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This week in much of the adult learning I have facilitated, we have wrestled with questions of boundaries. I spoke at a Christian college in Reno last week and had the students compare the words of Rabbi Hillel and Jesus. Rabbi Hillel said: “What is hateful to you do not do unto others.” For Christians, this teaching was changed to: “Do unto others as you would have others to do to you.” What is the difference between these two? Rabbi Hillel’s teaching is respectful of difference, of the other’s orientation and perspective not being the same as your own. The latter saying assumes sameness, that what I want in my own life is what I can assume you would want as well. It doesn’t respect that the two people may be quite different, and may want different things. We are not totalitarian. On Purim, the Book of Esther plays with the idea of outsider and insider. Like Moses before her, Esther finds herself like royalty in the epicenter of (non-Jewish) power. As outsider, she becomes insider, and as insider she advocates for those on the outside. Is that not similar to where we, as Jews, find ourselves in American life? We have become people of influence and people in positions of power. A generation ago, it would have been almost unthinkable for three Supreme Court justices and a serious contender for president to be Jewish. Who are the people, like the Jews of Persia in Esther’s day, whom we in positions of power must remember and advocate for? We advocate for the stranger. We advocate for the oppressed. We advocate for those who have been left out of the halls of power, as we were in times past. We remember what was hateful to us—ignorance, bigotry, hatred, assimilation and cultural discrimination—and we stand up for those who experience similar oppression today. We remember what was hateful to us, and we stand up for those who experience being marginalized in society today: such as those who are poor, those who don’t have access to education, those behind bars unjustly. As outsiders who are now insiders, we as Jews are on the forefront of creating a more multi-cultural society, one that is not dominated by any one religion. And we must continue to stand with minorities, immigrants, those who find themselves still on the outside. We don’t want or need everyone to be Jewish. We do want everyone to live a life of justice and dignity because we know what that is like. Dress up in a Star Wars costume next week for Purim on Wednesday night at 7:15, and happy Purim! Rabbi Bair Temple Sinai is an inclusive Jewish community that encourages members to fulfill their unique purpose in the world. Temple Sinai is a community that learns, cares for one another, and promotes Jewish practice, culture, and tikkun olam (healing the world).	2,949
ebay seems to now provide a new form of tracking number for ?US? and Canada under the name "eBay Delivery Services"; starts with an "esus" followed by 8 number, for example "ESUS12345678"....removed seems to be able to take them and spit out the real tracking number, in my case it was a USPS tracking number.... if any questions, I can provide screenshots/tracking number; unsure how common this is but figure it might be helpful info Please log in or register to add a comment. Please log in or register to answer this question. Welcome to Deliveries Package Tracker Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.	675
New York’s 27-member congressional delegation currently has 19 Democrats and eight Republicans. That delegation is due to decrease to 26 members after the state’s population grew less rapidly than other states’. U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik listen during a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol. \| Alex Wong/Getty Images ALBANY, N.Y. — New York legislators introduced a redistricting plan that could allow the size of the state’s Democratic delegation in Congress to grow from 19 to as many as 22 members. The maps are expected to be approved in the coming week. Democrats, who have supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature, are poised to control the outcome of the mapmaking process in New York for the first time in generations. New York’s 27-member congressional delegation has 19 Democrats and eight Republicans. That delegation is due to decrease to 26 members after the state’s population grew less rapidly than other states’. The Democratic plan would effectively account for that loss by eliminating the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney, who lives in the Utica area. Much of Tenney’s seat would join the swing district currently held by Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado, which would be drawn to give Democrats a measurable edge. The new maps would also take districts in Syracuse, Staten Island and Long Island that have been competitive over the past decade but elected Republicans in 2020 and make them more favorable to Democrats. How each state redraws its congressional districts will change the balance of power on Capitol Hill. We break down the new maps to tell you who’s winning and who stands to lose. Launch Legislators are planning to pass the bills before they wrap up their weekly session on Wednesday. Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated a month ago that she would sign any lines approved by the Legislature. Here are some highlights of the Democratic proposal. — The seat on eastern Long Island currently held by Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin — who’s not seeking another term due to his gubernatorial candidacy — would lose some GOP-friendly neighborhoods to the district held by fellow Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino and picks up parts of Democratic-friendly towns. The net result would be that two districts that have been competitive but regularly elected Republicans over the past decade would be transformed to a district that favors Democrats and another that favors the GOP. — The seat held by another gubernatorial candidate, Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi, had previously included northwestern Nassau County and a piece of Queens. It’s now been reimagined as a seat that would include most of the western shores of the Long Island Sound, capturing Oyster Bay on Long Island, parts of Queens and the Bronx, and places like Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, and Pelham in Westchester County. — Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ swing district has included all of Staten Island as well as a sliver of Brooklyn for several decades. That would still the case. But the moderate parts of Brooklyn that were included with the seat in recent elections would be replaced with neighborhoods like Park Slope that are solidly blue. — Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado’s district would undergone the most significant change. The Hudson Valley seat would sweep farther upstate, capturing Binghamton, Utica and suburbs of Albany. That would make Delgado’s seat — which has been one of New York’s most competitive over the past decade — measurably more favorable to Democrats. And the inclusion of the Utica area also means that Tenney would share a Democratic-friendly district with Delgado. The new district would also include the hometown of Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who has been running against Delgado and has been widely seen as one of the Republicans most likely to flip a seat in New York in November. — Moderate Republican Rep. John Katko’s looming retirement from his Syracuse-area seat was already making the path to retaining a seat more difficult for the GOP in a district that preferred Joe Biden to Donald Trump by 9 percentage points. The new maps would add deep-blue Tompkins County, home of Ithaca, to that district. — Two solidly-red districts would remain in the western half of the state. One, resembling the seat held by outgoing Republican Rep. Tom Reed, would still stretch along much of the Pennsylvania border. The other would most closely resemble the seat held by Republican Rep. Chris Jacobs. That would be revamped into a massive district: stretching from the Niagara Falls area to Watertown while capturing all of the Lake Ontario shoreline, except for a sliver in Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle’s Rochester seat.	4,860
This one is easy. That’s because the best pizzerias for vegetarians are also the four best pizzerias, period. The Post The Post ripped into Louisville about four years ago with an unbeatable formula: excellent pizza at affordable prices and off street parking. The restaurant took over a veteran’s post and has incorporated that legacy into... Continue Reading → January 7, 2019 1 Dope lunch at Morels I confess to being a little unnerved when I walked into Morels and saw the neon “future is fake” sign. I would have said the future is very real food that you grow in your own backyard. Or buy from a farmer’s market or fresh stop. That said, and setting vegetarian philosophies aside, lunch at... Continue Reading → January 7, 2019 1 Naïve is pretty crafty The first thing you notice about Naïve, a relatively new restaurant that’s opened in the hot Butchertown neighborhood, is the mostly white, airy atmosphere. It’s a delightful place to hang out. The bright digs and cleverly crafted, light cuisine have already won a loyal following in Louisville’s midtown. Trendy crowd here Naïve is basically a... Continue Reading → January 7, 2019 2 V-Grits opened three months ago with a bang, and it's been a happening place in Germantown ever since. This restaurant's owners did a lot of things right from the get go. They started out with a food truck, provided a high-quality product, and got their name out there. They built up a clientele that would... Continue Reading →	1,504
What do motorists get from the RAC Approved Buysure dealer scheme? \| FOXY Blog - About Motoring and Women buying a new car What do motorists get from the RAC Approved Buysure dealer scheme? May 18, 2015 foxy Would you expect a RAC Approved Buysure dealer to sell a £9000 car with significant safety failings? When Caroline bought a £9000 car from a RAC Approved Buysure dealer in 2014 she didn’t expect things to go wrong. When they did, almost straight away, involving deficient tyres and brakes, she expected the dealer, the RAC or their 6 month warranty scheme to take care of her. When none of them did, over time, she was understandably angry. After joining us she asked us to check this scheme out and tell her story so women drivers like her might learn from her expensive experience. We needed to be cautious here of course. Knowing that Citizens Advice receive more than 80,000 complaints a year about used cars and the RAC is a big business that trades on its reputation for trust, surely their scheme must be one of the best there is? Maybe Caroline’s experience was a one off? But could there be flaws to the RAC Approved Buysure vehicle preparation standard where unscrupulous car dealers are concerned? We decided to take on Caroline’s case and find out how the RAC goes about its Buysure approved used car dealer business. We started by putting her lengthy story to the RAC for our own peace of mind, giving them time to look at this again and see what they could do for us. Their brief reply (below & inaccurate about the finances and brakes) made their lack of customer concern clear and contained a sentence that worried us. Their Head of Media Relations told me that… “…the Buysure scheme does not replace the buyer’s obligation to ensure the car is bought as advertised and they are satisfied about its condition at the time of sale.” This, in a nutshell remains the essence of Caroline’s predicament. If an RAC Approved Buysure dealer doesn’t have to check that a car is sold as advertised and is satisfied with its condition at the time of sale, how does the RAC police the quality standards it promotes to motorists otherwise? Put another way, perhaps motorists might be better off paying for a used car check to verify the financial and mechanical state of the car in question? And saving the equivalent of any warranty payment to go towards the cost of repairing any future failings themselves? In Caroline’s case, she bought her dream £9000 car via the Auto Trader website because it was advertised by a RAC Approved Buysure dealer who confirmed the car had a MOT and had been serviced. On the strength of this she travelled 90 miles there and back to complete a big, important and complicated car transaction on her own (she’s a single Mum). This included Barclays car finance and the part exchange of her much loved 02 Mini before returning to collect her daughter from school. She clearly placed a lot of trust in this dealer and the RAC scheme. Very soon after she became concerned about the car’s handling and got the Buysure papers out. These included the car’s latest MOT (see below). She then read the service handbook to see the dealer had added the cheapest possible service, simply an oil and filter change. In fact the car hadn’t had a proper service during its life – a fact which the garage in question would have known when they bought this car, cheaply for sure. So how could any RAC Approved Buysure garage have ticked the 82 point checklist without drawing Caroline’s attention to serious safety deficiencies? Or better still, without addressing these and having the car re-MOT tested pre-sale? If Caroline (or any other innocent motorist) had known the £9000 car had these failings and hadn’t been regularly serviced she (and any warranty company surely) would realise that expensive bills lurked around the corner. And go elsewhere. The RAC Approved Buysure dealer website The RAC website says “The RAC Approved Dealer Network has been developed to give motorists confidence and peace of mind.” “You can purchase your next car with confidence and peace of mind” But nowhere does the RAC accept responsibility for approved car dealer failings? Which seems odd in an unregulated industry where the actions of a few bad dealers can affect the good reputation of the many? We then looked at the Buysure Vehicle Preparation standard which seems to a non techie like me to be as thorough as one could be. Other than the fact this it does not have to list any MOT advisories or that a car has been regularly serviced. But anyone can write a car check list and badge it accordingly – surely the important thing is that it is policed in some way? How does the RAC approve their Buysure Dealer network? We wanted to know how the RAC vet and then police their RAC Approved Buysure dealers, especially the smaller ones. This is what they say. ‘We visit our Approved Dealers at least 6 times a year to check their vehicles are prepared to our standard’ This leaves a lot of room for leeway it seems to me. Some 350 days a year, which is worrying if you are an unscrupulous car dealer using the RAC Approved Buysure scheme as a sign of quality, to lure in unsuspecting motorists like Caroline? We then looked at the vehicle preparation checklist and documentation. Maybe this was computerised so the RAC could look out for any comments/exceptions that might raise concern? No, these are handwritten forms and we doubt that the RAC sees all of them. Perhaps it should put a simple system in place to identify exceptions? Perhaps they should adopt a name and shame policy – or ask us to help here? Presumably they monitor motorist feedback too? Strangely this didn’t happen re Caroline? Here is Caroline’s story. In April 2014 Caroline, a mum with two daughters and living in Norwich, found her dream Mini automatic convertible when car shopping at the Auto Trader website. The car was being sold by RAC Approved Dealer (no longer on their network), Whinbush Garage in Letchworth Garden City. Caroline was happy because an RAC Approved Dealer was reputable and the car was part of the RAC BuySure scheme including a six month warranty, presumably based on the 82 point vehicle preparation checklist? She raised the car finance she needed from Barclays to complete the £9000 purchase price for her new and shiny silver Mini Convertible automatic. The salesman had confirmed the car had a recent MOT and had been serviced by them so she felt sufficiently confident about things. Just two weeks later she was unhappy about the Mini’s tyre grip in a local car park. At that stage she dug out the paperwork Whinbush had supplied. This contained the scanned MOT certificate stating sdvisories on it. All tyres were clearly in a poor condition and were close to the legal limit. One had a nail in it. (The BuySure Checklist said ‘normal wear’). She then saw for the first time that Whinbush had indeed ‘serviced’ the car but this was the cheapest variety, namely an oil and filter change. Looking through the service handbook she saw the car had not had a full service at any stage of its history. Undoubtedly Whinbush knew this but failed to tell her. Caroline got the car checked locally in Norwich to be told the tyres were no longer legal/safe. She bought a complete set of new like-for-like Pirelli runflats for £662. There was no longer any sign of the stated nail. Had the tyre been repaired? The car was also ‘juddering’ and this was finally identified as the brakes yet Whinbush had ticked ‘Particular attention to the operation of clutch, transmission, steering, suspension and brakes including ABS’ on the Buysure checklist? This bill came to £190.36. When asked about all this, Whinbush offered to replace the tyres at Caroline’s cost with a cheap Wanly brand she had never heard of. They dismissed the brakes invoice as wear and tear (as did the warranty company) but shouldn’t the RAC Buysure Scheme require safety items to be rectified and re-MOT’d pre sale? All this time the car had been within a 6 month RAC Warranty, presumably secured because of the RAC certificate confirming the car had been prepared to the RAC 82-point approved preparation standard. We believe Caroline would have been within her reasonable rights to challenge the dealer within the Sale Of Goods Act if only to rectify the safety shortcomings and get a new MOT. But she didn’t know of this, she was on her own and she trusted and expected the RAC to do the honourable thing by her. To cut a long story short, Caroline involved as many parties as possible to help her get the car restored to the condition she expected it to be in, for the price she paid. She wanted the RAC to inspect it, service it and pay for the tyres and brake repair. The RAC accepted no responsibility despite their Buysure vehicle preparation scheme being a contributory factor here. They simply referred her to their Warranty scheme (operated by The Warranty Group) for the brakes claim knowing this would be dismissed due to their wear and tear terms. Caroline was able to negotiate a goodwill gesture of £150 from Barclays which they deducted from Whinbush. She also received an ex gratia payment of £150 from a sympathetic lady at The Warranty Group who confirmed they were removing Whinbush from their warranty scheme. Persevering with the RAC’s unsympathetic Head of Customer Care she was eventually offered a further £362 ‘in full and final settlement’ of any future claim against them. She would then have had the tyres paid for. But she wanted the RAC to inspect and service her car instead, to give her the peace of mind she expected when she bought the car in the first place. They refused to do this, she felt a nuisance in her dealings with them and this matter is still unresolved. The costs Caroline has incurred costs of more than £10300 for the Mini that continues to let her down. She received a total of £300 in compensation (from Barclays and The Warranty Group) but did not accept the £362 the RAC offered her because she still wants them to inspect and fully service her car instead. These costs are + £9000 for a car that did not meet RAC BuySure vehicle preparation standards. + £662 for safety related new runflat tyres + £190 for safety-related brake repairs + a growing 50 hours of her (and our) time Caroline has involved Citizens Advice, Trading Standards, the ASA, the Used Car Guy and finally FOXY Lady Drivers Club. “The RAC’s BuySure scheme aims to give buyers greater confidence in purchasing cars from RAC approved dealers as vehicles are prepared to the BuySure 82-point standard and come with at least three months’ RAC breakdown and RAC Warranty cover. As the independent dealer Caroline bought her car from failed to meet its obligations under the BuySure scheme and then did not resolve her issues despite our requests, the RAC terminated its relationship. However, it is important to understand that the BuySure scheme does not replace the buyer’s obligation to ensure the car is bought as advertised and they are satisfied about its condition at the time of sale. The law in this kind of situation is clear that a buyer’s recourse is with the dealer who sold the car. Despite this the RAC made a £662 gesture of goodwill over and above its responsibilities to cover the cost of the new tyres. We are therefore very confident that we have done everything that could be reasonably expected of us to help Caroline. As this still appears to have fallen short of her expectations the remaining options are to engage the government-backed Motor Codes organisation as an independent arbiter or to take action directly against the dealer. In the latter instance, the RAC would be happy to provide supportive evidence to help Caroline’s case. The brake issue highlighted was declined as an RAC Warranty claim due to the fact it related to wear and tear of brake pads and discs, which are not covered under the terms of the product as they are classed as consumables. This was noticed six months after purchase meaning the wear and tear may have occurred in that time and not been evident to the dealer at the time of sale. Our thoughts about the RAC Buysure scheme 1/ As things stand, even if the car is sold by a RAC Approved Buysure dealer, clearly the motorist is expected to check + the latest MOT for any serious/safety-related advisories + has a service history If any used car doesn’t have a service history (and we’re talking about a £9000 car here remember) our advice is to WALK AWAY. It doesn’t matter how nice and shiny it is, it will let you down in time and any warranty company will claim a legitimate ‘wear and tear amendment. The failing in this system is surely that a used car dealer who buys cars without service histories is able to sell them cheap without any innocent motorist realising what this means. 2/ I feel sorry for the many good RAC Approved Buysure dealers who use this marketing scheme in good faith. If the RAC only audits Approved Dealers c6 times a year they are placing a tremendous trust on their fast growing network of used car dealers to do the right thing by their Buysure scheme during the remaining 350 days a year. Presumably this is why Simon says ‘a buyer’s recourse is with the dealer who sold the car’ not the RAC? This is a disappointing caveat emptor attitude for motorists to hear ie when things go wrong, you’re on your own. In this case the dealer knew the car hadn’t been regularly serviced and failed to draw this to Caroline’s attention. She didn’t know she couldn’t rely on the Buysure scheme here. Motorists should be able to buy a dream Mini for £9000 and expect reasonable value for money. Let’s remember, that’s all Caroline expected. 3/ Whinbush garage was clearly at fault. They didn’t just infringe the RAC Buysure standards but probably the Sale of Goods Act too. 4/ Warranty companies know that a poorly serviced car equals mechanical claims it will reject under cover of ‘wear and tear’. Maybe regular servicing should be a minimum standard for the cars they underwrite? 5/ Clearly the RAC MUST look at their Buysure scheme again to make sure other motorists don’t fall between the scheme’s cracks like Caroline. I’d like to think they’d look at their invitation to inspect and service her car again. Why wouldn’t they do this to give her the ‘confidence and peace of mind’ she expected, as promised, from a RAC Approved Buysure dealer? And so I could add this as a happy ending to this sad story? In addition to this post we have since introduced and handed out Red Cards to both Whinbush Garage and the RAC Buysure scheme via our YouTube channel. After sharing this story with James Foxall at Telegraph Cars this was also featured in his column in June which we appreciate. PPS: Simon William’s statement that the RAC made a £662 gesture isn’t accurate. £150 came from Whinbush via Barclays and £150 came from The Warranty Group. Caroline did not accept the £362 from the RAC because she wanted them to inspect and service her car as she’d expected them to have done at the time of handover. And even if she had accepted £662 that merely pays for the tyres she needed to replace the illegal ones. Nor is his statement about Whinbush not knowing the condition of the brakes at sale time – that’s clearly not the case if he’d checked the MOT advisories here. PPPS: We have since discovered that the RAC Warranty and RAC Dealer network are both run by The Warranty Group (TWG) Isle of Man Ltd. This suggests that dealers are appointed on the basis of their warranty sales potential and as such we do not consider this vested interest to be in the best interest of motorists who, like Caroline, trust a RAC named dealer to carry out rigorous and ethical pre-sales car checks. Knowing now that TWG only check dealers approx 6 times a year, we are not convinced that RAC Approved dealers are necessarily as conscientious or honourable as the RAC name might suggest. Just imagine, when a dealer is not as thorough as they should be, and a warranty claim is denied on the basis of wear and tear, as per Caroline’s experience, who is TWG more likely to support in the circumstances? If the RAC (who has licensed TWG to provide this motoring service under their name) wishes to address our PPPS concern and/or put us straight here, we’ll publish their response for your information. 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With the Chinese New Year fast approaching, many Chinese families are preparing for the celebrations. One of the most important preparations is food, as certain foods are eaten over the Lunar Year celebrations due to their symbolic meaning and the provision of good luck. These meanings are derived from the pronunciation or appearance of the foods, with importance given to both how they are eaten and how they are prepared and served. Dumplings are common for almost all Chinese celebrations, signifying wealth if they have the correct fillings. Dumplings are shaped like Chinese silver ingots and the tradition goes that the more dumplings you eat during New Year celebrations, the more money you can make during the New Year. Before eating the dumplings “Zhāo cái jìn bǎo”() is said, meaning “Bringing in wealth and treasure”. However, it is key to avoid Chinese sauerkraut dumplings on New Year as they signify poorness and a difficult future. Instead, opt for cabbage and radish as a symbol of prosperity both for the body and the mind. Dumplings should also never be placed in a circle arrangement as then life will only go in circles; dumplings should be served in lines to show that life is continuing and progressing onwards. Spring rolls, most popular in East China, also signify wealth and their name comes from the fact that they are traditionally eaten during the Spring festival (New Year). Spring rolls are often filled with vegetables, meat or something sweet and then fried to give them their golden colour, which is crucial to make them appear similar to gold bars. When eaten, the phrase “Huángjīn wàn liǎng” () is expressed, meaning ”a ton of gold” as a wish for prosperity in the New Year. Nian gao is a glutinous rice cake that is considered to bring a lucky life. Nian gao is made from sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, dates and lotus leaves. The Chinese for glutinous rice cake, “Nián nián gāo” (), sounds like “getting higher year-after-year by year”. This means that you will have a general improvement in life, including children growing well, business success, promotions, or better grades in school. Fish is essential to a good Chinese New Year celebration. Fish should be the last dish left on the table with some leftover; the surplus is auspicious of having surplus food and money throughout the upcoming year. In some areas, it is traditional to leave the head and tail of the fish to eat at the beginning of the year, which represents starting and finishing the year with a surplus. The saying for eating fish is “Niánnián yǒu yú” () which means “May you always have more than you need”. Different types of fish have different meanings, with crucian carp bringing good luck for the next year, Chinese mud carp bringing good fortune, and eating catfish as a wish for surplus in the year. Similarly to dumplings, there are rules relating to the positioning of the fish. The head should be placed toward distinguished guests or elders, representing respect. Diners can enjoy the fish only after the one who faces the fish head eats first and the fish shouldn’t be moved. Tangyuan are sweet rice balls and are one of the main foods for the Lantern Festival. However, in South China they are commonly eaten throughout the Spring Festival and Lunar New Year. Tangyuan are made from rice flour and water, often served with sugar syrup. Tangyuan in their name and shape symbolise family unity and prosperity and are therefore favoured by some families during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Often “Tuántuán yuán yuán”() is said, which has connotations of “Happy (family) reunion!” The noodles eaten at Chinese New Year are slightly different to noodles that are used year-round in China. For the Lunar Year celebrations, longevity noodles are used; long and uncut, they symbolise longevity and therefore the longer the noodle the longer the longevity! Certain fruits and vegetables are eaten during the Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolising key desires for the new year. Popular fruits are tangerines, oranges and pomelos. Their round and bright, golden colours symbolise well-rounded fullness and wealth. In addition, orange is pronounced and written as “chéng” which sounds the same as the Chinese for success ( “chéng”). Pomelos are thought to bring continuous prosperity; the more you eat, the more wealth it will bring you. Vegetables play an important role in the Chinese New Year meal. Popular vegetables include bamboo shoots (which represent longevity), poria mushrooms (symbolising blessings and fortune), muskmelon and grapefruit (representing family) and seaweed (which is associated with wealth and fortune). With many delicious treats and deeply symbolic meanings, which lucky Chinese New Year foods would you like to try? Celebrate Chinese New Year with Dragons Teaching Chinese EdTech French Spanish Flexible online or in-person tuition at home, taught by our experienced and passionate teachers. For Schools Your school can teach language with full confidence. Excellent teachers and resources tailored to your needs. For Schools Whether doing business with China or building networks, knowledge of this language and culture are must. Whichever Dragons Teaching language course you choose, we can guarantee high-quality teaching and positive academic progress to foster a love of learning. That’s the Dragons Approach.	5,667
You’ve started your next writing project and you’re in a rush to perfect it. We’ve all been there and done that, but we must continuously remind ourselves to think things through in order to master the art. To achieve the best drama, your protagonist must have enough information to make an informed decision. This slowly comes out in stages. By the midway point of the entire story, your character needs to have a good idea of what’s going on and who could possibly be behind it/influencing it. In order to set up the proper twist, don’t give them all of the details (aka NO info dumping). An easy way to keep yourself in check is by remembering: The twist or reveal should cause an emotional effect. Leave a miniature cliffhanger when you drop a good reveal on the readers. It will set them on edge and they’ll be lured into reading more. What is the difference between twists and reveals? Reveals are why something happens (backstory info) Twists are what’s actually going on (new knowledge) Be sure to watch out for the following caveats: Don’t add extremely obvious hints or references. Be subtle enough that readers aren’t able to guess until the last couple of twists fall into place. Make them suspicious, but don’t overdo it. Surprise is only half of it. Twists and reveals need to have an emotional impact or create a life-altering point of view for the protagonist from the moment of reveal and onward. The number one thing to remember is you want readers to care about your story. Show them a protagonist forced out of their comfort zone by getting dragged through the mud, almost making a comeback, being pounded into the dirt, and then very slowly overcoming their obstacles. Your protagonist should not have a perfect score against all of the hurdles you’ll throw at them, but that’s what makes for an enticing story. Deciding What is Plot Relevant Writing an entire story is hard work. It requires a lot of time and patience. And when it comes to our writing, we are always given many different bits of advice. One of the advice tips that we constantly hear is that we must make everything plot relevant. And it is solid advice; we should always be striving to move our plot forward. However, how exactly do we decide what is plot relevant and what is not? One misconception is that if we are writing to make everything plot relevant, then we can’t have moments of character bonding, or doing anything that isn’t 100% in line with the ultimate ending. But we need to remember this isn’t true. We need to remember that if a scene is showing the reader something personal about the characters, then it is plot relevant. It is the “why” behind a story’s action. But more importantly, it gives your reader a reason to care – if your reader doesn’t feel attached to a character or characters, then why it doesn’t matter what happens to them? And let’s face it, your characters can be integral to the plot. Not only that, but if your story doesn’t have more lighthearted or slow moments, you’re left with constant drama. And this level of intensity will quickly get old, and the truly intense moments of your story will lose their impact. Yes, everything that you write should have a ripple effect in one way or another, and should be plot relevant, but those that influence your character’s internal development can be just as important as the outside influences. January 10, 2021 January 4, 2021 / arellana26 / 2 Comments There are many ways that we can provide our audience with the information they need to follow along in a story. Many of us will use dialogue secondary characters to expose important tidbits of information that are integral to the plot. However, sometimes another technique that can be used are flashbacks. These are moments within a story that take you back to specific moments within a character’s life. Flashbacks are not to be confused with simple memories. Memories can be summed up in a few sentences like “Alice held the melting ice cream cone in her hand, thinking back to the breakup. She hadn’t touched mint chocolate chip since.” Instead, flashbacks are a whole scene set in the past that takes your reader to that exact moment. And, flashbacks usually tend to expose something important. I had a professor in college once who described flashbacks as sort of like an “aha” moment for the reader. They are supposed to make something click in the story, whether it’s a key plot point or a breakthrough in character development. Since flashbacks are usually set in the past, they can be a little tricky to write as they can be jarring for the reader if not done correctly. That is why some writers tend to stay away from them. Personally, I love a good flashback. I think they’re great for giving readers very in-depth insight into a character’s origins. But flashbacks should be used sparingly – don’t include one in every single chapter or else you’ll end up with some very confused readers. The rule of thumb that I tend to follow for setting up a flashback is essentially what my college professor told me. She said keep them short and sweet. They don’t have to be any longer than a paragraph. And don’t use dreams as a way of setting up a flashback. It’s too cliché. Instead, she taught me to think of all flashbacks as being a doorway for your reader. While your character might be your reader’s guide, you still need something that will take your reader through that doorway. This has to be a trigger for your character to then open up that door. For example, that trigger could be the smell of lavender if your flashback is set in lavender field in the south of France. Or, perhaps a stack of dishes crashing to the floor in a busy restaurant can trigger your character to flashback to a traumatic moment in their past. Either way, it has to be something that will pull them into the flashback and then pull them out. So, if your character is an old woman harboring a secret about her eldest child not being her husband’s child but rather the product of an affair with a French lavender farmer, then you have two options. You can either expose it through dialogue or some other means like a found letter, etc., or you can reveal it during a flashback. If you decide that a flashback is how you want to expose the secret then you need a doorway. If the old woman smells the fresh lavender in her garden and thinks back to that wild summer in Provence, then she needs to come out of that flashback through the scent of lavender. If your character is escaping an abusive relationship and the sound of shattering plates takes them back to a really dark moment in their past, then those shattered plates need to bring them back to the present – that can be the scraping of the dishes being swept up or something like that. Flashbacks can seem intimidating to write, but they do add something unique to your writing. Are you pro flashbacks? Let me know! December 20, 2020 December 11, 2020 / arellana26 / 1 Comment This seems to always be a divisive subject amongst writers. Some writers wouldn’t dream of killing off one of their characters, while other writers are more than happy to recreate their own versions of the infamous Red Wedding from Game of Thrones within their own works. Within the realm of fiction, character deaths can extend beyond just those of the villains. Side characters and even some main characters can be subject to meeting an untimely death. These are the characters that readers will mourn, especially if they happen to be a fan favorite. As writers, we know that not every character’s story can end in happily ever after. But killing characters can be a delicate art. You don’t want the death to be pointless, you want it to mean something. Below are somethings to keep in mind when you’re contemplating a potential character death. 1) Kick off the inciting action or to reveal a hidden secret. Sometimes our main character needs to experience the death of another character in order to get them to begin the proverbial hero’s quest. But at the same time, you don’t want the death to come across as cheap writing or cliched. You want this to be meaningful to the plot. In order for the death to be meaningful to the story’s plot, ask yourself if this inciting action can be kicked off any other way? Or can this hidden secret that is integral to the plot, can that be discovered any other way? If not, then you can proceed with the character’s death. 2) To motivate other characters. Again, death can be a great motivator to both heroes and villains. But you don’t want it to be the sole purpose of their motivation, meaning don’t kill a character just to get your hero or villain started on the path of their character arc and development. 3) To highlight a universal truth within your story’s universe. Sometimes some character deaths have to be sacrificial for the greater good of the story. If death is the only way to highlight a universal truth in your story, then do it. Or if you’re writing a series and you get to a point where there is no other way to illustrate a continuing theme then use a character death. 4) It’s the only logical way of ending a character arc. There are plenty of ways for your character to come full circle and grow. Death doesn’t always have to be the answer. However, there are times when it is the only answer. As the writer of the story, you will know if this is the only way of wrapping up a character’s arc. 2) To start some drama. If you’re killing a character just to spice things up within your story, then you really need to re-evaluate your plot. There are definitely tons of other ways to shake things up without having to kill a character. My personal rule is if you feel your story needs something shocking like a death to save it, then you really need to start from scratch again. 3) Just for the character development of someone else.Yes, sometimes either a hero’s backstory or even a villain’s backstory will include the death of someone close to them in order to get them started on their respective paths. However, killing a character just for the purpose of further developing another character is not necessary. You can achieve the same effect with a less tragic accident. For example, if your story is about two brothers who haven’t spoken in 10 years, you don’t need to reconcile them by having them lose their mom in a firey car crash. Simply having her hospitalized with a broken leg would be enough to get them back in town and have to face one another and eventually reconcile. You still achieve the character development but without the character death. 4) You’re unsure how to further the character’s storyline. This more applies to minor characters who sometimes serve their purpose in a story, but then we, as writers, don’t know what to do with them. While the topic of what to do with minor characters after they’ve served their purpose is always up for debate, killing them off isn’t advised. It serves no purpose and if they happen to be a well-received minor character, this can end up angering the fandom. 5) You don’t like them. We’ve all had characters that we don’t like in our stories. And I’m not necessarily talking about villains. Sometimes as writers we create minor characters or even major characters that, as we get into the writing process, come to find we don’t actually like writing them. Either they’re too boring, we’ve gotten sick of writing them, or we simply can’t connect with them. The easiest solution to this is to remove them all together from the story. Make it such that they’ve never existed within our story’s universe. Sometimes I have found that these characters I don’t like are simply in the wrong story and once I find where they fit, they work much better. I’ve also found that if a character is easily removable from the story, then they were irrelevant to it anyways. Of course, problematic characters aren’t always easily removable like this. Sometimes a character needs to be in a story but we, the writers, just can’t stand their story anymore. Don’t kill them off, find another less dramatic way of writing them out. October 14, 2020 / arellana26 / Leave a comment Welcome to Preptober! If you’re like me, you’re probably gearing up for November, which for lots of writers is simply known as NaNoWrimo. I’ve spent the last four years participating in every NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo, but I’ve never been able to fully finish a challenge. After much careful consideration, I’ve concluded that it’s probably because my writing habits could use a change and a little more self-discipline. I’m very much a pantster when it comes to writing – I just start writing by the seam of my pants and hope for the best. While this method might be great for getting the creativity flowing, it also means that you’re more likely to encounter roadblocks to the plot. I find these happen most often in the middle of your book. It’s easy to write the beginning and the ending of a story, but the middle is where you’re most likely to drop the ball if you don’t have a set plot with a linear continuity already planned out. And if you’re participating in a writing challenge like NaNoWriMo it’s so easy to give up halfway through because you don’t know what you’re doing. That is why it’s a great idea to try and become somewhat of a plotster. You don’t have to detail out every single minor event or occurrence, but having a general idea will definitely help get you from point A to point C without giving up when you hit point B. And this year for NaNoWriMo I’m determined to finish a full 65k manuscript, which is why I’m spending Preptober coming up with a solid enough outline to help me next month. I’ve been following a simple three-act outline that focuses more on the character development. The setting isn’t something that you need to worry about as it pretty much writes itself. But the plot and characters are pretty intertwined. I personally like to outline my characters’ reactions to certain major plot points. And if you follow the traditional three-act plot, it’ll create a pretty easy-to-follow outline that you can turn to when you’re in the middle of NaNoWriMo. Act One Introduce character This is also the place where you can do a bit of world building as you set up and Introduce your character’s normal world Inciting Incident: What happens to disrupt your character’s sense of “normalcy?” Character can react to either want to change things or escape things First Plot Point: The moment the character makes the full commitment to whatever the inciting incident has called them to pursue Character struggles with fears or a lie they believe about themselves/others/the world Act Two Your character begins the proverbial “hero’s quest” and along the way must confront the things that make them uncomfortable such as fear of failure, fear of their own shortcomings, breaking down long-held beliefs, etc. Your character’s fight against the antagonist begins This is also when your main character begins to see that their fears/beliefs are wrong Midpoint/Second Plot Point: This is the biggest part of your novel so far, in which your character comes face to face with the antagonist Post-Midpoint Rising Action: The main character devises a plan to defeat the antagonist They make a small step toward their goal While continuing to grow as a character, they still struggle with previous fears/old beliefs Act Three Right after that small step toward their goal in Act 2, the main character suffers a major setback that forces them to confront the fears or misplaced beliefs that have been holding them back the entire story The release of their repression further fuels them to defeat the antagonist The conclusion of the character’s arc is complete with the defeat of the antagonist (but keep in mind if this is Book One in a series then the smaller antagonistic force is stopped, but not the overarching antagonist of the entire story) The Resolution: Your character returns to “normal” but having experienced change they can’t return to the status quo, so they begin their life in a new way	16,631
Reacting to the Statistician-General of Statistics SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey that shows unemployment rising to a 14-year high with 27.1% of the population without a job, the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) believes the franchise sector, which contributes 11.6 percent to the country’s GDP and employs over 400 000 people through its 757 franchise systems and their 35 111 franchise outlets, can play a key role in creating the necessary jobs to grow the economy through innovative venture creations. With the gap between the unemployment rate envisaged by the National Development Plan (NDP) and the current rate widening and with Government’s goal of 5 million jobs by 2020 fading fast, the only solution for real economic growth to happen, is if 90% of South Africa’s jobs come from small business. Says Tony Da Fonseca, FASA’s Chairman for 2017/2018, “Solutions to the employment challenge need to be tackled as a matter of urgency. We as the franchise community have the business format expertise to assist in the establishment of new franchises in a variety of sectors not yet franchised – be it in agriculture, manufacturing or even in government’s social services. But we need to mobilise business and industry leaders, government and civil society to play a part in freeing up economic regulations and find creative solutions to allow entrepreneurship to flourish.” It has been proved time and again that small and medium enterprises (SME’s) are the backbone of every economy around the world. According to Vera Valasis, Executive Director of FASA, who represents South African at the World Franchise Council, “small businesses are creating two thirds of the jobs in developed countries and a large percentage of those small businesses are through the franchising business format. There is no reason why South Africa cannot drive the same growth through franchising that countries such as Brazil, China and India have shown.” Many of the Franchise Association’s members are already exploring new ways to empower small businesses and entrepreneurs in bridging inequality, creating prosperity and employment. According to Anita Du Toit, Director at Franchising Plus, franchise consultants who have pioneered the piloting of social franchise projects, there should be more programmes with a focus on skills development and that certain skills could be turned into sustainable micro franchises, thereby helping these franchisees to earn a living and removing them from the job seeking market. “We have always said that painters, tilers and such trades could be franchised under the umbrella of a big retailer or paint manufacturer. This would solve the problem of consumer perceptions of the credibility of independent contractors while also ensuring a central referral system, ongoing training and support and helping such tradesmen to earn a good living as a small business operator. The focus should move from job creation to the creation of sustainable small businesses. Franchising offers a mechanism to enable this.” Kobus Oosthuizen, former Chairman of FASA and MD of SA Franchise Warehouse, has, for the past few years worked closely with government on several initiatives to stimulate entrepreneurship, skills transfer and job creation. In 2014, an initiative from the Jobs Fund, and in conjunction with Business Partners, resulted in just under R100 million advanced and more than 600 jobs to be created by the end of 2017. The second round of an emerging franchisor initiative spearheaded by the Department of Small Business Development’s Micro Franchisor Development Project will see the number of businesses replicated total twelve. “There is no doubt that these projects” says Kobus Oosthuizen, “will go a long way to enhancing the reputation of franchising as an enterprise development mechanism, whilst playing a valuable role in reviving township economies, creating new businesses, passing on important skills and more importantly, creating much needed jobs.” Tony Da Fonseca, MD of the OBC Group and Chairman of the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA), believes that the franchise sector is perfectly poised to take the lead in transforming the business landscape and make an even bigger contribution to entrepreneurship, skills transfer and job creation. “As a group of progressive franchise entrepreneurs, historically and against the odds of sanctions, we created a franchise sector that today boasts over 90% home-grown concepts. Sustainable economic transformation can become a reality only if the public and the private sector come together to optimise limited resources and utilise available opportunities to best effect,” says Da Fonseca. The franchise community will gather at the annual FASA Convention sponsored by Absa to network with industry stalwarts who will be sharing their leadership styles and how they are tackling the challenges in franchising. The Convention takes place on Thursday 29th June at the Kyalami Grand Prix Convention Centre from 08h00 to 16h45 ahead of the Franchise Business Festival which takes place from the 30th June to the 2ndJuly – showcasing franchise and business opportunities. For more information visit www.fasa.co.za or email fasa@fasa.co.za Posts on our blog are contributed by a team of professionals dedicated to developing valuable resources for the Social Sector Franchising community.	5,538
Is it seriously only Tuesday? This week has been eternally long already. Yesterday, I got a call around lunchtime from the trainer at Ryan’s school that he was having chest pains and shortness of breath and that they had called EMS. Thank goodness for our nurse because I was able to leave right away to go and be with him. He checked out ok, but EMS recommended we go to the hospital. I drove him to the ER, and long story short, they kept him overnight for observation and he came home around 6:00 tonight. He did not have a heart attack, thank goodness, but will follow up with a cardiologist on Friday to see if they can figure out the cause. Visiting Daddy- G was glad not to be the patient this time! This morning, we had an appointment to get Grayson fitted for his AFOs- orthotic devices that will help his stability when he puts weight on his legs. In true Grayson fashion, he was generally uncooperative and being a major wiggle worm. I turned on Veggie Tales music on my phone and he instantly calmed down (Veggie Tales is Grayson Crack). He also wanted to chew on my phone, which I stupidly thought would be ok because I have an Otter.Box case. Ummm…so my phone may be able to survive a fall from a 10 story building, but baby drool- forget it. By the time the casting was done, I took my phone from his mouth and it wasn’t working- and there was a pool of drool under the protective screen. Grrrreeeat. Thankfully, putting it in rice for awhile and wiping it down really well seemed to work- no issues now. But…ugh. Oh, and you get to pick a design to go on the AFOs. I’m normally totally against licensed characters on stuff for my kid, but when I saw that Veggie Tales was one of the options, I just couldn’t NOT have Bob and Larry on my kid’s feet- ha! Getting measured Tomorrow is a big day- not only is Grayson’s wheelchair being delivered, but his bath chair too. And you know what that means? After almost 23 months of bathing him in the infant tub, tonight was possibly his LAST bath in it. I am beyond excited for this nastiness to be in the trash tomorrow (Baby #2 will have a brand spankin’ new tub). I just had to take a picture of his last bath tonight- Ryan just rolled his eyes. Grayson starts school on Monday! Life is about to get crazy, but I am so very excited for him. I am meeting with the organization that does therapy at the school on Thursday; we have decided for right now to keep his ECI therapists (we are both attached to them) and try and get additional therapy for him at school. I am hoping he can get some intensive speech therapy at school to focus on oral feeding- we’ll see what they say on Thursday. Because he’s going to school 3 days/week, we will be fitting in 4 therapists and hopefully most doctors appointments in 2 days. Well, at least we won’t get bored! Life is plugging right along- we are just thankful Ryan is ok. Here’s hoping the rest of the week is drama free! A Day in Our Life → Traci on August 15, 2012 at 1:54 am I'm exhausted just reading this! basebell6 on August 15, 2012 at 2:04 am Erin on August 15, 2012 at 3:00 am Whew, what a week already! So glad that Ryan is home and doing better. Love love the pic of G in the tub, he looks so grown up! Hope his new goods arrive tomorrow and you can saw goodbye to that rain forest tubby forever! Amber on August 15, 2012 at 3:04 am I'm glad that Ryan is okay!!! We should have thrown away most of Paisley's stuff and started new for poor Graham, but he's using her gross leftovers. :(I'm excited you get a new tub, that will be so much easier!!! Alex on August 15, 2012 at 3:34 pm Husband in the hospital? Super scary! So glad to hear he's ok! The pic of G in the tub is great – woohoo for a new chair!!! Can't wait to hear how school goes. Big changes! The Martin Family on August 15, 2012 at 6:12 pm Good grief. What a heck of a week / month. I'm glad you're feeling better and hopefully with school starting more routine will be easier to put in place. So excited for all the new "toys" to make life easier. Pics please!! Coco on August 15, 2012 at 6:43 pm Holy crap!!! I'm so sorry. What a crap-tastic week. I hope Ryan is feeling better, that they can figure it out quickly, and that it will be something small and worry free that caused it. And I actually LOLed when you said veggie tales is like crack. Me too!!! Love Bob and Larry, and especially the sebu song is a major favorite around here. And the I love my lips song… and… well all of them actually. Ha! Thinking of you! hugs Becky on August 16, 2012 at 12:14 am Oh my goodness. You have had a lot already this week. Sounds like it's going to get better though Esperanza on August 16, 2012 at 12:20 am Oh my! I can't imagine going through all that. I'm so glad Ryan is doing better and it wasn't serious. I hope be continues to be well. And I hope all of G'a stuff comes without issue and that it is as helpful as your expect it to be!Sorry I'm not commenting much right now. Things are crazy with the move. allthesunforyou on August 16, 2012 at 4:58 am So glad to hear Ryan is ok – that had to be very scary. That picture of him and Grayson together is really cute!My phone was placed in the cat water yesterday and then put in a bowl of rice. HA! I thought B was crazy for suggesting that, but apparently he's not the only one who buys into that. The worst feeling is not having a phone – not being able to make emergency calls. That bath photo is too cute! He looks like he loves his bath time! J o s e y on August 17, 2012 at 7:14 pm I read this on my phone and just am getting a chance to comment. I just wanted to say I've been praying for your family. So glad that Ryan is home and doing better!! Email (will not be published) I’m a wife, a mother, and a wandering Jesus follower. 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Home›Swedish international›Felix Climate pop-up showed Swedish shoppers the true cost of their groceries Felix Climate pop-up showed Swedish shoppers the true cost of their groceries December 7, 2021 Prime Weber Shandwick won the ‘Retail / In-Store Experiential Brand Activation of the Year’ award at The Drum Awards for experience with his work for Felix (part of Orkla Foods Sweden). This innovative ephemeral store puts the environmental references of the supermarket at the forefront for customers. Here, the team behind that winning entry explains how it came to life. Swedish food brand Felix wanted to communicate its sustainability credentials and commitment to tackling climate change by demonstrating how easy it is to make eco-friendly purchasing choices when groceries are available. clearly labeled with their respective carbon footprint. In the middle of Stockholm’s shopping district, we built a Felix supermarket – The Climate Store (Klimatbutiken) – the world’s first grocery store where the listed â€œpriceâ€ of each item was its carbon dioxide (CO2e) equivalent. Customers could only pay with a CO2e currency that we printed for the occasion, with each buyer given a ‘budget’ of 18.9 kg CO2e to spend – the maximum personal weekly allowance if we are to meet the targets. of the Paris Agreement 2030. Customers loved the clear and practical message, and a final inventory showed items like Felix’s traditional meatballs remained on the shelves as newer herbal alternatives sold out. The concept sparked a social conversation, extending the discussion far beyond Sweden. Coverage has been picked up in international, national and environmental headlines in more than 30 countries, including CNN and the German news program Tagesschau. In December 2020, leading consumer trends company Trendwatching named Climate Store in its “21 for” 21 “list. Goals With over 95% spontaneous brand recalls for its 150 food products, from frozen meatballs to ketchup, Felix can be considered â€œthe Heinz of Swedenâ€. But recently, Felix had been left behind in the green food retailing business. As a safe, â€œeverydayâ€ brand, its products were not an obvious choice for climate-conscious buyers. Still, the company has had a great history – Felix has made long-term investments in a series of climate support measures, such as the innovation of carbon-friendly ready meals and the addition of â€œLow Climate Impactâ€ labels. to the products. But the message was not reaching its largest demographic, 30-40 year olds with young children. So our aim was to find a way to encourage Swedish buyers to see Felix as a profitable way to buy sustainably. However, this required a balanced approach: innovative enough to break into a market saturated with sustainable development, but practical enough to be a real help to busy families. Ranking seventh in the world for environmental performance, and with nearly nine in 10 of its citizens saying they support stronger action on climate change, Sweden has comparatively high levels of environmental awareness. However, there is some evidence that message fatigue increases. In particular, sustainability has become a very crowded space in the marketing of Swedish brands. Consumers report feeling increasingly tired of the constant messages from companies celebrating their environmental virtues. We had to make sure that we weren’t just promoting Felix’s credentials in climate respect, nor lecturing people. We needed to do something practical and positive that would actually help consumers make the changes they want to make. We conducted research from April to May 2020 to understand the day-to-day challenges of sustainable purchasing; interviews with six families on purchasing habits (photo diaries and virtual ‘home visits’), a quantitative survey of 1,500 Swedish consumers and interviews with five of Sweden’s leading experts in sustainability and consumer behavior . The results told us that Felix’s demographics really wanted to buy climate-friendly food brands, but found the sustainability information too confusing and – perhaps as a consequence – felt that sustainable grocery shopping was too expensive. Our strategy was clear: to give buyers better insight into the climate impact of Felix products and, in doing so, demonstrate how easy it is to make eco-friendly choices when products are clearly labeled. We called it The Climate Store (Klimatbutiken) – the world’s first grocery store in which the â€œpriceâ€ of food is based on its carbon footprint. Customers could tour this pop-up mini-market, assess the climate impact of different products, and â€œpayâ€ at checkout using a specially printed carbon dioxide (CO2e) equivalent currency. Everything in the store would be priced only in CO2e and each customer would be assigned a purchase limit of 18.9kg of CO2e – the maximum personal weekly allowance if we are to meet the goals of the 2030 Paris Agreement. world would leave with a detailed receipt of its “purchases”, with prices in eq. CO2, to think about it later. From scouting and designing branded materials, to shop dressing and operations, for four months, our integrated team handled it all. After finding the perfect space – in one of Stockholm’s busiest shopping streets – we started building the interior, researching and installing all the furniture, and custom-designed items. Stock was the vital consideration: for a green campaign we couldn’t end up with food waste, but we also needed enough variety and volume to make it a ‘real’ shopping experience, including a balance between respectful of the environment and respectful of the environment. non-climate friendly to give our buyers dilemmas. Each refrigerator and shelf have been measured to ensure a full store at all times but minimal waste in the end, and we have made arrangements with local charities to collect any excess. Our approach has focused on clear information. For the walls of the store, for example, we created orientation posters on the climatic tradeoffs that shoppers had to consider (for example, a steak = a whole bag of vegetables). New color-coded packaging for all products (brown / orange / green) indicated relative climate impacts, to help customers make better choices. And loaner iPads allowed shoppers to track how much they were “spending.” Journalists received the weekly currency allocation in advance as well as an activation overview. In the run-up to the October 1 launch, an important hurdle emerged: our two-day activation, the first of its kind, was to be open to businesses at a time when the country was starting to experience a wave of Covid-19 and put in implementation of significant restrictions. . Company health protocols meant pre-promotion, media invitations, and educational visits had to be reduced and limited us to 44 in-store visitors per day, but it allowed us to accompany each customer with their own personal shopper – representatives from our and Felix management team – to discuss the challenges of climate-friendly shopping. Results In line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action, with this campaign we sought to â€œimprove education, awareness and human and institutional capacities on climate changeâ€ by making climate information practical and memorable. Coverage and social Despite restrictions on visitors, this small, local idea resonated around the world with coverage appearing in over 30 countries including China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Russia, UK. and the United States; it was picked up by CNN and the German news program Tagesschau. The store sparked a conversation on social media, with comments from buyers, influencers and the media extending the gossip far beyond Sweden. The way that shoppers were presented with practical weather information has been repeatedly commented on as a brilliantly simple idea that people believe should be the norm in food retailing. Additionally, we have seen repeat visits – parents so impressed with the educational value of the concept that they returned with their children a second time. As one buyer shared, â€œI didn’t expect this when I walked in. The visuals with the three different bags explained everything so well. I learned so much more than, say, a lecture. The most telling real-world results came from the final inventory count. For example, no Felix product is valued more than its best-selling meatballs, but with customers being encouraged to make climate-value decisions, they have remained on the shelves, as new meatball alternatives Felix’s herbal products were depleted. Buyers had learned that the classic dish they had been eating since childhood might not, after all, be the best option for their own children’s future. â€¢ 17% growth in sales of vegetarian products with the Q4 2020 climate label, YOY â€¢ Global sales growth of 11% Q4 2020, YOY In order to meet growing demand for its existing eco-friendly product lines and to launch new everyday eco-friendly Swedish favorites, the company is currently expanding the capacity of its production facilities. Another significant endorsement of the campaign came from Felix himself. Although the company originally viewed this as a one-time awareness raising initiative, the team was so pleased with the reality that they revised their 2021 plan (with more traditional marketing methods) and made more progress. interactive customer experience a cornerstone of its future. strategy: a digital version of the Climate Store, fully supported by social media, was launched at the end of spring 2021. And in December 2020, TrendWatching, a leader in consumer trends, named The Climate Store to its international list of “21 Significant and Trend-Driven Opportunities for 2021”. All of this suggests that our creative little idea, designed just to start changing the conversation around sustainable shopping at a store in Stockholm, may well have planted the seeds of a different future for food retailing. This campaign won the Drum Awards for Experience. To learn more, including which contests are currently open for registration, visit the Drum Awards website. Related posts: Liverpool set to blow rivals out of water to secure £ 20million signing – Report Swedish PM facing defeat in no-confidence vote on Monday Preview: Sweden vs Poland – predictions, team news, roster – Astronomers victimized their colleagues – and put Sweden’s historical department in turmoil 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 Major application Swedish economy Recent Posts NYU Steinhardt – Assistant Professor of Music Business (USA) While waiting for the F-16s, Bulgaria is getting closer to a potentially Swedish or French interim fighter	11,036
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We are really excited to show you our page EduComic and would love to take you with us to all the adventures with the FreeRangers. Unfortunately our page EduComic is still in progress! Therefore we are sorry, that we are not able to show you any content at the moment. While you have to wait, we would like to share some content with. In the following video you will see the influence of humans on our planet over the last 500,000 years. You can also click through our website and find a lot of interesting information about EduVentures, what we do and many more videos…	581
We provide kids with a curriculum and environment that will nurture a love for writing, inspire creativity, build community, and support academic standards--all in beautiful Nosara, Costa Rica! Multi-day, project-based learning immersions for kids! Kid-driven book discussions to build a love of reading! Focused, one-on-one help tailored to your kiddo's needs! Focused, one-on-one help tailored to your kiddo's needs! The FLOW Team Cat serves as CU writing faculty where she teaches underrepresented students on the Boulder campus. When she's not teaching, she's playing with her family or working on her novel. Cat says: I decided to get in the FLOW because kids and writing are my two favorite parts of life. Putting them together creates something joyous and magical. Lisa completed her Ph.D. in English at Emory University and her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities at NYU. She has taught writing and literature at numerous universities and is currently a faculty member at Front Range Community College. Lisa says: I aim to help kids see the magic that comes from observing their surroundings with inventive eyes and finding just the right way to express things as they see them. Writing gives us time to know ourselves, understand others, and create the world we imagine.	1,367
Since we arrived in New Zealand during the winter months, we were eager to find a place to plant ourselves and wait for the good weather. We chose the Coromandel Peninsula, just east of Auckland, and landed on a Macadamia Orchard just in time to help with the harvest. Didn’t you know that macadamia nuts are harvested in winter? Yah, me neither. Along with that little tidbit, we learned an incredible amount about the Macadamia in the 2 months we were on the Orchard. I thought I’d post some of my favorite macadamia trivia, just in case anyone was curious: Harvesting macadamias is every 7-year-old boy’s dream job. Grab a rake, climb a tree, and hit/scrape the nuts off their stem so that they fall onto the nets below. Macadamia Oil is a perfect substitute for butter in baking cookies and bread but is also called “liquid gold” due to its high cost. The tree takes over one full year to produce the nuts. So while you harvest, you have to be careful not to damage the flowers for next year’s crop. There is an outer shell, called the husk, which must be removed within 24 hours or the nut starts to germinate (go to seed). Once the nuts are husked, they must be dried until they lose ~25% of their weight, a process which takes at least a week. The shell of the nut is impossibly difficult to remove. We’ve heard of people putting the nut in a vise and then hitting it with a hammer. The couple on the orchard had fashioned a special sort of crank to do the job. Moana, the farm’s Jack-Russell Terrier, held the nut in her mouth until the shell softened enough to crack…dogs are fascinatingly intelligent. Macadamia crusted fish and scallops are to die for. As are Fred’s Chocolate Macadamia Brownies. A macadamia bunch, ready for picking! Harvesting with two feet on the ground The green husks start to dry on the tree and turn brown, some splitting to show the nut and shell inside. November 13, 2013 \| Categories: New Zealand \| Tags: harvest, life in New Zealand, Macadamia, Macadamia harvest, New Zealand, working abroad, Working Holiday visa, WWOOF \| 2 Comments What I learned at Summer Camp How does a Wanderer end the school year and kick off the summer? She heads for Umbria to teach English at a Summer Camp for three weeks. Just me and five others against an army of 30 of Italy’s most darling little angels. In addition to losing my voice, teaching the importance of sportsmanship, and pulling out 8,000 splinters, I made several observations about the lifestyles and habits of Italian youth. Things I learned at Summer Camp: Italian mothers are master packers – daily outfits, including morning and evening attire, are put in separate plastic bags and labeled with the day of the week. While Marco Polo was Italian, the swimming pool game named in his honor is not internationally recognized. Six kids will overcome two grown men 100% of the time in tug-o-war. All Italians fear death from the phenomenon known as “La Congestione” (no available English translation), caused by swimming too soon after eating. And most kids will tell you that they know someone who died from it. If the Azzurri (Italian soccer team) are playing, you better be prepared to reorganize the week’s schedule so the kids can watch the game. For every 30 kids, at least 1 will actually like the flavor of Marmite (same as Vegemite). In a Bake-the-Cake competition, the real battle is a debate over who’s nonna – grandma – has the best secret recipe Any means of retaliation (physical, verbal, or psychological) is fair game if someone has insulted your mamma. As a counselor, your best weapon to prevent attempted room-escape is a deck of cards or a magic trick. Any Italian can tell you that there are only 6 continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Antarctica, and America. North, South, and Central are all one. Mascaccia – means tomboy, and according to the kids, I am still one of them. August 18, 2012 \| Categories: Italy, Work \| Tags: Italian, Summer Camp, teaching english, teaching english in Italy, working abroad \| 1 Comment Miss Katie vs. Italian 3rd Graders – Rounds 2-3 After the chaos that ensued in Week 1, I was dreading Week 2 with my class of third graders. The optimist in me said, “Yes, week 1 was hell, but surely it can only get better from here.” The pessimist in me said, “You have got to be out of your freaking mind to step back in that classroom.” The realist in me said, “It doesn’t matter how the lesson goes, it’s 50 euro for an hour of your time. You have to do it.” I am not a quitter; I’m too stubborn and too competitive to admit defeat. After an appropriate amount of sulking, whining, and procrastination (approx. 5.5 days), I dragged myself to my desk to start planning the lesson for Week 2: Animals. While the memory of that first day is a bit of a blur, I did make two mental notes that would assist with planning future lessons. First is that the kids had a ridiculous amount of energy. Therefore any activity which involved getting them out of their seats was teacher suicide; they’d be too wound up to sit back down. The second is that they LOVED anything that had to do with markers. So I made worksheets, lots and lots of worksheets. Crossword puzzles, word searches, matching games, coloring activities. Anything to distract them and keep them in their seats. Better yet, they could take these worksheets home to Pappa and Mamma to show them how much they “learned” in English. Also important was the fact that I adjusted my expectations of myself. One hour once a week is not enough time to really teach much of anything. The kids study english with their normal Italian teacher, so my job is simply to work on their pronunciation and get them accustomed to the American accent. So as long as I hear a few English words spoken throughout the hour, it’s a job well done. So despite every self-preservation instinct telling me not to go back to that school, I walked into that classroom for Round 2 of Miss Katie vs. Italian 3rd Graders… … … … And I am proud to say I won. The kids were enthusiastic about learning new words, entertained by the silly animal flashcards, and excited to show their parents the drawings they made of their favorite animals. The hour flew by and I didn’t even need my Plan B! As for Week 3, the topic was Halloween – which is known but not celebrated in Italy. But what 8-year old doesn’t like ghosts, witches, and vampires?!?! I had the kids draw their own Haunted Houses and write a few spooky sentences to go with it. Again, they were on task and well-behaved. After 3 weeks it’s Miss Katie: 2, Italian 3rd Graders: 1. I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful my winning trend continues throughout the year. November 2, 2011 \| Categories: Italy, Rome, Work \| Tags: classroom management, teaching english, teaching in Italy, TEFL, TESL, TESOL, working abroad \| Leave a comment Miss Katie vs. Italian 3rd Graders – Round 1 I have absolutely no background or experience as a teacher. What I do have is a TEFL Certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and a desperate need to earn some money before I can continue my wandering. So when I arrived in Rome in August, I was determined to learn how to play the role of English Teacher. I’ve devoted the majority of my days (and nights) to studying English Grammar and watching YouTube videos of ESL teachers around the world; I picked up tips and techniques for classes of all sizes and students of all ages. Being the obsessive organizer that I am, I created my own library of lesson plans, vocabulary flashcards and worksheets on my computer, sorted by level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc). Work was not difficult to find; the demand for “Mother Tongue” English teachers is ridiculous. I started three weeks ago as an English tutor, working 1 on 1 with kids (ages 6-18). The downside is that I spend an incredible amount of time on the bus getting to/from the lessons; but the pay is good enough that with only 11 lessons each week, I earn enough to pay my bills and survive in Rome. Though it should be noted that “surviving” in Rome is hardly what I was hoping to accomplish; but hey, it’s a start. Anyway, when my company told me about the opportunity to earn 50 euro teaching a class of 3rd graders once a week for an hour this year, I couldn’t say no. My first lesson was last Friday, October 14th. I did not know how many students were in the class, nor did I know their English level. I was advised to assume that the kids knew nothing and simply start at square one. My first lesson plan was to go over basic introductions. By the end of the class, I wanted them to say “Hello, my name is ____,” “I am _____ years old,” and “Nice to meet you.” Pretty standard for ESL Day 1. I also wanted to assess their knowledge of the ABC’s and numbers; I had prepared a number of activities, games, and songs to keep them engaged. I was armed with a backup plan in case they were more advanced than I assumed. I walked into that classroom with my head high, determined not to make the same mistakes other ESL teachers make and confident in my ability to manage the classroom. That all lasted for about 10 minutes. What happened over the next 50 minutes is a bit of a blur. I distinctly remember looking at the clock and thinking, “dear god, I have gone through everything and I still have 25 minutes left. What on earth am I going to do?!?!?” It was a nightmare. There were paper airplanes and aluminum balls flying across the room. The girls were fighting over markers and the boys were erasing what I had written on the chalkboard. I was outnumbered 17 to 1; by the time I got the attention of one half of the class, the other half was wreaking havoc. I had lost complete control of the classroom and I had NO idea how to go about getting it back. At that point I abandoned any hope of teaching anything. My goal was simply to make sure nobody got hurt; I am happy to say I could at least accomplish that much. When the bell rang, I walked the kids out to the playground to meet their parents. I left the school in a state of shock. I was just eaten alive by 17 third graders and I had no idea where I went wrong. Think back to Elementary School and think about how you treated a substitute teacher. It’s a “Play Day,” right? Now imagine it is Friday afternoon and you are tired from a long week. Your teacher has gone home for the weekend. Half your class has also left; but your parents signed you up for a “supplemental” lesson in a foreign language and you’re stuck for an extra hour. Under these conditions, no child would have the least bit of interest in listening to some American girl teach them how to say “My name is _____.” I was basically set up for failure from the get go. I went home, not sure how to even start planning for Week 2. I cooked myself a steak and drowned my sorrows in a bottle of Italian red. This is going to be a ridiculously long year. October 21, 2011 \| Categories: Italy, Rome, Work \| Tags: classroom management, teaching english, teaching in Italy, TEFL, TESL, TESOL, working abroad \| 4 Comments Italy (53) Parola del Giorno (7) New Zealand (17) Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.	11,631
In the event that you need to watch board or Movies you need companions. On the off chance that you have a cash crunch or the climate is nasty, at that point in any event, going out is troublesome. The ideal thing is discover a type of action that you can do sitting at home,… Terrace Wood Decks – A Method for amplifying Your Front room Posted on November 28, 2021 November 26, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Shopping Terrace wood decks are one of the best patio finishing thoughts. Having your own terrace wood deck is perhaps the most ideal method for tracking down unwinding at home. Where families get together to partake in your terraces and the outside. Furthermore, it comes in such countless various sizes, plans and structures that you can… Architect making an interpretation of Dreams into Useful Spaces Posted on November 28, 2021 March 30, 2022 Author CreedPosted in General You can see him sitting huge chunks of time at his drafting table, his drawing lights on, gesturing, conversing with himself deciphering the pictures that the customer passed on into unmistakable and functional plans. Architects are organizers and manufacturers. Their specialty thinks about the accessibility of materials, standards of designing, feel, construction laws, neighborhood guidelines,… Posted on November 27, 2021 November 30, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Business Nowadays, tennis is very in frenzy and an exceptionally well known game everywhere. Prior, it used to be the game of just the privileged and preeminent rulers society. However, we can see that there is an ocean of progress today. It has turned into a game for every one of the classes. It is played… Know how to pick quality audio book administrations Posted on November 24, 2021 November 23, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Education There are various sorts of model audio books that can found wherever subject to your level of assessment and scientific aptitudes. One model would take off to a flea market and observing your favoured praiseworthy audio books for your own special purchase. One more model would embark to your favoured book shop and looking for… Posted on November 23, 2021 November 15, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Business An internet business seeks at monetizing the targeted traffic on its web sites, primarily by offering advertising. Like a new online multimedia businessman, it might appear less difficult and chance-liberated to rely on a third-get together for marketing the adverts, but it generally bears the backlog of discussing the revenue. While shelling out on and… Posted on November 22, 2021 November 29, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Business The progressions made in decorating styles and goods are steady smart just as styles going back and forth. This second it is gotten back furiously, as the new just as exceptional designs just as surfaces struck the stores people are interested by the underlying styles. Assuming you need to change the entire appearance of your… Caring for wooden stairs Posted on November 21, 2021 December 2, 2021 Author CreedPosted in General A wooden staircase, whether it’s a conventional or trendy design, is frequently the focal point of a room. The more persons that are using the stairwell, the more likely it is that it may get unclean or perhaps ruined. Your stairway might be irreversibly harmed if it is not properly cared for and maintained. At… Posted on November 20, 2021 November 20, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Finance As money related partners from around the globe are right at this point endeavoring to take advantage of the cryptocurrency exchanging, you can endeavor your abilities. Cryptocurrency is essential notwithstanding on the off chance that you have been doing web exchanging any case, lamentably you comprehend that there are chances explored that for the slim… The Billboards advertising campaign Durability Posted on November 20, 2021 Author CreedPosted in Business Just about everyone has uncovered simply how much a national TV advertising slot expenses – a fortune! And yes, it is a great way to spread your site content to some wide selection of targeted demographics. Nevertheless there are several further present day promoting formulas which can be in the same way potent. Billboards are…	4,462
Some people may have caught a recent news story about animal abuse at Fair Oaks dairy farms in Indiana. The video was part of an undercover operation to show how animals are really treated at Fair Oaks Farms. “Fairlife was launched in 2012 as a partnership between Coca-Cola, which distributes its products, and the McCloskeys’ Select Milk Producers, a co-op of dairy farms that includes Fair Oaks. The product is a form of “ultrafiltered” milk that is lactose-free and has more protein and calcium and less sugar than traditional milk.” Fairlife and owners of Fair Oaks dairy are being sued by a consumer of Fair life dairy products who says he was deceived by claims it provided a high caliber of care for its animals. Seeing the abuse didn’t surprise me, but it was still shocking to watch none-the-less. After graduate school I took a teaching position in Purdue’s Agriculture and Biological Engineering Department where I taught composting. I was asked to consult on several projects where owners were considering composting manure from Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s). One of these consulting jobs took me to southern California where I toured large mega dairy farms. I will never forget what I saw during that tour and I have never felt the same about industrial milk production. The problem is the amount of manure that is produced on farms with thousands of cows confined in barns. We stopped a few miles away from the dairy farm and the odor of ammonia was oppressive. The other thing I noticed was the flies. Even from the gates (which are miles away from the barns to prevent unwanted visitors) the flies swarm you. It was the manure piles stored near the barns that attracted flies and gave off ammonia. I couldn’t imagine anyone living near these farms. Many of the farmers in California were selling and moving out. I was told that southern California was no longer profitable for operating large dairies. The reason was largely ground water pollution. The land was saturated with slurried manure sprayed on fields year round. Owners had been paying thousands of dollars in fines every year for contaminating the groundwater, but it wasn’t until the nitrate pollution started killing cows and causing miscarriages that the cost of doing business was too high. “Domestic cows can live to 20 years; however, those raised for dairy rarely live that long, as the average cow is removed from the dairy herd around age six and marketed for beef.” On farms where the water is heavily polluted with nitrates the pregnant cows (and humans) often miscarry and babies can suffer from blue baby syndrome. The cows at these mega farms were not producing as much milk and being culled after as little as 3 years. When the farm started losing money the owners decided it was time to sell and move. Many dairies relocated to the Midwest were they are once again polluting the ground water. Many large dairies are owned by Dutch farmers who moved to the US more than 20 years ago and continue to invest millions of dollars in starting up more and more mega dairy farms. Fair Oaks Farms is located about 75 miles north of where I live. I often pass by the corridor along Interstate 65 where these and several other mega dairy farms are located. The smell of ammonia has now become noticeable even from the freeway located many miles from the farms. Fair Oaks started a theme park attracting hundreds of tour groups. What they show visitors is a fairy tale to convince tens of thousands of children and parents that mega dairy farms and CAFO pork production are lovey, peaceful places for animals to live. The video makes it clear that behind the facade mega-dairy farming is not a place where animals are treated well. The reason that mega dairies have replaced small dairy farms is largely because over-production and government price supports have driven prices too low for small farmers to compete. And there are few farmers left who still want to operate small dairy farms. It takes a tremendous amount of work and dedication. A dairy farmer must milk the herd twice a day seven days a week. It is one of the most labor intensive forms of farming. There is no time off for vacation unless you can find someone who will do the milking. There is no time off when you are sick. There is no time off! My grandfather died from complications of pneumonia when he was 58 years old. His pneumonia was brought on after shoveling snow to clear the driveway in order for the bulk milk truck to pick up the milk. Grandpa and Grandma farmed 350 acres in Minnesota. Their farm was diversified; they grew many different crops, pasture, and livestock including pigs, chickens, cattle, and dairy cows. My grandfather loved his small herd (14 head) of dairy cows. He milked them by hand and I can still remember their name plaques above their stalls in the barn. My mother told me stories about how Grandpa took care of his cows, grooming them until their coats shined. Grandpa loved his cows and took a great deal of pride in them. Cows respond well to being cared for and often produce more milk when they are content. Does the quality of their milk reflect their life experience? Does it make a difference if cows grazes on pasture? Does it make a difference if a calf is allowed to frolic in pastures alongside its mother? (And yes, frolic is the perfect word for how calves play in the pasture.) I learned to milk cows by hand from my father-in-law who always milked one or two cows for household consumption. I’ve also milked dairy goats. A dairy cow tends to be docile and easily trained to a routine. I have often seen the milk cows come in from the pasture and line up at the barn gate when it is time for the evening milking. They bawl in the morning waiting to be milked and fed. It is a relief to them to have their utters emptied. My father-in-law always let the new calves have some of the milk until they were several months old. He would separate the calves from the mothers in pens next to each other at night and take the morning milking for the house letting the calf and mother go out to pasture together to feed all day. My husband and I were the grateful recipients of fresh milk from his mother and father’s farm. As a child I grew up drinking fresh raw milk we bought direct from a farm and there is nothing that tastes better. I still remember skimming the thick cream off in the spring when the cows first got out on fresh grass. I wish it was easier to buy local raw milk but the government has strict rules about selling raw milk because of the concern about pathogens such as E. coli. The reason for regulating milk is sensible, but the regulations make it difficult for small farmers to sell their milk locally because we no longer have local creameries. Mega dairy farms over produce by using hormones to increase milk production and by milking cows three times a day. The dairy industry across Midwestern US relies on undocumented immigrants to provide the labor. Apparently few Americans will work for $800 a week milking cows twelve hours a day, six days a week, without any benefits including overtime, healthcare, or vacation. If you are an undocumented immigrant you are not in a position to complain. This is how the industrial dairy industry keeps milk prices low. In Indiana I can buy milk for less than $2/gallon. Fairlife brand milk costs $9 per gallon. I can buy organic milk for about the same amount. How much are we willing to pay for good milk where we hope cows are treated humanely? How much do we even know about the source of our food? I found an aerial image of the Fair Oaks farm where the video was taken. I measured the lines of huts where the calves are housed. According to my calculations this one farm can house about 6,000 calves. It is not unusual for mega dairy farms to milk many thousand cows. Fair Oaks was milking 30,000 cows in 2010 and there were 80 to 100 calves born every day. It’s hard to imagine the job of caring for 6,000 calves, many of which must be forced to eat because they are so traumatized being removed immediately from their mother after delivery. It is easy to love animals when caring for a few. In college I had a summer student job working in a psychology lab where I was responsible for the care and feeding of 300 white rats. My job entailed feeding, watering, cleaning cages, and holding each rat for 5 minutes a week to keep them docile and accustomed to handling. I took the job because I thought it would be fun holding rats. Boy was I was wrong! I quickly grew tired of being peed on and bitten. Rats held for 5 minutes a week aren’t all that friendly! I was really glad when that summer was over. I find it difficult to believe that the owners of Fair Oaks farm were ignorant of how these calves are being treated. It is obvious that their life is miserable even if they weren’t being beaten. When animals are merely machines we forget they have feelings and consciousness too. How difficult is it for farm owners to see what is happening on their farm? Maybe large farms have gotten too remote. Maybe 6,000 head of calves is too much to care for. Maybe that is why few Americans are willing to do this work. Perhaps the owners of Fair Oaks enjoy running a theme park and never visit the calf pens or supervise their care and feeding. Who is responsible for our industrial food system? Is it the poorly paid workers? The absent farmers? Or is it the consumers of cheap meat and milk who are ultimately responsible? A second video was released by Animal Recovery mission a few days later. ARM is asking viewers to stop supporting industrial dairy farming. Perhaps seeing it will be enough to make you decide to pay more than you currently pay for milk (assuming you can trust what they tell you on the label). At the very least I hope people boycott Fairlife products. Is cheap milk worth it? How much does the tolerance of cruelty really cost us? Related Posts Paying a proper price for milk: What dairy cows deserve Farming as the Climate Changes: Straus Family Creamery, Marshall, California Milk Fresh from the Farm Jody Tishmack Jody has a Bachelors Degree in Geology, a Masters Degree in Soil Science and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. She developed a composting and soil manufacturing process at Purdue University in 1996, which has grown into a commercial business called Soilmaker; selling compost, organic soil, and composted mulch. Her family lives in an earth-sheltered home... Recent Articles By Author What I learned from steady-state economist Herman Daly By Kurt Cobb, originally published by Resource Insights November 13, 2022 By Kurt Cobb, originally published by Resource Insights November 6, 2022 By Kurt Cobb, originally published by Resource Insights October 30, 2022 By Kurt Cobb, originally published by Resource Insights October 23, 2022 Dutch dilemma: What is Europe willing to do for more natural gas? By Kurt Cobb, originally published by Resource Insights October 9, 2022 What Could Possibly Go Right?: Episode 93 with Vicki Robin What Could Possibly Go Right?: Episode 92 Per Espen Stoknes What Could Possibly Go Right?: Episode 90 Sherri Mitchell facebook twitter Resilience is a program of Post Carbon Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the world transition away from fossil fuels and build sustainable, resilient communities.	11,862
As the war in Ukraine continues, businesses worldwide are feeling the impact. In this article, we will explore the effect of the Russian invasion on businesses in Europe. Sanctions Imposed on Russia In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia that have had a significant impact on Russia’s economy. For example, Russia’s ability to receive payments for exports has been disrupted, they are no longer a part of SWIFT, and their currency has been devalued. Due to sanctions imposed on Russia, its economy is projected to decline by 0.7% in 2022 and by 1.21% in 2023. The sanctions have also had a significant effect on businesses in Europe. Many companies have lost access to Russian markets, and some have shut down their operations in Russia. With the EU being the largest investor in Russia and exporter to them, this has affected both the Russian and EU economies. Beyond the human toll, airports, seaports, and other essential services like roads and bridges have been destroyed in Ukraine impacting businesses transport of their product or services. The Russia-Ukraine crisis has been particularly painful for banks, mainly European institutions. The sanctions placed on Russia by the U.S. and the EU have led to several problems for banks, including exposure to potential defaults by both Russia and Ukraine and decreased trade between the two countries. French banks have especially been hit hard by the crisis. Their exposure to Russian debt and Ukrainian bonds has caused their credit ratings to be downgraded. Additionally, their subsidiaries in Russia and Ukraine have been hurt by the economic slowdown in those countries. Ukraine’s $60 billion of bond debt has been changed to junk status mainly because the possibility of Ukraine defaulting on this debt went from minimal to possible danger. The crisis has impacted US banks, but to a lesser extent than their European counterparts. Citigroup, for example, has a $10 billion exposure to Russia, which is a small portion of the bank’s $2.3 trillion in assets. The crisis has also led to a slowdown in lending between banks. This is because banks are worried about the health of their counterparts and are reluctant to lend money to one another. This could lead to a liquidity crisis similar to the one that occurred in 2008. The invasion of Russia into Ukraine has affected these two countries and the EU in general. With the rise in sanctions, boycotts, and effects on banks in numerous countries, the entire EU is nervously watching what unfolds. Top 3 Companies in the U.S. to Work For – Part I – Google September 27, 2022 September 27, 2022 How 5 Top Companies Keep Employees Happy – Part III – Investing in Employees September 16, 2022 Delivered on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, Jigsaw’s virtual learning and collaboration technology enables our customers to revolutionize how they train, educate, collaborate and work through a virtual environment – helping them embrace digital transformation and enhance their organizations’ success.	3,193
Today is National Coming Out Day. For those unfamiliar with the term, a quick explanation might be in order. On National Coming Out Day, gay men and women announce to those around them that they’re gay, be it a family member, a co-worker, the newspaper or the world. It’s a support mechanism of sorts in order to show the world and each other, there are a lot of us, and we’re not alone. I’ve never had to come out on National Coming Out Day because ever since my first day of college I’ve been pretty much out (and somewhat before then). Well, I take that back. In the early days I didn’t deny that I was gay by any means but I didn’t discuss it if the subject didn’t come up. I now look at that as sort of a cowardly approach. Now I don’t think one should be sitting around the dining room table at a family gathering and declare, “The chicken is delicious, please pass the salt, by the way I’m gay, how about some fudge for dessert?” While my early approach lasted until 1990 or so with many (I had told a few folks back in the mid 80s)and the mid 90s with a selected few (mostly my family), my commitment to Earl changed my feelings about how out I was going to be. I was in love (still am!) and for the first time in my life, I felt that I had found the love of my life and I wanted the world to know it. I hid from no one. And you know what? It was around that time that I felt I earned the respect of those around me. My family members, my friends and my co-workers truly respected me. I wasn’t hiding anything. I wasn’t in a closet peeking out of the louvers like some weird Hee-Haw skit, here I was, door wide open, take me as I am. And you know what else? If they didn’t like me because I’m gay than I guess we didn’t really have much in common anyway. Now I don’t believe in standing up and making this huge proclamation that you’re gay. While I occasionally have a flair for the dramatic (I could be the long lost son of Maurice and Endora), I don’t believe in making a big deal about it. It’s not a big deal. I’m gay, so what. If it’s a big deal to you, well, that’s your problem. If you try to restrict my rights or beliefs or disrespect me or my partner because of it, well, then we have a different sort of problem that probably isn’t going to be pretty. At my last job interview (which was for my current job of two years, by the way), I was able to confirm to my future supervisor and department director about my sexual orientation without having some awkward conversation. I didn’t change or neutralize the pronouns when talking about my personal life, my partner is a “he” and he’ll always be a “he”. And I still got the job. It was one of the biggest breaths of fresh air I ever had in my life simply becuase I was just being honest. I wasn’t worried that I would be looked over for the position just because I’m gay; if that’s the reason they pass me over then I don’t want to be working for them anyway. No hiding, no secrets, I am what I am. So if you’re gay, peeking around the closet door and wondering what to do today, just take a step out and tell someone, anyone, that you’re gay, even if it means admitting it to yourself by looking at your image in the mirror. You deserve the self-respect and those around deserve the respect of you telling them the truth. 11 October 2006 by J.P. Gayish. 0 You may also like... Domesticated. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Next School Daze. Previous Changing Time. Just a guy with a husband. We've been together 26 years and he still makes me see fireworks on a daily basis. Tech Guy. Data Geek. Open Source. Hackerish. Aviation Geek. Private Pilot. Weird? Eccentric! INFJ. IDIC. GenX. LLAP.	3,910
Is the UK Prime Minister now effectively a president? Since 1997 it had been argued that prime ministers have become presidential. However, in recent years, Brown and Cameron, have adopted a different leadership style which moves away from that of 'president-like' prime ministers. The key difference between a president and a prime minister was summed up by Bagehot when he described the role of a prime minister to be 'primus inter pares'. This means that traditionally the prime minister held all the power in government whilst still ensuring that all cabinet members equally influenced key decisions made. Although, that may have changed over the years. Previous Prime Minister have shown similar traits displayed by US presidents. One of those features is the growth of spatial leadership and presidential leadership style. This suggests that these leaders deliberately make themselves outsiders within government. This is so that they can become independent but also stay as part of government. This was displayed by Thatcher and Blair. Thatcher in fact criticised the government which she was the head of. Blair had his core executives, also known as the 'sofa government', which made more decisions without consulting all the cabinet members and worked with individual members, during bilateral meetings. ...read more. For example, declaring war on Iraq, which was decided by Blair as he has the prerogative power and majority seats in the Commons which greatly influenced the debate on whether or not to go to war. This reflects the presidential government, as the Commons is only used as a 'sounding board' for the prime minister to pass legislations and declarations through. In an age of 'political celebrity' the image of a prime minister dominates that of their party and senior colleagues. This is demonstrated by the fact that elections to an extent have become personalised campaigns between the PM and the leader of the Opposition. For example, many of the Labour campaign posters in 2001 and 2005 during the lead up to the general election, featured Tony Blair?s face prominently, indicating that British campaigns are starting to appear more like American elections, placing more stress on party leaders rather than party policies. However, some may argue against the idea that PM's are now effectively presidents, because there hasn?t been any permanent change in the style of leadership adopted by the prime ministers. ...read more. A final point is that prime ministers can only be as powerful as their ministerial colleagues allow them to be. Although the cabinet may not appear to be important it actually holds a significant amount of authority as it can turn against the prime minister, stopping them from making the decisions that they want. This was evident during Thatchers term when she was oust out of government by her own cabinet members because she made majority of decisions without consulting them, as a president would do. Prime ministers are stopped by their cabinet members from becoming presidential. In conclusion, although some previous prime ministers have appeared to become 'presidents', it is important to remember that the legal system of British politics has not changed. This means that the prime minister will never be able to become the head of state and head of government, as a president is. The extent to which prime ministers can act as presidents depends on variable factors such as economic situation, strength of executives dominance and political profile in the media. The future for the British political system is unknown, but it appears to steer away from a presidential government. ...read more. The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level United Kingdom section. Found what you're looking for? Start learning 29% faster today Join over 1.2 million students every month Accelerate your learning by 29% Comparison of the US President and British Prime Minister. This explains the reliance on 'logrolling' by the US President when attempting to gain support for legislation, rather than the reliance on party loyalty, which dominates British politics. The example of Reagan, a Republican, in gaining control over the federal budget through the cultivation of good relations with Tip O'Neill, The comparison of the US President and the British Prime Minister appears from the ... This explains the reliance on 'logrolling' by the US President when attempting to gain support for legislation, rather than the reliance on party loyalty, which dominates British politics. The example of Reagan, a Republican, in gaining control over the federal budget through the cultivation of good relations with Tip O'Neill, Compare and contrast the position and powers of the US president and the UK ... The Prime Minister has no such restrictions. He selects all those people he wants for his cabinet and can remove them if they fail to make the grade. He does not have to consult anybody over this though he might discuss it with an inner circle of very close colleagues. Does the UK have a Prime Ministerial government? large party support some PM's never get the chance to be powerful and all PM's are restricted nearing the end of their Premiership e.g. Brown never really had the same power Blair had and at the end faced a leadership challenged which though he survived really signalled an end to To what extent does the prime minister dominate the UK political system? and pressuring him into saying yes. Did Blair tell this to his cabinet? No. Parliament voted in favour of the war as it had the support of the Conservatives. Blair also overruled his Foreign Minister Robin Cook, deciding that the UK should supply replacement parts for jets used by Zimbabwe. The relationship between the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Next, his administration powers are important. He appoints permanent secretaries, vital in some cases to the smooth workings of the departments. Cabinet office acts for the Prime Minister to some extent as he does not actually have his own. At his disposal is a high-powered policy unit at 10 Downing To what extent has the Prime Minister become Presidential? We have begun to see a lot more of Blair with increased media appearances, such as the recent open questioning session in Newcastle over the war in Iraq. It is also of interest to note how frequently Blair appears at meetings with other international Heads of States. Tory backbench MP's rallied round their leader in a crucial confidence motion in the Commons. * Modern elections have enhanced the status of the party leader - leaders have come to embody their parties in the eyes of the electorate. of student written work Annotated by experienced teachers improve your own work Get full access now Want the latest Marked by Teachers news? Get our newsletter Plans and pricing Advertise to students © 2003 - 2021 Marked by Teachers Ltd. All Rights Reserved. We submit all our work to: TurnItIn – the anti-plagiarism experts are also used by: Want to read the rest? Sign up to view the whole essay and download the PDF for anytime access on your computer, tablet or smartphone.	7,672
