens to Drug names Strong Pain Relievers Used to relieve moderate -to-severe pain, these medications block pain signals to the brain To get high, increase feelings of well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure Vicodin, Oxy. Contin, Percocet, Lortab, Actiq, Darvon, codeine, morphine, methadone Stimulants Primarily used to treat ADHD type symptoms, these speed up brain activity causing increased alertness, attention, and energy that comes with elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate and breathing Feel alert, focused and Adderall, Dexedrine full of energy—perhaps Ritalin, Concerta around final exams or to manage coursework, lose weight Sedatives or tranquilizers Used to slow down or “depress” the functions of the brain and central nervous system Feel calm, reduce stress, sleep Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Ambien, Lunesta, Mebaral, Nembutal, Soma
Physical Warning Signs § Excessive sweating, urination or thirst § Nausea and vomiting § Uncontrollable diarrhea § Spastic shaking § Drowsiness, dizziness and insomnia § Loss of consciousness § Physical dependence § Addiction § Hospitalization
Behavioral Warnings Signs § Sudden mood changes, including irritability, negative attitude, personality change. § Extreme changes in groups of friends or hangout locations. § Lying or being deceitful, unaccounted time away from home/missed school days, avoiding eye contact. § Losing interest in personal appearance, extracurricular activities or sports. § Poor performance at school. § Borrowing money or having extra cash. § Visiting and even purchasing from pro-drug abuse (illegal) web sites.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW… DOING YOUR PART…
Who Can Make a Difference? § Parents § Grandparents, aunts/uncles, other family members § Teachers § Coaches § School administrators § Guidance counselors § School nurses § School resource officers § Community-based healthcare professionals
Parents, grandparents and others § Many teens report that their parents have the greatest influence on their drug use attitudes and decisions. § Kids who continue to learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50% less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about these dangers. § Parents (and other family members) are in the best position to reduce access to prescription drugs by locking up medicines and properly disposing of expired or unused medicines.
Educators: teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, advisors and others § Students spend at least 7 hours/day at school-often more time than they spend with parents. § For many students, school may be the one place they can find a supportive adult to talk to. § Educators or counselors may see behavior changes and intervene before parents do.
Healthcare providers § Are well positioned to assess emotional and physical development of teenage patients, as well as their adjustment to life changes and stressors. § Can talk to teens about drug-taking behaviors, especially with those who show signs of being at risk for misusing or abusing drugs. § Have the skills and training needed to identify Rx drug abuse and help teens and their parents recognize any problems early on.
Talking to Teens Works
Talking to Teens About Rx Drug Abuse Brief screening/intervention § A conversation in the hallway, in the car or on the field can make a difference. Empathize with teens § Validate common stressors facing teens (pressure to excel academically, fit in with peers, find their place in the world). § Provide healthy alternatives for coping (exercise, playing sports, drug-free social activities).
Talking to Teens About Rx Drug Abuse “Denormalize” the behavior § Most teens are not abusing prescription drugs. Debunk common myths § Misuse and abuse of prescription medications is as dangerous as misuse and abuse of other substances and can be as addictive. § It’s not okay to misuse these drugs, even “once and a while. ” If you are a parent § Be mindful about how you use and talk about medicines in front of teens.
Talking to Teens About Rx Drug Abuse § Give teens an escape route § Teach them how to get out of a bad situation. § Suggest a response they can use so they don’t feel “uncool. ” § “I don’t want to ruin my season/get in trouble with the coach. ” § “I have to do something with my parents really early tomorrow morning. ” § “I’m the designated driver. ” § “I’m not interested. ” § “No, thanks. ”
Challenges to Reaching Teens § Rebellious side—they want to experience life and do new things § Peer pressure—they may be swayed by others § Poor judgment—they think they are invincible, “nothing can hurt me” § Competition for their attention—smartphones, social networking sites, pop culture that normalizes drug use, surfing Internet, access to pro-drug abuse information
IT’S YOUR TURN
Ways to Help § Teens learn by example § When they see mom, dad, a sibling or grandparent taking a pill—even if responsibly—it doesn’t seem so bad. § Most people don’t keep track of their medications § Monitor all medications in the home—prescription and OTC medicines. § Safely store medicines out of children’s reach and sight. Consider locking them up. § Get rid of old or unused medicines.
Make an Ongoing Difference § Pass it On – give this workshop to other teen influencers. § Partner with local community and religious organizations. § Team up with the school's guidance department or resource officer. § Contact your local PTA to see how you can help. Offer to speak at their next meeting. § Plan a town hall meeting to inform your community about the problem.
Make an Ongoing Difference § Find out whethere are teen-driven initiatives locally. § Lend your voice and time to a local coalition working on these issues. § Enlist a local pediatrician, pharmacist, nurse or other healthcare provider to help deliver message. § Share and tap into existing resources. § Engage your local news media to increase awareness.
Make an Ongoing Difference
Resources Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America www. cadca. org National Council on Patient Information and Education www. talkaboutrx. org National Institute on Drug Abuse www. nida. nih. gov Partnership for Drug-Free Kids www. drugfree. org Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration www. samhsa. gov Team Against Opioid Abuse Team. Against. Opioid. Abuse. org
WRAP UP & QUESTIONS
References § Johnston, L. D. , O'Malley, P. M. , Miech, R. A. , Bachman, J. G. , & Schulenberg, J. E. (2015). Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2014. Ann Arbor, Mich. : Institute for Social Research, the University of Michigan. § Hing E, Cherry DK, Woodwell DA. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2004 Summary. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, No. 374. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; June 23, 2006. § National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. (2002). National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VII: Teens, Parents and Siblings. New York: Author. § Office on National Drug Control Policy, “Prescription for Danger: A report on the troubling trend of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse among the nation’s teens, ” January 2008.
References § Partnership for a Drug Free America. Partnership Attitude Tracking Survey (PATS) 2006 and 2007. § Partnership for a Drug Free America. Not in My House § Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006 and 2008. § SAMHSA “Monitoring the Future, ” 2008. § Twombly EC, Holtz KD. (2008). “Teens and the Misuse of Prescription Drugs: Evidence-Based Recommendations to Curb a Growing Societal Problem. ” Journal of Primary Prevention, 29(6): 503 -516.
THANK YOU FOR COMING! T H I S P R O G R A M I S M A D E P O S S I B L E , I N P A R T , B Y EDUCATIONAL GRANTS FROM PURDUE PHARMA L. P. , A N D THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHAIN DRUG STORES FOUNDATION.

