Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Arts & Entertainment: Why You Should Consider Boudoir Photography

If you are someone who loves boudoir photography, yet you never actually considered it because you would feel kind of awkward, then you will certainly need to change your point of view on this. You will find that out there plenty of such photographers wait for you to come and give them the green light and they will take some amazing photos of yourself. The good news is that if you want, you can also offer these pictures to people you love, as they really make for a great gift.

Considerably of the time individuals communicate romance through these pictures and in case you are a woman, who'd prefer to take these photos and feel uncomfortable with a male photographer, don't worry. There are plenty of firms on the market which enable you to reap the benefits of this by employing female photographers. There are various advantages whenever you will make a decision to obtain in contact having a skilled photographer and a single of them is that he'll know what poses suite you best, no matter your dimension, figure or age. Sooner or later, you will end up with some incredible images which will just appear beautiful.

Carry out some research in regards to the photographer you would prefer to hire and do not hurry up with hiring one. Delving into a consultation with him is encouraged before producing any choice, simply because this really is your opportunity to understand him, to find out regardless of whether he may be the right kind of photographer for you personally and in case you can actually be yourself with him. You'll be able to also go over in regards to the form of photographs you'd prefer to take as well as the clothes you'd prefer to wear.

There are also several individuals around who feel self-conscious about specific parts of their physique and should you also really feel like that, then you should understand that this can be the best time and appropriate spot to talk about it. The photographer will be informed on it and he will know whether to draw or not to draw too much attention on it. For instance, possessing a photo of you sporting some attractive lingerie within the darkish with just a spotlight highlighting some pores and skin and your face would really cause you to look fairly amazing.

Hopefully you will get to have a pleasant experience when working with the photographer. The good news is that once you get accustomed to the professional, you will be able to open yourself more and let your personality shine through. There is going to be plenty of occasions for giggles and laughter, occasions that will also yield amazing photos.

At this point, after you have taken all the photos you wanted to, comes the exciting part. Seeing the results you will definitely be able to choose from the best pictures that have been taken of you and put them on your Facebook account or just have them framed and put them in various places of your home.

With that getting stated, it appears that there are many folks who would benefit from this sort of photography, offered the truth they choose a professional to complete it. Good luck!

Source: http://all-entertainment-arts.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-you-should-consider-boudoir.html

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Stereotactic radiosurgery shows promise for kidney cancer

Stereotactic radiosurgery shows promise for kidney cancer [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 31-Oct-2012
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Contact: Alicia Reale
alicia.reale@uhhospitals.org
216-844-5158
University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Data presented by University Hospitals Case Medical Center researchers at ASTRO

CLEVELAND A first-of-its-kind clinical trial conducted at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center has shown encouraging results for the use of stereotactic radiosurgery to treat kidney cancer. This non-invasive treatment technique may represent a potential new non-surgical option for patients with this deadly disease who have limited treatment options.

Rod Ellis, MD, lead author of the study along with Lee Ponsky, MD, who is the Principal Investigator, presented results of a Phase 1 clinical trial in 20 patients with localized primary renal cancer at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston. In the abstract titled "Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Renal Cancer: Phase I Safety and Toxicity" (embargoed Oct. 31, 7:00 am ET), Dr. Ellis presented data that 94 percent of patients treated in the study had decreased or stable disease, with limited side effects.

"This trial shows that low to moderate doses of stereotactic radiosurgery are safe for renal cancer patients who typically do not have surgical options," said Dr. Ellis, Clinical Director and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, Department of Radiation Oncology at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Urology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "Based on these findings, this treatment represents a promising therapeutic option. Further studies are needed to determine safe levels for the maximum dosage and by doing so, we hope to find increased response and cure rates with this method."

"This study is a unique partnership between a surgeon and radiation oncologist, intended to offer patients a non-invasive, highly focused ablative radiation with surgical precision with little to no side effects," said Dr. Ponsky, Director, Urologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive Therapies at UH Case Medial Center and Associate Professor of Urology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. "We are very excited about these results and cautiously optimistic about the future potential of this therapy."

According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 65,000 new cases of kidney cancer each year in the U.S. and it is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. Treatment options typically include surgery or cryoablation (using cold therapy to destroy the tumor).

