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In what was at first presented as a compassionate gesture, the Liberal government announced last month that it was waiving the travel loans for 25,000 Syrian refugees. People who have lost everything will not be expected to repay the costs of transportation and medical exams they had incurred by being admitted into Canada – roughly $10,000 for a family of four. Good. But on closer examination, this act of generosity raises questions about an inconsistent government resettlement program that has been hurting the vulnerable people it is meant to help. Unlike the select Syrians, most refugees allowed into Canada each year are financed by government loans that they are obligated to repay – beginning within 30 days of their arrival, according to official policy. There is no evidence that these refugees are any less deserving of the government’s timely and selective generosity. To be a refugee is to be in a vulnerable state almost by definition. The government’s Immigration Loan Program (originally developed in 1951 to expedite the flow of immigrant labour) is intended solely for those who are unable to pay for their transportation and medical costs, and in practice is used by a majority of refugees. It’s arguable whether Canada’s refugee resettlement program should be in the money-lending business, with a collection agency that leans on people who are already under great pressure. It may be wiser policy for the government to absorb these relatively small humanitarian costs – with the expectation that the country’s coffers would be replenished many times over through the integration of people who arrive debt-free and can get on with the job of becoming citizens, workers, entrepreneurs and taxpayers. But if the government insists on saddling refugees with a Welcome To Canada debt, the program should at least be redesigned. It is counterproductive and petty to demand payment within 30 days of landing when people face more pressing priorities like finding housing and work. At the very least, the debt repayment period should be spread out over many years and even decades. Otherwise, Canada runs the risk of compromising the futures and limiting the earning potential of new arrivals and their families. Read more To stay current on immigrant and refugee workplace integration, provide the information requested below to receive the Get in the Know weekly no cost e-bulletin. The bulletin includes news, events and resources related to immigrant and refugee workplace integration in Surrey. November 2022 Calendar of Events T Tue W Wed T Thu F Fri 0 events, 31 0 events, 31 0 events, 1 0 events, 1 0 events, 2 0 events, 2 Canadian Immigrant Fair November 3 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Canadian Immigrant Fair The Canadian Immigrant Fair is returning on November 3, 2022, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Vancouver Convention Centre East in Meeting Rooms 1 – 3 at 999 Canada … Continued	3,018
Experiencing negative ideas is normal, and it may appear overwhelming to take in such a medical diagnosis. Betterhelp Ads Reddit…Gradually, you will find out more insight into treatment options and how to adapt your life to manage your symptoms. Dealing with a depressive disorder is tough, and it is all right to take your time to figure things out. It might take time to comprehend how your life might change and how the medical diagnosis may define it. As you understand more about your diagnosis, it assists to acknowledge what you have done so far to get to this point. There is nothing wrong with looking for aid. Doing so can assist you recognize you should have better on your own.\|Experiencing unfavorable thoughts is regular, and it might seem overwhelming to take in such a diagnosis. It may take time to comprehend how your life might alter and how the medical diagnosis may define it. As you know more about your diagnosis, it helps to acknowledge what you have done so far to get to this point.} narcissists trigger it so if we consider the frequency in narcissism today it’s no surprise 15 million americans experience social anxiety if you are among them you’re going to wish to watch this video to the end i’m going to talk through the connection between narcissism and social anxiety and share 6 indications that you might be dealing with social anxiety in your life let’s get to it welcome to the typical ego neighborhood my name is christina and on this channel we speak about emotional abuse self-development and spirituality today we’re talking about a subject that’s near and not so dear to my heart social stress and anxiety i don’t mind sharing that social anxiety has been a part of my life in varying forms for as long as i can remember and i have actually come a long way in the past couple of years however i certainly still have work to do i just recently learned about the connection between social stress and anxiety and narcissism and it’s type of interesting however prior to i get to that i want to share that this video is sponsored by betterhelp an online therapy website that can link you with a certified therapist and if your anxiety is stopping you from living your best life i definitely suggest talking with a therapist whether it’s through much better assistance or whether you discover the therapist yourself and for ten percent off your very first month make sure to use the link betterhelp.com forward slash common eco now for the connection between social stress and anxiety and narcissism and the connection is twofold initially as i discussed narcissists cause social stress and anxiety and they do this by 2nd thinking your every relocation or teasing whatever you do when you grow up around narcissistic individuals you’re going to be so utilized to people doubting degrading and outright teasing you that you’re probably going to expect that this is how everyone acts in a narcissistic family there may be a scapegoat who bears the brunt of all or most of the unfavorable feedback however not all families with narcissistic parents have a clear scapegoat in lots of conceited family characteristics nobody is safe from the criticism in any case handling this type of feedback constantly can definitely have an impact on your self-confidence and how you see the world not just will you doubt yourself however you anticipate everyone else to question you too and based upon my experience and my beliefs it ends up being a self-fulfilling prediction you think it’ll happen and it does why isn’t it so easy to manifest a million dollars however this connection does make sense because of how people in your environment will react to your pain in social situations there are some kind-hearted individuals who will do what they can to alleviate your worry and make you feel comfy and there are some conceited hearted Betterhelp Ads Reddit individuals who will pounce on the perceived weak point so the more you predict symptoms of social stress and anxiety the more you’ll attract egotistical people so that was the first connection narcissists trigger social stress and anxiety in other individuals the second connection between narcissists and social stress and anxiety is that they’re likewise most likely to struggle with social anxiety First of all, do not be hard on yourself. It prevails to question why you have a depressive condition. While much is discovered throughout the years about depression, scientists are still exploring contributing elements behind its cause. You might wonder if you in some way caused your signs to appear. However, anxiety has nothing to do with individual character flaws or weak points. A number of different things may contribute to establishing depression, including things out of your control. Learn about ways to cope– such as treatments, support groups, and self-help alternatives. Invest time making sense of your medical diagnosis to comprehend practical expectations for your journey to recovery. Collecting details helps you see you are a private with a diagnosis, and the medical diagnosis does not specify who you are. Check out effective treatment alternatives such as cognitive behavioral therapy and comprehend how they work. You’ll also want to discover more about other people’s experiences with depression through community assistance groups, companies, and so on. You might find out practical ideas for conquering personal obstacles. Even with a persistent depressive disorder, recovery is attainable with the ideal treatment strategy. Upon discovering your diagnosis, you might have questions about treatment alternatives. Alternatives might include a mix of medication and talk treatment. You may also make changes to everyday living activities to show a healthier lifestyle. There are various methods to create a treatment strategy, and there is nobody size fits all method. It is important to work with your doctor or psychological health specialist to get the most take advantage of your treatment plan. It is a regular part of healing since circumstances alter, and you want your treatment strategy to show modifications to guarantee you stay on track. Developing outstanding interaction with your psychological health specialist is significant because he or she will assist you reach turning points and set goals. Betterhelp Ads Reddit by Behavior modification, likewise called behavioral modification, uses people’s actions on the planet as the access point for resolving a variety of problems– not just behavioral problems however also problems including sensations and ideas. Behavioral psychologists presume that issue behaviors are brought on by interactions between individuals and their environments. Problems occur when a person’s environment rewards harmful behaviors; with time, these habits become practices. Behavior modification is used to treat such hazardous practices as cigarette smoking, substance usage, consuming disorders, sleeping disorders, and the inability to manage tension effectively. Behavior modification can also be used to treat larger psychological disorders, consisting of obsessive-compulsive condition, schizophrenia, bipolar illness, psychotic disorders, stress and anxiety, personality, and anxiety disorders. For example, to help a customer with obsessive-compulsive condition, a behavioral therapist may teach that private, bit by bit, to endure a sensible amount of dirt in their environment or to avoid constantly cleaning their hands. This technique is called direct exposure therapy.. Behavior modification can likewise be used to enhance positive behaviors, such as company, involvement in sports, and border forming. Betterhelp Ads Reddit Behavior therapy can be traced to the research of Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov, which was released in the 1920s and 1930s. Pavlov’s work concentrated on classical conditioning, which suggests learning through association. In classical conditioning, 2 stimuli( things or occasions that produce a reaction) are linked together to produce a brand-new response. In a well-known experiment, Pavlov classically conditioned canines to drool when he rang a bell because the dogs discovered to associate the existence of food with the noise of the bell. Behavior therapy is likewise associated with the work of US psychologist B.F. Skinner, who studied operant conditioning in the 1930s. Operant conditioning indicates learning behavior through penalties and benefits. While working with patients in a psychiatric hospital, Skinner discovered that habits could be “shaped” (slowly changed) when favorable habits were followed by negative habits and desirable consequences were followed by undesirable repercussions. Behavior modification was later on developed as a treatment technique when the work of psychologists such as Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis resulted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT). CBT is based on the theory that individuals’s thoughts determine both their emotions and their habits. When therapists help people change their thoughts, they can help them change their lives. Behavior therapy is based upon the belief that we are affected by and learn from our environment. Behavioral therapists help clients alter unhealthy behaviors by focusing on observable actions, rather than on what is taking place in the mind. Behavior therapy also focuses on concrete changes in the present instead of on insight into the past. Particular kinds of behavior therapy include the following:. I was a pretty nervous kid and worried continuously. I do not believe I was ever depressed, but I had a LOT of stress and anxiety. I went through a duration of severe separation stress and anxiety when my moms and dads first got divorced, then became scared of everything (rollercoasters, frightening motion pictures, bees, movie theaters, you name it). I was mostly able to deal with it, but in 7th grade, my anxiety suddenly got so much worse. I was continuously on edge and convinced something dreadful was going to take place, and had trouble sleeping because I informed myself that the 2nd I closed my eyes a fire would begin, someone would break in, or something bad would happen to someone I liked. I became compulsive about examining the locks on windows and doors, the stove, and developed an irrational worry of getting food poisoning. After seeing a motion picture on the Black Plague in school, I became extremely paranoid about germs and concerned about them constantly. It got to the point where I just wanted to sleep all the time because. Can Health Insurance Offer Protection For Treatment Appointments? Upgraded January 22, 2022. Medically Examined By: Dawn Brown. What is mental health protection? When it pertains to therapy, people almost always wonder just how much it costs with or without a health plan and how to spend for it. Health care marketplaces and systems can be complicated, but individuals look for mental health treatment every day, and we’re here to stroll you through the many psychological health advantages readily available. Treatment Covered With Insurance: Protection Tips To Know. There are many ways to pay for mental health treatment. What is covered by medical insurance and what isn’t can be confusing initially? The Mental Health Parity Act belongs of the Affordable Care Act that needs large health insurance service providers and health plans to offer equivalent coverage for mental disorder (including drug abuse protection and treatment). Contact your insurance coverage provider for more information.. What Various Kinds Of Treatments Does Insurance Cover? Unfortunately, there are no fast and easy answers to the concern of whether your health insurance plan will cover your treatment sessions or psychological health services. The law does not mandate small health insurance business with less than fifty workers to have health insurance cover the expense of treatment. A therapist’s workplace can also aid with these questions and you can always consult your medical insurance benefits department or insurance company to verify what level of psychological health coverage you have. Numerous companies that aren’t governed by the Affordable Care Act or the Mental Health Parity Act choose to supply psychological health protection for their workers. Psychological health benefits can be complicated, so we’ll outline a couple of things to try to find. Before seeing a therapist, it is essential to see if the service provider takes your medical insurance. One method to find out is to offer your supplier the details shown on your insurance coverage.. For relative, it might work to look into a Children’s Medical insurance Program, CHIP. People with diagnosed mental disorders, substance usage disorder, or other mental disorders can find their important health benefits might look for more details with the Consumer Support Program.. Medicaid programs are a great option for relative, specifically those with a diagnosable disorder, psychological health condition, pre-existing condition, or those trying to find a kids’s health insurance program/CHIP. Find out more about these programs at Healthcare.gov.. If you’re interested in reducing expenses, you might look for in-office talk therapy that is covered by your insurance. Numerous online therapy options ( which might not be consisted of in some market plans) can be much cheaper than even in-network options.. Questions To Ask Your Insurance coverage. Exist specific psychological health services/therapists that my health insurance strategy does not cover? Am I covered for therapy/therapists if I have a pre-existing condition? What is the privacy policy/terms of service for these mental health services/therapists? What is the variety of therapy sessions my health insurance covers annually? Do I have a deductible to pay prior to my health insurance cover services under my medical insurance strategy? Is there a copay needed by individual or group health insurance strategies? Do I need a referral from my primary care medical professional for a therapist? Insurance Coverage Network Providers. A network provider is a company who accepts medical insurance as a form of payment. In this case, that health insurance partly spends for psychological healthcare. They might accept insurance coverage for psychological health protection, a network service provider is “within” your health plan’s network.. by Established in 2012, Talkspace was one of the very first online therapy business to hit the market. Headquartered in New York City, the business’s goal was to break down the stigma of getting help for psychological health and make that assistance more available to everyone. Fast forward to today and Talkspace is now one of the most well-known online therapy business, with celebs such as Michael Phelps and Demi Lovato often appearing in their TV commercials. It has actually likewise broadened its services a good deal over the last nine years and now uses psychiatric examination services, medication management, couples treatment, and teenager treatment. To relatively and thoroughly review Talkspace against its rivals, we surveyed 100 existing users from 33 different online treatment platforms in order to acquire insight into their experiences. We likewise sent out a survey directly to each company to get more comprehensive info about their offerings.. How much is Talkspace hourly? Betterhelp Ads Reddit These surveys and studies permitted us to directly compare offerings, quality of service, and client complete satisfaction across business. Here’s how Talkspace compares to its online therapy competition. going under another layer of this onion i’m gon na be sharing what i go through off-camera with my psychological health and also the app that i usage for therapy it’s online therapy it’s called talk space it’s not sponsored to be sincere it has altered my entire life since i was a youngster i have actually lived in a constant state of worry and panic in fact i can recall over my life at different ages that i was and practically know what that year’s concern was i didn’t know at the time that that was really anxiety and ocd it was unattended i didn’t have medication for it i wasn’t in therapy for it so i’ve essentially been struggling my entire life with no sort of aid i didn’t think that i required the assistance i thought i might just do it on my own on my 27th birthday in 2016 i began to privately record my mental health journey and my strategy was is that year i was going to alter mentally simply by share will today is the early morning of my 27th birthday i have actually been living with ocd my entire life each and every single year every single moment has been littered with concern and fear that always work out to be nothing i have actually never ever delighted in anything due to some worry and i’m ready to stop that i’m happy i feel really enthusiastic today that didn’t take place three years later on i came across talk area actually i didn’t stumble across it you guys the fat tuesday fam which is the people who see my videos if you’re brand-new to my channel it was simply some random live stream we started speaking about mental health and you guys let me understand about talk space and that changed everything oh boy everything is genuine untidy in here get the dog hair off i don’t know if you people understand this i think i’ve told some of you but like i i deal with some psychological things going on and um i was on instagram live the other day and the fat tuesday fam who which i’ve spilled coffee all over. Betterhelp Ads Reddit How do Talkspace therapists get paid? you guys and i’m sorry you guys really informed me about this it resembles an app called talkspace and this is not sponsored by talkspace but i am interested in it this entire early morning i truly was struggling and i had a hard time practically like every each and every single morning especially on the weekends like today’s saturday saturdays have constantly drawn they have actually constantly been truly difficult mental days for me i do not understand what’s next i’m just gon na attempt this out i might hate it i don’t know i do not really want to get a therapist i’ve constantly wished to simply handle my mental stuff without having to get one due to the fact that to me i just um i just do not wish to need to go through all of this and i do not want to need to inform individuals all of my stuff and just go through all of this i just don’t feel like doing all of this and i really just wanted to manage this on my own i’m not 100 sure that i can after almost 30 years of attempting so we’re gon na enter into that today uh i do not know i’m simply tired of dealing with this and like like i stated.	19,861
I’m participating in theÂ Pet Blogger Challenge.Â Sponsored byÂ GoPetFriendly.com, it is a community event that gives pet bloggers from around the world the chance to get to know each other, find out what motivates them, share tips for making their blogs better, commiserate, inspire, and support each other. A list of questions was provided to everyone participating. Let’s go… 1. When did you begin your blog? I started What Remains Now on January 1, 2011. 2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog? What Remains Now came out of my love forÂ Tales and Tails. A link to Tales and Tails was posted on my Greyhound group’s Yahoo! Groups page. At the time, I didn’t read blogs, but I fell in love with the Tales and Tails gang and every morning my girlfriend and I would start our day by reading or by talking about what was happening with Lilac, Blueberry and Bunny. One day, my girlfriend told me that I should write a blog about my greyhounds and call itÂ Greyhounds or Bust. I thought she had lost her mind, but apparently a seed was planted. The funny thing is, I can’t remember the moment I decided to start What Remains Now. A friend’s husband was between jobs and I asked him if Â he would set-up a blog for me. He said “yes.” That was important because if I had had to set it up, I probably would have never gotten around to it. Since my daughter was off to college, I wanted to get back in touch with my creativity and share the things I found interesting. I loved how happy I felt when reading Tales and Tails, and I wanted to create that experience for those that enjoyed my blog. Once I started writing, I fell in love with blogging and the changes I could see in myself, and I’ve been hooked ever since. 3. Is your current purpose the same? No and yes. If not, whatâ€™s different? When I started What Remains Now, I wanted to focus on crafting using re-purposed items. Then, I took Juliette Crane’s How to Paint a Girl e-Course and I fell in love with painting little girls. Now, I want to paint, paint, paint. What Remains Now is still the same in that it records my creativity journey and is an extension of myself out into the world. I feel I’ve met my goals because I write What Remains Now with as much sincerity as I can. 4. How often do you post? I post every day. 5. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you? I blog on a schedule, but I find there is a lot of room for the spirit to move me within that schedule. If you publish on a schedule,Â why? How strict are you about your publishing deadlines?Â What do you do for inspiration when it feels like youâ€™ve covered every topic? I publish on a schedule because I need the structure. I’m just not a good free spirit. Even though I blog on a schedule, I try to make the categories broad enough that I have a lot of room to cover different topics. 6. How much time do you spend writing your blog per week? How much time visiting other blogs? Share your Â tips for staying on top of it all. Hmmm…that would be interesting to track. I’m guessing, but I’d say I spend 20 hours a week writing and putting together my posts. I probably spend another 10 hours a week visiting other blogs. I stay on top of my blog writing by using on a schedule, which gives me the structure I need; I keep a blog calendar, which helps me plan ahead; and I have a notebook where I write down ideas, which helps me when I get stuck for something to write about. I use Google Reader to keep up with the blogs I read. 7. How do you measure the success of a post and of your blog in general (comments, shares, traffic)?Â Do you look strictly at the numbers, or do you have a way of assessing the quality of those interactions? Honestly, I try not to think about this aspect of blogging. My goal is to offer up what I have and hope that it reaches people who find it interesting and helpful. I may be more interested in assessing traffic in the future, but for now, I don’t worry about it. 8. If you could ask the pet blogging community for help with one issue youâ€™re having with your blog, what would it be? Social media mystifies me. I’m weak in that regard, and I’m always interested in how people use it in creative ways. 9. What goals do you have for your blog in 2013? My main goal is to keep on doing what I’m doing. The journey is everything to me. The only thing I wish I would improve on…I would love to get a little ahead on my posts so I could improve the quality. I’m not able to get the linky list to appear, but I hope you will go to Go Pet Friendly and visit some of the other blogs who are participating in this challenge. It’s fun to read the posts since everyone’s answering the same questions. I’m also participating in How to be HAPPY! a brand new meme from Jay ofÂ The Depp Effect. Here’s what Jay says about it… Itâ€™s about finding theÂ little things in lifeÂ which bringÂ a smileÂ or a glow ofÂ warmthÂ to ourÂ hearts and soulsÂ during our daily lives.Â Why?Â Because itâ€™s the way all these little things add up which truly determines if we are happy people,Â notÂ the big stuff like a lottery win. To enter, write a post aboutÂ one thingÂ which has made you happy in someÂ small wayÂ recently â€“ it could be birdsong, a favourite smell, a particularly good loaf of bread, a blue sky, anything! Then, head on over to The Depp Effect and link your post. Here’s something that make me VERY happy…BOOKS! I love everything about books…the stories, the authors, the smell of the pages, the dust jackets, the language, the illustrations, the places you buy them…everything. I have spent some of the happiest moments of my life in the company of books. Books are sacred to me. Through them, everything is available to us. This Week’s Inspiration Results Something new Iâ€™m doing in 2013â€¦Inspiration Mondays and Results Thursdays. Every Monday, Iâ€™ll post a painting â€œinspirationâ€ and then on Thursdays, Iâ€™ll post how Iâ€™m interpreting that inspiration. I think this will be a fun exercise for me and keep me painting. It will also allow me to discover and share my “process.” This year, Iâ€™m once again participating in theÂ Creative Every Day Challenge. Every month, Leah posts an optional monthly theme for inspirational purposes and to give some focusÂ to anyone who needs it. This monthâ€™s theme isâ€¦DARKâ€¦so thatâ€™s what I used for my inspiration this week. I started with the background. The first thing that came to my mind was a red dress… and this is the girl that came out of it. I think some of her came out of this unfinished painting. I still want to do a more work on both of them. Whew! That’s a lot of posting. This entry was posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2013 at 8:26 pm and is filed under Greyt Hounds (Greyhounds), Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. 21 Responses to " Third Annual Pet Blogger Challenge" January 10, 2013 at 9:36 pm Great post! Its amazing how similar we think on the whole blogging topic! January 10, 2013 at 10:04 pm HAHA! Is that Freedom? Our dogs are laughing at us. You are one of my favourite blogs. The strange thing is, you might be structured but you have a lot of variety in your posts. Your Before I Die posts gave me loads to think about and will always be one of my favourite blog series. The ones where you shared your favourite things were great too, though I never found anything you posted about in my neighbourhood LOL. I also like that you change them around every year to keep things fresh. Anyway, I have fun here, Lori! Thanks for that. And you’re absolutely right. The journey is everything. January 11, 2013 at 1:10 am I’ve read your post with interest and am impressed with all the work you put into your blog. Love the sweet paintings of the girls. But I did hop over from Jay at the Depp Effect, to see what makes you HAPPY! Haha, you’re not a member of the ‘e-readers are great!’ club then? I’m not either. I do love the smell and feel of books too. And you have to drag me past a bookstore. It was nice to ‘meet’ you and I do hope Jay’s meme takes off. It is such a nice idea. lori says: January 12, 2013 at 9:59 am Oops…I misrepresented myself, Carolina. I love e-readers too, but nothing can ever take the place of real books for me. Sue says: January 11, 2013 at 2:47 am January 11, 2013 at 3:38 am So glad you posted this, we didn’t know it was pet challenge day! we so will have to do that! Have a great day! January 11, 2013 at 4:16 am Love your daily inspiration and the corresponding picture. Patty says: January 11, 2013 at 4:27 am I love the red dressed woman. The blogging world is fun. I was thinking the other day how there are a group of us that all read the same blogs. It is like our own circle of friends in Blogville. liz says: January 11, 2013 at 7:16 am Oh yes, books make me happy too. I’ve just finished one called Dash, Bitch of the Year, about an adopted greyhound. Very lovely and happy-making book. lori says: January 12, 2013 at 10:06 am I just added this to my “Wish List.” It looks like a book I would enjoy. January 11, 2013 at 9:21 am Besides animals, books are my favorite Jay from The Depp Effect says: January 11, 2013 at 11:47 am Ooooh, books! Yesss! Books make me happy too! Thanks for joining in, Lori! I enjoyed reading the Q & A about your blog and how you do it. So many people post on a schedule, and yet that would be so alien to me. Funny how different we all are. I’ll pop over to Go Pet Friendly next and read all about it. Your girl is interesting, it’s a very graphic style, and yet the dress is very soft and textured. it’s strange how one thing leads to another, isn’t it? I really want to do what you’re doing and get to grips with painting and drawing. Maybe I’ll do an e-course too! Were you happy with that one? lori says: January 12, 2013 at 10:17 am Incredibly happy. Juliette has a very free-spirited way of painting. You will have no trouble finding an e-course. There are many and it seems that the folks who take the time to put one together, sincerely want it to be good. Coralee says: January 11, 2013 at 1:52 pm January 12, 2013 at 9:58 am We love your blog and we share your love of books and crafts Carol says: January 12, 2013 at 1:58 pm Your paintings and your blog are wonderful ~ very diverse and creative ~ Thanks for coming by ^_^ January 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm I absolutely adore Tales and Tails as well, and I’m glad they inspired you to start your own blog. Thanks so much for taking part in the Challenge. I loved reading your answers and seeing your painting. Social media is a big part of what I do, but then my goal is to spread awareness about pet travel in general and the GoPetFriendly.com website in particular. Using Twitter, Facebook and Google+ allows me to reach a larger audience and connect with my readers no matter which social network they’ve chosen to hang out on. I use TweetDeck to keep up with my Twitter stream and find that saves a lot of time. I hope you have a fantastic 2013, and I’m looking forward to following your blog. January 18, 2013 at 2:42 pm Nice to stop by here on the Pet Blogger Challenge. Your blog seems like an interesting mix of dogs and creativity, so you’ve found yourself a little niche! I wish you all the best to keep ‘doing what you’re doing’ into 2013. Colby says: January 18, 2013 at 4:47 pm That’s awesome Tales and Tails inspired you to start blogging! We got to me Lilac, Blueberry, and Bunny’s mom at a couple of conferences this past year! I agree! Social media mystifies me as well. I feel like I’m getting getting better. I use Hootsuite to post to Twitter (I heard you can use it G+ now too) and I use the Facebook scheduler to schedule a few Facebook posts. houndstooth says: January 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm I can’t believe I missed this post earlier! It was just an incredibly busy week and I felt like I kept getting more and more behind as it went on. I feel honored that you’d say that I inspired you to blog. I look forward to your blog every day because I never know what beautiful or creative thing you will have posted, but I know it will be gorgeous and I will love it! I’ve always wondered about how you got your blog designed so beautifully. I adore the graphics and how they all fit together! January 24, 2013 at 7:30 am I really enjoyed your post and all the work that you put into this blog. I found you as a fellow participant in the blog challenge but definitely relate on so many levels to your outlook on life in general and I look forward to future posts on many topics!	13,096
Young progressives distrust U.S. power. It’s up to us to show them how that power can be put toward good ends. from Fall 2019, No. 54 – 28 MIN READ President Barack Obama greets participants after remarks to mark the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps national service program, on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 12, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) The world is falling apart, yet foreign policy has scarcely registered in the Democratic presidential primary campaign. Stump speeches center on health care, jobs, taxes, infrastructure, and other domestic concerns. Apart from former Vice President Joe Biden, no candidate can claim broad foreign policy expertise or hands-on experience in diplomacy, a resume gap that doesn’t seem to matter much. Voters surveyed have made clear that they care mostly about domestic priorities, creating little incentive for candidates to talk about complicated and sometimes recondite subjects that don’t energize the base. When international considerations register at all on the campaign trail, it is often in terms that relate back to domestic policy—invigorating U.S. democracy so it can serve as a more potent example abroad, or promoting economic competitiveness to increase trade leverage. Domestic renewal is indeed necessary for foreign policy success. But it is not sufficient. Nor is it enough for candidates to pledge to undo the most egregious missteps of the Trump era. Without a rousing, affirmative vision for its role in the world, America will falter in the battle of ideas that Russia and China are waging with the tacit support of an expanding circle of authoritarians. From the campaign conversation thus far, you’d never guess that, as France’s United Nations ambassador François Delattre recently put it in in a plaintive New York Times op-ed, “the world is growing more dangerous and less predictable by the day.” The seasoned diplomat judged that “the crucial choices Americans and Europeans are facing are comparable in scope to those we confronted together in the aftermath of World War II.” Dozens of foreign policy experts, of various ideological profiles, have sounded alarm bells about the spread of autocracy and the foundering of classic liberal values worldwide. While these warnings may for now resonate mostly within what Barack Obama adviser Ben Rhodes once memorably derided as the “blob” of U.S. foreign policy thinkers, their implications will touch us all. The young voters whom the Democratic candidates are courting most ardently seem particularly indifferent to matters beyond our borders. In April 2019, a Harvard University survey of 18- to 29-year-olds offered a list of 25 different national issues and asked respondents which concerned them most: “Foreign policy” was tied for last place. These voters are not simply uninterested in the world beyond U.S. borders—they are cynical about America’s role in it. Growing up against the backdrop of perpetual misbegotten war, they are downright dubious about what Washington stands for. Just 26 percent of those surveyed by Harvard said they believed that U.S. foreign policy had “done more good than harm for the rest of the world in the past decade.” Fewer than 40 percent agreed with the statement that “the U.S. is the greatest country in the world.” Elections are, of course, contests for power. But they are also political and ideological crossroads. To the extent that America ever has a “national conversation,” it is during presidential campaigns, when a common set of themes commands national attention. While campaigns feed off the concerns of voters, they also have the power to awaken passions the public scarcely knew it held. Given the shifting global power relations and the Trump Administration’s destructive foreign policy, it is incumbent on the Democratic presidential candidates in the primary and the general election to stir a rising generation to support America’s global leadership in ways that will promote international order, protect U.S. interests, and safeguard liberal values. They need to begin to bridge the sharp disconnect between the pressing need for America to breathe new life into the progressive global order and the deep apathy and dubiousness toward liberal internationalism that young progressive voters evince. For by downplaying foreign policy during the campaign or offering a modest blueprint for what a chastened United States will do abroad, a future Democratic President will arrive at the White House without the mandate needed to shape a global landscape that can safeguard American interests and values. To capture the imaginations of young voters with a new narrative for American global leadership, candidates must first take stock, reflecting not only on where Trump has gone wrong but also on how Democrats themselves have sometimes faltered, and how regressive forces are tilting the international table to their advantage. That sobering assessment of the global trajectory fuels the urgency of elaborating a vision premised on integrity, principle, and resolve that can rally voters at home and allies around the world. Candidates must then consider how the values and priorities of emerging generations of voters can animate a renewed brand of U.S. global leadership, articulating specific priorities and plans using language that will resonate with this constituency. They need to offer a paradigm for ambitious, nimble, and forward-leaning internationalism that represents the best hope to ensure that concepts like freedom, human rights, openness, and cooperation gain a new global footing that can endure for decades to come. American Leadership and Liberal Order Hanging in the Balance The confluence of rising autocracy, Russian and Chinese assertiveness, and President Donald Trump’s fun house version of U.S. global leadership have shredded the liberal post-World War II global fabric. Authoritarianism is encroaching in every region; 2018 marked the 13th consecutive year of democratic retreat, as tracked by Freedom House. Europeans are scrambling to hold together their teetering union. Russia’s Putin is brazenly intervening in democratic elections, hoping to install quislings. Chinese President Xi Jinping is tightening the screws at home, has installed himself as president for life, and is tying 152 countries and international organizations into its Belt and Road initiative, the most ambitious global order-building effort since the Marshall Plan. Russia and China are peddling an alternative vision of global relations that places stability, security, tradition, and centralized authority ahead of legitimacy, freedom, democracy, and rights. Some U.S. conservatives, including Trump, are themselves drawn to this paradigm. They support immigration limits and social policies designed to safeguard political prerogatives and cultural traditions they view as threatened by diversity, immigration, and cosmopolitanism. While the risk to the United States of immediate large-scale violent conflict may be small, the prospect of a gradual long-term reordering of the international system to disfavor U.S. influence and values is real. Stanford University democracy expert Larry Diamond has described the stakes in stark terms as “an existential period of challenge for freedom and democracy in the world. If you are Russia or China your goal would simply be to have America withdraw from the conflict.” Robert Kagan calls rising authoritarianism “the greatest threat to the liberal democratic world—a profound ideological, as well as strategic, challenge” that “we have no idea how to confront.” Former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats predicts that Russia and China “will collaborate to counter U.S. objectives, taking advantage of rising doubts about the liberal democratic model.” Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright sees “[w]arning signs [that] abound across the globe: the discrediting of mainstream politicians, the emergence of leaders who divide rather than unite . . . and the invocation of national greatness by people who identify greatness only with themselves.” Confronted by determined and resourceful challengers, an America beset by self-doubt or lacking consensus behind its global role is vulnerable. The United States retains military, economic, and cultural advantages that position it to serve as a global fulcrum, tipping the balance of power back toward freedom. But that leverage has not been easy to summon of late. Let’s face it: Even seemingly straightforward objectives like getting the U.S. Congress to update the 18-year old Authorization to Use Military Force or secure our elections against foreign interference elude us. Political polarization and public indifference feed stasis. If a new President is serious about getting these things done, not to mention stanching climate change, resetting U.S. trade relations, reversing the march of authoritarianism, reviving U.S. nuclear diplomacy, rebuilding a beleaguered State Department, and much more, foreign policy cannot be an afterthought, nor a single bullet point on a laundry list of 20 campaign priorities. Whether they like it or not, whoever is in the White House in January 2021 will likely be among the most consequential foreign policy presidents of the twenty-first century. The question is whether that President’s legacy will be one of reversing the trends that alarm experts from both parties or cementing them. Emphatic Internationalism Premised on Integrity, Principle, and Resolve The image of an internationalist United States at its strongest is catalytic: a flourishing democracy at home, potent force on the world stage, firm and disciplined military muscle, credible standard-bearer for freedom and human rights, and an economic power that defines its national interest in collective prosperity. During World War II, the Cold War, and the period of democratic expansion during the 1990s, the United States, when at its best, harnessed this power to achieve lasting progress. U.S. leadership shored up the world’s democracies, fortified links among them, girded like-minded leaders, built rules-based institutions, and blunted the appeal of revanchist alternatives. It has been indispensable to creating international institutions, upholding the rule of law, promoting women’s and LGBT rights, advancing economic openness and opportunity, and alleviating poverty. For those who came of age since 2000, though, such accomplishments seemed to fade behind headlines about wars, indefinite detention, torture, drone strikes and—more recently—hubristic derision for close allies. Restoring American leadership will require an inclusive, emphatic internationalism defined by three attributes: integrity, principle, and resolve. Integrity means proving to the world that Trump’s corruption and unscrupulousness have been an aberration and won’t be a new normal. America’s resistance to nepotism, cronyism, and self-dealing was long the envy of the world’s fledgling democracies. That rectitude must be enforced through rigorous vetting of appointees, strict bans on conflicts of interest, and limitations on commercial lobbying. Integrity must also be restored to America’s relationships, which means standing by pledges like the NATO shared defense commitment, showing respect and loyalty to allies, and rejecting craven pandering to authoritarians like Putin and Kim Jong Un. The free press needs to be restored to its rightful role and treated with respect so that it can do the work of holding government accountable. Demonstrating principled leadership will require convincing the world that the new administration is serious about America’s role as a global exemplar of human rights, democracy, climate stewardship, fair trade, and the rule of law. These attributes are what make American global leadership more attractive to democratic nations and peoples than the illiberal alternatives nipping at its heels. That some contradictions and cases of hypocrisy unavoidably occur cannot be an excuse to dodge the imperative of demonstrating moral conviction whenever possible. A new administration will need to come down on the side of values in some hard cases where principle is pitted against security or economic interests. The world will most closely scrutinize a potential new Democratic administration in terms of its resolve. This is also where the political headwinds will howl. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has argued for a foreign policy that has “restraint” as its mantra and “does not prioritize the use of our power.” But while almost no one would disagree that military force should be a last resort, little can be accomplished without using power of some kind—including moral authority, diplomatic suasion, economic muscle, and multilateral pressure. And the effective use of these forms of power depends upon the belief that some things are worth fighting for. In his recent memoir, an impassioned ode to diplomacy, the career diplomat William Burns reflected that “the chances for successful diplomacy are vastly enhanced by the potential use of force. There is often no better way to focus the minds of difficult customers at the negotiating table than to have those remarkable tools on full display in the background.” China, Russia, Iran, and possibly others will find ways to test an incoming President. If a new leader has staked her presidency on a pledge to abstain from force virtually no matter what, the deterrent effect of U.S. power will be greatly diminished. Still, a growing segment of the Democratic electorate seems to respond to rhetoric like Khanna’s that, while not quite isolationist, borders on a willingness to renounce the use of military force. After all, Americans are rightly tired of war. If the first President Bush believed he had “kicked the Vietnam Syndrome,” the Iraq invasion under his son instilled, especially in younger generations, a view of Washington as a heavy-handed, malign force. Some critics of American power go so far as to trace the global refugee crisis, nuclear proliferation, foreign human rights abuses, and nearly every other global problem to malign blundering by the United States. Summing up the sentiment, Former Army Major Danny Sjursen, known on Twitter as @skepticalvet, has put it this way: “American meddling has a way of making things worse, everywhere and all the time.” A new commander-in-chief will have to convince these doubters that American leadership amounts to more than just a litany of misguided efforts and overreach. A first step is understanding something about the preferences of Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), millennials (born between 1981-96), and so-called Generation Z (born after 1996) voters who, according to Pew, will together form 62 percent of the 2020 electorate. A 2018 Rand Corporation study found that millennials are substantially less worried about national security threats than Baby Boomers and that there was a “significant age effect” in which levels of concern over specific threats were consistently lower for young respondents. Similarly, a survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that millennials are “much less likely than previous generations to embrace military intervention and massive defense buildups”; just 44 percent believe it important for the United States to maintain its role as a global military superpower. These data leave no mystery as to why candidates spend so little time talking about foreign policy. Rising cynicism and ennui are taking a toll on the very vocabulary for such conversations. A 2019 study by the Center for American Progress revealed that concepts like “fighting authoritarianism and dictatorship,” “promoting democracy,” or “working with allies and the international community”—uniformly fall flat with voters. When asked about the phrase “maintaining the liberal international order,” none of the voters questioned could even define the term. It’s as if internationalism has become a dead language. Sketching a vision that can invigorate American power while attracting the support of indifferent younger voters isn’t as simple as resurrecting metaphors that worked for Kennedy or Clinton. While drawing on those traditions, it will require invoking a fresh set of beliefs that are salient for younger Americans—values including diversity, equality, inclusion, ethicality, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and human rights—into the way policy priorities are described. It will involve casting the United States not as a savior, hero, or hegemon, but as an ally, innovator, and agent of change. Six key points of emphasis can help define and enliven this new vision: a renewed and more central commitment to human rights; a more respectful and reciprocal approach to alliances; a suite of opportunities for young people to engage personally in global citizenship; a mobilization of new congressional leadership; and a widening of the conversation beyond ending wars to sustaining peace. Despite a seeming indifference to authoritarianism abroad, human rights is a rallying cry that can rouse young voters. In Harvard’s 2019 survey of 18-29 year olds, when asked about eight foreign policy priorities, respondents said they considered “promoting human rights” the number one goal of U.S. foreign policy, ahead of preventing the rise of terrorist groups and even protecting the environment. Around the world, young activists like Pakistani Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, Hong Kong Umbrella Movement leader Joshua Wong, and the high school students of Parkland, Florida have captivated global peers with their daring convictions. By speaking out in support of dauntless dissidents and pledging to restore credible human rights leadership from Washington, candidates can offer a dose of inspiration, while marshalling support to push back against creeping autocracy. The so-called “call-out culture” on social media, deeply familiar to a rising generation, is a variation of the age-old tactic of “naming and shaming”—except that the latter stigmatizes not political incorrectness but violations of international law. Human rights has always been considered something of a sideline in national security circles. But it is no coincidence that the world’s most egregious rights violators—China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and others—are also the most potent threats to U.S. interests. As it did during the Cold War, a focus on human rights can help reframe political struggles in principled terms. Human rights causes also speak to the appetite of a rising generation to engage personally in activism and make their voices heard through social media, petitions, marches, and campaigns. By invoking the passions kindled by the mistreatment of migrants at the U.S. border, the viral #BlueforSudan campaign against civilian casualties, and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, candidates can tap into the indignation of a rising generation and the belief that the United States must and can do better. The case for invigorated human rights leadership was underscored earlier this summer when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the creation of a commission mandated to divine which internationally recognized human rights the Trump Administration will recognize as inalienable and which are to be dismissed as “ad hoc.” More than 400 human rights advocates and organizations have called to disband the ideologically lopsided body, stacked with opponents of reproductive freedom and LGBT rights. Facing an Administration determined to turn back the clock on human rights norms salient to young people, candidates can breathe justifiable urgency into a forward-looking agenda. Human rights will never be the sole pillar of U.S. foreign policy, sometimes taking a backseat to security or economic interests. But there is a long positive agenda that the United States can pursue to fortify international norms, aid rights defenders, and elevate human rights expertise and clout within the foreign policymaking apparatus. Priorities should include defending women’s rights in the Islamic world, speaking out against the forced reeducation of China’s Uighurs, calling out Putin’s repression of gay families, speaking out on behalf of silenced Turkish academics, and advocating a return to compassionate refugee and asylum policies. If young and progressive voters are likely to warm to the defense of minority rights, they have shown less enthusiasm for “promoting democracy”—no doubt because of the way such rhetoric was invoked in the Iraq invasion and other Bush-era misadventures. But there is room to rally idealists by fighting against stolen and corrupted elections and the kinds of traditional, non-interventionist democracy fostering efforts pursued by the National Endowment for Democracy and its partners that were never tainted by Bush-era nation-building. The integrity of elections is under unprecedented siege. Presidential candidates should pledge to mount a global election integrity initiative that enlists the most sophisticated technical expertise from Silicon Valley, shrewd political operatives and communications gurus from around the world, top experts in election management and oversight, political parties, and candidates to safeguard balloting and eschew underhanded tactics that thwart the will of voters. (Biden has rightly made this a signature issue, championing a global pledge along these lines.) Working multilaterally, the initiative should develop standards, collect and share best practices, assist governments to harden their systems and infrastructure, monitor and expose attacks on democratic integrity, and elevate the essential role of election integrity globally. Two: Set a New Tone with American Allyship As noted, young voters mostly reject the notion of American exceptionalism. In a 2019 Pew poll, just 14 percent of Generation Z (and 13 percent of millennials) agreed that the United States is “better than all other countries in the world.” They seem to embrace George Bush Sr.’s caricature of his Democratic rival Michael Dukakis’s foreign policy a generation ago: “He sees America as another pleasant country on the UN roll call, somewhere between Albania and Zimbabwe,” not as “the leader —a unique nation with a special role in the world.” Interestingly, however, when it comes to support for NATO, Pew has found millennials to be just as enthusiastic as prior generations. Per a 2018 Chicago Council on Foreign Relations Study, despite much lower support for U.S. global engagement overall, millennial and Gen X voters are as supportive of international agreements, including the Iran Nuclear Deal and the Paris Climate Accord, as are previous generations. If American preeminence is viewed skeptically, international collaborations are not. Changing American attitudes and a jolted global perspective on U.S. leadership together point to the need to set a new tone as the United States frames its role in relation to others. For a rising generation, the word “ally” does not connote the powers who fought side-by-side to vanquish Hitler. Rather, “allyship” refers to a deliberate effort to build trust and demonstrate accountable support to those who hold less power. White “allies,” for example, will help counter bigotry against people of color. Male allies can speak up to support women fending off harassment. In talking about the United States’s role in the world, an emphasis on accountability, initiative, reciprocity, and cooperation should replace references to U.S. exceptionalism or indispensability. American leadership should be put forward not as a divine right, but as a privilege that the United States is committed to earn anew by ensuring that worthy interests and peoples are safe and supported. Pete Buttigieg captured this in his June 2019 foreign policy speech when he said that his goal would be “to argue that the world today needs America more than ever—but only if America can be at her best.” By turning the tables to talk less about America’s need for allies and what we get from them and more about Washington’s role as a faithful ally to others, the concept becomes less self-serving. Despite their lack of interest in international affairs, Gen Xers and millennials are more likely than Baby Boomers to say that globalization is good for the United States. By capitalizing on this receptivity and working to expose rising generations to the rest of the world, the United States can begin to nurture a cohort that better understands America’s role and why it matters. Candidates should set a vision of expanded opportunities for global citizenship, focused on youth in particular. Nearly 60 years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the International Sister Cities program to pair American cities with counterparts abroad to foster citizen support for U.S. global engagement. The program still exists, and today, there is an opportunity to leverage technology and travel to invigorate it. Diplomats stationed around the world would benefit from direct connections to U.S. communities to help ground policy more firmly in the concerns of everyday Americans. Schools and students can now collaborate and connect far more directly through digital platforms than in the old days of epistolary pen pals. New techniques should be pioneered to instill global sensibilities and connections to a much wider swath of American youth. Around 10.9 percent of American college students (16 percent of those earning bachelor’s) study abroad. Passage of the Paul Simon Study Abroad Act would more than triple that number through various incentives. The State Department’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth sends about 600 high school students overseas for immersion programs in languages including Chinese, Tajik Persian, and Arabic. This program and the similar Critical Language Scholarship program for college and graduate students should be expanded dramatically, giving more students global experience and connections. Since it was first rolled out during the Kennedy Administration, the Peace Corps has been one of the best channels to build goodwill and infuse Americans with informed, empathic perspectives on the globe. But the program’s overall size and structure haven’t evolved much in 60 years. By adding new capabilities and spotlighting resonant themes, the Peace Corps can renew its role as a wellspring of fascination with the world. With global wireless penetration expected to reach 99 percent next year, the Peace Corps is poised to act as a source of energy and expertise not just in its traditional arenas of education, health, and development, but in technological adoption and innovation. Harnessing the tech savvy and entrepreneurial inclinations of a rising generation, a global Tech Corps could place digitally savvy volunteers around the world to build skills, access online knowledge, and help launch businesses. Some Peace Corps volunteers have done this already, in a few cases starting what have become major overseas companies. The government can enlist the support of Silicon Valley to help underwrite this expansion and send skilled engineers, information architects, and other tech professionals to spread the wealth of U.S. technological leadership. The tech sector could then draw from the firsthand knowledge of returning volunteers to help fulfill their own global aspirations. Peace Corps opportunities dedicated to refugee relief and resettlement, bolstering minority and women’s rights, supporting LGBT adolescents, or mitigating the impact of climate change could help refresh the agency’s image and ignite the passions of a new cohort. The scorched-earth “restructuring” implemented by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left the ranks of career foreign policy and national security professionals depleted. As of this writing, 53 ambassadorial posts around the world remain empty. American power cannot be projected by a skeleton crew. As Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden have both stressed, an incoming administration will need to move aggressively to bolster the ranks, attract new talent, and alter rules to allow for swifter recruitment, reinstatement, and promotion. This effort should be framed as a campaign to build a diplomatic corps that “looks like America,” in the phrase Bill Clinton once used about his Cabinet, so that the national security ranks are not simply replenished, but remade to represent a fast-changing nation. This will entail not just aggressive efforts to achieve diversity in hiring and promotions but also going further to dismantle assumptions, policies, and ingrained prejudices that have kept the U.S. diplomatic ranks, as former Democratic Senator Bob Graham once put it, “white, male, and Yale.” With the millennial generation 44 percent persons of color, the highest percentage in U.S. history, and the population of Americans born after 2007 having no single dominant ethnic group, visible commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a keystone for young voters. The imperative of rebuilding America’s diplomatic ranks is essential to strengthen national security but can—and should—be approached as a progressive cause. A diplomatic corps that represents America should reflect not just diversity, but American skills and know-how. Home to the world’s most advanced technology companies, the United States needs to bring that savvy to bear diplomatically. In 2017, as part of a redesign that only Vladimir Putin could have loved, Tillerson disbanded the State Department’s cybersecurity office. A new administration should commit to beefing up the newly created Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies so that the United States can catch up and assert itself as a global leader in setting cyber norms and policy. The United States also needs to enlist expertise from the tech sector throughout the bureaucratic ranks. Several programs exist that identify qualified engineers, computer scientists, and others open to public service. New incentives and pay structures may be necessary to attract talent, as has been done within other federal agencies in need of top scientific talent. The image of a newly mobilized, diverse, and tech-enabled diplomatic corps could become a magnet for opportunity-seeking youth. The title of a recent Foreign Affairs article by Bernie Sanders was “Ending America’s Endless Wars.” Biden, Warren, Buttigieg, and others have all sounded the theme that U.S. military interventions have gone on too long. Some of them have promised to bring all the troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq. But, when pressed, most will admit the risks of complete and abrupt withdrawal. In Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, the United States government has learned the hard way not to expect conflicts to end with a full drawdown of U.S. forces. In Iraq the “official” U.S. exit in late 2011 was reversed 18 months later when troops returned to combat ISIS. Weeks after Trump announced a withdrawal from Syria in December 2018, his plan was partially reversed as its perils became plain. While younger voters are rightly weary of military overreach, they also understand that total retrenchment can be unwise. Surveys suggest there are some causes that they believe do merit military action, including humanitarian intervention and combating Islamic extremism. If you read the fine print of their articles and speeches, even candidates vowing to end forever wars acknowledge that it’s not as simple as airlifting boots off the ground and requires measures to ensure that conflicts don’t simply flare anew. Candidates need to be explicit that, while they don’t wish to deploy U.S. troops promiscuously, they will be thoughtful and strategic in leaving residual forces that are not part of a “forever war” rather an investment to secure peace or blunt violence. Candidates need to go beyond the easy applause line of decrying endless war to set out how the United States can help sustain stability in conflict zones and why both the interests of the United States and the region will sometimes demand that. If the world believes that the U.S. President is at risk of being undercut by Congress, his or her influence will be doubted from the start. Yet Congress has not voted on the use of military force for nearly 18 years, stymied by polarization and fear of political fallout from either failing to support the troops or greenlighting open-ended military adventures. But the composition of Congress is changing, and new leaders must leverage those changes to instill new norms. With 101 new House freshmen elected in 2018, record numbers of women in the House and Senate, and the prospect of more renewal in 2020, a full reboot of congressional engagement on foreign policy is necessary—and possible. A number of dynamic new figures on the Hill have captured the imagination of younger voters. These new leaders are potential catalysts for a rekindled interest in foreign affairs among their constituents. Hill leadership, foreign policy agencies, foundations, and NGOs should invest in building knowledge on the Hill and widen exposure to foreign policy issues. Efforts should include an expanded array of study groups to cover more countries and regions (they currently exist only for Europe, Germany, Japan, and Korea), enticing official travel opportunities and far more systematic analyses that tie global concerns into local interests in individual home districts. The most prominent and energetic new members should be mentored and cultivated to help them establish foreign policy chops. Other newer members of Congress arrived on the Hill already bearing hefty national security credentials from government and military service. They should be elevated to convene and lead their counterparts. Once a new administration is in office, the State Department and National Security Council legislative affairs offices should be shifted out of their historic reactive and protective postures. They should be charged and equipped with mobilizing the full weight of the U.S. diplomatic corps to help cultivate congressional champions. The proudest moments of American global leadership all involved presidents taking political risks to lead American public opinion. The President’s bully pulpit is an unmatched platform from which to restore the United States’s global standing, turn back the tide of authoritarianism, and reinvent an internationalism geared toward today’s challenges. But these tasks are nothing if not ambitious. To lay the groundwork for success, candidates need to resist the temptation to relegate foreign policy to the sidelines of the presidential campaign, and instead use this time to acclimate voters to the challenges that lie ahead and the decisions and investments necessary to meet them. In so doing, they should begin to pilot language and themes that can help to overcome the antipathy of a generation cynical about the possibilities of American power, and explain how the progressive ideals that have brought millions out into the streets and down to the National Mall for marches and demonstrations must infuse a renewed commitment to global engagement aimed to secure the very same values. If a rising generation of Americans becomes permanently alienated from the idea of U.S. leadership, our country will be less powerful and more exposed. After the trauma of Trump, the 2020 election will be a decisive turning point that determines whether the United States can once again play a lead role in managing the world’s problems, or instead focused mainly on managing its own decline. We must count on our candidates to captivate voters with a conception of internationalism that is up-to-date, forward looking, and worthy of their impassioned support. In so doing, they can galvanize on the campaign trail, and also secure the support they need to drive U.S. foreign policy forward to a new and more promising era. Suzanne Nossel served in the State Department during the Clinton and Obama administrations, most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations. She writes frequently on foreign policy topics, and coined the term “Smart Power,” the title of a 2004 article in Foreign Affairs. Also by this author Click to Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. blog comments powered by Disqus Sign up for our email newsletter! We'll send periodic reminders of what's new and what's coming. What's in the Wonks in Exile Issue Contents Recommended How Biden’s fight against monopoly can guide his party to victory, and empower American to build a truly better future. By Barry C. Lynn How Mayors Guard Democracy By Svante Myrick Sign up for our print edition! Four issues a year, $24. 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Today is June 24th, the most important day of the EVE calendar: Code Day. On Code Day, we celebrate the birth of the Code, which was first published eight years ago on a fateful EVE forum thread, all the way back on June 24, 2012. Since then, every June 24th has been a day of great celebration--even over and above the regular celebrations of the New Order's daily victories. And it is a day of thoughtful reflection and remembrance. I share it with you again today, dear reader. EVE's history divides neatly into two eras: The pre-Code era (i.e., the time during which all EVE awaited the Code's arrival) and the Code era (i.e., the good part). In a sense, every day is Code Day, but the 24th of June is especially Code Day. It's a great time to think about how awesome the Code is and how lucky we all are to be experiencing it. But this particular Code Day, though it draws upon the power of all of the previous Code Days, is different, and special--as we shall see. As the Code era dawned, I projected that the New Order's war to conquer highsec would take approximately eight years. From time to time over the years, I have considered the state of highsec in light of that projection, and each time I have been startled by its accuracy--always right on target. Now, after the completion of the eight years, it is clear that the prediction couldn't have been more prescient. We have indeed been victorious. We have overcome ever obstacle, whether from a CCP developer or a misguided rebel "leader". Highsec is conquered. The carebears have been cowed and forced into compliance. And although there are naturally intermittent pockets of resistance--bot-aspirants who act out of desperation more than any hope of ridding EVE of the Code--the conquest of our great empire consists of mopping-up operations and policing. Highsec unquestionably belongs to our Agents now. This result, which was unthinkable to the general population at the dawn of the Code, is today accepted as obvious, inevitable. It all started with one man bumping miners in a lonely ice field in Halaima. There were skeptics, of course. Following in the footsteps of the EVE-O moderators, a would-be assassin attempted to prevent the creation of the Order by trying to suicide gank me with a tech II fitted Tempest on the first day. My Invincible Stabber emerged unscathed. I continued to bump. Some said it was pointless, a waste of time. "As long as you're bumping me, you can't bump anyone else," they said. "You'll never make a difference." I disagreed. I felt it was the best possible way to make a difference. One man standing on principle for something he believes in--it's the only way a difference has ever been made in the world. I was right. In order to absorb the full weight of the Code's achievement--to appreciate its full power--one must consider the state of EVE when the Code first arrived. In the halls of CCP HQ and in the private chats of CSM members, carebearism and theme parkism was all the rage. None doubted for a moment that EVE could ascend to new heights and attract the subscription fees of millions of new players, if only highsec were a kinder, gentler place. If only... If only EVE weren't EVE anymore. They lied. At the time of the drafting of the Code, there were still more nerf "expansions" to come. Despite having already rolled out the summer 2012 expansion (a nerf to wardecs), August saw an "emergency" expansion to massively buff the EHP of mining ships and end Hulkageddon Infinity. For the next expansion, scheduled for December 2012, CCP planned to nerf can-flipping and aggression baiting. Not exactly the stuff of which video game legends are made. And yet, almost entirely hidden beneath the thick darkness, there was a point of light. In spite of everything, in defiance of the vast, surrounding blackness, it still shone. It represented hope, the possibility that the spirit of EVE was alive, somewhere. Obviously I'm referring to myself. MinerBumping very quickly became a necessary companion to the Code and to the Order it inspired. The concept behind MinerBumping was actually quite simple. In a game known for lies, treachery, and deceit, I chose to do something radical: I told people the truth. This proved to be highly controversial. They told you that EVE could be improved only by removing sources of spaceship combat from a spaceship combat game. But I told you the truth. They told you that miners and other highsec carebears were peaceful, happy, innocent people, and that anyone who dared to shoot a spaceship in a 0.5+ security system was a despicable sociopath. But I told you the truth. They told you that if CCP got more revenue, the money would be spent on fixing EVE's bugs and adding new features, as opposed to it being wasted by CCP on a series of laughably flawed side projects and vaporware. But I told you the truth. They told you that EVE could be transformed into a theme park that could successfully compete with all of the countless other theme park games in the market, despite CCP's perpetual failure to create engaging PvE and its use of a UI team that made decisions like "every type of ship should be represented by a square bracket" and "all of our icons should be monochrome because colorblind people will like it". But I told you the truth. Just like the name of its author, MinerBumping became a litmus test: Good people instinctively liked it, and bad people recoiled from it. Which made sense, because MinerBumping told the truth. That made some people very angry, even if they couldn't quite explain why. When carebears first learned of the Code, they assumed that it would necessarily be temporary. "They'll get bored and go away," the miners assured each other. "Someone will stop them," said the rebels. Then, as their anxieties grew to alarming levels: "CCP will get rid of them once they see that they're ruining the game." But the Code didn't go away. The Code became a fact of highsec life. The fact of highsec life. Despite the anger of the anti-Code, anti-truth faction of EVE, the New Order only grew stronger and more powerful; MinerBumping became more widely read and influential. At its core, the war for highsec was a war of ideas. In this war, our enemies were unarmed and seemed to have little interest in arming themselves. They moaned and whined and begged CCP to help them. But CCP couldn't fix its own game; how could it fix carebears? How could anyone even begin to work on solving the myriad problems of the bot-aspirant mind and personality? Ironically enough, the only thing that could save all those anti-Code Goofuses was the Code itself. When a newbie goes to a forum and asks for advice on mining in highsec, what do people say to him? "Tank up your ship," they say. They caution, "Whatever you do, don't mine AFK." And, "Use your D-scanner. Watch local." Buried beneath the downvotes, more sage advice: "Buy a permit." Ah, but what the rebels and skeptics on Reddit and elsewhere don't realize is, buying a permit is only one provision of the Code. The rest of it? Exactly the things they told the miner to do. They were instructing the miner to obey the Code, and they didn't even know it! That's how much we've changed the culture, how deeply the Code's roots are planted. Despite the righteousness of our cause--or because of it, I should say--many tried to stop us. All of them failed. To be sure, most of the rebels were very lazy about it. And they spent the vast majority of their time sniping at one another and engaging in self-destructive behaviors. But they did try, so their attempts--feeble as they were--must be condemned as failures. Their motives were ignoble, too, so they do not even get credit for making an effort. There was a bright side to their opposition, though: It attracted the attention of good people who then invariably joined our cause. Countless EVE players wandered into a system, witnessed the outpourings of a whiny miner in local, and stuck around to investigate what was going on. They discovered the Code. They observed its supporters and its opponents. And they came to the conclusion that yes, it was in fact a very good thing that the miner had been ganked. As a consequence, more good things happened in highsec. The Agents of the New Order are truly the center of the EVE galaxy. No other group affects so many players or to such a great extent. No one else in EVE is talked about, written about, raged about, or applauded as much as we are. Most players are in highsec, and we command highsec. For the vast majority of EVE players today, the New Order is the only group that occupies their thoughts. They must adapt themselves to us, and our Code--or they must die. And they know it. Or, again, they die. So it was that the Code won. We won everything: We won the in-game fights by prevailing in spaceship combat. We won the meta-game fights by adapting to every change that CCP made to try to save the carebears from themselves. We won the battle of ideas which, being frank, proved to be a rather one-sided affair. Our philosophy and our culture triumphed. We also won the battle of history. For all time, EVE will be remembered as the place where it all started. We are, in a word, the game's legacy. Thus, we can tie it all together by saying that the New Halaima Code of Conduct is EVE's Legacy Code. No pun intended. Now, some people would tell you that legacy code is a bad thing. It's the thing that developers wish they could get rid of so they could update the program with wonderful new features. But in this case, the Legacy Code--the New Order, its Agents, all of it--is the only thing worth keeping. We're the indispensable element of EVE. We keep the game firmly planted in its roots, and thank goodness. It is often said that history is written by the victors. We are the victors, so it is only fitting that we have won the battle of EVE's history. Then again, a whiny highsec miner is hardly capable of writing history; his participation is limited to having his profanity-laced tears collected and published in a coherent narrative on MinerBumping. Regardless, the victory won over these past eight years is complete. And, therefore, the mission of MinerBumping is also complete. This is the final MinerBumping post. Some loyal, long-time readers have known this was coming. Among those reading today's post are Agents who moved on from EVE many years ago; they have returned here to read what the eighth Code Day post would bring. Hello, old friends. We won. For many others, the completion of MinerBumping comes as something of a shock. Gasps and double-takes were had. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. Why? Because they have grown accustomed to a world in which the consistency of MinerBumping's daily posts over an eight-year period was like the rising of the sun each morning. Better, though. In this moment, the reader wonders what a world without new MinerBumping posts looks like. There are the concerns of the moment: Will aiva naali ever succeed in conquering nullsec on the Imperium's behalf? And what of the crisis in Nakugard? Or even VictorStark Stark's "siege", only just recently declared by that mad miner? These MinerBumping series were still ongoing, not wrapped up in a neat little bow. And what about all of the countless other reports sent in by our Agents? I discovered early on, in the first few weeks of MinerBumping, that there was far more material in my possession than could ever be published. If MinerBumping ran for a hundred years, I would still have folders filled with the tears of carebears and the victories of our Agents. That's how whiny the miners are--and how glorious our Agents are. In the time that remains to us, I wish to say a few more things and answer a few more questions. I want to thank our Agents for being glorious. That includes the elite few who have been permabanned (apparently by mistake, otherwise CCP wouldn't have left the reason blank). In addition, I wish to acknowledge the New Order's shareholders. Thanks to their generous contributions to the cause, I was able to hand out over two trillion isk to fund suicide gankers. Some shareholders went above and beyond. Henceforth, the side panel of MinerBumping, which normally displays the month's top contributors, will list the all-time top shareholders. I hereby give all of the shareholders--even those who own but a single share--one final Supreme Protector's Tip of the Hat™. Although MinerBumping's posts have come to an end, I will continue to fund the gankers for as long as there is isk in my wallet. It is my pleasure to accept isk for that purpose indefinitely. I will also continue to hold the reins of the mighty CODE. alliance. But the truth is that Code enforcers don't need anyone to tell them what to do. They have the Code. It is written in their hearts, and they have burned its wisdom across highsec. Which brings me to those who still have questions about a world in which there are no new MinerBumping posts. For one thing, there is great prestige to be had in going back and reading everything again from the beginning. There are over three thousand posts, all of which are worth rereading (yes, even the shareholder updates). For another thing: MinerBumping hasn't truly ended. Like the Code itself, it is still there to be found, everywhere in highsec. Our Agents are still creating the content each and every day. Find them. Join them. Kill a miner. He deserves it. He is probably AFK. And he needs to buy a permit. They're still only 10 million isk. Now then, dear reader. You have the Code. Go forth and use it. ...What's that? One last time. The face that saved highsec. Posted by MinerBumping at 18:03 244 comments: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Previously, on MinerBumping... aiva naali aka FighterJets GuitarSolo 1000Years aka AstevonWard OverGreer aka lil bullet aka 140 and his trusty council had an intense brainstorming session to figure out a way to defeat the Imperium's enemies. Magnets were considered. From day to day, aiva's council never knew what idea the young genius might come up with next. One thing about aiva was predictable, though: He was always up to something. From time to time, aiva floated some unorthodox methods for making money. His council was more traditional: If aiva wanted to earn some cash, he should get a job delivering pizzas. Alas, aiva couldn't turn pizzas into PLEX until he earned his driver's license. And that goal was always just out of reach. The council was confident that aiva's supercomputer of a brain was up to the task. I mean, this was the guy who had built a nuclear reactor in his garage with a box of scraps. How difficult could a driving exam be? As always, it came down to the Code. It was clear that aiva had been rattled by his previous failures to pass the exam. But this time, aiva had a resource that hadn't been available to him before: An elite group of the Imperium's finest intelligence operatives. And so aiva's council embarked on their most difficult assignment yet. Getting aiva to pass a driving exam wouldn't be easy. In real life, one cannot simply play some energetic music and run a training montage. And Mr. 140 wasn't as good a student as one might assume from his IQ. Despite the challenges, aiva's council was determined to transform the young genius into a productive citizen who could hold down a job. Although aiva was always one question short of passing his driving exam, that one question made all the difference in the world. The harder aiva trained, the more distant his goal seemed. aiva grew increasingly frustrated. But his council tried to keep him motivated. The man who aspired to conquer all of nullsec was no quitter. He had pulled off countless miracles in the war against Pandemic Horde. What was one more? aiva resisted. Getting a job and earning a living sounded like a lot of work. Was it really necessary? But aiva's council knew that in order for aiva to realize his dream of traveling across the galaxy, he would first need to be capable of transporting a pizza across town. Of course, aiva never did things the traditional way. He was born to blaze his own trail. No matter the cost. Posted by MinerBumping at 18:04 59 comments: Monday, June 22, 2020 Previously, on MinerBumping... Betrayal! aiva naali aka FighterJets GuitarSolo 1000Years was horrified by the news that the existence of his ultra-classified "nullsec internet" had been leaked to some Imperium bureaucrats. The nullsec internet wasn't the only secret that had slipped from aiva's grasp. MinerBumping had just published Part 45 of The Best Revenge series--and it identified FighterJets GuitarSolo 1000Years by name! aiva's council instructed him to go to Jita and prepare to biomass the character. Unexpectedly, aiva had grown attached to the FJGS1KY character. But for security reasons, it had to go. Along with his trusted council members, aiva went on a goodbye tour of highsec. Although his cover identity was burned, aiva himself was still very much alive. He simply needed to create a new character under which he could continue his operations. aiva's council helped him pick out the name. The transition was a difficult one. aiva struggled to make regular payments into his titan fund. From time to time, he called in sick. As the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, aiva's council sought aiva's advice on the matter. Perhaps they could harness aiva's supercomputer of a brain to develop a cure. Then the Imperium would have a decisive advantage over its rivals. Initially, aiva dismissed the notion of using magnets to destroy the virus. But the more he thought about it, the more the idea intrigued him. Unfortunately, aiva's mom said no. Fortunately, aiva himself was likely immune to the coronavirus. It was one of his many superpowers. Dear reader, kindly forget anything aiva might have previously said about his IQ. People give aiva a lot of nicknames, but the rule is that any nickname must relate to some outstanding achievement of aiva's. Don't go calling him "fart face" or anything like that. Even when aiva wasn't feeling up to a task, his council encouraged him. They were his biggest cheerleaders. Nevertheless, in aiva's mind, the virus-killing supper magnet was dead on arrival. He was simply too polite to say it outright. 140 never surrendered; he merely switched gears. And he had an almost infinite number of gears. Posted by MinerBumping at 18:05 39 comments: Sunday, June 21, 2020 Kills of the Week As we often reflect upon and appreciate, Agents of the New Order are known for many things: Courage, dignity, elite PvP skills, etc. They're also extremely compassionate people--often ridiculously so, given how little our enemies are deserving of said compassion. Yet each gank committed by a Code enforcer is an act of mercy, a mercy killing. Which is entirely appropriate for ships like these from the week of June 14th @ 00:00 EVEtime through June 20th @ 23:59 EVEtime... ORE Strip Miners? Check. Blingy yield mods? Check. Midslots? Incomplete. Apollo Aegeus spent over 1.4 billion isk on a Mackinaw of all things, yet he couldn't even be bothered to tank up, much less buy a mining permit. Maybe he thought he was safe in Tourier, a 0.9 security system in the Verge Vendor region. Not so. Agents Fate and Destiny, Never Gonna SeeGrandKids, and Zopiclone made a routine patrol of the system and put this decadent carebear to death. In recent months, the Bagodan system has become somewhat known for blingy ships. Whatever it was that brought WhiteMoon2 to the system, she was AFK at the time. Agents 1400mm Gallium Cannon, FleetJump Jump, Lovin Jr, Caldari Citizen 2116212079, Mr Lovin, Young Loving, and Taikao Isimazu were standing by with a group of Nagas and a Tornado, ready to blap the next blingy thing they saw. Skarsnik was a classic example of the "I will protect my ship by spending lots of money on it" school of thought. But isk-tanking is totally contrary to the truths of the Code--and to common sense. While Skarsnik was busy dealing with a Triglavian NPC, the true masters of highsec were on their way: Agents Void Delivery Service, Seamus Scrapmagnet, Aiko Danuja, Shadow Cyrilus, Evil Marxist, Shadow Pearl, Your Amazing Buddy, Noll Kion, Alleil Pollard, Shadow Redemption, Whadda Badasaz, Shadow Fireball, Lisa Tears, and Shadow Defiance. What's worse than a blingy Hulk without a permit? Try two blingy Hulks without a permit. In the same asteroid belt. Varstile Sinak and Warblazer Deadulus were simultaneously ganked by Agents Fate and Destiny, Never Gonna SeeGrandKids, Youthful Exuberance, and Zopiclone. I realize that bot-aspirants are known for being empty-headed, but what's with all of the empty mids lately? As we saw earlier, NPCs have been aiding our Agents in whittling down the hitpoints of bot-aspirant carebears. EspionageX lost his Leshak partly due to NPCs, whereupon Agent Seamus Scrapmagnet finished off EspionageX's pod, which was worth 3.4 billion isk. If the carebear had been at his keyboard, he would no doubt have complained about not being warned. But in fact, he was. The whole system was... Yes, others in the Kulelen system suffered the same fate. Less than an hour earlier, Moonbatter lost his Navy Raven thanks to a combination of NPCs and Agents. What happened next? You guessed it: Agent Seamus Scrapmagnet swooped in for a nice, fat pod gank. Moonbatter's 3.4 billion isk pod with a Hydra set was slightly more expensive than the pod owned by EspionageX, who preferred Asklepians. But as every carebear ought to know by now, it doesn't matter what sort of implants you covet. What matters is the Code. And the Code says you're going to lose your implants. The Code's right: Don't waste your money on bling. Buy a mining permit before you undock! Posted by MinerBumping at 20:03 49 comments: Saturday, June 20, 2020 I've got good news and bad news. The bad news is, "CCP Falcone" probably won't be able to help you. The good news is, your message will appear on today's edition of the Highsec Miner Grab Bag! Sigh. Another petition for CCP Falcone to review. The bot-aspirant miners of highsec would see EVE reduced to a fish tank. They are disgusting. Freeze Shihari was reminded of the 1990s in Russia when his illegal ice-mining operation was shut down... Ah. Now that's more like the 1990s Russia that I remember. Some carebears wonder why we pod people. We do it for the Code. The deer, coffins, and scarecrows are just a bonus. I won't be surprised to find a politely worded reimbursement request in my inbox later this month. Miner, you may acquire those mining ships, but they had better stay docked up. You know what will happen. "But nobody ever warned me that I might be ganked in highsec!" These miners are too AFK to notice when other whiny miners warn them in local. But you did get to watch a show. "Why would I obey you, if you can kill me?" These Goofuses don't even understand how government works. This is the truth: The players we want to return to EVE are those who come back because of MinerBumping. Highsec is not a lounge for watching Netflix; it is an arena for elite PvP.	24,091
What do you think of our latest Team of the Week? Bet on the Premier League here. Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth) After five successive defeats, Bournemouth returned to winning ways at Stamford Bridge to condemn Chelsea to a fourth defeat in f... 17th December, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: December 3-5 Liverpool forwards and Leicester full backs comprise our Team of the Week. Click here to bet on the Premier League. Martin Dubravka (Newcastle) The wheels are beginning to turn for Newcastle, who have taken ten points from their last five ga... 6th December, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: November 2-3 Players from nine different teams comprise our Team of the Week. Bet on the Premier League here. Ben Foster (Watford) Watford remain winless in the Premier League this season following defeat to Chelsea, but Foster’s efforts should not go... 4th November, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: October 25-27 Two Liverpool players and three hat-trick heroes make our Team of the Week. Bet on the Premier League here. Paulo Gazzaniga (Tottenham) In the end Tottenham left Anfield empty-handed following a second-half fightback from Liverpool, but Gazz... 28th October, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: October 19-21 Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all have two representatives in the Team of the Week. Bet on the Premier League here. Ederson (Manchester City) The champions returned to winning ways against Crystal Palace, in part thanks to a... 22nd October, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: September 28-30 No Manchester United or Arsenal players make our Team of the Week – do you agree? Bet on the Premier League here. Ederson Moraes (Manchester City) While City’s defence remains ravaged by injury, we should not forget that they possess a w... 1st October, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: September 20-22 Man City’s magical midfielders and Leicester’s match winners make our Team of the Week. Bet on the Premier League here. Dean Henderson (Sheffield United) At least one Manchester United player kept a clean sheet this weekend! The loanee b... 23rd September, 2019 Top 5 Bets for the weekend: 21st -22nd Sept. There is plenty of action during this coming weekend with the Milan derby amongst others on the menu and we have combed through the odds to find you the top five bets for your consideration. Bet on football here. Leicester City v Tottenham Hot... 21st September, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: September 14-15 It’s no surprise to see Norwich City well represented in our Team of the Week. Tim Krul (Norwich) The Canaries have been tipped to ruffle a few feathers this season and those suspicions were confirmed on Saturday with a famous win over cha... 16th September, 2019 Premier League Team of the Week: August 31 - September 1 Arsenal and Tottenham each have one player in our Team of the Week. Bet on the Premier League here. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) Six saves from the Spurs skipper ensured that his side left the Emirates with a point on Sunday. In a gripping game t...	3,139
Try java with Android studio it's a best and versatile language suit with almost every app development I already tried app development with java and no doubt if you have a better knowledge in java then go ahead without any worries 28th Sep 2022, 11:41 AM The choice depends on your experience. If you are new to programming, I would suggest to go for Java. It is a mature language with tons of online resources to help you get started. If you've done a lot of programming before, you can definitely go for Kotlin or Go. With Kotlin, you'll have the added benefit of being able to use all the libraries made for the JVM. 28th Sep 2022, 9:12 AM Tomoe I think you first have to start with Java and when you feel comfortable in the making ... you can go for the Kotlin. 28th Sep 2022, 7:56 PM Arpit Jain well, i only got experience with python, Js and C# I just wanted to know which language is more popular with android, or rather which language has pre-made libraries for designing the UI and checking object interaction/coliding	1,078
To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders OK Eugenie Bouchard scared after artist draws 'serial killer' as her ideal man Published 9:30, 18 November 2022 GMT \| Last updated 9:33, 18 November 2022 GMT Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to finding people attractive, and for tennis star Eugenie Bouchard, apparently that taste is 'serial killer-esque'. Okay, the 28-year-old doesn't exactly go out looking for Ted Bundy lookalikes, but she herself admitted that this sketch of her 'perfect man' bore disturbing resemblance to a serial killer: The tennis player, who is currently absent from the sport while recovering from a long injury, recently appeared on the Golf Mostly podcast where she discussed her love life, joking that she was 'single and lonely'. The hosts recruited a sketch artist to draw Bouchard's 'ideal guy' while she laid out some features that she finds attractive, including a 'dainty' nose, ears and forehead. "My first instinct is tall, dark and handsome; decent cheekbone structure obviously. I like hair that's not too short, I like a little medium-length, a little longer-length hair," she said. She went on to request 'nice thick eyebrows' and 'full lips', none of which are typical indicators of serial killers. However, things probably took a turn with the sketch when Eugenie described a 'brooding, kind of mysterious' look, combined with the advice that he should 'never smile'. Eugenie couldn't help but laugh when the sketch was revealed, showing a somewhat lifeless face with shaggy hair and an unsmiling mouth. "Guys I'm scared," she said. The clip was later shared on her Instagram page, where she asked: "Why did he turn out like a serial killer?” Thankfully Eugenie insisted that looks aren't everything, so hopefully any future partners she has won't have faces that incite fear. "I think confidence is very attractive and someone who’s funny, personality matters," she said. "After a while, looks fade, and if this is someone who is going to be someone for the future, then you got to make each other laugh and be friends." One thing's for sure though: Eugenie isn't interested in someone who plays tennis. Eugeine said she was 'scared' by the sketch. Credit: Katy Blackwood/Alamy Stock Photo She explained: “I would say, definitely, I wouldn’t want to date someone in the tennis world because it would just be so much tennis, I feel like non-stop. "On the one hand, they would probably relate with you more than anybody, but on the other hand, it’s like my friends. My friends are mostly out of tennis and I like to text or call someone and talk about totally different stuff than tennis because my entire day is tennis, so I feel like the same would apply to dating.” So, if any non-tennis-playing, non-serial-killing single guys are out there: Eugenie could be the one for you.	3,039
Mark Burrows and I were on site today. Jay Hirst was "unavoidably detained" when his car unfortunately broke down on the way to site.I disconnected seven wires from the base of the CU4 radiator fan control unit, as Mark had found the conduit containing the cables leading to it was badly corroded. Mark was able to disconnect the conduit without... 2022 July Work party news Electrical 50030 Repulse Continue reading Work party report 20th July 2019 Sunday, 21 July 2019 I went up again today as welder Ian needed access inside Repulse. Ian Kemp and Peter Carter were also there barring the ex-50008 power unit round and pumping oil through it. We do this as a mattter of course at each work party just to ensure this power unit remains in good internal condition ready for insertion into 50030 later this ye... July 2019 Bodywork Work party news 50030 Repulse Continue reading Work party report 14th July 2019 Thursday, 18 July 2019 This weekend we had Ian Williams the welder on site, starting the bodywork repairs on Repulse. Joining me today was Mark Burrows, Carl and Sofy Looker.Ian cut out rotten steel around No.1 cab end and along the 'non-visible' side, where we had identified the worst corrosion. He did most of the cutting out yesterday, today was clearing the rusty debr... 50030 Repulse Bodywork Work party news July 2019 Continue reading Work party report 15th July 2018 Monday, 16 July 2018 The No 1 end cab of 50030 showing various patches done over the past few weeks. Hot summer weather is generally a good time to attend to jobs like these. Cabside rot is the bane of all Class 50 owners. Drainage channels from the side windows in the cab become blocked and allow water to build up. We patched ours up a few years ago but the problem is starting to come back. Cab footsteps are another troublesome area although not nearly as bad. Note the SmartWater sticker: we in RRRG have been using this service for a number of years now and we highly recommend it as a cheap and effective anti-theft deterrent for all locomotive owning groups. Mark Burrows, his son Robert and I were on site today. Mark and Robert carried on scraping, bashing, fibreglassing, filling, sanding and priming around the no.1 cab of 50030, while I had a good tidy up on the shelves opposite the electrical cubicle, then Mark helped me fit the three rad resistor backplates along one side of the rads. Apart from th... Peak Rail Bodywork work party July 2018 Continue reading Tuesday, 26 July 2016 The first of what will hopefully be a few website updates over the coming days. The most recent issues of the RRRG newsletter, issues 30 and 31, are now available to view. Issue 31 is currently restricted to viewing by RRRG members until the next issue is released.Issue 29:Issue 30:Issue 31: RRRG members 2016 July Continue reading Working party report 24th July 2016 Tuesday, 26 July 2016 Dave Rolfe and I were on site today. Dave was freeing up one of the cab doors on Repulse while I carried on undercoating in the Thin Man's and over the cubicle inside the same locomotive. Ian Kemp was on site the previous Saturday and they unbolted the remaining pipes and connections to the radiator fan currently inside 50030,... 2016 July Radiators working parties Peak Rail Continue reading Friday, 01 July 2016 Apologies for the radio silence folks. RRRG hasn't shut down and ceased to exist. It's more that we've been busy both on group matters and with our own personal lives. A number of updates should follow later today. 2016 work party July Peak Rail Group news Continue reading Working party report 28th June 2015 Monday, 06 July 2015 This work party was attended by myself plus the "Three Amigos": Dave Rolfe, Ian Kemp and Peter Carter. Dave and I fitted a couple more water and oil pipes to the ex-50008 power unit, I then swapped a water pipe from the power unit inside 50030 to replace a damaged one on the new power unit. The main news from this Sunday centres around the heat exchanger which was removed from storage, due to the size and weight this was no mean feat but between the four of us and the use of our winch we managed to move it out for inspection. When we purchased the ex-50008 power unit we were told the heat exchanger had been swapped for the one currently in 50008 as it had a leak. When Ian inspected it, it was clear the end plate had corroded through in a couple of places (this plate is around 5mm thick so it's surprising it has rusted so badly). Thankfully the rest of the exchanger looks to be ok but we will need to pressure test it at some point. The rest of the afternoon was spent removing the end plate from the heat exchanger inside 50030; although this is quite rusty it appears to be in much better condition and should be easy(ish) to swap over. 2015 July 50030 Repulse Work party news spares Continue reading Work party reports 29th June and 14th July Monday, 14 July 2014 On 29th June a long-running sub-project within the electrical restoration of 50030 took a substantial step forward. I got the proper reverser (Class 50 specification) fitted into Repulse, with help from Dave Rolfe, Peter Carter and Ian Kemp as it's so damned heavy. We had to jiggle it about to get it to fit properly, but did it in the end. I attached the divert cables at the rear, but didn't have time to do the auxilaries at the front as I showed two visitors round Repulse. We are always happy to show enthusiasts around our project so if you want to take a look inside our locomotives then get in touch with us either via the website or our Facebook pages and we will do our best to accommodate you. Also on this date Dave, Ian and Pete also continued sorting fuel and water pipework recovered from 50030's power unit to replace damaged sections on the ex-50008 unit. This unit is destined for use in 50030 when complete - the existing power unit in Repulse was in acceptable condition when we acquired the loco, but has high engine hours and as part of our policy of overhauling our 50s to a very high standard in order to give them a long and trouble-free career in preservation we decided to overhaul one power unit totally. The existing unit in Repulse will be re-used inside 50029 because the engine in Renown has serious problems following the seizure which ended the loco's BR career. We don't know for sure but are aware of the possibility that the unit in 50029 may only be usable as a source of spares. Power unit work can be one of the most gruelling of the practical restoration projects as the same task often has to be done at least sixteen times, sometimes even 32 or 64 times! On 14th July I attached the reverser auxiliary contact wiring after showing another visitor round Repulse. Meanwhile, Ian, Pete and Dave fitted the fuel feed and return pipes to the ex-50008 power unit that they had previously salvaged from the power unit inside Repulse. 2014 July Work party news electronics 50030 Continue reading Monday, 22 July 2013 2013 July refurbished parts Work party news Rowsley South Continue reading Wednesday, 17 July 2013 Work on site over the weekend of 13-14 June comprised efforts by Dave Rolfe to finish off the last set of radiator grille louvre frames and slats. These have now been sanded and painted ready to reinstall into 50030 and will mean the locomotive has a fully overhauled set of radiator slats, together with the mechanisms for actuating and moving the temperature-dependent sets fully overhauled and operational for the first time in many a year! Also on site were electrical officers Andy Rowlands and Steve Tripp, together with Sarah McCall the membership secretary. They carried on with the donor electrical cubicle. Following recent progress with removing the control units, attention turned to the wiring loom which we also intend to salvage in order to replace the damaged wiring in 50029. Initially the complexity of the loom and its many tentacles proved frustrating but Steve and Andy have devised methods for transferring it into Renown. All the cabling in all the side sections of the cubicle, namely that for KV10s, relays and control units, has been pulled out of the frame or into the middle section where it is more accessible. One more visit should have the whole wiring loom out and hopefully soon into its new home in 50029. We can then consider our options for the bulky frame of the donor cubicle which is taking up valuable space on site. 2013 July Work party news electronics refurbished parts Continue reading Collecting gas bottles Monday, 16 July 2012 Our gas bottles on the trolley used to collect them; oxygen (black) and acetylene (maroon). One of those "must get round to doing that sometime" tasks hanging over RRRG has been to collect a couple of cylinders of oxygen and acetylene with which to power our cutting and welding equipment. Although there is a BOC distributor just across the A6 from Peak Rail's Rowsley South site they have limited opening hours which are somewhat inconvenient for the regular on site RRRG volunteers. Tim and I decided we would head up to Rowsley last Friday night in order to be on site in the morning ready to collect the gas. So, shortly after 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon I hit the road to drive the 170 miles or so from Reading to deepest Derbyshire whilst Tim got a train from Peterborough to Matlock, where I would meet him. I got delayed by the usual Friday traffic whilst Tim got delayed when 66008 decided to investigate the ballast on the Midland main line near Duffield. (I did however make it through Bletchingdon on the A34 without incident after my two year anniversary earlier this month, and once on site, Dave was as helpful and complimentary as ever that my latest car was retaining its factory-fitted styling so well). The cylinders are now in situ at RRRG headquarters. One of the main uses we will have for them is to heat up some bolts and pins on our spare bogies which are absolutely stuck fast and won't shift any other way. In particular there are some arms secured by pins and bolts which prevent the traction motors being removed from the bogies and we want to either free these off, or if necessary, cut them off (we have plenty of spares) in order to free the motors for removal to Bowers for overhaul. Aluminium air intake manifolds destined for the ex-50008 power unit. The foreground example awaits the removal by wire brushing of years of dirt and grime to reach the standard of the background pair, which Dave Rolfe described as "Rolls Royce quality"! After treatment with the wire brush, Tim and I set about red oxide primer coating of the manifolds we treated that day, as well as returning to some that other RRRG volunteers had already treated, just to ensure that "Rolls Royce finish"! With the main excitement of the morning over, and after a few steadying cups of tea and brunch at the Peak Rail cafe, Tim and I set to work on wire brushing and red oxide painting of a number of air intake manifolds destined for the ex-50008 power unit. Chris Bodell's nascent music career meant he was playing a gig in Bakewell on Saturday night so he went home to practice and took his leave of us. Tim was diagrammed for transporting teenagers to a roller disco in Peterborough that evening and so, despite building up some momentum on the inlet manifolds, we reluctantly packed up and I drove us the 100 or so miles back to Peterborough, where the teenagers were transported and Tim and I undertook a mutual debriefing session in The Moorhen at Hampton Vale (Tim's local). Sunday was spent doing more work on the soon-to-be-launched new RRRG website (of which more in due course) and I then hit the road for the final time back to Reading, which was covered in a personal best time of 1 hour 50 minutes and brought my mileage for the weekend to a touch short of 400. But it's all good fun (allegedly!). Work party news 2012 July Peak Rail Continue reading July 24th 2011 Sunday, 24 July 2011 Dave was on site all weekend as usual, and was attempting to loosen the bolts on the radiators with an air-tool, but discovered it seems to be broken, so he went to remove some of the brake rigging from the spare bogies, but found all the bolts seized. Wes Needle paid a visit with his wife Keren & their two children on Sunday to look in on progress and take the family for a ride on the train. As I was working on 50008 last Sunday & therefore missed the workparty, I went up today & fitted the second small board behind the field divert contactors that houses the ETH detection relay HDR, the ETH earth fault relay HEFR & it's associated resistor Z62. I wired Z62 & HDR, but while wiring HEFR, I seem to have mislaid a wire from one of the ETH interlock relays, so finding it is the first job next time I am there. 2011 July Continue reading July 16th-17th 2011 Sunday, 17 July 2011 It was quite a busy weekend with Dave, Chris, Tom, Steve & Sarah attending both days and Ian, Pete & Mark on site Sunday. Toby the dog, who could become un-official mascot with regular site attendance, was also there!! Ian & Pete continued with the quest of torqeuing up the big end bearing caps, only a couple left to do. Tom repaired/replaced as required all the runner timbers below the droplights. This completes all the internal frame repairs in both cabs. The potentiometer stand in Renown was straightened, welded, cleaned and refitted by Chris - it had been damaged and bent during the removal of the ETH/aux gens before RRRG bought the locos. Dave continued cleaning up under the no1 cab floor in Renown, also assisited others. Steve & Sarah continued identifying cut cables in Renown concentating at the cubicle end. They opened up the Battery Isolation Switch to identify cables, the rear section of the switch was removed to assist this process. Mark removed floor-mounted conduits from the generator area in Repulse. The conduits will be replaced with those removed from 50040 prior to its scrapping. The cleared floor was cleaned. 2011 July Continue reading July 4th 2010 Sunday, 04 July 2010 Ian, Pete & Dave hoisted up and fitted another three overhauled cylinder heads to the power unit, and torqued them, and another head previously fitted, down to 600ft lbs. Chris B cleaned & painted some sections of intercooler & turbo pipework & I carried on tidying the small control cables with cable ties & attempted to fit the last three remaining sections of 185mm cable to the field divert resistors, but found them all apparently the wrong length and with crimps fitted at angles which at the moment prevents them from being bolted to their connections on the reverser.	15,639
New readers, welcome to Dear Wendy, a relationship advice blog. Read some of the most popular Dear Wendy posts here. If you don’t find the info you need in this column, please visit the Dear Wendy archives or the forums (you can even start your own thread), do a search in the search bar, or submit a question for advice at wendy(AT)dearwendy.com. Every year we go to my in-laws’ for Christmas, and unless I put my foot down, we usually go for Thanksgiving too. If we don’t go for both of these occasions, my husband throws a fit and will go to work unless I decide to go to his parents’. This year has been a very hard year for me. My son will be turning 18 and I wanted to spend the holiday with just him, my husband, and daughter. Also, a few weeks ago my dog passed away and I’ve been distraught. I expressed that I wanted to avoid any family drama as I’m never made to feel welcome by my mother-in-law anyway. My husband does not have my back and has made it impossible now to enjoy the holiday because I was adamant about not going to his mother’s. He also never tells his mother I don’t feel welcome; he thinks I should basically deal with her cold treatment towards me. Please help. — Tired of Cold Treatment for the Holidays Your husband wants to spend the holidays with his parents; you don’t want to go to their home because you feel unwelcome. Compromise by trying something a little different: Invite them to your place for Christmas this year (since it’s a little late to switch up Thanksgiving plans). That way your husband (and your kids) still get to spend the holiday with your in-laws’ and you don’t have to deal with feeling unwelcome in their home. Also, adjust your expectations, and don’t rely on your mother-in-law’s treatment of you to make or break your holiday season. Expect that it’s not going to be super fun spending a few hours in your in-laws’ company, and then be glad it’s only a few hours. Make special plans for the days surrounding each holiday you spend with your in-laws that are just for your immediate family and/or for them and a few other people you genuinely enjoy. Accept that as an adult (especially as a married adult with kids), the holidays aren’t going to be all about what you want. You’re going to have to compromise, suck things up a little, and grin and bear it when you don’t get exactly your way. I’m sorry about your dog. My cat died recently and I know how much it hurts to lose a furry member of the family. The worst thing you can do though is to tie your grief to traditions that have nothing to do with your loss. Saying you don’t want to spend Christmas with your in-laws this year, when you always spend Christmas with them, because you’re distraught over your dog’s death, doesn’t make much sense. Wanting to avoid family drama? Sure, that’s understandable. But you don’t do that by cutting out your in-laws from a holiday you always spend with them, especially when you know how much that will hurt and alienate your husband. What might make you feel a little better in your grief is doing something special to remember your dog, like having an ornament made with his or her image or name on it, lighting a candle each night during the holiday in your dog’s memory, or asking your husband for a framed picture of your dog as a holiday gift this year. Finally, if you generally feel like your husband doesn’t have your back – in regards to his mother’s treatment of you and anything else — and you’ve discussed your feelings with him and nothing has changed, please consider getting marriage counseling together. A successful marriage depends on each partner feeling supported – and not dismissed – by the other. There’s a man whom I love, but I really feel he doesn’t love me back. I’m a 69-year-old widow and he is a 74-year-old widower. His 50-year-old daughter moved in with him (and his wife) after her divorce years ago. He brings me coffee in the morning and we see the sunset together and that’s the extent of our relationship. I can’t go to his house because his daughter does not want him to have a girlfriend. Her mom died three years ago. Recently, he got sick and had to go to the hospital. He called me but his sons and daughter were there, so I wasn’t allowed to go see him. I feel worthless, and his relationship with his daughter doesn’t seem normal. Should a 74-year-old man let his adult child tell him how to run his life? — Coffee and Sunsets Aren’t Enough He’s lying to you. It’s highly, highly unlikely he’s sharing his home with his daughter and his daughter only. Either that woman isn’t actually his daughter, his wife never died, or there’s another girlfriend you don’t know about. Regardless, you clearly are not getting what you want out of this relationship and it’s time to move on. Follow along on Facebook, and Instagram. If you have a relationship/dating question I can help answer, you can send me your letters at wendy(AT)dearwendy.com. LW1). Yeah. Wendy’s idea of hosting Christmas is more work for you, sure — but gives you back some power. LW2). Eh, I dunno if he is lying or not. It could easily be that all he wants is the warm casual friendship you already share. That means you are not a match. But the idea that he simply must also be a lying cheat and a cad is a real stretch. PS — adult children can often be batshit crazy about their surviving parent’s love lives… so yeah… I can totally see the adult daughter/roomie being fucking wacko about this… ron November 19, 2018, 5:10 pm Seriously, it often becomes a battle over the kids protecting their inheritance. You are 5 years younger, women live longer on average, if the two of you marry the kids fear you’ll get their $$ or just the house. This is a really common issue. Ange November 19, 2018, 6:23 pm I mean it happens, my mum’s father remarried and when he died (only a couple of years later) she and her kids cleaned the whole place out. My mum never got what she was supposed to in the will and she wasn’t there in time to snag a keepsake of her dad. Lucidity November 19, 2018, 8:18 pm It does happen. When my dad remarried, his wife made him cut my sister and I out of his will. She promised to leave something to us when she died (she’s a fair bit younger), so he went along with it. When he later decided he’d like to leave us something after all, she blew up and threatened to divorce him and “take it all” if he changed his will even a bit. We’ve accepted that we have no claim to my dad’s money – despite what my mom always told us about how she saved so she could leave us kids a legacy, in her will she left it all to him, so it’s his to give to his new wife. We ask for keepsakes, like photo albums, when we get a rare moment alone with Dad, but it still stings and if I were a pettier person I could see myself doing and saying some pretty nasty stuff. LisforLeslie November 19, 2018, 2:12 pm LW#1 Taking on the holidays can be seen as a power grab. It seems silly but your MIL may not want to give up hostessing yet. Tread lightly. LW #2, no, a parent shouldn’t be dictating a parent’s social life. I’ve told my mom I’ll support her when/if she’s ready to date again. However, I fully admit to being a little protective when a few of the widowers came a knockin’ in the first few months. Your man friend is interested in general companionship, not a second chance romance. Move on. convexexed November 19, 2018, 2:25 pm 1) I agree with Wendy that adulthood/family life requires compromise, but it looks from the letter that you spend the holidays with your in-laws EVERY year, and EVERY year you are made to feel unwelcome. Your husband needs to do some compromising, too. You didn’t mention your side of the family; I assume they are not in the picture or there is some other reason you don’t alternate years. I would talk to your husband about a new plan going forward, starting next year if plans are already set for the upcoming holidays. Maybe every other year you spend the holidays with just your immediate family (each other and the kids). Or maybe you need to cap the number of hours you spend at the in-laws instead of spending an entire day. I think there is a medium between ‘cutting out your in-laws’ and you resigning yourself to suck it up, year after year. I didn’t say ‘happy medium’ because I think you will end up getting some shit from husband/in-laws. But it’s worth standing your ground. Yes, the holidays aren’t all about you, but they aren’t ONLY about what your husband and his in-laws want, either. You are also entitled to feel relaxed and at ease, either every other year completely, or for at least a good part of the day on major holidays. Maybe you need to have a special Christmas breakfast with just your household before heading out to the in-laws, or, if you’re traveling to see them, maybe you need to stay in a hotel so your evening are your own. But no, compromise has to be shared by your husband, too. It’s not compromise if you just end up sucking it up—that’s just you, sucking it up. 2) I don’t necessarily think he’s cheating. I am cynical, but I’m not THAT cynical to think his ‘daughter’ is his wife or girlfriend. As a nurse, I take care of a lot of older people, and I’ve noticed how very much the dynamics can shift with their adult children as the adult children become caretakers and managers of their parents–even when those parents still have capacity to care for themselves. She may control his finances or take care of the household (groceries, meals) If his daughter is his only family left, he may not want to rock the boat. He may fear alienating her too much to have a relationship with you that isn’t limited or secret. With the loss of his wife still relatively recent, he also may not be ready (and he may never be) for another all-in, full-on relationship. He may just want a few shared moments, coffee, and sunsets. He may not feel able to love someone again with the depth and intensity he had with his late wife. He may have health issues you don’t know about, that keep him from feeling able to commit to someone. There’s a lot that can be going on when you reach that stage in life. If he were in his fifties, I’d tend to lean more towards what Wendy’s suggesting. But the 70’s are a whole other ball game. Not that everyone in their 70’s acts/feels the same, not at all, but there are many, many possible reasons besides cheating/dishonesty that could explain what’s going on here. K November 20, 2018, 1:39 pm Agreed – why should LW1 be the only one compromising? What about her husband? Northern Star November 19, 2018, 2:28 pm LW 1: You’re setting an example for your kids. If you continue to complain and try to make the holidays about your small nuclear family only, don’t be surprised when your kids have families of your own and you spend Thanksgiving in your old age alone. Just sayin’. LW 2: I don’t get why he has to be a “liar.” The old fart probably just wants his daughter to actually take care of him day to day, and a contemporary (you) to be his companion. Mimi November 19, 2018, 2:29 pm LW1, I think it is perfectly reasonable to want a nuclear family Thanksgiving or Christmas this year since your son is about the fly the coop and you’d like to enjoy it for once instead of having to suck it up. However, because your husband is a brat who throws hissy fits and stomps off to work when things don’t go exactly his way (a horrible example to his children) and does not behave like an adult and a loving partner to you at holiday time, I think you should change the channel on all of this and make other plans. How about you and the kids volunteer and serve dinners to the needy or check with your local hospice or council on aging to see if there are people in your community who need a meal delivered or transportation or just some friendly words? You are the only one who can do things differently to have a different outcome, so forget about fighting the same fight again and think about turning your energy outward in a new way. Good luck! brise November 19, 2018, 2:31 pm LW1: yes, compromise. Go to the Thanksgiving dinner by your MIL, but insist on having one of the Christmas celebrations at your place with your family only, either for Christmas Eve or the 25th. So you get what you want – a holiday with the four of you – and your husband gets what he wants. The idea to host is also good. You don’t speak of your own family: how about your parents? Does this side of the family have a say, or a role in the holiday plans? If not, this is unbalanced. Dear Wendy November 19, 2018, 4:20 pm I edited it out of the original letter, but the LW was raised Jewish, so her parents probably don’t factor in so much when it comes to Christmas. Bittergaymark November 19, 2018, 5:04 pm Ah. It also explains why — to her — skipping Christmas is not the biggest thing in the world either… ron November 19, 2018, 5:14 pm Her MIL probably can’t stand that her son married a Jew. A lot of anti-Semitic Christians. This is a husband problem. If his solution is to sulk and go to work, tell him no more trips by you to his parents. He isn’t playing at all fair. Does the family join LW’s family for Jewish holidays? How frequently? CurlyQue November 19, 2018, 2:39 pm LW2, my father started dating again recently (my mother passed 5 years ago). The woman he was seeing eventually instigated a conversation stating that she wanted something more serious and he responded he’s not there yet. They broke up, but she contacted him again a few months later and they picked up where they left off. Just recently she instigated another conversation where they repeated the same things. It’s possible your bf isn’t interested in anything more than he’s currently offering you. Poppy November 19, 2018, 2:49 pm LW1- how is your marriage? Overall how is it? If your husband would rather go to work then spend the holiday with his family then to me that sounds like there is something wrong with your relationship. (I’m really jumping here) he could also not like your cooking. Can’t you just go to eat and say hi, let your husband stay as long as he wants (drive seperate vehicles)and you go home or out shopping with your kids. JD November 19, 2018, 5:57 pm Ya husband seems to be the problem to me. He won’t speak to mother, sulks and leaves when he has to deal with the issue. I think you need to work on your marriage before you worry about Thanksgiving. Poppy November 20, 2018, 10:00 am @JD agreed. Poppy November 19, 2018, 3:02 pm LW2- take the company he offers and enjoy it. At your age there is no need to rush things or even marry. At 74 yrs old it is very likely his daughter did move in to help care for him. At 74yrs old, the last thing on your mind is having a long lasting relationship. I should also inform you that nursing homes have the highest chances of catching an STD amoung the overall population if you catch my drift LisforLeslie November 19, 2018, 4:31 pm @Poppy – funny but true. I told some oldsters that the nice thing about STDs when you’re old is that if you get the clap, you won’t live long enough for it to make your brain into swiss cheese. Or make you infertile. Or have enough time to give you cervical cancer. I like to focus on the bright side in all of this. ron November 19, 2018, 5:17 pm The Villages in FL have the highest STD rate in the country. Tens of thousands of retirees. Poppy November 20, 2018, 9:33 am Hahaha yes, so true. And @ron I am so not suprised with Florida having the highest rates. These retirement communities are something else. Skyblossom November 19, 2018, 3:09 pm LW1 What would your kids like to do? It’s your son’s last year before leaving. I would assume he has an opinion. Kids often want to follow established traditions but not always. Do the kids feel welcome and wanted at the in-laws and do they feel upset that you aren’t treated well? It seems like you and your husband could benefit from some counseling. If you have to deal with going to his parents he should be able to deal with having half of his holidays at home. LW2 He may not want anything more or his kids may fear that if he gets into a serious relationship he would get married and then his new wife would get everything when he dies. Adult children often guard their inheritance. The reason doesn’t really matter. If the relationship doesn’t meet your needs then you are better off breaking up. I know the problem is that there are far more widows than widowers and so it may mean you are alone. dinoceros November 19, 2018, 8:49 pm LW2: It doesn’t really matter whether he “should” or not. You want to be treated like a real girlfriend and he doesn’t have any intention of doing so. If his story is true, he could choose to live his own life and put his foot down, but he doesn’t. That’s a bad sign. Why put up with that? Miss MJ November 19, 2018, 9:23 pm LW1: It’s pretty close to Thanksgiving. Probably too close to back out now. And, per Wendy’s update, if you don’t celebrate Christmas, but your kids and husband do with your in-laws, well, I mean, you can opt out, nbd, but it’s not fair to ask them to, you know? So, what I would do in your place is have a nuclear family Wednesday celebration the day before Thanksgiving Day and, during the college years, make it A Thing. (I did this with my dad on my way to Thanksgiving with my mom for years. I miss it now that circumstances have changed.) Find a similar compromise re the Christmas celebration. Then transition out of grandma’s house for the holidays. Once your kids are both in college/moving into adulthood, make your own tradition and just invite grandma to it. Truthfully, when you’re talking about a lifetime and you already have college-aged kids, this is not a long term problem. Things change when your kids grow up. A lot. And, also, let go of giving a rat’s ass how your MIL acts. Maybe she hates you, maybe she doesn’t, but that’s her fucking problem. She “lost” a long time ago. Any coldness is just her being bitter. Don’t let her bitterness infect your life. It’ll just make you bitter. When you have to be there, take breaks outside, talk with other relatives, whatever, and leave as soon as you can. And rejoice that at least you’re not entertaining her in your house where you’re stuck. Oh, and call your husband’s BS bluff about working if he doesn’t go to his mom’s for every holiday. Fuck that noise. Finally, I’m sorry for the loss of your dog. It hurts and sometimes people don’t get it. Hugs. allathian November 20, 2018, 5:15 am I’m glad I live in a country where it’s pretty damn hard to cut your direct descendants out of their inheritance. No matter what your will says, direct descendants are always entitled to half of their legal share. In addition, inheritance tax for non-descendants is much higher than for descendants. Hazel November 20, 2018, 5:32 am LW2- is it possible that your boyfriend has care needs, tended by his daughter, that he doesn’t want to share with you out of pride? An elderly (I know your boyfriend isn’t that old, but needs differ) relative of mine (now sadly gone) would have absolutely adored the chance of a romantic friendship like yours, but would not have been able to stay with someone (other than his carer) overnight. He may also be afraid that if he brings you more to the fore, his daughter will move out, and you wouldn’t be able to take her place. Total theorising but possible. Hope you find something that works for you. SpaceySteph November 20, 2018, 4:40 pm LW1, you’ve been unhappy with your holiday arrangement for 18+ years and if you try to change it your husband just stomps off to work until he gets his way?! I have a hard time believing this is the only problem in your marriage. This is a husband problem, and a big one– that you can’t talk to him about this, and that he doesn’t know how to fight like an adult. I don’t know how you’ve lasted this long. Couples counseling. Or maybe just stay home from Thanksgiving and if what he wants is to work, you have your holiday with your kids anyways. As for feeling welcome in his mother’s home, maybe you never will (if it hasn’t happened yet, I doubt its gonna change) but you have to suck it up occasionally. That doesn’t mean every freaking holiday though. PNWoman November 30, 2019, 12:35 am I know this question is old, but I came across it in dealing with a similar problem, and I have a problem with Wendy’s answer. You say the holidays are about compromising and that it may not always be about you… but why is it the wife’s responsibility to bend over for her husband? Why can’t her husband be told to compromise and realize that the holidays aren’t all about HIM? Shouldn’t she be able to spend her life how she wants to? Can’t he go to his mom’s and she stay behind with her kids or other family? Do they always have to spend that time together? DJ November 30, 2021, 3:44 pm Where are LWs family in all of this? Usually these occasions mean trying to allocate time to 2-3 other relatives generally from both sides. Yes the husband is being an jerk, he doesn’t have her back, doesn’t support her suggestion of spending the day with their own son (who is 18 and may well be anywhere next year with college or work) and daughter. And her having lost a loved animal, I can see why dealing with unwelcoming in-laws is just too much this year! Bittergaymark December 22, 2021, 5:43 pm Her family is jewish and thus not exactly clamoring for a Christmas get together… Anonymous December 21, 2021, 11:29 pm Cancel reply Broken Betrayal on “My Terminally Ill Spouse Refuses to Stop Cheating” katmich15 on “Is He Cheating?” Copa on “Is He Cheating?” Members Log In Username: Keep me signed in Log In Archives Select Month November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011	24,231
You see them at virtually every trade show. Working at the edge of a trade show booth, wandering the aisles, scanning badges, handing out lead cards, handing out t-shirts, thumb drives, or other trade show swag, encouraging attendees to have a seat in the presentation area, escorting attendees to the demo kiosks, asking qualifying questions. They are referred to as Booth Hostesses, Crowd Gatherers, Badge Scanners, Lead Generators, Greeters, Crowd Pullers, Crowd-Attractors, Trade Show Models, Promotional Models, Brand Ambassadors. And yes, sadly, they are still occasionally referred to as Booth Babes, Booth Bunnies, and other terms which, rest assured, are not in our lexicon. Magnet provided Trade Show Booth Staffing Services for our client, Cisco Systems at the GISEC show in Dubai. Cisco got more qualified leads than at ANY previous show. At Magnet Productions, our approach to trade show booth staffing is to think of these folks as your ‘front line.’ As key players on your trade show marketing team. A crowd gatherer will likely be the FIRST person that a trade show attendee will engage with when they stop by your booth. They should be thought of as critical to your trade show marketing strategy. Indeed, by using Magnet’s trade show booth staffing services, YOUR sales people can focus on what they do best … turning trade show attendees into customers! A Crowd Gatherer is at the trade show to support YOUR efforts, to help build YOUR brand. And they can easily double or triple the amount of traffic that finds its way into your booth. And at Magnet Productions, you’ll be sure that you’re working with the best booth staff support people in the industry. Why? Because we go through a qualification process that ensures that you get someone with the right blend of appearance, personality, intelligence, and energy. And someone with years of experience! When you’re looking for trade show booth staffing, here are a few important questions you should be asking yourself: Are they Intelligent? Are they well-spoken? Are they engaging, effusive, charming? Are they attractive? And this is more than just ‘looks.’ Do they have a personality that attracts? Are they willing to approach people non-stop for the duration of the show? Will their energy be the same at 3pm on the last day as it was at 10am on the first day? Can they handle receiving systematic rejection over and over and over? This is a trade show reality. Are they able to convincingly deliver a quick 30 second ‘elevator pitch’? The Trade Show Hostesses (and Hosts) at Magnet Productions satisfy ALL of these criteria and more. Here are a few comments we have heard from clients that have used our trade show booth staffing services: “Before we started working with Magnet, we would never even CONSIDER using a crowd gatherer. Our management team was dead set against it. Several years ago, at one of our largest trade shows, we were having a very difficult time getting attendees to attend our theater presentation. Ken was at the show, and offered us one crowd gatherer for the day. He said, “Please just try using one of our people. If it doesn’t have a measurable impact on your audience size … if you aren’t 100% thrilled with the results, there will be no charge.” Within ten minutes of having Audrey at our booth, we had a packed theater and it remained that way for the three days of the show.” “We have got a great team of people. They’re brilliant and really know how to talk about our technology. BUT, they are not particularly adept at approaching people. In fact, most of them are terrified. Using Magnet Productions’ trade show booth staffing services has made all the difference for us. They keep OUR people busy doing demos and ‘talking tech,’ all day long. We will never do a show without Magnet.” “I’ll be honest … NOBODY on our team likes to scan badges. Actually, we all kinda hate it. It’s good to know that we have someone focusing on that job … getting scans … getting answers to some qualifying questions … letting us go back to our office with a ton of qualified leads. Magnet makes this process really easy for us.” If you’d like to see some sample pictures and resumes of our professional trade show booth staffing team or you’d like to chat with us and let us brainstorm some ways to support your efforts at your next trade show, please reach out to us.	4,386
I didn’t see it coming. It sort of crept up on me…I mean I was present for every moment, so I don’t know why this surprised me. I was at the washing line hanging out my son’s clothes when I suddenly realized I didn’t buy these for him. When did he get so grown up […] 2nd Jul 2021 .Reading time 2 minutes. The story of the prodigal son, from Luke 15, has been on my heart lately; not because I have a child who has run away, but simply because I have a child who is growing up. I know that sounds so silly, almost insignificant, because that’s what children do — they grow up. In fact, […] A change in my perspective 21st Nov 2020 .Reading time 8 minutes. So, I cried a little while loading the washing machine this morning… No, it wasn’t because I was frustrated by the never-ending pile of dirty clothes or the fact, that more washing meant more hanging out and more folding. It was because I was washing my son’s school uniform for the last time. I finally […] “trust me, i am with you” 19th Nov 2020 .Reading time 2 minutes. This weeks blog is featured over at Rest and Chaos…this is just a teaser… It was the end of another long day. I was exhausted. I had spent the day saying the same things over and over to my children. Constantly reminding them to be kind and helpful. To show love to each other. I […]	1,371
Filmmaker Ken Burns has chronicled so many of America's important events and personalities, from the Civil War to Prohibition to baseball to jazz, with a signature blend of poignant images and accessible scholarship. So it isn't surprising that he opens his latest documentary with a familiar face - Anne Frank's. But he highlights a lesser-known fact about the Frank family, that they tried to escape to the U.S. but were unable to get past the red tape and active hostility of the U.S. immigration system. And they weren't alone. Thousands of Jews tried and failed to enter the U.S. in the years leading up to World War II. And so begins "The U.S. And The Holocaust," a three-part documentary that premieres tomorrow on PBS. In it, Ken Burns tells a complicated, often painful and sometimes shocking story about the United States and its response to the genocide that killed millions of Jews and others. Ken Burns co-directed the series, along with Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, and he's with us now to tell us more about it. Ken Burns, thanks so much for joining us once again. MARTIN: So the obvious question is, why this story at this time? I mean, you're known for making documentaries, as we said, about epic signature moments in American history and personalities like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali. And there are many documentaries and films and books that center the Holocaust. Was there something that you felt had to be said that had not already been said? BURNS: Yeah. I think we've kind of, as Americans, conveniently sort of separated ourself from the event and thought we had no connection to it. And, of course, we're not in any way complicit or responsible for it. But it was an ocean and a continent away, and that we didn't really know what was going on until it was too late. And that's just not true. And it was very important for us to go back and understand that while we are, yes, a nation of immigrants that had mostly open borders between 1870 and 1820, letting in lots of Catholics and lots of Jews and other people, it caused a backlash, and it increased the antisemitism that is often present in many societies. And we were in the throes of a pseudoscience called eugenics which was trying to attempt just an absurd hierarchy of races and ethnicities. There's, of course, only one race. That's the human race. The whole thing was a fiction. But out of it came the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 that set now really difficult quotas, only good quotas for those Nordic, white, northern European countries, minuscule quotas for those southern and central and Eastern European countries populated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and Slavs and, of course, Jews. MARTIN: I want to talk more about the film and how you built it, but I still want to go back to something you just said, which is that you and your co-directors - you finished your, you know, your epic work around World War II. It was - I don't know - for people who've seen it, it was just remarkable, and frankly, had to have been a bit exhausting. I mean, the scale of it, the scope of it, just kind of taking it in. What was it that made you think, we need to take this other subject, this piece of this story on now? Was there a particular character or a particular story? And the reason I ask is because you, at this stage of your career, I'm sure there are people constantly clamoring for your attention. I'm sure that there are, you know, a million projects on the table that you could undertake at any given time. And for you to commit to something, there has to be a reason. And I just wondered, was there something in particular that made you feel, we need to do this now? BURNS: I think it was just people coming with all of these supposed questions and ideas and theories about what happened. And we realized we needed to know more. We'd done a very moving section on the Holocaust, I thought, in both of the films, "The Roosevelts" and World War II. But we needed to answer those questions, and in so doing, if we make it the U.S. and the Holocaust, then we also then have to go and look at how the Holocaust actually unfolded. And we learned so much more about it - the intricacies, the bureaucracies, the brutality. I mean, this has been a seven-year project, so it's not like beginning now, but we began in 2015 in a different America and a different world. And as the film caught up to us, as every film does, where you feel, oh, yes, this is resonating with today, but the discipline of our work is to not pay attention to that or to point arrows added or neon signs, isn't this so much like today - we began to realize fearfully how much almost every sentence of the script was echoing with today. And so we accelerated. The production was supposed to come out next year. And we wanted to join a conversation because many of these same things - the racism, the anti-Semitism, the nativism, the authoritarian impulses, the erosion of democratic institutions - part of what the films within the film of this film are about are happening right before us. MARTIN: I think there are aspects of this film that will be shocking to some people. For example, you show how conspiracy theories about Jewish people were common in the U.S. Notable figures like Henry Ford, the carmaker, would put out pamphlets spreading anti-Semitic propaganda. In other words, it was just - I don't know how to say it - ubiquitous during this time. It shaped attitudes about immigrants. Even some Jewish people in the United States had these negative views of immigrants. Do you want to just talk a little bit about that? I don't know whether that is - I found that... BURNS: It's shocking. MARTIN: I feel like - I felt it shocking. I'm just going to say it. BURNS: It's shocking in every degree - the anti-Semitism that creeps up within the State Department and in the Congress and the American people. And Henry Ford is a good example. Here is, you know, the most-celebrated industrialist. And he thinks Jews are responsible for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He doesn't put out a pamphlet. He's buys a newspaper, The Dearborn Independent, which ends up having the second-highest circulation in the United States. And he prints and reprints a Russian forgery, a Russian hoax called "The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion," which is the worst anti-Semitic track ever written. And it is still - you go online, and that's the Bible of the anti-Semites to this day. And he promotes it. And so the American people are steeped in this. The German jurists come to the United States to study our Jim Crow laws to fashion the first - or early anti-discriminatory laws against the Jews. And so, you know, we're not responsible for this. It's very important to say. We didn't do this. We're not complicit. But these ideas of racism, of nativism, of anti-Semitism are in the air, in the currency of human life everywhere. And that's what manifests. And that's what makes it, I think, as you say, shocking. MARTIN: You also make the point throughout the film that these ideas bounce back-and-forth across the Atlantic... BURNS: That's right. MARTIN: ...You know, that these racist ideas can start one place and they migrate. BURNS: You know, the Germans are studying our ideas. We've got a massive pro-Nazi party, the German American Bund in the United States. They filled Madison Square Garden on George Washington's birthday. And they're spewing just vile, anti-Semitic bile. The America First Committee, led by their chief spokesman, Charles Lindbergh, the aviator hero, is out and out anti-Semitic in what he's talking about. And so you've got this horrific situation. And it is shocking in the extreme, but something we have to look at and face and understand. And I - it's very important to say that there are lots of heroic stories. There are people and organizations throughout this story who sacrificed their lives and their fortunes to get other human beings out. MARTIN: So before we let you go, you know, I've seen - I don't know how many of your documentaries - I would imagine, I think, all of them, I think. You do something with this one that I just don't think I've seen before. You end with footage from more recent events... MARTIN: ...That include anti-Semitic attacks. We know that reports of these incidents have increased in recent years, but I was interested in this as a device. It's something that, again, I don't think I've seen you do that. I think you, again, have been very careful not to draw this, you know, magic marker line from this happened then, so this is happening now. I think you kind of leave it to people to think these things through for themselves. Why did you think that was important to do? BURNS: Well, I think it was because as we were working on this film over the seven years from 2015 to now, we saw this profound change. Then, because we had sort of set our table in the first episode with all of the things we've been discussing, because the Protestant majority was fearful of being, you know, out-bred by these newcomers, they were fearful of being replaced, which in the early days of working on the film in 2017 is the cry from Charlottesville, we realized we couldn't just tie this up with a nice bow, that it was resonating so much. We just felt that we had to have at least an impressionistic dismount that reminded us that the language of hatred, the language of othering, the language of exclusion has to be at least put on the table if we're going to mount the film as we begin it, then our dismount has to remind us. Deborah Lipstadt, the great Holocaust scholar, says in the film at one point, the time to stop a genocide is before it happens. I would like to humbly submit that the time to save a democracy is before it's lost. MARTIN: That's documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. He co-directed the three-part documentary "The U.S. And The Holocaust" with Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein. It premieres tomorrow on PBS. You'll want to check your local listings for the exact times. Ken Burns, thanks so much for joining us. Michel Martin is the weekend host of All Things Considered, where she draws on her deep reporting and interviewing experience to dig in to the week's news. Outside the studio, she has also hosted "Michel Martin: Going There," an ambitious live event series in collaboration with Member Stations.	10,536
Skip to primary content ← Previous Next → Posted on November 24, 2022 by Laughter Paulette “I know that you are tender the results, and you can’t keep on working night and day of this nature,” Tangning reminded . Qiao Sen was operating far too tricky . Anytime shooting done, he also supervised the blog post-creation while he believed like he found it necessary to supervise it . Â “No, it had been my error for not caring enough . I wasn’t a very good girl . You did nothing wrong . You assisted my father go through the happiest events of his living . I’ve in no way found him that joyful before . “ “Tangning, should i look at you?” Tangning obtained just accomplished eating the morning meal for the two rascals . As soon as she heard these ideas, all the things felt completely surreal, “How’s that achievable? I became just communicating to him last night . “ “It’s been some time . Let’s have an evening meal with each other . It’s time we prize employees regarding their hard work . “ folk lore in borneo “Precisely why are you nagging me like my little princess?” “He makes my center ache . From now on, I’m intending to check out all his dramas . “ During this period, Luo Sheng and Xing Lan’s professions started to get back to normal, when Luo Yinghong gradually launched a good name for herself from the fas.h.i.+on market . So, Tangning finally returned her target to the production of ‘The Ant Queen’ . By now, Mo Ting and Coco Li’s scenes had been already nearing its end . In the near future, everyone’s viewpoint of Luo Sheng created a 180-degree alter for the far better . In the end, the truth built individuals feel unhealthy for him . This was exactly why Tangning and Hai Rui were in no dash to rectify items . When they experienced tried it previous, he wouldn’t have received nearly as much sympathy when he managed now . Immediately after conversing, Qiao Sen’s little princess handed some ma.n.you.scripts and planning notices to Tangning, “These are the points he put aside . Tangning, you have to full ‘The Ant Queen’ to system my father’s heart and soul in heaven . “ “Which hospital have you been at? I’ll can come without delay,” Tangning inquired as she going for the home . After finding the hospital’s deal with, she hopped into her vehicle without notifying any individual and sped towards the clinic, practically going over a few people as you go along . Why did this old male leave so abruptly? Tangning held back her tears as she dragged out her cell phone and offered An Zihao a telephone simply call, “Zihao, I have difficulties that only you could help me with . . . “ Not simply does Chief executive Fan’s packages get demolished, he now faced a tremendous losses . When he taken into consideration the way Tangning tricked him, he was conquer with rage . “It’s true . . . nobody seen yesterday evening, and as soon as they learned him this morning, his body system had already changed tricky,” Qiao Sen’s little princess cried . “I couldn’t agree to it, so I delivered him into the medical center to make sure, even so the doctor’s confirmed that he had pa.s.sed away at roughly 2am yesterday . “ He had never seen Tangning cry! When this statement premiered, everybody finally discovered why Luo Sheng rejected a really great possibility . It ended up, this Ip address had so many established difficulties . During this period, Luo Sheng and Xing Lan’s careers started to get back in line, although Luo Yinghong gradually created a reputation for herself from the fas.h.i.+on market . So, Tangning finally given back her target to producing ‘The Ant Queen’ . By this time, Mo Ting and Coco Li’s displays had been already nearing its end . And Luo Sheng couldn’t possibly neglect his conscience and participate in a production of this nature since he knew his net profit . “All right,” Qiao Sen nodded . “Tangning, I’m more and more enthusiastic every day because my antic.i.p.ation degree just retains boosting . I reckon the concluded product will likely be a huge success . “ “Tangning, can one see you?” Tangning slowly handled Qiao Sen with his fantastic child . Ultimately, only two words was able to depart her lips, “I’m sorry . . . “ “Nevertheless, I sense sorry that ‘The Ant Queen’ couldn’t be finished prior to he pa.s.sed aside . . . “ “OK,” Qiao Sen nodded . “Tangning, I’m more and more excited by the day because my antic.i.p.ation point just keeps boosting . I reckon the accomplished item will most likely be a big hit . “ She in no way predicted something like this to occur so instantly . It was subsequently much like an overexaggerated soap dilemma . Tangning slowly handled Qiao Sen and his awesome girl . Ultimately, only two thoughts had been able to depart her mouth, “I’m sorry . . . “ The writer quickly aimed to rectify the challenge online, nevertheless the other writers already employed an attorney at law and handed their research into the courtroom . So, this research was quickly shown to consumers . Afterwards, Hai Rui commenced their anti-slandering PR . Â During this period, Luo Sheng and Xing Lan’s professions begun to get back to normal, while Luo Yinghong gradually developed a name for herself inside the fas.h.i.+on field . So, Tangning finally delivered her aim to producing ‘The Ant Queen’ . By this time, Mo Ting and Coco Li’s scenarios ended up already nearing its end . And Luo Sheng couldn’t possibly pay no attention to his conscience and take part in a manufacturing in this way since he was aware his the main thing . Rapidly, she found the hospital and found the frozen corpse of Qiao Sen inside the mortuary . Alongside him endured his hysterically weeping child . Qiao Sen was extremely energized using the final result, particularly considering the fact that, at 7-years of age, Coco just preserved improving . It was subsequently something most little celebrities couldn’t do . He manufactured that determination though he knew that he’d be criticized internet . “What should i do to get rid of this btch? I am officially declaring warfare on her . “ It was actually way too much of a discontent . Tangning slowly handled Qiao Sen and his little girl . Inevitably, only two thoughts had been able to keep her oral cavity, “I’m sorry . . . “ Shortly, everyone’s thoughts and opinions of Luo Sheng crafted a 180-diploma transformation for the much better . Of course, the simple truth made men and women feel unhealthy for him . It was the main reason why Tangning and Hai Rui ended up in no hurry to rectify things . When they acquired tried it earlier, he wouldn’t have obtained as much sympathy because he do now . In the beginning, headlines with this occurrence only spread out more than a compact spot without an individual thought it . But, Superstar Mass media helped add more information to your prepare and also the accident quickly erupted in the profession . No person could take that the beloved innovative was created in this manner . Primarily because it was common . It was way too much of a discouragement . The creator quickly made an effort to rectify the issue on the web, although the other authors already recruited a lawyer and given their information to the courtroom . So, this evidence was quickly presented to consumers . Following that, Hai Rui set about their anti-slandering PR . Â Hai Rui officially revealed they had bought out Luo Shengs plan and began to talk about the specific situation together with the Pirate Doctor . They described that Luo Sheng recognized there had been difficulties with the trademark in the first place and therefore the article author was despicable that Luo Sheng refused partaking in something which was immoral . He built that final decision even if he understood that hed be criticized on-line . Were actually not adequate for the very Ip address dilemma such as this . We want to do very good stable perform . There are a variety of temptations nowadays with lots of methods to gain advantages, but, when just one decides on to lie and employ ruthless methods, they will almost certainly be totally exposed at some time and have the condition switch on them . Hopefully anyone can regard ingenuity and mental residence rights . We pray that The Pirate Medical professional can end bringing up Luo Sheng . We refuse to permit them use our name for income . Once this affirmation premiered, every person finally recognized why Luo Sheng denied this sort of wonderful opportunity . It been found, this IP had so many pre-existing difficulties . And Luo Sheng couldnt possibly dismiss his conscience and take part in a development in this way as he believed his net profit . Only now must i understand that Superstar Medias music artists all have powerful morals . That is right . Even though he was slandered in great amounts before, we are able to now observe that he is in reality a great actor by using a sturdy net profit . He is definitely praiseworthy . He will make my coronary heart ache . From now on, Im about to watch all his dramas . Quickly, everyones viewpoint of Luo Sheng produced a 180-diploma transformation to the far better . After all, the truth manufactured individuals really feel unhealthy for him . This became the key reason why Tangning and Hai Rui were actually in no rush to rectify items . Should they acquired tried it previously, he wouldnt have obtained all the sympathy while he does now . Not only have Chief executive Enthusiasts ideas get destroyed, he now dealt with a big losses . Any time he considered exactly how Tangning tricked him, he was conquer with frustration . What do I need to do to reduce this btch? I am officially declaring combat in her . . During this time, Luo Sheng and Xing Lans professions started to get back to normal, whilst Luo Yinghong gradually launched a name for herself within the fas.h.i.+on field . So, Tangning finally went back her target to the creation of The Ant Queen . By now, Mo Ting and Coco Lis displays were already nearing its stop . The currently pregnant Tangning now experienced time and energy to go to arranged . Immediately after seeing Mo Ting video a arena in a cave, she couldnt assistance but give Qiao Sen a thumbs up . Qiao Sen was extremely fired up using the final result, in particular due to the fact, at 7-yrs . old, Coco just saved getting better . It turned out something which most young actors couldnt do . Its been a little while . Enables have dinner time jointly . Its time we prize the employees regarding their working hard . All right, Qiao Sen nodded . Tangning, Im more and more energized every day because my antic.i.p.ation stage just helps to keep escalating . I reckon the complete item is likely to be a large reach . I recognize that you will be tender the end result, however you cant proceed working night and day this way, Tangning reminded . Qiao Sen was operating way too tricky . Each time shooting completed, he also monitored the post-development because he experienced like he necessary to oversee it . Â Why are you nagging me like my little princess? Qiao Sen laughed prior to he went back his focus to shooting another scene . Tangning considered the hectic personnel as well as felt a sense of antic.i.p.ation . There had been numerous sci-fi motion pictures inside the international sector, but Chinese suppliers got still to create the one that truly belonged to them . So, she declined to think a significant fun sector like theirs wouldnt be capable to deliver a right 1 . Having said that, a mobile phone simply call the following day position her into comprehensive great shock . The device get in touch with was from Qiao Sens little girl . As soon as Tangning found the telephone, she was satisfied with all the womans sobs, Tangning, my father endured a sudden mental faculties hemorrhage and pa.s.sed absent! Tangning possessed just concluded feeding the morning meal to the two rascals . As soon as she been told these phrases, everything noticed completely surreal, Hows that feasible? I was just chatting to him yesterday . It is true . nobody recognized yesterday evening, and the moment they identified him this morning, his body got already made difficult, Qiao Sens girl cried . I couldnt agree to it, therefore i mailed him towards the medical facility to make sure, although the medical doctors established that they possessed pa.s.sed absent at roughly 2am yesterday . Tangning was speechless . Only last night, this childish outdated mankind was smiling facing her, yet still an individual nights acquired only pa.s.sed and that he was gone . Tangning, can I view you? Which healthcare facility are you currently at? Sick come right away, Tangning expected as she headed for that entrance . Following finding the medical centers deal with, she hopped into her car or truck without informing everyone and sped to the medical facility, practically going over some people as you go along . Before long, she came to the hospital and found the freezing corpse of Qiao Sen within the mortuary . Adjacent to him endured his hysterically sobbing daughter . You . Youre right here . Tangning slowly handled Qiao Sen and the girl . Ultimately, only two thoughts been able to leave her oral cavity, Internet marketing sorry . No, it absolutely was my wrong doing for not thoughtful ample . I wasnt an excellent girl . You probably did nothing wrong . You assisted my father experience the most happy days of his existence . Ive never observed him that content well before . Nonetheless, I feel sorry the fact that Ant Queen couldnt be finalized before he pa.s.sed apart . After conversing, Qiao Sens little girl given some ma.n.you.scripts and arranging information to Tangning, These are one of the factors he left out . Tangning, it is advisable to finish The Ant Princess to control console my fathers spirit in heaven . Tangning gotten the enormous pile of doc.u.ments as tears rolled down her cheeks . She never required such as this to take place so abruptly . It was subsequently almost like an overexaggerated soap dilemma . Most detrimental of all, Qiao Sen antic.i.p.ated The Ant Queen so much, but all that vanished now . All Tangning could try to remember had been the last terms he stated to her: Precisely why are you nagging me like my daughter? Why did this ancient guy keep so abruptly? Tangning organised back her tears as she drawn out her telephone and gifted An Zihao a phone simply call, Zihao, I have difficulties that only you could aid me with . What is improper? Help me to keep on filming The Ant Queen . Director Qiao Sen has disappeared . Tangning reported her final very few terms between sobs, amazing An Zihao . He possessed hardly ever witnessed Tangning weep! Hardly ever!	15,349
Srinivas Rao, a prolific podcaster (and passionate surfer), who has interviewed everyone from Guy Kawasaki to Seth Godin, shares our interest in process, writing and the underpinnings of success. Rao interviewed us about our book “The Art of Doing” on BlogcastFM. Srinivas Rao, a prolific podcaster (and passionate surfer), has interviewed everyone from Guy Kawasaki (who we also interviewed for our book) to Seth Godin. Srini’s BlogcastFM podcast is downloaded half a million times monthly. And since Srini shares our interest in process, writing and the underpinnings of success, we had a lively discussion with him not just about what we’ve learned interviewing the 36 high achievers for our book, but also about our book’s origin story, how we put the book together, our marketing influences, how we feel about fiction and even how our 7-year old daughter relates to our book, blog and the business of “The Art of Doing.” (She talks it up at dinner parties but has initiated an “Art of Doing Free Zone” during family time and created an “Art of Doing Idea Box” should an Art of Doing idea occur to someone while we’re in that zone. Maybe everyone needs an idea box?) You can listen to our conversation on BlogcastFM: here. Buy “The Art of Doing.” Follow us on Twitter. Join “The Art of Doing” Facebook Community. Posted on March 30, 2013 Categories Press and MediaTags BlogcastFM, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Srinivas Rao, success Previous Previous post: Two Scribbled Lines Are Worth a Thousand Words. Next Next post: The Struggles of a Slugger Who Forgot How to Have Fun TEDx “Art of Curiosity” “This is really a perfect book... What's wonderful about this book is these inspirational interviews about how to keep your focus, follow your dream and your vision, don't take 'no' for an answer, and keep your vision ahead of you ” —NBC Weekend Today "In their new book 'The Art of Doing,' Josh Gosfield and Camille Sweeney show how to go one step further and be a super achiever. They interviewed the masters—people who not only excelled in their field, but actually elevated it to an art form." —MSNBC "Reading about those who have mastered their worlds is an entertaining way to eavesdrop on excellence, with the hope that some of it may rub off. ” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "The superachievers in this book divulge the fascinating secrets of their success. ” —Parade Magazine “What [the authors] discovered is that talent is only the beginning. … It’s what you do with your talent that matters. And that's really a magical idea because it means success is up to you.” —Forbes "The authors argue anybody can improve their work habits using some of the strategies detailed in what they call the “crash course in success” laid out in their book ” —Yahoo!'s The Daily Ticker "There’s a lot of good advice in this book. ” —Smithsonian Magazine "A fantastic read... There are great lessons on just about anything iyou are working on." WDET, The Craig Fahle Show ARCHIVES Select Month August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 January 2017 November 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012	3,722
Get to know Andrew Ambrose, responsible for leading, directing, creating and developing sales growth at James Purdey & Sons Ltd Please tell us who you are and who you work for: My name is Andrew Ambrose and I am Director of Gun Sales for James Purdey & Sons Ltd. How’s business? Like every business, Covid presented many different challenges, especially when we rely on our Audley House premises to drive some of our traffic. However, in spite of the restrictions we had a good year in terms of gun order intake and we increased our digital presence, which greatly helped our clothing and accessories side of the business. Equally importantly, however, our factory remained fully working through both lockdowns. Since April and the relaxation of regulations began, we have been extremely fortunate and have experienced a very good ‘bounce back’ (a horrible phrase—but works here, I think). Both myself and my team have been overwhelmed with the positive response around the world from clients wishing to get going again. Up to anything new? We launched our online configurator on 12 August (it couldn’t have been any other date!) and both new and existing clients have responded extremely well to this innovation, which has helped drive new orders. We have started with one model but intend to roll it out to our other models. We are also planning other innovations to be launched in the near future, both on the gun side and across the wider Purdey business in general. Do you shoot? If so, why? And what? I do shoot, which is a very different question to whether I can shoot! As I always say to people, when you work in this industry and in sales in particular, the busiest time for orders is naturally during the shooting season and, sadly, I do not find I have much time during this period to shoot. So, in reality, I get the opportunity to shoot two to three times a season. For me, the best shoot day involves good company, camaraderie, the etiquette and enjoying yourself. Pulling the trigger, in my humble opinion, is a very small part of the day. Aside from shooting, what are the other loves of your life? Aside from my family of course, football and gardening. I used to be a Watford Football Club season ticket holder (pre-marriage and pre-children) and using the analogy of the roller coaster, life as a Watford fan is heavily focused on the downwards motion. That said, I have had some of my best days out at football matches and supporting Watford you do need a sense of humour. I run a six-a-side football league and so still play football every Sunday… sadly, 11-a-side days are long gone. Which other fieldsport/shooting businesses or organisations do you most admire, and why? I think any shooting business that is trying to innovate, look forward and bring in new ideas gains my respect. I’ve been impressed with gunmakers being more proactive on social media, for example Carl Russell and AW Rule & Son Gunmakers Ltd. They are not resting on their laurels and in the same way as we have tried, for example, here at Purdey with our 360 view of Audley House, they are trying different messages and ideas to promote their business. Along similar lines, Stephen & Son’s new gunshop in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, is testimony to embracing the future. I joined this industry in 1998 and the ‘good old days’ was an oft mentioned phrase that grated on me a little bit more as each year passed. What’s the biggest threat facing shooting, in your opinion? I read this section in each edition and the statement that keeps cropping up is the inability of our various shooting organisations to speak with one voice. Sadly, there has been no further progress made in this area than when I joined the industry, which is, frankly, a depressing state of affairs. I recently counted nine organisations that represent various parts of the industry, which seems incomprehensible when you compare it to other sectors. Until we have a single, effective voice we are ineffectual as an industry, which ultimately means any legislation changes or external threats will be successful. What can the government do to support the industry more? Personally, I would like to see the government show their position on hunting and shooting and their long-term aims. At present, it is simply a matter of whisper, rumour and misquotes, but then that said, all governments are very short term, and so really it is going to be up to us as an industry to lead the agenda. What’s your favourite shooting read? I apologise in advance to the other shooting magazines but I am always impressed with the content and presentation of Fieldsports Magazine. Asking Chris Packham to guest edit, as an example, was a risky and bold move, but one I thoroughly respected and supported. And the best bit of kit you ever bought? The Purdey Vatersay Cape… and, yes, I paid for it! Tell us an interesting fact about yourself or your business that we might not know… I have three older brothers and five stepbrothers; it got busy at times growing up in my house. If you could only eat one kind of soup for the rest of your life, what flavour would it be? Oskar Waktare already took lobster bisque, so French fish soup or the official title of Soupe de Poisson with Rouille and Gruyère (I cannot speak French and had to Google this) is fantastic.	5,315
