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Blaine MacDougall (MEd ’89), centre, at the Canada’s Outstanding Principals award ceremony with Debra D. Kerby, President and CEO of The Learning Partnership, and Steve Kuwahara, Market Vice-President at CIBC. (Photo courtesy of The Learning Partnership) Jay Wolkoff (BEd ’98) and Blaine MacDougall (MEd ’89) are making a difference in the lives of young learners — and the country is taking notice. The Brock University Faculty of Education graduates were recently honoured among those named Canada’s Outstanding Principals and praised for their efforts in their respective schools. The pair were among 30 principals across the country celebrated during a Feb. 26 awards ceremony in Toronto. Presented by The Learning Partnership, the awards are the largest program recognizing principals in Canada’s publicly funded schools. Wolkoff and MacDougall were each taken aback by the recognition from their communities and colleagues. Jay Wolkoff (BEd ’98), centre, at the Canada’s Outstanding Principals award ceremony with Debra D. Kerby, President and CEO of The Learning Partnership, and Steven Wolff, Chair of The Learning Partnership’s Board and Chief Executive Officer at CIBC Mellon. (Photo courtesy of The Learning Partnership) “It was very humbling,” MacDougall, principal of Cardinal Newman Catholic Elementary School Niagara Falls, said of receiving the honour. “I look at colleagues in my school board and I know many of them are doing great things. I just happen to be fortunate, I guess.” Throughout his 20-year career as a principal, MacDougall has championed the use of data to improve student outcomes. He has led the creation of individual student data profiles, which include information that helps teachers understand the particular learning needs of each student, and built partnerships with local high schools to help students and families better understand future pathways. With seven years as principal and more than 20 years in the education field under his belt, Wolkoff has focused on improving academic results and building a sense of pride in school. As principal of E.J. Sand Public School in Thornhill, he promotes professional development for staff to deepen the understanding of teachers working with English Language Learners and other students who need additional supports. He encourages and welcomes parents and the community to become partners in their child’s learning, and has helped to create a dedicated makerspace in the school’s library, one of many initiatives to nurture collaborative problem-solving and encourage the development of global competencies. Wolkoff received his undergraduate degree at York University before coming to Brock to complete a Bachelor of Education. He pursued a teaching career to make a difference in the lives of students and to the help them reach their full potential. “I loved my time at Brock,” he said. “At the time, Brock was one of two schools focusing in on special education. That was a real draw for me.” He also appreciated the balance of theory and practice the program offered and the focus on techniques teacher candidates could use in the classroom. “It wasn’t about preparing us for the practicum, it was about preparing us for a career in this field of teaching.” MacDougall also cherished his time at the University, where he felt he found his fit. He graduated from the teacher education program at Queen’s University before pursuing a Master of Education at Brock. His sisters, who also attended Brock and are both teachers, encouraged him to pursue a career in teaching. “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of our youth and challenge them to help us create a better world that we’re living in,” he explained. As a principal, he creates opportunities for teachers and students to develop their own leadership skills. MacDougall believes clubs and teams at the school are opportunities for children to become leaders at a young age, allowing them to work on being good communicators, problem-solvers and creative thinkers. “It’s a safe place where they can make mistakes and fail. And failure is OK as long as we recognize and learn from it.” At the awards ceremony, and a related four-day executive leadership training program for the winners, Wolkoff and MacDougall were able to connect with principals from across the country. “When we have the opportunity to get together and learn from not just our immediate support group but also from people across Canada and to hear different ideas, that really helps to move your vision forward,” said Wolkoff. “We talked about what we needed as educators and as leaders. It was really interesting to be part of such a rich learning experience,” he said of the training sessions, which touched on topics such as change management, brain development, and mental health and well-being. For the past 15 years, the nationally-recognized Canada’s Outstanding Principals award and executive leadership training program has recognized the extraordinary contributions of principals in Canada’s publicly funded schools. Winners are nominated by colleagues, educators and community members and become members of the National Academy of Principals. The Learning Partnership is a non-profit organization working to prepare students to succeed in a diverse, connected and changing world. The organization delivers experiential programs that nurture entrepreneurial thinking and social, emotional learning in students. Read more stories in: Alumni, Education, Featured, News, People Tagged with: Alumni, BEd, education, MEd, teacher education, The Learning Partnership December 02, 2022 Funding available for student summer jobs at Brock December 02, 2022 Accessibility, inclusion champions to be honoured at event next week December 02, 2022 Faith and Life to host holiday events next week December 02, 2022 Thesis defences Dec. 5 to Dec. 9 December 02, 2022 Brock team researching agriculture’s impact on nearby water sources December 01, 2022 Event to offer Brock community glimpse into work of award-winning researchers December 01, 2022 December 01, 2022 Manager mental health training among December employee wellness opportunities December 01, 2022 OEVI grads from coast to coast reflect on 2022 harvest November 30, 2022 Browse the archives Select Month December 2022 (9) November 2022 (105) October 2022 (105) September 2022 (109) August 2022 (72) July 2022 (78) June 2022 (115) May 2022 (98) April 2022 (105) March 2022 (139) February 2022 (98) January 2022 (99) December 2021 (75) November 2021 (108) October 2021 (98) September 2021 (107) August 2021 (85) July 2021 (81) June 2021 (115) May 2021 (84) April 2021 (106) March 2021 (140) February 2021 (97) January 2021 (85) December 2020 (79) November 2020 (97) October 2020 (120) September 2020 (111) August 2020 (72) July 2020 (88) June 2020 (130) May 2020 (105) April 2020 (120) March 2020 (111) February 2020 (93) January 2020 (108) December 2019 (60) November 2019 (92) October 2019 (96) September 2019 (101) August 2019 (70) July 2019 (67) June 2019 (88) May 2019 (98) April 2019 (104) March 2019 (116) February 2019 (86) January 2019 (102) December 2018 (56) November 2018 (118) October 2018 (117) September 2018 (92) August 2018 (77) July 2018 (78) June 2018 (94) May 2018 (103) April 2018 (104) March 2018 (121) February 2018 (100) January 2018 (109) December 2017 (71) November 2017 (118) October 2017 (119) September 2017 (106) August 2017 (99) July 2017 (85) June 2017 (94) May 2017 (90) April 2017 (94) March 2017 (122) February 2017 (88) January 2017 (90) December 2016 (64) November 2016 (96) October 2016 (106) September 2016 (121) August 2016 (67) July 2016 (56) June 2016 (112) May 2016 (79) April 2016 (87) March 2016 (104) February 2016 (74) January 2016 (73) December 2015 (53) November 2015 (83) October 2015 (84) September 2015 (89) August 2015 (40) July 2015 (46) June 2015 (69) May 2015 (47) April 2015 (66) March 2015 (69) February 2015 (40) January 2015 (32) December 2014 (40) November 2014 (49) October 2014 (60) September 2014 (60) August 2014 (31) July 2014 (34) June 2014 (47) May 2014 (63) April 2014 (59) March 2014 (76) February 2014 (57) January 2014 (43) December 2013 (33) November 2013 (60) October 2013 (61) September 2013 (38) August 2013 (34) July 2013 (45) June 2013 (53) May 2013 (62) April 2013 (59) March 2013 (50) February 2013 (59) January 2013 (56) December 2012 (47) November 2012 (79) October 2012 (74) September 2012 (39) August 2012 (45) July 2012 (45) June 2012 (48) May 2012 (38) April 2012 (26) March 2012 (39) February 2012 (99) January 2012 (119) December 2011 (61) November 2011 (103) October 2011 (141) September 2011 (125) August 2011 (62) July 2011 (53) June 2011 (81) May 2011 (82) April 2011 (72) March 2011 (100) February 2011 (108) January 2011 (151) December 2010 (70) November 2010 (154) October 2010 (167) September 2010 (116) August 2010 (81) July 2010 (69) June 2010 (70) May 2010 (83) April 2010 (76) March 2010 (113) February 2010 (104) January 2010 (95) December 2009 (77) November 2009 (54)	9,426
Security is a great word to describe a towing company. It’s the responsibility of a towing company to securely transport a vehicle, to take vehicles to secure locations, and to keep private properties secure. That’s why customers rely on towing services, right? So a difficult, perturbing occurrence can be alleviated to at least some degree. For example, private property owners might want to rely on private property towing services to help manage their lot. MR Towing Services keeps private properties secure by: Impounding vehicles in violation Reporting any threats to the property Offering service whenever it is needed Please allow us to detail each of these services… The best way to control parking throughout a private lot is to incorporate regulation. Anyone who needs to park on the lot must know where they can and cannot do so. All it takes is evident labeling. Emergency Towing Flatbed Towing Local Distance Towing Motorcycle Towing RV Towing Vehicle Impound Winch and Recovery Service Placing handicap parking signs where they are needed is a start. It’s one thing to have the symbol painted on the ground, but it’s additionally effective if a standing sign is in place. The excuse of not seeing a sign that is directly in front of someone, and at eye level, is far less powerful than if someone said they didn’t see the painted symbol on the ground. Plus, painted symbols tend to fade over time. Also, fire lanes need to be clearly indicated. Not only can someone be ticketed if parking in a fire lane, but they can also cause a safety issue. The common white print stating “fire lane” surrounded by red paint should properly notify drivers. It’s important, however, that the makeup of the sign be maintained. Signs indicating a tow zone are very important as well. This is especially applicable in urban areas. If a vehicle is at risk of being towed, that vehicle owner needs to know. The last thing you want is a complaint from a vehicle owner that his/her vehicle was towed without proper notification. Simply placing signage where it needs to be and keeping all signage up to quality will work wonders in structuring your lot. Those actions will result in organization; thus, happy employees/tenants/customers. Of course, surveillance makes for outstanding hands-on security. Whether that be video surveillance or human surveillance, or both. First off, tightly monitoring the area will increase the chances of catching perpetrators and violators. In most cases, the individual(s) committing the wrongful act will be identified. But, even if the individual(s) get(s) away, you’ll be awakened to a weakness in your security. As such, the necessary adjustments can be made to ensure the violators do not return or do not get away with what they did the next time they try. Secondly, security surveillance scares people from acting in the wrong. If someone sees a camera in the corner of a parking garage, he/she would be foolish to do something wrong. The great part is the camera doesn’t even have to be operable to be effective. It’s like those cameras you see at road intersections…many of them aren’t even turned on (at least so the rumor has it). But is the one you see at the intersection of “Main St. and 2nd St.” turned on? It could be, so you should probably be aware and tentative when you drive through. Back to signs: placing signs around the lot informing people of 24/7 surveillance will effectively prevent wrongful acts as well. Impounding vehicles in violation If you’ve complied with all the security measures we’ve already mentioned and folks still don’t get the picture, it’s time to act. Having a police officer or a member of your security staff write a ticket Towing the violating vehicle to an impound lot Placing a wheel lock around one of the vehicle wheels Now, it is important to understand that the action to take will depend on the violation. Therefore, your private lot must incorporate a system that matches the violation with a specific punishment. Furthermore, anyone who is part of the private lot must be notified of said punishments. This prevents complaints, lawsuits, confusion, and all of the above. If it has been determined that a vehicle needs to be impounded, let MR Towing Services know. We’ll come by and have the vehicle towed to an impound lot, whether it be at one of our locations or elsewhere. It’s our job to keep your lot tidy and in order. Reporting any threats to the property Reporting concerns and violations is a big part of private property towing services. Abandoned vehicles, illegal parking, theft, and vandalism are the most common issues for private lots. Those things shouldn’t happen very often; however, when they do, it’s important the right people be notified. This applies to the owner of the property, first and foremost. If any wrongdoings are witnessed, the owner needs to be notified. As a result, he/she can employ the necessary preventative measures regarding the wrongdoing to ensure it doesn’t happen again. At that point, private property towing services will help facilitate the actions that are required to create a safer environment. At the end of the day, the safety of the tenants is most important! Offering service whenever it is needed That’s what we’re here for! To help you whenever help is needed! MR Towing Services offers around the clock service. If you need us to stop by at 2 AM, we’ll do it. If you need us to stop by Christmas morning, we’ll do it. We’re there for our customers. We have plenty of tow trucks in our fleet, our staff is experienced and trained, and our equipment covers practically every type of tow. In fact, we offer light, medium, and heavy truck towing; tractor towing; motorcycle towing; RV towing; box truck towing; and flatbed towing. Please visit mrtowingservices.com to learn more. Also, check out our blog to find all sorts of helpful towing input.	6,204
October 31, 2017 Issues: Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 to provide important protections for some of the most vulnerable Americans. Like other federal anti-discrimination laws, the ADA included a private right of action. And as has happened with many other laws that can be privately enforced, the ADA has seen its share of questionable lawsuits during its nearly three-decade history. In recent years, the trickle of lawsuits has grown into a flood, with scores of actions alleging what are at best novel interpretations of the law and at worst blatantly baseless “drive-by” claims that seek a quick buck. Thankfully, courts are increasingly skeptical of plaintiffs’ lawyers’ attempts to broaden the ADA, and elected officials in some states are pushing back against legal shakedowns of small businesses. The ADA prevents places of public accommodation from restricting a disabled person’s ability to enjoy its goods, services, and privileges. The statute outlines 12 finite categories of physical entities that qualify as places of “public accommodation.” They include such places as stores, theaters, restaurants, and gyms. Alleged discrimination that occurs anywhere outside of those categories is not actionable under the ADA. Businesses today are well aware of the 27-year old law and are quite cognizant of the negative publicity one can attract for not being in compliance. Therefore, plaintiffs’ lawyers have been forced to target smaller entities and also concoct broad interpretations of the law when suing larger businesses. Two recent court cases reflect the challenges lawyers face when attempting to expand the ADA’s reach. In Gil v. Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. and Magee v. Coca-Cola Refreshments, the plaintiffs sued for alleged ADA violations related to unorthodox places: a company’s website and vending machines. The plaintiff in Gil, a visually impaired man, alleged that Winn-Dixie’s website discriminated against him because the site was incompatible with his computer’s webpage-reading program; he therefore was unable to access any of the information available to non-visually impaired visitors to the site. He argued that the website itself is a public accommodation, or in the alternative, his inability to navigate the page formed a barrier to his patronage of Winn-Dixie’s brink-and-mortar stores and thus violated the ADA. A district court in Florida held that, whether or not a website is a public accommodation, Winn-Dixie’s site offered services that the plaintiff could not enjoy (like printing off coupons and identifying the locations of physical stores) because of his disability. Therefore, Winn-Dixie’s website violated the ADA. But the opinion fails to wrestle with the fact that the plaintiff’s inability to use Winn-Dixie’s website did not affect his ability to shop at Winn-Dixie’s physical stores. To the contrary, the facts demonstrated that the plaintiff in Gil successfully shopped at Winn-Dixie’s physical stores for over 15 years without using their website; he voluntarily stopped shopping several years before he learned about its website. Worse, the district court misapplied U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit precedent. That circuit has held that for a website like Winn-Dixie’s to violate the ADA, a user’s inability to access the site must create a barrier to use of the physical stores. Because the plaintiff failed to show that he was unable to shop at Winn-Dixie or fill his prescriptions there because he couldn’t use its website, the district court should have dismissed his lawsuit. Instead, it granted him relief and his attorneys their fees. The case is now pending appeal before the Eleventh Circuit. In Magee, the visually-impaired plaintiff alleged that Coca-Cola’s vending machines discriminated against him in violation of the ADA because the machines’ purchasing interface was entirely visual. As in Gil, the case turned on how expansive the courts were willing to read “public accommodation;” the plaintiff could only prevail if he could establish that the vending machines were public accommodations under the ADA. The district court dismissed the plaintiff’s lawsuit, holding that the vending machines were not public accommodations. The Fifth Circuit affirmed, focusing its analysis on ADA’s statutory language. The plaintiff invoked language in the statute that defined a public accommodation as a “sales … establishment.” But, as the circuit court noted, that phrase appears as a catch-all example in a list of physical stores: “a bakery, grocery store, clothing store, hardware store, shopping center, or other sales or rental establishment.” The court held that the statute’s plain meaning did not include vending machines in the definition of “public accommodation” because “a vending machine is not akin to any of the listed examples. Indeed, rather than falling within any of those broad categories of entities, vending machines are essentially always found inside those entities along with the other goods and services that they provide.” Therefore the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied the plaintiff’s cert petition last month. In addition to the courts that have rightly refused to warp the ADA’s statutory structure and expand its liability, some state governments have begun to take action to protect businesses from “malicious ADA litigation.” Florida is one state whose businesses have been especially beset by suspect ADA lawsuits. Governor Rick Scott recently signed a law under which property owners can seek ADA compliance certification and those out of compliance can file a remediation plan with the state. Such preventative measures could help businesses stave off lawyers trolling for settlements in the Sunshine State. Further, Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt has successfully intervened in an ADA suit filed in the District of Nevada as part of his fight against abusive disabilities litigation. Recently, one attorney filed nearly 300 identical complaints against businesses, forcing several to settle for upwards of $7,500 each. Congress passed the ADA with the intention of making more businesses and other places of public accommodation equally accessible, not to facilitate new revenue opportunities for America’s litigation industry. A number of factors, including the law’s broad language, the lack of any implementing regulations, and businesses’ justifiable fear of public shaming, have unfortunately combined to do just that. Lawsuits that use the ADA as a cudgel to beat property owners benefit the lawyers while tarnishing the law and disability-rights advocates. Courts should continue to resist demands to adopt adventurous interpretations of the ADA, while state officials should follow the lead of their colleagues in Florida and Nevada to safeguard businesses from frivolous suits. Also published by Forbes.com on WLF’s contributor page. This site uses cookies for performance, site traffic analysis, and social media purposes. Find out more about our cookie policy here. 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DAY 178: Nowhere on Earth is the AIDS epidemic more widespread than on the African continent. In fact, according to Lonely Planet, “the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that AIDS-related deaths will mean that, by 2010, sub-Saharan Africa will have 71 million fewer people than it would otherwise.” With the lack of proper governmental and healthcare infrastructure to deal with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, this rate might not see any sight of being lowered. Most Africans are too poor for any sort of treatment, and so the next best thing is education, research and an understanding of the disease and how it spreads. A number of programs have been set up by Western non-profit organizations with goals to do just that, so that the spread of the disease, over time, might decrease. One program, P.S.F. (Project San Francisco) originated in Rwanda in 1986, but that was killed (literally) during the brutal genocides of 1994. (As if the deaths of AIDS wasn’t bad enough.) This program resurfaced in Zambia as Z.U.H.R.P. (Zambia UAB [University of Alabama] HIV Research Project), which recently transformed into Z.E.H.R.P. when it became affiliated with Emory College instead. It was at ZEHRP that Shelle was a supervisor. Shelle, like the rest of the staff, had the Easter holiday off and decided to spend it in tandem with the Easter week-long holiday of her teacher friend Deann. It was on this vacation that their paths crossed mine. Shelle had the Tuesday after Easter Monday off and wanted to be back to the office in Lusaka by mid-day Wednesday. She, Deann and I woke up in Livingstone, six hours away, in the darkness of 4:30 a.m. to board a bus at 5:15 which departed at six. The ride was filled with sleep, reading and a stop at a roadhouse that impressed me with its clever, water-saving bathroom engineering — the drain pipe of the sink fed to the floor urinal, flushing it, saving water on what would have been a redundant flush. “REMEMBER THE TIME YOU LET ME BORROW your long-sleeve shirt?” Shelle joked on the bus in light of the fact that we had only known each other for all of two days. “Yeah,” I said reminiscing, “It seems just like yesterday.” Perhaps the two past days were enough to establish trust because she said, “We have a spare bed at the flat if you want to stay over.” “Is that cool?” “Yeah, no problem,” she said. One of her housemates was away in Rwanda. “Just don’t steal anything.” “I’ll try not to.” By noon we arrived in Lusaka, Zambia’s dusty capital city with just three skyscrapers, dusty roads and modern buildings. From the main bus terminal, we got a taxi to Shelle’s house in the Emmasdale neighborhood, a ghetto where many volunteers from overseas lived in secure compounds with guard dogs and 24-hour security guards. The house, consisting of three flats with three bedrooms each, was operated by Z.E.H.R.P. as living quarters for their employees, just walking distance from the clinics. Inside, it was like walking into a suburban house in New Jersey: bedrooms, bathrooms with running water (sometimes), kitchen, laundry and a big comfy living/dining room with TV, DVD, stereo and a computer workstation with high-speed satellite internet access. On the sofa was one of the housemates, Cristina, a Filipino-American originally from Boston who had been abroad for so long that seeing another Filipino-American walk in the door was quite a surprise. “Wow, I haven’t seen a lot of you in a while,” she joked. Shelle, Deann and I settled down our baggage in Shelle’s room and then Shelle got on her cell phone to check up on the office. A supervisor, she was hoping it’d be a slow day and that maybe she could take the rest of the day off to entertain us, but from the other end, she got the serious news that there had been a seroconversion in the lab — someone who had previously tested HIV negative was now testing positive. That someone would have to get the bad news that they had contracted the virus. “I said everything will be okay today, as long as there isn’t a seroconversion,” Shelle said. What she feared was now the reality of the day, and with the lack of running water, she forsook a shower and went right to the office. Deann and I followed behind. I was expecting it to be like an episode of E.R., where Shelle would come in and walk the halls while people walked with her to give her clipboards and information as she put on her lab coat. I expected to hear a mouthful of acronyms I didn’t understand, followed by a proclamation of “STAT!” However, it wasn’t as overly dramatic as a television show. Shelle got the information she needed from her staff and made sure things were in motion with her staff, and then gave Deann and I a quick tour of the facility. ZEHRP’s clinic was in a campus of a few buildings, the main one holding the lab where blood was processed and tested for HIV (picture above). I saw the centrifuges and the big freezer were DNA and other things with acronyms I didn’t know where stored. We were introduced to many of the staff, which consisted of Zambians and volunteers from overseas, and saw the rooms where people enrolled in the program came for counseling. I have to say that amidst the AIDS epidemic spreading across Africa, seeing ZEHRP gave me an assurance that there was some sort of light at the end of the long, dark tunnel and it was a bit inspiring. For lunch, Shelle brought us to the staff “cafeteria”, which was a big picnic table outside where a woman served chicken and the Zambian staple nshima a pasty side dish that made from maize meal that looked a lot like mashed potatoes. Nearby, three guard dogs waited around for people to throw them their unwanted chicken bones. Shelle went off to handle some business concerning the seroconversion, leaving Deann and I to loiter the grounds. But with the AIDS epidemic all around me, certainly there was something I could do. An old adage goes, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” But what could I do? Biology and chemistry were my worst subjects in high school. I can’t do math; I went to art school. What was I supposed to do, paint over the top and bottom portions of a plus symbol so that positive results could be negative? If only life could work out that way. An opportunity for me to “do my part” presented itself when Steven, one of the ZEHRP staff called over the guard dogs for a bath. They needed to be washed and lathered up with flea shampoo so that they could properly guard the facility with an iron paw, keeping the HIV research program on track without a hitch. I volunteered to help wash the dogs, Suki, Tsalvo and Sam, who recently got a blue streak of paint on his side because he unknowingly slept leaning on a freshly-painted wall. Steven and I lathered up the dogs with flea shampoo and hosed them down, and after, each dog shivered the water off to dry. Despite our best efforts, the blue paint was impossible to get out, but I felt accomplished that I at least did something to help the ZEHRP project, as menial as it was. I MET UP WITH SHELLE AND DEANN IN THE LAB, where the seroconversion situation was still being dealt with amidst other tasks that had to be handled in the office. Deann and I felt that perhaps our presence was a bit intrusive, so we walked back to the house. The electricity was out, which meant watching television or DVDs was out. However, Deann, a television addict, was the next best thing and caught me up on everything that had happened in The Sopranos in their latest season. Shelle came home from work and took us to Manda Hill, the Westernized strip mall where all the mzungus — the African term for “foreigner” (like “gringos” in South America) — could visit a slice of home. (There was even a Subway sandwich shop!) There we went to “The Magical ATM,” the one cashpoint supposedly in all of Zambia that would take a MasterCard/Cirrus network ATM card, where I became a multi-millionaire in less than a minute. From there we went to a local Indian restaurant, a favorite of the ZEHRP volunteers, where I treated myself and the two girls for dinner, wine and coffees with Amarula, the African cream liquor made from local fruit, similar to Bailey’s Irish Cream. “Thanks for dinner,” the two of them thanked me. “No problem. Thanks for picking up a little stray puppy in Vic Falls.” Shelle bought some take-out for her housemates Cristina and her husband Jens, who worked at another research clinic in town, and her “sick” boyfriend George. I put “sick” in quotes because there was a little uncertainty if George was really sick or if he was just weirded out that his girlfriend had suddenly brought home a stray Filipino-American puppy home from Livingstone — even if he did lather up with flea shampoo earlier that day. The three of us picked up Cristina and Jens at the ZEHRP house and drove over to George’s, where he was in fact, a little out of it. He was in good spirits though and let us crash his pad for a while, as he, Cristina and Jens had dinner. We all sat around talking and joking over bottles of wine and playing with Shelle’s and George’s cute little (and real) puppy Lelo. For me, it was great to, for a change, feel a little bit like I was home with old friends; it felt like I might have been hanging out with friends at Blogreaders Yvette‘s and Udz‘s house in New Jersey — right in the heart of Africa. WHILE THE A.I.D.S. EPIDEMIC IN AFRICA MAY NEVER END, it is good-hearted people like Shelle who come overseas to do their part in helping out in any way possible — and occasionally pick up strays on their Easter vacation. As I lay in the bed of the spare bedroom that night, I knew that at least in my eyes, it was much appreciated. Commenting is not available in this channel entry. Thanks for the midday misdirection from the everyday boredom of our lives. And a big thank you to everyone that does what needs to be done. Thank you for making us think this morning, and every moment we have to read about your travels. Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 01:43 PM Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 04:12 PM Hey, every bit helps! what i’ve been doing for the last 2 years is donate to http://www.africare.org/ it seems like a worthy cause and you can donate your money to specific causes… i usually donate to the children funds it’s friday, have a good weekend all you blog readers! N Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 04:17 PM yes…have a great weekend…hopefully there is some great weather…go out and enjoy…or shit…go fly somewhere! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 05:33 PM disclaimer that’s the most immature and least descriptive words i could leave as a comment, but sometimes it drives the point straight home. God Bless. Markyt is lucky to have a brother like you. Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 08:53 PM Hi, I’m Shelle’s mom back in Augusta, GA. She just emailed me about your site, so I had to read it before I took her malamute, Chiva, for her walk. (Yes, she does make a habit of picking up stray puppies and people!) Thanks for buying her dinner. She is quite a writer herself and has emailed some amusing anecdotes. Let me know if you’d like me to send them. Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 08:56 PM lucky to have a bro like erik? you mean erik is lucky to have me as a bro? Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 10:41 PM Glad you found The Blog; welcome aboard! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 11:27 PM DONNA: Hi there, Shelle’s mom! Welcome aboard! I suppose I can thank YOU for bringing up such a good-hearted individual. At the time of this writing, I’m still here at the ZEHRP house, so that’ll mean a least one more Blog entry with a Schwamberger… Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 11:37 PM It’s good to recognize that there are scary things out there, but that good people, like you said, are doing stuff about it. It makes us appreciate our lives more - at least I’m speaking for me. Thanks for the stories, Erik! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 12:12 AM Wow - it has taken this SBR five and a half hours but I have finally caught up on the blog. Erik, my mum is blaming you for turning my six week Thai holiday into an 11 month RTW, but you are still invited for dinner if you hit Australia (she thinks you look ‘sweet’ in the photos). Keep up the wonderful writing and photos, you keep me sane. Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 04:42 AM Well said Duaine! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 05:54 AM SHELLYT: Hey, thanks for breaking the silence! Where are you headed off on your RTW? Perhaps our paths will cross… SHELLYT’S MOM: Sorry about that! Perhaps I may take you up on your offer though! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 06:06 PM just started reading your blogs… better late than never… Donovan says hi! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 10:44 PM Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/17 at 06:26 AM Yes, AIDS is a big problem there, but it is made worse because a lot of other disease gets lumped into the Aids classification. There is not enough money for the many tests required to really diagnose so it gets guessed at. If you would like to read up on alternative views on this disease and others try this. Posted by Mexico Mike on 04/18 at 06:51 AM Erik - you’re always welcome at our place!! Once your 16-month (or whenever your money runs out) excursion is over, come back to our place for some shrimp with patis and charades! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/19 at 05:59 PM back to top of page This blog post is one of over 500 travel dispatches from the trip blog, "The Global Trip 2004: Sixteen Months Around The World (Or Until Money Runs Out, Whichever Comes First)," originally hosted by BootsnAll.com. It chronicled a trip around the world from October 2003 to March 2005, which encompassed travel through thirty-seven countries in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. It was this blog that "started it all," where Erik evolved and honed his style of travel blogging — it starts to come into focus around the time he arrives in Africa. Praised and recommended by USA Today, RickSteves.com, and readers of BootsnAll and Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree, The Global Trip blog was selected by the editors of PC Magazine for the "Top 100 Sites You Didn't Know You Couldn't Live Without" (in the travel category) in 2005. Next entry: Previous entry: Confused at some of the jargon that's developed with this blog and its readers over the years? Here's what they mean: BFFN: acronym for "Best Friend For Now"; a friend made on the road, who will share travel experiences for the time being, only to part ways and lose touch with The Big Trip: the original sixteen month around-the-world trip that started it all, spanning 37 countries in 5 continents over 503 days (October 2003–March 2005) NIZ: acronym for "No Internet Zone"; a place where there is little to no Internet access, thus preventing dispatches from being posted. SBR: acronym for "Silent Blog Reader"; a person who has regularly followed The Global Trip blog for years without ever commenting or making his/her presence known to the rest of the reading community. (Breaking this silence by commenting is encouraged.) Stupid o'clock: any time of the early morning that you have to wake up to catch a train, bus, plane, or tour. Usually any time before 6 a.m. is automatically “stupid o’clock.” The Trinidad Show: a nickname of The Global Trip blog, used particularly by travelers that have been written about, who are self-aware that they have become "characters" in a long-running story — like characters in the Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show. WHMMR: acronym for "Western Hemisphere Monday Morning Rush"; an unofficial deadline to get new content up by a Monday morning, in time for readers in the western hemisphere (i.e. the majority North American audience) heading back to their computers. 1981ers: people born after 1981. Originally, this was to designate groups of young backpackers fresh out of school, many of which were loud, boorish and/or annoying. However, time has passed and 1981ers have matured and have been quite pleasant to travel with. The term still refers to young annoying backpackers, regardless of year — I guess you could call them "1991ers" in 2013 — young, entitled millennials on the road these days, essentially. Spelling or grammar error? A picture not loading properly? Help keep this blog as good as it can be by reporting bugs. The views and opinions written on The Global Trip blog are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the official views and opinions of the any affiliated publications. All written and photographic content is copyright 2002-2014 by Erik R. Trinidad (unless otherwise noted). "The Global Trip" and "swirl ball" logos are service marks of Erik R. Trinidad.	18,020
March 10, 2020: The last couple of years have seen huge strides in the voice-tech space and this has had obvious effects on healthcare. Our guest today is Kristi Ebong from Orbita and she is here for this quick episode to discuss the current voice landscape, how Orbita fit into it and areas most affected by the progress being made. We discuss the digital front door and how voice search is the most prominent part of what is happening in the space right now. Kristi discusses the 'bedside' and the improvements that are being made in efficiency and care with regards to patient allocation and specialists. Lastly, we look at how voice-tech is being used in call centers and the higher quality of service that is available to patients over the phone. Kristi also comments about investing in voice-tech in the healthcare space, the current position of the market and the unique situation in which the industry finds itself currently. Orbita is hosting a virtual conference this very week, in lieu of this year's canceled HIMSS event, so make sure to head over to the website and sign up immediately, you do not want to miss out! Key Points From This Episode: A quick run-through of Orbita, what they do and their customer base. Information on the virtual conference that is being hosted by Orbita this week! Speakers and presentations at the event that have already been confirmed. The digital front door, the centrality of search and the role of voice in this evolving space. Unique opportunities present right now with regards to voice search. Voice technology in call center operations and better customer service over the phone. Kristi's thoughts on investing in voice tech at this current juncture. More info and reasons to sign up for the virtual conference. Amplify great thinking to propel healthcare forward and raise up the next generation of health leaders.	1,868
John and another north Indian movement leader traveled to meet with ten Muslim men who had said they wanted to know more about Isa al Masih (Jesus). John and his friend shared some verses from the Qur’an about Jesus and the Old and New Testaments. The group liked what they heard. They did not immediately become followers of Jesus that day, but neither did they argue. They are open. They said, “You have taught us a lot! Please come back.” John plans to return another time. A key movement practice is to go and go again. We can’t keep returning for years or maybe even months if no one shows spiritual interest. Because the harvest is plentiful, we must not waste time with those who aren’t ready. But where we find authentic interest, we can consider the door to still be open. The movement leaders have learned the difference between genuine questioning and argumentative spirits. It is the difference between Mary’s awe-struck “How can this be?” and Zechariah’s scoffing “How can this be?” Some people, like the group above, say, “Wow. This is a lot to take in. I need some time to think about it. But please come back and tell us more later.” But when we meet those who only want to argue, we can say, “I love you too much to argue,” and move on to others who are open to listening to the Good News. We can trust God to give the skeptics (modern Zechariahs) another chance (and another and another), even if not with us. But we must be willing to move on, staying in step with the Spirit, to find and share with those who are ready to hear the good news. Jesus Heals as is Written in the Qur’an Sharing the Gospel with Hindus In Spite of the Beatings One lay leader and a partner in north India visited a village where they had never been before. They found a family interested in hearing about the God who made the world. The two men shared a Bible story with the family. The family liked the discussion. The men didn’t preach, but simply shared the story, then asked questions about it, including the most important one, “If this story were true, how would you apply it to your life?” The family asked the men to return another time. They did. The meetings became regular. The neighbors began to notice. They heard the songs that started the meetings. They began hanging out near the door and windows. They liked the Bible stories too. One such neighbor, a lady, entered the home. She sat and listened to the story. She liked the discussion and the prayer. She began attending regularly. Unfortunately, her husband didn’t like her going to these meetings. He beat her after each one. He had no job and was drunk all the time. She kept attending the meetings, though, in spite of the beatings. Finally, one day, she looked at her husband and said, “Fine. You don’t want me to go to these meetings? I won’t go. But first, you have to attend a meeting with me one time. If you don’t like it, when it’s done you can beat me again. But, at least go one time.” So, he did. He got drunk first, but he went. He fidgeted. He glared at the leaders. He left in a huff. But, when it was all over, he didn’t beat his wife. The next week, he attended the meeting again. This time, he wasn’t drunk. When the meeting was done, he told the leaders that he wanted to follow the God of those stories. He was tired of drinking all the time. He wanted a new life. And so, this family is now changed. The husband no longer beats his wife. He’s stopped drinking. They are learning from the Bible. Their lives are new. This is the life altering effect of our God and His word! You are making a difference in untold numbers of lives through your support of faithful disciple-makers like these. Nov 25, 2022 \| Stories After prayer walking with a local partner, sowing gospel seeds with whoever was receptive, Scott* asked the Lord what he should do with the time before his afternoon appointment. Scott felt that he should accompany his friend who was going to a church on the other side of town from his afternoon appointment, so he did. When they arrived, they found Kamnan* and Tida*, a couple Scott had not seen for 20 years. That morning the Lord had told the couple to find Scott, so they had traveled to the church to inquire after his whereabouts. Their surprisingly immediate reunion with Scott was warm, and they readily accepted his invitation to a disciple-making training he was giving the following week. Despite several scheduling conflicts, Kamnan and Tida came. They later said it was a complete revival of their spiritual well-being and reignited a passion they had not felt since becoming new believers. Full of faith, they went out to do what they had learned in the training. Through their obedience, God has performed a few miracles, including a demonic exorcism, and several people have become followers of Jesus. In reflection, Scott realizes how easily he could have missed out on God’s plan. Had he enacted his own efficient planning that day and not submitted his schedule to the Lord, he would have missed Kamnan and Tida. Their ministry would not have started, and Scott would not have seen what he trusts is an answer to his prayer for new apostolically gifted workers. I would Be a Christian if I Could Jesus Heals as is Written in the Qur’an Nov 16, 2022 \| Stories As you may have recently read, Charlie and Sarah had been walking through a season of discouragement. One morning, Sarah asked the Lord to show her that He was still at work. “Later that same day,” Sarah recalls, “another friend went with Charlie and me to look for persons of peace (as in Luke 10) in a mountain village where we hike. It was drizzling, so not many people were out. But as we rounded a corner, two ladies waved energetically at us and invited us into their home, just before a downpour hit. “It turned out that we had met one of them previously. A few weeks ago, Charlie and I had been hiking and had come upon a lady curled up on the side of the road with her husband sitting beside her. Her back had given out as she climbed the hill with her heavy load. We stopped to pray for her in Jesus’ name, but had to resume our hike since we were an hour from our car and sunset was rapidly approaching. “This was the same lady, Ibu Muli, in whose home we now sat. She told us that immediately after the prayer, her back had been healed, and she was able to carry her load home. Her back hadn’t bothered her since. ‘Are you Muslims?’ she asked. ‘No,’ we replied, ‘We are followers of Isa (Jesus), who can heal the sick as it is written in the Qur’an.’ “God had been at work a month or more before I had uttered my prayer. And here was a lady open to hearing about Isa, because God had healed her.” “Please pray for Ibu Muli and her uncle, who gives the call to prayer at the local mosque. They agree with everything we say, but she insists we must be good Muslims, because of all the truths we speak. We will keep returning to her village and joining God in His work. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give them a thirst for God and an openness to hear about Jesus. “I Told Him I was Quitting” Getting to the Harvest is Doable We Walked as He Parted the Waters Nov 9, 2022 \| Longer Reads by C. Anderson Part One: Goals excite type A personalities. The setting, achieving and working toward them can be very motivating. After reaching an important goal, however, many feel a sense of emptiness and loss. Long-distance runners often experience this after completing a marathon. They’ve trained for months to compete in a race. Driving toward that goal gave training a clear purpose. When the race is over, there is an emotional downswing. The big challenging goal is completed. So, why am I going to the gym today? Those who train runners warn against low-level depression in the days following a big race. In a reverse scenario, we can experience intense disillusionment when an important goal seems elusive. Perhaps the goal of catalyzing a rapidly multiplying Disciple Making Movement feels that way. We may need a change in our focus. Goals vs. Systems New York Times bestselling author, James Clear, writes about this in his popular book Atomic Habits. On page 23, Clear writes, “Forget about goals, focus on systems instead.” He describes the difference in this way. “Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results.” While this book has a humanistic, self-help slant, as I listened to the Audible version on a long car ride, a series of lightbulbs exploded in my head. “There is so much in this book to apply to disciple- making and the pursuit of movements!” I mused, taking copious notes. If you haven’t had the chance to read Clear’s book, I recommend it. There are many takeaways for life in general as well as disciple-making. After listening to it, I decided to buy the actual book and re-read it in light of disciple-making habits. This article shares some of the insights gained and what I am experimenting with. While I’m not ready to let go of the God-sized goal of a DMM, I see the book’s point about systems. It’s not having a DMM goal that will get us to movement. If that were the case, we would have many thousands more movements than we do already. What will catalyze and sustain a DMM are disciple- making habits we put in place in our lives, in the lives of those we train and in those our disciples train. Normalizing a few key habits and simple systems in our movement efforts sets the trajectory for multiplication. This leads to something far beyond the superficial goal of reaching 4th generation growth and a certain number of groups or streams. If you are not familiar with the definition of a DMM, please see https://www.dmmsfrontiermissions.com/ disciple-making-movement-what-defined/. While this definition has merit and is helpful, it is not the end goal. Nor does it come directly from Scripture. The real aim is to see disciples that multiply rapidly and continue to do so as we see in the New Testament. So again, just aiming for 4G and multiplication isn’t enough. We need habits, systems and practices that get us there. With that established, let me first illustrate some of the Atomic Habits concepts in a personal and practical way. From there, we’ll then turn attention to the applications for disciple-making. My husband and I currently live in Thailand. We have been here for about six years. Before this, we lived for many years in Nepal and India. When in those nations, I learned to speak Nepalese and Bengali. It is a personal value to understand the culture and worldview of those around me. I want to find bridges and ways to share the good news of Jesus with my neighbors. This is true even though I now travel a great deal and my ministry is more global than local. Learning Thai has been hard. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m now over 50, or maybe because it’s a tonal language, or it could be because I travel in and out and have a full ministry schedule. I’m not exactly sure why, but I’ve found it exceedingly difficult to gain even market fluency in Thai. At times I feel determined to learn. At other times, I’m deeply frustrated and want to give up. In all honesty, I’m ashamed to have lived here so long and to speak so poorly. My heart aches to be at a place of fluency where I can share the message of my wonderful Savior freely. Many, many Thais around me don’t speak English and have never heard the gospel in a way they could understand. As I read Atomic Habits, I realized I should change my focus. Instead of the goal of being fluent in Thai, it may be more helpful to concentrate on developing a consistent daily study habit. Now, each day after my quiet time and writing hour, I study Thai for 30 minutes. That consistent habit is already making a difference! It has set me on a trajectory where I definitely will reach my goal of speaking Thai one day. I’m no longer feeling discouraged but can trust the system to get me there. I’ve habit stacked Thai study (a concept he talks about in the book) on top of two other habits I already have in place in my life and enjoy. Another helpful concept from this book is what James Clear calls the Law of Least Effort. It’s followed by the Two-Minute rule (Chapters 12 and 13). They come under the habit law he describes as, “Make it easy.” The basic premise is that a new habit should be so simple you can’t talk yourself out of doing it. If you can do it in two minutes, you don’t need much willpower to put that habit into place. Thus, it is far more likely to become a sustained practice. After a simple habit is established, it is far easier to increase it. Again, allow me to demonstrate how I’m applying this personally. I find motivation for strength-building difficult, though I know it’s important at my age. I’ve recently started doing just five pushups and five sit-ups every day. This takes two minutes and is so easy that I can’t talk myself out of it. From there, I can increase to seven, then 10, and in six months I’ll be doing 50 a day. This article was first published in Mission Frontiers and used here with permission. About the Author: C. Anderson is an experienced field practitioner and leader. The past 27 years, she served in Asia with YWAM Frontier Missions. Anderson trains and coaches both international and indigenous church planters toward the launching of Disciple Making Movements. She blogs weekly about DMM related issues at dmmsfrontiermissions.com	13,947
I am in no way a coffee connoisseur but I am for sure a coffee lover/drinker. I’ve tried several times to break up with coffee since stress mixed with caffeine isn’t good for me because it gives me acid reflux. But no... I can’t and I probably won’t break up with coffee; I need it to stay awake while working and besides good conversations most of the time, happens over coffee. A couple of my officemates share the same infatuation with coffee like I do and since third wave coffee shops have been sprouting around the metro; the curiosity got into us and we decided to or rather, plan to try some of them to see what’s the difference with what they have to offer from those that are brewed by mainstream cafes. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/27/2015 2 comments: May 26, 2015 Backless dresses started to gain popularity during the 1920s. That time was still considered very modest era and the only way women can show off their beautiful bodies especially during the summer time. The style of backless dresses became associated with the sun tanning fashions of that time, and it was a way of showing off a tan. A backless dress is a dress designed to expose the wearer's back. A backless dress is most commonly worn on formal occasions or as evening wear or as wedding dresses and can be of any length, from a halter-top to a miniskirt-length to floor-length. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/26/2015 No comments: May 24, 2015 Summer would probably be the best season for me; I believe that I was destined to be born in a tropical country. I’m not really fond of the rain nor the gloomy weather it brings which hinders you to do things or go out. I also happen to love the carefree and colorful summer fashion. Although I really haven’t experimented so much on color in my wardrobe, I love the colors that are associated with summer. They brighten up anyone’s day, do you agree? Although I must say that our weather back here is kind of weird, it’s already May and it’s expected that the rainy season should have already started. Bu no, we’re still experiencing an extension of summer and the temperature even went up to 46 degrees Celsius heat index last week. That would be ok if I’m on vacation and at the beach somewhere. Unfortunately I’m stuck at home and at work with the unbearable heat. What’s more eerie is that during night time, it’s sometimes cold and rains which usually brings sickness to a lot of people and I am not spared. Which means I need to stay home and rest over the weekends and no going out for me even if it’s a long weekend. Anyhow, at least I have an excuse to browse and window shop online while I’m nursing this sickness and check out my favorite online shops. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/24/2015 No comments: May 16, 2015 Sheinside Superior In Quality Sale I am someone who value my hard-earned money; I always make it a point to bargain hunt or take advantage of sales and discounts. I am not brand conscious either, though I buy branded items but if I can buy stuff that's of the same quality and design but on a much cheaper price I would go for the latter, always. Buying cheaper items doesn’t mean quality is always compromised. Like for example, when I buy clothes if there's a counterpart of a dress from a branded store that I can find online or at bazaars I would choose the one where I can save more bucks and even buy another item. Everyone views things differently, so if that’s my view about spending money on clothes, I think people should respect that. The way I respect others if they want to spend their money on gadgets, video games, shoes or cars. But don’t get me wrong, I am not an impulse buyer nor I splurge a lot. I am actually a cheapskate, I love sales, surplus and bargains. If I can haggle, I will haggle. If I’m half-hearted to buy something expensive I won’t buy it and just wait until it goes on sale. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/16/2015 No comments: May 14, 2015 Weddings are complicated events and has so many to-do’s and not-to-do’s; not to mention the many traditions that go with it and each will be based on someone’s culture and upbringing. But don’t get me wrong, I love weddings. I freelance once in awhile as a wedding coordinator and do some styling and chalkboard signs and I enjoy what I do. I know many of us are familiar with wedding traditions like the bride must wear something blue or must have something blue in her wedding and the no-white-policy-except-for-the bride. But seeing weddings nowadays (yes I’m such a Pinterest-addict and I follow a lot of wedding blogs and Facebook accounts), couples are getting more and more rebellious and experimental with their weddings. Almost everyone aims to have a unique wedding. And you know the power of social media on how it can make unique events spread like wildfire and inspire others to follow suit. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/14/2015 1 comment: May 13, 2015 Black according to Wikipedia.com is the color of coal, ebony, and of outer space. It is the darkest color, the result of the absence of or complete absorption of light and the opposite of white. Black was one of the first colors used by artists in neolithic cave paintings. In the 14th century, it began to be worn by royalty, the clergy, judges and government officials in much of Europe. It became the color worn by English romantic poets, businessmen and statesmen in the 19th century, and a high fashion color in the 20th century. It may be the color of mourning or sadness but the fashion world always associate Black with something that is classic, timeless and elegant. No fashion mogul did not ever use black as one of their colors for their collections. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/13/2015 1 comment: May 12, 2015 Summer would be my favorite season of the year. Though it gets super hot and humid especially that I live in a tropical country I still love this season no matter what. Sunshine makes me happy and smile unlike gloomy rainy and cold weather that brings a certain kind of sadness even if you’re not going through a tough time in life. I think I was born and planned to live and fit for summer season so no question about that. I also love summer fashion because of the beautiful colors that it brings about. For summer 2015 most major designers followed the trend as predicted by Pantone.com. Some are not that surprising to see but some are, like red and grey for summer is kinda not so ordinary, really. But fashion brand giants are rebellious enough to include them in their collections. I say it’s pretty much interesting to see those shades but I know many will be up for it; besides fashion has no rules anymore. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/12/2015 4 comments: May 11, 2015 Our hair will always be our crowning glory, if it is not in order, you certainly will feel less self esteem but if it's in its best, a confidence boost will surely be evident. I have done so many things to my hair and thank goodness it hasn't gave up on me just yet. No matter how much I torture my hair it still is one of my best assets. The men in my family are also blessed with good genes because hair loss or thinning was never an issue to us. But I know lots of men who suffer the problem of male pattern baldness and whether they like to admit it or not it somehow affects their self confidence. Pattern hair loss in men is not a result of stress nor a result of wearing baseball cap every day. Studies even show that it is not a result of a nutrient deficiency, due to excess sweating, or sebum on your scalp. Male pattern hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, the result of hormones and a genetic predisposition. Men suffering from this are losing hair because they are genetically predisposed to. They have been programmed to become sensitive to the changing hormonal activity in their scalps. So yeah blame it on the genes... Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/11/2015 2 comments: May 10, 2015 Since it’s already May, and next month is June, which is wedding month my blog will be probably featuring a lot about weddings and all the details related to it. Preparing for a wedding takes a lot of hard work and a lot of things to consider. Nowadays the bride’s wedding dress is a one of the highlights of any wedding and it isn't pretty easy to choose one. A lot of considerations should be put into it and sometimes you get bombarded with too many ideas that you see on wedding websites, Pinterest, magazines etc., that most often than not, a bride gets too overwhelmed and frustrated. Most brides have the dilemma looking for that perfect dress and can’t decide what silhouette and style they would like to have for their height and body type. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/10/2015 No comments: May 9, 2015 The Met Gala has been over for almost a week but the internet hasn't stop talking about it. In my Facebook there has been no moment that stories about the occasion don't pop up every time I scroll over my news feed. Of course most are about the celebrities who took the limelight and media attention because of what they were wearing. And then there's this list for the best dressed and not-so-best dressed during the fund raiser. Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna became talk of the town because of their outfits. The first three because they wore dresses that are barely there and the latter because of her extravagant and large outfit. I like unique pieces, but I think simplicity will always surpass extreme extravagance. With that being said, the four women I mentioned earlier didn't really take my heart with their outfits. I like those who wore dresses and outfits that doesn't need to show off a lot of skin to make them look stunning on the red carpet. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/09/2015 2 comments: May 8, 2015 Get Entangled In Beauty with Sheinside Summer would probably be the best season for me; I believe that I was destined to be born in a tropical country. I’m not really fond of the rain nor the gloomy weather it brings which hinders you to do things or go out. I also happen to love the carefree and colorful summer fashion. Although I really haven’t experimented so much on color in my wardrobe, I love the colors that are associated with summer. They brighten up anyone’s day, do you agree? It saddens me that May signals the rainy season in my country and there’s a typhoon looming. But there’s always a pick-me-up stuff that I do when I’m stuck at home because it’s raining: online shopping! There’s so many sale happening in malls around but I can’t go out a roam the shopping centers so I’m settling with my phone on my hand and browsing through my favorite online shops. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/08/2015 3 comments: May 7, 2015 Will you agree if I say it’s hard being a girl or a female? I bet you would. We have so many things to do just to keep up with the world’s standard of beauty and success. Sometimes when I look at all my stuff (clothes, shoes, make-ups, beauty products, bags and other knick-knacks) I end up wondering how did I ever end up having all of them and how can just one person own so many things and the irony of it is that, whether we want to admit it or not, we still want and buy some more to add to our pile of thingamajigs. And that doesn’t end there… We women also are complicated beings. We always have a hard time deciding on what we want, so we end up doing all things at once or buying a product in all its varieties. I bet by now you’re nodding in agreement while reading this. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/07/2015 2 comments: May 5, 2015 When I was young, I love watching beauty pageants and my favorite part of the program would be the evening gown competition. I always look forward to what the candidates would wear and if they will carry the dresses with such poise and statuesque elegance. I would anticipate the time when the individual scores will be flashed on the screen and I would make some guesses on who might be bagging the “best in evening/long gown.” As the years passed, I still continue to watch beauty pageant and I have noticed a great deal of change for the long evening dresses that pageant contestants are wearing. Of course they have become more modern and more skin is being shown. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/05/2015 No comments: May 3, 2015 I’d like to claim that “old” has got a new name these days, and it’s called Vintage! Dressing up in vintage style doesn’t have to look like costume-y. Incorporating classic pieces and clothes with timeless cuts into one’s wardrobe will definitely help achieve a vintage feel. You can never go wrong if you’re thinking of having a vintage style of fashion, after all that’s why it’s revered as timeless. There is also a modern take or interpretation of vintage fashion that won’t make you look like you’ve come out from a history book. I love anything vintage, shabby-chic or quirky; I believe I am an old soul and if I were to be asked if what era to live in the past, I would probably choose between the Renaissance, the 1920’s or 1950’s. For me, those times are the most fashionable eras. As much as possible I want to include something vintage-looking and preppy into my wardrobe, and believe I would fit in that style category or probably modern vintage. Posted by sandundermyfeet at 5/03/2015 No comments: Besides an LBD, every girl should also own at least one cocktail dress in her wardrobe because you will never know when a situation will call for it. I get stressed (over-reacting here really) when I need to go somewhere and I don’t have anything appropriate to wear and I don’t have enough time to go to the mall and look for an outfit or put together an outfit. This is because I am someone who always mind and plan what I would wear, like on a daily basis. Cocktail dresses are dresses worn by women for cocktail parties, semi-formal or "black tie" occasions. They are usually shorter than most dresses and fall a little above the knee or below the knee. It must be smart-looking, elegant just like a little black dress, and may have sequins or lace and other adornments.	14,793
Taking a vacation could be a enjoyable encounter, as long as you are prepared for it properly. In this article, you will be furnished with valuable ways to aid ensure your trip is pleasurable. Use these tips the very next time that you are going to be vacationing. When planning a getaway internationally, make sure to check into any required or encouraged vaccinations and speak to your medical professional earlier about acquiring them. If you are unsuccessful to have the shots that happen to be essential, you could grow to be extremely sickly while traveling. Alternatively, although you may don’t get sick, maybe you have problems re-going into the nation and might be compelled into a period of quarantine to ensure you aren’t hauling any ailments. If you are showing up inside a new area and don’t yet feel at ease there, take into account asking in case your hotel offers an airport terminal pick up support. This will enable you to prevent the pitfalls of baggage porters and taxi cab collections which capture numerous first-time travelers. Additionally, it means you don’t go missing within the city and go straight to your resort. Be adaptable. Should your travel schedules could be tweaked by a day or two, use the “accommodating schedules” function of many on-line traveling search engines. This allows you to look for leaving and return times in just a presented array. By only altering your schedules by a day or two, you could possibly rating big cost savings on plane tickets. If you’re likely to be being at a accommodation, load up a door stopper. Sometimes, especially in regions of greater criminal offense for example developing countries around the world, you might want some extra protection for the accommodation. Set a doorstop under your doorway if there isn’t a deadbolt. Be sure you document shed seats right away. Misplaced passes can be refunded, but this can acquire as long as six months time. It may possibly also require a substantial alternative fee. learn more Confirming your lost admission as soon as possible will never make points go any speedier, but you will definitely get your money back sooner. When you are flying with a team, be sure you guide beforehand. Arranging beforehand is likely to make it more likely that your class will likely be sitting together. Should you be traveling with young children, you certainly do not desire to depart seats agreements to possibility. Book earlier and make sure your seats set up. A tourist need to understand a number of the words spoken at his or her location if you find enough time to do this. Fluency in virtually any language is difficult to achieve, but any dedicated visitor could possibly get familiar with some useful key phrases. Discovering a bit of the lingo will boost the traveler’s expertise or perhaps prove valuable in the case of unanticipated difficulties. Never placed your own home street address on your own travel luggage. When filling in the information cards on the suitcases, make use of organization tackle as an alternative. Unless you use a enterprise deal with, leave it blank. In the event you depart your baggage anywhere, only give your contact details for the hotel or air travel staff members. Just take into account you will likely pay out much more and yes it doesn’t actually save very much area. Instead, make an effort to load up outfits within a way in a way that they utilize the offered area effectively. Using a number of these techniques can leave you with quite a bit more room in your travelling bag. Not every health insurance strategies deal with you once you journey in another country. When creating a strategy to travel to worldwide places it’s a good idea to check into buying health-related insurance coverage to your vacation. So, before heading you really should research what kind of healthcare coverage is available and just what the costs could be. As It was explained in the beginning with this post, the best way for the getaway to travel easily is for you to be prepared for it. Make use of the advice that this article has provided to you to ensure that your holiday will go efficiently. Remember to have a good time when out! ← Are You Considering Touring In another country? Ideas To Help You Put together. Recent Posts The city sits on Tampa Bay as the largest city in the Tampa Bay area Annapolis served as the seat of the Confederation Congress and short term national funds of the United States	4,625
He enjoyed a very successful career in Telecommunications, holding key senior executive positions throughout most of his career. He actively participated in and contributed to the inaugural entry of a number of companies into the Canadian market. Giving back to the community: During the mid-eighties, Rudy chose to take a two-year sabbatical desiring to give back to the community. Education: Having earned business credentials from the VAM business institute in The Netherlands, Rudy also holds a Masters Degree in Theology from Tyndale Seminary in Toronto. Additionally, he is a former and well respected Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Exceptional leadership qualities combined with superb communication skills, is but one of the reasons why Rudy Heezen MTS is such a highly regarded and much sought after wedding officiant. Rudy embraces everyone without prejudice, regardless of religion (or none), race, etc., etc. He is an Ordained Minister with Abba Ministries of Canada, Rudy is happily married to Anneke, his sweetheart of over 53 years. They are the proud parents of grown children and even prouder grandparents. About his ‘success’ in life? Rudy shares: First and foremost, my deep faith in a loving God, who loves me unconditionally. Family: Secondly, my family who keeps me balanced and grounded. Thirdly, being passionate in all you do, no matter what! But in the end the most important thing in life is love. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) (The Bible) Book your 2023 wedding now in order to avoid disappointment. Hi Rudy, We just got back from the honeymoon, so both Lori and myself wanted to say thank you so much for the everything you did for us. We wanted to do so immediately afterwards, but got caught up… Read more Hi Rudy, Thank you for being such an awesome officiant on our wedding day! We could not have asked for a better person to marry us. All the best! Tracy and Than Tracy and Than September 2016 Dear Rev. Rudy, Thank you so very much for being our ‘rock’ on our very special day! You not only made us feel comfortable and at ease, but you had such wonderful advice along the way! Wishing y… Read more Danny and Jennifer May 2014 Charles & Nicole said… Reverend Rudy was extremely amazing to work with on creating our special day. He was more than gracious from the moment we spoke on the phone. We were invited to meet him for … Read more Dear Rudy, How are you? We just wanted to apologize to you for taking so long to send this email, but on behalf of us and our families, Purvish and I thank you for writing and conducting our civil … Read more Shaharin and Purvish October 2018 Hi Rudy, I hope all is well. Tania and I are back from our honeymoon and wanted to take the opportunity to thank you again for your services at our wedding. You did a great job and many of our gues… Read more Nick and Tania June 2019 Hi Rudy, We would like to thank you from the bottom of our very full hearts for performing our marriage on Saturday. It was absolutely beautiful, touching, funny, and so special. It was the best da… Read more Sam and Lee August 2018 Rudy, thank you so much for being part of our day. My heart is so happy that we found you. I had SO many compliments about the ceremony and how well it was done, and how nicely pieces of the Jewish an… Read more Julie and Mark Melissa said: My husband and I had such a pleasant experience working with Reverend Rudy as our officiant. We met with him at his home, and he was so welcoming, and made us feel comfortable. We knew … Read more Melissa October 2017 Hello Rudy! Thank you so much for a lovely ceremony!!! Everyone really enjoyed it!!!! My parents were wondering if you had the text of the readings available… Warmest regards, Katherine Don't forget about the early bird, it catches the worm. Book your 2023 wedding now to catch your date and time!	4,127
Eminem's mother 'Very, very proud' of his Rock Hall of Fame induction: 'I Knew You'd Get There' - LIVE LOVE AND CARE PRIVACY POLICY Eminem’s mother ‘Very, very proud’ of his Rock Hall of Fame induction: ‘I Knew You’d Get There’ Eminem’s mother ‘Very, very proud’ of his Rock Hall of Fame induction: ‘I Knew You’d Get There’ November 9, 2022 November 9, 2022 James Isaacs Eminem famously took a series of rather vicious swipes at his mother Debbie on songs like “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” and “My Name Is” (before offering a mea culpa on 2013’s “Headlights”). But it all seems to be water under the bridge now that Marshall is officially a member Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After the Detroit Don took his place among the rock gods over the weekend on 2022 RRHOF Induction Ceremony, Debbie Mathers shot a congratulatory video that was pure proud mom. “Marshall, I want to say, I couldn’t let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame,” Debbie said in a video shared Monday (Nov. 7) by a friend. “I love you so much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you. And I’m also very proud of [granddaughter] Hailie Jade, my big girl. I want to tell you Hailie, good job on your podcast and God bless you. I love you very much.” After years of contentious back and forth — including a 1999 $12 million lawsuit filed against his son, charging him with defamation, which they settled two years later for $25,000 — the sweet message was the perfect cap to a big weekend for Slim Shady. The rapper, joined by daughter Hailie at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for his big night, alluded to his unusual rise to the occasion in his acceptance speech. “So I’m probably not supposed to actually be here tonight for a couple of reasons,” he told the crowd. “One of them is that I’m a rapper and this is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And there’s only a few of us right now that have already been inducted, but there’s only a few of us… I had to really fight my way through man to try to break through in this music and I’m so honored and I I’m so thankful that I’m even able to be up here and do it hip hop music, man, because I love it so much.” Em was introduced by his longtime mentor and producer, Dr. Dre, who said he never lost faith in the MC, praising his “raw, dark and humorous lyrics combined with an impeccable cadence.”	2,568
I’m lying on the concrete floor of the James E. Carnes Center in Belmont County, Ohio. My feet are laced in roller skates and protective gear (elbow and knee pads, wrist guards, and helmet) is strapped to my limbs. I’m listening to the crowd cheering, the metallic whirl of wheels, the grunts and shouts of other skaters. And I’m willing myself to stand up. You see, I’m playing roller derby with the Ohio Valley Roller Girls, and I’ve just been knocked to the ground by a powerful hit from the opposing team. I’m skating as my team’s jammer at the moment, which means that it is my job to score points by maneuvering my body around the members of the opposing team, so it is imperative that I get off the ground and back on the track as quickly as possible. And I am tired. This is our second game in as many days, and it is one of the toughest games of the season. I look up: How many minutes are left on the game clock? Scrambling to my feet and positioning myself to re-enter the track, I notice that the skater responsible for sending me flying out of play is watching me with a half-smile on her face. Maybe it’s a smile of satisfaction for having taken me out of contention for a few seconds. Maybe she’s trying to intimidate me. But there seems to be something else going on, too. Beneath her competitive veneer, I sense her daring me back into the game—willing me to keep going and to dig a little deeper. So I do. This, to me, is modern roller derby in a nutshell: It is a sport that allows—more than that, it is a sport that encourages—women to act as one another’s fiercest competitors as well as their fiercest allies. It is a sport that allows women to be many things at once: powerful, vulnerable, aggressive, kind. I’ve had opposing team members give me a hug in the middle of a game, then proceed to make my life a living hell with skillful blocking. I’ve gotten high fives from opposing jammers mere seconds before the whistle blew and we sought to leave each other in the dust. And I’ve spent many hours at the post-game after party, following both victories and defeats, dancing with the other team, all of us soaked in sweat and glowing with exertion. There aren’t many spaces in our culture that make room for these kinds of female relationships. Rather, we are told that we are each other’s enemies: for romantic partners, for professional success, for beauty. Time magazine asks: Are you mom enough? US Weekly asks: Who wore it best? Rivers of mascara flow on The Bachelor as women plot one another’s ruin. Roller derby says something different about women and their capacities for friendship, generosity, and inner reserve. Those of us who play roller derby know this well, and it is why we keep coming back for more. Make no mistake; roller derby is intensely competitive. But it is competition rooted in community. When we work to achieve milestones in this sport, such as the ability to skate 27 laps in five minutes (no small feat, I assure you), we’re working together. We aren’t chugging away on the solitary hell of the treadmill; we’re trying to catch that skater who is always just a few feet ahead of us, and we’re encouraging that skater who lags behind. We’re exercising not to be beautiful, but to be strong—for ourselves and for each other. I realize that this all sounds very romantic, but I don’t care. If you aren’t involved in roller derby, either as a skater, a volunteer, or a fan, then, quite simply, you are missing out on something special. You may be one of those individuals who doesn’t know that modern roller derby even exists, so let me do you the favor of introduction: roller derby is in the Ohio Valley and it is awesome. The Ohio Valley Roller Girls formed in 2010 and play under the rules and minimum skills established by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the primary governing body for the sport. The WFTDA is responsible for ranking its 308 member leagues, which are divided into Divisions 1-3, and for hosting an annual playoff and championship series consisting of teams from all over the world: North and South America, Europe, Asia, and as far away as Melbourne, Australia. The OVRG is made up of skaters from eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. These skaters come from all walks of life, converging three nights a week in the Martin’s Ferry Recreation Center to prepare for competitive play against teams from around the eastern United States. If you watched roller derby in the 1970s, the sport looks very different today. The Silicon Valley Roller Girls, located in San Jose, Calif., provide a useful microhistory of the sport on their website: Modern Roller Derby has evolved from over a century of roller-skating sports. In the early 1900s speed and endurance races were popular, leading Leo Seltzer (commonly known as the “father of roller derby”) to form the Transcontinental Roller Derby in the 1930s. While these were marathon events, short sprint “jams” were featured, and physical contact between skaters began to be encouraged as it proved popular amongst the fans. In the late 1940s and 50s, Seltzer formed the National Roller Derby League (NRDL), which included the legendary San Francisco Bay Bombers. The NRDL featured “theatrical” whips, hits, and elbows. The modern roller derby revival started in the early 2000s in Texas. Modern roller derby is comprised of many female skater-owned and operated leagues. Most leagues skate on flat tracks, but some also feature banked-track competition. The complete rules governing modern roller derby can be found on the WFTDA website. In a throwback to the sport’s earlier iterations, many modern roller derby skaters choose to use skater names or alter egos—such as Grenadrienne, Gnarly Manson, and Sween Machine, all members of the OVRG—but this does not lessen the intensity of what they do when they roll out onto the track. The physical contact that takes place in modern roller derby is no longer staged, as this compilation of clips from OVRG’s 2014 season, compiled by Eric Romero, the official videographer for OVRG and many other roller derby leagues in the region, amply demonstrates. Roller derby involves a lot of falling down—and a lot of getting up. The bumps and bruises are plentiful, but so are the rewards. Aside from the skaters who make up the team, the roller derby community relies upon a host of other individuals—referees, announcers, non-skating officials, and other skilled and generous volunteers—who are critical to the sport’s existence. Their contributions make plain that roller derby is a grassroots endeavor in which the entire community, not just the women on the track, can take pride. And the OVRG is dedicated to giving back to the local community. In the past several years, the OVRG has donated money to Webark Estates; Wheeling Health Right; Camp Catch Your Breath; the Wheeling Soup Kitchen; the Marshall County Animal Shelter; Florence Crittenton Services; and other charitable organizations right here in the Ohio Valley. One of my teammates refers to roller derby as a secret sisterhood, and I think she’s right. We are hiding in plain sight, as it were. Chances are, one of us has served your dinner, cared for your loved one in the hospital, or taught your children in school. And three nights a week, we put those other parts of our lives on hold and challenge each other to be the selves that we didn’t know existed before derby came along. “I am supported by my derby family in ways I could never have imagined. They make me feel like I can do anything,” reports Alex “Lorena Vomit” Wright, an OVRG skater. Christa “Electric Mayhem” Kerns relays that she started playing roller derby at a tough time in her life, and that “it was the positive atmosphere that I needed, with people who were welcoming and encouraging”; for her, OVRG has been a place “to find out what I am capable of as a human.” And roller derby isn’t just for adults or for women; men’s roller derby followed on the heels of women’s roller derby, and many leagues engage in co-ed play, giving women and men a chance to test their skills in an environment of mutual respect. Junior roller derby is gaining momentum among young men and women around the world. “I love the skills and confidence my daughter is building. Not only on the track but in everyday life,” reports Jill McDowell Walter, mother of Ryleigh “Roonado” Murphy of OVRG’s junior roller derby team. Confidence. Encouragement. Capability. Family. These elements are what make modern roller derby so special, and what have made it so fundamental in my own life. When I find myself feeling rundown after work on a Thursday evening, not sure if I have the energy to pack up my gear and venture out to practice, I remind myself of what I’ll be missing if I stay at home. No matter how tired I feel, those hours spent on the couch will not reward me in the way that those hours spent on the track, surrounded by my derby sisters, surely will. The remote control will not test my mental and physical limits. It will ask nothing of me, and it will give me nothing in return. I choose the daring and the richness that roller derby offers, and I challenge you to do the same. The next OVRG home game will take place on April 18, 2015 at the James E. Carnes Center. I’ll see you there! For information about becoming involved with the Ohio Valley Roller Girls, as a skater, referee, or volunteer, contact ovrg@ohiovalleyrollergirls.com. Every Sunday, from 5-6pm, OVRG hosts a training class for new skaters. Interested skaters should fill out the recruitment form on the league website. You can also find us on Facebook. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Every bout I’ve been to I’ve left impressed with how tough these ladies are, and whenever I’ve spoken to anyone of them they’ve amazed me with their intelligence, sweetness, and solidarity. I’m happy to be a part of this, I’m excited to see OVRG grow and expand. Thanks, Dorian, for the great piece!	10,420
Sadie Tallie received the Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 for her 60+ years of community service. Mother Sadie Tallie offers remarks after she received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson presents a citation as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson presents a citation as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Bishop Terry Dorsey presents Mother Sadie Tallie with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Sister Nancy Maise was the Master of Ceremonies as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Deacon Donald Fryar welcomed everyone as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Bishop Terry Dorsey provided the Opening Prayer as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson and City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey were present as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Dr. Mary McLymore sung the "Negro National Anthem" as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey offered a proclamation as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Minister Alice Boykin offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Elder Dr. Thermond Herring of Mt. Carmel Church of Christ Disciples of Christ offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Elder Dr. Thermond Herring of Mt. Carmel Church of Christ Disciples of Christ offered remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Sister Melody Burnett offers a musical selection as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Dr. Dollyann Newkirk Briggs offers remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Dr. Satina Williams offers remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson offers remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Mother Sadie Tallie offers remarks after she received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. All images in this website Copyright © Hudson Valley Press. All Rights Reserved. Images on this site may not be used for personal or commercial use without written permission. Powered by SmugMug Owner Log In Dr. Dollyann Newkirk Briggs offers remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. Dr. Satina Williams offers remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR. New York State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson offers remarks as Mother Sadie Tallie received a Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, September 12, 2022 from True Insight. Hudson Valley Press/CHUCK STEWART, JR.	5,523
A method of exchanging insurance-related assets without triggering a taxable event. Cash-value life insurance policies and annuity contracts are two products that may qualify for a 1035 exchange. A qualified retirement plan available to eligible employees of companies. 401(k) plans allow eligible employees to defer taxation on a specific percentage of their income that is to be put toward retirement savings; taxes on this deferred income and on any earnings the account generates are deferred until the funds are withdrawn—normally in retirement. Employers may match part or all of an employee’s contributions. Employees may be responsible for investment selections and enjoy the direct tax savings. A loan taken from the assets within a 401(k) account; 401(k) loans charge interest and are normally paid back through payroll deductions. If the borrower leaves an employer before a 401(k) loan has been repaid, the full amount of the loan is generally due. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, it is considered a distribution, and ordinary income taxes may be due along with any applicable tax penalties. Note: under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you don’t have to pay taxes or the penalty if you repay the loan by the due date of your tax return for the year that you leave your job (including extensions). For example, if you leave your job in 2020, you’d have until April 15, 2021, to repay the loan. A 403(b) plan is similar to a 401(k). A 403(b) is a qualified retirement plan available to employees of non-profit and government organizations. The amount held in an account at the end of a reporting period. For example, a credit card account balance would show the amount owed to a lender as a result of purchases made during a specific period. A mortgage with an interest rate that is adjusted periodically based on an index. Adjustable-rate mortgages generally have lower initial interest rates than fixed-rate mortgages because the lender is able to transfer some of the risk to the borrower; if prevailing rates go higher, the interest rate on a variable mortgage may adjust upward as well. One figure used in the calculation of income tax liability. AGI is determined by subtracting allowable adjustments from gross income. A probate-court-appointed person who is tasked with settling an estate for which there is no will. The return on an investment after subtracting any taxes due. A mutual fund offered by an investment company that specifically pursues substantial capital gains. Mutual fund balances are subject to fluctuation in value and market risk. Shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Individuals are encouraged to consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. A method of calculating income tax with a unique set of rules for deductions and exemptions that are more restrictive than those in the traditional tax system. The AMT attempts to ensure that certain high-income taxpayers don’t pay a lower effective tax rate than everyone else. To determine whether or not the AMT applies, taxpayers must fill out IRS Form 6251. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) The yearly cost of a loan expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. The APR includes interest owed and any fees or additional costs associated with the agreement. Annual Report A report required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of any company issuing registered stock, that describes a company’s management, operations, and financial reports. Annual reports are sent to shareholders, and must also be available for public review. Annuity A contract with an insurance company that guarantees current or future payments in exchange for a premium or series of premiums. The interest earned on an annuity contract is not taxable until the funds are paid out or withdrawn. Withdrawals and income payments are taxed as ordinary income. If a withdrawal is made prior to age 59½, penalties may apply. The guarantees of an annuity contract depend on the issuing company’s claims-paying ability. Annuities have fees and charges associated with the contract, and a surrender charge also may apply if the contract owner elects to give up the annuity before certain time-period conditions are satisfied. Appraisal A formal assessment of a property’s value at a specific point in time, performed by a qualified professional. Anything owned that has a current value that may provide a future benefit. A method of allocating funds to pursue the highest potential return at a specific level of risk. Asset allocation normally uses sophisticated mathematical analysis of the historical performance of asset classes to attempt to project future risk and return. Asset allocation is an approach to help manage investment risk. It does not guarantee against investment loss. Asset Class A specific category of investments that share similar characteristics and tend to behave similarly in the marketplace. In accounting, the formal examination of a company’s financial records by a qualified professional to determine the records’ accuracy, consistency, and conformity to legal standards and established accounting principles. In taxes, the formal examination of a tax return by the Internal Revenue Service or other authority to determine its accuracy. An arrangement under which an institution automatically deposits dividends or capital gains generated by an individual’s investment back into the investment to purchase additional shares. Balanced Mutual Fund A mutual fund offered by an investment company which attempts to hold a balance of stocks and bonds. Mutual funds are subject to fluctuation in value and market risk. Shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Individuals are encouraged to consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. Bear Market A market experiencing an extended period of declining prices. A bear market is the opposite of a bull market. Beneficiary The person or entity who will receive benefits from a life insurance policy, qualified retirement plan, annuity, trust, or will upon the death of an individual. The stock of an established company which has a history of generating a profit and possibly a consistent dividend. A debt instrument under which the issuer promises to pay a specified amount of interest and to repay the principal at maturity. The market value of a bond will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. As rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls. If an investor sells a bond before maturity, it may be worth more or less than the initial purchase price. By holding a bond to maturity, an investor will receive the interest payments due plus his or her original principal, barring default by the issuer. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk. The value of a company’s assets minus its liabilities, preferred stock, and redeemable preferred stock. A market experiencing an extended period of rising prices. A bull market is the opposite of a bear market. An investment strategy that advocates holding securities for the long term and ignoring short-term price fluctuations in the market. A legal contract that provides for the purchase of all outstanding shares from a business owner who wishes to sell, wants to terminate involvement, is permanently disabled, or has died. Buy-sell agreements are often funded with life insurance. The difference between the price at which an asset was purchased and the price for which it was sold. When the sale price is higher than the purchase price, the difference is a capital gain; when the sale price is lower than the purchase price, the difference is a capital loss. Assets that are most easily converted into cash and which have a very low risk of price fluctuation. For example, money market funds may be considered a cash alternative. Money held in money market funds is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. The amount a policyholder would receive when voluntarily terminating a cash-value life insurance policy before the insured event occurs or when cashing out an annuity contract before its maturity. Computation of cash surrender value is stated in the life insurance or annuity contract. A deposit with a bank, thrift institution, or credit union that promises a fixed interest rate on funds deposited for a specified period of time. Bank savings accounts and CDs are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor per institution and generally provide a fixed rate of return, whereas the value of money market mutual funds can fluctuate. Charitable Lead Trust A trust established for the benefit of a charitable organization under which the charitable organization receives payment of a specified amount (at least annually) from the trust. On the death of the grantor, remainder interest in the trust passes to his or her heirs. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations. A trust established for the benefit of a charitable organization under which the grantor can designate an income beneficiary to receive payment of a specified amount—at least annually—from the trust. The grantor may also be the income beneficiary. On the death of the grantor, remainder interest in the trust passes to the charitable organization. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations. A request for payment under the terms of an insurance policy. A federal law that requires group health plans sponsored by employers with more than 20 employees to offer terminated or retired employees the opportunity to continue their health insurance coverage for a specified period at the employees’ expense. Coinsurance or Co-Payment A policy provision under which an insurance company and the insured party share the total cost of covered medical services after the policy’s deductible has been met. An unsecured, short-term debt security issued by a corporation to finance short-term liabilities. These notes are normally backed only by the issuing corporation’s promise to pay the face amount on the maturity date specified on the note, which is usually less than six months. Common Stock A security that represents partial ownership of a corporation. Those who hold common stock are entitled to participate in stockholder meetings, to vote for the board of directors, and may receive periodic dividends. State laws under which most property and debts acquired during a marriage—except for gifts or inheritances—are owned jointly by both spouses and are divided upon divorce or annulment. In the United States, nine states have community property laws: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Compound Interest A process under which interest is computed both on an account’s principal and on any gains reinvested in prior periods. This is contrasted with simple interest, in which interest is calculated only on the principal amount. The U.S. government’s main measure of inflation, calculated monthly by the Department of Labor. A term life insurance policy under which the policyholder has the right to convert the policy to permanent life insurance, subject to limitations. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. Corporate Bond A debt security issued by a corporation under which the issuer promises to make periodic interest payments and to repay the investor’s principal at maturity. The market value of a bond will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. As rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls. If an investor sells a bond before maturity, it may be worth more or less than the initial purchase price. By holding a bond to maturity, investors will receive the interest payments due plus their original principal, barring default by the issuer. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk. A legal organization created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. Corporations are taxable entities—they are taxed separately from their members or shareholders. Corporations are able to borrow money and to make a profit separately from their members or shareholders. A tax-advantaged investment account that allows accumulation of funds to cover future education expenses, subject to limitations. Coverdell ESAs allow money to grow tax deferred and proceeds to be withdrawn tax free for qualified education expenses at a qualified institution. A statistical estimation of how likely a potential borrower is to pay his or her debts and, by extension, how much credit he or she should have. An obligation owed by one party (the debtor) to a second party (the creditor). Debt-to-Equity Ratio The ratio of a company’s total debt to its total shareholder equity. Some use the debt-to-equity ratio to attempt to ascertain a company’s capability to repay its creditors. Deduction An amount that can be subtracted from gross income before income taxes are calculated. A legal document that confirms ownership of an asset or that confirms the passage of an interest, right, or ownership in the asset from one person or legal entity to another. Deferred Annuity A contract with an insurance company that guarantees a future payment or series of payments in exchange for current premiums. The interest earned on an annuity contract is not taxable until the funds are paid out or withdrawn. The guarantees of an annuity contract depend on the issuing company’s claims-paying ability. Annuities have fees and charges associated with the contract, and a surrender charge also may apply if the contract owner elects to give up the annuity before certain time-period conditions are satisfied. Defined Benefit Plan A retirement plan under which the benefit to a retiring employee is defined. Defined benefit plans are normally funded by employer contributions. A retirement plan under which the annual contributions made by the employer or employee are defined. Benefits may vary depending on the performance of the investments in the account. A reduction in the price of goods and services. Deflation is the opposite of inflation. A person who relies on another for his or her financial support. Within limits, those who support dependents are allowed to claim certain exemptions when filing income taxes. The direct transfer of assets from the trustee or custodian of one qualified retirement plan or account to the trustee or custodian of another. Done correctly, direct rollovers do not trigger taxable events. An insurance policy that pays a portion of the insured’s income when a specified disability makes working uncomfortable, painful, or impossible. An investment strategy under which capital is divided among several assets or asset classes. Diversification operates under the assumption that different assets and/or asset classes are unlikely to move in the same direction, allowing gains in one investment to offset losses in another. Diversification is an approach to help manage investment risk. It does not eliminate the risk of loss if security prices decline. Taxable payments made by a company to its shareholders. Some dividends are paid quarterly and others are paid monthly. Companies can adjust common share dividends at any time, pending approval by the company’s board of directors. An investment strategy under which a fixed dollar amount of securities is purchased at regular intervals. Under dollar-cost averaging, more shares are purchased when prices are low and fewer shares when prices rise. Keep in mind that dollar-cost averaging does not protect against a loss in a declining market or guarantee a profit in a rising market. Investors should evaluate their financial ability to continue making purchases through periods of declining and rising prices. An average calculated by summing the prices of 30 actively leading stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and dividing the sum by a divisor which has been adjusted to account for cases of stock splits, spinoffs, or similar structural changes. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. Early Withdrawal Withdrawal of funds from an investment before its maturity date or withdrawal of funds from a tax-deferred account before the legally imposed age requirements have been satisfied. Early withdrawals may be subject to penalties. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) A defined-contribution plan that provides a company’s workers with an ownership interest in the company—usually as shares of company stock. Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan A retirement plan sponsored by an employer for the benefit of its employees. These typically fall into one of two types: defined-contribution plans (such as SEP IRAs, 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans) and defined-benefit plans (such as traditional pensions). The value of real property or a business after all liabilities have been paid. A home worth $300,000 with a $200,000 mortgage would have $100,000 in equity. Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) A federal law that establishes the regulations under which retirement plans are governed and spells out the federal income tax regulations and effects for qualified retirement plans. The preparations necessary to manage a person’s financial and healthcare matters during his or her lifetime and to effectively and economically distribute the assets within that estate upon his or her death. Estate Tax Federal and/or state taxes that may be levied on the assets of a deceased person upon his or her death. These taxes are paid by the deceased person’s estate rather than his or her heirs. