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The Thibaut showroom in Pasadena is now open! So if you are a designer or a design enthusiast now you have a place to source and buy Thibaut in the Pasadena area. The new Thibaut boutique showroom is located in Old Pasadena within Cozy Stylish Chic, our multi-line retail and to the trade showroom. The full Thibaut line consists of fine furniture, wallpaper, fabrics, trim, and grasscloth wrapped case goods. Thibaut couldn’t have picked a better area to open a showroom, as the line has grown quite a following in Pasadena. In the 2022 Pasadena Showcase House, Thibaut was prominently represented in 3 designer spaces. They have been a sponsor to every Pasadena Showcase House that I can remember in recent years. A sizable footprint in the showroom is dedicated to Thibaut. The line has a broad appeal around the country, but even more so in the Pasadena area. In fact, according to one of our wallpaper hangers he hangs Thibaut more often than any other paper when in Pasadena. After all, Thibaut even has a pattern named “Pasadena” which speaks to the popularity of the line in the area. The line offers bright and vibrant prints that appeal to the east coast preppy. At the same time, the newest neutral geometrics speak to a more modern “westside” aesthetic. Whatever your look may be, Thibaut has got you covered. Our Thibaut displays are chock full of inspiration. In addition, we also have all the tools needed to assist the designer and/or design enthusiast in their next design project. Conveniently located next to the fabric and wallpaper books is a wall of Thibaut’s best selling performance and grasscloth wallcoverings. Small grab and go memo samples can easily coordinate with other fabrics and finishes without having to wait for a sample. We are also a Thibaut furniture showroom and have their upholstery on the floor so that you can experience how they feel and sit. Pieces from Thibaut’s Quick Ship Program are also on our floor. With all the supply chain issues our industry have been facing, quality upholstery lines are at such long lead times with some vendors at 40+ weeks. However, Thibaut has streamlined the production process on a selection of their best styles, finishes, and fabrics. This selection of custom upholstery is available at a 4-6 lead time which is unheard of at this time. No other custom upholstery lines have such short lead times – especially with the quality that Thibaut is known for. So if you’re looking for quick but also need quality, now you know where to go! Our History with Thibaut and High Point Market Thibaut has always been a favorite vendor of mine. Way back in my early days at High Point Market, I looked to them for driving some of they key trends in the marketplace. I even included them in one of my earliest trend reports back in 2013! PS – they still are a must-see showroom for all designers attending High Point Market. Bill Sorrell does SUCH a fantastic job of designing and merchandising the showroom! Designers always comment on how Thibaut is always one of the freshest and inspiring showrooms at market. And their selection of fresh flower arrangements – they are to die for! The Thibaut showroom at High Point Market sets the bar pretty high. When merchandising our space for Thibaut, we aimed to put together a showroom that is anchored by Thibaut, but also includes a mix of the many other accessory, lighting, and rug vendors we carry. Much like how one would see things put together in a home, we did this by mixing the wallpaper, fabric, fine furniture, and trim. We included upholstered seating as well as Thibaut grasscloth wrapped mirrors and case goods. The wallcoverings consist of modern geometrics from Modern Resource 3 on one wall and Laura, from Anna French – all recent introductions. We used the Thibaut trim collection to create unique, one of a kind pillows, which are scattered throughout the space. The wide-width sheers are a new addition to the line. They have been VERY well received for their unique weaves and fresh appeal. The showroom grand opening was a fun industry event. We were so honored that Thibaut’s CEO, Rick Kilmer, and VP of Sales, Andrea Eckberg, made the trek from the east coast to attend our opening. Also in attendance were members from the LA Showroom and our beloved Thibaut rep, Karin Klein. Believe it or not, the first time I met Karen was in 2013 when she knocked on my door and showed me the line at my kitchen table. Back then I didn’t know where to buy Thibaut in the area so I opened my own account. Fast forward to 2022 and we just opened the Thibaut boutique showroom in Pasadena! A real “pinch me” moment! Also in attendance were some of our favorite designers in the Pasadena area. To commemorate the occasion, we served green apple martinis and had the fanciest grazing table you ever did see. So if you are a fan of Thibaut and never knew where to buy Thibaut, now you know. It is usually available exclusively to the trade but our showroom also has a retail division. We are one of few places where to buy Thibaut that is open for retail as well as to the trade business. Feel free to stop by during our business hours, Monday-Friday, 9-5. I hope to see you in the showroom soon! Reddit Related	5,561
The Right to Abuse Doesn't Make That Abuse Right Monday, July 10, 2017 WHAT IS THE BIA UP TO? Regional Director AMY DUTSCHKE, FOIA Coordinator Doug Garcia and Public Liaison Jessica "kick the can down the road" Rogers spin their wheels more than a drag racer. Emilio Reyes' FOIA request response from the BIA PRO is in violation of FOIA USC 552(a)(3) and 43 CFR 2.12(a) for failure to make a reasonable effort to search for records requested thru FOIA. Because the FILE IS A BIG ONE, I've LINKED it HERE... if you want to download It contains a LOT OF EVIDENCE in the requests. PLEASE take a look Reyes reports the requested records sought in this request were previously requested on December 18, 2015 and July 7, 2016. The BIA stated no records were located. Emilio was able to locate the records at a later time at the National Archives and provided copies to the BIA on August 2016, he requested the BIA and other agencies to hold the records in their repository in case any researchers are conducting research on Mexican Indians. Those agencies included the Office of Indian Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Federal Acknowledgement (OFA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs. All agencies are branches of the Department of the Interior. The mentioned records relate to Mexican Indians who migrated into Southern California in the late 1800's and early 1900s. The BIA and several federally recognized tribes, approved their residence at some of the Southern California Indian reservations. Later these families would claim California Indian ancestry thru the 1928 California Indian judgment roll and would be listed on the tribal rolls of Southern California Indian tribes. One of the families listed on the Wadsworth list includes the Trask Family who are present members and part of the tribal council at the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. Even though Frank Trask is not listed on this list of Mexican Indians, there is overwhelming evidence that the mother of Frank Trask stated in correspondence that she was a Mexican from Baja. The other part of the family came to California from Ohio. The wife of Frank Trask, Leonora La Chappa (Trask), who's ancestor is Domingo Yanke, is listed as Mexican and for a second time listed as Mexican Indian in the Mesa Grande tribe. The controversy not only exists with the Trask family but other families in Southern California whose present descendants are listed on this Wadsworth list of Mexicans and Mexican Indians. Considering that the Act of 1928 specifically requested Indian applicants to list the names of their ancestors who were a party to the negotiated treaties in 1852, how did they get a 1928 application approved by the Examiners of BIA? So ok, the 1928 Application was approved by error, you would think it would be fixed in the revised roll in 1948. Perhaps not. Ok maybe in of the Act of 1968? NO again. Due to the inconstant errors of the 1928 applications, the Office of Federal Acknowledgement does not recognize Mexicans or Mexican Indians. On the other hand, their historical errors will not be corrected either. To the present day, these individuals are considered California Indians. Some tribal councils have been disenrolling the real California Indians, while others do not allow membership into their own tribes. In other words, Indians from Baja California disenrolling the California Indians. The irony of who is a California Indian and who is not, a problem caused by the BIA. And let's not forget California is the leading State on disenrollment. Then we have the problem with BIA issuing Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) which is traced to the 1928 California Indian application. Again, the OFA does not acknowledge CDIB's as "proof" to be considered a historic tribe. Reyes's email stated the following: "[BIA], in your correspondence you state no records were located. Due to the importance of these records, I have located the documents that pertain to my [two] FOIA requests and I'm providing you a copy to hold in your repository." He also stated that these documents are historic that will be helpful to other agencies including the Office of Federal Acknowledgement and the Office of Indian Services, and Solicitor's Office. With present tribal disenrollment, the hypocrisy of the BIA has allowed other non-California Indians be current members at these Southern California Indian tribes. Moreover, The Office of Federal Acknowledgement gives a difficult time proving lineage to non-federally recognized tribes' members. In most cases, the only records if they exist are mission records, however, it becomes more difficult for those Indians who did not entered the missions and refused to assimilate to the Spanish or Mexican culture. In addition, the OFA dismisses a family who is on the mission records as a Baja California Indian. But yet, the BIA accepts the descendants of Indians of Baja be members of Federally recognized tribes. Emilio has provided historical records in the past to the BIA. Years ago, he was able to locate the 1928 Blanket applications that were missing in the records of the BIA and the National Archives in California. While researching a specific family and requested records from BIA, BIA informed him that if he located the missing 1928 blanket applications to please provide them with a copy, and he did. The blanket applications consists of hundreds of pages, in which former BIA Superintendent, Robert Eben's ancestors are listed in there. The Blanket applications are census rolls from 1928 consisting only of names, no blood degree, nothing, just names and tribes. Months after providing the records to the mentioned agencies, he conducted the same request to test the government's transparent procedures. Emilio did the FOIA request to BIA and the Solicitor's Office. The Office of Solicitor upon receive of the request provided 28 pages responsive to the request, all records released in full. Reviewing the documents we confirmed they were the same documents Emilio provided to all DOI agencies in 2016. However, the BIA who shares same repository for all DOI agencies, the American Indian Records Repository (AIRR), stated, no responsive records were located. The BIA informs the requestor ("Emilio') that it does not posses or cannot locate responsive records to the request. However, there is reason to believe the search for these records was incorrect, inadequate and believed the search was not even made. Since the Solicitor's Office did located these records, the BIA should have been able to locate the records too. In accordance to 43 CFR 2.57(3), if there is a reason/proof to believe the records do exist, the Bureau is subject to additional appeals. The Bureau if filed additional appeals will be subject to non-compliance. Emilio states that having a transparent government was implemented thru FOIA. BIA continues to fail. Let's not forget California BIA is responsible and the leading State on tribal disenrollment, internal BIA corruption, conflict of interest between BIA employees and tribes, FOIA violations. When will the U.S. Government decide to step in? Emilio suggest that if the BIA has over 10,000 employees to help Federally recognized tribes, and in some cases non-federally recognized tribes and the public, that tells us that if we reduce the staff by 90%, BIA will get the job done more efficiently. He's also stated in the past that most BIA agencies outside of California have been compliant to his FOIA requests, however, CA BIA fails almost every time. Their failure started as soon as the new BIA Superintendent Javin Moore came into his present position, and when Emilio exposed the corruption of non-natives approved by the BIA in the San Pasqual tribe. Removing the Regional FOIA Coordinator of California, replacing the BIA FOIA liaison with another form of solution, removing the BIA Privacy Act Officer and replacing all California BIA staff will create a positive change we been trying to see for decades. Emilio has filed 11 FOIA lawsuits for non-compliance against the BIA this month, total of 4 are moving forward in the District Court of Southern California. Emilio will file additional lawsuits this week, in which he will be seeking to hold and declare the BIA in contempt, for failure of their actions following FOIA procedures. Hopefully with all these lawsuits, Congress will eventually step in and investigate the non-compliance of DOI, CA BIA's. Someone needs to take responsibility and that will be Amy Dutshke, Douglas Garcia, Javin Moore and Sandra Hansen. Posted by OPechanga at 2:15 AM 8 comments: Anonymous said... Great job in keeping those in charge of the local bureau accountable! Continue to file any and all lawsuits. Each instance is a notch against the Pacific Region's director. July 10, 2017 at 1:31 PM Anonymous said... The BIA public liaison position should not even exist when we have OGIS(NARA)to help intermediate any disputes with FOIA's. July 10, 2017 at 4:40 PM Anonymous said... Let's make BIA employees accountable for their actions. Is it incompetence, corruption, or conspiracy to commit fraud? Over and over again we see the BIA assisted tribal leaders with disenrollment. What is in it for them? July 10, 2017 at 7:25 PM Anonymous said... When I was disenrolled the Riverside BIA office under Francis Muncey would not issue me a CDIB under orders to not issue any Pala disenrolled with CDIB's because they did not want to take sides they said. How can a tribes leadership dictate what the BIA can or cannot do. It took me several months and final speaking with Harley long in Sacramento and him contacting Riverside I finally got a CDIB issued. After that my siblings tried and they were put through the same BS and couldn't get theirs. You have to just keep at it and don't give up to get the BIA to do their job. July 10, 2017 at 8:07 PM Anonymous said... Emilio Reyes, I have a request can you research Remijo Lugo/Lubo from on the 1903 Pala rolls and before that Cahuilla rolls I believe. From what we know Remijo was one of the wagon drivers that brought down the Cupeno from Warner springs to Pala and was paid . We have letters to him about payment for this job sent to him in Beaumont out by morongo/cahuilla. Since Pala was giving land away to the Cupeno's he signed up for an allotment as a native but claiming to be from Pala. Now his descendants sit on the council and disenroll others when they have no right to even be tribal members at Pal. Many people now this but cause they are in power it does not get looked into. July 10, 2017 at 8:15 PM Remijio Lugo has a 1928 CIJR application. Lots of information on there. One thing for sure, he admits he wasn't a Pala Luiseno or an Agua Caliente Cupeno. There are more documents in the National Archives. At one time he was a tribal policeman on the Pala Reservation. He got injured and filed claims with the BIA. It is correct that he was a teamster, and was one of the drivers who assisted with the 1903 eviction of the Warners Ranch Indians. He was paid for the job, and did receive an allotment at Pala. He was not eligible for a Pala allotment because he already had land in Banning at the time, and the Secretary was only authorized to allot land to the Warners Ranch Evictees and other homeless Mission Indians. Remijio Lugo is on the 1913 Pala Allotment Roll. Because he was on the 1913 Pala Allotment Roll his descendants were enrolled in the PBMI in 1961. This is one of the many erroneous decisions that the BIA made with Pala enrollment. Now these Lugos have taken over the PBMI EC. Theresa Nieto, Dion Perez, and Howard Maxey are all Lugos. \ Just another of the many screws up of the BIA. Hey, its okay. Real Cupenos get disenrolled, Cahuilla Indians get enrolled in Pala, the power of the General Council has been usurped, there have been several murders, lots of drug trafficking, extortion, embezzlement, and much more. It's all good. Who cares if Indians get hurt? Happens all the time. No consequences. But because of all the shenanigans the BIA has to hide the evidence of their involvement. That is what is going on with the FOIA requests. July 11, 2017 at 11:55 PM Anonymous said... The only way the Lugos can save themselves for the future is to oust robert, re-instate the Margarita Britten descendants and make a new law making disenrollment illegal. By making amends with the tribe and the disenrolled they can save their family the same fate. Keeping up with roberts side only temporarily keeps them safe. When he is out or when the EC has new blood that are not Lugos they can hire a genealogist to look at the history of their family and records then they are out. It may be 5 years or 20 years but it's only a matter of time and who is on the EC. Fix Pala show the people you are part of the people and not part of the problem and they will except you. Anyone who can take out our greatest enemy RS will have the suppprt of the people. Well except those who owe their enrollment and high paying jobs to RS. But they are not legit members anyway so they will be out when he is out. We all know how he keeps getting re-elected by getting rid of the throw away (for supposedly having marks on them) (that's why they put that not each ballot) votes that are for his opponent and swapping out the mail in ballots that go to his post office. July 13, 2017 at 2:36 PM Anonymous said... The reason why Mexican Indians are not recognized is because they are Mexican,not American. Why should the US give services to Mexicans?	14,066
Why do men and women so often misunderstand one another? On today's broadcast, Dennis Rainey talks with best-selling author Dr. Emerson Eggerichs about communicating with the opposite sex. Emerson Eggerichs, Ph.D., is an internationally celebrated communication expert and author of Love & Respect, which is a New York Times bestseller, Platinum and Book of the Year award winner, and sold over 2 million copies. Dr. Eggerichs’ newest book is, Before You Hit Send: Preventing Headache and Heartache. As a communication expert, Emerson has spoken to groups such as the NFL, NBA, PGA, US Navy SEALs and members of Congress. Emerson and his wife Sarah live in Grand Ra...more Why do men and women so often misunderstand one another? October 23, 2007 Emerson: I'm not saying you intended to be disrespectful. Many women say "I didn't even know I was coming across disrespectfully." That's right, I understand that, but ask the question – did that feel disrespectful to him? And, if it did, my prediction is you're going to get on the crazy cycle, he's going to shut down, and then you're going to interpret him as unloving. But here's the deal – he's not trying to be unloving. Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Tuesday, October 23rd. Our host is the president of FamilyLife, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. We're going to find out today what you do to get off the crazy cycle, and how you can do a better job of communicating with one another in marriage. Stay with us. And welcome to FamilyLife Today, thanks for joining us. Have you ever done something – well, no, I'll take this back. I know you've done things in your marriage, in your relationship with Barbara, that she just thought, "Why did he do that?" Dennis: How do you know that? Dennis: I've shared them here on the broadcast, that's why. Bob: And because you've been married for more than three decades, and we've all done stuff that … Bob: … even if we pull back and look at it, forget our wives, we pull back, and we go, "That was kind of a dumb thing to do. I was kind of a bonehead when I was … Dennis: Many of them, many of them. Bob: That's right. But when your wife is aware, and you're aware that you've done something that was not the wisest choice, how does that make you feel? Bob: And what would you like your wife to do at that moment? Dennis: Erase it. But, no, I don't want to be reminded of it. I think I want a little understanding that maybe I tried my best or I was attempting something good. Well, that's not always the case. Sometimes, you know, just flat blew it. Bob: I'm thinking of a time when we were driving somewhere as a family, and I was operating more on the basis of my natural instincts with regard to direction than I was with the map, you know? Dennis: Mm-hm, I've been with you on a few trips. Bob: Just kind of going instinctively. Dennis: You know, I want to introduce our guest on the broadcast, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Bob: Before I tell the story? Dennis: You need to be in on this story, Emerson, because I've traveled all across the country with Bob, and I always let him drive, because it's plenty of entertainment … Bob: It's not just a drive, it's an adventure. Bob: Well, we were driving at one point, I remember, and I was looking for some of the familiar landmarks. You know, we'd been this way a couple of times before, and so I was starting to look for some of the familiar landmarks that I knew should be just around the next corner. Bob: And they weren't showing up, and I think after about 15 or 20 minutes … Dennis: Oh, you went that long, huh? Bob: … of not seeing those familiar landmarks, I thought, "I think I took the wrong turn," and I actually think that had dawned on Mary Ann maybe prior to me catching onto it, because there was still kind of a stubborn holding out of "I can't be wrong." You know, this pride inside of me? But I did realize that we were on the wrong road, and I so appreciated the grace with which my wife responded in that moment when I said, "You know, I think we're on the wrong road." She – you could almost see inside her mouth, the words being held back that said, "I told you you should have looked at a map," or "You always do this," or those kinds of things that you could see the words were rumbling, but her lips were sealed, and she just smiled and said, "Well, where do you think we made the wrong turn, honey?" Dennis: Yeah, really. Bob: But, you know, we got back on the right road, and that was one of those times when I think Mary Ann responded to a circumstance where it wasn't me putting my best foot forward, but she responded in a way that was not ungracious and that still showed respect for me. Dennis: And allowed you to turn around without driving for an hour. Bob: That's right. Dennis: I'll never forget hearing Dr. Henry Brandt tell a similar story going down the freeway, and his wife pointed out, and said "I think you missed the turn." And the way she said it so grated on him, even though he knew he'd missed the turn, he drove for 30 minutes at 70 miles an hour, sitting there stewing, as a man, trying to think about how he could turn around without her knowing it. Bob: And I want to ask you, Dr. Eggerichs, and for our listeners who don't know Emerson Eggerichs, he is the author of the book, "Love and Respect," he's written a new book called "Cracking the Communication Code," and the first book has sold more than a half a million copies, and a lot of our listeners have gotten copies of the book. The second book is new. Why would a man drive in the wrong direction for 30 minutes even if he knows it's the wrong direction just because his wife said the wrong thing? Why would a guy do that? Emerson: Well, I mean, many women are asking that question, for sure. That is one of the classic illustrations. I mean, from a philosophical standpoint, I think it's rooted in our desire to lead, our desire to be that hunter, that warrior, there's something in us, and all of us have tendencies, you know? You don't buy a diet book for a woman because her nature is designed by God to shut down on that real quick, and she'll go eat her second piece of chocolate cake, for instance. There's a stubbornness that comes – "I can't believe you treated me this way," even though maybe she needs to lose a little weight. But you just don't go there because love understands the vulnerabilities, and I think there's something in males, too, when it comes to leading the family, deriding, and that comes a classic point of humor, but I don't think we've really unpacked why men keep doing that. But I think the deeper point here is if you react in a disrespectful way, then that stubbornness will come out just like the woman might go and eat the second piece of cake. We're trying to send a message, "Don't treat me this way. I'm too vulnerable." Well, but you made the stupid mistake in the first place, so why can't you be big enough to take the hit to be told that you didn't, you know, well, why not lose 10 pounds, too? But we have to be sensitive to the vulnerabilities. You know, it's so easy to pass judgment on a spouse based on our strengths and their vulnerabilities, and I've discovered that's when we start judging our spouses. Dennis: You just illustrated one of the three vital principles you talk about in your book, "Cracking the Communication Code," that what we say in our mouth does matter. I mean, if we use words accompanied with attitudes, we can watch our wives shut down, and also men can shut down as well. Emerson: Yes, and the book is written around, again, what Jesus said, the apostles said, I always try to go back to Scripture and Jesus, in Luke 6:45 said, "The heart is really the key to the mouth." In other words, the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." So the mouth matters in marriage, because Jesus said that it matters. Exactly. And when I say things that are unloving to Sarah, I can either say, "Well, the reason I said that is she's so unlovable," or the Lord is saying to me, "Wait a minute, Emerson, you're speaking out of what's in your heart. You've now made a decision to be loving man at that point in time, and you're speaking unlovingly because right now you don't have love in your heart. Why don't you be a man of honor and just confess that to me and go tell Sarah that you were wrong." "But, Lord, she's unlovable." She's irrelevant right now. You know what the first sin was after the first sin. When Adam sinned what was the first sin after that sin? Blame-placing. And the only new two beings, God and the woman, and when the Lord said, in effect, "Adam, what happened here?" "The woman you gave me" – he blamed both beings in one sentence. Talk about the economy of words, but blame-placing is the propensity of the male heart. Dennis: Our words and Barbara and I wrote a book a number of years ago called "Building Your Mate's Self-Esteem." We said at that time that words can either be a paint brush to build your spouse up and to paint a vivid picture, or you words can be like icepicks that chip away at the other person and really chip away at the image of God in them. You know, the Proverbs have a lot to say about the power of words in another person's life. Bob: Life and death are in the power of the tongue, right? Emerson: Yes, yes, yes, yes, oh, yes, and we have nursery rhymes – "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me." Talk about a lie. Words are extremely poisonous and devastating, and that word picture you created there is profound. Dennis: There's a second truth about communicating better that you have in your book. The differences between men and women aren't wrong, they're just different, and it's interesting you write this because – and I don't know, Bob, you shared earlier how later on in your marriage after 28 years, you're kind of learning some things. Well, here we are, we're in our 35th year of marriage, and I don't know how many times since we became empty-nesters, I've said with Barbara, and we've laughed about it, different isn't wrong, it's just different. And, you know, God did make us different, and that's why we were attracted to each other in the first place. Bob: I had to laugh about the way you illustrate this in your book. You'd had a conversation with a friend, and Sarah asked you a question after that conversation, and the question was something about his family, right? Emerson: Right, exactly. Bob: And what was your answer? Emerson: Well, she was asking about my good friend, Ray, and then she wanted to know how the family was doing, and did you ask Ray about the family? And I said, "No, I didn't. We didn't get into that." He was in the highway patrol and had set up this protection for the president of the United States coming to the LA area, and we were talking so much about that that I didn't ask about the family, and that's happened before, because God has wired women to be concerned about relationships. They are nurturing; they care about people; they care about our friends; they care about the friends and their family, and yet sometimes when you and I, as men, get together, we're thinking sometimes about global issues and so on and so forth, and that's not wrong, it's just different. But what Sarah then did was suggest that maybe somehow I am an uncaring person. You know, and sometimes I can be. Bob: Sure, right. Emerson: There's no debate on that, but if that is ultimately saying I'm an uncaring human being because I didn't ask about it, we have to really be sensitive. Bob: I get together with a group of guys once a week. We go out to a deli on Wednesday night and sit around and talk, and I'll come home, and Mary Ann will say, "How did it go with the guys tonight," you know, and "What did you guys talk about?" Well, what we typically talk about is, like you said, global stuff – what's going on with the geopolitical situation or the elections. We'll talk about sports, we'll talk – one of the guys is an FBI guy, so we'll ask him what's going on at the bureau and anything we need to be worried about, you know, and we have those kinds of conversations. We get into spiritual topics, and we talk about our work and our relationships and all of that, but we spend a lot of time talking about guy stuff. I'm sure, for Mary Ann, she's wondering why do you waste all that time when you could be zeroing in on the important stuff? What is it? But, you're right, we're different, and if we got together, and the first thing I said was, "Well, how have things been going with your wife and with your kids this week?" The guys would start to go, "I'm in the wrong place, man, I came to the wrong meeting tonight, because that's just not who we are, is it? Emerson: And up to this point, we've passed judgment on our sons for that, and what I'm cautioning us to do is to remember what Jesus said – "Have you not read He made them from the beginning, made them male and female," and we have to understand that there are going to be these male and female differences, and it's so easy, as I was referencing to pass judgment on men as uncaring because they're not talking about the issues that women would talk about, and that doesn't mean that men shouldn't. It doesn't mean that we're justifying, but the pattern is so incredible. Now the question is, well, what are men doing in these situations? You know, Sarah has talked a lot about – my wife has gotten in tune with this – she says, "You know, we criticize men who aren't necessarily talking about Mary's pregnancy, but that same man is making an incubator that's going to save the lives of those children." That God has created men to think along a certain line, and that doesn't mean that women are not mechanical engineers but, generally speaking, you can see the bent, and those men who are out doing certain kinds of things, are doing these things to serve humanity in some broader brush strokes and are creating things. Sarah talks about men make these bridges, they make these buildings, they build these houses. She's caught this vision that they're different but they're not necessarily wrong. Bob: And how many times does a guy come home and say, "Hey, I heard Frank and his wife had their baby," and the wife says what? "What'd they have?" Dennis: He doesn't know. He doesn't know any of the details. Bob: They had a baby. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl. "Well, how much did it weigh?" "I don't know." "How long was it?" "I don't know." "What hospital is she in?" "I don't know, I just know they had their baby, and I'm glad I remembered that to tell you, you know? I should get some credit just for remembering it. Emerson: And what I'm trying to encourage us is we've taken this to illustrate that men are jerks or buffoons or idiots, and I'm saying, "We're going to be saying that about our sons," and we've got to think differently about this that, yes, that can suggest that there may this uncaring indifferent spirit, and that may be the case, but because this pattern is so prevalent, and it's so consistent, what I'm cautioning us to do is to pick our battles. It would be so easy for a wife, then, to say, "You know, he's an uncaring human being," and to globalize from this and say, "That's proof that you are – you've got a problem." "Well," I'm saying, "let's be cautious here." Choose your battles. Where do you really want to judge him? How does the Lord look at him at this point in time? And that's just an illustration of the caution that I'm trying to bring to the church today about how we're evaluating one another. Dennis: Yeah, and the culture is really attacking here, too, Emerson. I mean, men who are being men are not being celebrated in this culture. If anything, the media is eroding and chipping away at true masculinity trying to create a gender blender where the sexes are all the same when, in reality, the Bible does begin "Male and female created He them." He made us different, and we need to celebrate those differences. That's what I'm hearing you say. Be careful about chipping away at your husband's strengths just because he is different. There is another side to this I want to talk about, too, because it's just not the differences between male and female. We marry our spouse because they're different. It's not just because she's a woman, although I did marry her because she is a woman and she was beautiful, but Barbara brought to my life all kinds of strengths and qualities that I don't have. My wife is an artist. She is intensely interested in color, in very minute details, and we recently did some work on our house, and we were working on a window that she wanted to get the framing of that window just absolutely perfect. Now, I appreciate visual things. I like beautiful golf courses, and I like mountain ranges, okay? Are you getting the picture here? Dennis: And I stood before that window, but here is where this pays off. A man is wise when he can say, "You know what? This isn't about what I think is good looking. This is about what my wife appreciates and who she is because you know what? She's going to be in that house many more hours than I am, and that window that's being framed out is for her. It's not for me. If it was for me, "Ah, yeah, you can frame that out however you want to frame it out." Bob: You would say, "It's fine the way it is, honey." Dennis: That's what I said, Bob. But I did say that, but then I backtracked, and it was – it's back to your principle here that you teach in this book, that we need to honor our wives because they're different, and because they're different doesn't mean they're wrong. It's not wrong that she cares about the details, about the image of how that looks precisely. It's just what she values, and I need to value that, too. Bob: So if we're going to crack the communication code, we've got to recognize that our words do matter. We've got to make that a priority. Secondly, we've got to recognize that there is a difference between men and women and then the third thing we've got to recognize about our communication, as you say in the book, is that we've got to – I use the phrase, "the judgment of charity." We've got to give one another a little grace; we've got to recognize that we're not married to somebody who is fundamentally an evil person, right? Emerson: Yes, and, in fact, again, these three ideas that we're talking about, the foundation to really healthy communication is coming to that point where we realize the mouth matters in marriage; that Jesus said the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. Jesus also asked the question, "Have you not read he who made them from the beginning made them male and female." So we're different – pink and blue. We're not wrong, we're just different unless there is clear, evil moral behavior going on. Biblically we can assess that. And, thirdly, believing that the spirit is willing though the flesh is weak, and though we talk theologically that the total depravity of man, that we need the Savior, that none of us can be good enough to earn heaven, but that doesn't mean that the image of God has been obliterated, and it's a sad day in marriage when we begin to think that because my spouse fails me or my spouse does not fulfill my needs, that somehow they must not really value me. Maybe they don't have goodwill toward me; maybe they have ill will toward me; maybe they're a bad person. I mean, these kinds of leaps are humongous. But Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Paul said the good I want to do I don't, the bad I want to avoid I end up doing. Bob: And you say that that principle of recognizing that your mate really does fundamentally have goodwill toward you and not ill will toward you has been revolutionary for a lot of causes. Emerson: Humongous, humongous, and we make the point, it's sad when you call your spouse a "Judas" when really they have the spirit of a "Peter." Both Judas and Peter denied Jesus Christ, but we all know Judas had a different spirit about Him, but Peter denied Him, and how said when you call your spouse a Judas when, truthfully, Jesus Christ sees your spouse more as a Peter. Does Christ view your spouse in the way you view your spouse? And if Jesus's view of your spouse is different than yours, and His is more positive, then I think it's time for you to kind of step back and not pass that kind of severe judgment. Yes, they failed you. Peter failed Jesus. They fell asleep in the Garden, but He said, "Your spirit's willing but the flesh is weak." At the nadir of His experience, when He needed those three friends around Him more than any other, they were sawing logs, but He didn't impugn them with evil, and he didn't show contempt toward them. And if we're going to Christ-like, we cannot justify contempt; we cannot justify hostility toward a person who isn't intending to be unloving and disrespectful but are just vulnerable and weak. Dennis: You know, there are evil people in marriage who do a lot of evil things, but what you're talking about occurs in most marriages, and, unfortunately, Emerson, a lot of these marriages end up in isolation, in battles and conflict with one another and, ultimately, divorce when they don't have to. They're in love with each other, they should, as Paul wrote in Romans, chapter 12, "give preference to one another in honor." And I think that's what's missing in a lot of marriages today. We really don't give our spouse the benefit of the doubt. We somehow get so focused on the negative that all we can think about is how they failed us and he did this or she did that and instead of giving preference and honor, we convict them and declare them guilty. Bob: There need to be liberal doses of grace and forgiveness in most marriages, and there may be, as you said, somebody who is malevolent, somebody who is perpetrating evil, and when that's there, then the church needs to come around and be involved in that. There needs to be a community response, there are civil authorities who can help you with that, but many wives, many husbands, are married to people who are not intentionally evil. Dennis: They got up today thinking about how they could, indeed, love their wives. Bob: That's right. And when that happens, we need to know how to respond, how to communicate with one another, how to speak the truth in love, how to lovingly confront and how to understand the differences between men and women when it comes to communication, and then apply the biblical principles we've been talking about today, the same principles you talk about in your book, Dr. Eggerichs, which is called "Cracking the Communication Code." We have the book in our FamilyLife Resource Center, and let me encourage our listeners to go our website, FamilyLife.com. On the home page, when you get there, you'll find a red button in the center of the page that says "Go." If you click that red button it will take you to an area of the site where you can get more information not only about Dr. Eggerichs's book, "Cracking the Communication Code," but about his first book, "Love and Respect." Really, these two books go hand-in-hand. The second book amplifies some of what you talk about in the first book and is a great follow-up. But if our listeners haven't read the first book, I'd encourage them to get both books, and they're available, again, at our FamilyLife Resource Center online at FamilyLife.com. when you get to the home page, click the red button that says "Go" in the center of the page, and you can order copies of the book from our website, if you'd like, or you can call 1-800-FLTODAY, that's 1-800-358-6329, 1-800-F-as-in-family, L-as-in-life, and then the word TODAY, and we can make arrangements to have copies of either of these books sent to you. And while we're talking about communication, let me just mention that the book you and Barbara have just finished, Dennis, called "Moments With You," is designed to give husbands and wives an opportunity for regular communication, to practice that discipline on a daily basis. As you read through a devotional each day that's based on a passage of Scripture, and then there are some discussion questions that you can interact over, and it helps to build healthy, meaningful communication. Of course, we've got the book in our FamilyLife Resource Center. It's also available now in Christian bookstores across the country. The book is called "Moments With You," and let me encourage our listeners to pick up a copy and begin the regular discipline of spending time together in God's Word praying and communicating around things that really matter. And then, finally, if you are able to help us with a donation this month for the ministry of FamilyLife Today, we have a thank you gift we'd like to send to you, and I'll tell you about that in just a second, but first I want to make sure you know two things. The first thing is that FamilyLife is listener-supported, so your donations are vital for us to continue this daily radio ministry on this station and on other stations all across the country. The second thing I want to make sure you know is that we don't want you to take any money away from giving to your local church and give that to FamilyLife. We think the money that you give to your local church needs to be your top giving priority, and we would not want to do anything to interfere with that. But if you are able to go above and beyond what you give to your local church and help with a donation to the ministry of FamilyLife Today, and you can do that this month, we have a thank you gift we'd like to send you. It's the audiobook of "Thanksgiving, a Time to Remember." We took the Thanksgiving story as written by Barbara Rainey in her book about Thanksgiving. We took it and turned it into a dramatic retelling of the Thanksgiving story, and we'd love to send a copy of the CD to you when you make a donation of any amount this month to the ministry of FamilyLife Today. If you're donating online at FamilyLife.com, you'll come to a keycode box. Just type the word "remember" in that keycode box so we know to send you the audiobook. Or you can call 1-800-FLTODAY and make a donation over the phone, and, again, just mention that you'd like the audiobook about Thanksgiving, and we'll send it out to you. We appreciate your support of this ministry and your partnership with us here at FamilyLife Today. Well, tomorrow we're going to continue to talk about talking – about communication and about what we can do to better understand the differences between men and women when it comes to communication. Dr. Emerson Eggerichs will be back with us tomorrow. I hope you'll be back as well. I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We'll see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today. FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. We are so happy to provide these transcripts for you. However, there is a cost to transcribe, create, and produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs? Copyright © FamilyLife. All rights reserved. Episodes in this Series with Emerson Eggerichs October 24, 2007 Did you ever wish you had a decoder ring to understand what your spouse was saying? with Emerson Eggerichs October 22, 2007 The Scriptures command husbands to love their wives and for wives to respect their husbands. Your relationship with your college kid may change as they grow. So here are five things they may need on Christmas break. with Abbey Wedgeworth December 8, 2022 On FamilyLife Today, Dave and Ann Wilson host author Abbey Wedgeworth, who recalls the gut-wrenching reality of having miscarried and feeling for God in the dark. Hear the comfort of being held in loss. Community What We Do Our Events Weekend to Remember® The Summit on Stepfamily Ministry © 2021 FamilyLife®. All Rights Reserved. FamilyLife® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and all gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law.	29,105
Dec 4, 2017 3 min read reformedtheology Sola Gratia and Sola Fide are what ultimately make Christianity like no other faith or religion in the world. They take our best works, throw them away, and give us Christ. The doctrine of Sola Gratia, or grace alone, flies directly in the face of the works based salvation that the 16th century Catholic church was trying to enforce. Keep in mind that these five points were seen as heresy and those that confessed them as truth were dealt with quite harshly by the church. To speak truth was to speak heresy and heresy was punishable by death. Yet this did not deter the reforms. They spoke all the louder in the face of persecution and torture. They screamed through pain and tears about the wonders of Christ and His sufficient work on the cross. They cited aloud “grace alone” and believed that only through the grace of God could someone come into salvation. The doctrine of grace alone is simple, yet powerful. Simply put, we have been saved through grace and no amount of work or effort on our part was part of the equation. This is not a doctrine that is widely debated within Christian circles due to the very explicit language used in Romans 8 and Ephesians 2. No sound believer will say that they earned their salvation. If they do, they are not a believer. It’s a false Gospel they have their hope in. However, the contention arises when Christians believe they had a small part in the process of salvation when they accepted Christ into their heart. For starters, you can looked as hard as you want and you will never find anything in Scripture about inviting Jesus into your heart. This is actually complete nonsense. If this was possible, it would mean that there is something within our hearts that is not blinded by our sinful nature that actually desires to be saved. We know from Scripture that this is simply not true. We are totally depraved. we are unable to choose, much less desire Christ. Salvation is a gift that is imparted to us, undeserved and unasked for. Grace alone simply means that we offer nothing and Christ gives everything. Sola fide is the doctrine of faith alone and describes our justification as being through faith. The faith that we have in Christ and His work on the cross is what bring about our justification. This faith is a very special thing. It is a belief, a confidence that is given to us in order that we may trust in the work of Christ. It is vital to remember that this faith is not a work or something that we conjure up in ourselves. Many will attempt to insert their will in this area. They say that they exercised their free will and accepted the gift of salvation in faith. Apart from the fact that free will is not a concept or belief that is found in scripture, this belief supposes that there is something within us that has the ability to choose good over evil. It supposes that we have a little something within us that has the ability to decipher good over evil. This is simply out of our ability to do without the grace of God being imputed to us. The order is very important here. We see the truth and perceive it to be true not because we have that innate ability, but because God have us the grace to see it. I understand and realize that in the moment it does seem as if we change our mind and make a conscience decision. Although we have what I like to call the “illusion of choice” is there, we are not at all responsible for this faith. There is a deeper magic to the salvation story than we are proved to at the moment of conversion. It is only after we grow in the knowledge of who God is and who we are that we come to understand the order in which our salvation was accomplished. Faith is given to us as a gift. We are not saved because we have faith, we have faith because we are of the elect and God opened our eyes to receive His truth. This is the correct way to think about faith. It is not an action that we are responsible for. It is simply God giving the ability to trust in the work of Christ and rely totally on Him for our salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. This is the means and the mode. God graciously gave us the ability to see His truth, gave us a new heart and a desire to follow Him. This is the story of salvation. This is the greatest story. Published by: You might also like... It is easy to praise the Lord’s sovereignty in the peaks and mountain tops. Yet as many know, the Christian life is often not spent in the grassy hilltops, but rather in the trenches, where it is cold, dirty and lonely. Many have said, “if God is all-powerful, He cannot be all-good. If He is all-good, then He cannot be all-powerful.” This is the danger of forgetting the Gospel. Nov Here’s a thought for you. I don’t think we Christians are wired to handle fame. I don't think we are wired in a way that gives us the ability to deal with stardom in a beneficial way. I think there is a very special and Biblical reason for this. Nov 16, 2018 Nov “O dear friend, when thy grief presses thee to the very dust, worship there!” - Spurgeon Nov 9, 2018 Oct For more information about how to support Drew and Betty, go to their website at amongsttheaungsts.com.	5,569
REenergizeCO January 21st, 2019 Articles on Energy Saving, Energy Audit Articles, Home Insulation Articles Share This Post Cold weather is here, whether you invited it or not. So the question is this: is your home prepared? Proper home insulation can keep you warm, save you money, and prolong the life of your house. It can even help to keep your family safe from unwanted critters seeking shelter from the cold. With just a little love and care, you can make sure your home is ready for the long winter months still ahead of us. Start by checking these four key areas for proper insulation: When your loved ones visit for the holidays, they knock on the front door. But when Jack Frost shows up in the winter, he’s more likely to try your attic — and if your insulation is lacking, he won’t need you to open any doors. Attics are the perfect breeding grounds for an insulation nightmare. You aren’t up there often, so you don’t have a strong sense of how effective the insulation is… and if mice, birds, squirrels, or a recent storm did any damage, you might have no idea. Moreover, insulation settles over time. If it doesn’t settle correctly, it can leave empty corners, smaller cracks, or under-insulated areas of exposure. Just as worrisome, inadequate ventilation in your attic can lead to a buildup of condensation and wreak havoc on your house. Even if your attic insulation isn’t causing damage to the house, it can still leave you feeling a lot colder in the winter (and warmer in the summer) than you’d like — and that means higher energy bills all around. Crawl spaces are a perfect reminder that just because something is “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t mean it’s out of the picture. Improperly insulated crawl spaces can lead to mold, mildew, wood rot, and infestation. It can also drain your energy bill (without any enhanced home comfort to show for it). Remember: when you walk around on the floor in your house, there isn’t just solid ground on the other side. There is a crawl space, and just like an attic, it needs to be properly insulated. Do some rooms in your house feel colder than others? Are your feet freezing on the floor no matter how high you turn up the heat? There’s a good chance a crawl space insulation issue is to blame. How much insulation does your garage need this winter, and what kind? The answer depends on what kind of garage you have and what you use it for. If any of the following are true of your garage, you’re likely going to feel the effects of improper garage insulation this winter: The garage is attached to your home. There is a finished room or living space above your garage. You use your garage for something other than storage (e.g. woodworking, mechanical work, etc.). You’ve had a pest or rodent concern in your garage in the past. You’re concerned about the impact of Denver’s cold weather on your vehicles or personal property. The bottom line is this: if your garage is connected to your house (or you spend a lot of time there), insulating it is going to have a significant impact on your in-home comfort level this winter. Fortunately, there are a lot of options for making your garage more comfortable and energy-efficient without breaking the bank. Areas with Damaged Insulation So far, we’ve talked about four key areas of insulation, and they’re all essential for making sure your house is ready for winter in Denver. But it’s also a good idea to check the entire house for missing or damaged insulation before the very worst of the winter arrives. Insulation is hidden away, which means problems aren’t readily apparent. But problems are common. Insulation is vulnerable to all kinds of changes and disruptions over the course of a year, and the cost eventually shows up on your energy bill. Take the guesswork out of your winter prep. Call REenergizeCO and schedule a home energy audit. We’ll help you determine whether you need any improvement in your insulation and, if so, give you the choice of how you’d like to proceed. We have a variety of services available at different price points, all of them designed to improve your home’s comfort level while lowering your monthly energy bill. There are no obligations whatsoever, and the process is easy. With just a few pieces of equipment and only a little bit of your time, we can conduct a comprehensive home energy audit with Denver’s winter season in mind. There are no obligations to hire us after the audit is over, so don’t delay. Learn more about a home energy audit in Denver, CO or contact our office to schedule yours today. Share This Post We are here to answer any questions homeowners may have about home insulation, energy audits, and solar power.	4,805
So in honor of this celebration, I decided to release a the new first chapter of my second novel, 700 Main. Enjoy! Time goes by in the blink of an eye. That’s what they tell you. Time is precious, time is fluid. Time can slip through your fingers, so pay attention. Don’t blink or you just might miss it. But I can safely tell you that no matter how many times I’d blinked, it had been the longest year of my life. And God, I wish I’d missed it. The courtroom was abuzz, but it just sounded like white noise in the back of my mind. Like the threat of a headache, looming, worsening as the day goes on. My palms were sweaty, my mouth dry – an interesting paradox. But I hardly noticed, my eyes trained on the door in the back corner where Nick would walk in at any minute. A cloudy whisper came from beside me, permeating the hazy fog of background noise: the whoosh of the air conditioner, the rustle of papers, the creak of wooden benches and the coughs and sniffs from the reporters at the back of the room. “Don’t panic,” Dani said again as I focused on her voice. That was easy for her to say. I don’t think my lawyer had ever been anything but calm and professional. I was a different story. Sitting alone at the front of the courtroom just exacerbated my nerves. No friends, no family, the only support I had was a lawyer who I’d paid to be on my side. Desperation clawed at my throat, and I reached up to straighten my collar before it choked me. Any minute now. I’d been Nick’s wife for six years, the mother of his child for four. But that identity was gone – as surely as his freedom – when I saw him led into the courtroom in handcuffs. His dark hair was longer than usual, his frame smaller. His skin looked greasy, stark proof of his fall from grace. I couldn’t remember him ever even having a pimple. He didn’t look at me. I was grateful for that. When the judge entered, the room rustled as everyone stood. He was what I’d call a “man’s man” in that I could imagine him and his buddies playing poker, smoking cigars, watching football. The same man who would pinch a woman’s butt as she walked by or demand a home-cooked dinner on the table every night at promptly six o’clock. We’d gotten unlucky when he’d been assigned to my case. “We’re here today,” he began, “to decide upon the felony assault charges brought against Nick Foster by his wife, Brie. Are both parties present?” Both attorneys responded on our behalf, but I found myself nodding along as well. The judge continued. “In the eight years I’ve been a judge, I’ve sentenced about ninety defendants. On occasion, I have gone above the recommended sentence, and on other occasions, I have gone below. But the facts of each case vary greatly, and I am required by law to take all relevant factors into consideration and to impose a sentence that is sufficient, but not greater than necessary.” Dani reached out and squeezed my hand. Was she preparing me for the best? Or bracing me for the worst? “That being said.” He paused to clear his throat. “Considering Mr. Foster’s great contributions to the Nashville community as captain of police, his crystal clear record, and the plaintiff’s – Mrs. Foster’s – refusal to testify against him, I have thus reduced his sentence from felony assault to misdemeanor.” My mouth fell open, and Dani tightened her grip on my hand. So it was the worst case scenario after all. “I find Nick Foster guilty of misdemeanor assault and sentence him to confinement in the Davidson County Jail for a period of eleven months and twenty-nine days.” The media in the back of the room went wild, their cameras flashing and popping like popcorn in hot oil. I found myself standing, leaning over the wooden railing and holding on until my knuckles turned white. I had to see his face. He was smiling, and the acid in my stomach boiled. He waved one shackled hand at the reporters, causing another wild round of noise and light. He allowed the bailiffs to guide him back to the door and waited until the last second to turn toward me. It was one of those moments that lasted forever no matter how many times I blinked. Every moment of our relationship – the initial golden years, his joy when I told him I was pregnant, the first time he hit me, the dangerous decline – rushed through my mind, and I knew he was seeing the same through the tenuous link I still felt. But then he tore his eyes away in a harsh moment, and I gasped at the break in connection. Nick’s charisma returned in an instant like a mask, and he closed one eye in a wink before he exited the courtroom. He’d winked at me… It was a promise. This wasn’t over. Dani touched my arm, applying pressure in the direction of the small room she had reserved for us throughout the trial. It was a room I’d hoped to never see again. It’s windowless, wood-paneled walls held too many memories, too many tears, too many angry confessions and too much guilt. But here we were again. This still wasn’t over. Dani was all business, her hand-holding from before had vanished in a fleeting instant of compassion. I appreciated both sides of her, but this was the one I needed now. “Eleven months,” I whispered, placing both hands on the cracked leather arms of the chair to steady myself as I sat. “Just eleven months. And given the time he’s already served, it could be even sooner than that…” Dani’s fists were clenched in anger, but her voice was soothing. “We knew this might happen. When you decided not to testify…” My head shot up. “You know I couldn’t.” Standing on that witness stand had been the crux of my life up to that point, the singularly most important moment of my life. But when I’d opened my mouth, I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t stand as Nick watched with quiet rage from the crowd, couldn’t risk my words being manipulated again or the delicate position in which we stood in the eyes of his adoring public. So I’d just stayed quiet, and we’d lost because of it. Because of me. Dani sighed in what seemed like equal parts sympathy and disappointment at my failure. “I know. It’s still jail-time though, Brie. He’ll be removed from the police force, they’ll take away his right to possess firearms, he’ll have a criminal record. His life is over.” “No,” I replied, watching my hands shake in my lap. “It’s not enough.” She nodded resolutely and opened her notebook to begin jotting down notes. “We’ll put a strong restraining order in place for when he’s released. Finalize the divorce and make sure his custody rights are terminated. He won’t be able to come near you or your daughter again.” Maisy, I thought, closing my eyes. She’d be at recess now, and I pictured her playing, pigtails flying behind her and her pale skin and blue eyes sparkling in the sunshine. He’d always said she was a like porcelain doll I’d had designed to look just like me. He’d resented that. That she seemed more mine than his. But she was a million times better than I ever was. Her hair redder, her smile kinder, her heart stronger. The perfect picture of innocence. And he’d shattered it. “It won’t be enough,” I said again. “It will never be enough to stop him.” Dani pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. “I know this wasn’t the outcome we wanted. As captain of police, the community holds him in too high of esteem for any true punishment to be enacted. And ultimately the judge needs to satisfy the public in order to be reelected.” I pressed my nails into the fleshy skin of my palms, concentrating on the half-moons they formed. She was saying nothing I didn’t already know. “But this is a chance for you, Brie,” she continued. “A chance for you to start over.” I shook my head. “Start over? In eleven months? That judge gave me a death sentence, not a second chance. And what about Maisy? You know he will come after her.” Dani stayed silent, and for a moment, I thought I had stumped her. But then she stood. She walked over and knelt in front of me, grasping my hands in both of hers and meeting my eyes. “Then get out of here,” she said. “Take Maisy and run. There’s nothing here for you now. Start over. You can do it, I know you can. Take your daugher and run.” Our eyes met. Mine may have been filled with anxiety, fear, anger, but the strength in hers tempted me into considering the possibility. The thought of a new and untainted life… But I shook my head again. “I don’t want to uproot Maisy. She’s already been through so much.” Dani smiled softly and rose to her feet. “I understand,” she said. “But you’ve got one hell of a battle in front of you. I wish you nothing but luck.” She snuck me out of the courthouse through a back entrance where none of the media lay in wait. I hurried into my car and drove for what seemed like hours, lost in thought. But when the clock struck 2:30, I aimed for the one thing left in my life: my daughter. The carpool line was long, so I parked and made my way up the gravel drive to her school. It was packed with cars, parents and nannies, eagerly waiting for their children to walk through the school’s double doors. Heritage Elementary was technically a public school, but it may have well been private for its status in the community, booster club and Lexus’ in the carpool line. News of Nick’s sentencing must’ve spread fast. I’d thought we would at least be back in the comfort of our own home when it hit. But as I stood there alone, it was clear I’d been wrong. Gone were the throngs of other mothers, the chatting, the playdate planning. I was ostracized. “I am surprised she had the nerve to show her face here today,” one woman fake-whispered a few feet from me. “Captain of the police, President of the PTA, soccer coach… Men that like just don’t beat their wives.” I clenched my jaw and caged my tongue behind my teeth as her husband nodded his head. “Women who want half of their husband’s family trust will claim anything these days. She was a gold-digger from the beginning. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen her at pickup. Not to mention any other school activity. But Nick was always there.” “Because he locked me in the house!” I wanted to scream, biting the inside of my cheek to restrain myself until I tasted the tang of blood. When the bruises were too difficult to hide, I’d been forced to lurk in the shadows. But they wouldn’t believe me, I thought, walking a safe distance away to the other side of the lot. It was clear they’d already made up their minds about me, and just like the punches Nick had thrown before the PTA election he’d won, nothing I could say would stop them. Class by class, students began to file out in a single line, and when Maisy followed her teacher through the doors, I knew instantly that something was wrong. Her shoulders were hunched, her tiny brow furrowed. “Maisy, what’s wrong?” I asked, kneeling to her level while tipping her chin so her eyes met mine. “What happened?” Her bottom lip stuck out, but she bit it back into place. “Is Daddy going to jail?” she asked. I closed my eyes in defeat. Had the teachers been talking again? I knew they’d been having problems with her. Maisy hadn’t been coping well since Nick’s arrest, but that didn’t excuse them sharing any information they’d seen on the television during their lunch break. “Where did you hear that?” “They said you put him there.” she accused, her breath wobbling as she spoke. “That you were a liar and made him bad.” I gripped her arms more tightly than I should’ve. “Who? Who told you that?” Maisy pointed a trembling finger toward a young boy standing nearby. His arms were wrapped around his mother’s legs, but she ignored him, too preoccupied with the circle of gossiping women around her. They had matching blonde bobs and slim capri pants, and one was handing out birthday invitations to several children as they passed. From the hurt look on her face as she watched, I knew Maisy hadn’t received one. I grabbed Maisy’s hand and half-dragged her to the car. “Stop,” she yelled as I strode through the parking lot. “Let go of me!” I ignored her, lifting her by the waist into the booster seat and clipping her in. “Stay in the car,” I ordered while she pouted and crossed her tiny arms over her chest. After walking around the car to turn on the air conditioning, I shut the door and locked it for good measure. I didn’t want her following me. I stalked back up to the school, each step heavy with anticipation and insecurity, threatening to drag me back to the safety of the car. But whispered barbs toward me were one thing. If they were extending to Maisy… “Excuse me,” I said when I reached the mother she’d pointed to. I tapped on her shoulder so their exclusive circle would be broken. “Excuse me!” They turned slowly and all at once, looking down at me like I was a gnat buzzing in their ears rather than a person deserving of their time and respect. It stoked my already boiling temper. “Can we help you?” one woman said, and I recognized her instantly, blood rushing to my face. From the PTA meetings, the birthday parties, the school lunches. The playdate where I’d confessed Nick’s abuse and watched Tracy Blackett turn a blind eye. Her son was in Maisy’s class as well. “I want to know what you said to my daughter,” I replied, gritting my teeth as I spoke. She smirked. “I’ve told her nothing.” “And your children?” I asked. “What have they repeated on your behalf?” The women interchanged a look. “I’d really prefer not to discuss such vile matters,” Tracy said, lowering her voice to a secretive whisper. “You had no problem discussing it before. When you ratted me out to my husband,” I replied, keeping my voice loud enough for everyone in earshot to overhear. “Might as well continue now.” She sighed. “We’re just distraught that such a wonderful man was placed in this terrible position. It was simply the wrong place at the wrong time. So unfortunate.” The stress of the day must’ve finally caught up to me because I began to laugh. Not a small giggle or a charming chuckle, but a deep laugh that had me bending over at the waist to catch my breath. I drew the looks of the other men, women, and children around me, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t laughed in ages, and God, it felt good. “A wonderful man?” I asked through the laughter. Women always took to Nick. It was that charismatic smile, the way he gave them all his attention. He’d attended every school function, every fundraiser, every parent-teacher conference, mothers and teachers swooning in his wake. And I was stuck, his antisocial and removed wife who stayed quietly and invisibly by his side. “You weren’t there though, were you?” I asked, my laughter fading and voice shaking. “The night after you called to divulge his errant wife’s lies… Were you there when he threw his badge at me? Were you there when he pushed me down the stairs? Were you there when he kicked me in the head and broke my jaw?” The women paled, and I thought I saw one shudder. Good. “What about the next day when he decided I’d had enough and went after her too?” I pointed to the car where my daughter sat, safe at last. At least for the moment. It was everything I couldn’t bring myself to say during Nick’s trial. But in his absence and in Maisy’s defense, I found the words easier. I stepped closer until my face came within inches of the other mother’s. “I promise, if you or your son ever speak to my daughter again… I will do much worse to you.” Tracy hardly breathed. The other mothers in the group had stepped away from her, pushing their children behind their legs to shield them from my ugliness. I turned my back on them like they’d done to me so many times before and slowly made my way back to the car. My hands were shaking, and my legs felt like jello as they pounded against the unforgiving asphalt. My outburst had exhausted me, and I felt the energy leave my body in a rush. My cheeks flushed with the leftover remnants of anger and the new beginnings of embarrassment. I shouldn’t have said anything. It was just going to make it harder on Maisy. I hurried away desperate for the relative safety of the car. I swung the door open and gripped the steering wheel tightly, forcing myself to breathe in and out. “So is it true?” Maisy’s voice said from the backseat. “Daddy’s in jail?” I took one more deep breath, turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking spot. “Can we talk about it later please?” I replied. “Let’s just get you home first. What do you want for dinner tonight?” She pondered, and I glanced up into the rearview mirror to see a look of intense thought on her beautiful face. “Daddy’s Mac-N-Cheese.” I forced my eyes to stay focused on the road even as they filled with tears. “I’ll see what I can do.” Back at home, Maisy didn’t bring her father up again, and neither did I. Between the sentencing and the unseemly tantrum I’d thrown at school, I couldn’t bring myself to relive anything further. So we focused on something I could control, and after Maisy’s nighttime ritual of dinner, bath, and story reading, I found myself wandering into the kitchen where pictures hung on the refrigerator door and assaulted me with memories. But only the good ones… The dangerous times were hidden beneath them, undercurrents of every touch, look or word. Glancing around the kitchen, I came across detail after detail noting its neglect, its sadness while I’d been preoccupied with the trial: brown-speckled bananas dying on the granite countertops, a banged up wooden block holding now-dull knives, cereal floating in almost-expired milk from breakfast that morning. I used to do breakfast so differently, I thought. I’d always been an early riser, and the first still-sleepy steps into the kitchen where the official start of my day. Freshly brewed coffee in hand, I’d used that sacred time before anyone else was awake to recall my days at cooking school, crafting bourbon and maple glazed bacon, lemon blueberry pancakes and the perfect poached egg. But since the early days of my marriage when I’d given up my career as a chef and retired to the full-time job of housewife, I’d avoided the kitchen with guilt. Yes, I’d cooked for Nick and Maisy every night. I’d pulled off extravagant meals for special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. But it was never the same. Not like the freedom I’d once felt in the experience. The unequivocal feeling of being just me, splattered in flour and elbow deep in batter… On impulse, I flung open the refrigerator door, pictures fluttering to the ground, and pulled a carton of strawberries and a block of cream cheese from the shelf. I made quick work of the berries, coring them with a paring knife and setting aside as I whipped together the cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar. I didn’t bother trying to stay neat, I just whisked, letting the sugar float and fall around me like sweet snowflakes. I stuffed the cheesecake filling in each strawberry, licked my fingers and crumbled the last of Maisy’s graham crackers to sift over the top. It was nothing fancy or gourmet or even inventive. But it was the first thing I’d done for myself in months. As a last-second addition, I pulled the cork out of a bottle of red wine, poured myself a glass and brought it and my makeshift dessert to settle onto the couch. It was eerily quiet, nothing but the sound of my slow chewing and swallowing. This was the part I hadn’t yet gotten used to. Before I’d decided to blow up my marriage, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been alone. Maybe that had been part of the problem, Nick’s everthere presence in my life. My kitchen had ceased to be my safe space, my life had ceased to be mine. I knew this was better. But when I looked to the indentation on the couch cushion where he usually sat – letting Maisy choose the movie, initiating the silliest of popcorn fights, and holding my hand under the blanket – my heart still ached with the loneliness. I slid his old laptop – mine now, I supposed – into my lap, powered it on, and opened one of my favorite home auctions sites. Nick used to tease me when I fantasized of buying an old house to turn into a restaurant. He’d mock me for being a dreamer. I was, but was that really so bad? I scanned through the houses for something that caught my eye, as I always did. That kitchen was too small, that required too much work. The bones needed to be in place, and I needed to feel that… spark. You can start over, said Dani’s voice in my head, and I withdrew my fingers from the keyboard. Not in Nashville, I couldn’t. Not with the other policemen, the nasty mothers hanging over my head like an axe. Not with him locked up only minutes from our home, sending weekly letters to my daughter from jail. Here, we were haunted by his presence, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I brought the mouse up to hover over the auction site’s drop down menu of states. Texas may have been the closest in name to Tennessee but hundreds of miles away in distance. And listed there was a historic home. Two stories – perfect for a main dining room downstairs and a private room up. I could grow my own herbs and vegetables in the overgrown garden out back. There were even a few extra rooms upstairs. A storeroom and two small bedrooms for myself and Maisy. But I slammed the laptop shut. I didn’t want to run. The challenge of being a single parent with an angry and confused child was already too much change. Texas was too far, too different. I poured myself a second glass of wine. That was one of the laundry list of things he hadn’t allowed, drinking on a weeknight. Well, not for me. Two or three whiskey’s was just as much as a ritual for him as Maisy begging me for a second story at bedtime. But as I swallowed a mouthful of wine – the silky texture sliding down my throat and warmth filling my belly – I looked back down at the computer screen, a different kind of thirst beckoning me. Maybe far and different was exactly what we needed. How to use setting to bring your story to life 6 books I wish I’d written June 13, 2017 at 5:15 pm This is fantastic!!! Sent from my iPhone Maria Colwick says: June 13, 2017 at 8:47 pm LikeLiked by 1 person June 13, 2017 at 8:48 pm June 14, 2017 at 8:49 am Can’t wait to turn the page! This is excellent, Tauri. You have given a lot of information in the first chapter, but you’ve done it masterfully. Your writing sweeps the reader along. I’m pretty positive this will be a book that will leave me sleepless…and I’ll be okay with that. LikeLiked by 1 person June 14, 2017 at 8:51 am Thank you so much Joy! Glad you enjoyed – I’m getting it ready for submission in the fall so there will hopefully be more to come soon! LikeLiked by 1 person Pingback: Monthly Recap: June 2017 – Tauri Cox July 6, 2017 at 8:29 am Great chapter that leaves the reader wanting more. I got your blog info from your Mom. She is justifiably proud of you and your work. Keep writing! LikeLiked by 1 person July 6, 2017 at 8:32 am August 18, 2017 at 1:59 am LikeLiked by 1 person August 18, 2017 at 7:23 am Pingback: 11 signs your novel is ready to submit – Tauri Cox Leave a Reply to Maria Colwick Cancel reply Email (Address never made public) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address: Recent Posts Monthly Recap: August 2020 When is it time to hire a professional editor? Monthly Recap: July 2020 Monthly Recap: June 2020	24,694
Celebrate all women in business with us at the 2022 WIBAs! In addition, the photo album from the WIBAs is now available… more » November 9, 2022 \| Members in the News, WIN Zimmerman to receive lifetime achievement award from Greater Niagara chamber A former longtime politician, including once serving as regional chair, who for the past two decades has represented the interests… more » November 1, 2022 \| Media Releases, WIN 2022 Women in Business Award finalists announced The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) is pleased to announce the finalists and the bestowed award recipients for this… more »	610
April Fools!All of our articles from the April 1st issue. Don’t be fooled by the Knightly News’s wit! Spirit Week Staff President Trump Delivers State of the Union Address In: National News, News President Trump delivered his State of the Union speech on January 30. Photo: New England Public Radio On Jan. 30, President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address. This address to the joint members of Congress gave President Trump an opportunity to highlight the successes of his first year as president as well as lay out his priorities for the future. With the third longest run-time in American history at 1 hour and 27 minutes, Mr. Trump addressed several issues, but focused most of his time on the economy, foreign policy and immigration. President Trump reported that during his tenure in office, large strides were made to strengthen the economy, including the passing of a $1.5 trillion tax cut (the biggest in American history), the creation of over 2.4 million new jobs and the fact that the stock market gained $8 trillion in value. According to The Washington Post, the tax cut is actually “only the eighth-largest – and is even smaller than two of Barack Obama’s tax cuts.” Also according to The Washington Post, the actual number of job created since President Trump took the oath of office is 1.8 million. Mr. Trump also reported that unemployment rates are at a 45-year low, with African American and Hispanic unemployment at an all-time low. Unemployment claims are actually at a six-week low, not a 45-year low. And The Washington Post reported that the African American unemployment rate “has been on a relatively steady decline since it hit a peak of 16.8 percent in March 2010, during the Great Recession. The rate had already fallen to 7.7 percent when Trump took office and is now 6.8 percent.” The Washington Post also reported that Hispanic American unemployment “had also been trending lower before Trump’s presidency.” In his first year as President, Donald Trump was pleased to announce that he has eliminated more regulations than any other president in history. In his call for American unity, President trump announced that this nation will have a “new American moment” under his administration. Along with highlighting his successes, Mr. Trump also used his speech as an opportunity to reveal his plans for the future. The President has made it his top priority to help U.S. veterans by giving them a choice in their healthcare plan, and to that end, he signed the landmark VA accountability bill in June allowing for the firing of problem employees working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Trump also called for the Food and Drug Association (FDA) to start approving more experimental drugs and reducing the price of prescription drugs. Regarding immigration, the Commander in Chief announced a four pillar plan to fix the loopholes allowing illegal aliens to enter the country. His first pillar is to give the Dreamers a path to full citizenship, and secondly to fully secure the Mexican border. His remaining pillars are to reform the visa lottery and to end chain migration. President Trump focused very little on international policy, specifically in regards to the current tensions with North Korea. However, he did mention that his administration would focus on building up the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Related 2018-02-07 Who We Are The Knightly News, Pace's student-run newspaper, delivers the latest in academics, athletics, arts, and more. The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy.	3,987
reprinted with permission from financialnews.net.com.network.au. Bringing you the hottest news in global finance FNNCNAU reporter Fiona Mastodon recently conducted a live interview with Yeti Bigfoot, founder of controversial activist investment fund 10Foot Capital. 10Foot Capital is in the midst of a major restructuring program as it attempts to rectify market-lagging performance. Here’s the interview transcript for … 0 January 28, 2018 Read more I was hoping to have my December quarterly review out this weekend. I was also hoping to make some progress on either my deep dive on Mongolian stocks or my look at Blue Sky Alternatives (ASX: BLA). I did, but nothing’s ready to publish yet. Instead I did this: If- If you can keep your … 0 January 14, 2018 Read more You should write a blog I would like to see more investors blogging about their investments. And although I’m new to blogging, I’ve learned a stack about it this year and I wanted to package up some stuff I’d wish I’d known a year ago to make it easier for those who are thinking about starting. Blogspot, WordPress, or Hosting? … 0 December 22, 2017 Read more I saw the gay marriage result today and that got me thinking about the gig economy and working conditions. What do gay people have to do with the gig economy? Not sure – but AMP’s Shane Oliver asserted on Twitter that workforce participation would likely pick up now that gay people can marry. Why would gay … 0 November 15, 2017 Read more Why the life insurance industry needs Amazon I was having a look at Freedom Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: FIG) after its plunge recently. 4x-5x EBITDA is the price level where 10foot gets interested, especially when there’s embedded value in the existing customers and commissions. Ultimately I’m not comfortable with the business model (cold calling) and probably won’t invest. Freedom is an insurance broker … 0 November 8, 2017 Read more Strong narratives: A source of competitive advantage? One of the best things about investing is that you will draw on virtually all of your skills, knowledge, and experience at one point or another. I studied narratives at school, formally, as an academic pursuit. It sounds dry, and it kinda was, but it’s proven to be valuable in highly unusual ways. Try deconstructing a … 0 October 7, 2017 Read more The general view on Twitter and in the media seems to be that ‘Spain is grossly overreacting to the illegal Catalan referendum.’ Fair point. It is not a pretty picture. However, if we ask why Spain is overreacting, a different picture emerges: Autonomy Although a parliamentary monarchy, Spain is a decentralized nation composed of autonomous regions and cities. … 0 October 2, 2017 Read more What is a synthetic subprime CDO? Six months ago I was asked to explain what a synthetic CDO was. Well pal, the sky is blue because bankers in Wall Street…. I sort of did my best and drew a few diagrams and we got about halfway there and came to a halt. I understand roughly how a synthetic CDO works, I … 0 September 25, 2017 Read more As we prepare our upcoming quarterly review, we are pleased to announce that the 10foot portfolio has returned approximately 70% since last quarter and now has an unaudited total net asset value (NAV) of $16,830 versus an initial value of $10,000 at inception. There has also been a change in the structure of the fund, … 0 September 23, 2017 Read more The things that move share prices I have recently been reading through well-known investing blogs like Bronte Capital (John Hempton) and Bristlemouth (Forager/Steve Johnson) from their beginnings in 2008 or so. They are very good. I read Hempton’s in its entirety a few years ago and I would recommend his earlier posts as an excellent crash course in how the truck …	3,923
Governors Island used to feel like a New York secret, but it was a tough secret to keep. Though we may miss the days where it felt like we’d stumbled upon an overgrown idyll that fulfilled childhood dreams of having our own island, it’s time to admit that the Island is all grown up — and ready to host the masses of visitors expected to grace its shores this summer. The city’s revamped star island opens to the public again on May 24th, and will now be open seven days a week, building on its weekend popularity from the last few years. Unless you catch a 10am or 11am ferry on weekends, the formerly free ferry is now $2, both Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Brooklyn ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 will only be running weekends, Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the ferry from the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan will ship put seven days a week. As usual, thefull list of events is extensive and includes offerings for kids, theatre buffs, art lovers, dance enthusiasts and the rest of us normal people. With the first 30 (!) acres of brand-new park and public areas completed on the Island, there are even more reasons to visit, though we may not need any beyond picnicking, naps under shade trees, and art. Here’s the low down on three of the shiny new main spaces: Liggett Terrace: This is a six-acre plaza furnished with plants, benches, fountains and art installations. It looks fantastic for walking off the corn dog you ate earlier. You know, the Hammock District. via Facebook Hammock Grove: Ten acres of trees waiting to give you their delicious oxygen and skin-saving shade, dotted with play areas and hammocks for relaxing. Let the jostling for hammocks begin! Play Lawn: Exactly what it sounds like, and where most athletic events will take place. The Play Lawn features two natural turf fields for softball and baseball, with a total of 14 acres of play space for whatever game you want to play. There are also a couple of updates to old favorites: The sandy multi-purpose event space you’ve probably visited a time or two now has an official name: Governors Beach Club. It is the sister space to Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club and will be hosting concerts throughout the summer and serving up beer, hot dogs, and snacks. Also, they host weddings (attention ReBar couples!), birthdays and other private events. Free bikes return to the island for your enjoyment in one-hour time blocks. With 30 new acres to explore, you’ll have to go back for a second bike tour after lunch. Several of the installations will run all season long, and include these thought-provoking art and writing projects: Let the beeps and buzzes of your smartphone fade as you indulge in the wonders of the analog. The Typewriter Project opens its first outpost on Governors Island: the city’s “tiniest writing den,” where visitors contribute to an ever-changing and citywide conversation by writing for a spell on a vintage typewriter. After you work your lyrical magic, each entry will be posted online for users to see. The directions given for finding the booth, fittingly, are unGoogleable: “look for the rustic, wooden booth…with a commanding view of the Statue of Liberty.” (May 24 – September 28, Historic District) Pizza and mini-golf? Sure, why not? via FIGMENT This summer, FIGMENT brings back its acclaimed interactive Sculpture Garden, artist-designed Minigolf Course and City of Dreams Pavilion for playing, thinking, and interacting. 2014’s Minigolf Course is based on the theme “New York City Now,” and is designed around artist submissions that are always a hole-in-one. (June 7 – September 21, Parade Ground) Brooklyn ARTery fulfills our deep-seated need to buy artisanal stuff on summer weekends in New York, offering handbags, jewelry and accessories, food, housewares, and beauty products. On Saturdays from 2pm – 4pm they offer a free DIY arts and crafts drop-in class, and on Sundays at the same time, guests can stop by for samples of local artisanal sweet and savory snacks. (Nolan Park Building 10B) The Opening Day Family Festival – Arts and crafts, musical and theatrical performances, and harbor-education activities abound. (May 24, Colonels Row and Liggett Terrace, 1 PM-4 PM) You didn’t need a helmet back then, because no one threw harder than 10 miles per hour. via Facebook A game of vintage baseball is a great way to rest your legs while watching America’s favorite pastime the way it used to be played – in baggy yet somehow becoming uniforms, and sans ‘roids. (May 24 & 25, May 31, June 7, August 16, & August 30, Parade Ground, 11 AM) Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra return with their block-buster Jazz Age Lawn Party – “a dream of the 1920s nestled right in the heart of New York Harbor!” This event is (jazz) hands down one of the best cultural experiences in New York, and unlike many large events, seems to be brimming with energy and well-mannered partygoers. The lawn party requires tickets and features nearly non-stop live music mixed with dance performances, dance instruction for the wannabe flappers and gents, games for all ages, and 1920’s inspired drinks, food, and clothing for purchase. (June 14 & 15, August 16 & 17, Colonels Row, 11am to 5pm) Get your daily dose of literary culture via The Hedgepig Ensemble Theater’s “World’s Fastest Hamlet,” which will present Shakespeare’s classic in 15 minutes amid the trees and hammocks. (June 14 & 15 at 1pm, Hammock Grove) The New York City Poetry Festival is a two-day festival that will include over 60 poetry organizations and hundreds of poets reading around the clock to celebrate NYC’s lively poetry community. A Vendor’s Village of local businesses and craft-makers marry nicely with the beer garden sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery. Open mic time and the Children’s Poetry Festival round out the offerings for this family-friendly event. (July 26 & 27, 11am to 5pm) Rite of Summer presents “American and Argentine Sounds from Ives to Piazzolla” for your classical listening pleasure. (August 9, Colonels Row, 1pm and 3pm, featuring ROS Co-Founder & pianist Pam Goldberg, violinist Esther Noh, cellist Caitlin Sullivan and soprano Allison Charney) Lots of lawn space calls for lots of bocce. Join RECESS for a day of fun competition as 32 creative organizations jockey for bocce victory on Colonel’s Row. Highlights include free bike rides, several bocce courts open to the public, food vendors, a beer and wine tent and tunes spun by DJs. (August 23, Colonels Row, 12pm to 5pm) See six skilled pianists tickle the ivories as piano sextet Grand Band presents “A Bigger Picture.” The New York Times called the group “the Traveling Wilburys of the city’s new-music piano scene,” which is all you really need to know. Basically, if you miss the chance to see them in concert together, you’ll be kicking yourself years later. (September 6, Colonels Row, 1pm and 3pm, performed by Blair McMillen, Vicky Chow, David Friend, Paul Kerekes, Lisa Moore and Isabelle O’Connell) Mü-Math, the Mobile Unit to promote Mathematical Thinking, returns to Governors Island for its third year in a row to fulfill the desires of the math-curious ages 7 and up. The unit features a dozen new mathematics investigations ranging from algebra to topology (if you know what that is, then this sounds like the place for you). (Saturdays, Sundays, holiday Mondays, 1pm – 6pm in Building 20, Nolan Park) It seems there is mystery still on this ever-evolving isle, thanks to The Surprise House. The company behind the house, Surprise Industries, uses the science of surprise to help people embrace the unknown in their everyday life and work through the unexpected, which has incredible real-world applicability as anyone with a NYC landlord understands. I would tell you more but IT’S A SURPRISE. (August 16 – September 14, Building 6B) And finally, something to look forward to for next year: Ground has been broken on The Hills, four man-made hills that are to be the “culminating feature” of the Island’s new park. Made of recycled construction and fill materials, The Hills will rise from 30 to 80 feet, and will provide fantastic views of the harbor, Lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty. The Hills are slated for completion in 2015. Governor's Island jazz age lawn party Outgrowing the coffee shop? Everything you need to know about Brooklyn coworking spaces: rates, hours, availability, perks, and more.	8,594
We have had to cancel our March 8th 2020 milonga at very short notice – just 6 days to go – and to our community we just wanted to explain why: Firstly – we are hesitant to cancel or explain our views because we are not medical experts at all and we are certainly not trying to create any precedents or advice of any kind for anyone else, especially other organisers who have put so much great and consistent effort in for so many years with so little direct reward. We are just making a judgement call on our own upcoming Milonga based on what we know at this time, which is so very early in the Coronavirus outbreak here in the UK. We are trying to give enough notice to our dancers in the very week when the government finally comes out with guidelines (tomorrow as I write this ) which of course are themselves designed to not cause panic and have little relevance to a tango Milonga – which is not a ‘mass gathering’ (assuming they even mention those) but has some characteristics that unfortunately favour virus transmission. They will probably recommend not being close to strangers and washing your hands – which is fine but not very helpful to us as Milonga organisers. We are trying to learn from experience as it unfolds – especially from a recent Milonga in Italy – which was only discussed in the news today. This was a tipping point for me as I had been lacking any real tango examples until I heard about this. Guidelines in countries trying to contain more established outbreaks is to allow bars etc to be open but only if you can stay 1m away from all other people – that is a pretty open embrace. That event was 100 dancers starting 21st February – at that date Italy had only 16 confirmed cases – jumping to 76 the next day – in the UK ( Monday evening ) we have 40 today and 6 days to go to our Milonga. Since that Milonga in Italy they are now trying to track all participants to isolate and test them – there have been – according to Facebook communities involved – 3 confirmed cases plus 2 with symptoms – including one who had returned to Spain. [ permission to share received from Warren Edwards this evening – who is now also cancelling his Mayfair Milonga ] I assume that his will of course increase significantly as it is only about now that dancers would normally show any symptoms. We are just organisers – there is nothing special about us – of course we do spend so much of our energy and time trying to create something great month after month, and now year after year – but at the end of the day we are personally responsible for our events and for your well being and enjoyment. Basically we are trying to do our best and this is a difficult time to make such a decision. Of course we are not health experts at all, and by making this call we will lose all of the Milonga costs – but at this uncertain stage our financial costs are completely irrelevant – as indeed they always are to us – when compared to the well being of our Tango community and ultimately their families and friends. This virus, like so many things, will reach some conclusion and hopefully end up as just one of those temporary newsworthy things that our pathetic media loves and exaggerates so much because that’s a story – and good news never is. But right now we simply don’t have enough information, or a crystal ball, to be sure on what we should do just a few days in front of our event and so we just want to be responsible and to do whatever we can to protect our community. We are looking forwards to starting the Milonga again when the time is appropriate and trying all always to create an amazing event for you guys! Thank you for so much support in the last year – we really, really appreciate those of you that so consistently support us month after month and give us such great, great feedback, advice and help!! Creating a consistent and high standard Milonga – in such a small community as ours – is a hard task and we have been so thrilled by your support! Lastly I am disabling comments on this personal blog because if you have any comments or feedback I would really appreciate if those could be left on the Lewes Milonga FB group so your voice and thoughts can be heard in our community, which is so important to us. The post to leave any feedback and comments for all of us is here See you back on the dance floor very soon! Previous PostStudying Tango? Good luck …Next PostReinventing our relationship with tango in these difficult times	4,817