However, many patients are not surgical candidates and stereotactic radiosurgery provides a noninvasive alternative in just three treatments which requires no anesthesia or narcotics. Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed using Cyberknife, a robotic radiosurgery system which delivers targeted doses of radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This high-dose, focused radiation destroys tumor cells and stops cancer cells from growing.

This study followed patients from two to 41 months post-treatment using a four-part dose escalation schema. The response rate indicates that patients reacted well and had acceptable levels of treatment-related toxicity following stereotactic radiosurgery in all age groups from 58 to 92 years old. Based on these positive results, Drs. Ellis and Ponsky and a team of researchers have launched a follow-up phase two study for 12 additional patients with increased dosage to determine the most effective dosage. "This study builds upon our team's previous work as we continue to evaluate and define the role of radiosurgery for the safe and effective treatment of kidney tumors," said Dr. Ponsky, who holds the Leo and Charlotte Goldberg Chair in Advanced Surgical Therapies.

"Radiosurgery delivers a higher and more effective dose directly to the tumor site with less side effects than conventional radiation and has been very effective in treating other hard-to-reach tumors," said Dr. Ellis. "We are excited about its potential for kidney cancer patients and to be able to offer a non-invasive option."

###

Study co-authors include R.B. Patel, C. Kunos, Y. Zhang, J. Brindle, V. Kudithipudi, and D.A. Kaminsky. Trial funded by the Accuray Corporation, Sunnyvale, California.

About University Hospitals

University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the 2012 recipient of the American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety.

For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org


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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Stereotactic radiosurgery shows promise for kidney cancer [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 31-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Alicia Reale
alicia.reale@uhhospitals.org
216-844-5158
University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Data presented by University Hospitals Case Medical Center researchers at ASTRO

CLEVELAND A first-of-its-kind clinical trial conducted at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center has shown encouraging results for the use of stereotactic radiosurgery to treat kidney cancer. This non-invasive treatment technique may represent a potential new non-surgical option for patients with this deadly disease who have limited treatment options.

Rod Ellis, MD, lead author of the study along with Lee Ponsky, MD, who is the Principal Investigator, presented results of a Phase 1 clinical trial in 20 patients with localized primary renal cancer at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston. In the abstract titled "Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Renal Cancer: Phase I Safety and Toxicity" (embargoed Oct. 31, 7:00 am ET), Dr. Ellis presented data that 94 percent of patients treated in the study had decreased or stable disease, with limited side effects.

"This trial shows that low to moderate doses of stereotactic radiosurgery are safe for renal cancer patients who typically do not have surgical options," said Dr. Ellis, Clinical Director and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, Department of Radiation Oncology at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Urology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "Based on these findings, this treatment represents a promising therapeutic option. Further studies are needed to determine safe levels for the maximum dosage and by doing so, we hope to find increased response and cure rates with this method."

"This study is a unique partnership between a surgeon and radiation oncologist, intended to offer patients a non-invasive, highly focused ablative radiation with surgical precision with little to no side effects," said Dr. Ponsky, Director, Urologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive Therapies at UH Case Medial Center and Associate Professor of Urology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. "We are very excited about these results and cautiously optimistic about the future potential of this therapy."

According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 65,000 new cases of kidney cancer each year in the U.S. and it is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. Treatment options typically include surgery or cryoablation (using cold therapy to destroy the tumor).

However, many patients are not surgical candidates and stereotactic radiosurgery provides a noninvasive alternative in just three treatments which requires no anesthesia or narcotics. Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed using Cyberknife, a robotic radiosurgery system which delivers targeted doses of radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This high-dose, focused radiation destroys tumor cells and stops cancer cells from growing.

This study followed patients from two to 41 months post-treatment using a four-part dose escalation schema. The response rate indicates that patients reacted well and had acceptable levels of treatment-related toxicity following stereotactic radiosurgery in all age groups from 58 to 92 years old. Based on these positive results, Drs. Ellis and Ponsky and a team of researchers have launched a follow-up phase two study for 12 additional patients with increased dosage to determine the most effective dosage. "This study builds upon our team's previous work as we continue to evaluate and define the role of radiosurgery for the safe and effective treatment of kidney tumors," said Dr. Ponsky, who holds the Leo and Charlotte Goldberg Chair in Advanced Surgical Therapies.

"Radiosurgery delivers a higher and more effective dose directly to the tumor site with less side effects than conventional radiation and has been very effective in treating other hard-to-reach tumors," said Dr. Ellis. "We are excited about its potential for kidney cancer patients and to be able to offer a non-invasive option."