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) A share of an investment company that owns a block of shares selected to pursue a specific investment objective. ETFs trade like stocks and are listed on stock exchanges and sold by broker-dealers. Exchange-traded funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. An executive benefit paid for by an employer. A person named by a will or appointed by the probate court to distribute the deceased’s assets as directed by the will or, in the absence of a will, in accordance with the probate laws of the state. A series of income ranges within which a taxpayer’s income is taxed at a certain rate. Taxpayers pay the tax rate in a given bracket only for that portion of their overall income that falls within the bracket’s range. Federal Reserve System (The Fed) The United States’ central bank. The Federal Reserve System consists of a series of 12 independent banks that operate under the supervision of a seven-member, federally appointed board of governors. The Fed strives to maintain maximum employment, stable price levels, and moderate long-term interest rates. It establishes and enforces the regulations banks, savings and loans, and credit unions must follow. It also acts as a clearing house for certain financial transactions and provides banking services to the federal government. Loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs provided by federally and privately funded sources to enable students to attend college. A formal record of the financial activities of a business, person, or other entity. For a business, financial statements typically include a balance sheet, a profit and loss statement, and a cash flow statement. FINRA is an independent regulator that oversees all securities firms doing business in the U.S. FINRA seeks to protect investors by making sure the securities industry operates fairly and honestly. Joint life insurance taken out on the lives of two or more people that pays its death benefit when the first insured person dies. A contract with an insurance company that guarantees investment growth at a fixed interest rate as well as current or future payments in exchange for a premium or series of premiums. The interest earned on an annuity contract is not taxable until the funds are paid out or withdrawn. The guarantees of an annuity contract depend on the issuing company’s claims-paying ability. Annuities have fees and charges associated with the contract, and a surrender charge also may apply if the contract owner elects to give up the annuity before certain time-period conditions are satisfied. A mortgage with a set interest rate that will not change over the life of the loan. The legal process under which a creditor seizes the property of a borrower who has not made timely payments on his or her debt. A sales fee paid at the time an investment is purchased. This fee is deducted from the investment—thus lowering the size of the investment. A method of evaluating securities that examines financial and economic factors—such as the current finances of a company and the prevailing economic environment—to determine whether the company’s future value is accurately reflected in its current stock price. The voluntary transfer of assets under which the giver receives no compensation and retains no interest in his or her gift. Gift Tax A tax the federal government and some states levy on the transfer of property as a gift. Generally gift taxes increase with the amount of the gift and are paid by the donor. Total monthly income generated from all sources before taxes and other expenses are considered. Life insurance that insures all the members of a specific group, most often the employees of a specific company or the members of a professional association. An account that offers individuals covered by high-deductible health plans a tax-advantaged means to save for medical expenses. Within certain limits, funds contributed to the account are not subject to federal income taxes. Unlike Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), funds can be rolled over from year to year if not spent. The real value of a home after all liabilities have been paid. Thus a home worth $300,000 with a $200,000 mortgage would have $100,000 in equity. Monies or other compensation received from any source. This includes wages, commissions, bonuses, Social Security and other retirement benefits, unemployment compensation, disability, interest, and dividends. Generally, all income is taxable unless it is specifically exempted by law. An average of the prices of a hypothetical basket of securities representing a particular market or portion of a market. Among the most well known are the Dow Jones Industrials Index, or the Dow; the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, or the S&P 500; and the Russell 2000 Index. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. A qualified retirement account for individuals. Contributions to a Traditional IRA may be fully or partially deductible, depending on your individual circumstance. Under the SECURE Act, in most circumstances, once you reach age 72, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Withdrawals from Traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10-percent federal income tax penalty. You may continue to contribute to a Traditional IRA past age 70½ under the SECURE Act as long as you meet the earned-income requirement. An upward movement in the average level of prices. Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on the average level of prices when it releases the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A company’s first public offering of stock. In an IPO, investment banks buy a company’s shares and then offer them to the public at an offering price. As the stock is traded, the market price may be more or less than the offering price. Keep in mind that the return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The cost to borrow money expressed as a percentage of the loan amount over one year. The condition of an estate when its owner dies without leaving a valid will. In such circumstances, state law normally determines who inherits property and who serves as guardian for any minor children. The stated financial goal of an investment. A trust that cannot be altered, stopped, or canceled after its creation without the permission of the beneficiary or trustee. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations. A form of property ownership under which two or more people have an undivided interest in the property and in which the survivor or survivors automatically assume ownership of the interest of any joint tenant who dies. Jointly Held Property Property owned simultaneously by more than one person. All co-owners have an equal right to use the property, and no co-owner can exclude another co-owner from the property. The most common forms of jointly-held property are joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and, in some states, community property. A tax-deferred retirement plan for self-employed individuals and employees of unincorporated businesses. Keogh plans are similar to IRAs but have significantly higher contribution limits. Distributions from Keogh plans and most other employer-sponsored retirement plans are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Generally, once you reach age 70½, you must begin taking required minimum distributions. Key Employee An employee who has valuable skills, knowledge, or organizational abilities, who is considered critical to the success of a given company. Company-owned insurance designed to cover the cost of replacing a key employee if he or she were to die or become disabled. A contract under which an insurance company promises, in exchange for premiums, to pay a set benefit when the policyholder dies. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. The ease and speed with which an asset or security can be bought or sold. A trust created by a living person which allows that person to control the assets he or she contributes to the trust during his or her lifetime and to direct their disposition upon his or her death. A written document that allows the originator to designate someone to make medical decisions on his or her behalf in the event that he or she becomes incapacitated due to accident or illness. Insurance that covers the cost of medical and non-medical services needed by those who have a chronic illness or disability—most commonly associated with aging. Long-term-care insurance can cover the cost of nursing home care, in-home assistance, assisted living, and adult day care. A one-time payment of the entire amount held in an employer-sponsored retirement, pension plan, annuity, or similar account, rather than breaking payments into smaller installments. The cost of having assets professionally managed. This fee is normally a fixed percentage of the fund’s asset value; terms of the fee are disclosed in the prospectus. Marital Deduction A provision of the tax code that allows an individual to transfer an unlimited amount of assets to his or her spouse at any time—including upon the individual’s death—without triggering a tax liability. Market Risk The risk that an entire market will decline, reducing the value of the investments in it without regard to other factors. This is also known as Systemic Risk. Market Timing An investment philosophy under which investors buy and sell securities in an attempt to profit from short-term price fluctuations. The date on which a debt security comes due for payment and on which an investor’s principal is due to be repaid. The federal government’s health program for eligible individuals and families with low income and resources. It is means tested, meaning those who apply for benefits must demonstrate they have need. The federal government’s health program for individuals aged 65 and over and for individuals who have certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Money Market Fund A mutual fund that invests in assets that are easily converted into cash and which have a low risk of price fluctuation. This may include money market holdings, Treasury bills, and commercial paper. Money held in money market funds is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Money market funds seek to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 a share. However, it is possible to lose money by investing in a money market fund. A debt security issued by a state, county, city, or other political entity (such as a school district) to raise public funds for special projects. The income from municipal bonds is normally exempt from federal income taxes. It may also be exempt from state income taxes in the state in which the municipal bond is issued. Bond prices rise and fall daily. Municipal bonds are subject to a variety of risks, including adjustments in interest rates, call risk, market conditions, and default risk. Some municipal bonds may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally will fall. Certain municipal bonds may be difficult to sell. A municipal bond issuer may be unable to make interest or principal payments, which may lead to the issuer defaulting on the bond. If this occurs, the municipal bond may have little or no value. If a bond is purchased at a premium, it may result in realized losses. It’s possible that the interest on a municipal bond may be determined to be taxable after purchase. Municipal Bond Fund A mutual fund offered by an investment company which specifically invests in municipal bonds. Mutual fund balances are subject to fluctuation in value and market risk. Shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Individuals are encouraged to consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. Mutual Fund A pooled investment account offered by an investment company. Mutual funds pool the monies of many investors and then invest the money to pursue the fund’s stated objectives. The resulting portfolio of investments is managed by the investment company. Mutual fund balances are subject to fluctuation in value and market risk. Shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Individuals are encouraged to consider the charges, risks, expenses, and investment objectives carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information about the investment company can be obtained from your financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money. An American stock exchange originally founded by the National Association of Securities Dealers. When the NASDAQ stock exchange began trading on February 8, 1971, it was the world’s first electronic stock market. The net market value of a mutual fund’s current holdings divided by the number of outstanding shares. The product of this division estimates the per-share value of the fund’s assets. A company’s total revenues minus its costs, expenses, and taxes. Net income is the bottom line of a company’s income statement (which may also be called the profit and loss statement). A stock exchange located on Wall Street in New York City, NY. Many regard the NYSE as the largest exchange in the U.S., and possibly in the world. Non-contributory Retirement Plan A retirement plan that is funded entirely by employer contributions, with no employee contributions. Non-qualified Plan A retirement or employee benefit plan that is not eligible for favorable tax treatment. The official name of the Social Security program. In addition to retirement benefits, it offers disability income, veterans’ pensions, public housing, and food stamps. Partnership A contract under which two or more individuals manage and operate a business venture. A class of life insurance policies that do not expire—as long as premiums are kept current—and which combine a death benefit with a savings component. This savings portion can accumulate a cash value against which the policy owner may be able to borrow funds. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. Policy Loan A loan made by an insurance company to a policyholder. Policy loans are secured by the cash value of a life insurance policy. Withdrawals of earnings are fully taxable at ordinary income tax rates. If you are under age 59½ when you make the withdrawal, you may also be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty. Also, withdrawals may reduce the benefits and value of the contract. A provision to a life insurance policy that is purchased separately from the basic policy and that provides additional benefits at additional cost. The person or entity who holds an insurance policy; usually the client in whose name an insurance policy is written. The combined investments of an individual investor or mutual fund. Power of Attorney A legal document that grants one person authority to act for another person in specific legal or financial matters in the event that said individual becomes incapacitated. Securities that represent ownership in a corporation and have a higher claim on a company’s assets and earnings than common stock. Dividends on preferred stock are generally paid out before dividends to common stockholders. Prenuptial Agreement A contract entered into by those contemplating marriage that sets forth how their individual property will be divided should they ultimately divorce. A ratio calculated by dividing a stock’s price by its earnings per share. Investors use this ratio to learn how much they are paying for a company’s earnings. The interest rate commercial banks charge their most credit-worthy or “prime” customers. The prime interest rate is influenced by the federal funds rate. Principal The original amount invested in a security, excluding earnings; the face value of a bond; or the remaining amount owed on a loan, separate from interest. The court-supervised process in which a deceased person’s debts are paid and any remaining assets distributed to his or her heirs. Anything over which a person or business has legal title. Property may be held in common or privately owned. A defined-contribution plan under which employees share in company profits. The funds within the plan accumulate tax deferred. A legal document that provides the information an investor needs to make an informed decision about an investment offered for sale to the public. Prospectuses are required by and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Qualified Retirement Plan A retirement plan that is established and operates within the rules laid down in Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and thus receives favorable tax treatment. A measure of the performance of an investment. Rate of return is calculated by dividing any gain or loss by an investment’s initial cost. Rates of return usually account for any income received from the investment in addition to any realized capital gains. A pooled investment that invests primarily in real estate. REITs trade like stocks on the major exchanges. Keep in mind that the return and principal value of REIT prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The return of an investor’s principal in a debt security—such as a preferred stock or bond—upon maturity or cancellation by the entity that originally issued the security. Redemption can also refer to the sale of units in a mutual fund. The amount that must be withdrawn annually from a qualified retirement plan, beginning April 1 of the year following the year in which the account holder reaches age 72. The amount of money a company brings in from its business activities during a given period, before expenses and taxes have been subtracted. A trust that can be altered or canceled by its grantor. During the life of the trust, any income earned is distributed to the grantor; upon the grantor’s death, the contents of the trust are transferred to its beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust. The chance an investment will be lost or will provide less-than-expected returns. A measurement of an investor’s willingness or ability to handle investment losses. A tax-free transfer of assets from one qualified retirement program to another. Rollovers must be made in accordance with specific requirements to avoid a taxable event. A qualified retirement plan in which earnings grow tax deferred and distributions are tax free. Contributions to a Roth IRA are generally not deductible for tax purposes, and there are income and contribution limits. Roth IRA contributions cannot be made by taxpayers with high incomes. To qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a five-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal also can be taken under certain other circumstances, such as after the owner’s death. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals. The process of transferring assets from a traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA to a Roth IRA. Roth IRA conversions are subject to specific requirements and may be taxable. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) A federal agency with a mandate to protect investors; to maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and to facilitate capital formation. The SEC acts as one of the primary regulatory agencies for the investment industry. Self-Directed IRA An individual retirement arrangement in which the account holder can direct the investment of funds, subject to certain conditions and limits. A unit of ownership in a corporation or financial asset. A qualified retirement plan that allows employees and employers to contribute to traditional IRAs set up for employees. SIMPLE plans are available to small businesses—those with 100 or fewer employees—that do not currently offer another retirement plan. An arrangement under which an employer and employee share the obligations and benefits of a life insurance policy. An arrangement under which a life insurance policy’s premium, cash values, and death benefit are split between two parties—usually a corporation and a key employee or executive. Under such an arrangement an employer may own the policy and pay the premiums and give a key employee or executive the right to name the recipient of the death benefit. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. An individual retirement arrangement under which an IRA is established for a non-working spouse and is funded with contributions from the working spouse. Spousal and non-spousal IRAs are subject to combined annual contribution limits and must meet certain requirements. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be fully or partially deductible, depending on your individual circumstance. Under the SECURE Act, in most circumstances, once you reach age 72, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from a spousal IRA. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10-percent federal income tax penalty. You may continue to contribute to a Traditional IRA past age 70½ under the SECURE Act as long as you meet the earned-income requirement. An average calculated by summing the prices of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy and dividing the sum by a divisor which is regularly adjusted to account for stock splits, spinoffs, or similar structural changes. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. An equity investment in a company. Stockholders own a share of the company and are entitled to any dividends and financial participation in company growth. They also have the right to vote on the company’s board of directors. Keep in mind that the return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. A legal document that certifies ownership of a specific number of shares of stock in a corporation. In many transactions, the stockholder is registered electronically, and no certificate is issued. A program under which an employer offers its employees the opportunity to buy stock at a favorable price, often through payroll deduction. A decision by a company to increase the number of shares of stock it has outstanding by issuing more shares to its current shareholders. For example, in a 2-for-1 split each shareholder would receive as many new shares as he or she owns—effectively doubling the number of shares he or she owns. The price per share adjusts to account for the split. In the example of a 2-for-1 split, each of the new shares would have a par value of half the prior price. Tax Credit A credit subtracted from income taxes after preliminary tax liability has been calculated. Tax Deduction An amount that can be subtracted from a taxpayer’s income before taxes are calculated. Taxpayers may use the standard deduction or may itemize deductions if allowable itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. Tax Deferred A condition of certain plans and accounts under which the funds in the plan or account along with any accrued interest, dividends, or other capital gains, are not subject to taxes until the funds are withdrawn. Debt securities issued by a state, county, city, or other political entity (such as a school district) that generate income which is exempt from federal income taxes. Income from such bonds may also be exempt from state income taxes in the state in which the bond is issued. However, some tax-exempt bonds may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Bond prices rise and fall daily. Municipal bonds are subject to a variety of risks, including adjustments in interest rates, call risk, market conditions, and default risk. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally will fall. Certain municipal bonds may be difficult to sell. A municipal bond issuer may be unable to make interest or principal payments, which may lead to the issuer defaulting on the bond. If this occurs, the municipal bond may have little or no value. If a bond is purchased at a premium, it may result in realized losses. It’s possible that the interest on a municipal bond may be determined to be taxable after purchase. A taxpayer’s gross income, minus any adjustments, itemized deductions or the standard deduction, and personal exemptions. Taxable income is used to compute tax liability. A method of evaluating securities by examining recent price movements and trends in an attempt to identify patterns that can suggest future activity. Generally, technical analysis is the opposite of fundamental analysis. Tenancy in Common A form of property ownership under which two or more people have an undivided interest in the property and in which the interest of a deceased owner passes to his or her beneficiaries rather than to the surviving owners. Life insurance that provides coverage for a specific period. If the policyholder dies during that time, his or her beneficiaries receive the benefit from the policy. If the policyholder outlives the term of the policy, it is no longer in effect. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. A trust created by a will or trust that is established on the death of the trustor. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations. The amount of time an investor plans to hold an investment or portfolio of investments. Title A legal document that serves as evidence of ownership of an asset or security. The total of all earnings from an investment or portfolio, including both capital appreciation and any income received. Debt securities issued by the United States government. Treasury bills normally have maturities of less than one year, while Treasury notes have maturities between one and 10 years, and Treasury bonds have maturities between 10 and 30 years. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury security prior to maturity, it could be worth more or less than the original price paid. A trust is a legal arrangement that creates a separate entity which can own property and is managed for the benefit of a beneficiary. A living trust is created while its grantor is still alive. A testamentary trust is created upon the grantor’s death—usually by another trust or by a will. Using a trust involves a complex set of tax rules and regulations. Before moving forward with a trust, consider working with a professional who is familiar with the rules and regulations. An individual, corporation, or other entity that manages property held in a trust. A means for transferring assets from one qualified retirement program to another without triggering a taxable event. Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) An act available in some states that allows assets to be held in a custodian’s name for the benefit of a minor without the need to set up a trust. Once the child to whom the assets have been gifted reaches the age of maturity in his or her state, the assets become his or her property and can be used for any purpose. Permanent life insurance that allows the policyholder to vary the amount and timing of premiums and, by extension, the death benefit. Universal life insurance policies accumulate cash value which grows tax deferred. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. Unlimited Marital Deduction A provision of the tax code that allows an individual to transfer an unlimited amount of assets to his or her spouse at any time—including upon the individual’s death—without triggering a tax liability. An interest rate that moves up and down with a specific measure or index, such as current money market rates or a lender’s cost of funds. Permanent life insurance that allows the policyholder to vary the amount and timing of premiums and, by extension, the death benefit. Universal life insurance policies accumulate cash value which grows tax deferred. Within certain limits, policyholders can direct how this cash value will be allocated among subaccounts offered within the policy. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. A measure of the range of potential fluctuations in a security’s value. A higher volatility means the security’s value can potentially fluctuate over a larger range of potential outcomes—up and down. Permanent life insurance with fixed premiums and death benefit. Whole life insurance policies accumulate cash value which grows tax deferred. Several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder also may pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments. A legal document by which an individual or a couple identifies their wishes regarding the distribution of their assets after death as well as the guardianship of any minor children. The process by which an employer holds back part of an employee’s compensation to pay his or her share of income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Amounts withheld are paid to the IRS in the employee’s name. A measure of the performance of an investment. Yield is calculated by dividing the income received from an investment by the investment’s initial cost. Yield differs from rate of return in that it accounts only for income; rate of return also includes appreciation or depreciation in the value of the investment. A bond that does not pay interest during its life. Zero-coupon bonds are purchased at a discount from their face value. When a zero-coupon bond matures, the investor receives the face value of the bond. The market value of a bond will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. As rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls. If an investor sells a bond before maturity, it may be worth more or less that the initial purchase price. By holding a bond to maturity, an investor will receive the interest payments due plus his or her original principal, barring default by the issuer. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk. Bond prices rise and fall daily. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks, including adjustments in interest rates, call risk, market conditions, and default risk. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally will fall. Certain municipal bonds may be difficult to sell. A bond issuer may be unable to make interest or principal payments, which may lead to the issuer defaulting on the bond. If this occurs, the bond may have little or no value. If a bond is purchased at a premium, it may result in realized losses. It’s possible that the interest on a municipal bond may be determined to be taxable after purchase. 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. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. We take protecting your data and privacy very seriously. As of January 1, 2020 the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) suggests the following link as an extra measure to safeguard your data: Do not sell my personal information. Jeff Rogers is an Investment Advisor Representative offering Financial Planning and Investment Advisory services through Stewardship Advisory Group, LLC; an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. *Legacy Coaching services are offered through Stewardship Legacy Coaching, LLC. Securities are offered through United Planners Financial Services, a Limited Partnership, Member FINRA, SIPC. - Stewardship Advisory Group, LLC and Stewardship Legacy Coaching, LLC are not affiliated with United Planners Financial Services.	58,967
Ambien is a sedative sometimes it is referred as hypnotics but it is not a benzodiazepine drug like many would think it is. It has relaxing traits that relax the brain and put you into the sleep cycle. It regulates unbalanced chemicals in the brain, which is the obvious reason for the sleeping problem, helps to attain quality sleep. Proper consultation with your doctor is advisable before taking this medication. What is Ambien? Ambien is derivative of zolpidem. In 1992, it was approved as the sleeping aid and from 2007 it has been largely available as the generic medication in the United States. Now in this modern medical world, many drug manufacturing firm has started producing Ambien and it is been dispensing by several healthcare companies. In the US, Sanofi-Aventis is a manufacturing company that produces this medication. In other parts of the world, the manufacturer may vary. Ambien is the NO.1 sleeping aid and most prescribed medication in the US. For below disorders and conditions, doctors will suggest taking Ambien. Disorders like daytime sleepiness, awakeness at night Psychological, neurological and other medical disorders which are the symptoms of sleeping disorders Dyssomnias-Trouble in getting and staying asleep Parasomnias –Disturbance during normal REM cycle Catathrenia – Rapid eye movement along with breath holding problem Breathing problem associated with discontinuous sleep – Central and Obstructive sleep apnea, It also used to stop snoring. In the United States, this medication is available in tablet form in capsule shape (elliptical shape) in the concentration of 5mg and 10mg and comes in the color of white and blue. Imprint on the pill will tell you the drug name and its dosage strength along with identifier code. For Ambien 5mg the code is 5401 and for 10mg Ambien 5421 is the code. It is also available in Controlled release form as Ambien CR in the concentration of 6.25mg and 12.gmg in orange and blue color respectively. In other countries, Ambien will be sold exactly similar to the US. Approach your doctor before deciding to take this drug. Your physician would suggest you with the right dosage level that suits you. By following the procedures as per the doctor’s advice would literally help you to out of side effects or drug abuse.	2,387
The Hounds Cub is excited to announce that we’ve just formed a partnership with Ken-Mar Rescue a fantastic organization that … Benefits of Dog Daycare & Boarding Benefits of Dog Daycare include the following and more… Peace of Mind: You have the ... Check out the Special Offers for Discounts & Savings on our Dog Daycare and Boarding Services. Daycare packages are as low as $30 per full day and Boarding packages are as low as $47.50 per night.	472
Since my extreme social distancing quarantine began, I have had to actually cook at home. Don’t get me wrong, I HAVE cooked at home before, just not on a regular basis. I have had to find or even come up with different recipes. We get bored easy though, so I’m always looking for some thing different and easy. I think I may have found it. While shopping on Amazon, which I am doing a lot of these days, I found a Friends cookbook. How did I miss this? I thought there was just talk of getting one together, but no, here it is right on Amazon. It turns out I didn’t really miss anything. its not available yet, but you an preorder NOW. that are all inspired by the characters and scenes from the show. Amazon describes it like this, Complete with more than seventy recipes and beautiful full-color photography, this charming cookbook is both a helpful companion for home cooks and a fun homage to the show that’s always been there for you. According to people.com, Each recipe includes step-by-step instructions and modifications to accommodate home cooks of all levels. Episodes of the show are also paired with each recipe so once you're ready to eat, you can watch the episode that matches the dish — like with Joey's favorite meatball sub. In "The One with The Ride-Along" Chandler, Ross and Joey are riding in a cop car when they think someone is shooting at them. Joey covers Ross, making Chandler jealous, but in reality, Joey was just trying to save his sub. I know it seems a little early to think about Christmas but if you order it now, you will have it just in time. And, when the Friends lover I your life is sad because they are sold out, like they will be, you can surprise someone with a copy you prefer months prior to the release. You will score major bonus points.	1,813
Wendy writes of JOY on untipsyteacher and I loved her description of joy. Me. I just can’t feel it right now. I tried writing a post last week. I didn’t post it. It was too dark and depressing. That was my mood. It was the truth. I still feel the same. Depression is here. I cannot move forward or back or over. I try to make an effort and boy is it an effort. Life should be a joy. It is not at the moment. I am joyless. I am depressed. Coronavirus is creating a layer on our lives which we never would have imagined. I went for a walk for the first time in ages. I didn’t like seeing people. I did and I didn’t. Just don’t come near me but acknowledge me. Prickly as a pineapple, is me. Not sure if the walk helped. It was nice to see the water and the sky. So yes. I didn’t prepare well, didn’t wear socks so go blisters on my heels. I tried my best but today my best is bit#hy. I am not pleasant to be around. So very tired. Exhausted. Anxious. Snappy. Prickly. Don’t say anything kind to me. I don’t deserve it. I will take it the wrong way and that compliment you said will backfire like a turd in a catapult. Walk away. I just want a break from myself. Tired. So so sick of myself. No desire to drink again. Luckily. But tell me what is the point if all I feel now is constantly depressed? Don’t answer that. Today I lack the concept of hope. There is no hope today. Sober as a bitten fingernail. A request though, do you have a book that you would recommend that would be helpful in dealing with depression? This entry was posted in sober, Thoughts and tagged anxiety, depression, sober by limetwiste. Bookmark the permalink. 59 thoughts on “No Joy” msnewleaf on May 4, 2020 at 8:01 am said: If you are not up for this, I understand. But I nominated you for the Liebster Award. See my most recent post. LikeLiked by 2 people Jim Simmonds on May 3, 2020 at 6:40 pm said: I think you will, it really does have a timeless quality and for me is full of really accessible wisdom. X LikeLiked by 2 people Jim Simmonds on May 2, 2020 at 8:40 pm said: Depression is a bastard. The black dog. I don’t suffer from it but I know and have worked with many people that do experience it. What I know helps many people is chatting about it. In the UK I volunteer with Samaritans and just a chat with someone when feeling very down can help. Do you have an equivalent where you are? As far as a book is Concerned I can recommend The Road less Travelled by M Scott Peck. Full of wisdom and insight. The opening lines alone are worth getting the book for: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult–once we truly understand and accept it–then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” It amazes me how much damage I have done by expecting life to be something other than difficult and how much easier my life is when I accept that it is difficult and that I will be uncomfortable.” Hope that cloud lifts. Jim x LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 3, 2020 at 12:24 am said: I read The Road Less Travelled many many years ago. It was my first book reading about the philosophy of life. I just loved it. I wonder if I read it again today what will make me take notice. Putting it on the list thank you. xx Thanks for the suggestion of chatting about depression. When I am in the middle of it I don’t realise how my way of speaking changes, the tone gets harsher, the replies get snappier. But you don’t realise it, until it’s pointed out. Sometimes you realise it yourself and try to improve but quite honestly you just need to wait it out or avoid people. I tend to talk less and avoid people when depressed. Safer for everyone. I have slept for 16 hours and feel so much better. For me sleeping is better than a chat. At least it is at the moment. LikeLiked by 1 person Jim Simmonds on May 3, 2020 at 2:17 am said: That’s great about the sleep, whatever works for you, that’s the key thing. And re that book I may well reread it myself. Jim x LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 3, 2020 at 2:34 pm said: I am curious now myself to see what I missed the first time round. I wonder if I will like it all these years later. x sobrietytree on May 2, 2020 at 6:50 pm said: “Sober as a bitten fingernail” – wow. Brilliant. And the first book that popped into my mind is The Artist’s Way… though that’s not specifically on dealing with depression. Thought I’d jot it down anyway. xoxoxo LikeLiked by 1 person sobrietytree on May 2, 2020 at 6:57 pm said: p.s. I tried not to say anything too kind… because of what you said in your post, and because I get it, since I’ve ‘been there,’ often enough. But I think you’re an awesome writer, and I’m sending hugs and love, I hope that’s not too much. 🤗 LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 2, 2020 at 7:05 pm said: LikeLiked by 1 person sobrietytree on May 3, 2020 at 12:36 am said: So glad to hear it LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 2, 2020 at 7:03 pm said: Love that book. My copy is well worn. Thank you for suggesting that. I try and write my morning pages (mp) daily. Not happening so much these days but find them very helpful when I do. Sometimes I write them at night before bed so for me they are anytime pages. I use a fountain pen to write too. It’s a good habit. Any book that lifts or gives hope is a book to help deal with depression. Today sleeping all day apart from lunch . I think my body needs it. Going with the flow rather than fighting it. xx LikeLiked by 1 person sobrietytree on May 3, 2020 at 12:40 am said: I figured you would have… you’re so creative and it’s a bit of a bible isn’t it. I agree the pages can be anytime pages and for me they are one of my main forms of therapy besides light daily exercise. I still have to try this fountain pen thing!! You’re inspiring me. Good job on the sleep too…. super important, and I often don’t make enough time for it. Sweet (day)dreams… xoxoxo LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 3, 2020 at 2:30 pm said: Fountain pens are beautiful to write with. Decide on what nib you like, fine, medium or other. For me I prefer medium, gets a bit more ink on the page and it’s less ‘scratchy’. Then there’s inks to play with and also paper. To start with would I recommend a Lamy Safari. That’s what I use for everyday. For ink I would recommend Pelikan Edelstein Ink Collection. Both the fountain pens and inks come in amazing colours. Enjoy window shopping online. xx Drunky Drunk Girl on May 1, 2020 at 12:37 pm said: How long have you been sober? There is something called PAWS, and I suffered for 15 to 18 months after getting sober (felt depressed, not motivated to do anything, really). Also, what about perimenopause? I know that declining female hormones can cause depression and anxiety… Also, there is something akin to withdrawal off of SSRIs (and maybe other antidepressants)–good to know, maybe you’ve felt that as well. HUGS. Hope you reach some solace soon… LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 1, 2020 at 2:29 pm said: I am sober 1 year 5 months, (17 months). Haven’t heard of PAWS. Will look it up. Moved on into menopause now. Peri-menopause was rough. I was 2 months free of SSRI. I safely reduced my dosage in 10mg increments for a month at each new level. However I started back up again yesterday. All these questions that you’re asking and no wonder I feel the way I do. Plus CoviD19, plus my broken ankle late last year. Thank you DDG. clairei47 on May 1, 2020 at 3:32 am said: Hi you. I’m sorry I have only just read your post and doubly sorry you are feeling this way. Depression is a killer and I absolutely hate it. It is totally the opposite of ‘joy’ in every sense of the word. Others have made excellent suggestions and comments before me and I echo what they say. I stopped taking my antidepressants at the beginning of 2019 and two months afterwards I took a nose dive I couldn’t come out of. In June I restarted them and they ave really helped, along with counselling. The anger and disgust we feel towards ourselves when we are in fullness of depression is all consuming isn’t it? We are so hard on ourselves, like it’s our fault. You and I know deep down it isn’t and being cross with us wont help. Its an illness and THE most important thing right now is to try as hard as you can to not punish or blame yourself. Give yourself a break. Be as kind to you as you would be to others if they were saying the same things to you. have As kind as you have been to me in the past when I have struggled. Never worry about expressing those feelings on here. We all want to help and support you as much as you have us. Claire xx LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 1, 2020 at 11:30 am said: Thanks Claire. I woke up to your comment today. My eyes are leaking now. I’m an introvert at the best of times, I usually like my own company. but with depression it makes me doubt myself and even the simplest of decisions makes me go into a tailspin. And I feel shame, stupid and tired for starters. The self care atm has gone out the window. The kindness of others here is lifting me up. I needed to be reminded of being kind to myself. Thanks for that. The onesie, Netflix and bed yesterday helped. LikeLiked by 1 person clairei47 on May 1, 2020 at 8:33 pm said: My advice, for what it’s worth, is to accept that you feel all those emotions. Depression will lead to doubts, shame, tiredness and feelings of being unworthy and disengaged. Try to remember that’s depression causing you to feel that way, not you! Take it slowly and stay in the onsie until you are ready to take the next step. Fill up your little box of self care strategies and use them. I have let my self care slip and I can feel the difference. Today I’m going to rest, watch tv, listen to mindfulness and meditation apps and try some yoga for the first time. Plus sleep a lot. Sending love, keep going, you are doing great xx LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 1, 2020 at 11:18 pm said: Went for a walk today. It was what I needed. Slowly,…And no problem sleeping at the moment. LikeLiked by 1 person clairei47 on May 2, 2020 at 11:28 am said: Hi. How are you doing today? LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 2, 2020 at 1:30 pm said: Getting there Thanks. How about you? LikeLiked by 1 person clairei47 on May 2, 2020 at 8:50 pm said: Rocky couple of days but hopefully I’ll pick up. It’s such a difficult time all round isn’t it? LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 3, 2020 at 12:31 am said: It certainly is. Take care. Sleep has been my go-to today. Lots and lots of it. Feeling much better after 16 hours. LikeLiked by 1 person clairei47 on May 3, 2020 at 1:01 am said: I think it’s sometimes what we have to do. I certainly feel I need it right now. I’m sure it’s our body’s way of helping our mind rest and recover. Depression can feel a bit like an assault on the emotions can’t it? LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 3, 2020 at 2:33 pm said: Sure does. Enjoying a cup of tea in my dressing gown listening to the rain belting down outside. Warm and safe. Be safe, keep well. xx LikeLiked by 1 person SaaniaSparkle 🧚‍ on May 1, 2020 at 1:42 am said: LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 27, 2020 at 1:57 pm said: Thank you. LikeLiked by 1 person SaaniaSparkle 🧚‍ on May 27, 2020 at 3:12 pm said: My pleasure, followed you! LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 27, 2020 at 3:17 pm said: Followed you back! Enjoy your day. LikeLiked by 1 person Dwight Hyde on April 30, 2020 at 6:55 pm said: This is my go to book whenever I need to reconnect with life: There’s a spiritual solution to every problem by Wayne Dyer. I’m actually rereading it now for about the 5th time. Sending LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 8:34 pm said: Hi Dwight. Another author I have read in the past. Time to go back and reread Wayne Dyer again too. Thank you. Stay safe. xx LikeLiked by 1 person Untipsyteacher on April 30, 2020 at 10:03 am said: I’m so sorry, I suffered most of my life with depression, at times severe. I do take an anti depressant which helps. I found that exercise, talk therapy helped so much. It’s very hard, and I hope you can find some relief. LikeLiked by 2 people limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 3:24 pm said: Thanks Wendy I hope you didn’t feel like I was putting a dampener on your post Joy. Keep posting with photos please. Enjoying them. A onesie day at home. Staying safe and warm. Started back on medicine today. Disappointed I need to take them but understanding that they help. I thought I could do it without medicinal help. But I can’t. LikeLiked by 2 people Untipsyteacher on May 1, 2020 at 12:27 am said: As Anne said, depression is sneaky. Also during this pandemic, It gets magnified! It’s just a hard hard time for so many people. LikeLiked by 1 person Ainsobriety on April 30, 2020 at 4:30 am said: I used to be very anti medication, until I actually became suicidal and tried medication. It is now a must for me. I don’t let myself question its necessity. Even with eating well, daily yoga, sobriety, self love…I still expertience depression. I’m taking a low dose of cymbalta now and I believe it is working. It lets me do all the work to find the true joy, even amongst horrible pain. I got through my divorce, I’m getting through the pandemic, I’m loving through another natural disaster right now. It’s hard. But I know that without the meds no amount of work was going to get my head above water. I love Pema Chodorn, the places that scare you. It helped me a lot. Take care. Don’t underestimate depression. It is very very complicated. LikeLiked by 3 people limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 12:53 pm said: Thanks for your honesty. I have read Pema Chodron in the past. I like her. Will look her up again. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I think I will go back on fluoxetine. I don’t know what miracle I expected this morning. Situation: no change. I cried over a sushi delivery today. Simply ridiculous. Can’t believe I felt/wrote that. Ainsobriety on April 30, 2020 at 4:47 pm said: I’m glad you are warm in your onesie. Small things can be huge…both good and bad. Depression is sneaky. The best is to tell others, even if it sounds odd! It makes it less scary! LikeLiked by 2 people limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 8:30 pm said: Depression craves the isolation and wants you to feel separate from the world and be miserable and alone slowly getting worse and worse with no way out. It really is sneaky like you say. I have to say that after reluctantly posting and receiving such wonderful support here it has helped enormously. Thank you. I love my sober online community. LikeLiked by 1 person Ainsobriety on May 2, 2020 at 2:45 am said: There is power in community, even a virtual one. LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on May 2, 2020 at 1:13 pm said: Absolutely msnewleaf on April 30, 2020 at 2:37 am said: I don’t have depression, but I have anxiety that can be debilitating at times. My step-mother has severe depression. Zoloft (sertraline) has changed both of our lives. I didn’t want to take it for a long time. I still feel, somehow, that I “shouldn’t” be on it. I don’t know exactly why I feel that way since I am doing so much better (now that I’m past the side effects). I am certain that I would be losing my mind entirely with anxiety right now without it. These are terrible times. A prolonged state of fear and stress and worry is just not something our bodies and minds cope with well. We will get through it somehow. I’m all for funny movies and books in the meantime. LikeLiked by 2 people limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 12:38 pm said: Onesie and Netflix for today. LikeLiked by 1 person drgettingsober on April 29, 2020 at 7:49 pm said: I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling depressed – you describe it so well and having felt that way in the autumn you have all my sympathy – it’s horrible to not feel any joy. Are you taking anything to help? Just coz there’s a reason for it doesn’t mean meds won’t help? They have helped me enormously. Be kind to yourself and take care xxx LikeLiked by 2 people limetwiste on April 29, 2020 at 8:19 pm said: Thanks for your sympathy. I was taking fluoxetine for the side effects of stopping hot flushes/night sweats. It was very effective. They stopped so I weaned myself off it over the last few months. Did it reduce my anxiety?probably yes. It has been 2 full months without it. Took 30mg. Now none. Perhaps I should consider resuming it again for the purpose it was designed for. Food for thought. LikeLiked by 1 person S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 8:42 pm said: I was on prozac for a LONG time and it definitely helped me, or helped me cope a little better. If it reduced your anxiety then it would again and you know it’s not for ever… LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 29, 2020 at 9:34 pm said: I don’t really want to take medicine if I can help it. Hence the weaning off of it. I hope this helps. Would like to give this a try and help myself deal with it naturally for the long term. LikeLiked by 1 person S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 9:42 pm said: Totally understand that. Eventually I did wean myself off. But I do have to remind myself how desperately ill I was and how necessary it was for me, personally. All 3 of my kids suffer from anxiety (in varying forms). It’s harder for me to know that than have depression myself, but they’re strong and they fight hard. My youngest (that I live with) showed me a book (bible) she has entitled Calm the Fuck Down by Sarah Knight. It made me laugh out loud. X LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 29, 2020 at 9:51 pm said: I do understand depression will keep coming back. It just catches me off guard all the time. I don’t have my ‘depression first aid kit’ sorted. I am learning to ride it rather than fight it. It does get tiring. I hate the way it makes me feel so stupid and pathetic. Thanks. Will look out for the book Calm the Fuck Down by Sarah Knight. Everything is eBook atm. The libraries are shut but eBooks and streaming films prevail. It is quite amazing how adaptable everyone is. LikeLiked by 1 person S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 9:58 pm said: I haven’t suffered from depression for over 11 years now. I’m not ‘cured’ but I’m as better as I’ll ever be. It’s not simple but I realised a long time ago that you have to find the thing that gives you the most joy and do that thing as much as you can. For me it was a combination of humour, writing (both humour and serious shit), photography and art. It works for me because I want it too…I guess. What you said about the things you can’t wait to do…THOSE things will make you better! The timing is bad but things will go back to normal soon. Stay strong xx LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 12:24 am said: What you said just now is hopeful and helpful. Xx LikeLiked by 1 person S_MW on April 30, 2020 at 4:12 am said: LikeLiked by 1 person S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 7:47 pm said: I’m working (checkout operator) and we’re experiencing a lot of abuse from customers, who I suspect, are feeling a lot like you do. I am taking it personally a lot of the time and people I speak to about it tell me to tell them to ‘eff off’ but it’s really not my way. I KNOW that some of them are just arseholes but not all. People are (collectively) feeling anxious, unsure and overwhelmed about something that is beyond our control but not everyone has the coping mechanism for that. I had postnatal depression that morphed into clinical for 14 years so I do feel for you (in a completely non patronising kinda way) and also KNOW exactly how it feels to lose your sense of humour or joy. That was (for me) the straw that broke the camel’s back though and if I start feeling similarly now I’ll search for funny shit til my funny bone’s tickled again. Actually, I’ve been doing that lately too, watching reruns of programmes I know will make me laugh out loud. I just want you to know, in my hamfisted way, that I get how you feel, or think I do. I’ve been jokingly saying lately that I can’t wait til this is over so I can quit my job, move to a uninhabited island and live there for the rest of my life…which is an unrealistic dream really. Hate people right now (present company excepted, of course!). X LikeLiked by 2 people limetwiste on April 29, 2020 at 8:08 pm said: Thank you for your long comment. Especially the last line I am polite to everyone except DH at the moment. He’s getting the brunt of it. I am usually polite to everyone. Even awful people. The moving to an island idea, umm, yes, I have actually looked online for property. Lol Netflix and YouTube binging has been helpful. Saw a great video on making roti and then burst into tears when I read in the comments that the guy had died of Covid 19. That was yesterday. Thank you for working especially at a time such as now. I appreciate what you do. Thanks for getting me. LikeLiked by 2 people S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 8:37 pm said: I haven’t really been a big crier since the Great Depression (I did enough of that shit then) but I’ve cried a lot lately. Like the roti story, I’ve heard a few that’ve got me right at the wrong time. I blubbed so much at one story my daughter told me that even she was shifting uncomfortably at my reaction – I could TELL she was wishing she hadn’t told me haha. It just means we’re human though, you know…with emotions and empathy and shit. LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 29, 2020 at 9:26 pm said: It was Floyd Cardoz. I just ‘discovered’ him this week. His voice is wonderful and his passion for food is just amazing. I’m stoic with those I don’t know. Overly polite to people I don’t know so I appear standoffish rather than friendly. I just believe in being polite and kind to everyone. Times like now I forget to smile and my resting face is ‘wtf have you done’ with frown lines. It scares the hell out of DH sometimes when I appear and say something ordinary. It doesn’t match up. Emotional. Yes. I used to try and suppress it. Now I just let it out. It’s a good thing. I just want to go fishing, read a book, watch films, sketch, paint, cook, make pottery, nap, go for a walk, and be with DH and my cats, light a fire, watch the sunsets. If that doesn’t sound like island life, what does? I would insist on a good internet connection though. S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 9:34 pm said: Oh, of course haha. That last paragraph you put is (almost) my ideal too. I’m working so much that I don’t even have time to dream about the stuff I want to do…but eventually, one day you and I will both be able to do those simple things that give joy. X I’m about to reblog a thing from a blogger I also follow on here and she’s got a great s.o.h. Hope it makes you laugh too x LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 29, 2020 at 9:38 pm said: Mel Robbins suggests writing 5 dreams daily. Look forward to reading it. Could do with a laugh. S_MW on April 29, 2020 at 10:10 pm said: I reblogged the blog and this one of my own that I originally wrote in 2018, which made me laugh out loud at myself, which is sad but true. I hope it makes you smile too. https://allanesinclair.wordpress.com/2018/01/11/hmmmm/ LikeLiked by 1 person limetwiste on April 30, 2020 at 12:29 am said: Leave a Reply to Ainsobriety Cancel reply Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: Email (Address never made public) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Recent Posts 18 out of 30 Consistency isn’t working for me Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.	25,042
The April report for the Consumer Price Index – a widely used measure of inflation and by proxy, of the effectiveness of the government’s economic policy – is expected to rise by the most in a decade as the base effect from last year’s pandemic collapse reaches its... Consumer Prices Surge in March, Buoying Inflation Fears by Jessica Lerner \| Apr 15, 2021 \| Consumer Price Index, Economy, Featured Consumer prices surged in March, intensifying fears of inflation as the country’s economy recovers from the novel coronavirus pandemic. The consumer price index jumped 0.6% from the previous month, in part, due to rising gasoline prices, data released by the Bureau of... by Jessica Lerner \| Mar 17, 2021 \| Consumer Price Index, Economy, Oil and Gas U.S. consumer prices rose in February at the fastest pace in six months, mainly due to surging gasoline prices, but underlying inflation remained flat. The consumer price index increased up by 0.4% from the previous month, data released from the Bureau of Labor... Five Things to Watch in the March CPI Report by Minji Koo \| Apr 9, 2020 \| Consumer Price Index, Economy The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its measure of the March average of prices of a basket of consumer goods, such as food, housing, and medical care on Friday. Economists predict that the consumer price will drop 0.3%, the first decline since -0.1% in March... Inflation Crawled Up in February But Deflation Will Come After The Coronavirus. by Minji Koo \| Mar 14, 2020 \| Consumer Price Index, Economy Inflation crept up in February but could begin falling with the continued drop of oil prices following the COVID-19 outbreak. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday that the Consumer Price Index, which measures how much consumers pay for food, housing,... The U.S. Consumer Prices Went Up 0.1% in January But Inflation Slowed Down. by Minji Koo \| Feb 19, 2020 \| Consumer Price Index, Economy, Featured Underlying consumer prices rose in January due to the rise in prices of rent and medical care. The consumer prices index, which measures how much consumers are paying for goods from food, apparel, to other items, went up 0.1% in January, the Bureau of Labor... « Older Entries Welcome to Issue Number One Welcome to Issue Number One, a site covering economic trends. The site is produced by reporters at the New York City News Service and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Email your comments to greg.david@journalism.cuny.edu.	2,532
We do not have that product in stock. It will arrive to us at [EXPDELIVERYDATE]. Do you want to buy now that product and wait for delivery? You need to agree if you wnat to buy out of stock but expected product. What is the delivery cost? The freight will vary depending on which item you order and where you live in the country. To calculate the exact shipping, you can enter your zip code and press "Calculate Shipping" button. You can also choose to pick up the item in shop - it's free.	497
Redpoint Resolutions is a multifaceted corporation whose sophisticated staff provides a wide variety of services. This company is actually comprised of three separate but interconnected arms. Redpoint Resolutions offers comprehensive medical insurance, emergency resolution and intelligence services to its esteemed corporate clientele. This company employs security specialists, including many retired military personnel, from army rangers to Navy SEALs and special operations veterans. To handle medical crises, Redpoint Resolutions has gathered a team of equally impressive doctors, paramedics, nurses, trauma experts and international medicine authorities, many of whom are affiliated with the prestigious Stanford University. Their advanced personnel are available day and night, every day, in Redpoint Resolutions’ bustling offices. Redpoint Resolutions provides medical and security evacuations, helping to rescue clients from emergency situations that range from armed attacks to medical catastrophes. The company is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to assist with customized extractions. Redpoint Resolutions’ employees also offer 24/7 intelligence and travel assistance services, tracking high-end clientele abroad to enhance their security, health and efficacy on the go. In addition, Redpoint Resolutions provides security services to save companies the cost and hassle of in-house risk management. Bringing their unmatched competence to individual consumers, the Redpoint Resolutions group offers Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™. The same team provides high-caliber rescue, evacuation and travel insurance resources to sportspeople, hunters, humanitarian workers, thrill seekers, and others who might put themselves in potentially risky situations. Travelers can choose personalized packages to suit their particular needs and wants, all while receiving exceptional service. UnivOps is the third and final component of Redpoint Resolutions. As well as providing security and risk management services directly to corporate and consumer clients, the experienced cohort offers consulting. Through UnivOps, their team devises outstanding, customized insurance solutions. As an independent adviser, UnivOps comes up with simple, flexible answers to a wide range of problems and projects In Redpoint Resolutions’ high-stakes, intricate industry, its employees need to have vital information right at their fingertips. A technical slowdown or glitch could literally mean life or death. Recognizing the importance of having a responsive interface and enhancing ease of use, Redpoint Resolutions came to SCS Cloud. They wanted to expand their visibility so team members could see and respond to all customers, open incidents, cases and issues through a central system. In addition to storing all of their information in one location, Redpoint Resolutions asked to automate their workflows and email systems. They also sought to transparently track work so that everyone throughout the company would clearly understand who was assigned to and responsible for each task. Prior to engaging SCS Cloud on this project, Redpoint Resolutions had dispersed small pieces of information across a variety of systems. This made it difficult to monitor crucial clientele and situations. In addition, the scattering of digital data made it tricky for team members to collaborate with each other, understand which projects required attention and successfully attend to them. Therefore, the only option was to craft a unique, unified solution. Fortunately, our qualified team was ready to tackle this complex task. SCS Cloud created a custom solution to fit Redpoint Resolutions’ needs utilizing the high-end Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, Salesforce. As requested, we provided central storage of all key company information and automation of critical processes. The Cloud is an excellent answer to Redpoint Resolutions’ conundrum, since it allows the company to bank significant information in a central database easily accessed from any device online. This is especially important for an international company such as Redpoint Resolutions, which responds to sensitive medical and security emergencies all over the world. Of course, in the business of insurance and incident response, timing is critical. Our new cloud-based platform is simple to use, streamlining work for the company’s seasoned professionals. We also enhanced the traceability of incidents, so the company’s medical masters and security specialists could keep tabs on them from start to finish. In such a demanding field, any way to ease the burden on these experts is key. We were delighted to assist Redpoint Resolutions with their consequential work. With the use of the new platform, the Redpoint Resolutions team has sped its response time and sharpened its tracking capability. With our platform supporting the company’s already-outstanding team, Redpoint Resolutions has had great success. For example, Ripcord Travel Insurance recently rescued professional sportsman and television personality, Mark Peterson, from an airboat crash in the remote Arctic Circle. After he bashed his head against the windshield of his vehicle and contacted the company using his satellite phone, Redpoint Resolutions sprung into action. Even in the middle of the night in desolate northern Alaska, the knowledgeable team (backed by its equally innovative new interface) deployed a helicopter and rapidly relocated him to an Alaskan trauma center. Our cloud solutions also helped Redpoint Resolutions’ team rescue a client from a blaze of bullets as the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army (led by despot Joseph Kony) began attacking him in the Central African Republic. These are but two of many instances that illustrate the life-changing protective power of Redpoint Resolutions and the absolute necessity of SCS Cloud’s systems for their operations. Our work with Redpoint Resolutions demonstrates the impact SCS Cloud’s work can have on a company and its clients. Hear from our clients We truly appreciate all your knowledge and expertise in helping us get the most out of NetSuite for our company. You are always very responsive to our requests for help. The recent projects are really helping to transform our business – introducing greater visibility and controls and, even better, saving us money! Thank you for all your support. Thank you for all your support in achieving our successful on time Go Live. Our migration to NetSuite following our Acquisition had numerous challenges – aligning to our Parent company Chart of Accounts, bringing together data from various repositories, migrating manual processes such as revenue recognition, configuring UK tax and more….Your experience and expertise meant that each challenge was met and enabled us to concentrate on our own integration and closing activities. Being able to come on site at the time of changeover really helped our UK launch to go smoothly. We really appreciate your ongoing support too! I was happy not just with your fair quote, but also SCS Cloud’s willingness to go the extra mile when the project turned out to be lengthier than originally thought. I was very pleased that not only did Marco work until he found a solution, but SCS did not charge us for the extra time. I felt very comfortable working with Marco, who was very patient and thorough in answering my many questions and explaining our options. The consolidated invoice feature has improved our billing process by allowing us to quickly create a detailed record of customer billings on the backend and, at the same time, provide a straightforward invoice to our clients. By being able to provide a more straightforward invoice, we can devote less time to explaining invoices to individual clients, which in turn improves the efficiency of our collection process and ultimately the customer’s experience. You are without exception the BEST integration team I have had the pleasure to work with in my 20+ years. These things seldom complete on time … and that is with 6-12 month windows to accomplish the task. We truly began in mid-April, and in less than 3 months rolled out the new system. A system spanning from lead gen and deal reg, to opportunity management and quoting, on to service and support, with numerous moving parts in between. An incredibly impressive feat.	8,592
"I have always wanted to learn how to paint with watercolours. Glynis always seems to know what I need help with and Studio 27 is a beautiful space in which to learn." Natasha H Gain access to Consultancy : Need involving Experts is usually Must by admin \| Apr 10, 2018 \| Uncategorized You will find many Business places for example hotels, office spaces, shopping centers and so on out and about there with UK. These are definitely a imperative part of life-style as well as civilization right here. Every little thing has been going so that you can tracks together with people ended up enjoying their lifestyle. These kinds of beautifully developed buildings exhibited the prosperity of buildings in Great britain. Each associated with individuals houses was previously manufactured stunning. Although before this was realized that the structure science throughout race to make masterpiece had been ignoring a tremendous part regarding all of our culture. Most of the establishing were being carried out nicely and excellent until all of us realized that these developing were created for the usual individuals together with the want and requirements of persons utilizing disability benefits certainly became forgotten. Considering that incompetent have been not capable to access such buildings ?t had been difficult to enable them to move through. And this also at the same time added a new change from the attitude in the direction of people using handicap. Sooner this problem has been recognised and Country wide Signup for Gain access to Consultants (NRAC) certain tips for virtually all establishing design and style to follow along with. Typically the basic goal of these suggestions was to be able to make the obtain of them establishing easy to incapable when it was in order to normal personal. A few methods contain since thicker side as well as steps for entrance regarding controls chairs, handiness for washrooms, along with distinctive sitting measures with regard to the differently abled and particular parking écharpe. Disabled consumers have differing needs and people in absolutely no way may be compared that will the demands of some sort of natural specific. Given that some normal particular person will certainly not find out how to tackle specific requires of differently abled, this offered increase in order to a exclusive work group called admittance consultants. The most crucial role of these consultants will be preparation with access record and admittance audit. Gain access to statement displays the collection of establishing styles in respect to the recommendations establish simply by NRAC. He did this most of about the development design, however , there has been an additional severe matter so that you can be treated. The creating styles bought customized still there was likewise need noticed to enlighten individual within the specific necessities of folks together with handicap along with have them learn how they could produce a company effectual patterns with these. Together with for this special incapacity training is actually imparted via the access experts. The main aim of this particular agreement coaching should be to make it possible for folks are present and also give good results throughout equilibrium. The actual gain access to professionals arrange tutorials everywhere these people speak about the best way disabled is often tackled then made comfortable. The main bring about of turmoil if arises between individuals is for the reason that of deficiency of understanding. Commonly things have misinterpret and that can cause considerable troubles. People with disability commonly suffer through a complex, possibly if could not mean just about anything wrong should go in other direction. Along with avoiding this sort of circumstances is the only goal of inability training. In the event individuals have a better realizing there lays no area for clash. So when you are in like type of issue there is have to rent some rather experienced as well as reliable admittance consultants who is going to evaluate the structure structure as well as guide everyone the right way as well as other than that will they can easily moreover enable you equality training sessions to have a greater office about you.	4,378
You know the phrase, go big or go home? Welp, I thought it was an “and” so I bought a four-plex. A quad-plex? A four flat? … A building. I bought a building. I bought it, it was on purpose. I did not end up with it as some sort of weird accident or happenstance. I was asked recently, how did I end up with a building? “I bought it.” I bought it because it was the most bathrooms I could buy for the least money. I bought it because the idea of “house hacking” intrigued me. I bought it because I have two generations of land-lady in my matriline. I bought this building because while living in NYC I wanted very badly to own an apartment. I bought it because it has good bones and stain glass windows and pretty wood. I bought it because it has four fantastic bathtubs. I bought it because I thought I would be up for the challenge. So far I am up for the challenge, but this house has made me cry more than once. Last weekend in St. Louis it was snowy and rainy and gross. I went to bed on the early side. My husband woke me a bit after 2 am. He was kind and sweet and prepared me for the worst. The worst wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t great, but I didn’t freak out as bad as he rightfully feared I might. Plaster succumbs to gravity. Before waking me, he had been sitting on the sofa when he noticed a dripping and looked up to a sagging ceiling. He knew what it meant and he leaped into action. He fetched buckets and a tarp. He acted swiftly and wonderfully and he woke me with kindness so I would know what was happening. This is not our first leak. Nor is it the first time bits of our plaster ceilings have given way to gravity. After the last time, we bought a new roof. So at 2 am I text Joe. That morning he showed up. I asked if he wanted coffee, and he explained that NO he WANTED UP ON THE ROOF NOW. He was very concerned that his new roof was leaking. He went up and discovered, in the cold and the wind, that his roof was perfect. That the leak was the fault of our chimney and it is in desperate need of tuckpointing. Tuck-pointing was already on our agenda for spring, but now we know the tuck-pointing is to begin at the chimney. Joe caulked it up as best he could and the leak stopped. Since it was the chimney with the flue to my basement Joe said we should go check on the HVAC system. This was fortunate indeed because it had rusted apart. This is a very sad picture. It was cold out, but we turned the furnace off at this point. This means carbon monoxide was pouring into the basement instead of out the flue. I vacuumed that! Joe told me to take the broken bits to a hardware store and fix it myself. He had faith in me. So I took the broken bits apart. I found detritus in the flue and I vacuumed it out. I lugged the broken bits with me to the nearest hardware store and with the help of a variety of sales folk I got the parts needed to rebuild what was needed. This adventure took many hours (probably around 10 total). There was crying and cursing. For more than half of the day I was stubborn and tried to do it all by myself. I didn’t want to rope E.T. into the work because he had done so much the night before. He made me dinner and after that, he joined me down in the basement and when we worked together, everything got easier. It was a lot of hard work, and a lot of frustration, but it turned out well and we learned a lot. One of the books I read before becoming a landlord said it is important to learn how to caulk. That’s what the red in the left picture is, heat caulking. And yes, caulking is a very powerful skill, but I think my big lesson of the day was that I ought not try to make do on my own when instead I can work with someone who is as handy and handsome as my husband. Author LenaPosted on January 15, 2020 June 5, 2020 Categories blogLeave a comment on Go Big & Go Home I moved to Saint Louis Missouri in 2016. Around the same time, my blog got hacked and I gave up on it. Welp, I’m now resurrecting my blog. I am going to help out on a Digital Humanities Workshop at the University of Missouri-St. Louis where we introduce faculty to WordPress. WordPress is the technology underpinning this blog, and in the last 4 years it has changed a lot. The biggest change seems to be the Gutenberg editing tool. So far, I like it. This is the intro documentation I found for the Gutenberg editing tool. I’ll blog more as I learn more. Author LenaPosted on January 14, 2020 June 5, 2020 Categories blogLeave a comment on I’m back! Wearing rain booties at the city museum eating ridiculous brand name candy like cereals at the ayce cereal bar. Author LenaPosted on November 30, 2019 June 5, 2020 Categories facebook-exportLeave a comment on AYCE Cereal Bar Selfie from Dad’s emergency dental visit, we’re in good spirits. He is going to get a crown and it isn’t even his birthday! He says it is his coronation day and this will be his second crown. ? ? Author LenaPosted on November 26, 2019 June 5, 2020 Categories blog, facebook-exportLeave a comment on Coronation Day	5,106
Backpacks with a Dutch theme! Our backpacks are decorated with Dutch icons such as tulips, bicycles or a mill. Whether you are looking for a Dutch souvenir backpack to take to school or as a backpack on a trip. We have included a number of genuine Dutch backpacks in our range that can be shown to the entire world! They are ideal to take with you on a trip or to give away as a gift! Shopping bag with a Dutch touch Reusable shopping bags of good quali... Dutch Backpacks Backpacks with a Dutch theme! Our backpacks are decorated with Dutch icons such as tulips, bicycles or a mill. Whether you are looking for a Dutch souvenir backpack to take to school or as a backpack on a trip. We have included a number of genuine Dutch backpacks in our range that can be shown to the entire world! They are ideal to take with you on a trip or to give away as a gift! Shopping bag with a Dutch touch Reusable shopping bags of good quality. The bags are available in various designs with a print of a kissing couple or a brightly colored Dutch bags with the most beautiful tulips.	1,069
Welcome to our new Video blog where we will bring you up to date information on law related content and videos, as well as the latest legal news, information and ways to find a quality law firm. Recent Posts How to Find a Vehicle Accident Lawyer What Questions Should I Ask a Local Attorney Before Hiring Them? What is a Bail Bondsman? 8 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Personal Injury Attorney How COVID-19 Has Influenced People to Consider Estate Planning December 2022 M T W T S S « Nov Archives Select Month December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 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 The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. This web site is designed for general information only. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.	2,226
This is a live review, I'm still in Wilson Kia Service Limbo. I wish I could say I've had exceptional experiences here, but I cannot. Service visits are always questionable. Something is off every time. Limbo. I wish I could say I've had exceptional experiences here, but I cannot. Service visits are always questionable. Something is off every time. I find a hard time trusting this establishment. Service call backs from voice mail over 3 hours to respond, IF responded at all same day. Coming from a BIG city region where there are as many as 5 KIA dealers in a 30 mile radius, this makes me sad we only have one here in Central MS . Current: 2017 Niro - still in warranty 2/4/2021 taken to service, NO HEAT. Service response = "coolant low, flush needed". $181 procedure when a top off would have (purportedly) fixed the issue. Why was the coolant low in the first place hmm? 3/30/2021 taken to service, not quite 8 weeks later, same problem, NO HEAT. This time accompanied by OVERHEATING, and BLOWING WHITE SMOKE UPON ACCELERATION. Service response = coolant low, needs thermostat, needs ?switch. Parts not on hand - need ordered. Once again, where is the coolant going, and why did I have a flush when I really needed something more? 4/13/2021 Parts ordered and on hand, vehicle available to be dropped off. Service response = you're going to have to wait another week, we're too busy. 4/19/2021 Finally dropped the car at Wilson Kia 0730 a.m. Service response at 1700 p.m. same day = we ordered the wrong parts. Thanks, took all day to figure that out. Tuesday April 20, 2021, dropped car once again. This time they installed the new thermostat and ?switch. I picked up the car that evening and further inquired to the coolant and white smoke. Service response = It was the thermostat causing the issue (no concern with my descriptions). I have driven it a week now and I still smell coolant on the regular. Dealer is claiming "normal" for a car my age. 2017 WTH? Friday April 23, 2021, coolant is visually down in the reservoir. Tuesday April 27, 2021, coolant now at the fill mark. Thursday April 29, 2021, coolant below the ADD mark. May 6, 2021, lots of white smoke again on the interstate, coolant reservoir nearly empty. Stopped at dealer to top off missing coolant. May 11, 2021, NO coolant left in the reservoir. I now demand the car be looked at again. May 12, 2021, dropped car at dealer to persue engine coolant issues. May 19, 2021, afters 7 days of not hearing from the dealer I call for status. I’m told by the service advisor that they were “waiting” to hear back from the KIA Tech Line as to how to test engine for possible head gasket failure. This was a LIE. KIA customer support later verified the Tech Line gave them instructions two days later on 5/14/2021. They’ve been “too busy” to continue to work on my car. It has become very apparent Wilson KIA is all about the revenue, not the warranty claims. May 20, 2021, once again escalated with KIA customer care. Nine days without a car. Nine days of my car taking up space in the outdoor lot at Wilson KIA. Furthermore: Okay, I'll keep this simple, although eventually I WILL put my whole Wilson Kia fiasco review here....and it's a long one that begins back in February 2021 and is still in Wilson KIA Limbo. Lying. I've now caught your people lying to me ONCE AGAIN. Thanks to my access to KIA Customer Care notes you cannot hide your activities. On 5/19/2021 after having my car in your shop since 5/12/2021 for severe coolant and white smoke issues, I called to seek status as this is my only transportation and it's been many days since anyone has had the courtesy to call me. I was told service was waiting to hear a response from KIA tech line as to how to proceed testing my engine. LIES!!!! KIA tech line responded to you on 5/14/2021 two days later. You folks are backed up in service big time. I DON'T CARE! I am the customer with a car under warranty that doesn't work! Your oil changes and miscellaneous service that bring you income is apparently more important. Not the first time I was blown off for weeks since this all began because you were too busy fixing cars for income, rather than warranty. It's all about the revenue at Wilson KIA. The biggest lie of all was not only told to me by the Service Agent, but the Service Manager, and YOU yourself. "The head gasket may not be covered under warranty as it is not a moving part, but your third party extended warranty company might pick it up". LIES!!!! This is crazy, have you not read a KIA warranty book lately? It clearly states ALL engine internals, gaskets and seals are covered. Another questionable response from the Service tech that I have not confronted again....yet. There is a loud crunching noise at the steering shaft pinion. First your tech couldn't duplicate. Go figure. So I took a video and presented to all of you. The Service Tech response? It's something in the REAR suspension. LIES!!!! This one has the whole internet laughing. It's a FRONT WHEEL DRIVE car. NOTHING in the steering is connected to the rear suspension. FWD cars don't have a rear axle, the suspension is independent. Can't wait for the Service Tech to tip toe around this fact when I once again present the issue. I want it fixed by the way. Undoubtedly there are more lies I have yet to uncover. Yet. More by Gatekeeper of zeros and ones Quality of Work Pricing No Employees Worked With January 21, 2021 SALES VISIT - NEW I had an outstanding experience with Mike Thomas (Salesman) at Wilson Kia. I had been working with Mike for about 2.5 months due to waiting on my bankruptcy to be discharged. So I got that and the c (Salesman) at Wilson Kia. I had been working with Mike for about 2.5 months due to waiting on my bankruptcy to be discharged. So I got that and the clear title for my trade in. I kept him apprised of everything at each step. Until 1/20/21 when I called him and said lets get this going. The entire process was much smoother than any prior car purchases. Mike was definitely a "no pressure" guy and found the exact vehicle I were looking for. It will take just a few days for it shipped from out of state. He was very professional and answered all of our questions. He personally will be assisting with the final delivery of my 2021 Kia K5 GT-line. And a special shout out to Danny Gillian who wore multiple hats and insured I got the best deal I was hoping for. Danny was very approachable, and didn't try to sell me something I did want/need. Thank you Danny. I would definitely recommend others ask for Mike Thomas if you find yourself in the market for a vehicle at Wilson Kia. Trust me, I have had multiple car purchases, but these folks were fantastic. Thank you all for helping me beyond measure. And this all came together though God and his many blessings. More by hopkinsgch55 Quality of Work Pricing Yes Employees Worked With October 16, 2019 SALES VISIT - NEW Auto Purshase The entire staff was friendly and our salesman, Mike Thomas, worked tirelessly to make sure we left with the vehicle we wanted and that it had all The entire staff was friendly and our salesman, Mike Thomas, worked tirelessly to make sure we left with the vehicle we wanted and that it had all the extras that we requested. More by SoccerBall Quality of Work Pricing Yes Employees Worked With < prev next > 1 - 3 of 3 results Reason for reporting this review Additional Info We ask that reviewers read your private response within 5 days. This is a measure put in place to help identify fraudulent posts on the site, and in some cases we may determine that the review is not subject to removal even when the reviewer has not read your response. Which review do you believe this to be a duplicate of? Please provide the screen name, date, etc. Please provide any identifying information that you have regarding the former employee that you believe wrote the review – full name, email, social media links, anything that will help us research a connection between the review and that person. Please let us know what leads you to believe that this review was posted fraudulently. Which dealership do you believe this review was meant for, and what leads you to believe the review was posted to the incorrect page? Please let us know what leads you to believe that this review should be removed from the page. Please provide the exact content of the review that you feel is inappropriate.	8,882
The following article was published on Debtwire on May 28, 2015 Bank of China is sounding lenders in Asia and Europe to join an underwritten seven-year term loan and revolving credit facility of around USD 1.95bn to back the acquisition of a majority of Royal Philips’ LED components and automotive May 26, 2015 “Patriotic lending” bumps BAML off USD 800m OmniVision loan The following article appeared on Debtwire on May 6, 2015 Bank of America Merrill Lynch has been bumped off a major-buyout-financing by Bank of China and China Merchants Bank, which swooped in to back the buyout of US-listed OmniVision Technologies with a term loan at the last minute, in the	676
State testing has arrived. Students have worked hard all year, and now it’s time for them to show what they know! Students will be expected to: Write short constructed responses to reading Write a paragraph(s) (younger students) Write an extended piece (older students) Edit The tests vary slightly from state to state, but general test-taking principles apply across the board. Ideally, these skills should be taught all year long. Still, it is always good idea to do a refresher of test taking tips and strategies with your students/children before they test: Read all the answers before you mark one. Often all of the answers have some relationship to the text. Pick the one that is most related to the text. Look back at the passage to locate answers. Think about where in the passage the answer might be found and read that part. When writing, make sure you write to the prompt and use the language of the prompt in your paragraph or essay. Make a plan to keep the writing organized. Include a beginning, middle, and end. Be sure to include interesting details. Reread your writing prompt to check for capitalization, punctuation, and any errors. Keep in mind, state testing is only once a year, and offers just a “snap shot” of students’ capabilities. These test taking strategies and skills are good for all year long. They may seem a little obvious, but I see students make these type of mistakes (e.g. not reading all the choices, etc.) all the time! I hope this helps.	1,511
Corporations and private entities may create their own countries some day. It’s called Seasteading. What is Seasteading? The Wikipedia definition says it best “Seasteading is the concept of creating permanent dwellings at sea, called seasteads, outside the territory claimed by any government. Most proposed seasteads have been modified cruising vessels. Other proposed structures have included a refitted oil platform, a decommissioned anti-aircraft platform, and custom-built floating islands.” The technology for creating self sufficient dwellings at sea is already here. Electricity can be provided by solar. Food can be grown with hydroponics. Sea water is convertible to drinking water via desalinization. Communication with the outside world is just a satellite away. And of course, there is plenty of marine life on which to feed. Influential people are already working on this idea, The Seasteading Institute. What happens when multiple seasteads are created and new and autonomous societies can develop? The United States is one semi recent example of a conventional societal evolution. When creating our government, this former English colony took pieces of the old ways and improved upon them in many areas. This could happen with seasteads too. Imagine multiple seasteads experimenting with new types of governance and economic structures. All of them competing for inhabitants. Survival of the fittest. It could accelerate the slow evolutionary process of government and potentially move it in a totally different direction. Humanity’s potential is tightly interwoven with the type of society it finds itself within. Think of the GDP/Power/Wealth of ancient Rome compared to the United States. The two populations, for the most part, are the same from a biological perspective. The difference in accomplishment is solely due to the difference in the technology and how they are organized (culture, government, economy etc). The next step in the evolution of how we organize ourselves could lead to a new Renaissance. This entry was posted in Commercial Applications, Evolution, Society, Technology on June 12, 2016 by HFuturist. ← Super Intelligence Inventions We Would Like to See → kate June 25, 2016 at 8:13 PM This sounds like a variant on modern-day micro-nations. The scheme you suggest was tried with an artificial island – Minerva Reef – in the 1970’s. The moment it was finished, Tonga invaded and took it over, kicking out the builders. It remains Tongan now. Sealand in the Thames had a similar problem, but the owners hired mercenaries… The problem to resolve is the human nature that says that if you build something like that, someone else will try to take it away. The other issue is international recognition – if an oil tanker hits one for example, how will issues like insurance or rescue be handled? The development and building of online and virtual nations seems to provide a safer way to explore different government methods, and there are several in existence at the moment. Log in to Reply ↓ Wheezybz August 20, 2016 at 4:44 PM If these artificial islands do pick up eventually, I’m sure the major nations would reach some sort of agreement internationally through the UN to determine the guidelines of seasteads. Log in to Reply ↓ afatosum July 26, 2016 at 11:09 AM This is a very interesting proposition. However, what are the motivations for these moves, to avoid paying tax? And what about the safety of employees who choose to live there? The last thing we need is another Titanic situation. Log in to Reply ↓ oportosanto August 2, 2016 at 11:03 AM Yes, certainly not paying tax would be a huge motivation, considering tax values sometimes can go up to close to 50% of the income. Just imagine saving all that money, the employees could receive a substantial raise and profits would increase a lot too. Log in to Reply ↓ jennywren September 7, 2016 at 5:36 AM Perhaps they just want a new way to live., a new government. Perhaps they are libertarian? I would assume it would be up to the people who CHOOSE to live there to worry about their own personal safety and not expect a nanny state to come and rescue them?, Log in to Reply ↓ arunava2016 July 26, 2016 at 3:27 PM This has to be done on neutral waters where no country can claim ownership of the Seasteads. Some news of this kind of a settlement as making rounds a few years back and it was supposed to have been created to carry on scientific research that no government had allowed. But it is easier said than done. Some Corporate may be interested in establishing a seastead, but only as a business base as has already been done in remote Islands. To create a separate social identity on these settlements and sustain independently will be very difficult in the long run in terms of safety and security. The international law would hardly allow such a settlement as it could pose a threat to the mainland. Log in to Reply ↓ iRoxas July 26, 2016 at 11:04 PM Oh wow I think that’s pretty cool, and that picture looks so nice. Maybe visitors could come and stay there for a while, and maybe they would get perks for having products of the company that own the island. Honestly this seems like a great idea, but I’m not sure what the legality of it is and it might be bad for the world. There’s also always something to think about, like if the company dies, will that place just be abandoned? Or will it be taken by pirates? It’s all very interesting, but I don’t think Apple or Google would ever die considering how successful they are. Log in to Reply ↓ Sparkster July 27, 2016 at 1:09 AM It’s an interesting idea and a nice try but it’s not practical long-term. No government or corporation is going to allow it to happen. It’s all about greed, selfishness and ownership and there are certain governments, corporations and organizations out there who not only want to own the planet but firmly believe that they are perfectly entitled to. That’s why wars happen and this, if it goes ahead and evolves, is going to be no different. You can bet that there will be new legislation and standards and ownership rights that will be introduced to counteract any attempt to live off the grid and not be a part of the system. You are just a number! Log in to Reply ↓ Wow, how crazy is that? I would not be very surprised if they did this. Considering it’s out of the territory claimed by any country any huge company can do it considering they see economic advantages in that… Most likely countries would try to make a profit from it though! Log in to Reply ↓ SirJoe August 2, 2016 at 7:26 PM They have been talking about building self sustaining artificial islands forever, but I think we have never really been close to it happening until know. I think we certainly have the knowledge and the capabilities for it to be possible. The investment would be out of this world but there are many companies that have the financial capabilities and the drive to make it happen. Log in to Reply ↓ Interesting that you say that because it’s the first time I hear about such a concept. Sure, there are artificial islands for construction purposes (bridges, tunnels and so on), but to host a company/country it’s a real novelty and I doubt that it ever happens to be honest as there are too many interests involved. Log in to Reply ↓ anorexorcist August 3, 2016 at 7:05 PM This is actually a really really good idea, let’s be honest, how the world organization actually really sucks and a new form of organization just like communism on theory seems to be a good idea, it’s like creating a new little world on our own planet. But if this is a thing one day I think that governments are still going to try to get something out of it, unfortunately humans are always trying to get benefits only for them… It would be really interesting to see how this turns out if it really happens one day. Thanks for sharing! Log in to Reply ↓ It’s an excellent idea, that is why I just said that I was doubting this could go ahead because if it could happen, why hasn’t anyone done it? Sure, it’s a massive investment, but it could also generate massive savings. Log in to Reply ↓ It’s certainly an intriguing idea; the oceans and seas are one of those few remaining frontiers that humans have yet to conquer. It’d take years before it could even start, let alone grow into a full-fledged unique society, but it’d be an interesting social experiment. Log in to Reply ↓ rz3300 August 6, 2016 at 10:36 PM Seasteading huh? Well I have never heard of this term before but I have to say that I am quite intrigued by it and the whole idea. I am pretty sure that it is a bad thing overall for humanity, but then again I start to think about why not, and who is to say that these companies cannot run a community or self-govern or be sovereign entities. The meaning of sovereignty would certainly have to be restructured or redefined, but they do always say “run the government like a business” (which is a terrible saying that I hate by the way). Thanks for getting my brain into overdrive on an otherwise pretty dull Saturday afternoon. Log in to Reply ↓ Kavon August 9, 2016 at 1:36 PM This is a very interesting concept. But what would the implications be in terms of jurisdiction? These islands owned by corporations would be claiming sovereignty. But the companies that would own these islands are actually corporations that have been formed and do business under the laws of other nations. That’s even how they get their “limited liability” status. It’s these existing governments that protect their rights and their assets. These government also give them “limited liability”, provided by public funds. How can the islands owned by these corporations be truly sovereign? This means that the governments would actually be owning these islands and not the corporations. Log in to Reply ↓ SFOMH88 August 14, 2016 at 8:42 PM This will stop being an isolated incident in the future and will spread to land. Super powers will be divided by corporations instead of governmental bodies. I mean just look at how much influence corporations have on our politics already. Log in to Reply ↓ melanie August 16, 2016 at 3:12 AM Wow! What a really interesting and almost science fiction-esque concept. One could potentially live by their own laws. That’s both cool and terrifying at the same time. It reminds me a lot of post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read. It would be fun (and challenging) to live in a seastead, even one ruled by common laws, but it would be awesome to visit one! Log in to Reply ↓ Koro August 24, 2016 at 4:27 PM This would definitely be a real improvement of the human environment, and as I have read a few times, something similar is already happening. India has some project of creating separate communities, and it is supported by some international corporations. We can see on the Internet that there are others similar ideas, and the time will show how serious they are with this. But, I have also heard only chosen people will be allowed to enter and live in these cities, while the majority will be outside. Of course, no one knows for sure what will be and every discussion ends with speculations. Log in to Reply ↓ deanyd_17 August 24, 2016 at 9:49 PM If anyone has the money for this sort of endeavor, it would be the major corporations. I am getting a bit of a Shadowrun vibe from the idea, though. Living with the company you work with sounds… troubling. Pretty soon you may end up having to hire a “corporate headhunter” to get yourself a new job with a different company just to leave the island… A few Cyberpunk/Dystopian stories are forming in my mind as I speak… Log in to Reply ↓ brdwlk August 26, 2016 at 7:19 PM Now this is a very cool idea. The result is a self-sustained community that is symbiotic with the environment, a much better relationship with the Earth than we have now! The movie Waterworld painted a more grim picture of an aquatic society, but it definitely doesn’t have to be that way. Log in to Reply ↓ v1n1v August 28, 2016 at 11:56 AM The possibility exists but the execution of such an idea is what really plays a main role here. There are a lot of factors and costs to consider here and that’s why I think such an idea will continue to remain as just that, an idea. With how things are currently it’d be hopeful for anyone to really take seasteading upon themselves. Perhaps if things get better we may see smaller parties embrace such a concept but for the likes of Apple and Google, that’s still up for debate. Log in to Reply ↓ jennywren September 7, 2016 at 5:41 AM I have to say this is the most interesting blog/web site I have visited in a very long time and have to say thanks to the admin for creating it. That said isn’t Dubai kind of the same concept? It is man made but instead of an individual or corporation creating it the government of the United Arab Emirates did? Log in to Reply ↓ sorrowscall September 12, 2016 at 12:27 AM It seems like it would be unlikely to be able to create a floating city, however, I don’t think it would be unfeasible. It would take someone with an interest and enough funding to back up the project. Thankfully, the people running the project seem to know what their doing.	13,475
When Caleb Wilde hires Cassidy Branch to be his new Assistant Manager, he cannot deny the scorching attraction he feels toward her in spite of their ten-year age difference, and although his gut warns him that she is not the type of woman to indulge in a casual affair, he is helpless to resist the lure of the savage desire that she stirs within him. Cassidy Branch is at once drawn to her new boss, captivated by his dark good looks and his raw sex appeal, and, despite her decision to maintain a strictly professional relationship with him, she finds herself instantly under Caleb's spell, her resolve wavering beneath his relentless pursuit of her and the fiery passion that he awakens within her. Scarred by the bitter hurts of his past, Caleb is unwilling to travel that road again and he denies what his heart is trying to tell him. Jaded by the ugly truth of her past, Cassidy is terrified of being used by another man and refuses to become anyone's plaything. Can these two wounded souls find the path that leads to true love, or are there simply too many obstacles lying between Cassidy and the happily-ever-after that she hopes to find in Caleb's arms? IllicitLibrary is a part of IllicitJournal.com - tasteful adult erotica. Sex, sensuality, art and expression done well with no confrontational porn or sleazy hookup adverts. Illicitjournal is for authors who want to explore, create and publish; To share thoughts and desires in a safe and inclusive place through writing on a web platform that helps them grow. Intended to be the premium experience for readers of erotic literature and adult publishers, Illicitjournal is a collection of stories, articles, publishing advice and an inclusive community to help you improve or monetise your work - at Illicitjournal you will find something for everyone.	1,861
By Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates, President Emeritus & Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society, and the Arts In these remarks I am concerned w[...] Recent Posts Formation Culture Staff Vocation Innovation What Does Formation, Vocation, and Innovation mean at United? By Rev. Karen Hutt05, Feb 2019 One of the many accomplishments for UTS in 2018 was the alignment of our academic curriculum. Led by Dean Kyle Roberts, the faculty made great strides in developing the sequencing and balance needed to provide greater clarity for students in all of our concentrations. Concurrent with that alignment, a new department was formed that linked those responsible for the non-academic development of our students. This realignment included John Lee (director of formation), Greg Meland (director of vocation), and Andrea Sorum (chapel and music coordinator). Along with VP Karen Hutt, this team has developed a set of expectations for students that include their personal and leadership development, vocational and professional planning, and experiential out-of-the-classroom opportunities to explore community based options for spiritual leadership. We are also responsible for creating and modeling a student-focused culture of affirmation and challenge. This will be accomplished by providing programming experiences that offer students praxis opportunities, to “put flesh” on their ministerial goals and aspirations. A few words from the team…… I love meeting with students, discerning with them about what brings them into seminary education and what pathway leads them to the vocation waiting on the other side. With our whole team and an external network of resources, we help students discover their unique gifts and strengths while managing all that detracts from positive possibilities and outcomes. I work with students preparing for, selecting and completing required internships, contextual and Clinical Pastoral Education experiences. We want each student at United to have a practical experience, customized to their specific developmental goals. The Formation, Experience and Vocation team is continually adding internal and external resources: building and nurturing a global network of relationships and partnerships available to students and alums. Director of Spiritual and Vocational Development When I attended seminary for my M.Div., I was still searching for why I was there. I heard the call to study and delve into theological inquiry but didn’t have a destination in mind. I assumed my classmates were certain of their futures as pastors, chaplains, community leaders or professors. But I discovered most were also uncertain of the ultimate goal for being in seminary. Our many late-night theological conversations and study sessions were really efforts in trying to find together the answers to these age-old questions - Who am I? What is my purpose? How then shall I live? In following with my classmates, I can see our paths have twisted, turned, and surprised us from what we initially speculated they would be. The answers to these eternal questions continue to evolve. But one lesson has arisen – the academic and intellectual aspects of seminary are essential for theological education, but the formational aspects (personal, relational and spiritual dimensions) are just as vital and have a longstanding impact on our presence and leadership beyond seminary. How you relate to yourself, those who are distinctly different from you, and that which is immanent and transcendent within your spiritual expression is at the heart of your lifelong development. This is the center of our formation focus at United, which hopes to illuminate your own authentic presence and spiritual leadership with others who are seeking to discover their path as well. The formation team and I are excited and honored to support you through this time of self-discernment and discovery and through honest conversation, humble reflection and non-anxious inquiry. Seminary can be a time of unsettling deconstruction and unpredictable epiphanies. But our hope is that we may accompany and assist you in noticing where you are being called with each step. Rev. John Lee Chaplain and Director of Formation I see my role as an integrated spiritual leadership coach. Students and faculty lead and participate in diverse expressions of faith--primarily through our unique chapel services and contemplative practices and KOR, our sacred song circle. I also plan and lead larger community worship and collaborate with artists, alumni and outside organizations to create music events that compliment our theological and spiritual education. Students and faculty bring a variety of spiritual leadership experiences and skills to our community. We collaborate and cross-pollinate, sharing our wisdom and resources with each other. Students feel confident when they preach, pray or sing after marinating in the diverse richness here at United. Through this important part of their education, students learn to trust their authentic voice and draw on an abundance of resources to support their ministry. In these times of unrest we are called not only to worship and create safe spaces within our sanctuaries but also brave spaces, where blessing, healing and prayers for peace are most needed. While we continue to keep chapel, meditation, song and prayer a part of our weekly life on campus, I also help create interfaith sacred spaces in public spaces for the wellbeing of all working for a better world. It is my hope that the resources we curate and generate will be widely available publicly for the mission and life of communities worldwide. We are United, we are activated leaders bringing comfort to one another and challenging systems of oppression within and outside ourselves and our walls. Chapel and Music Coordinator Rev. Karen Hutt Karen Hutt is Vice President for Formation, Vocation and Experience at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.	6,008
Nowadays, with the help of clairvoyance, it is easily possible to discover a lot of things about your past and even discover more about the main events that may occur in your future. The number of people who nowadays resort to clairvoyance is not negligible considering the panoply of advantages they find there. However, one problem remains, that of the difficulty in finding the perfect psychic, the one who is a professional in the divinatory arts and who has the necessary skills for accurate predictions about the future. Are you looking for a serious oracle psychic phone call in Miami who can provide solutions to many of the problems you face? Look no further and opt for my in Deltona psychic services. I assure you of excellent results, no matter which formula you choose to adopt. For my presentation, I am an in Deltona psychic with over 20 years of experience in the field. Are you currently looking for an in Deltona psychic who can give you a way out of your overflowing thoughts on a professional, sentimental or financial level? I suggest you to join me. Better, if you wish it, I will be able to also offer you the possibility of profiting from my services of psychics through a clairvoyance by phone. You are not without knowing that the number of true professionals holding this gift is sufficiently small. So if you embark on this quest to find serious ones, the probability that you will be disappointed is very high. In order to reassure you of the authenticity of my services compared to the fakes that you may have come across so far, I am able to provide you with clarifications on the situation that you are going through, and this without even needing you to give me any description of your life. I will answer all your questions without any worries, and I will give you a solution to all your worries. I put my gift at the service of all those who trust me with many aspects of their lives. So you understand that I am an in Deltona psychic capable of offering you many services. These include astrology and psychic reading. I also offer services in mediumship, clarifications through numerology and even dowsing. Your oracle psychic in Deltona offers at affordable prices Even though most people have an unfavorable opinion about clairvoyance, you should know that it is a gift that offers multiple benefits, especially when you consult a professional psychic like me. It's normal that you may not be able to pinpoint many of the issues in your life, but that doesn't mean that there is no connection between your past, present and future. Moreover, the events of your past as well as those of your present can have consequences on your future life. 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Cartomancy is a divinatory art which gathers several techniques among which we can quote the tarology. I am also a tarot reader who uses tarot cards. For example, with tarot cards, I am able to make predictions that depend solely on the symbols on the cards drawn. However, using the Tarot is not the only technique I use to make predictions. I am also able to make clear visions of the situations in which you find yourself. This could allow you to know yourself better. In order to offer quality services to those who put their trust in me, I have been immersed almost all my life in learning and mastering the reading and interpretation of cards. You wish to have recourse to a competent clairvoyant in Deltona, master of his art? You don't have to worry, because you have found him. You just have to contact me directly by phone or by mail. However, it must be admitted that many people opt for physical meetings, a possibility that I do not exclude in any case. I address my services to all those who choose to trust me, and this, whatever the situation they are going through. Even if you are unable to travel, I will gladly come to your home to offer you my services. The communication by chat is also an alternative not to be discarded, always with the aim of offering you the best possible accessibility to my services. If you opt for chat, for example, you will not only save considerable time, but you will also benefit from an excellent quality of service. I finish with the telephone, which is also a means by which I offer my expertise. You will not need to move again, if you are against the face-to-face consultation. With me, you will discover what is attached to your date of birth, as well as your lucky number, thanks to numerology My services range from numerology to astrology. If you didn't know it until now, I inform you that your birth year hides mysteries that are closely related to your personality. Your "life path" is represented by the number that the sum of your birth numbers gives. To each number is then attached an energy that translates a force that impacts your personal path in one way or another. To determine your life path, all I have to do is add up the data from your birth day and that's it. The insightful analysis of a letter or a number is the basis of the divinatory art of numerology. So I am able to perform numerology on a date, and I can do the same for other things like your first name for example. Taking into account these two parameters, the art of numerology will give you a number included in the interval from 0 to 9, which will represent a vibration. This will give the meaning of the character traits that are attached to you, and to read your future as in an open book. Are you curious to know what your future will be made of? Should you expect a breakthrough in your career? How will your life evolve? What changes will you experience in your health? Will a journey be open to you? What will happen to your friends and love life? Will you experience mood swings? These are all questions that I can answer. All you have to do is contact me by phone, by email or if you want, by chat. The art of numerology can be broken down into several numbers just as the signs of the Zodiac can be refined. Similarly, it could be the number of the expression, the hereditary number or the active one, to mention only those. Would you like to know your number and discover what the future holds for you as well as what your personality hides? Do not hesitate to contact me. I can offer you a direct service with results that will reach you in record time. Seize this opportunity that I offer you to know more about you and to lift the weight of doubts which weighed on you. The types of Oracle clairvoyance that I offer to my clients First of all, it is important that you understand that there is a definite difference between a psychic and a medium. A psychic has the ability to see into the past, the present, and even have visions about the future. A psychic, on the other hand, plays a rather special role. He has the necessary skills to act as an intermediary between his client, you, and a person who is no longer of this world. This is the clarification of the difference that pushes people with a rational mind towards practitioners of astrology or numerology while those who wish to learn more through the cards go towards an intuitive oracle psychic phone call in Orlando who has excellent mastery of tarology. However, be careful not to be fooled by pseudo in Deltona psychics whose practices are centered on dubious beliefs such as magic, unblessing, witchcraft and anything that gives off negative energies. In these cases, we no longer speak of psychics, but of charlatans. 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For the little information, my analysis will be based on my apprehension of your personality and on real drawings. Oracle psychic in Deltona: the solution by phone or SMS My in Deltona clairvoyance services are also available by phone or SMS. As in the previous case, you will get information that will allow you to have a beginning of understanding on the events which occur in your life. However, if you want to know more, and get more quality information, I propose you to opt for the paid formula of my consultation. I will be able to offer you your first consultation so that you judge by yourself. Oracle psychic in Deltona: the formula by on-line drawings This process allows you to make automatic choices from the clairvoyance sites. These draws allow you to have answers to many of your concerns. The client will be able to attend the session with the help of elements that are arranged in the same way as in the case of tarot card or oracle readings that are done in person. You may also come across crystal ball or rune readings. Reviews on my psychic services A very sincere medium This review is my way of saying thank you. Thank you for your assistance in saving my marriage and reconnecting with my daughter that I thought was gone forever. You truly have a big heart. I was already prepared for the worst and yet her intervention gave me hope. Her predictions are just amazing. There are so many things about my past that I was misinterpreting. He made me realize how lost I was without judging me. Far from it, it allowed me to reconnect with my present by wiping the slate clean of my past. If today I am living such a peaceful future a few years ago, I could not even imagine in my wildest dreams that this would happen. Thanks to his help, I was able to develop the patience to face certain situations as well as the faith necessary to face them. That meeting a few years ago today fills my heart with immense joy. I am now living serenely with my husband and my daughter who is about to enter university in a field that, as he had predicted, would be completely unthinkable for her given her personality. Every detail turned out to be right. I sincerely want to thank you again for all the energy you used to make me want to keep fighting. It is rare to find men of great sincerity. He is one of those men. I recommend him! I have been consulting him for 3 years now. I can't recommend him enough after the experience I had with him and still have today. He is just an amazing person with an incredible gift. As a practitioner in the spiritual field, he is very serious and quite knowledgeable. He won't tell you what you want to hear to stay. He tells you what he feels, not what you want to hear. He first shares information about you. Depending on how the session unfolds, he may share information from your past to better show you the chronology between the periods he will evoke. He will then share with you the various possibilities he sees for a serene and vibrant future. I recommend him to you. My first consultation with him was 4 years ago now by email. So many of his answers about my personality matched that I figured he had done some research on me or was actually checking my Facebook page on the spot. So I wanted to have an in-person session to make sure he was telling the truth. I was doubtful at first and yet everything changed after meeting him. He was very warm and went at my pace so I could understand each step I needed to take to get a glimpse of the light I needed. He really helped me at a time when everything seemed so senseless and incoherent. I was able to regain a taste for life thanks to him. I want to say a big thank you. milanvignaud If you are looking for a psychic who gives high level telephone clairvoyance consultations with an extraordinary gift I recommend this psychic. He is certainly one of the greatest psychics in France. In addition to this gift that has been naturally attributed to him, he shows a great courtesy, an impressive seriousness, an honesty quite rare in the field and an ethics just remarkable. As for his results, I will let you judge for yourself. For my part, he has been an incredible help. It has been years since I first consulted him and I assure you that I still make appointments with him when I feel lost or in need. The first time I met him, I just got his number online and then made an appointment to see him in his office. He then gave me predictions that at the time seemed so unlikely because of the nature of the predictions and the details he provided about them. Over the years, every single thing he pointed out to me that would happen has happened and exactly in the order that he predicted them. He has an incredible gift for sure. I highly recommend him. Thanks to him, I took the plunge First of all, I would like to say that he was recommended to me by friends who also used his services and were greatly satisfied. I consulted him regarding my love life and my professional life since in both cases it was completely unclear. I assure you that he reassured me so much that everything that was causing me pain just disappeared after my sessions with him. He was my cupid in a way since he directed me towards the man who today shares my life. It is the same for my job, he made me understand that the one I was doing at that time would not give me the satisfaction I was looking for and that I had to change my vocation to better develop myself. Listening to one's predictions also means being ready to follow them, no matter what the sacrifice, because it is usually for the best. I took this risk and I can assure you today that I am completely happy. To want the best for oneself is first to know how to let go of that which plagues one's existence, this is the very first sentence he told me not to forget and that I should recite it like a mantra to remind myself every day what to do in certain situations. There have been times when he has made predictions that have not yet happened, but there has never been a specific time that it should happen so I always wait and follow his advice. So I want to tell you that if you are looking for a competent psychic or medium, don't hesitate to contact him, he is sure to be of great help. Personally, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.	15,953
More and more companies are realising that they have to do something to combat climate change. In addition to setting CO2 reduction targets, offsetting residual emissions has also expanded enormously in recent years. Contributing to a forest project that generates carbon credits is an effective way to do this. However, there is also criticism. Are we achieving enough with offsetting? And how do you know if the capturing of credits is done properly? To gain more insight into how forest projects work, we interviewed Lars Hein, Professor of Ecosystem Services at Wageningen University. He has already visited numerous projects in his career and is keen to discuss them in detail. Why are forest projects important to achieve the Paris climate goals? Because about 10% of all CO2 emissions worldwide come from deforestation in tropical areas. In addition, an important part is caused by the degradation of peat areas, which can oxidise and burn. At the same time, forests play an important role in solving the climate problem, because they capture CO2. © Lars Hein Why is compensation mainly done with tropical forests? There are three reasons for this. First of all, tropical forests are under considerable pressure. This has many negative side effects, such as the loss of biodiversity. It is important that the disappearance of forests is stopped. In addition, forests grow faster in the tropics, so CO2 gains can be achieved at a faster rate. Thirdly, in the tropics, there is often little money for sustainable forest management. That makes compensation a welcome addition. What types of offsetting are there? There are two different ones: Reforestation – Replantation in an area of poor conditions or where the forest has been completely eradicated. Forest conservation – Protecting forests that would otherwise be cut down. That is also called REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) What are your own experiences with projects? I work with partners in Indonesia where I have also visited many forest projects. Strikingly, the projects for which carbon credits have been sold are among the best-protected areas in the country! Biodiversity is high, as many animals have already been captured in photos of ‘camera traps’. People initially pay for the CO2 credits but as an extra effect, you see that the forest and biodiversity are intact. The cooperation with the local population is also improving. This is important as the people living in the area should be able to find work there, for example by involving them in the project as a forest manager or firefighter. Projects generate money that can be spent locally, for example with agroforestry (a combination of agriculture and trees) or by making and selling rattan products. The condition is that the lives of people improve and that everything is in consultation with the local population. In order to guarantee the biodiversity and social aspects of the project, more and more VCS forest projects are using the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard. “We have to keep explaining that compensation is not THE solution but is part of the solution to the climate crisis” How reliable are forest projects? Ten years ago, you could question some compensation projects, but the market has matured in the meantime. Now, forest projects are certified according to accepted standards such as VCS. All credits are centrally and publicly registered to make sure that they are only sold once. Satellite images are also becoming increasingly accurate. You can make monitoring very concrete this way: for example, this piece of forest generates 10,000 credits and they have all been captured over the past 5 years. Each project takes measures to combat forest fires, for example by extra surveillance during drought. But if a piece of forest burns down, it will be compensated by a so-called mandatory buffer where part of the credits have been deposited in. The riskier your project, the greater this ‘insurance’ should be. “The projects for which carbon credits have been sold are among the best-protected areas in the country” What are your own experiences with projects? I work with partners in Indonesia where I have also visited many forest projects. Strikingly, the projects for which carbon credits have been sold are among the best-protected areas in the country! Biodiversity is high, as many animals have already been captured in photos of ‘camera traps’. People initially pay for the CO2 credits but as an extra effect, you see that the forest and biodiversity are intact. The cooperation with the local population is also improving. This is important as the people living in the area should be able to find work there, for example by involving them in the project as a forest manager or firefighter. Projects generate money that can be spent locally, for example with agroforestry (a combination of agriculture and trees) or by making and selling rattan products. The condition is that the lives of people improve and that everything is in consultation with the local population. In order to guarantee the biodiversity and social aspects of the project, more and more VCS forest projects are using the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard. “We have to keep explaining that compensation is not THE solution but is part of the solution to the climate crisis” Compensation has also been criticised. How can we deal with that? It is very important to state that offsetting is no excuse for not having to do anything else. Most CO2 emissions are caused by fossil fuels. Those emissions have to come down quickly; that is priority number 1. It is important that you make an effort every year to take reduction measures. If you as a company cannot already reduce all emissions, you can use carbon credits. In addition, it is very reasonable to pay the local population to protect the forest and for alternative income without logging. The forest provides a service to the rest of the world, which then needs to finance that. Why is transparency essential? Companies that work with carbon credits have an obligation to indicate what happens with them: which forests and how many hectares are protected with the credits they buy, and what standards have been used. This goes for climate, local population, and biodiversity. A standard such as VCS ensures transparency and shows what the investment yields. Furthermore, it is important to continue to explain that compensation is not THE solution, but is part of the solution to the climate crisis. Others read Read more News Climate mitigation and adaptation are more crucial than ever for this year’s CoP Read more bijdragen aan de klimaatdoelen en SDG's From A to Zero CO2 Reduction Terms and Conditions Climate Neutral Group uses Google Analytics fully anonymised. Cookies are used to facilitate this. - please read our privacy statement. Analytics onoff We wish to keep you informed on our social-media activities on our homepage. Social Media feeds onoff Okay	7,367
Mass Affluent is a term used by some to describe investors with $500,000 to $3 million of investment assets. Although it is at best a generalization it might be safe to assume that these investors typically have estates valued at between $1 million to $5 million. From an investment perspective people in this class reach the point where they might want more tailored and personal investment planning than just mutual funds used by the mass public. Often at this range investors are into the minimum levels of investment assets which financial planners, wealth managers and private banks will personally manage and tailor a portfolio. From an estate planning perspective, these investors should evlaute hiring more specialized estate planners, consider by pass and other trusts, comprehensive powers of attorney to permit gifts and more sophisticated investment decisions, and insurance trusts. At this stage of wealth a larger term insurance policy, which is likely to be common for younger families in this wealth range, might be enough to trigger a state and even federal estate tax. So the ownership of insurance by a properly structured insurnace trust can be very important. At this stage of wealth, the "mass affluent" should be certain that they have a substantial umbrella, or personal excess liability, insurance policy. Consumers below this threshold often don't, and the mass affluent has more asstes to risk and the mass market often relies on 1-800 or other standardized insurance providers, which is not sufficient for the mass affluent. The challenge for the mass affluent investor in all these areas is that the services, products and decisions needed are more complex and different that the vast majority of the population, but they are just below the threshold of wealth which many of the higher end professionals and advisers have focused on. Our Consumer Webcasts and Blogs Subscribe to our email list to receive information on consumer webcasts and blogs, for practical legal information in simple English, delivered to your inbox. For more professional driven information, please visit Shenkman Law to subscribe. This site might constitute attorney advertising under 22 NYCRR 1200. This site is for educational purposes only and no visitor should make any decision or take any action without conferring with an attorney and other appropriate advisers in his or her state. No attorney client relationship is established by your use of this site.	2,574
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia... by her English husband, John Rolfe John Rolfe was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with the first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia and is known as the husband of Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.In 1961, the Jamestown... . His maternal grandfather was Wahunsunacock Chief Powhatan Chief Powhatan , whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh , was the paramount chief of Tsenacommacah, an alliance of Algonquian-speaking Virginia Indians in the Tidewater region of Virginia at the time English settlers landed at Jamestown in 1607... , the chief of Powhatan The Powhatan is the name of a Virginia Indian confederation of tribes. It is estimated that there were about 14,000–21,000 of these native Powhatan people in eastern Virginia when the English settled Jamestown in 1607... tribe in Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... Thomas Rolfe was born in Virginia. He traveled to England with his parents in 1616, and remained there, after the death of his mother, in the care of his father's brother, Henry Rolfe..	1,570
Whether you’re new to the stock market or have been investing for many years, we think it’s a good idea not to lose all your money. But some people think failure is the best teacher. Losing your shirt could be a valuable lesson! Here’s Robert Kiyosaki: Success is a poor teacher. We learn the most about ourselves when we fail… so don’t be afraid of failing. Failing is part of the process of success. You cannot have success without failure. So unsuccessful people are people who never fail. Making money in the stock market is a learning process; everyone loses sometimes – even the elite. Just make sure that you learn something from losing. Also, make sure you don’t lose so much that it puts you out of the game. You should focus strongly on maintaining your capital. Losses are inevitable, but the only good losses are small losses. The most successful investors use strategies that allow their gains to be unlimited while limiting their losses. Look at the methods chosen by Warren Buffett – a long term investor – and Lawrence McMillan, a shorter term trader. Warren Buffett attempts to reduce his market risks using margin of safety. The margin of safety concept relies on markets mispricing stocks. Buffett keeps a list of high quality stocks he would like to own. He usually doesn’t buy them straight away. He waits until he can buy them at a substantial discount to their true value. This substantial discount is his margin of safety. To get his discount, he often buys stocks when panics sweep through the markets; in the longer term he knows stock prices are likely to return to normal because, when companies keep churning out attractive results, their stock price rises. Buffett’s teacher, Benjamin Graham, summed this up with: In the short run the market is a voting machine, but in the long run it is a weighing machine. Buffett says: If we calculate the intrinsic value of a stock to be only slightly higher than its price, we’re not interested in buying. We believe this margin-of-safety principle, so strongly emphasized by Ben Graham, to be the cornerstone of investment success. In order to employ the margin of safety, a new investor needs to be able to calculate the intrinsic (fundamental) value of a company. That’s where life starts to get a little harder, but be assured that nothing more than high school math is ever needed. We’ll return to margin of safety soon, after a quick look at how a stock trader might limit his downside. Stop Losses Shorter term traders try to reduce the risk of losing their capital with stop losses. If a stock’s price falls after they’ve bought it, then they can immediately see the trade isn’t moving in their planned direction. In order to preserve capital, traders sell a stock if its price drops too far. It’s allowed to fall until it goes through the stop loss price, and then it’s sold. Some traders set a stop loss on each trade at a fixed percentage of the purchase price. If any of their stocks fall by this fixed percentage, which might be 10%, they sell the stock. This is called a trailing stop loss. It trails the stock price, so if the stock rises, the stop loss rises too and always sits 10% lower than the current stock price. Let’s say you commit no more than 15% of your capital to any single trade. Let’s also say that in each trade you set a stop loss to limit your losses to 10% of the money you put into the trade. This plan ought to lose you no more than 1.5% of your total trading capital in any single trade. This aspect of trading, called money management, is absolutely critical. You should manage your trades so that no trade can result in a loss of more than 1% or 2% in your trading capital. Obviously, you will hope to gain more than this in each trade that goes in your desired direction. (Even though you may plan to lose no more than 1% in any single trade, it’s possible you could lose more than this because it’s not always possible to exit a trade at your stop loss price. And in market panics, you might lose significantly more than you planned!) Whether you’re a long-term investor or a day-trader, you must use a stop. The only people who were wiped out when the internet stocks fell by 80% or more were those who didn’t use stops. Lawrence McMillan in The Harriman Book of Investing Rules, edited by P Jens and S Eckett. Bruce Kovner has amassed a personal fortune of over $3 billion. In 1977, he funded his first trades with $3,000 borrowed on his credit card. After making $1,000 in copper and interest rate futures, his $4,000 position in soybeans rocketed in just six weeks to $45,000. Then the trade turned against him and in just one hour, his $45,000 position lost $23,000. I lost half the profit in an hour. I closed out the trade and was physically sick for a week. In retrospect that was a very good thing… It helped me understand risk and create structures to control risk. Another way traders might set a stop loss is using the concepts of support and resistance on price charts. If a stock falls to a certain price and then rises again, we get a U or a V shape. When we get one of these shapes following another, each bottoming out at the same price, it seems as if the stock price is testing a price low, but refusing to fall through it. Something seems to be supporting the price. We can draw a support line on the chart – as shown in green in the chart on the right. Chartists need three points of contact between the stock price and a horizontal support line before price support is said to be confirmed. The trading strategy in the chart shown on the right would be to buy very soon after point 3 on the support line. (After support has been confirmed.) The stop loss price would be just under the support line. If the price closes below the support line you must accept a loss and sell. Some traders will allow a little wiggle room for the trade and will set a stop loss several pips below the support line. This is a perfectly credible tactic provided you haven’t started off by saying your stop loss is one tick below support and then, mid-trade, changed your stop loss to keep you in a trade your original stop-loss would have got you out of. All stop losses must be set in stone before you enter a trade and must be adhered to with strict discipline. Any trader who loses his discipline soon loses his capital. And now, as promised, we’ll return to intrinsic value and margin of safety. Advocates of this style of investing often don’t use stop losses. They rely on their ability to find stocks that are trading below their true value. After buying the stock, if it falls further, they are inclined to buy more of it. At a lower price they believe the stock is even better value for money. It’s probably true to say that only investors who have very good reasons to be confident in their business valuation skills should attempt this approach. You need to be able to value a business before you can calculate the intrinsic value of its shares. Benjamin Graham believed intrinsic value could only be calculated approximately, because the future itself is uncertain. Calamity or good fortune can strike at any time, often from the unlikeliest of sources. Investors can only ever estimate a likely range for a stock’s intrinsic value. They do this by estimating how much money the company will generate in its lifetime, or within another defined period of time. The discounted cash flow calculation allows them to do this. The discounted cash flow method allows investors to estimate the present value of the future net cash flows expected from any activity. An investor sets a discount rate of 15%. What this means is that 15% is the minimum annual return he will settle for. Our particular investor, let’s say, has a good track record of choosing investments that meet this discount rate. He is now offered bonds issued by a blue chip company. The bonds promise to pay investors a lump sum that’s twice their original investment after 72 months. The investor has 1 million dollars to invest and wants to know whether doubling his money in 72 months time will meet his requirements. He wants to know the value today of the future cash flow, using his chosen discount rate of 0.15. To do this he finds the present value of the expected return using the discounted cash flow method: d = discount rate n = number of years PV = What we wish to calculate Therefore, PV = $864,655 The present value of the bonds is worth less to the investor than his money is, so he does not buy the bonds. In the example above, we’ve used bonds instead of stocks, because the return from bonds is more predictable. What Warren Buffett does is look at companies whose returns he thinks he can estimate reasonably accurately over a multi-year period. Then he asks whether they’ll be able to beat a 15% (or some other) discount rate. If they can, they may be worth investing in because they have a margin of safety – the margin of safety is the fact that the stocks he chooses will provide a much better than average return, which the market will eventually recognize. He often buys at the prices he wants (or even cheaper) during market panics.	9,371
An opinion piece by Joe Humphreys, assistant news editor of the Irish Times has caused a bit of a stir amongst those in the science and humanities spheres over the last few days. The essay, entitled Scientists not giving human life its meaning, was published on Tuesday and seemed (at least by my interpretation) to attack science as a process which sees people as "just means to an end". Perhaps the most surprising element of the essay was Humphreys wishing "good riddance to ESOF 2012". Indeed, that may well have been a major factor in the strong disapproval amongst scientists. Here we had a hugely successful conference. A conference which was the highlight of the European science year and which put the worldwide spotlight on Irish science like never before. Despite this, and despite the Irish Times' excellent coverage of the conference, you had a writer poking holes in the conference and science itself out of some sort of misguided sense of striking a balance. The author himself confesses that his article was "a deliberate, and I thought fairly transparent, counterbalancing exercise in the context of a week-long coverage of ESOF2012". Reading the piece again, I genuinely get the impression that the author was struggling to find fault with the conference. Was there an editorial meeting at which it was decided: 'Look, all these smiling scientists, pop stars and balloons is all well and good, but we really need to strike some sort of balance here. Anybody got a beef with science?' My own major problem with the essay, and Humphreys subsequent attempt to explain it, is something that I have noticed more and more in recent times. It is an attempt, consciously or not, to paint a picture of a scientist as somewhat removed from the rest of human society; as some amoral, unethical, faithless "wise man". I'm a scientist and I would certainly never argue, as Humphreys suggests I might, that "there is no meaning to life" or that "talking about meaning debases science". As a scientist and a human, I also struggle to make the sort of moral, ethical, religious and scientific decisions Humphreys refers to. At this point, I'm reminded of the controversy surrounding an article by Tony Humphreys (I presume, no relation to Joe) in the Irish Examiner earlier this year in which the author made some controversial comments on autism. As I argued at the time, that author also tried to paint a picture of scientists and engineers as lacking in "heart qualities" and of being somehow, morally, ethically and emotionally different than the rest of society. By-the-by, Tony Humphreys' article on autism was offensive and caused offence to a large number of people living with autism and living with people with autism. I'm not trying to equate Joe Humphreys' recent article with it. He has views with which I strongly disagree, but he did not set out to offend anyone and science (and scientists) can argue the toss with the best of them. I note that colleagues in the humanities have also been disturbed by the content of Humphreys' Irish Times article. It would be unfortunate if this essay contributed to or gave the impression that there was a wide gulf between scientists and those working in the humanities. As Humphreys noted in his original article: "I studied humanities and feel more at home in that camp and am therefore prone to downplaying the achievements of science". What an understatement! UPDATE (23/07/2012): Thanks to Joe Humphreys who has taken the time to respond to this (and other) criticism of his article. You can read Joe's response in the comments section of this post. Posted by Eoin Lettice at 10:36 PM 1 comments: Joe Humphreys July 23, 2012 at 4:21 PM Thanks Eoin for your very measured response. Rather than going through each point you make individually (I feel like I’ve addressed the substantive issues you make around writing style and language in numerous postings online, and I would be forever trying to correct what I see as erroneous interpretations of my words), I hope you don’t mind if I have one last shot at expressing myself, using – in a spirit of goodwill- what might be described as a more scientific framework: (2) The decline of religion and the rise of science has changed the debate about values but not in a satisfactory way. (3) There is something to be said for greater discussion of values and morality that, while cognisant of science, is not constrained by what is known or thought knowable. (4) While it's not the particular responsibility of scientists, I would like to see them engage in that debate notwithstanding their professional attachment to the scientific method. (5) The influence of scientific discovery on cultural values is underappreciated and should form part of that debate. (6) There seems to be an imbalance between the language and tools we have developed to discuss science and to discuss values. (7) I sat at ESOF2012 wishing we had the same for a discussion on values and meaning. (8) Perhaps that would be even more important; particularly right now. Now, imagine I am one of 1,000 monkeys on 1,000 typewriters trying to develop these, not uncomplicated points, with a brief of keeping it to 900 words for a grown-up, newspaper audience. The product was last Tuesday’s article. ( With special thanks to the promptings of my scientist/economist brother Frank Humphreys) On a personal note, I've got a lot from the debate so far, including very interesting philosophical and scientific references. I do find it ironic that so many contributors (I stress I’m not including you in this) called for me to apologise or to be punished for the article, given the way scientists and other thinkers have been silenced down the years on grounds of "causing offence". I for one won't allow any “scientific” boot boys diminish my interest in science, nor my sense of wonder at human understanding and its limits. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Hear me talk Photo Competition Probiotic Advert Banned Time for a new debate about food production Food for thought It's just a little bit of science! Welcome to Communicate Science. I'm a plant scientist, so expect lots of plant-related posts but also lots on science in general and science communication. Enjoy! All content, unless otherwise stated, is copyright of Communicate Science and should not be used without prior consent. Opinions expressed on this blog represent my own views and not those of my employer. Any comments on posts represent the opinions of visitors. Enter your email address: Delivered by FeedBurner Tweet, Tweet Bits and pieces on the blog This is me I'm passionate about the need to enthuse, inform and engage everyone in society about science. I'm a full-time researcher and lecturer and a part-time blogger. I'm interested in all things to do with science. In particular, education and communication of science - especially biology. This blog represents my personal views.	7,316
This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week What do I do when I get an address to review? I have access to some truly great tech tools -… November 21, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, November 14, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Consider carefully the use of debt. It brings leverage into the picture, but also risk. The only good debt that exists… November 15, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, November 7, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Q: Should I quit my job to flip houses full-time? A: The answer is a resounding “no”. Do not quit… November 7, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, October 31, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Q: When investing in Real Estate what is considered a good return on investment? A: A good return of course… October 31, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, October 24, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Q: Should you buy Closing Protection? A: If you have zero risk tolerance, then sure. The Closing Protection bond is your… October 25, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, October 17, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Q: When investing in Real Estate what is considered a good return on investment? A: A good return of course is relative… October 17, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, October 10, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week This is a real secret insider tip. Whenever I encounter a phrase, jargon, or acronym with which I’m unfamiliar, I look… October 10, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, October 3, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week I end nearly every show by saying “Keep Your Eyes Open!” The rest of that phrase is “...because opportunities are everywhere.”… October 3, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, September 26, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Sometimes the worst thing you can do is “like” a deal. When you like it, it becomes difficult to let it… September 28, 2022 WIT Weekly WIT, September 12, 2022 This week in Summary Investing Tip of the week Last week we talked about intangible factors in analyzing a deal. This week we back up even further to the 30,000…	2,158
Amidst the continued turbulence of his second term, President Obama will arrive in Brooklyn today to visit P-TECH, the innovative high school that counts IBM, CUNY and the city as partners. P-TECH was profiled in City Atlas, soon after opening. Big turnout for climate rally sends a message to the President February 22, 2013 February 25, 2013 3 minute readby Jason Diaz As many as 50,000 anti-frackers/anti-pipeliners from across America came together as one in the nation’s capitol to drive home a single message to President Barack Obama: stop the Keystone pipeline	592
It has been a whirl-wind of a month around our house, resulting in not a lot getting done, including entries in the blog! A month ago, we had to say goodbye to our beautiful Ellie, which kept us from accomplishing much in that first week other than going to work and then coming home and… With the 2022 growing season at an end, it is time to do an overall comparison to last year. There were some plants we didn’t grow this year and some new ones we added so it is good to do a full overview. We find we go back to previous years stats to determine a… October Comparisons The oddly behind year seems to have continued. October was when we are usually buttoning up the garden and feeling the pressure to get it cleaned out. This year, we kept putting it off because we had such a warm month that the garden was continuing to produce. On top of that, our evening temperatures… This is a post I wasn’t sure I was going to write, but in the end feel that it needed to be written and shared. In all the time that Kurt and I have been living together, we have had our sweet dog, Ellie, with us. She came into our lives, just a few months… As you have heard, we have been battling the weeds this year. I took some pictures recently of some of the weeds and the handy plant identification that is now part of the Apple Photos, went ahead and identified some of them. Suddenly on Pinterest I was getting recipes for a plant called Purslane. Low… September Comparisons This September feels fairly comparable to September 2021 for weather, with the exception of the last few weeks. We had a temporary “Fall temperature dip” in mid-September. Crisp mornings, cool but sunny days, and the desire for hot meals. Rather than staying on that trend, it has instead heated up again, with daytime highs in… This is our first year growing broccoli and when the weather briefly cooled to fall temperatures, it made us want to make soup. My co-worker brought in some cheddar broccoli soup, which I had to have. So we harvested some broccoli and made some soup. We paired it with some Zucchini Herb Scones, which was… Rotkohl The cabbage this year didn’t do great in their new spot. I am realizing that the corner of the bottom bed may not be good for plants of the cabbage family. I did however, get enough from the 6 plants that I was able to make a big batch of Rotkohl. It is a German… We have learned a lot over the years of landscaping and maintaining this yard. Things that now seem like a no-brainer way of doing things, were figured out usually in the hardest way. Yes, some of these may seem like such a simple, logical things to do, but in talking to others, or watching at… I have zero groove, but let me tell you, I do a happy dance when I eat homemade salsa. I haven’t made much canned salsa in the past, sticking with fresh Pico de Gallo instead. This year, with an abundance of tomatoes, it was time to make some salsa….and it is YUMMY. Here is my…	3,143
Sex and the City meets the Dalai Lama. Buns and Marty use their lively escapades to ignite an authentic inquiry into themselves ... an emotionally-naked exposé baring all. Their keen observations of life’s twists and turns will inspire you to use your obstacles as a path to your heart’s desire. Monday, November 23, 2015 I was asked earlier this week if I was to give a Ted Talk what would the topic be. I realized I could only talk about what was currently alive in me and I was being challenged to get very concrete about my core values and determine whether they were truly non-negotiable. The recent tragedy in Paris stuck home, close to my heart. Yet as I reeled from the impact I also asked myself why I had not experienced the same degree of devastation when I read about the earlier strikes in Lebanon? Mere weeks earlier 43 people were killed in the Beirut bombing. Twelve days before that a downed Russian airliner over the Sinai Peninsula was obliterated, with 244 lives lost. Why was the world, why was I, responding so strongly with solidarity now? I had to ask the hard questions, especially since one of my core values was radical honestly. I couldn’t help but notice how much I knew about the lives lost at the Bataclan Theatre in comparison to what I knew about any of the people hit in Beirut. People blamed the bias of media coverage but was that all? Could it be indicative of some form of cloaked racism? I have always stood for sameness and equality and dissolving the concepts of ‘us’ and ‘them’ yet here was some shadow hidden from consciousness that begged for observation. And I didn’t believe I was alone in my blindness. Everywhere people were reacting!! As I watched, read the news and tuned into the internet, even Facebook posts, I heard everything from downright ignorance to racism and even the supposed spiritually awake expressing conspiracy theories. All seemed to be looking for places to lay blame. The more I listened to my soul, the more pain I felt at the division this kind of posturing was provoking. Add in the conversations about the Syrian refuges, ‘us’ and ‘them’ and it seemed fear-based thinking was leading the pack. What could I do? What was my part? If there is only love or a cry for love, what, inside myself needed changing or healing in order to act as love would? I know the only answers worth listening to must come from one’s core. I increased my meditation time and listened with my heart. When people were crying bullets, generalizing about others and radiating fear, my heart would contract. When others, like the newsfeed of the French dad explaining the terrorist attacks to his six year old son and advocating flowers instead of guns, went viral, my heart softened and stretched to include everyone’s pain. Yes, even the recent perpetrators, young people who everyone labelled monsters. They too made my heart hurt. Tears came at the oddest moments and the biggest pain was feeling hit with prejudice where I least expected it. Seeing the violence toward Muslims and their places of worship here in Canada made it so clear to me that my tolerance for fear-based actions was zero. Linking Islam with ISIS is as ludicrous as linking Christianity with the KKK. This is not the time to feed ignorance by playing small and cautious but rather a time to stand for our values and express them in our actions. Even in the privacy of our own thoughts. I do not profess to have answers. The global situation is complex and there is a great need for accountability, the kind of accountability that admits the mistakes of the past and uses that knowledge to learn and evolve. It is not that much different than our responsibility in human relationships. To the extent that your focus is outside of yourself seeing another as the cause of your feelings, your reactions, to that extent will you be contributing to a fear based world. We all need to turn inward and bring our shadows to the light. Let our souls be advocates for sameness, inclusion and compassion. We are all being called to ask, what can I do individually and collectively as an ambassador of love. And staying blind, out of the fray, is no longer an option. Some call the current climate a war and that may actually be true. A revolution really. An internal revolution. In every reaction, every thought, every opinion we voice, we have a choice and how we choose will determine the experience. We are either championing the light or feeding the dark. Simple. Pain will always push until vision pulls. Branded and marked, Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Posted by Buns at 10:48 AM 0 comments Tuesday, November 3, 2015 I’m still digesting the news I received last night that my Mom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. While she is in relatively good shape mentally, and there is the possibility that she will retain her current level of memory for 6 months to 3 years, it’s still a shock. Oh, the things that have been coursing through my brain since last night are many… I’m thinking this could be cathartic for me, and possibly healing for some of you to just journey with me for the next few minutes as I try, as best as I can, to capture my stream of consciousness, that is threatening to be a debris torrent. We all thought Mom was forgetting things because she was still in mourning for her life partner of 60 years. We thought she was depressed and that she would move through that phase eventually. We all miss Dad. We are just all processing his passing differently and we thought her way was through being stuck in her sadness. Dad loved, and I mean LOVED poppies. It was his favourite flower. Because of that, poppies made my top-ten list as well. One year I remember collecting poppy seeds in the wild and mailing them to him for a Christmas present. He loved that gift. November and poppies have always signaled “Lest We Forget” to me. I can remember as a young girl the smell in the air, that cold, fresh, almost snowy smell that heralded the pinning of a tiny felt poppy on my lapel. Even before I knew what it meant, I knew it was special and something that needed honouring. I have always felt patriotic and a deep gratitude for my country. I know my Mom instilled that in me from a very early age. I cry when we march into an Olympic venue with our red and white colours proudly worn. I cried when Justin Trudeau was announced as our new Prime Minister because of the relief and joy I had, realizing we just got our country back. (I also cried the day I got the rejection letter from Margaret Trudeau saying I didn't make the cut to be Justin's nanny!) Now, in the wake of this latest news of my Mom, (who ushered me into this world when she was but 19), poppies, November, “Lest We Forget”, all have an even deeper meaning than before. I don’t want to forget. And it saddens me that she may not be able to hold onto the delicious memories of experiences that she conjured up for us that helped to mold us into healthy souls whose values strongly echo her own. Now, more than ever, I am committed to living in the present and enjoying each moment fully. While I of course will contribute to the decision making regarding her next steps, I don’t want to get embroiled in the “it’s going to be so sad when she can’t remember us any more”… another one of those phrases I can’t bring myself to say out loud. I want to continue to spend as much time with her as I can. Quality time. Where I’m helpful and where we are both nourished by each other’s presence. I’m feeling really sad as I write this and at the same time am making friends with the reality of growing old… something that I’ve considered an enemy for many years. I’m beginning to see a glimmer of how being friends with all this can be so healing and helpful. (After all, I’m no spring chicken either!) Mom. You are an amazing woman. I couldn’t have picked a better person to help me navigate through my life. As you have always been there for me, I am here for you too. The next 6 months to 3 years are going to be kickass. I’m coming over. With love from your favourite daughter, P.S. I remember you used to cry when I would sing this song. I’m not including it because of that, but because I get it now. See you soon. Posted by Buns at 6:56 PM 0 comments Wednesday, October 14, 2015 Placing your hands gently on your heart, whisper, I love you. I trust you. You are beautiful and you are wise. You beat in harmony with the greater plan of love. You are my guiding light. Finally the words came! The process of dissolving identity is neither predictable nor necessarily speedy and being in this personal transition has made posting on this blog a tricky matter. Whenever I would have a thought to share with you that explained the process I was in I would no sooner start expressing when I would hear…wait…that’s not quite it…wait. If this was a dream it would look like this. I am in a vast library with floor to ceiling books, knowledge on every subject, every person, every possibility at my fingertips. The spines of the book can be easily read and I just need to think of a topic or question and a book with the answer lands in my outstretched hands. Except then it would morph, become fluid and change. Nothing is steadfast. Everything is in flux. I relate this to a dream state because in the past this accessing in the Akashic Records was always less about the mind and more about the intuition. And yet when information, even intuitive is then filtered through the mind and that deep seeded human need to make meaning arises, I am being told that now that too calls for transforming. There are ways of knowing without words, without needing to label and make meaning. My glorious, dependable, safety mechanism, my mind, is dissolving. This is something cellular, energetic, something else…something without words. Until now. So when the love song to the heart found me I was ready. How do you learn to trust air…trust nothing…trust flying without wings. I knew the masculine part of me could not. The action oriented, set a goal, make a plan and follow through part of me could not take this leap of faith. The sacred feminine was having her day and would not be denied. In this communion, energy would flow…or not…the call for me was always the same, open, release, receive. And trust me it did not always feel simple or clear especially when I was opening to stagnant energy that has been stuck in my system for generations. Is it over? No idea and I’m pretty sure that question doesn’t matter. I am delighted to say that trusting only love is real is bringing heaven sent messages in the physical world. And oh I like that. Sometimes it feels like loving sweetness, other times like being ravaged by bliss. None of it makes sense and I am completely ok with that. Crazy wild synchronicities are everywhere and I can be with such a wider range of energies without reactivity. The one place my tolerance has diminished is in my relationship to fear. I can no longer sit with fear, not my own fear, nor the fear in another. Not even for an instant. I have given permission for my life to become what it wants to be. Take it away heart… take it away dear soul. My hands are in the air. Authentically, Posted by Buns at 3:24 PM 1 comments Tuesday, August 4, 2015 Getting to know your sister in 200,000 easy steps. Having just returned from a fantastic trip to the UK with my sister, her husband, and some of their friends, I am eager to preserve the memory of it as best I can. While photo albums and little mementos will help, the experience of connecting with my sister “Gigio”, is one that will remain at the top of the list. Her husband and friends all sing in a choir so for the first week, their days were full of rehearsals and Evensong every night at the beautiful Ripon Cathedral. That left Gigio and I (Topo) to our own devices. And speaking of devices, we both decided to wear our FitBits for the trip to track how many steps we covered on our daily treks. Turns out, we covered over 83 miles on foot which equated to a lot of talking, musing, and of course, giggling. We are, after all, sisters. Our family of 5, (my being the eldest, and her being the middle child), was always a very boisterous household – 4 girls and a boy. My memories of our childhood are of an active, happy, healthy, creative, and positive time. What I don’t remember so well is nurturing one-on-one relationships with my siblings. I am closest to my next sister through our singing, and having our kids at the same time. She and I definitely stay in touch the most and we have always had a lovely relationship (notwithstanding the teenage arguments we used to have over clothes and boys!). Each of my siblings and I enjoy each other immensely, but my deeper connection with them didn’t really happen until I moved out west and each sibling visited separately a few times. (I am so blessed that at least one of them always makes a point to be with me on the anniversary of Duncan’s passing… and I am very grateful for that.) Still, this was different. We were exploring new outer and inner territory together. We talked about everything from relationships to loss to kids to fashion… you name it… we covered it. What I loved about it was finding out just how much in common we had in terms of our likes and dislikes. We loved shopping in the same kind of stores, had a similar level of interest in the museum side of the trip (e.g. we didn’t read every single word on every single plaque, but we stopped at the things that interested us and passed by those that didn’t). We thoroughly enjoyed the gardens, taking pictures, and walking until we dropped. And if that wasn’t enough, we would watch Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë miniseries to round out our British immersion. And of course, we ended our daily agendas with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio (a.k.a. Topo Gigio). Hence our new terms of endearment. What I cherish the most is that we have reached a higher and more sustainable connection than it was before… I feel like I really got to know, understand and love her more deeply. I also got to know my brother-in-law much better and that has been a real treat for me as well. (We’ve still to come up with a name for him!) And last, but certainly not least, I made some new friends that I know I will see again when I visit back east. I’ve been home for a week now, and I already want to go back! We were just getting started! I feel like I have found a new friend. Thank you Gigio for an amazing time. I loved every minute of it. P.S. For those of you who would revel in a good romp around England, here’s a list of some of the places we visited... Posted by Buns at 1:52 PM 0 comments Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Posts Posts How it all began Our sons were friends. Like brothers really. We mothers had never met but both our guys kept saying we should. Then Duncan passed away. It was through Marty's support of Buns' grieving her son that a deep friendship was forged. Duncan inspired us. If his life, at 22, could get snuffed out like that, without any warning, then why wouldn't we live each day to the max ... grateful for every second, whether mundane or profound? Really, we're not interested in writing just about the happy times. We are interested in also using the pain, the sorrow, the disappointments -- the realities of life -- to stretch and grow. Inherent in everything that happens, at the heart of it lies love. Sometimes it doesn't look like love. We have to go through all the layers of ourselves authentically and feel them in order to reveal that essence. But hey. It's not all serious. We have a blast. We go blindly into spontaneous adventures that some might consider reckless (Marty's word), or random (Buns' word), but regardless, whatever it is we are doing, we are awake and choosing to live out loud. If you want to catch all the glorious details of the Buns and Marty escapades, you can start with our first post under Blog Archive (November 2010 -- Today has already been amazing -- and read the posts from bottom to top). Being big believers in "passion meets purpose", we want to support our writing addiction in a totally decadent, seriously fun way. We are working together and inspiring people to make significant lifestyle changes by sharing our experience with the most awesome nutritional and natural products. The side effects are so extreme they include a warning... increased energy, heightened clarity, improved athletic performance, youthful aging, and last but not least... weight release. And it includes chocolate! Yes, good for you, mood-stabilizing, vitamin B-infused, green tea chocolate. Seriously fun, seriously fine.	17,818
Do you ever send an email and then wonder if the recipient ever read it? While you may wonder immediately if the letter has been opened, your curiosity truly kills the cat (or at least may make you want to kick it) when days and days go by and you still have no response from your friend. If this situation describes your email life, then Microsoft Outlook designed a cure for you. I discovered Microsoft’s answer for our email enigma a few months ago. You see, I had a friend who would attach a “read receipt” onto their emails to me. This friend works in sales, and she got tired of always wondering if her clients were reading their emails so she started attaching read receipts to all of her emails just to be sure. When I get emails from her, Outlook lets me know that a confirmation has been sent informing the sender of my receipt of the message. I was thinking about this technology as I was reading Revelation 5-8. Scattered throughout these four chapters is Jesus’ continued revelation of heaven to the apostle John. When Jesus gives John a tour of heaven, He points out to him on several occasions one of the items that has arrived in heaven. Listen to the words of Revelation 5:8 and 8:1-5: “And when He (Jesus) had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. . . When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” As you read those verses did you see the item I was referring to? In the dwelling place of God . . . before His very throne . . . is a beautiful bowl consisting of the prayers of the saints. (NOTE: Saint is a term that refers to anyone who is a Christian. This bowl contains not just John the Apostle’s prayers, but yours and mine as well!) These prayers, like fine incense, are a welcome aroma to Jesus Himself. Though many years had gone by and many prayers John had prayed, no doubt, had gone “unanswered” from his perspective, John was now granted the most impressive read receipt ever. Indeed the prayers John and others had prayed had gotten through, and Revelation chapter 8 tells us that at the right time, these prayers will be answered with awesome power . . .being returned to earth with an answer and ground shaking force. This was probably never more pronounced than with John’s prayers for the return of Christ and justice to be brought to the earth. John had seen many of his friends die for their belief in Christ, and He was on the island of Patmos as a prisoner, when this revelation came. No doubt, John had prayed many prayers for Jesus to protect His friends, to bring justice on the earth, and to set things right. Yet all these prayers had gone unanswered. Over all this time, John’s curiosity had to be killing him. Were his prayers really getting through? Then in one sweet vision, Jesus removes all doubt. The Reader of our hearts had gotten every one . . . and He was getting ready to act. The next time you pray and you wonder if God really got your message, read Revelation 5:8 and 8:1-5 and take heart. Your prayers are still there before the throne like sweet incense before the King. The Reader has Received Your message, and He will respond soon. Leave a Reply Cancel reply This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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Library regulations are designed to create a conducive and comfortable learning environment for all library users and ignorance of these shall not be accepted as an excuse for their non-observance. Books can only be borrowed using a current student card and library materials should not be taken out of the library unless properly issued. All borrowers shall be required to present their identity cards at the issue desk every time they visit the library. Library materials borrowed must be returned on or before the due date. Student cards should not be loaned/transferred to other readers. Lost cards should be reported immediately to the library. Books must be returned by the due date or earlier if recalled by the Librarians. Failure to return a book by the date specified shall be treated as a serious offence. The Librarians shall endeavour to send overdue notices but shall not be held responsible for no delivery under whatever circumstances. Any borrower, including a member of the academic staff, who fails to return/renew a book on due date shall be liable to a fine of 500/- per book per day until the book has been returned. At the end of the loan period books borrowed must be either returned or renewed. A book may only be renewed once and provided that another reader has not requested it. Loss and Damage of library materials Damaged books shall be charged as a lost book or the re-binding costs whichever is appropriate. Lost book shall incur a cost. The cost shall be calculated by the replacement value of the book, which may exceed the original cost of the item, plus an administrative charge. If the title is not in print, it shall be replaced by something similar in content and price. Readers must not damage or deface library property. The cost of replacement shall be charged if an item on loan is found to be damaged on return. Any staff member who refuses to pay the fines or replacement cost of lost books shall be liable to have these costs recovered from her/his salary through the Bursar’s office. In case of students costs shall be recovered from their caution monies. General Rules Behaviours in the Library General Rules Library clearance involves all students before leaving the University. In the case of members of staff clearance maintains when her/his employment with the University terminates or when she/he leaves the University for more than one academic year for any reasons such as studies, secondment, leave without pay, medical treatment etc. Books may not be transferred from one reader to another without being returned to the Library for re-issue. If any such unofficial transfer takes place, the original borrower shall be held responsible for the books in question. Library staff may examine personal property being brought into the library and bags on leaving. Readers must not write in, mark, or otherwise deface or damage library material or equipment in any way. The library is a quiet area of study; even quiet conversation can disrupt the work of other readers. All conversations should take place outside the library. An accident in the library should be reported immediately to library staff. The Library staff on duty has the right to request a user to leave the premises if he/she is found to be violating any of the Library rules and regulations. In order to prevent misplacement of books on shelves, books should not be re-shelved by readers. They should leave them on the reading tables or trolleys for re-shelving by library staff. Behaviours in the Library One should not enter the library with any kind of bags, coats, cases, umbrellas, raincoats and similar personal belongings. Placing of feet on furniture and sitting on tables are not allowed. Seats may not be reserved by placing personal effects on seats or reading tables. Mobile phones must be switched onto silent mode before entering the library. Readers found talking on a mobile shall be asked to leave the library. Library books shall not be taken out of the country, except with the special permission from the Director of Library Services. Foods and drinks should not be brought into the library. Keeping books on the floor is not allowed. Readers must not engage in the harassment of any other readers or library staff members. Readers must not smoke in any part of a library. The use of portable computer or stereo is permitted in the Library provided there are no complaints from other users.	4,530
Here’s a story in the Chronicle of Higher Education about the unionization of graduate students at private universities, an issue soon to be decided by the National Labor Relations Board. It seems that the whole matter comes down to a definition: are graduate students students or employees? The American Council on Education says, “Students enroll in graduate school to complete their higher education, not to work for wages. Their relationship with the university is fundamentally one of a student and teacher, not master-servant.” But the Graduate Student Organizing Committee of the United Auto Workers argues, “There is simply no reason why one cannot be both a student and an employee at the same time.” In 2004, the NLRB decided against unionization at Brown University, but last year an NLRB official shifted the other way, saying that “a dual relationship” exists which is “both academic and economic.” Brown argues that the latter undermines the former, producing mistrust and antagonisms between students and faculty. NYU agrees, the story continues, stating that “the collective-bargaining agreement in place there before 2005 led to the filing of multiple union grievances threatening its academic autonomy.” If NLRB comes down on the side of graduate-students-as-employees, it may do so not because of abstract definitions, but because of actual practices in graduate programs. How many of them regard their graduate students as professors-in-training, and how many regard them as warm bodies to fill freshman classrooms? How many graduate students teach service courses for years only to finish their dissertations and find no tenure-track jobs or post-docs waiting for them? We may assume that if graduate students saw their peers who are two or three years ahead of them eating dirt in the department for a few years but winning a plum post once they hit the job market, those graduate students wouldn’t mind doing the same and they wouldn’t insist on unionization. Mark Bauerlein is a professor emeritus of English at Emory University and an editor at First Things, where he hosts a podcast twice a week. He is the author of five books, including The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δ Supporting MTC Minding the Campus needs your help. Even a small donation makes a big difference. Click here to donate now. Sign Up for Our New Weekly Newsletter, “Top of Mind” First Last Δ Write for MTC Calling all professors, students, and concerned citizens who believe in diversity of thought. Minding the Campus aims to expose the intellectual conformity at today’s universities and find solutions to the academic totalitarianism that silences dissenters. If you're interested in joining the conversation, click here to read more. Education Roundup "The question in the admissions world right now is fairly simple: Will the moves by leading law schools against the rankings of U.S. News & World Report spread to undergraduate institutions? ... Many have been waiting for a similar push by undergraduate colleges. But thus far, they have been disappointed." – Inside Higher Ed, 12/5/22 Only 4 percent of faculty donations went to Republicans in 2022: College Fix analysis "The College Fix analysis found that when faculty donations were broken down between Democratic candidates and organizations versus Republican candidates and organizations, 96 percent of faculty donations went to Democrats. In total, university faculty donated about $3.75 million to Democrats, while approximately $160,000 went to Republicans." – The College Fix, 12/5/22 "Kansas Supreme Court justice Caleb Stegall is leaving his adjunct position at the University of Kansas, rankled by the way administrators handled a controversy over a conservative speaker. Stegall, who earned his law degree at KU, taught appellate advocacy at the law school." – Inside Higher Ed, 12/5/22 "As colleges and universities began waiving testing requirements during the pandemic, the NCAA followed suit. At the time, this decision was justifiable given that testing centers and schools were closed, students were not learning the requisite course material, and access to test preparation opportunities was limited for many students. The relevance of this rationale has faded over the past two years." – James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, 12/5/22 Institutions of Lower Learning "As if you needed any further evidence that even our most prestigious institutions of higher learning have degenerated into woke indoctrination mills aimed at deconstructing the moral, intellectual, and cultural underpinnings of our civilization, a new course catalog for Princeton University reveals that the Ivy League school will begin offering its students courses on BDSM and fetishism next year." – FrontPageMag, 12/5/22 "Three California community colleges are fighting to start new baccalaureate programs, which their leaders insist would fill critical local workforce needs and help students who couldn’t otherwise afford to pursue a four-year degree. But their plans have faced repeated roadblocks from the California State University system." – Inside Higher Ed, 12/5/22 "Little did I know that when I was teaching in the 1990s and 'multicultural education' became all the rage that it was just the beginning of an onslaught of radical endeavors that show no sign of abating. As 2022 winds down, let’s take a glimpse at a small sampling of the schemes that have been inflicted on America’s children over the past few years." – American Greatness, 12/4/22 Woke Insanity Detected in Another Patient: Tulane School of Medicine "It now appears that Tulane School of Medicine has revised its mission to ensure that our faculty and students receive indoctrination that divides us into either 'oppressors' or 'victims.' This mindset, as unreasonable as it is inflexible, is degrading our ability to deal with the health-care world as it really is." – National Review, 12/3/22 "By taking the step of becoming first 'test optional' and then 'test blind,' UC has joined a growing list of US colleges and universities that are not requiring SAT or ACT scores for consideration in the admissions process. ... Those who had been following UC’s deliberations about retaining or abandoning standardized-admissions tests may be surprised by the UC announcement." – Quillette, 12/3/22 DeSantis helped flip school boards. They’re now making a mark. "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, pressing his education culture war, took the extraordinary step of endorsing school board candidates in nonpartisan races. Now the winners are beginning to make their mark. Since Election Day, newly conservative school boards in two counties have moved to push out their superintendents." – Washington Post, 12/3/22 Article Archives Select Month December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007	9,485
Oloye Lekan Alabi’s Exclusive 70th Birthday Interview ‘I Stopped Wearing Suit The Day I became Jagun-Olubadan’ \| Paper Mache news Events lifestyle Oloye Lekan Alabi’s Exclusive 70th Birthday Interview ‘I Stopped Wearing Suit The Day I became Jagun-Olubadan’ The Ekefa-Olubadan, Oloye Lekan Alabi is a man of many parts. A journalist, a traditionalist, socialite, commentator and the sixth in line to the Olubadan throne. He recollects history, matches it with dates,names and shows age has nothing to do with memory. He also has an enviable record of serving four different government (both Military and Civilian as Press Secretary). The former reporter with the Sketch newspaper would be 70 years in October and he answered questions bordering on his childhood, the prediction before his birth, his principles and how he got this far. The High-Chief took the papermacheonline team through the journey of his life, the triumphs and trials and how he excelled… Can we start by saying a happy birthday to you? At 70, how do you feel sir? I think age is a matter of number. I don’t feel any different from the time I know my left from my right, but biologically and medically one can notice recess in human activities like climbing stairs , walking in quick paces…all these have slowed down, but otherwise I don’t feel any different. I just look at it that I’m 70. Moreso my mum is still alive, she is 92 and people still wont believe her age. I still look at myself as a child of a mother who is alive. Recently you visited the ancestral home where you were given birth to 70 years ago, what informed that? As I was told, my mum almost breathed her last at our home, Ile Ekerin Ajengbe, until my paternal grandmother’s older sister, Mama Adeola Alaro saw the danger. I was told life was almost going out of my mother, so she ordered them to pack and took her to her husband’s house. She was the mother of my late uncle, Baba Haroun Durodola whose corpse did not decompose for 16 years after his burial. She took my mum to their house, SW1/60 Ile Tuntun and that was where I was born and I was told my mum stayed in that house for three days. You know all these African belief, one must comply. I am my parent’s first child. I remembered Daba Durodola was an extremely handsome man and very rich, he was my paternal uncle. I think we are all good looking in our family, both maternal and paternal. What about your dad? You Hardly Talk About Him. I can never forget my dad. Pa Oladosu Alabi alias ‘right time’, he was an extremely handsome man, hardworking and very responsible. He was very proud of me, when I entered Secondary School and became the class captain in Primary 2, 3, 4, and the School Mailboy in Primary 5, my father bought me a transistor set in 1963 when I was in Primary 6. He was a great man and very adventurous. He was working with a Dr Williams who was the colonial government medical doctor. When Dr Williams was transferred from Osogbo to Azare in the present Bauchi State, my parents followed him . My mum had to come back to Ibadan so that I could be given birth to in my hometown and not in a strange land. And by the time I grew up, my father was also trading in Yauri near Sokoto, later he moved to Lokoja. I spent my holidays with him in all these places. my father later moved our family to Enugu immediately the city was liberated in 1969 during the civil war. We stayed at number 86, Owerri road, Asata in Enugu where two of my younger sisters attended Queens College. I took part of my interest in travelling from my father. Looking back, how fulfilled are you? Since I became an adult I’ve always thanked God for the blessings. Those who know me intimately know that I don’t rush after anything. Before I was born, predictions had been made from both my maternal and paternal side. My mum is from Emure Ekiti, in Emure Ekiti my paternal grandfather, Baba Aaron Omotoso Osotun also contributed to the predictions, particularly my grandmother in Ibadan. They said a week before I was born an itinerant cleric, malim, those genuine prophet of that time came to our house and said there’s a pregnant woman in this house that they should take care of her baby. My birth was similar to that of King Sunny Ade who his parents had to move from Ondo to Osogbo because a prophet came to their house and prophesied that he would be great and bring fame to the family and Nigeria, but on the condition that he must be raised outside their town. Prediction was made before I was born and the malim after I was born was coming to our house to pray for me for one whole week. When I was told all these and I saw from the pattern of my life that everything had been ordered, anywhere I find myself there is usually promotion, advancement, and I would just laugh because I know about the prediction. Did the prediction affect your growing up? You must have been pampered and spoilt as a child. Let me now tell you what happened. At least I’ve grown up to know what I’m saying now. My grandmother also believed that her grandfather, Omolaja Ajengbe, one of the founders of this town who was an Akerin Balogun would reincarnate through her lineage. You know that time there was no scan, when my mother was pregnant they wouldn’t know if the baby was a boy or a girl, the day I was born and she realised I was a boy she told them her grandfather is back. You needed to know my childhood, nobody must beat me… Even your dad? I said nobody must beat me. Again, I should not carry load on my head and there were certain duties I was excused from. My grandmother was a very powerful woman, Mama Asimawu Oduola Alabi, she was the woman leader of NCNC under Adegoke Adelabu. she was a powerful politician and a big time textile trader in Lalupon. I could remember some aunties and uncles telling her I would be spoilt, she would take me into privacy, sat me down and said do you hear what they are saying? Don’t cross the border. She drew some borderline for me and once I don’t cross the border, there won’t be any issue. And you obeyed her laws? Yes, till today. I am one of those who will comply with any law, but on one condition, if it is not harmful physically, culturally and religiously, otherwise we may have to review that law, but as long as the law is made for public good, we must all comply. I’ve never been defiant, never! One day Adegoke Adelabu visited his Women Leader who happened to be my grandmother, they were coming from a campaign and they all came to our house. My father had gone to work, my father was very enlightened, he had worked with the British Roundtree company, they make chocolates. The Manager wanted to take him to England but his mother refused. In our house we had electricity and a radiogram. My father had switched off the electricity supply when he left for work, so when Adelabu came, they wanted to switch on the fan and radiogram for him and no one knew how to do that, and my grandmother was pacing up and down in confusion. I asked her, what is it? I was about 7 years old then. I told her to ask someone to climb the chair and pull the switch, Adelabu was impressed and he gave me one shilling. I remembered he told my grandmother there that she should allow me go to Government College, Ibadan. You know Adelabu was the best student in Government College, his records are still at the school unbroken. When I started school and I was first, that’s why they called me ‘ever first’ . At Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Oke Foko in Ibadan, I was there 1959 to 1963, I was the class captain in Primary 2,3,4, and the School Mailboy in Primary 5. My role as the Mailboy was to leave school on any school day at 11am to go and collect mails at the Seventh Day headquarters at Oke Bola. In my final year I was the Senior Prefect, everything was just falling in place, but I missed going to Government College. Only two of us purchased the common entrance form. Myself and a classmate, Freeman Tonara, his father was a policeman. We were the only two pupils our parents could afford to buy the forms. So I filled Government College, Ibadan and Government College, Ughelli as my second choice. In preparation of the First Leaving School Examination, the officials came to our school to inspect and they found just an arm of Primary 6, whereas the law then was that any school must have two arms minimum of primary 6. I wouldn’t know why the school management sent away some of our mates in Primary 5, many were asked to repeat and some were demoted to Primary 4. It was just few of us that got to Primary 6. So, when the officials came they said no, this is too few. So they went back to the Ministry and they asked for us to be distributed to nearby schools. Some of us were sent to Bioku Primary school, I and some others were sent to Ansarudeen Primary School. It has never happened and in the confusion our headmistress, Mrs Ola forgot to submit our forms. When they were making announcements on the radio, my grandmother followed me to school to know my centre for the Government College exams, the headmistress broke down in tears when we got there, she had forgotten to submit our forms. The odd part is this, Mr Tonara, the police officer came into the school and was shouting, he was threatening to sue the headmistress. he demanded the refund of the form right there, but my grandmother didn’t, she said it wasn’t the fault of the headmistress. It was Mrs Ola, the headmistress who now told my grandmother that there is a new school near Government College called African Church Grammar School and that the principal is a disciplinarian. So instead of her refunding our 10 shillings, 6 pence, she went to purchase the African Church Grammar School form for me and that was how I ended up at African Church Grammar school, and I thank God, but my first son, Olayemi attended the Government College, Ibadan. Can you remember some of your classmates? Some of my closest friends are dead now. I remember Segun Adelaja, Femi Akeredolu, Abayomi Adegbesan. its a mixed school, I have some women that we are still in touch, they are now respectable grandmothers, Yemisi Daniel, Wura Olukotun, the late Mrs Kalejaye, Sola Sonoiki was the closest to me among the female because we were the best in English and Literature. We had a teacher who loved and was proud of both of us, Mrs Margaret Odu who was formerly Margaret Spiff. I also remember Olumide Odusote. What were the things you did as a boy? In Yoruba culture, responsibility is placed on the first born, they would want you to be a role model to your siblings. I had that responsibility, which means I must lead by good examples. Secondly my grandmother was dreaming of an Adegoke Adelabu in me and from that angle too the expectation was high. Now I can see that my grandmother, my dad, mother and others could see the future. I was taught about our ancestry, the aristocracy, the leadership, the exploits of my progenitors, so I was raised in that mould. My grandmother ensured all that. I would spend part of my holidays in Emure Ekiti with my maternal grandfather where my uncle was also the late Elemure, Oba Oshin. There’s royalty on both sides of my family. Then my school, Seventh Day Adventist mission school, Western Region used to organise an annual camp meeting for 2 weeks, it was just like the NYSC scheme. our parents would pay and we would attend the camp with our mats and other utensils. There, they would mix all those would could afford to come on a large field. the first one I attended was at Ede, we went by train.They put us on the field and select at random and we would be put through leadership training and endurance. Despite being a muslim nobody ever raised an idea of conversion, they were good in those time. Lliberalism was ensured. My name is Abdulrasheed and I attended Seventh Day Christian School. The training was of high standard and it moulded our lives in orderliness, discipline and fairness. I also engaged in the activities of youngsters of those days, i played table tennis and visited Baba Jebe. Baba Jebe was at the place where the present Central Mosque at Oja Oba is, he was a bicycle repairer. we would go there and rent bicycles. I also played table tennis at Oloja, Gege and I played ‘toronto’.,, What is Toronto? It’s what we called bootless soccer . I had a great time as a boy. How did you come into journalism? It was deliberate. After my Secondary School there was an exam called pre-lim that you take to enter university which I took in 1970. The centre was at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, and I was a village school teacher, that was my first job ever, at St John’s Anglican Primary School, Akinajo near Arulogun. That was the practice at that time , you had to get a job to prepare yourself till when the results come out, or you go straight to HSC . I was in Akinajo enjoying my life. On Fridays I would come home. The ‘atokowagbowonle’ band that you see now, some of them were my pupils and they were staying beneath my apartment, the building was an official quarters and I was staying up. Anytime they were misbehaving , their father would come and call out to me ‘teacher’ and they would all run away. Their father was the official drummer of the NCNC and when he got to know that I was the son of ‘MamaI Ile Ekerin Ajengbe’ (that was what they used to call my grandmother) wow! So, one day he called me and asked why I was always going to Ibadan on weekends, he told me I can also enjoy myself at the village. He had an engagement that weekend and he took me. I was at a VIP, they put all sort of food and meats in front of me and I decided I was no longer going to spend the weekend in Ibadan again. But unknown to me, my admission letter into the University of Ife was at home, nobody knew Akinajo in my family. they didn’t know the content and they didn’t open the letter. When I got the salary for that month and came home, they gave me the letter and I opened it, I realised the interview had been conducted. I was the first passenger on that old Ife road that morning to the University of Ife. I’ve been saying this that I hope the admission officer was still alive. When I got to the office and he saw me, he shouted at me asking why I was just coming, that I came first in the exams. Despite not knowing me, he was taking me from office to office and was trying to present my case, but in those days there were standards and nothing could be done, its not now that there is a shortcut to everything. They said what they would do for me is that I would not write the coming year exam. That month I left the village and was looking for another job in the city. That year Onibonje Publishers at Felele advertised for the position of an Accounts Clerk, and I was very poor in mathematics, but I felt since they are a publishing company I could have an experience in printing. So, I applied, did the written exams and the oral interview. Around 4pm they called us out and said when you hear your name, stand here. They started calling names and they called the last name and said these are the successful candidates, they now turned to us and said we were not qualified and we could apply whenever there was notice for vacancy again. Later they asked ‘who among you is Mr Lekan Alabi?’and I raised my hand, so they asked me to step aside and there they told me that I came first but my mathematics was very poor, but that because of my performance they would appoint me the first Editorial Asistance of the company. I was glad, because that was exactly what I was looking for, and that was how I became the first Editorial Assistant of the company. At Onibonje my boss was the younger brother of Baba Onibonje who was the Chairman. Our department dealt with all manuscripts and as the editorial assistant they would bring all manuscript to my table, whatever comment I wrote on any manuscript is what I would pass to my boss, and he never changed whatever comment I made. Whether to accept or reject, they rely on my judgement. So Sketch newspaper now advertised position for Reporters, Writers, Readers Grade 2 and I applied . The interview was conducted by Sketch management and the Western State Ministry of Establishment. Nigeria used to have standards. Those of us who passed were invited for interview, and only two of us were employed, i and Baba Goke Morenikeji, he assumed duty a week ahead of me because I needed to give Onibonje a notice that I was leaving. At Sketch they put me on the Yoruba desk called ‘GbohunGbohun’. Sketch in those days used to be Sunday Sketch and ‘Gbohungbohun’ was the yoruba version. I was a regular at WNTV. I had a column titled ‘MO RI FIIRI’. I forgot to tell you that I was very good in Yoruba, I had distinctions. In my column I was writing about current issues. So one day I went to a party and I saw a band playing just exactly like Ebenezer Obey’s. When they had a break I went to them because I knew all the band members of Ebenezer Obey at that time. I was a member of ‘Come Let’s Dance’, I dance very well and I was also a member of Chief Afolabi Majekodunmi’s King of Boys Circle. It was a social circle at that time. Baba Majekodunmi was a big time transporter that , he was the King of boys, he likes boys flocking around him. He drives a Chevrolet and he would take us to parties.if you don’t dress well he would tell you not to follow him. He taught us many things, he was grooming us socially, and that time he had his eyes for those of us that are brilliant and had focus. It was the focus that led me to journalism and I became a great writer, I thank God for what He had done for me and I’m still thanking Him for what he is doing. So I attended the party and interviewed Makanjuola the manager of the band that sounded like Ebenzer Obey. I asked if they were Ebenezer Obey’s second band, he flared up and told me they were all copying Tunde Nightingale. I wrote the article and gave it to the editor of Sunday Sketch, the late Mr Philip Bamidele Adedeji. He published it and it caused trouble. People never believed I wrote the story because it was well written. He called me and said the article I wrote was standard for my age and experience and that it raised dust and he asked if I was the author and when I said yes, he asked me to write another article. I learnt there was a play going on at Obisesan Hall that night, I bought a ticket , went there and reviewed the play and gave it to him. He was so happy. he now said I should go to the photo section where they took my picture while the editor designed the montage and named the page WHATS HAPPENING. it was a review of play,books, theatre by Lekan Alabi, it was a very popular column and I became the first dual columnist in Yoruba and English, not only in Sketch but in this country. From Sketch I now went for my professional training in London at the College of Journalism 62, Fleet Street. When I came back I joined NTV , from there I became one of the pioneer staffers of TSOS, Television Service Of Oyo State in 1982. I was later seconded to Governor’s Office under Governor Bola Ige as Press Secretary. We won the 1983 election, but FEDECO said otherwise and the rest is history. But instead of allowing me to go back to TSOS the government of Dr Victor Olunloyo said no and anybody who returned to either O.Y.O or TSOS were sacked, Many were sacked and many were transferred. So they were all begging but I refused to beg. My father and uncle were puzzled, they were socialites of that and friends with Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. My father went to Adedibu, and Adedibu said ‘Lekan Alabi? Ijesa Ni Omo yen!. That was because I was so loyal to Bola Ige. He said they should bring me, but I refused. I said i would not beg. All the pro-Ige in the civil service were sacked, they were calling us UPN sympathisers. So I was home for three months without a job. Lo and behold! There was a coup. I could remember the headlines in the newspapers then ‘Happy New Year, Happy New Government because the coup took place on the 31st of December, 1983. My father was looking at me and was wondering, was this the reason this boy refused to beg? Did he know there was going to be a coup? He summoned the family meeting the next Sunday and relinquished the leadership of the family to me. The leadership of the whole Alabi family!. The following month, I was reappointed as the Press Secretary to Governor Oladayo Popoola. There were many miracles in my life. My letter of appointment came but the officials said they couldn’t locate me, they were lying. The new government ordered all the people dismissed, suspended and penalised by the civilian government to return, so that the new government can set up special investigation panel to look at the case. One afternoon i was at the Total fuelling station at Bodija when one of our uncles, Engineer Popoola who was a cousin to the Military Governor saw me and asked ‘Lekan, how is your boss? I thought he was referring to Bola Ige and I said ‘Oga has been taken to Lagos’. He said i wasn’t talking about Chief Bola Ige. I now approached him and he asked why I’ve not resumed. It was through him I heard I’ve been appointed. He asked me to come to his house in the evening , I went there and he told me the Governor said they couldn’t locate me and he was already thinking of appointing another person. He now said if I was still interested I should come to the office the next day. That second day I wore one of my best suits . When I got to work I pinched myself, I felt I was dreaming. Working with Bola Ige at that time must have pitched you against Dr Omololu Olunloyo? Dr Olunloyo wrote the foreword to my book. So you never had any problem with him? Nothing personal. Till now he still calls me. You need to read my book, Speaking For Governors and what he wrote in the foreword of my book. Let me quote him, he said ‘he would have loved to retain me as his Press Secretary but for some do- gooders, that they didn’t want Lekan Alabi’. What did you learn from that experience? I learnt that destiny can never be changed. Remember my beginning and the predictions. For Dr Olunloyo to have accepted to write the foreword, it was enough gratitude . For him to have written that he would have loved to retain me. Governments must be careful, particularly when they are new. There are people that would come, give bad advice in the sense that they want to take a pound of flesh. They are there in one’s family, group and religious sectors. Anything that has to do with leadership. May God give them good advisers and aides that are God fearing. People that won’t call white black. You Had an Unbeatable Experience working with 4 different Governors, How did you achieve that? Yes, I worked with one civilian and three Military Governors as a Press Secretary. Let me just tell you this, its my destiny. The last person I worked with, Brigadier Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya didn’t even tell me anything. It was at the tail end of his government in 1989 that he asked me to make a request and that he would grant it. That was March 30, 1989. And I asked him to sponsor me to Hajj. He was surprised, so he sponsored me and I left his service as Press Secretary. The day we were going to Hajj was the day the Odua Board was also meeting and the Military Governors were the heads of the board. so Oresanya was the current chairman then. So when we were about leaving for Hajj, one of the protocol officers, Kola Fatunbi saw me, they went to pick the food for the Odua Board at the government house and he shouted ‘egbon congratulations’. I thought he was greeting me for Hajj and I was thinking whats the big deal . He now said ‘you have been appointed the Public Affairs Officer of Odua. They’ve already taken the press release of your appointment to media houses’. You know why the Governor did that? When he came I was coordinating the publicity promotion for ODUA INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED. Idiagbon and Buhari said they should stop rotating meetings between Akure, Ibadan and Abeokuta. so the meeting was holding in Ibadan permanently and he asked me how much they paid me and I said I wasn’t paid, I was then coordinating the AGM and also their publicity. I think he found out from the secretary to the Military Government that i wasn’t getting paid for that. That was how the job came. so when i arrived Hajj whenever they were doing special prayers I would just be like, God Me? what a gift! What did you attribute all that to? Destiny. Although the prediction may not be specific, but in clear terms they said I would be great. I told you the drill I went through from my grandmother, my grandfather, my parents. they always sound it to my ear ‘leaders don’t do this, leaders don’t do that’. You learnt from a lot from great people, you sat at the feet of giants..who would moulded you say moulded you to what you become? all of them had hands in it. I told people this, when great men and women accept you into their inner recess please don’t bring any personal problems to them, particularly financial problems. Don’t raise it, because they will be scared. Let them see their values in you. The late Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Akindele is a man of standards, extreme protocol and if I would say with all due respect that our association lasted for 36 years. Look at the first lady Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mama Folake Solanke, look at Bola Ige, Dr Yemi Farounbi…these are great people but they welcomed me into their fold. I always ask myself what they see in me. I’ve never lost my sense of self discipline and i don’t ask them for money. I also remember Arisekola Alao of blessed memory. Chief Ebenezer Obey too. I danced live in front of Obey 50 years ago at the Oyenuga’s party. That was where we struck our friendship and by the time I became the social page editor of Sunday Sketch in 1974 they all became my friends. If you needed anything to do with reviews, plays you must come to my desk. There were just three Sunday papers in Nigeria then. The great Sunday Times, Sunday Sketch and also Punch started i think as weekly then. Working with four governors, was there any particular time your work put you in trouble? Ah! I had issues with MKO Abiola who was my mentor. Everybody knew we were so close. He would invite me to come to Lagos when he had matters to discuss. Also Kabiyesi Arapasowu Olubadan, I was his confidant. I was his official director of protocols and confidant. When kabiyesi wants to discuss something in confidence with me, none of his family members, even wives must stay with us. Oba Yinusa Bankola Ogundipe. I was his confidant. What happened that time, Alaafin of Oyo, Ikubababa yeye was going to make MKO Abiola the Aare Ona Kakanfo and the relationship between Governor Olurin and Alaafin Adeyemi was stormy. I was press secretary to Governor Olurin at that time. so Abiola invited Babangida who was the Head Of State to the installation in Oyo, but Babangida sent the Chief of Air Force, Alfa to represent him and my boss was already in a ceremonial army uniform because it was going to be a big ceremony and we wereat the Government House waiting to receive the representative of the Head of State. They had sent a signal a day before that Babangida was not coming but that he would send a representative. so when Alfa drove into the Government House he wore a civilian dress. Why? Are you asking me? I dont know. So my boss saluted him and Alfa said it was a private thing that Olurin shouldn’t bother to go, that he should go to his work. Alfa went to oyo and asked us to step back. Abiola got furious and when he was interviewed and they asked why the Military Governors did not attend his installation, Abiola said ‘all those ones are eaglet Governors’…eaglet Governors? A full colonel of the Nigerian Army who fought in Lebanon and won medals. Then Raji Rasaki and Akhigbe you called them eaglet Governors? I wrote a rejoinder which rubbished MKO Abiola and it was published. The tone was ‘what do you take yourself for…’ And he was your friend? Ah, I was avoiding him. If i see him at any function I would hide, but he later wrote a letter of apology. Did he reach out to you after your rejoinder was published? Ah! In the military days? Security would be watching out for you to see if you are double-dealing. That would be too dangerous. Its best to be straightforward. All the people that know us together, particularly his family stigmatised me. Later they now transferred Olurin and I started working with Oresanya. University of Ibadan was launching one foundation and Abiola was the toast of any foundation at that time. so he came to the University of Ibadan. That time was different, not unlike now when thousands follow a Governor everywhere he goes. That time only four of us would follow the Governor out. The ADC, Director of Protocol, NSO and the Press secretary, definitely we would be standing behind the Governor. When I saw Abiola at the event, I was scared. Did he see you? I was behind my oga and his back was also turned to me, so I pulled a straight face, but the MC broke the ice as he recognised the VIPs, he now said my senior, Akogun Lekan Alabi is also here. So Abiola looked back and said ‘oh, you are here?’ Akogun Apaye, (he used to call me that) I quickly went to him and he said he would be sleeping in Ibadan that day and we should meet. I went to meet him at the vice chancellor’s chalet and he asked me why I was running from him, he said you did your job, any good press secretary would do what you did. I was like ‘so you were not angry?’ He asked me to come on Sunday and I went to his Ikeja home and that was how it ended. He told me my life history that day. You know he was also not an ordinary being? Again when i was 60, we had a party at the Civic Centre. A week to my party Alaafin lost his eldest daughter, Princess Akofade, she died at the UCH so Alaafin couldnt attend. Later he sent me a message to choose any weekend and that he would host me and my family. He also asked me to come with the media to the palace in Oyo. We chose a date but suddenly Sikiru Ayinde Barrister too died, we mourned him for a week and we now went to Oyo. Alaafin threw a feast, the media were present and he gave a speech where he spoke for over an hour and he said so many things about me. You know he also had issues with Bola Ige and Olurin? He said throughout that period I never issued a statement against him. That people in position as advisers should learn a lesson that one day they would leave the office. That time it was God that saved me. People went behind to tell Olurin that I was close to Alaafin and that I always go to Oyo, but my uncle was in Oyo for over 40 years and I must go and visit him. My advice is for those who manage whatever they claim to manage for Presidents and Governors, they should all be careful. How can you be insulting personalties and important people. you can go to issues, but don’t personalise to please your bosses. At 70, how do you feel with the present situation of the country? This is not the Nigeria our fathers and mothers dreamed of. Nigeria of their dream and the one we met was Nigeria of merit. You get things by merits and not by who you know. When you get things by merit, your colleagues and people you are in the same class will respect you. But for the Federal Government to be talking quota and giving admission to those who scored 20 percent, there’s no way the ones with the 80 percent will not look down on the quota candidate. Because if not for the Federal Character, it cant be so. The Federal Military Government under Ironsi turned Nigeria to a Unitary system. whatever happens in Gombe must happen in Owerri without considering the culture, resource and the needs of the people. It is deception to be saying Nigeria is one,we are a country of many nations. so we should copy regionalism with less job for the Federal Government. Let us go back and do it as it was done in the past. Western Region had Agent- General in UK, Eastern Region had, Northern Region also ha, then Nigeria had High Commissioners. All these confabs, restructuring…how many confabs have we had?. Go to the reports, implement them. But the first thing to do is to decentralize the system back to what they call true Federalism. Ironsi turned the government to provinces, because he had hidden agenda. Zik said its only a matter of time when the Igbos will take over Nigeria, that was before the Nzeogwu coup. Unification decree of Ironsi meant they could transfer civil servants from Kano to Ogoja, they could transfer from Ibadan to Katsina. Then you look at it, what is our size in the Federal Civil Service? Sir Ahmadu Bello is my number 1 man. he was a realist who was telling Zik, Awolowo and others before they got the independence that we should sort our differences before we go into union, but they said let us take independence first, Ahamdu Bello was telling them they should resolve because we are not the same, he was saying that, in reality and pragmatism. He was my number 1 nationalist. Another thing about him was the love for culture, what he wanted to be in life was to be the Sardauna of Sokoto. They predicted when his mother was pregnant that he would be the reincarnation of Usman Dan Fodio. Despite that the British handed power to him, he chose Sir Tafawa Balewa to become the Prime Minister. I cant see that happening in present Nigeria. Ahamdu Bello was not interested in Prime Ministership, he only wanted to become the Sardauna. Another thing, I’ve said it that if anybody can show me the picture of Sardauna in suit, that I would give the person a million naira on the spot. He never wore a suit? I’m yet to see the picture of him wearing a suit. I also stopped wearing suit in 2002 when I was promoted from Mogaji to Jagun- Olubadan. Ever before I quit government service, I’ve always loved traditional attires. I’m a real Yoruba man. That time when i was working with the government i was wearing the best suits in the world. I was going to Italy to buy suits. But the day I became the Jagun Olubadan in 2002 I said bye to foreign clothes and started wearing strictly traditional attires. Because promotion, enhancement should not be exterior but interior. You must follow your culture, embrace it and be sincere. You are a practising muslim and also a cultural ambassador, how do you fuse that? culture and religion are parallel, they are both from God almighty. There are over 200 religions in the world. The two most popular ones are Islam and Christianity, the Ifa worshippers too will say God, Jews have their own and culture is the identification of each tribe with names, dresses, food, language music and philosophy which are all from God. They will never meet because they are parallel. They still promote and practise their culture in Israel, same with Saudi Arabia. It is the black man, thank God we are also waking up. The Chinese and Japanese have woken up. Look at the Queen of England, if I’m correct she is the longest serving monarch in the world. There are certain things and culture they observe during the installation of the Queen, but its not always shown to the world. Many things they hide, yet they are advancing. Modern day Israel was created in 1948, its now a world power. Every year Saudi Arabia develops facilities for pilgrims. You are the Ekefa-olubadan, the 6th in line to the throne and you are just 70 years. Had there ever been a time an Olubadan was that young? Olubadan Kobiowu was the youngest Olubadan. He became Olubadan at 50 in 1964. But what the Ibadan Traditional Chieftancy system pronounces is the order of God almighty based on destiny. Anyone who would become Olubadan must have chosen the crown from heaven. Its not by might, its not by exams, its just destiny. And there are 3 stages as i was told by the late Oba Arapasowu . He said the three major celebrations in the life of an Ibadan man and his family is the day your father’s family chooses you as the Mogaji, he said if the mother of a Mogaji is alive, she should be reeling on the floor because her son becomes the head of her husband’s clan. You know at that time they don’t get pregnant before marriage, so there’s no way a bastard would come into the family. Second celebration is when a Mogaji is promoted and the third which is the grandest is when an Olubadan is crowned. The king of this verse town, stretching from Asejire to places. Is that a town or a country? For you to become the traditional head and the symbol of ibadanland with our economic power and social power, its a matter of destiny. Once God said you will become an Olubadan, its a matter of time, place and how. Why did you leave the Odua Group 6 years ahead of your retirement? I just decided to leave when the ovation was loudest. Something just told me to leave. The GMD at that time, Adebayo Jimoh didn’t want to approve my letter, even the other Directors, they were trying to persuade me not to go, but i told them it is a great honour. Some people were chased out of office, I needed to go that time but I’m a friend of Odua. If you need me anytime , i would be available. You know Odua survived Babangida’s decree? Babangida decreed the dissolution of Odua after the Gideon Orka coup. He said any meeting that allows governors to be meeting to be dissolved, funnily they didn’t lift a finger against the NNDC, Kaduna. They set up a body of trustees marking out things to sell. So I ran to MKO Abiola, I waited for about 9 hours to see him. When he saw me he was scared and was like, Oloye, what happened? i said its a serious matter. I didnt go for my sake, but for the sake of the Yorubaland, do you know what that means? To dismantle Odua? I told Abiola everything, and between 12am that he saw me and 5am, the matter was resolved . I remembered vividly what he said that night, ‘go and tell my people, nothing can remove Olumo, nothing can remove Oke Badan, Odua will stay’ and I said thank you sir and that was it! At 70, what are the things that would change in you? The doctors did certain prescriptions on what you should eat, drink once you are 40. There was an article i once read in a magazine ‘how to fire your boss’. The author outlined some things you must do before you get fired …like paying all your mortgage, your children must be out of school, dont get caught in any court case, pray against illness…i carried that book about and i said i was going to follow that . The day our last born graduated, I was glad. So my retirement was planned, timed. Now, I’m engaged in syndicated writings, lectures and seminars, the traditional title and duties increased and i have 3 weekly live radio analysis that keep my brain very alert. I do exercise and I love eating amala. What about music? The whole world will tell you, Yusuff Olatunji is my number 1. Not only because he was my father’s friend or that his band played at my naming ceremony, but I tell people just listen to him, the philosophy. listen to his lead drummer, Kasumu Isola. for a band to have remained together for close to 50 years without breaking up, it tells a lot about him. if you see his house at Lafenwa, Governor Osoba changed the name of the street to his name. For someone that doesn’t seek financial favour from people, how rich are you? prosperity is better than richness. Richness is the balance of the money in your bank accounts, but when you are prosperous, you have more than enough for your need , people will think you are richer than what they say. again, there is contentment. Even if you are the richest man in the world, contentment is key. 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Adapted from the biographical sketch for Captain William Edward Gaillard, Navy Biography, Navy Office of Information, Internal Relations Division, (OI-430), 14 June 1960; now part of the Modern Biography Files, Navy Department Library, Naval History & Heritage Command. Author Name Place of Event 3 June 1912 - 12 August 1968 William Edward Gaillard was born in Savannah, Georgia, on 3 June 1912, son of George S. and Helen (Wilson) Gaillard. He attended Savannah High School, prior to entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from the State of New York in 1931. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on 6 June 1935, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain, to date from 1 July 1955. Following graduation from the Naval Academy, he joined the USS Mississippi, for duty in connection with gunnery, communications and engineering. Detached from that battleship in June 1937, he was ordered to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. Designated Naval Aviator on 13 May 1938, he was next assigned to Scouting Squadron FORTY-TWO, based on the USS Ranger. In January 1940 he was transferred to the USS Wasp to serve as V-2 Division Officer and Catapult Officer until June 1941. Returning to duty ashore he was a Flight Instructor at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, where he continued duty following the United States' entry into World War II, 8 December 1941, and until August 1942. He next had four months duty as Assistant Operations Officer, Joint Operations Center, Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, assuming command of the Naval Air Station, British Guiana in December 1942. In September 1943 he reported as Assistant Air Officer (later served as Air Officer) on board the USS Hornet. "For meritorious achievement as Assistant Air Officer of the USS Hornet, during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Western and Pacific War Areas from March 29, 1944 to April 22, 1945..." he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V." The citation continues in part: "...Commander Gaillard was in large measure responsible for the efficiency of air operations on his vessel and contributed greatly to the success of the Hornet's air groups in inflicting extensive damage on the enemy throughout this period..." He is also entitled to the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the USS Hornet. Detached from the Hornet in September 1945, he then reported as Administrative Aide to the Commander Naval Air Training Base, Pensacola, Florida. In August 1948 he joined Transport Squadron FORTY-FOUR as Executive Officer and continued to serve with that squadron until January 1950. He attended a course at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, before he was assigned, in July 1950, as Assistant for Shore Establishment Development Planning, Long Range Planning Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC. In July 1952 he reported as Executive Officer of the Naval Air Station, Barber's Point, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, where he remained until June 1954. He next had instruction at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, DC, and in June 1955 assumed command of Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWO. During the period February 1956 to September 1958 he was in command of Tactical Air Control Group TWO, after which he served as a member of the faculty at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. In June 1960 he was ordered to duty as Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Naval Forces, Marianas. He retired in June 1964. In addition to the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Captain Gaillard had the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star and three bronze stars (eight engagements); World War Two Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. He was married to the former Dorothy Fulgham of Pensacola, Florida, and they had two children. Captain Gaillard was a member of the Huguenot Society of South Carolina and the Sons of the American Revolution (Georgia Chapter).	4,454