In our busy and hectic lives, sometimes we forget to stop and smile, hold back a laugh, or get pulled down by unhappy people. Then we have the continuous depressing reality of the world at large with senseless murders, wars, etc. and the wrath of Mother Nature. Not too long ago there was the 100 Happy Days phenomenon that encouraged millions of people around the world to keep a social media photo diary for 100 days of things that made one happy each day. We need this phenomenon to continue for our own selves and to keep positive energy around us which then multiplies into massive movement of positive energy. I would like to encourage each one of you to share with me and all the readers on what brings a smile to your face everyday. Everyday for the next 30 days (to begin with), in the comment box below, please share with me what brought a smile to your face that day. It can be absolutely anything. Be open to all the that’s out there. Are you in? Day 3: What made you smile today? Day 5: What made you smile today? 3 thoughts on “Day 4: What made you smile today?” May 1, 2015 at 2:49 pm \| Reply So have missed a day or 2 but definitely remember the last post I was planning to share … Had a massive headache – presumably cause by my son and all the mischief he’s up to – ask for a massage ( after giving him a long lecture, mind you) and he happily climbed into my bed and started massaging … What put a smile to my face was how he so lovingly massaged me even after all my yelling … Kids are so in the moment … They truly teach us unconditional Love … And to my amazement.. My headache was gone in 5mins!!! May 1, 2015 at 9:37 am \| Reply Could not sleep so thought of catching up with your 4 day of happiness and smiles. Looking at you four girls in you innocent masti, your ghunghurale gal and your shimmery costumes brought a wide wide smile on my face. Am still smililing. God Bless April 30, 2015 at 7:03 pm \| Reply My 3rd official training day at the gym and I finally had the stamina to complete my warm up meeting my target! The stamina is slowly making it’s way back!	2,205
Not only did the PNG take on our unit at no charge for years before the first Worcester contract was signed, it just makes sense to have the professional staff unified and efficiently serving as many people as possible. We have one administrator and an office assistant based in Providence serving Worcester, Woonsocket, Pawtucket and Providence. Legal and other assistance is available to us from The Newspaper Guild’s national offices. How is our local unit run? Each employer workforce within the Southern New England Guild is a separate unit, steered by an elected unit council working on a volunteer basis. In addition all members vote for an executive board for the larger local. Bargaining and other committees of the unit are formed to work on your behalf as needed. Volunteering for even a small role reinforces the vigor of other volunteers as we serve each other. Where can I keep up with what’s going on? Besides attending meetings a couple times a year, you can follow the Unit’s progress online at www.riguild.org and through a members-only listserve. Contact the Guild office about getting on the listserve. Who are my information contacts? Staff and unit contacts are listed on our Guild Contacts page. The contract currently in effect makes Guild membership an option. Your contract is very important to your working life.Its protections are a safety net for you and the security of your family. Without it, anyone is an e-mail away from a decision that can take today’s tranquility and turn life upside down. The grievance procedure alone is worth its weight in gold. We can’t list in reasonable space the number of protections we have invoked on behalf of unit members. The Guild is the sum of its parts. Our ability to advocate successfully for improved conditions, from wages to scheduling, is dependent on the voice we speak with. The more who opt in, the more we are a combined voice to be reckoned with. That also goes for seeing to it that those conditions we have already achieved are respected. Strengthen the Guild, and you ensure your hard-won protections. What are benefits to membership that nonmembers don’t get? • Access to free online career skills training — an extensive catalog and a bigtime value. • A free, $10,000 life insurance policy. • A local scholarship program for dependents or others nominated by members, with recipients selected annually by lottery. • A say in the terms the union negotiates that affect your wages, hours and working conditions. What are the dues to be a member? There is a 1.6 percent payment, based on your pay. So the lower the pay, the lower the dues, and vice-versa. In addition there is a $35 per year scholarship fund assessment. Dues are paid most easily through payroll deduction, just as you pay medical insurance or United Way contributions. That’s done through a simple form we submit to the company. Less conveniently, via monthly assessments payable by plastic or check. A disadvantage is that people change debit or credit cards. Deduction means no hassle updating your auto-pay and keeps the modest payments evenly spread.	3,175
I have had the pleasure to cruise with two boats with very interesting approaches to the cruising life. Both enable many people and often young people the opportunity to join the cruising life, learn about the sea, boats and themselves all for relatively little expense. I sure wish I had this opportunity as a young man so I want to pass it on. Naveren is a Danish home built full displacement, double ended sloop. She is owned by thirty two “shareholders” who along with their families have first rights on crew slots. When not full of shareholders positions are available for others to join. There is a monthly fee but it is not very much and includes all expenses. Naveren has been around the world three and a half times and just keeps going and going. The Naveren site is: www.naveren.dk I first made contact with Naveren in Hiva Oa and soon befriended Mona and Rikke, a mother/daughter team. Mona is the designated “skipper” but most decisions are made by the group in a loose fitted organization. A strange way to run a boat but it seems to work great. Naveren sleeps nine, has one head and no shower or electric water pumps. Hence many of the girls like to come over to Furthur—“gee wow a stall shower! Aaaaaaand a washing machine, wow!!!” I have gotten to know two crew rotations and have enjoyed all of them. It is fun to see the young folks come aboard and watch them grow as their sea time builds. The Naveren crew has partied on Furthur many times and I have enjoyed wonderful meals on Naveren. We always look forward to our next Naveren rendezvous. Naveren at anchor waving goodbye to Furthur The other boat opening the doors of cruising to many great people is Infinity. Built in 1977 out of faro cement she is one of the last remaining “hippie dream” boats. At over 100 feet and with cabins for sixteen she has the room for of a floating commune. The Infinity Sea Tribe is billed as an environmental research boat—a slight stretch but it seems to open some doors. What she does is gather an amazing assortment of mostly young in age and all young at heart adventures from around the globe. They come on with stars in their eyes and leave seasoned sailors with life changing experience and bonds. All crew participate in the daily chores and maintenance projects. They also have regular sharing times called connecting dinners which bond the crew members very tightly. The boat is run by a competent young lady, Captain Annie and a resourceful engineer, Mike. Some of the crew seemed to have morphed into regular positions so the lines are foggy. I described the whole program to my friend Andy as something more appealing to a romance novelist than a marine surveyor. Ah but I have allot of romance novelist in me too so I can feel the lure of Infinity. For complete information see: ← Previous Post Next Post → Archives Select Month July 2022 (3) April 2020 (1) March 2020 (1) January 2020 (2) October 2019 (1) August 2019 (1) July 2019 (2) February 2019 (2) December 2018 (1) February 2018 (4) January 2018 (1) December 2017 (2) November 2017 (1) August 2017 (1) April 2017 (2) January 2017 (1) November 2016 (1) October 2016 (2) September 2016 (1) August 2016 (3) July 2016 (2) June 2016 (1) May 2016 (3) April 2016 (1) March 2016 (1) January 2016 (2) November 2015 (1) October 2015 (5) September 2015 (3) July 2015 (2) June 2015 (2) May 2015 (1) April 2015 (5) March 2015 (1) February 2015 (2) January 2015 (1) December 2014 (4) November 2014 (1) October 2014 (4) September 2014 (4) August 2014 (4) July 2014 (6) June 2014 (3) May 2014 (3) April 2014 (2) March 2014 (5) February 2014 (2) January 2014 (4) December 2013 (7) November 2013 (4) October 2013 (2) September 2013 (6) August 2013 (7) July 2013 (6) June 2013 (8) May 2013 (5) April 2013 (9) March 2013 (4) February 2013 (5) January 2013 (8) December 2012 (5) November 2012 (7) October 2012 (8) September 2012 (8) August 2012 (11) July 2012 (9) June 2012 (7) May 2012 (4) April 2012 (9) March 2012 (7) February 2012 (6) January 2012 (9) December 2011 (6) November 2011 (9) October 2011 (8) September 2011 (10) August 2011 (11) July 2011 (11) June 2011 (8) May 2011 (5) April 2011 (3) March 2011 (5) February 2011 (3) January 2011 (6) December 2010 (8) November 2010 (7) October 2010 (7) September 2010 (10) August 2010 (8) July 2010 (10) June 2010 (9) May 2010 (9) April 2010 (5) March 2010 (2) February 2010 (12) January 2010 (4) December 2009 (9) November 2009 (3) October 2009 (8) August 2009 (1) July 2009 (3)	4,553
Yoga ball chairs have become a recent hit in the office and its no wonder why. Offered at incredible prices, they deliver fantastic value as an ergonomic addition to the workplace. Their unique design combines fitness with the office, allowing you to get a workout on your core muscles simply by sitting at your desk and working. The products come in a variety of features and are offered by various manufacturers. Our team has tested, reviewed, and rated each product available today. Over 20 different chairs were tested and you’ll find the results below. Read more to find out which is the top yoga ball chair available today. Each product is evaluated on the following factors: Ergonomic Rating Overall Score The Best 5 Yoga Ball Chairs Another great product from Gaiam, the original balance chair was the first of its kind to add the rolling base, converting a simple piece of exercise equipment into a fully functioning ergonomic chair. This product is probably the best value you can find for your dollar. The price is unbeatable. Developed in coordination with famous chiropractor Dr. R. Weinzoff, Gaiam got it right the first time. This product has been happily by more people than any other, and the testimonials show it. With over 1000 reviews, it holds a 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon, which is pretty incredible compared to the average product rating there. The yoga ball comes in a variety of different colors, allowing you to customize according to your style. You’ll also find a handy fitness manual for some at-desk workout ideas for strenghening your core. Pump is included. Free shipping available. Read full review Earlier this year I had to take three weeks off work due to a automobile accident, which resulted in bulging discs between 4 of my vertebrae. My cousin, who is a yoga teacher, recommended I try out this product. Very quickly I started noticing that I could sit for long periods of time without feeling fatigue in my core. The doctors told me it would take months to get back to work… I was back in 4 weeks. I highly recommend the Gaiam Custom Fit. – Marcy Kreuger, NY If you’re looking for style, the Isokinetics is the product for you. Its sleek, brushed steel frame makes a welcome addition to an office setting. This product is a favorite for those that work in an office and want switch over to an exercise-ball chair, but want to keep their work area looking professional. Built very similarly to the top rated Gaiam Custom Fit, you’ll find the adjustable lumbar support and height variable wheeled base accommodating for each person’s size. It comes in a variety of colors including: black, white, orange, yellow, purple and red. Comes with a measuring tape for optimal size adjustment and pump. Free shipping. Read full review Gaiam is a well-known and respected producer of yoga products, including our favorite Gaiam Custom Fit. This excellent product features everything you could ever ask for. The adjustable steel base can be raised or lowered so you can find your optimal height. The rolling caster wheels allow you to stay mobile at your desk, a key factor in spinal health. The Custom Fit also features a padded lumbar back support (a very nice feature) for a little extra stability and support. An inflating pump is included. It also comes with a fitness DvD with suggestions for exercises that you can perform with a removable yogaball. Both first time users, and experienced users, all love this product and its our favorite here at Modeets. It simply stands ahead of the rest. Free shipping included. Read full review The Sivian is a favorite for new comers, as its the most similar to a traditional seating arrangement. You’ll notice that it has many of the same features as your typical seat. The back rest is adopted directly from your everyday run-of-the-mill task chair and can be adjusted for both height and depth, letting you find the correct support for your core. The four-wheeled base features two lockable wheels, helping you to stay in place when needed. Comes with a pump and free shipping is available. Read full review 5. The Cando Adjustable with Arm Rests Still attached to your arm rests? Then check out the Cando Adjustable. It features your typical arm rests, which are highly recommended if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact we recommend this product especially if your ergonomic and work-related issues are related to arm and wrist pain, rather than the typical backaches. However, this product is very similar to a typical office seat, but in our opinion, maybe too similar if lower back pain is your focus. The back rest is slightly too high, so your body isn’t forced to develop its own posture, as with the rest of the products. Nonetheless, you’ll still experience the comfort of the exercise ball seat and its a great introductory product. Free shipping is no longer offered on this product.	5,109
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Toujours activé Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Non-necessary Non-necessary Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.	1,181
Thank you for visiting our website. In all that we do, we seek to glorify God by striving together for the faith of the gospel. We hope this video and the rest of the site introduces you to our convictions and community. You are welcome to gather with us whether you are curious about Christianity, or have been following Jesus for decades. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. In the spring of 2001, the Lord burdened Pastor John Lutz to plant a church in Lancaster, PA. Pastor Lutz & seven families began preparations for a new assembly. The key scripture verse became John 4:35 “Lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Christ is the Great Shepherd of the sheep who leads and rules the church through His Word. In the New Testament He establishes Elders and Deacons as those who lead the church under his authority. Elders devote themselves to teaching the Word, prayer, and overseeing the church.	1,252
came across the most delicious kebab, he had ever tasted in a outdoor night market. With the mission of creating meals which are stuffed with nutritious, healthy and tasty goodness, he spent many months on research and development and finally created Stuff’s first menu comprising of 100% fresh, daily-made Our flagship outlet launched in City Square Mall, Singapore in October 2014. Our products were very well-received by customers, who were looking for a variety of tasty freshly cooked, nutritional food that was also quick and affordable. The success of our first outlet gave us the confidence to open another 4 outlets in 2015 at Bugis Junction, Causeway Point, Paya Lebar Square and Tampines Mall. Our aim was to bring our delicious kebabs and burritos to a wider community and closer to our customers. August 2016 marked the opening of our 10th Stuff’d outlet at Vivocity. The Daily Bowl® was also introduced to the menu and it quickly became one of our most popular items. Customers could customize their bowl of wholesome goodness from an expanded range of delicious toppings. We believe in taking care of people and building vibrant, inclusive communities. Hence, we kickstarted the ‘Free Ramadan Kebab’ initiative as our way of giving back to the society. This marked the beginning of the CSR journey for Stuff’d. We achieved two milestones in 2017, having sold our 1st million kebab as well as our 1st million burrito within 3 years of opening. With increasing demand and the mission to bring good food closer to everyone, we opened our 22nd outlet at Tiong Bahru Plaza in December 2017. At the same time, we started to expand beyond Singapore. We entered into an area franchise partnership and opened our first franchised outlet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Seeing the need to provide more options on our menu, we introduced Tacos in 2018. This further strengthened our brand positioning as a fresh casual, Mexican-Turkish concept. We made our first foray into the Central Business District in June, opening at Clifford Centre. As part of our digitalisation journey, as well as to better manage the peak hour lunch crowd and improve service levels, we implemented the first self- ordering terminals at this outlet as well.. With increasing awareness, interest and demand for plant-based products, we introduced Impossible™ as an alternative protein option to our menu. This gave our customers with dietary preferences a wider variety of non-meat options to choose from. The ongoing “Free Food for Kids” campaign was launched this year, where any child in need can get free food at our outlets daily. We hope that no child will go hungry so long as there is a Stuff’d outlet nearby. We also celebrated another milestone with the opening of our 10th franchised outlet at Paradigm Mall, PJ, Malaysia. 2020 is an unforgettable year for all of us. We carried out the SG Burritos initiative during the start of the pandemic.. Free burritos were given to those who had problems putting food on the table during this trying period. Challenges also bring about changes. In order for our customers to continue enjoying our food in the safety and comfort of their homes, we started to offer our menu on Foodpanda to bring our fresh and healthy food to customers’ door step. We did not forget our own staff.. We had committed to 100% employment with no reduction in work hours or unpaid leave. All staff also received a one-off cash pay-out to assist them during this period. Salary arrangements were made for those who were stuck in foreign countries due to travel restrictions. Sufficient masks were prepared for staff and their families. Since February, Work From Home arrangements were made for those who were able to. Despite the pandemic and the challenges presented, we continued to adapt and forge ahead. We opened our 36th outlet at Republic Plaza in October and are actively on the lookout for further expansion opportunities, both in Singapore and the region. With changes in purchasing habits arising from the pandemic, we set up our first cloud kitchen location to provide greater accessibility for customers placing delivery orders. Chips & Dip was also introduced into our menu to offer customers a healthier snack option. Customers could choose between two freshly-prepared dips to go along with the crunchy fresh tortilla chips. Notwithstanding the challenges to regional development brought about by the pandemic, we still managed to sign a partnership agreement to bring Stuff’d into Indonesia. What are the COVID-19 safety measures put in place at Stuff’d?? Answer: Our topmost priority and duty are to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of everyone. We’ve implemented even stricter safety protocols that exceed recommended standards. High contact surfaces are cleaned and sanitized on an hourly basis and we use tamper-proof seals on all our delivery bags. Safe distancing measures are also enforced to prevent overcrowding in the queue. Answer: Our goal is to connect more people to real food. We believe real food should be: freshly cooked, nutrition-dense, ethically sourced, minimally processed, tasty food for daily nourishment. Here at Stuff’d, we believe food care is health care, and we aim to improve the lives of the communities we are in, despite the increasingly hectic lifestyles of our customers. How do I order at Stuff’d? Answer: We have a wide selection of delicious ingredients and our products are highly customizable. Start by choosing from 5 product categories (Kebab, Burrito, Quesadilla, Daily Bowl®, and Tacos) and selecting your choice of vegetable base, sauce, meat, and even toppings (for Burrito and Daily Bowl®) to create your own personalized meal. Does Stuff’d offer delivery? Answer: Yes, we are available for delivery on FoodPanda platform. How do I place bulk orders with Stuff’d? Answer: We are more than happy to provide for your party or event. For bulk orders, please get in touch with us through the Contact Form on our website or at customercare@stuffed.com.sg at least 24 hours ahead of the desired pick up or delivery time, so that we can plan and coordinate accordingly, depending on outlet availability. If delivery is required, separate charges would apply. Answer: We take pride in sourcing high-quality, wholesome all-natural ingredients but our ingredients are not organic certified. Is Stuff’d halal certified? Answer: Yes, we are halal certified. For newly opened outlets, the halal certification process usually takes about 3-4 months. How does Stuff’d get involved in the community? We believe in taking care of people, and we start by taking care of the children in our community from a very young age. Stuff’d have an ongoing Free Food for Kids program where any child in need can get access to safe nutritious food at our outlets daily. We have a dream that no children will ever get hungry because they cannot afford good food, and we are realizing our dream one outlet at a time. The inspiration for Stuff’d came when our founder Adrian came across the most delicious kebab, he had ever tasted in a outdoor night market. With the mission of creating meals which are stuffed with nutritious, healthy and tasty goodness, he spent many months on research and development and finally created Stuff’s first menu comprising of 100% fresh, daily-made Our flagship outlet launched in City Square Mall, Singapore in October 2014. Our products were very well-received by customers, who were looking for a variety of tasty freshly cooked, nutritional food that was also quick and affordable. The success of our first outlet gave us the confidence to open another 4 outlets in 2015 at Bugis Junction, Causeway Point, Paya Lebar Square and Tampines Mall. Our aim was to bring our delicious kebabs and burritos to a wider community and closer to our customers. August 2016 marked the opening of our 10th Stuff’d outlet at Vivocity. The Daily Bowl® was also introduced to the menu and it quickly became one of our most popular items. Customers could customize their bowl of wholesome goodness from an expanded range of delicious toppings. We believe in taking care of people and building vibrant, inclusive communities. Hence, we kickstarted the ‘Free Ramadan Kebab’ initiative as our way of giving back to the society. This marked the beginning of the CSR journey for Stuff’d. We achieved two milestones in 2017, having sold our 1st million kebab as well as our 1st million burrito within 3 years of opening. With increasing demand and the mission to bring good food closer to everyone, we opened our 22nd outlet at Tiong Bahru Plaza in December 2017. At the same time, we started to expand beyond Singapore. We entered into an area franchise partnership and opened our first franchised outlet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Seeing the need to provide more options on our menu, we introduced Tacos in 2018. This further strengthened our brand positioning as a fresh casual, Mexican-Turkish concept. We made our first foray into the Central Business District in June, opening at Clifford Centre. As part of our digitalisation journey, as well as to better manage the peak hour lunch crowd and improve service levels, we implemented the first self- ordering terminals at this outlet as well.. With increasing awareness, interest and demand for plant-based products, we introduced Impossible™ as an alternative protein option to our menu. This gave our customers with dietary preferences a wider variety of non-meat options to choose from. The ongoing “Free Food for Kids” campaign was launched this year, where any child in need can get free food at our outlets daily. We hope that no child will go hungry so long as there is a Stuff’d outlet nearby. We also celebrated another milestone with the opening of our 10th franchised outlet at Paradigm Mall, PJ, Malaysia. 2020 is an unforgettable year for all of us. We carried out the SG Burritos initiative during the start of the pandemic.. Free burritos were given to those who had problems putting food on the table during this trying period. Challenges also bring about changes. In order for our customers to continue enjoying our food in the safety and comfort of their homes, we started to offer our menu on Foodpanda to bring our fresh and healthy food to customers’ door step. We did not forget our own staff.. We had committed to 100% employment with no reduction in work hours or unpaid leave. All staff also received a one-off cash pay-out to assist them during this period. Salary arrangements were made for those who were stuck in foreign countries due to travel restrictions. Sufficient masks were prepared for staff and their families. Since February, Work From Home arrangements were made for those who were able to. Despite the pandemic and the challenges presented, we continued to adapt and forge ahead. We opened our 36th outlet at Republic Plaza in October and are actively on the lookout for further expansion opportunities, both in Singapore and the region. With changes in purchasing habits arising from the pandemic, we set up our first cloud kitchen location to provide greater accessibility for customers placing delivery orders. Chips & Dip was also introduced into our menu to offer customers a healthier snack option. Customers could choose between two freshly-prepared dips to go along with the crunchy fresh tortilla chips. Notwithstanding the challenges to regional development brought about by the pandemic, we still managed to sign a partnership agreement to bring Stuff’d into Indonesia. What are the COVID-19 safety measures put in place at Stuff’d?? Answer: Our topmost priority and duty are to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of everyone. We’ve implemented even stricter safety protocols that exceed recommended standards. High contact surfaces are cleaned and sanitized on an hourly basis and we use tamper-proof seals on all our delivery bags. Safe distancing measures are also enforced to prevent overcrowding in the queue. Answer: Our goal is to connect more people to real food. We believe real food should be: freshly cooked, nutrition-dense, ethically sourced, minimally processed, tasty food for daily nourishment. Here at Stuff’d, we believe food care is health care, and we aim to improve the lives of the communities we are in, despite the increasingly hectic lifestyles of our customers. How do I order at Stuff’d? Answer: We have a wide selection of delicious ingredients and our products are highly customizable. Start by choosing from 5 product categories (Kebab, Burrito, Quesadilla, Daily Bowl®, and Tacos) and selecting your choice of vegetable base, sauce, meat, and even toppings (for Burrito and Daily Bowl®) to create your own personalized meal. Does Stuff’d offer delivery? Answer: Yes, we are available for delivery on FoodPanda platform. How do I place bulk orders with Stuff’d? Answer: We are more than happy to provide for your party or event. For bulk orders, please get in touch with us through the Contact Form on our website or at customercare@stuffed.com.sg at least 24 hours ahead of the desired pick up or delivery time, so that we can plan and coordinate accordingly, depending on outlet availability. If delivery is required, separate charges would apply. Answer: We take pride in sourcing high-quality, wholesome all-natural ingredients but our ingredients are not organic certified. Is Stuff’d halal certified? Answer: Yes, we are halal certified. For newly opened outlets, the halal certification process usually takes about 3-4 months. How does Stuff’d get involved in the community? We believe in taking care of people, and we start by taking care of the children in our community from a very young age. Stuff’d have an ongoing Free Food for Kids program where any child in need can get access to safe nutritious food at our outlets daily. We have a dream that no children will ever get hungry because they cannot afford good food, and we are realizing our dream one outlet at a time.	14,405
Leaving Cats is an essay we learned a lot about the author’s childhood and adolescence in a small town near Kobe, where he was the only child who loved books and cats. It is also the story of Murakami’s complicated relationship with his father, which is reflected in every novel. The fighting experiences shared by the father with his youngest son are placed on the shoulders of the boy who has to carry this burden to the end. Murakami’s latest publication is also a voice in the debate over Japan’s responsibility for its actions in Asia in the 1930s and 1940s. It takes into account the importance of history and proves that each of us is responsible for the actions we take on behalf of the society and nation to which we belong, whether we agree or not. The book is completed with illustrations by Ula Pągowska. Haruki Murakami – Japanese writer, essayist and translator of American literature. Including the author of the best-selling books. “Men without Women”, “Death of a Commander”, “Norwegian Forest”, “Kafka by the Sea”, “South of the Border, West of the Sun”, “Chronicle of the Ashes” or “First Person” alone. How do I remember my father? Of course, I have many memories of my father. For eighteen years before my parents moved in, we lived in a small house under one roof, and we saw each other every day. As with parents and children, our daily lives were full of joy, although sometimes there were less pleasant times. What I remember the most are completely ordinary events. I will describe one of them. We lived in Shukugawa, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. My father and I once went to the beach to save the cat. It was not a cat, it was an adult cat. I do not remember exactly why we threw such a big cat. We lived in a closed house and had enough space. Maybe it was a feral cat that was attached to us, and when she became pregnant, her parents decided they didn’t want the kittens extra trouble. I do not remember the details. There were other times then, when no one was finger-pointing for such an action – not today. At that time, no one thought about sterilization. If I remember correctly, I was studying in one of the lower grades of primary school at that time, the second half of the 1950s was a time when the wounds of war had not yet healed. The ruins of the bank bombed by the Americans still haunted our home. Anyway, one summer afternoon, my dad and I went to the beach to leave a box with a cat somewhere. My father was pedaling, and I was sitting on a bicycle shelf, holding a box. On the way along the Shukugawa River, we reached Kroen Beach, left the box in the beach garden, and returned home without looking back. We lived about two kilometers away. No concrete had been poured here yet. It was a famous beach area with a beautiful beach and clean water. During the summer holidays, I went swimming with my friends almost every day. At that time, most parents were not as worried about their children as they are now, we could go to the beach ourselves, and I learned to swim well. In addition, there were many fish in the Shukugawa River. One time I even caught a snake in his mouth. That day we left the cat on the beach and returned home by bicycle. As we passed through the gate, my father said something like, “It’s a pity, but it didn’t help.” At the same time, we saw that a recently abandoned cat was coming to greet us with a meow and a raised tail. He came home before us! I could not understand how he did it. After all, we went straight home and by bicycle! My father could not understand it. We were both silent for a moment. I still remember my father’s modesty. But soon the disbelief on his face turned into admiration and finally comfort. And the cat stayed with us. We refused. He was determined to go home, so we couldn’t do anything else. We have always had cats and we have always lived in harmony with them. They were great friends for me. Since I had no brothers, books and cats became my faithful companions. I loved sitting on the porch with my cat to soak up the sun (most homes at the time had balconies). So why did we try to throw the cat to the shore? Why didn’t I protest? I do not understand. I don’t understand how he got home before us. I also clearly remember my father (whose name, by the way, was Chiaki Murakami), who knelt before the Buddhist altar every morning before breakfast, closed his eyes, and recited the sutras long and in worship. It was not an altar, but an elegantly carved Bodhisattva figure on a glass cover. I do not know what happened to him after that. I haven’t seen him since my father died. He probably disappeared somewhere. Now I only remember. Why should the father’s sutras be recited every morning in front of such a small statue, not in front of an ordinary Buddhist altar? This is one of the things I do not know. One of the illustrations by Ula Pągowska In any case, it was an important ritual for my father to start every day with him. As far as I know, he never neglected this “prayer duty” (as he himself called it), and no one could disturb him then. There was something inaccessible on my father’s hard, straight back, so I felt that his words could not be interrupted. He had an unusual focus – or so I thought – that made this ritual more than just a routine routine. Only once as a child did I ask my father who he was praying for. He said it was for people who died in the last war. For comrades-in-arms who were martyred and for the Chinese who were enemies during the war. He didn’t explain much to me, and I didn’t ask. I think I felt something in the air that kept me from asking another question. Now I don’t think my father will object if I ask. If I wanted to know more, he would definitely tell me. But I didn’t ask. Probably something in my heart was holding me back. I should have told you a little about my father. He was born on December 1, 1917, the second son of the abbot of the Temple of Pure Earth Buddhism. The temple was called An’yōji and was located in Awataguchi, Kyoto. My father was simply a descendant of fate. When he was a few years old, the short period of peace known as the “democracy of the Taisho era” came to an end, then came the terrible Great Depression, the very complex Sino-Japanese war began, and then the youth. They were drawn to the tragic element of World War II. Finally, in the terrible chaos of post-war poverty, they had to struggle to survive. My father had to share the fate of this unfortunate generation. His father and my grandfather Benshiki Murakami were from a peasant family in Aichi Prefecture. The eldest son inherited the farm, and the younger often became monks and trained in temples to become priests. My grandfather was like that. He became a fairly good student, and after practicing in several temples, he finally became an abbot in An’yjji. The temple was large enough for Kyoto, four or five hundred families belonged to the church, so you can probably say that he built a career. Poet Kyoshi Takahama wrote the following haiku poem while visiting this temple: Przy głównej bramie wszędzie rozrósł się tasznik – Świątynia Anyō Great increase in Internet and telephone payments! Prices for telecommunications services have risen How to find an employee through the Internet. 4 effective methods Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Recent Posts Ah, those cats How did Rebel Wilson hide her relationship with her boyfriend Ramona Agruma for MONTHS, despite many social dates before “Speech”? The nightmare is over. How did Sunderland survive? 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Changes to this Privacy Statement We may periodically change this Privacy Statement to keep pace with new technologies, industry practices, and regulatory requirements, among other reasons. Your continued use of our products and services after the effective date of the Privacy Statement means that you accept the revised Privacy Statement. If you do not agree to the revised contact us Privacy Statement, please refrain from using our products or services and contact us to close any account you may have created. If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Statement or its implementation, here is how you can reach us: service@lotmaxx.com A short sentence describing what someone will receive by subscribing Il tuo indirizzo email Invia Free delivery worldwide Satisfied or refunded You have 30 calendar days to return an item from the date you received it. Top-notch support Monday to Friday, The LOTMAXX Reseller Program is available to those want to work with us and become a local distributor/reseller.	11,292
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question: My sister’s husband sleeps in our house sometimes and sometimes he stays all day, and I cannot cover my face in front of him. Am I sinning thereby? What is the solution?. (There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.) Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions: Uncovering one’s face in front of non-mahram relatives Women appearing in front of men Your sister’s husband is a stranger (non-mahram) to you, and you have to cover your face in front of him and not be alone with him. Similarly it is haraam for him to look at you or to be alone with you. Unfortunately people are careless in their homes with regard to the in-laws, even though sharee’ah speaks strongly concerning them more than others, because people mix freely with them in their houses and the family members trust them. It was narrated from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Beware of entering upon women.” A man from among the Ansaar said: “O Messenger of Allaah, what about the in-law?” He said: “The in-law is death.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4934; Muslim, 2172. The in-law is the husband’s relative. We notice here that the Sahaabi wanted to make an exception in the case of the husband’s relatives, but the ruling was re-emphasized in the strongest terms, because no one regards it as strange if he enters the house. Al-Nawawi said: With regard to the Prophet’s words, “The in-law is death,” what this means is that the fear in his case is greater than in the case of others, and evil is expected on his part and the fitnah (temptation) is greater, because he is able to reach the woman and be alone with her with no one denouncing him, unlike the stranger or non-mahram. What is meant by the in-law here is the husband’s relatives, except for his father/grandfather and sons/grandsons.His father/grandfather and sons/grandsons are mahrams of the wife and it is permissible for them to be alone with her; they are not described as “death”. Rather what is meant here is the brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and others who are not mahrams. People customarily take things lightly with regard to them, so a man will often be alone with his brother’s wife. This is what is described as death and it is more important that he be stopped than a stranger, for the reasons we have mentioned above. What I have mentioned is the correct meaning of the hadeeth… Ibn al-A’raabi said: This is something that the Arabs say, as in the phrase al-asad al-mawt (the lion is death), because meeting it is like dying. Al-Qaadi said: What is meant is that being alone with the in-laws leads to fitnah (temptation) and the destruction of one’s religious commitment, so this is described as being akin to the destruction of death. We advise this sister and others to fear Allaah and strive to wear proper hijaab in front of non-mahram men. Please see also questions no. 13728, 6408, 13261 And Allaah knows best. Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.	3,510
Maintaining a packed schedule can be tricky for drag queens at the best of times, but for Bob the Drag Queen, even a global pandemic can’t keep her down. Despite heading into a Pride season filled with nearly across-the-board event cancellations and postponements due to the novel coronavirus, the season eight winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race is regularly making appearances across the virtual stage everywhere. Fans can catch Bob in the HBO series “We’re Here,” a brand-new comedy special Bob the Drag Queen: Live at Caroline’s, MTV’s Drag My Dad, on her Sibling Rivalry podcast with fellow Drag Race winner Monét X Change and across YouTube. But as much as this June showcases Bob’s wide range as a performer, she’s also using some of her platforms as an opportunity to make note of, and show support to, the nationwide police brutality protests. In the midst of a packed-despite-the-odds schedule, we caught up with Bob to get a feel for drag in the age of COVID-19, the importance of increased visibility for black queer performers and the deep personal connections people create through drag. What does it feel like to be a drag queen going into a summer that celebrates Pride virtually this year? Well, I mean, I’m not saddened by it. I think that it is going to be different. I also think that Pride is going to be different not only because of COVID-19 but because of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and I’m excited that the world is going to be focusing on black queer stories. A lot of Prides are certainly taking a similar approach. New York City Pride is using its platform to protest police brutality, and there’s a lot of talk about how the first Pride was a riot and really going back to Stonewall’s beginnings. Do you think, given the roots of drag and gay culture stemming from people like Marsha P. Johnson, that it’s the responsibility of fans and performers of drag to really educate themselves on the culture? I mean, I think it would give you a more fruitful experience in terms of celebrating Pride. Of course, it’s not my job to tell anyone what their job is. But I think if you want to have a fruitful experience with Pride, a fully well-rounded experience to know what it is you’re celebrating, then yeah, you’re gonna wanna do your research, which, by the way, is not even hard. Like, it’s not like this is 1999 where you have to go down to the library or get an Encyclopedia Britannica or something. There’s tons of documentaries and movies, articles (and) entire Instagram accounts dedicated to this stuff. I was looking at your YouTube channel and you’ve had conversations with fellow Drag Race performer Peppermint about racism in the drag community. How do you confront conversations about race in drag, whether it be face-to-face or online? Well, every once in a while, I will have to confront things face-to-face if I experience a microaggression or an “aggression” against myself or my tribe. And online it happens a lot. People feel bold online to say potentially whatever they want to say because they don’t actually have to see your face. And if I think there’s a moment for growth, then I’ll address it. And if not, then, especially if it’s online, I’ll just let it fly over my head because, you know, some people online are just trolling. You know, looking to elicit a response. Now more than ever it seems that performers have to be aware of what’s socially and politically going on. Does being “on” all the time in that way get exhausting? I felt exhausted kind of as a person in general and I haven’t done drag in over a week, and I just didn’t feel up to it. I canceled a couple of things, quite frankly, because I just felt so affected. But then again, I would also say as a black queer artist I do think that it is important for me to share my success stories and let people know that there are – you know, I know how much it means for me to see those things from black queer artists. So I’m definitely picking myself up by the wig straps and getting back in there because I think it’s important for people out there to see a successful black queer artist, quite frankly. Moving onto your HBO show We’re Here, what was your reaction when you heard the pitch that you’re going to go to small-town America and do drag? Well, at first I was nervous that it was going to be a show where I go from town to town and just go and put a bunch of straight people into drag, and that I didn’t want to do. But when I found out that wasn’t the pitch I was really excited. There’s no shade or nothing against any show that does do that – Drag My Dad is a show where we put straight people in drag – but I just felt like I would like to have a different impact on a different show. And I’m so proud of their show; I’m so happy with the way it turned out and the fact that we’re telling diverse stories. That’s what I’m probably the most proud of. You’re from the South originally. Did doing the show actually make you confront some of your issues with small-town America or go face-to-face with that? I moved all around the South a lot as a kid, and I did have this feeling of, “I have no community here,” especially once I was out of college. Once I got out of college I was like, “Once I’m out of college all the other theater department people leave and I’m going to have no one.” And what I’m realizing now is that there almost certainly was a community in probably all of those towns – they’re maybe small, they probably were reflective of the population, and maybe I would have not have felt so compelled to leave. I didn’t necessarily leave the South with a great case of, “I’m out for the South,” you know? You’ve said that HBO really respected the craft when they approached you. Do you think that sometimes drag is not thought of as high of an art form as it could be? Well, I think it depends on who you’re talking to. I mean, in my circles it’s regarded as an extremely high art form (laughs), but I’m sure there’s someone out there who doesn’t see the value in it. But, I mean, in my experience my craft has been respected. And when I say respected, I mean, like, sometimes you’re doing a TV show or movie and they want you to do drag and you’re like, “OK, but this is all the things that go with being in drag.” Like, if we tell you that we need to do drag at a really elevated level, a lot of people don’t realize that it’s really not just going to your local Halloween costume store and buying a couple of costumes. It is a lot of work to craft a really beautiful drag queen from custom garments to custom hair – everything that goes into it. And HBO really, really rose to the occasion. In many of your projects, it seems like you’re connecting with people when you put them in drag. What do you think is so disarming about that process? Well, I think it’s disarming because someone is completely out of their element. They have to trust you because they don’t know what they’re doing at all. So they’re in your hands, like, “I have to trust you because I’m so clueless.” And I not only want to take advantage of that trust but utilize it to the best of my ability. Was there a drag moment in one of the projects that you’ve done where there was a connection that occurred that caught you off guard? Well, I really loved the conversation that I had with Nate, Darren and Lady Shug in Shiprock, New Mexico. That was really beautiful, to hear them talk about what it means to be indigenous and the intersectionality between being queer and indigenous. That’s probably one of my favorite moments, and I also really loved the moment that I had with Tanner in Branson, where I basically told them my story with, you know, Christianity and homosexuality and helping come to a conclusion on that. Do you think COVID-19 will impact the way people do drag not only in the near future but permanently? As I was navigating the land of the internet and drag shows in quarantine, I realized how many folks were saying, “I’ve never gotten a chance to see you before because I can’t leave the house for a list of reasons.” Some people have anxiety, some people are disabled, some people just don’t have enough money, some people live in an area where they don’t have access, and some people are in the closet. And they finally got to see some of their favorite drag queens perform, and I was like, “Maybe I should continue with this.” I would like to be able to keep this going for people who, you know – I mean, maybe not as much as I’m doing now during lockdown – but maybe I can continue these kind of performances for people who can’t get out of the house. Do you have a message for people who might be feeling especially vulnerable during this Pride season? Just think about it like this – this is something I’m pulling from the church, and I’m not religious, but I did go to church for quite some while: Church isn’t the building, it’s the people. And Pride isn’t the parade. Pride isn’t the parties. It’s the people. It’s what we bring to Pride. So, you can still have Pride without having to be surrounded by thousands of people. Pride is a feeling you have deep inside yourself. That’s why we call it Pride. The 16th Annual Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s Men of Style Presented by Signature Grand What's HOT! South Florida Events What’s Hot South Florida: Nov. 24 – Dec. 7 ABOUT US This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Yes, I accept Read More This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Non-necessary Non-necessary Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.	11,231
If you have traded with Baihua Global and believe you have been scammed by them you have a chance to get your money back. Many unregulated brokers have been found to scam traders. At Report Scammed Bitcoin it’s our job to make sure you can fight back and get your money refunded. By filling the form you have taken the first step to recover your money. Baihua Global has been suspected as a scam broker. We don’t recommend to trade with them and if you are trading with Baihua Global contact them immediately and try to get your fund out. If the Baihua Global has done the following, you have probably a victim of Baihua Global scam broker. Reason to suspect a scam broker is in action: The broker froze your account The broker blocked your account You cannot log in back into your account Money has been taken out from the account The broker doesn’t take your calls The broker shut down his website You noticed the broker took money out from your bank account without your permission The broker is offering you a bonus The broker is offering you to fund more money into the account after you lost a large sum Don’t give up. You can fight back and get your money refunded. Start by click the button above to file a complaint and we will get in touch with you and provide you with information on how to start the process.	1,361
So this post is about a year late but I figure the timing is still right. Miss K’s taste in costumes has become increasingly more complex over the last several years. When she was 10 months old, I decided she would be a flower for Halloween. At a year old, I decided she’d make an adorable elephant (she did). At two years old, SHE decided she wanted to be an alligator princess. Luckily Carter’s made an alligator costume that year so I pinned a crown on it and called it a happy Halloween. Last year, at three years old, she said she wanted to be a “half rainbow, half Anna and Elsa butterfly.” Sigh. Seriously? After thinking about it a bit and coming across some super duper cute costumes, I (skillfully) suggested that it would be fun to be the beautiful butterfly from The Very Hungry Caterpillar and to make things better, her sister could be the caterpillar! It was so. stinkin. perfect. Super S WAS a very mobile, hungry little girl and she was at an earlier stage than her big sister, who was actually very fluttery (and of course beautiful). So she agreed. But then I realized I needed to get costumes. Couldn’t find any that I liked so I took a dive and decided to just make them. It was actually fun putting them together. They weren’t perfect but my kids enjoyed helping and I was proud and they loved wearing them. So all in all, it made us happy. Using this post as inspiration, I used this tutorial as a guide to put together the dress. I could try and spell it all out for you but she does a much better job than I could ever do. I didn’t even bother using my sewing machine, though. I just made hand stitches (there are just so few) and then cut pieces of green felt for stripes and sewed those on as well. I think it took an hour, tops, and I don’t even really know how to sew. I had considered making my own beanie but then spotted a crochet hat at Joann Fabric and decided that, for my first foray into costume making, I should keep things as simple as possible. I simply cut out some yellow and green circles for eyes and used some fabric glue to attach them. Also made a little bitty nose and colored it brown. The best part about these costumes is that Eric Carle’s art doesn’t have perfect lines; they feel a little messy or imperfect. Good thing messy and imperfect are areas that I have extensive expertise! Back to what I did…I then rolled up two pieces of felt and sewed them into the beanie. This was the part of the costumes that I was most bothered by. I couldn’t get the antennae to stand up straight. They didn’t bend but kept flopping over. If anyone has suggestions on that, PLEASE comment below. I picked up a pair of bright green tights from The Childrens Place and the Hungry Little Caterpillar was set! -36″ x 36″ piece of green felt -10 pieces of felt in various colors (be sure to include yellow and green for the hat) -3/8 inch wide elastic, cut into two 15.5 inch long pieces and two 4 inch long pieces) For this costume, I used this tutorial as a guide but decorated the wings differently and also didn’t bother making a stencil. I measured her wingspan from wrist to wrist and made sure my felt piece was the same width at the widest part. I just drew on the piece of felt and “winged” it (see what I did there?). Same with the pieces that I attached to decorate the wings. I kept the book open in front of me and tried to best reproduce some of the designs/patterns. It’s pretty tough to recreate due to the shades and shapes of the actual picture but I did my best. I made circles, tear drop shapes, and used scraps to fill in the empty spaces. I actually cut four of the same shapes and glued the pattern on both sides of the wings so that Miss K would look good from the front or the back. I’d suggest laying out your pattern first and then gluing down. I used the same process as above for the beanie. I had a hard time finding yellow leggings so I took a pair of $4 leggings from Target and dyed them with Rit dye. I was so excited to see that the color matched pretty darn close to the yellow shirt she had in her closet! She LOVED being the butterfly for Halloween. Even when we were handing out candy, she would spread her wings dramatically once we had opened the door so she could show the trick-or-treaters. It was awesome. Outside of the research and gathering materials, I’d say these costumes took no more than 3-4 hours total. I won’t lie. A couple days before Halloween, I was having doubts about our homemade costumes and almost made a trip to Target to buy something else. I was worried no one would know what they were or that the girls would look silly. I sent a picture of the costumes to a couple friends and they knew right away what they were and they said the costumes were awesome. And we did receive compliments while we were out, so that’s always nice too. In a sea of Elsas, it was nice to feel unique. But above all, my girls loved being in the costumes and they enjoyed making them together. I’d call that a success! Good luck and share if you’ve made similar costumes! This entry was posted in Parenting by crunchycake. Bookmark the permalink. Analese on October 8, 2018 at 8:11 pm said: Hi there, I’m working on a post of book character costumes at Everyday Reading – would you mind if I included one of your photos? Of course, I’ll credit you and link back to your post! Let me know if that’s okay with you.	5,774
Welcome! You may have heard about the Internet of Things (IoT). But you may also have wondered about what it is. Or for that matter, what does it mean to you or an organization. This course is for you if you are curious about the most recent trends and activities in the internet capabilities and concerns about programmed devices. There are complexities and areas of necessary awareness when the industrial sector becomes connected to your home. Security policies and practices have not yet caught up to the internet capabilities of some of our most common products. The “connected home”, “consumer wearables”, or even an employee’s HVAC system may cause an unanticipated threat to your business environment. You will explore current security and privacy related concerns in each of these areas. Every module will include readings, videos, case studies, and a quiz to help make sure you understand the material and concepts we talk about. This course offers a place to learn, reflect, and plan for a smart community approach to IoT. Portions of this course may seem extremely technical in nature. That is because the “things” in IoT represents engineering. Try to grasp the concept in that case.... LB Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star It was really a beneficial course to compete this technical world..... And the syllabus was really good and it accumulate all major topics... Overall it is a best course to pursue on post graduate. Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star I love this course. I have read a lot of information on IOT and I think the future with IOT devices will be great but not without security risks and challenges that have to be dealt with	1,743
In my teaching days, I attended an annual music conference where I enjoyed finding new gems in middle school music literature. It was December of 1994 and I’ll never forget the lesson that I learned while not attending a speaker’s session. I enjoyed frequenting the displays and speaking with publishers and composers about their new music. This was very helpful. One day while speaking with Ann McGinty, (a very popular composer) I shared a problem with my band’s trumpet section because Yuki, my 1st chair trumpet player, had just moved back to Japan and she was my rock. Without her, my trumpet section’s ability was depleted to a degree that they were my weakest section. I was in a spot. I had the students for only one more semester and state contest season was upon us! In speaking with Ms. McGinty, I expressed that I was searching for a composition that met certain criteria, but didn’t feature the trumpet section much because mine was rather weak. After lamenting the loss of Yuki and sharing my desire to find an arrangement that would “hide” the less than stellar section, Ms. McGinty said something to me that I’ll never forget. She said: “I guess you’ll have to teach.” After I picked my ego up off of the floor and stumbled through a few excuses, she kindly directed me to some great music; however, her assertion has haunted me ever since. That is when I learned that I had power in every situation. That is when I understood that I could make a difference. Ms. McGinty taught me that where there were weaknesses, there were opportunities. She reminded me that I needed to roll up my sleeves and get to work on my “problem” because I already had the answer…I had the power… I could teach. The book, Motivating Students Who Don’t Care by Allen Mendler, contains many great pearls of wisdom and practical strategies for teachers. One bit of wisdom is found on page 28. “Although we cannot make it impossible for students to fail, good teaching requires that we make it extremely difficult for students to fail. This attitude enables us to emphasize success while maintaining high expectations.” Before we can motivate students who don’t care, we as teachers must be motivated to help them. I know that it is very frustrating as many have tried every trick in their bag and sometimes success just seems to be elusive. What we sometimes forget is that we are only willing to implement strategies that are within our personal comfort zone. If we have tried and failed with all of the strategies that we are comfortable trying, perhaps it’s time to try some other ideas. This premise has application to many situations. Teaching difficult/struggling learners is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity. Perhaps those teachers who find their own learning easy have the most difficulty understanding this concept. Wouldn’t it be nice to teach only students that had great families and were already set up for success? Wow, think of what I could have done back in 1994 if my students’ previous teacher would have just taught them better when they started out in trumpet class. I could have done some even cooler stuff if the students were stellar before they came to me. Think of all of the great performances we could have had if I didn’t have to do any teaching! (Oops…I forgot that I didn’t conduct the Boston Philharmonic…) I firmly believe that there are two characteristics that set the very best teachers apart from the good to mediocre teachers. One of those is that the very best teachers have an undying sense of hope. That hope is transferred to a belief that as a teacher, one has the power to affect any student’s life that they choose. The most powerful teachers will continually try different tactics and will never give up…even if he/she doesn’t see success during that school year. Will you be one of these teachers? There are no “bad kids,” but there are kids that we may not have reached yet. You don’t know the impact you have on students until they have had a few years and other adult advocates in their lives to put a few things together. Learning is as much about timing and prior knowledge as it is about anything else. Perhaps your job is to simply create that prior knowledge about character and effort. Maybe the experience of having SOME success will stick with a child and s/he will subconsciously remember that with effort comes success. Teaching is a process, not a product. We will not and we cannot expect students to fail; however, some students will. My question to you is: what impact will you have on that student’s life in 3, 7, or 9 years? I promise that you do have an impact on that student. I learned from Ms. McGinty that teaching wasn’t always fun, but teaching is a must. If I am unhappy with a situation involving students, I have the power to teach. I am a teacher. In the end how much impact you have on each student, especially those who are less served by their families or your colleagues, is really up to you. You have great power. You…are a teacher. Related Posted in Motivate, TeachTagged Motivate, Power of Teaching, Teach Published by I am a proud public school teacher who serves as a district administrator supporting all aspects of leadership and learning. View all posts by jackparkertcb	5,329
International oil sector services company operating in UK, Europe, West Africa, Far East, and South America. GBP50m sales. GBP11m debt. I was instructed jointly by a major UK clearing bank & the company to carry out an independent investigation and to provide recommendations concerning the business and operations. An international venture capital house had an equity investment in excess of GBP10m. The company was loss-making with an eroding capital position. The business was split into three distinct portfolios and had been struggling with a regional decline in oil field activity affected by oil price. The company strategy was to diversify its portfolio to take advantage of skill transfer capability and competencies to grow into new business sector markets. Executive management were found to be complacent about the debt burden and the company was ignoring opportunities to redirect investment into already established success streams. The Board consisted of the six year old MBO team with two Directors appointed by the VC. The company employed more than two hundred personnel directly, with several hundred personnel being charged out on an agency basis. Following my investigation and my assessment of the business, proposals were made to re-direct investment. The key investors were encouraged to re-structure their lending and equity arrangements with the company, so that trading could continue with adjustments to strategy and key milestones in place. The company has carried out key parts of the actions that I recommended and this produced substantial elements of progress in trading. At the time of the investigation, I recommended that the company and it backers sought a managed disposal of parts of the business, with a view to limiting the losses. As a direct result of the my intervention, the bank gained leverage with the VC and achieved an assurance from them to underwrite the interest value of any new lending. Interim CEO Executive Coaching & Mentoring Critical Negotiation Due Diligence of the management, business, and operations. The company is owned by the management and the workforce and directly employs more than 200 persons. Following an introduction from an advisor and an equity holder in the company, I carried out a review of the business and organisation, and then worked closely with management to effect a strategy realignment. The company's Bankers were deeply concerned about levels of borrowing and the high level of losses being incurred. I worked with senior management to drive down the inventory of raw materials and finished goods, implementing key production changes, boosting product marketing and sales, and rebuilding confidence with the Bank. At the time of my intervention the company was in the care of the credit risk department of an international Bank. It required major problem solving. The business rescue resulted in a successful correction of strategic focus for the company with a direct bottom line enhancement due to accelerated sales and margin efficiencies. I advised the company on Investor and Bank relationship management and successfully supported its negotiations with the Bank. The company has embraced my change management recommendations and with interim leadership the business has turned around and is out of intensive care. It continues to trade in an uncertain market - with a revitalised approach to its business and organisation. Interim CEO Executive Coaching & Mentoring Due Diligence of the management, business, and operations. UK sheet metal engineering manufacturer and specialist paint finisher for UK market and export to Northern Europe. GBP2m sales. GBP2m debt. I was instructed jointly by a UK clearing Bank and the Company. The Company was an MBO established sixteen years previously and employed approximately fifty persons. It had been making losses for three successive years, and the value in the company had been negative for the same period. I was appointed to review the business and operation, and then retained to carry out an “out of court” Work-Out with the Company. My review focused on intangible value, i.e. earnings and reputation; strategy; core competency (efficiency, technology, marketing); organisational capability (talent, flexibility, accountability); and quality of leadership. After the review, and after being appointed as the Interim CEO, I conducted a rigorous change programme comprising proposal creation, planning, decision-making, and implementation. Several urgent and critical problems were tackled over a six-week period, including significant annualised cost reductions. Some months later, and after appropriate internal organisation restructuring (managed on site by myself as turnaround director), the company regained motivation as a team and demonstrated a net profit on the month for the first time in more than three and half years. On my completion of the rescue assignment, I proposed a financial restructuring to the Bank, with the prospect of a new buyer for the business. Interim CEO Executive Coaching & Mentoring Due Diligence of the management, business, and operations. Light Engineering Company located in Scotland serving local market. I was introduced to the company by the lead investor, who was alarmed by an early request from management for a second round of funding. The company was subject to an MBO in 2002, since when it had been consistently missing key performance targets, with unanticipated losses accruing on a monthly basis. Although there were no specific areas where costs could be drastically cut, the organisation did need to be overhauled from a leadership and cultural perspective. Following my initial appraisal, I led a change management initiative using the my Work-Out method. The company was motivated to agree new targets in order to achieve break even by the end of 2003 (achieved) I was invited to extend my involvement with the Company as Chairman going forward. The latter was inspired especially following my work as an executive coach to the board of directors. All of my work has received a high level of co-operation from the management and the full support and backing of the lead equity investor. Due Diligence of the management, business, and operations. Quality inspection services company, operating across the UK with subsidiary operations in Belgium and Holland and experience of operations in South Africa and the Far East. GBP3m sales. GBP0.6m debt. I was instructed jointly by the company and a major UK clearing bank to carry out a business viability review to include aspects of organisation, management, market, and financial integrity. The assignment was initially construed as an opportunity for the company to engage myself in a quasi management role to assist the immediate rescue and stabilisation of the business. With my viability assessment completed it was clear to me that the company was so poorly managed that a long-term turnaround appeared extremely unlikely. I therefore expressed the opinion to the Bank and the Company that the directors should be given the opportunity to manage a rescue of the situation on their own abilities and that the Bank should closely review its own position and vulnerability within a five week time period. Executive Coaching & Mentoring European Engineering Company operating with production sites on five continents. I was invited by the Directors to assess the leadership potential for each of twenty-seven members of the incumbent senior management. My role involved intensive one on one interviews and discussion of competencies with the individuals concerned. Coaching feedback was made following the utilisation of the MENTOR®leadership assessment instruments and reporting. Subsequently, I was called to make recommendations to the executive board concerning development and succession planning for the senior management. Interim CEO Critical Negotiation Business Review including Strategy and Operations Second generation family owned business with creditable record of supply and service to regional business customers. Holding considerable value in its underperforming commercial property assets, the business itself was critically underperforming with a strategy that was lacking vigour and commitment. Having been introduced to the owners by their Bank, I was appointed by the Company to firstly evaluate the potential of the business, and subsequently over several weeks, to support the successful negotiation and sale of the commercial assets and the viable part of the established business. Due Diligence of the management, business, and operations. Strategic manufacturer and supplier of quality critical components and assemblies to the aerospace industry. Being instructed by the senior equity partners of this management led enterprise, I made an investigation of the business in order to establish whether or not a further round of equity and debt funding would be viable. The funding was critical to the survival of the company, with the backdrop being that their biggest customer was threatening to pull out of its contracts due to problems with manufacturing quality. Significantly, I found that management processes were poor and inadequate and I recommended the appointment of a new Chairman of the Board to steer the management to achieve proper conduct of the business and its operations. The equity house and the Company accepted my recommendation and the funds were secured with appropriate commitments in place. The customer was also assured with the results of these changes.	10,104
Sure, we’ve been through hard times before. Fires, attacks, economic collapse. And, yes, New York has always come back better. History can be helpful, even inspirational, and confidence matters. “COVID-19 has shaken our confidence and tarnished our brand,” wrote Kathryn Wilde and Natasha Avanessians of the Partnership for New York City, a business alliance. But #NewYorkTough is not a strategy for recovery, which is what we need now. New York’s path forward demands a level of cooperation among the city’s disparate forces not seen since at least the 1975 fiscal crisis, elected officials, business leaders and students of the city’s history all say. “Recovery will require unity and strength of purpose from New Yorkers,” Wilde and Avanessians wrote in a report on recovery strategies. “One thing is clear: returning to the pre-COVID-19 status quo is not an option. We are at a crossroads. The pandemic unleased political, racial and economic tensions that can either leave the nation’s largest and most important urban center in chaos or ... provide the impetus for working together for recovery and positive change.” The city’s famous energy must be laser-focused on specific steps that will revive the opportunity, creativity and drive that make people want to be here. The phrase “strong leadership” comes up again and again in conversation about the city’s future. “Somebody who has the sense to put all these pieces together and say this is what needs to be done,” explained Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. New York began the year 2020 as one of the great cities of the world – an economic powerhouse, a cultural hothouse and, perhaps most important, one of the world’s most effective engines of social mobility – receiving and uplifting millions of immigrants over the last two centuries. The city can be all that again, its many devotees say. But to make it here we have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on these vital and interwoven goals. New York City survived one of the worst bouts of COVID-19 anywhere on earth. To emerge from shelter New Yorkers need to feel safe that we won’t go through that again. Building back must rest on the strongest possible measures to keep the virus contained. Eventually there will be a vaccine. Even if it arrives record fast in the next few months, months more will be needed to deploy it and there may be New Yorkers who resist taking it, as they resisted measles vaccines just in the last year or two. Recovery can not be held hostage to the creation, deployment or effectiveness of a vaccine. It does not have to be. A number of countries have successfully contained the virus in advance of any vaccine. We know how. First, of course, are the now familiar personal rules: distance, mask-up, wash-up and stay home if you are sick. But there is much more to do as a community. Widespread testing and tracing is still not all it needs to be. Test results still take too long and one infected person in four is not completing conversations with tracers assigned to track down others they may have infected. Those contacts, in turn, have been even less forthcoming. Personal discipline by each of us and a stronger test and trace system can hold the virus at levels low enough to restore confidence that it is safe to go back to work, school and New York life in general. That life will not be exactly what it was before. Who would have thought that eating dinner in the middle of Amsterdam Avenue, nearly under the 18 wheels of big rigs, would be such a draw! That is the kind of adaptation that will get us through this. As the weather cools, that creativity will need to be focused hard on how to ventilate indoor restaurants, stores, offices, schools and other facilities so whatever virus is still circulating is quickly destroyed or swept away. There is one more health measure essential to easing the danger of COVID-19. Virtually everyone who died here suffered from other conditions, what the doctors call co-morbidities. Most of those conditions are treatable, from diabetes and high blood pressure, to obesity and vitamin deficiency. Moreover, these conditions are more prevalent among the poor and people of color who suffered disproportionately in the pandemic. “In a post-COVID-19 world, New Yorkers need to feel confident in the quality of their personal health care, the health of their community, and the capacity of New York City to handle the next pandemic or widespread health crisis,” said the report from the Partnership for New York. “This is not just a matter of spending more money. New York spends nearly 80% more than the national average per capita on health care. What is required is greater attention to a better integrated system of community-centered patient care, driven by policy and funding guidelines that ensure equitable health outcomes for all communities.” The carnage to employment was shocking. In a few weeks in March, 900,000 jobs were wiped out, according to the State Labor Department. That is nearly one out of every four private sector jobs in New York City. The destruction was widespread. But it was also wildly uneven. Low-wage workers were cut loose in droves. Hotels, restaurants, tourism, movies and theater were all shut down, accounting for nearly half the lost jobs. One out of every two workers in the restaurant, hotel and tourism business was sacked. By comparison, banking, insurance and other financial services, a sector slightly larger than hospitality and tourism, cut fewer than one worker in ten as most were able to continue working from home. The downturn here has been substantially deeper than the country overall, perhaps the necessary exchange for locking down earlier and harder. The climb back has been slow and again uneven. Overall about 225,000 jobs have been restored. The financial sector is within 20,000 jobs of its pre-pandemic employment of 477,000 in February. But restaurants and other eating places, which employed 277,000 New Yorkers in February, had only 149,000 workers this July. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that restaurants could begin serving indoors again at the end of September, at 25 percent of pre-pandemic capacity. As a first step, restaurant owners welcomed the move, which they had been clamoring for. But few thought it would be enough to assure long-term survival. Looming over New York’s job market is the question of how many government employees may lose their jobs as tax revenues fall. Ultimately, the most effective way to limit the damage from that ripple effect is to reverse the collapse of the private sector job market. One of New York City’s competitive advantages has been an educated, motivated workforce. Yet even before the pandemic, there was an increasing mismatch between the skills of New York workers and the jobs available. Addressing this disparity when unemployment was low would have been an opportunity to improve people’s lives. Today it is an urgent part of getting New York working again. Leaders of 27 of New York’s biggest businesses, from JPMorganChase to Verizon, last month created the New York CEO Jobs Council, which is partnering with schools, colleges and training programs to prepare low income Black, Latino and Asian New Yorkers for “stable jobs” with solid career arcs. The City University of New York presented its students with a “90 day upskill challenge” to sharpen their talents in fields like software development, health care administration, data analytics and digital marketing. “COVID-19 is definitely impacting our local job market, but companies are hiring- and will continue to hire as they adjust and adapt to the current situation,” the university said. “So don’t stress.” But stress is everywhere as the daunting scale of the challenge becomes increasingly evident. The CEO council said its goal is to put 100,000 New Yorkers of color to work by 2030. That is about 1/8th of the 806,000 city residents listed as unemployed in July by the state labor department. Part of the challenge is that the crisis is far from over. With the virus contained but not eradicated, the health crisis is now also an economic crisis whose first wave eviscerated the private sector. That damage is only beginning to play through to government in the form of plunging tax revenue. Sales taxes are down, income taxes will fall and almost certainly the value of at least some New York City property, commercial and residential, will have to be lowered for tax purposes. For example, the Borough President’s staff surveyed the length of Broadway in Manhattan and found 335 stores vacant, “a 78% increase in vacancies since my 2017 survey, which reflects both relentlessly rising rents and the pandemic’s devastating toll on businesses,” Brewer reported. An additional 75 storefronts were boarded up or carried signs saying the store was closed until further notice. The closures and vacancies were particularly acute between Union Square and 59th St., as office buildings along the way still sit nearly empty of workers. Property taxes account for 46 percent of city tax revenue, by far the largest source. Commercial property owners paid about $12 billion in 2019 and owners of apartment buildings, coops and condominiums kicked in about $10.3 billion. Homeowners paid a bit over $4 billion. This can sound bloodless. For many, the pressures of taxes, rent or loan payments are becoming unbearable. For now, evictions are blocked, but that only moves the challenge down the road or shifts it to landlords who then can’t meet their obligations. Mayor Bill de Blasio has estimated city government will be $9 billion short this fiscal year, but the truth is no one can know for sure. The mayor has proposed covering the shortfall through federal aid, which is gridlocked in Washington, and borrowing, which the legislature has so far declined to sanction and is strongly opposed by the former Lieutenant Governor, Richard Ravitch, who warns against repeating mistakes that caused the fiscal crisis of the 1970s that he helped to resolve. Ravitch has urged New York business leaders with ties to President Trump and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell to lobby them to approve aid to cities and states, much as business leaders helped in 1975 to reverse President Ford’s objection to federal guarantees for New York City loans. But many in the business community say the mayor seems immobilized by his wait for outside help and needs to move quickly to stabilize police, sanitation and other core services. “There is widespread anxiety over public safety, cleanliness and other quality of life issues that are contributing to deteriorating conditions in commercial districts and neighborhoods across the five boroughs,” 160 corporate executives and chamber of commerce leaders from the five boroughs wrote to the mayor last week. “We need to send a strong, consistent message that our employees, customers, clients and visitors will be coming back to a safe and healthy work environment. People will be slow to return unless their concerns about security and the livability of our communities are addressed quickly and with respect and fairness for our city’s diverse populations.” Labor stats don’t describe it this way, but office work is a key New York City industry. Manhattan’s towering business districts are built around it, transit systems are designed to bring people to and from it and thousands of other restaurant, retail and entertainment workers depend on it for their livelihood. After six months of the greatest experiment in history at working remotely, two facts crucial to the city’s future are clear. The office is not dead and office work will change. The challenge is figuring out what those changes will be and then adapting the vast investment in buildings and transit infrastructure to those changes. Many corporate leaders and property owners express confidence this will happen, although they say it may take several years. The city’s largest private employer, JPMorgan Chase, cast a strong vote last week for the importance of the office, telling groups of key employees they were expected back on September 21 unless they had a specific health or family reason why they needed to continue working from home. One reason is the work of Daniel Buenza, professor of management at City University London, who compared the effectiveness of financial traders who worked from home to those who came in during the pandemic. “The banks that pressured their traders to come to the floor were better able to take advantage of the volatility during March,” Buenza explained by email. “In London, these were typically the Wall Street banks as opposed to their European counterparts.” This finding was consistent with his new book on traders, “Taking The Floor,” which found that “informal cross-desk interaction, based on overhearing or an unobtrusive quick exchange, is difficult to replicate online.” Buenza said. “One generalization,” he added, “is that office work is important in situations that are time-critical, fraught with uncertainty, and where communication has to be quick, rich, and cannot simply happen alongside formal reporting lines.” It is certainly not a coincidence that both Facebook and Amazon made major commitments to New York real estate in the midst of the pandemic. COMING and GOING There has been great hand-wringing about well-to-do New Yorkers who ghosted town in the pandemic. Cuomo said he would cook them dinner to get them back, although the mayor emphasized his hope to raise their taxes. Either way, the question of who leaves has historically been less crucial to the future of New York than the question of who comes, said Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society. “The city’s history has been marked by moments when everyone said the city was finished.” She said each time this was proven wrong for two reasons. In the immediate aftermath New Yorkers do rally to help each other. “What’s really characteristic of New York is that something unspeakably awful happens and almost instantly people translate their shock into service, into compassion. Behaviors people don’t necessarily equate to an urban center.” Then, in the longer run, the city has been recharged again and again by vast waves of immigration. “Not only did it compensate for people leaving the city,” Mirrer said, “immigrants were willing to take jobs other people were reluctant to take.” The city’s population fell by nearly one million in the 1970s, but has been rebounding ever since, or at least until 2016, when it peaked at 8.48 million. The population tailed off after that, declining to about 8.32 million before the pandemic. A part of this was the sharp curtailment of migration to New York and the rest of the United States under President Trump. In addition to legal restrictions, the city’s high costs may also deter new arrivals. StreetEasy, a real estate listing service, said that before the pandemic rents were rising most quickly in working neighborhoods crowded with new arrivals, like Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights in Queens. Since the pandemic, rents have dropped considerably in well-to-do neighborhoods, where wealth offers choice, such as the West Village and Battery Park City, but merely flattened out in immigrant neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic, like Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. “In the neighborhoods that escaped the pandemic’s worst impacts, historically high rents have begun to come down, and vacancy rates are rising,” reported Nancy Wu, an economist at StreetEasy. “Yet in the neighborhoods where COVID-19 was most strongly felt, the very opposite is true.” With jobs curtailed and health endangered, there have been several reports of immigrants actually headed back to home countries where conditions feel better. Of all the uncertainties hanging over New York’s recovery, none are as significant, or as difficult to predict, as the one Mirrer asks: “Will we be able to depend as we have on the past on the influx of new people?” When Scott Stringer, the city comptroller, announced his campaign for mayor last week, he pledged to “bring leadership back to City Hall.” De Blasio still has a year and four months in office, but more than a dozen contenders are already fighting for his job. The campaign offers a golden opportunity to focus public attention on key choices and even forge a consensus that will shape the city’s future. Yet while the candidates debate the future they propose to start building in 2022, de Blasio remains responsible for the next 14 months, a period that will have lasting impact on the nature of the city’s recovery. There are many concerns about whether he will rise to the challenge. “This mayor in general is just dealing with day-to-day,” said Manhattan Borough President Brewer. The city’s history is full of leadership role models. There is of course Governor Hugh Carey intervening to stave off the city’s default in 1975. Or, in an earlier era, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia donning a civil defense helmet, planting victory gardens and rallying New Yorkers to the challenge of World War II. But perhaps most relevant and least remembered is the frightening health scare of March 10, 1947. That was the day that William Le Bar, just returned to New York City from Mexico, died of smallpox. Health Commissioner Israel Weinstein decided to vaccinate the entire city. But there was not enough vaccine. “Mayor William O’Dwyer held a late-night meeting of pharmaceutical representatives and virtually locked them in City Hall until they agreed to provide the needed vaccines,” according to an official history prepared by the City Health Department. In one month, 6.35 million New Yorkers were vaccinated. In the end, there were only twelve cases of smallpox and two deaths. A potentially catastrophic epidemic was averted. “Leadership is important,” said Louise Mirrer. “This is a time that calls on the most innovative minds in New York, of which there is a great collection.” The city’s famous energy must be laser-focused on specific steps that will revive the opportunity, creativity and drive that make people want to be here. “This is a time that calls on the most innovative minds in New York, of which there is a great collection.” Louise Mirrer, president and CEO, New-York Historical Society It is certainly not a coincidence that both Facebook and Amazon made major commitments to New York real estate in the midst of the pandemic. Comentários Get the Newspaper People Subscribe to Paper Advertise Our Town Downtown NY Press X Show your support for our local journalism With your support, we can keep delivering award-winning coverage to your mailboxes (and inboxes) every week. 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Pakistan's High Commissioner Salman Bashir Monday saw Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay, who is admitted in a critical condition at the PGIMER here, and sought an "impartial probe" into the attack on him. Interacting with media persons afterwards, Bashir sought an "impartial probe into the unfortunate incident" in Jammu jail in which Ranjay was critically injured. "He is in a critical condition. His prognosis is bleak," the high commissioner said. Bashir, who also interacted with doctors at the PGIMER (Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), said: "The doctors here are doing their best. They are constrained by the condition in which he was brought here." He said the Pakistan high commission was working on getting visa to India for Ranjay's family to meet him. Pakistan had earlier sought the immediate repatriation of Ranjay for treatment there. Asked if the assault on Ranjay was retaliation for the attack on Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani prison which later led to his death, Bashir said in a measured tone: "After the Sarabjit incident, there was a lot of hype in various circles. That should not happen." Ranjay continued to be "critically sick" and in "deep coma", a medical bulletin said. "His BP (blood pressure) dipped today. His condition has deteriorated further," a PGIMER source said. Two officials of the Pakistan high commission have been camping here since Sunday. They are allowed to see the comatose Pakistani national once every day. Ranjay, lodged in Jammu's Kot Bhalwal Jail, was critically injured after being attacked by an Indian prisoner Friday. He was flown from Jammu to PGIMER for treatment. The incident took place a day after Sarabjit succumbed to grievous injuries sustained in a murderous assault on him in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail. Asked about the Indian prisoners of war (POWs) in Pakistani prisons, Bashir said a mechanism was in place between India and Pakistan to work on this. He said there were many Pakistani prisoners in Indian prisons also. Pakistan's High Commissioner Salman Bashir Monday saw Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay, who is admitted in a critical condition at the PGIMER here, and sought an "impartial probe" into the attack on him.Interacting with media persons afterwards, Bashir sought an "impartial probe into the unfortunate incident" in Jammu jail in which Ranjay was critically injured."He is in a critical condition. His prognosis is bleak," the high commissioner said.Bashir, who also interacted with doctors at the PGIMER (Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), said: "The doctors here are doing their best. They are constrained by the condition in which he was brought here."He said the Pakistan high commission was working on getting visa to India for Ranjay's family to meet him.Pakistan had earlier sought the immediate repatriation of Ranjay for treatment there.Asked if the assault on Ranjay was retaliation for the attack on Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani prison which later led to his death, Bashir said in a measured tone: "After the Sarabjit incident, there was a lot of hype in various circles. That should not happen."Ranjay continued to be "critically sick" and in "deep coma", a medical bulletin said."His BP (blood pressure) dipped today. His condition has deteriorated further," a PGIMER source said.Two officials of the Pakistan high commission have been camping here since Sunday. They are allowed to see the comatose Pakistani national once every day.Ranjay, lodged in Jammu's Kot Bhalwal Jail, was critically injured after being attacked by an Indian prisoner Friday. He was flown from Jammu to PGIMER for treatment.The incident took place a day after Sarabjit succumbed to grievous injuries sustained in a murderous assault on him in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail.Asked about the Indian prisoners of war (POWs) in Pakistani prisons, Bashir said a mechanism was in place between India and Pakistan to work on this.He said there were many Pakistani prisoners in Indian prisons also. Now we are on Telegram too. Follow us for updates O P Adani sea port: Kerala police book case against 3,000 as Vizhinjam protest takes violent turn You are messing up chances, need to reinvent game: Srikkanth to Pant Woman, son held for killing husband, chopping body into 22 parts in Delhi's Pandav Nagar Comments Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be judicious while moderating your comments. All the comments will be moderated by the newindianexpress.com editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines. The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of The New Indian Express Group, or any entity of, or affiliated with, The New Indian Express Group. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time.	5,322
Several months ago a landmark Gallup poll found that for the first time in American history, as of 2020 fewer than 50% of Americans belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque. Ever since 1937 when the survey was first conducted, that percentage remained fairly constant at around 70% until the turn of the century, when the number began its plummet all the way down to 47% in only two short decades. And the pace is only accelerating. While the decline is present in all major subgroups, it is most pronounced amongst Millenials (born 1981-1996): only one in three are members, down 15% in the past decade alone, and only half of those who claim a religious affiliation are members of a religious body. Early data has showed an even more extreme decline amongst Generation Z (born 1997 or later). All signs point to this grievous development being a lasting trend and not a temporary anomaly. Without question, the decline of Christianity in our society is an unspeakable tragedy. There are now countless thousands of children being born among us who may never hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them, and who on the contrary are more likely to hear only various slanders and calumnies about the faith He came to this earth to bring. And yet we also know, according to the witness of this same faith, that the providence of God would not allow this — or any other tragedy whatsoever — to come to pass unless He sees that it can serve to accomplish our salvation… if only we ourselves strive to receive it in a spirit of humility, repentance, and faith. And so we must ask ourselves how we ought to understand and respond to these events in such a way as to become co-laborers with God in turning even this spiritual catastrophe to His glory and to the salvation of souls. And after all, now more than ever — in the midst of Paschaltide — we should need absolutely no further reassurance that the wisdom of God is abundantly able to accomplish this. For what greater apostasy, what more terrible rejection of God has ever occurred in all the history of the world than that of Great and Holy Friday? Yet God, in His mercy, used precisely mankind’s most vile rebellion and most horrifying sin to work for us not only the forgiveness of every transgression, not only the healing of every disease of body and soul, not only the defeat of Death itself, but even our deification and eternal union with Him, raising our fallen nature far above even the holy angels themselves, who never once sinned nor turned themselves away from His glory. Truly incomprehensible is the mercy and loving-kindness of our Savior. And indeed, the example of the Savior on the Cross must forever and in all things be our own model for living out our Christian life — especially in the midst of temptations and tragedies such as those which now face our nation and our world. When Christ was rejected and crucified by the uncomprehending world, He did not fight against and condemn His torturers and accusers. On the contrary, He made excuses for them and prayed for them: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). And so now when we see the world once again reject and mock the Lord, we ought to restrain our fiery zeal and indignation just as Christ restrained the sword of Peter, and above all we must remember what St. Paul has told us: “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). The men and women who reject Christ and Christianity, even those who actively fight against and slander Him and His Holy Church… these men and women are not our enemies. On the contrary: they are souls beloved by God, souls for whom Christ died, who have been cruelly and maliciously abused by our true enemies the demons. They are souls for whom we ought to be willing to make any sacrifice and to go to any length to show forth the same love and mercy which the Lord Christ Himself showed to all sinners… “of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). We would do well to recall the words of St. Porphyrios: “One day you are walking quietly on your way and see your brother walking in front of you, also quietly, when at one point a crook jumps out in front of your brother from a side road and attacks him. He beats him, pulls his hair, wounds him and throws him down bleeding. Faced with a scene like that would you be angry with your brother or would you feel sorry for him?” I was puzzled by the Elder’s questions and I asked him in turn: “How could I possibly be angry with my wounded brother, who fell victim to the criminal? The thought didn’t even cross my mind. Of course I would feel sorry for him and I would try to help him as much as I could.” “Well, then,” continued the Elder: ”everyone who insults you, who hurts you, who slanders you, who does you an injustice in anyway whatsoever is a brother of yours who has fallen into the hands of some criminal demon. When you notice that your brother does you an injustice what should you do? You must feel very sorry for him, commiserate with him and entreat God warmly and silently both, to support you in that difficult time of trial, and to have mercy on your brother, who has fallen victim to the evildoer, the demon. Because if you don’t do that, but get angry with him instead, reacting to his attack with a counter attack, then the devil who is already on the nape of your brother’s neck will jump on to yours and dance with the both of you.” If we Christians treat the unbelievers as our enemies, how will this possibly bring them any closer to Christ? How will they possibly be able to see the Holy Spirit shining within us, the Spirit of God for Whom their hearts truly yearn — though they may not yet realize it? And indeed, I am convinced that the decline in church membership in our society is by no means entirely the result of a decline in the hunger of the American heart for the Kingdom of God. I have long contended on this blog that modernity is not rejecting Christianity for mere spiritual apathy and hedonism, but for a new religion, an “improved” Christianity (which I have termed Antichristianity), a religion of the man-god rather than the God-man, a religion promising the Kingdom of Heaven right here and now on this earth. Even The Atlantic is now writing stories that sound remarkably similar to this. But if I am right, if the American heart does indeed still yearn for God, then why is it turning away from Christianity? To be sure, the devil has not been idle in working these many long centuries to distort and to poison the heart of man against the Gospel of Christ. Much of the my writing here has been an attempt to understand and counteract such poison. Yet Christianity has always been slandered; from the very beginning the preaching of the crucified Christ was “unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23). The early Christians were even accused by society of being atheists and cannibals, but these and all such accusations were utterly powerless to stop the spread of Christianity even unto the ends of the earth. So what has changed? Certainly God has not changed, the Gospel has not changed, and the devil is still up to the same old tricks he has been using since the beginning. And though many have lost the likeness, not one single person has lost the image of God in which they were created (though certainly there are those who would prefer that it were not so). It seems, then, that there is but one clear answer: it is we Christians who have changed. I imagine that few of us need convincing that we are very far from the spiritual stature of our fathers and mothers in the faith. We do not have the fiery zeal of the apostles to proclaim the Word of God. We do not have the joyful longing of the martyrs to give up our very lives for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. We do not have the glad and selfless charity of the first Christians who sold every single thing that they owned without taking any thought for their own needs. We do not have the ascetic courage and heroism of the ancient monastics in putting to death the old man and renouncing all that is merely earthly. And above all, we do not have the all-consuming love for God — and for each and every one of His children — that alone can make any of the rest of the Christian life worth anything. No, we by and large live comfortable and respectable lives in this world, perhaps going to church on Sundays, perhaps resisting some of the more egregious sins, but otherwise in most ways indistinguishable from the 53% of Americans who no longer see any reason to walk through the doorway of a church. And so if our society which is so obviously thirsting for truth and for holiness cannot find these things in Christianity, we must ask ourselves if this is not because they cannot find these things in us who dare to call ourselves by that most lofty and precious and exalted name. Yet, as I said earlier, God is extraordinarily merciful and compassionate, and even our worst mistakes and our most terrible sins He can turn toward our spiritual good and our eternal salvation in Him. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). It is precisely by death that Christ has trampled down death. And so I believe that it has come about by Providence that we are beginning to find ourselves in a situation where it is no longer quite so easy to be a comfortable and respectable Christian in this life. It is no longer quite so easy to imagine that we can have the best of both worlds, that we can enjoy happiness and success and prosperity and respect in this life, and then waltz easily and carelessly into the Kingdom of Heaven in the next. It is no longer quite so easy to forget the sure and certain word of the Lord that “whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). Not without good reason has it been said that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” And of course, the word “martyr” simply means “witness.” And whether the time of physical martyrdom is soon approaching once again or not, it nevertheless now seems that the witness of being a Christian is no longer quite so easy for the world to overlook, no longer merely an inevitable part of the cultural backdrop of our society. And, my brothers and sisters, whether this will turn out to be a great and incomparable blessing for the world, or the cause of immense and unspeakable tragedy, depends entirely on us. If we bury our talent, if we squander the grace with which each of us has been entrusted according to our own measure, if the witness we make to the unbelieving world is one devoid of the love and mercy and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, then truly it would be “better for [us] that a millstone were hanged about [our] neck, and [we be] cast into the sea, than that [we] should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:2). For “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). But let us not despair over our sins and our failures, let us not be overwhelmed by grief over the times we have forsaken the high calling to which we have been summoned. For the Holy Apostles themselves fled out of fear at the hour of the Lord’s Passion, and even the great St. Peter denied the Savior thrice. Yet none of these sins prevented God on the holy day of Pentecost from sending down upon them the Most Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire, and on that same day thousands of souls around them were saved. Even the bloodthirsty persecutor Saul became the greatest preacher of the Gospel of Christ that this world has ever seen. There is absolutely no more powerful witness on this earth to the Kingdom of Heaven than a life renewed and transfigured by the grace of God. And before God Himself I tell you the truth: such a life, and such great and ineffable grace, is open to each and every one of us, no matter who we are and no matter what we have done. It is open to us through Holy Baptism, through Holy Communion, through the Mystery of Repentance, through a life of prayer and fasting and almsgiving, through a life filled with mercy and compassion and love. And above all: it is open to us through the Cross. So let us strive with all our hearts to say with St. Paul: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). We Christians are once again becoming strangers in a strange land, and “here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Hebrews 13:14). And truly all the world longs for the city of God… but they will never hear of it if we ourselves do not tell them, and they will never reach it if we ourselves do not lead the way. So let us make the most of this great and holy opportunity which we have been given. Let us make all our lives a witness to the Heavenly Jerusalem. Let us always remember Sion, even as we sing with great and unspeakable grief here by these waters of Babylon. Let us make it the sole purpose of our lives to bring every single person we meet with us on our journey Home. 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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19. This temporary guidance was set to expire on August 18. Because of ongoing precautions related to COVID-19, DHS has extended this policy for an additional 30 days. August 2020 Update: ICE announces another extension to I-9 compliance flexibility July 2020 Update: ICE announces another extension to I-9 compliance flexibility, no more extensions for employers to respond to NOIs served in March March 2020 Update: DHS announces flexibility in requirements related to Form I-9 compliance Expect delays in processing for all product lines. Education & Employment Verification: Many high schools and universities across the United States have either closed for an extended period or shifted to a virtual classroom environment. Most high schools are currently unavailable for verification Higher education verification may be delayed due to limited administrative staff Employers are more challenging to isolate with specificity as closings are fluid and being directed by state and local municipalities. Drug Screening Solutions (Labs and Clinics): LabCorp patient service centers are open for non-COVID-19 collection but there may be times where your local lab for specimen collection may experience an opening delay, shortened hours of operation or it may be closed. Please visit, www.labcorp.com/patient-service-center-closures for the most up-to-date information. Occupational Health Services: We are currently recommending candidates call the clinics before showing up to ensure the clinic is open and able to perform services. Concentra: In an effort to protect the Concentra staff and patrons, Concentra is requiring masks be worn in all their medical centers effective, April 20, 2020 until further notice. Concentra is encouraging donors to wear their own masks. If donors arrive without a mask, the facility will attempt to provide a mask. However, their supply is limited, and this is not a guarantee. If the donor refuses to wear a mask, they will be asked to leave the facility. This measure is being implemented for everyone’s safety and well-being. Quest: Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Centers (PSC) will be requiring donors to wear masks – mask/face covering such as a bandana, scarf, or handmade mask. There will be a no-contact forehead temperature check upon entry. Any donor with a temperature greater than 100.3 or without a mask will be turned away. Quest Patient Service Centers cannot supply masks to patients/donors who present without them. They will be graciously instructing them that it is a requirement. Orders can be placed again. The majority of The UPS Store locations are now available to support fingerprinting screening requirements. While all locations plan to resume normal operations, The UPS Store corporate policy also provides individual stores with the right to opt-out, if they are uncomfortable performing fingerprinting. To mitigate risks and save time, we are advising candidates to call their local UPS store prior to visiting. At this time there is no disruption in service but some status with manual processing requirements may be delayed. We are taking reasonable precautions during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak to help maintain business and operational continuity. We are in close contact with our key suppliers and vendors, and we have resiliency plans to help us address the impact on our supply chain or logistics. We will provide more information as necessary in the event of any supply chain or logistics issues that may affect candidates or customers.	3,849
Meet the companies that we call partners. They form the foundation of our product specifications thanks in part to their best-in-class performance, breadth of product offering and ongoing technological innovation. Commercial Networks have more stringent performance and bandwidth requirements than ever before, and Araknis is the go-to solution for IT experts in both residential and commercial environments. For best-in-class functionality and support, Araknis offers the ultimate dependability through their wide range of networking products. Operate the network seamlessly when you want to find new features, set new security access levels or expand the system. Routers, access points and switches undergo thorough testing in a variety of environments. Diagnose and resolve problems before they become an issue through the company’s trademark OvrC software. Using this cloud management platform, we remotely monitor all your network-enabled devices. We’ll troubleshoot issues and reboot devices to help you avoid on-site service calls and extensive downtime. What started as an innovative radio manufacturer in 1934, Barco is now an international name in high-end home theater projectors. The Belgian-born technology company offers three ranges of home cinema projectors to meet the unique needs of consumers and home environments. Designed for film enthusiasts who crave top-tier motion picture reproduction, Barco home theater projectors feature specially crafted lenses, optics and advanced electronics processing to promise a flawless representation of every moment of your favorite content. Employing the same cutting-edge technology moviemakers use to film, Barco projectors delight even the most discerning cinephiles. Universally loved by audiophiles and recording professionals, Bowers & Wilkins is believed by many to offer the best loudspeakers in the world. They are so synonymous with luxury sound that they’re the official audio solution for all Jaguar car models. For more than 50 years, they have been the standard bearers in the hi-fi world through handcrafted speakers, superior grade materials and industry-leading audio engineering. They introduced the use of Kevlar and Diamond for the ultimate in pure, striking sound reproduction, and their audio engineering delivers expansive depth and clarity. Despite being best known for their flagship loudspeakers, B&W now offers the same exacting audio standard to their line of headphones, subwoofers, architectural speakers and even their stylish wireless speakers. Coastal Source stands for something radically different from mass-marketed landscape lighting and outdoor audio products. Their mindset is “do it once, do it right.” Rather than creating solutions that inevitably fail over time, Coastal Source designs and engineers high-end landscape lighting and outdoor audio solutions that are created for superior function and durability—even in the harsh salt spray of coastal environments. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in New Jersey, Coastal Source combines more than 50 years of hands-on industry experience to deliver a patented landscape lighting system that features bullet lights, path lights, well lights, step lights and more that withstand the elements and enhance pleasure, safety and curb appeal. Their high-fidelity outdoor audio products feature 2-way and 3-way ellipse bollards, modular bullet speakers and concealed rock speakers that deliver rich, full coverage while blending into your gardens and foliage. Experience personalized control for your unique lifestyle with the power of Salt Lake City-based Control4. Connect virtually any device in your home or business to work together, and command them all with customized one-touch controls and scenes from your system remote or smart device of choice. Whether you’re home or away, a Control4 system gives you the power to command and monitor your Maui, HI estate or business in one platform. The transformative benefits of a smart connected home and business with Control4 delivers convenience, peace of mind and an efficient environment that’s comfortable and safe. Bring your smart home dreams to fruition with one-touch control of your entire Kauai, HI estate from an intuitive touch panel, custom-engraved keypad, smartphone or by voice activation. Crestron home automation and control reveals your home or business’ true potential with programmed scenes that instantly adjust your lights, shades, thermostat, audiovisual electronics, security system and more—all at the lift of a finger. Custom-tailored for any home, workplace and lifestyle, Crestron is truly the pinnacle of invisible comfort and convenience and takes pride in designing and manufacturing their products in America. Hartmann & Forbes is an award-winning, luxury maker of handwoven window coverings, wall coverings and textiles from natural, sustainable fibers. Perfect for designers and homeowners looking for automated window treatments that inspire a mindful awareness of nature, the Hartmann & Forbes line fuses tradition with technology to help create balance, harmony and clarity in any space. Protect your furnishings, conserve energy and improve security while basking in the beauty of the natural world. Choose from a variety of styles, from naturally woven shades and drapery, textile panel screens, performance roller shades and more. Speak to your smart home like you would a family member or friend with Josh, a sophisticated voice-controlled automation system created by Denver-based artificial intelligence company Josh.ai. Josh uses proprietary Natural Language Processing technology so you can command your home in whatever way feels most comfortable. Josh will learn your daily patterns and take note of your preferences to make your smart home experience more effortless than ever. Since its founding in 2015, Josh.ai has put your privacy and protection first, promising never to sell your data and giving you full control over how much information your home collects. Use Josh with best-in-class smart home products like Control4, Lutron, Nest, Sony and more, and control your whole home from anywhere in the world with your smartphone. Enjoy personalized, American-made speakers and sound sculptures that look as beautiful as they sound when you choose Leon. Each audio solution is an elegant balance of stunning design and innovative technology, delicately manufactured in a way that helps reshape the way people experience culture. The Michigan-based manufacturer is widely known for their award-winning sound and unrivaled level of customization, building speakers by hand and to your exact specifications since 1995. Choose from their collection of custom soundbars, ceiling and wall speakers, outdoor speakers, and even elevate the design of your TV displays with Leon’s handcrafted media décor products. Inventors of the solid-state dimmer in 1959 and now holders of 2,700 worldwide patents, Lutron has expanded their product offering to more than 15,000 products. Lutron makes it possible to craft the perfect atmosphere at home or in the workplace to complement your day-to-night activities with personalized lighting and shading control for enhanced comfort and productivity. Recall your favorite settings from a master keypad or remote to easily transform your environment with just a tap or set your lights and shades to adjust on their own so you can focus on the activity at hand. From the workplace to the home, a Lutron lighting control system provides sophisticated solutions for custom lighting and shading that operate seamlessly at your command. Established in 1999 by audio engineers and craftsmen, James Loudspeaker takes pride in its commitment to innovation when designing high-performance audio solutions. James Loudspeaker offers lines for luxury homes, marine applications and enterprising businesses alike. Through cutting-edge technology and flawless designs, their products provide unprecedented sonic performance in both indoor and outdoor environments. James Loudspeaker solutions emphasize aesthetics to deliver powerful sound while having a minimal presence in the space. Loudspeakers from all lines include ultra-slim driver technology, adjustable frequency distribution and quad-tweeter arrays. All James Loudspeaker customers receive personal support to ensure a solution that satisfies all of their needs and preferences. Choose from a wide range of in-wall, in-ceiling, under eave, landscape, bookshelf and loudspeaker models. McIntosh has been shaping music since 1949 with its distinguished offerings of luxury audio systems. From two-channel stereo sound systems to multi-channel home theater surround sound systems, the New York-based manufacturer offers a large scale of handcrafted audio products that enable music and film enthusiasts to truly live inside the most immersive soundscapes. Their iconic blue Watt output meter lives on every one of their amplifiers and receivers and is truly a global symbol of quality home audio. Go beyond the home theater and dedicated listening room with audio products like their signature turntables, CD players, speakers and headphones that bring exceptional sound to your everyday life. When you choose McIntosh, you choose the same experience, passion, and performance that has powered some of the most iconic musical moments in history. Relying on over 30 years of experience, Planar delivers reliable, technology-forward solutions to the most common significant display challenges. The Oregon-based company eschews the razzle-dazzle of many display manufacturers and focuses on what matters most: functionality. Understanding how you want to use the technology and where you place it is vital to creating solutions that let your company shine in visual-heavy industries where display performance is critical. Planar offers stellar LCD and LED video walls, 4K LCD displays, touch displays and desktop and touch screen monitors. You can find Planar products in airports, hospitals, ATMs, retail stores and even residential applications throughout the world from San Francisco to Shanghai. Elevate your expectations of home entertainment with Samsung’s most innovative and advanced range of televisions that offer an impeccable visual and auditory experience for film and gaming enthusiasts alike. Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Processor is the mastermind behind their unrivaled QLED 4K and 8K TVs that display a depth of detail, contrast and realism never seen before. Even when not in use, Samsung displays add beauty to your home by transforming into framed artwork or blending into the decorative pattern on your wall, elevating your space while turned on and off. As the first home automation company to embrace mobile technology for control inside and outside the home, Savant is a leader in innovation. The brand helps to cultivate the ultimate luxury lifestyle with personalized control of your entire home, business or yacht from an intuitive mobile app, high-resolution touchscreen, elegant remote or by voice activation. A Savant smart home offers any user the unparalleled convenience of controlling your lighting, climate, entertainment, pool and spa, security and more from a single platform no matter where you are. Set distinctive scenes that mold to your every mood and transform your home into a coveted entertainment hotspot at the touch of a button. Whatever you imagine, Savant can help make it a reality. Unleash the full potential of your home theater with Screen Innovation’s masterful indoor and outdoor screen models. Revolutionize your viewing experience with ambient light rejecting screens so you can enjoy your favorite films even during the day. Embrace the big screen experience in a stylish environment with their sleek, zero edge models that fit seamlessly in any space. Now you can even take your screen on the go with the Solo line model featuring a portable cassette and a two-year battery life. Tiles and rear projection screens, meanwhile, allow unique and engaging digital signage solutions for businesses. Recently, Screen Innovations has also released motorized shades for indoor and outdoor use in a wide range of models and colors. Revel in the perfect harmony of design and technology with Séura’s award-winning line of smart mirrors and TV solutions for your indoor and outdoor spaces. Improve your morning routine with Séura SMART technology that incorporates seamlessly into a custom vanity for total home control at the touch of your bathroom mirror. Elevate your living room with intelligent 4K TV displays that disguise as beautifully framed mirrors when turned off. And see yourself in the best possible light with elegantly lighted mirrors that illuminate your bathrooms without the need for cluttered sconces and light fixtures. Certified as a Woman-owned Business Enterprise and with all products manufactured in Green Bay, Wisconsin, all Séura products get to wear the badge of Made in the USA by American craftsman. Established in the early 1980’s, Southern California-based Dana Innovations is the parent company of Sonance, iPort and TRUFIG. Sonance specializes in designing high-quality audio systems for luxury homes and businesses that work in virtually any environment, from in-wall and in-ceiling to expansive outdoor landscapes and more. Enjoy sightless surround sound that immerses you into your favorite blockbuster film or musical soundtrack with discreet speaker solutions that complement any indoor décor or hide evenly throughout your gardens and foliage. With Sonance, delight in immaculate sound with minimal visual impact thanks to the beautiful blending of technology and aesthetics. Sonos envelops every space of your home with brilliant audio, creating a soundscape you can easily customize to play what you want, where you want. With smart, wireless speakers for your music and cinema, Sonos expands crystal-clear audio anywhere you desire and connects to all your favorite media sources for easy, one-tap listening. Seamlessly command your speakers with voice activation or from your smart device of choice and rediscover your favorite music with a sound system that lets you listen your way. Each Sonus Faber speaker is not only a handmade musical instrument but an exceptional work of art. Producing the purest sound through natural materials and individualized tuning by ear, each model has delivered “the Voice of Sonus Faber” since the company was founded in 1983. Their speakers showcase the traditional craftsmanship of Italian artisans offering the same precision used when building the world’s most famous musical violins. The “Made in Italy” expectation is there as well in the elegant aesthetics that make Sonus Faber a focal point of your home décor. Speakers come in various polished finishes, including wood, metal gray, white and black. Their wide range of reference loudspeakers, bookshelf speakers and wireless speakers exemplify the pinnacle of hi-fi sound for a wide range of applications. Connect with us to learn more about how these industry-leading brands work together to create your dream smart home or business.	15,301
Senate to Vote on Net Neutrality Resolution – The Senate will hold a vote on a motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 52, a resolution to overturn the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality rules. The FCC’s repeal is scheduled to become effective June 11. There will be up to 10 hours of debate allowed on the measure; however, a vote is likely to take place this afternoon. House to Vote on Banking Bill Next Week – The House is planning a vote on the Senate-passed Dodd-Frank rollback bill next Tuesday. The bill would narrow the scope of Dodd-Frank regulations to give small and mid-size banks regulatory relief. • Today @ 10:30 AM: House Ways and Means Committee, Hearing Series on Tax Reform: Growing Our Economy and Creating Jobs, 1100 Longworth House Office Building. • Thursday, May 17 @ 10 AM: House Small Business Committee, Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce, Hotline Truths II: Audit Reveals Inconsistencies in Defense Subcontracting, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building. 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We engineer transformational change through Research, Incubation, Convening & Advocacy to foster a robust and inclusive marketplace. We create economic opportunity for underserved entrepreneurs throughout the United States. © 2019 Association for Enterprise Opportunity. All Rights reserved. Privacy Policy Special thanks to Wells Fargo for supporting the development of this website. Keir Zander is the Innovation Project Manager at AEO and joined the team in 2022. Keir has been working to democratize access to entrepreneurship and education for the past 15 years. His passion for this work was first forged through personal experience as an entrepreneur. Keir launched and scaled three companies in his early career, including a training center in Guatemala which provided workforce readiness and language instruction to adult learners. This experience taught him the significant barriers to entrepreneurship that plague under-resourced communities. He soon after joined Community Investment Collaborative (CIC), a US based nonprofit to help grow their microlending and entrepreneurship training programs. As Vice-President of CIC, Keir helped to scale the organization’s operations and to build a culture of inclusion and strategic decision making. In 2019 Keir moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he worked to support the rapidly developing entrepreneurship ecosystem there through work with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Fulbright University Vietnam, as well as providing strategic consulting and coaching for several emerging startups. Keir studied Educational Psychology and History at the University of Virginia and is deeply interested in the impact that human centered design and experiential education can offer when designing inclusive products for adult learners. Keir is also passionate about criminal justice reform and enjoys volunteering as a personal finance instructor to incarcerated citizens approaching re-entry. In his spare time, Keir loves the outdoors, and spends much of his time camping, fishing and traveling. Sibyl Edwards is a digital strategist, designer, innovator and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in tech. For over a decade, Ms. Edwards created successful digital, design and branding campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, non-profit associations, NGOs and tech startups. Working with organizations to help expand their brand and meet their organization goals, Sibyl develops solutions and strategies utilizing best practices in digital marketing and design. Past work includes the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, projects for organizations such as USAID, The World Bank, DC Government, Ogilvy, Rosetta Stone, Edelman Financial Services, Gannett/GO Digital, Cision and Marriott. A native Texan, Ms. Edwards holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Corcoran College of Art + Design, and a degree in web design and multimedia from the Art Institute of Dallas. In 2018, Ms. Edwards was listed in Essence Magazine’s Woke 100 list for her work supporting black women entrepreneurs as a co-founder of Black Female Founders. In her downtime, Sibyl loves SciFi/fantasy and mystery movies and books, watching anime, abstract painting, crafting and cooking. She lives in Washington, DC. Corey Briscoe, Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Communications, has been a part of the AEO team since December 2015. Corey is a thought leader who transcends industries. He is the Managing Partner for Operations at ABCD & Company, where he oversees daily operations and human capital strategy. Known as “the company culture guy,” Corey specializes in molding leaders and uniting people around common goals. His ability to drive strategic agendas has privileged him to work with leaders across various sectors. A masterful orator and strategist, Corey has served as an advisor to legislators, university presidents and corporate executives. Corey’s expertise in meeting planning and building strategic communication campaigns has served many associations, nonprofits and institutions of higher education with a significant multicultural presence and target audience. His work in this field includes engagements with organizations such as The Apollo Theater, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, University of the District of Columbia and Hampton University. He has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR and ABC. He has also been named a “BE Modern Man” by Black Enterprise. The BE Modern Man award celebrates 100 influential men of color “who have done or are doing exceptional work within their communities, within their respective industries and/or globally.” Corey is an alumnus of Howard University, where he served on the Board of Trustees. Additionally, Corey holds a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in English and a M.S. in Management. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Corey now resides in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In his free time, he enjoys spending time on his boat. Brian AM Williams is a leading voice of color in emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, cloud, and cross platform mobile. Brian is a serial entrepreneur, full stack developer, engineer, MBA, and is an expert on the mechanisms of Black American innovation. Brian is the founder of Wayne and Reed, a technology startup studio focused on creating curated innovations targeting big challenges facing our new world. Wayne and Reed creates an internal portfolio of technology startups under one umbrella using smart processes, partnerships, and ingenuitive strategies. Brian attended Purdue University’s honors engineering program and is also a graduate of The University of Texas – McCombs School of Business MBA program. While at Texas, Brian became a venture fellow, exposing him to the inner workings of the Austin Texas venture capital ecosystem. Brian is the founder of Purchase Black, a former ecommerce platform focused on thousands of high quality CPG products from select Black owned businesses nationwide. Brian is focused on using innovation to both create opportunities for others and to solve problems that move things forward. President & CEO Connie E. Evans is the President and Chief Executive Officer of AEO. Connie is a visionary leader, astute strategist, activist and social entrepreneur who has founded three organizations. In 1986 she was the founding president of the award-winning Women’s Self-Employment Project, the first and largest urban microbusiness development organization in the U.S., and the first adaptation of the Grameen Bank model to a U.S. urban setting. She also pioneered one of the first matched-savings program—Individual Development Accounts—in the country. In 2000 she founded WSEP Ventures, a social enterprise-hybrid organization developed to serve as a catalyst for social change, economic development and community empowerment. In 2007 she founded CSolutions Consulting, an advisory boutique specializing in solutions that address social change. An international development consultant with more than 25 years of experience, she has been recognized and utilized by such groups as the World Bank, the Clinton Administration, and a host of local government, private and independent-sector organizations. With international experience spanning 43 countries, she draws on her expertise in developing and implementing strategies to further economic development, health and social change in communities. Connie started her career in community mental health as a master-level psychologist. Her commitment to improving the health and life options for disadvantaged women and their families moved her to “harness the marketplace” for solutions. As the Assistant Director of a Hull House Association affiliate in Chicago, she became the Project Director for the first resident-managed public housing site in the city. She helped low-income women organize, develop leadership skills and learn business acumen in order to take control over a multi-million dollar enterprise. Connie has given lectures at universities throughout the U.S., and is a frequent panelist and keynote speaker at conferences around the globe. She has many distinguished awards, including: being named the Inaugural Twink Frey Social Activist in 2006; the 1996 Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine; the first Teknion Humanitarian Award in 1999; Gloria Steinem Woman of Vision Award; 1998 Community Leader of the Year presented by the African American MBA Association at the University of Chicago; and the Chicago Community Service Fellowship Award by the Chicago Community Trust. Connie’s broad experience across the worlds of business and finance compliments her skills in development finance. She served two elected terms on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago—the first African American woman to hold such a position—and was appointed by President Clinton to the CDFI Advisory Board, a fund in the Department of the Treasury. She was appointed by President Obama to be a member of the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She was also appointed by President Clinton as a member of the U. S. Delegation to Preparatory Meetings for the Summit of the Americas, the U. S. Delegation to Preparatory Meetings for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and again for Beijing Plus Five. A strong advocate of good governance in nonprofits, she has nearly 20 years of service on philanthropic foundation boards, and serves on a number of national and international boards. Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets. Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes. Tara L. Campbell serves as Vice President – CED Lending & Investment Strategies Director at Fifth Third Bank. In this role, her primary responsibilities include managing the CRA lending and investment program, cultivating national partnerships and executing community development strategies across the banks regional footprint. Prior to joining Fifth Third Bank, she held the position of Signature Initiatives Manager within the Business Impact Group at U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation where she supported the development and implementation of new products, services and experiences in partnership with business lines across the U.S. Bank enterprise to advance their social impact strategy of closing persistent and historic gaps in outcomes for women, people of color, and low-income communities. Most notable accomplishments in this role include leading a $50 Million Paycheck Protection Program liquidity fund for CDFIs and the launch of the $25 Million U.S. Bank Access fund for women of color microbusinesses. Sean is the Innovation Portfolio Associate for the Innovation Hub at AEO. In this role, Sean helps with the launch and growth of various initiatives across the Innovation Hub. The goal of this work is to create a more inclusive marketplace for underserved microbusinesses. Prior to working at AEO, Sean was a Program Coordinator for the Finance Leaders Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. In this role, he managed the nominations and sourcing process for the Fellowship. Sean believes that business can be used as a powerful tool for good. At AEO, he hopes to amplify this idea by helping empower entrepreneurs through small business ownership. Sean is a graduate of Georgetown University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors and is passionate about conservation and sustainability. Sidney works within the Research Division under the Department of Data and Analytics where she assists other research associates with various data-related tasks throughout the lifecycle of assorted projects. Additionally, she also works as a research and teaching assistant for the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where Sidney is currently completing a M.S. in Information Science. Her previous experience in data science comes from a BS in Physics and Astronomy, also from the University of Tennessee, as well as her ongoing research assistantship. In her free time, Sidney enjoys reading, cooking, and baking. Lori Smith is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Data and Analytics. Lori brings data, experience, and strategy together to uncover unique insights and actionable intelligence to support underserved entrepreneurs. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Princeton University, and her experience spans multiple industries with a concentration in banking, community economic development, and economic policy. She focuses on applying rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods to these areas, including quasi-experimental approaches to policy and impact evaluation. Lori’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and academic presses, and she has presented her research at numerous academic and industry conferences. Prior to joining AEO, Lori coordinated research at a Mexican government-owned social development bank, bringing customer intelligence and data analytics capabilities to financial inclusion strategies. Lori has also consulted with the United Nations and the World Bank on a number of financial policy projects. Chelsea Maxwell serves as a Research Associate at the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. Maxwell is a trained social worker with a Bachelor’s of Social Work with minors in political science and sociology from Dordt University (formerly Dordt College) and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. Previously, Maxwell was an interviewer for the University of Pittsburgh’s Evaluation Institute for Public Health and worked for the Center for Public Justice researching and advocating for labor policies that support families. She also served in positions with the Food Bank of Iowa, the City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, and the Howard Area Community Center in Chicago’s Rogers Park. A sixth-generation Iowan, Maxwell currently lives in the District of Columbia. Hailing from Vietnam, Anh Nguyen is a Graduate Research Fellow in the Department of Data and Analytics at AEO, assisting the Research Director with quantitative and qualitative research projects on the microbusiness industry. Their passions lie in capacity building and social justice for the underserved, including ethnic/racial minorities, sexually marginalized, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Alongside AEO, Anh served as a Programme Assistant for the Global Programme on Nature for Development, supporting a global analysis of over 50 countries’ nature-based solution commitments in nature, climate, and development policies, as well as efforts to recognize and advance local, sustainable development solutions of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities around the world. Previously, they had also worked at Inter Cultural Education Ltd. to build intercultural competencies among secondary and university students in Hong Kong. Anh holds an M.A. in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and a B.A. in Global Studies at Bridgewater College. They enjoy sketching and reading in their free time. Passionate about inclusive innovation, social impact, and equitable economic development, Erin Horne McKinney is the Executive Vice President of Innovation and Strategy for the Association of Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and Founder of the global community, Black Female Founders (acquired). Erin is a Womanist, Afrofuturist, activist, advocate, communication scientist, seasoned executive, investor, and serial entrepreneur and intrapreneur with more than two decades of entrepreneurship and tech policy, venture capital, economic and business development, inclusion/diversity/equity/access (IDEA) and marketing communications experience. Erin’s previous positions include being the first Black CEO of WomenVenture (a Small Business Administration designated Women’s Business Center and Community Development Financial Institution), inaugural Managing Partner of Inclusion for JumpStart Inc. (a nonprofit venture and economic development firm), and as Washington D.C.’s inaugural Senior Advisor on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Executive Office of the Mayor. Erin has also held executive leadership roles with the National Association of Multicultural Digital Entrepreneurs (NAMDE), the National Diversity Council, and the Maynard Institute. Her entrepreneurship and technology policy work includes research positions with TechNet, the National Telecommunication and Information Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Erin is a member of Pipeline Angels and serves as an advisor and mentor to startups, incubators and accelerator programs. She is a founding member of the Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) and serves on the advisory board for Collider’s Inclusion Open program (funded by the Kauffman Foundation), and as a Board Director for Greater Twin Cities United Way and Tubman. She also serves as the founding President & CEO of the African American Community Development Corporation (AACDC) in Minnesota and the Managing Partner & Chair of Minnesota Impact Partners (MIP), a real estate development firm. Amber Dozier is a scholar, content curator, and research expert. Dozier serves as a Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at ABCD & Company. In this role, Dozier leads knowledge management and thought leadership, while overseeing the development and execution of ABCD & Company’s technical expertise across several industries, including education, government, and the nonprofit sector. Dozier specializes in marketing intelligence and market research. Known as “the braintrust” of ABCD & Company, her ability to strategically acquire and utilize information has led to transformational change for clients across the nation. Dozier’s core focus is creating value for mission-driven organizations by utilizing strategic research and analysis to help brands discover and articulate their identity and unique value proposition. In addition to working with a plethora of institutions, she is the curator of the ABCD Institute, which serves as a think tank designed to educate aspiring leaders on various marketplace developments through research and thought-provoking content. Dozier is a Howard University alumna and a native of the Greater Chicagoland area. Durecia Moorer is an entrepreneur, international speaker, and strategic marketing advisor. Moorer, a Managing Partner, serves as Chief Marketing Officer at ABCD & Company. In her post, Moorer has oversight of business development, marketing strategy, and strategic partnerships. Moorer, is recognized as a thought leader in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Branded as “the people’s magnet,” Moorer’s ability to leverage resources and garner profitable, mutually beneficial relationships has placed her among the echelons of prominent leaders and promoted the quantum growth of ABCD & Company. Moorer specializes in brand strategy, project management, and event planning and has successfully served a wide range of clients, including nonprofits, associations, faith based organizations, financial institutions, and government. Moorer is a graduate of the Emerging Young Entrepreneurs Program hosted by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, sits on the board of Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of Leadership Montgomery’s Emerging Leaders Program. Moorer is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and resides in Northern Virginia. She is a proud Howard University alumna, and holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management. Brittanye Calhoun serves as a Managing Partner and Chief Creative Officer of ABCD & Company. Calhoun’s eye for detail and demand for originality positions ABCD & Company at the forefront of business innovation. Calhoun is responsible for the execution and delivery of all products and services. Calhoun is also the bearer of the corporate image standard and ensures that all aspects of the company align with set standards. She specializes in project management, corporate branding, and strategic event planning. Calhoun is a titan in project management and on-site execution. Calhoun served as the Senior Project Manager for the Apollo Theater’s Spring Gala, where she had oversight of the digital production team. Calhoun managed the production and interviewing of prominent figures such as Debra Lee of BET and Dick Parsons, former Chairman of Time Warner and Citigroup. Calhoun has been widely recognized as a brand incubator and travels extensively to provide counsel to C-suite executives on brand strategy. Calhoun is a proud Howard University Alumna and holds a Master of Business Administration, with a specialization in Project Management. Germaine McIver-Cherry serves as the Innovation Program Coordinator at AEO. Germaine joins the team with extensive knowledge and experience in serving underserved entrepreneurs through technical assistance, program development, training and mentoring. She is an experienced banker, social worker, and entrepreneur who leverages her practical knowledge to enhance impact in underserved communities. She is a highly organized project administrator skilled at synthesizing information and tasks to achieve organizational goals. She has previous work experience working with small business owners by providing end-to-end technical assistance, as well as, coaching to help nurture, grow and strengthen entrepreneurs along their journey to achieve maximum business success. Prior to joining the AEO team, Germaine served as the Director of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) where her responsibilities included managing the day-to-day operations of the site, developing strategic and sustainable partnerships, developing and managing various entrepreneurial programs and workshops, supervising student interns, and supporting the business services team across the state of NC. Germaine earned both a BSW and MSW degree from North Carolina Central University. She has served as an independent consultant for The Support Center, Project Support Team Coordinator for Frontline Solutions International, LLC, and various positions at SunTrust Bank. She has volunteered time as a Parent-Family Engagement Consultant for Village of Wisdom and serves as a ministry leader at Impact Church of Durham. She has a heart to serve the underserved and a passion to help others which truly motivates her in this body of work. As a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM), Geoff has leveraged his operational and compliance knowledge to introduce methods to save both time and money while meeting evolving and complex business objectives. Geoffrecently passed the Certified Enterprise Risk Professional (CERP) exam which recognizes his subject matter expertise in all risk disciplines, including credit, operations, privacy, reputation, and information security. Geoff has consistently built and developed risk management programs that maximize operational effectiveness while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations and statutes. In addition to serving as a trusted business partner and core leader, he enjoys mentoring and developing individuals to expand their skill sets and providing career development opportunities. Alexis works closely with the government affairs and advocacy teams to develop policy strategies, client outreach, and coalition-building efforts firm-wide. Prior to her current role, Alexis served as an Analyst at Prism Group, where she aided in communications strategies, data management, and completed domestic and international client reporting. Alexis recently graduated from the George Washington University with a Master of Arts in Political Science and World Politics with a focus on Southeast Asia. While at the George Washington University, she served as an intern for Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL). Additionally, Alexis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global and Comparative Studies with a focus on Asian Studies from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. During her time at Birmingham-Southern College, Alexis interned with Momentum Leaders in 2019, and was selected to serve as a Hess Fellow for the Global Campaign for Education-US in Washington, DC in 2018. John Stanford is a government relations and public affairs professional with experience leading multi-year advocacy and awareness campaigns. He specializes in communicating client objectives to government stakeholders to drive policy formation. As a partner at Prism Group, John leads Democratic lobbying and engagement and the federal level, specializing in identifying champions for pro-growth and innovation agendas. His relationships on Capitol Hill build on nearly a decade of experience leveraging entrepreneurship to close wealth gap in low-income communities. He also leads the firm’s advocacy practice, which is responsible for developing and executing a broad array of strategies including third-party activation and coalition development. Finally, John provides regular commentary on key issues around innovation and the economy, including in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNBC and has been featured on cable television. Manu Delgado-Medrano is the Research Director at AEO. Manu is a seasoned expert in research, economic and financial analysis, and behavioral science. Manu has extensive experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods, including economic and financial modeling, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, data analysis and visualization, survey design and execution, behavioral design, public and regulatory policy design, quantitative/statistical/econometric analysis, impact evaluation, and project design, management, and implementation. Manu’s research experience has focused primarily on small and micro-businesses, microfinance, consumer finance and consumer goods, marketing, healthcare, economic development, real estate, mobility and transportation, urban development, and telecommunications. Manu is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and advanced in French, Catalan, and German. Chris Kawasaki joined AEO in August 2021 as Vice President, Data and Analytics. With more than a decade of experience in data and innovation strategy at financial institutions Chris oversees AEO’s Data and Analytics workstreams. Prior to joining AEO, Chris created and helped lead a central data and innovation group for Bank of America’s institutional client businesses where he helped develop and deploy more than 100 data and machine learning focused use cases. He also led the formation of Bank of America’s sales and trading platform with >$100mm+ technology budget. Chris has extensive banking industry experience, guiding regulatory negotiations and post-crisis efforts at BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, leading financial reform discussions with federal regulators and advising firm leadership on the implications of Dodd-Frank Act and Basel Accords. Chris is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Masters of Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Patience Misner, M.S. is an equity-minded evaluator and researcher who puts the participants’ experience at the center of her work. She serves as AEO’s Research Associate assisting the Research Director with quantitative and qualitative research projects on microbusiness industry research. Previously she was the Research and Evaluation Manager at Commonwealth Corporation, a workforce development agency, under the DYS Initiative that provided career readiness programs for youth involved in the Massachusetts Juvenile Justice System. Her work largely focused on program evaluation, but she also provided technical assistance and training to team member and service delivery staff. With experience serving two year’s in AmeriCorps, Patience brings interpersonal skills and experience from direct service programs to her work as a researcher. Patience received a M.S. in Global Health Policy and Management and a M.A. in Sustainable International Development, focusing on monitoring and evaluation from The Heller School at Brandeis University. Her thesis focused on the application of feminist evaluation. Marieka Walsh serves as the Project Manager at AEO. She is responsible for implementing AEO’s enterprise-wide project management framework, managing cross-departmental projects and collaborating with project owners to drive projects to completion. She also advises departments on project management best practices to ensure projects are completed in an effective and efficient manner. Marieka offers eight years of global project management experience in the non-profit sector from both a professional and academic perspective. During her five years at PYXERA Global she managed innovative social impact programs and team-based projects with Fortune Global 500 companies that took place across India, Brazil, and the United States. Her corporate clients included Mastercard, Medtronic, and IBM. Most recently she led client management activities of Mastercard’s pro bono portfolio and in 2020 successfully launched and implemented two new pro bono programs, one of which was focused on engaging employees in skills-based projects with non-profits on the frontlines of racial justice in the United States. For nearly three years she served as the India Desk Officer where she acted as the HQ-based resource supporting India staff with program management and business development through business process roll out and training. Prior to that Marieka managed student support for Alternative Breaks service-learning programs at American University, served as a Peace Corps Community Health Volunteer in Mozambique, and taught English in the Republic of Georgia. Marieka holds a MA in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-profit Management from American University and a BA in International Relations and minor in Economics from Mount Holyoke College. She is proficient in Portuguese. Marieka is passionate about the non-profit sector and the power of organizations like AEO to help communities thrive. Currently she is the Community Relations Volunteer for the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and independently produces thought leadership content about how public, private and social sectors can and are collaborating to solve global challenges. Sara Youmans serves as the Community Engagement Manager at AEO. In her role, she works with the Marketing and Communications team to facilitate relationships with members and organize engagement activities. She is passionate about bringing her skills to the nonprofit and microbusiness sectors. Prior to joining AEO Sara was the Community Support and Engagement intern at Kiva Microfunds where she focused primarily on customer service and portfolio management. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, she taught preschool in a Reggio Amelia style classroom in Ketchum, Idaho. Sara is an alumnus of Whitman College where she earned a B.A. in History. Sara is an Idaho native, but now lives and works in Portland, OR. In her spare time, she races her road bike for Orion Racing, a women’s team based in Minnesota and Colorado. Flores is responsible for shaping the Wells Fargo’s small business growth philanthropy aimed at helping entrepreneurs access capital and technical assistance so they can expand their impact on the economy and ability to provide jobs. She has more than 20 years of experience overseeing philanthropic investments, employee engagement and corporate citizenship initiatives. Most recently, she was head of community affairs and corporate social responsibility at Bank of the West, where she led the company’s strategy for small business engagement and impact including the creation of a new $30 million investment fund with community development financial institutions for small business owners. In addition, Flores advocated for an enterprise small business strategy in support of women entrepreneurs, resulting in a coordinated effort across the bank’s resources to provide female founders with access to capital, tailored mentorship and networks needed to scale revenue. Flores also launched a partnership with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance to accelerate the growth of innovative businesses focused on using the latest technology to protect the health of the ocean and the environment. Prior to Bank of the West, Flores spent a decade in community development at Citigroup, and also held roles at the Congress of California Seniors, Greenlining Institute, and the California State Legislature. She currently serves as a mentor with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Milestone Makers Program and sits on the board of directors for the Ocean Conservancy. Flores received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California–Berkeley and a master’s degree from the FW Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Jon Doody serves as the Innovation Program Coordinator at AEO. In his role at AEO, Jon leads the planning and coordination of the programs, pilots, events, and activities of the Innovation Hub team. Prior to joining the AEO team, Jon served overseas in Namibia as a Community Economic Development Volunteer for the Peace Corps. He has extensive experience as an Operations Specialist in the fields of Logistics and Finance. Jon is a native of Long Island, New York but has now lived most of his life in East Tennessee. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University. Chief of Race, Wealth, And Community Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is Chief of Race, Wealth and Community at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). He oversees NCRC’s Fair Housing, Fair Lending and Small Business programs. Dedrick is known for his racial economic inequality analysis particularly as it relates to the racial wealth divide. Dedrick comes from Prosperity Now where he was Senior Fellow and founder of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative. Before Prosperity Now, Dedrick worked for the NAACP, where he was the Senior Director of the Economic Department and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center. Dedrick has also worked for Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and the Institute for Policy Studies. Bio forthcoming. Chris Wheat is the Director of Business Research for the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Prior to joining JPMCI, Chris served as the Director of Analytics at a financial technology startup, where he led the development of advanced analytics algorithms. He previously was an Assistant Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management and at the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at Rutgers Business School. As a faculty member, he taught and researched topics in strategy, entrepreneurship, global microfinance, economic sociology, and social network analysis. Chris earned a B.S.E. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University, an M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University, an M.A. in Sociology from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University. Principal Stark has a 35-year tenure in the community and economic development field. Before coming to Community Strategy Solutions, she directed Enterprise & Economic Development at the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) in Washington, D.C. Stark’s previous affiliations include the Rural Policy Research Institute, the National Center for Small Communities, and The Aspen Institute. She holds a M.S. in Public Financial Management from The American University and a B.S. in Community Organizing and Public Policy from Cornell University. President & CEO With over 25 years of organizational development and nonprofit leadership/management, Patricia Harris has accumulated a depth of experience in nonprofit management, outcome-based strategic planning, nonprofit board governance development, organizational turnaround process, organizational capacity building, community development, and microbusiness development. Patricia has numerous national awards and accolades attesting her leadership and service to the nonprofit sector. Harris Consulting Group is a family owned business and has been in operation since 1990. Community Development Officer for Utah and Wyoming Jared Gleue, Community Development Officer for Utah and Wyoming for Wells Fargo Bank, has been in banking and finance for over 40 years. He started out collecting on defaulted loans, and has worked in UT, AZ, WY and now back in UT. During this time, he has enjoyed varied experiences in banking. He worked in the business banking area and enjoys meeting small business owners, learning what they do, feeling their passion for their work, and helping them succeed financially by providing financial tools to help them run their business. He and his family owned a small business in Wyoming, a cabinet shop, and experienced the challenges and opportunities that an entrepreneur goes through. He has enjoyed his years in community development, especially seeing nonprofits in the community as they work to help those in need. He is impressed by the dedication, determination, and creativity of nonprofit leaders who give so much of their time and resources. They are an amazing group! He covers the states of Utah and Wyoming. It’s a fun job and one that lets him see the hard work of the nonprofits and also the willingness of team members to get out and volunteer. Jared enjoys working with AEO and supporting their great work in helping diverse small businesses succeed. Partner, Financial Services Advisory and Compliance Tanya Hughes is a partner within the Banking, Insurance & Capital Markets practice, based out of Washington D.C. As a dynamic, passionate and innovative leader with more than 20 years of financial services experience, Tanya has worked with some of the largest global financial institutions. She leverages a strategic background in technology and operations to help clients to effectively enable their businesses by providing expertise and solutions in the areas of: digital, payments, core banking, robotic process automation, business process outsourcing, regulatory and compliance, as well as advisory consulting Prior to joining Guidehouse, Hughes was a Managing Director at FIS, where she spent over 10 years advising clients on strategic initiatives to modernize and consolidate their legacy systems across core, eBanking, payments and infrastructure environments as they looked to enhance and simplify their customer experiences. She also has extensive experience working with third party oversight and vendor risk management functions related to the enablement of new technologies. Executive Director Ron Fong leads the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (APISBP), which provides bilingual technical assistance to thousands of entrepreneurs, to help them start or expand their small and micro businesses. APISBP is a collaboration of five community-based organizations, formed to assist the development of small and micro businesses in Los Angeles with a particular focus on low-income immigrants of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Thai descent. Fong has established himself and the organization as a voice for low-income Asian immigrant entrepreneurs. He has over 30 years of community economic development, housing finance, and city planning experience. Prior to serving at APISBP, Fong directed small business assistance, land use, and urban planning initiatives for the Little Tokyo Service Center as part of their community economic development strategy. He previously served as the Community Development Director for the Fannie Mae Western Regional Office. Fong also directed the Los Angeles office of the California Housing Partnership Corporation, a statewide nonprofit that provides affordable housing financial consulting services. He has also worked for redevelopment agencies in Boston and St. Louis. Fong has been elected three times to represent Little Tokyo on the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council in the City of Los Angeles, and recently chaired Union Bank’s Community Advisory Board. Fong received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and studied at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jen Faigel Executive Director and Founder Jen Faigel is a co-founder of the former CropCircle Kitchen, now CommonWealth Kitchen, and stepped in as Executive Director in 2014. Jen is responsible for setting organizational strategy, raising funds, wrangling staff and businesses, developing and managing strategic partnerships, and generally managing the chaos. Jen’s background is in real estate and community economic development. She was the lead real estate consultant for the $15 million Pearl project, which is now home to CWK’s flagship kitchen operation. In her career, Jen has developed more than 400 affordable homes and over 225,000 SF of commercial real estate – worth over $200m – as a means to create jobs and economic opportunity. Her motto in life is- “If you can’t ride two horse at the same time, then you shouldn’t be in the circus!” Jen’s all-time favorite food is white clam pizza from Pepe’s in New Haven. Byna Elliott is a community reinvestment professional with over 20 years of experience. As the Senior Vice President and Director of Community and Economic Development for Fifth Third Bank, Elliot oversees its landmark $30 Billion Community Commitment. She started her career at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in 1993, where she spent five years administering all aspects of consumer compliance programs and Community Reinvestment Act initiatives. Elliott moved into the financial services industry in 1998, and in 2001 she launched her tenure with Fifth Third Bank, a $141 billion financial services company with retail presence is Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Elliott holds a B.B.A. Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University and a Boston College Corporate Citizenship Certificate. Her professional and civic positions include: Chairperson, Greater Works Foundation (GWF); Board & Trustee, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland; Board Member, Habitat for Humanity; Board Member, Wayne County Development Entity; Board Member, Woodstock Institute (Chicago); and Task Force Member, Detroit Neighborhood Forum. CRA Officer and Director of Community Development Daniel Delehanty has been a leader in the field of community development for over 20 years. Delehanty launched his career international development at Trickle Up, where he led microenterprise efforts in Africa before serving as Deputy Executive Director. Later, he turned his attention to community development in the U.S., where he served as Deputy Executive Director with the Business Outreach Center Network in Brooklyn. Delehanty later transitioned to the public sector, serving as the Director of the Community Affairs Unit at the New York State Department of Financial Services. There, he focused on facilitating partnerships between banks and community groups related to affordable housing, financial education, and small business development. He also spearheaded the Banking Development District Program, which focused on bringing banking services to underserved areas. In 2006, Daniel returned to the private sector as a Senior Director on Capital One’s Community Development Banking team, where he was responsible for community ans small business development activities nationally and regionally. In 2016, Daniel joined BNB Bank as CRA Officer and Director of Community Development. A resident of Queens, NY, Delehanty is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of SUNY at Stony Brook and attended graduate school at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. President and CEO AEO Board Vice Chairperson For more than 20 years, Gary L. Cunningham has served as a top leader of philanthropic, health care, public policy and educational organizations. Cunningham comes to Prosperity Now from MEDA, where he served as President and CEO from 2014 – 2019. At MEDA, he was committed to addressing racial economic inequities by fostering minority business development in Minnesota through MEDA’s proven market-based solutions. Prior to joining MEDA, Cunningham served as Vice President and Chief Program Officer for the Northwest Area Foundation and as the President and Chief Executive Officer for NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in Minneapolis. Currently, he serves on multiple boards, including: Co-chair, African American Leadership Forum; Board Chair, Association of Black Foundation Executives; Board Member, Corporation for Enterprise Development; Board Member, GREATER MSP; and Council Member, Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities. Cunningham has been locally and nationally recognized throughout his career for his commitment to civil rights, education, and public policy. Global Chief Development Officer Brandie Conforti is the Global Chief Development Officer for JA Worldwide, having built a career as a trusted leader in the nonprofit industry over 15 years. During the eight years prior to joining JA, she focused her energies on building major, multi-million dollar partnerships in international and economic development. Most recently, she served as Vice President, Institutional Partnerships, at Accion, a global leader in financial inclusion, where she oversaw all aspects of fundraising from corporations, foundations, and public institutions. She also served as a member of Accion’s Management Committee. Brandie launched her nonprofit career at World Boston, a World Affairs Council affiliate, whose mission is to educate the public about issues of global importance. Having started as a program manager at the organization, after two years she was promoted to the role of Executive Director, where she reinvigorated the organization financially and programmatically. Brandie received a BA in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross with an emphasis on Middle Eastern Studies. She also completed the Harvard Business School-Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance. CFO Joshua Brackett is the CFO of Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), where he oversees finance, accounting, compliance and loan collection. Under his direction, ACE became nationally accredited and successfully secured debt capital from Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, FHLBA, and Hamilton State Bank after undergoing rigorous due diligence processes by each institution. Brackett is a Babson College 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni and served on the Aeris Rating Advisory Board and the OFN “Performance Counts” CFO Working Group. He also successfully completed the Community Bankers Association consumer lending school. A graduate of Berry College, where he earned a BS in Business Administration, Brackett has served in banking with experience as a loan collector/auditor, financial analyst, and finance manager with several community banks. President & CEO Ms. Batten joined the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) as President and CEO in January 2009. ABFE’s mission is to promote effective and responsive philanthropy in Black Communities and counts among its members some of the most influential staff, trustees and donors of grantmaking institutions in the U.S. Under her leadership, ABFE has expanded its base of programming and membership across the country. Prior to joining ABFE, Ms. Batten was a Senior Associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. At Casey, Ms. Batten served as staff in the Community Change Initiatives Unit which provided investments to help transform neighborhoods into family supportive environments. She also coordinated a portfolio on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion where she worked across the Foundation to strengthen its’ focus on addressing racial disparities. Her duties also included assisting Casey in its efforts to build and employ equitable and inclusive management and administrative practices (workforce diversity, grantee diversity, vendor practices, etc.). Prior to working in philanthropy, Ms. Batten held leadership positions in both federal and city government. She is a co-founder of the Race and Equity in Philanthropy Group and serves on the board of the United Philanthropy Forum. Ms. Batten received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Political Science from Fisk University, and her Masters of Social Work degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Head of Financial Inclusion and Public Policy Development Square Courtney Robinson serves as the Financial Inclusion Lead for Square. Previously she was the Senior Counsel on the House Financial Services Committee, where she worked closely with Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA). At Square she works on issues critical to underserved communities and financial services policy development, particularly related to equal access to banking services and the broader financial system. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and American University. President With over 20 years of experience in non-profit management, and fund development, Jose Martinez serves as both Executive Vice President of Economic Development, and President of Prestamos CDFI, LLC. Mr. Martinez is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of Prestamos – a subsidiary lending division of Chicanos Por La Causa, and also leads CPLC’s strategy to improve economic conditions in low-income communities by providing investments and services that lead to job creation and economic prosperity. Mr. Martinez also provides strategic direction for CPLC’s Opportunity Zone initiative. Under his leadership, Prestamos has more than tripled its annual lending, deploying over $89 million (2011-2018), and has led the institution in providing access to capital and technical support to small businesses and economic development projects in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. In 2018, Mr. Martinez had recorded and managed a portfolio of over $52 million in assets. Mr. Martinez has dedicated over 20 years to CPLC in various capacities, including his service as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. Throughout his career, he has raised over $165 million for CPLC programs and joint ventures. Mr. Martinez holds both a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a Master’s in Business Administration from Arizona State University. President Lenwood has more than twenty-five years of experience in community economic development, human resources and business management. He has held leadership positions in a variety of organizations, including statewide economic and community development agencies, national consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations. Lenwood also served as the Minority Affairs Assistant in the Office of former North Carolina Governor James E. Holshouser and the Chief of Staff for former Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton. Most recently, Mr. Long, was the President/CEO of Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF), a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and statewide nonprofit organization. The mission of Carolina Small Business is to foster economic development in underserved communities by providing capital, business services and policy research to support small businesses. Lenwood presently serves as the President of BV&L Associates, Inc. President & CEO Gustavo is a seasoned microfinance practitioner passionate about advancing opportunities for underserved communities through capital. Prior to becoming President and CEO of PeopleFund he held leadership positions with top-tier community lenders where he was instrumental in their growth at a national level. Highlights of his career include: the development of LiftFund’s MMS – an early “lending as a service” platform tailored to microlending in the US; the financial engineering of a $30M asset purchase agreement between LiftFund and Citibank – a first in US microlending; the expansion of Oportun (from 35 to 85 stores) where he was directly responsible for the production of 20,000 loans per month; he redefined the CFO role for Opportunity Fund and put together credit facilities that helped the organization become the largest non-profit microlender in US. Most recently he co-founded and managed Listo, an organization providing financial products and services to thousands in California. Gustavo has served on the boards of Opportunity Finance Network, Foundation for Women and School of Excellence – San Antonio and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Diane Reinhold is the Innovation Program Manager at AEO. In her role, she researches, convenes, and incubates innovative projects. A critical component of Reinhold’s role is planning, overseeing, and leading the development of new services from ideation through completion. She works closely with our partners and members from the initial development phase through implementation. Prior to AEO, Reinhold held a variety of commercialization and innovation roles at the Center for Creative Leadership. She was responsible for the development of new offerings ranging from complex organizational development initiatives to individual leadership development programs to simple digital tools. During her tenure at CCL, Reinhold created not only new offerings but researched what made learning stick and created a model that became the foundation of all of the Center’s programs. She led the Language Strategy Initiative which enabled CCL to deliver programs in multiple languages; attracting and retaining over $20M in business. She also successfully launched offices in Europe and Asia extending the Center’s reach around the globe. Her areas of expertise include boundary spanning leadership, learning transfer, and action learning. While at CCL, Reinhold helped develop new business models that enabled CCL to serve entrepreneurs and contract workers, as well as non-profits and Faith-based organizations. Reinhold has broad experience in product and service development. She has worked to develop new products and services for educational, technical, medical, and financial organizations. Reinhold holds three degrees – an MBA from Fairleigh Dickenson and two Bachelor’s degrees from Lehigh University, one in Chemistry and the other in Technical Writing. Director, Marketing & Communications Rosalie “Rosie” Judd comes to AEO with over 15 years of Marketing and Communications experience, primarily in the digital marketing space. Rosie is passionate about applying her skills to the non-profit community and has dedicated over 6 years of her career to leading the digital marketing teams at both Georgia Aquarium and the Shepherd Center, a non-profit hospital dedicated to brain and spinal cord injury. Other previous roles include digital marketing positions within the travel and retail industries at Delta Air Lines, Petco, InterContinental Hotels Group, and AirTran Airways. Rosie is a marketing and communications expert dedicated to crafting the ultimate brand and organization experience using behavior and analysis to drive innovative content and strategies. Rosie specializes in member lifecycle development and designing omni-channel experiences that both attract and retain members while also delivering continuous improvements and increased engagement. Her ability to develop new channels, new best practices, and new audience segments has resulted in numerous successes and awards throughout her career, including Atlanta Marketer of the Year in 2013 for a Georgia Aquarium social media campaign. Rosie also believes strongly believes in servant leadership and participates in many speaking opportunities and mentorship projects for marketing students and entry-level marketers throughout the year. The internship program that she developed at Georgia Aquarium has placed her former interns at well-respected companies throughout the east coast, including Georgia-Pacific, The Home Depot, Arby’s, Delta Air Lines, and ListenFirst Agency. As a highly engaging speaker, she has also had the opportunity to present her strategies and leadership style at several esteemed marketing conferences, including IBM Think Digital, Dreamforce, and SXSW and has served on many local marketing panels in the Atlanta Marketing community. Rosie is an alumnus of Oberlin College in Ohio where she completed a B.A in Medieval History, while also concurrently minoring in Politics, Russian Studies, and Art History. Rosie is an Atlanta native, where she currently lives and works while restoring her grandparents 100-year-old home in South Atlanta and volunteers with the High Museum of Art, Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. In her free time, she enjoys live music, swing dancing, and travelling to see museums and historic sites. Executive Director Veronica Maturino is the Executive Director of ONABEN, a national nonprofit dedicated to growing the economies of Indigenous peoples. Responsible for overseeing the organization’s operations and acting as ONABENs spokesperson, she also manages the training programs associated with the organization. Previously, Maturino led the Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority, an Oklahoma-based, Native CDFI. An advocate for small business creation and economic development, Maturino was named the 2010 Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the Native American Business Enterprise Center, a facet of the Minority Business Development Agency. She has also been recognized twice as a 40 Under 40 winner by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. With a background in marketing and public relations, Maturino works to create opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses to grow and prosper. Over the course of her career, Maturino has created a network of opportunities designed to enhance business development within Native American communities. Veronica is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, where she formerly served as a member of tribal government and engaged in economic development and private and Tribal public relations and communications. Jamon Phenix works on the Advocacy team at AEO. In his role, he assists AEO’s Advocacy Director with government relations in connecting, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with elected officials and government agencies, while also advocating for AEO priorities and special initiatives. Previously, Jamon worked in communications at a political-style firm in Virginia, as well as a district and federal offices for two Virginia Members of Congress. Jamon has worked as a political campaign manager in local and state electoral campaigns. Additionally, he served as his college student body president. Jamon is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Research Director Jessica Milli, Ph.D., is an Economist and Research Director at AEO. In her role at AEO, she collaborates with senior management to develop the organization’s research agenda, ensuring that it is innovative, compelling, and drives engagement with AEO. Dr. Milli engages in research throughout the innovation cycle, including exploratory research on underserved entrepreneurs and impact evaluations of programs serving microbusiness. A key component of this work is communicating the findings of AEO’s research in a way that is accessible to diverse audiences and that has clear recommendations. Prior to joining AEO, Dr. Milli was a Study Director at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), the leading think tank in the United States that focuses primarily on policy research through a gendered lens. At IWPR, she led the Institute’s work on women in business and STEM fields and diversity in corporate leadership. She also managed IWPR’s portfolio of paid sick days technical assistance projects, which produced research that informed the passage of laws in nine states and 14 cities and counties across the country. As a representative of IWPR, she presented her research at events across the country and her research was widely cited in national press, including Bloomberg, The Atlantic, and MarketWatch. Before launching her career in public policy research, Dr. Milli taught economics courses ranging from principles of microeconomics and economic statistics to game theory and labor economics at several institutions, including as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. During her year there, she developed several new courses, including one course that was inspired by her passion for women’s issues, called “Women in the Global Economy.” Dr. Milli received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During her studies, she applied her focus of Labor Economics to relationships within households and what economic factors put women at more risk of experiencing domestic violence. Her dissertation analyzed the complex relationship between domestic violence and various measures of women’s socioeconomic status, such as welfare receipt and employment. Managing Director Melissa L. Bradley is Managing Director of Project 500 – accelerating new majority entrepreneurs from high potential to high growth. She is also an adjunct professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University where she teaches impact investing, social entrepreneurship, P2P economies and innovation. Melissa is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Sidecar Social Finance, a social impact agency that provides impact investing advisory and capital services to individuals, institutions, and social enterprises. She is also a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution and Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) appointed by Secretary Penny Pritzker from the Department of Commerce. Melissa currently serves as a Board Member for The Reinvestment Fund, as well as an advisor to Wallet AI and the Center for the Advancement of Social Enterprise (CASE) at Duke University. She is a Founding Advisor to the Dell Center for Entrepreneurs as well as a Senator with the Board of Governors at Georgetown University. She is also Founder and Former Chair of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance; Founding Member, The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership; and Founding Advisor to LGBTQ Center at Georgetown University. President Northern California Community Loan Fund Roberto Barragan is the President of Northern California Community Loan Fund, where he is focused on formulating Community Reinvestment Act solutions for financial institutions, raising small business loan capital and grant support for Community Development Financial Institutions and originating and funding small business loans to women and minority owned small businesses in low and moderate income communities nationally. For the past 17 years, Barragan was the President of Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC). During his tenure, he led a team that served over 3,000 businesses yearly with financing and technical assistance, while amassing $70 million in assets and a small business loan portfolio of $35 million. Mr. Barragan is also the founder of two organizations: the San Fernando Valley Financial Development Corporation, a SBA 504 lender, and Pacoima Development Federal Credit Union. Barragan has over 30 years experience in nonprofit management, with the last 20 years dedicated to community economic development and technical assistance for profitable and nonprofit entities. He is a nationally recognized expert on loan funds and microlending, and is a regular lecturer and media expert on these subjects. Barragan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and studied Marketing and Real Estate Financing at the University of California, Berkeley’s Hass School of Business Administration. Hyacinth Vassell is the Vice President of Innovation Engineering. In her role, she oversees and develops strategies across programmatic, research, and advocacy initiatives organization-wide. A critical component of Vassell’s role is leading teams in multiple complex problems that create and develop standards, models, and tools for technical assistance solutions. In the post, Vassell is also responsible for shaping new initiatives, as well as building and managing philanthropic and partner relationships. Prior to AEO, Vassell was the Director of the Inner City Capital Connections program at Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). She was responsible for the development of the program’s scope, strategy, and content. During her tenure, Vassell created and oversaw the CEO Series, which provides online cutting-edge content for CEOs across the U.S. She also successfully developed and scaled the Inner City Capital Connections program to 10 cities and connected a nationwide network of capital providers, which made almost $1.5 billion of debt and equity capital available to program participants. While at ICIC, Vassell helped participants develop business strategies that enabled them to create almost 16,000 jobs in underserved communities. Vassell also has broad experience as a senior business consultant. She worked with firms such as Arthur Andersen and Accenture, leading diverse project portfolios in re-engineering, process improvement, and change management. Vassell has worked in the telecom, industrial and consumer products, information technology, health care, entertainment, hospitality, and the banking industry. Former clients include AT&T, Fidelity, Fleet Bank, Caterpillar, Starwood Hotels, and MGM Grand. In addition to championing small business, Vassell is also an entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Owner of French Studios and the Royal Solutions, and served as the past co-Chair of Roxbury Prep and advisor to the Girl Scouts strategic initiative. Vassell is a proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts—Amherst, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology. CEO Ines Polonius is CEO of Communities Unlimited, Inc., a CDFI and not-for-profit organization driving community economic development through the building of entrepreneurial ecosystems, direct assistance and capital to micro-enterprises, small businesses and infrastructure improvements in persistently poor rural places across Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. In 1998, Ines founded alt.Consulting and became its Executive Director in 2003. alt.Consulting was dedicated to starting, growing, transitioning and turning around micro-enterprises and small businesses in the Arkansas Delta until a successful merger with Community Resource Group in 2014 formed Communities Unlimited, Inc. In 2011, Ines and her team launched Delta BioEnergy, a wealth creation value chain that introduced a winter energy crop in the Arkansas Delta and built out the infrastructure to generate biofuel from the crop and waste vegetable oil. Ines has personally worked with more than 200 small businesses, conducting organizational and financial audits, facilitating strategic planning sessions and customizing management systems. Previously, she served as a Business Development Consultant at the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development. Ines earned an MBA and an MA in Economics from Boston University. Before pursuing her graduate work, she worked for three years with rural micro-enterprise development in Chile and the Dominican Republic. She received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. Director of the Washington Office Former Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell serves as the Director of the Washington Office of the National Development Council (NDC), where she works in over 100 communities across America lending to small businesses, building public facilities and creating commercial redevelopment, low income housing, all through public private partnerships and creative use of federal, state and local financing tools. In addition to serving as the first female mayor of Cleveland, Campbell’s public service career includes six terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, and five years as Staff Director and Senior Advisor for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. While on the Hill, Campbell directed policy to support small businesses’ access to capital, federal contracting opportunities, business counseling, and engagement in international trade. In the past 2 years, she also served as the President of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a national nonpartisan organization advocating for economic opportunity on behalf of women entrepreneurs. Durign her tenure, she was instrumental in building the organization’s strategic partnership with WBENC. In her current role at NDC, Campbell brings NDC’s nearly fifty years’ of experience and expertise in working to bring capital to underserved communities into the federal public policy debate. Executive Director and Founder Phyllis Cassidy is the Executive Director and founder of Good Work Network, a non-profit, micro-enterprise development organization serving the greater New Orleans area. Good Work Network has provided educational programs, technical assistance, operational support, capital access assistance, and market access services to more than 4,500 minority and women-owned businesses in the New Orleans area. Its ConnectWorks program has assisted 61 clients acquire over $30MM in contract awards. Prior to establishing Good Work Network, Phyllis served as president of First Capital Life Insurance Company of LA, a family owned business. She also taught accounting and information systems at Dillard University and University of New Orleans. Phyllis has served on various community boards and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. She is a graduate of Duke University (B.A. in Business Administration) and University of New Orleans (M.S. in Accounting), and is a licensed CPA with over 35 years of experience. She is the proud mother of three children and seven amazing grandchildren. Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Alex Forrester is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Rising Tide Capital, a New Jersey nonprofit committed to the economic empowerment of low-income families and communities through entrepreneurship. In his role, Forrester is driven by an interest in high-performing social enterprises. He is passionate about organizational infrastructure, systems architecture, and outcome measurement, as well as the role that values and culture play in creating long-term systems change. Since its inception, Rising Tide Capital has achieved national recognition for its approach to economic empowerment through entrepreneurship. Lauded by Forbes, the White House, CNN, and the World Economic Forum, the organization now works with over 1,000 entrepreneurs per year across six cities in New Jersey. Rising Tide Capital has also recently launched a national replication initiative to license its model for use by other organizations in cities across the US. Forrester’s work in social justice, entrepreneurship, and micro-finance focuses on use of strategic philanthropy and social entrepreneurship to respond to the challenges of systemic oppression, social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic inclusion in the new, automated economy of the 21st century. Alex is a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Postmodern Philosophy and Theology. Chief of Economic Empowerment National Community Reinvestment Coalition Samira Cook-Gaines serves as the Chief of Economic Empowerment for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). In the post, she provides strategic and programmatic leadership in the areas of wealth creation and asset building for NCRC’s direct services programs, including two business centers serving the Washington, DC metro area. In 2010, Cook-Gaines founded the Washington, DC Women’s Business Center (DC WBC), which supports women entrepreneurs through training, individual consultation, mentoring. In particular, the DC WBC fuels business growth through government procurement opportunities and exporting. Under Cook-Gaines’ direction, the DC WBC has assisted over 1,000 women in achieving their business goals. In honor of her work with small businesses, Cook-Gaines was selected as a White House Champion for Change in the area of entrepreneurship mentoring. Cook-Gaines received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and her Master of Public Administration degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. She is also an active member of her Fort Lincoln neighborhood and volunteers, and a board member of the Association of Women’s Business Centers, and the Brandywine Street Association. Cook-Gaines is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Head of Global Public Policy Usman Ahmed is the Head of Global Public Policy at PayPal Inc. His work covers a variety of global issues including financial services regulation, innovation, international trade, and entrepreneurship. He has given talks on these subjects at conferences and universities around the world and has published in the World Economic Forum Global Information Technology Report, MIT Press Innovations Journal, and the Boston University International Law Journal. Ahmed is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law School where he teaches a course on Fintech Law and Policy. Prior to PayPal, Ahmed worked at a number of policy think tanks in the Washington DC area focusing on good governance issues. Ahmed earned his JD from University of Michigan, his MA from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and his BA from University of Maryland. South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Rogie D. Nelson is Program Coordinator at South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs. He began his career as a microbusiness practitioner at the South Carolina Minority Business Development Center. He later worked for the South Carolina Department of Transportation in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program for ten years before joining the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs in as the Small and Minority Business Coordinator. In the post, Nelson has worked with individuals, special interest groups, municipalities, local, state, and federal governments to create economic prosperity for minority-owned businesses. Currently, Mr. Nelson is the Program Coordinator for the Micro Business Development program. This statewide program provides education and training, business management and technical assistance, and micro lending referrals to firms and individuals interested in starting or expanding a micro business. Nelson attended University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. CEO Donna J. Gambrell is a steadfast advocate for the revitalization of America’s most vulnerable, low-wealth communities. A champion of microbusinesses, Gambrell was the first African American woman to be appointed as Director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). During Gambrell’s tenure, the CDFI Fund experienced significant growth, doubling funding under its flagship program. The CDFI Fund also designed and administered a number of new initiatives targeted to underserved markets, including the Capital Magnet Fund, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, and the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. Previously, Gambrell served in several executive positions at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), including Deputy Director for Compliance and Consumer Protection, where she was responsible for overseeing the FDIC’s national compliance bank examinations, as well as the agency’s community affairs, consumer affairs, and deposit insurance programs. Currently, Ms. Gambrell is a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In addition, she is a board member for Southern Bancorp, Inc., in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ms. Gambrell also speaks and consults on issues related to consumer protection and community and economic development. Ms. Gambrell received a B.S. Degree from Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, and an M.S. Degree from New York University. Keith Catanzano is the interim Managing Director of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity’s myWay to Credit program. Keith served as a member of the initiative’s founding team during the U.S. Treasury’s 2015 Innovation Challenge, won by AEO for the myWay to Credit concept and proposal. For the past three years, Keith has led the technology development of the myWay to Credit marketplace. Prior to his current role, Keith served on AEO’s Micro Capital Task Force, a group that assesses the strengths and weaknesses of banks, CDFIs, community lenders, and alternative lenders working to meet the capital needs of micro- and small-businesses. Keith is a co-founder and partner of 2River Consulting Group. 2River helps financial services companies integrate AI and data analytics to increase sales and profit. Keith sets the vision and leads the design of 2River’s LIFT AI and data analytics platform, supporting customer acquisition, underwriting, and customer success operations. A frequent speaker and author on the convergence of technology, data, and analytics, Keith has more than two decades of experience designing and developing simulations, statistical models, and gaming techniques for Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Government. Prior to co-founding 2River, Keith spent fifteen years with global strategy and technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. As a Vice President in the Analytics practice of the firm, he advised clients in the government, private and non-profit sectors. President and CEO Black Business Investment Fund Long has 28 years of combined experience in the financial services industry. She began her professional career in commercial banking in Credit Management and Commercial Lending with First Union and SunTrust banks in Orlando, Florida. It was while working for them that she met Judy Jones, the former President of the Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF). Under Long’s leadership, BBIF Florida has provided over $47.6 million in loans to over 406 Black and minority businesses, created and sustained over 12,906 jobs all while maintaining a historical loan loss rate of approximately 4 percent; invested and leveraged $55.2million in community economic develop projects. She has led the organization to: (1) expand its geographic service area to statewide, (2) expand its client base from Black businesses to include other minority and underserved small businesses, (3) receive two federal New Markets Tax Credits allocation of $20 million each, two FA awards totaling $1.9 million, and (4) be selected as one of three initial CDFI’s to be nationally recognized and received a Wells Fargo Bank Diverse Community Capital grant of $1 million. Nou Vang joined AEO in November 2015 as Vice President, Operations. With more than 10 years of nonprofit management experience, Nou oversees AEO’s membership, IT, accounting and human resources. Prior to joining AEO, Nou managed the daily operations of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), a membership organization of 130,000 members, where she oversaw a $1 million administration budget and managed a variety of projects including the Association’s $1.8 million office consolidation, conferences and meetings and software upgrades. She has worked for national and community-based non-profit organizations including Hmong National Development and Illinois Center for Violence Prevention. Her professional skills include project management, nonprofit audits, contract management and negotiation and equipment procurement. Nou is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Masters of Public Administration degree. CEO Carolina Martinez is the CEO of the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO), a California’s statewide association that represents over 220 lenders, training programs, job creators, agencies and individuals dedicated to furthering Microbusiness development in the state. CAMEO advocates for its members and builds their capacity to support the more than 21,000 very small businesses they serve. Mrs. Martinez has over 12 years of experience working in economic development and business consulting. Her vision has been defined by the variety of experiences she’s had with nonprofits and universities in South and North America. She has developed bilingual, culturally appropriate entrepreneurial training programs; trained and coached pre-venture and startups; developed international networks promoting partnerships among private corporations that boost industries; provided consulting services to vulnerable communities to explore entrepreneurship as a way to generate wealth; and owned her own business consulting firm. Before moving to California in 2017, Mrs. Martinez was appointed to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs and served as Chairwoman for the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce in Pennsylvania. CRA Executive Director Doug Schaeffer is a financial executive with more than 30 years of experience managing critical business operations. Launching his career in 1984, he has served at every level of banking. Upon graduating from college, he worked for KPMG, GE Capital Mortgage, JPMorgan Chase, and Ally Financial. Schaeffer has held multiple positions, including: Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Staff, Strategy Executive, Deputy General Manager, Managing Director—Treasury, and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Executive. He has led the improvement of large community reinvestment programs resulting in regulator-approved CRA strategic plans; improved examination results; and, the transformation of programs into sustainable profit-oriented businesses. Schaffer joined the executive leadership team at Woodforest National Bank in 2015 as EVP-CRA Director. He leads CRA efforts, including a team of 30+ CRA professionals. His role is centered on creating innovative strategies to increase the impact of Woodforest National Bank’s expansive CRA program, which covers 17 states and over 200 CRA assessment areas. Schaeffer sits on the boards of CEI Capital Management and the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Moorestown Theater Company, and volunteers his time supporting Strong Women Strong Girls and other charities. Schaeffer is a Rutgers University alumnus and a Beta Gamma Sigma graduate of Drexel University.	89,462
The scenario we have presented for The Book Trade in 2010 differs almost entirely from the The Book Trade of 2000 that we know. We prepared the scenario over a considerable period of time, and included the thoughts of dozens of people. I think my colleagues Mark and Hugh would agree with me that, while we are humble about our ability to predict all the particulars of change, we are very comfortable that the magnitude of the change we are predicting is entirely reasonable within the next ten years. In the few weeks since we prepared the scenario, one thing I think we may have been a little conservative about, frankly, is the amount of change we predict among the ranks of “top publishers”, and the extent to which new entrants will enter the top ranks. Some recent opportunities have brought me closer to the strategic challenge facing today’s publishing companies in meeting the dual agenda of continuing to wrest profit from today’s business models while envisioning and building new ones. It’s not easy. And it is obvious from the results so far that a similar problem faces book retailers. Amazon has been much more successful at the online book business than have the brick-and-mortar stores which have challenged them, and the potential clicks-and-mortar synergies have not become apparent yet. Their own version of this strategic dilemma faces agents and authors. Their roles, too, are completely different in The Book Trade of 2010. Agents, to us, look somewhat more like publishers. So do some authors. But we try to avoid being too facile about how easily they will do this on the grandest scale, because we still see enormous opportunities for publishers to add value from the cumulative capability developed by marketing a lot of content. We all have the same problem: publishers, booksellers, authors and agents. We have a way of doing business that, despite an accelerating rate of change over our entire lives in the business, has a certain comfortable form with historical antecedents to shape our understanding. We all have investments in that form: knowledge of the rules and the players, an infrastructure of relationships, at least, and sometimes a physical infrastructure as well. All of us have legacy expectations: publishers, authors, and agents from our backlists, and booksellers from an ever-expanding base of individual and institutional customers that buy books they need and books they want for years and years until death, liquidation, or, in the old days, a change in geography took them away. But that investment is under assault. Our assets are being undermined by new ways of doing things: today we have new ways to make and sell the books we make; tomorrow we’ll have new ways to deliver the book’s value to what is today’s book customer. Even the most secure assets, the copyrights in intellectual properties — which, of course, is a part of the value that the bookseller does not share in today — are not secure in their value as the technology changes. Publishers are already “leaking” value by relinquishing rights on properties that have are not perceived to be viable in today’s book economics but which actually still are margin-producing today, and will very shortly be able to produce much more with no additional investment because of the new forms. I have some extensive personal experience with all of this, in effect enabling me to migrate from being an author and an agent to a web site proprietor and content developer with content that publishers were apparently happy to throw away. But I only benefitted because I knew things that no author or agent would have needed to know to function five years ago. And, frankly, what I know is still not as important to today’s agent as knowing which three people to call to get a six-figure bidding war started for a movie star’s memoirs. But now the things I am learning in cyberspace are taking me to Web sites that pay serious money for content; I can see the day is not far off when I’ll be able to get more from somebody I know in the Web world than from anybody in what we call publishing. It is clear that Web sites have more to spend all the time; it seems that publishers have less. All of us have a dual challenge. We have to use the technology today to help us with cope with the world we are already in. That means writing, representing, publishing, and selling books “like we always have”: proposals presented, advances against royalties, delivering an attractively- and efficiently-printed book, dealing with the historical retailing logistics including selling new titles in advance, accepting returns, having authors and books meet at promotional appearances, pushing the right media buttons with TV, radio, and print. There are all sorts of tools being developed to help us do this, including PubEasy and BookTrack on the grand scale, and scores of other systems and Web sites in somewhat less ambitious ways. But “being modern” in the ways one conducts the business we’ve always known will not be an adequate solution for very much longer. A new infrastructure for the delivery of what we’ve delivered in books is being built by the world around us. It will send what we now call books through cyberspace to be printed locally or read on a device. It will send the information that once was gotten from books to handheld digital assistants and telephones. It enables things that were once sourced from books: the name of a restaurant in Paris or a map of the Tokyo subway, to be derived some other way, so that the owner of a Paris restaurant directory or a local Japanese cartographic company will have to find different ways to derive compensation for the value they provide. We will be slowly, but surely, dismantling our existing infrastructure. There will be fewer bookstores, printing plants, warehouses, and reps on the road every year from now on. In no case will shedding these costs be cost-free. It will cost us to cut back and dispose of what we have built over time. It will eat into margin. At the same time, the author, agent, publisher, and bookseller of the future — we believe the author, agent, publisher, and bookseller of 2010 — will be building a new infrastructure to exploit the broader new technology infrastructure growing up all around us. The successful author today knows how to write a snappy book proposal that will produce a big enough advance to enable her to write the book. The successful author of tomorrow will probably have a business plan for a book, which relates to existing Web sites and which enables her to produce revenues beyond her royalties for the intellectual property she produces or through the fame and recognition it produces for her. The successful agent today knows the editors at all the publishers, stays in touch with their needs, interests, and internal procedures, knows how to get their attention and to make them pay, and can negotiate a book contract, playing off knowledge of what one publisher will do against another, confident that the important points are known when the contract is negotiated. The successful agent of tomorrow will know how to get money from Web sites, perhaps in smaller or more incremental chunks than we’re used to seeing today. That agent will also know how to launch a book without a publisher on the Web and in ebook form, often getting sponsorship from a commercial or informational Web site. And the agent and author are going to need a more sophisticated financial arrangement than they have today, reflecting the increased importance of agent’s investment in an author’s success. The successful publisher today knows how to maintain relationships with sources of supply, which usually has meant agents, identify the right books, pay advances that match eventual sales achievements, and manage the complex logistics of delivering a good physical product at an efficient price and then gaining placement and making delivery to a wide variety of points of distribution while, at the same time, marketing through media to the book’s audience. The successful publisher tomorrow will deal with an exploding range of intermediaries, but they will be on the Web. The publisher of tomorrow will have a much more complicated business proposition as well. The price for shedding the large capital investment of a big centralized printing will be the requirement to understand proliferating distribution forms: centralized and local print-on-demand and various ebook and delivery-to-handheld formats. The much larger number of intermediaries for books themselves and exploiters of rights for various fragments will require marketing savvy and command of systems, no matter how much heavy lifting is outsourced. The successful bookseller today knows the books and knows his customers. Knowing the books includes knowing how to get them, but at least we know what the books are: the books deemed in-print by an authority like Whitaker, BookData, or Bowker. Knowing the books also includes having staff that knows what is inside the books, able to direct a customer to the right book by getting a picture of the entertainment or informational need. The successful bookseller of tomorrow will probably choose between a focus on the front end, directing customers to what they want, or a focus on the back end, delivering them what they have chosen. The two will work together, with a lot more of the former than of the latter. And neither of them will know the comfortable boundaries of today’s in-print authorities. When most books are delivered electronically, whether for ebook reading or for print-on-demand, chunks of what we now call a book will be delivered with chunks from other places. That will escalate the challenge at both the ends of the booksellers’ business. The trick for all of us, no matter of which of these we are, is to get from what makes us successful to day to what is required to succeed tomorrow. The paths to survival over the next 10 years are not easy and they are not clear. We have assembled a bunch of very bright people here today who are already inventing the future from their particular vantage point in our business. We hope to start shedding a little light on the journey we have before us so we all have a little bit better idea of what have to look forward to in the decade to come. Mike Shatzkin is the Founder & CEO of The Idea Logical Company and a widely-acknowledged thought leader about digital change in the book publishing industry. Read more. Interview with Mike Shatzkin The Book Business: What Everyone Needs to Know Get The Shatzkin Files posts by email. 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The quality of David Duband’s wines has steadily advanced since he took over his family’s domaine in 1991. In 1999 he began the move away from conventional farming and achieved organic certification in 2006. In 2005, his friend and business partner, François Feuillet, managed to buy vineyards from Jacky Truchot, which included ideal spots with old-vine parcels in the grand crus, Clos de la Roche and Charmes-Chambertin. Things have gone David’s way, but he is not one to be complacent. Sometimes it’s not big fundamental changes that set the world on fire, but rather steadfast evolution, one small step at a time. David’s 2008 vintage marked a significant shift in direction. A light in his wines became brighter, and many took notice. David would likely attribute it to his newly found interest in including stems, and a more gentle approach with extractions during fermentation and overall handling of the wine in the cellar. After tasting David’s 2008s we began to work together starting with the 2009s. Each year since then the wines continue to shed unnecessary elements and became less corpulent and more graceful. The minute details between two vineyards can sometimes be only five to six more centimeters of topsoil before the bedrock, a little less clay here a little more rock there, or only a slight change in aspect. These differences while seemingly small can now be felt earlier in his wines. They continue to be more subtle and precise, and articulate a more intimate engagement with their terroirs. To fully appreciate the range of David’s wines over the last decade, one needs to read between the lines—such is the case with most compelling wine. I’ve heard it said that his soft and systematic approach leads to wines are not so different from each other. However, the differences from one parcel to the next often exist in the realm of subtlety, especially in Burgundy, where there are many more similarities in bedrock, topsoil, and sun exposure than there are differences between vineyards, or appellations. While some growers work each terroir differently in the cellar, there are others who craft their range with the same approach throughout vinification and cellar aging for their Bourgogne wines all the way up to their grand crus, save a few minor adjustments like stem quantities, oak, etc. This kind of observation and focus on fewer elements of a particular subject is similar to how artists study the ways that light and atmospheric conditions can change so much of a composition but not the subject itself. Take Monet’s Waterloo Bridge series of more than forty compositions, and Rouen Cathedral, with more than thirty, both rendered from the same respective vantage points. Painters use canvas and paint; David’s medium is limestone, clay, grapes, and oak. His wines transparently demonstrate the slightest differences in each terroir’s shade and contour, further revealing each unique nuance of the year and terroir. All the details of David’s winemaking approach and each wine are covered on each product page. Lay of the Land Most wine Francophiles are familiar with Burgundy. It’s divided into a few major areas, starting from Chablis in the north with the Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais in the middle and Beaujolais to the south, just above France’s second largest city, Lyon. The grapes are principally Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on Jurassic limestone bedrock (pretty much all the vineyard bedrock between Chablis to the Mâconnais is from this same general geological period), and Beaujolais’ red grape, Gamay, where the soils are largely derived from granite and metamorphic bedrock from the ancient formations in France’s Massif Central. Duband’s vineyards are all located in or just west of the Côte d’Or’s northern sub-zone, the Côte de Nuits—almost exclusively Pinot Noir country. He maintains a stellar collection of entry-level wines, village wines from all the major communes from Gevrey-Chambertin to Nuits-Saint-Georges, and premier crus in Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis and Nuits-Saint-Georges. For grand crus, there are six. There’s so much written about Burgundy, with special attention to the Côte d’Or, that it seems redundant to have yet another lengthy explanation of the big picture, and futile to get caught up in all the specifics for every given territory. It’s from regions that are rarely written about where we will make the extra effort to bring forth details that are difficult to find outside of books. For more extensive and general information on Burgundy, we suggest exploring the many thorough accounts from authors like Jasper Morris, Remington Norman and Clive Coates. Plus, there’s an immense amount of coverage from critics who uproot new and interesting details with each new publication. Some notables include Burghound, A View from the Cellar, Winehog, and Vinous. Also, one shouldn’t miss out on Becky Wasserman’s website www.beckywasserman.com for a lot of in-depth content, and the website www.bourgogne-wines.com, where a good collection of videos and free downloadable vineyard maps are available, along with general overview content for each area. -TV Scroll up for more details on the producer, region, and additional photos Size: 750ml Availability: Out of stock Grape(s): Pinot Noir SKU: DDHC19 Category: David Duband Tags: Elegant, Fruity, Light Body, Medium Body Click to see what states we ship to “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” – Albert Einstein The details included on our website are meant to serve as general notes and don’t precisely represent all the infinite details that go into the crafting of a wine and how it will ultimately develop over time. The majority of the people we represent in our wine portfolio grow their own grapes and make their own wines, but they don’t open a recipe book and follow it no matter what the season presents. Deeply committed winegrowers evolve and embrace constant change because no season is the same as another; they use intuition and intimate knowledge of their vineyards, past vintages and the growing season to make thoughtful and often spontaneous adjustments that suit each year. Many times I’ve heard winegrowers and winemakers give different explanations or specific details about the same wine on separate occasions; even for them it’s difficult to keep track of all the tiny details from one wine to the next, and year to year. So, which “fact” should we present and how do we pinpoint such a thing when it’s a constantly moving target? The reality is that we are simply unable to cover such technical details with true accuracy. There is too much variation from one parcel to the next, from genetic advantage and health between vines in the same row, vintage-to-vintage, how the winegrower managed certain moments during the growing season (like pruning, canopy management, cluster selection, etc.), treatments and the dates they were implemented along with how much of each type they sprayed at what precise moment and why, or how much they added of something to the wine (such as sulfites), and all the other off-the-cuff decisions made during the wine’s creation. How does a wine taste one day after it was bottled, or two months, a year, ten years, or glass by glass and taste by taste? A taste of wine is merely a snapshot in time from that specific bottle which has been influenced differently in one way or the other either by temperature changes, travel, the cork, the glassware it’s served in, how long it’s been open and how we serve it. Was the glass topped up while descriptions were being written, thereby changing the expression of the previous two ounces and rendering those descriptions suddenly less relevant in the mind of the taster? The same might be asked as to whether it was decanted before analysis; both change a wine’s expression and not in a small way for those with a highly tuned palate. What if the taster was tasting on an empty stomach? Or during a meal? Or after eating? All of these contexts elicit various reactions to wine, including a different set of chemical reactions in our mouths. What if the taster was in a particular mood when they analyzed a wine that everyone seemed to love and they can’t figure out why they don’t feel the same? What was the weather like the day it was tasted, drank, assessed or judged? For those who follow the Biodynamic calendar, was it a root, leaf, flower or fruit day, and did it change when the clock struck 3:00pm from a fruit day to leaf day and did this really impact the wine or did they just think it did because Maria Thun’s Biodynamic calendar suggested it would? Did they find that the wine tasted unexpectedly fruity which was strange because it was a leaf day? Did they taste only the first, middle or last parts of a bottle? Everyone who knows anything about a good wine knows that its least profound moment (although still good) is when the cork is first pulled, and the most inspiring during the last sips. Wine is alive and full of change and so are we; so was it the wine that changed, or the taster? It’s impossible to present every detail accurately, to tell the full psychoanalytical story of a single vintage, lot, bottle, glass or taste. And once we have all the details, what will we do with them? Yet I understand the desire to get all the answers as the means and method in which to connect the dots of contemplation, study and enjoyment created by our life experiences through wine. The meaning of life can be glimpsed through its nuances, as it can through many other things. The best I can do is share what I’ve observed along with what the winegrowers or other tasters have also noted. The wines we represent show a range of moments from their gestation in the cellar to the time they were a few months old, all the way up until the day they developed into adolescents with all their potential laid bare. I will attempt to bring to light a wine’s consistencies through many bottles in different settings and moments, starting from the first tastes out of barrel in raw and unfinished form. It’s not possible to satisfy every curiosity, but I hope that I can furnish compelling observations to think on and which might serve to lead us further down the rabbit hole we all keep going down together. Terroir: This wine comes from a cooler site close to forest on a high, steep elevation. It is a lovely wine with beautifully delineated lines and is more fresh with acidity than David’s other entry level wines (Bourgogne and Côte de Nuits Village.) The vineyards sit just outside of David’s hometown, Chévannes, in the Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits. David explained that these vines planted mostly in the 1970’s are on average three degrees Celsius less throughout the growing season than the Côte de Nuits, thus delaying their picking time by weeks. It can be a little backward upon opening but hits stride 15 minutes or more after opening. The ubiquity of the word “terroir” in wine nomenclature renders this category the most obvious. It’s the goal in this snapshot to bring to light some (but not all) of the details that influence a wine’s characteristics. Not every terroir description within our range of technical sheets will have the same information—how boring if it was all the same—and throughout our collection it’s our hope that there is information that stimulates new avenues of thought. The general climate and overview of the region and how it relates to other parts of the wine world is addressed on the website above the bottle photo of the wine page you are on, and within each producer’s profile page. Vinification: Stems are included in all Duband wines (average: 30-40% for entry-level, 70-80% on Village/1er Cru, 80-100% Grand Cru). A small dose of SO2 (7ppm) is made at crush and pigeage (punchdowns) is made by foot to not break stems and begins after fermentation starts—5 to 7 total throughout the fermentation. Remontage (pump over) is only used if there is H2S (reductive elements), which is very common in organic wines. The fermentation is usually 17-18 days, then pressed and settled in tanks for 2-3 weeks to allow for whole cluster ferments to settle more clearly—destemmed ferments clarify quicker. Racked for the first time before the end of the year. This is the kind of information one would typically expect to find on a tech sheet. Each detail included on ours is based on the general practice in the cellar with more of a macro overview and not the quantum mechanics of each wine. There are some details included that may not seem consequential, but we’ve included them because we believe they are important when considering some intricacies of a wine and its potential stability. Details like sulfite addition and its timing get into the many endless rabbit holes you can go down since there’s so much to say about them. Some of the more obvious implications (at least to the experienced wine professional) include whether whole clusters are fully or partially used in red wine, or not at all; fermentation times, which is not a perfect assessment here, because there is always a variation of days from one vintage to the next; the amount of extractions per day/week/total and how the producers extracts (rack and return, pumpovers, punchdowns, pushdowns by hand, or infusion—all have varying levels of extraction), a very important detail during the process which can ultimately influence to a great degree the color, tannin, weight and other elements within a wine’s final characteristics; fermentation temperatures, which can ultimately focus a wine in one direction or the other—for example, low fermentation temperatures tend to bring out the fruitiness of a wine, while higher temperatures bring to the forefront early in the wine’s life more secondary and tertiary qualities. The list seems infinite, but what I include is deliberate and not meant to be routine in its implication. Aging: Aged 14 months in 225l barrels (50% old wood on Grand Cru, 60-70% old wood on all others), racked to steel tanks 2 months before bottling. No fining or filtration. The cellar aging is one of the more obvious inclusions in this information detail. I won’t go into too many specifics about the consequences of each choice such as aging vessel types and the length of time within them; it would require writing an entire book on the subject since there is much to consider. The information in this section includes details that begin from about the time the wine has finished its primary (alcohol) fermentation and/or secondary (malolactic) fermentation to the moment it’s put into the bottle, including whether the wine has been fined and/or filtered. This area of our product description has nothing to do with technical information but rather a subjective look into the wine in its earliest stages from when we’ve tasted it in vat and discussed its tendencies with the winegrower, to tasting the wines shortly after bottling and perhaps some years after the vintage date. In any case, it’s imperative to take note that these assessments are largely based on young wines and not specifically what they may become with plenty of time in the cellar. It’s also important to note that the information in this section is not vintage specific. Many of a wine’s youthful characteristics may hold up to some degree over time, but there are too many potential scenarios for each (and every individual bottle and taste from a particular bottle as it opens up in the glass, and many other factors, like our mood or the weather—see our sort of disclaimer here) to change in unexpected ways. When one considers a wine’s natural balance in certain vintages, how it was crafted, how much sulfur was added and how it was handled after bottling makes it difficult to know where it’s headed after its first couple of years; some wines in their youth are vigorous but can quickly fall flat. There are techniques deliberately employed to give a forceful display of pleasure and intrigue when young, but are not equipped to stand the test of time with that seductive youthful energy fully intact. On the other side, many wines are not extroverted in their early years but blossom into a glorious artistic interpretation that remains true to its terroir and can give goosebumps, or inexplicably bring us back in time to smells from our childhood. Our categorization of each wine is not made by a single taste of a specific vintage but an assessment of what we have noticed, or what other tasters and especially the winegrowers, have contributed to our experience with the wine; who knows the wine better than the one who raised if from bud break to bottle and has analysed every nuance and tendency and the conditions in the vineyard and cellar as it evolved? As much as anything in this section, I’ve attempted to add a few more dimensions (at risk of being too abstract and/or personal) to the shape of the wine. There are more common descriptors like Acidity, Tannin and Body, all of which are important and more easily understood, but they leave too many supporting dimensions like Finish, Intensity, Core and Texture that bring the wine out of a one or two dimensional view and into 3D. A range of descriptors for each of these categories could go on forever and there are many creative words that may be more apt than what was chosen. That said, I’ve decided to at least keep the range within each category simple. There are largely only three words, and sometimes four, that separate each with a dash between them. Some wines exist all the way to one side of this simplified range and are bolded only where it seems to fit in. Others have two, or rarely all three bolded, and I hope that the implication is obvious that when there are numerous descriptions bolded that the wine seems to fit in a more broad range, or somewhere in-between the two words. The most important thing to consider is that the wines are calibrated to my palate and it’s likely to not be consistent with yours. However, my goal is to at least be consistent so when you taste a wine categorized as having a dense core, instead of a lithe one, or an electric intensity instead of subtle, you at least have an understanding of what it may be like be on one side of the spectrum instead of the other. In this way you can theorize to some degree what some different dimensions of a wine may be like if you’re familiar with some wines we work with already that have been assessed. (Subjective and based on young wines) General Impressions: Aromatic, Earthy, Mineral, Textured, Red Fruit, High-toned and Energetic, Suave, Clean This section is a collection of broad descriptions that are likely to be consistent characteristics when the wine is young, regardless of the vintage. (Please note that none of this information is vintage specific.) Certain vineyards or bottlings made by the same hands each year carry some level of consistency and typicity and this is what these words attempt to capture. There are many more subtle or powerful nuances that change from year to year and taste to taste that evolve over the years, and I make no attempt to do the impossible of describing what exactly you should taste or interpret. One of the great pleasures in wine is to find your own interpretation of it; there could be some precise lemon character, like lemon curd, preserved lemon, fresh lemon, lime, lime skin, lime or lemon leaf, etc, but I may simply leave it at “citrus” and let you sort it out. While it’s not laid out with tantalizing poetry and prose, these descriptors are meant to offer a starting point if you don’t yet know the wine. Lightly Salty—Salty—Metal—Mineral—Wet Stone—Flint—Graphite—Reductive—Petrol I debated whether to use the word “mineral” in our information sheets due to the controversy surrounding its use within the scientific community. We understand that it’s not exact and directly related to minerals, but it’s a common language of our time used to communicate certain elements we can agree (or not agree) give some kind of impression to the wine. It’s hard to choose what to put in and what to leave out, but words were selected that were reasonably far enough apart in the spectrum. By no means am I satisfied with these words, but for the moment they will have to suffice. Starting with salt, I chose two separations for this because not all salt impressions are the same, at least for me. Some are lighter ocean spray-like, ethereal marine nuances, which I’ve categorized as “Lightly Salty.” Other wines may have a deeper and coarser saltiness to them, like salt dug out of a mine rather than harvested from the ocean or sea, or the salty quality on a wood grilled steak when you crunch a chunk of salt that was just sprinkled on it. In any case, whether it’s agreeable to have two separate salt categories or not, some wines have more than one. For example it might have ocean spray in the nose and deep coarse salt sensation in the palate; in this case, I’ve chosen to list both. Metal is a reference to exactly that character on the palate and nose. For me it’s different from mineral and just as common but often lumped into the mineral category. Perhaps the use of the word “metal” when describing a wine may imply a negative connotation, but I think that would be an unfair characterization. The origin of these smells in wine is not completely known and whether or not it’s possible to detect them, it’s still an impression you may have when smelling wine. Mineral is broad and likely to be selected in almost all wines (at least that we import) because most of them exhibit some kind of indescribable mineral impression. That said, I didn’t want to leave it out because it can mean so many things that don’t match up to the other eight words in the category. Wet stone, graphite and flint have also been given their own space because they seem to be some of the most commonly shared and understood descriptions in the wine community within the category of mineral-like characteristics. One thing to note is that flint is not reserved for wines grown in this soil type (flint, silex, chert) because the impression can show up in wines from all over the place. I included the descriptor, Reductive, in this mix because there are many associations and a strong interplay between reductive elements in wine and what is perceived and categorized as a mineral-like nuance. It’s my personal opinion that reductive elements should be described as such, and not mineral ones, despite the choice to still leave it in the Mineral Impressions category. From a scientific standpoint, reduction is correctable and/or avoidable, therefore it seems more like the fool’s gold faux-mineral, but can bring a nice level of complexity to a wine when well balanced. However, at its worst it can be used as a dishonest trick of the wine trade; an imposter standing in front of a wine’s terroir, whether it be a strong terroir or a weak one. Petrol is a specific diesel/gas nuance often found in white wines, like aged Riesling, Albariño and/or Vermentino. Indeed there are many more than those and it’s not so common but absolutely deserves its own spot on the list. Ageability: Drink Young—Short-Term Benefits—Long-Term Benefits—Unknown Ageability Often there are many of these categories that are bolded together and this is simply to say that the wine is likely to be a great drink at many moments in its evolution and may also have a track record of proof. When is the optimal moment for a wine is up to the taster; not everyone likes aged wines nor does everyone like young wines, so to each their own! I’ve simply attempted to give a clue based on whether the wine was built for the long, medium or short haul. When Unknown is selected, it’s an indicator that while I love the wine (otherwise we wouldn’t import it!) I have no experience with it other than it tasted great young and I don’t know much more than that. Nature—Moderate—Nurture The three categories chosen represent an oversimplified grouping (like most of the details included) of each producer based on their general approach to wine. There is not one category that is better than another, they’re simply different. The inspiration to use these words to classify the polar opposites of one’s approach to wine comes from the centuries old debate of nature versus nurture. Without completely attempting to breakdown and rebuild the concept, I suppose if we consider the parallel of parenting children, this may (or may not) be an easy way to understand the idea. Most of us know the helicopter parent who must always be in control and overprotective to make sure their child doesn’t get hurt by something around them, or enjoy a piece food they happened to pick up off the ground and put in their mouth. This parent (the nurturer) also has a plan and intends to execute it with accuracy and little room for negotiation while employing as much knowledge to ameliorate any risk around any conceivable corner and to protect their child even to the point of potentially suppressing their true personality. The naturalist (listed under the category naturer) is the opposite. They see their child grab the food off the floor and watch to see what happens knowing it won’t hurt them if they taste it and wait to see whether they like it before stepping in to stop them from grabbing the next morsel. They’re likely to give the children the opportunity to figure it out for themself and allow nature a stronger say in the development of the child, or for our purposes, the wine. These are the winegrowers who embrace random developments in the name of discovery, and sometimes they are willing to push the limits and let the wines take on undesirable characteristics in order to open up the possibility to uncover something pure and honest. In this case maybe the flaws are understood but left alone because if the treatment of it means destroying the terroir or something unusually curious, they may not want to move to correct the wine in the cellar. Sometimes the risk is well calculated and the wines bounce back, other times they don’t, but at least it’s just wine and not a kid. We work with a band of winemakers who march to the beat of their own drum. Some are on the opposite sides of the spectrum, but most play somewhere in-between. We have no problem embracing the full monty naturalist or the overprotective nurturer, but we have our limits on both ends. Intensity: Subtle—Vigorous—Electric The Intensity category is the one that sets the tone for the energy of the wine and is usually felt in the first taste once the wine is uncorked. It’s one of my favorite abstractions, next to Core, Texture and Finish. Every compelling wine fits somewhere between subtle, vigorous and electric, and none of these terms are at all an indicator of the quality of the wine. Like the Core, Acidity and Texture categories, this is meant to be a physical sensation or perception and not a measurable or quantifiable attribute, like the actual acidity of a wine. (See the Acidity explanation for more on that.) Some wines are analog frequencies, soul surfers hanging ten off a longboard in the moonlight of a nighttime ride slowly taking in the beauty of the moment. Others are edgy digital frequencies, energizing and exciting and bring a forceful physical reaction, like watching Neil Young destroy it on stage with one of his freight train-like songs ended by long guitar riffs with loads of feedback followed by the destruction of his guitar. Within the Vigorous zone are the vast majority of the wines in the world and you can paint your own picture of this broad ranging description. Core: Lithe—Medium—Dense This is another abstraction I constantly circle around when I enjoy wine. It’s a reference to the perception of the interior strength or density of a wine rather than its superficial power. Like some other categories in our tech sheets it’s not a quantifiable attribute in the chemistry of the wine, but rather a perception or sensation. This dimension may be a direct byproduct of the vineyard site and not easily augmented by the winemaking choices, but rather those made in the vineyard (like lower or higher yields), or the vineyard’s built-in characteristics that either come from the soil or the genetic material. Some wines are wonderfully lithe, like an otherworldly, magical mineral water and can be drunk easily without drawing too much attention to its inner core power. Others are dense in their center, like two bottles crammed into one. It’s indeed related to the wine’s texture, weight and body, but think of comparing the strength and appearance of a bodybuilder to a professional rock climber. The bodybuilder has weight, muscle mass and great strength, but likely not the same kind of proportionate strength as the rock climber. Professional climbers may be smaller but they have a steady power and immense core strength, and hands with tendons like steel cables a vise-grip handshake that could match (or likely be stronger) that of a bodybuilder considerably larger. This is a pretty easy category to understand, but it’s important to not confuse the observation of how the wine appears to express its acidity with its measurable acidity. It’s not uncommon that a wine with a lower measurable acidity can taste more acidic than a wine with a higher one. This unexpected subjective quality (because we are not using literal chemistry measurements to categorize the acidity of the wine) is usually attributed to the overall balance of a wine and how this particular component is woven into its fabric. The actual measurable acidity may be a small number from the lab report but still stick out and be more noticeable in certain wines. Equally, a wine may boast daunting lab numbers but the acidity is neatly tucked in and acts incognito as a support to help other characteristics in the wine shine. The first three descriptions in the range of options (Light—Medium—Full) are easy to understand. The fourth descriptor, Electric, is an outlier and represents something in the more extreme realm of wines that is unusually strong in its expression of acidity, or freshness—a common and more gentle description used by the French instead of “acidity.” To be categorized as Electric is not specifically a mark of higher quality, it’s simply a warning that you may have to prepare yourself for an attack that may or may not be in balance with the rest of the wine, which of course is a matter of opinion; each of us has our own calibration, tolerance and preference. Texture: Lithe—Medium—Dense Texture is one of the great pleasures of wine, but in some cases displeasure when it’s out of balance—usually when it’s excessive. Indeed this is also related to Acidity, Core, Body, Tannin, Wood Presence and Finish, but I’ve given it its own category because not all wines finish on the palate with the same textural feeling. This is more closely related to the phenolic weight and residue of the wine (perhaps some level of influence by the wine’s dry extract) on the tongue and whether it be lithe, medium or dense. However, it’s not specifically pointing to where on the tongue that weight seems to be most pronounced; we’ve taken note of that under the category, Finish. Like many other categories we’ve included, the range of textures according to our very basic descriptors have nothing to do with a wine’s overall quality. It’s simply an observation without using precise and unique descriptions for each wine to bring to light whether the wine’s texture is a minor or major component in the young wine. Light—Medium—Full The Body category is somewhat universally understood and can be influenced by so many things, from extraction, natural grape characteristics, yield levels, soil structure, aging and so on. We’re not trying to recreate the wheel with this one and it’s as simple as you may expect. It’s related more to the “flesh” of the wine, and the other broken down components we’ve included—like Core, Texture, Intensity and to a lesser degree Acidity and Tannin—help to round out this generic overarching description of a wine’s body as a singular unit with numerous dimensions. None—Light—Medium—Full As with all other categories, consider that this assessment is based on a young wine and the level of tannin doesn’t imply anything about the overall quality of the wine. It is an observation and one that is not difficult to assess. Tannin is not a bad word and many times we’ve experienced pushback from buyers (mostly newer wine drinkers) who somehow find tannins off-putting, even when their presence is minor. Tannins are one of the most stable building blocks for wines with aging potential and they are custom fit for specific foods, like meat. The newer population of people who drink metrosexual wine (I include myself here for a good dose of my preferred wines) started to move away from treating wine as food meant to be consumed with lunch or dinner. It now acts as the aperitif, a meal component and an after dinner drink and has thus fallen out of favor because before or after the meal there isn’t much to balance out the tannins. For me it also plays the role of starter and finisher at dinner time, but I like tannin in my wine and so long as it’s in balance with the rest of the components it serves to add to the layers of complexity and understanding of a grape and/or region’s specific characteristics as it relates to its terroir. Tannin is the chest hair of wine and it’s not always sexier when cleanly shaven. Finish: Finish The Finish category is not in line with the typical implication of this word in winespeak. Here it’s focused on where the wine sits heavy and lasts the longest on certain locations of the palate and isn’t about the length of time it stays there. The motivation for adding this specific element is not a separation of wine quality. For example, there are some wines that have a big frontal impact and not much in the back palate but the wine is replete with deep complexities around every corner. In contrast, some wines hit on all points of the palate but are a bore in all others. This information is simply recorded as an observation which can often be linked back to something within the terroir, often its soil type and structure. At The Source, we have the fortune of working with some of the most talented wine thinkers, growers, importers, wine buyers, sommeliers and knowledgeable collectors of our time. There is much discussion about what kind of soils potentially influence the resulting wines no matter what sort of tricks or techniques are employed in the vineyard or cellar and one of those elements is the type of bedrock and how it influences the palate presence of a wine. To borrow from two of our good friends and their book, The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste, they quote another good friend of ours, Pedro Parra, a specialist in terroir who has also presented to me years ago this same data of his experience analyzing wines grown from specific rock types. I don’t feel compelled to rewrite what Pedro said when they’ve already done it perfectly. One excerpt from the first chapter (one of the most compelling chapters in any wine book) reads: “Granite, he [Pedro] says, offers a very acidic sensation, with a huge amount of energy/minerality in the front of the mouth. He doesn’t feel much impact on the sides of the tongue. Wines growing in schist also have acidity, he says, but it is felt more in the cheeks. The wines feel bigger—not round, but with more energy than granite felt in the cheeks and sides of the tongue. ‘Schist is always about power,’ he says, ‘a mineral bomb.’ Limestone is easier to identify because of its distinctive short tannins and energy. Limestone wines aren’t round, but go farther down the tongue. They’re elegant, with a fine granularity and subtly tense electricity. Finally, he says, volcanic substrates tend to be a little flat and rustic, lacking in electricity.” Since meeting Pedro I have observed these aspects on the palate impact of wine and find his ideas to be more true than not. There is always variance, but that is expected considering how many factors can influence a taste of wine and how imperfect the observation likely is when thinking about all the different factors involved. The most compelling reason to include this in our breakdown is to share our observation and to further the conversation by the development of a sort of micro database in which others can compare notes. None—Subtle—Noticeable Wines aged in some kind of wood vessel, whether it be oak, chestnut, acacia, or driftwood (kidding), can impart some kind of nuance. Sometimes wines can be aged in a high percentage of newer oak but seem like there is almost none there. Also, within the context of a specific set of wine from a certain region, like Burgundy, when tasting a basic Bourgogne Rouge aged in 10% new wood compared to a Village wine, Premier Cru and then Grand Cru from the same domaine with much more new wood can seem like there is no noticeable wood nuance on the Bourgogne wine at all. Take that same Bourgogne wine and compare it to a red wine from another region aged only in stainless or concrete and it begins to seem oaky. What’s important in order to gauge this category is that we have to be flexible and consider the context of what is typical from a specific region. The 228-liter French oak barrel is the standard aging vessel in Burgundy (although that is beginning to change with more domaines using larger wood vessels, a welcome new approach), and very few wines grown on high quality terroirs are aged in something non-wood related. While in other regions it may be typical for this not to be the case, like Rieslings from Austria or Germany, it would be unfair to categorize the Bourgogne at the same level of oak nuance as a Grand Cru because it seems oaky when compared to German Riesling. Another consideration with this is that the categories are specifically directed to the detection of new oak, rather than oak in general as a tool used to round out wines. Sometimes wines can take on a barrely note when aged in older wood barrels, but that is not a consideration when we assign a wine into one category or the other. The Vineyard Limestone and clay with a lot of stones and very little topsoil Soil Every detail counts when it comes to a wine’s vineyard soil. Soil constitution can be divided into a few basic but distinguishing categories that play a role in shaping the wine and some are more significant than others: bedrock type, soil composition (what is that dirt actually made of), depth and grain size (clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobbles and/or boulders). These factors determine soil nutrition and water retentive abilities which influence the shape and taste of a wine. The soil is also one of the reasons specific grapes were chosen; for example, in Austria, Grüner Veltliner thrives better in soils with a high water retentive capacity and easy access to nutrients, while Riesling develops its complexity in poor soils and a much more stressful environment to find its peak expression. For winegrowers who minimize manipulation in the cellar and vineyards in order to give voice to the terroir the soil becomes paramount. Consequently some consistent patterns emerge from different wine regions around the world grown on similar soil types and experienced tasters often find those links in blind tastings. The connection between soil and wine remains one of the most consistent qualities/traits of a vineyard and its resulting wine despite the influence (or non-influence) of those who crafted it. It’s also one of wine’s great somewhat unsolved mysteries. Farming: Sustainable—Organic Certified—Biodynamic Certified—Uncertified Naturalist Farming The farming section is broken down into four different farming categories that explain in simple terms the way we view the cultivation of grapes. The first is sustainable farming, an approach with a large interpretation between those who use an endless supply of synthetic treatments in their vineyards and others who only use treatments only if absolutely necessary. We have no interest in working with domaines/brands on the extreme and careless side of conventional farming. The producers we largely represent are vignerons, which is to say that they work in their own vineyards and are in touch with what it needs and doesn’t need, and they craft their wines from the grapes they grow. Many of our producers categorized under sustainable farming work with organic and biodynamic treatments, however they are not certified because they want the flexibility to do what they feel they need to in order to keep their business healthy, which of course seems perfectly rational. Imagine if you lost your entire income for a year simply because you thought you should adhere a strict dogmatic approach to something in your life. Would you take such a risk when you know it could cost you so dearly, impacting everyone in your family and those who put their faith in you as their employer? Much of our work as importers is to visit vineyards (after all that’s where good vignerons spend most of their time), not just taste the new wines and quickly move on to the next appointment. As the curator of our portfolio, I have visited the vineyards of every producer in our collection—some every year—to observe whether they are using any kinds of topical treatments, like herbicides or pesticides. The best time to see whether they are being honest about herbicidal treatments is in the spring, and that’s why I usually go then to visit the vineyards. The most difficult treatments to observe with certainty are systemic treatments (those which are not contact treatments, but are taken into the plant’s tissues to resist nature’s challenges), but I’ve always made it a point to ask our growers directly and it doesn’t take but a second to know if they’ve used them before they even say a word. I’ve had many enlightening conversations and debates with growers and scientists about the use of synthetic treatments in vineyards and it seems there’s no effective way in which to grow grapes and make wine that doesn’t have some level of negative environmental impact, even within natural wine practices. Perhaps to the dismay of us idealists, there are many compelling arguments for the use of certain synthetic treatments in vineyards when compared to the impact imposed by the constraints of organic or biodynamic certification, and it’s a tough argument one way or the other once the research is presented. I have come to the point where I believe that what is crucial is that the one who crafts the wine works in the vineyards to understand its specific challenges. It’s their experience and knowledge of a plot’s tendencies that gives them the knowledge to measure applications with precision instead of carpet bombing with something that can do more harm than good. If we look at the organic and biodynamic practices honestly, the treatments seem ideologically correct when we consider what’s better for our bodies, but it’s hard to say that it’s ecologically sound if it’s required to use two to four times as much copper sulfate (a heavy metal that kills microbial life in topsoil and pollutes water systems) and sulfur treatments in the vineyards as a precision, sustainably farmed vineyard. Furthermore, unless these methods are done by hand it's three times as much tractor exhaust, maintenance and vehicle replacement, which contributes to the oil industry through more tires, oil and gas, and to the metal, mining and plastic industry (and there's more) which obviously causes more pollution, degrades the earth’s resources and speeds up the rate at which we are indirectly killing animal and plant life on our planet, including future wine drinkers. Maybe sustainable is the way to go if we place our planet above our personal ideals (and perhaps our health), but that’s an ethical decision each of us has to make. As importers of wine, we have our hands as dirty as anyone else’s with the methods needed to get wine from a European cellar to the table in the US. Organic Farming category is one that we’ve reserved for those who maintain a certificate of organic farming within the governing body of the country in which they grow the wine. There is great sacrifice in both effort and money to maintain this kind of certification and we want to respect it. There are many out there who use organic methods without fail but do not carry the certification, who we’ve placed into our “Uncertified Naturalist” category. We may not agree with the merit of the certificate on all fronts (the most common complaint is that it’s mostly a paperwork check and little to do with someone qualified to survey vineyards to see if it’s really being done organically) and we know that all who maintain it don’t do an equal level of work in the vineyard as others with the certificate, but that’s not a consideration of ours for this category. It’s simply a matter of fact that the producer must carry a certificate to be noted as organic. The same approach applies for the Biodynamic Farming as the Organic Certification category. If there is no certification by either Demeter, Biodyvin or another entity that certifies biodynamic farming (I don’t know of others, but perhaps they exist), then the producer/wine will not be included in this category even if they fully adhere to all the relevant practices, they are reserved for the Uncertified Naturalist category. Our Uncertified Naturalist is an in-house category we’ve created where we place our growers who work in an enlightened way, including a commitment to using only certified organic, biodynamic or a completely natural products for any vineyard treatments. They may or may not follow some organic or biodynamic principles such as monitoring lunar cycles, but what’s important is that they are in touch with their land and have great reverence for nature and that it’s obvious when we observe their vineyards in person and ask the hard questions. These are producers whose vineyards I have in fact seen first-hand and believe them to be honest about their claims, not only by their word but also by an obvious biodiversity of nature (the biggest clue) in their vineyards. This category includes many of our so-called “natural wine” producers, but is not at all limited to them. Irrigation: This category is subdivided into Forbidden, Never and Sometimes. The first implies that it’s against the regional wine law, the second that it isn’t forbidden but not needed or never used, and the last pertains to those who use it when necessary. This detail has been included for no other reason than to stimulate thought and discussion about the subject. It’s an interesting debate and there are many good perspectives on all sides. Whether it’s important to the quality of a wine or not is up for grabs and we are always open to try to understand different viewpoints. Irrigation is worth noting because there are many places in the world where it’s forbidden by law, like much of France; most believe it’s still completely forbidden there but in some regions, especially in the south, growers are now able to attain legal permission in the wake of climate change. For example, many of the stony limestone vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are being irrigated, and some believe these zones shouldn’t have been included in the appellation altogether for this reason. Dry farming is the practice of not using supplemental irrigation but relying completely on the rainfall (and subterranean water) that occurs on the plot of land being farmed. In theory (a word I feel obliged to use when speaking about wine concepts), dry farmed vineyards are likely to develop deeper root systems than those that are artificially irrigated. Roots grow to where the water flows and vines won’t work hard for water if they don’t need to. If going deep is the only option for survival, they will dig. Drip irrigated vines often tend to have clustered root systems at the surface where the water supply is located, especially when the frequency is very regular and the length of time of the drip short. Frequent shallow irrigations in one particular spot will keep roots from working deeper into the soil, and in theory miss possible opportunities to uptake soil components deeper below the surface that could potentially increase the complexity of the grapes. However, in more attentive and precise agricultural approaches to those who value a soil’s contribution to the complexity of a wine may consider irrigating for longer periods with bigger gaps in frequency, simulating a somewhat natural rainfall. This will saturate deeper below the topsoil and if the soil has good water retentive capacity, it will develop a reserve the roots can dig deep to reach. Dry farmed vines with more deeply developed root systems have the benefit of not relying on an unnatural water supply because of their access to water deep below the surface, so they can weather a drought on their own. However, the climate is changing and dry farming may no longer be so easily taken for granted in some parts of the world. According to soil scientist and California vintner, Ryan Stirm, late season compensation for drought by the use of artificial irrigation may—depending on how the root systems have developed—promote more vegetative growth via the hormone auxin, which tricks the vine and keeps it growing and developing more sugar in the fruit at the expense of ripening the seeds. Physiologically, dry-farming naturally balances the plant hormone cycles throughout the year and saves an enormous expense and can potentially make more compelling wine with deeper complexity in certain elements. This is not to say that wines grown with artificial irrigation are not complex, but perhaps express their complexities in different ways. As mentioned before there are regions where irrigation is forbidden by law, and those where it’s permitted but the winegrower doesn’t apply it or isn’t even equipped to do so if it’s needed. The last category, “Sometimes,” is not a mark indicating good or bad. I believe that conscious winegrowers interested in quality are prudent with this countermeasure to drought but they likely understand the pros and cons on both sides of the theoretical argument. This is an interesting consideration because what truly separates one masterpiece wine from the rest may have to do with what characteristics you like in your wines, not the age of the vines; in other words, old vines don’t automatically mean better wine. In this section it’s important to note that the planting age included is rarely precise and that many times it takes some years to replant a parcel (or sections of a parcel) due to simple challenges with logistics and possible financial limitations in some years, and there may be vines being replaced as the years go by. The date in parentheses represents the year in which this information was given by the winegrower. If ten years passes before an update, it’s easy to figure out the general vine age unless the vines were ripped out and replanted, in which case we will change the details. What’s important to know is that a vineyard plot’s age can absolutely impart characteristic qualities to a wine and it’s interesting to note how young, middle-aged, old and ancient vines may express themselves through the wine—a compelling reason to include it in this compilation of oversimplified details. One could say that extremely young vines don’t bring much to the table, which is a statement that may be largely agreed upon in the wine world because of the lack of development of the root systems and the overall strength of the plant that has yet to be developed. Young, but not fledgling vines have vigor and energy, but perhaps not a great depth of complexity; however those young vines from talented terroirs can still produce wines to be admired and enjoyed and are not so vastly different than those from older vines. Wines made from old to ancient vines have a specific depth and weight largely due to lower yields and (in theory) deeper root systems that can pick up some interesting things the further they plunge down into the soil. On the other hand, wines rendered from these vines may sometimes be quite dense and glycerol on the palate, making for a show stopping couple of ounces but a difficult bottle to finish without the help of other people. Perhaps the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle where the plant has hit its prime and on all fronts it seems to be balanced. But, who is to say what is the prime of a plant for each clone or masale selection and the vineyard it’s planted in? Again, this is a matter of taste and not everyone wants this kind of MVP wine in their glass all the time because it may be too consistently centered and balanced, and for many it’s the differences that may make a wine interesting, not its uniformity. Vines of all ages have something to channel through a wine and it’s simply a matter of mood and frame of mind during our constant development and evolution—well, at least we hope to continue growing and learning. The altitude, aspect and slope grade of a vineyard are crucial details and play important roles in a wine’s characteristics. Because they are all intertwined and inseparable physical aspects of a vineyard site I have included them into the same explanation. To distill it down to what’s important, these elements directly influence a grape’s ripening, structure, complexity, taste and aroma. The information concerning altitude, aspect and steepness doesn’t take up much space but these vineyard characteristics greatly influence the shape of the wine and many of its structural elements and aromas. Elevation influences temperature and the higher up you go the colder it becomes. For example, Jean-Nicolas Meo, from the famous Vosne-Romanée estate, Meo Camuzet, explained on my first trip to the Côte d’Or in 2004 that the difference in the ripeness from a vineyard that sits at two hundred meters and one at three hundred can be a full degree of potential alcohol on the same day, the lower alcohol being from the higher site. This simple concept is one of the great keys to understanding some aspects of the profile of Burgundy wines, as well as many other regions on notable inclines. The aspect also explains a lot about a wine. For example, an open eastern exposure (meaning with no close topographical features in the way) brings early morning sunshine and can keep wines more fresh and tense when on a hillside due to the direct sun hitting the vines early but also cast a shadow on the vineyards long before the sun sets, sometimes hours before. Direct south may be the easiest to reach balanced and consistent ripeness from one year to the next and there are many examples of this all over the wine world. On a south or western facing plot in the late afternoon during a heat spike, the direct sunlight can push grapes closer to dehydration faster than those facing east and can scorch western exposures and bring a completely different taste to the same fruit nuance compared to one next to it facing toward the east. In my experience, it’s not improbable for a talented taster to recognize in the context of a flight of wines from the same vintage and commune which vineyards are likely facing what direction based on the fruit nuances and the structure of the wines. For the most thoughtful technical tasters, even more clues can be recognized by theorizing how the grapes may have been farmed or crafted in the cellar to work around or exemplify these characteristic tendencies. The steepness, or slope, is another equally influential factor that directly shapes a wine. In uber wine geek lingo, we often refer to whether a wine is “horizontal” or “vertical” in shape. This is to say whether the wines are more tense, angular and straight (vertical) or more expansive, round and broad (horizontal). Much of this seems to have as much or more to do with the soil composition and structure than the “hand” in the wine. If the soil is completely spare and stony, the wines are likely to be more vertical and less horizontal because there isn’t much flesh on its bones. When there is a deep soil with good water retention the wines may be less vertical and fall into the more expansive, fleshy horizontal description. Of course the idea is that each wine has a level of both but many lean more toward one side than the other. The steepness often dictates how much topsoil may be available for the vine. Because of gravity, the steeper the vineyard the more difficult to it is to manage to keep topsoil around. Soil types, like clay, perhaps the stickiest of the soils, can stay put longer even on steep slopes as they do in the Côte d’Or, than the decomposing granite on the treacherous hills of Saint-Joseph that once broken away from the bedrock easily slide down the slope, creating constant erosion of the hillsides and exposing rock outcrops while keeping the topsoil shallow. In these kinds of extreme locations with loose topsoil, growers have created terraces to try to minimize this constant challenge. The flatter the vineyard the more important the grain of the soil becomes in conjunction with the weather. For example, much of Bordeaux is flat and wet, so the well drained gravels workout perfectly for the cultivation of varietals that happen to be well-suited to this soil and have managed to make the most reliable and consistently age-worthy red wines in the world. Put those Bordeaux varieties in a colder area and with more water retentive soils and you may get weedy wines with harsh tannins, or on heavier soils in a hot climate perhaps something blocky, less refined, muscular with more ripe fruit and a larger than life extraction potential which all add up to broadly horizontal wine. Aspect: SW The altitude, aspect and slope grade of a vineyard are crucial details and play important roles in a wine’s characteristics. Because they are all intertwined and inseparable physical aspects of a vineyard site I have included them into the same explanation. To distill it down to what’s important, these elements directly influence a grape’s ripening, structure, complexity, taste and aroma. The information concerning altitude, aspect and steepness doesn’t take up much space but these vineyard characteristics greatly influence the shape of the wine and many of its structural elements and aromas. Elevation influences temperature and the higher up you go the colder it becomes. For example, Jean-Nicolas Meo, from the famous Vosne-Romanée estate, Meo Camuzet, explained on my first trip to the Côte d’Or in 2004 that the difference in the ripeness from a vineyard that sits at two hundred meters and one at three hundred can be a full degree of potential alcohol on the same day, the lower alcohol being from the higher site. This simple concept is one of the great keys to understanding some aspects of the profile of Burgundy wines, as well as many other regions on notable inclines. The aspect also explains a lot about a wine. For example, an open eastern exposure (meaning with no close topographical features in the way) brings early morning sunshine and can keep wines more fresh and tense when on a hillside due to the direct sun hitting the vines early but also cast a shadow on the vineyards long before the sun sets, sometimes hours before. Direct south may be the easiest to reach balanced and consistent ripeness from one year to the next and there are many examples of this all over the wine world. On a south or western facing plot in the late afternoon during a heat spike, the direct sunlight can push grapes closer to dehydration faster than those facing east and can scorch western exposures and bring a completely different taste to the same fruit nuance compared to one next to it facing toward the east. In my experience, it’s not improbable for a talented taster to recognize in the context of a flight of wines from the same vintage and commune which vineyards are likely facing what direction based on the fruit nuances and the structure of the wines. For the most thoughtful technical tasters, even more clues can be recognized by theorizing how the grapes may have been farmed or crafted in the cellar to work around or exemplify these characteristic tendencies. The steepness, or slope, is another equally influential factor that directly shapes a wine. In uber wine geek lingo, we often refer to whether a wine is “horizontal” or “vertical” in shape. This is to say whether the wines are more tense, angular and straight (vertical) or more expansive, round and broad (horizontal). Much of this seems to have as much or more to do with the soil composition and structure than the “hand” in the wine. If the soil is completely spare and stony, the wines are likely to be more vertical and less horizontal because there isn’t much flesh on its bones. When there is a deep soil with good water retention the wines may be less vertical and fall into the more expansive, fleshy horizontal description. Of course the idea is that each wine has a level of both but many lean more toward one side than the other. The steepness often dictates how much topsoil may be available for the vine. Because of gravity, the steeper the vineyard the more difficult to it is to manage to keep topsoil around. Soil types, like clay, perhaps the stickiest of the soils, can stay put longer even on steep slopes as they do in the Côte d’Or, than the decomposing granite on the treacherous hills of Saint-Joseph that once broken away from the bedrock easily slide down the slope, creating constant erosion of the hillsides and exposing rock outcrops while keeping the topsoil shallow. In these kinds of extreme locations with loose topsoil, growers have created terraces to try to minimize this constant challenge. The flatter the vineyard the more important the grain of the soil becomes in conjunction with the weather. For example, much of Bordeaux is flat and wet, so the well drained gravels workout perfectly for the cultivation of varietals that happen to be well-suited to this soil and have managed to make the most reliable and consistently age-worthy red wines in the world. Put those Bordeaux varieties in a colder area and with more water retentive soils and you may get weedy wines with harsh tannins, or on heavier soils in a hot climate perhaps something blocky, less refined, muscular with more ripe fruit and a larger than life extraction potential which all add up to broadly horizontal wine. The altitude, aspect and slope grade of a vineyard are crucial details and play important roles in a wine’s characteristics. Because they are all intertwined and inseparable physical aspects of a vineyard site I have included them into the same explanation. To distill it down to what’s important, these elements directly influence a grape’s ripening, structure, complexity, taste and aroma. The information concerning altitude, aspect and steepness doesn’t take up much space but these vineyard characteristics greatly influence the shape of the wine and many of its structural elements and aromas. Elevation influences temperature and the higher up you go the colder it becomes. For example, Jean-Nicolas Meo, from the famous Vosne-Romanée estate, Meo Camuzet, explained on my first trip to the Côte d’Or in 2004 that the difference in the ripeness from a vineyard that sits at two hundred meters and one at three hundred can be a full degree of potential alcohol on the same day, the lower alcohol being from the higher site. This simple concept is one of the great keys to understanding some aspects of the profile of Burgundy wines, as well as many other regions on notable inclines. The aspect also explains a lot about a wine. For example, an open eastern exposure (meaning with no close topographical features in the way) brings early morning sunshine and can keep wines more fresh and tense when on a hillside due to the direct sun hitting the vines early but also cast a shadow on the vineyards long before the sun sets, sometimes hours before. Direct south may be the easiest to reach balanced and consistent ripeness from one year to the next and there are many examples of this all over the wine world. On a south or western facing plot in the late afternoon during a heat spike, the direct sunlight can push grapes closer to dehydration faster than those facing east and can scorch western exposures and bring a completely different taste to the same fruit nuance compared to one next to it facing toward the east. In my experience, it’s not improbable for a talented taster to recognize in the context of a flight of wines from the same vintage and commune which vineyards are likely facing what direction based on the fruit nuances and the structure of the wines. For the most thoughtful technical tasters, even more clues can be recognized by theorizing how the grapes may have been farmed or crafted in the cellar to work around or exemplify these characteristic tendencies. The steepness, or slope, is another equally influential factor that directly shapes a wine. In uber wine geek lingo, we often refer to whether a wine is “horizontal” or “vertical” in shape. This is to say whether the wines are more tense, angular and straight (vertical) or more expansive, round and broad (horizontal). Much of this seems to have as much or more to do with the soil composition and structure than the “hand” in the wine. If the soil is completely spare and stony, the wines are likely to be more vertical and less horizontal because there isn’t much flesh on its bones. When there is a deep soil with good water retention the wines may be less vertical and fall into the more expansive, fleshy horizontal description. Of course the idea is that each wine has a level of both but many lean more toward one side than the other. The steepness often dictates how much topsoil may be available for the vine. Because of gravity, the steeper the vineyard the more difficult to it is to manage to keep topsoil around. Soil types, like clay, perhaps the stickiest of the soils, can stay put longer even on steep slopes as they do in the Côte d’Or, than the decomposing granite on the treacherous hills of Saint-Joseph that once broken away from the bedrock easily slide down the slope, creating constant erosion of the hillsides and exposing rock outcrops while keeping the topsoil shallow. In these kinds of extreme locations with loose topsoil, growers have created terraces to try to minimize this constant challenge. The flatter the vineyard the more important the grain of the soil becomes in conjunction with the weather. For example, much of Bordeaux is flat and wet, so the well drained gravels workout perfectly for the cultivation of varietals that happen to be well-suited to this soil and have managed to make the most reliable and consistently age-worthy red wines in the world. Put those Bordeaux varieties in a colder area and with more water retentive soils and you may get weedy wines with harsh tannins, or on heavier soils in a hot climate perhaps something blocky, less refined, muscular with more ripe fruit and a larger than life extraction potential which all add up to broadly horizontal wine. This information won’t be revamped every year unless something has changed significantly in the grower’s practice. Therefore, all chemistry details in this section are not vintage specific and will be supplied within a range of what is common. Of course, one can deduce where the scales are tipped beyond the range if a vintage was extremely cold or hot. Some of the lab numbers were not attainable, either because the grower didn’t have them, doesn’t test for them, or didn’t want to share them. However, if the question was posed and unanswered the category will be filled with N/A. If it hasn’t yet been posed it will remain empty. Enological Additions: Enological Additions This is a category that seems like it could get us into hot water, however instead of being coy about the subject I believe we can take it head on and simply list what we know to be in the wines from our growers. It’s here where we will list any additions made directly to the wines (or the juice before it ferments), like sulfur, fining agents, etc. The reality is that most of our growers don’t want to make treatments of their wines out of respect and the pursuit of an unhindered and clear terroir expression. However, when wines have a lot less time aging in the cellar before bottling there are obligations in order to make them marketable outside of the committed “natural wine” buyer. One subject within the additive department that you will most likely see aside from sulfur dioxide are fining agents. I think it’s important to briefly discuss where fining agents come from and what they do, and I will try to do this when one is presented. They are substances that can range from natural products—as in non-synthetics—like egg whites, bentonite clay, animal derived substances as well as many more, and of course synthetics. I feel I should also address their purpose and to borrow from the concise explanation of The Australian Wine Research Institute (TAWRI), “The purpose of adding a fining agent preparation to wine is to soften or reduce its astringency and/or bitterness; remove proteins capable of haze formation; or reduce color by the adsorption and precipitation of polymeric phenols and tannins. The fining agent reacts with wine components either chemically or physically, to form a new complex that can separate from the wine.” In other words, fining agents are used to take things away from wine, not add to them. With this perspective, we could say that fining agents are additives, but not truly ingredients; it seems that they’re more like an anti-ingredient. For small domaines, like the ones we principally work with, finings usually fall within the natural product category and the most commonly used is bentonite (a natural clay). This clay is mostly used for the removal of proteins capable of haze formation. If everyone were ok with a little haze in their wine—we suspect that about 99% of consumers are not, especially in fresh white wines bottled within months after harvest—growers might not be motivated to add finings to make their wines with a short aging period in the cellar perfect to the eye. Likewise, if the transport of all white wines with short cellar aging were kept at low temperatures (which is likely to not happen from the moment it leaves the cellar until the finally gets poured) the unstable heat proteins would never coagulate and create a haze. There are some grapes, like Grüner Veltliner, that have a lot of proteins and if they are bottled within a short time after harvest the probability is extremely high that they will need fining to remain clear. At the bottom of this segment there are two web addresses that are great resources to look further into wine additives. None Added—Very Low—Low—Medium—High This section is based on opinion and not in line with every perspective on the subject. The sulfite levels are categorized with a relatively broad range and have been graded on a curve rather than an exact number. The reality is that it’s difficult to get exact figures for each wine each vintage and what this categorization represents is more of the theoretical and practical approach of the winegrower concerning this subject. The first category may seem obvious but it should be said that all wines, whether they have sulfites added or not, still contain a level of sulfites naturally produced during fermentation. Therefore it would be incorrect to have a category that implies that there are no sulfites at all. If the winegrower has opted out of adding anything then the wine will go into the “None Added” category. Another consideration in grading each wine is that the amount of sulfites used for red and white wines are different. Red wines are typically more stable with less sulfites in them and white wines less so, therefore the grading beyond the “none added” category is within the context of the wine type, whether it be red or white. The sulfite levels have been given by the winegrower and not from lab results conducted or witnessed by us. (There is a nice perspective given on the subject at https://winefolly.com/tutorial/sulfites-in-wine/) N/A On a scale of 1-14 the pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline (basic) the solution (wine) is, 1 being the most acidic and 14 the most alkaline. Finished wines range around very high 2s and very low 4s, but those are extreme cases. The following summary of how pH relates to wine was taken from the Australian Wine Research Institute website and given that I am not a scientist, I think it best to utilize their concise explanation: “The pH of juice or wine is important to know as it plays a critical role in many aspects of winemaking, in particular wine stability. Boulton et al. (1996) writes that pH influences microbiological stability, affects the equilibrium of tartrate salts, determines the effectiveness of sulfur dioxide and enzyme additions, influences the solubility of proteins and effectiveness of bentonite and affects red wine colour and oxidative and browning reactions. “Understanding the relationship between pH and sulfur dioxide (SO2) is critical. SO2 has both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, making it an extremely effective preservative for wine. The amount of SO2 in the free form, and in particular the molecular form which determines the effectiveness of SO2’s antimicrobial activity, depends on the pH of the wine. The higher the pH, the less SO2 will be in the useful free form AND the less effective this free SO2 will be. Therefore, all other things being equal, at a higher pH not only will more SO2 need to be added to achieve the desired level of free SO2, but the concentration of free SO2 required to have the desired antioxidant and antimicrobial properties will in itself also be greater.” So how does this all compute in the taste of wine acidity and pH? I like what is written on Madeline Puckette’s website, Wine Folly, because it’s a hard thing to describe and this explanation works well. She’s quoted yet another UC Davis professor, Dr. Andrew Waterhouse. “The basic difference is intensity versus amount. pH is an intensity type of measure, while TA is a quantity. An example of this type is hot water. The intensity is the temperature and the amount would be the volume. So, sourness in the mouth is related to both, just as a sensation of heat in the mouth would be related to the temperature of hot water and the amount. Within a reasonable range, the sensation of heat depends on both. In wine, the TA over its normal range is typically more powerful than pH, but at the extremes pH does have an effect. For instance CA wines are usually in a small range of pH, say 3.5-3.9, with TA’s’ near 6 g/L (tartaric acid equivalent). If the TA is 8, the wine will taste quite tart, and it is 4, the wine will taste quite flat. On the other hand, with a constant TA of 6, it will take change to about 3.3 or lower for a wine to taste distinctly tart, and at 3.0 it will surely be sour!!” N/A Titratable acidity in wine is often (mistakenly) referred to as its total acidity. Professor Robert Bolton of UC Davis explains, “Many people use titratable acidity and total acidity as synonyms, but they are not. The titratable acidity is always less than the total acidity, because not all of the hydrogen ions expected from the acids are found during the determination of titratable acidity.” It’s been my experience that when winegrowers speak of a wine’s “TA” it’s most commonly the titratable acidity and not total acidity. It’s hard to know exactly what true number is given because they are interchanged so casually and who wants to get into the discussion of the difference between titratable and total acidity with a winemaker? I admit that it’s easier to think of the TA as a wine’s total acidity because it’s simpler to understand and the numbers are very close. Also, many winegrowers in Europe don’t measure the TA but rather other acids in the wine. We will just list the TA if we have it. So how does this all compute in the taste of wine acidity and pH? I like what is written on Madeline Puckette’s website, Wine Folly, because it’s a hard thing to describe and this explanation works well. She’s quoted yet another UC Davis professor, Dr. Andrew Waterhouse. “The basic difference is intensity versus amount. pH is an intensity type of measure, while TA is a quantity. An example of this type is hot water. The intensity is the temperature and the amount would be the volume. So, sourness in the mouth is related to both, just as a sensation of heat in the mouth would be related to the temperature of hot water and the amount. Within a reasonable range, the sensation of heat depends on both. In wine, the TA over its normal range is typically more powerful than pH, but at the extremes pH does have an effect. For instance CA wines are usually in a small range of pH, say 3.5-3.9, with TA’s’ near 6 g/L (tartaric acid equivalent). If the TA is 8, the wine will taste quite tart, and it is 4, the wine will taste quite flat. On the other hand, with a constant TA of 6, it will take change to about 3.3 or lower for a wine to taste distinctly tart, and at 3.0 it will surely be sour!!” Dry Residual Sugar This is also pretty self explanatory, but I am compelled to mention that the sugar level in this category is natural sugar unless otherwise noted. Concerning levels above 2g/l the wines begin to take on some level of influence from the sugar on the taste of the wine, whether it be balancing out big acidity, like many dry German and Austrian white wines which often stay below 9g/l and are still considered a dry wine.	79,361
If you have been dreaming of creating your presence around your passion and self-expression but somewhat stuck with how to go about it or you have a business already, but you need to figure out how to elevate your overall presence as a prominent knowledge giver or you are someone who really needs to figure out the right approach towards marketing hygienically, then this is for you. In this masterclass I will take you through the SIX STEP STRATEGY where we will : Do a self assessment where you will take a deep dive and discover yourself ,your values, your interests, your choices and your preferences and analyze in what position you are in an objective way. Uncover the limiting beliefs that may be keeping you hidden, stuck or underpaid Find your micro niche that defines you, your service or product and makes you recognizable Importance of storytelling and how to craft a compelling story Understanding your target market, knowing your ideal client who will benefit from your product or service A blueprint that takes you from expert to authority and how you make sure your prospects choose you over your competition The power of building a personal brand, why personal branding is more important than ever . How a personal brand can take you to the next level Meenakkshi is a mother of three and a wife to a man who makes her dreams possible. She is a passionate and creative personal branding coach, Image Consultant and Founder of “Design Your Life” a brand and program designed to strengthen and sharpen your presence, your image and your personal branding. Her approach towards personal branding is to socially enhance your image to be more noticeable with your colleagues, friends and partners. She helps people connect with their passion ,purpose and profit with their authentic personal brand. She helps you to build a personal brand that helps you to easily summarise who you are and what is important to you which enables you in figuring out what you want to do and how you want the world to see you, setting your goals, understanding your vision, mission, uniqueness and target markets. She provides inspiration, guidance and practical tools people need to unleash their capabilities and gain clarity and confidence to overcome their limiting beliefs and create the life they deserve . She helps her clients to look, feel and be the most confident and best version of themselves and create a life they truly love.	2,519
Nokia has announced that starting with version 4.5, Qt will be available under the LGPL 2.1. From the announcement, The move to LGPL licensing will provide open source and commercial developers with more permissive licensing than GPL and so increase flexibility for developers. In addition, Qt source code repositories will be made publicly available and will encourage contributions from desktop and embedded developer communities. With these changes, developers will be able to actively drive the evolution of the Qt framework. This exciting change, made with consultation of the KDE Free Qt Foundation, should encourage KDE and Qt use among commercial and proprietary developers and makes the philosophy of "Qt Everywhere" complete. "By opening Qt’s licensing model and encouraging more contributions, Qt users will have more of a stake in the development of Qt, which will in turn encourage wider adoption." The change in licensing for Qt is happening under the mantra "Qt Everywhere" and is a step to remove any and all possible blocking objections Qt will be available under the LGPL version 2.1 with the upcoming Qt 4.5 release. Qt will also continue to be licensed under commercial license terms, as well as the GPL, version 3.0. Nokia will also be opening up the development of Qt. A clear path for the extension of external contributions is currently being built, including support, independent of the license. The simple fact behind this is that Nokia is less reliant on the income from Qt licensing than Trolltech (now Qt Software) was, and this has given Qt Software more room to approach the market with more permissive This is part of the 10x growth target announced at last year's Akademy to achieve ten times as many developers and ten times as many free software community users. Or as KDE and Qt developer Thiago Maciera put it "we want KDE to be ten times as big". While kdelibs has always been available under the LGPL, this marks the first time that both Qt and kdelibs will both be available under the LGPL. This will help make the licensing of KDE's libraries more permissive, flexible and can be described as "LGPL or equivalent for libraries, GPL otherwise". Meanwhile, Nokia reiterates their commitment to a commercially viable and, technology-wise, best-of-breed toolkit. In fact, the performance and functionality improvements that can be seen in the upcoming Qt 4.5 release are impressive. Running KDE 4.2 with Qt 4.5 is already being tested by several engineers inside Qt software, which has resulted in a number of bug fixes in both KDE and Qt. Independent of the licensing changes, the KDE release team plans to update the version of Qt in KDE's development tree (qt-copy) shortly to snapshots of Qt 4.5 which is due to be released in March. All-in-all today's news means tremendous things for Free and Open Source software. The possibility of extending the reach of all of our work is exciting in and of itself, and this announcement could lead to a veritable explosion of Qt and Comments Re: This is good news? by Beat Wolf (not verified) I was thinking the same thing first, but then i realised quickly 2 things. Gnome does not have that problem. Somebody writing closed source software for linux, probably won't make a open source app anyway. If yes, kindly asking probably solves the problem. Re: This is good news? by Vee (not verified) > I am the only one who doesn't think this is a good idea? Pretty much. Re: This is good news? by slacker (not verified) > We will see many more smaller proprietary apps using Qt and KDE in future. And that is good news. Sometimes, there is no choice and you have to use/write non-free software. Now, you have a fair chance that this software will at least integrate well with your KDE desktop. And become more convenient, as a side effect of using the excellent Qt framework (think of the bletcherous GTK open-file dialog!). Or am I the only one who gets annoyed at the GTK interfaces of some apps (e.g. the NVidia driver configuration applet) standing out in KDE (both in terms of look and (un)usability)? I won't even talk about the issues of license freedom that GPL-hating open source pundits (including BSD guys) would gladly pound into your head with their trusty rugged clue-by-fours :). Re: This is good news? by Hannes (not verified) > And that is good news. Sometimes, there is no choice and you have to use/write non-free software. How exactly do you define "no choice"? Someone is forcing you to write non-fre software? Maybe you should call the police ;) No, seriously. I dont run around telling people which software to use, I don't even think that its bad to install a single proprietary driver on you mom's laptop, but I am decidedly against developing non-free software. You do have a choice. I am also gainst buying hardware that would require you to use non-free-software or donating time/resources/money to the cause of improving non-free-software beit by features or look'n'feel. > I won't even talk about the issues of license freedom that GPL-hating open source pundits (including BSD guys) would gladly pound into your head with their trusty rugged clue-by-fours :). I use BSD almost exclusively, I don't hate the GPL. It makes no difference for BSD-licensed software, since the BSDL is compatible with both GPL and LGPL. Also there was an additional GPL-Exception for BSD-licensed code in Qt. Re: This is good news? by slacker (not verified) > Someone is forcing you to write non-fre software? In my own time - hell no ;). At work - it's an entirely different matter. > I use BSD almost exclusively, I don't hate the GPL. I was talking about BSD _LICENSE_ zealots here. You misunderstood me :). Re: This is good news? by Max Howell (not verified) Idealism is lame. Re: This is good news? by Sergio Pistone (not verified) What's wrong with idealism? Shortsightedness and stubbornness on the other side... Re: This is good news? by Michael "Ideali... (not verified) Actually, idealism can be bad when it results in unnecessary eiher-or thinking, or it starts to make a bad image on the ideas you are trying to support. However, lack of idealism can also be a bad idea. Idealism is what often makes the world better. And, of course, F/L/OSS wouldn't be what it is today without Stallman's work both coding and promoting. p.s. are we, perhaps, related ;) Re: This is good news? by Brandybuck (not verified) GNU's licensing recommendations are directed at you, the reader. License your own software however you want, but allow Nokia and its customers the same freedom. How other people use Qt does not affect your use of Qt. QT-proprietary stuff can become QT-GPL by littlenoodles (not verified) A lot of GPL'd software starts out life as proprietary. Look at OOo, Mozilla, Java. And there are more. Having a great library like QT available as LGPL will mean that more proprietary software will be QT-based. And when some of those projects go FOSS, they'll be FOSS QT, not some other package. Had QT been LGPL (and OS/X cross-platform) many years ago, Firefox, OOo and Java might use QT for their GUIs today. Re: This is good news? by Eric Laffoon (not verified) My personal preference is GPL over LGPL. It is absolutely unbelievable to see people attacking Stallman here. As someone involved with free software for nearly 10 years and managing projects and watching companies let me give you my take. When I first read Stallman's ideas in the 1990s I thought it was a lovely hippie pipe dream. Now for reality... If you're reading this you probably are interested in the Linux kernel and associated libraries and KDE on top of it. Read up. There was no need for a Linux kernel except that the hurd kernel being developed by GNU wasn't cutting it. Who cares. There was BSD which was solid stable and free. If you don't know the BSD license look for it in the TCP/IP stack in Windows NT or newer. (LGPL offers something between BSD and GPL) Why then is is the Linux kernel so popular? Individuals and companies felt more secure with the protections that their work would not end up being forked for private projects. Linux was not better than BSD for years. And I should point out Linux is just a kernel. It is compiled with the GNU compiler and and linked to GNU libraries. Hello? That's Stallman's baby and why he suggests you call it what it really is, GNU/Linux. Linux would never have overtaken BSD without the GNU GPL and GNU software. So if you are hostile to the GPL and Richard Stallman I suggest you either check your history or go back and kiss up to Stallman's former contemporary, Bill Gates. For years it looks like Gates was a visionary, but now it looks like Stallman had the vision that persisted. Having said that I don't worship the guy nor do I think he's the most fun geek to meet at a cocktail party. I just recognize that whatever your opinion of him is you have to give him his due. So am I against Qt being LGPL's? No. Idealistically I like the GPL and the dual license makes rational sense. Pragmatically the LGPL option is killer. I say this for one reason. Even an idealist likes to listen to MP3s and watch DVDs. Idealists also have to process documents. In a perfect world new programs and technologies come to us without proprietary hooks. In a nightmare world nothing is accessible without approval by a gate keeper. In our world we allow the two ideas to compete because we know open standards, freedom and quality software has an edge and can attract content and development. By compromising our ideals we can introduce a viral element into the mix that favors our world view and fosters development of our software. We want more people drinking out koolaid because that's how we infect them to work with us. Again, the stated goal here for Qt is to make it 10 times as big, and in effect this is the first time ever that commercial development on KDE makes any real sense. Let me point out I'm talking KDE, not Qt which I feel always made sense if there was a profitable model. Imagine having 10 times as many developers on KDE. I get excited about that. Where does this make a difference? GNOME on Qt? It's funny but they have swung from we're GPL and C to we're LGPL and Mono. It will be interesting to see if there is another argument. I'm not a fan of Gtk but I don't wish it dead. Where this will make a difference is in programs like OOo where they take community contributions and then make additions and package them into a commercial version. Projects like Firefox or other programs running on Linux for media and such may show up running Qt. I may prefer the GPL to the LGPL idealistically, but I prefer a more wide spread adoption of my software tools and a larger developer base of our associated projects in practice. There can be no doubt the acquisition of Qt by Nokia has turned out to be a huge boon to KDE users. Re: This is good news? by Hannes (not verified) Thanks for taking the time :) I am not sure whether I understand you completely though. > Again, the stated goal here for Qt is to make it 10 times as big, > I may prefer the GPL to the LGPL idealistically, but I prefer a more wide spread adoption of my software tools and a larger developer base of our associated projects in practice. To me "adoption of software" in itself has no ethical value. It is only benificiary to "the people", as a whole, if it also leads to more freedom. There are situations where permissive licensing can be the right decision, e.g. concerning open standards or free alternatives to non-open-standards, but giving Qt "away for free to proprietary developers" will primarily improve non-free software. This means that the free software community is losing an advantage and proprietary developers are gaining one. > and in effect this is the first time ever that commercial development on KDE makes any real sense. commercial as in proprietary? Who would benefit from that? How long before everybody starts finding excuses why this and that proprietary application should be considired part of kde/qt/${gnulinuxdistro}? "It fits in so well" "It's just this one module" "my friends have it"... Re: This is good news? by David Johnson (not verified) "This means that the free software community is losing an advantage and proprietary developers are gaining one." The only thing the free software community loses is exclusivity. Good riddance, in my opinion. It doesn't bother me in the least that other people might be using the same software that I am. Re: This is good news? by dkite (not verified) Absolutely agree. I like the GPL since it forces payment of some kind. And prevents the type of situation where free software developers are free workers for someone else. However, this is interesting. Nokia seems to be attempting to build a platform. Cross platform, cross hardware, cross business plan. A place for everyone. And much larger than Nokia/QtSoftware. What is very interesting, and probably bigger news than the license change is the announced opening up of the repository. Maybe all those KDE developers they hired are convincing when they say how an open and free development system produces amazing results. Maybe the decision makers have been listening to what makes a free software community tick. Nokia seems to be attempting to unleash something instead of exploiting. And if they manage to unleash what I think, they will benefit monetarily. And we will benefit immensely. I've been reading of instances in previous economic downturns where game changing businesses were established. Time will tell, but this is going to be interesting to watch. Re: This is good news? by marki (not verified) Complitely agree. I'm more and more shocked about how little Freedom is considered among GNU/Linux users, expecially Ubuntu ones that scream "I want Skype included", install proprietary video drivers, etc.. Also about how few understand that GPL "restrictions" are the golden rules to keep software (and USERS) Free. Re: This is good news? by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) Restricting users from the freedom of choosing the apps or drivers they want to use isn't keeping users free. Protecting source-code so that the software is always free is a reasonable goal. Restricting choice from the end-users in the so called name of freedom isn't. Great! by Paulo Pinto (not verified) The comercial license is what prevented me for doing my GUI work with QT on my personal projects, speciall since I find QT a great C++ library, now this is no longer an issue. Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by Alejandro Nova (not verified) Do you know what this means? I see a Qt 4.5-based GNOME in the horizon... This move has shattered the only serious obstacle impeding that. If KDE and GNOME agree in the next GUADEC/aKademy, and you have a LGPL licensed Qt 4.5, this is coming, sirs. Maybe not now, but in a 2-3 years frame from now. The unification of the Linux desktop around Qt is coming. Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by Anon (not verified) Since a large proportion of GNOME developers hate C++ (and Qt itself, for reasons that often have little to do with its license), I don't see this as being very likely. Additionally, it's unlikely that GNU would throw its weight behind a project where a really core part - the toolkit - had a commercial company as its copyright holder, "poison pill" or no. Even more - what would a Qt-based GNOME look like? They may as well go the whole hog and make use of kdelibs. In which case, if they want to write a desktop, they might as well use libplasma, which would basically boil down to "GNOME will be a special case of Plasma". I really don't see this happening, to be honest - GNOME is a big project and is GTK through-and-through, so the only way it could switch to Qt is effectively to die completely and re-write itself using KDE technologies, in which case it would simply end up being a small specialisation of KDE. Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) I've long said that Gnome as a project has a differing philosophy than KDE. That's fine. A Gnome built upon Qt wouldn't look like KDE, or operate like KDE. They have very different opinions on how a UI should be designed, and how apps should work. That being said, the idea behind the Free Desktop project is to unify some core concepts and technologies between desktops. I think building upon Qt would further that goal. Gnome can have a Clearlooks engine, put their Cancel buttons in weird places, and have a desktop operate how they want. More common libraries are a good thing. I think the C++ issue will sadly be a deal-breaker, but I really would love to see gnomelibs built upon Qt regardless, especially given the unclear direction of Gnome 3.0. The current plan is to clean up and deprecate portions of GTK+ moving forward to refactor it while still preserving compatibility. Yet other devs are calling for breaking of APIs and a major refactoring. I don't think the Gnome devs want to go through the KDE 4.0 process because of the negative reaction it provoked. That being said, they either hobble along on a poorly written GTK platform that was never designed to carry a desktop platform, majorly rewrite GTK, or jump over to Qt. Hobbling along is not the best decision for the future. The two remaining options are to redesign GTK, and that takes time, as well as fighting over that design. Moving to Qt means they can start on rewriting gnomelibs tomorrow as opposed to first designing the new GTK. Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by Ian Monroe (not verified) That's even more silly then people asking Amarok to be ported to gtk. :D Gnome/Gtk and KDE/Qt are technologically incompatible at that sort of level. Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) Next thing you'll expect KDE to not only port from QT 3 to QT 4, but to rewrite their core libraries and many of their apps largely from scratch. That will never happen. I know your being sarcastic by Ian Monroe (not verified) Really not much of kdelibs was rewritten from scratch at all in the KDE3->KDE4 transition. Besides that was KDE, Gnome is far more conservative. They're going to release something called "Gnome 3", where they will basically just remove their deprecated functions. Re: I know your being sarcastic by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) I haven't run a diff between the two versions of kdelibs, and frankly I wouldn't know what I was looking at anyway. I based my comment on Aaron's comments that kdelibs was completely rewritten. I did see the plans for Gnome 3, but I've also seen dissenting comments from various Gnome devs who weren't invited to that conversation and feel that GTK needs a major rewrite, not just a compatibility release with some deprecation. Re: I know your being sarcastic by Anon (not verified) "I based my comment on Aaron's comments that kdelibs was completely rewritten." Re: I know your being sarcastic by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) I believe I saw those comments in response to people calling for KDE forks, and people wondering why not all the KDE 3 features immediately ported over to KDE 4. He insisted that they didn't just port KDE 3 to QT 4, but many of the core underlying libraries of KDE were completely rewritten. I know for one I can point to Plasma being a part of the new kdelibs as a huge difference. Perhaps Aaron can come in and clarify, but I know I've seen those comments. maybe he said core apps by Ian Monroe (not verified) Plasma is hardly core, its the successor of something that was in kdebase. And Aaron isn't a higher authority. :) Re: maybe he said core apps by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) I'd contend that Aaron is a higher authority on his statements. Re: maybe he said core apps by Aaron Seigo (not verified) only when i'm in an airplane. or on a very tall ladder. Re: maybe he said core apps by Alex (not verified) Yeah, for that the ladder must be very tall indeed :-P Re: I know your being sarcastic by Aaron Seigo (not verified) i don't believe i ever said kdelibs was rewritten =) the desktop shell has been rewritten (kdesktop+kicker -> plasma), and that meant libkicker and some classes in libkdeui bit the dust as well. we did add a lot of stuff to kdelibs: solid, phonon, threadweaver, the paged dialog classes, sonnet, the model/view based file listings, etc.. and we did do a massive amount of moving stuff around to make the library better segretated and more sensible. and we did do a massive amount of API cleansing, and in some cases that resulted in huge changes in API approach. but through all of that, kdelibs wasn't actually rewritten. it was refactored and augmeneted. that effort was gigantic as it was; a rewrite of the rest of the stuff that already works would have been insane. i don't think it's overly analogous to what's in GNOME, however. they are busy removing dependencies on things like libgnomeui and slowly moving everything into Gtk+ or below. at the end of it, which will probably take a few more years, they'll probably end up with a bunch of applications on top of one library: gtk+. various apps will use different libs for application specific things (e.g. reading tags out of oggs/mp3s, etc). once they are 'there' i have no idea what they'll do next. i could hazard a few sensible guesses, but they'd only be WAGs really so i won't bother. =) one of the GNOME devs could do a much better job of that than me anyways. Re: I know your being sarcastic by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) What you just described sounded like a rewrite to me, and thusly if I read something previous to that extent, I no doubt interpreted that as a rewrite. Re: I know your being sarcastic by Anon (not verified) The word "rewrite" implies something was started from zero again. This is only true for the desktop and panel as Aaron pointed out. Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by Grósz Dániel (not verified) We saw how difficult was to port KDE from Qt 3 to Qt 4. Porting a desktop from GTK to Qt would be 5 times or so more difficult. Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by Anon (not verified) Yep - and GNOME is hardly an active project with many contributors, compared to KDE: Re: Would this mean the coming of a Qt based GNOME? by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) Gnome is due for a major port/upgrade anyways if you listen to all the rumblings. If you're going to do a refactoring, you might as well discuss what to build around. Gnome seems to be building more and more on Mono (more and more Gnome packages depend on Mono every month it seems). I for one would prefer to see a Qt-centric Gnome rather than a Mono-centric Gnome. But that is just me. I guess we can expect a useable desktop soon! by KDETroll (not verified) This is great news! I really have never thought this will happen! Qt is so much better and faster than GTK(+). Unfortunately it's expensive license has spoiled a lot of shareware developers away. It will give the community the possibility to build a commercial friendly desktop environment for linux with a state of the art toolkit! Let's just hope there will be strong and experienced projects leaders who avoid horrible design mistakes done in KDE4 (like using threads for desktop applets instead of processes). With good marketing (like not using childish names like K***, over hyping pre-alpha releases, etc.) this could be another step stone for Linux on the desktop. Professional cross platform apps are finally possible - Linux with the current market share (below 1%) on the desktop can only benefit from it. Re: I guess we can expect a useable desktop soon! by MamiyaOtaru (not verified) Agreed. Strongly disagreed. KHexEdit > Okteta. I can look at the former and know what it does. Apple also disagrees with you, except in their choice of letter. iTunes and iPhoto communicate what they are for. Amarok does not. KPDF does, Okular does not. I very literally hate this unfounded bashing of k** names. Re: I guess we can expect a useable desktop soon! by Aaron Seigo (not verified) > Agreed. you do realize you just agreed to something that was factually incorrect, right? =) Re: I guess we can expect a useable desktop soon! by Johhny Awkward (not verified) Actually, I refactored all the Plasma code to use threads instead of processes. But it was a mistake, so I never committed it. So, he's actually agreeing with something which is factually correct. Possibly. Depending on whether I'm telling the truth or not... Re: I guess we can expect a useable desktop soon! by Aaron Seigo (not verified) "like using threads for desktop applets instead of processes" whatever gave you the idea we're using threads for desktop applets? (because, well, we're not.) i'd also love to hear your solution for out of process rendering and interaction that doesn't result in insanity. remember, these aren't tabs in a window, but interacting objects. i do have the inkling of moving the dataengines out of process at some point, however. Yes but... by cmiramon (not verified) For the short term Qt going LGPL is ending a very long troll, on the long term Qt software is becoming a cost center for Nokia. The quality of Qt was also reliant on the paying customers that would not pay if the documentation was bad, or cross-platform was shaky and had a wide range of interests from the desktop to the embedded market. Now there is only one client, Nokia, with little interest on the desktop. If the going gets tough they will cut Qt software staff or community-source it. Qt will certainly work very well on Nokia platforms but it will be up to the community to make it work elsewhere. There is a clear risk in the long term of an 'androidification' of Qt. It will also make it hard for the small Qt ecosystem to bill clients for extra software or services. If you can write commercial software with Qt for free why pay for quality python bindings or extra testing tools ? The fact that Gtk is LGPL was not a real blessing for the library. Red Hat has reduced its investment in it, different groups of payed developpers have pushed the library in orthogonal ways... Re: Yes but... by Anon (not verified) Mod parent up! Also, Im all for a wider adoption of KDE, but 10x bigger? Lets hope this growth can be managed in a sane way... Re: Yes but... by Thiago Macieira (not verified) I don't think the LGPL'ing of Qt will hurt the ecosystem. In fact, I think the opposite will happen. There will be more people evaluating Qt and using in their projects. In the past, either they made it opensource (in which case, the ecosystem was of little interest anyways), or they acquired a license. And to justify the expense of the license, they really needed to evaluate it and have a solid business plan. Now, we may get a surge of short-on-cash companies who will jump onto Qt and may require the services of partners to complete their work. Besides, testing tools? Hell yeah, every one should use them, regardless of whether they're paying a license to Nokia or not. > For the short term Qt going LGPL is ending a very long troll, on the long term Qt software is becoming a cost center for Nokia. > Now there is only one client, Nokia, with little interest on the desktop. If the going gets tough they will cut Qt software staff or community-source it. > Qt will certainly work very well on Nokia platforms but it will be up to the community to make it work elsewhere. There is a clear risk in the long term of If eveyone codes with Qt API's, how is Nokia going to loose? :-/ They've opened themselves for a much larger pool of developers. Instead of coding on Android, Java or .Net you can to Qt all the way now. All those applications can be migrated easily to Nokia phones. Getting people to use your API is important (MS all thought us that, and this could beat them at that same playing field :-p). Killing the desktop would kill the stream of applications which can be easily ported, so I wouldn't be too pessimistic about it. Re: Yes but... by Brandybuck (not verified) As a Qt developer for a Nokia partner, let me chime in here: Putting Qt under the LGPL is awesome news for me! The only way this news could have gotten better is if they had used the BSD or MIT license instead :-) The business model for Trolltech/Nokia has now shifted from selling licenses to selling professional services. That's where I am. The more commercial software firms there are using Qt, the more demand there is for me. I'm not a pollyanna, and expect some rocky situations as the ecosphere rebalances itself, but in the long term this is awesome news. Re: Yes but... by Martin (not verified) A lot of companies develop for Linux as a platform for their commercial applications and/or special needs. There are hundreds of full time developers of the Linux kernel. - Will it be a need for paid developers? Yes! Someone needs to get the job done. - Will it be a need for a commercial support and services company? More than ever. Different users have different needs. They need someone to help them and to develop for their needs. My guess is that OpenOffice.org and Firefox will be ported to Qt. LGPL Qt will also open up a lot of possibilities for open source Java. I am a Gnome user since the start of Gnome. Why? The Qt license is the major reason. I also agree with the philosophy of the Gnome Desktop. A Gnome desktop integrated with Qt would be great. > Now there is only one client, Nokia you analysis hinges on this point. unfortunately for the analysis, this point is incorrect. Qt Software will continue to sell commercial licenses and provide professional support. the goal is to actually increase the number of clients, not decrease it to one (Nokia) while ignoring the other users of Qt. if it was indeed a Nokia-for-itself play, i'd agree with some of what you said. "If you can write commercial software with Qt for free why pay for quality python bindings or extra testing tools ?" because the Python bindings have value, as do the testing tools. in fact, with more people using Qt at lower cost, there are going to be more people using Qt and less money taken out of their budget in the process. this means a bigger market with more money per consumer to spend on things like Python bindings or testing tools. i actually expect the ecosystem of add-ons and professional services to grow as a result. Re: Yes but... by cmiramon (not verified) >Qt Software will continue to sell commercial licenses and provide professional >support. the goal is to actually increase the number of clients, not decrease >it to one (Nokia) while ignoring the other users of Qt. I hope you are right but I doubt it. The idea that Open Source will support itself by selling services is a mantra we keep repeating. But, we have always overestimated the amount of services people are ready to pay if they have a product for free. Now that Qt is LGPL, it makes it possible for other companies to offer support. These companies will not bear the cost of developping Qt and will be able to cut the prices. We saw that for Linux distributions. Suse missed the München municipality market, Mandriva missed the French National Assembly because the "serious" distributions were undercut in the tenders by cheap competitors that were just rebranding Debian. Re: Yes but... by T. J. Brumfield (not verified) In the corporate world, rarely do suits seem to trust anything free. I just tried convincing two VPs that we should move to Untangle from expensive proprietary network appliances where we are paying for the device, and subscription fees. Even though we are in cost-cutting mode, they just didn't trust someone that was free. The only version of Linux the suits are happy with is Red Hat, because we pay for support on it, even though we've never once called Red Hat. When I suggested that we could use CentOS for free, immediately people became skeptical. first previous next Products Maintained by KDE Webmasters KDE® and the K Desktop Environment® logo are registered trademarks of KDE e.V. \| Legal	33,689
