Is Your House Termite Infested? Employ a Pest Control Professional to

It's amazing how termites can easily destroy enormous manmade infrastructures, showing that nature still in some way dominates. Simply think about how a colony of small insects owns adequate power to destroy entire buildings by turning structural components hollow and fragile. Termite colonies are developed like ant colonies and are populated by a multitude of workers, an army of hefty soldiers, and a duo of king and queen termites.

The majority of termites are attracted to wooden items because in the wild, wood represents their food and shelter. Because of this, homes constructed with wooden materials are significantly prone to termite problems. Although specific wood types like redwood, cypress and oak are naturally termite-resistant, some of the best woods can easily fall prey to termites. Wood floors, home sidings, coverings, and furnishings are all susceptible and require treatment to keep termites from invading and destroying them entirely.

To damage structural components, termites only have to get in using cracks or fissures and devour as much wood as they could. Residents typically do not notice the initial signs, until they start noticing mysterious fallen splinters behind wooden furnishings. These splinters are in some cases accompanied with particles that look like sand-like wooden grains, which are in fact termite droppings.

Residents can then call for pest control experts, who initially carry out a thorough checkup of the entire residence. They check for traces of hollowness in walls, floorings, furnishings then examine the attic, the basement, and the crawl space, places where termites are likely to thrive. When termites are found, it would certainly be ideal to execute tent fumigation or tenting, a procedure which annihilates termites through exposure to toxic gases.

There are three additional methods by which pest control Orange County professionals get rid of termites-- orange oil, polyethylene foam underlayment, and heating. Orange oil gotten from orange peel is a solution consisting of 90 percent d-limonene. D-limonene is generally utilized in cleansing items and has harmful effects on termites but is safe for people and pets.

Polyethylene foam underlayment is set under wooden construction materials and hinders termites from hollowing out into the wood. This is the type of practical termite control Irvine houses need if the center of the termite colony is primarily found outside, with just a small section extending into the home. Foam defends the structure, while orange oil can also be applied to offer more protection for furniture.

The kind of pest control Orange County specialists execute could likewise involve heat treatment in afflicted locations. Directing heat levels as high as 130? F to influenced spots can wipe out termites and send the uncooperative ones running off. For more related information, check out Termite.com.

For more details, search pest control Orange County and termite control Irvine in Google for related information.

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How To Find A Great Contractor For Your Remodel | Roofing Repair ...

When you're looking to remodel your home, it?s important to find a good contractor who can deliver a high quality of work, honestly and in a hurry. Having the right contractor can save you cash and time and help make your remodeling projects easy and stress free. In this piece we'll discuss the steps to take to find the correct contractor for your home improvement projects.

Word-of-mouth is a smart way to find a good contractor. If you have friends, coworkers and family members who have had a remodel experience, it?s a good idea to ask them for referrals. This will be especially helpful if your acquaintances had remodel work done that is rather like the home improvements you've got in mind. Even with referrals, be sure to double check testimonials and licenses prior to hiring a contractor.

If you can't get personal referrals, you can always search your local yellow pages or look online. Search out contractors who've plenty of local experience, are well informed about the kind of remodel you would like done, are properly approved and insured and have a great rating with the Better Business Bureau or similar agency.

Once you?ve created a catalogue of contractors under consideration, set up appointments for each one to come see your project and give you a guess. As you interview the potential contractors, be certain to ask exact questions about the start-to-finish process of completing your remodel. Discover how long it will take and ask for a written guesstimate. Be certain to present the job in precisely the same way to each applicant so the guesstimates you gather will be for comparable work.

Though cost will actually be a significant factor in your call as to which contractor to hire to finish your remodel project, there are a number of other stuff you need to keep under consideration. Practical matters, for example the amount of detail included and the orderliness of the guess presentation are significant factors. If the guesstimate is obscure or presented in a less-than-professional demeanour, it may reflect the standard of the contractor?s work.

In addition to practical (or hard) issues, you must also take your potential contractor?s ?soft? skills under consideration. If your remodel job will take quite a bit, and you are living in the home during construction, you'll finish up spending quite a bit of time with your contractor. Trust your feelings re how cushty you are with the contractor, how professionally he presents himself, and the like. Nothing's more unpleasant than having somebody in your house who causes you to feel uncomfortable for an extended period. This sort of situation could finish up risking the integrity of your remodel job.

The contractor you ultimately settle on to finish your remodel should come strongly recommended and be experienced, professional, fairly priced and have communication and social abilities that are at least satisfactory to get things done without confusion and conflict. By getting good suggestions and/or doing good research and following a systematic interview and bidding process you should have no trouble finding a good contractor to complete your remodel and aid you with future home improvement projects.

We concentrate on home improvement, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, remodeling, home remodeling, handyman services, home repair, home repair services and handyman service in Phoenix since 2001. Other services we provide include home improvement bathroom remodeling and kitchen remodel.

Source: http://roofingrepairatlanta.net/how-to-find-a-great-contractor-for-your-remodel/

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RolePlayGateway?

This is where all questions that I, or you, find especially important can be posted for others to see and understand!

"When will the roleplay start?"

As soon as we have everybody. Could be today, tomorrow, or in two days.

"We have a lot of characters. Are you looking for a co-gm?"

I have already chosen one. His tag is Dante Angelico. Please ask or refer to him if I'm not around.

"Do werekin have "in between" forms?"

No they do not. I know the reference link in the introduction says they do but truth be told it seems too magical and I want this roleplay to have as much realism as possible.

"Is it okay to make plans for the future with others, and keep it a secret?"

YEAH. Go right on ahead. Spice up the roleplay! Actually why are you telling me you have a secret with somebody else! IT'S A SECRET!! :)

"Does silver harm a werekin?"

Silver does harm 'kin'. It's only uncomfortable if it is resting on the skin and isn't on an open wound. The reason why silver bullets can kill is because it's pierces through the skin and poisons the blood. However, the reason silver is dangerous isn't because of any metallic properties. It's because everything in the world has some sort of magic property. And silver, has a moon based property. For 'kin', who already have slight moon magic...This can be fatal because it tips the balance of humanity and poisons them, causing them to die. When they die...They don't return to human form. They remain in 'kin' form if that is the form they were in when they were shot. Also, if they are shot in the animal form, or 'kin' form, then they die a lot quicker. When human, the process is slower and they have a chance to be saved. If they are shot in human form, they are poisoned and the veins begin turning a gray color. That is the only physical change when shot as a human.

"Are there people who hunt werekin?"

Yes there are such things as hunters. Usually though werekin are friends to them and assist them but the time when a hunter will hunt and kill a beast is when there is a rogue present. There are formalities between each party and the were's will usually get to have the final death rites but a hunter gets to do their job in killing the rogue, along with any help that they need. Like a tracker (Werekin who can track a scent), or etc.

"Are there set restriction on the post length?"

I post really long posts. I know this, and this is the way I like to write. As for you all, I have expectations but I'm not expecting you all to write like I do. A role-player is known by the way they write. So please hold yourself up too great expectations of commitment and greatness. Don't let yourself be known as an unexpierenced newbie whose ignorant and doesn't read others posts. Show the others what your made of! :)

"Is it okay to yell at the GM?"

Uhm. HELL YEAH. xD
Please scorn me for hours if I make a mistake. Actually. Just whip me. Cause, ya know, I make mistakes too :D

"If, and when, I post in the wrong place, would you like me to relocate the post to the right place? Or just leave it? And will you be mad at me?"