‘I take him to the doctor. ‘It’s an emergency!’ I remembered someone put sliced potatoes in their child’s sock, and it helped them feel better. No runny nose, he was cured. So, I did it!’ – Love What Matters Family Health Recipes Advertise Submissions Family Health Recipes Advertise Submissions ‘I take him to the doctor. ‘It’s an emergency!’ I remembered someone put sliced potatoes in their child’s sock, and it helped them feel better. No runny nose, he was cured. So, I did it!’ ‘I take him to the doctor. ‘It’s an emergency!’ I remembered someone put sliced potatoes in their child’s sock, and it helped them feel better. No runny nose, he was cured. So, I did it!’ Published by LJ Herman: Feb 22, 2019 Updated: Apr 16, 2022 “They say you’re only as happy as your most miserable child, (or something like that), and my poor little James has been struck with a horrible cold. His eyes are red, nose all blocked up, chest rattling and he’s sounding more like Peppa Pig than James. I do the responsible thing and take him straight to the doctor where I proclaim, ‘It’s an emergency!’ as I enter the waiting room. The doctor informs me it’s just viral (you hypochondriac) so just make sure he gets plenty of fluids. So come night time, specifically 1:30 a.m., we are all miserable. There’s not much I can do except be a gunslinger and shoot saline in his nose and shoot Paracetamol and ibuprofen in his mouth. I’m rubbing his little back, holding him, feeding him… and he is looking so sad with his little cold and I feel so helpless watching him suffer. But then I remembered that I read on the internet somewhere that someone put sliced potatoes in their child’s sock, and it helped them feel better, so much so the child didn’t have any more cold symptoms. No runny nose, no chest congestion, he was cured. So, I did it!! I put sliced potatoes in James’ socks and guess what!!?? It didn’t work. But I’ll tell you what it DID do, though. It made my husband think I had lost my mind when the baby is screaming and instead of being with him, I’m in the kitchen stomping around, gathering potatoes like a farmer and trying to slice them like I’m prepping to make scalloped potatoes, like a mad woman, chanting ‘Potatoes! He needs potatoes!’ It made my baby think I was a lunatic when I’m trying to place a potato slice on his tiny kicking feet at 3 a.m. and put a sock over it at the same time without moving the potato, which annoyed him, A LOT. It made my other two kids grumpy because they’re wondering who the hell is making all this noise. And after two hours of holding my beautiful baby while he fusses and cries and sniffs, praying to the potato gods that they shine mercy upon my blessed child and cure him of his ailments, I realize I forgot to check his nappy. Turns out, he was mainly angry because he had pooped, and just needed changing. So, I changed him, and as I did, he pulled off his socks, the potatoes came flying out, and he fell asleep. The whole time he was probably thinking why won’t this lady change my damn nappy? And why the HELL has she put fooking potatoes on me like shoes?! Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure it was meant to be onions, but that’s not the point, the point is, desperate sleep deprived mothers shouldn’t be allowed on google and if you see your wife in the kitchen in the middle of the night, send her to bed and take over, otherwise you’ll have a sick child whose feet will smell like tater tots and one tired grumpy mama.” This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Laura Mazza of Mum on the Run, where it originally appeared. Submit your story here, and subscribe to our best love stories here. children, cold, cold remedy, cure all, cures, diaper, doctor, emergency, family, hypochondriac, infant, kids, laughter, love, Love What Matters, mistake, mom, mom humor, mom jokes, Mom Life, mother, motherhood, onion, Parent, parenting, potato, sick ‘That’s when he told me. This stranger, this man I’d never seen before, wanted to hold the door open for us. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to again. He shouldn’t have even been alive.’‘Wake up!’ My daughter was slumped on the couch. There was a gurgling sound coming from her throat. She stopped breathing.’: Mom believes daughter died from ‘cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity’ in energy drinks Trending Stories: ‘Are you going to keep her?’ We never thought it would happen to us. I prayed for her to be ‘normal.’: Mom details Down syndrome acceptance journey, ‘She’s changed our lives’ “We were angry. We were scared. We tried to talk ourselves into believing the test was wrong. ‘Why did you choose me to be her mother?’ I felt so inadequate to raise a child with special needs.” Published by Janai Smith - Dec 11, 2020 ‘Why would you want to date someone with a disability?’ They didn’t understand. His disability doesn’t make him less worthy of love.’: Interabled couple share unique love story “I saw a video about a man who was searching for love. He was handsome, adventurous. ‘It’s like we’ve known each other for a long time.’ His disability didn’t make him less worthy of love.” Published by Emily Richey - Feb 03, 2021 ‘Are you a boy or a girl?’ My daughter responded with the craziest look on her face. ‘I’m a girl!’ I knew she was gay.’: Mom creates ‘safe space’ for her daughter to be ‘whoever she wants’ “By the time she was 4, her tomboy phase became something different. I remember getting her ready for school. ‘Mom, I want to dress like a girl today!,’ she said. I went out to the living room and told my husband to ‘not make a big deal about what she was wearing.’ He was her protector.” Published by Eliza Murphy - Jul 02, 2019 ‘I answered, ‘Yep, everything is great!’ He jokingly asked, ‘Just one baby, right?’: Mom with 2 sets of twins shares journey with 5 kids under 4 “‘Are those happy tears or…?,’ the sonographer cautiously asked me as I sobbed upon the realization we were expecting our second set of twins.” Published by Irini Orihuela - Nov 30, 2021 ‘We are expecting twins. But, not just ANY twins. We sat together on the bed and just held each other.’: Lesbian couple pregnant with twins using an egg from each, ‘There were no words’ “Before we were even ‘out,’ the church preschool where we both worked found out about our relationship and fired us. We were told we were living a life of sin.”	6,768
On December 19th, 2004, Cologne joined the NFLE, as the Barcelona Dragons were effectively moved to the city. As Germany was solidifying itself as a hotbed of American Football, Cologne seemed like a logical choice. Along with Berlin and Frankfurt, Cologne would become the 3rd NFLE franchise based in Germany. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue introduced the franchise fittingly in front of the Roman-Germanic Museum in Cologne. Peter Vaas was introduced as head coach. A familiar face to fans, Vaas was previously head coach of the Berlin Thunder. The 2004 Centurions finished a middling 4-6. Not bad for an ‘expansion franchise’. From the Barcelona Dragons franchise from the previous season, only two players made the roster- Marco Martos, and Cedric Cotar. The team was plagued by special teams issues and turnovers throughout the season. It was obvious from the first game, in which the Centurions coughed up 16 points off of special teams mistakes to lose 26-25 against Rhein. The team finished dead last in net differential at -10. After dropping their first 3 contests, the Centurions went 4-3 down the stretch. Of all the teams, the Cologne’s attendance was underwhelming, with attendance clocking in at 8-10k, with 20k showing up to watch the Rhein fire during their late season rematch. Attendance sat at about 11,400 on average. DE Felipe Claybrooks led the league with 10 sacks, as the franchise only allowed 2,647 yards on the season (1,004 rushing and 1,643 receiving)- a clear 200 yards ahead of second place defensive unit Rhein. Unfortunately the defensive mindset of bend not break didn’t translate, as the team gave up a league high 201 points on the year. The franchise finished with 14 (8 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries), and middle of the pack on red zone defense. MLB Bobby Brooks had 2 of those interceptions to lead the team. On offense, Ryan Van Dyke finished middle of the pack, growing as a gunslinger throughout the season. He threw for 16 TDs and 2003 yards, but also threw 14 interceptions as well. His 81 yard bomb led the league. Cologne wasn’t bad in the red zone seeing 30 attempts, scoring 16 TDs and 7 FGs. Avon Cobourne finished with 570 yards rushing and 812 overall, ranking 3rd both in rushing and total yards from scrimmage. WR Carl Morris finished 5th in receiving with 530 yards on 36 catches (4 TDs), while Reggie Newhouse squeaked in at 9th with 447 yards on 39 receptions and 3 TDs, respectively. “It was a tremendously rewarding year for our organization and our city. For us, as a team, it was a frustrating year because I don’t think 4-6 is indicative of the talent we had on this team. We didn’t find a way to win. That’s the frustrating part.” Head Coach The Centurions invested heavily on defense in the free agent draft, spending most of their picks overall on both sides of the line. The franchise was rewarded with a 6-4 record and a 3rd place finish for their efforts. Disappointingly however, the attendance didn’t really see an improvement, outside of 32k showing up for their contest against nearby Rhein. This propped the numbers up artificially to 14k. The highlight of the season was definitely Cologne’s pair of wins over eventual World Bowl champion Berlin, and before a 2 game skid, while being in the mix for a World Bowl berth. Interestingly, Cologne won all its close contests, but in all 4 losses was blown out by at least 12 points. The Centurions saw improvement in key areas, but again turnovers played a key role in the franchise not taking that final step forward. In fact Cologne finished with a net differential of -16. The defense failed to create turnovers (9 total- to rank last in the league), while the offense had 25 of their own. The defense led the way and the league in total yards allowed. They also were outstanding in the red zone, allowing just 29.6% of conversions for TDs. White led the league with 7 sacks, while Bobby Brooks led the team in tackles. No Centurion finished in the top 10 in turnovers. RB Kory Chapman led the way for the Cologne offense doing it all, rushing, receiving, and returning. He finished second in combined net yards with 1,103- missing out on first place by only a few yards, while his 718 yards rushing also was second in the league. Cologne QB Kevin Thompson threw 8 TDs to 10 picks, but led the league with a 75 yard TD toss, and a respectable 1,561 yards. “I think it was a good season overall, we ended at 6-4. I really believe we should be in the World Bowl, but things happen for a reason. I came over here to accomplish something and we were the number one defense that was the main thing. Tuipala and myself led in tackles this year and it was a good thing. We did well this year.” David Duggan took over as head coach from Peter Vaas after the season. The team employed the same draft strategy as they did previously, investing heavily on the lines, but this year with a particular interest in DE. After squeaking by upstart Hamburg in the opening game of the year, the Centurions outplayed the Admirals, but missed 4 field goals and lost the next game. Turnovers doomed the franchise over the next 3 weeks, culminating in 4 consecutive losses. The team bounced back during the season though finishing with a 4-6 record, sparked primarily by Kliff Kingsbury at QB, who finished 3-3. Attendance finally saw a marked uptick, jumping up to a bit over13.5k on average for the season. The high point of the Centurions season was a 20-13 road win over eventual World Bowl contender Amsterdam, and then smashing the Thunder the following week at home 25-7. Fred Russell accounted for 522 yards rushing, while QB Shane Boyd set a league record with 339 yards rushing, and a league leading 7.2 yards per carry. Boyd split quarterback duties with Kliff Kingsbury on the season. Boyd finished 4th with 1,139 yards, throwing 5 TDs to 11 interceptions. Reggie Newhouse led the Cologne receiving corps with 23 catches for 363 yards and 2 TDs. – Notably his 80 yard TD catch was the league long. The offense remained the Achilles heel in the turnover department accounting for a whopping 21 turnovers. The defense slipped a notch to a respectable 3rd place in overall yardage allowed, and red zone defense on TDs. The franchise on a positive note finally turned the corner on net difference on turnovers. The key was the defense tying for the league lead in takeaways with 23. This allowed the team to earn a net difference of +2. Phillipe Gardent led all players in the league from his linebacker position, with 70 tackles. Bryan Save led the team from his DT position with 4.5 sacks, and Kevin Curtis had 4 picks from the S position. LB Philippe Gardent, Gabe Lindstrom P, Erik Pears G, and Bryan Save DT, all earned All-NFL Europe Honors. Gardent also tied for NFLE Defensive MVP with Tony Brown (AMS-DT). “I was impressed all year with the way our guys held together in a tough situation, and despite some close losses everyone continued to work hard and play their hearts out. To have the chance to simply get out onto the field and get reps in live action was invaluable, and I certainly value my experience in NFL Europe.” In the league’s final season, the franchise took a different approach to the draft, addressing a variety of positions. Among the most interesting selections was 5th round pick, TE Bobby Blizzard out of North Carolina. 2007 was the Centurions best year. They’d finish with a 6-4 record, as attendance held steady from its 2006 numbers at around 14,300. All things aside, it was impressive the team even made it this far, as head coach David Duggan stepped down for the week 10 contest due to health issues. Interim coach and defensive coordinator John Lyons stepped into the role for that final game. The Centurions remained in the mix for World Bowl consideration through that final week, dropping a do or die contest to the Frankfurt Galaxy, 31-14. Both the defense and the offense had studs in 2007. RB Derrick Ross led Europa in rushing with 802, and was first in yards from scrimmage with 933. He also had 4 -100 yard rushing efforts on the season, and won a share of Europa’s Offensive MVP Honors. QB Erik Meyer threw for 1,612 yards, while TE Bobby Blizzard had 37 catches for 489 yards and 6 TDs. Among receivers, Burl Tolar had 28 catches for 394 yards and a TD. On defense, the franchise allowed just 172 points, and 28 sacks on the year. Jason Hall had 11 sacks and was named Europa Defensive MVP. Clifton Smith had 3 picks, to pace a defensive unit that had 13 on the year. The Centurions were honored to have 8 players named to the All-NFLE team at the end of the final season including Kevin House (CB), Derrick Ross (RB), Bobby Blizzard (TE), Chris Reis (S), Greg Eslinger (C), Kevin Vickerson (DT), Philipe Gardent (LB) and Jason Hall (DE). The league closed up shop basically a week after the World Bowl ended and along with that the Cologne Centurions hopes of ever going to the World Bowl. “The time is right to re-focus the NFL’s strategy on initiatives with global impact, including worldwide media coverage of our sport and the staging of live regular-season NFL games,” Senior vice president of NFL International Japanese QB Kentaro Namiki made NFLE history in 2004 becoming the first national QB to complete a pass on his first play of the game, hitting Werner Hippler for a 3 yard gain during the final contest of the year. LB Philippe Gardent was the first national to lead NFLE in any statistical category. He’d also be the first named to the NFLE All World team, and be named as a defensive MVP. Of all the European franchises since the inception of the WLAF in 1991, Cologne would be the only team not to win a World Bowl. Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years. AAF Recent Posts Categories Select Category AAF AAFL AFL Arena CFL College Football HoF FXFL Heisman Trophy Winner IFL MLFB NFL NFLE Pro Football HoF Super Bowl MVP The Spring League ufl Uncategorized University of Texas usfl wfl WIFL WLAF XFL	10,610
Frequency is the measure of the number of wavelengths produced per second. Certain animals, natural occasions, and man-made events can produce infrasound. Infrasound waves could cause bodily signs in individuals, but it has been hard to show. Some animals can sense and warn against pure disasters by detecting infrasound, and man-made devices might be able to do the identical. Currently, infrasound detectors are monitoring nuclear weapon use all through the world. Infrasound, sometimes known as low-frequency sound, describes sound waves with a frequency below the decrease restrict of audibility (generally 20 Hz). The ear is the first organ for sensing low sound, but at higher intensities it’s possible to really feel infrasound vibrations in various components of the physique. The human ears are able to hearing sounds with frequencies as low as 20 Hz all the best way up to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). However, this range decreases with age, … Read More New York State Education Department New York State Education Department October 31, 2020 miya Find out extra about our doctoral and masters programmes, and our postgraduate certificate in Education now. From improvements in educating, studying, and analysis, to tales about our members’ achievements and their coverage in mainstream and specialist media, uncover all our latest activities on our information pages. The T2P strategy addresses the attitudes and values which affect the actions and behaviour of all function gamers within the province’s education system. The State of New York does not imply approval of the listed destinations, warrant the accuracy of any data set out in these locations, or endorse any opinions expressed therein. External web sites function on the course of their respective owners who must be contacted directly with questions regarding the content material of those sites. For the earlier incarnation with the identical name, established in 1867, see Office of Education. Get all the information you need to apply for or manage … Read More October 29, 2020 miya Capella’s model was mentioned in the Early Middle Ages by various nameless 9th-century commentators and Copernicus mentions him as an influence on his own work. A hypothetical geocentric mannequin of the Solar System (upper panel) compared to the heliocentric model (lower panel). These changes could be explained by the varying charges at which the celestial our bodies revolved around the Earth. However, the planets (which obtained their name from the Greek word planetes, meaning wanderer and topic of error), behaved in ways in which had been tough to explain. But even if Mercury is in the battle Zone it doesn’t necessarily mean that the thoughts might be extra materialistic, quite it signifies that there will be instances of determination usually precipitated by internal battle. Today, I wished to speak about the history of the heliocentric model. After all, Copernicus’ most notable accomplishment might be his proposed heliocentric, … Read More October 29, 2020 miya The choice of estrogen preparation recommended by the doctor depends on the women’s signs. For instance, vaginal lotions, vaginal tablets, and vaginal rings are used for vaginal dryness, whereas pills or patches are used to ease sizzling flashes. Menopause is the stage in a lady’s life when menstruation stops and she will now not bear kids. During menopause, the body produces much less of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Aftermenopause, the lower hormone levels cause the month-to-month menstrual durations to stop and progressively get rid of the likelihood ofbecoming pregnant. These fluctuations in hormone levels also can cause troublesome signs, corresponding to scorching flashes (a sudden sensation of warmth, typically related to flushing, and often adopted bysweating) and sleep disturbance. Sometimes girls expertise different signs, such as vaginal dryness and temper changes. Doctors often prescribe hormone remedy (HT) as a mix of estrogen and one other feminine hormone, progesterone. … Read More October 29, 2020 miya The geocentric mannequin was in keeping with planetary parallax and was assumed to be the explanation why no stellar parallax was observed. The geocentric model, in keeping with planetary parallax, was assumed to be a proof for the unobservability of the parallel phenomenon, stellar parallax. This illusion caused ancients to falsely consider in a geocentric universe rather than the currently accepted heliocentric view. The e-book provides us a new astronomy although it retains a geocentric framework inside which all motions are round and uniform. celestial sphere, contained the stars and, at a distance of 20,000 times Earth’s radius, fashioned the restrict of Ptolemy’s universe. The key advantage of utilizing every office as a pool for every different one is that it allows you to use all of your talent the place it’s most needed. This web page provides a unique way of wanting at the solar system. It is geocentric … Read More	5,122
BRUSSELS — After months of acrimony, Greece finally clinched a bailout agreement with its European creditors on Monday that will, if implemented, secure the country’s place in the euro and avoid financial collapse. The terms of the deal, however, will be painful both for Greeks and their radical left-led government, which since its election in January had vowed to stand up to the creditors and reject the budget cuts they have been demanding. Before it can get 85 billion euros ($95.07 billion) in bailout cash and support for its banks to reopen, the Greek government will have to pass a raft of austerity measures that include sales tax increases, reforms to pensions, and labour market reforms. Greece will be on a tight timetable to implement its reforms — a reflection of how little its creditors trust the government to honour a deal. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras infuriated his European partners last month when he called for a popular vote against economic reforms the creditors has proposed. The Greek people voted against those proposals, but will be horrified to see that they now face even tougher measures. Both sides acknowledged the bitterness that marked their negotiations and kept them negotiating nine hours past a Sunday midnight deadline. “Trust needs to be rebuilt,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, adding that with the deal, “Greece has a chance to return to the path of growth.” In a first step toward getting its bailout loans, the Greek government has to pass a set of measures into law by Wednesday. Measures include an increase in the sales tax and reform of the pension system. In later weeks, Greece will have to open to competition industries that have long been protected, such as the energy sector. Labor laws will be made more flexible. If it meets these requirements, Greece will get a three-year rescue program and a commitment to restructure its debt, which is unsustainably high at around 320 billion euros, or around 180 per cent of annual GDP. Tsipras argues that because of these concessions Monday’s deal is, despite the tough austerity, actually better for Greece than the proposals Greeks voted down just a week ago. “`We managed to avoid the most extreme measures,” Tsipras said. “Greece will fight to return to growth and to reclaim its lost sovereignty.” He said he had managed to avoid a demand by some creditors to transfer Greek assets abroad as a form of collateral and to avoid the collapse of the banking sector. Greeks seemed mainly relieved that the country was not facing financial collapse. Kostas Lambos, a pensioner, said things would be “difficult in the beginning” but people had to understand the severity of the situation. “This was a necessary step for the country to emerge from the dead ends that had been created in the last few years,” he said. Greece’s banks, which have been shut for two weeks, were still closed on Monday and limits remained on cash withdrawals. Without a deal, they faced the prospect of collapse within days as they are steadily drained of money. When the banks will be able to reopen will depend on whether the European Central Bank decides to increase emergency credit to Greek banks now that a bailout deal with Greece has been clinched in principle. It was unclear whether the ECB would make such a decision on Monday or after Greece passes its first batch of reforms. French President Francois Hollande said the Greek parliament would convene within hours to adopt the reforms called for in the plan and he celebrated Greece’s continued membership in the euro. Losing Greece, he said, would have been akin to losing “the heart of our civilization.” Other European officials were less emotive. “The Greeks have to show they’re credible, show that they mean it,” said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers and a longtime critic of the Tsipras government. The creditors said they would help Greece in the short term deal with its debt repayments since any bailout agreement was not imminent. Greece will need help making a 4.2 billion euro debt repayment on July 20. It is also in arrears on about 1.5 billion euros owed to the International Monetary Fund since June 30. If the talks had failed, Greece could have faced bankruptcy and a possible exit from the euro, the European single currency that the country has been a part of since 2002. No country has ever left the joint currency, which launched in 1999, and there is no mechanism in place for one to do so. Greece had requested a three-year, 53.5 billion-euro ($59.5 billion) financial package, but that number grew larger by tens of billions as the negotiations dragged on and the leaders calculated how much Greece will need to stay solvent. Greece has received two previous bailouts, totalling 240 billion euros ($268 billion), in return for deep spending cuts, tax increases and reforms from successive governments. Although the country’s annual budget deficit has come down dramatically, Greece’s debt burden has increased as the economy has shrunk by a quarter. Menelaos Hadjicostis and John-Thor Dahlburg in Brussels and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, contributed to this story. Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis. Yes, I would like to receive the Maclean's newsletter. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.* * © Copyright 2022 St. Joseph Communications. St. Joseph Communications uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies.	5,891
September 8, 2022 \| The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Review Conference concluded on August 26 without consensus on a final document. Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, expressed lament at the failure of international agreement upon the conclusion of the conference. “At the beginning of the recently concluded Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, Pope Francis delivered his message to the distinguished delegates imploring them to ‘move with determination from a perspective of competition to one of cooperation,’ reminding all that ‘international peace and stability cannot be based on a false sense of security, on the threat of mutual destruction or total annihilation…’ “Article VI of the NPT commits states-parties to ‘pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.’ We lament the failure of the states-parties after four long weeks of negotiation to reach consensus on a final document. We advocate for the acceleration and strengthening of the implementation of the NPT and call on all states-parties to recommit to dialogue and demonstrate progress toward the elimination of nuclear weapons everywhere. “No corner of our world is untouched by growing hostilities and war. Compounded by asymmetrical warfare, cyber technologies, and the intertwined nature of our world we are one miscalculation away from catastrophe. Fundamentally it is the enmity found in the human heart that is at the root of such conflict and hostility to which the Church proclaims Christ Jesus as the remedy to humankind. We pray that all nations will work to foster trust over suspicion and to bring about immediate and measurable progress towards disarmament and lasting peace.” Live your best Catholic life! Sign up for our free e-newsletter, the Wednesday Wave, to receive a summary of the most important stories of the week. It’s free and your satisfaction is guaranteed. You can unsubscribe at any time. (But we hope you won’t) Gulf Coast Catholic was created by the Diocese of St. Petersburg to serve Tampa Bay, the Suncoast and the Nature Coast. We share positive and relevant articles that help you live your best Catholic life. Bishop Gregory Parkes is the publisher and Teresa Peterson is the Content Manager. You can reach us at communicate@dosp.org. This ministry is supported through gifts to the Catholic Ministry Appeal. Links Diocese of St. Petersburg Find a Parish Find a School Events Diocese of St. Petersburg \| 6363 9th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 Copyright © D9 Subscribe to our newsletter! Fill out the form below to receive weekly updates from the Diocese of St. Petersburg.	2,906
Success is a huge topic for female founders. Not least because by society’s standards, the definition of success has evolved hugely over the years. I was invited to speak live on LinkedIn by the founder of The Women’s Chapter, Michelle Pughe-Parry de Klerk, to share my views as a serial entrepreneur, investor and business growth expert on how we can help more female founders to succeed. The Rose Review found that in the last year, there were 140,000 new female-founded businesses started in the UK. The report also highlights the untapped potential in the UK economy being worth 2.5 billion pounds. If we gave women more support around access to funding and being recognised, many more of those businesses would succeed. Let’s look at what we could be doing to help female founders unlock the potential they have. What success means for female founders My LinkedIn post about how I was way more “successful” in my 30s running 7 figure businesses resonated with a lot of people. Back then, I had a co-founder, and we were having a great time and we were making quite a lot of money. When I look back and compare my activities as a founder 15 years ago to today, my business now is much smaller. But does that make me less successful? I run a boutique consultancy business working with clients I love and helping them achieve significant growth for their business. For my wellbeing and that of my family, I’m consciously guarded about how much client work I do, how many clients I take on, and the kind of clients I work with. In terms of revenue, I’m not making the kind of money I have made in the past. What I do have though, is more time with my four children, a business that has survived the pandemic, and enough space to overcome mental and physical health struggles. Success to me is seeing my clients happy, getting them fantastic results, receiving wonderful testimonials, my clients returning and referring other clients to me. We are led to believe money is the be-all and end-all but it is not the only barometer of success. People love to identify success by business size, turnover, and revenue – whilst these are all important, there are other measures of success too. What the last few years have made me realise is that without your health, you have nothing. For me, that comes from not overdoing it, not pushing myself, ring-fencing personal and family time, and setting boundaries with clients – all easier said than done. I’ve often found that female founders, like me, have additional responsibilities such as running a household. Being mindful of that, giving myself grace, and making sure that I look after myself helps. Access to funding for female entrepreneurs My first experience of securing funding as a female founder was fairly straightforward. Back in 2005, I went on Dragon’s Den to raise funding and won without a huge amount of preparation. I was lucky as I know it’s not like that for all the other female founders I speak with and I’ve seen first-hand the bias that exists against women in business. The statistics show that male-owned businesses are still receiving seven times the amount of funding as female-owned businesses. Often you’re pitching to a board of middle-aged white men and it can be rare to see diversity. I’ve noticed that women who have had children in particular can feel like they have something to prove. I for one didn’t take proper maternity leave because I wanted to prove I could run a business and have a baby and do both well! How to support female founders In our conversation, Michelle and I discussed 5 key ways to support female founders to succeed. 1. Invest in female founders If it’s within your means, investing in female founders is a great way to support them. Even small amounts can make a big difference to early-stage businesses. I invest in female founders because I’m passionate about helping them to succeed, I find it fulfilling and I enjoy the dynamic. I choose who I invest with based on their mission, vision and if I genuinely believe in what they can achieve. Separately, if I see other business women investing that is a big draw for me to consider. 2. Take an inclusive approach A more inclusive approach to success in the entrepreneurial space is long overdue. Many businesses get left behind because they’re not ‘scaling’ or they have a ‘lifestyle’ business. There is nothing wrong with becoming a founder to have more control over your time. Flexibility around family care is the number one reason to start a business for women with children. Being at your kid’s sports days, bake sales and nativity plays is a great reason to start a business and makes someone no less successful than founders who want to exit in five years with a multimillion-pound payoff. As founder of The Women’s Chapter, Michelle Pughe-Parry de Klerkr, said “there’s plenty of space within our economy for all of those businesses, and every single one of them makes a meaningful contribution”. 3. Network in women-led business spaces One challenge for female founders in the early stages is being seen, heard, and discovered when they don’t necessarily have a large marketing budget or a massive community behind them yet. Networking groups like Female Founders Rise and The Women’s Chapter are a great way for fellow female founders to stand in support of each other. What I love most about networking is connecting with others and supporting them on their journey (hence why I have set up Female Founders Rise). There are many benefits to business networking. We can all offer our honest feedback, advice, guidance, support, and connections. When buying products and services use your money to support female-founded brands. There are a plethora of brilliant businesses out there led by women. Something I want to do as part of Female Founders Rise is to showcase amazing businesses created by female founders. 5. Amplify business women’s voices It is important to continue advocating for ourselves and other women in business to bridge the gender gap. Champion women where you can – whether that’s in the boardroom, in a networking meeting, on social media. Michelle perfectly summarised our conversation on how to help more female founders to succeed. She said, “we can’t be what we can’t see. We all have a responsibility to help share stories and shine a light on these incredible women that are doing brave things every day”. Watch my full conversation with Michelle here: W.TALKS: How we can help more female founders to succeed Emmie works with service-based businesses looking to scale and grow by providing one-to-one consultancy and a strategic growth plan. You can also complete the FREE Ultimate Growth Audit to receive valuable insights on scaling your business. Find out more about how Emmie can help you and connect with her on LinkedIn. Find out how I can help you grow your business. Growth Strategist and Trusted Advisor PRIVACY & COOKIE POLICY \| TERMS & CONDITIONS \| B CORP \| © 2020 Emmie Faust Ltd \| Designed by az.design This website uses cookies to give you the best experience. 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. 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.	8,466
With one challenge sorted, and a few more on the way, we have decided to take a little moment, and make a game - we aren't called the Games Creators Club (GCC) for nothing! With only weeks left, we should have been focusing on the other autonomous challenges, and other challenges that we are far from completing, but instead, we made this: Click on above image to try out virtual PiNoon with our rovers!! Keys are: 'ASDW' for movement and 'Q' and 'E' for rotation of the green rover 'JKLI' for movement and 'U' and 'O' for rotation of the blue rover Space is to start Since all rover parts are 3D printed we could just use the 3d model files that we used, and directly add them to the game. With a bit of scaling, and positioning, we could easily implement the whole rover! The GCC Virtual Rover is made using Java and the LibGDX framework giving us immediate access to many different platforms including desktop (Windows, Linux and OSX applications), Android (soon to come to the Play store near you), iOS and HTML5 (as seen above). Also, due to circumstances, we are involved in the Raspberry Pi 'fork' of LibGDX as well - so expect the above game to work on RPi at full speed as well, even on a PiZero!) The HTML5 is delivered (by LibGDX) using GWT - which is Java compiled to JavaScript. The game itself (through LibGDX) is made in Open GLES which, in a sense, is compatible with WebGL. We have tried game on Firefox and Chrome on Mac, and Chrome and Edge (shudder) on Windows, but it should really work on all modern browsers. An earlier version of the game, still with graphical glitches! The game's source is in the github, but, please, be gentle as game is made in virtually no time and quality of code wasn't the primary concern. Many shortcuts were made, and it hasn't been optimised fully. If you would like to see your robot in the game - get in contact and get a 3d obj file of it ready. Separate wheel/track objects are preferable so it can be animated. So far game is just simple and full of short-cuts, but idea is that in some parallel universe where we have enough time for all the hobbies and interesting stuff we add Python interpreter() and deploy Pyros to virtual rover. For it we'll just need to implement virtual hardware sensors and up the game with real physics simulation... Idea is that using mentioned Python interpreter we'll be able to execute all Pyros code and stub out all libraries Pyros needs for PiWar in the similar way as they are stubbed out for PyGame (look below). Next step would be to create whole 'world' (probably a world per challenge) and implement physics for it (gravity, momentums of objects, traction/resistance of different surfaces, collisions and such). Beside that we would need to implement virtual sensors (i2c gyro/accel/compass and VL53l0X distance sensors, ultrasonic distance sensor, etc) with all their imperfections. Actually we would need to simulate the world and feed back that simulation through virtual sensors. And last but still important stub and 'bridge' MQTT from that virtual environment to the real MQTT so all our command and client programs can still work with virtual rover. Given that LibGDX can be deployed anywhere including web browser that could become quite a powerful platform for 'research' and for places like our Club. Disclaimer: this is work in progress. Do come back - it will get better. Unfortunately most of the free time we envisage we'll be able to put in the game will come somewhere in week after 22nd April. Wonder why then... () Python interpreter is simple implementation of a Python interpreter we made for our club so we can deliver PyGame games written on the club on the web. Have a look here:	3,768
It’s almost Friday and I’m so ready for the weekend!!!! Y’all know I don’t come alive until the weekend. But anyways, today I want to talk about music. I’m going to share with you my Top favorite albums and reviews on some recent albums. So matter what year it is,these three albums will always be my TOP listens. I STAND for Beyonce, and I’m still a Destiny’s Child fan. I STAND for Monica, no matter what her music keeps it real. And baby, I LIVE for Tamia’s music. So my TOP favorite album is none other than Writings on the Wall… YES! Destiny’s Child…I still listen to that CD on a weekly basis. My favorite song from the album has to be Temptation. “I know you see me watching you and I see you watching me. Cause boy your bodies calling me, Temptation is killing me” If the original Destiny’s Child girls ever come back together and preform Temptation, Sweet Sixteen, Jumpin’ Jumpin’ and Bills Bills Bills, my WHOLE life would be complete. My 2nd all time favorite is Miss Thang by Monica. I was like 4 when them album came out, but when I got a little older and got my hands on this CD. BABY! As a teenager with a boyfriend that had a car, With You was my favorite Jam. I mean riding around town, wasting gas with my boo and making him listen to a Monica album. LOL “I like kickin’ it with you, Me and you getting’ it on.” So old school and I love it. My 3rd is Tamia’s 2015 self titled album. I saw her in concert preform these songs and I was in complete heaven. Day One will be played at my wedding. Hands Down my favorite Tamia song. But, Stuck with me is a catchy song that gets stuck in my head all the time. Now Slay-Dele, waiting until I had gotten all of my emotion under control and decided to drop a self titled album. I mean, my god! You can play that album all day. I promise you the month of January that’s all I played in my car. The single for the album “Hello” sets the tone. I mean each song give you more and more life. But my favorite has to be the most emotional song off the album, of course. But “All I ask” … baby when I’m riding alone in my car and play that song- Oh! I just know I can sing. I mean the people passing me in my car probably look at me so crazy. I was late on purchasing this album, but y’all know I had to get my auntie Monica’s album “CODE RED”. First and foremost, her daughter is sooooo precision on the album. And of course she gives me real R&B and Soul. My favorite song has to be “Anchor”. Now y’all know August is my boo. I mean that young man…. NO WORDS! “This Thing Called Life” first off I was pissed when I found out is album was leaked. I mean don’t be giving these low budget folkz good free music. They need y’all to go out and buy it…. Support Us (Yes, I said US, Me and August … LOL). But his album sales still did okay- but could have been better. I can tell he really worked hard on this one. I was just a little disappointed I didn’t get another “Kissing on my Tattoos” type song but I guess “No Love” can hold me over until he puts the next one out. I have a few favorites from this album: Song Cry, Hip Hop and Hollywood. Lastly, Rih-Rih did it again. She made y’all wait, I mean she kept making y’all wait and wait. And then was like okay- here y’all go. Now let’s be clear. I like Rihanna music, but I wouldn’t say I stand for her. Like she’s coming into town for a concert and I have been debating about purchasing a ticket. I mean her music is good. I like the good girl Rihanna, but finally this good girl gone bad Rihanna is growing on me. And I love ANTI. But I don’t think I want to see her P-Pop on stage for two hours. But back to her album ANTI, gives me life. First, y’all know I’m emo so Love on the Brain, does it for me. I don’t think I have a favorite yet. I still enjoy listening to the album on shuffle and learning all the songs. I mean Work is most played but that’s the single so everyone loves that song. Well, I’m about to shuffle my Music Library and get ready for work tomorrow. Be sure to Like, comment and subscribe. See Friday !!!! Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Related Previous Passion Advising: Invest in Yourself Next Dolled up for a Cause March 17, 2016 at 5:55 AM This post is A1, the songs you’ve mentioned are AMAZING and thanks to you, I’ve found some new favourites! Can’t wait for some more posts of yours x	4,774
This blog continues the discussion that we began with Epic Journey: The 2008 Elections and American Politics (Rowman and Littlefield, 2009).The latest book in this series is Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics. New book about the 2020 election. Thursday, January 9, 2020 College America, Warren, and Mayor Pete In Defying the Odds, we discuss the demographics of the 2016 campaign. College education has emerged as a major dividing line in American politics. Timothy P. Carney at The Washington Examiner: Warren has always relied heavily on the Connected Class. That includes doctors and lawyers, but, in general, it's the larger class of college-educated white people. This may, in fact, have been the biggest chunk of her support. At her Iowa peak, when Warren was leading the field in mid-October, she was getting about 33% of all college graduates according to an Iowa State University poll, while Buttigieg was pulling in about 19%. Now, Buttigieg is winning the college-educated vote 26% to 24%, according to the Iowa State University poll in December. If you were to screen out those with graduate degrees, and look at those whose highest degree was a bachelor’s (which is about a quarter of the Democratic electorate), we’ve swung from a 14-point Warren lead in October to a 5-point Buttigieg lead at the New Year.	1,379
A strange Yom Kippur story was told by Rabbi Ishmael, a High Priest of the 2nd Temple: Once, I entered before and within (the Holy of Holies) to offer the incense and I saw Akatriel Yah, the Lord of Hosts, sitting on … Continue reading → Posted in Blessing, Days of Awe, Holidays, Poetry, Talmud \| Leave a comment Posted on September 9, 2014 by Sicha, Continuing the Conversation Rabbi Eliezer asks: From where do we learn that the world was created in Tishrei? From the verse: God said, let the earth sprout grasses, seed bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth bearing fruit with the seed … Continue reading →	651
With unexpected defeat of the federal hate crimes bill last December, Christian America was given a second chance. The Anti-Defamation League, architect of hate and bias crime legislation worldwide, lamented that their Plan A, the federal hate bill, would have to “languish” for another year until the new Congress. ADL had hoped to suddenly trap America, as they did Canada, in the grip of a federal hate crimes law from which there would be little chance of escape. (Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate Laws: Making Criminals of Christians). Instead they are forced to go ahead with Plan B on the local level. This contingency was prepared for by ADL-assisted passage of 45 state hate laws, pro-homosexual legislation, and ADL-inspired workplace bias laws. Yet Plan B involves a much less desirable “piecemeal” attempt to end free speech. It allows victims a relatively large amount of time and freedom to become alarmed, protest, and possibly escape. Under Plan B, ADL and their countless lackeys in the legislative, court and law enforcement systems may have to take a step back for every two steps forward. It appears (especially in California this past year) that Big Brother is onrushing with locomotive-like momentum. Actually, we are not losing freedom as fast as we would have if the federal hate bill passed last fall – as it very nearly did. (See, Unsung Heroes of Hate Bill Defeat) Obstacles to ADL in California Plan B’s bumpy road to conquest is illustrated in California. Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law S.B.777, making it a hate violation to criticize homosexuality in California public education. Hundreds of thousands of Christians responded by threatening to take their children out of the public schools and homeschool them. But the Appeals Court of Judge H. Walt Croskey scotched that idea. He ruled that parents who homeschool their children without a teacher’s certificate will become criminals, enemies of the state. Aghast, Christians submerged this blatantly anti-Christian court with protest. Unable to credibly override such magnitude of objection, his court vacated their decree, inviting further comment on the controversy. Also, the California Supreme Court (encouraged perhaps by an extensive and persuasive amicus brief ADL was invited to submit) proclaimed it unconstitutional to deprive homosexual couples of full legal and financial benefits of marriage. (See, Did ADL Influence California 'Gay Marriage' Ruling?) Again, a tsunami of protest in the form of petition signatures from 1.1 million angry citizens caused the Supreme Court to acquiesce to demands that this issue be presented by referendum to the voters. (See, Counties to Supreme Court on 'gay' marriage: Drop dead) Further threatening the Supreme Court ruling, several California counties are considering proposals to defy any enforcement of same sex marriage. Protesters allege, "Only the legislature, or the people through the initiative process, can make new laws in our state." Such delays give Christians and lovers of freedom in California a precious opportunity to mobilize and educate against pro-homosexual and hate crimes laws. ADL faces another dilemma, one Christians/conservatives can use to their advantage. International Jewish anti-Christianity is straining to meet a timetable for world dominance. Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, in his 1962 prophecy in Look magazine (Jan. 16), said that well before the end of the 20th century the whole world would be federated under the legal dominion of "the supreme court of mankind" in Jerusalem. ADL hoped to accomplish that largely by bringing America into hate crimes agreement with Canada and Europe in 1998. But they failed to pass their Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998 and began a losing streak that has lasted to the present. Now, ten years later, passage of their cherished hate bill remains in doubt in the next Congress. This is largely due to an exponential increase of awareness among Christians of the danger to freedom posed by hate laws. ADL’s timetable is further threatened by rapidly proliferating education on the internet concerning the Zionist/Talmudic conspiracy. This awakening compels ADL to hurriedly establish even more restrictions on free speech. If online anti-Zionist education proliferates unrestrained, Jewish activism could ultimately face so much public anger and derision that their agenda for world control would have to be postponed. ADL must thus fast forward the destruction of Christian values very boldly, almost recklessly, despite the risk of backlash. Again, Christian and conservative freedom-lovers can exploit this opportunity. Evil under pressure often becomes foolhardy, demanding too much too fast. I believe this is happening as ADL-educated jurists, lawmakers, and officials come after Christians in a way that even complacent evangelicals, confident of impending "rapture," find frightening. Pressure on ADL is also intensified by the extremely vocal criticism of hate laws constantly coming from an official internet voice of mainstream Christian/conservatism, World Net Daily. WND faithfully reports any hate law abuse of Christian rights to a concerned audience of 7 million. Christians have reason to be worried: an alarming trend has developed in little more than a year to detain, limit, or arrest Christian leaders and activists in America. ADL and those it inspires are trampling a lot of evangelical toes, eliciting painful but very healthy shrieks of protest. Here are some examples: In St. Petersburg , Florida , five Christians, including two pastors, were arrested for the "speech crime" of wearing signs protesting homosexuality during a "gay pride" event. (See, Trial set for pastors with signs wider than torsos Michael Marcavage (head of the "Philly 11" Christians arrested in 2004 for the "hate crime" of witnessing to homosexuals) was recently arrested for criticizing abortion without a "verbal permit." He would not limit his exortations to a designated "free speech zone," witnessing on a public sidewalk near the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Convicted, he was fined $400 and put on probation, requiring that for a year he not go to Independence National Historical Park or its surrounding sidewalks. (See, Man preaches Jesus at Liberty Bell. Guess what happens?) In Florida , two Gideons were arrested for handing out Bibles on a public sidewalk near a high school. The Gideons were placed in a patrol car and mocked by a policeman. The case was overturned by a federal court. (See, Judge blasts state ban on distributing Bibles to students) An aspiring Christian politician, Jason Werner, was arrested and handcuffed for street preaching on a public sidewalk in Cleveland, Ohio . (See, Go preaching, get arrested!) In Fredericksburg, Virginia, a pastor, member of the city council, has been forbidden to pray in Jesus' name. If he does, he will be arrested for "disorderly conduct." (See, Court challenged to allow Christians right to pray, too) Last December, just after defeat of the federal hate bill, I appeared on Janet Folger’s syndicated talk show. She exclaimed over the unexpected victory, “This was not supposed to happen!” (Hear the show!) Indeed, just a short time before, it seemed ADL had at last succeeded in making America a hate crimes bureaucracy like Canada. But God is full of surprises for those who humble themselves before Him. A miracle happened by Divine providence, a miracle we must carefully preserve. How can we? It is vital that every Christian/conservative know the truth concerning liberal Jewish activism’s central role in fomenting anti-Christianity in America and all hate and bias legislation worldwide. Such awareness would exert unprecedented pressure on Jewish activists to pull back. But, short term, we see in California the effect of massive public protest to delay and possibly overturn aggressive acts of legislative and judicial tyranny. Other nations, not educated against hate laws, did not realize the danger they were in. As a result, at the crucial moment when they could have saved free speech, they lost it. ADL, forced to proceed with their problematic Plan B, is now providing Christian America a very rare, heaven-sent opportunity to avoid the same mistake. Let’s roll! Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative watchdog organization. Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp. Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at www.truthtellers.org for $24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below. Flag carried by the 3rd Maryland Regiment at the Battle of Cowpens, S. Carolina, 1781 © America First Books America First Books offers many viewpoints that are not necessarily its own in order to provide additional perspectives.	9,414
Are you looking for petite evening gowns? Do you have a formal event coming up? Dressing for a special occasion can be stressful for any woman, even more so for the petite woman. You know what I mean? Getting an invitation to a formal event, wedding or otherwise, is exciting but comes with a little ping of stress when you realize you have to find something to wear. You don’t get invited to a formal event every day. So, of course you want to present your best style when you have the chance to go to one. Long evening gowns for petite women? It may sound daunting to you at first. That is totally understandable. If you ever wonder how you can pull off a formal petite long dress, just look at the short actresses on the red carpet. Knowledge is power so even if you don’t have a formal event to attend in the next few weeks, I wanted to breakdown some tips to consider on how to choose the right evening gown so you’re fully prepared anytime the occasion arises. You can watch this video on my Youtube channel, but I suggest you also read this full article for the full details. Before we get into choosing the best evening gowns for petite women, let’s chat about when you should be wearing this type of dress. I don’t have to tell you that not all dresses are created equally which also means that not every dress can be worn to any occasion. I’m a big believer that dresses should be a go-to wardrobe staple for petite women. As a petite woman myself I can attest to how great dresses are when dressing a shorter frame. But let’s get back to evening gowns for today. You will need to wear an evening gown anytime you get an invite to a formal occasion. More specifically, if any event’s dress code calls for white tie or black tie, then wearing an evening gown is an obvious choice. There’s a lot of grey area around dress codes, but compared with others, those are still the two dress codes that are the strictest. White tie is the most formal dress code of all, so wearing an evening gown is the norm. With black tie, there could be more choices when it comes to what the women should wear, but still, when in doubt, you cannot go wrong with a formal long dress. Other dress codes like cocktail and black tie optional are formal events, but you don’t have to wear an evening gown to these events, you can opt for a petite size cocktail dress instead. If you are looking for something to wear to a wedding in particular, then read our post on “Best Wedding Guest Dresses for Short Women“, in which we talk in detail about what is appropriate to wear for each type of wedding dress code. As a general matter, long dresses for short women can be tricky because of their length. This is where a lot of petite women stress when it comes to shopping for a petite evening gown. Most of us have all heard that we should avoid long dresses because of our height, however that’s not the case! Yes you heard that correctly petite women can most certainly wear long gowns – and do it with pride and style. That being said you will want to be sure the long petite formal dress you choose doesn’t overwhelm your shape. Since petite women come in different sizes and shapes, the best way to find your best style is to dress for your own body type. If you do not already know what type you are, our “petite body type quiz” will help you. Because of our different body shapes, we have different assets of our bodies that we want to emphasize. If you happen to be a lucky hourglass shape, then congratulations! Almost any petite size gown should look good on you. For the rest of us, well, most of us might have areas of our body that we do not want people to notice too much. For instance, many pear shaped women prefer to de-emphasize their wider bottom and thigh area. Therefore, a modest A line shape evening dress will be great to achieve that. The common goal that petite women all want to achieve, is to make our legs look longer and proportion look better. For that purpose, in general, I suggest short girls to stay away from ball gown and tent silhouettes. Both of those shapes are often just too much for a petite woman. Instead, opt for a well fitted petite evening dress that outlines the shape of your body and highlights your waistline to elongate your shape. Shop in the Petite Department In addition to the overall silhouette of the evening gown, I suggest shopping from the petite brands. Even though the length of dresses can easily be adjusted, when it comes to evening gowns it’s best to stick to a petite size evening dress. The sleeves, torso, etc. will fit you much better when you shop petite specific fits. Not to mention, when you get a evening gown made for short women, you may end up being able to avoid the need for alterations. Let’s face it – that’s a HUGE bonus! The best designers that specialize in formal gowns are Tadashi Shoji and Adrianna Papell, and it is absolutely wonderful news that they both have petite sizes! Besides, our recommended shops are Nordstrom, Macy’s. If you are looking for something that won’t break your bank account, then consider ASOS as well. Look for the Details in Formal Gowns that Elongate Short Women Not all gowns are created equally. If you pay attention, you will notice certain details of formal long dresses make petite women look taller and proportion look better. Go with those design and you will not have to worry about being overwhelmed by the length of the long dresses. Some of the most flattering details include: Side slit- this asymmetrical dress design breaks the full coverage of the dress, and is incredibly flattering to short women. If you always want your legs to look longer, you must try the gowns with side slit, like the one worn by Emma Roberts- can you tell she is 5’2″? In terms of neck designs, deep V neck and off the shoulder are the universally flattering for petite women. The reason is most petite girls have shorter neck, which is perfectly balanced out by the deep V shape. Meanwhile, off the shoulder is the most complimentary to most face shapes. If you happen to be petite pear shape, then off the shoulder is heaven-sent. The horizontal line totally balance out the wider hips and thigh areas of pear shape women and make them less noticeable. Scarlett Johanseen is wearing all three most flattering elements for short women in this picture below! Accordingly Wearing a petite evening dress calls for paying a little extra attention to the shoes that you wear to compliment the gown. You won’t want to wear your average heels or shoes for this kind of occasion. Keep in mind the fact that anytime you are going to need to wear a formal petite evening dress it’s because you are attending a formal event. And you know how the saying goes…shoes can make OR break an outfit. Since you are a petite woman you will want to opt for a high heel to compliment your petite evening gown. Even when you wear a gown that compliments your petite frame, the bit of added height we get from high heels gives us an elongated affect to further enhance our shape in the dress. See how these nude heels perfectly match the nude gown of Emma Roberts? That is the effect every short woman should strive to achieve. Because you’re going to be wearing high heels with your formal dress, you want to avoid choosing any shoes that weigh you down. Shoes that can give you that ‘weighed down’ type of effect are shoes that look heavy. In other words if a shoe has a very chunky heel or looks like a larger shoe. Another attribute that can give you that weighed down look is if you wear a high heel that’s in a very dark color with a dress in a light color. The reason this weighs you down, as a petite woman, is because it brings a lot of the focus to your shoes which then draws the attention down. Makes sense, right? Instead, choose shoes that flow with your long petite evening dress – complimenting the color is key! Accessories are essential to completing the formal dress look for short girls. Much like shoes, they can make or break your outfit. Women often slip into making one of two mistakes when it comes to accessorizing your evening gown. One is not accessorizing enough, if at all. This is an obvious style slip up. The second category many women make is over accessorizing their outfits. You want to find a happy place between the two to achieve the best accessorized look. To give you a bit more clarification try to avoid wearing too many statement accessories together. I suggest choosing one statement piece and keep the rest of your accessories on the minimal side. For example, if you are wearing a petite evening gown with a high neckline a statement earring is a statement earring and just stick to a bracelet and/or cocktail ring. This will complement the dress beautifully so your outfit is complete but not over Of course, don’t forget to consider the bag you use with your formal evening dress. The truth of the matter is you can’t wear an everyday bag with an evening gown. Stick to a clutch or something specific for evening wear. This is important! How to Look Expensive When you attend a formal even where you’re going to need to wear a the gown, chances are you are going to want to look expensive. Let’s be honest here, no one wants to look cheap at a special occasion. One of the main factors that play into looking expensive in an evening dress, especially for petites, is the fabric of your dress. Avoid any fabric that looks ‘cheap.’ In addition to the fabric, the way your gown actually fits your petite body frame plays a huge role in helping you to look expensive. Fit is key and as a petite woman you may need to get a few alterations done to ensure your dress fits you the way it needs to. Look at the length, sleeves and armholes of your dress – these are areas that are very telling on the fit of an evening dress.	10,032
There are two ways to make gameplay “feel” more thematic: by letting players do thematic things, and by having players do those things in thematic ways. Both of those approaches can work, but the former creates more room for design errors and balancing pitfalls. Achieving thematic play through a focus on how players carry out their tasks, rather than by letting them choose from the broadest possible array of options, is thus the safest course. Many games seek to create immersion by matching play to theme. In fact, getting play and theme to line up is often considered central to having a compelling game. One need only compare the rave reviews given to the experience of playing a driving game with wheel and pedals to the critiques of board games with “pasted on” themes to see the great importance placed on theme coming out through action, and not just through art. Play and theme are frequently connected by seeking to give players all the options they would have if they were “really there.” Thus, in Starfleet Battles—a game of Star Trek space combat—players can use the transporter to move crew members . . . or to beam proximity mines near opposing ships. Shuttles can be sent out to act as fighter craft that harass the enemy vessel, or even to ram them. Whatever a person in the setting might be able to do, games like Starfleet Battles seek to let the player do. The hope is that the player will therefore feel herself an inhabitant of the fictional world. Unfortunately, this approach has two major weaknesses. First, its limitations quickly become apparent. Shuttles in Starfleet Battles can’t (to my knowledge) have their engines tied into their parent ship’s engines, even though that’s something a starship captain who’s “really there” might want to do. Transporters can’t be used to reposition asteroids to act as navigational hazards, or to pluck out key pieces of opposing vessels, or for many of the infinite uses one might find for pinpoint matter relocation. It’s just not realistic to give the player every option, and before too long the player starts to notice these invisible walls. Second, and more critically, the quest to make all the possibilities accessible to the player leads to severe design issues. Options might be so unrelated to each other as to need entirely different mechanisms to be satisfying: adding diplomacy to Starfleet Battles, for example, would mean more than just putting a “Talk” entry on the weapon charts. Bringing a wide range of strategies into a game’s ambit can quickly lead to the worst kind of feature-creep. Even if whole new mechanics are not required, giving players additional choices still opens a can of worms. New capabilities imply a need for counter-capabilities, which may themselves require counter-counter-capabilities. If I could tie the shuttles into main power to get stronger phasers, my opponents would probably need access to better shields lest they get steamrolled by my Voltron-ship—and then I would need a way to break those shields when I don’t have a bunch of shuttles available. Complexity mounts as the options pile up. By itself, complexity is generally something to be avoided. It’s particularly to be feared in this context, though, because game-breaking design problems lurk below its surface. Left unchecked, the profusion of choices and counter-choices leads to a game that is balanced (hopefully, anyway—it would be hard to tell) but nigh-impossible for anyone but the most invested players to come to grips with. Intimidating rulebooks are not conducive to attracting or retaining people! Some miniatures games fall prey to this situation. Rules stack on rules: this faction gets to be invisible, so another faction gets tools to see through the invisibility, and then the first faction needs a new trick because invisibility isn’t reliable anymore. The see-through-invisibility faction can also see people hiding in underbrush, so now the “guerilla fighters” faction gets caught in the crossfire, and they need something new as well. By the time balance is restored the rules are a lot thicker! Moreover, that’s not the worst possible outcome. Arguably a greater danger is the possibility that some choice won’t get its counter, or that the counter will prove too weak. Sooner or later players will notice, and when they do the game will devolve toward a dominant strategy. At that point the game will still be learnable, but it will no longer be worth learning! Fighting games sometimes end up in that unfortunate situation. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is a lot of fun . . . but the things that were supposed to keep Yun’s Genei Jin super move in check didn’t work out. The entire game warped around the Genei Jin, such that much of 3rd Strike strategy boils down to landing or avoiding it. 3rd Strike is a tremendous entry in the pantheon of fighting games—more current games struggle to live up to its art, and that’s to say nothing of the gameplay—but among its astonishing wealth of options an overpowered one slipped through. Giving players lots of capabilities is, therefore, a double-edged sword. It can contribute to immersion, making the player feel like she is “really there.” However, it can also highlight the options that aren’t available, and can lead to problems with complexity and balance. There are thus good reasons to think that a different approach to immersion might be more attractive. One such is to put emphasis, not on providing a wealth of choices, but on the nitty-gritty of each individual option. Rather than allowing shuttles to do 10 things (but not any of the 90 others one might want, and #8 is too good owing to a miscommunication with the playtesters), they might only do two—but executing each of those options is challenging and rewarding. Players thus feel that they’re “really there,” not because they can do anything they might choose, but because they get involved in carrying out the choices they make. As an example, we might go back to flight simulators. Flight sims don’t really have very many options. Players can’t choose instead to drive a tank, or fight on foot, or resolve the issue diplomatically, or apply pressure through NGOs. Many don’t even have any sort of combat; the only thing players do is take off from one airfield, fly in a more-or-less straight line, and then land at another! Yet, these games have enduring appeal—and that’s because they’re so good at capturing the process. A good flight sim makes the player feel like he’s the captain of the flight, living an entirely different life. Managing the plane is not easy, but doing it well feels great, and having to attend to all of the details maximizes the “you are there” feeling. This approach to immersing a player in theme can be just as satisfying as providing lots of options. What’s more, it’s much safer from a design perspective. Since options are not proliferating, there’s less need to be concerned about layering of counters and counter-counters. It’s easier to recognize each possibility, to understand its full implications, and to ensure that it’s balanced within the game. Furthermore, games taking this approach are often easier to learn. Actions have clear implications: do X to achieve Y, at which point you’re ready to do Z. That kind of stepwise process is much more intuitive than a slew of rock-paper-scissors relationships, many in number and some of them (all of them?) involving more than three possibilities. This is not to say that games focusing on process necessarily have shorter rulebooks, or that they are easy to learn in an absolute sense. Falcon 4.0, a now-venerable flight sim, memorably came with a technical manual describing how to fly an F-16 in such depth that it served as the game’s packaging! By the time a player was ready to take on missions in Falcon 4.0, she was well on the way to actually being able to handle a real Fighting Falcon. The point instead is that process is easier to learn than arbitrary counters and counter-counters. Falcon 4.0 was workable for those willing to invest the requisite time; a list of options as long as Falcon’s technical manual would have been completely unplayable. Given a length of rules, those rules will probably be easier to grasp if they’re about process than if they’re about alternatives. As a recent example of how this approach works, let’s look at Agricola. Agricola is a highly-rated game about farming set in Middle Ages Europe. Players feed their families, and farming is the only way to do it; there’s no option to become a trader, or to resort to banditry. That limitation might seem unthematic—why can’t I apprentice myself to the local builder, and raise beautiful cathedrals for a living?—but it leads to a much better design. First, the game is surprisingly easy to learn considering how much is going on. There’s worker placement and cards and resources and a mini-map for each farm, but the focus on process makes it all manageable. Whenever a player isn’t sure how to do something, he can just ask “well, what steps would I take if I really were a farmer?” The answer is usually very close to how it works in the game. In addition, focusing on process allows Agricola to create variety in a way that avoids balance issues. One of the major strategies in Agricola can be summarized as “feed the family with grain products;” another is “feed the family with meat from farm animals.” So long as those macro-level options are kept balanced, it’s much easier to let players acquire grain or animals in lots of different ways suitable to middle ages townspeople. The limitations on the “grain strategy” and the “animal strategy” as a whole provide a safety valve and ensure that none of them will get too far out of whack. Experience has demonstrated that this works surprisingly well. Agricola has lots of cards that give players unique advantages, but only one has received official errata for power reasons. While other cards have prompted discussion as to whether they’re overpowered, the checks and balances that control all strategies—competition for action spaces, in particular—has served to, at the very least, keep the issue open. Limiting players’ food options to grain, vegetables, and meat keeps the number of things to be balanced reasonable, and that contributes to the game’s excellent play-balance track record. Diplomacy is another example of a game about process rather than options. It offers players very few choices: they can move their pieces to a small number of neighboring locations, and try to bump other pieces out. Most of the elements that have come to be associated with the empire-building genre—technological advancement, a wide variety of military units, resources that build up—are absent. In fact, there are so few possibilities for much of the game that Diplomacy has named openings and defined midgame positions, in the manner of chess. Nevertheless, Diplomacy is a deep, fascinating game. Like Agricola, the how is interesting even though the what is not; there are a lot of situations that could lead to “A Marseilles -> Piedmont,” all of them different and all of them worthy of exploring. Furthermore, Diplomacy’s paucity of options helps maintain the balance that has kept it worthy of tournament play for decades. There’s no unexpected combo that can take a game over on the third turn, and no technology that hard-counters Austria’s primary weapon. Simplicity ensures that the multiplayer dynamics Diplomacy relies upon for balance have room to work. There’s no one right way to achieve immersion—but there are ways that are more or less likely to cause problems in the long run. Providing lots of options, allowing players to try everything they might conceivably try if they were “really there,” is appealing but hard to do thoroughly and even harder to balance. Default instead to detailing the process of a smaller number of choices; the immersive effect can be just as powerful, and the design problems will be fewer. Related Posted on August 5, 2015 August 5, 2015 Posted in Game design theoryTagged agricola, diplomacy, falcon 4.0, starfleet battles, street fighter Leave a Reply Cancel reply Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.	12,989
Wind turbines harness the power of the wind and use it to generate electricity, which can be fed into the national grid and generate a significant income through the UK Feed in Tariffs. Small wind turbines known as “microwind” or “small-wind” turbines can produce electricity to help power the lights and electrical appliances in a typical home. In the UK only 0.5% of our electricity requirements are currently generated by wind power. Over the next few decades there are going to be significant investments into wind energy, with the continuation of the domestic and commercial Feed in Tariffs and large investment into wind farms. Wind power varies greatly with wind speed and on an average day can fluctuate dramatically. Individual turbines vary in size and power output from a few hundred watts to two or three megawatts (as a guide, a typical domestic system would be 1 - 6 kilowatts, depending on the location and size of the home). There are two typical types of domestic wind turbine: Mast mounted: these are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position, often around 2.5kW to 6kW Roof mounted: these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home where there is a suitable wind resource. Often these are around 1kW to 2kW in size DOWNLOAD Systems up to 1kW will cost around £1,500 whereas larger systems in the region of 2.5kW to 6kW would cost between £11,000 - £19,000 installed. These costs are inclusive of the turbine, mast, inverters, battery storage (if required) and installation. However, it’s important to remember that costs always vary depending on location and the size and type of system. MCS Certified Wind Turbines can have a life of up to 22.5 years but require service checks every few years to ensure they work efficiently. For battery storage systems, typical battery life is around 6-10 years, depending on the type, so batteries may have to be replaced at some point in the system’s life.	2,064
Hopefully, by now, you’ve learned enough about medical marijuana to decide if it can help relieve the symptoms of your health condition. Many people have been benefiting from the healing properties of cannabis for a long time now. Studies are showing how effective the herb is in treating a whole range of health conditions from arthritis to migraines to chronic pain and more. In this Ultimate Guide to Medical Marijuana, you’ve learned what medical cannabis is and how it works. You’ve learned about the three most common types of marijuana (indica, sativa and hybrid) and how there are hundreds of various strains and flavors. You’ve also found out about the various methods of consuming medical cannabis. Whether you choose to smoke the herb, eat it or apply it to your skin, the chemical compounds in marijuana are very therapeutic and work like your body’s natural chemicals involving movement, pain, memory and appetite. Through medical cannabis, you can find relief from an array of different conditions and symptoms. It lifts your mood, eases pain, motivates your mind, combats fatigue and so much more. The only things left to do are to see if your health condition qualifies for medical cannabis, find out if it’s legal in your state and get your recommendation letter from a marijuana doctor. Once you do this, you’re ready to enter the marijuana dispensaries and get your medical weed products. Why go through the hassle of trying to talk to a doctor who isn’t up-to-date on medical marijuana? Instead, take advantage of a one-stop resource available to you here at MarijuanaDoctors.com — where you can connect with a doctor, get your recommendation letter and locate a marijuana dispensary of your choice — all in one place. It’s that easy. With MarijuanaDoctors.com, you have so many resources available to you such as: A list of fully-screened marijuana doctors A list of dispensaries in each state Education on conditions medical marijuana can treat Studies and research that show you the facts Medical marijuana legal states Medical cannabis videos and other media Medical marijuana products Resources to help you with your appointments Don’t hesitate. Book your appointment so you too can start taking advantage of all the therapeutic benefits medical cannabis has to offer to finally get your condition and symptoms under control.	2,396
Professional speaking has grown substantially over the years into a global industry and, in doing so, has opened doors of career opportunity for those who are experts and influencers in their respective fields. While opportunities have arisen, so too has competition for professional speakers. The world of professional public speaking has also changed over the past 18 months, much in the same ways the world did as businesses evolved in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Professional speaking no longer exists in a vacuum where experts take the stage, give a presentation and are compensated for their time and expertise. Professionals today must continually work on their skills, continually examine industry trends and manage speaking engagements with care to rise above the competition. Prospects in 21st century professional speaking are often live, though some excellent opportunities exist in the virtual realm with more to come in the future. With these changes in the industry come new rules of professional speaking. Nearly everyone is familiar with the saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” While featuring its own unique measure of sarcasm, the adage is accurate. Although changes happen frequently, much remains constant in the midst of that ebb and flow—certainly in the professional speaking industry. There are “rules of public speaking” that will stand the test of time. Professional speakers still need to hone their style in order to establish authority and guide the audience to focus and relate as they glean the benefits of listening to an expert. Setting the tone requires the professional speaker to first know the audience and incorporate their own personality into the speech or presentation. In addition, clothing, sense of humor and movements also help to establish tone and style. As a professional speaker, eye contact remains key. This establishes a connection with audience members and demonstrates investment in them. The goal remains to make the audience a part of the speech or presentation, drawing them in and encouraging them to engage and participate. Pacing presentation and pausing to punctuate important points endures as a significant tenet, both in live venues, as well as virtual ones. One final reminder in this world of change: Venue arrival time is critical and it should be done before the appointed time, whether appearing before a live audience or virtually from the living room. Take the time to familiarize with the setup, ensure the technology being utilized is functioning properly and check audio and visual equipment. Also take the extra time to get in a minute or two of practice before the presentation begins. While it may seem as though virtual professional speaking came on the scene quickly after the global pandemic, it has actually been around for quite some time. What has changed is clients are now actively seeking virtual speakers to motivate and encourage employees and customers with nearly the same frequency as they seek live speakers for conferences, seminars, conventions and more. Professional speakers are no longer the purveyors of ritualistic prepared remarks. Instead, today’s most influential presenters are those who give off an effective, honest and communicative dialogue. As presentations become more interactive, audiences expect conversations, not lectures, which means professional speakers can stay ahead of the competition with dynamic, interactive speeches designed to draw your audience in and deliver your message in an accessible and engaging manner. Formal presentations are out, approachability and authenticity are in. There is a new rule No. 1: Be yourself and continue to hone your speaking skills. Refining a skillset doesn’t necessarily mean more practice. Instead, it means better practice. Repeating what has been done it the past won’t lead to improvement, but taking feedback and making positive changes can. The latest technology can also help. Simply record rehearsals, watch them back and take notes, while factoring in any feedback. The changes needed will become clear, allowing practice of a newer, better presentation technique with those adaptations. Visuals can also enhance a message or detract from it. Rid presentations of ineffective visuals and add those that truly express the main message or idea. Always choose high-quality images, even when using stock. Rather than matching the presentation to the visual aids, develop a narrative and then enrich it with assets that help focus the audience on the intended message. A Conversation with Friends While some of the tried and true rules of effective professional speaking remain steadfast, much has changed in this realm, whether live or virtual. Today’s most powerful speakers are authentic and approachable. Their presentations are less like formal lectures and more like a conversation with friends. The best professional speakers find that success lies in their ability to make a connection with their audience, while sharing valuable information from a position of both knowledge and confidence. Saana Azzam, the founder and CEO of MENA Speakers (www.mena-speakers.com), is globally-known as a “Chief Inspirational Officer.” An international award-winning economist and professional speaker, Azzam delivers keynotes at conferences and events around the world, also establishing herself as the MENA region’s premier public speaking authority. Her online Experts Market ( https://www.experts.market) platform avails a marketplace where a variety of speakers may be booked for events, market their books, provide online courses and client advisory and generally market themselves more effectively. ABOUT US Totalprestige Magazine is the official magazine of Totalprestige Business Club. Totalprestige Magazine is available in print, on the web and in digital edition. Main topics are business and luxury lifestyle. LIKE US	6,212
How to Budget Principle #1 One of the most important steps when it comes to setting up a successful budget is investing time in gaining a true understanding of your expenses. Too often do we turn to budgeting at a point of financial crisis. The pressure is on to pay the bills, we need a budget and we need it now! In our hurry to pull off a financial miracle, we deliberately leave some expenses out, completely forget some, and naively underestimate others. There is a little saying, “Nothing worth doing is ever easy”, which is especially true of budgeting. After all if budgeting was easy everyone would be doing it. There would be no lifestyle debt and we would all have plenty of savings. But the reality is budgeting like losing weight can at times be hard work especially when working towards big long term goals like getting out of debt or saving to buy a home. What Budget Coaching Is, and What Budget Coaching Isn’t In Featured, General Budgeting, Grandma's Jars by Phil McGilvray March 25, 2015 Leave a Comment Over the years we have had a lot of clients tell us that despite being referred to Grandma’s Jars by trusted friends or family they were initially very hesitant to try budget coaching. They knew they could do with some help getting their finances sorted but the idea of sharing intimate details about their spending habits and finances to anyone, let alone a stranger, was very disconcerting. At Grandma’s Jars we understand that talking to a stranger about your finances can be a very difficult thing to do. Admitting we need the help is often the first hurdle but then there is the fear that we will be judged or ridiculed for the financial mess we find ourselves in. In this blog post I want to address some of these concerns or misconceptions by outlining what budget coaching is (and isn’t) at Grandma’s Jars. A Budget Coach Doesn’t Tell You What You Can and Can’t Spend Money On We often find that our clients are initially fearful that by taking on a budget coach they will lose control over what they can and can’t spend their money on – this is not true. The golden rule of money management is … The 5 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Paying Off Debt In Paying Off Debt by Phil McGilvray March 11, 2015 Leave a Comment Debt is such an easy thing to take on but paying it off can be infinitely harder. Many of our members initially come to Grandma’s Jars carrying lifestyle debt that they have been struggling to get on top of for years. When approached in the wrong way, debt elimination can become frustrating and soul destroying. In this blog post, I would like to discuss the 5 most common mistakes that most people make when trying to pay off debt. In How to Budget Series by Phil McGilvray February 22, 2015 Leave a Comment After finishing school back in the late 80’s I spent a year working in the UK as an adventure training instructor. Throughout this year I was fortunate to spend a couple of months living with my elderly Grandmother in a seaside town called Weston Super Mare. I have some wonderful memories of living with my Grandma. Her beautiful garden, the forest full of squirrels and the endless plates of cakes and crumpets just to name a few. But the thing that has stuck with me the most was the lessons I learnt from Grandma about money management. In Budgeting Tips by Phil McGilvray February 19, 2015 Leave a Comment It doesn’t matter who you are or how much you make, if you want to succeed financially you need to spend less than you earn. This is why learning to budget is such an essential life tool. But like all things worth doing, setting up and living to a realistic budget can be a challenge.	3,891
I still haven't given up on the theme of the sex lives our soldiers and sailors in World War II. You might remember, I asked, "Did World War II Soldiers Have Sex?" Then I followed that with, "Should World War II Soldiers Have Had Sex?" Later, "I Forgive World War II Soldiers For Having Sex." But just because I forgave them doesn't mean I shouldn't explore the issue a little further. I get a lot of hits on these stories, and that's good for my ego. WW II veterans are dying off at a staggering rate, and they're about gone. So any light the remaining ones could shed on this issue would be helpful, both for the historical record and for their peace of mind at having come clean. My word to them would be, Any vow of silence you made to your brothers in arms, surely you have kept up your end of the bargain. They're gone, but you remain. Bygones being bygones, come clean already! As for the historical record, historians like to have a little fun, too. We think of historians sitting in big ivory towers memorizing names and dates and quizzing one another every few hours. But that's probably just a stereotype. I think there has to be more to it. Frankly, I'm positive they're like the rest of us -- horny bastards -- and would appreciate a little lasciviousness in their work. So, please, veterans, let's get going before you die completely, so the scholarly assessments can proceed. What were your sexual exploits overseas? You ever notice how quiet WW II vets have always been about their time away? I've known quite a few and except for one lone exception, I've never known any to recount their sexual exploits. The one exception told me just the barest bones story, some generalized experience he had with at least one prostitute. The details, alas, were lacking, and at that time I didn't have the same resolve as now in getting to the bottom of it. As for the rest, maybe they were embarrassed to discuss something that is admittedly best left unsaid. Or perhaps they wanted to keep up a front in the presence of wives, girlfriends, and mothers that they had maintained their innocence. We could give them the benefit of the doubt and say veterans have historically been quiet about what they did in wars. But what if this is exactly the reason why! That they were having crazy sex, whether in ancient times or more recently, and simply didn't want to come clean! The ones we've known, many of them, have gladly bragged about everything else, their boat, car, and family. It's kind of weird that they wouldn't be telling us everything they did in the war. But people think they're just reluctant because of the trauma, the life/death issues, all too deep for words. Balderdash! If you're a survivor, you're going to crow about it, unless there's a good reason not to, like covering up sex. I'd like to get the confidence of a few of them, although with age it's getting harder and harder. They can always pretend to be deaf or out of it. But say I did. Say I had five of them at a table, and they think it's finally OK to talk about how many guys they killed. They're going on and on and I'm such an encouraging presence. Then I lay on them, "What'd you do for sex?" Suddenly they clam up, so we all know! That's what it's always been. To disguise the real root of their silence, they chose to be silent on the whole war experience. All this time they were just bustin' to tell us how many guys they killed, and all the rest, but had they dared, inevitably mom and grandma and girlfriend and wife would've known. Because they'd have to go suddenly quiet when we turned to sex. In a way, it's a tragedy. They came home as victors but had to carry a guilty conscience for decades. Their complexes grew and grew and eventually took over, to the point that they wouldn't have been able to say anything about it if they wanted. Finally, for the ones who died, they look up, see the lights of glory and mistake them for the red lights of a house in France; in their mind, they're suddenly 19, their face lights up, and they die with a smile. Posted by dbkundalini at 1:32 PM Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) With the Virus, keeping my shades pulled I have nothing for May, except whatever incidental things I think of through the month. But it was tough in April. Lots of people suffering, then that day my dog was constipated. If anything occurs to me, I'll jot it down here.	4,535
After all these years, the wife and I will be (all things being well) joining the ranks of parenthood in December. The 27th is the alleged date, though something tells me its either going to be the 25th or New Year’s Day. Blimey. Naturally we’re both excited and scared in equal measures. Now that we’ve […] Post author By Andrew Smith Post date June 21, 2005 3 Comments on Fatherhood – got any advice? After all these years, the wife and I will be (all things being well) joining the ranks of parenthood in December. The 27th is the alleged date, though something tells me its either going to be the 25th or New Year’s Day. Blimey. Naturally we’re both excited and scared in equal measures. Now that we’ve been begun telling family and friends, I realise we have unleashed an undocumented torrent of advice on the whole subject. If anybody has any useful advice to lend on the subject I’m all eyes and ears. ← Former colleagues – where are they now? Part One → Dealing with US tech companies 3 replies on “Fatherhood – got any advice?” June 21, 2005 at 6:30 pm Hey, many congratulations, Andrew. You’ll find that the wise parent gives not of unsought advice (it’s very easy to appear to be insulting either other people’s parenting skills, or, worse, their child(ren)). That said, there are many unwise parents. And more significantly, you are seeking advice. All I’d say at the moment is, try to go out as much as you can for the next few months, because it might be a long time before you can after December.	1,533
“Border Communities Against Brexit” is continuing its campaign against the British border in Ireland. Jim Gibney. Irish News. Belfast.Wednesday, March 27, 2019 THE ‘Border Communities Against Brexit’, BCAB, is providing a great service to the people of this nation, all the people, irrespective of their political allegiance. Since their formation in 2016, they have helped to place Britain’s border in Ireland at the center of the political debate with a particular focus on its impact on the lives of tens of thousands of people now and in the context of a Border returning, in any shape or form, as a result of Brexit and Britain leaving the European Union. In July 2017 in recognition of their sterling work the European Parliament awarded the group the European Citizen’s Prize. Britain’s border – not the Irish border, as the British and international media like to report it as if it was a product of the Irish people – has been at the center of an armed struggle between Republicans and the British government for nearly 100 years. It has caused the deaths of several thousand people with thousands injured and scores of thousands of people going to gaol. Yet day-to-day life on both sides of the Border, unless you live there, is largely unknown. The BCAB has broken through the ignorance of the personal, family and community consequences of living on the border. Its campaigning work has complemented the stance taken by the Irish government in its opposition to Brexit, which has been supported by all the political parties in Ireland, north and south, except unionists. The BCAB has lobbied in Belfast, Dublin, London, and Brussels and it has added its support and voice to the EU in its efforts to avoid the return of an economic border to a post-conflict Ireland. It has mobilized a diverse and disparate rural community, nationalist and unionist, to ensure people know the reality of day-to-day life and the disruption that will be caused to it should a border return. This Saturday the campaigning group has planned a series of protests, along the border, at 3 pm, at Old Dublin Road, Carrickcarnon, Moybridge, Aughnacloy, Aghalane, Belcoo, Lifford Bridge and Bridgend. The purpose of the protest is to give people the opportunity to vent their anger at the British government and the DUP and to make it clear to both that there is popular opposition as well as parliamentary opposition to Brexit. In the course of the campaign over the last two years, it has been at pains to remind everyone that a hard Border existed for most of the last 100 years of partition. In fact, until 1993, when the EU introduced the Single European Market, there were Border custom checks, on goods and services and foreign nationals. In addition to this during the armed conflict, the British army heavily militarized the border region erecting military installations on the hills and mountains along the 310 miles-long border. They also blocked roads with bollards and spikes and cratered them and destroyed bridges. The small number of roads that were left open had permanent check-points and vehicles and people were constantly under armed surveillance. The peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, created slowly, a new reality for the Border communities where the infrastructure of repression was replaced with the free movement of people, goods and services north and south. This change led to a lifting of the fortress mentality that people lived under and opportunities emerged for the Irish government and The North’s executive to look at investing in the region. But almost a century of living on the periphery of Dublin and Belfast-based economies, where both states developed back-to-back, and separately, meant that progress and change was slower than what is needed. And the uncertainty created by Brexit threatens to drag the communities back to a place they thought they have escaped from due to the peace process. It is estimated monthly that 180,000 lorries, 210,000 vans, and two million cars cross the border, and that 30,000 people cross it to work daily. Next week representatives of the BCAB will be back in Brussels, lobbying MEPs to continue to hold the line and force the British government and parliament to accept the deal on offer from the EU which Theresa May negotiated. This is the only way the free movement of people, goods, and services will continue to be carried in lorries, vans and cars over Britain’s border in Ireland. Buy The Books His life-long struggle for justice in Northern Ireland. Order your copies of "My American struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland--Third U.S. Edition 2019— as well as "Mac Ireland series: Books One, 2 and 3."	4,740
LYO Gear is managed by the Parent Network in order to provide a collection of clothing and other merchandise identified with the LYO mark. It also includes official clothing for special events. Any profits from sales go to the Parents Network to support the LYO. Questions should be directed to Cindy Watson at parentnetwork@lyo.org . LYO Gear including short and long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, etc.is available year-round through ApparelNow, LYO's our official apparrel store. Most clothing items have multiple color choices and have other custom options as well. See what's available and place your order online at https://apparelnow.com/louisville-youth-orchestra-apparel An LYO Official t-shirt is to be worn in the April concert each Spring. This shirt is available for sale every year, starting in late January and running through early March. All information regarding the sale, including a link to the website, will be found in the Weekly Memo starting in early January. Unfortunately, we will not be able to sell magnets and stickers at rehearsals and concerts because of Covid-19 restrictions. You can, however, send an email to Cindy Watson at parentnetwork@lyo.org to place your order. There will be a 5% convenience fee added to prices below.	1,334
Hi everyone. I have a question about inclusion. I am an inclusion teacher at an elementary school. one of the classes that I go into does writer's workshop. I have seen some workshop models that are good and very structured-- this one is not. the students i have in there struggle with writing "pieces to be published" Any suggestion that I make (ex. letting them use a diagram, planning map, outline, etc.) are shot down because the teacher wants them to write and look at authors' craft and model it in their writing. I think they need to learn how to make a decent sentence and a plan before writing. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can modify this kind of classwork. I am really struggling and feel like I am being no help to the students at all!! Thanks! #1 Joined: Likes Joined: Likes Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Likes	2,536
Malta closes border to several countries, several ESL Pro League teams may be shut out - Muscat-Holiday Monday, 28 Nov 2022 Home » Games » Malta closes border to several countries, several ESL Pro League teams may be shut out Malta closes border to several countries, several ESL Pro League teams may be shut out Just days before ESL Pro League is set to begin, Malta has banned travel from four more European countries. Those coming from Germany, France, Spain, and Switzerland will be unable to come into the country after midnight on Wednesday, March 11th. Those landing prior to that time will be subject to quarantine. The four countries have been added to the list previously only comprised of Italy. “The decision has been taken on the advice of the medical authorities because of the sharp increase in the spread of the virus,” Prime Minister Robert Abela told a press conference. With two majority French lineups set to compete in ESL Pro League, this leaves the future of the event up in the air. In addition, if the rumors that BIG will replace Heroic in the league come to fruition, their German lineup is also looking to be unable to access the event. GODSENT’s Kevin “kRYSTAL” Amend is also from Germany. At this time there’s been no official word from ESL or the teams outside of a tweet from the OG and EG manager & coach respectively. Chet “ImAPet” Singh’s squad may be flying through one of those countries given his reply, while Vladyslava Zakhliebina’s team has Nathan “NBK-” Schmitt from France.	1,595