Discussion Board » Younger-Onset AD or Other Dementia » Dr Jennifer Bute, regards her condition as a gift! Dr Jennifer Bute, regards her condition as a gift! Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 7:45 AM Joined: 5/20/2014 The much in demand Jennifer Bute. David Hepworth Saturday 20 June 2015 04.00 EDT Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Comments You have to hear The Doctor’s Dementia (Wednesday, 11am, Radio 4). It’s about – no, it stars – Jennifer Bute. Jennifer is a radio natural, talking in the kind of relaxed but authoritative style that would inspire confidence among the occupants of a storm-tossed lifeboat. You can see why she’s in demand as a public speaker. That’s not just because of her wide experience, working in Africa, India and Ukraine, or her years of medical practice. It’s because of what Jennifer speaks about, which is her own dementia. Because she’s in the position of being able to report back from her journey to this previously unknown world, to tell other people what it’s like and to help them be ready should it happen to them or those close to them, she regards her condition as a gift. Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:59 AM Joined: 6/20/2014 What a wonderful thing you have shared. I "Binged" her and she is fantastic. I sure needed her optimistic view point today. Mabey,God does care about me after all. Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 12:41 PM When you look for another view of dementia apart from the version where we become empty vessels that ruin other people's lives, you find the TRUTH. Dementia requires a lot of strength since we have to keep learning how to live in the world with whatever current brain change we have going at the moment. But I can say I am happier today than I have been in 30 years. Because I had personal life experience in caring for my Father and gave massage to many other ALZ patients I knew people remained alive and conscious even at the end. It was the care that made the difference. I always loved it when someone would laugh with me - the spark in their eyes when we could kid each other. Most people did not relate well and were surprised their LO could still "be like that!" . My husband has become super good at finding me safe time with others, bringing me to events that matter to me, letting me do what I can and happily filling in my blanks. We also are making our little house super comfy and easy to navigate (the removal of clutter gave me 25% more brain power). I got my sense of humor back. I am affectionate again, have made a new friend. I wonder how many patients begin to live out an expectation based on the tragic prognosis they the medical world has presented them? Do I have scary moments? Yes but I did before, too. Are some days or nights particularly difficult? Yes but they existed before, too. I feel better about myself, learned that I matter, and found a purpose in spreading reality about dementia. Thank you Linda for the link to webinar with Dr Powers! It was great. This doctor has it right, excellent share. Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2015 8:01 PM Joined: 5/20/2014 Jennifer has a facebook page also and you could friend her if you like. Despite her growing fame she is very humble and down to earth. She most certainly is using her dementia as gift in helping others. God loves you Lisa. He especially loves us! People will fail and disappoint us but God has us in the palm of His hand! alz+ It is so inspiring and refreshing to hear positive viewpoints about finding meaning, purpose, happiness and joy. I was starting to feel like I had a ball and chain around my ankle and now I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted!	3,882
We must ensure the security of our nation's border immediately. We must stop the flow of illegal-immigrants that is putting our nation's security at risk and placing a financial burden on American citizens. In Washington she will work to protect our sovereignty and our citizens by securing the border and preserving taxpayer resources for Americans & immigrants who respect & follow our laws & choose to come here legally. She will put New York and American workers first by not voting for amnesty. Source: 2016 New York House campaign website ClaudiaForCongress.com , Nov 8, 2016 Supports constructing a wall to control our border. Tenney supports the AFA survey question on the Mexican border The American Family Association Action Voter Guide asked if candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.' American Family Association Action (AFA Action) produces the online "iVoterGuide" for selected state and federal races. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America. Source: American Family Association survey 16AFA_Q12 on Nov 8, 2016 Supports ban on resettlement of Syrian refugees. Tenney supports the AFA survey question on Syrian refugees The American Family Association Action Voter Guide asked if candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'I oppose the resettlement of Syrian refugees into the U.S. without proper vetting.' American Family Association Action (AFA Action) produces the online "iVoterGuide" for selected state and federal races. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America. Source: American Family Association survey 16AFA_Q14 on Nov 8, 2016 Supports illegals returning to country of origin. Tenney supports the PVS survey question on immigration reform The Project Vote Smart Voter Guide inferred how candidates would respond to the question, 'Immigration: Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?' Project Vote Smart notes, "in response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2016, are provided [for candidates who] refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their parties and advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads." Source: Political Courage Test 16PVS_Q12 on Nov 8, 2016 Strongly pro-border wall, according to AFA survey. Tenney supports the AFA survey question on border infrastructure The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): "Grounded in God; rooted in research"; they "thoroughly investigate candidates"; when they cannot "evaluate with confidence, they receive an 'Insufficient' rating" (& we exclude) Source: AFA Survey 20AFA-12A on Sep 11, 2020 Strongly pro-ICE, according to AFA survey. Tenney opposes the AFA survey question on abolishing ICE The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished '? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): "Grounded in God; rooted in research"; they "thoroughly investigate candidates"; when they cannot "evaluate with confidence, they receive an 'Insufficient' rating" (& we exclude) Source: AFA Survey 20AFA-12B on Sep 11, 2020 Anti-sanctuary city, according to AFA survey. Tenney supports the AFA survey question on defunding sanctuary cities The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): "Grounded in God; rooted in research"; they "thoroughly investigate candidates"; when they cannot "evaluate with confidence, they receive an 'Insufficient' rating" (& we exclude) Source: AFA Survey 20AFA-12C on Sep 11, 2020 Allow immigration bans from non-cooperating countries. Tenney voted NAY NO BAN Act The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (NO BAN Act) imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the US. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as issuing a visa. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any class of aliens after determining that the restriction would address specific and credible facts that threaten U.S. interests such as security or public safety. GovTrack.us analysis (4/21/21): President Donald Trump instituted a travel ban on eight countries: Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The Supreme Court upheld the travel ban 5-4 in the 2018 decisionTrump v. Hawaii. Trump's travel ban was popularly nicknamed "the Muslim ban" by its Democratic critics since most of the countries it applied to were majority Muslim, and because Trump as a 2016 candidate had indeed proposed a Muslim ban. Regardless, President Joe Biden rescinded the policy on his first day in office. Currently, federal law bans any person from being discriminated against when entering the U.S. on the basis of five characteristics: race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence. The NO BAN Act would add another category: religion. Rep. Tom McClintock in OPPOSITION: President Trump invoked this authority against countries that were hotbeds of international terrorism and that were not cooperating with the US in providing basic information about travelers coming from these countries. The left called it a 'Muslim ban.' What nonsense. Without this authority, the president would have been powerless to take simple, prudent precautions against terrorists and criminals from entering the US. Legislative Outcome: Passed House 218-208-3 on April 21, 2021, rollcall #127; introduced in Senate with 42 co-sponsors but no further Senate action during 2021. Source: Congressional vote 21-HR1333 on Feb 25, 2021	6,829
A lesson on selecting a Bb trumpet to meet your specific needs. In this video, Steve discusses the demands that we face as trumpet players and how the selection of a trumpet can help us achieve our musical goals. It also dispels many common misconceptions and generalizations about trumpet size and weight. Package 2: Selecting an Eb trumpet A lesson on selecting a Eb trumpet to meet your specific needs. In this video, Steve discusses the demands that we face as trumpet players and how the selection of a trumpet can help us achieve our musical goals. Package 3: Selecting a C trumpet A lesson on selecting a C trumpet to meet your specific needs. In this video, Steve discusses the demands that we face as trumpet players and how the selection of a trumpet can help us achieve our musical goals. It also dispels many common misconceptions and generalizations about trumpet size. A lesson on selecting a flugelhorn to meet your specific needs. In this video, Steve discusses the demands that we face as trumpet players and how the selection of a flugelhorn can help us achieve our musical goals. Package 5: Selecting a piccolo trumpet A lesson on selecting a Bb/A piccolo trumpet to meet your specific needs. In this video, Steve discusses the demands that we face as trumpet players and how the selection of a piccolo trumpet can help us achieve our musical goals.	1,438
Power Past Coal is an ever-growing alliance of health, environmental, businesses, clean-energy, faith and community groups working to stop coal export off the West Coast. There are over 100 organizations that are part of the coalition. In addition, over 55 cities, counties and ports, close to 600 health professionals, 220 faith leaders, 500 local businesses (many from smaller rail-line communities), and over 160 elected officials have either come out in opposition or have raised concerns about coal export. You can read some of their letters and resolutions here. partner campaign Stand Up to Oil is a growing coalition of groups opposed to new oil terminals and an increase in oil transport through the Northwest, while working to improve safety measures for oil currently traveling through the region. about Power Past Coal Power Past Coal is an ever-growing alliance of health, environmental, clean-energy, faith and community groups and businesses working to stop coal export off the West Coast. MORE donate today! Stand Up to Oil is a growing coalition of groups opposed to new oil terminals and an increase in oil transport through the Northwest, while working to improve safety measures for oil currently traveling through the region. ©2018 Power Past Coal \| Site by Shew Design donate today! stand up to oil partner campaign Stand Up to Oil is a growing coalition of groups opposed to new oil terminals and an increase in oil transport through the Northwest, while working to improve safety measures for oil currently traveling through the region.	1,622
At first, I thought that I would avoid talking about politics on my blog, but I've changed my mind. I've supported Obama since before Super Tuesday and I want everyone who reads this entry to know that. On my wife's birthday, we attended his rally in Boston on February 4th and that helped change me from feeling generally positive about him to feeling enthusiastic. I think he can win and start pushing for real change. As I learn of his primary victories in state after state, I'm actually excited! Thanks to Ian Clarke for linking to Larry Lessig's "20 minutes or so on why I am 4Barack". Posted by Matt Passell at 1:41 PM 2 comments Wednesday, February 27, 2008 LibraryThing and Book Reviews Jeff Winkler noticed that I like books and like talking about them and pointed me at LibraryThing. It's a website that effectively functions like a giant book club, allowing you to see who else has and likes the same books as you and what they'd recommend. I decided to set up my account and put a few of my books in my catalog. I plan to review books here and link to my reviews from LibraryThing - I've seen others doing the same thing. Posted by Matt Passell at 10:13 AM 0 comments Wednesday, February 20, 2008 I just started reading Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working For Yourself. So far, I like it quite a bit. The number of people working independently in the US (30 million or more as measured by several organizations) is staggering. I'll add more about the book as I make progress through it. Posted by Matt Passell at 6:20 PM 0 comments I was just looking at the blog of Jeff Winkler, another member of the Boston Java Meetup and saw his entry, "Fix Offscreen Windows Easily with Sizer". Using a screencast, he describes a cool little app called Sizer, which allows you to set the exact size of an application window on a Windows machine (looks like it doesn't support Vista yet), but also helps you make lost/off-screen windows visible again. It comes with three preset window sizes (640x480, 800x600, and 1024x768), but you can easily add your own by right-clicking on Sizer's System Tray icon and choosing "Configure Sizer...". I've added a few which subtract the approximate height of the taskbar (30 pixels on my machine) so that I can see what an app would look like at other standard monitor sizes. I like my widescreen monitor, but I know not everyone has one. I hope you find it useful.	2,558
Kim is a Canadian born Torontonian, who is in her early 40's. She's a mom who's juggling a job and her little monkey at home. She's been blogging for over 20 years, and writes about woman's health, fashion, fitness and weight loss, parenting, product reviews and giveaways. Sponsors I've worked with Stuff I'm Involved In! Misc Links Page Blog Archive December ( 2 ) June ( 1 ) December ( 1 ) October ( 1 ) October ( 1 ) March ( 2 ) February ( 3 ) January ( 1 ) November ( 2 ) October ( 1 ) September ( 1 ) August ( 2 ) July ( 3 ) June ( 2 ) May ( 1 ) March ( 3 ) February ( 4 ) January ( 2 ) December ( 1 ) November ( 2 ) October ( 1 ) September ( 1 ) August ( 2 ) July ( 1 ) June ( 1 ) May ( 1 ) March ( 2 ) February ( 1 ) December ( 2 ) November ( 1 ) October ( 4 ) September ( 2 ) August ( 2 ) July ( 3 ) June ( 1 ) May ( 5 ) April ( 3 ) March ( 3 ) January ( 7 ) December ( 7 ) November ( 13 ) October ( 14 ) September ( 9 ) August ( 9 ) July ( 6 ) June ( 12 ) May ( 11 ) April ( 8 ) March ( 10 ) February ( 12 ) January ( 12 ) December ( 11 ) November ( 23 ) October ( 13 ) September ( 11 ) August ( 9 ) July ( 11 ) June ( 5 ) May ( 20 ) April ( 18 ) March ( 26 ) February ( 18 ) January ( 26 ) December ( 6 ) November ( 10 ) October ( 10 ) September ( 10 ) August ( 30 ) July ( 32 ) June ( 8 ) May ( 8 ) April ( 22 ) March ( 12 ) February ( 18 ) January ( 22 ) December ( 104 ) November ( 62 ) October ( 12 ) September ( 28 ) August ( 20 ) July ( 72 ) June ( 130 ) May ( 128 ) April ( 34 ) March ( 102 ) February ( 136 ) January ( 150 ) December ( 122 ) November ( 180 ) October ( 150 ) September ( 100 ) August ( 88 ) July ( 6 ) June ( 6 ) May ( 24 ) April ( 8 ) March ( 36 ) February ( 72 ) January ( 92 ) December ( 158 ) November ( 80 ) October ( 73 ) September ( 62 ) August ( 104 ) July ( 104 ) June ( 50 ) May ( 33 ) April ( 31 ) March ( 36 ) February ( 49 ) January ( 47 ) December ( 92 ) November ( 108 ) October ( 55 ) September ( 79 ) August ( 89 ) July ( 89 ) June ( 93 ) May ( 35 ) April ( 16 ) March ( 6 ) February ( 12 ) January ( 3 ) December ( 8 ) November ( 8 ) October ( 2 ) September ( 15 ) August ( 7 ) July ( 5 ) June ( 3 ) May ( 2 ) February ( 1 ) January ( 7 ) December ( 7 ) November ( 4 ) October ( 17 ) September ( 21 ) August ( 31 ) July ( 55 ) June ( 53 ) May ( 43 ) April ( 14 ) March ( 15 ) February ( 9 ) © Copyright 2022. Kimberly Anne Walker from This Mom Needs Wine, formerly known as A Spicy Boy, A Cat, and My Fat Ass.	2,655
Hi folks! I'm a school psychologist in Huntington Beach, CA looking for ideas to support one of my high school students who has anxiety regarding her helmet. She has not had to wear it yet because it keeps getting refitted; however, she shared with me that she has soul-crushing anxiety about wearing the helmet at school (really, in public). Not so much in her classes, because she feels confident that her classmates will support her. It's really break and lunch that frightens her. I want to organize something for her with our ASB students to show her that she is valued and loved by her fellow students. Does anyone have previous experience with this issue? I'd love to hear your stories and ideas. We care very much about this young lady and just want to show her that she is supported. Comments I am not a psychologist or an I am not a psychologist or an expert on epilepsy, but I was once a teenager and have raised several children throughout their teenage years. Kids can be kind and cruel as we all know. They are cruel when they see something unusual like seeing a teenager wearing a helmet in school. They can be kind when then know the girl and understand her story. Oh she has epilepsy. If she falls she could really injure herself. People wear helmets on their bikes so they don't injure themselves. How about having a school assembly about epilepsy. I am reading an English book called "I Smell Burning" written by a black English doctor telling the story of his brother who dies eventually from an epileptic fit and also a general history of epilepsy. In the past epileptics were terribly discriminated against since they were considered being little more than insane. The famous poet Emily Dickinson has been identified as a potential epilepsy victim. This was one of the explanations why she almost never left her room during her life. The social stigma was too great. George V, the recent English king, had one of his sons exiled for life to a castle in Scotland because of the shame. Gladly things have improved tremendously and while most people do not know much about the condition, they are also not likely to condemn epileptics today either.I was fascinated to learn about all of the famous people with epilepsy. Julius Caesar, He collapsed during a battle. The authors Fyodor Dostoevsky and Charles Dickens. Musicians Neil Young and Prince. Black Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner. She died from a seizure. The President Theodore Roosevelt - one of the most active of any of the Presidents. There is nothing like being associated with famous people to make something seem less important. Maybe even cool. I would suggest that either you or the student should give the presentation - if she was up to it. At the least she could be introduced and put on her helmet so that everyone can see and understand. I think life would be much happier for her in the future if everyone was a part of it. Good luck and best wishes. I am not a psychologist or an expert on epilepsy, but I was once a teenager and have raised several children throughout their teenage years. Kids can be kind and cruel as we all know. They are cruel when they see something unusual like seeing a teenager wearing a helmet in school. They can be kind when then know the girl and understand her story. Oh she has epilepsy. If she falls she could really injure herself. People wear helmets on their bikes so they don't injure themselves. How about having a school assembly about epilepsy. I am reading an English book called "I Smell Burning" written by a black English doctor telling the story of his brother who dies eventually from an epileptic fit and also a general history of epilepsy. In the past epileptics were terribly discriminated against since they were considered being little more than insane. The famous poet Emily Dickinson has been identified as a potential epilepsy victim. This was one of the explanations why she almost never left her room during her life. The social stigma was too great. George V, the recent English king, had one of his sons exiled for life to a castle in Scotland because of the shame. Gladly things have improved tremendously and while most people do not know much about the condition, they are also not likely to condemn epileptics today either.I was fascinated to learn about all of the famous people with epilepsy. Julius Caesar, He collapsed during a battle. The authors Fyodor Dostoevsky and Charles Dickens. Musicians Neil Young and Prince. Black Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner. She died from a seizure. The President Theodore Roosevelt - one of the most active of any of the Presidents. There is nothing like being associated with famous people to make something seem less important. Maybe even cool. I would suggest that either you or the student should give the presentation - if she was up to it. At the least she could be introduced and put on her helmet so that everyone can see and understand. I think life would be much happier for her in the future if everyone was a part of it. Good luck and best wishes. I am not a psychologist or an expert on epilepsy, but I was once a teenager and have raised several children throughout their teenage years. Kids can be kind and cruel as we all know. They are cruel when they see something unusual like seeing a teenager wearing a helmet in school. They can be kind when then know the girl and understand her story. Oh she has epilepsy. If she falls she could really injure herself. People wear helmets on their bikes so they don't injure themselves. How about having a school assembly about epilepsy. I am reading an English book called "I Smell Burning" written by a black English doctor telling the story of his brother who dies eventually from an epileptic fit and also a general history of epilepsy. In the past epileptics were terribly discriminated against since they were considered being little more than insane. The famous poet Emily Dickinson has been identified as a potential epilepsy victim. This was one of the explanations why she almost never left her room during her life. The social stigma was too great. George V, the recent English king, had one of his sons exiled for life to a castle in Scotland because of the shame. Gladly things have improved tremendously and while most people do not know much about the condition, they are also not likely to condemn epileptics today either.I was fascinated to learn about all of the famous people with epilepsy. Julius Caesar, He collapsed during a battle. The authors Fyodor Dostoevsky and Charles Dickens. Musicians Neil Young and Prince. Black Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner. She died from a seizure. The President Theodore Roosevelt - one of the most active of any of the Presidents. There is nothing like being associated with famous people to make something seem less important. Maybe even cool. I would suggest that either you or the student should give the presentation - if she was up to it. At the least she could be introduced and put on her helmet so that everyone can see and understand. I think life would be much happier for her in the future if everyone was a part of it. Good luck and best wishes. it’s great that she has it’s great that she has teachers that care for here and acknowledge her situation. i applaud you for that. i never had to wear a helmet. i do not have gran male seizures but i did go through bullying from teachers & students. so my advice is just continue doing what you’re doing. it’s great that she has teachers that care for here and acknowledge her situation. i applaud you for that. i never had to wear a helmet. i do not have gran male seizures but i did go through bullying from teachers & students. so my advice is just continue doing what you’re doing. it’s great that she has teachers that care for here and acknowledge her situation. i applaud you for that. i never had to wear a helmet. i do not have gran male seizures but i did go through bullying from teachers & students. so my advice is just continue doing what you’re doing. I remember when I was in high I remember when I was in high school, I played club soccer until..... my mom decided I would have to wear a helmet during it all. Embarrassed the crap out of me. Told her that I shouldn't have to do it. If I had to, at least my brother should. Maybe you could get ASB to wear helmets one day to encourage it. I remember when I was in high school, I played club soccer until..... my mom decided I would have to wear a helmet during it all. Embarrassed the crap out of me. Told her that I shouldn't have to do it. If I had to, at least my brother should. Maybe you could get ASB to wear helmets one day to encourage it. I remember when I was in high school, I played club soccer until..... my mom decided I would have to wear a helmet during it all. Embarrassed the crap out of me. Told her that I shouldn't have to do it. If I had to, at least my brother should. Maybe you could get ASB to wear helmets one day to encourage it. Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news and stories from the community. Careers Get Involved Ways to Give Volunteer Advocacy Find Local Support	9,754
Today on Twitter, someone said that the one thing we have learned so far from the tragic shooting in Arizona of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (and others) was that we are failing at dealing with mental illness. It used to be different. It used to be easy to lock people up for mental illness and keep them far too long. The system was reformed, which led us to err too far on the side of the rights of the mentally ill. The idea was that, as long as people weren’t actively a threat to themselves or others, they should be allowed to do whatever they wanted. We can see the results of these policies in every city, as terribly mentally ill people with few resources to take care of themselves wander the streets cold, hungry, sick and alone. Jared Lee Loughner was clearly mentally ill, so much so that teachers and others tried to get him help and failed. The system failed him, and it failed all of us. The Arizona shootings reminded me of a post I wrote about some friends a couple of years ago – Note: names have been changed to protect the rightfully nervous I got a phone message Saturday. “Hey, Suebob, it’s Ken. Wow, a lot has happened since I saw you last. Call me. I have a new number because we had a murderous psychopath living next door so we had to move out of state.” Huh? THAT’s not the type of message you get every day. I called him right away and we ended up talking for over an hour. Here’s the story: Ken, his wife Leila and their 2 young (under 5) children lived in a rural area where they could have chickens and ducks and goats and fruit trees. Living the good life, back-to-the-land style. They had a neighbor, Dan, who seemed a little odd, but he and Ken worked on a few projects around the place together. Dan admitted to Ken that he had had some mental health issues, but they were controlled by medication and he was seeing a doctor. As time went by, Dan began to talk paranoid crazy talk, saying that someone in town was out to get him. In fact, she was trying to poison him. Ken asked Dan if he was still taking his meds and seeing the doctor. Dan said yes. The weeks passed and Dan got more and more paranoid, saying that other neighbors were ganging up and trying to poison him, and that he thought that maybe he should kill them before they killed him. What? Huh? Ken began to realize that this was a serious situation. He called mental health to see if there was anything he could do to prevent Dan from going on a killing spree. They brought Dan into a hospital for three days, then released him. When he got out, he was even worse and now he had transferred his paranoid thoughts onto Ken and Leila, saying that they were trying to poison him and control his mind. Ken got in touch with the police. He found out something about Dan that made his blood turn to ice. About 15 years before, Dan had taken his wife and kids out onto a country road and murdered his wife in front of the children. He had thought she was trying to poison him. He spent more than 10 years in a state mental health facility, then was released. No probation, no parole, no supervision. Just released. Ken hired a lawyer and got a restraining order against Dan. He said the courtroom scene was surreal, with Dan saying “But I don’t have anyone! I’m a widower!” Let us remember that he was a widower because he had shot his wife to death. Ken also contacted mental health again. They suggested that he get a firearm to protect his family. THAT was the advice they gave him – basically kill him before he kills you. Ken tracked down the police detective who had arrested Dan when he killed his wife. The detective wanted to help and asked if Ken had any evidence that Dan was engaged in illegal activities. Ken knew Dan sold drugs and told the officer that. The police raided Dan’s house. They found a bunch of meth – including some lined out on a mirror – and a whole bunch of pot. Apparently Dan was not only off his meds, he was high on meth and it was playing into his paranoia. The police took him into custody. At the bail hearing, Dan’s court-appointed attorney argued that he be released on his own recognizance. Ken went to court and gave the judge a long letter stating all that had happened and the judge, bless him, set the bail very high so Dan could not get out before his trial. When Ken got home, he looked at Leila and she looked at him. Dan was in jail, but they knew someday he would get out and he thought that the two of them were his worst enemies. They had 2 little kids sleeping in the next room. They packed up their stuff and moved. Far from their friends, far from their families, but safer. While they were in the moving process, Dan’s brother came to clean out his house because Dan had been evicted for not paying rent. He told Ken that Dan had mentioned Ken to him, and that Dan said he sometimes sat in his chair in the dark with a gun and stared at Ken as Ken moved around inside his home, thinking about shooting him or his wife. The brother showed Ken the gun that Dan had in his house. “I realized,” Ken said, “That we were probably almost dead.” So that’s the story. My friends got away from Dan, but those people in Arizona couldn’t get away from Jared Loughner before he started shooting. It was just a matter of luck and timing. That shouldn’t be the case. There has to be a better way to keep people safe – both safe from being hurt and safe from hurting others. Reddit Related from → Uncategorized Wordless Wednesday: A Happy Memory (with Wienermobile) → January 10, 2011 19:42 What a chilling story. I’m working on some research this semester on mental illness. It’s eye-opening and heartbreaking how hopeless the situation seems. Having said that, I’m seeing people on the front lines who want to effect change. January 11, 2011 09:19 It is scary to me that people actually have to become violent before anything is done. January 10, 2011 20:43 well, shit, you just blew my plan to move the family out to the country for the good life out of the water. sorry. i’ve worked in health care for over a decade and i do think we think we can fix unfixable problems…some minds are just so wrecked. glad your friends were okay. what a freaking story. January 11, 2011 09:17 No goats and chickens for you! January 10, 2011 22:44 Yes, I agree. While some can be helped, others, like Dan, need to be taken care of, away from the general population. I have great sympathy for illness, right up to when my family is threatened, and then very little. It’s quite sad that we, as a society, are still not better equipped to deal with this very well. January 11, 2011 09:17 I can understand why we had to reform the system, but I think it might be time for some fixing. January 11, 2011 07:09 That story made my hair stand on end. I am seeing a lot of people respond to the Arizona killings with the recommendation that MORE people carry guns, just like the mental health people advised your friend. Personally, I don’t think that’s the right solution… January 11, 2011 09:15 I have mixed feelings about the gun issue. But they certainly don’t keep us any safer – that has been shown over and over. January 11, 2011 07:50 That story is terrifying. It could happen to anyone. We need more and easier access to mental health help. I can’t go to therapy now because my insurance won’t cover it and I am upper middle class. I don’t know what happens to somebody like Dan. January 11, 2011 09:14 Yes, that is the scary part. He fixated on them because they were there, and because they interacted with him. I shudder to think how it could have turned out. They are still kind of on the run – they try to leave as few footprints as possible, just in case he still wants to hunt them down. January 11, 2011 07:57 Weirdly, this is the sanest thing I’ve read since Saturday. January 11, 2011 09:13 Thanks. I hope some changes are made as a result of this. January 11, 2011 13:43 I work in the mental health field and this kind of thing is so scary. There is less and less money and support for people with mental health issues and for those who are trying to provide the support. In the state where I live (as in many others I imagine), a person has to be deemed a serious and imminent threat to themselves or someone else before anyone can intervene if the person is not willing to get treatment…and, as you pointed out Suebob, the intervention may only be for three days. In my state, we have also gone through reform (read: disaster) which means more bureaucratic bullshit and less help available, even for those who do want to get treatment. I think that, until this field is viewed more widely as necessary and something that deserves public financial and political support, it can be hard to make great strides. It is messy and not glamorous and often people don’t want any part of it UNTIL it touches them or someone close to them. January 11, 2011 15:35 …and I imagine it is its own special kind of stress – working in the field and having your hands tied by law/bureaucracy/funding issues – and knowing that the people you are trying to help may go off and do something terrible to themselves or others. January 12, 2011 19:14 Jared Lee Loughner’s parents are living my nightmare; my 8 year old son is seriously mentally ill, and once he turns 18 I won’t be able to compel him to get treatment. There is no perfect system, but abandoning people living with mental illness to live as best they can is no better then locking people up in miserable institutions. January 16, 2011 12:38 That has to be the scariest feeling. I’m so sorry and wish you the best in having your son get the help he needs for the rest of his life. January 16, 2011 22:28 it’s scary for everyone, and my only answer is, “someone should do something.” i hate the idea of trampling someone’s individual rights, but what about what they may do to others? i have no idea what the right answer is. glad your friend escaped. January 22, 2011 07:51 We have to start taking better care of people who need help. The irony is that it seems really expensive on the surface, but the cost of treating all those people who were shot in Tucson could probably pay for mental health treatment for 100 people for a year. It’s easier to put mentally ill people in jail. Comments are closed. 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This month we’re celebrating Kontakt.io’s sixth birthday and that number is the inspiration behind all of our blog posts in July. So, with that in mind, let’s dive into our first list of six things that will help you to plan, deploy, use and benefit from your own location-based application. This week, we’re talking about the six most important things to double and triple check in the planning stages of any beacon-based proximity solution. A title that long must be full of important information, right? Well, yes, it is, and following the advice here will save you a lot of headaches and inconvenience in the future. Are you struggling to decide which beacon is the right one for your project? Download our guide now. After all, just like any technical undertaking, there are some important boxes to tick in the early stages of designing and planning a deployment. Making the right decisions before everything goes live avoids problems later, when changes come at a high cost in time and money. So let’s jump in to our list of boxes you definitely need to tick in order to make your deployment a success. 1 - Can you clearly identify what you want your beacon solution to do? Sounds pretty obvious, right? Perhaps it is, but misalignment between the purpose of a proximity application and its design, hardware and management software it uses is one of the main causes of problems in managing any project. Beacon-based applications are not a one-size-fits-all situation. Different use cases demand different adaptations to their unique circumstances and a mismatch between the physical setup they require on one hand and the results they’re supposed to deliver on the other is a recipe for trouble. Wayfinding, customer experience-enhancing applications, asset tracking, employee timeclock functionalities—all this and more can be accomplished with small tweaks to the same basic setup, but they still need different approaches that begin right at the start of the planning stage. This means getting input from all stakeholders and precisely defining the main goal of the deployment before any conversation about hardware begins. If you’re coming from an industrial or manufacturing background, you’re familiar with the idea of an asset that is designed to do a very specific task very well. You don’t just decide that you want a machine to do something completely different one day and expect great results. The same applies to beacons—getting the right tools for the job starts with knowing exactly what the job is. 2 - Do you have high-quality, up-to-date maps of all deployment areas? Another obvious but overlooked point, the details of the physical area where your proximity solution is to be deployed are very important to its success. The shape, dimensions and unique features of the space directly influence the size and configuration of the infrastructure needed to cover it. This is not something to figure out after you’ve ordered your hardware and are looking for what you think is a good place to put a beacon. The number, type and location of the beacons to be used should be determined long before they are unboxed, and that means creating a virtual deployment based on a map of the space where they will be used. Start by taking precise measurements of the area and creating a properly-scaled visual representation of the floor plan. Be sure to include interior walls, ceiling heights and objects large enough to influence beacon signals, like machinery or furniture. When ready, place beacons on the plan along with their signal ranges. This will make it easier to identify problematic areas where signal coverage may be compromised by awkward layouts, walls or other physical obstacles. These spaces will likely require additional coverage to ensure steady signal availability, especially for applications like wayfinding and asset tracking. 3 - Do you know what kind of hardware you need? Now let’s switch from the big picture down to instrument-level issues. As mentioned before, different use cases have different requirements and in the context of beacons, that means choosing the right one for the relevant environment, with the appropriate features for the job involved. This starts with making sure that the hardware you choose can withstand temperature extremes, moisture or possible impact in the space where it’s deployed if these factors are applicable. There’s a difference between, say, the still, climate-controlled calm of an airport wall and the sometimes-hot, sometimes-cold surroundings of pallet in a warehouse, with its bumps and frequent movement. Picking the wrong hardware in applications with environmental pressures can quickly result in problems. Different beacons have different battery capacities and options for changing their batteries, too. It could be that you’ll need to compromise between one factor and another when choosing hardware. For example, do you need a beacon that’s waterproof? That’s not a problem, but the seal that makes it waterproof will not allow you to change the battery, which in turn has an impact on the costs of fleet management. The form factor of a beacon, which is important in some use cases, also has an influence on battery capacity, with the same implications for overall cost of ownership. Selecting the right beacon for your deployment is one of the early steps in the process and has a significant effect on future performance and possibilities of the network you create. Download our ultimate Beacon Buyer’s Guide and discover which Bluetooth beacon or tag is the right one for your project. 4 - Do you know what settings to use? (And did you know beacons have settings?) Speaking of batteries, mistakes are often made when it comes to battery-related challenges and matching the needs of the use case to the capabilities and settings of the hardware. The energy demands of different use cases have an impact not only on the choice of hardware, but on the settings they use. In larger deployments with a high number of beacons, getting the settings right from the start can prevent troublesome recalibration later. The strength of the signal and the frequency with which it is broadcast (called the “interval”) have a major influence on battery life. If they’re not matched to the requirements of your use case, it will result in replacing batteries or entire beacons much earlier than otherwise necessary. Depending on the particulars of your use case, you may not need your beacons to broadcast at maximum strength or frequency. In fact, it’s likely that you don’t. But determining what you need before full-scale rollout will make fleet management easier and reduce costs of ownership. 5 - Have you considered security concerns related to your beacons? Can we just assume that you don’t want anyone besides yourself or someone in your organization to control your beacons? Right, we thought so. This means checking to be sure that all information handled by beacons is encrypted and no passwords are sent over the air. Also, look for the ability to program your beacons to “shuffle”, or change the identifying addresses and codes they use on a daily basis to prevent anyone from piggybacking or spoofing your device. For an extra measure of security, you should have beacons with a built-in software lock, to prevent anyone from directly accessing its memory. Security also means getting alerts when something goes wrong. If a beacon is low on power or has dropped off the grid altogether, you should have the ability to generate automated alerts to let you know that something needs your attention now. 6 - How are you going to monitor and manage your beacons? If you are planning a deployment consisting of hundred beacons or more, you need to make sure that your beacon infrastructure can be managed as easily as conditions allow. Being able to monitor their condition and manage them in bulk, rather than one device at a time, is a major time and money-saving convenience. For example, if one of the beacons is running low on battery power, or it hasn’t been seen for some time, or if you need to apply different configurations at once, you need to have a tool for this. Which would you rather do, physically make the rounds and inspect each beacon or bring everything up on a screen? Device and fleet management is very often overlooked as part of the cost of ownership for proximity solutions. You can imagine the investment in time involved in manually managing potentially hundreds of Bluetooth devices spread over a large area. The same idea applies to the matter of being able to update or change beacon settings remotely over-the-air. An infrastructure management tool solves a lot of these problems at a low cost. With the Kontakt.io Infrastructure Management subscription you can easily apply configurations, and update your beacons remotely, regardless of the physical setup of your deployment. Getting everything done at the touch of a button as opposed to going out and touching hundreds of beacons? The choice is up to you but it should be an easy one. The issue of a management tool is important—you can’t not have one. Without an infrastructure management service, you will need to develop your own. Depending on the scale of your operation, this may be impractical for a number of reasons. For reasons of cost and convenience, going with an all-in-one, full-service provider is typically your best bet. That should be enough to get you thinking about your own beacon deployment for now. Again, the point is to carefully consider the basics that shape the basic mission of your project, its design and the functionalities it needs to have. Don’t forget to come back next week for another dose of six tips to enhance your location-based experience! Learn how smart hospital solutions are delivering greater efficiencies, better clinical outcomes, and higher patient satisfaction to all sizes of hospitals & healthcare facilities. Learn how we can help improve employee experience, decrease carbon footprint, and help you understand how your space is utilized in a SIMPLE & AFFORDABLE way. Get the latest industry news, thought leadership, and tips straight to your inbox. I agree to receive marketing information regarding Kontakt.io products, solutions and events via email.	10,688
Our policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging. To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase. Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer. There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable) Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days. Late or missing refunds If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted. If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at [email protected]. Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale items cannot be refunded. We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at [email protected]. If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you’ll receive a gift credit for the value of your return. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you. If the item wasn’t marked as a gift when purchased, or the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give to you later, we will send a refund to the gift giver and he will find out about your return. Shipping To return your product, email us at [email protected] to get further information. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund. Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary. If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.	2,700
Vote to kill an amendment that would prohibit the distribution of violent video programming to the public during hours when children are reasonably likely to comprise a substantial portion of the audience. Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-114 on May 13, 1999 Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. Graham scores 0% by the Christian Coalition on family issues The Christian Coalition was founded in 1989 by Dr. Pat Robertson to give Christians a voice in government. We represent millions of people of faith and enable them to have a strong, unified voice in the conversation we call democracy. Represent the pro-family point of view before local councils, school boards, state legislatures, and Congress Speak out in the public arena and in the media Train leaders for effective social and political action Inform pro-family voters about timely issues and legislation Protest anti-Christian bigotry and defend the rights of people of faith. Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position. Source: CC website 03n-CC on Dec 31, 2003	1,216
So that's my story. I went to art&design school, studied painting, but abandoned the paint and canvas for installations & performance art. Change the rules of the game. 03 what they say by The Living Circle, Switzerland Dina Baenninger joined as top specialist at the moment when it was about developing and implementing a unique communication strategy during the “reconstruction of the century” of Hotel Storchen Zurich in 2016 and the founding of The Living Circle in 2017. A powerful, versatile team was put together and excellent ideas quickly emerged. The implementation of these ideas was so successful that 40 extremely curious journalists attended the press conference on the opening day. And it was "only" a hotel renovation! Dina has made an extraordinary contribution to our success through her analytical and complete way of thinking. The variety of ideas and the interplay of these with a wide variety of media (film, social media, blog, FB, Instagram, competitions, etc.) created a tension from closure to reopening that was and still is hard to beat. Working with Dina was just fun at all times - because she is highly professional, brings along an incredibly broad spectrum of knowledge, can ask very critical questions, and never loses the goal out of sight. And to all of this, she is simply unique as a person.	1,425
My name is Gemma and I write the vintage fashion and lifestyle blog Retro Chick which has been around since 2008! I love vintage and vintage inspired styles, and I love to put my own stamp on things with quirky accessories and a bit of experimentation! I play Roller Derby, and I run, I like drinking cocktails and real ale and I love watching Poirot and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all those random things feed into my style and what my blog is about. 2. What category are you nominated in? 3. How did you first hear about the NVAs? I actually got a tweet from the organisers, and when I saw that the blog category was free to enter this year I thought I might as well throw my name into the hat!	713
Portable Monitors Portable displays that you pair up with a laptop aren't current phenomena. However, they have got into their own within the past few years. Many important monitor manufacturers have a minimum number of monitors in their range. Newer models appear more regularly than ever. It is possible to view two programs open full-screen directly. You can enhance your portable gaming system. Designs with a stylus, mobile monitors of varied sizes, and paradigms are ready to serve. Portable Monitors Why all of those panels? The extensive adoption of the USB Type-C connectivity thru its capability to transfer the data and power. They do not need a unique dedicated AC adapter for juice though some do include one as an option. Lots have just one USB-C port that handles all connectivity, although certain people add HDMI or additional connectors. Portable Monitors What Qualifies as a transportable Monitor? Even those range quite a bit in size. They can range from 3.5 inches to 22 inches. All of the portable displays that run the range from business, personal, and general use models to the panels for all kinds of gamers and artists. On the market, there could be a few models at 10 inches. They are mainly used with gaming consoles and, at 7 inches, used alongside Raspberry Pi. Most portable displays use a stand consistent with a slim but stiff plastic board. It comes with several grooves or creases on which it folds. At one end may be a magnetic strip, which adheres to the monitor's rear at its top. They generally fold it in the middle, pointing the angle far from the user, and propping up the monitor. The underside of the monitor inserts into a groove, securing it and tilting the device upward. Some portable displays have several grooves, and you'll alter the monitor's angle by placing the bottom in a different position. These stands that fold frequently double up as protective covers for the display to protect it when it's 'not in use. Another stand design that we've seen consists of a rigid, flat base containing the ports to which the screen is attached using hinges. You'll be able to set the screen to whatever angle you prefer just by tilting it. However, this type is far less common in any case. Also, some designs use the laptop itself as the direct support, fastening to its back or side and sliding or swinging out while in use. They're small and lightweight enough that they're easy to regulate manually. Some monitors may be pivoted by hand, though not all stands can support a monitor in portrait mode. Therefore, you may always shore up the monitor against a wall or other fixed surfaces in those cases. Most portable monitors can automatically correct the image, which is always right side up, whether you're in landscape or portrait mode. Even in those who lack such automatic image rotation, you'll be able to change the orientation in Windows display settings. When we observe the panels for mobile monitors, there are factors to be evaluated. Because of the laptop screen, many users opt to use a mobile monitor with identical screen size and native resolution. Finally, we have found that these panels are forgiving and don't have any trouble running portable displays. Even though, they might be slightly larger than a standard laptop's screen. Portable screens will generally be dimmer than desktops' most outstanding brightness levels. What is commonly referred to as brightness is luminance or brightness per unit area. As insinuated earlier, the versatile mobile monitor world is going through an assembly of power and connectivity due to USB Type-C connectivity. Numerous USB-C ports support both Display Port over USB and USB power conveyance. That allows the two information/video and power to move through the port from a PC over a solitary USB link. Most new versatile mobile monitors have around one USB-C port and some associate exclusively through USB-C. While this facility has its allure, ensure that your laptop's USB-C port backs data, video, and power move, since some early generation USB-C ports don't. A couple of more established compact portable display models draw their power from a Laptop over a different USB 3.0 association. However, USB-C is well headed to making this sort of association antiquated. Portable Monitors -The Best of 2022 final thoughts. Practically all portable displays are fit and play without requiring a software product to allow them to work. For the most part, any utilities offered, provided on disc and additionally through download, will be for explicit capacities. An example of this will be the capacity to empower the screen picture to stay upstanding when you switch between landscape and portrait direction. In some cases, the presentation might accompany a utility that allows you to change screen settings from your PC screen. On the other hand, it's the opposite through the auxiliary board's onscreen show (OSD) controls. The OSD is the screen's menu framework, overseeing controllable client settings. Most of the time, it is used in exploring the OSD, a solitary button, or change to control its mode. Sound/audio isn't thought with mobile screens as these devices will generally need built-in speakers or audio jacks. A couple of versatile displays are frequently gaming models that do incorporate speakers.	5,495
Putting on airs, playing squeamish, acting sensitive, shilly-shallying, finessing, fussing, and frequent dreaming in the night, all this too appertains to freedom, which one can never, in my opinion, comprehend, sense, consider, and respect variously enough. One should always be bowing inwardly to the pure image of freedom; there must be no pause in one’s respect for freedom, a respect which seems to bear a persistent relation to a kind of fear. A remarkable thing here is that freedom sets out to be single, tolerates no other freedoms beside itself. — Robert Walser from his short story “Essay on Freedom” (Selected Stories) Funny, funny Jude. You play with little pieces all day long, and you know what? You’ll live to be an old, old man someday. And here I am. If you have visited New Orleans or live here, you’ve probably seen Jude Acers (pronounced a-kers). He invariably wears a red beret and sets up his “World Chess Table” on Decatur Street near the Gazebo Cafe, a short walk from Cafe du Monde. He charges five dollars a game or into the thousands for more intensive lessons. He returned to New Orleans in 1979 after a decade living in San Francisco and zigzagging the country on Greyhound buses. He gave chess exhibitions in malls, elementary schools, colleges and prisons, and a couple times got himself listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for simultaneous chess games by an individual. He sometimes hustled to keep himself fed. Jude set a Guinness World Record for playing 117 people in simultaneous chess games on April 21, 1973 at the Lloyd Center Mall in Portland, Oregon. On July 2-3, 1976 Jude played 179 opponents at Mid Isle Plaza (Broadway Plaza) in Long Island, New York for another Guinness record. Photo credit: Malls of America He cast about the French Quarter a couple years with his chess table looking for the right spot. On July 21, 1981, local television journalist Eric Paulsen’s segment about Jude broadcast nationally on PM Magazine, the same day Jude set up his table at its current location near the Gazebo and realized he’d found what he’d been looking for. If it rained, he could easily slide his operation beneath shelter. He had lighting for nighttime play, heavy foot traffic and streams of cars along Decatur, and two of the most famous sites associated with 19th century chess legend Paul Morphy nearby, the Beauregard-Keyes House on Chartres Street where Morphy was born, and the building where Morphy lived out his life and died in a cold bathtub, upstairs at what is now Brennan’s New Orleans on Royal Street. That was also the day when Jude came up with the red beret hook: A man came by with (a delivery) for the Gazebo, and he said, ‘Excuse me, sir, do you know where I can find someone to sign for this?’ I looked over at 81-year-old Chuck Ney, who had cooked for President Kennedy on the Mississippi River, and was chef for a short time at the Gazebo, and I said, ‘Chuck Ney over there. See that man in the black beret?’ As the man was going away it suddenly hit me. If mothers of children want to find me to play a five dollar game, or a three dollar game at that time for children, they may not know what I look like, so maybe if I wore a red beret. That’s all it was. Some of the tour bus and carriage drivers call him “The Hand” for the royal wave he serves up for them if he’s not focused on a game, reading the New York Times, or occupied by his chess studies. He usually sets up around one in the afternoon–1 p.m., in fact, is his standard issue start time for pretty much everything. (“It simplifies things enormously.”) But if he’s in town, chances are he’s out there: The important thing is to do it all the time. You think you need days off. You will find if you get enough sleep, you can go a hundred days in a row without any days off, unless you absolutely have to take them. But I do this every day. I never get tired of it. Jude’s contention that he is a tourist-worthy landmark–or, rather, “the center of the universe,” right up there with “the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Pyramids, Rio”–is to an extent Fodor’s-certified. The Fodor’s 2011 New Orleans guidebook features a blurb that links Jude with Morphy: Jude’s personage, his table and chess boards and signs, the location–he sees it all as a “theatrical full page ad in the paper every day.” But don’t let the showman fool you: he’s given his life to the game, if on his own terms. Certified as a master at 17, he’s studied chess with a singular focus for 60 years. He majored in Russian History and Language at LSU and can read chess-related words in 10 languages. His manner of play is aggressive: I am an exponent of the old school Alexander Alekhine. Get every ounce of pressure that you can get out of the opening, play it like a hurricane … New York Times chess columnist Al Horowitz frequently featured Jude’s games in his columns: “A tournament buff with tactical flair” (April 4, 1968); “Enthusiasm, competitive drive, plus talent for objective analysis advanced Jude Acers of San Francisco into a three-way first-place tie” (October 31, 1968); “A clean 7-0 sweep for the young San Francisco star” (August 7, 1969); “Over-the-board, Acers is an adventurous tactician playing to win all the time. As an analyst, he is breezy, informative, objective and possessed of a pungent wit that can turn on himself” (October 29, 1970); and in describing Jude’s opening win in his match tie with six-time U.S. Champion Walter Browne, Horowitz wrote, “The West Coast star revitalized (the Petroff Defense) with sharp opening play” (March 1, 1971). The game (see below) was also voted a “Top Ten” theory game in the world in 1970 by a panel of six grandmasters and published in Chess Informant (Informator/Belgrade). your web browser and/or your host do not support iframes as required to display the chessboard; alternatively your wordpress theme might suppress the html iframe tag from articles or excerpts I met Jude in 1998 when I worked at the Loyola University library shortly after I moved to New Orleans. The library had maybe a dozen or so computer stations back then, and Jude would sometimes use 2-3 computers at a time. He did it in the evening when few students were around, rotating from online chess game to game. He wore his red beret, with a red or white t-shirt, maybe a sweater tied around his neck in the cool months. He could be exuberantly friendly and boastful of his chess prowess. Matthew Teague’s Oxford American article about Jude came out in 2000 (and was later collected in Best of the Oxford American: Ten Years from the Southern Magazine of Good Writing). Teague nicely captured how Jude speaks in association rich and sometimes dizzying monologues: His boots thunked against the asphalt as he walked, and his monologue flowed from subject to subject, slipping and sliding along the path of least resistance. “Comfortable boots,” he said. “I must dress smart head to toe, toe to head. Boots on my feet, beret on my head. The beret is red. Red in traffic means stop, so people walk past my boards and stop to play. And red is just a beautiful color. Nobody used color like Van Gogh. Now there was a genius. He knew nobody was going to buy his paintings. He was going a little crazy, but he knew it. Knew it perfectly well. Knew nobody was going to understand him, and knew he would die poor. But he was the boss of his world….” Teague chose an illuminating quote–replace “Van Gogh” with “Jude Acers” in those last four sentences and wa-la, we have found the beating heart of meaning!, or at least a beating heart. Where I think Teague erred was in over interpreting Jude’s irregularity and getting hung up on the “and knew he would die poor” part, as if he saw Jude’s Bohemian skirting-the-grid ways as accidental or a form of self-delusion: “I have made a lot of money on this sidewalk. Two hundred thousand, easy.” To the casual observer, Acers appears to have scraped by twenty-three years on fewer than ten grand a year, winning an endless stream of five dollar bills off drunks and tourists. But to him the money is a fortune, compiled and invested in twenty-three years of coffee and beignets. Each time a new opponent pays to play, he sees it as validation, as proof that he is a global treasure, and that pilgrims as far away as Alaska and Italy travel to sit at his little chess table and bask in the light of his genius. Jude’s grandiosity extends far beyond Jude Acers, however. He delights even more in praising others, such as Viswanathan Anand for his heroic defense of the world chess title in 2010–or even Teague: (Teague) followed me around for four days and four nights and I just couldn’t believe how good he was. I was totally fooled. He is incredibly good. He didn’t feel he did a good job but I told him, ‘You’re wrong.’ He captured very accurately—his editors phoned me about content, I told them it was absolutely correct. One thing he put in, he didn’t want to but they had to, my mother, to show that she was very sick, simply, her mind was going, she would simply take the dirty dishes after the meals and put them in a closet, and things like that … I usually know what’s going on but I didn’t know what was going on until Teague bombed me with that wonderful surprise, a gift from God when the article game out, I had no idea he was that good. He made sure I didn’t know he was that good. He was very low key. Jude is a charming, personable loner, a hustler with a low profit margin, a braggart who reveres many. Casey Bush thinks Teague didn’t quite get Jude: What I liked most about Jude is how he has lived his life. He is a true pedestrian in a motorized world. He is a non-materialist who owns only what he needs. Michael Teague was not ready for the depths of Bohemia or a Louisiana address without air conditioning, when he was honored to be invited to visit Jude’s barracks. ‘… he threw open the door to his apartment, and the smell that poured out drove me back a step. It was a mixture of old clothes, coffee, and mildew. The entire apartment was about eight by four feet. There was a closet at one end, and at the other end a toilet and shower, where Acers washes his clothes. Newspaper clips featuring Acers – including one that described his relationship with roomie Janis Joplin – were randomly tacked to the walls. On the floor was a pile of towels and blankets that he used as a bed, and stacks of books: hundreds, maybe thousands of books, some in Russian and Chinese, all about chess.’ Teague summarizes the wealth of association that has made Jude Acer’s life so rich but doesn’t quite get it: “He was a little off, but he knew it. Knew it perfectly well. Knew nobody was going to understand him and knew he would die poor. But he was boss of his world.” I believe Mr. Teague meant King, Jude Acers is the King of his world, Grand Ambassador of Cassia with his embassy located conveniently at the crossroads of the world on Decatur Street in New Orleans’ colorful French Quarter. And Jude pointed out: You realize I’ve made hundreds of thousands of dollars playing. And people are staggered. But realize, I have no hotel expenses. I have no travel expenses. The money that comes in goes to rent and everything else is reasonably clear. So I’ve been able to make at least a bare living. It’s staggering money for a chess player. It’s a simple business model, much of it is by accident. Jude does exactly what Jude wants to do (“play it like a hurricane”), he’s unfailingly polite, and he’ll do what he thinks is right–always–regardless of the personal sacrifice. His idea of a wonderful afternoon is simply a cup of coffee, a good walk, a chess problem. A live band would be nice. In 2000, not long after Teague’s article came out, I caught Jude at a St. Charles Avenue eatery where he held a simultaneous exhibition against a couple dozen people, maybe half kids. He bopped around the room with the focus of a cold professional, quickly making a move at each board while his opponents had opportunity to mull theirs. A friend of mine who fancied himself naturally talented at chess came along and lost with efficiency. I took pictures. The next time I saw Jude I gave him a print of the shot below (note that Jude is playing black; Bobby Fischer always took white when he played simultaneous exhibitions): Thrilled, Jude grandly insisted I would be paid if I allowed him to use it on a website where “millions” would see it. I strongly doubted the money and the millions, it was enough for me that he liked the picture, but–full disclosure–I got a $100 check in the mail a few weeks later. I cannot say I “interviewed” Jude when we recently sat down at a small sticky table at Cafe Du Monde, even as it certainly looked like I interviewed him. I scribbled into a notepad, a digital recorder balanced on the paper napkin dispenser between us, I frequently nodded. Jude ordered a tall cafe au lait and two plates of beignets, I had a small cafe au lait. He made a big deal with the waiter about how I would be picking up the tab. Jude also gave a tip. Jude had talking points he’d written on the reverse side of a couple French Market Restaurant & Bar paper placemats. He talked nearly non-stop for four hours, clicking down his talking points. I don’t think he so much as sipped his coffee for the first three hours. I dropped in at his World Chess Table several more times for follow-up questions and to clarify certain details. Sometimes when I sat down it would seem like I was joining him mid-sentence, as if he’d played through the moment in his mind and I was a few seconds late. We had originally agreed that the departure point for our conversation would be Frank Brady’s Endgame: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall–from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness (Crown, 2011), which Jude hewed to. He spent three days with Fischer in Baton Rouge and New Orleans in 1964 when they were 19 and 21 years old, respectively. (Jude lost twice to Fischer and they drew in a seven-hour-long simultaneous exhibition; they also played many speed games). Jude has written about the three days he spent with Fischer in “Hurricane I” and “Hurricane II,” which were published in John Donaldson’s A Legend on the Road: Bobby Fischer’s 1964 Simul Tour, 2nd ed. (Russell Enterprises, Inc., 2005). (Jude has given me permission to make a PDF available of Hurricane I & II; the download link is at the end of this post.) Brady’s book, despite being a delight to read and marvelous at repairing the reputation of Bobby’s mother Regina, omits entirely Fischer’s 1964 “Simul Tour,” which Jude contends is a serious omission given that tour happened at a peak of Fischer’s fame following his shocking 11-0 victory at the U.S. Championship and “is the central image that America got of Fischer at his best when his mind was working properly.” The tour brought Fischer to more than 40 cities over four months, from Montreal in February to Baton Rouge and New Orleans in March, from San Francisco in April to Indianapolis and Flint in May. According to Donaldson, for $250 Fischer would play 50 players simultaneously and deliver a lecture. The lecture in New Orleans, Jude said, was “not just good, (but) tremendous.” Jude learned from Fischer in developing his own approach to lecturing. It’s no surprise we returned to Fischer many times in our conversations. Fischer’s impact on chess in the United States cannot be overstated; leading up to his Championship match with Boris Spassky in 1972, Fischer sometimes bumped Watergate as the top story on network TV news broadcasts. Russell Miller promoted Jude’s tours for about 6 years in the 1970s, from 1970 to 1976, and, in an email, recently summed up the conventional wisdom: As went Fischer, so went U.S. chess: If Fischer had kept playing after he won the world title it would have been a lot better for chess and Jude Acers. September 1, 1972 Jude agrees to a point. Fischer certainly was good for business–when Fischer competed against Spassky for the world title in 1972, Sam Donaldson with ABC-TV flew into Atlanta to interview Jude at a prison where he was giving an exhibition. But Jude wasn’t counting on Fischer to catch fire; Jude would’ve done his Greyhound chess tours regardless: I was on Greyhound buses, traveling from one town to another, playing for $200 a night, $100 a night, maybe $300. I had no idea that Fischer was ever going to get his act together and actually play. He was ahead in a tournament in 1967, 3 points, and he just quit the tournament. Look, I wished Fischer well, he was very nice to me in Baton Rouge for three days and three nights, but it never occurred to me that I would actually be helped by Fischer. … I had no idea that no other person after me would ever have this chance because the buses don’t even go to many of those towns anymore. But you understand, I was seeing America and not realizing–like Jack Kerouac–like no other American chess master would ever get to see America again. The small towns, the little places. Not being dumb, I would purposefully stop, I would ask them for ‘the longest ticket you’ve got. If you’ve got 20 stops going to San Francisco, that’s better than 10.’ He said, ‘Well, it’s illegal but okay, I’ll book you zigzag all across the country, who’s going to care?’ … I rode several hundred buses and trains. I crossed the country five times in one year, and there were unbelievable experiences, just unbelievable … And as much as Jude admires Fischer as a player, especially for how doggedly Fischer studied chess and his honesty as a player, he pulled no punches with Fischer the man: And remember, I do not like Fischer at all, despite that he treated me very well. I will give away this book [Brady’s biography] very soon to a friend. But I insist he is the most important professional player who ever lived. No one is even close. What is it you don’t like about him? Oh, everything. The way he could not do business, just against all my ethics. I don’t like him because of his unbelievable profanity on radio; one doesn’t use profanity on the radio. I don’t like him for his statements against women, his incredible, convenient condemnation of Jews, when it’s convenient for him but associating with many Jews who helped him when it counts. I don’t like, basically, his visa stupidity [Fischer was arrested in Japan and spent 8 months in jail for a visa violation]. He knows if he stays in one place he can live out his life, with his money, why would you operate on a visa that is highly suspect twice a year going to different countries? I don’t like basic stupidity, presenting the Japanese and the United States with a problem they really don’t want. I don’t like his basic attitude in dealing with the Los Angeles Police Department or the police officers who arrested him, who were his jailers, who didn’t know anything about chess but have since learned chess and become motorcycle enthusiasts and rode to my chess table three decades later, told me Fischer would not cooperate, kicking and screaming, would not tell people who he was. He (looked) like a bank robber, they brought in a bank robber that night and he would not supply any ID and perhaps he was mistreated but he walked out of there alive and was able to function comfortably. Above all I do not like the fact that he bummed off friends (while he had a) million dollar escrow, his treatment of his mother and sister I don’t like … So, in failing to put himself in a position where he could do comfortable business, he violates all my rules because … he basically failed to acknowledge what was true, basic working ability, basic visas, basic common sense which is spelled out to you by doctors and your friends, and your sister and your mother, have to be listened to. And I blame him for everything he did to himself, including his death. He violates all of my basic instincts. My message to Fischer would be: ‘The Jewish people need all the help they can get, the Palestinian people need all the help they can get. I like black people, I like Indians, I like white people, I like homosexuals, I like transgender people, I like every kind of person, more power to everybody. I want everybody to get a break, including me. And any signification of inferiority–I’m better than you are–is a bad mistake in today’s world. What follows is a biographical portrait of Jude, emphasizing crucial (frequently cinematic) moments in Jude’s life while quoting liberally from our conversations, as well as from Jude’s writings, which I will link to whenever possible. I’ll present Jude’s thoughts on a wide array of topics, including Bobby Fischer, the U.S. Chess Federation, why he sidestepped the world of cutthroat chess, what it was like to live four blocks from Fillmore West in 1968, his Greyhound bus chess tours of the country in the 1970s, his advice for how to stay sharp and fit, and his preparations for the World Senior International tournament in Opatija, Croatia coming up in November. Jude Frazier Acers was born April 6, 1944 in Long Beach, California. Jude’s father was a football player at Notre Dame under Knut Rockne and a Marine in World War II, with bullet scars on one calf to prove it, and an alcoholic. The family moved from California to Hawaii to North Carolina. Jude’s mother was a drug addict who died in a plane crash on the way to an asylum when he was three years old. Only about ten years ago was he shown a picture of her. But then you have the baffling thing that is unexplainable. All across the country and when I traveled across the Northwest, Seattle, northern California, several couples came up to me, ‘Jude, when you were a little boy we held you as a baby.’ My mother, who was by all accounts a drug addict, before she would go on her binge she would always get me to safety. And I just never seem to have really traumatic memories, World War II or anything, I think somehow she did a pretty good job of taking care of me before she was killed. At four the police found him and his sister rummaging through garbage in Newburgh, New York. Jude remembers little. There’s only one thing I remember when I was two or three or four years old. I remember a ship, a monstrous battleship in the distance, in the fog, I must have been two or three. That’s all I remember. And I remember also my mother, I didn’t know my mother was a drug addict but somehow my mother was taking care of me, and I remember we were going somewhere and the cab went down these long streets, I remember that, and strangely, I remember being lifted upside down by my father or mother and given some kind of bath, I hope they weren’t sexually molesting me or whatever, but they were bathing me. I don’t remember any pain. But I remember being given a bath of some kind, held by my feet, it could’ve just been normal cleaning. It’s all I remember. I remember it for five, ten seconds. At five years old, while living in an orphanage (his father was still in the service), he came across a book about chess and began to play the game with soda bottle caps as pieces. The nuns would take them away, and he would gather more. His father had a penchant for shaving young Jude’s head and he once knocked Jude down in an alcoholic stupor, but generally all he offered was silence. Or at least that’s what Jude emphasized with me. In a piece he wrote in 1974 that glanced back at his childhood, he wrote of chess helping “you survive even when your father is beating you to a bloody pulp. Chess is that wonderful for the mind, a pure narcotic.” And five paragraphs later Jude made explicit his intent to leave it behind: Little by little, I am forgetting the bad breaks. I do not hate anymore. Jude’s father remarried and moved the family to Louisiana, where he worked as a law clerk in downtown New Orleans, though it seems he ran into difficulties related to his unfamiliarity with the Napoleonic Code. Jude went to several schools in the New Orleans area, including Kenner Junior High and Gentilly Terrace Elementary. His family lived for a time at the Mirabeau Apartments. In fifth grade, Jude was the “weirdo in the back.” His teacher, Miss Zeegan, regarded him with disdain until he won a spelling bee (against 29 girls). The next day, she beckoned him with her finger to her desk and handed him an unsealed letter. She told him to deliver it to the principal’s office. I ran across the green, a hundred yards, to the principal’s office. Naturally, she knew I’d open the letter and read it, and I read, ‘Mr. Morgan, I was wrong about this remarkable, talented and brilliant individual. Signed, Miss Zeegan. Please disregard everything I ever said. He is extraordinary.’ I gave it to the principal and I ran back and I just sat in the class and didn’t even move. I was very properly behaved and began to be overly courteous from that moment on. She changed my life. Jude grew increasingly interested in chess and wrote letters with chess problems or questions to famous chess columnists such as Horowitz (who took to calling him “Judee,” even listing the 9-year-old “Judee” as a correspondent on the masthead of Chess Review), Hans Kmoch, Larry Evans and Jack Collins. As a 12 year old his family lived in Harahan and Jude began to take the hour and a half bus ride to New Orleans, then the streetcar to the chess club at the Lee Circle YMCA. He wasn’t yet a strong player and the other players at the chess club ignored him, probably not wanting to bother with a kid. (Jude hasn’t forgotten these players–to this day, he will not allow them to sit at his chess board.) About the fifth or sixth time he went to the club that summer, sad, nobody willing to play him as usual, without a dime for a Coke, thinking about that dime he didn’t have, reduced to surveying the scene through a couple empty Coke bottles as a kind of “kaleidoscope self made entertainment,” a man he hadn’t seen before wearing a grimy Pelican Plumbing Supply uniform called out from across the room: “Hey, young man, would you like to play a game of chess?” Adrian L. McAuley, the first officially rated chess master in New Orleans history. (Morphy played before ratings.) He would win the Louisiana State Chess Championship nine times from 1955 to 1972. A graduate of Alcee Fortier High Schoool and Soule College, McAuley was a sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. His chess pieces were made of wood, 6-8 inches tall, triple weighted, and his board, also made of wood, had green and white squares. “Anything less, young man, would positively not be civilized.” He promptly check-mated Jude twice, and each time instantly replayed the game from memory to provide improvement tips. Around midnight, the other players and janitor already gone, the lights out, McAuley said, “Well, young man, how about a draw, a tie?” “Sure, Mr. McAuley.” McAuley bought Jude a Coke and walked him to the streetcar stop, then climbed into his “ramshackle falling-apart-on-St.-Charles-Avenue-cloud dusting truck” and drove off in the rain. Across the street a Slim Harpo song blared from a gas station radio. “I’ve always been alone and I like it that way” A couple years later, when he was 14, Jude arranged for himself to be declared a ward of the state of Louisiana. A police detective who was investigating a robbery at the church where Jude served as an alter boy came by Jude’s house to talk to him. The officer, struck by Jude’s father’s manner or Jude’s longing to be away, took Jude out back. “Jude, let me ask you about this. You seem a strange little boy, tell me about your father a bit.” The officer also asked, “What do you do here?” Jude answered, “I just stay in the house. I never go out or talk to anyone. My father and I don’t ever talk.” The officer suggested to Jude he might prefer going to a school in Mandeville, noting there was a nice library over there. “You’ll have to get out of here. You can do it gracefully, I don’t want to upset anyone.” Jude agreed and arrangements were made. My parents were totally unaware that I was setting the whole thing up. I had to have some kind of psychiatric evaluation, so I went down and sat for half an hour, an hour, in quiet, and I’m sure they were watching me with TV cameras, but I was very calm, because I knew I’d talked to the police detective, and he was working with my father, too, I don’t think that my father realized I was more than willing to go, and then as I was leaving, when the ambulance came to get me for the school/hospital thing, where I would go to school in town and just live in Mandeville and I’d go to the chess club by the hospital … I don’t think (my father and stepmother) realized—actually, we never talked about where I was going. My father opened the door and said, ‘Jude, they’ve come for you and they’re going to take you to Mandeville.’ Then he stepped out in the hall and I looked up at him and said, ‘It’s okay, it’s okay.’ I didn’t want him to feel hurt or anything, but he had no idea I was never coming back. I knew that it was dangerous. That he had completely lost it. Jude would never see his father again. About ten years after his father died, someone gave his wallet to Jude. In it was the picture of Jude’s mother he hadn’t seen before. Basically my father died with press clippings about my books, my book Grandmaster Chess which the Los Angeles Times reviewed, he had it in his wallet with my name circled, they found it on him when he died, and he died screaming out my name [summer 1978]. He’d been dead about 60 days when I was told about it. I didn’t want to bring his body back to New Orleans [from California]. I didn’t want to have anything to do with it … He left a hundred thousand dollars to the Catholic nuns, he disinherited all my family because he knew they would give me money, not that I wanted the money, but the people in my family tree, who I would rather not talk about, were good people, but I was just estranged from the family. I went my way and they went theirs my teenage years. I always lived alone. Not that I in any way dislike my family, but I’ve always been alone and I like it that way … I don’t like birthday parties, I don’t like giving out Christmas gifts. I like to have a cup of coffee, play the radio, go over chess, take a two mile walk and enjoy the wonderful people of New Orleans, see bands. Different strokes for different folks. I want everyone to have an enormous break and be happy. Several times Jude told me if he had to do it all over again, he’d pick the same parents. The refrain was always: “They did they best they could.” “I’d never change parents.” And if he did it over again with the same parents, he would surely leave again. I understand, when I left, my family never dreamed I was never going to come back again. Ever. Not that I hated them, or disliked them, I had just found a new world. It’s something people can do. You hear about this occasionally in actual life. A man is married with three children. He has several hundred thousand dollars in his bank account. He takes a hundred thousand, leaves the rest, all the credit cards and the home, and disappears. He is just unhappy with the situation. Leaves all of his money to his wife and children and goes to a new world. It has happened. Police all around the country are familiar with it. Occasionally they find the person and they tell him, ‘Oh, please, just let them alone,’ and the police, by law, are not allowed to reveal a person’s [whereabouts] if they haven’t committed a crime. And they keep the privacy and the man tells them, ‘Look, I’m all right, I want them to have everything and good luck to them, I’ve gone my own way.’ Within reason, you know. It’s happened. It doesn’t happen every year … [That’s] exactly how I felt. Look, I don’t feel negative, I’m just glad there’s this beautiful race track for this great thoroughbred horse to run on and there’s nobody else on the track but me. I was already a very good public speaker. I knew I could give good chess lectures. And I just knew things were going to work out for me. For his high school years Jude lived at a hospital in Mandeville. And it felt like freedom. You know, I was so independent, reading chess books and so on, going to school in town–and also, another thing, very important, I loved to dance. Oh, I was manic, I loved the women. I would dance with the girls, and they were very nice to me, but I was always ‘that weird Jude,’ I’m sure, but I was the Salutatorian at Mandeville High School, and so on. But then I would ride the bus back to the little hospital there, but there was never any problem. Although once, when I was just running for exercise, they ran after me thinking I was running away and they took me back, and he said, ‘No, that’s Jude.’ By that time they knew (me), I was a pretty famous chess player, there’d been articles in the newspaper, but I in general realized I was being very well taken care of and if I learned to live by myself, read, I’d have a chance, and I knew I could go to Louisiana State University on a need scholarship. It saved my life. But also, the key thing I want you to emphasize, the girls at the dances at Mandeville High School were very important. I danced with the girls and it was very nice, and just little things like that (lifted his spirits). He also indulged his dance mania at the long gone La Casa de Los Marinos near Jax Brewery in the French Quarter: La Casa De Los Marinos was at the corner of Toulouse Street and Decatur streets. Photo credit: Tally Ho! Because I looked old for my age I could sneak in to the greatest bar of all time in New Orleans history, the greatest bar, no bar ever touched it. Ask anybody and they will tell you. It was open twenty-four hours a day, it was across from the Jax Brewery, nothing touched it. It’s where Walgreens is now, right by Jackson Square. It was called La Casa, The House, La Casas. No bar even touched it. It rocked beyond belief. In the front was Spanish music and Spanish dancers, seven days a week, with a juke box. In the mid-section also was some Spanish and some American music on a second jukebox. But on weekends, a third back bar was opened with a jukebox of all American rock and roll. And women danced on the tables. These were just normal college students who came. La Casas was the greatest bar anywhere in the world. … in the front the Spanish drums were there. Anybody could bring drums and play along with the jukebox. And the women were hot. The Spanish women were hot, did Salsa, everything. Man, it was unbelievable. In addition, your high class, high grade lady of the night would bring their millionaires in there. They would sneak them in. And you would see people at five-thirty in the morning, as I was going back to catch the hospital limousine from the Café du Monde, you’d see a fabulous woman in a green dress with a sixty year old man in an elegant suit and you could pretty well size up the situation that this was a secret liaison … That’s where I heard a record that followed me around for twenty years. I never knew the name of it. It was in all french. It was called “Je T’aime”. It was the only million selling record Gainsbourg ever did. It was done with Brigette Bardot (this version was recorded in 1967 but not released until 1986) and Birken (released in 1969) and all it is is organ music, unbelievably beautiful organ music and they’re talking to each other in the background. It gets really intense. When Jude was 16 or 17, probably because he didn’t drink or do drugs and was always reliable, the hospital allowed him to “go wherever (he) wanted.” They let me travel 2,000 miles to the U.S. Junior, they got me a ticket and I just got on the bus and went and played in the United States Junior Championship. There’s a photograph in the Dayton newspaper of a bald headed Jude Acers playing Robin Ault, U.S. Junior Champion in round one. It’s a tremendous photograph. Oh, the greatest photograph ever taken of me was in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. I’m playing Milas Momic, a tremendous player, went to the U.S. Open. Little Jude Acers, a little kid, has traveled by Greyhound bus to play in Memphis, TN, and Acers in the distance in his suit and tie, approaching the board, still pretty tall for my age, and Momic is [getting ready to play me], the great master. And cigarette smoke is going up to the ceiling and I am in the middle of the smoke and it was on the front page of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. At the Texaco in Mandeville, Jude made it a point to drink from the colored water fountain. And on the streetcar in New Orleans, he would sometimes toss the “colored” sign out the window, or he would sit in the colored section. Well, I didn’t know squat. I just thought it strange, but I didn’t understand that black people were lynched, they were massively discriminated against. I did find it strange there were no black people in St. Regis Church in Harahan. That seemed strange. But I just didn’t put two and two together, I had a lot to learn. “Colored” entrance to old hardware store in the French Quarter (now the home of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive). In 1962, when Jude was 18 years old, he rode with McAuley to a chess tournament in Natchez, Mississippi. McAuley had paid Jude’s entry fee, as was his custom. Ahead of Jude in line at the Natchez hotel was William Scott III. It was the first time Jude met Scott and they would become lifelong friends (Scott, for example, helped “save” a couple of Jude’s Atlanta exhibitions in the early 1970s). In 1945, Scott had served as an army photographer–a Reconnaissance Sgt. with the 183rd Engineer Combat Battalion–and documented [link behind free registration wall] the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp. In 1954, Scott had not been allowed to play at the U.S. Open chess tournament held in New Orleans because he was black. Scott was also editor of the Atlanta Daily World. Behind Scott in line was Milan Momic. Formerly of Yugoslavia, Momic was an Alabama state champion. “I’m sorry, sir, but the hotel will not admit you. Black players are not allowed in the tournament.” “Why can’t he play?” asked McAuley, still in his Pelican Plumbing Supply uniform. “If he can’t play, I’m not playing.” He turned and walked out of the hotel. “If McAuley’s not playing, I’m not going to play.” Jude turned to walk out. “They no play, no me.” Momic followed. Jude is ever quick to praise McAuley: There is no one in Louisiana [chess] history, bar none, that touches–especially (Paul) Morphy–McAuley in class in terms of real world class manner. Morphy had many idiosyncrasies, he did not treat people well in many occasions, and did not fulfill professional contracts. McAuley was strictly by the book. Jude went to LSU in Baton Rouge on a state need scholarship. After the state hospital, 104 Graham Hall felt like a palace. It only got better when his roommate flunked out his sophomore year and Jude had the room to himself. As much as Jude felt a sense of liberation in college, he also fought a fierce loneliness that he would remember later in his writings. He wrote of being rolled in Baton Rouge: Three hoodlums hold you up and dump you in a ditch in a bad news neighborhood. They take your shoes, wallet, and papers. By a miracle, you are unharmed as they drive away, leaving you with the $154 in your left pants’ pocket. You are laughing hysterically at this irony, but still must wind your way out of the sticks at 3 a.m. And of taking “incredible chances to have a ‘good time,'” such as “in lily-white Louisiana” going to see Otis Redding perform three nights in a row at a black night club and walking home along a super highway at night, exposing him to the abuses of “fraternity guys who tried to run me over“: But I dodged and their car stalled in the mud alongside the road. I grabbed a loose board, ripped it from a gate and advanced like Hannibal on the terrified occupants. Then I put out every window in their car as they watched incredulously, with me screaming ‘Ko-Wan-Ko! Ko-Wan-Ko!’ a voodoo chant which I made up on the spot. Afterward, I stepped back and bowed gracefully. ‘You may now leave or die,’ I said. While cursing insanely, the driver did manage to get the car going again and peeled off in the the Louisiana night, leaving me, as before, alone. The Bee Gees were playing on their car radio while all this was going on … Professors who had an impact on Jude included George Putnam, a Russian History professor who broke the news about Stalin. He fondly remembers T. Harry Williams, Huey Long biographer and Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner. Another professor made the Holocaust come into focus: ‘Professor, you say that the people in towns outside the death camps knew what was going on—sir, these were in top secrecy, I mean millions of people were killed in these camps but the people outside didn’t seem to know what was going on.’ And the professor, seventy years old, looks over and says, ‘Well, Mr. Acers, it’s like this: When you burn several hundred thousand people a month, it’s in the air, you can smell the bodies.’ Oh. Oh! In late March 1964, when Jude was just shy of turning 20, Bobby Fischer, who had recently turned 21 (and declared 4F medically disqualified for the draft), landed at the airport in New Orleans. Just three months earlier, Fischer had won the U.S. Championship by an unprecedented 11-0. Here’s how Frank Brady describes the moment in Endgame: The incredible final score was picked up by the wire services and sent by radio, newspapers, and television throughout the world: eleven championship games, eleven wins. At this level of competition, such a streak wasn’t supposed to happen, no matter how adept a given player might be. Fischer’s first prize for his two weeks of intensity and brilliance was just $2,000. The non-chess media gave the tournament far more attention than usual, though they’d never been sure whether chess was a sport or an art. Life and the Saturday Evening Post arranged to interview Bobby. Sports Illustrated headlined its story THE AMAZING VICTORY STREAK OF BOBBY FISCHER. Fischer was eight years away from being World Champion, and looking back it’s easy to assume it must have been obvious that Fischer was poised to become World Champion. But not necessarily so. It’s extremely important to realize, number one, I never dreamed that I was talking to a [future] World Chess Champion because I already knew that he had dropped out of a match (in 1961), forfeiting ten thousand dollars while he was not losing, he was tied, with Samuel Reschevsky in Los Angeles. After game 11 he’d missed an easy win and was so angry he said that he didn’t want to play in the morning. And after eleven games he forfeited $10,000 and Reschevsky won the match by forfeit … I knew that he rarely played and I knew you would have to play for about three or four years in a row on schedule to win the world title. I never dreamed that special exceptions would be made for him. So you need to understand, although he was wonderful to me, he’d just won the U.S. Championship 11-0, which to this day is his greatest achievement, a much greater achievement than beating (Tigran) Petrosian (in 1971), his greatest match victory in my opinion, he beats Petrosian, a match that practically killed him in Buenos Aires to qualify for the world title, and then beating Spassky, who he had never won a single game in his life from. [Fischer] had never even beaten a reigning world champion before Reykjavik in the world title match [in 1972]. And make no mistake, he is the best player in the world, but to get a world title match I never dreamed he would be able to play consistently for even one or one and a half years, much less four, which is what happened. To be fair, also contributing to Fischer’s forfeit to Reschevsky was the fact that the match start times were being shifted around to suit a wealthy tournament sponsor as opposed to the players. The next couple years would see Fischer pull back from competitive play before making his World Championship run. Jude’s friend Don Wagner, a chess promoter and door-to-door Encyclopedia Americana salesman, raced from Baton Rouge to New Orleans to pick Fischer up at the airport, trying to get to Fischer before some New Orleans chess heads. Wagner found Fischer playing pinball at the airport and brought him back to his house in Baton Rouge. Wagner picked up Jude and then pranked him by saying they needed to hurry to the New Orleans airport to get Fischer. Wagner then spilled hot coffee on his lap and said they had to make a pit stop to get a new pair of slacks. While Wagner went inside, Jude waited “outside in a posture of prayer,” when a moment later Fischer, the world’s youngest chess grandmaster, stuck his head out of the Wagner screen door and said ‘Hello, Jude.’ Jude spent the next three days with Fischer, first in Baton Rouge, where they shot pool at the Old Chimes Street billiard hall, then in New Orleans. In Baton Rouge, Fischer defeated five LSU students live on Baton Rouge Channel 9. Jude served as a color commentator alongside longtime “voice of the LSU Fighting Tigers” John Ferguson. The program ran again twice that week and was erased for a car commercial two weeks later. At no time did I realize how fabulously lucky I was … no other person had an experience like that, ever. A TV program and I’m in the background making comment. The day before I’m interviewing him in my dorm room, I’m playing him a two game match at Don Wagner’s house … Jude practiced his interview question for Fischer 10 times. Here’s Jude’s account from “Hurricane II”: ‘Bobby, even cursory examination of your career shows fantastic self-improvement. Study? Talent? Written analysis after all your games? I have wondered. Please look back at one specific case for me: Bled/Belgrade/Zagreb 1959 international chess tourney. You lose by six games to the Soviet players, lose all four games to Mikhail Tal. Then like a bomb flash two years to Bled, 1961. Nineteen games. You mow down Tal, (Tigran) Petrosian, plus score the Russians, go undefeated in all 19 rounds. Naked improvement, there it is. Bobby, how does a player do this? Get better while all other players are standing still?‘ Fischer instantly said, ‘Simple. First, learn the chess openings, really learn the ones you play for White and Black. Second, keep the pressure on them every second–they all crack. No exception, play every game to the end, never give up.’ Jude lost both of his games against Fischer at Wagner’s Baton Rouge house: PLAYING FISCHER A TWO-GAME MATCH: Acers remembers, the crowd was enormous in Wagner’s home. Wall to wall, two games … Remembered best: colored streamers running from Wagner’s air conditioner. As I stepped back watching for Fischer’s quiet, always-the-same-hand-meter moves, I was surrounded by colored paper strips, apparently to show the direction of the air flow. A frame with Fischer in the center. Really incredible. … Sportsmanship. Fischer wanted to be completely sure that I knew my time was running out. I did. Dead lost, I just let it run out quietly. Ethical conduct is crucial to Jude. For example, he harshly criticizes Morphy for not upholding contractual obligations, such as failing to write a chess column for the duration of a contract. Fischer, for his many faults (about which Jude has much to say), had a sterling reputation for ethical play: (Chess Grandmaster) William Addison, who knew Fischer very well, said. ‘There were two things about Fischer at the board. He was absolutely honest and would never cheat.’ … This is what Addison said. ‘I played him thousands of speed games, I watched him play people all over the country and he’d get like a knight and a bishop and his opponent might have a queen and a pawn, on the rare occasions he got in trouble, and Fischer would just flip over his king in a five minute game and I’d tell Bobby, ‘Look, Bobby, I don’t care what the position is, I don’t care if you’re a rook down, keep playing, if you’ve got two bishops and the other guy has a queen, he’s not going to be able to beat you, even though it’s a win for the queen. Go ahead and play it, you’ll still win on time, you’ll still beat him.’ And Fischer just threw the chess pieces in the center of the board and said, ‘If I can’t win it clean, I don’t want to win it.’ At the board he would die before he would cheat. No one, ever, ever, for one moment, caught Fischer in anything that wasn’t strictly class at the board. Likewise, Fischer was unfailingly polite and gracious during his stay in Louisiana. He impressed Jude immensely: On a superficial level, good traits run in bunches. And the physical evidence of Bobby Fischer at his best would be the Dick Cavett Show where for one hour he was interviewed and I simply ask you to look at that, the reactions of the women in the audience to him and so on, at the peak of his fame. And my case will rest … … and now I will tell you what I personally saw. Number one, he traveled with one suit by Greyhound bus, by planes, by train, but mainly by Greyhound bus. He took a plane (in 1964) from Chicago to New Orleans where he was picked up by Don Wagner, the promotional genius … Number one, he had one suit with him, when he traveled he used the same suit all across the country, he had it quickly dry cleaned I’m sure, it fit him perfectly, the guy was absolutely one of the best looking people I’ve ever seen. He was about six feet six, he towered high. He had a tremendously fast walk, a little bit gangly, but I didn’t notice it much because he took short steps, but many other people noticed that he had a gangly walk, but the guy was powerfully built. He had walked many thousands of miles in New York ever since he was seven, eight, ten years old. He was traveling on the subway nine, ten, eleven [at night] by himself to go downtown and play [chess] in the parks. Now, I want to go into everything he was given. First of all, I would rate him one of the five best looking people I’ve ever seen, really looking good, hair, facial complexion and so on. He was incredibly well behaved and courteous at all times. In the Don Wagner home he stayed there asking to go from room to room, he was very courteous to everyone. I cite as an example of his diplomacy the only live TV program he did on this (1964) tour, where he played live on the air five Louisiana State University students and he was asked point blank by the voice of the Louisiana State Tigers, John Ferguson, the guy you heard for many years calling LSU games, died just recently (2005), ‘Bobby, you’ve been called a high school dropout, what about this?’ I just died on the spot. And Wagner literally turned purple, because this was his great promotional work worth millions which he’d given Baton Rouge and Baton Rouge didn’t even appreciate it. In New Orleans, Fischer played 75 opponents simultaneously (he won 70, lost 3, and drew 2) at the old YWCA on Gravier Street (one of players to draw against Fischer in New Orleans after seven hours was Jude; one of his vanquished opponents was Orleans Parish District Attorney and JFK assassination theorist Jim Garrison). Fischer offered to do a lecture in New Orleans–he hadn’t been contracted to do one–provided a copy of The Games of Paul Morphy by P.W. Sergeant (1916) could be found, which spurred a fevered and finally successful effort to locate the book, delaying the New Orleans exhibition two hours. Fischer earned $200 for his Baton Rouge appearance and $485 in New Orleans. And Jude’s draw with Fischer earned him respect in some quarters: People began to realize, ‘You know, he’s weird but he really likes chess.’ The only person who knew all the way was McAuley. From day one, he knew. Jude graduated from LSU in 1968 and took a Greyhound bus to a chess tournament in Denver, which he won 7-0. As luck would have it, shortly before graduation Jude received an unsolicited credit card from the Shell Oil Company, which is what got him from Denver to another chess tournament in Marysville, Washington. At the Strawberry Open in Marysville, Jude met grandmaster Larry Evans, Dennis “Fritz the Poet” Fritzinger and Russell Miller. Miller had organized chess tournaments primarily in Washington state up to that point and soon would be booking Jude’s chess tours across the country. Miller served as editor of Northwest Chess and published a short profile of Jude following the Strawberry Open: Jude came in 9th out of 95 players; Evans went undefeated. Fritzinger convinced Jude to come to San Francisco: [Fritzinger] brought me to San Francisco, bought me Orange Julius treats, shown me magic Chinese restaurants, where a man can get by on a few pennies. Lawrence Ferlinghetti would later publish Fritzinger’s poetry. Using his Shell credit card, Jude paid his way to San Francisco, riding with a postal employee for two days. In San Francisco, Jude stayed with Max Burkett, three blocks from Fillmore West, where over the next two months he would see Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson Airplane, Vanilla Fudge, Blue Cheer, Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. He saw the Rolling Stones at Altamont. Burkett introduced Jude to Joplin at a postal workers’ Thanksgiving party and he ran into her a few more times: I was at a party and I was the only one who had any clothes on and I had a California Chess Reporter, a couple books and a pocket [chess] set, I’d sit around and drink coffee and so on … I was in the bathtub there and she said, ‘You play with little pieces all day long, and you know what? You’ll live to be an old, old man someday. And here I am.’ About Altamont, Jude wrote in September 1974 : Are policemen necessary to keep the mad dogs and the gorillas in line? Altamont says yes, Dianne and Berkeley say no. To this day I believe that bus drivers, cab drivers, garbagemen, firemen, newspaper reporters and policemen are the most important, needed people living in the city. To this day, absolutely nobody in the Jude Acers in-crowd agrees with me. Nobody. Not Shig. Not Specs. Not Supervolk. Not Ferlinghetti. Not Burkett. Not Fritzinger, (James) Tarjan, (John) Grefe, Karl Bach, Kent Bach, Caradian, Waterman, Mary Lasher or Browne… Ten blocks from Burkett’s place was the Mechanics’ Institute, a more than 100-year-old chess room where people could walk in off the street and, without too much difficulty, play a game. To Jude, “It was a miracle.” The top eight players in the country were coming through Burkett’s house and the Mechanics’ Institute. I knew them all. William Addison, he had 600 days before he would quit chess forever. And I was there every one of those 600 days. Other players there included John Blackstone, James Tarjan, John Grefe, George Kane, Gilbert Ramirez (who Bobby Fischer once bit–See Brady’s Endgame, p. 73) and six-time U.S. Champion Walter Browne. It was crawling with people. You won’t find two or three people today of like nature in San Francisco today like that. There were twenty people coming through there—John Hall came in from Texas and was there for two weeks. Unbelievable player. They were coming in there like railroad trains. And I saw them all. Jim Schmidt, Jim McCormick… The chess room at the SF Mechanics’ Institute. Photo credit: chad_k Over the next two years, from 1968-1970, Jude played more than 800 clocked games at the Mechanics’ Institute. Jude also began to take Greyhound bus tours of the country, which he often wrote about in his chess column, published both in the Berkeley Barb, a weekly underground newspaper, and, later, in Francis Ford Coppola’s short-lived magazine City (Jude says Coppola closed City to make Apocalypse Now). The Road Jude could travel for two months on Greyhound for about $200 in 1970 (according to The Inflation Calculator, that’s $1,110.27 in 2011 dollars). Miller developed a promotional template that Jude continues to use. In the days leading up to a simultaneous exhibition, Miller would book Jude to conduct free exhibitions in schools or prisons to drum up media coverage and increase interest in the paid exhibition. I did dozens of [prison exhibitions]. You do them forty-eight hours before the weekend. All TV stations have a chance to come and do it. It’s in a neutral location. You get public goodwill … Jude typically gave exhibitions for $100-$300 a night, even as the Fischer boom happened. All of a sudden, Fischer crushes in Vancouver [1971], Canada, Taimanov, a Russian, 6-0. Then goes to Denver four months later and beats (Bent) Larsen [Danish champion] 6-0. It’s never happened in history. He’s now won 12 games in a row and six games and at the Interzonal. He’s now won 18 games in a row. And I’m traveling around the country, the only player in the country off Greyhound buses playing for only $300, not $2,500. About 10,000 people came to an exhibition at the largest mall in the world, Woodfield (near Chicago) … I gave these exhibitions there and [an organizer at the Woodfield Mall] said, ‘Hey, Jude, I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but you go to all the schools 3 days before, we put you up and we pay your food, but you only charge us $300, why you so cheap?’ And I said, ‘Mr. Miller does it.’ And I had enough sense to let him do it because understand, man, he was a great genius, and he didn’t know what he was doing, he was just did it by instinct. Post cards to all the TV stations announcing my arrival. Two weeks in advance. One week. Five days in advance. We only got $300, enough for the Greyhound bus, whatever. We didn’t know what we were doing, but we were winning. Things did not always go so swimmingly and it’s clear the chess tours mostly lost money : The Greyhound slid out of Little Rock and Russell W. Miller of Yakima, Washington had already messed up the Jude Acers tour badly with his only mistake of the year. Miller routed Jude through Indianapolis and misread the schedule. There was no bus to get out of Indianapolis, period! You have to fly to Memphis and barely make it to Arkansas on time. You’ve lost a lot of money and can only break even. This is not important, as Miller has gone to the bank 50 times to save your tour. Miller has at least one hundred free passes. He has personally lost $4,000 on your tour to date and will stick with you through thick and thin, while the US Chess Federation and Piatigorsky Chess Foundation refuse to even answer your pleading letters. You are chess in America. They are nothing. The stresses of the road were many: An Austin promoter got a look at Jude and his long hair and thought he could short him pay, prompting Jude to destroy his hotel telephone. Jude witnessed a murder at a prison and he had to hug the floor and pretend he saw nothing. Prison guards locked him in a room for his own protection for many hours and when they finally let him free, he didn’t know how he would get home because he didn’t have money for bus fare. On a lark he called a millionaire cement contractor who had sponsored a couple chess tournaments in San Francisco, someone he had never even talked to before, and the man promptly flew to pick him up in his monoplane. Still another time, while eating breakfast at a York, Pennsylvania diner, a waitress was attacked by a couple teenagers, prompting Jude to jump up on a table and chuck glass sugar shakers at the men in her defense. At an airport in Pasco, Washington, Jude helped an old man with a package board a plan, then later made the mistake of joking to a flight attendant that he “certainly hope(d)” the box he carried aboard the plane wasn’t “a bomb.” He was booted from the plane and only avoided arrest because the plane’s pilot thought him “a nice chap.” If you’re going to live like and be an individual, you’ve got to start planning to live by yourself and look out for yourself. And I became much more protective of everything … I realized, be grateful for your health. I could never have survived without the accidents of watching my father drink himself to death. God bless him, he really helped me to learn not to do it. And I watched him smoke himself to death. So I realized, I won’t ever smoke, I won’t ever do dope, I’ll never drink. Simple things. I’m not a moralist. Jude liked being alone, the performing, seeing new towns: [Miller] didn’t realize, as I did, when I was rolling into [town] … and making three hundred dollars, so what? I’m the best who ever lived at that kind of work. Presentation, being pleasant to people, doing what you have to do on radio and TV, playing a very fine exhibition. There are many great chess exhibition players but mine are some of the finest … Many people have noticed it, they’re beginning to notice, ‘Well, if Jude Acers is just run of the mill, how come he can play the white pieces or the black pieces, and play a hundred people at one time?’ Fischer always took the white pieces. I’m not saying I’m a better player, a better genius, that I can think better, I just know this: I have a wonderful mind and I’m aware of it. Even so, Jude often had to scramble to keep fed and from time to time had to rely on chess hustling. “Trophies, the US Chess Federation people, who do not care if a master lives or dies, and the USCF’s Mickey-Mouse Swiss tournaments would not feed me.” In a 1974 Berkeley Barb column, he described his hustling precepts, in particular to conserve resources: The nature of my hustling ability during 1967-1970 U.S. barnstorming rested on four very significant apples and meant the difference in hard times. By difference I meant EATING. FIRST, I made it a point to never drink anything, which puts 90 percent of the money games into my wallet post haste. Almost nobody can drink and play 40 moves accurately, especially if they have never once played 40 consecutive humdingers in their lives! Now for that remaining ten percent, hereafter referred to as the points. SECOND, I get a good eight hours sleep always during the daytime and am playing in the evening hours against people who have been on their feet at least 14 hours before they run into the strong class C opposition (2 points). (Note: It is astounding that most Swiss system players do not get enough sleep as well! Remember this. It’s worth a lot of money to you!) THIRD, I never, never, never say a word during a game, which enormously helps a hustler concentrate. Any words tell your opponent what your position looks like to you, that a rook or queen is (en prise) and, most dreadfully, in the case of a stronger, tips that you are trying to hustle him by false encouragement (3 points)! FOURTH, until Bobby Fischer messed up the hustler scene by tossing forty million new US chessplayers into the pot, it was possible to ‘book’ strong players. Thus in 1970 there were only about 300 names and faces I had to know by studying chess magazines, rating lists and, above all, photographs. And to pick your opponents carefully: You see, it is an unfortunate fact of life that here is nothing to be gained but starvation from an unofficial ten-hour marathon between two master players in the Coffee Gallery. The only point in playing (in) a US Chess Federation rated tournament … is for blood and national reputation. What is lost, you may wonder, if two players fight it out in the Coffee Gallery? ‘Theoretical knowledge’ is what is in danger, lost. Every good master has his whole ten or twenty move opening system memorized with new moves, something more than is published by theoreticians. Also, you show your future tournament opponent what his weaknesses are in your opinion. These two factors explain why chessmasters never socialize with chess and clocked serious games. You don’t give free goodies away for peanuts, particularly when the study of your opening systems has taken hundreds of hours. … There is no way out. If a strong player shows up at the Coffee Gallery, you don’t play him even if you know you will beat him (unless you’re desperate for money, naturally). It wears you out, gives away a great deal for free, and worst of all, tips off everybody within miles that you are the strongest class C player who ever lived. But for all the scrapping and near-death experiences, he scored incredible victories, like the liberation of “high volume” prostitute Paula, with whom Jude developed an elaborate system to drop loads of cash through a garbage chute over many days to secure the $10,000 she needed to escape from her brutal pimp, Celerio. Or the triumph in Augusta, Georgia, where Jude gave an exhibition before an enthusiastic and attentive 1,000 people and did loads of press. Or the Helen Gurley Brown-recommended “swish-swish-swish” of the nylon sound atomizers that the lovely Verne wore when she rescued him at the St. Louis bus station (moments before Jude had dramatically–gallantly–given a stranger his last $350). Verne took him on a slow six-day drive to New Jersey. At Verne’s urging, Jude drew by stalemate against her father three times. But life on the road wore down even Jude. Fischer forfeited his world title and opportunities began to dry up. It all crystallized in El Paso, Texas, where Jude was on a layover and had only $15. He was “slightly mentally ill” and “a little bit depressed but getting it together,” with his chess rating frozen by the United States Chess Federation. He left the bus station, crossed the street and came upon a large coffee shop with a “movie star looking young kid” and his beautiful girlfriend. The movie-star-looking-guy was playing chess against an old man. Jude stared at the chess players a moment, not quite believing. Jude went into the coffee shop and a waitress asked if he wanted a cup of coffee. He gave her a tip and sat and watched the chess game unfold. He could tell that Movie Star was good and the old man not so much. The old man said to Movie Star, “I’ll get my government check so I can pay you.” Movie Star said, “Well, you have to cash the check now, old man.” Jude interrupted: “Excuse me, sir, you’re going to play for how much?” “Maybe twenty,” said Movie Star, “maybe thirty. Maybe a hundred. Whatever he’ll do.” Jude turned to the old man. “And you’re going to get a check? Why don’t you just, um … let me see here … Well, listen, would you like for me to play this man?” “Are you really good? Can you beat him?” Jude played Movie Star with the $15 he had, and the old man matched. After losing that game, Movie Star wanted to play for a hundred: “You’re really not that good.” Jude walked over to the coffee shop’s owner. “My name is Jude Acers. I’m a world famous player. This man wants to play me for a hundred dollars. Would you like to give me the money—I’ll give it back to you with interest, whatever you want to do?” The owner agreed. Jude put the $100 on the table and “played just straight theory.” After Jude won, he gave the owner $80 of the winnings and kept $20. He took another look at Movie Star and his beautiful girlfriend, noticed an open air convertible on the street and assumed it belonged to Movie Star. As he got up to leave the coffee shop, Jude thought, “I own the world. They’ve got nothing.” And then I go out, back toward the bus station. I turned around for a moment. And the waitress was still there [in the window] with a coffee cup. And she said, ‘You’re really good, aren’t you?’ And I said, ‘Yes, Ma’am, I am.’ All the people in the restaurant were lined up at the windows watching me walk across the street. Jude’s El Paso story reminded me of another one I heard a bluesman tell at the 1990 Delta Blues Festival in Greenville, Mississippi, about losing his harmonica as a young man. He said he got another one that “only God can take away,” then unleashed an astonishing harmonica solo, only to reveal he produced the sound with his hands, mouth, and microphone. There was no harmonica. As Jude said, I have this delight in chess, and I study chess, and it can never be taken away. As best as I can determine, in 1972 then United States Chess Federation Executive Director Ed Edmondson froze Jude’s rating at 2399 until he played in an open tournament. The distinction that apparently matters, at least to the USCF, is that Jude crossed the 2400 threshold by playing “matches.” These matches were against low-rated or unrated players. Here’s his curious Wikipedia entry: Questions have arisen concerning his actual strength at chess. He got his U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) rating up to 2399, just one point below Senior Master, by playing matches against players who had never played rated chess before. This led the USCF Executive Director Ed Edmondson to freeze his rating at 2399 until he played in an open tournament.[citation needed] In 1995, a new rating statistician, apparently unfamiliar with the “Jude Acers Rule,” added one point to his rating, giving him a rating of exactly 2400.[citation needed] The first time I talked to Jude about his frozen rating, he explained: Because I travel, I don’t get my rating up. I mean I never play where I don’t get paid. I don’t care, I’m famous, I don’t really care what people think. And to this day I was never allowed to play in national tournaments, except for sponsors sending me the last three years. The U.S. Federation lowered my rating. I’d rather not go into it because I don’t want to get any bad vibes. He identified William Goichberg as the primary force behind his rating staying frozen for so long. Goichberg has served the USCF in a variety of capacities, currently he’s “Member-at-Large” of the USCF executive board, and he is also founder of the Continental Chess Association. I contacted the USCF and asked for clarification about Jude’s rating. Joan DuBois, Director of Communications, Affiliate Relations, TLA’s, Advertising Inquiries & Correspondence Chess, responded via email: Our records do show a over-the-board (OTB) rating of 2400 for Jude Acers. Over the years he has had some very strong performances, especially in the Senior Championships. The next time I sat down with Jude, I brought up the Jude Acers Rule again: I asked [the USCF] about the whole ‘Jude Acers Rule’ thing, you know– –oh, thank you, thank you! They’re horrified, because now they realize, ‘Look, we’ve got Jude Acers where we want him, he’s a crazy nut down in New Orleans.’ But all of a sudden people are realizing, ‘He seems to have credibility. He never complained, really. He never complained about the way we tampered with his rating. He took it for twenty years. He didn’t sue us.’ And now they’re realizing, they hear the sound of drum beats, but the worst thing of all— Here’s their answer [I handed him a printout of the email]. Would you send her back a letter: Joan, Jude Acers wishes to thank you for your very nice letter. And he is fully aware that you in no way discriminated against Jude Acers, that it all was by direct order of William Goichberg, thank you very much. I handed him a pen. Jude wrote: Joan — You are a princess! Yes, direct orders/hands on rating cards was by William Goichberg. He is a tragically flawed but very great chess personage. Jude’ [Goichberg] ordered them never to raise my rating. It was done originally by the late Edmundson, but Goichberg is the main man. I mean, [Goichberg has] done many wonderful things for chess. This was a huge mistake as he now knows. Listen, I also know—I can’t give you names—two people who actually worked in the office came right here and they just told me, ‘Jude, Goichberg froze your rating at 2399 for twenty years.’ How long ago was it frozen? Decades ago. But the point is I don’t care. Understand, if it had not been for Goichberg, I wouldn’t have the wonderful world I have. I would never have done five years with Miller. I would’ve played in all the tournaments during the seventies, but I kept thinking, ‘Fischer isn’t going to play again. If Fischer doesn’t play me, and allow the top twenty people to play in the U.S. Championship, this isn’t going to go anywhere.’ And here’s another thing. Fischer asked, after winning the U.S. Championship 11-0—he said, ‘One year I almost didn’t win, the tournament’s too short’ … and Fischer asked for a double tournament. That is twenty-two rounds, where they would let in twenty-two people in, not the same old tired faces but twenty-two people, or you’d play everyone twice. Naturally, during the seventies, they would have done anything to have Fischer play after he won the world title. I kept thinking, ‘If they’re crazy enough, after Fischer won the U.S. Championship 11-0, not to hold a twenty-two round tournament a year or two from now to get him to play, the only time he’s going to play at all, then I seriously question whether they can promote anything. I seriously question if I can get any basic money as a chess professional, I’m going to have to go it alone.’ Again, another thing, I just had it right. Some people just have a real genius for promotion and survival and I’m one of them. And, of course, you realize, I really don’t care what people think about me. I’m going my way. I contacted Goichberg via email and here is his response: [From Wikipedia:] Questions have arisen concerning his actual strength at chess. He got his U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) rating up to 2399, just one point below Senior Master, by playing matches against players who had never played rated chess before. Not true. In 1965 when his rating was roughly 2230-2240, Acers submitted a large number of individual match results (about 70 games total) at one time against players who either were unrated (had never played rated chess before) or very low rated (about 1200-1300). Unlike a tournament, an individual match involves only two players. Under the rating system in effect at the time, a win over any player, no matter how weak, produced a minimum gain of 2 points. However, according to statistical theory, a 2 point gain was proper for beating someone about 440 points below, but a win over someone 900-1000 points below (or an unrated of that strength) warranted only a gain of just a small fraction of a point. The 2 point gain was permitted for simplicity because such pairings occurred too rarely in tournaments to allow the higher player to amass a significant number of points, so no problems had ever resulted. When the USCF office received the 70 games or so from Acers with him winning every game, if this was rated using the 2 point minimum, he would have gained 140 points and it would probably have qualified him for an invitation to the US Championship, and whoever would have lost an invitation as a result would have been very upset, to say the least. To invite Acers based on a lot of wins over such weak players would have caused a tremendous scandal. I was USCF Rating Statistician in 1965, and when I received these matches from Acers, I took the rating report to my boss, USCF Business Manager Joe Reinhardt, and said, “You don’t want me to rate THIS, do you?” Reinhardt immediately agreed that we could not possibly rate the matches, and after some discussion, he decided that a new rule was needed: Individual matches cannot be rated if the players’ ratings are more than 400 points apart, or if one or both players are unrated. I wrote to Acers to inform him of the new rule and say that his matches would not be USCF rated. He was very upset and said we were keeping him out of the US Championship, which was true, but we had nothing against him and would have done the same had any other player submitted such matches. I am surprised that apparently because I wrote that letter, Acers thought that I was also responsible for the much later action freezing his rating at a maximum of 2399. I left as Rating Statistician in 1967, Executive Director Ed Edmondson froze Acers’ rating at 2399 maximum in 1972, I held no USCF position in 1972, and I was in no way connected with what Edmondson did, nor was I aware of it before it happened. [Wikipedia:] This led the USCF Executive Director Ed Edmondson to freeze his rating at 2399 until he played in an open tournament.[citation needed] True, Edmondson froze his rating as 2399 maximum; that happened in 1972. I’m sure he didn’t do so until Acers “played in an open tournament,” as open tournaments exist, for instance in small chess clubs, in which all the players are rated well below Acers and he could have easily defeated them. Rather, Edmondson must have attached an opponent’s rating requirement as a condition for lifting the freeze- for example, to go over 2399, playing (or scoring against) a Master (or maybe two) would be required. I don’t know if Acers ever asked Edmondson what he needed to do to get the freeze lifted. I don’t know why Edmondson imposed the 2399 maximum, but am sure it was not because of matches against unrated players, as such matches have not been ratable since the Reinhardt decision of 1965. My guess is that the reason for Edmondson’s action was that Acers was gaining many points by playing very low rated or unrated players in tournaments, possibly events that he arranged. USCF tournament records prior to 1977 are no longer available, but if we look online for the most recent Acers results prior to his recent play in World Senior Opens, we find that in 1995-1997 he directed and submitted for rating a total of 11 games, scoring 11 wins against very low rated or unrated players. [Wikipedia:] In 1995, a new rating statistician, apparently unfamiliar with the “Jude Acers Rule”, added one point to his rating, giving me a rating of exactly 2400..[citation needed] I do not believe there was ever anything called a “Jude Acers Rule.” I have never heard that term before, and In 1996, a different Executive Director assigned a maximum rating to Claude Bloodgood, and no one referred to a “Jude Acers Rule.” After Edmondson assigned Acers a 2399 maximum rating in 1972, Acers remained active through 1976. His rating on annual lists was 2399 in 1973-1975, and 2374 in 1976. He was inactive in 1977-1978, 2364 on the 1979 annual list, inactive in 1980, and back to 2399 in 1981. Then inactive until 1982-1984, 2399 in 1985-1986, and inactive in 1987. Meanwhile, Edmondson left USCF in 1978, and I don’t know whether Acers ever asked any of his many successors to lift the freeze. On the 1988 annual list, Acers’ rating went up a point to 2400. Ratings were done by computer and had been since 1976, so a maximum 2399 must have been programmed in, and then removed in 1988, by who and why, I don’t know. With the freeze lifted, on the 1989 list he was up to 2462, but I don’t know what sort of players he was beating. I can’t find my 1990 or 1994 annual lists, and Acers was inactive in 1991-1993. On the June 1995 list he was back to 2399 again, and in August 1995, 2400. I don’t understand where his 2462 went, possibly it was considered an error and the 2399 maximum was returned, but this was apparently then changed to a 2400 maximum in 1995. [Quoting from my email to the USCF]: In my conversations with Mr. Acers, he has claimed that Mr. Goichberg was the primary person behind his rating being frozen so long. Mr. Acers says that although Mr. Goichberg has “done many wonderful things for chess … this was a huge mistake. Please if possible, ask Mr. Acers why he thinks that other than the rules change Reinhardt and I did back in 1965, I have ever done anything that had any influence on his rating. Acers’ strong results in the World Senior indicate that at his peak, he was probably over 2400 strength. Whether he ever demonstrated this in rated play against Master opposition, I don’t know. I printed out Goichberg’s email and brought it to Jude. Here’s what he said: I like this letter. But he’s responsible for the fraud. He simply told the rating department, after Edmundson died—Edmundson was killed by Bobby Fischer, he had done everything for Fischer and Fischer did not play for the World Championship, forfeited the world title in 1975. The USCF had, you could say, illegally spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to help get Fischer to defend his World Championship in 1975. Fischer had disowned Edmundson and said, ‘Don’t send any money whatsoever,’ and poor Edmundson died of a heart attack on a beach two years later, but he’d been disowned by the U.S. Chess Federation which realized—in other words … if Fischer had played, nobody would’ve cared. Because Fischer forfeited the World Championship, all of the money that Edmundson spent on Fischer came due. Edmundson was disowned and dumped by the U.S. Chess Federation. He died on a Hawaii beach two years later. Absolute dicatator of the Federation, with all of the Fischer money leftover, anything leftover, was and has been until recently was Goichberg. Goichberg fixed the rating, personally told everyone, ‘It’s fixed at 2399,’ and kept it there for 20 years. And, of course, you realize, I was never going to play, period. Here’s the whole point. To him, nothing was wrong. He was preserving the integrity of the U.S. Chess Federation, whatever. In other words, it never occurred to him that he was committing fraud. And that if you do this all across the country, nobody’s going to play chess. And fortunately he didn’t have to worry about it because most people were giving up chess at age eighteen. And remember, too, that actually for me, Goichberg was a fabulous break. Because once I saw that he was doing this, much less had actual testimony from people within the [USCF] office, that naturally I had my own world and I just went away from the U.S. Chess Federation and made my own world and had enormous success. In other words, there would be no Jude Acers today without Goichberg. He was incredibly valuable. He was an absolute dictator, absolute power corrupts absolutely and there is no question whatsoever that from 1977 on, he is lying through his teeth, totally dishonest in his manner, because he has to be, he could not afford to involve the U.S. Chess Federation in another multi-million dollar suit, and he lost all the records, he never mentions the more than 1,000 games that I played in San Francisco in 1969-70-71, he never mentions my games in the New York Times where I drew or won against people like Walter Browne, a grandmaster, or dozens of other games that appeared in the New York Times, all that has to be not mentioned. He hopes you will be an amateur and not skilled at research. But, fortunately for you, you can just go to the New York Times and type in my name and all my names will come up … So he’s in a position in 1977 where he’s freezing the rating of a player who’s drawn a match with international grandmaster Walter Browne, had a game voted one of the Top Ten Theory in the world and had made hundreds of thousands of dollars playing chess already, he’s in the position of doing that and thinks he can get away with it. He can, because in 1990 they lost all of the records, and there’s no way in the world to check all the tournament records, whatever. In San Francisco there are people who are bewildered today when they read about me in Wikipedia and other places, they saw me play hundreds of games in a year, Frank Thornally, a U.S. master said, ‘This man plays more chess matches than any other player in history.’ I was playing five experts and masters at one time. I was getting such good results many masters would not sign the results to turn them in for rating, they just did not play the final game and I couldn’t get them rated, but I didn’t care. The point is, Goichberg politely is lying. Because what’s he going to do, involve the U.S. Chess Federation in another lawsuit? He can say he fixed the rating in 1967-68 but later on someone else did it. It’s not true, he did it all the way for thirty years, he’s totally responsible. He’s also totally responsible for the Susan Polgar lawsuit. No Bill Goichberg, no $700,000 loss. He’s totally responsible for it. But on the other hand, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The collapse of the U.S. Chess Federation is now imminent. I’m sorry to tell you that the USCF membership in this month’s magazine, one of the people running for the executive board, already on the board [but] running for another chair, has announced that [the USCF] is now being sued again by someone who, believe it or not, could not get the board to allow him to run for election in the U.S. Chess Federation election. I think the person would probably be Sam Sloan (chess book publisher; he came out with the 2009 edition of Jude’s Lone Pines book). And if he can prove that they tried to [hinder] his right to run, that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs, if he can get standing in the court. I think he can prove it, that the delegates are a small, mob-like force that do not want change, because 90% of the members do not vote. At any rate I’m not going to worry about it because I am gone. I’ve already announced I’ll never play in the United States again [in USCF events], but I do wish them well. Now, there is something very pleasant, the guy … in Chicago, Sevan (Muradian), he has a policy statement that is simply magnificant. He may be elected [to the USCF executive board]. His criticism of the U.S. Chess Federation is tremendously strong. You can read it on the website right now. Would you play, if, say, the folks up in St. Louis had a senior tournament or something like that, would you play there? I would play if Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield personally asked me and personally handled the plane, met me at the plane, and arranged for me to stay, I would play, but otherwise no. They are the only people I would trust. What if they personally sent you a letter saying these people we give the responsibility to pick you up and take care of your— Oh, sure, as long as I could pick up the phone and talk with [Rex Sinquefield] about any matter, but naturally, they have so many players who will play for them. By the way, I’m very glad you [contacted] Goichberg because I don’t have any hatred for him at all, but he is now having to realize the consequences of his actions, he’s trying to make a magnificent effort to hold tournaments all across the country, his tournaments are the only ones held, he has a monopoly, but no one is going. People have just left the U.S. Chess Federation. Local people are staying there but mentally everyone has left. … The truth is, I have to be honest with you, the U.S. Championship was so far from New Orleans and Baton Rouge I don’t even think I was thinking of it. I was thinking of having a high rating, having people know who I was. As far as the U.S. Championship, I don’t think I ever terribly wanted to play. … I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My whole world had crashed. Fischer hadn’t played. Miller had abandoned me; he would take no more phone calls. But I had my one last contract exhibition [in New York City]. I now have whatever money I have to get to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I am for several weeks—where I met this unbelievable girl, too … She became a very famous news broadcaster but I don’t want to mention her name… Anyway, I called [Goichberg] from Ann Arbor. I did not have a plane ticket to get to my contracted exhibition. I talked to him on the phone and he was baffled, as if to say, ‘Why me?’ Well, he had millions of dollars. Fischer was not going to play again, all of that money had already come in. And the Fischer boom had not ended yet, the money was still coming in. And this is the background: He had been talking long distance, every day, to a member of the policy board. And I was sitting in the living room when he did it. There was a tournament that he was hosting in Ann Arbor, [Goichberg] offered to give me free entry fee to the tournament. I said, ‘No, but thank you.’ I’d already quit playing in all tournaments after 1970 unless I could see some benefit. I was already famous. It was out of my world, I was doing my exhibition and that was it. So, anyway, I did not have a plane ticket, and I knew he was spending thousands of dollars on long distance phone calls, thousands every month, there was no oversight, the policy board members would call each other, they were having membership meetings once a month and everything, they wasted millions, and then you could argue that Goichberg, in a vacuum period after Fischer played, was worth every cent of the millions they wasted. There is a strong case to be made that William Goichberg fully justifies the horrendous cost of William Goichberg. That the ends justifies the means in true Machiavellian terms. You could make that argument and there’s a strong case to make it. ‘I had to kill Jude Acers [and] all rivals because they just weren’t cutting it,’ that kind of thing he could say. So, anyway … The conversation was short. ‘I need a plane ticket. They’ll pay me in New York and I’ll send you the money immediately.’ Doris Thackrey says, ‘Everyone advises me to not lend you the money, Jude, but here it is.’ So she bought me the plane ticket, and I said, ‘Lady, you’re in for a surprise. And the first thing I did when I arrived was say, ‘The first forty chess sets you bought I want them,’ because I’m mailing them to her. She got forty chess sets. And she was totally unprepared. They arrived in a box. She didn’t understand what was happening. She sent them on to a prison. That was one of my thank yous. And, of course, I had the money sent to her in twelve hours. I had them pay me in advance, so I mailed it to her immediately. And the exhibition was huge. Against all odds. I did advanced promo four days in a row. It was not immediately big. But with 24 hours to go I got red hot on TV and radio and people were calling in, free exhibition, their child could play in the Guinness Book of World Records exhibition. Miller had set it up, because of 1973 in Portland they [Guinness] knew how to set it up so it’d be certified in the Guinness Book of World Records. Shelby Lyman, the very famous chess writer was the moderator, he came and was the master of ceremonies, and he called it a ‘World record insanity’ later, but at any rate, it was huge, and it was well documented … But the final story is this. [Goichberg] called me, after the [Guinness] exhibition was all over, it was in the afternoon. Everybody had heard about it, he knew it was monstrously big. I told him it was going to be big. And he said, politely, ‘We’re holding a World Open downtown. You’re going to be by this afternoon?’ That’s when I couldn’t believe it. He lives in another world. I’m not a perfect person. I have my faults, like everyone else. But you make a mistake with me, you won’t be getting Jude Acers to visit your hotel. And when I look back at it, I didn’t mean to hurt him, but the loss of Jude Acers was a huge loss to Goichberg, although I didn’t realize it at the time. Now, looking back, I realize I could have really helped Goichberg a lot. All he had to do was put me on the plane. And he had millions in the bank. But understand, I’m a wild child, Jude Acers is insane, he doesn’t have any parents, he came from a mental hospital or something, he’s a nice person but he’s crazy, don’t loan him any money, that kind of thing. [Goichberg] knows he can pull it off, but in the end, over the phone, he’s very nice, very polite, but he’s blown it … If I were offered $500,000 to play in a Goichberg tournament I would refuse, that’s how strongly I feel. If I were black, I would never have made it because of Goichberg. Fortunately, because I have snap, crackle, and pop, because I listen to the Boy Scouts of America, I do not smoke cigarettes, don’t do dope, don’t drink if you can help it, try to avoid beer, alcohol, if you’re going to drink I guess drink really fine liquor once or twice a year, but in general, avoid substance abuse, stick to coffee, coffee’s all you’ll ever need. Or fine tea. Because my mind works very well—and remember, it was not vengeance, I remember feeling empty as I hung up the phone. I didn’t say, ‘I won’t be there,’ I didn’t say that I wouldn’t come. Naturally, I will never come. He’s held several tournaments in New Orleans in the past thirty years. I’m not rude. In no way would I ever be rude to him … Let me give you a token example. You and your wife are in a restaurant and someone you know comes up and insults your wife. That’s it, Jack. You’re not going to shoot the guy in the restaurant, but that’s it, Jack. He’s packed. He’s gone. It doesn’t matter what he does. Goichberg made the fatal mistake you can’t make. And, of course, how was he to know that one of the greatest chessmasters of all time, an electrifying media personality, a person with a tremendous ego required to go long periods of time when nothing is happening in his career and can make things happen. Big time. Oh, he did say one very nice thing to me over the phone. Just as I recognize his absolute honesty on-site as a tournament director, he would die before he would make an imperfect decision. In other words, if he kills you, he’s going to kill you honestly, he’s going to tell you, ‘I’m doing this, I’m killing you, and I honestly believe it’s okay.’ That’s what I’m trying to tell you. This is what absolute power does. To this day, Goichberg does not believe he has become a monstrously evil person in segment. But that is what’s happened to him. The Polgar lawsuit is totally blameable on William Goichberg. No one who has my knowledge of how chess works could dare say that Goichberg isn’t the Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles of chess bureaucracy in the U.S. Chess Federation office. He is the person who fixed a player’s rating after he had drawn a match with a grandmaster. He is the person who has lost more than 1,000 games that I played in San Francisco. I am sure at least 500 games against internationally-rated players, people like John Grefe, U.S. Champion Walter Browne, James Tarjan, tremendous player, William Addison, all of these people, matches with Robert Burger, a 2300 player, I played George Kane, experts, it just goes on and on … I was just playing night and day and many of my games were published in the New York Times, the London Times published my win over Browne, Infomater helped keep me alive, and so on. The point is this: Those are all bygone days. The price that Goichberg is paying is horrendous. As he realizes, he will be in chess biographies forever stained by his few bad days. He had 95 good days, 5 bad days. But those 5 days will destroy him. … If I were running a tournament and I wanted a referee, he would be my first choice, providing he would referee it from his house, he wouldn’t be allowed be allowed to operate in the tournament room. But he would make all pairings, all standings, whatever. … All through the years, as people began to realize that Goichberg and the U.S. Chess Federation were not going to make it, gradually people began to come up to me, and say, ‘Jude, you know, you are really eccentric but the real truth is the U.S. Chess Federation seems to be poisonous. Essentially there’s no true criticism allowed. Let me make clear that the criticism in this month’s issue (Chess Life magazine, published by the USCF), the rule is the four candidates [running for] the executive board. They are allowed to have mild criticism of the U.S. Chess Federation in their policy board statement. It’s the only page Goichberg cannot censor. The only one. Even then, it comes in like a nuclear bomb, just a few criticisms, three of [the candidates] just give the routine, ‘Guys, you want to keep your money coming in and your small gang-like tournaments, vote for me, I won’t sink the ship until it’s absolutely sunk.’ But already, in the policy board, you get the fantastic freedom, what freedom does, it frees you, it lets you learn a little light. Just the few things these people mention that are wrong with the U.S. Chess Federation: ‘Our website is in shambles, we’ve spent thousands of dollars on nothing,’ not ‘Jude Acers is right.’ The U.S. Chess Federation must be totally changed. All critics of the Federation must be allowed to publish letters in Chess Life and Review. Just because Jude Acers doesn’t like William Goichberg doesn’t mean he can’t write a letter to the U.S. Chess Federation, or that Larry Evans has to be gotten rid of so 400 Acers letters cannot appear in the magazine (Evans, who died last year, was a frequent critic of the USCF and for many years published Jude’s letters in his chess column that appeared in Chess Life; late in his column’s run Chess Life, cut the commentary portion out of it). Freedom excels where freedom dwells. Freedom is worth dying for. We’ve got to have a free expression of opinion on our website. We’ve got to be honorable in treating people. And here is what is going to save the Federation: There’re more good guys than bad guys. And a father of a child is suddenly looking at the magazine, flipping onto the website, and next time more people will vote. Just as black people in America learned our country absolutely can change, but God, it’s slow. If this all seems messy, all I can say is there’s more where that came from. Check out this smattering of links: Goichberg’s takedown of Muradian in the current USCF executive board race, USCF settles, Welcome to the USCF racist, sexist, homophobic, and deplorable standard, NYT reports, and Goichberg uses “the office for a hangout in his free time is both a conflict of interest and a disruption to the staff.” Interestingly, this blog post by grandmaster Susan Polgar is still up, despite its relationship to her recently settled lawsuit with the USCF. Or read Larry Evans’ This Crazy World of Chess. You don’t have to look hard to find more institutional weirdness in the world of chess–just this last week, the President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov sat down for a game of chess in Tripoli with Moamer Kadhafi (in 2004, Kadhafi banned the Israeli team from competing in a championship tournament held in Libya; the FIDE motto is “We are all one people”). And even Goichberg has had his chess rating questioned. And for kicks, here’s the obligatory message board drip who feels compelled to declare Jude a “low life.” But the Jude haters in these forums are consistently well outnumbered by his fans and supporters. Some of these online back alleyways can provide a lovely range of anecdotes about Jude, such as this thread at Chessgames.com: Jul-15-04 sawbone: In about 1971, Jude played a simul at the Leesville, LA Chess Club and beat all 10 of us blindfolded. Everyone should read his new book, The Italian Game. I think that Jude can regulate his game to make it interesting and barely beat players of various levels. He is indeed a charming fellow and wears a red cap so you can see if he is there from 3 blocks away. He was once rated over 2500, according to his book. Has the best presentation of The Two Knights Game I have seen. Jun-01-05 deschner: … At a chess tourney in Wyoming, he declined a 2nd place trophy, handing it back to the TD. “1st Place or Nothing!” was Jude Acers motto. Sep-12-05 deshad: Glad to hear he made it [for several days after the levees failed in New Orleans in 2005 Jude’s whereabouts were unknown]. I had the pleasure of playing him on Decatur Street about a year ago. We spent about 10 minutes playing (mostly me thinking). Despite being quite charmed and distracted by my wife, whom he was busy entertaining, he easily beat me in about 20 moves. He then took us on a whirlwind, theatrical tour of the French Quarter that included a tale of Paul Morphy in front of Morphy’s house. It was the single most interesting and enjoyable part of our trip there. Dec-10-10 chuckr: I was recently in New Orleans and played Jude in a few games. Even though I knew what he was going to play (Veresov) he crushed me quickly. I tried the Veresov against him, but he wore me down there. He’s good. Funny too. As it became apparent I was about to mated, he high fived all the spectators (including my wife). He’s a good guy. Dec-10-10 kingfu: Is Jude at the old, same place? I need to know where exactly. Most people want to climb Mount Everest. I want to play Master Acers and visit The Moscow Central Chess Club. “I can’t believe I did that!” Jude’s beefs with the USCF far exceed his personal battles. He holds it in contempt for what he sees as awful outreach to women, minorities, and those who live outside North America, the less privileged: You need to understand when you look at the website of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, there’s no USCF logo, they won’t let the USCF operate (there), they’ve moved into the Jude Acers ballpark, the Jude Acers world. I don’t hate the U.S. Chess Federation now. I don’t involve them in my world. They don’t exist. I wish them well, but they’re not going to make it because they simply cannot link worldwide and anything that doesn’t have women and all players, [from] India, South America—look, I don’t want to mention names, there was an executive director [who I told], ‘We should play radio matches—or, now, internet matches—with our friends in South America.’ ‘Jude, we’re so strong it wouldn’t be worth doing.’ What? What is he thinking of? Even if it wouldn’t be worth doing, you do it. For example, Yugoslavia, the strongest chess team in the world, twenty-three years in a row they played the strongest Soviet teams, they lost all twenty-three matches. It didn’t seem to hurt them. Every game gets internationally rated, so their players’ ratings go up. Remember, when you’re an average player, and you have five players rated hundreds of points above you, you get just a draw or two, your rating goes up, you can’t lose—at all. You love to have the world’s highest-rated players come in there. And the absolute worst strike against the USCF, as far as Jude is concerned, is the loss of its tournament records in 1990 when it moved to its new headquarters in Nashville. Jude sees this offense in the gravest of terms. Say, for example, a child is doing research about the family history and discovers his grandfather was the highest rated chessmaster in the state of Kansas in 1956. Because the USCF lost its paper records, there may, in fact, be no surviving record of the 1956 Kansas grandmaster’s chess games. They have lost all records before 1990. The U.S. Chess Federation has lost all Jude Acers records, all records of William Addison, all tournaments held in California before 1990. I played four hundred games, at least, in a three year period. Many rated. All records of who beat who, everything, lost, a whole generation of players lost, and tournament organizers in small towns by the hundreds forgotten forever because of this ridiculous U.S. Chess Federation loss in 1990, which I think was intentional because they know they couldn’t, potential lawsuits could be filed against them for things they had done earlier, but I won’t go into that. But anyway, they lost all records. Hideous, unforgivable oversight. People are now looking back to see where their father played and there’s no record of their father. Over the years Jude took note of certain details which informed the choices he would come to make: When he met Fischer in 1964, right after Fischer’s incredible run at the U.S. Championship when he won an unprecedented 11-0, Fischer told him he’d won only $2,500 and he had not been given any grants by the U.S. Chess Federation. That’s what the best player in the country gets, Jude thought. [It] was just before round two of the San Antonio, TX World Hemisphere Tournament in 1967 [Browne’s] playing, before the round starts, a player of average rating, around 1900 or whatever, and [Browne’s] a grandmaster, a strength player, but he gives the guy two minutes, he only takes one minute, or [the other guy] has five minutes—I forget how it was, but had big odds. And it’s for five, ten, fifteen bucks, whatever. Browne runs out of time, so he loses the ten bucks… Anyway, Browne is losing—Browne, a grandmaster, a world famous player—and he’s losing to the amateur in the five minute games, and coldly, unemotionally, the bell rings to start the tournament and Browne says, ‘Well, okay,’ and this grandmaster pays this absolute beginner twenty dollars or something like a cold fish, you know, not with anger, and I realized, ‘Do I really want to be around cold blooded killers like this?’ Not because I’m afraid of Browne, or any of these other guys, but I realized, ‘These are good players. Do you really want to spend your lifetime playing these guys on weekends?’ And … here’s the other thing that I knew—and I told Browne this later. If he needed money and I’d won a tournament, I’d have to loan him the money, or a couple hundred dollars. He said, ‘You can’t think that way,’ and I said, ‘Grandmaster Browne, I can think that way, and I do.’ Larry Evans won the 1st of his 5 U.S. championships in 1951 when he was 19 years old. In 1970 Jude visited with grandmaster and chess journalist Larry Evans in Reno. Evans was also into real estate, poker, and quite literally, mind games: Evans played all the markets, he was a really great, great universal business man, he was involved with Reno real estate, benefits for women, civil rights, exhibitions, a gambler beyond belief, would bet hands of poker, drop in right out of the car and bet twenty dollar hands of poker, jump back in the car and he’d be banned from a lot of casinos because he won an enormous amount of money, they banned up just politely when they banned him, because he was able to memorize the cards, but he lost a lot of money before he won it back and was about even when it was over. But, anyway, Evans was taking me to a hotel and I was standing in line waiting to get in and he paid for the hotel on a credit card. He had parked the car and he walked up to me and he said, ‘Jude, I’ve invented a refutation to the Evans’ Gambit. The Evans’ Gambit is named after Captain Evans of England, a hundred and fifty years ago, and he flashed out the moves and I said, ‘No, I’ve got you. Establish a pawn center.’ And so we played it blindfolded. And he lost a piece! I played a key move, bishop to d5. He said, ‘What kind of move is that?’ ‘I’ll play pawn takes d4.’ I took a knight and (inaudible) twenty-five in a blindfold game, and winning a piece. Okay, now, we’re continuing the blindfold game. All right, we’re playing in our minds. I’m checking into a hotel room and we go to a casino restaurant. We finish the game and he moves a knight to a6 and to c5 and beats me in the blindfold game. But we’re playing blindfold, I don’t understand what’s going on. We’re sitting there and I took out a pocket set and I suddenly realized, there was no knight at b8 that he could move to a6. He’d invented a piece. And he said, ‘I simply wanted to see if you were paying attention.’ And suddenly I realized, I don’t mind that he cheated in a sort of funny game, but I realized, ‘Do you really want to play people like this—all your life. These people are very, very clever. And these were little things. Not out of fear. Cold common sense. I can make hundreds of thousands of dollars playing, publish books, I’m very famous, touring, I’m not going into this world. In 1972, Fischer was a week late for the World Championship match against Boris Spassky in Iceland. He’d technically forfeited, but exceptions were made and Fischer finally made it to Iceland and won the world title, which he would never defend, taking the air out of the chess scene in the U.S. I kept thinking, ‘Special exceptions are being made for Fischer but unless Fischer plays me or other people for the U.S. Championship, this isn’t going to work. I’ve got to get out now. Do my small town exhibitions, study chess as normal, that’s it, I’ve got to get out. Unless something extraordinary, expenses-paid, comes up.’ In 1975, millionaire Louis Statham, at great expense, built a town hall and other facilities on the top of a mountain in Lone Pine, California, sponsored an international chess tournament–technically, he invited all grandmasters, but, because of Soviet/U.S. chess politics, the Russians stayed away. But the few thousand in prize money, especially given the great expense of the facilities, left Jude unimpressed and he elected to not play. Very early on, and continually reinforced through the years, he could see that survival playing tournament chess required not only playing at a very high level, day in and out, but it would be next to impossible to make a living at it. In the end, on paper, things look real tough. If I had it all to do over again, I’d do the same. I have no regrets … If it ended tomorrow, okay. I did it my way and I chose to act with tremendous speed on simple information that I got, and I got the right information. I talked to Fischer about the U.S. Championship, the money he got paid, I talked to Larry Evans, I just had the right people at the right time, I was clued in, I made all the right moves. I, alone, survived … And no one’s ever had a career like me. The accumulation of these observations finally led Jude to set up shop on Decatur Street in New Orleans: It never occurred to me that I would be the Energizer bunny of chess, that every other grandmaster would fade into the woodwork, they would have health issues and so on, I just keep a truckin’. And I was doing all the right things, making all the right choices, just be intuition. The most important of the confrontations with the grandmasters was the wonderful James Tarjan, international grandmaster who never got to play Fischer. He said to me, ‘All the players want the glory to rub off on them and let them play Fischer in the U.S. championship and Fischer won’t do it.’ And I said, ‘Yes, that’s true, James.’ I was very close to Tarjan in terms of liking him the few times we talked. And then, he was climbing onto a subway to see this dynamite woman, and as he climbed on the trolley car, he said, ‘Jude, you can say anything you want about the U.S. Chess Federation and the American chess scene, something is happening,’ and as he’s pulling away on the trolley, I said, ‘Grandmaster James Tarjan, my good friend, nothing is happening.’ And I was right. The whole scene of the U.S. Chess Federation, Fischer, meant nothing. It all closed and the whole American chess scene has to be rebuilt from the ground up with fifty or sixty players in America allowed to play in the U.S. Championship, as a chess university, with all of our wonderful foreign grandmasters also allowed to play, but you’ve got to have fifty masters from all around the country, just master rating, play in ten or fifteen round internationally-rated tournaments, at their own expense, for the right to play in the U.S. Championship as a qualifier, everybody has got to be world rated, nothing can be provincial or neighborhood, everybody’s got to feel part of the program. So every hometown hero is in it. And I’m right and the U.S. Chess Federation is wrong. I was right about everything … I would just say that I see things faster. I wouldn’t say that I am in possession of an ability to process information faster than anyone else. I would just say I choose to process the information faster than anyone else. When I find out that Fischer isn’t playing, is forfeiting the World Championship, I’m playing in shopping centers, department stores, I’m not playing anywhere else, because it’s not going to get better. And I also act on information. Fischer has not played for two years. There’s no proof he’s ever going to play. I basically was able to act on this information. There would always be next year—no, there wouldn’t necessarily be next year. Take what you can get, do what works for you, maintain good health, manage your money as well as you can, get back to New Orleans, and try to figure out a way to exist. Even now, the primary reason he has done the Senior tournaments abroad the past few years is because he’s been financed by generous patrons. They get out of a limousine, they drop the money off, they drop the ticket off, they put it in my hand and they’re gone in five minutes. It’s never been a question of confidence: The guy can be sitting there and be reasonably good, but I’m better. Because I’ve worked more and I’ve studied more and physically I’m stronger than he is. I’m in tremendous shape. I mean, I don’t drink, I don’t do dope. You know, if he wants to play twelve, fifteen, twenty straight hours for money, I can do it, even now [at 67 years old]. I mean, I have won a thousand games in a row against varied opposition. Some weak, some reasonably strong, out there at the table, without even a draw. It has happened. I’ve done it over a three or four month period … Oh, I belong in jail. I’m a real thief. I’m sure I’ve stolen more games than anyone but Walter Browne and Frank J. Note: Page 2 more heavily features Jude’s more unfiltered thoughts from Bobby Fischer to John Fogarty, as well as a bibliography. Reddit Tagged in: eddy on June 20, 2011 Warren Porter on June 20, 2011 I was at LSU with Acers for three years beginning in the fall of 1965 and he had quite an influence on my playing strength and style. Saw him playing in NO in 1994 but didn’t have the opportunity to speak to him. He was all set to play in Feb, 2005 but was taking a break when I got there. I haven’t seen him in my last few trips to the NO French Quarter, does he still play on the sidewalk? Derek Bridges on June 20, 2011 Thanks for stopping by, Warren. I link to your chess memoir at the end of the piece where I have a link bibliography of sorts. And, yes, you can find Jude on the sidewalk by the Gazebo Cafe most days. WCF World Chess Champion Stan Vaughan on June 21, 2011 Dear Mr. Bridges Everything Jude told you is true. I am available to be interviewed and have similar experiences that support what he said. Warren Porter on June 22, 2011 Derek Bridges on June 22, 2011 Thanks, Warren. And thanks to Susan Polgar Chess Daily News and Information for excerpting and linking to this article. Jude is a big, big fan of Susan Polgar. Derek Bridges on June 20, 2011 I think the length of this post has taxed the capacity of WordPress because I cannot add any more images to it. Which is unfortunate as Russell Miller has kindly pointed me to the Nov 23, 1942 edition of Life Magazine, p. 121: Jimmy Gabacho on June 21, 2011 Derek Bridges on June 21, 2011 The subject demands it–and, most importantly, I don’t have a meddling editor. On Facebook I suggested people may want to use http://www.instapaper.com/ to save for reading over time. John Hicks on June 21, 2011 WCF World Chess Champion Stan Vaughan on June 21, 2011 Please have Mr. Acers contact us at WCF to discuss his playing for the WCF The World Chess Championship title. Mr. Acers is absolutely correct. In 1986 I was told by USCF after reaching 2433 that they were implementing the Jude Acers rule they called it that. I beat numerous masters after that they still would freeze rating etc I finished 7th in 1998 Grand Prix they never paid up and lost their Novag Sponsorship over that He is right about Goichberg and like Jude realized USCF was irreleavnt and on Fischer’s advice went our own way with ACA and WCF Jude deserves a shot and we will give it to himif he wants it. Derek Bridges on June 21, 2011 David Ames on June 26, 2011 According to my information, FIDE (Federation Internationale des Echecs) has held a recognized world championship for chess since 1948, and traces its organization back to Paris in 1924. It might be interesting to see Mr. Vaughan sue FIDE for unfair competition. Kelly on October 17, 2011 I was fortunate enough to meet Jude this week while I was in New Orleans. My husband played several games while I sat off to the side watching. Then something he said intrigued me and I instantly felt compelled to figure out just who this guy was. I must have asked him at least 25, or maybe even 50 different questions. To each, he posed a very quick and matter of fact answer. It didn’t take many questions for me to learn that this guy is more than unique, he’s brilliant. But there was one question he never did answer. I asked it several times and but all I could get in response was silence and a look that screamed “shame on you for asking”. The question was simply “Has anyone that has played you here ever won?” At first I was thinking to myself, surely, someone has won. But it wasn’t until after we said goodbye that I figured it out. Every single person that I watched Jude play won…they may have lost the game, but they all left winners. An 8 yr old boy probably won the most. I watched him timidly face the fear of failing to someone else…but he won. He won the courage to face that fear, and realized that wining the game was small beans to the knowledge and courage that losing gave him. My husband won b/c playing with Jude rekindled his interest in a game that he hasn’t seriously thought about in more than 15 years. I didn’t even play Jude (I know nothing about chess) and I know that I won! Derek Bridges on October 18, 2011 Thanks for sharing your insight, Kelly. Sounds like y’all had a grand time. Mark Kamm on April 26, 2012 Great story. I play Jude all the time. My estimated record is 0-100-1 (I am very proud of that draw!) Derek Bridges on April 26, 2012 Hope to catch you on Decatur Street one of these days, Mark. Thanks for stopping by. Bruce on December 21, 2012 Tried to purchase “Revatrol” but cannot find it at any of the local pharmacy’s in my neck of the woods. Guess it’s only available now on-line at a very hefty price!! A New Start \| Blog2L2 on January 25, 2017 […] to get the gang back together to breathe new life into B2L2, the site where I first published a long profile of Jude that launched this quixotic documentary effort. So keep an eye on that as […] Bob Hate on February 7, 2017 Have read this before, but just had to say “astonishing and fascinating” again. Leave a Reply to A New Start \| Blog2L2 Cancel reply Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ About the Author Derek Bridges lives in New Orleans, trading in words and pictures. A carpetbagger of long standing, he grew up in the top right corner of IL and later went to college in the middle cornfield part. He has also lived in MS and FL, for educational purposes only, and was diasporized for a time in TX.	120,320
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Janiyah Davis, a fourth grade student from Philadelphia, and her mother, Stephanie, smile after being recognized by U.S. President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address Feb. 4, 2020, at the Capitol in Washington. Trump spoke directly to Janiyah Davis while discussing his plans for school choice and federal tax credits.(CNS photo/Tom Brenner, Reuters) Share this story By Catholic News Service • Posted February 6, 2020 WASHINGTON (CNS) — The right of parents “to exercise freedom of choice in education is firmly rooted in the teachings of our Catholic faith,” two U.S. Catholic bishops said Feb. 5 in a joint statement on a federal proposal to expand parental choice for their children’s schooling. Bishop Michael C. Barber of Oakland, California, who is chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald of Philadelphia made the remarks about Education Freedom Scholarships, a bill proposed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and supported by the Trump administration. Bishops Barber and Fitzgerald issued the statement expressing appreciation for the administration’s commitment to parental choice in education following a visit by Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Philadelphia. Pence and DeVos highlighted the success of parental choice programs across Pennsylvania and talked about Education Freedom Scholarships, which would authorize a federal tax credit for individuals and companies that donate to school scholarship funds or help parents who home-school their children. “We applaud the goals of Education Freedom Scholarships and hope to one day see the opportunity for all families to have the freedom to select a school according to their conscience,” the bishops said. They quoted from a 2005 USCCB statement that reaffirmed the bishops’ commitment to Catholic education in the U.S.: “Advocacy is not just the responsibility of parents and teachers, but of all members of the Catholic community. As the primary educators of their children, parents have the right to choose the school best suited for their children. The entire Catholic community should be encouraged to advocate for parental school choice and personal and corporate tax credits, which will help parents to fulfill their responsibility in educating their children.” Pennsylvania offers two scholarship tax credit programs for low-income families to gain access to the school that best fits their child’s educational needs. The first program was enacted nearly 20 years ago, in 2001, and today there are currently hundreds of scholarship organizations in the state whose donors receive a state tax credit of up to 90% percent of their donation. In Philadelphia, Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools, known as BLOCS, is the state’s largest scholarship program raising over $25 million last year and offering over 16,000 scholarships to low-income families. In the 2017-2018 school year, over 50,000 children received scholarships across Pennsylvania. During the visit to Philadelphia, Pence discussed expanding this successful state model to the federal level with the Education Freedom Scholarships proposal. The proposal would provide for a $5 billion annual federal tax credit for voluntary donations to state-based scholarship programs. In his State of the Union address Feb. 4, President Donald Trump gave a shoutout to school choice by pointing out two of his guests in the House chamber — Janiyah Davis, a fourth grade student from Philadelphia, and her mother, Stephanie. Trump announced Janiyah would be getting a scholarship to attend the school of her choice and he urged support for the federal legislation on school choice. He criticized Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf for vetoing a measure last year that would have expanded a private school choice program in that state. CatholicPhilly.com works to strengthen the connections between people, families and communities every day by delivering the news people need to know about the Catholic Church, especially in the Philadelphia region, and the world in which we live. By your donation in any amount, you and hundreds of other people become part of our mission to inform, form in the Catholic faith and inspire the thousands of readers who visit every month. Here is how you can help: A $100 gift allows us to present award-winning photos of Catholic life in our neighborhoods. A $50 gift enables us to cover a news event in a local parish, school or Catholic institution. 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Chet Holmgren hadn’t answered many calls for his national television debut against first class Emony Bates, but one man had to answer the phone early Thursday. It was the rapper Sada Baby from Detroit, who also won ESPN’s first A senior basketball player, even on a trip to Los Angeles. Do your job and go there and take 17 blocks, said Holmgren, told the rapper. I wanted to get 30 [points], damn it, Holmgren said. So I brought it up. Holmgren not only finished 31 points, but also led his AAU team, Team Sizzle, for the Bates Ypsi Prep Academy 78-71 in a practice match at Concordia University’s Cardinal Fieldhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also had 12 rebounds and six blocks. Holmgren said the confrontation with Bates yielded the best five-star recruits of the battle. If you’re an opponent like me, you always want to play against the best, says Holmgren, who goes to the Minneapolis Academy in Minneapolis. And it’s the best of the best, the crème de la crème. He played a great game tonight, but luckily we were able to win tonight and it’s always a special experience. Holmgren, a 1.80m forward with a weight of 90kg, is currently not registered, but has said that he wants to play at university level. I definitely want to go to university next year, Holmgren said. And now I’ve eliminated seven schools: Minnesota, Michigan, Memphis, Georgetown, North Carolina, Ohio and Gonzaga. So I’m looking into it now, trying to figure it out. Bates made his debut Thursday night at the Ypsi Prep Academy after his first two seasons at Lincoln High School in Ipsilanti, Michigan, where he won the state title in his freshman year in 2019. His father, Elgin, started preparing the school this autumn and is also the head coach. Jaden Akeens, the signatory of the state of Michigan, is also part of the team. Bates ended the game with 36 points and 10 rebounds with 11 of 22. It was a good experience. Bates mentioned the confrontation with Halmgren. We are both number one and competitive. We’ve improved each other. That’s all that matters, and we were competing. It’s part of the process. Bates currently works in the state of Michigan, but he says he may consider upgrading to Class 2021. Yes, it was under consideration, said Bates, who has been the number one Spartan candidate since ESPN’s recruitment database began in 2007. My family and I talked about it. I’m just going to prepare the season, see how it goes and in the future I’ll make a decision. While Bates thought about his future in basketball, he continued to recruit elite talents like Akinns, who joined him on campus when he finally played for Spartan coach Tom Izzo. Jaden is a very special player to me, so I keep trying to let people go, just in case I really think about going, Bates said. There’ll be people, dogs, but Jaden’s very good. He got a couple of big hits today. He just needs to feel comfortable. It’s a novelty for everyone. They haven’t played in a while, so we need to get back in peace. For Bates and Holmgren, the goal of the season is simply to become better basketball players, but they also understand the concept of branding at a young age. Bates has over 350,000 Instagram fans and is friends with NBA star Kevin Durant, who told him to keep sharpening and stay in the gym. Besides staying in touch with Sada Babi, two of Holmgren’s teammates, Gersey and Miller Miller, are the sons of rap magnate Master P, who, according to Holmgren, will teach him the importance of entrepreneurship. There’s no end to it. A great family, great people, and we are happy to have them as part of the family, said Mr. Holmgren. I beat Master P in a shooting match. He beat me too. We still have a tiebreaker to reach. Related Tags: You May Also Like 3 minute read Latest November 23, 2020 Diwali will have to be celebrated from afar this year (Photo: Diwali). Diwali on us, which means that… 3 minute read Latest Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson unlikely to play in key division matchup vs. Arizona Cardinals, source says November 23, 2020	4,334
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Expressing her artistry through the gentle and consoling sounds of her voice and harmonies, as opposed to her rather robust and vigorous-like lyrics, 20 year old singer/songwriter Maya Mae creates a sound that could be described as a fusion of contemporary RnB and Pop. Not wanting to limit herself, she experiments with different kind of sub genres, seeking revival within each project. ‍ Along with her passion for music, she’s also determined to cultivate her passion for film and direction. This results in Maya writing screenplays and directing her own music videos, combining her musical and visual attributes for the sake of creation. Surely working towards a future where she can write and direct visual stories for other artists as well. Being surrounded by music since day one, her goal has always been to make her music go global and touch as many people with it as possible. ‍ Having debuted in 2020 with her first single 'Leave Me Alone', followed up with 'Breathe Me' and 'Delusional', Maya is now working on a new body of work that is due for release in the autumn of 2021. ‍ Expressing her artistry through the gentle and consoling sounds of her voice and harmonies, as opposed to her rather robust and vigorous-like lyrics, 20 year old singer/songwriter Maya Mae creates a sound that could be described as a fusion of contemporary RnB and Pop. Not wanting to limit herself, she experiments with different kind of sub genres, seeking revival within each project. ‍ Along with her passion for music, she’s also determined to cultivate her passion for film and direction. This results in Maya writing screenplays and directing her own music videos, combining her musical and visual attributes for the sake of creation. Surely working towards a future where she can write and direct visual stories for other artists as well. Being surrounded by music since day one, her goal has always been to make her music go global and touch as many people with it as possible. ‍ Having debuted in 2020 with her first single 'Leave Me Alone', followed up with 'Breathe Me' and 'Delusional', Maya is now working on a new body of work that is due for release in the autumn of 2021.	2,203
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New Posts Golden Oil Cbd 1000 Mg Full Spectrum Scrollsawhero.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.	10,457
Hello ladies! Is a handbag your favorite accessory too? If yes, stay with us, because in this article we are going to present to you everything you need to know about making the right choice of a handbag. Read how to choose a handbag, having in mind its size, material, color…Women can simply not imagine their outfit without adding a handbag on. That is why most of the women pose tens of differently shaped and sized bags. Because every handbag has its own story! And, every handbag can’t fit all the outfits, so you need to have more of them for every occasion. How to choose a handbag for your outfit without making mistakes? Read these helping tips that will show you how to choose a handbag as a professional. Remember, a handbag has to be personalized, stylish, and practical. Take this in mind always when you buy a new handbag. It must represent who you really are more than it needs to be following the latest trends. Rule number one when choosing a handbag is to never buy a handbag without trying it. It may seem crazy to you, but would you buy pants without trying them? You wouldn’t right? Then why buy a handbag that way? You may fall in love with some handbag at first sight, but once you try it on, you realize that it is not suiting you the right way. People are different: their weight, their height, their body shape, the skin, the hair… everything. So, when buying a new handbag always try it on and look yourself in the mirror. Once you do it, think do you like its structure, the details such as the pockets or the zippers, the color, the material… Then, try to imagine how it will look on you, which outfits you will wear it with, how you will feel while wearing it. If you consider all this in mind when buying a handbag, believe us, you will find the perfect one for you. Right size: what size of the bag to choose? People have different tastes and preferences. One thing to consider on your “how to choose a handbag” journey is the material of the handbag. Some women like leather, others prefer textile or synthetics. Once you choose the material you want, choose the right size. It is essential! As important as choosing the right size of dress or pants! The wrong sized bag can make the parts of your body look less attractive, as well as the cloths can. The right bag size will prettify your silhouette and make you look stylish. Extra tip: If you have small height, don’t buy very big handbags. On contrary, if you are tall, then avoid buying micro-bags. Right model: which model of a handbag will suit you? Once you choose the right size for you, consider the importance of choosing the correct model of a handbag too. Always choose the one that perfectly matches your figure and personality. Here is a simple rule to follow: choose the form of a bag that is opposite the lines of your body. For example, if you are tall and slim, choose round or square forms of a handbag. If you are small and full-figured, then extended and rectangle bags will be a great option for you. Create a visualization contrast: that is the secret! Center of attention: which part of the body you want to underline? Always have in mind that the bag underlines the parts of the body that it is close to. If you are wearing a shoulder bag on the belt, then you will emphasize your waist. This kind of bag is not recommended for those having a wide beltline. A bag that you carry in the hand will underline them. So, always make sure to have a well-designed manicure. It is even more important especially on the occasions when you are in an evening dress, holding the clutch in your hands. Avoid wearing such a bag when having broken nails, unattractive fingers, etc. The crossbody handbag which is worn diagonally on the body will emphasize your breasts. It is not recommended for women who have too big or too small breast size. The color can project an important message to the outer world. That is why it is so important to choose the right color for a handbag. Always try to ensure that the color of the handbag will match most of the colors of the clothes you are wearing. Also, analyze the frequency of wearing the handbag with what you have in the wardrobe. Try to choose neutral and common colors such as black, grey, red, blue, or beige. They are easy to combine with other colors and will make it easier for you to style later.	4,445
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Sometimes we all need a little self-care, and this week’s foster kiddo Jasmine is no exception. “I don’t know it just makes me feel better about myself when I have makeup on,” said foster care kiddo Jasmine, as she shrugged her shoulders after a makeover at 202 Beauty Lounge in Waco. Being around Jasmine, you can’t help but feel better about yourself, when she flashed her million-dollar smile. It’s actually that vibe and warm charisma Jasmine is looking to cash in on down the road. “What do you want to do?” “I want to be an actor.” But just like in life, with a family, she doesn’t need to be the star of the show – she’s just in search of her role. “I don’t want to be the main (character), when I act but, like, the best friend or something.” “She wants somebody that she knows is going to be there for her and someone that she can count on, and that can just offer her a family setting and isn’t going to give up on her,” said Patricia Roacha, her CPS caseworker, Patricia has worked with Jasmine for years and knows the kind of kid Jasmine is underneath the makeup. “She’s just a super sweet, loving, happy girl and I just am really optimistic and hopeful that she’s going to find her perfect fit,” she said. And don’t let her love for glam fool you either, Jasmine goes deep into her journals, getting her feelings out daily. Just listen to her talk about how much writing she does in just a few weeks. “I went through like 10 journals because I write a lot,” remarked Jasmine. Jasmine is honest, funny, deep and ambitious - and her beauty doesn't need makeup to shine through.(KWTX Staff) She also likes to watch shows like Cheer Squad and likes to spend time with pets and would enjoy a family with a few siblings. She wants to go to college and she’s ready for the chores too…IF she’s asked. “I cleaned my room every Saturday, but no chores unless Saturday,” she said laughing. Jasmine is honest, funny, deep, and ambitious - and her beauty doesn’t need makeup to shine through. Now she just needs that forever family, to give her a role of her life. Also, remember there are licensing requirements to adopt in Texas. Copyright 2021 KWTX. All rights reserved. Missing Texas girl Athena Strand abducted and killed by Fed Ex driver, sheriff says Amber Alert discontinued: Six abducted children found safe, woman taken into custody Central Texas teens charged in string of vehicle burglaries after resident gives security camera footage to police UPDATE: Missing Texas girl Athena Strand abducted, killed by Fed Ex driver Son charged in murder of mother, Belton police say Central Texan who fought for his life after freak gymnastics accident is graduating from college with honors Farm bureau in Coryell County surprises shoppers by paying for groceries ‘It made me feel happy’: Central Texas girl sold handmade jewelry to buy stuffed animals for kids in the hospital	3,015
Unfortunately we live in a world that is rife with the dishonest, and this is especially so in the Uber Democracy known as the internet. A place without any real regulation. I intend for this blog entry to act as a service first and foremost to my fellow wordsmiths who have delved into the world of publishing, independent or not, it is with great importance I come to you with this. I don’t see other writers as competition but as fellows where we are all trying to convince the world our words exist. And it is our responsibility to look out for one another especially when our ultimate integrity is threatened. I use the word threat because what we do takes so much work and only a select will understand what that truly means, but for everyone concerned with writing books I have to do my duty for our industry. On the evening of April 19th 2018 I received an interesting email from someone called ‘Aimee Ann’ if that is ‘her’ real name is neither here or there. But what this person said is as follows… Sounds good right, I thought so, and initial ideas began to stir around my head in how I was to reply in order to sound as professional as possible, that is without sounding desperate for reviews. Because all writers need more reviews and the fact I overlooked where this person got my email from I was ready to bite her hand off for a review… I checked out the website, and initially I was impressed. This person is good, damn good. You cant deny the About section appears to be innocent and worded in such a tactical way for nobody to call bullshit. It’s all positive and draws attention away from anyone with an ounce of suspicion, that includes me. Of course the whole deal is written in a way to draw a level of sympathy, truth or not, and who the hell has 4 kids and still has the time to read, review and keep a damn blog up to date? I have no kids and have barely enough time to brush my hair! And so I scrolled further down her rather wordy and ever so positively innocent bio, until the ultimate red flag destroyed all perception of me believing this whole deal was genuine… Red flag uno… is highlighted in pink above. No pictures personally tells me there is a hell of a lot to hide but this paragraph is very clever in delivery, it’s almost dastardly, as in evil villain dastardly. And I should know a thing or two about such characters, I’m a writer… Look how she addresses the red flag and then diverts by involving her family and then even sub diverts by making the reader forget completely about the fact there are no photos of her by mentioning the husband and even diverts that as well. And let me state here, there is no shame in supporting military charities, but this is just another diversion away from the real facts here. All of this is to give an author a sense of security and trust. At this point I knew the dream was over. ‘She’ charges for reviews… When it comes to paid review services most of the time they are viewed as unethical and although some will argue that paying for reviews is marketing- I’m not here on my own patch to argue or define paid reviews. Yeah there are reputable platforms out there but in my eyes if you pay someone for anything more than their time to read your work and provide an honest opinion, well that isn’t marketing… And so I used the google machine for a cold slap of reality to the face. Yes folks that’s 75 big ones for a damn review! And so I poked around the interweb some more and found only a few people have lifted the lid on the Red Headed Book Lover’s blog. As you can see this email I screen grabbed from Blank Pages Revealed is identical to the one I got! And so my whole premise is simply to lift the lid for future authors who type Red Headed Book Lover into google and tell them simply, it’s an unethical scam! Her reviews are substandard at best and this ‘blogger’ is taking authors for an expensive ride. I will never reply to the email, it isn’t worth any more words. All you have to do is actually read some of her reviews; they are complete and utter trash, she clearly reads the blurb and that only. Look how she never comments on style, voice and quality of writing; that’s because she has never read a damn thing! The problem is, there are so many authors who have fallen for this. Some have even approached me saying this isn’t a scam and I should grow up. I’m just the messenger here. Reviews are basically currency for authors, especially indie ones, and so when desperation for reviews meets opportunist, Red Headed Book Lover sits there waiting, and its wrong, so wrong. You should ask me instead fellow writer, yes you! I review books for nothing, check out my review section via the menu above. I can happily say that I never fell for the SCAM that is the Red Headed Book Lover and Aimee Ann and by the power vested by me as an author and creator of worlds, you are banished by the realm of genuine writers. We pride ourselves on hard work and the money we spend to give readers an escape. We can do that without paying huge costs for reviews! Now you have read this as an author it is your duty to reach out to others and spread the word, together we can stop scams like this, one writer at a time… Avoiding scams is also one of the many subjects in my guide book for authors like you. Consistent Creative Content is out now! Find it on Amazon and own your writing career! Related My 3rd book The Teleporter is released! → 48 thoughts on “Red Headed Book Lover: A warning to Authors” June 18, 2018 at 5:54 am Yep, I received the same email and went through exactly the same emotional roller coaster. Like you, I eventually found the disclaimer and came down to earth with a thud. LikeLiked by 2 people April 22, 2021 at 10:51 pm Just got the email from scammer “Aimee Ann.” Glad I researched this! Thankyou! LikeLiked by 3 people August 6, 2018 at 12:51 pm God, I feel like such a nube. My review just posted today and was very complementary but saying she had never heard of evil faeries made me wonder, just how many books have you read??? Oh well, have to chalk it up to a learning experience. LikeLiked by 1 person Immy says: October 26, 2018 at 1:25 am I was contacted by this person and I’m usually pretty smart when it comes to scams. I even had a funny feeling about it, but I was so eager to get my book out there that I thought oh it’s a small price to pay for something that will help me and unfortunately I fell for her scam. It is the first time I have ever been scammed so I feel very stupid. I only wish I had seen your blog before I paid her! LikeLiked by 1 person October 26, 2018 at 2:40 am I am sorry to hear that Immy, unfortunately its a lesson most of us learn the hard way, it’s up to all of us as writers to warn others of scams like this. LikeLiked by 1 person April 19, 2019 at 2:14 pm Thank you so much for posting this! I received an email the day my novel came out. She did mention the cost in a followup email of $77. I don’t have any money and kept thinking I’ve heard you should never pay for reviews. I’m so happy that I googled her to check it out before making a decision. LikeLiked by 3 people Lee Hall says: April 19, 2019 at 2:46 pm You’re more than welcome! I’m glad you found this, wishing you the best of luck with your writing and quest to find reviews! June 26, 2019 at 1:29 pm Wow, I see her all over the place. This is so crazy! Reading and Reviewing is such a joy for me. I am still trying to wrap my mind around this. LikeLiked by 3 people Lee Hall says: June 26, 2019 at 1:48 pm Yep still very active and probably raking it in, until somebody big time does something to stop it… LikeLiked by 2 people July 28, 2019 at 12:23 am Thanks for this post! I just got the identical email and decided to google redheadedbooklover just to make sure it was legit. And now I am enlightened! As many have said here, I was thrilled to get that email. Now I am thrilled to have escaped. LikeLiked by 2 people Lee Hall says: July 28, 2019 at 5:16 am Glad to hear it! There aren’t enough warnings about this. Thanks for reading Steve July 29, 2019 at 2:36 am I am another unfortunate email recipient and cannot thank you enough for revealing the truth. Thank you for taking the time to set the record straight. Thank you again! LikeLiked by 3 people Lee Hall says: July 30, 2019 at 6:56 am Reblogged this on Lee's Hall of information and commented: An important re-blog and a warning to authors looking for reviews. Seeing as my following is a lot higher and this is my most read post, I thought I would share it again… July 30, 2019 at 6:49 pm Excellent information, especially for new authors. LikeLiked by 1 person August 1, 2019 at 11:45 pm Yup, I got the same email too. I did wonder about it, and then I saw your post. Thank you LikeLiked by 2 people Lee Hall says: August 2, 2019 at 7:50 am Glad to hear it Grant. Thanks for reading September 14, 2019 at 5:31 pm Received the same email yesterday. Thanks for your post. LikeLiked by 1 person October 14, 2019 at 10:03 pm Good post! I will share this information widely. LikeLiked by 1 person October 14, 2019 at 10:19 pm […] Headed Book Lover: A warning to Authors https://leehallwriter.com/2018/04/19/red-headed-book-lover-a-warning-to-authors/ via […] November 12, 2019 at 8:20 pm Received the same email a while back. Upon doing some research, here I am. Good post, kudos. LikeLiked by 1 person Lee Hall says: November 12, 2019 at 8:41 pm Glad to hear you found this post! February 16, 2020 at 11:43 pm She/Ha is still out there sending that email out. I googled to see what this was all about because I was like, “WHY would I PAY to have someone write a review for me?” LikeLiked by 2 people Lee Hall says: February 17, 2020 at 10:09 am Glad to hear you found this post. Thanks for reading February 25, 2020 at 7:35 am I have just written my first book and have no idea how to promote it – I got this email and was so tempted. It seemed to solve every question. Thank you for stopping me. Still a little sad that I am no wiser how to proceed…. LikeLiked by 2 people Lee Hall says: February 25, 2020 at 10:14 am Thanks for reading, indeed promotion is a daunting concept. I’ve tried a bunch of different things over the years, if you’re looking for some ideas then check out my resources section February 25, 2020 at 2:48 pm Absolutely, having found your site I intend to read it thoroughly. Thank you for your great information. LikeLiked by 1 person February 26, 2020 at 3:04 am If you are on Twitter, I have a list of book promoters and a list of book reviewers. You will find these under the Lists button on my Twitter homepage. Promoting is the hardest thing for most authors, because there is always more to try. There is no magic button. Good luck. LikeLiked by 1 person Alexis S Silver says: June 16, 2020 at 9:18 pm Back in 2017 i was scammed. I decided to check my old emails and saw. I noticed that it was suspicious years later. Talk about depressing. Well, at least i know now. June 16, 2020 at 11:52 pm Just received an email. Same thing as shown above. Let me tell you, I am working day and night to get my book out there, and I am not paying her to review. No. I think it is so dishonest not to say upfront that you charge, but I suspected as much. Then I went to her website, and she does not even list the price. I knew it would be high when she so “cleverly” said, “…my fee for this review is in the figure $$”. Um, no thanks. If ever I would pay, I’d put money toward someone a bit more smooth with their own writing. LikeLiked by 2 people Lee Hall says: June 17, 2020 at 7:20 am Exactly, glad to hear a fellow writer take a credible stance on this! July 31, 2020 at 12:37 pm […] on Google for ‘Red Headed Book Lover’ are links to the website. The next two are posts by author Lee Hall and Victoria Strauss, warning authors not to be sucked in by her scam. Rather than just repeating […] LikeLiked by 1 person August 20, 2020 at 2:58 pm I have used this service and find no problem with paying for a professional review. I am satisfied with the service provided. There are many other reviewing services out there and reviews are posted…good or bad. Let’s grow up. It’s a business and I have profited from having my books reviewed by paid services. I have found Aimee to be responsive and up front about any charges. She communicates easily and keeps you well informed as to the status of your upcoming review. After being in sales for 40 years the first contact, regarding her wishes to work with me, did not frighten me. On the contrary, I was impressed by her marketing techniques. It’s good to be careful but let’s not think that villains lurk behind every open book. LikeLiked by 1 person Lee Hall says: August 20, 2020 at 3:11 pm Unfortunately you are naive to think pretty much all of what you have stated. It’s clear to see near enough every review posted by this ‘service’ is false and it’s not a matter of growing up, the world of authors being vulnerable to scammers like this is something I take seriously to not only defend my own integrity but that of others. Admitting to paying for reviews makes it pretty obvious that your interests are no more than monetary – each to their own I suppose but that’s hardly anything to be proud of sharing. It’s also information that amazon will use to ban you from their publishing platform if they were to find out so be careful with that. This post serves to support fellow authors and not an opportunity for any level of debate, any further comments regarding your stance on this will be deleted. Thanks for reading. LikeLiked by 1 person December 5, 2020 at 5:39 pm Hi Lee! Well. Of all people, I should not have been fooled by Aimee, but I was. It’s not that strange to pay for reviews if you published independently. I got a starred review from Kirkus and that cost me hundreds of dollars. The Midwest book review also charges. As does Blue Ink, Foreward and Clarion (the latter two being connected.) So I don’t think it’s so much a question of whether or not to pay for a review but the quality and impact of that review. Aimee did a terrible job. Her review of my book was a good one but it was written really terribly – 8th-grade level at best. I wouldn’t characterize paid reviews as a scam per se, but buyer beware; it really was a waste of money to hire Aimee, it did me no good whatsoever, I can’t share her review it was so poorly written. I really wish I had seen this before I fell for it! LikeLiked by 2 people Lee Hall says: December 5, 2020 at 7:04 pm Sorry to hear you had such an experience and I agree with you, not all paid reviews are a scam they can be quite lucrative for both parties. Thanks for reading December 5, 2020 at 8:27 pm My Kirkus starred review has not been “lucrative” thus far but I am proud of it and I think and hope that it lends my book more credibility. The world of publishing independently is a tough row to hoe; it’s nigh well impossible to get a review in a major news outlet so that leaves paid reviews in trade publications, that are expensive and chancy. I got lucky. LikeLiked by 1 person langstrail says: January 16, 2021 at 11:45 pm I got the email today. I have done no marketing whatsoever other than the positive IndieReview I received. “Aimee Ann” must have found my IndieReview, googled my book, found my website and then my email. It may not be a scam but it’s far from a reputable review service. The dead giveaway for me was when I read that I would receive a full refund if “Aimee” couldn’t grant me a 4 or 5 star review. The military bullshit made me laugh. And yes, the fact that sweet old military wife Aimee Ann could manage a quick 3-4 week turnaround to review your book (and a thousand others) while having 4 kids suckling at her teat was too far-fetched to digest. LikeLiked by 1 person Lee Hall says: January 17, 2021 at 7:33 am Yep its all a little hard to believe, thanks for reading Commander James Bondage says: February 7, 2021 at 5:37 pm I too was contacted by Aimee, the “Red Headed” Book Lover, just this week. I actually am an author, and I have even managed to get some reviews from my readers. When I read one of her “reviews,” I could see that she was only barely literate. Here are some highlights from her review of The True Adventures of Gideon Lev by Julie Gray: “I already have to recommend that you lovely readers have a read of The True Adventures of Gidon Lev…” This makes me want to “have a read of it” right now. “The reader in this book will learn about his journey…” Evidently there’s a reader right in the book! “Lev’s journey is hard-hitting at points, and although the events throughout this book are, the primary feeling associated with this book is inspiration, as Lev’s courage and determination throughout his life is truly beautiful.” I was impressed by the reviewer’s description of the events in the book as “are,” and I wanted to know more about a journey that was hard-hitting at points (for example: what this phrase might mean.) I have no doubt that Lev’s courage and determination is beautiful. “I found myself reading The True Adventures of Gidon Lev quickly from beginning to end, and this is the sign of a well accomplished and brilliant author.” This is an unmistakable sign of a well-accomplished author. Here is the lovely finale, in which she thanks her “lovely readers” multiple times, reminds them in her own inimitable style “to have a read of” the preview and suggests that said lovely readers follow the links she has provided three times each, including repeating an entire paragraph, word-for-word: “To conclude my thoughts on this wonderful book, I would say it is an inspirational and honest tale. It will take you through a host of different emotions and leave a lasting impression and so, this book gets five stars from me! So be sure to have a read of the preview below book lovers, you won’t regret it! Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I appreciate it so much. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is follow the links below! Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I appreciate it so much. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is follow the links below! P.S. Below I have attached some links about the author and this wonderful book so if you would like to learn more about the author and the book then please have a browse. Thank you so much again for reading book lovers!” If it wasn’t for the poor, befuddled victims who paid real money for this word salad, and wrote testimonials about how wonderful Aimee is, the site would simply be laughable. Of course, since it is a scam from beginning to end (and a shoddy one, at that,) it may well be that the “testimonials” are written by Aimee herself. I am doubtful about this, however, since the testimonials, although they fall somewhat short of Shakespeare, are much better written than the alleged reviews. LikeLiked by 3 people Lee Hall says: February 7, 2021 at 8:42 pm Thank you for the extensive analysis lmswritestoday says: May 27, 2021 at 2:16 pm Thank you so much for your post. I, too, received the dreaded email yesterday. I even responded for more information and then something just felt off. I searched Amazon and Goodreads for her reviews on three specific books that she had testimonials for and guess what? I found nada! So began the actual research that has wasted my morning. I should have simply deleted the email like I do with any other unsolicited advertisement. If/when I hear back from her, I will ignore the reply and then ‘report spam’ and block her address. Thanks again for posting this and serving as a reminder to us all. Paid reviews are unethical. We have to do this the slow and steady way, above board and honest. LikeLiked by 2 people May 27, 2021 at 2:17 pm Thanks for stopping by, glad to hear you have steered clear! LikeLiked by 1 person September 21, 2021 at 2:48 pm Man, I can’t believe how far back this goes. You posted this in April, 2018! I do suppose “her” scam nets a pretty good income. Of course, I landed here with a quick Google search after receiving the “glowing” proposition email. Will avoid, thank you very much. LikeLiked by 1 person Lee Hall says: September 21, 2021 at 4:19 pm Thank you Krista, glad to see you found this post. I think I recall being approached by her back in 2017. I guess scammers keep going if they are successful… LikeLiked by 1 person December 30, 2021 at 7:27 pm I just received her email this morning. Which brought me directly to Google to investigate. And here I am on your blog. I do believe you’re right. This Amie is good, isn’t she? But Google is a beautiful thing. I get an email like this the first thing I’m doing is looking that person up. LikeLiked by 1 person Lee Hall says: December 30, 2021 at 7:34 pm Glad to hear you found this post Donnette. I’m surprised she is still operating… March 1, 2022 at 7:26 pm I received this same email over the weekend (my book was in Publisher’s Weekly Indie Spotlight) and replied to “Aimee” out of curiosity, just to see if there was actually someone on the other end. They replied with ROI stats and webpage views that could probably be lifted from anywhere. Glad I found your blog! LikeLiked by 1 person July 16, 2022 at 4:48 am I just received the same email. I was googling to see what I could learn about her, and I’m glad I came upon your blog. I am getting requests like these constantly – all of them offer to review but then quote a price. It’s disheartening trying to wade through the scams. Thanks for posting this. ALLi is often a good source for checking on legitimate competitions and services.	23,456