domain: psychology


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domain: economics


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INDIANA (WOWO): Low gas prices and Labor Day is the perfect recipe for busy roadways.
AAA says 55 percent of all Americans will hit the highways for the final weekend of summer. The Indiana Department of Transportation is even pausing the majority of construction projects to help with traffic.
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text: California Killing Jobs At Record Rate Emmanuel May 26, 2017 Economy 3 THIS IS HOW THE REPUBLIC WAS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A COLLECTION OF STATES, EACH WITH ITS OWN LAWS AND GOVERNMENTS, ONLY TEAMING UP WHEN NEEDED FOR A COMMON DEFENSE. CALIFORNIA WILL SOON COLLAPSE UNDER IT’S OWN WEIGHT … AND STUPIDITY CT| Food and drink giant Nestle is about to take a “Nestea plunge” of a different sort — namely, moving its operations from liberal California all the way to business-friendly Virginia. According to an op-ed in Investors Business Daily, Nestle USA will be moving its headquarters from the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale to Rosslyn, a Virginia city just outside Washington, D.C. It will be taking 1,200 jobs with it. IBD writer Terry Jones pointed out that “(a)s many companies have found, California is an awful place to do business.” “The $26-billion-a-year food conglomerate is discreet, of course, about its reasons, citing a desire to be closer to its core customers and other bland corporate pabulum,” Jones wrote. “But the fact is, Nestle and its corporate brethren in California that actually make things are overtaxed and overregulated, and elected officials treat them not as honored members of the community but as rapacious pirates.” Jones also pointed out that California had already lost some Nestle jobs when the company moved the production of its “Hot Pockets” brand from California to Kentucky after it couldn’t get the permits the company needed to expand. It wasn’t just the taxes and regulations, though. Jones pointed out that “California’s wacky laws have turned the Golden State into a venue of choice for activist groups to file costly class action lawsuits — or to launch anti-corporate PR campaigns against big, wealthy targets like Nestle. “In recent years, Nestle has faced two such activist-led actions, both spurious: One involves allegations that Nestle improperly documented its anti-slave-labor policies. Not that it employed slave labor, it just didn’t document it online,” Jones wrote. “The other involves Nestle’s selling of California mountain water under the Arrowhead brand, a decades-old business that has suddenly become environmentally incorrect.” Nestle isn’t the only big company to have left California. Toyota and Occidental Petroleum have both picked up stakes and moved to Texas. In fact, the Phoenix Business Journal reported that $68 billion in capital had left the state in 1,500 “disinvestment actions.” READ MORE IT WILL NOT BE LONG NOW BEFORE MORE CORPORATIONS FOLLOW SUIT AND CALIFORNIA IS FORCED INTO BANKRUPTCY. IT WILL BE MORE THAN INTERESTING TO SEE HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP HANDLES THAT SITUATION WHEN THE TIME COMES … 3 Responses Max May 26, 2017 as long as the corporations dont leave the US, there is not a problem with them just moving to another state that dont have wacky laws that wacky Californians try to bring stupid frivilous lawsuits against them….only in California…..MY BRO “JER” DIDNT DO ENOUGH DAMAGE THE FIRST TIME SO THE WACKO’S HAD TO ELECT HIM AGAIN. HE WILL BANKRUPT THE STATE THIS TIME IF THEY DONT GET HIM OUT OF THERE!! we will see how the people will vote next year….see if they have pulled their head out of their ass or just sticking it deeper. this governor is dangerous for the state….he runs the president down and then has to beg a couple of days later needing money for emergency….naaaa, you have such independent ideas that you dont need the money of the taxpayers….all you need is to let the illegals support the state with all the money they bring in!!! LOL wow, funny to say that!!! Reply John Mills May 27, 2017 I left California 2 years ago to open a computer company in Virginia. As said in the article California is business UN-friendly and there’s not the slightest bit of encouragement to start a new business there. I was welcomed with open arms here in Virginia where they truly appreciate business, risk taking and entrepreneurship. Matter of fact we are celebrating our 1 year in business anniversary this weekend. Reply TeddyzoYtzlw June 16, 2017 I see your page needs some unique & fresh articles. Writing manually is time consuming, but there is solution for this hard task. Just search for – Miftolo’s tools rewriter Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.