If you do happen to post in the wrong place...Which will be hard to do as there will only be one place for a major duration of the roleplay, along with some add ins along the way...I won't be mad. :) If anything I care way more about tagging the right people properly so that everybody knows where to look when they post. As long as you know you didn't do it right, and maybe posted in the ooc if anyone is confused by it...I see no reason to be mad. xD

"Oh, and the house on the info page is the house where the main wolf pack and the were-cats are going to be, right?"

Certainly! Those are the specifications. I will be giving a more detailed descriptions in the places tab when I get to working on it.

"How long have the wolves been in that area?"

Well for as long as they can remember. Ancestral ties and such. However they used to own the entire Colorado territory but now it's been split in half. After the War of Ghilles (Great War), the Central pride took the top part of the Colorado Territory. This is part of the reason why the wolves aren't too happy to see cats coming further south and that's also why the deal they will strike will be even more promising. The get the promise to get what was originally their own instead of losing more. :)

"So, If werekin do not have an in-between form, what happens on the full moon and new moon?"

Full moon is a forced shift. That's usually the night where the kin will party right before dawn before shifting and running as a pack. The new moon doesn't do much but it does cause more weakness. They don't have as much power as they did before. It's like this. Werekin possess slight moon magic in their blood so like if the moon is full, the magic is so strong it forces them to shift. When it's hidden completely, they are at their weakest.

"What season is it in the roleplay?"

Right in the middle of Summer! :D

"If you are born in wolf form, would that mean you shift to a human instead of the reverse?"

Not necessarily. This is a rare phenomena that can occasionally happen for werekin. However, it happens more often with females. With males, the chance is at least 5% less. But it's a funny joke made by parents when this happens that they are more wolf than human, referring to making them more animalistic than even werewolves.

Also, for reference purposes. Both Cain and Cyra were both in wolf form. :)

"How are we were going to start? Like, does everyone know each other already, or are we going to just play the feline clan just settling in or what?"

Okay. So the introduction posts will be taken revealing two aspects. For the felines, they reveal how they escaped, the feelings on John etc. Their posts will leave off probably right as they cross the border and a decent ways into the wolven territory.

As for the wolves. Their introductory posts will be revealing the life of the pack before the felines came along. Etc. The Alpha can be doing to Alphaly duties. Gamma's chilling around in the morning then maybe having the Alpha tell to to stop being lazy and go check the border if they have nothing else to do. The beta can lead them. I'd like if the wolves maybe left the introductions off where they either find the cats or have scented them and begin to track them.

When a werekin transitions from animal form to human, are they already clothed?

Well, as embarrassing to say as it is...No. However, not many kin are ashamed of being in front of the pack or pride or flock.

So would small items like bandages and stuff fall off or would they just kinda disappear but still be there?

Yeah, clothes transfer to the wolf form and you slip them off. So if bandages are tight enough, they won't come off. To clarify however, they might rip or something when you go back to human form. It really depends on the quality and tightness as well as how loose they are and what type.

Do pridemates, or packmates..use telepathy in their wolf or feline forms?

So pride mates and pack mates share a bond between their family (the pack or pride). They can understand each other through body language and thoughts. It isn't like telepathy but it's like they can understand the intent a pridemate/packmate has and this becomes words.

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RolePlayGateway

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Easy To Learn, Simple Email Marketing Tips To Help Grow Your ...

Contrary to what many people will tell you, email marketing is far from being dead. Email marketing has been used by Internet marketers for years to make money, and they?ve been successful! The main reason that several people are not successful with their email marketing camapaign is because there are not taking the necessary steps to do it in the proper way. Hopefully the information and tips in this article will help you create a good email marketing plan and raise your rate of conversion. If you are new to IM, then approach List Profit Sniper along with its many components carefully so you will be able to realize maximum leveraging opportunities. One thing worthy of note is the difference in the attitudes business owners bring to the table. We have to speak in general terms, and with that we do believe that low-performing businesses will usually be run by those who do not have optimal attitudes that translate into behavior. We tend to believe that only a certain percentage of people will realize how important attitude and belief are and will actively address it. If you have failed one hundred times over the years, well ? things are not over yet; you know a little more and can learn the rest. Options; we all have them whether you choose to believe that or not.

Of first importance, be sure to use a subject line that is attention getting and captivating. Remember, you don?t have a long time to catch the reader?s attention, only a few seconds and that?s all. If you fail to get their attention, your email will either get ignored or deleted. This is why your subject line needs to specify a particular benefit that entices the recipient and forces him/her to open your mail. For instance, a person may dismiss a message with a subject line reading ?Weight Loss Tips?, but open one with the subject ?10 Weight Loss Tips That Can Help Your Shed Your Pounds.? It?s important to immediately begin the email with some really interesting content. Why is this important? Many widely used email clients such as Yahoo! Mail, Microsoft Outlook, etc. have a ?preview pane? that allows a reader to view just a narrow strip of an email message without actually opening it. In addition, you need your efforts to remain consistent throughout your email marketing campaigns. You have to ensure your email is sent regularly on the time specified to your subscribers. For instance, if you agree to send a newsletter on Wednesdays at 1 pm, do exactly that. Your supporters will be waiting and expecting your email then and you do not want to keep them waiting. Doing so will show them that you are serious and will be more likely to open any promotional emails you send to them. Consistency is an important trait, which demonstrates your professionalism, when it comes to your dealings with your email subscribers.

Next, you should be sure that the emails you send are actually going to the intended receiver, and are not just being put in their spam folder. Observe your subject line and see if it will work in the proper way. Spam filters don?t like certain words and if you have them in your subject line, consider your email trashed. Do not use words such as, Earn Money, FREE, etc. Finding information on additional words to watch out for is just a Google search away. You?ll find sites that will have whole lists for your review. They?ll even show you how you?re doing by providing a ?spam score.? Apart from the subject line, the actual content of the email also shouldn?t contain these spam trigger words. When it comes to your email content, there are other concerns too. You need to be careful of the links you include. A domain that is extensively promoted may end up in the spam folder also. And when the spam filters detect these sites, your mail will once again end up in the junk folder. But there is a workaround to this, and that is to cloak your links with another domain so that you can fly under the radar. All in all, email marketing is made of many important elements, and you have to focus on each one of them. Remember that writing a good email is just the first step. Creating your mailing list and developing a spam-proof message are also very important things to consider. By focusing on these elements, you will most definitely get the most out of your email marketing campaigns.

The above entry is sponsored by FindHotMarkets.com - World Internet Marketing.

For more information...

work from home

Source: http://findhotmarkets.com/blog/5619/easy-to-learn-simple-email-marketing-tips-to-help-grow-your-online-business/

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JamesPindell: Obama Campaign Opens 3 Additional NH Offices: President Obama?s New Hampshire campaign plans to open... http://t.co/aIH3EIId #nhpolitics

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://twitter.com/JamesPindell/statuses/229978902594990081

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Honest Weight Loss Product Reviews Launches New Shopper ...

Honest Weight Loss Product Reviews new website incorporates many friendly design features that help consumers find the right health reviews and quickly checkout their purchases with featured products like the Acai Berry Select Cut. In addition, consumers can find health reviews and products that are not stocked at local stores and purchase in just a few minutes with fast home delivery service at steep discount prices.

(PRWEB) July 09, 2012

Honest Weight Loss Product Reviews announces a new health and wellness website dedicated to providing quality information on weight loss products with helpful reviews, informative information, tips and much more. All of this can be accessed at: honestweightlossproductreviews.com.