This statement details our school’s use of pupil premium (and recovery premium for the 2021 to 2022 academic year) funding to help improve the attainment of our disadvantaged pupils. It outlines our pupil premium strategy, how we intend to spend the funding in this academic year and the effect that last year’s spending of pupil premium had within our school. School overview School name Selsdon Primary School & Nursery Number of pupils in school 29% Academic year/years that our current pupil premium strategy plan covers (3 year plans are recommended) Date this statement was published December 2021 Date on which it will be reviewed July 2022 Statement authorised by Pupil premium lead Deputy Headteacher Governor / Trustee lead Graham Cluer, Chair of Governing Board Pupil premium funding allocation this academic year £215,200 Recovery premium funding allocation this academic year £11,673 Pupil premium funding carried forward from previous years (enter £0 if not applicable) £0 Total budget for this academic year If your school is an academy in a trust that pools this funding, state the amount available to your school this academic year £226,873 Our intention is that all pupils, irrespective of their background or the challenges they face, make good progress and achieve high attainment across all subject areas. The focus of our pupil premium strategy is to support disadvantaged pupils to achieve that goal, including progress for those who are already high attainers. We will consider the challenges faced by vulnerable pupils, such as those who have a social worker and young carers. The activity we have outlined in this statement is also intended to support their needs, regardless of whether they are disadvantaged or not. High-quality teaching is at the heart of our approach, with a focus on areas in which disadvantaged pupils require the most support. This is proven to have the greatest impact on closing the disadvantage attainment gap and at the same time will benefit the non-disadvantaged pupils in our school. Implicit in the intended outcomes detailed below, is the intention that non-disadvantaged pupils’ attainment will be sustained and improved alongside progress for their disadvantaged peers. Our strategy is also integral to wider school plans for education recovery, notably in its targeted support through the National Tutoring Programme for pupils whose education has been worst affected, including non-disadvantaged pupils. Our approach will be responsive to common challenges and individual needs, rooted in robust diagnostic assessment, not assumptions about the impact of disadvantage. The approaches we have adopted complement each other to help pupils excel. To ensure they are effective we will: ensure disadvantaged pupils are challenged in the work that they’re set act early to intervene at the point need is identified adopt a whole school approach in which all staff take responsibility for disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes and raise expectations of what they can achieve This details the key challenges to achievement that we have identified among our disadvantaged pupils. Detail of challenge Assessments, observations, and discussions with pupils suggest disadvantaged pupils generally have greater difficulties with phonics than their peers. This negatively impacts their development as readers. Internal and external (2019) assessments indicate that attainment among disadvantaged pupils, in maths and reading is significantly below that of non-disadvantaged pupils. In 2019, 61% of our disadvantaged pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (age-related expectations) compared to 78% of all pupils. Internal assessments indicate that attainment among disadvantaged pupils, in the broader curriculum is significantly below that of non-disadvantaged pupils. This relates to issues with phonics and reading, which negatively impacts their ability to access a broader range of subjects. Our assessments and observations indicate that physical literacy for many of our disadvantaged pupils have been impacted by school closures to a greater extent than for other pupils. These findings are supported by national studies. This has resulted in significant gaps leading to pupils falling further behind age-related expectations in physical development. Additionally, the overall health of pupils, in terms of obesity and physical activity, has decreased. This is especially pertinent for disadvantaged pupils. These issues relate to situations around housing and lack of resources for some disadvantaged pupils. Our assessments and observations indicate that the education and wellbeing of many of our disadvantaged pupils have been impacted by partial school closures to a greater extent than for other pupils. These findings are supported by national studies. This has resulted in significant knowledge gaps leading to pupils falling further behind age-related expectations, in all subjects, but particularly in phonics and social and emotional development. Our assessments, observations and discussions with pupils and families have identified social and emotional issues for many pupils, notably due to school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These challenges particularly affect disadvantaged pupils, including their attainment. Teacher referrals for support have increased during the pandemic. 13 pupils (6 of whom are disadvantaged) currently require additional support with social and emotional needs. Our attendance data over the last year indicates that attendance among disadvantaged pupils has been 1% lower than for non-disadvantaged pupils. Attendance for disadvantaged pupils is below national expectations. 11% of pupils have been ‘persistently absent’ compared to 8.7% of their peers nationally during that period. The majority of these persistent absentees are disadvantaged pupils. Our assessments and observations indicate that absenteeism is negatively impacting disadvantaged pupils’ progress. Intended outcomes This explains the outcomes we are aiming for by the end of our current strategy plan, and how we will measure whether they have been achieved. Improved reading attainment among disadvantaged pupils. KS1 and KS2 reading outcomes in 2024/25 show that more than 78% of disadvantaged pupils met the expected standard. Outcomes in the Year 1 phonics screening check in 2024/25 show that disadvantaged pupils achieve in line with their peers. Improved maths attainment for disadvantaged pupils at the end of KS2. KS2 maths outcomes in 2024/25 show that Improved attainment in the broader curriculum among disadvantaged pupils. Internal assessments and observations indicate significantly improved outcomes for subjects in the broad curriculum, particularly among disadvantaged pupils. This is evident when triangulated with other sources of evidence, including engagement in lessons, book scrutiny, and ongoing formative assessment. Assessments should indicate that pupils are able to apply knowledge across a broad range of subjects and utilise their reading skills to help learning across a range of subjects. Improved physical literacy among disadvantaged pupils. Internal assessments and observations indicate significantly improved outcomes in physical literacy, particularly among disadvantaged pupils. Sustained high levels of physical literacy from 2024/25 demonstrated by: · assessments and observations in physical education · a significant increase in participation in extra-curricular sporting activities among disadvantaged pupils To achieve and sustain improved wellbeing for all pupils in our school, particularly our disadvantaged pupils. Sustained high levels of wellbeing from 2024/25 demonstrated by: qualitative data from student voice, student and parent surveys and teacher observations a significant increase in participation in enrichment activities, particularly among disadvantaged pupils a good understanding among all students of what constitutes bullying and discriminatory behaviour evidence, from assessments and observations, of benefits of nurture interventions and social and emotional support To achieve and sustain improved attendance for all pupils, particularly our disadvantaged pupils. Sustained high attendance from 2024/25 demonstrated by: the overall absence rate for all pupils being no more than 4.2%, and the attendance gap between disadvantaged pupils and their non-disadvantaged peers being reduced by 0.5%. the percentage of all pupils who are persistently absent being below 8.7% and the figure among disadvantaged pupils being no more than 2% lower than their peers. Activity in this academic year This details how we intend to spend our pupil premium (and recovery premium funding) this academic year to address the challenges listed above. Teaching (for example, CPD, recruitment and retention) Budgeted cost: £102,654 Evidence that supports this approach Purchase of a DfE validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics programme to secure stronger phonics teaching for all pupils. Phonics approaches have a strong evidence base that indicates a positive impact on the accuracy of word reading (though not necessarily comprehension), particularly for disadvantaged pupils: Enhancement of our maths teaching and curriculum planning in line with DfE and EEF guidance. We will fund teacher release time to embed key elements of guidance in school and to access Maths Hub resources and CPD (including Teaching for Mastery training). The DfE non-statutory guidance has been produced in conjunction with the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, drawing on evidence-based approaches: The EEF guidance is based on a range of the best available evidence: Improving Mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3 Improve the quality of social and emotional (SEL) learning. SEL approaches will be embedded into routine educational practices and supported by professional development and training for staff. There is extensive evidence associating childhood social and emotional skills with improved outcomes at school and in later life (e.g., improved academic performance, attitudes, behaviour and relationships with peers): Improve the quality of overall teaching to ensure that all pupils can access the whole curriculum. We will fund additional training across the curriculum for teachers and support staff. High quality teaching benefits all children, low threshold-high ceiling activities mean that all children can be included in every lesson. Targeted academic support (for example, tutoring, one-to-one support structured interventions) Budgeted cost: £43,276 Evidence that supports this approach EYFS interventions. Additional trained Teaching Assistants in Nursery and Reception. Additional resources for Reception and Nursery classes and outdoor learning environments. Evidence shows that giving priority to EYFS intervention, putting expenditure early in the developmental life cycle (below 5), proved to be very effective. Maths and Literacy Booster Clubs. Pupils in Year 6 who are identified as falling behind the age-related expectations are provided with additional sessions in core subjects with a teacher or HLTA before and after school. Tuition targeted at specific needs and knowledge gaps can be an effective method to support low attaining pupils or those falling behind, both one-to-one: One to one tuition \| EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) Additional phonics sessions targeted at disadvantaged pupils who require further phonics support. This will be delivered in collaboration with our local English hub. Phonics approaches have a strong evidence base indicating a positive impact on pupils, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds. Targeted phonics interventions have been shown to be more effective when delivered as regular sessions over a period up to 12 weeks: Engaging with the National Tutoring Pro-gramme to provide a blend of tuition, mentoring and school-led tutoring for pupils whose education has been most impacted by the pandemic. A significant proportion of the pupils who receive tutoring will be disadvantaged, including those who are high attainers. Tuition targeted at specific needs and knowledge gaps can be an effective method to support low attaining pupils or those falling behind, both one-to-one: One to one tuition \| EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) And in small groups: Budgeted cost: £80,943 Evidence that supports this approach Whole staff training on behaviour management and anti-bullying approaches with the aim of developing our school ethos and improving behaviour across school. Both targeted interventions and universal approaches can have positive overall effects: Behaviour interventions \| EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) Additional Teaching Assistants for those identified with behaviour needs who are not funded by, or applying for, EHCPs. Both targeted interventions and universal approaches can have positive overall effects: Behaviour interventions \| EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) Embedding principles of good practice set out in the DfE’s Improving School Attendance advice. This will involve training and release time for staff to develop and implement new procedures and appointing attendance/support officers to improve attendance. The DfE guidance has been informed by engagement with schools that have significantly reduced levels of absence and persistent absence. Speech and Language Therapist support for oral language interventions. Speech and Language interventions are effective at supporting oral language skills and social and emoti9onal development. Nurture provision. Small, structured teaching groups for children showing signs of behavioural, social or emotional difficulties, particularly those who are experiencing disruption or distress outside school. Nurture groups assess learning and social and emotional needs and give help that is needed to remove the barriers to learning. Evidenced at Nurture Provision in Primary Schools. Contingency fund for acute issues. Based on our experiences and those of similar schools to ours, we have identified a need to set a small amount of funding aside to respond quickly to needs that have not yet been identified. Total budgeted cost: £226,873 Part B: Review of outcomes in the previous academic year This details the impact that our pupil premium activity had on pupils in the 2020 to 2021 academic year. Our internal assessments during 2020/21 suggested that the performance of disadvantaged pupils was lower than in previous years in key areas of the curriculum. Our assessment of the reasons for these outcomes points primarily to Covid-19 impact, which disrupted all our subject areas to varying degrees. As evidenced in schools across the country, school closure was most detrimental to our disadvantaged pupils, and they were not able to benefit from our pupil premium funded improvements to teaching and targeted interventions to the degree we had intended. The impact was mitigated by our resolution to maintain a high quality curriculum, including during periods of partial closure, which was aided by use of online teaching, through Zoom and SeeSaw, as well as the school blogs. Overall attendance in 2020/21 was higher than the national average. However, there is a significant gap in attendance between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. For this reason, we continue to make it a focus for the next three years. Our assessments and observations indicated that pupil behaviour, wellbeing and mental health were significantly impacted last year, primarily due to COVID-19-related issues. The impact was particularly acute for disadvantaged pupils. We used pupil premium funding to provide wellbeing support for all pupils, and targeted interventions where required. We are building on that approach with the activities detailed in this plan. Additional activity Our pupil premium strategy will be supplemented by additional activity that is not being funded by pupil premium or recovery premium. That will include: embedding more effective practice around feedback. EEF evidence demonstrates this has significant benefits for pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils. offering a wide range of high-quality extracurricular activities to boost wellbeing, behaviour, attendance, and aspiration. Activities will focus on building life skills such as confidence, resilience, and socialising. Disadvantaged pupils will be encouraged and supported to participate. In planning our new pupil premium strategy, we evaluated why activity undertaken in previous years had not had the degree of impact that we had expected. We also commissioned a pupil premium review to get an external perspective. We triangulated evidence from multiple sources of data including assessments, engagement in class book scrutiny, conversations with parents, students and teachers in order to identify the challenges faced by disadvantaged pupils. We looked at a number of reports, studies and research papers about effective use of pupil premium, the impact of disadvantage on education outcomes and how to address challenges to learning presented by socio-economic disadvantage. We also looked at studies about the impact of the pandemic on disadvantaged pupils. We used the EEF’s implementation guidance to help us develop our strategy, particularly the ‘explore’ phase to help us diagnose specific pupil needs and work out which activities and approaches are likely to work in our school. We will continue to use it through the implementation of activities. We have put a robust evaluation framework in place for the duration of our three-year approach and will adjust our plan over time to secure better outcomes for pupils.	18,808
This program is intended to help Sharif University alumni currently pursuing their post graduate studies in universities in North America and Europe. The program will provide student grants for travel expenses and for scientific research. Sharif University of Technology Association (SUTA) is associated with some of the world’s top universities by its members who continue their graduate studies abroad following graduation from Sharif Universities. These talented students are attracted by some of the best universities, around the world, and particularly in North America and Europe, due to the quality of their studies at Sharif university. Such flow of talented students play an important role in spreading knowledge, ideas and skills not only within Sharif University but in society in general. SUTA aspires to help these students by offering the Student Grant Program; a well-funded, long-term scholarship providing partial support to facilitate students’ education and research. Who Qualifies for the Student Grant Applicants must be a SUTA member, and currently enrolled in graduate studies and research (Masters, PhD) in an accredited university around the world, particularly in North America and Europe. How to Apply for Student Grant Applicants must fill out the online Application Form (https://bit.ly/2PjAhCU ) and submit supporting documents, including a CV, A Personal Statement, and an approximate budget based on their expenses. If the upload feature of the form did not work, please submit your supporting documents grants@suta.org. Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee receiving a grant. Level of financial assistance may vary based on students’ qualifications and their need. The grant is awarded up to $1500 to the recipients. Deadline for submission of application for the 2022 student grants is June 15th, 2022. How SUTA Members & Associates can Support this Program SUTA, like most other non-profit organizations, has sustained and improved its activities only through the generous donations of its members and its benefactors. Since its inception in 2000, SUTA has been supported by many individuals who believe in SUTA and in its mission and ideals. Hereby, we would like to invite our members to consider supporting the Student Grant Program (please see the file in Appendix 2). Thank you for your continued support.	2,504
Our online summer issue is focused around the theme Elements with the keywords Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Enrapture, Raw and Spark. Issues Events Volunteer I have a list of demands written on the palm of my hand. –Saul Williams. I also have a list of demands. However, my demands are more to myself than to anyone else. I demand of myself that I stop succumbing to the endless selling of a narrowly defined ‘good life’ and the things that are supposed to get me there. I demand of myself that I realize I have enough money and I have enough stuff. This all began two weeks ago, as my friend Josh Cresswell and I wound down from a day of classes with a few hours of good old-fashioned reality TV. The Apprentice was among the shows we subjected ourselves to. At one point, Josh spat out one of the greatest questions I have ever heard about reality TV. He said, “ Why is it assumed that I like Donald Trump? Why would I like him or want to be like him? He’s just a ruthless business hard-ass.” It seemed that Josh had managed to debunk the premise of the show within a few minutes. Strangely, it would seem that not only is it assumed that we are down with The Donald, but it is expected of us. What’s not to like and want to emulate? The guy has everything, right? Oodles of money, a multi-billion dollar business, legions of brown nosing executives. The guy is a multi billionaire and he still goes to work every day, trying to stay on top of his game and make more, never risking the relinquishing of his status. If the guy really has everything, why keep going? Herein lies my query: when do we stop wanting more? It is no surprise that living in the capitalist free world we are indoctrinated to go after the endless pursuit of more, all the while being promised that there is some fulfillment to be found once we reach completeness from our possessions, but never really feeling full. Aha! Therein lies the real deal; if we stop wanting more, the system fails. Taking a page from Fight Club, we can consider some of the wisdom bestowed upon us by Tyler Durden: “…They have us working jobs we hate, to buy shit we don’t need.” Now I am not suggesting that we all try to blow up credit card headquarters, but just ask yourself whether you have ever acquired a material item that has brought you lasting happiness or utter fulfillment. I certainly have not, but I am supposed to believe that this lack of fulfillment comes not from the fact that possessions will never complete me, but that I have not acquired enough stuff, or the right stuff. We have so many options of things to buy and desire that somehow these endless options have been equated with freedom. If there is freedom in endless wanting and spending, why have we become so dominated by that which is supposed to free us? I believe our freedom lies not in our ability to choose what we buy, but in the ability to choose whether or not to buy into this endless cycle. Just as the premise within women’s magazines like Cosmopolitan is to hammer into the reader that they are not good enough as they are, that they need certain products to be sufficient human beings, so goes the rules of consumerism in our whole society. Who really has attained happiness from buying stuff and getting more money if even Donald Trump feels the need for a bigger piece of the pie? Perhaps our real freedom of choice is to say that we do have enough, that having more stuff and more money won’t make us feel better about ourselves or fill a void in any lasting way. Beg to differ? If you have a place to live, some food to eat and some clothes to wear, you are doing better than a hell of a lot of people in the world, even in our own society. A huge proportion of the planet lives on the equivalent of 1-5 US dollars per day, and as you can guess, that doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for frivolous spending. You and I, on the other hand, have been meticulously primed for spending and conditioned to continuously think that we need to make more money. Maybe now is a good time to downsize what we own and reassess what we feel we really want and need out of our lives. Perhaps we are actually doing alright, possessing sufficient stuff and earning enough money to survive, if not to live in excess. If you can attain satisfaction from where you are right now, earning what you already earn and owning what you already own, you have won against a system designed to keep you insecure and ever searching for that item or salary that will magically transform you into a better person. In the immortal words of Zach de la Rocha, do not keep on “..believing all the lies that they’re telling ya, buying all the products that they’re selling ya.” Demand of yourself the ability to realize that there’s nothing missing from your life that can be rectified with any amount of money, power or stuff. You are already a far better human being than any possession could transform you into.	5,043
The world’s leading trade and exhibition for metalworking EMO 2019 was held in Hannover, Germany from 16 to 21 September. 20 Sep 2019 Written by Elena Soleeva In OPEN CASCADE brings its expertise to robotic inspection of ships within ROBINS project ROBINS (ROBotics technology for INspection of Ships) is a collaborative project which was initiated in January 2018 by RINA S.p.A. within Horizon 2020 EU Research and Innovation programme of the European Commission.	475
I needed a refrigerator so I was checking out what they had and the prices. I purchased a used washer and dryer from there about 5 years ago and they're still working just fine. I needed measurements for one I was interested in and he did it. this is just one of the many things they have in stock. Washer and dryers, stoves etc. It's a good neighborhood store. New and used appliances Read more Highly recommended. They won't steer you wrong. Read more Only place I could find a discontinued part. Thank you so much for you help. Read more Great experience. Very helpfull Read more 2020-09-05 Probably the most knowledgeable appliance guy you will ever meet. Read more 2020-09-05 Great place great deals. Eugene does a great job and is very straightforward. Please try him out. Very respectful dude. Read more MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH EUGENE - he is unlike any other appliance salesman I have ever met. I live in NY and purchased the Maytag Commercial Washing Machine for my home last month. I was unclear on one of its important features, even after reading the owner's manual multiple times, something I've always excelled at and easily understand. I spoke to 4 different salesmen, 2 repairmen, 3 technical supervisors at Maytag's corporate headquarters and 1 repair service supervisor who all gave me different answers regarding the cycles. Not one of them knew the correct answer. After weeks of frustration, aggravation, anxiety and dead-ends with inadequate responses, I reverted to Google to search for answers. Up popped Lorain Furniture with Eugene's perfect and very detailed explanation about my machine. I had one question and called - who knew he would actually answer the phone himself! He explained so quickly and precisely exactly what I needed to know. He was the only person I had spoken to who had real knowledge of my washing machine. He had actually hooked it up in his store and used it multiple times, unlike any of the other so called 'professionals' had done. EUGENE IS THE TRUEST PROFESSIONAL. He is my 'washing machine whisperer' and is now the only person I'd go to for appliance advice. I wish he would open a store in NY - I would recommend him to everyone. Thank you Eugene. You alleviated my angst in a matter of minutes and now I do my laundry with an eased mind, worry free...all because of you. Five Stars isn't enough - you deserve at least 10! Read more Eugene was extremely knowledgeable and friendly Read more If you are looking for great prices, wonderful customer service and someone who cares about you as a consumer then this is the place. Eugene is awesome. He is very knowledgeable, attentive and passionate about your needs. I will DEFINITELY recommend this place and I will DEFINITELY be back. Eugene has a customer for life Read more Thousands of professional service technicians and DIY'ers count on Cleveland's very own Lorain Furniture & Appliance's expertise in maintenance, repairs and refurbishing of leading brand appliances.	3,204
A celebration of life will be held Friday, September 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Westlake Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. A private burial will take place in the Texas State Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a charity of your choice. One of the most highly esteemed judges in Texas history, Judge Jack Onion ’50 has died at the age of 93. The following obituary will appear in the Austin American Statesman and the San Antonio Express. It is reprinted below with permission. Judge John F. “Jack” Onion, Jr. of Austin passed away peacefully at 93 years of age on September 2, 2018 surrounded by his family. Jack is preceded in death by his parents Harriet and John F. Onion of San Antonio and his twin brother, James “Jim” Onion. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy Vogelsang, his children: John F. Onion, III of San Antonio and his wife Christi, David Onion of Austin and his wife, Susan and his daughter, Carol Onion Tinney of Austin and her husband Jay. Six grandchildren include: Kate Onion, Frances Onion, John Onion, Scott Onion, Paige Tinney and Case Tinney. Jack was born in San Antonio in 1925 and knew that he was going to be a lawyer, even as a child. His grandfather, John Frank Onion, was a state representative and general counsel for a Southland Life Insurance Company. His father, John F. “Pete” Onion was a justice of the peace and prominent district judge in San Antonio, and his twin brother, James Onion, would later serve with distinction as a district judge. Jack grew up in Leon Valley and after graduation from Thomas Jefferson High School, served with his twin brother, James, in the United States Marines, taking part in the invasion of Okinawa and the occupation of Japan for 10 months after World War II ended. Returning home to studies at Trinity University and the University of Texas, Jack graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1950 and was president of his senior class. While at the University of Texas Law School, he wrote a paper on the unauthorized practice of law, a paper that the State Bar of Texas published and sent out to every attorney in the state. Upon graduation, he joined the Bexar County District Attorney’s office and was soon appointed chief of the civil division, a position he held for four years. In 1954, Jack made his entry into politics as he was elected justice of the peace at the age of 29. As a justice of the peace, he brought to Texas its very first medical examiner’s office. Two years later, he was elected Judge of the Bexar County Criminal District Court Number 2 (later the 175th District Court) becoming at age 31 the youngest elected district judge in Texas then serving and was re-elected in 1960 and 1964 without opposition. As a district judge, he wrote numerous legal articles and conducted seminars across the state to upgrade the work of the trial judges, earning state wide recognition for his legal scholarship. In 1958, Jack married the beautiful Nancy Lee Vogelsang, who became his devoted partner in both political life and family life. In 1966, Jack defeated a sitting judge and was elected to the Court of Criminal Appeals. In 1970, following a constitutional amendment that made the office of presiding judge on the high court a position elected by the voters of Texas, Jack became Texas’ first elected presiding judge. In his twenty-two years at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he transformed the court from an antiquated system to a modern, efficient court. He personally authored over 5,000 opinions, shaping much of today’s Texas criminal jurisprudence. After retiring from the Court of Criminal Appeals at the age of 63, he spent another 22 years as a visiting judge, writing opinions on the courts of appeals across Texas and serving as the trial judge in some of Texas’ most controversial cases. At the age of 85, as macular degeneration slowed his ability to read case law, Jack ended his judicial career. Following Jack’s retirement from the Court of Criminal Appeals in 1989, Jack had time to travel with Nancy on many trips to Europe. There as Jack would wryly say, he could bore his traveling companions with his extensive knowledge of European history. One of his favorite memories was teaching a St. Mary’s Law School course in professional responsibilities and ethics in the summer of 1989 at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. His last class ended at 9:30 on Thursday mornings each week and Jack and Nancy would then hurry to the train station, touring in Verona, Milano, Lake Como, Interlochen, and across Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, returning to Innsbruck late on Sunday night. Jack noted that the students also gave him the highest rating of all the professors at the university. Even at the age of 93, Jack possessed a photographic memory that could accurately recall names, dates, conversations, cases and trials from decades earlier. In his over half a century as a judge, he stored away tales of Texas’ most egregious criminal cases and its foremost prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys, along with colorful governors, judges and politicians. He loved the law and he worked tirelessly to serve justice and to improve the criminal justice system. Jack Onion has always had a strong work ethic that pushed him in papers and opinions to not just give an answer but to give the “right” answer. His favorite mantra was, “I’ve always understood that I was here to do something important, not that I was important and had something to do.” He often spoke with gratitude about “the good angels” who were with him throughout the many events of his long and fruitful life. His family gives thanks for the life of John Frank “Jack” Onion as we return him to the care of those good angels. The family would like to thank the Reverend Chris Harrison for his support and friendship, Dr. H. Kent Beasley and Dr. Kenneth Kroll for their exceptional medical care and the staff of Querencia at Barton Creek. 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Cui Zhong went back with him but he would leave for Huajin tomorrow. After all, there were many things still waiting for him to deal with. Even if Jian Peng was likely to become the second Guan Yili, it wasn’t as important as the works he had in his hands. Not to mention one of the projects he had to work on was ‘Meteor Girls Restaurant’, which was Shanhai Streaming’s top priority. After the tough affair, Meteor Girls’ reputation became unprecedentedly good and numerous fans felt guilty for misunderstanding them previously so they showered them with support. Some people, who were originally bystanders that came just for the drama, also started to like them. After all, they were nine beauties with their own charm that appeared in front of them so not many people could resist their charm. As for the girls, they were more united than ever. Those smug feelings that started to emerge from their success completely disappeared without a trace and was replaced by a humble unity to continue to work hard. This was the best thing for a band. Except for the orchestra, why didn’t those young bands from China succeed? Wasn’t it because as soon as they had some achievements, they started to have their own plans which strained the band cohesion before they all flew in their own direction? In other words, it was the bosses’ choices and planning that were problematic as they were in danger of disbanding as soon as they debuted before even reaching the peak. Those great bands were mostly from abroad. They usually worked for a long time and released multiple albums. It was by working together for a long time that they became one of the greats and attracted money for decades. The most famous was obviously Uncle Kimura’s band in Japan. Who knew how many hundreds of million dollars they made for their talent agency? Those girl bands in Korea were also good but age was a huge disadvantage to them. there was only one or two that lasted for 10 years as they usually only lasted for three or five. Now both Chen Huan and the princess wanted to create a band that flourished for more than 5 years. Calculating according to the girls current age, the oldest would be only 23 years old after 5 years so it wasn’t a problem at all. So after their big victory, Shanhai Streaming paid more attention to their future development and Cui Zhong was more concerned about that. A singer like Jian Peng, he only recruited him due to Chen Huan. Jian Peng wasn’t worth his attention before he showed sufficient worth. Of course, although Cui Zhong went back, a small team specially set up for Jian Peng remained in Lin’an and followed the instruction of Teacher Lu. Because only Chen Huan knew how to sing this ‘He Must Really Love You’ the best way and the best combination of voice and melody. In the next few days, Chen Huan would have him practice on it and then would correct his singing in the evening such as his pronunciation, breathing or other details. Singing a song was just that complicated. In fact, if people heard a singer sing the song perfectly, it must have been perfected by a lot of works since it couldn’t be sung that well so easily. Every note and lyrics had gone through thousands of repeats to find the best effect. This was also a key point why people felt that those people covering the songs in talent shows were different from the original ones. … While Jian Peng was practicing the song there, there was Meng Zijing who got Chen Huan’s song in October and had already begun preparing for her second debut. After receiving Chen Huan’s final check and approval, Meng Zijing uploaded the song ‘Understanding’ to the three major music websites. She wanted to ask Teacher Lu to help her promote a bit by saying a few words. This song was just too important to her after all and it must imperatively become a key weapon for the latter half of her life. But she didn’t ask in the end. If she bothered Chen Huan again and had him help with everything, Meng Zijing would lose her remaining dignity. Meng Zijing was a singer from the opening era and didn’t have any experience in selling music online. She only heard of it and somewhat understood the step to take. The 35 years old woman who had two children now had long been out of the trend from the current era. She set ‘Understanding’ at 1 Yuan for the download, which was the common price. Then she let God decide of the rest. She was hopeful but still filled with worry. Especially when Meng Zijing saw the sales rankings and popularity rankings of the three major music websites as it was filled with names from popular artists, she was afraid that her lack of fame would shelve the super classic made by Teacher Lu until it dusted. However, she underestimated the modern technologies. The fact was that the name ‘Lu Xiaofeng’ was a key word in the three major music websites. The moment the name ‘Lu Xiaofeng’ appeared in the category of ‘Lyricist’ or ‘Composer’, the editor on duty would immediately see it and find more about the singer’s information. The first to find the song was a small editor at Crab Music. She thought she saw it wrong at first. Because this song was too low key with no promotion of it whatsoever and there was nothing on it. Normally, the people who got Teacher Lu’s song would first notify the websites in advances so they could have them recommend it. None of those websites would refuse to do so as it would also bring them a huge profit. What was not great about everyone helping each other? So that small editor didn’t believe it at first and thought she was fully awake yet. It wasn’t until she saw that the lyricist and composer was both Lu Xiaofeng that she quickly clicked on the song ‘Understanding’. The singer was Meng Zijing. She never heard of her. But no one dared to play a prank like that. Those who used Lu Xiaofeng’s name as a trick without actually having his work would be directly blocked as even their ID number would be banned without any way to register again. Those music websites couldn’t be compared to the pirate sites as they could just move away if they get struck but the music website couldn’t run away if there was a problem. So they paid a lot of attention to copyrights and severely penalized them. After pondering for a bit, she started to listen to it. “I thought I would cry, yet I didn’t, I just followed your footsteps in a trance, to give you my last blessing…” The little editor immediately got immersed into it. She still felt it wasn’t enough after listening to it twice. The more she listened to it, the more she appreciated it and just couldn’t stop. During the third time, an alarm rang next to her, which finally woke her from her stupor. This has the potential to blow up! And this Meng Zijing’s voice is so nice and so soothing! She sang it so greatly that it made people want to cry~~~ After thinking of that point, the little editor immediately contacted her superior via a chat app and sent a link to him. In less than 10 minute, there was an extra banner at the home page of Crab Music. Only a few minutes later, Kuku Music and Beidou Music had all recommended ‘Understanding’ on their homepage. Then all the users suddenly could see this eye-catching recommendation on their app. Previous Chapter Next Chapter Next Your donations will go towards site costs and management. Note: Individual translators usually have their own ko-fi buttons. © 2022 Fans Translations. All rights reserved. Log in Register Lost your password? Lost your password? 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Moglea is an Iowa-based design studio that focuses on the craft of artful stationery and paper goods. Production processes are done by hand and make each piece feel one-of-a-kind. You may also like Recently viewed Let’s be friends. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive periodic updates on new products, shenanigans, workshops, and more.	355
Pixel art is a collection of dots depicted in low resolution imagery, developed alongside the evolution of computers and games in the 1980s and originally confined within the function of these technologies. The pixel technique was first highlighted by a research center in Palo Alto through their 1973 invention, Xerox Alto, a computer with bitmap display. Later on, the 1982 arcade game Space Invaders produced by Taito, the 1983 Nintendo video game console Family Computer and various other games helped develop the image technology (sprite). These technologies were largely confined to the bandwidth and processing ability of computers. Today, in an era liberated from these functional limitations, the pixel art form continues to be loved across the globe. more Pixel art is a collection of dots depicted in low resolution imagery, developed alongside the evolution of computers and games in the 1980s and originally confined within the function of these technologies. The pixel technique was first highlighted by a research center in Palo Alto through their 1973 invention, Xerox Alto, a computer with bitmap display. Later on, the 1982 arcade game Space Invaders produced by Taito, the 1983 Nintendo video game console Family Computer and various other games helped develop the image technology (sprite). These technologies were largely confined to the bandwidth and processing ability of computers. Today, in an era liberated from these functional limitations, the pixel art form continues to be loved across the globe. The definition of pixel art is generally considered as artwork using the smallest element of an image, dots (pixels), in visible resolution, or image structured by humans intentionally placing color into squares – both of which are ambiguous in their meanings. This ambiguity helped pixel art transcend boundaries of the bitmap framework into popular culture, from games to illustration, animation, embroidery and accessories, through posts on social media platforms. It has even transformed into fine art such as paintings and installations, and today garners attention of the public especially with the rise in popularity of the NFT (Non-Fungible Token) market trading various pieces of work in pixel art form. Shibuya Pixel Art is an art festival that sheds light on the artistic value of pixels and aims to release its power as an art form. It consists of the Pixel Art Contest, which gathers over 600 creations of pixel art, and special exhibitions, art fairs and talk events using the entire city of Shibuya as its platform as an attempt to capture the magic and possibility of pixels. We are currently envisioning the launch of Shibuya Pixel Art Museum by 2025, where pixel art will be exhibited, researched and conserved. We hope the Museum will become a platform to organically connect artists, fans, collectors, galleries, companies and local areas, which will help stimulate and develop pixel art culture. This is why we base ourselves in Shibuya, otherwise known as the Bit Valley* – to connect and circulate the relationships between various stakeholders and fields. * “Bit Valley” refers to the neighborhood in Shibuya, Tokyo, where many internet and tech startups base their offices. The name was inspired by Silicon Valley and is a cross between Bitter (the chinese character for “Shibu”) and Valley (the chinese character for “Ya”). The Bit Valley concept was first created by startup CEOs in Shibuya in February 1999. departing by onion 2021 Grand Prix more Event&Artist Shibuya Pixel Art, which celebrated its 5th anniversary since its launch, is held under the theme of "Reboot". Under this theme, we challenged ourselves to bring courage from Shibuya by snuggling up to the weakened people in Corona. At the Pixel Art Contest, international judges from the United States, Germany, Sweden, and Japan participated and many works were submitted from Japan and abroad. Among the Contest, the first Canadian artist onion in the contest won the highest award. At the event in September, pixel art works were exhibited at the special exhibition "YUZUTOWN Special Exhibition" by famous artist Yuzu and at three adidas flagship stores in Shibuya. more Held under a state of emergency following the spread of the new coronavirus infection. At the 4th Shibuya Pixelart Contest, a total of 682 works were gathered, and the animation work of pixel artist mae, who debuted only a few months ago, won the grand prix. At the event in September, the award-winning works were exhibited virtually on Virtual Shibuya and offline at Shibuya Hikarie. Moreover, the special exhibition "Temperature of Pixel" by Yusuke Shigeta and Zennyan was installed and attracted over 1,000 guests. At the 3rd Shibuya Pixelart Contest, a total of 895 works were gathered, and 11 works were selected and exhibited on the street corner of Shibuya as "Shibuya Pixel Art Graffiti". At the event in September, a special exhibition with the theme of "Modern Youkai" will be held in conjunction with "Social Innovation Week" hosted by Shibuya Ward. The Shibuya Pixel Art 2018 is held along Cat Street in Harajuku. The event collaborates with Space Invaders for their 40th anniversary and gathers a record breaking audience of 4,780. A round-table discussion is planned last minute by a suggestion from pixel art artist Zennyan, resulting in a 4-hour passionate debate among participants.	5,497
It only took 15 years, buying a house, and lucking across some clay pipes at Gpa Kelly’s, but FINALLY we were able to grow a decent horseradish root ourselves. I am happy to share the things we’ve learned to make it easier for someone else. Chris/ January 3, 2022/ Garden notes, Kitchen notes My first real experiment in achieving the hardball stage for homemade candy was a great success! I just maybe shouldn’t have been trying to make candies using wormwood, because that flavor was … less successful.	539
Today’s Gospel story is one interesting parable from which we can draw two lessons. The first speaks about obedience not as a moral obligation but as a Christian moral virtue. Obedience as a moral obligation looks at commandments and errands as burdens and an opposition from external authority. Obedience ... Read More » Posted by John Sage on 9/16/17 It has been a year since the Catholic Church celebrated the Special Jubilee Year of Mercy. For some, it was just an event that came and went. But for many, it would have been a period of grace. The Year of Mercy was an invitation to experience God’s infinite ... Read More » Posted by John Sage on 9/09/17 There was once a manager in an office who had been drinking heavily. Everybody was talking, even snickering, behind his back. Because he was the boss, nobody would dare broach the problem to his attention. He was heading over the precipice. Until one day a guy mustered enough courage ... Read More » Posted by John Sage on 9/02/17 It is but normal to run away from pain and suffering, right? In Psychology, there are two disorders with regard to pain: sadism and masochism. Sadism is the tendency to derive pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering and harm on someone. Masochism is getting pleasure from pain that is self-imposed ... Read More »	1,392
Super Brain teenage workshop is an innovative mindfulness self-healing modality with a unique technique aimed at preparing, moulding, shaping and securing the New Age children. It aids in teaching them self esteem, to honour their sensitivity, intuition, discernment and help them identify their abundant talents, abilities and their brilliance. What is Super Brain Teenage Workshop? Teenage years are an excessively hormonal time for children. Due to this shift in the body, one can notice dramatic behavioural changes. At this stage of their brain development, they tend to think they know everything about everything. They are a combination of a young adult and a child, growing and developing. Children at this age are sensitive, prone to experimenting and can be drawn, to addictions. Through the training workshop, we give the children guidelines regarding their bodies, which enables them to create a balance in the hormones and the brain and thus be aligned physically, mentally and spiritually to make wise choices and to stand up for themselves. How does Super Brain Teenage Workshop work? In the education of our children, it is time the teaching techniques, attitude and subject matter changes. With an intent of improving the ability to adapt, adjust and protect themselves in life in calm, collected and assured ways. Each child is unique, and their circumstances will be different. Our workshop stimulates the brain by bringing the alpha brain waves into synchronicity. It eliminates stress, encourages mental stability, balances the left and right hemisphere and promotes healthy cognitive function. Stress instantly puts us on a fight or flight mode, placing anything not needed for immediate survival, on the back burner. Our digestion, reproductive process, growth hormone production, tissue repair are all temporarily halted. Thus, it opens our immune system to attack. Thoughts hold the key to our life. Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical world, there are mental laws of thought that govern our lives and, abiding by these laws can help in creating the life that we desire. Our sole aim is to put the young adults in the right ambience as well as habits using discretion in disciplinary tactics, to get encouraging results and see these children use their circumstances for their highest good. Benefits: A teenager’s brain is curious, experimenting and trying many different things. The more you keep their minds occupied and active in mindfulness modalities, the better your chances will be to influence them in the right direction. Good coaching reiterated during teenage years can guide them to make their own decisions carefully, keep them on the right track, teach them empathy for others as well as how to deal with their supersensitivity. Furthermore, programming the children to understand their boundaries and to encourage them that it is okay to stick up for themselves and say no is impertinent. Besides, training at a young age to have self-worth will make them capable of making good choices, as well as allow them to move ahead confidently using their abilities in different areas. These kids thus grow up without prejudices, against religion, caste, colour, creed or race and develop to be loving, kind and supportive as their brains stand balanced with both male and female energy. Many New Age children become remarkably intuitive at a very young age. The guidance that being intuitive is vital for their survival and advice on how to use their intuition will leave fewer tendencies to give their power away to others whilst they are so young. So, giving them timely supervision will allow them to be who they are and encourage them to start finding their mission in life as the New Age develops. The Teenagers are taken through an understanding of the mind, training of how to hold onto desirable thoughts and get rid of undesirable ones. Also, watching the body and the breath through relaxation, intention, contemplation, and observation. Consequently, a process of cleansing followed by safeguarding and protecting the energy bodies, how and who to ask for help, practical exercises of attention on attention and two meditations spread over the day. It is a full-day class equipped with an introductory manual, that lays down the format of the mental laws that govern us and how to acknowledge and adapt to each of them. It is an exciting time for youngsters to be able to tame the mind, through understanding and patience, infusing, the importance of perseverance and regularity. Who should do it? It is a must for teenagers. As they grow towards adulthood, children learn things very quickly. It is the time in nature when their primitive instincts in the brain take over because of the chemical changes. Teenagers now begin to act almost on instinct and, this is when you notice the changes in them. They become more centred on themselves, self-absorbed as well as become very interested in the social conduct and energies of people around them. At this point, the body is developing rapidly in so many different ways that it is hard for the child to remain balanced and behave rationally. They assume they are an adult but are yet not ready to see the outcome of their actions as their frontal lobe is still developing. It is an immense change for them to go outside in the world and take care of themselves as it can be a very frightening experience to understand the complexities of the world. If encouraged to be trained when they are young, it will become a habit, and they will continue to gain forever, thus enabling them to become open and receptive to new avenues of thought. Events "We earnestly request our clients to continue with their conventional medical treatment as it has its vibration. Alternative therapy is not a replacement but a varied healing system using psychic abilities to heal the body and mind."	6,140
Kevin Spacey heads to a New York court this month, where he faces a civil trial related to sexual-assault allegations levied against him by the actor Anthony Rapp. In 2017, Rapp alleged that Spacey — who was starring in Netflix’s House of Cards at the time — sexually assaulted him when he was 14. Since then, over 30 men have come forward with accusations ranging from nonconsensual groping to the attempted rape of minors. Spacey, 62, initially responded to Rapp’s allegations with a muddled apology note in which he came out as gay (a deflection many criticized as conflating homosexuality and pedophilia) and claimed not to remember the incident, writing on Twitter, “If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.” Following the initial wave of allegations, Spacey was dropped by his talent agency and publicist, fired from House of Cards, and scrubbed from film projects. He retreated from public life, with a representative telling Variety he was seeking “evaluation and treatment,” though he has occasionally resurfaced over the years to launch film comebacks and post bizarre defenses on YouTube and Twitter. The New York trial isn’t Spacey’s only legal battle: Over the summer, the actor appeared twice in court in London, where he pleaded not guilty to the multiple sexual-assault charges he’s facing there. The alleged offenses, which include four charges of sexual assault against three men and one charge of causing a person to nonconsensually engage in penetrative sexual activity, reportedly occurred between 2005 and 2013 in London and Gloucestershire during Spacey’s tenure as artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre. Spacey, who was granted unconditional bail in June and whose lawyer previously said he “strenuously denies” all criminal allegations, told Good Morning America ahead of his initial court appearance, “I am confident I will prove my innocence.” Meanwhile, the allegations and lawsuits continue to pile up. His New York trial will focus on Rapp’s claims of battery and the intentional infliction of emotional distress, for which Rapp is seeking $40 million in punitive and compensatory damages; a judge dismissed his sexual-assault claim because he brought it too late. Here’s what we know. In October 2017, Rapp told BuzzFeed Spacey made “a sexual advance” after a party at Spacey’s house in 1986. “I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually,” said Rapp, who alleged that after other guests left, Spacey picked him up and put him on his bed before lying on top of him. In 2020, Rapp and an anonymous accuser filed a civil sexual-assault lawsuit against Spacey under the New York Child Victims Act, seeking damages for severe emotional distress. Per Reuters, Spacey “categorically” denied Rapp’s allegations in court papers and sought to dismiss the civil lawsuit, a bid the judge rejected, though the second accuser’s legal claims were dismissed because he refused to use his name during the proceedings. Spacey continues to deny the accusations. Following Rapp’s accusations, a wave of accusers came forward. An anonymous artist told Vulture that Spacey pursued a sexual relationship with him in 1983, when he was 14 and Spacey was 24. The artist, who said he met Spacey when he was a 12-year-old acting student and Spacey was a guest teacher, alleged he and Spacey had sex a handful of times in New York, and that Spacey often promised him professional opportunities, none of which came to fruition: “He was telling me that there were producers who were really interested in me as an actor and that he wanted to get me auditions,” he said. “He hadn’t seen me act since I was 12.” The artist said the relationship ended with an “attempted rape.” Spacey’s lawyer has said he “absolutely denies” all of these claims. In 2021, the accuser was dropped from the civil lawsuit he filed with Rapp after refusing to reveal his name in court proceedings. An anonymous accuser told the BBC that in 1985, when he was 17 and Spacey was in his mid-20s, he woke up to Spacey lying on top of him. The accuser said he met Spacey at a summer theater the previous year and that the two exchanged letters before Spacey invited him to spend the weekend in New York City, where Spacey allegedly put a hand on the accuser’s thigh and became touchy “in a way I certainly wasn’t interested in.” One night, the accuser said Spacey asked him to share the bed, which the accuser declined, sleeping on the sofa instead. When he woke up, he said Spacey was on top of him “in his underwear.” “It seems he was grooming me,” the accuser said, adding that Spacey eventually “backed off.” London performing-arts teacher Kate Edwards told the BBC Spacey pressured her into having sex in 1986, when she was a 17-year-old assistant on a production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night that starred Spacey. Edwards said Spacey invited her to a birthday party in his flat; when she arrived, the flat was empty, and the pair consensually kissed before Spacey allegedly escalated the situation. “I said, ‘I want to go home and change.’ I felt pressured, and it became clear his intention was to have sex with me,” said Edwards. “He became cold and said, ‘Find your own way.’” Justin Dawes told BuzzFeed Spacey made sexual advances in 1988, when Dawes was 16 and Spacey was 29. Spacey allegedly invited Dawes — then a high-school junior interested in acting — and a male friend to his apartment in New Haven, Connecticut, under the guise of watching Chinatown, but instead gave the boys cocktails and played gay pornography. “He knew that I was in high school. It was pretty clear,” said Dawes, who said he left with his friend and qualified that the situation felt “sleazy and manipulative” but not “intimidating or pushy.” After Dawes testified in a deposition for Rapp’s lawsuit, Spacey filed a motion demanding that Dawes reveal the name of his friend, which a federal court judge granted earlier this year. In 2018, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department announced that it was investigating the allegations of an anonymous accuser who claimed Spacey sexually assaulted him in West Hollywood in 1992. Prosecutors ultimately decided not to file criminal charges in connection with the case, which they said fell outside the statute of limitations. Per the BBC, an anonymous American filmmaker alleged Spacey sexually harassed him on the set of Albino Alligator in 1995, when he was a 22-year-old junior crew member. The filmmaker alleged that Spacey — the director of the film — sat beside him on one of the last days of filming and “put his hand on my thigh and moved it towards my inner thigh.” He added, “I was getting the attention of the most powerful person on the movie set, and I wanted to work in Hollywood. But it was an interest that made me feel totally uneasy, uncomfortable, confused … I felt harassed, sexually harassed.” Mark Ebenhoch, a military adviser on Spacey’s 1995 film Outbreak, claimed Spacey referred to the young male assistants on set as his “harem,” and that one of Spacey’s assistants once asked him to come to his trailer and “flat out engage in a sexual act” with Spacey. Ebenhoch said he declined, telling BuzzFeed the incident “blew me away.” An anonymous journalist who interviewed Spacey for a London magazine in the early 2000s told BuzzFeed Spacey groped him at the club they went to after the interview. “He just kept reaching between my legs and, you know, just grabbing my dick,” the journalist said, adding that when he tried to leave, he said Spacey started “screaming at me with fury because I didn’t want to fuck him.” “He was actually saying that I did want to and I was a coward. That was a tactic. It was unbelievable.” Filmmaker Tony Montana told Radar Online Spacey groped him at a Los Angeles bar in 2003. “I went up to order a drink and Kevin came up to me and put his arm around me,” Montana said. “He was telling me to come with him, to leave the bar. He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package,” said Montana, who claimed an intoxicated Spacey told him: “This designates ownership.” In a video interview with BBC, Kris Nixon, who met Spacey while bartending near the Old Vic Theater, told the BBC that Spacey groped him during an after-party at his penthouse in 2007. “I was sitting on a sofa with my then-sort-of-girlfriend,” Nixon recalled. “She got up to get a drink, and Kevin Spacey sat down on the sofa next to me. He asked if that was my girlfriend, then reached over, grabbed my penis, and said, ‘I could fuck you better than her.’” Two weeks later, Spacey allegedly propositioned Nixon again, grabbing his waistband at the bar and offering to “make it up to him.” In an interview with Norwegian radio network P4, writer Ari Behn said Spacey groped him at an after-party in 2007 following the 14th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert, which Spacey hosted with Uma Thurman. Behn, who was then married to Princess Martha Louise, said Spacey, who was seated next to him, asked him to go out for a cigarette before reaching under the table and grabbing him “by the balls.” Behn said he declined, telling Spacey, “Eh, maybe later.” Behn died of suicide in 2019, at the age of 47. In an article for BuzzFeed, Harry Dreyfuss, son of actor Richard Dreyfuss, called Spacey a “sexual predator” and claimed Spacey groped him in 2008, when he was 18. Per Harry, the alleged incident took place during a rehearsal at Spacey’s apartment, with Spacey surreptitiously touching his thigh and crotch without his consent while Harry’s father was in the room. “What disgusts me about Kevin was how safe he did feel,” Harry wrote. “He knew he could fondle me in a room with my father and that I wouldn’t say a word. He knew I wouldn’t have had the guts. And I didn’t.” Per Variety, in 2017, Scotland Yard launched an investigation into allegations by an anonymous man who alleged Spacey sexually assaulted him in 2008, when he was 23. According to the man’s account — first reported by the Sun — he asked Spacey, then the artistic director of the Old Vic Theater, for help with his career, and Spacey invited him to his home in South London. The man said the two smoked marijuana and passed out, and that he woke up to Spacey performing oral sex on him. He said he told Spacey to stop; Spacey allegedly told him not to tell anyone what happened. In May 2019, the Met’s Complex Case team interviewed Spacey in the U.S. in connection with this allegation and other claims of sexual assault lodged with the Scotland Yard, though Spacey was not arrested at the time. Daniel Beal, a British bartender, told the Sun that in 2010, Spacey followed him outside on his cigarette break, flashed his genitals, and told the then-19-year-old, “It’s big, isn’t it?” Once they were backin the bar, Beal said Spacey gave him the Swiss watch he was wearing. “Looking back, I realize it was to keep me quiet,” said Beal. In a Facebook post in 2017, Mexican actor Robert Cavazos said Spacey groped him at the bar of the Old Vic Theater, though he did not specify when the alleged incident occurred. “There are many of us who have a ‘Kevin Spacey story,’” Cavazos wrote. “It seems like you only needed to be a man under 30 for him to feel free to touch us.” By November 2017, at least 20 men associated with the Old Vic alleged inappropriate sexual behavior by Spacey, both during his time as the theater’s artistic director and before. The theater publicly apologized, calling the allegations “a shock and disturbing surprise,” and had a law firm investigate the allegations, none of which reportedly involved minors, and concluded that Spacey’s “stardom and status … may have prevented people, and in particular junior staff or young actors, from feeling that they could speak up or raise a hand for help.” The report also said that Spacey hadn’t participated in the investigation and that independent allegations could not be verified. During a press conference in Boston in 2017, former Boston news anchor Heather Unruh claimed her son was sexually assaulted by Spacey at a Nantucket bar in 2016, when he would have been 18. According to Unruh’s account, Spacey bought her son “drink after drink after drink” at the restaurant before allegedly reaching inside his pants and grabbing his genitals. In 2018, the Boston Globe reported that Spacey faced one charge of indecent assault and battery in relation to the incident, the first criminal charge he faced since the allegations began. Spacey pleaded not guilty, with his lawyer calling the interaction “consensual flirtation” and alleging that the accuser “concocted and exaggerated elements of a story to impress his friends.” Following the Globe’s report, Spacey posted a video to his Twitter account, “Let Me Be Frank,” in which he assumed the voice of his House of Cards character Frank Underwood and appeared to address the allegations, telling viewers, “If I didn’t pay the price for the things we both know I did, I’m certainly not going to pay the price for the things I didn’t do.” In 2019, Unruh’s son dropped his civil lawsuit against Spacey six days after filing it. Later that month, prosecutors in Massachusetts dropped the sexual-assault charge against Spacey after Unruh’s son refused to testify about a missing smartphone the defense had sought as evidence. In September 2018, an anonymous massage therapist who said Spacey offered him oral sex and forced him to grope his genitals twice during a 2016 session at the actor’s home in Malibu sued Spacey for battery, assault, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Spacey asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit because of the plaintiff’s concealed identity, but a federal judge moved it forward, with all parties agreeing that the case would proceed to trial. In September 2019, the accuser died, and his estate later dismissed the suit. In 2017, eight House of Cards staffers told CNN that Spacey had behaved inappropriately with them, with one production assistant alleging that Spacey put his hands down the assistant’s pants while driving. “He was a man in a very powerful position on the show and I was someone very low on the totem pole and on the food chain there,” the anonymous assistant said. “It was a toxic environment for young men who had to interact with him at all in the crew, cast, background actors.” In 2020, a private arbitrator ruled that Spacey must pay $31 million to MRC, the studio behind the show, for breach of contract in relation to the allegations. MRC claimed that measures taken after Spacey’s firing — including writing off his character, stopping production of the show’s sixth season, and shortening it to meet deadlines — spurred exorbitant losses, and it petitioned a California court to confirm the arbitrator’s ruling in 2020. Although Spacey’s attorneys have tried to throw out the case, arguing that his behavior with crew members did not go beyond “sexual innuendos” and “innocent horseplay,” a judge ruled in MRC’s favor on Thursday, saying that Spacey’s attorneys had failed “to demonstrate that this is even a close case.” NBC reports that Spacey has denied the allegations through his attorneys and a spokesperson. The Cut has reached out to Spacey’s legal representation for comment and will update when we hear back. Stay in touch. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. USTimesPost.com is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials, please contact us by email – admin@ustimespost.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours. October 5, 2022 Expert fasting tips to avoid getting hangry during Ramadan June 11, 2022 August 19, 2022 August 4, 2022 View the latest news and breaking news today for U.S., world, weather, entertainment, politics and health at USTimesPost.com. July 25, 2022 August 28, 2022	17,377
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua Kendall Brown Tyrese Hunter LJ Cryer Adam Flagler Jeremy Sochan Flo Thamba Men's college basketball College sports College basketball Basketball Men's basketball Sports Men's sports More From Top-ranked Baylor holds on to beat No. 8 Iowa State 77-72 Baylor guard Kendall Brown (2) looks for a shot past Iowa State forward George Conditt (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Ames. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney) AMES, Iowa (AP) — Baylor has a new cast of players, but its depth and defense showed up as usual in one of the most anticipated games of the season so far. James Akinjo scored 16 points, LJ Cryer had 10 of his 13 in the second half, and the top-ranked Bears beat No. 8 Iowa State 77-72 on Saturday for the Cyclones' first loss. Baylor (13-0, 1-0 Big 12) never trailed in only the fourth Division I matchup of 12-0 teams in 40 years and the first game between top-10 teams at Hilton Coliseum since 2014. The defending national champions got the tough game they expected and had to overcome 19 turnovers and foul trouble. “First and foremost, it shows we have a great rotation,” coach Scott Drew said. “Different people stepped up at different times, and you need that because not everybody has great shooting nights and great games.” The defending national champion Bears extended their win streak to 19 games and are among three remaining unbeaten teams. Southern California and Colorado State are the others. Tristan Enaruna scored a career-high 23 points for the Cyclones (12-1, 0-1), who were off to the second-best start in program history under first-year coach T.J. Otzelberger after winning two games last season. The Cyclones managed to turn in a game effort on a day they shot 1 of 14 on 3-pointers and Gabe Kalscheur, their second-leading scorer for the season, was held without a point and committed six of the Cyclones' 17 turnovers. “The areas we talk about after every game, when they show up to the best of our ability, I don't think anybody can beat us,” Otzelberger said. “Our ball pressure wasn't at the level if needed to be, we got outrebounded and our ball toughness wasn't where it needed to be.” Izaiah Brockington added 18 points for the Cyclones, who dropped their 24th straight Big 12 game, the longest conference losing streak among Power Five teams. “We understood the magnitude of the game,” Otzelberger said. “What I’m more interested in with our group is how we respond, how we bounce back, how we come to the practice floor, how intentional we are and how excited we are to continue improving and getting better.” Baylor was up 41-33 at halftime and built its lead to 14 points in the second half. The Cyclones wouldn’t fold, cutting it to five points three times in the last three minutes. “It was really loud,” Carr said. “Every time they made a big play, you could barely hear yourself talk. It was really energetic in the building.” The Bears had to get creative when big men Flo Thamba and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua got into foul trouble. Forwards Jeremy Sochan and Kendall Brown each played some center for the first time this season. Sochan had seven rebounds to go with his 12 points, and Brown had five boards. Adam Flagler and Akinjo each hit a pair of free throws in the last 30 seconds to hold off the Cyclones and send Baylor to a ninth straight win against a top-10 opponent. “Big 12 road games are very tough and very hard to win, and whenever you get one you're blessed,” Drew said. “We could have executed better down the stretch, but other than that couldn’t be more pleased.” Baylor: This was only the second true road game for the Bears, and they had an answer every time Iowa State looked ready to make a run. Iowa State: The Cyclones played Baylor closer than any of the Bears' opponents this season, and it doesn't get any easier. Four of their next five games are against ranked teams. Iowa State freshman point guard Tyrese Hunter had 10 of his 12 points in the second half. ... Baylor had 12 offensive rebounds, the 17th straight game the Bears have had at least 10. ... ISU outscored the Bears 21-10 at the free-throw line. ... The Bears' 29-4 Big 12 record over two-plus seasons is the best conference record of any Power Five team. ... Baylor is 57-2 over three seasons when leading at halftime. Baylor: Hosts Oklahoma on Tuesday. Iowa State: Hosts No. 25 Texas Tech on Wednesday. More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25	4,709
Marriage is an important step in anyone's life and brings many challenges with it. One of those challenges is the management of your finances as a couple. The money decisions that you make now as a couple can have a lasting impact on your financial future together. Careful planning of your finances can ensure that together, you achieve financial success. Budgeting your money In general When you were single, you managed your finances in a way that was comfortable for you and that you understood--no one had to approve or disapprove of your financial decisions. Now that you are married, however, both you and your spouse have to agree on a system for budgeting your money and paying your bills. You and your spouse must discuss your respective financial situations and expectations, and take stock of your individual assets (what you own) and liabilities (what you owe). Revealing your financial situation is an important step when budgeting as a couple. If either of you has a financial problem, it is best to identify it now and begin solving it together. This is the time to address questions such as what do each of you earn, and what additional sources of income do you have? What do you own? Will both of you work now that you are married? Who will hold title to property acquired before and after the wedding? In addition, be sure to disclose all of your financial commitments. If you pay child support, let your partner know the amounts. If you have to repay student loans, discuss that as well. After you discuss your financial situations, you should discuss your financial goals. You can start by each making a list of your short- and long-term financial goals. Short-term goals are those that can take anywhere from three to five years (e.g., saving for a down payment on a home or a new car). Long-term goals are those that take more than five years to achieve (e.g., saving for a child's college education or retirement). When you have each determined your individual financial goals, you should review your goals together to achieve common objectives. You can then focus your energy on those common objectives and strive to attain those goals (short- and long-term) together. Decide on the type of bank account(s) you will keep Decide whether you and your spouse will have separate bank accounts or a joint account. Advantages to consolidating your checking funds into one account include easier record-keeping, reduced maintenance fees, less paperwork when you apply for a loan, and simplified money management. If you do choose to keep separate accounts, consider opening a joint checking account for household expenses. When sharing a checking account, be sure to keep track of how much money is in the account at all times since both of you will be writing checks that draw from the same account. Prepare an annual budget The first step in developing a financial future together as a couple is to prepare an annual budget. The budget will be a detailed listing of all your income and expenses over the period of a year. You may want to designate one spouse to be in charge of managing the budget, or you can take turns keeping records and paying bills. Make sure that you develop a record-keeping system that both you and your spouse understand. Also, keep your records in a joint filing system so that you can easily locate important documents. Begin with your sources of income--list salaries and wages, alimony and child support, interest, and any other form of income that you and your spouse may have. List your expenses. It may be helpful to review several months' worth of entries in each of your checkbooks to be sure that you include everything. Put all the expenses that are paid monthly into one category, and put all other expenses (every other month, quarterly, semiannually, annually) into another. Some common expenses are: Major purchases Rent or mortgage payments Insurance Student loan payments Tax payments Medical expenses Car payments Credit card payments Estimate your expenses for each category. How much money do you spend on these items on a monthly basis and on an annual basis? Try to come up with a realistic amount for what you think you will spend in a year's time. Add another category to the irregular expenses list, and call it Contingencies. This can be a catchall category for expenses that you might not anticipate or budget for. The amount to budget for contingencies should be about 5 percent of your total budget. Add your sources of cash and uses of cash on an annual basis. Hopefully, you get a positive number, meaning that you are spending less than you are earning. If not, review your expense list to determine where you can cut your spending. Consider using computer spreadsheets or programs like Quicken for assistance. Create a cash flow system After you have developed a budget, you should create a system for managing your monthly inflow and outflow of cash. It is a good idea for both you and your spouse to become involved in this process--at least at first--so that both of you have a clear understanding of the costs of running the family and household. Cash flow systems like the one described below are simple and painless to operate. Once they are established, you will find that making financial decisions becomes much easier because you have done your homework. Separate your regular monthly expenses from irregular expenses (every other month, quarterly, semiannually, annually) by using a different bank account for each. Otherwise, you may be tempted to use money that has been earmarked for something else. You should limit the number of checking accounts that you have in order to avoid confusion. Each time you get paid, deposit some money into an account for irregular expenses. The amount of money you deposit should be equal to the total amount needed for the irregular expenses, divided by the number of paychecks you each receive annually. In so doing, you will have the money for the outlay when it arises. The rest of your pay should go into your checking account, to be used for regular monthly expenses and savings. One variation to this system of cash flow management is to establish one or two additional bank accounts for one or both of you for personal spending money. Allocate the budgeted amount for personal expenses (e.g., lunches, haircuts, gifts) to this account. This way, you are free to spend the money in this account in any way you like without having to worry about meeting regular monthly expenses. However, all of these bank accounts may have fees. Saving and investing your money In general At some point in your married life, you will almost certainly encounter some large expenditures, such as a new home, your own business, or a college education for your children. Chances are, you won't be able to meet these expenditures from your current income. You and your spouse must discipline yourselves to set aside a portion of your current income for saving and investing your money to ensure its steady growth or, at the very least, protect it against loss. Save a percentage of your earnings When figuring out your budget, savings should be considered one of your monthly expenses. Think of savings as a fixed payment (like a car payment) that must be made every month. If you don't and you wait until the end of the month to save whatever you have not spent, you'll find that nothing ever seems to go into your savings account. A good rule of thumb is for you and your spouse to save 4 to 9 percent of your combined gross earnings while you are in your 20s and then double that savings percentage as you reach your 30s and 40s. In some cases, a dual-income couple may be able to live off one spouse's salary and save the other salary. Mary and Richard, a married couple in their 20s, earn a combined annual gross income of $60,000. Together, Mary and Richard save 5 percent of their combined gross income each year, or $3,000. As another example, Christine and Tom, a married couple in their 30s, earn a combined annual gross income of $80,000. Together, Christine and Tom save 10 percent of their combined gross income each year, or $8,000. Build an emergency cash reserve The savings that you accumulate can serve as an emergency cash reserve. Ideally, you should have in savings an amount that is comfortable for you to fall back on in case of an emergency, such as a job loss. A common formula used for calculating a safe emergency fund amount is to multiply your total monthly expenses by 6. When determining how much cash should be in your emergency fund, a major factor is your comfort level. If you and your spouse feel secure with your jobs and are confident that if you lost your current jobs you would be able to find a new one fairly quickly, an emergency fund of three times your monthly expenses should be sufficient. However, if either of you has an unpredictable income, you may want to have an emergency fund that is equal to 12 times your monthly expenses. Christine and Tom, a married couple in their 30s, plan to build up an emergency cash reserve. Both Christine and Tom are attorneys and feel quite secure with their present jobs. Christine and Tom have monthly expenses of $3,000 and plan to build up an emergency cash reserve that is equal to 3 times their monthly expenses, or $9,000 ($3,000 x 3). As another example, Mary and Richard, a married couple in their 20s, plan to build up an emergency cash reserve. Both Mary and Richard are employed as freelance writers and feel that their incomes are at times unpredictable. Mary and Richard have monthly expenses of $1,500 and plan to build up an emergency cash reserve that is equal to 12 times their monthly expenses, or $18,000 ($1,500 x 12). Investing your money When you have established an emergency cash reserve, you can begin to invest your money to target your financial goals. There are three fundamental types of investments: cash and cash alternatives, bonds, and equities. Cash and cash alternatives are relatively low-risk investments that can be readily converted into currency, such as money market accounts. Bonds, sometimes called debt instruments, are essentially IOUs; when you invest in a bond, you're lending money to the bond's issuer--usually a corporation or governmental body--which pays interest on that loan. Because bonds make regular payments of interest, they are also known as income investments. Equities, or stocks, give you a share of ownership in a company. You have the opportunity to share in the company's profits and potential growth, which is why they're often viewed as growth investments. However, equities involve greater risk than either cash or income investments. With equities, there is no guarantee you will receive any income or that your shares will ever increase in value, and you can lose your entire investment. In addition to these three basic types of investments--also known as asset classes--there are so-called alternative investments, such as real estate, commodities, and precious metals. No matter what your investment goal, your overall objective is to maximize returns without taking on more risk than you can bear. You'll need to choose investments that are consistent with your financial goals and time horizon. A financial professional can help you construct an investment portfolio that takes these factors into account. Establishing good credit In general Establishing good credit is an important step in the path towards a solid financial future. A good credit history can enable you to make credit purchases for items that you might not otherwise be able to afford. Most creditors will require a good credit history before extending credit to you. If you do not have a credit history, it is important to establish one as soon as possible. If you have a poor credit history, you should take steps toward improving it right away. Individual or joint credit Married couples can either apply for credit individually or jointly. One of the benefits of applying for joint credit is that both you and your spouse's income, expenses, and financial stability are considered when a creditor evaluates your overall financial picture. However, applying for separate credit has its advantages. If you and your spouse ever run into financial problems (e.g., illness or job layoff), separate credit allows one spouse to risk damaging his or her credit history while preserving the other spouse's good credit. In addition, separate credit can also protect you and your spouse from each other. If you and your spouse cosign a loan or apply for a credit card, you are both responsible for 100 percent repayment of the debt. In other words, if your spouse does not pay his or her share, you can get stuck with paying the whole amount. On the other hand, if your spouse takes out a loan or applies for a credit card on his or her own, generally your spouse is solely responsible for the debt. While the general rule is that spouses are not responsible for each other's debts, there are exceptions. Many states will hold both spouses responsible for a debt incurred by one spouse if the debt constituted a family expense (e.g., child care or groceries). In addition, in some community property states, both spouses may be responsible for one spouse's debts, since both spouses have equal rights to each other's incomes. You may want to discuss your state's laws with an attorney if you live in a community property state. Retirement Investment Estate Insurance Tax Check the background of your financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. Some of this material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named representative, broker - dealer, state - or SEC - registered investment advisory firm. 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Registered Representatives of Kestra IS and Investment Advisor Representatives of Kestra AS may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Not all products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. For additional information, please contact our Compliance Department at 844-553-7872. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice. For informational purposes only. Please consult with your tax or legal advisor regarding your personal situation.	16,087