Jerry Herman was born on June 10th, 1931. At an early age, he fell in love with the musical theater. Living near the NYC theater district his parents were frequent theater goers and when they came home they were filled with the music of the show they had seen. Jerry’s parents were also amateur musicians and their home was filled with music of the theater. When Jerry was old enough his parents brought him along on their theater excursions and much to their surprise on arriving home Jerry was able to play much of the score he had heard that night. Jerry was born with Broadway in his blood. The lyrics quoted above are a line from one of Jerry’s earliest songs. In a way, it is the philosophy behind every song Jerry ever wrote. To him, every song was about the character singing it. And into each song, he infused joy and enthusiasm for life. Even in his most grumpy characters such as Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly, you can’t help feeling that deep down he’s a cuddly bear when he sings “It Takes a Woman. Jerry Herman began writing for Broadway at a time when Broadway was at its zenith. The 50s and 60s brought show after show and each was memorable. Many are still being revived on Broadway or are perennially used in community and regional theater. This was the world of Rodger’s and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Meredith Wilson, Kander and Ebb. A young Stephen Sondheim was just getting started and Ethel Merman and Mary Martin were both queens of Broadway. This was the Broadway Jerry Herman entered. Broadway would never be the same. I came across Jerry Herman in an off-beat kind of way. My mother loved musicals and would play records and sing at the top of her lungs every Saturday while cleaning. These records were always musicals. The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, Funny Girl, and The Music Man were played almost every week but no Jerry Herman. I was not fond of musicals at the time. I was listening to The Archies and The Partridge Family. The theater bug bit me in the 8th grade when I was cast as Harry Macafee in our school’s production of Bye Bye Birdie. I heard applause for the first time, just for me, and it changed something deep inside me. From then on my record money went to original cast recordings and Hollywood soundtracks. Always looking for a bargain, I was a teenager on an allowance, I would delve into the bargain record bins at Jerry’s Records, a store in the Bazaar of All Nation in Clifton Heights PA. One day I found a copy of the movie soundtrack for Mame in the bin. I had never heard of it but it starred my favorite actress Lucille Ball and it was $1.99. I bought it and ran home. I played that record over and over. Everyone was telling me that Lucy can’t sing but I only heard gold and though I knew nothing of the story I fell in love with the music and lyrics of Jerry Herman. Mame was amazing. I soon found a script for the Broadway show in our local library so I understood where the songs fit and knew the story. Eventually, I was able to order the book the musical was based on Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis. I had to special order it at Walden Books and I got it but nothing compared to the music and lyrics of Mame. Mame is probably the most uplifting and life-affirming musical ever written. Jerry had already had two successful shows on Broadway before Mame. The first was Milk and Honey the musical, as I understand it was about a group of older American Jewish women looking for husbands in The Holy Land or Israel. Two wonderful songs came out of that production, the title song Milk and Honey and a lovely ballad called Shalom. All the songs can be listened to by following the Youtube links. The nicest greeting you know. And twice as much as hello. It means a million lovely things, And even when you say goodbye, After that Jerry was asked to turn Thorton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker into a musical. That musical graced the stage and won the Tony Award for best musical in 1964. The show was Hello Dolly but more on that later. Back to Mame. Mame came to Broadway in 1966 and also won the Tony for best musical. Mame was played by Angela Lansbury and is the story of Patrick Dennis an orphan who goes to live with his only living relative Mame Dennis in New York City. The opening of Mame takes place in the streets of New York where Agnes Gooch, Patrick’s nanny, and Patrick are looking for Mame’s Beekman Place apartment. They sing a prayer to St Bridget and arrive at Mame’s as she is throwing a lavish party. Mame appears at the top of the stairs blows a bugle and sings It’s Today Get the ice out, Roll the rug up, It’s Today. And though it’s far from the first of the year, I know that this very minute, Has history in it, This song set the whole tone of the show and gives Mame’s philosophy of life. In this song, she sings the spoken line that is in all of Mame’s stage and movie adaptations. “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.” Mame raises Patrick for as long as she can using this state of mind. It becomes more clear in the song Open a New Window. This song is a joyous anthem about taking chances and never saying no to whatever life offers you. It feels good, it’s upbeat, and when you listen you want to go with Mame to wherever she leads. That on the last day of your life, Ans promise me that these will be, The first words that you utter. Travel a new highway, That’s never been tried before. I could go on all day about the wonderful songs in Mame. My Best Girl, Bosom Buddies, We Need a Little Christmas, If He Walked into My Life and of course the title song Mame. But this whole blog would end up being only about that one show. This was my first introduction to Jerry’s music and what I didn’t know was there was more. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding Lucille Ball’s portrayal of Mame. Some felt her voice and her age worked against her playing the role. I’m not sure that’s all true. My biggest problem with the film is the stuff they cut out and the script. After finally seeing the stage production and hearing the original Broadway cast album a lot of the story was left out and or changed and this was not necessary. The song That’s How Young I Feel was cut and it was key to describing Mame’s feelings as an older woman as she sings it when Parick has grown up. The script just didn’t work for me in parts. One change that I did enjoy was Lucille doing her best to get out of a store where Mame has been fired from wearing one roller skate. It was hilarious and true Lucy antics. For a long time, Lucille’s portrayal as Mame was all I knew and I loved it. When VHS tapes came out and you could buy movies to own them for the very first time. My first purchase was Mame. The movie will always be dear to my heart. I have to admit I keep hoping every year that NBC will decide to do Mame Live as they have done with The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, Grease, The Wiz, Hairspray, and most recently Annie. NBC usually airs these television events at Christmas and Mame would be perfect, especially with a Christmas song embedded in the show. That is also my hope for the next Jerry Herman show we’ll discuss Hello Dolly. Hello Dolly opened in 1964. It is the story of Dolly Levi a widow who has decided to “rejoin the human race.” She decides to accomplish this goal by marrying Horace Vandergelder the leading citizen of Yonkers New York. The musical takes place in 24 hour time period it has a prelude in NYC continues in Yonkers, goes back to NYC, and ends in Yonkers. Not bad for a day. It took me a while to catch on to Hello Dolly. I wasn’t interested at all at first. All I knew of the show was the title song sung by Louis Armstrong and recorded in 1964. I was three years old and didn’t care much for it. My grandmother would be playing it while we visited her and it wasn’t a kid’s song. It took me a long time to find out where that song came from. For a moment I want to take some time and talk about Jerry Herman the human being. Jerry’s songs were always joyful and filled with life. He came from a family that gave him that but he didn’t change when it came to being successful. Some folks when they make it big in their chosen professions don’t have time for others but Jerry was not like that as illustrated here by my good friend Richard Tyley Jordan. Richard has written the definitive book on the Character of Mame Dennis and it was over this book that Richard and I met. He is also the author of The Polly Pepper Mysteries which are great fun and have been called a cross between The Carol Burnett Show and Murder, She Wrote. Here is Richard’s story of his first meeting with Jerry Herman. When I began writing my nonfiction book But Darling, I’m Your Auntie Mame!, I sent a letter to Jerry Herman requesting an interview. I didn’t actually expect a response. Why would the legendary composer of Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Mack and Mable, and La Cage Aux Folles, among other Broadway hits, deign to offer an audience to me, an unaccomplished kid (I was actually in my 30s, but I felt completely inferior compared to the great man)? I was equally terrified that he’d grant my request and find that I was an interloper in his rarefied world. I just happened to be in New York doing research for my book when I got the call. Yes! Jerry Herman would see me on Friday afternoon at 2:00! My world was spinning! When I arrived at Jerry Herman’s brownstone, I was greeted by his amiable assistant, who guided me to the left and down two steps, and into Jerry’s wood-paneled office. A set decorator couldn’t have designed a more perfect room for showcasing career memorabilia of Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, framed gold records, and posters from Mr. Herman’s many Broadway triumphs. The assistant asked if I’d like a tea or coffee (“No, thank you.” I was too edgy as it was.) and said, “Mr. Herman will be with you shortly.” And then the moment arrived! Jerry Herman … in-person … appeared in the doorway, brandishing a friendly smile and a warm handshake. I was immediately instructed to drop the “Mr. Herman” formality and call him “Jerry.” Jerry sat behind his desk (with a portrait painting of Carol Channing as Dolly Levi looking down from the wall behind him), and I sat nervously in a brown leather wingback chair. Neurotic me was trying very hard to appear intelligent and sophisticated so that he wouldn’t realize I was just a fan on a mission to chronicle the success of author Patrick Dennis’ Auntie Mame character. What I remember most about that afternoon is how gracious he was to me. For those two hours, we talked about how much he loved Mame and composing the songs for that show and how it was actually one of the easiest shows he’d ever worked on. But we also talked about how deeply and personally disappointed he was with Lucille Ball’s film version of his hit musical. I guess I did something right that afternoon because when we concluded the interview, it was Jerry himself who offered to write the introduction to my book! This amazing man, whose songs I had admired my entire life, offered to personally contribute to my labor-of-love project! I’m still overwhelmed by his generosity. That’s the kind of man that Jerry Herman was. I’ve rarely known anyone more magnanimous. I will always be grateful to Jerry Herman, not only because he believed in my book and penned the introduction to it, but also because he gave me the soundtrack of my life: I Am What I Am If He Walked into My Life Although my book is long out of print (maybe I should release an e-book version), I am forever and deeply indebted to Jerry Herman, one of the finest men and talents I’ve ever known. I don’t think much more can be said of the man. He was not only talented but he had a spirit of generosity to both see and nurture talent in others.This can also be seen in Angela Lansbury’s autobiography where she tells of Jerry so wanting her to get the role of Mame in the original Broadway cast that he coached her on how to sing the songs he wrote before she auditioned. This is the kind of man he was. Because of this generous, beautiful spirit music poured out of him. Hello Dolly is a show about second chances. It’s a show about coming out of the fog and realizing you’re alive and life is worth living. It’s a show that tells you in no uncertain terms that you can begin again at any time of life. I of course saw Dolly first as a film starring Barbra Streisand. It may not have been my best introduction to the show but it was fun nonetheless and had a deep impact on my life. The music and lyrics are just as amazing as what Jerry would soon write for Mame but the theme was different. Mame is about knowing life is wonderful and teaching that lesson to the upcoming generation. Hello Dolly is about forgetting that life is wonderful and having to relearn the lesson. This didn’t mean much to me as a young man but it means a whole lot now. In 2018 I had the privilege of seeing Bernadette Peters in a revival of Hello Dolly in NYC at The Schubert Theater. Watching Miss Peters was a revelation of what this show means. It’s for and about older people starting again. Anyone can start again, but there are plenty of movies and plays about young people starting again, not so many about our older generation. Right now, my generation. I came away from that show not only singing beloved songs but knowing I could start again. It took awhile but this blog is part of that second chance for me. The songs of Hello Dolly are full of joy. I Put My Hand In, It Takes a Woman, Put on Your Sunday Clothes, Dancing, Before the Parade Passes By, Etiquette, It Only Takes a Moment and of course the title song Hello Dolly. Carol Channing the original Dolly in the musical tells the story of recording the cast album. In the recording studio the whole cast couldn’t contain themselves and they burst into the kicks while singing the title song. It has been said that the cast recording of Dolly is one of the few that makes you feel like you’re in the theater. In the show Jerry’s Girls, the title song gives a list of many of the actresses that played in Jerry’s shows. One of those names is Lucie Arnaz. I reached out to Miss Arnaz about how she feels about performing the music of Jerry Herman. Miss Arnaz replied: “Jerry writes about joy and, as a performer, it’s a vacation to sing his music.” And that is about the best thing that could be said. Singing Jerry’s music can be a balm for me when I’m down. The songs from Hello Dolly are infectious. You can’t help singing along and if you have them in your heart you can’t help singing them when life has kicked you in the gut. One such song from Hello Dolly is a sort of anthem for second chances. The song is Before The Parade Passes by I’m going to go and taste Saturday’s high life. I’m going to get some life back into my life. I’ve had enough of just passing by life. With the rest of them. With the best of them. I’ve got a goal again, I’ve got a drive again. Before the parade passes by. Can you think of better words to say to the world that you still have something to offer, that you still count, and that you are part of the parade ready to do your bit and find a full life? In this respect, the roles of Dolly and Mame are very much alike. Both women are driven to find the best out of the life that they have and to have joy in that journey. After his stellar success with Hello Dolly and Mame Jerry would write several more shows for the Broadway stage some successful and some not so successful. Even the shows that weren’t so successful had memorable moments and great music. One such show was Mack and Mabel. Mack and Mabel opened in 1974 and told the love story of silent movie director Mack Sennett and silent movie star Mabel Norman. It opened with two Broadway legends as the leads, Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters. It had wonderful music. Movies were Movies, I Wanna Make the World Laugh, Look What Happened to Mabel, I Won’t Send Roses, Wherever He Ain’t and the ballad Time Heals Everything. This show only played 91 performances which had to be a big letdown for the entire team. I have read that the show’s ending with Mabel’s death due to drug addiction was hard for the audience to watch. With all the upbeat music the show brings you down in the end. I have also read that the ending was reworked and is now not as dark. I have never seen a production of this show but I would love to. It does continue to be performed in regional and community theater. The cast album is great and I enjoy listening to it. No matter the ending you can’t help feeling happy while listening to the music. Jerry’s Next Hit would come in 1983 with his show La Cage Aux Faux. La Cage is about two gay men who have raised a straight son who now wants to marry. I have not seen this show but the son wants his dads to act a bit more middle of the road which is hard to do when you consider that the dads own a club that features men in drag and one of them is the star performer. The title in English translates to The Cage of Fools and it was originally a French film, but not a musical. After the musical opened an American version of the film was produced called The Birdcage and it starred Nathan Lane and Robin Williams. La Cage Aux Faux was a big risk for Jerry and Broadway. There had been plays about gay men before but they weren’t lavish musicals and this would be a big production. It also opened at the beginning of the AIDS crisis and gay men were again being attacked for who they were. But despite all of that La Cage was a hit and won the Tony award that year. To add to its honors the show was revived twice in 2005 and 2010 and won the Tony for best revival both times. There are two stand-out songs in La Cage. One is almost a campfire song and Jerry himself describes it as such. The song has a great melody and is easy to learn. The song is The Best of Times. The Best of Times is now, The best of times is now As For tomorrow, well who knows Who knows. And live and love as hard as you know-how, Because the best of times is now Is now Is now. The other song is an anthem for gay men and for everyone else who feels misplaced in society. It is a song for the marginalized, for people of color, for the odd kid at school that gets beat up because he’s different. The song is I am What I Am. I am what I am I am my own special creation. So come take a look, It’s my world that I want to take a little pride in, My world, and it’s not a place I have to hide in. ‘Til you can say, “Hey world, I am what I am.” I am what I am, I bang my own drum, Some think it’s noise, I think it’s pretty. Why not try to see things from a diff’rent angle? I am what I am! In 1996 Jerry Wrote the words and music for a Christmas television musical called Mrs. Santa Claus. It was aired only once as far as I know but it had a terrific cast and storyline and of course incredible music. The leading lady was Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Claus. She feels neglected sometime around 1900 and decides she knows a better route for Santa to deliver his toys. She takes the sleigh in order to go around the world only to be stranded in NYC on Avenue A where she meets and is befriended by many locals. In the few days she’s there she reunites a family, softens the heart of an evil toy manufacturer, and strikes a blow for women’s rights. All to the sound of some terrific and clever music. My favorite song from the show is Almost Young a declaration of you’re as young as you feel and Angela proves it to a bunch of children who work in the toy factory My heart has always clung to staying almost young A few grey hairs, A few gold teeth The kid whose hopes are hung On staying almost young My walk is swift and sporty My disposition is evergreen I’ll still have all the speed it takes When all the others have applied the brakes And when my knell has run Like some little chicken Considering Miss Lansbury was 71 when she made this musical you can see she was still pretty spry if you follow the Youtube link. I haven’t said much about Jerry’s Love songs and there were a good many. It Only Takes A Moment from Hello Dolly, Time Heals Everything and I Won’t Send Roses from Mack and Mabel, Loving You from the film version of Mame. My favorite is from Mrs. Santa Claus and it’s sung by a young couple who Mrs. Claus helps bring together. It’s called, We Don’t Go Together at All. A girl with a drive and a fellow with a dream Are like pickled herring with vanilla ice cream So, as unromantic as my words may seem My big loud mouth and your quiet ways Are like August evenings with December days Are like corned beef and cabbage topped with mayonnaise That’s ruined by a sudden squall And a hot July Like if I asked you To come to the policemen’s ball Like a march by Sousa in a minor key So forget all the magic that was meant to be A stable boy and a suffragette Are about as peculiar as a pair can get I love the cleverness of the lyrics to this song. It also has a catchy tune and it’s fun to sing either the girl part or the boy part or both. This is truly the longest blog I have ever written. I hope I captured the joy of Jerry’s music and the inspiration he has given to…well too many people to count. If you are unfamiliar with Jerry’s work the CDs are still available to buy and Spotify has all of his original cast recordings and soundtracks as well as many many different artists that have covered his songs in one way or another. If you can catch a performance of any of his musicals spend the time and money it is well worth it. Mrs. Santa Claus is available on DVD and well worth adding to your holiday film collection. The film Mame is available on DVD and electronically on platforms such as Vudo. Hello Dolly is available on DVD and electronically. It is also available to stream on Disney+. I’m leaving you with Jerry’s first hit. It was used in the show and to advertise lunchmeat and as a presidential song for Lyndon Johnson. I don’t know if it helped but he won the 1964 election. For the election it became Hello Lyndon, For Oscar Mayer it was Hello Deli, for me it will always be Hello Dolly. It’s so nice to have you back where you belong I can tell, Dolly One of your old favourite songs from way back when Find her an empty knee, fellas Dolly’ll never go away again. It is my Hope Jerry Herman will never go away too. MPL and the estate of Jerry Herman have graciously given me permission to use the lyrics to Jerry’s songs. This author is grateful and I hope the article is a source of joy for many. Posted on January 5, 2022 January 5, 2022 by mikebobsworld The Feast of the Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on January sixth. This celebration marks the visit of the magi to see Jesus and worship him as the newborn King of the Jews. It is the end of the Christmas holidays as they used to be celebrated and in my own opinion should still be celebrated. Put the tree up later bake some treats after Christmas, maybe even save some gifts for this particular feast. Remember this celebrates the first people outside of Mary, Joseph, and some shepherds who knew who Jesus was. I often wondered what the word epiphany means. I had never really heard the word used outside the context of the holy day. Epiphany means a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being. In this case, the birth of Christ is revealed to the whole world the Jewish people being represented by the Shepherds and the gentile world is represented by the magi. Matthew’s Gospel is the only Gospel that tells of the visit of the kings and you can read it there. Time and tradition have embellished the story what we do know for sure is the Magi came from the east following a star. The star disappeared as they approached Jerusalem and they went to King Herod who ascertained from the scriptures where the child would be born and sent the magi on their way telling them to come back and report to him when they had found the child so that he could worship him as well. Herod was deceiving the Magi as he desired to kill the child. As the Magi left Jerusalem the star reappeared and led them to a house where they found the baby and his mother Mary and presented gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. They were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and returned to their homes using a different route. That’s what we know. Here is what we have embellished. It was at some time decided that there were three of them. That they were not only Magi but Kings and that their names were Caspar, Melchior, and Belshazzar. Also, that each was of a different race. One white, one Asian, and One Black. The Feast of Epiphany is also the twelfth day of Christmas as you may remember from the song the gift was twelve drummers drumming. These twelve drummers are meant to represent points of belief in The Apostles Creed. The Feast of the Epiphany is also known as 12th Night and it is the last day of Christmas. There used to be 12th Night parties where games like Snapdragon were played. I have always wanted to try to play Snapdragon. The game is mentioned in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and also in Agatha Christie’s Halloween Party. The game is pretty simple. You get a big plate full of raisins you douse the raisins with plenty of brandy and light it on fire. You then try to pick raisins out of the blazing plate without getting burned. And yes this was a children’s game. There is also a 12the Night Cake. It is made from Puff Pastry and filled with almond crème. In the cake is placed a ring or a tiny baby representing Jesus. Whoever gets the slice of cake with the ring or the baby gets declared King of the Feast and is given a crown to wear. Of course, all of this is gone now. The Catholic Church has moved the Feast of Epiphany to the Sunday after Christmas and not many protestant churches recognize it at all, at least not in the United States. And yet we sing about it. We Three Kings is the song of the magi. It’s not a Christmas Carol but a 12th night song. And The Little Drummer boy which is completely fictitious is also a staple throughout the Christmas season but is never heard after Christmas as it should be. Some biblical historians believe that the magi arrived about two years after Jesus’ birth. There is some logic behind this. The scriptures tell us that the Magi found the child in a house which means they had moved out of the stable where Jesus was born. Herod asked the Magi when the star appeared and when he realized that the Magi were not coming back to him had all the babies two years and younger killed in Bethlehem. This is known as The Slaughter of the Innocents and is the basis for another Christmas carol The Coventry Carol. It is thought that the star appeared on the night of Jesus’ birth and it took two years for the Magi to reach him. I am of the school of thought that says we go back to the old ways. Let’s celebrate all 12 days of Christmas. Let’s not set up our trees right after Thanksgiving but just a day or two before December 25th. Let’s have parties and gatherings straight through until January the sixth and have one last fling that night before we enter into our dull winter routines. Christmas could be more fun that way and maybe even less stressful. We could have dinner parties for twelve nights straight and see all of our family members. Those twelve days, if observed could bring a whole new dimension to Christmas. On January the sixth let’s take a moment to remember what the word epiphany means. >The manifestation of a divine being”. It is acknowledging to the world that we believe Jesus was fully God and fully man as the scriptures attest to. In many ways, it is an act of faith to celebrate this day and one I believe we can all profit from. It is said that two groups of people were allowed to see the baby Jesus those who knew they knew nothing, the shepherds and those who knew they didn’t know everything, the magi. Posted on December 22, 2021 December 17, 2021 by mikebobsworld I am not a poet. As I assume all writers do I dabbled in poetry. I went into fields and climbed trees and looked for inspiration in all the usual places I imagined poets would go to find their muse. I never found mine except once. It was 1979 not long before Christmas when I realized I had no money to give my folks a Christmas gift that year. It was my first semester in college and as all college students are, I was broke. I thought and thought and slowly an idea came to mind. I would write a poem. Initially I must have thought it would be a Christmas poem, but it turned into something slightly more elaborate. I wrote the poem, bought some poster board and hand printed it out with some small amount of artwork for the borders. I was no great poet, but I was and am an even worse artist. Still, it was a heartfelt gift and I present it to you now as I presented it to my parents as a Christmas gift. They say he was born in Beth’lem town, And on that night there was the sound, Of trumpets from the heavenly host, And in all this the saints would boast. He grew up alongside men, Who in their sight he would begin, A ministry of peace and light, And leading people toward the right. For three short years he labored strong, And taught the people to go along, A path of wisdom both just and bright, To walk not in darkness but in light. The leaders feared what this man taught, And in their fear a man they bought, For they knew he feared no earthly sword. They hung him on a wooden cross, And men believed that they had lost, A friend much closer than a brother, Their only friend man had no other. He died upon that cross so high, And they placed him in a tomb nearby, They placed him there while women moaned, Then covered the entrance with a stone. For three long days he lay there dead, The world lost hope and all men said, That he was good and just and wise, But like all men he had to die. But on the third day God shook the earth, And when the stone rolled from its berth, He rose again then into life, And took away all pain and strife. The world for long awaited this, For this man he brought a gift, If in Him we put our trust. As I have stated in other places you can’t have Christmas without Easter. If Easter did not happen then there would be no reason to celebrate the birth of Christ. We would still be partying in one way or another. After all, Christmas did replace the roman feast of Saturnalia. And that feast had parties and bringing in the green form outside, as well as gift giving. But the church, as her job, redeemed the pagan holiday and its customs and turned it into one of the most beautiful times of the year. It makes us know that we are loved and somehow instils in us the need to love and help others. As Dickens wrote it is “a time when want is keenly felt and abundance rejoices.” Dickens further writes in A Christmas Carol. “I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come around, apart from it’s sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it could be apart from that, as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time. The only time in the whole calendar of the year when and women, seem by one consent, to open their shut-up hearts freely and to think of people below them as fellow passengers to the grave and not another race of creature bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good and will do me good and so I say God Bless it.” This was speech given to Scrooge by his nephew in A Christmas Carol. Very few stage or screen productions ever let the actor have the whole speech but in those words is the true meaning and heart of Christmas. Earlier this week a fellow Christmas Carol fan, Michael Castellano wrote a poem that embodies the whole story of A Christmas Carol. He did this all-in-one day and I think it’s pure genius. With his permission I present it to you now. A chill to my Christmas with harsh blowing winds, when my story begins. My hearts made of stone I may never reform, and to be quite honest I should have never been born. Money and power is all that I crave and my earthly delights, will end soon at the grave. with its tinsels and lights, my hatred is strong where others delight. my partner in life has returned from the grave, “I’ve come here to assist you You’ll be visited by three spirits from the foot of your bed. The first spirit came with a bright shining light, to show me my past on this cold winters night. We visited scenes from my boyhood at school, where I sat all alone with a spoon and some gruel. with their great Christmas fete, with plenty to drink and abundance to eat. my very own Belle, she had me entranced I fell under her spell. But greed overtook me I lost at loves game, and nothings the same. as the city clock struck two, who sipped a strange brew. he said with a laugh, adorned his large staff. with a touch of his robe such a soft gentle touch, we flew over mountains to a boy with a crutch. He showed me my life and my cold frozen heart, although I saw much it was only a start. at the end of his haunt, but inside his robe I saw ignorance and want. appeared from the mist my life to assist. He showed me my future my life at its end, he scared me this spirit but he was truly a friend. I was truly alone, “I’ll change” I cried please don;t leave me alone. the old man is dead, and a visit to Fred. I’ve finished my story and God Bless Us Everyone. If you have no time to read A Christmas Carol or watch one of the film adaptations, you at least have this poem. One more note about A Christmas Carol. I have a tradition of reading the book every year. I start at night on the 21st reading the First Stave Dickens uses the word Stave instead of Chapter in his book as it is a musical term meaning the verse of a song. For the next three nights, I read a single Stave usually right before bed. On the 25th Christmas morning I read The Final Stave entitled The End of It and live with Scrooge all the joy he found that Christmas morning. For me, it’s a meaningful and touching way to read the classic. It’s also something a family could do together. One last thought before leaving you. Several years ago I was working in dialysis at a local hospital and one of the docs gave me and the rest of the unit employees a little card with a free verse poem on it. It was beautiful and very timely, and it is a reminder that the celebration of Christmas is only the beginning. That little card did not have the author’s name, but I found that out recently and I present the poem to you as a last gift of Christmas. When the star is the sky is gone, When the song of the angels is stilled, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks, To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To bring peace among the people, To make music in the heart. Posted on December 15, 2021 December 15, 2021 by mikebobsworld · 2 Comments I think was blessed to be born in the early part of the 1960s. Technology had not come near the point where things were handed to you instantly. Fast Food restaurants did not exist yet and microwaves and cell phones were in the far-flung future. Because of this life was slower and could be savored and we did even as children. Television was still in its infancy in the early 60s. Sure it had been around a while but it was still black and white and though color sets existed they were out of the reach of most people. We had three channels to choose from NBC, CBS, and ABC. Eventually, we would have PBS and three UHF Channels for my area they were channels 17, 29, 48. It was on these channels that the reruns of shows that had gone off the air would play as well as a plethora of old movies. That was it and I don’t think all of that was established until I was at least 6 or 7. So what did that mean? It meant that we had to wait. There were no streaming shows when we wanted to see them. There was getting hold of the newspapers TV listings and scanning what was on that week to plan what you were going to watch. And if you missed it that was too bad. Never was this more true than at Christmas. I was the youngest of four children and at Christmas time I became the ruler of the TV set, or at least my family let me think I was. I was born just as the great Christmas shows were being made for the first time. I was three When Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer first went up against the Abominable Snowman. Mr. Magoo had already captured the world with his version of A Christmas Carol and so many were to come. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty The Snowman, The Year Without A Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Little Drummer Boy, and so many others. I would grab The Sunday TV supplement every week, as soon as I learned to read, scanning for these yearly events and hoping my family didn’t have to go out the night they were aired. If we did, it would be a whole year before I could see them again. I was pretty lucky. I don’t think I missed any of them except Rudolph once when I was in the hospital with an eye injury. Anticipation, which ultimately is the theme of Advent, was in the heart of every kid I grew up with. Not anticipation for spiritual things, that comes with growth and maturity, but anticipation for the fun and joyful things of Christmas. In some ways, it was good practice for when we grew up and awaited Christmas for its true meaning. But we didn’t wait just for kids’ shows. There were other more adult shows that we waited for. Bing Crosby’s yearly Christmas show, the same for Bob Hope, Andy Williams, and the now almost forgotten King Family. The whole family gathered around the set for these treats presented to us by the three networks. Then there was that special night. My brother Vince would usually spot it first in the TV listings. The night the movie White Christmas would air. White Christmas was not a kids movie, it is a full musical that kids can be charmed by but also can be loved by parents. So every year until the family began to go our separate ways all six of us sat around that TV and watched this beautiful movie unfurl. That time will never come again but it is sweet to remember. The family watching White Christmas led me to even more Christmas movies. Things that were being shown but the rest of my family had little interest in. Movies such as Holiday Inn and Meet Me in St Louis soon became more yearly favorites. When a new version of Miracle on 34th Street was shown starring Sebastion Cabot and David Hartman I was hooked and wanted to see the original. I had never heard of It’s A Wonderful Life until Marlo Thomas remade the film switching the gender roles and calling it, It Happened One Chrismas. Eventually, these made-for-TV movies made me want to back to view the original and they all became favorites. I directed a stage version of It’s a Wonderful Life in 2000 it remains a lovely memory. Still, we had to wait every year for these treats. Watching television was not the only thing that made Christmas special. I remember going out every year to find the perfect Christmas tree. At first, it was in local lots where people were selling freshly cut trees, as we grew older my family began to drive out to Christmas tree farms where we would cut down our trees. By then my brother and sisters were married and it was a caravan that would go to these places. Stopping at Burger King for a quick lunch and then coming home to hot turkey rice soup and meatball sandwiches that mom had warming in crockpots while we were away. Then there was the tree decorating. No one was more of a perfectionist than my father when it came to how the tree looked. It had to be straight as an arrow before one light or ornament could be placed on the branches. And the lights, this was still back in the time when if one light had blown none of the lights would come on. You then had to spend as much time as it took to find the dead bulb. There were more Christmases with dead bulbs than without. After that, we kids generally took over looking for our favorite ornaments to hang on the tree. We had a nice variety of the delicate glass balls, homemade ornaments that my brother had done, and some store-bought figures. My favorites were Santa’s eight reindeer with Rudolph in the lead. Those needed to be spaced nicely so it looked as if they were flying around the tree. My family were tinsel people and my dad again took charge of that, Tinsel had to be placed delicately on the tree almost one strand at a time. It took forever. when I learned about garland and you only had to drape it around the tree, I thought I had been given the Holy Grail of Christmas. Christmas was family time, but not just our immediate family. I had cousins and aunts and uncles and second and third cousins and we all got together on Christmas night, not just once but three times. My father had two sisters, My Aunt Mary and my Aunt Dolores. My grandmother, my father’s mother (My grandfather had died before I was born) would alternate between her three children where she would go on Christmas day for dinner. Where ever she was the whole family would descend on that house for dessert first. After that, we went to the two other houses for dessert making it a three dessert holiday. Actually, it was four desserts as we had dessert with dinner too. We kids had a blast because there were still gifts to be received at each of the Aunt’s houses. I liked going to my Aunt Mary’s and Uncle Steve’s best. She had a wonderful bakery at the top of her street and she always had mini Danish and coconut cream pie which was my favorite. I got it once a year as mom never made it. That is not to say Aunt Dolores didn’t outdo herself. At her house, there would be delicious stromboli and Christmas punch made with soda, juice, and a tub of sherbert. Aunt Mary and Uncle Steve had another wonderful tradition that fascinated all the kids and most of the adults. In their basement, there was an enormous train display. It had mountains and tunnels and trees and all sorts of things to delight the mind of a child. I don’t know where the tradition originated and who was most responsible, my Uncle Steve or his eldest son Steven or if it was a yearly team effort. I do know that Steven kept up the tradition as best as possible in his own home. Trains weere a big part of Christmas. At our house there would occasionally be a set wrapped around the bottom of the tree. But nothing I have ever seen compared to that wonderful set in my aunt and uncle’s basement. Christmas eve was a day of preparation, as a little kid I remember going to midnight Mass with my whole family. The Mass was said in Latin up until 1966 so I understood very little of it. It was, however, still beautiful to me. There was a solemness in the church that I could feel but also great joy and anticipation. In those days our church had the whole town of Bethlehem laid out in a special display, I remember filing past this to catch a glimpse of the tiny baby in his manger. I couldn’t wait for that moment. At that moment I knew Christmas had come. I had been to see Santa and I made sure, one way or another a letter got written to him. In those early days, my family had a custom of meeting my dad in Center City Philadelphia for dinner and to see the amazing light show at Wanamaker’s a prestigious, though now gone, department store. We would take the train in town and meet Dad at the station, we would then proceed to a restaurant called The Pub and then on to Wanamakers. The light show was amazing and if I was lucky I could sit on the eagle statue’s base, which was in the middle of the hall. I am happy to say that Macy’s bought the Wanamaker’s building and keeps the light show going every year. After the light show, it was on to Santa’s village for the walkthrough display of animated dolls in Christmas scenes, and at the end of the village was the man himself waiting to hear about my list of toys and questioning my behavior of the previous year. Like I would ever tell him I had misbehaved. There was still a last treat for the littlest of children. Between the ages of maybe 3 and 10, you could ride the in-store monorail. This monorail took you all around the toy department and let you see from above all the things you could wish for. It was exciting because it was a ride that, after I was 5 years old, I could go alone. I think that was the first thing I could ever do for myself. I don’t think there was anything like it in any other store in the country. Christmas morning came early, even if we did go to Midnight Mass. Little kids don’t need a lot of sleep and I’m pretty sure I was the first one awake. I shared a room with my brother Vince who was seven years older than me. He was the second one to be awake on those mornings. I don’t remember eating breakfast on Christmas morning at all. I do remember piles of gifts for all four of us under a lovely tree. My parents were generous to us, for me, in the name of Santa. Not everything was there but there was never a reason to feel disappointed. There was enough to keep you very happy. There wasn’t much time to play with my new treasures. Shortly after we opened the gifts and got ready for the day we got whisked off to my other grandmother’s house for another round of gift-giving and receiving. Sometimes my grandfather, who was a chef, would make apple dumplings with warm vanilla sauce and the sugar rush would begin. And there was a sugar rush all day long. My mother was a wonderful baker and so all kinds of cookies were made and decorated. There were sugar cookies in Christmas shapes and raisin filler cookies that looked like little round ravioli, then there were butter cookies also pressed out into festive shapes and of course chocolate chip. And it wouldn’t be Christmas if my mother didn’t spend hours making the Italian Pizzelle. At dinner, which would always be a turkey (In the early years my grandfather, my mother’s step-father, would cook the bird, but as he got older my mother took over) we also enjoyed mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce from a can, until I learned how to make it myself, green beans, apple, and pumpkin pie and then, what we now call, a Jewish apple cake. Back then it was a German apple cake. I don’t know why. The reason for the cake was that December the 25th was not only Jesus’ birthday but also my father’s and my mom did the best she could to separate the two. After dinner, we sang Happy Birthday and gave him his gifts. It was a shame that he had to do it all in one day but he took in stride and never complained. In later years my sister’s Trish’s husband would be included in the ranks as he was born not on Christmas day but very close. Mom would always get him a large chocolate chip pan cookie with Happy Birthday written on it from the local bakery. A lot went on in the Roberto house at Christmas. For the kids it was a lot of fun, for the adults I think, it was mostly exhausting. I think the most important thing in my Christmas memories is that from a very early age I knew what Christmas was all about. I didn’t need Linus to explain the Gospel story to me, I knew it and saw played out in church every year and every Sunday. At an early age, I connected Christmas to Easter and in the third grade, I wrote a poem about the child who waited for death so near. Even as a babe Jesus was both fully man and fully God. This is the mystery of the incarnation, how God worked it all out I will never know. I only know he did and because of Christmas and Easter, we have freedom from our slavery to sin and great joy in knowing that there is a reward waiting for us after death. Christmas has come under scrutiny now and many want to dismiss the day. Some folks only see the non-Christian side and just decorate trees and wait for Santa without knowing what is behind these symbols of the season. This is very sad because these symbols, the tree, the holly, the wreath, Santa, the TV shows and big screen movies and everything else is pointing directly at Jesus. But it is as the saying goes, “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” If you are interested in the great traditions of Christmas may I point you to the books by Ace Collns. He has done his research well and in three volumes captures just about everything you’d want to know about the holiday. What are your Christmas memories? I’d love to hear about them. Please leave them in the comment section so everyone can share your joy in the season. Posted on November 24, 2021 November 24, 2021 by mikebobsworld The Holiday Season The holiday season is now upon us. If you are like everybody else you face the next 6 weeks or so with a mixture of Joy and Dread. I hope that the joy will outweigh the dread but for many, this is not the case. Why do we allow the most joyous time of year to become a burden? Why do the stores dress for Christmas before we’ve gotten rid of the last bite of Halloween candy? I blame President Roosevelt. Before WW2 no one thought about Christmas until about a week before. The Holiday Season began on December the twenty-fifth, Christmas Day, and ended on January sixth, The Feast of The Epiphany, the celebration of when the Wisemen came to Bethlehem. So all the fun stuff we do now, before the 25th, like Christmas Parties and multiple family visits were all done after the 25th. There was even a party held on the eve of The Epiphany called a 12th Night Party and people would gather to play games and sing songs and enjoy themselves. This 12th-night party is mentioned in Stave 3 of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol when Scrooge is visited by The Ghost of Christmas Present. Twelfth Night should remind you of the song The Twelve Days of Christmas because those were the 12 days that are mentioned in the song. The time between December 25th and January 6th. President Roosevelt changed that with a very small snowball that rolled downhill and turned into a snow monster. He asked that everyone do their Christmas shopping extra early so that packages being mailed to soldiers either here or overseas would arrive before Christmas, This was a great idea for the soldiers but it turned into what we have now. Roosevelt even tried to move Thanksgiving from the fourth Thursday in November to the third to allow people more time to shop, Thankfully he did not succeed in this endeavor. If you watch the I Love Lucy Christmas show you’ll notice that they don’t get a tree until Christmas Eve or decorate at all. Black Friday, the big sale day after Thanksgiving, did not begin its yearly craziness until the 1950s and then grew stronger thru the 60s and seventies. Now Black Friday can either make or break many businesses. The history of Black Friday has nothing to do with retail. How retail adapted the name seems shrouded in mystery. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving was given its name by Philadelphia Policemen. In the early days of football, the Army-Navy game was played on the day after Thanksgiving. This would bring many visitors and tourists to Philadelphia. This caused the police departments to have their officers work overtime and pull extra shifts at a time when the rest of the country was taking a break. So the Philadelphia cops named the day Black Friday. And with a Bang Christmas is upon us. If you live in the most typical of North American homes you don’t even get a chance to enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers before the shopping frenzy starts. As the years have gone by this frenzy has gotten worse. This year the stores are claiming you’d better get all your shopping done immediately or the gifts you want to buy won’t be available with our current worker shortage. In times past the big stores and malls were opening at Midnight on Black Friday or any early hour of the morning. I remember back in the early days of early store openings going with my brother-in-law to Best Buy and waiting in quite a line for a 6 a.m. opening. The doors opened and insanity struck. People pushing and pulling and even slamming folks into other aisles to get to the sale item they wanted. I never went to an early opening again. The message seemed to be “Thanksgiving is over now let’s kill each other.” This is not the message of Thanksgiving or the message of Christmas. Maybe it’s time to start slowing down. Yes, there is a lot of preparation for Christmas but do we have to begin that preparation on Black Friday? I want our retail stores to have great Christmas sales, but they can get our money a few days or even weeks later. We will buy gifts and shop just not that day. I think we should have Blue Friday. In fact, Sky Blue Friday. On Sky Blue Friday we take up where we left off on Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, we gave thanks to God and maybe to the people who made our lives a little better or helped us through hard times our focus was outward. Not thinking about ourselves but of God and other people. On Sky Blue Friday I believe we should look inward. It has been said that an “unexamined life is not worth living,” yet many of us rarely take the time to examine where we are or who we are. We don’t ask if who we are is who we want to be? Self-examination can be hard but it is also a gift we can give ourselves. In Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is forced to examine his own life by looking at his past, seeing his present, and getting a glimpse of what his future would be if he persisted in his present course. On Sky Blue Friday we should do the same examine our past and present and see where our current, attitudes, beliefs, jobs, work ethic, relationships, and hobbies may be leading us. If all is well then there is nothing to do if all is NOT well then we need to determine what changes need to be made and make them. Black Friday being replaced by Sky Blue Friday can lead us right into the next part of the holiday season, Advent. Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. It is celebrated in Churches as the four Sundays before Christmas. More often than not the first Sunday of Advent will fall on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The traditional Advent Calendars that you buy in the store with the little windows that open up begin on December first but that is not the Advent season. Advent is a special time. At Easter, we go through Lent and in some way try to participate in the sufferings of our savior. In Advent, we are looking forward to the coming of our Savior, and this is with great excitement and joy because we know what he brings will be good. For the Christian, we look to the past for the birth of Jesus into this world and to the future for his promised return. Advent is a time of preparation. Many churches have Advent Wreaths as part of the season but this is also something you can do with your family or even by yourself. Advent candles and wreaths are available on Amazon or you could easily make one yourself with fresh evergreen branches some wire and candle holders. You can check out the Gospel for each day on the liturgical calendar. Both Catholics and Protestants use this calendar. On the first Sunday of Advent, you light the first candle read that day’s Gospel, and say a short prayer. Maybe even sing some carols or turn on the Christmas Music. Then each of the following days you do the same reading the Gospel for the day. If you want to make it simpler there are many advent devotionals you can use if the liturgical calendar isn’t for you. This is a great way to spend Advent it will slow you down and it will help you focus on what we are really celebrating. If you’re reading this and you are not a Christian do this anyway. There are a lot of bad things being said about Christians these days and most of them are false. If you prepare for Christmas this way you’ll get a taste of who Jesus was and is and it may make your celebration even more joyful. You may find yourself wanting to know more about Jesus. Speaking of Joy, did you know that the song Joy to the World is not actually a Christmas song. It’s not about Jesus first coming over 2000 years ago, although we sing it with that in mind. The lyricist’s intention was this song to herald the second coming of Jesus. This is the song we will be singing when Christ comes back as he promised he would. Now we sing it in anticipation of that event. There are so many ways to slow down in this upcoming season. Take in a concert, See a production of A Christmas Carol. There will be a whole lot about A Christmas Carol in an upcoming Blog. Better yet read A Christmas Carol. The book has so much more than any filmed version. I haven’t forgotten Thanksgiving. Here’s a last word. God gives us the sunshine and the rain. He makes the crops grow and so supplies us with food. He gave us life and each of our lives is precious to Him. When you sit down with whomever you share Thanksgiving with or if you are by yourself take one second, a moment and remember all He has done. Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!	60,007
Flags Planted On National Mall To Honor American Covid Deaths in September 2021, when the death total was 650,000 (photo credit: Kent Nishimura) As we stumble forward in the pandemic, now in its third year, our nation is a tangle of conflicting emotions. We are weary, boastful, angry, unrepentant, depressed, frightened, and “over it.” One thing is certain. We are bitterly divided. We are divided by what we view as the truth. We are divided by the measures we are willing to take to protect ourselves and others. We are divided by what role we feel the government should play. We are divided by the responsibilities the private sector should have in protecting public health. We are divided by how we view those we deem to be on the “other side” of the divisions listed above. What we have is a global tragedy that has been particularly devastating in terms of death and suffering to the United States. Officially the death count from COVID in this country is well over 850.000, and rising, with thousands more dying every day. We will never know the real count. It is likely higher. Maybe significantly so. When this all started, the idea that it would leave so much death in its wake was inconceivable. When this all started, the idea that it would leave so much death in its wake was inconceivable. In previous eras of tragedy, suffering has made this nation more unified. Tragedies of significant magnitude have a tendency to do that by pulling at the inherent bonds of our common humanity. But not this time. There has been no shortage of grief on the individual level, as this virus has torn through families and communities. But any collective grief on a national level long ago became another casualty of COVID. We can’t even agree that this is a tragedy. And that leaves me with a deep and profound sadness. There are of course many reasons for this. From the beginning, this virus was politicized by a president and his willing and eager enablers. A political party already increasingly hostile to science, expertise, and responsibility, was eager to use even a deadly virus as a means to attack its opposition. Its propaganda machinery whipped into gear and suddenly masking and other methods of controlling spread, and then inconceivably life saving vaccines, were turned into litmus tests of ideological purity. The uncertainty of a rapidly changing and elusive viral enemy was weaponized by actors of bad faith. Scientists were demonized. And the uncertainty of a rapidly changing and elusive viral enemy was weaponized by actors of bad faith to undermine the communal actions that are necessary to save lives in the midst of such contagion. To be sure, the virus has reminded us that science is not a single set of facts. It is a body of ever-evolving knowledge, often reliant on incomplete and inconclusive data. Scientists, doctors, and public health officials often disagreed to some extent on the best policy - over such things as closing schools, when to administer booster shots, and how restrictive our preventive measures should be. Looking back, much of our actions could and maybe should have been reconsidered. Although it is frustrating, that is the way science works. But that has only sharpened our divide. Now that we have remarkably effective vaccines, there is a tendency among those who have been vaccinated to be very frustrated with those who have not. And this has extended, at times, to many expressing a lack of empathy for those who are suffering from severe cases of a deadly disease whose severity is now almost completely preventable. The truth is that almost everyone who is dying today is unvaccinated. And that means that most of these deaths should not have happened. We may wonder how people can be so foolish, so reckless, so gullible, so selfish as to not get vaccinated. This anger among the vaccinated is understandable. The unvaccinated do not only harm themselves, they make the spread of this virus easier and put those for whom the vaccines don’t provide sufficient protection, such as the immunocompromised, at extra risk. We may wonder how people can be so foolish, so reckless, so gullible, so selfish as to not get vaccinated. It is indeed infuriating. And that is only exacerbated by the fact that many of these unvaccinated people are proud of their status and use it to attack and belittle their political enemies. Sadly propaganda can have a powerful control over the human mind. Our anger should be especially directed at those who know better - the talk show hosts and politicians, many of whom are vaccinated, who have infected their followers with nonsense. Vaccines have joined such things as the “stolen election” in the toxic stew of lies, bad faith, false equivalence, hubris, and divisiveness peddled by those who wield their power by making the United States less united. Nevertheless, I am left today primarily thinking of all who have died, as well as those suffering from long covid, and those who may suffer in the years ahead in ways we cannot predict. This could have been a moment when we decided to step outside of our divided camps and come together. That the blame for this not happening is so asymmetric along the political divide does make me very angry, but it doesn’t make me any less sad. People are dead. Seats at dinner tables will forever be empty. Children will never get another hug from a parent or grandparent. The measures to protect ourselves - the separation, the events foregone, the life moments missed - carry their own pain. So many had to die alone. Medical professionals, in the time before the vaccine especially, rushed into help with little personal protection. Many died as a result of their service. We can and should grieve for all of this. Ultimately, I also grieve for my country that we are so unable to grieve together. Ultimately, I also grieve for my country that we are so unable to grieve together. I understand the frustration as the pandemic continues its waves. I understand why people are desperate to move on. I feel it personally. I am at a point in my life when each day is a blessing. I would have rather spent the last few years very differently from how it has been. But the virus doesn’t give a damn about what we feel. It exploits our divisions. And that is another reason to grieve. Perhaps, when the virus finally subsides, when we can look back with a distance from the passions that animate us now, we can find some common ground. I fear that the divides over vaccines and the preventability of death will make that difficult. But I hope that ultimately our humanity will prevail. We will see that the tragedy was both the virus and the divisions it hardened, which only increased its potency. And for that we will be able to grieve, together. Share this post Jan 23Liked by Elliot Kirschner, Dan Rather This is not only the best Steady letter I've read, but is unquestioningly the best I've read anywhere about the pandemic and its effect on our country. 6 replies by Dan Rather and others Jan 23Liked by Dan Rather As the artist who created the white flag installation (“In America: Remember”) on the National Mall, I thank you for having an image of my art accompany your brilliantly written article. My white flags were a plea for humanity. In their astonishing beauty, the flags represented something so profoundly horrifying. That incongruence was meant to give our nation a moment of pause. En masse, the flags physically rendered understandable an incomprehensible number. Individually, the flags acknowledged personal, devastating loss as people from across the nation traveled to Washington, DC to dedicate flags—with names and stories—for loved ones lost. Amidst those fluttering flags, individuals no longer felt alone in their grief. Strangers comforted strangers. That gives me hope. We must create more spaces, more opportunities to humanize those who are “other” and to normalize respect for their dignity. Art can play an important role: when words fall on unlistening ears, art can slide in under the door, filter gently in through the air vents, and unlock our echo chambers from the inside.	8,393
When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to go to the desired page. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Most couples meet through friends, work or – especially during lockdown – online, but fate brought Clara Darcy and Tom Vinnicombe together in the most unlikely of places – a world-renowned hospital where they had pioneering treatment for their brain tumours. Poignantly, happiness came out of them sharing the heart breaking bond of living with […] Monday 7 February 2022 By Glenn Saitch Most couples meet through friends, work or – especially during lockdown – online, but fate brought Clara Darcy and Tom Vinnicombe together in the most unlikely of places – a world-renowned hospital where they had pioneering treatment for their brain tumours. Poignantly, happiness came out of them sharing the heart breaking bond of living with the devastating disease. When they met at The Christie in Manchester in October 2019, they were drawn to each other and after treatment they kept in touch. As they opened up to each other about the emotional impact of living with a brain tumour, friendship blossomed into love and the couple are now planning a future together. “It’s wonderful that something so positive has come out of our ordeals.” said Clara, 38, an actress from Manchester, who has had guest roles in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks ITV’s Emmerdale and The Royal and BBC2’s Eric and Ernie. “I never dreamt having cancer would lead me to the man of my dreams. “We understand what each other have been through. “If I have a wobble, Tom’s there for me and I’m there to reassure him when he needs it. I’m so grateful to have him at my side.” Now the couple are sharing their story to help The Brain Tumour Charity raise awareness about brain tumours – the biggest cancer killer of children and under-40s in the UK – and highlight its relationship counselling service in partnership with Relate. Whether you’re currently in a relationship, or hoping to start a new one, our partnership with Relate can help you get the most out of your relationships. Clara was diagnosed in July 2019 after suffering severe headaches for six months. She’d been to her GP several months before who put her headaches down to migraines and prescribed medication. Desperate for relief, Clara saw a muscular-skeletal physiotherapist as she thought she may have damaged a nerve as most of the pain was in her neck; and then she saw a chiropractor. “Nothing worked and the pain was escalating,” said Clara. One weekend, she went to her local A & E in agony. By then, she’d also had other symptoms on and off including a hoarse voice, blurred vision and vomiting, “I was expecting them to give me a steroid injection in my neck and send me on my way, but they ordered a CT scan,” said Clara. “The doctor told me the scan had shown a ‘huge abnormality.’ I immediately had to have a more detailed MRI scan, which confirmed I had a brain tumour. “I was shocked and that time is a blur. But I remember a sense of relief that I finally knew what was wrong with me.” Doctors told Clara that she had a very rare clival chordoma, a type of cancer that develops in the bone of skull base and can grow towards the brain. “My neurosurgeon said it was the biggest he’d ever seen – the size of a fist,” said Clara. “It had eaten away at several of my upper vertebrae and he was concerned that my neck might not be strong enough to hold up my head after surgery. “I was told I may need spinal fusion surgery, too, which would have welded some of my vertebrae together. “It was another devastating blow because, as an actress and dancer, I need a range of movement and I thought I would become massively restricted physically.” A week after being diagnosed, Clara underwent 14 hours’ endonasal keyhole surgery at Salford Royal Hospital. “I couldn’t believe it when they told me they were going to remove my brain tumour through my nose!” said Clara. “But it was the safest way to do it because my tumour was just in front of my brain stem and very difficult to get to with traditional surgery. “My family were terrified I wouldn’t make it through the operation, but I just knew I would – partly thanks to my incredible surgeon, who removed 95-98% of my tumour.” Clara came round from surgery wearing a large halo cage to support her neck. After five days and more scans, much to her relief, doctors decided she didn’t need spinal fusion. She couldn’t eat or talk for a week because she had an elective tracheostomy during surgery as the tumour was pressing on her trachea. “After three weeks in hospital, I went to stay with my mum and dad, and recovered from surgery fairly quickly,” said Clara. Three months later, she started eight weeks’ proton beam therapy at The Christie, the only UK centre to offer the treatment – which is more targeted than conventional radiotherapy damaging less healthy tissue – on the NHS since 2018. “I felt so blessed to be eligible for the treatment, especially as the hospital is on my doorstep,” said Clara. Fate stepped in as marine engineer Tom, 34, was also having proton beam therapy at The Christie, six years after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September 2011. His family had already suffered tragedy when Tom’s twin brother, Christian, was killed in a car accident in 2009, and his mum was diagnosed with incurable cervical cancer 18 months after Tom’s own diagnosis. As they come from a seafaring background, Tom’s dad suggested he build a boat in his twin’s memory. Over the next three years, Tom spent countless hours after work and weekends on his labour of love building the Kingfisher Sport 18-foot vessel. “One night I was working late on the boat and my right eye went slightly blurry,” said Tom from Cornwall. “I just put it down to being tired or that I’d got something in my eye. “I could move my eye from the centre to the right but it wouldn’t move from the centre to the left, but I didn’t really think anything of it. “I went to the local A & E and they couldn’t find anything wrong, so they sent me to the eye clinic at my local hospital, where I had an MRI scan.” A few weeks later, while Tom was waiting for the scan results, he went to Falmouth Oysters Festival and had his photo taken with Cold Feet actor John Thomson. “My eye looked ‘stuck’ in the photo and that’s when I knew something weird was going on,” said Tom. “When I went back to hospital, the doctor said, ‘You’ve got a brain tumour.’ “He said I had the calmest reaction he’d ever had from anyone, but I’m a very level-headed, chilled person and just thought, ‘Let’s get on with it.’” Determined to get his brother’s boat into the water before his surgery in November 2013, Tom launched it in front of family and friends on the fourth anniversary of his death that August. Sadly, his mum was too ill to go and died two days later. Three months later, Tom had a temporal craniotomy at Bristol Southmead Hospital to remove the golfball-sized tumour and biopsy results revealed it was a grade 2 (non-cancerous) chondrosarcoma, a rare tumour which can affect the base of the skull and grow into the brain. “I was in hospital for a week and at home for another two weeks, then back to work like nothing had happened,” said Tom, who has signed up to The Brain Tumour Charity’s ground-breaking BRIAN app. Tom had stable scans for four years until his tumour started growing again. In October 2017, he had another 12-hour craniotomy, which left him with permanent deafness in his right ear. “After surgery, I had terrible balance problems for a few weeks, but was able to go back to work after three weeks,” said Tom. “When I was accepted to have proton beam therapy at The Christie a few years later, doctors told me that I was the first person from Cornwall to have the treatment on the NHS in the UK.” Little did he know he was about to meet his soul mate. “Tom teases me as he vividly remembers meeting me on the first day of our treatment, but I have no recollection of it at all as I felt so ill,” said Clara. “At first, he chatted to my mum more than me as he’d bump into her in the waiting room while she was waiting for me to come out of treatment. “But we gravitated towards each other as we were the only patients a similar age. “My first impressions were, ‘he’s cute’, He had the most gorgeous twinkling blue eyes and I loved his Cornish accent. “I remember thinking in normal circumstances, I would’ve asked him out, but I felt so rough during treatment that romance was the last thing on my mind.” On December 5, 2019, Clara finished her treatment the day before Tom and rang a bell to mark the milestone, watched by her family. “It was such an emotional moment and Tom gave me a massive hug,” said Clara. “Next day, I decided to surprise him by going back to the hospital to watch him ring the bell as I knew it was too far for his family to travel from Cornwall.” But when Clara got there, Tom had already completed the ceremony so he could leave earlier for his long journey home. “I was really disappointed and wanted to keep in touch with him, so I asked the staff to forward a good luck card I’d bought for him,” she said. Clara had put her phone number in the card and a few days later, Tom texted to thank her. They started messaging each other about once a month, comparing notes on their recovery. “I found myself looking forward more and more to hearing from him,” said Clara. “Over the following summer, the texts got more frequent and flirty, and then eventually we started chatting on the phone daily and Facetiming each other.” Tom gave Clara a big hug when she finished treatment Clara played Miss Nightingale in musical Miss Nightingale on a tour 2015-2016. PIC CREDIT MATTHEW BUGG Tom at work as a marine engineer. His and actress Clara's worlds are poles apart but fate brought them together when they met having pioneering treatment for their brain tumours Clara recovering in hospital after surgery Tom gave Clara a big hug when she finished treatment Clara played Miss Nightingale in musical Miss Nightingale on a tour 2015-2016. Tom at work as a marine engineer. His and actress Clara’s worlds are poles apart but fate brought them together when they met having pioneering treatment for their brain tumours Clara recovering in hospital after surgery In December 2020, after a year of keeping in touch, Tom had a check-up at The Christie and suggested they meet up. “He was going to stay at a hotel but I invited him to stay with me,” said Clara. “It was romantic going to Christmas light displays together and that was it really, we were a couple and things got serious quickly. “We’re totally different and haven’t got much else in common apart from having brain tumours – I know nothing about marine engineering and the acting world is alien to Tom, but we just gel and it keeps things interesting.” Now Clara and Tom take it in turns to make the 700-mile round trip every four-six weeks to see each other and are planning a future together. “It’s a hefty trip but it’s worth it to be together,” said Clara. “Sometimes we’ve gone longer without seeing each other due to Covid restrictions, which was difficult. “We’ve got to know each other’s friends and for now have the best of both worlds – Cornwall’s beauty and Manchester’s trendy vibe. Once we’ve decided where to live, we’re hoping to move in together.” The couple are grateful for “incredible support” from their families and friends but “feel blessed” to have each other. “Tom’s the only other person who gets first-hand the fear, anger and trepidation that comes with living with a brain tumour, “said Clara, who has co-written a play about her tumour, which she hopes to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year as part of a national tour. “It’s so reassuring to know Tom gets how I feel and we both now have scans every six months. “Tom also helps me cope with my anxiety that my tumour is malignant and very likely to grow back at some stage; and, although his is low-grade, there’s a chance his could recur, too. “Being diagnosed with a brain tumour is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, but it also brought us together and we’re blissfully happy. “We hope that sharing our story will help give people hope that you can find love even in the darkest times. “Now we both want to enjoy every ounce of life together as we know how precious life is.” Tom said: “Right from the start, our relationship was simple and relaxed – it felt right. “We keep each other’s spirits up when the other is having down days. I love how cheerful Clara is, she always looks for the positive and is never down for long. “The staff were amazing at The Christie but the best part was meeting Clara. It was such a random place to meet someone in hard circumstances, but I feel so lucky we found each other.” Eve Kelleher, The Brain Tumour Charity’s Head of Services, said: “Our warmest wishes go to Clara and Tom and we are delighted for them that something positive has come out of their shared experience of being diagnosed with brain tumours. “We are hugely grateful they are sharing their story to help us raise awareness about brain tumours – the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 in the UK. “While Clara and Tom’s experience is such a happy story of their diagnoses bringing them together, we know that a brain tumour diagnosis can be a huge emotional strain on relationships. “Our Losing Myself report revealed that two in three people felt their diagnosis had a negative impact on their relationship with their partner, and 72% said it had affected their physical intimacy. “That’s why we run a free counselling service in partnership with Relate for couples and individuals, whose relationship may have been put under pressure by a brain tumour diagnosis. “We are here to listen, support and help with the latest information.” Been affected by a brain tumour? Our support team are here to help, advise and listen to you whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with the disease. About the author As Copywriter at The Brain Tumour Charity, I plan and write communications in various different formats. I work with people affected by brain tumours to share their stories, raise awareness of The Charity’s activities and the research we fund, and keep the community informed on what’s happening and how they can get involved. More by Glenn Saitch Related news Thursday 3 November 2022 Parents mark £10,000 fundraising milestone after loss of son, Khushil, to a brain tumour Friday 28 October 2022 “Learning to live with a brain tumour is challenging but you just have to stay positive and try to make the most of every day.” Tuesday 16 August 2022 Navigating the path unknown –James’ story. Need help? Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumour or a family member or friend has, we are here to help. Call 0808 800 0004 You can unsubscribe at any time in the future. Read how we keep your data safe in our Privacy Policy. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.	15,645
Serial: Adnan Was the Prime (and Possibly Only) Suspect in Hae’s Murder Even Before the Anonymous Phone Call \| The View From LL2 Skip to primary content Thoughts on law, economics, and all things slightly geeky. ← Previous Next → Serial: Adnan Was the Prime (and Possibly Only) Suspect in Hae’s Murder Even Before the Anonymous Phone Call Posted on March 2, 2015 by Susan Simpson Trial Transcripts: Since Rabia is out of the country at the moment, and since there are transcripts that are overdue for release, Rabia asked if I could post the next batch of transcripts: February 4, 2000: Inez Butler (direct and cross) and Jay Wilds (direct) February 14, 2000: Jay Wilds (cross, continued) February 15, 2000: Jay Wilds (cross, continued) and Jenn Pusateri (direct and partial cross) February 16, 2000: Jenn Pusateri (cross, continued) According to Serial folklore, the reason Adnan became a suspect in Hae’s murder was all due to an anonymous call made the day after Hae’s murder was announced in the media. On February 12, 1999, at 3:19 p.m., Detective Massey received a phone call from an “Asian Male 18-21 years old[ ] who advised investigators should concentrate on the victim’s boyfriend.” It was only after this phone call that the police began to zero in on Adnan as a suspect. Or so the story goes. The police files, however, tell a different story. They indicate that Adnan was already a suspect before the anonymous call ever came in. In fact, the police files indicate that Adnan was the only suspect that was ever considered. As of February 11th, the police already seem to have decided that Adnan was responsible for Hae’s murder. The Curious Case of Mr. A and the February 11th Printout The earliest indication that the police were investigating Adnan comes from a one-page printout of a motor vehicle database search. The search had pulled up registration details for Adnan’s Honda Accord, and the time stamp and terminal ID on the printout show that it was generated on a a computer in the Woodlawn police station on February 11, 1999, a little after 8:00 pm. On the same evening that the printout was made, a man had walked into the Woodlawn police station to report that he had witnessed something he believed to be connected to Hae’s murder. The man — “Mr. A” — told the police that had seen suspicious activity while in Leakin Park, and that he “had heard of the recovery of a woman’s body in Leakin Park on the TV news and wanted to help.” The officers at the Woodlawn station called the Homicide Unit down in Baltimore, since the city now had jurisdiction over the offense. Detective Ritz and Sergeant Lehmann drove out to Woodlawn to talk to Mr. A, arriving at the station at 9:45 pm. According to Lehmann’s report of the interview, Mr. A told them that he had observed a [young black male] driving a light colored automobile while in Leakin Park . . . acting suspicious near the concrete barriers blocking southbound traffic onto Weatheredsville Road from Windsor Mill Road, which is approximately a mile from the site of the victim’s recovery. Lehmann’s report then summarily concluded that “investigators believe that this observance is not connected to the murder of Hae Lee.” However, Lehmann provided no indication whatsoever as to why the investigators believed that Mr. A’s report was not connected to Hae’s murder. Lehmann’s summary report also omits a number of crucial details about the interview with Mr. A, including (1) the date and time that Mr. A had seen this “suspicious” activity, (2) what the suspicious activity consisted of, and why exactly it had struck him as suspicious, or (3) why he thought that this event might have been connected to Hae’s murder. As a result, the report itself provides no basis from which Mr. A’s story can be discredited, or from which it can be concluded that it is irrelevant to Hae’s murder. Based on the timing of his report, Mr. A probably went to the police station immediately after learning that Hae’s body had been found in Leakin Park. Although Hae’s body had been found on Tuesday, February 9th, it was not reported until the evening of Thursday, February 11th, when the story was covered in the evening news (such as in the media segment shown here). The timing of Mr. A’s report would therefore suggest that he had high level of confidence in the importance of what he had seen. After seeing a TV segment on a body being found in Leakin Park, he remembered the incident that he had observed, and — without delay — he immediately drove down to the police station to report what he had seen. So what exactly caused the officers to reject his report as unrelated to the murder? The location of the suspicious activity that Mr. A reported cannot explain the officers’ dismissal of his story. Although it took place a mile away from where Hae’s body was found, it was a location that would have been an ideal spot to check out, for anyone who might be scouting out Leakin Park for a place to bury a body: Google Street View of “southbound [ ] onto Weatheredsville Road from Windsor Mill Road.” Note that the concrete barriers referenced in Mr. A’s report were subsequently replaced with the yellow gate shown in this image. Although Windsor Mill, like N. Franklintown, is a busy by-pass road with significant traffic volume, Weatheredsville is blocked off from the public, and has no traffic at all. Although there were concrete barriers in place to bar vehicles from getting through, if someone could have gotten around the barriers they would have been rewarded with access to a highly secluded, half-mile stretch of road in the middle of Leakin Park, with no traffic whatsoever. A perfect location for body burying — or at least as perfect as it is going to get in Leakin Park. Perfect, that is, if you can get around the concrete barriers to access the road. (And perhaps that is precisely what Mr. A saw — someone trying to get around the concrete barriers could also explain why Mr. A thought the young man he saw was “behaving in a suspicious manner.”) If the location of the activity can’t explain why the police rejected Mr. A’s witness report, then perhaps instead it was the date on which Mr. A observed the activity that caused the police to dismiss his story. But if so, why would Sergeant Lehmann not have included that detail in his report? Besides, at this point, the police had no idea if Hae’s body had been the park for one week or four — if Mr. A had observed this any time between January 13th and February 8th, then it could have been related to the murder, and should have at least been investigated further before being dismissed out of hand. So what was it then? Well, Lehmann’s sparse report does include two details from Mr. A’s statement which could explain why investigators rejected his story as irrelevant: Mr. A saw a “black male” who was driving a “light colored” car. If the police had already established that a Pakistani male driving a dark colored car was responsible for the crime, then Mr. A’s report would be irrelevant to the investigation, and could safely be dismissed as an unrelated occurrence. The printout from the MVA database indicates that Mr. A’s description of the car was, at least, one of the reasons that his report was rejected: Printout from MVA database, showing that on February 11, 1999 at 8:06 p.m., someone using in the Woodlawn precinct pulled up the vehicle registration records for Adnan’s 87 Honda Accord. The scan of this document makes it a little hard to read, but the second line provides the VIN for the car — which, with a VIN decoder, the officers could use to look up the color of Adnan’s car. While it isn’t odd that the police would have had a copy of Adnan’s vehicle registration records in their case file, what is odd is the date and time on which this registration record was obtained: February 11, 1999, at 8:06 pm. The scanner quality of the printout is not great, but a comparison between this printout and another printout — which uses an identical font and was also created on February 11, 1999 — shows that the printout of the Honda Accord’s registration details had in fact been done on February 11th as well. (The blue pixels represent the tag printout, and are overlaid on the date taken fro the sample printout.) (And yes — for the record, I did compare the numbers on the tag printout with every other possible combination. The result was that the only number combination that matches is “021199.”) From reviewing the rest of the police files, the time stamp on this printout is further evidence that the search of Adnan’s vehicle records was not something that had been pulled up as a routine matter. Every other printout in Adnan’s case file was made during normal business hours, from 9am to 5pm — so why, then, was a police officer printing out Adnan’s vehicle registration at 8pm on a Thursday evening? This indicates that the printout was generated in response to a particular event, and that an officer had been prompted at that time to look up the information, rather than for the purpose of making routine updates to a case file. An event such as, for example, Mr. A’s walk-in report at the police station. We do not know what time he arrived at the Woodlawn stationhouse, but if his police report was prompted by an early evening news segment about Hae’s body being discovered in Leakin Park, then sometime around 8 p.m. would make sense. Although Lehmann’s report indicates that he and Ritz did not arrive at the Woodlawn station until 9:45 p.m., Mr. A could easily have arrived into the station a couple hours earlier in the evening — particularly if the Baltimore County officers had interviewed Mr. A themselves first before notifying the Homicide Unit. It would have also taken Lehmann and Ritz some time before they could have arrived at the Woodlawn station to interview Mr. A themselves, particularly as Ritz and MacGillivary appear to have been working a day shift at that time, and probably had to be contacted during their off hours to be notified of the witness. Unfortunately for the Detective Ritz, the witness report turned out to be a dud. Mr. A saw a young black guy in a light car, but their suspect was a young Pakistani guy in a brown or black car. Ergo, what Mr. A saw could not have been related to Hae’s murder. Yes, Hae’s car could be described as “light colored” — but at this stage of the investigation, the detectives had never heard of the “trunk pop” story. As later documents indicate, the police seemed to have believed that it was Adnan’s car, not Hae’s car, that had been used to transport the body. (See, i.e., the vehicle processing report for Adnan’s car, noting that “Suspect along with witness used the vehicle to aid in the transport . . . of the victim’s body in the trunk section of auto.”). This would explain, then, the easy dismissal of Mr. A’s account: the investigators didn’t need to hear anything more from him, because what he had seen in Leakin Park had been the wrong car driven by someone of the wrong race. Without knowing what time Mr. A arrived at the station, the connection between the tag printout’s timestamp and Mr. A’s police report cannot be conclusively shown. (Although a records request directed to the Baltimore County policy might go a long way to resolving the question.) Still, regardless of the exact timing, the fact remains that a police officer was investigating the details of Adnan’s car at 8 p.m. on a Thursday, only two days after Hae’s body was found — and why would the officer have done so, if Adnan was not a suspect? But why would Adnan have been a suspect on February 11th, when no anonymous phone call had yet been made implicating him in Hae’s murder? One theory: although unpreserved in the documentary record, a request for Adnan’s cellphone records had already been made, which had alerted investigators to the existence of the two Leakin Park phone calls. According to Serial, the detectives did not subpoena Adnan’s cellphone records until February 18, 1999, over a week after Hae’s body had been found in Leakin Park. This version of events, as told in the podcast, matches the “official” story of the investigation — that is, it matches the story of the investigation that was disclosed to the defense counsel. But the police files produced in response to the 2014 MPIA request show that the first subpoena for cellphone records was not issued on February 18th, as the documents given to defense counsel claimed, but had instead been issued two days previously, on February 16th. Moreover, the files also show that, at the time this first subpoena was issued on February 16th, the police were — inexplicably — already in possession of at least some of Adnan’s cellphone records, despite the absence of any documentation concerning the source of this information. In the state’s production of documents to Adnan’s defense counsel, the state included two police reports concerning subpoenas issued to Adnan’s cellphone provider. Those reports indicate that the first subpoena for cellphone records had been issued on February 18, 1999. In a Progress Report dated 2/18/99, MacGillivary wrote that: On 18 February 1999, your investigator along with Detective William Ritz obtained a subpoena for the cell phone records of one Adnan Syed telephone # 410-253-9023 from Sgt. Michael Cannon H.l.D.T.F. The subpoena will be delivered on 19 February 1999 to Bell Atlantic Mobile Security, Cockeysville, Maryland. In a second Progress Report, dated 2/20/99, MacGillivary wrote that a (second?) subpoena had also been served two days later, on February 20th: In furtherance of the above captioned investigation, on 20 February 1999 at 1115 hours, this writer faxed a subpoena and court order to AT&T Wireless Communications, located 801 North Point Parkway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407, (fax# 1-888-938-4715). The court orders request that AT&T Wireless provide this investigator with the cell site locations of calls that were made from telephone number (443) 253-9023 [Adnan’s cellphone number] during the time span of January 1, 1999 to present. This writer also asked that a directory of cell site locations associated with the requested information be provided for proper interpretation. These Progress Reports were inaccurate and misleading, however. They do not indicate (and in fact, seem to be obfuscating) the existence of the prior 2/16/99 subpoena, in response to which AT&T had produced on February 17th Adnan’s subscriber information and call records: Moreover, although the undisclosed 2/16/99 subpoena is the first documented request for cellphone records that is contained in the police file, the wording of the subpoena indicates that it was not the first ever request for cellphone records that investigators had made. Note the section of the subpoena in bold below: You are therefore directed this 16th day of February, 1999, to furnish the name(s) address(s) for the following telephone number and (13) cell site locations, from January 1999 to present. The investigators wanted addresses for “13 cell site locations.” This would indicate that, at the time the 2/16/99 subpoena was issued, the investigators already had information concerning Adnan’s cellphone records, including tower data, because on the day of Hae’s murder, Adnan’s cellphone made calls on 13 separate antennas. But how did the investigators know that on February 16th, when no documentation exists indicating a request had already been made to AT&T at that time, or that AT&T had produced documents in response to such a request? To me, it looks a lot like someone in the Homicide Unit had already made some unofficial requests for cellphone data, and the phone company had obliged, even in lieu of a formal subpoena requesting production of that data. Perhaps it was something done over the phone, or through a contact in another government agency, but — somehow — the investigators seem to have known only about the significance of Adnan’s cellphone location data only few days after Hae’s body had been found. The records in the MPIA files also suggest that investigators made an effort to camouflage the fact that previous requests for cellphone location data had been made. Let’s take a look back at the Progress Reports that were disclosed to defense counsel. In the first one, the 2/18/99 Progress Report, MacGillivary wrote, “On 18 February 1999, your investigator along with Detective William Ritz obtained a subpoena for the cell phone records of one Adnan Syed.” This is not an accurate statement. It also creates the (false) impression that the 2/18/99 subpoena was the first records request submitted by investigators. In fact, not only was the 2/18/99 subpoena not the first request for cellphone records that had been submitted by the investigation, it was not even a request for Adnan’s cellphone records at all! Instead, it was a request for the subscriber information for the people that Adnan’s cellphone had called. The 2/18/99 subpoena. Numbers listed correspond to outgoing calls made by Adnan’s cellphone on January 12 – 14, 1999. Note: MacGillivary seems to have been calling in a favor from someone with the Drug Enforcement Administration, because the subpoena was issued by the DEA, and not through the channels used by Maryland state agencies. The information requested in that subpoena, however, is clearly not Adnan’s cellphone records, as the 2/18/99 Progress Report describes — instead, it is a subpoena for the subscriber data of almost everyone that was called by Adnan’s phone on January 12th, 13th, and 14th. (Not all numbers called by Adnan’s phone are included in this subpoena, however. Intriguingly, Jenn’s home phone number is not included in this subpoena. Police notes also show that the investigators already knew who Jenn’s home phone number belonged to prior to the 2/18/99 subpoena.) So why did MacGillivary incorrectly describe the 2/18/99 subpoena as “a subpoena for the cell phone records of one Adnan Syed”? It could be sloppy paperwork; nothing more than the result of an oversight, due to confusion with the February 16th subpoena, which did request Adnan’s cellphone records. But MacGillivary should have known that, as of February 17, 1999, AT&T had already faxed the Homicide Unit the subscriber information and call logs from Adnan’s cellphone — the 2/18/99 subpoena could not have been for Adnan’s cellphone records, when those had been sent over the day before. Here is the front page of the cellphone records sent to the Homicide Unit by AT&T on February 17th: In addition to the subscriber information above, the fax records sent by AT&T on February 17th also included a record of all outgoing and incoming calls made from Adnan’s cellphone from January 11th through February 16th — but as I’ve discussed in a previous post, the location data for those records had been redacted. Now, it is possible that AT&T was responsible for those redactions, because on February 20th, a third subpoena is issued — this time with a court order compelling AT&T’s compliance. (Note: The fax record for the 2/20/99 subpoena show that it was sent at 11:15 a.m. on February 20th, which means this was the same subpoena that MacGillivary references in the 2/20/99 Progress Report.) This suggests that a court order was in fact needed to obtain the location data, and AT&T may have redacted the February 17th records. But here is the problem with that scenario: if AT&T was responsible for the redaction of the starting and ending tower location data in the 2/17/99 records, then why does MacGillivary’s fax cover to the 2/20/99 subpoena indicate that he already possessed the cell site location data? “Please include a cell site directory that corresponds with the sites listed.” In other words: MacGillivary already possessed a list of cell sites that Adnan’s phone made calls on. The Homicide Unit had already been given cell site information as of February 20th (although they seem to have lacked the directory which provided the addresses for those cell sites). But the only cell site records in the police file that pre-date February 20th look like this: Although the redaction in blue (on the left, redacting phone numbers) was done by me, the redaction in black (on the right, redacting cell sites) was done by hand on a paper copy of the document; no unredacted version exists in the files. Yes, this particular copy of the cell records may have already been redacted when AT&T faxed it over on 2/17/99 — but if so, then where is the unredacted cell site location data that the investigators did have possession of on February 20th, as shown by both MacGillivary’s 2/20/99 fax cover and the 2/16/99 subpoena? Whether or not AT&T redacted this particular document, there should be, somewhere, a document that contains unredacted cell site data for at least some of Adnan’s cellphone records, which pre-dates February 20th. So where is it? This is potentially a Big Deal. If the unredacted version of the 2/17/99 fax from AT&T showed, for instance, that one of the “Leakin Park calls” had originated on a tower miles away from Leakin Park, that would be exculpatory. It would show, at a minimum, that there would be no reason to believe the cellphone was in Leakin Park, as opposed to somewhere closer to another tower the call had connected through. In addition to the subpoenas themselves, there is another piece of evidence that suggests investigators had obtained Adnan’s cellphone records before any documented request for that data had been submitted. That evidence comes from the Maryland court records, which show that Adnan was issued a citation for a traffic violation on February 15, 1999. However, circumstantial evidence from the police files indicates that this traffic stop may in fact have been connected to the murder investigation, and, more specifically, to the investigators’ efforts to obtain his cellphone records. First, on February 14, 1999, the police checked Adnan’s records on the MVA database once again. This time, rather than pulling up information based on Adnan’s vehicle registration, the police pulled up Adnan’s records based on his driver’s license: On its own, this search is easily explainable based on the fact that, a couple days before, an anonymous call and been made implicating Adnan in Hae’s murder. It is not odd that Adnan’s driving history would have been pulled at some point, and added to the case file. The timing of this search, however, suggests that the police had a specific motivation for searching Adnan’s MVA records on that date, as the following day — February 15th — Adnan was pulled over for a seatbelt violation: I wouldn’t have questioned whether this routine traffic stop was, in fact, simply a routine traffic stop, if it were not for one glaring error in the record: the police officer who made the traffic stop issued the citation not to “Adnan Syed,” but to “Adrian Syed” instead. Although the license plate indicates that this was in fact Adnan’s car that had been pulled over, both the street address an Adnan’s name are incorrect. In regards to the misnomer, this was not the first time that this particular error has been made. It was the second. The first time was in Adnan’s cellphone records, in which AT&T had mistakenly recorded his name as Adrian Syedd: The source of the error, in the context of the AT&T billing records, could be a result of AT&T’s billing software mistakenly misreading the first “n” in Adnan as “ri.” (This appears to be a potential problem that could still occur today — if I search my notes for the term ‘Adrian,’ I pull up about a hundred instances in which ‘Adnan’ is typed in a screenclipped image.) The error makes less sense in the context of a traffic citation, but maybe it could happen. What are the odds, though, that when Adnan was pulled over for a traffic violation just two days after becoming a suspect in a murder investigation, the police officer who issued the citation would make the exact same odd spelling error that was made on Adnan’s cellphone records — which the police would (officially) obtain from AT&T two days later, on February 17? Instead of a coincidence, though, it could be an indication of a connection between the cellphone records and the traffic stop. The error in the cellphone records could potentially have been both motivation for the traffic stop, and the cause of the naming error — if, say, the traffic stop was used as a way to confirm Adnan’s possession of the cellphone associated with the records that had been provided by AT&T. If the investigators had somehow obtained Adnan’s cellphone data through the use of “unofficial channels,” then the fact that the subscriber information for those records was not listed under Adnan’s real name would have been the cause of some concern among the investigators. Because the records from AT&T were for someone named “Adrian Syedd,” and not for someone named “Adnan Syed,” the investigators may have needed confirmation that the subscriber data they had obtained did, in fact, belong to the suspect in their murder investigation. But, since this hypothetical cellphone data would not have come from official sources (no subpoenas had been issued yet), how could the investigators have proven that the cellphone records were for Adnan’s phone, without using “official” channels? In other words, how could they unofficially verify the accuracy of their unofficial records? Pulling Adnan over for a traffic stop, and having someone make a call to his cellphone while that officer watched, would be one way of doing that. That would allow investigators to confirm that the cellphone records they had pulled did belong to the cellphone owned by their suspect (instead of by some unknown relative named Adrian). In support of this theory, there was in fact a brief incoming call made to Adnan’s phone at 12:11 p.m. — the same time listed as the time of the traffic citation. If the scenario outlined here is what actually occurred, then the investigators’ testing would appear to have been a successful one, as the following day, on February 16, an official subpoena for Adnan’s cellphone records was issued by the grand jury. The investigators appear to have obtained whatever information they needed to proceed with an official request for Adnan’s cellphone records. The officer who made the traffic stop may have slipped up, however — and rather than writing down the traffic offender’s name as it was shown on his driver’s license, he wrote down the false name displayed on the cellphone records he was attempting to verify. What All of This May Mean From a review of the subpoenas and cell record data, it looks like: (1) the investigators had cell record data of an undisclosed nature and from an undisclosed source; (2) the investigators had identified Adnan as their suspect before any (disclosed) evidence implicating him in the murder had been uncovered; and (3) MacGillivary had contacts with the Drug Enforcement Administration — an agency that was an early trailblazer in the use of cellphone location data as an investigative tool for law enforcement. There are a few different things this could mean, but the question all of that raises for me is this: could Adnan have been identified as a suspect as a result of a warantless cell tower dump on L689? Related This entry was posted in Serial: Blogging About a Podcast by Susan Simpson. Bookmark the permalink. 155 thoughts on “Serial: Adnan Was the Prime (and Possibly Only) Suspect in Hae’s Murder Even Before the Anonymous Phone Call” Louise McWilliams on March 2, 2015 at 1:38 pm said: Nick Elborough on March 2, 2015 at 1:45 pm said: Amazingly detailed as usual. Incredibly well spotted. brgulker on March 2, 2015 at 1:49 pm said: the question all of that raises for me is this: could Adnan have been identified as a suspect as a result of a warantless cell tower dump on L689? What would the legal implications of this be? Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 10:31 pm said: By itself, likely little. Although I am very curious to learn why they had zeroed in on Adnan as their suspect before they had any evidence to support that hunch, it is very possible that, if the investigators did make a pre-2/16/99 request for phone records, the request itself was not improper, or at least was not improper as the law was understood in 1999. (The statutory requirements for requesting tower dumps is still unsettled today, for example.) So there’s no Fourth Amendment issue here, and probably not any real statutory issue worth sneezing at either (again, based on the status of the law in 1999). Any potential issues would fall under the Fifth Amendment, depending on what the investigators may have obtained — and subsequently failed to disclose. Shaista A on March 3, 2015 at 12:32 pm said: Susan – I keep going back to what the motivation is for the police to orchestrate all this unofficial, “pre-meditated” investigation? Don’s father was a police officer (per Rabia’s blog). I haven’t been able to shake that bit of information. Who else to naturally point to than the ex-boyfriend to cover up his son’s involvement (all while using Jay as a pawn)? anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 6:43 pm said: I think about Don too sometimes. Is there more publically available info on his alibi? Just having your time card swiped in and out of work as well as your mom vouch for you isn’t terribly compelling. The detectives would certainly look at him as an early suspect (for the same reason they looked at Adnan). Also, for Don (or anyone not associated with Jay or Adnan), the following has to be true: 1. The police are willing to risk their careers, and disregard any sense of morality, to feed a teenager all verifiable evidence to make a case against Adnan solely b/c “they think he did it.” For this reason, it’s almost certain that Jay really did know the location of Hae’s car or at least some information that proved to them that he was somehow involved. re: Don’s father being a police officer, it is almost inconceivable that two Baltimore City detectives are going to jeopardize their careers, their reputations, their pensions, etc. to save the skin of a Harford County police officer’s son. To City cops, Harford County cops are basically security guards, and to a City detective… 2. Jay would have to be willing to go along with this scheme and put an innocent person in jail simply b/c there’s a chance the police will look at him as a suspect. (thought this is more possible if for some reason Jay thinks Adnan killed Hae when he didn’t–e.g. he had been blowing off steam and had been throwing around hyperbole “I’m going to kill that..” 3. Jay would somehow have to convince Stephanie that this was all true as well, since she and Adnan were close friends and they stayed together well after the trial. This is what makes the Innocence Project angle so bizarre to me, and made for the most memorable quote for the podcast. When Sarah Koenig asks the IP director how Jay can be explained in the director’s “known killer released from jail” theory, she mockingly recounts the response of “Big Picture Sarah, Big Picture…” My2Cents on March 3, 2015 at 8:15 pm said: Did you have a chance to read Susan’s older posts? Also, have you read the interview Diedre Enright had with TIME? anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 10:44 pm said: I just read the “Time” piece and it says absolutely nothing new. Ms. Enright is hopeful that DNA testing will point to someone like Roy Davis or Ronald Lee Moore. There is no realistic possibility that Jay is somehow connected to Ronald Lee Moore and next to no realistic possibility that he’s connected to Roy Davis. What’s a realistic scenario for the Davis/Moore murder, Jay cover-up, and people out to get him at the video store theory? A deranged rapist murders an innocent young woman, goes and tells his buddies and they somehow put together that Jay knows the victim, and they force him into fabricating a story that blames Adnan? Possible I guess, as in the way “anything’s possible.” But most drug dealers, criminals, etc. aren’t “cool” with deranged rapists murdering innocent high school girls, and aren’t going to go out of their way to protect them. Also, Ms. Enright’s idea of “then why is Jay so scared at the video store” regarding this theory is backwards. Why would Jay be so scared of the people connected to the “real” killer coming after him. They need Jay to get to the Police and feed them this BS story to cover up the real story. Why would they get him involved to cover up the crime and then kill him so he can’t cover up the crime? Is it worth testing the DNA evidence? Absolutely. Very little cost with potential for a huge benefit. And there is a small but slightly better chance that Jay and someone else were involved in the murder and the DNA could match that second person. Note that my points above related to “the killer having no connection to Jay.” I think Ms. Enright is doing good work, but her strengths seem to be energy, enthusiasm, dedication, and like Sarah Koenig mentioned, optimism. Her weakness seems to be more in the area of logic/rationality–at least regarding this case. In addition to failing to account for the Jay connection she also throws out the idea of “who’s more likely to kill Hae Lee, little ol’ sweetheart Adnan, or this sexual deviant murderer?” Well statistically, the answer is Adnan. Most women are murdered by people they know and usually men they’ve been in an intimate relationship with, not random serial killers. Angie on March 5, 2015 at 12:30 pm said: Don’s father is not a police officer, a number of people initially identified the wrong Don early in the podcast, which is where Rabia got the information, not originally from the case itself. Rabia’s blog has not been updated with the current information. Patricia on March 6, 2015 at 9:19 am said: anonymous Jay is linked to ROy Davis through his uncle and also woodlawn high Anna on March 6, 2015 at 9:50 am said: It is very plausible that Roy D has a connection to Jay’s uncle, or other other family members, but have you seen a documented connection? Do both names show up on a police file? Also what is the Roy Davis / Woodlawn connection? Thanks Erica Melzer (@ladyluvstech) on March 28, 2015 at 3:44 am said: The only explanation we need for why these cops would risk their careers, etc to falsely present a case they knew to be weak, at best, is that they’ve done it before and are therefore clearly willing. Ritz, Lehmann, and Van Gelder (a medical examiner in Adnan’s case) all conspired to falsify evidence against at least one other boyfriend they convicted and imprisoned without cause. He was exonerated just last month after 19 years in prison and they’re now being sured for having conspired to present fabricated evidence, among other things. Their motivation? A conviction. Their MO? To finger the boyfriend (because in their minds he probably did it,) make the facts fit, and disregard any so called ‘bad evidence.’ http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/03/24/exonerated-in-baltimore-after-long-prison-stretch.htm Sue on April 27, 2015 at 6:05 am said: I think the fact the cops asked for the info of 13 cell towers is a clue they had an unofficial dump – because didn’t the maps show 14 tower addresses, implying that Adnan’s cell pinged 14 towers? Of course the cops wouldn’t need the 14th tower info if they already had it! pitch on March 11, 2015 at 6:20 am said: The police officer, more specifically the state trooper, that pulled Adnan or “Adrian” over on Feb 15 would have likely been given direction from his commander, who would have been contacted by Baltimore City police to assist if all this was as orchestrated as implied. The ‘agency name’ on the record is ‘barrack r (golden ring)’, which is the State Trooper’s barracks in the region. They patrol state roads and interstates, where the contact was made. It is my understanding that city detectives were leading the murder investigation. Possibly there are records requesting that assistance since the implication from SS’s post is a coordinated effort. The state troopers are fairly straight shooters (no pun intended) and would not, in my opinion, have exposed themselves so openly in public records unless they were comfortable with what was being requested. Maybe they didn’t know how the investigation arrived at the specific request from the city if city investigators did something nefarious. Could be something there. Melanie on March 2, 2015 at 2:11 pm said: Is the year for the trial transcripts supposed to be 2000? LongWalk on March 2, 2015 at 3:13 pm said: WoW! Susan has stepped up her game. Now more professional and dispassionate! UsuAr on March 3, 2015 at 6:55 pm said: Strange. This blogpost was actually more speculative than most of Susan’s (though her analysis was transparent and rational). I’m not sure what difference you could be referring to. JR on March 2, 2015 at 3:17 pm said: Lots of “if”s. Pulling over a suspect and calling them to verify a cell number seems like a fairly savvy move by the police. Good on them. Circumventing the subpoena process to vet a potential murder suspect feels far more dodgy (i.e. illegal), though, I guess it should offend me far more than it actually does. The REAL question is “Why?”. If Adnan is innocent, why would the police go so far out of their way to go after this kid? Isn’t Jay a far easier target? I suspect, it just came down to the fact that Jay was the first to talk. Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 3:55 pm said: Jay showed up long after they had already decided Adnan was the murderer. Why would they abandon a case they were painstakingly putting together simply because a witness came forward and confirmed their pre-existing theory? Why decide to do a 160 and indict this new witness, when his testimony is exactly what they were hoping to find to make their case against Adnan? Angie on March 2, 2015 at 4:09 pm said: Except that the whole entire point of this post is to show that they were going after Adnan long before Jay was ever the “first to talk” so that doesn’t work. Laced on June 13, 2015 at 12:00 am said: …. are you asking why the police would work a case by picking a suspect and then developing their hypothesis, and then start to build a case against him? Or are you asking what reason would they have for selecting Adnan in the first place? Well, why select any suspect in the first place? Probably some sort of hunch or gut reaction the detectives had. Maybe they looked at Don and Adnan, and decided of the two, Adnan looked more like the murdering type. LoL i mean really, who knows. To suggest that anything we’ve seen in this case rises to the level of a conscious conspiracy to convict an innocent man, is totally unnecesary. To paraphrase Hanlon: Don”t attribute malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence. Something involving something that the detectives experienced probably made them think “hmm…. i dont like the way he said that” or god knows. I mean… every investigation has to start somewhere, right? For better or worse, they’re gut instinct and cop intuition told them to focus on Adnan. The problem is they then only worked on building this case, rather than finding evidence which might disprove it. Lazy? Yes. Evil? No. Two middle aged white men simply mistook confirmation bias for rational investigation. This a conspiracy does not make. This happens in non-police cases all the time. I’m sure you’ve seen it happen in your own life. Someone’s gut intuition tells them that the answer is X, prior to there being any kind of reliable evidence to conclude it. They then get so dead set on their initial hunch being correct, and end up with a false conclusion. People fall in love with thinking their like pre-cogs in minority report all the time. After all, is there anything more satisfying than saying “I told you so” after proving that you were right the whole time? Alex on March 2, 2015 at 5:38 pm said: Why? Well he is an obvious suspect and in the absence of anything else it’s a good route to go down. You want to be seen to be making progress with a high profile case. As for the oft repeated “isn’t Jay an easier target” the only evidence against Jay is Jay. Charge him then he pleads the 5th and probably has previous interviews tossed for playing fast and loose with his Miranda rights. Then you lose your case against Adnan and your case against Jay. msg99 on March 2, 2015 at 4:05 pm said: Thank you for your detail-oriented analysis, very interesting to read. A comment I might make is that the police probably identified Adnan as a suspect the day of the disappearance (or very, very shortly thereafter), so I don’t see why it is significant that this was true before Feb11. In, fact, I definitely expect it to be true that Adnan was a suspect (or maybe even the prime suspect) before Feb11. Why would anyone think that was not true? Along those lines, I am also not sure why any of the data presented here indicates that “Adnan was the only suspect that was ever considered”. There could have been plenty of ‘consideration’ from Jan13 onward of other suspects, couldn’t there have been? Wouldn’t police start with some list, then winnow it down over time, and so forth? Probably your main point is about the possibility of a warantless cell tower search. It illegal to a layperson such as myself, but then the links you are sharing make it sound like it is indeed happening in the world with no one being criminally charged for performing such searches. So I am not happy about that, but it seems to be allowed, although of obviously (at least) questionable ethics. Are there some other legal implications I am not understanding? (Almost certainly yes!!) Again, thanks for the very interesting information. Emcee Peepants on March 2, 2015 at 4:45 pm said: I agree with your initial concerns – Adnan would have been a suspect since day one, and he literally was – he was one of the first people police called on Jan-13 when Hae disappeared. It would stand to reason that he would become a prime suspect as soon as they found her body. It also makes sense that the cops may have disregarded Mr. A’s report since the suspicious activity was reported in a different part of the park on a road that is not directly connected to Franklintown or near the burial site. Given the park’s history and Baltimore’s general sketchiness, suspicious activity likely occurred in the park all the time. I think the leap to assuming they disregarded it b/c the suspect/car did not match Adnan’s is too large for the available facts. katewillette on March 2, 2015 at 11:57 pm said: Being one of the first people called doesn’t mean he was a suspect, unless Aisha was also a suspect. Hae wasn’t presumed to be a murder victim on Jan 13, especially not at 6:30 pm. They wanted to know if her friends had seen her, so they were calling her friends. I can think of various reasons that the police could have rightly disregarded Mr. A’s report. However, they didn’t include a reason. They also neglected to include details that may have led them to the conclusion that “this observance is not connected to the murder of Hae Min Lee.” Off the top of my head, I can think of many questions that were likely asked in an effort to discern whether or not Mr. A’s observance was related to HML’s murder: When did the observance occur? What led Mr. A to view said observance as suspicious? Did the individual enter the park? If so, which direction did he appear to be heading? Did he have anything with him (bag? Shovel(s)? How long was said observance? I could obviously go on and on. But it is clear that some questions must have been asked, by at least one of the 6 officers named in the report, in an effort to ascertain whether or not what Mr. A saw was connected to the murder. Unfortunately, there are virtually no details about what Mr. A saw, and no details whatsoever as to how the officers reached their conclusion. As such, we can only speculate as to their reasoning. On it’s own, the vague nature of the report might be of little to no significance. But it’s not an isolated occurrence. It is just one of a growing number of examples that suggest a pattern of seemingly deliberate efforts to obscure possible evidence that could be viewed as beneficial to Adnan or his defense team. It’s certainly reasonable that Adnan was included as a suspect in HMLs disappearance and murder. What is confusing is how, and when, he became their only suspect. And why, if there was specific reasoning to reach that conclusion, there seems to have been so much sketchiness in obtaining information for investigation. Civil-Discourse on March 3, 2015 at 11:25 am said: Exactly. Elle on March 5, 2015 at 7:16 pm said: Additionally, how weird is it that there are at least 6 officers involved with/named on a report that has so little information on it and was deemed unrelated? I’m not familiar with police protocol so I’m wondering if someone who is can clarify? fink on March 2, 2015 at 5:15 pm said: Obtaining evidence illegally gets hit by the Exclusionary rule: The exclusionary rule is designed to exclude evidence obtained in violation of a criminal defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement personnel. If the search of a criminal suspect is unreasonable, the evidence obtained in the search will be excluded from trial. Alex on March 2, 2015 at 5:41 pm said: What is the position if they obtain it illegally and then subsequently get it again legally (as they may have done here with the Grand Jury subpoena)? Is potentially all of the cell phone evidence tainted if anything was obtained prior to the 16th? fink on March 2, 2015 at 6:08 pm said: Don’t think there be much of a problem with the court as long the prosecution didn’t submit the illegally obtained evidence to the court, Other than that, there could be a ‘civil’ case that Syed can take against the BDP. Don’t know if it would be worth pursuing. Brian on March 2, 2015 at 8:24 pm said: It does seem like they’ve completely subverted the point of privacy laws, though. Jack on March 4, 2015 at 4:39 pm said: There is no illegal evidence here or violation of the 4th amendment. Yes, it raises eyebrows in terms of the narrative the police provided to the defense, but all of this is considered business records and are covered under the Third Party Doctrine – AT&T could have freely given up EVERYTHING it had without any subpoena or court order and it would have still been legit. There are plenty of things to attack about this possible revelation and may end up pointing to a Brady or Jencks violation. Lizzy on March 2, 2015 at 4:19 pm said: Outstanding work as ever. I’m sad you’ve left reddit (and I can’t blame you) but its good to still read your thoughts. Best wishes. katewillette on March 2, 2015 at 4:33 pm said: Does any of this cell-records-shuffle amount to a Brady violation? fink on March 2, 2015 at 4:55 pm said: SS. To get detailed CDR (e.g. In-coming & Out-going Call Detail, Cell Tower Locations – including location “pings” , Text Message content, Voice Mail content and PEN Registers)(and I take it; incoming call numbers and the names of senders) you need either a Court order or Search warrant. It should be taken for granted that the phone company will only pass over what was specified (given that they were allowed to, eg. you don’t give out location “pings” data to a subpoena request) and nothing else as the phone company could find themselves in trouble (like getting sued). My curiosity is: Was the ever an attempt by them to verify the supposed Best Buy call to Adnan’s phone and the other incoming calls with a court order request after Jay started telling his stories. Whatever their incompetency previous they had enough knowledge after their chats with Jay to properly understand how to proceed with obtaining the CDR information they required. AU on March 2, 2015 at 5:34 pm said: Gerald Walrath on March 2, 2015 at 6:28 pm said: To pile on this point, as this is not simply an academic exercise, e.g. EvidenceProf, I would have to assume that the ultimate aim is to sell the idea to the Court that so many things were wrong were wrong with the investigation and trial that the conviction is suspect, and so should be remanded for a new trial in the interest of substantial justice. Kerry Wilson on March 2, 2015 at 7:05 pm said: Well done as always, Susan. Regarding the “Adrian” vs. “Adnan” naming confusion, is it possible that Adnan used “Adrian” as his “American” name? It’s not uncommon for people with foreign-sounding names to use a more American-sounding one. I suspect you are correct, I just want to make sure that “Adrian” wasn’t a well-known nickname. Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 11:02 pm said: I’ve never seen it anywhere except for the AT&T bill and the one traffic citation from 2/15 (other traffic citations Adnan has received were issued to him as Adnan Syed.) Angie on March 5, 2015 at 12:34 pm said: IIRC, this was addressed by Bilal in the Grand Jury hearing documents. He said that this was due to a misunderstanding by an AT&T employee misunderstanding him when setting up the account. This is why it’s only seen coming from AT&T. He said he tried more than once to correct them with the proper spelling to no avail. Anonymous on March 2, 2015 at 7:20 pm said: You are so good! Nevermind a movie about Adnan; they need to make a movie about SS! I love reading your work and wait with baited breath for the next installment. anonymous on March 2, 2015 at 7:34 pm said: While the police have made significant errors in the case, this one is a bit of a stretch. They could have dismissed the account for any number of reasons. One you mention is time. I’m unsure of your conclusion that “the police had no idea if Hae’s body had been the park for one week or four — if Mr. A had observed this any time between January 13th and February 8th, then it could have been related to the murder…” I would imagine that forensics people at the scene or even experienced detectives themselves can reliably tell if her body had been in that location undisturbed since shortly after the killing vs. put there 3 weeks later (if it were the case that the guy said the suspicious activity was “last week.”) What would be interesting to know is if the detectives were required to come up to Woodlawn once a potential witness came in, or if they only came up there b/c he had already said something to the County officer that they felt was compelling enough to follow up on. Also, I think this is an instance of going a step too far in one direction–the direction in this case being that the “cops are COMPLETE idiots and 100% corrupt to boot.” A direction I’ve found myself going in on occasion and wondering if they fed Jay everything, Hae’s car location included. In this case, obviously Adnan is a suspect early on–he’s the recent ex-boyfriend. It’s hard to imagine the cops not even considering the possibility that Jay did it without Adnan, especially once he starts talking to them, lying, changing his story, etc. And once all the confusion starts and they start thinking, don’t you think they’d put more weight on the “walk-in” account if it matched up at all? I even wonder sometimes if Jay told them things off the record that made them believe his basic story that Adnan killed Hae Lee, and they just let him go on these roller coaster lies to protect people with very minor roles (Jen? Patrick?), match up his account with the cell data, etc. Although it would sure be nice to interview the “walk-in” again, or better yet, get the detectives to be forthright and explain what details Jay got from them vs. actually knew himself. Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 10:59 pm said: There are detailed notes for many witness statements that are completely irrelevant in the police files. (Including a detailed report concerning the lady who told her about how God had spoken to her and told her what happened to Hae… They even wrote down the precise clothing that God told her the culprit had been wearing.) If Ritz drove out to Woodlawn on short notice at 9 p.m. in the evening, it was because he thought the witness might be significant. And if the report was dismissed for a valid reason, the detectives had a very strong interest in making sure their report reflected that. So why didn’t it? It doesn’t sound like you disagree that there is zero basis for dismissing the report as meritless based on the face of it. Can you think of a valid reason for a report like this not to disclose why it was deemed unrelated? I would imagine that forensics people at the scene or even experienced detectives themselves can reliably tell if her body had been in that location undisturbed since shortly after the killing vs. put there 3 weeks later (if it were the case that the guy said the suspicious activity was “last week.”) They weren’t able to pinpoint that, other than to say the burial marks didn’t seem recent. Moreover, given the lividity issue, this may not be the best example of when to rely on how the prosecution presented the experts’ testimony. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 9:14 am said: 1. No, I can’t “think of a valid reason for a report like this not to disclose why it was deemed unrelated.” It is strange (to a lay person like me) that there isn’t more info. Like you said, it seems reasonable that Det. Ritz had enough interest to go out there. On the other hand this idea conflicts with the “cops had blinders on at this point and were overly fixated on Adnan” idea. If he had received enough info from the officer who first talked to the “walk-in” to pique his interest, don’t you think this info would have included “young black male driving light car acting suspiciously” which is the exact info you’re claiming wouldn’t pique his interest b/c it doesn’t fit Adnan? 2. Again, as a lay person, I don’t want to speculate too much on forensics, but I stick to my original comment. I also think it was clear to detectives that Hae Lee’s burial was fairly rushed, which would point them in the direction that she was buried not too long after being killed. B/c if you are going to dispose of a body long after a murder, you have all the time in the world to dig a decent hole, weight it down and drive it out to Loch Raven bridge or the Hanover street bridge or any other bridge around Baltimore, or at least drive the body far away from the scene of the murder. I think the rest of your analysis on most everything else is amazing, I just don’t agree with you on this point, or at least not to the same degree. My2Cents on March 3, 2015 at 8:26 pm said: Awesome again! What can I say about Susan that has not already been said? If there ever was such a thing as Crystal Ball and someone had one, this lady would be the sole owner. KUDOS to you, Susan The more I read these blogs, the more I am convinced that Adnan had nothing to do with this crime and that Jay may at least know something about it. I am convinced that the Baltimore police involved were corrupt. Ditto for the prosecution who do not value the life of others. The poor performance of the sick defence counsel did not help Adnan’s cause, despite being stymied by the Judge and the Prosecution and the Judge who presided over this matter was complicit in the prosecution’s cause. And,of course, the sleepy jury (well maybe, not so much). What I keep thinking is who could have done this crime and why? Jay could have been upset if Hae was sticking her nose in his business. I don’t know if Hae had any liaisons with the underworld figures in Baltimore (no offence to the family) etc., but Diedre Enright raises some really intriguing issues in her interview with TIME. Does anyone care to comment on what else they might know? See: TIME: Tell me about finding Ronald Lee Moore? Enright: He was the first alternate suspect we were able to develop. And then when the police told us he had committed suicide, we thought all the better because there wouldn’t be privacy concerns about naming him [in filing for new DNA testing]. There are other people whom we have identified [as potential suspects] who are not deceased and so we aren’t naming them. In some ways, he was ideal because he had been released from prison and fit the timeframe for Hae’s murder because he had been out for 10 days when she was murdered. You were recorded on the podcast saying that there was always sex involved with Moore’s alleged crimes. Was there evidence of that here? What we know is that Hae had her clothes on, although I know her shirt and bra had been moved up. And her skirt was on but pushed up. As far as I can tell from the lab reports, they definitely did a physical evidence recovery kit where they did anal and vaginal swabs and swabs in her mouth, but they never tested any of that—which is somewhat odd. There were hairs on her body, two of which were microscopically compared to Adnan, and he was excluded and they didn’t belong to her either. Then there was this rope near her body. … Anna on March 4, 2015 at 11:18 am said: Susan, do you know Mr. A’s name and information? Have you, or anyone looking into Adnan’s case, tried to contact him? lecturer3 on March 6, 2015 at 9:23 am said: can Mr A be found now? Badger on March 2, 2015 at 9:00 pm said: Its no surprise that Adnan was an early-on suspect; jilted ex-boyfriend—and you’ve got to start somewhere, right?? Don was also a suspect and so was Jay. But when Jay started singing to the cops tune…we know the rest—He’s not dumb, whatever else may be said about him. Interesting find re the cell records being btained prior to going through the legal motions, but not surprising. But even this illegality won’t have an affect on the case. Not sure I get the Leakin Park pings… If the calls originated miles away etc. If CG had been on her game, she would have discredited both of the LP calls as compete and utterly unreliable, not to say misleading per the AT&T warning on the top of the print out. (if the gloves don’t fit, you must acquit!) At least as far as the jury’s concerned those two calls are not clear evidence of whereabouts. Whether or not in reality they are is not as clear. Anonymous on March 2, 2015 at 10:13 pm said: Wow…so now we know why the prosecution never asked for any paper on the incoming calls. They already knew who was making those calls…. and what is unconscionable is those records must have provided exculpatory evidence (such as the supposed Best Buy call). Unbelievable work here Susan. Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 10:37 pm said: That’s one possibility. Without knowing what records requests were being made here, we can’t know for sure what AT&T was handing over. The investigators did have the power to obtain records of incoming calls, though, and either failed to do so or chose not to. But the name from AT&T is Adrian Syedd and the name on the driver’s license is Adrian Syed. Otherwise I enjoyed this post, as I do all of your work. Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 10:36 pm said: the name on the driver’s license is Adrian Syed. Check out the MVA database record. I also have a copy of his license; it says “Adnan Syed.” Jackawo on March 2, 2015 at 11:45 pm said: Was that a typo by you or did his license have a typo? Susan Simpson on March 2, 2015 at 11:48 pm said: Adeola on March 7, 2015 at 2:44 pm said: I think what she meant is if the officer was supposedly copying the AT&T bill, why did he spell Adnan’s last name correctly on the ticket and not as “Syedd” chloe dashtwo on March 2, 2015 at 10:52 pm said: hmm….so did the cops find hae’s car without jay…because of the phone pings? m_impressed on March 3, 2015 at 1:45 am said: Love your concluding remarks… It certainly seems not just plausible but (to me), a very compelling hypothesis – the body was recovered, the detectives somehow got a list of all cell calls on the closest tower for the day of (and perhaps day after) Hae went missing, hoping to find any hits among any of her acquaintances. I can just imagine them finding Adnan’s (or Adrian’s) phone show up in the list, and high-fiving “Bingo! Now let’s go prove it.” Perhaps it was just Adnan’s bad luck to be driving nearby using his phone on the wrong day. Another interesting catch on the phone call during Adnan’s traffic stop, and the coincidental mistake on the ticket. Perhaps you should rename your blog viewfrom221b… n.h. on March 3, 2015 at 2:02 am said: Wonderful work. I wouldn’t be surprised if Adnan became a particular person of interest to the police on Jan. 13th. Her disappearance was unusual and by all accounts, Officer Adcock’s call to him that evening was received awkwardly. She was never seen again until her body was found and certainly her family must’ve been in contact with the police during that period after reporting her missing. Maybe her brother shared serious concerns about Adnan because from what I’ve read it sounds like he wasn’t supportive of Hae’s relationship with him. Who investigates missing persons? Detectives? The police or detectives had already examined Hae’s diary and thus were privy to her on-again-off-again relationship with Adnan and all of her troubles with him, before her body was found — right? It seems to me that if the Lee family was staying in touch with the police, and presuming there was an active missing person’s case, a picture of Adnan Syed as a suspicious person could’ve been well-formed before she turned up deceased. UsuAn on March 4, 2015 at 4:24 pm said: An almost textbook example of narrative driving the evidence. Glenn Dixon on March 3, 2015 at 2:10 am said: This is the first thing I thought of when reading this article – Parallel Construction: “Drug Enforcement Administration training documents released to MuckRock user C.J. Ciaramella show how the agency constructs two chains of evidence to hide surveillance programs from defense teams, prosecutors, and a public wary of domestic intelligence practices.” Just because they have now greatly enhanced their capabilities in this realm, that doesn’t mean they weren’t doing a more basic version of it back in the day… Susan Simpson on March 4, 2015 at 9:43 pm said: To me, this is exactly what the records are screaming. There is a nice paper trail that has been created to show how the cops supposedly got to each step of their investigation — but it doesn’t actually add up. There are too many jumps forward without an explanation from the record as how to how the investigators arrived at a new bit of intel. This is why I suspect either a tower dump, an undisclosed witness, or both. If it was a tower dump, the chain went tower dump –> find Adnan’s cell number in return —> unofficial request for Adnan’s cellphone info –> verify number belonged to Adnan –> official request for cellphone info. But instead of a tower dump, there could have been a witness (someone came forward 2/9, 2/10, or 2/11, but wouldn’t go on the official record?) who implicated Adnan in a way the detectives bought hook line and sinker, and they then went straight to the unofficial request for Adnan’s info. Alternatively, rather than an unofficial request for cellphone info, there could have been an official request through alternative and unpreserved channels. For similar reasons, I believe that Jenn was the parallel construction for Jay. When the cops went to talk to Jenn, they already knew who she was, and knew that she knew Jay — even though the records they had only showed a number in her father’s name. Why would they assume Jenn, and not Mark, was the one called? How would they know that Jay was the link between Adnan and the Pusateri residence? Well, if there’d already gotten to Jay, they would have. Anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 2:59 am said: Yes Rachel on March 3, 2015 at 3:01 am said: Susan, the seatbelt violation image shows Adnan’s address. I assume his family still live there–can you redact it? KK on March 3, 2015 at 7:26 am said: I think Susan mentioned that both his name and address were incorrect – so perhaps that’s why it was ‘t redacted kschang77 on March 3, 2015 at 7:23 am said: I had a theory… Others have wondered (including Rabia) that perhaps Jay was a CI. We may be looking at the wrong person. Perhaps someone in Jay’s household was a CI (for DEA), and BCPD was encroaching on DEA’s turf by investigating Adnan and Jay. So DEA “hinted” at BCPD to investigate Adnan and leave Jay out of it. Which was basically what happened. Urick’s link with narcotics unit would put him in contact with the DEA quite a bit, IIRC. I know, sounds so conspiratorial… But it potentially explains so many things! Shaista A on March 4, 2015 at 12:29 pm said: To that point – Jay is hyper paranoid about being perceived as a snitch. kschang77 on March 8, 2015 at 10:25 pm said: If his family is known or suspected to have a snitch… Would make sense. Louise McWilliams on March 3, 2015 at 7:34 am said: Hint for help reading faded documents: you may already know that an old trick is to put a yellow filter over the document. Photographers use this to accent the clouds etc (so do dentists to see plaque better). U can get one at any office supply store. Lurker on March 3, 2015 at 8:42 am said: It doesn’t really surprise me that the cops access information through back door means and then request a subpoena afterward. I don’t work in law enforcement, but I work in an area that requests police checks and I have seen colleagues do police checks without authorization for expediency knowing that they will get the authorization later. Wrong, but unsurprising. The theory about the traffic stop is quite interesting. I am quite surprised that anyone has time or resources for that anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 11:53 am said: Hae and Adnan talk the night before (as noted in the cell records) over something innocent but that requires her to stop by his house after school. (Maybe she wants a video tape to record her interview, maybe she doesn’t have a VCR or cable and wants Adnan to record it for her). She doesn’t mention this stop to her friends b/c a. it’s fairly trivial b. she doesn’t want people around school getting the wrong impression about her and Adnan. Adnan gets picked up by Jay after school. (Maybe this is the 2:36 call? Maybe Adnan did ask Hae for a ride home since she was going to stop by anyway and told Jay “I’ll either get a ride with Hae and you can pick me up at home, but if not, pick me up at school.” But why wouldn’t Hae just give him a ride? Maybe Adnan’s running behind, maybe they just don’t see each other after school, or maybe she doesn’t want to b/c of the same reason she doesn’t want to tell her friend she’s stopping by Adnan’s house–wrong impression). Jay picks up Adnan and they head to his house (after all, the last thing you want to do between the hour and a half between school and practice ((at school)) is to be at school. Adnan lives close to school and it’s very likely he went back home regularly before practice to use the bathroom ((BCPS bathrooms are disgusting)) get food ((he’s a teenage boy with a teenage boy appetite)), and pick up his gear for track). No one is home, so Jay comes in to hang out, eat, smoke, or just kill time while Adnan is getting his gear together. Maybe Adnan thinks Hae flaked on him, maybe not, but either way she shows up. She doesn’t like Jay, she doesn’t like Adnan smoking so much pot after school or the fact that he is spending so much time with Jay, so Jay hides out in Adnan’s room or maybe he’s not hiding so much as just hanging out in the basement b/c he has no interest in seeing Hae. Either way Hae doesn’t know Jay is there. (note: this same theory is also possible with Jay or someone else having dropped off Adnan and Jay coming to pick him up later). Adnan and Hae get into an argument. She’s pushing him. He get’s pissed and shoves her back. She trips, smacks her head against the wall, is knocked unconscious, lands and smacks the back of her head on the ground. Adnan is freaked out, doesn’t know what to do. Jay enters the scene. He’s high, maybe he’s coked up, maybe he’s just crazy, but he doesn’t like Hae to begin with and he’s already worried that she’s going to break up him and Stephanie. He says he’ll take care of it and he’ll kill her. Adnan is so freaked out by all of this that he just leaves the room in shock. Jay puts on some red gloves to reduce evidence and strangles her to death. Now they’ve got a dead body but can’t get it out of the house since it’s daylight, so they lay it out hidden somewhere in the house. But they do have to get rid of Hae’s car and Adnan does have to get back to track practice to avoid suspicion. Jay drops him off and starts calling around to get the car moved–hence Jen, Patrick, Phil, whomever’s involvement that Jay is trying to cover for and accounts for a big chunk of his story changing. They move the body when the family is at the mosque for Ramadan that night and Jay or Adnan buries it. Jay tells the cops the false story but realizes that it’s going to look fishy when there’s no evidence in Hae’s car. He goes back to Hae’s car, breaks the turn signal, and throws in the bizarrely specific detail about the turn signal breaking off in the struggle during his second interview. In this scenario: 1. Jay has enough info to make the cops sure he was involved, but no obvious motive. The cops even wonder if Adnan paid Jay to kill her or if Jay is involved more than he’s saying. But they don’t really care. They’re convinced Adnan has the motive and is guilty and is willing to let Jay off to clear their case. 2. Adnan has enough reason to be pissed at Jay (“you’re pathetic”), but really can’t fess up and say what really happened. Plus he knows that the story Jay has told the cops is so bizarre and incorrect that he thinks there’s a good chance of getting off completely. 3. It also explains Adnan’s sincerity. He knows he made a big mistake, but 15 yeares later thinks he’s paid enough, blames Jay, and even has deluded himself that it’s less his fault and much more Jay’s than it is. It’s easy to be sincere when you’ve convinced yourself the details don’t matter b/c of moral justification. 4. Finally, it explains that while Jay might be crazy enough to kill someone without premeditation, he isn’t sociopathic enough to pin it on an entirely innocent person. Further, he likely blames Adnan more than is rational for getting him involved. This theory specifically accounts for: 1. All of the evidence that points to her being killed inside. 2. The fact that her body was laid flat for a while before being buried 3. All of the evidence that it wasn’t premeditated This theory is easily dismissed if: It can be verified someone was at Adnan’s house from 2:30-3:30ish Emcee Peepants on March 3, 2015 at 3:51 pm said: There is actually zero evidence to support any of this, instead, it is wild speculation. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 4:04 pm said: Plenty of speculation–absolutely. Again, it’s only the most plausible scenario that isn’t ripped apart by the evidence available. C Noir on March 5, 2015 at 4:54 pm said: not at all plausible. reading is fundamental. adnan’s mom ran a day care out of the home, the brother would have been home. there is no evidence that Jay was ever in the Syed home. anonymous on March 5, 2015 at 6:42 pm said: 1. Where did you read about Mrs. Syed’s in-home daycare? I’m not saying it’s not true, but you’re right, I’ve never read it. 2. Why would Adnan’s little brother be home? He was in elementary school at the time. The elementary schools’ dismissals are an hour later than the high schools. He would have gotten out at 3:15 and been home at 3:30 at the earliest if his mom or someone else picked him up, and probably closer to 4:00 if he rode the bus. 3. There is no evidence that Jay (or Adnan or anyone else) were anywhere when Hae Lee was murdered. That’s kind of the reason you have to theorize as to the most likely places. All the information about Hae’s shoes points to her being murdered inside. Further, theorizing that someone would plan to strangle someone, during the middle of the day, around woodlawn, or that someone is so upset in the heat of the moment that they take several minutes to strangle someone in a car at 3:00PM and simply aren’t concerned that someone will see them are much bigger leaps than assuming something like maybe Adnan’s mom works, maybe she was out running errands before picking up her brother at 3:15, etc. And again, the same scenario at Stephanie’s house, with Stephanie in the role of Adnan would be a close second. anonymous on March 5, 2015 at 10:12 pm said: And I think the third most likely place would be Hae’s own house. If Ms. Simpson gives any credence to the idea that Hae was murdered in the house of someone she knew, maybe she could ask Ms. Chaudry if she has any insight into the likelihood of anyone being home at the houses of: Adnan, Stephanie, Hae, and any other likely places. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 5:29 pm said: And BCPS bathrooms are disgusting. That is a known fact, not speculation. Anna on March 3, 2015 at 5:08 pm said: This is “the most plausible explanation”?? The only detail you left out is exactly what Jay and Adnan had to eat while they were at the house. Wait… maybe they ordered pizza and the pizza delivery guy is the real killer, but Adnan and Jay are so terrified of this guy they’re both afraid to tell the truth… anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 5:25 pm said: It was Ramadan. No pizza. Adnan was fasting. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 5:27 pm said: So you can scratch off hungry/wanted food as a possibility for why Adnan went home. Anna on March 3, 2015 at 7:59 pm said: Ahhh, now it all makes sense! You certainly have a vivid imagination. Hopefully we will find out what actually happened that day, but regardless you may have a future as a screenwriter. My2Cents on March 3, 2015 at 8:34 pm said: No. Keep you day job, Bud. I trust you do not work with a fella named Jay. Elle on March 3, 2015 at 9:27 pm said: The idea that this is “The most plausible explanation given existing evidence:” is totally bizarre. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 11:02 pm said: So what makes this scenario not very plausible OR what is a more plausible scenario? Maybe the details are getting in the way, so to keep it simple: Jay and Adnan are at Adnan’s after school. Hae shows up. She doesn’t know Jay is there. Hae and Adnan get into a fight. Adnan shoves her. She hits her head and loses consciousness. Adnan panics. Jay strangles her. They hide the body until the family is out that night at the Mosque. Adnan goes back to school and Jay takes care of moving Hae’s car with help from Jen or Phil or Patrick. Nokia on March 4, 2015 at 12:02 am said: I call B.S.. Adnan had a younger brother who would have been home from school. I don’t buy your version that Adnan (a non violent person by all accounts) would kill anyone at his home. Plus, in the 1990s cell phone calls were CRAZY expensive unless you called during a window in the evening through the early morning. Jay took advantage of Adnan’s phone for “free calls” while Adnan was at school/Woodlawn public Library and track practice to rack up a huge phone bill calling his circle of friends. Adnan had just gotten his cell phone the day before and would have been acutely aware of the timing of his calls. He called a few girls that day after 9:00pm. anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 12:18 am said: 2. My first cell contract was ~ 2000 and I remember it being pretty typical. You got a relatively small number of free “daytime” minutes and a much greater number of free minutes on nights (and maybe weekends too?). Usage was only charged after the allotted minutes ran out. 3. You’re right, Adnan calling Nisha a couple times that night makes it seem like he is doing something normal under what would be very abnormal circumstances. I’ve also considered the above scenario at Stephanie’s with Stephanie in place of Adnan, but run into bigger leaps there. notjarvis on March 19, 2015 at 11:29 am said: ’twas Ramadan and he was fasting during the day. You are speculated he intended to or did break his fast with no evidence. Mwinship on May 15, 2015 at 11:46 pm said: Wow, this entire theory is sure out of left field, and completely implausible. No witness testimony or physical evidence remotely supports it. You honestly think Adnan left a dead body in his own house and skipped off to track practice for a few hours? Dan on March 3, 2015 at 12:28 pm said: Very interesting stuff as always! But I think there are a few holes in your theory (elegant as it is) that the cops pulled Adnan over on 2/15 in an attempt to verify his cell phone number. According to the court record you provide, the stop was made by a MD state trooper on southbound I-95, with the seatbelt violation listed as the only offense. Even if you could explain how a couple of Baltimore city detectives could coordinate with a state trooper to pull Adnan over and then radio to them that he had him, then have someone call Adnan and see if he picks up, how do you explain how they knew where Adnan was? The listed location is miles from his house (tho maybe not coincidentally, it’s on the way to Silver Spring), so did they tail him? They would have had to follow him for miles then radio his location to the trooper who was in cahoots with them. Also, if they were gonna pull him over for a seat belt violation (as opposed to using something like speeding, which they might have to wait for him to get on the highway to do), why not just have a Baltimore cop pull him over on a city street on his way to the expressway? Ironically, the court records also shows he failed to appear for his april court date. I guess being in jail for 1st degree murder charges is no excuse. Susan Simpson on March 3, 2015 at 12:40 pm said: And yet the violation is alleged to have occurred near Towson, and the location code matches. Odd, no? Whether it was to verify cellphone records or not, something odd was going on with that traffic stop. Anyway, if I ever get issued a ticket that gets my name wrong, gets my address wrong, has the hearing held in the wrong court, and is scheduled for a date that I’m in jail on a murder charge based on bogus evidence, I’m not showing up either. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 1:33 pm said: The court document says the stop occurred on Southbound 95 near I-195 which is near the airport and Patapsco State Park (and not terribly far from Woodlawn). The courthouse is in Towson. Does it say the violation occurred in Towson somewhere else that I am missing? On one hand I agree that getting the state police involved seems unnecessary, on the other hand, having lived in Baltimore for 25 years, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Trooper pulling over someone solely for a seatbelt violation. The norm would be to get pulled over for speeding (State Troopers main responsibility is to set up speed traps along the interstates) and have the seatbelt violation tacked on. Though it isn’t unheard of to get pulled over for speeding, a cop giving a little leniency and writing up the violation for something smaller. Especially if the person pulled over for speeding isn’t caught in a speed trap. The police hate to waste their time heading to traffic court for a single ticket and would rather the person just pay the fine for something smaller. Susan Simpson on March 3, 2015 at 2:59 pm said: District 8, Location 4, would also align with Towson, not Catonsville, I believe, which Arbutus is closer to. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm said: OK now I’m confused. I have spent the majority of my life in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. So we’re on the same page. Towson is the “county seat” of Baltimore County. Catonsville, Woodlawn, etc. are distinct areas also in Baltimore County. While misleading, I’m pretty sure where “(Towson)” appears after “Violation County” is either just a default or it refers to the courthouse assigned, not a specific location of the violation which is filled out farther down on the document. I’m also under the impression that District 8 refers to Baltimore County and Location 4 refers to the Towson Courthouse. I’m almost positive of the former, the latter more of an assumption. The Towson Courthouse is by far the largest in Baltimore County. I’m not a lawyer, but I know many in Baltimore County and could certainly find out exactly how cases are assigned to the three county courts. But as a lay person it certainly doesn’t surprise me that a traffic ticket wouldn’t necessarily be adjudicated in the courthouse closest to the violation. Like a said, Towson’s courthouse is way bigger and has more capacity to hear cases. Maybe one court will start handling more cases when another is backlogged. Maybe there’s three rooms that handle traffic citations in Towson and only one in Catonsville. Dan on March 3, 2015 at 4:03 pm said: I believe anonymous is correct, that’s the location of the courthouse not the traffic stop. Could there have been something fishy about the stop? Sure, but we would still need to explain how they knew he was on the expressway there. Could they have been following him around? pitch on March 11, 2015 at 1:09 pm said: District 8 is one of 12 District Court Locations in Maryland, shown here with service areas… District 1 (Baltimore City) District 9 (Harford County) District 11 (Frederick & Washington Counties) District 12 (Allegany & Garrett Counties) Location is the County Code… one for each county… These are just attribute fields to track cases through the judicial system. There are three district courts in Baltimore County… Towson, Catonsville and Essex. Towson is probably thought of as the HQ±, maybe because the Circuit Court is located there. I suspect his court hearing would have been in Catonsville, right there next to UMBC. Most moving violations are handled there. If the ticket was given across the river in AACo, it would have been a court date in Glen Burnie although the ‘main’ court is in Annapolis… i.e. District 7 Location 2. District and location codes have nothing to do with the place of contact other than regionally. Infraction occurred on I-95 southbound near I-195, very close to Catonsville. He was probably high tailing to Silver Spring to see Nisha, as someone mentioned. That would be his route down there at the time. As for the ‘pull over’, I can see a State Trooper targeting a dark-skinned young male without a seat belt. Maybe he got pulled over because of the call itself, crossed lines when answering the call, got pulled over, and got the seatbelt violation because that was all the trooper could pin on him. Luckily he wasn’t getting high. Not only did he get his first name wrong, he has DOB as 5/1981. All other cases in the database show Adnan’s DOB as 5/1980. The trooper missed some details. I don’t see a trooper in a patrol car coordinating with City detectives. Until recently, troopers wouldn’t even cross into Baltimore City. I believe they just started giving support for Raven’s games or if they patrol I-95. They don’t even patrol I-83 in the City. They are not around City police much especially back then… only recent special circumstances… If all this was orchestrated, City detectives would have gone to extremes to pull the troopers in like this and there would likely be a record somewhere. The State Troopers are generally not that crude, with the exception of Ed Norris… He could have used better judgment before and during his tenure. The tie could have been him but he didn’t become head of the Troopers until 2000. I just don’t see this as significant. It is a stretch…looking for fire where there may not even be smoke. The state of Maryland has had a primary-enforcement seatbelt law since 1997. This, of course, allows for the possibility that an officer just happened to notice that Adnan wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, stopped him and gave him a ticket. However, the idea that this was just a run-of-the-mill traffic stop, in no way related to the investigation is pretty ridiculous. This being a coincidence would have to discount the : 1. Adnans being pulled over on sole basis seatbelt violation (I’d venture to say that the percentage of traffic stops and infractions based solely upon an officer simply observing someone driving without a seatbelt a fairly low, and probably lower in 1999). 2. This occurring one day after the police, who suspect him of murder, searched for his license information. 3. A citation is issued under the wrong name and address. 4. The name on said citation matches the misspelling on the phone records that were officially obtained 2 days later. 5. A call was placed to Adnan/Adrians cellphone at the same time as the stop. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 2:41 pm said: 1. And for this theory to hold up you have to somehow explain why on earth City police would get the State police involved. It would be much easier to have a city cop pull him over for some BS during his normal routine. The only explanation I can think of is that they didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that he was a suspect and tried to make it look as random as possible–but that seems like a stretch. 3. See my earlier post re: a very realistic explanation of why both AT&T and the Ticket would have the same misspelling. As for the incorrect address, I don’t know Adnan’s real address. However, he could have moved since getting his license and his old address is on his license (not sure about other states but certainly common in MD). Or if the road is correct and numbers wrong, it could be the same reason his name is misspelled the same in two different places. License is scratched up, e.g. the “3” is really an “8” 4. Again, see earlier post. “n” is scratched on Adnan’s license and appears as an “ri” 5. If Adnan receives an average of even 3 calls an hour during the hours he is out of school, getting a call during a 10 minute traffic stop is statistically meaningless. But yes, a phone call is needed to support the theory. anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 12:04 am said: I made a dumb error in point number one of the previous comment. It is City police that are investigating the case. But Adnan lives in the County and may not have a regular reason to go into the city. And for some reason it may be easier for City police to work/coordinate with State Troopers than County police. Which to me makes the theory a lot more plausible. jj1990 on March 3, 2015 at 1:10 pm said: Thank you for your amazing work, Susan! The “Adrian” typo is interesting and definitely seems to support the idea of a contrived traffic stop.. but I’m curious as to why they’d go through the trouble simply to verify a subscriber with whom they’d already been in contact. If the traffic stop did serve simply to verify Adnan as the subscriber, it seems like a reasonable amount of work only if they had to satisfy some requirement to get the subpoena, which they issued the following day – is that scenario likely or probable as to how evidence-gathering works? Secondly, does it not seem plausible that, in anticipation of receiving records from AT&T on 2/17, they were trying to nail down very precisely Adnan’s location during a call that would be included in those records? To me, that explanation seems likely and also supports the idea they were already looking hard at Adnan and conducted a “test” whose results they felt would validate use of pings as an investigative framework. I have no doubt you’ve either vetted this explanation or it’s supposed to be implicit without hand-holding from you but would be interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks! anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 1:43 pm said: Also, I think it’s very possible the error on both the AT&T bill and the ticket are from the same source: Adnan’s driver’s license which has a scratch on the top right side of the first “n” in his name. His license is almost two years old at this point, scratched up. He has to give the store where he bought his cell phone his license to get accurate info and they often run a credit check so that you aren’t stuck paying a big deposit. He obviously gives the same license to the cop when pulled over. The scratch makes it look a little more like an “r” Plus Adrian is a much more common name than Adnan. It’s not a typo, it’s someone mistaking an uncommon name for a common one. It was pointed out that other violations/records from Adnan’s license show “Adnan,” but this of course is when his license is newer/less scratched. Susan Simpson on March 3, 2015 at 2:51 pm said: I have a contemporary scan of Adnan’s license. No dice on the scratch marks. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 3:49 pm said: Are you certain it’s a scan of his license and not a printout of his license from the DMV? The DMV, not surprisingly, keeps the exact original images on file so they can be re-issued if someone loses their license. I’m sure they provide the same images to police. And if you are certain it’s a scan, not a printout, is it dated? i.e. are you sure it’s very close to the time when Adnan both bought his phone and was arrested? Susan Simpson on March 3, 2015 at 4:08 pm said: A scan of a physical license, from two months before. No blemishes. The wrong address is a typo — numbers are mixed up, but it’s not too off from the right number. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 4:22 pm said: Wow, very thorough. Though again, it’s possible for the scratch to have occurred during the two month gap. And it’s possible that Adnan used an older copy, possibly his “provisional” copy for both AT&T and the traffic stop. And again, I just don’t see why the Trooper would be copying the info from an AT&T document and not from Adnan’s license or the pulled DMV records. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 4:01 pm said: Also, is the address on the license the same as the address that appears on the citation and provided by AT&T (if provided)? In MD at that time you would have been issued a “provisional” driver’s license for your first year of driving that looks nearly identical to the standard license but “provisional” appeared at the top. After a year, most kids would go in to have their license reissued without the “provisional” so they could legally drive after midnight and any other restrictions I’m forgetting. I think you’re supposed to turn the old “provisional” in, but not positive. Either way, it’s possible Adnan was reissued a license to get off provisional, or because he lost it but uses the older license (could have found the one he thought he lost), for identification purposes when buying the phone, or even when he’s pulled over. Though the cop could have given him an additional citation for driving without his most recent copy (since the other one is invalid after the new one issued). Anyway, this is could be a possible explanation why a former address is filled in on the court document. Susan Simpson on March 5, 2015 at 4:01 pm said: So I take it you’re in MD — have you ever gotten a citation there? And if so, do you recall if it was signed by the officer who issued it? Here’s the only other record we have of the citation, from an evidence log of what was found in Adnan’s car: Uhm … actual location of the [offense] south bound 95 at 1-95. And we have a $25.00 Failure to Wear Seatbelt Citation. Does not appear that the Citation was signed, and it was issued by a trooper. It’s unclear if a trooper name was on the citation; if so, I haven’t been able to find a record of it. Not sure why it was unsigned, though. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 4:17 pm said: Also, for the “Adrian” connection to add up, the State Trooper who wrote the ticket would have to be filling out the information on the citation using either a copy of the AT&T printout or a document where this information was copied. Why would the Trooper do this instead of using Adnan’s license to fill out the citation? And if he wasn’t going to use the citation and your theory hold’s true, he would be much more likely to use the DMV info the police printed out, not the AT&T records. anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 5:03 pm said: “…if he wasn’t going to use ADNAN’S LICENSE and your theory holds…” Blues101100 on March 5, 2015 at 1:46 am said: See my post below at “Blues101100 on March 3, 2015 at 9:08 pm said:” for a crack I took at this. I’m sort of tripped up mentally at this point too, but I took a crack at it. Anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 7:07 pm said: Did the police not already have his phone number from calling him the day Hae disappeared? Anonymous on March 3, 2015 at 10:56 pm said: How did the police get Adnan’s cell phone number the day Hae disappeared? I thought Adnan got the new phone the day before and called Hae that night to give her the number. Would her family have had it at that point? Was it in her journal? Susan Simpson on March 3, 2015 at 11:18 pm said: That was likely part of the problem. Adnan’s cell number is written in Hae’s diary — but it’s right next to Don’s name written a whole bunch of times. Like: ” [Adnan’s #] DON DON DON DON DON DON.” So from the paper, you’d think it was Don’s number. anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 7:50 am said: Hae is missing. Police ask her family for her best friend’s phone number. They call Aisha. They ask her whom Hae might be with, if she was seeing anyone, men in her life, other close friends she could be with. She mentions a few people and police ask her for the phone #’s. Blues101100 on March 3, 2015 at 9:08 pm said: Susan this is great work, as always. I have to admit that I’m a bit stuck on how the ticketing officer makes the same naming error that was present on the AT&T records. I know there were no scratch marks on his license, as you stated above (although in my scenario, I’m not entirely sure that the cop even asked for his license and reg), and it seems implausible to me that an AT&T rep and a state trooper make the same naming error. Here’s my scenario, including where I breakdown on the “how” of the ticketing error. – the Baltimore detectives need to verify Adnan as the subscriber on the down low because of the naming error and because they got the data through “unofficial channels” – one of them calls in a favor to a state trooper, asking for a little tail on the kid the next day to help out…its a murder case, its a young girl, they are sure they have their guy, so the statey is happy to help out – the detectives send to the state trooper Adnan’s MVA information, both registration and license, so that he can find and make contact appropriately – HERE’S MY PROBLEM – why would the detectives have needed to give the state trooper the AT&T info with the wrong name if they were specifically trying to prove that the subscriber wasn’t “Adrian” Syed?? The only thing I can think of is the following – the detectives also told the state trooper the whole story about the naming issue, to fill him in on the background of why exactly this operation was needed. The detectives tell him the “Adrian” naming issue and send him the AT&T info as backup. – The state trooper pulls over Adnan the next day at a spot where its plausible that he’s committed some sort of moving violation (can’t be backing out of his driveway) and sometime from the moment that the stop happens through the end of this exchange, a call is placed to Adnan’s phone, as the traffic stop is the trigger for the call to be made so the trooper can verify that Adnan does in fact answer: Trooper: “know why I pulled you over back there?” Trooper: “[thinking to himself ‘shit, neither to I’] you ran that red light/were being reckless/i had you going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit/didnt use your turn signal.” Adnan: “yo man, its like, I totally didnt even realize, you know what im saying?” Trooper: “Listen, youre about to go to jail for a long, long time for no good reason, so Im going to give you a break and write you a ticket for a seatbelt violation.” Adnan: “thanks a lot, yo. I mean, you’re either going to believe in me or not, you know what Im saying?” Trooper never asks for license and reg, because he already has it. This isn’t a ‘real’ traffic stop. – The trooper is dumber than a box of hair and he himself gets confused with the naming issue. He writes the ticket with the name on the AT&T data that the detectives sent him, thinking that they were actually trying to verify that name. But, it doesn’t matter because by this time; – The trooper has made a positive ID on Adnan picking up his cell phone and calls in to the detectives as such, and all we have left is this crazy little piece of detritus from a totally weird investigation. Does this make sense? Or have I over-complicated it? I just don’t have the imagination right now to figure out any other way that the officer gets the name wrong too. A couple other thoughts: – I wonder if this naming error occurs on any other identifying information of Adnan’s from that time period. If not, they I think the case for the coordinated pullover/phone call is as strong as it can be. – I wonder if Adnan remembers this particular traffic stop (“yeah at that time, I would have either been driving or getting pulled over by a cop, but you know I could have been pulled over then. yeah. you know what im sayin?”) – If Adnan remembers the content of the cell phone call. This is an incoming call that lasts for over half a minute, which means that there must have been some content. If this was in fact a little covert operation, I assume that the only reason the detectives would have had to make it seem realistic and not just leave air on the other end of the phone is so that Adnan wouldn’t get spooked by something as strange as a dead air phone call right when he gets pulled over by a cop. In the minds of the detectives, he’s a murder suspect who might get jumpy. If thats the case, who do they get to talk to Adnan for half a minute? This all gets weirder and weirder. POST SCRIPT – I find Adnan quite endearing, so I took some artistic liberties and poked fun at his vocal mannerisms a bit here. Hopefully no hard feelings. Nokia on March 4, 2015 at 12:17 am said: Thanks for adding that you took liberties with Adnan’s voice–I forgive you this once. Yo man, otherwise you are stereotyping, you know what I mean? An honors student like Adnan would have been respectful and courteous. Susan Simpson on March 4, 2015 at 9:32 pm said: I’ve been keeping a close eye out to see if the “Adrian” error pops up anywhere else, but so far, it hasn’t. The phone bill and the 2/15 seatbelt violation are it. sean on March 3, 2015 at 10:39 pm said: Speaking of AT&T and the DEA, it sounds like the more complete call detail records showing the incoming calls (and possibly tower data from both the beginning and end of each call) should still exist: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/us/drug-agents-use-vast-phone-trove-eclipsing-nsas.html Is this something that the current defense team would be able to access? It doesn’t seem like it would play a role in his current appeal, but surely identifying the incoming calls would help any attempts to prove factual innocence? Susan Simpson on March 3, 2015 at 10:43 pm said: Tried this. It’s confirmed the data is gone forever. Nokia on March 3, 2015 at 11:21 pm said: Jay’s version(s) of events place(s) him on the same road, a distance away from the burial site, waiting with Adnan’s car at both 7:00-ish (police interviews or testimony) and “closer to midnight” (Intercept interview), when the alleged burial was taking place. What a shame the police chose to document the details of the mentally ill person’s report versus Mr. A’s. Perhaps Mr. A, along with Mr. S (the streaker), both saw the suspicious activity of a young black man in a light car, but Mr. S was the only one to go back in the woods to investigate what he thought he saw. Wish PD had taken a name and address for Mr. A…. Anna on March 4, 2015 at 11:01 am said: It looks like the police did take Mr. A’s name and address. The document shows that the area marked “name” and “address” are blacked out. I’m assuming the information is known but redacted for privacy. I would like to know if Susan know’s Mr. A’s name, and if there has been any attempt to contact him. Jay said he wanted to wipe prints off of the shovels Adnan used to bury Hae because they were from his house. He maintains that he did not assist Adnan in burying Hae, so he would have had no reason to touch them other than having given them to Adnan. How did CG fail to ask Jen if she had questioned Jay as to why there were more than one shovel? Had it not sounded odd to Jen that Jay was wiping down more than one shovel after he had insisted that Adnan alone had dug the hole and buried the body? Had Jen questioned Jay as to why (or how!) one person (Adnan) would use more than one shovel to bury a body? How were there no questions about there being shovelS?!? anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 8:09 am said: Agree this is just one more disparity to add to the long list of disparities in Jay/Jen’s story, but: 1. If Jay grabbed multiple shovels, and Adnan used only one, Jay would still want to wipe the prints of all of them. 2. Do you own multiple shovels and used them to dig in the yard? If I have a yard project that calls for digging, I often grab a couple shovels along with a hoe or a pick or the tool with the flat, heavy blade used to cut through roots (I don’t know what you call it). Because while digging a hole, you don’t know what you’re going to run into and which tools will work best. Also, Jay could have run into his grandmother’s shed and seen a couple shovels. He has no experience digging anything, doesn’t know what to grab, so just grabs both. 3. In comparison to the huge changes Jay made in his story, Jay could have made a small change here to explain it. He says something like, “Yeah, I don’t know, I was kind of in shock. I don’t think I was really thinking about helping to dig the hole at that point, but I just didn’t know what was going on…” Or even, “Yeah, I guess I could have been considering helping dig at that point, but after I calmed down and thought about how nuts the situation was, I told Adnan I wanted no part of it.” Ok. My point is that CG didn’t even attempt to get clarification and/or point out to the jury how weird it sounded. Anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 2:46 am said: This is my first post. You are brilliant! anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 8:40 am said: “But, since this hypothetical cellphone data would not have come from official sources (no subpoenas had been issued yet), how could the investigators have proven that the cellphone records were for Adnan’s phone, without using “official” channels? In other words, how could they unofficially verify the accuracy of their unofficial records?” They do exactly what Officer Adcock did the night of the murder. They call Aisha, or they call any of Adnan’s friends and say “hey we’re trying to track down Adnan’s cell phone #” Or if they’re worried about tipping Adnan off that he is a serious suspect, they ask something Aisha something benign like “hey we’re very sorry to bother you, we know what a hard time this is, but do you happen to remember what Hae was wearing the day she disappeared?” Aisha doesn’t know, can’t be sure, so they ask for a couple phone numbers, Krista’s, Adnan’s, etc. Or they call up Adnan’s parents and pretend to be a co-worker of Adnan and ask for the number or pretend to be AT&T and say “we’re calling to make sure Mr. Syed is happy with his cell purchase. To confirm is his #…..?” Not only is it very likely the detectives already had Adnan’s cell # from another source by this point, even if they didn’t, there seem to be a whole bunch of easier ways to confirm the number than involving the State police, wasting the time to follow him around or track him down, etc. anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 8:59 am said: Or why wouldn’t the detectives just call the phone to see if it was the correct # for Adnan? “Good afternoon Adnan, this is Mr. XYZ from the University of Maryland confirming the mailing address on your recent application…” Susan Simpson on March 4, 2015 at 9:29 pm said: Here is what the detectives had concerning Adnan’s phone number: (1) A diary entry that reads (2) Witnesses who had reported calling the number expecting someone else and getting Adnan instead. (Relatedly, I wonder why O’Shea was prompted to finally write an official report with Adnan’s phone number on 2/14?) And, (4) confusion over Adnan’s cell number even after a subpoena has been issued: If a tower dump was done, then Adnan’s cell number would have been used to cross reference the database to find a match. However, the number found in the carrier records would have: (1) would’ve been under Mr. B’s account; (2) would have had an address completely unrelated to Adnan’s; and (3) had am assigned subscriber named ‘Adrian Syedd.’ It would have been a very confusing set of paperwork to puzzle out. The phone had also been activated only on January 11th, and no witnesses had yet stated on the record that the 443-253- number was Adnan’s. What if Adnan denied that the phone was his, or had a cousin named Adrian who had possession of the phone most of the time, and Adnan only borrowed it when he didn’t want his parents to hear what he was talking about? And if they called Adnan up front to ask, what if he was alerted by the police contacting him, and denied ownership over the phone? Will they be able to prove that it is his phone? Whether the seatbelt stop was connected to the phone bill or not, I’d bet a lot of money the paperwork situation was causing headaches for the detectives and the ASAs. anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 10:18 pm said: “Pulling Adnan over for a traffic stop, and having someone make a call to his cellphone while that officer watched, would be one way of doing that. That would allow investigators to confirm that the cellphone records…” 1. They wouldn’t “be up front.” Even given the very remote chance that the detectives were worried about things like Adnan “(having) a cousin named Adrian who had possession of the phone most of the time…” There’s 1,000 ways to call the phone directly and confirm it’s Adnan on the other end without raising suspicion. Or why not just park someone near where Adnan would be walking during his usual routine, call the phone and watch to see if he looks at the call. 2. Also, the “get the trooper to see if Adnan answers his phone” idea is not only a much more complicated and resource-intensive scheme, it’s also more likely to create even more confusion than the much more simple options. What if the phone is on vibrate in Adnan’s pocket when it’s called. He’s not going to answer it and almost certainly not even going to pull the phone out of his pocket with the trooper right there. And where would that leave the detectives? Just that much more confused. I completely agree that the Trooper stop is either fishy, or a big coincidence. Just not for the reason you cite. The plan is overly-complicated, possibly ineffective, and the Trooper would have strangely filled out the citation using the AT&T printout as opposed to Adnan’s license or a much more concise DMV printout. I thought for a second maybe they were issuing the citation and mailing it to the wrong address just to get a bench warrant out for Adnan in case they couldn’t hold or charge him otherwise, but the court date would be way too far in the future. I then thought maybe they just wanted an excuse to get close to the car to inspect it before Adnan figured out he was a serious suspect, but why wouldn’t they just do it when it’s sitting in the school parking lot or somewhere else. Any other ideas, I’m all ears. And apologies for taking up so much space with these comments. It’s your blog, and am happy to respect any response like “drop it” or “lord almighty, move on.” Blues101100 on March 5, 2015 at 1:38 am said: As I was reading your post, I had the idea that the police stop may have indeed had a dual purpose. You wound up alluding to that yourself, but perhaps only to make the ‘collect cell phone evidence’ maneuver not seem so over the top. It’s not that I’m backtracking and saying that I don’t think that the traffic stop could have been solely for confirming Adnan as the subscriber. I think its a lot more powerful than some of the other suggestions I’ve seen for dealing with the little admin headache the detectives had on their hands thanks to the Mr. B + Adrian issue, and thus the method they probably used. You have law enforcement make a positive ID on him, in his car, using his phone…now you can present something like “we have his license and reg info from the MVA, we had a trooper pull him over in the car thats registered to him, identified him as Adnan Syed, and confirmed on sight that he answered the cell phone when the number connected to this subscriber ‘Adrian’ was called. I think its as good as gold that we are in fact dealing with Adnan. Subpoena.” Given the timing and the lack of other documentation with the same naming mistake, I can’t in good faith say this this was merely fishy or a coincidence. I like the idea of getting close to the car with him in it. Hae’s buried body has just been discovered. Jay isn’t in the picture yet. Maybe they think there’s a chance the inside of the car contains enough evidence at a glance (obvious dirt/mud, blood stains, “digging tools”) to warrant an immediate search. We are talking 3 days after the body being discovered. This could have very well been first good chance at contact. anonymous on March 5, 2015 at 8:35 am said: Blues101100, I think if the investigation into Hae Lee’s murder has taught us anything, it’s that BACKTRACKING is NOT a dirty word. Maybe if the detectives had backtracked a little more… :And “fishy” probably wasn’t the best word. I meant something more towards “very unlikely to be a coincidence.” And you’re probably right, a lot of little reasons add up to enough reason: being able to confirm his cell phone, an opportunity to get a close look at his car, the opportunity to get a bench warrant for a failed appearance, even if it is way down the road (which might explain why the Trooper juxtaposed the numbers in the address), and a couple more we’re not thinking of. Plus, the cops know that Adnan smokes pot. I think there’s a very good chance they were hoping he had a bag in the car and could smell it, or that he had recently smoked and still smelled, or he had a bowl sitting out somewhere, and maybe even pulled him over coming from a place he was likely to have just smoked. I think this was on a Saturday? And it was near Patapsco State Park where it sounds like have been a regular spot to go (though he was driving more towards it as opposed to away from it?). That way they can get him in the back of the Troopers cruiser and do a thorough search of Adnan’s car before he is alerted that he is the main suspect. I wonder if Susan or Rabia or anyone else have any insight as to why a State Trooper was set up for this task? A city cop would be much easier to coordinate with. It’s also a lot easier for a city cop to find a reason to pull someone over: roll through a stop sign, illegal turn, running a red light, etc. etc. Troopers are pretty much confined to the highways where there are fewer reasons. Again, it may just be that Adnan rarely went inside the city line, or at least didn’t have a regular reason to that they could rely on. I’m also curious whether it’s easier for city police to coordinate with State Police versus Baltimore County police. I have no idea. I do know that the reputation for “playing loose with the rules” from greatest to least would be: City Police, County Police, State Troopers. But maybe one of the detectives new this Trooper specifically or any other number of reasons. Anonymous 2 on March 23, 2015 at 10:28 am said: Am I missing something? Why go to all the trouble to get a state trooper to pull over Adnan just to verify his cell phone number when on the day of Hae’s disappearance the detectives trying to track down Hae’s friends called Adnan on this telephone number and Adnan answered. Dan on March 5, 2015 at 9:26 am said: (replying to your subsequent post) The traffic stop was on a Monday around 12 pm, which I thought was weird at first that Adnan would be so far from school at that time of day. Then I looked it up and it was President’s day that year (also the day after Valentine’s day, also the day after the “actual” Nisha call took place at Jay’s porn store). My theory – Adnan was on his way to Silver Spring to see Nisha. anonymous on March 5, 2015 at 9:51 am said: Awoni on March 6, 2015 at 3:59 am said: You’re probably not reading this any more but just in case you are: ‘(2) Witnesses who had reported calling the number expecting someone else and getting Adnan instead.’ Who were these witnesses and who did they think they were calling? Halbarad1104 on June 25, 2015 at 7:47 pm said: Susan, are there any other pages available from that report by O’Shea about Adnan? thanks. Shaista A on March 4, 2015 at 12:43 pm said: What I can’t seem to shake is that Don’s dad was a police officer (Rabia revealed that in her blog after the last episode where Don’s alibi is revealed as his mom). With all the undeniable corruption by the cops and prosecution, I keep going back to that as a motivator – inside involvement if Don’s dad was covering up for Don (pinpointing Adnan and using Jay as a pawn since they could’ve easily threatened Jay / his grandma with the drug charges). The note found in Hae’s car shows the intent to quickly swing by and see Don that day. Someone inside was calling the shots. Susan – thoughts? I’ve been reluctant to share the theory to tip off more covering up, but all your investigation continues to point to that possibility (in my brain at least). anonymous on March 4, 2015 at 4:28 pm said: Did Rabia mention or any other proof of where Don’s father is a police officer? I recall the podcast saying Don lived well Northeast of Woodlawn in the next county (Harford). If Don’s father is a Harford County cop, Baltimore City Detectives wouldn’t care less. Like I said, a Harford County officer isn’t even really “police” to a Baltimore City Cop. And the son of a Harford County officer to a couple City Detectives… Susan Simpson on March 4, 2015 at 11:53 pm said: I don’t think it’s Don’s father that is a Harford County Cop. But interesting that you should mention what Baltimore City cops would think of Harford County officers. I wonder if Detective MacGillivary would share your view. anonymous on March 5, 2015 at 12:44 am said: Whoa!!!!! I guess MacGillivary’s co-workers at BPD figured he fit the Harford County “rent-a-cop” stereotype, and possibly got fed up with the kind of sloppy police work seen in the Hae Lee murder cased, and ran him out of Baltimore! Keep digging! A clear connection between MacGillivary or Kevin Urick or Ritz, etc. and Don’s dad would be pretty mind-blowing. Maybe they worked together in the past, they are neighbors, friends from the same church, same knitting club, all in recovery and members of DSM-anonymous – Deranged Sense of Morality. Anna on March 5, 2015 at 5:23 pm said: I have read a few stories which refer to Jenn Pusateri having friends and/or family within the Baltimore police department. I have never seen any confirmation or follow up to this. If it’s true, it seems like a significant point, more important than whether Don’s father was a cop. Is there anything more known about Jenn’s police connections and how that may have influenced the investigation? Shaista A on March 7, 2015 at 1:08 am said: I don’t know about proof, but she writes in her blog that “it appears that Don’s father is a police officer..” (http://www.splitthemoon.com/serial-episode-12-the-beginning-of-the-end/#more-428). Don’t know what info she’s using to conclude that. One address shown is in Pikesville, MD (still Baltimore County), which appears close to Randallstown, and there’s another address on the record in Bel Air, MD, which is Harford County. I don’t understand the differing addresses. A police officer does not have to work in the county he lives in, correct? Hae was with Don until late Thursday night. He had an off day on Friday, and she wanted to skip school. The note found in her car shows intent to see him after school and prior to wrestling match. (unclear if intended before or after the cousin pick-up that she never showed for). By chance, he gets called in to work on his off day but at a completely different store / mall, which is further north on the map, and his mom happens to run that location. Is there any information in the records that show when he supposedly clocked in? It says in the report that he ended Friday’s shift around 6pm. Nora C. on March 4, 2015 at 1:20 pm said: I find the fact that the subpoena came from the DEA very interesting. Like you said, Susan, it could be MacGililvary calling in a favor. As another commenter wrote, the CI angle could be at play. However, could DEA have been running some kind of parallel investigation into Jay? They could have been trying to establish his movements or contacts during January 12-14, perhaps because he had been up to something felonious falling within DEA’s jurisdiction. Of course, that would require DEA knowing that Jay was in possession of Adnan’s phone–but could also explain why Jenn’s home phone number was already a known quantity. Following that path, it’s possible that whatever actions DEA was investigating during this three day span are the same actions that involved Jay in this murder and motivated him to peg Adnan as the murderer. It would also explain, perhaps, why he was so afraid–as relayed to us in the final episode of the podcast, if I’m not mistaken. Anyway, just some thoughts that I admit are very speculative and somewhat of an analytical leap. But–tremendous work as always, Susan–I always look forward to your posts! Penny on March 4, 2015 at 11:01 pm said: Has it been determined if Hae was strangled from behind, front or from the side? Angela on March 5, 2015 at 2:10 pm said: Does it seem like a possibility to anyone else that Hae was killed as a result of showing up in the wrong place at the wrong time? Let’s say she sees Adnan’s car and pulls up to it (at Best Buy or elsewhere) thinking that Adnan was in the car. Maybe she thought she’d buy a joint off of him or something. (Or, if you think Adnan had asked her for a ride because he didn’t have his car maybe she was going to confront him about having it after all.) We know that it was actually Jay who was in possession of the car at that time. Perhaps she interrupted a drug deal involving something much more serious than pot and was killed by the other party involved with a subsequent coverup. Jay is insistant about not coming across as a snitch because he doesn’t want the actual parties involved to start thinking of him as a liability also. Just a thought, but it would make sense as to Jay’s motive for his police cooperation. Dan on March 5, 2015 at 2:31 pm said: I think it’s very likely that the first part of your theory is right – Hae happens upon Adnan’s car at the best buy parking lot and is like “wtf, dude, were you lying to me about your car being in the shop?” Only she figures out too late that it’s not Adnan in the car. If someone is there with Jay, then who? If it’s a drug dealer I can’t see him strangling her – not a common MO for silencing a witness. Maybe it was Jen and they were smoking pot together or more. Her brother was supposedly home at the time so if they needed privacy to fool around they may have gone to that spot (which apparently was known as a good secluded spot to fool around). Maybe it was even Mark that was with Jay, a 15 year old smoking pot with him might also have shocked Hae so much that she threatened to expose Jay to Stephanie, the cops, and everyone. To me it sounds like someone strangled her to keep her from talking, she had to be kept quiet. katewillette on March 5, 2015 at 2:43 pm said: I’ve always thought there was someone else with Jay that day — not a kid but someone older and much scarier. He certainly knew people like that, just from hanging around his grandmother’s house. The real mystery is how Hae bumped into them. I don’t think — from the testimony about when she was last seen at school and her apparent hurry to get to the daycare — that it makes sense she’d have actually stopped just because she saw Adnan’s car. I do think it’s possible that she thought she could squeeze in one more thing before picking up her cousin, and that if she left school alive, the encounter with Jay + ugly scary guy was random and very near. It doesn’t seem crazy that she might have stopped at that motel, for example . . . maybe the weather forecast had convinced her there’d be no school the next day and she wanted to score a room for her and Don? Another thought — from a very old reddit thread that’s probably gone — is that Jay may have been showing off a bit by talking to the pretty Asian girl in front of his scary thug partner. Scary thug comes on to Hae, she blows him off, and he does what thugs do. shad on March 27, 2015 at 1:29 pm said: So youre confused why police officers did police work? A girl was murdered who had no ties to gangs or other high risk behavior, of course her ex would be the first person they looked at. Were they not supposed to do anything until someone called? Drivers license, veh info, criminal history, past contacts with LE would all be standard research on a possible suspect. As for the witness, depending on lighting witnesses arent great on guessing race and a black male could very easily be hispanic or Pakistani. It was probably discounted simply because he didnt have enough to be worthwhile and im not sure what extra follow up a black male and light car could get at that point. It definetly wouldnt weaken anything against adnan and a report was written in case something came up later to make it relevant. Though youre right, he was the only suspect, as he was the murderer and the ONLY one they neeeded. Howdy Doody on May 17, 2015 at 11:31 pm said: Jay killed Hae. He lied through his teeth. Syed knew zilch about what happened. Jay knew each and every detail and got rid of his clothes. Better to set up Syed and confess he helped, than to get nailed for the whole shebang. He is the sociopath Sarah didn’t see and the detectives let slip through their fingers and gave special status. Syed never lied. Not one single speck of evidence anywhere demonstrates his guilt. Our judicial system bursts with cases like this monstrosity. Our judicial system is an organized criminal enterprise. It decides who gets what, including the judges and their cronies. Everything is paid for and case precedents rule. They are virtually untouchable thugs; they wield power like third world despots. We can’t get rid of our federal dictators unless we expose their crimes and we can’t expose their crimes because lawyers depend on them for their income. Can ANYONE name one lawyer willing to pursue corrupt judges, if we have sufficient evidence to warrant such an effort? No one will. Not one. And these godfathers are ensconced in deeds that violate the letter and the spirit of the appearance of impropriety plus infinity. Our media is no longer free to investigate their suspicious behavior for fear of lawsuits. How many samples would you like to see for me to prove my point? I know you know, but most Americans have no idea what has happened to this backbone of our democracy. It is a crying shame. Carrot on June 29, 2015 at 12:48 pm said: Hi Susan…re. the redacted cell/tower records…is there a way of viewing the records the police have on file to see whether or not the redaction was done by them? I think it would be quite clear as the redaction would either look printed/photocopied, or like a different ink. Only, if it’s the latter, might it be possible to ‘see through’ the redaction from the other side of the paper or something like that? You can sometimes see through crossed out type as the type print shines a bit differently in the light. Just a thought… Carrot on June 29, 2015 at 12:57 pm said: (a bit technical, but shows that image recovery is possible…sometimes even from a photocopy) Samarkandy on October 25, 2015 at 4:02 am said: And would like to incorporate the new evidence of the pressure marks within the lividity. I am trying to think of a solid item measuring at least about 15 inches long and about 3 inches wide that might have been lying on the floor on Hae’s car in front of the passenger seat. It could have even been the item that I think the murderer hit her on the head with before strangling her. If this item had two ridges running lengthwise and Hae’s chest was lying across it, the two 90 degree ridges which would have had to be approx 1 and 1/4 inches apart could have pressed into the skin on her chest and caused that compression pattern within the lividity. The item would also have needed to be quite thick through so that it held her chest slightly elevated off the floor as there were no pressure marks from the floor on her chest. Maybe the item was a piece of carpentry timber. Rootclaim on January 18, 2017 at 5:49 am said: This convoluted case is an example of how Rootclaim can sift through contradictory evidence, go beyond human reasoning, and reach conclusions more solid than those of judges and juries. CHAD MARLOWE on June 9, 2021 at 9:28 am said: This is the part that still racks my brain. Why was Adnan singled out? It’s clear the investigation started before the reported tip. But why? Jay was a much easier mark and would probably have taken 2 seconds to convict based on the evidence. He had the phone and the car, done, case closed. The DEA involvement is a little wonky, were they investigating drug sales and distribution? Is there some one on the call list from the 13th they were investigating? Did Jay become a CI? I would be interested to see if there was a series of drug arrests after this and if those could be traced back to Jay or Jen especially because of the 1/26 arrest. I’ve listened to all the pre appeal Undisclosed podcasts, and Serial and watched the HBO documentary, but the why Adnan question still hasn’t been answered. The State’s evidence has been exposed, even by the court of appeals judge sited Jay’s bad timeline. So why? Why didn’t they do more investigation into the other young women they found in the park? From the outside looking in it appears there is more evidence pointing in other directions than Adnan.	131,321