Understanding how the right diet supplements can help people lose weight safely and effectively is the mission of the website.

Honest Weight Loss Product Reviews offers free health and wellness to visitors to help them succeed in rapid weight loss and to do it in a safe and successful manner according to the website?s founders.

Weight loss and health is a multi-billion dollar industry and more consumers than ever are looking for alternative medicine, natural products and supplements. The review site features the newest innovations including natural berries and super fruits from all over the world. The review site is designed for consumers searching for:

• Natural weight loss products
• Natural health products
• Health/fitness stories
• Media ? health and fitness blogs, articles on latest diets, weight loss blogs, health and fitness magazines, Health segments on diet and weight loss on CNN, MSN, Google, Yahoo, etc.

Visitors to the site will also find products like the Acai Berry Select Cut.

?Checking out websites like honestproductreviews.com will assure customers of the enormous health benefits of products like the Acai Berry Select Cut. Major networks, health experts, and nutritionists have been raving for years about all the great benefits of the Acai berry? explains the review website?s founder.

Articles and entries that concerned anything considered as newsworthy are prominently featured on the site and will serve as the site?s regular headlines.

?It is important to keep well informed about weight loss, especially when it comes to your own health and well-being,? adds the review website?s founder.

About Honest Weight Loss Product Reviews

Honest Weight Loss Product Reviews features reviews of the latest natural health products, including natural weight loss products, alternative medicine, and natural organic products. Online shoppers can find health reviews and products that are not stocked at local stores and purchase in just a few minutes with fast home delivery service at steep discount prices. You can get more details at: http://honestweightlossproductreviews.com/

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebweight-loss/reviews/prweb9673290.htm

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Source: http://www.debtowed.info/?p=2391

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Are You Hooked On Online Dating? ? Articles about love relationships

29 Jul 2012

by blogolubvi in Dating Tags: love, online dating, relationship, single

Do you get in from work and check your inbox to see if you have another admirer? If you do, you could be hooked on online dating. You crave the attention of another single, but deep down you don?t really want to settle down.

While you are dating someone offline, are you still checking your inbox when you get home? Are you always on the lookout for someone you feel will be better? These are classic signs of someone who is hooked on online dating.

Have you received a wink off of another single then cancelled an already arranged date? This is generally done by singles that are active with more than one person at a time while dating online. They arrange a date with one single, but deep down they want to go out with the other single. Then they go out on the date and realize it may have been a mistake, and hope the other single is still interested.

Finding a fault with everyone is another sign of addiction. Always looking for someone to be perfect, but that will never happen, you don?t want it to. Remember, you?re addicted, and the next person you date will always be better. You can go back to your inbox, and see who is contacting you.

The enjoyment of going to a restaurant with someone different is a turn on for you. That continual initial attraction is far more appealing than a long term relationship ever will be. It?s lust that you?re after, and not love.

Splitting up comes easy to an online dating addict. Reconciliation?s are not even mentioned. What ever the reason was for splitting up, they will be forgotten once back online, and looking for more fish in the sea.

Seeing a relationship through takes character and strength. Any challenges should be talked about, and not just used as an excuse to split up, and move on. These obstacles will build the relationship so it grows and becomes stronger.

The reason for starting online dating is to meet someone. Someone you can commit too. Not every relationship is going to work out, wanting it too will give it a much better chance of survival.

Source: http://loveblogsession.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/are-you-hooked-on-online-dating/

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London 2012: China's Ye Shiwen staggered the world ? even Ryan Lochte

The morning after the night before there was only one name on everybody's lips. It was not Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps. In fact it was exactly the same person those two had been talking about themselves: Ye Shiwen. The 16-year-old, born and raised in Hangzhou out on the east coast of China, became the first swimmer to break a world record at these Olympics when she knocked more than a second off the time that won Steph Rice gold back in Beijing in 2008. And Rice had the advantage of swimming in a polyurethane suit, of the kind long since banned by the sport's governing body, Fina. It was not just Ye's speed, or her age, that was so staggering ? it was the manner of her victory.

After 300m of fly, back and breaststroke, Ye was eight-tenths of a second behind USA's world champion, Elizabeth Beisel. And then, with 100m to go, something extraordinary happened. She swam her first 50m of freestyle in 29.25sec, and her second in 28.93. Those are just numbers, and mean little to those who do not study the sport. To put them in context, consider this: Ye was faster in the final 50m of her own 400m IM than Lochte was in his.

"Yeah, we were talking about that at dinner," Lochte said. "It is pretty impressive. She's fast. If she was there with me, she might have beat me." There's no might about it. Ye was 0.17 quicker over the final 50m of freestyle than the man many reckon to be the greatest all-round swimmer in the world. Beisel, Lochte's training partner, had no chance. She was two seconds slower over the final 50m.

It is the first time in history such a thing has happened. But it will not be the last. Ominously, Ye is certain she can get better still, and seeing as she is only 16, who can doubt her? "There's much room for improvement," she said. "It's true for breaststroke I am lagging behind but I think my freestyle result is also not that good. Usually I'm very bad at turning. This is one of my worst basic skills, but turning is a very important skill, therefore I was practising my turns before the competition." She says she is even better at the 200m IM, the event in which she won gold at the world championships in Shanghai last year, when she was 15.

Ye's team-mate Li Xuanxu took bronze and she is only 17 herself. She too came home in under 30 seconds, with a time of 29.77. The next best split was almost a second slower.

Then there was Sun Yang, 20, and also from Hangzhou. The world knew a little more about him, after he beat the longest-standing record in swimming at the world championships last year, taking 0.42 off the 1500m time set by the great Grant Hackett back in 2001.

Sun won the 800m in Shanghai, too. In London he has already won gold and set a new Olympic record in the 400m freestyle, beating South Korea's world and Olympic champion Park Tae-hwan. And on Sunday morning he was the fastest-qualifier in the heats of the 200m freestyle, pipping Lochte. It is entirely possible that Sun will sweep all the freestyle distances from 200m to 1500m.

China's success has prompted, with tedious predictability, dark mutterings about exactly how they are achieving it. Over the course of the 1990s they had 40 swimmers banned after positive doping tests. The sceptics ? or perhaps cynics ? would say that the doubts about Ye, Li and Sun are the inevitable consequence of that history.

There is, of course, no evidence to support such thoughts other than the talent and speed of the athletes themselves. Surely the success of this young generation stems from a legacy of a very different kind ? that of the Beijing Olympics. China has sent 49 swimmers to these Games, and 27 of them were born after 1990. On the women's side, there are eight who were born in 1995 or after. The country's success in the Aquatics Centre surely owes a lot to the investment in the sport made before the 2008 Games.

Their medals could also owe something to the unique talent identification system China uses to stream children into different sports. In his excellent 2003 profile of Yao Ming for the New Yorker, Pete Hessler, talks about how Chinese basketball players are selected strictly on the basis of their height and genealogy. "We go to the schools and look at the children's height, and then we check their parents' height," Hessler was told by one high school coach. "The method of early recruitment is a product of China's inability to provide every public school with coaches and sports facilities," Hessler wrote. "The system has proved effective in low-participation, routine-based sports like gymnastics and diving." And also, it seems, swimming.

