Month: June 2021

CarMD can be used for a number of reasons. You can determine why the Check Engine light is on. You may want to check for potential problems before going on a long road trip. Or maybe you live in a state where they test state emissions “smog”. You can use it to check your vehicle before taking it for testing. If you’re looking for a used car to buy, you can use CarMD to check for potential problems before you buy. CarMD can be taken to the car dealership and a diagnostic test can be quickly performed on the used car. Even if the vehicle has been tampered with, a vehicle’s computer stores codes even if the Check Engine light wiring has been disconnected. CarMD will access these codes and display a red LED if any are present. Also, if the vendor has recently cleared the computer’s memory, the CarMD tool will indicate a possible problem with a yellow LED. You can be sure that you will be able to determine the condition of the vehicle before making a purchase.

On Board Diagnostics (OBD) is a universal program installed in a vehicle’s computer system. It is part of the mandate of the US government to help automakers reduce emissions from their vehicles. It is designed to detect faults, set a diagnostic code (DTC), and turn on the Check Engine light when there is a problem. All 1996 or newer cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans made or used in the US have the most advanced OBD, called the Second Generation On-Board Diagnostic Program (OBD2).

Many vehicles that were manufactured in the 1980s and early 1990s use OBD1 technology. It is the predecessor of the current Second Generation Diagnostic Program (OBD2). Some vehicles built in 1994 and 1995 use OBD1 and others use OBD2 systems. CarMD will work on vehicles with an early OBD2 system; however, there will not be any information in the database to tell you what could be wrong.

When the Check Engine light comes on, it means that the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic computer has found a problem that may affect emissions. This problem can range in severity from a loose gas cap, which wastes fuel and causes contamination, to an engine misfire, which can cause permanent damage. In any case, you really don’t need to panic. Most of the time, this light is a vehicle’s way of saying “get me checked out soon!”

Ten percent of all vehicles on the road today are driving with the Check Engine light on. However, you shouldn’t do that for long periods of time without checking. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap or it could be something potentially dangerous and expensive if you let it go.

The CarMD is a simple handheld device that will help you monitor the health of your vehicle and provide you with valuable information when something goes wrong. Although you will probably have to take it to a mechanic for repair, you will have a good idea of ​​what is wrong with your vehicle, what parts will be needed, and how much it will cost. This is valuable information that you should have to ensure that you are not persuaded to make repairs that are not necessary.

Television advertising continues to be a powerful way to promote your business. It’s no wonder that more and more business people want to hire production companies to make encouraging announcements for their organization.

When it comes to television commercials, there are many different types.

TV commercial styles

Serious – This sends a serious message. Often this does not include jingles, cheerful voices or beds, happy characters, or bright colors. It contains nothing to poke fun at a serious topic.

Humorous – Make use of comedy to make your audience laugh so they can sell your products. Humor is often used to remind the audience of the commercial.

Factual – This will include many statistics and facts to inform your audience. An example is advertisements about the dangers of smoking. The facts are announced on television to surprise viewers and to stop smoking.

Fiction – This conveys something that is generally a character that is not real but just fantasy.

Pastiche – This is a style of radio, which tries to reflect a current product. This is often done in a song.

Repetition – The ad is repeated so that the audience remembers the message that the ad wants to convey.

Easy – This is basic and simple. It does not show any difficulty. This is often used to convey a clear message without complications.

Complex – This is a radio ad that is complicated and aims to distract the audience from something.

Nostalgic – This refers to past years, which is quite similar to a trip to the past. The main objective of this style is to take the audience through different eras.

Futuristic – This will include everything that is associated with the future. This can include advanced technology or aliens. They make use of a futuristic creature.

Modern – This is a modern looking radio commercial that usually includes a lot of jingles. In fact, modern technology allowed video production companies to do this.

Aggressive – This is a style that appears angry as evidenced by the high pitch of the narrator’s voice or angry content. The word “now” is often repeated.

Persuasive – Aims to persuade the audience. It includes prices and makes use of words like “only” so that they can effectively persuade the target audience.

Immediacy – This has a sense of urgency and haste.

Long-term – This is a radio commercial that can be used for a very long period of time. It does not include limited offers. This is often used to increase brand awareness.

If you are a business owner and want to invest in TV commercials, consider these different styles.

I want to be more like Mary Poppins. Instead of yelling at my kids to clean up another big mess, I want to start singing and with that “little bit of sugar” see how the job gets done.
Sometimes I feel more like the wicked witch of the west.
Still, I want to be ‘Poppinesque’, not only because it would make me feel better about my motherhood, but also because I KNOW how important play is. As a pediatric occupational therapist working with children, I use games as an important way to help children be open to their lessons. I know that everything is easier to beat when it is fun and play is the way children learn.
So over the years, I’ve come up with a ton of games that I use with my own children and with other children to make the things we have to do more enjoyable.

I don’t use them all the time, but whenever I do, it turns a potentially bad moment into a fun one.
Play, humor and laughter release a high natural hormone. It’s organic, free, and an all-natural joy-jumper, but best of all, it gets the job done.

STACK IT

I came up with this game, which is a lighthearted way to clear up a mess, when I was returning from a workshop out of town. My young daughters stayed in the company of their very loving but not particularly orderly father. I came home with two very happy and healthy girls, but had to wade through five days of scattered clothing, play parts, stale toast, and other floating debris and debris to get to them. I was delighted to be home and fresh out of a workshop on singing games for children, I wanted to keep my good mood, practice what I would learn, and get the job done.