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Navegação por posts Online Reflective essay service that is writing can help you place your some ideas on university paper Both fiscal ideas were insufficient regarding the available conceptual methods and also the features necessary to take care of the efficiency concern.	29,851
After using Marcus at Darkfaux, and messing up badly when I tried to use Ramos at Wayland Games this event in rural Croydon was a natural opportunity to wheel out the spider master again and actually try to work out how to use him. Also almost all of the 4 Strats seemed to favour summoning, so that was yet again a great excuse. As usual I struggled to take pictures and play the game, and ended up just taking photos in the first 2 games. I'll do my best to remember what happened otherwise ... There is lot's more of this stuff on my Malifaux pages The first game was against McCabe, with Guard the Stash as the strategy. Deliver a Message was in the pool, so I guessed that it would be a good one for the hyperspeed dog in the McCabe list to run at Ramos... he was going to be staying at the back! Breakthrough was also there, and Bodyguard, which screamed Mech Rider - the first time I think that I had dared to deploy such filth on the table in a competition game. All of my scoring eggs in one metal horse shaped basket... With the two teams going to be clustered in the middle, my Willie made an appearance too - the rest of the list was fairly textbook, Ramos, Willie, Mech Rider, Large Arachnid (tough, hard to move, and extra scrap in turn 1), Johan (of course), Brass Arachnid (one day I'll work out how to use it I thought...) a mandatory Metal Gamin (waiting for his friends...) and the soon-to-be-erased Toolkit. McCabe had two metal dogs (oops), two real dogs, Kang, some sort of whitch-y lady thing, and a Samurai with a chain gun. The terrain was lovely, if a bit blood-stained-looking (given I don't want to make the obvious and unpleasant reference to 1970's Cell Block H-style protests..), with some height on both flanks and some blocking pieces in and around the two markers that we both needed to have people with. My basic game plan was to spam spiders (nooooo! shocker!) and then Gamin (nooooh!!! huge shocker!!!) to trade point for point on the markers for most of the game, hopefully winning by attrition and maybe nicking a net +1 on the strategy by the end, then to whizz the Mech Rider over to the weaker flank mid game so she could make a break for the end zone in Turn 4 whilst using a screen of spiders to stop Speedy Doggie from tagging Ramos and this end up with a net win. It soon transpired that the dogs were also doing a poop-ing based scheme of ALITS, which was presumably before rushing Ramos later in the game. That laid down the gauntlet to the Spiders from Nowhere, who started their process of serial irritation by engaging everything they could find in close combat. Even if they weren't actually attacking they were preventing the dogs from moving around and dropping more markers, as well as waiting fairly obviously for them to move away so they could hoover up the markers themselves Mr Gatling-Ninja Man in his fetching purple skirt had found a vantage point high up on a cliff face dominating the battlefield... but he had not expected how easy it would be for my Willie to reach out and slap him around the face from an impressive ten inches away! Ninja-gatling-man was soon having to spend points restoring his own health rather than spraying the increasingly redundant gatling gun at the increasingly hard to spot Spiders The Komainu had a bit of a total nightmare for McCabes' crew, as first the Gamin and then Ramos himself demonstrated the impressive effect of Magentism, swiftly (in the case of the Gamin) followed by engagement with a model with Protection of Metal. With two of McCabe's anchor pieces erased, Kang and the lady with an umbrella were starting to lose heart as the spider spam swept up and over them With Ramos now deep into three turns of spider-spamming, all healed up to full strength by Johan's Bleeding Edge Tech the table was starting to be covered in 4-legged (no idea...a design choice I guess, but an odd one) creepers, leaving McCabe and his dog very few places to go. With everything packed in tight the healing from BET was taking effect every turn on all of the Spiders too, making them even more resilient and even more irritating. With an increasingly dangerous Mech Rider coming along the back of the table and then (reactivated) flying off to the left and stabbing normal doggie with her Chain Spear, Speedy Doggie eventually had to make a run for the other side of the board to try and get to Ramos, but simply ran out of room with the tide of spiders almost everywhere. Mech Rider then scored her touchdown points, to leave Ramos with something a 10-4-ish win in a contested Strategy and a clean scheme sweep This game was interference - again a good spamming scheme. Given the details, I added a raptor to the list this time, and also gave the Essence of Power a try-out as I wasn't sure that I'd gotten full value from the Brass Arachnid, and I had just painted the Essence of Power anyway. The rest of my list was a bit of a dogs breakfast of table-occupying models and other stuff, including a couple of Gamin, a Rail Worker (Frame for Murder may have been in the pool?) and again the Mech Rider. My opponent was Ben Harris, making the experience of playing someone who I've listened to on podcasts an odd one given that I could actually see him this time, and by the time the game was over I would not be getting off a plane in a foreign country. The table was pretty open, and with Lady J and her big sword, as well as an Austringer or two, and some other people I had no real plan other than barrel a hit team of Gamin, Johan and Railworker up one flank to take a second quarter whilst spider spamming with Ramos to backfill the quater I started in, and eventually move into another one later in the game. I have no recollection of the schemes I'm afraid, although it may well have been a Rider-friendly one and possible also Distract for me. @Panzerharris appeared to be doing the same as me, but in the opposite corner. Lady J made a bee-line for Ramos (and the Mech Rider) which sort of put a big dent in their minion-spamming plans, as they were now both forced to deal with Lady J ... which took an inordinate amount of time, turns and Soulstones. Meanwhile the Gamin Train was running into something nasty that probably ignored armour, making it tricky to get out of my initial quarter never mind outnumber anyone in the far one. At least Ramos had no shortage of scrap, as he reverted to summoning Electrical Creations as offensive weapons rather than more spider scrap - and the Mech Rider joined in with shooty-Fire Gamin instead of more usual Metal Gamin too. Eventually Lady J was taken down (possibly in turn 3?), and the Spider factory managed to start up again allowing me to start at least contesting some of the table quarters again, and denying the enemy some quarters with the dropping-in Raptor and fast moving spiders. However, in the end it was a narrow-ish loss where I think I did UK on schemes, but lost out on the strat. Despite the Lady-J bomb to the face Ramos did sort of start to work properly in this game. Unlike.... No pictures of this one, as my models were not on table long enough even for autofocus to pick them up... another Ben, this time Ben Crowe This game was supposed to be Extraction, which in theory was another one where spamming models might work to my favour. But having been spanked by a Leviticus at Wayland Games, and down at the club too I was psychologically on the back foot with no real plan about to to deny the enemy the ability to just kill all of my models with long range zapping. And, with close deployment making this actually a game of just kill everything quickly, Mr Crowe and his Levi crew were in fighting mood... The Strongarm Suit (charging and ignoring terrain!!), Levi's magic ++ Zap Gun Spell, and most of all Welcome to Malifaux on Taelor decimated whatever sad temporary collection of models (I think the Captain was in there, along with Johan, the Brass Arachnid, a couple of Gamin and the Big Spider... ) I had deployed on table, with all of my big hitters gone inside the first two turns. It was pretty much a game of seeing if I could score any points at all after that - I might have managed one, which was as many as the number of models I was left with by the end of the game too... I know the theoryfaux is that you are supposed to kill the Hollow Waifs, and then try and fight willpower duels, but I struggled to see what synergistic models I had that could do those tasks in a Ramos list - short of taking the Blessed, Myranda-bus and the Cerberus, or maybe some shooty stuff that I'm still not very good at using yet it seemed hard to see how I'd even get into range to shoot the waifs anyway... maybe the alternative is to block line of sight to 6 SS models - but again not something Ramos is great at doing. Anyway, one to mark down as a learning experience, even though I didn't stay on table long enough to learn very much! A nice table here with a Japanese theme that I really shoud have taken some photos of, against Misaki with some of those hard 6-everything models, and Tannen with Chatty in a game of Stake a Claim. Stake looked draw-ey with abig open table and so my thought was again to look to win on schemes and draw on Strats. Like Game 2, but more succesfully this time my Gamin / Rail Worker / Johan combo barrelled along one table edge, this time with Hank reactivating to unleash a torrent of attacks to clear their path, and a Mech Rider as well as the Brass Arachnid lurking with Ramos t the back and sending Spiders off in all directions to contest the ground. Misaki was going for the one where you drop markers in the corners and had only dropped one marker on her own base edge as her crew raced pretty much unopposed except by a few desultory spiders to the other corner, racking up points for that and Stake a Claim as well fairly early doors. Spotting this, with my powerful supported Hank Combo I worked out that there was a pretty good chance that I coudl get to the back corner and remove Misaki's marker by turn 5, denying 3 VPs and then also spam out a load of my own markers as the Spiders and Mech Rider started to make a lot of space - and this is pretty much what came to pass, with the added bonus that the Metal Gamin, with Protection of Metal managed to inflict enormous amounts of buring on Tannen whilst trying to clear him out of the area where I needed to be dropping markers, meaning that he died in the upkeep step and didn't score any points for Frame for Murder (more by luck and laziness than pre-planning it must be said)! The end result was a win, with a fairly narrow VP difference along the lines of 7-5 I ended up on 6 VPs, with a score of 25 and a -2 goal difference - not bad given two of the players I played. Read on for the post match summaries from the Generals involved, as well as another episode of legendary expert analysis from Hannibal Post Match Summary from Ramos Commander I am truly delighted to be invited to lead this Crew today, because for the past two weeks, as youve probably known Ive had a very easy, relaxing time. Hardly anything of any importance at all has happened to me. But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I want to talk about the Guild. The Guild talk about Soulstone Mining, economic and Crew security being at risk from us the Arcanists, or perhaps even more particularly, from me. I say this to them. How dare these people talk about security for crews and people in Malifaux? Wheres the security for crews shuttled around the private tables for six-turn batterings - with models endlessly having to be put back in the box when they are erased by Levi? Wheres the security for those Spiders afraid to ask a Henchman to fix their legs back on when they have been broken, so they are worried that they might be evicted because theyve gone to the local Guild rep to to seek the justice theyre entitled to? Wheres the security for the Peons struggling to support older lower soulstone count family members as Guild cuts destroy their card stack and take away the suits they need? Wheres the security for young minions starting out on careers knowing they are locked out of any prospect of ever becoming an Enforcer and buying their own home by soaring house prices? Theres no security for the 2.8 million new models released by Wyrd, forced into bad paint jobs by stagnant ex-GW-systems players and the Guild record of the longest fall from a great height when pushed off a cliff in Malifaux since records began. And thats the nub of it. Guild moral, economic and cultural failure. A Soulstone economy that works for the few, not for the many. Sire, you make no sense - yes, you, and your madcap coalition of trots, Islamists and anti-West fury chimps! Here you came out of an event with a half-way decent overall result, almost literally and mathematically, and were spanked only by two highly competent players, the current UK #3 and #11, when you are still only taking baby steps at this game. How on earth can this be a bad weekend, you well funded, dull minded, cash carrying bit faker! I do believe your corset has been laced too tight; the thoughts flowing from your mouth best belong in your chest where they can stay quietly until you regain your sanity. The first game and the last, you even showed the inklings of sanity and planning, which is fairly rare in other games and other rulesets. Sometimes, even in success, you complain like a doe-eyed ditch digging deviant! You did also learn something in this matchup - that close deployment is a scheme and a strat in itself, that playing Levi needs you to learn how to shoot 4-wound, unarmoured and easy to kill waifs from distance - which surely cannot tax the brain of e'en you. This is not difficult to work out - I must ask have you no time to invest your own abilities, aside from the thieving of other's creations? But, enough is enough - get back to the test table and try again. If you ask me to create something you will get 26 possible successes, ask you and you will get 100 proud failures and 1 possible manageable solution. Those odds need to improve for you to progress further in this game... That's the end - so why not go back to the Match Reports Index and read some more reports? You can also comment, "like" or give feedback on these reports on either the Madaxeman.com Facebook Page or the Madaxeman.com Blogger Site. (These are "affiliate links". If you buy something after clicking on them I get a small kickback from eBay)	14,817
To the Hartford School Board so long as used, within the next 21 years, for school purposes, then to B To A for life, then to the Hartford School Board while the property is used for school purposes To A for life, then to B and his heirs if B outlives A, otherwise to C To A, but if he stops practicing law, then to B To A for life, then to B, but if B stops practicing law after he takes possession, then to C To Boalt Hall for 10 years, then to the Earl of Arundel and the heirs of his body, then to Duke of Norfolk and his heirs Remember, feel free to try your own conveyances, but please keep in mind that there's no way to be sure the result you get is correct! Also feel free to contact me at bayern@law.fsu.edu if you have any questions or notice any errors.	766
Take time this Memorial Day to visit, call, text, or video chat with a loved one who served, or a loved one who may have lost someone special that served. Ask them to share their stories and reminisce. Listen and learn from their history. Be sure to let them know how much they are valued and appreciated. Archives Select Month November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017	1,093
“Call me a comedy coach, not a teacher,” says Dave Schwensen (below). He’s conducted comedy workshops for two decades, with much success. “Participants come to my workshops, with one idea; say, doing blue material that makes the parents laugh. They leave with another idea, the right one, write your own material that reflects who you are” Schwensen defines comedy as the business of doing whatever it takes to make an audience laugh. Sarcasm, irony and the ingenious use of props cause laughter. Satire makes us laugh and, ideally, think. Pratfalls, a rubbery face and wriestive body motions also cause laughter. “There’s no formula for comedy success,” says Schwensen. Look at the variety of comedians. Dave Attell dishes out attitude. Carrot Top uses props. Bob Saget works blue. Dan Nainan works clean. All are successful. Comedy is creative expression. “No one can teach comedy. Learning to colour inside the lines won’t lead to a successful comedy career.” Schwensen thus calls himself a coach, not a teacher. He comments on comedy. He keeps his students outside and, sometimes, inside the lines. Comedy isn't a teachable, but good advice is available. Comedian Bobby Collins says “Stage time, stage time; all the stage time you can get.” Grab any chance to be onstage, as an emcee or opening act, working free, as needed. Touring comedy clubs means facing a new audience most nights. Comedian Ronda Shear says “Touring is harder for women” than it is for men. “There’s too much looking over your shoulder, when leaving a club.” “Write, write and write all the time,” says Schwensen. Drew Carey, the top comedian and host of “The Price is Right,” on CBS-TV, agrees. Write down your ideas. Comb through the ideas you jotted down to help create jokes and, eventually, an act; then to keep your act fresh. “Have back up material,” says Schwensen. Mike MacDonald was the first client of talent manager, Howard Lapides.* MacDonald performed two different shows each night. He thought every comedian did. “Find your own comedy voice,” says Schwensen. Legendary stand-up comedian, Bill Hicks, began his career using jokes from Woody Allen. He developed into one of three top satirist of the twentieth century, with a unique, personal and widely feared voice. “Comedy is a business,” says Schwensen. “Business is a word you should underline,” says comedian Reggie McFadden. “Self-promotion is important,” says Ronda Shear, “make sure your publicity package is up-to-date and polished.” Are women funny? Schwensen says, “Yes, without a doubt.” Shear says, “Comedy is a more difficult job for a woman.” Male comedians often try to turn the female competition into an outsider. Besides, says Shear, “You never laugh at mom. Dad is the funny one.” Someone asked Schwensen to name twenty top comedians. He named thirty women, in the blink of an eye. He didn’t notice he left out male comedians. In this brief interview, Dave Schwensen talks of managing the Original Improv, in New York City, working as a talent booker, a public speaker and a comedy coach. He offers rare insight into the business of comedy. There’s much advice for aspiring comedians, too. Comedy is learnable, with time, by watching, practising and getting honest criticism. Grub Street (GS) You run comedy workshops. DS Dave Schwensen (DS) Yes, but I’m not a teacher, I’m a coach. Comedy is not something teachable. Comedy is learnable, with time, by watching, practising and getting honest criticism. I don’t want anyone to call me a comedy teacher. I’m a coach; I frankly comment on the comedy created by students taking my workshop. GS Most teachable ideas or skills have a formula base. DS True, yet there’s no formula for comedy success. Andy Kaufman was unique and successful, a legend, today, and no one can match what he did. There’s only one Jerry Seinfeld, although many try to copy him, without much success. There’s no recipe for comedy. I tell my workshop participants to burn every book they own on comedy. Books about comedy or comedians clone the author. Comedy books are myths. It’s difficult to write for a comedian whose work you know, well. For someone you’ve never met, it’s impossible to write effective comedy for her or him. GS What is comedy? DS I like the simple definition, when people, an audience, laugh because someone intended to be funny, to make them laugh, that’s comedy. GS What makes people laugh? DS That’s a tough question. I like slapstick, my wife, Deb, doesn’t. She laughs when someone flatulates in a movie, I don’t like that humour. Some people love sarcasm, say, of Mike Allen MacDonald, others don’t. Some people love the irony of the late George Carlin, say, others don’t. Some love the satire of, say, Bill Hicks and others don’t like having to work that hard. Comedians usually express what makes them laugh. They are creative artists; self-expression is important to them. If they find an audience for what they have to say, his or her artistic expression, that’s great; if not, that’s okay, too. A comedian will try to create laughter even without an audience. She or he enjoys the intrinsic satisfaction of being funny. Earning a living making people laugh is a bonus for a true comedian. GS What makes a comedian laugh? DS Almost any idea will make one comedian or another laugh. If someone handed you a blank sheet of paper and ask you to fill it, how would you do it. An artist might sketch a portrait or a landscape; a comedian might fill the page with jokes or a cartoon. The same goes for what makes a comedian laugh. Around the time of the Gulf War, Bill Hicks said the US knew of the arms buildup in Iran because the US sold Iran all its weapons. Today, more than twenty years later, that comment holds a tinge of humour, but Hicks thought it hilarious in his day. Jokes that are too inside, which come from experience as a comedian, likely won’t resonate with a wide audience. General audiences don’t know the premise of inside jokes and the premise is usually too detailed to explain, easily. Still, the comedian, comedians, will laugh. GS Is there an analogy, in another area of entertainment; one that fits what you say about comedians. DS Sure, music is a great analogy for comedy. There’s one Justin Bieber, with many, many less successful clones. What makes a singer or comedian different counts most. Women and men, of all ages, from thirteen to seventy-two, enrol in my workshops. The younger ones often come to the first session with a copy of “Eddie Murphy Raw,” which makes mom and dad laugh, uproariously. The parental reaction to Murphy makes the kids want to litter their comedy with “dirty words.” I tell them they won’t talk that way in my workshop. Comedy has evolved. The shock value, of scatological comedy, is long gone. Comedians are smarter, today. The degree of observation is more acute. Comedians, today, are also thinking about business; working blue, that is, “dirty,” severely limits where a comedian can work. If a comedian makes even the slightest off-colour joke ..., it can mean the corporate or cruise booker won't re-book him or her. The job market for comedians is increasingly corporate events and cruises. Both events call for “clean comedy.” If a comedian makes even the slightest off-colour joke or drops a double entendre, it can mean the corporate or cruise booker will never reconsider him or her again. DS Conundrum, that is, as in a puzzle, mystery or challenge. GS What is your least favourite word? DS Hate, which is a waste of time. GS How many students do you take in one workshop? DS Ten students is the maximum. GS Do you usually get ten sign ups. DS Yes, each workshop sells out. Today, I started a new workshop in Chicago, which sold out. I finished a workshop in Cleveland last Wednesday; it had sold out, too. I regularly have a waiting list. GS Does everyone that signs up for your workshops want to do stand-up. DS Maybe, but I don’t believe so. Developing a stage presence is important for women or men that run large meetings, for example. Dan Nainan, he’s mainly a corporate comedian, started, as a presenter during talks by Andy Grove, when Grove was CEO of Intel; he used offhand comedy to relax the audience. GS Does comedy have a history? DS Yes, court jesters found ways to make a king or a queen laugh, perhaps to save their own lives. Shakespeare wrote comedies, such as “The Merry Wives of Windsor” or “Twelfth Night.” Today, most comedy relies on the same techniques Shakespeare used, such as, circumstance dominating character, a climax with a twist, which, today, is the punchline or word for a premise or setup and so forth. Music and comedy are inexpensive forms of entertainment, widely available throughout history. The first cave dweller, to knock his head on the cave ceiling, likely evoked laughter; the large bump on his head brought sympathy. Music and comedy are healthy diversions. In 1849, Josh Billings was telling jokes that are still in use, today, in a way. He was the top figure in American humour, at the time. He stuck tail feathers, from a rooster, in his cap, which produced much laughter at the time; he gave audiences a good feeling. More recently, comedy moved through several stages, quickly. The 1970s focused on shock, often brought on by profanity; Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Eddie Murphy are examples. During the 1970s, comedy clubs attracted audiences from the suburbs into the city, say, the Original Improv in midtown New York City. In the 1980s, many comedians got sitcoms and mainstream comedy became squeaky clean. At the same time, clubs moved to the suburbs and the city clubs faltered. Suburban clubs were closer to home, often less expensive and featured many of the comedians once found only in big city clubs. The 1990s were a boom for comedy. Every other show on television featured stand-up comedians. Stand-up comedy on television kept the club audience at home. GS What turns you on? DS Rock and Roll Music; I wrote two books on “The Beatles.” GS What turns you off? GS What is the future of comedy? DS Honestly, I don’t know. Increasingly, comedians rely on corporate events and cruises for work, maybe some colleges. This means working clean is necessary. Otherwise, I’m not sure of the future of comedy. GS In your workshops, do you make a distinction between stand-up comedy and late-night monologues, such as what David Letterman or Jimmy Fallon do? DS Yes, I do. I explain that someone, such as Letterman or Fallon, has a huge writing staff. They may have a daily pool of one hundred or more new jokes from which to select, to build, a six-minute monologue. Their monologues must be fresh, every night, and usually are fresh, given the volume of material from which they can choose. GS I think the final monologue for Letterman is eight-to-ten jokes. Leno was roughly more than twenty. I’m not sure about Fallon. DS Right, each late-night monologue draws a few jokes from a huge pool of fresh material. I explain, in my workshops, how a comedian, unlike someone doing a late-night monologue, usually writes his or her stand-up routines. This takes time; it can take up six months or longer to write and learn a routine. Every time a stand-up comedy performs, in a sense, she or he is writing or rewriting routine, finding out what works and what doesn’t work. This is one reason stage time is important. It’s the only way to find out what works and what doesn’t work for a comedian. Some comedians use a rule of three. If new material doesn’t work, doesn’t evoke laughter three times in a row, they drop it from the act. If it works three times in a row, she or he keeps the new material in the act. GS Testing new material, trying it out before a live audience, is important for building a stand-up routine. DS Yes, when I ran the Improv, in Los Angeles, Jay Leno came in to try out new material, almost every day. His writers, from “The Tonight Show,” would come in during the week, too. I must push comedians, with whom I work, to develop an act. Testing jokes, in an act, under fire, is essential. A live audience lets you know, quickly, if a joke works. GS What is your favourite indulgence? DS Chicken wings and beer are my favourite indulgence. Once a week, my wife, Deb, and I do wings and beer. Sometimes we don’t even leave the house. W we grab some wings and beer as we head into the basement to watch a DVD. Letterman or Leno have a staff of writers. GS Stand-up comedy is hard work. DS Yes, Leno is a great stand-up comedian, as is David Letterman. They’re two of the best; yet, both had or have a staff of writers to rely on. Stand-up comedians that work local clubs or tour work much harder than do late-night monologists. GS Bob Hope had a large staff of writers on call almost 24/7. DS True, but the comedians I work with are on their own. She or he writes their stand-up routines. It’s not unheard-of to buy a joke, here or there, but it’s rare; a joke that works for one comedian often doesn’t work for another. GS What’s the difference? DS Comedy is a creative art form. You’re a creative artist when you’re doing stand-up comedy. You’re no different from an author, musician or painter. As comedians, men and women write plays, do stand-up comedy, paint pictures or take photographs. They’re a creative artist. David Letterman has a hundred jokes, say, e-mailed into the show by approved writers, each day. Leno went through phases. When he took over from Carson, he had a writing room. For a while, he had jokes e-mailed to the show by writers. At end of his run on “The Tonight Show,” he had a writing room, again. Approved writers can write in the style of Letterman or Leno. That’s how a joke writer gets on the approval list. The show staff agrees the writer can consistently write in the voice of the late-night monologist. GS I agree, but wonder if monologue and stand-up content, “jokes,” build differently. DS I don’t see a difference between monologue and stand-up content, material. I believe they’re the same, other than the voice in which the writers build the jokes. GS A joke is a joke. DS In a sense, yes, Jay Leno is a great stand-up comedian. His monologue, on “The Tonight Show,” was a mostly clean stand-up routine; the same is true for the Johnny Carson monologues, although Carson did the occasional off-colour joke or double entendre. Late-night television talk show monologues are stand-up routines, if much briefer, say five to seven minutes, ten to thirty jokes. GS Dick Van Dyke had a good formula for writing comedy, which he got from Carl Reiner. He said the buildup and punchline or word had to match by weight. A great buildup to a weak punchline went nowhere; a long set up needed a heartier laugh than a short set up. DS I agree, but understand there’s no sure-fire formula for writing comedy. In large part, it depends on the comedian. There’s style to delivery. Among joke tellers, such as Rodney Dangerfield or Henny Youngman, say, the setup is brief as is the punchline or word. Young would say, “For our anniversary, my wife said she wanted to go somewhere she had never been. We spent the night in the kitchen.” Dangerfield always said it was setup, middle and punchline in quick succession. “I don’t get any respect,” he’d say. “I step into an elevator and before I can say anything, the operator says, ‘Down?’” Bob Newhart tells great, comedic stories. He can hold a huge audience for a fifteen-minute story. The audience is then ready for a shorter story or two before he does another long piece. Newhart is a great example of this because his stories are colourful and descriptive. You and I remember “The Beatles.” That means we remember listening to Newhart albums. He created mental visions of his characters; what they looked like, what they were doing and so forth. Stand-up comedy and comedic storytelling are different beasts. There’s little, if any overlap. Neither can follow the formula that works for the other, nor can anyone mimic Youngman, Dangerfield or Newhart, effectively. I like to call it colours; stories use much colour. The descriptions are in place and it builds to a big ending. This is the punchline, which resolves the story. DS That depends on the joke or the routine. I’m trying to think of a punch word joke. Rodney Dangerfield would say, “My wife wants to have sex in the car. The trouble is she wants me to drive.” In this case, “drive,” is the punch word. On a “Tonight Show” appearance, years ago, the late David Brenner opened with the following joke. “Do you remember when total recall meant you had a good memory? Yeah, it’s changed. The other day General Motors announced a total recall of 248,000 cars.” Then he tagged the joke, with, “The problem was the brakes. When you stepped on the brake pedal, the car didn’t stop.” In a way, there’s a punchline, “Announced a total recall of 248,000 cars,” and a punch word, “stop,” in this joke. The joke hits the audience twice. If the first part doesn’t work, the second does or both will. GS What’s your favourite piece of clothing? DS Jeans, I buy multiple pairs of the same jeans. GS Among those that make a distinction between monologues and stand-up routines, truth is a defining part: monologues begin with truth, say, a news story. DS That’s another way of saying topical. Focusing on current events, as monologues often do, involves truth, of a sort. Monologues need fresh material five days a week; news is the easiest place to find new, raw material for fresh jokes. The news media report an event, on the assumption, the facts it has are true. If a comedian uses a reported event to launch a joke, then, yes, truth drives the monologue or stand-up routine. Still, stand-up is less reliant on topicality than is a monologue. GS Stand-up tends not to be as topical as monologues on late-night television. DS Not necessarily, consider the late Rodney Dangerfield. He did non-topical, standard-form jokes. “The way my luck is running,” Dangerfield might say, “If I were a politician, I’d be honest.” GS Rodney Dangerfield was a classic. GS I get the sense a stand-up routine focuses on stories far less than topical jokes. Many comedians rely on the topical, on current events, to build rapport with the audience. DS Yes, true, but the important goal is to build rapport with the audience, right away. How does a comedian do that? Many comedians rely on the topical, on current events; what’s going on in the city where they’re performing. Comedians call me because I’ve worked in New York and Los Angeles. I worked in Cleveland, too. Now, I’m working in Chicago. They want to talk about how to work the market. “What’s important and topical,” they ask, “for audiences in each city?” I might get a call, from a former student. She says, “I’m starting to work Cleveland this Thursday night. What should I talk about?” The comedian wants to open with a joke or comment with which the audience can identify and likes. A comedian may be new to the market and unaware of potential sore spots. Thus, they ask others that know the market. Alternatively, a comedian might reveal something personal to set the audience at ease. David Attell comments on his baldness; Dan Nainan talks about his Japanese and Indian heritage, Lisa Harmon about her weight and so forth. From these comments, the comedian goes into her or his stand-up act. GS What would the act be, today? DS I refer to comedians as creative artists. Their art form changes, with time. All versions of creative art can find an audience; a comedian can hope that audience is large enough to allow him to make a living. No one is doing a succession of one-liners, as did Dangerfield or Henny Youngman. Jerry Seinfeld is doing observational comedy. Down the street, Carrot Top is using props in a successful stand-up show. GS There’s no template, today, as there might have been fifty years ago. DS No, there are few, if any, modern Bob Hopes. Bob Newhart continues to work, telling longer stories than do most comedians, except for Bill Cosby, only Louis C K may come close to that. There’s much attitude and edgy self-deprecation, today, though. GS Television shrunk the number of comedy clubs, with content that mimics the clubs. DS That’s been a pattern for some time. It’s easier to watch comedy, at home, safer, too, and less expensive. Cable channels, today, rerun network comedy shows, from the past, which expands the extensive choice. In the early 1990s, I booked the television show, “An Evening at the Improv,” on A&E. The show spawned much competition. There was “Caroline’s Comedy Hour,” “Comedy on the Road,” “The A-list” and “Stand-up Spot Light,” on VH1, among others, on other networks. GS That was saturation. DS Over-saturation, I’d say. At one point, I read, there were three thousand comedy clubs, in the USA; a few years later, the number was down to one thousand. Today, there are even fewer clubs. Everybody stays home to watch comedy on television. I ran the Improv, in New York City, the original one in Hell’s Kitchen, on the west side, 44th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. It had the original brick wall that so many clubs copied. The audience came from all over, Queens, out on Long Island and the other suburbs. Once television got on the comedy bandwagon, the audience from the suburbs dwindled. They stayed home to watch comedy on television and avoid the long drive in and out of the city, the cost of parking, babysitting and so forth. Extra-large screen televisions brought the in-home experience closer to the live show. GS Where do comedians work, today? DS I believe a good comedian knows the markets she or he can work and does. Clubs are still important and, of course, there are the Improv locations, which I worked many years. Today, I work the Chicago Improv. All the Improv locations remain a big deal. Headlining an Improv is high status. It builds the fan base for a comedian. Audiences know the comedian is good, else how could she or he headline at an Improv; the same goes for “Comedy Central,” on television. Comedians are smarter, today. As I said, they know and understand the business, the corporate market, the cruise ship market and the college market, where an of off-colour or double entendres probably go over. Twenty years ago, when I was booking in New York City and Los Angeles, I don’t remember much talk about corporate or college shows. Those weren’t the goals. All those years ago, the goals were the Improv and other big clubs as well as “The Tonight Show.” Only when I began working in the Midwest did the college market become a goal for comedians. There are several thousand colleges in the USA and the money is good, but the comedian might work atop a table in a cafeteria. The corporate and cruise market, as well, became a goal for comedians. Good comedians are adaptable. He or she knows it’s important to remember their audience and taper their act to it. Thus, a good comedian can do clubs, corporate events, cruises and colleges as well as television if it becomes available. I think it comes down to writing and creating. One idea I try to instil, in my workshop participants, is to write. A comedian must write his or her act and deliver it as if it were spontaneous. GS Jack Benny said his best ad-libs were the ones he rehearsed the most. DS Yes, in my workshops, I offer writing tips and ways to develop a strong writing style for stand-up comedy. Good comedians write material consistent with their beliefs. I worked with X-rated comedians, Christian comedians and everyone between. One idea, which they all must share, is being true to their own beliefs. “Write comedy consistent with your outlook on life,” I say. “Be true to you.” Martin Lawrence, Richard Pryor and George Carlin used words and ideas that reflected who they are or were. No one could tell them to work clean. It wouldn’t pan out; they’d say, “This is who I am.” I worked with Bill Hicks. He had a reputation for not working clean, as did Sam Kinison, among others. Hicks and Kinison were great comedy writers and intelligent; in the right club, they soared and the audience went home satisfied. With or without the F-bomb, Hicks and Kinison had great material. They liked to shock audiences, though; it was part of the fun for them. Bill Hicks was a comedy genius. Eventually, comedians that are good writers survive and are successful. Maybe they continue to write and perform great stand-up. Maybe they move to a writing room for a sitcom. Maybe they write for late-night television monologists. Maybe they write, in their basements, for their own pleasure. GS We know about the public, the performance, side of Bill Hicks. What was he like offstage? DS Easy-going, he hung out at the Improv, in New York City, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I worked there at the time. I always thought the funniest part, of working the Improv, better than the shows, even, was hanging around the bar, listening to the comedians talk before they went onstage. Bill Hicks was there, Larry David, co-creator of “Seinfeld,” and many others. The atmosphere was great. Onstage, Bill Hicks was flammable; he would say much what people thought, but were afraid to say. Offstage, he was much quieter, cool, thoughtful. GS What is something you like to collect? GS What must you have with you all the time? DS My Kindle, for sure, and my laptop must be with me always. GS Comedians are commenters. DS Yes, they watch, most acutely, from the edges. I think if a comedian is successful, she or does it from the edges. He or she sees the folly, of mainstream society, most clearly from the edge, where she or he avoids the competitive frenzy. This may explain why, at one time, the early and middle twentieth century, say, comedians often came from ethnic groups not yet fully integrated into America. A hundred years ago, vaudeville built on ethnic humour. Dutch humour, which was a guise for anti-German humour, was everywhere. By the 1960s, Carlin was the “Hippy-Dippy Weatherman.” That was comedy, at the time, family jokes about husbands, wives and children; mostly mocking. Red Foxx and a handful of other comedians worked “blue,” but not in important clubs. Still, the “Hippy-Dippy Weatherman” was a subtle, ironic commentary on the mainstream. Local radio was an essential part of the day for most people. This was especially true for mornings and diving home after work. The weathercast were often void of much meaning; “It’s sunny and hot.” Well, listeners could see that for themselves. When the weather turned bad, say, a snow story or tornado, weathercasts took on more importance. Weather presenters, on radio or television, have a tradition of being the fool. It compensates for the long periods of time when they have little or nothing to say. Carlin grabbed on to that tradition for his “Hippy-Dippy Weatherman.” GS Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy worked from the edge. DS Yes, Richard Pryor is dropping the F-bomb, repeatedly, in a top grossing film of his performance, “Live on the Sunset Strip.” This reveals him as an outsider. After his time on “Saturday Night Live,” Eddie Murphy is dropping mother-fker in a top a grossing movie, “Raw.” Murphy, too, identifies himself as an outside until his family movies were huge successes. In the 1970s, George Carlin challenged with the law, with his “Seven Words You Can’t Say on Television,” routine and won. The words are shit, piss, fk, ct, cksucker, motherf*ker and tits. In the 1960s, Lenny Bruce used the same list, as did Carlin, adding ass and balls to a list of words that will get you arrested. GS Success, for a comedian, as most creative artists, likely means moving from the edge toward the centre. A sharp producer builds a sitcom, for example, around the comedian, as happened to Roseanne Barr, Ray Romano and, of course, Jerry Seinfield. The rest of the cast are strong, B-list actors. “Home Improvement,” the hit sitcom of the 1990s, built firmly on the stand-up act of its star, Tim Allen. “Roseanne” built on the persona Roseanne Barr perfected in her stand-up act. “Seinfeld,” of course, is the champion of this strategy. DS I think that’s true. GS Success also means his or her comedy grows blander, as she or he doesn’t want to disturb those that occupy the centre of society. She or he doesn’t want to rock the boat. DS That’s interesting. Carlin might be the exception. Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, had they lived, would like have stayed at or near the edge. Eddie Murphy moved toward the centre, given his movie success, which he didn’t want to disturb. Lenny Bruce, for all his problems sixty years ago, did have the chance to move from the edge, but choose not to move. Mort Sahl never made it all the way to the centre, with his brand of political observation and comment humour. Carlin was “The Hippy-Dippy Weatherman,” in the late 1960s and early 1970s. That was a different form of observation and commentary than later in his career. It was still from the edgy, just not as far as he was later in his career. GS What occupation, other than author or comedy coach, would you like to try? DS Rock Star, who wouldn’t? GS What occupation would you not like to try? DS Anything that would put me in a suit and cubicle Yes, after Woodstock entertainment, comedy included, changed. Before long, suits and ties, the uniform of two or three generations of stand-up comedians, were gone. Carlin had long hair, beard and wore tees and jeans. Scatological punch words and lines popped up everywhere, in the 1970s. Much the same happened in music and radio. Music lyrics quickly grew more suggestive, “Let’s spend the night together,” for example, from “The Rolling Stones,” or their “Brown Sugar.” Shock jocks, such as Howard Stern, became more widespread. Still, some comedians, notably Ray Romano, stayed in the mainstream. They succeeded. They moved to the centre via wildly successful sitcoms. GS Romano is a great comedian, too often overlooked and thought of as only a sitcom star. DS Yes, he is great comedian, one of our regulars at the Improv, in New York City. He was on our Improv softball team, our shortstop. Larry David played first base GS I can only imagine sitting on the bench, among these great comedians. DS It was hysterical. Getting back to Ray Romano, his act solidly based on his family life. His mom and dad lived next door to him. His brother lived with him. He has a wife. He has kids. GS His life became a huge hit sitcom, “Everybody Loves Raymond.” DS Romano never went near the edge. At the New York Improv, Romano would do a set before Bill Hicks, who was oh-so different, hovering somewhere at the edge, about to fall off, into the abyss. The variation was remarkable and funny. This was every night at the New York Improv. Brett Butler was great, too, and often overlooked. “Grace under Fire” was her hit sitcom. She’d go onstage, at the Improv, and no one knew what she’d do to be so funny. The same with Larry David, we never knew what he would do. I didn’t see many Christian comedians at the Improv, but they existed, too. There were so many these different acts. Some did family humour, some were on the edge, most, I guess, were between those extremes. GS What are you reading right now? DS I read a great deal, “Down the Highway: the life of Bob Dylan,” by Howard Sounes, is on my night table. Last week, I read the autobiography of Carol Klein, “A Natural Woman.” GS As well as your own books, what books do you urge readers to read? DS Anything entertaining, such as “The Beatles: all these years Volume 1,” by Mark Lewisohn. It’s the first of his trilogy on “The Beatles.” In this book, they’re young smarty-pants, with much angst, and trying to make it. GS Did Carlin try new material at the Improv, in New York City? DS Yes, of course, he’d often come to the Improv to try new material. Carlin might ask to do seven minutes. This meant he wanted to test a material for an HBO special, say. At the end of seven minutes, Carlin would ask me, “Can I do a few more minutes?” I was running a comedy club. As if I would say, “No.” Word would get around that Carlin was at the Improv. Every comedian, in the city, would head for the Improv. Suddenly, the back of the showroom would pack with comedians. Once, at the Improv, in New York City, George Carlin did twenty minutes on facial tissues, making it up as he went along. DS One night Carlin came into the Improv. He had the sniffles from allergies. He was carrying a small package of facial tissues, in his back pocket. As he was finishing a great seven minutes, he explained, to the audience, he had allergies; thus, the sniffles. He took out a tissue, blew his nose and then did twenty minutes, more, on the facial tissues. He was making it up on the spot, as far as I could tell. GS Spontaneous comedy is possible. DS Yes, experienced comedians can talk extemporaneously and get away with it. GS I heard a story of Seinfeld asking to do seven minutes at “Gotham,” in New York City. At the end of the seven minutes, the audience began to shout out demands, “Do the Post Office” and so forth. He stayed for more than one hour; it was like a 1960s pop band playing a small setting, everyone wanted to hear the hits. GS Dave Attell worked, with you, at the Improv in New York City. DS Yes, he was starting out in comedy. He was the door attendant and my right-hand. I couldn’t do anything at the Improv without the help of Attell. He was still doing open-mics, trying to break into the bigger clubs. On a lunch break, say, Attell would run across town to do a brief set at another club. On another break, he’d rush to another club to do a set. DS Yes, a great person. I like him. Onstage, Attell delivered much attitude; he seemed a time bomb. Offstage, he’s as sweet as can be. DS Yes, Emmett Kelly, the renowned circus clown said persona and personality was necessary, if a clown, a comedian, was to make the audience laugh. There are comedians that are the same off and onstage, such as Ray Romano. Most, in my experience, are different on and offstage, such as Bill Hicks or Dave Attell. As I mentioned, earlier, onstage, Bill Hicks was explosive. Offstage, he was calm, friendly and, in a way, quiet. Onstage, he could be different from night to night, sometimes intense and ready to attack; other times, more thoughtful and philosophical. Some comedians would do the same jokes, repeatedly, every night; everybody knew their acts by heart. It wasn’t unusual to stand near the stage and watch one or more comedians mouth the act of the comedians onstage; that’s how familiar some comedians become, probably without knowing it. GS They think different night, different audience, I guess. DS That may be true. I don’t recall Bill Hicks doing the same act twice; he always seemed fresh. He would pace the stage, smoking, talking and thinking. GS Audiences want comedians to repeat well-known routines; it comfort food for the soul. DS Yes, as The Rolling Stones must play “Satisfaction,” “Brown Sugar” and “Jumping Jack Flash,” else the audience leaves disappointed. Comedians must do their well-known material. Bobby Collins must talk about his dog. Seinfeld must talk about waiting in line at the post office. It’s common for the audience to call out routines they want to hear. Usually, this happens after the comedian does whatever she or he wants to do. At a Jeff Foxworthy show, the audience will want his “You Might be a Redneck if …” routine, which is usually his encore. GS Must a comedian find his or her own material funny? DS Of course, take Carrot Top, he loves prop humour and that’s what he does. Comedians, in New York City, degrade prop humour. Yet, Carrot Top sells out everywhere; he works a great deal in Vegas, which pays him well. Audiences can tell he loves what he does. A successful comedian does what she or he enjoys. When they do, the audience enjoys the material, too. If a comedian tries to fake it, the audience knows. Newer comedians often hire a writer or buy material off the web, which is a sin. They try to memorise the bought material, but it means nothing to them. Audiences know their soul is not in the material, as it would be if they wrote it themselves. If the comedian doesn’t think or know if a joke is funny, the audience will agree. A-list comedians share what they think is funny, their material has a personal meaning. Audiences prefer genuine comedians. It’s important for comedians to read, a great deal. Bill Hicks, from all accounts, was a voracious reader. From reading come new ideas for jokes and routines. GS In a sense, you’re saying good comedy bases in fact or even truth. DS Yes, there’s an episode of “Seinfeld” focusing on the fact George Costanza, portrayed by Jason Alexander, is losing his hair. He orders a hair tonic from China, but the instructions are in Chinese. Cosmo Kramer, portrayed by Michael Richards, says, “Let’s order Chinese Food and have the deliveryman translate the instructions.” They do. Larry David, co-creator of “Seinfeld,” did this exactly from the Improv. He had hair tonic or another product, with the instructions in Chinese. He used the phone, at the Improv, to order Chinese Food, from down the street. The deliveryman translated the instructions for him.” GS Truth is stranger than fiction. DS One sitcom strategy is to borrow from life. GS There seem so few women comedians, which leads to the idea women are not funny. I don't understand why men think women are not funny. Women are funny. DS Women are funny. I worked with many funny women, Reneé Hicks, for example. I don’t understand why men think women are not funny. Someone once asked me to name twenty comedians. Here’s what I came up with, without much thought. Jackie “Moms” Mabley, Phyllis Diller, Jean Carroll, Totie Fields and Joan Rivers, were all funny; Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg and Roseanne Barr are funny. In the 1990s, Brett Butler, Nancy Redman, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Wendy Liebman, Margaret Cho, Anita Wise, Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, Tammy Pescatelli, Jann Karam, Sue Kolinsky, Janeane Garofalo, Leighann Lord, Valri Bromfield, Rita Rudner, Lisa Lampanelli, Rhonda Shear, Mary Ellen Hooper and Judy Gold, among others, were hilarious. Today, there’s Sarah Silverman, Kathy Griffin and Ellen DeGeneres. DS In the early 1990s, when I managed the Original Improv, on West 44th Street, in New York City, I unintentionally put together a show with only women comedians. I didn’t realise that was a comedy club no-no. A comedy big shot told me I made a mistake and not to repeat it. A week or so later, Marlo Thomas, Elaine Mae and Phil Donahue came to the club to see a regular show. Afterwards, Thomas asks to talk with me. I figure one of the comedians insulted her, but she says, “Why aren’t there more women performing at the Improv.” GS I think she was right. DS I agree. GS Is there a mistake you made, when you began authoring and coaching comedy, which you now regret. DS In coaching comedy, no, there was no major blunder. I got into that work slowly, over a few years. I kept my mistakes to a minimum. As for publishing books, a big mistake, I do regret, is thinking I could publish my first book with a New York publisher, without having a literary agent. I can tell you how that’s next to impossible. GS What inspires you? DS How each us fits into everyday life. GS In what city could you lose yourself for hours to explore. DS New York City, it’s impossible to find everything that city offers. GS What is something about you that would surprise readers? DS I’m a self-taught piano player. GS Thanks, Dave. Dave Schwensen (2013), “How to be a Working Comic,” published by North Shore Publishing. Dave Schwensen (2012), “Comedy Workshop: creating and writing comedy material,” published by North Shore Publishing. Dave Schwensen (2005), “Comedy FAQs and Answers: how the stand-up biz really works,” published by Allworth Press. Howard Lapides is an LA-based Talent Manager and Award Winning Movie and Television producer. Click here to buy books by Dave Schwensen. Click here for a list of all Grub Street Interviews. Interview edited and condensed for publication. dr george pollard is a Sociometrician and Social Psychologist at Carleton University, in Ottawa, where he currently conducts research and seminars on "Media and Truth," Social Psychology of Pop Culture and Entertainment as well as umbrella repair.	41,101
There are more competent firearms instructors teaching quality classes than ever before in human history. None of us has a corner on the market. Just like I’ve trained with dozens of top instructors over the years, my students will also train with other teachers. That’s a good thing. In my view, steering our students towards other high quality instructors is one of our jobs in this industry. We know our students will train with other instructors. It’s up to us to point them in the right direction and steer them towards the good instructors and away from the industry trash. I am doing a series of articles interviewing trainers from whom I’ve personally taken classes. These trainers may not be the people who you see every day in your Facebook and Instagram feeds. They may not be the “cool” folks to train with, but they teach quality classes and I can personally vouch for their knowledge and skills. These are the folks with whom you should be spending your training dollars. This edition of “Trainers You Should Know” features John Murphy. I met John when he hosted a couple of my classes about six years ago. I got to know him very well and have taken several of his classes at various large training conferences where we’ve both been invited to teach. Julie Park, John, and I at a recent Massad Ayoob Group class John has a background as a Marine and a career working in national security for the federal government. He is the first to admit that his professional background was not the source of most of the curriculum he teaches. His primary skills come from the time and money he has spent training with the best experts in the industry over the past two decades. John teaches some very unique courses. He is the top instructor in the business for teaching the first formal class a person takes after getting a state concealed carry permit. John’s classes contain best practice “next steps” for either the beginning shooter or for more experienced shooters looking to expand their defensive skills beyond the gun. He’s one of the few instructors in the business who integrate verbal commands, the use of pepper spray, and tactical medical skills into his training program. That balance of skill sets is exactly what the new concealed carrier needs. As an intro to what John does, I would highly recommend that everyone watch his complete concealed carry lecture series on YouTube. It’s some of the best firearms and self-defense education around. I asked John some questions and he provided some incredibly informative answers. Greg- Could you explain a little bit about your background and what trainers have had the most influence on your teaching? “Sure! I am just a small-town boy from Northern Michigan who ended up in the Marines after a finding out that college wasn’t for me. (If only my GPA were as high as my blood alcohol content!) After leaving the Corps I kicked around a bit and fell in with a group of serious defensive practitioners outside of DC and was influenced by a mutual friend of ours, Gary Greco. I discovered that I have an aptitude for teaching and a passion for helping good people take care of themselves. I sought out industry leading shooting and self-defense instructors to expand my knowledge and skill sets and things have snowballed from there. Now I am retiring from the Federal government and moving into an RV I’ve named “Maslow” and will be taking my Concealed Carry: Street Encounter Skills and Tactics class all around the country in 2021. As far as formative influences, the first instructor I had outside of the military who put me down the path I am now on was John Farnam, who introduced me to the fact that real self-defense involves much more than just shooting, you may actually have to talk to someone! For a Marine, that was quite a revelation! Kelly McCann refined this realization when I took his Individual Protective Measures Course. He introduced the concept of integrating combatives with firearms and knives, as well as knowledge of pre-assault indicators. Pat Rogers’ tutelage instilled the “get it done” mindset, and I have been very fortunate in being actively mentored by Tom Givens who really put all this into the proper context for citizens. There have been many others that have had significant influence on my pedagogy, but those are the Big Four.” Greg- What is your philosophy regarding skill acquisition? “To be what I call an “effective armed citizen”, a person must possess cross-domain skill sets that support our goal of just…getting home. Not enforcing the law, not inflicting our will upon others…just going home. There is so much to the adoption of this lifestyle beyond simply carrying a pistol that most people do not appreciate. (And judging by many of the choices featured in your “Don’t Dig the Rig” series some people are having a hard time making informed decisions there, too!) It should all begin with a very honest self-assessment devoid from fear driven by the latest crime headlines. People need to know themselves from a physical, and most importantly, mental, perspective and proceed with a realistic assessment of the risks they face and their willingness to commit. Then relevant skills need to layered on, from highest utility soft skills, like managing a street encounter or stopping bleeding, to skills of the highest consequence, such as the use of lethal force. Unfortunately, most people take the minimum training required. They are influenced by well-meaning but ill-informed people. They end up with what our friend Claude Werner refers to as “negative outcomes” due to not being properly prepared. The other end of that spectrum is that people tend to gravitate towards really fun, shooting-centric type classes and proceed under the false impression that is all they need. And while they become excellent shooters they lack the ancillary pre-incident skills to avoid conflict and the post-incident capacity to deal with the aftermath, again with negative outcomes.” Greg- What do you see as the biggest problem people have to overcome in the realm of self-defense? “Fear. Fear of failure in front of peers and strangers. Fear of being revealed as something other than the Super Hero they think they are. Fear of learning that a time-honored technique or pistol fails under pressure. I’ve experienced it myself, but at some point you have to recognize that you must fail in order to grow, and get over yourself. Progress is frequently measured with pain. The next issue would be profound ignorance. People just don’t know what they don’t know, and that knowledge gap can be absolutely devastating.” Greg- How is your training curriculum unique from other trainers in the industry? What do you do best? “My forte is curriculum development and delivery that provides people bite-sized chunks of relevant, high-impact skills, and then forges those links into pre-assembled sets that can be employed across the scope of the situations they are likely to face “Skills in context” is my tag line.” Greg- How do you see the future of the training industry developing? “There are going to be many factors influencing the future of the training industry. In the near term, ammunition shortages are going to force course of fire redesigns, which, may actually be something of a good thing. I think that your prognostications regarding the future of policing in this country are going to be proven true, and more people will recognize that they are, in fact, on their own, and they will seek training. As the market expands, we’ll see more instructors seeking to fill that void. It will be the best of times, and the worst of times.” Greg- Are there any additional trainers, books, or videos you would recommend to students for future study? Absolutely! Train with Tom Givens and Massad Ayoob, particularly for his “Citizens Rules of Engagement” law course. David Spaulding puts on an excellent course, as do Lee Weems and Spencer Keepers. John is not being detained by Chief Lee Weems Tim Chandler and his crew at Justified Defensive Concepts does great work, as do Tim Herron and Gabe White. Seek out medical training from professionals like Caleb Causey of Lone Star Medics. Craig Douglas, Cecil Burch and Paul Sharp for combatives. Oh, and this Ellifritz fellow seems to have a clue or two as well across a broad spectrum of issues.” For reading, “The Little Black Book of Violence”, “Straight Talk on Armed Self-Defense” and “Deadly Force Encounters” should form the foundation of any defensive minded citizen’s library. For podcasts, “Civilian Carry Radio” is a favorite, as is “Ballistic Radio”. Also out there is “Slingin’ Lead.” And definitely seek out the late William Aprill’s videos that are being hosted by the Personal Defense Network to gain insight into criminal psychology. Greg- Thank you John for your extremely informative responses! You provided lots of life-saving information for my readers. “My pleasure, Greg! I’m looking forward to meeting up with you at TACON in Dallas!” I would encourage you to book a class with John. His website can be found at FPF Training. He will be on a nationwide training tour in 2021 and will likely be within driving distance of almost anyone in the United States at some point next year. Get to one of his classes. Liked it? Take a second to support Greg on Patreon! Related Related posts: Weekend Knowledge Dump- October 19, 2018 Weekend Knowledge Dump- August 16, 2019 Posted on December 8, 2020 by Greg Ellifritz in Articles	9,924
Vigo County School Corp. Facilities Referendum took another step forward on Friday. But now district officials are concerned that the state-mandated wording of the question could mislead the public. The ballot question reads in part: “If this public question is approved by voters, the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence would increase by 55.55% and the average property tax paid to the school company per year on a business real estate would increase by 50.64%”. The county auditor’s office calculated the percentages to include on the ballot. On Friday, the Vigo County Electoral Board gave preliminary approval to the referendum question that will appear on the May 3 ballot. Approval is procedural, required by law, and is then submitted to the Local Government Finance Department for review. “It’s a state-mandated matter that we wish we could talk more about what this action means to our constituents,” Superintendent Rob Haworth told the Elections Commission. Once the DLGF completes its review, it returns its recommendation to the county electoral board, which must rule on the language of the ballot by February 18. The $260 million referendum would be used to build new university facilities and renovate non-university facilities at high schools in North, South, and West Vigo; it would include West Vigo Middle School, which is adjacent to the high school. The referendum question as it currently stands is as follows: “The Vigo County School Corp. increase the property taxes paid to the school corporation by owners and businesses? If this public issue is approved by voters, the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence would increase by 55.55% and the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business building would increase by 50.64%. “The Political Subdivision may issue bonds or enter into a lease for the 2022 High School Safety, Security, Infrastructure, Replacement and Restoration Project, which includes the construction of academic spaces and the renovation and improvement of the North Vigo High School, South Vigo High School and West Vigo Middle/High School, site improvements and purchase of equipment and technology, estimated to cost $261,790,000 over 22 years. “The last property tax referendum within the boundaries of the political subdivision for which this public matter is being considered was proposed by the Vigo County School Corporation in 2019 and passed.” VCSC: wording doesn’t tell the whole story In an interview, Haworth raised concerns that the wording of the question could be misleading to taxpayers regarding the actual tax impact. “We have no local control over the matter,” he said ahead of the meeting. “This is a state-driven formula. … As a result, I don’t think it accurately represents our local situation. A law amendment during the last session of the Indiana General Assembly revises the local public question to include the “estimated average percentage of property tax increase” on residential and commercial properties. The new wording replaced long-standing previous wording that provided for the proposed increase in the property tax rate per $100 of property tax assessment for the property taxpayer. The Indiana School Boards Association supports the return to the previous language. It says the new language “is considered ambiguous and could misinform a taxpayer who pays significantly less, or more, than the average percentage increase in property tax,” depending on its legislative priorities. The auditor’s office calculated the percentages to include on the ballot, and they are factually accurate, Haworth said. But the long overarching question “doesn’t do justice to the financial impact,” he said. He said the referendum question does not reflect the end of the operational referendum in 2024. It does not inform voters of the importance of the referendum for the district to have a comprehensive plan for all facilities, not just high schools. He also doesn’t talk about the impact of tax caps, which limits the district on its capital projects plan. Voters might be confused and think that the average property tax increases of 55.55% or 50.64% apply to the total tax rate. In fact, it only applies to the corporate school tax rate, which for 2022 is 98 cents per $100 of assessment. Haworth encourages people to visit the Vigo County School Corp. website, which includes information about the referendum as well as a tax impact calculator. Using the Net Tax Impact Calculator, people can determine how much extra they will pay in school property taxes as a result of the facilities referendum. He pointed out that there are 26 tax districts in the county of Vigo. He gave the example of the Township of Nevins, which has a 2022 tax rate of $2.11 per $100 of assessment; in comparison, Terre Haute Harrison Township has a tax rate of $4.50 per $100 of assessed value. The school district’s share is 46% of the Nevins tax rate, but 22% of the Terre Haute Harrison tax rate. The ballot question takes the 26 tax districts and creates an average. “I believe the average doesn’t speak to the people of Nevins Township, or the people of (Terre Haute) Harrison – and probably everyone else,” Haworth said. The question also does not take into account that the operational referendum would end in 2024. The 55.55% “is based on the fact that the operational referendum is still in the calculation of the tax, therefore, rather than a net increase of 25 cents, they make 41 cents,” Haworth said. (The current operational referendum is 16.2 cents per $100 of assessed value. The district proposes to end it in 2024, and that rate would then be applied to the facilities referendum.) Also, people who go to the polling booth and see the 55.55% increase might also think it applies to the entire property tax bill, not just the school portion, said Haworth. It also does not explain that if the referendum is for secondary schools, it also means that existing debt service funds can be used for middle and elementary schools, creating a comprehensive plan of facilities. district which includes maintenance. The question also does not address how the property tax caps have interfered with the funding of the district’s capital project financing plan. “My fear is that people will take the Indianapolis issue and not come back and apply it to their local portfolios,” Haworth said. District officials, a political action committee, and community members will work leading up to the May 3 primary election to try to educate voters about the referendum and its importance to not just the district and its high schools, but for the community as a whole, Haworth mentioned. “We are up to the challenge,” he said. Related posts: New York Senate Updates Real Estate “Sellers” Act to Gender Inclusive Bill seeks to halt school-to-prison pipeline fueled by expulsions and suspensions CT House GOP blocks 2022 absentee vote referendum general assemblyhigh school Prev Post Next Post How AI and immersive technology are being used to revitalize Indigenous languages You might also like More from author Man who killed 3 in 2016 Thanksgiving crash must serve life in prison India and Russia agree to enhance cooperation at UN on counter-terrorism Murphy orders task force to address teacher shortage in New Jersey AHEPA, Dialectics, drawers and the future of the Greek language in the 21st century Prev Next Comments are closed. artificial intelligence computer programming computer science covid pandemic general assembly high school long term machine learning press release prime minister programming language supply chain united states vice president wide range	8,118
Our customers are the center of our universe and we’re grateful for them. If you’re willing to share your experience about your interaction with our agency, it’ll be a great help for other people looking to make smart and confident decisions about their insurance and financial services. Take 60 seconds (or more if you want) to share your story by clicking on one of the review links below. Review on Review on Review on Review on Review on Review on What our customers say about us... November 15, 2022 5 out of 5 October 19, 2022 1 out of 5 "Horrible customer service. Reached out to his office agent Liam for a quote, so disrespectful. He changed our policy after we signed up. He initially just wanted to make us sign the contract so he did not tell us everything. Couple weeks later he called to tell us he made a mistake and he needed to change the contract which was gonna increase the price." … "Horrible customer service. Reached out to his office agent Liam for a quote, so disrespectful. He changed our policy after we signed up. He initially just wanted to make us sign the contract so he did not tell us everything. Couple weeks later he called to tell us he made a mistake and he needed to change the contract which was gonna increase the price." September 14, 2022 5 out of 5 "Michael and his team will listen to your needs, guide you on what coverage you need and update with you every year to ensure that as your life changes, so does your insurance. Recommend him to all!" "Michael and his team will listen to your needs, guide you on what coverage you need and update with you every year to ensure that as your life changes, so does your insurance. Recommend him to all!" September 13, 2022 5 out of 5 "Michael is great! He is prompt and responsive :) I need it, I got it!" "Michael is great! He is prompt and responsive :) I need it, I got it!" July 31, 2022 5 out of 5 "Reached out to them while I was at DMV office, Darien from Michael Blakeley’s office answered my call. 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Good service " July 8, 2022 5 out of 5 "Excellent customer service" "Excellent customer service" July 7, 2022 5 out of 5 "Although I ended up going with another provider, they were able to assist and educate about the insurance process as it was my first time being on the market for it." "Although I ended up going with another provider, they were able to assist and educate about the insurance process as it was my first time being on the market for it." July 5, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam on Michael’s team was stellar. Extremely informative and professional - and fun! His vibrant personality makes insurance rate shopping - not exactly the most thrilling task - a lively and engaging experience." "Liam on Michael’s team was stellar. Extremely informative and professional - and fun! His vibrant personality makes insurance rate shopping - not exactly the most thrilling task - a lively and engaging experience." June 28, 2022 5 out of 5 "Agent Liam was very helpful." "Agent Liam was very helpful." S M June 28, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam was such a big help in allowing us to switch over to Statefarm! He explained everything very thoroughly and guided us threw every step of the way. Usually insurance work is very tough and challenging but Liam made this experiences less difficult. I would highly recommend Liam for any of your insurance needs! Sepideh Makekpour" … "Liam was such a big help in allowing us to switch over to Statefarm! He explained everything very thoroughly and guided us threw every step of the way. Usually insurance work is very tough and challenging but Liam made this experiences less difficult. I would highly recommend Liam for any of your insurance needs! Sepideh Makekpour" June 20, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam helped me change my car insurance. He explained things to me and was very helpful." "Liam helped me change my car insurance. He explained things to me and was very helpful." 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I have been with State Farm for our auto insurance here in Potomac, MD for about 6 years now and they have always delivered on their service. I would highly recommend them!" May 11, 2022 5 out of 5 "Great agency , Maggie was very helpful." "Great agency , Maggie was very helpful." May 11, 2022 5 out of 5 "Very satisfied, very great price foe my business. Thank you so much" "Very satisfied, very great price foe my business. Thank you so much" May 11, 2022 5 out of 5 "Maggie is my best agent. Help me all the time, Thank you" "Maggie is my best agent. Help me all the time, Thank you" What our customers say about us... November 15, 2022 5 out of 5 October 19, 2022 1 out of 5 "Horrible customer service. Reached out to his office agent Liam for a quote, so disrespectful. He changed our policy after we signed up. He initially just wanted to make us sign the contract so he did not tell us everything. Couple weeks later he called to tell us he made a mistake and he needed to change the contract which was gonna increase the price." … "Horrible customer service. Reached out to his office agent Liam for a quote, so disrespectful. He changed our policy after we signed up. He initially just wanted to make us sign the contract so he did not tell us everything. Couple weeks later he called to tell us he made a mistake and he needed to change the contract which was gonna increase the price." September 14, 2022 5 out of 5 "Michael and his team will listen to your needs, guide you on what coverage you need and update with you every year to ensure that as your life changes, so does your insurance. Recommend him to all!" "Michael and his team will listen to your needs, guide you on what coverage you need and update with you every year to ensure that as your life changes, so does your insurance. Recommend him to all!" September 13, 2022 5 out of 5 "Michael is great! He is prompt and responsive :) I need it, I got it!" "Michael is great! He is prompt and responsive :) I need it, I got it!" July 31, 2022 5 out of 5 "Reached out to them while I was at DMV office, Darien from Michael Blakeley’s office answered my call. Requested if they could transfer my MN state insurance to MD in next 15 mins as I had an appointment for new MD plates. Darien did a great job and got everything completed with in the time while I was on call." … "Reached out to them while I was at DMV office, Darien from Michael Blakeley’s office answered my call. Requested if they could transfer my MN state insurance to MD in next 15 mins as I had an appointment for new MD plates. Darien did a great job and got everything completed with in the time while I was on call." Bharath Nanduri July 27, 2022 5 out of 5 "Great customer service by Liam! Very thorough and communicates clearly!" "Great customer service by Liam! Very thorough and communicates clearly!" July 21, 2022 5 out of 5 "Excellent experience with Darien getting our insurance set up. Great customer service with a friendly attention to detail." "Excellent experience with Darien getting our insurance set up. Great customer service with a friendly attention to detail." July 20, 2022 5 out of 5 "Darien and Mike are amazing they went over and beyond to get me the best car and renters insurance and the best price. I would highly recommend them to everyone if you want the same services. I am pleased with their professionalism, the pleasant service and thank you for conducting the transactions without making me feel pressured into making a decision." … "Darien and Mike are amazing they went over and beyond to get me the best car and renters insurance and the best price. I would highly recommend them to everyone if you want the same services. I am pleased with their professionalism, the pleasant service and thank you for conducting the transactions without making me feel pressured into making a decision." July 18, 2022 5 out of 5 "Very helpful , very quick & friendly . Good service " "Very helpful , very quick & friendly . Good service " July 8, 2022 5 out of 5 "Excellent customer service" "Excellent customer service" July 7, 2022 5 out of 5 "Although I ended up going with another provider, they were able to assist and educate about the insurance process as it was my first time being on the market for it." "Although I ended up going with another provider, they were able to assist and educate about the insurance process as it was my first time being on the market for it." July 5, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam on Michael’s team was stellar. Extremely informative and professional - and fun! His vibrant personality makes insurance rate shopping - not exactly the most thrilling task - a lively and engaging experience." "Liam on Michael’s team was stellar. Extremely informative and professional - and fun! His vibrant personality makes insurance rate shopping - not exactly the most thrilling task - a lively and engaging experience." June 28, 2022 5 out of 5 "Agent Liam was very helpful." "Agent Liam was very helpful." S M June 28, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam was such a big help in allowing us to switch over to Statefarm! He explained everything very thoroughly and guided us threw every step of the way. Usually insurance work is very tough and challenging but Liam made this experiences less difficult. I would highly recommend Liam for any of your insurance needs! Sepideh Makekpour" … "Liam was such a big help in allowing us to switch over to Statefarm! He explained everything very thoroughly and guided us threw every step of the way. Usually insurance work is very tough and challenging but Liam made this experiences less difficult. I would highly recommend Liam for any of your insurance needs! Sepideh Makekpour" June 20, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam helped me change my car insurance. He explained things to me and was very helpful." "Liam helped me change my car insurance. He explained things to me and was very helpful." June 10, 2022 5 out of 5 "I spoke to Liam about my car insurance and he had me set up super quick and answered all my questions and concerns in a timely matter! If I could give them 10 starts i would 10/10 recommend" "I spoke to Liam about my car insurance and he had me set up super quick and answered all my questions and concerns in a timely matter! If I could give them 10 starts i would 10/10 recommend" June 10, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam is the best worker I have ever come across. Thanks for helping me!" "Liam is the best worker I have ever come across. Thanks for helping me!" June 10, 2022 5 out of 5 "I have had troubles with my car insurance for awhile now. A few days ago I called and spoke to Liam Gulgert. Needless to say, he is a professional at his job. He saved me so much money and he was extremely friendly and a pleasure to talk to. I am very grateful for Liam and State Farm for helping me save so much money! I will definitely call again when I need more assistance! Liam knows everything and anything with what he does. Whatever you need, he is the man to help you!" … "I have had troubles with my car insurance for awhile now. A few days ago I called and spoke to Liam Gulgert. Needless to say, he is a professional at his job. He saved me so much money and he was extremely friendly and a pleasure to talk to. I am very grateful for Liam and State Farm for helping me save so much money! I will definitely call again when I need more assistance! Liam knows everything and anything with what he does. Whatever you need, he is the man to help you!" … June 10, 2022 5 out of 5 "Liam was great and very easy to work with! He is responsive and made the process simple. He is my go-to insurance person!" "Liam was great and very easy to work with! He is responsive and made the process simple. He is my go-to insurance person!" June 10, 2022 5 out of 5 "Thank you to Liam G from State Farm, he answered all my questions and responded to me faster than lightning McQueen every time! I will be recommending him to everyone I know." "Thank you to Liam G from State Farm, he answered all my questions and responded to me faster than lightning McQueen every time! I will be recommending him to everyone I know." June 1, 2022 5 out of 5 "fast ,reliable service and smooth communication" "fast ,reliable service and smooth communication" May 27, 2022 5 out of 5 "Michael and his team were fantastic! They helped me get my life insurance and even a disability insurance policy set up for my wife and I. I have been with State Farm for our auto insurance here in Potomac, MD for about 6 years now and they have always delivered on their service. I would highly recommend them!" … "Michael and his team were fantastic! They helped me get my life insurance and even a disability insurance policy set up for my wife and I. I have been with State Farm for our auto insurance here in Potomac, MD for about 6 years now and they have always delivered on their service. I would highly recommend them!" May 11, 2022 5 out of 5 "Great agency , Maggie was very helpful." "Great agency , Maggie was very helpful." May 11, 2022 5 out of 5 "Very satisfied, very great price foe my business. Thank you so much" "Very satisfied, very great price foe my business. Thank you so much" May 11, 2022 5 out of 5 "Maggie is my best agent. Help me all the time, Thank you" "Maggie is my best agent. Help me all the time, Thank you" If you are using a screen reader and having difficulty with this website please call (571) 490-3772 . State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Investing involves risk, including potential for loss. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide tax or legal advice. Please consult a tax or legal advisor for advice regarding your personal circumstances. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®	19,532
When Gemma and I were first coordinating our interview, I had only one stipulation: “We just need to schedule this when my wife’s not in labour.” Sure enough, we made it. I’ve been communicating with Gemma Laurence for over a year now – she introduced me to one of my new favourite bands last October, a trio I’m proud to also call my friends now. She was even in the audience for my band’s first New York City show this past summer. Needless to say, when she first delivered the news about Lavender, her second proper solo record, I immediately said, “Sign me up for an interview!” despite my upcoming big life change and inevitable sleep deprivation. While counting down the days to the birth of my daughter, I spent a good amount of time with Lavender. Its eight tracks are meticulously thought out and arranged, simple by nature but emotionally captivating at their core. Two of Gemma’s favourite artists are Gregory Alan Isakov and Courtney Marie Andrews, both of whom not only have three names, but also would gel rather nicely on the same stage with her. Sonically, she manages to embody Autumn in New England perfectly on Lavender, which makes sense given that the record was conceived in her childhood home in Maine. “I was living in my childhood bedroom for basically all of 2020,” Gemma reflects. “I had these big dreams of moving to New York after graduating college in February of 2020 – a bad time to graduate, objectively. I moved there for a week and then COVID happened. So I moved back home and applied for a bunch of jobs, but the economy was terrible, especially for the music industry. I worked on my own music and took the time to be introspective and think about memories, places and times in my life and sit down and be present. I think that was much needed after I graduated; I’m somebody who’s always busy.” Revisiting one’s childhood home is often an instant flood of memories. You’re hit with visions of old haunts from adolescence and familiar feelings while driving down the quiet back roads behind town. For Gemma, it was the perfect bout of inspiration for an album that, at its core, is a big trip down memory lane. “I definitely connect most with music and poetry that is very set in a place and time. You know those songs that are so transportive?” she asks, as I nod, profusely. “They just bring you to a specific space. That’s definitely the goal: to create a world with [my] music and transport listeners into that world. I used to think in order to do that, you have to make songs that are pretty universal, but I’m realising now that the more specific you get in your own experience, the more universal it is.” A great songwriter is savvy enough to take specific moments from their own lives, and translate them into lyrics that can make a listener feel like they were present when they obviously were not. Gemma has a knack for this. A song like ‘Adrienne’ may feel immediately familiar, but the one-night stand it’s about is uniquely personal. And then there’s ‘Morningside Heights’, a song about reflecting on the simple joys of a relationship, even after it’s long ended. “Walking through Morningside Heights on an afternoon in October was the last time I saw one of my partners before we broke up,” Gemma recalls. “It was such a purely happy, wonderful memory. Getting accidentally really fucked up on whiskey from free samples at a farmers market and stumbling around at golden hour – sometimes with relationships, you look back on them bitterly if they don’t end very well. This album is about looking back at those relationships and the beautiful parts of them too. Not in an ‘I wish I was still there’ way, but simply looking back and realising it was really lovely and meaningful.” ‘Watchdog’, the last song to be written for the record, is particularly poignant. When the lyric ‘My watchdog heart is sleeping by the back door with one eye open….’ first hits you, the hairs on your arms start to stand up, not unlike those on a dog’s back when distressed or anxious. It took her own dog – an 11-year-old golden retriever named Scout – to provide the inspiration for the song in the 25th hour. “I had seven songs and I knew that I wanted an eight track album – like Joni Mitchell’s Blue. But I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to write [the final song] about,” Gemma admits. “I decided to go on this writer’s retreat by myself in January of 2021. I booked this AirBnb in Vermont for like three weeks and Scout and I stayed in this tiny cabin, powered by a wood stove in the middle of the woods. My one goal was leaving the cabin with a song. “[Scout] is very anxious and she slept by the back door of the cabin, and wouldn’t get up. She would sleep there so that any time I left, she would wake up and be really alarmed and startled. It was annoying, and I [remember thinking] ‘why can’t you just trust that when I leave I’m going to come back?’” It was near the very end of their stay that this flippant thought spawned a lightbulb – the universe sent her the perfect metaphor right when she most needed it. “I also have an anxious attachment style and this feels exactly like what my heart’s doing all the time – any time somebody new comes in, I’m scanning the horizon for threats. ‘Watchdog’ is about learning how to trust somebody again.” The song itself also inspired the most ambitious project Gemma’s been a part of to date: an eight minute mobster film that doubled as a music video, filmed in just 48 hours. She recalls showing the album to a film industry friend who took an initially simple concept to grandiose heights (as creatives often do). “After a couple weeks, he pitched me something: ‘Mafia film, make it gay, all female cast,” she laughs. “I was immediately all in. It’s a song that’s all about learning how to trust again after you’ve been betrayed, and learning how to be infatuated again. He said there’s no better genre of film to explore that in than a mafia film. So he wrote a script and four months later, we had this 60 person crew all jammed into a one bedroom apartment in Williamsburg. It ended up being so much bigger than I thought it would be.” Collaborating with film industry folks was just the cap on a long, collaborative process making Lavender. Perusing the album’s credits, you’d be surprised at the sheer amount of names behind what is otherwise a pure solo record. For Gemma, it was hardly a “too many cooks in the kitchen” sort of scenario – in fact, just the opposite. It expanded her creative horizons and left her feeling more inspired than ever before. “Every voice and every musician on the record really brings it to life,” she gushes. “I never intended that to be the case but it ended up being this showcase of so many different people in my life. It’s very rich with texture too because of everybody’s different styles and personalities. “I’ve always been a solo artist. I’ve never had a band before [Lavender]. It was kind of serendipitous and I think I’m only going to record that way now!” Serendipitous is an apt descriptor for Gemma’s musical journey as of late. One of her collaborators ended up being Steve Varney, the banjo player and backing vocalist for one of her favourite artists, Gregory Alan Isakov. He also lent his voice to Lavender, which came out of one of those strange, wouldn’t-happen-if-not-for-COVID encounters. “Steve was offering banjo lessons on Zoom, so I signed up. Once a month, I showed him my music and we workshopped my songs. It’s crazy to me because he’s someone I’ve seen on stage multiple times and totally look up to. I’m so used to hearing him in one ear with Gregory in the other, and now I have Gemma in one ear and Steve in the other!” And as if that isn’t enough, she recently had the opportunity to meet one of her heroes, on national television. When she and her friends learned that Norah Jones was going to be on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, they waited in line for tickets. After making it inside, a pre-show call for musicians landed Gemma and her music the most visibility to date. “It was crazy! We were in the audience and one of the people behind the scenes came out and asked if there were any musicians in the crowd. I was like, ‘yeah!’ They selected me and this one other guy, and they gave us a prompt: we each had one hour to write a song. It’s this bit they do like once a month. I’d seen it before so I knew of it, and I was kind of disassociating the entire time. When I was up there and doing the thing, it just felt so weirdly like a dream – ‘I’m on stage with Jimmy Fallon!’” At the end of the day though, Gemma isn’t in this for the surreal experiences. Lavender is a three-year-long journey of documenting memories and tales of human existence – “a collection of vignettes from moments of my life with different characters that all interweave” as she so eloquently puts it. She holds one of these vignettes to a higher standard than the rest – the title track, which is not only one of the most memorable songs on the album, but an anthem to the queer community that she’s proud to be a part of. “It’s a song I wrote for my best friend,” Gemma tells me. “I went to college with her and I wrote that song in the aftermath of her transition. I’ve been friends with her for a very long time, I was there for her throughout her transition and she came out on stage – it was an absolutely beautiful thing. She was really embraced by our community but, like for so many trans folks, it’s really hard coming out. Even when you’re surrounded by people that love you. I don’t know that experience personally – I’m a queer but I’m a cis woman. I wanted to write her a song telling her I loved her basically. It’s a song honouring her transition and the hardships but also the joy that comes with it.” It’s hard not to see it as the backbone of the record, lyrics like ‘Anxiety is little league and fear is the locker room,’ and ‘I know it’s not easy to be the woman you were born to me…’ particularly hitting home, regardless of whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or not. It covers not feeling totally seen by the people in your life, and it’s all the more poignant that the lyrics draw on images from actual conversations she and her friend have had throughout their friendship. “I wanted to capture the feeling that she was talking about in our many phone conversations over the pandemic and beforehand. When I showed her an iPhone demo, she was crying. She felt so seen and really appreciated it. That’s when I knew I wrote a song that I was really proud of. Even if nobody else connects with it in the world, this person that I wrote it for did, and that’s the most meaningful thing to me.” Lavender is out now on Better Company Records. You can stream it wherever you enjoy music, or pick up a copy directly from Gemma on her Bandcamp page. Related L.S. Dunes is a supergroup worth investing in Leave a Reply Cancel reply Five alternative advent calendars, and the musicians that need them Shipping explained Homepage Your cart is empty Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close Subscribe to our mailing list so we can let you know when new magazines are out. We promise we won't spam you. Username Lost your password? Join Waitlist We will inform you when Volume 16 arrives in stock. Please leave your valid email address below.	11,856