Ye says she started swimming in 2003 because her "teacher spotted she had big hands". In swimming, where physique determines so much, the rather-rudimentary method of recruiting young athletes on the basis of their physical characteristics rather than their talent or inclination for the sport, appears to work well. It is coupled, of course, to an infamously fierce training programme, to the point where Ye was asked whether she resented being treated like a robot. "Of course not," she replied. "I think we have very good training, very scientific-based training, that's why we all have progressed."

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/world-affairs/198923-london-2012-chinas-ye-shiwen-staggered-world-even-ryan-lochte.html

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Daily Kos: Highmark, official USOC health insurance supplier, sells ...

Well, it looks like the broken, collapsed and shameful American "healthcare" system has even crawled up the ass of elite Olympic athletes.

Highmark is a proud official Olympic supplier. Highmark even produced Olympic athlete testimonial videos which you can watch here. But like just like so much in our country, what you quite literally see, is not exactly what you get.

I tried to find out how much Highmark pays the USOC for the right to be called a "supplier", if any great sleuths can find that information, please let us know.

Given out-of-control healthcare costs in the U.S. healthcare system, when you begin to see Highmark advertising during the Olympics, keep in mind, this is money being taken from health insurance premiums to market their odious and defective product.

This information about elite U.S. athletes and the gauntlet they run in attempting to obtain health insurance, is quite shocking to read, coming on the heels of the ?London 2012 opening ceremony celebration of Britain's revered NHS.

Thanks to Kaiser Health News, we have a little peek into this seedy side of life American Olympic athletes face in obtaining health insurance, and the quality of the insurance they receive.

The Kaiser article makes clear, that no one who knows anything (Highmark and the United States Olympic Committee) wants to talk about this under-reported American reality. What exactly are the benefits these athletes are paying for? As Americans who battle these insurance companies every day over denied care, and delayed claims payment, we know the athletes are paying a lot for very little. There is no doubt, they are being gouged, just like the rest of us.

Of course, if the United States had universal healthcare, as the rest of the industrialized world has, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

"It's a similar plan with similar benefits to those people might have through an employer," said Steven Nelson, a senior vice president with Highmark. PPO Blue is also available on the individual market.

Nelson would not provide specific details about the USOC health plan, which offers preventive services and other benefits, both in the U.S. and overseas. Nelson did say that the committee can tailor its plan to the demands of athletes, such as physical therapy benefits. The USOC also did not provide comment on plan specifics.

Got that? USOC news blackout on "plan specifics". But Kaiser does report that the ?U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, has a EAHI plan with a $25,000 deductible for sports injuries.

Highmark proudly self identifies as an official Olympic supplier, because it is the provider of a very defective high deductible junk insurance product for a few Olympic athletes who pass muster and qualify for their largesse.

Highmark provides something calledELITE ATHLETE HEALTH INSURANCE (EAHI), each team gets a certain number of slots. What happens if the team has utilized all its slots and an athlete requires coverage--I don't have a clue.

As stated, on sports related injuries the plan has a $25,000 deductible. Access is denied ?to the Snowboard Association link which evidently refers to the $25,000 deductible. If anyone can get that page, please let us know, and email it to Christian Torres CTorres@kff.org, the Kaiser reporter.

EAHI also has a $25,000 deductible for sports injuries, according to recent plan information from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. The large deductible and athletes? high risk of injury may drive them toward other insurance options.

The 2012 Badminton Team was given Five (5) slots.

2012 ELITE ATHLETE HEALTH INSURANCE (EAHI)

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Elite Athlete Health Insurance Program (EAHI) provides a level of base support by offering a program of health and major medical insurance for designated Elite Athletes in order to minimize the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by insured athletes for costs of medical care.

USA Badminton receives from the USOC a guaranteed number of EAHI slots to distribute to its Elite Athletes. ?Distribution of these EAHI slots is based on the following criteria (see below) approved by the USOC. ?

A. Number of EAHI slots allocated: 5

B. Eligibility and Criteria Approved for EAHI:

? ? Only U.S. Citizens are eligible for EAHI.
? ? ?Up to 5 athletes will be offered EAHI based on the following prioritized order below. In order to be eligible athletes must be currently training and competing in international competitions and have a current Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Ranking for the United States.
? ? The following prioritized order will be applied May 3rd, 2012 allowing athletes to be offered and enrolled in EAHI on June 1st, 2012. Enrollment is dependent on the timely submission of necessary paperwork:

1. Priority will be given to all 2012 Olympic Team Members (OTM). If more athletes qualify for the OTM than EAHI slots available, the EAHI slots will be offered to the OTM with the highest BWF World-Ranking as of May 3, 2012.

2. If EAHI slots are still available, the second priority will be given to athletes according to the highest BWF World-Ranking as of May 3, 2012. Athletes must have a ranking of 125 or better to be eligible.
?3. If an EAHI slot is offered to a doubles team and one of the team members declines or already has been offered an EAHI slot, his/her partner will still be offered an EAHI slot.

4. If only one slot is available at any time during the process then the next highest BWF ranked Men?s or Women?s singles player based on the BWF World Ranking on May 3rd 2012 will be offered the slot. Athletes must have a ranking of 125 or better to be eligible.

Take a look at the lengthy eligibility requirements posted by the Canoe and Kayak Team for the EAHI insurance.

It looks like it more difficult to get insurance than to make the team!

So as you?re watching the best athletes from the United States and the rest of the world, keep in mind that while they may be capable of superhuman feats, American athletes, unlike most of their counterparts, struggle to find affordable health insurance and health care, just like the rest of us.

Source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/28/1114511/-Highmark-official-USOC-health-insurance-supplier-sells-junk-insurance-to-elite-athletes

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Yanks beat Red Sox again; Ichiro makes NY debut

By HOWIE RUMBERG

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:12 p.m. ET July 27, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) - Ichiro Suzuki stood in right field of a packed Yankee Stadium, wearing New York's famed pinstripes for the first time, and needed a reality check.

"In Japan we say you grab your cheek, you twist your cheek, to see if it's real or not, to see if I'm not dreaming," Suzuki said. "And that's really how I feel right now."

Oh it was real all right, Ichiro.

Raul Ibanez and Russell Martin hit two-run homers, Curtis Granderson capped the scoring with an eighth-inning grand slam and the Yankees powered past the Boston Red Sox 10-3 on Friday night.

In Suzuki's first home game with the Yankees, Phil Hughes (10-8) gave up three solo homers but little else in seven innings to help the Yankees beat Boston for the sixth time in seven games this year - New York's best start to a season against the Red Sox since opening 6-0 in 1994.

The rivals were meeting in the Bronx for the first time this year, the latest in a non-strike season the teams have met at Yankee Stadium. New York was returning from a rough 2-5 trip in which the Yankees lost Alex Rodriguez to a broken hand. The Red Sox had won just once in six games coming in. The loss dropped them to 49-51.

"We're two games under .500. We're the Boston Red Sox, so if anyone's thrilled with where we're at they better reevaluate because I don't like losing. I know everyone else doesn't like losing," Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "We've got to play better, now."

With the Red Sox foundering in last place in the AL East and David Ortiz and Rodriguez on the disabled list, it felt as if the rivalry had lost some of its luster. Suzuki's presence helped give the game some buzz.

The 10-time All-Star was dealt to New York during its visit to Seattle on Monday. He started in right field and batted eighth Friday. Suzuki was met with a sustained ovation followed by chants of "Iiiichiro," when he came up for the first time in the second inning. He hit a fly to center field.

In his second at-bat, he singled and scored on Martin's two-run homer to left field off Aaron Cook (2-4). Suzuki finished 1-for-4 and scored twice, including his first run with the Yankees.