I like traveling to new locations for races. But there’s also a certain appeal to return to a race you’ve already done, and giving it another shot. Especially if said race is in scenic Scotland. Since I’ve written quite extensively about the race in my 2016 race report, I’ll keep the writing short(er) and let the photos speak for themselves. I wore a technical shoirt-sleeved Under Armour t-shirt, my Ronhill 2-in-1 shorts, calf-length compression socks and Salomon Speedcross 3 shoes with about 280km on them already. In my backpack (Salomon Adv Skin 5), I was carrying the mandatory protection layers (waterproof pants and rain jacket) and 0.5 liters of water in a soft flask. Also pictured is a grey-coloured second layer which I’m not sure I actually carried in then end. Not pictured are gloves, a buff and a beanie; which I all wore at higher elevations. The starting line in Kinlochleven, next to the “Ice Factor” indoor ice climbing hall. Emelie Forsberg started just a few people (and minutes) ahead of me. Obviously, I didn’t catch her. 1km done, already 132m up. Up to here, the surface is mostly gravel. From here on out, it got a lot muddier. The route is sign-posted really well; even in spots where it’s not really necessary. Here, the biggest decision is in selecting the rut that has the least amount of mud. This was probably the nastiest puddle. Looks are deceiving, I went in almost up to my knees. I saw another competitor actually trip and fall in with his whole body. (I took this picture on the way down.) Here, the elevation gain is slightly more moderate. A decent runner can actually run this. I tried and mostly succeeded; but of course the pace is still not very fast. 2km and 220m of elevation done. km2 took me 9:06. I had an average HR of 178 on this bit, which is higher than I can usually manage. It’s definitely worth it to look behind yourself, especially if the sun is peeking out between the clouds and there’s scenery like this. By km3 (which took me 16:15), the real climb had started. 447m of elevation covered, which meant that over the course of the next 2km we’d still need to cover over half of the vertical kilometer. We’d left the easy trails and were now on a path-less “bog” – basically, you go up a soggy hill the quickest way possible: straight up. Again, it pays to look further than just your own feet. Taking the camera out probably cost me a little time and some effort, but it was definitely worth it. A look back down. Top right is the start in Kinlochleven, in the middle is the short 50m stretch of gravel road at 330m elevation gain that marks the start of the real climb. The route up is the way down. Depending on your start time (it’s a staggered time trial start spread out over several hours) you’ll encounter people already coming down. Unlike most VK races in the Alps, there’s no cable car to shuttle yourself back down. Eventually, the going gets slightly less steep, but rockier. The route is at the very right. 4km done, 862m up. 25:21 to cover a kilometer seems much, but it also climbed 390m. After an endless amount of climbing up a slope that seemed almost vertical, I finally arrived at the ridge. The top is still all the way up. And I’ve arrived. It seems that I did not take any pictures during the final kilometer. Quite a bit of interest in the top runners. A look at the rockier part of the final meters. Here, the going is quite technical. Wet bog, steep descent. I only fell on my behind about four times. I think this is where I regret that I took shoes that already had 280km of thread wear.	3,592
Here’s a brief introduction to Advocate Accounting -- should get across our personality, who we work with and what our approach is. We provide nonrofits and small business with the operations and finance experience to let them focus on their mission. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam pharetra ipsum vulputate, auctor purus sit amet, faucibus ante. Quisque eu commodo lectus. We specialize in accounting for nonprofits, ranging from complex c3/c4/PAC models to service providers. Brief blurb about our work with small businesses. Brief blurb about our work with individuals. Bookkeeping We provide bookkeeping service at the level and frequency that works for your organization, from performing simple bank reconciliations to full-service bookkeeping, including payables and receivables management. Consulting & Training Systems development consulting and training is one of our signature services. For nonprofits or businesses just starting we can work with you to create systems that work, or revise existing systems to improve efficiency. We also offer campaign compliance support and training. Our payroll services allow you to pay your team at the click of a button, while we handle all of the administration, including tax rate updates and form filing. We also offer consulting on HR policies and processes to help you hire and retain great people. Taxes Tax laws are constantly changing and we work to keep you updated on what changes may affect you. Our tax services include federal and state income and information returns for individuals, businesses, and nonprofits; amendments; tax planning; and IRS advocacy. Advocate Accounting has helped to make the financial part of our work within our organization so much easier for me and my team! In many instances, their ability to simplify the process for financially sound practices and policy has resulted in creating accounting systems that are ‘people friendly’ and have strengthened our overall agency structure. We find that their work with the WCCDA is more than a service, it’s a true friendship!” —Sili Savusa, Executive Director, White Center Community Development Association As manager of the Our Votes Count campaign coalition table, Advocate Accounting is the only firm I trust to handle complex compliance reporting in a coalition setting that has many moving parts and requires acute attention to detail. Advocate Accounting creates and maintains systems that ensure we remain compliant and current with reporting, all while driving our team forward with a clear focus on process and procedures.” —Jamielyn Wheeler, Campaign Manager, Our Votes Count I can’t say enough about the positive impact that Advocate Accounting has had on our organization. With c3 and c4 nonprofits and several political action committees (PACs), our financial and reporting needs are complex. Advocate Accounting has developed systems and processes to manage complicated financial activity between the entities, and helped to train our administrative and bookkeeping staff to maintain the day-to-day financial operations of the organization. Advocate Accounting has also been critical for our PAC compliance. From building systems that help ensure accurate reporting to training our staff on key public disclosure rules and their applications in our work, they’ve helped us stay on top of our reporting requirements in a fast-paced, campaign-style work environment.” —Lauren Currin, Deputy Director, Fuse Washington Advocate Accounting has been such a godsend! They really understand the unique challenges and opportunities of a small, growing non-profit and have helped us build out our fiscal infrastructure and increase internal efficiency. Advocate Accounting has been an integral part of ensuring we have systems in place to continue to grow, exceeds expectations so that our staff can focus on the actual on the ground work, and are overall just a pleasure to work with. We’re grateful we get to work with Advocate Accounting, and have wholly recommended their services to other organizations and leaders we partner with.” —Lisa Chen, Executive Director, FEEST Advocate Accounting LLC has worked above and beyond the call of duty to help us with fiscal policy development as well as stabilizing our organization throughout a time of growth. While developing new policies, they have proven to be essential in developing systems and procedures for managing cash flow and tying together services with fiscal needs. It is clear to us that Advocate Accounting has a deep desire to help us in our success as a nonprofit.”	4,679
All about brows. Here are the different ways to shape and enhance your eyebrows to bring out the best in your features. If you are searching for just one thing to do to improve your look, look no further! Shaping your brows will make a huge difference, here are some ways to achieve it. Lots of people struggle with discoloration, hyper-pigmentation, birth marks, or maybe just want to have lighter skin than they do naturally. Here is a list of ways to achieve skin bleaching, what to avoid, and products to use. All about your skin. How to care for it, and how to keep it looking great. You can get blush tattoos? I didn't think it was possible either, but for those who want that fresh flushed look around the clock, it is available. Here is a guide to help you not only pick a good technician but make sure blush tattooing is right for you. Cosmetic Tattooing-What's the Deal? Learn about cosmetic tattooing. How long it lasts, how much it costs, where you can get it, if it is safe, and what it looks like. Permanent makeup has become more popular in recent years and the artists and products have raised their standards significantly.	1,202
Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, listens to a question during a campaign stop in Londonderry, N.H., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, listens to a question during a campaign stop in Londonderry, N.H., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Former Hawaii Representative and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is leaving the Democratic Party, which she denounced as an “elitist cabal of warmongers.” Her announcement reminds us of Ronald Reagan’s famous statement, “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The party left me.” As the leader of a nonpartisan ministry, my intention today is not to criticize the Democratic Party. To the contrary, politicians leaving the Republican Party would make the same point I wish to emphasize: in the eyes of the world, we are what we do. George Eliot was right: “Just as we define our actions, our actions define us.” What politicians and political parties do over time defines them far more effectively than platforms adopted at conventions or speeches made at rallies. The same principle applies to the rest of us, as Michael J. Fox noted: “Our challenges don’t define us, our actions do.” This fact was reinforced for me when I saw the tragic news that American Idol Season 19 runner-up Willie Spence died Tuesday in a car accident at the age of twenty-three. Just hours before the fatal crash, he posted a video of himself singing a worship song. When I read the story, this question came to mind: Would you do what you are about to do if you knew it would be the last thing you would do? Do Christians only care about stopping abortions? You may have seen ads created by the “He Gets Us” campaign, a $100 million effort to bridge the gap between the story of Jesus and the public perception of his followers. The campaign is based on market research showing that while many Americans like Jesus, they are skeptical of his followers. The research split Americans into four categories: non-Christians (16 percent of the sample), people who are “spiritually open” (20 percent), “Jesus followers” (34 percent), and “engaged Christians” (30 percent). It revealed a large gap between the first three groups and the last. For example, more than two-thirds of those in the first three categories agreed when asked: “Followers of Jesus say one thing, but do not follow those things in practice.” Only 5 percent of the “engaged Christians” agreed. Most in the first three categories also agreed that Christians only care about stopping abortions rather than caring for moms and their children; only 6 percent of the “engaged Christians” agreed. Mayor helps family escape before train hits vehicle We have focused this week on our status as the children of God and its implications for our lives and faith. Today, let’s consider this fact: people judge our Father by his children. When we are loving, kind, and compassionate, they are more likely to think the same of our Lord. When we are hateful and condemning, they are likely to see our Lord in the same way. God’s word is clear: “Whoever says he abides in [Christ] ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). Jesus taught us: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8). This is because we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). As a result, we are instructed, “Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Paul warned of those who “profess to know God, but they deny him by their works” (Titus 1:16). Conversely, Scripture admonishes us, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). Eddie Daniels is the mayor of Vienna, Georgia, a town of four thousand residents. He was on his way to work Saturday morning when he saw an SUV stalled on railroad tracks with a train fast approaching. “I couldn’t let those babies sit there and get slaughtered by a train,” he told reporters later. He helped the mom out of the vehicle, then rescued a three-year-old and a one-year-old from the back seat. He was helping a six-year-old when the train hit the vehicle. He managed to get the child out, but Daniels has a broken ankle and eight stitches in his head as a result. “I’m out here just doing God’s work,” he said. “That’s what we’re supposed to do. And they told me I was a hero. I said I don’t feel like a hero, just feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do, what the people elected me to do.” Would you predict he’ll be elected again? “You are my hiding place” The British explorer Freya Stark observed, “There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.” She was right, not only about us but about those we influence as well. As the children of God, our every word and action reflect on our Father for good or for ill. Jesus told his followers, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8); some of us are effective witnesses, some of us are not, but each of us is called to the stand every day. A postmodern culture that measures truth by relevance will measure the truth of our faith by the relevance of our lives. So I’ll ask again, for God’s glory and the advancement of his kingdom: Would you do what you are about to do if you knew it would be the last thing you would do? I suspect Willie Spence’s answer on Tuesday would have been yes. Here are the lyrics he sang for the world before he left it for his home in heaven: You are my hiding place With songs of deliverance Whenever I am afraid. I will trust in You I will trust in You Let the weak say I am strong In the strength of the Lord I will trust in You. What song will you sing for God’s glory today? NOTE: Two of our Denison Forum books seem particularly relevant as the midterms approach. Consequently, we’re offering the updated print version of How Does God See America? and an ebook version of Respectfully, I Disagree for your donation of $50 or more. We’re calling it the “Let’s be civil” book bundle because our divisive culture could benefit from more civility as modeled by Christians. Request your two-book bundle today. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. More by Jim Denison, PhD The humbling reason Peter is my favorite apostle: A word of encouragement for preachers during Advent My city is home to the most cheating spouses in America England and Wales are no longer majority Christian: Is this the future for America? The “most severe test” for President Xi since he took power: The latest on China’s anti-lockdown protests Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on Earth, is now erupting What did you think of this article? If what you’ve just read inspired, challenged, or encouraged you today, or if you have further questions or general feedback, please share your thoughts with us.	7,343
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all persons who are interested in the objectives of the club. Prospective members may visit no more than two (2) scheduled club meetings before requesting membership. Membership shall become effective upon the payment of dues. Section 2. An active member is expected to: Pay dues for coming year by the June membership meeting. Actively participate on at least one (1) committee each year. Attend at least 4 of the 6 meetings per year. Participate in one hospitality function each year. Section 3. Members in good standing who can no longer continue the responsibilities of an Active member can apply in writing to the Executive Board to become an Associate member. Associate members shall have all the privileges of membership, except that they may not hold office or vote. Dues must be paid by Associate Members. Section 4. If a member wishes to resign, notification should be sent to the Membership Chair. Section 1. Dues shall remain the same each year unless a change is recommended by the Executive Board. Such a change must be approved at a regular meeting by majority vote of active members in attendance. Section 2. Dues shall be due at the May Meeting and shall be delinquent if not paid by the June membership meeting. Section 3. Members joining the club after January 1st will pay reduced dues until the April meeting, at which time regular annual dues will be collected. Section 1. The officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and a Treasurer. They shall be elected at the biennial meeting in March for a term of two (2) years. Section 2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club. In the absence of the President the meeting may be chaired by any member of the executive committee. The President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except Nomination Committee. Section 3. The Vice President shall be Program Chair. Section 4. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the meetings and shall be custodian of all records and papers pertaining to the office. The secretary shall conduct all correspondence and keep appropriate files. Section 5. The Treasurer shall record all money received and all expenditures made and make a full report at each Executive Board and membership meeting. Any expenditure over fifty dollars ($50), which has not been budgeted, must be approved by the Board. Section 6. All Officers, Past Presidents and others, as President deems necessary, shall constitute the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall transact the general business of the club, appoint committee chairs, consider all questions of policy, and present recommendations to the membership for action. Section 7. If a vacancy occurs on the Executive Board other than office of President, the Executive Board shall have the right to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. Section 1. There shall be the following Standing Committees: Membership Ways and Means (Fundraising) Hospitality Section 2. Other special committees may be appointed by the President Section 3. Committee Chairs shall serve a maximum term of no more than four (4) years. There must be a two (2) year interval before being eligible to chair the Committee again. Section 1. There shall be one (1) membership meeting per month for at least 6 months of the year. Section 2. There shall be one or more, as needed, Executive Board meetings during the year. Also, in order to ensure that all projects and activities support the club’s objectives, a planning meeting should be held annually prior to the May meeting with the Executive Board and all Committee Chairpersons in order to review each committee’s programs and tentative budget submissions. Section 3. a. In even numbered years prior to the March meeting, nominations of officers will be taken from the floor. b.Officers will be elected at the March meeting. These Standing Rules shall not be in conflict with the Salt Air Gardeners Bylaws and may be adopted and amended at any regular or special meeting of the Salt Air Gardeners Executive Board by a two-thirds vote. Meeting time may be governed and changed by the President or Executive Board. Currently they will begin at 1p.m. The meeting may be held before or after programs or speakers Each officer and committee chairs shall keep a record or file of the duties and achievements of that office during their term of service. This file shall be passed on to their successor. At least six (6) meetings must be scheduled for the year. New members shall pay full dues of $40.00 upon joining. Anyone joining the Club after January 1st will pay $25.00 for dues for the remainder of the year. Dues are due on May 1 and considered delinquent if not paid by the June membership meeting for each successive year. Associate Members shall pay dues of $50.00. Membership lists are for the use of the Salt Air Gardeners only and shall not be used for solicitation or distributed to non-members. (These standing rules can be rescinded or amended at any general Club meeting, without previous notice, by majority vote.)	5,253
At DIS/CREADIS it is fun to go to work, and we achieve this through good relations between colleagues. We foster a strong sense of community where we are involved in each other both on and off work. We encourage this through various events and interest groups, as well as we celebrate highlights in our employees’ work and personal lives. The DIS/CCREADIS event calendar is filled with professional after-work meetings, lectures, an annual team building trip, various sports activities, Friday evening beer meetings and much more. Some of these events are organized by DIS/CREADIS, while others happen on our employees’ own initiatives. As a rule, we always have at least one event in the calendar to look forward to. It gives us something in common to talk about - both past and future events and thereby a sense of belonging and community. We make sure you get off to a good start When you start working at DIS/CREADIS, you get more than 500 colleagues, who are all specialists in each of their area of expertise, but together all create great synergy for the benefit of DIS/CREADIS and our customers. The employees at DIS/CREADIS are the cornerstone of the business and are characterized by a high professional level. We want to attract, develop and retain the best employees and challenge them with demanding tasks in an attractive work environment where we provide a modern company with great flexibly to ensure your work-life balance and ongoing development. Your development Global career At DIS/CREADIS, it is important to us that you, as a new colleague, feel welcome, and it is essential to us that you quickly become part of the team and learn about our culture and values. This is also why we have established a buddy program where you will be teamed up with a senior colleague through your first months at DIS/CREADIS who will help you to land on your feet and get you ready for your new work life as one of us. ”The buddy program was a great help for me in the beginning as it gave me confidence. The meetings with my buddy were valuable and helped me to get to know the DIS/CREADIS culture even better and I also learned what it means to be part of the workforce in general. Furthermore, the buddy meetings gave me a quick network at DIS/CREADIS. Today, my buddy is a dear colleague and through the meetings we have found that we have common interests.” Our culture is in many ways unique and helps guide us in our daily work. All new colleagues are invited to a presentation on our culture by our director Michael Gadeberg. He tells the story about DIS/CREADIS with a focus on the major milestones along the way. The purpose of this presentation is to give all colleagues the same vantage point and understanding of DIS/CREADIS’ background, history and development with a focus on our culture, values, vision and strategy. Professional and personal development We want each individual to be challenged at work and develop their talent. At DIS/CREADIS, you can develop your career within your current area with a focus on improving your skills and becoming an even better engineer, but it is also possible to develop your skills in a different direction. At DIS/CREADIS, our employees develop their skills through three different ways of learning: • Learning through project work • Knowledge sharing with colleagues • Education and training At DIS/CREADIS, you will find that you are often on the steep part of the learning curve and will gain considerable experience in a short amount of time. DIS/CREADIS is a knowledge-intensive company, and if you encounter a challenge or need a crash-course within a new area, there is often a colleague who has the answer or the right set of skills to help you. “You never work alone” is the concept we live by and knowledge sharing and the willingness to help each other is of great importance to us. Global career opportunities With our increasing global activities, new exciting career opportunities are also offered. Among other, you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues from other countries across borders, which to many is a new and exciting dimension. In recent year, several of our employees have also had the desire to develop their careers by working abroad for a period. Here are some examples of employees who have worked on a specific project in one of our global offices or who have moved to a permanent position in an office abroad. We offer attractive terms of employment which include the following employee benefits, among others: Pension plans Health insurance Continuing education opportunities Attractive discount agreements We offer attractive terms of employment which include the following employee benefits, among others: Pension plans Health insurance Continuing education opportunities Attractive discount agreements A sense of responsibility Have flair for teamwork Self-motivated Creative and inventive Possesses momentum and is proactive Good finisher/skilled at delivering well-documented projects Meet an employee Senior Electrical Engineer Arne Palsbirk, Senior Electrical Engineer I feel I make a difference I work as a senior engineer for DIS in our electrical and automation department. I have an educational background as an electrician and HV engineer and I have working experience from Denmark and abroad. For DIS, I have worked on many different and exciting development projects and in various industries, with a main focus on the offshore and wind power industry. I work with electrical document management, upgrading of electronic systems and I identify new solutions, where my background as a craftsman is a major advantage. The common denominator for most projects is that I have both a managing and coordinating role, where I get to work with many different stakeholders to solve the specific task in the best possible way. Projects with great development potential I experience DIS as an innovative company. We solve projects with great development potential and are able to draw on competences from the entire company – this is what makes us strong and why it is fun to be on the team. I have worked on projects, where I have been involved from start to finish – from idea generation to execution, completion and final approval. It is an incredibly motivating factor to experience that your solutions work and have added value. I find that there is an enormous respect and recognition of each employee’s skills and to me it is motivating to be part of an organization where I get to make my mark on things and make a difference. It is more than just a job A strong collegial and professional pride is one of the things that binds us together and makes DIS something out of the ordinary. To me, it is not just a workplace, but a place where colleagues have a strong sense of belonging. We solve tasks together, we develop and challenge each other, and even though we have grown, we still have the same spirit throughout everything we do. As an employee, you are heard, you have an impact and your ideas are listened to – no matter how many or few years of experience you have. This is what I characterize as a good and evolving place to work. I developed both professionally and personally quickly I have been working at DIS since 2015 and have an educational background as a mechanical engineer with a focus on design and innovation. At DIS, I have specialized within documentation management and project management in HW/SW and the medical industry. In my time at DIS I have worked on a variety of projects and I have learned what I would like to work with at DIS in the future. From day one, I have solved tasks for customers and I quickly gained experience, I became more independent and responsible and I quickly developed both professionally and personally. A world of mainly men At DIS, we have many social and professional events. It brings us close and creates friendships across disciplines and departments which is a great advantage. It is a world of mainly men and therefore it gets a bit crazy at times, but I am used to it from engineering school, so I don’t mind. I make a difference and that’s pretty cool It is great to know that you make a difference when you are working on tasks for customers – it means that I am contributing to DIS’ success. I learn something every day, it is a constant process where I receive knowledge and I do not believe I would have learned so much if I had worked somewhere in the same position for the same period. The fact that I have now worked on several different projects, has given me experience in several different areas, and it is great to be able to offer a wide range of competences when I start out on new projects. I change jobs regularly, but I work in the same company You have so many opportunities at DIS – you can develop in so many different directions and try out areas where you wish to specialize – you will never get bored at DIS. You change jobs (projects) regularly but are still employed in the same company. Of course, this requires that you are always ready for change, and this can be tough, but remember that it is what develops you and also what makes it exciting to go to work every day. Senior Hardware Engineer I feel I am making a difference I primarily develop hardware in our HW/SW department. I have an educational background as electronics engineer and have worked for DIS since 2010. So, I have been building up the HW/SW group from the beginning, where we were only 3 people employed in the department when I first started. In my work, I have several different roles, where I am both involved in the sales process, and work with development and in addition I also have projects where I make the technical decisions as a Tech Lead. One of the things I really like about working at DIS is that I get to do a lot of different projects in different industries, which means that no two working days are the same. In addition, we are usually involved throughout the project process, from idea to delivery of the finished product. Therefore, we do not only get to work on individual parts of a project, but actually get to experience the end result. It is motivating when you experience that you are making a difference. Easy access to top management It has been really exciting to experience that DIS as a company has developed and grown, and I believe it has been handled well. When I started working at DIS, we were approx. 50 employees in Denmark, and today we are over 500 globally. In spite of the explosive growth, I think that management has been able to keep up and hold on to the unique company spirit. One of the things I like about working at DIS is that even though we have grown so much, I still experience the closeness that was also present when we were a smaller company. You have an easy access to the top management which gives a relaxed atmosphere, yet there is still a very high level of professionalism throughout the company. We are basically a big bunch of nerds I feel that management is doing a lot to create loyalty towards the company, among other through various events, teambuilding trips, after-work meetings and also what we call nerd meetings. I took the initiative and created the concept Nerds, after I got the idea from a colleague who regularly participated in something similar in his personal life. Over time it has developed here in-house and we have many participants coming up with their own personal projects when we meet after working hours. We have fun and help each other; at the same time, it is a great opportunity to get to know each other better both professionally and personally. Fortunately, I feel relaxed at work as I think it is amazing to wake up every morning and go to work and do what I consider my hobby. It is super cool. We are basically a big bunch of nerds and I think that you can tell that we love what we do. Arne Palsbirk, Senior Electrical Engineer I feel I make a difference I work as a senior engineer for DIS in our electrical and automation department. I have an educational background as an electrician and HV engineer and I have working experience from Denmark and abroad. For DIS, I have worked on many different and exciting development projects and in various industries, with a main focus on the offshore and wind power industry. I work with electrical document management, upgrading of electronic systems and I identify new solutions, where my background as a craftsman is a major advantage. The common denominator for most projects is that I have both a managing and coordinating role, where I get to work with many different stakeholders to solve the specific task in the best possible way. Projects with great development potential I experience DIS as an innovative company. We solve projects with great development potential and are able to draw on competences from the entire company – this is what makes us strong and why it is fun to be on the team. I have worked on projects, where I have been involved from start to finish – from idea generation to execution, completion and final approval. It is an incredibly motivating factor to experience that your solutions work and have added value. I find that there is an enormous respect and recognition of each employee’s skills and to me it is motivating to be part of an organization where I get to make my mark on things and make a difference. It is more than just a job A strong collegial and professional pride is one of the things that binds us together and makes DIS something out of the ordinary. To me, it is not just a workplace, but a place where colleagues have a strong sense of belonging. We solve tasks together, we develop and challenge each other, and even though we have grown, we still have the same spirit throughout everything we do. As an employee, you are heard, you have an impact and your ideas are listened to – no matter how many or few years of experience you have. This is what I characterize as a good and evolving place to work. I developed both professionally and personally quickly I have been working at DIS since 2015 and have an educational background as a mechanical engineer with a focus on design and innovation. At DIS, I have specialized within documentation management and project management in HW/SW and the medical industry. In my time at DIS I have worked on a variety of projects and I have learned what I would like to work with at DIS in the future. From day one, I have solved tasks for customers and I quickly gained experience, I became more independent and responsible and I quickly developed both professionally and personally. A world of mainly men At DIS, we have many social and professional events. It brings us close and creates friendships across disciplines and departments which is a great advantage. It is a world of mainly men and therefore it gets a bit crazy at times, but I am used to it from engineering school, so I don’t mind. I make a difference and that’s pretty cool It is great to know that you make a difference when you are working on tasks for customers – it means that I am contributing to DIS’ success. I learn something every day, it is a constant process where I receive knowledge and I do not believe I would have learned so much if I had worked somewhere in the same position for the same period. The fact that I have now worked on several different projects, has given me experience in several different areas, and it is great to be able to offer a wide range of competences when I start out on new projects. I change jobs regularly, but I work in the same company You have so many opportunities at DIS – you can develop in so many different directions and try out areas where you wish to specialize – you will never get bored at DIS. You change jobs (projects) regularly but are still employed in the same company. Of course, this requires that you are always ready for change, and this can be tough, but remember that it is what develops you and also what makes it exciting to go to work every day. I feel I am making a difference I primarily develop hardware in our HW/SW department. I have an educational background as electronics engineer and have worked for DIS since 2010. So, I have been building up the HW/SW group from the beginning, where we were only 3 people employed in the department when I first started. In my work, I have several different roles, where I am both involved in the sales process, and work with development and in addition I also have projects where I make the technical decisions as a Tech Lead. One of the things I really like about working at DIS is that I get to do a lot of different projects in different industries, which means that no two working days are the same. In addition, we are usually involved throughout the project process, from idea to delivery of the finished product. Therefore, we do not only get to work on individual parts of a project, but actually get to experience the end result. It is motivating when you experience that you are making a difference. Easy access to top management It has been really exciting to experience that DIS as a company has developed and grown, and I believe it has been handled well. When I started working at DIS, we were approx. 50 employees in Denmark, and today we are over 500 globally. In spite of the explosive growth, I think that management has been able to keep up and hold on to the unique company spirit. One of the things I like about working at DIS is that even though we have grown so much, I still experience the closeness that was also present when we were a smaller company. You have an easy access to the top management which gives a relaxed atmosphere, yet there is still a very high level of professionalism throughout the company. We are basically a big bunch of nerds I feel that management is doing a lot to create loyalty towards the company, among other through various events, teambuilding trips, after-work meetings and also what we call nerd meetings. I took the initiative and created the concept Nerds, after I got the idea from a colleague who regularly participated in something similar in his personal life. Over time it has developed here in-house and we have many participants coming up with their own personal projects when we meet after working hours. We have fun and help each other; at the same time, it is a great opportunity to get to know each other better both professionally and personally. Fortunately, I feel relaxed at work as I think it is amazing to wake up every morning and go to work and do what I consider my hobby. It is super cool. We are basically a big bunch of nerds and I think that you can tell that we love what we do.	19,973
Computer-Telephony Integration or CTI is a platform that allows electronic systems to communicate with phones and other means of communication. Email, live chat, fax, and text messaging are the usual CTI platforms that people use. Many call center companies utilize call center tools with CTI functionality. CTI helps these call centers achieve a strategic advantage in their business by allowing them to take a more informed approach to communicate with their telemarketers. The right CTI system would help the agents to save time and effort during each call phase. As a result, they will be able to keep calls, queue them, and connect using the same interface in which they manage calls. What is Computer-Telephony Integration? Computer telephony integration can offer more than adding telephone controls to the call center agent’s interface. CTI also offers capabilities that are at the core of operating an accessible and productive call center. Here are some of the benefits of Computer Telephony Integration: Easily authenticate the caller. CTI aims to verify the caller by matching the contact information they called to the records in the company’s database and advanced business software. Enhanced reporting. CTI increases the efficiency of reports by allowing telephone data and the inclusion of data from software systems. Call tracking. Lastly, Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) allows managers to monitor call activities. For instance, they use CTIs respond to live calls so that they can provide support when necessary. What is Predictive Dialer? What is a Predictive Dialer? A predictive dialer is an outbound calling feature that dials automatically (equivalent to autodialers or robot dialers) from a list of telephone numbers. It automatically calls numbers before identifying a link and then transfers a call to a live agent. In addition, this feature shows busy signals, voicemail messages, no-answers, interrupted numbers, and more. Predictive dialers determine when agents will be capable of making the next call and then dial digits on behalf of the agent. The dialer uses algorithms to assume the exact time an agent can end a call and dial another number afterward. Predictive dialers provide agents with a constant stream of calls with no or little downtime while operating correctly. Why is a predictive dialer vital to call centers? A predictive dialer is essential because it makes the call center agent even more effective by removing routine activities. The predictive dialers are very useful for call center agents, as it minimizes the time checking for phone numbers, dialing numbers, and reading details on their leads to contact prospective clients. Predictive dialer reduces additional expenses by leveraging the current computer network. As long as you use a cloud-based predictive dialer, you don't need to buy new hardware. You do have everything you need to improve the way your call center operates. What is Telephony? What is a Telephony? Telephony is defined as the field of technology that involves the development and application of telecommunication services between distant parties through the use of appropriate equipment, whether voice, fax, or data. It is also linked to the invention of the telephone. Telephony, as a term, is also used to refer to any computer network systems, hardware, or software, that carry out the roles usually performed by telephones. Types of telephony Telephony allows people to carry out long-distance communication, and it is most commonly used to refer to telephone systems. However, there are other types of telephony: What is What is business process outsourcing?? Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is the delegation of business processes to an external service provider to a nearby or farther location. BPO uses various technology-enabled services to optimize the delivery of services. Some of the usual outsourced business functions are the following. In the case of content providers, these could mean hiring writers, remote editors, or virtual assistants. BPO speeds up processes and enhances efficiency. Companies that outsource some of their business processes use their time on core services and competencies. With this shift in focus, companies improve their current processes which may result in improved customer satisfaction. BPO helps companies divert their resources to more critical business strategies. Often, companies find it impractical to hire a full-time position in-house because of the cost associated with doing so. Outsourcing services can also help them save costs and resources in hiring suitable employees. The definition of BPO outsourcing In business process outsourcing, a company delegates their services to a service provider. It can be a local firm, nearshore, or offshore company. Upon reaching an agreement, the service provider will then set up a team for their client. They will shoulder the costs and resources needed, including the office space, workplaces, connection, cloud storage, and IT infrastructure. The providers are responsible for tracking the staff’s performance and progress. The clients, meanwhile, are responsible for providing the tasks, processes, and KPIs needed for their operation. In some instances, they are also allowed to incorporate their culture and values to their team and absorb them as a part of their company. What is BPO? How does Business Process Outsourcing work? Business process outsourcing happens when a business taps a third-party service provider to operate some of its internal processes. Such ‘processes’ include customer service, accounting and finance, or sales. It is different from hiring an agency to do specific tasks, as the outsourcing provider (BPO) is more concerned with the ongoing production of labour-intensive tasks, instead of the higher-level strategy and guidance. Now, BPO has broadened and is more akin to staff augmentation, or staff leasing. What are the benefits of business process outsourcing? There are many benefits to outsourcing, as well as some downsides and risks. Outsourcing powerhouses like the Philippines and India produce high-quality talents at a lower rate due to their low operational costs and full government support. Since outsourcing companies hire and produce experts in the field, clients can assure better results in their operations – whether in customer service, accounting, or marketing. Their staffs are trained to ensure that their clients achieve the outcome they expect. Companies are able to scale their staff depending on the demand and availability of their tasks. This also helps them improve their operations by letting their service providers contribute in streamlining their processes. Outsourcing poses more growth opportunities for businesses of all shapes and sizes. While there is still drawbacks to this practice, it is safe to say that its advantages outweigh its risks. To explain it further, below we have outlined the top benefits of outsourcing business processes: Companies can enjoy savings of up to 70% by leveraging the salaries and costs in offshore countries. In the Philippines, for instance, companies can hire offshore staff with a US$500/month salary for starting positions. A team of 10 employees would only cost them as much as a single worker in the US with an equal position. Global market Small and medium-sized businesses find it most difficult to hire local employees that suit their roles. The widened skill gap in developed countries paired with economic crises affects their capacity to expand their teams as needed. Businesses get to access a bigger pool of talent that can fit their requirements. They can have better options in hiring employees since they are not limited to what is available in their home countries. At the same time, outsourcing opens clients to global trade opportunities. They can establish their global presence and expand more easily to other locations since they already have operations in the area. Outsourcing is a great way to establish a remote workforce, especially for companies looking to implement this setup for the first time. BPO reduces internal local compliance obligations including providing additional office spaces to employees. Instead, organizations can hold their business operations on a remote setup, most usually having their teams in an office provided by the BPO firm. Companies cannot always do everything on their own. Burnout within entrepreneurs and teams are more common than everyone thinks, especially with everyone filling up the tasks beyond their skill sets. A BPO company enables them to leverage the skills of other specialist companies on more complex tasks such as accounting and IT. Lastly, BPO enables organizations to focus on their core business functions. This is since most of their non-core business operations are done with the help of a reliable service provider. Business process outsourcing examples The BPO sector is a vast industry, generating over $200bn annually, and employing millions of people worldwide. As stated in the Market Analysis Report, the global business process outsourcing market reached over USD 245.9 billion in 2021. Thus, it is foreseen to acquire a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% this year, 2022 to 2030. The proliferation of the global BPO sector is utterly driven by several key factors that organizations take full advantage of: Improved efficiency and agility Focus on core competencies Decreased operational costs Adapt to the ever changing business dynamics In general, when we speak of outsourcing, it always entails contracting out parts of business processes to an external provider either domestically or offshore. BPO can be seen in different forms and contexts, from hiring single staff to getting an offshore team. Here we have listed some of the examples of business process outsourcing: Corporate outsourcing has been around since the industry started. The new breed of large companies are still taking advantage of its benefits and use it to expand their offerings further. Some of the known enterprises that outsource their services today include the following. Google. Google has been ramping up its outsourcing efforts since 2016 by delegating development and customer support. Facebook. Meta, particularly Facebook, outsources content moderation to the Philippines as a way to filter toxic content and keep the platform safe for its users. Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has been outsourcing their operations to the Philippines since 2011. It has recently pulled out its functions in the country, though the company retained its BPO center in Manila. Medium-size businesses A medium business with 50-500 staff might outsource the labour-intensive accounting and finance functions to a team in the Philippines. Small business and entrepreneur The recent Clutch survey stated that around 90% of small businesses plan to outsource their services in 2022 due to the efficiency and flexibility that companies get. It is common for small business owners to have a Virtual Assistant (VA) working for them full time and remotely from the Philippines. Aside from this, organizations can delegate other services such as development, IT, and digital marketing. What are the different types of BPO? Outsourcing can be executed in different forms, depending on the outsourcer’s needs. Truth is, not everyone are fully aware, and has an in-depth grasp of the BPO sector. For most people, BPO can simply mean farming out business processes to third parties located in another country, but this is just one type of BPO. As for businesses, it is always vital to be familiar with the various classifications and functions of BPOs. This way, they are able to opt for a business process outsourcing provider that is best suited for their type of requirements and industry. More importantly, outsourcing is not a one size fits all strategic approach, this is why it is not enough just know what outsourcing is and how it works. There are several types of BPOs that businesses can choose from. The type of business process outsourcing can be characterised by their specialisation, location, and size. Business process outsourcing is in the human resources and professional services sector. However, their services extend across all industries. The majority of BPOs are generalists, in that they offer a full range of professional services. Meanwhile, some specialise in certain verticals such as the following. Legal process outsourcing Legal process outsourcing deals more with delegating legal processes and compliances to legal firms in another area. Knowledge process outsourcing Meanwhile, knowledge process outsourcing enables companies to outsource knowledge-related work including research and development, innovation, and creatives. Business process outsourcing typically operates from developing nations such as the Philippines, India, and Colombia. They typically have cheaper cost-of-living and bigger populations. Different locations offer different advantages. Size of BPO The bigger BPOs employ more than 250,000 people. They are huge, global operations. Medium-sized BPOs range from 500-5,000 staff and offer a full range of services. The smaller BPOs might have 1-500 people. Offshore outsourcing refers to the process of delegating a part of operations or a department to an offshore country. To maximize profitability and efficiency, companies choose to outsource to a different region or timezone. India, the Philippines, and South Africa are some of the popular countries known for offshore outsourcing services. Onshore outsourcing or onshoring, meanwhile, is preferred by firms looking to delegate their services within their country. Onshoring does not offer much savings as that of offshoring or nearshoring. However, clients prefer this as a way to maintain their branding and satisfy their local markets. Lastly, nearshore outsourcing is preferred by companies that do not want the hassles of time zone and cultural differences in offshoring but still want to get the best out of their delegated services. Through nearshoring, businesses can collaborate with their teams located in a nearby country. This gives them the opportunity to maintain their local compliance and save on costs since most nearshore locations are cheaper than their onshore counterparts. Functions of business process outsourcing Collectively, business process outsourcing provides any kind of staffing solution. Common functions of BPO include: Finance and accounting Outsourced finance and accounting services help businesses manage their books, monitor cash flow, and keep up with corporate income tax compliances without fuss. Healthcare Healthcare outsourcing, meanwhile, organizes various back- and front-end functions done for the healthcare and insurance industries. Creative services outsourcing covers everything from post-production of Hollywood movies to newspaper and website content. Tech, IT and development IT outsourcing involves delegating network management, web and app development, and cybersecurity protection to IT firms in different countries. Sales & customer support Some BPO providers specialize in sales and customer support for pre- and post-sales transactions. This helps companies meet the expectations and demands of their customers, keeping them satisfied even after their purchase. BPOs and marketing firms can help in ongoing marketing, communication and branding activities for their clients. This helps them attract more suitable leads in a cost-efficient way. Talent and HR Businesses can delegate HR, recruitment and compliance to professional employer organizations to maximize recruitment and workforce management. Generalist BPOs help organizations accomplish general business administration and operational activities. This includes data entry, appointment setting, and other related functions. Supply chain management Lastly, e-commerce stores benefit from outsourcing supply chain management to manage warehouse and delivery processes. The future of BPO outsourcing We have gathered five expert opinions from renowned global business leaders. They shared how they perceive the future of outsourcing will be, including the trends that will prevail in the coming years. Meg Marrs of Safer Senior Care strongly believes that entrepreneurs and business leaders should outsource their essential tasks. “Outsourcing certain roles has freed up my time to focus more on big picture strategy, rather than being completely meshed in the day-to-day tasks.” One thing is certain, outsourcing to support businesses growth is something that will never go out of trend. As for Sean Nguyen, Director of the Internet Advisor, outsourcing to streamline processes is another essential trend that businesses will continue to apply. He quotes, “Outsourcing can be really helpful, even at the most incipient levels, because it allows you to streamline operations. If it’s not essential to have it taken care of in-house, there is no reason to do so.” Elandas Miller of Kicking It Sports, has been outsourcing back office and creatives since 2017. “I like to think of outsourcing as a tool to help me get to my goals faster and more efficient without burning myself out.” Outsourcing to support both organizations' short and long term goals is another trend that companies will practice in the foreseeable future. The founder of Tom’s Projects, Tom Baker, offshores his entire product and development. “Outsourcing means that we can scale the team up and down when need be.” Scaling workforce through outsourcing is yet again, among the trends that will remain prevalent. For Bobby Reid, founder of Capitol Tech Solutions “Outsourcing has helped our business by being able to provide expertise for a service quickly. While these contracts are outsourced, they are incorporated into our company culture when possible, since they are working full time with our firm.” Lastly, outsourcing to fill-in talent gaps and expertise is one of the key trends that more and more organizations will utilize in the coming years. The future of work is digital, says Outsource Accelerator Founder and CEO Derek Gallimore. The world has moved on from manufacturing and creating products to providing services. And as we enter the post-pandemic world, he says we are “moving towards a single global economy.” The concept of work dramatically changed with COVID, and things have changed for good. These changes made us realize that technology is available for remote and digital work interfaces. Once showed an unsteady growth, the global outsourcing market spiked to US$245.9 billion in 2021. The sudden surge of demand brought by the pandemic along with the worsened talent shortage has led companies to increase their outsourcing efforts. In a podcast episode, Derek explained, “There are eight billion people on the planet, and they are now all increasingly connected digitally. There are [also] four billion people who are highly-qualified professionals sitting around the world, and they’re not just virtual assistants and basic roles. You can find [people with] PhDs, architects, accountants, or whatever you need for your business.” To conclude, Derek believes that the global economy and a globally-sourced workforce is the future, and it is not going away. Leaders all over the world also know that outsourcing is here to stay. Former US President Barack Obama says that jobs that have been outsourced cannot be brought back to the country. As a result, it is better to retrain and re-skill the workers who have lost their jobs on account of outsourcing. Obama further suggests that community colleges could provide the necessary skills for a person to be gainfully re-employed in the workforce. He adds that this is a necessity that Americans look forward to in the future. Looking back doesn’t always make people feel good, so it is essential that they retrain for the ‘jobs of the future.’ How to choose a Business Process Outsourcing vendor Over the years, outsourcing has been the go-to strategic practice for businesses looking to scale their operations effectively. But just like any other venture, companies should be wary of the possible drawbacks of outsourcing before selecting a BPO company. Risks of BPO outsourcing Despite its advantages, business process outsourcing done incorrectly leads to outsourcing risks that affect a company one way or another. Some BPO vendors do not totally disclose the total fees they charge and their terms. Clients could experience “bill shock” upon seeing the hidden charges they get. Compliance issues Compliance is crucial, especially in handling financial information and dealing with intellectual property. BPOs that violate compliances could risk their clients’ reputation and branding. Problems with security Lastly, BPO vendors with loose security compliance could risk getting their client’s data exposed and used for malicious purposes. Choosing the right business process outsourcing vendor The key to successful outsourcing lies in choosing a suitable business process outsourcing vendor and working with them along the way. Here are some of the considerations to look for in a BPO vendor. A BPO vendor’s expertise can be shown primarily through their approach to their clients. Even without getting too technical, they can comfortably discuss the initial solutions to provide according to their client’s requirements. Especially when delegating functions involving sensitive information, a BPO vendor should be up-to-date and compliant with regulations relevant to their services. Check for ISO, HIPAA, and PCI certifications as much as possible. Employee satisfaction A good BPO vendor also places employee satisfaction to their priority. Check on employee reviews online to see how the staff feels about their company. The tools and equipment a BPO vendor uses largely affect their performance in general. Check to see if they use updated technology at work and how they train their employees on using them. Top BPO companies in the world’s top outsourcing hubs A wide range of business process outsourcing companies in different parts of the world provide the utmost services to their Western and local clients. Many of them even earned recognition by award-giving bodies due to their performance in both their roles and their level of care for the employees. Check out the top BPO companies in several outsourcing destinations below. Top BPO companies in the Philippines Top Indian BPO companies Top South African BPO companies Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services With the rise of new offshore outsourcing locations, companies can have better options in terms of location and services they can delegate. However, finding a suitable BPO company can be a daunting task to be done on their own. Good thing advisory services such as Outsource Accelerator is there to help them. Outsource Accelerator is the most trusted source for independent information & advisory for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). We have over 5,000 articles, 400+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 3,000+ BPOs from different locations. Outsource Accelerator’s offerings make it easier for clients to learn about, and engage with, business process outsourcing companies worldwide. Want to learn more about outsourcing? Check out the Inside Outsourcing book as well as the Inside Outsourcing book review today! Outsource the right way, the first time Get up to speed in outsourcing with this all-in-one tool kit Top 40 BPO companies in the Philippines (2022) Outsource Accelerator offers the world's leading aggregator marketplace for outsourcing. It specifically provides the conduit between Philippines outsourcing suppliers and the businesses - clients - across the globe. The Outsource Accelerator website has over 4,000 articles, 250+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 3,000+ BPOs... all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about, and engage with, outsourcing. How many staff do you need to outsource? Other Get Inside Outsourcing An insider's view on why remote and offshore staffing is radically changing the future of work. Order now Related outsourcing resources Top 40 BPO companies in the Philippines 2022 The most notable 40 BPO companies in the Philippines Read more Offshore outsourcing remains booming Ultimate guide to outsourcing Start your Independent Outsource Accelerator is the trusted source of independent information, advisory and expert implementation of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). The #1 outsourcing authority Outsource Accelerator offers the world’s leading aggregator marketplace for outsourcing. It specifically provides the conduit between world-leading outsourcing suppliers and the businesses – clients – across the globe. The Outsource Accelerator website has over 5,000 articles, 350+ podcast episodes, and a comprehensive directory with 3,000+ BPO companies… all designed to make it easier for clients to learn about – and engage with – outsourcing. Derek Gallimore has been in business for 20 years, outsourcing for over eight years, and has been living in Manila (the heart of global outsourcing) since 2014. Derek is the founder and CEO of Outsource Accelerator, and is regarded as a leading expert on all things outsourcing.	26,366
(url removed) per hour* based on delivering a number of parcels across an estimated length of time (referred to as a block). Deliveries will be collected from the depot in Woking and will be made to the surrounding areas. Deliver packages locally and get paid weekly. Flexible hours. Be your own boss. What is Amazon Flex? It's simple! You use your own vehicle and your smartphone to deliver packages locally for Amazon as a way of earning extra money weekly to move you closer to your goals. Schedule a delivery block and start delivering parcels as little or as often as you like. To become a Delivery Driver you need a valid UK driving licence and a vehicle. Currently the only available delivery options are for owners of a 4-door car or van.You will need to be entitled to work in the UK and pass a background and criminal record check which includes, but is not limited to, a review of driving licence records. Current Amazon employees are not eligible to be Delivery Partners. How do I sign up? Grab your mobile and visit the Amazon Flex website to download the app for iPhone or Android. After the download, the app guides you step-by-step through the onboarding process. Once you have passed your background and criminal record check, you will be able to schedule a block and start delivering smiles! How long are the blocks? Blocks vary in length, from 1 to 5 hours, depending on the delivery service you support. For example, 1-hour and 2-hour blocks are available for Prime Now deliveries, where customers receive their deliveries within a few hours of making their order. However, for (url removed) deliveries, the area served is larger. In those cases, it's not feasible to have 1-hour or 2-hour blocks and the available blocks are 4-hour and 5-hour. Money Matters. Know your earnings. When you schedule a delivery block, you'll know estimated duration and your total payments all before your delivery block begins. You can build your own schedule, there are delivery blocks available seven days a week. However, the available delivery blocks may fluctuate week-to-week and are not guaranteed. Adjust your work not your life. Perhaps you have a job but want to supplement your income. Or maybe you are already a delivery driver and want something to keep you busy on the quieter days. Whatever your situation Amazon Flex can offer you the freedom and flexibility to be your own boss and earn extra cash on your own schedule. No matter what drives you, Amazon Flex helps you get there. Sign-up today. * Earnings estimates are based on delivering a number of packages across an estimated length of time (referred to as a block), completed while driving a standard motorised vehicle. Should Amazon Flex introduce blocks eligible to be delivered using scooters or other alternative modes of transportation, different rates may apply. We aim to ensure that the number of packages you are assigned to deliver within your block is realistic, taking into account congestion and the primary requirement to drive safely	3,056
The 26th Amendment, which allows people 18 and older to vote, turns 40 years old today. Despite recent conservative attempts to suppress the vote (through really bad voter ID laws), young people are still rockin’ the polling booths. Here’s your Roundup: But…I thought we were friends?: The addition of Deb Fischer to the NE GOP’s primary Senate race has put some fellow state senators in a difficult position. Nebraska Watchdog is reporting that at least two Senators, Pete Pirsch and Abbie Cornett, are supporting two candidates: Deb Fischer and “Wrong Way Jon” Bruning. State Sen. Abbie Cornett said she initially supported Bruning but since Fischer has jumped in the race, she now supports both because she and Deb are “friends.” Read here. Risky Energy: If you thought the risky TransCanada pipeline was the only energy project that’s hurting our small towns, think again. Champion Robert Kennedy, Jr. is highlighting a new movie called “The Last Mountain” that not only shows how risky this form of energy is but, more importantly, shows how these energy companies lie to small towns to get what they want–full control of the land and resources. Read or Watch here. A Victory for “Truthiness”: Much like he did with the illegal immigration debate, Stephen Colbert took his satirical critique of the campaign finance laws straight to Washington, DC. The FEC allowed the creation of Colbert’s SuperPAC yesterday, possibly opening the way for other television programs and companies to openly support, promote and finance candidates. The ‘’media exception’’ passed on a 5-1 vote. Does that mean Olbermann can return to MSNBC since we still don’t get Current in our cable? Read here. Economics with a heavy dose of Culture Wars: Senator Orrin Hatch (UT-R) is trying to appeal to Tea Partiers and help his falling poll numbers by attaching an anti-abortion amendment to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade agreement. Medicaid family planning funds (for things like birth control and pap smears) would not be available to any organization–hospitals included–that provide abortions. Hatch seems content to derail the trade agreement for his own agenda, further showing that while they campaigned on it, improving the economy is not the primary goal of Republicans in Congress. Read here. End of Quarter Spin: As the financing quarter closes, some Republican candidates are doing better than others in the struggle to find donors for their presidential campaigns. While Mitt(ens) Romney appears to be doing well, he is still below his 2007 numbers. Bachmann will likely continue her fundraising successes of the past. Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain and New Gingrich are in worse shape. While Cain and Huntsman are dealing with a small amount of capital to work with at the moment, some estimates put Gingrich at $1 million in the hole. You can guess everyone–especially Pawlenty, who is struggling to find his place with donors–will be measured against Mittens’ success. Can anyone compete with President Obama, who surpassed 480,000 donors as the 2nd quarter came to an end? Land of 1,000 Lakes CLOSED for the Holidays: Minnesota’s State Government shut down because Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and state Republicans could not reach a budget agreement. There are two ways to close Minessota’s budget gap: budget cuts and increased taxes. For the Republican-run House and Senate, only one of those means are on the table. Sound familiar? Fringe conservatives refused to accept the Governor’s tax increase on those making over $1 million a year. Minnesota residents and visitors will now have to go without the many state parks during the July 4 weekend. Read here. Thurs, June 30 There’s a flurry of activity from Dems about the economy. After weeks of criticism from Republicans and the breaking down of the Biden talks, Senate Dems plan to release a budget plan of their own next week. Also, Sen. Chuck Schumer unveiled a jobs plan this morning, arguing that Republicans are deliberately slowing the recovery for political gain. Here’s your Roundup: Oh, Really?: While Americans For Prosperity parades around the country using our elected officials to blame Obama for high gas prices, a new report shows the speculative commodities trading on Wall Street is inflating prices at the pump. The speculation, according to the report, cost the average consumer an extra 83 cents a gallon in May, amounting to a more than $1 billion premium across the country. Read here. Lil’ Cayman Island of the Great Plains: In Cheyenne Wyoming, more than 2,000 companies are registered at 2710 Thomes Ave. The building isn’t a skyscraper or office park, but a small brick house where anyone can set up a “shelf” company to hide their assets and avoid taxes under the business-incorporation specialist Wyoming Corporate Services. One of the owners of a firm is a jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister hiding real estate assets, another firm sold counterfeit truck parts to the Pentagon. “A corporation is a legal person created by state statute that can be used as a fall guy, a servant, a good friend or a decoy,” the Wyoming Corporate Services website boasts. “A person you control… yet cannot be held accountable for its actions. Imagine the possibilities!” Read here. Big Win for Health Care Reform: For the first time, a Republican-appointed federal judge upheld the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law. Circuit Judge Jeffery Sutton argues that the Constitution doesn’t limit Congress to regulate inaction the same way it regulates action. The health care field is much different from other fields of commerce, he argues, and some states already have health insurance mandates in which no court has yet invalidated. This case will most likely head to the Supreme Court by the end of the year. Read here. Rural Recovery: Nationally, the housing market is still a mess. But in rural states like Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Alaska, the market is marching towards recovery. These states did not see a big rise in home prices during the bubble years, have lower unemployment rates, and are home to energy, agricultural, and industrial sectors of the economy. Gotta love the Great Plains. Read here. Fighting Back: A group of Senators urged the Dept. of Justice yesterday to review the highly restrictive voter ID bills that have been passed in states around the country. Voter ID bills are a costly state-by-state effort suppress voting from the disabled, the young, and minority groups. Not surprisingly, our own State Sen. Charlie Janssen proposed one of these bills, which was shelved for being costly and unnecessary. Read here. Wed, June 29 Christine Lagarde is the new head of the IMF, Herman Cain has a either a book or a print edition of an identity crisis on the way, and Tom Petty is trying to stop Michele Bachmann from using his songs at rallies. Here’s your Roundup: Free Trade Fiasco: GOP The White House finally finished haggling with congressional negotiators over free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia. The controversial point has been something called TAA, which is a retraining program for the workers whose jobs might be lost as a result of the deals. Naturally House Republicans are already labelling the attachment of TAA to the deal an unnecessary disaster, making clear their priorities lie with the corporations who are sure to benefit from the deals. House Democrats on the other hand are concerned about tax havens in Panama and anti-union violence in Colombia. Read here. Shameful Study: A recent study on LGBT Nebraskans has revealed a disproportionate rate of suicidal thoughts that persist throughout life. The study concluded this is largely the result of the stigma present in conservative areas. Ultimately, this is what people who denigrate marriage equality or advocate a “don’t be obvious” societal attitude don’t understand. A community which denies a person full legal and social participation inflicts continuous harm on that segment of the population, a harm which can have devastating emotional impacts. Needless to say, as Nebraskans, this study makes us less than proud. Read here. Nuclear Plants Holding Up: The NRC’s blog is a great resource for understanding the flooding and how it relates the nuclear plant. So far everything seems to be going according to plan, except for one thing: the plants were only supposed to be up and running for 40 years, and that timeline has expired. Still, so far they’re holding the flooding at bay, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for their continued success. We’d also like to point out that the current success has a lot to do with an inspection by the NRC a few years ago which declared Fort Calhoun unprepared to deal with a flood of this magnitude. Imagine that, government regulations protecting the citizenry from industrial disasters. We shudder to think about how this might have played out if an agency like the NRC had its funding slashed. Read here. Deja Vu: Tax credits and protective tariffs for the the ethanol industry are on the chopping block in the Senate. Wait, didn’t this happen a few weeks ago? We could have sworn… Anyway, three senators say they’ve reached an agreement that will leave some industry assistance in place for things like ethanol infrastructure. The senators claim it will result in saving around $6 billion. That may be, but we wonder why there’s so much enthusiasm for cutting subsidies to a Midwestern, thoroughly American, industry? Where was this sentiment a month ago when tax credits for the five major oil companies were on the table? Read here. Consequence Lesson: This isn’t really news, but it sure feels good. Almost former TV host Glenn Beck was jeered out of a free movie in New York City by fellow spectators. Apparently, sometimes people actually hold you accountable for what you say. Meaning you can’t rail about socialism, and communism and Marxism and then go to a public park and watch a free movie. Got to love New Yorkers. Read here. Tues, June 28 Over the past few days, the flooding near Nebraska’s nuclear power plants has been making national news. Officials insist the plants are safe and are actively trying to dispel rumors that this is Fukushima-like incident by bringing journalists into the plant. Let’s hope they’re right. Here’s your Roundup: A Dangerous Game: By refusing to raise the debt ceiling, Republicans are threatening to push America to default on our debts and risk serious economic consequences. Yet the four Republicans who are attempting to hold the increase hostage (Kyl, McConnell, Boehner, Cantor) voted to raise the debt ceiling 19 times combined under President Bush–an increase of nearly $4 trillion dollars–without demanding any drastic spending cuts. Read Here. Nebraska Teachers <3 Obama: And we love our teachers, too. The Nebraska State Education Association voted yesterday to support President Barack Obama’s re-election in 2012. Nancy Fulton, the NSEA’s president-elect, will travel to Chicago this week to cast her vote in favor of the National Education Association adopting a similar resolution. Read here. Visualize It: In response to the adoption of marriage equality in New York, the good people over at the Maddow Blog posted a graph showing LGBT equality in the U.S. from 1960 to 2011. We’ve come a long way as a country, but we still have much more to accomplish in the way of LGBT rights. Read here. Money Talks: Exxon Mobile pledged to stop funding climate change deniers in 2008 (yes, they admitted it) in order to shift their focus to developing green energy. But new documents attained by a Greenpeace FOIA request show that Exxon was still funding climate skeptics as recently as last year. The documents reveal that one famous climate change denier, astrophysicist Wei Hock “Wille” Soon, has been paid over $800,000 by various oil and gas companies. This is just another in a long, long line of examples of Big Oil purposely deceiving the public and breaking its promises. Read here. Face Time: Members of the House of Representatives can now use Skype through the chamber’s public WiFi. This will probably be a helpful tool for our elected officials, but judging by recent scandals, it’s easy to imagine how the technology could be abused. Read here. A Little Good News: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords received a standing ovation at a NASA award ceremony yesterday. She reportedly stood up from her wheelchair and kissed her husband while he was awarded the Spaceflight Medal. Read here. Mon, June 27 Michele Bachmann has finally, officially declared her candidacy today. Yawn. In other news the House has decided they’re strongly against our involvement in Libya, but they’re fine with continuing to pick up the tab and Republicans continue to attack the National Labor Relations Board for doing their job. Here’s your roundup: Inspector Jackzo is on the Job:The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission spent yesterday inspecting Cooper Station and will spend today at Fort Calhoun. This is especially important since a flood guard at the Fort Calhoun station deflated yesterday. In response, the reactor went off grid and switched to diesel generators before returning back to grid power later in the day. Officials say despite the minor emergency, everything is just fine, and they’re prepared to weather the flood. We hope so. Read here. Taste the Rainbow: Same-sex couples in the state of New York finally have to right to be married. Governor Cuomo signed the legislation into law Friday evening. We’ve got to say, it’s about time. There’s something wrong when the home of Stonewall, the place that more or less gave birth to the gay rights movement, is behind Iowa’s progressive curve. This is a huge victory for all the same-sex couples that want to share in the comittment and responsibilities of marriage. Not only did the number of same-sex couples allowed to marry pretty much double, but the legislation had strongly bi-partisan support. We can only hope this signifies the start of a pattern, rather than a legislative anomaly. Read here. Obama Steps into the Ring: The president is set to get directly involved in the deficit talks this week after Eric Cantor walked out on negotiations to protect Americans making over $500,000. We say good riddance, since Cantor’s intransigence on uncontroversial matters like eliminating tax cuts for corporate jets was just absurd. Whether Obama will be able to dissolve the impasse over raising revenues remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: He better figure out how to do it or the consequences could be dire, for both the country’s credit rating and essential social services. We advise him to ask Michele Bachmann where she got her titanium spine. Read here. API Casting Call: As the GOP primary is just getting started in Iowa, Big Oil is hitting the ground running. A group calling itself the Iowa Energy Forum is pushing candidates on their support for tar sands oil and the Keystone XL. While they claim to be a grassroots organization, further investigation has revealed they are in fact funded by the American Petroleum Institute. Big surprise there. The good news is that Big Oil must be getting desperate. They can’t seem to find any citizens to spontaneously advocate for their agenda, so now they’re paying people to do it. This shortage of genuine popular support is what happens when your business model is built on irresponsibly exploiting and poisoning communities. Read here. For Public Profit: Unions in this country are increasingly under fire, and it’s important to take a look at the arguments being deployed against them, especially public sector unions. Garret Keizer makes some great observations in his editorial for the New York Times. In states like Wisconsin, GOP politicians are arguing that unions only make sense in for-profit industries. Well, as Keizer points out, public sector jobs are profitable-for every single citizen in the community. It’s time to remind the GOP that there are things other than stock options that have value. Read here. AM Audio Apertif: To check out our very own Jane Kleeb in an interview with Talk Back Omaha click here. Related News Tagged Roundup December 2014 New Energy Roundup News December 29, 2014 Tagged Roundup Energy Barn Update For the month of November, the New Energy Barn in the path of the Keystone Export pipeline produced 244 kilowatt-hours of electricity for Nebraska’s public power grid. That’s enough energy to charge the average cell phone for 7.6 years. As of December 1, the Energy Barn has produced 3.87 megawatts of electricity, […] Tagged Roundup November 2014 New Energy Roundup News November 29, 2014 Tagged Roundup Energy Barn Update For the month of October, the New Energy Barn in the path of the Keystone Export pipeline produced 305 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is the energy equivalent of driving about 13 laps at the Monaco Grand Prix. To date, the barn has generated 3.74 megawatt-hours of electricity, which is the equivalent of […] Tagged Roundup Roundup September 9th – 13th By Bold Nebraska News September 10, 2013 Tagged Roundup Read today's news from around the state and country. Each day in the Roundup we cover politics, always with a side of bold humor. We think politics should be fun, informative and encourage us all to take action.	17,834
Chadworth’s stepmother picked him up from the hospital in his own Corvette. He barely said hello; he only opened the driver’s side door for her to get out so he could drive. He dropped her off and sped away. With both hands gripping the wheel and his mouth set in a grim line, he headed to the medical supply store. What remained now was an oxygen tank. Luckily, he had already ordered it before his unexpected forced commitment in the mental hospital. He picked it up and went straight home. The first thing he did when he arrived was to seize his memoir, which bore not a trace of smoke or flame, and press it to his heart. Last week, he had finished calibrating the air-purifying device that he designed to capture the smoke particles for analysis. To test it, he burned various substances and used some “borrowed” equipment from school to analyze the collected particles. He hoped to reverse-engineer whatever it was Vanessa was doing. His cheerfulness was notably absent, and his patience had run out entirely. Because of the hospital, his plan to convert his personal gym into a laboratory had been put on hold and he was forced to perform these experiments in his bedroom with the inferior equipment. The remaining task was to assemble the breathing apparatus. He pushed the oxygen tube through the hole he bore into a sheet of rubber. This rubber he had carefully measured and fitted to the rim of a large, clear plastic globe (originally a decoration for the garden) and cut a hole into for his neck. He tested the oxygen tank to ensure the air was flowing. This was his plan: as soon as smoke appeared, he would turn on the oxygen, wrap the rubber insulation around his neck, thrust his head into the globe, and seal the rubber to its rim. He’d switch on the air-purifier, and it would simply become a matter of waiting. He had purchased enough canisters of oxygen for twenty-four hours, though he did not anticipate—or at least hoped—he would not have to wear the globe for any longer than an hour or two. He sat down at the desk to wait, with some sketches laid out for bait. Chadworth had every reason to expect that Vanessa would attempt to asphyxiate him again. She was well aware of his precarious academic situation; now that the football scholarship was lost, the only way to avoid night school was to earn a Ph.D. He sifted through his drawings depicting his imaginative representations of quantum physics at work in the atomic structures of plants. This was what mattered now and he would not allow Vanessa to intervene. His eyes were heavy. No! He must remain vigilant. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Someone knocked at the door. “I’m occupied!” he yelled. “Don’t disturb me until tomorrow!” A more insistent knock. “Chad, it’s me. It’s Vanessa.” He stood. That harlot, no doubt, intended to harm him in every way possible, but he had not considered a scenario in which she would arrive at his door and not in a puff of smoke. He opened the door slowly. Indeed, there she stood, with an ingratiating smile. “I’m not amused, Vanessa. Why would you come here after what you did? I was at that hospital for three days and have fallen behind on my work. No, you should never have come.” “Chadworth.” Vanessa rolled her eyes and slipped under his arm into the room. “Whatever. Chadworth.” She slunk around and the apparatus on his desk immediately caught her eye. “Oh, my, what’s this?” “Don’t touch it!” He bolted across the room and leaped in between her and the desk. “Do what you came to do, but don’t touch my equipment!” “I would never do that, Chad…worth.” She slumped into an armchair across the room and watched him. He wiped his face with his silk handkerchief. His mind ran through all the potential actions she could take against him. The important thing was to be quick about it. Whatever she did, he needed to get the plastic globe over his head and the oxygen turned on. He hadn’t played football so long ago that he was no longer in shape—no, he was faster than she was. “Chadworth, I’m really sorry about how you went to the mental hospital. I would never want you to go there. Although I heard you had a friend with you?” Puzzled, he ran through a list of all the people he met there. “Do you mean the toe-sucker?” “The toe-sucker? Ugh! Don’t tell me she sucks her toes, too.” “No, the toe-sucker was a man.” “The toe-sucker didn’t have green hair and talk about a mouse all day long?” “No. He just sucked his toes and batted my Rubik’s Cube around.” How many people did she send to that hospital? “Oh. Okay.” She shifted her position to curl up a different way and twirled a section of hair. “Hey, do you think my highlights look orange?” He frowned. He was experienced in Vanessa’s ways. “No, my dear, they are quite golden blonde.” “Good.” She released the hair. “So, I’m really sorry. That took time away from your work. From your mem—um—” “Memoir.” “Right. Because if you weren’t at the hospital, you could have written more of it.” “Indeed.” “And made more discoveries about your plants or whatever.” “Most assuredly.” “And that’s why I’m sorry,” she said as she climbed out of the chair, “sorry that I didn’t do this later.” She pointed her finger at the desk drawer where his memoir was stored. Flames burst out, along with clouds of smoke that darkened the room. “No!” His scream shook even the pictures on the wall. He flew to the desk and pulled the globe over his head and turned on the oxygen. Vanessa laughed and pointed to the oxygen tank which blew up. Flames raced up the tube to the rubber around his neck. Chadworth’s screams were muffled inside the globe as he tore through his room, trailing the flaming tube as Vanessa only laughed and laughed. Chad finally dislodged the melting plastic globe from his skull only in time for the great plumes of smoke to overtake him. He passed out across his desk which collapsed into a heap of splintered wood and flames. Related Posted in SepSceneWriMo 2021 #SepSceneWriMoFictionwriting 12 thoughts on “Ch 25. High School Ritual: Up in Flames (SepSceneWriMo)” Duke Miller says: September 25, 2021 at 10:17 pm So sorry to have not kept up with your writing, but I have been in a real funk. Still, I would like to congratulate you on jumping the fence or crossing the street or whatever. I’ll come back for more to see exactly what this is all about. I like this piece, although I see it is Ch 25. WTF. Are you on drugs? Well, yes, now that you mention it. Is this the first time you have attempted something like this? It must be, otherwise, you have been holding out on me. Don’t put yourself down so specifically. Have you ever read Fifty Shades of Grey? It is as if a 7th grader skipped out of class and quickly wrote a story about all of that forbidden shit. The stuff mom says not to think about and she wrote it on a brown paper bag with pencil. From that she made millions. Oh well, I must stop now. My BP is rising and I need to take my meds. This song reminds me of you. Like I say, I’ll be back and again, congrats. I mean it, here on the internet. Thanks. Duke LikeLiked by 1 person September 26, 2021 at 12:39 am Hey Duke. No need to apologize for not keeping up. I’m happy when someone just says hi. I haven’t considered it, but maybe I have jumped a fence. I know I’d like to ditch my own meds on the way over. The Moley and I are writing something every day this month. I’ve never been consistent with anything in my life so I intend to finish, even if it really is no achievement for me to write some dumb thing every day. As long as I and at least one other person laughs, I’m happy. Not sure why Fifty Shades of Gray came to your mind though. I make vanilla taste spicy. How can I not put myself down when I’m classed at the level of FSOG but without the parts people actually read. It’s all good. Thanks for the song. September 25, 2021 at 10:23 pm Dramatic scene though. But I feel for Chadworth! LikeLiked by 1 person September 26, 2021 at 12:02 am I hope the image of him running around with a melting plastic globe around his head with a flaming tube hanging out of it came through. September 26, 2021 at 3:13 am Oxygen and fire are a higly combustible combination. LikeLiked by 1 person September 26, 2021 at 8:54 am Poor Chadworth learned that the hard way tonight. LikeLiked by 1 person September 26, 2021 at 5:58 am Now that was completely unexpected, a right curve ball and I must admit I’m a bit perplexed, which means you’re aceing it Hetty LikeLiked by 1 person September 26, 2021 at 8:55 am Good. I’m very glad to hear it. LikeLiked by 1 person Anonymole says: September 26, 2021 at 12:38 pm I find myself reading for the story and not for the edits, now. Jafar’s powers grow… LikeLiked by 1 person September 26, 2021 at 7:02 pm Hardley M says: April 23, 2022 at 6:51 pm Haha, “now that the football scholarship was lost, the only way to avoid night school was to earn a Ph.D.”	9,466
I wrote last Monday’s FireStarter on Process and Peer Pressure because there were a few things bothering me that I needed to get out of my system, but I saved a lot for later. I didn’t really intend to write this followup so soon, but I saw that Cisco announced their own Software Development Lifecycle. I wanted to make some statements on SDL later this year when I begin publishing more concrete Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDL in Securosis parlance, SDL for most organizations) guidelines, but Cisco’s announcement changes things. I worry that sheer inertia will prompt the industry as a whole to rubber-stamp SDLs. Before you know it, HR reps will be including “SDL certification” requirements on every engineering job description, without a clue what they are demanding or why, so let’s stop this train before it runs too far off the tracks. If you are thinking about incorporating Secure Development Lifecycle practices for software development, that’s great. If you have read about Microsoft’s SDL, witnessed Microsoft’s success, seen Cisco’s endorsement, and believe their model will work for you, just stop. It’s not going to work for you. It’s based on a lot of factors and assumptions that do not pertain to you. It’s not a template for your requirements. Adopting MS-SDL wholesale is a little like a child putting on adult clothes because they want to be ‘big’. You cannot drop that particular process into your development organization and have it fit. More likely you will break everything. Your team will need to change their skills and priorities, and though it sounds cliche, people are resistant to change. Existing processes need to be adjusted to accommodate secure development processes and techniques. You will need new tools, or to augment existing ones. You will need a whole new class of metrics and tracking. And everything you pick the first time will need several iterations of alteration and adjustment before you get it right – this isn’t Microsoft’s first attempt either. It’s not that the SDL is bad – it isn’t. Microsoft did an excellent job with their SDL. It’s very well thought out, incorporates most effective defect detection techniques, has clearly evolved through several revisions, and includes intelligent tradeoffs in places where there is no single ‘right’ answer. But it is their SDL, not yours. If you take the SDL Microsoft has described and try to implement it, you will fail. I am talking to the 99% of people out there who would think about implementing SDL and think “Hey, Microsoft published this new thingie for free; let’s use it and save ourselves the time and money!” Wrong. Too Big: This process is geared for very large firms, with lots of resources, and a genuine desire to get better. You may not need all of it and frankly it would be overwhelming to start with. This is huge – I mean really huge. You are not going to swallow this elephant in a single gulp. Organic Evolution: Microsoft’s success is not just the introduction of process and techniques. It was not just hiring a handful of really good people and helping to educate the development staff. The MS-SDL reflects several years of focused evolution, and in software that is a lot. They spent a long time looking at the code and figuring out what was wrong. They developed their own tools to help discover problems. They developed software to help track their progress and provide metrics to demonstrate what worked and what did not. They evolved their own threat modeling. They tried, revised, fixed and re-implemented most of what they do several times over. Don’t think their publishing a guide can save you this pain – it cannot. Resources: People, Tools, and Time are the three classic resources you have when you build code. Resources are scare. Always. OK, if you have billions of dollars in the bank, or you are a bank, you might not be quite as pinched for resources. But developing quality code is expensive. Microsoft had the money to hire some of the best people, to buy or build the best tools, a willingness to take additional time for security before releasing software, and then hire some more of the best people. Your developers work nights and weekends to get the release out the door and collapse in a heap, dreaming about all the things they wanted to do before the code was released. Cisco? Yeah, they can do this. You? You don’t have the resources to do everything, so you need to pick and choose. Appropriateness of Techniques: Your program calls for white box testing. Great, but you don’t own critical code you rely on. You leverage open source where you can get code, but off-the-shelf software and even Microsoft tools do not provide source code. If you have four thousand web pages, and most of them don’t filter input values, do you really think you are going to fix this in the current release cycle, or are you going to deploy a WAF? If you are starting an application from scratch, your first step will be threat modeling. If you have a huge existing application, forget threat modeling for now – pen testing is probably much more effective and efficient. And it’s not just which techniques, but how you use them. Within all these techniques, there are many variations and supporting requirements that need tweaking so they can work for you. We discuss these tradeoffs in the Use Case portion of Understanding and Selecting a Web Application Security Program white paper, but the point is that the right choice for you is different than the right choice for Microsoft or Cisco, and you can’t discover what’s right for your environment by reading their SDLs. Do what Microsoft did, not what they do: Using the SDL as your program is a really bad thing to do. I really hope people don’t take this as a slam against Microsoft – my point is to follow Microsoft’s example, rather than their SDL. You need to do what Microsoft did, because you cannot simply jump ahead to what Microsoft is doing today. Microsoft’s journey to where they are now is far more interesting and useful than the specific tools and techniques they eventually settled on. You can learn by example, sure, but you need to answer the same questions – sometimes with different answers, as dictated by your own constraints – to evolve your own process from the beginning. That comes from hard work and analysis, with lots of trial and error mixed in. There is no shortcut, no secret sauce, no package of Instant Code-Be-Secure. One size does not fit all. Admire what Microsoft has done, for their customers and for the community, learn, and then figure what is relevant to you. You don’t have to completely start from scratch, but you have got work to do in figuring out how you are going to build your own Secure Development Lifecycle. No Related Posts Friday Summary: May 7, 2010 Comments Wed, May 12, 2010 2:38pm Couple of points, though - we don’t put a lot of effort into security because we have lots of money to toss around. We put the effort in because it is the right thing to do, and we also know that it _costs_ a lot of money if we do not. It’s a key part of getting management buy-in - show them the ROI. We do have an advantage of scale - since we have 3000 developers in Office, we can afford to dedicate a dozen or so to nothing but security. If you’ve got 30, then it averages out to a fraction of one person. Which means you (as we do) have to distribute the effort. While pen testing is a lot of fun, and it will indeed find valuable problems, you can’t test quality into software. You have to make processes to deal with problems on a consistent basis. By all means, take the bits of the SDL that work for you and use them. One of the most effective threat models I’ve ever done was on a large whiteboard with a bunch of people in the room. Also, it shouldn’t be a WAF _or_ trying to secure your code. How about both? There’s no approach to securing things that’s perfect, so use them in layers, and where each layer makes sense. Tue, May 11, 2010 11:44am Adrian, If management doesn’t accept security as a priority, it’s not going to be. It’s literally that simple in my mind. However, even if they accept it as a priority, that still doesn’t leave them with tools to actually treat it that way. But that’s not a unique problem to secure development. Writing quality software is HARD, and it demands the need for engaged management at all levels and in various degrees. There has to be at a reasonable minimum some level of: vision, clear communication, market research, design & usability testing, accountability and verification. So, why then do people seem so surprised to find out that securing software has similar traits and expectations across all levels of the company? Likely, if I was to wager a guess, because they don’t write software well in the first place. To your point, if companies literally have thousands of sites that are insecure but don’t have the resources to fix broken code… how would they do it if it was any other quality concern? The company has lots of reasonable options to fix it, including: retiring sites, consolidating sites, fixing critical issues in critical sites, hiring workers to implement changes, focusing a whole team on changes, etc… but they are most likely to choose the “cost effective” one. Which is fine, of course, if it actually worked. I don’t dislike WAF’s for what they can do, I dislike them because by choosing them it almost GUARANTEES that the problems wont actually be fixed. Because the problems aren’t fixed, coupled with the fact that WAF’s aren’t nearly as strong as people sell them as, the company is at risk. Possibly less risk, but that’s ultimately specific to the company itself. To your point, secure developers and WAF’s are at odds particularly because if you choose one you have essentially pooped on the other. PCI DSS makes it pretty clear, put in a WAF and you don’t need to verify/write code securely. To say that people could do both is irrelevant, they wont. If they DID the whole of this argument is effectively moot. -A By Andrew Tue, May 11, 2010 11:10am @Andrew - I put the WAF reference in that bullet point because the half dozen other examples were too subtle to make the point. I considered writing a FireStarter called ‘Developers Hate WAF’. Maybe I should. People who believe in secure development practices are anti-WAF. They view WAF is an inefficient band-aid that breaks web applications. They spend time propping up WAF rules that could be spent fixing code. Fixing the code is the _right_ thing to do. But when it comes down to it, when the volume of crap—critical crap—you have to fix is measured in years, its your only choice. Well, that or get out of the business. I repeatedly argued this point in the past, and had my thinking adjusted by Jeremiah Grossman and the sheer weight of evidence he brought to the discussion. Nobody said necessity is pretty. Your second point reinforces my argument: can I responsibly and reasonably do it from where I am at. You also interweave several points which were in my original draft but removed to focus on this issue. 1. Management buy in. It’s needed and necessary to be successful. But you want management buy in that security is a requirement, not how to achieve security. And the reason I wrote this post is comments by mid-level management looking to adopt SDL. 2. Several people I know in the research community feel Microsoft SDL is so far off from the appropriate starting point that I have heard more than one expert in secure code development wonder aloud if the only reason Microsoft published their SDL was for PR purposes. My feeling is Microsoft turned around a number dodge-y to downright broken products, and they were kind enough to share the tools that make them successful. Frankly had I spent that much time and money, I would push as much of this out there to show the world all the great things that were done. Yeah, it’s now a PR effort as well, but they earned the credibility to do it. 3. I under-played the metrics and measurements part of the argument. “Is the process capable of proving its value” is a serious issue because firms don’t collect and track many of the metrics they will need, and it will be several years to demonstrate value even after they do. “Security” is a nebulous concept to begin with, making this all the more difficult. Tue, May 11, 2010 10:04am Adrian, Overall I agree with your post. There are lots of nuances here that aren By Andrew Tue, May 11, 2010 8:03am @starbuck - thank you for the thoughtful comment. You have captured the motivation for the post better than I did. @Marisa - I don’t have personal experience with Veracode products. Conceptually I like the idea of static binary as it helps uncover what is going on with third party products. I need to reach out to them for a briefing. @Andre - Does this mean you don’t wear the “I WAF” shirt I sent you for Christmas? Tue, May 11, 2010 3:25am “Before you know, it HR reps will be including “SDL certification” requirements on every engineering job description, without a clue what they are demanding or why, so let’s stop this train before it runs too far off the tracks.” Damn right. By the way, I didn’t really see the point of your article at first as it seems quite logic to me that adopting the methodology/process that one of the biggest software editors adopted would require very strong adaptation. Then I remembered myself almost three years ago when I printed out the SDL process and came to the meeting room bragging about it “Yeah, that’s what we’ll do!!!” And I also remember the moment, one year after, when I realized that these models were just…models, that small ISVs like the one I was working for couldn’t afford both financially and technically. Now, the most interesting (from my humble opinion) of your recommendations is the 5th one: Do what MS did, not what they do. That’s what happens, ironically: the SDL process describes Microsoft’s maturity model at its most mature stage but lacks guidance on how to reach it (the assessment kind of helps but…anyway). Every company has its own needs and resources and SDL does not provide any insights on how to identify the appropriate roadmap (aka: the cheapest and most risk-mitigating approach). That’s a selling point of the OpenSAMM process, which proposes industry-oriented maturity roadmaps that should help the organization walk along the path towards a mature software development lifecycle. I am currently deploying security within an existing SDLC with a massive amount of developers, based on the OpenSAMM guidance. Within six months I hope I will be able to have some thoughts to share on the differences between working with SDL and working with OpenSAMM. Let’s hope they will be more positive than my experience with SDL. Thanks for your article!! Mon, May 10, 2010 11:05pm “Do what Microsoft did, not what they do” I love that. Agreed on all fronts. To Microsoft’s credit though, they do have an arsenal of helpful documents and a fleet of consultants in their Pro Network to help you with the growing pains. To point 4, how do you feel about the increasingly popular use of binary testing? (e.g. Veracode) Mon, May 10, 2010 10:10am I agree with everything in this entire post. A very nice job! However, since I’m here, I might as well leave the feedback that it would be nice if you just skip on the whole WAF conversation. Nobody in their right mind is going to deploy a WAF because they affect performance very negatively and cause severe security problems, even when in “monitoring-only” mode. This is primarily because the technology sucks, but also because the companies that build and promote WAF are very immature and do not understand SDL-IT, SDL-Lite, or have their own customized SSDL like you explain here. If they don’t understand appsec for themselves, how are they going to protect your app? If you like to leave comments, and aren’t a spammer, register for the site and email us at info@securosis.com and we’ll turn off moderation for your account. Notify me of follow-up comments? Securosis is an information security research and advisory firm dedicated to transparency, objectivity, and quality. We are totally obsessed with improving the practice of information security. Our job is to save you money and help you do your job better and faster by helping you cut through the noise and providing clear, actionable, pragmatic advice on securing your organization. Following our guiding principle of Totally Transparent Research, we provide nearly all our content for free.	17,343