I decided to tackle the overwhelming task by placing everything, regardless of what it was, in a large pile in the middle of the room and ordering it from there.
Borrowing the tune from “The Bear Went Over the Mountains”, I started throwing everything into the pile while singing
Put everything in a pile. “Put everything in a pile. Put everything in a pile. Put everything in a pile in the middle of the room. In the middle of the room. In the middle of the room. Put everything in a pile in the middle of the room “.

My 5-year-old daughter immediately suspected that this might be a job, but I reminded her that the job has to be done no matter what and that we might as well have fun. She understood and the girls and I started throwing everything out of place on the pile, singing and laughing as we made long, high shots.

Very quickly, the rooms were cleaned except for this large mound in the middle of the living room. We sat around him like a campfire. I picked up each item and in a rhythmic song I said, for example, “A sock, a sock, where does it go?” Someone would answer “the laundry basket.”
We did this for each item and soon reduced the large stack to separate smaller stacks of books, blankets, clothing, toys, etc. They were all assigned piles to store and I swept the floor. So in a relatively short time the house was livable again and we were all still in a good mood.

Since then, we have used this method often when your rooms (or mine) were in this overwhelming state of disorder. Except we put the pile on the bed so the floor and all other areas are clear. Once that happened, the project now felt doable because just that pile on the bed, rather than the ENTIRE room, needed to be tidy up.
I also use a version of this method when my house seems to be full of piles – these piles contain letters, bills, magazines, to-do lists, photos, and all that stuff that sits on flat surfaces. My intention is that since they were in sight, they would be dealt with faster. But instead, they just pile up.

I get a box and put everything in the box so that all my surfaces are flawless again. Then, with a good cup of tea, I sit in my comfortable chair, with a trash can and a small table nearby, and sort and discard until the task is done. I may not have a song for this job, but having a clean house again makes me want to sing!

Mama went crazy

This game is a way to distract children who are fighting and help them regain their sense of humor.
It always amazes me how quickly my daughters get into arguing. You only fight, really, but it can get on my nerves. One day, while tidying up the clothes in the living room, I heard a relative “I didn’t! Me too!” I abstained and, on a whimsical impulse, put my husband’s clean underwear on my head, probably to cover my ears, and continued sorting. There was stunned silence from my daughters and one of them pointed out that I was wearing Daddy’s underwear on my head. I acted puzzled as if to say, “Who doesn’t?” Then they did the same and soon we were parading like on a fashion runway showing the latest in style. The show didn’t last long, but it broke their spirits and we happily carried on with our day.
Another day, inspired by the mounting tensions from another fight, I impulsively started acting like a gorilla. I jumped around scratching and making monkey “EEEEE” sounds. It probably helped me release my tension, but soon we were all fooling around.
Humor and stupidity are a guaranteed fighting factor.

IN SEARCH OF THE GRUMPY FLE

This game helps to cheer up a child to get out of a bad mood and lighten the moment.
When a little one is in a bad mood, sometimes I like to act surprised … “Are you in a bad mood? That seems right. Usually you’re in a very good mood. Oh, I know what’s up, you have a grumpy bug hiding on you. I’ll get rid of it for you. “Then I proceed to look for the mistake. I check the ears, the armpits, I look at the shirts, the inside pockets, between the toes, acting exasperated and determined. “It has to be here somewhere. I know!” By the time I “find” him, the little boy giggles and often helps me search. Together we pull the “grumpy bug”.
If we are not careful where we throw it and the error spreads to another person, we also have to look for it. Often times, especially in the classroom, everyone claims to have the error and there is a lot of laughter and searching.

I end the game silently looking for the “love bug.” We have to look in many places. Maybe it’s in the pot. Maybe it’s on the soft blanket. When we “find” it, I ask the child to Handle it with care and place it somewhere on his body, in a pocket or next to his heart.
“When you have the love bug, everything will be fine”

IMMEDIATELY WASH THAT MOOD OUTSIDE THE ROOM:

This game removes the bad mood that is infecting children and clean the floor at the same time. You have to be in the mood for a bit of chaos but as my friend Jane, who homeschooled her four children, would tell you, it’s worth it.

On a day when irritability has been contagious because someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, yelled at someone who then yelled at someone else and the mood passed until everyone was in a bad mood, Jane filled a bucket of warm soapy water. Then, start spreading it around the room. As you can imagine, there is nothing more attractive to a child than water and bubbles, and children would grab the sponges, conveniently placed, and begin to spread the water, as well as slip, slide and circle on their buttocks. Jane knows, as I do, that all that erratic movement is very good for developing coordination in young bodies. Your vestibular system that controls balance is stimulated and your internal sense of which way up is reinforced, even if it involves a few laps.

Also, if he got too crazy, he would bring step two, the rinse water, and then step three, the towels. Everyone is given a large towel to dry the floor as they please, which could include the towel mounting and sliding technique. When the towel set gets old like any other set, Jane would dry up the missing parts of the floor, throw the towels in the washing machine, and carry on with a lighter heart and cleaner floor.

YOUR HONORABLE GARBAGE TAKER ABROAD:

This game is a way of getting work done and making everyone feel important, needed, and appreciated.
I discovered it one day when I was waiting for my children and their visitors to help me with a garden project of planting peas. I thought with certainty that they would enjoy it and was surprised that they seemed reluctant to join in the process of poking holes, putting the little round pea seed in, and covering and pressing the soil over the top.