""It has been a while since this type of experience," Suzuki said of the atmosphere and winning attitude in New York.

Almost as if they were toying with Boston in Bobby Valentine's first trip to New York as a manager since he was fired by the Mets in 2002, the Yankees scored in the bottom half of each of the three innings the Red Sox homered.

Pedroia gave Boston the lead with a drive to left off Hughes on a full-count pitch in the first. But Ibanez followed with a two-run shot in the bottom half when the Yankees scored three times after the Red Sox failed to turn what could have been an easy inning-ending double play.

With runners on first and third and shortstop Mike Aviles behind second base in a shift, Mark Teixeira hit a routine grounder to Pedroia. He made a quick toss to Aviles, who was slow to make the turn and Teixeira beat the throw. A run scored and Ibanez then hit a line drive into the first few rows of the short right field porch.

"Tex did a great job of hustling that out," Ibanez said. "He was responsible for that inning."

Valentine said of the missed opportunity:

"He's playing the shift and he comes over to the base from the other side. It was an awkward throw," he said.

In the third, Carl Crawford homered for the first time this season - in his 10th game - after missing the first 90 because of wrist surgery and several setbacks. Teixeira had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

The catchers traded long balls in the fourth. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his 20th of the year. Martin responded with his 11th for a 6-3 lead.

Hughes retired 10 of his final 11 batters, allowing only a walk to Jacoby Ellsbury in the fifth. Overall he yielded five hits and one walk. Hughes struck out five. The three homers gave him 25, tying him for the major league lead with Seattle's Jason Vargas.

"He did a nice job after we got the lead to 6-3," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He settled down nicely."

Cook gave up six runs and seven hits in four innings for Boston.

Yankees third baseman Eric Chavez was hit by a pitch above the right ankle in the eighth. X-rays were negative but he said the leg was sore. Already not scheduled to play Saturday, Chavez said he was not sure if he would be able to pinch-hit Saturday. He has to see how he feels in the morning.

Granderson hit the Yankees' seventh grand slam this season off former New York reliever Mark Melancon.

NOTES: In the 1981, strike-interrupted season, the Red Sox first played in New York on Sept. 11. ... Ortiz had his walking boot removed and tested his strained right Achilles by taking batting practice before the game. ... Girardi said RF Nick Swisher (hip flexor) might play Saturday. ... Yankees RHP Joba Chamberlain (dislocated ankle) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Double-A Trenton on Sunday.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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HBT: Already playing well, the Angels may not be any better after?acquiring former Cy Young winner?Zack Greinke from the Brewers.

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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48365068/ns/sports-baseball/

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Oil higher on stimulus hopes, weaker dollar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose a fourth day on Friday on hopes for more stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the weaker dollar after data showed U.S. economic growth slowed in the second quarter as expected .

Dollar-denominated crude futures received additional lift from the euro's strength and the dollar's weakness <.dxy> after French leader Francois Hollande and his German counterpart, Angela Merkel, said they are determined to do all they can to safeguard the single currency.

The French and German comments followed Thursday's stock market and oil move higher after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the ECB was ready to do whatever it takes within its mandate to preserve the euro.

Sputtering U.S. growth has encouraged some economists and market participants to expect that the Federal Reserve will act to provide more economic stimulus, a move that would probably weaken the dollar.

"Financial markets see a benign mix of gently rising risk appetite as worries over an imminent euro zone disaster ease and prospects for another U.S. stimulus increase," said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

Brent September crude rose 84 cents to $106.10 a barrel by 1:59 p.m. EDT (1759 GMT), having swung from $105.02 to $106.50. The premium to October Brent stayed above $1 a barrel.

U.S. September crude was up 73 cents at $90.12 a barrel, having traded from $89.13 to $90.45.

Total Brent crude trading volume lagged the 30-day average by 41 percent, while U.S. turnover trailed its 30-day average by 45 percent.

This week's string of advances still left Brent and U.S. front-month prices on pace to post weekly losses. Brent requires a settlement above $106.83, and U.S. above $91.44, to avoid finishing the week lower.

But both contracts stayed on track to register healthy monthly gains next week, after both Brent and U.S. crude suffered double-digit tumbles in the second quarter.

Oil prices held gains after the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final reading showed U.S. consumer sentiment fell in July to its lowest level of the year.

U.S. economic growth slowed as expected in the second quarter, expanding at an annual rate of 1.5 percent, leaving open the door for the Federal Reserve to decide additional stimulus is needed.

"The 1.5 percent reading may make somewhat more difficult for the Federal Reserve to embark on additional easing, but does not preclude it in the least," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

"The prospect for easing will be supportive for crude oil, other commodities and equities," he added.

U.S. stocks advanced on the expectations for more central bank action, with the S&P 500 reaching the highest level since May 4. <.n/>

The Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB index <.crb>, a commodity market bellwether containing 19 components, pushed up 0.62 percent.

MIDDLE EAST UNCERTAINTY PERSISTS

The violence and turmoil in Syria and tension between the West and Iran over the disputed Iranian nuclear program continue to fuel uncertainty in oil markets.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces renewed a ground and aerial bombardment of Aleppo on Friday, extending efforts to crush rebels in Syria's commercial capital in what the United States said it feared could become a massacre.

Iran has allocated billions of dollars to insure its oil tankers itself, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday, Tehran's latest effort get oil to buyers through the financing obstacles set by Western sanctions.

In addition to an embargo on purchasing Iranian oil, the European Union on July 1 imposed a ban on insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil.

Iranian tensions and expectations that central banks will continue to print money caused analysts in a monthly Reuters poll to project higher average prices for Brent and U.S. crude for 2013.

(Additional reporting by Gene Ramos in New York, Christopher Johnson in New York and Luke Pachymuthu in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brent-trades-over-105-supported-ecb-comments-u-030254537--finance.html

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DPC Outdoor featured in Travel + Leisure Adventure Files - blog*spot

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://dorfmanpacificinthenews.blogspot.com/2012/07/dpc-outdoor-featured-in-travel-leisure.html

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Netherlands suspends aid to Rwanda over DR Congo unrest

The Netherlands has suspended part of its development aid to Rwanda because of Kigali's alleged support for rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said Friday.

The amount concerns "payments of sectorial budget support for improvement of the Rwandan justice system," worth five million euros ($6.2 million) this year, a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP.

The suspension, which does not impact aid for relief programmes carried out by non-governmental organisations, is temporary, the spokesman said.

A more definitive position on development cooperation with Kigali will be determined by "an assessment of Rwanda's formal reaction on the findings of the UN Group of experts and developments in the field, (including) an immediate end to support to rebels in DRC from Rwandan territory."

Rwanda has persistently denied reports that it is in any way backing a rebel movement formed by ethnic Tutsi mutinous soldiers in the DR Congo'seastern Nord-Kivu province and named M23.

A report by the UN Group of Experts published at the end of June said M23 has been receiving direct aid from top Rwandan officials, including weapons, ammunition and recruits.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo deplored the "hasty decisions based on flimsy evidence" and repeated Kigali's denial of support to DR Congo rebels.

"We have just concluded discussions with the (UN) Group of Experts and comprehensively rebutted every one of the allegations with conclusive documentary evidence," Mushikiwabo said in a statement.

"Once we share this with development partners, we believe this will provide them the reassurance they seek in light of an orchestrated media and political campaign to blame Rwanda for this crisis," she added.