###

Study co-authors include R.B. Patel, C. Kunos, Y. Zhang, J. Brindle, V. Kudithipudi, and D.A. Kaminsky. Trial funded by the Accuray Corporation, Sunnyvale, California.

About University Hospitals

University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the 2012 recipient of the American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety.

For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/uhcm-srs102912.php

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Brain circuits run their own clocks

Timing is everything. But exactly how the brain keeps time, which it does very well, has been something of a mystery.

One widely held theory suggests that a single brain region acts as a centralised timekeeper ? possibly in the basal ganglia or cerebellum. However, a study now suggests that timekeeping is decentralised, with different circuits having their own timing mechanisms for each specific activity. The finding could help explain why certain brain conditions affect our sense of timing, and even raise the possibility of artificially manipulating time perception.

Geoffrey Ghose and Blaine Schneider, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, investigated timing in the brain by training two rhesus macaques to perform tasks in which they moved their eyes between two dots on a screen at regular 1-second intervals. There were no external cues available to help them keep track of time.

After three months, the monkeys had learned to move their eyes between the two dots with average intervals of 1.003 and 0.973 seconds, respectively.

The researchers then used electrodes to record brain activity across 100 neurons in the lateral intraparietal cortex ? associated with eye movement ? while the monkeys performed the task.

The activity of these neurons decreased during the interval between each eye movement, and the rate of decrease correlated with the monkeys' timing. Using this information, Ghose and Schneider were able to predict the interval between eye movements by measuring the preceding decay rate. For example, in one task, a slower rate of decrease in the neurons' activity corresponded with a macaque overestimating of the length of a second. Likewise, if neuron activity decreased at a faster rate the monkeys moved their eyes before a second was up.

The researchers now want to study what goes on in this brain area while the monkeys are learning the task, to work out how these time intervals arise. This may help our understanding of why people with brain lesions or Parkinson's can have difficulty keeping time, says Ghose.

As well as indicating that brain circuits may have their own ability to keep time, the results also hint at how our perception of time can be altered during high emotional states.

Stress is associated with changes in the amount of neuromodulators such as adrenalin present in the brain. Adrenalin is known to affect the rate of decay of neuronal activity. "And in our model, a change in the activity decay rate is all you need to have a different sense of 'what time' it is," says Ghose. It might be possible to tweak an individual's sense of timing by altering these signals, he says.

The results support the idea that local neuron populations govern timing behaviour, says Catherine Jones at the University of Essex, UK. "Given the promising findings, it would certainly be of value to investigate human performance on this task."

Journal reference: PLoS Biology, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001413

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Soyuz with astronauts docks with space station

sIN a photo provided by NASA members of the media photograph the Soyuz rocket as it launches with Expedition 33/34 crew members, Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA, and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of ROSCOSMOS to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin will be on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA,Bill Ingalls)

sIN a photo provided by NASA members of the media photograph the Soyuz rocket as it launches with Expedition 33/34 crew members, Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA, and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of ROSCOSMOS to the International Space Station on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin will be on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA,Bill Ingalls)

The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz TMA-06M space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off from the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Kevin Ford and two Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Evgeny Tarelkin. (AP Photo/NASA, Bill Ingalls)

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) ? A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts and a consignment of fish successfully docked Thursday with the International Space Station after a two-day voyage.

The arrival of NASA astronaut Kevin Ford and Russians Oleg Novitsky and Yevgeny Tarelkin on Thursday brings the crew at the orbiting outpost to six.

Novitsky gently slotted the Soyuz craft into the Russian Poisk research module around 410 kilometers (255 miles) above southern Ukraine around six minutes ahead of the scheduled 1235 GMT (8:35 a.m. EDT) arrival.

The trio blasted off Tuesday from a Russian-leased facility in the southern Kazakhstan town of Baikonur.

Incoming cargo includes 32 guppy-like fish that will be used to test how conditions in space impact on living organisms.

Akihiko Hoshide, an astronaut with Japan's JAXA space agency, spent early Thursday morning preparing an aquarium on the Japanese experiment module called "Kibo," or Hope.

"The importance of these very small fishes is that they have bones and muscles just like human beings," Hoshide told NASA TV earlier this year before the start of his mission. "What we're trying to do is have them stay in space for a longer duration and then bring them down to look at their bone structure and muscles."