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February 6, 2014 |
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.) created a political shock wave Tuesday when he announced that he would resign Feb. 18 after more than 23 years in the House. But the fight to succeed him is unlikely to carry any such surprises. There almost never are in South Jersey Democratic politics. Andrews, who has a long-running House ethics inquiry hanging over him, said he was taking a job as head of government relations at the Philadelphia law firm Dilworth Paxson. He called the move a family decision, not a response to the investigation.
January 25, 2014 |
The 76ers will sign Dewayne Dedmon to a second 10-day contract Friday, a league source said. The Sixers originally added the 7-foot, 255-pounder on a 10-day contract Jan. 14, making him the first player signed by the franchise since Dan Orton was waived Jan. 7. A center, Dedmon was called up from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League and has averaged 3.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, one blocked shot, and 14.8 minutes in five games with...
January 13, 2014 |
TERRY GILLEN, a top aide to Mayor Nutter who is rumored to be mulling a run for his job, is leaving the administration, she announced yesterday. Gillen, the city's first director of federal affairs, will leave in about two weeks. She said her new job will be to work on "economic-development policy" for two nonprofits. She declined to name them - the details of her position are still being worked out - but she said one is in Philadelphia and one is not. "It was just a good offer, and it gave me a chance to work on job-creation issues," Gillen said.
January 12, 2014 |
MOUNT HOLLY Former Mount Holly Mayor Richard Dow said Friday that he was resigning from the township council, effective immediately, due to health reasons. His one-year term as mayor, which was decided by a vote of the nonpartisan council, ended last month, and he had one year left on a four-year council term. "My health-care providers advised me that at this point, it would be unrealistic to estimate a return date," he said, adding that he is on medical leave from his job at Verizon, where he works on cables.
January 10, 2014 |
Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper are unrestricted free agents this offseason, but it's possible the Eagles can re-sign the two homegrown receivers. Maclin started his first four seasons before missing the entire 2013 season because of a knee injury. Cooper replaced Maclin in the lineup and had a productive season. Both have value. With DeSean Jackson already under contract - and potentially requiring a restructured deal - the Eagles must determine if they have enough money to pay both free-agent wide receivers and if there's enough playing time to go around.
January 8, 2014 |
JEREMY MACLIN said he was "pretty sure everything's going to work itself out," as the Eagles packed boxes and headed into the offseason yesterday at NovaCare. Reading between the lines, it seems unlikely Maclin will break the bank elsewhere as a free-agent wide receiver coming off an ACL tear in his right knee and a missed season. General manager Howie Roseman has indicated in the past he is interested in bringing back the player who caught more passes through his first four seasons (258)
December 6, 2013 |
LIKE MANY Philadelphians, Roxborough resident Anthony Hollis thinks that politicians should have to resign from their posts before running for new ones. "They should resign so they can dedicate themselves to more effectively do one job," Hollis said. So Hollis presumably would object to a proposed ballot question from Councilman David Oh that, if voters approve, would end the city's "resign-to-run" rule and allow officials to keep their jobs while running for new offices. But after reading the 48-word question, which voters may see in the May primary, Hollis believed the proposed change actually would create a resign-to-run policy and said he would vote, "Yes.
December 5, 2013 |
MARCUS HOOK Mayor James Schiliro has resigned, a month before his term was to expire. Last month, Schiliro was found guilty in Delaware County Court of recklessly endangering another person, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, official oppression, and furnishing liquor to a minor. On Monday, Schiliro sent a letter to the Borough Council tendering his resignation. "We accepted it," said Borough Solicitor Mark Much. Council President Gene Taylor, who was elected mayor in the November election, will serve as acting mayor until he is sworn in, Much said.
December 5, 2013 |
Penn State coach Bill O'Brien announced Tuesday night that he is losing two members of his staff with the resignations of linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden and quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher. O'Brien said that both coaches will pursue other opportunities. "I appreciate all of Ron and Charlie's hard work and thank them for their dedication and service to Penn State," O'Brien said in a statement. "I wish them well in all their future endeavors. " The university announced the departures 24 hours after FightOnState.com first reported the news.
December 4, 2013 |
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Ed Snider sounded like he was blindsided on Monday morning. Peter Luukko had just informed him he was stepping down as president of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor. "We've had better days," Snider, the club's chairman, said in a telephone interview after Luukko's stunning decision. "It came out of the blue, but I guess he gave it a lot of thought over the holidays and decided to do other things with his life. " Added Snider: "We'll survive, but he's done a hell of a job and he will be hard to replace.