For the first time in U.S. history, this election season, at least one LGBTQ candidate has run for office in every state and Washington, D.C. And that has led to a number of other firsts, including the first out trans man ever elected to a state legislature, James Roesener of New Hampshire, and the election victory of Zooey Zephyr, the first out trans lawmaker elected to office in Montana. All of this at a time when legislation targeting the rights of LGBTQ people is being drafted and passed all around the country. Here today are James Roesener and Zooey Zephyr. Welcome and congratulations. ZOOEY ZEPHYR: Yeah. Thank you so much for having us. Excited to be here. CHANG: So I want to first just start by asking you what inspired both of you to run for office this election cycle? Like, why now in particular? ZEPHYR: This is Zooey Zephyr. In 2021 in Montana, there were several anti-LGBTQ bills brought forward. And I had been working on policy at the city level and went to testify at the legislature specifically on a bill banning trans women and trans kids from playing sports. I then went and testified to the governor's office alongside two trans kids who were begging to just be allowed to play sports with their friends. And then I watched several bills pass through the Montana legislature by one vote. And I thought to myself I could change that heart. I know representation can make that difference. And so I met with my legislator at the time and asked him, what do I need to do? And he gave me a list, and off I went. CHANG: So Zooey, your path into politics - it started in activism. What about you, James? ROESENER: Very much same here. I have been part of the LGBT community and advocacy for a while. I have volunteered for going on eight years now at the local clinic that not only provides, like, gender-affirming services and LGBT health care but also is an abortion clinic as well. And they're kind of a second family to me at this point. I've been seeing them for so long. Not just do I care about these issues, but then it becomes personal a little bit when, you know, laws are threatening to lock up my friends for providing very necessary health care and health services to my community. It just feels a little absurd and surreal. Understanding the weight that local politics has, especially for communities like mine, I really felt it was important to have some visibility of our own, let alone having somebody who's willing to fight the good fight regardless of identity. CHANG: Well, let me ask you because, you know, right-wing politicians and even some in the mainstream GOP have been targeting trans people. Like, the newly reelected governor in Iowa, Kim Reynolds, she ran a campaign ad this cycle saying that Iowans know the difference between boys from girls. What do you make of the fact that this kind of rhetoric has been so prevalent from Republican politicians, people who will very likely become some of your colleagues? ZEPHYR: The first thing I think of is the direct impact it has on trans people and those who love them. When Montana passed its anti-trans legislation, I had friends leave the state. I had friends end their lives. And that is the immediate impact of these types of bills. Beyond that, to me, the - it is a short-term strategy on the right to drum up fear, to find a target that they think is vulnerable, that they can rally their base around. What I think the right will find is that when you take away the R and the D and you bring it down to our local communities, trans people have the support of those around them. And in Montana, when the Department of Public Health and Human Services proposed a new rule about banning updating your birth certificate if you're trans, they held a public hearing, and one person came out to support that anti-trans piece of legislation and 100 came out in opposition to it. And that's across Montana. And if it's true here, I know it's true across the country as well. ROESENER: People are very willing to show up and defend the rights of their neighbors. And that's been a lot of what my experience in this campaign has been is seeing in real time what I already believed was in people kind of organize for a better world. CHANG: Well, despite there being a fair amount of legislation out there that you find deeply hurtful, deeply disturbing, there has been a record number of LGBTQ candidates running for office during these midterms. And I just want to know, what does that signal to both of you? ROESENER: I feel like to see so many LGBT people being inspired to run just proves to me that all of this homophobic and transphobic and bigoted rhetoric that's been flowing in our system for, you know, a little bit now, we are taking our power back, in a sense. And I think that we're going to see a really amazing turning point in the near future here. ZEPHYR: The first thing it signals is that we have people in our community who are willing to stand up and put themselves out there. That would have been hard to imagine decades ago that this many people would stand up and want to be visible and present. And beyond that, with the record number of people winning, it shows that our communities don't just passively support us. My friends and neighbors in my district looked at me and said, that's the person we want representing us. And I know that that's true for all of the candidates across the country who won their elections. CHANG: So what will be your first priorities in office? ROESENER: New Hampshire recently has experienced its first abortion ban. It's a 24-week ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. One of my first priorities moving into this next session is going to be to work to enshrine the right to abortion and reproductive services into our state because we are the only state in New England that does not have those protections in place. ZEPHYR: The state of Montana is currently sitting on a $2 billion surplus, and both Democrats and Republicans have been putting forward plans for what to do with that. Top priorities in that and top priorities in my community and across the state are affordable housing and making sure that we have enough inventory for Montana's population. Additionally, there's big discussions around mental health in the state of Montana. My job will be to help with that. And also when it comes to human rights, make sure that we're having conversations around the way in which these anti-LGBTQ attacks, the way in which attacks on abortion, the direct impacts they have on the mental health crisis we're trying to solve. CHANG: State legislators-elect Zooey Zephyr of Montana and James Roesener of New Hampshire. Thank you, and congratulations to both of you. ZEPHYR: Thank you so much for having us. ROESENER: Thank you much. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. See stories by Vincent Acovino Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who hosts All Things Considered along with Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and Mary Louise Kelly. She landed in public radio after practicing law for a few years.	7,241
On behalf of Ted B Lyon & Associates posted in Car Accidents, drunk driving on Thursday, December 23, 2021. Ride-Sharing Services Offer Pluses & Minuses Texas was one of five states to receive a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association to encourage ride-sharing services this holiday season. The grant is meant to help drivers make the decision to call an Uber rat... Tags car accident, car accident attorney, designated driver, drunk driving, lyft, ride-sharing, sober cab, taxi, uber Bold labels are required. Brief description of your legal issue I have read the disclaimer. Privacy Policy Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ Finding yourself in an unexpected situation that is life changing is dreadful. The stress and worry can be overwhelming.... read moreFinding yourself in an unexpected situation that is life changing is dreadful. The stress and worry can be overwhelming. Enter Ted Lyons and his professional and understanding team. Mr. Lyons not only provided guidance but came to be someone that my brother and I could trust wholeheartedly with his future. The unknown is scary when dealing with a company who morally and ethically failed you. The anger and resentment can be tough thing to handle. Many Thanks to Mr. Lyons and his team. We owe you more then could ever be repaid. You and your colleagues lifted us up, ensured a financial future for my brother, and helped make sure he will be on solid ground. When life tosses you a curve ball, believe in Ted Lyons and colleagues to have your back. read less Christy Hester recently helped me with a personal injury case involving a car accident. Before hiring her, I had several... read moreChristy Hester recently helped me with a personal injury case involving a car accident. Before hiring her, I had several medical bills and I was up against an insurance company that dragged their feet and tried their best to place fault elsewhere. Christy stepped in and took care of it all! Christy’s credentials are quite impressive, and she equally impressed me with her people skills. She is an extremely competent, hard working, trustworthy attorney, and she navigated my case seamlessly. She spent countless hours doing research and fighting hard for my case. She proved how good she is at using tactics and negotiation techniques that allowed us to settle prior to going to court. Christy has a caring attitude and was extremely attentive to my needs. The level of attention and results that I received greatly surpassed every expectation that I had! If you need a personally injury attorney, I highly recommend Christy Hester and her team! read less Christy Hester recently helped me with a personal injury case involving a car accident. Before hiring her, I had several... read moreChristy Hester recently helped me with a personal injury case involving a car accident. Before hiring her, I had several medical bills and I was up against an insurance company that dragged their feet and tried their best to place fault elsewhere. Christy stepped in and took care of it all!Christy’s credentials are quite impressive, and she equally impressed me with her people skills. She is an extremely competent, hard working, trustworthy attorney, and she navigated my case seamlessly. She spent countless hours doing research and fighting hard for my case. She proved how good she is at using tactics and negotiation techniques that allowed us to settle prior to going to court. Christy has a caring attitude and was extremely attentive to my needs. The level of attention and results that I received greatly surpassed every expectation that I had!If you need a personally injury attorney, I highly recommend Christy Hester and her team! read less So I was in a bad industrial accident over 3 years ago! I was recommended to this firm. A call... read moreSo I was in a bad industrial accident over 3 years ago! I was recommended to this firm. A call was made to them and within a few hours Marquette Wolf was standing in front of me in the hospital room. From that moment on Marquette Wolf, Christy Hester and their Paralegal Bonnie Duran were sharks in the water ripping apart those responsible for the accident I was in!My family and I are extremely grateful to this team! Our case is over and we couldn't be happier! If your looking for weak attorneys this is not the place to go but if your looking for people who are going to win, I highly recommend calling them cause they're winners! read less So I was in a bad industrial accident over 3 years ago! I was recommended to this firm. A call... read moreSo I was in a bad industrial accident over 3 years ago! I was recommended to this firm. A call was made to them and within a few hours Marquette Wolf was standing in front of me in the hospital room. From that moment on Marquette Wolf, Christy Hester and their Paralegal Bonnie Duran were sharks in the water ripping apart those responsible for the accident I was in! My family and I are extremely grateful to this team! Our case is over and we couldn't be happier! If your looking for weak attorneys this is not the place to go but if your looking for people who are going to win, I highly recommend calling them cause they're winners! read less Yes Dennis did a amazing job, thank you Dennis Mike B Christy Hester came through for me in the 11th hour to represent me in an auto accident claim. Though it... read moreChristy Hester came through for me in the 11th hour to represent me in an auto accident claim. Though it took 3 years to come to a conclusion, she and Linda persevered with me and we prevailed. Thank you!! read less Great people Absolutely great! Very kind and honest. Will keep them for the near future. They all helped in so many ways!... read moreAbsolutely great! Very kind and honest. Will keep them for the near future. They all helped in so many ways! Nicole C. read less We had a great experience with Linda Kinkaid and their office staff. Communication is key and that is one thing... read moreWe had a great experience with Linda Kinkaid and their office staff. Communication is key and that is one thing Linda was great at. Not to mention very convenient we were able to review and sign docs online. Definitely will refer others, and friends and family as well. Thank you for the great work you did. read less Ted and Marquette worked tirelessly on our case (Waldrip vs. U-Haul), for which we are very thankful. They kept us... read moreTed and Marquette worked tirelessly on our case (Waldrip vs. U-Haul), for which we are very thankful. They kept us updated on everything from beginning to end, and even went to my mom and dad's house to visit with them after our case was over. That showed us they weren't just their clients. What my dad went through also had an affect on them. We will never forget what Ted, Marquette, and the rest of the staff did for us. Ted Lyon and Associates are the best! read less Outstanding service. Always answered emails, always called back. Ted Lyon got me the maximum settlement regarding a car accident. Special... read moreOutstanding service. Always answered emails, always called back. Ted Lyon got me the maximum settlement regarding a car accident. Special thanks to David Wallace. read less Good communication throughout legal process. Positive results! Great customer Service. Quick to get back with you. Everyone did a wonderful job helping us. We would recommend Ted Lyon & Associates to our friends and family. Great Lawyer working hard to get my husband the money he deserves. Verdicts and Settlements We are Texas Trial Lawyers that have won many cases against large corporations, insurance companies, and municipalities Below are some of the entities:	8,375
Excellent for timing. No astrology knowledge needed. Free Evaluation. Tested successfully on the BBC. Gemini - (May 22 - June 21) Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury and is symbolized by the Twins. An Air sign, Gemini is connected with communication. You have a way with words. You're good at flirting and teasing, and can be a real sweet talker. Because of your "twins" influence you are clever at adapting your style to suit the seduction. You can be witty and clever and easily attracted to good conversationalists. You love the power of suggestion and using double entendres. In fact, you use them proficiently when you are flirting with others, whether they be romantic interests or just passing fancies. You adapt easily to most situations and love to share stores of people, places and experiences, which you skillfully use to arouse the interest of one you desire. Because you are so tuned into communicating, you can see both sides of a situation. You know there are always at least three sides to every conflict. The sides of each party involved and the truth; which you have a knack for discovering. You can be a prolific writer. Love letters, poetry and notes are easily used to seduce the object of your affection. Internet chat rooms and forums stir your interest. Who knows, you may even find your future mate online. You have been known to give "good phone," and enjoy long conversations that revolve around romance and sexual innuendos. Flirting is second nature to you and you are almost shameless when it comes to practicing your flirting style. Because of their sometimes short attention span, Gemini lovers are more likely stay around if they feel mentally stimulated. Libra - (September 23 - October 23) Libra is ruled by Venus. An Air sign, Libra is connected with social relationships and its symbol are the scales. Knownn as a diplomat to those closest to you, you have an incredible sense of objectivity and seek harmony and balance in relationships and life. Happiest when you are in love, you can be sweet and sensitive. You love talking about things relating to love and romance such as novels, movies or songs. It is your way of flirting with the object of your desires. You are a charming, gracious and considerate lover and can adapt your style to attract the one you desire. In fact, you like to be partners in most aspects of life and will find ways of including those you love and admire in your plans, whether it be at work, home or play. Although crowds of people don't seem to bother you, you prefer spending time with your love interest alone rather than in a group setting. You may start out at a big gala affair, but will look for an appropriate time to get away so the two of you can spend time alone together. You are a thoughtful partner and lover and give your full attention to your mate. Giving your undivided attention is your way of flirting. You have a keen interest in others and can lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. You love courting and or being courted by the object of your affection. Hearts and flowers go a long way in the romance arena of your life. Librans do not like to be manipulated, fair play is an absolute must. Aquarius - (January 21 - February 21) Aquarius is ruled by Uranus. An Air sign, Aquarius is very social, and is symbolized by the water bearer. An inventor at heart, you can be seen by others as a little "quirky," often gravitating toward the future and progress of humankind. You are considered a visionary and open-minded looking for less conventional ways of being and doing than the other signs. You don't generally break down under peer pressure; you prefer to be different from others. You are highly liked and surrounded by friends because you know how to be one. A humanitarian, you long for social reform and prefer those who share your thoughts on life over those who easily conform to societal pressures. You tend to be more attracted to the outrageous than one who looks and act like everyone else. You are sometimes thought of as a "rebel with a cause" and will be attracted to a partner who shares your desire to change the world. You are a free spirit who needs his or her own space but don't mind sharing that space with the object of your affection, as long as you don't get pushed into a corner. You enjoy sharing your vision of the future with the one you desire and consider it your way of flirting. Sometimes you appear aloof or unemotional, which can be a turn-off for some. Not to worry, the right person will find it attractive and be curious to know what lies beneath that detached exterior. It seems an odd way to "flirt", but it can be attractive to those who are curious and have a similar demeanor. It is the game of "intrigue" that can often turn someone on and make them want to know more. The Aquarius is a creative and imaginative lover and will often seduce the object of their desire in unusual ways (and places). BIO: (c) Heidi Richards is an Author, Professional Speaker, and Business Mentor. She is the owner of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets https://www.edenflorist.com.	5,361
Company executives will increasingly have another thing to worry about when it comes to how their compensation is calculated: how well companies are doing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) or non-financial matters. Traditionally, executives have largely been driven solely by financial performance and shareholder returns. But some large public company executives in recent years have had a small portion of their compensation tied to ESG goals, about 5 to 15 percent of total pay. And the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) rulemakings combined with increased investor demand could accelerate that trend, experts say. The securities market regulator has various ESG-related rulemaking projects as well as an executive compensation rule that was finalized late August 2022. “Some companies have been using sustainability or ESG measures in their plan for a while, but it used to be just a very small share. But over the past year that has been gaining a lot of traction largely because investors have been pushing for it,” said Brian Bueno, ESG Practice Lead with Farient Advisors. Bueno said that investors at first pushed companies to disclose details around ESG topics, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, employee diversity and turnover. But more recently, investors have been asking companies to actually make progress and meet ESG goals, such as reducing carbon footprint and hiring more diverse employees, and tie that to incentive plans. And an increasing number of companies have responded to such demands. According to Farient’s ESG Tracker, 240 of 416, or 58 percent, of S&P 500 companies releasing proxies in 2022 have used ESG measures. Christina Thomas, who was until recently a partner at Mayer Brown LLP, agreed that it is becoming a trend. She emphasized, however, that there is no “total disregard” for financial performance, saying that what we are seeing today is a steady integration of ESG metrics into incentive plans. “Companies largely base their incentive programs on what they are hearing from their investors, as well as market expectations… [or] comparison to peer groups,” said Thomas, who previously worked at the SEC. Consulting firm Farient’s Bueno, who was previously at proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), said that companies have been looking at their peers as a reference point because they have been unsure about how they should proceed. Some adopted a wait-and-see approach to see what other companies in their industry were doing. “And as they are seeing more and more peers using, they are feeling more comfort in seeing how to structure these into their plans, how to actually set up goals,” he said. In general, how companies tie ESG metrics to compensation is similar to any other goals or targets they set for themselves on financial performance. Thus, “if a stock hits a certain price, then the executive is granted a certain number of securities. It’s sort of similar to that, only it’s not tied to stock price,” Mayer Brown’s Thomas said. “If they are able to reduce emissions by a certain amount or increase diversity and inclusion by a certain amount, then you would see compensation sort of commensurate with that.” And what ESG metrics a company incorporates into incentive plans depends on that particular company’s goals. So far, companies have been using more of the S aspect of ESG, such as employee diversity, equity and inclusion than the E aspect—environmental issues. “Part of the reason that is still low is that companies still don’t have as much familiarity with when measuring the topics around the environment: their emissions or their waste management or their water usage,” said Bueno. But the SEC’s proposal on climate disclosure rule, if adopted, could change that. The commission’s climate proposal, issued in March, includes disclosure of GHG emissions. The SEC is still hoping to finalize the rules by year-end as planned. “It’s going to provide a wealth of data that will allow companies to actually have some reference point when they’re determining whether and how to include these measures into their plan,” Bueno said. Thomas said that if the SEC rule moves forward, it will increase attention on climate-related targets and goals that a company has set for itself. “There’s more of an ability to analyze what the company is doing with respect to climate,” she said. “But it’s going to be company specific.” For example, the SEC proposal’s disclosure on GHG emissions data has different requirements. Scope 1 and Scope 2 are about a company’s direct emissions and indirect emissions from purchased energy. Scope 1 and Scope 2 must be separately disclosed, expressed both by disaggregated constituent GHGs and in the aggregate, in absolute terms not including offsets, and in terms of intensity—per unit of economic value or production. Scope 3 is about emissions of other companies in the company’s value chain. The company must report it if it has set a GHG emissions target or goal that includes Scope 3 emissions. This must be in absolute terms, not including offsets, and in terms of intensity. However, “I don’t know that the rule itself [would increase more companies tying climate goals to executive compensation] because the rule itself wouldn’t mandate setting of targets or goals,” Thomas said. But to the extent that companies increasingly set targets and goals, “we wouldn’t be surprised to see that incorporated in executive compensation as well.” In addition to the SEC’s climate change rulemaking, there are other rules that will likely put more pressure on companies to incorporate ESG targets in executive pay. The SEC’s final rules on performance versus pay require companies to provide total compensation and a measure reflecting executive compensation actually paid. Companies must provide financial performance measures that show total shareholder return, the company’s net income, and a financial measure chosen by the company, among other requirements. To be sure, there is no SEC requirement related to ESG metrics, but it could still further drive the trend. The commission is also working on human capital management disclosure rule that is likely to be fairly prescriptive, and this will also likely accelerate the ESG-pay trend. More Involvement by Board of Directors With ESG disclosures becoming more prevalent, this also means that corporate directors will be more involved as well. According to a May 2022 report by consulting firm SpencerStuart, companies surveyed are increasingly incorporating ESG goals and metrics into many elements of business: 71 percent of respondents are incorporating ESG goals and metrics into overall company strategy. Another 52 percent are incorporating ESG into integrated risk management, 48 percent into criteria for director appointments and 46 percent in executive compensation. Dennis Beresford, who served as audit committee chair of public companies, believes that this trend “is a generally good thing.” While everybody is talking about ESG today, this is not entirely new, said Beresford, a former chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Before leading the FASB, he worked in the national office of Ernst & Ernst, now Ernst & Young LLP, and he did a study on social responsibility reporting about 50 years ago. “Back then, what we were looking for was how many companies made some disclosures in their annual reports about any of their non-financial statement type matters. We didn’t hear the term ESG back then, and it was mainly environmental type things that we were talking about; oil spills or things like that, or just where they were doing things positive to try to help the environment,” Beresford explained. “And a lot of companies were beginning to do things back then. But it was very primitive. And it wasn’t in the financial statements, and it certainly wasn’t in the compensation arrangements.” Beresford also belonged to a committee of the AICPA that drafted a report on corporate social responsibility reporting. “The thinking back then was that this was going to happen more and more often,” he said. “Nothing really caught on at that time” 50 years ago. Beresford, who has not served on corporate boards for six or seven years, added that during his decade on corporate boards, directors did not talk about ESG much, but they did discuss some individual ESG topics. “We talked about environmental matters. And we particularly talked about things like promoting more women and racial minorities…. And some of those things started to work their ways into the compensation determinations,” he said. “They weren’t a big factor back then when I was involved with corporate boards, but they were certainly starting to become more of a factor.” “Frankly, back then, I think even now that the compensation factors for the senior executives focused more on performance by whether the corporation is making money whether they are increasing their sales and, you know, those kinds of financial metrics,” he said. “But I think that over time, there’s been more and more of these non-financial type things that have that have crept into the thinking of corporate boards and so, I think, it is probably still a smaller part of the overall determination, but it’s certainly becoming more and more of a factor.” In the meantime, some academics also believe that ESG metrics should be included in executive incentive plans. During a conference hosted by the Institute of Management Accountants in June, Babson College Professor Paul Juras said it is difficult to manage something that is not measured. “So, if you are going to simply state that it’s important to us, and no one’s ever held accountable, then it’s probably not going to be successful,” he said. “We heard this morning a person said they wouldn’t disclose the number, but if certain metrics were not hit, then there was some compensation that was at risk. And so, it is happening. To me, it’s adoption of variations of balanced score card….There are companies that use balanced scorecard metrics for compensation. So yes, I think it could done, and it should be done.” Brigitte de Graaff, a lecturer and researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, who studied organizations, agreed. “So. there were targets on carbon footprints and there were targets on water recycling and paper recycling and everything. But the moment that you’re making sure everything is followed, if you’re meeting your sustainability targets, [but] the guy literally says, ‘no one has ever been fired for not being sustainable,’” de Graff said. “So, it’s not that you should fire everyone who’s not sustainable, or doesn’t hit the targets, but it is good… that we have an incentive that helps.” Not Everybody on Board with ESG-Metrics While many, especially investors, have fully committed to an ESG corporate world, not everyone has been enamored of the trend. And critics are unhappy with the latest ESG development. Jack Ciesielski, president of investment research firm R.G. Associates who previously published insightful analyses of company financial performance called The Analyst’s Accounting Observer, has never bought into the ESG-palooza. “Right now, ESG is the flavor of the day. In fact, there are bonds that pay lower interest rates if the company achieves ESG targets,” Ciesielski said in the spring. “It’s a new metric mindset that might be even slipperier than non-GAAP earnings.” Ciesielski, who has done extensive analysis of non-GAAP earnings, was never a fan of the adjusted measures. Non-GAAPs are customizable, which means they can be misleading and confusing to those who are trying to analyze the financial health and outlook of companies. Indeed, companies often use them to paint a rosier picture of their performance to boost their stock price. “I think the consultant [Farient’s Bueno] is right about the possible increase in it if the SEC rule passes,” said Ciesielski, who also serves on the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Investor Advisory Group. “There will be more targets to hang a hat on. Speaking for me, I would rather not see such targets. I’m more concerned about how the company performs on shareholder metrics.” Indeed, there are others who question whether ESG is really an investment issue. Former SEC chief accountant Lynn Turner said that under the Biden administration, “the pendulum had swung way to the other side of the spectrum under the prior [Trump] administration.” The problem today is that there is no sensible balance. The Trump administration was more concerned about deregulation and enacting business-friendly policies. Companies largely believe ESG are not material to investment decisions but impose costs on them to respond to activist investors who push social agendas that have nothing to do with corporate financial performance. “Many investors are very concerned about the impact of climate change on the performance and assets of a company,” Turner said, pointing to a 1975 speech by A.A. Sommer who was an SEC commissioner at the time. But “this article raises the question, should the SEC ensure that investors receive the information they require to make informed decisions regarding how management is identifying, measuring, monitoring and responding to the impact of climate change,” Turner said. The “speech, while written long, long, long. ago, raises this same issue. And if many investors are requesting this information, as they are today—think Larry Fink Letters—is this an investment issue, or a social policy issue, from the perspective of investors and the SEC.” And it is a debatable question; however, the trajectory today seems to be that ESG is an investment issue. In his speech, Sommer discusses the concept of materiality, which is defined by the Supreme Court: companies should disclose information that a reasonable person would find important in the total mix of information to make a voting or investing decision. In the speech almost 50 years ago, Sommer said that it is important to understand the investment process and the information that is important and relevant to investors, and the concept of materiality in new circumstances. “However, I must express grave misgivings about the danger that logical constructs which may well serve and resolve the complexities of one problem may, carried a few steps further, involve us in disclosure problems far beyond those contemplated by the authors of the statutes under which we operate and take us far beyond good policy,” Sommer said. For example, “If we insist upon including more information that may give us insight into the integrity or competence of management, must we compel the disclosure of the fact that the chief executive officer occasionally shows up drunk at the office, or that the treasurer is under investigation by the IRS, or that the executive vice president is having an affair with his secretary, or that the executives use the company’s jet for personal purposes on occasions?” “The implications of these concepts are limitless and troubling,” he said. “It is tempting to move down this road, but it seems to me that it is a temptation which, yielded to, will exact a tremendous price. The hasty expansion of materiality concepts along this path may well result in a strain on the resources of the Commission that will impair seriously its ability to do that which has classically done so well—policy the disclosure system and the securities markets.” This article originally appeared in the September 19, 2022 edition of Accounting & Compliance Alert, available on Checkpoint. ← Nearly half of consumers say incentives, rewards and lower interest rates would persuade them to change their primary bank. Maps.me partners with Monavate to provide up to 60 million active users with prepaid cards → You May Also Like Vitality Expands Gateway Flex Health and Wellness Marketplace with HealthFitness Personal Training, Health and Ergonomics Coaching 12 April 2022 Elaine Opinion: Why over complicating benefits makes it harder to engage staff \| incentive&motivation 7 January 2018 11 January 2018 Elaine Pay awards stabilise for first time in two years 27 September 2021 Elaine We are the longest standing title in the reward and incentive space since 2012. Incentive and Motivation covers the features that matter to HR and rewards professionals – from employee benefits to perks, the latest product launches to expert opinion. Packed with news, features, and analysis of the issues that matter to gift card/vouchers, motivation, sales promotion, and incentive professionals. Read by senior-level incentive buyers, corporate end users and employee recognition and engagement program managers. With comment and case studies from many of the industries’ most respected experts, Incentive & Motivation is guaranteed to keep you up to date with the latest happenings, innovations and best practice taking place in the incentive space.	17,092
When I was a child a popular saying was, “reading is fundamental”. They never said fundamental to what, but nevertheless it took hold. Now it is one of my favorite sayings to use as a hash-tag. With modern technology used so often in the classroom these days there are no more chalkboards. Instead they are using smart boards. I am from the era where you fought with your classmates over whose turn it was to wash the chalk off the board before you went home. Yep I breathed in chalk and asbestos that are probably still in my lungs, seemed exciting at the time. I have no proof of course but these things make me wonder why I have chronic migraines. I also work near Ground Zero. Just sayin. Back in the late eighties when I was in elementary school technology wasn’t present until I was in the fifth grade. At that time we had a gigantic “state of the art” computer for all forty plus of us to share. A year later I would learn how to type on a typewriter. I wonder what year they received their big computer. The only thing I remember doing on the computer was to play the game of the day, Oregon Trail. If all of your mules and kids didn’t die you won the game. Unfortunately I never did. Thinking about that game makes me yearn for an era where good clean fun was desired and provided. Prior to fifth grade the big excitement in a classroom was one of two things. The first was a classmate’s birthday. That meant their parent or relative was bringing in cupcakes for an afternoon celebration. That was almost as good as it being your birthday. Coming in second place, there was the arrival of the Scholastic box. For those of you who will never know that joy sadly, I will explain. Once a month we took home a paper catalog of books and other products you could order through the school. When the box came that day everyone waited patiently and silently to hear your name called out so you could walk to the front of the class and retrieve your goods. You had to pray that you were getting something that month, if you weren’t it was devastating to be there and just watch. But when it was your day it was like Christmas morning. I remember getting joke telling books, fancy pencils with cool erasers, as well as scratch and sniff stickers to decorate my black and white (they didn’t come in colors back then) composition books. Some days the book I would get created an excited anxious feeling in me so strong until I began to read it. I still feel that when I read a description of a book I just have to read based on a review or recommendation. Now when my books arrive in Amazon boxes I still feel like a kid in grade school. I am still open the package with a high level of nervous yet excited energy. I carefully open the box, handle my new precious gift with care, and get cracking reading it. I feel sorry for those who have never known that joy. It is one of my ultimate favorite things to do after writing of course. There have been so many books that I read that changed the course of my life. They may have affected my behavior, levels of compassion, or my discourse. They are the books I still think about no matter how long ago I read them. They are the ones I will never throw out as I hope to have one of the best personal libraries around. Mine will definitely need one of those tall ladders you move back and forth along the shelves. I can picture that room all so clearly in my head. The only thing I have to do in the meantime is to continue reading. I have decided to share with my readers those books that are so important to me during the many phases of my life and learning. I get plenty of info from movies and TV, but really there isn’t anything quite like a good book with a big hot cup of coffee next to it. Hence we shall begin at the beginning. Right off the top of my head two children’s series come right to mind. The first being, The Berenstain Bears. Those books were packed so tightly in a large draw in my house. I think I had just about every one when I was growing up. They were a family of four (eventually) and had morals in each individual story. Kids learn how to behave and why while being entertained. I have saved all of my books for my future children and love buying them as presents for the new generation. I just read recently that the series has been taken over by the son of the original authors, Mr. and Mrs. Berenstain. Now they are apparently a less secular family of bears. The next is probably my favorite of all time, until I became an adult. Her name was Cam Jansen and she set out to solve a few mysteries or two. I don’t right off remember any titles or plot lines just that I loved them. That was around the time Nancy Drew and Beverly Clearly were at the height of their fame. I never read either of those for some reason but that does sound like me. Once I know what I like I stick with it. Another hugely popular series for preteens was the Babysitters Club. They were the end all be all of series until maybe Twilight or Harry Potter but I definitely didn’t read those nor do I have any plans to. The Babysitters Club was pure genius. I remember the first three or four came in a pack and my cousins and I were racing to read through them all. Those were on my nightstand for many years. The series ultimately had one hundred thirty one of the original title and one hundred twenty two of the spin-off series Little Sister. There was also a television show and movie made based on this series but I don’t believe I saw either. If I can return to the fifth grade for a moment, I remember reading My Girl that year and finishing the book in school. It was the first time a book made me weep openly in public. This has continued to be a pattern in my life. I have cried because of a book on planes, trains, and buses. I try to cover my mouth and not shout out loud when I am shocked by a plot twist. That is the best I can do. There is no shame in my game. If I am genuinely moved my emotions pour out. It is like a spiritual experience for me. By the time I got to college I rarely read anything that wasn’t assigned to me. Reading for fun wasn’t a concept again for me until well after grad school. I think I had post-traumatic stress from reading a book per class per week for all that time. I have spent the last few years healing from this issue as well as learning to live with my chronic migraines. This has allowed more time for reading for pure pleasure only. This has become so important to me I don’t know how I lasted so long without doing it. Either way I was learning from what I was reading which is always what I am seeking to do one way or the other. A book I was assigned in my Italian American sociology class was by the infamous author Mario Puzo but it wasn’t The Godfather, although I would read that eventually. Compared to the movie it is light-years ahead in terms of substance. The book I am talking about is called The Fortunate Pilgrim and is about an Italian American family’s struggle to achieve their piece of the American dream. It was so good I made my mother read it as well. The professor was the reason I read another classic, Tuesdays with Morrie. You see my professor was and still is my personal Morrie. The book by Mitch Albom was subsequently made into a TV movie and Off Broadway play that I took my dad to. It was an amazing story come to life. The lessons Mitch learns are the ones we all need to learn before it’s too late. From there my preferences during the summer of my college years was mostly all from the self-help section. It began because of a book I borrowed from a close friend. It was Dave Pelzer’s first book about the horrific tales of his childhood. A Child Called It, is a book that changed my life for sure. It was the first story that I read about such acts that seemed unimaginable to me. It was the kind of book that made me realize no matter what you have gone through you can still be the person you want to be. You can still turn your life around. Your past does not have to define your future. Perhaps it was the reason I became so interested in true crimes stories later on and the effects they have on those involved. As difficult as that read was, I couldn’t get enough information about the subject. This was pre-Google when I used the internet solely to check my AOL email. In a way that was better. Nowadays I would have been up straight for days on end researching until I could no longer stay awake. However back then I just had to wait for the next book in the series of about four I think that I read. Those books brings Dave’s story through his adulthood and his life at that time. Here is a brief clip of Dave telling his snippet of his tale: I haven’t thought about this story in a long time. But once I did it all came flooding back to me. I have kept Dave’s books and feel they are due a reread sometime soon. I am curious how I will interrupt the story at this stage in my life. If anything I assume I will just be more impressed with his journey and all the good he continues to do. He appears to have remained the motivational speaker and writer I grew to know and admire. As Dave Pelzer says, “you don't get over it, just accept it”. http://www.mitchalbom.com/books/tuesdays-with-morrie/ Other Apps Other Apps Comments Popular posts from this blog November 08, 2019 You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard? You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound. I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes. I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something. It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions. Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima. According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards Other Apps Read more November 24, 2019 Have you ever gone out to eat and wished that you just ordered a bunch of appetizers? I have. It is actually my preferred way to eat. I like to get a taste of a bunch of different things rather than one big plate. I am much more interested in the kinds of foods we eat as appetizers versus lunch or dinner. Desserts hardly ever register on my radar. At the beginning of this year, right before I was set to release my annual to do list , I stumbled upon a photo of the most beautiful plate of brisket nachos I have ever seen. I instantly wanted them. Naturally the establishment behind said nachos, Morgans Brooklyn Barbecue, earned a spot on my list. The week leading up to my visit all I could think about was “would those nachos be my entire meal or just my appetizer”? Sure I love all kinds of barbecue food: the ribs, the brisket, pulled pork, and don’t even get me started on those sides!! Any restaurant that serves mac and cheese, corn bread, and creamed spinach us Other Apps Read more September 04, 2020 Despite my affinity for cheese and other dairy products, occasionally (actually a few times a week) I like to go dairy-free. During those times I rely heavily on my favorite brand of almond milk, as seen in the picture above. Though I know there is no dairy in this product, I constantly wonder: “how does one milk an almond”? Logically I am aware that no actually “milking” is taking place. I also know that almond milk can be made at home, although I have zero interest in attempting to make it despite my love of spending time in my kitchen. So, what is the actual process? How long does it take? When / where / who was the first to successful develop this product? When talking about this kind of “milk” what we are really talking about is plant juices that resemble and can be used in the same ways as dairy milk. Plant like juice has been described as milk since about 1200 A.D. The first mentions can be found in a Baghdadi cookbook in the thirteenth	13,089
Over the past couple of weeks we have observed multiple incidents of artificial Internet limitations in Iran. These incidents are reported to be connected to local unrest. We collect data and analysis on Internet shutdown events occurring around the world, and look at the economic and human impact of these actions. Regional shutdowns On 19 September, officials shut down the Internet in the province of Kurdistan. The shutdown occurred amid protests over the widely publicized death of activist Mahsa Amini, and lasted just over four hours. See more on our incident page on the Pulse Shutdowns tracker. On 30 September, a regional shutdown was observed in Sistan and Baluchistan. See more on our incident page on the Pulse Shutdowns tracker. From 20 September, the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) has recorded changes in disruption patterns measured through probes run by volunteers in the country. We are seeing increased blocking of DNS over HTTPS (DoH), which allows users to bypass ISP and government-controlled domain name services and avoid simple forms of blocking. Other services blocked include communication services including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Skype and Instagram. Access to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store was limited in an attempt to hinder people from downloading VPN apps. Reports also mentioned that access to various search engines was blocked. See more on our incident page on the Pulse Shutdowns tracker. From 21 September, wide-scale disruptions have been observed on mobile Internet providers’ networks with shutdowns occurring daily from noon to evening. Iranian officials have said they will continue restricting Internet access until protests cease. See more on our incident page on the Pulse shutdowns tracker. Daily disruptions from noon to the evening. Source: IODA Iranians are no strangers to Internet shutdowns. Since 2009, there has been an increasing number of Internet shutdowns in Iran, ranging from local and regional events to a near total national blackout in November 2019. During this particular event, the Iranian government shut down the Internet for a week across the entire country in response to anti-government protests, with connectivity to the outside world down to just 4-5%. Over 80% of the Iranian population accesses the Internet via mobile connection, with fixed line access unavailable for most. Restricting access to the Internet for vast swathes of the population has a hugely detrimental affect on the economy and an individual’s ability to generate income, not to mention the societal implications of not being able to contact loved ones, or access information and critical services. Further, research has found that information blackouts resulting from these shutdowns can actually result in increased violence. Violent tactics that are less reliant on effective communication and coordination are substituted for non-violent protests that rely on the Internet for organization. Internet shutdowns harm societies, economies, and the global Internet infrastructure. We urge governments and decision-makers everywhere to support policies that keep the Internet on, and strong, in order to build strong economies and give people an opportunity for a prosperous future.	3,325
An improving economy, the increased number of active bicyclists and pedestrians, more technology distractions, and behaviors like drunk driving and speeding have contributed to the biggest spike in fatality accidents in 50 years. Despite advancements in technology that focus on vehicle safety, road safety is deteriorating with a 2.6 percent increase in deaths per mile.. Data by the National Safety Council (NSC) shows that in 2017, about 40,100 people lost their lives due to auto accidents and about 4.57 million others were left with severe injuries. Not since the early 1960s has such a high vehicle fatality spike occurred. The spike in overall auto accident deaths can be attributed to several factors. Factors such as unprecedented job growth and cheap gasoline are major contributors to auto accidents. There’s more leisure driving with an average of 2.2% more miles during the year. This correlating increase in miles has led to more chance of deadly incidents occurring. The increased number of people choosing to move around the cities on foot or by bicycle accounts for a rising share of total traffic fatalities. About 6,000 pedestrians were killed in 2016 and this number rose nearly 9 percent compared with the previous year. The number of fatal crashes involving cyclists rose slightly to 580 but it is still the highest in a 27-year period. The world is becoming techier with 95% of Americans using smartphones primarily for communication. The NSC stated that 27% of fatal crashes reported are cell-phone related. This includes accidents involving hands-free or hand-held cell phone use and texting. People are recording videos and following up on feeds while driving. Crashes that occurred while the driver was talking on the phone incorporates 21%, while texting broke down to 6%. Drunk Driving and Speeding Drunk driving is getting worse and killing an increasing number of people on the roads. Traffic deaths involving drivers under the influence rose 1.7% to 10,497. This accounts for more than one out of every four auto accident fatalities. Those related to speeding increased to 10,111- a 4% increase.	2,236
This project caters for the children in a developing community near Hout Bay. As a volunteer, you spend mornings caring for young children while their parents are at work. Afternoons are spent in an aftercare programme that assists older children with their homework and creative activities once school has finished. Meals are also provided daily for the children. > Project details and pricing Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa Duration From 4 weeks February to November You must have an upper intermediate level of English Special skills: You should have experience with children, or even be qualified as schoolteacher or nursery school teacher. Dance, arts and crafts would be a recommendation Enrolment form, curriculum vitae, letter of motivation, passport copy, proof of medical insurance, police clearance certificate Day of arrival Day of departure Saturday Work with an inspirational team in a very welcoming & loving environment. Bring happiness and joy in the daily life of children - You are able to leave a lasting impact on the children’s life. Volunteer in one of the most picturesque areas in Cape Town. Get personal support from the volunteer coordinator. Experience amazing tours and adventures in and around Cape Town. Make new friends from all over the world. The Hout Bay Children’s Programmes project provides Early Childhood Development services and care to the poor in the community of Imizamo Yethu near Hout Bay in South Africa. This project services a Day/Educare Centre in the morning and an After School Programme in the afternoon. You can be involved in either or both projects, but we recommend attending both. The Day/Educare Centre offers basic care and preschool education for the children of the Township of Imizamo Yethu. Children are also provided daily with two warm, nutritious meals, snacks and fresh fruit and yoghurt. Children are cared for in a loving environment and are taught Christian values and simple life skills and are prepared for formal schooling by employing teachers from the community and empowering them to become excellent professional educators. Their mission is to give the children that vital head start for successful lives in the future South Africa. Since 1999 the school has grown and now cares for 285 children between the ages of 1 and 6 years, with 18 staff members from the community. Since 2007 the Day/Educare has been extended and now consists of 11 classrooms, 17 toilets, a well-equipped kitchen, 2 offices, a covered veranda and a large playground. After School Programme: The projects core work is to provide a safe and nurturing space for vulnerable children between the ages of 6 and 12 who have suffered from the effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty, and other stressful life circumstances. This programme offers a structured, holistic after-school care programme and family support centre. 108 children attend the programmes daily and are nurtured, cared for and fed a hot meal by a staff of 10. Homework assistance, literacy and numeracy skills as well as life skills, gardening along with psycho-social activities and counselling is provided. The structure was originally intended to be an orphanage but the community was adamant that the children do not lose their heritage or identity; rather the children would come and live within the community, whether they were relatives or neighbours. Education brings hope for the future and promotes self-worth and dignity. All people should have the right to these. After School Programme: Monday – Friday, from 14:00 – 17:00. This is also available for a half-day volunteering option. Please contact us for details. Generally, the role can include: Welcoming the children and assisting with getting ready for their day at the school. Breakfast – help with laying and clearing of tables, supervise eating during breakfast, snack & lunchtime. Brushing of teeth – assist with toothpaste, supervise brushing of teeth, washing of hands and toilet routine during and between lessons. Toilets, washbasins and floor are to be kept clean. Assist the teacher in all areas of the daily activities. Before morning break – prepare fruit and hand out to the children. Water/tea to be served to each child. Outside play – you assist the teacher to supervise and play with the children, i.e. ball games etc. Music ring – assist with songs, rhythmic activities, games and books. Lunchtime – move tables and chairs onto the veranda, oversee eating and help with clearing. Sleeping time – assist with floor cleaning and preparing classroom for resting time. Assist in kitchen and with food service. Assist with art, music or physical science during class or in the afternoon with homework. Some children may need special attention with English, writing, drawing, maths or general schoolwork. The coordinator will advise you where your assistance is needed. Be able to teach children small nursery rhymes and songs. Bring in your own experience, try new things and implement new programs, be creative and flexible. Emotional support Tutoring, also in groups (lesson on your home country, cooking lesson etc.) It is important to note that this description serves as an example only. The daily tasks and challenges depend on the volunteer and the work that needs to be done. The final job description can thereforevary substantially from the above. Accommodation You will live at the Volunteer House. It is a private house in an upmarket residential area in Cape Town. Volunteers are accommodated in twin bedrooms but may upgrade to single rooms upon request. There are 4 bathrooms to share, a communal kitchen to cater yourself, a dining room, a lounge with TV and DVD and a beautiful garden with a swimming pool. A commercial laundry service is close by. Bedding is provided. Towels will be not provided. Project fee: Included: Airport transfer on arrival Accommodation (Volunteer House: shared room, shared bathroom, self-catering) Daily bus transfer to and from the project Regular site visits by our coordinator Participation in the activities of the Social Club (extra charges may apply) Electronic certificate (printed copy on request) Local support including a 24 hour emergency number Not included: Booking fee A donation towards the project Local Transport Airport transfer on departure Medical insurance Enrol Jelle from the Netherlands "I chose to participate in projects in Cape Town, South Africa due to it being a multicultural society, a nice city with great people. I loved the interaction with the kids and the teachers at my volunteer project, and believe my volunteer projects make a positive impact by uplifting the community and helping kids who need it most. I would advise other volunteers to be patient and remember why you are there, its for the kids, not for you. One of my best memories at the projects were the happiness in the kids faces when I brought cookies and muffins." Jelle from the Netherlands Luiz from Brazil "Before traveling to South Africa, I imagined how the people lived here. This last month passed so fast but it was time enough to realize two things: The first one is that you will always learn something different every day. The second one is that to be a volunteer is amazing and makes you see the world differently. Much love for these children who have cheered up all my days, I already miss them." Luiz from Brazil Mirella from Brazil "Only those who participate in the project, know the lack that these children experience at school & how much you will miss them when you go. It was 6 intense weeks that taught me a lot. The classes with the children helped me to improve my English and the more you teach others, the more you learn - so I learnt a lot doing the volunteering. I'm very grateful for everything!" Mirella from Brazil Jessica from Brazil "The experience was way more than I expected. I got to practice my english, to learn how to live with other people with different cultures in the backpackers, and of course, work with the amazing children. It really amazed me how they're loving of anyone who comes in to help. It is true that the job can be exhausting, because the children have a lot of energy and will not always listen to you. That's why I think one of the greatest things I learned was to be patient and tolerant. In the end, you understand it all, you become more compassionate and it's totally worth it. The community of Imizamo Yethu is so warm and loving, it is truly amazing to see how they can be happy with so little. It really gives you a chance to rethink about what matters in life. Thank you so much for all the support during my project" Jessica from Brazil Larissa from Brazil "I had an amazing and incredible experience in my project. Every day was special and my favourite part of the day was when I was at the school with the kids and teachers. They had their own way to show love and kindness. When I was with the kids, I just wanted to give them my love, smiles and joy. We need to play together, sing, talk and we did homework too. Every day my heart was changed and transformed to a better heart full of kindness, patience and life understanding. In short, every single human being should go through this experience because it is shocking in a positive way!" Larissa from Brazil Marie from Germany "It was always my dream to come to South Africa and to help in a community and work with kids. I would like to make the difference in another one´s life. After my graduation from high school this year, I travelled to Cape Town for two months with Good Hope Volunteers. The organization helped to find an accommodation and organized the transport to the project. In the morning I worked at a daycare, and in the afternoon at an after school program for kids from 6 to 13 years. At my first day, I was overwhelmed from the kids giving me so much love. They made it so much easier for me to be there and to handle my homesickness. The projects were completely different what I really appreciated. In the morning I worked in the daycare where the children are from 1 to 6 years old. The children were so cute and I loved the hugs and kisses getting from the kids. My job included to play with the kids, to help the teacher, to sing and dance or to go to the toilet with them. In the afternoon I was at the after school program. That´s a program where kids get help by doing their homework or reading. It is like a big family, everyone is so nice and the kids are so lovely. In my two months there I did homework with the same child everyday. So I had the chance to get to know the kid better and better and I really appreciated this. I am so glad to have been part of this projects and I am very grateful meeting so many amazing people. I did great experiences and I really had the time of my life there!! Cape Town is a beautiful city where you can experience so much. The weather, the beaches and the landscape are amazing! Now I can call Cape Town my second home and I will miss everything so much! Thank you so much Good Hope Volunteers for making possible this amazing experience I had in Cape Town." Marie from Germany Ayume from Brazil "I spent such a good time at this project. It was the best experience that I had in my whole life. The kids are kind and happy. It was a pleasure to be part of their lives. We shared great moments together such as playing in the park, singing, feeding them, learning Xhosa, teaching Portuguese, helping with their homework, playing soccer, dancing and the most important thing: loving. I am in my country and I already miss them. I could learn more about life and I know that I am not the same person anymore. I grew with these kids and I love them so much!" Ayume from Brazil Gabriela from Brazil "My experience can be described with one word: perfect! I received pure love and warmth from these kids at the project. My time there was not so long but I've learnt so much from them. I'm so glad that I choose this project and Good Hope Volunteers. I will always be thankful for the incredible moments with these lovely people. I'm going back home wishing that I could stay. Thank you for everything, it was an unforgettable experience!" Gabriela from Brazil Vanessa from Switzerland "It was a wonderful experience to assist the teachers in this project. I also learned interesting facts about the culture and life of the people thru the children's eyes. Despite the poor living conditions the children were always full of joy, fun and laughter. The children and the people I spent time with will always be in my heart. I am so glad and thankful that I was able to experience this and I recommend the volunteer project to anyone from all walks of life." Vanessa from Switzerland Raphaela from Brazil "Working with the kids was the best experience of my life, it was an unique opportunity to grow and open my eyes to what is really important in life and how we should be thankful for everything we are. I’ve learned a lot and I'm going home with the certain that I'm not the same person I was when I got here."	13,838
Two controversial activities flourished in Kansas before and after the turn of the 20th century—smoking and gambling. A device known as a trade stimulator satisfied both those habits. Trade stimulators became popular in saloons around the 1880s. Although modeled after other gambling devices, these machines were legal since in theory they offered prizes in the form of cigars, stamps or chewing gum rather than money. Often set beside a cash register or near check-out counters, these machines encouraged (or "stimulated") customers to take their chance and spend some of their spare change before leaving. After inserting a coin, a handle was depressed or cranked to set into motion a roulette wheel, playing cards or dice. When the machine stopped, the patron read his "winnings" on the dial; these were dispensed by the clerk rather than spilling out of the machine itself. In the case of the Overton Wheel (pictured here), the patron usually got one cigar with the opportunity to win additional ones. To play, the patron inserted a nickel and depressed the plunger, thus setting the roulette wheel in motion. The customer won cigars when the arrow landed on the numbered red spaces. Despite their intended use, some owners of trade stimulators paid out prizes in cash. This agitated citizens who were opposed to gambling. However, Kansas gambling laws protected trade stimulators and their owners since the winnings were supposed to be paid out in products. When saloons closed during state prohibition (beginning in 1881), trade stimulators were placed in stores, restaurants and cigar shops. The Overton Wheel was named after the Topeka company who made it—the Overton Manufacturing and Engineering Company. In addition to these wheels, owners E. L. Overton and Charles Eagle sold electrical supplies. Eagle was the largest cigar manufacturer in Topeka and worked with Overton to create this wooden nickel slot machine which encouraged patrons to play for a chance to win Eagle Smoker cigars. The Overton Company was located at various addresses near 6th and 7th Streets in Topeka. This wheel is one of two examples of trade stimulators in the collections of the Kansas Museum of History. Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history. Date Created: November 1999 Date Modified: December 2014 The author of this article is solely responsible for its content. We invite you to send further details about existing articles or submit articles on other topics in Kansas history. Our online collections contain more than 500,000 images of photos, documents, and artifacts, which grows daily. Find your story in Kansas through this rich resource!	2,854
The new novel "Trespasses" unfolds in 1975 in and around Belfast, Northern Ireland. It's a love story starring a young woman in her 20s who falls in love with a man wrong for her in every way. He is much older, in his late 50s. He is married. He's the wrong religion - Protestant to her Catholic - in a deeply, violently sectarian society. And while she doesn't know it yet, his life has further complications. Louise Kennedy is the author. This is her debut novel. Welcome. LOUISE KENNEDY: Hello, Mary Louise. Thank you so much for having me. KELLY: I want you to get us going by reading a bit of the moment where Cushla first lays eyes on Michael. And the backdrop is her family owns a pub. She's working behind the bar. He stopped in for a whiskey. KENNEDY: OK. (Reading) She glanced in the mirror as she was pouring his drink. He was watching her. She was emboldened by having her back to him and didn't look away. She put the whiskey on the counter. Cushla, isn't it? I'm Michael, he says. Would you like one yourself? He closed his fingers around the tumbler. The room looked better with him in it. Behind him, the shabby lanterns that were fixed to the walls were casting circles of warm lights on the teak tables. And there was a squalid opulence about the jade green tweed that upholstered the banquettes and stools. I'm teaching in the morning. Thanks, but - she said. Where do you teach, he said. It was one of those questions that people asked when they wanted to know what foot you kicked with. What's your name? What's your surname? Where did you go to school? Where do you live? KELLY: OK. So let me pause you on that. One of those questions people asked when they wanted to know what foot you kicked with - Louise Kennedy, explain. KENNEDY: OK. I mean, I guess that's slang, Irish slang, really. So I think the idea is that Catholics kick with the left foot. You know, it's a kind of football euphemism. It's basically to identify what religion, you know, a person belongs to. And this is in a place where things were - I guess they weren't just divided along religious lines, this was - to an extent coincided with class lines as well. And - yeah. KELLY: So we heard a little bit of their very beginning flirtation, where he's watching her in the mirror. As their relationship is starting to progress, he can't ask her out to dinner. He can't ask her to, you know, go to the movies. They would be seen. So the way in that he finds is he invites her to give Irish lessons to him... KELLY: ...And to his friends. And as often happens, there are words for which there's no direct translation from Gaelic to English. Would you give me an example? KENNEDY: Yeah. I mean, I think the most interesting example really is there is no word in Irish for no. There are different ways of expressing the sentiment no - you know, a refusal in Irish. But there is no actual word for no. And this is something that comes up. So I wanted to show Michael isn't a typical Protestant of his generation. He's been educated in Dublin. His wife is from Dublin. And he spent time in the south of Ireland. So he probably has a much broader way of looking at Ireland. And I suppose his interest in the Irish language, for me, is maybe a sign that he's embracing some aspects of Ireland in a more broad sense. KELLY: Of Catholic Ireland, yeah. KENNEDY: Yeah, exactly. KELLY: The other relationship that really intrigued me is between Cushla and her mom, Gina. KELLY: They love each other. They look out for each other. They also drive each other completely nuts. KELLY: Yeah. You've got a great line where Gina is chatting with her daughter-in-law, who she cannot stand, but she's, quote, "willing to enter an alliance with her sworn enemy to humiliate her own daughter." I read that, and I laughed out loud. What is it you were trying to capture about moms and daughters? KENNEDY: Well, I think that both Cushla and Gina are maybe quite unsure of their place in the world. You know, Gina, Cushla's mother, she has a place, I suppose, when her husband is there. But he has died. There is a family business, and it doesn't go to her. Her rather unpleasant son is actually running the bar instead. So she's at home. She's not a wife anymore. She isn't in charge of the family business. And she's at home with a daughter who is educated and who I suppose she desperately wants to keep with her but also realizes that she's probably on borrowed time with having, you know, that much control over Cushla. I actually really enjoyed writing Gina 'cause I think she's complicated. I think she's maybe not, like, a textbook great mom, but I think she does kind of in her own way come through, bearing in mind, you know, she's totally self-medicating with Gordon's gin. KENNEDY: But I think that, you know, she really tries to come through in the end. KELLY: I also - I mean, I was struck that she drinks too much. Almost everyone in this book drinks too much. KELLY: Was that your experience of Northern Ireland, growing up with alcohol just saturating life? KENNEDY: Yeah. I don't know if it's just because we had a bar that I was in and out of the pub all the time, but I definitely felt that everybody around me was drinking all the time when I was a child. Interestingly, my parents didn't really drink when I was a child. But certainly, if we went to family parties and stuff, there was lots of drink. There just seemed to be a lot of boozing going on. KELLY: Tell me more about your family pub, how it compares to the one that Cushla's family runs. KENNEDY: It looks very like it. Looks very like it. I suppose the demographic, you know, the regulars who drink there all the time, those people are invented. But I was a chef for almost 30 years. I run bars and restaurants as well. And there is something about having that sort of bar that has regulars that, you know, even if you're the owner and you're paying all the bills, you walk in and it's almost like walking into someone else's living room because they've very strong opinions about whether the heating should be on or not and what to watch on television... KENNEDY: ...You know - yeah - and passing comments about whether you're getting a bit carried away with yourself by using, you know, table mats if you're serving food, all that kind of carry on. And then also things that I remember as a child - you know, there's a drink - I don't know if this is something that was ever available in the U.S. - called Babycham, which is like a sparkling perry, you know, a pear-based cider. And it was served in a coupe with a gold rim - I actually have some that people have given me - with a little foam. And I had been taken to see "Bambi," and I was probably 4 or 5. And this cardboard, you know, really - fawn with very long eyelashes appeared behind the bar. And I was deranged to get my hands on it because I thought it was - you know, it looked like some sort of Disney paraphernalia. KENNEDY: But actually it was advertising alcoholic drink. And I - every time I was brought in, I was asked if I'd like a drink. And I would say, Babycham, and they'd all fall around laughing because it had alcohol in it. So they used to placate me with lemonade in a Babycham glass. KELLY: Right. Right, right, right. KENNEDY: So that was as good as it got, yeah. KELLY: With the gold rim and all, so you thought you were... KENNEDY: ...The gold rim, yeah. exactly. KELLY: So I'm so curious. You were a chef for almost 30 years, you said. You came to this whole writing fiction thing really late, like in your 40s and 50s. KENNEDY: I did. KELLY: You're in your 50s now. KENNEDY: I mean, it was really late, I suppose. I mean, I think people have maybe started later, but, I mean, I was pretty much bundled into a car and brought to a writing group when I was 47. And it wasn't that I never wanted to write. I think when I was about 7 or 8 I thought that I'd like to write, but that just didn't happen. And I probably had got it into my head that it was something for, like, magical people - you know? - that you had to be, like, a really special person and that I wasn't like that. So, you know, why would I be writing? So I think that when I did sit down to try and write, something - I really felt that something had adjusted in me. And it wasn't that I thought, oh, you know, it's going to be a new job or something or a career. I never thought anybody'd read it. I never thought anybody'd ever pay me to do it. But I just felt better somehow, which is kind of weird. I don't always feel better now, but certainly the first day I sat down, it was really, strangely liberating or something. I don't know. KELLY: Like there was this story inside that needed to get out. KENNEDY: Yeah, I think so. You know, maybe when I was younger, I was probably using my best lines in the pub or something - you know? - or on a night out. And now I don't do that. So I think maybe all the best lines go into the laptop. KELLY: That is Louise Kennedy talking about her debut novel, "Trespasses." It's been a pleasure talking to you. KENNEDY: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mary Louise. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. Prior to joining NPR in 2022, Mohammad was a producer on The Washington Post's daily flagship podcast Post Reports, where her work was recognized by multiple awards. She was honored with a Peabody award for her work on an episode on the life of George Floyd. Justine Kenin is an editor on All Things Considered. She joined NPR in 1999 as an intern. Nothing makes her happier than getting a book in the right reader's hands – most especially her own.	9,789
What do you do when your father is a superstar of the masses, your husband is one of the best actors ruling the trade and your mentor is a much acclaimed maverick filmmaker with blatant disregard for formula? Aishwaryaa R Dhanush decided to step out of the shadows – of Rajinikanth, Dhanush and Selvaraghavan – when she started work on her second film Vai Raja Vai releasing on Friday. Her first film 3, a serious dark drama about a violent bi-polar protagonist was hijacked by the unexpected virality of the promotional song “Why This Kolaveri” (that had very little to do with the tone of the film) and shocked audiences who weren’t quite prepared for a depressing film. Critics found the film closer to her mentor Selvaraghavan’s school of filmmaking than the commercial type her father and husband are associated with. While she had Dhanush help her out right from scripting back then, this time around Aishwarya decided she had to do it all by herself – with very little support from the family. I spoke to a nervous Aishwarya on the phone earlier this week to find out all about the new film. Here are some snatches from that conversation. I’ve been watching your Dad’s films in the order they were made for my book on him and find his transformation quite fascinating. Have you seen them in the order they were made? “No. Not really. But I’ve read some of the books on him. None of them have been able to get the facts right.” I guess it’s always difficult to piece together accounts of a man’s life from memories of people who knew him. Luckily, my book is not about the facts. It’s not about the person but the onscreen persona that emerges from his films. “Then, it’s subjective. You can write what you want.” From the trailers of Vai Raja Vai, I can tell there’s a significant change of mood from the darkness of 3. This seems like a fun film. “That was a very conscious thing. 3 was very intense and very dark and I tend to gravitate towards the darker side of storytelling. So, I consciously didn’t want to do that. I wanted to go out of my comfort zone. I find myself comfortable portraying complex relationships and concentrated emotions. Commercial cinema was very challenging for me.” The story goes that you came up with this over coffee? “I wasn’t ready with a script. I hadn’t planned what I would do next when I met this friend of mine – Archana Kalpathi (the daughter of Kalpathi S Aghoram of AGS Cinemas). When I briefly told her how I wanted to explore intuition, she took the idea back to her father. Having explored bi-polar disorder in 3, I’ve been very interested in the psychological aspects of the human being.I find intuition very intriguing and wanted to see how I can bring that idea into the film. AGS has always been particular that the script has to be different. So that’s what interested the producer. I didn’t have a bound script. Everything just fell into place.” You wrote this yourself? “Yes, I wrote it alone.” “I type Tamil in English.” Would we see the Selvaraghavan influence or have you made an effort to come out of his shadow? “I would say this has a combination of influences from my Dad’s kind of cinema and Selva’s. There are certain shots that would remind you of a Selva film but a lot more comparisons can be made with my Dad’s films. It’s a good balance.” “I just feel it would be too long. I don’t see the reason why I should announce it. Everybody knows who I am. I am proud of my initials. While a person shouldn’t change their surname, the husband shouldn’t be denied his place in my life… It’s all right. I’m happy to be Aishwaryaa R Dhanush.” You wrote a film without Dhanush as the hero but you’ve given him a cameo. “I wanted to do something independently. It’s not fair to keep going back to him. I was working out of my comfort zone. Last time, he was around to support and help. This time, it was a conscious decision to do something on my own. But he’s done a cameo playing Kokki Kumar, one of my most favourite characters he has ever played (Kokki Kumar from Selvaraghavan’s gangster epic Pudhupettai). When we had a chance to intersperse it in our narrative, I didn’t want to let it go. But it’s just a one scene. We shot for five hours. He has been busy shooting films in Hindi and Tamil. It was nice of him to do this. You have worked with a young cast led by Gautham Karthik. How did that fall into place? “Each of them fell correctly into character. Daniel Balaji, Tapsee and Vivek have always been selective about their roles. When they heard the script, they knew it was a multi-star cast. The characters demanded these people. And I was lucky to get the right artists playing the characters I wrote.” A while ago, we thought the market was ready for offbeat films but a whole bunch of good films (Kaaviyathalaivan or Ennakul Oruvan, for example) didn’t work. Nor have the big films worked (Lingaa, for example). What do you think is going on? What does the market want? “The beauty of film business is that we can’t ever gauge what the audience wants. But yes, people have become broad-minded and the audience wants to see good cinema – doesn’t matter big or small. Jigarthanda and Darling were critically acclaimed and did well commercially. I think the release date has become more important. Promoting films has become so important.” Also, do you see the game changing as the movie watching experience today is interrupted with the presence of the mobile phone in the hall? Nobody watches movies alone anymore. You are plugged into a network and reacting live. “It is very unhealthy to have a running commentary going and people commenting on scenes as they are watching the film. Making cinema has become much more challenging. Today, if a film runs for two weeks it’s as much a success as a film that ran 50 days in the past. And that’s such a big challenge.” What if you had the chance to make a film with your father? What kind of film would you make? “I’m happy just being his daughter. I don’t think I’m experienced enough to direct him. It’s very difficult for me to see him as anything but a father. The equation we share is very personal. I can’t go out and pretend to be something else – like a director on the set. When you are a director, you have to treat people a certain way.” Whoa! You sound like you slave-drive your crew. Did you learn that from Selvaraghavan? “The first advice he gave me was: Don’t look weak. You have to be the bad person. Only then, work will get done.” Do you still go to Selva for inputs? “He lets you be. He has so much confidence in me. I don’t think even I have that confidence in myself. If and when I go back to ask him anything, he’s like: Why ask me when you know the answers.” Has he seen Vai Raja Vai? “He’s been travelling, writing his own script but is eager to watch it.” What about your father and husband? Have they seen it? How did they react? “They have seen it and were quite surprised. They were very happy about it. My father thought 3 was very serious but this, he said, is perfect for the summer vacation. Timepass.” (The film is releasing in Mumbai and other metros with English subtitles.) Related Posted In: Archives Comments Leave a Reply Cancel reply Email (required) (Address never made public) Name (required) Connecting to %s Notify me of new comments via email. Δ Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.	7,927
A Covid-19 outbreak that forced Fiji’s capital into lockdown after the island nation avoided transmission for a year was confirmed ... How much might petrol cost in Pakistan as of December 1? by NewsDesk November 30, 2022 LAHORE: As a result of the fall in crude oil prices, all petroleum products are anticipated to become less expensive...	364
Relevant Tools / Products: Egg Candling Devices … Need Eggs? Hatching Egg Suppliers for a listing of egg suppliers in the United States and United Kingdom Once you have sorted the housing out (below) — please check this webpage out: Caring for Chicks from Day One to Independence A cardboard or wooden box, a large plastic storage bin, an acrylic or glass fish tank, or even a kiddie pool could be turned into a suitable home for chicks. Whatever you use as a brooder needs to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before placing the chicks in. After cleaning the brooder, DO make sure to rinse off any disinfectant, as any residue may poison the chicks. If you are using a cardboard box that can’t be cleaned, be prepared to provide a new box with fresh litter every day. It is important that the box is 12″ high – or preferably even higher – as you will find that the chicks can otherwise get out of the box quite easily. Indeed, if the brooder is only 12″ high, you will often find chicks perching on top of it! One way to prevent that from happening for the most part is to put some sort of cover on top of the box. Partially cover the box with say newspaper, cardboard or towels to keep the chicks in, keep out drafts, and still allow some fresh air in. If other pets are around, like dogs and cats, a more substantial screen or wire mesh is needed to cover the box and protect the chicks from predators. It is important to protect the chicks from drafts; however, they do still need adequate ventilation. Leaving some opening at the top or punching some holes into a cardboard or wooden box, for example, would serve that purpose. The needed box size depends on the size and number of chicks it will house. If you initially choose the minimum size (please refer to below), the box size will have to be increased as the chicks grow. The chicks should have plenty of room to move around in; they should also have enough room to get away from the heat of the bulb, if they need to. .5 sq ft per newly hatched / very young chick.75 sq ft per chick at 6 weeks1 sq ft per chick at 10 weeks It is preferable to provide about 2 sq.ft. per chick right from the start. You will find that the enclosure will get far less messy when there is sufficient space for the chicks. What is important is that the enclosure needs to be kept clean and dry. Setting the enclosure up RIGHT from the start, will help facilitate the process. Please note that rare and exotic birds, particularly parrots and other chicks that hatch naked and are fully dependent and helpless require very precise temperature control. In cases such as that, commercial brooders are always preferable as they allow for the accuracy and dependability needed to successfully raise these chicks. Should a commercial brooder not be an option, the following resource might be helpful: Set up your parrot chicks after hatching using material you might already have. Once the brooder has been cleaned and is completely dry, the floor of the brooder needs to be lined with an absorbent material. Baby chicks are big poopers and they will make a mess with food and water as well …. So be prepared to change the litter frequently throughout the day. Below are the “litter” options: The first 3 below-listed options are best for the youngest chick. Having a thin layer of feed on the brooder floor, will allow the chick to find its food quickly, and not adding other litter at this point prevents them from eating the litter instead of the feed. After about a week or so you can use one of the other litter options. Paper towel: If you only have a few chicks, paper towels work fine. Change often. Burlap Newspaper / Newsprint: The problem with using newspaper is that it is not nearly as absorbent as the other options and the slippery surface can lead to a permanent deformity called “splayed leg.” Affected chicks are often picked to death by the other chicks. HOWEVER, shredded newspaper works fine. Decomposed non-toxic saw dust Wood Shavings: Please note that wood shavings, such as cedar and redwood, are toxic. The aromatic oils of cedar shavings will irritate your chicks’ lungs and make them more susceptible to respiratory problems later in life. Wood shavings may also cause crop impaction. HOWEVER, many use pine shavings quite successfully — spread on the floor of the brooder about 1 to 2 inches deep. About 2 inches of litter material give the chicks better footing and help keep the box clean. Replace the litter when necessary to keep the box clean and dry. Some sort of heat source is needed to keep the chicks warm. In some instances, a heating pad underneath a fish tank or storage bin may work fine. Most, however, opt for a 250-watt infrared heat lamp / bulb to keep the chicks warm. Please ignore anyone who tells you that a 60-watt bulb will suffice. Too many chicks get chilled and die because of this bad advice. The chicks need a lamp that produces heat — only a 250-watt bulb will do for the most part. You can screw the bulb into a spotlight reflector with a clamp to hold it in place. Bulbs and such reflectors with clamps may be available in hardware stores or brooders are available online. Red bulbs are preferable for a couple of reasons. Bright white light will make it harder for them to sleep. The red light is darker and provides a calmer environment. Also, it has been noted that chicks tend to peck each other when they are exposed to white light – a problem that is far less frequently seen when red bulbs are used. Also — as a general rule, young chicks tend to do better in dark brooders. Suspend the lamp off the ground right in the middle of the brooder. The height of the light will depend on what it takes to achieve your target temperature. It’s important to position the lamp to maintain the proper temperature and yet high enough to not ignite the litter or burning the chicks. Important: The bulb / heat source should be far enough away from the edge of the box that it won’t start a fire. Make sure to warm the brooder / tank up to the correct temperature before adding the chicks. A non-breakable Thermometer at “chick level” in the brooder along with this temperature guide will allow you to monitor the temperature: Age of Poultry (feathered) Chick Degrees in Fahrenheit 1st Week 90 – 951 2nd Week 85 – 90 3rd Week 80 – 85 4th Week 75 – 80 5th Week 70 – 75 6th Week + 702 1 If you have several chicks, the temperature can usually be a little lower as the chicks keep each other warm. Single chicks have fewer options to self-regulate. 2 – In many cases the lamp can be removed once the temperature was regulated down to 70 degrees Fahrenheit — however, if outside temperatures are much cooler, then the lamp needs to stay on and temperatures have to be slowly reduced to be close to that of the temperature they are going to be maintained in. However, don’t consider the above temperature guidelines as your only guideline. Pay close attention to how the chicks behave. Cold chicks may be huddled together underneath a heat source and may cheep loudly and insistently. In this case, you need to increase the heat in the brooder. Either lower the lamp or move the heat source closer to the chicks (not close enough to burn them though) or add another lamp. This could also mean that the box is too big and the heat gets dispersed too much. If the chicks stand apart from each other and away from the heat source, they may be too hot and could possibly suffocate. You may also observe them panting (with their beaks open). In this case, either raise the heat lamp, reduce the bulb wattage or get a bigger box. Ideally your chicks should be making contented “peep” noises and pursue their normal activities of walking around, pecking at the food, drinking water – or sleeping when they are tired. Particularly older chicks love to roost on poles or branches. It isn’t NECESSARY to provide these perches, but the chicks will generally be happier if they have those places, plus it will keep the chicks off any soiled litter. Wooden dowels or cleaned branches, about 0.5 inch in diameter, work well for this purpose. Place them several inches off the ground and away from their water and food dishes. The upside of using these perches is that the chicks may not roost on their food and water dishes, which cuts down on them getting soiled. NEXT STEP: Once you sorted out the housing of the chicks, there is still a lot to know about their care. This webpage has all the information you need to successfuly raise poultry chicks from day one. Applicable for Parrot Chicks! If you have parrot chicks a good-quality commercial brooder is the better choice as they hatch naked and helpless and they need very specific and reliable temperature settings. HOWEVER, if no such commercial incubator is available, one could customize a brooder that is more specific for their own needs. Since they don’t move around much, they don’t require as much space as say poultry chicks. For a few chicks, for example, ~ 12″ x 12″ will do fine. A plastic tub works best as it is easy to disinfect / clean. Cardboard boxes get wet easily from the chicks droppings — and that isn’t exactly a healthy environment. Getting the temperature right is more challenging and requires a rather constant room temperature. They do have a way of self-regulating their temperature. They will huddle together, for example, to keep warm. This is one reason, why it is easier to raise several chicks together rather than just one. When they are with their parents, they will climb underneath their parents to keep warm. I successfully duplicated that by draping a towel loosely over the brooder, allowing it to fall on the floor in the middle, but it’s important to make sure that the sides of the towels are firmly attached to the sides of the box so that the chick cannot get entangled in it. A chick must be able to move under the towel freely, but if it gets warm, it needs to be able to get out easily as well. In smaller boxes, place the lamp above the brooder fixed to one end, in larger boxes in the middle. Chicks do self-regulate to a CERTAIN extent. There shouldn’t be too much of a distance between the cooler and the warmer areas. Make sure to warm the tank up to the correct temperature before adding the chicks. A non-breakable Thermometer at “chick level” in the brooder along with this temperature guide should help: Degrees in Fahrenheit 36 days to weaning 70 – 75 However, don’t consider the above temperature guidelines as your only guideline. Pay close attention to how the chicks behave. Visual clues that your chicks may be too warm or too cold. For the first couple of weeks no food or water should be placed in the box. Parrot chicks need to be handfed and should get all their nutrition that way …	11,218
She’s done it! Kim Bridgford now holds the world’s record for composition of sonnets on the topic of world records. She is also the very first poet to rhyme “connoisseurs” with “chili peppers.” In the Extreme is a wonderfully entertaining volume, humorous, wry, and appreciative. But it is much more than a collection of “paper quips.” “Anything is possible when mind’s put to it.” Here is strong evidence for that observation. Kim Bridgford’s In the Extreme would be a considerable achievement for its simply being a flawlessly realized sonnet sequence; when you factor in that every poem is inspired by an entry in The Guinness Book of World Records it climbs to the level of tour de force. But when the poet devotes the last few sonnets to the life of Mike, the chicken who holds the record for having lived longest with his head cut off, the poem rises to a level of humanity (or chickenity) that is far above the usual plane. An amazing collection, full of wry humor and not a little pathos. World Records. Like sleeping on beds of nails, Holding rattlesnakes (plural) in your mouth, Or hosting races between speedy snails, This is not the sort of thing you ought To let your children (or your neighbors) Try at home, whether supervised or not, Lest they end in a clinic, or the papers. To save you from taking so great a risk Or going to such trouble, Kim Bridgford This feat, which no one else has conquered— No one from Alaska to Madagasc- Ar—is (Guinness take note!) its own world record. Kim Bridgford is a professor of English at Fairfield University, where she is editor of Dogwood and Mezzo Cammin. Her poetry has appeared in The North American Review, The Christian Science Monitor, and The Iowa Review, her fiction in The Georgia Review, The Massachusetts Review, and Redbook. She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. She is the author of two books of poetry: Undone (David Robert Books, 2003), nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and Instead of Maps (David Robert Books, 2005), nominated for the Poets’ Prize. With the visual artist Jo Yarrington, she is working on a three-book project based on journey and sacred spaces, with photographs and sonnets on Iceland, Venezuela, and Bhutan.	2,382
Every year I look forward to the Flag display out at Sunset Gardens (located off the Bypass Highway in Richland). Not only is it beautiful, but it is emotional. The moment I pull onto the grounds I am hit with a wave of emotion and pride. Pride thinking of my own father and sister who fought for our great nation, along with the many men and women who have fought and are still fighting. I get emotional thinking of all those who lost their lives in that courageous fight and gave the ultimate sacrifice. Sunset Gardens has three days planned for our community, to help celebrate this Memorial Day weekend and their 50th annual Memorial Day celebration. Saturday, starting at 10:00 a.m. they will have a Betty White tribute and tours of the funeral home. They will also be serving free hot dogs that day. On Sunday you are invited to drive out and enjoy free hot dogs again, starting at 11:00 a.m. and going until 2:00 p.m. On Monday, Memorial Day there will be lots of events happening, starting with the breathtaking flag display. Over a thousand American flags will be flying across Sunset Gardens early that morning and if you haven't seen them before I highly recommend you take a cruise through the grounds, it is truly awe-inspiring! Starting at 11 am there will be a plane jumper, face painting, snow cones, live music, bagpipers, and hot dogs. This is an event I never miss and I encourage you to bring the family out to take part in such a beautiful tradition. It is truly something you have to see to believe and I hope it moves you as it moves me! The physical address is 915 By-Pass Hwy, Richland, WA 99352, and for more information, you can contact Sunset Gardens by clicking HERE. Here's 3 Cool Hikes Near Tri-Cities Badger and Candy Mountain are the two most popular local hikes, and for good reason, they're close, offer stunning views, easy parking, and they're fairly easy. But, if you're looking to freshen up your hiking experience without having to drive long distances, check out these three ideas, all within 30 minutes of Tri-Cities.	2,129