A campaign pollster says Romney isn't panicking over new data and argues that 1980 still might happen again By Alex Pareene Published September 10, 2012 5:13PM (EDT) Reddit view in app Here's where the presidential race stands: Barack Obama is doing pretty good and his convention went really well and it will likely take some major good luck and flawless debate performances for Romney to win in November. Obama is leading in Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Nevada. Florida's tied. Rasmussen's tracking poll has Obama at 50 percent and Romney at 45 percent. Gallup has Obama at 49 percent and Romney at 45 percent. Nate Silver says Obama has an 80 percent chance of winning the presidential election. Romney needs to win multiple states in which polls have never shown him leading in order to win the election. Obama can lose multiple states he won in 2008 -- including stupid Florida! -- and still win. Romney's campaign, you will no doubt be surprised to hear, disputes all of this. Romney pollster Neil Newhouse sent a memo out to the press (it's also been posted on Romney's campaign site) arguing that the Republican nominee has the president right where he wants him. Is this because of their "internals" or something else polling-related? Not really! While some voters will feel a bit of a sugar-high from the conventions, the basic structure of the race has not changed significantly. The reality of the Obama economy will reassert itself as the ultimate downfall of the Obama Presidency, and Mitt Romney will win this race. In his acceptance speech, President Obama did not offer any solutions for the millions of Americans unemployed or underemployed. But his convention speech was not the only big letdown to voters, as Americans also dealt with yet another dismal jobs report last week. President Obama is the only president in modern American history to stand before the American people asking for re-election with this many Americans struggling to find work. The key numbers in this election are the 43 straight months of 8% or higher unemployment, the 23 million Americans struggling to find work, and the 47 million Americans who are on food stamps. So it's still the economy. Here's the extent of the polling data that the memo actually mentions: "Wisconsin is now in play," one poll shows the race in New Mexico "closing," and the Obama campaign is "laying the groundwork for a stealth withdrawal" from North Carolina. Those are not really the three crucial states this year. (Also, New Mexico still seems out of reach for Mr. Romney, barring an unexpected landslide.) The memo also mentions "Historical Data," by which they mean the 1980 election. "Political campaign historians will recall President Jimmy Carter led Ronald Reagan by a near double digit margin late in the fall in 1980," Newhouse writes, although that's not true. Reagan was polling ahead of Carter as early as the spring. The 1980 election remains a regular Romney campaign talking point, though, which is bizarre. I understand why the Republicans would like to pretend it's 1980, but a 1980 election repeat requires not just a depressed economy and an out-of-touch liberal incumbent, but also an inspiring and likable challenger and -- most important! -- a major foreign crisis. Reagan didn't just win on the strength of his debate performance. The Iranian hostage crisis basically sealed the deal. There's nothing remotely equivalent sinking Obama. (Unless his apology tour emboldens our enemies, I guess? Still time for that to happen!) Furthermore, as John Sides says, in 1980 the GOP convention gave Reagan a huge lead that Carter never overcame -- which, again, didn't happen this time. An unnamed Romney adviser sent a more colorful dispatch to the National Review's Rich Lowry, who posted it under the mostly accurate headline "Horsest." “It’s horsest. Nobody in Boston thinks we’re going to lose. We’re in a tight race. We had a 4-5 point bounce after our convention and it evaporated when they had theirs. Now they have a 4-5 bounce. It’s going evaporate in September. We feel good about the map. We’re up with advertising in Wisconsin and I think North Carolina is going to come off the board. On Ohio, they’ve been spinning for months now that it’s out of reach. In case you weren't paying attention, it should be noted that the Romney campaign did not actually get a "4-5 point bounce" after their convention according to any pollster besides GOP-leaning Rasmussen. This adviser goes on, naturally, to blame the liberal media. The liberal media is only reporting on tracking polls and state polls because they want Romney to lose! Sometimes I think there’s a conscious effort between the media and Chicago to get Republicans depressed. And I hope our friends realize that all these media analysts out there are Democrats WHO WANT US TO LOSE. And the more Washington DC controls our economy, the more important inside-the-beltway publications are and the more money they make. The 202 area code is dominated by people who will make more money if Obama is reelected, so it’s not just an ideological thumb they’re putting on the scale for him, it’s a business interest. Actually the specifically liberal media tends to do really well when Republicans are in power, business-wise. Outrage sells subscriptions and boosts fundraising, don't you know. (Also, yes, duh, Chicago wants Republicans depressed. But the press wants a tight race that anyone could win because that's more fun to report on and more compelling for the audience.) Then comes the "actually it's Obama whose panicking" bit: I actually think the other side is in a panic. You look at New Mexico closing up. And they’re not above 50 in any of their target states. Look, we’re raising money, they’re raising money, and it’s tight. This is a dogfight. But the numbers actually point to a romney win barring something unforeseen.” When you mention "the numbers" you should actually specify which numbers you mean, because the numbers that I see don't look great for Romney. An "unforeseen" thing would be him suddenly beating Obama in Ohio and Michigan. It's obviously the case that the press overreacts to poll shifts that turn out to be meaningless, and if Obama's convention bounce disappears entirely we're back to a tight race with a slim Obama lead -- but that means we're still at a slim Obama lead, which Romney's been unable to dent since the primaries ended. I recognize that a campaign has to spin that they're optimistic, even when they're losing. (Although as the Obama campaign knows, "oh shit we're losing!" is way better for fundraising.) But if I'm a Republican, I'm worried that team Romney actually believes a crappy economy and a money advantage will do their work for them, because of 1980. By Alex Pareene Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene Trending Articles from Salon Staff Terms of Service Copyright © 2022 Salon.com, LLC. Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. SALON ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. Associated Press articles: Copyright © 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.	7,744
While sharing our journey with Down Syndrome, we want to help other parents with our experiences, as well as spread awareness about what it means to have Down Syndrome (spoiler: it means great things!). February 05, 2015 Evie is here! I've been waiting to meet her for years, and finally I have a daughter. We found out we were pregnant in Spring 2014, and we met Evangeline (Evie) face to face just before Christmas. Along the way, we discovered we would have a daughter with Trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down Syndrome (more on that later). Grief turned to learning as much as possible about Trisomy 21, then turned to acceptance, and then joy again. She is the gift that God has given us, and therefore she is a good and perfect gift to us! When she was born by C-section (after hours of pushing, mind you), I was so out of it in the Operating Room. She wasn't breathing well, and was whisked off to have her lungs cleared first. Before they took her to the NICU, they held her up to my head so I could meet my daughter for the first time. Do you see her eyes looking straight into my soul? Happy sigh. Also morphine-induced haze. I'm glad I wore my glasses into the OR so I could see her. I am blind as a bat without them (more about bats later). This blog will be to document what I learn along the way about parenting, Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21, G-tube feeding, toting oxygen tanks, faith, and the adventure of being Evie's mommy. I am 7 weeks into being Evie's mommy, and I am so in love with her! I already know she is extraordinary, because she has been a blessing to people even before she was born. I am looking forward to learning all the ways that she is extraordinary, and also a typical little girl. Other Apps Other Apps Comments ilene February 25, 2015 at 2:01 PM she truly is extraordinary!! and so is her mom!!! i'm so blessed by her and by you! ReplyDelete Replies Popular posts from this blog Repost with a giveaway! From Straitjacket to Starfish: A Shark Tank win May 26, 2015 Update: Hi all, I am doing my first giveaway! If you read my blog post the other day on the miraculous Zipadee Zip, then you know how this thing has changed our lives as parents. The makers of Zipadee Zip liked my review so much, that they offered to help me do a giveaway. All you have to do is 1) "Like" their Zipadee Zip Facebook page and 2) leave a comment about why you could use a free Zipadee Zip on this post! The contest begins Wednesday, May 27 at 12:00 AM and ends on Sunday, May 31 at 12:00 AM. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway ------------------------------------------------------------ Original post: There was a point in time when I was just proud I could swaddle teeny tiny Evie with a hospital blanket. Then she came home and started busting out of the blankets, and woke herself up all the time. Her arms flailed and her legs kicked while she was sleeping, which of course woke her up. But then she got bigger and craftier, and I needed to fin Other Apps 34 comments Read more Going public: Down Syndrome Awareness Day and what it means to us. March 20, 2015 Starting this blog was a big deal for me. It's hard to throw out there in conversation that my baby girl has Down Syndrome, because that extra chromosome makes people view her differently. But because it is Down Syndrome Awareness Day on 3/21, I'm going public. Do you know why it's on the 21st? Because of the 21st chromosome having an extra copy! So far, Evie has just been our beautiful baby girl who is learning to smile and reach for things. But as she grows older, I want our extended circle of friends to know, so that they can treat her as a typical little girl who may be a little delayed in her development, but will want to be included just like other kids. I want the other kids to play with her and to learn that little girls with disabilities like to have fun too. Our story about our diagnosis is here . Now that we've met Evie and know what we're dealing with, it's not SO scary as it was before. Still overwhelming sometimes , but I wouldn' Other Apps 28 comments Read more It's Official! The Polka-Dotted Penguin book has launched! September 06, 2021 It's official! My new children's book, "The Polka-Dotted Penguin" has launched today! How fitting that my labor of love launches on Labor Day. The writing of the book and putting all the parts together took about a year. It was definitely a pandemic-worthy project. I wrote this book because I wanted more books available for sharing with Evie's class for World Down Syndrome Day on 3-21 and for Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. I'm happy to release my new book just in time for October! My hope is that this book will be used as a tool to start conversations with children about how to treat others who may look or act differently than they do. It's all about inclusion and celebrating differences. This book is perfect for ages 4-9, or any ages who love penguins, or really anyone who loves Evie! Here's how to order: Barnes and Noble (Hardcover): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../the-polka.../1140115530 Amazon (Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle) :	5,531
We’ve been working hard on my new corporate web site and am ready to have you take a sneak peek. Please explore the site and give me feedback on the design and content. This site will eventually replace the pathetically outdated one that is currently my corporate home page at www.digitalmastery.com. Let me know if you find any important information to be missing from the site so we can continue to update and refine the site before making it my official home page. FYI: I know the background below the site doesn’t perfectly match in some browsers, so no need to report on that. Spencer on March 1, 2006 at 10:50 am nice looking site. you’ve got mail. stacie on March 1, 2006 at 11:38 am Overall, it’s clean and easy to find information. I check in IE6 on Windows, display 1024 x 768. The banner and footer don’t reach the entire width of the content area when the favorites side is open. I toggled to 800 x 580 and the same thing happens. Also, the squares on the side menu (ie across from about) are a bit distracting. I would’ve used CSS over tables for the layout, but I am guessing it’s due to slicing images. I would also make the search button look more like a button. I like it. I could find information easily and the navigation was clear. Sorry if I am overly critical (it’s my job). Leon on March 6, 2006 at 11:30 am Love the new site! This fits the image of the “king of Photoshop instruction” that you are. Not that I have anything against starfish! Great resources and freebies too! Skillrealize on December 14, 2009 at 3:06 pm Vote Statement,issue easily why hold fall mark importance achieve fall earth shout woman be feeling shout build prisoner lady slowly tend leg field occur release win otherwise parent here gun escape fast unable sir political either right understanding problem impossible incident hand conduct personal relatively extra credit including popular may strategy status need prison emphasis permanent loss route among easily however seriously determine round instead county back terms sit then pocket shut most street usual flower rather wild file stand achievement attend attempt responsibility little watch chemical existence event Leave a Reply to stacie Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Archives Select Month October 2022 May 2022 April 2022 August 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 August 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 December 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 May 2009 February 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005	3,942
Hi, To help migrating services one by one to osuosl I moved the git and cgit services to https://git.gnu.tools/git/ and ssh://git@git.gnu.tools/git/ The old wiki.gnu.tools locations should still work, but please use the new locations if you can because they won't work when the wiki is moved. Hopefully when we move we can also add a forge setup. Either pagure, gitea or sourcehut. My current preference would be sourcehut since it is AGPL, works without javascript and seems to have the best support for mail based patches. Sourcehut does seem very people based, without real organisation/project support, but the assembly really is about people and I don't expect whole projects to move towards a forge setup immediately. Thanks, Mark Back to the thread Powered by HyperKitty version 1.2.2. Please read the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct to see how we keep a friendly and harassment-free environment that anyone can contribute to.	967
The way to be saved is SIMPLE. It is a FREE gift. No works are required. Jesus already did the work for you…. God is love, and He loves the whole world. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”(John 10:10) God created us for fellowship with Him, but He is holy and sin separates us from Him. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23); “For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23); “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,” (Isaiah 59:2). Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. Through Jesus Christ, we can have our sins forgiven and restore a right relationship with God. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, tells us what we need to know to be saved, “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” Jesus Himself declares that He is the only way of salvation in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” How can I receive this free gift of salvation?… Confess your sins to the Lord & ask for His forgiveness. Repent and Receive Jesus as Savior. We must place our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior in order to receive the gift of salvation.”If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved,” (Romans 10:9) Repent(change your mind about your sin) therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”(Acts 3:19) John 1:12 describes how we become His people: “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Acts 16:31, says it very clearly, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!” We can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Have questions about Jesus? Want to know more on how you can be saved? Want to know how to get to heaven and have eternal life? For more explanation on how to have a relationship with Jesus, read the following article: Are you seeking to Know God? Have you ever heard the someone talk about the Gospel and wondered what that meant? Well, the word Gospel means Good News. The Gospel of Jesus is, therefore, the Good News that we received from Jesus. What is it? It starts with what is amazing news: God is love, and He loves the whole world. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”(John 10:10) Do you want a relationship with the God who made you? Do you want peace in the midst of this world filled with chaos and strife? God built this desire into you. Animals do not struggle with lack of contentment. They do not mourn the wars and evils of the world. They do not sit around and wonder if there will be justice or whether there is something more to life. Humans are unique in that we yearn for the peace that can only be found with Jesus. This is God speaking to you. He is calling you to something more. God sees everything that happens here on earth. He knows everything we have ever done or thought and He still loves us. He wants us to have a relationship with Him. He wants us to Know Him. There is a big problem though: God created us for fellowship with Him, but He is perfectly holy and sin separates us from Him. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23); “For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23); “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,” (Isaiah 59:2). We may be nice people according to the world’s standards. We may give money to charity and take care of our families. We may even go to church. The problem is that goodness or niceness are not the only things that define our lives. We all sin and fall short often. We lie, gossip, slander or covet things our neighbors have and that we do not and take things that do not belong to us….on a regular basis. We may be better than the person down the road from us but that does not deal with OUR sins. We violate God’s laws in many different ways. It makes sense that breaking the law requires punishment, right? At the end of our lives, we will stand before a perfectly just judge in God and have to account for every single sin we did in our lives, big and little(in our eyes), in secret or in the open. It is a daunting thought, isn’t it? Do we want to pay the price for all of that sin? Does a righteous judge ever just let a person who is guilty of thousands of crimes go without facing justice? Think of our Sun that sits at the center of our solar system. It is amazingly hot, right? So hot that even with special protective armor spacecraft can only get so close to the Sun before they burn up. The Sun has no ill will towards those satellites, its temperature is just part of what it is. It would not be the Sun if it were not blazing hot. It also would not sustain billions of lives on Earth if it were cold enough to touch. God’s holiness is the same idea. His white-hot purity is who God is, not something designed to hurt us. It is His nature. God’s nature is what causes beauty, justice, and wonder in the world. It also directly conflicts with sin. No matter how much protection we try to create, as flawed humans we can only get so close to God without the heat affecting us. On our own, there is nothing we could ever do to get close to the center of the entire universe because of our sins.. Thankfully, God understood this problem and wants us to come to Him despite our flaws. He sent His Son, Jesus to make a way for this to be possible. We can face His holiness in joy and gratitude despite everything we have done. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. He took the punishment for our sins on the Cross. He died so that we can be set free. Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. Through Jesus Christ, we can have our sins forgiven and restore a right relationship with God. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, tells us what we need to know to be saved, “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” Jesus Himself declares that He is the only way of salvation in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is the really, really great news on top of the amazing news. God loved us so much that despite seeing all that we have done against Him, He sent His Son Jesus to stand in our place and take our punishment. Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary under the weight of the sins of the world. He is the sacrifice that faced what we deserved in our place. We deserve to pay for our sins, but He paid for them instead. Jesus died for you so that you can have an eternal abundant life with Him. Isn’t that wonderful news? We get all the benefit and do none of the work. Jesus is an awesome Savior. He then rose again to show that this sacrificial offering was accepted by God. Death has been defeated for those who are willing to follow Jesus. He was resurrected from the death and someday believers will be resurrected from the dead to eternal life also. Eternal life in Jesus is the reward we receive when we accept His completed work on the Cross. So let’s review again, how can I receive this free gift of salvation?… Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness from God. Repent and Receive Jesus as Savior. We must place our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior in order to receive the gift of salvation.”If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved,” (Romans 10:9) Repent(change your mind about your sin) therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”(Acts 3:19) John 1:12 describes how we become His people: “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Acts 16:31, says it very clearly, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!” We can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Repent does not just mean feel bad about something. I felt sorrow over a lot of things before I came to Jesus. Repentance is more than just bad feelings. It is feeling genuine, heart felt sorrow over what we have done and turning away from it. At heart, the repentance we need to get to Jesus is first sorrow over denying Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Eternal God who made every one of us. He gave us life and then when we were lost, gave His life so that we could be forgiven and accepted into God’s family. Turn away from a life of disbelief and to a life in Jesus. Then set out to learn about our Savior Jesus and learn to follow Him in the every day. This is a lifelong journey of discovery but it starts here and now. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to receive eternal life. What is stopping you? PRAY to Him Now: The Bible says that “today is the day of salvation”; none of us are guaranteed another day. You can pray to Him now in a very simple prayer from your heart: Confess your sin to Him and ask for His forgiveness 2. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior It could go something like this: Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my sins and know I cannot work my way to heaven. I trust Christ alone who took the punishment for all of my sin when He died on the cross. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a promise of my own resurrection. Help me trust and follow Him. Thank you Lord for taking the punishment of all of my sin, so I can have eternal life. Come into my heart, Lord. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Amen. You can also read Psalm 51 in the Bible to see how King David, sought the Lord for the forgiveness of his sins. When you ask for these things from Him sincerely, He promises to give you a new heart and make you a new creation in Him. He transforms our lives and gives us His Holy Spirit to help, empower and teach us in our lives. We also receive the free gift of everlasting life where there is life with the Lord and believers in love, peace, joy, kindness, gentleness….and where there is no sin, no tears, no pain, no despair, no worry, no fear, and no sorrow… We pray you come to saving faith in Him today. God bless you!	11,192
This Memorial Wall is our tributes to those who have died as a result of child abuse, domestic violence, rape, religious abuse, or other types of abuse. Some of these people we knew personally, others we only heard of. Abuse is not a theoretical concept, it happens to real people, and costs lives. It's important to honor those we lost to abuse by telling their stories, so that the secret that killed them does not remain secret, and so that other lives might be saved, as a result of increased awareness. Embed: Embed a memorial on your site or blog: Copy-paste the code below to your site to display a name and a photo of someone who died through abuse on today's date; you can click on the photo to read their story. The widget is transparent, uses no javascript, and can be resized to fit your layout; proportions are 3:5. April 19th: died on April 19th, 2015 29yo Jet Airways hostes Ritu from India was watching a sitcom on TV when her drunk husband returned home with a friend and some takeout food. He wanted Ritu to serve the food and switch the channel because he wanted to watch a cricket match. Ritu refused and, during the argument, spat on her husband's face and slapped him. He started beating her up and told his friend to leave the house and not interfere in their personal matter. "As she continued to abuse my family members, I lost cool and pressed a pillow on her face to make her quiet," the husband explained. "However, a little later I realised that she was not moving and had become unconscious. I immediately called her father and after his arrival, took her to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead." Posted by Manya on March 11th, 2017 April 20th: died on April 20th, 2018 Chantille Truss of Kansas City a 45-year-old woman was shot and killed by her husband on 20th April 2018 while at her place of work. Her killer fled the scene before committing suicide. Friends and co-worker were not aware of any problems within Chantile and her husband's relationship – rather describe them as appearing to be the "perfect couple". Posted by Jane on June 29th, 2018 April 21st: died on April 21st, 2016 2yo Aaliyah from Florida, USA, died hours after her mom's boyfriend "gave her a whooping" because she had an accident on his bed. "Why? Why would you beat her like that?" Aaliyah's mom said. "She was my only child. She was my everything and I lost her...The only thing she kept (saying) ... 'Mah!' I said 'Liyah!'... 'Mah!'... She was in pain. And I couldn't do nothing about it. I tried, I tried. And she took her last breath in my arms." Posted by Manya on March 11th, 2017 April 22nd: died on April 22nd, 2014 Gabriel from Iowa was adopted at birth. His biological mom was 16 and his biological dad was 17. The adoptive parents, Heidi and Rachel McFarland, paid the teen's medical bills and legal fees, and even coached her through labor. Gabriel was born on December 28th, and the McFarlands took him home from the hospital. In most places, adoptive parents are granted custody 72 hours after the baby is born. In Iowa, birth parents have 96 hours to change their minds. Gabriel lived with McFarlands until March 13th, when his birth mom demanded him back. She was able to get him back because McFarlands' lawyer didn't file paperwork terminating her parental rights, which is the first step in any adoption. It was a clerical error, and McFarlands were scheduled to regain custody of Gabriel on March 24th. However, on March 23rd Gabriel was murdered by his biological dad while his biological mom was out of the house. Posted by Manya on March 12th, 2017 April 23rd: died on April 23rd, 2015 27yo Melissa and her 8yo son Grayden from Georgia, USA, were shot and killed at a local convenience center by Melissa's boyfriend of 12 years, Grayden's father, who then killed himself. Their relationship was abusive, but they separated a few months prior, and Melissa was staying with her grandmother. "He threatened to kill her a lot," said Melissa's sister. "He had told her so many times, she didn't take it seriously. She knew that he was crazy, but I don't think that she ever believed he would really hurt Grayden ... I expected him to kill himself, and I even thought and mentioned it to other people that he wasn't stable and would kill them all. I told my mom a couple of weeks ago that this was going to happen, but I couldn't make (Melissa) get out of that situation." Katora Printup, executive director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, "We are not to judge those in these kinds of relationships, but let them know there is help. A lot of time, they are afraid to report and we want them to know that all of our services are free and confidential. The community must try to take a stand to create violence-free homes and educating and letting them know they are not alone." Posted by Manya on March 19th, 2017 April 24th: died on April 24th, 2005 24yo Christa Ann from Louisiana, USA and her unborn child were killed by Christa's husband of four months. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and first-degree feticide for the unborn baby - but never explained why did he do it. "She was a doll, I suppose you would say," said Christa's father. "She already did a total of 17 mission trips. I told someone last night that she probably did 70 years of work in 24 years." Posted by Manya on March 19th, 2017 April 25th: died on April 25th, 2007 Surjit was a Sikh woman from UK who wanted to live a more western lifestyle. Her husband was physically abusive, and she didn't like it. She also wanted to wear western clothes and go out with her friends sometimes, and she didn't get along with her mother-in-law, who wanted Surjit's kids to call her "mum", instead of Surjit. She left her husband once, and wanted a divorce, but he beat her up, threatened to kill her, and she agreed to move back together again. In 1997 Surjit became pregnant, and her husband thought it wasn't his, that she was cheating. In 1998 the mother-in-law said, "I've spoken to a contact in India. It's all going to be taken care of. It's her own fault - she's out of control. She's bringing shame on the family. We have to get rid of her." She convinced Surjit to go with her on a trip to India, where Surjit was drugged and murdered. Her body was never found and the date of death is unknown, but the mother-in-law and the husband were convicted of murder on April 25th, 2007, almost ten years later. If you click on Surjit's name, you can read a page written by her sister-in-law, who testified against her mother-in-law, was (and still is) threatened and ostracized by her community for bringing shame on the family, and who was fearing for her own life during these 10 years of investigation. Posted by Manya on February 19th, 2016 died on April 25th, 2004 Crown Shakur was a 6-week-old baby from Georgia, USA, who died of starvation. His parents said they loved him and didn't mean to harm him. Crown was their first child, and they fed him soy milk and apple juice because breastfeeding was against their vegan beliefs. There's no problem with veganism, but babies should not be given juice for the first six months of their life, and soy milk doesn't have all the nutrients necessary for them. Parents who choose to raise their kids vegan can buy soy milk-based formula instead, which has protein, calcium, and vitamins D and B12. First-time parents who are unsure how to feed their baby can ask their pediatrician, or doctors or nurses at the hospital they delivered. When the police were investigating Crown's death, they found his bottle, which was rancid and caked with debris. The prosecutor said "No matter how many times they want to say, 'We're vegans, we're vegetarians,' that's not the issue in this case ... The child died because he was not fed. Period." Posted by Manya on February 4th, 2016 April 26th: died on April 26th, 2017 11-month-old Beta from Thailand lived with her mom, dad, and 5yo brother. Her dad was worried that her mom didn't love him anymore and might leave him soon. He took Beta to an abandoned building, filmed himself murdering her, posted the video on Facebook, and then committed suicide. Posted by Manya on June 1st, 2017 died on April 26th, 2015 3yo Zyon from Virginia, USA, was staying with his mom's friends the last three weeks of his life. They made Zyon eat crab seasoning which gave him diarrhea, and then punished him for soiling himself, using "military torture techniques" such as waterboarding, making him stand with his arms out and water bottles strapped to his wrists, making him hang from a cabinet door, etc. During waterboarding they told the 3yo that his mother didn't want him. There were three adults and multiple children in the house, and Zyon's health was quickly deteriorating, but nobody called for ambulance because they were afraid of getting in trouble. On April 26th Zyon died of dehydration. All three adults blamed each other, but were convicted and sentenced for 32, 27, and 22 years in prison. Posted by Manya on March 21st, 2017 died on April 26th, 2012 42 Mrs Perriello from New Hampshire, USA, worked for fifteen years as an elementary school teacher, and then for four more years as a high school teacher. According to her friends and family, "Natalie had two passions in her life: her family and her students. She was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students with students continuing to be in contact with her years after leaving her classroom. Natalie truly believed that all her students would be successful, not only in high school, but in their chosen paths after high school." Mrs Perriello was shot in the head six times by her husband because he suspected her of having an affair with her former student. Their four children were in the house at the time of the murder. "I know what's about to happen to me," he told the 911 operator. "The gun is jammed anyway... it's useless." Posted by Manya on March 19th, 2017 April 27th: died on April 27th, 2015 6yo Aidan from Australia suffered from diabetes. His 41yo mom and 56yo dad took him to an alternative healer who was visiting from China and was offering his services for AU$1,800 at a hotel. The services involved slapping and stretching Aidan's body to drive out toxins. "The slapping and stretching work together to clear the meridians of blocks and help the body get rid of disease," explained the self-proclaimed healer. Aidan died that night; the healer left the country, and the parents were charged with manslaughter. "We are losing the battle," said John Dwyer, a University of NSW professor of medicine about this case. "It's terribly important that alternative medicine in Australia is underpinned by credible evidence and science." Posted by Manya on March 19th, 2017 died on April 27th, 2009 Ayman Udas a recently married woman in her early 30's was allegedly shot dead by her own brothers in the conservative city of Peshawar in Pakistan after she had appeared on television. She had become a musician in the face of bitter opposition from her family, who believed it was sinful for a woman to perform on television. Posted by Jane on August 19th, 2018 April 28th: died on April 28th, 2015 52yo Mr Horstman from Missouri, USA, worked various jobs as a Heavy Equipment Operator for 35 years. He enjoyed deer and turkey hunting, fishing, riding his Harley Davidson Road King, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Mr Horstman was killed by his girlfriend; she ran him over with her SUV because he wouldn't move out of the way, and fled the scene. The autopsy showed he died of blunt force trauma to his head and chest, including 20 broken ribs and massive brain bleeding. It also showed that he had not been facing her SUV at the time he was struck, police said. The woman was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Posted by Manya on January 18th, 2018 died on April 28th, 2008 Christopher was a 4yo boy from Oklahoma who lived with his mom and mom's boyfriend. Neighbors, friends, and relatives started calling DHS two weeks after Christopher was born. They alerted DHS about poor living conditions, marks and bruises on Christopher, and the fact that he was left unsupervised on the front lawn while mom drove away to do some chores. DHS investigated the reports but found no confirmed abuse or neglect. On April 28th four-year-old Christopher soiled his pants. In response to this, his mom's boyfriend twice punched Christopher in the stomach, and whipped him with a belt. Christopher died of internal injuries. Posted by Manya on February 12th, 2016	13,281
Currently, both our submission categories are open. Find out a little more about our published anthology and our newest category, New Voices, outlined below. Submissions for our printed anthology, The Masters Review, are now open. Each year we produce a collection of stories written by students in MA, MFA, and PhD creative writing programs. Out of thousands of submissions we select ten for publication. Those ten stories will be chosen by our guest judge, AM Homes, who will select the top ten from our shortlist. This year we hope to expose progressive, diverse, and well-crafted fiction and narrative nonfiction from across the country. Submissions for this category are currently open. We only accept original works of fiction or narrative nonfiction under 7000 words, and only from writers currently enrolled in an MA, MFA, or PhD creative writing program. We do accept simultaneous and multiple submissions, but please let us know if your work has been picked up elsewhere. To familiarize yourself with the work we like to publish, copies of last year’s book are available here. Submissions can be made, through our online submissions manager, here. New Voices is our newest submission category and is open to any writer who has not published a novel-length work. This category is designed to showcase the many talented writers who are not pursuing their MFA, or who have already earned a creative-writing degree. While our printed anthology tends to focus on literary fiction, our New Voices category is open to writers of all styles and genres. We simply want to showcase new and talented work. With that said, our quality standard is very high so we ask that you only send us your best. New Voices is open all year, and will only be published online. We ask you keep submissions in this category below 5,000 words. In order to submit, please send your original work to: contact (at) mastersreview (dot) com, with a cover letter introducing yourself and your story. Subscribers receive quality lists of upcoming deadlines for lit mags and contests, free fiction, and exclusive content regarding writing, craft, and interviews from established authors. The Masters Review Volume X With Stories Selected by Diane Cook $16.99 At The Masters Review, our mission is to support emerging writers. We only accept submissions from writers who can benefit from a larger platform. Typically, writers without published novels or story collections or with low circulation. We publish fiction and nonfiction online year round and put out an annual anthology of the ten best emerging writers in the country, judged by an expert in the field. We publish articles and book reviews on the blog and hold workshops that connect emerging and established writers.	2,889
‘Congrats on your Chelsea badge’: Fans poke fun at Aston Villa’s new club crest for their ‘remake’ of the Blues’ logo and blast it as ‘AWFUL’ after supporters voted on a new design for next season Aston Villa revealed their new club crest ahead on Thursday’s game Fans were asked to vote on two designs that had been shortlisted The winner, a round design with a lion facing forwards, won with 77 per cent Fans immediately took to social media to compare it to that of Chelsea The majority of football fans had the same reaction on social media after Aston Villa revealed their new cub crest ahead of Thursday’s game against Manchester united. The new badge, which will be used, from the 2023/24 season, was the result of ‘an extensive period of fan consultation, creative exploration and crafting’. Two designs were shortlisted with supporters of the club voting overwhelmingly (77 per cent) in favour of the winner, a round crest which pays homage to their 1982 European Cup triumph. Aston Villa’s new badge (left) looks strikingly similar to Chelsea’s current club crest Now rounded, it feature’s the club’s lion in the blue center with the words ‘Aston Villa’ and the year the club was founded, 1874, in the claret rim. But the design, in which the lion which now also faces forwards instead of back, has led to many saying that it is strikingly similar to another Premier League side. Chelsea’s club crest is also made up of two circles with a lion in the middle with the club’s name at the top. ‘Congrats on your new Chelsea badge,’ wrote one fan while other joked that Villa had ‘copied their homework’. Some were more heavy in their criticism with one writing ‘Villa’s new badge is awful, another fallen soldier’.	1,812
So this tale came from a story of what my father told me of his country when it was in civil war. Also, among other things that I have seen and heard. It's different from most of the other stories that I have uploaded as this one is more intense and violent. Its a small portion of a novel and I plan to load up to three small chapters from it as I am still working on it. In his name A young boy walked on a dirt path heading up a hill. The aroma of fresh flowers filled the area around him. He looked at the right side and viewed the mountain in the distance. Smoke appeared at the top of it as clouds circled around it. The boy stopped for a moment and took out an old camera from his backpack. He adjusted the lens and took a few shots of it and smiled to himself as he placed the camera back inside the pack. He continued up the hill and noticed a cloud of dust coming from the top. As the object raced downhill, the boy recognized that it was a truck that was painted dark green with a canvas on the top of it. The boy quickly hid behind a bush and peeked through it as the vehicle drove by. He saw that it was full of soldiers and they were heading to the village. The boy jumped out of the bushes and raced back home. When he arrived home, the men had gathered everyone in the town square. Everyone was frightened of the situation, and some of the children were crying. In the middle of the crowd was a man on his knees and his head was pointing down as a man dressed in a soldier’s uniform walked around him. “Tell me where your rebel forces are, and I might let everyone live.” The man said nothing to the soldier, which irritated him that he clubbed the man on the back of the head with his gun. “Talk you piece of shit!” The man fell, and everyone pleaded not to kill him. The soldier shouted to control the people as he kicked the man in the stomach and yelled at him to speak. The man moaned and opened his eyes to see the boy, who was staring at him with a frightened face. The boy wanted to help, but the man slowly shook his head as to not move from where he was hiding. The man slowly got up and looked at the soldier. “So, are you going to tell me about your operations.” The soldier crouched next to the man. “To speak to a monster like you is useless. But your day will come when you will beg for your life.” The soldier looked at everyone and stood up as he walked behind the man and placed the gun on the back of the head and fired. The man’s body fell forward as the blood pooled around. The soldier called out to one of his men, and a woman was pulled by the arm and was tossed in front of the man. “You told me that I would find their base here. But all I see is nothing but worthless farmers.” “No, that man you killed was the brother of the leader of the rebels. And he knew about their bases and operations.” The soldier looked at the body, then at the woman. “Fuck!!!” “I… I did as you asked. If you have forced…” “You don’t tell me what to do.” “I’m sorry. I only want to help.” “And you did.” The man walked away, but the woman asked him something. “Wait, what about my reward?” The man stopped and spoke without turning around. “Do you want it now, or back at the capital?” “Now.” The man quickly turned and walked to the woman then fired at her head. He unloaded his pistol until it was empty. Then he ordered his men to kill everyone as he walked to the jeep. The boy stayed in his hiding place and closed his eyes as the screams and cries of the people echoed. After a while, it became silent, and the only sounds were of the boy crying softly.	3,590
Bill Falkner serves turkey to some guests at a traditional Thanksgiving meal in Portugal. Travis Avenue Baptist Church partnered with IMB missionaries and Portuguese churches to host the dinners. The team introduced the gospel through explaining what they were “thankful for.” (IMB photo) Topic(s): International Mission Board It was picture perfect. Phones immediately came out of pockets to document this not-so-traditional feast in Lisbon, Portugal. For most, it was their first time experiencing an American Thanksgiving outside of watching a movie. It was also the first time for some to hear what the hosts of the feast were most thankful for — Jesus’ saving grace. A volunteer mission team from Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, prepared 13 Thanksgiving meals in one week to help IMB missionaries Jonathan and Bethany Sharp and local Portuguese believers gain gospel access within their community. Cans of pumpkin and cranberry sauce stuffed in the Texans’ luggage turned into opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ and be invited back. “People in Portugal are very interested in anything that is culturally American,” Jonathan said. “An event like this becomes a cultural exchange. We share food and praise music, and they share back.” The Sharps hosted their first Thanksgiving in Portugal nine years ago when they were in language school. They used it to meet their neighbors and practice Portuguese. With each passing year, the event grew larger with teams from churches in the U.S. coming to help. It became a way to share the gospel in a non-threatening way and mentor local believers. This year, the team from Travis Avenue made it possible to take the festivities outside of their home and church, Igreja Baptista Vida Nova. They partnered with small groups and four church plants to host the cultural exchange in different locations. Europe is considered the least reached continent in the world with less than 1% evangelical Christians. Together, a praying church back in Fort Worth, their short-term missions team, IMB missionaries and local believers addressed a very real problem in Portugal — lostness. “In one week, we can get more contacts of those open to gospel conversations than we can going out every day for a year on our own,” Bethany said. The team fed close to 370 people, with more than half being unchurched people invited by their friends. “This is an opportunity to be hospitable and be [Christ’s] hands. Talking about culture and food is a great way to connect.” Randy Roberts used a historical presentation about the American holiday to teach culture and entertain. The volunteer from Travis Avenue explained his family often tells what they are most thankful for when gathered for Thanksgiving meals. Roberts shared he was thankful for Jesus and explained why by giving his testimony. Attendees sat enthralled by the stories. Bethany said one reason there was an easy bridge to the gospel was because the Portuguese instinctively understood the Texans spent a lot of hours preparing food just for them to experience an American-style Thanksgiving. The team began cooking early each day, sometimes making two feasts to send in different directions. “The responses to something as simple as a Thanksgiving meal was so exciting,” volunteer Melody Freeman said during a short break from cooking. The Texans received hugs, handshakes and a lot of “thanks yous,” but their favorite response was when they found someone open to hearing the gospel. Bill Falkner was able to share one-on-one with many people without being “in your face aggressive,” he explained. He, however, was most excited about working alongside local believers the entire week. “We’ve been able to give a shot of encouragement to fellow believers and local pastors,” Falkner said, of his team from Travis Avenue. “God is raising them up. We just came to help.” Each Portuguese church has plans to follow up with guests after the feasts. Working alongside the Texans gave them a boost in confidence. They saw they could make a spiritual impact on their community. “This is what these Thanksgiving dinners do. It allows us to meet people we’ve never met, share the gospel and have a connection to invite them to Bible discovery groups,” Bethany said. “All heard the gospel.”	4,356
We are also excited to announce that Barry Siegel received an 9.9 Avvo Rating as a Top Attorney. Avvo ratings are created based on three main components: experience, industry recognition, and professional conduct. The Siegel Law Group has been nominated as a Law Firm 500 Honoree for the past three years. This designation is awarded to the fastest growing law firms in the United States. This award is an honor for our firm to receive and a testimony to the hard work of everyone on our team. We are also excited to announce that Barry Siegel received an 9.9 Avvo Rating as a Top Attorney. Avvo ratings are created based on three main components: experience, industry recognition, and professional conduct. Join our mailing list to receive news and announcements Subscribe Siegel Law Group, P.A., located in 2499 Glades Rd Suite 104 Boca Raton, FL 33431 serves clients in Deerfield Beach, West Palm Beach and throughout the Tri-County Area of Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami-Dade County.	1,033
“Cryptozoological research should be actuated by two major forces: patience and passion.” – Bernard Heuvelmans, 1988. Board of Directors Memberships Recruiting New Members Board of Directors The President The formal announcement of the ICS and introduction of the first honorary President, Dr. Paul LeBlond, occurred on the last day of the First International Cryptozoology Conference, January 6, 2016. The work of the day-to-day functioning of the ICS and the ICM, under the overview of the ICM Board of Directors, is conducted by Loren Coleman, Director, and Jeff Meuse, Assistant Director. We are honored by Dr. LeBlond’s acceptance of the role of President, as it nicely links the legacy of the previous International Society of Cryptozoology (LeBlond was a former Director of the ISC) to the new International Cryptozoology Society. For those who are unfamiliar with Dr. LeBlond’s work, here is a brief biographical overview: Paul H. LeBlond is an ocean scientist specialized in the study of waves, tides, tsunamis and ocean currents. In parallel to his research and teaching in physical oceanography, he has also pursued an interest in marine cryptozoology, with special focus on Cadborosaurus. He was one of the founders of the International Society of Cryptozoology, and a co-founder of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club. LeBlond is an emeritus professor at the University of British Columbia, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. LeBlond is the author of technical scientific studies, a book on wave research, and two books on Cadborosaurus. Also LeBlond has translated a book from the French on Asian Wild Men.	1,776
Over the last few weeks, I have discussed stress, stressors, and some things you can do to alter brain response to stress and conflicts. For the last blog of this series, I wanted to address self-care. This has a positive or negative connotation, depending on who you ask. Too much self-care borders on being narcissistic. Too little self-care causes people to burn themselves out. The phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup,” comes to mind. However, as with most things, moderation is what we need. The two most effective self-care modalities that improve health are mediation and exercise. Meditation is the act of clearing the mind. We do this when we “step away” from a situation, pray, or relax. There are multiple ways to do this, some are complex and can be up to an hour. Others are simple and can be 10-15 min. Guided imagery exercises are all over YouTube and can be for weight loss, focus, etc. However, I want you to focus on relaxation. To do these you will need a quiet place alone for 10-15 min without interruptions. You will open YouTube and choose a meditation for relaxation. This can be done in your car, bedroom, (to escape kids, I have shut myself in my closet), back yard, etc. Nothing formal, just stop, clear the mind, and breathe. This has shown in multiple studies to help with anxiety, depression, focus issues, and mindfulness. If you are religious, once you do a couple of the above, you can do it but with prayer. The medical benefit is that it changes the way the neurons in the brain respond to stress and anxiety and this means your stress hormones do not activate to high degrees and burn out the systems of the body. You learn to react differently and are not on constant high alert. Exercise is another way to deal with stress in a healthy manner. Years ago, we realized that people who exercised were less responsive to stressors. It was discovered that the brain releases pleasure hormones or endorphins when we exercise. This in turn is a natural mood stabilizer or antidepressant, antianxiety chemical. It also helps the brain and body respond to stress differently and allows the body to not be burnt out by constant high alert of the nervous system. This does not have to be 1 hour a day 5 days a week. Let’s be honest, who has time for that. I always suggest starting with 10-15 min brisk walk before or after work. This is as brisk as will make you out of breath. Once that is easy or you find more time you can alter it. Did you know that if you do 5 min when you get to work, 5 min at lunch, and 5 min before you drive home, that is the same as a 15 min walk? Anything helps. The key is finding something you enjoy rather it is walking, running, biking, Pilates, yoga, tai chi, martial arts…. anything. Do it 3-4 times a week to start and after about 3 weeks, your body starts to crave it. The health benefits are innumerous. You will have lower heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, constipation, brain fog, insomnia…the list goes on and on. So do something for yourself to be the best you possible. Meditation or exercise or both, the choice is yours! If you need help figuring out how to lose weight or changing your eating habits, give us a call! Our Wellness Team would be happy to assist. About The Author Dottie Steinhoff is a nationally certified Physician Assistant who has been in practice for 16 years. She has practiced in multiple states. Dottie has worked in Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care, Family Medicine, Gynecology, and Female Urology and Urologic Surgery. She is passionate about patients getting excellent care and strives to treat every patient as she would want family treated. Dottie loves to teach patients to be healthy and also working with patients to meet their health goals. She has been expanding into naturopathic treatments and modalities as well. Dottie is married and has 3 children who are active. She enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, piano, and reading. She lives in beautiful Colorado just outside of the Denver area.	4,159
What is the BEST bladed jig trailer? We have a new candidate! The Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon may just be the best NEW Bladed Jig trailer on the market. This bass fishing soft plastic has it all, durability, action, hot colors, and more! Jeff from @Burly Fishing is here to share his experience with the bait and drop some tips! If you’re interested in taking your tackle selection to the next level, our team hand selects perfect tackle & gear based on where you love to fish the most. Join today and save $10 off your first box. Jeff Burlingame: What's going on, you guys? Welcome back to the MONSTERBASS Channel. I'm Jeff Burlingame with Burly Fishing. Today, I want to talk to you about one of my favorite new plastic slash trailers that I've been throwing recently. Thanks to the MONSTERBASS bag that I got in May. I think you guys are going to dig this as well, and it's definitely going to get you on some fish because I've already done that. We're going to share some of that fishing footage today. I think you guys are going to like this one. We're talking about Big Bite Baits, the Kamikaze Swimon. So all that coming up here in just a sec. Jeff Burlingame: All right you guys, before we talk about the bait, if this is your first time stopping by the channel, or for some reason you haven't subscribed yet, please consider doing so. There's so many amazing creators on this channel dropping hot tips and tricks to put you on your PB. Jeff Burlingame: Because it's our goal here at MONSTERBASS to make sure you have fun on the water and potentially catch your PB. Now, if you've got an extra second, you can pop over to my channel and also subscribe. Go check out Burly Fishing. Jeff Burlingame: We also go live every Thursday right after the MONSTERBASS live, so you can pop on over there, get two lives in one night. It's a great time. Love to see you all on my channel. Hit me up in the comments, and let me know that you popped over from MONSTERBASS. Jeff Burlingame: So let's get to it, you guys. I want to talk to you about the bait, how I rig it, how I set it up, where I fish it, how I've seen success so far, and I want to share some fishing footage with you. So we're going to save some time for that, but here we are. Jeff Burlingame: So we got the Kamikaze Swimon by Big Bite Baits. This is a swim style plastic with a claw appendage at the end. So rather than a paddle tail or even a fluke tail, we've got claws coming down here just like a little craw trailer. This thing is fantastic. The thing I like about it the most versus throwing a craw plastic on as a trailer or on your chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, or just swimming it or anything like that is that these are flat, right? So they're not going to inhibit the bait. They're not going to make the bait rise too high in the water column. It allows you more freedom in water depth and swimming. The other thing I like about this is that these have way more action than your normal craw trailers. Look at that. You've got a couple of joints here down towards the tail end going down to our ultra thin claws, which also have holes in them, which allow them to move even more freely, which is pretty rad. Jeff Burlingame: So you're getting a ton of action. You'll see in the video I should be sharing a few parts where you can see it kind of up close to the boat. These claws are kind of alternating through the water kind of like if you were kicking your feet like that, which gives you a very unique action and looks awesome. The other thing I'll credit these with is that they're actually really durable. So I've put this thing on fish. I've caught pike. I've caught bass with it, and I've been able to use the same trailer kind of the whole day. Surprisingly. Like the trailer you see me using on the chatterbait in this video is the same one all day. Did not tear, did not break off. And we're talking like aggressive hammer-handle pike. Those little guys they're full of piss and vinegar only, and they will just gnaw and chew and destroy, and they did not destroy this thing, which I was very impressed by. So the durability on these things: Awesome. A plus. Jeff Burlingame: All right, so let's talk rigging. Now, of course, you can Texas rig these. You could Neko rig it. You could shaky head it. You could throw on A Ned rig. You can do all these things, but for this time of year, what I would actually recommend is using it on your search baits, reaction baits, moving baits. So the most success that I saw in this video you'll see in just a second was this right here. The Z-Man JackHammer with these blue gill colors on it. This is an aftermarket skirt because my other skirt got chewed off by a hammer-handle pike, which we're just talking about. So we got a little aftermarket skirt here, but still those blue gill colors, some oranges, blues, green pumpkins that paired up really well with this color that you see here, which is called chick magnet. Jeff Burlingame: It's kind of like a Goby color just like the silvers and golds, and there's some purple flake in there as well. I really like that color. And this is the same one. This one is chewed on by all the fish you are about to see, and the only battle scar you're going to see is a little bit of an extra gap by the hook. That's it. Still on there perfectly snug, not moving at all. It's still going to catch more fish. I'm not taking it off. I'm going to use it later. Meanwhile, look at all the teeth that have hit this blade. This blade has been through hack. It's awesome. Look at the jighead, too. Oh, my gosh. This thing has seen better days, but it is an absolute fish catcher. I love this color and this bay JackHammers, if you haven't thrown a chatterbait like the JackHammer before you haven't thrown a chatterbait. You should do it. Jeff Burlingame: So perfect example. Great way to rig this thing. Set it up as a trailer on that. It will hammer. I love the action on it. The second option I go with is this right here. Throw it on a spinnerbait. In fact, I had it on two that I threw around for the day. And again, allows you more control in the water column. Doesn't force the bait up as you fish it. Has amazing action. Just looks really good in the water. Then we got this. This is actually perfect for this time of year. Love throwing underspins late spring. So water temperature going up. They start to key in especially post spawn on these moving baits, so you can throw something like this. This would be perfect on here. Allows it to run lower in the water column because a paddle tail... the thicker paddle tail on there, that action is driving the bait up. Jeff Burlingame: If you throw an actual craw trailer on here, it's going to push the bait up. Something like this or a fluke is going to allow the bait to ride lower in the water, which is ideal especially if you have a fluorocarbon leader versus straight braid or mono. So, I'll throw it on this Owner spin. This is just a VMC underspin. I think it's a three [inaudible 00:05:35], and this is an amazing pairing. Looks awesome in the water. Again, the Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon comes in many different colors. These are just two examples I have. It's the classic spring color. I think this one's called Flamethrower, and it'll definitely get the job done, but experiment with different colors. Find out what works for you. Jeff Burlingame: All right, so real quick, we'll talk setup, and then I want to show you how this thing did fishing for the day. So setup wise, I've got mine rigged up and what I was fishing most of that day, where I was crushing it, was this setup right here. So for the real we've got the Okuma Helios SX is a fantastic reel. This one's in a 73 to one gear ratio. I like that gear ratio for all the baits I've fished here. Really can't fish any lower gear ratio than that for chatterbaits. Typically I'd be like a 73 to one or higher gear ratio for chatterbaits because I want to get that blade moving and you need some speed on it. So a little bit of a faster gear ratio will do you well. Plenty of drag on this. I think it's 18 pounds of drag. I didn't need it. I mean thing crushed all day long on three pounders plus all day. So it did its job. Hammer-handle pike even, no problem. Jeff Burlingame: And then we've got that paired up with the brand new, hard to find unfortunately, but brand new Okuma Psycho Stick. This one right here is a seven two medium heavy. Now I say medium heavy. This one behaves almost more like a medium. The backbone of the rod is a little bit lower in the blank. And you might see on some of those catches the way this rod behaves is like a little bit of a lighter setup. If you look at the weight of the lures that you can use, it's only a quarter to three quarters of an ounce. So it's a pretty light medium heavy, but I like it. It also happens to be a very light rod. So it's very comfortable, very easy to hold and cast and use all day long. I mean, I did. This is pretty much the only rig I used all day. Jeff Burlingame: Just super fun to be throwing this stuff on this set up. Couple backup setups that I go with just to give you guys some other ideas. They're actually up on my wall here. So I like throwing the Duckett Silverado Combo with an SLX or an SLX DC. It's a pretty great combo as well. And then I've got my other favorite right here is the Abu Garcia Zata with a Bass X. Bass X by St. Croix. One of my favorite rods throw of all time. So any of those three combos I'd be going for. It also gives you a couple of different price ranges that you can play around with. As far as line goes, whenever I'm throwing like chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, I'm going like braid as the backer, and then we got a fluorocarbon leader. Fishing anything that's not complete chocolate milk, usually I'm throwing a fluorocarbon leader. Jeff Burlingame: In this case because this is kind of a lighter power rod. This has 20 pound braid. My Zata Bass X Combo has 30 pound braid. And my Duckett Silverado has 20 pound braid as well because it's also kind of a lighter combo. So look up like the appropriate braid weight for the rod and reel combo that you're throwing. Make sure that you're making the right choice. Line choice is huge. It's a huge component. I can never stress that enough. That's something I've had to learn over the years. It would benefit you to do a little bit of research on it. Trust me. And then as far as the fluorocarbon leader, I downsize that weight a little bit from the braid, so we're throwing 12 pound liter on this 20 pound braid. And that does me well. I'm not going through any rough cover in this trip that you can see. Not a lot of things that would cause abrasion. No laydowns, trees, riprap rocks, none of that. So pretty open water situation here. Just perfect for chatterbait. Just those tall weeds running right through there, and it was producing for me. Jeff Burlingame: All right. So enough tech talk, let's get out on the water and see how this thing performs. Let's go. Jeff Burlingame: On him. On him. Get in here. Nice one. Nice one. Yes. Choked it. Choked it. Oh my God, that is way down in there. Holy cow, buddy. Yes. Yeah. Yes. All right. He's got a little bit of blood. [inaudible 00:09:46] let's get back. Jeff Burlingame: Okay. You're all right, buddy. Okay. He's pissed. Jeff Burlingame: Dude. [inaudible 00:09:58]. Here you go. One bait down. Shoot. That was sick. That was so sick. All right. I hate to ditch it, but I'm going with the spinnerbait now. [inaudible 00:10:12] that thing, man. It's a bit of blood in the boat and on me. Thank you, sir. All right, so I'm going to pair it up with one of my favorite chatterbaits of all time. [inaudible 00:10:27] here. Throw this bad boy on. Here we go. Nice rig. It looks clean. Should fish. Want something for coming back in this cut. Look's we got more on. Nice. Oh, another freaking tank. Oh, my gosh. Yes. Jeff Burlingame: [inaudible 00:11:09]. Oh, my God. We got a new PB of the day. 302. Wow. Dude. Bigs all day. [inaudible 00:11:32] all freaking day. Turn off. Nice. Measure. Blanked on her because... Oh, look at that belly. Holy cow. Yo. All right. We're going to get her back here in a second. Shorter than the last one. You got a 17 and a half. All good. Let's get a good roll east. Oh, my God. Chunky baby. Chunky baby. Hell yes. Heck yeah, baby. Psycho Stick strikes again. You have it. Like I said, one of my favorite, favorite chatterbaits to throw. JackHammer in this like blue gill pattern. That Kamikaze did her in. That tail is such a perfect pairing. Oh, my God. I keep missing fish. Damn it. They're following me all the way up to the freaking... Oh, got that one. Got that one. Oh, it's huge. Oh, my gosh. What is this? Holy crap. That's a pike. That's a pike. Hang on, dude. Jeff Burlingame: Hold on. Hold your horses. Holy cow. Flip it to the [inaudible 00:12:48] in the boat. Yep, got it. We're good. Don't worry. Okay. Holy cow. I caught a pike, honey. Wow, that's news. Jeff Burlingame: It's in the boat. It's loose in the boat. Don't worry. Everything's fine. What are you using? He just caught a pike [inaudible 00:13:11]. Jeff Burlingame: What's that? What are you using? Jeff Burlingame: Chatterbait. It's been working all day. No, I've been out for a while. I've gotten quite a few. It's been fun. Fun day. Good luck. Jeff Burlingame: Thanks. Have a good one. Jeff Burlingame: So you're a part of that. Thanks for being here with me. Okay. So when you come home, you can sign the papers. Jeff Burlingame: Cool. Sounds good. And that's that. Jeff Burlingame: Oh, my gaw-lee. Holy cow. This is pike [inaudible 00:13:51]. I think I can get one. Pike out here are nuts today. Love it. Just have to do one for the road. Jeff Burlingame: Literally casting on my way out. Yeah. We got a little slime missile. Later, my dude. That was awesome. Here I am trying to leave. [inaudible 00:14:23] this whole three-foot deep flat and still got the chatterbait tied on it with that Kamikaze, of course. It's like, this feels pikey. Dude. This thing is caught... What? Almost four pike. Like two misses. Two like snaps and misses. Landed two of them. Look at it. It's absurd. It's like not even damaged. That is a hell of a trailer, my friends. And this is a pikey area, so let's get casting. Last spot before we head out. Jeff Burlingame: Got him. Oh yeah. Another freaking tank, dude. Are you joking me? Woo. There we go. Yeah, dude. Oh, my God. Freaking monster. Wow. Once again, dude. That's a freaking giant. Gorgeous freaking tank. Thank you, friend. Been fantastic. Wow. Just hammering. Jeff Burlingame: All right you guys, there you have it. So I got to say that was honestly one of the best days on the water I've had this year. Just tank after tank after tank. It was a high producing day. We had good sized fish all day long. They were fighting hard. It was so fun to get the first like major moving bite day of the year. I can't tell you how fun that day was. It was ridiculous. Hopefully you can tell by my fish catch reactions. They're always kind of like that. I will never apologize for getting super excited about catching any fish, any size ever. Hey, hopefully this video is helpful for you guys. If you're on the market for a new plastic to start throwing something, to throw as a better trailer, I think the Kamikaze Swimon is an amazing option. So definitely check it out if you haven't already. Jeff Burlingame: And then hopefully my rigging tips and watching the fishing video helped you as well to help you get on more fish. That's our goal here at MONSTERBASS. Again, if you like the video, you want to see more like this, consider subscribing to the MONSTERBASS Channel. If you'd be so kind pop over to Burly fishing and throw me a subscribe and talk to me in one of my comments. Let me know that you came over from this video. I appreciate you guys so much for watching day. I hope you have an amazing day, and we'll see you on the next video.	16,191
The Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, 7 July 2007, allows for Catholics to petition their priests to have them offer, or allow to be offered, the traditional Latin Mass. The document says: "Art. 5. 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church. 2 Celebration in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII may take place on working days; while on Sundays and feast days one such celebration may also be held. 3 For faithful and priests who request it, the pastor should also allow celebrations in this extraordinary form for special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations, e.g. pilgrimages. 4 Priests who use the Missal of Bl. John XXIII must be qualified to do so and not juridically impeded. 5 In churches that are not parish or conventual churches, it is the duty of the Rector of the church to grant the above permission. Art. 6. In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See. "Art. 7. If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei". How should one go about all this? Here are a "how-to" and some tips for you, but first, a few rules to keep in mind as you go along: Stay organized and, please, stay focused on the single issue of establishing the traditional Mass. Don't get sidetracked by polemics! Be as polite and respectful as you can possibly be Look ahead, forseeing any problems that might arise so you can plan for them and stay one step ahead of your priest in getting things done. In other words, make the job as easy for your priest as possible, removing obstacles in his way Don't forget the importance of prayer! Pray that your priest grants your request and that things go smoothly! Forming a Group and Dealing with Your Priest First, weeks beforehand, maybe even anonymously, send to your priest concise but powerful information -- without polemics! -- about the traditional Latin Mass, why it's good to offer it, how the demand for the traditional Sacraments is growing, how traditional parishes bring about vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life, etc. Outline to him the benefits of the "TLM" -- and do so without at all being negative about the Novus Ordo rite. This is extremely important! I repeat: do not be negative about the Novus Ordo rite! Include a copy of the Motu Proprio, with paragraphs 5.1, 5.2 and 7 highlighted. Whenever you engage your priest, be respectful, sweet, positive, and avoid all behaviors and attitudes associated with the stereotype of a "trad" (said stereotype, sadly, not being such without reason). Forget arguing about Trent vs. Vatican II. Nevermind whether Dignitatis Humanae conflicts with Quanta Cura. Don't mention any other parish matters. Just focus on the one thing: establishing the traditional Mass. Now, think of a name for your TLM group (in the sample flyer linked to below, I use the name "The Holy Innocents Latin Mass Society") and create a Yahoo Group (easily and intuitively done!) so that when you have your "stable group of faithful," you'll be set up and ready to easily communicate with them all via email. Be sure to police the Group for any disrespect or polemics. Show leadership in this regard and don't let anyone, because of their imprudence, ruin what you're trying to do. Now it's time to gather together a group of those like-minded parishioners who are willing to attend the traditional Latin Mass ("TLM", also known as "the Extraordinary Form," or "EF" for short). One way to begin this process is to write up a short flyer with a brief outline of what it is you're trying to accomplish in establishing a "TLM" in your parish. Do not "diss" the Novus Ordo, do not talk about Vatican II, do not get into polemics, do not be disrespectful toward your priest, your Bishop, or the Holy Father in any way. Instead, emphasize the Holy Father's will as indicated in the Motu Proprio, the needs and desires of the faithful, the beauty of the "TLM," our Catholic heritage, Tradition, and how the use of Latin helps bring people of all ethnic groups together to worship as one, in a truly "catholic" -- "universal" -- way. In other words, stress the positive! If you're not allowed to leave a stack of these in the vestibule, hand them out to folks personally, after Mass -- the better idea anyway, if one must choose and not do both, since the personal touch always makes things nicer. If you are not finding enough people at your parish, try handing out your flyer to folks at parishes nearby, who'd make the drive to your parish in order to attend the TLM. You might also want to reach out to any lapsed Catholics you know who'd be willing to make the drive. You'd be surprised at the number of Catholics who stopped attending Mass because of the wacky ways of the Novus Ordo -- and who'd be happy to return to Mass if the TLM were offered. Staple these pages together along with a pre-addressed and, if possible, pre-stamped envelope Have each of the like-minded write a letter describing why he wants the traditional Mass and how he believes it would benefit him, his family, and the parish as a whole, and have him send that letter to you. Ask each to include all potential TLM-attending members of his household as signatories to his letter. Collect (and copy!) these letters to show your priest when it is time. Include this request for a letter to be sent to you, for you to give to the priest later, in your flyer. If you are able, include a SASE (a self-addressed, stamped envelope) with the flyers you hand out so folks would be more inclined to comply. If you can't afford the postage, at least include an envelope pre-addressed to you to make things as easy as possible for your group's members. Organize yourselves, establishing leadership for all of this, and keeping a list of names and contact information (including email addresses and phone numbers) and a note that indicates the number of folks living in each household who would be attending the TLM. You will need this so all interested parties can stay in contact, get necessary things done, and keep informed. Be sure to invite each letter-writer to your Yahoo Group. Download a sample contact sheet, in .pdf format If you're having trouble coming up with enough members, you might try getting creative -- possibly hosting a little gathering at your place and inviting anyone who's interested in just learning about the TLM, preparing inspirational teaching materials and some tasty snacks for when they show up. Teach folks about why the TLM is important, how it can benefit them spiritually, how it can benefit their family life, etc. Again, if you do such a thing, stay on the positive side of things and leave the polemics behind. What you're after are warm bodies, signatures, letters, folks interested enough to support your cause. Once you've gotten 25 or so letters from committed people, write a letter to your your priest, asking if he is willing to offer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Ask nicely. Ask very nicely. And prepare to be patient and to do some work (more on that later). Include with your letter the letters written by your fellow parishioners (which you've already copied and filed away, right?) A sample letter: Hello! I'm writing to request that you offer, or allow to be offered, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in accordance with Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum (see postscript), and I ask that it be offered not only on Sundays, but also on weekdays and feast days. I've spoken with ___ other members of our parish who also wish to see the Extraordinary Form of the Mass offered here. We're all very excited about the possibility and many have written letters, too, for me to give to you (see attached). If you haven't been trained in offering the traditional Mass, the other members of our parish and I would be happy to send you to a "TLM" workshop and/or get to you training videos and materials, to get training materials for the altar servers, and to do what we need to do to form a schola. If you're not wanting to learn how to offer the Extraordinary Form but would allow another cleric to come to our parish to offer it, I would be glad to try to find a priest who would be willing visit and do just that. What do you think? Thank you so much for considering this request, Father! Yours in Christ, Your address and other contact information Download a sample letter to your priest in .pdf format Give Father at least a month to respond. Remember that priests are very busy. After a month or so, re-send your communication along with a note that shows you are giving him the benefit of the doubt (e.g., "Gosh, it's been a while since I sent you a package, and I haven't heard back, so I thought I should send it again in case it got lost!" as opposed to "Well, Father, it's been a month! What's the deal with you?"). If you still get no response, talk to him in person to try to get a "feel" for what's going on. Again, and as always, give him the benefit of the doubt and be gracious! If you get a negative answer, ask him if there is anything that worries him about establishing a TLM, or if there's an obstacle he sees that you could help eliminate. Show him that you are serious but also sympathetic toward him, understanding about the work it'd entail for him, and willing to do whatever you can to help. If his concern is about the costs of training, assure him that your group will cover the costs, including the costs of travel for workshops, and will provide all necessary materials. If it's a matter of his not wanting to learn, ask him about bringing in a visiting priest. If the latter is OK with him, then start calling around to the closest places where the TLM is offered and ask the priests there if they'd mind offering the EF in your parish (try locating such a priest via the Latin Mass Directory at Ecclesia Dei website). If he still says no or ignores your request after two months and two letters, it's time to write to your Bishop. The following sample letter is adapted from a sample letter from Una Voce: I am a member of ___Name of your Group_ of ___Name of your parish___. In keeping with the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI’s recent document Summorum Pontificum, articles 5.1, 5.2, 7 and 10, I am writing to request that you have the Mass of Blessed John XXIII offered at ___Name of your Parish___, or at a nearby parish. I have written to my pastor, __Name of Priest___, twice in the past two months, but have received no reply. [OR I have written to my pastor, ___Name of Priest___, but he has declined to provide this Mass for us.] I request that this extraordinary form of the Mass be offered on Sundays, feast days, and week days. I would also like to request that you establish a personal parish or appoint a chaplain for the extraordinary form of the Mass. I know of a priest, ___Name of Other Priest___, who has said he is willing and able to offer this form of the Mass. I realize that I have written to you 3 times in the past several years with this request, but in light of the recent motu proprio, I thought it appropriate to write again. Thank you for your consideration. Yours in Christ, Your address and other contact information Download a sample letter to your Bishop in .pdf format Send to your Bishop this letter and copies of the letters you've received from members of your group. Give your Bishop a month to respond, then try writing again. If you receive no reply or a negative reply after two months and two letters to your Bishop, the next step is to write to Ecclesia Dei, the Pontifical Commision in Rome. A sample letter, again adapted from a sample letter given at Una Voce: His Eminence William Cardinal Levada, President Palazzo della Congr. per la Dottrina della Fede I am a member of __Name of your Parish___, in the diocese of ________, in the United States of America. I am also a member of the __Name of your Group__ in the same diocese. I respectfully request your assistance in having Mass offered in my parish, or in a nearby parish, following the Missal of Blessed John XXIII. I have written repeated requests to my pastor, __Name of Priest___, and to my bishop, Most. Rev. __Name of Bishop__, but have not received a positive response from them. [OR Our pastor, __Name of Priest__, has kindly provided us with the extraordinary form of the Mass once each Sunday, but we would like to have that form of the Mass offered daily.] [OR Our Bishop, __Name of Bishop__, has kindly provided the extraordinary form of the Mass once each Sunday in another parish, but we would like to have that form of the Mass offered daily.] Would Your Excellency see fit to provide our group with a chaplain, or to establish for us a personal parish? That would greatly assist us in having not only the extraordinary form of the Mass offered daily, but also weddings, funerals and the other Sacraments regularly provided according to the earlier ritual. There is a priest in our diocese, __Name of Other Priest__, who is willing and able to be a chaplain for us. Yours in Christ, Your address and other contact information Send copies of the letters written by your group members along with your letter. When, at any point along the way, your request is granted, be prepared to purchase vestments, liturgical vessels, altar cards, training materials for your priest and for altar boys, and the materials and training your schola (choir, which should preferably be all male) will need. Look for beautiful vestments and liturgical items in parishes that are closing down, and look online -- from stores that specialize in liturgical vestments and vessels, to E-bay. Find the most beautiful and traditional items you can afford! If your priest isn't trained but is willing to be trained, there are workshops available for him to attend. Be prepared to absorb the costs of his attending, including the costs of travel, food, and lodging. Some links to help you with all the above: Workshops for your priest to learn from: contact Una Voce or the FSSP Altar cards Traditional Vestments Traditional Liturgical Vessels Success! What now? Once your TLM is established, do all you can to ensure that it is well-attended and that enough comes in through the collections plate to keep it financially viable. Advertise it. Tell others about it. Invite folks from other parishes. Make up business cards or flyers to leave in other Catholic churches, letting people know that the TLM is available in their city. Take an ad out in your diocese's newspaper or your secular newspaper. Mention it on Facebook, on Craigslist, through your Twitter account, in relevant comment sections in local online media, and other virtual places. Get a bumper sticker advertising it. Get a T-shirt advertising it. Get creative! Whatever you do, do not, not, not play Mr. Liturgical Expert and pick at your priest for messing up, for being in the beginning stages of offering the TLM, for doing something wrong sometimes or making a mistake. Do not bite the hand that feeds! Be grateful, giving, and encourage your priest onward; do not make him regret his decision to offer the TLM by making the experience difficult for him or by forming a community of ultra-picky ingrates who like to play "smarter-than-thou" with the liturgy. This, from the "Man with Black Hat" blog, needs to be read: Three priests in one East Coast diocese, who enthusiastically awaited the liberation of the Traditional Mass, couldn't wait to learn it. No sooner did they, when they were inundated by complaints from one amateur rubrician after another, about this or that or the other thing. As a result, they no longer celebrate the Traditional Mass, at least not publicly. Sheesh! Keep that story in mind and don't be one of "those guys"! And also, be a good parishioner! Attract folks to your parish by being welcoming of others at Mass. Don't pick on women who aren't wearing veils -- but do make extra veils available in the narthex. In general, be kind and don't be an ass. See this page on Mass etiquette and keep it in mind as you go. You can help newcomers to the TLM feel welcome by answering their questions, leading them to online resources, such as this site (FishEaters.com), and/or providing flyers -- with Father's permission -- that teach about "TLM" and Mass etiquette." Perhaps Father would allow you to arrange a short class on the TLM -- what it's like, what to expect, the Order of the Mass, relevant etiquette, etc. -- announce it in your parish bulletin, and teach it in your parish hall. Be sure to thank your priest! Be good to him! Write a letter of praise about him to your Bishop to counter any negative letters the Bishop might receive from the "revolutionary types" who get his attention to complain that there is a TLM available! Encourage others in your parish to also write such letters to the Bishop. And, finally, thank God for the grace of having the "most beautiful thing this side of Heaven" in your very own parish!	18,465
Posted August 9, 2017 in Companies, Daily News, News, NFA / Suppressors / Class III by Pete with 39 Comments For decades silencers have consisted of a single tube with internal baffle sections sandwiched between two endcaps, one designed to mount onto the host firearm the other designed to be the business end. However a chain of historical, technological and economical events (along with the work of some big brains) have allowed manufacturers to get creative with overall silencer design. Branded as Modular Silencers, companies have developed ways to build suppressors that can be broken down into smaller sections, creating a variable length device. One of the keys to legality of these “multi-length” silencers is that, no matter what configuration is used, the combination of the original parts can only be assembled into one device at a time. Meaning the “extra parts” remaining after assembly cannot be assembled into a second suppressor. With all of the modular models of suppressors hitting the market, the ATF is set to make a determination on the the rules/regulations surrounding these configurable cans. At the top of the list will surely be ‘spare parts’ which you probably all know by now are not allowed without paying additional NFA taxes (silencer parts = silencers). For example, a manufacturer can’t sell you extra baffles without the need for an ATF Form 4 transfer application and you having to pay $200 for each individual part. By design, modular silencers do not have spare parts; if used in a short configuration, there may be unused parts, however the same set of circumstances can be crated with a traditional silencer and removing internal baffles. Also, sure to be included in the official discussions will be the length and caliber values as noted in the registry. These measurements need to be specific and cannot (currently) include variable length ranges and multiple calibers designations. A recently expired patent filled by Heckler & Koch over twenty years ago examined the application of modular silencers. (Much thanks to Q Engineer Ethan Lessard for the technical guidance). To my knowledge, H&K never sold a modular firearm suppressor under this patent. But, with it’s expiration, numerous companies have brought configurable suppressors to market. This known silencer consists of an attachment piece that can be attached to the muzzle of a weapon, of an end piece, and, in between, of a series of rings that are successively placed in a centered manner, and that form the outer wall of the silencer, and between each of which a dividing wall featuring a firing opening is set, thus forming successive chambers. The individual rings differ from each other in terms of their length so that only one single, specific ring is associated with each longitudinal segment of the silencer. It is known from FR-8-323 574 (HUMBERT) that the structural members that constitute the individual chambers can be arranged within a common outer barrel. Overall, a silencer should always be as short as possible. This is because it increases the total length of the firearm that has been painstakingly shortened by other design means, and it furthermore adds weight to the muzzle, thus impairing the weapon’s balance. Although different weapons may have the same caliber and muzzle shapes, it is still necessary to manufacture and stock many silencers with different lengths, in order to meet all requirements. This heavy expenditure is a disadvantage. The invention’s task is to improve the initially mentioned, known silencer in such a way that it can be adapted to the particular requirements with minor effort. The invention solves this problem by means of the object of claim 1, which means an object in which the features of this class are combined with the other features, i.e., each chamber part is attached according to a modular principle directly to the adjoining chamber part, and the outer walls of the successive chamber parts form the outer wall of the silencer. The successive outer walls of the chamber parts thus form the silencer’s outer wall. The jacket tube necessary for the known silencer is thus eliminated. In the silencer according to the invention, the individual chamber parts can be connected to each other, to the attachment piece, and/or to the end piece, for instance, by resistance welding. Parts with a non-circular cross-section also can be connected to each other in this way. Major American companies with modular silencers: Joshua Prince of the Prince Law Firm and Blog recently posted the news about the upcoming ATF ruling/determination/guidance while attending the NSSF/FAIR Trade Group’s 16th Annual Firearms Import/Export Conference at a round table discussion with the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD): Second, in relation to modular silencers, FATD acknowledged that it currently has pending before it a request for determination of legality from a modular silencer manufacture. Division Chief Griffith and Branch Chief Curtis raised concern over the determination request and the issues that must be addressed, including whether modular silencer are legal, when reduced in size. In essence, the concern stems from there arguably existing additional silencer parts that are not part of the modular silencer’s configuration, when it is reduced in length. In the event that ATF would rule that modular silencers are generally lawful, it raises a plethora of other issues, including where the markings must be placed (which is interrelated to ATF’s currently pending rulemaking: ATF-29P) or whether such silencers would require either specific location markings or multiple markings. Although ATF was reluctant to state whether these determinations would be in the form of “policy determinations,” “guidance” or “formal rulings,” and stated that it could not provide an exact timeframe for these determinations, it was stated that they are overdue and should be expected in the very near future. Read more here. And, because their is a proposed rule change regarding the location of markings on silencers that could have an effect on modular devices, here’s a link to TFB’s coverage from last year. TFB Covered the announcement of Rule Proposal 29P last year: So, what is the future of modular silencers? Who knows. Would I be concerned with buying any of the current configurable cans on the market? Nope. Even if the ATF decides a rule change is required, silencers already in the hands of shooters should be grandfathered and users not required to pay additional tax. Besides, I don’t see the ATF making a dramatic ruling against modular silencers at the moment – ownership is at historic highs with more and more silencers in the hands of new shooters every year and at least some of ATF’s leadership want to see them removed from the NFA entirely. Exciting times. [Author] – Additional information added 8/12/2017 from the American Suppressor Association: ATLANTA, GA – Over the past week, multiple claims have stated that the BATFE’s Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) is in the process of issuing an industry wide determination on the legality of modular suppressors. After speaking at length to several of our contacts within ATF, ASA has concluded that these assertions stem from misinterpreted comments made by ATF officials at a recent industry conference. According to our contacts at ATF, these are the facts related to three separate areas of discussion: Modular Suppressor Design – FATD is in the process of reviewing a request from an independent industry representative regarding a single, specific modular suppressor design. The representative is seeking a determination regarding their specific product, not a blanket determination that would apply to other existing modular designs. The issue in question is whether or not the suppressor being reviewed has the ability to assemble more than one functional suppressor out of the component parts that are supplied as a single suppressor to the end-user. ATF 29P – On May 4, 2016, ATF published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in response to an eight year old request by the National Firearms Act Trade & Collectors Association (NFATCA) made in 2008. In the ANPRM, ATF sought to specify that manufacturers must mark the outer tube of suppressors, not just any externally visible part. The ASA, along with many members of the industry, submitted comments to the ATF opposing ATF 29P. We have been told by ATF that 29P is no longer being worked on by the Bureau, as many current suppressor designs without an outer tube have made the proposed rules within 29P obsolete. NFA Handbook – The NFA Division and Firearms & Explosives Industry Division are working on a long overdue update to the NFA Handbook. Within the updated handbook, new language will be included that addresses the repair or replacement of modular suppressor components. This language will be consistent with previously published guidance, which states that the serialized component of a suppressor cannot be replaced without the filing of a new Form 2 by the manufacturer, and a new Form 4 by the consumer, including the payment of applicable transfer taxes. Unmarked components of a modular suppressor may be replaced by a licensed manufacturer on a one-for-one basis, just as previously allowed in the silencer FAQ published by ATF on April 17, 2008. In summation, there are currently no widespread determinations set to be issued by ATF with regards to modular suppressors.	9,950
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When fall begins, students go on the hunt for frightening haunted houses. Sure, there are a lot of options nearby, whether it’s Haunted Hallow, Scary Acres, or Mystery Manor, but they’re always the same. Each year, my mom takes me and a few friends to Worlds of Fun for their Halloween Haunts event. Starting at the end of September, Worlds of Fun transforms into a world of terror. During the day, the theme park is still a kid-friendly environment. When eight o’clock rolls around, monsters, vicious clowns, blood thirsty vampires and creepy dolls parade through the park to get to their assigned haunted houses. Unlike some haunted attractions where there is only one actual haunted house and a lot of mini-activities, Halloween Haunts offers six different haunted houses. My favorites included London Terror, Insane Asylum, The Dollhouse and Corn Maze. In London Terror, characters were dressed in top coats and hats smeared with blood. The ladies wore classical dresses with their faces torn apart. This house caught my eye because it held the most creative costumes, capturing the essence of old time London with an eerie twist. Insane Asylum was the most terrifying walk. Crazy nurses with big needle strutted around scaring the awaiting people. This eliminated boredom while standing in line. Going through the Insane Asylum was difficult. The fog was thick, making it difficult to see some of the scare factors. After a while of walking, the monsters and crazy people began to look familiar because we had already passed them. It was scary being lost in a cloud of fog with absolutely no sense of direction. My friends and I were not the only ones to notice, one of the cast members recognized us and offered to lead us out of the house. The worker confessed to being annoyed with seeing the same people because so many have gotten lost. Going in was the easy part, but coming out was a challenge. While waiting in line I noticed two real police officers frequently walking into the exit. This was because many people got lost, and some people even had panic attacks due to the chaos Though the Dollhouse was not the scariest, it was by far the creepiest. This particular house I found highly disturbing. Dolls occupied the walls with blood covering them. Girls were dressed as life size dolls with stuffing escaping and red blood dripping from their wounds. Although the other houses made a huge impact on the scare-o-meter, the Corn Maze made my heart rate increase. The corn people were so well hidden that while walking though I was always in suspense. The monsters were covered in corn husks in order to blend into the scenery. Aside from the actual haunted houses, there were little walkthroughs you could enter. In the park, next to the Timber Wolf rollercoaster, several tents were set up. Within the tents, several clowns were ready to get up close and personal. As we entered, two clowns greet you with a creepy smile painted on their faces. The aspect that made Halloween Haunts the most convincing was the makeup and costumes. In each haunted house, the costumes suited the time period. Even when you were close to the actors, the makeup looked still very realistic. From zombies to scarecrows, the allusion was never broken. Worlds of Fun during Halloween time is by far the best. Instead of going to a nearby haunted house,go to Halloween Haunts. The houses exceeded my expectations. Along with that, the makeup was always spot on, and character was never broken. I already cannot wait to return for some more frightening fun. Featured haunted houses Recommended $260 $500 Contributed Our Goal Your donation will support the student journalists of Bellevue West Senior High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.	3,939
Human factors, human-computer interface, GUI design, and usability engineering pondered monthly by Michael Zuschlag Today I awoke with an epiphany. The information age is over. For the internet, information is no longer the product, and users are no longer the consumers. The value of something to society is indexed by the money associated with it. Given that web users expect information for free, it follows that information has no value. The really valuable work is in serving the advertisers by providing them eyeballs and personal information. I realize now that all my efforts to maximize the user experience are misguided. Users are the product and advertisers are the consumers. Effective today I now dedicate myself and this site to advertiser-centered design. As it is, I’m playing catch-up. The reason businesses pay for UX in the first place is in hope of promoting sales. We create experiences that encourage people to buy, which is what advertisement is all about. It’s time I recognize that UX is a component of advertising. Sites have long had advertisements to finance themselves. These sites pay for advertisements on other sites to drive users to their sites where they click the advertisements providing the financing for more advertising. Not a few these advertisements on the site advertise other sites also supported by advertisements. Click the right ads from site to site and surely you’ll end up back where you started. Modern advertisers know how to get others to do their advertising for them. Search engine optimization turns Google search results into advertisements. Companies like Apple turn product launches in “special events” covered by the press, aiming to change the news into advertisement. This is hardly new or limited to the web. We have long been buying hats, t-shirts, and other apparel that advertise products. We don’t wear clothes. We wear banner ads. Stores like Abercrombie and Fitch and Old Navy advertise apparel which advertises the stores. Today our entertainment isn’t just supported by advertisement. It is advertisement. Hollywood advertises movies that advertise other things through product placement. Cable networks advertise TV shows interlaced with advertisements through the use of “bugs” and “snipes.” It’s pretty clear where the web and, by extension all of Western Civilization, is heading. Soon everything will be advertisements. Just as the agricultural economy gave way to the industrial economy, which yielded to the service economy, the service economy will fall to the advertising economy, where the majority of the population is involved in advertising. Our world will be filled with advertisements that advertise more advertisements people can experience, ad infinitum. It’s a utopia where everything will be free, paid for by advertisements. The economy will be distilled to its essence: pure selling. I want a piece of that. You may have noticed a subtle change to this web site: I’ve started including advertisements. At first I wasn’t sure where or how to advertise to attract advertisers, but then I realized that, since I’m an UX expert, I must also be an advertising expert. And as an advertising expert, it would be hypocritical if I didn’t acknowledge that the most important thing for me to advertise is me. I turns out I could offer myself some very reasonable advertisement rates, which have nonetheless proven very lucrative for me. I’ve brought in thousands of dollars in revenue from myself on my first day. There’re expenditures to be counted still, of course, including a substantial advertising budget, but that is to be expected since advertisements is all I’ll be producing from now on. I’ll make profits through volume. You got a better business plan for today’s economy? This entry was posted on Friday, April 1st, 2011 at 2:44 pm and is filed under April 1st. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.	4,045
Anyone with school-age children knows the last week has been really rough. Thousands of schools around the country have shifted to remote learning, and those staying open are dealing with students and staff out sick, the burden of testing and masking and everything it takes to stay open during the midst of a pandemic. We're going to spend the next several minutes now talking about how this moment and the last two years of disruption have affected the mental health and development of children. NPR health correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee and NPR education correspondent Anya Kamenetz are here with us to talk us through all of this. Hey to both of you. CHANG: Hey, Anya. So I want to start with you. Can you just walk us through what we know at this point about how kids have been learning? KAMENETZ: Yeah. So on the school side, you know, all the data we have says that children didn't learn as much when they were home. The impacts have been very unequal, both by race and by class - also want to call out students with disabilities, that they've been quite severely affected. And some of the longest-lasting impacts may actually be in high school students - those who went into the workforce and may never return to their education. CHANG: Wow. Well, Rhitu, turning to you - how would you say kids have been doing emotionally the last two years? CHATTERJEE: So the bottom line, Ailsa, is that kids are struggling. Not every kid, but the number of kids with mental health symptoms has increased since the pandemic started, and it's just gotten worse with time. So CDC data shows that even early on in the pandemic, when people were afraid to go to a hospital for fear of catching COVID, hospital ERs began to see a proportionately larger number of kids coming to their emergency rooms for mental health needs. And the situation has continued to worsen. Child psychologists, psychiatrists, children's hospitals, even pediatricians - they're all seeing this. I spoke with the president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Sandy Chung. She and her colleagues did a survey of pediatricians in Virginia, where she's located, about their experiences with this, and here's what she said. SANDY CHUNG: Eighty-eight percent of our pediatricians reported seeing an increase over the last few months - really since the beginning of the pandemic - of the number of children with mental health issues. It's been quite dramatic. CHATTERJEE: And the kinds of symptoms they're seeing sort of span a range - more depression, anxiety, more kids and more younger kids struggling with serious suicidal ideation and attempts, kids with aggression, oppositional behaviors and also a rise in eating disorders. CHANG: And, Rhitu, I mean, what is different about this point in the pandemic that is especially having an effect on children's mental health? CHATTERJEE: Well, the main thing is, Ailsa, we're two years into this pandemic - right?... CHATTERJEE: ...Or almost two years, and there's still a lot of uncertainty, stress, instability. And kids have been struggling since the beginning of the pandemic. Some kids who had mental health diagnoses before the pandemic, who weren't able to get care, worsened. Then there are kids who developed symptoms for the first time, who also weren't able to get care in a timely manner, and, over time, have just worsened and we know - and then you take into account that more than 175,000 children have lost a parent or primary caregiver to COVID-19. And we're still seeing deaths go up. And so we're talking about a huge number of children with major childhood traumas. And I spoke with Dr. Vera Feuer, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Cohen's Children's Medical Center in Long Island, and here's something else she said. VERA FEUER: Another basic cornerstone of childhood development is what do they see around them, and how are the adults behaving? CHATTERJEE: And we know that adults are struggling as well, right? And so it's no surprise that kids are too. CHANG: Absolutely. Well, Anya, what are you hearing from educators as to what they're seeing? KAMENETZ: So, you know, I just want to make this personal for a second. My daughter, who's a kindergartner, she has no memories of life before coronavirus or going to any schools without masks. KAMENETZ: And so this has really gone on a long time. And some anecdotes from around the country - we're seeing children that have regressed, so a fifth grader playing alone with a doll at recess instead of with their peers; a high school student cutting class and hiding in the bathroom because they don't know how to be in class. They've had social anxiety. There's reports of more physical fights. And I spoke to Kennita Ballard, who teaches sixth grade in Jefferson County, Ky. KENNITA BALLARD: We have students who are stressed. We have teachers who are stressed. We have families who are stressed. On top of that, we have behaviors that are spiraling out of that stress that's manifesting like trauma. KAMENETZ: So, generally, instead of this school year being a dedicated year of recovery as we'd hoped, schools have stayed in crisis mode almost continuously and including in this current surge. CHANG: Well, what we've been talking about mostly is what people are seeing in the immediate. But, Rhitu, what are you hearing about whether this will have a long-term impact on kids? CHATTERJEE: Yeah. That's a question I've been asking a lot of child and adolescent psychiatrists, and they say that we don't know because it's still happening. But what long-term research - years of research, actually, into childhood traumas - tells us is that the death of a parent, food insecurity, addiction, violence in the home - these kinds of traumas in childhood increase the risk of long-term physical and mental health problems. Now, I should clarify that not every child has suffered or suffered to the same extent. For example, kids in communities of color have been affected disproportionately... CHANG: Right. CHATTERJEE: ...Just because of the disproportionate impact on their communities. But as Dr. Sandy Chung tells me, the whole situation - it's not one that she considers completely hopeless. CHUNG: The good news is that children are resilient and that with, you know, everyone coming together and focusing on working to improve this and to provide those supports now, I think there is hope. CHATTERJEE: And I think that's something that everybody is realizing and, you know, trying to address. And the other good thing that's come out of the pandemic is that this mental health crisis in kids has gained more recognition nationally. You might remember the surgeon general's advisory on youth mental health that he put out last month. And there have been some federal dollars invested in addressing access to mental health care. There's still a lot to be done, but a psychiatrist I've spoken to say it's a really good start. CHANG: Hmm. Well, how about that, Anya? Is there anything else that we have learned from this pandemic that can be applied in years to come well after this pandemic's over? KAMENETZ: So I really share Rhitu's optimism or the idea that the new focus on these issues may bring good changes. As an education reporter, as a mother, I know the essential services that schools provide, not only socially, educationally - sometimes food and heat. And so more and more of the country now is noticing all of this and all the things that schools do. And so the question now is, is our country willing to do what it takes to make sure that schools stay open even if that means maybe closing other things and giving schools what they need to stay open safely? Thanks to both of you. Rhitu Chatterjee is a health correspondent with NPR, with a focus on mental health. In addition to writing about the latest developments in psychology and psychiatry, she reports on the prevalence of different mental illnesses and new developments in treatments. See stories by Rhitu Chatterjee Anya Kamenetz is an education correspondent at NPR. She joined NPR in 2014, working as part of a new initiative to coordinate on-air and online coverage of learning. Since then the NPR Ed team has won a 2017 Edward R. Murrow Award for Innovation, and a 2015 National Award for Education Reporting for the multimedia national collaboration, the Grad Rates project.	8,681
Vegetarian fast-food sounds like an impossibility, but Amanda Walker Koronczyk, co-founder of Lord of the Fries, made it a reality for thousands of fry-fiends around Australia. As a judge at our 3 Day Startup pitch night, Amanda is paying it forward and sharing her insights with the next generation of entrepreneurs-in-the-making. We sat down with Amanda to talk some more about inspiration, mentors on her journey and of course, fast food. Born and raised in Canada, Amanda started her professional career as a teacher in her home city of Toronto. During a stint in Taiwan teaching English as a second language, she met her future husband, Mark Koroncyk. Along their travels, they developed a strong bond over their love of good food made with care and respect. Driven by a passion for the humble fry, Amanda and her husband turned business partner, set about to give the people what they want – good quality, vegetarian fast food. It all started in 2004 as a mobile chip van dubbed Lord of the Fries and from there the growth was swift. From touring festivals to popping up across Victoria to validate their idea in different parts of the state, it was clear that there was a big demand for this veggie-based venture. By 2005, Lord of the Fries had set up shop in Melbourne and now there are over 10 franchised stores across Australia and New Zealand. Navigating this exponential expansion is no mean feat. Amanda’s journey has been all about understanding the capacity of her idea and listening to the demands. One of the most important things that Amanda notes about her experience is the value of a support network, and in the absence of mentors in her field of hospitality, understanding the importance of those around you. “In terms of mentors I have found it challenging to get much help from people in similar roles in the industry, whether they are startups or long established in the retail food business.” Amanda sought guidance in less formal ways of mentorship, and has shared who her top three supporters have been along the way and their best pieces of advice. Mentoring by heart “I draw my inspiration from my husband, who is also my business partner. The way in which he mentors me are many, but a few points come to mind. He shows me that work is fun and playful, that it can be integrated into life, and that if I don’t love it I shouldn’t do it. Find someone else who loves the “thing” and let them do it.” Mentoring by passion “My parents have served as mentors for me when it comes to life, relationships and business. They are both entrepreneurs and have paved the way for my understanding of work as being an extension of one’s passion. My mother says it’s all fairly easy, first you take care of yourself, then take care of your relationship with your husband and family, and the business will extend from there.” Mentoring by soul “My third most recent mentor is my current meditation teacher, Laura Poole. She draws on the wisdom of the Hindu Vedic tradition and reminds me that “we are all one” which really helps when writing policies, training staff and producing new coaching and discipline for team members and engaging in all activities, work related or not.” From a passion for food and an ingenious idea, Amanda is on the way to building a fast food empire that is showing no signs of slowing down. Her story goes to show that if you love what you do, stick to a strong philosophy and work hard at it, good things will come. Article written by Lucy Miller. – Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship is a leading centre for entrepreneurial education. We deliver programs to accelerate learning, creation and connection. Back to News 24th October 2022 Making mistakes and staying humble, lessons from Leigh Jasper 5th October 2022 Embedding entrepreneurial culture in schools 24th September 2022 To SAFE or not to SAFE? What you need to know about simple agreements for future equity Sign up to receive updates Entrepreneur-related program updates, insights and events Investor-related program updates, insights and events Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship The University of Melbourne is the registered provider of the Master of Entrepreneurship CRICOS provider code: 00116K \| Privacy Policy Ormond College acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. The Wurundjeri People are the people of the wurun, the river white gum, who have been custodians of this land for thousands of years. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders – past, present, and emerging.	4,775
[NOTE: I uploaded this blog post during the afternoon on October 10 but backdated the published date to September 29, the date of the day’s activities detailed in this post.] Bob, Jim, Sandy and I departed our Flight of Fantasy beach house at 7:00 am, en route Ocracoke Island. A little past Duck, two deer walked across N.C. Route 12. The deer are small here and darker in color than they are in Pennsylvania. We hopped onto U.S. Route 158 at Southern Shores. We made two stops: one for fuel and the other for breakfast at McDonalds before leaving U.S. Route 158 and hopping back onto N.C. Route 12 to Cape Hatteras. We began our drive down this part of N.C. Route 12 at 8:03 am. We arrived at the Herbert C Bonner Bridge around 8:10 am. One lane was closed due to bridge construction, but we were held up only a short time for the closure. Along N.C. Route 12 we encountered standing water in front of sand dunes and excavators moving sand. There was standing water and sand on the road, as we were driving through Rodanthe. There was standing water on the road in Avon. There was a lot of standing water at Hatteras Village shortly before the ferry terminal. We arrived at the Hatteras ferry terminal at 9:20 am. We are in line to board the ferry from Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island. Sandy and I went to the bathroom and ran back to our car, as it was moving toward the boat! We boarded the 9:30 ferry at 9:29 am. There are only five vehicles on our crossing. Our ferry boat was not crowded. We have ridden this ferry at least two times before. This is the least number of vehicles we have seen on a crossing. The ferry has always been full! By the way we planned for a 10:00 am crossing. Being able to catch the 9:30 am crossing was a bonus! The crossing wasn’t as smooth, as I remember. We were a bit more buoyant, with waves rocking us up and down. We were fortunate to catch a 9:30 crossing, as there was no 9:30 crossing on the N.C. DOT schedule that I looked at. A crew member told me they were on the fall schedule, which was not provided on the website. Jim looks like he is enjoying the ferry crossing. We arrived on Ocracoke Island an hour later. There was some sand on the road between the terminal and the town of Ocracoke. It is a 13-mile drive from the ferry terminal to the town of Ocracoke. At approximately the halfway point between the ferry terminal and the town of Ocracoke we stopped to see the fenced-in Ocracoke ponies and the beach across the road. The ponies were at the barn, behind wooden railing. We took a walk on the boardwalk trail to another observation area, hoping to see ponies grazing in the open field. Sandy on boardwalk trail to look for ponies. There were no ponies in the open field. We did encounter several spider webs and a bird, while on the trail. The bird sang a lovely song for us. At the beach, located across the street from the pony enclosure, we enjoyed watching the shorebirds and found some pretty seashells. Jim and Sandy leaving the beach, walking back to our car. Sandy has seashells in her hands. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the seashells that Bob and I collected. We gave the seashells to our granddaughters, upon our return home from vacation. A main form of transportation in the town of Ocracoke appears to be golf carts and bicycles. Both transportation methods were seen throughout the town. While in the town of Ocracoke we visited the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse and the David Williams House Museum. The Ocracoke Island Lighthouse is North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse still in operation. The water under the boardwalk leading to the lighthouse was quite high. While at the lighthouse we were greeted by a friendly cat. the lighthouse cat All four of us took turns petting the lighthouse cat. The lighthouse parking lot was somewhat flooded. Leaving the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, we drove around Silver Lake to the Ocracoke Island Visitor Center and the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, as seen across Silver Lake The Ocracoke Preservation Society is located in the restored David Williams House. This was the first time Bob and I visited the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Admission was free; donations readily accepted. Inside is a museum that consists of permanent and changing exhibits depicting island life from days gone by, as well as a gift shop. Before leaving the town of Ocracoke, we ate lunch at Jason’s Restaurant. We pulled into Jason’s Restaurant at 12:30 pm. Bob and I ate at Jason’s the last time we visited Ocracoke Island. We once again enjoyed great tasting food and excellent service. We departed Jason’s Restaurant at 1:20 pm, en route the Ocracoke ferry terminal. I telephoned ahead of time to determine the fall schedule crossing times. The next ferry would be leaving at 1:30 pm, followed by a 2:00 pm crossing. We are in line waiting to board the ferry to Hatteras Island. Hurricane Maria caused some road damage at the Ocracoke Island Ferry Terminal. We caught the 2:00 pm ferry to Hatteras. There were many more vehicles on this crossing than the one from Hatteras. We arrived on Hatteras Island at 2:55 pm. On our way to the Ocracoke ferry terminal I learned that Denise and Nic and Nancy and Donnie had also come to Ocracoke Island. They were eating lunch about the same time as us, across the street at Howard’s Pub. Denise said that she texted me to ask if we were still on Ocracoke Island. I never received that text, while on the island. I learned the next day that the sending of Denise’s message had failed. Internet service is a bit sketchy on Ocracoke Island. On our way back to Corolla, we stopped at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The Circle of the Stones used to sit in the exact spot where the lighthouse stood for more than a century before it was moved to its present location. The stones, each weighing 3,000 pounds or more, are engraved with the names of the 83 keepers of the lighthouse since it was originally built at Cape Point in 1803. The stones are arranged in a semi-circle to form an outdoor theater called Keeper of the Light Amphitheater. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has not always resided in its present location. In 1999, because of the threat of shoreline erosion, the lighthouse was relocated 2,900 feet from the spot on which it had stood since 1870. In September 2012 when Bob and I visited the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, we drove over to the original location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Original lighthouse location (September 2012) In September 2012 the Circle of Stones marked the location of the original lighthouse, before it was moved. Those stones now form an outdoor theater called Keeper of the Light Amphitheater. I shared a picture of the amphitheater earlier in this post. This article explains why the Circle of Stones was moved. This year we once again drove over to the original location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. But for the informative sign in front of the beach area, we would not have known the location of the lighthouse before it was moved to its present site. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on the beach near where the original lighthouse was located. Continuing our drive North, we planned to stop at the Inn at Rodanthe. The entrance road was flooded, so Jim took a picture of the house made famous by the movie “Nights at Rodanthe” from the passenger seat when Bob pulled on the berm of N.C. Route 12. We planned an ice cream stop at Dairy Queen, while on Hatteras Island. The two Dairy Queens that we passed, though, were closed. We stopped at Dairy Queen in Kill Devil Hills, having our dessert before dinner. We returned to our beach house around 6:30 pm. Tonight’s dinner was hamburgers, baked beans, cole slaw and potato salad. For dessert we had cake and ice cream, in celebration of Brenda’s birthday. We sang happy birthday to Brenda, and she blew out her candles. Video courtesy of Bob. If you are not able to view the embedded video, please click here for the direct link. [NOTE: I uploaded this blog post during the afternoon on October 8 but backdated the published date to September 28, the date of the day’s activities detailed in this post.] I appreciate the force of nature. The past two days we have experienced consistent strong winds and angry seas. Today, as I watched the sun rise while sitting on the beach, the wind was calm and the waves seemed almost normal. I haven’t seen one yet, but I heard that the pelicans are back. The wind is calm, and the waves seem almost normal. If you are not able to view the embedded video, please click here for the direct link. Bob took this picture of me sitting on the sand, capturing today’s sunrise. The sun has risen! What a fine day for sightseeing! We were en route Bodie Island shortly after 9:00 am, arriving there around 10:00 am. For the next 45 minutes we admired the lighthouse from various vantage points. A boardwalk that leads to an overlook of the wetlands offers very nice views of the lighthouse. Sandy is walking on the boardwalk toward the wetlands overlook. Sandy and Jim on the wetlands overlook Bodie Island Lighthouse, as seen from the wetlands overlook Before leaving Bodie Island I heard a National Park Service employee say that the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry would begin crossings again at 1:00 pm today. This information was good to know, as we are planning a trip to Ocracoke tomorrow. From Bodie Island we attempted to drive to Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, but the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge was closed until 1:00 pm to allow for time to remove sand and water from the roadway on Hatteras Island. We made a U-turn at the bridge and drove to the Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills. After paying the admission fee of $7.00 each, we found parking in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center for the Wright Brothers National Memorial is closed for a renovation project. The visitor center has been closed since November 2016 and expected to reopen in late summer/fall of 2018. A temporary facility near the parking lot has an information desk where you can speak to a National Park Service employee, five small poster-style exhibit panels to learn more about the Wright brothers’ story, and a bookstore. During our visit we walked to the First Flight Boulder and Flight Line which mark the location where the Wrights first flew, peeked into the reconstructed Wright brothers’ camp building and hangar, walked to the top of Big Kill Devil Hill to the base of the Wright Memorial, and saw the 1903 Bronze Sculpture of the First Flight featuring a life size model of the 1903 Wright Flyer. The numbered markers mark the landing spots of the Wright Brothers’ first four flights on December 17, 1903. The boulder marks the spot from which the Wright Brothers’ first flight was made. The picture displayed above shows the flight path as well. Sandy and the First Flight Boulder Wright brothers’ camp building and hangar Sandy stayed inside the car, while Bob, Jim and I hiked to the top of Big Kill Devil Hill. The view from the top of Big Kill Devil Hill was spectacular! Jim is photographing the view from the top of Big Kill Devil Hill. We could see all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. 1903 Bronze Sculpture of the First Flight (Wright Memorial in the background) This sign provides information about the first flight witnesses. I read the sign, but was more interested in recreating the scene shown on the sign. As I positioned myself to take a picture, other tourists began walking up to the bronze sculptures for a closer look. Getting the picture I wanted meant waiting until those people departed the grounds. Jim, Bob and Sandy found the only shady spot to wait for me, while I waited to take my picture. I like to think that I am a patient person. My patience was just about running out, when the grounds were vacated. I had to quickly compose my picture, as I noticed more tourists arriving. My recreation of the photograph of the first flight witnesses We were glad that it was possible to drive to the base of Big Kill Devil Hill, as well as to the Sculpture of the First Flight. The three points of interest were spaced far apart! Prior to leaving on vacation, Jim learned that a friend (another member of the Vulcan Riders and Owners Club of which Jim and Bob are members) would be vacationing in the Outer Banks at the same time as the four of us. “Rabbi” and his wife Vonna were vacationing in Salvo on Hatteras Island, until they were evacuated earlier in the week. We didn’t think we would be able to meet up with Rabbi and Vonna because they had gone home to Virginia. Jim received a message (today I believe) from Rabbi that they were back in the Outer Banks and staying in Kitty Hawk. Jim and Rabbi made plans for the six of us to meet for lunch at 1:00 pm at Mama Kwans Tiki Bar & Grill in Kill Devil Hills. The first thing I noticed at Mama Kwans was the old van covered with stickers. I took a picture of Rabbi, Vonna, Jim and Sandy beside that van, after we had eaten lunch. Sandy, Jim, Rabbi and Vonna at Mama Kwans Rabbi attended at least one VROC motorcycle rally that Bob and I attended. That rally was the Wolfman Wandering Rally #3 held in Richmond, Kentucky in June 2009. Rabbi doesn’t recall meeting Bob or me at that rally; we don’t recall meeting him either. Rabbi is planning to attend the 20th anniversary of the Southeast Vulcan Riders and Owners Club (SEVROC) rally in May next year. Bob and I plan to attend that rally as well. So, we will meet again…. After lunch we returned to Flights of Fantasy (our vacation beach house), returning there around 3:00 pm. Much of rest of the afternoon and evening was spent relaxing in (or sitting on a deck of) the beach house. Sandy and I did go for a short walk to beach access 7, a boardwalk that leads to the beach. Sandy at the Beach Access 7 Boardwalk The view from the end of Beach Access 7 The green house is our beach house. Sandy at the end of Beach Access 7 The green house is our beach house. Sandy and I returned back to our beach house just in time to see the sun set. I photographed Brenda photographing the setting sun. Tonight’s dinner was leftovers. I retired to our bedroom around 8:30 pm, as many of my fellow vacationers were sitting down to watch the football game—Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers. For Jim’s account of the day, please click here. 8 Comments September 28, 2017 [NOTE: I uploaded this blog post late afternoon on October 6 but backdated the published date to September 27, the date of the day’s activities detailed in this post.] Bob and I slept in this morning, not getting up until 7:15 am. I came downstairs in my pajamas, made a cup of tea and sat in the living room with Bob, Maggie, Sam and Shawn, Denise, Terry, and Nancy. We chatted about a wide variety of subjects to include shopping for clothes, other hurricanes/tornadoes that we have been present for, photography, Apple phones and Apple TV, travel, musical instruments, and the number of computers, phones, tablets, and Kindles that we each have. Each household has lots of devices! Today’s breakfast included biscuits, sausage gravy, strawberries, and eggs. Maria was a Category 1 hurricane as it moved northward in the Atlantic, but it weakened to a tropical storm on Tuesday. I heard that some parts of the Outer Banks were reporting power outages (we didn’t lose our power here in Corolla). According to The Weather Channel, Hurricane Maria had strengthened overnight and had regained its Category 1 status. Maria is still moving away from us, so that is good. There is a tropical storm warning still in effect. It is still quite windy; the ocean is still rough. While contemplating whether or not it would be sensible to go on a sightseeing venture, given today’s weather, I snapped some pictures inside our beach house. I introduced him a couple blog posts ago. Wrigley is Eric’s English bulldog. Sandy captured a couple pictures on my camera of me, playing with Wrigley. Wrigley wanted his belly rubbed. This is Maggie. She just came inside from looking at the ocean waves. Denise and Nic on our sand dune stairs, looking out to sea Deciding to brave the storm Jim, Sandy, Bob and I left in our car at 11:30 am en route Manteo. Arriving in Manteo an hour later, we found parking at the Roanoke Island Festival Park. We walked across the Cora Mae Daniels Basnight Bridge and along the waterside boardwalk to the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. The wind was blowing so hard, while we were walking along the boardwalk, had I had wings I could fly. Sandy and I extended our arms and pretended to fly. If you are not able to view the embedded video, please click here for direct link. Our flying didn’t last long. I flew into a park bench and crashed to the ground. Other than a scratch on my elbow, I wasn’t hurt. This small lighthouse jets out 40 yards into the Roanoke Sound. We were under a tropical storm warning, so I believe that is what the flag on top is signaling. At the base of the weather tower is a sign indicating a high water mark. The water would have almost covered Sandy’s head. Look out Jim! Sandy appears enamored by this handsome pirate. Before leaving Manteo, Sandy and I decided that we wanted our pictures taken sitting in a huge Adirondack chair. It wasn’t difficult climbing into the chair; getting out of the chair was a different story! If you are not able to view the embedded video, please click here for a direct link. Jim helped Sandy out of the chair; Bob helped me. We ate lunch at Big Al’s Soda Fountain & Grill. According to its website, Big Al’s was born after the original owner visited the Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta. Big Al’s is a fun 50’s theme restaurant, complete with music and memorabilia. We enjoyed looking at the Coca-Cola memorabilia. The food, ice cream shakes and Sandy’s root beer float were enjoyable as well. After lunch, at 2:30 pm, we drove to Jeanette’s Pier in Nags Head. What an experience we had at Jeanette’s Pier. As we walked toward the pier, blowing sand hit us hard. We ended up with sand in our hair, in our mouth, in our ears and in our nose. On the pier big, big waves were crashing into the pier and there was a consistent very strong wind. It took some work to stand upright and walk! This is the only pelican that I photographed, while on vacation. Big, big waves crashed into the pier many, many times. Here is a video of one of the waves crashing into the pier. If you are not able to view the embedded video, please click here for the direct link to the video. From Jeanette’s Pier we returned to Flights of Fantasy (our vacation beach house), arriving there around 4:30 pm. Before the evening meal Sandy, Denise and I enjoyed time in the hot tub. When we came in, dinner was almost ready. It is Mexican night. Food selections include Spanish Rice, Chicken Enchiladas, make-your-own fajitas, and tortilla chips. I went to bed shortly before 10:00 pm, lulled to sleep by the sound of game playing in the dining room underneath our bedroom. Jim’s account of the day may be found by clicking here. 3 Comments September 27, 2017 [NOTE: I uploaded this blog post on the evening of October 5 but backdated the published date to September 26, the date of the day’s activities detailed in this post.] Today is our 19th wedding anniversary. I am sure that we will remember our 19th wedding anniversary as the year Hurricane Maria brushed the North Carolina coast, as it moved past the Outer Banks. We are having a wonderful time together and with friends. We awakened shortly before 6:00 am. As he did yesterday, Bob made me a cup of tea and brought it up to our room. The original plan for today was to take the ferry to Ocracoke Island. That plan was scrapped, when Ocracoke and Hatteras were evacuated yesterday. We thought the new plan for the day would be to stay put. After breakfast (yogurt and a hard boiled egg for me), Jim and I walked out the boardwalk to the sand dune stairs. The ocean is angry. The wind is stronger than yesterday: the surf is breaking much closer to the base of the sand dunes. The conditions are supposed to worsen. Late morning there is a break in the weather….no rain, partly cloudy and sunshine. The wind seemed to die down some too. Bob, Jim, Sandy and I decided to “hit while the iron was hot” and do some sightseeing. We drove to the northern reaches of the Outer Banks to Historic Corolla. Historic Corolla is home to Corolla Park the centerpiece of which is the Whalehead Club, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, as well as several other historic structures dating back to 1885. Our first stop was at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. Admission to the lighthouse grounds and parking are free. There was a $10.00 admission fee to climb the 220 steps to the top of the lighthouse. The four of us opted not to climb to the top of the lighthouse. Bob and I made that climb in May 2007. I told Jim and Sandy that I would post a picture of the view from the top of the lighthouse, when I published a blog post of the day’s activities. and the Whalehead Club in Historic Corolla Park is grand. (May 2007) From the lighthouse we walked north along Corolla Village Road. The Corolla Schoolhouse is an operational elementary school. It is North Carolina’s smallest public school, with over 30 students and two classrooms. School was in session at the time we visited Corolla Village. Our last stop in Corolla Village was at the Corolla Chapel. The inter-denominational chapel was built in 1885. Since then the chapel has been moved from its original location across the street to its present location. It was expanded to accommodate the increase in attendance. As we approached the front door of the chapel, a man (the pastor?) asked if we would like to see inside. He had a key and invited us inside the chapel. The stained glass window was designed and commissioned by Pastor John Strauss to honor his late wife, Ruth Strauss, who played a pivotal role in the development of the chapel in the late 1980s. Note the pelican depicted on the stained glass window? We saw fellow vacationers Eric and Alexis, while walking through Corolla Village. Not expecting to see anyone whom we knew, I didn’t think to take a picture of the two of them! After strolling through Corolla Village, we followed a boardwalk trail through wetlands to Currituck Sound. At the end of the boardwalk is a large observation platform looking out at the Currituck Sound. See the young couple in the background? The young couple have been married for 2 years. Where did they get engaged? Here, on Currituck Sound, with the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in the background. The young couple asked me to take their picture in this direction. I happily did, as requested, with their cellular phone. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse served as a backdrop for the picture. Returning to the parking lot, we decided to drive the short distance to the Historic Corolla Park. Ten years ago, on May 12th, Bob and I attended the wedding of our friend Denise’s daughter, Stephanie, and Jeff in this park. In 2007 the park was known as the Currituck Heritage Park. The vacation beach house that we are staying in this week was the same beach house at which we stayed 10 years ago. We took a short walk around Historic Corolla Park, noting points of interest. Sandy and Jim are on the park’s historic footbridge. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is visible throughout the park. Stephanie walked over this footbridge on her wedding day. The centerpiece of the park is the Whalehead Club. In 2007 Stephanie and Jeff’s wedding reception was held in a tent in front of the Whalehead Club. Boathouse with Currituck Beach Lighthouse in the background Stephanie and Jeff exchanged their wedding vows on park ground in front of this boathouse. The Historic Corolla Park contains several Live Oak trees. Sandy posed in front of one of the Live Oaks to show the size of the tree. We were headed back to Flight of Fantasy (our beach house) by 1:00 pm. We ate lunch at the beach house. I had a ham, roast beef, turkey and cheese sandwich. I had a slice of chocolate bundt cake too. Jasper, Eric’s friend, arrived at 1:30 pm. He arrived, as Eric and Alexis were putting together a puzzle. Jasper (in the middle) worked with Eric and Alexis on the puzzle. Jim, Sandy, Bob and I walked out the boardwalk to the sand dune stairs early this afternoon. Hurricane Maria is bringing intense and consistent wind to the Outer Banks. The surf is touching the base of the sand dunes up and down the coast. If not able to view the embedded video, please click here for the direct link. The surf has reached at least that far. There is not much beach left! The storm is expected to intensify this evening. Work continues on the United States of America puzzle. Denise, Nic, Sandy and Brenda work on the puzzle. Six hours after the puzzle was started Denise, Brenda, Nic, Sam, Nancy, Sandy and Jim work on the puzzle that is nearing completion. Tonight’s dinner was prepared by Jasper (who is a chef), Eric and Alexis. We began with an appetizer that included shrimp (Vuelve a La Vida) that was scooped up with crackers or tortilla chips. Our main course was steak, ribs, chicken, sweet potato salad (yummy), and mixed vegetables (zucchini and summer squash). For dessert I had a slice of lemon bundt cake. Eric and Jasper BBQ After dinner some of us played Tenzi. Everyone gets ten dice. Someone says “Go.” Then everyone rolls and rolls as fast as they can until someone gets all their dice of the same number. That is only one rule; there are others. I joined in and played several rounds of this game. What a fun party game! Bob and I went to bed shortly before 11:00 pm to the sound of people playing Tenzi, rain hitting the windows and the wind howling. For Jim’s account of the day, please click here. 8 Comments September 26, 2017 Our Outer Banks Vacation – Relaxing at the Beach House As it turned out, I didn’t go to bed last night until 12:30 am. I stayed up and edited pictures. Bob awakened me at 6:00 am this morning, bringing me a cup of tea. I watched the sun rise at 6:54 am from our third floor balcony. The weather has been on my mind today. Hurricane Maria is approaching the Outer Banks. Maria is not expected to brush the Outer Banks coast, bringing tropical force winds and flooding here. I obtained the following information from a news article from WAVY-TV. “Mandatory evacuations, closures and tropical storm advisories are being issued in the Outer Banks as the region braces for impact from Hurricane Maria. More than 200 visitors left Hyde County’s Ocracoke Island amid a mandatory evacuation order imposed early [this morning] on that fragile barrier island jutting into the Atlantic. Authorities warn that high winds and flooding are possible threats as Maria passes well offshore. Neighboring Dare County also ordered an evacuation of visitors from neighboring Hatteras Island starting at midday. …The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami has issued a tropical storm warning from Cape Lookout north up the coast to the Virginia line … The storm surge will likely lead to ocean overwash along flood-prone North Carolina Highway 12. Dare County Emergency Management advises drivers to stay off Highway 12 during high tide…” The surf was rough today, and the wind was strong. Red flags were flying when we got in yesterday afternoon. Red flags mean to stay out of the water. Conditions are dangerous even for the most experienced swimmers. We spent the day at the beach house. We enjoyed a breakfast of eggs, sausage, fruit and toast. Nancy cooked the sausage. Brenda cooked eggs. I prepared the blog post for yesterday’s activities. I published the post, backdating it to last evening. For lunch we made sandwiches. I participated in several conversations throughout the day. I walked on the boardwalk to the dune stairs a few times and looked out at the swelling surf. It is a beautiful view, regardless of the weather. I stayed on the dune stairs. Jim wandered down on the beach for a closer look. Jim and Sandy in the living room I think Jim and Sandy are reviewing a video that Jim captured, while he was on the beach. Bob and I went for a mid afternoon bicycle ride in the neighborhood, using Denise and Nic’s bicycles. We saw Prickly Pear cacti on our bicycle ride. Our vacation beach house is located on Great Gap Point. Late in the afternoon several of us played an entertaining game of charades. There was lots of laughter. I laughed so hard, my eyes watered. Eric and Alexis arrived, while we were playing charades. They brought with them Wrigley, Eric’s English bulldog. Wrigley made his rounds, making sure he said hello to everyone. Wrigley is saying hello to me. Tonight’s dinner was spaghetti and meatballs, tossed salad and bread. Bob and I retired to our room before dessert. We watched one episode of “Beyond”, using Bob’s Fire Stick to connect with Hulu. Bob and I went to bed shortly after 10:00 pm. You can read Jim’s account of the day by clicking here. 7 Comments September 25, 2017 We ate a later than usual breakfast at 8:00 am. No need to hurry today, as the drive to our beach house will take only 4 1/2 hours without stops or any other type of delay. Check in time at the beach house isn’t until 4:00 pm. We have plenty of time for the final leg of our trip to the Outer Banks. Breakfast was complimentary, in a room off to the side of the lobby. As is customary at Best Western hotels, a large selection of breakfast items were available to include scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage patties, waffles, cereal, yogurt, pastries, breads, coffee, tea, orange juice, and fresh fruit. Best Western Fredericksburg lobby was decked out for the Autumn season. Our Best Western Fredericksburg accommodations were on the second floor. Sandy and Jim’s room was one door away from our room. You can see Bob walking toward our room and Sandy standing in the doorway of her room. We checked out of the hotel, after breakfast. The woman in front of me was asked if her stay was OK. She said that the bed was soft and too high. The hotel clerk apologized. The woman then said that the dogs liked the bed. All three of us laughed. Leaving the hotel, Jim led the way to the nearby Walmart. The four of us picked up a few supplies that we had forgotten (or purposely left) at home. Bob at Walmart Next stop was at the Walmart gas station to fill up. At 9:35 am we began our drive to Corolla, NC. We stopped and took a walk on Prince Street in Tappahannock, VA. According to a Wikipedia article, Tappahannock is the oldest town in Essex County, VA. It is located on the Rappahannock River and is the county seat of Essex County. Tappahannock’s name comes from an Algonquian language word lappihanne, meaning “Town on the rise and fall of water” or “where the tide ebbs and flows.” In 1608 John Smith landed in Tapphannock but was driven back by the local Native American tribe. Essex County Courthouse with Confederate Memorial The statue commemorates Tappahannock and Essex County’s native sons who fought and died during the American Civil War. A building that looked like an old theater caught my eye. I asked a man approaching us if he was from the area. When he responded “yes”, I asked what this building was. The building is the Daw Theater and is in the process of being restored. Tappahannock is an inviting town. Before leaving Tappahannock we made a bathroom stop at Sheetz. The stop provided an opportunity to pick up a mid-morning snack too. Bob purchased water and a Slim Jim. I purchased a Diet Coke. My mid-morning snack was the banana that Jim brought to me from the breakfast room, when he and Sandy checked out of the hotel. I wanted a banana, when we ate breakfast. The bowl was empty, though. We were back on the road at 11:23 am. We stopped for lunch at McDonald’s in Chesapeake, VA (off route 64). At the time we were approximately 2 hours (89 miles) from our vacation beach house. We were back on the road by 2:15 pm. We crossed over the NC border at 2:40 pm and arrived at our vacation beach house, Flight of Fantasy, which is located on Pine Island in Corolla NC, at 4:00 pm. After greeting Denise and Nic and Brenda and Terry and being given a tour of the beach house, we began to unpack our cars. We used the elevator to take everything up to the third floor. Sandy and Jim have the king master bedroom facing the sound side of the house. Bob and I have the king master bedroom facing the ocean. We have a deck with a great view of the ocean. After depositing our stuff in our bedroom, I helped Denise and others organize the kitchen and then unpacked and put away my clothing. Later in the day I caught Denise, Brenda and Nancy in the pool area on their way to the beach. Nancy, Brenda and Denise on their way to the beach They asked me to join. I declined. Sandy and I did go to the beach a little later. We didn’t put on our swimsuits. I did roll up my jeans and put on water shoes. Sandy put on a pair of crocs. Sandy on our boardwalk to the beach Denise and Nancy were sitting in chairs on the beach. Brenda had gone for a walk on the beach, returning with a bag of shells. Brenda and her bag of shells Denise, Nancy and Brenda didn’t stay long, after Sandy and I arrived at the beach, as they were getting cold. Brenda did, though, take a few pictures of Sandy and me before returning to the beach house. Hooray! We are on the beach! Sandy and I I don’t usually like pictures of myself. I like the pictures that Brenda took! Oh, I almost forgot. Denise, Nancy and Brenda put together gift bags for each couple. The gifts bags included Kleenex, a roll of toilet paper, two bags of cracker jacks, two bags of peanuts, two Slim Jims, playing cards, two small flashlights, a 4×6 photo frame (Denise wants me to take a picture of everyone. She wants to have 4×6 prints made and give to each couple before we leave to go home.), a large squirt gun, a bag in which to collect seashells, a flip-flop bottle opener, liquid hand soap, a bottle of Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray and a beach towel. Sandy, Jim, Bob and I watched a beautiful sunset this evening from the front side Currituck Sound balcony. Tonight’s dinner was pizza and homemade cake (sweet potato cake). After dinner Denise, Sandy and I chatted with each other for quite a while. Lots of people are sharing our vacation beach house. Here are the couples who have arrived so far: Jim and Sandy Bob and I Nic and Denise Terry and Brenda Donny and Nancy Shawn and Sam Still to arrive are: Eric and Alexis Jasper (one night) Sharon (possibly) Jeff and Stephanie (who plan to spend Friday and Saturday nights) We are keeping an eye on Hurricane Maria. A tropical storm watch was issued at 5:15 pm today for Corolla. Wind is forecast at 30-40 mph with gusts to 55 mph. The window for tropical storm force winds is Tuesday morning until Wednesday evening. Bob and I and Jim and Sandy came up to bed around 9:30 pm. Michael and Maggie arrived sometime after we had retired to our room. Please click here for Jim’s account of the day. 3 Comments September 24, 2017 Maggie Valley NC to Warren PA We spent the week of May 14th on vacation in Virginia and North Carolina. I have been uploading blog posts about our vacation since May 29th. This blog post is about our eighth, and final, day of vacation. I wish I had slept better the night before. Bob’s snoring awakened me, and the room temperature wasn’t good. I was either too warm or cold. Apparently I slept with an ant too. While half asleep, during the night, I changed my sleeping position. I rested the side of my head on another pillow. I heard a buzzing noise…bee? fly? I turned on the light and lifted my pillow….nothing. I lifted the other pillow…nothing. I pulled back the bed sheet and shook the covers…nothing. I eventually went back to sleep. Later on, I placed my hand underneath the pillow and felt movement. I brushed my hand outward. I got up, looked underneath the pillow and saw a black, plump ant moving quickly to the head of the bed. I flattened that ant, without a moment’s thought. We departed A Holiday Motel on Sunday, May 21, at 5:15 am, in the rain. We arrived at Cracker Barrel in Asheville, NC at 5:50 am. We had an approximate wait of 10 minutes before the restaurant opened. While we ate, it got lighter outside. The rain, however, continued. We were back on the road around 6:30 am. Our next stop was 3 hours later at the Rocky Gap Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center, located along Interstate 77 in Virginia. The only thing noteworthy about this rest stop was some old vehicles that we saw in the parking lot. Interstate 77 in Virginia at the The rain turned into drizzle, as we entered West Virginia and soon stopped completely. We ate lunch at Shoney’s in Summersville, WV. We were back on the road at noon. The Pennsylvania Welcome Center in Waynesburg is a very nice welcome center. It is full of brochures and maps about places throughout Pennsylvania, as well as coloring and activity books for children. There is also a coal miners memorial at this welcome center. Pennsylvania Welcome Center in Waynesburg, PA Monument Dedicated to all Coal Miners at Pennsylvania Welcome Center in Waynesburg, PA The coal miners memorial was of interest to me, as both Dad and my brother, Jim, were coal miners. The rain started up again soon after leaving the Pennsylvania Welcome Center, and followed us home. We got off Interstate 77 at the Slippery Rock exit, several miles sooner than routed by the GPS. We were getting tired of interstate travel. We returned home at approximately 5:30 pm. We drove in rain at least 75% of our drive home. This blog post concludes our Virginia and North Carolina vacation. I hope that you enjoyed, vicariously, coming along with us on our vacation. 