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By Steve Pasierb, President and CEO, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
You are raising a good teenager in a loving home.
He’s an athlete, a friend, a brother and an admired and popular high school student. He has ambitions and dreams for his future. Sure, he exhibits moodiness and agitation here and there, but what teen doesn’t? This isn’t cause for alarm, until his behavior worsens and becomes more erratic. You realize something is very wrong, and that he may need help for a problem with drugs.
He spends time in rehab for a number of substances, but relapses and begins abusing prescription pain medicine.
The unbelievable becomes all too real as he overdoses on painkillers at a party, and no one helps him in fear of getting in trouble. He is eventually taken to the emergency room, where doctors prepare you for the worst. “Your son likely won’t make it.”
After time on life support and many scares in the hospital, it becomes clear that he will live, but as a prisoner in his own body. His prescription medicine abuse leaves him paralyzed and unable to speak for the rest of his life.
This is a real story of an overdose in 2005. So what have we, as a nation, done to prevent something like this from happening to other kids? Good kids, who for a myriad of reasons, are choosing to abuse medicine and paying the consequences.
To address the abuse of prescription drugs, we need to first understand the attitudes and beliefs that exist around these legal drugs. The abuse of medicine is often driven by the attitude that prescription drugs are a safer alternative for abuse than illicit street drugs. After all, these are important and beneficial medications when used appropriately. They are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. They are prescribed by a doctor.
It’s estimated that over 60 people die each day due to a prescription overdose.1 We know that drug overdoses – poisoning of the body with the drug – now exceed car crashes as the number one cause of accidental death in the United States, and one driver of the trend is the abuse of prescription painkillers.1 In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deemed overdoses involving prescription drugs an epidemic.2
One of those overdoses was a young, popular high school athlete who started abusing prescription drugs at the age of 15. With a full football scholarship to Tennessee State and on the road to play professionally, he lost his life because of his abuse of prescription medicine, before he or his family could see his dreams become a reality.
Contrary to what many think, motivations for misusing or abusing these medications go beyond just getting high or having fun. Many teens and adults abuse prescription drugs to help manage their life – to self-medicate anxiety or depression or to escape from stresses and pressures. Sure, some abuse painkillers on the weekend to get high. But others abuse stimulant medicines (typically used to treat ADHD) to stay awake in class, study for longer or stay up later. This latter behavior puts even the “good kids,” the “smart kids” and the “studious kids” in the category of potential abusers, and it should cause the parents who say “not my kid” to think again.
What’s worse: some of those who abuse these drugs end up transitioning to abusing heroin – which is often cheaper and/or more widely available than prescription opioids. In fact, according to the CDC, four out of five recent heroin initiates previously abused prescription pain relievers for non-medical use.3
Science proves that 90 percent of addictions start in the teenage years.4 At the time a teen takes her first pill – and for some, that’s as young as age 12 or 13 – she increases her risk for addiction. Odds for abuse rise with the ease of access to prescription drugs. Our research shows that four in 10 teens who have misused or abused a prescription drug got it from their parent’s medicine cabinet.5 It doesn’t stop at the medicine cabinet, either; one in five parents indicates that they have given their teen a prescription drug not prescribed for them.6 Modeling good behavior and following the prescribing instructions is crucial, and can go a long way toward preventing teen medicine abuse at home.
Recently, we have seen a stabilization and some decline in individuals abusing prescription drugs for the first time.7 We can attribute this flattening in use to a number of factors, including an increased awareness, declining perception of availability and better prevention and education around prescription drug abuse.
Encouraging trends show that medicine abuse is on the radar of those in positions to make change.
Policymakers and law enforcement have worked to curb “doctor shopping” – the act of a person visiting multiple doctors to obtain more prescriptions. They’ve employed prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and shut down thousands of “pill mills,” places where doctors, clinics or pharmacies prescribe or dispense powerful narcotics inappropriately or for nonmedical reasons.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days have taken in 390 tons of unwanted, expired medicines and kept them out of the hands of potential abusers.8 And, among health care providers, there is a heightened awareness of screening programs and utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs.
So yes, we are making good strides, but how can we maintain the momentum to reverse a persistent public health problem that has grown to affect millions? It is not up to one discipline, but to a full spread of policymakers, health care providers, industry leaders and even families to do their part in addressing medicine abuse.
Health care providers – especially prescribers – are in a powerful position to address and prevent medicine abuse. The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids supports not only the use of monitoring programs that track prescriptions in all practices across the country. We advocate for the need for these systems in all 50 states, including Missouri; the one state in America that has declined to keep a prescription drug database of any sort. We also join with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy in promoting the need for interconnectivity of each State’s system, ending “doctor shopping” between states and helping prescribers spot patients of theirs who may be abusing or selling medicines. And finally, the information fed into the PDMP system should be available and updated in real-time so prescribers and pharmacies can make informed decisions.
The use of PDMPs should be supplemented with the use of other tools, including those available to help doctors screen their patients for substance abuse issues and help them refer patients to treatment programs. Screening is now eligible for health care reimbursement, yet we have a long way to go before screening and treatment referral is regularly practiced by prescribers everywhere.
Findings from our preliminary work toward educating prescribers around the country indicate that while many prescribers are aware that these and other tools exist, many practices are simply not making use of them. These methods can be lifesaving, and the vigilance of doctors is critical in beginning to control this problem.
Technology also plays an important role in curbing medicine abuse. The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of painkillers, also known as opiate analgesics, with abuse-deterrent properties is one monumental development.
There are several technological approaches being employed to develop these new medicines. The first approach is adding physical or chemical features to make it harder to crush or dissolve the tablets. Another is to add ingredients that block the effect of the opioid or cause an unpleasant feeling when the product is manipulated. Finally, others are developing a precursor drug, known as a prodrug, that doesn’t exhibit opioid effects until it metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract. These technological innovations won’t prevent all forms of abuse, such as simply taking too many pills or too frequent doses - which increases the risks of overdose - but they can be a useful part of a multi-faceted effort to reduce misuse and abuse.