How much does it cost to cycle around the world? Here are some practical bike touring tips on reducing your travel costs, so you can go cycling RTW for longer! How Much to Travel Around the World on a Bicycle? You can cycle around the world for less than $15 per day. This includes daily costs when traveling by bike. Typically, these are food, accommodation, bicycle repairs, visas, and sundry purchases on the road. It would not include the initial expenses of buying a touring bike and other gear. In this article I will explain from my own experiences of cycling around the world just how cost-effective bike touring really is! World by Bike Budget People often ask me how much does it cost to travel around the world on a bicycle. My answer is that it will cost as little or as much as you like! That's because there is no one answer to the question, as everyone approaches bicycle touring differently. Some people might like to stay in hotels for the majority of nights. Others will steadfastly refuse to pay for any accommodation, and wild camp 100 percent of the time. Personally, I can cycle around the world reasonably comfortably on an average of £10 a day. (That's cycling on $15 a day if using dollars is easier for you!). Note: If you're thinking “Who is this guy, and what does he know about bike touring?” check out two of my long distance bike tours: Cycling from England to Cape Town Cycling from Alaska to Argentina Now, you will often read about how someone cycled around the world on 3 dollars a day, or how someone spent say just £8000 on four years of travel. Let's take a reality check. These people are either being economical with the truth, have a diet that would frighten nutritionists, or did a heck of a lot of freeloading. My personal experience is that £10 a day is about right for longer tours. For bike tours of around say a month in Europe, a figure of £20 a day would be more accurate. This allows the more expensive countries to be averaged out with the cheaper ones. They're realistic numbers that allows for a few treats every now and again, or for emergencies like having to buy a new rear wheel or derailleur. Even $15 a day is too cheap, right? Most people who have never undertaken a long distance cycling tour before, will think that £10 or $15 dollars a day is still incredibly cheap. Duh… that's why I do it folks!! I can spend less in three months travel than some people spend on a two week vacation overseas! It's one of the reasons that cycling around the world appeals to me so much. So, how exactly can I get by on £10 a day? Firstly, that figure assumes that I have already bought the bike and all the kit that I need. Sure, bits will need replacing from time to time, especially items of clothing. Generally speaking however, the £10 a day budget allows for most of this. With the kit already bought, that just leaves the daily living expenses, which are accommodation, food, and treats. Here's a look at where your money is likely to go when biking around the world. Accommodation The vast majority of cyclists pedalling their way around the world will carry a tent with them. By either choosing to wild camp, or stay in a camp site, accommodation costs are greatly reduced. By wild camping for five days in a week, it might be possible to stay in cheap accommodation for two days a week. This provides time to sort kit out, wash clothes, update blogs and all the other things that inevitably need to get done. Read what you'll need here: Wild camping essentials In some countries such as South America and Asia, accommodation can cost as little as $5 a night. With this being the case, it often makes sense no to use the tent at all. Why not enjoy a few affordable creature comforts, albeit not in the Ritz! There's also a couple of hospitality sites that you might consider joining. These are Warmshowers, and Couchsurfing. If hosts are available, you get somewhere to stay for the night, and a like-minded person to share stories with! Food for Bike Touring In a way, food is more important to a long distance bicycle tourer than accommodation. After all, if the body isn't fuelled properly, the wheels don't get turned! Most cyclists will carry cooking gear such as a camping stove with them. They will also have a few days food supplies so that they can wild camp at will. Preparing food yourself is a huge money saver. The basics such as pasta, rice and oats cost very little, even in the most expensive countries. Throw in a few in-season veggies and greens, as well as tinned fish or meat, and a pretty well balanced diet for very little cash can be had. Cheaper to Eat Out? In some countries though (especially Thailand), it is almost impossible to cook for yourself cheaper than it is to buy street food. Even if it is cheaper to cook yourself, the cost of a fully prepared meal with a variety of ingredients will offer better value in these countries. Again, its not about living like a skinflint, it's about making what money you have work the best for you. When cycling in Greece, I like to enjoy one big meal in a taverna per day, and then make the other 2 (3,4, or 5!) meals for the day myself. This is the part where most people fall down. The main treat that people get carried away with is alcohol. A beer at the end of a hard days bike ride might seem a nice reward. Have more than a couple, and the budget starts to get blown to pieces. (Note – I stopped drinking completely in October 2015. You wouldn't believe how much money I saved since then! Also take a look at my tips on how to save money for a trip). Another example of a treat that can get out of hand, is paying for internet access whether it's by SIM card, coffee shop or internet acfe. Unless there is a genuine need, try to avoid logging onto the internet once a day (or several times!) if it's going to cost you money. Most people should be able to live without seeing what amusing pictures of cats have been posted on Facebook for a week or more at a time. Honestly. Its far better to take advantage of free internet access when available rather than paying for it at every opportunity. The same applies for calling home to family and friends, especially from a mobile phone. What is the best money travel card for bike touring? Accessing your money can be a hidden cost when bikepacking across the world. A few percentage points here and there coupled with a bad exchange rate, and you may end up losing money to the banks. And we don't want that! The best money travel card is Revolut in my opinion, closely followed by Transferwise. They give much better rates of foreign currency exchange and are easy to manage online. So then, how much does it cost to bike around the world? It all comes down to the individual, but I hope I have shown that it is possibly the most economical way of travelling there is. £10 a day goes a long way as a cyclist, and of course, the most important thing to remember, is that the less that gets spent, the longer a trip will be! I will leave you with a couple of equations that I subconsciously follow, and would love to hear from you in regards to how much you think it should cost to cycle around the world. Daily Budget = (Accommodation + Food + Treats) Trip Duration = (Starting amount of money / Daily Budget) It really is that simple! If you are interested in finding out how to REALLY reduce the costs further, check out this article – How to cut costs on a bicycle tour How Much Money Bicycle Touring? Readers planning a bike tour around the world for a few years or more, often wonder about the average cost, extras like bike repairs, replacement gear and daily expenses. Some of the most popular questions regarding a world tour by bike include: How much money do you need to bike around the world? On a multi years trip, you should allow $10-$15 per day for normal expenses as long as you cook your own food on a camping stove and do a lot of wild camping. Factor in more money on a yearly basis for replacement parts, visas, flights, and emergencies. How much does it cost to ride around the world? To cycle round the world, it would be wise to allow for $10,000 per year. You will spend less money in developing countries than in for example Western Europe, but you should always allow for travel costs like permits, visas, insurance, replacement camping gear and other surprises. Short tours seem to eat up more cash than shorter ones, but it's not to say that it's always the case. It depends on how strict you are when it comes to budgeting and what your priorities are. How long does it take to cycle around the world? The total distance and time taken to bikepack on a world tour really depends on what route you want to follow. Some people finish a RTW route in a few months, others are still riding 10 or 20 years after setting off! How far is it to cycle around the world? The minimum distance that must be cycled is 29,000 kilometers (18,000 miles), according to the Guinness World Record. You might also want to read these other cycle touring blogs and reviews: Best Rear Bike Rack For Touring By Bicycle Comments Patrick says May 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm nice, this article helped me a little. For last 2 years I’ve been collecting money and equipment for this trip and so far I have 48k euro … I think it will keep me fed for 2-3 year journey around the world great! thanks and cheers! Jared says July 16, 2019 at 7:32 am $15 dollars a day. Wow! Sound like an amazing adventure. I’ve gotten inspired by your article. It sounds like if you plan well enough it is do able. Thanks for the great advice Ryan Smith says January 29, 2016 at 11:43 pm I think that cost per day can be misleading. Sure maybe $15.00 per day cash, but if you factor in the cost of all your gear that you have with you and then average it out that might show more of the true cost of bike touring. Dave Briggs says February 2, 2016 at 4:44 pm I mentioned in the post that the cost does not include anything that was purchased throughout the trip (the bike, tent etc). However, the cost does include any spare parts and extra equipment purchased during my trips. This has on occasion included derailleurs, tents, cameras etc. So with this in mind, I believe this is a fair reflection of what the true cost of touring has been for myself for my bigger, long distance cycling expeditions. Jesse E Martin says August 17, 2015 at 6:29 pm I noticed you have a Vaude Hogan tent. Just wondering about the durability of the shock-cord holding up the fly. I have the Vaude Hogan XT, seems way too narrow for the 4kg weight. It is as wide as my Big Agnes Fly Creek (1 person, weighs 1.1kg). Spending a year in South America with my wife. Lots of hard UV on the altiplano to destroy dainty shock cord with. Dave Briggs says August 17, 2015 at 6:42 pm My first tent was a Vaude Hogan – and the build quality was excellent. After 10 years of use, it finished the end of it’s life, and so I decided to replace it with like for like for my Alaska to Argentina cycling trip. Big mistake! In those 10 years the quality had gone down the pan! It didn’t even last as long as the end of the United States. For the rest of the trip, I made do with a 40 dollar tent which actually did the job very well! The issue wasn’t in the shock cord – it was with the poles and fabric. For this reason, I would not recommend buying one to use. Of course, if you already have it that’s a different story. Going by just weight and size – If you have the Fly Creek which weighs in at less and has the same space, i would take that. Many people use the Hubba Hubba (http://amzn.to/1TOVUcx) – The price puts me off though. For the altiplano – I would also pay some thought to the sleeping bags. It gets cold enough to freeze water bottles on the inside of a tent sometimes! I ended up buying an extra blanket to carry around with me. Wishing you both pleasant tailwinds and lots of downhill sections on your trip!! Ben says June 8, 2015 at 9:01 pm Great post Dave. We met quite a few people who where bicycling all the way from the US to the tip of South America. I would probably give up after a few miles, so I have the utmost respect for people who are traveling the world on a bicycle. Dave Briggs says June 10, 2015 at 10:10 am It can be quite addictive – so if you start, be prepared for it to change your life! Koushik Dhar says November 7, 2014 at 4:13 am Dave Briggs says May 24, 2014 at 5:38 am I think the next database should be a “calories consumed per km/per month” one!! Jo says May 10, 2014 at 8:33 am Hey, I’m planning my own tour next year – around April leaving from England to Australia – see you on the road! :p I was wondering – Do you buy insurance on top of your daily budget or just risk it? I’ve been unable to find cheap insurance as bike touring is an ‘extreme sport’. Also, you obviously have visas on top of your daily budget too – does that add much? Thanks, and good luck! Dave Briggs says May 10, 2014 at 5:25 pm Great to hear you are planning your own trip, and hopefully our tracks will cross! You raise a good point in regards to insurance. For my last trip, I took out a years insurance, which covered me through the potentially expensive north american part of the route. For the rest of the time, I didn’t have any. If it came to claiming on hospital bills, I would just not have made mention that I was travelling by bicycle. For my next trip, I am debating over insurance or not – It’s something that I am going to be looking into over the next few months, and I’ll certainly share whatever info I get hold of in regards to policies and costs etc. The daily budget – Does take into account visas as well. These will vary from country to country though, as some will be expensive but others cheaper. Louis Parkinson says October 11, 2016 at 4:04 pm I’d be interested to know who you ended up using for travel insurance. Planning a Europe/Asia cycle tour and finding it difficult to find the best (or anything) that will cover me. L Dave Briggs says October 12, 2016 at 8:03 am Travel insurance for bicycle touring is one of those things where you are never sure if you are quite covered or not! I honestly can’t remember the name of the insurance I had last time. I believe I got regular ‘backpackers’ insurance. For the last two trips, I didn’t have any. Dave Briggs says February 6, 2014 at 9:57 pm Great to hear that you are planning a cycling trip. It really is the best mode of travel, as well as a unique way of seeing the world. PetiteFromage says February 6, 2014 at 6:32 am I had contemplated organising a cycling trip – thank you so much for your insights and tips! Time to hit the planning boards and make it a reality! Mette says January 25, 2014 at 1:24 pm I had a dream about cycling to Africa once, but I’m sure I couldn’t do it for anything near £10 a day. As you say – the cost varies from one individual to the other. Dave Briggs says January 24, 2014 at 10:02 pm Would love to hear where you are touring at the moment Matt Matthew Newton says June 10, 2014 at 12:28 pm I am about to bike around the four corners of Scotland, and next April take off for a RTW trip. I’ll let you know costs etc. Matt Dave Briggs says June 10, 2014 at 8:15 pm Do you have a blog? Would love to follow your journeys ! matt newtom says January 24, 2014 at 9:57 pm Great to read this. I am sure it is true and it means I can go on my own tour for a very long long time. Devlin @ Marginal Boundaries says January 24, 2014 at 5:00 pm $15 a day sounds super reasonable, I spend less than that a day just living in Mexico, heh. I’m sure it’s easy to survive on that. Now if you cycling just through The Western EU you might not be able to get away with it heh. Zana says January 24, 2014 at 4:34 am All I can say is ‘Wow!’ Cycling around the world! What a simplistic immersive way to travel. And for only $15 a day…who would’ve thought. Great post thanks for sharing. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Δ On this travel site, you'll find detailed guides and tips on traveling to Greece, as well as bikepacking blogs about cycling around the world. Dave's Travel Pages is an essential resource for planning trips to popular destinations like the Greek islands as well as preparing for adventures in off the beaten path destinations. Find out more about Dave Briggs and this blog by clicking here How to make passive income while traveling Why does my chain keep falling off? How to get from Rhodes Airport to Pefkos Dave’s Travel Pages has a number of affiliate links placed within the travel blog. If you decide to buy items through these links, you will be helping Dave to fund this site and perhaps the next adventure. More importantly, it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Win win – we like that!	17,584
Thank you for your business!You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly.Exit Shopping Cart Who We Are Events Programs and Services Products Covered and Classy Get Involved Inspirational "Tunes" Who We Are Events Programs and Services Products Covered and Classy Get Involved Inspirational "Tunes" Covered and Classy Covered and Classy Posted by Covered and Classy Ladies on February 12, 2013 at 10:45 PM Tomorrow marks the beginning of Lent; what is that you ask? Lent is a period of fasting, beginning from Ash Wednesday to Easter; which lasts a total period of 40 days. You may often hear people say “I’m giving up _____ for lent.” However, I have a few questions to ask. What positive thing have you put in place of what you have given up? Are you just “fasting” to be a part of the “clique”or are you really seeking a change? L.O.V.E International Network would like to encourage you to seriously consider that thing you are giving up for 40 days. Be realistic with your choices; excluding a certain type of poultry or meat or fast food from your diet, is a type of realistic choice. The point is, do not set yourself up for failure; We want you to succeed! During this period of fasting you MUST get lost in self reflection, prayer and the Word (Holy Bible). I challenge you to journal for those 40 days to see what God is saying to you. Or write down your prayers. This documentation serves as a reminder to what God has said or what you have promised or desired. God speaks in various ways and He often uses people to get through to us. Are you ready to get lost in Him? Are you ready for your break through and self discovery? Well the time is now! Join this challenge with us. Be bold, be courageous, be YOU; the REAL YOU God intends of you!!! The first week, do not ask any questions, just seek God where He may be found; that is through prayer and the Word. Pray for yourself,your decisions, your family, friends and your enemies too. Pray for people around the world struggling to make it through. Submit yourself in prayer and fast from that thing you so desire. Proverbs 14:12- There is a way that “seems”right to man, but its end is death." This week seek God, not your own instinct.Trust him and He will be that direction in this wayward path of life. Do not seek for self glorification, that will last but for a moment! Know that L.O.V.E International Network will be praying with you. The second week, ask God “what do you desire of me?” God is speaking to a lot of you, but you have chosen to ignore the call. Friends, do not have the "Jonah experience", do what it is God is telling you to do. When you feel that nudge in the right direction, know that is of God. God is seeking individuals to make investments in the kingdom: best part about it is, these stock rates never decline! Are you willing to invest today? These investments we speak of are not always monetary; it is of your time, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a kind deed, and so on. Treat others well while you can;but don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does- Matthew 6:3. No need to publicize your good deeds, your reward is heaven bound! Come back again in two weeks for further instructions. We pray that as you begin this fast you earnestly seek Him in all your deeds.Remember the 3 S’s for 2013: Seek God (through prayer, fasting and reading the word), See His purpose for your life (through seeking God, you will receive direction for where you need to go) and SECURE His promises (claim the promises God has declared over your life). We encourage each of you to hold on to the 3 S’s forthe New Year and during this lent season. L.O.V.E International Network defines F.A.S.T as –Faithfully Abolishing SELF and Trusting Him (God)- Will you fast today?	3,996
Zimnako Mohammed posed for a photograph in front of his own gravestone in one of Halabja’s many cemeteries for people killed during the Iraqi poison gas attack in the spring of 1988. ‘It’s a very strange feeling to have your name on a headstone before you’ve died,’ he says. ‘But this shows the scale of […] Featured The Barzani tribe had long been a thorn in the flesh of the Iraqi central government. Hostilities reached boiling point during the Iraq-Iran War when Saddam Hussein accused them of collaborating with the Iranians. Soon afterwards between 5,000 and 8,000 Barzani tribesmen were abducted and never seen again. Escape from ISIS Featured When jihadists from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invaded the Sinjar region of northern Iraq in 2014 they committed genocide against the Yazidi population. One Yazidi family, the Chattos, survived their onslaught. Featured The Iraqi attack on the Balisan valley was the first time a sovereign state had used chemical weapons on its own populace. Shocked villagers who survived the attack likened the experience to witnessing “doomsday”. Featured In 1988 the Iraqi army launched a ferocious attack on Kurdish communities south of the Turkish border. Fleeing towards Turkey, the villagers of Kureme found their route blocked by Iraqi soldiers and were captured. The male villagers were put in front of a firing squad – yet six survived to tell their story. The Kurdish Village that Rose from the Dead Featured In the 1980s Kulajo gave unstinting support to the Kurdish resistance and for this its people were punished by Saddam Hussein. Villagers were transported to prison camps and many were later executed. Yet some lived to tell extraordinary stories of survival. ‘I thought the strange smell was from people cooking’ Balisan and Sheikh Wasan were the first villages in Kurdistan to be attacked with poison gas. SALAAM HUSSEIN AZIZ describes how curious villagers went up to bomb craters and breathed in the toxic fumes. Soon they were screaming in pain and collapsing. Scroll down to continue When poison gas bombs struck Sheikh Wasan on 16 April 1987, villagers ran towards the sound of the explosions to investigate what damage had been caused, unaware of the dangers they faced. Salam Hussein Aziz from Balisan village was alone in his house during the attack. His wife was visiting relatives in Erbil and he was about to make dinner when he heard planes overhead. Salam took cover in a nearby cave along with many other families. The bombs exploded on impact but this time they were not as loud on impact as in previous raids. Afterwards everyone emerged from their shelter eager to find out what had happened. It was very a tragic scene. Entire houses had been razed and burnt A strange smell hung in the air as cooking odours mingled with the tang of chemicals. ‘I thought it might be the smell of the food because people were cooking and left their food on the fire,’ says Salam Hussein Aziz. ‘People went right up to the explosion sites as they did not know about chemical weapons.’ They tried to dispel the fumes by lighting fires. ‘It was 9.30 pm and very dark, and we gathered around the flames. Some of us could no longer stand on our feet, some were vomiting and some screaming in pain, their skin burnt and their eyes watering,’ says Salam. He and another neighbour moved families up the mountains then returned to look for stragglers who were too weak to leave with the others. He brought a doctor to help treat those who were comatose but everyone fled when the army began its ground offensive. In April 1987, SALAM HUSSEIN AZIZ witnessed Iraqi planes bombing Sheikh Wasan village. He saw how villagers, unaware of what poison gas was, went close to the bombs and were immediately affected by the toxic fumes. He helped survivors move away from the scene of the attack. Salam headed to Hawiri mountain with a peshmerga fighter and from there watched the Iraqi army entering the village. After the troops left, they returned and saw how their homes had been levelled. ‘It was very a tragic scene. Entire houses had been razed and burnt, and they’d used bulldozers and TNT,’ says Salam. He stayed on in Balisan with eight peshmerga. Eventually his family returned with a few others. They survived amidst the ruins of their village but the following July 1988 the planes returned to launch another poison gas attack. Salam donned a gas mask and wrapped his children’s faces in wet cloth as the gas cloud moved towards them. He ran towards a peshmerga base with his children in his arms but as he ran he dislodged the scarf from his son’s face. The boy died. Thanks to his gas mask Salam survived, but he was so weak that he had to ride back to the peshmerga base on horseback In shock, Salam left his son’s body at the base and ran back to the village calling the names of his family as he approached his house. He reached home and found the bodies of his wife and friends. Another woman lay motionless on the ground holding her dead child close to her chest. Thanks to his gas mask, Salam survived but he was so weak that he had to ride back to the base on horseback. There he was given an antidote injection and transferred to a peshmerga clinic. He was hidden by relatives in Saruchawa village near Balisan until the Iraqi regime issued a general amnesty in late 1988. Ever since, he has suffered chest pains and severe emotional and psychological damage. Salam remarried and in 1991 joined the Peshmerga uprising. SALAM HUSSEIN AZIZ’s baby son died in his arms after a chemical attack on the Balisan valley in 1988. He found the bodies of his wife and other children in a shelter close to Sheikh Wasan village. Balisan village Balisan village is situated in the Balisan valley. The village has been attacked twice with chemical weapons by the Iraqi government. The first attack was in 1987 and the second was in 1988. We would like to share Kurdish stories and project updates with you. Don’t worry. We won’t overload you with messages or sell your data, and you can unsubscribe at any time.	6,184
Aberdeen's growing hip-hop and R&B scene has caught the eye of BBC documentary makers. The New Aberdeen: R&B and Hip-Hop at the Heart of the Granite City takes a look at musician Chef, producer Louis Seivwright and the musical artists that surround them as the scene in the city in the city grows and gets national attention. We reached out to Chef to find out a little bit more about him and his working relationship with business and creative partner Louis Seivwright. We wanted to know how it started, the artists they work with, what it was like to shoot the documentary and his plans for the future. How it started Let's start with a little bit about your background. Tell us about how you met. How did that develop into a working relationship? Louis and I first met working a door to door sales job. We were both there for a very short period of time but during that time we were told of each other (since we both were interested in music) but never really spoke too much. It was only some time after that he reached out to me. Louis and I are brothers. We don’t always agree but we always trust one another to know what the other is doing. I was and am extremely busy so I wasn’t able to meet with him but we ran into each other when I was coming off a train back from a trip I made to Glasgow. He pushed me to go studio right there and then and the rest is history. We made our first song and never stopped. How is your working relationship? Is it all smooth sailing or does it sometimes get salty between Chef and Louis? Louis and I are brothers. We don’t always agree but we always trust one another to know what the other is doing. More often than not, we are thinking the exact same thing and we usually learn from each other when it comes to any differing ideas. It’s never been salty but we are both so passionate about what we do so its all a part of collaboration. Photo supplied by Chef Growing relationships You have a number of artists that work around you. Did you go out to find them or was it more organic than that? I definitely go out and look for them and I have done from the start. I’ve always believed that a community and thriving culture is what drives music and art. In order to have that you have to search for those looking to be a part of that and help and nurture them in whatever way they require. I spend time every day searching the Scottish music scene. I listenin to everyone’s new releases, analysing and entrenching myself in what’s going on. However even though I search for them, I don’t force connections, those are all organic. I’ll have an eye on someone for any amount of time. If I’m meant to meet them then I’ll make sure I get the chance to speak to them. From there we see if anything we’re involved in can align, collaboration is not just about being on the same song. It can be so many more things. Aberdeen's music scene has traditionally been dominated by guitar bands. In the past few years that's changing. Why do you think that came about? I’ve been working with countless artists in all shapes and forms. As I said, it’s not always making a song with someone but my connections with the music scene spans to every level of industry and I plan to keep fostering healthy relationships with everyone I can. This documentary is an ambitious next step, with the aim of bringing your music scene to a wider audience. How did it come about? The BBC actually approached us, but the documentary was a goal that we set for ourselves a year prior and it seems that the work we put in allowed our wishes to come to fruition. Chef and Louis appearing in BBC Documentary The New Aberdeen Shooting the documentary What challenges did you face in getting the documentary produced? The documentary went along without any issues thankfully. The BBC Tune team were absolutely amazing and allowed us to have input. It did not seem forced and we felt like we could be ourselves. Tell us a little about the day of shooting. Louis and I were shooting from 9am. We were present throughout everyone else’s shoots so our day wrapped up around 8pm. Quite long but it was a great experience. We started at Spin Record Store on Littlejohn Street. They gifted me a vinyl of my favourite Fela Kuti album “Zombie”. We then travelled round Aberdeen and ended at 210 Bistro. Tru Nature, Aiitee, Josh Maclean and Aiysha Russel were all great and it felt like we all had a good time. Hard work and the future It looks like you've both been putting in long hours to get this off the ground. Have you any advice for those following in your footsteps? We certainly have been putting in long hours. The advice I’d give to anyone else is to take the stairs and not to skip any steps. And secondly, I believe people should always ask for help. Never be too proud to rely on others because knowing different perspectives will help give you a better understanding of what you’re doing. Even if you don’t want to take the advice, it’s always good to know what someone would think. What upcoming releases should we be keeping an eye out for? Louis has a game changing album that is coming up. Louis and I are both taking part in a few more things for TV. Aside from that I can’t give too much away, but there a big plans in the works. We're now fostering some international connections and the goal is to develop what we’ve started and take it to highest heights. You’ll have to keep up to date on our socials to see more. What you need to know Latest release: The World is Mine EP If you enjoyed this article, you may enjoy our interview with Aberdeen producer Vagrant Real Estate. by Chris Sansbury Aberdeen producer Vagrant Real Estate has teamed up with Edinburgh-based singer Misty Galactic for a new track. Released on 23 July, Holy Places is a dark late-night pop single which explores the intense feelings of lust and obsession. Both musicians have enjoyed tremendous praise in the infancy of their careers. Misty Galactic’s previous releases received a wide range of support, including from the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. She ended 2020 on a high with her inclusion on The Herald’s Top 100 tunes of the year. Recently Misty Galactic also landed the coveted Artist of the Week feature in The Scotsman. Vagrant Real Estate has also received notable coverage. Specifically from the likes of Ministry of Sound, DJ Mag and i-D Magazine. In addition he was also named as one of Vic Galloway’s Top 25 Artists To Watch in 2021. The new track marks the first time that Vagrant Real Estate has worked worked with a singer. As a producer he normally works with rappers. His signature production style combining warm melodies with soap bass and drums is still very much present, though. Holy Places highlights Misty Galactic’s sonic ambition. Her voice commands presence over walls of guitar and synths. The result is a cavernous and carnal anthem to obsession, evoking artists such as BANKS, The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey. What the artists say about Holy Places We asked Vagrant Real Estate how he and Misty got together for the track. Speaking to POST, he told us, "I originally came across Misty's music through blogs as she was picking up press for her first few singles, and really liked her sound and aesthetic. I always want to try and push myself and work on different sounds and styles, so I reached out and she was happy to collaborate. “Misty Galactic is a great talent, and I couldn’t be happier with how the track came out. From the initial demo I sent through, her songwriting and vocal performance took the whole sound to the next level." Misty Galactic told us, "It was awesome to get to work with Vagrant Real Estate on this release. The lyrics are all about being so obsessed with someone and having such intense feelings, it all starts to feel like a religious experience. I'd been playing around with them for quite a while, and when he sent me the initial idea for a track, everything just seemed to fit together perfectly. I'm super proud of what we've created." Vagrant Real Estate \| Photo by Chris Sansbury The effect of COVID on recording music We wondered whether remote the move to recording has been liberating for artists. Some say it's levelling the playing field, while others tell us it's more difficult for new acts. Vagrant Real Estate thinks it is a bit of both. "I think it's definitely benefited those who have been able to adapt and work effectively with it. I've seen a number of people grow their brand massively. Artists tapping into that new captive audience who were stuck at home, looking for things to watch on social media. If the quality is there and you have the right push/marketing behind it, people will start to notice. "There's definitely an argument that it's difficult for new acts due to the sheer amount of new music now. You can self-produce and release tracks from your bedroom, but equally the tools are all available and mostly free to network and get your sound out there via social media, websites and the like. If the quality is there and you have the right push/marketing behind it, people will start to notice." Aberdeen's music scene Aberdeen's music scene is dominated by rock bands, but other genres are starting to push their way through. We asked about the city's music scene and he sees it. He said, "I think locally and for Scotland in general, there's an abundance of bands. That's what we're typically known for. When I started out producing, pretty much the only other person working in hip-hop in the city was Ransom FA. "I definitely think now though that hip-hop is coming through. There's a lot of talent in the next generation of artists. I think that ties in with the global shift towards hip-hop as the most popular genre. The main thing Aberdeen needs to compete with the central belt is just infrastructure. In terms of venues, studios and practise spaces we're definitely lacking. Especially when compared to what's available to the artists in Glasgow and Edinburgh." Vagrant Real Estate \| Photo by Chris Sansbury Wondering what's on the horizon for the Aberdeen producer, he told us, "I've been working on some really exciting collaborations with MCs in London. I've been building those relationships and expanding my sound to incorporate more live instrumentation. Gatson and I are writing the follow-up album to our Holding On EP from Spring this year. I'm also finishing up my next instrumental project - just keeping as busy as possible. "Once we get a bit closer to normality I'm also keen to put on some events in the city with DJs and performers, providing a platform to showcase the talent we have here." Our view Holy Places is a great example of the wealth of talent coming out of Scotland’s next generation of stars. Highlighting both artist’s level of musicianship and versatility, Misty Galactic and Vagrant Real Estate have bright futures ahead of them. We are extremely keen to support Aberdeen singers, songwriters, bands and producers. Check out The Lounge, a playlists with shines a spotlight on our finest musicians. We update it every Monday so check in regularly. Holy Places is released on 23 July. You can find Holy Places on your favourite streaming site. You can also keep up to date with the latest on the Aberdeen DJ and producer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. by Chris Sansbury Sales of records have gone through the roof in recent years as music fans appreciate the analogue sound and the tactile feel of vinyl. It's no secret that vinyl is much more collectible, and the covers just look so much better at full size. Record Store Day is a twice annual event to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record stores. The day brings together stores from around the world with fans and artists. Many artists release records specifically for Record Store Day. These are only distributed to shops participating in the event. Three Aberdeen shops are taking place in the event on Saturday 12th June. Chameleon Records, Red Robin Records and Maidinvinyl. Photo by Chris Sansbury We spoke to Terry Charleton who’ll be helping owner Michael Moloney at Chameleon Records at it's new home. He told us, “Chameleon will be hosting its 7th RSD and this year they have relocated to inside Holburn HiFi. It’s the ideal partnership for music lovers. Previous RSD has seen fans queuing from the wee small hours but with Covid restrictions this is replaced by a virtual queue where people book a time slot to visit the shop via the website." “One of the appeals of the day is chatting to al the customer about their purchases as they always super knowledgeable and even what you think is the most obscure release will have someone keen to grab it.” “There will be some fantastic releases this year. Elton John's is putting out his never previously released Regimental Sgt.Zippo. There's two live albums from The Police and brilliant 12” picture discs from U2 and The Cure and a live album from Fontaines DC. In addition a more mainstream artist release sees Ariana Grande releasing a live album on vinyl for the first time. This is very limited and will be in high demand.” Photo by Chris Sansbury Red Robin Records on Correction Wynd is also taking part in Record Store Day on Saturday. They’ll be open from 8am and will be on a first come first served basis with only one person allowed in the store at a time. Owner Nick Duthie told us, “We are excited firstly that RSD is able to run this year. Vinyl lovers will continue to have the opportunity to buy some fantastic new records as well as supporting all the small businesses in Aberdeen partaking in RSD.” “In regard to albums there are so many great ones on the list. However, there are a few I'm especially excited for. Prince’s The Truth has its first release on vinyl. Also Belle and Sebastian’s The Boy with the Arab Strap on coloured vinyl for the first time. Lounge at the Edge of Town have a self-titled release. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are releasing a greatest hits on coloured vinyl called Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021). There is a coloured three disc version of The Matrix Soundtrack. Finally, Primal Scream have a 15 year anniversary extended version of their classic, Riot City Blues.” Aberdeen has number of fantastic independent record stores that stock great vinyl all year round. Therefor you have a load of choice depending on your particular taste. These include: Finally, thanks so much to the teams at Red Robin Records and Chameleon. They've given us a real taste of Record Store Day. It's sure to be a huge day for all the record stores in Aberdeen. If you're taking part this Saturday, make sure to plan ahead and remember to wear a mask. POST have set up a playlist to support Aberdeen musicians. A place where you can find new music by Aberdeen and NE Scotland’s very talented singers, songwriters, bands and producers. Read the story about why we made it happen. by Chris Sansbury Aberdeen producer Louis Seivwright rings in release Aberdeen producer and rising star Louis Seivwright has released a new track in collaboration with flamboyant Scottish singer songwriter Ama Jane. The song ‘Circles' is the debut single from Louis’ upcoming album ‘Wonderland’. Seivwright wrote 'Circles' to symbolise being trapped in a never-ending loop of work and relationship problems. BBC Radio Scotland said “it’s got that soulful R&B sound on the beat with the amazing contrast of the vocals…that aggressive, boss-ass attitude.” This is the second Seivwright song this year that BBC Radio Scotland have made their Track of the Week. Louis Seivwright is emerging as one of the hottest producers on the UK music scene and is creating a platform and community for young musicians in Aberdeen. Louis, 23, who has been experimenting with instruments since the age of 5, is emerging as one of the hottest producers on the UK music scene and is creating a platform and community for young musicians in Aberdeen. Last year the Scottish Alternative Music Awards nominated him for Best Hip-Hop act. The team here at POST like Louis Seivwright's production style. He’s developing a warm sound that finds a great balance between soulful nostalgia and modern beats. His versatility means his production works brilliantly with pop, soul and hip-hop artists. Louis releases ‘Circles’ on 7th May. In addition, he'll release the new album ‘Wonderland’ in the autumn of 2021. Seivwright calls the album a turning point in his full time production career. Listen to ‘Circles’ by Louis Seivwright as well as tracks from other Aberdeen artists in The Lounge, our playlist that shines a light on local vocalists, bands and producers. Check out our Temp Check interview with Aberdeen singer songwriter Rachel Jack. She tells us all about launching a music career during lockdown. by Chris Sansbury The Lounge \| Our playlist celebrating the Aberdeen and NE Scotland music scene The team here at POST have have set up a playlist to support Aberdeen musicians. A place where you can find new songs by Aberdeen and NE Scotland's very talented singers, songwriters, bands and producers. This is the story about why we made it happen. Sometimes I commit the cardinal sin of scrolling through Twitter while watching a movie. I like to check our @aberdeencity account regularly to see what’s going on in the the city. Mostly I make sure that we’ve not accidentally posted something that has pissed-off a load of folk. As I scrolled, I spotted this tweet by local singer Rachel Jack. I retweeted to bring it to the attention of our community. As a result it sparked a healthy conversation about how Northsound and Original have commercial interests that make supporting Aberdeen musicians extremely difficult. However, local charitable broadcaster Shmu.FM, particularly the Monday night show 57 Degrees North Presents, are much more able to support talented Aberdeen musicians. The conversation inspired us to consider what the team at POST could do to help and we decided that a regularly updated playlist of new music from Aberdeen and the North-East’s singers and bands could make a difference. My POST partner in crime, Kevin, made the fantastic suggestion of a mini website would let artists submit their own newly released tracks. A place Aberdeen Musicians can call home Waking up early and inspired on Saturday morning, I created the website, and with the kind help of Rachel, put together a playlist of great music ready to share with our 17.5k community in Aberdeen. Finally, after some testing and updates, we are ready to share The Lounge with you. Please hit button in Spotify and you’ll be kept up to date with brilliant new local music. The website is just a simple form allowing city singers, bands and producers to submit their newly released tracks…or even an older one that they would like given a wee push. However, it is ready, and you can find it here. As we launch today we want people to feel part of a wee community. For artists to discover each other and for listeners like yourself to discover your new favourite local musical artists and add them to your own playlists. In this launch playlist we have of course featured Rachel Jack, as well as, amongst others: multi-instrumentalist Calorine with Garden of None; four-piece Cold Years with their amazing cover of Lizzo’s Good As Hell; producer Louis Seivwright’s Promises featuring the amazing vocals of Tammi Whyte; the synthy melodies of The Little Kicks; and finally, rapper and man of the moment, Ransom FA. Photo Credit: AG Whylie Thanks very much to Rachel for her inspiration and her help. You can find her right at the top of our first playlist. She has released some great songs over the past year. Finally, if you have ANY suggestions we always have our social media DMs open, or you can drop us a message through our homepage. For the very latest on The Lounge visit The Lounge page right here on this site. We have links to out Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube versions. by Chris Sansbury Live music performances have taken a massive hit because of the need to keep people safe from Covid. During this time, many musicians have concentrated on releasing new music to give fans a diversion from lockdown life. We spoke to Aberdeen based singer-songwriter Rachel Jack who has been making waves in the Scottish music scene this year. Having released her brilliant debut EP, The Calgary Tapes in the summer of 2020, we wanted to catch up with her to see how life is treating her right now. Hey Rachel. Thanks very much for taking time to chat. As always, we start with the easy question that doesn’t always have an easy answer…how are you feeling right now? I’m feeling tired to be honest. I’ve been super busy and I’m really looking forward to taking a break over Christmas. What make you take the leap to chasing a career in music? I had a period of illness and it put everything into perspective for me. I did that thing of looking over my life to-date and felt a bit disappointed that I hadn’t done anything with my voice. The part I’ll continue to be most proud of is divorcing myself from a career I spent over a decade building. I’d thought about it for ages and it was a really difficult decision to make. Live performance is pretty much out the question right now, how have you replaced that? I’ve been keeping my focus by releasing music. In fact, I've released 7 singles since we first went into lockdown. You released your debut EP, The Calgary Tapes, earlier this year. How did that come about? I wrote those songs while completing a songwriting scholarship from Paolo Nutini at UWS. I called them the Calgary Tapes because I recorded those songs while living in a place called Calgary on the Isle of Mull. What are you most proud of so far in your musical career? The part I’ll continue to be most proud of is divorcing myself from a career I spent over a decade building. I’d thought about it for ages and it was a really difficult decision to make because your job seems to become a massive part of your identity, and for a while I struggled with knowing who I was without a job title, if that makes sense. That process as been the most rewarding. Photo Credit: AG Whylie Is there anyone in your community that has inspired you? Tell us about them. Normal every day people inspire me. I'm interested in their stories. Most of my songs are conversations I’ve had with people. In terms of the musical direction, there’s nothing intentional about it at all. When I meet people I like, we make music together and their style inspires mine. It’s all a very experimental go-with-the-flow kinda thing for me. What pisses you off? When people aren’t open to changing their minds. I’ve got a lot of respect for people who can hold their hands up and admit when they are wrong. We all have a right to change our minds when we learn new information but when people dig in their heels and refuse to have conversations about important matters, that really drains me. I evaluated my life a few years ago and made some big changes. I feel as though I was mentally prepared for this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not been easy by any means but it’s also not the worst thing I’ve been through, personally. The pandemic has been tough on most people, but it has given many the opportunity to evaluate their lives. Has the pandemic changed you? I evaluated my life a few years ago and made some big changes. I feel as though I was mentally prepared for this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not been easy by any means but it’s also not the worst thing I’ve been through, personally. What motivates you? Knowing that this is it…right here, right now. Life is short and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. What does the future hold for Rachel Jack? What are your ambitions? I feel as though I’ve arrived at where I want to be in that I’ve got a job I like and I’m doing music at the same time. I’d love to write for other artists, that’s the dream really. But I’m only a couple of years into music and I’m enjoying writing for myself so I’m not in any rush. In terms of what I’ve got planned for 2021 — I’ll release my second EP Magazine Girls and I hope to perform live as much as possible! Thanks very much to Rachel Jack both for her time and for her candour. You can show your support by following her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and on Spotify, and also check out her latest single, For You, below. If you enjoyed this Temp Check interview, take some time to read our chat with Stuart McPhee from Siberia Bar and Hotel about his experience of the lockdown. If you would like to hear more local music, check out our playlist, The Lounge. It highlights music from Aberdeen's diverse music scene. by Chris Sansbury Aberdeen Producer Nominated for SOMA Aberdeen producer Louis Seivwright has been nominated for a prestigious music industry award At just 22 years old, Aberdeen based Louis Seivwright has been nominated for an award at this year’s Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA Awards). Fast emerging as one of the hottest producers in the UK music scene, Louis’ unique style of heavy-hitting beats blends grime, trap, drill and hip-hop into a sound that is becoming the backbone of Scotland’s blossoming rap landscape. He‘s been nominated in the ‘Best Hip Hop’ category, and is the only nominee from Aberdeen in the event which takes place online on 18th November. The nomination comes after the successful launch of his second album earlier this month. On 3rd October 2020, Louis released his ground-breaking new album ‘Cloud 9,’ providing a platform for Scottish talent to showcase their skills. Reaching an impressive 50,000 streams in its first week, the album is now closing in on 100,000 streams and has become one to watch this year. Featuring a mix of fresh and established artists, it brings rappers and vocalists together in one place as part of a new and exciting project. The collaborative effort features tracks by artists such as Shogun, who has garnered over 10 million views and is currently starring in BBC’s ‘Rap Game UK’ this year, local rapper Ransom FA, a recognised name on the scene and emerging female songwriter and vocalist Tammi Whyte who has made her debut on ‘Cloud 9.’ Louis’ motivation was to bring focus to all artists at varying stages in their musical careers, working closely with his fellow colleague PJ the Engineer at their local recording studio “RansomHQ”, they have been able to create a strong, industry standard sound for this scene defying album. The concept for the album comprises of 2 themes — Side A and side B. Side A offers a more universal sound with a collection of chilled tracks and vocals. Meanwhile, Side B brings Louis’ signature rap sound to the forefront. By combining 2 different genres, the producer has demonstrated diversity in his production and prides himself in being able to deliver something for everyone. Commenting on his nomination Louis said “I am delighted to get the opportunity to shine a light on the growing hip hop music scene we have locally. Winning this award would be a first as no one from Aberdeen has won before, so hopefully I can take it home.” The SAMA awards will be open to a three day public vote starting on the 9th of November, with the winners being announced at the ceremony. Written by Kirsty Whyte by Guest “Every one of us has the power, to plant an idea, a tree, a flower” A self-funded project born out of a love for their city and people within it. Created by Chris Sansbury and Kevin Mitchell. Join in the conversation By subscribing, you agree with Revue’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. We use a few simple cookies to help our site function and make it better. When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information through your browser, usually in the form of cookies. Since we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to permit data collection from certain types of services. However, not allowing these services may impact your experience.	29,701
Whether or not we are big fans of diversity, the fact is we are experiencing more and more of it. And it comes in all forms: a greater range of entertainment options, a wider selection of foods at the supermarket, more car companies and models than ever before, more ethnic restaurants and the list goes on. During a routine trip to the mall, it’s not that unusual to overhear two or three foreign languages. If you go to the hospital some of the doctors treating you are likely to be from India, Egypt, South Africa or any number of other places. Some people are enthusiastic about this increase in diversity. They see the richness of the difference as something that benefits us all. The mix of cultures and races and opinions provide opportunities to learn from others and grow in understanding. Hence, many call us to celebrate diversity. But others are not ready to party. Instead of finding reason for joy, some find reason for fear and insecurity and even hostility. The old rules we used to take for granted have been shaken. Cherished convictions are challenged. Diversity has led to division: political, racial, gender, cultural and economic division. There has always been some of this, but now it seems to be more prevalent. But God has something to say about all of this. The church is what God has to say. The Church is called to be a Christ-centered community of diversity. Its very life proclaims the power of God to overcome the divisions that set people against each other. In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul announced, “In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28). The church is to live as a people touched by Gods grace and no longer defined by the divisions that plague the world. At least that’s what God expects. But that is not what we find in far too many cases. Too often the divisions of the world are brought right into the church. Instead of reflecting the light of Christ, we mirror the broken world. Women are discriminated against, racial segregation persists and whenever an international conflict arises, those in the church are frequently uncritical cheerleaders for our nation’s side in the hostility. But on top of all that, the church has its own problems with diversity. Differences in practice and opinion become occasions for distrust and fragmentation. Among ecumenically minded Christians, unity in diversity has been one of our strong values. But as I recently heard it said, we sing our hosannas to the principal, but in practice too quickly we hear the cries, “Crucify him, crucify him.” No matter how much we claim that we value diversity, living with it is tough work. But it’s always been that way, all the way back to the first century. Differences between church members have strained the fabric of fellowship. In the scripture passage that we are considering we find an ancient church that is no dealing with its diversity very well. In the Roman church, the threat of division was over whether or not it was more spiritual to be vegetarian. You had the salad group and the steak group. And some argued over whether or not to celebrate special holy days. They took these issues very seriously. Naturally, we tend to think that our issues are much more important. They probably aren’t. However that might be, differences don’t have to divide. So why do they? At work, in society, in church, why does diversity so often bring hurtful divisions? First of all, we tend to be wary of those who are different from us. When people look, or act, or even think unlike the way we do, we’re not sure what to expect of them. They make us uncomfortable, even fearful. And in our fear we may even be tempted to strike out. Not long ago two brothers, Matthew and Tyler Williams, were arrested for murder. The police believe they committed the shotgun slaying of a gay couple in California. Evidence also links them to the arson fires of three synagogues. Not many of us are inclined to kill or destroy property because of the differences we face. But sometimes we do have a shoot first, ask questions later, approach. We don’t normally shoot at someone’s body but we might take pot shots at their character. And we feel justified. We imagine we have to defend ourselves. But it’s all in our minds. The person who differs from us isn’t necessarily against us. There is a second closely related reason why differences can bring division. We attribute bad motives to the actions of others. If our viewpoint or values are challenged by someone, it may hurt our feelings. We may get angry. If someone hurts or angers us, most of us have a hard time believing that other person’s heart is pure. The religious leaders in Jesus’ time certainly weren’t happy that He challenged them. They questioned His motives. They even claimed that the healings He performed were done by demonic power. Of course it was His accusers who had the real problem. Studs Terkel tells a story of a friend of his, a progressive older woman. For years she had opposed Jim Crow laws, fought segregation and supported civil rights. But one day a disturbing thing happened as she drove into a section of town almost entirely populated by African American people. As her car moved down the street she saw folks gesture wildly at her. They were shouting at her car, but she couldn’t hear what was being said. Person after person yelled and waved their hands at her. She was certain of one thing: these people were threatening. Finally after driving a few more blocks she made a discovery. She had been driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The people she thought were threatening her were in fact trying to help her. A third reason diversity can bring division is because people with different values or interests can become destructively competitive. Some time back I heard a news report about the ineffectiveness of the California delegation in the U.S. Congress. California has more representatives than any other state. You’d think they could accomplish a lot. But the representatives apparently have a knack for paying more attention to what makes them different from each other than seeing what they share in common. So rather than working together to promote the interests of the entire state, each representative works only for the interests of his or her little piece of the state. In the end all suffer. It can be that way in the church, too. People can become so intent on defending turf or promoting the interests of the few that they forget the mission of all. Jesus prayed for His people saying, “I ask … that they may all be one … so that the world may believe You have sent Me.” (John 17:20-21) We can all contribute to the mission of the church. But the mission of the church as a whole rather than the interests of those most like us must be the primary concern. Well, differences are not going to just fade away in society or in church. So what can we do? What can we do to live with our differences in a way that honors Christ and is good for the church? First, open your own life to change. Naturally we want the people who differ with us to make the change. We tend to make our own practices and opinions the standard of truth. There is an old “Cathy” cartoon strip that speaks to this. Cathy is walking along with another woman, talking about her boyfriend. “I know Irving and I are totally different people, Andrea. But we keep coming back to each other,” says Cathy. With a look of love on her face she continues, “Down deep, I think we both want exactly the same thing.” Then with a frustrated expression in the last frame she says, “We both want the other person to change.” That’s the way it is with us, isn’t it? But we need to be open to change, too. In 1 Corinthians 13 the scripture tells us, “Love does not demand its own way.” Second, recognize that you don’t have the right to judge the motives of others. To attribute bad motives on the part of people who differ with us is to guarantee trouble. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servants of another? It is before their own Lord that they stand or fall” (Romans 14:4). I’ve been involved in plenty of discussions over the morality of Christian participation in war. I think few questions are more important and I have strong anti-war convictions. But what I have found distressing is the willingness of people on both sides of the issue to judge the motives of those who differ with them. The pacifists accuse the just warriors of being murderers at heart. The just warriors accuse pacifists of being motivated by cowardice. Both are out of line. Rather than judging motives we need to listen to each other as honestly and as openly as we can, assuming the best about motives. Third, we need to recognize that there is sometimes more than one right way to think and to behave. The choice is not always between right and wrong. Yes, some things are black and white, evil or good. But most aren’t. Many decisions are based on taste, preference or tradition. God is equally honored by vegetarians as by carnivores. God can equally be honored by an organ or a kazoo. Decisions in these matters are not about right and wrong. So the apostle Paul writes in our Scripture text, “Welcome one another … but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.” (Romans 15:1; Romans 14:1) In other words, don’t make a big deal over differences. Don’t allow controversy over opinions to be the center of your conversation. Welcome one another. Fourth, we need to recognize that no one of us, and no single group of people like us, can stand alone. We need each other to do what God calls us to do in the world. Only as we live with each other, differences and all, are we whole, healthy and prepared to serve God. All of us are flawed. All of us need to be forgiven; so, too, we need to forgive. When we come together with our brokenness, together we can serve God. As Paul wrote, “We do not live to ourselves and we do not die to ourselves.” Some years ago in the Durham, North Carolina Morning Herald there was a story about two female musicians who performed together. One was black and the other, white. They called their duo Ebony and Ivory. Both of the women were handicapped. One had lost her left hand in an accident. The other had lost her right hand. Neither knew of the other, but both were brokenhearted after the tragedy they had individually faced. Each of them believed she would never again experience the joy of her life, the joy of creating the sound of music. But a third woman heard of the plight of the injured musicians and put them in contact with each other. When the two one-handed pianists came together, they found that each could supplement the loss of the other. Together they could again play their beloved piano. When the black hand and the white hand were skillfully coordinated with each other, the maimed musicians could coax beautiful sounds from the instrument. God calls us together in our brokenness and with our differences. God has given us to each other. Each supplements what is missing in the other. Together and only together with our differences are we whole and ready to serve. So in the words of scripture, “Welcome one another … just as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7). About The Author Related Posts CHURCH MEDIA Preaching.com is a leading resource that provides tools and ideas for pastors and church leaders to help them lead well. From ideas on sermon topics to how to develop church growth to insight on ministry life, Preaching helps pastors develop every area of life and work in ministry.	12,646
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Today, I'm joined by Rachel Ratchford. Rachel and I discussed the art of PR and the death of the press release. It’s such a fun conversation in turning an old process on its head, and how to connect better with our buyers and partners like journalists. B2B SaaS marketer. Experience with influencer marketing, public relations (agency and in-house), analyst relations, customer advocacy, copywriting, content creation, social media, creative design, and messaging / branding. She has worked at companies of varying sizes, from a startup to a Fortune 1000 enterprise, and gone through several exits (IPO and acquisition). My specialty lies in building programs for scale during high-growth periods. Here's my conversation with Rachel. Kerry Guard: Hello, Rachel. Thank you for joining me on Tea Time. Rachel Ratchford: Hi, Kerry. Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to have you. Kerry Guard: Before we jump in, why don't you tell our listeners your story, Rachel? What do you do? And how did you get there? Rachel Ratchford: What do I do? How did I get there? I've been asked this question often every time I have a job interview or talk to a candidate, and I still haven't found a succinct way to tell the story. So I should probably work on that. I studied English Literature in college because I love anything that lets me read books by Jane Austen. I graduated and realized I had not thought about how that would translate into a career, but I love to write, and I loved journalism. I had just graduated college when that whole industry was going belly up. And so I got into PR, which I thought was the next best thing. I still get to work with press members and write a lot. It was very different than I expected, like client services. Agency work is tough but very rewarding. And then, from there, I moved into a house, and I slowly started to creep into more traditional marketing functions, not just calm. I did things like analyst relations managing a speaker bureau, case studies, content marketing, and website development. I got exposure to many different aspects of marketing, made a lot of lateral moves, and ended up working out because then I was able to take on roles where I was overseeing a team and the various members of my team now have functional responsibility for the programs I used to run. It's been a wild ride right now. I'm at a start-up. I'm a total startup junkie. My last three jobs have been startups. It's a remote cybersecurity company called Cobalt. I have team members across, I think, pretty much every single timezone. It’s very different from my days in a brick-and-mortar office with no laptop signing on from a desktop computer. Kerry Guard: And when you say across all the time zones, we're not just talking about the US here. The team that you manage is global. Rachel Ratchford: I have people in Berlin. I don't think every time zone is true. Nobody is completely reversed in me, or rather in my timezone. I do have team members in Berlin. So basically, that was my biggest hesitation when I was taking the job. I was like, “Okay, so do I have to sign on at 6 am and stay on nine till midnight to just span all the working hours with my colleagues?” It's not like that at all. I think the world of work has evolved. The new normal doesn't call for that anymore. It's been fine. Rachel Ratchford: I know. Companies are getting good at it. It's so different than it was even five years ago. It's crazy. But you know this, right? You’re remote. Kerry Guard: I'm in the UK, so I'm five hours from you. Berlin is six hours from you. You don't need to have a full overlap. Just need a few hours to make sure you can sync up on meetings, and then you're good to go. Rachel Ratchford: Jump into that Google doc to track your changes. They'll see them when they come online. It's pretty cool. I am hyper-productive because remote work is my jam. I love to read, and I love to write. It's not like that's taxing for me to sit in front of a computer and read Slack messages. That's naturally how I consume information. So I'm like, “Oh, this works for me.” But I could see it being very hard if you're the kind of person who just needs to poke your head into your co-worker's office asking the question, and you're just like, “I don't want to take this out.” And managing the flow of information is a little crazy. It's just like a lot coming across different channels. Kerry Guard: You definitely are. Streamline your systems and processes to make them work. So everybody knows where to put and how to get a hold of people and all of that. I just can't believe how much I get. Rachel Ratchford: I used to go for a walk around the block with my coworker, we'd grab a cup of coffee, sit in the parking chat, and I missed that attraction a little bit. But I also get a lot of shit done. Kerry Guard: In terms of what's going on for you right now, what challenge you're currently facing? Rachel Ratchford: Managing remote teams is wonderful. And I think it's here to stay. Not necessarily the easiest thing because different people communicate in different ways. If this is your first job, and you don't have the opportunity to sit next to people and hear them on the phone or just read their body language in a meeting, I think that's probably. I manage people everywhere, from current college interns to people who just graduated and have ten years of experience. There's a pretty wide spectrum. I see the differences in terms of if you're earlier in your career. I benefited from that opportunity to soak up knowledge and stuff just by being in the same headquarters location as my co-workers. And that's not just like my direct team, either other teams to having a sense of what everyone else is working on. The dependencies across teams are not easy. I'm a mom, too. I have two kids. Remote work is also my jam because I don't have to run home sweating buckets that the train will be late to pick up my kiddo. It's just so much easier to do both. But finding time to manage it all is a challenge. I would imagine that you can sympathize with that as well. Kerry Guard: Totally. So much empathy and sympathy there. Question for you. In terms of your Berlin team, is there a language challenge there? Or do you seem layout speak English? Rachel Ratchford: Yes, they all speak English. I want to go to Berlin. I've heard it's a lovely city, very industrial feeling. They all speak English perfectly. One of the people on my team who's in Berlin is the content head. She edits, and English is not even her first language, which isn't always easy, but you never know. Kerry Guard: It's mind-boggling. My best friend grew up in Switzerland. She's half Swiss, half Spanish. She would say that she is not fluent. I push her on this because she can speak eight languages or something insane. When you grow up next to all these countries, I guess that's what you must do. Rachel Ratchford: We are spoiled here in America. Not a lot of different languages. There are a lot of native languages spoken within the Cobalt family, but everybody mostly lands on English. I don't know if some of the people who work are colocated and some of the international locations. Are you speaking their native language? Another big challenge is that we're in cybersecurity, an incredibly crowded space with so many security tools. To market to this audience, we're fighting—just a lot of other vendors jockeying for mindshare. Finding ways to distinguish ourselves is not easy, and that's one of the benefits of having a very diverse team to bring different perspectives to the table. It's a lot of good brainpower and creative thought. Kerry Guard: Yes, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing. So you started in PR. Do you do a lot of PR now? Rachel Ratchford: It is where my heart lies. I don't do as much of the day-to-day management. But I like talk to our PR agency every so often. They're great. They're doing a really excellent job. A woman on my team is the head of PR, and she's great. She's much closer to it than I am. I'm a few years out of my agency. She brings a fresh perspective, and I totally trust her. I just love to join the calls and see how it's going. I think PR is such a fun, functional area to manage. It has changed so much since the days of traditional media, even ten years ago. Kerry Guard: In what ways has it changed? Rachel Ratchford: I remember being in a meeting and my first PR agency and my boss being like, what are we going to do with bloggers? What's the deal with blogs? Are we going to treat them like reporters? We pitched them, and we had this whole discussion about it, and it was an ongoing discussion because our clients were asking us, like, should we start pitching these guys? This was before the term influencer even became a thing. We started to bloggers. I could tell that as obviously, as the media landscape when there were fewer reporters on staff at each publication, so it was harder. They're covering more it's harder to maintain a relationship with them. I think it used to be very relationship-based. You take a reporter to dinner, pick their brain, what they are working on, and have that strong bond. I think it's a number game, you just have to have a well-crafted story, know how to get in front of them, what they cover or look for in the pitch, and not come to someone's bullshit, and they'll appreciate that. It's harder to distinguish yourself in today's day and age, and I think a lot less relationship based. Kerry Guard: It's less relationship based because it's not so much just trying to get out in front of the big publishers. Influencers are a whole channel. Rachel Ratchford: I haven't done B2B. What is a B2B influencer? I have not cracked that yet. I know that in B2C, you're doing consumer marketing. It's a lot easier. I talked to a girlfriend who works at a CRM company, and she said we're inviting some influencers to our conference. And I was like, "What does a CRM influencer do?" I don't know what that is, but it's out there. I think for cybersecurity, it's a former high-profile chief security officer or maybe former analysts who covered the space which now do the conference circuit. They're steeped in the industry, do a lot of public speaking, and have a very large social media following. It's not as straightforward as the concept of an influencer. It’s definitely not what my mom thinks of when she thinks of an influencer. Many traditional things that worked very well as media tactics back in the day are no longer as relevant, like press releases. Kerry Guard: Let's talk about what you consider the PR channels, then. So when you're trying to craft your message, you have this beautiful story about what you got going on, and where it goes? Rachel Ratchford: It's a great question. I have the benefit. PR is a functional area that rolls up under marketing communications, which is the department I am the head of, but I also oversee things like content marketing and the website, and PR at Cobalt also includes not just traditional media relations but social media and speaking. We take those stories and chunk them across many different platforms. If it's a really good PR story, why don't you blog about it? We have one of our executives who has a podcast; we'll have a guest on the podcast to talk about it; we will pitch it to an event as a speaking submission; we will package it up for award submissions, especially if it's something like "innovation-focused" and it's the right kind of audience; and then we will also take it to the press. There is longevity across different channels. It's not just looking at PR in a silo and having PR over here doing its own thing while everybody else is trying to generate demand for the company. It's like clipping it into everything else the marketing team does. Kerry Guard: I love that. And I feel a huge shift happened in the last ten years where all the different parts of an organization were siloed. You had sales over here, product over there, PR, and now it's all coming under the umbrella of demand where things are headed. Rachel Ratchford: I think that's the benefit of looking at working at a start-up. I have a close relationship with the head of demand generation and product marketing. I see how the revenue engine of the house works and things. We have a CMO who believes that really nothing marketing is doing should be separate from driving sales, even if you could argue the value of a press hit. Everything's generating awareness for the company. There are downstream applications. They're going to a website and booking a demo or whatever. The idea of that rising tide lifts all ships, but it isn't always that way. At my last company, we were bought by a large enterprise technology provider of 10,000 people. I was absorbed into the corporate communications team, and they had no idea why they didn't work. They were trying to get one of our spokespeople to join something, and I was like, "He's busy. It's the end of the quarter." And they were like, "What do you mean?" "When is the end of the quarter again?" They had no idea what the sales team was doing. Just very focused on getting press coverage. That was a way to remove from what the core business was doing. It's a different way because they weren't measured the same way. They weren't under the same scrutiny. So it's just a different way of doing communications. Kerry Guard: I hope those different ways are going away because it feels disconnected from what the whole organization should be driving toward that bottom line. And I love what you're saying about the rising tide, so let's go back to what you said about press kits, which is a bit dense here because I haven't touched PR too much, but maybe other listeners who are with me. Rachel Ratchford: I think I said press release, not kit, but a press release would be the marquee item and a press kit, where a press kit includes logo headshots, executive, and a couple of package quotes. I haven't sent out a press kit in a while. Kerry Guard: How are you getting this stuff out if it's not a press release? Because you said something about press releases not being anything. Rachel Ratchford: I should probably explain that sentiment because it is not always popular. I have written so many press releases in my career that it is crazy. I used to write them, and it would take weeks of writing, and then the executives or spokespeople, the business leaders, would get them and scrutinize every last line, then you go back and forth, you'd write the press release for a few days. And then the editing process was like a week or two because everybody picked every line. It was even more painful process when I worked at a public company. It was like investor relations had to review it legally, and then we would issue it over the wire. I don't even know what the wire is anymore. In my opinion, it is just like a holdover from the days of a traditional newsroom. You had everybody sitting around a table, and the news of the day would come over the wire, and people would look at those headlines to see what they wanted to cover that day. And that's not the way things are structured anymore. Now, it's like $2,000 to attach an image to a press release, and I don't understand why it isn't the intranet and why it isn't more money to attach an image on the internet if it's going out. And then you get pickups in these tier three outlets, basically bots that pick up like wire crawlers that pick up the news. And so not saying there's never validity in going the press release route. If you are a public company and want to show the market that you want them to go to your ticker symbol and see recent announcements, there is a lot of merits. But for most companies, the money can be better spent elsewhere. If you are issuing a press release, your goal is coverage. You can get the same amount of coverage with a well-written blog post and a good agency team that's taking the news out and has crafted a well-written pitch and tailoring it to their audience. I just don't think a press release is necessary to get headlines anymore. We do them at Cobalt, but we typically do them. We pull all our news from the quarter into a single media announcement versus one-offs here and there because I don't see product news getting covered the way it used to be. Reporters are looking for more human stories. They're less interested in what feature a startup is rolling out and more about what it says about the market and who's raising funding. So that's my take on my press releases being dead. I rarely advocate for them. In some circumstances, they're appropriate, but I usually push back on it. I've seen people ask, "How are we going to do a press release on this?" and "Why do you know what that is?" I don't even think most people know what a press release is. I think they just know that it carries some cachet, and they're like, " Yeah, I was at a press release." Kerry Guard: I think what they're really asking is, "How are we going to spread the news?" "We have this story exactly. How are we going to get it out there?" The internet is just so much bigger now. Then there are the news outlets, and there are so many great ways to really build relationships with your audience that are almost one-on-one or personalized and aren't just a news blip in a news outlet that maybe we'll get noticed. I don't read the news, do you? I don't read. Rachel Ratchford: I love the news. I signed up for every single New York Times newsletter and app. I love my local news outlet, the Boston Globe, which is still the only major media publication. I would probably still get the newspaper if it weren't so convenient to just read the news on my phone. I'm a pretty big news junkie. It's hard to convince; there are so many outlets and not enough time. We also get a lot of bang for our buck with employee advocacy and getting people across the company to share and amplify our news on their networks, and that's a great way. There are many great tools out there that allow you to measure that ROI at impact. And so that's sort of like monetizing you, your colleagues, and because we're all invested in the success of this business. And so that's another good strategy that we've found. Kerry Guard: I love what you said about there. I love what you said about how news outlets are looking for more human stories. What do you mean by that? Rachel Ratchford: So there's a balancing act and a bit of a tightrope walk we have to do because companies, depending on who your boss is, who you're reporting to, and how they view PR, will view it as a way they don't fully understand the difference between that and advertising. There'll be something like that to tell the story about how we announced this new feature. I'm not sure if the reporter wants to cover it, but you can use the news of the new feature as a Trojan horse to discuss market shifts, how the world of digital transformation is evolving, and how users are struggling to deal with X issues. One of the most successful stories that our PR agency and our Cobalts head of PR told last year was that we're a fully remote company, as I mentioned, and a member of our head of customer success lives in a souped-up RV. It's beautiful. It's like a luxury RV. He just travels around with his dog. He spends a lot of the year on a farm with his in-laws, brother, or sister-in-law, but he is also just traveling the world as he can capitalize on the remote revolution to live the life he wants to live and still be successful in his career. And that was the story that they seized on. It's not about our product or how cybersecurity evolves; we've placed those stories. It was this really in-depth feature talking to this guy about getting into the human piece of a shifting industry. And so we can carry those learnings across into. We have had a lot of success. We have the good fortune to work in a very hot industry with a lot of headline-making news, breaches, and ransomware. We have a blog, and we have discussions about cybersecurity vulnerabilities and legislation. We can do a lot of trend-jacking to jump on those stories that are breaking news and offer up commentary. We do get a lot of a lot of coverage that way. It's been a core component of our program. But those two things really do fuel the PR engine in Cobalt. Kerry Guard: I love that human story. So cool. Because I think that when people are looking at the organizations and the companies, they're buying from, knowing who they're buying from is becoming more and more important. Not because they want to know every single person at the company, but even by telling you a few of those stories about the kinds of people that are at your company, people get an idea of who they're working with, what kind of culture there is, and what kind of values there are. And I think that just goes so well into your point, Rachel, about the market being so crowded and how you differentiate. You can talk about it all day. Rachel Ratchford: Rapid7 was a pretty well-known cybersecurity company. When I started there, they were like an early-stage startup that hadn't gone through its IPO yet. I worked in the Boston office, their company headquarters, and there's a pretty strong media and tech scene here in Boston. There's also a strong innovation scene where a lot of people are showcasing people, entrepreneurs, and local people in the tech economy and the burgeoning tech economy. We got a lot of great coverage for being a top workplace for an employer hiring a lot. I did a lot, getting coverage in like the Boston Business Journal built in Boston and a lot of local publications. And that was very much a springboard into national exposure and national coverage. It started with telling stories of the people, as you said, spotlighting engineers, products, sales, marketing—pretty much everybody. We would do spotlight columns on them, and they got a lot of pickups. Half tougher and a fully remote world where the headquarters of the conference. It's a little bit blurry. It gets back to what you're saying: people care about the people who work at a company, and they want to work with a good employer vendor where people like to be there. Because it means that they like their jobs in that city, you'll get good service or a good product. Kerry Guard: Maybe this is an odd question, out of the left field, and not totally tied to PR. But it's really interesting when you're talking about bringing so much visibility to your internal team. Is your internal team cool with that? Do you have to figure out how to work with them? Or they're so excited, and they can't wait? What's the dynamic when you want to highlight your people? Rachel Ratchford: You're right. That is not unique to PR because we want speakers for trade shows and people to join our webinars. Some people love the spotlight. It's true from customer marketing to like sussing out those customers who you can really amplify to become references and champions with your brand. Some people love it. They see it as a personal brand-building exercise and want to add it to their resume. They are all about it, and that's great. Some people are much more hesitant and reluctant and want to do a lot more prep; they want to know exactly the questions they will have to talk about or respond to. I love doing both. It can be a little bit easier to just go with the super extroverted people who love to be the center of attention. Or natural spokespeople; I'm not saying that every spokesperson was looking for attention, but some of the best spokespeople I've worked with have been the more reluctant ones; my previous company's CTO and Founder were phenomenal. He worked with a speaker coach, and he got better at it over time. He brought a very authentic vibe to his speaking engagements and his press interactions. For my current company, he is not one of the key spokespeople we use regularly. We have a fantastic chief strategy officer, and she's our primary evangelist. But what I do is that sometimes you just talk to someone and they want to talk to the CEO, because they need access to the CEO or founder in order for the articles to run. When he does talk to the press, he's very transparent and authentic, and it carries through, and they can pick up on that. It creates a very positive vibe and a sense that there's no veneer. Those are the people knocking that, and like the engineers, you would often prefer just to let them do their thing. But, if you want them to seem they know what they're talking to, it's okay to be a little bit awkward or a little bit not super comfortable on stage. People can warm to that, as long as it's not painful for everybody to just leave this month and get this poor person some pee. I'm all about having different personalities that you showcase. It makes even prospective candidates feel like there's a place for them at that company. They don't have to be the person who's begging them to present in the all-hands meeting, which I know you surely are. Kerry Guard: I would rather not. I would rather have some of the co-founders. Rachel Ratchford: But I think that's also really great. I've had a lot of CEOs who were brazen swagger. I've had CEOs that were not, and I think both are wonderful and great to showcase that you don't have to be any one personality type to succeed. Kerry Guard: Exactly. My business partner is more of that swagger. This is really helpful, Rachel. In terms of how you find stories, making them more people and authentic around the human aspect from both internal and external. In terms of the external human, we talk to that a lot about the internal, which is cool. In terms of the external human piece, does that become more about your potential customers? Who are you leaning into there to help fuel your message when you're looking externally? Is that from a people standpoint? Rachel Ratchford: When we're talking about PR, many reporters will say, " I don't just want to talk to vendors. I want an end user." It's like a must in order to get your article to publication. It's tough. Customers are not on our timeframe. They are even if they love our brand; they have their own, usually very demanding jobs. So setting deadlines and getting them to participate in prep calls and stuff, we have to think a lot about what kind of load we give them. I'm also really lucky because our chief strategy officer does a lot of external speaking; she does not feel like a vendor. When you talk to her, she's very good at not just talking about the products but connecting with her audience, talking about the things that matter to them, and being a voice of authority in the industry. We're lucky in that regard. I've been in similar positions at other companies where we had to do much more coaching to get the primary spokesperson to that point. We have some solid spokespeople or other functions, like our delivery director. You’ll talk to him, and he'll riff on anything in the security industry. It doesn't have to be about pen testing, which is what Cobalt does. Customers are the way to go. If we have a juicy story and want major media coverage, we almost always have to have a customer. Kerry Guard: And they jump on board and are cool with it, or you have an agreement? Rachel Ratchford: No. I have another woman on my team who manages our customer marketing program, which is primarily advocacy-focused, getting references, and public-facing references, and she's good at her job. It's tough. They have to love our brand. They have to find something they're passionate about and be comfortable getting on the phone with a reporter. It depends on the app; people get finicky to hear the word press release. I don't know if I can give a quote for a press release. But at the same time, they'll give us a case study, and they're just a little more comfortable with that medium; they're both public and will be externally facing. So I don't necessarily understand why we'd be so comfortable with one over the other. We have had to turn down press opportunities a lot of times. If it's a tight turnaround, and they want a customer, we can't make it work unless the stars are aligned. We happen to have somebody on hand who can comment on that specific thing and wants to, and we've coached them. But it's an honor and a full-time job here at Cobalt to uncover those champions and get them to a place. We understand how we can partner with them on advocacy initiatives. Kerry Guard: I don't know that I run into too many startups and marketing departments that put so much emphasis on PR. It's a huge function of what you do. Rachel Ratchford: We have a very good-minded executive team, but you're right. I was hired at Cobalt right after or before we got series B funding, and that's early for a marketing communications hire. Usually, you're going to focus on product marketing and demand gen because you want to grow that part. You just are growth-focused. I've had the good fortune to be brought on early stage at several companies. It's benefited me in my career because it made me laser-focused on the ROI and the impact of sales. I've learned how to shape these programs in a way that does have a business impact. Kerry Guard: I think that's so cool. I don't know that people look at PRs as the opportunity for that. Is it your visibility into what's going on from a demand-generation standpoint? Or have you built the PR engine over there? What's the connection? For people who are like, "Oh, maybe I should be figuring this out?" What's the connection between the knowledge of knowing the ROI and the sales team and what they need, and then using the PR function to actually and the strategy to drive that through? You've said coverage a lot, but it sounds like it is the top-of-the-funnel piece of that. How do you take somebody from seeing an article or news about you to getting them through that? Almost passing them off to demand generation. It feels like there's a sort of handoff that happens. Rachel Ratchford: Not necessarily a straight handoff. There is connective tissue, but of all the functions within marketing, you would probably be right to say PR is the most removed from specific growth numbers and generating. It does generate demand, but not directly. One example is the web and SEO. A lot of times, when you're looking at search intent, the best top hits for our market category, or even key terms indicative of buying intent for Cobalt. The top hits are not vendor websites. It's like news outlets because they're seen as very authoritative sites. We get a tremendous amount of visibility from strong feature coverage. The top results on how to buy X were our article in a third-party publication or a contributed article we've written, so that's great for us. We've been doing it so well that we're starting to see competitors do it. A couple of our executives have recurring columns in publications, and we now see that the head of marketing at one of our competitors now has a column, which is not a coincidence. They're just trying to bump us from the top buy. For sure, there's an organic search component. We have office hours and pretty good relationships with the sales team. We'll ask them, "What do you want from us?" "We want to see from marketing. What do you need?" I read a lot of articles that quote Ben. Do we do any of that stuff? Yes, we do. I do think that we equip them with the coverage. They don't always see the eternal struggle. You're giving out sales and all this stuff. They don't know what's there. They're not reading it because anything that takes them away from selling their focus on closing deals. You have to tell him what you told him again and again. The things that the company rallies around the most and that we see shared across social or just get a lot of amplification from the internal team are when we win that workplace award and when we get a feature profile in TechCrunch. Those are the things they share across their networks the most—way more than the marketing team releasing a white paper. We get a much broader reach with those more thought-leadership pieces. It's great. Everybody can use them. The people team loves the best workplace badges; we put them on our LinkedIn profile and get more candidates. It's a great employer branding tactic. The sales team will also use things like "Oh, did you see we won this award?" and "I like being on the PR side and knowing what goes into awards." I'm a lot more jaded on them, but they are a great tool for selling. We have directly gotten feature coverage and won awards, where random executive team members will get kudos from our investors, founders, or advisors because they came across something that showcases Cobalt, and I love seeing that stuff. They usually forward it to me. I love to see cobalt in this piece. That's a great quote you have, and people read this stuff. As we sell to more corporate enterprise companies, they want to know that we are not men in a garage. They're looking for industry validation and have analyst research firm coverage. Have you been in the press? Have you won any awards? What are the customer logos on your website? Are you working with established companies? Okay, I'm convinced. I'll talk to the salesperson. All this forms a perfect storm. But it's all somewhat interrelated. It can be tough to measure the impact of things like PR, but that's how we think about it a little bit. Kerry Guard: No, that's incredible. I mean, the validation of it. It's just such powerful and great content for people to share and gain visibility for, and it has a direct impact on SEO, from backlinking to visits from people reading an article and then searching for you. If you were to turn PR off for a week and then measure your SEO before and after, there would be a clear correlation there. Rachel Ratchford: It might take longer than a week. But yes, it would, for sure. We would take a hit. The metrics are so tough. In my last job, the VP of marketing always asked, "How are we going to measure the ROI of PR?" so we would do things like share a voice and had the SOV calculator. And those are such imperfect algorithms. It's a great month of revenge benchmark. But I don't put a ton of stock in the actual because you could have a competitor that put out a piece of news that got a decent pickup, but it was all bots, so it's going to skew the SOV number. I haven't fully cracked that yet. Kerry Guard: Maybe we should hang out and riff on it because I love problems like this. I think they're so interesting. And I say that it wouldn't be part if you can't get to a perfect number. There are some key metrics that I think would, especially when talking about demand, like PR, to me feels like a huge demand generator, which is all about that awareness piece that's top of the funnel and then nurturing people through to that angle and eventually leads. It's not what it's about at the onset. Rachel Ratchford: No, come to Boston. We'll riff on this over drinks. Kerry Guard: Rachel, thank you so much. This was awesome. I had a blast. Before we close out, I have my people's first questions because we're all humans. I feel like that's been such a clear theme throughout our conversation here. It was a better way to wrap up and learn more about who you are outside of being the marketing guru of everything you do. All the hats. Rachel Ratchford: They were mostly headbands. I do have some good hats. I am an avid Peloton enthusiast. I know that's almost becoming cringe these days, but I was a peloton enthusiast. I was spending so much on SoulCycle, and when Peloton came out, I was like, "Oh my god, amazing." And I bought one, and I've never looked back. It has changed my life and helped me get through two pregnancies and the pandemic. And quarantine, to this day, continues to keep me sane. If I have an hour between calls, I can squeeze in a workout, and I have no excuse to pass it up. I can do it in 20 minutes. They have 20 minute classes. I hope to be a Canadian one day. I'm married to one, and I want to get citizenship. Hopefully, we can figure out how to do that one day, and my kids will have dual citizenship. Other than that, I'm a pretty big crossword puzzle nerd. As I said, I have every New York Times app and any New York Times word game. I am a mom, and I have a baby and a toddler, and my baby is just a mega baby. He's huge. He screams like a foghorn. I'm trying to get him to learn some words so he can start asking for some of the things he needs instead of screaming at me. Kerry Guard: I don't miss those days. It was glorious. I'm saving your oldest from your old phone. When they could start asking even for simple things is, like up or more, Rachel Ratchford: Completely. It will be a game changer. Every little milestone gets a bit easier once he starts sleeping through the night. We can get a couple of words in. I'll be a happy camper, but I'll miss these days. Kerry Guard: Rachel, thank you so much. Rachel Ratchford: Thank you so much for having me. And that was my conversation with Rachel Ratchford. Thoughtful, effective messaging seems to be a theme this season. If you'd like to learn more about Rachel, be sure to connect on LinkedIn. The link is in the show notes. Thank you for listening to this episode of Tea Time with Tech Marketing Leaders. If you found this conversation with Rachel helpful, please subscribe, share, and like. I appreciate your support. This episode was brought to you by MKG Marketing. Our agency accelerates the mission of cybersecurity vendors via SEO, digital ads, and analytics. It’s hosted by me, Kerry Guard - CEO and co-founder of MKG. Music mix and mastering done by Austin Ellis. If you'd like to be a guest, please visit mkgmarketinginc.com to apply. Latest from MKG Marketing Nov 21, 2022 Google Analytics 4 is an entirely new analytics platform. Its approach to data collecting, tools, reporting, and interface changes from the previous edition. In this article we discover how to begin working with Google Analytics 4, as well as the interface and functionality available. leadership Oct 7, 2022 Remote Leadership and how to normalize failure Leading remotely is a very different ball game then working in person. Regardless of in person or over Zoom, we need to get more comfortable sharing our mistakes and leadership needs to give space for those errors to be heard then show up and work as a team to course correct. No person is an island. At least, they shouldn't be. Kerry Guard Owner/CEO Sep 15, 2022 What is Google Analytics 4: A User's Guide to the New Analytics System Take a deep dive into what Google Analytics 4 is, the differences between GA 4 and previous versions, the new advantages of GA, and more. Check it out! Get industry news, articles, and tips-and-tricks straight from our experts. Email address We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Results Company Who We Are	42,724
A short course and workbook showing the Colour Harmony Number 88 and the Derwent Lightfast pencils that support it. This short course shows the Triadic colour relationship, colour temperature, and which Derwent Lightfast pencils support the Triadic Red, Yellow, and Blue sub-relationship and temperature. See colour combinations found in this colour sub-relationship. Search and sort them with an interactive chart. What’s in the course? Number 88 – Triadic Red, Yellow, and Blue This short course and workbook will focus on colour harmony number 88. This will show the Triadic Red, Yellow, and Blue colour sub-relationship, and which Derwent Lightfast pencils to use in this relationship. It shows the neutral pencils which support the sub-relationship’s colour temperature. In this short course, you will be provided with written text and video that provide: an introduction to the Triadic colour relationship; an introduction to colour combinations, and 6 colour combinations created in the Triadic Red, Yellow, and Blue colour sub-relationship; a disclaimer about the colour analysis, and the number of Derwent Lightfast pencils in the Triadic Red, Yellow, and Blue colour sub-relationship, and the neutral pencils that support the sub-relationship. You will also get access to: an interactive chart where you can search and sort colour combinations found in this colour harmony. PLUS: You will receive a 18 page pdf course workbook. expands on the course content. It provides you with lists of: the pencils in the 100 Derwent Lightfast range that belong to the Triadic Red, Yellow, and Blue colour sub-relationship on a Red Yellow Blue colour wheel; and the neutral pencils that support the sub-relationship. It also provides: After completing this short course… not be confused about the Triadic colour relationship; not waste time trying to figure out which Derwent Lightfast pencils to use in this colour harmony; not waste time wondering how many colour combinations are possible in this colour harmony; not waste time wondering what those colour combinations look like; not waste your Derwent Lightfast pencils, as you’ll be using all those that support this colour harmony; not feel sick at the thought of choosing colour for your artwork; and not be frustrated as you try to figure out colours, their colour temperatures, and combinations. know the Triadic colour relationship, and its colour temperatures; know what this Colour Harmony and its colour temperature look like; know colour combinations that can be made with this Colour Harmony; see example colour combinations; also you can search and sort colour combinations in seconds; and know which Derwent Lightfast pencils to use in each of those colour combinations. You will have a range of colour choices to use in your art. You will know which Derwent Lightfast pencils to use. You will have a record of your own Derwent Lightfast pencils that you can use again and again when creating your artwork. And… you will not be putting your pencils away. Not after a course? After looking at the information above, you may find that the course format is not for you. If this sounds like you, we have available for purchase a PDF digital download that summarises the information in this course. Click the button below to find out more information. Click here to see the workbook This product has been created to help you get the most use out of your Derwent Lightfast pencils. It has been created independently by a beginner artist who found it hard to choose colour, and was too scared to use their own Derwent Lightfast pencils. This product is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by Derwent. Third party product names, brand names, company names, and logos used in this product are the trademarks ™ or Registered ® trademarks of their respective owners. Our use of them does not imply any affiliation with, or sponsorship or endorsement by them. How much is an Australian dollar? Our prices are in Australian dollars. We include a link to PayPal’s Currency Converter Tool for your convenience. Where can I find PayPal’s currency exchange rates? How long is this course? It takes approximately 8 minutes to view this course’s online content. Reading and using the workbook will add to this timeline. Do I need to have all the pencils in the range to use this course? There is no need to have all the pencils in the range. This series of courses covers the whole pencil range. Pencils in smaller sets are part of the range and are therefore included. Is this analysis independent? The analysis has been created independently. The course series has been created by a beginner who faced a colour block that stopped them progressing as an artist. They use these tools to do their own artwork and are sharing this to help you on your art and craft journey. Please see the colour analysis disclaimer from our website. What if I need more information about this product? We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. To help you with this, we aim to be transparent and provide descriptions about this item so that you are aware of its contents before purchasing. If you have any questions about the product prior to purchase, please contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible. What if I need help? We want your buying experience to be enjoyable, and that you can use your course materials. We worked hard to create this item, with original content. If you need help, you can contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible. How to download the pdf workbook? The workbook is an Adobe PDF document. It is encrypted and allows for printing and accessibility. You may need up to date pdf reader software to download, such as Adobe Reader. It is sized for A4 and allows for all document size printing. However, should you need, you may change your paper size and printing settings via the printer tab on your computer. If you use an electronic reading device (such as Kindle), we encourage you to investigate if pdf documents can be read, and printed prior to your purchasing the course. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably forseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to being a major failure. Please reach out to us at any time after purchase if you have any issues with the product, and we will attempt to remedy the problem for you. Do you offer a refund for this product? A refund request must be received within 30 days of purchase. When requesting a refund, please let us know the issues you are having with the product. We will do our best to help you use the product, or to remedy the problem. Please keep your original purchase invoice/receipt/email, as you will be asked to provide this as proof of purchase. However, please note that your access to this product will be removed once it has been refunded. Please read our Purchase Policy. Where are your Terms and Conditions? Our terms and conditions can be found at the bottom of each page of our website. We include links to them for your convenience below.	7,567