On a day Karnataka’s Covid number crossed 50k, with 50% of it coming from Bengaluru alone, the attention was else where. All thanks to the sting operation conducted by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, MLAs Ravi Subramanya, Satish Reddy and Uday Garudachar, all from the ruling party, on 4th May 2021. Was anyone surprised that there was corruption in bed allocation? I wasn’t. Was corruption really the focus of the sting operation? You tell me. Seventeen workers out of the 206 employed in the COVID war room were fired for being Muslim. A smear campaign Among the arrested so far, a majority of them are from the Hindu community, and no proof of Muslims sabotaging Hindu patients has emerged yet. None of them from the list of 17 names read out and live streamed. (Yes, unlike the usual journalistic practice of not naming communities involved, I am going to name them. We are way past the time of disingenuous politeness). These 17 names are now in every WhatsApp inbox under the headline – terrorists. Sarfaraz Khan, one of the few BBMP officials who has been accessible and has been instrumental in many things related to Bengaluru over the years and now COVID, was singled out as a leader of the bed scam. Again, no proof needed. This is a repeat of what happened last year when Tablighi Jamaat was named the super-spreaders, and blame was placed on all Muslims. Whatsapp was abuzz with loving aunts, uncles and grandmothers calling for economic boycott of Muslim traders. No proof was needed. These were not harmless Whatsapp forwards. We have confirmed reports of Hindu traders being identified for business, leaving out Muslim vendors. Read More: “Even in Bengaluru, even today, you could find it hard to rent a flat if you have a Muslim name” What is the result of Tuesday’s sting operation on the ground level? Muslim volunteers were not allowed to do their grocery rounds, or pick up patients. Not to mention the huge emotional hurt they must be feeling at having to prove their loyalty yet again to the country they chose to stay in, more than seven decades ago. This was already a reality in several of the Hindi speaking States, volunteers have been consistently rejected because they were Muslim, or in one case that the volunteer supported Umar Khalid. When I discussed how we could counter this utterly ill-intentioned publicity stunt with facts, many of my journalist friends said, well facts won’t matter in this case. It is true, if people really wanted to look at facts, it is available all around us. Facts have never mattered. An inherited prejudice This publicity stunt was designed and carefully executed because they knew this will be swallowed up whole. We would rather believe that Muslims are responsible for our loved ones dying without basic medical facilities than question how we got here in the first place. Tejasvi Surya did not invent bigotry. He merely opened the gates that held this bigotry within. The root of it isn’t in 2014 or 2002 or even 1992. It is has been passed on from generation to generation. When the girls in Hindu families are told, “kanda, marry anyone you want to, I will not object but please for the love of god, don’t bring home a Muslim boy.” Representational image of a protest by Muslim women. Pic: Prachi Pinglay-Plumber Or, when children rename their Muslim friends with Hindu names on their phone contacts list, lest the family finds out that they hang out with Muslims. Or during a property dispute, one cousin tells another that he will sell his property to a Muslim so the cousin will have to live with those infidels. Or, when you are learning Urdu shayari because you are a Gulzar fan and your boyfriend asks if you intend to leave him for a sexually more attractive Muslim boy in class. Or when they say “Kashmir is now open to buy land”, and the response is “finally we can marry those pretty Kashmiri girls.” This is where the ideas of love jihad, dance jihad and now bed jihad are coming from. No proof needed. There are going to be people (most likely my own friends and family) who will respond to this by giving examples of their friend suffering at the hands of a tyrannical Muslim family or the conversion efforts through marriage of their cousin who fell in love with a Muslim girl. I see your pain my friend. I see you have been hurt. I hope you can heal. But are you going to be vengeful to all Muslims for this? Do you not believe in the law of the land to punish the culprits? Or, at least in the gods you pray to and that karma you so strongly trust in? It is time we ask a fundamental question to the majority community of this country: why do you hate the Muslim so much? Any efforts at fixing this nation has to start from here. We cannot fix a problem without addressing its root cause. It is healing 101. Bengaluru has long promoted inter-faith harmony at the society level Padmalatha Ravi is an independent journalist and filmmaker. Previous Next These COVID relief initiatives in Bengaluru need your support Health Blood donation camp held at SJR Park Vista a huge success July 21, 2015 Indira PC When you donate blood, you may very well save someone’s life. 31 donors came forward to do so at a recent donation camp held at SJR Park Vista. September 13, 2016 S V Ranganath Bengaluru gets Cauvery water for drinking. True. But did you know only 8 lakh houses out of 22 lakh receive Cauvery water? And that 43% of Cauvery water is unaccounted for? What’s the way forward?	5,755
Politics finally invades the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, sending the fund's well-liked leader who had argued against using the fund as a piggy bank packing. Dec 11, 2021 Share this post 'What the hell is going on?' In this edition: Angela Rodell is out as the head of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation following a secretive board meeting, leaving us all wondering “What the hell is going on?” The reading list and weekend watching. Coming up next time: The lawsuits against the Alaska Redistricting Board’s plan. ‘What the hell is going on?’ I’m down in Juneau this weekend and on the way into town from the airport Thursday, I was talking with a friend about the latest developments at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. Specifically, we talked about the string of stories by columnist Dermot Cole on the fund’s secrecy around its investments in Alaska, an area that Cole argues is ripe for corruption. But it was mostly a different issue that was on my mind. “Do you think they’ll can Rodell?” I asked of APFC Executive Director Angela Rodell, who got crosswise with the trustees appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy at a previous hearing when she questioned a proposal to cut staff pay for its potential to undercut the fund’s independence. Welp. About an hour later, we got word that the five Dunleavy-appointed members of the corporation’s board had, in fact, fired Rodell. Shielded by executive session and claims of it being a personnel issue, the board’s members offered zero explanation for why the well-liked and successful executive director, whose six years on the job have seen the fund grow from $51 billion to a whopping $83 billion, was fired. The news spread like wildfire through Alaska’s political world, spawning a load of theories and guesses that would put even the most ardent of covid conspiracists to shame. But perhaps the clearest summation of the responses to the firing was what Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, told the Anchorage Daily News: “What the hell is going on?” Indeed, what the hell is going on here? The Alaska Permanent Fund has been one of the few bright spots for Alaska at a time when things have been looking dim. Under Rodell’s leadership, the fund’s value grew by 29.73% over the last year on top of a strong investment market. It funds a vast majority of the state’s budget and is the foundation of the state’s financial future. With that duty in mind, Rodell has also advocated for careful and thoughtful management of the fund, arguing that despite the strong returns the fund can’t be all things to all people. It’s the state’s golden goose (or golden salmon, if you may) and shouldn’t be plucked. And that’s the core of the problem right there. As Gov. Mike Dunleavy and company scramble to achieve whatever win they can as they head into an election year (see also the ferry announcement, cabinet shakeups and various lawsuits) when he’s starting to feel the heat from the right, the Alaska Permanent Fund and its strong returns are the last and best hope to deliver on that mega PFD he promised while on the campaign trail. While the administration has feigned ignorance about Rodell’s canning, it’s hard to overlook the fact that his initial version of the budget is set to be released next week. Observers also pointed out that the board’s first day of meetings included a presentation on how overdrawing the fund—a move that has historically been opposed by the board and Rodell—would actually be fine. Of course, the presentation was predicated on the assumption that the record gains we experienced over the last year would continue into the next and didn't really examine the benefit of just leaving up to $5 billion in the fund to continue to grow. Given Dunleavy and company’s knack of cherrypicking overly rosy numbers that happen to conveniently align with the governor’s agenda, it would be more interesting to have this presentation vetted in a more rigorous environment like the House and Senate finance committees. And that’s looking likely judging by what Senate Finance Committee co-chair Sen. Click Bishop told the ADN: “I’m stunned. I can’t wait to see the Board of Trustees’ reasoning for terminating her. To me, it’s the equivalent of trading Michael Jordan after you’ve won five NBA championships,” he said. The big problem, of course, is the fate of the dividend has always rested with the Legislature and not Rodell. While Rodell has certainly been a voice in favor of limiting the strain on the fund, the executive director position has no say in the size of dividends. But removing the authority of that voice is probably the point here. Rodell, who served as the revenue commissioner under Parnell and was picked as the executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation while Walker was in office, is popular and well-respected. When she talks, legislators listen. For example, here’s what Rodell had to say about overdrawing the fund back in February: “I’ve watched this debate now happen year in and year out for 10 years. Yes, I do worry that if we don’t follow a POMV spending rule, it will open floodgates. People are hurting, there’s no question. You walk around this town and you can see the effects of the pandemic on Juneau. It is not the same place you came to a year ago or two years ago by any stretch of the imagination, and yet I wonder what are we creating for ourselves in three, four, five years, in ten years. Do we have a place for your two-year-old or five-year-old to grow up in? We have to ask ourselves what we do we want Alaska to be not in 10 years but what do we want it to be in ’23, ’24, ’25? The CARES Act money is not going to last for a long time. We have to really be asking ourselves what do we have for ’23, ’24, ’25? And that’s a really hard place to be because it means saying ‘no’ sometimes. I don’t envy you guys at all. I have the easy job in all of this. I get look at markets, I get to invest, things are looking good, we’re at 15% for the fiscal year, and maybe I just made your job that much harder by having those kind of returns.” The by-the-numbers approach has been a much needed foundation as political pressures have mounted on the fund. For Dunleavy and company, it would be that much easier if APFC was cowed into silence. And in that dustup with the board in September, Rodell hit closer to home on the issue than we probably understood. “Should we continue to be building this agency, or is it time to put our hands up and go, ‘Maybe it’s time to shrink this. Maybe it’s time to move it over, back to Department of Revenue,” Rodell said. “And how do we think about that? So it’s bigger, it’s more philosophical. It’s just trying to understand where we want to go with this organization.” We got our answer in her firing. With Rodell gone, I’d expect politics to invade the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation and it will suddenly be more amenable to being the state’s piggy bank, ready to be cracked open for the whims of Dunleavy. Whether that ultimately comes to pass is a decision that still rests with the Legislature… unless... For a while now, there’s been chatter that the Dunleavy administration is exploring ways to pay out a dividend while skirting the Legislature. The mechanics of such a plan aren’t entirely clear and it’s likely that such a power doesn’t exist—though not having the clear legal ability to do something hasn’t stopped Dunleavy from doing something in the past—but it’s something to keep in mind. Why it matters: As I said above, the Alaska Permanent Fund is a critical foundational piece of the Alaska budget and will only be more important into the future. The outlook of state services—everything from schools to public safety and, yes, the dividend itself—will hinge on the health of the fund. Rodell’s push for a conservative, rules-based approach had the long-term health of the fund in mind. What’s next isn’t clear. The Board’s refusal to explain its actions is, frankly, unacceptable. At least it looks like the Legislature isn’t keen on letting it slide: Records request reveals that email complaints were scarce before Alaska’s $55K ballot review Lt. Gov. Meyer defends handling of Alaska’s last election, as he and governor weigh the next one A new crisis team in Fairbanks is responding to mental health calls and freeing up other emergency resources Ousted state commissioner French to argue his case before regulators over Hilcorp gas leak Environmentalists and Alaska villages continue court challenge of permits for Ambler Road project Foul-mouthed crow befriends everyone at Oregon school before state police are called in Weekend watching With the end of the NFL’s regular season a month away, I’m reminded of this very excellent video covering the 1987 players strike and its impact on one of the league’s most fierce rivalries.	8,970
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Haley watched as Katie pulled the clothes from the pile she'd provided, desperate to find something that would grab Delvin's attention. Devlin. Bloody Devlin. He was all she heard about lately. It had gotten to the point where Haley was sick of hearing the name. Yes, he was unusually attractive with his icy eyes and little beauty spot, and he did seem like an interesting guy... 'Oh geez, don't tell me it's rubbing off on me?' Haley panicked quietly. She tried to push his image out of her brain as Katie prattled on about how evil Theon was for standing in the way of her love life. "He touched my hand. I told you, right?" Katie looked up at her. Haley nodded. She'd only told her seventeen times. "I mean, I'm not crazy," Katie went on. "Why would he do that if he didn't like me back?" "I don't know," Haley said evenly as she pick Locked Chapter Continue to read this book on the APP Previous ChapterNext Chapter Related chapters Katie breathed deeply as she exited the hall, letting the cold air fill her lungs. It hurt, but the pain didn't match the feeling inside.'Why is this happening?'she asked herself.A couple kissing on the steps ignored her as she sank to the floor beside them, unable to hold herself up. The hormones of the entwined couples overwhelming lust wafted up to her nose, making her feel so much worse.'Why can't it ever be me?'she wondered.'What is so wrong with me? I just want to be consumed by an overpowering feeling of love that isn't so freaking unrequited.'The mixture of loneliness, jealousy and despair churned in her stomach, making her physically sick."Ahhhhh!" she cried out loud, earning her a funny look from the couple who scarpered soon after. Somehow, sitting on the step by herself wasn't any better.< Katie leaned back in her chair, trying to get comfortable. At almost 6 feet tall, she wasn't built for the furniture. Being a small village, everyone attended the same school from primary all the way up to age eighteen, at which point most of them, Katie included, had an insane growth spurt.The official school curriculum, consisting of everything the human world covered, had officially ended. However, there were a few more things for the teens to learn before being sent out into the world."In humans, the hormone oxytocin enforces building relationships, social bonding as well as supporting childbearing and breastfeeding. We have substantially elevated amounts of this hormone, and this is the reason our society is so tight-knit and close." The teacher took a deep breath. "Now, oxytocin is released during a sexual encounter—"Some of the boys whooped and cheered at the word sexual.'H Princess Angelica Preston walked ahead of her assistants, listening to the clicking of the suitcase wheels as her girls dragged the cumbersome load down the tunnel of steel of glass toward the airport. The cold sun shone through the glass, glinting in her eyes.She pulled her Armani sunglasses from her coat pocket. Such an odd combination—a winter coat and sunglasses—but she was familiar with this Country and its peculiar weather."Our guide should be waiting outside with a navy-blue sign," she informed them for the third time, with the expectance they would seek him out and do the talking. Talking to the common people in her place was their job after all."Oh that has got to be him," the blonde girl said to the brunette, pointing down at the crowd below.The tone in her voice prompted Angelica to look out of sheer curiosity. One man stood out among the others like a tall and ragged Katie ran to the school building so fast she almost skidded right into the hotdog food truck. Catching herself, she turned and breathed deeply, scanning the air for his scent."This way," she shouted to Haley, who was only a few steps behind.The world became a blur again as she started to run, the rasp of her breathing and clatter of her footstep being the only sounds. As she slowed, another noise grew in the distance—the cheers and shouts of fight spectators."Kill him!" one shouted.Katie pushed her way through the wall of bodies, ready and prepared to jump in—to use herself as a shield to save her love.She stared down at the ground, frowning in confusion."Jason," she whispered to herself, standing limp as Haley caught up, clinging to her form to steady herself."What the heck?" Haley muttered. Angelica stood at the desk, staring blankly through the woman who repeated her question with a smile."How can I help you?"The woman's thick red perma-smile faltered as Angelica turned away without buying a ticket."I can't return without him," she mumbled.As the line of people pushed past her, Angelica was forced away from the ticket desk. That level of rudeness would bother her at any other time, but today it passed by unnoticed. What was she going to do?'What can I do?'she thought.'I don't know what to do.'She stared at the two girls whose names she'd never bothered to learn. Both of their small, pretty faces twisted in fear and confusion."What do we do?" she asked, looking at each of them in turn. Both had their hair cut into bobs of the same length—the same as all Haley squeezed in next to Katie at the windowsill, trying to get a view of the exchange between Theon and the new guy. She was shocked to see he was only taking a battering of the verbal kind, then surprised further when a group of females appeared.The girls materialised from the bushes like a team of phantoms. The tallest and most highly decorated of them stepped forward to talk to Theon."I want to hear what's going on," Katie whined. Her fingers grasped the window frame little white spots appeared on her knuckles."Let's sneak outside," Haley suggested. "If we slip out the open back door, they might not hear us.""Right." Katie nodded. "Oh, wait."She grabbed her hand, pulling her back to the window. "I think they are coming inside."Haley nodded in agreement as she watched the women follow Theon and Devlin toward the house. She jumped out of the wi "Are you sure about this?" Haley asked her for the seventeenth time—not that she was counting or anything.With an exaggerated eye roll, she nodded, grabbing her friend by the shoulders. "I'm sure everything will be fine. I'll be linked up with Theon the entire time.""But spying on one of the most powerful vampires in the world? Will Theon's powers really protect you enough to keep your plan secret?"Katie frowned. "I don't think he'd send me in there if there was a huge risk of me dying."At least... she hoped that was true."I'm scared for you." Haley's eyes filled with tears. "If I was prettier, I'd go with you.""Don't say that!" Katie cried. "You are pretty! Besides, I want you here safe. This is my mission, well, that's how I'm choosing to think about it. I'm on a secret mission to save our species from slavery."It mad After arriving and waiting in Angelica's quarters for a day and a half alone, Jen finally joined her."It's done," Jen informed her. "The new deal has been negotiated."Katie exhaled as she nodded, expelling a tensive lungful of breath she hadn't noticed she was holding. After following the quiet girl to the town centre, she waited patiently in the town meeting hall for the princess to gather the other omegas to join her.Some of them cried while others remained outwardly strong, but they all huddled together in a cluster of shared terror and mistrust. These people had been pulled from their lives and forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.'And this has been happening for years,'Katie thought, filled with a sudden burst of pride that she and her kin were about to end this evil tradition.Unable to comfort the others, she had no choice but to imitate the	7,887
The Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD) strives to be a leader in innovative methods of optimizing their water system operations. They have implemented and piloted several programs since the water district’s creation in 2002. Dan York, Assistant General Manager states that “we are typically the first to try things out in our region, always running thorough pilot programs and others water districts wait for our findings.” The SSWD monitors 85 ground water wells, and needed a database to house data for over 2200 samples collected annually and analyzed by their labs. Prior to implementing WaterTrax, they were tracking their water quality data in spreadsheets, spending hours reviewing the data and entering it into spreadsheets. One thing that worried them was the lack of notifications or warnings when exceedances occurred in their water. They wanted to find a system that was more efficient and would reduce the amount of errors in data entry which was potentially exposing them to risk. We wanted some kind of alarms, and needed data automatically placed into a database from a laboratory which would notify us if we were exceeding an MCL, and would alert us of the detection limit on a constituent. That is exactly what WaterTrax provided us. One thing that attracted them to WaterTrax was the automated alerting feature and the laboratory data transfer functionality. The automation that WaterTrax offered was a huge improvement to their existing operations at the time. Since implementation, they have found that they have been able to decrease the amount of manual data entry and validation and reducing the errors in water quality data. Previously, they had to check through every single lab report and line item on their water quality results. WaterTrax eliminated both of those time consuming tasks. To increase automation and efficiency in their operations, they utilize the built-in Sampling Planner tool in WaterTrax to help them keep track of this intense sampling schedule. Prior to finding WaterTrax, SSWD was looking for something more efficient that would let them know if they were over the detection limit. “We wanted some kind of alarms,” explains Dan. “At that time, we wanted the data automatically placed into a database from a laboratory which would notify us if we were exceeding an MCL, and would alert us of the detection limit on constituent. That is exactly what WaterTrax provided us.” Since implementing WaterTrax as their water quality data management system, the SSWD has reported huge amounts of time savings in terms of labor costs when it comes to data entry, data reviewing and reporting for Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR), water quality reports and trending. “We are very happy with how WaterTrax improves efficiencies and has optimized the way we manage our water quality program. We are always looking for ways to improve our processes and currently we are working with WaterTrax to help us enhance our program further.” The Benefits WaterTrax helps the SSWD to collect over 100 regulatory constituents every three years, in addition to monthly and quarterly monitoring. Mr. York has noticed that since implementing WaterTrax, they have reduced the amount of manual data entry by 25 hours per month and reduced manual QA/QC of data by at least 8 hours per month. “We are very happy with how WaterTrax improves efficiencies and has optimized the way we manage our water quality program”, explains Dan. “We are always looking for ways to improve our processes and currently we are working with WaterTrax to help us enhance our program further.” Save time and reduce data errors by eliminating manual data entry, and validation Automated notifications keep track of sampling schedules and detection limits Want to learn more? Book a consultation, discovery call, demo, or contact us to discuss how we can meet your water monitoring needs.	4,023
If you would like to show support for Sherry's work or help with ongoing medical expenses please click the link below Something is going on. Unless someone out there is doing a promotion of my work, there appears to be an activation of some sort happening. As most, if not all of you know, I had to back away from my work due to health challenges brought on by an attack that included poison, mind control, DEWs and ELF radiation. I was forced to take down my contact page on my website, as I could no longer keep up with the correspondence. I felt pretty defeated. I felt I had not been able to fulfill my mission and what was worse, I soon no longer cared. I was exhausted and saddened by the sorry state of my life. It took me a very long time to understand how and why this had happened. I never believed in evil- never believed in attack- I certainly did and still do know that nothing happens to us without our consent…so I struggled everyday with the idea I had somehow allowed all this to happen and on some level wanted to sabotage myself and my message. Now I get it. Like so many millions of others, I came here from another dimension that does not know evil, hatred or anything negative. Like so many others we believe in only love. Which is good, right? Except that this is a world of duality…it is the game of Light vs. Dark. I had volunteered to come here and raise the vibration and bring a message that we are not alone. I had volunteered to help defeat the Dark, but didn’t realize that to do that, we must look at the Dark- acknowledge the dark and CHOOSE LOVE. But I am not going to go into all that- I think I have posted about that previously. Here is what I want to say. The people who optioned my book to make it into a movie are coming in a few days to start filming a documentary about my life experiences. They are hoping this film will spark attention to the issue of contact and help bring about a movie or series based on my book. The lady producer is a kind, awakened person who knows her business. I have complete faith in her. However, I was feeling like a fraud….a fake! She writes me about how important this message is- how I can share with the world my story and be a source of inspiration, when all I feel is defeated. I’ve been struggling with this and decided all I can do is be who I am and tell the truth- that I’ve had the crap beat out of me. I’ve lost my entire family- my health- my wealth and I’m tired. I have no words of inspiration. I’m barely hanging on. A few months ago I was communicating with Da and said that I didn’t like this Lightworker thing at all- it was not what I was expecting…it was much harder. He came back strong and clear, saying “Lightworker!? You are a LIGHTWARRIOR…make no mistake about this, Sherry. You are here to do battle with the dark. This is not for the faint of heart and you knew this before agreeing to come, but still you came!” So just a few days before the film crew is due to arrive I start to feel my guys around me. I get the typical signs they are nearby and I am so grateful to have them here with me. Late yesterday afternoon my inbox started to fill up with messages and book orders. Overnight I received more emails and two people tracked me down and called me- both feeling an urgent need to speak to someone who would understand what they’ve been experiencing. The messages are posted on my blog today, so they are there for you to see. I know my guys had a hand in this…after several months of little activity, why would I suddenly hear from people all around the world? I take these messages into my heart and I feel the pain, confusion, joy, trepidation, worry and concern for our Mother Earth and Her Children. My compassion is deep for the souls who have been lost in this realm for so long- suffering under a control system that many did not even know was in place. These message helped me to remember why I came here. They touched me and awakened in me the desire to once again be of service and work to finish what we are all here to do. Return this planet and her people to the Light. We are almost at critical mass…so much is happening it makes our head spin as people continue to awaken in amazing numbers. It is always darkest before the dawn, so we all must join together to hold the love and light in our hearts that will see us through these days. Know and Trust we are birthing a new world…a world free of evil, control and suppression. Never doubt how much impact you have. With every thought you are choosing between Light and Darkness…..be conscious and always lead with LOVE. I wrote this fast- I have a full day- no time to proof….(-: Just wanted to get it out to you all. lotsa love~ Sherry Mercedes Aparicio February 17, 2019 at 3:42 pm - Reply Glad you’re getting stronger. Life is getting so difficult and chaotic at the same time and everything is happening so fast. Sometimes when I look around me I’ve wondered if we are going to make it, that’s how bad It sometimes feels. And then I’m reminded as to why I chose to be here now. True, It’s harder than we thought it would be “to take the human form, submerge ourselves this deep with the risk of not waking up or even getting lost.” But we are here for a reason, we have purpose and we have drive. We are here for Mother Earth and for humanity, even in the simplest of forms. Everything is changing, I will say I have noticed that even animals are behaving very different these days. This beautiful being named Chomper (my dog) came into my life and the way he looks at me is very strange, in a very loving and compassionate way, it’s just not what you would normally expect of a pet. He stops, stands, and looks at me in the eye as if trying to tell me something & all I see is love comming from my Chomper. Being around him changes my vibration very high, very fast, and I will say I had not experienced that in the past. The challenges have been brutal, but assistance comes in many ways and forms: from our angels, guides, God and cosmic family. It’s all been worth it Sherry. Still there’s much to do but we are very close to graduation! Thank you for inspiring me. It is thanks to you coming out of the closet with your story that encouraged me to dive into my own experiences. Love and light to you Sherry!! Sherry Wilde February 18, 2019 at 6:17 pm - Reply Oh, that is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing! I started to write a post for the blog about a week ago that delved into this same topic of how challenging the times are and how tired so many of us are! But, LOL, I got bogged down in the 3-D world of work and health issues and never got back to it! Hope to get back to it soon. I just love what you wrote about Chomper- I have the same type of relationship with my dog, Pookie. There is no doubt he came into my life as a little spark emanating love and light from a higher frequency. He feels like home to me, ya know? Like he’s from my soul family. Some time I will do a post about him and the role he has played in my life. Literally, he saved my life. We have a deal, Pookie and me, we don’t complain about the journey we are on….we just keep moving forward trusting in the love of our Creator. We won’t bug out or give up until our mission is fulfilled. As I was reading your post I heard this, “There is a reason why dog spelled backward is god.” Indeed. Thank you so much for this message. I never even thought of it. Dog spelled backward is God and now I know why. These little beings must be very evolved to have taken that form and agreed to just be by our side and love us no matter what. They are not asking for anything in return, they are just here to love us unconditionally and that speaks of how selfless they are. In my darkest moments he turns to look at me in the eye with his beautiful golden honey eyes and just staring directly into my eyes comforting me. Glad you have Pookie by your side. Thanks again Sherry. Debra Langtry December 15, 2018 at 10:44 pm - Reply Thank you!! You are never alone….much love and blessings! Sherry Wilde December 16, 2018 at 10:28 am - Reply Datri December 6, 2018 at 2:04 am - Reply Aloha Beautiful Courageous Being. I welled up in tears many times during the various videos I’ve watched on YouTube of you these last few days. Tears of recognition, compassion, relief. My very first memory, is from about when I was about 9 months old. I can’t figure out how a baby can possibly think, but I most definitely had this thought form: “Oh my God! What have I done!? What am I doing here on this planet with all this barbaric energy?” I have been filled with Love and see the beauty in everything and everyone my entire life. So I cry a lot in pain of how people hurt one another, our Mother Earth and our fellow earth crwatures and inhabitants. It breaks my heart. I’m 65 now and I still hurt and cry. I felt such immense joy and relief to gaze upon your loving face and hear your words. I understand your experiences past and present. Thank you for coming and staying. I resonate with Da’s teachings and your pure delivery. I’ve been a lone wolf mostly and like you, I lost everything I worked for and ended up ill and feeling like I failed my mission. Thank you for all that you do and all that you give. It’s immensely helpful. It has helped me to want to keep trying. Much Love Sweetness. May your physical form heal, so that you may experience peace within it. That is my prayer for you, myself and all who suffer. We are not the body… As you said, the torture chamber body is a distraction. Transcending this pain, whatever the source, is a profound teaching that can lead to even greater compassion. If we can manage that, we can pour out even more Love to All. What a boon! You are deeply Loved. You have touched scores! Da was right! You are much needed Beautiful! Thank you.? Sherry Wilde December 10, 2018 at 12:14 pm - Reply Oh my, Datri….your words made me weep….so many of us are on this path. It touches me deeply to know I am not alone- not that I ever thought I was…well, maybe at my lowest point! I woke up a few hours ago, and as I do every morning these past 4-5 years, there is a heavy sadness that enshrouds me and it is my challenge to peel away those energies and find the light. I recently learned- through self discovery and then miraculous confirmation coming in from various places- that many of us took on these painful lives where we are seemingly targeted- play the ultimate role as a victim so that we can bring light to that energy, thereby releasing huge chunks of the dark frequency that surrounds this planet- wrought from so many believing they are victims. Sounds like you are fulfilling your mission beautifully. I keep my eye on the prize- when things get so hard you don’t know if you can go on…I remember the bigger picture. But I will tell you that receiving the messages of love, as I do every day, give me strength to continue. Words cannot express what it means to me to read these! Thank you so much! Love & Blessings~ Sherry Murray November 22, 2018 at 1:09 pm - Reply Hi Sherry, I just came across your youtube post and now your site. I resonate with you and what is going on. I feel the event is getting closer. Are you able to confirm my feeling of how close we are to the event. Sherry Wilde December 10, 2018 at 4:45 pm - Reply Hi Murray, The event is happening now. We are definitely awakening to the truth. Will there be a split second launch where we actually go from carbon based bodies to light bodies as we hurl out of the 3-D world and into the 5th Dimension. Well, I’m not sure, but seems like a strong possibility. I believe I have been popping in and out of the 3rd, 4th and, once in awhile, 5th frequency states of awareness. Certainly the Schumann Resonance is supporting the fact that earth is moving up in frequency as she spikes and maintains around a 40 hertz reading for increasingly longer periods of time. My guys have never told me or shown me how this is going to play out, but I think David Wilcock’s explanation makes a lot of sense. That the solar flare is the trigger to ignite the event. At the end of the day, however, we the children of earth are the ones to determine when it occurs. It is tied to the level of our collective frequency. The faster we wake up and free ourselves of the controllers, the sooner it will happen. I do not believe it can occur until we, together- being one, look at the darkness that has prevailed on the planet and choose Light. That is the return of Christ…it is the Christ Consciousness. Thanks for asking the interesting question! love, Sherry Barb Hjelmstad September 29, 2018 at 8:37 pm - Reply who is controlling us? and how are they controlling us? Thank you, Amanda August 30, 2018 at 5:36 am - Reply Sherry, I hope to hear from you after sharing my experience here with you. I have always been drawn to “aliens”, “UFO’s”, parallel worlds and other demensions. And I don’t know why. I have experienced things that have spooked me so much that when I am alone at night, I sleep with the lights on. I have witnessed a soccer ball size plasma see through orb hoovering over my counter that took off and dissentigrated in midair in the middle of my kitchen. I have experienced being literally grabbed in the middle of the night just as I’m falling asleep. I have felt a presence in my room toward the end of my bed and sometimes I feel something sit on my bed at my feet but I can’t wake up enough to see it or sometimes I snap out of grogginess and realize there is nothing there. I have become paranoid anytime I am by myself. I feel like I go into other demensions during sleep. I have sleep paralysis and sometimes when I am in a paralysis state, I’ll see a portal in my ceiling….and sometimes they tell me not to go into the portal. Just yesterday, an orange orb shot past me. I experience migraines a LOT. I feel like my energy is zapped and sometimes when I wake up, I am exhausted like I just ran a marathon. I’m a sky watcher, especially at night. I don’t have expensive gadgets or anything, I just tend to be amazed with the night sky. I feel like I’m supposed to do something here on earth but I don’t know what it is. I know I did a lot of crazy rambling talk here but I feel like something is going on with me. I feel like my family, though they seem interested in me telling them my experience, does not believe me, or they think I have wild dreams and an imagination. I get frustrated because I so badly want them to experience what I have and there is no way I can make them experience so I just get frustrated. I’m lost and I don’t know what to do. How can I know of what I’m experiencing is real? Sherry Wilde December 10, 2018 at 5:49 pm - Reply Amanda. You ask what is real in a world that is unreal. Nothing is real that exists around you that you are seeing with your eyes. That is the problem. Our eyes were made by us when we decided to separate from our Creator. We made a body to represent and prove to us that we are separate- we put eyes on this body to make us look outside ourselves so we’d look there instead of within. The world is a projection that comes from our mind. We are all in on the game, since we are, in truth, all one. I have shared in every single one of your examples- many of us do. We are multidimensional beings, so you may be experiencing a bleed through, a timeline glitch or any number of things since we are a projection- a hallograph. If you are concerned you may want to seek out a good shaman. I try to go to one on a regular basis just to help clear my energy field. You can do that work yourself, but it doesn’t hurt to bring in some help once in awhile. You are blessed to be so aware. If you can get past the fear you will most likely learn some amazing things and find a gift you can share with the world. Peace & Joy to You~ Sherry Annette August 28, 2018 at 7:54 am - Reply Hi Sherry, I’m from South Australia and want to say thank you for persisting through the years. I don’t quite know what else to write to you, so, ~ know that I wish you the best in the next phase of challenges and thank you for all your work so far. Sherry Wilde December 10, 2018 at 5:51 pm - Reply Thank you Annette. I have a ton of fans in your beautiful country! I am hoping to be well enough to travel there some day to speak at a few of your conferences. Very kind of you to write! lots of love~ Sherry Ken Mikalauskas August 15, 2018 at 9:48 am - Reply LIGHT WARRIOR… when I read that, my eyes welled up with tears – This connects with me deeply. I’ve always felt that I stand very strong on the side of the light, but traditional religious beliefs never sat well with me. Having discovered you and your words, I feel a huge door of awakening opening inside of me. Thank you. Feisty kitty August 27, 2018 at 12:19 am - Reply Thank you! You snapped me out of the fog! I’ve known this all along but couldn’t quite access the full picture. I’ve been searching for the key to unlock the knowledge and you were it! Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:57 pm - Reply The working title for my 2nd book is, THE MISSION. The Life of a Light Warrior. (-: I like it, ya? Thanks to you Ken and Feisty Kitty for posting this! Annick VK August 16, 2022 at 6:19 am - Reply We all hope that your health will improve enough, so that you can, at one point, start working on it. If it is in you, it will have to eventually come out. I trust that the Universe has your back here too. Pamela Noelle August 5, 2018 at 12:24 am - Reply I have watched many, many videos on this subject but none have resonated with me quite like yours. DO NOT give up, my friend….you have inspired me not to either. I feel as though God led me to your video, Contact In The Desert. I also feel as though I have been in a fog of confusion for so long….only to find you and your story. You have made me feel so much better about this confused feeling I have been carrying for so long. I hope I am making sense….I am just dealing with an absolute flood of thoughts and emotions as I type this. Thank you from my whole heart for sharing your story. You have put the light back into my life. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:56 pm - Reply Love your message Pamela…I hear the sincerity and I’ve been in that very same place! None of us is alone- not ever. It is so important now that we speak up and no longer allow our voices to be silenced with ridicule and shame. The controllers are SO DONE! (-: lotsa love to you sweet lady! ~Sherry Dawn Jackson August 4, 2018 at 7:26 pm - Reply Sherry , I can see that otherwise speaking I, have taken something from you. I have been listening to your video it, tells me that the truth is something that faces everyone but, I have been taken many times and, the tattered way the Earth looks as, you are taken tells me that we, have been altered. We have been designed to interact with the beings that, have delivered us from the alter. We are a unique race of beings that once were. We had survived through many spiritual encounters and, were designed to remain as such. We can speak to them and, them to us. We can retrieve our memories by asking the one that identifies as drew . I have taken a look along the long passage that leads to the tarmac. This was inserted during the first abduction. You see we were visited on the same day you and I . Our vessels were sworn to secrecy as others were taken intermittently. We stood together in the long line that was turned towards the sun , do you remember? I asked you a question and you turned to me and said, speak to the one that sits in front. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:53 pm - Reply Hi Dawn. Interesting comment you posted. I’ve had a lot of people tell me they recognize me from on the ship…and I’ve also met others that I know have been there with me. Such is life for those of us that spend so much “time” in an alternate reality! Thank you for the memory! love, Sherry Kat Kas July 31, 2018 at 3:26 pm - Reply Oh! I was so humbled to read your response, thank you Sherry It resonated with me..I never heard of ACIM..I’m going to research it after I read your book :-)) I understand now more than ever, how we can all help to lift each other up. Best wishes for the movie, I’m excited to follow the process. light&love Kat Maria July 31, 2018 at 12:02 pm - Reply Sending you love and strength from Johannesburg, South Africa too. Feels like there is a web of hearts all around Gaia, all here to hug and love you Sherry. We need you to keep illuminating the pathway for us, love Maria Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:49 pm - Reply Thank you Maria fro South Africa! Sorry for the late post- had so much trouble with this site! Blessings! ? Sherry Frida July 31, 2018 at 6:14 am - Reply I´m really interested in everything about extra terrestrials and our cosmic universe(s). I have watched hours of you, talking about this on YouTube. I know you don´t think you´re brave, but you definitely are, in my opinion. And I love the calm about you. Your voice is pleasant and comforting. You are truly a beautiful soul! I wish the best for you, and hope and pray that you will be able to keep up your important work here on planet Earth. Lots of love and strenght to you! Frida in Sweden Sherry Wilde July 31, 2018 at 10:53 am - Reply Thank you Frida from Sweden for taking the time to comment! I so appreciate it!! (-: ~Sherry Kat Kas July 30, 2018 at 8:40 pm - Reply WOW!! I too like so many others am awakening. However, earlier today, I decided to give up trying to figure it all out, my life, my purpose, and wanted to give up on all the awakening stuff, because of the shift of perception and ego talk and FEAR …and then I found your video, and now your site…I Thank our Divine Creator…and the collective won’t let us get off track, even through the low frequency of the third. Thank you Sherry. You are an incredibly brave warrior and a strong role model. I have received insight, comfort and inspiration through learning of your story experiencing your humbleness. Many blessings, Much Love Sherry Wilde July 31, 2018 at 10:52 am - Reply Wonderful post Kat! We’ve all been there…me most recently- ready to toss all this spiritual warrior stuff in the trash….LOL….like we could really do that at this point! But it is through sharing- on this site and others- that we connect and help to hold the space for all of us to remember the truth of who we are. As ACIM says, I will remember for you until you wake up. (paraphrasing!!) lotsa love, Sherry John July 23, 2018 at 9:43 pm - Reply Sherry, your post has caused my heart to ache for you. Your pain sounds similar to my Sister’s. Please draw in white light from the universe, smudge more often, verbalize the tiniest gratitude, and find reasons to laugh. Sending you a loving prayer for endless strength. John Sherry Wilde July 25, 2018 at 1:28 pm - Reply Thank you John for your heartfelt message- I truly appreciate it! I am doing all I can to bring myself back from the dark crevice I have been in for the past few years and it is working. I continue to live from my heart and feel gratitude for the gift that is my life. The messages I receive thru this site help tremendously. Blessings & Love to you! Carly Bouwman July 15, 2018 at 12:39 am - Reply Hi Sherry! I’m so happy that I was drawn back to you today! It was just over a year ago that I started doing some healing with another light worker which surprisingly opened the door to me investigating my own ET experiences throughout my life. I’m 41 and until I recently started digging and listening to other people’s stories and reading info. about what is going on out there, I would have just brushed it off as some strange experiences, but for some reason the truth of this has come knocking on my door and I can’t ignore it any longer. I’m sooooo happy to have found your interviews!! To hear about what you have been through has brought me to tears multiple times as I can relate to so much of it and hearing you speak about it has been such a relief… the pieces of this strange puzzle are finally making some sense. I was shocked to hear you describe some of the things that I have experienced. As much as having connections with ETs/ star seed families still sounds like a sci fi movie to me as I am a very logical and skeptical thinker I can’t deny that it’s definitely a big part of my being … as it is all of ours and we need the help of BRAVE LOVING people like you to help us see who we really are. THANK YOU sooo much for enduring your challenges and continuing on. There IS a huge shift happening right now… I feel somehow that I’ve been kind of a barometer for the mass consciousness and the last few months I have been going through a metamorphosis of some kind that was exciting at first and now I feel like I’m caught in a bit of a tornado spinning between a new clarity of purpose and wanting to give up…I keep asking myself what is the point of this crazy reality. It’s an exhausting, confusing and frustrating place to be and I sure hope it changes soon, but yes, something big is going on. I have so many questions for you about what you know and I want to share what I’ve experienced. Everything from feeling homesick my whole life, to recently being guided with holograms to having possible physical contact with zeta type beings and being told about my star seed background and that I have a connection with a consciousness named Aurora, which I have found nothing about until I heard you say her name. I’m looking forward to reading your book and this documentary is AMAZING news!!! Please don’t overlook the massive appreciation from so many others about how you are sharing your story. It is valuable just like the air we are breathing… we are shifting into clarity and you are a huge part of that. I’m sending you huge waves of love and support and if I can help you relieve your physical challenges in any way, I am here waiting to help. I would love to connect with you some time when and if you are free and able. Much love and appreciation to you! Carly. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:47 pm - Reply Carly, you have a great way with words! You articulate clearly what I have felt and the challenges that face us as we delve into this alternate reality. It does get weird sometimes and it get easy to get lost in the craziness of it all. For me, I have never been good at relating on a human basis…it’s like no one ever told me the rules, but everyone else seems to know them! My sweetie will sometimes tell me (after a social event) “You can’t say those things, Sherry! People don’t get that- didn’t you see their faces!?” LOL….I do it all the time- I’ve always done it to some extent, but worse now. I don’t know where the line is. Anyway- nice hearing from you. Lots of love and light to you~ Sherry vi garcia July 14, 2018 at 9:35 pm - Reply I am so happy things are turning around for you. You might recall the advise you gave me that it was my ego trying to keep me down. I still have to work second by second at not feeling defeated, tired, and alone in my own struggle and I, too, got the message this is a battle between light and dark While I get that, and I get glimpses of ‘truth’ from Ramtha and a woman named Amoda Maa, it is very hard. I’m just happy to know that as things have turned around for you, perhaps there is hope on the horizon. Again, so happy for you. Keep going. I have good feelings about this for you. Blessings, Vi Garcia (pensacola, Unlimited Horizons group you came to talk to.) Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:39 pm - Reply Doug Smith July 14, 2018 at 2:42 pm - Reply Blessings. I just found you today. Watched video from CITD. I pray for you to have strength. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:38 pm - Reply It’s so odd….I can barely remember being at CITD. I was so damn sick- had no business being there! Not sure how I got through that lecture! I am getting stronger thanks to all the positive energy that was sent my way along with assistance from so many. Thank you for taking the time to post Doug. lotsa love, Sherry Michael July 12, 2018 at 5:48 pm - Reply I found you yesterday, illuminating and inspiring. I took the liberty of emailing you via your ……….44@……com address, hope that’s okay… need some of your astuteness and insight Adrienne Lee July 12, 2018 at 2:43 pm - Reply My post disappeared, so I will just say. We are here and your energy is pulling us here. Good luck and have fun making the documentary. We are waiting for it and the world needs it. I will be sharing you with others like us. Best, Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:36 pm - Reply Sorry you lost your post- my site was having issues for a while, but I have a terrific, kind and generous guy helping me with it, so thanks to him it’s going great now. The documentary is in editing now and the movie is now on the table. Exciting times! Stay tuned~ Sherry Sean Neufeld July 12, 2018 at 2:32 pm - Reply I just came upon your story and it’s sounding somewhat familiar to my own e.t. experience I had at age 14, now I am 37. At the time it was scary but like you say, after some time and hypnosis it proved otherwise. I’ve been down too many “rabbit holes” to count and at the top of the list right now is Corey Goode. He is working with David Wilcock and they really have a lot of information to share. I would recommend to everyone to check out Corey Goode at spherebeingalliance.com Sherry is a Brave woman and it is that kind of bravery that is needed now to shift not just ourselves but the perceived world in which we interact. The compassion gird of consciousness around the planet is growing, and more people plug into it every day, such things will end suffering as we know it today. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:33 pm - Reply Hey Sean! Thank you for the super post. I also like Corey Goode- like many truth speakers he is getting a lot of grief. It doesn’t really matter to me if his “stories” are real or projections…the bottom line of what he teaches….to find our own power, raise our awareness and be heart centered….is what really matters. I think he is a humble guy who has been through a lot and is very courageous to speak up. lotsa love to you~ Sherry Anne Evanoff July 12, 2018 at 2:30 pm - Reply Sherry, I found a video of you 2 days ago after praying deeply to know the Truth. Keep it up. I’m on a fast track of learning/ relearning and appreciate your honesty. Anne Sent from my iPhone Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:30 pm - Reply Cool. I like your post! Check out A Course of Love- one of the fastest and best ways to “unlearn” what the world has taught you and help you to awaken! Blessings~ Sherry sue Lucas July 12, 2018 at 12:52 pm - Reply Welcome Back! I’ve been looking for new videos from you just about every day…You said once “We are pretty much in The Truman Show” on a video from a few years ago and that hit home for me. Because one night a few years ago while driving home from work I got the over whelming feeling I was being watched from above. So much so I was ducking down in my car while driving. No loss of time was involved because I had picked up some to go food and my family was waiting for me at home. It was just amazing to hear you say the same thing on that video that I had felt that night. Strange days indeed! Like I tell people… Don’t come sit by me unless you can handle the truth, because it will just come spilling out of my mouth. HA! I only fully woke up in 2013 and have been on a research mission every since. Keep up the good work, we are out here listening. Best to you from New Mexico!! Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:28 pm - Reply Thank you Sue. Yes, I remember saying that- now I am asking people if they’ve seen the show Westworld. That is hard for me to watch because it is so like my life….actually, like life on this planet. My guys recently told me that our world is very much like what we would call a computer simulated reality. And it certainly is! Keep being a catalyst for awakening souls! (-: cmblake6 July 12, 2018 at 12:31 pm - Reply I watched your CID video, and am watching it again. I am absolutely fascinated! Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:40 pm - Reply Jody Sugar July 12, 2018 at 7:38 am - Reply Dear Sherry, I have listened to your testimony about 3 times and the third time I realized that maybe I should look a little further into this because of my thoughts and feelings about all this that you’re talking about. I will be getting your book for starters hopefully maybe I’ll start getting some answers. Thank you for sharing with all of us and I will be listening as you continue. And don’t listen to those people that say things that aren’t very nice because they are so in the dark. Love you! Hi Sherry, I recently came across your lectures and actually…..your entire story. I believe I was told to message you. Or rather I felt I have too message you. Please let me know if I can email you personally. Rochelle.joseph@Gmail.com we exchanged a few e-mails in the past (or so it seems in this virtual reality in which time is experienced as real) but I don’t have your e-mail address any more. From my own experiences I learned a lot, things that so far I have not heard anyone talk about yet, a different view of the whole phenomenon. A very positive one, without denying the unpleasantness that is often experienced surrounding it, and which to many of us seems to be all there is to it. Yet even that can be seen as evidence of how courageous and altruistic our true being is. I’m glad also you have a positive understanding of what is taking place. I would like to add to that in case you would like to know more about it. In case you read this and would like to hear more about it, please contact me via my e-mail address. Much love & happiness to you, This is a dreamlike virtual reality in which spiritual realities are symbolically reflected as in a mirror. Every morning when we seem to open our human eyes we have let ourselves be “abducted” by the human we seem to be, as well as by the other humans. For this world tells us constantly that we are but these humans, thus in a way even “killing” us in the sense of us no longer knowing and enjoying Who we truly are. Compared to Who we really are as s human we are the most scary predator known in this universe. It takes tremendous courage and charity to be willing to participate in God’s Plan for the salvation of the world. In a way there is a part in us where we are testing ourselves and each other to see if our love is selfish or unselfish. Gray symbolizes doubt. That part of us is symbolized as the Greys. It is our interpretation -perception- of that part that makes them look like that. I already posted the following on your “About” thread. But I might as well post it here also, as below that article I explain a bit more about Who and How we are as spirit extensions of God: You must be receiving lots of e-mails and requests for making contact, understandably. So I won’t hold it against you if you find the little I shared her plenty enough. No need for more info at this point. But I would be curious what your “Guy’s” would say about all of us in oneness with God having given our Life for the humans… or at least for their souls. I noticed some errors: “Gray” instead of “Grey”, and “her” instead of “here.” Part of the human condition: seeing yourself making mistakes, and then feel bad about it. Part of the cross. Reason why an seemingly ancient mystic -Gerlach Peters- recommended we often remind God in ourselves Who it really is that notices our human imperfections as us when we do: “Lord, you have seen my imperfection.” Or as Augustine seemingly even longer ago wrote: “The Son Himself says, Your Eyes have seen My imperfect being. That which is imperfect in My body, Your Eyes have seen.” “a seemingly ancient mystic” Human errors are made constantly, thus constantly accusing us, for as long as we identity with the human we seen to be and have been, and as such seem to have done and are doing. (Welcome to hell.) And yet knowing all this beforehand, we came anyway. To extend the Kingdom of God to earth. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:20 pm - Reply Feisty kitty August 27, 2018 at 12:04 am - Reply Wow, you just described exactly what I have felt and tried to describe for years and years. Thank you! It is such a huge relief just knowing that there are more like me out there and I’m not just crazy. We really are here to save the world! Let’s do this. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:21 pm - Reply YES!! We are here to save the world and it only takes one of us. Be the light you were created to be! allen July 12, 2018 at 12:45 am - Reply hang in there sherry , i have just recently found your interviews and i have found your life journey to be very enlightening ……wishing you all the best. Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:16 pm - Reply Anita Evans July 11, 2018 at 11:43 pm - Reply Sherry- I can’t believe this. I just found you today!! And now just read your blog you wrote TODAY! Yes we are being drawn to you and everything that’s light bringing! Today before I listened to your YouTube video from contact in the desert I had been on this path but YOUR message of all the pieces I’ve read and heard made me really believe that I am also part of the light team. I started crying at the end of your talk as I aligned to your message. Let’s do this thing!! Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:15 pm - Reply Anita. See the message above to Cora….your message had the same effect on me…and was posted on the same day! These are the kind of miracles that keep me moving forward. I am so grateful to you for taking time to write and share your love and enthusiasm! And you are right….let’s do this!! love to you~ Sherry Cora July 11, 2018 at 8:34 pm - Reply You got this girl! Do not stop! I happened across your video of you on uamn.. I saw something mirculous in that video. Pure raw truth. Thank you for speaking your truth! I’m not a person with encounters. I got such loving lessons from watching it. I bought ur book immediately. To me your story is full of lessons. Those of us that it resonates with it, and understand. We are out here! It opened the door of compasion.wider to understand what abductees go through. It’s such a hard subject to understand. So much fear around it. I read your entire book today. The lessons I learned where about the truth of who we are. About my life right now in a way that was magical. Everyone is pulling in together for u. Your not done yet. Keep it going lady! Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:12 pm - Reply Cora! I read your comment soon after it was posted. It lifted my spirit for days after and I’ve come back to it several times. I’m sorry I was unable to respond- my access to the site was messed up and I couldn’t respond to all comments. Anyway it is up and running fine now and I’m so happy to tell you what it meant to read that post! It was a very bad day/time when you sent that message my way and I drew a lot of strength from it…along with the others I get here, but yours…well…it just made me smile. Bless you Cora!! You are a light in this world! ~ Sherry Janet Deaton July 11, 2018 at 7:22 pm - Reply I just watched your talk at Contact in the Desert on YouTube and it has deeply affected me. I grew up in West Virginia where my mother could see and have contact with ETs. She was very open about this and spoke about it frequently, but as a small child I was afraid of the dark and scared of being “taken”, although I believed she was telling the truth and not making things up. My mother was quite an amazing woman. I was born in 1947. I believe I might be one of those children who have been taken, but I have no clear memories of any of it. What do I do now? Thanks, Janet Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:08 pm - Reply Hi Janet. If you’ve heard me speak about this, you might know that I believe everyone on the planet get “taken” at some point at least once. It’s the way it is in this game on planet earth. As to your question…”What do I do now?” My answer is to live your life in the best way possible. Raise your vibration- be heart centered and kind. If you feel drawn to it- join a study group locally or online for A Course in Miracles or A Course of Love….that will give you a strong foundation and help you to undo what this world has taught you. love, Sherry Craig Zumbroegel July 11, 2018 at 4:00 pm - Reply I just “discovered” you yesterday, and I feel like, in the last four years, I lost my way through a series of events and health problems, not unlike yourself, but now I’ve gotten your spark and feel whole again. I would say that this seems miraculous as you seem to have just hit the same lows I’ve been through, but that would seem trite. Bless you, and thank you. I can feel the positive energy flowing again! Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:05 pm - Reply I appreciate your message Craig….many of us feel as though we’ve been through hell these past years…it is the nature of this reality, unfortunately. So glad you persevered! Keep your light shining bright! ~ Sherry freezingtimewithphotography July 11, 2018 at 1:48 pm - Reply Glad you’re getting stronger everyday! Hope that your message will be heard by many many more souls in the near future! Sherry Wilde July 11, 2018 at 2:46 pm - Reply Tez July 14, 2018 at 6:03 am - Reply Hi sherry just found you and not too soon Love from tez Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:03 pm - Reply Duann July 11, 2018 at 11:59 am - Reply Have been feeling the same way. . . . neutralobservation July 11, 2018 at 11:49 am - Reply Thank you for embodying the rediscovery of multidimensional love through the human form, here’s a big hug from the captain of your Strawberry Team of Love Sherry Wilde December 13, 2018 at 2:02 pm - Reply Hey Bjorn~ I couldn’t respond to this- was having trouble with my site! Finally got it working and catching up on the messages! How are you- I’m off FB- just didn’t resonate with me, so losing touch….might have to go back on at some point! A lot happening! Very exciting! I’ve seen a few videos of you on Youtube….inspiring! Lots n’ Lots of Love to you!! ~ Sherry Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. Δ Comments March 14th, 2019 Now What? January 16th, 2018 July 11th, 2018 August 25th, 2015 February 25th, 2016 September 1st, 2021 September 1st, 2021 July 27th, 2021 The 2nd Wave July 13th, 2020 June 8th, 2020 What is it I've heard some say....'From your lips to God's ears!"… Dear Sherry, You wrote here: "The damage done to my body might… Super title Sherry! Love it! We all hope that your health will… Very kind of you to post this Annick. Now I need to… I appreciate you taking the time to write. It always lifts my… The 2nd Wave If you would like to show support for Sherry's work or help with ongoing medical expenses please click the link below Find me on Telegram by downloading the app to your device and searching for “Sherry Wilde’s Channel”. I’m typically on there every day.	45,283
When it comes to the use of oxygen therapy for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) it can be a mixed bag. Although supplemental oxygen tanks are vital and universally recommended by pulmonologists and physicians alike, in truth they only recommend this form of treatment for those who are experiencing severe COPD. For those who are living with mild to moderate COPD, the use of oxygen therapy may be a bit ineffective. The use of oxygen therapy can in many ways be a godsend to those who live with severe COPD as it delivers the exact element that their body is missing: oxygen. The use of supplemental oxygen can have its upsides and downsides, ranging from the peace of mind of being able to breathe in the category of pros, to the anxiety and difficulty that come with lugging around an oxygen tank on the side of cons. With your health in mind, the Lung Institute is here to give you a comprehensive overview of oxygen therapy for COPD and explore the history of the use of supplemental oxygen, it’s place in treatment today and a few tips on how to make it work for you and your health plan. As we’ve touched on previously, the supplemental oxygen tank has had a long and evolving history. First discovered in 1772, it has been in use within the field of medicine for more than 200 years. Oxygen therapy helps treat various respiratory illnesses from pneumonia to COPD. Over the years, the “tank” itself has evolved greatly, increasing its mobility and portability with every successive decade. With supplemental oxygen’s first recorded use in 1885, where it was used to treat pneumonia, using it to deliver oxygen to those deprived of it has been its primary application. From use in WWI and WWII, today supplemental oxygen tanks have been developed specifically to meet the needs of those with COPD and other respiratory conditions. Today, patients who are prescribed oxygen therapy for COPD and other pulmonary conditions have the choice between the use of traditional oxygen tanks and portable oxygen concentrators. Portable oxygen concentrators draw oxygen from the surrounding area and purify it before returning it the patient. Oxygen therapy as a method of treatment can come with a variety of benefits. For starters, it can serve as an immediate relief for those with shortness of breath and general respiratory issues. Secondly, the peace of mind that comes with knowing there is a method of clear breathing available at your fingertips cannot be understated. However, in the treatment of COPD and other lung diseases, the use of supplemental oxygen can form a slippery slope. And as we’ve mentioned before, supplemental oxygen is typically prescribed by doctors for those with severe COPD. When used by those who do not have severe COPD, the effects are minimal. Firstly, the treatment method itself can leave the user literally tethered to the tank. The tanks may ultimately foster dependency and reduced mobility as a result. On top of that, the primary application of the oxygen tank is to relieve the symptom of breathlessness. However, it cannot address the disease itself, only the symptom of shortness of breath. In this sense, oxygen therapy is not a cure but a relief of symptoms. Here is a list of general rules and tips to understand and follow when using an oxygen tank. Keep your oxygen cannulas and tank away from an open flame. Generally, keep your oxygen tank away from areas of high heat (the oven or stove) Avoid accidents of tripping by storing your tanks by visible corners or walls Avoid running out of oxygen by keeping your inventory renewed To avoid nose bleeds, try to keep your cannulas moist COPD isn’t an illness that’s easy to live with. It’s draining, frustrating and downright disheartening when feeling as if your quality of life is slowly slipping away from you. However, change may be possible through treatment with your doctors. With a few behavioral changes, it’s possible to greatly affect the pronouncement of symptoms within those with chronic lung disease. Always consult with your doctor on a treatment plan that is right for you. Christine Kingsley, APRN is the Health and Wellness Director at the Lung Institute where she focuses on providing helpful online resources for people looking for information on various lung diseases, breathing exercises, and healthy lifestyle choices. She advocates for holistic care that involves working with your doctor to explore all options including traditional and alternative care while focusing on diet and exercise as proactive measures.	4,804
A family agreement is an arrangement between an older person and someone else regarding care and living arrangements. Last updated: 24 February 2022 What is a family agreement? When might a family agreement be entered into? How does a family agreement relate to elder abuse? What situations require a family agreement? Intergenerational households A family agreement is an arrangement between an older person and someone else (usually a family member, friend or carer) regarding care and living arrangements. Often called an ‘assets for care’ arrangement, it involves the older person exchanging their property or assets in return for housing and/or care as they age. The agreement should be mutually beneficial. For the older person it might mean no longer living alone as they age, being closer to grandchildren, and avoiding moving into residential aged care. For the family member (usually a child of the older person) the benefits might be the financial boost, remaining close to their parent(s) and the related peace of mind, and having help with childcare and domestic work. Some common family agreement situations include: purchasing a property and sharing a home building an extension or granny flat on a family member’s property an older person transferring ownership of their property but continuing to reside there making financial agreements such as loans, gifts and home loan guarantor arrangements. Family agreements don’t always involve the direct transfer of assets for care. They can include any agreement within a family about intergenerational living and care arrangements, such as an older person offering housing and care to an adult child in need, or parents migrating to be closer to their children and help with their grandchildren. Issues can arise with family agreements when the potential consequences of the arrangements have not been thought through or an unexpected change occurs. Most people trust their family members and believe they’ll do the right thing by them should the arrangements not work out. Unfortunately, this can mean people don’t seek the independent legal advice that might protect their rights and finances when things go wrong. Having safeguards in place is particularly important for older people, who are usually on low or fixed incomes during retirement. Elder abuse can sometimes occur in the context of family agreements, with devastating personal and financial consequences for the older person. Elder abuse includes an older person being pressured into making a family agreement or deliberately being taken advantage of by the arrangements that are made. It can occur when the promised care or housing doesn’t eventuate or when circumstances change to the detriment of the older person. Where a family agreement has broken down, there are some legal and civil options available to help people resolve the dispute. The older person has a better chance of seeking redress and recovering financial contributions if the arrangements have been formally documented. Older people should always seek independent legal and financial advice before entering a family agreement, because often it affects their tax, age pension or ability to pay for aged care services. What is a family agreement? Family agreement’ is an umbrella term for any arrangement between an older person and someone else (usually a family member, friend or carer) regarding care and living arrangements. Often called an ‘assets for care’ arrangement, it involves the older person exchanging their property or assets for housing and/or care as they age. This might be by sharing accommodation, co-purchasing property, making loans or cash gifts, providing child care or aged care, and more. A family agreement is often informal and verbal, entered into in the spirit of care and mutual benefit. However, a lack of documentation or any record of shared expectations can cause problems if the relationship breaks down or one of the parties does not fulfil their promises. For this reason, all family agreements should be documented, so that they become a ‘formal’ family agreement. There is no Commonwealth or state-based legislation governing these family agreements (other than that relating to general contracts), and they can take a number of forms, including (among others): co-ownership agreements granny flat agreements loan agreements deeds of family arrangement. If the agreement is formalised by being documented (following legal advice), there is a better chance that what has been agreed on by the parties can be enforced or that an older person’s contributions can be recouped if the arrangement ends. Sometimes family agreements are entered into in bad faith by family members who wish to benefit from the older person’s desire for care. Documenting a family agreement, even those that are potentially disadvantageous to the older person, can help the older person seek redress if the arrangements become abusive. When might a family agreement be entered into? A family agreement should be considered over a period of time so that everyone involved can be sure it’s the best thing for each of them. Later life can be a time of great change and the decision to enter into a family agreement may come after a crisis or upheaval for the older person, such as the loss of a partner, age-related illness or increased frailty, financial pressures after retirement, or a period of extended loneliness or stress. Most people want to remain as independent as possible and live at home as they age. While there are many that can give support for daily activities such as meals, cleaning and personal care, they aren’t quite the same thing as help from willing family members or friends. But even with the most helpful and available family, many older people can feel like their increased needs make them a burden. Some people may believe that making a financial contribution to their family in return for care alleviates this feeling. In addition, it gives them the opportunity to make a tangible impact by sharing the wealth that they have acquired over their lifetime and intend to pass on when they die. For many people, a family agreement is a way of distributing their estate at an earlier point, when they feel their children can most use it. There is much joy that can come from multiple generations of a family living together: closer relationships across the generations, more hands on deck to help out, and a sharing of resources that might allow everyone to live comfortably. There is one important way that all happy families are alike: they think that they will always be happy, and because they harbour genuine good intentions, they often don’t plan for the possibility of things going wrong. But even for families who have no history of disagreement or conflict, a formal documented family agreement (and the discussions necessary to get there) can be beneficial. Before taking the leap, everything should be on the table for discussion—finances, care arrangements, future changes, potential relationship breakdown, child care expectations. Overall, family agreements, particularly ‘assets for care’ arrangements, can be a good way for older people and their children to address the challenges both parties might be facing at this point in their lives. However, they work best if everyone considers whether the arrangement meets all their needs, now and in the future, and ensures that it is formalised in a way that can help avoid, or resolve, future disputes. How does a family agreement relate to elder abuse? An older person contributing their assets to their family in return for care and housing as they age is not, in itself, elder abuse. But sometimes elder abuse will arise within the context of a family agreement, and the effects can be devastating on a personal and financial level. When family agreements go wrong, older people can be left without a home and financial security. Depending on the financial arrangements, the fallout may affect their age pension entitlements, tax and aged care options. Most devastatingly, when an agreement breaks down, older people risk losing relationships that are important to them (including with grandchildren) and feel ashamed about what has happened, which leads to further stress, anxiety and depression. Elder abuse in the context of family agreements can take many forms. The promised care might not eventuate, resulting in neglect. Family conflict or violence might make the arrangements untenable, or the older person might have been pressured to take part and feel trapped. Alternatively, unexpected circumstances might arise that change everyone’s plans, and elder abuse can occur if the older person is expected to take the brunt of the difficulties or when they try to assert their rights. Elder abuse services in each state and territory provide information and support for people to address the abuse and remain safe. Civil litigation and dispute resolution services can offer a way forward when the arrangements have broken down, but this can be a difficult and costly process that may not deliver the outcomes desired. In order to avoid being the victim of elder abuse, the older person is encouraged to carefully consider the proposed agreement, discuss it with family and others, and seek independent financial and legal advice. Family members contemplating entering into a family agreement with an older person should make every effort to ensure the arrangements are mutually beneficial and that consideration has been given to the older person’s future needs should the circumstances change or the agreement dissolve. What situations require a family agreement? These are some of the most common scenarios in which family members of different generations (often, ageing parents and their adult child/ren) might come to a family agreement over living arrangements, care, assets and support. While many families might think a verbal or informal agreement is enough, a formal, or documented, family agreement is always beneficial, particularly if the arrangements later change or fail. Co-purchasing property Where an older person sells their house and puts the proceeds towards purchasing or building a new property to live in with a family member. While both the older person and the family member might be on the property title, it is common for the house to be only in the name of the family member. A common scenario is when an older person puts the proceeds of the sale of their home towards purchasing or building a new property with another family member (often one of their adult children). This scenario often comes about when an older person wants to help their child get into the property market, while also avoiding having to move into aged care. The new property might be a single house that everyone lives in together, or it might have a self-contained flat or separate dwelling for the older person. Part of the arrangements might be an understanding that the family member will provide care for the older person as they age. It may also be agreed that the older person will provide child care for their grandchildren or domestic help around the shared house. The house may be purchased in the name of one or all people involved. Some different purchasing arrangements include: the land being purchased by one person and the build financed by another the older person providing the majority of the purchase funds, with the family member taking out a mortgage for the remainder and being the sole owner on title both the older person and the family member being owners on the title (in this case, even if the family member has agreed to be responsible for the mortgage repayments, the older person may find themselves required to step in if the repayments aren’t made) the older person being listed on the title as a ‘joint tenant’ (which means that upon death, their share goes to the remaining title holders and does not form part of their estate) the older person being listed on the title as a ‘tenant in common’ (in which case their share reflects their contribution and, upon their death, will become part of their estate and be distributed as per their will). Regardless of the particular details, it is important for everyone involved to be clear on what the new arrangements mean for them, both now and in the future, and for a formal agreement to document them. Formally documenting the agreement may also help to ensure transparency about the arrangements with other family members and avoid future disputes (for example, between siblings). Whether the older person and family member are both on the property title, or only one of them is, a formal family agreement could detail each party’s contribution at the point of purchase and decisions about proportional ownership, which can be useful if the property needs to be sold and the proceeds divided at a later time. A formal agreement can also record any decisions about upkeep, access and use of the shared property, and other expectations about the new living arrangements. If only the family member (and not the older person) is on the property title, Centrelink’s ‘granny flat interest’ rules may apply to the older person’s age pension asset test. (The term refers to the living arrangement—making a cash contribution to live in someone else’s home—rather than the type of accommodation known as a ‘granny flat’.) Elif sold her home and contributed most of the proceeds to her son to build an extension for her to live in as she aged. Ten years later she is living in an unfamiliar aged care facility. When an older person sells their home and contributes most of the proceeds to their family member to build a unit or extension for the older person to live in as they age. Another common scenario is when the older person’s assets (or proceeds from the sale of their home) are used to build an extension or self-contained flat—sometimes called a ‘granny flat’—on a family member’s property. In this case, even if the older person has paid all expenses, the extension or granny flat belongs to the property owner. This ruling even applies to units that are fully self-contained and have separate access, unless they were built under a separate title or ownership. This is an important consideration in case the older person ever needs to move elsewhere. Local councils may have different requirements and allowances for granny flats. Some may only allow the flat to be used by ‘dependent persons’ and not as rental accommodation, which will give it a lower value than expected (perhaps even less than it cost to build) if the property is sold in the future. When an older person contributes money to a family member in return for care and accommodation, Centrelink’s ‘granny flat interest’ rules may apply, ensuring that the older person’s age pension is not affected. However, if the amount contributed by the older person is more than the amount that Centrelink considers reasonable for the arrangements, the older person’s pension entitlement may be affected. People considering this type of accommodation arrangement should contact Centrelink to confirm the policies that will apply to their own circumstances. For an extension or granny flat build, a formal family agreement documenting the older person’s contribution and expectations is important in case the property needs to be sold in the future. After selling his home and loaning his son money to pay off his mortgage, Yen expected that he would grow old in the unit his son built him in the yard. When an older person transfers their property to a family member with the understanding that they can continue living there until they die or enter aged care. Sometimes an older person may transfer ownership of their property to their family member, with the understanding that the older person can keep living in the property for the rest of their life (this is sometimes called the ‘right to reside’). Often the transfer might be instigated by the family member, who wants the security of the house for a loan. It might also come about when the older person is trying to minimise the assets that will be considered when they have to pay for aged care. Something to consider with a property transfer is that it can create conflict with other family members (particularly those who stood to inherit from the older person). Additionally, depending on the time frame of the transaction, the transfer may still be assessable as a gift in relation to aged care, tax or the age pension. There might also be stamp duty and other tax implications. However, one of the biggest risks is that if the family member decides to sell the property, or if they default on their loan and the bank seizes the house, the older person has no recourse. Angelo was moved into an aged care facility after his son used the house to secure a loan for his new business. Financial agreement (loans and gifts) When an older person lends or gifts money to a family member, including being guarantor on a home loan. An older person might gift or lend money to a family member, commonly in the form of cash, money for a house deposit, or contributions to a mortgage. It is always best to be clear about whether and when the money should be repaid, otherwise the family member might assume that it is a gift, particularly when it’s from an older person to their child. Gifting money can have an impact on the older person’s age pension entitlements, their tax and their ability to afford aged care support. If the money is a gift given with the expectation that the older person will receive care and accommodation in return, it is best referred to as a ‘contribution’ and a formal family agreement should be documented. Sometimes an older person is asked to use the equity in their home as a guarantee to assist a family member taking out a home loan. Although no money changes hands, being a guarantor can affect a person’s own borrowing power and make them responsible for the debt if the family member is not be able to repay the loan. Intergenerational households There are other living arrangements that can be considered family agreements. As they may be short-term and often do not involve a financial contribution or exchange, they are more likely to be informal and undocumented. Sharing a home with an adult child Adult children sometimes return home to their parent(s) for housing, financial and other support. A family agreement can help ensure expectations and contributions for these arrangements are made clear from the beginning. There are many reasons why multiple generations of a family might live together for long or short periods. Most examples of these arrangements focus on situations that have come about because the older person is in need of care and support as they age. But in many instances, it is in fact the older person providing the care and support. When things go wrong, it is not unusual for adult children to return to their parents’ home. This might happen when the adult child: has recently separated has been the perpetrator or victim of family violence is struggling with health issues, mental illness or substance abuse is experiencing financial stress or unemployment is saving for a house has returned from overseas, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is rare in these situations for a formal family agreement to be drawn up, it’s wise to have discussions and make a written agreement to ensure everyone has the same expectations of the situation. These might cover how long the family member is planning on staying, what financial contributions they will make to household costs, and what tasks are expected of them. Problems can occur when a family member overstays their welcome, becomes abusive or does not keep their end of the agreement. These problems may be easier to resolve if some ground rules have been set at the beginning. Sometimes people migrate to Australia to live with and assist their children and grandchildren. The visa and housing decisions can be similar to those of family agreements and involve a merging of finances, living arrangements and housing. Some older people decide to migrate to Australia to be closer to their children and grandchildren. The most common way to do this is on a Contributory Parent visa, which allows the older person to live permanently in Australia. One of the conditions of this visa is that the family in Australia have to provide an ‘Assurance of Support’, which is similar to a bond, for their parent. Because of these sometimes complicated financial arrangements and the arrangements made between different generations of the family about housing, accommodation and care, a Contributory Parent visa can be seen as a form of a family agreement. And like other family agreements, all parties can benefit from having open discussions and documenting contributions and expectations. While all families hope for a positive experience, unforeseen circumstances, including family violence, can lead to arrangements breaking down. When this happens, the older person, who is relatively new to the country and may have limited assets, is in a vulnerable position. You can download a PDF version of What is a family agreement? here. More about Family Agreements More from this section Family Agreements What should a family agreement include? A family agreement should include everyone’s contributions, what they expect in return, and what should happen if the a... Family Agreements Steps to take to arrange a family agreement There are many steps to arranging formal family arrangements. This outline will help you understand where to start. Family Agreements Unfortunately, family agreements don't always work out. This can leave an older person in a difficult position, find ou... Family Agreements Older people can receive the age pension through Centrelink/Services Australia, with the amount received dependent on t... Family Agreements Intergenerational households Many intergenerational households come about as a cultural norm or a way of providing care for ageing parents or grandc... Family Agreements While many people enter into family agreements to ensure they receive some extra support as they age, often a driving m... Family Agreements Family Agreements Checklist This helpful checklist is a great place to start. It includes summary information about making Family Agreements as wel... Sign up to our eNewsletter to receive updates on content, resources, news and events from Compass – guiding action on elder abuse. Sign up now! Responding to Elder Abuse Events We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Compass is committed to ensuring equitable and inclusive responses to end elder abuse for people with diverse characteristics and life experiences Made for all Australians regardless of nationality, culture or language, Compass is an inclusive website navigating elder abuse. Compass is an initiative of EAAA and funded by the Attorney-General's Department Ⓒ Copyright EAAA Compass 2021. Made by Grade	24,072
Two balladeers come to Columbus for a special afternoon of contemporary and Western folk music at the Columbus Public Library on Saturday, February 19, when award-winning songwriters Kerry Grombacher and Aspen Black perform their “Two Troubadours: Stories in Song” concert. . at 2 pm Both multi-instrumentalists, their works draw striking portraits and tell fascinating stories that they accompany with guitars, bass and mandolin. “This will be our duo’s first concert in Columbus,” Kerry Grombacher recently said. “I was here for a solo concert in March 2021, and I’m honored to be back. As a writer, history student, and a man who travels tens of thousands of miles every year, I love the idea to visit this gateway to the west and drive on US Highway 30 – the legendary Lincoln Highway – through the Platte River Basin. Aspen Black added: “I’m really looking forward to playing in Columbus. I’m a cowgirl from Virginia, and it’s awe-inspiring for me to spend time in the Great Plains, with the big skies and long horizons that signify the West in our imaginations. People also read… Kerry Grombacher and Aspen Black, two successful solo artists, have been working together as a duo since 2014, performing nationwide for arts councils, house concerts, festivals, museums and libraries. Their songs are influenced by the tradition of English ballads, the music of string orchestras from the home of Aspen in Appalachia, and the corridos of the desert southwest, where Kerry lived and worked. Kerry Grombacher plays guitar and mandolin. The title track from his 2021 CD, “Range of the Buffalo”, was named Song of the Year by the International Western Music Association, and the CD is a Top Ten nominee for the album award. year 2022 of the Academy of Western Artists. . His songs have been featured on ABC-TV’s adventure travel show, “Born to Explore”, and on Putumayo World Records’ CD “Cowboy Playground”, which has been released in over 60 countries. He has released five albums of original songs, and his songs have been recorded by a roster of artists that includes Jim Jones, Belinda Gail, The Texas Trailhands, Gary Prescott, and Trails & Rails. He proudly notes that there is a room named after him at the Sands Motel in Grants, New Mexico, on historic Route 66. Nalini Jones of the Newport Folk Festival said: “Kerry Grombacher is the best kind of songwriter, with lyrics that take us on journeys to places we’ve never been before, and melodies so pure and true that they seem to rise from the plains…” Aspen Black plays guitar and bass. She received a 2019 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Cowboy Poetry, for her Cowboy Poetry CD, “Tales from the Road”. Aspen’s “Lovin’ the West” won the Rural Roots Music Commission’s 2017 Classic Western CD of the Year, and her “Eastern-Western Cowgirl” was the 2015 Female Country-Western CD of the Year. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, she was one of five finalists for the International Western Music Association’s Female Poet of the Year award, and her poetry CD, “Invisibility,” was one of five finalists. of the Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year in 2015 and in 2017. 2016. Dick Shoemaker of YNN-TV in Franklin County, Va., says, “Aspen Black has the voice of an angel. I could listen to him sing all day, sit back and smile. The free concert on Saturday, February 19, 2022 will take place at the temporary location of the Columbus Public Library, 2419 14th St., in Columbus, and it will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, please call the Columbus Public Library at (402) 564-7116, or visit www.columbusne.us/library or www.facebook.com/columbuspubliclibrary. Karen Connell is the director of the Columbus Public Library. Sign up now to get the latest coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news delivered to your inbox daily. Related posts: A place to soften the loneliness Enjoy the outdoor concerts in Edmonds this summer Club Passim’s Boston Summer Celtic Music Festival returns with in-person and virtual performances on July 4	3,994