These steps forward will be a crucial part of the public health effort to balance reducing abuse, while ensuring that these medicines remain available to those who need them for a legitimate medical purpose and under a physician’s care. Nearly two-thirds of American teens who abuse pain relievers say that they get them from family members and friends.9 If all prescription opiates were formulated to include abuse-deterrent properties, it would be a major important step forward toward addressing this problem. Increasing the use of medications with abuse-deterrent properties among the Medicare population would be of particular importance as teens often steal prescription medication from their grandparents. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, reversing the medicine abuse epidemic can begin right at home. Research conducted by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids shows that parents are simply not communicating the dangers of prescription drug abuse to their children as often as they talk about street drugs, like cocaine and heroin.6 This is partly because many parents are unaware of the behavior, unheard of when they were teenagers themselves, but also because those who are aware of teen medicine abuse tend to underestimate the risks. But research shows that if teens think their parents disapprove of a specific drug or behavior, they are far less likely to engage in that behavior.6 That’s why it’s so important that parents talk early, often, and specifically about the health consequences of abusing medicine with their teens.
One mom felt that her teen daughter had all of the knowledge she would need to stay off drugs. She talked about all of the common street drugs, but never spoke about prescription medication. But in her daughter’s mind, it was better to do pills than cocaine or meth, and she would steal pills from friends and family.
These stories serve as a wake-up call for parents, who realize they need to be exceptionally attentive to this issue, and take a three-step approach to protect their families from harm – educating themselves about the issue, safeguarding and properly disposing of unused medicines in the home, and having detailed, frequent conversations with their kids about the dangers of abusing any medicine, prescription or over-the-counter. It’s easy to forget that over-the-counter medications can be abused as well. Ingesting large quantities of OTC cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan (DXM) can produce a slightly hallucinogenic high, and seven percent of teens report “robotripping” or “skittling” (slang for abusing or getting high from OTC cough medicine) in the past year.5
Family issues, depression, social anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, problems with friends, trouble at school and other everyday pressures can drive teens experiencing these issues to turn to prescription drugs to help them cope. That’s why it’s so important that parents address pressures as they arise, be cognizant of what their teen is feeling and thinking and provide support. Vigilance and awareness are key. Both talking and listening to teens about their problems can help steer them on the right track before they turn to prescription drugs to manage their stressors.
Many parents are not aware that their own medicine cabinets are potential sources for teenage abuse, so a first step is to monitor and safeguard the medications in their medicine cabinet, keep count of pills and ensure that they are out of the reach of kids. Parents should also properly dispose of any and all unused, expired or unwanted medications.
The good news is that through new DEA regulations, people will be able to dispose of their unused and expired medications by dropping them off at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other easily-accessible places in their communities. Patients, or their family members, can mail their prescribed controlled substances to an authorized collector using pre-paid mail-back packages that can be obtained at their pharmacy, or from other locations like libraries and community centers.
Yes, medicine abuse is a problem we all need to act on now; but no one has to do it alone.
Parents are faced with different outcomes for their kids who abuse medicine. Some may count their blessings that their child is still alive in the wake of his addiction. Others mourn the loss of hopes and dreams dashed.
We all have a vital role, a responsibility and a part to play to end teen medicine abuse. Working together is our only chance at success. It’s time to take a stand as one and address this devastating problem.
Learn more about how to prevent prescription drug abuse:
There are plenty of resources available to help anyone do their part in addressing the issue.
One resource is the Medicine Abuse Project, a national action campaign that aims to prevent half a million teens from abusing medicine by 2017. We launched this program in 2012, and it provides free, comprehensive resources for parents and caregivers, law enforcement officials, health care providers, educators and community leaders, so that everyone can take a stand and help end medicine abuse.
The Medicine Abuse Project website – MedicineAbuseProject.org – includes information about how to prevent prescription drug abuse and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse. It provides tips on how to dispose of medicine and how to safeguard the medicine in your home. It features a comprehensive prescription drug guide to help parents learn about the prescription and over-the-counter drugs that teens most commonly abuse- including what they look like, their street or slang names, how they're taken and what the potential side effects are.
We also offer a toll-free helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE). Our helpline is a nationwide support service, open Monday through Friday from 10 – 6 p.m. Eastern Time, which offers assistance to parents and other primary caregivers of children who want to talk to someone about their child’s drug use and drinking. Our trained helpline specialists help parents make a plan and guide them to the right treatment options that work for their teen.
Published: January 8, 2015
- Prescription Drug Overdose in the United States: Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published on July 3, 2014. Accessed on September 29, 2014.
- Prescription Painkiller Overdoses in the US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). November 2011.
- Muhuri, PK et al. Associations of Nonmedical Pain Reliever Use and Initiation of Heroin Use in the United States. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality CBHSQ. August 2013.
- Adolescent Substance Use: America's #1 Public Health Problem. CASA Columbia. Adolescent-substance-use-americas-no-1-public-health-problem%20.pdf. Published in June 2011. Accessed on September 30, 2014. 30 Sept. 2014.
- 2013 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PATS-2013-FULL-REPORT.pdf. Published on July 22, 2014. Accessed on September 30, 2014.
- 2012 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PATS-2012-FULL-REPORT2.pdf. Published on April 22, 2013. Accessed on April 22, 2013.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables, NSDUH Series H-48, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4863. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2013SummNatFindDetTables/DetTabs/NSDUH-DetTabsSect7peTabs1to45-2013.htm#tab7.37a.
- DEA’S National Drug Take-Back Day Collected Nearly 16 Tons in the Pacific Northwest. DEA.gov Web site. http://www.justice.gov/dea/divisions/sea/2014/sea050814.shtml. Published on May 08, 2014. Accessed on September 30, 2014.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables, NSDUH Series H-48, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4863. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2013SummNatFindDetTables/DetTabs/NSDUH-DetTabsSect6peTabs1to54-2013.htm#tab6.47b
*Note: Partnership For Drug-Free Kids receives charitable support from Purdue