After landing and getting our bearings in the major Chilean cities of Santiago and Valparaiso, we’re continuing our journey through the lands way south of the (U.S) border in two incredibly different landscapes: the world’s driest desert and the largest waterfall on the planet. Take a look at traveling from Atacama to Iguazú in Chile. This desert region, Atacama, is situated mostly in northern Chile. If you’re visiting, you’ll likely stay in or near San Pedro de Atacama, a quaint little adobe town complete with a town square that looks like it hasn’t changed much in the past century. Star Wars fans will recognize some of the landscapes from The Mandalorian; parts of the Motorcycle Diaries and a number of other movies were filmed in the Atacama as well. The almost-lunar landscapes, stark rock formations, volcanoes, and salt flats with flamingos standing in crystal blue pools make for a stunning backdrop to any story. You can also find Inca carvings in the rocks on some hikes if you have a knowledgeable guide. Of course, one of the primary reasons that people go to the Atacama is for the astro-tourism! You can’t miss going star-gazing and seeing the night sky sans light pollution. Your hotel will likely be able to arrange visits to some of the observatories and their ultra-powerful telescopes, where you will be able to see and learn more from resident astronomers. Where to stay in Atacama: There are several boutique hotels that offer plenty of opportunities for adventure in addition to high-end spas and Eco-friendly pools and hot tubs. Trust us, you’ll deserve that spa time after a day or two climbing volcanoes in the world’s driest climate! We love Tierra Atacama for their excellent team and relationships with local guides and beautiful interior design (including your own private desert patio and an indoor/outdoor shower), plus the stunning views of the Lincancabur volcano from the pool and grounds What and where to eat: Like the rest of Chile, the Atacama region is full of amazing ice cream shops and you’ll need it after a day out in the heat. Many hotels offer full or partial board and have good restaurants with hearty but healthy dining options–think high protein meals with eggs, beef, chicken and lots of veggies. What to buy: You can buy semi-precious stones and crystals mined in the region, ponchos, blankets, hats, scarves, and more crafted from alpaca or vicuna wool and featuring traditional patterns, and other standard souvenirs like keychains and postcards. What to pack: The Atacama region is a super casual area and most travelers are there for the landscapes and the challenge of exploring the desert, so you want to think practical, sturdy, and capable of withstanding a nice coating of desert dust. UV-proof clothing from outdoor retailers like Patagonia and Columbia will be everywhere, and there’s no need for anything but hiking sneakers or boots. Don’t forget some warm clothes for nights of star-gazing and a swimsuit or two for a dip in the pool or salt flats! How to adventure: There is no shortage of ways to explore the desert and take all those instagram-worthy pics with other-worldly backdrops. We recommend working with your hotel to schedule tours of the various valleys, rivers, salt flats, geysers and (mostly) dormant volcanoes. (Trek in the rivers for a cooler journey that’s an excellent workout. The water goes up to your knees or so). You can also ride horses, bikes, ATVs, or even motorcycles through the desert, or go rock climbing/bouldering or sandboarding. (We recommend that you should try out the latter two activities only if you have previous experience, however, the Atacama desert is not an ideal place for beginners!). Atacama – What to know: It’s hot and incredibly sunny during the day, but freezing cold at night in the Atacama desert (and you’ll want to go out at night at least once to see the stars), so pack accordingly. Most of the interesting spots are at higher altitudes as well, so you’ll want to rest when you need to and stay extra hydrated. Nearly all the roads in San Pedro de Atacama itself are unpaved and the town itself is fairly small. It’s only about twelve blocks or so, surrounded by hotels, most of which have their own restaurants and connections with guides and excursion leaders. One of the natural wonders of the world, the series of waterfalls sandwiched between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina in Iguazú must be seen to be believed. Their grandeur and sheer power is compelling enough, but the fact that they are surrounded by subtropical rainforests and one of the most eco-diverse areas of the world definitely adds to their appeal. Where to stay in Igazú: There are a number of hotels in the area, but only two in the park itself. The Gran Melia on the Argentinian side with an amazing pool and views of the falls, and the Belmond on the Brazilian side that perches on a peak overlooking where the rivers meet. Note that any hotel in the area will have capuchin monkeys on the property, so be sure to keep your room locked and balcony doors shut! They are adorable but they definitely want to steal treats and any small shiny objects you might have with you. What and where to eat: The park at the falls has a few restaurants that have standard tourist fare, and you can find more choices in Puerto Iguazú or Misiones (the nearest Argentine city). The Gran Melia hotel has a seafood restaurant that focuses on regional specialties and has both Argentine and Brazilian dishes (along with sushi) on the roof, which is ideal if you can make it there to see the sun set over the falls. What to buy: The normal tourist trap items are on offer, but you can also find gemstones like Amazonite and Rhodochrosite (the rose of the Inca) and balsa wood carvings of local birds and animals done in the native style. What to pack: It is hot and you will be surrounded by waterfall mist and rainforests, so swimwear and whatever you think can stand the humidity the best (don’t even try with the hair and makeup, Mother Nature will win). And plenty of sunscreen! How to adventure: If you’re brave and not afraid of being drenched and trekking through the jungle a bit, you’ll want to take the Gran Adventura tour with the boats that go up to and underneath the walls! Be aware that while it’s fairly short, there are some serious rapids (you’ll be tossed around) and of course you’ll get soaked in the falls. You’ll also have to go up and down a couple hundred stairs to get to the boats, so be ready to climb. You can explore the national parks on your own and check out the flora and fauna of the area, but you’ll need to hire a guide to go off path into the jungle and of course, choose an Argentine or Brazilian company to take you on an adventure boat into the falls. The falls themselves have multiple paths and overlooks that you can tour without a guide, and you can take a tourist train around to make things quicker and easier (the pathways are mostly flat but it is super hot and humid). You can also explore the national park around the falls and see colorful tropical birds like toucans and parrots, anteaters, tapirs and even ocelots or jaguars if you are especially lucky. What to know: You can explore the national parks on your own (crossing the border into Brazil for the day is fairly simple–make sure you get a passport stamp to make things easier on the way back!), but hiring a guide and driver is inexpensive and a good way to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area. Where to next? Travel south to Patagonia or perhaps to the cosmopolitan streets of Buenos Aires! Are you planning a trip soon? Where are you going and where do you want to explore? What is your dream destination? Let us know in the comments or in our Growing Younger Facebook group and remember that learning new things and exploring can keep your mind and body looking and feeling youthful! You may also like to read more of Jacqueline’s travel guides like Travel: Escaping To Pura Vida In Costa Rica and Travel To The Mystical And Magical Peru. Are you following Fountain Of 30 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest? We’ve got lots going on, so join in on the fun! Subscribe to our newsletter here. You don’t want to miss a post and promise not to bug you to death. We also started a Facebook Group called Growing Younger for women to discuss everything good and bad about being over 40. Additionally Lauren now hosts a podcast called Beauty is a Bitch! and a weekly Instagram Live series called “Growing Younger Gabfest with Lauren.”	8,828
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I was delighted to receive an invitation as a special guest to the annual (usually) ball of First Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. I had spent two embeds with these soldiers at nasty Camp Corregidor in Ramadi and had already come to feel like I was a member of their "Band of Brothers." Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Ron Clark extended the invitation to me and confirmed that, unlike at Corregidor, body armor and Kevlar helmet were not required at all times - or indeed at all. My photoset of the ball is posted here. (Participants please feel free to offer corrections on names or providing first names where I only have last.) I'd never been to Ft. Campbell and was delighted to find it was a far nicer place than where I spent my time, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina - but then, I'd guess virtually any base would be. We didn't refer to it as "the armpit of the south" for nothing. The town next to Campbell, Clarksville, also beat the living you-know-what out of Bragg's civilian neighbor Fayetteville, North Carolina. (Fayetteville we referred to fondly as "Fayettenam" and "Fatalburg.") First we attended an officers' reception at Clark's house, where I got a chance to become reacquainted or acquainted with many of those men. (There was also a woman officer, 1st Lt. Jennifer Wynn, executive officer (XO) of Easy Company.) The last time I'd seen these people they were wearing ACUs and, yes, armor and helmets. It was strange seeing them in their brilliant dress blues with cascades of ribbons and awards. Almost all of them wore the paratrooper's silver wings, I'm happy to report, even though the 101st hasn't been an airborne unit for decades. I thought it possible that Clark was a closet tee-totaler; in fact, to my delight he's quite the beer connoisseur and all attendees benefited thereby. (But I'll bet he also drinks tea.) There was a long series of unofficial awards given out to the many officers who were leaving or had already left the unit, although I couldn't see much because I was stuck behind a Navy SEAL who, like all SEALs it seems, was built rather like a redwood tree. Or to put it another way, SEALs look like you'd expect them to look. Both this ceremony and the ball weren't actually so much 1/506th but rather "Task Force Currahee, which includes anybody who served at Corregidor while Clark was in charge. That's why we there were men there from SEAL Team 3 and at least one Marine. The ball was an absolute kick. I admit to feeling great pride as they played the "New Band of Brothers video," drawing the title from my first article about them. It included written excerpts from the piece and a few of my photos in the montage that followed. But the choice part of the evening was seeing the guys with whom I was in combat. I introduced myself to a SEAL and asked if we'd been together on that roof in the Mulaab. Indeed, we were. He was the one of whom I wrote: Lots of guys were there from the next day's firefight with A Company as well, the ones I joined on "The Ramadi Run" through an ambush. We still laughed over it. They sure made us dance with their machine guns and AKs, but we made it through with nothing more than a great story to tell. Andrew Johnson was there, the guy who looked so young I asked if his mom knew where he was. Alas, Corregidor ages you. He almost looks old enough to be in the Army now. Almost. And yes, "Crazy Joe" Claburn was in attendance. He left partway through the deployment to join an airborne pathfinder unit, first in Iraq and then back at Ft. Campbell. And yeah, he's still nutty. Where his name should have been on his dress blues he had "America" imprinted instead. Oh well, God Bless America. He said I made him famous "for five weeks" when I reported on his comments on the Mulaab rooftop as we were taking fire. "Hear them cracking over your head?" he shouted. "That'll get your peter hard, huh?" He told me that some time later somebody stopped him a chow hall and said, "You're Crazy Joe aren't you? The guy who said being shot at makes your peter hard!" Guilty, guilty, guilty. Later anti-war and ultra-lib talk show host Al Franken commented on that while I was on his show as if show there was something seriously wrong with Claburn - and perhaps the Americans fighting in Iraq generally. But if so, it's not that comment that proves it. As CJ pointed out to me, and as I had no need to hear, in situations like that you've got to do things besides just firing back to keep your head about you. My own videos show me laughing and singing ("We gotta get outta this place . . . ") during the next day's fight. Is that crazier than dwelling on the possibility of a round taking off the top of your head off or an RPG making you go splat? I think not. In any event, Claburn brought his girlfriend of two years who was gorgeous flesh on the outside and titanium on the inside. Her husband had been killed early in the war by an IED and she later actually took a slight demotion from Captain to Chief Warrant Officer 2 in order to become a Kiowa Scout pilot. "That's because it's one of the few combat slots open to women, right?" I said. "That's right!" she answered. It's a terribly dangerous job, as well. Maybe she's crazy too. But dating all of America will do that to you. My wife, not incidentally, was delighted. She had come to know these men through my writings, my pictures, and my stories. But meeting them was something else entirely. Yes, Ron Clark really is that professional and yet affable. Yes, she could see why XO Matt Keller and I became buddies in a grand total of four days at Corregidor. Andrew Johnson really does look like a kid, but then so do so many of these elite warriors. I think she was perhaps most delighted to meet Rob Killion, who became the "star" of my article by virtue of popping an exceptional number of bad guys in front of my camcorder and still camera and his down-home sense of humor in a deadly situation. One of the few somber points of the evening included unveiling a flat stone carving by a local firefighter and a plaque to the names of the 11 fallen of Task Force Currahee. It included the battalion's original XO Lt. Col. Paul Finken who was sent to Baghdad to oversee the training of Iraqi soldiers and died in an IED explosion with less than two weeks left on his tour. SSgt. Michael A. Dickinson II was providing his PSYOPS expertise to Currahee when he was killed by small arms fire. At bottom center of the plaque was Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, the SEAL who died when he threw himself on a grenade to save his three buddies. He's now up for the Congressional Medal of Honor. I'd like also to mention Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Alan Lee who, while not part of Task Force Currahee, fought alongside its men and became the first SEAL to die in Ramadi and Iraq. Part of the plaque's inscription, from John 15:13, reads: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his fellow friend." That applies to all the fallen. But let me say this. Eleven men lost is exactly 11 too many. Especially men like these. But there were out of about 1,000 soldiers in Task Force Currahee fighting in the worst conditions in Iraq. By rights, far more should have died but for the leadership of Clark, Finken, Keller, Crazy Joe and Justin Michel and the other company commanders, Command Sgt. Major Michael Catterton, and indeed each individual member of Currahee who fought desperately to accomplish their mission and keep their buddies alive. Alas, the 1/506th as I knew it is already passing into history. Clark and A Co. Commander Justin Michel are coming to my town, specifically the Pentagon. Matt Keller is off to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. But this unit, and what it accomplished in its tour in Ramadi, like its illustrious forebears who dropped behind the lines at Normandy, will pass into glorious history. Related July 02, 2020 A Good Friday to Remember -- The rather dramatic story of my near-fatal car crash off a cliff April 05, 2012 No moon base by 2020 made simple January 30, 2012 Latest July 02, 2020 A Good Friday to Remember -- The rather dramatic story of my near-fatal car crash off a cliff April 05, 2012 No moon base by 2020 made simple January 30, 2012 Support Me I'm an independent writer on nobody's payroll, beholden to nobody. But there's a downside. Your contributions are what keep me going. I understand that people think quality journalism comes with pecuniary rewards; actually the opposite is generally true! It's raining clickbait out there, but I'm not part of it!	8,708
Recommendation systems often face exploration-exploitation tradeoffs: the system can only learn about the desirability of new options by recommending them to some user. Such systems can thus be modeled as multi-armed bandit settings; however, users are self-interested and cannot be made to follow recommendations. We ask whether exploration can nevertheless be performed in a way that scrupulously respects agents' interests—i.e., by a system that acts as a fiduciary. More formally, we introduce a model in which a recommendation system faces an exploration-exploitation tradeoff under the constraint that it can never recommend any action that it knows yields lower reward in expectation than an agent would achieve if it acted alone. Our main contribution is a positive result: an asymptotically optimal, incentive compatible, and ex-ante individually rational recommendation algorithm. Show more Show less The International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) is the premier gathering of professionals dedicated to the advancement of the branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning. ICML is globally renowned for presenting and publishing cutting-edge research on all aspects of machine learning used in closely related areas like artificial intelligence, statistics and data science, as well as important application areas such as machine vision, computational biology, speech recognition, and robotics. ICML is one of the fastest growing artificial intelligence conferences in the world. Participants at ICML span a wide range of backgrounds, from academic and industrial researchers, to entrepreneurs and engineers, to graduate students and postdocs.	1,713
Screenwriter and film director Paul Haggis arrives at court for a sexual assault civil lawsuit in New York on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) Screenwriter and film director Paul Haggis arrives at court for a sexual assault civil lawsuit in New York on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) Rape accuser testifies against filmmaker Paul Haggis Posted: Oct 20, 2022 / 02:22 PM EDT Updated: Oct 20, 2022 / 07:06 PM EDT Screenwriter and film director Paul Haggis arrives at court for a sexual assault civil lawsuit in New York on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) Screenwriter and film director Paul Haggis arrives at court for a sexual assault civil lawsuit in New York on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) Posted: Oct 20, 2022 / 02:22 PM EDT Updated: Oct 20, 2022 / 07:06 PM EDT NEW YORK (AP) — He was a famous moviemaker. She was a publicist working a film premiere where he was a VIP guest. He’d offered her a lift home and then invited her to his apartment for a drink. Once there screenwriter-director Paul Haggis abruptly tried to kiss her, backed her into his refrigerator, and had a question for her, accuser Haleigh Breest told a jury Thursday. “Are you scared of me?” he asked, according to her testimony. And so began, Breest said, a sexual assault that ended with the Oscar winner raping her. She’s suing him in a civil case that’s now on trial. Haggis maintains the 2013 encounter was consensual, and his lawyer has argued that Breest called it rape because she’s out for money. She’s seeking unspecified damages. In a steady, unsparing tone, Breest recounted what she said was a terrifying, painful attack that left her shocked and “really struggling to comprehend what had happened.” “I couldn’t understand how somebody who seemed like a nice guy would do that,” she said. As she spoke without looking at him, Haggis, 69, watched largely expressionlessly, sometimes rubbing his bearded chin or taking notes. The Associated Press generally doesn’t identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Breest has done. Breest, now 36, said she first met the “Crash” and “Million Dollar Baby” screenwriter in 2012 at a premiere afterparty where she was working. Breest and Haggis exchanged occasional professional emails and party chitchat, she said, over the months before their paths crossed again at another premiere party she worked on Jan. 31, 2013. A tipsy — but not stumbling drunk — Breest accepted the filmmaker’s offer of a ride, and then his invitation for a drink, she told jurors. She said she suggested someplace public instead, but he pushed for his apartment in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, and she didn’t want to offend one of her employer’s red-carpet guests. “But just so you know,” she testified that she told him, “I’m not sleeping in SoHo tonight.” Yet Haggis’ advances began as soon as she put her bags down in his loft’s open kitchen, Breest said. “You’ve been flirting with me for months,” he soon said, according to her. “I don’t even know you,” she said she replied. Breest said she dodged him and thought she’d politely defused the situation when he started showing her the apartment. But when they reached a guest bedroom, Haggis “became aggressive very quickly,” pushed her onto the bed and pulled off her tights and clothes as she tried to keep them on and told him to stop, she said. Then, she said, he forced her to perform oral sex and wanted intercourse. She said she asked to take a shower as a subtle way to get out of the room, but he followed her there, then steered her back to the guest bedroom and made a further series of unwanted sexual moves that culminated in rape. “I was like a trapped animal. There was nothing for me to do,” she said. Breest said she passed out soon afterward, awoke alone on the bed the next morning and left without seeing Haggis again. That day and in the ensuing months, Breest said, she told a half-dozen friends that she had been sexually assaulted, naming Haggis to some. She said she informed her boss the next year that Haggis had done something bad to her. Breest didn’t tell police. She testified that she was scared and concerned about how her allegation would be handled. Nor did she confront Haggis when he emailed her the day after the encounter to ask about photos from the premiere. Nor at subsequent screenings or in emails, some of which she initiated, about social events and movie matters. “I didn’t want my work experience to be awkward,” she testified, so “I pretended like everything was normal. And it wasn’t.” Behind the scenes, Breest anguished over what had happened and what to do, according to text and other electronic messages shown in court. The communications, sent to friends, veer from frank descriptions of forced sex — “and I kept saying no” — to moments when she seemed to downplay it (“it sort of is” rape). At times she said she wanted to avoid Haggis, at others she mused about seeing him again to try to regain some equanimity and “not be the victim.” The messages are salted with lighthearted texting slang — “lol,” “omg,” “haha” — that Breest says were attempts to use humor to defang a tough subject. Haggis hasn’t testified thus far, and his lawyers haven’t yet gotten their chance to question Breest. In an opening statement, defense attorney Priya Chaudhry pointed to some of the accuser’s messages — such as a comment that she needs “to get something out of this” — to question her credibility. Breest said her remarks just reflect her horror at being victimized, her desire to seize back a sense of control in her life, and her confusion at how someone she thought well of could violently turn on her. Now, she said, she understands that night. “I thought I was getting a ride home. I agreed to have a drink. What happened never should have happened,” she told the jury. “And it had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with him and his actions.” Your email(required) Δ Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.	6,402
As previously discussed in our “itchy dog” blog, there are two broad categories of allergies seen in pets. So, what are they and how do we manage them? Animals with food allergies will often be itchy all year round, as they are eating the food that they are allergic to all year round. The most common food allergens in dogs include beef, dairy, and chicken. The most common food allergens in cats include beef, dairy, and fish. Approximately 30% of animals also have gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, and anal gland issues. So, how is a food allergy diagnosed? The ONLY way to diagnose a food allergy is by performing a diet trial. A diet trial is performed by feeding a special diet prescribed to you by your veterinarian and nothing else, for 8-12 weeks. Feeding any food outside of the prescription diet will set the trial back to day 1 of the 8-12 weeks. It may take the whole 8-12 weeks to see improvement in your pet, so do not be discouraged early on. In the meantime, your veterinarian may prescribe medication to help with the itchiness. Environmental Animals with environmental allergies may only be itchy, or be worse, in certain seasons, depending on what they are allergic to. They can be exposed to allergens through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Many breeds are predisposed to environmental allergies, including Golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Shar-Pei, and West Highland white terrier. Management of environmental allergies are individualized for each patient and may include. Anti-itch and anti-inflammatory medications (as prescribed by your veterinarian) Treatment of any concurrent infection. Allergy injections – testing must be performed to determine what allergens should be included in the injection. Your family veterinarian may be able to send off a serum (blood) test or you can visit a veterinary dermatologist for an intradermal (skin) test. Some animals may have both food and environmental allergies. If you are concerned that your pet may have allergies, please contact your veterinary office. Your veterinarian will work with you to create the best plan for you and your pet. If you have any questions, give us a call at 506.857.4271. Written by: Nicole Mann, DVM Share This Post Previous Post: August 2019 Calendar Next Post: September 2019 Calendar We are happy to provide you with the option to browse and shop for your pet, all from the comfort of your own home! Whether it’s food, treats, toys or shampoo, we have something for your furry best friend.	2,622
The lives of several families in the Yorkshire Dales revolve around a farm and the nearby village. With murders, affairs, lies, deceit, laughter and tears, it's all there in the village. Season 51 Season 50 Season 49 Season 48 Season 47 Season 46 Season 45 Season 44 Season 43 Season 42 Season 41 Season 40 Season 39 Season 38 Season 37 Season 36 Season 35 Season 34 Season 33 Season 32 Season 31 Season 30 Season 29 Season 28 Season 27 Season 26 Season 25 Season 24 Season 23 Season 3 Season 2 Season 1 Season 0 Alan Turner appears in TV. Charity prepares a Valentine's surpise for Jimmy, Debbie's jeans are tight, her baby swell is getting bigger and Terry & Louise return from their holiday. As Jimmy pours his heart out to Charity, she reveals she's set him up. Terry and Louise share business and pleasure! and Laurel and Ashley set the date for their wedding. Rodney is angry because Nicola starts her business from their home, and its Marlon & Tricia's wedding anniversary and Steph, Alan & the Bar Staff are the only to remember. Laurel excitedly tells her friends about the wedding but is later downhearted when Ethan reveals that he suspects the Bishop will disapprove of Ashley marring for a second time. Ashley tries to convince Laurel that everything will be fine, but will the Bishop put a stop to the happy couple's plans? Meanwhile, Jimmy is raging with anger at being blackmailed and he takes out his aggression by trashing Charity's room at the B&B in search of the video tape. Jimmy thinks he has won after smashing up all of her tapes and the camcorder, but a smug Charity is quick to tell him that she has a backup copy and that she has decided to up her price to £200,000. Elsewhere, Pollard values a widow's antiques and is delighted to discover that he is likely to make a huge profit. The dodgy dealer is thrilled that things are finally looking up. Jimmy pays his first installment of blackmail money to Charity, Meanwhile, Sadie King returns from France, adding to Jimmy's woes. Diane teases Val by telling her she has a rival for Eric's affection, while the bishop makes it clear he takes a dim view of Ashley's plans to remary. Laurel & Ashley get the bad news they've been dreading, they can't get married. Val & Eric anticipate making a financial killing, while Cain learns Charity is planning to leave the village and take Debbie with her. Ashley visits the bishop and resigns from the Church, while Sadie discovers Jimmy has withdrawn all their savings from the bank, elsewhere, Eric tries to console Lisa, who is upset that Zak hasn't bought her a birthday gift Paddy looks on with jealousy at Marlon and Donna canoodling. After one too many drinks, he shocks Marlon by confessing that he and Emily are experiencing problems in the bedroom. Elsewhere, Viv tries to reunite her family and with the best of intentions she invites everyone over for lunch. When she fails to round up the troops, Viv is left feeling utterly depressed and she complains to an uncomfortable Emily about her own non-existent sex life. Meanwhile, Ashley remains adamant that he stands by his resignation from the church, but when a parishioner rings saying that his dying mother is asking to see him, the ex-vicar goes to visit her without a second thought. Is Ashley really ready to put the church behind him? Marlon suggests that Paddy tries to spice things up with Emily by cooking a romantic meal. Unfortunately for Paddy things don't go to plan when a careless word from Dawn leads Emily to fear that her husband is having an affair. Will Paddy be able to reassure Emily that he only has eyes for her? Meanwhile, a drunk and depressed Viv rings her nearest and dearest insisting that they come round to see how unhappy she is. Despite Viv's best efforts to be miserable, her guests can't help but be amused and they have a really enjoyable evening! Elsewhere, Laurel is shocked when she receives a visit from the Bishop. Will she be able to convince him to reconsider his decision? Ashley wrestles with his conscience having turned his back on the church and after a long chat with Zoe he decides to retract his resignation. How will Laurel react when she discovers that he has put their wedding in jeopardy? Meanwhile, Charity desperately tries to convince Debbie that she was set up by Cain and Sadie and begs her to leave the village with her. Cain sees Charity preaching to their daughter and in a fury he manhandles his ex-lover out of the door. Later that evening, Charity goes to the Woolpack and tells the Dingles of her plans to move away. Sadie overhears and is clearly delighted, but Jimmy is left panicking about what may be in store for him. Elsewhere, Paddy and Emily try to resolve their sexual problems by talking about their feelings. However, as they embrace, Emily's uncomfortable expression suggests that they still have a long way to go. Ashley is nervous as he breaks the news of his decision to Laurel and informs her that in order to convince the Bishop of their love for one another they will have to end the physical side of their relationship. Laurel assures the vicar that she is willing to wait forever if she has to, but later on she breaks down in tears as she removes her engagement ring. Meanwhile, Charity is desperate to make Debbie believe that she has been set up and tells Chas that she is considering showing her the videotape of her and Jimmy. Chas strongly advises her against this, but how far will Charity go to prove her innocence? Elsewhere, Jimmy worries that his days are numbered and he panics knowing that he doesn't have the money that Charity is demanding. Out of desperation he slips Sadie's jewellery into his pocket. How long will it be before she notices that it has gone missing? In a desperate bid to convince Debbie of her innocence, Charity forces her daughter to sit through the incriminating videotape. Debbie is outraged by her mother's behaviour and calls her a tramp before storming out. Over in the cafÃ©, Laurel tells Nicola that her engagement to Ashley is off but is adamant that she understands Ashley's dilemma and is prepared to wait for him. Is Laurel really as carefree as she is suggesting? Elsewhere, Len tries to persuade Edna to attend the tea dance but when she refuses, Pearl, Jarvis and Len get their thinking caps on and try and come up with a plan to convince her to go along. Debbie is upset following the revelations the previous day and she listens attentively as Ethan tries to help her understand the reason behind her mother's behaviour. Later that day, Debbie receives an apology from Charity and she begins to realise that maybe Cain has let her down. Charity is hopeful when Debbie hints that she would like a fresh start. But is Debbie ready to leave her life in the village behind? Elsewhere, Jimmy is anxious to ensure that Sadie never sees the videotape and as Charity puts the pressure on him he resorts to stealing money from King & Son's office. Meanwhile, Steph makes a conscious effort to build bridges with Turner and Shelly. However, Shelly is not ready to forgive and forget and she slams to door in her rival's face. Also, The Village Dance takes place in the Community Hall. Debbie struggles to decide whether or not to leave with Charity and she seeks advice from Andy. They are interrupted by Cain and his furious reaction convinces Debbie it's time to move on. But will she regret her decision? Jimmy is forced to borrow £10,000 from his brother Matthew and in return Charity hands over the video tape. Later Jimmy hugs Sadie, relieved his ordeal is over. Charity admits to Marlon that she still loves Tom but accepts their relationship is over. She later shares a warm moment with Zoe as they talk about Chris Tate and Charity promises to take care of Noah. Charity leaves Emmerdale for good. Jimmy's 40th birthday party becomes an unforgettable evening when Charity bursts in and blurts out that she and the birthday boy have been having an affair. When the Kings refuse to believe her allegations, she whips out the evidence and plays the incriminating videotape.Tom is stunned as the tape confirms that Sadie set Charity up to stop the wedding and a distraught Sadie launches herself at Charity. The Dingle retaliates by flooring her arch rival before heading for the door.Charity goes to collect Debbie but as Cain tells his daughter that he can't bear the thought of losing her, Debbie turns to Charity and announces that she is staying with her father. With Noah beside her, an emotional Charity drives off into the night.Back at Holdgate Farm, Chloe continues to watch the tape and is shocked to hear the truth about Paul Marsden's death. Matthew threatens her to forget what she has seen, but will she remain tight lipped? Jimmy returns to Home Farm to collect some of his things and ends up rowing with Sadie over who is in the wrong. Meanwhile, Tom tells Max that losing Charity was the biggest regret of his life. He later calls a family meeting and, refusing to accept Sadie's grovelling apology, he sacks both her and Jimmy. Elsewhere, Debbie relays the story to Zak of how her mum had slept with Jimmy to get back at Sadie for what she and Cain had done. Cain pleads for Debbie's forgiveness, promising that he will try and be a proper father to her. Later that day, Chloe quizzes Carl on what he knows about Paul Marsden's death, but an irate Carl insists he has nothing to say and suggests that she keep quiet too. Sadie spends her day desperately trying to make amends with the King Family. She points out to Jimmy what he is giving up but Jimmy is clearly not interested. She gets nowhere with Tom either so seeks sympathy from Zoe who tells her the photos were a low trick, but understands as she was once in a similar position. Elsewhere, Steph tries her best to speak to her dad and Shelly but to no avail. Turner admits to Shelly that he is starting to feel sorry for Steph but Shelly is determined to keep Steph out of their lives. Meanwhile, Paddy realises that after experiencing recent relationship problems with Emily, he needs to accept what they have together and make the most of it. When Viv hears that Bob has a date, she is distraught and, seeking comfort, rings Emily. Emily is out but Paddy takes the call and goes round to console Viv. After two bottles of wine Viv becomes flirtatious and Paddy is torn between horror and lust as their eyes lock. However, when Viv misreads the signs and puts her hand on his knee, Paddy makes his excuses and leaves. Meanwhile, Sadie wonders how she can win Jimmy back and arrives at the Woolpack all glammed up. Jimmy ignores her and she feels humiliated as all eyes are on her. Sadie refuses a drink from Robert and leaves. Elsewhere, Pollard is appalled by a newspaper headline regarding the local library and devises a money-making plan with Val as a result Paddy confides in Marlon about what happened with Viv and confesses that although he turned her down he was tempted. Marlon can't help feeling amused but warns Paddy not to take it any further. Later that day, Emily thinks Viv needs cheering up and invites her round for supper. An awkward Viv and Paddy agree to forget about the previous night, but both are thinking of nothing else. Over in the Woolpack, Steph announces that she is sorry and Turner can't help but feel a slight twang of sympathy. Shelly is furious when she walks in and sees Turner with Steph. Diane, noting her anger, suggests that Steph leaves. Elsewhere Pollard and Val's money-making plan continues. The evening paper prints a positive piece about Pollard, and Val insists that Pollard agree to a 35% share of the profits. Emily asks Paddy to help Viv set up some tables in the cafÃ© but he can't face it and persuades Marlon to do it instead. Emily questions Paddy about his behaviour towards Viv but he assures her that nothing is wrong. Nicola is desperate to expand her business and when Pollard employs her to clean the factory she offers Shelly a part time job. Delighted that things are going so well, Nicola talks to Simon and tells him she wants to set a date for their wedding. Is Simon ready to walk down the aisle? Over in the Woolpack, Sadie is upset when Jimmy refuses to speak to her, making it clear that their marriage is over. Sadie tells Zoe that she refuses to leave the Kings behind and is prepared to play the waiting game. But will Jimmy be willing to forgive and forget? Emily is convinced that Paddy and Viv have fallen out and are avoiding each other, so she tricks them into coming face to face. As Emily forces them to shake hands, the physical contact stirs feelings in both of them. Will Emily pick up on their electric vibes? Elsewhere, when Val fails to sell any paintings, Pollard pretends they have gone up in flames in order to claim on the insurance. Will the devious duo get away get away with fraud? Meanwhile, Shelly struggles to take orders from a bossy Nicola and reconsiders working with her. Val charms antique owners in an attempt to get offers for the paintings. Meanwhile, Pollard is having trouble trying to get insurance cover for the pictures and is mortified to find out that Val has told the dealers he is her gofer. Elsewhere, Steph tries to win Shelly's forgiveness by offering her beauty therapy equipment, but she is clearly not ready to forget. Shelly is furious when she arrives home to find Turner with the equipment, and in a rage she insists that she has decided to leave the village. Nicola is bitter having failed to set a wedding date with Simon and she takes out her fury on the cleaning team. How will Nicola react when the usually quiet Laurel gives her a piece of her mind? Turner takes Shelly to the Woolpack for dinner but she is furious to discover that it came courtesy of Steph. Will this be the final straw for Shelly? Val helps Pollard organise an exhibition and proactively suggests that they need more publicity. Pollard disagrees, warning her that their venture isn't strictly above board, but Val places an advertisement regardless. Ashley becomes so preoccupied trying to set up a drama society that he unwittingly ignores Laurel. He later admits to Zoe that he is desperately trying to make himself indispensable in the hope that the bishop won't send him to another parish Shelly admits to Turner that she wants to go to Spain, but he tells her he can't leave Steph alone. Shelly remains adamant that she's going regardless, telling him that he must choose between her and his daughter. Andy promises Libby that he will look after her horse but panics when he notices a rusty nail embedded in its hoof. Andy calls for a vet but when Max turns up the rivalry between them is instantly apparent. Pollard is mad when Val gets top billing in the newspaper and panics when Glynis questions his relationship with Val. Pollard is all too aware of what a loose cannon Val can be and worries about what she might say. Pollard is terrified as Glynis turns up at the gallery opening with a photographer from the local paper. He desperately tries to prevent her from finding out where the paintings came from until Rodney takes pleasure in divulging the information. How will Glynis react when she learns the truth about Pollard's underhand antics? Steph is reduced to tears as Turner reluctantly asks her to leave him and Shelly alone. She pleads that she is only trying to make amends but agrees to leave the village if that is what he really wants. Elsewhere, Tom is livid when he finds out that Jimmy has outbid the Kings for a contract. Tom angrily confronts his son but Jimmy insists that business is business. Shelly faces her demons as she cleans the B&B, but revisiting the cellar brings back dark memories of the suffering that Steph previously forced her to endure. Shelly is later horrified when she returns home to find that Turner has invited Steph round for dinner and during the meal she cracks, forcing Turner to choose between them. When he hesitates, Shelly declares that she is leaving the village the following morning, but will Turner go with her? Elsewhere, Libby is amused when she walks in on an embarrassed Andy ironing in just a towel. She later asks him to join her for a drink, but when Andy explains he has got to get home, Libby assumes that he isn't interested. Shelly says her farewells before leaving the village, telling a tearful Turner that all he has to do is call if he decides he'd like to join her. Steph later visits Turner and is overwhelmed when he admits he couldn't leave her behind. She vows to go after Shelly herself to convince her to come back, claiming that if she's successful she will not be returning herself. As Steph leaves she says an emotional goodbye to her dad, explaining that this may be the last time they see each other. Meanwhile, Pollard tells Val the exhibition has turned into a disaster since Glynis unlawfully revealed that he's giving the profits away. Val points out that they are still able to deduct expenses and is confident that with some clever accountancy they'll come out on top. Elsewhere, Andy asks Libby about her boyfriend and is shocked when she tells him that they split up ages ago. Will this spur Andy to fight for Libby's affections? 4000th Episode - One-hour special Steph goes to Arran in search of Shelly, while Turner desperately waits for news on whether it will be his daughter or girlfriend who will be returning. Later in Arran, Steph follows Shelly onto a ferry and they come face to face on the top deck. Shelly is petrified when she sees Steph, but is determined that for once she must stand up to her bully. There is a scuffle between Steph and Shelly and Steph demands that Shelly come back to Emmerdale, Steph takes hold of Shelly's coat, but accidentally pushes her over the edge and falls overboard into the ice-cold sea below, pulled beneath the waves and out of sight. Then Steph throws Shelly's luggage into the sea, and walks off to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Chas and Carl have a heart to heart, but are interrupted when Chloe returns home. Chas is forced to hide behind the sofa and is close to tears as she listens to Chloe declare her love for Carl before they head upstairs together. Over in the Woolpack, Louis Louise and Terry prepare to look at another B&B until Terry finds out that Dawn needs him to look after TJ . Matthew offers to accompany Louise instead and she gratefully agrees. As they look around, Matthew turns on the charm but is careful not to give too much away. Matthew suggests they stay for lunch and over a few glasses of wine he proposes a toast to their new venture. Will Louise notice the glint in his eye? Elsewhere, Chloe quizzes Carl having found out that Chas called round the previous evening. Despite his explanation she storms up to Chas in front of Denzel and threatens her to stay away from her boyfriend. Denzel supportively makes it clear that he trusts Chas, and Chloe leaves in disgust. Matthew offers Louise and Terry a hand going through the B&B books and Louise later thanks him with a free pint in the Woolpack. Matthew suggestively tells Louise that he could help her with more than just the accounts but picking up on his proposition she firmly insists him that she is attached. Matthew bluffs that she's got the wrong end of the stick but Louise is clearly ill at ease. Over at the vicarage, Laurel and Ashley cosy up on the sofa until they are interrupted by Ethan. Uncomfortable in his presence, Laurel leaves and she later glumly tells Nicola that things aren't going well between her the vicar. Could their relationship be drawing to a close thanks to the bishop's disapproval? Louise and Terry decide to go through with the mortgage on the B&B but Louise is surprised when Matthew sends Carl in his place with the documentation. Later that day Louise goes to visit Matthew and hands over the signed forms. She apologises for the previous day but Matthew insists that she got the wrong idea, not him. She offers to buy him a drink, but Matthew refuses and shuts the door on a disappointed Louise. Meanwhile, Colleen joins Chloe and Carl for dinner and Chloe lays on the charm offensive. The subject of the poison pen letters comes up and Chloe insists that she never believed that Colleen sent them. Carl is left thoughtful, hoping to get to the bottom of the letters. Elsewhere, Laurel admits to Ashley that she's finding the distance between them difficult and he confesses that he is finding it equally as hard. Carl continues to think about the pen letters and he asks Chas if she still has them. She digs them out and Chloe is later horrified when she comes home to find Carl studying them. Carl tells Chloe that he doesn't understand why the letters suddenly stopped and Chloe covers her tracks by saying that she received another one but kept it to herself. She later quickly pens the letter and produces it to a flummoxed Carl. Meanwhile, Dawn is excited at the prospect of taking a job at an estate agency, but she is later downhearted when she works out that after childminding and travel costs it will not be worth her while. Over in the Woolpack, Matthew flirts with a lady client purely for Louise's benefit. At an opportune moment, Louise apologises for the previous day and says she feels like an idiot. Matthew relishes in the fact that he has regained the upper hand. Carl has a private chat with Colleen about the letters and he asks her to write the word â€˜waste'. She is disgruntled by her ex-husband's accusations but writes the word regardless. Carl later cleverly asks Chloe to write a letter for Tom and as he dictates he includes the same word. Chloe incorrectly spells the word â€˜waist' and Carl is horrified as the mistake matches an error on the letter. How will Carl react to the discovery that Chloe was responsible for destroying his relationship with Chas? Meanwhile, when Viv takes her new pet rabbit to the vets, Paddy is clearly nervous in her presence. Carl confronts Chloe about the letter and despite her desperate attempts she is unable to convince him that she is innocent. Carl tells her that he wants her out of the house and Jimmy turns up to reinforce his decision. Over in the post office, Dawn sees Ashley who tells her that he's struggling to find a baby-sitter for Gabby. Dawn offers her services and is delighted to have found a solution to her cash crisis. Meanwhile, Viv finds another excuse to take Buffy the rabbit to the vets and Paddy can't help but be pleased to see her. As he reaches for the pet, Paddy's hand strokes Viv's. They both feel the chemistry; will they give into temptation? Chloe leaves Emmerdale for good. Carl tells Chas that Chloe is responsible for the pen letters and she goes round to confront her. As Chas has it out with Chloe she spots several pregnancy test kits and guesses that Chloe has been lying about being an expectant mother. She forces her to do a test but Chloe does a runner. A crowd congregates as Chas catches up with Chloe and demands that she admit that she isn't really pregnant. Chas and Chloe come to blows and Chas proceeds to dunk Chloe's head in a horse's trough, threatening to drown her until she is admits the truth. Carl is dumbstruck as he learns that he has been taken for a fool and Chloe is forced to leave the village in disgrace. Sparks fly between Viv and Paddy during Sunday lunch laid on by Emily. However, after some tantalising games of footsie under the table, desire turns to anger as both Viv and Paddy try to deny their true feelings and end up arguing over the washing up! Meanwhile, the Kings try to help Carl come to terms with Chloe's treachery but his mind is clearly elsewhere. Later, in the Woolpack, Carl tells Denzel not to mess it up with Chas, but is he secretly hoping that he and Chas will get back together? Elsewhere, Debbie uses the money that Charity gave her to bail out the Dingles. After paying Pollard for the damage to his car, a grateful Lisa offers to take Debbie shopping. As Emily and Paul head off to a gig, a lonely Viv is forced to ask Paddy for help when her hairdryer blows a fuse and all her electricity goes off. As Paddy offers his assistance, they forget their angry exchange from the previous night and unable to resist temptation any longer they share a passionate kiss. Elsewhere, a determined Matthew discovers what Jimmy is up to when he manages to get his hands on a business quote. Matthew later assures an uneasy Carl that their brother will get his comeuppance. Over at the Dingles', Cain's lies catch up with him when Zak discovers a stash of cash in his caravan. Furious that Cain refuses to contribute to the family pot, Zak forces him to tell Debbie that it's the money he got from Sadie to betray Charity. Feeling appalled, Debbie makes it clear that she never wants to see her father again. Debbie is devastated when Andy tells her that it's completely over between them now that he's with Libby. To make matters worse, Cain gets suspicious and accuses Debbie of seeing Andy again. When he sees how upset she is, Cain tries to make amends, but will he keep his promise to make things right? Elsewhere, Matthew exposes Jimmy's plan to Tom and together they outbid him for the business contract. As they celebrate in the Woolpack, Matthew's joy at beating his brother is short-lived when Jimmy walks in and punches him hard in the face. Meanwhile, Viv and Paddy are tormented by guilt over their passionate embrace and agree that it must never be repeated. Will this really be the end of their dangerous liaison? Cain's efforts to make a new start with Debbie backfire when he overreacts to Andy's concern for her at a chance meeting in town. At the end of her tether with Cain, Debbie makes it clear that she wants nothing more to do with her father and in an uncontrollable rage Cain viciously attacks his daughter. Appalled by Cain's behaviour, Zak sets fire to his caravan and tells him to leave or he'll do the same to his car. Despite his pleading, Debbie refuses to intervene and Cain is forced to leave. Elsewhere, Jimmy goes to his mother's grave and has a heart-to-heart with Tom who is also visiting. The father and son are brought closer together, paving the way for Jimmy to be welcomed back into the King family. Jimmy seals his return to the King fold by goading Matthew into accepting a challenge to bed Louise before his next birthday. Does Matthew have a chance or will Terry stand in his way? Over at the Sugdens', Victoria is devastated when her birthday present turns out to be a karaoke machine and not a horse as she had hoped. Determined to show her the joys of karaoke, Jack sings Delilah by Tom Jones, but his performance fails to impress! Elsewhere, Chas's attempt to cheer up Debbie backfires when she tells Debbie she knows why she's so unhappy. Does Chas know the truth about her pregnancy? 76. Fri 1 Apr 2005 Matthew takes advantage of Terry's babysitting duties to enjoy a private party with Louise. However, Matthew is left feeling awkward when Terry returns earlier than expected to a warm welcome from his girlfriend. Will Matthew be able to rise to the challenge and get Louise where he wants her? Elsewhere, Victoria's birthday wish comes true when Belle Dingle agrees to swap Hamish the pony for Victoria's doll. How will Jack and Diane feel about Victoria's new toy? Over at the cafÃ©, Viv is horrified when Donna applies for a job at the Kings, rejecting her mother's plan for her as Emmerdale's shop and cafÃ© heiress. Is this the beginning of a new glamorous chapter for Donna? Matthew displays his culinary skills to Terry and Louise by cooking them Sunday lunch. He also invites his friend Sian and attempts to make Louise jealous by being openly flirtatious. However, when Sian realises what his motives are, she is unimpressed and refuses to play second fiddle to Louise. Meanwhile, Zak gets a shock when he discovers Hamish the pony has gone missing and is surprised when Belle reveals that she exchanged the pony for Victoria's doll. How will Jack respond when he hears about his daughter's impressive trade? Elsewhere in the Woolpack, Emily is oblivious to the air of embarrassment between Paddy and Viv and invites a drunken Viv to join them. Will she regret it when a chance encounter in the corridor leaves both Viv and Paddy red-faced? Paddy is unable to distract himself from his feelings for Viv and resolves to visit her at the shop, where his request for mint balls sends Viv into overdrive. Unable to control themselves any longer, Viv kicks Shadrach out of the shop and locks all the doors before the pair finally give into their passion. With Donna on her way home early, will she discover the steamy affair? Elsewhere, Matthew comes to Louise's rescue when her taxi doesn't turn up and he offers her a ride, which she readily accepts. Louise is a little too happy to hear that Matthew and SiÃ¢n are just good friends. Can she resist temptation? Later, a homeless Cain gets some unexpected affection from his old friend, Hamish, but despite returning the pony to the Dingles, he receives a frosty reception Paddy's strange behaviour provokes questions from Marlon and leads Emily to seek marital advice from a painfully guilty Viv. Later at the Woolpack, realising he left his glasses behind after their moment of passion, Paddy arranges to meet Viv outside the toilets to retrieve them. Katie's nerves prove unfounded when she impresses Tom during an interview at the King's. However, with Donna also up for the job, can the pair contain their rivalry? Meanwhile, violence erupts in the village ahead of the fete when Edna and Pearl end up fighting over a packet of raisins! 80. Wed 6 Apr 2005 Donna's carelessness with Buffy the rabbit gives a rampant Viv the opportunity to visit Paddy at the vets, where an innocent thank-you kiss soon turns to a passionate clinch. The temperature plummets when an astonished Marlon catches them together but will this be enough to put an end to their dangerous liaison? Meanwhile Laurel rebuffs Ashley's invitation to be the judge of the baking competition, suggesting the Bishop takes her place seeing as he seems to be doing most of the judging in Emmerdale. Elsewhere, Jimmy's constant taunting drives Matthew to extreme measures to get close to Louise. Will the landlady succumb to his charms? Ashley is led into temptation when one too many glasses of wine unleashes his concealed passion for Laurel. Will his determination to prove their sincerity to the Bishop be enough to keep his feelings under control? Over at the vet's, Marlon corners Paddy about the incident in the shop and forces him to come clean about his attraction to Viv. Later on in the pub, a determined Paddy makes a promise to Marlon that he won't let Emily down. Will Paddy stay true to his word? Meanwhile, a determined Matthew snatches a kiss with Louise but he is shocked when she knocks him back. Feeling dejected, he tells Jimmy all bets are off but will he really accept defeat this easily? 82. Fri 8 Apr 2005 Matthew makes Terry pay for Louise's rejection when he refuses to see him about B&B business without an appointment. An angry Louise heads over to the office to clear the air, but she gets more than she's bargained for when Matthew makes it clear that this is a more than a crush. Will Louise remain loyal to Terry? Elsewhere, Laurel heeds Nicola's advice and invites the bishop to Sunday lunch with her and Ashley to make amends. Can she convince him she's a suitable vicar's wife? Meanwhile, Jimmy has a breakthrough with Tom when he gets an invite to join the family for dinner, but will his stubborn streak prevent him from taking up the offer? And, Bob Hope wins the cake competition, much to Edna, Pearl, & Victoria's disappointment. Sadie is furious when Jimmy mocks her about her financial difficulties in the Woolpack. In her refusal to lose face in public, Sadie lies that she has already recruited a hot-shot solicitor to take him to the cleaners. Determined to get hold of Jimmy's assets, Sadie then enlists Zoe's help to find legal advice, but will she succeed in wiping the smile off her estranged husband's face? Elsewhere, Jimmy is surprised when Tom offers him an olive branch, welcoming him back into the King fold. Jimmy is delighted to rejoin the family business, but how will Matthew feel when he discovers that Tom has backed down? Meanwhile, Laurel is determined to prove that she can be a perfect vicar's wife by playing host to the Bishop. Will her nerves get the better of her? Sadie's money-grabbing plans are left in ruins when Jimmy's solicitor reveals the real extent of his tattered finances. Sadie is unwilling to believe that Jimmy's financial situation is so poor and determined to get her fair share of the Kings' cash she tries a different tack and arranges to meet her husband in the Woolpack. Sadie is left reeling when Jimmy triumphantly reveals that he's been welcomed back into the King fold and that she won't get a penny out of them. Sadie is shattered as the realisation hits home that she is no longer part of the family and she leaves feeling completely alone. Meanwhile, Nicola faces an uphill struggle to keep her relationship with a reluctant Simon on track. She invites him for a meal with her and a friend the following evening but he is clearly not keen. Elsewhere, Dawn worries about her finances when her earning potential is hindered by her inability to drive. Will she be able to find a suitable instructor? Sadie's attempt to gain sympathy from Tom backfires when he gladly accepts her token gesture of returning her engagement ring, since it originally belonged to his wife. Sadie is dumbfounded as she leaves Holdgate Farm empty handed and is later found by a concerned Robert who tells her that he is there if she needs anything. Having hit rock bottom, will she take her former toy-boy up on his offer? Elsewhere, Nicola is left bitterly disappointed by Simon when he refuses to go to dinner with her. Feeling rejected, a paranoid Nicola gives Betty a tongue-lashing when she overhears her gossiping, assuming it's about her. Meanwhile, Dawn unwittingly upsets Bob when she ropes Scott into giving her driving lessons. Will this bring her and Scott together or drive them apart? 86. 13th April 2005 Sadie's fortunes continue to plummet when she fails to convince Zoe to go along with a business deal. She later feels isolated further when Max and Carl give her the brush-off in the Woolpack. Feeling desperate, Sadie seeks comfort from Robert and when she visits him at Annie's cottage it doesn't take long for them to head upstairs. Post coital, Sadie feels worse rather than better. Realising that she's completely alone, she decides to escape and heads back to Home Farm to pack her bags. As Sadie flees the village, she promises Zoe that Jimmy will get his comeuppance when she returns. Elsewhere, Nicola is upset when Lesley mentions that Simon is due to be best man at his friend's wedding and she confronts him about why he has kept it quiet. Simon assures her that it just slipped his mind, but Nicola is left worrying about the strength of their relationship. Over at the garage, Scott looks over an elderly lady's car and lies that it is a death trap and not worth repairing. He later pres A harmless competition of â€˜Mr and Mrs' in the Woolpack ends in a bitter row when Simon confesses that his dream home would be in Scarborough. Having wrongly assumed that he would want to live with her in Emmerdale, Nicola is furious. Will the fishmonger return to his home town or finally make the commitment that Nicola is so desperate for? Meanwhile, Jimmy is delighted to hear that Sadie has disappeared and heads to Pear Tree cottage to tell Tom and Carl the good news. Tom is clearly not in the mood for celebrating, disappointed at the way things have worked out. Elsewhere, Scott and Dawn are unable to stay civil with one another as he attempts to teach her to drive. Giving it up as a bad job, Dawn asks Bob if he would consider helping her and a thrilled Bob readily accepts the challenge. Lesley's interfering is welcomed for the first time when she tells Nicola about Simon's past and the breakdown of his previous relationship. Realising that Simon is scared of commitment, she confronts him and he finally opens up to her. After a long chat they announce that Simon is moving to Emmerdale and the couple look smitten as they look forward to their future together. Meanwhile, Viv and Bob are separately miserable as their divorce finally comes through. Viv is delighted when Paddy offers to take her to the Woolpack for a drink, but despite keeping up appearances, it is clear that she is as sad as Bob that their marriage is officially over. Over at the antiques barn, Rodney surprises Paul by asking him to become part owner of the family business. Paul accepts, knowing that is a big step forward for him and his recently found father. When Emily is late home from a shopping trip with Paul, Paddy heads over to the shop and is unable to resist when Viv invites him upstairs for a bite to eat. The tension mounts between the lonely individuals and before long they are wrapped around one another, forgetting all about the chicken sizzling under the grill. Otherwise engaged, Paddy and Viv fail to notice the grill pan has caught fire, but as the smoke alarm goes crazy and Donna flies in, they are forced to lie that Paddy heard the noise and came to save the day. As Donna brands the vet a hero, he and a Viv are clearly embarrassed by their behaviour. Elsewhere, Nicola and Simon grow closer as they plan their future together. However, Rodney is mortified when he is left with Lesley for company! Zoe is disappointed when Callum fails to attend the birthday party that she's laid on for him, and when she confronts him he accuses her of using him as an excuse to invite people round. Despite their row, Callum eventually shows his face and has an unexpectedly good time. Louise joins the celebrations and can't help but flirt outrageously with Matthew. Fearing that she's on the brink of doing something that she may regret, she makes a sudden exit and heads for Diane's. Louise confesses that she has feelings for Matthew but insists that she wants her relationship with Terry to work. Will the barmaid stay faithful to her man? Elsewhere, Paddy is disappointed when Emily snubs him for Paul yet again. Viv convinces him that one final fling with her will make him feel better, and she books them a hotel on the internet. Donna becomes suspicious of her mother's behaviour and snoops around for evidence. What will she find? A suspicious Donna persuades a reluctant Marlon to follow her mother. Horrified that she is close to discovering Paddy and Viv's affair, he desperately distracts his girlfriend and she fails to discover the identity of Viv's mystery man. Inside the hotel room, a guilty Paddy decides that he can't go through with the liaison and leaves a disappointed Viv feeling dejected and alone. Meanwhile, Emily goes looking for her husband and when she is unable to find him she confesses to Paul that she is no longer happy with her relationship. Could this be the end of the road for Paddy and Emily? 92. Wed 20 Apr 2005 As Emily makes a special effort with Paddy he is full of remorse and contemplates confessing all. Marlon strongly advises him to keep quiet, but will his guilt get the better of him? Over in the shop, Viv also wrestles with her conscience and she gives a surprised Emily the day off. Confused about the odd behaviour of those around her, Emily seeks advice from Paul in an attempt to save her marriage. Elsewhere, Val and Bob provide support for one another in their individual quests. Bob admits that he is looking for a woman, and Val admits that she's after a job Paddy Confesses Emily walks out of the shop after a rude comment from Viv, and when she returns home in a rage Paddy gets the wrong end of the stick and confesses all. How will the mouse-like creature react to the news of her husband's fling? Over at the B&B, Val is amused when she catches Bob recording a video message in an attempt to get a date. After considerable teasing she offers to help, and after a couple of bottles of wine she offers herself! Elsewhere, Dawn is outraged to discover that Scott conned an elderly lady out of her car and returns the automobile to its rightful owner. The young mum is left in disgust at her boyfriend's behaviour. Emily struggles to come to terms with her husband's betrayal, but after a few words of advice from Paul, she plucks up the courage to confront both Paddy and Viv. The disgraced postmistress and vet begin to argue over whose fault it was and Emily eventually cracks under the pressure. She tells them that she wants things to carry on as usual and that no one in the village is to know about the affair. Is this something that can be kept under wraps? Elsewhere, Jack is concerned about Diane when she snaps at Victoria and, guessing that she is apprehensive about her forthcoming scan, he does his best to reassure her. Meanwhile, Bob decides that he is determined to achieve one of his greatest ambitions â€“ to get into the Guinness Book of Records! He enlists the help of Val, but will he succeed in reaching his goal, and poor Debbie Dingle feels her baby kick while minding TJ. It's business as usual for Emily who is determined to behave as though her husband's affair never happed. A guilt-ridden Viv demands that Emily punch her in the face for revenge, but Emily calmly responds that she has no right to tell her what to do. Despite her composed demeanour, Emily confides in Paul and breaks down as she tells him that she can't stop thinking about the betrayal. She returns home, only to find Paddy and Viv discussing what has happened and, despite her instinct to flip, she disappears up to bed, leaving the shamed couple feeling worse than ever. Meanwhile, Donna incorrectly assumes that Viv and Bob are back together and goes to see her step-father to find out what's going on. Val and Bob are busy practicing their world record attempt and not wanting Donna to interrupt, he shouts out that he is with a woman. Donna takes this as confirmation that he is with Viv and later ignores Marlon's protestations that she is wrong. Emily is irritated when she finds herself clearing up after Paddy at home. When she gets to work she can feel her blood boiling as Laurel innocently tells her that she has heard that Viv has been seeing someone on the sly. Emily's pent up aggression finally becomes too much to contain and the usually timid character explodes, attacking the shop in a frenzy. She sweeps the products off the shelves and smashes everything to the ground. Before long a crowd gathers and a horrified Viv realises that she has only got herself to blame. Later that day, Donna sees the wreckage in the shop and demands an explanation from her mother. Will Viv find the words to tell her daughter about her abysmal behaviour? 98. Wed 27 Apr 2005 A furious Emily packs Paddy's bags before storming over to the Woolpack. The punters look on in shock as Emily dumps the suitcases at her husband's feet and announces that he has been sleeping with the postmistress! When Viv is unable to deny the affair, Bob seethes at the thought of Paddy with his former wife and instinctively smacks him in the face. Does Bob's jealous reaction confirm that he still has feelings for Viv? Meanwhile, a horrified Donna confronts Marlon over whether he knew about the affair and is furious to discover that he did. Marlon tries desperately to make amends but is hurt when Donna accuses him of caring more for Paddy than for her. Matthew's sights are set firmly on Louise and despite the obvious chemistry between them she continues to reject his advances. With Terry away, Matthew tries a new approach and he openly tells the barmaid that he is crazy about her. Louise insists that she is attached, but the handsome King tells her that it's dinner at his tomorrow night or nothing. Will Louise finally give in to temptation? Elsewhere, Zak does his best to cheer a miserable Emily and invites her to have tea at the Dingles'. She gratefully accepts his offer but later shocks him when she announces that it's over between her and Paddy because he will always come second to her late husband, Butch. Over at the veterinary surgery, Paddy struggles to carry on as usual and when he overhears Tamsin and Libby gossiping about him. He warns Libby that he will sack her if he hears a peep out of her again. Louise struggles to suppress her desire as Matthew openly plans their dinner together. In a desperate attempt to remain loyal to Terry, she tells Matthew he's a walking clichÃ© and to leave her alone. Later, Louise is consumed by lust. After telling Bob that she's going for a walk, she finds herself at Matthew's door. A delighted Matthew reaches to help her out of her coat and before long they are wrapped up in a passionate clinch. Afterwards, an extremely pleased Matthew pours two glasses of champagne but Louise leaves telling him that it was a one off and will never happen again. Will she remain true to her word? Elsewhere, Andy, Robert and Victoria anxiously wait for their parents to return home and are thrilled when Jack and Diane arrive with news that Diane has been given the all clear. Jack proposes a celebration, but soon regrets it when his wife plans a long shopping trip funded by him! 101. Sun 1 May 2005 Sadie takes advantage of Cain's obvious desire for her by telling him that she'll reward him generously if he gets hold of evidence about Jimmy's real financial situation. He agrees to sneak into Pear Tree Cottage but will he come up with the goods? Meanwhile, Louise is distracted by thoughts of her night of passion and arouses Diane's suspicions with her odd behaviour. Unable to stay away, Louise meets Matthew in the car park for another tryst but has second thoughts, leaving Matthew aching for more. Later that day, Louise panics when Matthew starts up a friendly conversation with Terry and at an opportune moment she warns Matthew off and tells him their fling was a mistake. Is this really the end of their dangerous liaison? Over at the Dingles', Chas boasts that she has more will-power than Zak or Shadrach and declares she could give up drinking without a problem. Her father and uncle declare that they could give up booze tomorrow and Chas swiftly takes them up on the offer. 102. Monday 2nd May 2005 Sadie distracts the Kings in the Woolpack while Cain sneaks into the office to look for evidence of Jimmy's true financial state. Unable to find sufficient paperwork, Cain decides to take Jimmy's laptop along with a few other valuables. Sadie is later relieved that Cain has narrowly avoided being caught and she gives him his bonus before leaving him hanging with a passionate kiss. How will Cain respond to her unexpectedly amorous advance? Meanwhile, Zak and Shadrach soon break their booze ban when Rodney asks them to help him shift some crates of beer. Chas finds the drunken Dingles and tells Rodney about their supposed plans to stay sober. Rodney challenges them to stop drinking for a month in return for £500. They accept the challenge but will they succeed? Elsewhere, a guilt-stricken Louise makes a special effort with Terry and turns down Matthew's invitation to spend the night in a hotel. Matthew remains determined that he can win her round, but will Louise's conscience allow her t 103. Tues 3 May 2005 Sadie is horrified when Denzel questions her about the robbery at Pear Tree Cottage and hints that Cain may have exceeded his brief. On the warpath, Sadie confronts Cain and he reluctantly admits that he stole Jimmy's laptop. Despite her initial fury, all is forgiven when Sadie realises that this is exactly what she needs to get her claws on the Kings' cash. Over in the Woolpack, Rodney is delighted as he catches Zak and Shadrach ordering two pints, but they astonish everyone by ordering two pints of water! Meanwhile, Louise is put on the spot during a drunken game of â€˜sex or death' when Paul asks her about Matthew. Louise lies that she would rather die than sleep with him but despite her apparent objection, Matthew proves popular with the others and he is later smug when Val tells him that he is the most eligible bachelor in the village. 104. Wed 4 May 2005 Zak resolves to keep his mind off booze by taking a reluctant Shadrach fishing. Noting the gloomy atmosphere, Zak tries to cheer Shadrach up with a cup of tea instead of an alcoholic drink but it clearly isn't enough to satisfy him. Sneaky Shadrach later steals money from the Dingle pot and treats himself to a few drinks at the Malt Shovel. Zak is appalled when he realises what his brother has done and throws him out of the house, branding him scum. Meanwhile, Louise is unable to deny her feelings any longer and when Terry goes out for the day with TJ, she finds herself back in the arms of the irresistible King. Post coital, Louise and Matthew share a tender moment as she admits that it feels so right even though she knows that it's wrong. 105. Thur 5 May 2005 Rodney calls off the bet when he catches Shadrach drinking in the Woolpack, but an angry Zak manages to convince Rodney that he has stuck to the rules and persuades him to re-negotiate the deal. Shadrach leaves the Woolpack and disgraces himself by urinating in the street. A disgusted Edna catches him in the act and demanding police action, Denzel is called, leaving Chas torn between her father and her relationship. Elsewhere, Robert delights in telling Sadie that Katie let slip that Jimmy has put in an offer to buy some land. Sadie is intrigued and offers Robert a reward to find out more but can he deliver? Meanwhile, Cain keeps a close eye on Sadie and is furious to see her saying farewell to Robert. 106. Fri 6 May 2005 Sadie is impressed when Robert tells her that he has discovered that Jimmy has offered a local £10,000 for her field. Sadie instantly organises a meeting and undercuts her husband's offer to ensure that she becomes the proud owner of the land that is invaluable to the Kings. Later that day, Cain tries to seduce a uninterested Sadie and, after cruelly putting him down, she heads off for a steamy session with Robert. As they lay in the hay at Home Farm they are oblivious to the fact that a furious Cain has caught them in the act. Will he keep the news of Sadie's other conquest to himself? Over at the antiques barn, Shadrach asks Rodney for another shot at the bet. Softened by his sincerity, Rodney agrees to give him another chance on the condition that if he fails he has to take a bath on the main street! 107. Sun 8 May 2005 While out viewing a vacant plot of land on which to build their home, Katie and Robert cement their future when Robert proposes and an emotional Katie accepts. The couple are pleased when Andy offers his congratulations. Will the air of romantic happiness last? Cain ruffles Sadie's feathers when he lets slip that he knows about her and Robert. Later on, in the Woolpack, he witnesses the Sugden family celebrating Robert and Katie's engagement. Irritated by the scene of family happiness, Cain promptly informs Andy that Robert is still having his cake and eating it. How will Andy react to this latest revelation about Robert's infidelity. Meanwhile, Tom returns and Jimmy confidently tells his father about the offer he made for Mrs Kidderminster's land but fails to inform him of the burglary. Later, Tom is surprised to see Sadie back in the village and is suspicious of her sudden reappearance. Elsewhere, Jarvis and Len practice their cricketing skills but it soon becomes clear that Jarvis's Jimmy is stunned to learn that Mrs Kidderminster has sold her land to Sadie despite his offer. He quickly realises that his estranged wife must be behind the stolen laptop and attempts in vain to persuade Sadie to sell him the land. He later breaks the news to Tom and Matthew who decide to quiz Katie about the break in. Will Katie become embroiled in Sadie's deceit? Meanwhile, Andy discovers Robert's dark secret as Cain's accusations ring in his ears. He quizzes Daz about Robert and Sadie and his suspicions are confirmed when he later witnesses the pair in close contact. An enraged Andy sets off to confront his wayward brother. Elsewhere, with Max away on a course for a few days, Zoe reluctantly agrees to help Paddy out at the surgery. 109. Tue 10 May 2005 When Andy confronts Robert at the garage about his affair with Sadie a brutal fight breaks out between the brothers. Alerted by Daz, Katie rushes to the scene and is devastated to learn the reason behind the punch-up. Despite Robert's desperate denial of the affair, she struggles to believe him. When Jack comes across his boys fighting once again, he demands to know what is going on. Robert once again denies the allegation, persuading Jack that Andy is just trying to poison Katie's mind. Having conned Jack, will Robert be able pull the wool over his fiancÃ©es eyes?Meanwhile, a distraught Katie decides to confront Sadie. The Woolpack regulars, including a stunned King family watch as Katie pours a drink over Sadie who retaliates with a firm slap across the face. Angry at Katie's behaviour, Tom sacks her on the spot. Being sacked is the least of Katie's worries as she heads to Andy's house to seek comfort. Will the turmoil of recent events force the ex-lovers back into each other's arms? 110. Wed 11 May 2005 After spending the night at Andy's, Katie is in turmoil. Throughout the day both Andy and Robert separately pay her a visit and beg her to give them another chance. Cornered and confused, Katie heads home only to run into Jack who berates her for tearing his family apart. Tired of the arguments, Katie decides to leave the village. Can Andy or Robert stop Katie before she walks out of both their lives?Elsewhere, Tom is worried that Sadie is wrecking his planned development and pays her a surprise visit. He offers her a cheque as payment for the land but Sadie knows she holds all the cards. Will she accept Tom's generous offer or will she hold out for an even better deal? Over at the vet's surgery, it's ZoÃ«'s first day back. She attempts to cheer Paddy up but her efforts are thwarted when he declines her offer of lunch at The Woolpack. She later catches Paddy looking at jobs abroad and hints that it's something she has considered herself. Meanwhile, Edna creates a fuss when she refuses After discussing Sadie's demand, the Kings conclude that it would be a bad idea to allow her to regain her interest in the business. Tom and Max visit Home Farm to break the news to Sadie, who reacts by telling a stunned Tom that Zoe is now going to sell her the only other bit of land that they need for their development. Shaken by Sadie's plans, Tom is forced to concede and offers her a 10% share in King & Sons. Sadie is triumphant but how will Jimmy react to the news?Meanwhile, a concerned Jack questions Robert about his spat with Cain. Robert informs him that it was Cain who spread the rumours about him and Sadie. Robert again denies any wrong doing and explains he was negotiating with Sadie about buying a property on the new King development. Jack is concerned, does Zoe know about the Kings' plans? Elsewhere, Zoe worries that Dawn is not coping very well with the task of looking after both TJ and Jean. 112. Fri 13 May 2005 Jack turns detective when he visits the council offices and discovers that the Kings have gained planning permission to build housing on Zoe's and Mrs Kidderminster's land. Jack wastes no time in revealing to Zoe and Andy the Kings true intentions. The trio make a pact to stop Sadie and the rest of the King family. Meanwhile, a triumphant Sadie arrives at the Kings and gleefully announces that Zoe has agreed to sell her the last field needed for their development. Sadie admits that Zoe is under the illusion the field is to be used for a livery business. However, Sadie is stunned when Andy, Jack and Zoe arrive and inform the gathered King family the game is up and that they are aware of their true intentions for the land. Angry at being duped, Zoe makes it clear she would only sell the land to Jack and that she wants Sadie to move out of Home Farm. Her plans thwarted and facing eviction, what will Sadie do next? Elsewhere in the village, Simon and Nicola grow tired of Lesley's interfere Sadie enjoys her newly acquired power since buying the land that the Kings so desperately need. Tom makes it clear to Sadie that she is still on board, however, Jimmy takes delight in bursting her bubble by reminding her that she'll never worm her way back into the family. As well as keeping Sadie sweet, business-minded Tom is also hopeful that Jack and Andy will agree to sell him their fields. Despite wanting to stand his moral ground, can Jack afford to say no to Tom's generous offer? Over in the cafÃ©, Donna takes advantage of Viv's absence and throws a party. Meddling Marlon invites Paddy, knowing that Emily will be attending. Will his efforts to re-unite the couple prove successful? Cain taunts a miserable Robert who is drowning his sorrows over Katie, and when Cain takes things too far Robert snaps and a brawl ensues. Sadie intervenes by telling Cain that his gripe should be with her and she demands that he leave Robert alone. Cain later bursts in on a startled Sadie as she composes herself in the toilets. Matthew witnesses Cain's underhand behaviour and goes to his sister-in-law's rescue. Will Sadie use the opportunity to seek sympathy from the Kings? Elsewhere, Chas joins Carl and his son for a game of football and the chemistry between them is more apparent than ever. Despite their reluctance to admit their feelings for one another, will love conquer all? Chas is forced to lie to Denzel when Shadrach steals his police car and drives into a ditch. The copper is furious when he discovers that he can't trust his girlfriend to be honest with him and he warns her that if it happens again their relationship will be over. Elsewhere, Zoe come to a decision about her future and announces to Callum that she and Jean will be leaving the village. Meanwhile, Matthew manipulates Robert by telling him that if he convinces Jack to sell his land, there may be room for him in the business. Will Robert compromise his relationship with his father for a future with the Kings? 116. Wed 18 May 2005 Scott is met with an abrupt refusal when he asks Zoe if he can take Jean on holiday to Spain with him. Zoe is later furious when Ashley questions her decision, making her more adamant than ever that a fresh start is the best thing for her and Jean. Elsewhere, Chas's relationship with Denzel is clearly tarnished as a consequence of her father's behaviour. She explains her fury to Diane but also confesses to being confused over Carl. Will her relationship problems lead her back to her former lover? Meanwhile, Betty tries to verbally poison Dr Forsythe against Steph, but he insists that he will make up his own mind about the controversial villager. As Betty cleans at Home Farm she soon picks up on Zoe's plans to move abroad and heads to the Woolpack armed with gossip. Scott is horrified when he hears through the grapevine that Zoe is leaving and heads off to confront her. How will Zoe respond when the father of her child storms round demanding that Jean stay where she is? Over at the Dingles', Shadrach shocks his family when he dresses up and declares that he is a changed man. He insists that he intends on getting himself a job, but Lisa is left to pick up the pieces when he fails miserably. Meanwhile, Libby suggests to Sadie that she stable her horse at Andy's farm, but the young farmer remains adamant that he doesn't want her horse on his land. 118. Fri 20 May 2005 Donna is exhausted having single-handedly run the shop and the cafÃ© in Viv's absence, and when Marlon offers to lend a hand, between them they forget to lock up. Shadrach seizes the opportunity and shamelessly steals as much booze as he can carry from the shop. Donna is distraught when she discovers the missing drink and Marlon instantly suspects his uncle. He heads up to Dingle's homestead to speak to Lisa, Zak and Chas, and when they find Shadrach they insist he hide the alcohol elsewhere. When Denzel arrives on official business Chas is yet again compromised. Will she stand by her father or her boyfriend? Elsewhere, Dawn speaks to Zoe on Scott's behalf and as a mother she can't help but empathise with her. Dawn is angry that Scott failed to mention that Zoe had offered to pay for him to frequently visit Jean and tells him that Zoe deserves a chance. Meanwhile, Andy is unable to turn down Sadie's money and agrees to rent her a stable. Chas is feeling at an all time low having compromised her relationship with Denzel by lying for her father. During a heart-to-heart with Diane, she admits that she fears she'll never be happy and confesses that she signed up for the army a while ago and is seriously thinking now could be the right time to join the troops. Meanwhile, Viv returns home to news of the burglary and she heads straight up to the Dingles' to give them a piece of her mind. Zak is unrepentant and reminds Viv that she stole Emily's husband, claiming she's now had her just deserts. Later that day, Scott tells Viv that he fears he'll lose Jean, but his overprotective mother promises that she will never let that happen. What does Viv have up her sleeve? Sadie is upset when she is snubbed by Zoe and Jimmy takes delight in telling her that no one would miss her if she disappeared. Feeling miserable, she heads back to the B&B and finds skimpy underwear on her bed with a note inviting her to Cain's room. She can't help but be tempted but is he the tonic she needs? Meanwhile, Viv sets about fighting for Jean, and after visiting the Citizen's Advice Bureau she tells Scott that they stand a good chance of getting custody of Jean by proving that Zoe is unbalanced. Scott is clearly uneasy at the thought of playing dirty, but how far will he go in order to keep his daughter? Over in the Woolpack, Emily finally ventures out of the house but struggles when faced with Viv. Paul cheers up Emily with his witty remarks about the postmistress but Viv is left feeling worse than ever. 121. Tues 24 May 2005 Cain is furious when Sadie is dismissive about the previous night and feeling wronged the angry Dingle promises to make her pay. Later that day, Sadie is fraught when she finds a docile looking Damon, and she is later horrified when her beloved dog is pronounced dead. Is Cain responsible for the unexpected fatality? Meanwhile, Viv tries a different tack and asks Terry to make Zoe see sense about taking Jean away. Remembering how he felt when he thought he'd lose TJ he agrees to try, but Zoe quickly guesses that Viv sent him and insists that she has made up her mind. Elsewhere, Betty asks Jarvis how he will be celebrating his impending 65th birthday but he is determined that he doesn't want to do anything. Betty asks Len to talk to him and when he does Jarvis reluctantly agrees to a few drinks the following day. 122. Thurs 26 May 2005 Tom can't help but sympathise with Sadie and he offers to help bury her beloved pet. As they spend time together, Sadie comes clean about her past. How will Tom react when she confesses that she slept with Robert Sugden? Meanwhile, Jarvis's pleas for a low key birthday are unheard and the quiet drinks he planned in the Woolpack soon turn into a party. Despite his initial reluctance, Jarvis soon goes with the flow, so much so that he puts his back out on the dance floor! That evening, Libby invites Andy to be her date at the farmer's ball the following week. He is thrilled to be asked but worries that his lack of dancing ability will let him down. Terry offers to give him lessons but can he learn the moves in time? 123. Fri 27 May 2005 Carl notes that Chas is feeling low and he takes her out for a drink in Hotten to cheer her up. During the evening Chas tells him about her plans to join the army and he is clearly upset at the thought of losing her. Their conversation is interrupted when Chas sees an old friend and Carl is left gutted that he hasn't had the opportunity to tell her how he really feels. Meanwhile, Tom is concerned when he hears that Sadie is planning to leave the village and he goes to say his goodbyes. Sadie hands over the land and assures him that she never wanted to use it as a lever to get back in with the Kings. Tom softens and invites her back into the firm, but how will Jimmy feel when he discovers his ex-wife is back on board? Over in the cafÃ©, Viv takes great pleasure in outlining Home Farm's sordid past to ensure potential buyers of the property are put off for good. 124. Sunday, 29th May 2005 Chas tells her family that she plans to join the army and is disappointed when they make their disapproval crystal clear. Meanwhile, Carl worries that he can't bare the thought of losing Chas and Max and advises his brother to talk to her. As he confesses his true feelings, Jimmy interrupts with a mocking comment and Chas is left believing that she is at the centre of some sort of bet. Can Carl convince her that his feelings towards her are genuine? Elsewhere, as Sadie packs up her car, Tom approaches and asks her to manage a short-term contract near Huddersfield. Sadie is only too happy to accept and she leaves the village feeling delighted that she is still a part of the King fold. As Sadie drives away she almost ploughs into Cain and promises him that if she ever discovers that he was responsible for Damon's death, next time she won't stop. Meanwhile, Scott convinces Zoe to join him and Jean for a picnic and they enjoy a pleasant day out. But for how long will the happy family scena 125. Monday, 30th May 2005 While Scott and Zoe continue to play happy families with Jean, Viv is busy speaking to a solicitor about Scott's rights as a father. It later comes to a head when Viv interrupts Scott and Zoe's lunch and announces the results of her investigations. Scott is openly angry at his mother for interfering and he follows her out. Viv and Scott discuss the situation and agree that it is brilliant that Zoe thinks they are at loggerheads. Scott then goes back to the pub and apologises to Zoe, telling her that he's told his mum that it's none of her business. What are Viv and Scott scheming? Meanwhile, pregnant teenager Debbie is feeling increasingly isolated, and having spoken to no-one about her delicate state, she is in desperate need of help. She goes to her hideout place and calls a teen advice line but after asking a few awkward questions she hangs up. Elsewhere, Chas is sick of the lack of support she receives from her family over joining the army and when Zak bets her that she'll be in ex 126. Tue 31 May 2005 Scott puts his plan into action and sends Viv round to Home Farm to apologise to Zoe. Viv spells out her concerns in her usual brash manner, clearing the way for Scott to arrive and offer Zoe a sympathetic shoulder. Will Zoe fall for Scott's charm offensive? Elsewhere, Nicola tells Rodney and Paul that Lesley is coming to stay as she has hurt her arm she could do with a hand. A desperate Rodney is dismayed to find that the B&B is closed for refurbishment and is forced to invite the overly friendly woman into his home. Meanwhile, Daz thinks there is something strange about the way Debbie is acting but will he discover the real reason behind her peculiar behaviour Daz is determined to get to the bottom of what is bothering Debbie and he follows her as she sneaks off to her hide. Believing that she is alone, Debbie takes off her jumper and as she reveals her bump Daz bursts in and is shocked by what he sees before him. Debbie insists that Daz mustn't tell a sole that she is pregnant, but is this secret too large to keep to himself? Elsewhere, Lesley has her feet firmly under the table at Mill Cottage, much to Nicola's annoyance. Simon and Nicola head off to view houses and Lesley invites herself along, infuriating Nicola further. How much more can Nicola take? Meanwhile, Chas finds herself explaining her decision to join the army and insists that it is something that she has always dreamed of doing. Feeling that she is being discouraged she becomes even more determined that she has made the right decision. Daz is clearly concerned about Debbie and he visits the hide armed with presents for the expectant mother. Debbie confesses that she plans to dump the baby at a hospital after the birth, but Daz argues that Zak and Lisa would help out if they knew. Daz pleads with Debbie to visit a doctor but will the stubborn Dingle do the right thing?Meanwhile, Carl confesses to Max that he can't stand the thought of Chas leaving the village. But after failing to convince her before, will he swallow his pride and tell Chas how he really feels? Elsewhere, an embarrassed Andy visits Viv for a dancing lesson in preparation for the farmers' ball and the postmistress takes delight in showing him a few moves! Debbie panics when she overhears Zak and Shadrach saying that they are heading off to the woods and fearing that they'll find her hide she asks Daz to go and clear it. The Dingles later stumble across Daz and he manages to excuse his whereabouts. However, he later tells Debbie that he won't lie on her behalf anymore. Debbie fears that Daz will tell Andy about the baby and to keep him quiet she says she's going to see a doctor. She heads off to the surgery but bottles it at the last minute, later lying to Daz that she saw the doctor and everything is fine. Elsewhere, Andy's dancing lessons appear to be paying off and Viv is thrilled at his progress. He proudly tells Libby that she is in for a surprise at the farmer's ball leaving her curious as to what he has planned! Donna is shocked by Scottâ€™s generosity with money, unaware that it is his way of saying goodbye as he prepares to leave the country with Zoe and Jean. Before heading to Home Farm, Scott also posts a letter to girlfriend Dawn. Having acknowledged his feelings for Zoe, Scott gets down on one knee at Home Farm to propose. Zoe is unable to keep up the pretence that everything is going ahead as planned and tells him there is no way she will marry him, before retracting her invitation for Scott to join her and Jean in America. Scott reacts by throwing her down against the table in a rage. Zoe grabs the nearest thing to her, a syringe filled with Ketamine she had just prepared for an injured horse and plunges it into him. As Scott falls to the floor Zoe picks up a second syringe just as Paddy walks in and witnesses the attack. Has Zoe enough hatred for Scott to inject him with the second needle and get him out of her life for good The police arrive at Home Farm to question Zoe. When the engagement ring and the puncture wounds on Scottâ€™s body are discovered DI Warren begins to wonder if Zoe knows more than she is letting on and she is arrested on suspicion of assault. Paddy is told that he must give a statement but is aware this evidence is crucial to Zoeâ€™s fate. When the drugs are mentioned and the fact that as a vet, Zoe would be aware of their effect on humans, the pressure is on Paddy to ensure some damage limitation? Meanwhile, Viv is told of Scottâ€™s condition and rushes to the hospital. Adamant that Zoe is responsible, Viv tells Bob that Zoe will pay for what she has done. Will Viv go through with her threat and seek revenge for her critically ill son? Zoe awaits news on whether she is to be charged or not until the police have obtained a statement from Scott, who is currently unconscious. Eventually, Zoe is released on bail but told to have no contact with witnesses. That afternoon, back at Home Farm, thereâ€™s a knock at the door and Viv barges her way in. Zoe tells Viv that Scott tried to rape her but Viv is having none of it and goes for Zoe. A struggle ensues but Depaul arrives and prises them apart, telling Zoe sheâ€™ll end up getting herself arrested again. Will Depaul ensure Viv leaves before Zoe says something she might later regret? Elsewhere, Dawn is furious when she receives Scottâ€™s letter telling her heâ€™s left the village and, feeling betrayed, she decides to flee to Spain. However, when Bob fills her in on events, will she change her mind and go to Scottâ€™s bedside? Kelly Windsor makes a shock return to the village to be at Scottâ€™s bedside, but step-mum Viv isnâ€™t impressed. Kelly doesnâ€™t waste any time in showing that she hasnâ€™t changed when a young doctor on duty arrives and she sets about seducing him. Kelly quick slips back into caring mode when Viv arrives back from the canteen but are Bob and Marlon as convinced by Kellyâ€™s display of concern as Viv seems to be? Meanwhile, Ashley pays Zoe a visit and asks her to explain what happened. He reminds her of a previous comment she made saying that she wanted Scott out of her life for good, but Zoe is indignant at his suggestions. Elsewhere, Max tells Jimmy that Andy may lose his entire flock of sheep due to illness resulting in a loss of £10,000. Can Jimmy hatch a plan to use this to his advantage? With an arguing family by his bedside, Scott awakes. He tries to speak and manages to mumble something about Zoe trying to kill him. Before those around him can make sense of what he is saying he begins to fit and as the nurse calls for assistance the family are hustled out. When Bob and Donna are alone, he admits to her that Scott had written Dawn a letter explaining that he and Zoe were running away together. Donna is stunned but finally understands Dawnâ€™s reasons for going to Spain. The doctor explains to a distraught Viv that Scott may suffer permanent brain damage. As the family take in the news, the police knock on Zoeâ€™s door and escort her away for questioning. While Emily baby-sits Sarah, Debbie is distraught to find that Andy wonâ€™t leave the farm to spend time with her. Is he avoiding her for a reason? Kelly turns up at Home Farm with a journalist and snap-happy photographer. Zoe is stunned, and when pushed for a comment she realises sheâ€™s beaten and heads inside. Meanwhile, Dawn arrives at the hospital and is stunned to see Scottâ€™s delicate condition. Kelly makes snide comments about Dawn not being there sooner and as she tries to defend herself she goes to grab Scottâ€™s letter. Will Bob be able to stop her? Elsewhere, Robert is angry when he finds a cheque that Jack has written for Andy. He thinks that Andy is becoming Jackâ€™s favourite son and is determined to get back at him, so sets about chatting up Libby. Andy is upset when he sees Libby accept a lift from Robert. How far will Robert go to seek revenge on his brother? At the hospital Dawn is irritated by Kelly and Vivâ€™s continuous bitchy remarks and finally snaps showing a stunned Viv the letter from Scott. Viv is distraught and in her frustration she begs Scott to wake up. She refuses to believe her would leave her and is desperate to question him. After pressure from Cain, Andy visits Debbie. She tells him that she wishes they could spend more time together and suggests that she moves back to Butlerâ€™s farm to be with him. Will Andy agree? Elsewhere, Lesley suspects that there is something strange about Rose and determined to get to the bottom of it, she invites her to the pub. Lesley opens up to Rose and confesses that she lied about her arm to get close to her son. What will Rose reveal to Lesley? Andy confesses to Jack that while he wants to do the right thing by Sarah, he no longer has any feelings for Debbie. Andy pays Debbie a visit and when she tells him that she loves him, he admits that he doesnâ€™t feel the same. He apologises but Debbie is inconsolable. He insists heâ€™ll always be there for Sarah, but an angry Debbie says he canâ€™t have the baby without her. Debbie is distraught as she watches the man she loves walk away. Ashley is taken aback when he gets a call out of the blue from his brother asking if Jasmine, Ashleyâ€™s 15 year old niece, can come to stay. Will he agree to take her in for the summer? Kelly, meanwhile, spends the day flirting with Danny, but will he respond to her advances? A distraught Debbie tells Cain that she and Andy are finished. Cain is ready to go and hunt Andy down but he receives a second blow when Debbie announces that sheâ€™s called social services and is getting rid of her baby. The worried Dingles try to convince her itâ€™s just her hormones. However, unbeknown to the family, Debbie is still convinced that her baby will be better off with a foster family and puts her in a taxi. In the nick of time, Cain arrives and desperately tries to convince her not to abandon her responsibilities. He assures her that he will be there for her but can he convince her to keep her baby? After finding out that Debbie has banned Andy from seeing Sarah, Jack tells Robert that Andy could do with his support. Seizing the opportunity to get back in with his family so that he can work against them for the Kings, he lends Andy a shoulder to cry on. Elsewhere, when Ashleyâ€™s niece Jasmine arrives, she appears to be a stroppy teenager and he struggles to get Jack and Andy are disheartened at the cattle market when there are no bids for their cows because someone has said that their cattle are infected with pneumonia. They suspect the Kings, and Jack confronts Jimmy in the Woolpack. Robert witnesses the confrontation and questions his father as to whether the land is worth all the aggro. He is clearly trying to persuade him to sell to the Kings, but will Jack remain oblivious to his sonâ€™s manipulation? Meanwhile, Jasmine is in the house alone and she sneaks into Stephâ€™s room to find a box containing cuttings relevant to Shellyâ€™s disappearance. Jasmine is clearly intrigued and when Steph returns home she subtly asks her about Shelly. Ashley intervenes but it is clear Jasmine is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Elsewhere, Kelly insensitively tells Donna that she can do much better than lanky Marlon and insists sheâ€™ll do well if she sticks with her. Donna feels increasingly humbled as the day goes on. After much deliberation, Jack comes to the conclusion that Andy would be better off if he sells his land, and Tom is elated to hear of the farmerâ€™s change of heart. However, when he goes to sign the doted line, Andy stops him in his tracks and the father and son leave delighted that the Kings havenâ€™t managed to get one over on them. Enjoying their triumph, they take things one step further as they mischievously drive their muck spreader past Pear Tree Cottage! Elsewhere, Matthew confesses to Louise that he canâ€™t bare the thought of her being with Terry, but she sharply tells him that he better get used to it because she intends on being with Terry for a long time. Meanwhile, as Steph heads off to work on the memorial garden she tells Ashley to invite Jasmine to join her. Jasmine later fails to show and Steph finds her in the cafÃ© talking to Daz. Steph warns Jasmine to stay away from him, explaining heâ€™s caused her a lot of trouble. Will this make Jasmine more determined to The villagers are amazed by Jack and Andyâ€™s behaviour the previous day but it is clear that they do not regret their actions. Tom later goes to see Jack and tells him the offer is still there if he wants it, but Jack makes it perfectly clear that he has no intention of selling. A frustrated Tom goes back to the office and tells Matthew that he wants this sorted by the time he gets back from his business trip, but will he be able to make Jack budge? Elsewhere, Matthew continues with his other task and steps up his attempt to woo Louise. After buying her a necklace he tries to kiss her, but it is clear that all she wants is to hear that he really cares for her. Will he mange to convince her that his feelings are genuine? Over in the Woolpack, having spent the whole evening with Kelly, Danny is confident that she is a dead cert. However, when Kelly finds out Max has more money, she waits for Danny to go to the gents and heads off with the delighted vet! Having been suitably convinced that Matthew really likes her, Louise decides that itâ€™s time to end her relationship with Terry. A panic stricken Matthew tries to put her off, but with her mind made up she heads off to face Terry. Back at the Woolpack, Louise asks to see Terry, and as they go to the back room she discovers that he has decked out the room with roses. She begins to cry and tells him that she loves him but canâ€™t be with him. Terry is completely stunned and devastated as Louiseâ€™s words sink in. Elsewhere, Jimmy suggests employing Cain to put pressure on the Sugdens. Matthew disagrees, but Jimmy gets Cain on side regardless. Cain pockets fifty quid before telling Jimmy that although heâ€™d love to smash Andyâ€™s face in, he promised Debbie he wouldnâ€™t. He walks off with the money leaving Jimmy livid.Meanwhile, Viv is insulted when Dawn fails to ask after Scott, and tells her that despite everything Scott needs them all - including Dawn. Will she put her pride aside Louise is pleased to see Diane back, and in need of a shoulder to cry on she tells her that she and Terry are over. Diane guesses that Matthew is involved and warns her that she is making a terrible mistake. When Val appears, it becomes clear that she already knew about the affair, leaving Diane furious. Louise is annoyed at Dianeâ€™s interference and tells her to go to hell. Later, in the bar, Diane consoles Terry and feeling he deserves the truth, she tells him that Louise has been seeing Matthew. Terry is momentarily stunned but then heads for the door. He finds Louise and Matthew together, but he is too emotional to pick a fight and he sobs as he watches Matthew lead the lady he loves away. Elsewhere, Marlon opens his mail and finds that he has been invited to enter a prestigious pub chefsâ€™ competition and could win a week working in Aldo Zilli's kitchen. Marlon isnâ€™t interested and dismisses it as junk mail, but when Bob tells Donna about the competition she decides to enter News of Louise and Matthewâ€™s affair spreads around the village leaving the residents shocked at her betrayal. A wronged Terry confronts Matthew and punches him in the face, before shouting abuse at Louise in the pub. Louise seeks assurance from Matthew that she has done the right thing, but when he fails to give her the reassurance she needs, will she realise that she has made a terrible mistake? Meanwhile, Valâ€™s interior design dream is left in tatters when the bank refuses to give Pollard a loan. Refusing to give up, she asks Diane for financial help, but will her sister come to her aid? Elsewhere, Bob is unsure that their plans to enter Marlon into a food competition are wise, but Donna remains undeterred and forges Marlonâ€™s signature. How will the chef react when he discovers his girlfriendâ€™s deceit? After much deliberation, Ashley visits Zoe ready to discuss the incident with Scott. Ashley is stunned when Zoe confesses that she tried to kill Scott and although she is adamant that it was self defence he is shocked further when she tells him that she enjoyed humiliating him. Ashley storms off in disgust leaving Zoe fearing that she has said too much. Will the vicar go to the police? Elsewhere, Matthew realises that he must be there for Louise and Terry is upset as he watches them acting affectionately in public. Louise is hurt by the reaction from some of the villagers and Matthew comforts her half-heartedly, unsure of what he has got into and how he can handle it. Meanwhile, Diane lets slip to Marlon that he has been entered into a competition and he is furious that Donna has gone behind his back. She eventually manages to calm him down and after much deliberation Marlon agrees to go through with it.	88,432