4 Comments June 17, 2017 Older posts Author All content of “The Beauty Around Us” is All Rights Reserved. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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Dear Friends and music lovers. Welcome to the musical life section. I’d like to remind you that frequently, we record a Cd or a DVD and it appears the following year on the market. Also, I am often working on several projects at different stages of completion. They don’t always move in a linear manner and do tend to overlap each other, so I hope you won’t find this new format confusing: to the contrary we hope it’s simpler and perhaps more entertaining. Thanks for visiting! John McLaughlin No Recordings were made in 2016, but we had a marvelous tour of Australasia which included the major cities in Australia, the island of Bali, Bangkok , Japan, South Corea and finally India. I also had the great pleasure to perform at the White House for the International Jazz Day on 30th of April. 2017 began with a Spring tour of Northern Europe which included Paris, Budapest, Prague, Berlin where we were part of the performances celebrating the opening of the Akademia which is directed by one of my true inspirations in music and life, Daniel Barenboim. We eventually ended the tour in London at one of the world’s greatest clubs, Ronnie Scott’s. I’d asked my agent to book us specifically in Ronnie’s, since Ronnie himself was instrumental in my obtaining a visa to come to the US in January 1969, and it was a kind of homage/thank you to his memory. During the two nights we played there we recorded the performances which were released on the last CD of the 4D, “Live at Ronnie Scott’s” which came out earlier this year. In June, to my great surprise, the Berklee College awarded me with an Honorary Doctorate in music. I went to Valencia to receive the award, and had the great pleasure of performing with some of the students at the Berklee College Europe. The level of playing was astonishing, and to my even greater surprise, I found students from all over the world including musicians from India. This musical year ended in a marvelous tour of the US with the 4D band and the band of Jimmy Herring known as the Invisible Whip. It was my personal farewell tour of the US, and to bring everything full circle, there was a third set every night during which Jimmy and his band and the 4D brought to life a program from the music of The Mahavishnu Orchestras 1 and 2. It was a thrill for me to have the musicians from both bands on stage playing this music. And as important, there was a presence of the spirit on stage which gave the music a passion and depth so necessary to bring this music to life. It was just before the beginning of the final Shakti tour which began in October-November 2013. Much has happened since that time, and not all of it pleasant. I’d spoken to Paco de Lucia in late January of 2014 about a recording we were planning, just a few days before he left for Latin America, and we lost him forever February 25th… Shortly after this I began a project with singer Shankar Mahadevan which we will eventually release as a CD. I am personally thrilled about this project which is a completely different « fusion » for want of a better word, of the magic of Shankar’s voice with orchestra and guitar. The 4th Dimension (4D) toured the East coast of the U.S. in June 2014 during which we recorded at the Berklee Performance center in Boston, and came out with « The Boston Record » a few months later. Shortly after this I had an opportunity to record with one of my most favorite musicians, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Gonzalo has been making marvelous music for many, many years, and is a great source of inspiration. On September 19th we lost another brother musician in U. Mandolin Shrinivas, and Shakti took a terrible blow with the loss which we have still not recovered from. The 4th Dimension toured Europe in the fall of 2014, it was a marvelous experience. I had already began writing music for the album « Black Light » which is being prepared for release just now. In the meantime I was invited to record a track with drummer Cindy Blackman and my old comrade, bassist Matt Garrison. I’ve known Cindy for years, and we’ve jammed together a couple of times, but this was the first time we got to record, she’s amazing, and those two together are dynamite! 4D will begin a tour of Australia and Asia starting in October this year, so I’m busy preparing programs that include new pieces from Black Light, and I can’t wait to start playing with the gentlemen! This year’s events began with my 70th birthday which was produced and directed by one of my oldest and dearest friends, Zakir Hussain. It was held in Mumbai India on January 4th and I’ll never forget it. He put on a show to end all shows with dancers, singers, a Qawwali group that was just outstanding, and most important of all, surrounded by my family and friends from all over the world. A month later, I came back to make a tour of India by the group Shakti. Every couple of years or so, Shakti tours India and it’s always a thrill. On St. Valentine’s day February 14th we played a charity concert in Ramallah for Al-Mada who are doing music therapy with traumatized children. In June the 4th Dimension flew to Ukraine to headline a great Festival held in Lviv. A month later Shakti got back together for a short tour of Russia. We appeared in different festivals in Krasnoyarsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia, in Perm which is in the Urals, and Moscow. It was very interesting to be able to visit these places that years ago were hidden behind the ‘iron curtain’. The people of Russia are so friendly. The 4th Dimension will return to Russia this fall during its European tour which begins in France late October and finishes at the end of November. This is just in time for tabla maestro Zakir Hussain to join me for a charity performance in Prague on November 28th. The new recording by the 4th Dimension, is being released as I write, and I am very happy with this recording. The group has never sounded better no images were found In 2004 I had received an invitation from a French cultural association to play a couple of concerts in La Reunion, a tropical island off the coast of Africa near Madagascar. I’d been having thoughts about a quartet prior to this invitation, and since they gave me carte blanche, I decided to form a quartet with Gary Husband, drummer Mark Mondesir and his brother Michael on bass. The experience was exhilarating, and I knew I had to find a way to keep working in this direction. However, I had begun writing new music that was subsequently released on the album ‘Industrial Zen’ which was a multi-artist recording. Gary Husband and Mark Mondesir appeared on several pieces. It was after the release of this Cd that the group ‘The 4th Dimension’ emerged as a ‘real’ band, and started touring. Since then, we recorded ‘to the One’ and released a live DVD from a concert in Belgrade. In the autumn of 2011, we toured Europe with drummer Ranjit Barot who had replaced Mark Mondesir, and in December of 2011, the band went into the studio to record ‘Now Here This’. Ranjit is an outstanding drummer who accompanied me on the recording ‘Floating Point’ which was recorded in 2007. This was the year I spent 6 months in Chennai, India and it was a very creative time. We not only recorded Floating Point, but also filmed the entire process of making the recording. It was released later under the title, ‘Meeting of the Minds’. In addition, an educational DVD was made with percussionist and Shakti member, Selvaganesh Vinayakram. The DVD was subsequently released under the title ‘The Gateway to Rhythm’. It shows the way to mastering rhythm through the Indian system called Konokol. Now while this system was created in India, the ramifications are universal and can be applied in any form of rhythmic music. no images were found Floating Point In 2003 I began re-writing a piece for guitar and chamber orchestra that began life under the name ‘Europa’. I gave it this name primarily because the principal influences behind this piece are European in nature. However, by the third movement, the piece has crossed the Atlantic ocean and comes under the influence of the great music of the 20th century, jazz. I wanted to re-orchestrate for a full symphony, and in addition add 4 more soloists. Fortunately I had the expertise of one of my oldest students, Yan Maresz, who is now one of the leading composers in the world of contemporary music, and while I wrote the music, the orchestrations are his. The soloists are all outstanding musicians: Violinist Viktoria Mullova, clarinetist Paul Meyer, cellist Matt Heimovitz and guitarist Philippe Loli. The piece was renamed ‘Thieves & Poets’ and finally came out under that name with a great Italian orchestra, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano under the direction of Renato Rivolta. However, the piece with the original orchestration by Yan, continues to be performed by other guitarists and orchestras. In 2004 we began work on what ended up as a major project. It came out 18 months later as an educational DVD box set called ‘This is the way I do it’. It is the most comprehensive work I’ve ever done as far as integrating into a coherent system, everything I’ve learned that has shed light upon the way music can be taught in general, and improvisation in particular. no images were found This is the Way I Do It In 1997 I was invited by Zakir Hussain to help him reform the original Shakti group, but we were unable to pull it off. What we did do was get percussionist T.H. Vinayakram and flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia together and we toured the UK recording a live concert during the tour. By the time the tour was over Zakir and I really wanted to continue and develop Shakti music where we left off in 1978, 20 years previously! Once again we were not able to reform the original, so we decided to invite ‘Mandolin’ Shrinivas, and Vikku’s son Selvaganesh to make it a quartet again. It’s such a great band. However, in 1999 I start looking for a vocalist to join us and find singer Shankar Mahadevan. He joins Zakir and me in a festival we played in Bombay in 2000, and he’s been in the band ever since. This is some band and what a history! no images were found Even though I just toured and recorded with Paco and Al, I’m very quickly back into electric mode and form another band. ‘The Heart of Things’. Dennis Chambers is back with me with tenor man Gary Thomas, Matt Garrison on bass, Jim Beard and Otmaro Ruiz, (two different recordings). One is a studio album recorded in Milan, and the second is live in Paris released in 2000. What a band! no images were found The Promise’ is yet another multi-artist recording with once again many dear friends and musicians. I finally get to record with one of the all-time greatest players, Michael Brecker on tenor. There are many more great players on this album, the guitar trio with Paco and Al, to mention another, Dave Sanborn, Zakir, Trilok , this list is long and beautiful. no images were found The Guitar Trio By this time Trilok is moving more away from the trio, and it’s basically impossible to replace him, so by 1993-94 the trio ends. Personally, I am also moving towards the electric guitar again and with drummer Dennis Chambers and Hammond Organist Joey DeFrancesco, I form the trio ‘The Free Spirits’. This is one great band and two beautiful human beings. We tour the world once again, and during a stint at the Blue Note Tokyo, we record a live album. Around this time I’d been thinking of asking Elvin Jones to record with me and Joey DeFrancesco, which is the After the Rain recording. We also played some concerts in Europe together, but unfortunately never in the US. no images were found After playing some duo concerts with bassist Jonas Hellborg, I invite percussionist Trilok Gurtu to join us to form a trio, but by the time the trio is formed Jonas has been replaced by bassist Jeff Berlin. Oddly, Jeff stays with the trio for only 6 months and he in turn is replaced by bassist Kai Eckhardt. This is the trio that is featured on the live recording ‘Live at the Royal Festival Hall’. The brazilian and hispanic influences that were so prominent with the guitar trio and The Translators, are still here, but they are now fused with the masterly percussion of Trilok who brings in once again, the lovely Indian influence that has been so much part of my life. By this time technology has given me a guitar synth that works with the acoustic guitar, and this is a great combination. Kind of ‘antique and modern’. You can hear this on the two recordings we made ‘Royal Festival Hall’ live, and a studio recording with bassist Dominique di Piazza called ‘Que Alegria’. no images were found My leaning towards the acoustic guitar coincided with my hearing guitarist Paco de Lucia on French radio one day. I managed to find his number and called him to propose playing/working together. He was up for it so I called an old friend and great guitar player Larry Coryell, and the guitar trio was born. From the first it was an amazing success. However, by the end of 1980, Larry had left and Al di Meola came in and replaced him. The guitar trio went from success to success. Of course, this was a time when there was no Internet and no pirating, and record sales were great. Over the years we’ve recorded another album and toured the world. This is a fine recording, and satisfying musically. During this period I move towards another kind of jazz fusion with another quite short lived group known loosely as the Translators. We recorded two albums for Warner Bros: ‘Belo Horizonte’ and ‘Music spoken Here’. I was going though a musically transitional period, and the music on these recordings reflect this movement. That said, I’m still today very happy with these two recordings. no images were found My shortest lived band was the One Truth Band. It was formed in ’79 and while it was a great band which included L. Shankar, I was gravitating more and more towards the acoustic guitar. I hope that the Montreux Festival in Switzerland will release a DVD of a concert this band played there because it’s a real document. There is a Cd ‘Electric Dreams’, a recording that featured a different rhythm section, drummer Tony Smith and assist Fernando Saunders. The original was drummer Sonship, and bassist T.M. Stevens. Now while these two rhythm sections are radically different, they are both outstanding and well worth a listen. no images were found By this time is was clear to me that India and its culture, musical and philosophical, had become a part of my life, and it remains so to this day. In 1972 and primarily under the influence of the great South Indian vina player Balachander, I was studying vina under master Ramanathan at Wesleyan College Connecticut. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and I had become friends already in 1969, and having met violinist L. Shankar who was teaching also at Wesleyan, by 1973-4 Shakti was born. By the end of 1975 mridangam player Ramnad Raghavan had been replaced by T.H. Vikku Vinayakram whose speciality was Ghatam, but not before CBS had recorded a live concert we played at NYU in Southampton Long Island. This was the first Shakti recording. From 1976 until the end of 1978 Shakti toured the world. One of my fondest memories is the time Shakti spent playing concerts opposite Weather Report. This was a hot combination at this time. By 1978 Vikku had to return to Madras to take over the school for percussion his father had founded some years before. no images were found A Handful of Beauty After a club date in Boston in 1970 with Miles, he tells me it’s time to form my own band. By this time Miles’ recordings are definitely jazz fusion or jazz rock. His recording ‘Bitches Brew’ confirmed this in no uncertain terms. My work and writing with Tony was more and more rock, r ‘n b and funk influenced. Also I was increasingly influenced by the philosophical and musical ideas coming out of India at that time. These influences can be seen in that another name ‘Mahavishnu’ was given to me by my guru Sri Chinmoy, and the sophisticated rhythmical concepts integrated in Indian classical music, both north and south which directly influenced the compositions i was writing for The Mahavishnu Orchestra. The M.O. became really popular over a short period of time, maybe too successful since by 1973 the atmosphere in the band had become untenable for me and we ended it at the end of the year. The 2nd Mahavishnu was quite different but a wonderful band all the same, with drummer Michael Narada Walden, Jean-Luc Ponty and Ralphe Armstrong, that band was kicking! We had a great experience recording with the London Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas, and the entire production under the great George Martin. At the same time in Indian influence was having its effect and by 1973-4 Shakti was a kind of underground band that played small concerts in churches and schools, while I continued with Mahavishnu. By the end of 1975, Shakti had become increasingly important to me, and by the end of the year, it became my only band. After a jam with drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland in Ronnie Scott’s club in London, Jack plays a recording of it to Tony Williams and he gets me the gig with Tony and Lifetime. Rounding off the trio is Khaled Yaseen (Larry Young) on Hammond Organ. This is a real thrill for me. I’ve been listening to Tony with Miles since 1964 and he’s the greatest. He and Elvin Jones were the two most revolutionary drummers of the 20th century. By this time I’ve had the experience of having my own band, but I’ve been mainly a sideman with a number of fine musicians in the UK, but living from playing in R ‘n B and funk bands such as Georgie Fame, Graham Bond, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Even though I was under the musical and spiritual influence of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, I was happy to be playing R ‘n B. by this time (mid to late 1960’s) most musicians were being influenced by the Beatles, the Motown group of musicians and Jimi Hendrix, especially guitar players. By the time I arrive in New York, I’d just passed my 27th birthday, and playing with Tony and Khalid was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The times were pretty wild at the end of the 1960’s and the music followed the times. My good luck didn’t end there as I found myself in the studio with Miles a day after my arrival in New York for the recording of ‘In a Silent Way’. Miles’ influence on me went into hyperdrive from that point, and I had the best of all possible musical worlds: playing and recording with Tony and Lifetime, and Miles Davis. I was already under the influence of Indian music and thought, which one can see reflected in the LP ‘My Goal’s Beyond’. It’s also a reflection of my affection for the acoustic guitar. no images were found ‘Love Devotion Surrender’. This recording was made in between two Mahavishnu tours, and was a great experience. I’d met Carlos Santana in 1971 and we’d become good friends. We recorded this album and went on to tour but only in the USA. It was an all-star lineup with drummer Billy Cobham, Dougie Rauch on bass, Armando Peraza percussion and the late great Larry Young (Khalid Yasin) on Hammond organ. Since then Carlos and I have played many times together, and last year we celebrated 40 years of friendship with a concert in Switzerland. Perhaps it will be released on DVD one day. ‘Electric Guitarist’. This was the first multi-artist recording that I made, and though it was a lot of work, I listen to this recording with a smile on my face. Many friends came: Tony Williams, Jack Bruce, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Sanborn, Carlos and many more. Great experience! ‘Mahavishnu’ and ‘Adventures in Radioland’ These two albums were recorded with a band that carried the name ‘Mahavishnu’ but for the last time. It was a great band with Bill Evans on tenor, Mitch Foreman keyboards and Jonas Hellborg on bass. I had a Synclavier guitar during this period which in spite of its limitations, was a real instrument that could be played live with no glitches. We toured the US and Europe and recorded a show at the Montreux Jazz festival that came out on DVD with a video recording of the 2nd Mahavishnu a few years back. Bill played tenor and soprano with Miles when Miles made his comeback, and we had a lot of laughs with the stories we both have with him. I got a commission from the Los Angeles Symphony to write a piece for guitar and orchestra. Miles comes to the premier and I’m thrilled. Fast forward a couple of years and I’ve recorded the piece with the London Symphony directed by my old friend conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. I’m in Edinburgh and run into Miles and we hang out after the concert and I give him an audio tape of the recording. We sit in his hotel room while he listens to the whole piece. At the end he turns to me and says, » John, now you can die »… Time Remembered was first and foremost a homage to pianist Bill Evans who has been a continual inspiration throughout my life. Secondly it was a homage to the guitar. I always believed it was possible to capture Bill’s poetic melancholy with the acoustic guitar, and though this recording was a true labor of love, in the end the result is lovely. For this project I invited a quartet of guitarists known as the Aighetta Quartet, and my old friend and ex-student Yan Maresz to play acoustic bass guitar. I also mention this recording above. It was another dream come true to play and record with Elvin the album ‘After the Rain’. What a beautiful human being… With us was the amazing Joey DeFrancesco on Hammond Organ. Those two together… Chick Corea calls me up during a six month stay in India with a great idea: the project came out as 5 Peace Band, and what a band. Wonderful players, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride and Vinnie Colaiuta, and later on the amazing Brian Blade. To play with a musician like Chick is just a marvelous experience. I just marvel when he plays… We made a live record, toured the world, and won a Grammy!. Carlos Santana and I play a ‘birthday’ concert in Switzerland to celebrate 40 years of friendship. The performance was recorded in audio and video, but has not been released yet. It’s not the end, but in ending these writings, I have to offer my deepest thanks to all the musicians I’ve mentioned in these notes. They have contributed immensely not only to my musical evolution, but my spiritual evolution also.	24,320
It’s difficult to deny that boating and warm weather go hand-in-hand. And with summer upon us, so too is boating season. Boating accidents, however, happen, and they are often exceedingly dangerous accidents. If you’ve been injured in a boating accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s time to consult with an experienced boating accident lawyer in Douglasville. Rules of the Waterway Just as there are strict rules and regulations every motorist must follow on our roadways, there are also strict rules and regulations that govern those who man boats on our waterways. Although boating is all about fun in the sun, the boat’s skipper must remain in business mode – because manning a boat is a serious business. An operator who fails to take the job of maneuvering his or her boat safely puts everyone on the waterway at greater risk. The Unique Risks of Boating When you’re on a boat, you face unique risks that can make any ensuing accidents that much more dangerous. These include: Because you are on the water, there is the very real danger of drowning in a boat accident. Boats generally don’t have the safety mechanisms that are to us available in cars, including safety belts and airbags. Boats don’t have the protective shell that other vehicles provide. Seek the Experienced Legal Counsel of a Boating Accident Lawyer in Douglasville Today Boating accidents are terrifying, dangerous accidents, and if someone else’s negligence leaves you injured in such an accident, reach out to one of the dedicated Douglasville boating accident attorneys at the law offices of Ben F. Windham, PC. We have extensive experience helping clients like you fully recover on their entire range of damages, and we’re here to help you. To schedule a free consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 833.236.9467 today. ” Ben is the best attorney that I have ever had. Ben is professional, attentive to your needs and whenever you call him, he will call you right back. He gets things done. If you want to get a huge settlement like the one Ben got for me, you should call him. He will definitely get you what you deserve. When I need help, I know that I can always count on Ben. Unlike some of the others, he will return your call. This is the type of attorney you want representing you. An attorney that’s got your back! ” " Ben is the best attorney that I have ever had. Ben is professional, attentive to your needs and whenever you call him, he will call you right back. He gets things done. If you want to get a huge settlement like the one Ben got for me, you should call him. He will definitely get you what you deserve. When I need help, I know that I can always count on Ben. Unlike some of the others, he will return your call. This is the type of attorney you want representing you. An attorney that's got your back! "	2,897
Just a simple reminder that article is created and owned only by biographytribune.com. Article cannot be re-published in any other pages or documents. Copyright is protected by DMCA. All found copies will be reported. Original source: https://biographytribune.com/is-mikey-teutul-married-now-his-net-worth-wife-age-weight-loss-art/ Who is Mikey Teutul? Born Michael Joseph Teutul on the 26th November 1978, in Orange County, New York USA, he is a reality TV star, best known to the world for appearing in the reality series “American Chopper: The Series” (2003-2012), and in its spin-off – “American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior” (2010-2012). I my doggy A post shared by Mikey teutul (@mikeyteutul1978) on Mar 13, 2018 at 3:25pm PDT Early Life and Education Mikey is one of four children born to Paul Teutul Sr. and his first wife Paula. His father is one of the most successful manufacturers of custom built motorcycles; back in 1999, he started his own company, Orange County Choppers, along with Mickey’s elder brother Paul Teutul Jr. who was also a part of the “American Chopper: The Series” show. Unfortunately, there isn’t any information about Mikey’s education, though with the family business on the rise, he didn’t really have to go to school. Michael joined the family business his father, older brothers Paul and Daniel at Orange County Choppers. At just 14, Mikey started learning about the business, but instead of building bikes, he was more focused on work as a general manager. He served as an assistant general manager, often providing comic comments and bringing fun and joy with his quirky character. He would also sometime partake in bike assembling, and has also built his own bike. As the family business grew, they were selected by the Discovery Channel for the reality series “American Chopper”. Although the main characters were his father and older brother, Michael featured often in the series, gaining massive popularity, and soon became a star with his funny comments, and the public just loved him. He featured in 55 episodes of the award-winning series, before its cancellation in 2012. From the start of the show, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. had what were only disagreements. However, as the show progressed, their feud became more series, and Mikey, caught in between, tried to make peace between the two, but failed utterly and as a result both Paul Jr. and Michael left OCC. Formation of Paul Jr. Designs After the two brothers left their father and his company, Paul Jr. started his own brand. With the help of Mikey, they again became part of the Discovery Channel series, this time entitled “American Chopper: Senior Vs. Junior”, which lasted from 2010 to 2012. This also raised Michael’s popularity, but their successful work increased Michael’s net worth significantly. Mikey decided to leave American Chopper in 2012, and since then has been focused on his career as a painter. He has opened up his own “Wolfgang Gallery”, located in Montgomery, New York. He has already exhibited a few of his creations, and has continued to paint until the present day. Furthermore, Mikey tried to launch his own brand of pasta sauces under the FarQueue Products, LLC, so far without notable success. His career started when he was only 14 years old, and with a business already at a high level, it was rather easy for Michael to secure himself financially. With a couple of ups and downs along the way, Mikey’s net worth is currently estimated at $2 million. Aside from work with his father and later his older brother, he has also sold his own paintings, which contribute to this fair amount. Met "Harley" at the Blue Ridge Bike Fest today. High profile stuff, and he has his own Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/GSljnj4KYv — Mikey Teutul (@MikeyTeutulWG) April 13, 2013 Back in 2009, Mikey checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic as he started having serious problems with alcohol. This wasn’t the first case in the family, as his father also had the same problem, but Mikey managed to sober up after rigorous treatment and return to the show. When not working, Mikey enjoys skeet shooting and other outdoor activities. But when it comes to his love life, Mikey has managed to keep any information that counts hidden from the media. There aren’t even any rumours circulating, so he is presumed to still be single. His online presence has increased over the years, primarily through his Twitter activity. On his account, Michael has over 80,000 followers and has posted various items, from work to fun and games and other interesting things, like this one:	4,805
Ask Taktikleri subject cast and preparations in here… Emre Kabakusak will sit in the director’s chair of the film Ask Taktikleri (Love Tactics), produced by O3 Media. The leading actors of the film Ask Taktikleri, written by Pelin Karamehmetoglu, were also revealed. Viewers were also intrigued by the names featured in the cast of the film Ask Taktikleri. In this topic for you, we will closely introduce the cast of Ask Taktikleri and explain when and on what platform the love tactics movie will be released. Our actor, who has been in the lead role of the TV series Destiny, where you were born for two seasons, will start shooting the movie Love tactics immediately after the series finale. Our 29-year-old player was born in Kocaeli on February 26, 1992. Demet Ozdemir, who was part of Bengü’s Talas team many years ago and danced professionally, then started taking acting lessons. Demet Ozdemir, who first appeared in front of the camera in 2013 with the series I will tell you a secret, and despite being the first series in the lead role, also won the Star meter Fan factor 2 Crystal Awards in 2014 thanks to this series. Demet Ozdemir, who has been the advertising face of the Pantene brand since 2019, is especially known for his performance on I’ll tell you a secret, strawberry smell, Erkenci Kus, No 309. Our actress, who received awards in 6 different categories for her performance in the early bird series, is now with singer and songwriter Oguzhan Koc. Which One Is The Best Turkish Couple? As we all know, our handsome actor was in the lead role of the Raider series this season, but the series will say goodbye to screens in the coming days due to low ratings, and Sukru Ozyildiz will start shooting the movie Love tactics immediately after. Our 33-year-old player was born in Izmir on February 18, 1988. After studying for a while at the Department of ship machinery engineering of Istanbul Technical University, Our actor, who moved to the Department of Business Administration of Ege University, studied acting at the Müjdat Gezen Art Center. Our actor, who first appeared in front of the camera with the series Deep Waters, which aired in 2011, drew attention to his performance in the series, and in the same year Fatmagul’s crime was neither the series nor the length. Sukru Ozyildiz, who previously appeared in successful series such as Little Liars with yachts, I Still Have Hope, Calikusu, Sukru Ozyildiz, participated in cage fights in Portugal before stepping into acting. When And On What Platform Will Ask Taktikleri (Love Tactics) Be Released? The film Ask Taktikleri, starring Demet Ozdemir and Sukru Ozyildiz, will be released on Netflix, a digital platform. The exact release date of the film is unclear. Most likely, the film will meet the audience in the next season. There is no information about the subject of the film Ask Taktikleri until even the cast is completely clear. But as we understand in its name, the film will be in a romantic genre. In the film, which will take place in the summer, Sukru Ozyildiz and Demet Ozdemir will talk about the love between them and the tactics they used to pick up each other. When the producers of the film make a statement about this issue, we will share it with you. In this topic, we closely introduced the cast of the film, which will be released to the audience on Netflix, and we shared with you the topic of when and on what platform the film will be released. You can tell us what you are curious about in the comments section below.	3,740
You know, maybe I'm biased here, but I get the feeling that Jesus was not a Republican. Strange then, that the Republicans cynically wrap themselves in the Bible, as well as the flag, and claim to be the party that stands for "Christian" values. Republicans worship the wealthy and they have nothing but contempt for the poor. So what will be their fate? For the answer to that, let's turn to another Bible passage (from Matthew, chapter 7): "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Posted by Marc McDonald at 6:18 AM 10 comments: Anonymous said... My favorite verse from the Bible is: Mark 10:21: "Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' He said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Karen Johnson said... Republicans have ignored Christ's message of love, peace and forgiveness. Instead their version of "Christianity" is nothing more than bigotry, hate and intolerance. Mr. McDonald's post is a page taken from Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals: "Rule 4--Make opponents live up to their own book of rules." I find it interesting how Progressives will take the Bible and quote passages from it that support their views, but are quick to discount the existence of God and the validity of the Bible when it doesn't suit their purposes. I also find it interesting how Progressives fail to quote from the Koran and hold the Islamic extremists accountable to the Koran. But as the Progressives claim--there is no such animal as Islamic extremism. Another point is that Jews, Muslims and Christians worship the same God. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. But it is only Christianity and Judaism that Progressives take issue with, as evident with the recent flotilla incident and Free Gaza movement. I would speculate that those well-to-do Democratic Senators and Congressional representatives are exempt from the quoted Biblical verses. As are the business leaders who supported Obama during his election campaign. Business leaders such as Paula Crown of Chicago's $4.1 billion Henry Crown family; Dreamworks cofounders Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen; and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. Perhaps we can get Ms. Crown to redistribute her family's wealth. How about Ms. Winfrey? Maybe Mr. Katzenberg and Mr. Geffen? No? Then maybe, just maybe George Soros would be willing to redistribute his enormous wealth through his Open Society chapters all over the world. Before making the claim that "Republicans worship the wealthy and they have nothing but contempt for the poor." Mr. McDonald should have read Op-Ed columnist Nicholas D. Kristof's December 20, 2008 New York Times piece: "Bleeding Heart Tightwads." Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/ And here's one paragraph: “Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates."[emphasis added] Kristof continues, explaining how liberals protested the data because conservatives "shower dollars on churches" and "that a fair amount of that money isn’t helping the poor, but simply constructing lavish spires." I'd like to know where the liberals obtained their info on the construction of these lavish spires. The churches I've visited provide much to those in need and few have “lavish” spires. The article also stated that liberals tend to give more to "art museums, symphonies, schools and universities that cater to the well-off." [Emphasis added] I'm curious to know how these donations have helped the poor put food on the table, pay the rent and cloth needy families. Where are these generous Progressive and Liberal benefactors when the unfortunate really need them? This isn't as one sided as Mr. McDonald's post misleads us to believe. The Biblical verses that are quoted here are also applicable to the Progressive and Democratic wealthy elite. But since Progressives tend to discount the existence of God, their belief is that the Bible and its verses are irrelevant. That is, unless they're criticizing Christians, Republicans and Conservatives. Mr. McDonald's post is a page taken from Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals: "Rule 4--Make opponents live up to their own book of rules." I find it interesting how Progressives will take the Bible and quote passages from it that support their views, but are quick to discount the existence of God and the validity of the Bible when it doesn't suit their purposes. I also find it interesting how Progressives fail to quote from the Koran and hold the Islamic extremists accountable to the Koran. But as the Progressives claim--there is no such animal as Islamic extremism. Another point is that Jews, Muslims and Christians worship the same God. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. But it is only Christianity and Judaism that Progressives take issue with, as evident with the recent flotilla incident and Free Gaza movement. I would speculate that those well-to-do Democratic Senators and Congressional representatives are exempt from the quoted Biblical verses. As are the business leaders who supported Obama during his election campaign. Business leaders such as Paula Crown of Chicago's $4.1 billion Henry Crown family; Dreamworks cofounders Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen; and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. Perhaps we can get Ms. Crown to redistribute her family's wealth. How about Ms. Winfrey? Maybe Mr. Katzenberg and Mr. Geffen? No? Then maybe, just maybe George Soros would be willing to redistribute his enormous wealth through his Open Society chapters all over the world. Before making the claim that "Republicans worship the wealthy and they have nothing but contempt for the poor." Mr. McDonald should have read Op-Ed columnist Nicholas D. Kristof's December 20, 2008 New York Times piece: "Bleeding Heart Tightwads." Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/ And here's one paragraph: “Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates."[emphasis added] Kristof continues, explaining how liberals protested the data because conservatives "shower dollars on churches" and "that a fair amount of that money isn’t helping the poor, but simply constructing lavish spires." I'd like to know where the liberals obtained their info on the construction of these lavish spires. The churches I've visited provide much to those in need and few have “lavish” spires. The article also stated that liberals tend to give more to "art museums, symphonies, schools and universities that cater to the well-off." [Emphasis added] I'm curious to know how these donations have helped the poor put food on the table, pay the rent and cloth needy families. Where are these generous Progressive and Liberal benefactors when the unfortunate really need them? This isn't as one sided as Mr. McDonald's post misleads us to believe. The Biblical verses that are quoted here are also applicable to the Progressive and Democratic wealthy elite. But since Progressives tend to discount the existence of God, their belief is that the Bible and its verses are irrelevant. That is, unless they're criticizing Christians, Republicans and Conservatives. Ms. Johnson accuses Republicans of bigotry, hate and intolerance. Republicans and Conservatives are labeled as "racists" constantly by the Progressives, such as the issue of illegal immigration. Progressives are quick to ignore the video clip of a member of the New Black Panthers, a group defined by the Anti-Defamation League as "the largest organized anti-Semitic and racist black militant group in America." Samir Shabazz called for the death of crackers--that would be the "oppressive" white people. An obvious and blatant racist statement, but not according to the Progressive definition of racism. Of course, and I speculate here, the video was faked somehow by the uber Right Wing Fox News. Right? Some white Republican forced the noble and morally upstanding Samir Shabazz to spew his poison. Why Ms. Johnson are you so willing to tolerate and dismiss the bigotry and hate filled speech of Samir Shabazz? A man who no doubt would rather see you dead, should you be Caucasian or Jewish or both. But no, you and those who share your views would rather embrace this new "friend" because as you pretend know--all white Republicans are racists. I wonder what your thoughts are regarding Black Republicans. Perhaps you believe they're being mislead by the intolerant-selfish-Bible Thumping-homophobic-xenophobic-racist-Fox News Humping-Obama bashing-white Republicans. Or perhaps your regard Black Republicans as traitors to their own ethnicity. Something I'm sure that members of the National Black Republican Association would find offensive. To David Sebastian: You make a lot of baseless, wild, and frankly moronic accusations against progressives in your comments. But (like all Republicans) you shy away from my central point. You don't have anything to say about the direct words of Christ that I quote in the article. Hmmm, I wonder why. Let me repeat Christ's words: "Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God." "But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation." Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't sound to me like Christ was a Republican. Anyone who made remarks like that nowadays would be attacked as "socialist" and "un-American" by the GOP. Please, tell me with a straight face that I'm wrong on this point. Anonymous said... Marc, you quote two passages from the Bible, then state that Republicans worship wealth (where did that deduction come from?) and then makes a huge leap of logic to conclude that Republicans are less Christian. You ignore the fact that Republicans are more generous than Liberals with their own money. Liberals are very generous with other people's money. As a fiscal conservative, I don't want my tax dollars going to organizations like Acorn, Planned Parenthood, and others that stand for anti-Christian values. I also have very little confidence in Congress' ability to make good decisions about how tax dollars should be spent wisely. They've demonstrated their ineptitude repeatedly. In response to the previous commenter. >>from the Bible, then state that >>Republicans worship wealth >>(where did that deduction come You've gotta be f*cking kidding! The Republicans WORSHIP the rich and money. They have nothing but CONTEMPT for the poor. (In other words, they're the polar opposite of Jesus himself). You know, the Bible consists of more than simply condemning gays and abortion. You Republicans seem to think that those two issues are the only things addressed in the Bible. In reality, Jesus has nothing negative to say about gays. Indeed, to find the condemnations of gays, one must look in the Old Testament (where, incidentally, one can find condemnations of everything under the sun). Should people who work on the Sabbath be stoned to death? You Republicans wouldn't make this crazy claim---and yet it's right there in the Old Testament, alongside the verses that condemn homosexuality. In finding the verses that condemn gays, you're simply ignoring all the crazy prohibitions of the Bible, which only reveals your ignorance and hypocrisy. Oh, and abortion is mentioned NOWHERE in the Bible. Selling all one's possessions and giving the money to the poor IS mentioned (by Jesus himself). But you Republican love to selectively read the Bible (and twist its words around to suit their purposes----or simply make up bullshit when necessary). Anonymous said... Marc McDonald - Thank you for your honest comments. I will tell you this, No matter how hard you try, YOU CANNOT teach a dog English regardless how hard you try. Getting republican minded people to answer your questions honestly is like trying to mop up the Atlantic ocean with a dry mop. Jesus warned us of people who claim that they know him and represent him but don't. They can't handle the truth because they are not truly Christians. They would hate Jesus today. 8:07 PM Anonymous said... Marc McDonald - Thank you for your honest comments. I will tell you this, No matter how hard you try, YOU Cannot teach a dog Marc McDonaldregardless how hard you try. Getting republican minded people to answer you questions honestly is like trying to trying to mop up the Atlantic ocean with a dry mop. Jesus warned us of people who claim that they know and represent Christ but don't. They can't handle the truth because they are not truly Christians. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Welcome to BeggarsCanBeChoosers.com, the progressive political blog of Marc McDonald. A Texas journalist, McDonald worked for 15 years for several newspapers, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, before he quit his day job and set up shop in cyberspace in 1995. McDonald's articles have appeared in a number of popular progressive Web sites, including Crooks and Liars, The Reaction, Buzzflash.com, Salon.com, OpEdNews.com, The Neil Rogers Show and The Raw Story. McDonald's Web articles have also been featured and reviewed by various national and international media, including CNN Headline News, the BBC, CBS, the Washington Post, USA Today and many more. On June 3, 2011, I was interviewed on the progressive radio program, "Voices at Work." Go here to hear my interview with host Ron Gonyea. I am always available for media interviews on progressive issues. Contact me here.	14,244
Our volunteer center is involved in a variety of programs throughout Thailand with focus on helping children. Activated Ministries has truly helped in a big way to make many of our projects possible through their donation of educational and motivational products that we distribute to schools and centers for children. During this trying time for Thailand, with various uncertainties and the shadow of the worldwide economic crisis overhead, our goal is to give love and hope which is so desperately needed by all. These stories show how Activated Ministries has helped us to reach that goal. Northern Thailand schools in crisis get needed help Our team has worked to help schools in the Chiangmai province in the northern region of Thailand for the past six years. Over the years we have been able to distribute donated educational materials, clothes, toys, and also meet more specific needs presented by schools - from books teaching computer maintenance to water filtration systems. During a recent return visit to a school where we had helped to set up a computer lab, one of the teachers suggested that we visit a nearby school which had kindergarten and primary students with many different needs. We made our way there a few days later, ready to distribute clothes, toys, and a Value Education set from Activated Ministries. On arrival we were greeted by the principle and we were surprised as we both recognized each other immediately. Even though he is older, we had nevertheless seen him numerous times before playing soccer in the afternoons with the neighborhood kids - who obviously had great respect for him. This is just a small example of how much Thai rural teachers truly care about the children they teach. He was very happy to receive what we had brought, especially the Value Education set from Activated Ministries. He commented how during this time of economic pressure, the education budget for schools had been tightened to the extent that many schools had to close down. He expressed how thankful he was that we cared enough to search out those in need of help, like the children in his school, and how these educational materials were perfect for the school’s library and for use by the English teachers. In the end we were able to distribute goods to about 200 children and give Value Education sets from Activated Ministries to the primary school and kindergarten teachers to use in their curriculum. Students in a remote school take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience Over the last ten years, we have worked with the Education Department in the Petchburi province, near the Burmese border, helping to organize school programs and aid for over 100 schools. During the course of our work we often hear about needy schools in remote areas that are in need of supplies for the children, educational materials and teaching aids. Recently one such school was brought to our attention, so we contacted them. Needless to say, they were very happy to hear that we wanted to visit them and organize an English camp, as well as donate a Value Education set from Activated Ministries. It took quite some time to find the school, which was located in a mountainous region many kilometers outside of Petchburi town, but once we got there the fun began in earnest. With a myriad of games, interaction and activities to help the children learn English, our English camp was a blast. But what the school's teachers liked the most was the Value Education set, and how it picked up where our English camp had left off. The teachers expressed how these products (with songs, stories, and activity booklets in Thai and English) would make great teaching aids. They also told us that for many of the children, being able to take part in an English learning event like the one we organized, and receiving books to call their very own, was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and that they would be sure to remember it for years to come. Motivational classes at a center for abused children We have worked together with a rehabilitation center for abused children on the outskirts of Bangkok for many years. Founded by a devoted couple who have worked tirelessly for over two decades to help these children receive the love and healing that they so desperately need, the center has beena lifesaver for hundreds of children. We have simply tried to help in whatever way we can through such things as regular visits, helping to arrange English teaching, fun activities and motivational programs. Some time ago we began organizing consistent motivational classes during each of our bi-weekly visitsto the center. The key to this program is having ongoing classes on different real-to-life topics, which the children can relate to and learn from. We have found that the products we received from Activated Ministries, such as the character building Treasure Attic video series, has been an integral part of making these classes a success. We use a different episode of Treasure Attic for each class, and as each has a separate topic that can be expounded on, it's the perfect foundation for a motivational class. The children love these lively classes, which also include outrageous skits, discussion points, and worksheets. We've seen a lot of progress come from these classes, and they have also resulted in one very important development - a forum to discuss life and self-improvement, which is an important element for these children who need healing from their past trauma. This is simply another case of the products from Activated Ministries coming to the rescue, and filling the need perfectly. Products from Activated Ministries help make hospital visitation program complete Recently we started a new program; weekly visits to the children's wards of a local hospital. Our goal is to give encouragement to the children and the parents by conducting fun activities, distributing motivational materials and fostering friendships. So far, we have made the first few initial visits of what will be a total of three months of weekly visitations. Each visit consists of visiting the bed-ridden patients of various children's wards, giving out toys and making balloons, as well as doing hand painting and telling stories, all with the purpose of connecting with each child and bringing them happiness and encouragement. And for the children who are strong enough to move around, we organize arts and craft activities, a clown show, magic show and puppet show, creating a memorable experience for them. Our initial visits have had a very positive response from the children, parents, and hospital staff. It is amazing how just a little bit of outgoing love can change an environment. A smile, a word of encouragement, an opportunity to laugh – it’s exciting to see these things simply transform the children, helping them to forget about their pain and fear, and instead have a positive perspective on life at that moment. What is extremely necessary was having something to leave with the children that would continue to help them keep that happiness and positive perspective, and Activated Ministries' products do just that! Because at the end of the day, after all is said and done, it's so important to leave these children and parents with something that carries a message of hope and happiness. The Grandpa Jake story books and Treasure Attic VCDs, with their positive morals, are perfect for the children. By being able to give these products to these needy children we can be confident that the spirit of positiveness and happiness will help them to retain such important lessons and values. I would like to personally thank Activated Ministries for the enormous part you play in making our work possible. In the many projects we organize to help children throughout Thailand, having Activated Ministries as our partner gives us the confidence that each project will be a success because we know we have amazing products to give that have the ability to change lives. Activated Ministries, the smiles we see when we give your products and the stories we hear about the impact they have never cease to inspire us. In total, we were able to distribute over 80 Treasure Attic VCDs, 1,050 Grandpa Jake activity books in Thai and English, over 60 Grandpa Jake storybooks, and 20 bilingual Mottos for Success calendars.Thank you, God bless you. Wednesday, August 18, 2010 schools books Activated Ministries is an IRS registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization . You can make a charity car donation to our Donate a Car 2 Charity vehicle donation program. Click to learn more.	8,655
Dudley Robert Herschbach is an American chemist, winner of Nobel prize in chemistry1986 “for achievements in development of researches of elementary chemical processes dynamics”. Dudley Robert Herschbach was born in San-Jose (California) and was the eldest of six children in the family of Robert Dudley Herschbach, builder and contractor, and Dorothy Edith (nee Beer) Herschbach. While living in rural California, Herschbach was a ringleader in active games and engaged in sports activities. His successful appearances in a picked soccer team of Campbell schools heled him to win a scholarship for study and soccer engagement in the University of Stanford, where he participated in freshmen’s team and was invited to try himself to the professional Los Angeles Rans Club. But shortly, his interest to study forced sport onto the back burner. During his second Stanford year Herschbach started his experiments in chemical kinetics under the direction of American chemist Harold S. Johnston. That time, experimental proofs of transition-state theory of chemical reaction were mostly based on data obtained for complex chemical reactions. Johnston proposed to Herschbach to measure rate of simple chemical reactions to prove this theory directly. In 1954, Herschbach received a degree of Bachelor of Mathematics; however, he could be qualified in chemistry and physics with the same result. In 1955, he received a degree of Master of Chemistry for his thesis research, which contained sections dedicated to the development of methods allowing more precise calculations of pre-exponential factors for the series of simple reactions within the frame of transition-state theory proving. After graduation from the university, he continued his researches in Harvard, where he received a degree of Master of Physics in 1956, and a degree of Doctor of Chemical Physics in 1958. His doctorate thesis was prepared together with people participating in a group subordinated to American chemist E. Bright Wilson, who has later developed new elegant methods of microwave spectroscopy use for researches of molecular structure and barriers of internal molecular rotation. Herschbach made the significant theoretical and experimental contribution: he developed calculation methods for intramolecular rotation and rotation of entire molecules. He was an associate college council member in Harvard University (1957 – 1959), assistant professor (1959 – 1961), and then associate professor (1961 – 1963) of chemistry at University of California, Berkeley. In 1963, he became the professor of chemistry at Harvard University. In Harvard, he managed the chemical physics program (1964 – 1977), took position of Chemistry Department Head (1977 – 1980), and was a member of the department council (1980 – 1983). When Herschbach moved to Berkeley at the end of 1959, knowledge of chemical levels had not yet changed since the prewar times. Quantum theory, which appeared in 1900s, described structure of atoms and molecules more precisely and explained many aspects of available chemical processes. However, chemists were very slightly aware of mixing of substances, temperature and pressure control and identification of reaction products. Theoretical models, which mostly remained static, considered reacting molecules as neighbor ones, randomly colliding and sometimes producing new rearrangements. During his studentship, Herschbach became interested in molecular beams discovered by one of his professors, i. e. molecular flows crossing vacuum chamber where energy change is registered. This method allowed him to monitor individual molecules more precisely during their interaction. Herschbach started to study molecular beams dynamics in Berkeley at the same time when John Ch. Polanyi began chemical dynamics researches in the University of Toronto, using another method, which was called chemiluminescence and, as it turned out, completed the Herschbach’s method. Together with Herschbach, a small group of students and postgraduates has designed an instrument in which two molecular beams crossed; hereby, one beam contained potassium atoms, while the second – carbon, hydrogen and iodine molecules. Details of the reaction resulting from crossing of these flows were studied by means of an appliance called surface ionization detector. Composition of beams components was determine taking into account the fact that these substances efficiently react with each other (it was proved by Michael Polanyi, John Ch. Polanyi’s father до), and detector, according to other researchers’ data, was favorable for reaction products monitoring during experiment. Even during first experiments, Herschbach could obtain detail dynamics of effective molecular collisions ad register energy change accompanying reaction products formation. This information allowed to Herschbach’s team to characterize the reaction mechanism (called as kickback mechanism) and to find that chemical energy is mostly released as vibrational energy concentrated in reaction products. Though facing considerable difficulties, more complex variants with substances of the same class were conducted. These results were a bit different from previous ones due to another reaction mechanism (so-called stripping mechanism). Releasing energy appeared mostly as internal excitation of molecules instead of kinetic energy. Many other reactions were studied, especially after Herschbach’s moving to Harvard in 1963, where he continued his work. His experiments covered a wide range of reactions, including mixed mechanism reactions (containing elements of both above mechanisms), and reactions proceeding with formation and further decomposition of long-lived complex during synthesis of end products. Received data allowed to prove static chemical reactions theories and to understand the important role of angular momentum. Despite all successes in experiments with such a class of substances as alkali (compounds interacting with acids with salts formation), further progress of studies required improvement of instruments and their flexibility. In 1967, during his post-doctorate researches in Harvard, Herschbach started his cooperation with Yang Lee. Together with some students, Lee began designing and constructing of a new “super machine”, with supersonic stubs for beams creation, travelling mass-spectrometer detector (where alternating electric and magnetic fields are created, resulting in a deflection in the formed products primary trajectory depending on their properties; due to it, products can be collected and identified), improved differential pump creating deeper vacuum, as well as program analyzing reaction products movement rates and computers for data collection. Lee, Herschbach and their colleagues completed production of this equipment within 10 months and thus, changed the game in this subdiscipline. Many reactions with more complex molecular composition were researched more precisely. For a reaction, including chlorine and hydrogen, Herschbach’s team determined distribution of angular and kickback rates for compounds with intramolecular vibrations determined by John Polanyi using chemiluminescence. Results of work of two teams studying dynamics of this reaction coincided even in detail. After this study, Herschbach gained the reputation of disrupter, idea provider, enthusiast and scientific thought mastermind in his colleagues’ eyes. In 1986, Herschbach together with Lee and Polanyi won Nobel prize in chemistry for fundamental achievements in development of a new field: dynamics of chemical reactions, allowing more detail understanding of their proceeding. Before this work, all researchers of chemical reactions treated mostly volume systems and averaged effect of many random molecular collisions, but details of such collisions escaped their attention. Herschbach compared this situation with baseball, where “innumerable pitchers make innumerable innings in innumerable pitches and where it is absolutely impossible to understand what is happening”. Studying of reactions dynamics allows to simplify the game in such a way that observers can watch how “a pitcher makes an inning in a pitch”. In 1964, Herschbach married Georgina Lee Botios, also a chemist, assistant dean of Harvard College; they have two daughters. They enjoy active lifestyle, love chamber music and even play stringed instruments within their family quartet. Due to his broad mind and keen look, Herschbach is successfully engaged in teaching and has great influence on his students and colleagues. During five years, he and his wife were co-heads of Harvard Graduates Club, involving many students and junior teachers in educational and social activities. In addition to Nobel Prize, Herschbach gained the American Chemical Society Award in fundamental chemistry of (1965), Faraday Society’s Spiers Medal (1976), Medal issued to the 100 anniversary of the British Society of Chemistry (1977), Linus Pauling Medal of the American Chemical Society (1978) and Irving Langmuir Prize in Chemical Physics of the American Physical Society (1983). He is a member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Physical Society and the American Association of Basic Sciences. He awarded an honorary degree of the University of Toronto. More information can be found at the following links Other scientists English Copyright © OOO “Teachers’Centre of the Ural Federal Region”, 1999-2022. All rights reserved. All the materials of website OOO “Teachers’Centre of the Ural Federal Region” are publicly available for non-commercial purpose. Reprinting and quoting are possible in case of website reference. 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I’ve been going through a rather apophatic period lately. The apophatic has to do with the vast parts of Mystery that we can’t quite reach. You might think of it like all the dark matter in space: it’s vast, seemingly infinite-- yet we don’t know what it is. We only know that it is there. When speaking of the divine, dark matter is Unknowing. It's the vast spaces of Being that we don’t understand; or if we do, it is only darkly, as through a glass. Our minds fail at categorizing or slapping a label on it. No analogies, no images, no explanations fit. You simply know something in your bones, but can’t even fathom putting it into words. Space-walking amongst the “dark matter” of the divine has been lovely. I’ve rather been enjoying the weightlessness of it all. I sit on the couch before my picture window and simply gaze out upon the sky. Spaciousness. My brain gets to take a holiday while my heart soaks it in. The only drawback: it makes blogging a very difficult task. I can’t tell you how many times I thought about blogging -- “I really should send a line out to let people know I’m still alive.” But whenever I went to write, nothing came. I had nothing to say. I was very present-- I had that to give-- but my intellect was very quiet. I took this as a sign that this was simply what the divine was giving me in the moment. Presence. Without having to try to explain it. I’ve always been very verbal. I bought my first diary in second grade and began recording my interior life from that age. (It certainly wasn’t very profound at age 7-- I remember recording a dream that I had “sex” with a classmate named Chris, which I thought to mean kissing naked. That’s what people did in the movies, right??) I hand-wrote a 54-page story in the third grade, called The Adventures of the Killer Cats. (Kudos to Mrs. Tesch for encouraging me to keep going!) In the eighth grade, when filling three journals for the year was part of our regular assignment, I decided to fill eleven. I graduated middle school with a maxed-out A+ (1208%) in Language Arts. Throughout high school and college, writing was an outlet for my inner world. Muddy and murky concepts got washed off and pinned down for everyone to see. I was lauded for the clarity with which I wrote, the accessibility of it, making complex concepts edible. I have passed through periods where I have written less. But it’s never seemed so appropriate as it does now. I have had no desire to capture and express my current state. No more than I would have the desire to pin down a butterfly in order to study, examine, and understand it. I think we understand the essence of what a butterfly is by watching its winged dance, not by dissecting it. This is one of the reasons I have such a crush on the Christian East. In the West, the Church is obsessed with Truth. Ever since the Reformation, we’ve been arguing about doctrine and how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Or what Jesus meant when he said “[fill in literally anything the Christ-man was recorded saying].” We stake our identities on orthodoxy (“right opinion” or belief): heady, precise, left-brained conformity. The East, on the other hand, seems a little less concerned with definitions and analysis. The East prefers the path of Beauty. Beauty is a funny, murky thing. She is frighteningly wonderful. Instead of relying on reason to persuade someone, she sneaks into your heart through the back door. Instead of memorizing creeds, she invites you to encounter the Holy through an icon. We are defenseless before her. While we’re busy loading our guns with verses to justify our positions, Beauty shows up in a robe of dazzling stars, and drops it before us. All reasoning ceases. We see through this Woman’s transparent body into the Beyond. She is a window into the Night. Dark, but beautiful. Beauty as Teacher For a long time, I’ve been wanting to host contemplative retreats. I specifically say “host” and not “lead.” Leading is not really my role; I prefer to make space for what the divine is up to in people’s lives, and make space for people to form deep connections with one another. I want to keep the “talks” to a minimum: the point of a contemplative retreat is not to talk about contemplation. It’s not to learn about the three stages of the interior life or to take notes on Teresa’s seven mansions. The point of a contemplative retreat is to contemplate. The point is to be swept up by the divine. This does not happen via the head. It comes, as the best things do, through the heart. Sometimes the head can be a pathway there. For this reason, I wouldn’t do away with talks altogether. Sharing stories has a way of leading to new insights and shifts in our interior landscapes. But I would never want to be the primary teacher. That job would be reserved for Beauty. She and her cohort of Sister Sky and Mother Earth, Brother Lake and Father Fire. This seems like a far more appropriate way to have a contemplative retreat. Through the coolness of the soil and the texture of the trees, our Teacher will beckon us closer. Through the presence of one another, we will be given a window to Mystery. Through the transparency of the night sky, we will peer into the deep Unknown. Beauty will drop her robes, and even if we have no words to describe it, it won’t matter. The goal, after all, is to be swept up by the divine. And while She is dark, She is also beautiful. The first Spiritual Audacity Retreat will be held in Texas April 23-26, 2020. Click here to find out more! Kelly Deutsch is a personal growth coach, international speaker, and bestselling author of the book, Spiritual Wanderlust: The Field Guide to Deep Desire. When she isn’t exploring the interior life, you might find her wandering under Oregonian skies or devouring red curry.	5,878
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...'cause today is being devoted to a long road trip. Never you mind why we're traveling on this Tuesday (it's medical but not scary, meaning the hours will pass slowly, but the day will be broken up by new and various bookstores so it's not all bad), just know that we're putting rubber on the road. Which means that this post is going to be a teensy bit abbreviated because we didn't think to get it written earlier. If you'll remember, we were about to share the secrets behind writing a best-selling novel. They weren't our secrets, though. These tips come from the giant brain known as Dean Koontz. And he should know how to write a best-selling novel since he's written so many of them. Random interruption here: Did you know that Amazon has a list of their top 100-selling authors? Yes, you probably did, you probably go -- here -- all the time, but it was new to us. Going over the list, we see that DK is currently clocking in at #63, which seems a little low to us. James Patterson is #1 in the rankings (not in our house, no, but we've only read part of one of his books and we're not even sure he wrote it. It was credited to JAMES PATTERSON and Maxine Paetro and it was a big best-seller. The novel might have gotten better and better as it went along but we bailed at Chapter Five and never looked back). Stephen King is #23 -- we love us some King -- with J.D. Robb at #25, and considering how many J.D. Robb books we're seeing lately, we'd have thought she'd have cracked the Top Ten easily. Before we were going to share Dean's secrets, we needed to know if the book was still in print. It isn't but, if you have a spare C-note, you'll find copies -- here -- and on Amazon. Even though we spent much less on our volume (25¢), at least your hardback will come with a only slightly torn dust jacket. We wish ours had a dust jacket. We'd be eBaying the thing tomorrow. Since it's jacket-less, and since our friends are generally fairly broke, we'll share a chunk of its wisdom with you. Even though it was written in 1981, it's still filled with some strong advice. To begin with, remember when we ranted that a writer could be fast or good but shouldn't count on being fast and good? As it turns out, that's just us. During his six years as a full-time novelist, Dean wrote quickly in an attempt to establish a sound financial base. He wrote bunches of everything, including porn. Sitting at the typewriter each and every day of the week, he was able to produce a series of Gothic romance novels. Each one took him about a week. It took us three months to do a Young Adult work-for-hire manuscript that was, we'd guess, at least 10,000 words shorter. Young Dean was a stud. He wasn't the only one, though. With a little bit of investigation, we discovered that Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote 413,000 words of published fiction in 1913 alone. John D. MacDonald, one of Harrell's favorite authors, said he completed 800,000 words of "typed manuscript" in FOUR MONTHS. He tapped out more words than many writers will produce in their entire lives. How did he do it? "I worked twelve and fourteen hours a day, seven days a week." (This from Maybe You Should Write a Book by Ralph Daigh, also out-of-print and currently available, used, for a penny. Worth it, too.) The takeaway from today's "How to write a best-seller" workshop? Put butt in chair. Keep it there and work. Hit the keys until your fingers bleed. We never said it would be easy. (Well, yes, last week we said it would be easy. You can't live in the past.) Quote for the day: “I think it is important to have goals in life, as long as you understand that achieving those goals will not make you happy” – Joe Queenan I really needed to hear this. I've been struggling to get to just 1000 words today, which I promised myself would be my absolute minimum daily output this month. Time to stop reading blogs and get back to work! Leave a Reply. is the electronic home of Renée Harrell. Did you bring any wine? It's about time you got here. We aren't kidding about the wine. This is where we talk about writing... ...our writing, mostly. We also discuss kiva.org, Hunting Monsters Press, the magic bakery, self-publishing, pseudonyms, life itself -- a bunch of things.	4,359
December 3, 2010 June 3, 2014 May 27, 2014 May 13, 2014 Furniture Recipes Stay Connected November 9, 2011 Check out my floors in the May/June 2012 issue of Natural Home and Garden! Also featured in the November 2012 issue of WNC Woman! My brown paper floors are by far my most viewed content, at the top of the list for FAQs, and seen more on Pinterest than anything else I’ve done. I think that’s kinda cool for such an easy and cheap floor solution! But I cannot take credit for this method alone, I originally saw this idea in a magazine that featured Jami from An Oregon Cottage. I changed a few things about the process to suit my tastes, but her site is also a great resource. I wanted to put all the details in one place (instead of scattered over several posts) to make it easier for you to start your project. Keep in mind this is the method I have done in my house over plywood subfloors. There are other methods out there, but I can only tell you what has worked for me. If you have cement/concrete subfloor, or are applying it over an existing floor, these instructions as written may not work. Please click here for advice from others. I also HIGHLY recommend getting a piece of scrap wood and testing the technique with your stain and poly of choice. I get a lot of people asking for help after they’ve done the whole room because the paper isn’t sticking, the stain isn’t even, or the poly is cloudy. At this point, it is very difficult for me to help. The way I developed my method was by getting a piece of plywood and trying it out. Yes it is extra work, but it is worth it to know exactly how the floor will look. Please understand that I get a lot of questions about this technique, and may not be able to get back to everyone in a timely manner, but I do try. A lot of help can be found in the comments section. I see mostly positive results and comments from people trying this in their home…but there are a few of you who report fails on several different levels. I cannot pinpoint the exact reason why it works for some and not for others, all things being equal. I am sort of gutsy when it comes to making major changes, but I suggest that you really think about this before ripping up whatever flooring you already have. It is a big job, not difficult, just time consuming. If you are not sure you could deal with a few imperfections or worst case, a total fail- you may want to think about it a little longer. I am sharing my own experience here, and I am not a flooring professional. Before you rip up your flooring, get a piece of scrap plywood (or something similar to your subfloor), and practice the technique from start to finish, including several coats of poly. But remember you will be working in a larger area than your sample. I do not recommend applying stain by hand in any way unless you can reach wall to wall (a hallway or staircase). It’s next to impossible to maintain a wet edge in larger rooms, and you will likely end up with lines. Once the stain has dried though, you have a few choices when applying poly. Personally I prefer the spongepad mop, but if you are more comfortable applying poly with a brush by hand…that may work best for you. If you have never applied poly before, a brush is the easiest way to control the amount. It is important (from what I’m reading from people who have tried it), that the poly be applied not to thin, not too thick. More often I think cloudiness occurs from a too-thick coat, but it can also happen if you apply it too thinly. The only way to find the right amount and application method is to test it in advance. You can also start in a closet, if available. With that said, if you’re ready to make a change, let’s get started! Want to rid your house of bad carpet/linoleum/vinyl/etc?! Here’s what you’ll need for a large room: Brown craft paper on a roll-$11 (Home Depot is where I got mine) Elmer’s Glue (by the gallon, check A.C. Moore/Michaels/other craft stores)- use a 40% off coupon, it will run about $12 Sponge pad on wood block mop head to apply poly- $5 3″ chip brush- $1.50 The start up materials cost about $100, but will likely last for a few rooms (or into other projects, it’s always handy to have an extension pole). I did about 650 sq ft in my home for around $200. First things first, prepare your floor. In my case, that involved removing the carpet, pad, and staples. I also sanded down any high spots (our subfloor had areas with plaster/glue or something on them), filled any deep nail holes, hammered in any loose nails, and filled any gaps between boards. Keep in mind when using filler that you usually want to overfill a bit because even though the package says it won’t shrink-it does. When it’s set, sand the filler down flush with the floor. I’ll be the first to tell you that I absolutely hate prep work-especially sanding. But trust me, don’t skip this. Go ahead and tape off your baseboards if you really don’t want to do any touch up work. Once your floor is filled, sanded, and vacuumed (or swept), you’re ready for the paper. It is probably faster to tear a bunch of paper, wad it up into garbage bags, then start. But I pretty much tear as I go, somehow seeing the progress helps and also allows me to take a break from sitting on the floor with glue hands. Get out your roll of paper and start tearing-keeping the pieces with straight edges separate from the ones torn from the middle of the roll. I like my pieces to be anywhere from 6″-12″ in diameter, but it really depends on the look you want. The smaller the pieces, the more wrinkly/leathery/vein-y the final result will be. As you tear, crumple the pieces into balls and toss into a bag or pile. Next, mix up your glue. I don’t like to mix a lot at a time because you may need to stop or take a break, and you won’t want the glue to dry up and go to waste. I typically mix up 2-3 “batches” using a 3:1 ratio of water:glue- so 6-9 cups of water to 2-3 cups of glue at a time. This will fit it a 2 gallon bucket easily. Stir it up with a paint stick or a gloved hand. Now you’re ready to start! Using a paint brush, brush the area you’re working in with the glue mixture then dunk 5-6 balls of paper in your glue mix. I have found this is the perfect amount of paper and working time for one person. As soon as you dunk the paper, you want to start submerging it and squeezing it out. I pull each ball out and set it on the floor until it’s time to use it. This is important: do NOT leave the paper in the glue too long. You will only have to leave it in too long once to realize how long that is. It will tear and break down and generally be a pain to use. So just dunk, squeeze, and set aside. Repeat if necessary. The straight edge pieces are perfect for the back of a stair tread (shown above) and underneath baseboard. I like to overlap the pieces by a few inches, obviously it will help with durability but it also looks more natural in my opinion. Don’t be afraid to brush glue mix on top of the pieces to help them lay flat and remove wrinkles. You’ll want to paper yourself out of the room, or in the case of the hallway, leave hopping spots to be filled in later. For a staircase, work every other stair. Heat helps the glue dry, so if you feel like getting out a space heater you can (pictured in the bathroom above). I have found that no matter how large the room-with or without heat- it usually takes no longer than 12 hours (or, overnight) to dry. Once the paper dries, inspect it for areas where the paper might have come up around an edge or wrinkled. Glue down/repair these areas as necessary. Then, it’s time to stain (if you want). I prefer the look of the stain, but if you like the natural color feel free to skip down below to the polyurethane section. My whole upstairs is done with Minwax Dark Walnut. This is an oil based stain, so beware. I have never used a water based stain, but I have had someone comment that they tried it and didn’t get good results. If you want to use water based stain, test it on some scrap paper first before proceeding. If you’re doing a room I highly recommend the extension pole/stain pad route. Here’s a neat tip to keep your roller trays in good shape: slide them into a small garbage bag and tape to secure. This is great for any oil based product, but helpful for latex paint too! Depending on how long your stain has been sitting on the shelf, you might want to store it upside down overnight to help get the colorant off the bottom of the can. Then you will need to stir it VERY well. Grab your extension pole and attach the lambswool pad to the wood block (if you’ve bought them separately, or bought one that came with the foam pad attached) by removing the wing nuts . The lambswool pad is meant for oil based products, so if you’re using water based stain this will not work (you’ll likely need two of the foam pads). Vacuum the lambswool pad for a minute to remove any loose fur or use a lint brush if your vacuum doesn’t have a hose. I cannot stress the importance of this step enough. The extension pole screws into a threaded hole on the wood block. It may take a few tries to get it to go, as the block and pad end up being more angled then you might think. It’s not a 90 degree joint, so just look closely at the threads and try to line up the pole. Maybe that’s too much information, but I seriously almost threw the whole thing out the window the first time I tried this. I was convinced that “universal” was false advertising on the pole’s part. Once you’ve got your stain pad-on-a-stick assembled, set your mop aside. Pour some stain into your roller tray. Using the chip brush, cut in around baseboards and trim. The stain pad makes staining a pretty quick process, so you can really cut in a fairly large area (like a whole wall or closet). When using the brush, dip it in the stain and then dab it in the top of the roller tray to remove excess. You really do not want to apply stain with a heavy hand. It is much better to need to dip your brush more often than to have a puddle of stain you need to disperse. It is for this reason that I absolutely DO NOT suggest the use of a foam brush (the black craft kind). I have tried them and trust me-the chip brush is much easier to control and about the same price. When cutting in, be sure to “pull” the stain out a good bit from the wall, about 6″ or so. This will make it easier to blend the edges with the bulky mop pad without jamming your baseboard or wall. Make sure you open any windows in the room before you start in with the mop because you won’t be able to access them later. Dip the stain pad-on-a-stick into the stain then blot it on the upper half of the tray by pushing gently downward to remove excess. Using long mop like movements, brush the stain on the floor in large sections. Blend it into the areas where you’ve cut in. I have found that staining the paper is a lot different than staining wood. Once you’ve laid down most of the stain from the pad (a few long straight mop strokes), you’ll have enough stain on the pad left to swirl around the edges and blend. While the stain is wet, you can move it pretty easily. I like to move it around until most of the stain looks like it’s absorbed into the paper and not just sitting on top, feathering out the edges as necessary. Just don’t try to go back over it a few minutes later. Remember to mop yourself out. This is sometimes easier said than done, so just plan carefully. This next part is probably the hardest. After doing several rooms/areas in all weather conditions, I have never found that the stain dries completely….but you really, really need to let it dry as long as possible. I do not suggest doing this in humid weather unless you have at least 2 days to let the stain dry. It may still be a little tacky, even after 24 hours. It took me a few tries to come up with the best method of applying the polyurethane given this annoying situation. You’ll be mopping first, then cutting in. I used a water based poly because it is a quick dry and less smelly. Considering the amount of time spent applying it, I highly recommend going this route. It is more expensive, but please do not make your decision based on price (this is already such a cheap flooring solution). If you choose oil based poly, test it in an inconspicuous area first! I have had MANY reports of oil based poly leaving splotches…so use at your own risk. Using the extension pole again, attach the foam mop head to the wood block. Cover your roller tray with a garbage bag and pour in your poly of choice. Dip the mop head in the poly, blot out the excess, then apply it in long strokes on the floor. Stay away from the walls, you can cut this area in with a brush later. Be quick and wear socks. Just get that first coat down with minimal walking. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be THIN. People have been reporting cloudy results, and this is generally caused by 1) thick coats applied consecutively and 2) not allowing the coats to dry sufficiently in between. Once the first coat dries, any tackiness from the stain will be gone and you can take your time cutting in around the baseboards and applying subsequent coats. Follow the directions for re-coating that your brand of poly suggests. I recommend no less than 12 coats. I get asked a lot about sanding in between coats. The truth of the matter is that it does make a difference in how the floor feels under foot. It likely extends the life of the floor as well. However, who wants to sand an entire room? I didn’t. I sanded my stair treads and landing, and these areas are really smooth and lovely. But of course- these areas are also not covered with rugs and furniture. So to me it’s a trade off. If you want perfectly polished looking smooth floors, definitely sand with 220 grit-maybe not between each coat but definitely after the first and before the last. To really finish the look, install quarter round or shoe molding. I’m in the process of starting this in my master bedroom, and it looks amazing. 1. How does the floor wear? Is it durable? Well, it’s paper. So, considering that…it is remarkably durable. Once the poly is fully cured (sometimes up to a week), I find it is pretty resistant to scratches from normal traffic. I have a large dog and she can scratch the floor if she gets really crazy. It is similar to hardwoods in that way. I can’t guarantee it will last for 10 years, but I have heard that it can. It’s all in the application and general care of the floors. We have area rugs and felt feet on our furniture. I do not have this installed in a bathroom or kitchen. 2. How long does it take? I would say no matter how small the area, you’ll need at least 3 days without stain and 4 with stain. Some of my readers have suggested other methods which may work for your application. Read about my experience with vinyl floor here and my concrete method here. Please test in a small area to be sure. 4. How do I care for my floor? I use the hard floor attachment on my vaccuum often, but sweeping will work too. Remember that dirt particles wear away the finish on any hard surface floor. I swiffer style mop (not a wet mop) mine about once a week. Here are some products I’ve found to be safe: Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner (either in the ready to use spray, or buy the concentrate and mix per directions) Holloway House Quick Shine Floor Finish (a liquid you mop on) <—-this stuff is THE JAM. It makes the floor look like it did day one and hides minor scratches very well And now here are some final shots from my house to get you motivated! Keep in mind all of these photos were taken on different days in different light, and you can see variation in how the floor photographs. But in person, it is very seamless and uniform. There are obviously a lot of choices when it comes to home flooring, so whether you choose to try the brown paper floor or not, I hope this tutorial was helpful in deciding! {Main Stairwell, March 2011} {Main Stairwell, September 2011} {Sneak Peak- Master Bedroom with Quarter Round Molding} For concrete/cement subfloors, here are a list of things I have read or been told by others that do or do not work. The 3:1 glue mix does not work for most. A 50/50 glue mix has worked for some. If you have to use the poly only method, you cannot apply stain over the poly-it must be mixed in for the initial paper application. Look for “stain + polyurethane” products. I do not know anyone who has done this, so I have no idea how the stain+poly will affect the color of the paper. I am curious to see if wallpaper glue would work. Some people have tried adding color to the poly in the form of paint or stain. Be sure you’re using like with like though, as in water based with water based or oil based with oil based. Related Posts February 24, 2014 March 31, 2011 Guest Room Paper Floor…DONE! November 9, 2011 [...] Since these are basement stairs, I didn’t spend time adding stain. I did already start upstairs with stain though, and it looks amazing. A complete tutorial can be found in my Ultimate Brown Paper Flooring Guide. [...] Anna@DirectionsNotIncluded November 9, 2011 I don’t know how I missed these before on your blog. Such a neat idea and they look great. This would have been a good solution in our old house. Robin March 24, 2013 I want to know what sort of prep work needs to be done if my concrete slab has previously had self adhesive tiles on it? Does the entire slab need to be ground down prior to application? Or will the left over adhesive help to make the paper stick? When we purchased our house the previous owners had applied these “lovely” little tiles. We wanted to stain and poly the concrete floors but would have had to grind the slab to remove all of the adhesive. Will the paper bags cover this so that we will not have to do this? I love this technique but I am not sure if I can get my husband on board if it will require us to remove the leftover adhesive. Erika February 19, 2014 Kim October 11, 2013 tammy November 6, 2013 I have used Carpenters Glue. Wood Glue, it works great. I also tried a different lower brand (grade) glue and I have had no problems. Just make sure it is a wood glue.I am trying this on a concrete floor next. I have done two bathroom counter tops, 1 main wall in my room and all the walls in my sons room and we love it.. My son loves it..lol..So now I am going to do our basement cement floor, I hope it turns out fingers crossed.. I hope you try this as well, you will not be sorry.. Aaron October 26, 2013 will this work on a concrete floor Angela November 9, 2011 I freaking LOVE it! My husband even wants to try it haha. But we live in a 100+ year old house with original tile floors. The tiles are hideous and broken etc so i’m not worried about keeping this original feature in our house. But since its a tile floor through out, not sure how we could manage doing something like this. I’m thinking maybe trying it in our bedroom. See how that goes. I’ll send you a message Great post! Sandie Stowe November 9, 2011 WOWOWOWOWOW!!!! I just absolutely love this!!! I need to do this one. I am pinning it now. It is just beautiful thanks so much for sharing. Kim November 9, 2011 Hooray! Great idea putting it all in one spot! I love the new updated pictures too! One question, how come the stairs look so different in the photos? Is it just the flash or did you do an additional treatment? I was the one that had contacted you about the water based stain, and it was a NIGHTMARE, I highly recommend doing the oil based stain instead. I did the powder room, and am going to venture forth with the rest of the house, starting with my son’s room next. I did end up doing my first “repairs” to the powder room floor after a full 4 months of hard use (including 4 toilet overflows thanks to my son). They were tiny areas that were easy to touch up with a Q-tip, stain and repoly’d. Have you had any of these areas occur in any of your floors yet? I noticed them because they were the color of the original contractor’s paper. They weren’t from scratches or anything like that either, and a few were almost perfectly round. My guess is that it was maybe my dog’s nails popping off a dot of the poly and the stain stuck to it? I’m not sure, but was wondering how your floor has been holding up. I did the shoe moulding too and it looks FANTASTIC! rachaelevans November 9, 2011 Kim- Yes I think it’s just the flash and also the correcting features on my photo software. I mainly put up the two shots so people could see how they are holding up over 6 months of use. I have done a couple of touch ups, nothing like what you described though-I wonder if it’s water spots? I don’t have this flooring in a bathroom, so I’m thinking that must be the difference. I touched up a part on the landing where my dog scratched it doing a nose dive off the stairs, using the same method basically-just dabbing some stain and brushing a bit of poly. But in general I have spent almost no time maintaining these floors other than using my sweeper attachment for my kirby and a vinegar/water spray mop. Kim November 9, 2011 Perhaps you’re right and it is water spots, my son has overflowed that bathroom a ton of times and it sometimes sits a while before I discover it! Grrrrr. Even though it did need a few “repairs”, it took less than 10 minutes and after 4 months of hard use, TOTALLY worth it. I did a little writeup and short video on my repairs in case any of your readers want to see what they looked like. http://mossisawesome.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/diy-update-paper-flooring-repairs-oh-nooooooo-not/ Katie Wells July 3, 2013 I truly love this flooring fix, I have old wood floors that looked great when I moved in 6 months ago and now they are dry looking and not shining I think I was fooled into thinking they have sanded and restained all of them. So this is a cheap ( hate to use that word) way to fix it I am going to try it Thank You Angelle September 4, 2013 They could just need to be waxed and buffed if they’re old wood floors. My grandparents have to do that to their floors. Shira November 10, 2011 I am thinking about doing this in my kitchen. My mom thinks it will not hold up to traffic and my dogs! My daughter thinks it will be rough and hard to keep clean! What do you think?!?! Thanks Shira November 10, 2011 Also, my floor is bare concrete! rachaelevans November 10, 2011 Shira- It is holding up very well in our house, and I have a large dog and 3 cats. It’s super easy to clean, but if you choose a dark color it will show dirt more (like any dark hardwoods). I have no trouble keeping it clean though, just sweeper vac and mop. Tamra September 13, 2012 I did this technique on my kitchen walls about 10 years ago. I saw it on the hgtv or diy channel, I cant remember which, it is still in tact! There is one place above the kitchen window that needs pasted down again…but its not torn or ripped, just detached a little bit. So I can vouch that this is a fabulous technique!! You can decorate the room any way you want, it goes with everything!! I never thought to do it on my floors tho!! That is fantastic!! I am going to be doing this with the darker stain on my floor!! I have horrible carpet and its old and ugly!! This is a much cheaper and beautiful alternative to hardwood, which can be very expensive!! I LOVE IT!! Very creative!!! Kandece October 17, 2013 Hi, I have a quick ( I hope! ) question about what you used on the kitchen walls. I am currently doing my kitchen black splash I added food coloring to the glue mix and I love the color, but before I put everything back where it goes, I was wondering if you used just poly to cover it or something else. The poly I used on my bathroom floor looks great but it is flammable. Is there something else I should use? Also do you happen to know where I can find a Dark Forest Green stain? My kitchen and dining room floors are next and that is the color my hubby and I agreed on. Please and thank you… Nicole November 11, 2011 Im wondering what your thoughts of doing this technique on a gass fireplace wall. Do you think the poky would hold? It’s not a fireplace we use on a regular basis and when in use it’s not on for a long period of time. I’d love your input. Thanks. rachaelevans November 11, 2011 Nicole- I’d be very hesitant to use this technique in that application, you would definitely need to use a different product than poly- something made for high heat. If you try it let me know how it works out! Julie Forst November 11, 2011 What about trying this on a wall? Can you apply the stain on a sheet rock wall covered in the brown paper? rachaelevans November 11, 2011 Julie- Yup, you can absolutely do this on a wall…I think that was actually one of the first uses I came across for this technique. Julie Forst November 12, 2011 Just wondering have you ever tried a water based stain? I have heard the using oil based and water based don’t mix well together….I was wanting to try this on my bathroom walls…..I just love the look on your floors!!! rachaelevans November 12, 2011 Julie- I have not tried water based stain, but people have told me it doesn’t work well. Waterbased floor poly can go over oil based stain. If you’re doing it on a wall though, you may want to check out this method: http://www.diyinspiration.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22 Julie Forst November 12, 2011 Forget what I asked about the water based stain, I just got thru reading that you don’t suggest using that…Would you suggest using just a chip brush on a wall, I was just planning on doing the bottom half around the bathroom…the walls are painted right now, I have a wall paper border thru the middle and I just wanted the bottom half done with the craft paper… and the bathroom isn’t all that big…. rachaelevans November 12, 2011 Yeah if it’s a smallish area (I did my whole hallway by hand), I would use the chip brush. It will be much cheaper than getting into the mop situation and probably won’t take too long. Good luck! Kimberly Waggett May 20, 2012 I did the wall in my guest bathroom (no shower) over 10 years ago and it still looks great. I took brown craft paper on a roll from Home Depot and put all kinds of paint on it. I tore it into pieces and used walpaper glue to adhere it to the wall. Everyone loves it Molly Bermea November 11, 2011 Hey! love this. found on pinterest (of course). I posted it in the comments to a post on COLOURlovers.com regarding Eric Carle’s painted tissue method…. anyway, we got off in left field…. I went back to link someone to the instructions which you have now FULLY added so HUGE thank you to you. What I really wanted to say was, what if you used a Marine Varnish – yes, it would probably be super smelly to apply but wouldn’t it hold up to the years and cleaning, etc? How do you clean the floors, are you able to mop or spot scrub if needed? That is why I was thinking the Marine Varnish would be a hefty solution. Great job and awesome that you are sharing it! btw. I am the community curator / blog editor over at COLOURlovers.com keep up the good work! rachaelevans November 12, 2011 Molly Bermea November 11, 2011 apologies. never-mind on the cleaning Q as you answered that above. rachaelevans November 12, 2011 Molly- I would think marine varnish would work great, it didn’t come to mind when I was starting the project though. Cat May 4, 2013 I know this post was awhile back, but I thought I would share what I have learned about Marine Varnish. Varnish is made by cooking a resin and then adding Mineral Spirits to ease application. When it is exposed to the air, the oil evaporates, leaving you with a finish film. Marine varnish is simply made with extra oil so that it will be softer and more flexible. That is great for things like yardarms, but not so good for floors as the added oil makes a film that is significantly less resistant to abrasion, heat, solvents, and moisture. I hope this helps. We are moving into our new house in a month and I am already planning on doing this in at least one room to replace the old carpet. Thank you so much for doing such a complete tutorial on the process. Cat Rina October 3, 2013 I am curious. I want to do this flooring in my bedroom that I intend to turn into a studio (with a bed lol) since I am trying to start a costume business in the near future. I live in a mobile home and I have been told by my family that a floor like this would never work because it’s a mobile home and we live in a humid area (Texas coast). My family says that the floor will bend and move too much so that the poly would break not to mention the humidity would prevent the flooring from ever curing. Do you think Marine Varnish might be a better choice for my situation? If it’s made to be flexible and all. Would a roll-y chair and usual foot traffic be too much for Marine Varnish? GeezLouise November 3, 2013 We have a manufactured home with particle board subfloor that flexes and have painted floors then polyurethaned without any cracking. We did not attempt to fill the gaps between sheets of particle board with anything other than extra paint and poly. The technique recommended by our local hardware store: 1) oil-based primer, to seal and prevent the flooring from swelling and becoming rougher as it would if the first coat was water-based or latex. Especially in the bathroom. 3) water-based polyurethane. Remember, poly isn’t for standing water situations such as shower pans or pools. On one floor, we’ve had 3 years and 200+ lb wheelchair and Hoyer lift and hospital bed without problems. It does look like it needs another coat of poly. We live in a dry climate and discovered that 7-10 days was not enough dry time* and that several thin coats is a far better idea than thick. * The bed, chair, and lift weight is on very small area of the wheel that touches the floor so there is a LOT of of weight on that one spot, and the wheels swivel in place. Fresh coatings tend to smudge out away from the weight. The wheels smeared-tore the top layers of finish off the floor the first time, after about a week. Other rooms that were painted later, we used thinner coats and they dried much more quickly, but we still waited 2 weeks to begin adding furniture to the rooms and one particularly ponty-legged piece still smudged the coating in an area where the coating was applied too thickly. After a month, they were plenty cured and the dog toenails don’t gouge the paint. Gouging would probably be more of an issue on the softer vinyl kitchen flooring. We have painted some of the vinyl in an inconspicuous place to see how it looks, before moving onto the kitchen and bathroom, but not in a place where the dogs are likely to skid across it. I would guess the paper flooring would wear similarly to paint. Hope that helps. Teri November 14, 2011 We have done this treatment on our concrete subfloor but did not think it would work upstairs on the wood subfloor. We are getting ready to buy laminate. How is the noise level? also, how does it feel on the wood sub floor? Thanks Katrina December 21, 2011 Teri I am thinking of doing this on a concrete subfloor, what alterations to the above directions did you have to make since it was concrete or did you not? Also, did you do any kind of a concrete sealer on the floor before doing this? Teri December 25, 2011 No alterations on concrete and no concrete sealer. Just make sure you use concrete filler/ patch where here are holes and where the tack strip comes up. It will sink some as it dries so wait and make sure it is even with the other floor. Also. as the paper dries, it shrinks so overlap so you don’t get small triangles of concrete showing. I have had mine over 2 years and love it. i am doing my master bedroom next week. It has held up really well with 4 kids and 3 dogs. Lots of compliments. Let me know if you have any more questions for concrete. Karen January 10, 2012 Terri , Am I correct ? Did you use the same formula for wood floors with sucess? I would love to do this in my basement , I dont want to put much in it as were not down there much. It is concrete. Thanks for any reply Shana Frye January 20, 2012 Terri or Karen if you have attempted it, Did you use the glue then stain then poly method or just the poly method? Thanks. Teri February 8, 2012 I did the treatment on my concrete floors. I did not stain mine but I had not seen this website at the time. I saw it in a friends home. We have had it almost 3 years and it has held up well. I am going to do it on my stairs here soon. Dana February 7, 2012 I would like to know what method was used with concrete as well. I’m looking to do this to my basement within the next week or two. I just want to make sure it will stick and stay on for a long time. Just making sure you used the formula for the wood floors. (what Karen had asked) Amanda July 29, 2012 I am in the process of doing this project on my concrete subfloor. Did you have a hard time with it sticking to the concrete? Any extra advice would be greatly appreciated. I am about ready to cry!! rachaelevans July 29, 2012 Amanda- Are you using poly or glue to adhere it? Erika January 9, 2012 My husband and I have just discovered that our first floor is concrete and we were planning to brown-paper the entire house, major set back until I saw your comment. How did you apply it to concrete? Did you use the poly-paper-poly method or exactly as she does it to the wood sub-floor? We want to stain the paper if at all possible. Any suggestions/feedback are welcome. Teri February 8, 2012 I used 50/50 glue and water and then poly over the top. I did not stain but I had not seen that idea when I did mine. Gwen March 28, 2013 Terri thanks for all the updates. No problems on the concrete with moisture issues since you didn’t use a sealer. I truly love this look! Jonella November 14, 2011 I am going to try this next week on my kitchen table. It is laminate or verneer or something to that nature – not REAL wood anyway – and the finish is coming off from using cleaning chemicals when kiddos & hubs make messes. I can’t wait to try it out. Thanks for all the tips! Jen~ November 17, 2012 AWESOME idea!!! My table top IS wood, but has a huge water stain, and a subsequent iron burn from trying to remove the water stain!!! It’s also a reddish stain that is outdated…I’m gonna do mine with the ebony stain, and LARGE pieces of paper!!! I’m also thinking this will negate our need for a table pad and always worrying about hot dishes….I presume it won’t mark with heat after the poly is dry….but not 100% sure…. Thanks for the inspiration!! Jessica October 28, 2013 Covering the table is a great idea ~ I’m gonna try it too! There must be plenty of things this treatment would be good for. Like cabinets! Rhonda November 15, 2011 Hey Rachael ~ I just laid my paper onto a concrete floor last night & am very pleased with the overall look/color. But, even though I worked every piece by hand to try to remove any air, I have quite a few dried ridges/lumps. I’m not sure if I should leave them or just “Varathane” over them? Thanks!! rachaelevans November 15, 2011 Rhonda- You can slice them open with a razor blade and try to re-adhere them if it bothers you. I had a few also but just poly-ed over them. Rhonda November 17, 2011 Thanks! Well, I did 2 coats of the poly, but have decided that the ridges that open to the end of a paper, will need to be repaired or they could really be a problem. I’ll do as you suggest, cut and re-adhere using a small artist’s brush. I’ll let you know how it works. Rhonda December 15, 2011 Well – I’m finally getting around to my concrete floor update… I started the cut/adhere process, but it was soooo time consuming that I just cheated a bit & focused on just securing the edges not removing all the pockets. Luckily for us, we like a bit of an imperfect / rustic feel!! Then I finished poly-ing (I have 12 coats)!! I have decided that the reason that my finished product is less than smooth is the fact that my sub-floor is concrete. All the examples I’ve seen on the internet were on a wooden sub-floor, so maybe the wood absorbed the glue/water mixture better. Anyway, the next space I try I’ll adjust the amount of glue I use AND use a squeegee. Nontheless…even with its imperfections it is still a bazillion times better than the carpet we took up and we LOVE it!! Thanks for the inspiration! Rhonda December 15, 2011 Oh yeah, I forgot to mention a discovery I made about my “Kraft” paper. I bought it at Home Depot & it was called EASY MASK BUILDER’S PAPER. It is a heavier paper (kind of like a grocery bag) and as I was tearing it into pieces, I thought I’d definitely buy a thinner paper next time because it would be easier to crumple. I also noticed that it had two distict different sides…one was a bit darker than the other. I made special effort to place the darker side to the concrete throughout the room since I wanted the lighter tan on top so I could stain it like everyone else did. That is NOT how it worked!! Even though the dark side was face down, that is the color that shows through. I did accidentally put the lighter side down on one piece and had to step away for a few minutes. When I came back it was noticably a tan color; far lighter than the rest of the floor! Ultimately, I did NOT have to stain my paper because it’s a pretty reddish brown color already, which blends perfectly with the red ceramic tile in the entryway!!! Needless to say, I’ll be sticking with this same paper on future floor projects!!! I had seen some color discrepancies on other webpages, but they didn’t know why those occurred. It’s very possible that they too used a paper with two distinctly different sides. alice October 25, 2013 Hi, Did you do a basement floor? I am worried it will get moisture under the paper. my basment is very dry on the floor but I run a dehumidifier in the summer. thanks. I pulled out carpet it there was so much dirt under it!! I like the look and the price. Good day. 2many580 April 8, 2013 Could you use a turkey baster to fix bubbles? Karen September 14, 2013 I have the floor down over old hospital type flooring and it looks great. i’m having an issue with the stain. when I apply the stain it will turn white and cloudy in places. did I must use to much glue I used 50-50. did I not let it dry long enough? (24 hours Louisiana humidity) or is it because I used new formula of Elmer’s glue? any ideas would be greatly appreciated. thank you! Rachael Evans September 16, 2013 Hi Karen, I’m late on this I think…how is it looking today? I used 3:1 glue ratio, so I’m afraid I’m not sure what went wrong. What stain are you using? leslie November 15, 2011 I’d like to do this in my kitchen which has older asphalt (I think) tile; looking for any pretreat info, plus how do I know whether the glue method or using the poly and paper only is right for my situation. Which Elmer’s glue are you using–white glue or glue all? rachaelevans November 15, 2011 Leslie- I don’t know much about tile, I’d try the poly only method in a small area to test adhesion. I use white glue, but I doubt it will stick too well to tile. Master Bedroom Paper Floor November 16, 2011 Brown Paper, I Heart You November 16, 2011 Brown Paper + Walnut Stain = Mocha Love November 16, 2011 Tammy Preston November 19, 2011 Any thoughts on colored craft paper? Say “ocean” blue? rachaelevans November 20, 2011 Tammy- My dad used red rosin paper (with the poly-only method since he had concrete subfloor) and he loves it! Kim B November 22, 2011 This is so awesome! I have applied the brown paper directly over my linoleum in a half bathroom using the same method (except for the stain) and it looks GREAT! It wasn’t hard at all….and very inexpensive. Thank you!!! Andrea December 17, 2011 I’m planning on doing this over linoleum also. Did you use glue or poly to stick the paper down? rachaelevans December 18, 2011 Andrea- I have heard that the glue will work on linoleum, but you”l have to test to be sure. Melly October 1, 2013 rachaelevans – Can you post a picture of your dads floors I prefer not to uses a stain and curious how the floors will look. I found the paper for $12 a roll here http://www.homedepot.com/p/Trimaco-36-in-x-167-ft-Red-Rosin-Medium-Weight-Paper-35145/202040751#.UkslC1OE5_Q Cgiupp February 8, 2012 Any news on how this worked over linoleum? I am planning on doing this over a very ugly linoleum bathroom wall…any advice? Lisa June 30, 2013 I wonder if sanding the tiles with a coarse grade of sandpaper will help-it would rough up the surface, so maybe the glue or poly would stick better. Katrina Sibley October 8, 2013 Dayna November 25, 2011 I am waiting for the glue to dry on the stairs now. So far it looks awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome idea! Teri November 27, 2011 How was the prep work on the stairs? I did this treatment about 3 years ago on my concrete sub floor. It still liiks great and I love it. I am curious as to how well it works on wood subfloor. Thanks, Marg December 16, 2011 Hi! I LOVE this and going to do my great room ASAP! I have a question though, what filler did you use on your subfloor? Thanks for the Super idea! rachaelevans December 16, 2011 Marg December 16, 2011 Thanks so much Rachel! Andrea December 17, 2011 Has anyone done this over tile? If so did you have a problem with grout lines showing? Taylor December 18, 2011 What did you do to fill the gap between the bottom of your baseboards and the floor? If I remove the flooring I have now, the bottom of the baseboards will not be flush with the floor any longer. Advice? rachaelevans December 18, 2011 Taylor- You can attach quarter round to the bottom of the baseboard and that should cover the gap. I’ve started doing this in my master and the hallway. The 2nd Floor « 6826 Freeman Ridge December 22, 2011 [...] pretty terrible if it isn’t stained, but it only costs about $25 plus polyurethane to do. This post was really helpful. She’s done most of her house with this floor [...] Taneshia December 27, 2011 I have some walls that are in bad shape. They are not horrible, but not smooth like walls should be and regular paint on them looks awkward. Could this be a solution? rachaelevans December 28, 2011 Oh definitely! I would smooth out what you can, and just go right over top. Any roughness will probably add some nice texture to the overall look! sharon March 16, 2012 I have done a wall with tissue paper and glued it to be wrinkled – to give the wall texture. this would solve your imperfect wall problem, and it looks amazing. i use Mod Podge – not elmers… glue, paper, and glue on top… then add wall paint – i did mine in a “champagne” metallic. it is the most talked about accent in my home – even over my glass mosaic stairs! Dutch Boy Paint Review December 28, 2011 marilyn December 28, 2011 This is so awesome….i have to try this! Rebecca December 28, 2011 My sister did the poly only method on a bathroom wall. It looks great. I never thought about doing it on a floor. Gorgeous! April December 29, 2011 I saw this on Pinterest. I absolutely love it! I am in desperate need on a new kitchen floor and I want to do this, but the hubs doesn’t want to take the time. Hoping he will keep putting it off and I will do this while he is gone to basic training next year. Starla December 31, 2011 had random white spots after drying overnight. Any ideas what caused it – glue puddles, air bubbles, etc? rachaelevans January 2, 2012 Starla- I’m not sure what happened, I’ve never seen that before. Did you use Elmer’s white glue? Kim at Ooooh, I Could Totally Do That! May 20, 2012 I had that issue, and discovered it was from the spackle I had used to fill the imperfections in the floor with. As I was applying the paper with my hands, plus the wet glue/water mixture, it just smeared some of it before it dried. I also had an issue near my walls a couple of times. The “crumbs” from the wallboard liquified in the glue/water mix and made white spots or smears. I ended up papering over them for fear of them picking up the stain differently. That fixed the problem. Kelly Lamb aka Sew Lambitious LLC January 3, 2012 I originally saw this technique done in a magazine too. It was back in the 90′s. I am thinking it was in a Southern Living Magazine for a cabin. I am considering doing this in a room that the wood floors are bad grade of wood and separating. I will caulk them first where needed. Thanks for the tutorial. There are a number of us discussing this on my FB wall right now. Kelly on FB Patience January 4, 2012 I love this idea!! We are adding on a mud room/laundry room to our home this spring and this will save tons of money on flooring!! Thanks for the great idea!! Sheila Lunski January 4, 2012 Love this idea. I have seen this done on boxes, vases, etc. Never dreamed you could do this to a floor. I have a beautiful little potting shed that is MY SPACE! Think I will do this to the floor and shelves. Thank you for jarring my imagination. Angie Williams January 5, 2012 Hi all, I really want to do this in my basement over the concrete subfloor. I have two questions. Can I do this with in floor heat (Wirsbo)? And how would I remove it if I need to? Thanks! rachaelevans January 6, 2012 Angie- I would not recommend this for use with in floor heating. Removal would involve a lot of sanding and scraping…I would just lay replacement flooring right over top (we are planning to upgrade to hardwood to match the downstairs eventually and I will not be removing the paper floor). Donna January 16, 2012 I was working on putting the brown paper on my basement floor using the poly-paper-poly method, but it is not sticking. What could I be doing wrong? rachaelevans January 16, 2012 Donna, what kind of poly are you using? Donna January 16, 2012 Pro Finishers Oil based Poly for floors-professional grade rachaelevans January 17, 2012 I have only used water based poly, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work….you have cement floors? Are you brushing the poly on the floor and dunking the paper? Donna January 17, 2012 I brushed the poly on the concrete then I tried it both ways(dipping the paper and dry) Neither one wanted to adhere. I brushed the poly on top, but the edges kept coming up and the centers kept coming up even after I smooth it out. Not sure if the concrete is too cool or If I should try the glue method instead. Teri February 8, 2012 Use 50/50 glue and water. We did that on our concrete floor almost 3 years ago. It still looks great. After it dries, poly. Amber January 6, 2012 I’m just wondering about the removal process on plywood and also on concrete. I need to know simply because my landlord gave me permission but I need to inform him if there would be any difficulty in doing such later on. His floors are terrible and this would be an awesome fix. Also can you do this on cabinets, cause that would be tremendous? Amber January 6, 2012 Also I see a picture of the main stairwell and in the light it looks like you may have used a different stain. If so what was the color because that is just gorgeous! rachaelevans January 6, 2012 Amber- I used the same stain throughout, it’s just the lighting. The stain is Minwax Dark Walnut. rachaelevans January 6, 2012 I wouldn’t attempt to remove it, it would involve a lot of sanding and scraping. Generally speaking one of the advantages of this flooring is that you could put pretty much anything right over top (with proper prep of course). I’ve seen it on walls, so you could probably do it on cabinets as well, just add a sealer like you would on the floors because of the heavy use. Amber January 6, 2012 Laura's Last Ditch--Adventures in Thrift Land January 6, 2012 This looks great! With all the steps involved, I can hardly believe you did nearly a whole house! Laura's Last Ditch--Adventures in Thrift Land January 6, 2012 This looks great! With the number of steps involved, I can hardly believe you did nearly your entire house! Laura's Last Ditch--Adventures in Thrift Land January 6, 2012 With so many steps to the process, I can hardly believe you did almost an entire house! It looks great! Jackie January 7, 2012 Thank you!! I love this flooring option. Thanks for working so hard to get us all of this information. I hopped over to the Oregon Cottage and saw she had a lot of issues with it wrinkling after glueing. Did you have this happen too? I feel like dunking the paper in the glue would really help. Also maybe using a plastic putty scraper on it? THANKS! rachaelevans January 9, 2012 Jackie- I didn’t have too much problem with wrinkling, but from what I’ve heard typically the wrinkles disappear after drying. I do dunk my paper in glue. Paper Flooring: Red Rosin Remix January 10, 2012 Hannah Wemitt January 11, 2012 Well, we just completed our basement! Concrete floors in January made for a cold and difficult task, but it worked out great! We did have to use a 50/50 glue mix for a better grip on the floor, and we had a lot of problems with wrinkling, a lot are still there but we gave it a week to set and a lot of them did go away. We will just have to live with the wrinkles that are there. We used oil based stain and oil based poly and while Oregon Cottage mentioned oil spots, we had no problems. It’s so hard to know what will happen with your floors until you are doing it! My husband was REALLY skeptical about it in the beginning, but he lovingly gave in to my crazy and we did 650 square feet, and he’s in love with it!! Channinge January 14, 2012 My house has old, real hardwood floors..will this work over the top of them? It would be way to much to pull up these floors Victoria January 14, 2012 My daughter and I did this at her house years ago, only we did it on the wall. It looks like a leather patched wall. We stained the paper first, before applying it. Alyssa January 16, 2012 Has anyone tried this with white paper, like butcher paper or something? Sue Flaming October 29, 2012 Be careful, true butcher paper is waxed on one side and it may not stick! You may be able to find rolls of craft paper, make sure they are not wax coated. I did mine with White paper from Amazon. It worked great. Jay Oldridge May 6, 2014 Can you post a picture of what the white floor looks like that you did? Thanks! Jay Beth January 17, 2012 I love this idea, for over a year i was trying to decide on a floor to cover the old 50′s linoleum tiles in my kitchen. after bugging the hubby for only one day. i started doing my floor! However, i am very concerned about putting my kitchen table back on the floor. I have this horrible fear that i am going to put my table back in place and next time i go to move it, it is just going to rip up an entire part of my floor! How long did you wait until you put furniture back in the rooms? I also have 2 dogs and 2 small kids that have been locked out of the kitchen for days! Thanks for the awesome idea! rachaelevans January 17, 2012 Beth- I waited 24 hours, but really if there is enough poly on it, it shouldn’t rip up. You can scratch it- like hardwood-so I put felt feet on all my furniture. Honestly you have to try pretty hard to scratch it, I’ve found it to be really durable (we have a large dog and 3 cats). Kayla December 20, 2012 You said you did it on linoleum tiles? Did you have to change any of the steps in the original process? And how has your floor held up? Jona January 23, 2012 Joanne Straker January 23, 2012 I absolutely LOVE this!! I would love to do it everywhere in my home but my husband will not go for that.. BUT I do have a craft room and I was looking to replace the flooring in there.. I think its going to be a GREAT way to show my creativity! Thank you for posting Linda Downard January 24, 2012 currently doing my batroom floors in this treatment, i have some brands that i cut out of roll of wallpaper i have going to place cow brands in the last coats to give it more of western look, will take pictures to post on how this looks, also going to do my counter tops in this treatment, thanks for posting this great moneysaveing idea thinking of all kinds of projects to do. thank you cowgirl in oklahoma Linda Downard January 24, 2012 also useing feed sacks cut picture out of cows to go in front of commode. cowgirl in oklahoma Kate January 29, 2012 I love this idea, though, my question is, did you manage to cover the whole floor and poly it all at once, or do you think it would be possible to do this in sections? I have huge living room furniture that doesn’t have anywhere to go for storage. rachaelevans January 29, 2012 Kate- I did whole rooms at a time, but it is possible to do smaller areas. It’s a little bit more difficult when you’re using stain, but if you leave a jagged edge and try to place the seam under a rug/furniture/other large item you should be fine. I have 3 seams where the hallway meets all of the rooms upstairs, and it’s not that noticeable IMO. Teddy January 30, 2012 Has anyone tried this process on outdoor concrete? If so, how did it hold up? rachaelevans January 30, 2012 I haven’t heard from anyone who has, but I’d only try it if it was a covered patio…and even then it’d have to really not get wet at all. But that’s just my opinion! Teddy January 30, 2012 Thanks! I value your opinion! Really excited about this process! Shelly January 30, 2012 I just saw this wonderful idea and have purchased everything I need to get started. I live in a log home that we built ourselves and have a bonus room floor and a basement ceiling I need to do something with. I am so excited to get started. I was wondering if anyone had ever colored the glue mixture before dipping the paper? I wanted to do the basement ceiling red, but don’t like the idea of painting over my head especially with carpet on the floor. My thought was to tint the glue mixture with a little red paint before putting it up. Any thoughts on this? Shelly January 30, 2012 I love this and have purchased everything I need to get started. I live in a log home that we built ourselves, and we are out of money to finish up some of the little things that need done. This is the perfect solution. I have a bonus room floor and a basement ceiling and support beams to do. Since our home is pretty much all wood, I was going to do the basement ceiling with faux tin tiles and paint them a brick red. However, I think this will look much better and I know the cost is far less!!! My question is this…Has anyone ever tinted the glue before dipping the paper? I was thinking of adding a little paint color to the glue so I could have the red tint that I want. Painting a ceiling does not excite me in the least since I have carpet on the floor. Any advice?? Shelly January 30, 2012 Sorry, I posted my comment twice. I made several attempts at posting and it wasn’t taking. Please disregard the second post. Laura February 3, 2012 I love this treatment! It’s brilliant, cheap, and looks awesome -especially since there are so many options to really make it your own. Thank you for posting this guide. I’ve done it on my wall with printed photos (http://not-the-brady-bunch.blogspot.com/2011/03/family-room-update.html) , and I just did it on my basement stairs (http://not-the-brady-bunch.blogspot.com/2012/01/basement-stairs-update.html). We are finishing our basement, and I am going to do this with wrapping paper in my new craft room. I’m so excited to see how it turns out. If it works well on that concrete subfloor, I’m going to try it on my concrete front porch! star February 6, 2012 I have hardwood flooring. WOuld i just put this right over my hardwood? rachaelevans February 7, 2012 Star- I don’t typically recommend doing this over hardwood 1) because I’d trade my paper for hardwood any day and 2) the paper will not hide the spaces between planks. dre October 1, 2012 Thanks for such a great tutorial! We just followed your instructions to paper over a terribly bashed up hardwood floor in our house. It’s not possible to refinish the floor at this time (possibly at all), and we thought this would be a great alternative. The way we kept the planks from showing was to do 2 layers of paper. The first layer definitely still showed the planks, but the second layer is totally smooth. It’s more work, but in this case we feel it made a stronger and better flooring. cjy February 9, 2012 Really gorgeous! Looks like a LOT of work but what a beautiful result. jan February 16, 2012 This is terrific. So glad I discovered your site. I’d like to try a light, antique white maybe, finish for my shabby chic bedroom. Would I need to use oil based paint? rachaelevans February 16, 2012 amber February 17, 2012 I am wanting to use this technique to cover my ugly formica backsplash in my kitchen. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated. rachaelevans February 18, 2012 I haven’t done a counter surface before, but I would suggest sanding the formica very well. Make sure the glue/water mixture sticks first- you may need to use poly instead. Good luck! Shannon February 20, 2012 Thanks for the inspiration and the instructions. I am making the final run today to finish purchasing all of the needed items. Now that the time is here, I’m getting a little nervous I hope mine turns out as well as yours did!! Thanks again!! (Found you through Pinterest Leann February 21, 2012 I used this technique 14 years ago on the walls in my laundry room. Holds up extremely well, easy to wipe down. I still receive compliments on how great it looks. Annie~~ February 21, 2012 Hey thanks for this! We were about to do the floor in the livingroom, but I just found out I’m preggo. So now money is tight. So I had a thought of cutting the paper into rectangles like hardwood. Have any thoughts? rachaelevans February 22, 2012 I have seen it done Annie! I’ll try to find the link… Melissa February 21, 2012 I pinned this months ago and I think it’s finally time to start! I am only doing the stairs to my basement. Sorry if this has been asked already (I didn’t see it though), did you apply the paper to the face of the stairs/risers or just wrap it around the bullnose of the stairs? Hope that makes sense! Thanks! Jonathan February 29, 2012 If you’re having trouble with the stain remaining tacky, you might want try wood dye instead. It should dry completely, as it is water or alcohol based instead of oil based. You could also use a pigmented poly instead of clear poly. Best of luck! Kathryn Martini March 3, 2012 Thank you for your response to my comment on one of your other posts about the gap between the stairs and the skirt board. I’ll be working on that later. My wife and I did half of our hallway and every other stair two weeks ago. Last week we did the other half and every other stair and it went perfectly well until it was time for the stain. Apparently we did not stir the stain well enough because the color came out very differently. Here is a link to my blog post about it and you can see what we’ve done: http://recoveringstraightgirl.wordpress.com/pinterest-projects/brown-paper-floor/ We decided to repaper the entire half of the hallway that the color did not come out and we used poly to adhere the paper because it was on top of poly’d floor. This time when we applied the stain, it came out streaky and much darker than the other half. We don’t know what we’re doing wrong. How have you matched different floors coming together? At this point we’re thinking we will need to tear up what we’ve put down on the second half and sand it down and start over with paper/glue combo instead. Do you have any thoughts? Have you ever stained OVER stained and poly’d paper? Would the stain even take do you think? As always, thank you. I hope my mistake will help others! We’re all learning as we go I guess!!! rachaelevans March 3, 2012 Hi there! I’m so sorry it’s not going smoothly…it is difficult to try and split up areas. I think probably at this point it might be best to take some 120-150 grit and sand the area, then use the glue mixture to lay new paper…if it’s easier to tear it up though I might go that route and start fresh. I do not think the stain will penetrate the poly. Repairs can be tricky, fortunately I have never had to do any (I think it’s more straightforward without stain). Where my hallway meets all three rooms there is a subtle difference because they were all done at different times. I basically applied the stain by hand in these areas, using a rag to match the color as best as I could. I wish I could be of more help! Let me know what you decide to do. Kathryn Martini March 4, 2012 Thanks so much. We tried the sanding route and in the end decided to rip it all up which was NOT easy. At all. I would recommend to always try an alternative route rather than rip it up, but it’s done now and we will start again next weekend on that half. I think that applying the stain VERY carefully will be the trick. I will certainly let you know how it turns out when it’s finished. I think our problem was applying the stain to the pieces that were poly’d down. If we had wiped it off as we went, I don’t think we would have had this problem. All I can say is that we are learning what not to do for the next project! Cheryl Bruette March 5, 2012 So, I am thinking of doing a headboard in this. It should last awhile don’t you think? I would get the plywood and then do this same technique on the plywood. I think it would be different but yet cool! rachaelevans March 6, 2012 Cheryl- It’d probably last forever on a headboard! Let me know if you do it! I love you floors! I’ve been coveting them for months now, and I think I am finally ready to tackle this in my own home. Just have one question though. When working one room at a time how did you stop in doorways, etc so that once you had them all done it looks seamless? For example, the picture of your hallway going into a bedroom? I’m planning to do most of my main level. I have an open floor plan and included will be; kitchen, breakfast nook, hallway, entryway, bathroom and laundry room. The space is just to big to do all at once and still live in our house Any tips for breaking this into smaller projects would be great! Thanks! rachaelevans March 9, 2012 Jen- Anytime you want to stop, I suggest leaving a jagged paper edge, and after you stain everything, only poly till about 3″ from your edge. It probably won’t be perfect (mine isn’t…) but if you use rugs or try to plan it around furniture you won’t notice the breaks! Good luck! Thanks Rachel! I’m planning to do this over my existing white vinyl flooring, and I think I will use the 50/50 mix to make sure it adheres well to the vinyl. Any suggestions there? I’m also not sure if I should remove all the floor trim before starting and what to do around doors where the vertical trim reaches the floor. I’m afraid that if I try to remove the door trim it will break. It already has in a couple of places we’ve had to remove it for other reasons….Not trying to replace all the trim in my house! LOL! One last question…I’m assuming that you can walk on the paper after the glue has dried but before the stain and poly without causing any damage? rachaelevans March 11, 2012 I think the 50/50 should do it- you might want to rough up the vinyl with some sandpaper too. I wouldn’t both removing the trim…you can use the straight edged pieces of paper from the roll to go right up to it. Just tape it off so it doesn’t get all gluey, then you can stain and poly without worry as well. You can walk on the dried paper, but I try to avoid it. I would wear socks only and tiptoe if you need to get across. Good luck! Jodi Secret March 10, 2012 We just bought a house and we are carpeting the house which is going to take up a lot of money. I was trying to think of a low cost way to do something with the kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms but couldn’t come up with anything so I said I’ll just leave it till next year when we remodel those rooms…not anymore! Now I have a way to make it look nice until we pull up the floor to remodel next year. Thank you so much for the great idea! And if I like it too much I might just have to keep it! [...] 1. My original inspiration and guide to paper bag flooring came from Lovely Crafty Home [...] Melissa March 16, 2012 If you get a chance would you please answer my previous question… Did you apply the paper to the face of the stairs (the risers) or just wrap it around the bullnose of the stairs? Thanks! rachaelevans March 16, 2012 I’m sorry Melissa, your question must have slipped through the cracks! I only applied it around the bullnose, not to the face. Hope that helps! Melissa March 20, 2012 Thank you very much! Did you just paint the riser then? rachaelevans March 20, 2012 I used paint first, then later added textured wallpaper: http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/2011/11/28/a-new-love-textured-wallpaper/ Lilliedale March 16, 2012 I did this on my kitchen floors a few years ago and I’m still smitten with it! It is still so durable and beautiful. The best part is that they are warmer underfoot than any other hard material I’ve ever seen, even warmer than cork! I just wanted to chirp in and say that I did mine with all poly and no glue, but only because we were doing a smallish area. When I colored mine I did it with acrylic paint mixed into the second topcoat of poly. I did this because I wanted to darken it up and give it a slight metallic sheen. Your floors are truly beautiful! Great job! Barbara April 14, 2012 Liliedale: I would love to see a photo of your floor! Is that possible? I have a huge kitchen (open-floor plan on this level) and it would be so much easier if I didn’t have to stain and glue too! Staying out of the kitchen is going to be one of my biggest challenges here, not sure how that’s going to happen. Meg April 15, 2012 Do you have pictures posted of your floors? I would love to see them! andrea March 16, 2012 I have started this on cement floor and it is getting super wrinkled. Will this go away or should I change something up? I am using the glue mixture suggested in the instructions. I have been painting the floor, putting down paper, then painting the floor again (by painting I mean glue). Any advice would be greatly appreciated! rachaelevans March 18, 2012 Andrea- If you smoothed the paper out well during the application process, most of the wrinkles will disappear after the floor is dry. You may still have a few stubborn ones though. How does it look now? andrea March 19, 2012 They smoothed out a lot! New problem tho… I just put stain on it and all the edges of the papers look darker than the rest of the floor. It hasn’t dried yet but it looks funny. Thanks for the quick reply!!! rachaelevans March 20, 2012 Andrea- The edges around each piece or the edge of the room? The paper absorbs stain based on how much glue was used, the amount of layers in any given area, and other random properties of the paper makeup I’m sure. It’s kind of like wood grain- how some of the knots looks darker and such. My floor has variations as well (the edges of the pieces are very pronounced, but I think it adds to the overall character of the floor. What type/color stain did you use? Trisha March 19, 2012 The floors are stunning! You have probably answered this, but I have original (beat up) oak floors in the living and dining room. Can I apply this to those floors? Also, what tips do you have for the stiars? Thanks! rachaelevans March 20, 2012 Thanks Trisha! If I had wood floors upstairs in my house, I would refinish them instead of doing the brown paper treatment…but that’s just me. I’d be cautious about proceeding because 1) it is not pleasant to remove, so if you think you may ever want to refinish the oak I would just hold off 2) I’m not sure how the paper will look over planks…you may be able to see all the cracks or imperfections. New or engineered wood floors might be fine (ours downstairs are very smooth and tight together), but if you have deep knots or large gaps you would have to fill all those first before laying paper. For the stairs, I only used the paper on the tread (the part you step on) and painted the risers. I did every other stair so that we could still use them while I was working. Hope that helps! [...] our crazy-sounding plan to put paper bag flooring down in this post. The method I used came from an excellent tutorial post at LovelyCraftyHome. One difference in my case was my concrete sub floor. I tried a few of the [...] Sandy March 20, 2012 Good Job! That was quite an undertaking! Beautiful! Karen March 22, 2012 I did this on my bathroom floor in my last house, lived there for 10 years and the floor was still going strong when I sold the house! I threw a fresh coat of poly on it after about the 7th year but that is the only extra I ever did. LOVE IT!!! diana March 24, 2012 I would like to try this over linoleium flooring in dogs room. Think it would be stong enough to hold up to doggie paws? Throw carpet would be covering most of the room. Hoping that it would work. Any thoughts? rachaelevans March 27, 2012 Diana- I think if you prep the linoleium right (clean it well, light sanding, filling any gaps or repairing any peeling areas) it would definitely work. I have a dog myself and our floor has held up well. There are a few scratches from crazy play, but nothing abnormal (it’s similar to the wear on our hardwoods downstairs). Especially with a carpet, you’ll be fine! Gail March 25, 2012 The floor looks wonderful, and seems to be improving with age. I have done the same thing with my stairwell walls, my paper came from paper grocery bags, which I used a mocha glaze to finish. We love the leather look. Cathy Farrington March 28, 2012 Hi, just a quick question: when you did the stairs, did you do the risers also, or did you paint them? Love the look, def want to try. rachaelevans March 28, 2012 Cathy, the risers are just painted (now they are covered in embossed wallpaper actually). Hope that helps! Wendi March 30, 2012 I just did my floor in my spare bedroom. I love how it turned out but I have a lot of “wrinkles”. Any idea why I have so many wrinkles and how to prevent it next time? Has anyone ever tried this on paneling? I was wondering if it would work!! Cristen- If the paneling has deep grooves, they would show underneath the paper unless you fill them. Generally this is best for flat/smooth surfaces. Meg April 15, 2012 I agree, I did this over my lenoleum (spelling) and I can see the design of the squares through the paper bag flooring. Has anyone tried this on paneling? jenny April 5, 2012 OK, I have been working on this over the past for days. I made some mistakes. First mistake( which was the biggest) was changing my glue mixture. I started with 2:1 and it gave me this dark crackly lovely finish that would not need to be stained. Then goofed up and mixed up the 3:1 mixture I thought was using. This gave me the more peanutbutter smooth look, great for staining. Two very different looks. I would have been happy with either look, not both. I chose to patch the smooth side with the 2:1 glued paper. The Stained ( because we wanted to see how the stain behaved on this) and now I have a cobble stone look because the stain really stuck to the 2:1 pieces more. I wouldn’t call it a disaster, but it frustrated me greatly. I will poly today and make my piece with it. I’ll have the process perfect for when I do another room. jenny April 6, 2012 Okay, I have made my ‘peace with it! Floor actually turned out very nice after 5 coats of poly. So glad I did this! Thank you for taking the time to share all your wisdom! Next floor I do will probably be the 2:1 mixture with no stain. Really like the crackles in it and variation of color. I can see where i used ‘glue hands’ to tear paper. The hand print dried before applied to the floor. When i stained they popped out! Could be done purposefully with a stencil to create a design? Just a thought! Thanks again! Charlotte Allen April 10, 2012 This tutorial is so detailed and well-written that I want you to come to my house and rewrite the instructions and directions on everything I’m ever fixin’ to do!! I remember tearing jagged pieces of masking tape and sticking them on a wine bottle and staining it to look like leather in camp one summer back in the late 70′s. My parents probably still have that crazy old bottle and are going to get a good laugh when I suggest doing this treatment to my teenage son’s bedroom floor! Pamiam April 14, 2012 I was wondering if you could use tissue paper with this? My sub-floor is painted white, and I wanted to put scraps of colored paper over it. Do you think this will work? Pam rachaelevans April 15, 2012 Pamiam…I’m not sure, it’s worth a shot to try it on a piece of scrap wood to see! Let me know if you try it! Meg April 15, 2012 I did this is my kitchen, dining room and bathroom. I LOVE the overall look but after having this in my home for 3-4 months I can clearly see that I will need to replace it very quicky. Reason being is that there are scratches everywhere that are very obvious. The scratches look white, like its the glue lifting off the paper. We are not rough on our house but I do have a 3 year old and a 8 month old so we do have everyday wear and tear. I have the fabric floor protectors under all objects that are of the floor (chairs and table) I also have cloudy spots on the floor as well. I used stain and in most places the color really took and in a few either the stain didn’t take well or the glue and polyurethane did take well. I want to say it was the polyurethan because it had plenty of stain on it and looked like the rest of the floor before the polyurethane went on. It almost looks like there is a layer of spilt milk on the floor. We used brown carptenters paper from Home Deopt, elmers glue/water mixture, Minwax stain, oil based (special walnut) and waterbased polyurethane made by PRO finisher (12 layers)Any help would be much appreciated. rachaelevans April 15, 2012 Meg- sounds like the same method and materials I used, the milkiness can be cause by applying the layers of poly too thick or not letting it dry enough in between coats. That could also be the reason it’s scratching so easily. vanessa April 16, 2012 my question is this, has anyone had to redo this, and what was necessary for it, and how did it turn out? i love, love, love this! but my thought is for future, what if it gets to a point of needing to be redone? i have 4 kids, i know nothing lasts forever! C.W. April 18, 2012 Forgive me if you’ve already answered this question, but I was wondering how long you have to wait between coats of poly? Twelve coats sounds like it would require a lot of drying time! Cheryll- It depends on the type of poly you use (it will say on the can), but it can be pretty long I used a fast dry water based poly which helped! But yes, it’s a time consuming project, although CHEAP as far as flooring options go! Jen~ November 17, 2012 ditto….I am doing a runner on the stairs, and I’m thinking 12 coats = 12 days…?? Angela April 18, 2012 I found your site through Pinterest. I have to say your floors look AMAZING!! I just recently put wood floors throughout my house, but I still need to do something in the bathroom, so I might give it a go in there. I hope to completely re-do it in a couple years, so if the paper doesn’t last in there as long it won’t matter. THANK YOU for the wonderful information!! Angela- Thank you so much for stopping by! Good luck with your bathroom, you should be able to knock that out pretty quickly! Lori Lamb April 19, 2012 Hey there! We’ve chatted before, via email. I have another question. I decided not to stain once we got the paper down..we loved the color. I put the first layer of poly on and it dried kind of with a shimmery powdery look? Anyway, I sanded lightly and it really looks powdery now…is it supposed to look like that? I’m going to put my second poly on now…hoping the high gloss will start to develop…what are your thoughts…did I miss something and doing it wrong? thanks! rachaelevans April 19, 2012 Hi Lori! Refresh my memory, what poly are you using? Are you applying it with a brush or a mop pad? Lori Lamb April 20, 2012 I’m using the Varathane no odor Floor Finish High Traffic Formula Fast Drying Water Based Crystal Clear Semi Gloss. I couldn’t find the kind you used, but saw where others had used this and had good results. I just got home and opened my front door to see how this mornings run went. It looks like someone spread powder over it in many places….a rug won’t cut it. My husband think we need to sand it down more over those areas (i sanded lightly after the first round) I’m only on the 2nd coat…really hoping it will shine pretty soon. It is right in my front entry way with sunshine. Help! I want to do my kitchen next, and it has a 10 foot bay window…lots of light! How do I fix the powder look? Hmmm… did you do this on subfloor? The only thing I can think of is that maybe the glue/plaster on the subfloor seeped through the paper and is showing up as a white powdery substance. I’m not sure how to fix it unfortunately…if you sand really well you may be able to improve it, but make sure you vacuum up all the dust. Sorry I can’t be of more help, it may be that I have the same problem but because I used stain it covered it. I’ve never done a large area with the plain paper. Anne April 20, 2012 I did this on about 800 square feet. Instead of Elmer’s, I used a waterproof glue (Tightbond II), and added Minwax to the glue water mix. So my mix was 1/2 glue, 1/4 Minwax, and 1/4 water. This dried in a few hours. When it dried, the color was color-fast, which I did not find to be the case in my test runs using non-waterproof glue, and it could be polyed with oil-based poly as a result. So five layers of oil-based poly later, and it is holding up strong in a light-use commercial application. Swiffer wet floor cleaners seem to work best for me. Oh, I also used red rosin paper instead of brown paper. It added a slight hint of red undertones, like a cherry wood. Janet Wood January 1, 2013 Anne, what type of light commercial are you referring to? Do you have any pictures available? I love the “color” idea but would like to see an example. Thanks, Bobbi April 23, 2012 I would like to do this to over my kitchen counter in the brown, any advice other than scratching it up first? I’m thinking smaller sections of paper would look better? Do you know of any poly’s that are extra water resistant? My bathroom is charcoal/lavender… any suggestions for a gray version? rachaelevans April 23, 2012 For superior water protection you could venture into oil based or marine sealer. It would be stinky, but may hold up better on a counter. For gray you could try mixing craft paint with water and sort of glazing it. I’d give it a try on a scrap piece of plywood to see if you can mix up a color you like. After the paper/glue dries, apply the paint glaze and let it dry, then apply poly. Hope that helps! Teresa April 23, 2012 Is there other paper you can use other than brown? Like if you wanted it to have a blue flooring? I would like to do this in my bathroom but i don’t really want a “hardwood” look about it rachaelevans April 23, 2012 I know of only red rosin paper that comes on a roll like the brown, but if you found an art supply store they might have other color paper. Teresa Janecki April 24, 2012 Did I read correctly? TWELVE coats of poly??? rachaelevans April 24, 2012 Teresa- Yes, 12 If you want long term durability that is what I recommend, but I know people who have had satisfactory results with less. Agelessnvegas April 25, 2012 I’d like to report for those who are working with a concrete floor, that after much research on the Brown paper floor. I finally broke down and did mine. I took it very slow in ripping out my carpet, and tack strips, patching the holes with Dap concrete patch ( super easy ) cleaning the floor with Tsp. I used 10 cups water with 6 cups glue, and it worked beautifully. I now need to stain, then water base poly, when I’m finished I will link my pics, but here is what I’ve done so far.. http://flic.kr/s/aHsjz4P6dy Sheree November 10, 2012 Agelessnvegas, I LOVE your floor! I would like to try this on my concrete basement floors, and was wondering what type of glue, paper, stain/color you used…also how many coats of poly, and did you sand between coats? Wendy May 1, 2012 We want to do this in our bathroom.. but i am worried about a few things. Being its a bathroom.. it would need to be pretty water proof.. which poly should i use? Its also our only bathroom.. so the faster drying would be better.. would the water based poly be waterproof enough to use in a bathroom? We would be putting it over vinyl flooring… what glue mixture whould you recommend? The 50/50? But what will the floor texture/staining be with the 50/50 glue mixture? Thanks so much for any help. Also just wanted to add that your floors are beautiful! Wendy- I’ve never done it in a bathroom, but what you could do is use the fast dry water based for most of your coats, then put some oil based on top. As for adhesion, unfortunately you’ll probably have to do some testing on your own in a small corner. I would think 50/50 would work, but I can’t speak to how the stain will behave. Generally the glue is what darkens the paper, so more glue might mean your stain would turn out darker in the creases than in my version. I would get a piece of scrap linoleum and try out some different glue/water ratios + stain (that’s how I determined my method). Hope that helps! OK, the only part that really confuses me is why do you wad up the paper, dunk it in the glue mixture and then flatten it out on the floor? I am thinking about doing this on an old kitchen linoleum and this sounds like the dream answer for us! We just redid our counters and cabinets all on our own. The color of the paper would look great too with the room. Mary May 4, 2012 I completely love this concept. However, I had issues with the paper where I had to start and stop glueing to take a break. It took 22 hours to do the entire area and so I had no choice but to start and stop in a couple spots. We decided to test an area with just poly to see how it looked and one with stain since it a spot that will be covered by a cabinet. Well, the paper part with just poly on it has absolutely none of the crinkling showing. When the floor was drying you could see all the definition of crinkling, but without stain it is just a flat color it seems. Is there a reason that happened? Will the spots where I start and stopped blend better with a single coat of stain over the whole area at once? We’re suppose to move to the next step tomorrow and just want to be sure before I stain. But it is an extremely great floor over what has been there, just want it to look great. Thanks Mary May 4, 2012 It has crinkle texture show but nothing like your sample on the stairs. It might be a thicker paper we used. Not sure. But still worried about spots where I started and stopped. Wish I had used the 2:1 glue ratio. More texture in that spot. Have to patch it though. Pretty obvious. But definitely wondering if you had spots that you could tell where you started and stopped and if it blended with the stain for a more even coloration look. Thanks Again. Mary- from what I can tell based on some things others have said, more glue= more defined wrinkle lines. But, I also think that sometimes when people use more glue that it effects the way the stain goes on (blotchy, uneven, etc). So I would be aware of that when you are staining. Starting and stopping the stain is not a perfect process, I blend the areas with a small brush like where all my rooms meet my hallway (which was done first), but it’s not seamless. I wouldn’t say it’s very noticeable though. Mary- It could be that there wasn’t enough wrinkling/dunking/squeezing during the application. I squeezed my pieces into pretty tight pieces before applying. But generally, the stain will bring out the lines more than poly alone. If you decide to stain, yes it is better if you do the whole area at once if possible. Mary May 5, 2012 I had definitely planned on doing the stain all at once, but the papering was such a big job, I had to stop and start back a couple of times. There is tons of crinkle and so with the Early American stain it should be a great bold texture . She loved the sample of the crinkling with the stain area she did under the cabinet. So I’m hoping once she puts the stain on the whole floor tomorrow those areas where I started and stoped with the glue will stand out less with all the other crinkle being bold. I also mentioned that with the room stripped bare all of that would be more obvious to us because we know it’s there. So onward. Thanks for answering so quickly. Mary May 17, 2012 Serious issues with ashy polyurethane. Some came out absolultely beautiful, and others just horrible problems with ashy poly. I’ve only done one coat, but ended up resanding a ton when I was sanding the whole floor. The poly goes on great and then dries horrible in those places. They seem to be improving, but I just don’t understand what I’m doing wrong. I’ve been working on this floor for 3 weeks. Is the first coat just horrible looking in some spots? Or do I need to get them sanded down to a much more clear coat first finish. rachaelevans May 18, 2012 Mary- What poly are you using? I find I get the best results with VERY thin coats of poly. How are you applying it? Mary May 18, 2012 I did a thin coat. But I am concerned that some paper patches I had done before staining for my friends comfort level with the crinkling look, may not have been dry underneath when I stained it. The other paper had sat 2 weeks. So now I’m needing to sand off those spots and letting them dry and hope for the best. I’m working on 5×5 foot square sections at a time this weekend to get the best restults. When I put the stain on those patches the first time they stained extremely dark and that should have been a sign their was something wrong. The patching was a mistake, and she realizes that now, but it is improving a little. I sanded the whole floor down and now she’s concerned it won’t shine again and says it is a little ashy looking. I told her that takes coats to replace that shine we had in those spots now that we’ve messed with it. So I’ll work on it tomorrow. It’s been so dry here that it actually is drying too fast. Within minutes. I used your recommended products for everything but the applicator. It is horrible and I may switch to hand applying all of it with a natural bristle brush. Can’t be any worse than this horrible applicator. I’ve learned, complete papering all at once, maintain glue mixture ratio, let it dry a long time, and don’t patch without letting it dry for the same amount of time. The first layer underneath gets wet and doesn’t get dried as quickly as the top does. I read that mineral spirits and some kind of alcohol will help the poly come off to allow those spots to breathe and rmove the moisture trapped underneath and so I’ll let you know what happens. rachaelevans May 18, 2012 Yeah I think the problems probably started from the bottom. The paper does need to be dry before applying the stain, you will see a big difference in how it goes on otherwise. I think you will get the shine with subsequent coats. I actually prefer to apply stain with a rag and poly with a brush, but in larger areas it just makes more sense to use the mop unfortunately. But you have so much more control with rag/brush I think. I actually just did my mom’s bathroom last night and loved going back to my small area method. Keep pressing on, you live and learn, right? Mary May 18, 2012 Well, I think with all the problems we may decide to repaper over the whole thing in larger pieces. Is our best bet to paper over a good coat of dried poly? It is so beautiful in so many areas that we love it. However, the white issue just is becoming overwhelming. We have 3 days but not weeks any more. This time it will be two of us doing it and getting it papered in one day. And stay on schedule with staining and poly with a brush this time. It will take us a while, but it will get the first coat on the way we want. Right now we just keep back peddling. Mary May 21, 2012 Wow, what a ride. We ended up having to scrub the entire room over twice with denatured alcohol. The poly was applied too thin and the air too dry. We ended up with a flash dry problem. We finally ended up putting a coat of poly on with brushes on all 520 square feet and made sure it was thick enough to look like a light layer of milk on the floor and it is GORGEOUS! So, too little poly is as dangerous as too much. What a long month it has been since we started. But, we now see the end in sight. So in the end, if you have to prime your subfloor with exterior primer paint, and then paper all at once so fillers and things don’t bleed through.. Make sure your glue mixture ratio is always the same. Make sure to let it dry at least 24 hours and don’t patch and repatch after glued paper dries, it changes the look completely and can stain differently even if you stain it all at once. Stain and let it dry 72 hours as directed on the can. Poly thick enough so it takes the 2 hours to dry. If not it will dry too fast and scrape right off. We have learned so much. But we absolutely love it. tammy May 6, 2012 I actually did this method, BUT, on walls! I just love it..our mud room and my craft room look wonderful Thosecrazypounders May 9, 2012 I started putting my stain down today and Im STRESSED!!!!!! I also got the minwax dark walnut. When you put it down was it almost completely black looking? Im hoping that it dries lighter. Its been a few hours I hope it does or I will have a black floor. sigh. rachaelevans May 9, 2012 The dark walnut is pretty dark, but did you stir the stain or have it shaken at the desk? That is really critical to even pigment. You can also wipe off the excess after you apply, and that might help. thosecrazypounders May 9, 2012 I let it sit overnight hoping it would lighten up because by that point it was too late to wipe because it was starting to get tacky. I want it to be dark (like yours) just not almost black with no veining. Its still tacky this morning. Do you think using mineral spirits on it would help? rachaelevans May 9, 2012 I wouldn’t use mineral spirits, I’d be afraid it would degrade the paper. I’m not sure why you’re getting such a dark result though. What did you use to apply it? Thosecrazypounders May 12, 2012 So I figured I would try the mineral spirits because it was still almost black. I figured if it messed up we would just repaper it. It actually looks really good. Almost like a medium shaded cork. Im pretty sore from all the scrubbing but thought I would post a follow up in case someone else ran into the same issue as me. Im guessing the problem came from my floor being concrete and Im down south so its super humid. But come monday almost 1100 sqft will be done!!! rachaelevans May 12, 2012 Great to hear!! Man that is twice the size of the area I did. Take pics when you’re done! Staci May 12, 2012 Can you do this outside on a covered patio?? rachaelevans May 12, 2012 Staci- is the patio concrete? Is it exposed at all (like could rain blow in sideways?) I’d be hesitant to do it outside at all, but it’s cheap enough to try if you feel like gambling. It could look great for several years and then need to be redone. I’m not sure unfortunately But let me know if you do try it!! Donna May 13, 2012 What a cool project! Anyone know how easy/difficult this is to remove?? I’m mainly interested in trying it on a wall, just wondering how you’d remove it, if you ever wanted to. rachaelevans May 14, 2012 Donna- I don’t imagine it would be easy to remove. On the wall, you might try applying it with wallpaper paste rather than glue. Hope that helps! Kim at Ooooh, I Could Totally Do That! May 15, 2012 So, question about transitions from the paper floors to the raised vinyl rooms or rooms with tile floors? From your pics it looks like you used a casing type transition from the bathroom to hallway? I want to have a gradual transition that I don’t feel immediately since we’re going to be doing the paper floors in the kitchen too next. I found these things called “carpet shim” online, which would fit the bill awesomely, but I added up how much it’d cost to do just the downstairs with them and it came to almost $200. Was considering using thinset and creat a ramp. Are you just dealing with a bump type transition for the rooms that have elevated flooring? rachaelevans May 15, 2012 Kim…I just used plain transitions from HD that I stained to match. I’d recommend those even if you’re planning on doing the floor on both sides of the transition because I worry that anything underneath the paper would either 1) not adhere correctly 2) give the paper in that area a different appearance and 3) weaken the floor in general. I know it may not be the most appealing solution though. But if you try something else and are happy with it, please let me know!! Kim at Ooooh, I Could Totally Do That! May 20, 2012 Well, after much research, I went ahead with the thin set ramp idea. It was SUPER easy (and fun) to do, kind of like frosting a cake. LOL! Anyhoo, I did the transitions for: family rm to kitchen, hall to powder room and hall to laundry room, PLUS the transition from fireplace file surround to the subfloor. I’ll let you know how it goes as it dries! It may have some shrinkage as it dries, but I’ll just refill those areas if so. I have to wait to do the transitions from the hallway and living room to the entryway because I’m going to tear out the blonde wood laminate and put in a natural river rock hand laid and grouted entryway. Plans are to get the cement backer board tomorrow and locate the stones. There are unlimited awesome ones at the river near my house, so we’re going to start there. I’d rather have polished ones, but don’t want to spend the $$$$$ that they’d cost. I’ll probably put a nice glossy sealant over it to give them a wet look anyway and improve the color that way. Anyway….long story short…I’ll let you know how the ramps work after I paper over them! Rainier May 16, 2012 Hi, So I hope I can still get an answer and hopefully soon. I am sorry if you have answered this before I just really don’t have time to read all the comments looking for it. Anyway I did my stairs and all of them except 3 look great. I must have layered my Poly too thick for each coat and they have a crackle effect which would look cool on a wall but not on the stairs (ouch). I need advice on redoing those ones. Should I start over (how?) or can I sand off the poly. If so will they then look different then all the other stairs? Also what grit of sand paper should I use. I hope to hear from you soon. I just want to be done and enjoy them. Other then that they are turning out beautiful. Instead of ripping the paper I cut “slats” so it looks like hardwood. LOVE it! Thank you so much for being a pro at this! rachaelevans May 16, 2012 I would sand down the poly a bit with 120 grit and reapply. If that doesn’t work, sand down the poly again and re-paper. Did you use stain? Rainier May 16, 2012 Thanks Rachael! Yes I did use a stain. I think it was the same color you used or even a little darker. If I had a Million Hours, I Would do Any One of These… May 21, 2012 [...] ogling them for some time. You can find a great tutorial on how to do this in your own home at Lovely Crafty Home. This is such a creative and economical flooring solution. I love the warm, worn, old-world [...] Out West, Where Home Depot Is Still My Home May 24, 2012 Monica May 25, 2012 I tried reading a lot of the comments but didn’t see any that referenced the question of what happens when/if you want to change the flooring? Has anyone tried to remove this after some years? What would be the process, do you think? Sorry if this is a repeat question. I would love to do this but my husband’s first question was “how do you remove it if you want to?” rachaelevans May 28, 2012 Monica- To my knowledge the only way to remove it would be to get out the mineral spirits and sandpaper. But most flooring options will go right over top. Monica May 31, 2012 Excellent. Thank you for the reply! Jackie Rybeck May 26, 2012 I LOVE this idea…wish I had seen this a few weeks ago, my dad just passed and I spent 4000 on carpet etc to sell his home.. Anyway, got a question…I have a garage wall against the house that needs to be covered. Do you think this would be ok to use? #1 concern is moisture, #2 concern is it would be going on fire-safe sheetrock (which I would prime first)..thanks for sharing this awesome idea. Lindsay May 29, 2012 We just finished our bedroom, and absolutely love it! Everyone is blown away by it. Thank you so much for your guide! It was our bible! OberSar May 29, 2012 I am considering this solution for a kitchen floor. Has anyone ever attempted finishing with epoxy rather than poly to protect a bit more from water/frequent cleaning? Sheri June 3, 2012 Thank you for such a wonderful idea. Your instructions where great. Just finished my Basement and I LOVE it! We taped off the middle portion and only stained it in a mahogany red stain, left the outer portion light and it looks amazing. Almost like tile around hard wood. So happy I found your sight! rachaelevans June 4, 2012 So glad Sheri! Would love to see pics Sheri June 15, 2012 I would love to send you some. I don’t know how to attach it here. Do you have a e-mail that I can send it too? If you do, mine is sherileefuller@gmail.com just email me yours and I will reply with the pics! Proverbs 31 June 3, 2012 Hey,., I have a couple questions: We’re doing this in our kitchen/dining room. It seems like the stain is making the flooring looke splotchy? HOw do we get those spots out? They look like big ugly wet sports that don’t look like they will go away. I think it’s from the stain. Is there a trick to fixing this? Or will it resolve over time? Also, it has wrinkles, but hoping they go down over time? We wanted a oak colored ligher stain. I think I choose something that blends in too much with the paperbags b/c you can’t even tell I used stain. Any suggestions would be GREAT!! Thanks so much.. rachaelevans June 4, 2012 Did you stir the stain well before applying? Splotchiness can come from uneven pigment. Are you using oil based stain? Did you use glue to adhere the paper, if so, what ratio? Amber June 5, 2012 I have undertaken this task on my living room floor. I have had to sand off the paint first, which has been an exhausting task. My question is, If I don’t get all the pain off, will it still work? I have the paint probably 90% off, but there are some spots that are just being stubborn. rachaelevans June 7, 2012 Amber- what color is the paint? I think it should be fine. Are you planning on staining? mrskraft June 7, 2012 What do you think of using bulletin board paper? Some fo the better quality paper is almost as thick as butcher paper, and it comes in a million colors. rachaelevans June 7, 2012 I’ve never even seen that stuff! How neat! I think it would work. Heather Best June 13, 2012 I was so excited to do this to my spare bedroom floor that I took a week off of work to get it done. I finished it and it looked great minus a few imperfections. However, my 3 dogs stay in this room during the day while we are at work and after the first day I have very deep scratches and the puppy scratched almost down to the bare floor! What did I do wrong??? Jeepers, I am disappointed. I was thinking about trying epoxy for a harder finish maybe? Anyone have any thoughts??? I love the look of the floor and absolutely do NOT want to put laminate floor or carpet in over it =-((( rachaelevans June 13, 2012 Heather- It takes at least a week for the poly to cure, I don’t recommend heavy use until then usually. Did you use the same products I did? I had one gouge down to the sub foor and basically just dabbed some stain in there and polyed over it. If your dogs are in there all the time, you may want to consider an area rug. Heather June 13, 2012 I used everything exactly as you have it listed in the supplies. The water-based poly I used said 36-48 hours to cure, however, so we only waited 2 days and 2 nights before putting the dogs in there, I bet that is the problem… I want to put an area rug in there anyway, so I’ll fix my few spots, re-polyurethane and add the rug. I think I may try the epoxy coating anyway for added durability. Thanks so much for your help…I still love my floor rachaelevans June 14, 2012 Heather- if you try the epoxy, let me know! Heather July 23, 2012 Just wanted to let you know we bought Rustoleum Easy Clear Garage floor coating (it is an epoxy) and put it over the polyurethane coat and it looks fantastic! I love how thick the coat looks and it is durable as all get out! We even put down a few photos like you see on epoxy covered tables at restaurants. We let it cure for the maximum time the directions said to and I don’t think i could scratch it if I tried! The only thing I’d say if anyone else tries this method is I wouldn’t use a roller brush like the instructions say. Pour the epoxy on the floor and use a floor squeegee to “drag” it around until it is level and smooth. You can find videos on youtube that show exactly how to do it this way. Thanks for your help and idea, we love how our floor looks. rachaelevans July 24, 2012 Heather- Thanks for letting me know, that sounds awesome! Cassandra June 13, 2012 So does this work well on concrete? What is all the materials I need to do it? Also can you mop and vacuum the floor like normal? Thanks rachaelevans June 14, 2012 I recommend swiffer style mopping (i.e. no giant wet mophead). I use a microfiber cloth and mrs meyers or vinegar/water. I use my hard floor attachment on my vacuum and it works great. Hallway Makeover June 14, 2012 erica June 14, 2012 Quick question. My floors have been done for a few weeks and I’m noticing light scratches in areas. Mostly where my dogs play. Is there any way to get rid of them and prevent it in the future? rachaelevans June 20, 2012 The light scratches may be able to be sanded out with a high grit sandpaper (like 220+) and re-brushed with some poly. I have recently tried a product called Holloway House floor wax (it’s a liquid you wipe on) which does a great job of sort of bring back the shine and hiding light imperfections. What can you do with… Brown Paper Bags \| Make Create Do June 15, 2012 Selma June 17, 2012 Nice job! I do like the dark color, too. My daughter and I did this in my family room earlier this year and I absolutely love it!!! I did not stain it, tho … just went with the naural brown craft paper color. I, also, did a small wall and it turned out just great. People seem to love it and want to try doing it in their homes. Thanx for all the photos. Great job!!! Stephanie June 18, 2012 I love these floors! I papered my bathroom. I am not staining and started to apply minwax fast drying polyurethane…oil based. I grabbed that not realizing it. I did a small section and noticed dark blotches where the poly must have soaked into paper more. Will these dark spots dry and look like the rest of the paper again? I am letting it sit to see what happens. If I continue can I go back and “patch” in a glued paper to cover blotches before the next coat of poly? Not sure what to do here and would love my toilet back….its pulled up. Help!! Lol rachaelevans June 20, 2012 Stephanie- I’m sorry I don’t have experience with the oil poly…I know someone who used it and had to repaper the floor (you could maybe just do the areas that are dark) and switched to water based. Robyn June 27, 2012 I love this! How will it hold up to rolling chairs?? And to heavy traffic – should I put down a rug for the traffic areas? rachaelevans June 28, 2012 Robyn- I would suggest letting it cure at least a week and also using rugs/utility mats for high traffic areas. Erin June 30, 2012 Hi! I just wanted to thank you for the great instructions. Because of you I could tear out my gross cheap carpet and re-do 2 flights of stairs and my entire upstairs! It was a lot of work but so worth it. I love all the unique imperfections you get from doing the floor this way. Nobody believes me when I tell them it’s paper! Thanks again. rachaelevans July 4, 2012 I’m so glad you had great results Erin! Melissa July 2, 2012 We are looking into doing this method on a couple of rooms in our church’s new childrens area and a few people on the committee are concerned with all the children that will be using those rooms, how the floor will hold up. We have plywood floors. We will be using the rooms at least once a week and we are thinking 30+ kids may be in the rooms at any given time. Also, one of the rooms we are looking at doing is a craft room, so that would require being able to hold up to a lot of cleaning and messes. I just wanted to get some input before putting the time and the money into it. I personally LOVE the look and with our new children’s area being a treehouse theme, I think it’s perfect!!! KAREN July 6, 2012 i’m wanting to do this on the floors of 2 bathrooms, they aRe both tile…12″ squares. will this work on tile? any input from anyone whose tried it over tile? also do you think i should fill in the grooves where the grout is to make a flAt surface? if so what should i use? thanks for ANY input.VERY excited about this idea!! THANKS! cheryl bryant July 13, 2012 Sorry if I missed it, but what product/substance do you use to clean the paper bag flooring. I just installed paper bag flooring in my family room and am wondering what to mop it with. I typically use vinegar and water on my tile. Here is a picture of a portion of my floor before the polyurethane. http://on.fb.me/N52uZP Thanks! rachaelevans July 15, 2012 Vinegar and water will work great! I use Mrs. Meyer’s/Vinegar mix, but really anything made for hard surfaces will probably work. LongLeafSoaps July 13, 2012 Wow! This looks fantastic!!! I wish we had a sub standard floor to do this on! amie July 14, 2012 Silvia July 15, 2012 Hi, love the idea! My husband will be Out of town for a week so PROJECT!!!! Can you post the color stains you used like, the one for Ryans room or did I miss the color? Love this post, THANKS!!! I am on a mission! (He dosnt believe this works ).lol rachaelevans July 17, 2012 Amanda July 17, 2012 My neighbor os currently doing her floors. She is using Rit dye to color the paper instead of a stain. Any suggestions on getting the right shade? My daughter wants pink but with the brown paper I’m not sure. Is therea white paper that could be used as a substitute? rachaelevans July 19, 2012 Amanda- I’m sorry I don’t have experience with Rit dye at all…the best way is just to test it on a piece of plywood untill you get the look you want. You could try thick white craft paper from an art supply store. Paper Flooring Inspiration \| Creative Curiosities Blog July 18, 2012 [...] I originally saw the idea brown paper floor technique on Pinterest, and I was a bit skeptical. Jami from An Oregon Cottage was one of the first to feature this technique on her blog, although I know this idea has been around for quite some time. I’ve seen it used in various rooms – and even on stairs! Remember my stair inspiration? I bet you can see where this is going… Via [...] Karen July 20, 2012 I love the leathery look of the floors- with or without the stain! I also love the shelf (I think that is what it is at least) on your wall in your bedroom. Did you make that yourself or did someone make it for you? Do you know what kind of supplies were used? I would really like to try to build something like that for my house! This is my first time visiting your page and I think you are amazingly talented! rachaelevans July 24, 2012 Karen- If you’re talking about the master bedroom, I think what you’re referring to is our headboard. It’s mounted on the wall and has a ledge on top. I made it from pallet wood, here is the post: http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2011/07/13/upcycling-pallet-headboard/ unleashedsky July 23, 2012 I really want to do this on my stairs but i am nervous it would be slippery…is it. thanks it looks gorgeous! rachaelevans July 24, 2012 Kelly- I don’t think it’s any more slippery than wood, but if you have kids you might want to add a runner? Thanks! Tina July 24, 2012 I have been putting this floor down in my master bedroom. I got the stain done last night but this morning I notice spots of the stain that was super dark and didnt blend well around the edges. Any advice on how to fix that without making things worse? rachaelevans July 24, 2012 Tina- Hmmm that’s a tough one. I guess my question is, when all the furniture is back in the room, will it be noticeable? You’d be surprised how many flaws disappear once the room is put together. I suppose you could get a chip brush (short bristle haired brush, about $1-$2) and lightly dip into stain to try and feather out the edges. But I’d be hesitant to do any more fixing than that. Good luck and let me know how it turns out! Tina August 5, 2012 Well I tried some things. I tried putting more paper on top of the areas that were bad. That does not work. It stains a totally different color. So now I am ripping that up. Which is proving to be quite the task. I did find it blends well enough when I went over it with a rag dipped in stain so hopefully that will fix tin issues. I absolutely love it though. My friend is going to do it in her house now and we will probably just hand stain the whole thing. It will take more time but its better than running into the issues I had. Tina- I prefer the rag method myself, it’s hard to get the same control with a mop head. Good luck!! KAREN July 28, 2012 i posted this concern once before but got no reply, i’m ready to start my project so i’ll try again. wanting to do my 2 bathroom floors which are 12″ ceramic tile. was wondering if anyone has tried this over tile, and if it is even an option for me, how should i do it? also do i need to fill in the grooves where the grout is,,,,they are not very deep, but there is a difference. if so what should i fill them with? would appreciate any feedback, love this idea!!!! rachaelevans July 29, 2012 Karen- I don’t have any experience with ceramic tile, so I don’t know that I’ll be much help. I always advise people to try the method they choose in a small area (or you could get some cheapo tiles to experiment). Poly only (the cement/concrete method) might be a good fit, but you’ll limit your staining possibilities. My first thought for the grout lines is to add more grout on top until everything is flush. However in my experience with filling almost anything, you never get a perfect result. It is likely that you will see the grid, or the attempt at hiding the grid. But, the overall effect may not be that bad. Here is the flooring on my mom’s faux tile linoleum: http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2012/05/24/out-west-where-home-depot-is-still-my-home/ KAREN July 29, 2012 thanks for the info and the pictures of your moms bathroom! you did a great job….end results were grea!!!. think i’m going to get some tiles and practice on them first. think i’ll be more confident if i experiment first. as far as the grout lines go….who knows?? i’m thinking they would be less obvious if i try to fill them in and even them out. know i won’t get them perfect but maybe they won’t show as bad as grout lines. i’ve had something come up so doesnt look like i’m going to get to do it as soon as i wanted, but hopefully it won’t be too much longer. i’ll let you know and send some pics of finished floor…THANKS AGAIN!! Melissa Gallegos July 30, 2012 These floors are absolutely amazing! I have talked my husband into doing them in my downstairs. We are curious what type/color stain you used on the stairwell in the picture labeled “Main Stairwell, Sept 2011″ I know the lighting is different in each picture. But that picture is the result we were looking for… rachaelevans July 30, 2012 Melissa- The stain throughout the entire upstairs is Minwax Dark Walnut. It can be found at most home improvement stores so you can see how the color looks in real life. I think the paper absorbs quite a bit of stain, so the color you end up with is very true to the stain itself. Trisha July 31, 2012 Your floors are AWESOME! I’m in the process of renovating my kitchen. I plan on using paper to do the floors…over the existing linoleum. I want to do the paper in “planks” though to look almost like wood floors. Do you have any experience with cutting the paper into planks? Thanks! rachaelevans July 31, 2012 Hi Trisha- Thanks very much for the compliment! I don’t have any experience doing the planks, but I’m pretty sure someone who did commented on here somewhere. My only concern for you would be if your linoleum has faux grout lines, you’ll likely be able to see a hint of them under the paper. But if that doesn’t bother you, or if you don’t have tile linoleum, then rock on with it! Would love to see pics when you’re done! V August 1, 2012 Great instructions! Wondering if the stain “bleeds” when applying? Reason for asking is that I would like to incorporate an inlay design by taping off a section that would remain natural color and staining the rest prior to sealer. V- Yes it does bleed! I would use painter’s tape, but even then it might not be perfect unfortunately If you try it, I’d love to see pics! Toni shafer August 2, 2012 Was wondering if you think this would work on wood floors. My house is 110 years old and has original wood floors that have been painted. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Toni- I generally don’t recommend it on wood floors because 1) I love them and 2) I think it would be a nightmare with all the plank seams. If the boards are very tight together, you could definitely try it. Make sure the paint doesn’t have any poly or finish on it before starting. I just don’t know that you’re not going to see every seam underneath when it’s all done. If you do decide to try it, let me know how it goes! Marty Trout August 6, 2012 GREAT post and thank you for such detail!!! i just tore up the old carpet and vinyl in our new/ (very old) camper!! and discovered plywood underneath…. looking for a cheaper flooring alternative and what do i want to do??? you guessed it… paper bag floors!! i think my husband thinks i’m crazy, but i think it will look awesome, with the darker stain of course!! thanks again!!! Hesper August 7, 2012 I have concrete floors with radiant floor heating throughout my house. Have you heard of anyone doing the brown paper bag method over radiant heat? I have never heard of anyone trying it, but the idea of it scares me a little bit…I think that the poly may not respond well to the temperature changes. Sorry Aubrie August 11, 2012 We’re on a conventional slab and followed all the steps all the way to laying the paper down! Everything looked great! Until we applied polyurethane, now the whole entire floor has milky white streaks throughout it, what do I do? I’ve tried sanding, blowdryer, everything! I need help rachaelevans August 11, 2012 Aubrie, what poly are you using? How long has it been since you applied it? How many coats? [...] and apply it with a foam pad applicator or brush. Let dry fully before starting the poly coats. Here’s one reader’s technique (though I still don’t recommend using anything oil-based with the [...] PattyWolford August 19, 2012 I am wondering if this would work on a countertop? Yes, it is the laminate countertop which surrounds the sink. The top is about 6 feet long. I’m curious about this because I have considered replacing the top, but it is costly, and, also, I have been looking for the retro looking red cracked ice formica, which is special-order, costing $460 per 4×10 sheet, not counting shipping. That’s just the the laminate, not having it built into a small countertop! I HAVE used contact paper on countertops in the past, and it held up surprisingly well, probably because I never set anything hot on the surface. Anyway, I have a roll of the red rosin paper already, and thinking I could use the technique you described and stain red, which would look very similar to the retro cracked ice! BTW, I’m an art teacher, and I love doing collages/mosaics from torn and cut paper using the decoupage technique! Patty- I have never used it on a counter, but it is very popular to do so. I know some people finish it with resin instead of poly, if it’s going to be near water (kitchen or bath). Here’s one link that was shared with me http://compulsiveintexas.blogspot.com/2011/11/brown-paper-bag-counter-top.html Mimi August 25, 2012 I love your floors, I want to this on my reading room, but instead I’m going to use dust jackets or the sleeve from books, my question is, Will this technique will work on that too?. I don’t want to use stain, because I want the clear look, What would you recommend? rachaelevans August 25, 2012 Mimi- Honestly I have no idea. If they are paper, I think it would work just like decoupage. But I’ve never tried it, so I always recommend testing in a small area. If you can get the paper to adhere, just finish with poly when it’s dry. Teagan September 1, 2012 We did this in our bedroom over plywood subfloor – so far have only gotten the glue and paper down, but lots of wrinkles have appeared. Some went away, but some are still there after drying. Should we go around putting more paper over the wrinkly parts? Or will the wrinkles continue to disappear with stain and poly? Teagan- The stain and poly won’t change the wrinkles at all, so it’s better to have it look the way you want before proceeding. Are they wrinkles or is the paper bubbling up because it’s not completely adhered? You can make small cuts in the paper and dab glue underneath to smooth wrinkles, or apply more paper. Hope that helps! Teagan September 2, 2012 Hmmmm, will try patching them over, the only one’s I’m concerned about are where the wrinkles are at the edge of the paper, so there’s a little cave that dust could get in. I’m not super concerned about the texture, it’s a bedroom so not high traffic, don’t expect a lot of wear. We will try to cover those up and I’ll let you know how it progresses. Thanks for the reply and the advice! Can this be done over tile flooring? Does it need any special preparation before starting the project? This is such a great idea that my wife and I are planning to do in our living-dinning room area. Miguel- I’ve never done it over tile, but I think it could be done. My concern would be that you’ll definitely see the grout lines similar to my experience with vinyl tile (http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2012/05/24/out-west-where-home-depot-is-still-my-home/). I would get a few spare tiles from the store and test adhesion with glue/water or poly. I would definitely recommend adding quarter round on top of the paper against the baseboards, because I think the edges will peel eventually no matter what the surface. In my case, we removed carpet so I had a gap under the baseboards. I pushed the paper all the way under, so I never had a problem with peeling even though it took me so long to add the quarter round. But when I did my parents bathroom over the existing vinyl, I saw right away it would be an issue around the edges. So that’s something to keep in mind. Hope that helps! South Fulton September 6, 2012 My wife put the paper and glue mixture down last night over top of 1/4″ luan wood underlayment. It looked great last night, but this morning you can see where the 4′x8′ sheets of wood meet. The joint was a tight factory edge to factory edge joint so I coudn’t put any wood filler in it. Now the paper is crowned over top of those joints. What caused this and how can it be fixed? Christy September 6, 2012 Hello I love this floor and plan on doing it soon to our house. Question I plan on doing my living room. My only concern is that all of our bedroom doors lead into to the living room. Can I do it in sections at a time so we aren’t living in the kitchen for a week.. Thanks for the help Alicia September 7, 2012 So, I can do this on my stair well? Pull up the carpet, clean up the plywood, sand areas, etc. as you did and then follow your directions? I’m a little scared. I have cheap carpet that gets dirty and I would love wood stairs, but do not have the money. rachaelevans September 7, 2012 Alicia…yup! I have done the entire upstairs in brown paper, and in my opinion the stairs are the easiest and come out the nicest. Just remember to do every other stair so you can still use them. Stephanie September 8, 2012 Love this!!! I am thinking about doing this in my kitchen… Does the poly finish make the floor slippery? rachaelevans September 11, 2012 Stephanie- To me it’s about the same as wood…although it may depend on the poly you use. I can only speak to the finish on my floors with the Pro Finish waterbased in satin. Diane September 9, 2012 I loved the idea! I thought I would try it in my daughters room first. We did her room in Feb and I used water base Minwax (said it could be used on wood floors) in semi gloss and was happy with the way it turned out. In June I decided to do our kitchen, kitchen nook, and family room. Because it was going to be so much floor I didn’t want it to be as shiny so I decided on a satin finish. Also because it was going to be in the kitchen I decided to use a finish that said floor grade polyurethane and went with what you used. I loved it! Now the problem – if water on the floor (ice cubes, dog bowl) is not wiped up right away it leaves a lightened stain like mark on the floor. It doesn’t wipe off and I was wondering if you had this problem and if so is there a way to fix it?? Thank you rachaelevans September 11, 2012 Diane- How many coats of poly did you put on? How long has it been since you did it? I am always a liiiiiiitle bit hesitant to recommend this in kitchen/bathrooms because of the water issue (not that I wouldn’t, just that I haven’t done it in my house and can’t speak to how it holds up). Not to say that if I had hideous flooring in those areas I wouldn’t do it…I totally would. But anyways, I haven’t had that problem possibly because the flooring is only in bedrooms and hallways- it is unlikely to get wet. But, I would say what is happening is a classic water ring, just like on a piece of wood furniture. If you haven’t done 12 coats of poly already, I’d recommend doing more. Also if it hasn’t been very long, the poly is likely not very cured (I read this can take months). For existing spots, I’m curious if rubbing mayo on the spot would work (it works on wood furniture). I also like to use a product called Holloway House Quick Shine Floor Finish (I have seen it at grocery stores and Walmart in the cleaning aisle) which is a quick, no buff wax you can dry mop on. I do it every couple of weeks after I vacuum and mop the floors. That will definitely help. Let me know! laura September 17, 2012 Can you do this over the pink foam insulation? Wanted to apply this first to concrete floors in basement to help with cold, please let me know. Thanks Rachael Evans September 18, 2012 Laura- Honestly I have no idea…if you try it, I’d test in a small area. Let me know if you do! Shelli September 19, 2012 Has anyone tried this on tile? I would love to do this in my bathroom, but I have a slick tile and I’m not sure it will stick. If anyone has tried, what method did you use and did you fill in the grout lines? I’m wondering if I leave the grout lines, if it will look like scored, stained concrete? Rachael Evans September 21, 2012 Shelli- You will definitely see the grout lines similar to the pictures of the finished floor in my mom’s bathroom (who had tile-like linoleum), but it may not bother you or really detract from the look. I know some people have done it on tile, you probably will need to sand. I’d get a piece of tile similar to what you have installed and try it on there first. There may be some additional help buried in the comments. [...] I originally saw the idea brown paper floor technique on Pinterest, and I was a bit skeptical. Jami from An Oregon Cottage was one of the first to feature this technique on her blog, although I know this idea has been around for quite some time. I’ve seen it used in various rooms – and even on stairs! Via [...] Debi September 19, 2012 This is so awesome!! I did it on my stairs to the basement too…LOVE IT!! But I have a question….is this technique ok to do on a floor that has underfloor heating? I would love to continue the look…but I worry that it will have some kind of weird ‘issue’ when the underfloor heating is in use! PS…I will post photos on my blog as soon as I get chance! =) Rachael Evans September 21, 2012 Debi- I’d be hesitant to use it in that application…I just think the heat would do something to the poly eventually over time, and I’m not 100% sure it’s safe. [...] spent hours (and hours and HOURS OMG) putting new flooring in the kitchen. We’re doing that brown paper floor thing. It’s easy, but surprisingly labor intensive. I don’t know if you’ve ever [...] I finally got my paper floors finished as well!! Took me about 10 days to get it all finished. I did my kitchen, breakfast nook, front hallway, laundry room, bathroom, and garage entryway!! It was a lot but so worth it! Thanks for such an awesome tutorial, Rachel. I linked back to you in my own blog post. S. Backus September 24, 2012 Well, shockingly hubby has said we can do this. We’ve been in this house for about 9 months & the dining room floor was only half laid, we can’t seem to find the correct flooring & I don’t like it. Dark wood flooring against 2 rooms with pine flooring. That said, Hubby is a contractor & has voiced that we won’t be lying this over the sub-flooring, it’s not thick enough, codes say that the the floors need to be a minimum of a 1.25″ between floor & sub-floor. Otherwise there is too much flexing of the floors. The sub-floors aren’t made to withstand regular traffic. Carpet gets away with it because the pads help transfer the weight. Also it could cause a future issue as there is no barrier between the sub-floor & the paper for moisture issues. So while he agrees it’s a cheap floor & should hold up just fine we will be laying new plywood first. Nichole September 28, 2012 Thank you for your site. This is awesome. Im actually in the middle of the process and thought I would add my $.02 Specifically, I note that alot of people have questions about applying on concrete. I started with my den (soon to be workout room) and moving on to the hall (similar to yours), dining room, living room, kitchen and bedroom. Here are my findings: 1. Kraft paper and builder’s paper are NOT the same thing. In my attempt to follow the directions to a tee, I literally looked for “Kraft” paper. I found paper at the Dollar store. It’s labeled Kraft/Postal paper by 3M. I purchased 5 rolls to paper my 9 x 13 room. This paper worked WONDERFULLY. It’s thinner than builders paper (what I learned later), crumples easier, doesnt fall apart easily in the glue-water mixture and smoothes dry with minimal wrinkling. Once I ran out of the Kraft paper, I bought the builder’s paper, which is more difficult to work with in my opinion. Just like Rachel says, if you let it sit in the water more than a few seconds is crumbles. It holds air pockets and doesnt dry smooth like the Kraft paper. I will say I like the “look” of the applied builder paper better but found that you only get that weathered look if you apply it perfectly AND use the correct side. I didnt realize that the sides were two different colors! 2. Glue mix on concrete: I didnt measure perfectly but I made sure that there was more glue than water. In my mind, more glue meant more adhesion. OH, I read someone mentioned concrete glue….yea…didnt work. I ended that QUICKLY. It left a white film and once it dries it really is water proof so you cant try to weather it. I ripped it up immediately. Dont be lazy…use the glue mix method and adjust based on your floor. 3. Stain. I used the same minwax as Rachel. It went on in the den PERFECTLY…but I also let the den sit for a for a week (I intended to paper the whole house then stain at the same time…for uniformity). I tried to stain a small portion that had only been down for 24 hours and got the deep color and oil splotches mentioned by the author of the Oregon site. I did it under a built in so I can just re-cover but Im glad I tested. Im going to let the floor dry for at least 72 hours before staining. 4. I think Im going to poly and then use the garage floor epoxy for durability that was mentioned above by another person. I’ll re-post after Im done. On concrete, I’d say you have to know what type of concrete subfloor you have. The concrete in my den was virtually perfect. It was smooth, stark white and almost looked finished. The concrete in my living room isnt quite as nice and seems to need more glue to adhere. Im just sooooo glad that I ripped out that disgusting carpet (my dog isnt as pleased lol) and I’ll walk on bare concrete until Im finished the papering (which is by far the worse part of this process…ripping and papering sucks!) Thanks for letting me share! vanessa September 27, 2012 I was wondering if anyone has ever done this on kitchen or bathroom cabinets? Jennifer Hauer October 9, 2012 I’m considering trying this in my laundry room of the house we are in the process of buying!!! I may be asking some questions in the near future! Thanks for the awesome idea! Jessica October 10, 2012 First I have to commend you not only on your work, but on your diligence with responding to so many posts. I read through every little bit of it. Took a while. I am in love with this idea and feel like it is a much better solution to just painting my floors. I feel pretty confident on the process after reading this and several other sites. I will be applying this to concrete floors, And have decided the 50/50 glue ratio seams the way to go. I only have a few questions that I have not seen answered or largely spoken about. 1. With regards to sanding the poly. This is suggested just to smooth down the surface? I am assuming that perhaps after the 10th coat of poly I could sand it down pretty well and then apply two more coats? 2. Paper choices. I love the textured look but am not in love with the leather color. I was thinking of ordering some set paper. Something like this…. http://setshop.com/photo-backgrounds/seamless-paper/setpaper-4.539-wide/148-dove-grey-setpaper-12-roll-53-x-3639-(acid-free).html Do you have any suggestions on what to ask the company with regards to the paper product before ordering. I am assuming if their paper is acid free is is also gloss or finish free. I was thinking a whitening wash over this followed by a walnut stain might look really modern and beautiful. Of course, I would test it out. But it seams you have expanded your projects to more than your own space so I wanted to get some feedback before I ordered the products. Thanks for all your inspiration to all the creative do-ers out there! Jessica October 10, 2012 As a quick side note… What about wallpaper? I can’t see why that wouldn’t work and may provide way more options! Thanks Rachael Evans October 11, 2012 Hi Jessica! The link to the paper isn’t working for me, but I always recommend testing your method in advance. I’ve only ever done the builder’s paper-which is fairly thick- so I’d try to get something paper-bag-ish in thickness. Sanding is great between coats to increase adhesion and get the most smooth surface…but if you’re doing a large area like I was, you probably don’t want to sand it haha. I did sand on my staircase every 3rd coat or so, and it definitely does make a difference. I just chose not to for the upstairs because it just would have taken me forever to get done! Jessica October 13, 2012 I love the color choices they have, but not sure exactly if I will work. I am sending them an email asking for details on the paper. I will update you when they reply. Definitely doing a few tests before I begin the whole house. What sort of a difference does sanding make. What is the difference from your stairs to your upstairs? …Finished Texture wise. Jessica October 24, 2012 So I ended buying a larger roll of grey kraft paper online from office depot. It is oddly called “Bogus”. I did a sample board and it is fantastic. A really nice alternative to brown and a great neutral/modern color. Looks good enough that I’m not going to stain it. Thought your viewers might like to know. I am going to start papering tomorrow! Quick question: Fading? Have you had any issues with the color fading under windows or in direct sunlight? Thanks! Rachael Evans October 24, 2012 Jessica- That sounds really neat, I’d love to see pictures when you’re done! As far as fading, I’m not sure…my upstairs doesn’t really get that much direct sunlight…there’s really only like 1 window in each bedroom. Plus, I don’t live in the desert or anything (I know fading is a concern in places like Nevada). So I can’t say for sure unfortunately. I would imagine it would happen eventually over time if you had a spot that really got a good bit of sun everyday. Aubrey February 11, 2013 I am dying to see how this turned out! Do you have pictures?? Kim October 11, 2012 So I papered my concrete floor with the 50/50 glue. Worked great. Did your stain with my husband who insisted we used brushes and rags. We brushed on a row about 12ft x 3ft, and then he would wipe it off with rags. Now it is very splotchy and graduates across the floor from darker to almost no stain. I think we were supposed to just brush it on and leave it, right? The stain has set overnight. Can I restain it now? Or do you think it will just be a darker version of the blotchiness? Rachael Evans October 11, 2012 Kim- I wouldn’t try to re-stain unless it is completely dry. Otherwise, adding more stain on top can actually remove some of the stain from before and make it worse. I did not wipe my stain off, I just applied only enough to saturate the paper but not puddle or pool. I’m sorry I don’t have any better solutions for you I Connie October 16, 2012 Do you think this would work over paneling–I’m sure I would need to fill in the lines–not sure what they are called,lol Rachael Evans October 18, 2012 It probably would, but I don’t know how seamless it will look even after filling. I’d just paint the paneling chris October 19, 2012 Hi Rachael, i came across your site tonight as i was looking for appropriate (but different and innovative) covering for my concrete floor in my downstairs ‘granny flat’ bathroom (and perhaps the rest), but i’ll start with the bathroom hopefully tomorrow… what i hope to do may be a totally inappropriate concept, but the space is relatively small (approx 3.2mX4.2m) and includes a shower (in one corner with a glass panel & no door) a loo, a vanity and laundry (front load drier and machine in another corner)… i would like to use the technique you so brilliantly explained above, on the floor and two walls that form the back and one side of the shower! I am however unsure about a couple of things…i hope you can clarify.. 1. is it at all possible to run the paper flooring and wall covering right through into the shower? after reading all the above i am hopeful that this might be a possibility if i used marine product for the last 5 or so coats, can you please advise whether this is in the realms of possibility? and 2. here in tropical far north Queensland there are regulations that such spaces have to be ‘waterproofed’ and after looking at local regulations it appears that the majority of the bathroom (including walls) will require some sort of membrane… which is placed on top of the concrete and under any surface treatment. the membrane or waterproofing can be one or more of the following :- liquid-applied acrylics, PVC sheets, reinforced resin-based systems, pre-formed metal or acrylic trays, CPE, chlorinated polyethylene fleece-coated polyethylene mats, gridded polyethylene sheets… the walls are PVC sheets and the floors are concrete… so! can this be done as i wish it be done? i envisage a room with deep tones on the two walls that run into the shower and floors (perhaps lighter on the walls)… the area in the shower (as a result of the marine product) having a glossy hue behind the free standing glass panel and the other two walls being painted gloss antique white (which is consistent with the 100yo house and which will highlight the white porcelain of the loo and vanity)… i hope you can provide me with a mechanism/product/advice as to how i might achieve this outcome Rachael Evans October 20, 2012 Chris- I’m afraid I’m not equipped to answer those questions since the regulations are different here in the US. I would NOT advise in-shower use at all, but you could possibly do the floors outside and the walls, after you take care of the waterproofing. I’d get in touch with a local inspector to be sure. Lisa October 21, 2012 We did this in our family room, high traffic area. 2 little girls, crazy dog and parents… WE LOVE THEM!! When friends come over we get SO many compliments. Thanks for the idea!! heather October 22, 2012 I have a Question i bought a home that had a cat marking the home, we covered it with kilz. I am wonder if that is going to cause a problem with the glue sticking to the floor correctly and if it will cause the floor to be different color were there kilz is on the sub floor? Rachael Evans October 23, 2012 Heather-I might go ahead and do the whole floor with the Kilz…that’s just my gut feeling about it, but I’d try it in a small area to see if you can see the white through the paper. Penny October 25, 2012 have saved this in favorites for about 6 months now, doing this on my kidtchen walls, had to degrease big time as the grease bleeds through the paper. I first tried the “paper bag wall ” technique, and the paste left no crackle at all, dried very smooth. Bought a lambs skin glove at WMT today to apply stain and poly. Can’t wait for finished product. I am very big into monochrome these days and did ceiling and walls….tooo great! jackie October 30, 2012 I have started this today, but instead of doing it on a floor, I am doing it to cover 1970′s outdated tile in a bathroom. I am planning on putting 2 coats of the paper on hoping it will cover the grout. I am using brown paper bags from the grocery store because of the thickness. If this works my next project will be my tiled kitchen countertops. I also plan on doing my basement stairs. Rachael Evans October 30, 2012 Jackie- would love to see pics when you’re done. Are you using the parts of the bag with writing or tearing it off? I have always been curious to try it with actual bags. Jackie November 6, 2012 I will be more then happy to post pics when it is complete. 2 layers of bags and it has completely covered the grout lines. I am putting the poly on tomorrow. The only suggestion I have so far is you HAVE to use the same type of bags. My local grocery store had 2 different types, one with red lettering, the other blue. Well, the blue ink showed, and the overall color was lighter. I finished the 1st layer with those bags, and then did the 2nd layer all with the “red” bags. No ink showing, and the color matched. Will post pics soon. Dawn January 30, 2013 Hi Jackie, do you have pictures to share? I am wanting to cover 12 inch ceramic tiles that surround our fireplace (fireplace is non-function so heat isn’t an issue). The tiles weren’t grouted in but there are lines between each. Thanks for sharing! KC November 1, 2012 I’m doing this in my dining room. Two questions: 2) my floor meets up to tile (I noticed your hallway did too). That is a big difference of floor level, if I don’t add the plywood, does the threshold strip make the floors meet okay?? Thanks for the feedback and for posting this awesome idea with great instructions!! Rachael Evans November 3, 2012 KC- I think the hollow sound kind of goes away once it’s all done and the furniture is back in…but ultimately it’s up to you. We have done ours upstairs, and I believe it is louder downstairs than it was before…but not really that noticeable to me. I wouldn’t bother if you’re on a first or only floor honestly, but that’s just me (lazy!). For us the threshold worked perfectly, but make sure to measure your drop and buy the appropriate size. Jackie November 1, 2012 Can I do this with the same materials to do a wall? Please email me ? thank you for your time. Rachael Evans November 3, 2012 Jackie- I know people have done this technique on walls, but since I have never done it I’m not sure how to advise. I would think the poly top coat would be overkill. I think glue/water or wallpaper paste would be fine…but either way I think it’d be difficult to remove down the line. Hope that helps! gloria November 6, 2012 Hi, I love your brown paper bag floors and we are going to do our rec room in our basement with this method. It is a room that is like having a cabin in the woods and this floor will be perfect. The question we have is that our concrete floors have been painted with Kilz to seal them about ten years ago before we put carpet in. Can we apply the brown paper bag floors over the paint or would it require a great amount of sanding or preparation to make sure it will stick? I know someone that has done this floor in her home but on a main level with wood subflooring to work with, we are going to see it and talk to her for some tips soon. If anyone knows how to work with our painted concrete we would really appreciate some information. Thanks! So excited, can’t wait to get started, big project, about 750 square feet:) Amanda November 20, 2012 Hello, I actually just did that. I had laid the original paper flooring and was not satisfied with the results, I was able to see the lines from the old tile that I removed. So I took the Klitz sealer/stainblocker and covered the floor with it. I then relayed the paper floor again. I no longer see ANY lines from the old tile and the paper stuck just fine. I too have cement flooring. I have stained the floor and currently waiting on it to dry. its been almost 24hrs and it is still tacky. I think it will never fully dry… but I am going to give it as much time as possible…. [...] used this really awesome tutorial from Lovely Crafty Home. She’s taken the time to put together a very helpful guide for doing this technique, and [...] pat November 13, 2012 Do you know if brown grocery bags would work? Wendy November 14, 2012 Hi, we just finished doing this technique in the living room. Used the butcher paper from Home Depot, glue all Elmer’s glue 3 water to one glue bottle. It looks wonderful. We liked it so much we did it to our bathroom walls then painted over it. The latex paint works as a ceal so the moisture can’t get through. I want to do it to the bedroom but its a large room and hubby said takes too much time. To get the glue off the paper after you dip it I used a five gallon bucket and wiped off the excess glue before applying to the wall. We did not seal, stain or paint the living room. It’s holding up great now. Amanda November 20, 2012 Hello! Thank you for all the information. I have installed the craft paper and have stained it. BUT it has been almost 24hrs and the stain is still tacky. I live in CA. and we do have some humidity so I am not sure if that is why it is still tacky. I read above that the stain may never fully dry, I have a feeling that is what I am experiencing. Was wondering if I should just go a head and lay the poly? just curious if you will be able to see my foot prints in the stain. would you suggest that I give it another day to dry? Any info would be appreciated. Again thank you soooo much for all the information and such a great idea. Have a wonderful day Rachael Evans November 25, 2012 Amanda- sorry to get back to you so late, I was consumed with Thanksgiving plans. Did you end up going ahead with the poly? I hopped around carefully in socks and I don’t think I ended up with any foot prints. gloria December 9, 2012 Hi Amanda, thanks for the information you posted. We are just starting our floors and wondered how your project went. Did your stain finally dry? We are in Montana so it is pretty dry here & I am hoping ours will dry well. Getting started tommorow and hope to have completed before Christmas. Would love to know how things went for you. Thanks again for answering my original post:) Tracy Kendall November 21, 2012 Thank you for sharing your tips and instructions. I was about to purchase 1100 sq. ft of flooring until I came upon this blog. I have been researching for a month now. I am a single mother and have a house that needs new flooring. My 8 year daughter and I are going to do our whole house this way. We are doing the bathrooms in red rosen paper in big torn pieces to look like rock, and her bed room we ordered a dark med. blue paper (her favorite color), my bedroom is going to be the torn crumbled pieces to look like leather or cork. For the dining room, breakfast room and family room to cut the paper into differ size lengths to look like wood planks, in hopes to achieve the look of wood floors. I even got a wood block stamp that makes the impression image of wood (hopefully it works). But I wanted to say thanks you for your inspiration. I will let you know how it goes and send pics of the completed work. Maige October 29, 2013 I was wondering how your home turned out! Do you love it?! Thursday Things \| Joan Stradling: Writer and more December 6, 2012 [...] I put down the floor. I used the brown paper floor method—except I didn’t use brown paper. I saw some awesome colored paper at Home Depot and couldn’t [...] steve k December 8, 2012 Joan, that that reddish paper you used looks amazing. I believe that’s called rosin paper and it’s pretty thick if it’s what I think it is. GH December 7, 2012 I’ve read several of your comments, where you are using Brown paper… Is this the same consistency as a Brown Paper Grocery Bag..? I had to take up the carpet from my sons room a couple of years ago, and his floor is upstairs with the particle wood flooring, I thought maybe I could use your same concept but with the Grocery Bags? That would be A LOT cheaper and A lot nicer than the carpet… Thanks for sharing this!! :0) Rachael Evans December 9, 2012 GH- I think they are similar in weight, but the grocery bags could be a little heavier. I would try a few pieces of one on a scrap piece of flooring to see how they handle the glue and wrinkling, but generally I wouldn’t think it’d be a lot different. You may not want to use any parts of the bag with writing on it though, as I’m not sure if it will bleed through or cause problems with the stain. Good luck! Jen December 8, 2012 great tutorial- I followed it to a T, however when it dried there are several ‘bumps’ or ridges even though I tried my best to keep them as flat as possible when I laid it down- will these flatten out after I poly? Or do I need to rip them up and redo? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! Rachael Evans December 9, 2012 Jen- They probably won’t flatten on their own with the poly, can you cut a small slit and apply some glue underneath? You can weigh the area down with a piece of wax paper then a stack of books. Depending on where they are and where your furniture goes, you could just leave them as character My floors are not perfectly smooth everywhere. Jen December 9, 2012 WyoSpring December 10, 2012 Just found this on Pinterest–too late. Learned about this years ago. I made a brown paper bag wall–could send pictures–looks great–like leather–love this technique. I haven’t put anything over it like poly–will see how it works without. I have an awesome homemade easy glue I use to put fabric on walls–or in cabinets–from an interior designer (20+ years ago). Jennie Ellis November 21, 2013 WyoSpring, please post and email me that homemade recipe for glueing fabric on walls. Please!! Jenniequilter@tds.net. DIY Flooring with Brown Paper — Blue Picket Realty- Colorado Springs area homes for sale December 13, 2012 [...] I didn’t precisely measure the square footage of the room). The best tutorial I found was The Ultimate Brown Paper Flooring Guide by Lovely Crafty Home- this blogger did such a wonderful job that I don’t feel I need to [...] Sandra December 18, 2012 I found your technique on Pinterest several/many months ago. I’m just now reading the directions and thinking I’ll do this in my hallway between the livingroom and all the bedrooms & bath. Well, I have determined this is NOT the time to do it. I live in Oregon and this time of year is very rainy – humidity – moisture in the air! Also I can’t figure out how to do this and NOT let the 2 cats walk on it. How did you prevent your new floor from attracting the dog hair? The logistics is becoming an issue. However, I have 6-7 months till dry weather to figure it out and to collect more brown paper! Question: if I use grocery sacks, does the ink on the sacks bleed through? I understand that I should put the side with the writing down, but I would think the ink would bleed up to the top with all the dampness of the glue and then the poly. Rachael Evans December 19, 2012 Sandra- Basically I closed the door to any room I was doing, and I locked the cats in the basement (they have a lockable cat door, it’s where their food/litter box is) for the open areas. Make sure you turn off fans/HVAC while you’re working too. Regarding the grocery bags, I’ve never used them but I would actually NOT use any parts that are lettered at all. Hope that helps! Heidi December 25, 2012 Hi Rachael. So glad you are still answering questions about the brown paper floors! I especially liked the post about your dad’s floors (“Red Rosin Remix”) but just had a question. Did your dad use red rosin paper or brown? I love the idea of just poly and paper (and more poly of course) and no glue or stain. And his floors looked great! But I wanted to double check on the paper color because I discovered what is called “red rosin” paper actually comes in several colors. I don’t see how your dad’s floors came out that nice carmel-y brown using red paper… but maybe the poly does something to it? Thank you so much for your blog and all of your thorough info on this particular project! I think there are a lot of gals (and guys) like me who are not handy d-i-y-ers or crafty at all when it comes to home decor, but you make it seem like I actually could finally get rid of our yucky carpets, even on a bare-bones budget! Many thanks – and blessings to you and your family in 2013 Rachael Evans December 26, 2012 Hi Heidi! He did use the red colored paper, it might be the lighting or your monitor that’s making it look a certain way…you might want to try it on a piece of scrap wood to see if the true color matches what you want. Good luck with your project!! Glad to help out. dionne January 6, 2013 Wow, these are thorough instructions for a great idea. I’ve never done floors but did something similar on the hideous tile that surrounded my fireplace when I moved into my house. I used paper bags from the grocery store (the parts without writing), the same glue to water ratio, didn’t crumple the paper and didn’t stain or poly it at all. I thought it looked great and it was there for about 5 years before I could finally afford to get the tile I wanted. I’ve often wondered about doing my cement floored laundry room. With these instructions I might give it a go. Thank you! http://tinyurl.com/bestlunt49531 January 9, 2013 Where did u pick up the ideas to publish ““The Patty January 12, 2013 Thank you for such detailed instructions. Please explain the “hopping spots” and when did you go back and fill them in? Lorna January 13, 2013 Ca n brown paper bags from the grocery store be used instead of a role of paper? Rachael Evans January 14, 2013 I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not…I’d rip off the parts with ink on them though- it might bleed through. Jen January 15, 2013 How do you think this technique would work on laminate table tops (like the commercial kind)? I am purchasing a restaurant and all the tables are bright red. I hate them! Rachael Evans January 17, 2013 I know it’s been done Jen, scroll through the comments and you should find some helpful tips!! Diana January 18, 2013 I am thinking of doing this on my steps. They are currently painted. Just wondering if anyone tried this over a painted surface? and if so did you change anything in the method of applying it. Also how has it stood up to traffic? Thanks Rachael Evans January 20, 2013 Hi Diana- as long as you rough up the painted surface with some sandpaper, it should adhere fine. My steps are actually the most durable area of the house (because of the small area, I sanded between each coat, take my time, etc). I highly recommend it on stairs! Lacey January 19, 2013 Hi…..i really want to do this in my living room, but i have a question. My main source of heat is my fire place. Using everything to the T in your dorections, will my floor be more flamable than carpet? Right now i have carpet, we ALWAYS keep an eye out for popping wood and i have a fire retardent rig right in front of the fire place for protection, i just wanted to make sure that if a piece pf hot wood pops pn mt floor, its not going to ho up in flames like gas and fire. If this makes sense!!! Rachael Evans January 20, 2013 Hi Lacy- I’m afraid I can’t really advise on that at all unfortunately. There really isn’t a difference in the poly I use and something that would be on a finished hardwood floor…but I don’t feel comfortable making a recommendation one way or the other. If you do try it, I hope you’ll report back for anyone else that might be in the same situation! Christine4Design January 20, 2013 One note about the cleaning of the floor. I haven’t tried this yet but can’t wait to try. You mentioned using a liquid wax to keep it’s shine, my only concern is if you ever want to repoly the floor you can’t do it over any wax. This is always an issue when I have hardwood floors redone for clients if there has been any wax cleaners used you have to sand down the whole floor to the bare wood…and of course this wouldn’t be an option for the paper floor. Thanks for sharing your project. Rachael Evans January 20, 2013 Hi Christine- Thanks for mentioning that! I should have been more clear, the Holloway House is not a true wax…that’s just what I called it for lack of a better term. It’s basically just a protective finish that brings out the shine, but it wears off in a few weeks. Anne January 21, 2013 I have actually done something like this on my walls!! can get rolls of brown paper at wall mart use same concept and it looks great with some wall trim at the top of it!!! Chante LaGon January 24, 2013 D Kitley January 27, 2013 I learned the hard way about the importance of sanding the subfloor. The carpet that had been down prior had been glued and there was such a little amount, I didn’t think it would hurt anything. So all gung-ho, I spent hours laying paper only to come back to it the next day and find that most of it peeled and bubbled up and had to be relaid after we got the subfloor sanded. DO NOT SKIP THAT STEP! Also, I was working with a very large surface (420 square feet or so) and I had a heck of a time getting the stain even. I ended up having to do a second coat after I let the first coat dry for a couple of days to even it all out by wringing the stain out of the mop pad extremely well and feathering it out as quickly as possible. I did achieve the look I was going for, I just wish I had read the entire tutorial more closely and saved myself the headaches of fixing my mistakes. Chris R February 1, 2013 Absolutely amazing!!! Sharing this idea and your page with family and friends!! Going to try this in my small entry way Thank you so much for your beautiful website and ideas!!! Lynda February 1, 2013 Hey Rachael, Your floors are wonderful! I did my daughters room over a two day period and I mixed the glue ratio a little differently. I think that is the reason I have two distinctly different colors now. The additional glue in the first batch is much darker and is in the closet and around the perimeter of the room. The next day, the remainder of the room turned out much lighter, the only difference being the amount of glue I added to the water. Any suggestions for fixing this? Do you think if I brushed more glue/water over the lighter paper it would darken? I was hoping to start coating it tomorrow. Thanks for any help you can provide! Rachael Evans February 2, 2013 Hi Lynda- Hmmm, I’m not sure. Are you staining? You could add more glue in a small area and wait for it to dry to see if it helps? Unconventional (and Fabulous) Floors \| February 6, 2013 [...] of all, it’s not expensive because the material is paper bags! Check out this tutorial on lovelycraftyhome for [...] Michelle February 8, 2013 I did this to both my concrete as well as plywood floors back in 1998, needed a cheap flooring and after several ideas I actually came across an article in a home decorating book from 1974 that had “faux flagstone floors” described, well we went and got everything needed and made a story board to see what it looked like, thought we have nothing to loose. We used a mixture of 50/50 half Elmer’s white glue & half water, tore the brown Kraft paper into stone shaped pieces, only glued the back and put it on the floors, let it dry, then put 5 coats of poly on top, we lucked out & found poly on clearance at Lowes for $5.00 a gallon. Did the entire 2000 sq. ft, what I loved was the different shades you got after the poly, mind you we didn’t use stain, just paper, glue & poly. I still have this floor and I have had many people go home with paper and directions. After 14years it still looks good, only had to patch a few spots over the years, but I love the look, the feel and the cleanup. No nasty carpet for me. Good luck to anyone who undertakes this. Also in my experience, the 50/50 glue stuck completly. AF February 15, 2013 I did not read all of the comments, but do you think this application would work in a bathroom? Julia Rummel February 18, 2013 I love the look of this flooring and have started doing this on my son’s bedroom floor. We are using the Red Rosin paper and because his room is the size of 21/2 bedrooms we have had to work on laying the paper seperate evenings. At this point you can definitely tell where we started and stopped. Just wondering how long it takes to completely dry and how to fix it if those places do not blend in. We were not planning on staining. Thanks! M. Lee February 18, 2013 I used this site primarily when deciding whether or not to do my floors and what techniques to use. I was feeling pretty good about doing my whole house, 1600 sq. ft., until I read the recent comment about the 2000 sq. ft. house Anyway, I’m just concluding my whole house, having removed white carpet and white vinyl in bathrooms and kitchen, and I like it very much. I’ll do a lengthier post another time (I hope this is not an empty promise) because this site has become the de facto repository for collective wisdom on this subject, but for now I”ll just touch on a couple things. I used the lighter colored red rosin paper from Home Depot. It is more of a honey red on the roll, although it does darken with glue and poly. It’s not as warm a red as I’d like, more brick color than wood color, but it still looks great. Overlapping glue and stain is a problem. If you glue a section and then come back and glue another section a day or more later, there will be a dark line where the fresh glue overlaps the dried glue of the already applied paper. For this reason, it’s best to lay all the paper in a room at one shot. If you have to join a new section to an old, try not to slop much glue over where the new section joins the old, and use a rag to mop up the extra and it’ll blend ok. If you end up with a fat dark line, as I did in my first room, you can apply enough pieces to break up the line, making sure you don’t slop the glue past the piece you’re laying down, and it’ll obscure the line enough, especially after applying the polyurethane. It’s because I was doing the whole house, and because of this overlap problem, that I decided to go with the red rosin paper and NOT stain. So many people have reported problems with stain overlapping creating darker sections that I decided to avoid this whole potential problem. The tradeoff is that I have a floor that is not my dream color, but it’s pretty darned nice anyway. M. Lee February 19, 2013 Ok, so here’s part 2 where I go into a few more details about how I did my floors. First, I really think, as long as you can get the paper to stick to the subfloor, that this is pretty idiot proof (I’m the proof). Imperfections? Color discontinuity? Ridges? It’s a handmade floor, it’s supposed to look handmade, and the imperfections are beautiful. If you don’t want a rustic, natural look, lay down some tile or some vinyl. Otherwise, embrace the flaws. This floor really is a special snowflake, and polyurethane makes everything look great in the end. In addition to the lighter red rosin paper, I used Elmer’s Glue in a two parts water to one part glue mixture. I used gallons of the stuff, and there was some variability in the quality of the glue. I stuck to the water mixture hoping for a consistent look throughout the house, and in spite of my efforts, one gallon of glue must have been more diluted than the others and a major room is lighter in color and less veined. Read the preceding paragraph and embrace this artisanal floor. It still looks great. I didn’t stain the paper. The 2 to 1 water/glue mixture darkened the paper wrinkles just fine. The floor has the marble/leather texture that you’ve seen in pictures. If I were using the regular brown kraft paper, I would’ve stained because there’s no getting around that it looks like a paper bag unstained. Other materials: I used Varathane High Traffic Formula water-based poly in Satin. I tried the stuff that Rachael recommended, the Pro Finisher, and I probably got a bad (old) gallon, but it tended to dry hazy unless “just so”, and never looked as good as the Varathane. The Varathane was very forgiving in application and I really had to leave a pool of the stuff to get any discernible hazing. I live in Nevada, for reference, and it’s pretty dry here. Because this is a rough floor, I wasn’t concerned with air bubbles in the finish because they wouldn’t be visible, so I used a roller to apply the poly. Specifically, I used the Wooster Brush R209-9 Candy Stripe Roller Cover 1/4-Inch Nap, 9-Inch, available at Amazon and other fine establishments, but any short nap “mohair” roller would probably work. The Wooster roller has been super, though, and two rollers have gotten me through the entire house. I went with 10 coats, which I think is crazy overkill. But it’s a labor-intensive job that I never want to do again, so overkill is ok. It may be that the roller lays a heavier coat than a brush, and the floor is nicely shiny and feels bulletproof. BEFORE I STARTED ON THE FLOOR: I bought some scrap sections of 1/4″ particle board and tried different papers and different glue mixtures and even some stain, and I spent many days doing this, before I finally began to do the work in earnest. This saved me a lot of grief, I know, but there was still grief to be had here and there, and I’ve patched a few places already and will patch some more when I can. M. Lee February 20, 2013 I just finished the last two rooms. Ten coats rolled on with tears and sweat and a few hairs. Only I will see the hairs, and they’re there forever. So how much poly is ten coats rolled on? There are many ways to apply this stuff, from brush to pad to rag, but with a roller I used about 15 gallons of poly for about 1600 sq. ft. So, to be conservative, if you roll this stuff on and do ten coats, you’ll need about a gallon for every 100 sq. ft. Does that jibe with what everyone else is getting if they do lots and lots of coats or even, as Rachael has done, a dozen coats? I don’t know. But there’s one data point for you. Cheryl Jenkins March 2, 2013 Hi M. Lee – can you please post pics? I’d love to see the result. M. Lee March 15, 2013 Sorry about the late reply…scrambling to finish the job before family arrives this weekend. I plan to do a write-up with a few pics, and I’ll link back when I do. Tiffani February 19, 2013 I have a quick question about a repair. We just finished our floors. I’ve only put 4 coats, so far, of the poly on. Our floors had a lot of nails and screws that we could not get flush. So when papering over them, I tried to double the paper. I have one screw that’s already torn the paper. How do I patch? Should I try and cut the screw off close to the floor? And then do I use poly to repair or glue and poly? I’ve read where people said for repairs you use on poly. I didn’t stain b/c we loved how the glue darkened the paper. But if I don’t use glue will it be much lighter? Rachael Evans February 20, 2013 Tiffani- I would cut it or pull it out. If you keep the repair small, just glue some paper down and poly over it, that will probably yield the best result. You can also just use poly, but either way you may see a little difference. In the grand scheme of things, I doubt you’ll notice it though. Sometimes when the room is empty and we’re so focused on trying something new, every little imperfection jumps out. But trust me, my floors are not perfect. Once you put all the furniture back in, you’ll hardly notice. Good luck! Tiffani February 26, 2013 After putting 2 more coats of poly (only 5 more to go now), the torn area is completely sealed. I absolutely LOVE my floors! Thank you soooo much for your detailed tutorial. Everyone who has seen them is amazed! Really couldn’t have done it without your blog. Paula February 20, 2013 I am worried about problems with uneven staining. Im not looking for perfection, but I’m trying to minimize the affects of my lack of skill. I have read where some people use rit dye in the poly. Has anyone tried spraying the paper with dye, letting it dry and then gluing to floor and using the clear poly? I thought this MIT improve my chances of the stain going on more evenly. Thanks for the inspiration! Rachael Evans February 20, 2013 Paula- How large is your area? I’m not 100% sure, but I think if you dyed the paper and then put it in glue, the glue would pull the dye out. The only way to find out is to test it though I guess. I know some people have had luck with the poly+dye method, but I would definitely test any idea you have in advance. Paula February 20, 2013 I am going to start in a closet, concrete subfloor In a 12×12′ room. After I see how this goes, the next project is upstairs with particle board subfloors. These are larger rooms, ~19×15′ and ~20 x 20′. I didn’t think about the poly pulling the dye out so thanks for the tip. I could try mixing the dye in the poly like some have suggested. Thanks again. Mellanie February 22, 2013 I am getting ready to do my foyer…I am going to try to design a fleur de lis in the center as a focal point…because I am obsessed with Fleur De Lis…lol I am planning on staining the design a lighter color than my main stain (Red Mahogany) or I may stain my design pieces a few times before applying them so that the design is darker…I am going to attempt this over vinly….wish me luch!! Rachael Evans February 22, 2013 Good luck Mellanie- would love to see pics when you’re done! Kelly Sanfratello March 10, 2013 Hi!! My husband and I just finished (still need mode coats of poly) out floors today…after 4 days! It is GORGEOUS!! However, all of our bedroom doors are connected to the area we did. So, the last coat of poly (coat 4) was 6 hours ago. It’s dry to the touch, but seeing that we had to get the kids to bed, walked very lightly, in socks, to their rooms. We’re noticing that we’re getting brown stains on the bottoms of our socks. Is this because we don’t have enough coats of poly on? Will it be better once we get 12+ coats on? Did you have any issues with the stain coming off onto you get fit a period of time?? HELP!! Thanks [...] I was absorbed in Pinterest one day, I came across this wonderful blog: The Ultimate Brown Paper Flooring Guide. This blog is so great. Her step by step tutorial is [...] [...] I was absorbed in Pinterest one day, I came across this wonderful blog: The Ultimate Brown Paper Flooring Guide. This blog is so great. Her step by step tutorial is [...] Jane Martin March 4, 2013 As a professional painter/finisher for over 35 years, I would highly recommend letting the oil-based stain sit to dry for 72 hrs. rather than just overnight or 24 hours. Some of these products need to not only ‘dry’ but, they also need time to ‘cure’, and that could be where people are running into issues with cloudiness. flooring Houston March 8, 2013 I love the given sample in this post. It is not often that we see such flooring type when we visit our friend’s home and you can tell by the looks of it that the owner maintains the flooring well. Thanks for sharing! Little Bit March 17, 2013 Hank March 22, 2013 My wife discovered this and I’m contemplating it for a basement kids room. Since it’s a kids room, I’m actually contemplating putting down the paper and letting them paint/draw/whatever all over it then doing the poly. A few questions for whoever might know: How hard is it to rip up when I need to get rid of the kids’ art in favor of something more traditional at sale time? How durable is it? Kids room with a play area for a 3 year old and a dog who walks around there. Also my treadmill is in the corner. Can you vacuum it or is the a sweep only floor? [...] has printed a complete tutorial (http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2011/11/09/the-ultimate-brown-paper-flooring-guide/) on how to lay down brown paper flooring. Here’s the basic [...] [...] has printed a complete tutorial (http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2011/11/09/the-ultimate-brown-paper-flooring-guide/) on how to lay down brown paper flooring. Here’s the basic [...] Danny March 31, 2013 I’m basically paper sacking everything! I’m a man, who lives with my three dogs, and I want a man cave. THe only way to achieve that on a strict budget is through paper sacking the whole house! That’s right…I’ve done my counters, my book shelves, my coffee table, floor and now I’m doing my fridge. Yes, thats correct. I’m paper sacking that old white ugly fridge!!! I saw in the posts, a while back, that someone suggested maybe using Marine Varnish for a bathroom, for added durability. I’m wondering if anyone has ever tried this. Also I’m wondering if the Marine Varnish takes the place of the stain or the poly or both? [...] These stair treads are MDF covered in stained brown paper, giving the overall effect of cork. All images in this post: Rachael from Lovely Crafty Home [...] Dawn April 6, 2013 I hope you get a chance to look a this.. I just finished papering my floors…they look pretty good, except we had some nails in the floor, flat head nails, my husband tapped them down (per your instructions) BUT he didnt put any filler over them .. MY FAULT.. I didnt even think about it…so now they are showing through…can I use spackle on the paper and then patch with a new piece of paper? kerry April 8, 2013 are you able to do something like this on particle board? Kathy April 13, 2013 I am in the midst of completing my main stairway and am loving the results! However, I am wondering how to do small repairs as the dog’s nails scratched a few places on my first 7 of 15 treads and I am worried about the wear factor. I have stained mine and used 8 coats of poly. I think the dog walked on them before they cured..?? Any thoughts? Thank you for all of your inspiration! Bridgette April 15, 2013 Can this be removed? I live in an apartment and would like to do some improvements. The land Lord said I could but had to be asked to be removed. Awesome idea. Rachael Evans April 16, 2013 I would not recommend it if you have to remove it, it’s possible but would be a terrible job! Barb April 21, 2013 Would this work on a plywood sub floor with in floor heating? Rachael Evans April 23, 2013 Hi Barb- I wouldn’t go there if I were you. Too risky! Laura April 21, 2013 I am praying you see this because I’m in a bit of a panic. We finished up our concrete floor about 8 hours ago and the glue is dry to the touch, but there are still lots of wrinkles. I locked the door to avoid looking at it, as I’ve read that a lot of the wrinkleswork themselves out. I am praying that’s the case, but if the wrinkles are still there later, can we proceed with the staining and poly? Will they settle down into flat wrinkles or should we cut and reglue? We don’t care about deep wrinkles as long as everything is flat and smooth after our ten coats of poly. Your thoughts?? Thank you! Rachael Evans April 23, 2013 It does tend to wrinkle more on concrete, hopefully it’s flattened out by now. I’ve never had problems with lingering wrinkles. Lisa July 8, 2013 I just covered my linoleum kitchen floor with cookbook pages this weekend, and I have a ton of wrinkles. Some I can cut and reglue, but others are more like ridges where it looks like the paper is glued to itself. I won’t be able to cut and reglue those. Any suggestions for how to smooth out the wrinkles? I have a lot of the glue mixture left over. I wonder if putting down another coat of glue would help? JJ April 27, 2013 I love this look and idea! Thanks for all your detailed explanations. I only have one room left in the house that needs updated flooring and the brown leather look just won’t go there – guest bathroom. Have you heard of anyone having luck with other papers? I would love to do the bathrrom in a lighter color or even a pattern. Thanks for any ideas you ir your loyal followers have! Holly April 27, 2013 How did you get the cloudy look up? Did you simply just go over it with more poly? I am stuck at a cloudy first layer and scared to go any further.,, Mandy Knollenberg April 30, 2013 Thanks Rachael for the step by step! We have light oak floors in our house and I am wondering if anyone had used white craft paper instead if brown, and then stained it a light color? Thanks! I can’t wait to try it. White craft paper is fine, use equal parts water to glue in the glue mix and don’t try to scrimp too much on the glue, the only two places mine lifted much was where I tried to make the glue go for one more piece. . . Rachael, you inspired me and I made mine bright and cheerful. I love it. We’re walking on it now after a week since last coat of poly. I did mine with white paper and Rit Dye in squirt bottles and a mop, blue and green, with a little pink since my counters are peach with wine, blue and green flowers periodically. Thank you for inspiring me. It feels so nice soft and smooth but not slick. Rubber floor $1500 was my online quote, vinyl with a seam around $400, seamless paper floor, Awesome $160 using 3 cans of poly and shipping. Hubby even is impressed with it, he says it took a lot of my time, but he likes it and especially the price tag. Rachael Evans May 9, 2013 I would LOVE to see pictures of this!!! lovelycraftyhome@gmail.com MaryR May 7, 2013 Important note when using the polyurethane only method for concrete floors: The polyurethane MUST be water-based! Oil-based does not work at all. Erica May 14, 2013 I’m in the process of doing this flooring in our homeschool room-Prep work right now, but hopefully we want to do our entire downstairs. Unfortunately, there are seams and a lip where our carpet and linoleum meet- I wanted to just rip out carpet, paper, then paper over the linoleum. What do you suggest I do at the lip? I really do not want to take out all of the linoleum- any help is appreciated! Love your site, can’t wait to try my hand at the board and batten next! Thanks so much! Rachel Cartwright May 16, 2013 Can i do this over lenoleum? or should i just tear up the lenoleum? I dont want to tear it up if i dont have to. Any helpful tips would be great! Thanks Rachael Evans May 17, 2013 Rachel- sure can, just rough up the surface with sandpaper and be sure to install quarter round around the edges (it will peel eventually, otherwise). linda June 4, 2013 I’m in the process of doing this for the first time. I found a few spots that after I allowed drying time, I felt I needed to go back and retouch. Upon the touchups drying, they dried a lighter shade than all the rest. Once the polyurethane dry will it all be the same color?? Math June 6, 2013 I didn’t read all comment yet, but I will for sure!!! We want to try that in a bar… so I’ll be interested about duration of the “product and method” Yes it’s maybe not for 50 years in all condition but could I think to be ok for at least 2-5 years! I’m not looking for warranty, but… good thinking ;o). And could you give more information about paper use or suggest, because the link above doesn’t seems to work anymore… Thanks and I hope it’s not question already asked!?! Rachael Evans June 18, 2013 I think if you took your time, you could definitely get 2-5 years from it. The durability is all in the process. I’d probably go with the poly-only method. Jasmin June 8, 2013 I am doing this in the majority of a new house. I don’t live near any big box stores, so I had a friend pick up the paper for me at home depot. It is called builders sheathing paper. Is this the right stuff? It is thicker than I was expecting. Also anyone have any idea how many rolls and glue I will need for around 2000 square feet? Thanks Rachael Evans June 18, 2013 Hi Jasmin, I don’t think that is it. The stuff I used is found with the painter’s drop cloth, it’s more like butcher paper or packing paper I think. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Trimaco-35-in-x-140-ft-Brown-Builder-s-Paper-35140/202040749#.UcBOb_m1GuI lisa June 30, 2013 What color stain was used in Ryan’s room and in the hallway/guest room? Rachael Evans July 1, 2013 Chris Richardson July 5, 2013 Hi there, I have used your method quite successfully on bathroom walls and concrete floors. I didnt use stain tho and i’m now wanting to do a feature wall in the loungeroom but i want it to look like slate (i’m going to have a water feature in the middle to provide moisture in the air and this will have slate like tiles behind it) can you please advise whether (in your experience) it’s possible to turn brown paper into a charcoal colour and if not what my choices might be. Thanks Chris Lisa July 8, 2013 Chris, I don’t think you will be able to get brown paper to look grey. You can get rolls of heavy white paper from Amazon. I would use that and look for grey stain. If you can’t find grey stain, try diluting grey or black paint to use like a wash instead. Experiment on scraps of the white paper first to make sure you get the look you want. How do you plan to make the “grout” lines? I thought about using white paper and staining it a light color for my kitchen. Instead, I used cookbook pages! I just glued the pages down this weekend, so once I figure out what to do about all the wrinkles, I’ll coat it with a sealer. [...] are many tutorials and lots of examples. Here is one that most people follow. We did a few things a little different and I’ll [...] DIY FLOORING – Brown Paper \| Lize-Mari Arthur July 9, 2013 [...] of brown paper and if you’d like to read more about it, be sure to go and have a look at this tutorial on Lovely Crafty [...] Belsy McDonald July 14, 2013 Hi, I have concrete floor, which method work best on these type of floor. Also, does Rosin paper without stain, does it look brownish leather? or red? Patty July 16, 2013 I did something similar almost 20 years ago to hide my ugly orange glue-down carpet stairs…Instead of paper, I used plain canvas glued directly over the carpet. I painted the canvas, the sponge painted it using cheap latex paint. Then 3 coats of poly urethane. These are high traffic stairs from our kitchen to our basement office/playroom. They have lasted all these years, and are easily cleaned by sweeping and damp mopping. People always ask what our stairs are covered with because they are comfortable to walk on and very quiet. I can’t wait to try the torn paper over the glue down carpet in my basement! Elizabeth July 30, 2013 I steam mop my kitchen floors, Would love to do this in my kitchen/bathrooms. Anybody steam mop it successfully? valerie July 30, 2013 I did this flooring with the pages of a novel. turned out AWESOME!!! Cristi September 9, 2013 we just finished doing our whole upstairs, and it is awesome. I want to carry on down the stairs, but my husband is afraid it will be to slippery. Does anyone have any input on this. Much appreciated. Robert August 6, 2013 Awesome work. We love this idea and will be doing the whole house. The question I can’t seem to find an answer to is, what happens to adjacent rooms when the stain and poly is dry in one room and you stain the next room? Meaning, if we finish the bedroom and it dries completely, then we do the adjacent hallway will the transition between the two have dark lines from the stain or any other issue like that? Thanks for your help, Gloria September 1, 2013 Hi, we have run into a couple of problems with our paper bag floor. We used the brown paper on the rolls, Elmer’s glue & water 3 to 1 mix. Our original floors are concrete. The paper & glue has bonded and stuck to our floor perfectly. We are doing a 600 square foot rec room downstairs. We let the glue and paper dry for several weeks before applying the stain. We used Minwax honey colored stain and applied it with the lambs wool mopping method. After letting that dry for about 3 weeks we started applying Varathane, high gloss, water based, floor finish. We applied 5 coats, waiting about 6 to 8 hours in between to make sure it was dry. After the 4th coat floor was beautiful, it looked like reddish colored rock with clear water standing on it. After the 5th coat was applied and dry we ended up with a cloudy finish. We thought that if we waited it may dry more and become clear again. After two weeks it was very slightly more clear. There were a couple of spots with some small bubble and I attempted to lightly brush/sand the area to apply another coat over it. That was when we realized the poly was not adhered to the floor. It peeled off like a bad sunburn. It would peel up in pieces as tall as me and 3 feet wide. the areas under pieces as we would take the poly up looked dark & after it sat for several hours would lighten almost as if it was not dry underneath. There were areas that would not come up as easy and we found that sticking packing tape down in wide strips and pulling it up would strip the poly and would not hurt the flooring. There are areas of the floor that I have been trying to touch up where the stain looked lighter or scratched, would like to get it so that it looks darker, the way it did in the beginning. We are now at the stage where we have to make a decision on what to do next. We are afraid to use the water based poly because it did not stick for us. We are contemplating using an oil based poly, although I know that some people have reported blotching. I have read that you can mix oil based stain into oil based poly. I am thinking that if we mixed our honey colored stain into the first coat of poly that it would help with our color, and then we could use the clear high gloss oil based poly for the rest of our coats. Wondering if anyone out there has tried mixing the stain & poly? I know there are products premixed, but not in our color and only available in small cans. Our local paint store said that it may be better to use just coat it in epoxy instead of poly. I have researched this a bit, it is poured on, and levels itself, it only takes one coat and is ready to use in a day. The part that worries me is the heat that is generated in the epoxy once it is mixed & how it will react with the Elmer’s glue & paper bond. The other draw back is that is expensive. We would love to hear any ideas or if anyone has used the oil based poly or epoxy. We need to move on and get this project finished, we have been working on our floor for 3 months with all of the set backs. Any help would be appreciated:) Cristi September 9, 2013 WOW!!! I LOVE MY FLOOR!!! I spent about an hour staring at it last night and it looks AMAZING! I’ve only reached the staining part of the project (it took two days to get the paper down because I used smaller pieces). I am going to let the stain dry all week and poly next weekend. Linda Everett September 15, 2013 My husband found this post when we were out of money and stuck with a concrete floor in the room we were doing up. So we decided to give this technique a go and so far so good. All the paper is down, next we need to do the polyurethane. Backbreaking work, but so worth it. What a wonderful idea – thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience! [...] we could really accomplish on our own. Within the day he had found this amazing tutorial “The Ultimate Brown Paper Flooring Guide” by Rachel of Lovely Crafty Home. Paper flooring? Yep – that is correct. Who would have [...] 67NABS September 19, 2013 Craft Paper from Hobby Lobby. Put it on leveled concrete floor using TiteBond III Waterbased glue. 3:1 mixture worked just fine. One month after I did this, I had both knees replaced. Labor intensive but so very worth it. 3 layers of paper and 5 coats of the waterbased Polyurethane. The instructions here are the bomb. Well-done. Melly September 20, 2013 I just ripped out carpet and ready to put this over my cement slab. I have a few questions. My concrete has carpet glue and padding remnants stuck to it. What is the best way to remove this? Also, my slab is shiny and smooth not rough. Do I need to roughen it up by sanding it first? I’m so excited I want to start this soon. My kitties have torn up my carpet they are in for a shock with these floors. LOL [...] used this post from Lovely Crafty Home and her glue mixture (3 part water to 1 part Elmer’s White Glue). I used the Brown [...] Deanna Divino September 27, 2013 Ok, I’ve been reading for two hours! Thank you and all the comments for making me feel 104 times better about starting this project. We have about 330 square feet to do. I have a question: I read, what I think is, all the comments and couldn’t find much response or feedback on painted concrete floors. We painted them a while back. I was wondering if I should just scuff them up a bit with sand paper first? And I believe we did a single coat of poly over them.. or maybe not. Ha. Do you think this would matter? Any feedback on going over paint? Cire September 28, 2013 We are planning on doing this on out plywood floor for the master bedroom. But we also have a living room that has ASBESTOS TILE (a lovely surprise when flooded carpet was removed), will these same steps work for over the tile? Any help would be appreciated! DIY Paper-Floor Project - The Blogger Wrench September 30, 2013 [...] DIY Girl in me just went a digging. I searched the big ole’ internet and found one awesome paper floor tutorial on Lovely Crafty Home, that I followed a couple of her tips and tricks, but for the most part I just winged it, like I do [...] I have bamboo flooring throughout most of my house and a couple of rooms need the floor replace due to gouges, stuff spilling on them and boys hiding it from site…would I be able to apply the paper bag floor directly on top of the bamboo or would I need to remove it first? jppfareast October 4, 2013 I love the given sample in this post. It is not often that we see such flooring type when we visit our friend’s home and you can tell by the looks of it that the owner maintains the flooring well. Thanks for sharing! Kandece October 6, 2013 I have the cream colored packing paper… Will that work as well? I guess I should have asked Friday as my bathroom floor has already been striped and sanded, I am now gluing the paper down. It looks good but you can see the wood under it.. Do you think the Cherry stain will cover the wood look? Dawn October 13, 2013 I have read every bit of this and have learned soooo much from everyone- Thank You! Heather (7/23/12) had used a Rustoleum Garage Floor Coating and was very pleased. Has anyone else tried this method? I sure would like to hear more! I am especially curious as to how to stop at a doors edge. In other words rather than room by room with a connecting hallway, would the epoxy have to be done all at once. It’s rather pricey, so I don’t want to jump into it without a little more thought. Audra Mills October 14, 2013 I did the paper flooring over the top of wood. I stained it and used Pro Finish water-base polyurethane. I used a pad applicator. I have done three coats and on spots it is cloudy. Should I get another gallon and coat again? Or sand it first? Regina October 15, 2013 OK, so I am trying to figure out how much Paper, Glue, Stain & Poly I will need. My area is about 450 square feet. I see that it was mentioned above that you did about 650 square ft in your home. Can you tell me what size stain you bought & how many containers you used on 650 sq ft? How many rolls of paper did you need? How many gallons of Glue and Poly you used? If you could possibly respond, I’d really appreciate it – I can’t wait to get started in this!! Allison October 16, 2013 I’m not sure if you’re still checking back here, but I just want to say THANK you for this amazing tutorial, Rachel! My boyfriend and I bought our first house a few months ago, and to say it was a dump would be kind. The only redeeming quality was that the floors were all original beautiful hardwood — but everything else in the place needed a complete overhaul! The kitchen cupboards were in rough shape, and my original plan was to strip the paint and whitewash them to give the space a ‘beachy’ feel since new cupboards were certainly not in our budget. After trying (in vain) to strip one of the doors, realizing they had been painted at least 7 times, I was back to square one. I really didn’t want to paint them AGAIN since they already had that ‘thick’ look from too much paint, and then I stumbled across your tutorial on Pinterest and decided to try the technique on my cupboards. All I can say is — WOW! The result is better than anything I could have hoped for, and it cost me next to nothing since I already had the Poly from another project. I only did two things differently from your tutorial: I didn’t sand the surface (I pasted right over the paint and it adhered just fine) and I didn’t stain my paper (I really liked the color it dried and let’s be honest: I’m lazy) I get so many compliments from people who visit, and no one can believe it is simply brown paper and glue. I did about five coats of poly and they are durable and hard. My mom loved it so much she recently had me help her to a built in bookshelf that really needed a face lift! So thanks again for the excellent tutorial! So now people know — cupboards are definitely doable! Allison October 16, 2013 Here are the cupboards done in paper, for anyone interested in seeing how it turned out: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100249923973099&set=a.10100249916622829.1073741826.94802688&type=3&theater Rachael Evans October 18, 2013 WOW!! That looks awesome, thanks for sharing!! Kate Huffman October 21, 2013 I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for putting such a GREAT Brown Paper Flooring Guide on your blog! I have now successfully “Paper” 1,350 SF in my home b/c of YOU! All 1,350 SF is over Concrete! It works great on Concrete subflooring so all your readers who want to know, I use 2 parts water to 1 part glue. Also, I start applying the poly after the stain dries 2 hours. I only wait an hour between poly coats but have found that it is plenty dry after 45 minutes. I am so happy with the floors and they are very durable and look fabulous. The pics are on my FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/kate.huffman/media_set?set=a.10151925149775903.1073741829.512665902&type=1 Thanks again for teaching us how to do this! Kate Huffman October 21, 2013 Thank you so much for such a great “Ultimate Brown Paper Flooring Guide” I have done 1,350 sf in my house so far and ALL on concrete subfloors! I used 2 parts water, 1 part glue and it works wonderfully. [...] I’d recommend you go here for basic instruction, these are tips based on my [...] Helen October 22, 2013 Wow. I think this is amazing. I saw someone do a faux-wood floor with this paper. (Corn in My Coffee). They started out with strips of various lengths that they glued down, but after the glue dried, they took furniture touch up markers and drew the lines for the faux planks. They did not follow the lines of the original strips of paper, but drew on their own. It looked so cool. Not to fool anyone, but still so cool. Well, I wondered… what if a girl rolled out the paper from the roll, didn’t cut it, but crumpled it width-wise, and then applied it to the floor like wall paper—in one continuous strip…. And then, when it’s dry, covered it again the same way, to add thickness and cover any parts where gaps show….. Then, then drew the lines for a faux wood plank floor, then stained it, then poly, poly, poly, etc.? (My hubby has patience and a steady hand and could do the lines. Me… not so much.) My reasoning is that if we’re going to have to draw the lines anyway, then why make the strips in the first place? And man alive, wouldn’t it be just lightning fast to get the paper on the floor that way? (Offset, yes, by the putziness of drawing the lines.) Please, if you find the time, let me know what you think the possible pros or cons of this would be. Thanks for the awesome tutorial and great pictures. Christy October 26, 2013 I cannot wait to try this in my home. We had cheap yucky carpet in here when we bought the place and concrete underneath. I’m going to start in the closet first and see how it goes! Thanks for all the help! pattiemelt October 28, 2013 The main reason this fails on concrete is because concrete wicks moisture & the paper absorbs it. The glue dissolves in the moisture & turns white again (under the sealer) & the paper will start to mold. You can prevent these problems by using a good latex primer on the concrete after you fill, sand & clean the concrete. Kilz2 works, or Kilz Max if you have stains on the concrete that might seep through the paper. Just paint it on like you would a wall, let dry for 24 hours, then lay your flooring. I sell flooring & teach people how to install it themselves & I always recommend using a latex primer any time you install a glue-down flooring, even for glue-down carpet. pattiemelt October 28, 2013 This technique also works on walls, especially good over damaged wallpaper or paneling or where you want to cover uneven surfaces! Barbara Box October 29, 2013 My question is, do you think this floor treatment is durable enough for the kitchen? We have a very large family and the kitchen really get a workout. Larene October 29, 2013 Hi!! Great FABULOUS idea!!! I live in Florida, and wondering if this would work on the concrete lania floor (screened outdoor room with floor to near ceiling screens on 3 sides, with a solid roof). Also, a possibility for the front entry stoop (outside concrete). I understand that it will probably need extra poly on the top (due to the elements) and yearly upkeep/coat of poly. Any thought? Mathieu October 29, 2013 now that you’ve had that paper floor for a couple of years, how is it surviving to your dog ? Do his nails dig deep enough to actually expose the glued paper ? I think the floor looks great but I have a 50lbs boxer mix myself and I’m afraid that the floor wouldn’t survive even a year … :-O [...] von LovelyCraftHome.com hat eine umfassende Anleitung geschrieben. Im Endeffekt ist es aber folgendes. Packpapier wird mit [...] Kate Huffman October 30, 2013 Hi Rachel! Just wanted to say you inspired me so much that I have now done almost 1400 SF of brown paper flooring in my home ON CONCRETE!! We LOVE it and have gotten so many compliments on it. I posted our progress on my FB page as we went along and I referred all interested to your blog. Thanks again. You can see pics of my floors here: https://www.facebook.com/kate.huffman/media_set?set=a.10151925149775903.1073741829.512665902&type=3 Sonja November 8, 2013 I was wondering. I have a gap between the lauan and the trim. Could I possibly put newspaper down on the lauan and then do this technique over that, or would that not work at all? I was hoping the newspaper would add some insulation as well. Thoughts? Brown Paper Bag Floor \| Healthy Hooker November 13, 2013 Nataleigh November 13, 2013 I bought “natural kraft wax paper.” Will that work? That’s all that lowes had. Rachael Evans November 14, 2013 Angie L November 19, 2013 I haven’t seen any comments on doing this over the top of painted wood floors. There are numerous coats of paint on this floor already, some potentially lead paint so we don’t want to strip it or sand it. I love the look of this and think it is a great alternative to just painting another coat on the floor. Any thoughts on prepping the floor before gluing down or do you think we could just go for it? Thanks Michelle November 21, 2013 I love this flooring idea, I was thinking of it for my cement basement, however, I have been known to flood on occasion…do you think this floor would hold up? I mean we get about 2-7 inches of water, maybe once a year, but it receeds quickly??? thoughts? [...] definitely give this a try with some variation and post a tutorial, but until I do, head over to Lovely Crafty Home for detailed instructions. It’s a really well written, well illustrated tutorial with lots of [...] DIY Paper-Floor Project - - November 26, 2013 [...] DIY Girl in me just went a digging. I searched the big ole’ internet and found one awesome paper floor tutorial on Lovely Crafty Home, that I followed a couple of her tips and tricks, but for the most part I just winged it, like I do [...] Lechi November 27, 2013 Kell Leggott December 8, 2013 Help I have white patches after gluing. How do I fix this before I stain? Kell Leggott December 8, 2013 White spots on my floor after gluing. How do I fix this? Rachael Evans December 8, 2013 Hi Kell, what type of glue did you use? Kell Leggott December 9, 2013 I used Elmers. I have a couple spots that are white. I painted the floor with a floor paint that you mix the hardener with. and like I said its only a few spots. do you think I could put poly down then more paper? Lost at what to do Rachael Evans December 11, 2013 Not sure what happened, I would glue paper over the spots if possible…before the poly, otherwise it won’t stick. Kate December 11, 2013 I’ve put paper on top of poly before. I had a bad spot and wanted to redo it. Sand first, then apply w/Elmers solution. Dry. Stain, poly, complete. This was a concrete kitchen floor. The stain d/n quite match but with age it has blended. Lori Piggott December 11, 2013 I just finished staining my paper floor. I used a different set of instructions that used a deck pad for application. It created uneven staining with pooled streaks that I didn’t see while applying the stain. Is there a way to fix the streaks? [...] tutorial below is specifically for covering concrete floors in paper. If your subfloor is plywood, check out this tutorial instead. Domestic Imperfection perfected a method for covering a concrete floor in paper. [how to make a [...] states December 14, 2013 Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and the rest of the site is also very good. Larry Vaughn December 15, 2013 Has anyone tried this with non-brown paper. I want to recycle grey packing paper that I get with shipments to my store. Can I mix in children’s construction paper to make a multicolored floor? I’d lay down the base color paper and seal it first so hopefully the colored paper would not bleed onto the base? And as opposed to reading a bizillion posts, does wallpaper adhesive work or not? John December 17, 2013 what’s the difference in stain colors for march and the one for September. I love the look of September. Barney December 19, 2013 So my wife did this to the upstairs floor of our split this past spring. It looked great, she worked hard and she was very happy. We live in an area where the winter’s are very cold. As the subfloor contracted recently, all of the seams cracked. Now if she repairs in this contracted state, the same thing will happen as the subfloors expand in warmer weather. Additionally, when doing the initial prep work, we didn’t follow a true carpentry nailing schedule when securing the subfloors, which may have also contributed to the vertical movement we are seeing between subfloor panels. When we filled the gaps with wood filler, we didn’t think about change over temperature. Zuni December 21, 2013 I am in the middle of cheap re-surface of poorly placed cheap tile to entry, kitchen, dining room, and then the rest of the house where carpet was removed. Painted the entire surface with green version of concrete paint, then used Novacolor acrylic polymer medium, rated for masonry, wood, canvas, #206 Gloss Medium and varnish, with tinting of mix of Burnt Umber and bit of Burnt Sienna. Alternated with adding Hooker green/blue to add dimension. Non toxic. Jennifer K December 26, 2013 I just did our family room and my poly is peeling. I think I have 5 layers. Its a Verathane Polyurathane Floor Finish. Any thoughts on what I may have done wrong and suggestions on what to do. Rachael Evans December 30, 2013 I’m not familiar with that brand, maybe the coats were applied too quickly? What is the cure time? Boys’ Room Redo \| Stepping Out December 28, 2013 [...] I’ve never shared here what I’ve done in my house with my floors, I’m adding this link so you can see how it’s done. Last year we ripped the incredibly nasty carpet off our stairs [...] Julie December 29, 2013 I was wondering what color stain you used on your main stairwell in the picture that’s dated for September 2011? I really like the marble look and would love to do this to my kitchen. Also do you recommend me removing the lanoleum first. Thank you in advance for your help. Rachael Evans December 30, 2013 If the linoleum is in good shape, you can go right over it after sanding. Julie December 30, 2013 I was also wondering if the poly or epoxy will crack because my floor has a squeak to it when walked on. Jackie December 29, 2013 Hi, I would love to try the paper bag technique on my kitchen countertop. I have 50′s style white with gold flecks and would like to try this method. Maybe you have had someone ask this before but there are so many comments I may have missed it. Do you think I would need to do any sanding of the old Formica prior to gluing the paper? I am cautious however of using any bleach or vinegar to clean the countertops…thoughts? Julie December 29, 2013 What is the color stain used in the September photo of your stairs Rachael Evans December 30, 2013 Minwax Dark Walnut is the only stain I’ve used on my paper floors. The basement stairs are the natural paper. Hope that helps! Out of Our Valley Home – Craft paper Console Table December 31, 2013 [...] design on top. Doing my daily searching around the net for different craft ideas I came across The Ultimate Bag Flooring Guide Which you can also use craft paper for the flooring I found in my searches. I loved the look of it [...] Casey Harris (C.H. SCARLETT) January 15, 2014 I almost cried when I saw this. Literally. We have been remodeling and we are trying to buy another house that will have to be remodeled. Back when I was younger (I am 40 now) things seemed a lot cheaper if you did it yourself or made it yourself. Now, not so much. When I found these floors– and how wonderful they look–I felt a bit of hope again. Thank you so much and for all of the many pictures!!!! DIY Cheap Flooring -Spastic Goat January 16, 2014 [...] LovelyCraftyHome.com and DomesticImperfection.com have both posted very thorough articles on how to create your own flooring using an incredibly affordable material (Brown Paper). These floors have a beautiful, rustic appearance and are about as durable as linoleum. Brown paper may be one of the most affordable DIY flooring solutions. [...] Lisa January 21, 2014 I didnt see this mentioned, what gauge paper do you use? Michael Johnson January 23, 2014 I am about to start my bathroom with brown paper bag floor. Just wanted to know ,should I just lay it down on wood subfloor??; or would it be ok to put down underlayment first?? I was thinking about just a softer surface. I anyone could let me know if that would be cool or not I would be greatful . Thank you.. Rachael Evans January 24, 2014 I put mine directly on the wood, I’ve never tried to do it over underlayment…but if you try it let me know how it works out! Brown Paper Floors - Rose Atwater January 27, 2014 chris February 8, 2014 I know the stain and poly will protect the floors but do u think I would have to worry about any animals that aren’t house broken? I don’t think dog urine would be that damaging, but I think the ammonia from cat urine would be pretty bad. can someone give me a bit of insight on this? Beth March 14, 2014 Chris, If you find out, please let me know. I just posted the same question bethsemails at gmail.com Kim January 31, 2014 I am attempting to do this on a concrete sub floor. My question is, after I have removed the carpet and padding, there is over spray of paint all over the floor. Do I have to remove the paint, or can I just put the paper on top of the paint? Lisa Melvin February 1, 2014 Can you stain the paper before you start gluing it? Diana February 4, 2014 This looks great! I am thinking of doing this to my bar wall, where the barstools are. Do you think this technique would work on painted drywall? Sherry February 5, 2014 I want to do this on my staircase. It is currently carpeted and it’s builders grade underneath. Nothing pretty! When you did your stairs did you just go around the nose of the tread? Mine are very rough and I’ll sand them first, but will the technique make them look fabulous? CRISSY February 5, 2014 Bee February 7, 2014 Can I use this for a backslash in my kitchen? Have you ever applied it to walls? Amy Oden February 8, 2014 Did you do your whole house in the dark walnut stain? (Other than the basement stairwell.) And has anyone done this with a cherry stain? If so can I please get pictures?! thank you! Rhonda February 8, 2014 Does anyone have pets that has done this to their floors? If so, how does it hold up with wear and tear and the occasional cleanup from the potty mishaps? Thanks Rhonda Barb February 8, 2014 Can you do this to a wall, like a splash guard for a kitchen? Char February 8, 2014 I have pets and was just wondering if the paper flooring would hold up under the dog nail and cat nail conditions… I think it would be a great idea… Jenna February 11, 2014 I am loving this treatment and am excited to try it but I had a question. We live in a mobile home and I was wondering if I go down to the sub flooring am I going to lose heat? I am knew to the diy stuff and am just wanting to make sure that by taking away a layer I am not creating a bigger heating bill. This may be a stupid question… TIA Thrifty Thursday: Paper Bag Flooring Tutorial - Thifty Sue February 12, 2014 [...] tutorial I used can be found over here at Lovely Crafty Home. She did a great job and it is full of useful information both in the post and the comments. The [...] JoAnna February 14, 2014 I just laid this over the tile floor in my breakfast area and I love it! The grout lines do show, but it doesn’t bother us and the finished product reminds me a bit of etched stained concrete. The original tile was an awful beige/terra cotta checkerboard pattern that had been heavily waxed at some point and just looked terribly dirty and scratched as the wax was coming up. It was going to cost upwards of $500 to get it cleaned up, and as we’re prepping our house for the market and facing a bathroom remodel, that was pretty low on the list. Then I found this. Love! I did about 300 sq ft for right at $100. I’ll share photos when I get some taken! Michele February 15, 2014 Just wanted to share that this is a great idea. I have a very old house and did this in my hall upstairs and my stair way. I added a twist to it for my daughter’s room. I used the paper as a base and then painted her whole floor. Then I used scrapbooking paper to make it look like tile and used poly over that. The end result is so awesome! My daughter loves her floor. If I could post a picture of it here I would so you all can see. Sheila February 15, 2014 Am I reading this correctly? 12 coats of poly are recommended? Given dry times, wouldn’t this take more like 12-13 days per room vs. the 3-4 stated in the tutorial? I’d love to try this, but I’m not sure if I could handle having to poly 12 times. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! DIYer February 16, 2014 Great technique – looks fantastic in the pictures have 2 quick questions; Is the floor still standing up to wear and tear? – We have a 70 lb dog What product did you use to fill the floor? – I have seen several posts about bleed though from below Thanks for your help Mina Ladrillono February 17, 2014 Hi, the end result looks really awesome! Would love to replace my old carpet and try this project. I wonder though, will it lessen or add value to your home? THANKS! Malene Brixum February 17, 2014 I would really like to try this, but i have a question. Have you done this on heated floors? If you haven´t, do you know if it works on plywood on heated floors? I really love what you have done in your house, it looks amazing Malene Brixum February 17, 2014 sorry not plywood, but chipboard i believe you call it. Thats how we danes do our heated floors kimm February 18, 2014 Will it work on linoleum floors? Joni Nibbelink February 19, 2014 Is the Elmer’s glue in this tutorial regular white school glue or wood glue? Rebecca February 24, 2014 hi I love what you did. I would like to know if I can apply it to ceramic or porcelain tiles. if so can you please mail me all instructions an pics or video Heidi Earl February 26, 2014 I have been searching for inexpensive alternative ideas for replacing my carpets and floors without having to spend 3,000 @ $3 sq ft. When I came across this decoupage and found out a lady has been doing this as a commercial application. This is what sold me other than the fact this is the coolest most beautiful floor I’ve seen, not to mention different. I did not want the typical floor everyone has. I want to be different. Soooo, I started this in my daughter playroom and used the stain like you did. Gorgeous! It came out looking like yours. Now I haven’t started the poly yet tonight I plan to. The only problem I had, and I know now, I didn’t prep my edges on the subfloor good enough, because I had a little lifting. I tried to fix as best as I can so I think after I replace the baseboard it should fix it enough. The next to rooms I’ll do the edges first and wait till they dry to make sure no lifting then finish the center. Now I found using the brush for the stain worked easier and a rag to wipe it off (of couse the dry paper is very rough) so using the rag you still had to be careful. I plan on trying to do my kitchen and livingroom also. I also plan on 12 coats of poly. Heidi Earl March 14, 2014 Well I got my daughter’s playroom done, however I have some lifting along the edges and wrinkles in the paper which were there before I stained. I didn’t prep the floor very good. So not sure if I will redo it or do the repairs that I found out how to do by searching online. I did just finish the paper on her bedroom floor and this time I took care to prep the floor and the paper is perfect! It is smooth, no wrinkles and the edges are all glued down. Tonight I stain it. Now let me tell you it takes practice and a room to get the second room this good. Can’t wait to do my bedroom. So, how to lay the paper?! Well, 1st I found using 2:1 ratio (water:glue) worked best. The paper wasn’t to watery. The edges along the wall brush the subfloor with glue 1st then the back side of paper and lay the paper down and kinda smooth out with hand (as your hands are sticky) then brush the glue on top. Now gently lift the paper up (not all the way leave and edge down) and using your hand smooth the top to push bubbles out and continue as u lay the paper back down and continue to smooth as much bubbles out as u can. Make sure your paper is flat – a little bit of wrinkling will happen on some so have like 3 sections to work on and let those pieces dry – Do not lay another piece down on a wrinkled one. This is why I did like 3 sections. Take your time with the paper as this is the most crucial and toughest part of the project. The rest is easy. (I did not do this in the 1st room – playroom – I tried to flatten and continued to lay paper even though it was wrinkled. It stay wrinkled and I didn’t realized “daa” I should have tried to fix it then.) I do have to say her playroom the floor is smooth where the paper is not wrinkled that poly on it is hard – I really can’t see why not do it in the kitchen or livingroom. My livingroom is not high traffic but my kitchen is. I hope this helps to anyone wanting to do this project! Good Luck! I’ll post again after I do the stain and poly. Paula Postlewait February 27, 2014 How do transition between the flooring and say a carpet room? I’m going to do this in my living room and hallway however I have 6 doorways to transition. I’m excited to do this! Heidi Earl March 14, 2014 There is floor molding strips – you can get at Home Depot/Lowes. They should have a couple of choices to choice from. We have them. Candie February 28, 2014 I am looking to do a 260 sq ft. Room approx how many gallons of polyerthene would it take to do at least 12 coats? Heidi Earl March 14, 2014 I just did about 110 sq feet it took 1 gallon for 10 coats – um lets see the room is 10 x 10 closet 4 x 3 – My quess get 3 gallons to be sure. And use 12 coats. I did 10 in her playroom and it’s great but her bedroom I’ll do 12 coats. When you get the pads for the mop by 3 and use them for 4 coats only. It seems to cover the best this way. Basement Stairs – Update \| Not the Brady Bunch March 3, 2014 [...] The site where I got my idea for this project said they put several coats of polyurethane on top to finish it. I noticed with the top 5 steps that sat for a while, the Mod Podge hardened quite a bit. Since we’ve been walking on them without the poly anyway, I’m thinking that I might skip it. I figure if I start noticing that the traffic is causing too much wear on the steps, I can touch them up and polyurethane them at that point. We’ll see how it goes. Here’s how it looks now… [...] Kat March 7, 2014 Hi! I did not see this in the comments anywhere.. I have scoured the web for help.. and don’t see it. We did the first couple of steps. Our plywood had horrid stinky pee stains on it so we sealed it with Kilz before starting. I did the saturating method, my husband rolled glue on floor, and then back of paper and put down. HUGE differences. We used a watered down wallpaper glue. We are having problems with the paper NOT sticking in random places. It is worse where I did the saturation method, than his, but both areas have random spots where the paper did not stick. We tried regluing those pieces, but they just don’t seem to want to stick! My husband got frustrated and stained the room. Amazing difference in the two areas as far as effect, but still paper is not sticking. He has tried to go back in and glue them down, but no way no how. Will the poly hold it down, or should we rip out those pieces and try again? Heidi Earl March 14, 2014 Rip those pieces out and redo before u poly and used elmer’s all-purpose glue 2:1 like 1cup of glue to 2 cups water or 1:1. Sounds like you are trying to glue over paint and it will. But do fix it before the poly you will be glad you did. Trust me! (and see my post for a little more info) Malinda March 10, 2014 I actually did this and I love the final results. Thank you for sharing your blog. I, did, however have several challenges, which required me to re-paper 3 different times. It was definitely a learning experience and I sure wish I had known some of the things before I started. I actually wrote a blog about my experience in case anyone else is thinking about doing this. I learned a few good lessons. http://apurposefulpath.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-first-paper-bag-floor-test-and-learn.html Enjoy! Cindy March 12, 2014 Just completed my paper bag floor, it looks great! I will be doing the same thing for an adjoining room. The only thing I’m going to change is the glue mixture, next time I will go with 2:1 mix. Also I stopped at 5 layers of poly. This is an easy project just very time consuming, love it. SIssy Schonewitz March 14, 2014 I am wondering I want to do this to a trailer im re dong but my concern is will this work on hard wood flooring?!? Beth March 14, 2014 I wonder if it was re polyed every 1 to 2 yrs if it would last longer? It really wouldn’t be that much work to do. I would think it would be a lot like waxing your floor. Well not quite that easy but still not super hard.	231,302
If you have never owned a Bengal cat before and might be considering bringing one into your home, it’s probably a good idea to learn as much about them as you can. One good way is to consider buying a book about them to find out the information you need to be able to better understand them. In this article we cover the following. Our Picks for the Best Books About Bengal Cats The more information that you have on hand about Bengal cats the better. Yes, you can find a lot of information on the Internet such as our own site that offers information on personality to the best cat beds and more. But sometimes having a book on hand when you don’t have time to look up the information online is a good thing. Plus, books can be taken anywhere you go including places where there might not have an Internet connection. Books on Bengals can help you with a lot of questions that you might have regarding this breed. You can find out a lot about their breed especially whether or not your cat really is a Bengal. Descriptions and pictures can be quite helpful. Books offer information about different health issues Bengals might have and help you recognize signs or symptoms of various illnesses so that you will be well informed on what should be done if something is wrong with your Bengal. You can find books that help you better understand Bengals and their personality traits as well as learn how to get along with a bond with your Bengal. You can learn how to train your Bengal and what types of things you can train them to do. Books are a wealth of information when it comes to the types of toys they will be most interested in and how you can give them a home that is interactive and safe for them. Books can also be a great talking piece when you have visitors over who want to know more about your Bengal cat. They can also be a great source of entertainment especially if you purchase one that’s a coloring book just for adults. Our Picks for the Best Books About Bengal Cats We decided to check out some of the books written about Bengals so that we could come up with a list of our favorites for recommendation to those of you who are looking for a book to find more about Bengals and get a better understanding of who they are and how to become a better pet parent. Below you will find a list of books that we believe you might find helpful in raising and living with a Bengal cat. ABOUT: This is paperback book that was written by a veterinarian about Bengal cats. It's meant to be a simple guide for pet parents who want to learn more about the Bengal breed. It’s a short read but offers important facts about Bengals that answers a variety of questions one might have. OUR RATING: FEATURES: This little guide includes a fact file with all the important questions one might have about Bengals. It also includes information about their character, history, health issues and even a guide for Bengal kitten care. It also includes lots of helpful advice in caring and understanding your Bengal. PROS: Offers plenty of information for those who are relatively new to the breed. It includes a guide for choosing a Bengal, health information, equipment and accessories you should have and good advice on Bengals. CONS: Come complain that the information is too general and not specific to the Bengal breed. Buy on Amazon ABOUT: This book is written from the perspective of a cat and gives advice. A unique approach to those looking for a text about Bengal cats in both the approach and information offered. OUR RATING: FEATURES: This is information taken from the author's experience with her Bengal to help people better understand what makes Bengals unique. PROS: The book gives information on both Bengal kittens and cats including their behavior, markings, history, IQ, ticks they can be taught, games to play with them and more. CONS: Not written by a veterinarian Buy on Amazon ABOUT: This book is meant to provide the reader with useful information explaining the different aspects of this beautiful breed, their care, training, health. It includes steps and strategies on how to better understand Bengals in order to make them an important member of the family. OUR RATING: FEATURES: This book guides pet parents through everything from picking your Bengal out of the litter, their origins, what you can expect of a Bengal, caring for them, training tips and much more. PROS: Nice little book on Kindle and paperback that offers a good amount of information on the breed and what you can expect from them once they are in your home. Much of the information is meant to help people find out whether or not they have the lifestyle that most Bengals require to live a happy and healthy life. CONS: Not really meant for those who are already knowledgeable about Bengals. Buy on Amazon ABOUT: This book is ideal for the beginner and is meant to introduce people to Bengal cats. It is meant to help guide those pet parents who are just getting to know their Bengal and want to learn more about the breed plus how to care for them properly. OUR RATING: FEATURES: This paperback book is convenient to have around especially if you are new to the breed. It includes information on how Bengals compare to other breeds of exotic cats that also have wild ancestors. It also includes information on any legal considerations there might be in the US, UK, and Canada as related to the generation of Bengal one might own. PROS: This book gives the reader TICA information on Bengals as well as any legal issues there might be. The book specifically defines their specific needs and what to expect from Bengals. It’s also very easy to read and understand. CONS: The photos in the book are nice, however, they’re not in color. Buy on Amazon ABOUT: This paperback book is intended for those who are new to the breed and looking for general information about Bengals to help them learn how best to care for them and how to bond successfully so both the pet parent and the Bengal will have a great life together. OUR RATING: FEATURES: This book tries to reassure those who are new to the Bengal breed that even though they come from a wild ancestry doesn’t mean that they are wild cats. This book tries to teach people how loving and sweet these cats can be. PROS: Explains well how Bengals are not to be considered wild and that they're ideal for families and people who love cats period. It ensures them that these cats are not just beautiful and intelligent but are fiercely loyal as well as loving. CONS: Big drawback is that there are no illustrations or photos. Buy on Amazon After reviewing these five books on our list, we’ve come to the conclusion that our top choice would be the Bengal Breed Profile. We believe that this small yet informative book is one that meets most of the criteria that many are looking for when wanting to learn more about Bengals. It’s easy to read, is inexpensive and holds far more information than one might think it would. Each book on this list offers information that is important to know and all of them can be helpful. It simply depends upon what you are personally looking for in a book about Bengal cats. Leave a Comment: E-Mail * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. E-Mail * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Affiliate Disclosure BengalCatClub.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Additionally, BengalCatClub.com participates in various other affiliate programs. This means that when you purchase certain products through our recommendations, at no additional cost to you, we receive a monetary reward for referring you.	8,308
How customers perceive a brand influences how much they spend with the brand and whether they recommend it, as well as how likely they are to forgive the brand’s missteps. This report answers the question, “Which health insurers are providing the best customer experience (CX), and how are they improving the quality of their experiences?” We reveal the complete rankings of 17 health insurance brands that were analyzed as part of the US Customer Experience Index (CX Index(™)) in 2021. Customer experience professionals can use this report to inform their ongoing improvement efforts. Want to read the full report? Buy this report Contact us to become a client Log in for access This report is available for individual purchase ($1495). Forrester helps business and technology leaders use customer obsession to accelerate growth. That means empowering you to put the customer at the center of everything you do: your leadership strategy, and operations. Becoming a customer-obsessed organization requires change — it requires being bold. We give business and technology leaders the confidence to put bold into action, shaping and guiding how to navigate today's unprecedented change in order to succeed.	1,205
Ryerson graphic communications management (GCM) professor Ehsan Behzadfar recently received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for his research on green packaging solutions. Supported by the John R. Evans Leaders Fund, the award selects outstanding researchers in innovation from a competitive international pool. “Approval for projects like this sends us a message that the government and the CFI care about these topics,” Behzadfar said. Behzadfar’s research focuses on finding solutions to address environmental concerns caused by plastic materials in packaging. According to the professor, “if we don’t do anything about this, we’re going to have more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.” In 2019, National Geographic reported that plastic production is increasing around the world exponentially, “from 2.3 million tonnes in 1950 to 448 million tonnes by 2015, and is expected to double by 2050.” Moreover, some plastic can take up to 400 years to break down due to their flexible and durable components. “We should be mindful about where we’re going to use plastic…and about their end of life cycle” As a result, “we should be mindful about where we’re going to use plastic, how we’re going to use them, and about their end of life cycle,” Behzadfar said. The grant will support Behzadfar’s research in developing biodegradable multilayer polymers, green-based packaging materials from natural resources such as plant proteins, for packaging applications. Natural components in packaging design allow for an easier and faster breakdown process in landfills over time, according to Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research. The fund will also help with research infrastructure, as this project is highly practical according to Behzadfar. The team will need to develop, work with and experiment with packages, the professor said. Behzadfar’s research in eco-friendly packaging design will also involve engineering plastic packages so that they can be more sustainable. “Right now we have a lot of issues with waste management,” he said. “Even if we collect all the plastics, we are not able to recycle or reuse them.” Unfortunately, despite the fact that plastic is becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives, little is currently recycled due to its material properties. The World Economic Forum released a report in 2016 stating that “32 per cent of plastic packaging escapes collection systems, generating significant economic costs by reducing the productivity of vital natural systems such as the ocean and clogging urban infrastructure.” The overall immense costs associated with plastic packaging and production call for a greener alternative. To Behzadfar, the solution to help with plastic pollution has to be a collaborative effort. “The problem is for everyone, and the solution should also come from everyone.” While he said he believes there should be limited reliance on corporations alone, Behzadfar stresses the urgency for businesses, the government and consumers to work together on packaging sustainability. Another important aspect is feasibility, he said. “If it causes too much inconvenience to the customer, for example, then they won’t want to use it.” “We should come up with a variety of sustainable solutions and get everyone involved” An example of sustainable packaging is Nespresso’s recyclable coffee cups, said Behzadfar, where customers ship the coffee container back to the manufacturer once they’re finished with their drinks. The coffee cup comes with a Canada Post baggage so that consumers can ship it back conveniently. “This is a good example of the things that might work in the real world, but besides that,” he said, “We shouldn’t limit ourselves to one solution. We should come up with a variety of sustainable solutions and get everyone involved.” There are also different approaches to urban and rural areas in terms of sustainability, according to the professor. In urban areas, for example, there are a lot of garbage cans around, so collection is usually more efficient. For suburban areas, on the other hand, where people own a lot of land, “we need to then look at more biodegradable or compostable solutions.” “That’s why,” said Behzadfar, “We need to be very agile in offering these solutions.” Given more time and resources, Behzadfar hopes to continue looking into the science and fundamentals of sustainable packaging initiatives, which are “in their infant stage now.” Recently, he focused on ways to make multilayer packages or part of the packages biodegradable. Behzadfar also welcomes students to become involved with opportunities for voluntary services or sometimes paid positions. Students can find more information about areas of involvement on Behzadfar’s Ryerson webpage. 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Kershaw takes perfect game into 8th, Dodgers rout Angels 9-1 MLB Headlines Harper has surgery, to miss start of '23 Astros' postseason share a record $516K Red Sox give LHP Rodriguez 1-year deal Rangers hire Maddux as pitching coach Red Sox acquire INF/OF Park from Pirates Brewers, OF Perkins agree to 1-year deal Angels acquire OF Renfroe from Brewers Beltran leads 14 newcomers on HOF ballot AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Clayton Kershaw's pitches all sizzled from the start, and the Los Angeles Angels swung early, often and usually ineptly. Behind their longtime ace, the Los Angeles Dodgers made one stunning defensive play after another. While he retired the first 21 Angels in order, even Kershaw allowed himself to admit everything was pointing toward his first perfect game. "I really felt like it might happen," Kershaw said with a smile. Luis Rengifo's double leading off the eighth ended the dream, yet it scarcely dampened another spectacular night for the Dodgers' beloved left-hander. Kershaw finished his latest gem in a career full of them with eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball in the Dodgers' 9-1 victory over the Angels on Friday night. After mowing down the Angels for seven innings, Kershaw (7-2) fell six outs short of his first perfect game and the second in Dodgers franchise history when Rengifo lined a clean hit to left on a well-thrown low slider. "I really wanted to do it," Kershaw said. "I think it would have been really fun for everybody involved." But Kershaw shrugged it off, retired three more Angels and got the last of several standing ovations from a sellout crowd of 44,648 at the Big A, which contained a huge contingent of blue-clad fans roaring for Kershaw's every out. "Honestly, I probably should have given up four or five hits," Kershaw said. "Defense played unbelievable tonight, and they lined out right to some guys. It was a fun night." The 34-year-old Kershaw was selected to his ninth All-Star team earlier this month, and he is a strong sentimental candidate to start the Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium. If anybody still doubted his All-Star worthiness after just 12 starts this season, Kershaw again showed he's a master craftsman on the mound who can dominate major league hitters. The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out six and induced 11 swings and misses while throwing just 89 pitches - none faster than 92.5 mph. "Obviously, he's still one of the best in the game," catcher Austin Barnes said. "He puts the ball where he wants it. They were swinging early, which helps him. After the third or four incredible (defensive) play, I thought it was going to happen. But it's tough. It doesn't happen very often." Kershaw threw the only no-hitter of his career back in 2014 against Colorado. Sandy Koufax threw the only perfect game in Dodgers history on Sept. 9, 1965. There have been just 23 perfect games in major league history. Justin Turner had three hits, drove in four runs and also made the first of three spectacular defensive plays by the Dodgers' infield to keep Kershaw's perfect game intact. Will Smith went 4 for 4 with a walk, while Hanser Alberto had a two-run triple in the fifth inning as the Dodgers rolled toward the All-Star break with 13 wins in 15 games. Turner, Alberto and Trea Turner all made outstanding plays on grounders in a four-inning span to maintain Kershaw's perfection. "That was a vintage Kershaw performance," Justin Turner said. "There's a point in the middle of the game where you know what's going on, and we had a really good feeling about it. That was dominance right there." Brandon Marsh homered off Reyes Moronta in the ninth for the Angels, who opened the second half of the annual Freeway Series with their 11th loss in 13 games overall. Mike Trout sat out for a third consecutive game after having upper back spasms Tuesday, and the rest of the Angels couldn't break through. "He's a future Hall of Famer, and he had his best stuff working tonight against a team that hasn't been swinging the bats very well," Angels manager Phil Nevin said of Kershaw. "You could tell from the beginning he had a few pitches that were really working for him." Patrick Sandoval (3-5) yielded seven hits and two earned runs while failing to get through the fifth inning for the Angels. Kershaw already flirted with history in his first start of the season, throwing seven perfect innings with 13 strikeouts at Minnesota on April 13. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts pulled Kershaw from that start with the lefty's reluctant approval. Kershaw is the only pitcher in the post-1961 expansion era to be perfect through seven innings more than once in a season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Trout intends to play Saturday and in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. He said he took this game off "to make sure it has completely gone away." "Still felt a little not right," Trout added. "I feel like treatment went good today, and (I'll) be in tomorrow. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, but my intention is to play tomorrow." Freddie Freeman played his first game at Angel Stadium since his rookie season. The longtime Atlanta slugger is an Orange County native who grew up 10 minutes from the Big A and attended countless games here as a kid. Freeman continued his phenomenal stretch at the plate since being left off the NL All-Star team when he drove in the Dodgers' first run with an RBI single. The slugger reached base for the jaw-dropping 18th time in his last 21 plate appearances with the first-inning hit. Dodgers: LHP Andrew Heaney is likely to make a rehab start Saturday. He has pitched for LA once since April due to shoulder woes. Angels: RHP Jimmy Herget will start a rehab assignment after the All-Star break. He's been out since June 22 with a right shoulder impingement. Julio Urias (7-6, 3.01 ERA) attempts to beat the Angels for the first time in his third career attempt. Jose Suarez (1-3, 4.79) faces the Dodgers for the first time in his major league career. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports Updated July 16, 2022 © 2022 by STATS PERFORM. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS PERFORM is strictly prohibited.	6,638
It had once belonged to the island goddess Te Fiti — until the trickster god Maui stole it to enhance his strength. But the lava demon Te Ka fought Maui for it, and the heart was lost. Lacking this vital organ, Princess Moana’s island began to die. On her deathbed, Moana’s grandmother told her to return the heart to the goddess. And so Moana set sail, facing great obstacles along the way, including a father who forbade her from leaving the island, Maui — who turned from foe to friend and back again, pirates, and the demon Te Ka. On her journey Moana grew resourceful, gained courage and learned to navigate by the stars. But she also failed and lost faith in herself and her quest. Throwing the heart into the sea, she asked the ocean to find someone more worthy to fulfill the quest. And then her grandmother’s spirit appeared and told her to find her true calling. I won’t give away the ending. Believe in yourself The hero’s journey of Disney’s Moana says: believe in yourself. Have the courage to do what you know you must. Follow your intuition, your higher self. And if you accept the adventure invisible hands will aid you. Moana felt she was the wrong person for the quest? But the ocean had chosen her by leaving the heart for her to find. Moana means ocean. Sometimes we are chosen even when we don’t feel worthy of the cause. Some see the goal of the hero’s adventure as developing your whole self — the other half of you. Our society makes us into half-humans: Men come to reject their “feminine side” and women are discouraged from fully developing their “masculine side.” The hero/heroine goes in search of oneness with the best parts of themselves: the courageous heart, the loving heart. We must seek connection to our heart. Without it we die. Related Posts Frozen Hearts Thaw, Grow Empowered Related I have a Ph.D. from UCLA in sociology (emphasis: gender, social psych). I currently teach sociology and women's studies at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA. I have also lectured at San Jose State. And I have blogged for Feminispire, Ms. Magazine, The Good Men Project and Daily Kos. Also been picked up by The Alternet. View all posts by BroadBlogs » Posted on November 30, 2016, in psychology and tagged believe in yourself, connect to your heart, Disney, Moana, the hero's journey. Bookmark the permalink. 67 Comments. ← Women Distracted By “How They Look” In Bed Sera Lee \| December 3, 2017 at 1:40 am I always joke around and tell everyone the main story line that Moana is trying to pitch to the nation is to NEVER interrupt one when they are sleeping – there will be fiery consequences! But on a more serious and relevant note, as soon as I heard word that Disney was coming out with their first Pacific Islander princess, I was beyond ecstatic! I was praying that she wouldn’t look like her previous successors: thin and was satisfied when I saw her skin color was the same as mine, her build much thicker. What I appreciated, and found interesting as the movie was in its developing stages was the fact that they staged Moana without a love interest. Arguments erupted saying what kind of princess is she if she doesn’t have a prince? But true to this article’s story line, Moana stayed true to herself by relying on the strong woman in her life and not needing a man’s validation for her to do what she wanted, what she felt was right. In the Polynesian culture of Tonga, women are seen as the head of the house. In Samoa, it is common to see women doing what Americans would deem as “manly duties”: i.e taking out the trash, farming, etc etc. In closing, ringing true to Moana, always believe in yourself even when the odds are stacked up against you. Never settle for less because you will be helped. All you have to do is follow your heart and ultimately restore it^^ jh1104 \| July 12, 2017 at 6:32 pm I liked Moana and I thought it felt fresh and new – not necessarily in the messages we’ve seen over and over again, but in the execution. The animation, soundtrack and storytelling were beautifully done and were what resonated with me. The soundtrack was especially important in invoking the sense of cultural pride, and importance. I felt at times a sort of sexual tension between Moana and Maui created in part by the lack of a love story/romance. I don’t know where to take that thought so someone else could probably expand on that. One thing I found funny was how closely some of the soundtrack resembled parts of the Hamilton soundtrack. I knew that Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote it but it really felt as if some parts of the melody were taken directly from Hamilton. When I got home and I listened to the soundtracks together, it was actually pretty difficult to find the similarities and differences became more apparent, which says something about the impact of musical style on my perception of music. BroadBlogs \| July 13, 2017 at 2:29 pm Some interesting thoughts. I noticed a little bit of sexual tension between the two of them too, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m so used to a romantic story that my mind inserted it. I guess it makes sense that those songs from The movie would be similar to the songs from the Broadway play since it was the same writer, huh? Bob \| April 26, 2017 at 12:12 pm I have your post scheduled for next Monday. People Who respond on my blog tend not to be negatively annoying because of my comment policy and because I screen comments. i’m not sure what the comment policy at GMP is these days. Personally, I never worry about it. I just don’t read the comments. But that is something to consider too.” That’s good to know. I figured your comment policy would block out rude people. I think thqt’s important especially for, if or when that alternate society thing I posted that you liked if women were ranked above men. I could see some insecure macho men criticizing it and saying men in that realm would be pussies and critique the thought even venturing there or why, etc. And I hope guys don’t think I’m saying women are always diplomatic and not confrontational, because I’ve definitely see confrontational women and laid back guys doing the listening and heart to heart stuff instead.My point was not simply confronting, because women can have tempers and be sassy etc. But there is a difference which maybe as much to do with culture as biology where it seems obvious men are more likely to confront with rage or in that manner as doing so, brings out the better chance for violence. Going that route makes a person more impulsive which can spur violence easier too. And like everybody knows as far as not just crimes in general, but violent crimes whether assaults, or murder, homicide, kidnappings,you name it. Men are the vast majority perpetrators. So it makes me think how society and culture plays a role with this, with women committing much less than men and men committing much more as a result of how both internalize and express their emotions as a result as explained with moana and maui. I mean something has to be in play here, because it doesn’t even have to be criminals or murderers, etc. But I mean just think of how I’ve seen non criminal, joe schmos at the bar or at a sports stadium. The guys are drunk and next thing you know, two dudes or more getting in a fist fight and more often over something stupid. Yes I’ve seen girls fight at a bar before and in school., but still the majority is still guys fighting especially at bars and especially at sports stadiums, especially pro sports stadiums like football and baseball and the mixture of alcohol. Women drink and get drunk too like men, yet you don’t see women getting in stupid fights nearly as much as guys. BroadBlogs \| April 26, 2017 at 11:28 pm Okay, I tried to reflect this by saying things like “Most women” and bringing up culture’s effects. Bob \| April 27, 2017 at 7:24 pm Thanks. I was just bringing it up, because I could see that being the argument by some of the male posters. You know who I’m talking about, if they post, that women can be confrontational too. But yeah I think you obviously know what I meant or behind it as far as how this handling of conflicts and problems, is more often handled with might and aggression by men as evidence by the huge violent crime disparity between men and women. And how women though having some confrontational anger, seem whether by nature, but maybe culture to solve problems and talk it out or other means like moana in the movie. BroadBlogs \| April 28, 2017 at 7:33 pm I think the wording should work. Bob \| April 24, 2017 at 2:18 pm I wanted to add though, like how you said, they both helped each other. She helped more so and that was my focus but I think his assertiveness and confidence rubbed off on her, so masculine qualities that helped her just like more feminie qualities that helped him in the end. His cockiness was bad, but while her humility was good, moana in the beginning didn’t believe in herself and had doubts. Him showing her how to steer the boat helped add to her confidence in the end of the movie so the exchange of each male and female strengths weaknesses, to better both of them and showing how being balanced as a whole with both traits is good, and not good suppressing one or the other. BroadBlogs \| April 25, 2017 at 11:02 pm btw, this is really good . Given timing (video v theatre release) not sure Good Men Project would take it, but I’d like to try. Also not sure they’d accept a pseudonym. Let me know if you’re interested in me reaching out to them. Bob \| April 26, 2017 at 12:56 am I’m not sure. But in the most recent time, I’m cool with you posting it, which you said you will. After that, I’ll see. But I’m fine just with it being posted here or for the near future. BroadBlogs \| April 26, 2017 at 11:45 am I have your post scheduled for next Monday. People Who respond on my blog tend not to be negatively annoying because of my comment policy and because I screen comments. i’m not sure what the comment policy at GMP is these days. Personally, I never worry about it. I just don’t read the comments. But that is something to consider too. Bob \| April 23, 2017 at 11:30 pm Thanks. I like how you kept most of what I wrote, but put it all together well and cohesive. Very, well written and yes that looks good and you can post it. Kind of crazy how many parallels a disney movie can have to real life, and something a person casually watching may not realize until looking at it in depth and analyzing. Speaking of that movie, I could be wrong but I know you said native americans were matriarchal during the early times or some of the tribes. I thought, thought probably not like the native americans. Probably not nowadays, but I thought samoan people which Mauia and Moana represent, They had matrileanal aspects too. I thought the elderly women were respected for samoan people and this higher respect of the motherly figures of the society or tribe. I’m sure you would know. BroadBlogs \| April 23, 2017 at 11:49 pm Yes, Pacific Islanders tended toward gender equality, too. A very thoughtful, insightful piece Bob. Thanks. It’ll be up soon (But more Handmaid’s Tale next week, as it’s when the series premiers.) Bob \| April 24, 2017 at 1:26 am Thanks. “But in a heart to heart Moana told him that he’s more than that weapon. And there’s more to his worth than being powerful in that way. She told him that he could help people, which was her task. ” I think she also pointed out that, he has more worth to him than his success and power. As great as he was and sounded, the truth was that even a demi-god himself had insecurities. His fears and struggles I feel were symbolically protected by his weapon as it allowed him to feel powerful and give him this worth that he maybe didn’t feel he inherantly had. She touched on how he can help people, but also I think her greatest value was seeing him for who he truly is and not the “facade” he was showing with his bravado. She was saying basically “yes you have insecurities and have weaknesses and are and can be vulneralbe”. But while he saw that as bad, she explained basically that it is what makes him great. The person inside, that heart he has inside that he covers up. It’s not his accomplishments that is of value but his actual worth deep down inside stripped away from the materials and ego driven things. You see, she made him see a side i think he didn’t see of himself or perhaps rediscovered after she showed him the light. It’s not the talent someone has or abilities that makes them wonderful, it’s their love, personality, heart, character, compassion that makes a person wonderful and true worth. He never saw his true worth, she helped him see it. This kind of makes me think of the Wizard of Oz. The flashy powerful Oz, makes me think of Maui with his brashness, but yet there he is, just like the man behind the curtain. The man behind the curtain was surprised when dorthy saw him as more than he thought he was when he was seen in a vulnerable state and not in his powerful facade. Like Maui, when his weapon lost power and almost broken, it’s like he felt she got a glimpse of him “behind the curtain”and in a vulnerable state. He didn’t think he had much worth without that powerful projection just like in wizard of oz, she made him realize there’s so much more to life and one;s worth than being powerful and he always had worth, he just never knew it or he didn’t know there’s more to him or infact greater things about him that is much better and more important that power. It’s his heart. Bob \| April 17, 2017 at 12:53 am I know I wrote a lot, I hope you can check it though. I think it’s thought provoking stuff and you’d appreciate. Well as long as you’ve already seen the movie. If you haven’t then I wouldn’t want to spoil it ha. It seemed like you did because of the review. BroadBlogs \| April 17, 2017 at 6:44 pm Hey Bob. Those are some really good thoughts. I’m hoping you don’t mind if I post them. I’ll approve them after I get to a Computer that I can work with better. Bob \| April 17, 2017 at 11:33 pm that’s fine. I hope I didn’t spoil anything, because I did let on a lot as far as what happened in the movie. It seemed like you did see it, so I went forward with what happened throughout the movie. If not, my bad. I think you should still see the movie if you haven’t though, despite my writing here. BroadBlogs \| April 23, 2017 at 1:06 pm What do you think of this edit? “Moana,” Men and Masculinity By Bob Moana is out on video so I bought it for my niece and nephew. As we watched it I was surprised at the truths it told about men and masculinity. In the story (spoiler alert), Princess Moana’s island began to die because the island goddess, Te Fiti, lost her heart in a struggle with the demi-god Maui, who stole it to enhance his power. Moana learned that for the island to live, the goddess must regain her heart, so she quested out to return it. On her journey she met Maui — who worked at times as friend and at times as foe. Maui reflects both the good and ill of masculine behavior. He’s not a bad guy, but he carries an ego that can get in the way of his better intentions, and the path of true good — like when he stole the goddess’ heart to become more powerful. We’ve all heard about the male ego and the male fight for power, right? And Maui holds the protypical “hierarchal’ mindset that puts him above others. He felt superior to Moana — not because of his gender but because he’s a demi-god after all, and she’s a mere mortal. His superior attitude and his quest to enhance his power reflects his domination values. On the flip side, Moana reflects “partnership” values. She wants the best for her people, not just what’s best for herself and her ego. Despite Maui’s brash attitude, she works with him and finds ways to be diplomatic in her approach. She is strong and independent, but never felt superior to Maui, or like she wouldn’t need him. Against Maui’s machismo Moana is in touch with her whole self — both her “feminine” and “masculine” sides. Moana to Maui: You are more than your weapon In his quest, Maui used a magic weapon that was almost entirely broken by the Lava Demon. It seemed to symbolized his conquests, success and power — in fact, his worth. Without it he felt defeated and lost. How could he be the great Maui with this broken weapon? But in a heart to heart Moana told him that he’s more than that weapon. And there’s more to his worth than being powerful in that way. She told him that he could help people, which was her task. That conversation parallels real life. In my experience guys don’t talk about their problems because we are so often ego driven and feel like we can’t be vulnerable or dependent. But she got him to express his tender, feminine side, which helped him to heal. With her partnership mindset, Moana counseled and consoled Maui. And their relationship — learning from each other — shows how men and women can support each other and help each other heal. “Power over” versus “power with” And then there’s the difference between how Maui and Moana sought to solve the problem — Maui thru brute strength and Moana thru her heart. Maui sought to battle and overpower the lava demon, and wasn’t effective. But Moana realized that the creature had lost its heart and she became aware that returning it would bring redemption. So much symbolism here. First I think it symbolizes how, unfortunately, men’s aggressive mindset suppresses our tender side. Men often have rage at the forefront, when deep inside we are actually sad or hurting, but blinded by rage. The answer is not to combat with rage, but to be in touch with our compassion. Women are better at this than guys and guys fail at this so often, it seems. Maybe it’s because women are encouraged to be more nurturing. So Moana discovered that the Lava Demon had lost it’s heart and reached out with compassion to heal it. The creature was actually the goddess who was angered by what was taken from her. It makes me think of how women I know personally have much better communication skills than men. Maybe it’s because of our culture, but some things women do so much better than men, and I include myself in that. In a confrontation women seem to either use reverse psychology or talk it out. It’s listening: “I know why you’re upset, you have every reason to be, but this is why I’m helping you…” It disarms an angry person and works better than confrontation. Moana disarmed the angry lava creature because she showed she cared. That’s all the creature needed to be complete again — for someone to see it’s pain and show they cared. And then the tender inside, once covered up by anger, can heal. Behind it all Maui has a good heart. He just needed to peel back his insecurities and let go of the bravado he put forth to boost his ego. In the end he grows more empathetic and caring. Maybe there’s a lessen in their of all of us men. “Bob,” made this comment on a post, which I edited. Bob \| April 17, 2017 at 12:52 am I ended up writing more than I meant. So many points that I think you’d appreciate that came to me after seeing the movie. A little bit more to add. -Moana was not only the hero in the movie, but she, with her partnership skills that you believe would make the world be better that she symbolized. She was like a counselor to Maui. When he felt he lost his self worth because of his instrument being broken or thought he couldn’t defeat the lava monster or get past it. She told him heart to heart that he’s more than that weapon and basically showed him there’s more to his worth than being powerful but how he can help people which is why she was on the task. More symbolism to real life since guys don’t talk about their problems ofter and ego driven and such.She made him express the tender, feminine side to him, which helped him though. So much of this film can related to our society and like between men and women and how they could help each other. -The most telling part and I knew what was going to happen with the heart. I hate to admit this, maybe not men but because our culture. But somethings women do so much better than guys and I can include myself. Maui always though to battle the lava demon, but she used her mind to go around. But at the end she saw there wasn’t an island. And the lava creature didn’t have it’s heart. So much symbolism here. First I think it symbolizes unfortunately men. Or that aggressive mindset or culture where because of being lost or supressing that tender side, people and well men often can have rage and that’s the forefront, when deep inside it’s because they are sad or hurting, but too blinded by rage. And the answer is not from another person to combat it with equal rage, but the compassion part comes in. What women are better than guys and guys fail at so often it seems. Maybe it’s women being more nurturing. She saw the lava create or discoveed it’s loss with the loss of it’s heart. She came over with compassion and to heal it. The creature was actually the goddess Te Ka, but unnerved in anger from what was taken from her. It makes me think of, how women I know personally, like communication skills that men don’t seem to have as well. Where in a confrontation women seem to be able to use either reverse psychology or being of the nature of trying to talk it out. It’s listening or like “I know why you’re upset, you have every reason to be, but this is why I’m helping you or this and that” Like psychology it’s true. It disarms an angered person or can and works better than the equal confrontation. She disarmed the angry lava creature, because she showed she cared, that’s all the creature wanted was to be complate again and for someone to show they care and see it’s pain. Those layers give away to the tender side inside covered up by anger, even tho this was a female te ka, it makes me think of men and how men use their anger. Bob \| April 17, 2017 at 12:35 am Happy Easter btw and I’m sure you’ve seen the movie or think you have. But I wanted to put my take now that I’ve seen the movie. I bought the movie for both my niece and nephew for easter. And with my family, we watched Moana even though my niece and nephew have both seen it. They enjoyed it so it was good I bought the dvd for them. They liked it so much they wanted to watch it again and it was my first time seeing it today. Anyway, I thought it was interesting the layers this disney, computer graphic movie had to it and more than the old one’s had of the past. But there are some things that struck me that I will try to point out in bullet form. -Mauia did become more caring, he was never a bad guy’, but had mixed intentions that got in the way of true good. -This reflects on the bad and good side of masculine behaviour, good in moana’s side, but the bad from Maui. Maui, led by his ego a lot and it got in the way of or blinded him at times of the true purpose or what the best route is. -Moana in the flipside was the opposite of “proud, ego centric” but her roots and her view was more humble. This also I wanted to point out how both symbolized on the macro level, how maui had a protypical “hierarchal’ thought process that got in the way of his better intentions and to be at times more selfish. Moana, was more “partnership” in her views, often times wanting what is best for her people, not for her ego but also despite Maui’s brash attitude, she wanted to work with him and she found ways to be diplomatic in her approach to work with him. She was strong and independent, but never where she seemed like she was better than Maui or wouldn’t need him. -Maui often didn’t have that same respect because he’s a demi-god after all and played into that hierachal mindset with ranking and how he is superior. They played it out well in the film that it wasn’t her ‘sex’ which is why he was superior but he being a mortal, whereas, he’s a demi-god unlike the puny human, mortals like her. -It showed Maui did have good intentions or heart behind it all. He just needed one to peel back the layers and insecurities he was putting forth to boost his own ego. I found it very interesting when to me his accomplishes and how great he was. Despite that, some of that you learned were like that mike posner post you wrote. Where he thought ‘being powerful” and great was living the life and also what his worth was. Which has the big ups and downs. It meant he had tatoos of his succes, but that weapon he had which was powerful. It meant he placed most or all of his worth upon his success and conquests, and that magic weapon gave him that power and symbolized it. At the end when it was almost broken, he felt defeated and lost. Like “who is he and what is his worth if he can’t be the great maui anymore, since his weapon could break from the lava demon”. BroadBlogs \| April 23, 2017 at 1:07 pm Hope you had a happy Easter, too! RMC \| December 6, 2016 at 2:12 pm I Just watched this last week and I completely agree with the way you see this movie. She had to look beyond if she thought she could do it or not and realize she needed to find it within herself for her island. Moana is a true hero. I also noticed quickly how Disney wasn’t afraid to show moana’s masculine side showing her fighting, sailing, getting dirty. I thought everything about the movie was great and i’m glad Disney is starting to make movies like this where Moana isn’t searching for a prince or needing to be saved by a man. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 9:39 pm Haruna Fukai \| December 6, 2016 at 3:49 am I watched this movie last week, and I really liked the story compared to other Disney Princess movie, because there is no handsome prince to help Moana unlike other movies. She looked like making her decision by herself all the time, and the person who led Moana to her goal is also her grandmother, a female. I felt like Disney is saying that women can do anything without any help from male, that’s why I liked the movie. I didn’t expect this because Disney has always romantic love story after all. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 9:45 pm Yesenia Zamora \| December 6, 2016 at 1:09 am I have not had the chance to see this movie. But I personally love Disney movies. I can say that there has been a change to the endings of this movies. For example I live Cinderella but if it weren’t for the prince she would have not been freed from her stepmother. Moana in the other hand needed only yo discover her self. I think the message is very important for both female and males. But mostly women who have been thought to feel protected by a man. Males are in charged to protect and care for us women. Times have changed and it is nice to see a change in this movies that carry great messages go us viewers. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 1:55 am Bob \| December 15, 2016 at 12:54 am Maleficent has that female empowerment aspect too. I don’t know if you’ve seen that movie or not, but there’s a twist to it. BroadBlogs \| December 15, 2016 at 4:23 pm Oh yeah! I should’ve written about it. DaliaRivas \| December 6, 2016 at 12:58 am I loved this movie! In recent years Disney has really gotten away from the princess that needs to be saved, which is totally amazing. I really liked the messages in this movie, because I think that now women are not just looking forward to getting married and having children. Now, women are looking forward to other things before they get married, like developing a sense of self and developing professionally. So I think for little girls to see Moana really helps them see that they can learn to develop a sense of self. Another thing this movie showed was that Moana did not need a man to save her, which I think is also another good thing for little girls to see. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 1:54 am Good messages. Disney is evolving. Perla R. \| December 5, 2016 at 11:05 pm I agree, I saw this movie with my niece and nephew and I really did enjoy it. Moana went beyond even if it meant disobeying her father because she believed that was what she was supposed to do. Although she thought she wasn’t the one from the job, she followed her heart because it was calling for her. I think it will encourage kids to follow their hearts and desires to reach true happiness. In some way everyone experiences this throughout life, at some point not trusting one self but it s important to follow what you feel. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 1:52 am We need to listen to that inner voice. Ruth \| December 5, 2016 at 2:59 am In a world where a woman’s strength is looked down upon its nice to see disney creating positive characters like mona for little children to look up to. Mona teaches little kids that you can go and conquer the world and she also teaches little girls that you can be strang, brave, beautiful, and smart all at the same time. It teaches little boys to appreciate strong women and to not be frightened by them. No longer will cinderella be who little girls look to for role models. I have to commend disney for this. I feel as if disney as a whole is changing. I mean they are now starting to portray women in strong positions and showing the world that a women can do what a man can do. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 1:46 am It’s good to see more strong role models for girls. Jocelyn \| December 5, 2016 at 1:23 am Ive heard so many good things about this movie especially regarding the message behind it which made me want to go watch it even more. Moana deals with empowerment of oneself and truly believing that you can do anything that you put your mind to. To follow your heart and to reach ones goals is one of the main themes that I think stands out the most. She went through so many ups and downs and doubted herself which caused her to feel conflicted with her inner self. But her determination to never give up caused her to reach her goal in the end and thats the great message that it gave to its viewers. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 1:43 am lyly16 \| December 5, 2016 at 12:43 am I watched the movie and I think it reflects on millennial generation. I am connected to the movie as it reflects on my journey too. Although, parents are sometime overprotected, mom tend to be the one who aid her children for their journey. That’s how I get a chance to study in the US. A journey to find the whole you is really tough and that’s how we learn to be us. Success is not a straight line. The movie also mirrors culture and belief on women. Chief’s daughter is allowed to role the village after her father unlike the past. Maui learned to trust and guide his female fellow. I think that what we need to a chance to be trust and guided and not be judged by being a woman. BroadBlogs \| December 6, 2016 at 1:41 am christinazuno \| December 3, 2016 at 2:49 am Needless to say, this movie is going to be amazing. Disney has a way of strumming our heartstrings in a beautiful melody. I’m particularly excited for Moana because of what you outlined in your post- the moral. Like many societies, ours is in need of acceptance. Many times people feel like their feelings are wrong, their intuition is false and they aren’t who they’re supposed to be (mostly because of societal ideals and cultural beliefs). Personally, i’ve always been scared of that voice within me that I consider to be my true self. I’ve tried repressing it, telling myself that my opinions are “too bold” and my non linear thinking strategies were “stupid”. Self-doubt began to brew. This was especially a huge issue once I got to college and had to decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Having people tell me I shouldn’t pursue certain careers because they were not “fit” for me was crushing. Sometime ago, I accepted my heart for what it is and it was the best decision yet. Moana will inspire young (and old, maybe) people to listen to their inner guides and follow their hearts to reach true happiness and self-fulfillment. Movies that preach the importance of believing in oneself are more impactful than one may think. I’m convinced there is some sort of scientific algorithm behind these disney movies that is intricately designed to warm your soul. Although Moana does indirectly touch on religion, I think a “higher power” could be translated as many things- perhaps things not at all associated with religion. Finally, i think it’s safe to say history will be made with this sweet film and I can’t wait to watch. BroadBlogs \| December 3, 2016 at 12:41 pm dervla24 \| December 3, 2016 at 2:46 am I also loved the message of the hero’s journey in Moana. Moana had many emotional points, and ups and downs, such as when Moana lost faith in herself and felt she was the wrong person to deliver the heart to the island goddess Te Fiti. The scene Moana gives the heart back to the ocean was a very emotional one. It dealt with things like self worth, faith, and the strength to carry on. Moana finds her self worth and carries on, and once again believes in herself – she perseveres. A strong female character such as Moana is a good influence for young girls who watch the movie, and teach them that they can succeed if they believe in themselves and persevere. It seemed that Moana did not succeed because she was chosen; she was chosen because the ocean knew she was strong and could persevere. Moana is a positive role model for young girls, and women as well, as she takes matters into her own hands and is determined to succeed. She is by no means a damsel in distress; she goes on journeys and adventures despite whatever may be holding her back. BroadBlogs \| December 3, 2016 at 12:41 pm Thanks for your thoughts on this! Mayra Gudino \| December 3, 2016 at 1:39 am I love this post on the Moana movie. More than anything I like the message that the movie brings to everyone but more so for girls. I think that in the times we are living in it’s getting to be such a challenge for young girls to believe in their skills and in their courage to the point that they give up and pass on the baton to someone else. Movies like Moana and Zootopia bring a strong message to girls that they can thrive in any situation, against all odds and sometimes even against the wall that they built themselves. I remember when I took my ten yr old daughter to watch Zootopia I was just so pleased with the movie and the characters. The message behind the character of Officer Judy Hopps in Zootopia was that even in a field where men were the leaders ( police officers) she was able to earn a spot as a community officer and did not settle to be a parking violation officer. We have yet to watch Moana but now I think we are going to enjoy it just as much. BroadBlogs \| December 3, 2016 at 12:45 pm Amanda Monteon \| December 2, 2016 at 5:35 pm Moana was probably one of the better “princess” movies that have recently come out within the past ten years. Such as Disney’s Mulan, this movie wasn’t focused on finding love or going on an adventure with someone who ends up being “The One”. This movie focused on the empowerment of our protagonist, Moana, who is the daughter of the Chief of her land. The movie focuses on the development of Moana and how she learns who she is, determined to save her people and her land from the dark forces of evil that Maui accidentally released when stealing the heart. Moana is a strong young female who learns how to take care of herself and how to use her skills to her advantage. She is kind and very determined to have Maui return the heart. Moana defies the stereotypes of women being weak and having to depend on a man to save her. Even without Maui, Moana managed to strategize and find ways around and through danger. BroadBlogs \| December 5, 2016 at 9:30 pm Jessenia \| December 2, 2016 at 2:40 pm I can’t wait to watch this movie! I feel like lately more and more Disney movies and portraying more and more strong women characters who don’t need men to succeed or to save them. From the trailers and what I’ve heard about this movie no man is needed for Moana. It’s about her trying to find her purpose and believing in herself when she just want to give up on her quest. This movie, like many Disney movies, has such a positive and motivating message. I wish that they will soon do the same with men/boy characters where their story is not revolved around a women. I have 5 nephews and all the ‘boy’ movies are usually animated and not human (cars, planes, snails, dinosaurs, fish) and there is always a girl they rescue or change for. I think the only ones I’ve seen so far is Turbo and The Good Dinosaur and of course neither are of a human boy on a mission, The Good Dinosaur is borderline, but the story messages are both very strong and motivating. BroadBlogs \| December 2, 2016 at 3:23 pm Mayra Gudino \| December 3, 2016 at 2:00 am I agree with your input on the recent movies and evolution that has taken place lately. I love movies like Zootopia and now Moana that have an inspirational message behind them for young girls to continue to follow their goals and find courage within themselves. As a mother of a five year old boy I agree with you that there is not much of a selection of movies with human characters portraying such a strong message other than The Good Dinosaur and also The Jungle Book which does feature a young boy as the main character who undergoes this whole journey of self discovery in the jungle fighting off all kinds of dangers.I just think that maybe the message is much more relevant for young girls because as we know gender inequality is still something that women struggle today. BroadBlogs \| December 3, 2016 at 12:43 pm I think so too. Maniparna Sengupta Majumder \| November 30, 2016 at 5:39 pm Beautifully written. The message is profound and we should always remember it… BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 6:14 pm andressandra205@yahoo.com \| November 30, 2016 at 3:17 pm Nice article! I believe that this movie could potentially have an impact on females’ lives, because it teaches females to be strong and to never give up! I also feel like this movie relates to the movie,” Kung Fu Panda,” because Po, the panda was taught to believe in himself, once after, he discovered that there was no secret ingredient into making the noodles. And with that said, that movie inspired me, to become more confident, because no matter your size, nor your look, you can still do a lot of things and achieve in life. BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 3:39 pm Brittany P. \| November 30, 2016 at 3:07 pm I really liked the message the movie tries to promote. Believing in yourself and having the courage to do what you must to protect all the people you love is very important for young people to learn, especially for girls. Growing up, there were many times where I had to learn how to take on responsibilities that I thought I wasn’t ready for. I think that’s something that everyone goes threw. The only thing about the message in the movie that bothers me and of which I do not necessarily agree with would be this idea of being chosen to do something great by a greater power. Of course this opens up some debate with religion and theorist of how important are we really on this planet. It’s comforting to thing that we have destinies and play an important role in life, but I think this promotes a false home in our futures. We can not wait around waiting for our “calling” in our lives. We have to take the initiative to succeed on our own terms. BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 3:41 pm Well you can be called to do something by a greater power or by something inside of yourself — your higher self so to speak, if you don’t take the movie literally. Thanks for your thoughts! Ronnie \| November 30, 2016 at 2:32 pm Very profound. I was compelled to look up the story to see how it ended. BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 3:41 pm Bob \| November 30, 2016 at 12:16 pm I actually like a lot of the pixar or animated movies. Some have better storylines and plots better than actual movies. I haven’t seen this, but I heard it actually did well in the box office and one of the top movies and beat out other movies. BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm Lynn Molina \| November 30, 2016 at 10:04 am BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 11:53 am Philip Edwards \| November 30, 2016 at 7:41 am Hi Georgia…Thank you for sharing this with us…”We must seek connection to our heart. Without it we die.” Wishing you a day of Gentle winds—Soft curves and Wonder…Phil BroadBlogs \| November 30, 2016 at 11:52 am mihrank \| November 30, 2016 at 1:47 am you always brings great surprises, but also excellent material to learn and enjoy reading it.. 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I have to say I am blown away with Lyte as a company. They made the process very easy and my pc came a lot quicker than I expected. I ordered and slightly modified Venom x(ryzen 7 5700X and a rtx 3080) and it runs like a beast. Huge upgrade from console and I am super happy with their customer service and keeping me updated every step of the way. 22 June 2022 I'm extremely satisfied with with how quick and efficient it was to build my PC with Lyte Gaming. Every person seemed to be very attentive and quick to respond to any questions I had. Not only that, I really needed my PC for work primarily (I do game with it sometimes as well, its exceptional) and was originally worried that it would take a long time and I'd have to settle for something.... However, I got my PC in about a week or so. I built a decent $2-2500 PC and am very thankful I chose Lyte Gaming for it. I looked many places and checked pricing and convenience since this is my first gaming PC. They are very hard to beat. I will certainly be sending people to Lyte gaming. I know they will have the best experience, great pricing, and awesome customer service. Come get lit with Lyte Gaming !! You will not regret it. 13 June 2022 The customer support staff are amazing! Knowledgeable, courteous and prompt. Never waited long for someone to answer the phone. Very happy so far with everything, hopefully the builders are just as awesome! 6 June 2022 Ordered a custom pc from lyte. Some parts were different than what I ordered, but as they stated in their confirmation email, everything was of equal value or greater (mine were greater). My pc arrived way faster than I'd expected, especially living in rural ND. This thing runs great, coming from a series s this is everything I'd hoped it would be. Thank you for a great pc! 3 June 2022 There are many websites and brick and mortar stores to buy a prebuilt PC. The information online is scant and almost nobody can point you in the right direction. It can be so difficult to know which components are good and will be compatible with your PC. Luckily, Lyte is around. I bought a the Venom PC with an RTX 3070. Benchmarks are out of this world. All of the components have transparent pricing that are actually competitive. I ordered on Sunday May 22nd, and received my PC on June 2nd. 1 Week 4 days. I was expecting some kind of delay but there was no delay. They claim that if a component you ordered is out of stock they will give you a part of greater or equal value with the same specs. I ended up getting a different case that I liked WAY MORE! The RAM was different than what I ordered but again was greater value and same specs. I ended up not being able to find the second hard drive on my PC and the support team got back to me and resolved the problem within 12 hours. They knew exactly what to do (thanks to Jayden in support). They take pictures of the machines before shipping so there is no question or debate when something goes wrong. They are in this business for the long haul and know how business is conducted. I strongly recommend Lyte PCs for anyone looking to buy a prebuilt. I can’t say that about any other company. Thank you Lyte. 1 June 2022 Everything is running really smooth and I‘m really enjoying the PC from Lyte. waiting took a bout a month but you can opt in to ship your PC within five days without the GPU if you want I just wanted the GPU I got a 3060ti with it so I waited they delivered with UPS and you get live updated on their website just goto orders tab and lookup your 6 digit order number, I checked pretty often and they also try to keep in touch with you via email and support is really friendly i high recommend if you’re interested buying from them I give 12/10 plus cable management was decent 25 May 2022 Got everything I asked for in a timely manner, very happy with the computer. 23 May 2022 I ordered the Lyte Venom X on march 2nd and it came on may 16th. This was expected due to supply and demand. However, it was well worth the wait. This pc was well built and is so powerful. The cable organization is perfect and this pc can handle anything I throw at it. My only complaint is that when the pc finally came there was no power cord included. That was kinda frustrating but it wasnt the end of the world. A quick stop by Walmart and I was ready to get this fired up. I greatly appreciate how well this company communicates. They would send weekly updates informing me on the status and progress; which put my mind at ease. I would definitely recommend this company. I’m really happy with my purchase. 22 May 2022 I ordered my PC from Lyte, and while I didn't really receive any updates during the build process, their prices, careful shipping and handling, and cable management exceeded all expectations. I even received the PC a couple of days ahead of when they mentioned being able to ship it! Overall very pleased with my computer and the company. Thanks Lyte Technology! 18 May 2022 I ordered the LYTE Venom (Ryzen 5600 and RTX 3070) and man I couldn't be happier. Have had it for about a month now with no issues. The build is great, RGB lights are awesome and the cable management is clean. This PC is a beast, it can run any games I throw at it at max settings and overall it is lightning fast! My PC was built in the Neo Qube case and I wasn't expecting that case to be quite large but it still fits on my desk nicely but for anyone wondering about that case make sure to have adequate space. For me I was hesitant at first but the process was seamless, I ordered and received my PC in 1 week but realize that won't be the same timeline for everyone so I suggest going into the purchase with patience and understanding because at the end of the day, a custom build PC from LYTE is worth it. You guys are awesome, I definitely will be a returning customer in the future! 17 May 2022 I ordered a wraith Pc it came in amazing condition and there was no scratch marks or dents on it. It even comes with windows 10 installed plus it’s easy to setup. The time it took for the pc to arrive was super fast! It only took 25 days to ship to my door. Definetely would recommend buying a prebuilt here if you don’t know how to build a pc :). 16 May 2022 Where to begin with this pc that I purchased from Lyte gaming pcs. It took a while to receive. Which is okay given the shortages of parts. I would of given them a 5 star review but the case I ordered is currently listed at $100, and the case they sent me is $15 cheaper. Just wish I notified of the change on the case. Other than that, everything else is great. The pc runs smooth, nothing much to complain about. The way they shipping is great, the packaging around the pc helps to ensure safe delivery. 15 May 2022 Was disappointed at first that the case wasn't the right one but it actually gets more air with the fancy new mesh thing I don't remember the name of and I know they sent it in that because it would come to me sooner and that's super dope. It's super fast I like the button on the case that's to change the lights that's nice redemption for the case not being right and I get it with the covid stuff but hey it got to us super fast and it was packed up well and all the things were there and that was nice too. It's super fast like zoom zoom it's nice to laugh in the face of the recommended specs on games I want to play. I like that they left the stickers on the things so I got to take them off myself when I plug my headphones into the case directly one side doesn't work but it's fine because I have other speakers and a jack in my monitor but I'd definitely say that's my only complaint I'd say 4.5 out of 5 stars just cause the headphone jack being not happy but like doesn't effect me personally so yeah. Great PC. Great company! 12 May 2022 This Pc came ready to run! the case along the inside looks amazing and it runs very fast. I have had zero issues with the PC. I would buy from lyte gaming again! 8 May 2022 I was happy with my decision. I ordered a custom pc with a 3080 graphics card. The order took about 4 weeks to complete which was expected so I was fine with that. When the pc was delivered, it arrived in good condition so no problems there. 6 May 2022 Completely impressed with Lyte Gaming PCs! I ordered what I wanted and got exactly what I ordered plus an upgraded case due to my case being sold out at the time of order completion. I will definitely be looking for my next PC from this company. 5 May 2022 Let me start by saying that I was a little skeptical at first but am very surprised with the results. First, when you buy a pc and look at the estimated arrival time, add about 3 weeks to that. I understand that there is a lot of things that need to happen before your pc is delivered, just update the arrival times so people don't get their hopes up for a weeks arrival time. The only complaint that I have is the case that was included in the build kit I purchase was not the case that I received. its still white with a clear glass front panel so not to bummed out with that. Overall a very good purchase for people wanting a good quality PC. very satisfied with my Gamma build kit, i have the PC all up and running and it is smooth as butter, and extremely fast. very glad that i decided to go with LYTE. Also, their online support guy, 10\10. fastest and friendliest online support I've ever chatted with. Good stuff LYTE. Overall you get a 9.5\10 4 May 2022 I really enjoy the computer I received, took a little longer than what it was planned for but was worth the wait to get the computer. Customer service was super kind to help me with issues I found that they cleared up. G B 3 May 2022 As my first time buying a pc, I did not know what to expect. What I did know was that I wanted my own custom pc, without the daunting task of building it. Lyte Gaming PCs is a great company. It’s been a few months, and my Ryzen 5 2600 with gtx 1660 gpu has made me proud. With my 16gb of RAM, I get my college assignments done fast on Chrome. Also, the RGB is sufficient enough for me to keep being a “show-off”. As for games, the hardest thing I threw at it so far was Apex and Vrchat. Works like a charm. Only thing that would be considered a hiccup was the shipping time and the part selection. Of course, I knew that there were some shortages, so that was understandable. Overall, great company, great products. I hope to start my vtubing channel soon. Gordypordy 1 May 2022 I would recommend anyone who wants to get into gaming to buy from Lyte Technology. They got me everything i needed in a pretty fast manner. i only had 1 issue with my Wi-Fi adapter not working but other than that everything works fine and I couldn't be happier. Assembled and Supported in the USA! Support Terms and Conditions Products Prebuilt PCs Optimized PCs © 2022 LyteTechnology Site design by RTS Consulting \| Privacy \| Terms Back to Top Warranty If the manufacturer includes any warranties, those are included with the parts in your build kit. That way if you have any issues you can initiate an RMA with the manufacturer and get a brand new part sent straight to you. Most manufacturer warranties range from 1-5 years. We also ensure safe delivery of all your components. So if you receive anything damaged we will replace it for free! Note* There may be some parts that do not have manufacturer warranties. You will always be covered by our “safe delivery guarantee” which covers you against damages on arrival. If you don’t like your PC you have 30 days from the date of delivery to return it for a refund. (Customer pays return shipping for refunds) Common Issues and Solutions "Billing street address, billing town, or billing city is a required field" To bypass this issue, attempt to place the order on a different browser and/or device. If the issue persists, submit this form here with your phone number and an agent will reach out with 1 business day to help you place the order. This is a known issue that a small % of people see. We are working on a permanent solution. "Area to enter card info not showing up" If you do not see the area to enter your card info you can choose to pay with PayPal. PayPal will give you the option to checkout as a guest (without a paypal account) and pay with a debit or credit card. “Billing address doesn't match the address tied to your card" This error is given when there is a different ZIP code tied to your card. If you believe the ZIP is accurate, pay with paypal. PayPal will give you the option to checkout as a guest (without a paypal account) and pay with a debit or credit card. The issue should not persist there.	13,184