domain: medical


text:
What a volatile start to the week!
If you haven’t realized by now…
Most of the Euro currency pairs had large opening gaps because of the French election.
And during times like this, there are two groups of traders:
- The one who see opportunities
- The one who see nothing
So, which group are you in?
Now moving on…
Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s video:
- Why this particular currency has a HUGE potential upside — and how I’m looking to trade it
- A review of the USD/ZAR trade I took (which includes my entries, stops, and exits)
- And much more…
Ready to start your week with a BANG?
Then click below to watch this week’s market analysis…
Do you want to learn a new trading strategy that allows you to profit in bull and bear markets?
In the Ultimate Guide to Trend Following, I will teach you this powerful trading strategy step by step, along with charts and examples.
You can download it here for FREE.


text:
(Jammie wearing fool) As the freak snow storm descended upon the Northeast Saturday, one Zuccotti Park occupier decided it would be a good idea to try and occupy one of the female protesters. There's been a lot of this going on amidst the peaceful occupiers. Apparently this time, however, the fiend was chased off, however.
Wall Street protesters in Zuccotti Park battened down the hatches yesterday as the early October snow turned their tents into igloos, but the close quarters also made easy pickings for one predator.
A sex fiend barged into a woman’s tent and sexually assaulted her at around 6 a.m., said protesters, who chased him from the park. “Pervert! Pervert! Get the f--k out!” said vigilante Occupiers, who never bothered to call the cops.
“They were shining flashlights in his face and yelling at him to leave,” said a woman who called herself Leslie, but refused to give her real name. She said that weeks earlier another woman was raped. “We don’t tell anyone,” she said. “We handle it internally. I said too much already.”
Way to fight the man, by not reporting rapes. I guess all this crime might hurt their image.