Then I thought about how people at work were starting to get new degrees. The janitor was now the maintenance engineer and the secretaries were deputy directors. Same job, different titles. However, the new titles show more respect for work. Custodians maintain and secretaries administer.

I announce the available positions. “Let’s see for this job that I need an Honorable Hole Putter-Inner, a Gracious Seed Depositor, a Superior Soil Cover-Upper, and a Princely Press-It-Downer. I was delighted (and in awe) when they all took a title and burst into activity.
Now I know instead of asking someone, “Would you grate the potatoes?” I say, “You can be the Great Grater”

RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK:

The intent of this game may be obvious to children, but as a fun challenge and way of doing something, it almost always works. It’s amazing.
Says so. Let’s say my daughter had to go upstairs to get her sweater before we could all leave the house. She feels too lazy to make the effort, but if I say to her, “Can you run upstairs, grab the sweater, and be in the car before I get to number eight and three-quarters?” and start counting 1 — 2, go up the stairs. She is up for this speed and agility challenge and to do, in a fun way, something that needs to be done anyway. If you do it quickly, I’ll comment, “Wow, you did it at 7:30!”

I find that loud counting keeps them from being distracted, although I admit that if the count is high I sometimes start counting, use the times when they left to do something else, and then start counting out loud again when I hear them. it’s coming – “sixteen …. sixteen and a half …. sixteen and three quarters ….. seventeen ….”

I also have the opportunity to play the game. I remember when my youngest son said, “Can you run down the stairs and get me a glass of water before I count to 10 and a half? One … two …” and I took off. It was fun to face the challenge and I noticed that it raised my energy level!
Once my daughter used it on me in a new way. We were driving home after a trip and I waited too long to start and was already tired with 4 hours to go. The children were also restless and at one point I exploded them and started screaming.
“Mom, my then five year old daughter said calmly and sincerely,” Let’s see if you can calm down by the time I count to seven and she starts counting. When she saw my face relax and my mouth curl in amusement, she said, “Good mom. You did it at six!”

For the ancient Greeks, the concept of art covered all forms of creative activity that contributed to their cultural development. Those of us who are lucky enough to be born in this part of the world can see the artistic heritage of Athens with every step we take. Everywhere we look there are visible traces of architecture that has been copied but never outgrown. In museums around the world we can see extraordinary examples of sculpture that has taken figures full of life, beauty and harmony from cold marble. Perhaps nothing is more a uniquely Athenian achievement than Attic pottery, which, in its quest for creative perfection through vibrant ornamentation, tells us about the way of life of the people, their worship of the gods, and their joys and sorrows. . The attic soil has always produced a rich clay for the potter’s trade, whether for domestic, religious or other purposes. With this material, the Athenian artists – potters and painters – known and anonymous, experimented, created and achieved immortality.

One of the earliest pieces of pottery produced in Attic workshops is the famous large (1.75 m high) amphora on the Dipylon Gate, now on display in the Archaeological Museum. It was found in the Keramikos necropolis, having adorned the grave of a distinguished citizen of the 8th century BC. The scene it represents leaves no doubt as to its use as a tombstone. Its shape is simple, without ostentation; It has a narrow base and an elongated neck, indicating a daring potter who did not fear such an unwieldy size. The decoration consists of successive series of straight lines and restless Greek key designs, while in the middle is the funeral procession with the body placed on a cart surrounded by bereaved relatives and professional mourners who pull out their hair; little birds fill the spaces. The scene recalls Cretan funeral songs and maniotes, timeless expressions of the pain of death. The entire work – both the vase and its decoration – was characteristic of the severity of the time, where geometric symbols were close to transcendental.

In that same period, a completely different type of pottery began to be produced in Corinth and in neighboring Sikyon, consisting of small round vessels with richly painted decorative belts depicting animals from Asian countries. Griffins, sphinxes, and lions suggested trade between Corinth and the eastern ports. Pottery of the same type was produced in Milos and Rhodes, other well-known trading centers of the ancient Aegean. However, it was the Corinthians who first used the black figure technique of making an incision in the outline of the shapes on the surface of the vessel and then painting them black.

At the beginning of the most productive period of Athens, Solon and his laws brought in many capable potters to produce works for a secure clientele. At the same time, the artisans themselves began to respond to artistic demands by creating new shapes and sizes with the corresponding development in decoration. The rigid and inflexible figures of the geometric funeral urn gradually acquired elasticity of movement. The artists were initially inspired by relief sculptures, deriving their theme from the inexhaustible themes of mythology. And while the Corinthian pioneers gave their work an oriental flair by painting exotic decorative figures on it, Athenian art turned narrative. Their black figures revealed the passions of gods and heroes, as well as the occupations of common people: their work, ceremonies and weaknesses. At first, the scenes evolved horizontally, as did the Corinthian vessels that were their models, although the Athenian works were much larger. The incised decoration revealed the natural color of the clay, and only in the female forms the faces and exposed parts of the body were painted white. Very often, the artists added the names of the portrayed figures in archaic writing.

Starting in the 6th century, artisans were no longer anonymous when they began to sign their works. The first signed piece of pottery we have is from a man named Sophilos. This priceless fragment is dated to 570 BC. C. It was this same craftsman who left us a signed scene of the funeral games held in honor of the dead Patroclus outside the walls of Troy, in which spectators are shown seated on a double platform with steps: the first tribune to be go into the history of the tiered theater.