M23 emerged from a former rebel force in Nord-Kivu, the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). These insurgents were integrated into the DR Congo army under an accord signed on March 23, 2009, but M23 claims that Congolese President Joseph Kabila has reneged on the deal.

The mutineers have been fighting the Congolese army from their bases near the border with Rwanda and Uganda since May.

The decision by the Netherlands comes after the United States announced on Sunday that it was suspending all military aid to the Kigali government, also basing its decision on the UN Group of Experts report.

Washington cut $200,000 allocated to a Rwandan military academy, but said that Rwanda would still receive assistance for its work in peacekeeping programmes.

Rwanda's 1994 genocide claimed some 800,000 lives> It has since been accused on several occasions of aiding Tutsi forces in DR Congo to combat Hutu rebels active on its western border.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/netherlands-suspends-aid-rwanda-over-dr-congo-unrest-132513805.html

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Adoption Consultants | Scottsdale Moms Blog

One of the most common concerns in adoption is the finances.? Although it needs discussion, it should never deter a family from adopting.? All children cost money to come home to their families, whether biologically or through adoption.? It is just that we usually have insurance to help with medical costs of a biological child.? Adoption is like a delivery without insurance.? You could have costs similar to an unassisted home birth all the way up to an emergency c-section with a NICU stay.? For instance, you could adopt through the foster care system with little to no cost all the way up to a drawn out international adoption.? No matter what your story is, all children cost money.

We have 4 children through adoption and there are many people over the years that have said there were more cost efficient ways to adopt.? The truth is, though, these were our children and we would have gone anywhere and done anything to bring them home.? For all of them, we used methods to connect us with lawyers that processed our paperwork.? With our daughters? international adoptions, we had an organization here in the states connected us with a lawyer in country.? The fees associated with working with them were necessary in an international adoption.? They assisted in the care at the orphanage, paid the paperwork and lawyer fees, organized trips, provided escorts when needed and kept us abreast of movement in our adoption. Using an independent organization is not typical as most countries people adopt from are a part of the Hague Convention and require accredited agencies to be used. Our daughters? birth country was not a part of the Hague Convention, and this organization and lawyer were the best route for us.

Last year, we brought home a son domestically as a newborn.? For his adoption, we also didn?t use a conventional route for adoption.? We weren?t new to the adoption process, but we were new to the domestic protocol and programs.? We made a decision to add another fee to our adoption journey.? It was a decision we have never regretted.? We found an adoption consultant.? It was a pretty spectacular experience for us and one I recommend now.? We used Tracie with Christian Adoption Consultants.? Tracie was kind and encouraging.? As an adoptive mother herself, she is intimately aware of what families are going through and sensitive to their individual journeys.? She was our guide through the adoption process.? She could help with every step of the process, from creating a profile to raising finances to matching with agencies and birth mothers.? Having gone through adoptions and home studies before, her most valuable role to us was to network with accredited agencies throughout the country that met our requirements.? She did the leg work for us, reducing the wait time immensely.? We signed on with her on a Tuesday and on Thursday, we were matched with the lawyer that would help us find our son.? The lawyer?s fees were comparable to that of other adoption agencies.? The following Thursday, we were matched with our son?s birth mother.

All of the time, new resources and people step up to aid in connecting families with children in need.? An adoption consultant is a new and brilliant way to take the stress out of the unknowns.? It is like putting an expert in your back pocket.? Quite honestly, even just a year later, the money we poured into bringing our son home?even the ?extra? costs, are a distant memory.? I would have done a thousand fundraisers to bring him home.? You can?t really put a price tag on investing in a child, can you? He was so worth it, and it was money well spent.

About Cate Johnson

Cate Johnson has been married to her best friend, Sean, for 10 years. She is the mother to their three Haitian princesses who came home forever in 2008. They also brought home a son domestically in March 2011. She is passionate about Jesus, photography, writing and adoption and attachment. She also loves coming alongside prospective adoptive parents as well as those struggling through transition and attachment. Cate blogs about all of these topics and more at Gathered From Afar and Attaching Hearts.

Source: http://www.scottsdalemomsblog.com/2012/07/26/adoption-consultants/

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House GOP set to pass latest anti-regulation bill | Long Island ...

by The Associated Press
Published: July 26, 2012
Tags: GOP, government regulations, House of Representatives, jobs, Republicans, unemployment rate

House Republicans are set to pass a bill that would freeze major government regulations until the unemployment rate drops to 6 percent ? it?s now 8.2 percent..

The latest GOP attempt to rein in Obama administration rulemaking is virtually certain to die in the Democratic Senate.

Republicans lawmakers are making the same kind of arguments as they did in earlier anti-regulation bills. They say unelected bureaucrats are preventing hiring and are hurting small businesses.

Democrats say the legislation would harm consumer protection, health care, aid to veterans, food safety and workplace safety rules.

The measure would affect proposed rules across the board. Its scope rivals that of a Republican bill passed last December that would give Congress the power to approve any major regulation from the executive branch.

More breaking news

Source: http://libn.com/2012/07/26/house-gop-set-to-pass-latest-anti-regulation-bill/

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Synthetic drug raids: 90 arrested, $36 million seized

The DEA and law enforcement agencies from across the US strike against synthetic drugs, arresting 90 people, confiscating more than $36 million in cash, and seizing millions of packets of drugs. NBC's Erika Edwards reports.

By Louis Casiano, NBC News

In the first-ever nationwide crackdown on the synthetic drug industry, law enforcement officers arrested more than 90 people, seized $36 million in cash and more than 4.8 million packets of synthetic cannabinoids Wednesday, authorities said.?

Agents also confiscated material to make 13.6 million more packages and 167,000 packages of synthetic hallucinogens, more commonly known as bath salts. In addition, materials to make 392,000 more packets of bath salts were seized.?

Operation Log Jam, a joint effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and federal and local agencies, was conducted in more than 90 cities spanning 30 states, DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said at a news conference Thursday.?

She said the raids included 29 manufacturing facilities at every level of the industry,?from small-scale operations to large warehouses.

"The web of connections between the suppliers and the?distributors and the?retailers?is enormous and it's complex," she said.?

---

Fifty-three weapons and $6 million in assets were also seized during the operation.

Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com

"We also found a number of people involved that are new to the drug business and have now been able to make connections with some of these more seasoned traffickers, and over 70 cases that DEA brought to the table, finding connections between them at all levels," Leonhart said.

In?addition?to the raids, criminal investigation specialists?with the Internal Revenue Service followed the money trail between the parties involved.?

"The major goal is to document the movement of money during the course of the crime, link between where the money comes from, who gets this," said Richard Weber, IRS?Chief?of Criminal Investigation.

Tobacco, smoke shops and adult stores cooperated with the Department of Homeland Security, said James Chaparro, acting director of ICE?s Office of Homeland Security Investigations.?

Law enforcement officers in West Palm Beach, Fla. arrested three men involved with Kratom Labs, the maker of the drug, ?Mr. Nice Guy.? NBC station WPTV?reported.? The station reported the drug is labeled as incense and was distributed throughout the country.

The owner of a store and warehouse in New York State was arrested after authorities swept in and seized synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic amphetamines that mimic the affects of marijuana and meth.

Officers said they had warrants to seize $400,000 of the man?s funds.?

Video: DEA news conference

Authorities?looked at mail?facilities that are used by?traffickers?to ship chemicals internationally and domestically.

"The more we can keep it out of the country, the more we can protect public safety," Chaparro said.?