Issues Advertise You are here January 1, 2003 - From the December/January, 2003 issue HMC Group School Facilities In the wake of the recent passage of state and local school bonds, Los Angeles and California are entering into a building boom for school facilities. TPR is pleased to present this interview with Chris Taylor, Principal of the HMC Group, Inc., in which he discusses the qualities and advantages of design-build contracts in constructing school facilities, as well as the ability for design-build to facilitate mixed-use projects. Chris, Governor Davis recently signed legislation AB1402 allowing school districts to utilize design-build for new construction projects and to be reimbursed for it. Give us a sense as to what this means for school districts. What the advantages are for using design-build for school projects? Will design-build save the districts any money? The state has always had legislation that allowed schools to do design-build. So now there's state reimbursement, if you have a state funded job, which is probably the majority of the school work in California. There is a little bit of a time advantage with design-build. In simplistic terms, you don't have to go through bidding, which requires a couple of months. A contractor puts together a guaranteed maximum price and that guaranteed maximum price is a fixed number that the district knows. If they have to bring things down, they can do it at a very preliminary phase. So when you're talking numbers, instead of having an architect estimate it, you've got a contractor giving you real numbers. The contractor also can start a construction phase early. You can start on the site work before the plans are approved by the State Architect. You could start on various phases and get those done and out of the way before you start construction, which is another time saver. So, time savings and knowing the dollar value are probably the two biggest advantages. Is it a less expensive way of doing school projects? I don't think it's any cheaper, except I think school districts, because of the method, have their pulse more on what the cost of what they're asking for is. It's a lot easier for someone to control budgets and costs with this kind of a method. What are the projects that are most appropriate for design-build? Design-build is a great thing to do in combination with conventional bidding and construction. A perfect scenario for a school district might be doing three jobs conventionally and one job design-build because then they know what the product costs, they know that they bid these two high schools and it cost them $190 a foot to do this high school. When they're negotiating with the contractor doing a design-build, they can say, ‘hey, we want to get this down to $170 a foot.' Then you can work with a contractor to find out where your real dollars are. It's more of an open book in a design-build job. A messier job that has multiple phases and complex work, like the Ambassador Hotel site, would be an excellent example of a job that should probably be done design-build-there is so much investigation of the existing building, there are historic preservation issues and a lot of inherent give and take. You want a contractor and board that actually know all those costs. For an architect, it would be really difficult to estimate those complex items if you're doing historical upgrades and you have existing utilities, and it's a much messier job so it's good to have as many intelligent people on board during the process as possible. Is design-build inconsistent with good planning and good design? No, I think good planning and good design is a process that involves multiple levels of people; people in the community, the school districts. I'm not sure having a design-build process makes it any better. With design-build, you simply know the cost of those things more quickly. Instead of estimating when a community member says they want a pool, you can instantly go out and talk to a pool contractor and he can give you a quote for that pool and then you automatically know that number. You're just a more intelligent consumer, but I don't know if it's a better design process. You still have to go through the right process to make the design best for the community. Give us examples of projects that you are aware of or engaged in that show the advantages of design-build for our readers. The Santee Dairy site in Los Angeles that we worked on is one example. Originally, the district had a 2008 date and they were thinking about accelerating it to 2005. When we started going through their project, because we knew their dates, we accelerated that job and they are actually going to open it in 2004. And the only way that could've possibly been done is with design-build. We started the abatement and the remediation of the site concurrently while doing the drawings. We started the site work and we did a lot of the grading work before the drawings were approved at DSA. By the time we got DSA approval, we were ready to start construction. Because of that, we also pushed a lot on the drawings because the timeframe was part of the negotiation with the school district. So, we figured out a real aggressive timeframe, including a lot of overtime, to get the project done in a manner in which they could get the school done. I think because of that they gained a product that was at least a year ahead of schedule; some people say it was three. Design-build is done in the private sector all the time because you have a building to lease, you know the lease rates are say $2.25 per square foot. That developer knows what he has to work to so he puts together a pro forma of what he can build upon. So he's got to build an office building on a site for $100 a square foot to make that lease rate work out for that $40,000 square foot building. He puts together a pro forma of how much he can spend for every system and then you design and you build to that pro forma and then that building is built and then you lease it and you make money on it. Are joint-use school facilities compatible with doing design-build? Or, do you have a problem on the front end getting all of the parties together and saving the time as you just described? Having multiple parties sometimes makes the design process a little slower because you have to get both parties to buy in and approve it. But every school job you do is mostly joint-use, particularly high schools. You're always laying them out for weekend activities because they're used all the time on the weekends: the sports fields, etc. There are a lot of school districts we work with that have joint-use agreements where the parks donate the land and the school develops the land, the grass, and the fields. They end up having a joint-use agreement and it's not really something that would typically cause delay at all. It actually makes perfect sense. We do a lot of joint-use libraries where the school district doesn't have a lot of money to actually equip the library with books. They're funding out of the state is very minimal in that area. If you have a joint-use with the city, it's very easy to find books, but they can't find facilities. Same thing with parks and recreation. Sometimes they have money for lighting and bleachers, and things like that where the funding the school district gets from the state typically doesn't allow for money for those kinds of things. You're pretty much lucky to get grass and irrigation into those kinds of areas because the budgets are restricted. So getting that partner in there makes a lot of sense and a lot of school districts do that. Why isn't that the standard course of business from your experience? Not every city has the money. Typically you talk about joint-use but the city parks and recreations sometimes don't have any funding. A lot of cities don't have any money they can bring to the table to leverage. I want to explore this a little more, Chris. We've got a state library bond and a local library bond. We've got a number of state park and local school bonds. We've got $100 million in the state school bond, a $50 million traunch from this latest bond. How do you think the money ought to be used to build these joint-use schools everywhere? How do you align the funding streams to make it happen? Not all of those multiple fundings work-the library bond is not very much money. It's about $350 million over the state of California. That might end up being one or two libraries in every county. To apply for that is very difficult; it's a very rigorous application process. Part of it is where the funding gets channeled. City budgets and county budgets, with the state budget, are going to be radically cut. All of the bonds you mentioned are on the school district side and they are sized not to fund lavish school facilities, but more minimal ones. It is not a decadent funding source by any means. So it's really about merging two different funding sources toward the ultimate thing you need. I know LA Unified has been focused pretty hard on increasing their facilities. The high school we're doing in the Santee Dairy site, has a pool. We've probably done ten high schools within the past five or six years, and we have hardly ever been able to afford a pool with a state funded school. On a completely state funded school, you could never afford a pool, or bleachers, or lighting for the courts or field and those are things L.A. seems to be funding on a regular basis for their projects because they seem to be very community oriented. Are there enough dollars allocated to allow the architects to do the kind of collaborative open planning that could allow considering the participation of other departments during the design phase? Or, do time and minimal funding make it hard to do that? I would say it really just depends on partnerships. Cities and school districts could develop a more "partnering" agreement where they look at every school project as an opportunity for the city-what they could do with a city library and its facility. You're doing theatres and gymnasiums at every school district, and you're doing libraries. Gymnasiums become community gymnasiums. The purpose behind every high school you build is a giant community center. The theatre is a giant community theater and with the library, you can have a city agreement to lay out that library on a public edge where people could come in off-hours to use it. There are a lot of school districts that have joint-use agreements with counties or cities and joint-use libraries. You have to work out agreements, because it's difficult to have the public enter during elementary school hours. You can't have any public person entering the school at the same time an elementary school kid is there. There are a lot of people, counties, and cities and people who are doing those kinds of joint use agreements all throughout California. They're doing it in almost every school in Arizona and Nevada. It's a very common thing. Let's go back to the central theme. What are the arguments against design-build that had to be overcome in the pasage of AB1402 and in your work and experience to date? The design-build takes a sophisticated client. It takes someone who understands the value of a product. That's why if you are building two or three other schools, you know when you negotiate a guaranteed maximum price that it's a good value. Sometimes that's a difficult thing to look at. But mostly there is a bit of design-build that involves trust. You need to make sure you‘ve got everything covered because you're putting together prices based on very preliminary plans; not all the details are done yet. So when you put together a price you have to trust that that entity has everything you want. Not everything is on paper when they give you that price; there is a little gray zone in there and sometimes there is an ability within the design-build process for someone to not be honest, and I think people get nervous. So you have to deal with companies that are forthright in the industry, you have to deal with larger companies that have an investment and good reputation in the industry. Was that the central argument in opposition all these years or were there any other arguments? The bottom line is when you do a public bid project, you bid it and you get the value that the market has to bear for the exact product you want. So you know you're getting the most competitive price and it's completely trustworthy. In a design-build you are getting a guaranteed maximum price on a very preliminary basis. That's pretty much the argument. You look at other states and there has been a fair amount of corruption, or at least alleged corruption, with design-build. Chris, let's end with this question. If you were the czar of new school facilities in the 51st state of the United States, and you had to build 100 schools, how would you improve the system that we currently have here? You've looked at California as a case study. What would you do differently and what would you do the same? I would fund projects just once. You would apply if you were deemed eligible. Now, the state makes you get in line twice. You apply for design money and then you get in line for design money and then once you get design money, you have to finish drawings and get DSA approval and then you have to get in line again and get money for construction. They're long lines-depending on the district, it might take a year and a half to get into the next line. By then the bond money is gone.	14,005
An increasing number of my making hours have been taken up with commissions in recent months. I love the sheer variety of the silvery requests that appear in my inbox. A silver wren, a Rowan tree-themed disc to go with a silver fingerprint, a miniature apple, a cluster of little enamelled bluebells, a tiny silver hazelnut. Many of them are nature inspired, and, of course, this makes me very happy. Another lovely element of making to order is the creative process of finalising the design. Emails fly back and forth, sometimes with sketches or images of works in progress in them. I especially relish receiving pictures of gardens, flowers, treasured items or even people who have inspired the idea or for whom the piece is to be made. Sometimes I am making something to cheer someone who is ill, sometimes as a surprise or simply as a gift to themselves. Whatever has driven the person to contact me the story behind the commission is one of the elements that makes the process such a joy. Sometimes I am asked to seek out a tiny vintage treasure like the one shown above, and make and source a collection of treasures to go with it. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw the little curlicues and decorations on this tiny 1940s sewing machine. The three dimensional enamelled bluebells mentioned above are today’s challenge. First I have to get the design of the flower itself right before I add the colour. Aswell as being slightly unseasonal they’re also tricky little so-and-so’s (I’m really not sure whether to put an apostrophe there or not. Apologies if it doesn’t belong). Their petals are causing one or two explitives but I think I’m getting there. Whatever the design or the story behind it I’m always honoured to be asked for a commission. I think it’s my favourite part of this whole making lark. It’s always tricky to know when to stop taking Christmas commissions but this year I’ll be closing my festive order book around 1st December to allow me to get everything finished in time. Comments Anonymous says November 15, 2012 at 1:37 pm And to have time for your own Christmas preparations! Loving the blog as always, Emma, thanks. Sue says November 15, 2012 at 1:42 pm Now I imagining a silver quince -although a golden quince would perhaps be more appropriate. Biba says November 15, 2012 at 1:57 pm Everything you make is so beautiful! I adore my forget-me-not necklace, I wear it all the time. Now I have my eye on the earrings as well! And with Christmas approaching… Who knows? DeLynn says November 15, 2012 at 2:35 pm I loved reading this post (and enjoyed recognizing a couple of the pictures)! Working with you on my sister's necklace was a delight. Your work is stunning and I look forward to purchasing from you again sometime! Thank you for showing us your projects. It is such fun to see what people request and what you are able to do. I can imagine your joy in finding that adorable sewing machine! What a delight. November 15, 2012 at 2:59 pm Love the windmill and the little sewing machine, such gorgeous pieces! greenrabbitdesigns says November 15, 2012 at 3:00 pm Beautiful work as always Emma. It's lovely to hear the joy you get from your work. Rachel says November 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm You've made some truly delightful pieces here – well done to both you and your clients! Frances says November 15, 2012 at 3:46 pm Emma, your designs are so full of magic! They really have a unique spirit and I can easily see why folks would wish to present you with commissions. I also love your way combining your own designs with vintage gems like that tiny sewing machine. Perhaps with the New Year, I might wish to enter into a commission-related correspondence with you. Meanwhile, it's grand to see just how busy you are, and how wise you are to know just how much to fit into a given amount of time. November 15, 2012 at 4:11 pm So beautiful, Emma! I love every piece you make but today pinwheel is my favourite – it's so happy! x Teje saffa says November 15, 2012 at 9:36 pm I will always treasure my commission from you Emma, I love my sewing necklace, I have worn it every day your very talented as there is a lot of imagination in your designs, I love that silver acorn! And the sewing machine necklace!!! I want to ask you for another commission in the future when I've saved some money up to make something for my sisters birthday keep making your wonderful jewellery, I love it! safxxx Karen says November 15, 2012 at 10:50 pm Your beautiful jewellery shows your love for what you do, I think. Karen x Toffeeapple says November 16, 2012 at 5:22 pm It is always a joy to see what new things you have made. Although you didn't make the tiny sewing machine, it really is a pretty little thing. Scented Sweetpeas says November 16, 2012 at 10:59 pm It is hard to know when to say you are fully booked isn't it – I find I get carried away with peoples excitement and just say yes. I have also had to close my order book now to give me time to make my own family's pressies by Teresa says November 17, 2012 at 3:01 am Hi Emma, I adore seeing all your silver creations. Now that I I've made a few things using pmc, I have even more respect for the things you make! ((hugs)), Teresa Mrs. Micawber says November 18, 2012 at 7:23 am I love that windmill and the little bird … and the acorn, and the bluebells-in-progress…. Hope your Festive Order Book is just full enough! Locket Pocket says November 20, 2012 at 1:29 pm Gorgeousness as always Emma! And your knitting in your earlier post is most impressive!! Lucy xxx Annie @ knitsofacto says November 20, 2012 at 8:23 pm Such beautiful things! I think I might just leave my computer open here for the Mr to stumble across Hatton Garden Jewellers says November 22, 2012 at 11:59 am Hi Emma. There are some really lovely pieces here. Great photos. Twiggy says November 22, 2012 at 8:56 pm Absolutely gorgeous Emma, you are so clever, I love the little windmill The Coffee Lady says November 25, 2012 at 11:24 am I don't know the answer to the apostrophe question. I HAVE FAILED. Homeandfood says January 9, 2013 at 8:04 pm Just beautiful. obi duatilu says January 13, 2016 at 7:14 am for me this is a very very good information, because its contents make us become better know and learn more about the wide world, so it would greatly add insight for me, laneways that I say many thanks	6,684
Gourmet porridge? I hear you ask, well yes, the absolutely most delicious porridge of its kind! It was my good friend Sophie over at Life with Clarity, that first mentioned Groats to me and her love for their porridge. Fortunately for me, I was then invited to Cafe Milk in Leith to try a combination of Graham’s gold full cream milk and Groats aphrodisiac porridge around Valentine’s Day and I’ve been desperate to consume their delicious porridge combinations ever since! I first had to decide on what to drink, with this being a pop-up (only available until the end of May, so get there fast) they only have filter coffee on offer, accompanied with oat milk if you wish (I’m currently loving it in my coffee), there’s a selection of teas with free refills on both, and something that caught my eye, called kombucha. The lovely server explained to me that it was fermented tea and today’s flavour was orange and grapefruit. I had to try it! It was like starting the day with a mini mocktail, so refreshing with a subtle sour aftertaste, I loved it! There’s a good amount of foodie choice here, but the porridge is the star of the show. As you can see from the above menu, there are loads of choices and each to me sounded equally tantalising. I sought advice from the friendly server again who pointed me in the direction of the seasonal selections. I thought the Pear and Cashew Maple sounded too good to pass up and I was delighted with my choice when it arrived. The pear was poached beautifully soft, with lots of crunchy textures of nuts on top. If Goldilocks were to come here she’d have died and gone to heaven! The interior has a rustic feel to it, it feels quite hipster yet inviting with their beautiful big wooden table that encourages communal seating and their cute little window seat. It’s perfectly positioned in Stockbridge, on St Stephen’s Street just a few doors down from Starbucks. I got a little lost which seems really silly now! However I did get the chance to stroll down Edinburgh’s most instagrammable Street – Circus Lane. Do your tastebuds a favour and get to Groats soon, however I’m in no doubt they will be popping up again in the future and I can see a more permanent place for them in Edinburgh, what they bring to the table is just so good! Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) This entry was posted in breakfast, edinburgh, Foodie, Porridge, Quirky, Scotland, Scottish, seasonal, Stockbridge, Uncategorized and tagged breakfast, Groats, Pop-up, Porridge, Stockbridge. Bookmark the permalink.	2,694
High School Head Coach Marketing Director College Assistant Coach Associate Head Coach College Head Coach Team Administrator Masters Coach Full time 7 resumes found JC Nov 26, 2022 I currently am finishing up my bachelors in exercise science. I have competed in USA swimming for over eight years and also competed as a college athlete for a Division Two Program with the University of Texas Permian Basin. I have so much passion for the field of coaching, exercise science, and psychology services. I have coached previously both as an age group coach, swim instructor, and summer league coach and have enjoyed every opportunity to help swimmers learn the correct technique to better themselves in the pool and to also help prevent injuries from occurring. I’m passionate to get back into the field of swim coaching! My experiences come from coaching four years at the high school level, as well as four years of a local club team and finally making the move to coaching at the collegiate level for DePauw University for the past 3 years. Many of the experiences that I have come across came from the fifteen years I have been swimming competitively, my years as a high school swimmer, and for my years as a college athlete in swimming and water polo. Throughout my years as an athlete I have been able to experience many different styles of coaching, techniques and understanding of new ways to teach certain strokes. I have had the pleasure of working with many different coaching styles as well as coaches who have brought a new way in looking at the strokes. Through my prior experience as a teammate and as an assistant coach, I have learned many lessons and techniques that have helped me be an excellent and proficient coach - all of which I employ in my coaching duties today. Among others these include teaching proper stroke technique, instilling a winning work ethic, running drills to maximize conditioning, helping maintain a healthy mental attitude and explaining race strategies for many of the events. When it comes to my coaching philosophy. I am a big believer in the idea of how one's body feels, and what is going through one's mind before and after each race. Helping with ideas, race strategy and mental positivity is one of my biggest focus points as a coach. When getting to the heart of the season in regards to racing, meets and practice there is no other place I would rather be than on the pool deck. Being able to coach everyday, talking to the team and getting to know them/what they want to work on throughout the practice, week or even the season really helps me focus on what should be prioritized when writing for practice groups. I have had the great fortune to work with wonderful athletes, and they are a huge reason why I love coaching. Being able to connect with them and just help when they are on and off the pool deck really helps make that connection stronger, and also helps build trust between myself and the team. Collegiate Assistant Swimming Coach Watertown, MN, USA Aug 22, 2022 Nearly fifty years of coaching experience. Learned from Frank Elm at Rutgers University and Bob Matson at the Wilmington Aquatic Club. Used this high level of education to build high school teams and developmental programs. Most recently completed 18 summers providing a feeder program for local USA teams, including Indian River Rats in Fort Pierce. The Swim Squad mentioned above has utilized my high school swimmers as volunteers and then as paid staff. We have developed a consistent teaching methodology and are known in our area for our success at teaching superior stroke mechanics. I'm also an occupational therapy practitioner with a specialty in aquatic therapy. I'm particularly good at training younger coaches. I'm open to a new challenge- in a hot weather state only. Very interested in a college coaching position. I enjoy coaching Masters and am good at teaching adult beginners. Florida, California, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, one of the islands, Mexico. Austin, Texas- possibly. Would consider any place in the world as long as there is hot weather. I'm currently ten minutes from the beach and working as a private coach, mainly for adults of all levels. Can only give up living here in Vero Beach for an amazing opportunity where I can fully utilize my talents. Aug 21, 2022 I have been the BLA/Dolphin Aquatics’ Program Director since 1996. I am also the Director of Alumni and Community Engagement at Saint Thomas Academy. Coaching highlights: 2021 Inductee into the Hinsdale South Foundation Hall of Fame 2018 NHSACA National Swimming Coach of the Year ASCA level 5 Coach 7 Olympic Trial Qualifiers 15 National Qualifiers 30 Junior National Qualifiers 24 High School All Americans 2 World University Game Gold Medalists High School Dual Meet record 151-7-1 15 State Championship Teams 14 at STA 1 at Minnetonka HS (The most State Swimming Championships in the History of Minnesota High School Swimming) 1996,2013 2014 2015 2016 MN High School Coach of the Year. 1991 MN ASCA Age Group Coach of the year Swim Coach Portland, OR, USA Jul 15, 2022 Berrin Yavuzer Age Group Coach - Senior Coach - Masters Coach - Swim Instructor 26 El Toyonal Mobile: (510) 778-4458 Email: berrinyavuzer@gmail.com Education 2018 – California College: Early Childhood Education: 12 units 2020 – 2022 - ASCA Level 1-2-3-4 2017 – 2022 Coaching and Swim Instruction Courses from USA Swimming 1986 – 1991 Marmara University, Art Institute Bachelor of Art in Movie and Television Production Istanbul, Turkey Current Certifications Since January 2021 – Lifeguard Since February 2020 – ASCA Level 1-2-3 - 4 November 2019 – USA Swimming – USAD Coach’s Advantage Tutorial November 2019 – USA Swimming – Athlete Protection Training November 2019 – USA Swimming – Club Leadership and Business Management 101 February 2019 – Certified Pool / Spa Operator Since December 2018 – Masters Swim Coach Since May 2018 – USA Swimming: Heads-Up Concussion Training Since October 2018 – Age Group Swim Coach February 2018 – USA Swimming - Maintaining a Positive Culture Since February 2018 – USA Swimming -Preventing Bullying February 2018 – USA Swimming -Safe Sport Since January 2018 – In Water Safety Training for Swim Coaches Since December 2017 – Heart Saver First Aid CPR AED Since December 2017 – Adult Learn to Swim Instructor Work Experience 2022 – WCAB - 10 & Under Assistant Coach 2021 – Present – OCC Assistant Coach 2020 – 2021 – Shadowing OA swim team 2019 – 2020 – Emeryville Aquatic Club – Age Group Coach 2019 – 2021 – Albany Unified School District – CA, High School Resource Para-Ed. 2017 – 2019 – Albany Unified School District – CA, TK/K/1-12, Lead Para-Ed., Special Ed. 2018 – Oaklantis Swim Team - Swim Instructor / Coach Subbing 2017 – Richmond Plunge Adult Learn to Swim Instructor – with Coach Carol Nip 2017 – Present – Private swim lessons 2015 – 2017– AAA Swim Team Volunteer 2004 – 2020 – Coaching my two kids. 1999 – 1991 – Assistant Director, Post-Production, Announcer, News Editor - TURKEY Age Group Coach - Senior Coach - Masters Coach Orinda, CA, USA Former member of the CAL men's swim team (2011-2016). 2x American Record Holder, 5x NCAA Div I National Champion, 2x NCAA Div I National Team Champion, 15x NCAA All-American, and was on USA National teams (2009-2011). Over the past 4 years I have served as the National Group Assistant Coach and the Senior Group Lead Coach at Scottsdale Aquatic Club. This past August I was given the reigns Senior Group. Through mindful healthy program of individual personal development, mental health practices, overall athlete development all while making each individual feel 'seen' and welcomed, the group grew from a roster size of 16 in August, to 45+ by the end of March. I did not have the best experience in my swimming career which also spilled over into my overall development as a human being; this was much in part to a coach I had in my life. To which my driving force in why I do what I do is: "I never want an athlete to feel the way I felt growing up".	8,306
Upon arrival in Shanghai, the group was efficiently received by a Peninsula hotel representative who led us to an awaiting motor-coach for the 45-minute transfer to the Peninsula Hotel on The Bund. The hotel enjoys an enviable location at the far end of The Bund with perfect views over the promenade and Huangpu River to futuristic looking Pudong side of Shanghai. Beautiful, comfortable and very quiet rooms. Mechanical control of TV, drapes, lights done on a very easy touchscreen pad. Standard two-prong electric plugs in the desk and nightstand at the side of the extremely comfortable bed. With a huge walk-in closet and dressing area which is a plus to many, the drawback to some is that this is completely separated from the bathroom area. Bathrooms have double vanity, deep soaking tub and separate walk-in rain shower and W/C. Walk-in closet and dressing area with makeup mirrors, blow dryer in left drawer and a portable nail dryer in the right drawer. Beautiful bathrooms in all accommodations. Awesome views from the room ! Dinner the first evening was in the 2 Michelin Star hotel restaurant Yi Long Court. Amazing dumplings, fish entrée and, a to die for crab-meat fried rice with vegetables. DAY TWO We were met at the hotel by a tour guide with Gray Line Tours who led us on a morning excursion through the Puxi side of Shanghai. French Concession, Yu Yuan Gardens and ending up in the trendy XinTianDi area chocked full of restaurants, shops, outdoor cafes and coffee shops. We had lunch in the famous Din Tai Fung restaurant serving family style on a lazy-susan with dumplings and more. After the tour, Caroline and I along with Corey from Peninsula Hotel Chicago walked from The Peninsula to The Waldorf Astoria for a quick site inspection of a couple of rooms. A large commercial hotel, but in a very classic Deco style building, housing accommodations in a Heritage building separate from the more contemporary Tower building. We also made it to The Bvlgari Hotel slated to open on June 20 2018. Unfortunately, we were not able to see any rooms as they were doing a deep cleaning in preparation for the hotel opening. It is a mix of old with new here, a Heritage building housing function and meeting rooms and an Italian restaurant, and the guest rooms or in the contemporary tower. Rooftop Bar at the Peninsula, Shanghai view Dinner tonight in the 1 Michelin Star hotel restaurant Sir Elly’s. It was another very good meal and good and it was great that we had a private room because it got a little raucous once the drinking got serious. …… OY-YOH !! (as they say) Breakfast on our own this morning then a short cooking class in the hotel kitchen to attempt making sticky rice dumplings. They were too sorry a sight undeserving of any photo so let’s move on! After check-out, we bid farewell to Gracie and Pedro and the staff and boarded the motor-coach for a 40 minute transfer to the Hongqiao rail station. This train station is attached to the airport of the same name. My first experience in a high speed train in China, and I have to say it was a very pleasant experience. The ride that is …. The train station itself is a haven of havoc. Seeming almost as large as an airport check-in terminal, there are no platform signs in English so an escort here is a must. The Peninsula Hotel was kind enough to send us off with a Bento box meal of a wrap and other condiments. There is food for purchase on the train brought around by attendants with airline-like carts. The trip of 4-1/2 hours made a couple of stops enroute, at speed of up to 220mph it was a very smooth relaxing ride. So much better than hassle of the airport and cramped quarters on plane! A very hurried arrival at The Peninsula Beijing because we were very late for a dinner at the Cantonese restaurant Huang Ting. A beautiful space, rustic classic Chinese décor. The meal was very good but I’d be hard pressed to tell you what I had, it all went by so quickly! Even a roasted Peking duck was wheeled in, carved in 2 seconds then it was gone! The all suite property is astounding. Although, somewhat disorienting is the fact that 3 floors of arcade shops make it seem as if you are in another mega-mall the Chinese so adore. The absence of a traditional hotel lobby here is a little odd. As you enter from street level, there is the Grand Staircase going up one level, a seating area with several 4 top tables for snacks and tea along with a piano played throughout the day and accompanying singer in the evenings. Lovely and spacious suite accommodations here, desk with copy/fax machine is located just off of the living room. Again, standard US two-prong outlets in the desk for easy device charging. Separate bedroom (pocket doors dividing the rooms) from the living room … this bed was verrrrry comfortable and I loved the comforter! DAY FOUR This day was touring with China Tours. Weather was perfect but very hot, mid 90’s and sunny. First stop was The Forbidden City. Now I have been here a couple of times previously, however each visit uncovers new stories and more history about this huge area. After our quick shuffle from one end to the other at The Forbidden City, we were off to The Summer Palace. I am thankful that Caroline suggested that we do a boat ride across the lake to the Palace and then tour from there. Once we departed the boat at the Summer Palace, we walked along a never ending covered walkway strewn with tourists sitting on the ledges and taking in the scenery of the lake. Dinner this evening at the hotel in the Jing Restaurant (where breakfast buffet a plenty is served) and was a fun gathering of Sales directors. Breakfast at the hotel, then we were off IN STYLE with Imperial Tours to see the Temple of Heaven and The Great Wall. Wow, what a difference a tour company makes! We were driven in a luxury motor-coach with a fantastic driver and the guide, John, could not have been more cordial, personable and fun to be with … oh and informative as well! From The Temple of Heaven it was about an hour drive to lunch outside the city at a unique restaurant named Green T Living. All dishes are infused one way or another with green tea and while the inside décor us somewhat unusual it by no means steals the show from the dishes served. After lunch it was back on to the luxury motorcoach for a 2 hour (naptime for some!) drive to the Jinshangjin No. 8 area of The Great Wall of China. Again, having been here before I was once again awestruck by the sheer immensity of this structure. After a walk along the wall and climb up to another of the towers we headed back to the tower in this photo at the top where we were rewarded with a very nice buffet spread of food and drink to enjoy the late afternoon sun. There was literally no other tourists at this section of the wall which amazed me. My previous visit in 2005 was at a section which was flooded with at least 1000 people all fighting for space on the steps and photo ops. Again, kudos to Imperial Tours for having access to this special area and the tower where the buffet was. Simply awesome. Me, Jeff Hood, his niece Jayme and Corey Ufberg and Caroline at The Great Wall. AA had us scheduled on the PEK/LAX flight departing at 5:20pm. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to experience this trip but I firmly believe that all of the credit should go to Corey Ufberg and The Peninsula Hotels in Shanghai and Beijing for their outstanding hospitality and warm receptions. Also, Imperial Tours for making the touring so wonderful in Beijing. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δ (Directions) © 1995-2022 Paul Klein Travel. All rights reserved. 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Whole Foods shoppers who imagine that their expensive artisanal cheese is made on a quaint rural farm by happy workers may be surprised to discover that the cheese is really made by prison inmates. According to Fortune, Colorado cheese maker Haystack Mountain gets their milk from a goat farm run by Colorado Corrections Industries (CCI), where 1,000 goats are milked by six inmates twice a day. This is becoming a commonplace practice, as “nationwide 63,032 inmates produce more than $2 billion worth of products a year,” according to Forbes. And it’s not just license plates that are being made in prison. Today, inmates “produce apple juice, raise tilapia, milk cows and goats, grow flowers, and manage vineyards.” CCI pays only 60 cents per hour for the inmates’ labor, although some manage to earn a whopping $3-400 a month. Wow! [UPDATE: The mass appeal article (from which I originally quoted) misquoted Fortune. The original article says the inmates make only 60 cents PER DAY, not per hour! Americans (on the outside) can’t possibly compete with that. In the near future, prison will be the only way Americans can keep a roof over their heads and have some job “security.”] I won’t be buying anything from “Whole Foods” again. Not the wholesome establishment it claims to be. labor prison labor prison Published by Rasha B. Foda Lawyer, writer, and advocate for interest-free, not-for-profit social credit View all posts by Rasha B. Foda Previous The New “Made in China” — US Prison Labor is taking your job! Next No Pay, No Play! Poor kids banned from school carnival 122 comments Gary Miller says: May 27, 2015 at 13:42 This is actually a great thing for people in prison to be doing. They are learning skills, working hard, and learning kindness to animals. LikeLiked by 2 people Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 14:21 they can learn that without being exploited. LikeLiked by 2 people May 27, 2015 at 15:35 Not sure if they are being exploited. the article doesn’t go into detail about that. LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 15:46 what part about 60 cents an hour are you not sure about? LikeLiked by 4 people Peter says: May 27, 2015 at 19:20 dont forget they got free rent free electricity free food so its act not 60 cents per hr. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 19:29 many of them are also in there because they were represented by attorneys who “represent” hundreds of others like them at a time for non-violent (malum prohibitum) crimes. The whole system is stacked against poor Americans. LikeLiked by 2 people May 27, 2015 at 20:36 Great points and observations. Have you ever heard of FREE ALABAMA MOVEMENT ?? We are a Civil and Human Rights group organized against mass incarceration FOR prison slavery. We organize work strikes by Men in prison, and we are about to launch a S-To-P Campaign against the “school-to-prison” pipeline by protesting at McDonald’s storefronts around the country for their use of prison slave labor. Being that you are an attorney, we would love to hear from you on some other plans that we have. LikeLiked by 1 person Ron Roy says: May 27, 2015 at 21:28 I have no problem with prison labor but I have a problem with people being put in prison for breaking stupid drug laws. Also I would hope that the profits made from that labor is being used to offset the cost of their incarceration. LikeLiked by 1 person Keri says: May 28, 2015 at 23:43 They aren’t being exploited, they are learning job and life skills. For many of them, it is the first positive work experience they have had. I work with inmates and I know for a FACT that they would rather come work for pennies a day than to stay in that camp anymore than they absolutely have to. Our guys ask to work every weekend. Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 23:51 I dont disagree. I’ve said several times that I object to unfair private profit from this practice, its impact on the labor market at large and the perverse incentive it gives prisons to keep their prisons full. May 30, 2015 at 22:15 How much do you think it costs each day to house an inmate? My local county jail, not federal, says it costs U.S. taxpayers between $66 and $90+ per DAY. I wonder if you still think the privilege of working while serving a sentence is exploitive. You are paying taxes to keep them there. Shouldn’t they earn their keep if at all possible? Rasha B. Foda says: May 31, 2015 at 01:48 I thought I made myself pretty clear in the comments…perhaps you didn’t read any. I have no problem with inmates working – even if they work without pay (assuming arguendo they are violent or dishonest criminals and not simply afoul of some political or economic legislation). My beef is with the unjust enrichment inuring to the benefit of private corporations and to the detriment of free workers in the market economy who can’t possibly compete with inmates who make only 60 cents per day. May 31, 2015 at 18:23 Prison labor is modern form of slavery. LikeLiked by 1 person May 31, 2015 at 18:25 Saying they learn “life skills” isn’t argument. Booker T Washington on slavery: many slaves left slavery better off with than their white counterparts because they learned valuable skills necessary to thrive in this country. Doesn’t make the exploitation of their labor okay. LikeLiked by 1 person shirley says: June 2, 2015 at 17:24 They are not being exploited. They are learning a trade. We are not talking about developing countries here. I did prison ministry. These people WANT to work and WANT to learn. Learning a trade in prison saves you a LOT of time when you get out, finish your time and need a job. It is an excellent opportunity. CT says: June 3, 2015 at 19:18 Why is it exploiting people who have no way of earning any money any other way legally in the prison system? Would it be better for them to sell drugs in prison. Many times it is likely how they became incarcerated anyway. Would it be better for them to just sit in a cell all day? What I want to know is if the prisons are being compensated also to help offset the expense of housing prisoners. Sharp in LA says: May 27, 2015 at 18:08 And that is why it’s crucial to create more more more more more laws so there are more more more more more “criminals” to provide free/cheap labor. The vast majority of “prisoners” have done nothing wrong – there are no victims and no destroyed property. Just unjust laws. LikeLiked by 2 people Dave Calhoun says: May 27, 2015 at 22:56 Really. Place the joint down. Matthew Tully says: May 28, 2015 at 01:12 May 28, 2015 at 01:34 Vast majority? you must have been talking to the inmates as most of the inmates will tell you they are innocent and/or have been framed. unjust laws? you may not like certain laws, does not mean they are unjust. common saying, can’t do the time, don’t do the time. Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 01:36 I think you mean, can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. Do you know anything about the philosophy underlying “criminal justice?” Just curious. May 27, 2015 at 23:05 You know what really baffles me? The fact that you all whites took this long to figure out that WF is evil. SMDH LikeLiked by 1 person DeShaun says: May 28, 2015 at 02:25 All you whites?? Damn, you know comments like those only help to proliferate racism? Smh… Not to mention, the countless “blacks, browns, yellows, and greens” that have no idea about WF’s code of ethics… Get off the internet!! May 28, 2015 at 01:54 They are being made to work against their will. And a large percentage of people in prison do not deserve to be there. Not deserving to be in prison being forced to work against your will = slave labor LikeLiked by 1 person Lisa says: May 28, 2015 at 14:41 No they are forced to work against their will….the ones that work do it because it gets them out of their cell…gives them a small money stipend to purchase things from their commissary. ..takes the pressure off the loved ones on the outside to send money every month so they can get something more than the basic 3 hots and a cot. So, when you 23 and a half hours a day,7 days a week, 365 day a year in a cell about the size of a normal bathroom….that’s when you say they are forces against their will to work. LikeLiked by 2 people May 28, 2015 at 05:46 While people talk about this as work being corrective, keep in mind this is not a prison operated by the state, but a private prison housing inmates for profit. Every employee’s first concern is profit, not rehabilitation. Prisoners do not have a free choice to work or not, nor do they get to chose their jobs. They are slaves. Not only that, they are slaves essentially owned for the length of their sentence by that prison. Now, ignore for a minute why they got there, and focus on why prison labor like this is bad for us. Do you really think the goat farm down the street can compete with the prison labor? The cheese maker is buying the milk from this prison owned by a big corporation instead of a family farm because slave labor makes it cheaper. Why should out states favor big businesses at the expense of local entrepreneurs? Prison labor used to be things like having a furniture manufacturing program, and make office furniture for the state to save the tax payers some money. Not actually competing in the open market with local businesses. LikeLiked by 1 person May 28, 2015 at 06:06 No corporation should own a prison, or benefit from a prisoners for profit system! Profit from such a system should go towards rehabilitating the prisoners who are imprisoned, or towards government programs to help mentally retarded, mentally ill, elderly and children, otherwise it is a form of slavery and puts every American at risk of being incarcerated to make the system more successful and profitable. LikeLiked by 1 person Nik says: May 29, 2015 at 00:16 No one in prison should be paid. One: The people in prison should deserve to be there; that’s a huge issue, but a separate issue. Two: People in prison should not be paid for labor. It should be optional or perhaps a perk for good behavior if it’s desirable and gets them more time outdoors, but being in prison is not a job. It’s a punishment. Rasha B. Foda says: May 29, 2015 at 00:18 Again, my objection is not to the low pay, but to the unfair advantage it gives a few select private employers. Donna L. says: May 29, 2015 at 17:05 I would think there is a licensing agreement or some type of contract between WF and the prison or prisons. I’m all for the prisoners not sitting on their behinds, but learning a trade like making cheese. They get a certain small amount of payment and the rest of payment helps make that prison more self sustaining, so we the taxpayers won’t have to pay for each criminal’s time of stay. There should be a governing group. I guess that’s where alternating lawyers’ groups with law students would go audit moneys. Also, checking cases to see if there has been any wrongful arrests to overpopulate the prisons for profit making. All this investigating is done for free. There’s the added factor of the learning experience, for law students to have actually lawyers mentoring them as they do this procedure. Now that would make a better feeling for lawyers, don’t you think? They volunteer like our soldiers do. They help make our country to be stronger financially and honest. No, I’m not a dreamer, I believe in miracles……. because if people start a process in that direction, anything is possible. Donna L. says: May 29, 2015 at 17:16 I jumped ahead in my thoughts without typing it down. I was thinking that this could be expanded to other prisons. If they can become at least partially self-sustaining, that’s more tax money that we could use toward schools, education or our roads. Aaron J Mobley says: May 29, 2015 at 21:11 Except the “skills” they learn are USELESS outside of prison since no one will hire a convicted felon to work on their fancy, artisanal cheese farm. So really, they’re just being exploited for cheap labor and left with nothing of value. June 2, 2015 at 17:42 Used up and casually tossed aside like a spent condom. Except that even real criminals are still human beings at their core (unless they’re a Dahmer). That’s just not right, I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done, no-one deserves to be exploited! May 31, 2015 at 13:01 And tax dollars are being used to give this corporation an unfair advantage over hard working people who are struggling to make a living milking cows and goats, making artisan cheese, and managing vineyards. There are a LOT of people, in addition to prisoners paid virtually no wage, who are being exploited here to line the pockets of a private prison company. And, some of those people I call friends! LikeLiked by 1 person June 2, 2015 at 04:21 I think our prisons should be taken over by private industry. Do you know the families of prisoners are on welfare? Only through private industry may prisons run efficiently and become self-supporting – You are paying anyway – and with job training the opportunity to reduce recidivism is much higher. My concern would be the exploitation of the poor for labor & profit – Angus says: June 3, 2015 at 14:15 Its billed as a training situation, its really a confinment situation , taking advantage of a situation , they are selling you a lie’ basically. June 10, 2015 at 02:49 Bodily fluids from people who could care less CR says: May 27, 2015 at 14:50 I agree with Gary. Nothing wrong with prisoners learning a skill and working hard. What else should they be doing? They committed crimes so they need to pay the price. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 14:59 again, missing the point. they should not be exploited. LikeLiked by 2 people May 27, 2015 at 21:36 Actually, but unsurprisingly, you keep missing the point. These prisoners may only “earn” $0.60 per hour for their work, but they are given free food, free housing, free utilities including cable TV, free library access, free medical care and a free gym membership. Assuming that the typical prisoner is working a full 40 hour work week, they are actually earning around $18 per hour, or $36,000 per year depending on where the prison is located. Those are the actual facts of this situation, not your emotional hyperbole. However, I assume that you would rather pay these prisoners a fair and living wage and then charge them for their housing, food, medical care and utilities. That would be far more “progressive” LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 00:05 sorry, it took me a while to get to your comment. Private corporations who employ inmates don’t pay for food, utilities, cable, healthcare, etc. We do. They just pay the 60 cents, and if the video in the last post I shared is accurate, they get 40% of those wages back from the government as ‘incentive’ for hiring inmates. So, no, I’m not missing the point. You just don’t ‘get it.’ LikeLiked by 2 people Nori says: May 27, 2015 at 22:39 They don’t have to work. It’s a choice they make. LikeLiked by 1 person May 27, 2015 at 23:14 Exploited? 45k to house them a year they are helping pay for their cost. They used to make them work for free in rock queries to pay their cost. May 28, 2015 at 16:09 Rasha, I’ve read ALL your replies with great interest. I understand YOUR point, but YOU seem to be missing THEIR point, which has to do with vocation training. I don’t think you should dismiss this valid point. As for the exploitation, that is what jails do, from triple priced commissaries to gross underpayment, regardless which job, whether the prisoners are stamping out license plates or rendering cheese, so perhaps your outrage is misdirected? LikeLiked by 2 people Frank says: May 27, 2015 at 15:17 When you lose your job to prison labor you may change your tiny little mind. The NAZI’s were executed for using prison labor. You must love tyranny and hate freedom! LikeLiked by 2 people May 27, 2015 at 21:14 You nailed it Frank. Thank you. Yet another way the corporate oligarchy that runs America has found to undercut unions and labor. Truly amazing that so many commenting above don’t get this. Also, as more and more American prisons shift from county/state management to private corporations, the fascists who run these companies are now making money from both ends; from the fruits of exploited prison labor – on the one hand – to the massive support of tax dollars from the American serfs – on the other hand – who have to pay because they are not in a position to offshore like a Halliburton (thank you Dick Cheney) and pay no US taxes. LikeLiked by 3 people May 28, 2015 at 16:15 The Nazis were executed for war crimes (like genocide), and to accuse another of being un-American simply because they see different points is outrageous, as was your insult of “little mind”. While I do not agree that underpayment is a justifiable “offset” to the cost of housing inmates, I also do not agree with your finger pointing and name calling. Your rhetoric is over the top. furbaby says: May 27, 2015 at 17:13 What about people who go to school and then have to “volunteer” to work as “interns” in their chosen field? LikeLiked by 1 person May 27, 2015 at 18:37 You are missing the point. We have in place a system whereby politicians pass laws that criminalize people’s lives…these people are then arrested and enslaved in for-profit “prisons” (work houses) OWNED BY THE POLITICIANS making money from the slave labor based on the laws they passed. The crimes you are referring to are usually petty property crimes designed to ensnare poor people into lives of slavery. If you really favor this then you are one sick mofo. LikeLiked by 4 people May 27, 2015 at 23:41 They volunteer to be in this program. No one e makes them do this May 27, 2015 at 19:26 the rest goes to paying for them being in Prison. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 19:30 what “rest” are you talking about? the difference between 60 cents and minimum wage? May 27, 2015 at 23:43 The companies pay like $3-5 per hour to the state which can only be used for direct prison cost. Aaron J Mobley says: May 29, 2015 at 21:12 You think BEING IN PRISON isn’t price enough to pay? Clearly you’ve never been to one, then. Also, not all of them committed crimes. Plenty of people are in our prisons for doing nothing wrong. PMW says: May 27, 2015 at 15:39 I’m on the fence about this. I do believe that prison inmates should do something. Especially something that will teach them a skill and hopefully rehabilitate them when/if they are released. However, that said, I hope this practice will not be taking away jobs from honest hardworking people. As for the exploitation issue….hey, they committed crimes and I believe in the old school way. If you’re a convicted criminal, you effectively lose your rights to live like those of us who aren’t convicted criminal. We have become such a wuss society! If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime!! Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 15:49 well, mr or miss “PMW,” most inmates in today’s prisons have committed victimless “crimes” (drug possession) and other petty offenses. No one is suggesting that violent criminals should be coddled, but exploiting them at 60 cents per hour is not only morally wrong, it damn well will take jobs away from the rest of us. Besides, why should private companies reap windfall profits from these inmates “crimes?” If anything, have them work for those rates for the public good. but again, we run up against the bottomless pit of competitive wage slavery. As long as we allow ourselves to compete with each other to see who can make the biggest profits for private employers, we will forever remain trapped in the the race to the bottom paradigm. LikeLiked by 3 people Roger says: May 27, 2015 at 16:53 Consider it to have had room and board deducted. Nik says: May 29, 2015 at 00:22 I agree that prison labor shouldn’t benefit for profit companies. Making license plates was a traditional prison job for a reason: it’s a product used by the state, not a profit making product sold be Whole Foods or Walmart. Not liking the laws and thinking people in prison don’t deserve to be there is a separate issue. LikeLiked by 1 person May 27, 2015 at 16:26 why not pay the prisoners a living wage? let them have a nest egg when they leave prison…that way “slave” labor is out of the question and no one “on the outside” loses their job because of the price disparity. LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 17:01 but if you pay them minimum wage, there is no reason for employers to hire them, without some “incentive.” But why should tax payers pay incentive to a greedy employer when the government can just pay these inmates a living wage right from the get go. The whole privatized system of business is fatally flawed. I don’t mind giving incentives to non-profit organizations (not to pay interest on their bloody tax free bonds, but to reinvest in the organization). I do object, however, to feeding someone’s greed. May 27, 2015 at 19:27 umm the rest of the pay goes to cover the $45,000 a year it cost to keep them there. This is a good thing not a bad thing for these people. They will have work and not go back to whatever when they get out. Worse just not get work because people won’t hire an ex-con No this is good no matter how you slice it. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 19:31 wow. it’s pretty amazing how you can take a horribly exploitative system of labor and make it out to be a blessing. May 27, 2015 at 23:47 They arent forced to do this. How is non forced labor exploitive. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 23:57 Didn’t you ever take a job that you didn’t like or even think was fair, just because you had no other options? No one puts a gun to your head, but you can hardly call it ‘freedom.’ john says: May 28, 2015 at 18:56 You’re not too bright, are you? You can’t see the same game as nazism in world war 2 is being played out here? The sooner power is wrested from the hands of the ruling class, the sooner we can get about healing the atrocities on/to this planet and living in relative peace and prosperity. When any being is being mistreated, it brings us all down a notch. If you can’t grasp that,it’s time to wake up! These prisoners aren’t working for the right reasons,and they aren’t being incarcerated for the right reasons. How many more ways do you want taxpayer’s money to further enrich the rich? And hasten the demise of the planet? Because the rich don’t give a s_ _ t about you or me or this planet, only their profits. LikeLiked by 1 person John says: May 27, 2015 at 17:20 This discourse would be well served by some factual, accurate information: http://www.haystackgoatcheese.com/statement-in-response-to-fortune-article/ LikeLiked by 2 people Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 17:36 ” Haystack Mountain pays a competitive market rate for goat milk.” What the hell does that mean? Why don’t they just come out and tell us what that competitive rate is? Notably, they did not deny the wage paid to inmates. Finally, before I believe that 100% of proceeds goes back into the program, I want to see the books – including the so-called “capital expenses.” Nobody says: May 27, 2015 at 21:42 I think I like the emotional, non-accurate lines of arguments around here. Robin says: May 27, 2015 at 17:41 They are not “slave laborers”. (1) all of the costs of their housing, food, clothing and medical care are already paid (seriously, what percentage of Americans have 60 cents and hour left over after paying for everything?) and (2) They volunteer, and getting to do this work is actually a privilege, and it gives them $300-$400 per month for canteen. On the other hand, those who are receiving the value for the labor should pay market value, to help defray the costs of the inmate incarceration. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 18:15 they are slave labor. but I agree that they aren’t much worse off than “free” working class americans. also agree that the companies should pay market value. that’s the whole point of the post. May 27, 2015 at 21:40 Rasha, every single point you have made is brilliant. But the people you are arguing with would need years of non-indoctrination in American triumphalism before they could understand you. I did prison ministry for years through the Catholic church at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. The private corporation that has taken over its management has figured out countless ways to make profit at the expense of all human decency. How about serving inedible slop for food, but making good food available for purchase by inmates at the prison store for exorbitant prices? How about keeping thousands of inmates on lockdown (unable to leave their cells) for 46 consecutive days because of one fist fight in an isolated part of the facility, only to find out that this allowed the prison to go on half-staff with its guards, causing one of the executives to brag about how much money this saved? How about no law library or any kind of library or job training despite being the 17th largest jail in the nation (population wise), because county “jails” are not required to provide these things as opposed to “prisons”; yet routinely men and women were stuck here for years because of overcrowding at the state prisons? And of course there is the larger picture; in the age of mass incarceration, your labor is not needed on the farm… and it is not needed in the factories (our capitalists have taken those overseas)… but we can get you into the system for petty stuff and make a cash crop out of you. Unless you are a warmongering arms maker or legislator running an illegal war in Iraq, or a Wall Street bankster “too big to fail” despite the extent of your crimes. Then you can avoid prison entirely. I’m thankful that my religion teaches me to see the evil hiding behind power and commands compassion to the oppressed (it’s the gospels, those “radical” documents about Jesus of Nazareth). LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 00:01 Thanks, Anthony. Sometimes, it takes a little hands on experience like you have to be able to see the ‘big picture.’ Honestly, I find it hard to blame many of the people who can’t see through the lies and propaganda. It’s hard. The corporate industrialists and their media arms have brainwashing down to a science. Travis M says: May 27, 2015 at 17:56 “they did the crime, then do the time”, please really?? 60-80% of inmates today are in prison for nonviolent victimless crimes. Meaning it shouldn’t be a crime. The whole law enforcement, incarceration system is a scam and big business while the poor and minorities suffer. LikeLiked by 1 person Steve says: May 27, 2015 at 18:05 One of the stupidest, most misleading articles I’ve read on the internet and that’s saying A LOT! One Whole Foods store in Colorado purchases cheese from a Colorado farm that purchases milk from a goat farm that is run by Colorado Corrections and the headline says, “Whole Foods cheese made with prison labor?” But whoever runs this disingenuous site knows full well the vast majority of people who see this will only read the headline and skip actually reading the article. Shareeverything.com doing its part to dumb down the internet! Way to go! Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 18:17 okay, how would you characterize it, Mr. accuracy in reporting? “Cheese made by prison labor accidentally sold at Whole Foods?” May 27, 2015 at 18:39 Nice work Rasha…I hope someone understands what you’re saying. Kudos to you. LikeLiked by 1 person Steve says: May 27, 2015 at 20:16 Keri says: May 28, 2015 at 23:53 My husband is in prison and they take 40% of his gross pay and we continue to pay taxes on it. I would rather he went back to making $2 a day and we wouldn’t have to claim it on our taxes. Don’t tell me I don’t know what I am talking about. The exploitation is not in the work they do, it is the phone calls and commissary prices that are so high. Governmental Deception says: May 27, 2015 at 18:24 Marty says: May 27, 2015 at 18:25 Although it’s good I think for inmates to be productive, manufacturing products that private industry (who pay Federal, State, and local taxes taxes) can NOT be competitive in this type of system. Many prisons are now being operated by private companies, they make money from inmate labor, so they have a vested interest in keeping prisons full of cheap exploitable labor which creates a monopoly for the products they create. LikeLiked by 2 people May 27, 2015 at 18:36 but they get room, board, butt fuck and HIV too, all free of charge! May 27, 2015 at 21:56 People are much better off sourcing their organic foods from farmers markets and community supported agriculture scheme – that way you know for sure where your food comes from and if it’s really organic. LikeLiked by 1 person Kerry says: May 27, 2015 at 23:26 I think it is great. First , you are giving them a skill. In addition it costs taxpayers millions of dollars to run prisons. If the state can recoup some costs and we don’t have to have more taxes taken out of our pay checks just so the prisoners can eat for free, have medical care for free, get college degrees for free and free legal counsel, I am all for it. Rasha B. Foda says: May 27, 2015 at 23:52 Too bad, that’s not how it works. Taxpayers still pay for all those things. Private corporations just get subsidized (and reliable) labor. Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 00:12 My bad… did I say 60 cents / hour? I meant 60 cents per day. ““These are coveted jobs.” Base pay starts at 60¢ a day, but most prisoners earn $300 to $400 a month with incentives, he says. To be hired, inmates must get a GED and maintain good behavior for six months.” — from the original “Fortune” article. May 28, 2015 at 00:31 The system is rigged we know that but after reading the paragraph I am left with more questions than answers: Where is the source of this serious accusation? Is Whole Foods the only one supermarket or it is a wide spread practice? Does the management of Whole Foods knows about it or it comes from a Third party contractor? Still, the news is quite outrageous!! LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 00:36 The article makes it clear – Whole Foods is not alone. But, it’s a high profile name, and the fact that they’re supposed to be environmentally (and community) conscious, makes it all the more ironic. Lynda Garner says: May 28, 2015 at 00:33 They are definitely exploiting those prisons those company’s are making billions a year and only spending change for labor… and that free rent and food comes at a higher price that you would think… Have you heard of restitution? Where the inmate pays back all that money before being discharged off parole? How can they afford to pay thousands of dollars when it’s hard for a felony to become gainfully employeed. Not to mention these prisons are a business each of these facilities get money per inmate so the more inmates they have the more money they receive smh All this money they receive but you can’t even earn a GED anymore in there smh Read between the lines ppl and as High as that food cost in the whole food store the ppl who produce it should be union ppl… U wonder how u in the world and can’t get a descent job cuz they are using prisoners for cheap labor so they don’t have to pay You! LikeLiked by 1 person Incriminally Sane says: May 28, 2015 at 04:30 CCI has a very long history of utilizing their inmates for slave labor which is why they have contracted with the Federal Government and the Feds have promised to keep the CCI prison population at a minimum of 95% capacity which is why they are making laws that benefit the Corporations. LikeLiked by 1 person May 28, 2015 at 08:18 The amount of money they make goes to their commissary accounts for them to buy things with. The “other” money they make goes towards their fine if one is imposed, or toward a victims fund. I frankly like the fact that they are learning how to learn productive things with their time. Unless your like some of these remarks thinking that all prisoners are innocent people put in the prison by big business…rme Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 08:23 at 60 cents a day, they’ll better be doing a lot of time if they ever hope to ‘pay off’ the fines! Oh wait, how convenient! The system is set up to maximize the time they spend behind bars! May 28, 2015 at 14:04 all I see are complains and negative comments.. WHAT ?? WOULD YOU RATHER SEE THOSE PRISONERS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND BEING HOUSE AND FED AT OUR OWN EXPENSES AND WOULD YOU RATHER BUY GOODS MADE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY THAN MADE HERE IN USA.. at least those prisoners however they got there are doing something and learning a trade.. COME ON GUYS WHATS WRONG WITH YOU..DAMN OF THEY DO AND DAMN IF THEY DONT.. lets be realistic and see the PLUS SIDE ON ALL OF THESE.. if these corporations cant make their goods cheaper in the states.. they will eventually shipped the work JOBS OVERSEAS and WE ARE GOING TO LOSE MORE THAT WAY… May 28, 2015 at 15:05 Just wanted to add in. I did 27 months in prison back in 2008-2010 and after a few months of gling to school inside i got a job. I made less than $200 a month working 40hours in a highly demanding woodshop. Did i complain about my wages ever? No. Why? Its a damn BLESSING to get a job while incarcerated. Not aright. That job made me feel like a normal person again and not like the scum i felt i was while sitting in my cell. its great i see some of you concerned about rights and saying its unfair. You say it from your comfy couch in your comfy house. But switch the situationand go sit in a concrete closet smelling your cellies shit all day and i bet youll be begging for that job, regardless of pay. Time out of the cell was the real Pay. The money was just extra. LikeLiked by 2 people Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 23:39 I never said that providing inmates with meaningful tasks is a bad thing. Allowing private corporations to benefit from the low wages paid to inmates is a different story. May 28, 2015 at 16:17 This is a really stupid article in a variety of ways. First off, it’s wrong to complain about Whole Foods specifically since Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese is widely available in many different stores: Costco, Kroger, Sprouts, Safeway, Vitamin Cottage, you name it. I have no idea where Rasha B. Foda lives, but in Colorado where Haystack Mountain is located, their products are extremely widespread. If you actually know about Haystack Mountain, you would also realize that the dairy owned by the prison is one of many dairies where they get their milk. One of the main reasons, why they chose it, is because the prison-owned dairy is one of the few that produce enough goat milk so Haystack can produce its product. Oh and Whole Foods sells a lot more cheese than just one brand. This type of prison labor is not unusual (http://www.prisonpolicy.org/prisonindex/prisonlabor.html)…You should be attacking our prison-industrial complex instead of what basically amounts to attacking a small cheesemaker and the stores that sell it. Even if you don’t agree with the way Haystack labors its cheese, surely there are worse ways that our capitalism produces products (Apple products for example: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30532463). This is why we should be against things like TPP that potentially encourage abusive practices through international trade. Going after small cheesemakers seems very short-sighted. LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 23:41 I live in NJ. I didn’t single out Haystack. I object to any private company benefitting from cheap prison labor. The reason why prison labor can meet the demand is because it’s so cheap and inmates are willing to do just about anything. If they had to pay market rates for that labor they could never make the margins they make thanks to prison labor. C. R. says: May 28, 2015 at 16:38 It’s still organic… And these industry programs have been being run by the correctional system for many, many years. Who the hell do you think cleans our highways, laid our railways, and work on the huge agricultural farms all over the country? Work is work. A man sitting in his cell doing nothing is of no use to society. It’s been like this since the FED took over the correctional system, and it’s a big reason they took it over. It gives inmates a sense of purpose. Just because they’re in jail, does that mean they should get to live for free? Hell no. They get paid 65 cents a day because the rest of the money gets paid to the prison to upkeep it so that we (the tax payers!) don’t have to foot the whole damn bill. Jeez. Anyone who didn’t know this is simply willfully ignorant, and anyone who is repulsed by it is just plain dumb. To the author; do some actual research and report the WHOLE story… not just the parts that will put other ignorant people in a twist. Oy. LikeLiked by 1 person Justin says: May 28, 2015 at 16:57 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted”……it doesn’t get any more black & white than that. The fact that they get paid at all is a privilege that isn’t guaranteed by the US constitution. So, for you to call it “slave” labor; you are either very uneducated about the constitutional rights of the US, or you are very uneducated about the definition of the word “slave”. As a side note to the author….you might want to rethink that Starbuck’s latte or Victoria’s Secret bathrobe for future purchases. Seems like you want to make a point by “never shopping at Whole Foods” again, without actually doing your homework as to what possibly (in your sphere of life) you take for granted of where it may be produced. Justin says: May 28, 2015 at 17:07 before you start to babble on about how “laws like that are the problem”…the 13th Amendment was added in 1865, looooong before the privatization of prisons was even a fleeting thought in the minds of any entrepreneur. May 28, 2015 at 17:04 Free meals, room an board??? if your unjustly imprisoned just so the government an its affiliates can make a Buck, billions of them to be exact! Its truly disturbing and vile! This is nothing more than attempt from the government to immulate slavery an its trillions it made off the backs of blacks. This is just a sneaky an diabolical way of doing it. Being persecuted for your crime is one thing trumped up, false that doesn’t fit the crime is another. Where’s the justice in that??? LikeLiked by 1 person May 28, 2015 at 17:13 Some of your comments are killing me! “If you can’t do the crime don’t do the time” REALLY? let’s see if you take that same approach when you or your children are arrested on some trumped up an inflated charges!! May God be with you then… He has a funny way of making people eat there words. LikeLiked by 1 person May 28, 2015 at 17:59 “I won’t be buying anything from “Whole Foods” again.” Oh please. Does this company make all of the cheese at WF? No. Do they even make all of their goat cheese? I doubt it. We’re talking about 1 product out of thousands. If you don’t want to buy that product, fine. But if you’re going to completely boycott stores that carry any products produced by “exploited” labor (SE Asian sweatshops, migrant farm workers, inmate labor, etc.), then you’re quickly going to run out of places to shop. Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 23:44 Agreed. that’s why I don’t shop very much anymore. I buy only what I can’t live without. May 29, 2015 at 17:57 But you still shop somewhere, which means you’re probably supporting exploitation. If you want a boycott to be even potentially effective, then you need to make it reasonable. WF also buys baked goods from Greyston Bakery, a company that employs former felons unable to find work anywhere and then donates the profits to community charities. So a total boycott of Whole Foods would hurt them too. But that doesn’t matter to people like you. You just want to find things to complain about on the internet to make you feel better than everyone else. LikeLiked by 1 person WR Franklin says: May 28, 2015 at 18:53 The numbers don’t work. To earn $400 in a month while getting paid $.60 per hour, an inmate would have to work a minimum of 21.5 hours per day, every day, for the entire month. LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 23:45 excellent observation. Thanks. I believe some bonuses, etc. are calculated in that number. Say “Cheese!” — Whole Foods cheese made by prison labor \| Axis Sanctuary and Chapels Bulletin / Newsletter online says: May 28, 2015 at 19:49 […] https://shareverything.com/2015/05/27/say-cheese-whole-foods-cheese-made-by-prison-labor/ […] Pam says: May 28, 2015 at 22:33 I’m sure “being able to milk a goat” will be of substantial help, when they get out of the clinker!! LikeLiked by 1 person Rasha B. Foda says: May 28, 2015 at 23:49 I dont object to the activity or even the pay rate. My beef is with the unjust enrichment of private employers, the adverse impact the practice has on the labor market at large, and the perverse incentive this gives the prison industry to maintain full capacity of their prisons. Rasha B. Foda says: May 29, 2015 at 00:20 Here is a revealing excerpt from a much more thorough article on this subject: “Alex Friedmann, now an activist and managing editor of Prison Legal News, spent a decade in prison for armed robbery and other violent crimes and worked in a PIE-certified business that produced, among other things, Batman T-shirts for a Taco Bell promotion—endlessly silk-screening the profile of the great fictional crime fighter as penance for his own crime. His fellow inmates did even more mindless labor, such as inflating basketballs, one after another, all day. He views the skills-training mission of the work programs largely as a sham. “Many of the industry jobs don’t really impart job skills,” he says. “They keep guys busy, but they aren’t getting real-world job experience that will make them employable on the outside. License plates are mostly made in prisons, so you have to return to prison to do that job.” There aren’t many jobs raising partridges on the outside, either. That, it turns out, is a consequence of design. Both PIE and state prison industries are generally required to ensure that their chosen industries won’t crowd out existing private firms. If you stick with industries with very little domestic competition, you can elegantly skirt that problem. Game-bird and dairy-buffalo husbandry are two industries so underrepresented in this country that no one much cares if you put prisoners to work in them at extreme poverty wages that would render competition nearly impossible. Smith was frank about the strategy of keeping his businesses small, far beyond their production capability. “If I wanted to, I could have my prisoners build every desk and chair in every Wells Fargo in the country,” he told me. “But I don’t want to do that.” Wiser, he said, to stick with sectors that were invisible and niche, just small enough so that no one—not private enterprise, not organized labor, not consumers—would notice. “Prison officials don’t want to get into industries that will cause businesses on the outside to go to the media and raise hell,” says Alex Friedmann. Consumers are uncomfortable feasting on the products of slave labor; furniture companies tend to notice when they lose contracts that involve bidding on the open market; unions tend to protest competition from indentured servants.” And this is a University of California study that outlines sample costs for a 500-head dairy operation. It lists sample hourly wage at $9.59, significantly higher than 60 cents per day. Justin says: May 29, 2015 at 01:26 Rasha…..I am shocked and appalled by the fact that you are an attorney. Your emotional fueled article that is filled with nothing but misrepresented facts is painful to read. If this is how you debate/represent your clients, I really do feel sorry for them. In my opinion, you give our profession a bad name by how you represent yourself in this article. 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted”……. I would expect, as a lawyer, that you would be familiar with the US Constitution and the rights it gives (and does not give). If you are, then you must not be familiar with a free market economy. I say this because of your liberal use of the term “slave labor”. Maybe you are just unfamiliar with the definition of the term “slave labor”. At any rate, please do your research; it wasn’t until the privatization of prisons that inmates even STARTED to get paid. Inmates (before the privatization of prisons) were expected to do such work for free; and the state would then sell the products to manufacturers or the free market. As far as you “not shopping at Whole Foods” and then later to go on to say “Agreed. that’s why I don’t shop very much anymore. I buy only what I can’t live without.” I would bet that you don’t give it a second thought as to why the “cheap” petrol station that you go to is able to offer fuel for $0.10 less per gallon than the competitors, OR why that severely out of season tomato only costs $1.29. Your misrepresentation of Whole Foods (they carry a product whose MANUFACTURER used a PRODUCT that came from prison labor) makes me think that you have an emotional biased towards Whole Foods and this was a way for you to seek therapeutic justice?? Why not write the article about the manufacturer rather than going after the Sister’s Husband’s Brother’s friend? Rasha B. Foda says: May 29, 2015 at 01:36 pfft…I got an A in Con law. I know it well. As for the writing – it’s not my article. I shared and excerpt from someone else’s and in a comment above another article refers to prison labor as slave labor too…so, I guess I’m not alone. The problem isn’t with the fact that they don’t get paid, but that private companies get to profit from their labor. The benefits of their labor, if free, should inure to all the citizens of the community in which they committed the “crime,” assuming the crime was not something designed to keep the prisons full. In short, I have no regrets. I said what I meant and I meant what I said. prison labor for the “free market” is unjust enrichment and an abomination. There’s a reason why they keep a lid on it – it’s scandalous. Justin says: May 29, 2015 at 05:32 “pfft…I got an A in Con law. I know it well.” You just qualified your “experience” by citing the marks that you received at University?….really??!! I guess that would explain a few things. “As for the writing – it’s not my article.” It was YOUR article (and your subsequent responses) that I am criticizing. Even your title (which is misleading at best) is a poor attempt to discredit an otherwise EXTREMELY creditable corporation that does more to add to local economy than most, and has an impeccable business model. “in a comment above another article refers to prison labor as slave labor too…so, I guess I’m not alone.” you justify your misuse of a term because someone else did it as well??!! The propagation of disinformation is irresponsible at best. Language is a very powerful tool and should be treated with respect. Your misuse of the language only serves to discredit yourself. As far as the citizens of a community benefiting from the labor of an incarcerated person, ONLY in the community in which the crime was committed. Where in the constitution or in which legal precedent does it state that prison labor (paid or otherwise) should ONLY benefit the citizens of the community in which the crime was committed? If you’ve ever taken a train trip, driven on an interstate highway, or even enjoyed a picturesque view in a state that was not your own, you are then (yourself) exploiting the prison labor you claim to abhor. A says: May 29, 2015 at 01:50 I’m a little alarmed by this article…I work for Whole Foods and I am in fact the cheese buyer for my store. We do carry Haystack Mountain products(1 cheese to be exact), but these cheeses are not exclusively made for Whole Foods. No store is obligated to carry this product and to be honest with you I can hardly get the product in due to goat milk shortages (since goats do not produce enough milk like cows do). So, in other words, other food stores/establishments can easily carry Haystack Mountain products, not just Whole Foods. Rasha B. Foda says: May 29, 2015 at 08:43 Why do you think there are goat milk shortages? Could the cheap prison labor exploited by huge national corporations play a role in making it not a feasible (or palatable) for small local family owned stores. Not blaming Whole Foods alone. The entire economy here in the US and abroad is dominated by worker exploitation and human arbitrage. So it’s hardly surprising or uncommon. A says: May 29, 2015 at 15:55 No…there is goat milk shortages because goats do not produce enough milk like cows do. In fact, other goats milk cheeses we carry are coming in out of stock because there isn’t enough goat milk. Cheese makers actually wait until the goats have had their babies so they are properly producing milk. Justin says: May 31, 2015 at 02:12 A…. Don’t try to use logic as a tool to debate with her. Logic clearly won’t break through her misinformed, fantasy based reality. May 29, 2015 at 15:48 This article is SUPER unfair and really only explains one small detail. My family used to run a smokery for cheeses, that we would then sell to local and regional stores; including Whole Foods. They also buy from local merchants. Just pay attention to what you’re buying. I’m assuming all grocery stores have products in them that have questionable labor practices behind them. Jerry "Peacemaker" says: May 30, 2015 at 05:57 If an 8-hour day and 60 cents per day that’s 7-8 cents per hour – 1% of the minimum $7.25. That’s like paying $200 for a $20,000 car. A really good way to reduce/essentially eliminate labor costs. Clearly fascist. May 30, 2015 at 06:08 Whole Foods I plan to eat more cheese and find more ways to use your cheese produced by a person that was put in a place because they made little effort to produce but are now given the opportunity too. It’s great to keep them productive rather than stare at a wall and tell them you deserve more for what tax payers are paying! Idiot! Work for what you have. Work for what you want! Your work will pay in the end! Rasha B. Foda says: May 30, 2015 at 06:10 wow, they trained you well. June 23, 2015 at 12:15 NEW GAME: Every time someone on this thread says “You’re missing the point!” take a shot. I’m wasted.	53,933
He could be brilliant, the guy tends to make me feel thus unique and loved, but makes me personally chuckle on a regular basis – My Blog He could be brilliant, the guy tends to make me feel thus unique and loved, but makes me personally chuckle on a regular basis He could be brilliant, the guy tends to make me feel thus unique and loved, but makes me personally chuckle on a regular basis This can be one of the most selfish of issues, but I don’t know ideas on how to proceed. I was using my basic sweetheart, my companion, for pretty much five years. He was amazing in a lot of tactics but i truly considered that we have being simply buddies. We finished they. Then I fulfilled some body brand new, whom i’m however with. The thing is we nevertheless get a hold of myself personally contemplating me personally ex all the time and I also cry and cry.. experience sick at the idea of your progressing. I am aware its over and it’s all my personal fault but I can’t eliminate him. They feels as though it was simply past. The guy dislikes me for injuring him the way in which i did so, which I completely deserve. I would like to getting sufficiently strong enough so that him proceed and leave my personal latest date completely in, but I don’t know how to allow go.. It really is damaging anything.. I feel so responsible, therefore sad, i cannot rest or eat.. Its such chaos. I never accomplished this earlier, but We have struck very low and I also believe exactly what have I got to shed…. I found myself using my bf 11 period together with numerous memories together. we went on vacation along and i thought that it doesn’t matter what took place however always be truth be told there for me personally. During christmas, we’d some bad instances, points were taking place within my family lives, nan ended up being sick, services was actually tense and he got issues in the home as well. So when situations got too hard for him, he chose to drive me away. In place of are knowing, I battled for your to talk to me, which forced your aside much more. Hi, i must say i think for you and it also happened to me, my guy works at my services therefore we sought out with each other for 18months, the guy explained the guy adored me each day therefore we noticed both everday at lunch time I stated issues that if only i hadnt, the guy said that i’ve injured your significantly more than i’ll actually ever see. I wish I might have realised once I have him, simply want he designed to myself, as now i live with the guilt daily. We awaken each and every day plus it strikes me once again, he’s lost. I’ve no hunger, i lye awake everynight contemplating him and all needs is only one extra possibility. I believe like I cannot embark on, that I simply need relax and pass away to use the horrible serious pain aside. The guy will not communicate with me anyway, said that he is tried enough but we have now never ever broken up and/or have area far from one another before. I have tried satisfying friends, venturing out and having enjoyable, nonetheless it never ever operates. Every day I recently allow it to be through time, to relax and cover within my duvet again from everyone else. He will not tell me if he’s got ideas anymore, if he however likes myself, just claims that I nned to maneuver on We work with exactly the same strengthening plus the thought of him downstairs carrying on with his lifestyle only hurts further. everybody has informed me to maneuver on with my life, in order to get over it he is just some man, but i have never ever considered very lower… i cant move away from the awful sensation inside definitely niggling away Then rodent ceased talking-to me with no cause and I found he had another woman whom the guy goes out with at lunch circumstances. This has started the most challenging part of my entire life however you will overcome they eventually, it won\’t occur overnight but it does progress. Go above they, proceed and allowed him see that you may have a life also. Certainly it will harmed in case the guy\’s not that into your anymore then you can perhaps not making your want you. The reason why choose somebody if they don\’t love you. I possibly could take my hands at my bloke today and then he would coming working however for intercourse just and also have no respect in my situation tomorrow, so don\’t go lower this route, I attempted it as soon as thinking I was going to get your back but it only helped me a lot more depressed once I observed him enjoying their girlfriend. Look into a mirror and say to yourself, just how dare this guy distroy myself, start getting a life and continue on combat that sensation, it is going to progress. Remain powerful Published February 15, 2022 By admin Categorized as datingranking reviews 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. Previous post The secret to pleasure, would be to switch attention from the system and towards spirit Next post I’m shocked that that you men is set-to Recent Posts Unless you has comfort inside relations after that odds are it is a toxic commitment De quelle maniere entreprendre une autre presentation pour anamnesie / soutenance pour arracher Votre cour World of my basic hookup on a Spey rod, it is going to usually keep a unique set in my cardio Ci sono delle frasi affinche ci fanno realmente seccare con quanto i ragazzi non ci devono giammai assumersi.	5,630
(‘Breathing’ was published in The Rialto, no. 86; ‘The Valley Spirit Never Dies’ was published in Smoke, no. 62) Jennifer Lee Tsai is a British-Chinese poet based in Liverpool. Her poems have been published in Smoke, The Rialto and are forthcoming in the Bloodaxe anthology, Ten: Poets of the New Generation in September 2017. She is a fellow of The Complete Works III. Twitter: @jenniferyuhsia Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Related Rish June 23, 2017 June 22, 2017 breathing, jennifer lee tsai, Liverpool, Poetry, Smoke, The Rialto, valley spirit never dies Previous Previous post: ‘Praise Be to Unexpected Ways’ by Chaucer Cameron Next Next post: Three poems by Jodie Hollander Subscribe via email to receive poems in your inbox Email Address: is a not-for-profit poetry site edited by Josephine Corcoran. Explore the archive or click on the ‘Index’ pages to read the work of hundreds of poets. Archives Select Month September 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012	2,387
Before we discuss what a business card is, it is important we understand the important roles of a business card. A business card helps in contact tracing It is a marketing tool It is a referral tool Mostly, business cards are issued out in business events such as; Expos, Seminars, AGMS, Team building events among other local meetings such as fundraisers. When a need arises, the business owner can easily locate contact from a business card for enquiry. Secondly, as a marketing tool, a business card carries business information services therefore instantly selling the business to the target person. Lastly, a business card is a referral tool. It’s contents can be used to recommend the business to friends interested in products and services offered. Read: How to design a business card Therefore, a business card is a branding tool that is affordable, easy to carry, and distribute to potential customers during meetings and occasions. Types of business card Businesses have preferences to the type of business card to use since it reflects the overall business image.. There are two types of business card. Paper business cards Plastic business cards Corporate business card printing Paper business cards are the most popular due to versatility. They can be printed in different forms and textures making them the best fit for many organizations. On the other hand, plastic business cards are gaining popularity as printing technology improves. Important: How to Brand a Small business Materials used to print business card Paper manufacturing industries have continuously produced different materials used in business cards printing. That is, ivory board and art card paper sheets. The main difference is the feel texture with grammage variance a common aspect among them. Besides paper materials, plastic is also used to manufacture PVC sheets for business cards printing. Business cards printing Methods In Kenya, there are several methods used to print business cards but digital printing and offset printing are the most popular methods. Digital printing technology in Kenya has grown steadily due to the availability of suppliers keen to support the printing industry with modern machinery. Earlier, off-set printing was more popular compared to digital printing since it was an old technology that was reliable in quality and guaranteed machinery service. The advantages of digital printing It is fast Easy to operate Digital printing takes the shortest time possible to print business cards since it is printable from the printer software in the computer. On the contrary, Offset printing is different because there are processes to be followed such as; Plate preparations, color calibration, testing, and printing. Quality business cards A graphic designer can easily double up as a digital printer operator while serving customers due to the nature of the printer. The menus are easy to operate as well as trouble shoot in case of paper jams. On the other hand, off-set printer operator require expert training because of printing technicalities required to competently use the machines. It is quit involving and time consuming but with a guaranteed quality. Digital printing is economical to businesses wishing to print small quantities on minimal budget. For bulk printing, it is advisable to use offset printing to ensure consistency, affordability, and quality work. Related: How to order Online Business cards lamination methods Besides printing, business cards can also be laminated. There are different types of lamination. The main difference is the look and feel of the business cards. Corporate firms mostly prefer the gloss, matt and velvet methods for consistency and simplicity purposes. At instances, spot lamination is also used to emphasize the logo at the back of the business card. Foiling is also used mostly with government organizations and events companies alike. Business cards finishing methods The most important aspect is the finishing. This entails cutting to size and packaging. Business card can be cut to specific sizes as outlined during printing. Also, they can be cornered all round or just two or single side depending with the customer preference. After the finishing, they are packaged and delivered. Laminated business card Quick read: 5 reasons business cards still matter As a branding company in Nairobi Kenya, we ensure quality, affordable, and convenient business cards printing services are rendered with ease thus helping you get your branding right. For business cards design and printing reach us on +254 707 624 629. Posted in Branding services Kenya, Business cards printers KenyaTagged branding company Kenya, Business cards, Business cards price Nairobi, Creative consultants Kenya, Nairobi Cards printers, Printers in Nairobi	4,899
At Bruchelle's we believe life is always better with good food, a tasty beverage, and great conversation. This is why we have worked hard to create a menu with the freshest cuts of meat, highest quality of cheeses, and fresh local produce. Everything is made to order to ensure freshness and maintain the highest quality meal possible. Whether you are meeting a colleague for lunch, a friend for a quick appetizer and a glass of wine or joining us for happy hour, you will be pleasantly surprised with the relaxed atmosphere and the family that strives to make sure your experience is nothing less than perfect. Indulge in a unique selection of delicious prime sandwiches and wholesome bagels served with some of the best imported meats and cheeses. We also offer an extensive drink menu that works for any party or gathering. A surprising twist to the traditional bagel shop! Delicious food, refreshing cocktails, paired with a relaxing atmosphere. You may never want to leave.	1,008
Dogs are some of the most intelligent yet confusing animals on the planet. They're fiercely loyal, often playful, and very perceptive, but their behavior can sometimes be confusing and concerning, especially to new dog owners. For example, you may have noticed your dog recently started acting more like a cow than a dog and began munching on grass. From everything that you've read and been told, you know that dogs are carnivores and prefer meat and dog food over plants and herbs. Nevertheless, they are eating grass in your yard or at the park like there's no tomorrow. Is there a reason for this behavior? Should you be concerned? If you have these or other questions, you've come to the right place. Are There Risks Involved With Letting My Dog Eat Grass? How do I Stop My Dog From Eating Grass? There are several different reasons that dogs eat grass. Most of these reasons have to do with the fact that dogs seem to have a sixth sense of what's best for them. They might not know why they suddenly started craving grass. They simply know that they need it, so they start eating it. Here are some of the possible reasons your dog is eating grass. They're Bored or Anxious Dogs tend to be active, playful animals that need stimulation and interaction. You may have noticed that some of your socks, furniture, pillows, or shoes have holes or bite marks. This is because your dog got bored and decided to play with a nearby object that quickly fell victim to its eager biting. If a dog is bored outside your home, they'll do the same thing with grass. It's also possible that your dog has separation anxiety or gets nervous when other dogs or people approach them. They start chewing and eating grass if it's nearby because they don't know how to cope with their anxiety. They Need More Fiber Unlike humans, dogs can't read dietary blogs and discover on their own that they have an insufficiency. They can only eat what we give them or what they can find while scavenging. Although they don't have access to or the ability to absorb medical information, dogs have an innate ability to know when they need something. As a result, they often eat grass if they sense that they're low on fiber. They Don't Feel Good One of the main reasons dogs eat grass is when they don't feel good and are about to throw up. Eating grass can sometimes incite the vomiting process, but it also coats their throat with a protective lining to prevent pain or damage from the acid contained in vomit. Don’t be surprised or alarmed if your dog throws up soon after eating grass, as long as it's occasional. If grass eating gets accompanied by diarrhea, abnormal behavior, lethargy, or other unusual characteristics, it could indicate that your dog has intestinal worms. This idea is relatively new, but studies have shown that wolves eat grass when they have worms because it's a way to ease their stomachs and expel the worms through their excrement. If you notice that your dog eats grass frequently and is acting strange, you should take them to a vet immediately. Whether they have worms or not, it's essential to understand why your dog isn't acting like itself. They Like the Taste Since we can't ask our dogs about their pallet, the idea that they eat grass because of the taste is purely speculative. However, all dogs are different and have unique personalities. It's possible that your dog simply eats grass because they have a vegetarian leaning. They're Actually After the Moisture on the Grass If your dog only eats grass after it rains or when the morning dew is still present, they might not be after the grass at all. It's possible that your dog is thirsty and is going after the moisture on the grass. When you stop and think about it, there's no reason that your dog shouldn't eat grass. Grass is devoured by cows, horses, and many other herbivores and is very easy for animals to digest. As long as other unusual activities don't accompany your dog's grass-eating habit, there's no reason to stop them from mowing your yard for you. Are There Risks Involved With Letting My Dog Eat Grass? Grass alone doesn't present a risk to your dog and isn't toxic to them. However, certain pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals that you put on your grass to help it grow can wreak havoc on your dog's digestive system. If you add fertilizer, weed killer, or other chemicals to your lawn, you should keep your dog away from it for several days. Eating grass that's covered in chemicals can be deadly to your dog. Even if they don't eat the grass and simply walk on it, the substances could irritate their paws and cause discomfort. Their natural instinct is to lick their wounds, which means they're ingesting the chemicals without eating the grass firsthand. If your dog gets sick or dies from consuming fertilizer or other chemicals on your grass, you'll never forgive yourself. How do I Stop My Dog From Eating Grass? Remember, the grass itself isn't toxic or harmful to dogs, and they might have a good reason for wanting it. However, if you recently applied fertilizer to your yard or simply don't like that your yard is full of patches of missing grass, there are ways to stop this unusual habit. The best way to go about this is to replace the grass with something better: treats! If you notice your dog eating grass and order them to stop, you should reward their good behavior with a treat. Positive reinforcement works just as well as negative reinforcement, and it's a lot more fun. You can also try distracting them when they start to eat grass or go the "words of affirmation" route in place of treats. Eating grass is a learned habit, but it's one that you can break with enough time and training. Remember to be patient during this process and carry treats with you wherever you take your dog so that you're always ready to reward them for listening to your command not to eat grass.	6,008