The hardy Medaka fish, which can grow up to four centimeters (1.6 inches), are considered particularly suitable for the study as they have transparent bodies that enable scrutiny of their internal organs.

A spacewalk by Hoshide and U.S. astronaut Suni Williams to repair an ammonia leak from the station's temperature control system is planned for next Thursday.

NASA says ammonia is pumped through the station's system to keep electronics and other equipment cool.

Another task in the frenetic workload over the incoming crew's first week in orbit will be the unberthing Sunday of a commercial Dragon cargo vehicle.

The capsule loaded with completed scientific experiments will splash down in the afternoon in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Baja California.

The growing capabilities of private space vehicle companies have boosted hopes that NASA will be able to focus increasingly on more ambitious exploration projects.

Earlier this month, California-based SpaceX successfully delivered supplies to the space station on Dragon, the first official shipment under a $1.6 billion contract with NASA. It calls for 12 such shipments.

Cygnus, the first cargo vehicle to the station from Orbital Sciences Corp., of Dulles, Virginia, is scheduled for December.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-10-25-Space%20Station/id-57467143c9d54caebb02a4ef81523097

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Locating And Hiring A Calgary AB Plumber | Futbol Construction ...

Home improvement professionals have a part to play in how beautiful and organized your home is. As such, it is important to look out for home improvement professionals who will add nothing but beauty to your home. Plumbers are one of the home improvement professionals that can add beauty to your home in their own way. If you live in Calgary however, here are some tips for you to locate and hire such as a Calgary, AB plumber that will bring organization to your home.

Locating a plumbing contractor is not difficult; the main work lies in choosing a reputable contractor for your household. Note that it is not ideal for you to call on just any plumbing professional each time you have a plumbing need. Hiring different plumbers at different time will not help you achieve the organization that you want in your home. Thus, it is a good idea to choose one constant plumbing contractor that will attend to all the plumbing needs in your household.

Choosing a contractor from a list of contractors who you have screened is a proven way of choosing a reliable plumber. As such, you should start by compiling a list of plumber in your area in Calgary. This is quite simple to accomplish since you have the internet at your disposal. All that you need to do is to visit an online directory and enter your zip code to find plumbers in your area. A single search will provide you with enough plumbers form which you can make a choice.

You are not done just yet. You should not attempt to choose a contractor randomly. If you choose randomly, then you might have chosen the wrong professional. Instead, you should try to contact the plumbers and interview them. Here are some things that you should ask while interviewing them.

First, you should ask to know if they are licensed. Hiring licensed professionals should be of top priority to you. Usually, the professionals will tell you that they are licensed. However, to confirm that they are truly licensed, you may call the licensing office. You will be asked for the license number of the contractors and you will be told that they are real.

Next, you should ask for proof of insurance. There is always an unseen banner on the forehead of unsure plumber that says hiring me is at your own risk. As such, you should not risk anything by hiring uninsured plumbers.

Moreover, it is of the essence to request for references. This will make it easier for you to choose a plumber. Call some their clients to know a little more about the professionals. You may as well as for proofs of previous project. Pictures should suffice.

It would be of help to meet a realtor in your area for recommendations. Present the plumbers that are on your list to him. Most likely, he would know them and would be able to say something about them. Afterwards, choose a Calgary, AB plumber based on your findings. Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Services has an excellent plumber at 4726 14th Street Northeast, Calgary, AB T2E 6L7, Canada. You can call them at (403) 250-2660.

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Source: http://www.lefutbolshop.com/locating-and-hiring-a-calgary-ab-plumber/

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Enjoying the Small Things: When Fears Come: Hallmark

This post is a Hallmark sponsored post. I am being paid by Hallmark to write it, but all writing, ideas and opinions are mine. Thankfully, Hallmark and I share the same idea--that little moments are to be celebrated and that good people, good efforts and good intentions deserve a spotlight. See Hallmark Life is a Special Occasion for more details, like them on Facebook, and/or sign up for their e-mail messages HERE.

A few nights ago, I lay down with Lainey and rubbed her back as she fell asleep. With our bodies sidled up against each other and her head nestled into my neck, we talked about the things we talk about at night?school, upcoming events, funny things that happened during the course of our day. Conversation slowly fizzled as she gave in to her exhaustion, and I was just about ready to slip out of bed and join Brett in the living room, convinced from Lainey?s silence and steady sighs that she was asleep. And then, in the dark, her little voice spoke up.