Its not quite a BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc in terms of driving dynamics or interior finishing, but then again its not quite Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, etc. What it does is straddle the difference between these cars and it does it for a great value. Tech Package AWD is the best bang for your buck although with the 2017 and 2018 including all the safety features standard along with Car Play (2018), a 46k AWD base model is a fantastic value! For 50k you get AWD Tech with most of the bells and whistles. Compared to similarly equipped luxury suvs its WAY cheaper. Drives very well, not too sporty but good enough for a kid hauling / semi sporty SUV. You wont be driving this like a Porches Cayenne so dont be confused, its not that kind of SUV but to take a corner a little faster than usual or flooring it on the on-ramp it puts a little smile on your face. Again, the value is key with this car. Interior quality is very good, the car looks pretty nice on the outside too. Finishes are nice looking, not Audi A7 nice but again, much much cheaper with equipped with similar options. 9 speed transmission is slow and cumbersome and somewhat encourages mundane driving but hit the sport button and all that changes. I wish the 7 speed dual clutch in the Hybrid was available in the non-hybrid model for more fun driving but beggers cant be choosers! For a safe, kid hauling / comfortable semi-sporty SUV, this hits the nail on the head. Yeah Id rather be driving a fully equipped Audi A7, but for 70k+, no thanks.… Great vehicle, except for internal functions By Beau \| on Thursday, March 11, 2021 This Acura MDX is great. Ride, performance, looks, etc. are great. The only negative is the internal functions. Using the buttons, switches, etc to turn certain functions is difficult to figure out how to use, to say nothing about setting them while driving. Wipers, speed control, air conditioning etc are some of the functions. Basically all the them… Best quality auto ever owned By Foxcatcher \| on Thursday, March 28, 2019 Have 65,000 miles on this Acura MDX and enjoy the ride so much wish to put another 65,000 miles on such vehicle.…	2,187
Change is the only constant. Everywhere we see, there is a rise in innovations and technological developments in almost all the industries. Any industry that does not adapt to these changes will find it difficult to sustain in the long term. In a way these innovations are being implemented to make companies more efficient and productive. Due to this rising change in technology and automation, companies are getting used to rely on computers and robots to handle large amounts of work. As a result a sizable number of employees with medium-to-low skill knowledge working jobs are being replaced. Thus it is important for employees to develop their skills and expertise and help their company to continue to innovate. The more they learn, the more they can contribute to the success of a company. It is for this very reason that many companies encourage a culture of continuous learning the work place. Everyday newer jobs are being created that are more complex and intellectually demanding than those they replaced. Ultimately employees who cannot learn these skills and are not able to perform according to newer standards may be eventually let go. That’s easier said than done. Learning new skills quickly is definitely useful. But there are so many things to learn at any given point of time that it is increasingly becoming difficult to determine which ones should be prioritized and which should be pushed to be learnt later on. Today there are ‘n’ number of courses and certifications for employees to choose from. But the time for learning is less than 1% of their time, according to Bersin, a division of Deloitte. A recent Harvard Business Review article on how to prioritize the skills to learn suggests applying a time-utility matrix to the subjects you’re interested in learning. It is largely similar to the cost-benefit analysis. In the time-utility matrix, “Time” is the time required for the employee to learn any skill. It is the opportunity cost of gaining competence in that field. And “Utility” stands for how likely is the employee going to actually use that desired skill and improve his performance. The article states how manager’s today waste a large amount of their time on emailing, gathering data, running meetings, and making spreadsheets. Thus the utility in such cases for the managers to improve at these activities is considerably higher. The time-utility matrix is a simple 2×2 matrix with four quadrants: Schedule a block of time for learning it, ideally in your calendar: high utility, high time-to-learn Learn it as the chance arises — on a commute, lunch break, and so on: low utility, low time-to-learn Decide whether you need to learn it: low utility, high time-to-learn Here the HBR article explains the matrix by giving an example of learning new Excel skills and tricks. It can however be used by anyone to prioritize which skills they need to learn to improve their efficiency. In your day to day life, which skills do you think would help you the most? It could be anything from shaping your personality to become more assertive in team meetings to organizing your daily activities in a more efficient manner. Whatever the skills are, you can assign approximate scores for time (to learn) and utility for each of these and note it down in their respective quadrants. Skills that are marked in the bottom-right quadrant have a higher utility and provide quick wins. These wins are necessary to motivate you from time to time. Whereas the top right quadrant titled “Schedule a block of time for learning it” consists of highly important skills that are necessary for your career. However due to their nature and complexity, these skills require a considerable amount of time for completion. The top left quadrant consists of skills that require more time to learn but have a lesser utility. That is, while you may spend a considerable amount of time and efforts on learning these skills, they will be of little use to improve your efficiency in your daily activities. Lastly, the bottom left quadrant hosts those skills which are not particularly useful but they can be learnt within a short amount of time. In this age of continuous learning, the time-utility matrix is designed to help you grow and develop your skills according to the time you have at hand. The beauty of this matrix is that it can be used by individuals as well as larger number of teams in the organisation. How would you utilize it? ← Previous Post Next Post → 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. Related Blogs 3 ways to make your organization hyper-productive 5 offbeat activities to boost employee engagement The fact is that, when your employees are engaged having a good time at work, their creative limits will know no boundaries. Unfortunately, almost 71 percent of all employees are ... Productivity May 31, 2016 7 Virtues of Highly Effective Managers We all know that Managers are in a position to be the difference between a dull and a kick-ass team. They are leaders of their teams. They not only set the direction of their ... Stay Updated with latest news at UpRaise Your email will be safe and secure in our database Email Address Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions. Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again. We build software products to help teams increase efficiency, enhance collaboration & achieve ambitious goals	5,748
Ship Management International Feature on CMT - Engaging with the seafarers of tomorrow - Clyde Marine Training Deck Officer Cadetships Study at a Top Nautical College City of Glasgow College South Shields Marine School Warsash Maritime School Scottish Maritime Academy Shipping Companies Events Ship Management International Feature on CMT – Engaging with the seafarers of tomorrow We were delighted to be approached by the prestigious shipping publication Ship Management International, to be involved in a feature they were producing around the future of the Merchant Navy for their latest issue, and in particular it’s recruitment practices. Clyde Marine Training Director, Colin McMurray and General Manager, Katy Womersley were interviewed for the feature, and you can read the article below. Engaging with the seafarers of tomorrow The current Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted just how important digital connectivity is, especially with younger seafarers and the cadets of tomorrow, according to Katy Womersley, General Manager at UK-based Clyde Marine Training (CMT). “Being visible is probably our biggest objective, not just online but through College Open Days, school visits, careers events/exhibitions around the UK, and through initiatives that we are passionate about, such as Buoyed Up and Primary Engineering. “These latter face-to-face activities have obviously had to take a back-seat in the current situation we face, but it has emphasised just how important the digital connection is with a younger audience, and how important it is to effectively utilise these online platforms.” She said social media had also been a very important tool in reaching a younger audience, and such platforms were used to post career opportunities and show films highlighting the diversity of roles available in the maritime sector. And in a world where many other new, exciting industries are cropping up, shipping is having to up its game to continue to attract new cadets. “We have observed how the shipping industry as a whole is working together to take stock and review how we showcase the training and careers cadets will receive, and there is a concerted effort to modernise the industry wherever possible to meet the expectations of gen Z, such as the introduction of electronic Training Record Books through to simulator training and online distance learning,” said Ms Womersley. Colin McMurray, CMT Director, added: “We still strongly believe that the shipping industry offers one of the most diverse and exciting career paths today. The global marketplace continues to expand, and international economies depend upon shipping for their sustainability and growth. This continued demand for shipping means flow of jobs and career opportunities. “We are also constantly reviewing and benchmarking our selection processes to get exceptional candidates. This means using data to support our decisions and also the increased use of technology through digitalisation to speed up many of the processes involved. There is no point in showing the bridge of a ship and all its technology and then using a paper application form! This way we remain competitive in the eyes of potential delegates.” Like many companies, CMT is now working remotely from home but Mr McMurray said this doesn’t mean the recruitment process had ground to a halt. Instead, it expects to conduct over 200 interviews via Skype before the end of May. “If this recent crisis has shown us anything, it is the sector’s ability to adapt, and I firmly believe this required shift to online learning will become a fixture of learning in years to come, and again fits very well with the generation of prospective officers,” added Ms Womersley. CMT is also aspiring to engage school pupils with a variety of projects, which it will resume when safe to do so. These include ‘Primary Engineer’ which, over the last 12 years, has created an engineering curriculum for Early Years education. CMT was approached to become involved in the programme three years ago and its direct participation has seen its training officers – ex-Marine Engineers – going into selected schools to provide guidance and experience in assisting pupils with the projects they are working on. “We make it a point to not overtly push marine engineering at this stage, as we see the bigger picture of getting primary school children enthused with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects, and companies like ourselves will benefit from a larger pool of diverse, engaged and excited participants in future years,” said Ms Womersley. Another initiative for Early Years is Buoyed Up, which looks to raise the aspirations and opportunities open to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and hopefully introduce them to opportunities that would perhaps not have been clear or open to them. “Quite literally, a busload of children from selected schools around Glasgow have visited us on a regular basis and took part in various exercises conducted throughout the day by management including myself, and training officers, that have a marine theme,” explained Ms Womersley. McMurray said these two initiatives dovetailed perfectly with CMT’s already established relationships with the nautical colleges and universities. CMT is also in the final stages of completing a Virtual Reality technology project with one of its sister companies to be used at events, to allow potential candidates to visualise directly what a career at sea looks like. He said it was a worry that young people would be swayed into other industries such as technology but CMT was working closely with partner organisations such as the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), UK Chamber of Shipping, maritime colleges, shipping companies and maritime clusters to create workshops and focus groups to evaluate the current offering at all entry levels and ensure standards and training speak to a modern audience. “We try to sell the bigger picture and the many routes that are open to cadets when they qualify as an Officer. Not only can you progress at sea to prestigious roles such as Chief Engineer and Captain, you have a plethora of on-shore career options after serving at sea – technical roles, brokerage, insurance, law and training,” said Mr McMurray. “We also emphasise the fact that it’s a fantastically well-paid career compared to many industries, and the potential for travel is tremendous.” Ms Womersley believes there is “still some work to do” to make sure the industry is more welcoming and all-encompassing in a sense of gender diversity. “With changing technology, physicality isn’t as important, and this opens up genuine opportunity for females to take up roles that would never have been considered in the past.” CMT is involved in the Women in Maritime initiatives, run by Maritime UK, but, she said, it was not just about gender but about diversity in terms of background, which is why programmes like Buoyed Up are so important. Founded in 1986, CMT was set up as a direct consequence of the acute shortage of officer cadets entering the Merchant Navy. Through the hands of Managing Director Joyce Downie and now Colin McMurray since 2004, the business has grown to be the UK’s largest Maritime Training Provider, managing 50% of all Merchant Navy officer Cadets in the country at any one time. CMT currently has over 800 cadets in training, representing over 50 clients, and works with nautical training colleges throughout the UK. In 2016, the Northern Marine Group acquired the Clyde Group and CMT became a part of the wider Stena Sphere. “This has allowed the business to further flourish and has provided an internal support platform of significant ability and scale,” said Mr McMurray. Ms Womersley said Humber Maritime College had recently joined the roster of nautical colleges. “To see a new college coming into the sector, and one with such a fresh take on how training should be shaped for the future, highlights the strength and attractiveness of the industry,” she said.	8,427
Wi-Fi Alliance announces 802.11ah HaLow; longer range, lower power connectivity for connected cars and other applications IH2 biomass-to-liquid hydrocarbons technology licensed to leading European company 06 January 2016 At CES 2016, NVIDIA introduced NVIDIA DRIVE PX 2—a high-performance computing platform for in-vehicle artificial intelligence applied to the complexities inherent in autonomous driving. DRIVE PX 2 utilizes deep learning on NVIDIA’s most advanced GPUs for 360-degree situational awareness around the car, to determine precisely where the car is and to compute a safe, comfortable trajectory. DRIVE PX 2—which delivers processing power equivalent to 150 MacBook Pros—uses two next-generation Tegra processors plus two next-generation discrete GPUs, based on the Pascal architecture, to deliver up to 24 trillion deep learning operations per second, which are specialized instructions that accelerate the math used in deep learning network inference. That’s more than 10 times the computational horsepower than the previous-generation DRIVE PX. Jen-Hsun Huang, co-founder and CEO, NVIDIA, introducing the DRIVE PX 2 at CES 2016. Click to enlarge. For general purpose floating point operations, DRIVE PX 2’s multi-precision GPU architecture is capable of up to 8 trillion operations per second—more than four times more than the previous-generation product. This enables partners to address the full breadth of autonomous driving algorithms, including sensor fusion, localization and path planning. It also provides high-precision compute when needed for layers of deep learning networks. DRIVE PX 2’s deep learning capabilities enable it quickly to learn how to address the challenges of everyday driving, such as unexpected road debris, erratic drivers and construction zones. Deep learning also addresses numerous problem areas where traditional computer vision techniques are insufficient, such as poor weather conditions like rain, snow and fog, and difficult lighting conditions like sunrise, sunset and extreme darkness. Self-driving cars use a broad spectrum of sensors to understand their surroundings. DRIVE PX 2 can process the inputs of 12 video cameras, plus LiDAR, radar and ultrasonic sensors. It fuses them to detect objects accurately, to identify them, to determine where the car is relative to the world around it, and then to calculate its optimal path for safe travel. This complex work is facilitated by NVIDIA DriveWorks, a suite of software tools, libraries and modules that accelerates development and testing of autonomous vehicles. DriveWorks enables sensor calibration, acquisition of surround data, synchronization, recording and then processing streams of sensor data through a complex pipeline of algorithms running on all of the DRIVE PX 2’s specialized and general-purpose processors. Software modules are included for every aspect of the autonomous driving pipeline, from object detection, classification and segmentation to map localization and path planning. NVIDIA delivers an end-to-end solution—consisting of NVIDIA DIGITS and DRIVE PX 2—for both training a deep neural network, as well as deploying the output of that network in a car. DIGITS is a tool for developing, training and visualizing deep neural networks that can run on any NVIDIA GPU-based system—from PCs and supercomputers to Amazon Web Services and the recently announced Facebook Big Sur Open Rack-compatible hardware. The trained neural net model runs on NVIDIA DRIVE PX 2 within the car. Since NVIDIA delivered the first-generation DRIVE PX last summer, more than 50 automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, developers and research institutions have adopted NVIDIA’s AI platform for autonomous driving development. Using NVIDIA's DIGITS deep learning platform, in less than four hours we achieved over 96 percent accuracy using Ruhr University Bochum’s traffic sign database. While others invested years of development to achieve similar levels of perception with classical computer vision algorithms, we have been able to do it at the speed of light. The DRIVE PX 2 development engine will be generally available in the fourth quarter of 2016. Availability to early access development partners will be in the second quarter. During the press conference, Huang announced that Volvo will be the first automaker to deploy DRIVE PX 2. In a public trial of autonomous driving, the Swedish automaker next year will lease to customers 100 XC90 luxury SUVs outfitted with DRIVE PX 2 technology. The technology will help the vehicles drive autonomously around Volvo’s hometown of Gothenburg, and semi-autonomously elsewhere. AdasWorks worked with Volvo to help create a system that processes data from multiple sensors in real time to provide 360-degree detection of lanes, vehicles, pedestrians, signs and more, enabling a variety of autopilot functions. Posted on 06 January 2016 in Autonomous driving, Controls and controllers, Driver Assistance Systems, Sensors \| Permalink \| Comments (7) Comments Tesla also uses Nvidia but a very old Tegra 3 processor that was state of the art in 2012 when Model S came to life. Hopefully we will see Nvidia's new baby in the next autopilot hardware upgrade for Model S and X. As I see it the signs are getting more obvious every year that autonomous cars are coming. You have now got autonomous vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers and Space X just succeeded making an autonomous space rocket. Wars are increasingly fought with largely autonomous drones. I read 98% of Tesla's customers for Q4,2015 ordered the autopilot option which is a 2500 USD option. Autopilot is an extremely wanted feature. I expect a premium autopilot option probably costing 10,000 USD may come in the future that can pay for a much more powerful autopilot solution with the hardware needed for fully autonomous driving. I also expect rapid development of autopilot capabilities in the coming years and full autonomous driving by 2020 for Tesla's vehicles but probably as late as 2025 for everybody else. After that it will be nearly impossible to sell a car or order a taxi that isn´t fully self-driving. Tesla's current autopilot is hardware version 1, and the software is still beta version 1. It is like the iPhone 1 with beta iOS1. It totally sucks by today's standard yet that first iPhone was released just 7 years ago. I expect Tesla's autopilot to progress equally fast because the autopilot sensors and computers will be updated on an annual basis and the software can be updated on a continuous basis using OTA updates which Tesla is still the only car maker in the world that has for its autopilot system. I do not see battery tech develop as quickly as autopilot systems and I doubt we will ever go much below 100 USD per kwh. Once Tesla's 50Gwh factory is fully operational in 2020 Tesla will be at 130 to 150 USD per kwh at the pack level and it will get very hard to go further down in price going forward. The self-owned BEV does therefore not make sense for mass market adoption as it will need a 100 kwh battery pack costing at least 10,000 USD to have the all weather range that everyone can accept as a no compromise alternative to a cheap gasser costing 15,000 USD. So such a 100kwh BEV will cost at least 25,000 USD and still not be better than the 15000 USD gasser. In other words, owner BEVs is likely never to become mass market cars. The only economically viable solution is to share the high capital cost of the BEV among many and that implies autonomous BEV taxis that can also save cost by being right sized. If you need transportation for one that is exactly what you get when you order such a ride using your Smartphone. Expect 15 to 20 cents per mile or about half the total cost of owning and driving a cheap gasser. My excitement for autonomous cars is high because it will end oil and all the pollution that follows with it and it will also save most of the 1.2 million people that are killed every year in traffic accidents and millions more that are severely injured. Plus people will save an hour or more per day that can be used for better things than driving a car. I really cannot see any other technology that is equally important and that is so close to happen. Posted by: Account Deleted \| 06 January 2016 at 03:47 AM I hope you are wrong about the 10k price at the same time suprised that the current offering is so cheap.WE are used to seeing capability improvements in the order of magnitude for the same cost or less as a wage percentage."autopilot option probably costing 10,000 USD" Over the few years you are suggesting, wages may not increase at all except for the top earners and chattering classes. They will probably have several vehicles garaged at each of the properties but as they are rarely driven they don't represent so highly in accident statistics. You then say. BEV does therefore not make sense for mass market adoption as it will need a 100 kwh battery pack costing at least 10,000 USD" Again a cost that makes a BEV unviable is comparable to the cost of a state of the art or current and up to date autonomous option? Regulation will insist the gasser at 10k is as clean and as safe as the reg's require that won't be optional - even for VW. At the start of the last century Henry Ford understood that if his workers could no afford to own the product they create, that he would not have a market. I can agree with much of your 'facts but together they don't add up. " pollution that follows with it and it will also save most of the 1.2 million people that are killed every year in traffic accidents and millions more that are severely injured. Plus people will save an hour or more per day that can be used for better things than driving a car." Remember the roads are owned and shared by all of us so the 'well off' are not exempt from the statistics. The rest will still need to get to work and will be commuting longer distances so the elderly, disability, other impaired will either represent an increasing hazard or be forced to walk? I make the same old argument. Is the fence around the Asylum / Prison / gated community there to keep the undesirables out or in? How are everyone’s interests best served? Finally With regards the Autonomous future I do think it will be possible for A.I. to compete with the highest skilled operators on our road. I won't be an early adopter though I will wait for the capability to "safely land a passenger plane on the Hudson" version. Posted by: Arnold \| 06 January 2016 at 12:36 PM The first fully autonomous options for cars will cost at least 10k USD because they need to be redundant meaning two or three of everything related to that driving system. The 2.5k USD option for Tesla's current autopilot system is less because it is not redundant and it only has a small fraction of the high quality sensors and supercomputers needed for full autonomy. Don't worry about the minimum 10k USD markup for BEV drive and another 10k USD markup for fully autonomous drive. 90% of the population will skip ownership of cars and just use autonomous taxis, buses and trucks instead for all of their transportation needs. They will be cheaper than private ownership because they are shared among many, because they have low fuel costs using electricity instead of gasoline, because they are right sized for the transportation job in mind, because they have low insurance cost as they nearly never are involved in accidents and because they as BEVs are 5 times more durable than gassers. 90% of the population will use them and never own a car or acquire a driver license because they are by far the easiest, safest and least costly way to go anywhere. The only cost you need to worry about is the cost per mile that will be about 15 to 20 cents per person for an autonomous ride. Posted by: Account Deleted \| 06 January 2016 at 01:47 PM This is the equivalent to putting a super computer in the car 30 years ago. Posted by: SJC \| 07 January 2016 at 05:39 AM SJC the first teraflops supercomputer came to life in 1997. It was a million watt monster occupying a hole house. This shoebox probably uses less than 100 watt and is 25 time faster. Posted by: Account Deleted \| 07 January 2016 at 08:19 AM You are right, I worked in high tech and image processing for decades. Posted by: SJC \| 07 January 2016 at 09:12 AM Most of the computing power required will soon be available from improved smart phones or phablets or laptops. Their large touch displays could also replace the car dashboard display. Low cost redundant electronic hardware availability will not be the main problem for autonomous drive vehicles. Virus proof effective software, more efficient sensors and couplers will need further development.	13,083
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, Mountain View, New York, Austin, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Singapore, Jakarta, São Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo. At TikTok, our people are humble, intelligent, compassionate and creative. We create to inspire - for you, for us, and for more than 1 billion users on our platform. We lead with curiosity and aim for the highest, never shying away from taking calculated risks and embracing ambiguity as it comes. Here, the opportunities are limitless for those who dare to pursue bold ideas that exist just beyond the boundary of possibility. Join us and make impact happen with a career at TikTok. The Monetization Strategy organization provides business critical insights using analytics and financial modeling, ensures cross-functional alignment of goals and execution, and helps teams drive strategic initiatives forward. We stay focused on aligning the highest-level company priorities with effective day-to-day operations, and help evolve early-stage ideas into future-growth initiatives. Act as the key strategy partner to our monetization team focusing on various advertiser segments Partner closely with leadership to drive high impact projects Conduct external market research to better understand the competitive, macro, and industry landscape Conduct in-depth analysis that helps the business better understand key value drivers and growth opportunities. Measure and track business financial performance, ensure financial healthiness of business operations Manage key initiatives on a project basis and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams in the US Qualifications Qualifications: 3-8 years of experience in corporate strategy, management consulting or investment banking. Demonstrable analytical skills, ideally with experience of BI tools. Solid research & critical thinking skills, and ability to drive insights. Excellent communication and project management skills, with experience interacting and building relationships with executive-level stakeholders. Self-motivation, comfort with ambiguity and cross-cultural environment, adaptability to change, roll-up-the-sleeves attitude and other helpful qualities for a high-growth environment TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too. TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or an accommodation, please reach out to us at [email protected] The base salary range for this position in New York City is $125000 - $220000 annually. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, restricted stock units, as well as a comprehensive benefits package. How to apply To apply for this job you need to authorize on our website. If you don't have an account yet, please register.	3,687
Choosing the right web development technology for your project can be daunting. With so many options available, it’s important to take the time to assess your needs and determine which technology will best meet those needs. There are many different frameworks available from leading web development companies, so it’s important to choose one that works well with your chosen language and offers the features you need. You will need to choose a database where your application data will be stored. There are many options available, so it’s important to choose one that works well with the other technologies you use and offers the features you need. By taking the time to carefully consider your needs and choosing the right web development services for your project, you can ensure that your project is a success. What is Technology Stack In its simplest form, a technology stack is a collection of software tools and technologies used to create a complete product or solution. The term “stack” refers to the layered nature of these products, with each layer built on top of the other. For example, a core web application might include a set of technologies such as an operating system, a web server, a database, and a programming language. More complex applications may include additional layers such as cache servers, load balancers, and front-end interfaces. The specific technologies used in the stack will vary depending on the needs of the project. However, some common examples include Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (known as the “LAMP” stack). Ultimately, the goal of the technology stack is to provide all the necessary components to build and run a successful application. The front-end interface is the part of the application that users see and interact with. A graphical user interface (GUI) allows users to navigate the application and access its features and functions. The front-end interface must be easy to use and intuitive, otherwise, users will quickly become frustrated and stop using the application. The front-end interface is created using a variety of technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These technologies work together to create an interactive and visually appealing user experience. In order to create a successful front-end interface, developers must understand how people interact with technology. Only then can they create an interface that is both user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. A back-end interface is a point of interaction between a user and a computer program, typically providing access to data or information stored on a server. It is usually contrasted with the front-end interface, the point of interaction between the user and the graphical user interface (GUI). Back-end interfaces are often text-based, although they can also be web-based or provide access to an application programming interface (API). Although back-end interfaces are usually not as user-friendly as front-end interfaces, they can provide more user flexibility and customization options. As such, back-end interfaces are often used by developers and power users who need to access data or systems that are not easily accessible through a GUI. Middleware connects different applications or systems for efficient communication and data exchange between software components and services. Middleware is often used in distributed systems and is important in providing interoperability between different platforms. In addition, middleware can facilitate system security, performance, scalability, and availability. There are many different types of middleware, such as web middleware, application server middleware, database middleware, and messaging middleware. Each type of middleware serves a specific purpose and can be categorized based on its functionality. The most popular technology for web development There are several factors to consider when choosing a technology stack for your project. However, some stacks have become more popular than others in recent years. Here are some of the most popular technology stacks in use today: You can choose from several programming languages and frameworks for web application development. One of the most popular options is. NET. Here are just a few reasons why .NET is often the best choice for web development projects: It is powerful and versatile – it helps in several development projects It’s easy to learn and use, making it ideal for developers of all experience levels It offers a robust set of tools and libraries that can help improve the efficiency and quality of your code It is supported by a large and active community of developers who are always willing to help with any issues you may encounter Overall, .NET is a great choice for web development projects, large and small. Whether you are new to web development services or an experienced developer looking for a reliable and efficient platform, .NET is worth considering. Laravel is a PHP framework for modern web applications. It is one of the most popular PHP frameworks that provides MVC architecture for web development. Laravel has several advantages over other frameworks, including its expressive syntax, enabling rapid application development, and ease of use. Laravel also offers several features that make it an ideal choice for web development, such as its routing, validation, and templating system. Additionally, Laravel integrates with several third-party libraries and services, making it a very versatile web development platform. As a result, Laravel is the best technology for web development and an excellent choice for anyone looking to develop a modern web app. PHP is a widely used open-source scripting language specifically designed for web development. It is a server-side scripting language that can be embedded in HTML. PHP can be used to develop dynamic web pages that can interact with databases. It also offers advanced features like session handling, file uploading, networking, etc. PHP is simple and easy to learn, making it an ideal choice for web development. In addition, PHP is highly efficient and can be used on all major operating systems and web servers. As a result, PHP has become one of the most sought-after technologies used for web development. Many web developers have adopted Node.js for web development. Node.js is an environment for running JavaScript on the server side. It is efficient because it can handle many requests with minimal overhead due to its non-blocking, event-driven nature. Additionally, it uses the same language for both front-end and back-end, making development more efficient. Also, because it uses JavaScript, a very popular language, there is a lot of community support that makes it easy to learn and solve problems. In addition, many developers already know JavaScript, which makes it easier for them to develop Node.js. As a result, using Node.js for web development is becoming more and more popular because it is efficient and has a lot of community support. Java is a versatile and powerful programming language that is ideal for use in web development. It is easy to understand and has many features, making it an ideal choice for creating dynamic web applications. Java is platform-independent, can run on any operating system, and supports a variety of web browsers. In addition, Java is extremely reliable and secure, making it ideal for developing mission-critical applications. And because it’s so widely used, a large community of developers can provide support and help. For all these reasons, Java is an excellent choice for building robust and scalable web applications. Python is a general-purpose language used for a variety of applications, including web development. One of the main advantages of using Python for web development is its extensive ecosystem of libraries and frameworks. It helps developers create websites with the functionality they need. Plus, Python is easy to learn and use, making it a great choice for experienced developers and those just starting out. Python is ideal for developing robust websites and feature-rich web applications. Sharepoint allows developers to share and access files from a central location; It helps reduce the risk of losing or misplacing files. In addition, Sharepoint makes it easy to track file changes and provides version history, making it easy to revert to the previous 3 types of technology stack: Middleware version if needed. Sharepoint also offers a wide range of features that can be used to develop custom solutions for clients. With a flexible permission model, Sharepoint makes it easy to control who has access to which features, making it an ideal platform for developing confidential or sensitive applications. Additionally, Sharepoint’s search capabilities make it easy for users to find the information they need, even in large data sets. Overall, Sharepoint is the best web development technology that can make web development much easier. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows developers to create websites and blogs quickly and easily. WordPress is written in PHP and uses a MySQL database to store data. WordPress is free and open-source software released under the GPL license. WordPress is used by millions of people around the world, including many large organizations such as The Guardian, Forbes, and The New York Times. WordPress is popular because it is easy to use, has a large community of developers and users, and offers a wide range of features. Developers can extend the functionality of WordPress by creating plugins and themes. All these features have made it one of the best technologies used for web development. A popular content management system (CMS) allows users to easily create and manage website content. Drupal is used by some of the world’s largest organizations, including Coca-Cola, Tesla, and the United Nations. While Drupal is a powerful website content management tool, it offers several advantages for web developers. First, Drupal is open source, which means it is free to download and use by anyone. Second, Drupal is highly modular, making it easy to add or remove features as needed. Third, Drupal has many built-in features, including user management, security, and workflow tools. Finally, Drupal has an active community of users and developers who are always ready to help. In short, Drupal is an excellent choice for web development projects of all sizes. Consequences of choosing the wrong technology Choosing the wrong technology stack for a web application can have serious consequences. Not only will this lead to increased development costs, but it can also result in a subpar product that is difficult to maintain and scale. In addition, the use of outdated or unsupported technology can make it difficult to find qualified developers, further exacerbating the problem. To avoid these pitfalls, it is essential to carefully consider the project requirements and select a web app development company in UK that works on the appropriate technology stack. A little foresight helps avoid costly mistakes in choosing the wrong technology. Factors to consider when choosing a technology package for web development There are many factors to consider when choosing a technology stack for web development. The first is the purpose of the application. Is it for a simple website, a complex web application, or something in between? Another factor is the target group. Who will use the app? Is it intended for a general audience or specific groups of users? Another important factor is the budget. How much money is available for development and maintenance? Once these factors are considered, choosing the right technology stack becomes easier. For example, open-source technologies may be the best choice if cost is a major concern. A few main factors in choosing the right technology stack for your project: Size and type of project Time to shop the skills and expertise of your development team Development costs Conversely, a proprietary solution may be more appropriate if speed and scalability are paramount. Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing a technology package. The best approach is to carefully consider all relevant factors before making a decision. Now that you know the main types of web development technologies and their key features, it’s time to start thinking about the best web development technologies that are right for your project. You require a deep understanding of the required tools and technologies from a web development company. Now you have been aware of the web development technology that best suits your project. If you want to start your new project with these technologies, Moon Technolabs. hire a web application developer and get the results you want.	12,988
Minotaur Books is about to release a new fiction novel called The Gatekeeper. The book is an adventure story set on the central California coast revolving around a British ex-soldier and sometimes mercenary. It includes a working (but soon to be decommissioned) nuclear power plant, a nearby small town taken over by militiamen, rogue US military units and a controlling secret organization with Russian dealings. All in all, it is a lively tale with nonstop action, suspense, humor and even romance. The author is a local journalist in Portland and this is his first book. He is using the pseudonym “James Byrne” to distinguish his book authorship from his ongoing journalism job. He spoke with The Southeast Examiner about his background and several aspects of his book. “My wife and I live in downtown Portland. My wife is Portland, born and raised, and I’ve lived around here since college,” said Byrne. Having worked in journalism and politics for over 20 years, he has also traveled extensively abroad. Bryne mentioned that no characters in the book were based on real people. However, besides his own considerable imagination, he did have several influences for the plot and action. “I love the classic adventure novels and movies of the 19th and 20th century. Stuff like Beau Geste, The Count of Monte Christo and Casa Blanca. And I learned huge lessons about pacing, character, dialogue, suspense and reveals, and the choreography of a fight from Modesty Blaise (a British comic strip about a feminine James Bond type character by Peter O’Donnell in the 1960’s).” When asked about his use of the term “gatekeeper” and what it meant, Byrnes clarified, “The book The Gatekeeper refers to Dez, the main character. Dez’s specialty is this: he can open any door, keep it open for as long as he likes, and control who does – and doesn’t – go through it. He’s a breach expert (a gatekeeper). These jobs do exist in special forces units.” “My journalism makes me a much faster novelist than most,” Byrnes added. Consequently he stated he was able to write the first draft of “a 350-page novel in about three months.” In fact, even though this first book is only about to be released, he already has a sequel prepared. “Happy to say it’s written and in the hands of my editor at Minotaur Books. And I’m 200 or so pages into book three.” Byrne credits his journalism experience and the research it involves, along with his own sense of humor and imagination, for his success in writing The Gatekeeper. Regarding the primary character, “I really wanted to create an action/adventure hero who’s good in a fight, and smart, and loyal, and all that, of course. But who’s also a bit of a goofball. I gotta say, I love writing Dez. He’s a lot of fun!” Byrnes spoke highly of Portland and its future. “My wife and I love it. It’s weird and funky, and friendly, and a small town cleverly disguised as a big city. Is Portland a little beat-up after the pandemic and the protests, the wildfires and the heat dome, and the homelessness woes? Sure. No question. Did we ever consider packing up and leaving? Not for one second. Portland’s coming back. And we’ll be here for the ride.” Pre-orders of The Gatekeeper are available at jamesbyrnethriller.com. The book will be released for sale as of June 7 at local booksellers like Powell’s and Barnes and Noble, as well as at bit.ly/ByrneTheGatekeeper. June 13, 2022 June 13, 2022 \| Feature Stories \| David Krogh, James Byrne, The Gatekeeper ← Previous Post Next Post → 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. November 2022 Download or View Support Our Advertisers The Southeast Examiner wants to hear from you! We would like to hear your thoughts about the paper and our online presence. Drop us a line at examiner@seportland.news or visit Our Online Survey Here.	4,073
While our most recent medical mission trip to Cap Haitien departed on March 24th, it actually started the week before with a suitcase packing party. With each trip, we have to weigh the pros and cons of taking items versus buying in country. Can we get the medicines we need in country? Will the medicines have the same effectiveness if not regulated by the FDA? To alleviate these concerns, we’ve had medicines from Haiti (usually supplied by companies in India) laboratory tested and we’ve determined which ones should be bought in country and which must be hand-carried there. The packing party filled six suitcases of medical items. Medical supplies waiting to be packed for the trip Bags all packed and ready for the airport Some of you may have seen our fundraiser for baggage fees on these suitcases. American Airlines is the only international airline that flies into Cap Haitien, and unfortunately, will not offer us any type of discount or waiver of baggage fees. On the morning of March 24th, our team entered the airport fully intending to pay an exorbitant fee for all the medical supplies, but a kind-hearted check-in agent heard our story and waived our baggage fees completely! The money raised for baggage fees could then be spent where it is needed much, much more – for medications purchased in Haiti. What an amazing start to the trip! On Saturday and Sunday, the team of American and Haitian providers and nurses, along with translators, worked at New Hope Hospital. This was the first Espwa medical team in Haiti since the grand opening of the hospital, so this opened up a whole new way to serve more patients. Our Espwa Medical Director, Jen Schmidt, relayed a story about a patient who evidenced signs of cholera, a terrible water-borne disease that ravages the digestive system and can lead to severe dehydration and death. The patient had traveled very far just to get to New Hope Hospital, where the team was able to pump him with fluids and antibiotics, before being transferred to the nearest cholera treatment center. Schmidt said, “New Hope Hospital saved that man’s life.” In an area that has never had hospital coverage, the aptly named New Hope Hospital is like a beacon of hope. Over the two day period, the team saw more than 200 patients. View in front of New Hope Hospital The indoor waiting area of the hospital A newborn in for her first checkup! The Espwa team with the nursing staff at the hospital Starting on Monday, the team returned to the site of one of Espwa’s first projects, St. Anthony’s Clinic. Although separated by only around 20 miles, the clinic was a night-and-day change from New Hope. Without labs and testing or an extensive pharmacy, the team had to rely on their experience in the field – all members of the team have been on medical trips with Espwa in the past – coupled with Dr. Maklin’s intimate knowledge of common Haitian illnesses. St. Anthony’s is always one of our stops, so many familiar faces greeted the team members. All told, another 200 patients were seen on Monday and Tuesday at St. Anthony’s. The team of providers, nurses, and translators poses at St. Anthony’s The Espwa team – Haitian and American Each child received a bag of multivitamins – thanks to all who donated them! After a down day on Wednesday, the team served its final day in the Blue Hills community on Thursday. The team set up a makeshift clinic at the local school building, similar to that of past trips. The school’s proprietor, Thomas Dieuseul, had a new baby of his own this time around and the team was happy to see her thriving. The team had a very full day and was able to see over 200 patients at Blue Hills, while furthering our relationship with the community. Smiling after receiving a new toothbrush and toothpaste The team safely arrived back home on Friday, March 31st after a week of serving at three locations, seeing over 600 patients, and deepening relationships with both our Haitian medical counterparts and the communities we serve. We keep coming back, because we’re in it for the long-term. Special thanks to Dr. Eugene Maklin who fights the battle for positive change in the Cap Haitien medical community each and every day. Until next time! Posts January 2017 Trip Report Published: January 15, 2017 ~ 0 From January 4 – 8, 2017, we sent a team of four individuals down to Cap Haitien, Haiti. The purpose of the trip was to provide training to some of our Haitian team members, as well as explore a few areas that could develop into projects in the future. At the training event, all of our main project leads were in attendance: Frantz Louis-Charles (Haitian Creole Tour, Peace & Joy), Dr. Eugene Maklin (New Hope Hospital, St. Anthony’s Clinic), Jovenel Joseph (Farming), Paul Guerrier (Peace & Joy), and Pastor Benjamin Fleurant (EBAC Church). While our project leads do speak English at varying proficiencies, we also had two translators to assist. The training session covered many of the principles our organization supports, such as knowing the different stages of poverty alleviation (relief, rehabilitation, and development), as well as ways to avoid paternalism and show dignity to those we serve. Our goal was to better prepare our liaisons on the ground in selecting projects that fall within our mission statement. After a full morning of training, the team all went to lunch and kept the discussion going. Brady Cillo leads the training session with Espwa project liaisons Brady Cillo, Espwa’s Special Projects Director, said of the training, “I felt honored to be able to talk through poverty alleviation with our Haitian project leads. These folks have lived through poverty and had some great insights. It was also an amazing opportunity for brainstorming and connecting some of our diverse projects.” As Cillo observed, the training allowed our project leads to share ideas and discuss how their varying projects could interact. For instance, the New Hope Hospital has extra land that could be used for farming, and the crops could be used to feed the hospital staff and even patients or family members of patients. Pastor Benjamin expressed that his congregation was interested in a hospital care ministry, which Dr. Maklin was happy to support. These types of interactions were priceless and they reinforced the value in Haitians taking ownership of the change process. In addition to the training, the team also visited New Hope Hospital. The hospital had opened its doors four months prior, but the relatively empty rooms displayed how much work is still to be done. Dr. Maklin called his staff together for an impromptu appreciation ceremony, complete with a cake and sparkling cider, to say ‘thanks’ to Espwa for our role in supporting the hospital throughout the construction phase. What an honor! Team member Mike Cillo poses in front of New Hope Hospital Thanks to a donation from Target, these prenatal vitamins were brought on the trip for all the new mothers coming though the hospital The second floor of New Hope Hospital The New Hope staff assembled to say ‘thanks’ to Espwa The staff and Espwa team shared a cake and sparkling cider The gorgeous view from the roof of New Hope Hospital The team also investigated other opportunities for small businesses in the future, such as a sea glass jewelry endeavor, and spoke with several potential project liaisons. Mike Cillo, owner of DKC Creations, brought down jewelry-making supplies and equipment. With several students, he spent a day searching for sea glass on Haiti’s beaches, then teaching them how to wire-wrap jewelry from their finds. Another team member tested communications equipment at EBAC Christian Academy in an effort to one day provide enhanced teaching methods to the students there. Mike Cillo surrounded by the students at EBAC Christian Academy Chris Pfeiffer, Espwa Executive Director, and Brady Cillo met with the Peace & Joy families for several hours one morning, while the other team members completed their specific tasks. The goal was to discuss some upcoming opportunities that we’ve been made aware of, as well as record responses to the asset-based community development packets created by Espwa. Frantz Louis-Charles and his employee, Michael, worked through the packets with each of the adult family members. Ronaldo and Devenson pose for a photo with their mother Frantz and one of his workers, Michael, work through the packets in Creole with each family member Peterson & Rolex pose with their mother Maxime and his mother pose for the camera The team spent its last day with Haitian Creole Tour, a prior Espwa project, exploring the rich history of the region at the Citadelle and San Souci Palace. Haitian Creole Tour had hired transportation, a guide for the tour, and arranged all the details. The view of the Citadelle as the team hiked up the mountain It was a great trip and definitely planted some seeds with how we can best use our resources in the coming months and years. Thanks to all who played a part in supporting the team on this trip! Posts September 2016 Trip Report Published: November 15, 2016 ~ 0 With all the other pressing events over the past month and a half, we haven’t taken the time to report on our trip in September 2016. So here goes! The September trip was only 5 days, but it sure was memorable. Longtime supporters and friends of Espwa, the Richardson’s (Dave, Karen, Jensen, and Corey), made their first trip to meet the Peace & Joy Families. The Richardson’s have been instrumental in supporting the families since our journey began with the children at Peace & Joy Orphanage. Also on the trip were Espwa board members, Chris Pfeiffer and Joe Shaffer, as well as Scott Lammers. The trip began with a quick stop at Jovenel’s farm, and then a long visit with the Peace & Joy Families. The Richardson’s have known each of the Peace & Joy children by name for years, but this was the first time meeting in person – it was a surreal and joy-filled moment. And just in time for the new school year, we were able to bless the children with some school supplies donated by the Jacobson Elementary (Chandler, AZ) CATS program. The next day, the team enjoyed an excursion to Friendship Island with the help of Haitian Creole Tour, as well as a stop at EBAC Orphanage. Visiting long-term missionaries Alice Wise and Kathy Gouker is always encouraging, and the team was also able to share a jewelry-making experience with several of the older girls at EBAC. The owners of DKC Creations, Mike & Deb Cillo, had donated jewelry supplies and tools for the trip. The Richardson’s then led a short workshop that was meant to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the young women. The following day, the team visited the amazing progress on the New Hope Hospital, which by the time of this writing is now in operation and seeing patients, as well as St. Anthony’s Clinic. The final day brought a visit to the Blue Hills area, where Espwa had provided some capital for the community to purchase benches and chalkboards for the school. This is the same school where Espwa medical teams provide checkups during medical trips. Haitians from the community used the money to purchase lumber and pay local tradesmen to construct the benches and chalkboards. Sharing the amazing experiences of Haiti with long-time friends and new supporters alike continually drives our mission. Until our next trip, thanks to all! Posts June 2016 Trip Report Published: July 7, 2016 ~ 0 We wanted to express a big thank you to everyone who supported us on the trip a few weeks ago – from financially, to prayers, to supporting our family members while we were gone. It is always encouraging to see how these trips come together and the impact they make. The blended team of Duquesne Faculty members and Pleasant Hills Church experienced many things in Cap Haitien. We had an amazing time seeing the progress on the New Hope Hospital and visiting with Dr. Eugene. In his typical easy-going but passionate fashion, he gave us a tour of the hospital and grounds, as well as a visit to the newly renovated St. Anthony’s clinic. The team also visited the site of Jovenel’s first farm, as well as EBAC orphanage. At EBAC, we met with longtime missionaries Alice Wise and Kathy Gouker, whose stories never fail to captivate, as well as our pastor to the Peace & Joy Families, Benjamin Fleurant. Our time with Pastor Benjamin, strengthening the relationship and getting feedback from his time with the children and their families was much needed. One brief success story from this trip is worth sharing. Our project liaison and owner of Haitian Creole Tour, Frantz Louis-Charles, was very excited to show us the tract of land he had recently purchased! After very humble beginnings at EBAC orphanage, Frantz has flourished these past few years in the tourism business that was originally funded through an Espwa small business project. To see Frantz as a landowner, working hard and succeeding in his profession, it brings a great sense of pride in the work that we do. We do it for the Frantz’s of Haiti. People we love and who just need some hope. A little empowerment and faith goes a long way. The final excitement for the trip was our annual beach trip with the Peace & Joy families! On the 27th of June, we embarked on a bus-turned-tap-tap adventure that started with picking up the families. Long story short, the bus ended up getting a flat tire that was beyond repair, so a tap-tap army came to the rescue. Nothing was keeping us from the beach! Until next time, thanks again for your support. It’s trips like these that re-focus our efforts and give us the motivation to keep running the race laid out for us in Haiti. Posts Published: June 21, 2016 ~ 1 On June 23rd, we’ll be sending a team down to Cap Haitien, Haiti. Led by Espwa VP, Chris Pfeiffer, the team will have some familiar faces from one of our partners, Pleasant Hills Church, as well as some staff from the Duquesne School of Pharmacy. The team intends to meet with Dr. Eugene Maklin to view progress on the New Hope hospital. The hospital has undergone a drastic transformation since its inception last year. By employing Haitian construction workers, the project has also injected much needed capital into the economy while empowering the workers with an opportunity to use their talents and provide for their families. Dr. Maklin is especially looking forward to meeting with the representatives from the School of Pharmacy to investigate possible partnerships in the future. On Monday, June 27th, the annual Peace & Joy beach trip will kick off. This event has become a staple in our ongoing relationship with the 18 families, as we show them love and have an all-around fun day at one of Haiti’s scenic beaches. The team will also check in with Jovenel (Agrolide farm) and Frantz (Haitian Creole Tour), and see some recent updates to St. Anthony’s clinic. Let’s be praying for the team’s safe travels on the way to and in country, and that God will use this trip to continue building up and empowering our friends in Haiti. Posts Published: May 26, 2016 ~ 0 If you received our quarterly newsletter, you’ve likely seen the video of Pastor Benjamin and the welding generator that has significantly impacted his life. As can be expected, much of the interview had to be edited out in order to fit into the short segment within the video. We thought it worthwhile to post the full text of the interview here so that you can get more acquainted with him, learn a bit about his church, and start to see his character. We’re glad to have Pastor Benjamin as an Espwa partner! Tell us your name and where you serve as pastor. Tell us about some of the financial difficulties you face as a church and as a pastor. There are obviously material difficulties that we face. But I think the root of the problem comes from not modeling the type of Christ-like living as found in the Bible. It is difficult to find this type of Christian. How has the welding generator been able to make a difference in your life? We want to thank God first, and then the Espwa Foundation, who thought of supporting us in this way. The welding generator sure makes a difference. Even though I don’t use it myself or rent it every day, at least I have the hope of renting it to find support for my family. Tell us about the ministry with the Peace & Joy families. Normally, in my ministry with the Peace & Joy children, I go there and teach them songs, verses, and do Bible stories. Sometimes we also talk with their parents to keep them growing and to bring them spiritual hope. It’s a pleasure for me to work with those kids. First of all, there is a great need for the ministry, because in the area where they live, it is outside the city and there are not a lot of Christians/believers. The work we’re doing is progressing, even though on a spiritual level, I wouldn’t say we’ve achieved the progress I was expecting. I had been ministering once a month, but I found that time interval was too long. Now, I have decided to go once a week. We’re also dividing the children into different age groups (5 to 11, and 12 and older). Another thing we hope might overcome this distance between us is to provide opportunities for the children to come to EBAC Church once a month. The objective is to bring hope to the children’s lives and for their growth. And that’s where we are right now. I am hoping God will give us the strength we need to keep growing the ministry in Jesus’ name. What are you passionate about? My passion is to evangelize and teach people how to understand God better, which is based on Hosea 4:6, which says, “My people are perishing because of lack of understanding of the words of God.” How can we pray for you, for the Peace & Joy families, and Cap Haitien? My personal request is that God would give me strength, zealousness, and more faith to continue day by day to do His work. For the children, my prayer request is that they would have a discerning mind so they can understand the words of God, and for them to be obedient to what the Bible asks. And my vision for Cap Haitien is for a city-wide evangelization – for the areas where people don’t hear about the gospel – and that I can help people better understand the God’s word. What does hope mean to you? For me, hope is one of the greatest words. If people are living without hope, then it’s like this person doesn’t exist. Because wherever there is hope, there is life. The best hope is Jesus. When a Christian goes somewhere, he should bring hope. That’s why, to me, hope is life. What do you want to say to anyone who supported you with the generator? First, I want to thank God. Thank you to everyone who heard about this opportunity and participated to support me. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude, but God knows my heart. I pray that God helps you spiritually and materially, so that you can continue to grow in faith and support more people to do the work of God. Posts A Great March Trip! Published: March 28, 2016 ~ 0 We’re fresh off our latest trip to Cap Haitien, Haiti, and like with most trips, we’ve returned with even more motivation for the work we do for the Haitian people. Through medical care, family support, farming, and small business, we are grateful for the opportunities we have to build relationships and impact lives. Check out the short recap video below, and keep reading for more details about the trip! The team set off to Haiti on March 9th, carrying more than 19 suitcases of medications, vitamins, and medical supplies valued at over $22,000. Five members of the Espwa leadership team (Jen, Chris, Joe, Brady & Kristin) were excited to be back in-country, but we were also privileged to assemble an amazing team of medical professionals, including two Nurse Practitioners, four RNs, and an Occupational Therapist. Another member arrived midway through the trip, bringing our team total to 11 individuals. Our primary goal for the trip was to serve Haitians through medical care, with a secondary goal of meeting with the liaisons for our other Espwa projects to check progress. The medical team worked side-by-side with two Haitian physicians, Dr. Eugene Maklin (Espwa’s in-country Medical Director) and Wislyn Avenard, and began by serving for two days at the Blue Hills community. While there is no clinic in the small community, our team was able to set up shop in a school building run by Thomas Dieuseul and his wife. Patients began arriving first thing in the morning in order to reserve a spot in line to be seen by the team, and the waiting area was soon filled to capacity. Over two days, the team saw more than 300 patients, treating them for conditions ranging from dehydration to skin abscesses. The team took a break from medical duty over the weekend, which gave an opportunity to experience some of Espwa’s other projects and to enjoy Haiti’s beauty. The team was very impressed by the amazing progress of Dr. Maklin’s New Hope Hospital (read about the story here). The building now has full three floors and is in the process of getting its roof, with a hopeful opening date in the July 2016 timeframe. On Saturday, the team met our Peace & Joy Families, who had assembled for their monthly meeting with our project liaison, Paul Guerrier. Pastor Benjamin Fleurant, who ministers to the families, was also at the meeting and led the children in a song while the team watched. Sunday was a wonderful day of rest, in which the team spent the morning at Friendship Island – essentially a private island off the coast of Haiti (thanks Haitian Creole Tour!) – and several members even ventured to city central for church services in one of Cap Haitien’s oldest cathedrals. The team was back at it on Monday morning, this time serving at St. Anthony’s clinic, which Espwa has been part of since its inception. Dr. Maklin sees patients there every Monday, and it’s been great to see the relationships unfold with members of the community over the past several years. The team served at the clinic for 2 ½ days and saw more than 400 patients. The Espwa team was grateful for all the donated vitamins (which can’t be purchased in Haiti), because it guaranteed each child received an adequate supply. Espwa President, Jen Schmidt, summarized the week’s medical mission by saying, “We all worked so well together and everything fell perfectly into place, allowing us to treat over 700 patients! God is good!” While most of the team provided medical care, our non-medical members checked progress on several other Espwa projects. The team met with Pastor Benjamin Fleurant, who regularly meets with our Peace & Joy families for Christian discipleship and relationship building. In December, thanks to your support, we were able to purchase a welding generator for him that has dramatically helped his ability to generate income and focus more on his church and his ministry to the Peace & Joy families. We met with Jovenel Joseph Kenold, who operates one of our main projects – a farming initiative – and who now has his sights set on a larger farm with his Agrolide organization. We explored some of the steps that need to be taken to make the next farm a reality. We also met with Paul Guerrier and Frantz Louis-Charles, who interface with our Peace & Joy families on a monthly basis, to discuss ways forward with small business opportunities in the future. After 24 trips to Haiti since 2007, Chris Pfeiffer, Espwa VP, continues to learn valuable lessons with each trip. Chris says, “I see more and more value in time spent with our Haitian friends. Loving, caring relationships, built on consistency and trust, really matter. These take time, but are worth the effort. I’m more convinced than ever that these relationships are more important than “doing stuff” in Haiti or “bringing stuff” to Haiti.” This trip was just one more opportunity to show love and build relationships in Haiti. And while progress can sometimes be slow or discouraging, we’re in it for the long-haul. We consider this trip a major success – through outstanding medical care, network building, and inching each of our projects forward. But we couldn’t have done it without your support. Many thanks to everyone who donated vitamins, funds, prayers, emotional support, or all of the above! Although each of us are back home, our thoughts and efforts to make a lasting impact on Haiti remain. Until next time… Posts Upcoming March 2016 Trip Published: February 28, 2016 ~ 0 In just under two weeks, Espwa will send a team of medical professionals to the Cap Haitien, Haiti area for a 10 day medical mission. We’re excited to have multiple providers, nurses, and an occupational/physical therapist on this trip as we meet up with our in-country medical director, Dr. Eugene Maklin. These types of missions are our primary “relief” work, whereas many of our other projects focus on rehabilitation and development. The team will see hundreds of patients per day and throughout the trip will serve at both the Blue Hills and St. Anthony clinics. Dr. Maklin has also arranged for information-sharing tours of the Hospital Judstidian (main public hospital in Cap Haitien), as well as his own budding hospital in the Plaine-du-Norde region, still under construction. While the medical team sees patients, a smaller non-medical team will visit other Espwa project sites, such as Jovenel’s Farm and Haitian Creole Tour, and meet with local network partners. Over the weekend, both teams will hopefully be able to meet with our Peace & Joy Families, as we continue to encourage and show them love. We also intend to use the services of Haitian Creole Tour for transportation and likely a trip to the beach on one of the days. We’d appreciate your prayers as we lead up to and during the trip. If you’d like to make a donation towards trip expenses, one of our biggest needs is in the purchase of medications to take into country. The medications are prescribed to patients as needed and we are taking a lot this time due to the number of projected patients we’ll see. You can only imagine some of the heartbreaking conditions our Haitian friends cope with – due to the combination of tropical diseases, malnourishment, poor sanitation, and unclean drinking water in the region. Many people are faced with the choice between eating or seeing the doctor, and when put in that position, medical care takes the back seat. Every little bit helps! Look for an update and pictures following the trip, and thanks for your interest! Posts December Trip Update Published: January 23, 2016 ~ 0 What an amazing 2015 we had! We ended the year with a great trip to Haiti in December. We sent a small team to accomplish one main objective – capture some new media (video & photos) for 2016. We took talented, south Florida cinematographer, Regan Kramer (see her website here). In the past year, Regan produced two wonderful pieces about our great friend and Medical Director, Dr. Eugene Maklin, and we hoped to capture another Espwa story on this trip. As you may know, one of our current projects involves helping Jovenel Kenold realize his dream of a bigger, more impactful farm that will employ locals, feed the hungry, and ultimately share the love of Christ in Haiti. Several things have been put in motion with the new farm, but due to the size, there is a great need for start-up capital. We filmed Jovenel’s story, and watched as his passion and vision for the project shined through. We plan to use the footage to produce a short promotional film that will bolster Espwa’s support of the farm and raise additional funds. Stay tuned in 2016 for the new video sharing Jovenel’s story. The Espwa team also got the chance to check up on some of our other current projects in Cap Haitien. We visited with the families of the Peace & Joy Family Project (they are doing great!), met with our good friend Frantz (of Haitian Creole Tour), saw the progress of Dr. Maklin’s hospital construction, and even spent some time at the plage (beach). Thanks for following along as Espwa continues to serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We hope that 2016 will be our best year yet. Posts July 2015 Post-Trip Report Published: July 15, 2015 ~ 0 Fresh off our trip to Haiti, we wanted to share some of the big trip highlights. Team members were in-country from July 1st – 8th, and much was accomplished. Our Special Projects Officer, Brady Cillo, arrived in-country on the 1st of July and laid some groundwork for the rest of the team that would be arriving on the 4th. Brady used the services of Haitian Creole Tour for transportation and translation, and met with several people in the Espwa network, including Dr. Eugene Maklin, Paul Guerrier, and Frantz Louis-Charles (our in-country Haitian team members). Other tasks included meeting with Pastor Benjamin Fleurant to discuss a potential partnership between EBAC Church and the Peace & Joy Family project, meeting with the Peace & Joy families to discuss our long term vision of small businesses, and touring the hospital where Espwa has sponsored medical care for the Peace & Joy children. Brady also fulfilled one of his dreams by hiking the mountain north of Cap Haitien with a group of teenage orphans from EBAC Orphanage – 2000 foot elevation gain was a bit rough in the summer heat, but the view was spectacular. On July 4th, our VP, Chris Pfeiffer, arrived with a team from Pleasant Hills Community Church. The team of 12 had gone through Espwa’s pre-trip training and was ready to make an impact in Haiti by “helping without hurting.” The team showed love to our friends at EBAC orphanage, executed this year’s Peace & Joy beach trip, built and painted some benches for the Peace & Joy families, checked in on Dr. Maklin’s hospital construction, saw Jovenel’s farm, and painted St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic. One of the most exciting parts of the trip (after the beach trip!) was on Tuesday when all the Peace & Joy families met at William Guerrier’s property for a day of learning about light vs. darkness. The team had packed solar light kits in their suitcases and delivered them to each family. We spent a day of assembling the units, and then Pastor Benjamin Fleurant passed out copies of the New Testament and preached to the families about how Jesus is the One True Light. It was a powerful sermon and we hope the beginning of an amazing partnership between EBAC Church and the Peace & Joy families. Pastor Benjamin has already set up a Bible study with the families with a first meeting in early August. Thanks to all who prayed, funded, and engaged with us throughout the planning and execution of this trip. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed – we couldn’t do it without all our faithful supporters! Posts Published: June 25, 2015 ~ 0 Last week, our Executive Director, Joe Shaffer, returned to Cap Haitien to continue work on one of the Espwa projects near and dear to his heart. For years, he has been involved in sharing the beauty of Haitian choirs (read about our project here). On this trip, Joe recorded enough content to produce new albums for three of the choirs – “Gran Chorale,” “Chorale Lajenes,” and “Son De Soley.” One of the ongoing needs for both Gran Chorale and Chorale Lajenes is the purchase of choir robes for their performances. Espwa gave support funds to each of the choir directors (Simon and Marirose) during the trip, but the choirs are still about $1000 short each. The funds will purchase robes for over 85 people. If interested in donating to this project, add a comment of “Choir Robes” to your donation on the full Razoo site here. It was great working with Anne, Rosie, Nico, Manu, Eve, and Fannie of Son De Soley again. Listen to Son De Soley’s first album below: Posts Upcoming Trip in July Published: April 25, 2015 ~ 0 Hello all! We just wanted to make you aware of an upcoming trip in June/July. Our VP, Chris Pfeiffer, and Special Projects Director, Brady Cillo, will be advancing some of our work, as well as leading a team from Pleasant Hills Community Church (Pittsburgh, PA) in Cap Haitien, Haiti. The main goal of the trip will be to meet with and show love to our Peace & Joy families, including our annual beach trip…quite possibly the most fun day of the year! Specific objectives include: discussing small business opportunities with each family, networking with a local church to explore ministry opportunities in the future, taking 60+ kids, family members, and volunteers to the beach, and much more. Our little friends live 10 miles from the beach and had never been there before we started this tradition. Here’s a picture of our trip from last year to get you thinking about how much fun we’ll have. Please keep us in your prayers and if you’d like to make a specific donation for this trip, please click here! Posts February 2015 Trip Report Published: February 22, 2015 ~ 0 Both of our teams made it back from Haiti safely and with much accomplished! Thanks to all who supported our team members through prayers, financial giving, and other donations of medical supplies. Let’s first discuss our medical mission. Before the trip, we packed multiple suitcases of donated medication and equipment, which was hand carried into Cap Haitien (see the photo for just a small sample). The team also purchased hard-to-get medication in-country to stock the clinics Espwa supports. The team of 3 medical professionals and one photographer spent their days with Dr. Eugene Maklin, our in-country Medical Director. The team visited St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic for 3 days and Blue Hills for 2 days, seeing over 100 patients per day! Our second team from Northgate Church (Pittsburgh, PA) visited St. Anthony’s clinic, the Agrolide farming expansion project, the Plane-du-Nord hospital project, Haitian Creole Tour, and helped tutor at EBAC Christian Academy. The team also had dinner Q&A times with one of our Peace & Joy families, a group of local pastors, in-country missionaries, and a Haitian organization that provides micro-loans. It was a great exposure trip of multiple Espwa projects and many individuals in our network. Glad to see our friends in-country and continue building relationships. Also glad to be home safely with renewed energy about our work in Haiti. Posts Published: February 6, 2015 ~ 0 Next week, we’ll be sending two teams to Cap Haitien, Haiti. First, we’ll kick off our annual medical mission, which will provide medications (hand carried into country & purchased in country), see dozens of patients daily, and do its best to provide hope to those who’ve been suffering with treatable illnesses. Next, our second team from Northgate Church (Pittsburgh, PA) will get its first experience of Haiti. We plan to visit Espwa projects such as the medical mission in action, Jovenel’s farm, and Haitian Creole Tour. We’ll also work to build the Espwa network by meeting with partner organizations (Mission Trakaye & EBAC Church), and one of our Peace & Joy families. It’s going to be a great trip and we’d appreciate your prayers for safe travels! Posts Recent Posts Meet Joel & Sony July 4, 2017 Medical Trip March 2017 April 25, 2017 Peace & Joy Initiatives April 3, 2017 Espwa on CNN! March 23, 2017 Pittsburgh Marathon 2017 March 5, 2017 Archived Posts July 2017 1 April 2017 2 March 2017 2 February 2017 1 January 2017 1 December 2016 1 November 2016 2 October 2016 3 September 2016 2 August 2016 2 July 2016 2 June 2016 1 May 2016 2 April 2016 1 March 2016 1 February 2016 3 January 2016 1 December 2015 1 October 2015 3 September 2015 2 August 2015 1 July 2015 5 June 2015 3 May 2015 2 April 2015 2 March 2015 2 February 2015 3 January 2015 2 Posts by Category The Espwa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Haitians in the fight against poverty. We share the love of Christ through projects in the Cap Haitien, Haiti area.	37,040
Mrs Beinisch, first of all, let me thank you for accepting this interview with DV8 World News. I am personally delighted to have you with us today. We are going to talk together... Read more Ecology: Are you in fashion? No longer a company without its environmental charter, no more a product without its eco-responsible promises, no more a speech coated with ecolo... Read more A plate full of ideas Eating plant-based is 6 times more effective for the environment than eating organic and local according to Carbone 4 , and it takes 4 times more land to feed a person with a hi... Read more He warned you... Not a fan of Unabomber. “When the hares declared equal rights between animals, they wanted to ostracize the lions; they didn't answer, but they bared their teeth &r... Read more L214: new case of unbearable treatments on animals in a farm in Yonne. August 2021: new shock report L214 \| Posted on 2021-08-21 12:48 L214 today unveils a new investigation concerning a pig farm in Yonne. This time, it is a question of an intensive breeding of 1,800 sows, which represents a breeding three times larger than those usually found in France. At its head is the Provent-SDPR group, which directly or indirectly operates around a hundred pigsties. A farm employee, who worked for more than two years in the pigsty, denounces the serious abuse and mistreatment of animals. Rarely, he speaks with his face uncovered. We can see in the images, taken with his mobile phone, of sows receiving multiple blows of the screwdriver to make them move faster. Swollen all over the body, sows are dying on the concrete floor of the farm. Young sows have their teeth cut with pincers. The pictures also show the raw tail trimming and piglets cracking. In addition to serious abuse, many regulatory violations have been identified in the breeding: The cutting of piglets' tails (tail docking) is systematic (prohibited in the decree of January 16, 2003 - appendix I, chap 1. 8); In the boar house (room where sows are caged at the start and end of gestation), the sows do not have access to water (requirement of the decree of January 16, 2003 - appendix I, chap 1. 7 ); When the sows are in a group, the breeding densities are too high (density regulated in the decree of January 16, 2003 - article 3); Sows do not have access to handling materials (requirement of the decree of January 16, 2003 - appendix I); Injured sows are not treated (requirement of the rural code - Chapter VI, article 226.6); The teeth of gilts (young sows of several months) are cut with pincers (prohibited in the decree of 16 January 2003 - appendix I, chap 1. 8); The electric prod is abused (regulated by the European regulation of September 24, 2009 - appendix III, point 1.9). On the images, we can also see the rendering area where dead pigs of all ages are stored. Some corpses are literally eaten by maggots. One of the dumpsters, from which the bones emerge, is filled with them. The video also reveals a particularly cruel method practiced in pig farms: the breaking down of piglets. Those who are deemed to be the least profitable are violently knocked out right after birth. This operation is supposed to kill them quickly, which is far from always the case. The whistleblower wanted to talk about mistreatment with his manager. Without a response from him, he denounced the facts to the director of the establishment. His reports went unanswered. After two years of work, deeply shocked by animal abuse, in depression, he filed a complaint against Livestock. Decided to make the images he filmed public, his request is final: "What I would like is that the person in charge no longer works in this area, and that he close the pigsty completely because it will continue." All the time. " The whistleblower assures that he has never seen any checks by the veterinary services in the farm. L214 files a complaint for serious abuse with the prosecutor of Auxerre. Mr Hugues de Phily. The latter confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) this filing of a complaint, dating from February, and the opening of a preliminary investigation, entrusted to the gendarmerie as well as to the veterinary services. In a press release, the Yonne prefecture informed that the operator of the pigsty was "put on notice" following an inspection of the farm on June 1, and the finding of "non- conformities ” . This unannounced check, carried out by the veterinary services of the departmental directorate of employment, labor, solidarity and the protection of populations (DDETSPP), "followed a report filed with the gendarmerie" , it is specified. The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Julien Denormandie, condemned in a press release "unacceptable practices relayed by these images" : "If the inspection carried out in June did not reveal any unacceptable situation or behavior such as those shown in the videos and relating to acts of cruelty (assault and battery with screwdrivers and matadors, improper use of batteries) electrical, pinch wedges reduction without pain management, etc.), additional investigations will be carried out. " The ministry hopes that the investigation carried out will make it possible to "sanction any deviations or proven breaches of the regulations in force". "The DDETSPP informed the operator that a new inspection would be carried out to verify the compliance of his breeding" , according to the prefecture, which ensures the "full mobilization" of the veterinary services of the DDETSPP. The interprofessional pork, Inaporc, declined to comment immediately, telling AFP to be "fully mobilized to understand what happened on this farm" . Via an online petition , the association calls for an immediate inspection of the breeding farm, its upgrading and that sanctions be taken. Live castration of piglets will be banned on January 1, 2022 . L214 asks the government that the cutting of live tails, a source of extreme suffering for animals, is also prohibited and that the slapping of piglets is also prohibited. Sébastien Arsac, director of investigations and spokesperson for L214, affirms: “We salute the courage of this employee who decided to make public the serious abuse committed on the animals at the pigsty of Tremblats, in the Yonne. The sows and piglets in this farm already live a miserable life, as in the majority of pig farms (95% of pig farms are intensive), they are also violently mistreated without management reaction. Let us demand sanctions for this breeding and a ban on the breaking down of piglets as well as the raw cutting of their tails. " Piglets judged to have little economic potential (puny, lame, etc.) are eliminated at birth. The practice of slamming consists of bringing them down by grabbing them by the hind legs to violently strike their head on a hard surface (the ground in most cases). When they do not die instantly, the operation is repeated or the piglets are left dying on the ground or in a garbage can. This practice concerns millions of piglets every year in France. However, in appendix III 4.a of the decree of 12 December 1997 relating to the procedures for immobilizing, stunning and killing animals and the conditions of animal protection in slaughterhouses, percussion, as a method. prior stunning, is only authorized in slaughterhouses and via a mechanical process: “this process is only authorized if a mechanical instrument is used that administers a blow to the head. The operator ensures that the instrument is applied in the required position and that the cartridge loading is correct and according to the manufacturer's instructions to achieve effective stunning without fracture of the skull. " The pig industry tries to justify the breakdown of piglets by the emergency slaughter provided for in article 1099 of the European regulation of September 24, 2009 concerning the protection of animals at the time of their killing. The latter authorizes to take " all necessary measures " in the event of an urgent killing. Article 2.d of this regulation defines emergency killing as "the killing of animals injured or suffering from a disease causing severe pain or suffering when there is no other possibility. practice of alleviating such pain or suffering. " However, piglets are broken down against animals that are more puny than others but in good health. They are therefore not affected by the emergency killing provisions. If an animal is injured, it should not be slaughtered but cared for and isolated if necessary. The decree of 25 October 1982 (appendix I, 2.d) mentions that a veterinarian must be consulted as soon as possible when an animal is injured. Breakdown, a barbaric method of slaughter, is therefore an absolutely illegal practice. In order to limit the impact of injuries that animals often inflict on each other (especially bites) due to poor breeding conditions, piglets' tails are cut (docking), raw, from an early age. This practice is very painful for animals. In the summary of its Animal Pain report, the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) mentions that cutting tails is a source of pain for pigs (page 68): “In fact, the tail is innervated until its extremity in newborn pigs and piglets show defensive reactions and squeals during tail trimming. Finally, after tail docking, we can assume the existence of chronic pain similar to that described in humans after amputation. " In a 2019 report, the European Commission pointed out that the systematic tail cutting of pigs was carried out in 99% of French farms. However, the regulations in force explicitly prohibit the routine cutting of pig tails, and require that the pig rearing conditions be modified if they give rise to behavioral disorders such as tail biting: "The partial section of the tail and corner reduction cannot be achieved on a routine basis. Before performing these procedures, other measures should be taken to prevent tail biting and other defects, environmental conditions or flock management systems should be changed if they are not appropriate. " These provisions voted in 2001 at European level, were transposed into French law in 2003 and entered into force in France in 2013 . French pig farms are therefore completely illegal. 88% of French people are opposed to intensive breeding ( YouGov survey 2019 for L214 ), and 85% are against mutilation practiced on pigs (cutting tails, grinding teeth, castration for males) ( YouGov survey 2017 for L214 ). Comments Sign in Wizardwords 7.0 Greenwashing is more than Brainwashing but so is Blackmail Someone once said: ”I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead... Read more Michelle Thew is the CEO of Cruelty Free International – the leading organization working to end animal testing worldwide. For more than 20 years, Michelle has been an adv... Read more What is sustainable finance and how it is changing the world Investors no longer face a choice between profit and saving the planet. Sustainable finance is prio...	11,212
We had a blast at our Cornwall camping trip at the beginning of June! It was a great opportunity to deepen relationships with one another, to find God in the beauty of the nature surrounding us, and to enjoy a well-deserved rest! On one day, we enjoyed an art and prayer day with priest and artist Bridget Macaulay in West Cornwall in which we reflected on our faith journeys using collage and crafts. It was just a beautiful location to reflect on how God has been present with us throughout our lives, and to slow down and talk with God about our hopes for the future. A few of us also walked some of St Michael’s Way. It was a beautiful sunny day to walk a route that pilgrims have been walking for hundreds of years, and have some opportunity for silence and solitude along the way. The rest of our time was spent on the beach, playing volleyball or frisbee, chatting around the campfire and eating great food! Share @ Enter your email to receive newsletter updates Get in touch by emailing © 2021 The Community of the Tree of Life. All rights reserved. By using this website, you agree that we can set and use cookies. For more details of these cookies and how to disable them, see our cookie policy.	1,271