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In this post, we will discover cases when computer science can make you rich and which other cases can not? In addition, we’re going to give you a full map teaching you how to make money or become rich from computer science. So keep reading, not to miss the steps. Having a degree in computer science will make you rich? A computer science degree won’t make you rich unless you build your business around it. It is right that computer science is a good career job, but it is not enough to make you a millionaire by working in a cubical job like programming. To become rich in computer science, you need to open your business in the industry and hopefully solve a problem that can bring you millions of dollars. But if you consider rich is getting 200,000 a year working, for example, as a senior developer in cryptography or mathematicians, yeah is good you can get there. But making $200,000 will never allow you to live the life of wealthy people. To be rich, you must make at least a minimum of $1M a year so that people can call you a millionaire. Below that, there is a lot of work needed. To clarify more, the median salary in computer science is $100,000. Juniors begin with $80,000. But the great thing about computer science is within fewer years, 2 or 3 years of experience, you can reach $130,000 a year if you prove your skill. But unfortunately, that is not enough to make you rich. Rich people aren’t going to be employees. Being rich doesn’t relate to a computer science degree or any degree. So you will never be a millionaire trading your time with money like the 99% of employees do. The common thing that rich people have is taking risks and going out of their comfort zone. Not going for the save jobs, safety is not in their dictionary, sometimes they risk all that they have. As a result, this makes people rich in computer science or any other field. But honestly, becoming rich in computer science is easier than in other domains. It doesn’t have the high cost of entry as a physical or traditional business. In the next paragraph, we will list the 7 steps to help you become rich in form computer science field. 7 steps to becoming rich from a computer science degree were going to go step by step and give you the entire map that many successful computer engineer students have followed to become rich. 1- learn and gain knowledge The first thing you should follow is learning and solidifying yourself in math. Math is a significant determinant of success. Everyone can become a developer, but not everyone can become a great developer. Math is essential in this aspect. The second thing is to learn programming languages, beginning with C and C++. Both languages are the pillar of the computer science field. In addition to learning the core and necessary about computer field, then take a specialization. Having a background in all specializations is good. But the domain is broad, so the only way to shine is to follow a specialty. 2 – Take internships and work in the field The second thing you should do is take internships with companies, especially the small ones. Because in small companies, you will have broad tasks that help you learn new things and become good at multitasking. This is so interesting for you to know how the whole process of companies works. Then go and apply for jobs to get experience. Having 5 years of experience working for companies will be valuable. To learn how big companies are running their business in the computer science field. 3 – learn marketing and sells To become a successful entrepreneur in computer science or any field, you need to learn marketing and sales. So you have to take some courses to learn how to sell and market your product. In this step is better to go and test yourself doing some small businesses. For example, you can buy softwares or informatics tools, improve them and resell them again. Or sell some services online. This step is essential to learning how to sell yourself and your products at the beginnings. 4 Do some freelancing The fourth step is to do some freelancing jobs to discover the market you are working on and the opportunities. The freelance world will give a great idea about your 1 or $10M next startups in the computer science field. It is not a step but is a remainder. The process will require a lot of sacrifices. You need at least 5 years to follow this path. To become rich form computer science or any field, you must know that it takes time. 6 Make your product or service After these grinding moments, you should begin or start your project. In this phase, you already must have a clear idea about your project. You should be aware that the important thing is to put your software service as quickly as possible in the market to get feedback. Because many people spend years working on ideas that might not be working or are highly demanded in the market. the key is the faster you are, the better you get To expand your project, you need to scale it, and to do that, you need an investor. To convince the investor to join your project, you need to show him some numbers or successes your business has. The most important thing that investors care about is how much potential this business grow in the next 5 years. So you have to have clear plans for your business. In additon, to make some sales or have some contracts to prove to yourself first if the business model is successful or not, before going and asking from an investor. Having capital is essential to help build a team and have the resources to succeed in a business. Being an employee in computer science for 8 hours will never make you rich. To be rich, you need to deploy other people’s efforts and time. You can’t do that on your own. But you have to know that the odds of success in this game is only 10%. 90% of startups fail in their 5 years. So expect a lot of grinding and sacrifices.	5,974
Little did Rae and I know that we met two of the final five Cylons at the autograph event in San Francisco last month! Our beloved Anders and Chief are Cylons! One-Eyed Tigh and Presidential Aide Tori are too, although Executive Producer Ronald Moore says that theyare fundamentally different from the other models. What does all this mean? There are some other worthy theories on the Net to consider. Check out this post on the always excellent All about Tahmoh Penikett website. I like the one that argues the Cylons have been waging a way against each other for thousands of years. Humanity is long gone, meaning everyone is a Cylon. The sands of time have made them forget who and what they really are. Remember, Leoben keeps on saying, “All that is happening has happened before.” I remember telling Chief that we were afraid that he was going to die this season. He said with this bemused face, “You’ll see.” I should have known about Chief; he was wearing a Cylon t-shirt! Looking at the photo, maybe Rae and I make up the final five! Posted in JournalTagged Battlestar Galactica Next COBA April 2007 Monthly Assignment: SPEED 4 thoughts on “We Are The Final Five!” March 26, 2007 at 11:20 pm Watching this season in particular has been an exercise in masochism for me, but the last five minutes of the season finale got me excited for next season. Have they confirmed that it will be the last season? I’m hoping having a finish line in sight will tighten up the story arcs and get back to the core of the story. Although waiting til the fall for the 2 hour special and 8 months for a new season is going to be painful ;) March 27, 2007 at 8:25 am Moore and Eick are wrestling with the idea of finishing up the series after the 4th season. This decision may become easier if the networks don’t renew BSG for a fifth season. Personally, I think they’ve painted themselves into a corner where they have to finish everything up next year. March 29, 2007 at 6:13 am This season has been pretty ragged by the end. The finish of New Caprica was great. But it seemed to run out of steam by the time the Baltar trial came round. The idea of everyone being a Cylon is a great one. As you report the final four / five (Starbuck ?) do seem different. For instance the chief fathered a child. I don’t know if I could stand a retcon to explain it. They definitely have to wind things up if they’ve found Earth like Starbuck says. Nonetheless Galactica is still a great show. Sha Sha March 29, 2007 at 9:52 am Yeah, the idea of the Chief being a Cylon and fathering a hybrid baby kind of dilutes the special-ness of Hera, doesn’t it?	2,792
So the title of this blog is a little dramatic. I'll give you that. But, breastfeeding is a VERY DRAMATIC topic in case ya didn't know! It all started back in the summer of 2008 when I found out I was pregnant...there were so many things to decide and plan for in terms of raising my child. One of the major issues I had to think about was breastfeeding and whether or not I was going to do it. Little did I know that it wasn't always a choice one could simply make. Everything I read and heard touted the benefits of breastfeeding. Breastfed babies are supposed to have higher I.Q.s than babies that are raised on "swill," i.e., formula. "Breast is best!" the associated propaganda clearly states. So being a Type-A woman and determined to provide the BEST for my child, I decided I would breastfeed and ONLY breastfeed. No formula, no pumping, etc. That was my plan and I was sticking to it come hell or high water! To prepare for this joyous, selfless and MANDATORY experience, husby and I signed up for breastfeeding classes. The instructor showed a couple of videos that featured happy moms and their babies breastfeeding blissfully (try to say that 20 times fast!). My preparation made me so excited to be a breastfeeding mother. I just knew in my heart this was the ONLY way we could go! REALITY CHECK: I ended up having a C-section. This experience was devastating. Don't get me wrong, the doctors and nurses at my hospital were all great. I was treated quite well. What was devastating was that I was in utter pain and could barely sit up out of bed for a few days. The day I had to get up and walk on my own was THE MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCE I have ever felt. But of course, I WAS GOING TO BREASTFEED...I MUST NOT DEVIATE FROM THE PLAN! My crazy ass was trying to breastfeed within 24 hours of my MAJOR SURGERY. Needless to say, I was in mind-crushing pain and still put breastfeeding ahead of my own well-being. To top it off, my poor baby was crying before, during and after feedings and we didn't know why. I was still determined to breastfeed because BREAST IS BEST, dontcha know?! Two of the four nights I was in the hospital I slept only ONE hour because I was trying my hardest to breastfeed like a "good" mom should. Don't get me wrong...I know parenting is not about getting sleep. But, after major surgery (did I tell you I had a C-section??) you need some rest to recuperate properly. Finally, one night husby convinced me to feed the baby formula. We had a huge fight, but he won, because his point was that the baby needed to eat and eat comfortably, not while crying and screaming while I was bawling and in pain. I finally gave in and the baby ate peacefully and was content. One of the saner lactation nurses at the hospital discovered why poor baby wasn't able to breastfeed properly...his frenulum was too short. So, the whole time I was trying and trying, baby simply wasn't getting enough. I mean I even had one two-hour breastfeeding session before I found this out! This nurse told me that the baby could get this frenulum problem fixed. Some doctors even snipped it right in their offices! Convenient and so in line with the breastfeeding Nazi agenda, right? My OB told me to pump breastmilk to supplement the formula and call it a day. Sounds like great advice, right? WRONG! One especially insane lactation Nazi got a crazy look in her eye when I told her I was going to pump. She sounded devasted that I was going to pump. Like I killed her fucking puppy dog or something. Apparently pumping isn't "real" breastfeeding. Okay, so lemme get this straight. The purpose of breastfeeding is to feed babies breastmilk. When one pumps, one produces breastmilk. WHAT IS THE FUCKING PROBLEM?!?! I ignored her (see, by this time, the confident me was starting to creep back in to my brain and mind) and proceeded to feed my baby formula and expressed breastmilk. After we arrived home from the hospital, husby went out and rented a pump for me. We decided on a month-to-month rental, but in my mind I told myself I would pump until the baby's frenulum was snipped. About a month after the baby was born, we took him to a oral surgeon for a consultation. He told us he could do the procedure. Great! But, the baby would have to be completely put under. NOT GOOD. The doctor never outright said NOT to do it, but he did tell us that our baby was thriving extremely well on expressed milk and formula and that he rarely ever puts patients under six months old completely under. Well, that was all husby and I had to hear. Our boy was growing and happy. Without "real" breastfeeding...imagine that! Fuck putting him under! If you would do that just to breastfeed, you are motherfucking crazy. There, I said it. You are a crazy, breastfeeding Nazi. Now, don't get me wrong. I know plenty of breastfeeding moms that are awesome people. They breastfeed and don't judge anyone for not doing it (my dear friends in Langhorne, PA and Yardville, NJ are great examples). They did and do what is best for them and their babies. Those moms are NOT what this entry is about. I'm talking about the rude-ass breastfeeding Nazi bitches that insist on knowing whether or not you breastfeed and then judge you negatively. Like we women don't have enough to worry about! I do digress. Anyways, so I'm pumping along, feeding the baby. All seems to be going well. And it should be, because when I first got home from the hospital, my wonderful mother stayed and helped out for almost a month post-partum (she came out from Vegas a week before my delivery). Dear husby took time off work, too. So all I had to do was pump and change some diapers and do some bottlefeedings, in between trying to relax so I could heal. Not too hard, right? WRONG. After my mom left and husby had to go back to work, I was home alone trying to pump, watch the baby, feed the baby, diaper the baby, clean the house, recuperate (C-section, remember?), make meals for myself, etc. I began to HATE pumping. I spent every spare minute I had pumping. It was humiliating to do it. Any woman that says they don't mind pumping are motherfucking lying! YOU ARE LIKE A COW BEING MILKED...IT IS GROSS AND BEYOND TIMECONSUMING. I was supposed to be taking care of a baby AND resting (you know, to recuperate after my C-section) but I never, ever got to rest. Even when my husby would take over some night feedings I had to get up to pump. Then each time I pumped I had to clean all of the pump parts. Wow, what a "horrible" mother I am. How dare I not love pumping. I mean, BREAST IS BEST...for the love of God, GIVE IT A FUCKING REST. Husby brought the pump back to the rental company after one month. In total, my baby drank breastmilk for about a month and a half, counting the time I pumped in the hospital. I was proud that I was able to give my baby breastmilk for the time I did, so I laid the topic to rest and got over my guilt. The baby and I both put our best foot (or breast in my case) forward and we don't owe anyone any explanations. Cut to the present time. My baby is now almost three months old. He is thriving...boy, is he thriving! A big, happy baby that sleeps well (day and night), giggles a lot and simply enjoys life. His pediatrician calls him "solid" and I see the baby growing physically and mentally every day. You could put him next to a breastfeeding baby and no one would be able to tell he was drinking that filthy formula stuff. In fact, most people say, wow, healthy baby, he looks very happy! Why, thank you, he is! Biggups to husby and I for that. And I guess the formula must be working quite well, too. Hey, it's not breastmilk and it's not the BEST, but just from looking at him anyone can see how well he is flourishing. In spite of the baby's apparently healthiness and positive disposition, the first question most women ask me is "ARE YOU BREASTFEEDING?????????????????????????????????????" No, I say, I did pump for almost two months. Then they get that look on their face like they feel sorry for me and the baby. They also look at me like I am selfish and lazy. Oh yea, you got me girl. I'm just lazy. I don't wanna pump because I wanna go clubbing and dancing. I also wanna attend "How to be a Horrible Mother by Formula Feeding Your Baby" classes in my spare time instead of pumping. Yesterday, I had a get together where I invited a bunch of my friends and their babies to bbq and chill. I couldn't wait to see one of my friend's babies. She delivered five days before me, so I never got to chance to see her baby girl yet. Now, she had I had talked about breastfeeding before and we both ended up doing the same thing. Breastfeeding, then pumping and formula, then 100% formula. I felt comfortable talking with her about breastfeeding and feeding in general because she genuinely cares for me and my family. Also, she did not judge me and nor I her. She's definitely not a breastfeeding Nazi. I know what kind of moms she and I are...I know we both tried our asses off to breastfeed and/or pump. We are FAR from lazy, I can tell you that! So at this event, I was feeling great. I was hanging out with friends, enjoying the beautiful weather and even drinking some of those fruity alcoholic drinks. Life is good...until BREASTFEEDING NAZI came and rained on my parade. This is what happened. One of my other close girlfriends asked if I was breastfeeding and I did not mind answering her because she was my girl. Seconds after I answered "no, but I pumped for about a month and a half" the Bf Nazi rolls her eyes and scoffs "ONLY a month and a half? I breastfed for six months." Okaaaayyyy....and so what??? I was LIVID, PISSED OFF, on the verge of MURDA, because I KNEW how hard the baby and I tried. We tried to make it work, but what is best for our situation (I say our, because it wasn't just me involved) is formula. Where was this bitch when I was moaning in post-op pain, trying desperately to breastfeed my newborn? Was SHE helping me clean my house and fold my laundry when I was home? Was SHE cleaning my pump accessories? HELL TO THE NO. I remained classy and didn't snap back. I wanted to crack her neck and kick her right in the bandonkadonk. What a classless and ignorant comment. I came home and vented to my husby. I was so angry, that I restarted this Hatewatchers blog that you are reading right now. I just had to get this incident off my chest! I want to speak up for myself and all other mothers out there that are formula feeding and/or "only" pumping. We have rights, too! Moral: The next time you wanna ask a women if she's breastfeeding, think twice. Unless she is a close friend (even then, who cares) or has similar experiences, just leave it be. Why not just ask the mom how she and her partner (if there is one) are doing? Why not just hold the baby and enjoy that time? Ladies, let's act like ladies and leave our intrusive, possibly-offensive questions and comments at the door. LEAVE OUR BREASTS AND NIPPLES ALONE, YOU FUCKING BREASTFEEDING NAZIS! Note: Please excuse the use of "Nazi" in this blog entry. I did not intend to offend anyone. If I have offended you, I hope you accept my deepest apologies. I am just very, very, very angry at these non-supportive, spiteful women that are so proud of the fact that they breastfeed AND can't wait to rub our poor formula-buying noses in it. Posted by Anonymous at 2:28 AM 19 comments: Unknown June 7, 2009 at 8:18 AM You read my mind -- I was thinking of writing my own blog on this topic. Anyone who thinks breastfeeding (even if you don't pump) is easy, has no idea what they are talking about. Now I'm doing about half formula, 1/4 breastfeeding, 1/4 pumping and am about to give up the pumping because it SUCKS. You are a fab mom and don't let anyone ever rain on your parade. ReplyDelete Replies Unknown June 7, 2009 at 9:11 AM Rock on wit ya bad self Phoebe! Shai is a beautiful, happy baby who is adored by his awesome parents. Thanks for this post. ReplyDelete Replies Linda June 7, 2009 at 11:09 AM Ohhhh Phoebe!!! I HATE pumping!!! It is horribly uncomfortable!!! You def. do feel like a cow being milked! Scott even walks by sometimes and says 'mooooo' lol. I have to do it every nite so that I can mix it with Belle's solids now...I envy everyone that can just go right up to bed and go to sleep!!! Now...I don't want to rush Belle along AT ALL as I am trying to enjoy every moment with her at this age because I know it goes way too quickly and she will be talking back to me in no time, BUT I cannot wait for the year mark in the way that she can have cows milk in her cereals and I won't have to pump for it anymore!! Oh wait!! And did I mention that Belle is a biter? Yeah...that's not fun...at least once during EVERY breastfeeding session...Nicolas did it maybe only twice the whole time I breast fed him. UGGGhhhhh!!! You know that I support you in everything you do and Shai is so lucky to have you and Shawn as parents!!! ReplyDelete Replies smedway June 7, 2009 at 11:14 PM I also wanna attend "How to be a Horrible Mother by Formula Feeding Your Baby" classes in my spare time instead of pumping.... that is f%^&ing awesome. I think I saw you at the last Wednesday meeting? ReplyDelete Replies Unknown June 8, 2009 at 12:18 PM I am glad you got your chance to vent and call me a breast feeding nazi bitch! The sad part was I wasn't trying to be vengeful or judgemental, because I actually went through a similar situation of unplanned c-section and painful recovery and a baby that wouldn't latch on for a month so I know exactly how hard it is to breastfeed and pump. So once again sorry for ruining your event and being insensitive and God knows my heart when I tell you I wasn't trying to take away from your experience of enjoying your child and doing whatever worked for you. ReplyDelete Replies JSoCali June 8, 2009 at 4:56 PM I know I don't know much about this topic, but to all the Breastfeeding Nazis out there - my cousin is an amazing mom with a BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY child. She will give you your opinion when she wants it. Have a nice day ladies :) ReplyDelete Replies Dori June 8, 2009 at 6:18 PM Such a well written, heated blog entry! You are so right -- and you have such an amazing attitude about it. Just for the record, though, I always choose clubbing and dancing over pumping. ReplyDelete Replies Christine June 11, 2009 at 2:24 PM You had me rolling with this entry! You are a witty, funny writer and I am looking forward to more blog entries of the "Horrible Mother Who Formula Feeds Her Baby" :P Don't let anyone else ruin your mood, gurrrl. There is no rulebook set in stone for all mothers to follow. You are only accountable to God and your baby. As long as Shai is growing up healthy, happy and strong that's all that matters. My mother raised all of us on formula and we are all perfectly fine, SO THERE!! :) ReplyDelete Replies Unknown June 19, 2009 at 9:15 AM I meant to post my comment on this a while ago. First of all, you are a great mom and don't let anyone tell you otherwise or bring you down. There will be people who will never be happy for you and it took me some time to learn to ignore those people. I know it makes you angry, as I think we have that in common, but you must ignore them and enjoy your beautiful baby boy! As you already know, I had a similar BFing experience as you and spent many of my first weeks as a mom depressed because BFing wasn't working for my baby and me. I would end up in tears and frustrate my baby. After trying for a while and pumping, I decided I needed to do what's best for both myself and my baby and gave her formula. I was a formula-fed baby myself, and I turned out just fine. Now, while I was pregnant, I had always planned on BFing (we spoke about this too) and bought all the things I needed (BFing bras, tanks, pads, etc). And everyone will tell you that you MUST BF and there's no other way. Well, only one friend of mine told me the truth - she said if it works out and I CAN BF, then great but it's OK if it doesn't work and not to beat myself up about it. My mom and sister also said this to me after I kept trying and it wasn't working. But there are those people who just want you to feel horrible and will continue to bring it up EVERY time they see you just because they know that you are not BFing. In the beginning, I really stressed myself out when this happened but I learned to ignore these type of comments. To end my rant on this hot topic, I want to say that I started to feel better about my formula-feeding after finding out that many of the moms I knew didn't BF! It was such a relief to me and didn't make me feel as though I was a horrible mom (as those BFing nazis want you to feel). I know that I'm a great mom and will always try to be a better mom. My baby girl is happy and healthy and that's all I could ask for. For those people who cannot be happy for me then they should keep their mouths shut. I'm now enjoying my baby and my family and couldn't be happier! So I hope you do the same! ;) ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous January 16, 2010 at 2:28 AM Great post, my wife and I are going thru this right now. Her milk isn't really coming in and the baby is screaming all the time, making us both miserable.. We visited the lactation nurse today and it really only made things worse. I really don't see a problem with supplimenting breast milk with additional formula. Eventually mom will come into her own and make a good supply of milk, but you can't ALWAYS count on it being there. But the nurse will try to make you feel like a failure if you don't breastfeed, and lay on the guilt trip. Thanks for telling it like it is. ReplyDelete Replies The Hatewatcher January 16, 2010 at 3:07 AM Hi Anonymous, apologies for not approving your comment sooner. Thank you for reading the blog and providing your insights. You sound like a very supportive husband and father, which is wonderful. Believe it or not, a lot of men are very old fashioned when it comes to breastfeeding. I hope that what I wrote helped you and your wife feel better. Please know that you have my full support. Us sane parents gotta stick together! :) ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous February 5, 2010 at 6:19 AM Make a choice. Own it. No one TELLS you how to feel. You want a medal for breastfeeding? For formula feeding? You won't get one for either CHOICE. On, and by the way, Nazis killed millions of people. Breastfeeding advocates are trying to save lives. Name calling really undermines your argument. You fucking idiot. ReplyDelete Replies The Hatewatcher February 5, 2010 at 6:47 AM Yes, Anonymous (most recent), I agree that no one tells you how to feel, but if I feel something and am angry, I can choose to react how I want to. I chose to write about it. I'm very happy for you that you can let everything slide off your back, but fucking idiots like me can't. Additionally, I am well aware that Nazis killed millions of Jews. I chose "breastfeeding" Nazi because these people that were shoving breastfeeding down my throat were so maniacally fervent and negative in their approach, that it felt extremely cultish and smacked of misdirected passion. It's sarcasm on my part. A writer uses various types of literary vehicles to get his or her point across. Thanks for your feedback. ReplyDelete Replies The Hatewatcher February 5, 2010 at 6:48 AM P.S. Wait, I don't get a medal? (Sarcasm again.) ReplyDelete Replies Christine R. February 5, 2010 at 10:16 AM Hey Anonymous, If name calling really undermines The Hatewatcher's argument, then I guess we shouldn't be taking you too seriously either, huh? "fucking idiot"-- really? That sure is an intelligent way to show this blogger the "error of her views". LOL... nice. ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous February 5, 2010 at 5:50 PM Hey anonymous, you're a fucking idiot. XXOO ReplyDelete Replies Dori February 5, 2010 at 10:39 PM "Breastfeeding advocates are trying to save lives." Uhh what about The Hatewatcher's baby who would have starved if she continued trying to breastfeed? Are they trying to save his life? In what way? ReplyDelete Replies Kate February 7, 2010 at 6:24 PM I needed this post sooo badly! I labored unmedicated with pitocin for 24 hours before a c-section. Then I was seperated from my baby for hours. Of course we had latch issues and my supply didn't come in fully for a week. So we pumped and supplemented when needed. When I tried seeing a lactation consultant in person I was told it would be 55 dollars for the consultation plus 50 dollars an hour on top of that. I was looking at 105 dollars just to be seen! Then the other consultants were over the phone only...worthless. They put forth this culture of being for the womanly art of breastfeeding, but when it comes down to it, no one is there to support or help. Trust me, I called every single support group in my city and either didn't get a return call or I was told the same rote information that was not helping, or that support group had been shut down. So, yes, I pump and occasionally feed formula. I am a bad mom because the baby will not have a formed jaw from the bottles, and I've destroyed the ph level of her intestines from the formula...blah blah blah. Dammit, I have a healthy 2 week old little girl and they all can go to hell. Pumping is breastfeeding, you pompous boob pushers! Thanks for the great blog and keep up being the incredible Mama that you are! ReplyDelete Replies Anonymous February 2, 2022 at 1:23 AM Lucky Club Casino is a casino that is part of Lucky Club. Come join us to discover our exciting games and tournaments. Lucky Club offers great promotions. You luckyclub.live ReplyDelete Replies Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) "Live your motherfucking life. Get your hustle on. Understand people are gonna hate you regardless. Get that out of your head, that fantasy world where people ain't hating on you. You gotta be grateful. You need haters."	22,418
Think about this...what it means when you tell a person to have a seat. Usually it is time for a serious conversation. You may have to tell that person something that you know they do not want to hear. You may want that person to hear you loud and clear, without any distractions. Or you may have some information that that person needs to know. Either way it is usually a time when you ask someone to stop everything their doing. To pause everything else that they may have going on in life. Everything from what they are thinking at that moment, to what they are doing at that time, to where they are going and you don't even want them to think about what they were about to do. This is usually an interrution in their daily life and now their complete and only focus is you. There are times in life when God will sit you down. Times when He will separate you from everything that has your attention. He may separate you from friends and family, not permanently but just long enough to get your attention. He may cause projects to fail. He may even disrupt your mind where the only thing you can focus on is Him. During these times, don't be so quick to rush back into life. Take the time to access what you have going on around you and what God may be trying to tell you. Maybe you are working outside of His will for your life. Maybe you are too busy and just not giving Him any time. Maybe there is something that He is trying to get you to do. When He puts the brakes on the things around you, He is telling you to sit down. Stop and listen, it's the only way you will know what He is saying to you. Let God lead, life will go much more smoothly. You won't hit the brick walls and stumbling blocks that come from doing things, that He never wanted you to do in the first place. He wants to guide us through this life. Let Him show you which way He wants you to go. Allow Him to speak to you and teach you. He wants to be that involved in our lives. We were never meant to live and go through this life alone. Pay attention to those moments, where God interrupts your life. Those moments where He is asking you to have a seat. Talk to Him, ask Him, what are You trying to tell me, Lord? and listen...with your ears and your heart. Try God today, get into His word and develop a prayer life, it's just that simple. There is a saying that I love, "Don't let the noise of the world, keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord." Sometimes you have to find a quiet place away from distractions, Mark 6:31 31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Romans 12:2 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. What happened when Peter was distracted, Matthew 14:28-31 28And Peter answered him and said, LORD, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, LORD, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Follow the example of Mary instead of Martha (who was distracted by her chores)	3,557
A brand new family musical adventure with music and lyrics by Al & Sam of The Hoosiers. Story by Mark & Dean Characters Cockatoo's Cartoons Schools Use tab to navigate through the menu items. On a day that seemed like any other, Bumper Car Bear woke up as usual. He gave a big Bear stretch and had a big Bear breakfast as he did every morning; Bear also liked to start the day with a drive around Treble Cliff Island. But as Bear walked out into the jungle clearing where he had parked his car every day for the last five years he realised something strange and peculiar. He realised his car was nowhere to be seen! "Oh, no!" cried Bear. "My car has been stolen." He looked in the trees and he looked on the ground, he looked behind bushes, it was nowhere to be found. "Who could have done such a thing?" The Bear stopped to ponder. "Could it be Frog?" he wondered. "Perhaps it was that Dastardly Duck Calando" he said with a grimace. Bear looked and looked and asked all of the Animals on Treble Cliff Island. "Have you seen my Car?" "Ssssssssory" said Scaley The Snake in answer to his question. "I have not ssssseen your car". Aligator, Cockatoo, Donkey, Frog and Giraffe had similar answers. No one had seen Bear's treasured Car. "Oh no and oh dear! Who is there left for me to ask?" Bear paused for a moment and a thought came into his head. Now, while it is true Bears are not always the quickest to think, the answer to this question came as quick as a blink. "Elephant!" he cried. "I must ask her." He walked for a mile and then a few miles more and just as the sun was setting on the West of the Island, he found Elephant on the sandy beach dancing the Waltz as she so often liked to do. She turned around and caught sight of Bear. "Are you ok?" she said with a trump of her trunk. "No!" retorted Bear "I have lost my car!" "Well that sounds like a silly thing to do. How could you loose something so big?" "I don't know?" replied Bear in a solemn voice. After a pause, a long silent pause, Elephant began to laugh. The sound of her trumpeting trunk echoed across the entire Island. "What's so funny?" Asked Bear with a frown. "What could be so entertaining?" "It was me, it was me!" she spoke through her titters. "You?" questioned the Bear. "Yes, your Bumper Car was old and plain and I thought you might like it if we made it look new and colourful. I had my monkey friends get creative with paint, I hope you like it...I hope you don't feint." Elephant picked up her feet, walked over to a tree and using her long, powerful trunk she pulled back some branches and there, standing big and bold and bright was Bear's magnificent car. At first Bear didn't recognise it as his car and that is because the monkeys had turned it into something that looked like... a spaceship! "What's this? What's this?" he shouted as he jumped back with glee. "You had the monkeys do this for me?" "Yes!" she said. "I hope you like it." "You're the best." said Bear "I think this is the best present I have ever received." The sound of those words made Elephant relieved. Bear gave Elephant a hug and kissed her on the cheek and said "Let's go for a spin and chase the setting sun, I love living on this Island... we always have fun." And with that, they drove off into the sun set. Though it very much looked like they should be taking off into the stars! Jake Addley and Rebecca Ayres feature on this weeks episode of E4's Car Jackers. - Episode 6 Monday 19 December 2016.	3,738
For Katherine Faichnie, IBM Canada’s HR director, looking after working parents through COVID-19 was a paramount concern. “We know that it's been particularly difficult and overwhelming for many of our employees who are responsible for the health and well-being of others -- in their role as parents and/or caring for family members,” Faichnie told HRD. It’s no secret that employees with children have been hit harder by the global pandemic, with many stuck between needing to work and lacking proper childcare. A recent report from Pregnant The Screwed found that 46% of mothers who lost their job during the current pandemic say a lack of childcare played a part in their termination. What’s more, one in five adults said the reason they couldn’t work was their current childcare responsibilities. In the face of such startling data, it’s no wonder employers are going the extra mile to help their working parents. Read more: HR to push for a 'permanent' remote work policy “Back in the spring, we gave managers the discretion to provide flexibility to employees with an additional 10 days to use outside of their vacation – whether they needed a day or a week to move themselves and their families into the new routine,” added Faichnie. “We hold regular sessions on Slack called, ‘Ask Me Anything’ with our general manager, Claude Guay. IBM’s CEO, Arvind Krishna, also holds these sessions where employees can ask our leaders questions on topics and issues that concern them – with our leaders then answering as many of these questions as they can in real time.” 24 months' notice for Air Canada employee terminated during COVID Long-awaited decision weighs in on validity of mandatory vaccines IBM also recently announced a new family emergency care paid leave that provides employees caring for children or elder care an additional 10 days they can use (outside of their vacation). Faichnie added that this is a safety net employees can use if school or day care closes unexpectedly. Navigating the unprecedented waters of COVID-19 has been a nightmare for all workers, but for those who have the added stress of looking after children it’s been near impossible. As always, the only real way of addressing any internal workplace issue is through clear and concise communication. Faichnie told HRD that IBM addressed these concerns by being flexible and amenable. Read more: COVID-19: How HR leaders are responding to disruption “We’ve told employees that they are not expected to return to the office for the remainder of the 2020 calendar year,” she explained. “This gives working parents a sense of stability because now they have a better sense on what their work life will be for the rest of 2020. This gives families more control and a better ability to make decisions around their family needs.” But it’s not just working parents that’ve been impacted by these sweeping global changes. The pandemic has changed how we interact with one another, how we talk about our futures, and – perhaps most surprisingly, how we fit into this new, remote-style culture. For Faichnie, it all came down to prioritising work-life balance. “IBM created a new pledge to promote work-life balance at the company while working remote and beyond,” she told HRD. “This pledge is about embracing the new mindset on what working from home means: things like work flexibility - taking care of your kids when you need to; knowing that not everyone will be camera ready during video conferences – so if someone’s video is off, you understand that it’s because they’re not ready to be on camera. In the new culture that we’re in, you see families on camera now. “We’ve encouraged managers to take the time to say hi if someone’s child appears on camera – acknowledge that they’re there and embrace them. “We’re also constantly reminding our workforce that we’re in a “new normal” – it’s important that we maintain our awareness and sensitivity to employees. By doing so, we will have a huge impact on the culture of IBM and whether people think it’s a great place to work at.” You've reached your limit - Register for free now for unlimited access Already subscribed? Log in below Forgot password? Our daily newsletter is FREE and keeps you up-to-date with the world of HR. Please complete the form below and click on subscribe for daily newsletters from HRD Canada.	4,514
A University of Wyoming law professor explained that President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for large employers is likely constitutional, but for a particular reason. Michael Duff, a law professor who focuses on labor law, torts, evidence and workers’ compensation law, told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that it was difficult to assess whether or not a vaccine mandate created under an emergency temporary standard is constitutional until the precise language is known. Biden last week announced that federal workers, health care workers and employees at companies that employ more than 100 people will have to be vaccinated against coronavirus or be tested for the illness weekly. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be responsible for levying fines against companies that do not comply with the mandate. By providing the option for testing or vaccination, Biden’s mandate may meet constitutional muster, Duff said. “But if employers have the vaccine or testing option, any rule I can imagine will be constitutional,” Duff said. “Without that safety valve there could be a real problem as to what sanction could be imposed on employers who failed to comply with the mandate. The government could be in a bind in such a situation.” He added that if the sanctions are not significant, employers may not comply with Biden’s mandate. However, if the sanctions are severe, employers may have hearing rights if they have attempted, without success, to require vaccinations among their employees who still refused to be vaccinated. “Tricky legal issues would surface if employers felt compelled to fire non-cooperating employees,” Duff said. “Though I think the standard will likely be constitutional with the testing safety valve, my suspicion is that whatever the ETS looks like some employers (or groups) will challenge it in court.” Duff explained that with an emergency temporary standard, OSHA doesn’t have to go through the full rule-making process to implement the new rules. “Once issued, an ETS becomes effective and OSHA must begin rulemaking for a permanent standard, with the ETS serving as the proposed standard,” he said. “An ETS is valid until superseded by a permanent standard, which OSHA must promulgate within six months of publishing it in the Federal Register.” You might be interested in Posted on June 15, 2022 June 15, 2022 Wyo Health Officer Concerned But Not Surprised At COVID Increase; Monitoring Monkeypox With Wyoming's COVID count increasing, Wyoming Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said she wasn't surprised by	2,701
1. Just because you are good and decent to someone does not mean that you will receive the same kindness in return. 2. With the availability of so many choices in undergarments, there is absolutely no excuse anymore for having a visible panty line. 3. Coconut oil can be brought in to solve almost any beauty crisis known to man. 4. The most monumental events deserve a party – and every good party should have a theme. It was with these undeniable certainties splashing around my head that the idea came to me: I should throw a party to commemorate the last episode of Vanderpump Rules! I got to work immediately. A multitasker by nature, I prepared for the festivities by swishing coconut oil inside of my mouth for ten minutes straight all the while wearing a nude-colored thong that will not show through a single garment I own. As the disgusting mixture cleaning my teeth began to froth and foam, I made some choices about … Continue reading → April 5th, 2016 \| 2 Comments \| Posted in Vanderpump Rules - Season 4 The stunning news that the Vanderpump Rules reunion will not in fact be concluding this week as I’d expected but will instead be stretched out into a three-part fiasco of semi-epic proportions sent me into a cataclysmic form of shock from which I might never recover. Do you realize what this means? It means that someone in the position to make key programming decisions at Bravo said aloud, “Let’s devote another hour to people who have no talent other than being blandly provocative!” It means that there will be full segments listed on the production schedule like “Stassi & The Dildo” and “James Likes It When People Suck On His Skinny Bullsht Arms.” It also means that I will surely have to one day dig myself a subterranean bunker stocked only with the work of Flannery O’Connor just so I can finally detox myself of the arid memory of these dcks pontificating about nothing at all by reading about subjects that are less grotesque than the Vanderpumpers – and O’Connor’s work is pretty f*cking grotesque.	2,082
If you are a resident of Mississauga and you want some help from defense lawyer, then you must approach the reputed criminal defence law firm mississauga who can offer you with the defense attorneys to assist you out and also offer you a most efficient solution. These defense lawyers are also dealing with those problems with that their clients are charged with. You will also obtain hold of the good defense lawyer via the support of an apparent defense law firm. The lawyer comes from the reputed firms are completely experienced as well as effective to deal with the criminal problems more efficiently. How the criminal defense law firm Mississauga will support you? For any type of crimes, the defense law firm in Mississauga will offer you with skilled lawyers in order to get protected. These lawyers from this firm are either involved in protecting the criminal cases or former prosecutors for a longer time period to a greater extent; because they have gained more skills and experience via their work. Furthermore, these lawyers can always attempt their best to offer a smooth and free flowing service to their clients. At the same time, these lawyers are only charging a cheap rate for their services. However, the attorneys recommended by this law firm are not only bringing you success, but also well equipped to handle the defense cases. What the criminal defense law firm Mississauga can do? When you are charged with a crime, you must hire a defense lawyer immediately. Their main motive is to represent their client to the good of their capabilities. Now, you can pick these lawyers from the criminal defense law firm Mississauga for your defense case. Most of their duties are advising their clients on a good course of action. The main part of this lawyer within a case is inquiry. This might include going out to a crime scene and have an autonomous investigation done on a proof. The Mississauga defense law firm must be occupied with the professional lawyers who have capable to dispute a case in front of a jury or a judge. Posted on August 20, 2021 Law Vonn paved his way to the top of the business industry with more than 25 years of experience. He’s never afraid to take risks and wants to share his success. Now, he tours worldwide, giving insightful messages to young entrepreneurs.	2,336
Our refund and returns policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have passed since your purchase, we can’t offer you a full refund or exchange. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging. Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases. Gift cards Some health and personal care items To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase. Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer. There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted: Book with obvious signs of use CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened. Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error. Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days. Late or missing refunds If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted. If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at {email address}. Only regular priced items may be refunded. Sale items cannot be refunded. We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at {email address} and send your item to: {physical address}. If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you’ll receive a gift credit for the value of your return. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you. If the item wasn’t marked as a gift when purchased, or the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give to you later, we will send a refund to the gift giver and they will find out about your return. To return your product, you should mail your product to: {physical address}. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund. Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you may vary. If you are returning more expensive items, you may consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.	3,220
LAKEWOOD — A resident of the Bayville section of Berkeley Township could be spending up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to a carjacking charge from an incident three-and-a-half years ago. The quarter-century sentence is what a release from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said the state will be recommending for John Bailey, 35, who was first charged in early January 2021, then apprehended later that month. Bailey's arrest was the first sign of potential closure in a Dec. 5, 2018 encounter in Lakewood, where he was accused of approaching a vehicle in which a 20-year-old woman was sitting outside her home, asking for directions and a ride. The prosecutor's office said the woman provided the directions Bailey sought but refused to give him a lift, shortly after which he returned to the car, punched in a window, then entered the vehicle and sat on the woman, beginning to choke her. According to the police investigation, Bailey then drove the car away with the victim still inside, demanding she stay quiet or he would kill her. She managed to escape while the car was still in motion, the prosecutor's office said, and ran to a nearby home to call police. The victim was treated at a local hospital for head lacerations, neck wounds, and a bite mark on her leg. The blood-stained vehicle was found later that day. A continuing investigation through the summer and fall of 2020 identified John Bailey as a possible DNA match, after which a warrant was issued for his arrest. Bailey's sentencing has been set for Aug. 12. Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. Where to find NJ's newest legal weed stores NJ approved six new recreational cannabis dispensaries. Here is where they are located. We're coming up on another summer at the Jersey Shore! Before you get lost in the excitement of sunny days on the sand, we're running down how much seasonal/weekly/daily beach tags will cost you, and the pre-season deals you can still take advantage of!	2,198
This morning the Guantanamo Periodic Review Board (PRB) held a hearing for Mohammad Mani Ahmad al-Qahtani. Al-Qahtani is a 40-year-old Saudi Arabian detainee who has been imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay since February 2002. According to the U.S. government, al-Qahtani was likely supposed to be the 20th hijacker for the attacks of September 11, 2001. Qahtani attempted to enter the United States on August 4, 2001, but was denied entry by Immigration and Naturalization Service officers. He then returned to Pakistan and Afghanistan and fought against the Northern Alliance. Prior to his capture, the U.S. government believes he was hiding out in Tora Bora with Osama bin Laden and his bodyguards. Al-Qahtani’s government profile also alleges that he received training from al Qaeda, swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden, and met with Khalid Sheikh Mohammad. It is believed that he received money from Mustafa al-Hawsawi in order to purchase a one-way ticket to Orlando, Florida in August 2001, where he was supposed to meet Mohamed Atta, the tactical leader and one of the other September 11th hijackers. During his detention at Guantanamo, al-Qahtani has been mostly compliant with guards, though the government doesn’t believe he has been cooperative in interrogations because he has repeatedly denied any involvement with terrorism. He has asked to be returned to Saudi Arabia on a number of occasions. The four-page statement from al-Qahtani’s pro bono counsel, Professor Ramzi Kassem of the Center for Constitutional Rights, explained that al-Qahtani has suffered from severe psychiatric disabilities for most of his life. The statement also noted that al-Qahtani “is the only prisoner whose torture has been formally acknowledged by a senior U.S. government official.” In 2009, the Convening Authority of the Military Commissions, Susan Crawford, declined to prosecute al-Qahtani due to his torture. Crawford also noted that the torture forced him to be hospitalized twice while at Guantanamo and that he “was on the brink of heart failure and death.” A statement from Dr. Emily Keram, an expert witness, noted that al-Qahtani suffered from “schizophrenia, major depression, and possibly neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury” prior to his detention at Guantanamo. In 2000, he suffered “an acute psychotic break” and was involuntarily committed. Dr. Keram believes that al-Qahtani’s medical conditions meant that he was susceptible to being manipulated and his ability to make decisions on his own was severely impaired. She noted that his torture—including solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, stress positions, sexual humiliation, beatings, and waterboarding—only served to exacerbate his pre-existing conditions. Dr. Keram recommends that al-Qahtani be repatriated to Saudi Arabia, and states that he cannot receive the psychiatric treatment he needs at Guantanamo. Al-Qahtani’s family has said that they are eager to support him if he is returned to Saudi Arabia for care. In the past, Saudi Arabia has accepted 134 Guantanamo detainees; most recently, they accepted nine Yemeni detainees in April 2016. Saudi Arabia has a robust rehabilitation program for those suspected of engaging in violent extremism. If al-Qahtani’s release is approved, he would be under constant monitoring and likely committed to a psychiatric facility. President Obama has been steadily working towards his goal of closing the detention facility at Guantanamo. There are currently 80 detainees still at the prison, and 30 of them have been cleared for release—15 by the PRB. This means that representatives from the six main governmental national security agencies have determined that the detainee no longer poses a threat to the United States. Unfortunately, there is a push from members of Congress to prevent even cleared detainees from being transferred to another country. Today, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which includes an amendment that would bar any transfers out of Guantanamo Bay, even to countries like Saudi Arabia who have a strong and successful history of rehabilitation. Closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay shouldn’t be a political issue—it’s a matter of national security that dozens of retired flag officers strongly support. It is also an exorbitant burden on American taxpayers to the tune of $5 million per detainee annually. Congress needs to stop putting up road blocks and allow the era of Guantanamo to come to a close. Published on June 16, 2016 Urge Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act Email Address Please leave this field empty. Human Rights First is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3). We do not favor or oppose any candidate for public office.	4,936
Welcome to blessedride.com. This blog is about a young woman who lives with a learning difference known as NVLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder). Life is like riding a horse from her perspective. There are challenges, falls and accomplishments, yet she has found blessings in all of those circumstances. I am that woman, my name is Meghan and it is a pleasure to share my ride with you. I hope that you enjoy the blessings that have come from it, and will be inspired to find your own. Recent Posts February 2020 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 November 2018 October 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 The Fall of Driving This is certainly Halloween, because there is a fall yet blessing that is haunting me right now. Despite that it happened four months ago, this experience is not something that has not been easy for me to let go and I don't think that it will never leave me. To begin with, many of you will be shocked to realize that I don't drive. Yes, I'm seven years late in the driving world since most people get their license at sixteen. The opinions I get are a mix of understanding, shoc To begin with, I am not a professional rider by any means. I've mastered a basic walk and trot, and have not been on a horse in a month. So I am not even close to a jockey, show jumper or dressage rider. However my past and present pleasure riding has had an impact on me. I enjoy riding horses, because they are the most honest, nonjudgmental and understanding species that exist on this planet. Also they are unpredictable, nonverbal and reflective of human emotion, which can Welcome readers, As you have already seen, my name is Meghan and it is an absolute pleasure to welcome you to my site. I figured it was best to start my first post by giving you a brief introduction, so that you know a little bit about me. I am a twenty three year old aspiring paranormal mystery writer from Stonington, Connecticut. My long term goal is to become a best selling author, but right now I work two part time jobs and am currently searching for a full time one. My h	2,328
The concept of multichannel marketing has reached a curious juncture; everyone appears to agree that doing it is make-or-break, customers expect it from the brands they interact with, and yet marketers don’t feel all that capable of delivering it. Econsultancy, in conjunction with Oracle, recently published their third annual Cross-Channel Marketing Report and uncovered a number of intriguing statistics about where marketers feel they’re at, in terms of getting to grips with delivering campaigns cross-channel. The research, based on a survey involving 1,000 digital marketers, found that only 7% of organisations feel they are “set up to deliver effectively orchestrated cross-channel marketing activities”. Only 30% stating they had a cross-functional marketing team within their business, while just 19% said they currently measured the financial results of ‘integrated marketing’. Unsurprisingly, a large proportion of marketers cite a lack of resources as underpinning their problems in delivery. However, one of the wider issues may be that less than half (43%) believe they “understand customer journeys”, and were unsure of how to adapt their journey planning to account for multichannel customers. “The Econsultancy Cross-Channel Marketing Report shows that companies understand the key to delivering an effective campaign lies in achieving a better understanding of the customer journey,” said Simon Robinson, senior marketing and alliances director EMEA, Oracle Marketing Cloud. “However, less than half believe they are successfully monitoring the customer journey in order to inform their approach. “Keeping the customer ‘switched on’ to your brand message is more challenging than ever before and this sentiment is highlighted in the report. Almost a quarter of companies (21%) questioned believe that the customer journey is the singular most important factor for a successful campaign.” Customer journey mapping is increasingly being cited as a central component to understanding and retaining multichannel customers, with Salesforce’s Scott McCorkle recently proclaiming that “the future of marketing is the customer journey”. Despite this, Econsultancy’s research showed that 40% of businesses are still “focused on acquisition” as opposed to retention, although 82% of marketers now agree that it is “cheaper to retain than acquire a customer”. Sponsored Sponsored Outstanding omnichannel customer service is key Sponsored 26th Oct 2021 eGain platform picked for customer engagement Chris is Editor of MyCustomer. He is a practiced editor, having worked as a copywriter for creative agency, Stranger Collective from 2009 to 2011 and subsequently as a journalist covering technology, marketing and customer service from 2011-2014 as editor of Business Cloud News. He joined MyCustomer in 2014.	3,009
The contents of the Difference.guru website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website! When you are running a business, it is essential to have an optimized website. This means that your website has been designed and structured in a way that allows for the best user experience possible. An unoptimized website can be detrimental to your business, as it will likely lead to decreased traffic and conversions. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between an optimized and unoptimized website, and why it is important to optimize your site. 1 What is optimization? 2 What are the benefits of optimization? 3 Optimized website: easy to use, tailored for the user 4 Unoptimized website: poor user experience, high bounce rate 6 Who can help? 7 How much does it cost? 8 How long does it take? What is optimization? Optimization is the process of making a website as user-friendly and efficient as possible. This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as optimizing the site structure, design, and content. By optimizing your website, you can ensure that users have a positive experience when they visit your site, which will lead to increased traffic and conversions. Namely, with the help of super fast WordPress, for instance, you can easily improve your website’s loading speed, which is a major factor in user experience. This, in turn, will benefit your business as a whole. What are the benefits of optimization? There are many benefits to optimizing your website, including: Increased traffic: An optimized website is more likely to be found by users, which will lead to increased traffic. Higher conversion rates: A well-optimized website is more likely to convert visitors into customers or clients. Improved user experience: An optimized website is easier to use and navigate, providing a better experience for users. Greater search engine visibility: A website that is optimized for search engines is more likely to rank higher in results pages, resulting in increased traffic. While there are many benefits to optimization, one of the most important is that it can help you to achieve your business goals. By optimizing your website, you can ensure that it is designed and structured in a way that will help you to reach your target audience and achieve your desired results. Therefore, let’s take a look at the differences between an optimized and unoptimized website. Optimized website: easy to use, tailored for the user An optimized website is one that has been designed with the user in mind. The goal of an optimized website is to provide a positive user experience that encourages visitors to stay on the site and interact with the content. An optimized website will load quickly, be easy to navigate, and offer relevant and targeted content. In addition, an optimized website will be designed for both desktop and mobile users. Namely, when a website is responsive, it means that the site will adjust to fit the screen size of the device that it is being viewed on. This is important because more and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet. If your website is not responsive, you could be missing out on a large portion of your potential audience. So, it pays off in the long run when you take the time to optimize your site. Unoptimized website: poor user experience, high bounce rate An unoptimized website, on the other hand, is one that has not been designed with the user in mind. An unoptimized website can be difficult to navigate, slow to load, and offer irrelevant or poorly written content. As a result, visitors to an unoptimized site are likely to have a poor user experience and will likely leave the site quickly. This high bounce rate can hurt your business, as it indicates that people are not finding what they are looking for on your site. In addition, an unoptimized website is often not designed for mobile users. This means that if someone tries to access your site on a mobile device, they may have difficulty viewing the content or navigating the site. As a result, you could be missing out on potential customers or leads. It is clear that there are many benefits to having an optimized website. An optimized website is easy to use, fast, and relevant, which will encourage people to stay on the site and interact with the content. In addition, an optimized website is designed for both desktop and mobile users, so you can be sure that you are reaching your entire potential audience. Optimizing your website doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start by making sure it’s easy to navigate, that it loads quickly, and that your content is relevant and targeted to your audience. These basic steps will ensure you’re providing the best possible experience for your users. If you’re not sure where to start, you can always consult with a web design or marketing agency that specializes in website optimization. Who can help? If you need help optimizing your website, consider working with a web design or marketing agency that specializes in website optimization. These agencies can help you to improve your website’s design, structure, and content so that it is better able to achieve your business goals. Also, you can choose to outsource some or all of the optimization process to a freelancer or consultant. In this way, you can be sure that your website is in good hands and that the process will be completed properly. For a list of web design and marketing agencies that specialize in website optimization, please visit our directory. How much does it cost? Website optimization services can be costly, and the price tag will differ based on the extent of work and skill required. That being said, you’re likely looking at spending between $500 to $5,000 for these types of services. If you want to save some money though, it’s worth trying to see if there are any agencies or freelancers who could do the job for less. After all, it’s important to remember that website optimization is an investment and one that can pay off in the long run. How long does it take? The amount of time it will take to optimize your website will also vary depending on the scope of work and the level of expertise required. However, you can expect the process to take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If there are any additional complications, such as a need to redesign the website or migrate to a new platform, it could take even longer. Remember that your website is crucial to your business. If it isn’t up to par, you’re giving users a subpar experience which will reflect poorly on your company as a whole. A well-optimized website can help you reach more people in your target market, create sales opportunities, and boost revenue. Not sure where to begin? Try working with an agency or contractor who focuses on designing and marketing high-performing websites. (Visited 3 times, 3 visits today) Did this article help you? Yes No What was wrong? 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FeaturedBest sellingAlphabetically, A-ZAlphabetically, Z-APrice, low to highPrice, high to lowDate, old to newDate, new to old 0 products Sorry, there are no products in this collection What We Do Consumer Market Solutions® has been providing essential, fact-based business intelligence, market research and highly effective strategic and tactical implementation programs and services to businesses, governmental agencies, NGOs and the entertainment industry throughout North and South America, the European Union and Asia for over four decades.	545
A History of the Eastern Roman Empire from the Fall of Irene to the ... some changes which he made in the types may be mentioned here. They are thus described by Wroth (xliii.): "He restored the cross (now the patriarchal cross) 1 on some specimens, and on the folles an inscription-in this case OEOFILE AVTOVSTE SV NICAS-takes the place of the familiar mark of value M. He also introduces on coins the legend Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ 50 familiar on Byzantine seals and other monuments. On some of his coins Theophilus describes himself and his son Constantine as the Soulo of Christ: Justinian II., on his solidi, had called himself Servus Christi." 1‡, not the cross potent which appeared on the older coinage. MICHAEL III. came to the throne January 21, 842, and died September 23, 867, so that his whole reign lasted twenty-five years, eight months. For the last year and four months, Basil was his colleague (from May 26, 866), so that the rest of his reign, including both the period of his minority and his sole reign after Theodora's fall, lasted twenty-four years, four months. Now, according to the contemporary chronicler George the Monk (801), he reigned fourteen years with Theodora, ten years and three months by himself. There is an error of a month, but here we are helped by the Anonymi Chron. Synt., ed. Bauer, p. 68 (cp. also an addition to the Chronography of Nicephorus, ed. de Boor, p. 101), where the joint reign is given as fourteen years, one month, twenty-two days. These figures are probably correct, and so we can fix the meeting of the Senate which signalised the formal deposition of Theodora to March 15, 856. In any case, these data seem to be independent, and they show that the deposition fell, not in 857 as Schlosser and Finlay supposed, but early in 856. This is the conclusion rightly supported by Hirsch (61). It bears out the narrative of the chroniclers (Simeon and Gen.) who connect Theodora's fall from power immediately with the murder of Theoktistos, who was still alive at the time of Michael's marriage, to which we cannot assign an earlier date than 855. The two events must thus have been in chronological proximity. But a serious difficulty has arisen through the connexion of the deposition of Ignatius from the Patriarchate and the expulsion of Theodora from the Palace. This connexion rests on good authority, the Libellus of Ignatius (composed by Theognostos) addressed to 1 The other figures given by this source here are incorrect: Michael is said to have reigned alone eleven years, one month, nine days. Thus the total reign would be twenty-five years, three months, instead of twenty-five years, eight months. In the Cod. Matritensis unva a here is omitted. The error may have arisen in the additions to the Chron. of Nicephorus from a repetition of μva a' in the preceding notice. The list stops with Basil I., so that the compiler must have written soon after A.D.. 886. Pope Nicolas (Mansi, xvi. 296): "When the sovran, persuaded by Bardas, wished to ostracize his mother and sisters from the Palace, he ordered me to tonsure them, but I would not obey, because they were unwilling; for this reason too I was driven from the Church." In accordance with this statement of the Patriarch is his biographer's intimation that there was not a long interval (μeтà μikρóv) between the two events (Vita Ignatii, 225). According to the older view which was still held by Hirsch, Ignatius was deposed in November 857, so that if these statements are true, the tonsuring of the Imperial ladies cannot be placed before 857. Hirsch therefore (loc. cit.) rejects them as inaccurate. But it is quite impossible to set them aside. We know now that the deposition of Ignatius falls in November 858 (not 857), and this seems to make the difficulty still greater. The Patriarch could never speak as he does of a refusal to comply with the Emperor's wishes early in 856 as the cause of his deposition near the close of 858. The key to the solution of the difficulty is simple enough. Both the chronological statement of George the Monk (who was writing some ten years later) and the evidence of the Patriarch are perfectly correct. The fall of Theodora from power is a distinct event, chronologically divided by an interval, from her expulsion from the Palace. The end of the joint reign fell in the beginning (perhaps March) of 856, and was marked by the meeting of the Senate recorded in Cont. Georg. 823. But Theodora continued to live in the Palace and was expelled at a much later period. This seems to be the obvious inference from the data. It is true that any one reading the chronicles of Genesios and Simeon would infer that the expulsion of Theodora from the Palace ensued almost immediately upon the fall of Theoktistos. Gen. 90 kai μετὰ βραχὺ τὰ κατὰ τὴν δέσποιναν ἐκταράττεται· διὸ — τοῦ παλατίου ἐξοστρακίζεται κτλ. But the chronology of these writers is extremely vague; they furnish very few absolute dates, and they had no precise information as to the intervals between events. Such phrases as μετὰ βραχύ and μετὰ μικρόν generally conceal their ignorance. Moreover, if we look more closely at the statements of Simeon (Cont. Georg. 823), we find that they assume an interval (which may be either short or long) between the murder of Theoktistos and the expulsion of Theodora. (1) Michael tried to pacify his mother, who was irreconcilable; then (2) he endeavoured to distress her he expelled three of his sisters to Karianos, and the youngest, Pulcheria, to the monastery of Gastria; afterwards he tonsured them all and confined them in Gastria. (3) He was recognized by the Senate as sole ruler, and created Bardas Domestic of the Schools. (4) He sent Theodora also to Gastria. Although this account is confused and cannot be right in detail, yet it assumes a distinct interval during which Theodora lived in the Palace after her fall from power. And we may accept the statement, which was not likely to be invented, that the removal of her daughters to Karianos preceded her own expulsion. Against this we need not press the actual words of Theognostos (quoted above), which are accurate enough for his purpose if we suppose that all the ladies were tonsured at the same time. As this last event was connected with the deposition of Ignatius, it can hardly have been prior to 858. It is, however, worth noticing that the author of the Vita Ignatii (258) assigns fifteen years and eight months to the joint reign of Michael and Theodora. The period is one year, seven months, too long. But it is a possible hypothesis that he reckoned not to her fall from power but to her expulsion. In that case the date of her expulsion would be about August or September 857. This would mean that Ignatius remained Patriarch for some fourteen months after his refusal to obey the Emperor's command. And it may be thought that this is quite possible, since that refusal was certainly only one of the offences which Ignatius committed in the eyes of Michael and Bardas, and we might suppose that it simply began a breach between the Patriarch and the Court. But this is not probable, and does not do justice to the drift of the passage in the Libellus. If we look more closely at the chronological text in the Vita Ignatii, we observe that there is an error. Nine years are assigned to Michael alone, which, with the fifteen years, eight months, of the joint reign, makes twenty-four years, eight months, just a year too little. My conjecture is that the author intended to count the joint reign as extending to the expulsion of the Empress from the Palace, but that he miscalculated by a year. He ought to have written sixteen years, eight months. This would bring us to August or September 858 for the expulsion-a date which precedes the fall of Ignatius by just about the interval we might expect. THE events and chronology of these years have been carefully studied by Vasil'ev, from the Greek and Arabic writers; but he was not acquainted with the original Syriac Chronicle of Michael Syrus, knowing it only through the Armenian abbreviation and the compilation of Bar-Hebraeus, nor does he seem to have realised its importance for the reign of Theophilus, and especially for the last years of Mamun. Michael's source was the lost Chronicle of Dionysios of Tell-Mahre, the Monophysite Patriarch of Antioch (A.D. 818-845), who was not only a contemporary but was a friend of Mamun and was with him at times during these years. He visited the Caliph in his camp at Kasin in the autumn of A.D. 831 (Michael Syr. 74), and accompanied him in the following February to Egypt (ib. 76). The evidence of Michael is therefore of the highest importance. It appears that in the spring of A.D. 830, Theophilus—with Theophobos and his new Persamenian allies-crossed the mountains and captured and burned the town of Zapetra, perhaps massacring many of the inhabitants.1 Mamun lost no time in retaliating. In the same year, marching by Mosul, Zeugma, Membij, and 1 This capture of Zapetra, not mentioned by the Greek writers, is recorded by Michael Syr. 74, and must be accepted. There is, however, some chronological confusion in this chapter of Michael. Immediately after his notice of the accession of Theophilus he records: (1) without date, the capture of Zapetra ; (2) "in the following year" the revolt of Manuel, and Mamun's capture, in or after June, of four forts; (3) in May 1142=831, the siege of Lulon; (4) in 1143=October 831 to October 832, Mamun's departure for Damascus, on hearing that Egypt had revolted; the capture of Lulon; "at this period" the return of Manuel to Theophilus; the embassy of Theophilus ; Mamun in Cilicia; further successes in Romania. This brings us to the beginning of Ann. Sel. 1144 October 832. It is clear that the capture of the four forts is here dated to the summer of 1141 and Manuel's flight to the same year = October 829 to October 830. It would follow that the capture of Zapetra fell in 1140, i.e. before October 829, i.e. before the accession of Theophilus. Michael has introduced a superfluous year. The true dates are: 1141-830, capture of Zapetra, and Mamun's capture of the forts; 1142 (after October 1, 830), May, siege of Lulon, etc. (Michael dates by Seleucid years, which began on October 1).	10,966
6 Years of Shoulder Pain Gone! 3 months of working through the layers to get to the root cause took care of 6 years of shoulder pain for Lauri! Lost 54lbs, 146lbs more to go! Additional Results Life Changing! Before coming to Natural Healing Center, at 477lbs, James tried everything – Keto, Intermittent Fasting, Carnivore, Vegan, etc. Even though he lost some weight, he still didn’t feel great and wasn’t getting the results he wanted. Not only has James lost 54 lbs so far, he also is now able to sleep better, he can stand for more than 15 min without back pain and has more energy than ever before! His grey hair is disappearing! Wait for an updated video! Max has his Life Back after 4-5 weeks of following the Nutritional Program! Max started the nutrition program about 4-5 weeks ago. He came in because he had no appetite, was really stressed and not eating properly. He had a ton of stomach issues. Following the program has completely turned his life around. He is starting to add weight on, sleeping better. His days are so much more productive – he is no longer napping and feels like he has his life back! Jacqueline’s 5 year old son was diagnosed earlier this year with ADHD. After getting healing with the Natural Healing Center, she decided it was time for her son to get healing. She didn’t want to put him on medication, instead she wanted to see how he would do on natural supplements. He is thriving! His speech therapist said he is doing so much better, he is able to engage in services the whole time and not have to be redirected. He’s speaking more clearly. It was a mercury detox that made the difference, taking just one supplement. He had 7 weeks of healing, so fast! Mouna’s brother was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer 12 years ago which ended up being a blessing to the entire family because it “forced” them into integrative medicine. Because of that, he is alive and thriving. They realized the limitations of Western medicine in terms of really healing the body. To truly heal and recover from illness, and to maintain health, you’ve got to support your body and it’s innate ability and God given immune system to recover and heal. Mouna is a mother of 5 children and natural healing is their “go to”. This is the journey they have been on and she recommends everyone should take and give their body the opportunity to recover from any illness they are dealing with. Doing your Scars, Taking your Supplements and Changing your Diet Could Change your Life! 5 years ago, Lauri had back surgery and ever since then she’s had a lot of water retention that even diuretics couldn’t help much. Her arms and legs size were increased as a result. After only 5 days of working with the Natural Healing Center, the water drained and the size of her arms and legs returned to normal. All she did was her scars, took her supplements and changed her diet! Today Renee Witnessed the Impact that a Belly Button Piercing can have on One’s Health. Renee is an intern here at the Natural Healing Center. Today she witnessed a patient that was able to take a deep breath for the first time in 6-7 years and got rid of her chronic pain in her hands instantly after removing her belly button piercing. The piercing showed up as an active scar during testing, sucking up the body’s energy in an effort to heal. This illustrates the importance of treating your scars! Removing Belly Button Piercing Restores Energy Flow & Ends Chronic Pain. Victoria was shocked when asked to remove her belly button piercing that she has had for 16 years. The chronic pain in her hands went away immediately upon removing it and she experienced better air flow where she had felt constraint for the past 6-7 years. At testing, it was discovered that the piercing was blocking her central nervous system; its the first thing we test for, as the human body has to have open energy flow. Jacqueline is Pregnant! Jacqueline came to Natural Healing Center not able to get pregnant and wanting to do it naturally. She is now pregnant and is going to continue to have Natural Healing Center oversee her pregnancy. In the process of healing, she lost 30lbs and her Endocrinologist was amazed at her hormone levels from her bloodwork when Jacqueline first started the program as to now. She is no longer pre diabetic and her pituitary hormones are no longer out of whack. As a soccer coach, Max was feeling tired and drained during 3 hours of coaching in the sun. Switching caffeine for nuts and water made all the difference! No More Stomach Aches, Diarrhea and I Can Now Sleep and Eat without Pain! After going to many doctors and taking many different medicines that didn’t work. I have found that you can heal yourself naturally through eating the right foods and taking supplements to heal the organs. Joann is an amazing teacher and I follow everything she tells me to do and I have had a 100% turnaround. I can sleep now and I’m careful about what I eat and what I drink. The Natural Healing Center is for anyone feeling poorly and can’t figure out what the problem is. They can figure it out for you and help you 100%. ProtectPro Solves Monica’s EMF Sensitivities Monica found ProtectPro’s cellular device to take care of her sensitivity to emfs. She was having a numbing and tingling sensation in her fingers everytime she used her cell phone. Protect Pro works by harmonizing negative frequencies to positive ones so they are no longer harmful. Though we cannot see frequencies, we can experience the difference in how we feel around them and the ProtectPro device can be muscle tested to show its efficacy. Hormone Imbalance – Feeling So Much Better! Dakota has been in the program for 2 1/2 months and feeling so much better! She reports better menses – lighter and no cramping! A few years ago, Carrie was seriously sick – hurting all the time, no energy, and tired. She didn’t think healing was an option. Now she can participate in all the family activities and never has to think twice about what she is going to do. She is able to eat something every once in a while without knowing she is going to hurt for the next week or have abdominal issues. That is HUGE!. She also had 2 major surgeries last year that she didn’t think she was going to heal very well from. Thanks to Shannon knowing what her body needed, she was able to heal and rebound so quickly and to be back with her family. Carrie wants to let you know ” If you ever think you are in a dire situation, don’t think twice about coming to Natural Healing Center – you will be able to join life again, quickly, and be a whole new person. So, come to Natural Healing Center.” Ricardo came in for bloating, gut issues and pain – testing showed a yeast buildup. Certain foods feed yeast – by changing his foods, killing the yeast and healing the holes in the intestines, Ricardo’s gut issues will be resolved. And yes – alcohol feeds yeast! When Katrina first came, she was dealing with inflammation, pain, brain fog and other chronic issues for years. Through changing her foods, using therapeutic level whole food supplements to give her body the nutrients it needs to heal, and lifestyle changes, Katrina no longer has inflammation, pain or brain fog. Her chronic issues are resolving and she is on her way to optimal health! Narcolepsy Gone! James is still in the midst of his program but happy to report an update that his narcolepsy is gone, he has much more energy and mental fitness and – is able to do a full day’s work! Superhuman Protocol Stats: Run Effortlessly, Increase Mile Time, Double Deadweight Lift! After 2 weeks of coming for the Superhuman protocol, Dee’s performance has improved dramatically – her runs are effortless, she has increased her mile time and she doubled her deadweight lift! She also reported that Natural Healing Center has more 5 Star Reviews than any other wellness center! Eat More to Lose Weight AND Improve Digestion! Another progress report from Deborah….she didn’t believe it initially but decided to trust in the process. By eating more and more of the right foods, the weight is now coming off. A big win is that her digestive system is now moving as well! Just had to capture this moment! James has just started his program here at Natural Healing Center. We just had to capture this moment – how surprised he was at how much better he is already feeling after only a few weeks on the program! Will report back as his healing progresses…stay tuned! Revitalized Overall Health for Peak Performance! As a business owner with multiple plates up in the air, Jaeden was looking to increase his energy consistently throughout the day, get better sleep and more mental clarity. After being on the program, he now has consistent energy with no midday lulls, great sleep and mental clarity. He also does not crave the foods he gave up. Eye Twitch Gone! Kelly came in for an eye twitch that wouldn’t go away; turns out it was caused by an active scar! Confined to a Scooter and Couldn’t Walk/Fatigued/Off Thyroid Medication after 48 years. Becky no longer needs a scooter to get around and is no longer exhausted- she can now enjoy Disneyland! After 48 years of being on thyroid medication, she no longer needs it after rebuilding her thyroid. Becky said her life was like looking out through a dirty window and now that window is crystal clear! She has joy and clarity. The program has been a God send and a blessing! Elizabeth’s Healing Journey Update and EMFs! Elizabeth came in for eczema and is currently working on reincorporating foods back into her diet. With every session, she learns more about how foods, different products and the environment impact her body. Recently she learned how harmful radiation (EMFs or Electric Magnetic Fields) is from cell phones. After doing her research, she purchased a cell phone protector from Natural Healing Center called Protect Pro. It fits between your phone and its case and harmonizes the radiation to turn it into a non harmful frequency. The effectiveness can actually be demonstrated through muscle testing! Amazing Results Following a Yeast Detox. Karla has never felt so “empty” in her stomach and digestive system since a colonic 20 years ago. Life Changing Results – Health Restored and nearly 100lb Weight Loss. Before coming to Natural Healing Center, Piedad went to a number of regular doctors but they were never were able to find what was causing her symptoms. By getting to the root cause of her symptoms, they have been resolved! It has been a life changing experience for her. She now feels confident about herself. Serena finds healing after a year of being sick with her stomach. Superhuman Protocol gives Tom a New Lease on Life! His entire lifetime, Tom has always had a difficult time catching his breath. The Superhuman protocol has given him a new lease on life; especially the Oxygen therapy as he can now breathe easily and doesn’t have to worry about regulating his breathing. Lost 10lbs in 3 weeks – Debbie explains how important mindset is to getting healthy. She lost 10lbs in 3 weeks as a result of following the program. Severe Leg Cramping Resolved! Christina used to jump out of bed in acute pain from cramps on one or more legs. After trying the “pillow push” she is able to stop the cramping immediately. Christina’s periods were so heavy that she would go anemic and have to go to the doctor for iron. After only 1 month, her hormones are balancing; with short and light periods! Nutrition Response Testing and NovoThor Bring Healing. Kim came to us with fibromyalgia, fatigue, shoulder and hip pain, brain fog and in general, just not feeling well. After 4 months of being on the program, she is healing. Her pain levels are so much less, she can now tolerate heavy exercise and an added bonus – her nightmares have subsided. The NovoThor has made a big impact on healing her tennis elbow and improving her skin! Nutrition Response Testing works! It was key to getting to the root cause of Courtney’s bad stomach pain, anxiety, depression, problems sleeping, headaches and shakiness. Congratulations to Maria for her success here at Natural Healing Center! Do you have fatigue? Are you out of breath walking short distances? Are you in pain? Experiencing difficulty losing weight? There’s hope! Our clients have experienced success and so can you! Heal thyroid issues and sleep through the night! Jenna came to Natural Healing Center with the above – in fact she hadn’t been sleep through the night since 2011. After only a week of changing up her diet and taking clinical nutrition to target specific areas, she is now on her way to optimal health! Completely healed! No more pain! It’s been a long road – over 2 years as Adrian was in constant pain, coming in the office as often as 3 times per week initially. But now, is life has completely changed! He got his life back, is going to school, is able to eat different foods and is working out. He has gained considerable muscle and bulk despite being underweight when he first started. He has also been inspired to learn Nutrition Response Testing. Congratulations Adrian! Stomach pain, IBS, Joint Pain and Burning Pain throughout Body Resolved! Aayliah has found relief only 1 1/2 months into the program! She is now able to sleep and stretch out without pain. She can now also socialize and participate in the things she loves to do more. Natural Healing Works! Given the right nutrients and tools, the body will rebuild itself. As organs are rebuilt and stressors such as food sensitivities/allergies, chemicals, heavy metals, scars and immune challenges removed, the body regains its normal function and symptoms disappear. God gave us these amazingly intricate, yet “simple” bodies that are meant to heal! Mom’s Health is a Nursing Baby’s Health…Prior to the program, Elizabeth’s nursing son spit up quite often every day, sometimes every time after nursing. After a week on the program, he significantly and nearly stopped spitting up. The nutrients Elizabeth is taking in the form of whole food supplements is benefitting not only herself, but her son as well. Yeast symptoms include bloating, fatigue, brain fog, skin conditions, fungus under nails, etc. Antibiotics simultaneously kill the bad bacteria along with the good bacteria, leaving you with not enough stomach acid to fight off future infections and viruses and can result in recurring symptoms. At Natural Healing Center we look for the root cause which may include stress, too much sugar in the diet, heavy metals, etc. while killing the yeast naturally and healing the intestines. Oxygen therapy boosts your immune system – diseases such as cancer, most viruses and bacteria are anaerobic and cannot survive in an oxygenated state. (link our services page) One 15 min of Maxx 02 Therapy is equal to multiple hyperbaric oxygen sessionsl Bemer B Spot and Infrared Light Therapy: These Bemer accessories target areas for accelerated healing – whether its pain or anti-aging! The Bemer accelerates healing by increasing your microcirculation. Bemer: 16 min. to a new you! By increasing oxygen intake, your body is able to better absorb nutrients and detox. The Bemer is included in our nutrition program. Dr. Masaru Emoto, the Japanese scientist, revolutionized the idea that our thoughts and intentions impact the physical realm. He proved that by speaking over water, it changes the molecules positively or negatively.* If you ask for prayer in our office, we will happily oblige because it impacts your healing in such a powerful way. Here is Niki’s testimonial to just that! Masaru Emoto, 2010, http://masaru-emoto.net/english/water-crystal.html After just 3 weeks of coming to the Natural Healing Center and changing her diet, Maria is completely free of headaches and stomach aches! Since coming to the Natural Healing Center Anastasia has felt hope and love AND her Pain is MUCH better! Prior to coming here, she had been to doctors with no improvement in her pain – it had only been getting worse. Recovered from Near Death with Chronic Ulcerative Colitis, Congestive Heart Failure and Blood Clot – Dr. Kevin’s story is one of near death and in a wheel chair to thriving and working out. Hear what he has to say about Natural Healing Center’s holistic healing. No Pain! No Advil! Christie was taking 4 Advil for an hour for 3 weeks of every month to cope with the pain. After 3 1/2 months of being on the Natural Healing Center program, she no longer needs Advil! On top of that, her stomach pain is gone! Tahiry was diagnosed with Vestibular Migraines – her doctors told her she would have to be on medication for life to control the dizziness and vertigo. She was weak and couldn’t walk. After only 2 weeks on our program, she can now stand up and went to the gym for the first time in 2 years since being diagnosed! Save $ and Save TIME. Invest and Commit to natural healing! Lori has been on a healing journey for one year now (after 30+ years of illness). There have been many transformations along the way but today her digestion is completely transformed by adding the rubbing of her ribs. Joint Pain and Swelling Nearly Gone! Cynthia had joint pain, swelling of her fingers and joints, anxiety and pre-menopausal symptoms such as night sweats. After only 2 weeks nearly all her pain and swelling is gone and there are no more night sweats! Her anxiety has improved as well! Thyroid Healing Results in 25 lb Weight Loss in 2 Weeks! Removing metal belly button rings, along with cold laser, help the body to heal as the energy flow is no longer disrupted. Combine that with stem cells to heal the thyroid and the result was a 25 lb weight loss in 2 weeks. This is just the start to Briana’s complete healing! His doctor can’t explain but cancelled the exploratory surgery! Genaro came to Natural Healing Center after suffering from a gallstone attack and being advised to have his gall bladder removed. After a month he feels great and his blood tests are markedly improved! Mom and Son Feeling Better! Lauren came in with brain fog, lack of focus and energy and emotions “all over the place”. Her son was experiencing stomach pains and anxiety. She is happy to report that she now has more clarity, focus, energy and feels balanced emotionally. Her son is now calmer, happier, focused and sleeping through the night. Rosalie walked very gingerly with a cane after an accident left her crippled. After just 2 weeks, she is beginning to gain control over her muscles – she now forgets to use her cane and she can get into and out of the bathtub. 