The golden age of black-figure vases was from 550 to 500 BC. To this period belongs the famous Francois vase, now exhibited in Florence, on which the potter Ergotimos and the painter Kleitias proudly placed their signatures. These two artists managed to portray 250 living figures of people and animals in five parallel rows in a vase with a total height of only 66 cm. This advance made Attic vessels sought after throughout the Mediterranean and led settlers from southern Italy and Sicily to establish their own workshops, leaving behind many examples of their incomparable art. Museum windows are filled with vases depicting gods, cheeky satyrs, drunken mortals, lovers, hard-hearted pedophiles, and noble horses ready to pull the chariots of heroes.

Exekias, perhaps the greatest ceramic painter of his time, lived around 530 BC. C. He was the first to dare to adorn the outside of his mugs with two huge eyes of superstitious origin. The most splendid example of his art is the kylix in Munich, the interior of which shows Dionysus carelessly sailing his ship, transforming pirates who wanted to wound him into dolphins. A lush vine sprouts from the mast and the grapes cast their shadow on the billowing sail. This trip, on a dreamlike red background, was the preface to a new form of ceramic painting, with red figures.

This new technique was exactly the opposite of the previous one, since here the entire surface of the vessel was painted black, except for the previously drawn figures that retained the warm brick color of the fired clay. The artists no longer affected the design, but used brushes, capturing the details of the dress and the hairstyle made with safe lines. Women are no longer presented in white. In contrast, both male and female forms were frequently covered with a reddish varnish that reflected some of the internal heat of the human body.

The inventor of the red-figure technique is considered to be a man named Andokides, although he himself often decorated his vases the old-fashioned way. The transition period can be seen in his so-called “bilingual” vessels in which the same scene was presented with red figures on one side and black figures on the other. Cups with black figures on the inside and red on the outside have been found. Then certain differences in the details of the features began to appear. For example, in black pottery, men were shown with round eyes, while women always had long eyes; However, in the red figure technique, men and women had the same almond-shaped eyes with thick eyelashes. At the same time, the artists were moving away from the inflexible archaic relief that showed things in profile. The artists’ study of the full-length sculptures was clearly visible in the representation of figures that appeared to be facing the viewer. Looking, for example, at the marble child of Kritias in the Acropolis Museum and a youthful figure on a piece of pottery, we can detect precisely the same proud posture of the body.

The increasing realism of the sculpture could not help but influence the ceramics, so that the painted decoration also began to acquire movement and vitality. Scenes from everyday life were featured, sometimes bordering on mockery. The painters were relentless in their portrayal of the elderly, showing all the wrinkles and ugliness of age. The deformed satyrs gave artists the opportunity to display their art and, at the same time, provoked joy. There is a characteristic goblet in Munich in which the painter Epileios shows an extremely ugly satyr with an unlikely name Terpon (delicacy), exclaiming the phrase “sweet wine” before a full wineskin. Elsewhere, explicitly erotic scenes were drawn in which facial expressions were as graphically represented as movement. Sometimes multi-figure compositions are presented at different levels for narrative purposes. The inscriptions appeared less and less frequently as time passed and the art developed.

A wonderful example of a red-figure vase from 500 BC. C. is the Sosias kylix in Berlin. It represents a moment in the Trojan War in which Achilles tends to Patroclus’ wound. The scene is vividly presented: for example, the details of the heroes’ hair are emphasized with small lines and their scaled armor appears to be in relief. For the first time, the eyes are drawn in profile, precisely as we see them in reality. Patroclus is shown with his mouth ajar, clenching his teeth from the pain of his wound, which Achilles has bandaged with a white cloth. Achilles’ left hand and the injured man’s right foot, with its bony fingers, demonstrate superb technique.

The possibilities offered to the artist by red-figure ceramic painting completely supplanted the ancient black-figure technique that had prevailed exclusively in Athenian pottery decoration until the fourth century. The amphorae, as their name indicates in Greek, were vessels with two handles to facilitate their transport. In these amphorae, the Athenians would send oil, wine, nuts, and legumes to the entire known world. With the establishment of the Panathenaia, it became a habit to give amphorae filled with oil from the sacred olive trees of the goddess Athena to the winners of the competitions. The height of these vessels was about 70 cm and their shape was more or less round, always with a small circular base and a clay plug to protect the contents. Often the neck of the vase was decorated with anthemia. In the Panathenaic amphoras there was always a presentation of Athena in arms on the one hand and the contest in which the victor had distinguished himself on the other.

On the evolution of painting as such, we have no more knowledge than the writings that have come down to us. From them we derive descriptions of the works of Apellis and Polygnotos, but very little else. That is why ceramic painting is so valuable. The so-called Rich Order of 5th century art, with its luxurious dress, colors, and golden jewelry, is highly indicative of a comfortable society. The Attic lekythoi are equally eloquent.

White lekythos were another type of pottery in the Polis, but with limited use. These vases generally contained aromatic oils for the preparation of the dead. After the funeral procession and cremation, they were placed in the tomb or on the steps of the funerary monument. The entire surface of this special container was coated in a whitish color in which figures were freely drawn. Usually, the dead person was depicted receiving funeral gifts from loved ones or some other scene related to the death. The white background of these vases encouraged the use of colors in the figures and especially in the clothing. Dark or blond hair could be magnificently depicted, as could the expressions on the faces of those in mourning, which showed mortals accepting the will of the almighty gods in noble pain. The representations in the white Attic lekythoi were the forerunners of the magnificent wall paintings of Macedonian tombs to which the land of the Hellenic north is only now gradually abandoning.