?Mommy, Tyler* said today that when you grow up, you die. That?s not true, right?? Her voice broke with that last question which was really more of a plea than a question?please say no; we don?t die, right?

Without much time to strategize my response, I replied as most parents answer these questions?off the cuff, from the heart, and as best as we know how. I brought my face close to hers so she could see my reassuring smile in the dark, and I swept her hair from her forehead as I kissed her.

?Baby, everybody dies at some point in life. Most people live for a long time, just like my grandpas and grandmas. Remember I told you how my grandma and both of my grandpas died after they lived a wonderful life and had babies and then had grandbabies and watched them all grow up??

Lainey immediately started to cry. ?No, Mommy,? she argued, ?No, they don?t die.?

Oh, this wasn?t going to be easy. I realized at that moment that death was a new concept to her, despite the fact that we?ve flushed a number of fish?God rest ?em?down the toilet and have casually discussed the cycle of life through stories of grandparents and the occasional children?s book with an orphan character. But this time, it was making a little bit of sense in her growing five-year-old brain, and her comprehension of this topic brought new fears.

I could tell she was distraught. Her voice wavered as she continued: ?And Gabby* said that you can die even if you don?t grow up. She said you can die if you get really sick. That?s not true, right??

Oh, sweet mother of I-don?t-know-how-to-answer-this. And so again, I took her little question, hugged it tight and did my very best to gather up a meaningful, honest yet child-appropriate response.

Serious questions deserve serious responses, but at that moment, I knew my girl needed security?some ventilation through the heavy fear blanket that was quickly smothering my little kindergartener. So I laughed?a soft, gentle laugh.

?Have you ever been sick, Lainey?? I asked.

?Yes,? she answered.

?And did you die?? I asked.

?No,? she replied.

?Lainey, Gabby is right in that sometimes that happens. But it?s not something I want you to be afraid of. People get sick all the time, but we have so many things that help us get better?doctors and medicine and hospitals and good food and rest.?

?Mommy, you forgot to do oils today,? Lainey interrupted. ?Will you go get them??

I knew what that question meant. We use essential oils to help us ?not get sick,? and my poor girl had now associated that benefit with ?not dying.?

I slipped out of the bedroom to get the oils, giving her a little space and thankful for the opportunity to give Brett a quick rundown of our conversation. His response was a little different. Because Brett was terrified of death growing up. He doesn?t know why, but he remembers how scared he was and even his mom reminds me that it was a very difficult concept for him as a child.

?Please don?t tell her too much,? Brett pleaded. ?I don?t want her to be scared. You have no idea how much the fear of death plagued me as a child. She?s five, Kelle. She?s too young to be thinking about this. Change the subject, please. Tell her everything is going to be okay.?

His last statement sharply emphasized a desire most of us share as parents: tell them everything is going to be okay. As elusive as that promise is, that?s what we?d love for our kids, right? A fearless childhood and the assurance that everything is going to be okay.

Photobucket

I so understand Brett?s desire?I mean, it?s my desire too?and I love how much he cares about the little minds of our kids. The fact is though, we have no guarantee in life that everything is going to be okay, and more than assuring my child that life is going to be dandy, I want to embrace every drop of good fortune we have while equipping my children with the tools to handle their fears and hardships.

Brett and I talked for another minute, uniting our approaches before I returned to Lainey and concluded our important conversation. I thought about a few things before I continued:

A) My goal is not to take away her fear of death. Death is scary. I think we all are, in some way, afraid of that great unknown. We don?t want to die when our kids are still young, and we certainly don?t want anyone we love to die either. It is natural and completely understandable that a five-year-old would be intimidated by this new concept. I want to acknowledge her fear.

Photobucket

B) What does my child think death means? While I didn?t necessarily have to address the depth of death on this particular evening, I realized that we would need to talk more about what death means in the coming months. This definition means different things to different families?to many, incorporating faith and afterlife. Faith is important to me and my family, and yet because of my past religious history, it is also critical for me to live faith and breathe it to my children in a way that embraces different ways of thinking; a way that encompasses questions and uncertainties, and never a definitive ?this is the way it is? or ?here?s a crutch for your fear.? Faith does bring a lot of comfort to the concept of death for me, though. And while I don?t know all the answers?and I won?t pretend I do to Lainey?I will share my ideas and dreams with my children and the fact that I believe that death is not an end.