Synthetic drugs, some known as bath salts, K-2, Spice and Vanilla Sky, have been?deceptively?marketed to young people, causing health problems and even death, Leonhart said.

"What's troubling is they're marketing to young people, young people have an outlet at these smoke shops, these retail outlets," she said.

Many of the drugs have a disclaimer warning against human consumption, but Leonhart said that's just a way to cover up the danger they pose.

"So little know about these substances, because of the dangers, you've seen the headlines, people who have committed murders, suicide, those calls to poison control."

DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart discusses 'Operation Logjam,' the first nationwide law enforcement strike which targeted synthetic drugs across 90 cities in 30 states.

She told reporters the problem of synthetic drug use is a bigger problem than most people think.?

"I put it up there with prescription drugs because they're emerging problems," she said.

Officials said calls to?poison?controls centers involving synthetic drugs in the last year have increased twenty-fold.

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Chaparro said the problems with these drugs aren't limited?to the U.S.

Earlier this month, President Barrack Obama signed a bill that banned the sale, production and?possession?of some chemicals used for making many types of synthetic drugs. The bill added 15 synthetic drugs to the Controlled Substances Act.?

Synthetic drugs were initially thought to be a factor in an infamous case in Miami in May, when a naked man was fatally shot while chewing the face of a homeless man. But toxicology tests found he had only marijuana?in his system.?

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/26/12972034-nationwide-raids-on-synthetic-drug-labs-lead-to-90-arrests-seizure-of-36-million?lite

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Love your Garden ? Episode 5 | Anglian Home Improvements Blog

Beautiful gardens can change your life and this week?s edition of Love your Garden 2 from the birthplace of Anglian in ?Norwich, was?no exception.

Ian Costello and his family had recently moved to Norwich following his release from the Light Dragoons Regiment based in Norfolk. Ian had sustained terrible multiple injuries from an incident which included 49 broken bones, fractures and two shattered feet whilst serving in Afghanistan. ? Unfortunately, after many months of rehabilitation, Ian is unable to continue his duties in the Army and has been released in to civvy street, to start a new life with his family.

?

Image from ITV ? Love your Garden

Ian, his wife Lyndsey and three children have recently moved from the family quarters on Army camp to the Douglas Haig Memorial Homes. ?The Charitable Trust?s objective is to provide housing assistance for ex-Service people and/or their dependants. ?The Trust was set up in 1929 as a memorial to Field Marshal Earl Haig in recognition of his work to highlight and solve many problems facing ex-Service people and their families.

Once the family had got over the shock of Alan standing on their doorstep, Ian explained his injuries and difficulty with movement, he would like a garden that was low maintenance. It needed to be somewhere to relax with the family and watch the children play. ?As a man in the forces and used to discipline, Ian liked things to look tidy, regimented in straight lines, but also wanted a modern Hollywood style and feel.

The current garden was overgrown and with no features. ?With Ian?s injuries and ongoing recovery it made tackling the garden an impossible task. ?He just wanted to be able to use the garden and for it to look nice for the family.

Alan and the trusted team of David Domoney, Katie Rushworth, Francis Tophill and David Dodd?s garden crew got to work by stripping and levelling the garden.

The first thing to go into the garden from the initial design was the sub frame for the decking and paths. ?This would link the house to the garden and give structure to the garden allowing for the other elements ?to be introduced.

There were a number of options for the type of decking these included; ?soft wood plank ? high maintenance, hard wood plank ? expensive and a composite plank that was made from recycled plastic. ?This would need no maintenance and because of the surface finish, would be non-slip and would be the best one for this garden.

With a play house, Castle climbing frame and a outdoor covered entertaining area to go up, there was a lot of building to do. ?As an additional surprise, a Jacuzzi was added into the mix to enable the ?warm waters to help with Ian?s continued rehabilitation.

The garden had been split into areas so that everyone could enjoy their own space and privacy, while relaxing. ?The art of a good garden was to blend the areas so they flowed. ?Screening for the area was achieved using tall Conifers and Bamboo plants.

Image from ITV ? Love your Garden

Alan visited a garden in Guilford for additional inspiration for the Hollywood feel. ?The garden had a contemporary feel with timber and stone flooring, straight lines from raised beds and a water feature, all with hard edges helping to divide up the garden into areas. ?There was minimal planting around the garden and lots of structural plants in pots, two by two, enhancing the areas ?and views from the house.

When choosing pots to use in the garden, always think about the style and colour of the pot, whether it will blend in with the scheme or stand out like a sore thumb. ?The size of the plant you put into the pot must be considered to ensure that it gives a balanced look creating harmony in the garden. ?Soften hard edges of beds with plants?that?compliment the colours used.

As with any family there are always things that are wanted by everyone to maintain their interest and pleasure. ?After visiting a garden at the Old Rectory that was adult and child friendly we saw the?inclusion?a?home built?insect hotel, hopscotch path, sand pit and an area where the trampoline had been sunken into the garden. ?Inspiration was gleaned for a raised?kitchen vegetable garden which would add striking colours with the choice of vegetables used in the planting scheme.

The team created raised vegetable beds using railway sleepers and planted the beds in the ?Potage? style, giving blocks of colour. ?Ian?s regimental badge was copied and used as a template for the planting. These beds would give lots of fresh vegetables for the family to eat.

Eventually, after lots of hard work and what appeared to be some dry weather for a change, the team finished planting the garden with a selection of bright flowers which included; ?Salvia, Stargazer Lilies, Astrinariums and Geum, ?all added impact to the grey coloured decking and painted fences.

Image from David Domoney

The garden was transformed from the overgrown mess that no-one wanted to be in, to a wonderful sleek area for all the family to enjoy together. ?Ian and Lyndsey were speechless at the transformation that had happened and were sure that this was the start of their new lives outside the Army.

Source: http://blog.anglianhome.co.uk/garden-news/love-your-garden-episode-5/

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Family Financial Literacy Day and Job Hiring ? Greater Stark ...

The Greater Stark County Urban League in partnership with Fifth Third Bank EBUS, North West Mutual, ABCD Inc, Ohio University Extension and Susan Komen Foundation NE Ohio
When:
Fifth Third EBUS Family Financial Literacy Day and Job Hiring
Aug 14, 2012 10:00AM-3:00PM at the Greater Stark County Urban League Community Room
Why:
Mission to empower the community of Greater Stark County with the tools for Financial Health
What:
Objective -To expand the knowledge and understanding of financial health to empower the community we serve. Through collaboration and partnerships increase financial literacy in personal finance matters. The mission is to provide all participants with education on complete financial health. The goal is to help participants make better decisions pertaining to certain personal finance areas like credit recovery, insurance, investing, saving (especially for college), tax planning, job development, retirement, mortgages, small business start-up, and much more. While using an approach that also involves intimate knowledge of financial concepts like financial planning, the mechanics of a credit card, advantageous savings methods, consumer rights, time value of money.
ALL DAY:
? Hiring for Jobs available with Fifth Third and others TBA
? Housing opportunities-Greater Stark County Urban League
? Voter registration drive- Greater Stark County Urban League
? Receive assistance with requesting a credit report.- Fifth Third EBUS
? Receive a free personalized evaluation of finances-Fifth Third EBUS.
? Browse self-directed programs on homeownership and credit counseling Fifth Third EBUS.
? Receive a free consultation on loss mitigation and foreclosure prevention.-Fifth Third EBUS
? Learn about fraud awareness and prevention.-Fifth Third EBUS
? View Internet banking and bill payment demonstrations.- Fifth Third EBUS
? Classes how to start a business- ABCD Inc.
? Health Awareness ? Ohio State University Extension
? Breast Health Awareness for women and men- Susan Komen Foundation NE Ohio
? Investing- North West Mutual
Pre-registration is required and limited
Questions about this workshop, to register or for more information about the Greater Stark County Urban League, please contact Monique Cox-Moore Financial Literacy Coordinator at 330 456-3479 ex 125 or mcoxmoore@starkcountyul.org please visit www.starkul.org

Source: http://starkcountyul.org/?p=3674

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Children&#39;s Health & Fitness ? Quarterback Scramble Aims To Tackle ...