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in such an incredible event as the Iron Man Triathlon. I really appreciate living in a free and democratic country that is not only free of war but is incredibly beautiful. Having 5,000 volunteers for 2,500 athletes is phenomenal and I congratulate the people of Penticton for continuing to do such an outstanding job in organizing this event.

The journey to the Iron Man Canada starting line in Penticton began about a year ago. I had completed 14 marathons and a handful of ½ Iron Man triathlons, but Iron Man always seemed so mind-blowing and seemingly out of my league.

My Iron Man game plan was:

o I hope for the best

o Plan for the worst and

o Expect the unexpected

The biggest hurdle on my mind was the mammoth task of running a 26-mile full marathon after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 miles. How did these people do it? My friend Don Henderson described the marathon in Iron Man as a “pilgrimage” or a trip to the holy land.

I chose to compete in Iron Man because I knew it would be a sacred journey into the unknown. I’ve dreamed of completing it ever since I watched Paula Newby Fraser and Mark Allen conquer the course in Kailua Kona, Hawaii in 1992.

1. Hope for the best:

I recently did research and wrote about two people who recovered from life-threatening illnesses. They learned to embrace the journey of recovery and transcended their tragic circumstances. The key for both people was to visualize the end result. They practiced visualization on a daily basis and saw themselves as healthy and leading happy productive lives. I followed in his footsteps and immediately began to visualize myself at the Iron Man finish line with my arms raised in victory and the crowd cheering loudly.

The obvious next step was to hire a trainer and come up with a workable training program.

I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel to prepare for the race as I hired my friend David Kazakoff to finish Iron Man nine times. He wisely gave me my 1 month schedule at a time so I could stay focused and not worry too much about rigorous training near the end. The four key components of my training were:

o 1. Balance: the 3 disciplines: swimming, cycling and running,

o 2. Focus: only on current workout

o 3. Discovery: enjoy all the experiences and embrace this sacred journey.

or 4. Fun – There is no point doing all this training unless you enjoy the experience and have fun. I have observed many triathletes training for Iron Man with very different approaches. My two heroes are Leslie Riva and Lori Allin because they always looked so happy and seemed to love every minute of their training and the race itself. I wanted to be like them!

Plan for the worst:

I was cleverly instructed to prepare for something to go wrong during training sessions and on the day of the race. I had my share of challenges, including a fickle front derailleur, a 10 flat tire rash, and horrible cycling weather.

The most memorable training day occurred at the end of July. I was on my way to the island for my longest bike trip of the year (180km) when two tires punctured me in a row. I was just a little annoyed and happily on my way until I heard the dreaded bump from another flat tire. I ran out of spare tubes, 70 kilometers from home and it was about 34 degrees Celsius. Luckily, I packed a cell phone and had memorized the number of the local taxi company. However, my mouth dropped when the dispatcher said he couldn’t pick me up for another 3 hours. I was finally able to communicate with my office manager, Nancy, who graciously saved me from walking home. Needless to say, I have great respect and appreciation for loyal employees and cell phones.

Sunday August 27, 2006 was race day and I was ready. I was very fortunate and grateful to have the fantastic support from my girlfriend Laurie and her 12 year old son Taylor. They woke up with me at 4:30 and walked me to the starting line to mark the body and prepare me before the race. Taylor supported me in my training runs by riding alongside her bike. I always wondered why he was always going so far ahead of me. I found out later that he was embarrassed that I was wearing my purple spanky cycling pants. He couldn’t let his friends see him with me!

When the cannon exploded to start the swim, he was very excited along with the other 2,500 competitors. I was going to have fun and treat this as just a long day of training. Within the first 300 meters of the swim, I was punched in the nose and kicked in the chin. I also heard a cry of “get off me!” I should have followed Iron Man author and triathlon expert Ray Fauteux’s swimming strategy and stayed totally to everyone’s left! However, I remained calm and focused and bathed quite a bit. When I got out of the water, the announcer was loudly yelling all of our names. Before I knew it, I took off my wetsuit and navigated to the change shop full of naked bodies and wetsuits. I found my bike easily and was on the next leg of the trip. The bike ride was absolutely spectacular. The first 60 kilometers through Oliver and Osoyoos were pretty easy and I felt really good.

I had ridden the bike loop 3 days ago so I knew the challenging hills started at Richter Pass and continued for another two to three hours. The view going up the Richter Pass was absolutely spectacular and I was actually talking to people while riding alongside them. The editorial police were very lenient as it was almost impossible to keep 4 bike lengths behind the other riders in such a large group. We had aid stations every 10 miles and I loved pouring cold water on my face and body! The support from fans throughout all parts of the field is totally impressive and I really appreciated that Dave, Jennifer and Pheona cheered me on from their vehicle.

Aside: Even though I consumed about 5 bottles of Gatorade on the bike and during the race, I didn’t have to urinate once! Apparently my body used all these fluids.

The ascent to Yellow Lake reminded me of the Tour de France and I almost expected the officials to let us take off our helmets. The meandering descent felt wonderful and I cried with joy at the view of Penticton and the airport. The bike part was almost done and I was full of adrenaline and as high as a kite!

Expect the unexpected:

I was very relieved to get off the bike and put on my nice comfortable running shorts. I had a good transition and was full of energy and ready to go. Nothing could stop me now because the race was my strongest event.

However, something funny happened right after the 3-mile mark of the race.

He planned to run a mile and then walk through each aid station. But after the third aid station I couldn’t run anymore. He was exhausted, exhausted, and forced to walk. I had 20 miles left, struggling uphill, heading into the wind and it was 33 degrees Celsius! What was I going to do? It was at this point that I heard the imaginary voice of my swim coach Malcolm telling me that I had gone too hard on the bike and that I had nothing left.