A life insurance policy is an essential part of financial security. However, it doesn't often pop up in dinner conversation because nobody wants to handle it. Why? Well, it's annoying, depressing, and confusing. However, as soon as somebody depends on you for financial support, maybe a spouse or a child, having life insurance makes economic sense. Why wait? Life insurance is more affordable when you're still young, productive, and healthy. Let's have a look at how you can go about buying life insurance. There are three basic methods of buying life insurance. These include: Directly from an Insurance Company Purchasing life insurance directly from the company can save you some money. For one, you don't have to pay fees and commissions for agents. And the process is quite straight forward. However, you have to spend some time going through underwriting guidelines. If there's a different product that suits your needs, you might not learn about it. You may also find yourself repeating the same processes, as mistakes are likely to occur during the application process. Life insurance pricing is quite complicated. That's why you should always consider buying from a local independent agent. Local agents will reduce the amount of paperwork you have to do as well as guide you through various options, though you may have more travel time and in-person meetings than with other options. Making online purchases adds speed and convenience to shopping for any product. You can run through various insurance companies and compare their policies and premiums. Once you find the kind of insurance you want, you can contact an online agent. This option will cost you less time and money when compared to the previous methods. Online brokers like PolicyScout are required by law to be licensed to sell insurance in your state, so you can trust their knowledge of the law and products available. What Kind of Life Insurance to Buy There are two types of life insurance policies, complex and simple. Complex type life insurance includes a variety of investment and retirement products wrapped into a life insurance policy. Such options include permanent life, whole life, and universal coverage. You've probably seen ads for such on TV; they are the type that promises cash value on your premiums. For most people, this type of coverage isn't the smartest financial move. While there are some tax benefits and investment options that make these a good option for certain high-income people, for most people, the difference in premium between these and simple policies is better invested in other financial products. The other, and more common type of coverage is term life insurance (and similar products). This option offers affordable solutions, and it's as simple to understand as auto or homeowner's insurance. Once you pay the premiums for the first year, you're covered. Your dependents receive death benefits upon your passing. Besides, you stop paying premiums when the policy expires. There are policies available for many situations, even higher-risk applicants like single parents and pregnant women. Shopping for life insurance can get tiring. Luckily, you don't have to call an agent to get a quote. These days, insurance companies have brought their services online, making it easier to get an accurate quote. The best thing about such online services is that it's quicker, and you can get a quote from wherever you are. You also don't have to deal with those aggressive life insurance salespeople that often want to upsell you on things you don't need. However, some of these websites may still call you, so you should vet them to find out which ones don't have such behavior. Here at PolicyScout, we can give you a quick, easy, and free quote today – no hassle. You don't need any specific document to get a quote. But, you'll need to be familiar with your medical history or the results of recent physical exams. Here are a few steps involved: Filling a brief form about yourself: Expect to fill in a form with things like your weight, age, gender, or if you smoke. Smoking is the most determining factor; it could double your premiums. You might also have to give your contact information before receiving a quote. Selecting how much insurance you need: It's common to buy life insurance that's sufficient to replace your after-tax income until your child's 18th birthday. It would help if you also had a policy that can replace your income in the event of your death so that your family can remain comfortable. If you feel unsure, we have a quick guide on how to determine your coverage needs (step 5). Settling on how much you'll pay: Most of the figures you'll see are convective estimates. The more detailed information you provide upfront, the more accurate your quote. Find out your preferred class: Insurers use a broad range of metrics like family history, smoking status, and age to determine your risk class. How to Apply for a Life Insurance Policy Once you find a favorable quote, it's time to apply for the life insurance policy. This process may take weeks, and you should expect to answer many personal questions, undergo medical examinations, and fill in some paperwork. So, what happens after you apply? You will speak to an agent on the phone to verify all the information you provided online. Then the agent will give you some documents to sign and submit to the insurer. The insurer will require a medical exam. They usually contract paramedic professionals like nurses to perform these exams. So, expect one to contact you to schedule the exam. The exam and long wait: The medical examiner will take an in-depth look at your medical history and confirm the info in your application. They'll also check your blood pressure and take samples that will be sent to the lab for further testing. You will receive the results via mail. The insurer will go through the results to determine how much you should pay. This process may take a few weeks. What to Expect After You Apply Once your policy is approved, you will receive a notification and a complete copy of the policy. The insurer will also ask for the first deposit on your premium. In some cases, insurance companies allow you to make the first deposit before the medical exam. Such a measure binds your policy once you submit your application. Please note that the insurer has the right to raise your premiums or cancel your policy if the medical exam reveals any previously undisclosed medical conditions. So, honesty is paramount. Don't cancel your old policy just yet! First, ask when the policy will take effect. You will receive a hard copy of the policy from the agent. Ensure to make a copy and keep the original in a different place. And, don't forget to tell your spouse where they can find the document. Finally, you can rest easy as you've just made one of the soundest financial decisions in life. It's that simple! Although it seems like such a drag, buying life insurance is easier than most people think. The only hassle to it is scheduling your medical exam and waiting for the results. These days it's easy to buy life insurance. Among all the options, term life insurance will give you fewer headaches. Also, when looking for life insurance online, our experts like will help you demystify life insurance policies. work for you. 9:00am - 7:00pm ET Health Throughout the years, PolicyScout™ has developed relationships with leading insurance companies to provide the best rates for consumers. We pride ourselves on putting the consumers first and delivering a new way to shop for insurance online. With our platform, consumers can compare all types of insurance types. From Medicare, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Auto Insurance, Home Insurance and more. By using our platform, we’ll protect your data, find you savings and even help you enroll for insurance online. We didn’t invent comparing insurance. We just perfected it. Terms of Service All Rights Reserved by PolicyScout © 2022 We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800- MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Plans are insured or covered by a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and/or a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan's contract renewal with Medicare.	8,901
In The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (p. 19-21), Thomas Kuhn remarks on the tendency of sciences to acquire a technical vocabulary and manner of discussion: We shall be examining the nature of this highly directed or paradigm-based research in the next section, but must first note briefly how the emergence of a paradigm affects the structure of the group that practices the field. When, in the development of a natural science, an individual or group first produces a synthesis able to attract most of the next generation’s practitioners, the older schools gradually disappear. In part their disappearance is caused by their members’ conversion to the new paradigm. But there are always some men who cling to one or another of the older views, and they are simply read out of the profession, which thereafter ignores their work. The new paradigm implies a new and more rigid definition of the field. Those unwilling or unable to accommodate their work to it must proceed in isolation or attach themselves to some other group. Historically, they have often simply stayed in the departments of philosophy from which so many of the special sciences have been spawned. As these indications hint, it is sometimes just its reception of a paradigm that transforms a group previously interested merely in the study of nature into a profession or, at least, a discipline. In the sciences (though not in fields like medicine, technology, and law, of which the principal raison d’être is an external social need), the formation of specialized journals, the foundation of specialists’ societies, and the claim for a special place in the curriculum have usually been associated with a group’s first reception of a single paradigm. At least this was the case between the time, a century and a half ago, when the institutional pattern of scientific specialization first developed and the very recent time when the paraphernalia of specialization acquired a prestige of their own. The more rigid definition of the scientific group has other consequences. When the individual scientist can take a paradigm for granted, he need no longer, in his major works, attempt to build his field anew, starting from first principles and justifying the use of each concept introduced. That can be left to the writer of textbooks. Given a textbook, however, the creative scientist can begin his research where it leaves off and thus concentrate exclusively upon the subtlest and most esoteric aspects of the natural phenomena that concern his group. And as he does this, his research communiqués will begin to change in ways whose evolution has been too little studied but whose modern end products are obvious to all and oppressive to many. No longer will his researches usually be embodied in books addressed, like Franklin’s Experiments . . . on Electricity or Darwin’s Origin of Species, to anyone who might be interested in the subject matter of the field. Instead they will usually appear as brief articles addressed only to professional colleagues, the men whose knowledge of a shared paradigm can be assumed and who prove to be the only ones able to read the papers addressed to them. Today in the sciences, books are usually either texts or retrospective reflections upon one aspect or another of the scientific life. The scientist who writes one is more likely to find his professional reputation impaired than enhanced. Only in the earlier, pre-paradigm, stages of the development of the various sciences did the book ordinarily possess the same relation to professional achievement that it still retains in other creative fields. And only in those fields that still retain the book, with or without the article, as a vehicle for research communication are the lines of professionalization still so loosely drawn that the layman may hope to follow progress by reading the practitioners’ original reports. Both in mathematics and astronomy, research reports had ceased already in antiquity to be intelligible to a generally educated audience. In dynamics, research became similarly esoteric in the later Middle Ages, and it recaptured general intelligibility only briefly during the early seventeenth century when a new paradigm replaced the one that had guided medieval research. Electrical research began to require translation for the layman before the end of the eighteenth century, and most other fields of physical science ceased to be generally accessible in the nineteenth. During the same two centuries similar transitions can be isolated in the various parts of the biological sciences. In parts of the social sciences they may well be occurring today. Although it has become customary, and is surely proper, to deplore the widening gulf that separates the professional scientist from his colleagues in other fields, too little attention is paid to the essential relationship between that gulf and the mechanisms intrinsic to scientific advance. As Kuhn says, this tendency has very well known results. Consider the papers constantly being published at arxiv.org, for example. If you are not familiar with the science in question, you will likely not be able to understand even the title, let alone the summary or the content. Many or most of the words will be meaningless to you, and even if they are not, their combinations will be. It is also not difficult to see why this happens, and why it must happen. Everything we understand, we understand through form, which is a network of relationships. Thus if particular investigators wish to go into something in greater detail, these relationships will become more and more remote from the ordinary knowledge accessible to everyone. “Just say it in simple words” will become literally impossible, in the sense that explaining the “simple” statement will involve explaining a huge number of relationships that by default a person would have no knowledge of. That is the purpose, as Kuhn notes, of textbooks, namely to form connections between everyday knowledge and the more complex relationships studied in particular fields. In Chapter XIII, Kuhn relates this sort of development with the word “science” and progress: The preceding pages have carried my schematic description of scientific development as far as it can go in this essay. Nevertheless, they cannot quite provide a conclusion. If this description has at all caught the essential structure of a science’s continuing evolution, it will simultaneously have posed a special problem: Why should the enterprise sketched above move steadily ahead in ways that, say, art, political theory, or philosophy does not? Why is progress a perquisite reserved almost exclusively for the activities we call science? The most usual answers to that question have been denied in the body of this essay. We must conclude it by asking whether substitutes can be found. Notice immediately that part of the question is entirely semantic. To a very great extent the term ‘science’ is reserved for fields that do progress in obvious ways. Nowhere does this show more clearly than in the recurrent debates about whether one or another of the contemporary social sciences is really a science. These debates have parallels in the pre-paradigm periods of fields that are today unhesitatingly labeled science. Their ostensible issue throughout is a definition of that vexing term. Men argue that psychology, for example, is a science because it possesses such and such characteristics. Others counter that those characteristics are either unnecessary or not sufficient to make a field a science. Often great energy is invested, great passion aroused, and the outsider is at a loss to know why. Can very much depend upon a definition of ‘science’? Can a definition tell a man whether he is a scientist or not? If so, why do not natural scientists or artists worry about the definition of the term? Inevitably one suspects that the issue is more fundamental. Probably questions like the following are really being asked: Why does my field fail to move ahead in the way that, say, physics does? What changes in technique or method or ideology would enable it to do so? These are not, however, questions that could respond to an agreement on definition. Furthermore, if precedent from the natural sciences serves, they will cease to be a source of concern not when a definition is found, but when the groups that now doubt their own status achieve consensus about their past and present accomplishments. It may, for example, be significant that economists argue less about whether their field is a science than do practitioners of some other fields of social science. Is that because economists know what science is? Or is it rather economics about which they agree? The last point is telling. There is significantly more consensus among economists than among other sorts of social science, and consequently less worry about whether their field is scientific or not. The difference, then, is a difference of how much agreement is found. There is not necessarily any difference with respect to the kind of increasingly detailed thought that results in increasingly technical discussion. Kuhn remarks: The theologian who articulates dogma or the philosopher who refines the Kantian imperatives contributes to progress, if only to that of the group that shares his premises. No creative school recognizes a category of work that is, on the one hand, a creative success, but is not, on the other, an addition to the collective achievement of the group. If we doubt, as many do, that nonscientific fields make progress, that cannot be because individual schools make none. Rather, it must be because there are always competing schools, each of which constantly questions the very foundations of the others. The man who argues that philosophy, for example, has made no progress emphasizes that there are still Aristotelians, not that Aristotelianism has failed to progress. In this sense, if a particular school believes they possess the general truth about some matter (here theology or philosophy), they will quite naturally begin to discuss it in greater detail and in ways which are mainly intelligible to students of that school, just as happens in other technical fields. The field is only failing to progress in the sense that there are other large communities making contrasting claims, while we begin to use the term “science” and to speak of progress when one school completely dominates the field, and to a first approximation even people who know nothing about it assume that the particular school has things basically right. What does this imply about progress in philosophy? 1. There is progress in the knowledge of topics that were once considered “philosophy,” but when we get to this point, we usually begin to use the name of a particular science, and with good reason, since technical specialization arises in the manner discussed above. Tyler Cowen discusses this sort of thing here. 2. Areas in which there doesn’t seem to be such progress, are probably most often areas where human knowledge remains at an early stage of development; it is precisely at such early stages that discussion does not have a technical character and when it can generally be understood by ordinary people without a specialized education. I pointed out that Aristotle was mistaken to assume that the sciences in general were fully developed. We would be equally mistaken to make such an assumption at the present times. As Kuhn notes, astronomy and mathematics achieved a “scientific” stage centuries before geology and biology did the same, and these long before economics and the like. The conclusion that one should draw is that metaphysics is hard, not that it is impossible or meaningless. 3. Even now, particular philosophical schools or individuals can make progress even without such consensus. This is evidently true if their overall position is correct or more correct than that of others, but it remains true even if their overall position is more wrong than that of other schools. Naturally, in the latter situation, they will not advance beyond the better position of other schools, but they will advance. 4. One who wishes to progress philosophically cannot avoid the tendency to technical specialization, even as an individual. This can be rather problematic for bloggers and people engaging in similar projects. John Nerst describes this problem: The more I think about this issue the more unsolvable it seems to become. Loyal readers of a publication won’t be satisfied by having the same points reiterated again and again. News media get around this by focusing on, well, news. News are events, you can describe them and react to them for a while until they’re no longer news. Publications that aim to be more analytical and focus on discussing ideas, frameworks, slow processes and large-scale narratives instead of events have a more difficult task because their subject matter doesn’t change quickly enough for it to be possible to churn out new material every day without repeating yourself[2]. Unless you start building upwards. Instead of laying out stone after stone on the ground you put one on top of another, and then one on top of two others laying next to each other, and then one on top of all that, making a single three-level structure. In practice this means writing new material that builds on what came before, taking ideas further and further towards greater complexity, nuance and sophistication. This is what academia does when working correctly. Mass media (including the more analytical outlets) do it very little and it’s obvious why: it’s too demanding[3]. If an article references six other things you need to have read to fully understand it you’re going to have a lot of difficulty attracting new readers. Some of his conclusions: I think that’s the real reason I don’t try to pitch more writing to various online publications. In my summary of 2018 I said it was because I thought my writing was to “too idiosyncratic, abstract and personal to fit in anywhere but my own blog”. Now I think the main reason is that I don’t so much want to take part in public debate or make myself a career. I want to explore ideas that lie at the edge of my own thinking. To do that I must assume that a reader knows broadly the same things I know and I’m just not that interested in writing about things where I can’t do that[9]. I want to follow my thoughts to for me new and unknown places — and import whatever packages I need to do it. This style isn’t compatible with the expectation that a piece will be able to stand on its own and deliver a single recognizable (and defensible) point[10]. The downside is of course obscurity. To achieve both relevance in the wider world and to build on other ideas enough to reach for the sky you need extraordinary success — so extraordinary that you’re essentially pulling the rest of the world along with you. Obscurity is certainly one result. Another (relevant at least from the VP’s point of view) is disrespect. Scientists are generally respected despite the general incomprehensibility of their writing, on account of the absence of opposing schools. This lack leads people to assume that their arguments must be mostly right, even though they cannot understand them themselves. This can actually lead to an “Emperor has No Clothes” situation, where a scientist publishes something basically crazy, but others, even in his field, are reluctant to say so because they might appear to be the ones who are ignorant. As an example, consider Joy Christian’s “Disproof of Bell’s Theorem.” After reading this text, Scott Aaronson comments: In response to my post criticizing his “disproof” of Bell’s Theorem, Joy Christian taunted me that “all I knew was words.” By this, he meant that my criticisms were entirely based on circumstantial evidence, for example that (1) Joy clearly didn’t understand what the word “theorem” even meant, (2) every other sentence he uttered contained howling misconceptions, (3) his papers were written in an obscure, “crackpot” way, and (4) several people had written very clear papers pointing out mathematical errors in his work, to which Joy had responded only with bluster. But I hadn’t actually studied Joy’s “work” at a technical level. Well, yesterday I finally did, and I confess that I was astonished by what I found. Before, I’d actually given Joy some tiny benefit of the doubt—possibly misled by the length and semi-respectful tone of the papers refuting his claims. I had assumed that Joy’s errors, though ultimately trivial (how could they not be, when he’s claiming to contradict such a well-understood fact provable with a few lines of arithmetic?), would nevertheless be artfully concealed, and would require some expertise in geometric algebra to spot. I’d also assumed that of course Joy would have some well-defined hidden-variable model that reproduced the quantum-mechanical predictions for the Bell/CHSH experiment (how could he not?), and that the “only” problem would be that, due to cleverly-hidden mistakes, his model would be subtly nonlocal. What I actually found was a thousand times worse: closer to the stuff freshmen scrawl on an exam when they have no clue what they’re talking about but are hoping for a few pity points. It’s so bad that I don’t understand how even Joy’s fellow crackpots haven’t laughed this off the stage. Look, Joy has a hidden variable λ, which is either 1 or -1 uniformly at random. He also has a measurement choice a of Alice, and a measurement choice b of Bob. He then defines Alice and Bob’s measurement outcomes A and B via the following functions: A(a,λ) = something complicated = (as Joy correctly observes) λ B(b,λ) = something complicated = (as Joy correctly observes) -λ I shit you not. A(a,λ) = λ, and B(b,λ) = -λ. Neither A nor B has any dependence on the choices of measurement a and b, and the complicated definitions that he gives for them turn out to be completely superfluous. No matter what measurements are made, A and B are always perfectly anticorrelated with each other. You might wonder: what could lead anyone—no matter how deluded—even to think such a thing could violate the Bell/CHSH inequalities? “Give opposite answers in all cases” is in fact entirely irrelevant to Bell’s inequality. Thus the rest of Joy’s paper has no bearing whatsoever on the issue: it is essentially meaningless nonsense. Aaronson says he was possibly “misled by the length and semi-respectful tone of the papers refuting his claims.” But it is not difficult to see why people would be cautious in this way: the fear that they would turn out to be the ones missing something important. The individual blogger in philosophy, however, is in a different position. If they wish to develop their thought it must become more technical, and there is no similar community backing that would cause others to assume that the writing basically makes sense. Thus, one’s writing is not only likely to become more and more obscure, but others will become more and more likely to assume that it is more or less meaningless word salad. This will happen even more to the degree that there is cultural opposition to one’s vocabulary, concepts, and topics. This is Robin Hanson’s first book. Hanson gradually introduces his topic: You, dear reader, are special. Most humans were born before 1700. And of those born after, you are probably richer and better educated than most. Thus you and most everyone you know are special, elite members of the industrial era. Like most of your kind, you probably feel superior to your ancestors. Oh, you don’t blame them for learning what they were taught. But you’d shudder to hear of many of your distant farmer ancestors’ habits and attitudes on sanitation, sex, marriage, gender, religion, slavery, war, bosses, inequality, nature, conformity, and family obligations. And you’d also shudder to hear of many habits and attitudes of your even more ancient forager ancestors. Yes, you admit that lacking your wealth your ancestors couldn’t copy some of your habits. Even so, you tend to think that humanity has learned that your ways are better. That is, you believe in social and moral progress. The problem is, the future will probably hold new kinds of people. Your descendants’ habits and attitudes are likely to differ from yours by as much as yours differ from your ancestors. If you understood just how different your ancestors were, you’d realize that you should expect your descendants to seem quite strange. Historical fiction misleads you, showing your ancestors as more modern than they were. Science fiction similarly misleads you about your descendants. As an example of the kind of past difference that Robin is discussing, even in the fairly recent past, consider this account by William Ewald of a trial from the sixteenth century: In 1522 some rats were placed on trial before the ecclesiastical court in Autun. They were charged with a felony: specifically, the crime of having eaten and wantonly destroyed some barley crops in the jurisdiction. A formal complaint against “some rats of the diocese” was presented to the bishop’s vicar, who thereupon cited the culprits to appear on a day certain, and who appointed a local jurist, Barthelemy Chassenée (whose name is sometimes spelled Chassanée, or Chasseneux, or Chasseneuz), to defend them. Chassenée, then forty-two, was known for his learning, but not yet famous; the trial of the rats of Autun was to establish his reputation, and launch a distinguished career in the law. When his clients failed to appear in court, Chassenée resorted to procedural arguments. His first tactic was to invoke the notion of fair process, and specifically to challenge the original writ for having failed to give the rats due notice. The defendants, he pointed out, were dispersed over a large tract of countryside, and lived in many villages; a single summons was inadequate to notify them all. Moreover, the summons was addressed only to some of the rats of the diocese; but technically it should have been addressed to them all. Chassenée was successful in his argument, and the court ordered a second summons to be read from the pulpit of every local parish church; this second summons now correctly addressed all the local rats, without exception. But on the appointed day the rats again failed to appear. Chassenée now made a second argument. His clients, he reminded the court, were widely dispersed; they needed to make preparations for a great migration, and those preparations would take time. The court once again conceded the reasonableness of the argument, and granted a further delay in the proceedings. When the rats a third time failed to appear, Chassenée was ready with a third argument. The first two arguments had relied on the idea of procedural fairness; the third treated the rats as a class of persons who were entitled to equal treatment under the law. He addressed the court at length, and successfully demonstrated that, if a person is cited to appear at a place to which he cannot come in safety, he may lawfully refuse to obey the writ. And a journey to court would entail serious perils for his clients. They were notoriously unpopular in the region; and furthermore they were rightly afraid of their natural enemies, the cats. Moreover (he pointed out to the court) the cats could hardly be regarded as neutral in this dispute; for they belonged to the plaintiffs. He accordingly demanded that the plaintiffs be enjoined by the court, under the threat of severe penalties, to restrain their cats, and prevent them from frightening his clients. The court again found this argument compelling; but now the plaintiffs seem to have come to the end of their patience. They demurred to the motion; the court, unable to settle on the correct period within which the rats must appear, adjourned on the question sine die, and judgment for the rats was granted by default. Most of us would assume at once that this is all nothing but an elaborate joke; but Ewald strongly argues that it was all quite serious. This would actually be worthy of its own post, but I will leave it aside for now. In any case it illustrates the existence of extremely different attitudes even a few centuries ago. In any event, Robin continues: New habits and attitudes result less than you think from moral progress, and more from people adapting to new situations. So many of your descendants’ strange habits and attitudes are likely to violate your concepts of moral progress; what they do may often seem wrong. Also, you likely won’t be able to easily categorize many future ways as either good or evil; they will instead just seem weird. After all, your world hardly fits the morality tales your distant ancestors told; to them you’d just seem weird. Complex realities frustrate simple summaries, and don’t fit simple morality tales. Many people of a more conservative temperament, such as myself, might wish to swap out “moral progress” here with “moral regress,” but the point stands in any case. This is related to our discussions of the effects of technology and truth on culture, and of the idea of irreversible changes. Robin finally gets to the point of his book: This book presents a concrete and plausible yet troubling view of a future full of strange behaviors and attitudes. You may have seen concrete troubling future scenarios before in science fiction. But few of those scenarios are in fact plausible; their details usually make little sense to those with expert understanding. They were designed for entertainment, not realism. Perhaps you were told that fictional scenarios are the best we can do. If so, I aim to show that you were told wrong. My method is simple. I will start with a particular very disruptive technology often foreseen in futurism and science fiction: brain emulations, in which brains are recorded, copied, and used to make artificial “robot” minds. I will then use standard theories from many physical, human, and social sciences to describe in detail what a world with that future technology would look like. I may be wrong about some consequences of brain emulations, and I may misapply some science. Even so, the view I offer will still show just how troublingly strange the future can be. I greatly enjoyed Robin’s book, but unfortunately I have to admit that relatively few people will in general. It is easy enough to see the reason for this from Robin’s introduction. Who would expect to be interested? Possibly those who enjoy the “futurism and science fiction” concerning brain emulations; but if Robin does what he set out to do, those persons will find themselves strangely uninterested. As he says, science fiction is “designed for entertainment, not realism,” while he is attempting to answer the question, “What would this actually be like?” This intention is very remote from the intention of the science fiction, and consequently it will likely appeal to different people. Whether or not Robin gets the answer to this question right, he definitely succeeds in making his approach and appeal differ from those of science fiction. One might illustrate this with almost any random passage from the book. Here are portions of his discussion of the climate of em cities: As we will discuss in Chapter 18, Cities section, em cities are likely to be big, dense, highly cost-effective concentrations of computer and communication hardware. How might such cities interact with their surroundings? Today, computer and communication hardware is known for being especially temperamental about its environment. Rooms and buildings designed to house such hardware tend to be climate-controlled to ensure stable and low values of temperature, humidity, vibration, dust, and electromagnetic field intensity. Such equipment housing protects it especially well from fire, flood, and security breaches. The simple assumption is that, compared with our cities today, em cities will also be more climate-controlled to ensure stable and low values of temperature, humidity, vibrations, dust, and electromagnetic signals. These controls may in fact become city level utilities. Large sections of cities, and perhaps entire cities, may be covered, perhaps even domed, to control humidity, dust, and vibration, with city utilities working to absorb remaining pollutants. Emissions within cities may also be strictly controlled. However, an em city may contain temperatures, pressures, vibrations, and chemical concentrations that are toxic to ordinary humans. If so, ordinary humans are excluded from most places in em cities for safety reasons. In addition, we will see in Chapter 18, Transport section, that many em city transport facilities are unlikely to be well matched to the needs of ordinary humans. … Cities today are the roughest known kind of terrain, in the sense that cities slow down the wind the most compared with other terrain types. Cities also tend to be hotter than neighboring areas. For example, Las Vegas is 7 ° Fahrenheit hotter in the summer than are surrounding areas. This hotter city effect makes ozone pollution worse and this effect is stronger for bigger cities, in the summer, at night, with fewer clouds, and with slower wind (Arnfield 2003). This is a mild reason to expect em cities to be hotter than other areas, especially at night and in the summer. However, as em cities are packed full of computing hardware, we shall now see that em cities will actually be much hotter. While the book considers a wide variety of topics, e.g. the social relationships among ems, which look quite different from the above passage, the general mode of treatment is the same. As Robin put it, he uses “standard theories” to describe the em world, much as he employs standard theories about cities, about temperature and climate, and about computing hardware in the above passage. One might object that basically Robin is positing a particular technological change (brain emulations), but then assuming that everything else is the same, and working from there. And there is some validity to this objection. But in the end there is actually no better way to try to predict the future; despite David Hume’s opinion, generally the best way to estimate the future is to say, “Things will be pretty much the same.” At the end of the book, Robin describes various criticisms. First are those who simply said they weren’t interested: “If we include those who declined to read my draft, the most common complaint is probably ‘who cares?'” And indeed, that is what I would expect, since as Robin remarked himself, people are interested in an entertaining account of the future, not an attempt at a detailed description of what is likely. Others, he says, “doubt that one can ever estimate the social consequences of technologies decades in advance.” This is basically the objection I mentioned above. He lists one objection that I am partly in agreement with: Many doubt that brain emulations will be our next huge technology change, and aren’t interested in analyses of the consequences of any big change except the one they personally consider most likely or interesting. Many of these people expect traditional artificial intelligence, that is, hand-coded software, to achieve broad human level abilities before brain emulations appear. I think that past rates of progress in coding smart software suggest that at previous rates it will take two to four centuries to achieve broad human level abilities via this route. These critics often point to exciting recent developments, such as advances in “deep learning,” that they think make prior trends irrelevant. I don’t think Robin is necessarily mistaken in regard to his expectations about “traditional artificial intelligence,” although he may be, and I don’t find myself uninterested by default in things that I don’t think the most likely. But I do think that traditional artificial intelligence is more likely than his scenario of brain emulations; more on this below. There are two other likely objections that Robin does not include in this list, although he does touch on them elsewhere. First, people are likely to say that the creation of ems would be immoral, even if it is possible, and similarly that the kinds of habits and lives that he describes would themselves be immoral. On the one hand, this should not be a criticism at all, since Robin can respond that he is simply describing what he thinks is likely, not saying whether it should happen or not; on the other hand, it is in fact obvious that Robin does not have much disapproval, if any, of his scenario. The book ends in fact by calling attention to this objection: The analysis in this book suggests that lives in the next great era may be as different from our lives as our lives are from farmers’ lives, or farmers’ lives are from foragers’ lives. Many readers of this book, living industrial era lives and sharing industrial era values, may be disturbed to see a forecast of em era descendants with choices and life styles that appear to reject many of the values that they hold dear. Such readers may be tempted to fight to prevent the em future, perhaps preferring a continuation of the industrial era. Such readers may be correct that rejecting the em future holds them true to their core values. But I advise such readers to first try hard to see this new era in some detail from the point of view of its typical residents. See what they enjoy and what fills them with pride, and listen to their criticisms of your era and values. This book has been designed in part to assist you in such a soul-searching examination. If after reading this book, you still feel compelled to disown your em descendants, I cannot say you are wrong. My job, first and foremost, has been to help you see your descendants clearly, warts and all. Our own discussions of the flexibility of human morality are relevant. The creatures Robin is describing are in many ways quite different from humans, and it is in fact very appropriate for their morality to differ from human morality. A second likely objection is that Robin’s ems are simply impossible, on account of the nature of the human mind. I think that this objection is mistaken, but I will leave the details of this explanation for another time. Robin appears to agree with Sean Carroll about the nature of the mind, as can be seen for example in this post. Robin is mistaken about this, for the reasons suggested in my discussion of Carroll’s position. Part of the problem is that Robin does not seem to understand the alternative. Here is a passage from the linked post on Overcoming Bias: Now what I’ve said so far is usually accepted as uncontroversial, at least when applied to the usual parts of our world, such as rivers, cars, mountains laptops, or ants. But as soon as one claims that all this applies to human minds, suddenly it gets more controversial. People often state things like this: “I am sure that I’m not just a collection of physical parts interacting, because I’m aware that I feel. I know that physical parts interacting just aren’t the kinds of things that can feel by themselves. So even though I have a physical body made of parts, and there are close correlations between my feelings and the states of my body parts, there must be something more than that to me (and others like me). So there’s a deep mystery: what is this extra stuff, where does it arise, how does it change, and so on. We humans care mainly about feelings, not physical parts interacting; we want to know what out there feels so we can know what to care about.” But consider a key question: Does this other feeling stuff interact with the familiar parts of our world strongly and reliably enough to usually be the actual cause of humans making statements of feeling like this? If yes, this is a remarkably strong interaction, making it quite surprising that physicists have missed it so far. So surprising in fact as to be frankly unbelievable. If this type of interaction were remotely as simple as all the interactions we know, then it should be quite measurable with existing equipment. Any interaction not so measurable would have be vastly more complex and context dependent than any we’ve ever seen or considered. Thus I’d bet heavily and confidently that no one will measure such an interaction. But if no, if this interaction isn’t strong enough to explain human claims of feeling, then we have a remarkable coincidence to explain. Somehow this extra feeling stuff exists, and humans also have a tendency to say that it exists, but these happen for entirely independent reasons. The fact that feeling stuff exists isn’t causing people to claim it exists, nor vice versa. Instead humans have some sort of weird psychological quirk that causes them to make such statements, and they would make such claims even if feeling stuff didn’t exist. But if we have a good alternate explanation for why people tend to make such statements, what need do we have of the hypothesis that feeling stuff actually exists? Such a coincidence seems too remarkable to be believed. There is a false dichotomy here, and it is the same one that C.S. Lewis falls into when he says, “Either we can know nothing or thought has reasons only, and no causes.” And in general it is like the error of the pre-Socratics, that if a thing has some principles which seem sufficient, it can have no other principles, failing to see that there are several kinds of cause, and each can be complete in its own way. And perhaps I am getting ahead of myself here, since I said this discussion would be for later, but the objection that Robin’s scenario is impossible is mistaken in exactly the same way, and for the same reason: people believe that if a “materialistic” explanation could be given of human behavior in the way that Robin describes, then people do not truly reason, make choices, and so on. But this is simply to adopt the other side of the false dichotomy, much like C.S. Lewis rejects the possibility of causes for our beliefs. One final point. I mentioned above that I see Robin’s scenario as less plausible than traditional artificial intelligence. I agree with Tyler Cowen in this post. This present post is already long enough, so again I will leave a detailed explanation for another time, but I will remark that Robin and I have a bet on the question. February 22, 2016 February 22, 2016 entirelyuseless Mathematics, Probability, Science, Uncategorized Arnold Kling, Bias, Prediction, Robin Hanson, Scott Fortmann-Roe, Tyler Cowen Scott Fortmann-Roe explains the difference between error due to bias and error due to variance: Error due to Bias: The error due to bias is taken as the difference between the expected (or average) prediction of our model and the correct value which we are trying to predict. Of course you only have one model so talking about expected or average prediction values might seem a little strange. However, imagine you could repeat the whole model building process more than once: each time you gather new data and run a new analysis creating a new model. Due to randomness in the underlying data sets, the resulting models will have a range of predictions. Bias measures how far off in general these models’ predictions are from the correct value. Error due to Variance: The error due to variance is taken as the variability of a model prediction for a given data point. Again, imagine you can repeat the entire model building process multiple times. The variance is how much the predictions for a given point vary between different realizations of the model. Later in the essay, he suggests that there is a natural tendency to overemphasize minimizing bias: A gut feeling many people have is that they should minimize bias even at the expense of variance. Their thinking goes that the presence of bias indicates something basically wrong with their model and algorithm. Yes, they acknowledge, variance is also bad but a model with high variance could at least predict well on average, at least it is not fundamentally wrong. This is mistaken logic. It is true that a high variance and low bias model can perform well in some sort of long-run average sense. However, in practice modelers are always dealing with a single realization of the data set. In these cases, long run averages are irrelevant, what is important is the performance of the model on the data you actually have and in this case bias and variance are equally important and one should not be improved at an excessive expense to the other. Fortmann-Roe is concerned here with bias and variance in a precise mathematical sense, relative to the project of fitting a curve to a set of data points. However, his point could be generalized to apply much more generally, to interpreting and understanding the world overall. Tyler Cowen makes such a generalized point: If you have a cause, then other people probably disagree with you (if nothing else, they don’t think your cause is as important as you do). When other people disagree with you, they are usually more right than you think they are. So you could be wrong. Before you go and attach yourself to this cause, shouldn’t you try to reduce the chances that you are wrong? Ergo, shouldn’t you work on trying to overcome bias? Therefore, shouldn’t overcoming bias be your number one cause? Here is Robin’s very similar statement. I believe these views are tautologically true and they simply boil down to saying that any complaint can be expressed as a concern about error of some kind or another. I cannot disagree with this view, for if I do, I am accusing Robin of being too biased toward eliminating bias, thus reaffirming that bias is in fact the real problem. I find it more useful to draw an analogy with statistics. Biased estimators are one problem but not the only problem. There is also insufficient data, lazy researchers, inefficient estimators, and so on. Then I don’t see why we should be justified in holding a strong preference for overcoming bias, relative to other ends. Tyler is arguing, for example, that someone may be in error because he is biased, but he can also be in error because he is too lazy to seek out the truth, and it may be more important in a particular case to overcome laziness than to overcome bias. This is true, no doubt, but we can make a stronger point: In the mathematical discussion of bias and variance, insisting on a completely unbiased model will result in a very high degree of variance, with the nearly inevitable consequence of a higher overall error rate. Thus, for example, we can create a polynomial which will go through every point of the data exactly. Such a method of predicting data is completely unbiased. Nonetheless, such a model tends to be highly inaccurate in predicting new data due to its very high variance: the exact curve is simply too sensitive to the exact points found in the original data. In a similar way, even in the more general non-mathematical case, we will likely find that insisting on a completely unbiased method will result in greater error overall: the best way to find the truth may be to adopt a somewhat simplified model, just as in the mathematical case it is best not to try to fit the data exactly. Simplifying the model will introduce some bias, but it will also reduce variance. To the best of my knowledge, no one has a demonstrably perfect method of adopting the best model, even in the mathematical case. Much less, therefore, can we come up with a perfect trade-off between bias and variance in the general case. We can simply use our best judgment. But we have some reason for thinking that there must be some such trade-off, just as there is in the mathematical case. Those Who Deserve to be Raised in Status Tyler Cowen comments on the comments on his blog: Imagine if I wrote a post that just served up a list like this: The people who deserve to be raised in status: The people who deserve to be lowered in status: You might get a kick out of it the first time, but quickly you would grow tired of the lack of substance and indeed the sheer prejudice of the exercise. Yet, ultimately, the topic so appeals to you all. So much of debate, including political and economic debate, is about which groups and individuals deserve higher or lower status. It’s pretty easy — too easy in fact — to dissect most Paul Krugman blog posts along these lines. It’s also why a lot of blog posts about foreign countries don’t generate visceral reactions, unless of course it is the Greeks and the Germans, or some other set of stand-ins for disputes closer to home (or maybe that is your home). Chinese goings on are especially tough to parse into comparable American disputes over the status of one group vs. another. I hypothesize that an MR blog post attracts more comments when it a) has implications for who should be raised and lowered in status, and b) has some framework in place which allows you to make analytical points, but points which ultimately translate into a conclusion about a). Posts about immigration, the minimum wage, Greece and Germany, the worthiness of entrepreneurs vs. workers, and the rankings of different schools of thought or economists all seem to fit this bill. Sometimes I am tempted to simply serve up the list and skip the analytics. Tyler is right that debate is often for the sake of the end of raising or lowering the status of various groups or individuals. More importantly, though, it is also often a motive for belief in the claim that would tend to do this. This is frequently the case in political discussions, as Tyler notes. Bob Seidensticker provides a good example of this in a post on same sex marriage: These Christian leaders see themselves as fighting the good fight, but how will this fit with the judgment of history? Here’s one answer. Jennifer Morse, president and founder of the Ruth Institute (“Helping the Victims of the Sexual Revolution”), was asked if she feared being embarrassed by the seeming inevitability of same-sex marriage. She replied: I am not the slightest bit worried about the judgment of history on me. This march-of-history argument bothers me a lot.… What they’re really saying is, “Stop thinking, stop using your judgment, just shut up and follow the crowd because the crowd is moving towards Nirvana and you need to just follow along.” You’ve got to admire that. She’s standing up for what she feels is right, unconcerned about whether it’s popular or how history will judge that position. But let’s not pretend that the judgment of history is irrelevant. Remember George Wallace’s infamous 1963 declaration, “I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Was Wallace fighting the good fight with his stand for racial segregation? He would’ve said yes. History says no. Those opposed to freedom for Southern slaves, women’s suffrage, and minorities’ civil rights were all fighting the good fight, like those opposed to same-sex marriage today. Just remember that history wins in the end. Indeed, Jennifer Morse does think about the evaluation of history, it’s just that she thinks that she’ll be on the right side of it: [Same-sex marriage proponents] are the ones who are going to be embarrassed. They are the ones who are going to be looking around, looking for the exits, trying to pretend that it had nothing to do with them, that it wasn’t really their fault. No one fighting the good fight thinks that they won’t eventually be judged on the right side of history. I’ll propose that as the definition of fighting the good fight: taking a minority position now that you think will eventually, if only decades in the future, be seen as the morally correct one. And there’s the problem—reading the tea leaves to see where society is moving. There is no reliable route to objective moral truth (I argue that what we imagine as objective moral truth is actually just widely shared or strongly felt moral beliefs). There is no celestial library where the answers to all moral questions are in a big book. The judgment of history is the best we’ve got, and we fool ourselves when we think that moral rightness is determined by anything more lofty. It might seem shallow to base one’s moral convictions on what society will conclude fifty years in the future rather than on one’s conscience today. But make no mistake: the strength or sincerity of your convictions—about same-sex marriage or any moral issue—are irrelevant. Your stand today will be judged by the conclusions of that future society, and being on the right side of history is all that ultimately matters. Lose that, and you’re just another George Wallace. Seidensticker makes his motives clearer than most by the denial of the existence of objective moral truth. According to him, objectively there is no true answer to the question of whether same sex marriage should be permitted or forbidden. Thus he concludes that it is important to “read the tea leaves” about “where society is moving,” so that we can hold the position that most people will hold in the future. The purpose of this would be to raise our personal status, by having people in the future think well of us, and to lower the status of other people who thought differently. In Seidensticker’s case in particular, his concern is to raise the status of atheists and to lower the status of Christians and of religious people in general. According to him, it is “worse than you think” to be on the “wrong side of history,” because ultimately status is the only issue here. In reality, of course, the “judgment of history” does have some weight because of the nature of progress in truth. But this is not an absolute weight, because such progress is not guaranteed, and especially over a short period of time such as a few decades. In contrast, far from making it more important, Seidensticker’s position actually would imply that future opinion has no weight, from the standpoint of truth. If there is no objective moral truth, the fact that some people in the future will mistakenly suppose that I was wrong in my morality (since I was neither right nor wrong) is basically meaningless. In other words, Seidensticker’s position on same sex marriage is only intelligible as entirely motivated by status seeking, and in no way by truth, and he essentially makes this point himself. We saw earlier that in many cases, we do not personally verify the truth of our beliefs, but trust some body collectively to present us with the truth of the matter. Trusting a certain body of people, and not trusting others, however, will tend to raise the status of the people who are trusted, and lower the status of the people who are not trusted. Consequently, a desire for raising the status of certain groups will often manifest itself by believing the claims of that group, and a desire to lower the status of certain groups will often manifest itself by disbelieving the claims of that group. This often occurs in the evaluation of conspiracy theories. It seems that most theories of this kind are actually false, and so before investigation it is usually better to give the benefit of the doubt to the position that the theory is false. For example, some people say that Barack Obama was not born in the United States, and consequently should be considered ineligible for the presidency according to the constitution of the United States. I have not investigated this claim, and I assume that it is false, based on the fact that most such claims seem to be false. However, the claim is surely not crazy or insane in the way that many people suppose. Suppose that Barack Obama was not born in the United States, and that this fact was noticed by someone on his team while he was running for president. If he were already in the situation where being elected president was a reasonable possibility, what is the probability that he and his team would attempt to hide the fact that he was born outside the United States? It would be unreasonable to estimate less than 10% for this probability. It might be reasonable to give a much higher estimate, such as 75%. In any case, the probability of the conspiracy theory will end up being not dramatically lower than the prior probability that he in fact was born outside the United States, and there is no special reason for this prior probability to be particularly low. But people notice that this claim would seem to vastly lower the status of Barack Obama, his team, the United States government, and perhaps of Democrats in general, and for these reasons they say that this theory is insane and crazy. It is not, even if it is false. In other words, the fact that such theories in general do not seem to be correlated much with truth confuses the matter to some extent, and thus people who are in fact motivated by status appear to be motivated by truth more than they actually are. Recent Posts How to Build an Artificial Human Prayer and Probability Might People on the Internet Sometimes Tell the Truth? 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The following is the editorial workflow that every manuscript submitted to the journal undergoes during the course of the peer-review process. Once a manuscript is submitted for publication, the manuscript is technically checked by the journal's editorial office to ensure the basic formatting and language. Once this is done, the manuscript is sent to an appropriate Subject Editor based on the subject of the manuscript. If the Subject Editor finds that the manuscript may not be of sufficient quality to go through the normal peer review process, or that the subject of the manuscript may not be appropriate for the journal's scope, the manuscript shall be rejected with no further processing. If the Editor finds that the submitted manuscript is of sufficient quality and falls within the scope of the journal, they should assign the manuscript to a number of external reviewers, provided that no conflict of interests exists between these reviewers and the manuscript's authors. The reviewers will then submit their reports on the manuscripts along with their recommendation of one of the following actions to the Editor: Publish as it is Accept after Minor Corrections Accept after Major Corrections Reject The peer-review process is single blinded; that is, the reviewers know who the authors of the manuscript are, but the authors do not have access to the information of who the peer reviewers are.	1,407
Employer Perspectives on Youth with Disabilities in the Workplace: "Quality Products, Quality Employees: Medtronic Physio-Control" National Center on Secondary Education and Transition In Their Own Words: Employer Perspectives on Youth with Disabilities in the Workplace Quality Products, Quality Employees: by LaDrene Coyne Our mission at Medtronic Physio-Control is to make tools for lifesaving teams. We develop, manufacture, sell, and service the renowned LIFEPAK® defibrillator/monitors and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Our products are used to save lives and to build “heart-safe communities.” We are based in Redmond, WA, but our products are sold and serviced throughout the world. It is not a responsibility that we take lightly, and we must recruit and maintain a quality workforce that also takes this responsibility seriously. When we were first approached in the mid-1980s by a program representing job seekers with developmental disabilities, we needed assurances that prospective employees from this program would meet our high expectations. In the mid-1980s Medtronic Physio-Control was experiencing rapid growth and the expansion of its manufacturing concerns. Finding good, reliable workers was a significant need. At about the same time, Trillium Employment Services, a local organization that represents job seekers with disabilities, began to pioneer a process called supported employment. Many of the people it represents require coaching and considerable assistance in learning job tasks once they are on the job. Supported employment enables people needing this extensive coaching to succeed in the workplace. Knowing that Medtronic Physio-Control was a progressive company, Trillium approached our CEO about developing a partnership that would enable us to fill some of our production needs and that would enable Trillium job seekers to enter the workforce for the first time. Some of the individuals had been in work training centers called sheltered workshops, where all of the trainees had disabilities. Some people came from public school special education programs. Our CEO directed the vice president of manufacturing to examine how a partnership might be implemented. A line supervisor was identified, and a centralized place was established where several Trillium workers could work together in a distinct enclave. Workers focused on narrowly defined tasks and were supervised by Trillium staff. In fact, a contract paid Trillium for this work, and Trillium paid the enclave workers from this contract. Eventually Medtronic Physio-Control and Trillium realized that the people hired through supported employment could be taught to work in other departments on our production floor. Supervisors and co-workers could also be taught how to directly coach the Trillium workers, minimizing the need for Trillium job coaches. As a result, eventually the workers in the enclave were mainstreamed throughout the plant and converted to direct-hire status. Help Needed on the Line When the partnership began, I was a line supervisor overseeing a pace line in the board shop. The line hand-stuffed components into PCBs, and there was a need for an additional headcount. This provided an opportunity for moving a qualified person from the enclave line into the pace line area. This was a new experience for me, but with the Trillium staff working closely with me to organize the work assignments for the individual, I become an advocate. Trillium provided training for the co-workers and myself. We were taught how to introduce new tasks to the individual, how to prompt the person to complete the tasks, and how to deal with occasional production or work behavior issues. The individual learned the job so well that I was eventually called upon to help other teams integrate supported employees into their production lines. I helped organize and conduct training sessions for team members when the workers were first introduced to a new team. Through this process I have developed a strong ongoing relationship with Trillium. There are eight people with developmental disabilities working in our plant today, earning from $15,189 to $24,500 annually. All receive full benefits including health insurance and four weeks’ annual vacation. What Makes the Partnership Work? The partnership with Trillium has evolved over the years to what I consider a very strong and sophisticated example of the benefits in a truly reciprocal relationship. Trillium has a receptive business to which it can refer potential job seekers, and we have a referral source that knows our company and our job requirements inside out. The evolution and success of the relationship is the result of four key elements: Designated points of contact: Our relationship has always featured designated Trillium contacts and a designated internal company contact who work in tandem. Co-worker training: Formal training sessions are provided for co-workers and supervisors when they are first introduced to the prospect of working with an employee engaged in supported employment. The sessions include possible scenarios relating to what to expect and general information about disability awareness, accommodations, and etiquette. Integrating this relationship into regular hiring and training practices: We believe it important that our partnership with Trillium be a part of the company culture rather than a separate or special program. The screening, hiring, and training of each team member are in compliance with company procedures. If specific individual accommodations are necessary, we work with Trillium and our tooling shop. Careful screening: The reason our partnership has worked so well is because of the careful screening process we have developed to match applicants with jobs. Trillium is an integral part of the screening, because they know both the applicants and our operation so well. Occasionally, we have had a new person spend a few hours a day for a week to see if it is a good job match before a hiring decision is made. The lengthy job tenure of most our team members with developmental disabilities is a testament to both the careful screening process and the commitment of Trillium’s expertise. Nearly 40 years ago, we introduced a medical device that launched an industry—the first commercial DC defibrillator. Since then, our product focus has been on the development of the highest quality medical devices for prediction or urgent treatment of cardiac and respiratory emergencies. Our early involvement with Trillium to include supported employees in our workforce fits with our legacy of “firsts.” We introduce and distribute cutting edge, lifesaving products, and we adopt and incorporate human resource and development practices that keep us on the cutting edge. Recently, I was assigned to be a loaned executive to chair the Washington State Business Leadership Network (BLN), a network of employers who educate and support businesses to hire, retain, and improve customer service for people with disabilities. This assignment represents a recognition and commitment that our company can offer more to the larger business community about how well this has worked for Medtronic Physio-Control. Over the years I have gained invaluable information about supported employment in the workplace, and I am pleased to apply my knowledge as I work with the Business Leadership Network to help other companies learn about recruiting and managing workers with developmental disabilities. The mission of my position is to educate and support Medtronic and other businesses to recruit, hire, and retain people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act represents civil rights for people with disabilities (however, it doesn’t legislate attitudes!). Business representatives talking with peers about positive experiences will change attitudes. I will utilize our experience at Medtronic Physio-Control to assist other businesses and Medtronic to hire people with disabilities. LaDrene Coyne is a former Senior Production Supervisor at Medtronic Physio-Control, where she has worked for the past 21 years. She is currently a loaned executive, assigned by Medtronic Physio-Control, to the Washington State Business Leadership Network to work to expand her company’s initiatives to hire people with developmental disabilities. Cover Page Publish or Perish: Macworld Magazine by Shelly Ginenthal Boosting the High Tech Workforce: Kennedy Space Center, NASA by Cassandra Black Finding Premium Volunteers: Port Discovery by Leah Burke Investigating Human Resource Options: American Institute for Cancer Research by John McIlveen Infrastructure for Success: Kemtah Group, Inc. by Keith Harris Quality Products, Quality Employees: Medtronic Physio-Control by LaDrene Coyne Searching for a Reliable Workforce: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center by J. Erin Riehle Keeping Stock of Personnel Needs: Safeway by Grace Louie Brokering Achievement: Old Colony Insurance Service, Inc. by S. Brooks May, Jr. Citation: Luecking, R., Ed. (2004). Essential tools: In their own words: Employer perspectives on youth with disabilities in the workplace. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration, National Center on Secondary Education and Transition. Permission is granted to duplicate this publication in its entirety or portions thereof. Upon request, this publication will be made available in alternative formats. For additional copies of this publication, or to request an alternate format, please contact: Institute on Community Integration Publications Office, 2025 East River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414, (612) 624-4512, icipub@umn.edu. This document was published by the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET). NCSET is supported through a cooperative agreement #H326J000005 with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the U.S. Department of Education Programs, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The University of Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Education, and the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition are equal opportunity employers and educators.	10,683
An investigative website has linked a graduate of an elite intelligence academy in Moscow with the attempted assassination of a Russian former double spy in Britain last year. Reports last year identified Dr. Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin (cover name ‘Alexander Petrov’) and Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga (cover name ‘Ruslan Boshirov’) as the two men that tried to kill Sergei Skripal in the English town of Salisbury in March 2018. Skripal, a former officer in Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, was resettled in Salisbury in 2010, after spending several years in a Russian prison for spying on behalf of Britain. But he and his daughter Yulia almost died last March, after they were poisoned with a powerful nerve agent that nearly killed them. The Kremlin denies that Mishkin and Chepiga —believed to be GRU officers— had any role in the attack. Last week, the Russian investigative news site Bellingcat alleged that a third man may have been involved in the attempt to assassinate Skripal. The man used the name Sergey Fedotov, said Bellingcat, but added that the name was probably a cover that was concocted by Russia’s intelligence services. On Thursday, the website said it was able to identify the so-called third man as Denis Vyacheslavovich Sergeev, a graduate of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Diplomatic Academy is one of the most prominent educational institutions in the country and its graduates enter the Foreign Service. However, many of its graduates are elite members of Russian intelligence, said Bellingcat. Earlier this month, the investigative website said that Sergeev traveled extensively in the Middle East, Asia and Europe between 2010 and 2015, using the operational name Sergey Fedotov. It also claimed that Sergeev/Fedotov was in Bulgaria in late April 2015, when Emilian Gebrev, a wealthy local defense industry entrepreneur, fell violently ill. Gebrev was hospitalized for signs of poisoning along with his son and one of his company’s executives for several days. All three made a full recovery. Bellingcat added that it was able to name the alleged Russian intelligence operative following a four-month investigation that was aided by another Russian news website known as The Russia Insider, Czech newspaper Respekt, and Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat daily. But it also acknowledged that Fedotov’s alleged role in the Skripal assassination remained “unclear” and that authorities in the United Kingdom had not publicly identified a third suspect in the attempted murder. Meanwhile, British newspaper The Guardian said yesterday that it was told by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov that a team of British investigators were “on the ground” in Sofia to investigate possible links between the Skripal and Gebrev cases. Author: Joseph Fitsanakis \| Date: 15 February 2019 \| Permalink Reddit Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with assassinations, Denis Sergeev, Denis Vyacheslavovich Sergeev, Diplomatic Academy of Russia, Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, News, Russia, Sergei Skripal, Sergey Fedotov Reports allege third man was involved in poisoning of Sergei Skripal February 11, 2019 by Joseph Fitsanakis 2 Comments New reports from Russian investigative sites claim that a third man using a fake name was involved in the attempted assassination of former double spy Sergei Skripal in England last year. Skripal, a former military intelligence officer, was resettled in the English town of Salisbury in 2010, after spending several years in a Russian prison for spying on behalf of Britain. But he and his daughter Yulia almost died in March 2018, after they were poisoned with a powerful nerve agent that nearly killed them. The attack has been widely blamed on the Russian government, though the Kremlin denies it had any role in it. Two assailants have so far been identified by British intelligence. They have been named as Dr. Alexander Yevgenyevich Mishkin —cover name ‘Alexander Petrov’— and Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga —cover name ‘Ruslan Boshirov’. Both are said to be employees of the Russian military intelligence agency known as the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, commonly referred to as the GRU. The two men spoke on Russian television last year, denying any involvement in the attack on the Skripals. Their whereabouts since their television interview remain unknown. Moscow denies that it had any role in the attack. In October of last year, the Russian investigative news site Fontanka claimed that a third man under the name of Sergey Fedotov, may have been involved in the attack on Skripal. Last Thursday, another Russian investigative news site, Bellingcat, said that the name Sergey Fedotov appears to have been created out of thin air for operational purposes by Russia’s intelligence services. According to Bellingcat, Fedotov appears to have no past prior to 2010, when his identity was invented using the same techniques that the fake identities of ‘Petrov’ and ‘Boshirov’ were concocted by the GRU. Moreover, Fedotov’s records show that he traveled extensively in the Middle East, Asia and Europe between 2010 and 2015. The Russian news site claims that he was in Bulgaria in late April 2015, when Emilian Gebrev, a wealthy local defense industry entrepreneur, fell violently ill. Gebrev was hospitalized for signs of poisoning along with his son and one of his company’s executives for several days, eventually making a full recovery. As the Bulgarian businessman was being taken to hospital, Fedotov skipped his return flight out of Sofia and instead drove to Istanbul, Turkey, where he bought a one-way airline ticket to Moscow, says Bellingcat. The BBC’s Gordon Corera said he contacted the Russian embassy in London and the Kremlin in Moscow. Both sources strongly refuted the Bellingcat report. A Kremlin spokesman cautioned the BBC to be skeptical about Bellingcat’s report, since “we don’t know what [its] authors based their work on [or] how competent they are”. British Police told Corera that they were “still investigating whether further suspects were involved” in the attack on Skripal and were “not prepared to discuss” details pertaining to “an ongoing investigation”. Author: Joseph Fitsanakis \| Date: 11 February 2019 \| Permalink Reddit Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Bulgaria, Emilian Gebrev, GRU, News, poisoning, Russia, Sergei Skripal, Sergey Fedotov, UK	6,747
I am reading Philip Goldberg’s American Veda–From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation; How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. It is another of the recently published works on the interplay and inter-influence of east and west. What distinguishes American Veda is that it is more about how Indian spirituality influenced western/American society overall, than an analysis of the yoga that we practice in the west. Much that one might expect to be in the book is there: Emerson, Thoreau, Swami Vivekananda (and the Parliament of the World’s Religions), Ramakrishna, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Osho, Muktananda, the Beatles, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, but there are other connections that are less well-known. As one generally familiar with the history of Indian philosophy and yoga practices coming to the West, it reads more like a survey or overview than an analysis to the extent that it tries not to leave out any one who could have been an influence and goes into little depth regarding any particular influence. (Note: the author himself says that the book is limited to Vedic/Hindu influences; he refers the reader to other sources, in particular, How the Swans Came to the Lake, for the transmission of Buddhism to the west). What is most interesting to me about reading American Veda is that it reads like old home week. I recognize the names and the philosophies and the way people speak about spirituality and religion, and the author lovingly and thoroughly shows how profound and widespread is the influence of Vedic thought in America, even where no attribution is given. I recognized even when I first discovered Indian philosophy texts in high school the interplay between how me and my fellow unprogrammed. liberal Quaker friends were talking about mystical experience and understanding of God/Spirit and the Indian philosophy, and it is lovely to have a book where someone went out and did all the research and gathered the sources. By the time I was thinking about anything at all really, Indian philosophy was already something in my consciousness thanks to the Beatles and the Beats. The Beatles discovered Maharishi Mahesh Yogi when I was six, which was the year that Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour came out and my parents for some now unfathomable reason gave them to me for my Christmas present. My older sister and I played those albums over and over again on our portable record player, whirling ourselves into states of dizzy ecstasy with the sitar grooving in the background on our favorite songs. I was moved to read the Bhagavad Gita by reading J.D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey. I do not remember whether this was in 9th or 10th grade, but I read Salinger because was what cool, smart kids read. What I remember is that I read both Franny and Zooey and Catcher in the Rye (probably read the latter first) before Catcher in the Rye was assigned reading in 10th or 11th grade and that while I was not particularly impressed with Holden Caulfield, I really wanted to be as brilliant and educated and extraordinary and talented and philosophical as the children in the Glass family, and so I tried to read what they read (though alas, I read it in translation, where they were able to read the Greek and Latin and Sanskrit, etc.) By 11th grade, a teacher had given me J. Krishnamurti to read, and his anti-guru guruness appealed to my Quaker sensibilities. ← Previous post Next post → Subscriber Service Revived Phil Goldberg January 26, 2011 at 7:33 am As the author of American Veda, I want to thank Elizabeth for the kind words. It’s very gratifying when people forward me links to blogs that mention my book favorably. In my workshops, I sometimes play “Within You Without You,” from Sgt. Pepper’s and the audience hears it with fresh ears. But I can’t imagine hearing it for the first time at age six! Thanks. Mellie and Prem November 16, 2011 at 4:18 pm I also was profoundly changed by being introduced to this ancient way quite young. As a meditation teacher of spirituality for Robert Adams I found your page quite impactful both as one who devoutly believes and has experienced, and as the perspective shared as an astute observer of the effect of this ancient wisdom on the American consciousness, and the generation before me. Thank you. Peace and Bright Blessings Always. Mellie Warner Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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(From top left) My new bedside table arrived on monday evening- so pleased with it. Burgers are the perfect way to enjoy a heatwave (or as close as we get in Scotland). My mums birthday present and card. Smiley selfie on a very sunny day. My new She Inside dress- not sure if I'm going to keep it yet (its different from the picture). A small haul today from shopping with my boyfriend. Scott keeps taking up my time on Sundays and these week in pictures posts are getting harder and harder. Last night he text me asking if I wanted to go shopping and our for lunch- could I turn down an offer like that? So today we spent a good long time in the shops looking for some basic white tops to wear with patterned bottoms and failed miserably. I did get a dress with giraffes on it for only £5!! He took me to the DCA for lunch and we had a lovely time. I love how he has just fitted right into my life and gets on so well with my family. This week didn't start so well after having to go to a funeral of a very dear and old family member. He lived a full and busy life so it was nice to remember all that. Monday also marked my mums birthday which we celebrated the best we could. I also finally got a new bedside table so on Tuesday I decided to take pictures for a sneak peek into my bedroom post which you can see here. Thursday was spent cooking stir-fry and chilling at Scotts house. This week also marks the end of my uni course and all fingers are crossed I will get a good enough mark so I can move down in september and study geology full time. I got 100 percent on the multiple choice so thats 22/40 marks so once the written questions are marked I know if I will get the other 18 marks. I'm feeling quietly confident though so hopefully things will be okay. Still feeling on top of the world about spending such a lovely day with the boyfriend (I hope this feeling never goes away) so I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. Keep in touch with what I'm up to on Twitter and Instagram. in: MWIP Would love to know what you think about the post! I read every single one but if you have a question tweet me @gisforgingers. P.s. Comments make my day... new posts old posts Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Author Profile I’m a lifestyle blogger fast approaching my mid-twenties living in Scotland. A graduate geologist and a girl who lives her life online. I’ve taken photos of my outfits and shared them online since 2013. Dress: M&S (via the charity shop) I can hardly believe this is my 800th blog post - that's a hell of a lot of writing and even more ... Autumn Checked Skirts and Cable Knits A New Ski Print Tunic Dress Anyone who knows me in real life knows I wear dressed all the time. I don't have to be getting dressed... Featured Post Today's post is the 900th post I've written for 'G is for Gingers' - isn't that a crazy milestone to reach? Throughout... History December 2022 (1) November 2022 (3) October 2022 (3) September 2022 (6) August 2022 (9) July 2022 (3) June 2022 (4) May 2022 (3) April 2022 (1) March 2022 (5) February 2022 (3) January 2022 (3) December 2021 (1) November 2021 (2) October 2021 (5) September 2021 (4) August 2021 (3) July 2021 (5) June 2021 (2) May 2021 (2) April 2021 (2) March 2021 (2) February 2021 (5) January 2021 (7) December 2020 (6) November 2020 (4) October 2020 (5) September 2020 (4) August 2020 (8) July 2020 (6) June 2020 (3) May 2020 (5) April 2020 (5) March 2020 (6) February 2020 (4) January 2020 (5) December 2019 (5) November 2019 (1) October 2019 (4) September 2019 (3) August 2019 (1) July 2019 (6) June 2019 (3) May 2019 (8) April 2019 (5) March 2019 (8) February 2019 (6) January 2019 (7) December 2018 (6) November 2018 (4) October 2018 (7) September 2018 (5) August 2018 (8) July 2018 (5) June 2018 (9) May 2018 (6) April 2018 (9) March 2018 (9) February 2018 (10) January 2018 (11) December 2017 (9) November 2017 (9) October 2017 (10) September 2017 (6) August 2017 (10) July 2017 (8) June 2017 (8) May 2017 (11) April 2017 (9) March 2017 (10) February 2017 (9) January 2017 (11) December 2016 (9) November 2016 (10) October 2016 (10) September 2016 (8) August 2016 (9) July 2016 (11) June 2016 (5) May 2016 (12) April 2016 (8) March 2016 (10) February 2016 (8) January 2016 (13) December 2015 (10) November 2015 (11) October 2015 (9) September 2015 (10) August 2015 (12) July 2015 (12) June 2015 (10) May 2015 (10) April 2015 (10) March 2015 (7) February 2015 (8) January 2015 (12) December 2014 (11) November 2014 (5) October 2014 (11) September 2014 (9) August 2014 (12) July 2014 (13) June 2014 (14) May 2014 (12) April 2014 (14) March 2014 (13) February 2014 (13) January 2014 (15) December 2013 (16) November 2013 (14) October 2013 (13) September 2013 (13) August 2013 (13) July 2013 (11) June 2013 (13) May 2013 (12) April 2013 (7) March 2013 (8) February 2013 (9) January 2013 (5)	5,142
"The story evolves, and I evolve with it": Michelle Ross chats with Eleanor Gallagher about growing up, flash fiction, and her debut collection, There's So Much They Haven't Told You. by Eleanor Gallagher Michelle Ross inspired me to start writing fiction again. I met her nearly a decade ago at our mutual workplace and we quickly sniffed out our common love of fiction and became friends. On our twice-daily walks, through instant messaging and occasional happy hours, we talked everything writing: We analyzed other people’s stories, picking apart language and technique. We discussed drafts and drafts of her stories. She let me see inside her writing practice: what worked, what didn’t. She provided insight into the new-to-me world of online literary magazines. She became the fiction editor of Atticus Review and brought me on to assist. About mid-2015, Michelle hit her stride as a fiction writer. She started giving me several drafts a month to comment on, and these stories got accepted for publication quickly, over 30 in the last year and a half. I was no in the least surprised when she told me she had won the 2016 Moon City Short Fiction Award for her collection, There’s So Much They Haven’t Told You. Eleanor Gallagher: The title of your book captures a theme in many of your stories: childhood’s the loss of innocence, the discovery that one has not been told the whole story. I’m thinking of the protagonist in “Atoms” in particular. Why is childhood such a potent mine for you? Michelle Ross: I’m not sure that I know why. I recall well, starting at a very early age, feeling humiliated and outraged when adults, or sometimes older kids, patronized or underestimated me because I was a child. Children are much smarter and more capable than a lot of adults give them credit for. For me anyhow, not being given that credit, being treated as less than, felt like a terrible injustice. But also I’m thinking here about how knowledge is generally acquired. In “Atoms,” when the protagonist asks her teacher why she only just now told the students about atoms, the teacher says that they hadn’t gotten to that unit in science class. There’s a practical reason for the omission. But for the protagonist, the discovery of atoms is earth-shattering. So much of what we eventually learn about life and the world and, oh god, our family members, is earth-shattering. Growing up is a process of learning to re-see again and again and again. Writing is a similar discovery process. I sit down thinking I know something about the story I want to write or that I know what meaning I draw from a particular moment or image, but then through the process of writing, I discover so much I didn’t see before, or at least that I didn’t see as clearly. The story evolves, and I evolve with it. This discovery, and evolution, is one of the great pleasures of writing. Sometimes the truths discovered in writing, as in growing up, may be unsettling. Maybe because they’re truths we’ve hidden from or feared for so long. Those are probably the most important truths, the ones we as writers should absolutely follow. In “Unit 7: Exploring Fossils,” you used an event from my life, the time I almost lost my front tooth in a bike accident . One word you used, “pluck,” changed the way I saw my mother. Is there an example you’re willing to share where you wrote about an incident in your life that changed the way you saw or felt about another person? I’m often trying to challenge myself to better understand people through fiction, whether it be people who are close to me or just certain types of people or certain experiences. There are several examples that come to mind immediately, but I’m hesitant to divulge them because they involve family members who may find it hurtful to see themselves referred to so explicitly even if the point is that writing has made me feel compassion for them. In fiction, I think it’s fair to write about just about anything; in nonfiction, I feel it’s perhaps important to protect the privacy of the living. I know you are terrified of snakes, yet you write about cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, among other frightening things like serial killers. I totally have nightmares about snakes, yes, yet at the same time, I’m fascinated by them, because they frighten me. I like looking at them from the other side of a pane of glass. I enjoy them in the wild too, up to a point. (I’ve had several close encounters with rattlesnakes here in Tucson–three times while out running alone, another time in my own backyard. I almost stepped on that one while I was running out to collect chives from my garden.) I’m drawn to what scares me, hence my love of horror films. I think that’s partly because I enjoy the sensation of being scared. But also, I’m drawn to what scares me because I want to see past that fear, to see the object of my fear for what it really is. So often fear is driven by misunderstanding and ignorance. The sympathetic Jaycee in “Rattlesnake Roundup” says of the snakes, “Leave them alone, and they won’t go out of their way to strike.” What causes you to strike, as a storyteller? Do you know what truth you want to explore when you start? I think that a lot of my writing is born of things that bother me, that nag at me like an itch–injustices, lies, contradictions. For instance, I have little tolerance for people playing the victim, making excuses, not taking responsibility for their own actions and lives. I have little tolerance for people pretending not to see ugliness. Rarely does any good come from the lies we tell ourselves and each other. As for what I set out to do when I begin a story, it’s not so direct for me as wanting to expose some particular lie or truth. Mostly I seem to start with smaller things–an image, a setting, a line of dialogue. It’s like a string I pick up and follow to see where it leads. Often I end up running in circles, getting knotted up, before I eventually find my way to the other end. Is that why an idea or situation may move from story to story or transform through drafting? For example, the dust mites in the mattress bit: you worked with that idea in a couple of different ways before it found its home in “If You Were a Serial Killer.” How did you know it belonged with Lori, in her story? I’m not sure I consider “If You Were a Serial Killer” to be a different story from the story the dust mite segment originally appeared in so much as a highly evolved descendant of the earlier story, its ancestor. I wrote the first draft of this story about eight or nine years ago, and yes, early on, the story was centrally about, on the surface anyhow, the interaction between a woman and the vacuum salesman she lets into her home soon after her husband dies. Over the years, I would pull this story out to work on it, only to shove it away again weeks later. I did this over and over again, revising it in small bursts. I cut paragraphs, wrote new paragraphs. I rearranged pieces of the story. I wrote multiple versions of the beginning and the ending. I changed the setting. I changed the protagonist’s occupation. I revised the story bit by bit, slowly over time, not so unlike the way species accrue mutations, eventually becoming entirely new species. Or maybe a better metaphor is James Whale’s imagining of the construction of Dr. Frankenstein’s creature; I was scavenging parts, discarding parts, trying to figure out how to breathe life into this creature. I worried sometimes that I was wasting my time on a dead story, that it would never really come to life. But at the same time, I couldn’t let the story go because I recognized that while the story as a whole felt flawed, it contained ideas and writing that were too provocative to give up on. You mentioned the dust mites in the mattress component, and that is the oldest component in the current story, but the story acquired other provocative moments over time too that I kept. Eventually, I more or less excised those parts I couldn’t get out of my head and threw the rest of the story away. Then I wrote new material that incorporated the components I’d kept from the earlier drafts. While the body of “If You Were a Serial Killer” looks radically different from those older drafts, I see a direct line of ancestry threading them together. I worried sometimes that I was wasting my time on a dead story, that it would never really come to life. This isn’t the only story I’ve transformed so radically from the first draft to the final draft. I seem to revise more heavily than most writers I know. Sometimes I worry that my writing process is highly inefficient. I worry that I obsess over details not worth obsessing about. Recently, a writer friend said of another story I’ve been working on but am still dissatisfied with, “You know you could get this published right now, right?” But I’m not interested in publishing something just because it’s publishable. Maybe no story I write will ever be perfect, but that’s always the goal, I think. To feel satisfied that the story is as perfect as I’m capable of making it. “Stories People Tell” was rejected over 30 times before it was published, a process that took a year or so. Some writers would take so many rejections as a sign that the story may need work, that it is missing something. But you stuck with “Stories.” How did you know it was “perfect” as it was? I received detailed feedback from a few editors along the way, so I did actually make some minor revisions to the piece, but nothing big. I think I know that a story is as perfect as it’s going to get when I’ve set it aside long enough to have distance on it and come back to it and enjoy rereading it again and again without any nagging feeling of something being not quite right or, worse, dull or blah or false. Distance is essential to being able to determine that. From there, I follow my gut and try to be patient. There is so much subjectivity in how readers and editors respond to fiction. You and I have talked before about how sometimes we read a story in a journal and are flabbergasted that another editor liked (or loved) the story enough to publish it. There are stories submitted to Atticus Review that I’ve rejected and then later seen published elsewhere. Years ago, when I was a less confident writer, perhaps I would have abandoned a story if it was rejected dozens of times, and maybe rightfully so, because I wasn’t then as tuned into my instincts. A reader would point out a problem with a story, and I’d realize I had been aware of the problem too but somehow I had still managed to ignore it. But these days, that happens a lot less often. So when an editor rejects a story I believe in, I trust that I just haven’t found the right editor/reader yet. That said, this trust can be a fragile thing that I have to rebuild again and again. I do that by rereading the story. I’m obsessive-compulsive when it comes to rereading my writing. I’m not just talking about stories in progress, which it makes sense to reread, but finished stories, too, even published stories. Paranoia sets in over time. I worry I made terrible mistakes. I reread to find out whether that paranoia is warranted. After I decide that it isn’t, it’s only a matter of time before the paranoia sets in again, and I’m off to reread again. I’m obsessive-compulsive when it comes to language altogether. Sentences get stuck in my head like a record skipping. It feels like the mental equivalent of plucking hairs from your head until you develop a bald patch. When I first met you, you were struggling to write a novel. Then you started writing flash and became prolific as hell and seemed more satisfied with the process. Why does flash work so well for you? I feel that what really made the difference for me in terms of becoming more prolific wasn’t so much a shift in what I write but how often I write. I know writers who can go for months at a time without writing and then launch right back into writing when they feel inspired or have more free time. It doesn’t work that way for me. I need to write daily or very close to it or else I kind of forget what I know about writing. And I feel panicky and impatient when I do finally write. I do love flash fiction, yes. Compression forces one to get to the meat of the story. It’s very satisfying to read and write for that reason. However, I love writing longer stories as well. The difficulty is that the longer chunks of writing time that longer stories (and novels) seem to require is more challenging to come by, what with working full time and being the mother of a young child. I think a lot of prose writers, especially those of us who work and have families, are drawn to flash in part because it’s more practical than longer projects when writing time is limited. If all I have is an hour, or less, to write, it’s challenging to enter into the world of a longer story or a novel. I can use up that hour just getting re-acclimated. The same goes for my reading time. I prefer short fiction to novels these days because I can finish pieces from beginning to end (e.g., during my lunch break, during my son’s basketball practice). Also, I’m the kind of writer who likes to jump around from one story to another from one day to the next. Because I like to play around, experiment, not be tied down to one thing for too long. Flash fiction, and longer short stories to some degree, are well suited to that. I don’t want to discount the fact that I also just really love short fiction, whatever its length. I’ve read quite a few perfect short stories. Novels not so much. I can’t understand why short fiction hasn’t become more popular with general readers, why it seems to be a genre that is appreciated only by writers of short fiction. There’s so much talk about how our attention spans have become shorter and whatnot, yet still the market for novels is so much greater than the market for story collections. Perhaps that will change in the not-too-distant future, though. Great Jones Street has a fabulous mobile app that gives readers access to so many great short stories. I like that they tag stories to help readers identify stories that may interest them and that they indicate approximately how long various stories take to read. Also, despite that I have stacks of books piled around my bedside table, I sometimes manage to find myself in a doctor’s office or whatnot with nothing good to read; but no more, since I always have my phone handy. Why did you decide to get involved as fiction editor of Atticus Review? Mainly, I wanted to give back to other writers. I felt kind of gross sending stories out again and again, asking others to read them and consider publishing them, but not offering anything in return. I don’t mean that as a judgment of people who don’t have the time or resources to be able to volunteer as an editor. A lot of my writer friends work in academia. They have heavy teaching loads, and they have children on top of that, so doing something like this just isn’t an option. I work full time, but my job is over at 4:30 or so; I don’t have to bring it home with me. Anyway, editing for Atticus Review has made me feel more at home and more connected to a writing community. And I’ve learned so much that has benefited my own writing. Like how crucial those first few paragraphs are. Like how a single clumsy sentence, especially if the piece is flash fiction, will put the reader off. What are you most grateful for about being a writer? Hmm. I imagine that later I will realize I forgot something important here, but what comes to mind now is that being a writer makes me attentive and present. That right there is a great gift. Also, being a writer has made me grateful for all kind of experiences, even pain and suffering, because pain can fuel beautiful art, and in turning pain into art, there is healing. Also, writers talk so much about how difficult writing is, and it is, but writing is pleasurable too. I do it because I love it, and because I feel sick if I don’t do it. debut story collection, eleanor gallagher, michelle ross, moon city press, there's so much they haven't told you Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Save Instapaper Pocket Eleanor Gallagher writes and quilts in Tucson, Arizona. Her work has appeared in Jersey Devil Press and Jellyfish Review. She is the Assistant Fiction Editor at Atticus Review. Night of the Living Rez, by Morgan Talty Orientation, by Daniel Orozco Literary Partners We are a community of writers dedicated to reviewing, recommending, and discussing quality fiction from presses and writers with a focus on emerging authors. Associate Editor Editor at Large Meet the rest of the team > Write For Us! Fiction Writers Review welcomes previously unpublished reviews, essays, literary interviews, and Shop Talk features from fiction writers, poets, graphic novelists, playwrights, and screenwriters. The editors will also consider work from librarians, journalists, other publishing professionals, and literary critics interested in forming connections. submit your stuff > “Imagining what it is like to be someone other than yourself is at the core of our humanity. It is the essence of compassion and the beginning of morality.”	17,664