This comment reverberated inside Sarah’s head for a good five minutes before she fully realized the implications of this comment. “Exactly five?”, she asked Tina. “To the second”, was the reply. That was the only assurance Sarah needed. It was decided: she would take up smoking. Sarah’s problem with time had been acute for many years prior. Clocks mislead her, watches were bulky and inconvenient, even the sun sometimes alluded her when it disappeared behind a mass of cloud. Yet, at this moment, after so many years of being late, she had figured out that smoking would be her answer. After a little thought, Sarah had come to the conclusion that the time it takes to smoke a cigarette was a more accurate measure of five minutes than any quartz watch on the market. Her new way to measure time was not in minutes, but in cigarettes. One cigarette equals five minutes. A seemingly seamless plan, in her eyes. Later that afternoon Sarah headed to the convenience store and bought her first pack of cigarettes. The next morning, Sarah awoke at eight. Her life as a smoker was about to begin. She had her first cigarette already waiting for her with a lighter close at hand. She had to be at work at nine: twelve cigarettes’ worth. Without hesitation she flicked the lighter and inhaled. It was much more difficult than she had anticipated. Smoking in the shower proved difficult, and smoking while preparing her breakfast left her with an ashy taste in her mouth. Yet, her desire for punctuality prevailed, and she continued to puff away. Time was easy to tell now, it was only a matter of counting the number of cigarettes she had smoked and multiplying that by five. By 8:59 there were only a few millimetres of cigarette left, so she knew she was on time. She headed up to the office, albeit huffing a little on the way up the last flight of stairs. During her lunch break she smoked nine cigarettes and was perfectly punctual upon returning to her office. At this point Sarah was confident that her plan was flawless. Yet this new way of telling the time had many other implications. Whenever she needed to measure time, no one wanted to be around her for fear of the cloud of smoke that constantly surrounded her, choking out all life in the vicinity. Her nieces and nephews refused to come near her, as they gagged and coughed when she was within twenty feet. At work, if she had a meeting to attend, she had to go out on the fire escape, as the building was smoke-free. This presented a problem, as she couldn’t get anything done all day until her meeting took place. If her meeting was at three she would merely sit on the rail and smoke for the whole morning and early afternoon. Her job was threatened many times because of this habit, but every time her managers came out to chide her, they always ended up partaking in the habit and five minutes later they would walk away clicking their tongues. After many years of this method of time keeping, people were still remarking on Sarah’s amazing punctuality, although they also noted her sallow complexion, hacking cough, and general sickly appearance. Not to mention the almost unbearable stench that emanated from here mouth, clothes, and hair. Even her eyelashes carried the smell of smoke with them, and with every blink a wafting of stale cigarette odour could be detected. It wasn’t long before Sarah went to the doctor because she was feeling a little unwell (of course before her appointment she had to smoke 27 cigarettes to make sure she was on time). When she finally sat down in the examination room, the doctor took one look at her and said, “My God woman, I’m surprised you’re still living and breathing”. Although, what she was doing couldn’t really be described as breathing. It was more of a shallow rattling. After doing some tests and diagnostics and prognostics he found that Sarah was, indeed, quite ill. “Sarah, your smoking has taken a severe toll on your health. As it stands, you have at least 135 diseases, some of which haven’t even been discovered yet. The reality is, medically, you shouldn’t be alive at all anymore. You have two weeks to live.” Sarah was taken aback by this news. Could her foolproof plan for being on time have a drawback she hadn’t foreseen? Yes, it could and it did. Sarah was dying and had been for some time. Now time, that which she strove to befriend, was her ultimate enemy. Yet Sarah felt she couldn’t stop her time keeping, on the contrary, this would be the ultimate test of the accuracy of smoking as a time keeper. If it truly was as accurate as she thought, perhaps in death she would receive some sort of recognition for her efforts. After walking out of the doctors, she lit up again frantically. She rushed to her car, clutching for a calculator. She needed to figure out how many five minutes were in two weeks. It was a huge undertaking. Sarah would smoke for two weeks straight to put her system to the test. She enlisted the help of family and friends, who’s primary task was to ensure she smoked the entire time (sometimes deep brown drool would attempt to carry the lit cigarette with it onto Sarah’s shirt front). Each night she stayed up as long as she could, smoking all the while. When she collapsed from disease and exhaustion, she instructed her loved ones to place a cigarette in one nostril while she slept, taking care to plug the other one. And of course, she demanded that they keep track of the number of cigarettes. They were also to keep the butts from her nightly smoking so she could verify the number in the morning. With each day, Sarah would wake feeling closer to death, which only helped to reinforce her confidence in the system. One week, twenty three hours and fifty minutes after her first cigarettes when she left the doctors, Sarah was wheezing heavily, sprawled out on her bed. There were only two cigarettes left. She smoked the first. She lit the second, bringing it shakily to her mouth with a skeletal hand. Her family came in closer, waiting for signs of the life to escape her. Her last puff of the second cigarette was drawn in. The tobacco crackled menacingly as the last millimetres were burned by Sarah’s inhalation. Everyone around her also took in a breath and held it. She exhaled. She looked around. She took in a breath of oxygen, as everyone else let theirs out. Six minutes and thirty seven seconds after her last cigarette, Sarah was dead with the knowledge that all along her system had been flawed, and that her wasted life was for naught. Breathing, Cigarette, clock, Death by choice, Health, Nicotine, smoking, Smoking cessation, timing, Tobacco	6,745
Jason Turk is a member in the St. Louis office who represents corporate entities and individuals in a wide variety of civil litigation matters. Jason has contributed to all phases of complex litigation and dispute resolution in a wide spectrum of civil litigation, including both prosecution and defense in disputes concerning real estate, finance, construction law, business ownership, commercial landlord/tenant, employment, securities, class action and personal injury. Jason also advises clients on compliance with industry regulations and litigation strategy. Jason practices in federal and state court and has briefed and participated in appeals to the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. Prior to joining the firm in June 2007, Jason clerked at the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals. Jason has served as the President of the Truman State University Alumni Association’s St. Louis Chapter. Richard B. Rothman is a founding Member of the firm and has been a Member of the firm since its formation in 2000. Richard’s practice focuses on the areas of business law, mergers and acquisitions, securities compliance, real estate and estate and tax planning. Richard has lectured in the past regarding various tax and estate planning matters for the Missouri Bar Association, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He is also a past chairman of the Probate and Trust Section, of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Richard has served as a Patent Agent for the Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C., and as a Patent Examiner in the United States Patent Office. From approximately 1985 through 1995, Richard was a principal owner and executive in several companies successfully involved in real estate investment and development and manufacturing of finished goods for sale at retail throughout the United States. Bridget Nave is a member in the St. Louis office who represents individuals in a wide range of estate planning techniques. She also represents business entities and individuals in taxation and general corporate matters. Bridget’s estate planning practice includes sophisticated estate planning techniques such as grantor retained annuity trusts, insurance trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, asset protection planning and joint spousal trusts. Bridget’s taxation practice includes representation of individuals and entities before the Internal Revenue Service as well as tax-exempt entity formation and classification, and tax planning in business and individual transactions. Bridget’s practice also includes general corporate representation, handling day-to-day legal matters for business clients, such as negotiating and drafting agreements, entity formation matters, and corporate governance issues. Prior to joining the firm in June 2007, Bridget spent over 5 years as an estate planning and taxation lawyer with a large Clayton law firm after obtaining her LLM in taxation from Washington University School of Law. Bridget is active in charitable and religious activities in the St. Louis area, including Sts. Joachim and Ann Catholic Church and School. Kevin Fleming is a member in the St. Louis office, representing corporate entities, public governmental bodies, and private individuals in a wide range of sophisticated and complex transactions and general representation. Kevin’s private entity practice includes representing private entities and individuals in real estate, financing, and general corporate matters, including handling day-to-day legal matters for corporate clients such as negotiating contracts and advising on entity formation and corporate governance issues. Kevin’s public entity practice includes representing governmental bodies in project finance and real estate development transactions. As counsel to the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, Kevin worked for over 18 months between 2014 and 2016 handling every aspect of the $1.1 billion riverfront stadium complex proposed to the National Football League in an effort to retain an NFL team in St. Louis. Kevin has served as outside counsel to the St. Louis County Port Authority in connection with the development and financing of new recreational sports facilities to be located in St. Louis County. Kevin’s real estate practice includes purchase and sale transactions, commercial leasing, various types of public financings, construction and development matters, and real estate secured lending. Kevin has a robust multifamily residential development practice, including representing buyers, sellers and developers of apartment complexes in multiple states. Kevin’s banking and commercial finance practice includes representing both borrowers and lenders in negotiating credit facilities and debt issuances, as well as handling work-outs and various types of debt restructuring and debt-related litigation disputes. Prior to joining the firm in December 2008, Kevin spent over 5 years practicing real estate, commercial finance, and bankruptcy law with a large St. Louis law firm and 2 years practicing corporate and securities law in Menlo Park and San Francisco, California. In addition to his law degree, Kevin received an MBA from Northwestern University. Kevin is active in a variety of civic, charitable, and religious activities in the St. Louis area, including the Dartmouth Alumni Club of St. Louis (in which he serves as Co-District Enrollment Director), the Kellogg Alumni Club of St. Louis, the St. Louis Sports Commission, Special Olympics Missouri, and Central Presbyterian Church. Originally from Moberly, Missouri, Kevin lives in St. Louis with his wife and three young children. Robert Brandt’s practice focuses in the areas of business law, mergers and acquisitions, private securities offerings, commercial practice, technology licensing, banking and finance, real estate, franchising and employment. Rob serves as outside general counsel for several mid-size, privately held businesses and outside corporate counsel to several public companies, in industries such as manufacturing, technology, real estate development, construction, medical supply distribution, equipment leasing, pharmaceuticals, software development, internet marketing, health and dental care, insurance, physician practice groups, banking and mortgage lending. Prior to becoming an attorney, Rob held various positions within the business management and finance organizations at The Boeing Company over a ten year period. He was a member of the St. Louis University Public Law Review and an Articles Editor. Rob counsels corporate clients that are in all phases of the business life cycle: from start-up companies to mature companies to companies that are in the process of winding up and liquidating their assets. Rob has extensive experience in: entity selection, structuring and formation of businesses, mergers and acquisitions, private securities offerings, corporate restructurings, private equity and debt financing, business succession planning, franchising, commercial practice, international compliance coordination, intellectual property licensing, real estate development, sale and leaseback transactions, employment and dispute resolution. Rob is the recipient of Academic Excellence Awards in Corporations and Business Entities, Secured Transactions and Consumer Lending. Rob is a Member of the Leadership Counsel for The Donald Danforth Plant & Science Center and a youth soccer coach. ABOUT US The choice of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.	8,033
60 Miles by Road or Rail is an intergenerational arts project exploring and celebrating Northampton New Town heritage. It is supported by the Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund. This socially engaged project aimed to document Northampton new town stories after 50 years of its creation. The photography is part of a much wider project and collaboration between me as a photographer, a videographer and includes oral history and theatre. Over the course of a few months, I have developed a photographic project which ended up featuring more than 200 portraits and captured 190 residents with their own voices and stories. The portraits were all taken in the Eastern part of Northampton, often referred to as the ‘Eastern District’, which was the first part of the extension and creation of a New Town. The Eastern District often has a bad reputation but for many it’s simply Home. The project has been showed at the Northampton Museum in December 2021 with a solo photographic exhibition. For more info: “The exhibition features a fantastic series of unrehearsed portrait images of residents outside their homes, shops and community centres, accompanied by stories from the subjects reflecting on the place they call home. Presented in a state-of-the-art digital format at Northampton Museum, audiences are invited to take a contemporary look at the town’s New Town legacy and what it means for residents today.” "We moved to Northampton when we got married in 1966. We were here when it all expanded, I remember the centre of the town being much much smaller. Abington Street used to be a two way street, with buses going up and down it and as you know now it's a pedestrian walkway. These houses were built in 1972 or 1973. It's so handy for everything, we are walking distance from Weston Favell shopping centre and Tesco and the health centre and the leisure centre - the swimming pool, the cinema - what's not to like. We've got eleven grandchildren, the two youngest ones are two and five and we are here now so we are really seeing them grow up now." Radu & his daughter. Radu is from Moldova and has been here three years."We used to live in London but Northampton is a better place to live. I really see myself living here forever. My daughter is learning Russian through playing with the neighbours children and that really make me happy' Mum Vicki, not in the picture, said: "I'm from Oxford. I moved here after I met Simon in 2002. My family had a caravan in the Aquadrome so we were spending every weekend and any school holiday in Northampton. Northampton will always somehow have the feel of the holiday. I left Oxford at 16. I got with Simon when I was 15, we moved together at 16 and bought the house, next to Simon’s house, at 17 and at 18 we had our first child. Now we are 5 kids. Youngest being 1. I really don’t want to see my kids living in the ED because of the crime but to be fair the court we live in is very safe and we all know and look after each other. Millie is 3 and Ronnie was 11 weeks not even vaccinated. Ollie, is 10. Like to be around here. It simply feels home. This is the second time I dye my hair, I had blue hair before. I did it because I like to be different. "Northampton is friendly and it's easy for us to get around everywhere and do things. Different communities have always been here. As time has gone on it has become more multicultural." "I've lived here in The Eastern District for thirty five years and I have recently moved from Thorplands. We've got the park right here and there's a great community. It's quiet, everyone gets on. All the kids play with each other, it's a nice area to live in. I go into town once a week but only if I need to. There aren't enough things to do - it needs an up lift. Bailey likes it 'just because!' Brother and sister. I just managed to photographed them second before jumping on the bus at the Weston Favell Shopping centre. "I spent ten years in the Eastern District before I met my wife and I've been living in Kingsthorpe (outside the ED) for ten years, we've recently split so I moved back to familiar ground. I'm staying with the folks, saving up for a mortgage, got about two months left and then I can start looking for a place. I might buy a house in Little Billing. I like the Eastern District, it does have a bad reputation from back in the late eighties, lot of London overspill. There's quite a close knit community, everyone in similar circumstances and they bond together. The Eastern District is familiar, I like it." We met Bill whilst they were setting up for his daughter's birthday party. He has been living in the areas for ever. All his family are around and live within a few meters. They often gather together and all the time they support each other." We came from a traveller background but we are long established into the Eastern District' Rukshana & her son. "I came from Bangladesh and moved to Northampton as that was where my parents moved in the 1990s. We have lived in the Eastern District for twenty five years now; in Southfields for eight years and before I was in Goldings. Everyone is friendly and the neighbourhood is really quiet so I enjoy living here. Every-time I see anybody they say hi and we have a little catch-up. My son has friends here and there is a big park near here which we go to everyday and the ice-cream is amazing! There are too many trees and they should be cut down, the leaves get everywhere on the cars etc. They are really tall. When they built the New Town for whatever reason they planted forest trees, which are now getting totally out of control Anne-Marie & Royston with their son Dad Yakubu said "I'm a veteran of the British Army, and I moved here in March 2015 with my family. Before I moved here, I applied to about five councils but Northampton was the only council that gave me a chance. They told me if you don't get a house we will find you a house, since I moved here I've never regretted moving here. Northampton is a good place to live. We are all happy living here." She moved to Northampton with her family. Dad Yakubu said "I'm a veteran of the British Army, and I moved here in March 2015 with my family. Before I moved here, I applied to about five councils but Northampton was the only council that gave me a chance. They told me if you don't get a house we will find you a house, since I moved here I've never regretted moving here. Northampton is a good place to live. We are all happy living here." Mum Vicki, not in the picture, said: "I'm from Oxford. I moved here after I met Simon in 2002. My family had a caravan in the Aquadrome so we were spending every weekend and any school holiday in Northampton. Northampton will always somehow have the feel of the holiday. I left Oxford at 16. I got with Simon when I was 15, we moved together at 16 and bought the house, next to Simon’s house, at 17 and at 18 we had our first child. Now we are 5 kids. Youngest being 1. I really don’t want to see my kids living in the ED because of the crime but to be fair the court we live in is very safe and we all know and look after each other. Millie is 3 and Ronnie was 11 weeks not even vaccinated. Ollie, is 10. Like to be around here. It simply feels home. This is the second time I dye my hair, I had blue hair before. I did it because I like to be different. "I've lived in Northampton for seventeen years and was born here. I have worked at this Chinese take away for ten months now...." "I worked on Lings, Southfields then I went to Milton Keynes. I was a plasterer. I moved up from Croydon in 1974, Western Favell was being built. I did actually work on building those tastes. I came back from Australia and I couldn't find a decent place to live in London, we went to Milton Keynes but it was all mud so we moved up here. We stayed here because of the kids in schools, we have four kids. We happy here, we know everybody." "We live near Lings, I was born here. My parents moved from Jamaica. It's a nice place, it's very homely. I love this place. I've lived here my whole life...." Paige & her children. "My parents met each other in London, my Dad's Jamaican and my Mum is English, she was born in London. They came down here nearly forty years ago, had me and my brother and I grew up in the Eastern District. I live in Thorplands. When I was younger it was a bit rough but it's okay now, we've got a new community centre, nice new nursery there. It's my home, I've never left, I've moved in different places in the Eastern District but I've always come back to Thorplands." "My parents met each other in London, my Dad's Jamaican and my Mum is English, she was born in London. They came down here nearly forty years ago, had me and my brother and I grew up in the Eastern District. I live in Thorplands. When I was younger it was a bit rough but it's okay now, we've got a new community centre, nice new nursery there. It's my home, I've never left, I've moved in different places in the Eastern District but I've always come back to Thorplands." Anne-Marie & Royston with their son "I was born and bred on the estate, I've moved away before and come back. Home's home. It will always be my home. Everyone knows everybody, the community is quite a good community. I'm happy here. When I was growing up there were playing areas, lots of children out playing together. But the council took lots of those away. The police came and installed all this fences, apparently to control crime, but we removed most of this fences as, they were turning it the estate into an open prison." "I spent ten years in the Eastern District before I met my wife and I've been living in Kingsthorpe (outside the ED) for ten years, we've recently split so I moved back to familiar ground. I'm staying with the folks, saving up for a mortgage, got about two months left and then I can start looking for a place. I might buy a house in Little Billing. I like the Eastern District, it does have a bad reputation from back in the late eighties, lot of London overspill. There's quite a close knit community, everyone in similar circumstances and they bond together. The Eastern District is familiar, I like it." "I'm from Blackthorn, I've lived there for eight years. I go to the school right behind us. It's alright, all my friends are here so it's nice. Sadly, there is a lot of crime but I've never experienced it. I want to go to London, I want to live in a big city." Arthur, from Poland. "I moved to England because my brother Derek was here. I worked at a belts company at Sixfields for eleven years. Now I work at the Brackmills factory for NHS Supplies." "I moved from Peterborough, my brother was here and he told me to come here. I drive lorries and I moved here 10 years ago, got a job and stayed here. The community is great, everyone helps each other. If something goes wrong I can count on people's helps. I wasn't in a good place and my bother gave me the kick up the arse to get back into work. I've done alright. Everyone is so friendly. The Eastern District Community club (where I photograph Roy) is such a friendly club, is my second home" George, originally from Ireland. "My wife picked Northampton really: some friends had moved and we'd come up at weekends to visit them. At that time they just started to build Rectory Farm and she fell in love with it. We both had pretty good jobs in London with good wages but when we came up here the wages weren't as good but still we chose this part of the world. We moved to Rectory Farm on St Patrick's day in 1981. No gas, No electrics, freezing cold. My house had just been finished around January time and we were the first people to move into this area. There was no final coating on the road, no buses, you had to walk. All around us used to be fields and we used to catch rabbits. It's been a good life, I wouldn't like to live anywhere else. "We have been friends forever, today is our last day in school and we are ready to celebrate. We like living around here, is has good cake shops and restaurants. The area should not be stereotyped or viewed in a negative way because there's loads here and people should explore it to see more." "My late husband was in the army and when he came out we were given a choice of London, Northampton or Nottingham - he chose Northampton so I've been here since 1978. We didn't like London. I go to Virgin gym, I used to do Zumba but it stopped. When I first came there was a lot of farms and now there are houses everywhere, where the children used to play its not there anymore and they are just building houses, building houses. It's turning into a mini city. There are a large number of new houses - they are killing the beauty and view of Northampton. This has been my church since 1978, it's always looked like this. All my family is here so we have a good thing in Northampton. Marina sings in Italian at the end and she has a great laugh. Evering Road People Evering Road is a mile long road in the heart of Hackney. I've lived here for more than eight years, without ever truly knowing those around me. Lockdown presented a unique opportunity. I couldn’t do my usual work, but I could turn my camera on to my own community. With people having more time on their hands, I started documenting my neighbours from a safe distance. At first, the project was mostly for my personal sanity, but in talking to the people of Evering Road, I began to uncover a consoling web of human stories, small gestures and common threads. One of the few positives of this pandemic has been how communities have pulled together. I saw evidence of this every time I stepped out of my front door. So I opened an account on Instagram called @everingroad and posted daily. The idea was to tell at least one story per day during the first phase of lockdown, which began on the 24th March 2020 and ended on the 31st of May. The account quickly became popular, featured in Guardian Weekend and on the Instagram account of Vanity Fair Italia, and the BBC. This was great but I’m particularly proud of the way in which it became a community hub; a way for neighbours to connect and get to know each other. Evering Road is unique. Built at the end of the 19th century, this long, leafy road is strikingly diverse, a microcosm of London life in 2020. Its levels of social housing and ethnic diversity are significantly higher than the national average. Many properties are owned by housing associations and estates are interspersed amongst the Victorian villas. Just twenty years ago, the area was considered rough. Although gentrification has inevitably crept in, the road holds traces of how east London used to be. It’s a wonderful melting pot, where a strong sense of community sits alongside liberal values. Here people can be whomever they choose. There is also a real mixture of ages, from young families to students just starting out, to retirees who have lived entire lives here, frequently after having arrived from faraway countries and impoverished backgrounds. In documenting the road’s residents, I’ve had the privilege of listening to a wide variety of stories across the generations - from the struggle of millennials to the anxiety of people in their 80s. Despite the huge range of voices, what emerged most from the many people I spoke to was our collective humanity. Whatever our age or background, we share so many of the same joys and fears. That’s why I decided to go one step further and create a photo book. A unique diary of these unprecedented times. A memento of how we pulled together, to take forwards with us into the future. I put the project on Kickstarter, swiftly raising enough to make it a reality, with many generous donations from the very community I’ve documented. So here we are. A road, like hundreds of others but also distinctive. Its residents united through their smiles to each other, the views shared from windows, the small gestures of cooperation. Lives lived side by side and - perhaps more than ever - together. ‘I’m originally from Antigua but I’ve been living on Evering Road for more than 25 years. I’m self-isolating at the moment and one of the things I’m missing the most is sitting in my car listening to the radio. The postlady gets a mint every time she delivers my letters.’ ‘I love my job. It keeps me fit without having to pay for a gym. I know lots of people on the road. Sometimes, when I see their faces around Stokey, I can remember their addresses. But usually when I’m not in uniform nobody recognises me! One of the residents is growing a fruit tree and some other plants for my allotment. And I often have a mint in my pocket.’ ‘I’m due to give birth on the 17th of April and I’m planning to do it at home. Last week it was reported on the news that that would be the peak of Covid19 deaths in the UK. My due date, can you imagine? It prompted me to write a letter to my unborn baby about the extraordinary time they are arriving into. Part of it says, “Of course there is despair, anxiety and grief, but woven into this unchartered territory are many acts of kindness, the opportunity to make better choices and build a better future, which I hope you will be part of.”’ ‘I moved from India to the UK ten years ago. Within two months I was employed by the council and have been taking care of Evering Road ever since.’ ‘I moved here from south London five years ago. I work with people affected by protracted conflicts, like those in Syria and Iraq. So many people have lost everything and had to flee their countries. If you’ve grown up in the UK, it’s often hard to put ourselves in that situation but the current crisis helps us to realise, if only in a small way, how fragile things are and how difficult it is when you feel threatened. I have suffered from anxiety in the past but I’ve learned to be kind to myself and to think of what I can do well in the next half an hour, or hour, without necessarily thinking about tomorrow or the near future. My priorities for this year have changed so much. At the moment, the idea of just seeing my brother and nieces makes me cry. It would make me so happy.’ Colin and Zoe ‘I grew up on this road. I know everybody and everything about it. I helped to fly my old friend Zoe back to London a few days ago and offered a place to stay. We are now working on opening a plant and flower shop called Number 50 in my dad’s old cab office. I’ve also been trying to think about what I can do for local elderly residents. I just laid some new flooring for Helena next door.’ Kevin says, ‘We are proud Londoners, with a few stories to share between us. We’ve been going through a difficult period but they say that time is a healer...’ Kate and Rita ‘It’s been just over a month so far of lockdown. I think it’s amazing how a situation like this, outside any of our experience, soon becomes normalised. We adapt so quickly. But while this ability to accept things can be a strength, I do worry that it might prevent us from asking the right questions. Yes, the ways in which communities are coming together to support one another is inspiring and worth celebrating, but it mustn’t stop us from demanding answers from those responsible. We must refocus and hold our government to account for their poor and costly decisions. We need honesty and clarity, moving forward. Clapping is not enough - we need to demand better for those, the families, communities and frontline workers, who are actually fighting this.’ Alice says, ‘Our three families live in different flats within the same house at the E5 end of Evering Road. We don’t have access to the back garden so we’ve decided to turn the front garden into a communal space. Our passion for music and great food, as well as the kids playing together, has really helped to cement our friendships.’ Peter with “Dad” Peter says, ‘I’ve lived on Evering for 13 years and in Hackney since 1984. I create my puppets in the attic of the house. My latest show, which was supposed to be touring in September, is an adaptation of the nonsense poem ‘The Dong with the Luminous Nose’ by Edward Lear. It’s a heartfelt expression of my own feelings of isolation and loneliness. The themes are so apt for the current moment, it’s a real shame the tour will be delayed. “Dad” is the main character. I’m also in the process of developing a new project, once again about isolation. You could say I’m a bit obsessed with the subject.’ Amina says, ‘Imran left India at a young age. We met in South Africa, where I’m from. We fell in love and fulfilled our dream of moving to London. It’s completely met all our expectations. Both of our children were born here and we are so happy to be able to give them a better life and a great education. Imran is still working, collecting clothes for a dry cleaning company. When he comes home the kids are so excited to be able to play in the van, swinging from the handles and jumping in and out of the different doors.’ Jim and Shartyn ‘We’ve lived here for nearly 17 years. We’ve seen the whole place change, while at the same time many faces have happily remained the same. This whole situation has really highlighted the vital importance of community, both in providing a sense of comfort but also in an economic sense. It’s crucial that we support local people and businesses, otherwise they’ll be gone. Throughout this period we’ve really tried to shop locally and support local enterprise. The likes of Edi Supermarket, Londis N16, World Foods E5 are the lifeblood of all of us. They’ve worked so hard to maintain stock levels and retain hours despite growing pressure. They have been there for us and we will be there for them when we emerge from the fog. Indeed, most support will be needed by those other businesses who have been forced to close during this time. When such places as Bake St, Wander restaurant and Café Z Stokey return so will all of us - with support buoyed by survival.’ Singhashri says, ‘We are ordained Buddhists and moved here just over two years ago. I emigrated to the UK from San Francisco eight years ago in order to become a mindfulness teacher. I met Shraddhasiddhi soon afterwards and we married in 2016. My daily ‘spacious solidarity’ blog features aspects of daily life under lockdown, including nature and wildlife in the area such as Abney Park and Hackney Downs. Shraddhasiddhi works at METRO charity, heading up their HIV and mental health services. We both love living here. It reminds me very much of San Francisco with its diversity, artistic feel and community vibe.’ Bev says, ‘Mark and I live right opposite the house where Jack McVitie was killed in 1967 by Reggie Kray. My uncle grew up alongside the Krays and was a boxer at the same club in Bethnal Green. But they were arch enemies and he was violently attacked by them with a knife because Reggie Kray believed - wrongly - that my uncle had been sleeping with his girlfriend. Miraculously my uncle survived. My nan was ready to ensure they faced charges for attempted murder, but the Krays wined and dined her, although in a menacing manner, as they simultaneously made verbal threats to kill my mother and smash the windows of the bakery where my grandpa was working. My nan backed down of course. But my uncle never really got his experience with the Krays out of his mind, especially in the last couple of years of his life. He was having terrible nightmares. As he was dying, he was genuinely scared that he would see them again in the afterlife. I was blessed enough to be with him as he passed away and I really hope he does rest in peace.’ Mark says, ‘I moved into Evering Road in 1997 because the Nightingale Tower Blocks were taken down. My aunt and grandparents already lived in the Heatherley Court Blocks further down Evering Road. Bev and I are both still working as Platform cleaners on London Overground.’ Elizabeth and Jo, Sussan and Stuart, Sian and Tom and Dipak Elizabeth says, ‘We moved into our flat in April 2007, just after the house had been converted into flats. Sussan and Stuart have also lived here since then. It’s always been a friendly house and we’ve had some great parties in Sussan’s garden. Sian and Tom moved into the first floor a few years ago and we all get along really well. When Dipak moved into the basement, he was surprised that we invited him up for neighbourly nibbles and said that he had never experienced that sort of neighbourliness before. If anything, the lockdown has brought us together more. We have been exchanging baked goods and home cooking, doing communal quizzes and shopping for each other. We did a World music quiz and a guy passing by started to sing along with the Ghanaian lyrics. He told us all about their meaning and even had a little dance with us. We’re on the top floor and the only flat without outside space, so we brought out a picnic blanket to sit in the front yard. It’s turned into a lovely social hub. Olive, our cockapoo, is the best thing in our life. We both work in hospitals and Jo brought the virus home quite early on. We think we have both had it and recovered, which made us feel a bit more relaxed. We hope we can hold on to the positives that have come along with the lockdown. Decreased traffic, pollution and airplanes, but more time for each other as neighbours.’ ‘I’ve been living in this house with my family since the 1960s. My brother Peter managed to buy the whole property in 1982 for £18,000, from three brothers who owned it. At that point, Evering Road was full of Jewish families. then West Indians started to move into the area. In the 1980s, the area was pretty derelict and many squatters took advantage. As a result, lots of houses ended up being bought by housing associations at auction. I’ve been fully self-isolating since before lockdown even started but I haven’t missed a single Thursday evening clapping for the NHS from my doorstep. My arthritis means that clapping isn’t easy, so I dug out the bells that were originally bought to play in my church for the Olympics and proudly make lots of noise.’ Celia and Neil Celia says, ‘We’ve been lovers of Hackney since the ‘60s and moved to the road in 1985. Neil came to the UK in 1963 from Trinidad, bringing with him a deep passion for music and a carnival vibe. In the past we held many word-of-mouth “blues parties” which were illegal parties organised in houses, often in the basement. People didn’t pay for entry but they would be charged for drinks and food. It was a good way to make money and get the community together. The music was Caribbean and they would start at 11pm and go on all night long. Hackney was very different back then in many ways. It was a very working class area with a lot of grass culture, as well as feminist activities and radical and literature projects, many of which we were involved with. It is still a fairly diverse area, surely more than other parts of London. And it’s still full of creative people. The first person that lived in our house in 1875 was Harper Twelvetrees. He was an industrialist, responsible for developing and marketing Penny Patent Soap Powder. But even more interestingly he was one of the leading coordinators for the anti-slavery movement. He wrote a book on the life of a slave called “The Story of the Life of John Anderson, the Fugitive Slave”. Until a few years ago we had street parties, we had face painting, mask making, cake stalls and even a bookstore. We are definitely ready for another one when this all ends.’ ‘I was born around the corner and lived in the same house for over sixty years. I looked after my mum there when she suffered from dementia. In 2019, after she died, the council moved me, claiming that the house wasn’t suitable for just one tenant. I was terrified but thankfully I felt home on Evering right away. This road is unbelievable. There isn’t a lot of traffic and people are so friendly and cosmopolitan. I haven’t been to the seaside for twenty years, but I always had a hankering to live on the south coast. But when I visited it wasn’t nearly as lovely as I expected. I’ll never leave Hackney. My joint passions in life are music and my missus. When I was a kid I heard “The House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals on the radio and that was it - I knew I wanted to play guitar. I wanted one for years but my parents gave me a ukulele instead! I’ve been teaching guitar and ukulele for many years. You can get a ukulele for about £16 these days - the perfect lockdown activity! Last year I joined the Hackney Orchestra, it’s a self-funding orchestra and we play anything from classical to pop to jazz. We practice every Thursday night and perform at The Bridge Academy in Haggerston.’ Ivan and Lesley Ivan says, ‘The first line of my autobiography reads, “I was born a Hungarian bastard.” It’s a homage to my parents. My father was Jewish and had to escape Hungary - my name is pronounced in the Hungarian way. He was on the run carrying a suitcase full of money when he met my mother. When they finally got to Austria’s border, they decided to burn all the money, so as not to attract any unwanted attention. We finally arrived in the UK as a family in 1949 when I was one. They had to start life over. I’ve always assumed that the rest of my father’s family were killed by the Nazis but he never talked to me about the details. I haven’t been able to trace them. We used to hang the Hungarian flag outside the house for special occasions but it’s been a permanent feature for the last ten years. It would have made my father very proud. Three years ago our house was destroyed by a big fire that started in the basement. We were very lucky to escape. Unbelievably the flag survived without any damage at all. I met Lesley during our college years. We have two daughters and have lived on Evering Road for twenty years.’ Bekki says, ‘We moved to London from Melbourne five years ago and have been living on Evering Road since then. Esmé arrived six weeks after we moved in and Jude followed in 2019. We love this street, it has such a wonderful and welcoming community and you see a familiar face every time you go out. In these scary and uncertain times (and without a garden!), it's great to walk down our street with the kids to get some exercise and to see a bit of life outside the flat. As horrific as Covid-19 is, one good thing to come out of it is how the community has pulled together and become even closer.’ Esmé says, ‘Mummy is a chatterbox! I’m mostly missing going to Stokey Common and playing with my friends. I also miss Bake Street Café’ and going to nursery. But the new bubble machine is so much fun!’ Steve says, ‘The house was bought by my father in 1959, after he came from India in the 1950s. My parents had ten children here. Many religious ceremonies and weddings have been celebrated under this roof. We are Sikh and this house has been playing the role of a hub for the Sikh community for many years because we didn’t have easy access to a temple. The first Sikh migration came in the 1950s. It was mostly men from the Punjab seeking work in British industry, which had a shortage of unskilled labour. Most of the new arrivals worked in industries like foundries and textiles. The first batch of Sikh migrants usually removed the outward religious symbols (turban, hair and beard) as racist prejudice in Britain would have kept them out of work. I grew up in the house and moved back with my wife and four children after my parents passed away. I have plenty of memories - I’ve been here longer than some of the trees in the road. The area was full of families. Gentrification has brought a new form of resident to the road and most of these houses have been turned into flats but there is still a good sense of a community as demonstrated during this period.’ Esteineita says, ‘My dad came to the UK from Jamaican in 1949. He came with no intention to stay, he was simply looking for opportunities and maybe to save money to bring back home. The work was very hard, he worked in coal mines, building roads and ultimately in construction. Time slipped and as he used to say, he got “happily trapped” here. My mum decided to join him and then I came too. I’ve always felt like I’m on an extended holiday! But the real holiday is when we all got back to Kingston. We love the vibe there, the sense of freedom and how strong the sense of community is, not to mention the food, it is epic! We always try our best to bring some of that special Caribbean vibe back to London.’ Olivia says, ‘I’m one of four children and was born and bred here, as Ayomi is now. He’s even going to Benthal Community Primary School, which is where I went. In his class there are 21 children from all sorts of different backgrounds: Irish, Portuguese, African, Indian - you name it. All my school years were spent around here. This is home. I love to see other people’s cultures. My own friends come from all sorts of backgrounds, although many of them have now moved out. As young kids we would pretend to be the Spice Girls or Destiny’s Child, standing on my front garden wall to dance and sing.’ Meyla and Eser Meyla says, ‘We’ve been married for three years. As is traditional in Turkey, we were given gold and money for our wedding. Normally people buy cars or a house, instead we decided to use it to start our new life in London. London feels liberating compared to Istanbul. Here there is no judgement, people are free to express themselves as they wish. The lockdown has helped us as a couple. Eser became less stressed due to the lack of commuting for work. We have more quality time as a couple. I feel happier because I am at home and feel safe. I’m looking for a new job opportunity at the moment. In the past I’ve suffered from anxiety and now I’d like to be involved in a charity who work with mental health. Anxiety never leaves, one has to find a way to control it and get used to it. We have only left the flat for short periods. For the essentials and to exercise. I have a mixture of hopes and fears but I’m trying not to think about it too much because it could trigger my anxieties. In Turkey, like in many Mediterranean places, sitting outside and talking to passers by is very common. So this is something we really appreciate about this specific time. I enjoy sitting on our front steps “people watching” because it grounds me and makes me feel a part of something. We live opposite the girls of the “Iso Arms”. We often cheer them from a distance. Maybe one day we will join them in the pub!’ Vini says, ‘We’ve been married for four years, together for six. We met one evening at The Joiner’s Arms on Hackney Road, which sadly closed in 2015. We got married at Pub on the Park in London Fields, and have been living on Evering Road ever since. As a gay couple and as foreigners, we feel accepted, safe, and at home here in Hackney. We love the road for its beauty and our neighbours. This pandemic, though stressful, has caused a major positive shift in the way we all relate to each other. Many of us are now making greater efforts to greet each other on the street and get to know each other. We can't wait for the day social distancing is over because there are so many interesting people here that we'd love to get to know better. We're usually out walking our dog, Jack. He’s black and white with one blue eye and one brown. If you see us, do say, “Hello”. We'd love to get to know you!’ Miriam and Joe ‘We are just so blessed with our neighbours. Hassan keeps the gardens bursting with flowers and Helen from the top flat is just the best baker. The other day she dangled fresh doughnuts out the window on a string for us! We love living here and have really enjoyed a break from the normal daily grind during lockdown. Life seems much slower and calmer now I’m still working at a special need school as a teacher but Joe has had some time off from his role as a set builder working on TV and film sets. We have a book sharing case on our front wall. The original blue one was made just to get rid of some books in house but it was starting to get a bit weathered. But after receiving a curry and a pina colada from our upstairs neighbour we took on their challenge to jazz it up. This new bookcase is dedicated to Joe’s mum Joanna who died from suicide two years ago. Suicide creates so many emotions and grief for all those affected by it, it’s a long battle trying to understand and accept it. The lockdown has been a special chance to take a breath and work out what we value in life, heal and let out some creativity. We hope the community will use and enjoy the new bookcase.' Marcela says, ‘This is our NHS Thursday night samba ensemble. I’m the horn player. It started with clapping but has escalated week-on-week to a full scale DIY samba escalation using bins and kitchen utensils. A lot of practice is still needed! I’ve lived on Evering Road since 1986. I’m originally from Dublin and I grew up around my family’s horses. I was 11 when I joined an anti-hunting campaign group. We marched and protested. We also used horns similar to the hunting ones to distract and misguide the hunters. I felt strongly about it and that conviction has never gone away. The funny thing is that my sister was actually a hunter. My views have always created very interesting family dinner conversations. Years afterwards, some friends bought me this horn as a joke. It has been sitting in my house for years but during the lockdown I finally found a great use for it. I share the house with four other households. We have always been friendly but now we spend more time together. I’ve always felt that if something happened, I could count on my close neighbours. I feel supported and shielded here. I have always been a big fan of the road, it has a very strong socialist feel. During the year I had previous tenants knocking on my door, eager to share stories about the house. People have an emotional attachment to this place. ‘ Emma and Grace Emma says, ‘I’ve lived on Evering for over two years. My older sister used to live in this very flat up until 2017, then she moved to Chicago. During my university years, I spent many summers and weekends visiting her here. I’ve always loved the spirit of this road and now even more than ever. We grew up in different countries and moved around a lot when we were kids. This road will always remind me of her and it truly feels like home.’ Grace says, ‘I’m really trying to embrace the positives of lockdown. We’re so used to being go go go all the time: hectic work schedules, plans most evenings and every weekend. Sometimes it feels like we don’t have time to breathe or take time for ourselves. So it’s been refreshing to just slow down, recharge and enjoy each other’s company. That said, this period has also made me realise how precious time spent with family is, and I can’t wait to see my 81-year-old Nan and baby nephew again.’ May says, ‘We’ve all lived in this house since 2016. We didn’t buy the pool for the lockdown, but we are definitely trying to make the most of it while the weather allows us. The house has been busy during this period. It’s been challenging, to say the least, but also rewarding. The kids have been busy with different activities. At the beginning of lockdown, they collaborated with their scout group to create a collage of pictures encouraging people to stay at home. The hardest part of lockdown has been homeschooling four kids. On a normal day they would be in school for six hours. Then they come back home and soon afterwards it’s bedtime. As a mother, of course I know my children well, but during these last few months I’ve learned so much more about their personalities. Spending more time with them has been precious. It has actually been nice to be able to stop. Even if the rules soon change, we’re going to stay in. The kids won’t go back to school until September, even if it reopens. I declined the school’s offer as it’s not fair to ask children to socially distance. We think it would just be a stressful situation for them and I wouldn’t feel safe. When homeschooling finishes for the day we watch films and eat rubbish. We have all grown in size!’ Mr Danny ‘You’d need at least a month to listen to my life story. I think I’m the oldest resident of Evering Road. I’ve lived in this house since 1960. It was derelict when I bought it, the only place I could afford. I bought it for £4,000 and had to rely on private lenders for the mortgage. They put me under medical scrutiny before signing off my mortgage. The doctor crossed his fingers when the visit started. My brother took one look at the house and told me that if he knew a psychiatric doctor, he would send me straight there! It took me many years to refurbish the place and I did everything myself, from the front door to the staircase. I was a French polisher by trade, which is a very skilled job. I came from Jamaica as a part of the Windrush generation. It took my neighbours ten years to even say hello. Back then the place was very different and not very inclusive. Cecilia road, not far from here, was called “Monkey Town”. So we’ve come a long way. I like all the neighbours now, they all respect me and we talk. I never create any issues. I am the only person that has spent 60 years in East London and never had a fight with anybody. I don’t think this virus is human. It comes from “up there” to remind us that we are all equal. Humans can be hubristic but this virus doesn’t discriminate.’ I spent the first 2 weeks of the World Cup travelling around England watching 13 games with as many different nationalities, capturing the joy and despair in British living rooms. Definitely one of the nicest and joyful (intense at time) job ever done. I’ve eaten a lot of crisps and beer, but also the traditional Brazilian dish of feijoada in north London, Mexican quesadillas and guacamole in Putney, Colombian arepas in Manchester and a lovely Moroccan tagine cooked on the barbecue in Letchworth. I was sat with a fixed camera near the television screen and never asked anyone to pose. As soon as the match got under way, they forgot I was there. Very few people left the room or changed positions throughout the game. They were glued to their chairs Mexico 1 Germany 0 Mexico 1 Germany 0 Brazil 1 Switzerland 1 Iran 0 Spain 1 (Iranian goal which moment after got disallowed) Iran 0 Spain 1 Tom is singer-songwriter. His first album was one of the best selling debut albums in 2018. He lived on Evering Road for a couple of years and has only recently moved out. ‘This is the road of love, heartbreak & redemption. It’s the place where I grew into the person I am now. My time here taught me a lot about how to act and how not to react in relationships and it will always have a massive place in my heart. Today, I’m excited to announce that my new album, due in March next year, is titled Evering Road. The album sums up my time here. I wrote all the songs in between living here and moving out. The album is about redemption. I realised that I was the toxic one in the relationship and my songs are a long letter to say that I’m sorry and yet grateful for what I’ve had and experienced. This road gave me confidence; it represented my creative space and it’s a great expression of East London. It would be nice in the future to be able to recreate what I had here, but I don’t think I will ever be able to. This is my favourite road in London John Cale artist and founding member of the Velvet Underground, in Venice Ernie Ranglin in his studio in Jamaica Es Devlin, artist and stage designer a young Adele in her house in London Wolf Alice at Reading Festival Chris Blackwell founder of Island Records, photographed in Jamaica William Basinski, musician, composer, at St John on Bethnal Green Gilbert and George, in their house in London Lemn Sissay, author and broadcaster Xiaolu Guo, writer Saskia Reeves, actress, at the Barbican Don McCullin, in his house Irvine Welsh, writer Sarah Lucas, artist, at the Venice Biennale Jane Freud, artist Nick Hornby at his studio in London Daljit Nagra, poet Peter Bowker, playwright and screenwriter, at Bafta HQ John Hannah, actor Stephen Jones OBE is a leading British milliner based in London, who is considered one of the world's most radical and important milliners of the late 20th and early 21st centuries Victoria Derbyshire, BBC Presenter, at BBC Broadcasting House Lily Cole model, actress and broadcaster Jokha Alharthi, 2019 Man Booker International prize winner. First female Omani novelist to be translated into English poet Roger Robinson, 2020 TS Eliot prize-winner Kit Harington photographed for Guardian 2 about his Henry V show Kit Harington photographed for Guardian 2 about his Henry V show Politicians and Business Chuka Umunna, labour politician Streatham constituency Gina Miller at the Michelin House Elena Panteoni, wine producer Max Mosley in his London's house Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London in his house I'm Hackney I’ve lived in Hackney since 2003 when I moved to the UK and have witnessed its changes socially and structurally year by year. The gentrification of the city is especially visible in this part of town. The City is moving east, transforming its social and architectural fabric. Hackney is divided into different sections, each sub-section so deeply disparate from the other. From Stamford Hill, with its Jewish community to Hackney Wick, where artists have transformed once empty warehouses into their studios. From Hackney Central, which lends itself to a great energy through its multiculturalism and diversity to the ‘cool and trendy’ Shoreditch. From the council estates of Hackney South and Homerton, to the new-builds for families in Stoke Newington and Lower Clapton. London – like all major cities – never stands still, but the speed at which Hackney is transforming has been enhanced, thanks to the Olympics and new investment generated from the event. As a consequence, many people are destined to leave this part of town to move further east, but many other homeowners have seen their properties increase in value. My project intends to photograph each sub-section to deconstruct Hackney and offer a voice to its residents. The borough, its architecture and atmosphere can be seen in the background, but the attention is focused on the people of Hackney, each photographed where I found them as a I rambled through this part of the world. Twins born in Hackney Alysha Joseph (31) with her 9 month old daughter From Ireland From Lithuania Living in Hackney for 1 year Born and bred in Hackney She's from Spain and has lived in Hackney for 1 year He was born in Newham and has lived in Hackney for 3 years Italian Student Born and bred in Hackney Born and bred in Hackney From Spain From Hackney Lived in Hackney all her life From Sweden From UK Shop owner 3 days in Hackney Greg Hall (31) Photographer He was born in Italy, she's from the UK Living in Hackney for 24 and 54 years Cafe owner From the UK Unemployed Born in Lithuania Living in Hackney for 1 year Student Student Age UK: I can see into your eyes The idea for this project came about when I was commissioned by Guardian News and Media to take portraits of older people in the King’s Cross area – Age Uk Camden is one of GNM’s local community partners. I was inspired by the hope and optimism of the people I met. My photographs are designed to challenge perceptions about the elderly, and show that older people can be glamorous, inspired, beautiful, and full of life. In order to capture this optimism, I had the idea to photograph all of the subjects in studio conditions as if it were a fashion shoot. I asked all of the sitters to dress in their favourite clothes, I hired a make-up artist, and for the photograph I asked them to think about a really happy time or experience. The portraits are meant to be a playful take on the circularity of life. I tried to create conditions that allowed my subjects to recapture, however fleetingly, the spontaneity and curiosity of a child. The background colours - the rose and pale blue - are intentional, an ironic reference to the fashion and advertising worlds. In other words, I tried to capture them in ideal conditions as they themselves would like to be seen. The 16 people I photographed were enthusiastic about the challenge, in the excitement is evident from the light in their eyes.	52,170
Newark Delaware Food Works culinary student Sarah Rotenberry aspires to own her own restaurant. She envisions a menu that features homestyle comfort foods, like chicken and dumplings and pistachio-crusted fish, with a unique and elegant twist. Sarah has worked at the Blue Crab Grill in Newark for more than 10 years and has been in the food service industry for more than 16. Her experience has always been in front-of-the-house positions. To make her dream of owning a restaurant a reality, she graduated from Delaware Technical and Community College with a Business Management and Hospitality degree three years ago. Her final step towards restaurant ownership – learning the ins and outs of the industrial kitchen. That’s where the Food Bank of Delaware’s Delaware Food Works Culinary School steps in. “I’ve learned a lot,” she says. “Like the proper techniques of cooking… that’s why I came here. I never knew there was an order to how you are supposed to be cooking. That’s been really helpful.” Sarah says her execution of food has improved tremendously. “I have learned a lot so I can help others. If I didn’t know the correct way of doing things – how am I supposed to help my employees?,” she points out. Sarah admits she is still working on her knife skills, and The Culinary School has afforded her the opportunity to read more and learn as much as she can. “I am wanting to learn more. It’s given me a bit of challenge, as I haven’t done this in a professional manner,” she says. On Saturday, Sarah will take what she has learned in the classroom and kitchen setting and apply it to a real restaurant kitchen as she starts working alongside chefs at the Blue Crab Grill. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn at The Culinary School. “This is the real deal,” Sarah says. “Chef Tim is a wonderful person to work under. He provides that knowledge and experience for you. He is there to be super helpful, and there are many ways to learn from him. Being in this kitchen setting is very eye opening.” The next class of The Culinary School begins March 22, and Sarah encourages those who want to pursue their passion to apply, “Do it. If you are into food and into experimenting, food is such a great science. There are endless ideas and opportunities in the kitchen. I think this is a great place to learn.” To learn more about The Culinary School and to apply online for the March 22 class, click here. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Recipe Rating Recipe Rating Δ Stay Connected to the Food Bank of Delaware for ways to help, exciting news, and events! Related Posts November 22, 2022 Warehousing/logistics program provides a second chance at success The Food Bank of Delaware’s L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) training program was the second chance Karen needed. She has been in recovery since November 2021 and arrived at Sojourners’ Place, a shelter that provides comprehensive services, in February 2022 to get her life back on track. Karen describes the shelter as… November 21, 2022 For the past 10 weeks, Mike José has been training in the warehouse of the Food Bank of Delaware learning the ins and outs of the warehousing/logistics industry. It’s all thanks to the Food Bank’s L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) program. The program provides free training to adults interested in starting new… October 27, 2022 Culinary student learns skills he plans to use in the future Jeffrey Laplante came to the Food Bank of Delaware’s Culinary School in Milford with a bit of kitchen experience and a serious interest in cooking. He’s a young man who enjoys cooking at home too, especially a variety of pasta dishes. In fact, this Milford resident already works as a line cook in a chain… October 26, 2022 A student with a dream: Culinary School offers training for the future When Milford resident Maritza Figueroa lost the job she had held for 15 years, she pivoted and landed at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Culinary School in Milford. At age 60, Figueroa realizes she may be older than a typical student, but in a professional kitchen – as in other locations – age is simply… October 12, 2022 Education, training, and connection offer participants hope for a brighter future We know that many of the neighbors we serve go to work every day, yet they aren’t earning enough to house and feed their families. Many of them — due to lack of technology, training, education, or skills – may feel stuck, with little… October 7, 2022 ‘A perfect example . . .’: Culinary School grad earns accolades for work Pictured: David Cassey and Ashley Cox To say that David Cassey is thriving in the food service industry is an understatement. This young man relishes time spent in the kitchen, the folks he works with, the challenges that accompany being a team player, plus embracing a larger mission of serving his community. David completed his… September 15, 2022 Alumni duo run Discover Cafe Need a new lunch spot? Check out our culinary alumni-run cafe, the Discover Cafe! Our cafe for a cause is located at the Newark facility, and proceeds benefit student scholarships to our culinary training programs. The cafe is run by two program alumni, Kattie Fox (pictured right) and Cynthia Neal (pictured left)! The duo handle… August 31, 2022 Eight students end the summer with new careers in warehousing/logistics The accomplishments of the 13th graduating class of the Food Bank of Delaware’s L.O.G.I.C. (Logistics, Operations, General Warehousing and Inventory Control) program were celebrated this morning. The graduates are: Tanya Bridwell Jenell DeShields Jamie Masten Alaiyah Pipkins Justin Poore Tyler Roane Belinda Smith Robert Williams The class started in June, and students have spent the…	6,153
USA – REDDING, Calif. — Northstate Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) is leading a coalition of state lawmakers pushing for new legislation aimed at combatting California’s wildfire crisis. AB 297– called the Wildfire Prevention and Forest Resiliency Act of 2021, would allocate $500 million for fire prevention and forest health programs. The money would come from the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, according to the bill’s authors. The coalition that authored and introduced the bill consists of Republican State Assembly and Senate members who say that drastic action needs to be taken to prevent further destruction. Catastrophic wildfires have plagued us for years and sadly 2020 was the worst with over 4.2 million acres burned. Clearly, what we’ve been doing isn’t working,” said Gallagher. “We know what the problems are. We haven’t made enough progress clearing fuel buildup and managing our forests, red tape and regulatory hurdles increase costs and delay work, and there are few options for processing materials from forest health and fuel reduction projects. Here is a closer look at what the legislation would do if passed: The bill would exempt fuel reduction/ forest health projects from the California Environmental Quality Act. With current environmental regulations, it can take three to five years to get such projects approved. Proponents say that Governor Gavin Newsom did exactly that but on a smaller scale back in 2019– when he declared a state of emergency and exempted 35 forest management projects. Republicans say that streamlining approval will also help California meet its goal of treating 500,000 acres a year. AB 297 would expand on an existing exemption to the Timber Harvest Plan requirements for homeowners who wish to clear defensible space beyond the required 100 feet. The legislation would incentivize utilizing biomass, biofuel and innovative wood products to clear and use millions of dead or dying trees across the state. AB 297 would give priority under the California Competes Tax Credit Program for industries that utilize these projects. At this point, AB 297 only has Republican support. However, a spokesperson for Assemblyman Gallagher says he is speaking with Democrats in the hopes of gaining bipartisan support. Northstate Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R-Bieber), who is a joint author of the legislation, echoed that sentiment. “With every passing year, California continues to shatter records with devastating fire seasons and 2020 was no exception. Republicans and Democrats do not always agree on public policy, but the issue of wildfire preparedness and treating our forests is one that we must prioritize and work together on. It is far past time we allocate much-needed resources to get timber operators to work, to fire safe our communities. 1. February 2021 /by GFMCadmin Datenschutzerklärung All materials produced by GFMC or IFFN must be quoted properly. Copyrights of materials provided by other organizations or publications and websites hyperlinked with this website must be observed. It is not permitted to publish or otherwise use photographs produced by the GFMC and other providers without a written permission.	3,274
It can’t be emphasized enough that the United Kingdom is an island nation and that without a respectable sea power component, the country would have missed becoming one of the greatest powers in history. All that success was accumulated courtesy of the unprecedented level of trade from 1546-onward with virtually every nation on the planet. (1546 was the year the Royal Navy was created) Not that the UK should become a militaristic country, far from it. But because it relies on free trade for its survival (and that means keeping the sea lanes open, no matter what) Britain must always stand ready to defend its territory and its legitimate economic interests abroad. If the UK ceases to do that; that will be the day it’s no longer a sovereign country. That’s what’s at stake for the United Kingdom. Other countries may have the luxury of being located on continents with many other countries to buy from and sell to, and could, if required, source everything they need from that continent and sell all of their exports within that same continent. But for the UK, that option doesn’t exist. Therefore, the UK must have the best-trained, best-equipped, and best-led navy in the world. There is simply no alternative. By 2020, both of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers (HMS Queen Elizabeth ‘R08’ and HMS Prince of Wales ‘R09’) will have joined the fleet and the navy’s only other aircraft carrier HMS Ocean ‘L12′ will have been retired; leaving the UK, a country completely dependent upon seaborne trade, with only two aircraft carriers. (Which makes for a nice peacetime aircraft carrier fleet — but if war strikes, it would be 4-years before even one aircraft carrier could be produced!) It should be noted that pink slips will be handed to almost everyone who worked on the two carriers by July 2018 now that construction on both R08 and R09 is nearly complete, with only sea trials left to perform before both ships enter full-time service. Thousands of engineers, electricians and labourers will no longer be required. What really needs to happen is that two more Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers need to be built, and high on the list of reasons to build them must be to keep a continuous production line operating until more destroyers or frigates are required (and don’t kid yourself, they’re required now, just that the government isn’t yet convinced of the need) and the proposed ships could fulfill different roles than R08 and R09. R10 could be fitted-out as a helicopter carrier / humanitarian aid / hospital ship — with 15 fighter jets for self-protection because R10 itself could be attacked and must be able to instantly defend itself. R11 could be sold to India which would buy one very quickly(!) as its navy has the formidable task of policing an Indian Ocean that’s only slightly smaller than the Atlantic. The selling price (to India) of such a carrier would pay for the construction of the proposed R10 for the Royal Navy (not including the aircraft) and require millions of person-hours to construct both R10 and R11. Seems a no-brainer, doesn’t it? From a jobs and economy perspective, the UK needs to build two more aircraft carriers — only one of which it needs for itself — while the other is sold to India. That’s how to afford a world-class navy in the 21st-century! Keep it Going! Next on the agenda must be new Type 45 destroyers that are fitted-out for UAV duty in addition to the other duties the Type 45’s perform. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles need to become a major part of RN destroyer operations as the future of naval warfare will be tilted toward UAV’s for surveillance, for Combat Air Patrol duty (to protect the naval task force at sea) and to drop munitions on targets that are very heavily defended — too heavily defended to risk losing a multi-million pound sterling aircraft and its pilot. Not only can UAV’s do that, the UK’s new UAV’s in development for the Royal Navy should have a refuelling version with the ability to fly up to 500 miles to refuel fighter jets — instead of those jets having to return to the aircraft carrier to refuel, or having to fly large fuel tankers near the combat zone — which is dangerous as they’re manned by live pilots and carry tens of thousands of gallons of fuel. Also, by having UAV refuelling units accompany fighter-bomber jets, it can extend the range of the bombers (bombers use astronomical amounts of fuel when they’re carrying thousands of pounds of bombs) and UAV’s can be programmed to refuel any type of jet (en-route or returning) at a predetermined location allowing them to make it all the way to the target and all the way back to the aircraft carrier which may have moved hundreds of miles in the meantime to avoid enemy submarines. Aircraft carriers can’t always remain in one place waiting for their jets to return and other factors can come into play in a conflict situation such as ‘Country B’ suddenly withdrawing permission to use their territorial waters to launch and recover UK aircraft. That’s just how war goes. Keeping warbirds of all types in the air longer and with plenty of in-flight refuelling availability close by removes the need for them to fly all the way back to the aircraft carrier for fuel, resulting in a huge increase in the efficiency of man and machinery. Unprecedented efficiencies await! Ten More Type 45’s with the UAV upgrade, Please! The UK needs four more Type 45’s and all existing destroyers must be upgraded to the UAV standard — and other Commonwealth nations need Type 45’s too. Australia, Canada, and India could put those extremely capable destroyers to good use and retire their obsolete and expensive-to-maintain destroyers. By building more destroyers than it needs, six Type 45 destroyers could be sold to Commonwealth nations which would allow the Royal Navy to afford four more destroyers at no cost to the RN, while providing millions of person-hours of work for Britain’s workers. When the UK shipbuilding and submarine building industry measurably adds to UK GDP, you know you’re doing it right! There is a difference between ‘just getting by’ and ‘succeeding’. ‘Just getting by’ means continuing to do things the way it’s been done in the postwar era, while ‘succeeding’ means building a modern Royal Navy and substantially adding to the capabilities of Commonwealth of Nations member countries by using a sustainable economic model that keeps thousands of workers in the UK shipbuilding industry permanently employed. What could be more important for new-ish UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson than protecting the UK (#1 priority) strengthening the Royal Navy (#2 priority) and recreating a thriving shipbuilding industry model (#3 priority) that measurably adds to Britain’s GDP and helps Commonwealth partners to succeed? The Synergy of the Commonwealth April 18, 2018 23:56 / 2 Comments on The Synergy of the Commonwealth by John Brian Shannon Few things are as useful to countries as membership in a progressive organization with business links around the world. For the 53 Commonwealth of Nations members meeting in London this week it’s a chance to discuss ideas, policies, united positions on global or regional affairs, to learn from the experiences of other member nations, and to pursue trade opportunities. As Britain leaves the European Union by April 2019, Commonwealth of Nations members will discover evermore trade opportunities throughout the United Kingdom. And that trade must work both ways. Countries that allow the UK to export to their country should be encouraged to sell their goods and services to the United Kingdom; making Brexit a ‘Win-Win’ for all Commonwealth member nations. After Brexit, two-way trade between the UK and EU is expected to drop by a few percentage points (this is normal and not to be feared) however, Commonwealth nations should expect to receive all of that two-way trade availability — and every expectation is that UK and Commonwealth leaders will surpass that low-ish standard. Further, with restraints removed, the UK will be positioned to negotiate bilateral trade deals with every member of the bloc which should result in a surge of economic activity for every member nation. Long before it was fashionable for world governments to support equality between people and groups in a society, Commonwealth leaders created the Commonwealth Charter with its sixteen shared principles which include democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, sustainable development, and racial and gender equality, together forming the foundation of the Commonwealth’s constitution. Prior to 2012, the London Declaration guided the Commonwealth and proved that nations with different capacities and capabilities could work together for mutual benefit, simply by agreeing on shared goals and principles. Going forward, member nations continue to improve standards and adherence to their principles thereby setting a unique example in national social dynamics to the world. Immigration Like many developed nations, UK companies require plenty of low-cost labourers to harvest crops, to work on production lines, and as general labourers on construction projects. After Brexit, the UK will be able to source a much larger percentage of labourers from Commonwealth nations as the customs agreement with the EU expires. This could provide tens of thousands of opportunities annually for citizens of the Commonwealth who want to travel and work in the UK — even if it’s only during specific times of year that farmers require additional labourers — who would then return to their home country with their earnings at the end of the season. During a period of massive construction projects, the same applies; Tens of thousands of workers could relocate to the UK to work in the construction industry and receive a temporary worker permit allowing them to stay in the country and pay taxes for as long as the contractor requires them. At project conclusion those workers could return to their country with thousands of pounds sterling in their pocket. Such foreign workers should be required to provide a letter from their local police proving they aren’t wanted on criminal charges, a letter from their bank asserting they have sufficient funds to purchase a return airfare ticket (so they don’t get stranded in the UK when their employment ends) and they should be required to pay the Home Office £100 for every year or portion of a year they stay in the UK. Investment London is the financial capital of the world and is the ‘go-to’ stock exchange for IPO’s, for mature industries with financing needs, and is the most prestigious exchange on which to list Commonwealth companies. Once Brexit occurs, billions more in FDI should be flowing from the UK to Commonwealth nations, which should always be the first choice for UK foreign investment. Special arrangements should be made for individuals and businesses in Commonwealth nations to access UK banks within their home country prior to travelling to Britain. Barclays (a global bank headquartered in London) should be required to maintain at least one branch in every major city throughout the Commonwealth, in exchange for a reasonable tax advantage. For workers wanting to work in the UK who must first apply for a worker’s visa, who must first pay the £100 annual fee to reside in the UK, who must first obtain a letter of credit from the bank proving they have sufficient funds for return airfare, and who must first attach a criminal records check letter to their application to the Home Office — such workers should be able to do it all at the Barclays branch and have all the information electronically transmitted to the appropriate Home Office desk and receive confirmation from the Home Office in the time it takes to sip a coffee. For companies that want to import from or export to the UK; the commercial side of the Barclays branch should be set up to enthusiastically assist business owners with every aspect of importing or exporting anywhere within the Commonwealth. Such business owners need only visit a Barclays branch with the idea in hand, and should expect to leave the branch an hour later with every single step completed and be fully informed on every relevant regulation and practice so they can begin importing or exporting the very next day. Companies that need financing within their own Commonwealth country — regardless of whether they intend to import from or export to the UK at that exact point in time — should feel that Barclays is always their first choice for financing, for assistance to list on the LSE, or to go public with an IPO offering. Every related thing must be easily done at Barclays in the absolute minimum timeframe — before that business walks out the door, possibly to a non-UK bank, and possibly for good. If non-Commonwealth banks offer better personal or business financing, better import and export assistance, better stock exchange listing expertise, better IPO experience and support, then the UK economy and banking sector will suffer by not being in the right place at the right time with the right tools to capture that business. And that would be deeply embarrassing for the United Kingdom — a developed nation with deep and historical roots across the Commonwealth of Nations. Mutual Aid The UK has much to offer the rest of the Commonwealth especially when it comes to mutual aid; whether military aid during internal or external conflict, or civilian aid during natural disasters, and by working together, individual member nations can be more successful than trying to accomplish such operations alone. Royal Navy ships for example, could automatically become available for sale to Commonwealth nations at any time past the 6-year mark — at a significant savings when compared to purchasing new ships of equal size and capability. During national emergencies in member nations, the UK should deploy significant resources to aid those nations. India too, has a sizeable military that could work joint operations with the Royal Navy to assist Commonwealth nations in peril. Working together on military missions and aid projects, member countries will be able to prove with clearly defined examples of mutual aid, how synergy is the most valuable aspect of membership. The Commonwealth in the post-Brexit timeframe should become 100-times more dynamic than it has been. For as long as the UK has been shackled to EU regulations it’s been a tough go for the bloc, but much has been accomplished. Yet, there is so much potential! With 2.5 billion citizens living in Commonwealth nations, most of whom are young and will need to purchase many goods and services throughout their lifetimes, it’s an exciting time for the UK to be re-engaging wholeheartedly with the rest of the membership. “Sixty percent of the Commonwealth is under the age of 30.” — HRH Prince Harry’s address to Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, April 16, 2018. The reinvigorated Commonwealth is going to out-succeed every country and bloc (and not only in combined GDP growth) but in Trade, Social Issues, Immigration, Investment, and importantly, in Mutual Aid — serving to showcase the kind of synergy that’s possible between nations for the balance of the 21st-century. by John Brian Shannon The International Order is Broken We know this because the world’s politicians are using military means to solve what are essentially political problems they don’t know how to solve. As the Syrian crisis rolls into its 8th year no clear winner has emerged, other than ISIS has been degraded by Western and Russian forces operating throughout Syria. Not that Russia and the West are working together to destroy ISIS, rather, Western countries are working to destroy the evil entity to prevent it from spreading across the Middle East and the Western world, while the Russians are tearing ISIS apart because it represents an internal threat to Syria, its longtime ally. Which are reasonable and noble goals. But at any time since the Syrian conflict began in 2010, Western, Russian and Syrian diplomats could’ve worked out a plan to solve the terrorist problem inside Syria and could’ve wrapped up the whole mess within 24 months with relatively few civilian casualties. But they didn’t. Or they couldn’t. The very definition of broken-ness, right there. “No problem can be solved by the same level of consciousness that created it.” When the interests of several countries align — and they still can’t put together a unified coalition — it’s a textbook case of a broken international order. Which is how we stumbled into WWI, WWII, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, the Afghan War, and several other conflicts, such as the Rwanda genocide that killed 800,000 people in a matter of days. And we know how those wars turned out, and we know how many people were killed in total in those 20th-century conflicts. The failure of politicians and their diplomats to find better solutions and thereby prevent those wars is appalling beyond any scale that humans can understand. “All war represents a failure of diplomacy.” Sometimes, very complicated problems can stem from a very simple problem. FOR EXAMPLE: The neighbourhood’s troubled teen filling your car’s fuel tank with water overnight — although a simple act in itself — can cause serious problems after the car is driven the following morning. Such a simple act can cost a vehicle owner hundreds of dollars to repair and cause major inconvenience. And likewise, every war fought in the 20th-century was caused by an astonishingly simple misunderstanding of human psychology by the world’s politicians and diplomats. We are broken because those politicians believed that employing ‘Win-Lose’ thinking to solve problems was the preferred path, instead of realizing that ‘Win-Win’ thinking is a higher form of thinking that only humans can employ to solve problems. Every war since 1900 is the direct result of employing ‘Win-Lose’ thinking to solve political problems. Another way to say it, is that every single death and injury caused by war in the 20th-century is 100% on the heads of the people who practiced politics and diplomacy in that century — because their thinking wasn’t up to the task. Never in human history had anyone seen bungling on the scale of 20th-century world leaders. Therefore, as the ‘default mode’ for politicians in the 20th-century was to employ ‘Win-Lose’ thinking, every serious disagreement inexorably turned into war and mega-millions died as a result. Because the politicians of the day resorted to their animal instincts, over 250 million people were killed in war and in famines caused by war in the 20th-century. Some might call that number a conservative estimate of the total death toll. Sobering, isn’t it? Apparently not. Because even today we’re still using bombs to solve the problems we’re not smart enough to solve. Problems that humans created aren’t being solved, because we’re not using the right methods to solve our problems. So we bomb our way out of problems. There are few examples of the world’s politicians using ‘Win-Win’ thinking to solve our very human psychological problems. Ending the Cold War is the stellar achievement for diplomats in the 20th-century. And just in time, because the civilization that humans built over thousands of years came dangerously close to annihilation many times during the Cold War. Another example of ‘Win-Win’ thinking occurred when the world’s politicians and scientists came together to sign the Montreal Protocol to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons from our supply chains; chemical compounds that were rapidly destroying the Earth’s ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol has been called ‘the most successful accord in history’. Yet another example of ‘Win-Win’ thinking occurred when the Allied Powers joined forces after World War II to rebuild Europe using the Marshall Plan to fund food aid, reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, and to help establish a fairer world order based on peaceful relations. In postwar Japan, the Allied Powers facilitated the country’s rebuilding by purchasing billions of dollars of Japanese goods which benefited the Allied Powers as much as it benefited the former Axis Power. Without the assistance of these, the most brilliant minds that ever lived, humanity may have become extinct long before the year 2000. The ‘Win-Win’ thinkers who ended the Cold War, the ‘Win-Win’ thinkers who ended the use of chlorofluorocarbons, and the ‘Win-Win’ thinkers who invested in the former Axis Power economies during the postwar era, changed our world for the better (at the very least) and may be responsible for saving all life on the planet (at best). Those examples prove ‘Win-Win’ thinking can work to solve our problems and that we don’t need to retain ‘Win-Lose’ thinking as our default problem-solving method. President Donald Trump today authorized 3 military strikes inside Syria to hit suspected chemical weapon sites and chemical research and development facilities ostensibly used by the Syrian military. The president cited Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution in his justification for the attack saying that Syria represented an area of strategic importance to the United States. However, there almost isn’t a place on Earth that is of less strategic importance to the U.S. and its allies, as Syria. It may be the president misread his teleprompter — because Syria isn’t a strategic place from the U.S. viewpoint — and if he sticks to that view he will spend days or weeks defending this military action to members of the Congress and Senate. What is of strategic importance to the United States (and what would work for members of Congress charged with upholding the U.S. Constitution) is that preventing the proliferation and use of chemical weapons is of strategic importance to the United States, and therefore, President Trump’s authorization of use of force is justified and necessary, and in the best interest of the United States. In that way the president’s use of force is legal and justified under the U.S. Constitution, and may also serve as a deterrent to a Syrian regime that seems bent on destroying significant numbers of its population and has refused any chance to allow them escape to another country. Exterminating your own citizens because they have a different political view isn’t acceptable and no doubt President Trump is privy to images and videos from Syria that are marked classified because they’re too horrific for U.S. television viewers to see. And let’s be honest, seeing those images hastened his decision to veer hard towards military action rather than continuing to employ so-called ‘Soft Power’ to bring about a diplomatic solution to the Syrian debacle. It may be that punishing Syria each time it uses chemical weapons against civilians or terrorist entities will serve as an effective deterrent. However, Syrian forces may become more adept at hiding such attacks from Western eyes and ears. “We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalized.” Theresa May Syria’s plan seems to be to kill every terrorist, every non-combatant family member of terrorists, or anyone stuck in areas known to contain terrorist entities. While this may seem normal to dictators, it is highly offensive to civilized people. Even Syria’s ally Russia, abhors attacks on civilians and non-combatants — and Russian citizens seem extremely offended when chemical attacks are used to solve what are, in the final analysis, human problems for which the diplomats haven’t yet found solutions. Whether Tomahawk missile attacks act as a deterrent to Syrian chemical weapons attacks inside Syria, or not — at least President Trump can say that America and its allies didn’t stand idly by and let it happen without challenging it. Yet, the long-term way to solve this crisis is to show these heinous acts on every television in the world, to explain what is actually occurring there, to make chemical weapons use anywhere unacceptable to everyone, and to use ‘Win-Win’ thinking to save our broken, but still human, civilization. When we finally adopt ‘Win-Win’ thinking as our default option to deal with human-caused problems, that will be the day that human beings finally surpass the animal kingdom in every way on this planet. And if we don’t, our short break from the threat of Cold War-style Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) will soon be over. ← Older posts Letter to Norway Follow Following Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now. Follow Following Log in Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.	25,734
Severan Court is a well-established residential neighborhood located just off Hurffville-Crosskeys Rd in Washington Township, Gloucester County. This neighborhood consists of six streets that are of similar style properties that were built between 1990 and 1994. Real estate taxes vary between $5500 and $7900 a year. Download Original Severan Court Brochure (PDF) >>> The attached […] The Birches is located in Washington Township Gloucester County. This development was built by Joseph Esposito builders, circa 1970’s. These homes were built in the “gas shortage” era. Most of these homes were built with oil heat but since have changed over to ‘gas” heat. This area is desirable because of the reasonable pricing, low […] The Fields Neighborhood in Gloucester Township Welcome to The Fields neighborhood in Gloucester Township, Camden County. This is a residential neighborhood of semi-attached town homes located off Sicklerville Road. This is a rather small area with one road and one residential court. The homes were built around 1984. These single-family homes are located on approximately 1/5 acre of land. The homes […] Whispering Oaks Neighborhood in Washington Twp Whispering Oaks is a small residential neighborhood that is hidden within Washington Township. Located in… Nob Hill Neighborhood in Washington Township, NJ Welcome to the Nob Hill neighborhood of Washington Township. Located within Gloucester County this residential neighborhood consists of only 5 streets and approximately 111 single family homes. This neighborhood is located across Barnsboro-Blackwood Road from Washington Way Apartments. These single-family homes were constructed back in 1971 and are situated on approximately 0.2 to 0.3 acre […] Knoll Run Condos in Gloucester Township, NJ Welcome to the Knoll Run condos development located in Gloucester Township, Camden County. This development can be accessed via Peters Lane to Knoll Drive. Knoll Drive is the only road within the development and loops back to Peters Lane. There are 149 units within the development, all managed by Access Property Management which assesses an […] Salina Hills Neighborhood in Washington Township, NJ The Salina Hills neighborhood is located within the borders of Washington Township, Gloucester County. This neighborhood can be access from either Champion Way or Claiborne Way which are both off Salina Road. This neighborhood consists of single-family homes with two different models available at the time of building. These models were Braeburn and Oakmont. These […] Hiking Trails in Washington Township There are a number of hiking trails in Washington Township. Washington Lake Park has 9 interconnected nature trails that are comprised of 0.5 mile or less walks that can be done together to make a much longer hiking experience. I LOVE walking the trails this time of year! Love seeing the leaves change colors and […] The 2020 Washington Township Christmas Tree lighting ceremony has been scheduled for December 5th at Washington Lake Park. When: Saturday, December 5th, 2020 Where: Washington Lake Park Time: 5:00pm The Washington Lake Park is located at 626 Hurffville Cross Keys Road, Sewell NJ. If you have personal documents that you don’t trust to just throw away… this is an event you don’t want to miss! Take advantage of bringing all your papers that you would like to have shredded. WHEN: on Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 9:00am – 12 noon. WHERE: Washington Township Municipal Building, 523 Egg Harbor Road, […]	3,751
Really stressed. We use RTM for tracking all our external deadlines with clients. Last month we missed dozen of deadlines as the subtasks that prompt the deadline did not reoccur. These are tasks who have been on repeat for years. No one has gone and changed them to nonrepeat. When I go back to completed tasks I can see the old tasks as non repeating. What sort of bug is this? what a nightmare! I have lost trust in RTM. Posted at 2:38pm on September 23, 2021 andrewski (Remember The Milk) says: Thanks for getting in touch and reporting this issue. You emailed in also and we will continue discussing specifics there, so thanks for reaching out!	661
It’s easy to get caught into a draining routine and do the same things every day without doing something for yourself. And although it’s good to have a routine, sometimes we need to break the cycle and try new things. Maybe your old habits aren’t relevant anymore, or they stop you from living a healthy life, which is not only about being physically active. Your mind needs to stop holding on to things and thoughts that are not good for you. The simplest way you can do this is to change the way you usually do your routines or try something new to spice up your life. So, in this article, we have a few recommendations on things you can do today to improve your health in the long run. A highly underrated practice, meditation is known as a way to connect the body with the mind. You might find yourself impatient or bored when meditating for the first time, but that’s precisely why meditation is beneficial. We’re so used to scrolling daily and getting the exact news pattern that we’re stuck into, and it’s quite difficult to break away from it. But meditating allows you to sit in a comfortable position and watch as your thoughts wander around. The benefits are numerous, but some of those that will change your life are: Increased self-awareness Increased patience and tolerance Improved sleep quality Research suggests that meditation can also help people suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease and depression. Through meditation, you’re able to understand your pain and learn how to manage your feelings about it, which is why many people turn to this practice when they need comfort. Gardening is not only a way to decorate your home or grow vegetables and fruits. It’s also an activity that can boost mental health. Whether you want to plant flowers, tomatoes or cannabis seeds, know that it’ll probably help you focus and concentrate more. Other benefits of gardening include: Improved mood. Spending time around plants and focusing on the tasks of planting, irrigating and caring can help reduce negative thoughts; Boosted self-esteem. When you notice that your work pays off and the plants are healthy and thriving, your sense of pride increases; Improved attention span. As you continue gardening, you’ll be able to stay focused more on your tasks, which will help you concentrate better in your daily life; More exercise. Having to move around digging or weeding can make you break a sweat. Doing this regularly may alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, as regular exercise is known to help people with mental health issues. However, if you plan on growing cannabis seeds, know that there are more types that you can use for planting. For example, feminized seeds might be more challenging to plant for beginners, as they prevent the production of male plants. On the other hand, autoflowering cannabis seeds grow at a faster pace and they don’t require as much maintenance. If you’re struggling with sleep, low energy levels and other health concerns, you might want to try exercising regularly. That’s because when you exercise, your brain produces neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). These chemicals are known for making you feel happier, focused and calmer. If you’re not used to exercising, you could try some low-energy workouts: Yoga is a low-intensity sport, and you’d only need around 25 minutes of yoga to boost brain function and energy; Pilates mainly involves lying on your back, so it’s easy to do for many people; Walking is easy to do and accessible for everyone ―a ten-minute walk can make you more energized than a regular coffee; Zumba or dancing will always get you in the mood for more physical activity, and you’ll also be able to socialize more; Archery: This sport requires intense concentration and is considered an active form of meditation. However, unlike the activities mentioned above, archery can be quite confusing for beginners. But don’t worry, to start practicing archery, you just need to choose the right bow and have a safe backyard to set up your target. Connecting with nature Meditating can help you connect with yourself, but reconnecting with nature can change your life. Being more aware of what’s around you, touching trees and noticing nature can have a big impact on you. Here’s how to do it: Get a compass and explore your surroundings; Choose a GAIA location (a place where you can observe the earth) to reach and visit often; Meditate outside, in a park or your garden; Lie in the grass and follow your breath; Connecting with nature is critical for your health, and it has the following benefits: Nature can help reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being; Nature can boost your immune system and protect you from common diseases; Nature can help you recover from illness; Nature will increase your energy levels; Going to bed earlier Every person has at least once struggled with going to sleep or constantly waking up at night, which heavily influences overall health and mood. But research shows that poor sleep can affect your hormones, exercise performance and brain function. If you too have problems sleeping, here are some tips to help you get a better sleep tonight: Increase light exposure during the day, but sleep in total darkness. While natural sunlight keeps your circadian rhythm healthy, when preparing for sleep, it’s best to minimize any light exposure as much as possible. Avoid drinking caffeine late in the day. One cup of coffee can stay in your blood for six to eight hours, meaning that if you have one cup late in the day, you’ll probably still be stimulated late at night; Reduce irregular or long daytime naps. Although it’s beneficial to have a power nap during the day (of about 30 minutes), if you sleep more than this, you may be negatively affecting your night sleep; Have a regular program of waking up and going to sleep. Whether it’s the weekend or on holiday, it’s advisable to wake up and go to sleep at the same hours as you usually do. Additionally, you can try melatonin supplements, as they’re also often used to treat insomnia. Talking with your doctor is best if the problems persist, even after trying these tips and taking supplements. Channing your life for the better doesn’t mean you need to make significant lifestyle modifications, but make healthy and small transitions every day.	6,489
Making the decision to open a kid’s bank account is an important one for parents. Not only does it teach children about responsible money management, but it also gives them a place to save their money for future goals. If you’re on the fence about opening a kid’s bank account below, Carrington Dean breakdown the top reasons why you should open a kid’s bank account. Through helping hundreds of families beat debt, Carrington Dean are experts in everything from mortgages and council tax debt to the Breathing Space Debt Solution. Make sure to visit their site if you, or someone you know, is struggling financially. Check out the top 8 reasons why you should go ahead and open a kid’s bank account. 1. It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money. It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money. A kids’ bank account is a great way to help them learn about budgeting, saving and spending responsibly. As a parent, you can use a kids’ bank account to set up regular deposits and withdrawals that mimic the flow of money in the real world. You can also use it to teach your kids about different financial concepts, such as interest and compound interest. By helping your kids to develop good financial habits from an early age, you’ll set them up for success later in life. 2. A kids’ bank account can help them develop good financial habits. One of the main benefits of a kids’ bank account is that it can help your child to develop good financial habits. For example, if you set up regular deposits into their account, they’ll learn to budget and save for future goals. And if you help them to track their spending, they’ll learn how to be more mindful of their spending habits. By teaching your kids good financial habits from an early age, you’ll give them a solid foundation on which to build their future financial success. 3. A kids’ bank account can help them save for the future. One of the best reasons to open a kids’ bank account is to help your child save for the future. Whether they’re saving for a new toy, a family holiday or their first car, a kids’ bank account can give them a head start on their savings goals. Plus, if you set up regular deposits into their account, they’ll learn the importance of saving for the future and be more likely to stick to their savings goals. 4. A kids’ bank account can help them manage their money. Another great benefit of a kids’ bank account is that it can help your child to better manage their money. By teaching them to track their spending and budget for future purchases, a kids’ bank account can help them to better understand and manage their money. Plus, if you help them to set up regular deposits and withdrawals, they’ll learn how to juggle their finances and make their money work for them. 5. A kids’ bank account can help them understand financial concepts. A kids’ bank account can also be a great way to help your child understand financial concepts. For example, if you set up regular deposits into their account, they’ll learn about compound interest and how it can help them grow their savings. Plus, if you help them to track their spending, they’ll learn about budgeting and how to make their money work for them. By helping your kids to understand these important financial concepts, you’ll give them a solid foundation on which to build their future financial success. 6. A kids’ bank account can help them plan for the future. Another great benefit of a kids’ bank account is that it can help your child to better plan for the future. By teaching them to track their spending and budget for future purchases, a kids’ bank account can help them to better understand their financial situation and make more informed decisions about their money. Plus, if you help them to set up regular deposits and withdrawals, they’ll learn how to juggle their finances and make their money work for them. 7. A kids’ bank account can help them build their credit. If you’re looking for a way to help your child build their credit, a kids’ bank account can be a great option. By teaching them to track their spending and make regular payments on time, a kids’ bank account can help them to build a positive credit history. Plus, if you help them to set up regular deposits and withdrawals, they’ll learn how to manage their finances and make their money work for them. 8. A kids’ bank account can help them prepare for adulthood. Last but not least, a kids’ bank account can be a great way to help your child prepare for adulthood. By teaching them to track their spending and budget for future purchases, a kids’ bank account can help them to better understand their financial situation and make more informed decisions about their money. Plus, if you help them to set up regular deposits and withdrawals, they’ll learn how to juggle their finances and make their money work for them. By helping your child to develop good financial habits from an early age, you’ll give them a solid foundation on which to build their future financial success. Tthere are many great reasons to open a kids’ bank account. From helping them save for the future to teaching them about budgeting and financial planning, a kids’ bank account can be a valuable tool in helping your child to develop good financial habits. So, if you’re looking for a way to help your child make the most of their money, a kids’ bank account may be the perfect solution. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hello I am Heather, the face behind the Miss Frugal Mommy website. I enjoy sharing my life and tips on frugal living, parenting, travel, recipes and inspiring others to live a healthy and active lifestyle. I spend my days juggling my blog and four very active, fun and amazing kids.	6,134
Roof bars for cars are becoming more and more popular. They provide a great way to carry extra items on top of your car with no fuss or hassle. Here is how they work! Suddenly, the benefits of roof bars for cars are clear: they’re easy to use, affordable, and convenient. What’s not to like? This post will show you everything you need to know about them so that you can make an informed decision when buying these products! With information from this blog post in mind, it’s time for you to get started on finding the perfect set of roof bars for cars today. Roof bars For Car have a lot of advantages that make them more popular. The first of which is that they are very affordable and easy to install. Roof bars for cars can be installed on a roof rack with no additional parts. All the customer needs to do is buy a roof rack. Roof racks typically come in different sizes so customers should measure their car before buying one. Roof bars for car come in three different lengths: 24 inch, 36 inch, and 48 inch so it’s important for consumers to take these measurements into account as well before purchasing them. How do I know what type of roof rack I need? Roof bars are an important part of your car and the safe transportation you need to get from point A to B. Whether, they’re underneath or on top – we have six different ways for fixing them so that these essential safety features can stay put! For example if your vehicle has “raised roof rails” where one slide their hand under then select a set suited just like this type because otherwise it won’t fit properly (for cars with raised rail). With the roof bars raised, you can push your hand under them and feel secure in knowing that nothing will get through to harm or hinder what’s underneath. Do you have a car with flush-mounted roof rails? If so, this article is for your convenience. T-tracks are typically found on cars with the option of having a channel running across the roof. For cars with fixpoints, these mounting points are usually hidden under flaps or sliders. Roof bars are usually secured by clamps or straps that wrap around the bodywork. The old fashioned gutters on some cars are reminiscent of days gone by. Are aluminium bars worth the extra money? There are lots of different bars and accessories available, from simple steel roof bars to aluminium ones with integrated lights. And if you’re looking for something that will work well on all types of cars, or even two different models of car, it can be really hard to decide which one is best suited to your needs If you’re looking for a roof rack to carry your gear, you’ll want one that’s quiet. Aluminum bars are quieter than steel roof bars. Here are three reasons why aluminum is better: 1) Steel racks can whistle at the ‘middle C’ frequency which can become intrusive in certain situations, especially if the roof bars are exposed – it depends on the type of car, the type of rack and where they’re positioned on your vehicle; 2) The volume tends to increase with speed; 3) A simple solution like moving them forwards or backwards by a centimetre reduces their noise level significantly (even more so if there’s a roof box).The only way to make aluminum bars as quiet as steel would be to coat them in something like rubber, which would defeat the purpose of having a metal rack. 4) Aluminum bars are much lighter than steel roof bars and manufacturers can use thinner material to achieve the same strength (or less). The reduction in weight and mass has a very positive effect on the noise they produce. 5) One common cause of roof rack noise is wind buffeting and turbulence caused by the shape and size of the bars, and the position of these on your car: if you move them forwards or backward, even by a centimeter or two, it can reduce their volume significantly. So if you see any protruding bars on your car, try moving them forwards or backward. 6) It’s also worth noting that roof rack noise can usually be reduced to an acceptable level by moving the roof bars forwards or backward, even by a centimeter. 7) In certain cases the roof bars might increase the fuel consumption of the car by 0.5%. Quick Hack : A significant reduction in roof rack volume can be achieved simply by turning the music up! You might be thinking, “I just want to buy a roof rack for my car.” But not so fast! There are different types of racks for different cars and they can vary in price quite a bit. Don’t worry though, we have you covered with this ultimate guide to choosing the best roof rack for your car. 1) What type of vehicle do I drive? – Find out what type of vehicle you drive by looking at the back or side door sticker or checking online (or call your manufacturer). You’ll need to know if it’s an SUV, truck, hatchback, or sedan because each has its own set of features that affect which rack is right for them. 2)What size do I need? – This depends on how much you plan to carry. If it’s just the occasional trip, then you’ll probably be fine with an entry-level rack or even a trunk mount. If you’re planning on hauling around larger cargo all the time (like bikes) then go for one of the higher-end roof racks becausethey are built to handle more weight. 3) What do I want to carry? – Once you know what type of roof rack your vehicle needs, take a look at the types of cargo you’d like to haul. Then find out if it will work with your car by taking this quick quiz! 4) Pricing – Roof racks vary in price depending on the materials, ease of use and durability. Generally speaking, aluminum racks are lightweight but more expensive while plastic ones are less expensive but heavier. If you’re on a budget, consider buying steel or used roof racks. 5) Durability – Generally speaking, plastic car roof racks are cheaper than aluminum ones because they are lighter weight. This is a great choice if you plan on using it occasionally or for short periods of time. Aluminum roof racks are more expensive but they tend to be sturdier and last longer. If you plan on mainly using your roof rack year round, consider going with aluminum. 6) Style – Roof racks come in many different styles so take alook at a couple different options before picking one. Different styles come with different features and range in price from entry level to high end. Here is a list of car roof rack styles: a) Surfboard mount – Great for surfboards, snowboards and skis. Usually attaches on the front door side of the vehicle or rear door on somecars. b) Side/Sliding mount – Great for ladders, lumber and other long items that can slide on and off the rack. This style mounts to the vehicle door with a clamp or strap and does not attach at roof level which means you can still open your trunk without removing it. This one is better suited to trucks than sedans. c)Front bar mount – This one mounts on the edges of a vehicle’s front hood and is great for smaller items like ladders, shovels and other long objects that can clamp to your cross bars. The main benefit is that this design leaves more room inside the car (or truck bed) as opposed to roof-mounted racksand still allows you to open the hood without first removing it. This one is better for sedans than trucks and should allow your radiator to stay undamaged. e)Aero crossbar – A high end style that is aerodynamic and sleek, usually used for roof-mounted storage boxes rather than carrying cargo. Some newer cars come with a factory installed version of this type. f) Boxed frame rack – These are some of the heaviest racks on the market but they give you great supportfor all your heavy items. They are typically mounted cross bars that extend the length of the car and attach to them with clamps or locks. This is a great choice for SUVs, trucks or other vehicles that can handle this type of weight capacity. Frequently Asked Question On Roof Bars Q. What's the difference between a roof bar and a roll bar? A roof bar is installed on top of the vehicle’s existing roof. A roll bar is an additional piece of metal that goes across the entire width of the vehicle’s interior. Q. How many different roof bar designs are there? A: There are over 40 different roof bar designs. Q: What do you think are the top 3 roof bars for vehicles? A: I personally like the Z-Bar, Thule ProTect and Tundra Roof Pack. Q: What are the different types of roof bars? A: There are two main types of roof bars: fixed and removable. Fixed roof bars are bolted directly to the car. Removable roof bars attach to the car with clamps. In more detail, there are four main types of roof bars: fixed, folding, slide-out, and pop-up. Q: What are the drawbacks of adding a roof bar to your vehicle? A: There aren’t any major drawbacks to adding a roof bar to your vehicle. Q: What's the difference between a pop-up roof bar and a slide-out roof bar? A: A pop-up roof bar extends out of the vehicle when you want to open the sunroof. Q: What are some cool things to put on a roof bar? A: A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into their vehicle décor. I think roof bars are an underrated part of your car. You can easily find chrome ones at Home Depot or specialty bars at craft stores. Q: What do you think are the best roof bars for cars? A: That’s a hard question to answer. There isn’t a “best” roof bar. Every car is different. You have to consider things like size, weight, and how much room you have to work with.	9,602
* All pictures marked are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image. ** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks. The saker falcon (Falco cherrug). This bird has a great emotional significance for the indigenous population. There is an opinion, that the national bird of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar is not the Saker, but its hunting hybrid with Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). However - The first successful results of obtaining a hybrid of gyrfalcon and saker were obtained in the early 1970s in Ireland, that is, when the national bird of the UAE was already identified and there were already circulating banknotes with the image of Saker Falcon. Today - indeed, this hybrid is popular in falconry in many countries, including the OAE and Qatar. The saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is a large species of falcon. This species breeds from eastern Europe eastwards across Asia to Manchuria. It is mainly migratory except in the southernmost parts of its range, wintering in Ethiopia, the Arabian peninsula, northern Pakistan and western China. The specific part of the scientific name, cherrug, comes from the Hindi name charg for a female saker. The common name saker comes from the (Arabic: صقر‎, translit. Ṣaqr‎) meaning "falcon". Crimson and red intaglio printing, with an under-print of khaki, red, crimson, blue, pink and pale purple. Dhow is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen sails used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region. Some historians claim the dhow was invented by Arabs or Indians, but the majority give the credit to the Chinese. Typically sporting long thin hulls, dhows are trading vessels primarily used to carry heavy items, like fruit, fresh water or merchandise, along the coasts of the Eastern Arabia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and East Africa. Larger dhows have crews of approximately thirty, smaller ones typically around twelve. At the left there are three features. The most dominant of the three features is a map of the Bahrain archipelago, to the left of which appears a vignette of a minaret of the Al Fadhel mosque, while to the right is disc displaying the points of the compass, surmounted by a device showing North. On left side is Minaret of Al Fadhel Mosque in Manama. The Manama mosque was built in 1938 with the first oil revenues. Largely an unimaginative building, the minaret is perhaps the building’s most interesting feature. This minaret was built in 1938 and became the tallest structure in Manama. Before that, the tallest minaret in Manama, for more than ten years, was the minaret of the bin Khalaf mosque, erected by the local pearl merchant Ahmed bin Khalaf in 1926. (www.flickr.com) (www.flickr.com) On right side is Bahrains coat of arms. The current coat of arms of Bahrain is a coat of arms that was originally designed in 1932 by Charles Belgrave, the British adviser to the then-Shaikh of Bahrain. The design has undergone slight modifications since then, namely in 1971 in 2002 when mantling and the indentations of the chief were modified respectively, but the influence of the original design is still clearly visible in the modern blazon. The arms act as a governmental and national symbol in addition to being the personal arms of the king; only the king, however, may display the royal crown ensigning the coat of arms. The modern headquarters of the Monetary Agency are located on the Corniche in Manama. The building was opened in September 1978. Comments: Bahrain became an independent sovereign state on 15 August 1971, but this brought no change to the currency in circulation and the Currency Board continued as Bahrain’s issuing authority. However, it was felt by the Government that Bahrain would be better served by an authority that could operate as a central bank, rather than simply as a currency board. To this end, the Government sought to establish the Bahrain Monetary Agency as the financial regulating authority of Bahrain. The Agency was formerly established by ‘Decree No. 23 of 1973’ on 5 December 1973. Subsuming the responsibilities of the Bahrain Currency Board, the Bahrain Monetary Agency initially maintained the circulation of the notes issued by the Currency Board. The circulation remained unchanged until October 1977 when a decision was taken to remove the 100-fils notes in favour of a coin. Dealing in the100-fils notes ceased in November 1980. In July 1978 the first note issued by the Bahrain Monetary Agency was released to the public. This note was the new denomination of 20 dinars and it introduced a design on which an entire new series was to be styled. On the front of the note, the title of the new issuing authority appears at the top, the crest of the Ruler of Bahrain appears to the right, a dhow under full sail appears in the centre, while at the left there are three features. The most dominant of the three features is a map of the Bahrain archipelago, to the left of which appears a vignette of a minaret of the al Fadhel mosque, while to the right is disc displaying the points of the compass, surmounted by a device showing North. On the back of the note, to the left, is the new Government House. In the centre is a design containing the denomination, and to the right is a pale area used for viewing the watermark. The note is once again signed by Shaikh Khlifah bin Sulman al Khalifah, the Prime Minister and now Chairman of the Agency’s Board of Directors. The note maintains the solid security thread and the watermark of the falcon’s head, that appeared in the Currency Board’s issue, however the new note introduces a fluorescent feature. This feature occurs on the front of the note and consists of the denomination in Arabic numerals in the upper and lower centre of the note, which become apparent when the note is submitted to ultra-violet light. The remaining notes of the Bahrain Monetary Agency’s first series were placed into circulation on 16 December 1979. The denominations of ½, 1, 5 and 10 dinars complemented the 20-dinar note issued the previous year. The ¼ dinar was discontinued. The common front, introduced for the 20-dinar note, was maintained for all notes in this issue, as were the solid security thread, the falcon’s head watermark and the fluorescent features of each note’s denomination. The only items that changed for each note were the colour, size, the denominational values and the small vignette on the far left. However, the back of each note carried distinct designs, while all being of a similar style. (Peter Symes)	6,744
Below is an excerpt from Jacob Cooper’s TimberBrit, recorded at the Tank in May of 2008, with the help of Ted Hearne, David Skidmore, Trevor Guereckis, James Moore and JJ Lind. Come check out a staged performance of it August 16th as part of the East River Music Project, in which I’ll also be performing in Matt Marks’ The Little Death…. that nihilistic post-Christian pop musical I’m always talking about. Very exciting times indeed…. Every time I talk about TimberBrit I feel an explanation is needed. What you are listening/viewing are time stretched samples from pop songs that have been re-orchestrated for rock band and superimposed with highly tragic lyrics. Stupid-titles, as I’ve always lovingly called them, are in this case very helpful!! A beautiful show/TimberBrit’s melodies are derived from the choruses of Brit’s Hit me baby,one more time, and The Killer’s Mr. Brightside. So follow that bouncing ball everyone!! Posted by mellissahughes on March 28, 2008 That’s the name of the newest track to be released in anticipation of THE LITTLE DEATH… the musical that Matt is writing, and I’m kind of editing, or at least creatively yaying and naying portions of… Technical disagreement: If I hit a low B, one 9th BELOW Middle C, and then proceed to sing the G above the staff, it is technically almost three full octaves. It would be completely three, if I somehow work in a high B…. in which case I would then argue that the song has a four octave range in that four different B’s in all their magnificent herzitude were represented… no??? Someone be on my team? Singers are bitches, huh? Either way, stay tuned, I sing crazy low, and crazy high, and do things my voice teacher would not be proud of…. heh heh. And check out the toolbar on the left side of Matt’s blog to download a few tracks from The Little Death. A 2007 mem blog from the diva from the depths of disillusionment Posted by mellissahughes on December 29, 2007 At the end of 2007, my little ibook is nearing full capacity. I spent last night cleaning out old files, pics, papers and blog posts, and found this one that I never posted from back in March. It’s actually quite relevant to what I want to say today. Bear with me, it’s kinda long, but somewhat entertaining….So, grab yourself a cup of coffee, or star for later if you’re a Google Reader type. I should have known when I passed the giant wooden bear, the Haut Bois Farm, and the Land of Nod winery that I was in for quite a weekend. The wackiness that I’ve encountered seems a fitting ending to my two weeks of Handel and Haydn. In the past four days I have performed the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass, and the Michael Haydn Requiem, and Handel’s Israel in Egypt. I’m writing this blog from a small church in Lime Rock CT, where I’m performing Haydn’s Creation Mass and the Little Organ Mass, which has a killer soprano solo….needless to say I’m SICK of H&H, and could use a little R&R… Lime Rock is in the middle of nowhere, as evidenced by my lack of a cell signal. I’ve been standing around for an hour already, in heels, and a skirt and even eyeliner ( I NEVER wear eyeliner, for crying out loud) … as a side note, I’m not sure who decided that you sing better in heels, but there was definitely a time where one did not show up to a rehearsal anywhere without 3 inch heels, gloves, and a hat. Gone are those days, but I still think it’s nice to dress up for an orchestral rehearsal. Granted, the instrumentalists are usually in whatever they feel most comfy in, but there is a singer mentality that states that you must be pimped out to be taken seriously. I’m not saying that I agree, or disagree, but I’m just recognizing the difference between the instrumentalists and singers. Or the “soloists and musicians” as the conductor called us, because, you know, singers aren’t musicians. Well there I am decked out in my heels and skirt, and make up, and curled hair and was a little concerned that we wouldn’t be finished with our rehearsal by 9 pm… and oh my god, we soooooo were not. I did not sing a note until 9:30 (30 minutes after my contract stated that I should be finished.) I thought about leaving, but my other soloist colleagues were willing to wait. The orchestra had been there since 6pm, and finally, thank sweet Jesus, one of them spoke up at 10 pm and told her that they needed to stop, aka, she fully expected us to go until 11 pm, or however late we needed to go to get through it all….. No, I’m sorry, a dress rehearsal is for the soloists and the orchestra not for the choir…am I right?? A word about the conductor: She’s an Amazon woman from some Eastern European country. She must be over six feet tall and is incredibly intimidating and short in temperament. Most conductors adopt a certain gesticular vocabulary, she is all about “the claw”. Her hands are spread as if she were holding imaginary soup cans, but instead of dropping down into a beat pattern, she swings her hands at you…it’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. From the periphery, it seems like she’s beating the choir…and you can imagine how difficult it is to sing for that… she’s screaming at the altos for not singing with a relaxed and open throat, but she was pummeling them like they were a punching bag….. and this is Haydn!!!! If I was only watching her conduct and had to guess what the piece was, I would easily guess the final chorus entrance from Mahler 2…. I can’t follow a beat pattern, because there is no ictus… every once in a while she flips and starts stomping on her podium, which then begins to rock, and there’s some nice backbeat action which you can coast on for a few bars, but then it’s back to this nebulous beating… honestly, this is what happens when harpsichordists/organists get up to conduct. It also occurred to me that she’s not conducting an actual beat pattern, but is conducting the choral entrances. I figured this out during the fugue section of the final chorus of the Creation, when what seemed like the closest thing I had seen to an actual downbeat in the past 48 hours happened on the upbeat of two…hmm??? I finally just stopped looking at her, and the four soloists just decided that if it slowed down, we would pick it back up. The four of us are also not sitting in front of the orchestra. We are sitting on this small stage over to stage left, so when the conductor is facing the choir, beats 1 2 and 3 are all in the same place, I have recently figured out that when she raises both arms and makes what seems like a “closing the trunk of the car” gesture, it’s her 4… (the actual closing of the trunk is the 1, but with no definitive “slam”) So what’s my point, besides venting about shitty gigs? A gig can be shitty in many ways: 1) it pays shit, but the music’s great 2) it’s shitty music, but pays great, 3) the music’s great, the pay is great, but you are being demoralized by an incompetent idiot… that’s my gig this weekend. The rep is fantastic, I have a trillion solos, and as much as it’s hard to get along with this conductor (who may not be aware of how rude she seems, it could be a cultural thing, I need to keep reminding myself) the orchestra sounds great, and if I can keep my cool, and show them that I can do my thing, and cope with a conductor who gets her jollies making up for her lack of musicianship and confidence by musically beating her soloists, then I’ve proven to them that I know the game, that I’m a seasoned player, and that they should pass my name along. But seriously, this is why we have unions. I was seriously debating walking out last night, and for a second, I thought that maybe I should, for the sake of all our professional livelihoods. But I guess these are my dues to pay for now, until I can afford to say no to a few gigs, or hold out in hopes that a better one will come along. Regardless, I’m learning a lot about how to get what I need out of the orchestra in order to make the most of these long phrases, and also learning how to do that without damaging the incredibly frail ego of “Thor”, and there will be many more “Thors”. I realize that I’m incredibly lucky to make a living on what I love to do, in fact, I’m the only one from my Yale quartet that is currently making a living purely on singing, and that’s not something that I should take for granted. I recognize that I may not be able to do this forever, and so I need to take this shitty gig, and myself seriously, and that includes behaving as a professional at all times, smiling sweetly when I am being reduced to the status of a mere singer, and not being given the title musician that I have worked so hard for. And from now on I’m only taking gigs with reliable cell service. Wow, a lot has happened since March. Some great gigs, some not so great gigs. In May when I moved to the city I had the same naive idealistic dream every musician has, I would unpack my stuff and immediately start gigging. Obviously it doesn’t work that way, and on some level I knew that. I spent the summer scrounging for gigs, as every musician does during the summer. My big highlight was covering a role at the Lincoln Center Summer Festival, great music, fantastic pay, great team of musicians, and a little shout out in Opera News. However, I had run out of steam in terms of the early music scene. I didn’t want it anymore. All that work last year was great for me professionally in terms of networking and all that, but it had been a long time since I had enjoyed myself while making music, and that my friends, is a BAD place to be. This summer I started collaborating with Mafoo on a musical called The Little Death. We’re still busting ass on it. Collaborating with a loved one is intense, but it’s proven to be incredibly meaningful and fulfilling. It was the first time I had approached singing from a creative place, and not from the educated and historically informed place. I can’t tell you how liberating it was to sing, and not think about technique… and technically it kind of freed me a little bit… This musical opened the doors for a lot of other things too. I began messing around with electronics, and am now performing in three electronic operas. Talking about the theatrical element of The Little Death led the way to Ensemble de Sade stuff, which I’ve already posted about many times over. K, I’ll sum up. I’ve written about my son Jack, who is four and fucking brilliant. He is by far the most important part of my life. If I were this age and not a Mommy, I’d be cool with eating apples and oatmeal and waiting for the checks in the mail, but at this point, I’ve come to the realization that my life is so incredibly not about me right now, and so the compromise that I’m making is taking on a real day job in order to pay the bills, save up for a brighter future and all that, and take the gigs that I want to take, that feed me spiritually and musically, and not just financially. This is the moment that I realize that this post was more for me and not for you… Good for you if you’re still reading! Oh yeah, and the day that I was offered the job at DC Comics, literally an hour after I got off the phone with HR, I was offered a whole bunch of concerts with the ensemble NEWSPEAK. That’s one of those gigs I’m gonna say yes to, and I’m totally psyched for those concerts. How’s that for a little karmic yummy for the crunchy ??? I’ve already said enough. Here’s to a great 2008 everyone. Cheers. 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An August 2022 poll by Pew Research Center showed a decline in the favorability of both socialism and capitalism among Americans. In it, 36 percent of Americans registered a “very” or “somewhat” positive view of socialism. 57 percent of Americans expressed a very or somewhat positive view of capitalism. In 2019, socialism and capitalism had, respectively, a 42 percent and 65 percent approval rating; both are sliding downward in popularity. Given the national and global events since 2019 (COVID, increased energy prices, and inflation), the decline is no surprise. Given the political culture, it is a wonder capitalism rates so well. Gallup offers additional information which provides some insight into the matter. According to Gallup, 68 percent of Americans expressed “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in small business in 2022. They felt similarly in 2019, though the number had increased to 75 percent in 2020 before declining to the aforementioned 68 percent mark. Small businesses far surpass most of the competition in this poll on confidence in U.S. institutions, including the three branches of the federal government. Congress barely registers at all with a 7 percent confidence score. In 2019, Americans had placed greater confidence in the military (73 percent) than small business, but small business eclipsed the military in 2022 (68 percent to 64 percent). The military is the only institution which comes close to parity with small business. The confidence earned by small businesses is a good sign for American individualism, ownership, and opportunity. This is likely what buoys American support for capitalism. On the other hand, people are not so confident in big business, banks, or large technology companies. American support for capitalism seems tempered by the character of the businesses in question. This lack of confidence in bigger businesses likely feeds into support for socialism, by which people most likely mean public regulation of banks, big tech companies, and the like. In some respects, the simultaneous support for small business and distrust of big business is reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt’s “trust busting” from more than a century ago. In place of government regulation, red-tape, or outright control, trust-busting the “Bigs” of business, banks, and tech can seem like a tempting program for conservative populists and democratic socialists alike. Scanning the scene, it is not clear that trust-busting or outright government control of the “Bigs” is warranted or prudent. Regulation itself is often written by those big businesses. Consider the aforementioned public opinion data in the context of the story of David versus Goliath and William Graham Sumner – an odd pairing, perhaps, but one with a point. Presumably people are familiar with David versus Goliath: The Philistine giant, Goliath, carried into battle an enormous spear, a hefty javelin, and a heavy sword. He donned thick armor, a bronze helmet, and defensive greaves upon his shins. The weight of all of that metal was something only a giant could bear. And the giant seemed invincible. In most fights, the larger, stronger combatant wins. No soldier among the Israelite forces dared accept his challenge to single combat until David the shepherd arrived on the battlefield. His faith unshakable, David won the duel by changing the nature of the combat. With his sling and stone, he incapacitated the giant at a distance before moving in close for the kill. Now imagine how the story may have gone, if the laws of the land had been different. A key moral in the story is that David is first given the king’s own armor to wear. Finding it unwieldy, David discards the heavy, restrictive armor and fights according to his own plan with his shepherd’s tools. If David looked ill-equipped for battle, the king nonetheless allowed him the liberty to fight by his own methods. What if he hadn’t? What if the rules and regulations of the kingdom forbade young David from going into battle “unprotected” and without the mandatory equipment? Imagine the surprise on the brave shepherd’s face when a king’s bureaucrat reminds him that by law he must don a helmet in combat, as required by the bipartisan Helmet Safety Act. Reluctantly strapping his heavy headgear on, David finds his vision obscured and his neck strained. Turning to leave for the duel, the shepherd is again stopped. Another bureaucrat reminds David that all combatants must wear a certified breastplate made of 100 percent government-tested-and-approved bronze. Now that he is wearing his required body armor, David finds he can barely lift his arms under its weight. Beginning to doubt his chances, the young shepherd finds another bureaucrat strapping bronze greaves to his shins. “A standard regulation,” the bureaucrat says while fastening the armor plating to his legs. Alas, the young shepherd must follow the rules. Now David finds he can barely even lift his legs as he walks to meet his enemy. If he had intended to use his quickness in the duel, he knows he would not be able to dart and dodge at all in the confrontation. His courage flags. Despite these hindrances, David still trusts in his weapon: the sling. From a distance, he will strike the giant down. David has trained with his sling and has full confidence in his aim. Unfortunately, poor David did not know that his sling had been ruled an assault weapon years ago. Another bureaucrat takes the weapon from his hand and considers whether to file criminal charges against him for illegal possession of an assault sling. The King, taking some pity on the doomed combatant, offers him a quality spear for the fight – one that meets proper regulations, of course. Sadly for David, he has no training with a spear and has little idea how to use it except to stick the pointy end at the other fellow. He knows there must be more to the technique than that, but has no time to learn. One does not need much imagination to see how the duel will end now. David, encumbered with armor he cannot carry and armed with weapons he cannot wield, is quickly dispatched by the giant Goliath, who comfortably fights on his own terms, which just happen to be enshrined in law. What a story David versus Goliath becomes after rules, regulations, and the bureaucracy intervene. This retelling of the story of the over-regulated and defeated David is drawn from two essays of William Graham Sumner: The Forgotten Man and What the Social Classes Owe Each Other. In the late 19th century, Sumner warned about the tendency of advocacy groups to regulate ordinary individuals in the interest of some other group. He likewise surmised that established (“big”) businesses would use government regulation to entrench their place in the economy. Sumner’s social Darwinism may be an unpopular throwback today, but certain of his points remain relevant, if not prescient. Indeed, he all but foresees the iron triangle (a key term to understand how legislation is crafted and implemented in American government) as a threat to liberty, democracy, and the competition of a free market Who ends up making the rules and regulations in Washington, DC? An iron triangle is a unit of policy-making that ties a special interest group to a congressional committee to an executive branch agency. This three-pronged association of a big business, the rule maker, and the rule implementer tends to be a self-contained unit of power. Little outside influence penetrates the triangle and the wealthiest voices carry the day in securing legislation. The will of the people may put Congressmen into office, but that influence fades when powerful interests send lobbyists to hold the ear and attention of the elected officials. After passing rules and regulations favorable to a particular special interest, the relevant executive branch agency makes sure everyone else in the competition plays by those rules. Sumner decried this type of political machination. He did not call it “capitalism” to use government regulation to entrench the power of a particular business in a broad industry. He called it plutocracy and jobbery. Nor did he propose anything like socialism as a remedy. More truthfully, the iron triangle is what results from the attempt at socialism. Sumner called for the forgotten man to be remembered. He argued that the best way to ensure the liberty of the individual was to refrain from placing rules and regulations on his activities. The best way to fight against “the Bigs” in society is not to create a big government, but to enable innovation. Let individuals compete as they will. Rather than empowering interest groups in a vain attempt to pick winners, leave it to the free competition of the free market. The same logic applies to the idea of breaking up monopolies as well. There are voices calling for the breakup of Big Tech companies, and not without some reason. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, among others, play a large role in society and politics today. They do not exactly play fair either, even if they are playing by the rules. If some people are not fans of any of those big companies, other people clearly are. Those companies are popular because people like what they offer (that’s often how popularity works). Is it proper for an individual or group to use the government to regulate the businesses others use for selfish reasons of personal preference or for reasons of competitive advantage? A better idea is to create alternatives to those companies. A company called Brave offers a web browser and search engine for anyone who wants to de-Googlize their voyages on the internet. Protonmail is an alternative email provider to Gmail. All sorts of competitors are emerging to challenge social media and streaming giants Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter, including Rumble, Gab, Odysee, and Truth Social. Entrepreneurs and innovators have created these companies and others to compete in the free market against those Big Tech companies. Shop around and anyone can find options and alternatives in the free market. Even in higher education, beset by accreditation and regulation, new and old universities offer alternatives to compete with the established public system. The brand new University of Austin is one such project. Isn’t competition the better way to defeat a giant, by offering an alternative company to provide that service to the people? There is something about having a giant in the neighborhood that inspires giant-slayers, if nothing else. Dislike for something, whether a bully, a business, or a government, fires and spurs ambition–especially the ambitions of youth. That ambition fuels innovation, progress, and reform. If the ambitious are stifled by regulation in their quests, if they are stymied by rules written by their competitors and enforced by the biggest of the Bigs (Big Government), then we can expect Goliath to slay David. Forced to wear the armor made for someone else, forced to comply with rules that prohibit the use of his talents, he never had a chance in that telling of the story. previous post JOLTs jolted: Did the Fed break the labour market? next post Related Posts November 28, 2022 November 28, 2022 November 28, 2022 November 27, 2022 Fiscal Crises in American Cities November 27, 2022 November 26, 2022 Hypocrisy Abounds at Climate Summit November 26, 2022 Tax Credits November 25, 2022 November 25, 2022 MFE (Merit, Fairness, and Equality) Versus DEI (Diversity,... November 25, 2022 Get the daily email that makes reading the news actually enjoyable. Stay informed and entertained, for free. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too! Recent Posts Protests erupt across China: are Chinese stocks still investable? Cowen analyst names Raytheon stock his ‘best idea’ for 2023 Disclaimer: WinnersInvesting.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively "The Company") do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.	13,244
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is not offering us one more philosophy of God. He is offering us the view from the inside of the Trinity. And that is why we should respond to his compelling invitation: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” What everyone wants is rest, but not in the sense of relaxation. Rest here means achievement of joy. The great illusion is that joy will come from filling up the ego with goods. In fact, it will come from emptying it out, from turning one’s life over to the direction of God. We also find in today’s Gospel those extraordinary words: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” Jesus himself is bearing the yoke that he speaks of since he is yoked to the Father, doing only what he sees the Father doing. Jesus is, in his innermost nature, the one who listens and obeys. What he is saying, therefore, is to stand next to him, just as one ox stands next to the other as they pull together. Just as Jesus is yoked to the Father, so we should be yoked to him, obeying him as he obeys the Father. Previous Previous Article Next Next Article About the author Bishop Robert Barron Bishop Robert Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota. He is also the host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking, award-winning documentary about the Catholic Faith, which aired on PBS. Bishop Barron is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and has published numerous books, essays, and articles on theology and the spiritual life. He is a religion correspondent for NBC and has also appeared on FOX News, CNN, and EWTN. Bishop Barron’s website, WordOnFire.org, reaches millions of people each year, and he is one of the most-followed Catholics on social media. His regular YouTube videos have been viewed over 90 million times. Bishop Barron’s pioneering work in evangelizing through the new media led Francis Cardinal George to describe him as “one of the Church’s best messengers.” He has keynoted many conferences and events all over the world, including the 2016 World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland, as well as the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which marked Pope Francis’ historic visit to the United States.	2,248

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