“But honestly, I was holding back!”

I also remembered Paula Newby Fraser telling us that it would be best to have a plan when something like this happens. My new plan was to get a few different types of food inside me because I was absolutely sick and disgusted with the power gel. I tried a lot of grapes and water but it didn’t work. My last hope was the special needs station halfway there. I had put a bowl of apricot porridge and a spoon in my special needs bag and devoured it hungry; But the most important thing is that my stomach approved. I ran slowly to the next aid station and discovered oranges. My stomach liked them too! I was getting stronger and in a few miles I could now run at a good pace for a mile at a time! My mood had improved dramatically and I was no longer exhausted and “super crabby”.

At mile 24 I was once again very fatigued after a nasty climb. However, he was so close to the finish line that he could hear the cheers of the fans. I was going to keep running no matter what!

My legs ached and my stride shortened, but I was magically swept away by the cheers of the crowd and the voice of the announcer from the finish line! It was dark and he had a hard time seeing where he was supposed to run. Then all of a sudden a familiar voice called out my name and gave me a high five. It was Laurie! Their presence and support gave me a sudden burst of energy and it seemed like I was running towards the finish line. I was so close to the finish line when the Gods played one last nasty trick on my fellow competitors and me.

We had to run past the finish line for half a mile, turn around, and come back. I was so angry but even more determined not to stop. I hit the change and ran to the finish line. The next few minutes reminded me of a near death experience. All I remember was the absolutely magnificent energy of the cheering spectators and the blindingly bright lights at the finish line.

All he had to do was keep running towards the bright lights and he would be home. The cheers got louder and the lights got brighter. It seemed like everything was in slow motion as I approached the Holy Grail. Laurie snuck in front of the crowd to give me another five as I approached the finish line. The announcer yelled, “Here’s your next winner!” I raised my arms in the air victoriously just as I had visualized it a thousand times before and felt the exquisite sensation of my torso pushing through the tape to the finish line!

And then for a brief moment …

Life was perfect.

Have you blamed yourself for getting a tattoo? The day you decided to look for a decent job and you were given an interview, you were rejected because you have a tattoo. In fact, this is a sad scenario. The fact is, most highly reputable companies remain conservative and only hire people who show no signs of aggression.

Unfortunately, tattoos are still perceived as signs of aggression, rebellion, and extreme stubbornness. People who have this body art are stereotyped as individuals who have negative behaviors and are social deviants. While this stereotype is not very well founded for people who see them as innocent art, the history of tattoo bias still speaks loudly.

If you have a tattoo and want to have it removed, don’t worry, now there are many tattoo removal programs. If you’re a teenager, you can have the government-funded Teen Tattoo Removal Programs for teens to remove gang-related tattoo symbols. In general, the goal of tattoo removal programs is to help people have a cleaner image or personality.

There are two methods to remove the tattoo: surgical and non-surgical methods. The non-surgical method is the same as the home tattoo removal methods. It is advisable to be properly informed before choosing which extraction method you should avoid to avoid complications and scars.

Most of us who like to get a tattoo because it is an exotic art and promotes self-expression. When it is necessary to remove it, you can rely on a tattoo removal program to have your unwanted tattoo.

Most people don’t take care of their skin the way they should. The good news is that it is never too late to start using natural cosmetics to rejuvenate tired-looking skin. This is because natural cosmetics contain nutritional ingredients that the skin desperately needs. It is like food for the skin! Synthetic cosmetics cannot do this. It’s amazing how quickly high-quality natural cosmetics can change the appearance of fine lines and rough skin.

Step 1 Exfoliate

Did you know that there are dead cells on your face that clog your pores and make your skin feel rough? These dead skin cells must be removed with a scrub. Scrub means you are gently removing them with a face scrub that contains sand. This is important, because it not only helps your skin renew itself, it also makes it look better. Basically you are laying the groundwork for whatever cosmetic you are going to apply on this smooth surface. You should exfoliate every week, twice if your skin is not super sensitive. If you have super sensitive skin, exfoliate every two weeks. Always moisten your face before applying a scrub. Use gentle circular motions. It is important not to scrub too much or too much. Rinse then pat dry. But don’t forget to be gentle.

Step 2 Clean

Soap can dry out the skin and should not be used on the face. This is because it makes the skin feel tight and dry. Dryness is the first indication that a soap or cleanser is too strong. Instead, use a mild, natural cleanser. They contain natural ingredients that rejuvenate and soothe the skin. Avoid using wash cloths, because washers do not completely rinse all detergents and fabric softeners. These residual harsh chemicals, even in the smallest amounts, can destroy your skin. Remember, the skin around the eyes is fine and delicate, so it won’t be pulled.

Question: Are soapy cleansers best for oily skin and creamy cleansers for dry skin? No, soapy cleansers are harmful to the skin, because sodium lauryl ether sulfate or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) are too harsh on the skin and often cause dryness, redness, peeling, itching, etc.

Step 3 Hydrate

After scrubbing and cleaning, it is important to restore natural moisture to the skin so that it appears plump and plump. Hydrate first thing in the morning and before going to sleep. Always give your skin a few minutes to absorb the moisturizer before applying makeup. Especially blushes or powders, because if you don’t, they will be streaked or mottled. The eye area is sensitive, the skin is thinner, and requires a different type of moisturizer. You should only use creams that are for the eyes. Make sure to apply them carefully, not too close to the lashes. You don’t want your lashes to drag some of your cream into your eyes. This can cause itching and swelling. If you have dry skin, night cream can be beneficial. Why? Because night creams tend to contain a richer concentration of oils. When selecting a cosmetic product, read the label and make sure all ingredients are natural. Not all natural cosmetics are really 100% pure.