505 miles over 4 days: San Francisco to Newport Beach. Great energy, recovery and sleep – all due to dialed in nutrition (through Nutrition Response Testing), fats (through Heart Rate Variability testing)and supplements (Standard Process) and benefits from doing the BEMER PEMF mat. Wanna be #1? Come see us! Update: Quitting Coffee is Worth It! Hema Dey shares her story about giving up coffee for her health. Healing Your Scars can Result in Miracles! Ever since Timne was a little girl, she heard her heartbeat in her ears for 30+ years. The first thing we do here at Natural Healing Center is resolve scars so the body is open for healing. Scars can interfere with the Autonomic Nervous System which is the first line of communication. Now Timne’s healing journey can begin! Achy and Painful Cold Go Away After Healing Her Thyroid. Although Carrie has suffered for 20+ years with an unhappy thyroid, we at Natural Healing Center are experts in providing the body with what it needs to rebuild its thyroid – we have stem cells that work FAST – giving the thyroid what it needs! Resolve Your Scars = Resolving Your Body’s Ability to Heal Itself. As a result of resolving her scars, MichelJoy was amazed how it took care of resolving her back pain, reducing a lump 1/2 the size, eliminating terribly blood shot eyes (as in all the white was gone), and increasing her energy level. Overcoming asthma with the Natural Healing Center. Hema Dey suffered from asthma for over 20 years! After consulting with Natural Healing she is off of her inhaler. The Scar is Gone! Scars can keep you from healing. They can make your heart race out of control, interrupt your sleeping, negatively impact your digestion, your vision and more. Scars need to be treated properly. Victor’s scar was a burn scar on his forehead. All that was required was colloidal silver 500 ppm and a waterproof Nexcare bandage. Two great items for your medicine cabinet! His scar is finally gone! Pain Relief After 4 Years of Suffering! Being in pain, Ruth tried everything over the last four years, including seeing doctors and changing her foods – all to no avail. As a last resort, she contacted Natural Healing Center. After only 7 days, she reports a drastic change! No pain and no swelling! We added some powerful natural supplements to support her digestion and her overall health, changed up her foods and her eating habits. Your immune system is your defense – like a shield. It is made up of the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and bone marrow to name a few. Our job is to help you increase your immunity. Your body is a self healing machine. It knows how to defend itself given you give your body the right things – 1/2 your body weight in ounces in good, filtered, water, clean food – not processed, 8-10 hours or more of sleep, and a good, positive attitude. Note that fear and panic drop your immunity. Take care of your body and it will take care of you! To increase your immunity, it is important you get enough sleep. Your body heals and destresses during sleep. Given the circumstances around COVID 19, this can be a challenge for even those of us that normally get great sleep! The Natural Healing Center has sleep aides that not only have no side effects, they are also good for you. Keep Your Immunity Strong by Eliminating the Foods that Cause Inflammation. Inflammation can cause you to stay sick. The main foods that cause inflammation in most people are Sugar, Dairy, Corn, Soy and Grains (such as wheat, oats, spelt, etc.). At Natural Healing Center, we test for what foods make you weak and what foods make you strong to keep you well. Used for decades as part of immune protocols, zinc blocks the replication of coronaviruses Overcoming Asthma During COVID 19 Stop Anxiety, Depression, and Uncontrollable Crying; especially during the unknown of COVID 19 Nutrition + Superhuman Protocol Rocks for this 75 year old! 2 weeks in with a change to her diet, adding the Superhuman Protocol (Bemer, Oxygen Therapy and PBM Therapy) and Michelle is able to go off her pain meds, her blood pressure dropped from 135/180 down to 124/83 AND she is feeling so much better! Good job Michelle! This is only the beginning! Special Message from Shannon to bring you good news! We’ve been here for 30 years and have seen a number of flus and viruses come and go: MRSA, Ebola, Bird flu, Swine flu, Influenza, etc. Our clients are successful because we have natural healing products that we use that are good for you and have no side effects. If you would like to strengthen your immune system to be able to fight off flus and viruses or if you are already are exhibiting symptoms, we can help you. Do You Have a Belly Button Ring? Scars can make your heart rate increase without regulation, interrupt your sleeping, cause you to wake up many times in one night, ruin your digestion, and more. The Power of Nutrition Nutrition can rebuild the body! Listen to Zack’s experience of how nutrition and rebuilding his body has impacted his life! Tired of Masking your Symptoms with Medicine? Colds, Flus, Bacteria and Viruses are Rampant with Seasonal Change See What Beatriz has to say about keeping a food diary… Daily headaches are finally gone! No more bloating! Chronic acid reflux can be addressed naturally. No Longer has to Take Uber! Events Click to Review Based on 116 reviews review us on I started my journey with topical steroid withdrawal(red skin syndrome)in August of 2022. My brown skin suddenly red... and raw, I was suffering from insomnia and a down to the bone itch. No doctors could help me and all they would give me were more steroids when that was the very thing I was withdrawing from. I was depressed, I could no longer do basic things. Not even hug my own children. My skin lost all elasticity, and I was so desperate for help but began to lose hope.I was doing it on my own until my sister and mother said enough was enough. I have been seeing Joann since mid September and I cannot even believe what I went through on my own and where my skin is now. Although I know I still have a long ways to go I am starting to feel like myself again. I am finally getting a good sleep, I can finally move my arms, I am no longer swollen, my red skin is finally turning it’s color again and my sinuses have cleared. I could not have done this without Joanns constant support and her ability to listen to my concerns and what I needed. When I lost hope of someone helping me Joann SAVED me. I’ll never be more thankful to her than I am now and I’m so excited for this journey to continue and where it will take me. So grateful for everyone at Natural Healing Centerread more 00:41 16 Nov 22 Trish is incredible. She was able to zero in on what needed to be cleared and quite honestly, she has moved heaviness... that I have experienced for my entire life! I feel I can breathe. Moreover, I’m not self-sabotaging my self. I’m falling into self acceptance and love and making steps to move forward! Thanks Trish!read more I cannot say enough positive things about Natural Healing Center. I've been going there for about 11 years now and... truly every time I follow protocol, I feel so much better. I'm amazed at how much I've healed over the years.Dr. Shannon was the first to help me get my ADHD under control, as well as help me have successful pregnancies and post birth experiences. I had major brain fog, nutritional deficiencies, trouble concentrating, and digestive issues, among other things.It's because of Shannon and nutrition response testing that I've learned how to best care for my body based off of its needs and dislikes so I can thrive!I'm beyond grateful for the knowledge Dr. Shannon has shared with me and for the progress and healing I have experienced in my health journey.This has been one of the best things that has happened to me!read more If you are looking for a practice or a physician that can guide you into optimal health, look no further because this... is the place to be. i am a relatively new patient and Joann and her team are extremely welcoming and warm. Im so glad to have found this space and will update this review once i am healed. Amazing work.read more 01:21 25 Aug 22 The Natural Healing Center and Dr. Shannon are truly the best... coming here is a true investment in yourself and in... achieving your best health. I would give them more stars if I could!read more I want to express my sincere thanks to Joann Do for all her help in helping me heal. After covid, I had been... experiencing issues with my health that I hadn't had before. I was scared, confused and in need of help. Though I was also seeking conventional medical care at the time, I trusted my gut and new I needed to take a natural approach to my healing. Joan and her team helped guide me to heal my body from the inside out, and literally within a few months, my labs were back to normal!Joan is incredibly kind, warm, and immediately quells any anxiety you may have with her peaceful demeanor. She has become my coach, and confidante in health and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for friend along their health journey. Thank you again to the natural healing center for all you do!read more 06/28/2022From cancer to much better life…!This is my third review of the Natural Healing Center in Newport Beach,... California. I have been a client (patient) since September 2021.Everything started with an unfortunate bladder cancer diagnosis in June 2021. After the surgery I was recommended immunotherapy treatment to decrease chances of re-occurrence. Faith gave me a bit more time to research my options which led me to discovering the Natural Healing Center.After a very thorough exam and testing I adopted Dr. Shannon’s proposed treatment program.I have mentioned in my previous reviews that I had to make some strong adjustments to my diet and educate myself on how exactly the human body works. I was ignoring some things I already knew not realizing their importance. Of course, I learned a lot more than I was ever anticipating I would know about trying to stay healthy.I was only there to hopefully speed up my recovery, but after following the treatment for only 2-3 short weeks I couldn’t ignore the slew of positive side effects: The pains and aches which I was contributing to just getting older, often trips to the bathroom, poor sleep at night, slow start in the morning, the need of extra cup of coffee late afternoon, constant fatigue… All gone!About 4 months after I started working with Dr. Shannon, I did a thermal imaging scan. When we went over the images and findings, there was nothing mentioned about any issues in the bladder area. Everything seemed to be clear. Can’t tell you how pleased I was with the results.My wife came with me initially just for solidarity, but the positive changes for her were amazing. She was starting her morning with a daily sneezing attack. Just in a month or two her allergies were pretty much nonexistent. My daughter is now off her allergy medication for which she was doing liver screening to make sure the damage is acceptable (!?!)I just completed the 9-month treatment and gladly continuing with maintenance. Just a reminder: I walked in the Natural Healing Center as a post cancer surgery patient hoping to recover. Constantly in pain: hip, knees, lower back, back muscle spasms, neck, limping, almost crippled and trying to survive. Now I can work out almost as I could in my late teens, trying to do splits, flips and somersaults... Well, it was only 4 decades ago. I would absolutely recommend the Natural Healing Center to anyone for any issues, big or small. They most likely will be able to help you. It certainly worked for myself, and my family and I look forward to continuing working with them.read more For the past couple of years I have tried to seek medical care from various doctors but no one was able to identify my... issue, one of them even prescribed me anti-depressants because it might just "be a mental thing" Within a few minutes of my initial assessment, Shannon was able to provide insight into how my body was operating and what foods were throwing it out of wack. One thing that had been bothering me was a scar from surgery, after their initial evaluation, she did a light treatment that took less than two minutes and it made the phantom pain go away on the scar that was considered "healed". I have been trying to get to the root of my health issues and feel confident that I am taking the right step by going to the natural healing center. They took a scan of my heart and took baseline measurements of each valve to help gauge what foods support it to work with maximum efficiency. I look forward to updating my feedback once I have further progressed in working with them.read more The Natural Healing Center has really changed my life for the better! If it wasn’t for my friend showing me who Dr.... Shannon was, I would definitely be in a different spot in my life. Dr. Shannon is very warming, has good humor, and you can tell she loves what she does. I have been at the Natural Healing Center for almost 5 months now and I have already seen a dramatic change in myself! I have more energy, no more acne, less bloating, and feel very strong and healthy!I would recommend Dr. Shannon and her team to everyone if I could! :)read more 17:41 06 Dec 21 Everyone very nice . And very interesting. I have so many products for my health . However I did not know which one... is good for me. But I met Joann she test me which one is right for me ! I am so happy I always go to Joann and ask and pick for me.They test my health and choose right one for me. I will become getting healthy again . Thank you !!! .read more I would never see, let alone want to see, any other doctor besides Shannon. She aside from Jesus are the two main... reasons I am alive today. I mean that by no exaggeration. My illness was so bad, mainstream doctors and neurologists gave up on me. Dr. Shannon didn’t. I could cry from how grateful I am that Jesus lead her into my life. If you’re hesitant. Don’t be. You too can heal and live a healthy vibrant life again.read more 00:19 28 Oct 21 If I could rate Natural Healing Center a 10 I would. Dr. Shannon is very personable & professional. I come to her for... everything. Natural Healing Center is the best care you can imagine. read more Everyone at Natural Healing Center is kind, thoughtful and positive. I always feel happier when I leave. I've been... going to them since April of 2021 and I recently (Sept 2021) had some standard blood work done and it all came back with great results, plus the nurse who took my blood pressure said I had the BP of a teenager (and I'm 59). In addition I recently had my teeth cleaned and I got the best report on the health of my gums that I've ever had. It all must be due to Natural Healing Center's program.read more Dr. Shannon and her team at Natural Healing Center helped me back to health. I learned what foods and supplements were... harmful to my health and my body. I also learned the foods that fueled my body, gave me energy, and all around made me feel good. The knowledge I learned is priceless. It is knowledge I will keep and implement the rest of my life. Some of the effects of changing my diet and following Dr. Shannon's program were increased energy, happy/balanced mood, no more pain, restful sleep, and a strong immune system. I recommended Dr. Shannon to family and friends with chronic illnesses and they had similar results.My advice today is don't give up. Try Dr. Shannon and her team if all else has failed. Over the years we damage our bodies, and at times it may feel like the damage is irreversible, but I have seen first hand that the body can heal itself. It all starts with knowledge. Have faith and stick to the program because it works.read more I recently developed eczema on my inner elbows and behind my knees. I knew it was because of my eating habits and... stress, but I didn't know how to overcome it and heal my body. I was introduced to Joann Do from a good friend of mine. Joann is amazing and an extremely knowledgable practitioner. I was hesitant at first to trust the process being that this was my first time at a Natural Healing Center, but everything she advised and recommended all made sense for the greater good of my health. After just a few months of following her meal plan, adjusting to cleaner eating, and taking my supplements, my skin drastically improved. The flaring up and eczema subsided and most days I don't even itch anymore. In the rare instances that I start to itch, I can now easily identify what foods or stress caused it. Joann has been a great guiding hand and major support. I highly recommend seeing her and coming in for a consultation if you are in need of healing.read more Shannon is an extraordinary alternative health practitioner. I started seeing her in July 2021. I found out that I was... taking too many supplements. I am now taking less than half of what I was taking and I am confident that what I am taking is serving me well. Since I began working with Shannon, I am sleeping much better. It never occurred to me that sleeping could be so restful. I went to her to see what she had to say about detoxification. The detoxification program she has created for me is the best I have ever tried. To me detoxification is the key to preventative health and I am delighted with progress I am making with my detoxification.read more I cannot sing Joann’s praises enough! Every check-in and opportunity I have to speak to her I remind her how grateful I... am for her. I came to Natural Healing Center with severe GI issues, stress and anxiety, mood swings, fungal infections, and trouble concentrating. All my doctors told me I “looked fine.” (Wrong!) The tests and procedures they put me through only made my stress and anxiety worse - not to mention, not of those doctors were trauma-informed. Joann was the complete opposite. And - bonus! - she actually helped heal me!Today I had a check in with Joann. On our first appointment, 18 organs showed stress in my body. Today, just 3 months later, zero organs show stress and I feel fantastic! I feel more vital, I can manage stress more easily, my relationships have improved dramatically, I can read my body’s signals with clarity, and I lost 15 lbs and 3” on my waist.Make the investment and go see Joann at Natural Healing Center. You can tell her I sent you. read more Dr. Shannon and her team are devoted, passionate and incredible people. It is a safe haven for your own personal... healing. Dr. Shannon is truly gifted. She is intuitive, loving and a master at her craft. I feel like a different person ever since I started seeing her. In order to heal, you have to feel safe and trust the process, Dr. Shannon and her team have made it easy for me to believe that healing is possible for me and it's been a game changer. Highly, highly recommend.read more 00:36 03 May 20 Dr. Shannon Eggleston has made such a huge impact on my health and well-being! Feel so grateful to have found her!... She's the absolute BEST.read more Our body has the full potential to fully repair itself when given the right nutrients and protocol. After 2 decades of... applying alternative measures and therapies I have found a home for continued abundant health at the age of 75 at Natural Healing Center. One of my favorite modalities is the Novothor. It’s a 15 min light bed that takes back your health. With my spinal stenosis I have functional improvements and improved range of motion. All therapies at the Natural Healing Center with Shannon Eggleston provide healing restorative measures.read more Natural Healing Center has a unique atmosphere, you can feel a special touch in every detail. I personally love the... ceiling in the Bemer room :) very cool! Renee and Shannon are doing an amazing job making everybody feel welcomed.My mom and I have been doing Superhuman Protocol (3 steps program) for a couple of weeks already, and I have to say, despite the turmoil we are all going through, I've been feeling great! Calmness and focus are fantastic benefits of the procedure. It also drastically improved my skin and quality of my sleep. My mom lost 5 pounds and her knee doesn't bother her anymore. So far it's been such a possitive experience for both of us! Thank you!read more Dr. Shannon was really nice, personable, professional and knowledgeable. I'm am grateful for her expertise and help! Great facility and staff. I've had acid reflux for a long time. After visiting my family doctor and just told to take a... pill every day for the rest of my life I decided to seek a second opinion. I met with Shannon at Natural Healing Center where she tested me and found several foods that I need to eliminate from my diet. It hasn't been easy to basically learn how to read labels, but so far I've cut gluten and wheat out and instantaneously my acid reflux is gone. And best of all I'm not on any medication! I also tried out the red light bed. Figured if it's good enough for so many athletes it's good enough for me. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.read more The entire staff is really wonderful, but Shannon is INCREDIBLE. She brings so much joy to me when she cares for me.... She heals the WHOLE PATIENT, she listens, she gently teases until you just relax and enjoy the visit. Her treatment so far is amazing, I’m feeling better and I look forward to a full recovery! I strongly recommend this lovely office!read more In August 2019 I was diagnosed with glaucoma and told by my ophthalmologist that I would have to put drops in my eyes... every day for the rest of my life or facing the possibility of eventually going blind. I was not able to tolerate the drops and started seeing Dr. Shannon in October. In February I went back to the ophthalmologist for a follow-up and was told I have NO glaucoma. I owe this to lots of prayer and Dr. Shannon and highly recommend the Natural Healing Center.read more Natural Healing Center is a true healing center. Dr. Shannon and Ms. Renee are wonderful people, skillful in the... business of healing and wellness, no matter what age you are, this is the place to seek emotional and physical sanctuary. Ingrid is the sweetest and most helpful with all their patients. What makes them different from other healing centers is the persona touchl and genuine care they give to their patients.read more When I first found Natural Healing Center, I was feeling so uncomfortable in my body. I was overweight, lethargic,... tired, and sedentary. I had a very unhealthy relationship with food. I thought I was eating relatively healthy, but soon learned I was engaging in practices that were not good for my body. I also was struggling with life-long digestive issues and sleep troubles.After beginning my work with Shannon, and adding the augmentation of services to include the BEMR and the Novothor, I can’t tell in adequate words the massive impact I’ve experienced in just 3 months. I’ve lost weight. I have lots of energy. I’ve begun being more physically active. My skin looks better. I’m overall way more healthy. I even tried the jet lag formula when I went overseas having been on the program for two months, and it totally worked. I have LOTS of people noticing me now. I’ve given out a half dozen referrals in the past two weeks. I have to work and stay committed, and when I do, the payoff is incredible. I have a spring in my step and a lightness I haven’t felt for years. My digestive issues are better. I continue to gain knowledge about making good choices that work for me. The beauty is that this approach to caring for my health and well-being is completely individualized. I loved it so much, I had my daughter get treated before she left for a study abroad for a year in Europe. It totally set her up to be on her A-game for doing her best in her studies.read more 01:55 09 Nov 19 always amazed at there knowledge and skills Love the people and amazing work they do here! I recently tried the NovoThor light therapy and love it. The team at NHC... not only knows what you're doing, but cares about their patients.read more I have found the Natural Healing Center to be a place of practioners and specialists who want to help others,... especially those experiencing health challenges, to live healthfully.The staff is kind and supportive. They provide individualized care with ease, commitment and professionalism. When I go for a visit I don’t feel like I’m stepping into a cold and impersonal place. I enjoy my personalized health care evaluations, muscle testing and weekly prescriptions to help my future weeks bring about improvement and healing in my nutritional and physical health.I highly recommend The Natural Healing Center!read more Dr. Shannon is the person I rely on for myself and my son. She is brilliant and so aware of what is going on in the... body, she can actually read your body like a book. She doesn't settle for taking care of symptoms, she finds the source of illness. I trust her completely!read more The team at Natural Healing Center have made such an impact on my health - and the health of my family! With an... excellent assessment of my health and some great, achievable steps to help keep myself on the path to better health and wellness! When I've spoken with Dr. Shannon and Renee at the office, I'm met with friendly, personalized care. At Natural Healing Center, you aren't just another number; your health and wellness are top priorities! What I love the most, other than feeling better, more balanced and able to feel healthy at work and home, is the accountability I get from the team - ensuring that I stay on track with our game plan!read more	46,446
Garry recently went on hospice and stopped chemotherapy, so we knew that he didn’t have much longer to live. Before our trip to Odessa, we had some difficult conversations with the kids. They've known for a while that Grandpa hasn't been feeling good, however we knew they didn’t truly understand what his sickness meant and how sick he really was. I told them about cancer and that Grandpa's medicine wasn't working anymore and that he was very sick and was going to die soon. I told them that this was a very special trip and that it was probably going to be the last time they would see Grandpa Garry. They both were sad about it, and Paige took it particularly hard. She cried inconsolably for a long time. Grandpa Garry was around quite a bit on Sunday, he barbecued the meat for the BBQ, and he spent time playing with the kids and talking to everyone. He was in a lot of pain, and it was obvious he was uncomfortable most of the time. The nights were the worst, and Genie told me that she had never seen him hurting so much. On Monday night, Garry had the worst night, and when I talked to him on Tuesday he said that he just hated taking the pain medications and he'd kind of gotten behind on them and it had been a mistake. The hospice nurse and dietitian came by that day and went over the meds and diet plan with Garry and Tuesday night wasn't quite as hard for him. We were hopeful that he’d do better and feel better going forwards. On Wednesday morning on June 10th, Andrea and I got packed up to head back to Florida. We planned to leave the kids in Odessa for the next week, and they were excited to go over to Aunt Amanda's house for a while during the day and then stay the night at Aunt Abby's house. They were sad to see us go, and gave us big hugs and kisses. Grandpa Garry told us to wake him up before we left, and he came out to the front door to tell us goodbye. He gave Andrea a big hug and told her he loved her. I went to shake his hand, like we usually do, but he gave me a hug instead. He told me how much he loved my family and I told him thank you, and that I'd always take good care of Andrea and the family. As we drove away, Grandpa Garry, Grandma Genie and the kids waved goodbye to us from the front window. Amanda drove us to Blue Springs to the Rudolph house. We were all pretty sad. I talked to Amanda about how it was most likely the last time I'd ever see Garry, and she cried. Every time you see someone may be the last, but it was a hard thing knowing for sure. Amanda dropped us off in Blue Springs and Nate drove us to McAlister's for lunch and then to the airport. We checked our bags, went through security, and then sat for a while and waited for our plane. Andrea got a text from her mom that Garry was having some trouble breathing and the hospice nurse was coming by. Connor and Paige were sent over to Amanda's so Genie could focus on Garry. We were worried for him, however he'd had a number of health issues for so long, you just never know. We boarded the plane, sat down, and Andrea's phone started ringing. I saw it was from Genie and I had a feeling I knew what the call would be about. Genie told Andrea that Garry had just died. Andrea asked "Are you sure?", and Genie told her "Yes". Andrea grabbed the arm of a stewardess that was passing and told her what happened. She told us she'd get us off the plane and would get our luggage off as well. We had to wait until the current group boarding finished sitting down, and then we exited the plane. Andrea called her mother back just to be sure she heard her right. I talked to the Southwest staff and described our bags and gave them our information. They pulled our bags from the plane and told us the bags would come through the baggage claim area shortly. They canceled the flight for us, refunded us the points we used for the flight and took care of everything. Southwest staff could not have been more helpful, understanding, or professional about it. As we waited for our bags, we were worried that our kids were over at Grandma Genie's house. I called Amanda to ask her if the kids were with her at her house and she told me yes. She asked me what was happening, and I was surprised because I had assumed she already knew about her father. I told her just to call her mom, since I didn't want to be the one to tell her, and it seemed appropriate for her mom to be the one to talk to her. When our bags arrived, we took a bus to the rental car building, had a town car come pick us up, and we rode back to Odessa. When we arrived at Grandma Genie's house, there were quite a few people there already. We hugged everyone and then went back to Grandpa and Grandma's room to see Garry. Genie came with us and she talked to us about everything that happened. Garry had a fairly good morning, and after we left he sat with Paige on the couch and they were laughing and playing together. A little while later, Garry started feeling worse and was having trouble breathing. The hospice nurse was scheduled to come by that day, but with his breathing trouble, Genie called and asked for them to come out earlier. The hospice nurse arrived and took his vitals and found that everything was normal. Garry was near to hyperventilating, and the nurse talked to him and told him he needed to focus on his breathing and work to take deep breaths and slow it down. They sat together for about 45 minutes breathing and concentrating on relaxing. Garry took some morphine for pain and eventually his breathing slowed down and he relaxed. The hospice nurse left the room briefly and Genie sat with Garry and held his hand. He was very still, and Genie assumed that it was the morphine finally kicking in. When the nurse came back in the room she gave her a hug and cried and said that she wished it would be over. She hated to see Garry struggling for so long and in so much pain. The nurse looked at Garry and saw that he was not moving. The nurse took his vitals and informed Genie that he’d passed. The nurse told Genie that she probably could wait a while before calling the girls, and thankfully she said that because it made Genie remember that Andrea and I were getting on our flight. Genie called Andrea and was surprised when Andrea picked up the phone. If she’d called even 5 minutes later, the doors would have been closed and it would have been too late. Connor and Paige were over at Amanda’s house with Nathan. Andrea stayed with her mother and I drove over to talk to the kids since they’d been asking a lot of questions. They were very surprised to see me since I’d just left them a few hours ago. I took their hands and talked to them about what happened. Their response wasn’t what I’d expected. They accepted it and then were a bit quiet. I asked them if they had any questions, and Connor asked if they were still going to get to go over to Aunt Abby’s to stay the night. Paige was quiet and didn’t talk much. Uncle Nate held her for a bit and she fell asleep. I took Paige from Nate after a few minutes and he left. After Paige woke up I talked to the kids about it all again and told them that we’d go over to Grandma’s, but they needed to stay in the basement for a while. We were worried they’d see the Grandpa Garry and would be scared, so when we got to the house, they went straight downstairs. During the day, a number of people came to the house. Before the undertaker took Garry’s body away, we all gathered in the room and Genie talked to us. We had an opportunity to say goodbye one last time, and Andrea gave him a kiss on his forehead. The kids were in the basement away from everything and we told them that they shouldn’t come up until they’d taken him away. Connor and Paige both insisted they wanted to see him. We told them no at first, but we talked to Genie and after we talked it over we decided that if it’s what they wanted that we should give them the opportunity. I carried Connor and Andrea carried Paige into the room. I talked to them about how it looked like Grandpa was sleeping in bed and that he wasn’t hurting anymore. Connor and Paige both cried. We told them it was their opportunity to say goodbye and they both did and then we took them out of the room. We had been sure we didn’t want them to see Grandpa after he’d died. We had talked months ago about how when the time came we’d leave the kids in Florida and only Andrea and I would make the trip for the funeral. We wanted them to only remember Grandpa alive and happy, however I think it allowed them to see the reality of what we’d been talking about, and it was something they’d asked for and it was something that I think they needed. The undertaker and Ryan’s mom DeLisa (who is also a hospice nurse) put Garry’s body into a bodybag and then they wheeled him out and away. The rest of the day, we helped to clean up the house, made plans for the funeral, proofread the obituary, and spent time with each other. The following days were very busy. Andrea and her sisters worked with her mother to make the appropriate funeral arrangements and prepare for the visitation, funeral service, and for a gathering at the house after the funeral. Garry had already prepared for most everything, and there weren’t too many decisions that had to be made, however it was still quite a bit of work to get everything scheduled and setup. Since the kids were in town, Andrea and I went out on Thursday to buy them some things to wear, however it was a stressful trip and the kids were not in a good mood for it and I was very stressed out as well. After we were done shopping, Andrea and I talked and decided that the visitation and funeral were going to be too difficult with the kids. We made plans for one of Ryan’s family members to babysit the kids during both. Friday evening was the visitation at the funeral home. Garry’s urn was placed on the center table, and all the flowers that had been sent decorated the space nicely. Hundreds of people came through, and Genie, Nate, Allison, Drew, Abby, Andrea, myself, Amanda and Ryan greeted each one as they made their way through the funeral home. We put together a large collection of pictures of Garry, which played on a TV in the back of the room. Genie was strong and brave, with her chin up, and she conversed with each at length. A few times, we tried to get her to move things along, but everyone wanted to talk with Genie and everyone had a story about Garry they wanted to tell. I felt bad for a few people that came during the busiest times, I’m pretty sure some people waited in line well over an hour. Saturday was the funeral. The forecast called for rain, and we were worried that it would be a mess, especially at the house afterwards when everyone showed up. We drove to the church in the morning and made the final preparations. The urn, flowers, and church were put together very well and I took a picture before anyone arrived. We all waited in the back room with family members as the guests made their way to the seats. Every available space was filled, and some folding chairs had to be brought forwards to accommodate everyone. When the service started, Genie led the way to the family section on the right side in the front of the church. I held Andrea’s hand, and when Andrea saw everyone who had come to support her family she cried. The service started with a song, and some words from the pastor. Some of Garry’s friends played songs on piano, trumpet, and saxophone. I thought about all the concerts that Garry had put together over his life and during one song I remember tearing up as I thought that the funeral was one last concert for Garry. Andrew was one of the first people to speak and he talked about the trips he went on with Grandpa, the love of music they shared, and the good times they spent together. I don’t know many 16 year olds that can speak in front of hundreds of people, especially about something so emotional and personal. He did so well and we were all so proud of him. Garry’s friends, colleagues and a student shared their personal stories and memories of Garry and in their telling everyone heard the various facets of Garry’s life. Nathan spoke about Garry, and I have to think that he knew Garry better than most since he had shared experiences with him as a son-in-law, music teacher, golf buddy, and friend. After the funeral service, I drove to Amanda’s house to pick up the kids, and then drove to Grandma Genie’s house. Close family and friends came over and Genie hosted a good sized crowd with catered food. Once the kids were fed, I wandered around with my camera and snapped pics of everyone so we could remember the day. I knew that in time we’d forget who was there if I didn’t. The gathering lasted for a few hours, and eventually everyone said their farewells and departed. I wish we had a way to get a picture of the church when everyone was there, it was a packed house. More than that, I wish I had gotten a picture of Garry during the trip before he passed. The first day when we arrived and ate BBQ, I remember a moment as we all sat outside together. I remember thinking I should get my camera and take a picture of everyone. I was tired, the camera was upstairs, and I didn’t do it. That would have been the best day for a picture. During the rest of the visit, Garry was in pretty bad shape. There were multiple times when he would be around, however he often had a mask over his face, or would be in his pajamas. He often appeared to be in such pain and so uncomfortable, I didn’t want to disturb him with a picture and wasn’t even sure if he wanted his picture taken. The first time we almost flew home, on the way to the airport, I’d asked Amanda to find a moment while the kids were in town when she could snap a picture of them together with Grandpa. Unfortunately that moment never came. I flipped through every pic I took in Odessa, and sadly he isn’t in a single one. The picture I posted of Garry is one we took at Moments and Memories in December of 2014. It probably is one of the best pictures of him we have in his final days, and is the one we printed and used during the Visitation and Funeral. That’s everything I can remember of the funeral. His passing and funeral were some of the saddest times I’ve experienced, and we all came together to support each other and get through it. Genie cried from time to time throughout the days after Garry passed, but she was strong throughout everything and I admire her calm courage through those difficult days. Her girls and their love for each other were plainly evident, and I am very happy that Andrea and I were able to be there for the entirety of the experience. Maybe it was God, Garry, or chance, but although the weather channel predicted a 100% chance of rain, it didn’t rain on either the visitation or funeral. Goodbye Garry, you will be missed. Posted by Shawn Vernon at 8:26 PM 1 comment: Richard said... It is cathartic to write your thoughts sometimes. And you and Andrea will be glad you did someday when you reflect on this day. You make plans for all kinds of situations, and when they actually occur, it's different than you expected. I believe your decisions with the children were right for that situation. You and Andrea were tuned in to their emotions as well as your own, and your explanations were what they needed. There will be more questions. I'm glad you both listen to Connor and Paige and keep those communication channels open. I hardly knew Garry - we only met him a very few times and he was mostly quiet during those times. But my impression was that he was a gentleman, quiet, with a subtle sense of humor - and he was a teacher. That automatically elevated him far beyond average in my book - and he taught music - one of my favorites. From what I heard, he was well loved by his students and worked tirelessly educate and instill a love of music. He will be missed. I wish I had known him better.	15,930
When designing the study abroad program, we purposefully scheduled four longer days of classwork during the week so that students would have long weekends to explore France and other European countries on their own. The students took advantage of this for the first time over the weekend. Some went to London and some went to Berlin while others visited places outside Paris that were of particular interest to them. I was one of the people that took advantage of the weekend to visit a place I’d never been before. I went to visit a new museum that just opened in September 2012 in the Parisian suburb of Drancy. Drancy is located north of Paris and tourists travelling from Charles de Gaulle airport into the city center pass it on their journey. It’s often not high on the list of places to visit in France, but for a historian of the Second World War and the Holocaust in France (like myself) it is a must-see. I began research for dissertation on daily life in France during World War II in 1999. Since then I have made regular (and extended) trips to France to work in the archives and libraries here. I have spent months researching the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. I have spent countless hours in the Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine (Center for Contemporary Jewish Documentation) in Paris. I have participated in international conferences and seminars on war and genocide, and in all of my research I have learned about Drancy. But I have never been there myself. So what is so important about this suburb for someone who studies the war and the Holocaust in France? Drancy was literally the antechamber to the death camps in Poland. An unfinished housing development in the city, the Cité de la Muette, served as the main transit center for Jews after their arrest and before their deportation to extermination camps. Between March 1942 and the summer of 1944, an estimated 63,000 of the 76,000 Jews deported from France passed through the camp. The buildings that were used to intern these men, women, and children still exist and are now the home of new residents. The buildings and the site have an interesting history that is part of a permanent exhibit explaining the events that transpired there and that serves as a dialogue between the past and the present. In the 1930s, the Cité de la Muette was an architectural novelty. The four-story, U-shaped building was constructed completely on site in order to be more cost effective. But the economic depression of the 1930s meant that the metal-framed building covered by concrete panels was never finished. The Germans requisitioned the apartment block after the Occupation of France in 1940 and it was first used as a detention site for French and English prisoners of war. Starting in August 1941, it became a camp for arrested Jews. When the Nazis’ “Final Solution” began in earnest in 1942, Drancy became the transit camp that would serve as the last step before deportation. The apartments were never finished so internees stayed in open, unfurnished rooms. There was no indoor plumbing and two buildings of latrines were constructed in the building’s courtyard. The entire complex was surrounded by barbed wire and watchtowers. So on Sunday, I took advantage of the free shuttle service provided by the Mémorial de la Shoah (Holocaust Memorial) in Paris and travelled to Drancy for a guided tour of the site and the new museum. We began our tour outside, looking at the building (that was classified as a historic site in 2001) and the earlier memorials on the site. In the area in front of the Cité de la Muette there is a sculpture as well as a railcar like the ones used to deport Jews to the death camps. As our guide explained, both of these memorials demonstrate the links between history and memory. The inscription on the sculpture mentions the 100,000 Jews deported from France. The sculpture was created and dedicated before the historical research was conducted that now places the number of deported Jews at approximately 76,000. The design is also symbolic in many ways (see this link for more info on the symbolism.) The columns on the side mirror the iconic image we have of the entry to Auschwitz, which is reinforced by the train tracks behind the sculpture. The placement of the railcar in front of the camp buildings also reflects our common perceptions of the Holocaust. In this case, however, it gives a false sense of reality since there was no railway in front of the camp. Inmates chosen for deportation were bussed from Drancy to nearby train stations. Sculpture with building and railcar in the background View from the museum windows We continued our tour inside the museum, which was built across the street from the Cité de la Muette and overlooks the site. On the ground floor, visitors see photographs, names, and date of deportation of some of the Jews that passed through the camp. The museum currently has 12,000 pictures of victims that were interned at Drancy. The fourth floor is the home of the permanent exhibit. The room itself is almost the exact opposite of the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris, which is in the basement and is a dark, somber space. At Drancy, the exhibit and displays are all in white in a room with floor to ceiling windows on two sides. Videos explain the history while interactive displays allow you to learn more about individual experiences. One of the videos talks about the three camps in Paris that were annexes to Drancy. Jews that were considered “non-deportable” because their spouse was “Aryan” or because of their previous military service were transferred to camps within Paris where their job was to sort and package the domestic items looted from Jewish apartments. (For more information on this topic see this book.) I was reminded that one of these camps was in a furniture store called Lévitan located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. The building with its memorial plaque is less than a block away from the hotel where we are staying. Plaque explaining Lévitan’s role during WWII The former Lévitan furniture store Overall this was an incredible learning experience for me. I finally saw the place that I have read so much about and the tour discussed the issues we are covering in our courses including the construction of memory. The museum certainly is a way to remember those who suffered and died during the Holocaust.	6,475
Over the past 3 months, my wife and I have been up and down the east coast driving our son to and from baseball tournaments and college showcases. Invariably, each drive back home has taken twice the time it should have because of road construction. On Sunday, Waze, my favorite navigation app, said that the drive would take just 2 hours and 32 minutes. 4 traffic delays because of road construction delayed us for another 2 and 1/2 hours. Delays, delays, delays. Nearly every coaching call with a salesperson is about a delayed closing. Nearly every coaching call with a sales manager is about a salesperson with a delayed closing. Everyone wants to know what to do about the delayed closing but that's the wrong question. Everyone should be asking these two questions instead. Was it really delayed or were we overly optimistic about if and when this opportunity would close? What steps can we take to prevent delayed closings? When I begin working with companies, most delayed closings are simply a case of the salesperson and sales manager deciding that the opportunity was closable and would close on a certain date. This assertion was most often made up out of thin air with little to no facts to back it up. Upon further inspection it was clear that these were not closable opportunities so the delays were not based in reality. How can we prevent delayed closings? I will list the 12 most important factors for preventing delays at closing time along with some links that further explain what I mean, how to do it more effectively, and/or provide statistics. Please keep in mind that the list of factors is not a menu. You can't choose the factor that seems easiest enough to fix and believe that anything will change. You must fix all of them! For example, suppose you need to loose 30 pounds, and are told to avoid breads, pastas, processed foods, snacks and pastries. If you decide to eliminate only bread, not much will change. However, if you eliminate all of the processed foods the weight will come off quickly and easily. The same is true with selling. If you fix all 12 of the factors below, you will not only shorten your sales cycle, you will quickly and easily improve your win rate too. Here they are: Not consistently executing a formal, structured, staged, milestone-centric sales process Failing to get the prospect to "must have" or beginning the process with a demo, but failing to get beyond "nice to have" Not reaching the decision maker early enough in the sales process Failing to create urgency because compelling reasons to buy were not uncovered Failing to differentiate by not having the difficult conversation Needing prospects to like you. Failing to build a case and sell value instead of price Failing to thoroughly qualify the prospect's ability to buy from you Not bringing up potential objections earlier in the sales process Not learning about the competition and how you compare Not pushing back or challenging conventional or out-dated thinking You probably noticed at least 3 common factors missing from the list above: Closing - closing is overrated. Presentation skills - you already know how to do that well. Relationships - you are probably pretty good at this too. We shouldn't be talking about delayed closings at all. Instead, we should be talking about 2 things: How to shorten the sales cycle and improve the win rate by consistently executing these 12 factors to achieve greater success than ever before and how to coach salespeople up so that they can sell this way. How to select new salespeople that already have the ability to sell this way! View All 2,000 Articles published by Dave Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Sales Thought Leader, Dave Kurlan's Understanding the Sales Force Blog earned awards for the Top Sales & Marketing Blog for eleven consecutive years and of the more than 2,000 articles Dave has published, many of the articles have also earned awards.	4,141
The past few months seems like one big blur. I close my eyes and try to remember what my life was like a few months ago back in March, before the pandemic was declared. I was teaching biology at Rutgers University—Camden. It was a typical semester. I was preparing for my trip to Patagonia over spring break. I have never been to South America so I was excited to experience some new culture, but more importantly to see the native wildlife. I was thrilled because we were going to Peninsula Valdés, which was known for its marine life. I have seen a lot of species in captivity, but not in the wild. However, my excitement was cut short when Rutgers University announced that all scheduled study abroad trips were canceled two weeks before spring break. To some people this may not seem like a big deal, but to me, I knew it was major. Canceling just one trip two weeks before departure is messy, and generally refunds are not possible. This was the entire university (over 100 programs!). Each trip is roughly $3k per student—estimate about 20 students per trip (some trips have more, some less). That is a lot of money for Rutgers to lose, and they would have to refund all that money back to the students lest they wanted lawsuits. No for-profit company in Corporate America wants to willingly take a financial loss unless the potential outcomes are far worse. In this particular case, it was. The virus was making its way into the United States. China was “contained,” but Italy was not, which is how the majority of cases came to our country. I knew immediately after Rutgers’ announcement that the situation was serious. It was ‘better’ for Rutgers to take this financial loss instead of allowing students to leave the country on their trips. The week leading up to spring break, the news was rampant with reports of the virus. I changed my curriculum and made a lecture about the new virus from China. I gave a quick lesson about how viruses worked, so we could focus on the current situation. By this time the number of infections were increasing exponentially and we had the first NJ death—I told my students that I may not see them again in-person after spring break. I explained how quickly the virus was spreading and I told them to stay safe. During my first lecture that day, Rutgers made another announcement telling students that spring break was starting early and that they needed to move out of their dorms in two days—they were not coming back. I left that night after my second lecture with one final look at my office—one final glance to make sure I had everything I needed. I may not be coming back either. NJ numbers continued to climb—spillover from NY. Many people work in NY, but live in North Jersey. I hunkered down at home with my fiancé, roommate, and our animals—everyone was suddenly working remotely from home. I had to rapidly figure out how I was going to teach my in-person courses online for the remainder of the semester. I developed a remote learning method that sufficed, but more importantly was considerate of my students. Many students are disadvantaged in various ways—including internet access or even owning a computer. Before, with students being on campus, they did not have these excuses. The students had access to free Wi-Fi and computers on campus. Then there were the students with food and housing insecurities to think of—or the ones that needed to work multiple jobs. Going to college suddenly became a major burden to the students, but I still had to get them to complete their work—even if it was for the sake of completion. During those weeks, I buried myself in my work, revamping my lectures and testing materials. The stay-at-home order was issued at some point during this time. Cases continued to increase—trickling down from NY into North Jersey and making its way to South Jersey. Community spread was seen and the World Health Organization waited until the last possible minute to declare a pandemic. I preemptively started creating cloth face masks for myself, friends and family. I would convert a lecture during the day, make masks in the evening. It was a great relief once I submitted those final grades and the semester ended. By then we were still in the thick of it, but NJ had plateaued. I was sewing like mad at this point—made my first quilt, made my first bat plushie, crocheted a two-person lap blanket. Anything to keep me busy so time would pass along with the madness of constantly being indoors. It became a ritual to take a break during the day and listen to Governor Murphy’s daily reports about the virus. How many more people were infected today? How many died today? The whole scenario felt like a flood occurred. The water kept rising and rising and everyone seemed to be panicking in the world—suddenly the water was above my head and I sank. I was drowning, but then suddenly I could breathe underwater. Everything normalized, which is not necessarily a good thing. I enjoyed the Tiger King documentary on Netflix with the rest of the world. Corporate America started lying to its employees, promising that their jobs would be spared, but a few weeks later mass layoffs occurred. Unemployment was jammed, people were panicking. The news of the virus normalized, but the effects of an unstable economy dealing with the virus was just starting. Civil unrest was rearing. People who do not understand science and only care about themselves started getting restless and whining. Protests started—they were tired of the pandemic lockdown. They cried that their freedom was being infringed upon—and misinformation about the virus was common at this point. America started re-opening even though science said it was too soon. My wedding was supposed to be this October. My fiancé and I canceled it because of the pandemic. A wedding is supposed to be a time of celebration, but the thought of one asymptomatic person attending the wedding and infecting the family horrified us. It happened many times, not too long ago—some families ignored the warnings about congregating because of the virus, and most of them are dead. Those that survived are grieving about their dead relatives and grappling with the hard truth that they contributed to their deaths. My fiancé and I do not want that on our consciousness—so we canceled. Then it happened, a black American was chased and gunned down. It had happened too many times before, but not during a time when nearly everyone in the world was watching with little to do because of a pandemic and lack of work. He was only going for his daily jog, but now he was dead with little justice. Then it happened again, another black American was killed—no justice. She was sleeping only moments prior. Then another black American slowly suffocated to death for nearly 9 minutes—again no justice. A white American decided to use her white privilege against a black American to scare him. The world responded and #Blackbirdersweek was born. I watched with the rest of the world as American racism reared its ugly head again in the news. Protests started and have continued until this day. The cry for the end of racism is bigger than ever, and stronger than ever before. The perfect storm occurred to allow all of this to happen. Black Lives Matter leads the current movement, but it is so much more. The people cry for justice—they cry for a better life. I cry with them. It has only been four months since the pandemic started in America. It feels like March was a year ago. So much has happened in such a short amount of time. We still have climate change to contend with, and there are many battles ahead. It is an election year, and our nation is broken. I am tired, but I continue to push forward like many others in the world. NJ virus cases and deaths are at the lowest they have been since everything first started, but other parts of the nation continue to rise—still part of the first wave, although many say it is the second phase. Cases dropped regionally, not nationally. We are not out of the woods yet. Be smart, stay safe, fight for a better life for everyone, especially marginalized groups, and continue fighting for our planet. 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by Kimberly Arnold - CEO, Escalate Solutions \| Apr 6, 2016 \| C-Suite, CEO, CMO, COO, CSO, CTO, Growth Strategy, Human Resources, Leadership, Operations “C-Suite Repeat” is a term I coined this past year to describe an emerging phenomenon I was observing stemming from overlapping and repetitive lines of authority among members of the c-suite in high growth environments. This includes both start-ups and established enterprises…and is an increasing challenge in the era of Digital Transformation. Some of the issues were clearly attributable to “too many chefs in the kitchen”; others brought to light overwhelming clashes in culture, approach and personality among high-ranking executives; and the balance were simply the result of an organization’s failure to caution senior leadership that “C-Suite Repeat” is a potential threat, and enhancing that risk by failing to delineate expectations for decision-making. Regardless of the reason, at the end of the day, the CEO is (always) ultimately the accountable party for ensuring that his/her c-suite is aligned in terms of strategy, goals, outcomes and responsibilities. I have personally held Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Administration Officer (CAO) and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) roles. I am three-time business owner in elevated growth environments and have experienced the c-suite through private enterprises, non-profits and board involvements. Through my own consulting and advisory firm, today I offer growth strategy guidance and tactics to emerging and rapidly expanding businesses, and through that experience, I have the ability to observe widespread trends such as the increasing volume of “C-Suite Repeat”. It is truly one of the advantages of being able to interact with so many different organizations, and I share those high level observations with my clients every day. And now, (without naming names), I am sharing this particular trend observation with all of you. It should be clarified from the outset that I am an unwavering advocate for team collaboration, peer review and input, and management seeking out broad-based feedback on key decisions impacting an organization. A business fortunate enough to have a diverse range of internal c-suite experts qualified and opting to openly share guidance regarding a range of strategic initiatives, investments or opportunities, is a characteristic that distinguishes the greatest of organizations. After all, group think and “yes” men/women can be toxic. A wide array of opinions is healthy in the decision-making, execution and optimization processes. More importantly, perhaps, a very number of high profile business leaders are equally adept at strategy and implementation. Significant issues can result, however, when members of the c-suite leap over the fine line of diverse expertise, opinion sharing and constructive participation….and cross into an unwelcome, overlapping soup of confused responsibilities and authority. Teamwork and collaboration is welcome; excessive duplication and lack of clarity in decision-making is not, particularly in rapidly transforming organizations. In fact, it can be a recipe for disaster. This is my ultimate definition of “C-Suite Repeat”. As a third party growth strategist, I have seen “C-SuiteRepeat” rear its head among emerging businesses, particularly when it comes to the strategic planning process. Effective strategic planning consists of four phases and each of those phases has multiple steps or considerations – Strategic Planning, Alignment, Execution/Implementation & Refinement. If during even one such phase in the process – such as Alignment – the c-suite commits its support to the vision but doesn’t understand its role or decision-making parameters in making it happen – the entire process could be in jeopardy. I always share with my clients that there is a fundamental and game-changing difference between an organization that knows how to obtain balanced input from its most knowledgeable leaders…and one that doesn’t know when to cut-off the collective voice and have ultimate points of accountability and decision-making. The more talented the overall c-suite, the more vivid and realistic the risk of “C-Suite Repeat” can be. At the end of the day, the CEO is always the final voice on a decision, but the more complex the organization, the more he/she needs to be able to define expectations and count on his/her senior management team to collaborate accordingly. My experience as an advisor for rapidly expanding enterprises has shown me that there are several relationships within the highest tiers of senior management that have an enhanced risk for strategic growth turf wars. Before we discuss those, however, let’s start with a quick snapshot of traditionally accepted definitions of the most common members of the c-suite. When looked at from this perspective, particularly through a lens of aggressive growth strategy, the layers begin to overtly reveal themselves as to where overlap and repetition can harmfully take seed. The summaries aren’t meant to be an ultimate definition, but rather just enough to help make a mental note of potential flags and intersections. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Ultimate executive responsibility; highest ranking accountability and authority for company decision-making, resources, revenue generators, strategy, personnel, communications and operations. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)– Primary executive responsibility; focus on financial related functions including accounting, revenue and expense tracking, financial controls, budgets, KPI reporting, fundraising and taxes. Chief Operating Officer (COO)– Primary executive responsibility; focus on successful integration of day-to-day operations of the organization including strategy implementation, sales, marketing, business development, human resources, production, procurement, distribution, client satisfaction, technology, controls, and policies / procedures. Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) – Primary executive responsibility; dedicated to growth, diversification and expansion by creating, communicating, executing, refining and sustaining strategic initiatives. Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) – Primary executive responsibility; focus on public relations, community engagement, marketing, sales, business development, branding, advertising, digital channels and client interaction. Chief Technology Officer (CTO)– Primary executive/engineer/architect/scientist responsibility; focus on technical issues, R&D, product development, engineering, innovation, optimization and client collaboration. Note: A Chief Digital Officer (CDO) is often included in the C-Suite, but more often than not answers to the CTO instead of the CEO. Chief Information Officer (CIO) – Primary executive responsibility; focus on aligning companywide goals to encompass people, channels, technology and processes and how analytics, organizational design and infrastructure can apply technology both internally and externally to the enterprise. Chief Experience Officer (CXO) – Primary executive responsibility; focus on providing single point of contact for experiences associated with the operation including human resources, government relations, marketing, communications, community relations, internal issues and investor relations. Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)– Primary executive responsibility; focus on people, talent acquisition, training, organizational development, recruiting, best practices, compensation, benefits, policies, procedures, succession planning and company culture. Note: A Chief Diversity Officer is often also included in the c-suite but answers to the CHRO instead of the CEO. There are more titles of course, and definitions can vary from company to company, but these are among the most common c-suite roles in the public domain. They are shared to help illustrate concerns regarding overlap. Not only do the structures change from business to business (often times CMOs and CHROs answer to the COO, for example), but not all of these positions exist in every organization. And rightly so. Some entities actually achieve right-sizing of the c-suite team as well as recognizing the strengths and capabilities of individual leaders who can address more than one function. That is less likely, however in larger corporate structures. Let’s consider for a moment some organizations that didn’t get this quite right. I am typically a strong advocate for the engagement of a Chief Strategy Officer for any organization with aggressive growth plans. The dynamic global business environment, rapid advancements in technology, and the condensing of external business life cycle timeframes are just a few of the reasons why the internal focus on the four stages of strategic planning – strategy development, alignment, execution and optimization – have evolved to be a full-time commitment for any company dedicated to true growth. On a high level, it should seem evident that the COO exists to maintain the current operations of the business; the CSO exists to expand what that business operation entails. However, the overlaps between the two are one of the greatest emerging sources of “C-Suite Repeat” that we are finding in the marketplace right now…but it doesn’t need to be. Strategic planning previously fallen under the oversight of the COO role is shifting to an external individual/department dedicated to strategy, but the impacts across all divisions and levels that the COO has to address when the CSO is successful at his/her job are being measured with multipliers not previously witnessed in the business community. That isn’t an easy scenario to address, but it is possible. Growth is a welcome challenge, but it has wide-reaching influence. Therefore, the value of seamless interaction between the COO and CSO is immeasurable. And when collaboration is absent, it can result in pure chaos. The answer is for the CEO to work with the COO and CSO – dictating if necessary – as to how he/she expects them to collaborate and report back regarding successes and challenges. I have seen a similar hazards emerge between both CMO/CXO and CTO/CIO roles among others. It is obvious to anyone who explores the relationship model to see that a CMO tasked with client satisfaction and a CXO tasked to improve client experience could either be the best of friends or one another’s worst nightmare. The same holds true for the CIO tasked to align goals across technology, people, channels and processes…and the CTO who oversees the generation and refinement of the technology being aligned. And don’t forget the CHRO tasked to assess every aspect of the operation’s impact on its people. And don’t get me started on the dynamic between the CXO (and its responsibilities to influence the investor relations experience) and the CFO who traverses the financial aspect of those relationships. I could go on for hours…but you get the point. In the right environment and defined structure, these roles – COO/CSO, CMO/CXO, CTO/CIO and CXO/CFO – are one another’s greatest assets. To achieve those synergies, in my experience, the road to success all starts with right sizing the c-suite, placing people in position’s that match their expertise, targeted guidance from the CEO as to what could put c-suite relationships in jeopardy, how the overlaps and intersections in scope of work can be an advantage or resource, and a delineation of lines of authority as to who make the final call for key aspects of each. I will be posting additional content that furthers upon these subjects and relationships. Individuals that have made it to the c-suite offer strong leadership capabilities and sophisticated technical business acumen (i.e., if they don’t have what it takes, chances are they won’t remain in their C-level position for long). From the perspective of collaboration, these strengths and capabilities can have either a constructive and incapacitating effect, depending on the structure and delineation of the organization. It all begins with the expectations and lines of authority established among the c-suite by the CEO. How well the CEO juggles those overlapping obligations at the end of day can be what makes or breaks the firm’s strategic vision and growth goals. August 2022 September 2021 August 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 April 2019 February 2019 November 2018 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 Recent Posts Stakeholders: Understanding & Leveraging Your Ecosystem August 20, 2021 No Organization is Too Small for a CSR Strategy February 20, 2021 2021: Four Paths to Growth November 23, 2020 Denver Business Consultant Escalate Solutions Renews Certifications with the City & County of Denver October 30, 2020 Escalate Solutions Achieves Certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) October 16, 2020 Escalate Solutions CEO Kimberly Arnold Announces MSU Denver Advisory Board Role, Speaking Engagements September 17, 2020 The Answers to These 10 Questions Weigh Heavily on the Long-Term Viability of Your Business June 30, 2020	13,941
Or you’re frustrated with competing with the world on platforms like Upwork or haggling with penny-pinchers on Craigslist… I made a case for building an audience in this post. You probably understand why it makes sense to focus on building an audience. After all, exposure = an increased Luck Surface Area, which directly translates into more clients and more referrals. The good news is that there’s a ton of information out there penned by a lot of really smart people. Content marketing, list building, marketing automation… there’s no better time than ever to sidestep your way to success without needing to waste too much time on trial and error. But the bad news? Almost all of that content is for people who want to build products, created by people who build products. I’m talking about selling ebooks, courses, plugins, software-as-a-service, membership sites, and other products that are almost always low-touch (meaning: people read a sales page, enter in their credit card details, and buy) and relatively low-cost, at least when compared to hiring a consultant. So what should you, as a freelancer or agency owner, focus on first? Well, I’ve got some more good news for you: I’ve got you covered in this guide The biggest lever you have when it comes to launching a product successfully is the size of your audience. This is good, because you can start building an audience long before you even have an idea for a product Before I get into what you should do to start your audience from scratch, I want to give you an idea of what’s possible. My friend and consultant Janelle Allen of Zen Courses first came onto my radar because of her blog. I think an article of hers was shared on Twitter, and I have no idea what article that was – that doesn’t matter. I think it was about how to interview your customers to come up with adjustments you could make to your online course. What does matter is that I liked what I read enough to give Janelle my email address: Keep in mind I wasn’t looking for Janelle or looking for content about courses. I was just killing time on Twitter. Whenever she’d publish a new blog post or podcast episode, I’d usually get an email – and most of the time, I’d read it. I didn’t read and listen to every new piece of content she published, but before long I started to associate Janelle Allen with “knows a lot about courses.” This is important! Why? Because guess what happened when I was struggling to get over a hurdle I had with one of my courses. Instead of Googling “online course coaches” or asking around… guess what I did? I remembered Janelle, and went back to her website and found exactly what I was looking for: And who do you think I recommend whenever somebody asks for 1-on-1 help in designing and launching an online course? You guessed it. Here’s the funnel I went through: I read the article and liked it I gave her my email address because I liked what she was writing I then casually listened to her podcast and read future stuff she wrote Eventually, I decided I needed some help with a course, and I reached out to her Janelle expanded her Luck Surface Area by substantially increasing the likelihood that someone like me ended up working with someone like her. Could she had come up with a Google search for “online course coach”? Possibly. But she wrote and recorded content that slowwwwlyyy convinced me to step-up my course game. There wasn’t ever a lightbulb moment where I read an article and then immediately decided to hire her. Instead, she slowly aligned my thinking about courses with her thinking, and helped me identify that I was doing a lot of things wrong. Then I was actually ready to be a client of hers. A quick start guide to building an audience – and possibly getting some clients in the process! I’m going to make a few assumptions: You have a non-existent (or extremely small) mailing list You don’t have content that actively works for you (maybe you had started a blog, but you abandoned it or it really never made an impact) You haven’t seen a direct correlation between creating content and getting paying clients In my course, The Blueprint, I focus on a strategy that I call The Trojan Horse Technique. And from the perspective of someone who wants an audience, and wants to build authority and influence, this is going to be the easiest way for you to rapidly build influence and potentially get high-value clients simultaneously. You compile a list of companies that you’d love to work with Then you do a bit of research and find out something interesting about each (their origin story, a product or service they recently released, something they’ve done or maybe shared on social media) You email someone at that company and ask if you can interview them for your podcast, or write an article about them You use this interview to help increase your authority and your reach via new content (details below) You now have a relationship with this company – and they’re indebted to you because you’ve promoted them! Through this relationship, you have a foot in the door for pitching them on working together Simply put, it’s an outreach strategy focused on give, then ask. Rather than cold emailing a stranger with a message that centers on “me, me, me!” and “buy, buy, buy!”… “Hey! I’d love to promote you to my growing audience. Could you spare a bit of time so I can capture your story and share it with the world?” What I love about this technique is that: It creates a non-threatening relationship with companies that you’d love to get to know or work with The byproduct of helping a company is a piece of evergreen content that serves to create more opportunities for people to come across you and your work The interviews you do can (and should) be sent to the growing audience of people who like the stories and strategies you’re sharing, thus further establishing yourself as an authority in your space More often than not, the companies you interview are happy to share with their network Has built-in referral potential: “Who could I interview next? Could you introduce them to me?” Rather than sitting in a dark room and trying to come up with content ideas, start by curating the stories and strategies of others. Expertise and authority is something that’s up to you to create for yourself. Let’s look at Janelle again. Here’s a screenshot of her podcast archives page: Every interview is with someone who sells courses or is influential in the online course space. And even I make an appearance! Do you see how Janelle is entrenching herself as the expert in the online course world? And in the process, building relationships with the movers and shakers in that space? Kurt Elster runs a Shopify agency called Ethercycle. He’s spoken at numerous Shopify events and conferences, makes an appearance in the book Shopify wrote and released, and his agency just won’t stop growing. Why? Kurt started the Unofficial Shopify Podcast in 2014. Each episode is a case study with either a client of his, somebody who’s doing really well in ecommerce, or with a specialist (like a sales copywriter.) The connections Kurt’s made and the listenership of his podcast have grown proportionally with the success of his agency. So rather than waiting for referrals… or waiting for someone to find Ethercycle… or crawling through the muck that is Internet freelance job boards… Kurt & Co have owned their success by becoming a key player in the Shopify space. – We haven’t talked about what to do when people join your audience, ways to leverage other people’s audiences to help grow faster, or how to develop service offerings that you systematically move leads to. That’s all covered in The Blueprint. But, hopefully, this gives you an idea of what’s possible – and how to get started. No higher power anointed Janelle or Kurt as experts or authorities in their respective worlds. They made it happen. And they did it by using the Trojan Horse technique to build relationships with the right people and companies, create evergreen value for their market and those companies, and used that exposure and those relationships to help propel their businesses forward. Also, if you decide to use the Trojan Horse method to build your influence and audience, I’d love to be on your podcast or be interviewed by you! Why? Because exposure is exposure. Would I spend 30 minutes on a recorded call to get a backlink from your website and put myself and my businesses in front of more people? Absolutely.	8,870
This card shows the Archangel Gabriel blowing his trumpet to announce Big Change. He is calling on all mortals to raise from their graves to face the Final Judgement. We see naked men, women and children rising from their resting places, arms outstretched and looking up into the sky. The mountain range in the background represents not only the unsurmountable obstacles we find in our lives, but also the impossibility of avoiding judgement in them. Meg Hayertz said: “By card 20 in the Fool’s journey of the Major Arcana, we have experienced nearly every major type of human experience. We are now able to accept a higher calling.” This card can represent a rite of passage but also the possibility that you are asked to make a critical judgement call at work, college, family, associations, etc. Temperance and Star reinforce the Judgement’s call for release and cleansing. The number 20 represents unity and reconciliation; the number 2 represents critical equilibrium and choice. Its astrological association is Pluto, the planet influencing profound transformations. When this card appears, there ae two great possibilities. They are: Embrace a Higher level of Consciousness: you must rise to the occasion. Engage in a Life Changing Decision: you must recur to your Intuition and Intellect. Biddy Tarot said: “You have reviewed and evaluated your past experiences and have learned from them. All the pieces of the puzzle of your life are coming together to form one unified picture of your life story. This integration has healed deep wounds, and you can now put the past behind you…This purging process will leave you refreshed and ready to take on new challenges.” You must also find spiritual comfort by sharing your experiences with others to support them in moments of need. This card calls for a period of pause and reflection. The Universe is calling you for a Higher Mission, but you are not listening to it. It could be that you are not willing to bear the sacrifices any major transformation entails or that you want to play it safe. Any major change in our personal or social parameters, is a little traumatic in the beginning, to say the least. But if you do not move, you risk exposing yourself to forces that will be out of control. You Inner Voice is talking to you loud and clear. Note. This reproduction of Botticelli’s L’Annunziazione di Cestello was taken from Wikimedia Commons. The Archangel Gabriel blows the trumpet to announce the return of God to Earth. In the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) this angel appears in their holy books. In the Hebrew Bible, he appeared to the prophet Daniel to express his views; together with the Archangel Gabriel, they protect the Land of Israel. In the Gospel of Luke, we find the story of the Annunciation: Gabriel appears to Zachariah and the Virgin Mary, foretelling the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. In the Quran, God sends Gabriel to meet many prophets, including Muhammad. The fact that this angel appears here gives more relevance to the message of change. This card shows a naked woman wrapped only with a purple cloth, dancing inside a laurel wreath, glancing sideways at The Past, but resolutely moving to The Future. She has two wands in her hands, representing a process that had started with the Magician and will end up in The World. The circular wreath represents a continuous cycle of completion and new beginnings. There are four cardinal figures in each corner: a lion, a bull, a cherub, and an eagle. They represent the four fixed signs of the Zodiac: Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio respectively. They also represent the Four Elements and Tarot’s Compass points. When this card appears, it means that a long-term project, i.e. a work project, a college degree, a partnership, etc., has come to fruition and it is time to celebrate. You are feeling satisfied with your great achievement, and it is time to celebrate. But do not get carried away by just rejoicing on your success. Do not rush forth yet. It is also time to reflect on your difficult journey and to rightly express your gratitude. Remember that there were many people that have supported you in so many ways. Not only look back to celebrate and express gratitude, but also tie any loose ends. It is dangerous moment too as you might lose focus and start goofing around. Beware. You are seeking some kind of closure in a very personal issue. You must let go of the past and move on with our life. After some personal tragedy, to achieve an efficient closure requires a very personal touch; there are usually no ready-made formulas. In order to fulfill a big task you must segment your pathway and accomplish your planned objectives in a succession of small steps, one at a time. We do remember a poster that we had watched several years ago in the Argentine School of New York that stated: “There are no shortcuts for life’s greatest achievements.” For an unusually big project, you must prepare yourself to work hard and make many sacrifices; do not try to take the easiest pathway because it may be riddled with traps. But once you reach you major goal, you will feel an immense sense of fulfillment. There are many representations of Women at the Top of the Universe but almost none In the Center of it. For a detailed discussion of this subject, we urge you to read our new book Emotional Frustration – the Hushed Plague where we fully tackle it. What do you think? Please tell us. June 1, 2022 June 3, 2022 # The Annunciation, #emotional frustration - the hushed plague, #Judgent. Tarot card, #The World. Tarot cardLeave a comment	5,813
Silver Flash, who heads to Pine Top this month as he goes advanced, had humble beginnings as a leftover horse at the end of the 2008 Suffolk Downs meet. Photo by Jennifer Hamblin A pale gelding so humble he once went begging off the track, and who later was passed over and dismissed by top riders as “reckless” and “lacking in movement,” was recently named by Eventing Nation as one of eight emerging stars. Silver Flash, a hard-knocking ex-racehorse who left Suffolk Downs at the end of the 2008 meet when a Georgia horseman paid $600 for him out of the goodness of her heart is today prepping to take his young owner/rider of four years, Abby Hamblin, across the ditches and fields at Pine Top Advanced CIC ** on Feb. 19. Foal date: April 2, 2003 Earnings: $41,928, 41 starts“I’m so excited! This is a horse that nobody wanted, who was disregarded by so many top riders,” says Margaret King, a Georgia trainer who purchased Silver Flash off the track via CANTER New England, retrained him, and sold him four years ago to the young rider who had the prescience to see in an unwanted horse the unique gifts he possessed. “Before Abby came along, he was passed over and passed over. People said they thought he’d have a difficult time applying himself, or that he wasn’t careful enough. Others said he didn’t have enough movement or enough jump. People didn’t believe he had what was needed.” But on the late-summer day that Abby Hamblin walked into King’s barn, and the unsung horse with a “nitty-gritty” spirit cocked his head and asked for a treat, at which point the test ride and vetting became a mere formality: “I knew as soon as he tipped his head at me … that I had to have him,” Hamblin says. “I’d only ever known one other horse who cocked his head for a treat. My older retired Thoroughbred does the same thing, and I knew immediately he was the right horse for me.” The pair dive into the Head of the Lake at the North American Junior Young Riders, Area 3, last year at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo courtesy Abby Hamlin That blind faith kept her in the saddle for their first ride, which jostled and bounced with comical movements. “I was bouncing all around, and we were chipping-in at the jumps and doing long spots. It was a very poor tryout ride,” she says. “I didn’t know how bad we looked until I went to look back at the videos and I saw what a good horse he was for not bucking me off.” After those first ungainly attempts, Hamblin and Silver Flash went into training with two-time Olympian Julie Richards, a coach so good she rooted for the Thoroughbred with as much enthusiasm as she did for her barn of expensive Irish sport horses. “She has helped me so much with him. I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without Julie Richards. She’s been to the Olympics twice, and she’s surrounded by these big, fancy Irish horses that are unbelievable, but Silver Flash is pretty fancy too, and she has helped me see this,” Hamblin says. “Back when we were doing our first Novice she took me aside and said, ‘He’ll do a two star for you, there’s no doubt in my mind.’ So I’ve never put a limit on him and I’ve let him show me how far we can go.” Abby and Silver Flash were recently named as Emerging Stars by Eventing Nation. Sound as a bell, whip smart and eager, Silver Flash did not emerge as a rising Eventing star overnight. His success came after years of hard work to nurture his potential, a journey that began in 2008 when King answered a phone call from Thoroughbred charity CANTER New England. “Ellen O’Brien of CANTER called and said she had a horse she thought I’d like. I trusted her, and I said OK.” And all these years later, after two years with her and four years with Hamlin, Silver Flash’s star is rising, and shining a light on the great possibilities for the Thoroughbred sport horse. “I’m completely sold on the Thoroughbred breed,” Hamlin says. “I see all these Irish sport horses, and don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have one. But to me it doesn’t make sense to spend all this money overseas when you can buy a Thoroughbred who can do the same thing, and who will show you so much heart.” 9 responses to “A TB nobody wanted is an emerging star” Susan Crane-Sundell February 5, 2015 at 9:29 pm \| Permalink \| Reply He’s a beautiful intrepid fellow! He has a head like an Arabian! Good luck to these two emerging stars! And Susan, so gad to see you “back in business”! Missed you! Jeannie Parisi February 5, 2015 at 12:15 am \| Permalink \| Reply Wonderful story and good on you for seeing what no one else did. Sure is like the Famous Horse~Snowman~ The Eighty Dollar horse…God Bless both of you Erika February 4, 2015 at 7:37 pm \| Permalink \| Reply So happy to see another OTTB rescue come to success in GA! Kudos to Abby and Flash a winning combination. Stephanie Morse February 4, 2015 at 6:09 pm \| Permalink \| Reply love his little dish face; so nice to read about people who know how to give a horse a chance, and then reap the rewards!! good luck with your competitions! SusanA February 4, 2015 at 3:43 pm \| Permalink \| Reply So glad this blog is back!!! Always makes my day better! Michelle Y. February 4, 2015 at 1:18 pm \| Permalink \| Reply Silver Flash is gorgeous!! Best wishes to him and Abby for their future endeavors!! Jitka February 4, 2015 at 11:52 am \| Permalink \| Reply Great pair! I too believe in educated Gayle Pruitt February 4, 2015 at 11:31 am \| Permalink \| Reply What a great story Susan! Thank you for sharing, so glad you’re back!!! Btw, our 27 year old OTTB, Texas Honor, still cocks his head and shakes it up and down for treats….I claimed years and years ago that I taught him the trick, but really – he just started doing it and it has always cracked me up! Congrats to Abby and Silver Flash and THANKS to all who recognized the value in this talented OTTB and did not give up on him!	5,995
Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights is a premier medical detox and inpatient treatment center in Spokane, Washington. We provide medically-assisted detoxification services alongside psychotherapy in an inpatient level of care for individuals seeking freedom from substance use disorder, substance abuse or addiction. It has always been our purpose to enrich the lives of individuals who feel stuck in addiction, by guiding him or her gently into a life filled with meaning and purpose in sobriety. During medical detoxification, we provide 24-hour monitoring by medical professionals and 15-minute check ups for each guest. Your safety and comfort is our priority at Royal Life Centers. Our detox center offers a safe and comforting environment, full of support, to give our guests a home-away-from-home during early recovery. We also provide amenities like private rooms, flat-screen tvs in each room, an open-access kitchen, a private chef, and more. All of the comforts we provide are to help ease you through the early recovery process of substance use disorder, in a comfortable way. Signs of a drug problem: Planning activities around drug use Engaging in high risk behaviors Prioritizing drugs over other things Loss of interest in activities that don’t involve drug use Lying or stealing to obtain drugs Withdrawal symptoms and/or drug cravings Detox is extremely important in the recovery process, but it is only the first step. Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights knows that our guests have the best opportunity in achieving long term sobriety by undergoing further treatment for their substance use disorder. Following medical detox, we encourage guests to continue their treatment at our other levels of care, which include: residential inpatient, PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living or graduate housing. Getting sober requires life changes that are best made in an environment that offers ample support and accountability. Our continuing care programs are designed to prepare guests for successful, substance-free lives. Early in treatment, we pair each guest with a case manager to help solve any outside circumstances like ongoing legal issues or applying for government assistance. Our case management team plays an active role in the individualized service plan (ISP) of each guest. What are Our Programs Like at Royal Life Centers? Our Aftercare program is split up into two parts that follow the first phase of our 12-week program, which is PHP or our Partial Hospitalization Program. Part 1: Second stage of our 12-week aftercare program. Guests in IOP part 1 will have all of the same resources available to them in PHP, but will attend group therapy only five days per week for three hours a day. Part 2: The third and final stage of our 12-week program. Group therapy attendance shifts to three days per week, three hours per day. Sober Living/Graduate Housing Royal Life Centers offers two levels of sober living. Both have a staff available 24/7 for support, a variety of amenities, and guests are regularly drug tested. Our sober living facilities are where guests reside during our 12-week aftercare program. Upon graduating our aftercare program, employed guests are invited to reside in our graduate housing. If you have any questions about substance use disorder, the detox process, or any of our treatment options, please call (877)-RECOVERY or (888) 907-0898 to speak with one of our addiction specialists. Our admissions staff is available to speak with you 24/7. Because We Care. If you or a loved one has a substance use disorder, please give us a call or fill out the form to the right and let us help you change your life for the better.	3,747
When Matthew Lange is shot to death execution style while picking up his young son from school on January 27, 2017, the entire community of Naperville, IL is rocked by his murder. Violent crime almost unheard of in the quiet, upper-middle-class Chicago suburb consistently rated one of the safest neighborhoods in the Midwest. And Matthew Lange is a most unlikely victim. The popular 37-year-old college professor and single father is well regarded in his professional life and surrounded by a close circle of family and friends who say he has no enemies. Fresh out of a contentious divorce and custody battle, he is busy rebuilding his life and has just closed on a home for himself and his little boy. Is Matthew the victim of a random act of violence? Does he have a secret life that put him at risk? And who has a reason to want Matthew Lange dead? Five years later, Naperville police are still trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and say they need the public’s help. Matthew Lange was shot and killed on January 27th, 2017 in the parking lot near the Scullen middle school in Naperville, Illinois around 7pm. He was sitting in his silver 2013 Hyundai Elantra at the time of the shooting. There is currently a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Matthew Lange’s death. If you have any information about the murder of Matthew Lange, please call the Naperville Crime Stoppers tip line at (630)-420-6006 or send us a tip. Download a transcript of this episode September 3, 2022 at 10:50 AM This was a contract hit from the start. They knew his moves and where he would be. The ex wife has knowledge of who did the hit. Polish community may be close knit but some one knows. Up the rewards and someone will talk. September 3, 2022 at 12:29 AM I think the podcast implied pretty heavily that it was the ex or someone she hired. Depending on how the grandparents arranged their custody with the ex-wife, they may be avoiding saying anything too directly to keep contact with their grandson, kind of like the situation in “Dear Zachary.” I think probably everyone, including the police, probably assume that the ex was involved, but unless someone gives some info, theres not much they can do since the ex and family are not willing to talk to the police. His poor parents. I do hope the visibility from the podcast helps stir something up. V House August 29, 2022 at 4:53 PM It’s definitely the ex-wife or her family or connections in her “community”. I’m sure years from now this will be solved. Sad. August 26, 2022 at 7:15 PM He was my favorite professor. He genuinely loved what he did and you could tell! I was so shocked when our school told us what happened. I hope this is solved someday soon. His parents and family deserve it!!! August 26, 2022 at 4:05 PM Isn’t it obvious it was the ex-wife? Her motive is obvious. A hired hit to get her kid back. I’m surprised they haven’t gone in that direction. September 2, 2022 at 8:55 PM Maybe they did talk to the wife and you didn’t know. I’m sure they thought of that. Maybe her alibi checked out. It doesn’t always have to be the ex but who knows? August 25, 2022 at 6:02 PM I couldn’t tell If they were implicating the polish community during the podcast. This seemed to have been an average Joe who loved his family and friends. The only person to have done him dirty is the ex wife. Who drums up a domestic violence charge just to stay in the country. I say turn up the heat on her! August 27, 2022 at 12:37 AM I just finished listening to the podcast. I thought same thing. The podcast said everything was settled with the ex-wife but I know in divorces, there is always lingering resentment. I say turn up the heat on the ex-wife and her family.	3,918
There is no one-size-fits-all formula when it comes to a healthy body. While social media can easily influence us into thinking we need to shed a few pounds, that is not always the case. If you do want to hop on a weight loss journey to get healthier, it should always be done in a way that is not causing your body any harm. People often assume eating next to nothing would mean shedding those extra inches. In reality, if you couple regular exercise with a balanced diet you would be able to see the changes yourself. To cover the diet part, here are 5 healthy food options you can start with: In case you want to limit your portion in-take, it might be a great idea to start a meal with a cup of soup. As long as the calories served are kept in check, the soup can be chunky or pureed. Avoid using too much cream and butter. This is a surefire way to fill you up quickly. While consuming too many eggs can raise the levels of LDL cholesterol, eggs in moderation are one of the best foods to eat if you are looking to maintain a healthier weight. In fact, according to Food Data Central, US, egg yolks are rich in choline and vitamin D, while egg whites can help you get 4 to 6 grams of protein. Leafy Green Veggies Not only are leafy greens packed with fiber and nutrients that are essential for your body, they also contain thylakoids. A study has found this plant compounds to be linked with increased satiety and better appetite management. So, it might be a great time to add veggies like kale, spinach, collard greens, swiss chard in your diet. Lentils, black beans, kidney beans and legumes can be amazing in aiding your weight loss. Since these are high in protein and fiber, consuming this in your meal can fill you up rather quickly. The best thing about beans and legumes is that they taste just as delicious in salads as they taste by themselves. While there is more research needed, there has been some findings that suggest a relationship between calcium intake and healthy weight. In any case, cottage cheese is considered one of the most protein-rich dairy products. Having a proper protein intake can not only help you build and maintain muscle but can be incredibly fulfilling. Denial of responsibility! TechAI is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.	2,893

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