C) Brett is right about Lainey being only five. I don?t believe in telling your children things that aren?t true just to alleviate their fears. However, I think there?s a fine line between being honest with your children and talking to them like adults. They?re not adults. Psychologically, there are clearly defined reasons why we don?t present adult concepts at adult levels to a five year old. Every child is different as well.? We embrace our children's personalities when we talk about big things, and knowing Lainey and how her little brain works will guide us as we approach more of these challenging topics as she grows up.

D) I know families that have had to present the hard truth of death to their children because they experienced it first-hand?mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. They too wanted to protect their children from knowing the depth of death?s meaning, but?they didn?t have a choice. In some way, I want to honor their story and heartbreaking circumstances in the truth I present to my children. I don?t know how I?ll do it, but I think about this fact as I begin to knit together lessons for my family in my head.

I returned to bed, massaged sweet-smelling oil into my girl?s feet, and cuddled up next to her, relieved to see she was smiling, relaxed and distracted.

?How many more days until Halloween?? she asked.

I smiled and hugged her. ?Eight more days. Are you excited??

?Yes,? she answered, smiling. ?I want to go to sleep now.?

And so the two of us tangled our arms together and repositioned into comfier hollows in our pillows, our discussion a thing of the past for tonight and yet a door to the future. There will be more talks of fear and death. And while I hope that the searing truth of this concept keeps its distance for a long while in our family and with those we love, I know that years of time will eventually deepen my children?s understanding of the cycle of life. To prepare them, I will do what I do every day. I will love my kids.

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I will teach them to be grateful for the wonderful things around them. I will encourage them to communicate their fears and questions with us, and I will be responsible with how I reply. I will live by example?making choices to be happy, to be compassionate to those around us, to educate myself and my family about the people of the world and their stories, and to embrace the sadness and unfortunate events in life with honesty and strength to overcome. Today we have so much to be grateful for, and there is comfort in recognizing that fact.

Fear isn?t a pleasant emotion, but it exists and it can certainly motivate us. How do you embrace your children?s fears? Do you discuss death and illness and tragedy in other places of the world with your children and if so, how to do you present that at an appropriate level? Hallmark and I would love to hear your response. Please be considerate of other families? ways of addressing these topics. Enlightenment comes with an open mind.

To see other Hallmark posts on this blog, click HERE.

*Having entered the age of school and more complex social settings and topics, please note I?ve changed the names of Lainey?s classmates.?This gets a bit more challenging as our kids grow up, and we embrace the challenges and changes that might come with blogging about our life.

Source: http://www.kellehampton.com/2012/10/when-fears-come-hallmark.html

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Monday, October 8, 2012

France boosts security at synagogues

PARIS (AP) ? France is boosting security at Jewish religious sites after blank bullets were fired on a synagogue west of Paris, and amid renewed concerns about anti-Semitism around the country.

French President Francois Hollande met Sunday with leaders of the country's Jewish community, and pledged to fight extremism and anti-Semitism "with the greatest firmness."

He said that authorities "in the coming days, in the coming hours" will increase security at Jewish religious sites so they won't be subject to the kind of attack that targeted a synagogue in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil on Saturday night.

A representative of the synagogue says the building was targeted with about eight blank bullets and services were cancelled. The representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a police investigation is under way, said no one was hurt in the incident.

It came hours after police carried out raids across France on Saturday targeting a suspected jihadist cell of young Frenchmen recently converted to Islam. DNA on a grenade that exploded last month at a kosher grocery store led them to a member of the cell, who was killed in a shootout with police Saturday.

Officials said he had been under surveillance since last spring ? around the time a French Islamist radical went on a shooting rampage against a Jewish school and French soldiers, killing seven people.

A leading French Muslim organization, the CFCM, denounced the synagogue attack. It said in a statement Sunday that it "assures the French Jewish community of its support and fraternal solidarity in the face of all attacks that target its members and institutions."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/france-boosts-security-synagogues-104432709.html

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Riverview Rockets Post Charity Golf Tournament Success - Osprey Observer

By Tamas Mondovics

In its First Annual Charity Golf Tournament entitled ?Rockets Hit Back Against Cancer,? the Riverview Rockets Youth Travel Baseball Organization hosted a successful event and donated $4,000 this summer to benefit the 1 Voice Foundation.