Step 4 Makeup

Question: Are expensive makeup brushes better than cheap ones? The most expensive brushes you can buy are the cheap ones. The bristles stick out of your face and they just don’t last. You will end up replacing them often. If you can afford it, invest in some high-quality brushes. You will only need a few. And good brushes will allow you to use your less expensive makeup more effectively. They will also give you the best end result. This is what makeup actually looks like when applied to the skin. The only thing that women want to achieve is a more natural appearance. Even if you are wearing a lot of makeup, you want it to look natural. But if your brushes are hard and rough, then the end result will appear hard and rough.

Step 5 Apply makeup: eyes

If your eyes are sunken, you don’t need to apply a lot of eyeshadow; all you need is a light brow color as the structure is already there. Lots of mascara and a very fine eyeliner will complete the look. Along with the sunken eye structure there is also a natural shadow. This is why colors like pink, purple, and orange are good for brightening the eyes. People with wide eyes will look great with a smoky neutral shade. Heavier eyeliner will add dimension to the eyes. If you have smaller eyes, you can make a crease to accentuate the eyelid. Lastly, for big eyes, use lots of eyeliner on both the inside and outside of the eye. If you have been blessed with big, beautiful eyes, do not wear shadow and if you must, apply it very lightly.

Step 6 Apply makeup: cheeks

For people with high cheekbones, place the blush on the back of the cheek in a subtle way closer to the ear and along the jaw line. For those with round faces, use more blush to create a cheekbone. If your face has a long structure, apply the blush very subtly. Too much blush will make people with a long face look like their chin is elongated.

Step 7 Apply makeup: lips

If you have thin lips and want them to appear fuller, use lip liner followed by a lighter color. For those of you who want to tone down your lips, wear a lot of lip liner and dark colors like a deep burgundy or brown.

Experimenting with natural cosmetics and makeup can be a lot of fun. The best way to achieve your best appearance is to practice. There is nothing wrong with trying a new brand of natural cosmetics and seeing if it works better for you. Natural cosmetics are certainly healthier for your skin.

My magical cat, Silver, approached me in a dream. And then he brought me Jezibel.

When my previous cat, Miss Winters, made the transition, I was deeply sorry. Friends kept calling me to tell me they knew of a cat that needed a home, but I knew she wasn’t ready for another. If she had taken another cat before she was done crying for Winter, she would have been comparing the new cat to her. That just wouldn’t be fair to the new cat.

A couple of years after Winter’s death, I had a dream about a gray cat. It was as if I was lying on the ground and the cat was walking towards me. That’s. About 15 seconds of a dream, but it stayed with me all that day and the next.

Three days after the gray cat dream, a woman I knew who worked at my vet’s office called me. “We have a cat here from the shelter that is ready to be adopted and I think you should take a look at it. His name is Silver Cloud.”

When he said his name, I was stunned. My first thought was, “It’s here! The gray cat from my dream is here … and I don’t even have cat food or a litter box!” I made arrangements to go see him the next day.

On the way to the vet’s office I stopped by to pick up a friend who wanted to go with me and see this dream cat I had told her about. When we got to the vet’s office, we walked in and were shown to a room with huge cages. The vet assistant pulled Silver out of a cage and gave him to me to hold. He was so excited that he could barely stay still, and he kept moving from my left shoulder to my right and back and then he would flop back and look at me, almost like he couldn’t believe I was really there.

While this was happening, my friend was telling the vet and her assistant about a black cat she had had, but she gave up because she got married and her husband hated cats. He still deeply missed the cat. The vet assistant turned and pulled a small black cat out of another cage and handed it to my friend, probably hoping that she would fall in love with the cat and adopt it.

Before anyone could say a word, Silver saw the little cat, threw himself back into my arms, reached out and wrapped around the little cat’s neck and pulled her closer to him. He began to lick her face as if covering it with kisses.

Both the vet and his assistant were stunned. “Those two cats have never seen each other,” the vet finally said.

We watched the love party for a while and I finally told them that I would be taking Silver with me and coming back the next day to pick him up, having bought cat food and other essentials.

The next day I came to pick up the cat of my dream, but a surprise awaited me. “We let Silver and Jezibel, the little black cat, stay out of their cages in the room and play together, eat together, sleep together and basically they were inseparable … and you have to take them both,” said the vet announced. .

“No. I just want a cat,” I replied.

Well, this discussion went on for a while until he finally said, “You keep both of them or you won’t get Silver. I won’t even charge you for Jezibel.”

And so I ended up with two cats.

Fifteen years have passed since that day and every day I have been very grateful that the vet made me carry both cats. They have loved each other so much every day since that first day. They still sleep close to or next to each other, eat together, have lick parties, and basically just love each other.

Or they did, until yesterday. Recently, Jezibel had become weak, eating less and less, and beginning to have difficulty breathing. Soon it got so bad that she couldn’t cross the room without having to stop to catch her breath. So I took her to the vet yesterday and the determination was that she had a tumor that was causing fluid to fill the area around her heart and lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe. There was nothing that could be done to improve it. So my husband and I made the most difficult decision to allow the vet to put her to sleep.