Are you looking for a TMJ dentist “near me” in the area of Overland Park, KS? If so, we invite you to connect with Dr. Shane Nelson and his team at Dentistry by Shane Nelson to book a consultation appointment. During the first appointment, our team will conduct an examination and speak to you about your symptoms. Once a definitive diagnosis has been made, we offer a solution to treat TMJ disorders right here in our dental office, including neuromuscular exercises and the use of an oral appliance when necessary. TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint.” This joint can malfunction and result in a variety of problems that can impact one’s ability to eat and speak. It can also cause extensive pain and discomfort that can bother patients regularly. In situations such as this, patients are often diagnosed with a condition called TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. TMD is a chronic condition that can result in problems such as: Pain or difficulty chewing or biting down Clicking and popping of the jaw joint Difficulty opening and closing the mouth Lockjaw in the open or closed position Pain extending from the ears down through the neck and shoulders When a malfunction occurs, it is vital that patients speak to their dentist about the problems happening to get a definitive and accurate diagnosis. At this point, the dentist can then speak to the patient about treatment options, including neuromuscular exercises or the use of oral appliance therapy in realigning the jaw and protecting the teeth and jaw from tension and grinding. Discuss the treatment of TMJ disorders with our team today! Dr. Shane Nelson and his team are excited to offer a variety of solutions for patients who need holistic and biocompatible dentistry in the Overland Park, KS area. At Dentistry by Shane Nelson, we are committed to providing the best possible care to our patients. We encourage patients who are interested in learning more about the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ with oral appliance therapy to contact our facility by calling (913) 297-7800. We are conveniently located at 7001 West 121st Street and accept new patients and families into our practice. Share this Article Back to GNM for TMJ Disorders Page Dr. Shane Nelson is a leading dentist in Overland Park. He opened his private practice in January 2002 and has been serving the community for over two decades. Having pursued several courses in cosmetic, holistic, biomimetic, gneuromuscular, and laser dentistry, he shares his expertise with dentists from all over the world as a clinical instructor. Dr. Nelson is a SMART certified dentist and is one of the six accredited dentists in the entire state of Kansas. Originally Posted on What a discovery! Dr Nelson is very likely the best dentist you will ever find. His tools and techniques are state of the art, he's highly skilled and Dr Nelson is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I have struggled with my smile ever since another dentist botched a procedure years ago. Dr Nelson has restored my faith in dentistry and is actively working on giving me the best smile I have ever had. VERY highly recommended!	3,264
My daughter Madeleine and I discovered an Upcycling Crafter-noon with Denise at our local library. We loved it. With her energy and enthusiasm, Denise makes everyone feel welcome and excited about creating. She always manages to create amazing work that not only is fun to make, but by upcycling materials, helps the environment as well. With materials such as cereal boxes, yarn, burlap, cloth and lots of other goodies, crafter-creators can make something amazing. My daughter loves Denise's workshops as she feels like she can make and create in a fun and safe atmosphere. Kids from all ages come away from the workshops with something they are proud of, making new friends and helping the environment along the way. We have attended several of Denise's Crafternoons at the North Vancouver City Library, and loved every crafty second. She is a great teacher, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic; but also able to give the freedom to explore and create in our own ways. She also creates a fun community atmosphere for everyone who attends, both parents and children. Her events are something all of our family look forward to. It is a testament to her skills as a workshop facilitator that she can take a room full of strangers and turn them into a buzzing hive of fun, laughter and activity. Perhaps this is where Denise's true 'craft' lies - in being able to share her gifts and create community for others. Honestly, I have not got a creative bone in my body. That gene totally passed me by. So imagine the first time I go to one of Denise's Crafty Afternoon sessions at our local library! I took my youngest child thinking it would be "for the kids". Heck no, it was for "everyone". I instantly met another fun adult who told me no matter what was going to be made she was going to "glitter it" (fortunately Denise had bling and glitter in abundance), so laughter and smiles was the order of the day. Which lead to one of the most satisfying things I have done in years - I created a small owl from felted sweaters myself, and it even looked like an owl at the end, you didn't even have to squint (well, not much). I love these crafty afternoons, I find I can create, and even when it doesn't work out quite as I anticipate, Denise is on hand to enthuse and point out the creative inspirational touches (we all have those apparently). Thanks Denise! And as for my owl, she has pride of place on my dresser. I have attended two of Denise's Crafternoons. Both were fun events filled with interesting and friendly people. Denise is very generous with her time, supplies and tools. She is an enthusiastic instructor and very fun to be around. We actually made things that are pretty, useable and environmentally friendly. I even made new friends! In both events, I got to experience a sense of community, lots of creativity (mine and others) and helped the environment. Denise coordinated a Winter Crafternoon at Guildford Library to make holiday decorations from upcycled materials. She was an absolute joy to meet! Denise's warm personality and enthusiasm inspired even the most shy participants to create something special. Denise brought a treasure trove of supplies with her, everything from felt, ribbons, googly eyes, sparkles, jewelry, egg cartons, sewing needles, and thread to paint, paintbrushes, glue, and scissors. She brought some fantastic examples of decorations that people could create and took the time to move around the room and help individuals on a personal level. Everyone left with a homemade trinket to add to their holiday decorations and the refrain of "When are you holding the next one?" I look forward to working with Denise on another crafty adventure! I love working with Denise because she is incredibly energetic, creative, always easy going and personable, as well as truly passionate about what she does. Her crafts are fun, accessible and catered to a diverse audience of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. She is a joy! Denise has single-handedly teased out the creative spirit in North Shore community members of all ages and artistic persuasions. Whether it's at the popular library Crafternoons, Culture Days events or upcycling workshops, Denise has a special knack for helping people find their own artist within and having tons of fun in the process! Chris Koth When we first contracted Denise to provide crafting instruction at the library we had NO idea that not only would she deliver such consistently high quality instruction to our library customers, but that she would become one of the top draws of all our library programs, combined. Denise' creativity and ingenuity in shaping the most unique items out of discarded material is matched only by her warmth of person, approachability, and genuine interest in working with others. We are truly happy to be in partnership with someone we consider to be among the true gems of the North Shore. Manager, Edible Garden Project, North Shore Neighbourhood House Denise was a super enthusiastic and organized instructor. We really enjoyed having her participate in our workshop series, and although we hadn't included hands-on upcycling in our workshops before it was a big hit. Denise brings passion, a clear teaching style, and lots of enthusiasm to her work! Thank you Denise! Denise is a a very generous, patient and open human being who also happens to be super talented at crafting. Denise recently taught a Crafternoon class for kids and adults here at Homesteader's Emporium, and everyone loved it! Kids made little planters with upcycled burlap sacs and old recyclables and were given a choice of succulent cuttings to plant in them. Denise brought tons of goodies for folks to decorate and personalize their planters - buttons, necklaces, textured fabrics, ribbons, so many things! She encouraged the young ones to help each other out, and supported them to feel comfortable trying new things - like trying the glue gun. I personally really appreciate adults who prioritize allowing kids to guide themselves when doing art projects, and Denise is this type of person. Because she let people direct their own projects while supporting them when they needed it, everyone created planters that told stories and reflected their individual personalities, like the kid who decided to hide "treasure" in the potting soil. Denise's workshops are great! One seven-year-old even told his big sister it was his second favorite thing they had ever done together! Board Member, Our Social Fabric Denise is a pleasure to work with - a fountain of positive energy, an engaging teacher, and the definition of a "people person". She's also organized, creative and social media savvy. When our Transform Your T-Shirt workshop hit an unexpected hurdle, Denise took it in stride and never lost her professional, positive attitude. She's someone who actively reaches out to others and creates connections between people - a community creator in a city that often prefers to be cool and passive. Librarian, Mamquam Elementary School Denise came to our school and worked with the intermediate grades (4-6) to upcycle old wool sweaters into tree ornaments. We sold them at our annual Christmas Craft fair to help earn money for our students to go to camp. The kids had such fun sewing and creating with Denise, and she really sparked a lot of enthusiasm with creating hand-made crafts! Many of them went home inspired and sewed with their families over the weekend. Thank you, Denise, for introducing the kids to upcycling and crafting!! I had the pleasure of working with Denise on a series of "upcycling" workshops she facilitated in Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver's ReStore. Denise brings an absolutely infectious positive attitude and creative zeal to every project she takes on. Not only was she professional and organized she was approachable and made sure that participants of all ages were comfortable and having a great time creating their upcycled treasure. I would absolutely invite Denise to host another workshop! Denise has been a guest instructor for an art based project I manage in the community. I have also attended one of her Crafternoons as a participant. I highly recommend Denise as she has been a sheer delight to work with! She has no shortage of positive energy and creative ideas to share. Her professional and ethical approach to affordable upcycled crafting is truly inspiring! Thrifty By Design is the adventures of Denise Corcoran, a North Vancouver based community catalyst, crafter extraordinaire & upcycler of things. It all began one fateful day in August 2008, I bought an old Singer sewing machine at a garage sale in Gibsons, BC for $10. My $10 included the sewing machine plus a lesson on how to use it. Just the basics but that was everything since I knew nothing about sewing. I didn't take any home economics classes in high school - I was an art nerd. I knew all about silk screening and photography but cooking and sewing were one big mystery. Even now I struggle! Join me for an upcoming TBD Crafternoon. Find my listing of upcycling workshops, events & general crafty happenings here.	9,759
The physical stress of pregnancy can lead to a great deal of discomfort. It's common for women to visit a chiropractic office in Fayetteville AR regularly for low back pain, as well as other related issues, such as sciatica, leg cramps and constipation. This can lead to difficulty performing daily tasks as well as difficulties in labor. Chiropractic treatment for pregnancy can be an outstanding source of relief for back pain. Many women also comment that the birthing process was easier after having undergone chiropractic treatments. The following article takes a more in-depth look at the discomfort caused by pregnancy and explains exactly how chiropractic treatment can help. During pregnancy, a woman’s body is undergoing a number of different changes to accommodate the growing baby. As the baby grows, a mother’s center of gravity shifts to the front of her pelvis, resulting in added stress and discomfort in the lower back and the various joints of the pelvis. At the peak of pregnancy, resulting from the associated weight gain, the curve in the lower back (lordotic curve) can increase to the point of causing a serious impact on the vertebral joints, the sacrum, and the hip joints. The nerves that travel to all other parts of the body have their origin in the spine. When the spine is compressed, these nerves can become irritated causing the pain to radiate to other areas of the body. Sciatica is a condition commonly stimulated by pregnancy, involving pain that radiates from the lower back all the way down the legs. If a previous issue exists with the alignment of the spine, and there has been a history of lower back problems, pregnancy will often aggravate the condition. Pregnancy can cause the spine to become misaligned to the point that it does not simply go back into place once the pregnancy is complete. This can make the tasks that become necessary once the child is born, such as carrying a baby on your front or back, breastfeeding, and bending over to lift and pick things up, painfully difficult. Chiropractic practitioners can provide safe and effective personalized care throughout your pregnancy and in the postpartum period. A thorough examination will determine the best treatment to address your discomfort and prepare the body for the height of pregnancy and childbirth. There are specialized adjustment methods to accommodate pregnancy. These treatments may reduce the need for pain medications throughout the delivery as well as help to reduce labor time. Follow-up treatments can assist in realigning the body after the pregnancy and speed up the transition to a healthy post-pregnancy body. If you are curious about how chiropractic can help you with your pregnancy call our team at Abide Chiropractic today. We are here to help. 10:00am - 12:00pm 3:00pm - 6:00pm Tuesday 3:00pm - 6:00pm 10:00am - 12:00pm 3:00pm - 6:00pm 10:00am - 12:00pm 3:00pm - 6:00pm Closed Closed "I just received my 2nd adjustment, and I can tell the relief from my neck pain is almost immediate. The staff is so welcoming, and the Dr. is awesome at answering all of your questions. I’ve been needing to do this for a long time, but I always had a fear of getting “cracked” and “popped.” I’m so glad I found a place that takes such a different approach."	3,509
“You’re all doing nothing,” O’Rourke said to Texas officials who were giving updates on the mass shooting at an Uvalde elementary school. UVALDE, Texas ― In a stunning moment on Wednesday, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) confronted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) over gun control policy at a press conference where officials were giving updates on the mass shooting at an Uvalde elementary school. “You’re doing nothing. You’re all doing nothing,” O’Rourke told the officials assembled on the stage. UVALDE, Texas ― In a stunning moment on Wednesday, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) confronted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) over gun control policy at a press conference where officials were giving updates on the mass shooting at an Uvalde elementary school. “You’re doing nothing. You’re all doing nothing,” O’Rourke told the officials assembled on the stage. One of them repeatedly shouted back, “Sir, you are out of line!” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) told O’Rourke he was “an embarrassment.” An 18-year-old ran into Robb Elementary School in the small west Texas town on Tuesday, killing 19 children and two teachers with an AR-15 rifle. Seventeen more were injured, Abbott said earlier at the press conference. The man, who was killed by responding officers, had shot his grandmother in the face before driving over to the school. He posted his intentions to Facebook shortly before the rampage, Abbott said. As Abbott finished his remarks and introduced Patrick, O’Rourke approached the stage to interrupt. His initial remarks were drowned out by crosstalk from different attendees ― some cheering him and many others jeering. O’Rourke made a clear comment directed at Abbott while law enforcement moved to escort him out. “This is on you,” O’Rourke said. “Until you choose to do something different, this will continue to happen. Somebody needs to stand up for the children of this state or they will continue to be killed just like they were killed in Uvalde yesterday.” A man standing near O’Rourke interjected: “This is propaganda, bro. Get out of here. You’re trash, man.” As O’Rourke exited, some of his supporters chanted, “Let him speak!” One person asked, “How about the First Amendment?” The Republican elected officials at the dais criticized O’Rourke with varying degrees of subtlety once he was out of the room. “There will be plenty of time to discuss and analyze what happened yesterday,” Patrick said. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) concurred. “Mayor, I’m sorry you had to witness that outburst,” Phelan said to Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin. “Now is not the time to politicize pain and suffering.” In his initial remarks, Abbott had acknowledged that “people are rightfully angry about what’s happened,” but did not offer gun policy solutions. “Now more than ever,” Abbot said, what the Uvalde community needs “is our love.” “What they need is uplifting from all of our fellow Texans and all of our fellow Americans,” the governor said. “And let me emphasize something that I know you all know, but the reality is as horrible as what happened, it could’ve been worse. The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do.” Abbott called for better mental health care in the west Texas region. But when asked by a reporter whether he would reconsider accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid to that end, he said no. Patrick similarly suggested there was little policy action that could be taken, saying, “Evil will always walk among us.” “In times like this, I’ve seen it … in these other shootings, Sutherland Springs, El Paso, Odessa, Santa Fe, it’s God that brings a community together,” he added, referencing previous mass shootings in the state. “It’s God that heals a community.” Following the outburst, Abbott criticized the relatively strict gun control policies of states with the nation’s larges cities, including California, Illinois and New York. “There are, quote, real gun laws in Chicago,” Abbott said, then claimed such measures do not work. “Hate to say this, but there are more people who were shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas.” Chicago has strict gun control laws, but nearby states like Indiana do not, which allows people to easily access weapons. Outside the venue, O’Rourke continued his call for stronger gun control measures and better access to mental health care. “Now is the time to stop the next shooting,” he said. “Right after Santa Fe high school was the time to stop the next shooting. Right after El Paso was the time to stop the next shooting. Right after Midland, Odessa was the time to stop the next shooting.” “In each case, we say, ‘This isn’t the time.’ Now is the time.” Culled from the HUFFPOST Latest Posts INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice. Latest posts by Texas Guardian News (see all) Bombshell report deals another blow to the Supreme Court’s reputation - November 22, 2022 At least 162 killed and 700 hurt as earthquake hits Indonesia’s Java island - November 22, 2022 WAP’S Prof. Chris Ulasi Leads Election Reporting Project in Nigeria - November 22, 2022 Up Next Don't Miss Winning A Delegate Election in Nigeria—A Critical Look You may like Bombshell report deals another blow to the Supreme Court’s reputation At least 162 killed and 700 hurt as earthquake hits Indonesia’s Java island Elon Musk fired Twitter’s head of sales after she refused to sack more employees Trump may not make it to the primaries Obama to campaign in Georgia with Warnock on Dec. 1 Click to comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply At least 162 killed and 700 hurt as earthquake hits Indonesia’s Java island Published 4 days ago on November 22, 2022 By Hundreds of homes were damaged, in addition to a boarding school, a hospital and several government buildings, the national disaster agency chief said. An earthquake shook Indonesia‘s main Java island Monday afternoon, killing at least 162 people, local officials said. Around 700 people were injured, National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief Suharyanto said. “Many were hurt because they were hit by collapsed buildings,” he added. More than 5,300 people had been displaced, the Indonesian disaster mitigation agency said in a statement. It added that at least 25 people were still trapped under collapsed buildings. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck West Java at 1:21 p.m. local time (1:21 a.m. ET). It was centered in the Cianjur region at a depth of 6.2 miles — about 47 miles southeast of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. At least 25 aftershocks were recorded by the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency. Latest Posts INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice. Latest posts by Texas Guardian News (see all) Bombshell report deals another blow to the Supreme Court’s reputation - November 22, 2022 At least 162 killed and 700 hurt as earthquake hits Indonesia’s Java island - November 22, 2022 WAP’S Prof. Chris Ulasi Leads Election Reporting Project in Nigeria - November 22, 2022 WAP’S Prof. Chris Ulasi Leads Election Reporting Project in Nigeria Published 4 days ago on November 22, 2022 By The co-founder of The West African Pilot News, Professor Chris Ulasi, led a United States-sponsored Election Reporting Project (ERP) in Nigeria. ERP was a two-day workshop to equip, train and support Nigerian journalists, videographers and photojournalists to adequately cover the 2023 elections in an accurate, objective, balanced and safe way. The workshop was organised by the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) and the Enugu Literary Society (ELS) in partnership with the US consulate-general in Lagos, Will Stevens. At the opening of the two-day workshop, Stevens said the US government allocated $50 million for the training as a way to ensure that the 2023 general elections are peaceful and credible. “We are supporting more than 100 journalists with this workshop in Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Lagos as part of U.S. efforts to support Nigeria’s elections,” the consul-general said. “Over the last three years and into the next year too, the US government has allocated more than 50 million dollars for technical assistance, support, training, for INEC, and for civil society, among others. “We are committed to initiatives here in Nigeria to build needed capacity. We have funded training for hundreds of journalists on topics ranging from fact-checking, health reporting, defence and national security reporting, investigative journalism, election reporting and media ethics. “These training, together with other programmes we offer virtually to demonstrate our commitment to this partnership that we have long enjoyed here in Nigeria.” The lead facilitator for the workshop was the co-founder, The West African Pilot News, Dean, School of Communication and Chair, Department of Radio, Television and Films, Texas Southern University Houston, USA., Prof. Chris Ulasi. Some other facilitators include Prof. Lai Oso, fmr. Dean of Communications, Lagos State University; and Miss Grace Ekpu, an investigative reporter with the Associated Press (AP). According to the lead facilitator, the project was in three phases. Phase one was the workshops which included training held in several zones. Phase two was the content stage. In phase two, trained journalists were plugged into an election reporting website and online community for support and fact-checking of content pre-during-and-after elections coverage season. Phase three is the awards stage when outstanding participating journalists would be given awards after the elections season. The two-day intensive training, which was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on 14 and 15 November was attended by journalists from different states in the southwest. The training included practical skills in fact-checking, digital security, and interaction among journalists from different backgrounds among others. Latest Posts INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice. Latest posts by Texas Guardian News (see all) Bombshell report deals another blow to the Supreme Court’s reputation - November 22, 2022 At least 162 killed and 700 hurt as earthquake hits Indonesia’s Java island - November 22, 2022 WAP’S Prof. Chris Ulasi Leads Election Reporting Project in Nigeria - November 22, 2022 Elon Musk fired Twitter’s head of sales after she refused to sack more employees Published 4 days ago on November 22, 2022 By He had previously begged her not to resign Elon Musk sacked Twitter exec Robin Wheeler after she refused to fire more staff, sources said. Wheeler was sacked despite Musk persuading her to stay after she tried to resign, per Bloomberg. Some Twitter sales staff found out over the weekend and on Monday they were fired, per Platformer. Elon Musk fired a top Twitter executive after she refused to sack more employees in the ad sales team, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to Insider. Robin Wheeler, Twitter’s global head of advertising sales, handed in her resignation on Thursday 10, but Musk persuaded her to stay in the job, the sources told Insider’s Lara O’Reilly, and as Bloomberg earlier reported. One week later, the billionaire changed his mind. Two sources said Wheeler was fired on Friday after she refused to cut the headcount of Twitter’s ad sales team — a department that was already depleted. Wheeler, whose Twitter bio now says “proud Ex-Twitter Sales Exec,” tweeted on Friday in the past tense, saying: “To the team and my clients….you were always my first and only priority.” She concluded the tweet with a salute emoji, a sign that has recently become symbolic for Twitter employees leaving the company amid layoffs and firings. Platformer’s Casey Newton reported that some Twitter staff in the sales team found out over the weekend and on Monday that they had been sacked after they couldn’t access Twitter’s systems. This came after Musk sent an email to employees about his expectations for building “Twitter 2.0.” If staff didn’t sign up for “the new Twitter” by Thursday 5 p.m., they would receive three months of severance, Musk wrote in the email. Twitter and Wheeler didn’t immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment made outside of normal US operating hours on Tuesday. Wheeler joined Twitter in 2012 as a senior director of sales, which involved managing relationships with some of the company’s biggest clients such as Coca-Cola, Google, and Microsoft, according to her LinkedIn page. She became the head of ad sales in April this year. Chris Riedy, Twitter’s former vice president of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, replaced Wheeler at the weekend, per multiple Insider sources. Latest Posts INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN is the boldest and brightest issue-oriented international newspaper published in Houston, Texas. Strategically, it strives to promote private enterprise, support responsible government and advocate social justice.	14,064
When I think of myself as like a seed or a toddler on the verge of a growth spurt my life makes so much more sense. For a seed to burst through to become a plant it must vibrate like crazy after a time of being dormant. A toddler almost always will digress and be... Continue Reading → January 25, 2022 0 January 10th, 2022 is the day the tumor on my ovary was removed with a full hysterectomy. In a follow up visit I heard the words "stage IV" at which time I immediately shut down. I could not hear anything or take in any words. I started rocking back and forth repeating the mantra "this... Continue Reading → January 10, 2022 0 Unrooted, grounded but floating. I think of the baby succulents I have been propagating. The newly picked or fallen leaves lay upon the soil to dry out a bit at the site where they were separated from the plant from which they grew. They lay upon a shallow layer of soil slowly growing roots towards... Continue Reading →	1,005
My wife told me she has a “stress bucket”. When new tasks come in the bucket gets gradually filled up, and when she crosses them off her list it gets emptied. As long as the bucket doesn’t overflow she’s fine, but if it does, due to sick kids or things going pear-shaped at work, she loses her shit — snaps at the rest of us, can’t sleep, cries, and/or eats too much very dark chocolate. I tell you this because once she phrased it like she did I realized it’s not how stress works for me. I don’t have a stress bucket, I have a stress plate. As long as there’s anything on it I have to get rid of it before I can feel restful, at all[1]. The difference has consequences for how we cope, and how we communicate our coping. I feel worse and get testier in rough proportion to how much stuff is on my plate, while she’s alright until it’s suddenly too much AND EVERYTHING IS NOT FINE AT ALL. I don’t know why I have a plate because having a bucket just seems better. She has a greater processing capacity than me, as evidenced by her being, apparently, much less affected by the constant administration of tasks that comes with being an adult. Despite the neverending deluge she says she’s fundamentally happy with our situation, and I struggle to say the same. Yes, despite outwardly having everything a person is supposed to need in life and, honestly, being in no position to complain, I can’t feel happy with things. I suspect it relates to not ever being able to rest and relax because I’m always low-key aware my plate has shit on it. This summer we had a rare chance to eat lunch alone together at a responsibly socially distanced restaurant. It was a beautiful day. She asked me if I felt stressed right then and there, even though we were on a well-deserved break. I said I did, noting the muscle tension extending from my lower jaw down to the middle of my chest that never quite goes away. The sense that there’s stuff on the plate has been burned into me after years and years of daily cooking, cleaning, shopping, working, maintaining health, house, garden and car, and keeping the kids fed, rested, cleaned and clothed despite their best efforts at resistance. With a stress bucket it’s all about throughput. Sometimes at home we discuss how to improve things, and she suggests better storage organization, good routines, and planning ahead. I nod in agreement and we make plans together but I know that these solutions don’t satisy me, even when they work. It’s not really that I need the tasks to move by us faster. I need them to stop coming in. Yes, faster processing keeps a bucket from overflowing, but unless it’s an order of magnitude faster than normal it still doesn’t keep a plate clean for any significant proportion of the time. • Having a plate is fine when you’re a kid. You’re in school but once homework is done and you’ve cleaned your room there’s nothing left and you get the restorative relaxation you need. Over easter, christmas and summer you are genuinely free for long stretches of time. Sure, things drop in — you have to clean your room again, go to the hairdresser, or buy a new pair of shoes — but as soon as you’re done the plate’s clean again. Having something to do might even be fun. It’s not fine at all when you’re an adult, with animate and inanimate dependents. The plate’s always packed, and crossing things off a neverending list does little to alleviate the situation. It keeps you from drowning but you never get to stop treading water. Apparently some get satisfaction from completing tasks and I assume they’are all bucket people, because “staying on top of things” is an achievable goal and every little tick is a meaningful step towards it. But a clean plate is unrealistic and you know you’ll never get there. There is only more treading, forever. Ironically, I think this has become worse as I have become better. By “better” I mean better at actually doing things that need to be done. As a student I dealt with having more responsbilities than as a child by tricking myself that I had nothing to do through selective blindness and amnesia. It kept me happy enough. As an adult that doesn’t fly. You can’t put off doing the dishes for days or you’ll be buried. Today I can get through what would in 2007 have been a month’s worth of chores every day, and it cost the ability to shut stuff out and relax with a clean conscience[2][3]. • Yes, a plate seems worse than a bucket. Why then, don’t we all have buckets? What’s the upside to constant dread over entropy existing? I don’t know, but I think there’s a clue in the fact that needing an empty plate and therefore hating the mere existence of chores and tasks isn’t the same as regular laziness. If I was just lazy I wouldn’t write this blog for no tangible reward. No, it’s less about the total amount of work and more about the pure number of things needing to be managed, costing mental resources even when not currently being done. It’s like they have to be lugged around all the time like a backpack full of coconuts. It makes the mind feel bloated, heavy, and always tired. If I were to speculate I’d say that perhaps the benefit of being a “plate person” is better concentration, patience, and precision. While my wife is much better at all things “management” than me, and does more of it, I’m better at focused tasks. I’ll happily sew things by hand, for example, while she starts swearing after 30 seconds and begs me to take over. I’m also more careful and conscientious when gardening, and better at painting, building and remodeling at home when it requires patience and precision, i.e. the kind of stuff that requires putting pieces of wood together into complicated patterns and going back to the workshop and sand off another hair’s breadth so it fits just right[4]. She asks me with disbelief how I can possibly have the patience for it, but somehow I don’t find it hard at all. I’ll do stuff like that for eight hours straight and come away from it refreshed as if after a good night’s sleep. But ask me to do a thing while I’m in the middle of doing another thing and I’ll struggle to not bite your face off. Are these expressions of the same underlying trait? Can they be changed? Can I make myself a bucket or will I be anxious for the rest of my life unless I become a hermit or rich enough to afford servants? And I’m curious whether people recognize themselves in this description. Are you a bucket person? A plate person? Or something else altogether? • • • Once when I worked at a restaurant in England we were polishing the cutlery after a busy evening. Two of the cooks were drinking and invited me to join them. I said I had to finish working first and they loudly proclaimed that I was no fun. My answer “I’ll be fun when I’ve finished the job” remains my psychology in a nutshell. I still forget things, I just don’t forget enough things for it to work and I don’t forget that I’ve forgotten them. The exception is when I’ve had a few drinks and no longer think far enough away from the present moment to be aware of the full extent of my obligations. This feels unhealthy but it’s true. Maybe I haven’t actually lost any ability because I never had it as a student either, I just drank a lot more back then. I wonder if our differing approaches to packing is about the same thing. In a nutshell, my wife’s far better at organizing things in time and I’m better at doing so in space. She has an elaborate taxonomy of prewritten lists for different kinds of trips with everything she could possibly use and always manage to bring with her things I forget but sometimes wind up needing — but her bag’s a mess because she just throws everything in there. And when we get to where we’re going it somehow explodes and all her things are instantly spread across the room. I, on the other hand, try to remember the bare minimum the day before, and then pack like I’m doing a jigsaw puzzle. Everything is exactly in the right place depending on when and where I’m going to need it. During the stay I keep most stuff in the bag and take it out only when I need it, and then put it back again immediately. Did you enjoy this article? Consider supporting Everything Studies on Patreon. Related ‹ PreviousHindsight in 2020 Next ›A Quickie on Cancel Culture Questions 26 January, 2021 at 17:52 I recognize a lot of similarities in my marriage. She’s definitely the manager and I’m the detailed task guy. And she’s a bucket person. Though I’ve always called it a bath tub with the water turned on. As long as the drain can handle more gallons per minute than the faucet is producing she’s a pretty happy person. But if the faucet gets turned up (new backstabbing district manager at work, for example) it doesn’t really matter what she does, her mental health will eventually (and progressively) deteriorate. I guess I’m a bucket person, but my bucket is reaaaaalllly deep. This is very good for my emotional well-being. I honestly can’t think of anyone I know who seems as content with their life as I am. It’s not great for getting things done. Our house is a museum of my unfinished projects. The windows get cleaned about once a year and it only takes about 2 months for algae to start to grow on them in our climate. Our cars are filthy inside and out and the engines are close to death due to lack of maintenance. We live paycheck to paycheck with no economic cushion in our bank accounts. I could list a hundred things that would make a “plate” person cringe, but I’ll spare you. But… our bills are consistently paid. We own our home. We have reasonably steady jobs. Our kids are brilliant, funny, fun, kind, getting good grades and reasonably happy. I love my wife and we have a very healthy relationship. I love my dirty, little, half-remodeled house and I love my big overgrown yard even more… big plans for it…. big plans. So, where is the proper place to draw the line between unhealthy procrastination and enjoying one’s life in the moment, as it is? I highly recommend “Why Buddhism is True” by Robert Wright. I’ll cut and paste a little bit from the Amazon blurb… “Robert Wright [suggests that] evolution shaped the human brain. The mind [evolved] to often delude us, he [argues], about ourselves and about the world. And it is designed to make happiness hard to sustain. But if we know our minds are rigged for anxiety, depression, anger, and greed, what do we do?” In other words, evolution may have selected for “plate” people rather than deep-deep-deep bucket people. “Platiness” might be better adapted to our harsh evolutionary environment than the tendency to blissfully ignore things that are arguably sub-optimal. If so, how does one resist one’s inherent “platiness” in order to achieve deeper life satisfaction now that it’s not required for survival? Robert Wright’s suggests mindfulness meditation can help and he makes an entirely non-supernatural case for it in that book. I don’t know if that’s true. Haven’t had much success with meditation myself. But I do feel like I’ve benefitted from having the tool in my mental toolbox of trying to step outside an unpleasant thought and observe it as a thought instead of just identifying with the thought as directly perceived reality…. hard to talk about these things briefly so I may have botched it. But, long story short, I recommend the book. LikeLiked by 1 person Rob says: 26 January, 2021 at 18:53 This is interesting. I think the bucket resonates with me more, although my bucket may be a bit different. My bucket is very tall and narrow, with sides that act as a barrier between “should-do” tasks outside and “must-do” tasks inside. I actively try to get more stuff in the bucket (practicing guitar, home improvement projects, additional projects at work), but unless the task is a light lift, I find it impossible to get it up and over the lip of the bucket. I usually need some external help (my boss, my wife) to get bigger tasks in there, and I’ve mostly designed (or lucked into) a life without much of that pressure. The benefit of this is that I live a fairly stress-free and contented life, but it comes with less accomplishment than I’d like and feel I ought to be capable of, which bothers me sometimes. David says: 27 January, 2021 at 19:12 This strongly resonates with me. 26 January, 2021 at 19:04 I resonate a lot with your plate description, but I also do have a saturation point where things get noticeably worse in terms of stress management and get satisfaction from crossing things off lists (physical, digital, or mental). Using your metaphors I see it as a bucket sitting on top of a plate. I need to keep the bucket from overflowing (otherwise it can get too overwhelming and the overflow gets on the plate as well compounding things), but even when the bucket is well managed it still puts pressure on the plate! 26 January, 2021 at 21:23 Great post. As a product of a militaristic religious school and an over achieving Dad, I learned to tip the bucket – on the floor right in front of my stressor as an adolescent. Lots of stress but not in on my plate bucket embryo. But stress was piled on in forms I had zero control over. Until I got a job. I have had to contend with the “tip out stress plate bucket” in various ways during my adult life. Usually it was tipped by me as per one hand clapping – no one knew but me. I had the luxury of being abke to takeoff for a month or three as I gained a qualification allowing me a high hourly rate & independence by age 21. So now as a single parent, owning my home and, a barely appropriate yet low stress & time income, I too have opted for a messy house but happy family. The only time my plate bucket (I have both still, for different categories ) gets over filled is kids with school, learning and innate urge for a successful and abundent life. I try hard for this category to be a bucket. But after the third email from a teacher saying “these tasks not completed” my ‘kid school’ bucket quickly turns, ala a klien bottle, into a plate! I am still practising with stress, bucket, plate & categories. Thanks. 27 January, 2021 at 03:12 I never really thought of this dichotomy. I suppose I’m more of a plate person, though perhaps not so extremely as you. I related to the sentence about “ask me to do a thing while I’m in the middle of doing another thing and I’ll struggle to not bite your face off” quite strongly! The dichotomy which I do ponder frequently (it’s pretty common in psychology surveys) is needing to make one or two bigger projects the priority over many small tasks versus needing to get all the (many) smaller tasks out of the way first. I’m very, very, very much in the “must clear away all the small tasks first” camp. This feels related to the “ask me to do a thing while I’m in the middle of doing another thing and I’ll struggle to not bite your face off” thing. LikeLiked by 2 people Doug R Mitchell says: 27 January, 2021 at 09:34 “It’s not really that I need the tasks to move by us faster. I need them to stop coming in.” Some things aren’t worth doing well because they’re not worth doing at all. Some of us feel this, deep down, daily. I want (well…want’s too strong a word; feel obligated to is better) to do well some things worth doing, like: not getting killed, keeping others I love from getting killed, getting food, eating, sleeping, having sex. As for everything else, I’m experimenting with Just Not Doing them. I drink from one glass I haven’t washed in weeks. I don’t bathe for 4 or 5 days at a stretch (I work in an office). I haven’t had my hair so much as wet in four months. I wear clothes on 3 or 4 occasions before washing them. I don’t dust, mop, scrub, or otherwise “clean” the apartment. I haven’t washed my vehicle in 5 years. The experiment has me increasingly convinced that I’ve done a lot only to avoid “seeming like the sort of person who doesn’t” – and that most of said “seeming” would have been entirely in my own mind. LikeLiked by 1 person suspendedreason says: 3 February, 2021 at 20:13 Yes it seems like some people work less than required, then adjust up, while others have a tendency to work more than required, and theoretically adjust down. But adjusting down, you’re working purely on a theory of necessity. Adjusting up, you’re actually witnessing and dealing with the consequences of neglect. I think adjusting up, while short-term costlier than adjusting down, is long-term a better way to stay free. LikeLiked by 2 people Sleepy says: 27 January, 2021 at 13:41 I too have a plate, but I think with computing analogies. Instead of a plate, I have a queue. As tasks are added to the queue, they are slotted into different subqueues (all facing the same direction as the overqueue) based on priority, relatedness of resources needed to complete or just work on the task, and so on. Some tasks are themselves queues, requiring I reload them at the end of every iteration until their last element vanishes. I’m also very limited in processing time and mental space. My mind stops functioning around a lot of people, especially in performance situations. It’s like I’m hypervigilant, I must devote n resources to tracking people and ensuring no one is stabbing me in the back, front, sides, etc. The only reprieves from constant anxiety of attack are isolation in nature (specifically foggy, rainy forests of the PNW) which oddly enough doesn’t feel like isolation, and preemptive predation (get them before they get you). These two things combined with a lifetime of poverty and being passed over for hiring, promotion, etc, mean that 99% of the time I perform at 1% of my maximum capacity. I’m not meant for this world, apparently, and I look forward to leaving it. Until I do, I spend all my free time doing everything I can get away with to harm the world that obviously hates me. 28 January, 2021 at 08:59 This feels way above my pay grade to respond usefully to, but this sounds more like something that could possibly be improved by psychiatric treatment. If you haven’t tried that, please consider it. Marc G says: 27 January, 2021 at 16:35 Plate, complete with the selective blindness to cope. Thanks for this framework. 28 January, 2021 at 01:58 Not to suggest an unflattering model, but I experience the distinction as one of how much I currently trust my future self to avoid disaster. I had mild bipolar, so I became somewhat platelike; when I was hypomanic, I knew my future self would be depressed and I didn’t trust him to take care of things, so I couldn’t let my anxiety wane (except via the usual hypomanic focus). I became at least a little more bucket-like by committing to an organizational system that I trusted to make sure I’d never miss an important deadline, even if I had to reschedule mundane tasks multiple times. My bucket on that system is “single digits due today or overdue”. This model doesn’t explain your dishwashing story, though. 18 February, 2021 at 07:34 I have always felt like that. When I was in elementary school, I came home at noon and I strived to do my homework before even having lunch, so I could fully enjoy the rest of the day. Sometimes I’d go to a sleepover at a friend’s over the weekend and found out that he still had to do his homework for Monday. That didn’t make any sense for me. How could he be at peace knowing he had that loathsome task pending? He was spoiling his weekend. But he couldn’t care less. As I got older it got harder and harder to keep an empty plate, and by 15 I had realized I wouldn’t be truly happy until my retirement. I quit my job at 28, after some lucky moves in the stock market. At 35, I’m in a stable, happy romantic relationship, but neither of us can imagine having kids. Rob’s comment totally resonates with me: “The benefit of this is that I live a fairly stress-free and contented life, but it comes with less accomplishment than I’d like and feel I ought to be capable of, which bothers me sometimes.” As another commenter said, I also feel I must clear all the small tasks before getting to the big, important ones. This is a probably terrible habit, bit it’s hard to suppress. LikeLiked by 1 person 19 February, 2021 at 13:37 “realized I wouldn’t be truly happy until my retirement.” Uh yeah that hits hard. My mother-in-law is retiring in a month and I find myself so envious of her. Your method of making a lot of money early and then live on that is the dream, but not something everybody can pull off, especially not if they hate doing things they don’t like, hah. 3 March, 2021 at 12:40 This article describes my relationship so well it’s uncanny, down to every single detail of our packing strategies. My husband is the bucket person, but his bucket seems extremely wide and deep, I only saw him lose it maybe a handful of times. I, on the other hand, can’t fully rest until I dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s, which kinda means never. Productivity systems and todo lists make me freak out, cause I know I’ll never get any of them down to zero. I think being a plate person is yet another side effect of perfectionism – which would also explain why we’re good at things that require a lot of precision and patience. If every single thing needs to be done at 100%, there’s only so many of them we can hold in our heads at once. The more I learn to be comfortable with getting it 80% right, doing some things sloppily, or even choosing not to do some stuff at all, the less overwhelming it gets to have pending stuff on my plate. Our first baby was born just a few weeks ago, so I have a lot opportunities to practice this attitude now LikeLiked by 1 person Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Recent posts 7 Swedish Words to Import Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address: art biology blogging communication creativity disagreement erisology interpretation language media meta mind music narratives navel gazing online debate partial narratives personality philosophy philosophy of mind politics psychology public debate rhetoric science social behavior taste differences television words writing	23,449
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will make a major announcement on the government shutdown and the southern border on Saturday afternoon from the White House. I will be making a major announcement concerning the Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border, and the Shutdown, tomorrow afternoon at 3 P.M., live from the @WhiteHouse. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019 Trump and Democrats in Congress remain far apart over Trump's insistence on funding for a wall along the Mexican border as the price of reopening the government. The two sides have traded taunts and avoided talks so far this week. Trump says the announcement will take place at 3 p.m. He says the announcement involves "the Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border." The political stakes are high as the shutdown moves into a fifth week, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers going without pay and no outward signs of resolution. 12:30 p.m. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accusing the White House of leaking information about her planned congressional trip to Afghanistan and saying it's "very irresponsible on the part of the president." Pelosi's comments Friday came after President Donald Trump canceled the military plane that was to have carried a congressional delegation to Afghanistan on the previously undisclosed troop visit. Trump suggested she travel by commercial plane instead. Pelosi said she planned to do just that but was thwarted after "the administration leaked that we were traveling commercially." She says the State Department reported "the president outing" the original trip made the scene on the ground in Afghanistan "more dangerous because it's a signal to the bad actors that we're coming." The White House has denied leaking Pelosi's backup plan to fly commercially and says it leaked nothing that would cause a security risk. Pelosi and Trump are at an impasse over funding Trump wants for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. The partial government shutdown has reached its 28th day. 11:30 a.m. The White House is denying that it leaked Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (puh-LOH'-seez) backup plan to fly to Afghanistan commercially after President Donald Trump grounded her Air Force jet. A White House official speaking Friday on the condition of anonymity to address Pelosi's charge said it didn't leak her plan. Trump revealed the previously secret trip publicly on Thursday and denied Pelosi the use of a military plane for the trip. Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill says she and accompanying lawmakers were prepared to take a commercial flight but canceled after the State Department warned that publicity over the visit had "significantly increased the danger to the delegation and to the troops, security, and other officials supporting the trip." Pelosi and Trump are at an impasse over funding Trump wants for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, which Pelosi opposes. The partial government shutdown has reached its 28th day. Share this article: facebook twitter Violent Crimes Unit investigating suspicious death in South Bend One dead, four injured in three-vehicle crash Neighborhood SWAT Standoff Update South Bend, IN First Warning Neighborhood Weather Temps Latest Indiana Black Expo to host Christmas charity dinner 28m ago Violent Crimes Unit investigating suspicious death in South Bend 2h ago Extensive power outage in North Carolina is being investigated as a 'criminal occurrence,' authorities say	3,538
Measurement Issues in the Uncanny Valley: The Interaction between Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Source Next > Measurement Issues in the Uncanny Valley: The Interaction between Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Table of Contents: Artificial intelligence (AI) researchers call it “the uncanny valley”: numerous studies indicate that people fear and distrust machines that seem nearly human, but not quite. There are many theories about this, but nothing conclusive (“Uncanny Valley,” Wikipedia, 2020). The phenomenon can be extended, admittedly without strong empirical evidence of its existence and extent, to many subject areas relating to AI—or machine learning (ML). The latter term has become more popular than the original among researchers still queasy about the history, over the past 50 years or so, of AI being oversold and over-promised, with disappointing outcomes. In particular, it is worthwhile to address the question of how well we know whether an AI/ML system has performed satisfactorily. If it did not work exactly as its developers predicted, how good was it? How sure are we about that assessment? In short, the performance of AI/ML systems is a subject area that clearly requires better measurement and assessment—which, of course, is exactly what good data analytics is about. The dependence operates in the opposite direction, as well. There are many efforts, recent and ongoing, to improve data analysis using AI/ML techniques. Reviewing and assessing these efforts is well beyond the scope of this chapter—and the author’s expertise. What is relevant, however, is the resulting paradox: if AI/ML methods can quickly solve data analysis problems that defy traditional inference techniques, how sure can we be that the AI/ML solution is correct? How can we better assess whether to trust the AI/ML answer? These are not merely theoretical issues. AI/ML systems are increasingly in use in a number of application areas, some of which are literally life or death decisions. AI/ML systems are contemplated to direct swarm and counter-swarm warfare involving thousands of supersonic unmanned vehicles. This is a situation in which humans would be incapable of making judgments sufficiently quickly, much less then translating those judgments into thousands of movement and action orders in seconds. Therefore, despite the best intentions and admonitions from the AI/ML research community, we could soon have AI/ML systems making kill decisions. Knowing how much to trust the machines is, therefore, critically important and becoming even more so. The issue of how much to trust machines is not new. On the night of September 26, 1983, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Yefgrafovich Petrov had the watch command in the Soviet air and missile defense system. The shooting down of Korean Airlines Flight 007 had occurred just three weeks before, and Soviet commanders were eager to improve their ability to distinguish true threats from false alarms. They had, therefore, upgraded their primary satellite-based sensor system. Now that system was reporting the launch of five ICBMs from the United States toward the Soviet Union. All eyes in the command center were on LTC Petrov. He recounted later, “I felt as if I was sitting in a hot frying pan.” In a real attack, a few minutes’ delay could cost millions of the lives he was there to protect. However, reacting to a false alarm would precipitate an immense catastrophe, literally ending human civilization as we have known it. Fortunately, he had another warning system, based on ground-based radars, that he could check. He decided to wait for the ground-based radars to confirm the launches. “I just had this intuition,” he explained later, “that the U.S. would not launch five missiles. Either they would launch one or two, to show they were serious, and give us an ultimatum, or they would launch all 1,053- So I did—nothing. I was afraid that informing my superiors, in accordance with my orders, would start a process that would acquire a momentum of its own” (Petrov obituary, New York Times, September 18, 2017). LTC Petrov’s story has many implications, but one in particular is noteworthy here: he made the right decision because he acted counter to his orders and refused to trust the machine’s conclusion. His intuition was correct. He had contextual information the machine-based system did not. (The Soviets had analyzed and wargamed what attack profiles the US might employ in various situations.) But suppose the Soviets, or the Americans, or whoever else developed a new detection and warning system, more powerful, more reliable, arguably more trustworthy. How could such a system be taught the intuition on which LTC Petrov relied? How would we know that the system had enough such intuition to be trusted? At this time, these questions are totally unanswered in the AI/ML research. At least it is possible in kinetic combat to assess some results quickly. In non- kinetic conflict, such as economic and diplomatic confrontations, effects take much longer to appear and are then much harder to link back to causes. In information systems conflicts, the difficulty is even greater. Douglas W. Hubbard, a well-known expert on measurement and risk assessment, declares, “The biggest risk in cybersecurity is not measuring cybersecurity risk correctly” (Hubbard, 2016). What he meant by this is that the threats are mostly events that have never happened, so estimating their probability of occurrence becomes a highly judgmental exercise. The use of Bayesian methods is promising, but then the analyst faces the danger of introducing overly influential biases in the choice of prior probability distributions and in the selection of the presumed process to be modeled. Training analysts to calibrate their estimates of uncertainty—that is, to have a much better understanding of how uncertain they are about their conjectures—improves the resulting risk assessments. In contrast, many popular methods and techniques increase estimators’ confidence in their estimates without actual improvement. If, as in cybersecurity, we cannot avoid relying on opinions, we can at least train the people forming those opinions to be more realistic about how likely they are to be right. It is also useful to get senior decision-makers accustomed to the fact that analyses based on guesses do not produce certainty or even near-certainty. Moreover, analyses based on highly imprecise data cannot produce conclusions any more precise than the least precise input. Better trained analysts can more effectively insist on these principles when senior decision-makers push for unrealistic assurances. This is one of the areas in which better data analytics can drive better AI. If anything, Hubbard seems to have been optimistic: it is not clear that many organizations with major responsibilities in the field can even define cybersecurity risk—or even just what cybersecurity is. Some influential organizations advocate developing and applying a maturity model to information management: if everything is forced into well-defined processes, and those processes are rigorously followed, then perfect security will ensue. This approach has a fundamental flaw. The most important fact anyone can know about a detection system is what it can’t detect. However, no metrics of observed adherence to defined processes yield any information on this all-important subject. Only challenge testing does. This, in turn, has the limitation that one cannot test the systems response to challenges one never imagined. Still, with metrics depicting the range of challenges the system has detected, it is at least possible to compare systems and rank them in terms of demonstrated responsiveness to these specified types of threats. Source Source Next > Tracheal Pressure In clinical practice, PAO is measured in the ventilator or at the patient connection. This means that it is affected to a great extent by the endotracheal tube resistance, resulting in a peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) much greater than peak tracheal or peak alveolar pressure... We all experience social and emotional interaction as the reaction of one agent to the other that determines communication and the outcome of the process. Interaction makes or breaks communication and determines its emotional tone. The long-prevailing mentalism loosely associated with Descartes (but... (Emotions and the body) Which countries are members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)? The 26 members of NATO include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United The headquarters of the United Nations is located in... (The handy geography answer book) Who won the Cold War? The stalemate of the Cold War effectively ended when the people and governments of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries decided that they needed a major change in the way in which they organized their government, societies, and economies. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was only one... (The handy geography answer book) As advisors slowly expand their involvement in social media, their greater presence on the Web can lead to other risks of a more technological sort. We know, from following the Target credit card data breach of some 40 million customers, that hackers can be very quick. Following similar action by the... (The socially savvy advisor) What Cybersecurity Mistakes Should Advisors Avoid? We've all heard the story of Target, in which 40 million retail customers had their credit card and personal information compromised. And we know how easy it is for bad actors to lie their way through in the offline world. Bernie Madoff made that clear. Whether it's the Target data breach, concern over... (The socially savvy advisor) With the increased use of social media and the focus on cybersecurity by regulators, what's next? Among the biggest shifts – and debated issues – is the move to the cloud. While many in the financial industry view data and website hosting in the cloud as risky, others say the old-fashioned methods...	10,504
Financial Independence through Real Estate investing, smart spending and personal finance, and stories that shaped our lives A while back, I wrote about how, if you really wanted to put the effort in, you could be maximizing credit card rewards. If you don’t want to put the effort in that I’ll get to in a second, then you could at least have one reward-earning card that you use for all your purchases and pay off each month. We don’t use cash. Everything goes on a credit card unless it’s prohibited or there’s a service charge that outweighs our rewards. We pay off the balance of every credit card every month. We have never paid interest on a credit card balance. Credit card companies are offering rewards for using their card for purchases. Some even give a reward for making payments on it too. The rewards can be in a point system, cash back, or incentives for specific companies (e.g., Delta, Disney). We prefer more generic reward options, but some people like to use a specific reward card. The best reward credit card for you is one that matches your spending habits. An example of a specific reward credit card would be a a Disney card. As you earn money, it goes towards their trip to Disney. Psychologically, they feel that their expensive annual trip to Disney is “paid for.” While this may work for some people, our thought process is that if I earn $1,500, then I have the flexibility to put it towards a Disney trip or can buy something else. The simplest way to collect rewards is to have an all-category-cash-back credit card (e.g., 1% cash back on all purchases). However, to make the most, you could be using multiple credit cards so you can earn extra rewards in different categories. Then you need to know which card to use when, and also keep track of your statement periods so that you pay it off in full each month. A category type credit card can give rewards in multiple categories (e.g., 4% on gas, 3% of restaurants, 1% on all other purchases), can rotate reward categories (e.g., first quarter is 5% on gas, second quarter is 5% on groceries), or can be geared towards one specific category all the time (e.g., 5% on gas). There are typically earning caps in these categories. Each credit card company has a variety of cards that offer different rewards. You can decide what fits your spending pattern the best. If you don’t want to identify the categories that you spend, then the Citi Double Cash is a great “catch all” with no annual fee and no reward earning cap. You earn 1% cash back on each dollar spent, and then an additional 1% on each dollar paid towards your credit card balance. We deposit our earnings into a checking account instead of a statement credit, because we learned that we don’t earn cash back on the statement credit made. Some credit cards have an annual fee. We typically shy away from anything that has an annual fee because we don’t like paying money to spend money, but we did have a couple of exceptions. For instance, one card had a $450 annual fee. You earn 3% points (one point is the equivalent of a penny if cashed out) on all travel and dining purchases and 1% points on everything else, but if you redeem the points earned through their travel portal, you get a 50% bonus. One of the rewards was reimbursement of $300 worth of travel costs. The card reimbursed the cost of TSA Precheck too, which as $75, and had a DoorDash credit of $30. Then the last $45 of the fee was offset by the rewards granted through point usage. But the annual fee increased to $550, and we no longer thought it was worth keeping and that the cost would be fully offset by the rewards. We also look for a sign on bonus. If we’re going to have our credit checked, we want to capitalize on it. Sign on bonuses are typically additional cash back or points once you hit a certain spending threshold. For example, the card may say “once you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, you’ll earn a statement credit of $300.” In addition to a sign on bonus, we would also prefer opening a card that offers a 0% introductory rate. I’ve shared before that we most often look for a new credit card because we have a large expense coming. When faced with paying for in-vitro-fertilization out of pocket, we opened a new credit card that had 15 months worth of 0% interest. This way, when we paid the tens-of-thousands owed, we gave ourselves an interest free loan. That particular credit card was only used for that expense because the reward categories were worse than other cards we had. However, we didn’t close that card because it helps our credit by having more of credit line open. Besides the Citi Double Cash, we’re partial to the Chase options out there. We use different cards for different categories, and then use the Citi for anything that doesn’t fit into a category. Between 5 credit cards, we brought in $4,232 worth of rewards last year. That’s money in our pockets that we did nothing except spend other money to get. In the past, it’s usually about $1,500 per year that we bring in with credit card rewards. The amount in 2021 was higher due to sign-on bonuses that were earned in a previous year, and then the credit card changed their reward redemption options, allowing us to pay ourselves back for restaurant purchases. We had previously been using the rewards to purchase travel needs through their portal, but we were able to dwindle down our rewards with this reimbursement change. What could you do with a “free” and “extra” $1,500? If you’re smart with credit cards, they can be a powerful tool to create financial flexibilities. Teachingcash back, credit, credit card hacking, credit card points, credit cards, reward credit card, rewards, spending, spending categories	5,913
Sri Lanka's Galle Face Road was closed for several hours on Thursday due to workers from Hambantota port protesting, local papers reported. Over a hundred port workers held placards and banners, blocking motorists from using the road. The cause of the protest remains unclear however. The port which is part owned by a state-run Chinese company has been dogged with protests, with many Sinhala locals viewing the Chinese involving as a loss of sovereignty. In October, a protester at Hambantota port was assaulted by a police officer. 13 December 2017 : Sri Lanka formally hands Hambantota Port to China 07 October 2017 : Sri Lankan police officer assaults protester in Hambantota 10 September 2017 : Protests as Chinese delegation arrives for Hambantota port project launch We need your support Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict. Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view	1,339
Our story began three years ago in the rolling hills of Boyd County, Kentucky. It’s your typical boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after story. Except the boy is an adopted pup named Louie, and I am the girl—a leadership expert…or so I thought. While I have a tremendous amount of leadership experience and have worked with a number of leadership gurus, I have never learned about leadership like I have from this little guy. Louie was in Boyd County, Kentucky and made his way to Cincinnati through a number of shelters. He was a sweet, seemingly docile, hound. Although I love dogs, I had made the decision not to get another one for a number of reasons. That is until I encountered an abandoned mutt with big brown eyes and a sweet temperament (at least in his crate). I tossed my concerns aside, brought him home and named him Louie DiStasi. I soon discovered that Louie brought a lot of emotional baggage to the relationship. He demonstrated behaviors that deeply concerned me and I immediately engaged a dog trainer. I quickly realized I needed training as much as Louie did, if not more so. I’m not afraid of tough lessons, and I’m always looking for ways to improve my leadership skills. But working with Louie was challenging. Bottom line, Louie needed acceptance, consistency, discipline and above all, unconditional love. And I wasn’t quite sure I was equipped to provide all that. I loved Louie when he was a good little dog, sweet and absolutely adorable. But I didn’t love him so much when he started to act out. It was a struggle, and I had to make a choice to love him at that point. That’s when I decided to be very intentional about loving this abandoned pup, in spite of his baggage. Employees can be like Louie! They bring a lot of baggage to the job and may be hard to love at times.One of the most important values, if not the most important value, for any human being is the need to feel loved. All of us have this innate desire yet it is one of the most elusive human needs. I believe CS Lewis said it best; “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” Love is not about a warm fuzzy feeling, but love in action is important in leadership. When I bring up love in the workplace, I get a tremendous amount of pushback. People will say, “Don’t bring it up, you’ll have HR issues, etc.,” which makes me want to challenge them about what they really understand love to mean. Let me list out what I believe the characteristics of leaders who display love in actionare (Check off the ones you believe you demonstrate): They are patient. They are kind. They aren’t envious. They aren’t boastful. They aren’t prideful. They don’t dishonor other people. They aren’t self-seeking. They aren’t easily angered. They don’t keep records of wrongs. They are a trustworthy person They are a hopeful person And they always persevere Those are the characteristics that I think leaders should display when they are working with their people—baggage and all. That’s what love in action truly looks like. How many characteristics did you check off? Perhaps it would be wise to ask your employees to check off the characteristics they see displayed in you. Love is the first step of the leadership model Louie and I developed which spells LOUIE: Objectives and Goals Empower Others. We’ll share more about each step in the next few blogs. While I am thrilled to share with you that Louie is a transformed dog, I believe I am the one who has been transformed into a better leader because of the leadership lessons I’ve learned from a little adopted dog named Louie. Click here to cancel reply. Name (required) Email (will not be published) (required) Website Comment Δ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.	4,308
After hosting the sub-region first Health in All Policies (HiAP) training, the government of Suriname requested support from PAHO and immediately moved towards implementation of the HiAP approach for addressing the social determinants of health. A dedicated team has worked under the leadership of the Ministry of Health on the sub-region first Quick Assessment of Social Determinants of Health to understand the underlying causes of major health problems and associated health inequities. This participatory and intersectoral process lasting six months has left Suriname organized and motivated, with 8 areas of specific action. These will make sure that the responsibility of the health of the population is not only a matter for the Ministry of health, but shared with other sectors, including eight Ministries working closely with non -governmental and community organizations, the private sector, academia and the entire civil society. The experience started in 2015. Cu Education Health Glasses to perceive gender roles: Play and teach Health in School In some schools in Havana, there are boys and girls who have classes that do not seem like classes, because there is no one dictating things but the narrative comes from the children experiencing and starring in them. In their classrooms children learn to use the" gender glasses" which help them to understand how they learn to be men or women, to play these roles, and how they can decide what to keep, discard or transform from that social inheritance. This program was initiated at the National School of Public Health in Cuba, which involves different disciplines and sectors, and includes faculty and families. This is the story of an action research project focusing on the Social Determinants of Health. Healthy Municipalities, Cities, and Communities strategy In 2013 the Chilean Ministry of Health studied the experiences developed since 1998 with the Communal Plans for Health Promotion. The careful review of the evidence gave rise to the Healthy Municipalities, Cities, and Communities strategy. New focus was put on the municipalities that are leading on the territorial participatory assessments, with strategic plans for the next three years and that are strengthening the ability of its people to understand and act on their context. This allows finding solutions to territorial problems using local resources and capabilities, strengthening intersectorial action and at the national level. The local - community - national dialogue is one of the strengths of the strategy, because the policies, actions, and decisions are not going in different directions, but are in constant dialogue with each other. Education Health Regulating food sales at school When classes end, the children in Costa Rica go to school stores to buy food. The Ministries of Health and Education saw the daily need for food and drinks as an opportunity to promote healthy eating habits and proposed regulating which products are sold in school stores. In the midst of a national debate led by the food industry, the decree was finally passed. The importance of health was proven to be more important than the economic interests of corporations. Health PLANAL is an experience in Paraguay where a government and its citizens work together to respond with holisticpolicies and actions to fight the main causes of food insecurity. It is a global governance strategy to improve the efficiency of State action. In this case a strong intersectoral coordination seeks to overcome the fragmented efforts and reverse the unequal distribution of resources. For decades, years, and months, many communities and governments of the Americas have been striving for ways to improve human development and the quality of life for its people. The programs and experiences that meet the criteria for Health in All Policies (HiAP) have been included in our site. These experiences embody the values, purposes and values of HiAP. Do you have an experience that meets the criteria of HiAP? If so, please download the form and submit your experience. A team at PAHO will review it and if it is approved it will be published on this website. To be considered please fill the form and email it to: info@saludentodaslaspoliticas.org	4,527
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama’s 2020 College Football Playoff national championship team will be honored at the conclusion of the 2021 Golden Flake A-Day Game that is scheduled for a noon kick on Saturday, April 17, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. As soon as the game concludes, which is estimated to be around 2 p.m. CT, the 2020 CFP and SEC Champions will be honored at midfield. Head coach Nick Saban and quarterback Mac Jones will address the crowd and the 2020 national championship flag will be raised in the stadium. During the game, both the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award will recognize their 2020 winner, DeVonta Smith. The Maxwell Award presentation is scheduled for the first quarter break while the University’s copy of the Heisman Trophy will be presented to Smith at halftime. There will be 10,000 Alabama football posters for the A-Day Game with 5,000 available when the gates open and another 5,000 national championship celebration posters ready for fans as they exit after the conclusion of the celebration. General admission public tickets are being offered at $5 and can be purchased by calling the Athletic Ticket/TIDE PRIDE office at 205-348-2262 or by visiting RollTide.com. Stadium capacity has been set at 50 percent for the A-Day Game with gates opening at 10 a.m. CT. Facial coverings are required for entry into the stadium and are to be worn at all times except when eating or drinking. It will be the program’s 14th A-Day Game under the direction of seven-time national championship coach Nick Saban, who begins his 15th season at the helm of the Crimson Tide program. ESPN will televise the game with Kirk Herbstreit and Joey Galloway providing analysis from the field, Joe Tessitore calling the action in the booth and Lauren Sisler reporting from the sidelines. One of the great traditions at The University of Alabama, which is always open to the public, is the annual Walk of Fame Ceremony at Denny Chimes. At approximately 10:15 a.m. on A-Day, Coach Saban along with 2019 and 2020 captains (Tua Tagovailoa, DeVonta Smith, Anfernee Jennings, Xavier McKinney, Mac Jones, Alex Leatherwood and Landon Dickerson) will address the crowd. The captains will then leave prints of their hands and cleats in the concrete as they join a long list of Crimson Tide greats. The team will then hold its Walk of Champions, scheduled for 10:50 a.m., when it arrives at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Following the A-Day Game and national championship recognition, Coach Saban will present the spring awards to the team at midfield to wrap things up. The Alabama baseball team takes on Auburn at 4 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to wrap up the three-game series that begins on Thursday, April 15 at 6 p.m. CT. A limited number of single-game tickets will go on sale Wednesday. The Crimson Tide softball team hosts Florida at Rhoads Stadium beginning Friday, April 16 at 6 p.m. CT with a 1 p.m. CT contest on Saturday and the series finale at 1 p.m. CT Sunday. On campus public parking is free for A-Day with lots opening at 8 a.m. Saturday. There will be no Crimson Ride shuttles running on A-Day. For more parking, traffic and A-Day information go to UAGameday.com. Alabama’s clear bag policy (PDF) remains in effect during for 2021 A-Day Game. Rate: PreviousGolden Flake A-Day Tickets on Sale Saturday About The Author Staff Writer Related Posts Alabama’s Christian Harris Selected as Butkus Award Semifinalist November 1, 2021 Quarterback Eli Holstein Honored as a 2023 All-American as Part of All-American Bowl’s Road to Dome Tour	3,599
Nearest Schools and Churches are calculated `as the crow flies` and may not be the closest or easiest when travelling. About All Saints Catholic Church Parish of All Saints in Harrow, Middlesex (Diocese of Westminster) Part of the Catholic Church - you can find other Catholic Churches, Catholic Schools or Religious Orders/Houses and Chaplaincies nearby above. Or you can use the Find a Church Near Me box above to search for a Church, School etc. Useful Definitions of the Structures in the Catholic Church What is a Catholic Bishops' Conference? An episcopal conference, sometimes called a conference of bishops, is an official assembly of the bishops of the Catholic Church in a given territory. ... Individual bishops do not relinquish their immediate authority for the governance of their respective dioceses to the conference ( Wikipedia ). What is an Archdiocese? Dioceses ruled by an archbishop are commonly referred to as archdioceses; most are metropolitan sees, being placed at the head of an ecclesiastical province. A few are suffragans of a metropolitan see or are directly subject to the Holy See. The term 'archdiocese' is not found in Canon Law, with the terms "diocese" and "episcopal see" being applicable to the area under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of any bishop.[8] If the title of archbishop is granted on personal grounds to a diocesan bishop, his diocese does not thereby become an archdiocese ( Wikipedia ). What is a Diocese? The group of churches that a bishop supervises is known as a diocese. Typically, a diocese is divided into parishes that are each overseen by a priest. The original dioceses, in ancient Rome, were political rather than religious. Rome was divided into dioceses, each of which was made up of many provinces. After Christianity became the Roman Empire's official religion in the 4th century, the term gradually came to refer to religious districts. The Catholic Church has almost 3,000 dioceses. The Greek root of diocese is dioikesis, "government, administration, or province." ( Vocabulary.com ). As of April 2020, in the Catholic Church there are 2,898 regular dioceses: 1 papal see, 649 archdioceses (including 9 patriarchates, 4 major archdioceses, 560 metropolitan archdioceses, 76 single archdioceses) ( Wikipedia ). What is the difference between a Diocese and an Archdiocese? Each diocese is within a Province - a group of Dioceses - the Archdiocese is the main Diocese within that Diocese. The bishop of that Archdiocese is therefore automatically an Archbishop. If a bishop has been made an Archbishop personally is referred to as an Archbishop but it does not make their Diocese an Archdiocese. What is a Deanery? A subdivision of a diocese, consisting of a number parishes, over which presides a dean appointed by a bishop. The duty of the dean is to watch over the clergy of the deanery, to see that they fulfill the orders of the bishop, and observe the liturgical and canon laws. He summons the conference of the deanery and presides at it. Periodically he makes a report to the bishop on conditions in the deanery. www.catholicculture.org What is a Parish? In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish (Latin: parochia) is a stable community of the faithful within a particular church, whose pastoral care has been entrusted to a parish priest (Latin: parochus), under the authority of the diocesan bishop. It is the lowest ecclesiastical subdivision in the Catholic episcopal polity, and the primary constituent unit of a diocese. In the 1983 Code of Canon Law, parishes are constituted under cc. 515–552, entitled "Parishes, Pastors, and Parochial Vicars." Wikipedia Bishops` Conferences \| Dioceses \| Parishes \| Organisations \| Schools \| Priest/Religious \| People \| Catholic Churches by Town \| Catholic Churches by Region \| Catholic Churches by Postcode \| Mass Times By Town \| Mass Times By City/County \| Mass Times By Postcode \| Catholic Masses Near Me \| About Us \| Contact Us (Previous Catholic Church, Organisation, School) (Next Catholic Church, Organisation, School) Send Email an email to All Saints Catholic Church Please be aware that if you do not get a reply it could be the email address we have is not currently in use. If your enquiry is important please contact All Saints Catholic Church by phone on 0208 204 3550.	4,462
Rob Reiner, who was type cast as “Meathead” in “All in the Family” told the case of Morning Joe that the only reason Donald Trump has won the republican nomination is because those that voted for him are racists. Both of the Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski looked at Reiner in disbelief. A tense exchange followed: Co-host Willie Geist challenged Reiner to explain Trump’s success with the millions of people who don’t take their marching orders from the press. “They listen to what he says for themselves and vote for him. How do you explain that?” Geist asked. “There are a lot of people who are racist,” Reiner said. “Oh my God,” Scarborough said. “Did you just say that? You just said that.” “Well, that’s true,” Reiner said. “Let me finish. They’re not all racist.” “You led with that, though,” Scarborough shot back. “I said there are a lot of people who are,” Reiner said. “There’s racism in this country that has been submerged for a long, long time, and all of a sudden there’s a man … He’s unearthed a lot of it.” Scarborough asked whether this was about a working class in the country that had been left behind as well, and The Princess Bride director noted plenty in that vein were following Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).	1,256
Please welcome Alice’n Blunnderland! She is a model, cosplayer, artist and actress who is currently working on a Indy film called Power Rangers Dark Unity where she plays earth x 19’s Rita Repulsa! In her spare time she is getting into building more cosplays, sewing and doing volunteer work for Invisible Heroes of Tomorrow. You […] Continue reading → Posted in Spring 2022 Featured Cosplayers \| Tagged Actor, charity, Cosplay, cosplayer, design, film, films, model October 2021 Posted on September 14, 2021 February 4, 2022 by RetroMonstah Sep Alice’n Blunnderland is a model, cosplayer, artist and actress. She is currently working on a Indy film called Power Rangers Dark Unity where she plays earth x 19’s Rita Repulsa. In her spare time she is getting into building more cosplays, sewing and doing volunteer work for Invisible Heros of Tomorrow. You can find more […] Continue reading → Posted in October 2021 \| Tagged Actor, Actress, art, Artist, charity, Cosplay, film, films, invisible heroes of tomorrow, model, MonstahXpo, Professional, Professional cosplay October 2021 Posted on August 16, 2021 January 21, 2022 by RetroMonstah Aug Geof Lucier has been a fan and model maker since the early 1960’s and has professionally been creating dioramas and “upgrading” model kits based on science fiction, horror & fantasy films since 2016. His original work represents cinema from the 1930’s to the present day and is strongly influenced by Frank Frazetta and H.P. Lovecraft […]	1,547
At Julhiet Sterwen, we know we are most effective as a team. With this in mind, we have built a rich ecosystem to help us provide the best possible support to our clients. How we can stay ahead of the game and keep leading the way? To anticipate the future, we support research in many ways. In particular, we endeavour to understand how our markets, workplaces and practices will evolve in the future. Many of our consultants are researchers, doctoral students or PhD graduates working on a range of topics, from robot learning/acceptance to soft skills and neurosciences. In addition, Julhiet Sterwen is an active partner of think-tanks, such as Institut Esprit Service, created by MEDEF, France’s largest business federation. We also work closely with schools and universities. As a co-founder, Julhiet Sterwen funds and cooperates with CNAM’s Human Change Learning Lab. Through our PerformanSe subsidiary, we are also co-founder of EM Normandie’s “Skills, Employability and HR Decision Making” chair. This was launched in the spring of 2019 to study the evolution of career paths in a fast-changing context driven by digital technology. Nowadays, most innovations are digital by design. Change is constantly accelerating. How can we advise our clients without being directly connected to the digital ecosystem? Julhiet Sterwen is a recognized, active member of the digital community. We are a founding partner of France Fintech, an association of French fintech leaders. We are a partner or founder of incubators such as 50Partners, and a mentor to start-ups. Through this ecosystem, we are able to offer our clients ever-more innovative and relevant solutions. Julhiet Sterwen is ranked among the leading digital transformation consulting companies. We do not just give advice on digital transformation. We put it into practice! Coaching young talents Embracing the future also means helping the next generation of leaders. We are focusing on building our relationships with schools. For example, we have set up a partnership with HEC Junior Conseil. This goes further than classic initiatives, with a mentoring programme for Junior-Enterprise students and reverse mentoring for Julhiet Sterwen managers. All year round, mentors and mentees meet regularly for informal discussions on a wide range of issues: career development, the evolution of the consulting business, new challenges, the role of consultants in building the future of our society, and more.	2,513