Held on? Saturday, August 25, at the Summerfield Crossings Golf Club, and promoted by the the Rocket?s 7u, 8u and 9u programs, the tourney assisted the 1 Voice Foundation, a 501 c(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to support children with cancer and their families by connecting them with financial, emotional and educational care while funding research for tomorrow?s cure.

According to Rockets president Jim Marshall, the four-man scramble included 18 holes of golf including cart and range balls as well as a lunch buffet, a 50/50 drawing, raffle prizes and awards for the Top Foursome, Worst Foursome, Closest to the Pin Challenge, Longest Drive and Par 3 Poker.

?The Rockets deserve a special recognition and congratulations for all the hard work and dedication to this very special community service project,? Marshall said. ?I am very proud of all that took part in the event and helped to make it such a success.?

The Riverview Rockets youth travel baseball program is now a 11 teams strong non-profit organization dedicated to provide local youth in our area an affordable way to play travel baseball.

In addition to playing baseball, the teams are dedicated to participating in community service projects and helping to raise funds for other organizations, such as the 1 Voice Foundation, which was founded in 2008 and is located at 123 Bloomingdale Avenue in Brandon.

?Our goal is to provide our players with a great experience on and off the field and to build better baseball players, better students, and active members of the community,? Marshall said.

The Rockets teams are doing very well this fall with some of our more established teams like the 12U and 9U teams making it the finals and semifinals of tournaments so far.

?All of our teams continue to improve on a daily basis and I believe it is only a matter of time before we are collecting tournament championships on a weekly basis in many age brackets,? Marshall said, but added that regardless of winning or losing on the baseball diamond, our mission is solid and our goals are clear: ?Build young men of character through baseball and we will be successful in all that we do. Winners on the field, winners in the classroom, winners in our community.?

For more information, contact coach Jim Marshall at rocketscoach@me.com.

To find out more about the 1 Voice Foundation, please visit www.1VoiceFoundation.org.

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Source: http://www.ospreyobserver.com/2012/10/riverview-rockets-post-charity-golf-tournament-success/

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Coupon Alert: $3.00 off two (2) Card Games from Hasbro

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Source: http://www.couponsforyourfamily.com/2012/10/coupon-alert-3-00-off-two-2-card-games-from-hasbro.html

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Archaeologists Uncover 50 Skulls In Sacred Aztec Temple In Mexico

Mexican archaeologists said Friday they uncovered the largest number of skulls ever found in one offering at the most sacred temple of the Aztec empire dating back more than 500 years.

The finding reveals new ways the pre-Colombian civilization used skulls in rituals at Mexico City?s Templo Mayor, experts said. That?s where the most important Aztec ceremonies took place between 1325 until the Spanish conquest in 1521.

The 50 skulls were found at one sacrificial stone. Five were buried under the stone, and each had holes on both sides ? signaling they were hung on a skull rack.

Archaeologist Raul Barrera of Mexico?s National Institute of Anthropology and History said the other 45 skulls appeared to have just been dumped on top of the stone.

The team of archeologists unearthed the skulls and jaw bones in August. They stumbled on them as they were renovating a section of the Templo Mayor in the heart of Mexico City.

READ FULL ARTICLE AT THE HUFFINGTON POST

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Source: http://higherthinkingprimate.com/2012/10/07/archaeologists-uncover-50-skulls-in-sacred-aztec-temple-in-mexico/

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Alt-week 10.6.12: supercomputers on the moon, hear the Earth sing and the future of sports commentary

Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days.

Altweek 10612 supercomputers on the moon, hear the Earth sing and the future of sports commentary

Normally we try to encourage you to join us around the warm alt-week campfire by teasing you about what diverse and exotic internet nuggets we have for you inside. Sadly, this week that's not the case. There's nothing for you here we're afraid. Not unless you like totally mind-blowing space videos, singing planets and AI / sports commentary-flavored cocktails, that is. Oh, you do? Well what do you know! Come on in... this is alt-week.

Continue reading Alt-week 10.6.12: supercomputers on the moon, hear the Earth sing and the future of sports commentary

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Alt-week 10.6.12: supercomputers on the moon, hear the Earth sing and the future of sports commentary originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/OP0_tlZe_aQ/

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