domain: sociology


Swansea City undoubtedly have a lot to thank Roberto Martinez for, a play maker in the bottom tier who brought culture to a poor side, an inspirational captain through the clubs most turbulent times, and a manager who established a style of play which delighted fans and caught the attention of the national media. However it would be fair to say that both club and manager have moved on since his departure.
Martinez has now had two seasons in the top flight with Wigan and has had his chance to establish his passing game on the club which brought him to the UK. Swansea city played beautiful football under Martinez but were often defensively naive and were exposed a little too often. Paulo Sousa sorted that out but at the expense of a forward threat. Brendan Rodgers found a balance of the two in the Championship, we will find out soon enough how that will pan out in the premier league.
Against Manchester City it was plain to see that the big spending sky blues were a cut above in the attacking third of the pitch, but you do not face the like of Ageuro, Silva and Toure every week (even in the premier league). This was borne out by the Swans only achieving 6 shots in the 94 mins played, another area of concern was the lack of physicality shown by the premier league newcomers, an example of this is the fact that they lost two thirds of the aerial battles all over the pitch.
It is not all bad news though especially when you compare the Swansea statistics against those of Wigan, who drew 1-1 at home against Norwich last week. The Welsh side completed 486 passes compared to the Latics 365. It may be that Martinez has had to abandon some of his footballing beliefs to remain in the premiership as his back four only completed 92 passes, compared to the huge 230 accurate passes played by the the Swansea defensive back line, at an accuracy rate of 85%. Worryingly though is the fact that Wigan Managed 20 shots at goal against Norwich, so whilst the passing may not be of the highest standard they certainly create chances.
Whether the switch from Martinez is the correct thing to do will be decided in April when Swansea’s fate is decided, however today’s game will be an interesting pointer as to how the passing game of Swansea city will hold up to the more routine games in the premier league and if the slick stylish way can create enough opportunities for our goal scorers to make their mark.


Quite a dramatic statement was recently made by a judge in Namibia ordering in his judgement the Department of Home Affairs to design a training program for their officials in order to increase compliance with the law.
Judge in Namibia made dramatic statement
“A shocking exposure of the institutional incompetence of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration” is what Judge Shafimana Ueitele called the unlawful detention of almost 50 people assumed to be in Namibia illegally.
Ombudsman John Walters, an official office bearer appointed to investigate complaints from individuals, has sued not only the Minister of Home Affairs & Immigration, the Ministry’s Chief of Immigration and the Immigration Tribunal but as well the Minister of Safety & Security for the illegal detention of almost 50 people assumed to be in Namibia illegally.
It was brought to the court’s attention that the warrants allowing the detention of the individuals detained were not signed, thus making the detention of the individuals illegal.
Training programs needs to be designed
As a result of the ineptitude of the Home Affairs and Immigration officials, Judge Ueitele ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration to design a training programme for all the officials whose responsibilities include the implementing of the Immigration Control Act. In addition to the training, a programme must be developed that will assist the ministry with the surveillance of the detention of illegal immigrants.
The implementations of the programmes are to be established by end of September 2018.
In closing, Judge Ueitele has ordered that no individual that has not been properly trained on the Immigration Control Act be in a position of authority to act under the law come end of November 2018. These are orders with quite dramatic practical consequences and we will see how it effects the adjudication of normal work visa and the overall performance of the immigration system.
by Andreas Krensel


text:
I’m Mel, the Creative Director behind Stylistic Designs, I’m an Interior Decorator & Event Stylist, you will find me in my downtime in a home decor store finding that perfect piece, it’s an obsession, (I know!) your home will be no different.
I understand alot goes into bringing a style together, loads of planning, endless nights thinking, ‘will this go with that, is this too much’. And I get it, when you get home from a hard day’s work, all you want to do is enjoy your free time not think about decorating your space.
My passion is to capture your vision and take all the worry out of where to start.
My attention to detail is my greatest asset and will leave you enjoying every aspect of decorating your home.

domain: artistic


text:
This is a great one-pot meal that also goes a long way economically. Once you break down the chicken pieces (if that scares you, take a look at this step-by-step guide) and dice your onions and garlic, it doesn’t take that long to put it all together either. Feeding two, I was able to get two dinners, two lunches, and some leftover wing meat that worked great in tacos. Definitely a good recipe to try if you are on a budget.
Curried Chicken with Coconut Rice
- 1 whole chicken, cut into 10 pieces (skin on, although I removed it and it still turned out great)
- 4 t. curry powder
- 1/2 t. cayenne pepper
- coarse salt
- 1 T. vegetable oil
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 3 T. peeled fresh ginger, minced (3-inch piece)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced small
- 2 T. tomato paste
- 2 c. basmati rice
- 1 can (13.5 oz) unsweetened light coconut milk
- fresh cilantro leaves, for serving
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lower third. Toss chicken with curry powder, cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat 2 teaspoons oil over high. In batches, cook chicken until browned on all sides, about 12 minutes total. Transfer to a large plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and add 1 teaspoon each salt and oil, garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon, until onion is translucent, 6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add rice, coconut milk, and 2 cups water; stir to combine and bring to a boil. Arrange chicken in pot, skin side up, cover, and transfer to oven. Bake until chicken is cooked through and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