When it comes to FM radios, the signal strength is determined by the distance between the tower and the receiver. If there is no antenna attached to the receiver, it will still pick up a signal, but there are potential interference issues and the fluctuations with the signal can be quite noticeable. A regularly availed antenna can establish the signal through powerful stations, which can result in a better overall listening experience. The antenna is a very important tool for any radio station. It allows the transmitter to send out signals at a much higher level than would be possible without it. Additionally, it lets the receiver to identify stations with weaker transmitters at huge distances. It is not something obligatory, though. But, knowing the functionality of the antenna helps in identifying the source of the problem. Naturally, one could take action when any kind of power issue appears. The antenna is basically a metal rod or wire that is used to transmit or receive radio waves. Without an antenna, a radio station would not be able to communicate with other stations or with listeners. The antenna is essential to the functioning of a radio station. What is a Single Wire Antenna? When it comes to wire antennas, one of the main benefits is that they are incredibly simple to set up and use. This is due in part to the fact that the length of the antenna has no bearing on the wavelength of the radio signal that it will be transmitting. This makes wire antennas an ideal choice for a wide range of applications. Another advantage of wire antennas is that they are very versatile in terms of where they can be installed. Unlike other types of antennas, wire antennas can be installed just about anywhere, as long as there is a clear path for the signal to travel. This makes them perfect for use in difficult or hard-to-reach places. Wire antennas also have the benefit of being relatively inexpensive. This, combined with their ease of installation and use, makes them a popular choice for both amateur and professional radio enthusiasts alike. How Does a Single Antenna Work on the Radio? When the user transmits a signal, it is received and delivered back with the specific signal. The size of the single wire antenna often varies as per its ability to receive frequency. The size of the antenna will affect how well it can receive signals. A larger antenna will be able to receive signals better than a smaller one. The shape of the antenna also affects how well it can receive signals. An antenna that is longer and thinner will be able to receive signals better than a shorter, wider one. What is the Best Antenna Length for Best Reception? When it comes to antennas, the length is an important factor in determining its performance. The length of the dipole antenna is kept fifty percent of the resonant frequency of the antenna in order to achieve the highest rate of reception. This is due to the fact that antennas work best when they are at resonance. The resonant frequency is the frequency at which an antenna produces the most power. There are a few different factors that can affect the resonant frequency of an antenna. The size and shape of the antenna are two of the biggest factors. The length of the antenna also plays a role. The resonant frequency will be higher if the antenna is shorter and lower if the antenna is longer. The material that the antenna is made from also affects the resonant frequency. Generally, an antenna of 15 inches is enough to maintain the highest rate of reception. How to Improve FM Signal To improve FM signal on a radio, it is important to use a single wire antenna. The steps are as follows: 1. Select an area near the radio that is clear of obstructions. This will help ensure the best possible reception. 2. Cut a piece of wire that is at least five feet long. 3. Strip away about ½ inch of insulation from each end of the wire. 4. Twist each end of the wire around the appropriate connector on the back of the radio. When it comes to positioning the antenna, it is better to keep it as high as possible. This is because the signal strength of the antenna will be strongest when it is in line of sight with the station. If the antenna is too low, then there may be obstacles in the way that can block the signal. Moreover, one can keep it with the utmost proximity to the available station. This will help to ensure that there is a strong signal between the antenna and the station. On certain occasions, it often means connecting the antenna with the wall top. One can operate with it externally as well. However, the user has to keep adjusting with slight movements for making this possible. When it comes to antennas, one of the main things people want to know is how to get the best signal possible. Often, this means finding the right place to put the antenna in order to optimize reception. Sometimes, this means connecting the antenna to the wall top. This can be done externally or internally, but it’s important to keep adjusting with slight movements so that you can get the best signal possible. To connect a 75-ohm antenna to a single wire antenna FM tuner, you will need to use a transformer. The transformer will convert the impedance from 75 ohms to 300 ohms, which is the impedance of a single wire antenna FM tuner. You can find transformers at most electronics stores. When the point of transmission is too far, a separate antenna is required to ensure that the signal can be received. In most cases, a single wire antenna will not be able to reach the receiver, so an external antenna is necessary. This is because the signal strength diminishes the further it has to travel, so an external antenna can help boost the signal and make it easier for the receiver to pick up. How to Improve FM signal on the Radio with a Single Wire Antenna? The most important thing you can do to improve the FM signal on your radio is to make sure the antenna is in good condition. If the antenna is not in good condition, it will not be able to pick up the signal as well as it could. Another thing you can do to improve the FM signal on your radio is to make sure the antenna is positioned correctly. If the antenna is not positioned correctly, it will not be able to pick up the signal as well as it could. There are a few things you’ll need in order to extend or replace an existing antenna: wire strippers, a measurement tape, light gauge double conductor insulated wire, electrical tape, and setup hardware. A dipole antenna is the most common type of antenna used. Wire strippers are used to remove the insulation from the end of the wires so that they can be attached to the new antenna. The measurement tape is used to measure the length of the wires needed for the new antenna. The light gauge double conductor insulated wire is used to connect the new antenna to the existing one. Electrical tape is used to secure the connection and prevent shorts. The setup hardware will vary depending on the type of antenna being installed. For a dipole antenna, you will need two support poles and a crossbar. The support poles will need to be of equal height and the crossbar will need to be positioned in the middle of the two support poles. The dipole antenna will then need to be attached to the crossbar. Once everything is in place, you will need to adjust the positioning of the antennas until you get the best possible reception. Cost: The total cost of the project will depend on the price of the hardware at the local market. The double conductor insulated wire is a relatively inexpensive item, costing only a few dollars. However, the overall cost of the project will be around $40. This is a very reasonable price for afunctional alarm system. Time: Setting up a single wire antenna doesn’t require a lot of expertise, but it does require some knowledge about antennas and how they work. The initial setup should take no more than 40 minutes, with subsequent adjustments taking less time. Once the antenna is set up, it’s just a matter of tuning in to the right signals. Steps to Improve Radio Signal The first step in customizing the antenna is to disconnect it from the radio. This can be done by dragging the antenna plug out of the jack, which is usually located at the rear part of the tuner. Next, loosen the screws that hold the antenna terminals in place on the tuner. This will allow you to remove the wire and then elongate the antenna to its best size. Doing this should help boost your reception rate. When it comes to troubleshooting a car’s radio reception, one of the first things to check is the antenna. If the antenna is not properly connected, it can result in poor reception. One way to ensure that the antenna is properly connected is to take it out and then reconnect it. This will help to ensure that the signal is strong. Another way to improve reception is to stretch the antenna out to its maximum length. This will help to improve the signal strength. Finally, it is also important to make sure that the antenna size is appropriate for the car. The best way to do this is to take it to the top of the roof where it will be able to get the best possible signal. When it comes to establishing an antenna, there are a few key things to keep in mind in order to ensure a strong signal. First and foremost, it’s important to make sure that the antenna is positioned correctly. This means adjusting the antenna until you get a strong signal. Additionally, you want to make sure that there is no interference with the signal. If there is interference, try tweaking the position of the antenna until it goes away. Once you have a strong signal with no interference, you can then proceed to establish the antenna safely. This usually involves enclosing the terminals within a wall spike. Finally, keep in mind that there are advanced FM antennas available if you’re not confident in your abilities. How to Boost the FM Radio Signal There are a few specific things that can be done to improve the signal strength of a radio. One is to enlarge the power cord, making it straight enough to catch the higher signal. This strategy works for most radios. Another is to set the stereo sound as ‘Mono.’ This will help to focus the signal and improve reception. Finally, elongate the antenna gradually and adjust from various angles. It helps to enhance the reception rate and thus, the signal. Doing these things should help to improve the signal strength of any radio. Move the radio close to a window. When positioning a radio closer to a window, it is important to keep in mind that the radio needs to be in a position where the signal is coming from the exterior. The closer the radio is to the window, the stronger the signal will be. This can help reduce interference and improve reception. It is also important to keep in mind that the position of the transmitting tower will affect where the signals come from. A dipole antenna can be connected to the FM input section of a radio in order to boost the radio signal. This is done by carefully attaching the wire of the dipole antenna to the FM input section while scanning. The dipole antenna comes in a T-shape and is available at most electronic stores. External antennas are a necessity for those who live in rural areas and are far from the point of transmission. Without an external antenna, they would not be able to receive the signal. External antennas are also important for boosting the signal strength in areas where there is a lot of interference. One of the reasons why it is important to keep the antenna parallel to the surface is because it helps ensure that the signal reception is good. When the antenna is tilted in any way, it can cause signal interference and decrease the quality of the reception. By keeping the antenna parallel, you are more likely to maintain a strong signal. How to Maintain FM Signal Splitters can help to direct the signal from an FM antenna to multiple devices, allowing for a more efficient signal. Additionally, FM antennas are becoming increasingly cost-effective, making them a more desirable option for those looking to improve their FM signal. The height of an antenna can have a significant impact on its ability to catch signals. The higher the antenna, the more likely it is to catch stronger signals. However, it is also important to ensure that the antenna is not too high for the user to reach when necessary. This can make it difficult to adjust or rotate the antenna as needed. Is There an Advantage of Putting Aluminum Foil on an Antenna? The purpose of wrapping aluminum foil around the antenna is meant to grow the surface area of it. It also boosts the conductivity to enhance the signal. However, this strategy only works for TVs, mostly. When it comes to radios and cell phones, wrapping aluminum foil around the antenna can actually decrease the signal because it creates a Faraday cage. A Faraday cage is an enclosure formed by metal wires or sheets that blocks electric fields. What Affects FM Radio Signal? Height and distance from the obstruction are two of the main factors that affect signal reception. The higher the antenna is, the better the signal will be. This is because the higher the antenna is, the less likely it is to be blocked by obstacles. The distance from the obstruction also affects the signal strength. If there is an obstruction between the transmitter and receiver, the closer they are to each other, the better the signal will be. Single wire antennas are often used to improve the quality of FM signals. However, the length and functionality of the antenna can vary depending on a number of factors, including the location and strength of the transmitter. In general, however, single wire antennas can be very effective in boosting FM signals when used correctly. It is important to note that there are many different types of natural boosters available. Some of the most common include boosting elements such as water, earth, metal, and wood. While these natural boosters can be helpful in enhancing an FM antenna’s signal strength, it is important to keep in mind that they should not be disturbed unnecessarily. Additionally, no undesired enhancement tools should be used with an FM antenna. Most importantly, safety aspects should always be taken into consideration when working with FM antennas. In particular, it is important to keep a hand dry and wear protective gear when dealing with antennas. ← Previous Post Next Post → 1 thought on “How to Improve FM Signal on a Radio with a Single Wire Antenna” May 23, 2022 at 4:23 pm This is the perfect blog for anyone who wishes to find out about this topic. You understand so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want toÖHaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic that has been discussed for many years. Excellent stuff, just great! 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. This site 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. 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Recently I asked a regular reader of this website what else she would like to see me write about as she expressed how helpful she had found other articles I had written. She responded, on Why do I do this?: In my humble opinion, I think the Statutory Declarations and Relationship Statements would be good. I, myself found that a lot of people don’t know what to write. When I sat down the other day and wrote my Relationship statement, I started writing and didn’t stop, because I kept thinking I should put this in or that, or what if they ask me about this and it just kept going. My husband on the other hand is even more direct than me, he kept it simple and to the point. I also receive a LOT of search terms seeking examples of Statements of Relationship, so given Yolanda’s request, here are my thoughts. As usual, I must remind all readers I am not a migration agent and these articles DO NOT constitute formal or legal advice. If you have any concerns about aspects of your application, you should seek professional advice. My articles are merely intended to assist those trying to understand the bureaucratic paper warfare and point to references that may be useful! This article also does NOT necessarily apply to arranged marriages. I have no idea how a Statement of Relationship for an arranged marriage should be approached. Also, this article is about the statements for the initial application, NOT the Statutory Declarations for the second stage processing (the final grant of permanent residency, sub-class 100). While I have mentioned the Relationship History before, in Applying for a Partner Visa? (Suggestion Number 2), I haven’t gone into a lot of detail. The reason I haven’t is because every relationship is unique. What I wrote about my own relationship would be entirely irrelevant for Yolanda’s relationship, for example. Statement of History of Relationship of This statement is made by Sally Jane Smith of 99 Brown Street, [Suburb] [State]. [Write the rest of your history – see below. Remember to make it readable – paragraphs, punctuation, white space.] If you are submitting the Statement as a Statutory Declaration, there are Statutory Declaration templates on the web. Google is your friend, so they say! First, let us define “relationship”. What exactly are you writing about? I have found people do not read the detail OR do not understand the detail due to English not being their first language. I know of one couple who thought “relationship” meant only the time between meeting and getting married. They had mentioned NOTHING about their life together and having children! While I am reasonably sure DIAC would have figured it out in this case as two children were included in the application, this rather major omission could have delayed processing of the application considerably while the confusion was sorted out. You are writing about the period of time from when you met to the time you submit your application. The DIAC website gives the following outline: You and your partner must each provide a statement or statutory declaration regarding the history of your relationship, including: how your relationship developed when you decided to marry or to start a de facto relationship your domestic arrangements (how you support each other financially, physically and emotionally and when this level of commitment began) any periods of separation (when and why the separation occurred, for how long and how you maintained your relationship during the period of separation) The statements written by you and your partner can be on ordinary writing paper or a statutory declaration form. Each statement or statutory declaration must be signed and dated by the person who wrote it. DIAC refer applicants and sponsors to the Partner Migration booklet, which provides more detail about the sort of evidence required to support the overall application. Look, I’ve given you the link, click on it! Read the damn thing! Is this visa important to you or not? Do these statements properly! The statement and the evidence are linked, really. This article is not about the evidence, I am writing only about the statements! Your statement is your relationship in your words, the evidence you provide will support what you have written about. Use that evidence list as an indication of the sort of things you can write about in your Statement, even though you will provide formal documentary evidence of each of each piece of concrete evidence (such as property owned in joint names). I do think the detail in the booklet is very good. It expands on each of the categories to give specific examples of the type of evidence the decision maker is looking for in order to be convinced you are in a “genuine and continuing relationship with your partner“. In the current booklet, the examples can be found on pages 39 and 40. I strongly recommend you print the details out and tick off the items on the list as you collect your information! If you do have legal representation, being prepared will save you professional fees. DIAC is asking you to write about EVERYTHING really, but specifically looking at four broad categories for evidence of a genuine relationship: the nature of the household; social context of the relationship; and the nature of your commitment to each other. Note that DIAC say: “All relationships are different, so you should provide as much evidence as you can that you believe will support your claims.” DIAC recognise that not all relationships are the same. DIAC do not expect the same evidence from every couple. In fact if DIAC received the same evidence from every couple, it would seem awfully like just copying from the last couple, wouldn’t it! How, when and where you first met This seems to throw some people. “When” doesn’t mean you have to have a date and time! Maybe you met as members of the same social circle well before you became an “item” and while you may know you met ” in early 2009″ you have no idea exactly when. If that is the case, say so. Don’t make up a date because you think you need one. When you get interviewed, one of you will forget the date you made up! You might do it with the best intentions, but it is not a sensible thing to do. Write the truth, whatever it is. “We originally met when I joined XYZ Club in early 2009. Fred was already a member. At that time we were merely members of the same club. Over time we developed a friendship……” Ladies, ladies, ladies – remember this too. This is a generalisation (before all the men hit me), but men are just not as good as women at remembering dates. Having said that, I am TERRIBLE!!!! Unless the man in your life can be guaranteed to remember your wonderfully romantic anniversary date at the drop of a hat, best not to tie it down, even if YOU do know the damn date! If you are both the type of people that the date you met is very important to you, the sparks flew, the bells rang and you have the date tattooed on your heart, by all means include the specific date! If you asked me right now the date we met, I couldn’t tell you. Things like that just aren’t important to me. I know it was a Friday early in January – was that the 8th, 9th, 10th? I’d have to check a calendar! How your relationship developed That should be the easiest part! Pretend you are telling your best friend you haven’t seen for a while about how you got together with the great partner you now have. Men, you can leave out the bragging bit. I think you are really supposed to know each other’s birthday dates, even if you forget all the others! DIAC can be pedantic, I understand, about things like that. When you decided to marry or to start a de facto relationship To me, this is a bit like the “when did you met” question. Unless you remember a wonderfully romantic weekend away to a tropical island when he proposed (I had a co-worker who did just that), again you may not have a specific time in mind or remember the date. It maybe a case of you suddenly realised you hadn’t been home to your own house for a month and perhaps you’d better rent it out or give up the lease or something. Again, don’t go attaching a specific date to something if you aren’t 100% positive about that date, but certainly explain how and roughly when you ended up deciding to marry or start living together. In some relationships it just seems to happen, in others a formal discussion and decision take place. If you are already married, of course write about your wedding. Who attended? Describe the day. Did you have a honeymoon? Write about it. Social context of the relationship This is actually well described under the evidence section of the booklet. For example, “evidence that you and your partner are generally accepted as a couple socially (for example, joint invitations, going out together, friends and acquaintances in common)”. Write about going to friends for dinner, being invited as a couple to weddings or christenings, work gatherings and so on. Include certified copies of the invitations in your evidence pack. Are you joint members of any organisations, clubs, gyms etc? Write about it (and provide certified copies of your memberships). How well do you know members of your partner’s family? This may be very little, if you are overseas and haven’t actually met the in-laws yet, or they made a flying visit for your wedding. Write what you can – family involvement is important. Have you travelled together? Write about it. Include evidence in your evidence pack: boarding passes, itineraries, photos of you together on that hill top in Spain. I haven’t gone into everything it is possible to write about here. Read the booklet and work out what is appropriate for YOUR relationship. Your domestic arrangements DIAC are looking for you to tell the decision maker how you support each other financially, physically and emotionally and when this level of commitment began. Note the word “physically”. A celibate relationship is not likely to qualify for a partner visa unless there is a darn good medical reason. If you think I am joking, let me tell you I was asked the direct question during our appeal hearing, “When did you first have sex?” I have no advice how you handle such a sensitive topic and personally, I still think the department has no right to know and I didn’t say anything about it directly in my Statement of Relationship. I’m simply sharing my experience for your consideration! It also means who does the ironing, who cooks, who hangs out the washing and does the vaccuming. If you have kids, who drives them to school? Who helps with the homework? Talk about any property you own jointly, joint financial arrangements. If you don’t have any, explain why not. I read of a young women who could not open a joint bank account in her partner’s country because of the laws of the country. DIAC are not so unreasonable as to expect you to have something that it is just not possible to get due to local laws. You may not have joint bank accounts, but you may well be able to prove or at least describe how you each contribute financially. If you are young and met each other travelling the world, as young people do, you may have no joint property because you haven’t yet returned to Australia to buy any together. Explain that. You may NOT be young! I know of a couple who married in their later years, after meeting up again in later life. You may keep assets separate because of children from previous marriages. That is very common these days. “Emotionally” can be a difficult aspect to write about. How did you feel if you were apart? Do you share you day when you come home? Does he wipe away your tears when you are homesick? Does she bring you breakfast in bed when you have the ‘flu? For goodness sake don’t all write that just because I used it as an example. What do you think DIAC will do if they receive 20 applications all talking about the ‘flu? I’m illustrating, not writing your statement! Periods of separation can be for any number of reasons. Just explain them clearly. Perhaps there was a sick parent back home and you had to be apart for a while. Maybe there was a work opportunity that just couldn’t be passed up. Maybe one of you had a visa that expired and had to leave. If you haven’t had any periods of separation, say so. Well, what ARE your future plans? Have children? Set up a business? Buy 100 houses? Set up a medical practice in the country? I don’t know, only YOU know what your future plans are. You need to show you have some! Write about them! My Statement of Relationship was six pages long. Is that the “perfect” length? I don’t know, but if I was a decision maker I’d be inclined to think if a statement was TOO short it would seem a little insincere. Too long might look like trying too hard! Only you can make a decision about whether you have covered all the aspects DIAC are looking for. Also, the length will depend on the length of your relationship. Clearly talking about a six year relationship might take a bit longer than talking about a twelve month relationship! I tend to think quality wins over quantity though! DIAC add a note at the end of the category list: “Providing only statutory declarations from your and your partner’s parents, family members, relatives and other friends is not normally sufcient to evidence your relationship.” In other words, you need something more that just a pile of statements! Above all else, just be honest about your relationship. You will probably be interviewed. The questions may involve what brand of camera your partner owns, but will certainly cover the contents of your Statement of Relationship. If you have been 100% honest, your interview will be easy. Don’t write stuff because you think it sounds good, or you think it is what DIAC want to hear. What DIAC wants is the truth and evidence to support your application. Evidence that shows you are in a genuine and continuing relationship. Clearly if you meet the three year criteria that is pretty good evidence in and of itself. It is those couples who have not been together that long who must ensure they can demonstrate the genuineness of their relationship. I draw this conclusion from the following: However, you may be granted a permanent visa without having to wait if you can demonstrate one of the following: at the time you apply for the visa, you have been in a married or de facto relationship with your partner for three years or more at the time you apply, you have been in a married or de facto relationship with your partner for two years or more, and there is a dependent child of your relationship your partner was granted a Protection visa or a permanent visa under the humanitarian program and you were in the relationship before the visa was granted and this had been declared to the department at the time. Note: Generally, you should be living with your partner in a married or de facto relationship at the time you apply. Good luck! Remember, if you have any doubts about any aspect of your application, seek professional advice! Since this article was originally written, on-line applications have been introduced. A preliminary update can be found at UPDATE: Partner Visa Subclass 309/100 Applications. A subsequent, more complete, update written by a reader has been published at Online Partner Visa Applications – Subcalass 309/100. If you have found this article helpful, please consider buying the book! ← What is it with religion and women? 103 comments on “Statement of History of Relationship Partner Visa 309/100” David April 29, 2016 at 7:39 PM Reply Great article that has made this complex process much easier for us. I have 3 questions hope you can help with…. 1) These days all of us communicate via txt messages, FaceBook and other social media. My question is how do you put this in as evidence for continued contact during separation? Do you print a little of it? Do you provide access somehow? 3) What is considered periods of true separation? I live in Bali but return to Singapore for 5 days once a month for work meetings. This is pretty regular for 2 years now, do I need to document every single trip? 2) This is not my first partner visa, I did the same process with my first wife 15 years ago. The form asks if there was a previous sponsorship, provide the application and granted dates. Now as it’s 15 years ago there is no way either I or my Ex would remember those dates. Can I simply state that I have forgotten and provide what year I think it was? Thanks in advance. harry January 4, 2016 at 6:50 PM Reply hello my name is harry i am from india my wife is a new zealand citizen living in Australia from many years now, we got married in august 2014 and applied for a partner visa and 461 visa but it was denied because we still live apart we meet online in first month of 2014 and deside to marry after our relationship devolves in augest 2014 my wife came to india and we got marry my wife visit me twice after that for sort time because she had a daughter from her previous relation so she cant stay away from home for long. my visitor visa was refused and the reaso for my 309 application refusal was that we didnot have time togther , so what can i do ? Irish October 22, 2015 at 8:53 AM Reply Does this also apply for an international student who wants her partner be included in her visa as a dependent? Paul September 22, 2015 at 1:16 PM Reply For the partner visa do we both applicant and sponsor needs to write separate history of relationship statement or one is fine by both? Thanks. abeiku August 23, 2015 at 5:59 AM Reply Form 888- what is your main reason for remain in australia? I am getting married to an Australia citizen. And want to apply for visa after remaining in Australia illegally, however this will depend on my particular circumstance and to lodge an application and remain in Australia during processing. That answer right? Hope to hear from u soon Paul OConnor January 30, 2016 at 11:50 PM Reply did you receive help with this? Whether or not you can remain in Australia is determined by the conditions on the visa you hold now. Applying for the Partner visa requires meeting some requirements at the time you apply and if you do not the visa will be refused janice uri August 15, 2015 at 7:15 PM Reply Pls help me how do history of our relationship Paul OConnor January 30, 2016 at 11:46 PM Reply The statement of Relationship is the key element to sorting out the evidence needed to submit with the application. Written well it will explain your story of the relationship. That is what the case officer wants to read. Everyone’s story is different. The structure of the history will be similar for everyone commencing with how and when you met, how the relationship developed, when you committed to your relationship (THIS IS A CRITICAL DATE and you need to know this), when you became engaged to marry if you did, When your defacto Relationship commence, Either living together or not, then the support you provide each other, emotionally, physically, Socially. others who do not meet the defacto criteria may still be able to apply but should not do this without the assistance of professionals. The same applies for arranged marriages. Evidence for these points needs to be specific to the points and prove what you say is correct. Your future is how you plan to spend your life together, where, holidays, buying houses, children or not, enjoying each other’s time. The KEY to the application is making sure all evidence compliments the statements, that the both statements match the information stated in each with dates and events and your evidence (trips and other prove this) Partner visas are becoming more complicated lately with some recent changes to Edwin August 17, 2016 at 9:11 AM I fully agree, relationship history is important when it comes to that type of visa. As a matter of fact, I am a professional writer (based in Sydney Australia) who has helped a lot of candidates applying for the partnership visas. In each of the cases I have dealt with, they succeed in having the visas granted. I may not be able to assist on the technical/legal aspect butter (because that’s not my speciality area) can formulate the history in a readable/professional format. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further details if there is a need. Let me also take this opportunity to wish you the best. My business is Edi Editing Services. Web http://www.ediediting.com I hope that will help Kris May 19, 2015 at 4:03 PM Reply Hi I just want to say thank you TEAM OYENIYI for this very helpful article which is its help a lot of my problem how to start to write our history of relationship of my de facto relationship I have all the supporting documents about what I say inside my letter and all the evidence that we been together for 3 years specially our joint bank account here in Australia and etc. I hope this is enough evidence to grant my PARTNER VISA Team Oyeniyi June 13, 2015 at 11:25 PM Reply Hope all went well with your application Kris! Sneha May 11, 2015 at 8:41 PM Reply hi team. i love the way you advice and assist others. may god bless you. i am here to say that i am from united kingdom and i met Mr right he is from Tanzania now i need to write for personal statement i will appreciate if you can assist me on how to start and what to mention in that. i am from UK and soon our process will begin so please assist me. Team Oyeniyi June 13, 2015 at 11:24 PM Reply Sneha, I can give no further assistance than the general advice I give above. If you need specific assistance, please contact a migration agent. Jessie Jessie April 23, 2015 at 7:04 PM Reply I love this website, it gave me a lot of ideas on how to finish up my application of spouse visa but I still need some clarifications from you. My situation is that my husband and I are both from Hong Kong and married in Hong Kong. My hubby is currently working and living in Australia and I’m still living in Hong Kong. We are doing the offshore application. Here are my questions : 1. Are there any differences between onshore and offshore application? which one is more faster to be granted the visa ? 2. As for the applicant , I need to complete the 47SP, Form 888, Statement of History of relationship. Besides the above stuff, do I still need to fill in the Form 80? Is it a must to do so ? 3. My friend told me that I have to attach my CV to them, as they need to see my work experience and background in Hong Kong. I was like , what ? what I’m applying is SPOUSE VISA not a work visa. Does it really matter? thanks in advance:) Team Oyeniyi May 5, 2015 at 9:16 PM Reply Jessie, on-shore applications are much more expensive. Plus your partner actually has to be living here already in order to make an on-shore application. Yes, do the Form 80. You will need more than one or two Form 888 declarations too. I am not sure about the CV, that could be something new. We applied five years ago and regulations and requirements do change, but if you check the current Partner Booklet, it will say if that is necessary. bala March 31, 2015 at 8:13 PM Reply I have a permanant residency in australia.I got married on 22nd jan 2015. It is arranged marriage. My partner is in india. 20 days only we lived together. We dont have an joint account. How can i get a visa for my partner??? Team Oyeniyi March 31, 2015 at 9:45 PM Reply Hi bala, I am sorry, I don’t know anything about arranged marriages, although the Partnership Booklet does talk about that situation. You might be best to seek professional advice. Marissa Hirawani March 21, 2015 at 8:48 AM Reply hi i just wanna know how do i write support letter for my husband to back to nz please help me thanks Team Oyeniyi March 21, 2015 at 3:53 PM Reply I am sorry, I know nothing about the New Zealand requirements. Stella December 24, 2014 at 2:28 AM Reply Hi great article. I have some queries, I’ll be applying for permanent partner visa soon. My husband is Australian citizen and I am currently living in India. I was living in India when we applied for temporary visa and I was doing my graduation here, we decided that I should move to Australia once I am done with my undergrad or I’m granted permanent visa (whichever comes first) since studying in Australia as an international student or temporary resident is really expensive. In the past two years since temporary visa was granted I visited him a lot but we haven’t really lived together and we don’t share any household responsibilities. (Though we have a joint account and he’s been sending money on a regular basis) So now what should write in my stat dec under “nature of your household iresponsibility”. And will the immigration see it as a negative thing that we were not living together even though I had a temporary visa. TIA Team Oyeniyi December 24, 2014 at 10:27 AM Reply Stella, I really wish I could answer your question, but that is a very specific situation you have and so I really can’t comment. I suggest your husband seek some professional advice here in Australia. shah81 January 2, 2015 at 6:18 AM Reply Stella, i guess you just need to write the same in detail to the Australian Authorities. You have a valid reason of not moving even u had Temporary visa.. Secondly, you joint account statements are good to indicate that you guys are in relation in good standing. There is no harm mentioning that your husband is responsible for all your expenses as you are a student. Your travelling proof to australia would be another plus…. good luck for your future plans Ana December 1, 2014 at 8:50 AM Reply Nice article! Can you please tell me this: I am applicant for partner visa and my husband is my sponsor. He needs to fill 40sp form after I fill my 47sp. Does he upload and attach history of our relationship and evidence that he wrote to his application, and i attach my version of it on my application? Thank you LikeLiked by 1 person Team Oyeniyi December 1, 2014 at 9:03 AM Reply Ana, I believe so. With the introduction of on-line applications, things have changed a bit since my time. There is an article on this site by a guest author about the on-line process. The Partner Migration Booklet DIBP provide should be clear too – it did take them a while to update it. Kellie October 16, 2014 at 6:18 PM Reply Thanks for all the info Our situation is quite standard, we met while my partner was on WHV in Australian, in Jan 15 we will have lived with each other for over 1 x yr, we have a joint bank account, flyby membership account, travelled together been invited to weddings, joint content insurance and have Bank statements to show shopping bills/combined purchases on payments, I however have my own property so my partner pays towards the mortgage so i can only show that by my bank statements, There is not a lot of other Financial things i can prove and im scared its not enough? Thanks heaps Team Oyeniyi October 16, 2014 at 6:28 PM Reply You have way more than many applicants! Just make sure you have all the evidence of the above and I am sure you will have sufficient, Kellie. If in doubt, check with a migration agent on any new requirements, as they are more up-to-date than I am now. Four years have passed since our application, but from what I understand the evidence requirements haven’t changed much. Best wishes! Nick October 9, 2014 at 11:44 AM Reply How long does it take to grant the Permanent Partner visa (100) after the letter for more information is received. I applied in Feb 13. Got 309 in Sep 13. I should expect the letter from dept in Dec. How long it roughly takes after we submit the required?? Team Oyeniyi October 9, 2014 at 12:14 PM Reply From memory it wasn’t too long for us, but we were a while ago, I am unsure of the lead times currently. As far as I know, second stage is reasonably fast by comparison to the temporary visa stage. Nick October 9, 2014 at 12:34 PM Thanks for the quick response Team Oyeniyi!! Is there anyone with the recent experience? Please reply! thess October 2, 2014 at 6:17 PM Reply I already have a temporary partner visa, I am now applying for the permanent residency. My question is do we still have to write the history of the relationship and submit the evidences again? I already submitted a bunch of evidence of relationship when I applied for the subclass 309. My understanding is that I just need to submit additional evidence from the time the temporary partner visa was granted to the present status of the relationship. Thanks Team Oyeniyi October 2, 2014 at 6:26 PM Reply Since the days when we did it, much more information is available in on the Immi website about what is required for stage 2 (sub-class 100, permanent residency) available here: http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/partner/_pdf/info-permanent-partner-visa.pdf I hope that helps! Sheryl August 20, 2014 at 3:37 AM Reply Hi there! Thanks a lot for your time and help! I am currently writing my statement and it is really helping me. I have 2 questions though. Does the statement need to be hand-written or typed? Moreover, I am the main applicant for a skilled visa and I was wondering what would happen if DIAC thinks that there is not enough evidence of my de facto relationship with my partner, since we have been together for a year only. Would I still be granted the visa and him not? or both cancelled? Team Oyeniyi August 20, 2014 at 6:48 AM Reply Hi Sheryl, typed is easier to read for them and easier to update for you. As for the interaction between the two visas, I really do not know, I am sorry. Grecha July 15, 2014 at 10:28 AM Reply Hello, I’m Gretchen from Philippines and currently in Australia under Tourist Visa. Me & my Bf planning to apply Defacto this month.We’re still 2 mos together but we started to chat, Skype and talk daily October last year. I’m so glad to read your informative fantastic & very helpful blog. I’m so thankful that someone like you spend your time and effort to help us in visa application. You’re so amazing person. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. God bless you more and more power. Keep it up! Team Oyeniyi July 25, 2014 at 9:02 PM Reply Thank you very much! Deepak chhetri June 15, 2014 at 5:26 PM Reply My wife is in australia for study,,we marry before 1 year. What are the process of partner visa please suggest Team Oyeniyi June 15, 2014 at 7:35 PM Reply Visit the Immigration Department web site. There have been changes to the process and you would be best to consult the current set of instructions. Best wishes! imane May 16, 2014 at 1:04 AM Reply Hey , thank you for your information its really helpful. My husband just applied for my spouse visa, we provided all the evidence that we have but we are wondering , if not having a wedding ceremony pictures will be a bad thing for us, we had a private wedding ceremony in Bali , we uploaded the pictures and also other pictures od our trip in Morocco. So would please let me know of what you think? Team Oyeniyi May 16, 2014 at 10:01 AM Reply Imane, I really can’t advise you as a lot will depend on what you said about your wedding ceremony and why it was private and so on. As you have submitted your application, stop worrying and wait is the best advice I can give you right now. Waiting is the hardest part, I know. Hugs to your both. christinerayner May 3, 2014 at 11:24 PM Reply Hello I am an eligible NZ resident of Australia applying for a visa to get my partner into Australia. Do I need a police clearance from Australia when I apply for his visa? I had a fingerprint one done when I moved to the UK 3 years ago. I have only holidayed once in Australia in the 3 years for 4 weeks. Could I use that one if I need to have one done. Thank you for this wonderful site Team Oyeniyi May 3, 2014 at 11:41 PM Reply Unless the regulations have changed since we did ours, if you are an Australian citizen sponsor you only need a police clearance if children are coming with your partner. I am NOT sure if there are different requirements for eligible NZ residents, perhaps you have to have a police clearance because you are not a citizen? I note the Partner Visa booklet says (page 14): If you are an eligible New Zealand citizen who is sponsoring their fiancé(e) or partner, in addition to meeting the usually resident requirement, you must meet health and character requirements. After your fiancé(e) or partner has lodged their complete visa application (which will include your sponsorship application), the department will contact you to advise if you need to undertake health and/or character check I can’t see anywhere where you, as the sponsor, are required to provide a police check unless you are specifically asked for one as stated above. However, your problem may be proving residence if you have only been here for 4 weeks three years ago. Have you been living here long enough? Felicity March 27, 2014 at 5:27 AM Reply Hi thanks so much for all this information, my partner and I have been together for three years. He is from the United States of America and as you know it is hard for either of us to stay together in the one country legally so that is why we are applying for a de facto visa so we can settle down in one country instead of going back and forth. What I want to ask you is that we havnt actually been able to go through the whole application yet because we are up to the part where we need statutory witnesses, saying this I was just wondering what I can do (seeing as I am the sponsor and can not fill out my form until he has done his) now to make it easier when the time comes around for us to send our application. I am aware of this statement of history, So i have to write a letter detailing our relationship and attach that to the application? I am just confused cause I have seen some people attaching the house hold, financial aspects of the relationship to the statement of history when on the application online it asks you the questions in different fields and not to have it all together. If you could please help me out I would greatly appreciate it Also we had a joint bank account in Australia but we closed it before he had to leave the country as it was no longer needed due to him working over here, I have contacted the bank we were with but do you think if i get them to write a refferal that we had a joint bank account that it would be enough evidence since it is now closed? Team Oyeniyi March 27, 2014 at 10:21 AM Reply Hi Felicity, I am not sure how much it has changed with the on-line applications as I can’t see the screens etc, not having and account. The bank would be able to give you confirmation of having held a joint account, but you would need to explain carefully why you closed it, to ensure it to ensure the closure of the account is not misinterpreted by the department. The Statement of History is not a letter, it is a formal statement or you can make it a statutory declaration. You both need to do one, although in our case we did a joint statement (which we both signed) but I understand the department prefer two separate statements. The whole process is designed to check, double-check and triple-check your assertions about your relationship. You will answer the same questions many times. Even if they ask specific questions on-line, it is still best, I believe, to address the aspects of your relationship in the statement as per the Partnership Booklet. There are no shortcuts to this process. Best of luck! If you feel stuck, seek professional advice from a MARA agent or migration lawyer. Rachel March 18, 2014 at 1:37 PM Reply Thank you so much for the information. it is really helpful. I almost finish my statement of history, just wondering if I need to write it down on A4 papers or just print it out? Would that matters? Team Oyeniyi March 18, 2014 at 6:38 PM Reply Printing it is fine, provided you sign it appropriately as per the guidelines in the Partner Visa Booklet. Andrea Zita Sabay February 17, 2014 at 8:15 PM Reply Great!!!!!i would like to ask if you have ideas on how to get into the 2nd stage of de facto visa…what forms to submit Team Oyeniyi February 17, 2014 at 8:46 PM Reply The system has changed a bit now that online submission is available. My best advice is to go to http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/309-100.aspx and click on the “Visa Holders” tab and scroll down. The Department have improved the quality of information available on the web now, particularly in relation to the Subclass 100 (Permanent) visa. You should still, from my reading of the website, receive a letter from the Permanent Partner Visa Process Centre which will detail what you need. What we needed is detailed at https://teamoyeniyi.com/2012/04/28/sub-class-100-visa-partner-permanent/ but this may have changed as that was April 2012. Andrea Zita Sabay February 17, 2014 at 8:58 PM yes i got one…to submit more info for my permanent visa application. then at the back to upload satutory declaration from sponsor, his passport, drivers license and an AU national police certificate for any country which ive live for 12 mos or more since the grant of the temporary visa. It does not state if my sponsor will also get a police clearance Team Oyeniyi February 17, 2014 at 9:05 PM To my knowledge, the Australian (your sponsor) does not need a police clearance. I (the Australian in our case) did need a police clearance for the 309 stage only because children were involved and it was a requirement under the provisions of the Hague Convention. If they wanted a police clearance for your sponsor they would have asked. I found the Partner Permanent Processing Centre very helpful when I called to clarify things, so don’t be afraid to clarify with them. Andrea Zita February 17, 2014 at 9:13 PM think you are right. It’s just me who needs the police clearance. what forms will i submit to them to go with the attachments(bank account, etc.)? Team Oyeniyi February 17, 2014 at 9:15 PM We were not asked for any of that, but as I say, the requirements may have changed. I would be guided by the letter to you. Provide what has been requested. Andrea Zita February 17, 2014 at 9:31 PM thanks for the info……i;ll keep in touch…. Team Oyeniyi February 17, 2014 at 9:32 PM Andrea Zita February 18, 2014 at 6:58 PM hi…ive read that de-facto relationships can be registered in NSW under Acts Interpretation(Registered Relationship) Regulations. Any particular office you can tell me so we can have it registered? Team Oyeniyi February 18, 2014 at 6:59 PM Andrea, I am not in NSW, so I suggest you contact the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages. Or try their website. I think they handle that in states where it is possible. Anna December 2, 2013 at 12:05 PM Reply Hi, I am sending all my partner visa information off in the next week or so. All I wanted to know was, for our partner statements where we are writing about our relationship with each other, do these need to be stamped and signed by a witness or sent as is? Thanks Team Oyeniyi December 2, 2013 at 4:12 PM Reply At the time I wrote the above article, it could be either the template I provided OR a statutory declaration. If it is not a statutory declaration it only needed to be signed by the person making the statement. It might be wise to double check the current Partner Visa Booklet, as the Department do change requirements from time to time. Roble November 29, 2013 at 7:23 AM Reply I am new to this forum. I live in Ethiopia and my wife lives in Audtralia. She is Australian citizen and She lives her parents in Australia. She does not work also she has seizure. We have gotten married in September last year in Somalia. Now I am going to apply a partner visa so as to unite my wife so my first question is can unemployement and sickness of her will effect granting my visa? Second question is our marriage cerificate is issued in Ethiopia and got marry in Somalia so is that will be cause to refuse my visa? Team Oyeniyi November 29, 2013 at 5:39 PM Reply I really suggest you seek professional advice as your case does seem to have some complications around the question of your wife’s financial capacity to sponsor you for the two years. I cannot advise you, but I do suggest your wife seeks some professional advice here in Australia before you submit your application. Essentially, Australian law recognises overseas marriages provided the marriage is not between two people not allowed to marry under Australian law, such as certain close relationships, so being married in Somalia should not present a problem. Roble December 2, 2013 at 5:31 AM Thank you so much. I will take your suggestion. Really your suggestion is asset for us. Thank you. Taz November 28, 2013 at 9:15 PM Reply Hello! my fiance lives in Bosnia and i live in australia, im pretty sure we have all the paper work ready for the partner visa for him to come here but was just wondering if i needed a police check too? my friend said she needed to send one over when she was applying but i cant seem to find it anywhere on the website! thanks in advance xx Team Oyeniyi November 28, 2013 at 9:20 PM Reply As an Australian I don’t believe you need a police check unless there are children coming, as in our case. I was becoming a step-mother. However, regulations change all the time so you would be best to double check by just calling the department. The Partner Visa booklet covers everything comprehensively, so if you haven’t diwnloaded it, do so. Also has a document checklist! Best wishes! Taz November 28, 2013 at 9:29 PM thank you so much for your quick and honest response. this website is fantastic, keep it going! xx ahmed November 28, 2013 at 12:36 PM Reply Any one has any partner visa written statement by sponsor ? can i have any sample which you used in the past? also in which order i should arrange files when submit. I am doing by myself. appreciate if anyone can help thanks Team Oyeniyi November 28, 2013 at 12:51 PM Reply Ahmed your sponsor (or you if you are the sponsor) really should write your own. It must be personal to each couple. I don’t think the order of the documents would matter terribly much as long as everything is clearly set out. I didn’t do ours, our lawyer did, but if I had, I would have put the applucation forms first, then the statements, then the other forms followed by the supporting evidence documents. I would have had a covering index page as well, documenting what was included in the pack. Tanvir Hasan October 29, 2013 at 5:59 PM Reply Hi Robin…Its me, Tanvir again. My wife has already applied for Partner visa in June, 2013. She has recently received an email from immigration office that she need to show financial aspects of our relationship. We don’t have any joint bank account or any other properties in joint name. She is a housewife, so most of the financial support comes from me. In this case, how are going to prove our financial aspects in this relationship? Can you give me any suggestion? Waiting for your response. Team Oyeniyi October 29, 2013 at 7:37 PM Reply Tanvir, you are living together, aren’t you? They do seem to give considerable weight to joint finances, even though many many Australian couples do not have joint finances. You will need to explain very well why your wife doesn’t have access to money. Can she withdraw from your account? Don’t tell me here, I am just giving you thoughts to consider. Is your lease or mortgage not in joint names? Phone and utility bills? Why not? For example, was everything already in your name when your wife moved in and you will put everything in joint names when you move? Can you prove you support your wife 100% financially? You might be wise to seek professional advice to draw up your response to this query. Best wishes! Tanvir Hasan October 30, 2013 at 6:57 PM HI Robin…thanks a lot for your reply. We just tried to made them understand that we did not need to have a joint account as we both had separate bank accounts already here & we did have bank transfers though internet. Just fingers crossed for their reply on this…because we did not feel any need for joint accounts Team Oyeniyi October 30, 2013 at 6:59 PM Did you provide evidence of bank transfers? That would, I hope, help. Best wishes. Yes…I provided our bank statements & marked the transfers & household expenses akash July 11, 2013 at 1:15 PM Reply Its just fabulous..helped me from sink in sea…!! Thanks. Team Oyeniyi July 11, 2013 at 1:19 PM Reply Thank you very much! Good luck! Maria May 16, 2013 at 2:18 PM Reply Hi, this article is really helpful, thank God I found this cause I’ve been wondering myself about the Statement of Relationship format. Anyway, I have a permanent resident visa here in Australia for 4 years already, but I just moved in here permanently last February 27, 2013 leaving my boyfriend for 3 years back home. I got a permanent full time job this month and I’m wondering if that would affect my sponsorship eligibility for Prospective Marriage visa? Fortunately, both of our parents will help us with the financing and housing here in Australia (I am currently residing with them and if my boyfriend’s visa is granted, we will still be residing with them for the mean time) What are your advices for this matter? We are planning to lodge our application this end of May or probably early June. Thank you for your help. Much appreciated. Team Oyeniyi May 16, 2013 at 6:13 PM Reply Maria, I can’t give advice for specific applications. If you feel you need advice, you should contact a MARA agent or try the forums at http://forum.migrationhelp.com.au/ as I have a recollection this may have been discussed there before. I am glad you found what help I can provide useful! Best wishes and good luck with your application! Maria May 16, 2013 at 10:18 PM Is there any requirement for employment background or income since I just arrived here in Australia and hired this month? What are your suggestions or ideas about this? 4 years Permanent resident, flew every year to Australia and stayed 3 wks for vacation and went back home to our country to finish my degree, now I am here permanently in Australia and just started working. I hope you could help me with this one or share any thoughts for our Prospective marriage sponsorship. Thank you. Team Oyeniyi May 16, 2013 at 10:23 PM Maria, I cannot answer case specific questions, as the article clearly states. Please seek professional advice for your situation. Best wishes! Will May 13, 2013 at 2:49 AM Reply Hi, great article. My partner is the Aussie, I’m the Brit. She’s been on a de facto visa in the UK for the last couple of years. Do you know if that makes any difference to the application process? I was just hoping that if they knew that the UK government had previously granted a visa, that they would be more inclined to grant me one more quickly. Whadya reckon? Clutching at straws? Team Oyeniyi May 13, 2013 at 6:56 AM Reply Are you the sponsor of her de facto visa in the UK? If so, then I am GUESSING (remember, I’m not an agent, so I am guessing here) that fact would certainly go to proving your relationship and be a good thing. If she was in a relationship with someone else in the UK (that is, she was sponsored by someone else, that broke up and she then met you) it could complicate things and I think you should seek at least preliminary professional advice. I’m not clear on the situation from your comment! Will May 13, 2013 at 3:42 PM Thanks for the reply. Sorry for the confusion. Yes, I am her sponsor in the UK. We’ve been together for 4 years, and she’s been on the de facto for nearly two. Team Oyeniyi May 13, 2013 at 4:01 PM Then yes, I believe it will help – not the de facto visa specifically, but the proof you are in a long-term relationship! Good luck! jonathan May 12, 2013 at 11:33 PM Reply Hi my Fiancee is A CHRISTIAN all her life and she stands strong on her belief that a couple should not really be living together before marriage i really have respected her beliefs on that and for us that’s been easy as she is overseas but we have spent time together personally over the past 2 and a half years but does the DIAC take into account that for religious reasons we cant be living together before marriage ? or do they just expect everyone to have “shacked” up together and had sex before we can get an approval? thanks Team Oyeniyi May 12, 2013 at 11:49 PM Reply From what you are saying I think you might be wise to look at the Prospective Marriage visa. The criteria are very different. Check it out on the Immigration website. I don’t talk about it much on this website, but perhaps I should add a brief article. Tanvir Hasan May 6, 2013 at 6:34 PM Reply Thanks a lot Robin for your detailed information. It requires a lot of patience & determination for this. I am preparing all the documents to apply for my Partner & now i feel how much patience it needs. May God bless you Team Oyeniyi May 6, 2013 at 6:37 PM Reply Thank you Tanvir. Just remember, if you have ANY doubts, seek professional advice. A stitch in time (i.e. a $ in time) saves nine! Yes, A lot of patience and the detail drives one to distraction. Vimal May 3, 2013 at 4:43 PM Reply Thanks a lot Robyn. That’s very helpful and it’s looks quite good. You should become a migration agent and hopefully charge less say $ 1000 per application and help others. Team Oyeniyi May 3, 2013 at 6:53 PM Reply Thank you for the compliment, Vimal, but I think I might get too emotionally involved in my cases, which would not be a good thing for my health. Once was enough, I think. I am also not sure one could make a living charging $1,000 for applications, UNFORTUNATELY! I know how much work I put into our application, let alone the time of the lawyers. I believe the process is a lot more complicated than it needs to be in the majority of cases. Paralysis by paper. Jose March 8, 2013 at 7:04 PM Reply Plis go through my statement and comment. How can I send my statement to u so that u can read through Team Oyeniyi March 8, 2013 at 7:13 PM Reply Jose, I am not allowed to do that. I am sorry. You need to seek professional advice if you wish your statement to be reviewed. Jose March 8, 2013 at 6:00 PM Reply I was asked to write a statement about our relationship . Am intending to join my husband abroad but I don’t know how it’s written . Team Oyeniyi March 8, 2013 at 7:13 PM Reply I really suggest you seek some professional advice, Jose. Jose March 7, 2013 at 5:33 PM Reply I have to write a statement but I have no idea of how to start. Can u help me? Team Oyeniyi March 7, 2013 at 7:51 PM Reply Does this article not help you? As I am not a migration agent, I can’t help you personally, beyond writing this article. What particularly are you finding difficult? Jenny Macias February 16, 2013 at 11:45 PM Reply great website! i am just going through the paperwork to sponsor my thai fiance out. We have known eachother since high school, and been back in a relationship (long distance) for 4 years. Could you confirm whether or not the history of relationship needs to be certified? It just says “signed by you”. I have two 888 forms done and certified, also two stat decs on our relationship done by friends, certified. And I am doing two separate things: a) history of relationship and b) evidence of genuine and continuing relationship. Could you also let me know how you presented all your application – I am thinking of a folder with plastic sleeves, mailed to Thailand for my fiance to take in. He is signing and getting things certified there and sending them to me to check and collate first. It’s difficult doing applications from two countries! Team Oyeniyi February 17, 2013 at 8:49 AM Reply Hi Jenny and welcome! I have no idea how ours was presented as our lawyer did it! I know it weighed a lot! According to the DIAC website, the History of Relationship doesn’t need to be certified, but just check in case they have changed the regulations since I wrote my original article above. I always recommend people check the latest! It is VERY difficult doing an application between two countries. Jenny Macias February 17, 2013 at 9:26 AM as you mentioned somewhere, you think you are an intelligent person, but reading the tiny details and fathoming through the requirements is not an easy task! And you want to get it right! I have read through everything many times and still have questions… I’m glad I’m not the only one! Thanks for all the hints. Team Oyeniyi February 17, 2013 at 12:40 PM I wrote as I experienced it. That is all I can do. Just share my experience and hope people find it useful. My writing will not answer everyone’s questions as each case is so unique. Have you considered buying our book? Geoff Jansz November 29, 2012 at 1:18 PM Reply I am an Australain Citizen applying for a Partner Visa. Before I submit the details to the Dept of Immigration can you please check the details which I have written. How can I send the details to you as an attachment. Team Oyeniyi November 29, 2012 at 2:19 PM Reply Hi Geoff, I am sorry, I can’t check applications. I am not a registered agent, it would be against the law for me to do so. If you do not have an agent, my best advice is to check through the Partnreship Booklet VERY carefully. Take your time, do not rush. Best of luck! Helen Cherry November 22, 2012 at 7:44 AM Reply It’s so generous of you to give your time to help others like this Robyn.. I really admire you for that.. Team Oyeniyi November 22, 2012 at 10:17 AM Reply Statutory Declaration by a Supporting Witness Form 888 Partner Visa \| Love versus Goliath : A Partner Visa Journey November 22, 2012 at 6:48 AM Reply […] Statement of History of Relationship Partner Visa 309/100 […] Yolanda November 21, 2012 at 11:07 PM Reply Team Oyeniyi November 21, 2012 at 11:08 PM Reply You are welcome! We love to hear your thoughts! Cancel reply Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Sometimes serious, sometimes fun, sometimes silly - join the fun! Receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Universal Declaration of Human Rights All rights reserved. Copyright © 2010 - 2014 by Team Oyeniyi Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Team Oyeniyi and Love versus Goliath with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Discussion of our experience may be used in developing teaching and support materials for non-for-profit purposes after consultation with and permission from the author. What goes around comes around (fiction) What goes around comes around He felt the tip of a blade Jones prayed The rain seemed relentless Jones felt burning heat and fierce throbbing Most Read Lately: If this is feminism, you can keep it - Warning: discussion of rape and swearing	58,567
Verisure smart security systems are affordable and include a camera and monitoring service. Its cameras are equipped with a flash, though the picture quality suffers when taken at night. Smart Key Reader allows the alarm to be arm or disarm, and has a panic button. When a person presses the two SOS keys, an alarm is sent directly to the Verisure monitoring center. You can set the control panel to alert you of a potential intrusion or even act as a door chime if you’d like. Is Verisure better than ADT? How much is Verisure alarm a month? Although Verisure smart alarms are more expensive than others, they are well worth the extra money. These alarms offer complete peace of mind for homeowners. Not only do they protect homes against intruders and burglary, but they can also detect carbon monoxide, floods, and fires. Plus, a 24 hour on-call guard response is included in the service. Read on to learn more about Verisure smart alarm systems cost. Verisure’s service contract has one downside. They don’t offer free installation. This is not ideal for everyone. While this is a good thing, it also means that you have to pay for the installation. Most systems require you to pay upfront for installation. Verisure will provide professional installation for your first six months for no additional charge. Plus, it’s easy to cancel. Best Diy Wireless Home Alarm System. Both ADT and Verisure offer 24/7 support. Both companies offer similar features and customer support, but Verisure is more costly in the long-term. While they offer more options, ADT is known for its superior customer service. Verisure’s customer service is not as responsive, but it’s possible to order a system and have it installed in a matter of days. But the quality of their customer service can be low, especially if you sign a contract for a long period. For the most peace of mind, a monitored security system is recommended. These systems can cost thousands of euros and come with a monthly subscription fee. This is after a 3-year contract. If you are unsure about the benefits of a monitored alarm, check out reviews on Trustpilot. These consumer reviews are often helpful. Verisure smart alarm systems cost Verisure cameras for smart alarm systems come with all the features that you would expect from home security systems. You have the option of HD live view or two-way audio. A high-sensitivity microphone and SOS button let you instantly contact emergency services and alert authorities in the event of a burglary or fire. Verisure cameras also have smart motion notifications and two-way audio, which are helpful for protecting your property while you are away. The Verisure security system provides the ideal solution for every home. The company offers a complete package to protect your home and possessions against burglary, carbon monoxide and flood. It even protects your home from temperature changes and carbon monoxide. Verisure Alarm Receiving Centre has been NSI Gold-accredited. It also includes guard response service. The company’s security team can respond to emergencies quickly to provide peace of mind to homeowners and business owners. When an alarm is triggered, the Verisure camera will take a series of pictures and send them to Verisure’s security center. The staff there will evaluate the situation and notify the appropriate authorities.Verisure will notify security guards if the alarm was false. You can adjust the detector’s sensitivity to suit your pet. This way, they can move about the house freely and still be sure their home is secure. The Verisure camera for smart alarm systems has many features. It can be controlled via an app that allows users to view live video or make phone calls. To receive alerts, users can also designate a neighbor to receive them. This feature is available in more advanced models and is more expensive. The Verisure Arlo is a security camera that can be used to monitor smart alarm systems. The Verisure smart home alarm system enables you to see and hear what is happening in your home when you are not there. It features a camera and a flash that can be used to see in low light conditions. A smart key reader allows you to arm and disarm your system. The SmartKey can also be used as a panic button. Pressing two SOS buttons will send an alarm signal to Verisure’s monitoring center. You can also set your control panel to send a 105 decibel warning to alert you of intrusion. You can also use the system as a door chime. The Verisure smart home alarm system is a well-known European provider of professionally monitored alarms. It offers alarms that can be integrated into smart connected homes, as well as response services in the event of a problem. Its customers are spread across Europe and Latin America. CB Insights Intelligence Unit research briefs mention the company. The analyst-curated lists feature the latest tech companies, and Verisure is on the top of the list. The Verisure system also includes third-party security responses, such as police visits. The Verisure system also includes maintenance within the monthly cost. The company provides professional installation for its systems, and it also offers free advice for the management of your system. The company also offers customer support via a control panel that can answer any questions regarding the system. If something happens or you have concerns, you will receive immediate assistance. Verisure’s security staff is also available in certain areas of the country. This team can respond to distress signals and alarms, offering additional comfort in times of crisis. While this service is slightly expensive, it distinguishes Verisure from other home security providers and defines it as a complete home security system. Verisure is available 24/7 to provide the best service. Visit Verisure’s website for more information. Best Diy Wireless Home Alarm System. Is Verisure better than ADT? There are several differences between the two companies, but Verisure has an edge over ADT in some areas, including installation. Verisure offers on-site installation. ADT requires scheduled installations. Renters can also benefit from the non-permanent placement options offered by Verisure alarms. Also, Verisure has better customer service ratings on Trustpilot, with fewer complaints about gaps in service. Their systems also come with 24/7 tech support. Both companies are NSI-approved, which is necessary for insurance purposes. Another major difference between the two companies is their response time. Verisure has a reputation for prompt customer service, although its systems are more expensive for a three-year contract. Still, SimpliSafe offers a variety of affordable starter packages and Verisure uses top-quality hardware. The latter is generally the best option for homeowners who want to protect their home. If you’re looking for a quality system, make sure it’s NSI-certified. ADT is the most recognizable home alarm company in the U.S., and it’s been around for more than a century. However, it’s never stopped innovating in the home security industry. SMART Monitoring, their latest system, was designed to reduce false alarms, and increase response time. Security experts evaluated the systems and gave them a rating. Verisure also has a similar system. Verisure offers professional monitoring 24 hours a day. If the security team notices a threat, it will alert the police and fire brigade. Verisure’s monitoring services are also free of long-term contracts. You can cancel the service at anytime. Verisure is a better choice if you don’t feel confident DIYing your home security system. Its 24/7 tech support is a plus in this comparison. How much is Verisure alarm a month? Choosing a company for your home security needs is a big decision, and Verisure is no exception. This alarm company, manufactured and distributed by Essence, offers bespoke alarms that protect your home. Unfortunately, once you’ve cancelled your contract, the alarm is of no use. If you are concerned about burglary or want to know how much Verisure alarms are, please read on. With the Zero Vision smoke alarm, the company can tell the difference between a real break-in and a false alarm. Verisure doesn’t offer a level one response from police but it will call them on your behalf if there is a break in. The company will attempt to contact the key holders several times before contacting the police. Nonetheless, if the alarm is triggered by a real intrusion, it will alert the police, which the police like because they’ll know immediately. Verisure is not for DIY home security experts, but it is an excellent option if you don’t want to spend on ongoing support or maintenance. Their home security products and services are comprehensive and feature the best-in-class accessories. They also offer premium 24/7 monitoring. Whether you’re looking for a basic alarm or a high-end system with a lot of bells and whistles, Verisure offers all the protection you need to protect your home. Best Diy Wireless Home Alarm System. While Verisure charges a monthly fee, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with 24/7 monitoring. The company also has its own response guards that respond to distress signals and triggered alarms. They are more expensive than cheaper options, but they are worth it. And since Verisure offers a comprehensive home security solution, it’s definitely worth the extra money.	9,670
Copernic, makers of beloved reputation management monitoring tools like Copernic Agent and Copernic Tracker but also of one of the best desktop search tools, today announced they've launched a new and improved home page. Here's what they left on the table. Copernic.com redirects to www.copernic.com " which is a good idea. A bad idea is to make the type of redirect a 302. That's a redirect of the temporary kind, akin to a detour when construction is going on somewhere. "Look, for the time being we moved this over there but eventually some day it'll come back here". That's what that redirect says and that's not what you want to say. What you want to say is "see that? forget about that. That's over, that's history " come over here to play". Why? Because you want everything that search engines know about your site and count toward your site's ranking to accumulate at one point and not be spread out over two domains (which copernic.com and www.copernic.com essentially are). "But Google has a setting and a tag that handle this kind of thing and they say they're pretty good at figuring this kind of thing out." Ah. You mean the very people who changed the stated technical behavior of their self-invented rel=nofollow tag now also have a self-invented canonical tag? which is supposed to work in a certain way, cross my heart, hope to die? Interesting. To be honest, I'm not a big proponent of meta keywords. Virtually useless for search engines but the smaller meta ones they can demand more time than they're worth. And although a thorough look at a page usually tells an SEO what terms the page is targeting, a quick look at this list of keywords is like reading the internal memo "terms we want to rank for". Used by search engines for retrieval but not for ranking, what I do find a brilliant is Danny Sullivan's idea to use meta keywords to target misspellings. You can easily see how this would apply to alternative spellings of a product or service as well. Copernic includes the keywords, which is a "oh well, why not" kind of thing, but excludes misspellings " which is a "why not?" kind of thing CSS, like clothes, dresses up, styles, fashions and is easy to change. Unless you spraypaint your clothes on or put your CSS inline with your HTML. That very code precision could be referred to as what psychologist call "anal retentive" " or forward looking. Search Engine People " to toot our own horn here a moment -- was telling people in 2004 2005 to clean up their sites, externalize their resources. Companies that ran with our recommendations coded light-weight, cross-browser compliant pages and consequently had not only no problem at all to make the switch to mobile " it didn't cost them a thing either. Those same sites aren't in the "worried!" camp either now that Google emphasizes speed. There's a reason why it's called "best practices" and it's not precision for the sake of perfection: it's forward looking common sense. So keep those pages light-weight, rip out what you don't need there. And yes, that includes removing inline JavaScript: We have a Canadian construction TV show, the host of which has a solid saying; make it right the first time. That's what you should do to a web site. Unclear how in the world this ties back to SEO? Read the above again: cross-device display out of the box (which equals first out of gate), speed-compliant from the start (which Google loves so much they give you tools to measure it) Smaller code footprint per page = more pages spidered per time allotted to that site. What will change in 2010 that favors doing stuff right vs just doing stuff? Make it right " the first time. This is your home page on "I'm a human looking right at ya!"-mode: and this is your home page on "I'm a machine " I don't do pretty"-mode: 150 words? What's up with that? Did the money run out? Although the links contain the product names, the real on-page text blurb reads: "Copernic is dedicated to providing its customers cost-effective Web and desktop search technology that enables better decision-making and increased productivity. With unique and powerful product features, Copernic is the name that consumers and professionals trust to deliver the highest quality search products." Compare that with Copernic's product priorities: myCopernic is the cool way in which you can access all search data Copernic Desktop Search (CDS) would have access to " from anywhere, anytime. Neat product but needs defining to be sold: people tend to search for solutions, not products. Links It's nice how the menu renders as HTML-only too. Good job. But with a home page being the prime estate it is and internal links from it meaning so much " we don't want to dilute their value by just slapping them on everywhere. I mean, 3 (three!) links to "company", two of which are in the footer? 2 links to "products", one of which points to the directory, the other to the index page in that directory? On the whole it's not a bad page. Besides which Copernic has a lot of link love to spend so they can get away with not optimally utilizing their prime estate. As long as they're building links the page will continue to rank but imagine how things would look if Copernic were to rank with the page instead of despite the page? What do you think? Posted in Web Design My paid passion at Search Engine People sees me applying my passions and knowledge to a wide array of problems, ones I usually experience as challenges. People who know me know I love coffee.	5,804
Roshawnna Novellus (CEO) is well-versed in the use of crowdfunding techniques, having raised over $600,000 in donations and scholarships to pay for her college education. Roshawnna holds a Doctor of Science in Systems Engineering and Finance from the George Washington University, a MS in Information Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a BA in Business Management Economics, and a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of California. How do you believe you use your strengths in the context of your work? The idea for EnrichHER originated from founder Roshawnna Novellus’ desire to close the gap in equity funding for women. Years ago, she was so impressed by the funding model for Lending Club that she developed an algorithm using the information available from Lending Club to ensure that the effective rate of return in invested loans would exceed 12%. Using her methodology, she successfully invested in 200 loans on the platform. After her success with the loan repayment algorithm , she decided to use her background and experience to help create a solution for the underserved marketplace for women. If Lending Club could attract so many funding sources, then certainly a platform targeting women-led businesses could do the same or better since the success rate for women-led businesses is higher and women are more likely to repay loans than men. For these reasons, she founded EnrichHER to become a great solution to change the current status quo in lending to women-led businesses. We know that women need what we are offering because they have repeatedly told us – in interviews, at our conferences, and during their pitches. Even women entrepreneurs who have successfully raised capital had to make more pitches and endure discrimination and even harassment on the road to raising capital. Because of this, EnrichHER has amassed a database of over 2000 entrepreneurs who want to use the platform. Who or what motivates you? Each of us is on earth to make it better through the benevolent use of our skills. Each time I help a women-led business, I believe that I am fulfilling my purpose. Providing capital for women-led businesses enables economic empowerment, inclusive economic growth, and overall gender equality. As the number of sustainable women-led businesses increases, society will benefit from inclusive job growth and an increased array of products and services that better reflect the input of women. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? If you want money, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for money. The Women in Tech campaign exists to help redefine what women in technology means in the 21st century. Started independently by a group of professional women who, after many impassioned discussions about women in tech knew we wanted to expand this definition beyond ‘traditional’ technology skills. To us, it includes most every current, emerging or evolving role within an organization. By featuring leaders and emerging leaders across industries who embody this we hope to collectively ‘stand up’, be proud of our place in the digital world and inspire young women or those new to the ‘tech space’ to get involved.	3,210
The Roman legions with which Ancient Rome conquered the Mediterranean world underwent many changes over the centuries. Originally, they were dense phalanxes that fought with spears like Ancient Greek hoplites. Hard experience in a series of bitter wars led to their transformation into the classic legions, whose men carried a squared curved shield and wielded a short sword, the gladius. Below are thirty things about that and other fascinating Roman history facts. Julius Caesar at the head of the Tenth Legion. YouTube The legion was the Roman army’s largest military unit, and it underwent a series of changes in its centuries-long existence. In the mid-Roman Republic, it numbered about 3000 heavy infantry divided into maniples of 120 soldiers, each comprised of two 60-man centuries. There were also 1200 skirmishers and 300 cavalry, for a total of around 4500 legionaries. In the late Republic, the centuries were enlarged to 80 men, and six centuries were grouped into a cohort of 480 men. A legion contained nine such standard cohorts, plus a first cohort of the best soldiers, made of five double-strength centuries of 160 men each, for a total nominal legion strength of 5120 men. In practice, about 4500 men was the norm. In the early Roman Empire, Augustus retained 30 legions, stationed along the borders. They were supported by auxiliary troops of non-Roman citizens, who were granted citizenship at the end of their service. Each legion was led by a Legate, usually a senator appointed by the emperor. Beneath him were six tribunes, one from the senatorial class who served as the legion’s second in command, and five from the lower equestrian class. Third in command was the Camp Prefect, usually a veteran ranker from the lower classes. He had typically served 25 years, including a stint as a centurion of the first cohort. Next came centurions, officers promoted from the ranks to command the legion’s centuries and cohorts. Beneath them came optios, equivalent to First Sergeants, one for each century, assisted by guard commanders, one per optio, and the common legionaries. Roman soldiers towards the end of the Samnite Wars. Quora The Romans originally fought with spears in dense phalanx formations. They switched to a more spread-out legion with sword-wielding legionaries because of the Samnite Wars, fought from 343 to 290 BC. Their Samnite enemies inhabited the Apennine Mountains south of Rome, and in that rough mountainous terrain, the dense phalanx proved to be unwieldy. By contrast, the Samnites were armed with swords and fought in flexible formations, with smaller subunits known as maniples (“handfuls”). They ran rings around the Romans, and dealt them a series of defeats that culminated in the surrender of an entire Roman army at the Caudine Forks in 321 BC. The Romans were a pragmatic lot, and often copied from others what worked. So they abandoned the phalanx and adopted the manipular system around 315 BC, and legions were broken into heavy infantry maniples of 120 men, in three ranks of 40 men. Roman manipular legion formation in the third and second centuries BC. Imgur Maniples were arrayed in three layers, based on experience and wealth – until the late second century BC, Roman soldiers paid for their own equipment. In front of them were the velites, or skirmishers, often the youngest and nimblest. The first heavy infantry line were the hastati, armed with short swords, a squared shield, the scutum, and throwing spears, the pila. Then came the princepes, prosperous men in the prime of their lives, who could afford decent equipment. Finally came the triari, the oldest and often wealthiest men, who could afford the best equipment. Armed with spears, they formed the last battle line. They were seldom used, battles were usually won by the soldiers ahead of them. They were only committed if things went wrong, and “it has come to the triarii” became a common Roman phrase to mean the need to use one’s last resort. << Previous A centurion inflicts corporal punishment on a legionary with a vine stick, the centurion’s badge of authority. Flickr Legions used maniples for over two centuries until they were replaced by larger cohorts of 480 soldiers in the Marian Reforms of Gaius Marius (157 – 86 BC). Germanic tribes had crossed the Alps, entered southern Gaul, threatened Italy, and wiped out two Roman armies sent to meet them. That threw the Italian Peninsula, always fearful of barbarians since Gauls had sacked Rome and devastated Italy in 387 BC, into a panic. To meet the crisis, Marius opened the Roman legions’ ranks, hitherto restricted to propertied citizens who could afford to arm and equip themselves, to all citizens, including the poorest. The Roman government now furnished their weapons and armor and paid them salaries. The army’s character was transformed from a middle-class and patrician institution into a professional force for whose legionaries military service became a career. The soldiers came to look upon their generals, not the government in Rome, for rewards during service, and for severance pay and retirement benefits when they were discharged. Unscrupulous generals took advantage of that and used legions more loyal to their commanders than to the state against Rome. The result was a chaotic century of civil wars that finally ended with the collapse of the Roman Republic and its replacement with the Roman Empire. One of Augustus’ first acts, when he consolidated power, was to further professionalize the legions, and break the legionary’s dependence on his general. Enlistment terms were extended from 10 years to 25, pay was standardized, and the legionary was guaranteed a land grant or cash payment at the end of his service. The legionary’s oath of allegiance, the Sacramentum, was also switched from the general to the emperor. The progression of Roman legionary arms and equipment over the centuries. Quora << Previous The Roman conquest of Iberia, which began in 220 BC and lasted until 19 BC. Wikimedia The traits that did the most to win their Romans their empire were military discipline, tenacity and persistence in war. Not so much military genius: the Romans conquered many enemies who had great generals, with the Carthaginians and the brilliant Hannibal as prime examples. The Roman state excelled in its ability to marshal its resources, go after its foes relentlessly, get on with the job, and stick to the task stubbornly without cease or letup until the enemy was ground down into submission. An example was Rome’s systematic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, a process began in 220 BC, and that lasted over two centuries until its completion in 19 BC. That tenacity gave rise to one of history’s most chilling rejoinders, uttered in the midst of the Social War (91 – 88 BC) between Rome and her Italian allies. In that conflict Samnites, who had not forgotten their bitter wars against Rome from centuries ago, seized and fortified the town of Nola. Around 91 BC, a Roman army was sent to take it back. Its commander went to parley with the rebels, but the talks broke down because the parties were unable to reach agreeable terms. As the Romans left, the Samnite leader taunted them with the boast that Nola would never surrender. Its fortifications were too powerful to storm, and the defenders could withstand a siege because they had enough supplies for ten years. The Roman commander’s reply, as seen below, was epic. << Previous The Samnites were famous for their stubbornness, and they seriously disliked the Romans, as evinced by the protracted wars they had fought against Rome. There was thus little reason to doubt that the Nola’s Samnite defenders would continue to fight unless the Romans improved their terms. However, the Romans were even more stubborn. To the Samnite commander’s taunt that Nola had enough supplies for ten years, the Roman commander replied “then we shall take Nola in the eleventh year“. He was in deadly earnest. The Roman general and future dictator Sulla was put in charge of the siege of Nola to keep it under tight siege. The Social War ended in 88 BC, and the siege of Nola went on. A Roman civil war broke out between Sulla and Marius, and Sulla marched on Rome, leaving a legion behind to continue the Siege of Nola. Sulla chased Marius out of Italy and executed some of his followers, then headed east to fight a war against King Mithridates of Pontus. The siege of Nola went on. The Marians came back, retook Rome, and executed an even bigger batch of Sullans before Marius dropped dead. The siege of Nola went on. Then Sulla came back, retook Rome, made himself dictator, and subjected the Marians to a bloodbath that claimed thousands. All throughout, the siege of Nola, virtually forgotten by the outside world, went on. Finally, on the eleventh year of the siege, in 80 BC, Nola’s defenders ran out of supplies and were starved into surrender. << Previous Lucius Junius Brutus (flourished 6th century BC) was the legendary founder of the Roman Republic. He was also the ancestor of Marcus Junius Brutus who assassinated Julius Caesar, the dictator who ended the Republic. This early Brutus organized and led a rebellion that ousted Rome’s last monarch, after which Brutus was elected to the new republic’s first consulship – Rome’s highest office. Rome had been ruled by kings until 509 BC when the king’s son Sextus Tarquinius assaulted a noblewoman named Lucretia. Tradition has it that to preserve the family’s honor, Lucretia told all to family members and gathered Romans, then stabbed herself to death. Until then, Brutus, a nephew of the king, had given little sign of potential greatness – Brutus is Latin for “Dullard”. He had his own grievances against the king, who had executed Brutus’ brother, and it is possible that he acted the dimwit to avert his uncle’s suspicions. Whatever the case, as seen below, that all changed on the day of Lucretia’s death. << Previous Lucius Junius Brutus pulled the knife out of Lucretia’s breast, waved the bloody blade around to stir up the public, vowed revenge against her assailant and the royal family and led a popular revolt. By 507 BC, the monarchy was done with, and Rome had become a republic, with Brutus its first chief magistrate. He epitomized the ideal of devotion to duty and severe impartiality in its fulfillment: he condemned his own sons to death when they joined a conspiracy to restore the kings. Tradition holds that Brutus was killed in a battle against a royal army, in single combat with the son of the king he had ousted. He established many of the basic institutions of the Roman Republic, which lasted for half a millennium before it collapsed and was done away with by Julius Caesar and Augustus. Many of Brutus’ Republican institutions continued for centuries more, in altered and reduced form, as emperors strove to at least pay lip service to the republican facade. << Previous The patriarchy today is nowhere near as powerful as it was in the days of ancient Rome. The degree of authority that a Roman head of household, or pater familias, exercised over the family would shock modern sensibilities. At the lower end of the spectrum, Roman law and tradition granted the family patriarch the power to reject or approve the marriages of his sons and daughters. At the more extreme end, those laws and traditions granted patriarchs a literal power of life and death over family members. In some instances, such as when it came to deformed babies, Roman law ordered patriarchs to kill infants with obvious deformities. Roman fathers also had the legal right to sell their children into slavery. It was not done often and typically happened only in dire circumstances when hard-pressed patriarchs sought to ease their burdens. While the practice was not widespread, it did take place from time to time. However – and for what it was worth for the kids – a father’s right to sell his children was not absolute. He could only do so a maximum of three times – assuming the kids regained their freedom after each occurrence – before the thrice enslaved kids were deemed forever free from his authority. << Previous Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (138 – 78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a successful Roman general and statesman who came to head the optimates, Rome’s conservative and aristocratic political faction. In an ominous precedent, he used his legions to seize power in Rome and win the resultant civil war against the populares – a political faction that supported the plebeians, or commoners, against the conservative aristocratic patricians. He then had himself appointed dictator and massacred his political opponents by the thousands. As dictator, Sulla carried out constitutional reforms that were intended – but ultimately failed – to strengthen the Roman Republic in its final decades. He came from an old patrician family that was centuries removed from its heyday by the time he was born. He grew up dissolute and debauched and consorted with actors – a despised profession in those days. Strikingly handsome, he earned his keep by the seduction of wealthy older women, upon whom he preyed. At least two of his older Sugar Mommas died in mysterious circumstances after they had designated Sulla the sole heir in their wills. << Previous Reconstructions from marble busts of how they might have looked in real life, Gaius Marius, left, and Sulla, right. Imperium Romanum 21. Sulla’s March on Rome Sulla used the inheritances from his older lovers to fund his political career, which he kicked off in 107 as Gaius Marius’ quaestor, or financial magistrate, in the Numidian War. He captured the Numidian king Jugurtha by treachery and claimed credit for the victorious conclusion of the war, which aroused Marius’ resentment. When the Social War (91 – 88 BC) broke out against Rome’s Italian allies, who demanded Roman citizenship and equal rights, Sulla performed brilliantly. His erstwhile commander Marius, aged and in poor health by then, did not. Sulla was elected consul in 88 BC and given command of war against King Mithridates of Pontus. Marius engineered the enactment of a law that stripped the command from Sulla and gave it to Marius instead. In response, Sulla informed his legions that if Marius was commander, he would use his own legions and not Sulla’s men. That would deprive them of the opportunity for the rich rewards they had expected in the form of booty from a successful war against Pontus. With their financial interests threatened, the legions supported Sulla when he marched on Rome to seize power. << Previous An exiled Gaius Marius in Carthage after he was chased out of Rome by Sulla. Wikimedia Sulla was in charge of the siege of the Italian city of Nola, in the final stages of the Social War when he heard that command of the war against Mithridates had been transferred to Marius. At the head of five of six legions then under his command, Sulla marched on Rome. It was an unprecedented move: no Roman commander before then had ever crossed Rome’s city limits, the pomerium, with his army. A dangerous example was set, as it became clear that Roman legions could be more loyal to their general than to Rome. Marius and his supporters put up a fight, but they were disorganized, few in numbers, no match for Sulla’s veterans, and were forced to flee Rome. With armed soldiers at his back, Sulla pushed through favorable legislation, regained command of the war against Pontus, declared the Marians enemies of the state, then marched to Pontus to fight Mithridates. When Sulla left, Marius returned to Rome at the head of his own army in 87 BC, had Sulla’s laws reversed, executed about a dozen Sulla supporters, and was elected consul an unprecedented seventh time for 86 BC. His term was brief, however, and he died a mere seventeen days into his consulship. << Previous Sulla won the war against Pontus, then returned to Rome, which he entered at the head of his army 82 BC after he defeated the Marians. He undid all their legislations, introduced reactionary conservative constitutional reforms that solidified the power of the aristocracy and weakened that of the middle classes, and got himself appointed dictator. The office of dictator was a legal one in Rome’s constitution, bestowed in emergencies for a maximum term of six months. Until then, Roman dictators had typically used their extraordinary powers to fight foreign enemies. Sulla was a new kind of dictator: one who used his extraordinary powers against domestic opponents. He proceeded to massacre the Marians and populares by the thousands. He posted prescriptions, or lists that named enemies of the state who could be legally killed by anybody. The killer was rewarded with a share of the proscribed victim’s property upon the presentation of his head to Sulla’s agents. Sulla finally resigned in 79 BC, retreated into private life, and died a year later. << Previous The Minoans of Ancient Crete developed toilets that could flush waste in the second millennium, BC. For centuries, that remained a luxury available only to the elites, until an economic boom and the spread of prosperity in the first millennium BC allowed the introduction of flush toilets to middle-class houses. Before long, some ancient Greek cities had large-scale latrines that were open to the general public. Those early public restrooms consisted of large rooms with bench seats, connected to a drainage system. It was the Romans, however, who made the most use of flush technology and public latrines in the ancient world. By the first century BC, many Roman houses had private flush toilets that were connected to the public drainage system, and public restrooms were common in cities and towns. They did not have private stalls, however: the facility consisted of a room lined with stone or wooden bench seats, with toilet openings over a sewer. Everybody – of both genders – did their business in front of everybody else. To clean themselves, they used reusable sponges on a stick. The sponges were “cleaned” between uses by dipping them into small gutters with running water that flowed in front of the toilet seats. << Previous Sulla’s bout of domestic political violence was the worst in the Roman Republic’s history until then, but it was not the first. A generation earlier, Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (circa 164 – 133 BC), a Roman tribune of the plebes and a pro-commoners populares politician, met a violent end at the hands of Rome’s conservative upper classes. His widowed mother Cornelia, who became known as “Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi”, was a daughter of Scipio Africanus who had defeated Hannibal in the Second Punic War. She had refused a marriage proposal from King Ptolemy VIII to devote herself to her children. Tiberius’ political platform revolved around public lands that had been steadily concentrated into illegal giant estates controlled by a small elite of the patrician senatorial class. That threatened to extinguish the class of small independent farmers who had formed the backbone of the Roman military. Tiberius had served in the military as a young man, and he noticed that the legions faced a manpower crisis. Rome’s legions were drawn from those who could afford to arm and equip themselves, mostly independent farmers. However, the class of independent farmers had drastically shrunk over a generation as public lands were illegally seized and consolidated into vast estates controlled by the patrician senatorial classes. In addition to illegality, it drove small farmers off their lands and into poverty and diminished the pool of prospective legionaries. Tiberius sponsored agrarian reform laws to redistribute those public lands from the elites to the commoners, and his efforts were met by a vicious backlash from the elites. << Previous Tiberius Gracchus proposed agrarian reforms to break the giant estates illegally seized by the elites from public lands, and redistribute them in small parcels to lower class citizens in order to restore the independent yeoman class. He was vehemently opposed by Rome’s elites. When he nonetheless pushed through legislation that began to redistribute the land, he was murdered by a senatorial mob in a riot organized by optimates. That was the name of a faction of conservatives who sought to limit the power of the popular assemblies and the tribunes and extend that of the pro-aristocratic Senate. It was the Roman Republic’s first act of organized political violence. That broke two taboos: one against political violence in general, and one against violence against a tribune of the plebes, whose persons had been deemed sacrosanct and inviolate for centuries. Violence begat violence, and Tiberius Gracchus’ political murder ushered in nearly a century of turmoil, as the Roman Republic tore itself apart in bouts of civil wars and bloody political purges. In a historic irony, the violence fell disproportionately upon and virtually wiped out the very patrician and senatorial class whose interests the optimates sought to advance. << Previous Tiberius Gracchus’ reformist torch was picked by his younger brother, Gaius Sempronius Gracchus (154 – 121 BC). A decade younger than Tiberius, Gaius was influenced by his brother’s reform policies and his murder at the hands of a senatorial mob, and followed in his footsteps. He became a tribune of the plebes, a populares politician who advanced the cause of the plebeians, and an advocate of agrarian reform. He also followed in Tiberius’ footsteps as a victim of political violence when the conservative Roman Senate and the optimates murdered him. Elected a tribune of the plebes in 123 BC, Gaius Gracchus made innovative use of the popular assemblies to push through legislation to reenact his brother’s agrarian reforms. He also advocated other measures to lessen the power of the senatorial nobility. Gaius also pushed through legislation to provide all Romans with subsidized wheat, and was reelected tribune in 122 BC. In 121 BC, the Senate and the Roman conservative elites once against turned to political violence and organized a riot to go after a tribune. << Previous After one of his supporters was killed by Roman conservatives, Gaius Gracchus and his followers retreated to the Aventine Hill, the traditional asylum of plebeians in an earlier age. In response, the Senate enacted a novel decree that ordered the consuls to go after Gaius, which they did with a mob. When he saw that all was lost, Gaius committed suicide, while the mob fell upon and massacred hundreds of his followers, then threw their bodies into the Tiber River. In the long run, the political murders of the Gracchi brothers backfired upon the optimates‘ cause and the patrician senatorial class whose interests they sought to advance. The patricians were virtually exterminated in rounds of proscriptions that killed members of their class and confiscated the properties. First, the dictator Sulla went after the populares after his victory in Rome’s first civil war. Then the pendulum swung a generation later, when Octavian and Mark Antony went after the optimates in an even bloodier and more thorough proscription after their victory in a civil war against Julius Caesar’s assassins. What relatively few patricians survived were gradually killed off later as they were caught up in or were falsely accused of conspiracies against various emperors. By the end of the first century AD, the patrician class was virtually extinct. << Previous Bust of Julia the Elder, daughter of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Universal Images A Roman patriarch’s power of life and death over family members was particularly evident when it came to his authority over the family’s women. Despite the Romans’ reputation for licentiousness, debauchery, and wild orgies, they indulged in such carnal excesses even as they viewed adultery as a serious matter. Not just on moral grounds, but also because it introduced the possibility of illegitimate heirs to a pater familias’ estate. When Augustus became emperor, he sought to restore traditional values with a slate of morality laws aimed against adultery – defined as physical intimacy between a woman and man who was not her husband. However, physical relations with female slaves and prostitutes did not count. One of Augustus’ morality laws, enacted in 18 BC, codified a father’s traditional rights if somebody engaged in adultery with his daughter. The father could legally kill the lover, as well as his daughter, whether in his own house or in the house of his son-in-law. Ironically, Augustus’ own daughter, Julia the Elder, ran afoul of those anti-adultery laws. He did not kill her, but to save face, exiled her in 2 BC, first to a small island, then to a tiny village in the toe of Italy. She remained in exile for the rest of her life. In 8 AD, Augustus’ granddaughter, Julia the Younger, also got caught up in an adultery scandal with a Roman Senator. He had her exiled to a remote island, where she gave birth to a love child. Augustus ordered the infant exposed. << Previous The Roman poet Catullus (circa 84 – circa 54 BC) once directed an insult at a man named Egnatius, whose smile the poet disliked. It illustrates an odd fact about Romans’ day-to-day lives: they cleaned their mouths with pee. As the poet put it in his put down: “There’s nothing more foolish than foolishly smiling. Now you’re Spanish – in the country of Spain what each man pisses, he’s used to brushing his teeth and red gums with, every morning, so the fact that your teeth are so polished just shows you’re more full of piss“. The insult about an abnormal practice was that Egnatius smiled too much, which was bad because smiles were presumably worthless. The diss was not that he washed his mouth with urine: that part was perfectly normal in Ancient Rome. Urine’s active ingredient is ammonia, which the body secretes in the form of urea. Today, we use ammonia in many things, from explosives to cleaning products to agricultural fertilizers. Not only will ammonia remove stubborn stains from your bathtub and oven, it will also give your dishes and glasses an impressive twinkle. << Previous Romans used pee to whiten their teeth. Steem KR Nowadays, we extract ammonia with chemical processes that do not rely on pee. Ancient Romans did not have modern science, but they still understood the benefits of ammonia. So they got it from the most readily available source back then: urine. Not only did ancient Romans use it to clean their mouths, they also put it to a variety of other uses. The laundry trade, for example, relied heavily on stale urine. In giant public laundries known as fullonica, dirty clothes were placed in vats, where they were soaked in stale pee. Then workers – usually slaves – stomped on them until the stains came out. Other industries, such as tanneries and agriculture, used not only urine but urine mixed with feces. Urine was so important in ancient Romans’ daily lives and their economy, that pee collection was a big business. As a result, public chamber pots or big vats where anybody could stop and take a piss, were commonplace. In addition to dental hygiene, industrial, and commercial uses, Romans also used pee for medicinal purposes. Pliny the Elder, for example, praised stale urine’s effectiveness in the treatment of diaper rashes. He also wrote that fresh urine could treat “sores, burns, infections of the anus, chaps and scorpion stings“. << Previous The use of pee as medicine might seem gross to modern sensibilities. However, in light of urine’s sterile properties – or more precisely the sterile properties of the ammonia contained in urine – such medicinal applications might not have been totally useless. In light of all the uses Romans had for urine, pee collection and resale was an important sector of the economy. And as happens with any economic activity that generates revenue, the urine industry did not escape the attention of the government’s tax collectors – in that, the ancient world was not much different from the modern one. Ancient Roman tradesmen who specialized in pee collection received special licenses for the privilege and were taxed accordingly. That was when the government did not tax the pissers directly. One of Emperor Vespasian’s revenue schemes involved a tax on public urinals, which was widely ridiculed. When his son argued that revenue from bodily excreta was beneath imperial dignity, Vespasian held a coin beneath his nose and asked whether he could smell any urine. He concluded the lesson with the remark: “money does not smell“, a phrase that became a Latin proverb. << Previous Ancient Romans liked to see themselves as the serious and stolid types, so they put on a stiff upper lip and avoided excessive displays of emotion. That, however, created a problem when it came to funerals. On the one hand, the more people attended a funeral, and the showier the funerary procession was, the more respected the deceased was. On the other hand, excessive displays of grief by the deceased’s relatives – especially for upper-class Romans – were seen as gauche and undignified. To solve the conundrum, they used professional mourners. For a fee, special women wailed and put on the ostentatious displays of grief that custom barred well-born Roman women from demonstrating in public. The professional mourners wept to impress the crowds and to seriously sell their sadness, threw dust and dirt on themselves, tore out their hair, ripped their clothes, and scratched their faces until they drew blood. Eventually, those ostentatious displays became too much. So laws were passed to prohibit the hiring of professional mourners because their antics “invoked strong emotions and were incompatible with the idea of the quiet life of the citizen“. << Previous Marcus Junius Brutus (85 -42 BC) is perhaps best known as the addressee of Julius Caesar’s final words and lines, “Et tu, Brute?” from Shakespeare’s play. He was the Roman dictator’s friend, the son of his longtime mistress, and the most famous of his assassins. Incongruously, Brutus’ father had been betrayed and murdered by Pompey the Great, so early in his political career, Brutus was an opponent of Pompey and the conservative optimates faction that supported him. Eventually, however, Brutus fought under Pompey’s command against Caesar. After his father’s death, Brutus was raised by his uncle Cato the Younger, a conservative reactionary who became an avowed enemy of Caesar. Brutus initially supported Caesar but eventually thought he wanted to become a king – a position that Romans of his era greatly feared and loathed – and turned against him. When Caesar invaded Italy in 49 BC, Brutus went against him in the resultant civil war, joined the ranks of his enemies, and even became an ally of Pompey despite the fact that Pompey had killed his father. << Previous Cesar defeated Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, after which Marcus Junius Brutus surrendered, and was pardoned and restored to favor. Brutus’ resentment against the dictator and his mother’s lover remained, however. When a faction of Roman Senators formed to do Caesar in, Brutus eagerly accepted their invitation to join their secret group, which styled itself “The Liberators”. Brutus was a great symbolic catch because he was a descendant of Lucius Licinius Brutus, the Roman Republic’s founder who had chased out Rome’s last king. On the Ides of March in 44 BC, Brutus stabbed Caesar in his assassination that day. The assassins were pardoned by the Senate, but a riot soon thereafter forced Brutus and his coconspirators to flee Rome. The next year, Mark Antony and Caesar’s nephew and heir, Octavian, got that amnesty revoked, and had the Senate declare Caesar’s assassins murderers. Civil war erupted again, and ended with the assassins’ defeat at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, after which Brutus committed suicide rather than fall into Octavian’s clutches. << Previous First-century AD fresco of a Roman woman doing her hair. Naples National Archaeological Museum People have dyed their hair for thousands of years, but until the arrival of modern science, they often flew blind when it came to which ingredients they selected for their hair dye. As a result, to dye one’s hair was often a fraught affair, whose risks ranged from cosmetic hair damage or destruction at the low end to catastrophic damage to health at the high end. For ancient Romans, the safer end included temporary dyes such as henna, and odd dyes such as a paste made of pigeon dung and earthworms to lighten the hair, or the ashes of donkey testicles to fight hair loss. The more dangerous end of the spectrum could include substances such as lead and sulfur. Both ancient Greek and Roman women used lead and sulfur in their concoctions when they wanted a permanent hair dye. Their hair probably looked great as a result, but the health consequences could be extreme. For example, we now know such exposure to lead could lead to maladies that include headaches, weight loss, miscarriages, birth defects, seizures, and death, among many other bad side effects. << Previous Nowadays, we try to keep as far away from lead as possible. We don’t allow it in children’s toys and have reduced its use in paint. Ancient Romans, however, did not know what we know about lead. The use of lead in hair dyes was just one illustration of a widespread Roman tendency to use it in ways that modern science has revealed to be dangerous. There is a theory that Romans – particularly elite Romans who could afford it – used lead pipes to carry water into their homes, which led to widespread lead poisoning. It might also shed light on what made so many Roman rulers were so bizarre. Modern research indicates that lead levels from Roman pipes might not have been that dangerous, however. Nonetheless, Romans were exposed to lead in a variety of other ways that ensured they ingested it at exceptionally high levels. For example, they used cooking pots made of lead. They drank water and wine from lead jugs, poured into lead cups. They used amphorae to transport and store chief staples such as wine, olive oil, and their favorite sauce – a rotten fish concoction called garum – that were sealed with lead. As a result, lead particles made it into just about every sip of wine, or bite of their staple meal – bread dipped into olive oil or garnished with garum. They also used lead in jewelry, to help keep precious stones in place. << Previous First-century AD bust of Cicero in the Capitoline Museum, Rome. String Fixer The Roman statesman, scholar, lawyer, and writer Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 – 43 BC), who served as consul in 63 BC, is widely deemed to have been Ancient Rome’s greatest orator. Throughout his career, Cicero tried in vain to uphold republican principles as the Roman Republic tore itself apart in civil wars in its final years. He had much greater impact and success with the influence he exerted upon Western thought for centuries. The rediscovery of his writings more than a millennium after his death helped spark the Renaissance. Cicero was born into a wealthy equestrian family in Arpinum and was sent to study law in Rome as a youth. His brilliant defense of a Sextus Roscius in 79 BC against trumped-up charges of parricide established his reputation as a lawyer and began his rise in Rome. He became a supporter of Pompey the Great, and as a member of the conservative and pro-aristocratic optimates faction, and was elected consul in 63 BC. That year, he suppressed what came to be known as the Catiline Conspiracy to overthrow the government, and arrested and ordered the summary execution of its ringleaders. << Previous A reconstructed statue of Augustus as a younger Octavian. Wikimedia In 60 BC, Cicero declined an invitation to join Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in what became known as the First Triumvirate. He deemed the arrangement to be unconstitutional and did all he could to undo it by driving wedges between the Triumvirs. Crassus was killed in battle in 53 BC, and when Pompey and Caesar fell out and the latter marched on Italy in 49 BC, Cicero sat out the resultant civil war. To fill the time, he wrote books and treatises and indulged in other scholarly pursuits. When Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, Cicero promoted the cause of Gaius Octavian, Caesar’s teenaged adopted son and heir. He sought to use the teenager as a cat’s paw in his conflict against Caesar’s chief lieutenant Mark Antony, whom Cicero loathed and against whom he penned and orated scathing critiques known as The Philippics. Cicero thought he could control and manipulate Octavian, and quipped that he would “praise, raise, and erase” him. He greatly underestimated the youth, who as the future Emperor Augustus would end the Roman Republic and replace it with the Roman Empire. << Previous Cicero’s underestimation of Octavian came back to bite him, hard. Caesar’s young heir shrewdly reconciled with Mark Antony and cut a deal that divided Rome between themselves. They then proceeded to clean house and eliminate all enemies and potential opponents of the regime in a bloody purge that outdid Sulla’s. Cicero, as an avowed enemy of Mark Antony, was on the new regime’s list of the proscribed. He fled Rome, but was captured and killed on December 7th, 43 BC. A vindictive Antony then had Cicero’s severed head and hands displayed in the rostra, or speaker’s platform in Rome’s Forum, after Antony’s equally vindictive wife Fulvia pierced the orator’s tongue with knitting needles. Cicero was defeated politically, and the Roman Republic he had worked so hard to defend was no more. However, he triumphed intellectually. Cicero’s impact extended beyond his own days, as he left behind a trove of writings on philosophy, politics, rhetoric and oratory. Their rediscovery in the thirteenth century and the keen interest they aroused in scholars, amongst whom Petrarch was most notable, helped jump-start the Renaissance. Cicero thus influenced European literature and ideas more than any single prose writer before or since. His impact on the Latin language was such that until the nineteenth century, all European prose could be viewed as a return to or a reaction against Cicero’s style. << Previous In light of the extraordinary powers that Roman fathers exercised over their family, it is no surprise that, from time to time, some kids snapped and did in the patriarchs. Since Ancient Rome was as pure a distillation of patriarchy as ever existed, that patriarchy took a particularly dim view of the murder of patriarchs. The Romans were particularly horrified and revolted by patricide, or the murder of one’s father. So they expressed their abhorrence with a particularly inventive punishment: poena cullei, or the “Punishment of the Sack“. In accordance with Roman law, those convicted of patricide were first severely beaten with blood-colored rods, while their heads were covered in a bag made of a wolf’s hide. Then the patricide was sewn into the poena cullei, a sack made of ox hide, together with an assortment of live animals that included a snake, a rooster, a monkey, and a dog. The sack was beaten to rile up the animals and get them to bite and tear at the patricide. It was then put on a cart driven by black oxen, to a river or the sea, where the sack and its occupants were thrown into the water. Where Did We Find This Stuff? Some Sources and Further Reading Dart, Christopher J. – The Social War, 91 to 88 BCE: A History of the Italian Insurgency Against the Roman Republic (2014)	42,606