I am very sad that I cannot enjoy Jezibel and the special connection we had. Still, I am grateful to be able to enjoy it for so many years. And I’m even more grateful to have been able to witness the deep and lasting love that she and Silver had for each other.

I think she and Silver had a communication towards the end about her departure from this plane. At one point, he just sat beside her silently as they looked into each other’s eyes. He doesn’t seem to miss her, doesn’t look for her or anything like that. I believe that when beloved pets transition, their spirit lingers for a period of time. It’s almost as if the pet wants to keep sharing his love for a while to help those left behind adjust to their loss. I think Silver feels like his spirit is still here … and so do I.

Remember … love is forever

While writing this article, I remembered another one that I wrote years ago after the death of a dear friend. One day I was talking to a wise friend about my reaction and my deep sorrow over the death of my other friend. I reflected on the fact that we either come from love or fear, and since this pain did not feel like love, it must be some kind of fear. But fear of what?

She did not disappoint and instantly gave me the wisdom I was looking for. “The pain,” he said, “is the fear of heartbreak.”

It makes a lot of sense. When someone, or something like a beloved pet that we love, dies, then we fear that the love we share with them will also die. But here’s the truth: once energy is created, it exists for eternity. Love, like all emotions, is energy. This means that when you lose someone or something you loved, the energy of that love still exists. And you can access it anytime you want to be able to enjoy it again.

It is easy. All you have to do is remember an instance or event with that person or thing that created the feeling of love within you. And you will feel it again in an instant, whenever you want. And the best part is that you can never, never lose a memory that creates the energy of love for you.

So if you feel yourself starting to sink into the sadness of grief, remember that it is a sign to you that you are afraid that you have lost love. Know that you can never lose love because it is eternal. And then remember a moment or an experience that brought you the feeling of love. By doing so, you will feel that love energy again.

If you want to invest in real estate, you need to know a few simple things to be successful as an investor. Real estate or real estate investors need to buy and manage real estate in order to make a profit by renting and selling properties. Those who don’t have enough cash will have a hard time becoming real estate investors.

The following tips will help you to invest successfully in the property of your choice:

1. It is always a good idea for investors in residential properties to buy a newly launched property. However, foreclosed or foreclosed properties listed in court are also a good investment option. Investing in such a property will earn you a lot in the long run. Your local newspaper is a great option for finding all kinds of property deals and real estate bargains. You can easily find information about launching a new property or resale property on real estate investor websites.

2. As an investor, you must first decide whether your real estate investment will be short-term or long-term. Determining your investment goals early will help you move in the right direction. The most important reason you want to invest in property, whether residential or commercial, is that you want to increase your total net worth. By paying your mortgage amount on time, you can increase your home equity as your debt decreases as well.

3. Don’t put your money into a property before taking time to analyze it and study it for the future prospects it may offer. On a close inspection, if you find that there are disputes related to the land or house you want to invest in, or if the property you are considering buying is not in good condition or not in a good location, then it is definitely a flag. red.

4. When investing your hard-earned money in a property, make sure the property is in a good location. Otherwise, you will not be able to get the benefits you deserve from your investment. Other people will rent / buy the property from you. Therefore, you should invest in properties that are profitable for tenants or property buyers. If you mistakenly invest in a property in a bad location, you will not get the desired benefits in any case.

5. You need to have sharp negotiation skills to successfully purchase the property of your choice. You should also familiarize yourself with real estate lingo so that you are not intimidated by real estate agents and sellers.

Amazon Redshift is changing the way businesses collect and store big data. Companies like Amazon can influence the control of cloud computing for data storage purposes. This Amazon cloud solution enables businesses to apply data warehousing more efficiently than ever. Redshift is Amazon’s storage solution that enables business owners to move their data warehouse to the cloud for much less than outdated options.

The main focus is “storage”, and Redshift is ready to meet your data storage needs. The affordable options are captivating. With no long-term commitments or up-front costs, Amazon offers “pay-as-you-go” pricing, giving you the freedom to choose as much storage as you need. It is not always easy to obtain the requirements for resources. You may allocate fewer resources than necessary, or you may allocate unnecessary resources and not get the most out of your return on investment.

Amazon cloud solutions offer flexibility so you can strike the right balance. If you decide to end your relationship with Amazon Redshift, you can cancel at any time. has opened the doors for small businesses to use big data analytics and data warehousing without a huge price increase.

Amazon Redshift is based on SQL database technology. What does this mean for you? Compatibility. Almost all supported SQL drivers and tools can be used. As soon as your data is downloaded to Redshift, existing applications, new web services can be easy to use.

Amazon has done it again with its amazing scalability compared to other data warehouses. For those of you who need to take advantage of Big Data, Redshift is easy to use. Now everyone can control big data in the cloud to lead the way to a better tomorrow. Amazon Redshift cloud analytics … for the next generation.

Business Use Cases for BI and Analytics in the Cloud

There are several operational and financial factors that work in favor of Cloud Business Intelligence (BI).

The key is:

• Speed ​​of implementation and implementation: immediate availability of the environment without depending on the long periods associated with the acquisition of infrastructure, implementation of applications, etc. Dramatically reduces the BI deployment time window.

• Elasticity: Take advantage of the enormous computing power available on the web, scale up and down based on changing requirements.

• Focus on the core force: Outsource the execution of BI applications and focus on your core capabilities.

• Lower total cost of ownership – Convert a portion of capital expenditures into operating expenses, profitable pricing models, pay-as-you-go model, and more.