domain: food


text:
I just got back from supervision and was about to vet some financial documents when Fiolla knock and entered locking the door behind her. I looked up as she walked to my table.
“Good morning ma.” I greeted standing as she stood before my table.
“Toby sit down.” She commanded pulling out a seat for herself. I waited till she settled on her seat before lowering myself on mine. We fall into silence staring at each other. After a while, she cleared her throat.
“Why did you bring her here?” she asked quietly.
“She just dropped by to say hi, I didn’t invite her .” I replied.
“Really, Just dropped by to say hi and was so relaxed chatting and laughing?” she continued.
“What is this?” I started a bit annoyed. “Even if I invited her, am I now restricted from having visitors?”
“You don’t get to invite your numerous straff partners here. This is a legitimate business establishment not a chalet.” She barked.
“Really, what is all this about?” I asked surprised at her reaction and words.
“You told me you don’t have the hots for her anymore claiming that she is the one holding on to whatever you two had but, isn’t it obvious?” she said with her voice rising. “Really, why do you guys lie a lot, why?”
“Did you make some mistake when you said this is going to be a no string attached thing between us?” I asked trying to remind of her of the rules she laid down.
“You don’t need to remind me of what I said.” She barked. “Oh! Wait, really, I thought you are different, my bad.”
Our voices were rising and I didn’t like the direction it was all going anymore.
“Fiolla?” I called trying to calm her.
“Don’t fucking call my name. who are you really?” she retorted with blazing eyes.
“Fiolla , why are you acting this way?” I asked. “You walked in here and saw my friend and started acting up, is that right?”
“Of all the people in the world, your neighbor, the one you are supposedly not straffing anymore.” She replied staring at me.
“You know what Fi, I think we have to stop whatever is going on between us if this is how it’s going to be. I really don’t want this whole issue anymore.” I said relaxing back on the seat.
She went quiet for a while staring at me as tear started forming in her eyes. She made to say something but it stuck to her throat which made her swallow hard. I watched her fight the tears from dropping but a dropped already escaped before she looked up, raised her head to suppress the rest. After a while she brought it down and cleared her throat.
“Toby really, you want us to stop whatever it is going on between us?” she asked her gaze piecing through me. “You’ve had your fill already and want to discard me, right? Why do I always get involved with the wrong people?” she continued looking at me.
Her reaction and what she was saying was shattering me inside. This was never how I planned for us to end. I hate the fact that she was hurting right in front me.
“Fi, see I …..” I started but she stood up immediately shutting me up with a thunderous slap.
“Brace yourself Toby, by the time I’m done with you, you will regret and curse the day you set your eyes on me. And just so you know, this is for you.” She said dropping an envelope on the table before walking out.
The slap had left me stunned that I only looked on as she delivered her threats before storming out. As she left, I picked up the envelope, slipped my hand into it and pulled out a white paper neatly folded. I couldn’t believe my eyes on what I saw on the paper; Fiolla is two weeks gone for me.
Sweat broke out through every pour on my body as I stared at the pregnancy test result. I stood up and started pacing the length of my office with different thought running through my mind. The moments we had were the first that rushed into my head.
“Why didn’t I use condom?”
“What have I gotten myself into?”
“What will I tell my people? That I got a single mother pregnant?
“A Yoruba single mother, my mother will never hear of it.”
“Haba, just deny it, how sure are you that she is not sleeping with other people,” a voice said in my head.
“No, that will be a wrong step.” Another voice chipped in.
These and many other thoughts clouded my mind as I kept walking about in my office. How in hell am I going to handle?
Slotting the letter back into the envelope, I left my office to Fiola’s to have a heart to heart with her.
I knocked twice and turned the door knob gaining entrance to the room only to meet Fiolla crying on her table. She looked up with red swollen eyes as I walked in.
“Get out!?” she said through tears as I walked towards her table. Though she said that, it wasn’t convincing like she really wanted me out or so I thought.
“Fi?” I called walking around to her, “I am very sorry.” I said trying to take her into a hug but she pushed me away.
“Sorry for what exactly?” she started through tears. “Lying to me, using me or what exactly?”
“Fi please let’s not start with this again. I didn’t lie to you.” I retorted calmly.
“Lies! Lies! Lies!!” she said and continued sobbing.
“I’m not lying to you Fiolla. Whatever I had with her was in the past, can’t you believe me?” I said throwing up my hand in resignation.
“Believe you, really? I know better.” She said dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. “You are here to talk about the pregnancy right?” she asked.
“No, Fi please, you need to calm down let’s find a way around this.” I started. “This is us, I like what we had, I am sorry things haven’t been right between us for a few days now but, that doesn’t change anything.”
“You know what?” she started her eyes blazing with anger, “I was naïve before to even see the hand writing on the wall even when it was staring at me. I was used before, but, this time, I am not naïve and won’t let it happen again, I know better now. About the pregnancy, don’t worry, its not staying.”
I stood at the same point where she pushed me staring at her. a part of me relieved that she isn’t thinking of keeping the pregnancy but, the other part wanted to talk and make things right.
“Fi we don’t need to take a rash decision,” I started. “This is our thing, let’s make the decision together.”
“Our thing?” she said with an evil grin. “Our thing when you were busy jumping into pussies. Toby read my lips, I will so deal with you….” She trail of for a moment before concluding with telling me to get out.
I made to talk but she shouted.
“Get out.” Pushing the words I was about to say back. I stood for some minutes before walking myself out.

domain: literature