Dear reader, hello! The question today is: On the scale of Immoral to Appropriate, what does the bible have to say about getting a body massage? Massages often lead to sensual arousal, particularly for men. So, is it a good idea for Christians to work in this field or take part in its services? Should Christians give or receive a massage? Is massage therapy, for that matter; holistic healing, an idolatrous, new age technique? We must acknowledge right away that sexual sins are particularly a sin against one’s own body, as such we must look at the immediate implications of our actions when they involve any form of sexual immorality. There isn’t much discussed biblically which mentions therapeutic massages, thus this post won’t be very speculative. It is typical for Christians, like anyone else, in search of a solution to their legitimate issues of body aches and pains, to consult Massage Therapists albeit secretly. There is a lot of medical evidence supporting the benefits of massages and holistic therapy in general, and it is also a fact that there are practicing Christians who are Licensed Massage Therapists. Unfortunately, like many other professions, Massage Therapy is not excluded from the presence of charlatans and deceivers who unlawfully exploit clients for mischief. In Esther 2, it is recorded that Esther, the young Jewish orphan-cousin of Mordecai that would be future Queen of Persia, as part of her preparations for the empire-wide beauty pageant for the King Ahasuerus to pick a wife – received several treatments of massage and special diet… the regular beauty treatment for the women lasted a year…massages with oil of myrrh for six month and with oil of balsam for six more..” “Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman” (I Corinthians 7:1). The type of touch Paul was talking about is not a casual touch, but sexual touches. The reason being that touching another person, to whom you are not married, in a sexual way can lead to certain thoughts and actions. “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:20-23). Such touches also mean that one is engaged in sexual foreplay with someone to whom you have no right. While a massage can relax tight muscles, there are unethical people who use massages for sexual play. The reason is quite simple, the intense pleasure causes people to desire it again. They use the pleasure produced by your own body to empty your wallet. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14). The bible verse here says “a man not to touch a woman”. As christians, if we must attend the spa or get our body massaged, it would clearly be more appropriate to have this done by someone of the same sex. Women would be better off getting massaged by women and men by men. In today’s society, the excuse for not sticking to this is that it is a very professional scene and many men would rather have a female massage them for fear of looking or feeling “gay”. However, because of the wide change in sexual orientation, it would be even safer to ensure that although the person massaging (masseuse/madam) is of the same sex as you, they also share your sexual orientation. i.e they are hetero and not homo sexual. That way, you aren’t being complicit in any subconscious sexual activity and the spa treatment stays as professional as possible. Of course it is not always the case that a woman massaging a man or vice versa leads to immorality, there are plenty people who are able to perform their jobs without involving or acting on sexual urges, my mum actually owns a spa currently run by a lady who does treatments for both men and women. However, as christians we ought to know our weaknesses so we never give the devil a chance or a foothold in our lives. We must be extra careful the kinds of activities we engage ourselves in, particularly where it leads to sexual immorality. This can later trigger feelings of guilt that the devil can exploit and it can also lead to a temptation to continue in the activity rather than repent. Many extramarital affairs often begin with “a massage”. Another reason to be wary of unknown spa treatments is that some involve the use of techniques linked to eastern pagan religions – e.g. “chakra manipulation” to bring healing and relaxation etc. Every nation, race, tribe or clan has special people gifted with the knowledge and skill or training to perform “intentional and systematic manipulation of the soft tissue of the body to enhance health and healing” i.e. therapeutic massage or physiotherapy. The medical benefits of this are indisputable. However, some attribute the healing effect of the technique to the recipient’s or therapist’s “innate force”, or occult powers; some credit a so-called “source”, “energy”, or their various gods or idols – e.g. Buddha etc. To accept the notion that healing is by a person’s “innate force”,or an idol is to deny Almighty God His honor, glory and power . “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8. In the Christian scheme of things, Yahweh Elohim, is the One who heals.( Exodus 15:26 ). No matter how beneficial or effective these treatments are, we must be wary of receiving them from those who do not share our mindset or who attribute the glory of its healing to idols. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) November 12, 2015 in talking thursday, talking thursdays. Tags: #Christian, bible, massage, spa, talk, therapy, thursday Related posts Can Christians Smoke and Drink? ← Glorious. The 10 Commandments. → Lee says: October 19, 2016 at 7:10 PM The topic I am not seeing addressed, perhaps because it has not been asked, is should a married man or woman get a professional therapeutic massage if his or her spouse is opposed to it. LikeLiked by 1 person October 19, 2016 at 7:13 PM This is indeed a very important question and is something we will definitely look into doing a post on in the future! March 8, 2017 at 2:53 PM My husband and I are both Christians. A lady we both know is a Christian and had recently opened a massage therapy business. My husband wants a body massage. Which he will be in his underwear..but covered. She will be massaging his thighs also. I don’t feel comfortable about it. What is your opinion? He is also a deacon of our church. LikeLiked by 1 person Anonymous says: March 10, 2017 at 9:39 AM Never allow your husband to get a massage from any woman, if he wants one then rather get trained on how to do it so that he can get it from you or rather have a male masseur give him. john howell says: July 12, 2017 at 5:18 PM This article represents the views of a certain Xian group. Their views I stress. Once I was attached to a similar group and sadly the forceful approaches and control made my life a misery. Yes I was keen and committed but had to escape for my minds sake. Remember each religious group holds views only. I can empathise with the husband a deacon. Often vulnerable minds are played on and many move on as I did. Thankfully I’m free. Took years to get there. Married to a wonderful lady with lovely children and grandchildren. Cast aside the dictates of fundamentalist church. Listen to what they say but ensure you form your own views. I’m a Massage therapist by the way and my professional approach caters for men and women. Edmore says: August 26, 2017 at 5:54 PM Why can’t you go to a massage course so that you can massage your husband. Its a good thing and it will improve your love life as couples.The bible says wifes must submit to their husbands same applies to husbands too!God bless you! Anonymous says: September 23, 2019 at 1:51 AM Anonymous says: January 26, 2022 at 9:21 PM As long as its not sexual its ok Teresa says: April 13, 2022 at 8:42 PM Maybe you could be present during the massage, if not in the room where the massage is taking place ( which would be ideal , (just sit and read a book or listen to music with headphones) then wait in the waiting area . ) Waiting for him in the waiting are woukd definitely be allowed. You could also,schedule a couples massage, where both of younger massages, in the same room , at the same time. These are popular around Valentine’s Day, some come with champagne,and some tasty snack, ……but most reputable massage places can do a couples massage anytime. Depending on the massage places size and number of people, you can specifically request a man massage your husband and a woman massage you. I’ve heard couple say they really liked these Couple’s massages for connecting wirh their spouse. This might mean going to a different massage place that that of your Christian friend. And no matter if you can be present in the room or not, then definitely do something romantic right afterwards with your husband! A quiet meal out at a nice place, just the two of you , or maybe go home for some alone time, being Intimate or just spend some kind of special time together just to reinforce that he is yours and you are his. No matter what Satan is whispering in his ear! We know the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak , and Satan targets that fleshly weakness. I get massages for a women massage therapist and it’s not sexual at all, she’s careful to keep me covered and she doesn’t massage certain parts of my body, or get near certain body parts. So for me , it’s far from being sexual, it’s more like my physical thearpist. And don’t forget to pray about this ! Pray and ask God to help you make the right decision. You want to avoid sin and follow Gods laws so ask him what you should do! And I looking for a place to get a massage, First, be careful that it is a reputable place , and Second, that it’s not New Age and Pagan. Unfortunately some massage places are all New Age, Wiccan, and Pagan. The massage thearpist attribute any benifits of massage to pagan deities, or they will use those pagan things in the massage, things like crystals, oils that have been “ blessed” on a Wiccan altar, or altar to other idols…You can ask for a tour of the rooms, tell,them you are Christian and ask about anything you see that disturbs you or seems un Christian. I think massage can be a great tool for relaxation and relief of medical issues ….(;that’s what I use it for and it helps me immensely) but because it involves the flesh , We Christian’s need to approach it carefully and and not allow something that can be helpful,in treating our body as a Temple and keeping it healthy, turn into something that’s a source of sin,( physical and thinking of sinning) and disagreements in our marriages . God Bless you and your husband. Anonymous says: May 28, 2022 at 6:38 PM Then he should respect your feelings and not get certain parts massage Teresa says: April 13, 2022 at 8:14 PM I read on another post about Christians getting massages, that the Bible says a married persons body belongs to your spouse, so you should respect their wishes. Especially if you don’t, you could be causing disharmony and arguments in your marriage. Anonymous says: March 8, 2017 at 3:04 PM Wish I would’ve never commented, now I don’t know how to delete my post. March 8, 2017 at 3:14 PM Hello, Is this D.E?, would you like us to remove your comment? One of our editors is currently working on a reply to your question. if you would like both your comments deleted, please let us know quickly! Thank you. March 8, 2017 at 3:34 PM Hello! Greetings to you in Christ Jesus. I sincerely empathise with your concerns over this matter. I am not a married woman, so I cannot claim to be speaking from any particular experience of mine, but I do believe that I can at least say something to lend a helping hand. First I must mention that it is a good thing that this is a Christian woman that you know (and hopefully trust) who is running this massage therapy business. In this way, she is at least accountable to the same moral standards that you and your husband share in Christ Jesus. If you have read through this blog post, then you are already aware of the dangers of this massage therapy issue – because of our flesh as a weakness, no matter how spiritual we claim to be. Deacon or not, I believe your husband should be aware that his actions may give room for temptation (Ephesians 4:27, 1 Corinthians 7:2). If he is not in need of massage therapy due to health reasons and in a less intimate area, then perhaps he should reconsider his reasons for contemplating the massage in the first place. However, I believe the more important thing is not actually the fact that he is getting a massage but the fact that you are uncomfortable with it. I would like you to think deeply about why you are concerned that he is getting a massage – perhaps you are worried about what might happen during this time or you just don’t like the idea of another woman touching your husband so intimately. If this is the case, then you must seriously discuss your feelings with your husband, particularly in light of these scriptures: 1 Peter 3:7 & Ephesians 5:21 (NIV) 1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Considering the two scriptures above, perhaps if you communicate your thoughts to your husband and let him know your concerns about this desire to get a body massage then he ought to be considerate towards your feelings on this issue and rethink his decision. Grace and Peace to you, Senior Editor at Gossip4Jesus April 28, 2017 at 9:57 AM I’m a married man and have been to both male and female therapist. Usually I’m looking for deep tissue massage since I’m a runner and I go once a month. I do self massage during the weeks in between to keep my muscles worked. This helps with protecting me from injury and fast recovery from workout. I find that women are more sensitive with me when I tell them the pressure is too intense. They have a tendency to work with me when I tell them the pressure is hard. As far as temptation I’m not tempted to go fall into sexual immorality from massage or commit adultery but I’ve had lustful thoughts during and after the treatment. If I desire to go to a female therapist ( not a masseuse) There is a difference between the too I look for someone that I wouldn’t be attractive too. It keeps my mind only on the massage and its easy for me to relax during treatment. I had a therapist that I struggled with from the heart but i was able to find another person that doesn’t temp me. My wife and I have been married for 12 years and the first time we ever kissed was at our wedding after I gave her the ring. So my temptation in a physical scence is not that strong. Can anybody give me any advise as if I’m doing the wrong thing. The other thing is that I wouldent think its any different for a male to go to a female massage therapist as it would for a man to go to a female doctor. Women get pelvic exams from men but cant have a man massage them. Its a trust issue with them. We must understand too that therapist are educated and there motive is to do there job and not look at your body in a way that is inappropriate. I think for most men its better to seek the same sex if they are tempted but we must not think there is any difference to go to a female massage therapist then going to a female doctor nurse or chiropractor. they are trained and educated people. Your wife cannot perform the same massage that a therapist (practitioner) could do. Your wife could give you a feel good massage but not necessarily meet your therapeutic needs. Don’t get me wrong though. I don’t encourage it if it causes temptation. We have to know ourselves. .i’m personally thinking about doing self massage rather then having someone else do it. I’m stuck on a membership at massage envy for another six months and I cant get out of it unless I have an honest financial excuse. June 27, 2017 at 10:26 PM I am a christian and I am a massage therapist. I am married. My husband and I usually get couples massage every year on our anniversary. He is a minister and has never minded my profession or considered it inappropriate. He trusts me to be professional and I would not want to loose my license and career due to my being out of control. I worked for Massage Envy for three years. Now I am independent and I teach massage at a college. Professional massage therapists are trained to view the human body for what is and not as a sex object. In the beginning, it was difficult for me to give my husband a professional massage because we are married and I was used to our touches being associated with intimacy. I eventually learned to separate the two types of touches and can now give him a professional massage. However, I feel like I give a better massage when I am at work and working on a stranger. I was well trained never to mix intimacy with professional massage. It is still challenging for me to see my husband’s body as just another body so I ca give him a professional massage. The good news is that by the same token, I cannot see other bodies as anything other than just bodies.If that were to happen I would refer the client to another therapist. So, I agree with your wisdom in selecting a therapists to whom you are not attracted. We are all human. LikeLiked by 1 person Anonymous says: September 16, 2017 at 9:30 PM Thanks for the reply! That was very helpful. February 7, 2019 at 10:14 AM leah says: May 15, 2017 at 3:01 AM I hope that this may ease your mind. I have been a massage therapist for 9 years I am a female and I know God has also blessed me with beauty. I can tell you as a massage therapist in this position I take extra precaution to avoid all temptation that may occur during a session. I pray before, during and after. (Staying away from areas of the body that may produce unwanted arousal) And 100% of the time if a man needs some type of work in the groin it DOES NOT feel good. Its actually quite painful and sensitive area and is only worked if there is need. I am also in constant prayer and meditation from beginning to the end. I know that God has blessed me with many gifts that enhance my massage skills 10 fold. The Lord leads and guides me through his temples his “churches” (the body) we as children of God have to lean on his word to “to take every thought into captivity and to cast down every thought that exhaults its self above God” I assure you this if a man or woman are being tempted by massage they most likely have lust in their hearts (in general) and it may be something that one needs to seek God the father on for deliverance. ( Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks). God tells us over and over “So as a man thinks so is he.” He warns us that every evil thing thought ect. starts within us. We can not blame or pervert a natural and very effective way of healing. If there is lust from therapist to client or client to therapist its because the persons heart is not right. Stay encouraged my brothers and sisters find a therapist that is a believer in christ. So that you can reap many benefits such as ” the laying of hands”, ” two or more gathered in his name”, and ” standing in agreement and asking the lord to bring his divine healing and acknowledge that the healing can only come from God the father. At the end of the day may God get All the glory! I hope this helps as a therapist this is always at the forefront of my mind doing everything I can to prevent the enemy from doing what he seeks to do steal, kill and destroy. I pray for my brothers and sisters that God may lead and guide you to a therapist that can help you, pray with you and ease some of your anxieties about massage therapy. LikeLiked by 1 person February 7, 2019 at 10:22 AM No offense Leah, but that’s probably the most inanely unspiritual thing I’ve ever heard from a christian. The fact that you have to pray before, during, and after quite clearly says that its a strong temptation for you…and yet here you are, causing brothers to be offended, stumbled, and destroying your own testimony by engaging in such a thing. I really really really really don’t want to come across as mean but Im just so flabbergasted that you havent figured out how bad it is. I just went for my first massage today – my case manager recommended it… never had a massage before (only one other time which I couldnt remember much of because I was asleep) … And I can assure you it was a temptation for me. Blessedly, I was able to chat to her about her husband to avoid getting turned on but this was almost difficult… any idiot who says its not a turn on is insane (if a woman is doing it) so the fact that you’ve been doing it for 9 years is absolutely unconscionable. I really hate that people are slow on the uptake…im so sorry to be rude but its like, we have this one chance in life to figure it all out…it took me one massage, and yourself, 9 years of it..I learned and, you have not??? elena says: January 23, 2020 at 4:33 AM Hi LEA, I have question regarding giving massage to men. I’m a Christian and I started giving massage to men 2 months ago, I left my job yesterday cause my Christian friend told me that it is possible to get influenced by demonic powers through massage and I am risking my life. I feel like i’m missing something and I feel bad- when I was giving massage to men, I didn’t have any temptation or I was not thinking sexually about my clients. They were asking me to do things but I was always telling them that I cant and i’m a Christian, my friend says its saten who is trying to trick me to continue my previous job and no matter how I feel during massage, still I can receive those negative powers and I will put my life at risk. could you please help me !!!!! elena says: January 23, 2020 at 4:58 AM I just posted a question for Leah, but I also like to ask you the same question ( more in details) i read your post and i feel you can help me if i give you more details. my story is that, I started giving massage to men 2 months ago and i was fine , i didn’t have any temptation. I was thinking about just giving a very relaxing massage or keep my costumers happy by helping them to relieve stress or pain and if they were asking for more, i was telling them that i cant and i’m a Christian. everything was fine, until i met a guy and he said that he is going to pray and this prayer will help both of us to be protected, honestly i didn’t care much about what he said since i was sure about myself- i have amazing self control and i believe its a gift from Jesus. I inly think about doing my job best and the money that i receive for the job i do !!! he asked me to massage him or focus on his hips and thighs since he has more muscles there. i didn’t want to do but i did. i was just thinking about that i finish the job and i get my money and it was 10 min left ( out of 2 hours) to end of the massage , he helped himself and he ……. I got so mad and didn’t charge him anything. i told him that i cant receive this kind of money and i left. for some unknown reason i didn’t feel any guilt after. i was happy and its was weird!!! i started to push myself to feel sad for what i did. i wanted to make my self accept that what i did was a sin. the day after i quit my job and after i did i felt bad. i started feeling loss in my life. i thought maybe jesus doesn’t love me anymore or he is not with me anymore!!! i talked to my Christian friend. she told me that massage is a dangerous thing. through massage i get influenced by demonic force and i will put my life at risk. she said i should think about making money from other ways. I feel sad. i’m not sure if its because that I’ve left my job or its because what I’ve done was bad and my holy spirit inside me is not active anymore!! I don’t know whats really going on in me !!! if giving massage is a sin then why i was not feeling bad when i was giving i. i was not feeling guilty!! i’m sure that i have holy spirit in me !! if something was wrong !! he would have shown me Please help me to understand what’s going on inside me !!! I would appreciate it November 26, 2017 at 2:36 AM Hello all, I am have been so addicted to Asian happy ending massage, I am not able to come out it.. Whenever I go there afterwards I would be filled with guilt and I strongly control myself going there. But after 2 weeks I am driven by my mental health issue I just go again and visit them. I am so full of guilt but I am not able to help myself. Appreciate your prayers. LikeLiked by 1 person January 26, 2019 at 10:56 AM Hi happy ending is deadly sin and who commits it cannot go to heaven . I would suggest to go place that dont do happy ending and pray and pray whenever temptations to do it come masturbation is demonic it can be controlled by demons .my friends been telling me its not a sin I put thise question before God so I prayed and God showed me in my dream hell I saw people been tourchered by huge demons and they were laughing for thise specific sin masturbation so u see its very serious pleaze go to a good pastor have him pray over you . and stay stong spiritually pray read bible I’m praying for you we live only once we never know when it’s our time to go belive me it’s not worth go to hell forever over some pleasurable moments. Jose says: February 6, 2018 at 8:33 PM Wow! Hmm…how do I even start…I’m a Christian and a Massage Therapy Instructor and this post is very misleading. To say, many affairs start with Massage is unfair because many affairs also begin with a Hello, a look, a smile, a coworker, a church leader, even a good meal.. so yeah this seems pretty absurd anything can lead to an affair even washing your clothes at a public laundromat.. 2nd you cannot know if your therapist is straight or gay beforehand at a spa so that advice goes out the window.. 3rd if the spirit within you is Holy and radiates love and you neglect to love your own body by breathing incorrectly, eating unhealthy, not stretching or exercising or getting massages you are sinning against your temple and focused on the wrong things. It’s the unhealthy mind that would take the opportunity to sin while getting a treatment and not the treatment itself. If you’re worried about being seen or lust you might want to stay away from beaches or pools too.. or even your gynecologist.. make sure their straight too.. don’t want bad thoughts to creep in. LikeLiked by 1 person Anonymous says: January 1, 2020 at 2:19 AM I am a Christian and a male massage therapist/ counsellor/ life coach I am about healing February 14, 2018 at 10:11 PM I am a massage therapist and a christian. I feel the true question here is do you trust yourself or your spouse? Please don’t place sin on the therapist , but I would suggest searching your own heart and mind. At this point, should a women only see a female priest, doctor, teacher, etc and vise versa. There is abuse in every profession and therapist are more likely to have to deal with sinful clients rather than a client having to worry about the intentions of the therapist. LikeLiked by 1 person Charli says: March 4, 2018 at 5:37 AM I am a professional licensed Massage Therapist as well and am offended that you took my honorable profession, working hard with my hands, all for my Lord, and turned it into a cookie cutter erotica. I honestly believe my Lord called me to do this work. My Lord is the source of all healing and all power, I am just lending a hand. I work hard, as do all good LMT’s. Our touch is clinical annd therapeutic, not sexual. LikeLiked by 2 people April 2, 2018 at 2:44 AM This article must have been written by a baptist. Sin starts in the heart. You question holistic healing. Perhaps you should rethink taking blood pressure medications etc. that have all sorts of side effects from big pharma. This article is filled with so many ignorant generalizations it’s not worth the time it took to write it May 21, 2018 at 7:43 PM I’m a male who gets a massage from a female, however, my situation is a little different than the average guy. I have a pain and fatigue disorder and have very little drive. I think this is one of those situations where you can’t make a blanket rule about not seeing a therapist of the opposite sex. For some individuals, I absolutely believe it is a bad idea, but for me, it is like going to the doctor or chiropractor. For many people with medical conditions, anything sexual is the last thing on their mind. LikeLiked by 1 person Anonymous Massage Therapist says: June 16, 2018 at 4:19 PM There are different types of therapy that is under the umbrella of “Massage” (Sports, Table Thai, Medical, Manual Lymph Drainage, etc). After reading the article and the comments, I gather that this isn’t taken into account. As a Christian, I make it my goal to bring my faith into my practice by using instrumentals that are from Christian Songs, speaking about my faith when invited, and using imagery that are of Christian origin (I have had Christian clients, who were unaware of my religious background, feel more at ease and more inclined to refer me to others knowing that I am Christian). There are still dangers though, as there are in many professions, but massage just seems to be the one that allows more of an open door for things to happen. But if you are a therapist and your mind is set on fleshly things, then that is what will come out in a session. Same with a client. If you are receiving a massage, You are in control (to a certain degree) of what the Therapist can and cannot do! The therapist already has restrictions by his or her state licensing or certifications and you can ADD on to those restrictions and the therapist must comply, unless you are suggesting something that is out of the therapists Scope of Practice. Also, there are no “courses” (not to my knowledge) that will teach a husband/wife to massage their spouse that isn’t overtly sexual in nature (which isn’t a problem since you are married… but be careful what you invite into your marriage bed.. the type of massage I do is NOT the same!) If your spouse questions the fact that you are getting a massage from a member of the opposite sex, COMMUNICATE have a conversation as to why you/they feel that way! I had an instance where this was the case, and I totally understood! I have met both parties on separate occasions and I talked about my practice and they have spoken to people that I have treated (since I work with a chiropractor). The main fear that was brought up to me is that the spouse had a preconceived notion of what Therapists were like. And I told him I understood where he was coming from and that he has every right to feel the way he feels given the climate of how massage is viewed in entertainment. And there are many people out there abusing and perverting their talents. I, for one, paid too much to be licensed just to easily throw it away. And yes, There are MANY religious and secular undertones in the art of massage. Not everyone who is a Massage Therapist practices them. As I have stated earlier, I put my faith into my practice. There are things I do not do, just because I know their origin from school and research. As the word says “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.” Everyone is truly able to (and I believe SHOULD) receive a massage (from credible Therapists), but everyone should truly weigh the pro’s and cons if they believe that this will hinder them in any way(Will my spouse be ok with this? Will it damage my testimony/Will it benefit the Kingdom (since many people have already a preconceived notion that massage is Sexual so this also plays a factor in those that are in leadership positions in their local church)? Am I doing this to fulfill a physical desire? Who will be affected by this and how? Etcetera) With anything, come to your own conclusion. Ask your therapists questions about their practice if you are unsure… They may be GREAT therapists but they may not be the therapist for YOU! And Pray and Seek wise counsel. I believe this article has opened up a discussion into a realm that very few actually know or even talk about. Those of us that are Christian and just so happen to be Licensed and Certified should not be offended by it, but take the opportunity educate and tell our side as best as possible. LikeLiked by 1 person Kim Purdy says: July 11, 2018 at 2:57 AM I am a licensed bodywork therapist, 33 years. I am Christian, but even prior to realizing my acceptance of Jesus as my lord and savior there never would have been the day that I would have used my profession for profit using sex? It would go against the profession, regardless of ones spiritual belief, I would think? When the bible discusses pharmacopeia it is likely to do with the satanic BIG PHARMA, and few Christians blink an eye to use these chemicals that do NO good at the end of the day but suppress the root of the pain. These issues are not the practitioners but are in the client. When I work with my clients I actually do not ask them if they are Christian, and I rarely even discuss my faith with them unless I know who I am dealing with, I simply am hired to help with what is ailing them. Personally I would be happy if all my clients were Christian and as always your husband is safe with me, WOW! You do know that you created the sin. Kim Purdy says: July 11, 2018 at 4:11 AM Too mention one other thing, Iatrogenic IS am actual thing. It is a simple and pure theory and nowhere in the bible does it challenge reality. It is possible that someone could quite easily become very ill, or actually die from the medication given to ‘help’. Not to say it will happen to everyone that takes the medicine really the wellness of the person has to be taken into account as well and someone walking in Jesus can likely be that person. Unless people are expendable then who gives someone the right to cause someone harm? You do realize that many harmful drugs were given to Jews in Nazi concentration camps as well as what the side effects of cyanide were by hearing, smelling and watching what happens to these people on dying….I am appalled truly by how many people do did and try to shove a reality down the throats of innocence. Syphilis was given on experiment to black men, Mercury was used for 600 years to COMBAT syphilis, black men were given treatment for BOTH and recuperated many that had no faith, received those that had plenty, excelled… maybe being well is a better way to enter the Kingdom of God, doesn’t Jesus have something better to do with his time than healing people of their own idiocy? how about teaching them how to create a better existence for themselves and those that are here, too? Why else would the bible say LOVE your brother? I have a very god walk with my Lord and he has not shown me the truth of the perpetuated lie on ‘these things never happened in history, theory’. When he tells me the word I hear him and know. But blasphemers of truth will never enlighten me. Pingback: Sollte ein Christ Körpermassagen erhalten? Mike says: September 30, 2018 at 4:23 AM I think it is not right for a Christian to get a massage for the following reasons: 1.The healing benefits of many massage techniques are based in religious belief systems other than Christianity. If you receive a massage, you run the risk of getting it from someone who is utilizing a religious belief system different then yours. You are unwittingly condoning that belief system. 2. As the original article explains, the sensual nature of the touching could result in sexual arousal. 3. Massages are hedonistic. The great Saints and Doctors of the Church practiced corporal mortification, depriving their bodies through fasting, going without warmth and sleeping on hard floors. We should be disciplining our bodies, not pampering them. 4. Working as a masseur or masseuse is degrading. We should not be disrespect our brothers and sisters in Christ by expecting them to partake in such servile activity. 5. It is a waste of time and money. If you have extra money and time that you don’t need for something else that is necessary, devote it to the poor or the community instead of frivolously spending it on a temporary pleasure. November 22, 2019 at 4:21 PM It is not pampering. If you came to my establishment looking for pampering I would ask you to leave. It is not degrading to be a therapist, it is degrading to deal with people that do not know God and put a label on you. November 23, 2019 at 3:36 PM If you look up the definition of the word “pamper” in the Merriam Webster dictionary online, it says, “to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention”. Note the use of the words “extreme” and “excessive”. Since massages done solely for pleasure are not strictly necessary, it is reasonable to view them as “pampering”. You didn’t explain what type of establishment you are running and what your definition of “pampering” is. Maybe you just do clinical massages for medical injuries. If that’s the case, someone coming just for a relaxation massage would be crossing a line. When massages are done for needless pleasure of the recipient at the expense of the labor of the person doing the work, an argument can be made that the work itself is “degrading”. That does not mean that the person doing the work is less valuable as a human being. Anonymous says: June 13, 2020 at 3:14 PM Well since a masseuse is not the same thing as a massage therapist you just showed you have no idea what you are even speaking on and massage therapy is another form of physical therapy so I guess if you’re referred for that you won’t be taking that treatment either and you’ve obviously never needed it because there are many MEDICAL benefits and they hold a MEDICAL license just like any other healthcare professional December 1, 2018 at 12:26 AM Interesting blog … I’m a Christian woman who is also a licensed massage therapist for over 12 years! First let me say we work hard in school and to pass the state exams. We care governed under the health Care boards just like nurses and doctors. We are NOT into prostitution! Period ! When you come see us for a massage because you are in pain , stressed or whatever. .. We make you fill out paperwork just like a doctor’s office does. We let you know upfront we are professional and that the massage is therapeutic only to help you ..nothing funny ! Of course you might get the odd man who is a pervert! We don’t put up with it ! We warn them and will call the police if necessary. We are not here to take advantage of anyone. We are in the health and wellness only ! There is great massage therapists out here that actually are here to help you ! Please don’t get it twisted and think otherwise. Whet you go to the doctor for your exam you have to get naked.. under a,sheet or wear a gown they provide. He has to.touch you to examine you . Do you think it’s perverted then ? No because the doctor is there to help you with your medical issues. He has to examine you . Why do or or think massage is not right from a Christian point of view ? I have massaged MANY Christian people in my years in practice..including MANY pastors . End of story ! DON’T be so quick to judge! LikeLiked by 1 person February 5, 2019 at 2:11 PM well everyone I feel lost reading all your post. I have only started my course in massage therapy yesterday because my husband often gives me a massage after coming from work. As a social worker, i found this helpful to distract myself and release my stress. I thought I can actually help others using the skills of remedial massage therapy. I am also a christian and thinking to only work with women when I finished my studies. On the other hand, this can be discriminating when a therapist chooses to only work with certain group of people . I have no problem massaging men or women but I am more concern that I may contribute to man feeling of temptation after reading the following verses:Roman 8:9;Matthew 18:6-9;1 Corinthian 8 :13;Mark 9:42.Please pray that God helps me make the right decision. LikeLiked by 1 person February 5, 2019 at 1:29 PM February 9, 2019 at 7:38 PM Paupau, read my post below. I will pray for you, but know that if your heart has the right intentions, you shouldn’t worry. There are probably a lot of people out there who would love to have a Christian massage provider, but don’t know of any services available. Many massage therapy places are heavily influenced by New Age if not run by New Agers. Even when going to national retail franchises you sometimes can’t escape their influence. Again, if you read my post you’ll see my experience with one of them. If you are serious about exploring the idea of providing massage services to others, my humble advice is that you get your certification and that you join a franchise part-time. I sincerely doubt you will get weird clients (especially men) looking for sexual massages, as franchises (such as Massage Envy, Hand and Stone, etc.) are reputable and well run. Remember, Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” February 9, 2019 at 6:21 PM I am a Christian woman who became born again just a couple of years ago. As such, I take this matter seriously. With that said, I felt the need to chime in because I often get massages (I go to a franchise massage/facial provider) due to painful knots in my back and shoulders. I’ve had both women and men therapists and I prefer men. From my experience, women simply do not have the strength to apply the necessary pressure on knots or trigger points and sometimes end up using their full arm on my back which is not effective as you can’t adjust the arm to get to knots stuck between hard-to-get-to problem areas like between shoulder blades. With men, I’ve gotten more consistent results. Also, I once had a female therapist last year (you sometimes don’t know who you’re getting) who I caught reciting something over me at the end of the session. I immediately told her to stop and asked her what she was doing. She told me it was something to bring peace and I said I wasn’t interested, so she honored my request. Needless to say I was uncomfortable and prayed to God to cleanse me of any evil spirit this lady may have invoked through any New Age or ungodly practice. I never saw her again. Another time, this other lady (who was fond of sharing her personal life with me) ended up crying over me when she broke up with her boyfriend, also a very uncomfortable experience. So, I’ve decided to stick with men. They are strong and can work my knots really well. They’re also quiet, not chatty like most women I’ve had, which I appreciate. As for sexual arousal, that’s the last thing on my mind. I go to my therapists because I’m hurting badly and need relief of my neck and back. My therapists have their work cut-out for them and spend a good hour to hour and a half wrestling with stubborn knots, as opposed to sensually touching me. So, I think that, as with everything, one needs to examine one’s motives for getting massages. If it’s more for medical or therapeutic reasons, I’d say it is perfectly acceptable. On the other hand, if the motivation is to get touched and sensually aroused, then the obvious answer is NO, it should not be done. LikeLiked by 1 person February 15, 2019 at 10:09 AM I agree with the content of this article. I am a man of 35, having a handicap, being single.Recently I had an edema and was advised to go to a young woman for massage. I went there some times, but then I had to quit. Nothing immoral happened, but my soul was at unrest. Based on Romans 12:1-2 i understood, I had to commit my body and thoughts to the Lord, and not do anything that can ruin the testimony of my life and the preaching of the gospel. It might not be bad on itself, but it can be misunderstood. My question. Would Jesus have got a body massage from a woman? I do not think so. We are not only sou, we are also flesh. LikeLiked by 1 person Anonymous says: April 16, 2019 at 5:11 AM Sister Rosalind’s in MN is a chain of Christian based massage and chiropractic offices Anonymous says: March 22, 2021 at 9:30 AM Just simply ask your self.. Who was the first Masuere Physical Therapist in the Bible.. surely you understand YOU ARE THE POTTER AND I AM THE CLAY.. who created Human from the dust and breath in his Nostril.Who put perfection of the body organs of human… who mold touch human first.. the way you think if massage is evil an bad? why? only your thought and action make it bad not God who created us. Andrew says: October 10, 2021 at 6:48 PM All christians go through temptations irrespective of the professions they are in. There are more risk professions than others to christians who want to walk the journey of christian faith. Amongst areas of concerns are: military, alcohol and tobacco, medical industry including couseling therapy and now massage therapy. All its about how you face it and handle it. There are three areas in bible about temptations: Eve and adam in Genesis 3 and how they blamed not themseves but others. The book of Job and how he responded to the change. Temptation of Jesus Christ and how he responded.Luke 4:1-14. These helps you make informed choices after putting consideration of faith of others whom you may be leading them in christian faithand also your spouse. LikeLiked by 1 person Leave a Reply to Jose Cancel reply Email (Address never made public) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Top Posts "Christian" appears only 3 times in The Bible! The Oil Of Gladness. November 2015 S M T W T S « Oct Dec » Browse Our Gallery! Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. 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After about 40 days of offline-ness, rainskit.com is back up, mostly. gwen.rainskit.com is still down, but the rest of the websites are up. tru_tags (and instructions) are back up. The gallery is working. From a visitor’s point of view, everything (except gwen.rainskit.com) is working as it was before. Of course, all is not quite as it seems… So, back before the outage, here’s basically how things were set up: A friend was hosting all my websites (including galleries) on his Mac Mini, in his apartment a Columbia University, where he had a static IP and really good upload speeds That server was also the primary mail server for rainskit.com, but my home server acted as a secondary mail server (so if his server was down, email would still get delivered), and all email was also forwarded to Gmail He had an amazing set of anti-spam tools, so we got very little spam I had a great set of daily backup scripts that backed up everything (of mine) from his server, plus everything from my home server, plus everything on my home desktop, to a dedicated hard drive in the home server So I felt very confident that all my data and services were secure, and that a single outage of anything wouldn’t cause a problem. And mostly I was right. What happened is that about 5 weeks ago (right after I finally blogged again!), the hard drive in the Mac Mini bit the dust. OK, not such a big deal (for me) because all my data is backed up (right?) and all my email is automatically routing through the secondary mail server (right?) and forwarding on to Gmail. And yes, I checked – all my data was backed up, and my email was making it to Gmail. Woohoo! Mark up a win for preparedness! But then things got complicated. My friend was in the middle of finals, plus the Christmas holidays were coming up, plus I (later) found out that my friend’s backup disk was in a format that could only (easily) be read by the Mac Mini – so it was going to be very difficult for him to get the backup data up and running on a new machine. So suddenly I was looking at a month-long (or longer) outage. That complicates things. First, I needed to notify visitors about the problem. That was fairly easy – I just updated the DNS records for all my sites to point at the home server, and put up an error page. Check. Second, I needed to figure out what to do about the email that was queuing up. See, email that goes to my secondary server (here at home) usually gets forwarded on to my friend’s server, for spam filtering and final storage (so I can see it in Thunderbird, for example). But with his server down, it was just sitting on my server, and eventually my server would give up trying to forward it on, and bounce it back to the original sender, making them think that I never received it, even though I would have already seen it in Gmail, by then. So I poked around the qmail documentation, and discovered that I could increase the timeout before mail would bounce. It is currently set to about 80 days, and there are currently (after 40 days) about 800 messages in the queue, waiting to be delivered. But OK, that will work, temporarily. Third, a bunch of people wanted access to the tru_tags documentation, but it wasn’t accessible. I finally tracked down a version at archive.org and posted that on the error page. It really should have been included in the plugin, but I took it out because it was so large, and I figured it was good enough to be on my website. Oops! So finally today I decided that I wasn’t going to wait for my friend to get his site back up, and sat down to get my websites back up on my home server. And mostly I was successful. A few things I wasn’t prepared for, though: The hard drive I was planning on using (on my home server) didn’t have enough free disk space to host my gallery (10gb), so I had to put the sites on the drive I use for backups – which means that if that single drive fails, I lose the pictures and the backups of the pictures. Which makes the backups pretty much useless. Crap. That needs to be fixed ASAP, but for now (as long as I don’t upload new pictures), it’s no worse than it was yesterday (when the pictures were only on that backup drive…) I discovered that I forgot to backup the database for gwen.rainskit.com. I have all the pictures, but the database has users, descriptions, comments, etc. So I’m hoping that my friend has the database on his backup, and I’m waiting until I find out to try to fix it. I discovered that I forgot to backup my wife’s email. Oops. Gmail has everything, but it’s not the same as having her Inbox, and her folders, and all her old emails right where she left them. Again, I hope my friend has them backed up, and until I find out, I’m not fixing the email setup. So there’s still a lot of work to be done before I’ll be able to withstand another failure (of any sort!). And it’s not fun work, but I’ve already seen its value once :) (will not be displayed) (not required) Browse by Tag abortion, addiction, agile, apple, benjamin, books, bridgid, buddhism, business, christmas, dogs, driving, economics, effectiveness, electronics, family, flying, food, geek, government, guns, gwen, intelligence, kristina, learning, lent, liam, life, links, motorcycle, netbsd, perl, phone, photography, pictures, pkgsrc, podcasting, politics, popcorn, product management, programming, rainskit.com, religion, reviews, school, scouts, smuganizer, tagging, terrorism, textpattern, travel, truist.com, tru_podcast, tru_tags, usability, vegetarian, weaknesses	5,607
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You can’t imagine a single car transport company or broker providing consumers with services across the entire country without collaborating with independent car shipping carriers. The third entity in the auto shipping industry is actually the notorious one. Lead providers seem to be brokers, but in reality, are not. They obtain leads and then sell the information to other brokers. Their websites are also designed in such a way to give the impression of an actual auto shipping broker, but they in fact, only collect visitor information to sell to actual brokers. Move Car works differently than other auto shipping brokers. With our tracking technology and safety compliance checks, we are your direct connection between consumers and the auto shipping carriers. Not only do you know who's moving your car, but you can see that in real-time. That's what an auto shipping broker should be. Welcome to Move Car and find out how to move a car. 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We have shipped thousands of vehicles across the states in all these years and our workload continues to increase every single year, reflecting the trust and reputation we have built over time because of our quality services. When it comes to shipping cars, Move Car knows everything there is. Our car shipping services include open car transport, enclosed car shipping, expedited auto transport, and door to door vehicle transportation for consumers. Enclosed Car Shipping Services Need your car shipped with extra care? We understand how dear your car is to you. Our enclosed car shipping services are there for classic cars, exotics cars, or just regular cars with very protective owners. We don't judge. Running short on time? That's no problem for Move Car. Our expedited car transport service ensures speedy delivery to meet your short timelines. It's a quick, yet safe option for when you can't wait. Door to door vehicle transportation, and no other way we'd want it. Choose your preferred pickup location and destination and get your car delivered to that exact address. It's just like shipping a package. A really big package. Our open car transportation services are economical and one of a kind. Did you know all brand new cars are shipped on an open auto hauler? Save money and get excellent treatment for you and your car? It's a win-win. With various years of experience in the auto transport industry, the main goal of Move Car auto transport is to ensure the safest and most timely transportation possible. When shipping cars to or from any state in the USA, it is important to consider a firm that guarantees delivery to every location in the USA. In addition to this, if you need an enclosed car carrier or an open carrier, you can rely on our reliable service to assist you with all your vehicle transportation needs Furthermore, we offer auto shipping across different cities in the USA for your cars in all size specifications. Also, you can expect highly efficient car transport services by choosing to work with us! We offer safe and prompt Auto Shipping and even at prices that you can live with then. Move Car Auto Transport is America's #1 car shipping services company. Use our instant car transport calculator for hassle free pricing. For well over many years, we have been offering excellent door-to-door services countrywide at even a low price. Do you need a moving company? Move Car understands you and your vehicle deserve courtesy and respect. We come to you. It's Move Car Car Transport done your way. Shipping your car doesn't have to be a hassle. To become a happy customer of our transportation services, call Move Car auto transport today. Move Car provides Auto Shipping that hustles. And VIP drivers will handle your car with the same care and caution that you would. Rely on Move Car Car Transport and Care, Courtesy and Efficiency are par for the course. Move Car understands that although auto shipping services are reasonably priced, not everyone has the same income; thereby, not everyone can afford them. Consequently, to help you transport your car without emptying your wallet, we've prepared a few special discounts besides our standard low-price options. Nevertheless, when you are ready to ship your car or any other vehicle, we will arrange and complete the pick-up for you. Our driver and even office team will keep you in close contact during this step, assuring that everyone understands the process and schedule. Moreover, now that your auto is being transported to its desired destination. You can then easily rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands. However, suppose you do have any questions or queries. In that case, our office team will remain very active in monitoring your vehicle shipment and also will be happy to continue answering all inquiries. We are excited to serve you! At Move Car, you can find several auto transport services and then choose accordingly. However, you can choose between open car shipping, door-to-door car shipping, and oversized vehicle transport. You need to know that our professional auto transport company advisors at Move Car work passionately to ensure that you work with the best vehicle transport company. As Move Car, we are widely considered one of the best car auto transport companies. Find out how to move a car.	10,654
Delta, in cooperation with joint venture partner Air France KLM, will bring nonstop trans-Atlantic service from Indianapolis to its European hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle beginning May 24, 2018. "Indiana and the Indianapolis metropolitan area has long been an important part of our route network and we are honored that ... Sept. 6, 2017, 2:15 p.m. Employees build first KaBOOM! playground in Indianapolis Despite the heat, more than 100 Delta employees and their friends and family members as well as more than 100 volunteers from KIPP Indy built Delta's first playground in Indianapolis for KIPP Indy Unite Elementary Saturday. Indianapolis employees, including those located in the Ohio Valley Region, spanning from every division ...	758
Are you ready to grow your own food? There is no better way to know where your food comes from than growing it yourself. Gardening may seem like a lot of work, but if you start small and plan carefully, you can have an abundant garden in as little as 20 minutes a day. There are many benefits of starting a garden, including exercise, fresh air, and nutritious foods. It also helps with stress relief and offers peace and tranquility. If you are thinking about starting your own garden, read on for some helpful tips on how to get started with the best possible outcome. When building a garden, you first need to know what you’ll need to get started. When growing vegetables, you’ll need to make sure they have a suitable environment in which to grow. You’ll need to provide a source of light, water, and nutrients. You’ll also need to create a controlled environment to protect your plants from pests and diseases. Here are some basic materials you will need to get started: Growing trays or containers – You can use just about anything to grow your plants in. However, you will want something with good drainage to prevent root rot. Light source – If your garden is indoors, you’ll need some sort of light source. If you don’t have a lot of room, you can use a fluorescent or LED light source. If you have a lot of room, you can use a full-spectrum light source. Watering can – You’ll want a watering can that has a trigger so you can control how much water you’re putting on your plants. Nutrients – You’ll need to provide your plants with the nutrients they need to grow. You can use organic fertilizers such as fish meal, blood meal, or worm castings. When you start a simple garden, the first thing you should do is plan your garden. You’ll want to decide what you’re going to plant and how much of each vegetable you’ll need to harvest throughout the year. The best way to do this is to start a garden journal. In your journal, list the vegetables you want to grow and the amount you want to harvest. You’ll also want to list the space each plant will take up in your garden. This will help you decide how many plants to grow and where to put them. If you have a backyard or patio, you can start a garden bed. If you live in a condo or apartment, you can also start a simple garden. There are many types of small gardens that are easy to grow indoors. You can also start a container garden, which is growing plants in pots. When starting a simple garden, you first want to decide which vegetables you would like to grow. You’ll want to choose vegetables that are easy to grow and have a short growing season. You’ll also want to make sure your vegetable will produce a lot of yield per plant. Some great vegetables to start with include: Beans – Beans are easy to grow and can be harvested all year long. They are also a good source of protein. Broccoli – Broccoli is a cool season vegetable that can be harvested in about 50 days. It’s also a good source of fiber and vitamins B, C, E, and K. Cucumbers – Cucumbers are warm-season vegetables that are easy to grow and can be harvested in about 75 days. They are a good source of vitamins A and C. Peas – Peas are cool-season vegetables that can be harvested in about 55 days. They are also a good source of protein, B vitamins, and minerals. Potatoes – Potatoes are warm-season vegetables that can be harvested in about 100 days. They are also a good source of vitamins C and B6 and minerals such as iron, zinc, and selenium. Spinach – Spinach is a cool-season vegetable that can be harvested in about 40 days. It’s also a good source of vitamins A, C, E, and K, iron, and zinc. Tomatoes – Tomatoes are a warm-season vegetables that can be harvested in about 70 days. They are also a good source of vitamins A and C and lycopene, which can help prevent cancer and heart disease. Soil and Seed Selection After you’ve chosen the vegetables you want to grow, the next step is to select your soil and seed. When selecting soil, you want to make sure it’s loose, light, and has good drainage. You can also add compost to your soil to improve its quality. When selecting your seeds, it’s important to buy seeds that are specifically for gardens. You also want to make sure you buy seeds from a reputable company. Some great vegetables to start with are: Beans – Beans grow well in loamy soil, and they can be harvested in about 55 to 75 days. Broccoli – Broccoli grows best in loamy soil, and it can be harvested in about 75 days. Cucumbers – Cucumbers grow best in sandy loam soil, and they can be harvested in about 75 days. Peas – Peas grow well in loamy soil, and they can be harvested in about 50 to 55 days. Potatoes – Potatoes grow best in sandy loam soil, and they can be harvested in about 100 days. Spinach – Spinach grows best in sandy loam soil, and it can be harvested in about 40 days. Tomatoes – Tomatoes grow best in sandy loam soil, and they can be harvested in about 70 days. How to Start a Simple Garden: Step by Step Now that you know what you need and want to grow, it’s time to start your garden. Begin by tilling your soil to make sure it’s ready to plant. You can also add some compost to help improve the quality of your soil. Once your soil is ready, you can begin planting. Pick a location for your garden: If you’re growing indoors, you can use pots or planters. If you’re growing outdoors, pick a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Select your plants: Select your seeds and make sure you plant them at the correct depth. For example, tomatoes should be planted 2 to 3 inches deep, while cucumbers should be planted 1 inch deep. Prepare your garden: Dig a hole at the spot where you want to plant each vegetable. Add compost or fertilizer to your soil to improve its quality. Plant your seeds: Place a seed in each hole, making sure to cover it with soil so that only the sprout is showing. Water and nurture your plants: Once your plants have sprouted, water them regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Be sure to remove weeds as they appear and make sure they get enough sunlight. Harvest your vegetables: Harvest your vegetables before they reach full maturity to get the best flavor and vitamins. Dispose of your plants: Once the growing season ends, you can compost your plants or feed them to your animals. There are many benefits to starting your own garden, including exercise, fresh air, and nutritious foods. It also helps with stress relief and offers peace and tranquility. Eventually, you’ll be harvesting your vegetables to enjoy in fresh and healthy meals. What’s an escrow? – All you need to know about the process Related Posts Are you ready to grow your own food? There is no better way to know where your food comes from… What is the most important place in your house? Do you think it is the living room or maybe the… 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. I'm Tanya, a stay-at-home mom to two rambunctious kids. I also have a side hustle as an interior designer and I also make some crafts to sell on etsy.	7,544
Yet we live in an era of casual fashion. What used to be called "sportswear" is the expected everyday clothing for most of us. Dramatic asks for stiffness and tailoring, but most of what's available in department stores is unconstructed and soft, and the stiff, tailored pieces are expensive! Dramatic asks for avant-garde pieces, but some women who are Dramatic blends aren't comfortable with those looks, or don't have access to those items. Dramatic asks for an aggressive energy, but some Dramatic types don't feel comfortable channeling aggression. So if you are a Dramatic blend Dramatic, what are your easy options for creating a Dramatic impression? A visual element that's very important for Dramatics is the impression of an unbroken vertical line. You can buy pieces as a set... or you can create a visually unbroken line by simply matching your bottoms to your top. If the color is continuous, people will perceive the line as being elongated. The monochromatic look is also visually intense, which reads as Dramatic. If it's practical, choose the heel-length or floor-length option of a skirt or pants, and tops with overly long sleeves. Tall, narrow heels are good for Dramatics, because they increase the impression of length. But heels are uncomfortable and often impractical. You can skip heels, and instead just make sure your flats are tapered or pointed in the toe. If you have long hair, a bun or a slicked-back low ponytail is a very quick Dramatic hairstyle. Show off those striking features! If you have very short hair, slick it back with gel. (This actually looks great for long hair too.) Blocks of black and white read as Dramatic, and you can create this effect even if you're a Light or Soft season; just combine your versions of black and white, and it will read as Dramatic. If you're not comfortable coming across as intimidating, focus instead on projecting a silent intensity with your ensemble. If you don't have access to avant-garde garments, you can do sleek, simple minimalism in your clothes, and then bring the avant-garde energy with one or two very edgy, minimalist, sharp-edged, oversized accessories you find online. If your garments aren't constructed, at least keep your silhouette narrow. Women who are Dramatic blends: what are some quick tips and tricks you can share for implementing Dramatic in an everyday wardrobe? THANK YOU, Rachel! I'm primarily a Dramatic-Ingenue (with some Natural and Classic) about to go athleisure shopping today, and was dreading it. Incidentally, the very last image is almost exactly what my one good athletic outfit looks like. I work from home, so I sadly don't get the chance to explore my full visual potential on an everyday basis without impeding my attempts to exercise when I'm not working! I've found pairing an outfit like the last image with a very tailored, stiff, structured coat (I like to have a "vampiric" collar too, that I bring up around my neck) brings that high-fashion, intimidating element that is so lacking from contemporary casual fashion. I prefer to wear combat boots or hiking boots with a D finish (shiny leather, patent, something futuristic) instead of sneakers, too. Any heel that makes noise as you walk! (Summer, yes, is really challenging. I usually just opt for "minimal," or explore my Ingenue side, and try to bring Dramatic in with slicked-back hair and accessories/makeup. I do the opposite for the winter, when my wardrobe can be very D – I have graphic blunt bangs and very long, blunt hair, that I leave a bit tousled to evoke the Ingenue and touch of Natural.) I also highly recommend leather or leather-finish leggings. I wear my leather leggings (found by chance in a consignment shop) so often in the autumn/winter that the seam ripped and I have to get them repaired. They go with everything for a D blend. I can wear them to travel with an oversized dark sweater (monochrome), then throw on heels and I'm ready for dinner. They are as comfortable as sweatpants. And, if you're a D or D blend, people will not blink if you wear leather pants, even if you're not in a very fashionable area. They will not look like "too much," trust me. Keeping in mind that maintaining a healthy body image is the most important thing (I didn't realize how Dramatic I was for years because I was comparing my tall, thin body and strong features to images of the tallest, thinnest, most extreme people in the world), "model off duty" looks are great inspiration for Dramatics. The Hadid sisters' athleisure looks are good everyday options. Cool insights! I'm a Dramatic blend and at one point was searching for a pair of leather leggings, and you've inspired me to keep searching! As a Dramatic blend, one thing I've been trying to do is to create an unbroken line but also add contrast in the colors by layering. So for example, this might mean wearing a black fitted jacket and black pants but wearing the jacket unzipped and a red shirt underneath. While I like monochromatic looks, I find that they don't provide enough contrast for my coloring, so the above strategy has been my workaround. I think a monochromatic outfit paired with lipstick and/or shoes in a contrasting color might be another way to achieve an "unbroken line" while still adding contrast. Another thing I've learned lately is that I need to be careful about not going TOO dramatic with an outfit. I think I'm about 50% Dramatic, and when my outfit is mostly Dramatic--particularly when the elements around my face are mostly/totally Dramatic--it overwhelms me and looks too harsh. A non-clothing related tip is to have a monochromatic haircolor--I recently went from having ombre style hair to one pure tone, and the single tone is much more harmonious with my overall look. "What used to be called "sportswear" is the expected everyday clothing for most of us" - those don't actually work for most of us, not just Dramatics (or D blends)!! For example, anyone with R, I or E or C... Well, basically everyone that's not full-on N! So it's truly strange if sportswear indeed HAS become "expected everyday clothing" (same goes for jeans) - though where I live, it's not so much that for everyone, mostly just teens. I'm not Dramatic nor a Dramatic blend, but I loved this so much! Hope it becomes a series for every archetype :) In the future I really would like to see more posts about hairstyles or hair in general (like the one you already made), for example, to know how to adapt some hairstyles and updos to each archetype, for example, what would a natural or romantic bun look like, which types of braids or braided updos look are better suited for each archetype etc, things like that! Too many "for example" lol Sorry, it was an accident I totally second wanting to see more about hairstyles or hair in general! :) I've got mine pretty well sorted out, but open to new ideas as well, plus the eternal issue about reconciling your inner-longhairedness with getting older, when the general society judges long hair "not appropriate"... Would be nice to have some ideas in advance for that. KC I'd like advice about curly hairstyles for people with masculine or Classic essences--and there are probably women out there who want to know how they can make their straight hair work for feminine essences. If our beauty philosophy is to embrace and enhance what nature gave us, then we should be able to accommodate curly-haired Dramatics and straight-haired Romantics, by golly! I certainly don't want to destroy my hair with straighteners just to flatter the Gamine and possible Natural in my appearance. KC, oh yes, that too - I have mostly feminine essences and naturally straight hair ;) I'm certainly not willing to destroy my hair (which any heated appliances will do) to suit my style ID, but I do use non-heat curlers quite a lot, I just like my hair more not-straight (I intuitively know it doesn't suit me that well, even without consciously thinking of style essences). But yeah, it would be nice to have some ideas how to make straight hair work, too! (Also as the current constantly rainy / drizzly weather here quite destroys my "style cred" as soon as I step out ;)) It would be nice to see something like this about ethereals. I'm mostly ethereal, but neither about to go to the prom nor get married. Nothing showing would ever be wearable for me. I work professionally, go to grocery stores, and live in a small, rural town. I don't want to get myself shot as a space alien. I agree Agnes. I've got a good dose of ethereal but am not really incorporating it successfully in part because I don't like irridescence, glitter, shimmer or galaxy prints, also because my colouring is warmer than the colours associated with it. If I were a bride I would probably go heavy on the ethereal but I don't find it easy to incorporate into a jeans and sweater with ankle boots sort of wardrobe. I also have a large dose of gamine which is rather opposite and I find that one much easier to employ. Did you see the post on ethereal where Rachel shows how shapes os clothing can bring in the element. For example in jeans you are looking at the boot leg jean which is great for an ethereal type. Also remember that design can be ethereal too. So for instance, in a sweater you could maybe go for something with a cable type design in it such as an Aran jumper. Or maybe make your textures a little more ethereal, go for a slightly softer texture could read as more ethereal, particularly if you layer up a top and a long cardigan which would then give some busyness, as ethereal is high detail. Things with cut outs are ethereal. Lighter fabric shirts. Things that sit softly rather than constructed or formal. Colour can also bring the ethereal element into your wardrobe, ethereal colour is soft and low contrast. Ethereal styles and designs are ancient. So anything based on very ancient style such as a princess waist dress which is the same as old Grecian style dresses. Maybe really study the essence of ethereal to be able to bring it into your everyday life. Remember too that long lines are ethereal, so make your sweater, T-shirt’s, shirts and cardigans all longer rather than classic sit at the waist type. It takes a while but it is a very doable look. I also am mainly a stay at home with low income but I am bringing in more ethereal into my blended look. It is worthwhile persevering with as you will feel so much more comfortable with yourself. W. Fabulous post!! I LOVE this!! And the comments: also wonderful. Such great insights A. and Megan, and yes Agnes, I hear you about trying to get ethereal elements into a look without looking alien or like you got lost while filming a fantasy-drama. So, at the risk of saying "This was a great post! - Um.... could you do it for all the style types?" .... Well, I'll just say it: Oh my word, that was such a great post, could you do it for all the style types?? Your shopping and visual guides (and perfume guides and all guides) are fantastic! They're like a full refrigerator full of food. But this little snippet - sort of 'here's how to make a meal of this with stuff you have on hand' - this is really, really helpful. Insanely helpful, seriously, thank you. I think a lot of the style IDs are like the 12 seasons - you really have to Drape to see the effect. For example, I think of dramatic/ethereal as the dark autumn/dark winter of style ID -- they're hard to tell apart at a glance. Like, is that gamine or ingenue detail? Is that a light summer pink or a light spring coral? At a glance and through a computer screen, it can be hard to say. In person, however, it might be totally glaringly obvious. And in that way, this post really was a light bulb moment for me. I kept wondering if I had some Dramatic, as I'm tall and narrow and masculine-inspired clothing often works well for me. But then I'm going down this like a checklist and realizing how none of it works for me: pointy toes? hoo boy, I look ridiculous in those. Monochrome? eh, maybe, but only in light, softened colors, and tone-on-tone with a TON of texture is better than a perfect match. high contrast? nope. just nope. slicked back hair? er... pass. -- Like, these are such GORGEOUS style tips - and I can imagine them looking fabulous on so many women -- but for me, these would not look right. So that right there was SO helpful as a self-drape test. And I imagine this would be so helpful in the other style IDs as well! Even... and I know this ID is often seen as the 'easy' one - but also in Natural. See, I'm beginning to think that I may be mostly - perhaps ALL - Natural. I think any ethereal/dramatic/other element is due to unusually pale coloring. I finally got frustrated with women's sizing and went shopping in the men's dept. the other day - hallelujah and light bulb moment: the men's clothes looked SO much better and more flattering than women's clothing -- even just the t-shirts fit my proportions better and made my face look balanced. So again: draping. Definitely needed to drape. But as I'm trying to lean into Natural, I find I get confused. The concept of "Natural" is very muddy in my mind - even after reading all your posts about it - and Kibbe's stuff, as well. Yet I still find it one of the harder categories to understand because it ends up being 'the catch-all category' or, as one blogger put it, 'the lumpen peasant' category. It's hard to think about a style ID that's defined by being 'the norm.' It's also hard when so many explanations of it seem neutral at best, often outright negative at worst. Descriptors like 'rugged' or 'handsome' or 'free' help, but again, I find I'm having to really reorganize my thinking on this category. Further, I think a lot of the fashion world uses the word 'classic' to refer to 'whatever I find most expected in clothing and style' -- which in much of the States - esp. the West Coast -- means Natural. Meanwhile, what stylists mean as 'classic' is traditional or ladylike or something FAR different than what get's called a 'modern classic' or whatever. And I also think that part of the confusion is the price of Natural clothing nowadays. After all, 'casual' no longer means 'cheap.' In an era when synthetic fibers and mass production are cheaper than ever before, all-natural fabrics, artisan crafting, etc. all are markers of expensive clothing. Natural has gone high end. I think of Eileen Fisher - one of the most Natural brands out there - and to me, that's expensive stuff. My most flattering coat - one I get a million compliments on - is a very Natural shaped men's overcoat made from cruelty-free wool - and it took me forever to save up for it. I find pure Natural pieces are often investment pieces these days -- and it's rarer to find 100% natural fibers, handcrafting, etc. So Natural can - at least in my experience - seem deceptively avant garde or unusual simply because I have trouble finding these crafted pieces in big box stores. Lastly, I think Natural can be easy to overlook because it's just so... unassuming. It's easy for Natural to be subsumed by other elements that get added on. I keep having to pull my hand away from things that I think are Natural because they look cozy or casual or easy -- because they often have elements that aren't Natural -- romantic detail, gamine playfulness, etc. While maybe some folks can identify Pure Natural (TM) at the drop of a hat, I am really having to train my W. I'm having to train my eye. And I think I wrote too much and got cut off. XD Well anyhow: Natural. As you said, Rachel in the comments on your Natural Post: "I see it over and over in my analyses: a strongly Natural woman is "meh" in almost everything, then I suddenly drape her in Natural clothes and she instantly becomes gorgeous. It's a striking change." ^ This is what I'm finding -- well, maybe not 'gorgeous,' but at least not desperately uncomfortable. And along those lines, even if Natural IS the 'average' or 'expected' category, I know that I for one could always use any more insight about it. It's so very easy to feel the need to spice things up, and sometimes keeping things unabashedly simple and rugged is a challenge for those of us who are not used to seeing ourselves in this light. Short version: Thank you. This is a great post. I have thoughts about Natural (lots of them!) and I always look forward to seeing your insights on style. It has been unbelievably helpful as I've been building a usable wardrobe that makes me feel good, but doesn't take up all my money and time and mental space. Thank you! I really like the tree analogy! I don't have any Natural, but I like it for Ethereal. Thirding (or more) the hope that there are posts like this for the other basic essences ^.^ Can I give this entire comment an “amen”? GREAT point about what "classic" means to the fashion industry vs. what the Classic style archetype means. I got tricked into thinking I was a Classic due to this mix-up when, really, I look soooooo wrong and unharmonious in most of the "traditional," Grace Kelly sort of outfits that Kibbe/Rachel mean by "Classic." This post alone illustrates that so much of what I thought was "Classic" (minimal, stiff, high-fashion) is actually Dramatic. A lot of people describe me as "aristocratic," but I've realized they're referring to my Dramatic features. They don't mean "traditional," they mean "imposing." I would also love some clarification on Natural. Rachel's Natural seems to differ from Kibbe's quite a lot. I can't do most of Rachel's Natural, the sort of extreme Eileen Fisher, totally unconstructed and textured looks, but some of Kibbe's Natural works better for me. (Ali MacGraw in Love Story has been one of my style touchstones for years.) I think Rachel has offered a great explanation of Natural that really expands on the incompleteness of Kibbe's system, but not all comfy, easy clothing is Natural. A lot of contemporary sportswear actually is not – it's not unconstructed, it's not textured, it's not wide. W. That's interesting about the 'aristocratic' being confused for classic. I can totally see that. On a different tack, I got told I was 'a classic' all the time, but I'm becoming more and more convinced that 'classic' did not mean 'ladylike' or 'traditional' -- no one would ever describe my appearance that way. Like...ever. It's interesting your point about Natural being 'wide.' I see that in the TIB pinterest boards, and there it looked really extreme and baggy to me -- but in practice, I find there's an edge of 'good baggy' vs. 'I am now a pile of fabric.' In one of the guides I got - shopping, I think - it points out that the Natural silhouette is long and narrow. It's not skinny, but narrow. I think Natural is maybe supposed to be like a tree trunk: overall narrow, but a little bit thick - solid, rather - and highly textured. So translating that to clothing, you've got a body of solid bone and muscle (or a face that looks like solid bone and muscle) - and the body fills out the simple, texture clothing to similar narrow, solid effect of a tree. I dunno, that's what I've been thinking of. Then you've got ethereal which takes the trunk into the willow-tree direction, which I can do a little bit. Hm... not sure if that makes sense. Either way, I appear to be taking my style cues from trees. :) KC I love the visualizations and word associations that come up in these discussions! Dramatic as "aristocratic" and Natural style being like a tree trunk--<3. The tree trunk imagery is especially interesting considering that woody fragrances are usually Natural, from what I understand. You recommended that if you can’t wear something as Dramatic as your identity, go minimal. If I remember correctly, less is more is the defining characteristic of Classic. Can all types default to classic? I can definitely see that being the case for my Ethereal and Ingenue essences. It’s impractical for me to wear Ethereal dresses in my daily life, but I can wear a classic dresss with Ethereal accessories and look very harmonious. I think that if a person has to use an essence that isn't their own, Classic may be the best one to use, because its simple lines would possibly seem less unharmonious than would, say, trying to incorporate Dramatic or Ingenue lines if you don't have those essences. However, I don't know if defaulting to Classic works on everyone. For instance, I think a Dramatic Ethereal might look totally wrong in Classic, because the fantasy element of that Style ID is so absent from the traditionalism of Classic... but I think for other types, it might be more workable? I’m a Romantic/Ethereal/Dramatic and Classic styles don’t look wrong on me, just incredibly boring. That said it’s really easy to add dramatic elements to an otherwise classic ensemble and make it work really well. My favorite trick is to wear really blingy dramatic jewelry and shoes in my bright winter high contrast colors. Add some dramatic lipstick color and nobody even notices the classic cut of the clothes. If I’m in a situation wear I can’t go too dramatic with my makeup and accessories, then I focus on going high color contrast with the different pieces of my clothes. This is what I do when I’m forced to wear extremely casual clothes, also. If I’m stuck wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, then I go for the brightest, most high contrast clolors that I can find. I also try to find casual clothes that are either narrow or have an ethereal flowyness to them. The irony of being a very formal style blend is that you look your most unnatural the more relaxed the event is. KC Using Classic to make your usual style ID more everyday appropriate definitely doesn’t work for everyone—Classic is easily the worst style on me! I’m likely an EGN, and my features are just too asymmetrical to pull off any Classic. Also, it’s worth noting that Naturals and Dramatics are also flattered by minimal detail. From what I understand, Classic lacks any extreme elements by definition, and minimalism seems to range from extremely sleek, angular, and avant-garde to extremely unconstructed and casual. Guess there’s different kinds of “minimal” :). Maybe Rachel can do a post someday on how the lack of detail translates differently for Classics, Dramatics, and Naturals. Karen--as a Romantic Dramatic, I also find that Classic is incredibly boring on me. Lately I've noticed the same thing with the color gray--if I have a large block of it near my face, I look kind of dull and lifeless, even if it's in my color palette. KC--I really like the idea of a post about the different types of minimalism! For Dramatic in particular, I do think extreme minimalism can look good, but I also think that the right type of details--if they're very large and angular--can look good? It definitely seems to be a different type of minimal than Natural, and both seem distinct from Classic. I thought it was Natural that you needed to add to make your usual style ID more everyday appropriate, not Classic? Works for me at least, though I can't do purely N styles at all. ;) Not sure if anyone has thought about this, but I've started wondering how common it is to have a 50-50 split for a Style ID. Using Rachel's calculator, I almost always get a 50-50 split between Romantic and Dramatic, and I suppose this basically reflects what looks good on me... I do need to have a good dose of both essences to look my best. But lately I've been kind of dissatisfied with the 50-50 because it feels like one of the essences MUST be at least a bit stronger than the other. What are the chances that I would have exactly the same amount of Romantic and Dramatic in my features, you know? I guess maybe the difference is too nelgible to be picked up by the style ID calculator (and by my eye) but I still find it interesting whether lots of people are about 50-50 of two IDs or whether it's more common to have a dominant essence with one or two less important essences. That's interesting - I've always got either 30% each of my 3 dominant essences, or then 25% each of 4 (depending on slight differences in my answers, both of which are possible for me). Never just 50-50! I guess I'm such a mix of many things ;) That's very cool that you're a mix--I bet it makes it really interesting to choose clothes when you have the possibility of combining three or four different essences! I sometimes wonder if I have a smidge of a third essence that I've missed. Yes, I seem to remember Rachel saying somewhere that most people are in fact mixes of 3 essences, so just one or two is in fact more of a rarity :) (But someone please correct me if my memory is totally wrong!) I'm a DC, but it's my face and body that's elongated, not my arms and legs. The dramatic leanness doesn't extend to my arms and legs, which are soft and where I carry body fat. My legs can feel disproportionately short when dressed wrong. I"m 5'6" and about 125 lbs, so not too thin, or heavy. I love long jackets, very well fitting high waisted pants are fabulous, as are lean silhouettes, fitted sheath dresses, unbroken lines of color especially when wearing pants and a top, and pointy shoes, even flats. I keep it dark on my lower half always. It's been difficult letting go of all of the rules for dressing short legs, thinking "oh, that won't work for me," and trust the recommendations for DC and just try them! A few shorter legged celebrities are Jessica Alba, Kiera Knightly and even Alessandra Ambrosio, which I mention just for reference. I don't know their style identity. I've finally been able to try an ankle baring hem on slim pants and jeans and I like it, even with a high vamp brogue style shoe. I've taken photos in a mirror just to be sure and I think it looks great! I don't believe it's a DC recommendation but it's current and brings a freshness to my outfits. I love that it's neat and tidy. The one thing I haven't been able to believe look good yet are long shirts left untucked, like in the athletic wear picture above. While long lean tops are amazing for my upper body, I fear that it actually highlights my short legs. It feels like I need a small front tuck to to raise the hem line of the shirt to make my legs appear longer. Is this residue from body hang ups of the past, or possibly a real thing? I know it's impossible to know without seeing me, but I thought I'd throw this out there anyway. Wearing the leather leggings look above, as cool as it is, would feel doubly wrong for me because of where the long top (as mentioned above) hits (right where my length ends, leaving only shortish legs), as well as the loose fit. So I don't wear leggings really because paired with a lean, shorter top doesn't feel right either. Fortunately, ensembles like this only see the light of day when I work out in my own home! Are there any other DCs built like me? Do you still wonder about how to dress shorter legs or have the DC recommendations worked regardless of that body quirk? What are some of the things that feel right for you? Thanks! Hi--I'm an RD, but I relate to a lot of what you said--I'm short (5'3'') with legs that are short for my body, and my legs are where I carry my weight. I've found that since trying to dress for my style type, I worry less about having short legs, probably mainly because I now wear a lot more dresses and high-waisted skirts and pants, which are very figure-flattering. I think a long top over pants could work on a person with shorter legs if paired with a bit of a heel? If I'm going to wear a longer top and/or lower-rise bottoms, I often wear heels, and I think that makes me look pretty proportional. I've also realized that if I dress in a way that flatters my face, the fact of whether my body looks highly "proportional" becomes less important. As Rachel has said elsewhere, people spend most of the time focusing on your face, not your body. I think I"m going to experiment more with wearing things that aren't necessarily conventionally figure flattering for me but do fit my style ID, and see how it works out! How do you create an aggressive or intimidating vibe when you don’t have too much dramatic? I think I’m somewhat natural/romantic/classic instead. Have just been reading about dramatic because I need to pull more of this into my NED look. One way which you can do it which is a fairly simple solution is to keep your colour pallet all in the same tones. So using myself as an example...I have a skirt which is dark cinnamon, black and cream. In the winter i team it with black boots and a black jumper which looks quite striking. In the summer I team it with a light camel t shirt and cream leather sandals, also equally as striking. Gives a harmonious yet dramatic look. If your colour palette is light and soft then maybe for example take a soft blue and wear various soft blues head to toe. Have a look at Rachel’s post on what colours can I wear as a dramatic. I found it really helpful. Also if you are dramatic then wearing slimmer lines will create more the look that you are after. Remember too that dramatic lines tend to be a bit longer, so anything that gives the impression of length like a zip or a stripe might help. It is doable, it just takes a little time to read all the posts from Rachel and really analyse the clothes and see how you can make the ideas fit you and your lifestyle. So I am late to this discussion (been super busy), but this is a great post for me. Wanted to add that now that Fantastic Beasts Crimes of Grindlewald is out, the costumes are such a great inspiration. (So is Game of Thrones). Would love to see a discussion of Nagini as a Dramatic Ethereal. Something I have not been able to find an answer for - I am definitely a light summer, and reasonably confident I am a dramatic something (gamine, perhaps). But dramatic lends itself to high contrast (especially a lot of black) and I fade away. But I look awful in natural/classic etc, which are more forgiving of moderate contrast. Any solutions? Have you tried “your black” which would be a grey shade? I think Ds can also go to their solid whites (mine is an off white shade as a DA) for a dramatic look. Works for me. I love seeing these posts again. I continue to evolve into my style ID (EDC, primarily D). The current quarantine has my hair past due for color. I know there was a discussion on another thread about Ds doing well with hair as a solid block of color, which is what I have been doing. My hair is coming in salt and pepper (tweed like), and it does NOT work. I think it creates too much visual texture or movement for me. Same was true when I tried highlights, and going to a “gentle” blonder shade (the colored part of my hair is close to black) does not work, either. Too light and always skews too red. So it will be back to coloring It dark until my hair is truly white. Thought this could help other Ds who may be struggling. Aren't tailored vests very Dramatic? After all, they're originally masculine clothing (from suits), though you can nowadays find them in women's section, too. Those need not be expensive (easily found in thrift shops too), and yet are a very easy way to add D to any outfit, in my opinion! :) I've lately realized they suit me very well, though I'm mostly feminine blend, so it was surprising, though maybe not so much as they do hug your curves well too, so quite R Many of them items mentioned in this article don't suit me (like slicked back hair or pointy toes, no way, but then D is probably a minority essence for me, anyway, in a mostly feminine blend). Re-reading this has just confirmed to me that I probably do have D as a minority essence - the sentence "A visual element that's very important for Dramatics is the impression of an unbroken vertical line" just hits the nerve, I've realized it's so important for me too. (Especially in winter-time, monochromatic black is basically all I do...) Even though I can't do pointy toes or slicked-back hair, I feel the first mentioned quality is most important here. I do best with solid colours, no patterns, and hair as solid block of colour, too, like mentioned above. (Plus that pictured black top with a zip - I have one, with a smaller zip at the neckline, and it suits me so well :) Tailored vests I have given up on since my previous post, but I've been told they're not very D anyway.) Leave a Reply. I'm passionate about helping people become their most authentic and beautiful selves. I'm a Soft Autumn and an Ethereal Natural. Find out your color season and style type! Jewelry Makeup "My closet has totally transformed into something I like, but don't think about much. How amazing is that? I just walk in, grab something for the occasion and the weather, and go. Because it's all the same color season, it all blends. Because it's all the right style (my style, so who cares if it's 'in'? It looks good on me) I can rest assured it looks about right. It's really amazing. "I waste a lot less time and money now with shopping. I can walk into a store and rule out 90% of the inventory. I now try things I never would have dared and happily pass over things I used to think I had to have. Shopping is just a hunt now, not a source of guilt. I feel like I'm a lot less wasteful and more mindful this way."	35,235
Discharge isn’t often discussed openly, but it’s a totally normal part of life for anyone with a vagina. You may see it on the toilet paper after wiping or in your underwear, and when you do - remember, this is just your vagina doing its job! We sat down with Dr. Tamika Cross, OBGYN, to find out what types of vaginal discharge are normal and when you may want to call your doctor. Q: What is vaginal discharge? A: “Discharge is a liquid substance made up of bacteria and cells from the vagina. Discharge has several important purposes - cleaning the vaginal canal, hydrating vaginal tissues, and helping to prevent infection.” Remember that cleansing your vulva (the outside parts!) is OK, but douching or internal vaginal cleansing is not. Your vagina is a miraculous, self-cleaning organ and doesn’t need any help! Q: Is it normal to have discharge everyday? A: Yes! Vaginal discharge is a completely normal byproduct of your body’s natural functions. Q: How much discharge is “normal”? A: The amount of vaginal discharge produced varies from person to person and throughout the hormonal cycle. It’s always fluctuating, so it’s hard to say what a “normal” amount is. During pregnancy & ovulation, you may experience a notable increase in the amount of vaginal discharge. “Consider tracking your discharge - whether it’s just making a mental note or using an app to figure out what’s normal for you. That will help you better understand what’s outside the norm for you so you can seek medical attention if necessary,” says Dr. Cross. “When it comes to color, ‘normal’ usually ranges from clear to whitish to yellowish - again, this can fluctuate depending on where you are in your cycle. Anything outside those colors is abnormal, but discharge isn’t the only warning signal that something could be wrong.” Clear, watery discharge is normal and can occur at any time during your cycle. During ovulation, discharge usually becomes thicker and stickier and almost jelly-like in consistency. This is due to the cervical fluid your body is producing to create an ideal environment for sperm to thrive. It can be normal for vaginal discharge to be white or yellow, especially at the beginning of your menstrual cycle, but it could indicate an infection. “If you notice discharge that’s thick or clumpy in consistency, or a change in odor or itching and irritation, this could be a sign of a yeast infection,” says Dr. Cross. Grey-ish discharge that’s bubbly or frothy with an amine or fishy odor could be an indication of bacterial vaginosis. “Vaginal discharge shouldn’t have a foul odor - if it does, be sure to consult with your medical provider.” If you notice your discharge has a brown-ish tinge, don’t panic! Dr. Cross says, “Brown discharge is usually due to the presence of old blood from your last period or trauma and tearing after sex mixed in with normal discharge.” Q: Is discharge supposed to smell? A: “The odor of your vaginal discharge can change with hormones, stress, even diet. But again, it’s about what’s normal for you. An amine, fishy odor may indicate BV. There shouldn’t be a foul odor ever - if there is, be sure to contact your medical provider as this could be an indication of an infection.” Q: When should I seek medical attention? A: “If you notice discharge that’s out of the norm for you, accompanied by other symptoms like fever, pain, odor or unusual bumps in or around the vagina, you should contact your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.”	3,554
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The Website collects the following data using a cookie when serving personalized ads: IP Address Language of the website Email (in hashed form) Mediavine Partners (companies listed below with whom Mediavine shares data) may also use this data to link to other end user information the partner has independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements. Mediavine Partners may also separately collect data about end users from other sources, such as advertising IDs or pixels, and link that data to data collected from Mediavine publishers in order to provide interest-based advertising across your online experience, including devices, browsers and apps. This data includes usage data, cookie information, device information, information about interactions between users and advertisements and websites, geolocation data, traffic data, and information about a visitor’s referral source to a particular website. Mediavine Partners may also create unique IDs to create audience segments, which are used to provide targeted advertising. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices to opt-in or opt-out of this data collection, please visit National Advertising Initiative opt out page. You may also visit Digital Advertising Alliance website and Network Advertising Initiative website to learn more information about interest-based advertising. You may download the AppChoices app at Digital Advertising Alliance’s AppChoices app to opt out in connection with mobile apps, or use the platform controls on your mobile device to opt out. For specific information about Mediavine Partners, the data each collects and their data collection and privacy policies, please visit Mediavine Partners.	19,359

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