July 24th, 2012 by Len Saunders

From Shore News Today?..

Ron Jaworski?s football-themed Quarterback Scramble, a 5K run and 1-mile walk for participants of all ages will take place 8-10 a.m. Sunday, July 29 at 82nd Street Park in Stone Harbor.

The event benefits benefit the Jaws Youth Playbook, a program aimed at tackling childhood obesity.

Register online at QBscramble.com or in person 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Windrift in Avalon or 6:30-8 a.m. Sunday at 82nd Street Park in Stone Harbor. Those who are already registered can pick up their pick up their race number, race shirt and goody bag at that time.

The event will begin 8 a.m. with the Kids Touchdown Run, a 100-yard dash open to kids 10 and younger.

Kids TD Run participants will receive a T-shirt, race number and snacks at the goal line, and Rookie of the year awards be given for first, second and third place.

The 5K will step off at 8:15 a.m., followed by the walk at 8:20.

A post-race tailgate with 5K and team awards is scheduled for 9 a.m.

The USATF certified course for the 5K will loop through Stone Harbor with the start and finish line on First Avenue at 82nd Street Park.

There will be water stations along the course, as well as at the finish line.

To read the full story?..Click here

Entry Filed under: Health / Fitness Articles

Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=2418

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Only WEIRD People Volunteer | travel sercity

July 24, 2012 Maddy Vonhoff Uncategorized,

Without a doubt, international volunteering is more popular than ever. A perceived need for international volunteers has prompted a movement for ?voluntourism?. Over one million people in the United States volunteered internationally in 2008 alone which increased from 145,000 volunteers in 2004. While seemingly positive, this could pose a problem because only WEIRD people volunteer.

That is, the typical volunteer is white, educated, industrialized, rich, and from a democratic culture. This idea of WEIRD people is a recent topic in psychology, where the thought that maybe white undergraduate students are not indicative of worldwide views is a novel one (Jones, 2010). However, I thought it was incredibly applicable in international volunteering. In a study by Lough (2010), the largest percent of international volunteers (30%) were between the ages of 15 to 24 followed by people between the ages 45-54. In addition, over half of the sample had a bachelor?s degree or higher. Volunteers are usually white (88%) compared to any other ethnic group. In addition, McBride and Lough (2010) found that white people were more than twice as likely to volunteer abroad than black people. 1 in 3 volunteers lived in a home with an income of over 100,000 dollars. Thus, the typical international volunteer is white, financially secure, educated, and young.

While this seems like common sense and perhaps unavoidable (families with higher amounts of income would have more resources to volunteer), how does having such a homogenous volunteer base affect cross-cultural relationships? In a study by Cross-Cultural Solutions (2009), one of the largest international volunteer organizations, they surveyed alumni volunteers on their experiences volunteering abroad. Volunteers thought they were most effective while promoting cross-cultural interaction, caring for infants and children in daycare facilities; tutoring or teaching youth and adults; and collecting, preparing, or distributing foods, crafts, or other goods. 25% of volunteers believed that their work could have been performed by a local community member, but only 11% believed that a local could have done it better. 76% of volunteers thought they made a lasting contribution to the host organization. That is, only 11% of the volunteer base believed a local could have taught in their local community, cared for their own children, and engaged in cultural practices better than a volunteer with limited knowledge of the host community. Typically, the majority of volunteers did not think their presence has many negative effects on a community. Only 18% of volunteers believed they caused problems within the host community and 6% believed the community did not want them or need them.

This begs the question, why do volunteers see themselves as equally capable, if not more, in practices rooted in culture and lifestyles. Unfortunately, as the majority of international volunteers are WEIRD, we might be perpetrating ideas of white privilege and creating unequal relationships unconsciously. Peggy McIntosh speaks about white privilege in her article, ?White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack? (2003) and states that ?whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work that will allow them to be more like us?. White people can afford to be oblivious of language and customs of persons of color without feeling any penalty. In addition, white people experience little fear about ignoring the perspectives and powers of people of other races.

As a result, it is possible that international volunteers could not only be ignorant of other cultures and unhelpful volunteers, they could unconsciously ignore the perspectives and ideas of the very cultures they are trying to help. This leads to Western solutions for problems that might not be culturally relevant since western volunteers have never had to be culturally sensitive before.? This can also be reversed to apply to ethnic cultures. Members of developing countries have to worry about including the perspectives of other races, learning the customs, dress, and language of other countries, particularly the United States and other Western nations, if they wish to receive foreign aid. Thus they cater to us to make sure we feel comfortable while working abroad.

This hit home for me while I was in Kenya last summer. I asked our partner organization Abba, a local elementary school/orphanage, when it would be a good time for me to? come in and teach. The reply was a resounding ?anytime!? However, I found out later in the day that they had exams for the next two weeks, in which my presence would have been distracting at best. I asked our Kenyan advisor, Carol, if Kenyans do not use the word ?no?. She said that Kenyans most definitely say no to each other. When I asked why they wouldn?t tell me no, she said, ?Because we don?t think Americans can handle the word no?.

Volunteering can also lead Westerners to hold false perceptions about the people they are supposed to be helping. In ?I?ve come to help: Can tourism and altruism mix??, Benjamin Sichel (2006) points out that volunteers assume that since they are wealthy and privileged, they will be useful in volunteer work. This can lead volunteers to assume that the local population is too stupid or ignorant to teach their children, work in hospitals, or build houses, if volunteers are needed to help them do so. This can create an assumption that wealthy volunteers know better than the culture and people they are serving. This is damaging to our cross-cultural relationships, when we don?t see developing countries as equal.

It?s time to start thinking of the implications of sending over a million volunteers in service abroad, when many of these people believe that their work is equal if not greater than the work of the community and have never had to integrate other cultural practices into their world views. So before all you WEIRD people grab your passports, consider your adventure as a learning experience first and an altruistic mission second.

References (In APA format, like a good psych student):

Cross-Cultural Solutions. (2009) International Volunteering. Retrieved March 15th, 2012, from

http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/about/recognized-leader/international-volunteering-study.aspx

Lough, B. J. (2011). International Volunteerism in the United States, 2008. Center for Social Development, 10(11). Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/33744391/International-Volunteering-from-the-United-States

McBride, A., & Lough, B. J. (2010). Access to international volunteering. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 21(2), 195-208. doi:10.1002/nml.20020

McIntosh, P. (2003). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. In S. Plous, S. Plous (Eds.) , Understanding prejudice and discrimination (pp. 191-196). New York, NY US: McGraw-Hill.

Sichel, B. I?ve Come to Help: Can Tourism and Altuism Mix? (2006, Nov, 2). Briarpatch Magazine. Retrieved from http://briarpatchmagazine.com/.

San Francisco ? A Photo Essay

Source: http://travel.sercity.com/only-weird-people-volunteer/

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