translations of contemporary, modern and classic bengali fiction and poetry by arunava sinha [arunava@gmail.com] Poetry Buy Even afterwards there are things to say After it has rained I shall not say these things to her In pauses between the determination and effort to survive All these mist-like words I have whispered many strange things How much of what the heart means Can these words hold anyway I touch a hand with my hand Grope within my heart with words Do we have each other still? Have been defeated, a sigh Flows, and perhaps indifferent time Shivers by mistake, once And then in every crack of existence The fog settles, and words March 8, 2015 March 8, 2015 by Arunava There was somewhere I wanted to go But never did In the closed room the panes are rattled By a wild gust of wind Let them, I’m just fine Picking out my thought worms When that irks me I swat flies I know all wants will die when I shut my eyes I have learnt to grow where the sunlight falls To pluck the dreams within reach of a stretched arm Or to avoid the rice because it is bitter I’ll weep no more for the absence of what cannot be April 26, 2014 by Arunava At first, plump and well-shaped if not actually beautiful fingers are seen at work amongst a few flowers and decorative leaves. Even the polish on the carefully cultured fingernails can be made out. For several moments the camera stays still on just this frame. The flower arrangement is being changed continuously. The camera retreats slightly. We see, first, the vase in which the flowers are kept and, then, the woman who is arranging them. She is as modern in her dress and appearance as the fingers had suggested. Slim, shapely. Though her face isn’t strikingly beautiful, the attempt to turn the form of her body into the main attraction, even through her clothes, has not been completely unsuccessful. However, the affluence indicated by her dress and appearance is absent in as much of the room as can be seen. (In other words, the impression one would have on seeing her in a Swiss confectionery on Park Street is proved wrong.) There is a sincere attempt, though, to turn an ordinary middle-class look into a modern one. As the camera zooms out, a hint of the building opposite this one, which has become visible through the half-curtains on the window, make it clear that this is part of a row of flats. Although it isn’t clear whether the vase and flowers reflect the woman’s personality, they are highlighted in a way that leaves an impression on the mind. She is absorbed in arranging the flowers, the concentration on her face accompanied alternately by a frown and an expression of pleasure. The camera zooms into a close-up of her head, but from the back. Only a bit of the neck and shoulders are visible. Suddenly she starts, emitting an indistinct sound of terror, her face blanching momentarily. Two hands are approaching slowly along her shoulders and neck. Wriggling forward, they suggest the unpleasant touch of a reptile. The woman’s startled fear diminishes gradually, the colour returning to her face. Her face is still. Only the eyes flick this way and that a couple of times, observing the fingers. Her expression has gradually hardened. Her face is rigid now, with the hint of a sharp, derisive smile on the corners of her lips. The fingers seem to be revelling in the silky smoothness of the woman’s shapely neck. Seen in close-up, the hands and fingers cannot be ignored. Strong, masculine fingers, not crudely shaped, but the skin rough, the knuckles too prominent. The nails should have been clipped a few days ago. One suspects they aren’t clean. The thumb and index finger of the right hand are the ones fully visible. Nicotine stains are clear on them. The derisive smile on the woman’s stern face disappears. She raises her right hand and tries to prise off the fingers running over her neck. She doesn’t succeed. The fingers seem to be trying to circle her neck more intimately. An angry spark appears in her eyes momentarily. Without trying to move the intruding fingers any more, she says, ‘Remove your hand.’ There is fire in her eyes but the voice is calm – determined, even. A laugh is heard – muted, amused laughter. Then the words, with a bite to the amusement in their sound. ‘But I don’t want to! Is it really all that hateful?’ The woman clenches her teeth and says, “I didn’t think you’d have the guts.” “Didn’t!” The faintly harsh, amused voice is heard again. “Does a husband need courage with his wife!” The woman whirls around. The camera moves back at the same time. Just enough to catch the man and the woman in the same frame. “A husband! You dare claim a husband’s rights!” The woman’s eyes and voice are both inflamed. “Don’t you know I can scream at this instant!” “Certainly you can.” There is now an arrogant contempt mingled with the amusement in the man’s face and voice. “But how will that help, Neel! Will your neighbours come running to save you by thrashing the daylights out of me? I doubt if there’s anyone in this anthill of flats who’ll be concerned with other people’s troubles. Even if you scream your lungs out no one will even open their doors for fear of getting involved with the police. And suppose someone from these pigeonholes did come running to save a damsel in distress. What’ll you tell them? That a monster has entered your room to torture you brutally? Will you be able to say this?” As he speaks the camera moves forward, almost without our knowledge, excluding the woman from the frame. Now the man simply has to be observed. He’s about 35. Not unpleasant in appearance. Once he must have possessed a masculine grace and good looks. His face is set in a strong and rather sharp mould. But a wild, undisciplined life has left its mark on his appearance and clothes, wiping off the grace and the good looks almost entirely. Not only is the shirt that we have seen so far not at all clean, its collar is also quite frayed. There is a one-day stubble on his face. Though bright, the eyes are sunken and underlined by dark circles. When he smiles, his eyes and face acquire the touch of a clever sense of humour that is not disagreeable, but at the same time one can’t help but notice the unhealthy appearance of his teeth. After he has finished speaking the camera breaks the continuity of the sequence up to this point, abandoning him to focus exclusively on the woman addressed as Neel. “I needn’t even go that far,” she says grimly. “Even entering the room of a woman with whom one has no relationship is wrong if you haven’t taken permission. Especially when the accusation comes from the woman.” “Yes,” the man agreed, a sly smile appearing his face, “if someone does come running at your screams, they’re not going to wait for me to defend myself once they’ve heard your accusations. They’ll be ready to lynch me immediately. But it’s one thing to be ready to do it, another to actually do it. I don’t particularly look like a well-behaved sort. If I stand up to them and threaten them back, they’ll have to think twice. And if I take that opportunity to tell them that I am Anupam Chakraborty, your husband whom who you have abandoned, whose home you have fled to set up house here, who has found you after all this time and is here to take you back, won’t things get a bit complicated?” We had abandoned Neel as soon as she had finished speaking and have been watching Anupam Chakraborty. At first he had been visible only from the waist up. But now that he moves away as he talks, still in the same frame, to a settee in a part of the room we haven’t yet seen, and stretches out lazily on it, we see his entire body. The camera has been following his movements. All this while we have seen Neel only once, for just a few moments. An amused smile as well as an impatient frown on her face, she is still where she was, leaning slightly against the wall and watching Anupam. The words “…your husband whom who you have abandoned, whose home you have fled to set up house… ” have been heard over Neel’s image. The faintly amused smile on her face has also appeared with the same words. Having stretched himself out on the settee, Anupam suddenly alters both his tone and posture to sit upright, smiling engagingly. Beckoning Neel intimately with his index finger, he says in an almost tender voice, “But you won’t scream, nor will I have to explain my behaviour. So let’s forget all this rubbish and sit here. Come, darling! Neel my Neelima!” The last words are heard over NeeI’s, i.e., Neelima’s face. There is a sort of black magic in Anupam’s voice and in his call of “Neel my Neelima”. She shivers in spite of herself. Then, appearing to pull herself together she says in a hard, ice-cold voice, “No, you’d better go. I’m asking you nicely, go away at once. I won’t tolerate this unwarranted intrusion much longer.” We hear her last words over Anupam’s face. There is no anger in it, only an amused, twinkling smile. “Lovely!” he looks at her in apparently fascinated appreciation. “You still look so sweet when angry… ” “Shut up!” Her sharp command almost startles him into silence. With a strange grimace he cunningly pretends compliance “As you wish. But damn it – sorry, honestly – it was the heartfelt truth.” The camera focuses on Neelima. Then, holding her in the frame, it retreats as she advances, so as to include Anupam on the sofa in the frame too. She is still advancing in agitation, saying, “Really, what do you want? Why have you tracked me down to haunt me like I’ve been cursed? What do you want? Is it money? Has the bottle fund run dry, or is it gambling debts?” As she finishes speaking we see Anupam along with her in the picture. He is still on the settee, looking at her in amusement while she pants in rage before him. “When is the bottle fund anything but dry anyway?” He shrugs helplessly as soon as she finishes. “Will you offer me money to replenish it? Go ahead. I won’t object. I admit I came with the intention of cadging some cash out of you.” Still speaking, he gets off the settee and walks up and down, looking at Neelima with a mixture of amusement and wonder. Because the camera is following him from a close distance, we see him alone at times and, when he passes by Neelima, with her sometimes. Walking up and down, he keeps talking. ”I got hold of your address for just such an emergency. So finding you was no problem really. My only concern was to ensure that I’d find you suitably alone, which I did. But nothing else is going as I’d thought.” Anupam has stopped before Neelima with the words ‘…so finding you was no problem really…’ From his back we have been watching the reaction of his last words on Neelima’s face. A reaction that is difficult to gauge. Her face is like stone. Her jaws look as though her teeth are clenched. But her eyes suggest some other agony. As soon as he stops speaking she says in a dry, mechanical voice, “There’s no need to go on. Take what you’ve come for and spare me.” She turns and walks to the other end of the room. The camera follows her, holding her in the frame down to her knees. The way her body moves makes it clear that it is a pleasure to watch her walk. We leave her for a few moments for a close-up of Anupam’s face. A faint, crooked smile on his face exposes his reaction, a coarse and naked desire shining in the eyes crinkled with amusement. The camera picks up Neelima again. Jerking open a drawer in a beautiful cupboard set against the other wall of the room, she pulls out several currency notes from a bag, slams the drawer shut, turns round and says, “Here’s all the money I have with me now. Please take it and go. And remember, there won’t be a repeat of this if you ever return.” Even as she speaks, the camera wanders off to capture Anupam’s face. He comes forward, listening, and the camera retreats, holding him in the frame. As he stops at her side the camera also stops, having brought them together. “No repeat?” With a peculiar expression on his face, he says, “I don’t deserve one. I had never hoped you’d actually give me all this money!” Extending his arm as he talks, he practically snatching the notes from her hand and counting them eagerly. The camera has moved away from Neelima to capture him exclusively, showing his greedy, ecstatic eyes and triumphant smile. Having counted the money, he says, “This is almost two hundred rupees!” and looks at Neelima in surprise. ‘So much money at one go! I know it’s to get rid of me, but obviously you can afford it. That means you’re quite rich now. Of course, that’s obvious from your house.” Still speaking, he walks around the room. The camera retreats a little to follow his movements. “It may not be ostentatious,” Anupam speaks almost to himself, “but it’s smart and trim, it reflects your taste. This is the sort of house, the sort of life that you wanted. You have mixed tastes. They don’t match with mine. But then, at least there isn’t any pretentiousness to them. There never was…” ‘Enough.” A little startled by Neelima’s sour voice, he turns around. The camera is now on Neelima. She is saying bitterly, ‘I don’t need your gratitude for the money. Do me a favour instead. Go away this instant. It’s time for my husband to return. It isn’t desirable for him to find you here.” The last words are heard over Anupam’s face. There has been a subtle change in his expression. The amused smile is still there at the corner of the lips, but there is an unnatural sharpness in his eyes. “Not desirable?” he says with a laugh. “No, certainly not desirable for you. Explaining something like this to your husband might be quite uncomfortable. Especially to a new husband. It’s not been long, he’s only been your husband for a year, yes, what is it your new husband’s called? Datta – what Datta is it now? Yes, Datta. Shubhankar Datta. Here we are!” As he speaks, Anupam has again started moving slowly, edging close to the wall. He stops near a framed photograph on a small table. Saying, “Here we are,” he picks it up and holds it close to his eyes, as if to inspect it carefully. The camera also moves forward, holding the photograph and his face in a close-up. The photograph shows a quiet, pleasant, roundish face. It is different in every way from Anupam’s. “This Shubhankar Datta,” holding the photograph in his hand, Anupam speaks in almost undisguised admiration, “isn’t an undisciplined, immoral, worthless good-for-nothing, he’s a genuine gentleman of character, climbing step by step towards the peak of success in life. Apparently he’s the Development Officer in some foreign company. With sustained effort and dedication, he’ll climb even higher … ” As soon as Anupam starts speaking with the photograph in his hand, the camera moves over to Neelima. The words seem to hit her like a whiplash. Her face and eyes are burning with rage. Restraining herself with great effort, she marches up to him and snatches the photograph out of his hand. The camera has kept her in the frame, bringing her together with him. ‘You’re a low-down beast!” she says in a fiery voice. “He’s a god compared to people like you. It’s his job that you’re jealous of, but his greatness is beyond your imagination. Now that you’ve got your money, go away, go away this instant. I shan’t allow you to mock him in this room.” Towards the end the camera leaves her to settle on Anupam, as he listens to her, for the first time a melancholic smile appears on his face, from the words “his greatness… ” onward till the end, “How strange, Neel! How strange!” He looks at her a trifle disappointedly. ‘You’ve even forgotten how I speak! Don’t you know the Almighty has built me so twisted that everything appears distorted to me. The moment anyone sets eyes on me they suspect I’m dishonest and cunning. Anything I say sounds like a taunt because of the way my ugly face and twisted smile are set. I wasn’t mocking your Subhankar Datta. What I said may have held the pain of jealousy, but not ridicule or contempt. I’ve been trying to tell you a few simple truths today, honestly. I did come here with the idea of getting some money out of you, but everything changed when I stole into the room and saw you from the back. I had this feeling of you knoweth not what thou hath lost. Forgive my barbaric behaviour. But…” As he speaks, he advances towards her. At first she retreats a little, but now, without knowing it, she is standing still Continuing to talk, he takes her hand in his. Pressing it lovingly between his own, he speaks to her in an intense tone. The camera now holds the two of them intimately. “It’s only when you went away,” he continues, his smile still cast in the same mould of slyness mingled with amusement, “that I realised what you meant to me. You aren’t mine now, but although that makes you even more attractive, I can scarcely think of you as another man’s wife. I keep telling myself that a few scratches on a piece of paper cannot stop the blood pounding…” He has moved even nearer and drawn her closer now, one arm around her waist. Suddenly a bell rings. Not the telephone – it’s the doorbell downstairs. She jumps back. “It’s Datta,” he says, remaining where he was. “No, it isn’t. Why should he ring the bell? Some pest must have turned up.” The bell rings once more between these words. Neelima has been standing silently all this while, a strange look in her eyes. Suddenly she seems to snap out of the spell. Turning round, she puts the photograph on the table nearby and goes downstairs to answer the doorbell Anupam stands still for a few moments. Then he looks around and, going to where Neelima had been arranging the flowers, stands before the vase. He looks at the flowers. Looking around again, he goes to another, larger, flower vase in one corner of the room. There’s a half-dried bunch of flowers in it. The camera shows him picking up a few dry, thorny sticks from it before moving away from him. The camera is now downstairs, in the vestibule at the bottom of the staircase. Neelima signs the peon’s receipt and takes the telegram he has brought. About to climb the stairs, she stops, opens the telegram and reads it. We read its contents too. It says, “Stuck here. Returning tomorrow. Datta.” She stands still for several moments. The camera focuses on her face in close-up. It is deeply suffused with some kind of emotion. She climbs back up the stairs. We see her from the front as she is about to enter the room upstairs. Inside, she looks around in surprise at first, then says in surprise when she spots Anupam in the distance, “What on earth are you doing over there?” The camera shifts to him. He too is startled – standing upright quickly, he smiles slightly, saying, “Nothing.” Nothing other than his torso can be seen. As he straightens up the camera retreats a little to make room for Neelima in the frame. “What were you doing?” Neelima looks down and frowns. The vase with the flowers arranged in it is not in the frame, however. “I told you – nothing.” He turns his attention elsewhere. “Who was it?” No sooner has he asked the question than he spots the telegram and snatches it out of her hand. She is unable to prevent this unexpected move. Seeing him unfolding and reading it she protests sharply, “Why are you reading my telegram? Hand it over.” He has finished it. Returning it, he smiles and says, “It isn’t a letter, after all, there’s no harm in reading a telegram.” After a pause he says, “Of course, I wouldn’t have stopped even if it had been a letter. Scoundrel, beast – call me any name you like.” “I’m doing no such thing,” said Neelima calmly. “You’d better go now.” “You’re asking me to go!” He smiles at her strangely. “Why do I have to go? The coast is clear. Nothing to worry about tonight. Will the world turn upside-down if I stay back?” Neelima doesn’t reply. She only looks at Anupam with a sharp, unfathomable gaze. Trying to compete with this gaze in silence for several minutes, he loses, as it were, laughing loudly and saying, “No, this money in my pocket is crying to be set free. I have to go.” Without another word, he leaves, but turns back in a few moments. The camera has followed him as far as he has reached. “Mind you keep the doors and windows shut properly, Neel,” he says, pretending that he is already slurring from alcohol. “If I get particularly drunk I might even make a raid.” He doesn’t wait a moment longer, marching out of the room in almost military style. Following him until he is gone, the camera returns to Neelima’s face. She is standing still. She stands motionless in this way for quite a while before returning to her vase with the flowers in it. When as she looks at the vase, there is surprise in her eyes. We realise the reason once she sits down. The flowers have been rearranged. While she had gone downstairs, Anupam has rearranged them. It isn’t really an arrangement to speak of – just three dry, thorny, dead sticks planted raggedly. But all adding up to look rather unusual. September 19, 2011 December 4, 2011 by Arunava The Tale of a Coward: by Premendra Mitra Karuna brought me my morning cup of tea herself. I couldn’t help laughing at the accompaniments to the tea. “The climate here in your part of the world may be excellent,” I told her, “but my digestive system is still a hundred percent Indian—a couple of days here have not changed it much.” When Karuna only smiled in response and made as if to leave after arranging the cup and saucer and other dishes on the table, I called her back. “Are you getting formal with me? I’d have understood Bimal-babu’s being formal, but . . .” Interrupting me, Karuna said, “Let’s say I were to do it on Bimal-babu’s behalf—would that be a crime?” With a smile, she left. The tea got cold while I thought things over for a long time. No, there was no harm admitting even to myself that Karuna’s behaviour was making me uneasy. Not that I’d expected her to do anything dramatic. Far from making me expectant, it would have given me cause for anxiety. That’s why her initial lack of stiffness had actually reassured me. But gradually, an injured pride lurking somewhere within me seemed to be rearing its head. She needn’t have gone to such extremes, I felt. Maybe the sun had set, but couldn’t its light have delayed a bit to tinge the clouds to the west? I think I’d have been happiest had Karuna appeared excessively forbidding and remote. A constant wariness on her part would probably have satisfied my ego the most. But Karuna resorted neither to theatrical exuberance nor to rigid indifference. I could have easily decided that it didn’t matter to me even remotely. And so I should have. After all, I had harboured neither the hope nor the wish to meet Karuna. It hadn’t been in the cards either. Having disappeared without a trace among the countless millions on this earth, rediscovering each other some day was completely unforeseen. But when the unforeseen did materialise, I realised I had not been able to shed a lurking pride at Karuna’s inability to forget me even though I had forgotten her quite effortlessly. After all, you couldn’t forget the past entirely. Especially a particular evening. It had been raining incessantly all day, making it impossible to go out even if one wanted to. The servant informed me that a woman had come to see me. A woman to see me here at this hotel! I was mystified at first. When Karuna followed the servant into my room, astonishment must have been written large on my face. “You must be very surprised to see me,” said Karuna, coming up to me after the servant had left. “I am a bit, yes, but you’re sopping wet.” I was genuinely concerned. Taking the nearby chair, Karuna said, “Don’t worry, going out in the rain inevitably means getting wet.” Then she laughed. “What can you do anyway? Where will you find women’s clothes in this completely male world of yours? Surely you don’t have an amateur drama troupe here either!” “There’s a married couple in No. 10 upstairs,” I said after a little thought. “Are you proposing to borrow a sari and a blouse from her?” Karuna laughed again. “How will you explain it?” Suddenly looking sober, she said, “I’ll be fine in my wet clothes. Don’t worry, I won’t fall ill.” I had no choice but to sit down by her side. Even before I could ask anything, she said, “You must be wondering why I’ve suddenly come here to see you.” I didn’t answer this time either. Karuna seemed distracted for the next few minutes. Then there was a sudden transformation. I realised she had been holding this torrent of emotion in check all this time. Falling into my arms, she said frantically, “They’re taking me away to Patna tomorrow. My uncle wrote yesterday.” It wasn’t as though I didn’t understand. But still refusing to acknowledge the painful truth as long as possible, I said, “Your college will be closed, won’t it?” Even more frantically, Karuna said, “No, it’s not that. You don’t understand. They won’t let me stay here anymore, this will be my final departure!” Holding her chilled hand in mine, I sat in silence. Yes, there was pain in my heart, too, that evening, but it was nothing in comparison to Karuna’s anguish. My love lacked the passion that could have made it rise in arrogant revolt against the obstacles posed by fate. But, raising her tearful face a little later, Karuna said with determination, “I won’t go, never. Why should I?” I didn’t know what to say. Even that evening, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I did not support her rebellion. I knew already that the mutiny would be in vain. Trying to change the subject, I said, “It may not be what you think; maybe your fears are unfounded.” Karuna became distressed again. “No, I’m sure, they want to keep me there by force. They think it’s an infallible cure for my childishness.” She smiled bitterly. “I’m supposed to be going to college,” she continued. “I didn’t mean to put you in a bind by turning up here. But I had no choice; you hardly visit my aunt’s house anymore. I wouldn’t even have been able to inform you.” After a pause, Karuna was distraught all over again. “Will they really take me away by force? Is there nothing we can do?” There’s no need to describe in detail here the assurances and consolation with which I deposited Karuna at her aunt’s house, but although it hurt terribly, it was indisputable that I hadn’t been able to do anything about it. Whether by coercion or not, Karuna’s uncle did take her away to Patna after that; we didn’t even get a chance to meet before she left. Although I wasn’t invited, I did hear of Karuna’s wedding. I cannot claim to have received the news either impassively or dispassionately, but when I look back and analyse it today, it’s obvious that the next few days had turned grey with despair because I was looking at things from Karuna’s perspective—I did not have the ability to make out whether there was some smugness mingled with the pain of the realisation. Even after my memory of her had faded, I had the conviction somewhere at the back of my mind that, even if I could, she would never forget me. I embarrassed myself a little with the unexpected reaction I experienced to this cruel blow to my conviction, but still couldn’t restrain myself. When Karuna returned to my room a little later, she would have been able, had she wanted, to detect a subtle difference in my behaviour and the way I spoke to her. “What’s this! You haven’t eaten anything at all,” she said, looking at my plate. I glanced at her as I buttoned my shirt; with a smile, I said, “Formality begets formality; what would you have thought had I cleaned out the plate like a starving man in a famine?” “. . . You’re still harping on the same theme!” Karuna sounded a little disappointed. “Harping on the same theme is a weakness of mine, Karuna, I haven’t been cured yet.” My voice was deep with emotion. Karuna was putting away the plate of food, her face averted. I couldn’t see her expression. But her response revealed nothing but lighthearted banter. “So you’ve overcome all the other weaknesses.” Turning towards me again, she said, “What’s this, are you going out already?” “Yes, I’d better check how far they’ve gotten with the car.” “Checking won’t make the repairs go any faster. My husband said he’d enquire. He’ll be home soon; he’s asked for you to wait.” “Therefore, you and I should talk until then?” I tried to say, smiling. “We could,” said Karuna with an amused expression. “How easy it is for you to say something like that, Karuna.” My tone had become intense on its own. “What’s so difficult about saying something like that?” Karuna’s face held both a smile and traces of astonishment. “Not all that difficult then, Karuna? Really? Aren’t you afraid to be with me all by yourself? I fear myself still, you know.” “You really have gone quite mad.” Karuna left with a laugh, leaving me feeling rather foolish. Turning back from the door, she said, “Don’t you go away, I’ll be back soon.” But Karuna didn’t return for the longest time. As I paced up and down in the room, I felt a certain resentment burning within me—whether against Karuna or against myself, I couldn’t tell. Perhaps it was against destiny. Why did I have to meet her again this way. What could this meeting be but an act of fate? Having obtained some unexpected leave from the office, I was on a motoring holiday. When the engine broke down suddenly last night in the middle of this town, I was grateful to fate for ensuring it had happened in a civilised town rather than in the middle of the forest. If I’d known what the future had in store, I may well have preferred the forest. Not only was it night, but the place was also unfamiliar. Unable to secure a room either at the waiting-room at the station or at the cheapest of hotels, I hopelessly directed my horse-drawn cart back to the workshop where I had deposited my car for repair. That was where I met Bimal-babu. Employed at a nearby coal-mine, he was visiting the workshop on business. Volunteering to come to the aid of another Bengali in a foreign land, he offered a room for the night in his house. I may have demurred mildly, but he brushed aside my objections. He lived in a remote corner of the town. When we reached it, the house had already fallen silent. As he rattled the knocker on the door, Bimal-babu said, “I wasn’t supposed to be back today, you see. The damned servants are all blissfully asleep.” A little later a woman with a lantern opened the door, saying drowsily, “I’m so sorry, I was fast asleep. But didn’t you say you weren’t coming back today?” “Fate was probably going to give me a chance to be a good Samaritan, so it led me back home. If I hadn’t, this gentleman would have probably found himself in a bit of a spot in an unfamiliar town.” Finally Karuna saw me. About to retreat, covering her head with the cowl of her sari at the sight of a stranger, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Bimal-babu was still talking. “Can you call the servants, they can unlock the drawing-room and make up a bed for him in there. The gentleman may not find it very comfortable. . . .” He was forced to stop when he heard what Karuna was saying. “So what if the gentleman does find it a little uncomfortable so far away from home?” smiled Karuna. Bimal-babu looked at both of us in surprise. “What do you mean! Do you know him?” “Of course I do, just a little,” Karuna laughed. “How strange.” “Why should it be. Why can’t I know someone even if you don’t. I’ve only been married to you these past three years, do you suppose I was in solitary confinement the previous twenty?” “But perhaps you could choose not to display this sample of our married life to the gentleman while he’s still waiting outside in the cold,” Bimal-babu laughed too. Karuna pretended to turn serious. “Oh, so you want him to conclude that I’m perpetually quarrelling with you.” Since it really was time that I said something too, I tried to laugh as well. “Selling is my profession, Bimal-babu, you cannot fool me with samples.” The manner of Karuna’s first exchange of conversation after all these years struck a false note in me somewhere. After a long wait, just as I was wondering whether to go looking for her, Karuna arrived. On her own, she answered the question I was about to ask her on seeing how she was dressed. “I have to go out for a bit. Will you come with me?” Taking my shawl from the clothes-rack, I said, “Your wish is my command. But where are you going?” “To buy groceries,” Karuna smiled. “Groceries?” I asked in surprise. “I do the shopping myself quite often,” she smiled again. “It’s true that local women here don’t usually go shopping themselves, unless they belong to families here on holiday, but I don’t care for such restrictions; when my husband isn’t here I go myself with the servant.” “But Bimal-babu is here today, isn’t he?” “Oh, I forgot to tell you! He sent word that he’s been held up on important work. He won’t be back today.” Karuna said all this quite casually. But I stopped in the middle of the road. “What do we do, then?” “You seem concerned. Do you think you won’t be looked after in his absence?” An amused, mischievous smile played on Karuna’s face. “It’s not that, Karuna. I was thinking . . .” I said without a smile. “If you start thinking here in the middle of the street, I’ll have to go on alone.” So I had to walk along with her, in silence. The roads in this part of town were quite deserted. The houses were few and far between—many of them unoccupied. There was hardly anyone on the road to speak of. We continued walking in silence. After a few glances at me, Karuna smiled again. “Why so serious? What are you thinking about?” “I’m thinking about leaving today.” “But your car won’t be ready so soon.” “They can send the car on afterwards. I’ll take the train.” “Why so impatient to leave? What are you afraid of?” I stopped again in the middle of the road. “I told you, didn’t I—I’m scared of myself; it’s me I don’t trust.” No, I couldn’t take this anymore. Suddenly losing all self-control, I took her hand. “What if you’re the one that’s hurt . . .” Karuna didn’t withdraw her hand. But cruelly making light of all my passion with a mocking smile, she said, “But how? I trust myself, after all.” “Couldn’t that trust be shattered in an instant, Karuna?” I said, letting go of her hand. “Couldn’t a wave come along to dislodge you from your moorings?” Karuna’s eyes still held that indecipherable, amused smile. “No idea, but then I haven’t been tested either.” I don’t know what I might have said after that, but the roads were filling with people. I was forced into silence. The Karuna who had gone shopping in the morning was completely different from the Karuna who sat opposite me at an elaborate lunch. Dressed in a sari with a broad red border over a white chemise, she came up to sit near me, her wet, loose hair draped over her back. She had never looked so extraordinary. “What are you staring at? Haven’t you seen me before?” she smiled, fanning me as I ate. “It really feels as though I haven’t.” “Maybe you really haven’t,” she said with an odd smile, and then asked, “Tell me something, what did you think when you saw me shopping?” “I was thinking that you’re a new discovery for me.” “Really! But I beg of you, don’t deny Columbus’s claims.” “Even if they do, there’s no deed of proof.” Karuna laughed uproariously at her own sense of humour. I ate in silence for a long time. Then I said, “Not everyone values a deed. Deeds are the easiest thing to burn.” Karuna didn’t smile this time. Looking at me strangely for a while, she suddenly rose, saying, “I forgot your dessert.” It was the cook and not Karuna who brought the dessert. But she brought me some paan herself a few minutes later in my room and blurted out, “So you’re leaving by the evening train?” I looked at her in astonishment. Was I imagining things, or was there a trace of anxiety on her face? “Very well, I will,” I replied. “What do you mean, ‘very well, I will’? As if I’m forcing you to go. I asked you to stay, it was you who insisted on leaving.” The acid in her tone was unmistakable now. “Do you think I’m blaming you?” I smiled. “I simply have to go.” Karuna smiled too, perhaps a little embarrassed. “I know, what can possibly hold you back in a place like this? But listen, you do know there’s only that one train. Exactly at six-thirty, don’t forget.” I didn’t have to take the trouble of not forgetting. Well before evening, Karuna had made all the arrangements for my luggage to be packed, the motor workshop to be informed, and a carriage to be fetched to take me to the station. Just in case there were any disruptions during the fifteen-minute journey to the station, she saw me into the carriage an hour earlier and only then relaxed. I didn’t even get an opportunity to say anything all this time. As I was about to leave, she came up to the carriage to say, “Heaven knows what you must be thinking about me. Probably that I’m dying to get rid of you, isn’t that so?” “That’s the only source of consolation.” “If consolation is so easy to obtain, how will you ever get the real thing?” Karuna laughed. The echo of her laughter was drowned in the clatter of the carriage drawing away. It would have been best for this story to have ended there—but it didn’t. When I reached the station there was a long time to go for the train. Unable to make the clock run faster after depositing my luggage in the waiting room and strolling aimlessly all over the platform, I was standing at the bookstall, wondering which of them to buy. Suddenly I jumped out of my skin. “Karuna! What are you doing here?” “Nothing in particular,” she said with a wan smile. Whether because of the faint light on the platform, or because she really felt that way, Karuna looked defenceless. Moving away from the stall, I said, “I can’t quite understand why you’re here, Karuna.” Karuna smiled again. Then, suddenly looking serious, she said, “I’ve burnt the deed.” Genuinely perplexed, I stared at her idiotically for a while. Then I said frantically, “Do you know what you’re saying, Karuna?” “Is it impossible, what I’m saying? Can’t a wave ever come along to dislodge you from your moorings?” Karuna’s voice acquired an intimacy of tone. Stepping up very close to me, she raised her eyes to mine to say, “Can’t you take me away? Won’t you?” I was overcome. “Take you away . . . I . . .” “Are you wondering where to take me? Wherever you like.” I couldn’t say a word. I only felt an upheaval within. “I know what awaits you—difficulty, humiliation. But then I’m prepared for all that too, I’m risking all the shame and condemnation in the world to come to you.” Karuna gazed at me in distress. What would I tell her? What could I say now? Thoughtlessly I had opened up the floodgates, how could I reject her now? “But have you thought about it all the way, Karuna? Will you be able to withstand the storm that will ensue? We might get so fatigued fighting it that one day we’ll end up hating each other.” Karuna was still looking at me intently, but gradually—very gradually—a contemptuous smile appeared on her face. “Thank you for your valuable advice. The moorings would have been loosened in another moment.” Karuna laughed loudly this time. I looked at her in surprise. Had she staged the whole thing just to mock me! “There, the bell’s gone for your train,” Karuna spoke quite casually. “Mine’s almost here too.” “My aunt and her family are coming from Calcutta. They don’t know the way to our house. My husband isn’t here either, so I came myself. Very disappointed?” Without another word I set off for the over-bridge that would take me to the other platform. My last view of Karuna was of her bent over the books in the bookstall.	40,484
Researchers are conducting a clinical research study to find out how many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a genetic form of the disease caused by a change in a gene called the apolipoprotein L1, or APOL1, gene. Current treatments for CKD caused by variations in the APOL1 gene do not treat the genetic cause of this disease, and even with these treatments, people who have APOL1 genetic mutations often end up having kidney failure. This clinical research study will require a single study visit where blood and saliva samples will be collected to determine if individuals have changes in the APOL1 gene. This can be done at a study site or in your home. If you choose to participate, the results of this investigational genetic test may qualify you for a future clinical research study where researchers will be testing an investigational medication that may help treat individuals with CKD caused by changes in the APOL1 gene by blocking APOL1 function, which allows for the kidneys to function properly. To learn more about the blood and saliva sample collection, DNA (genetic) testing, and genotyping that will take place as part of this study, please watch the video. Changes in the APOL1 gene began more than 10,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some people don’t know their ancestors and may not know if they have the APOL1 mutation – we are currently enrolling people who may be of African ancestry and are between the ages of 12 and 60 years old to participate in investigational genetic testing for the APOL1 gene. Potential participants must meet the following criteria: Are between the ages of 12 and 60 years old Have been diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or another form of CKD with an increased level of protein in their urine, and no other identifiable cause of kidney disease, including diabetes Willing and able to comply with the testing requirements Those who qualify will receive APOL1 investigational genetic testing at no cost. If you qualify, you may be compensated for your study-related time and reimbursed for travel. This study consists of one visit that can take place at home or at the study site. At this visit, the study doctor and their team will take samples of blood and saliva from study volunteers to see if they were born with a variation in their APOL1 gene that is related to CKD. Those who qualify will receive this investigational testing at no cost, and the results of this test may qualify participants for a future clinical research study exploring treatment options for people with CKD. See if you may qualify See If You May Qualify About CKD and Genetic Testing By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our cookie notice and privacy notice.	2,873
Beautiful work, great quality! Seller is very communicative and helpful. Would not hesitate to order again. Absolutely adorable and great quality. I can tell the decals will last for a long time! Worth every penny. Custom name and monthly milestone plaques came out great! Love them! Absolutely stunning! Showed up on time and it's so we'll done. Wouldn't hesitate recommending this seller. It’s absolutely perfect and beautiful - can’t wait to use it in photos when my baby girl arrives. I had a lot of questions and the seller was so responsive and helpful. Absolutely love the finished product! I wanted something unique to use for my little one's announcement pic and this didn't disappoint. I also really appreciate all of the communication back and forth to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. These name plaques are absolutely gorgeous for bub’s announcement and as a forever keepsake. Thank you so much.	960
Candice Burns - Candice Burns has worked in the real estate industry for a long time. She understands the importance of a home for long-term happiness and has dedicated her career to placing people in the home of their dreams. Candice's passions for helping others during difficult times and a strong interest in high-end, luxury homes drove her to explore real estate. She's been in the real estate business for ten years and has helped over 3,500 people find homes during that period. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Los Angeles. She's worked with some of Los Angeles' most prestigious real estate firms. Naomi's exact birth date is unknown. In the year 1958, she was born. She has a 62-year-old mother. Naomi is of mixed ethnicity and has American citizenship. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius. She was also born in Kentucky, the United States, and she is a Christian. In terms of Naomi's educational background, she is well-educated and has a high school diploma. Naomi's previous husband was Jeffrey Wayne, whom she married after several years of dating. She is currently single. Naomi never revealed any information about her husband or any other romantic relationship on the internet. She, too, is blessed with children. Shaun King, Jason King, and Russ King are her three children. William, her eldest son, was born on February 25, 1974. Unfortunately, he died in 2018 at the age of 44. William was born in the Kentucky town of Versailles. He is married to Kari (Sophie) Anderson, whom he met while on his way to Indianapolis to work as a youth pastor. He has two children with her, Elana and Josiah King. Jason graduated from Woodford County High School and then went on to Center College to further his education in Physics. Following that, he enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 2002 with a major in Christian Education and Youth Ministry. Shaun King, Naomi's famous son, was born on September 17, 1979. Her middle son is Rai King's husband, and he and she have four children. Ttaeyonna, Kendi, Savannah, and Ezekiel King are their names. There isn't much information available about Naomi's third and youngest son. In contrast to what we discovered on the internet, Naomi's son Shaun has confirmed that she has more than three children. She appears to have a large number of children from various relationships. In an interview with The Washington Post, King revealed that his mother raised several children on her own as a single mother. Leaving everything else aside, Naomi did an excellent job raising her children. She sent them to school, and now they're all doing well in their respective fields. She used to make ends meet while working in a light bulb factory in Kentucky when her children were young. The King family's circumstances were dire, but they persisted. Her son stated that the state of Jesus Christ should be destroyed because it demonstrates white supremacy, which sparked a lot of debate and many people began to disagree with her. Her husband's name is Jeffrey Wayne King, and they married after dating for a long time. Naomi is the name and documented celebrity mother of Jeffery Shaun King, a famous writer, civil rights activist, and co-founder of Real Justice PAC. She rose to prominence as a result of the accomplishments of her middle son, Shaun King. She previously worked as an employee in a Light Bulb Factory. As a single parent, Naomi Kay King raised King and his brother. As a result, it was difficult for her. Furthermore, Naomi's favorite hobbies include singing, reading, and, most importantly, spending time with her wonderful family. Naomi's children attended Huntertown Elementary School before graduating from Woodford County High School. Shaun was bullied a lot in school and became a victim of hate crimes. He even described an incident in which some boys attempted to run a truck over him on school grounds. Kay later reported what had happened to him to the school principal and teachers, who attempted to secure the youths rather than punish them. Furthermore, they beat him in school for reporting, and he missed two years of school due to his multiple spinal injuries. King was unable to devote her full attention to her children because she needed to work multiple jobs to support them financially. Aside from that, her favorite color is red, and her favorite food is Italian. Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez are two of her favorite actors and actresses. Furthermore, Cuba is her ideal vacation destination. Naomi's income must be greater than $500,000. (USD). There is currently no information available about her assets or source of income. His sons, on the other hand, are now there to support Naomi and their family. When it comes to Naomi Kay Fleming's body measurements, she stands at 5 feet 4 inches tall, or 1.65 m or 165 cm. She weighs approximately 55 kg (121 lbs). Her body measurements are also 40-36-42 inches. She has a bra cup size of 36 C and shoes size 6. (US). Naomi is also a fitness fanatic. She also has a pair of dark brown eyes and blonde hair. In terms of her social media presence, Naomi Kay Fleming is not present on any of them. She does not have an Instagram account, a Twitter account, or a Facebook page. Shaun King, her famous son, is very active there. In fact, he does his charitable work through social media. Shaun King, 36, is an Atlanta-based activist who has been active in anti-racism movements such as Black Lives Matter. He publicly identifies as “black or biracial” and is the son of “a Caucasian mother and an African-American father,” according to a 2012 profile. However, yesterday, the nativist website Breitbart.com began questioning King's story of his upbringing, focusing on purported evidence indicating that his father is white. King eventually dismissed Breitbart's questions as the work of a "white supremacist conspiracy," but not before igniting a debate that has since captivated conservative media circles. According to Breitbart's report, which was written by British Gamergate activist Milo Yiannopoulos, King has repeatedly lied about his race, illegally obtained an Oprah Winfrey-funded scholarship for men attending a historically black university, and exaggerated the severity of physical injuries he sustained during a 1995 hate crime and an unrelated car accident. Yiannopoulos relies heavily on documents obtained by Daily Caller reporter Chuck Ross and a blogger named Vicki Pate, the latter of whom appears to be obsessed with smearing black people killed by police officers and discrediting black people who survived police brutality. The crucial piece of evidence is King's birth certificate, which Pate obtained earlier this month and shows he was born in 1979 to Naomi Kay Fleming and Jeffery Wayne King of Versailles, Kentucky. According to King's Instagram, Fleming appears to be white. On the other hand, was able to locate several police mugshots purporting to show a man matching Jeffery Wayne King's description, right down to his name, age, and Kentucky residence. It is impossible to determine a person's race from photographs alone, but the man in these mugshots is clearly fair-skinned. Following the publication of Breitbart's piece, The Daily Beast reported that "criminal records identify Jeffrey King's ethnicity as white." This appears to be a reference to Broward County, Florida records, which show that a serial arrestee named Jeffery Wayne King, whose biographical details match the father named on Shaun King's birth certificate and the man of the same name who was arrested several times in Kentucky, is listed as white. Furthermore, CNN anchor Don Lemon stated last night that he had spoken with an unnamed member of Shaun King's family, who informed him that both of King's parents are white. The evidence is substantial, and while questions about King's racial background appear to have been circulating for a few weeks, the activist did not directly address them until his birth certificate was brought to Breitbart's attention on Wednesday. Several hours after the website's report, he took to Twitter to refute its central argument—that he is not, in fact, black or biracial—first by referring to Vicki Pate as a "known white supremacist" and later by claiming that his family is "one big mess" and "full of secrets, divorce, affairs, and so on." Naomi's one lie had a negative impact on her son and sparked a major debate about Naomi Kay Fleming King's son, Shaun King's ethnic background. Shaun claims to be biracial, but his birth certificate tells a different story. After receiving a lot of attention and criticism for his ethnicity, he wrote an op-ed for the Daily Kos in which he discusses his mother and his ethnicity. Shaun discusses his biological father. “The reports about my race, about my past, and about the pain I've endured are all lies. My mother is a senior. I refuse to speak in detail about the nature of my mother's past or her sexual partners, and I am gravely embarrassed to even say this now, but I have been told for most of my life that the white man on my birth certificate is not my biological father and that my actual biological father is a light-skinned black man”. Shaun claims that all of his siblings had different parents and that he isn't even sure how many siblings he has. However, using such personal information for the wrong reasons forced him to come forward. Whatever the case may be, Shaun considers his mother, Naomi, to be the sweetest woman he's ever met and one of the best friends he's ever had. It is the only thing that matters. Furthermore, Naomi's son claimed that the state of Jesus Christ should be destroyed because it demonstrates white supremacy, which sparked a lot of debate. Naomi Kay Fleming is of white ethnicity, but one of her sons, Shaun King, is said to be mixed-race. Fleming is the father of three sons: William Jason (born February 25, 1974), Shaun (born September 17, 1979), and Russ King. Her children were all born from different partners. William Jason King, one of her three sons, died at the age of 44. Naomi is said to have instilled in her children the value of hard work and the importance of treating others fairly. Shaun King, the co-founder of Real Justice PAC, received the Oprah Winfrey Scholarship from Morehouse College. William King's elder son was a pastor who earned a degree in Christian Education and Youth Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary. Naomi is very close to her son. She, too, is a huge animal lover. She stands about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 65 kilograms. Her body measurements are 40-32-42. There is no information available about her parents or siblings. She dated Jeffrey Wayne King in the past, but we don't know if she married him or not. She is currently unmarried and has three children. Shaun King, Jason King, and Russ King are their names. She is thought to have only finished high school at a local high school. Her favorite pastimes include singing, reading, and, most importantly, spending time with her wonderful family. Naomi Kay King, King's mother, was raising King and his brother as a single parent in second grade. After the 2016 election, King left the Democratic Party, accusing it of corruption and a lack of neutrality during the 2016 primary. Candice Burns - Candice Burns has worked in the real estate industry for a long time. She understands the importance of a home for long-term happiness and has dedicated her career to placing people in the home of their dreams. Candice's passions for helping others during difficult times and a strong interest in high-end, luxury homes drove her to explore real estate. She's been in the real estate business for ten years and has helped over 3,500 people find homes during that period. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Los Angeles. She's worked with some of Los Angeles' most prestigious real estate firms.	12,908
If you’re interested in booking a Guided Float Tour near Sterling, Alaska, you’ve come to the right place! Taking advantage of Alaska’s Sixmile Creek with Class I through Class V rapids, Flow AK can provide an unforgettable Guided Float Tour to help you maximize your time in Alaska. Whether you live here or just visiting The Last Frontier on vacation, there are very few options for adventure and exploration that can put a smile on your face quite like a river trip. It’s the thrill of a lifetime! Take a look for yourself, the reviews of prior tour guests suggests you, your family and friends are going to be grinning from ear to ear. Interested in a Guided Float Tour near Sterling? Contact Flow AK, Alaska’s Whitewater Rafting Guides. Flow AK rafting guides are seasoned veterans of the canyon waters, and we make every effort to help you have a safe, enjoyable tour. Be sure to read up on trip planning to help you know more about our operation and your chosen activity. Based in Hope, Alaska, our whitewater rafting and casual float trips are a mere one hour, forty-five minutes drive from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, about one hour from Girdwood, and about one hour twenty minutes from Seward Itself. If you’re visiting anywhere in the region and can appreciate driving one of North America’s most scenic highways through the Chugach Mountain Range, then don’t hesitate to book a trip with Flow AK. The drive alone is worth the time, and a Guided Float Tour is sure to create memories to last a lifetime. If want that photo that says, “I conquered Alaska!” then reach out to us. A Guided Float Tour near Sterling, AK is the best way to make a great day with your friends and family. We can’t wait to see you on the water! Come raft world class Six Mile creek with us! Sixmile creek is one of the greatest whitewater runs in North America. The run consists of three canyon sections with numerous rapids in each section. At lower water levels the first two canyons have Class III and IV rapids and the third canyon has Class V rapids. At higher water levels we consider all three canyons Class V. This is a serious whitewater adventure. This trip is not to be taken lightly. Guests are expected to be in good physical condition, if you have any questions of your physical ability to engage in this adventure please consult your physician. Guests will be expected to perform a practice swim prior to entering the canyon sections of Sixmile creek. $200 Per Person. Online booking does entail a third party booking fee. Please feel free to call us to book directly for the $200 rate. Watch the natural world unfold itself before you as you glide along the upper sections of Sixmile creek. In the upper sections of sixmile creek we see bear, moose, beaver, bald eagles and many other interesting creatures. Your local guides will share their love of Alaska with you. This is generally a class I-II section. This trip is an appropriate trip for families of different ages and fitness abilities. Exit Sixmile Creek and float into vast Turnagain arm. Float on this unique waterway for a few hours and watch for seals, eagles and bears. If you are extremely lucky a Beluga whale might swim by! Turnagain arm has the highest tidal range in the United States and the fourth highest in the world, come float this unique body of water with us. This trip is tidal dependent and as such start times vary daily, call us for timing. This class trip is an appropriate trip for families of different ages and fitness abilities. Thank you thank you thank you!!! Such an amazing time. Bucketlist item for sure. Our guides, Ion and Mike were extremely experienced and made our group feel comfortable throughout the entirety of all the canyons. The gear is all new... Read MoreThank you thank you thank you!!! Such an amazing time. Bucketlist item for sure. Our guides, Ion and Mike were extremely experienced and made our group feel comfortable throughout the entirety of all the canyons. The gear is all new and kept me completely dry from neck all the way to my toes!!! Which I was shocked and grateful for. The scenery of this river is absolutely to die for. We saw many animals along our way, so not only did we raft class five rapids, we had a sightseeing tour as well! Ion knew the name of every bird and creek we passed. (Blown away at his ability on all levels.) Will absolutely return again. Read Less This is amazing!! Beautiful views, & nicest folks who run this small operation rafting company. Incredibly talented guides. Thank you Mike for giving us the best time on the rapids, and Jake for doing a great job on the other... Read MoreThis is amazing!! Beautiful views, & nicest folks who run this small operation rafting company. Incredibly talented guides. Thank you Mike for giving us the best time on the rapids, and Jake for doing a great job on the other raft! Scotty was fun to watch on the safety raft, and Brad took some awesome photos. As a past raft guide myself, I was super impressed by this company and how quickly they got us on the river. We didn’t have to wait around in the office for them to wrangle people together, they were efficient and got us right out there. And the way they navigated those Class V rapids was exciting yet safe. Couldn’t ask for anything better! Read Less Such an epic time with this crew! Level 5 can be a bit intimidating but Mike, Scotty and Jake make it so seamless! The process of getting ready was quick, the instructions were straight forward and the water test was great to... Read MoreSuch an epic time with this crew! Level 5 can be a bit intimidating but Mike, Scotty and Jake make it so seamless! The process of getting ready was quick, the instructions were straight forward and the water test was great to get a feel of the water! The whole ride down was way longer then expected and absolutely gorgeous! The first half of the ride is relaxing with some small rapids then the third section is where is where gets real fun! Mike was so experienced and knew the river so well that we never came close to flipping and felt so safe! The more you participate the better it is! Out of lots of guided raft trips, this is so far the best I’ve had! The safest I’ve felt for the class of white water we ran. From the quaint and quite location of the outpost, to the relaxed pace... Read MoreOut of lots of guided raft trips, this is so far the best I’ve had! The safest I’ve felt for the class of white water we ran. From the quaint and quite location of the outpost, to the relaxed pace of the whole experience, I would recommend this to anyone interested in a very awesome and unique way to explore the gorgeous and otherwise inaccessible area. Read Less Mike was our guide on the raft. He was awesome with safety and precautions without freaking us out. Talked about the land and the fish which our whole crew enjoyed and gave us the best splashes of the day! Hatter... Read MoreMike was our guide on the raft. He was awesome with safety and precautions without freaking us out. Talked about the land and the fish which our whole crew enjoyed and gave us the best splashes of the day! Hatter was the safety boat (I believe) and the guy that took our photos (name I cannot remember, sorry), they made the place feel like home. All of them gave a warm welcome and took us on a wild Alaska adventure! Very well put together and an extremely fun time. Read Less This the best damn rafting company in Hope! They made a huge effort to let us join late. They also kept telling us we were the best rafting crew they had all afternoon. Seriously, pay attention to the safety briefings,... Read MoreThis the best damn rafting company in Hope! They made a huge effort to let us join late. They also kept telling us we were the best rafting crew they had all afternoon. Seriously, pay attention to the safety briefings, they kept us safe. We hold the distinction of being the first to flip the boat in 8 YEARS!!. So Much Fun!!! Dave from Mesa AZ Read Less Gareth was our guide down six mile creek and absolutely crushed it. All the gear we used worked flawlessly. The guides were super fun and helpful. An amazing adrenaline rush shooting through the rapids. Also had some nice photos of... Read MoreGareth was our guide down six mile creek and absolutely crushed it. All the gear we used worked flawlessly. The guides were super fun and helpful. An amazing adrenaline rush shooting through the rapids. Also had some nice photos of us ripping down. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a wild, but great experience! Read Less Flow AK was the best! This was my first time ever white water rafting and they made it a memorable, fun, and safe adventure. The guides are experienced and funny. It feels like you've known the guys your whole life.... Read MoreFlow AK was the best! This was my first time ever white water rafting and they made it a memorable, fun, and safe adventure. The guides are experienced and funny. It feels like you've known the guys your whole life. I highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an alaskan experience. 6 mile creek couple with some amazing people is an unforgettable trip. Read Less This is a first class outfit. Their guides are very experienced, super skilled, and delightfully funny. From beginning to the end, I knew I was trusting professionals to keep us safe in very turbulent waters while giving us the ride... Read MoreThis is a first class outfit. Their guides are very experienced, super skilled, and delightfully funny. From beginning to the end, I knew I was trusting professionals to keep us safe in very turbulent waters while giving us the ride of a lifetime. The water was quite high, so it was a fast and exciting trip, but our guide Scotty was incredibly skillful in guiding our raft through all the hard parts and making the best use of the passenger paddle power. The dry suits and other equipment are in terrific condition, and it is clear they have invested in creating a great reputation. It is obvious that the whole crew loves their work, and they are very attentive to making sure that every guest has a great experience. Read Less I don’t normally post but this outfit is accommodating, experienced, professional - and fun! I was camping in Hope so it made it an easy add on to my trip but I’d honestly go out of my way to do... Read MoreI don’t normally post but this outfit is accommodating, experienced, professional - and fun! I was camping in Hope so it made it an easy add on to my trip but I’d honestly go out of my way to do a run even if my ultimate goal was Kenai, Seward, Cooper Landing, etc. My son and I had a blast and plan on hitting it again this summer. Practice using these words ahead of time “rowdy, gnarly, and stout”. Everyone I interacted with was super cool and enthusiastic. They had good and new gear too. Can’t say enough. Read Less Incredible run on Wednesday June 15, 2022.... I've never experienced white water like that! Exhilarating and terrifying. The crew was exceptional - best training we've had and it was a good thing!! Devin and Hatter were awesome... Read MoreIncredible run on Wednesday June 15, 2022.... I've never experienced white water like that! Exhilarating and terrifying. The crew was exceptional - best training we've had and it was a good thing!! Devin and Hatter were awesome as our guides and Scotty - we love the bus! Read Less Unreal experience today! After a change in our plans, Scotty got us stoked to join Flow AK!! Our guide, Devin, was awesome. We had never rafted but he gave great directions that made me feel safe and have an incredible... Read MoreUnreal experience today! After a change in our plans, Scotty got us stoked to join Flow AK!! Our guide, Devin, was awesome. We had never rafted but he gave great directions that made me feel safe and have an incredible time. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone!! Read Less Absolutely ready to do it again once we finished. Thrilling as well and fun. Devin, our guide, was more excited than I after going through some of the rapids. The entire team worked expertly together and clearly... Read MoreAbsolutely ready to do it again once we finished. Thrilling as well and fun. Devin, our guide, was more excited than I after going through some of the rapids. The entire team worked expertly together and clearly love what they do whole heartedly. Done trips in Denali and the Kenai and this was the most fun and exciting not just in Alaska but any other state I've rafted in. Read Less Celebrated my 31st rocking some class 5 rapids. Terrifying and thrilling. Highly recommend Flow AK, so friendly, an amazing group of guides + you’ll be supporting Alaska locals who are family focused. Felt super safe in their capable and experienced... Read MoreCelebrated my 31st rocking some class 5 rapids. Terrifying and thrilling. Highly recommend Flow AK, so friendly, an amazing group of guides + you’ll be supporting Alaska locals who are family focused. Felt super safe in their capable and experienced hands. Epic time - don’t miss out. Read Less Flow AK is hands down the best! The operation is ran with a perfect balance of SAFE & FUN! My friends and I just celebrated a birthday party on the creek with these guys and it was one for the... Read MoreFlow AK is hands down the best! The operation is ran with a perfect balance of SAFE & FUN! My friends and I just celebrated a birthday party on the creek with these guys and it was one for the books! Book your trip now! Read Less My husband and I went to Hope, AK with a group of friends to kayak 6 Mile Creek (a beautiful, classic and challenging river) last summer. Flow AK took our friends and family (who couldn't kayak) rafting down 6... Read MoreMy husband and I went to Hope, AK with a group of friends to kayak 6 Mile Creek (a beautiful, classic and challenging river) last summer. Flow AK took our friends and family (who couldn't kayak) rafting down 6 Mile. The guides and the experience was so awesome, and the trip was run so professionally. They had such a good experience in the first two 'easier' canyons, they decided to continue on through the last canyon, an exciting class V stretch. They were so glad they did! From the safety talk, to the practice swim, to the super nice drysuits they wore, to styling the rapids, Flow AK made our group's day and were a huge highlight of their entire trip to Alaska. I don't typically take time to write reviews, but I felt the need to share how great that experience was. I highly recommend this outfitter for anyone who wishes to have an incredible and memorable adventure on Six Mile Creek with an extremely professional river guiding and outfitting service. Read Less	15,459
The Best 7 Engineering Companies to Work For by Ron in Gadgets on April 14, 2020 Once you find yourself unsatisfied in your job, it can be difficult to decide on the next step to take in your engineering career. So, to make things a little easier for you, here’s a list of 7 of the best engineering companies to work for in 2020. With out of this world employee benefits and an innovative and creative environment, it’s no wonder that so many Google employees find themselves walking around with a pep in their step. Their engineering department is no exception, with many employees singing the companies praises. Owned by one of the world’s most famous engineers, multi-billionaire, Elon Musk, it’s no surprise that his company offers excellent career opportunities for its engineers. With a range of areas to explore, there is definitely an area of this company that will fit your needs. Like many of the companies on this list, Microsoft has earned a ridiculously high satisfaction rate for its engineering roles. With the company having a reputation of being one of the best companies for collaborative efforts and having one of the best pay rates, it’s no surprise so many people are wanting to work here. Offering better pay than other retail outlets, many employees have been singing the praises of Apple as an employer. Claiming it’s a great environment to work in, employees have pointed out they are made to feel like family once they become part of the Apple team. While you may not become an astronaut, there’s nothing stopping you from aiming for the stars and landing a job at the worlds most renowned engineering company. Just brush up on your engineering skills by visiting sites like WeldingMania and you never know, you could end up having a hand to play in the next moon landing. While it may seem like a bit of a step down from NASA, the home of some of the largest commercial planes has managed to rack up impressively high employee satisfaction rates with its employees pointing out the company’s excellent pay rates and promotion opportunities. Perhaps one of the lesser known companies on this list, HEB, just so happens to be one of the best for employee satisfaction rates. Their engineering department was specifically recognised to have some of the happiest employees of many companies within the US, so it may be worth doing some more research on this company to see if it’s right for you. by Ron on April 11, 2020 Less than thirty years ago it was a luxury to be able to communicate with someone across the globe. Now it is something we take for granted. Technology has advanced incredibly in the past few years and it has forever changed the way we as humans interact with each other. It has changed the social, political, business and entertainment landscapes forever. And as technology continues to develop, it’s impossible to say what will come next. But for now, here are a few different ways technology has changed the way we interact. Perhaps the biggest and most talked-about advancement of technology and interaction. Social media has taken many different forms and connects people in different and unique ways. Twitter allows people to voice their opinions quickly. Facebook lets communities come together and build groups. Instagram has allowed people to visually share their worlds. Technology allows us to see into the lives of our friends and families from anywhere, while also spreading important news. But social media isn’t purely a social experience either. People have found that they can boost their own business by using social media to their advantage. Marketing is the be-all and end-all of businesses. Without proper marketing, a business cannot succeed. And social media has allowed people to take their marketing to new heights. Thanks to how connected people are, companies can reach new demographics the world over. But it isn’t just big business that benefits. Smaller, independent businesses can reach more people in their area and, by making use of a social media marketing software tool, they can organise and time their posts, coordinate marketing campaigns and bring their exposure to new levels. This is a huge benefit to everyone involved. Smaller companies get more customers, and people can find new and exciting business easier. Arcades brought people together as they exercised their passion for gaming. And as technology improved, so did the world of gaming. But it isn’t only the graphics and gameplay that changed. Thanks to the internet and advancements in server technology, the world of online gaming came into existence in full force. And it has become one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative industries. Many games offer a multiplayer option that let people participate in matches, which has led to e-sports becoming a fully-fledged career path for many people to follow. This new breed of athletes brings people together as communities form in support of their favorite players. But it isn’t just competitive gaming that brings us together. Massively multiplayer gaming has become a huge part of society. People can leave their real lives and step into amazing, fantastical worlds and become someone else. They can form virtual communities that lead to very real friendships. While the games themself might be fantasy, the relationships and bonds that are formed because of them are more than real. Top 3 Emerging Tech Companies in the USA by Ron in Tech on March 23, 2020 Every day another Tech Company throws their hat into the ring of business. But not all of them are successful enough to get noticed. But some manage to push past the barriers and get themselves into the public eye. Weather it be for their creative idea or their commitment to their users, below are 3 emerging tech companies making a name for themselves in the USA. Toroox is a link-shortening website. A user can simply enter their link and receive a new one that reroutes through an advertising page. The owner of the link then makes a small bit of money off it. Toroox is a powerhouse in affiliate marketing and is making a name for itself across the USA with a fantastic user interface, stellar customer satisfaction and results. If you are interested in trying your hand at affiliate marketing and making a bit of extra money, give them a look. Lyft is trying to make a name for themselves by entering into a highly competitive field. With Uber dominating the market for taxi ordering companies and against the already established taxis in every city. Lyft has created a simple, yet effective UI and combining it with great user support to make sure their name is moving ahead in the competitive world of ride share apps. Nord is a VPN company interested in making sure their users connection is secure, safe and their personal data is never at risk. In the age of digital crime, having peace of mind is invaluable and NordVPN is making a name for itself with fantastic customer satisfaction and stellar reviews. They are definitely one to watch out for in this increasingly digital age. by Ron in Space on March 21, 2020 I think it’s safe to say that we have all used electricity in one form or another, our reliance on electricity has only grown whether it be through increased use of personal devices or the implementation of new technology in our everyday lives. In 2020 alone there have been many technological advances when it comes to producing electricity. With the common threat of environmental damage looming over our heads, it has been a valiant quest to make eco friendly changes to how we source electricity. In recent years advances have been made to how we source power in an attempt to reduce the damage that has been done by sourcing electricity with fossil fuels. Methods like wind power, tidal power, hydro power and solar power have since been updated with new technological advances so that we can become more reliant on these techniques. These technological advances have made great progress in ensuring that clean power sources are used in the production of electricity as opposed to us damaging our atmosphere with outdated methods such as burning fossil fuels. With such vast developments being made to our power production technologies there has been a huge shift in recent years going from being most reliant on power sources such as oil or coal to the more eco friendly sources like wind and solar. Because a change has been made to how we are sourcing power, new supply companies have come out claiming to only offer clean and renewable energy. This company mantra towards providing environmentally friendly power has resulted in many consumers wishing to overstappen energie to avoid contributing to damaging our world. Overall, it would be safe to say that the recent advances in technology have contributed to the improvement of our Earth’s climate, paving the way for a cleaner world. by Ron on March 19, 2020 The Husqvarna is the chainsaw everyone dreams about. This guy is definitely heavy duty. The Husqvarna offers a massive 2-stroke engine meaning it is perfect for any medium to large tree. Do not be fooled by the size of its engine though, it is still said to be extremely user friendly. The saw has become renowned for its use in cutting firewood and any dead tree. This makes the saw perfect for any rural homeowner and is an absolute must for any day to day chain saw duty. Its only downfall is its lack of versatility as its best use is on larger trees. The Husqvarna still manages to come in at a price of under one hundred dollars; I would highly recommend for any rural resident. The WORX is a freak in the chainsaw business offering both the simplicity of a more technologically advanced chainsaw and the power and performance of a high tech chainsaw. This means the WORX can do every job from smaller exercises to medium and large trees. As I said in the introduction of this entry the WORX it is a freak, as despite the high engine power it is still immensely easy to use. The 16 inch bar comes with the best chainsaw lubrication currently on the market. The price is also under one hundred dollars, with the second hand option around the fifty dollar mark. the WORX is perfect for any level of chainsaw user. The Black+Decker is known for its tree based efficiency. This is due to its extremely portable nature. The tree is perfect for whizzing through ingrown or dead trees in your garden. Due to this portable nature it is the perfect chainsaw for any beginner. The only stumbling block to be found is with the price coming in at one hundred and fifty dollars. When compared to the other chainsaws on this list the Remington is far from heavy duty. Though this is made up by its extremely portable style. The Remington is simply convenient, also known as the `limb and trim` it is perfect for any residential property. Its 6.25 pound frame makes it easy to pack. Coming in at fifty dollars the Remington is a no brainer for any urban inhabitant. I have decided to leave the biggest for last. With the Dewalt you can expect a massive non-bladed chainsaw. The Dewalt holds a 40-volt lithium battery making it perfect for longer lasting jobs. The Dewalt is perfect for any professional tree surgeon. Used by the professional tree surgeons at corpuschristitree this chainsaw is certainly a favorite for the professionals. The only downside to the Dewalt is the price coming in at a nasty two hundred and fifty dollars, but I suppose you pay for what you get. by Ron on March 18, 2020 Radar technology has made leaps since its first introduction in the 1900’s. What used to be technology only used in military practice has now become part of our everyday lives. Here is some of the most advanced radar technology of 2020. Mapping We live on a vast planet with lots of places to explore and discover and radar technology has allowed us to do this. Large companies such as Google invest a lot of time and money into mapping out the planet and with the use of Radar technology, we have the clearest idea of what certain areas may contain without ever actually visiting them. This is much more efficient than older techniques which involved getting actual people to go and check out the a area and it’s also much more cost effective. Google have also been working on radar sensors that allow users to control their household gadgets through their finger tips. Not only do these sensors allow you to control your household technology, but you can use it to automatically take inventory of what you have in your home and even alert you of intruders. This technology makes your life a little easier while also providing some additional security. With how advanced car radar technology has become in the last few years, I recommend getting a radar detector for your car. Radar detectors are very affordable and easily accessible and will come in handy for a range of things. One of the most important qualities is keeping yourself safe. Radar detectors will tell you if your speed is being monitored by speed cameras or police devices. It’s easy to accidentally surpass speed limits and so these detectors will serve as a nice reminder to slow down, which will ensure you don’t have any accidents. This will also prevent any legal issues and will stop you from getting a fine. by Ron in Computing on March 12, 2020 In terms of mobile phone gaming, like every year, phones will have better and faster graphics rendering. For example, the Samsung S20 will have a Snapdragon 865, which is a 20% increase in the speed graphics are rendered than the Samsung S10. Almost all flagship smartphones will see a similar increase, meaning you can play AFK Arena at faster speeds and better textures, click here for more gift codes. This means gaming on the go on your trusty mobile phone will be smoother, easier and more immersive. The best graphics card for your PC to come out in 2020 is the AMD Radeon VII, which has a benchmark score of 92, beating the Nvidia rival RTX 2070, which has a score of 87. You can’t go wrong with either but upgrading to these Graphics cards will increase your graphics performance of your PC by a lot. This means you can play triple A titles that come out in 2020 on maximum graphics settings. A new graphics card will be vital, as many graphics heavy video games are coming out this year and several new engines are being produced for video games, such as Bethesda’s new one, or the new engine from the team behind Witcher III: CD Project. New gaming paraphernalia is coming out; like new monitors with 360Hz refresh rate, with the fastest monitor going to Asus’ ROG Swift. This monitor would be perfect with the recent advancements and increased roll out of fibre optic high-speed internet for cloud gaming, with limited input lag. If you’re an enthusiast, who games and also works extensively using processor heavy applications, AMD’s new CPU, the 64 core, Ryzen Threadripper is one of the most powerful consumer CPUs on the market, albeit at the costly £3000. Mobile gaming devices are making a comeback after the success of Nintendo Switch. With Alienware releasing a portable console with a screen and controller built in. This is obviously trying to jump on the Nintendo Switch bandwagon but for gamers more interested in playing their Steam library on the go. This is said to be just as powerful as a mid-tier computer desktop, ideal for gaming the latest triple A games on medium settings, which is some feat for a mobile device. The device will use the internet to connect to the home console, which is also small enough to fit in your bag, or just a simple wireless connection directly. by Ron on March 10, 2020 Whether you’ve had the iPhone since the 3G or jumping on the bandwagon at the iPhone XR, phones are almost mandatory in today society, they sit in our pockets like an extra hand, but as you can imagine it hasn’t always been like this. The first ever smart phone was built in 1992 by IBM named the SPC. Clocking in at a $1,100 it was a luxury that only few could afford. The SPC came with a touch screen, it could receive emails and faxes (what a 1990s phrase!). Also built in was an address book and a calendar, inclusions so basic to us now, but were revolutionary at the time. Almost 10 years later came the internet-fuelled 3G phones that could connect to the internet! Wirelessly as well! This was the was the beginning of video calling and larger attachments for texts and emails. With the decade leap the prices also came down to a $300 minimum with the most expensive at $700, which is much similar to phones today. Then enters the iPhone, we all love iPhones. You may, like me, want a refurbished iPhone that is networked unlocked for all of its modern features, but back in the early 2000s they were far more basic. There was more focus on the sleekness of the touch screen, something we now would think goes without saying, as well as it’s mega storage at 8GB! When looking at storage now it’s easy to see how far phones have come offering up to 256 GB. Now in 2020 with many choices for phones, with one to four cameras! internet faster than lightning and so many apps, that go from keeping a diary to playing console games! Who knows where we’ll go next!	18,047
RWJBarnabas Health is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace. We recognize that diversity and inclusion are essential for the overall health of our patients, employees, and surrounding communities. We believe that when you bring together all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences, those unique perspectives provide potential ideas, solutions & strategies that, when mobilized, can help advance the overall health of the people of New Jersey. RWJBH remains dedicated to addressing health disparities in our communities. We aim to deliver high quality, patient-centered care to our patients and diverse communities, while providing resources for our populations to reach their full health potential, ultimately, resulting in reaching our objective of health equity. Diversity is about bringing together all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. Every person—whether an employee, a physician, a supplier or a patient—has a unique perspective and can provide potential ideas, solutions and strategies that can help advance the overall health of the people of New Jersey. Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of certain groups through institutions or systems. Inclusion is about creating a sense of belonging, by consciously inviting, welcoming, respecting and engaging each other without bias. By intentionally embracing an expansive set of attitudes, attributes, cultures and skills throughout our healthcare system, we are creating a culture where everyone is valued and treated with respect and dignity. Inclusion is an important part of how we harness the power of diversity. Cultural Humility is being aware of our deficient knowledge having a humble and respectful attitude toward individuals and other cultures. It is the idea of adopting a growth mindset to continuously learn from others as we treat others how they want to be treated. Unconscious Biases also known as Implicit Biases, are the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Everyone possesses those biases. Health Equity is to remove barriers deterring one to reach their full health potential. At RWJBarnabas Health, we continue to take a comprehensive and strategic approach to address health disparities in our communities. As one of the largest employers and a major economic engine in communities across the state, we believe it is our responsibility to play a major role in improving health outcomes for underserved communities across New Jersey. Our goal is to improve the health of the communities that we serve, improve the experience of our patients while reducing cost per capita. Our vision at RWJBH is for every person to use their unique backgrounds and experiences to create solutions for a better, healthier world together. We strive to: Advance the overall health of the populations we serve Continuously improve the quality of care we provide Collaborate with physicians for a closely coordinated continuum of care Contribute to the local, regional and state economies by remaining a major employer in our communities Focus on the well-being of the diverse communities we serve with a continued commitment to high-quality, culturally competent care Foster and support a mission of academic excellence, including a commitment to leading-edge research and clinical trials and teaching the next generation of health care workers. Our mission at RWJBH is to champion a diverse workforce, to create a multicultural environment, and to foster an inclusive setting to improve the health of the diverse patient populations we serve throughout New Jersey. We are committed to treating everyone with respect and dignity while appreciating and embracing the differences as well as the similarities that exist among us, so that RWJBH continues to provide high quality, equitable, culturally-competent, patient-centered care to its diverse patients and communities. “We reaffirm our belief that diversity makes us greater as a country, a state, a community and, especially, as a health care system.” Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer Our Diversity and Inclusion strategy has six foundational pillars that reflect the strategic priorities we have made to enable the organization to address the challenges and opportunities presented by our diverse world. This structural framework within the organization to present the mission, goals, and measures guides the work of the Corporate Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Board and Leadership Engagement Employee Optimization Operational Alignment and Excellence Community Partnerships Health Equity We continue to attain major milestones in our ongoing commitment to providing culturally competent and patient centered care to our patients, while cultivating and maintaining an inclusive environment through these six pillars. Health Equity Health Equity is one of the many ways that Diversity and Inclusion is a driver for innovation and growth. Patients with the most complex health needs often incur the greatest costs of care, so it makes both moral and financial sense for RWJBarnabas Health to implement a comprehensive, strategic approach to address health disparities in our communities. As one of the largest employers and a major economic engine in communities across the state, we believe it is our responsibility to play a major role in improving health outcomes for disadvantaged populations across New Jersey.	5,662
Meanwhile, government and community-led beach clean-ups continued to be held in different parts of the city on Wednesday, with dozens of residents filling bags with the sticky grease on Lamma Island’s Power Station Beach. The spill comes at the height of summer, when visitors, campers and holiday makers throng to beaches and outlying islands, especially at weekends. It has deployed helicopters and nine ships to help find and collect the waste while workers at public beaches are using absorbent blankets and strips to contain the mess. The impact on the territory’s marine life, which includes the endangered Chinese white dolphins – also known as pink dolphins – was not immediately clear. Environmental groups said that oil has seeped up to four inches (10 cm) deep into Hong Kong’s sprawling, sandy beaches making it hard to clean. Hong Kong has sweltered in temperatures of about 33 degrees Celsius for more than a week, with little relief expected soon, which some environmentalists fear could worsen the problem by oxidising the oil. Apart from beaches which have been shut, the rest of Hong Kong’s verdant shoreline is likely to have been impacted with the feeding capabilities of many sea creatures such as barnacles, crabs and shells affected, Lee said. The possibility of an algae bloom formed by decaying palm oil, which would compete with fish for oxygen, would be a huge threat. Palm oil is commonly used in food packaging and cosmetics. The congealed palm oil resembles clumps of snow or pieces of Styrofoam and has a consistency similar to Play-Doh. The South China Morning Post reports Hong Kong government departments have picked up more than 93 tonnes of the oil, which has crystallized. In July 2012, Typhoon Vicente caused six containers, or 150 tonnes, of plastic pellets to be lost at sea, leading to widespread pollution in Hong Kong waters. Questions over two-day delay on notice of palm oil spill that left 11 Hong Kong beaches closed Aug 6th, 2017 by Editor. No comments yet Smelly, congealed clumps from spill in mainland waters mar island beauty spots in Hong Kong Environmental experts have questioned why it took two days for mainland authorities to inform Hong Kong about a ship collision and palm oil spill that left nearly a dozen local beaches closed to the public at the weekend. The accident took place on Thursday, but mainland authorities only reported the incident on Saturday. Affected Hong Kong residents learned of the spill on Sunday when beaches were closed. “A notification mechanism [in place] should in theory state [the problem] as soon as possible but it’s hard to define how many days that is,” said Dr Tsang Po-keung, an associate professor of science and environmental studies at the Education University of Hong Kong and a member of the government’s Advisory Council on the Environment. “For some marine life, two days could be too late.” Residents of Lamma and Lantau islands noticed congealed palm oil washed up on several beaches in the area on Sunday after it spilled into the sea when two boats crashed in mainland waters. A similar substance was also spotted in Victoria Harbour. Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Lo So Shing Beach on Lamma Island, as well as Lantau Island’s Pui O Beach and Tong Fuk Beach were all affected. So were both Upper and Lower Cheung Sha Beach. Beaches at Repulse Bay, Middle Bay, South Bay, St Stephen’s Beach and Chung Hom Kok were also shut. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department hoisted the red flag at all 11 beaches, warning people not to go in the water. Parts of Cheung Chau were also reportedly affected. Tsang said the notification mechanism should be modified to specify how many days authorities should be given to report such incidents. “This time they may think it’s fine because it’s just palm oil, but what if next time it is gasoline?” he said. City University chair professor of biology Paul Lam Kwan-sing said the spill did not amount to an environmental disaster but was “not a good thing”. “Palm oil is a crystallised liquid … which will slowly be decomposed by micro-organisms. The problem is that it is a real eyesore for beachgoers,” he said. He agreed that the notification mechanism needed to be faster and information flow more transparent. “Both sides [Guangdong and Hong Kong] should work it out, establish a hotline and specify exactly under what circumstances the mechanism should be activated,” he said. A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the beach closures came after “white, oily” substances were found in the waters and “a white granular substance” washed up on beaches. “Beach staff immediately deployed oil-absorbent felts and strips to prevent the spread of the oil, and the relevant government departments have been notified to clean up the oil and monitor the water quality of the affected beaches,” the spokesman said. A Marine Department spokesman confirmed two ships had collided somewhere in the Pearl River estuary, in mainland waters, on Thursday and said that had caused some of the vessel’s cargo, palm oil, to leak into the sea. Lamma resident Sheila McClelland spotted the oil clumps floating in the water and lying on the beach as she was on her way to work and said she noticed a “faintly chemical odour” as she inspected the solid lumps. “I pressed it with my foot and it was solid. It was a bit like play dough but not as nice,” she said. “I’ve lived here for a couple of decades and I’ve seen many forms of pollution and unpleasant stuff from oil, syringes and of course the [2012] pellet spill. But nothing like this.” In July 2012, seven containers fell from cargo ship Yong Xin Jie 1 when Typhoon Vicente hit the city. Six were loaded with 150 tonnes of plastic pellets, which washed up on Hong Kong beaches, sparking concern for marine life. Lamma resident Stanley Chan Kam-wai, a conservation manager for the Eco-Education and Resources Centre, said cleaning up Sunday’s spill could be “as difficult as, if not more difficult than, cleaning up the mess” from the 2012 incident. “Some of the oil is starting to congeal so once you press on it, it just disintegrates into powder like snow,” he said. “I’m very concerned about how the government will clean this up.” He said by late afternoon on Sunday the smell was starting to turn rancid like the odours in alleyways behind fried snack shops. The concern, he said, was that while most government beaches were being cleaned, the oil on non-government-run beaches would be left to rot. “At first glance it looked like blocks of styrofoam or cooked rice,” said one long-time Lamma resident, who spotted the stuff on Power Station Beach on Sunday morning. “It had a sort of bubbly consistency. It was along the high-tide line covering, I’d say, about two-thirds of the beach. [I’ve]never seen it before.” Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil from the fruit pulp of oil palm trees. Because of its versatility and low cost, it is used in many food products from fried food and margarine to ice cream, as well as in consumer products such as lipstick, shampoo and detergent. Gary Stokes of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said palm oil could absorb toxins in the water, making it more hazardous than in its raw form. “People think just because it’s palm oil it’s safe but in large, highly concentrated amounts, it can’t be good for anyone,” he said. Stokes said children and beach-goers were seen playing with the oily clumps on the shore on Sunday. “Government public communications over these kinds of accidents have definitely got to be worked on. I know it’s the weekend, but that’s when most people visit the beach,” he said. The Environmental Protection Department said it had sent a boat to help in the clean-up. Spills from shipping are fairly common in Hong Kong. Last May, a 50-metre-long slick was spotted floating off Tsing Yi following a collision between an oil tanker and a mainland-registered cargo vessel. About 493 confirmed oil spills were recorded between 2005 and 2014, according to the Marine Department, 135 of which were caused by shipping accidents or refuelling. The causes of the rest were unknown. Nov 18th, 2016 by Editor. No comments yet Toxin-tainted crustaceans raise doubts over clean-up of showpiece lake Every autumn, Hong Kong restaurants serve a seasonal delicacy: hairy crabs, shipped the same day from lakes around the Chinese city of Suzhou. But the territory’s food safety inspectors recently made a shocking discovery: some crabs in this year’s consignment contained dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals. Even worse, the crabs appeared to come from Lake Tai, a model in China’s fight against pollution after a multiyear, multibillion-dollar clean-up. Has the clean-up failed? Or is something else amiss? The answer, says crab breeder Wang Yue, lies in “bathing crabs”, which carry the Lake Tai name but have spent minimal time in its waters. Mr Wang and his family tend hundreds of crabs in baskets hung from bamboo posts in shallow Lake Tai, also known as Taihu. He estimates the market for crabs has grown to three times what families like his can produce, so crabs grown elsewhere are brought to the lake for a few days so that they can be sold on at a premium — a practice known as giving them a “bath”. “The crabs here are sweet and tasty because the water is fresh. But people in other cities don’t know the difference,” he said. “Some people can make a lot of money by pretending they come from Lake Tai.” Lake Tai and nearby Yangcheng Lake provide top-quality hairy crabs. But so many are cultivated elsewhere — in nearby lakes, ponds dug into former rice fields or even under solar farms — that prices have been depressed and breeders on Lake Tai struggle to break even. The bathing crabs affair appears to be a classic Chinese food safety story, where an explosion in production outpaces regulators’ ability to police quality. But the bigger problem is the long shadow cast by China’s polluters. A showcase environmental clean-up has markedly improved water quality at Lake Tai. But the costly success does little to address China’s broader soil pollution crisis. Over the past decade, central planners drew up blueprints to tackle smog, water pollution and soil pollution by closing or moving factories, regulating emissions and improving monitoring — the playbook used at Lake Tai. The result has been a steady improvement in COD, a measure of the organic content in water and one of Beijing’s environmental targets. But the dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls found in the crabs could come from poorly regulated waste incinerators or steel sintering elsewhere in the Yangtze Delta region, or wherever the bathing crabs are raised. “It may be discharged as air emissions but if it showed up in crabmeat it’s because the emissions got into the water and the soil, the sediment,” said Ma Jun, a Chinese environmentalist. Persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs “are hard to decompose. They are persistent. They will stay in the environment for a long time.” From Mr Wang’s weir, the water smells fresh. A bucket of snails on his porch and the egrets perching on the bamboo struts testify to the improvement in water quality. It used to be much worse. In the 1990s, 1bn tonnes of rubbish, waste water, pig manure and fertiliser entered Lake Tai every year. Petrochemicals, smelting and textiles turned the waterlogged region into one of the wealthiest in China. Local governments turned a blind eye to polluters. In 2007 a toxic algae bloom cut off drinking water to 2m people for 10 days. Weeks earlier, authorities arrested a local man campaigning against factories dumping waste in the lake. He was jailed for three years. After the algae bloom, Beijing declared the lake a natural disaster zone and ordered it cleaned by 2012. It shut factories and moved foundries to industrial zones, installed waste water treatment plants and discouraged pig farm expansion. A widened channel to the Yangtze river helped water circulate. “There are 35m to 40m people around this lake who rely on its water. So the government had to prioritise it,” said Fang Yingjun, head of Lüse Jiangnan Public Environment Concerned Center, a non-governmental organisation. “Every year we go to the same spot to check the water for algae and every year it’s better. It really is much better. So much money has been spent.” It was not easy. The warm, shallow lake is the perfect spot for organic pollutants to trigger algae blooms. At 2,338 sq km, it is one and a half times the size of Greater London — big enough to hide plenty of sins. “You can’t really see the polluted water any more but companies are still good at disguise,” said Wu Lihong, the campaigner who was jailed. Lake residents still spot underwater pipes leading from factories. This summer a secret landfill for waste from Shanghai was discovered on an island in the lake. And while Beijing focused on Lake Tai, it also encouraged polluting factories to migrate from wealthier areas to the poor hinterland. Meanwhile, ecommerce and cheap airfares allowed new crab farms to spring up around China. Bathing crabs are likely to remain a barometer of China’s ability to clean up its environment for years to come. Nov 9th, 2016 by Editor. No comments yet For decades now, with cigarette sales having increased to more than six trillion in 2016, tobacco producers have refused to accept any significant responsibility for the serious, global environmental damage resulting from the production, use and disposal of tobacco products. It’s time for new regulations that hold the tobacco industry (TI) responsible for contaminating the environment, humans, and animals throughout tobacco’s lifecycle. Tobacco leaf growing and processing involves heavy pesticide and petroleum-based fertilizer use, land degradation and deforestation. Added waste concerns arise from tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution and consumption. These concerns include production of greenhouse gases (C02 and methane), released by manufacturing, transport and smoking of tobacco products; environmental toxins found in secondhand smoke; newly described toxic residuals known as thirdhand smoke found attached to surfaces in homes and other enclosed environments where smoking has occurred; and post-consumption toxic tobacco product waste (TPW). Given experience involving the pesticide, paint and pharmaceutical industries, among others, a strong case can be made for making the TI responsible for serious environmental problems throughout the tobacco product lifecycle. With butt waste being the most visible lifecycle harm, the TI clings to its long held view that smokers and local communities are responsible for post-consumer waste. The industry tries to bolster its image by funding some beach cleanups, Keep America Beautiful, and ash trays, . These downstream actions are miniscule compared to the up-tofour billion butts polluting the globe annually. The tobacco industry has designed a product that is not only deadly when used as directed, but its cultivation, production, distribution, consumption, and post-consumption management also causes substantial and dangerous environmental contamination. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy principle that promotes environmental protection by extending the responsibilities of the producer across the products entire life cycle. As set out in a Swedish doctoral thesis on corporate responsibility by Thomas Lindhqvist in 2000, EPR addresses two core tenets that are highly applicable to tobacco: 1. Internalizing the environmental cost of products into the retail price; and 2. Shifting the economic burden of managing toxicity and other environmental harms associated with post-consumer waste from local governments and taxpayers to producers. While EPR is put forward as a legislative approach, it asserts, in the context of tobacco, that the producer would be strictly liable for TPW. There are several legal theories pertaining to liability, involving potential legal causes of action that could be applicable. Public nuisance may be the strongest approach, although product liability or hazardous waste laws could also successfully hold tobacco producers liable for TPW. Raising awareness about the environmental consequences of tobacco use and the responsibility of the TI for those consequences will require media messaging, PR skills, donors to help advance our agenda, and actions by governments at national and subnational levels, in order to succeed. For the FCTC, the WHO is currently developing a Monograph on Tobacco and the Environment, with publication in 2017. The foundation for the Monograph is a scientific article co-authored by WHO, the Secretariat and other authors that appeared in the WHO Bulletin, December 2015, available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.152744 More broadly, these and other initiatives will provide opportunities to motivate and collaborate with a diverse array of stakeholders in ways that will benefit environmental protection, as well as quality of human health, while increasing the cost of tobacco and reducing tobacco use. Red tides in Hong Kong flag failings of small-house policy and officials in denial Aug 7th, 2016 by Editor. No comments yet The report on the causes of recent red tides by the University of Hong Kong (“Seeing red over algal blooms”, July 30), highlights the woeful performance of the government in controlling marine pollution. A major source of pollution is sewage from New Territories houses. Houses constructed under the small-house policy are exempted from building regulations and often have individual septic tanks. Many village houses are part of large development plans, masterminded by developers and the Heung Yee Kuk, which are a blatant abuse of the small-house policy. Fake farming activities are often used to “condition” land before submitting building applications. Despite often being part of a coordinated development plan, house applications are treated individually. Planning authorities do not assess the cumulative impact of siting numerous septic tanks close to environmentally sensitive waters. There are no plans to extend mains sewage to most New Territories villages and the government refuses to consider environmentally friendly sewage treatment plants for villages. The Environmental Protection Department’s guidance material for constructing septic tanks is, by its own admission, incomplete. The material is way behind international best practice, offering no protection to coastlines other than where there is a gazetted beach. Rules in the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, designed to protect Sites of Special Scientific Interest, mariculture sites and marinas, are ignored. The Lands Department, which processes individual house applications, uses its own document, which was agreed at a secret meeting between the Environmental Protection and Lands departments in 2009. It further waters down the regulations, for instance, removing the need to assess the suitability of soil conditions for septic tanks in many cases. Monitoring water quality is haphazard and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is incapable of measuring the minute quantities of pesticides which can be extremely toxic to marine life. The main function of water quality monitoring appears to be to enable the Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation departments to tell everyone that there is no problem. The government lives in a state of denial of serious marine pollution problems. The unaccountable, incompetent, complacent and uncaring bureaucrats who are in charge of Hong Kong’s environment will not be happy until the land is covered in concrete and the seas filled with plastic, human excrement and chemicals. So much for Hong Kong’s commitment to the Convention on Biodiversity. Compliance is a cosmetic farce. China’s ‘natural’ disasters are man-made in many cases Jul 15th, 2016 by Editor. No comments yet With the onset of summer, China has been engulfed by natural disasters, particularly along the Yangtze River basin, where exceptionally heavy rainfall since the beginning of July has led to massive floods and mudslides in several major cities. Massive floods in central China, in cities like Wuhan, are to be blamed not only on persistent and torrential rain, but also on the obsolete and poorly maintained underground drainage systems. Hence, we can say that the ferocious floods are partly natural, and partly man-made disaster. China’s rapid economic growth over the past 40 years has come at a huge environmental cost. Industrialization, massive deforestation, rapid urbanization, reckless land clearance and over-harvesting have taken an irreversible toll on the natural environment, resulting in large-scale pollution, widespread soil erosion and desertification across the country. The crisis has been compounded by the lack of public oversight and administrative transparency, as well as rampant corruption at basically every level of government. All these factors put together have exacerbated the environmental destruction across the mainland. According to the official figures of the Chinese authorities, soil erosion is the second most critical environmental problem facing China apart from industrial pollution. Currently soil erosion of different proportions has already affected an area of 3.6 million square kilometers, accounting for 37 percent of China’s total land area. In the meantime, the scale of desertification has also hit crisis level, affecting a total area of 2.6 million square kilometers. It is estimated that as a result of continued soil erosion and desertification, China is losing an average of one million hectares of farmland every year, and the speed with which it is losing is accelerating. In the meantime, China’s environmental crisis can not only be found on the ground, but in the atmosphere too. Unregulated and unchecked carbon emissions have led to persistent smog in almost every major city across China. Highly polluted air has led to an increase in acid rain. It is estimated that as many as 190 cities across the mainland have been suffering from heavy acid rain in recent years, contaminating reservoirs, rivers, lakes and other fresh water sources. To make things worse, while some parts of the country are plagued by relentless floods, other parts are facing persistent drought. When it comes to the scarcest and most hotly sought after resource in China, many people might immediately think of oil, but actually it is fresh water that is in need most. As of now, China’s average fresh water resource per capita stands at 25 percent of the global average. According to British climate expert and historian Hubert Lamb, government policies and political ideology of rulers often have profound and far-reaching implications for the natural environment. Unfortunately, contemporary China is simply a living proof of Lamb’s theory, showing how the ideology of a totalitarian regime can have devastating effects on the environment. China’s massive environmental destruction dates back to as early as the 1950s, when Mao Zedong ordered the removal of the “4 perils”, during which hundreds of thousands of Chinese peasants eagerly took part in a nationwide campaign to kill sparrows on a massive scale because, according to Mao, they endangered crops. Ironically, after all the sparrows in the wild had gone, the country witnessed a sudden surge in the number of pests such as locusts and aphids that were truly endangering crops. Then during the period of the Great Leap Forward, Mao called on the nation to launch a steel production drive. That led to countless trees being cut down to produce firewood for makeshift and primitive steel mills across the country. During the process of steelmaking millions of tons of untreated toxic waste were discharged into rivers and lakes across China. Unfortunately, even though Mao’s era is long gone, acts of state-sponsored environmental destruction are still underway in full swing across China. As regional party leaders are obsessed with GDP growth and dazzling infrastructural projects without giving any consideration to the long-term implications for the environment, the situation looks bleak. Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water Jul 6th, 2016 by Editor. No comments yet Following is a question by Dr Hon Helena Wong and a reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (July 6): Question: The Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water released at the end of May this year has pointed out that “what we have seen is a collective failure on the part of all stakeholders to guard against the use of non-compliant solder in the plumbing system … every party transferred the duty of supervision to the other(s), resulting in a classic case of buck-passing. Trust was misplaced and in the end it was the residents who suffered the most”. Subsequently at a press conference, the Secretary for Development, Secretary for Transport and Housing as well as Director of Water Supplies apologised to the affected residents for the incidents of excessive lead content in drinking water (the lead-tainted water incidents), but the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) did not. CS remarked that “even though the inquiry of the Commission has revealed that there has been inadequate alertness among government departments and a flawed regulatory system, it does not necessarily mean that there is any individual public officer who has not abided by the law or has neglected his or her duties and should thus be held personally responsible”. On the other hand, the aforesaid report recommended that “in order to put the minds of all public rental housing (PRH) residents at ease, the Government should undertake to test the drinking water of all PRH estates again using an appropriate sampling protocol that would include the testing of stagnant water as well”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) given that when the accountability system for principal officials was launched in 2002, the authorities indicated that “principal officials under the accountability system … will be accountable to the Chief Executive for the success or failure of matters falling within their respective portfolios. They will accept total responsibility and in an extreme case, they may have to step down for serious failures relating to their respective portfolios. These include serious failures in policy outcome and serious mishaps in the implementation of the relevant policies”, if the authorities have assessed whether, in the lead-tainted water incidents, there is any serious failure in policy outcome and any serious mishap in the implementation of the relevant policies on the part of the principal officials concerned, and whether such officials should be held responsible and step down; if the authorities have assessed, of the outcome; if the assessment outcome is in the negative, of the justifications, and whether they have reviewed if the accountability system for principal officials has existed in name only and has been reduced to a “buck-passing system for high ranking officials”; (2) whether it will request CS to apologise to the public for the lead-tainted water incidents; if it will not, of the reasons for that; and (3) whether the authorities will immediately conduct sample tests on the lead content of the “initial draw-off” taken from all PRH estates, and whether they will make public all the data obtained from the water tests and blood tests conducted in relation to the lead-tainted water incidents; if they will not, of the reasons for that? Acting President, Following the briefing by myself, relevant Directors of Bureaux and civil service colleagues for the Legislative Council (LegCo) House Committee on September 1 and October 8 last year on the situation of the lead in drinking water incident at public rental housing (PRH) estates, we will attend the special meeting of the House Committee again on July 11 to brief Members on how the Government will follow up on the recommendations of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water (the Report). Also, we have already submitted a detailed information paper and, therefore, I will reply concisely to the question raised by Dr Hon Helena Wong today. For the three parts of the question, my reply is as follows: (1) As early as October 16, 2015 at the LegCo motion debate on excess lead in drinking water incident at PRH estates, I have already taken the initiative to acknowledge that the incident has clearly reflected the inadequacies of the monitoring system of the Housing Department (HD) and the Water Supplies Department (WSD). At the press conference to make public the Report on May 31 this year, we have accepted the criticisms of the Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water (the Commission), i.e. the checking system of the two departments, for ensuring that the drinking water in PRH estates does not contain excess lead, has failed to function in reality. The Director of Housing and the Director of Water Supplies have already apologised to the public and the affected residents for the systemic failure and imperfect implementation. The policy areas of housing and water supply are under the purview of the Secretary for Transport and Housing (STH) and the Secretary for Development (SDEV) respectively. As politically appointed principal officials, STH Professor Anthony Cheung and SDEV Paul Chan are responsible for supervising their executive departments to ensure the effective implementation of the policies and the provision of sound service to the public. The two Secretaries of Bureaux did not evade their political responsibility, and apologised for the lead in drinking water incident at PRH estates. Under the supervision of the Directors of Bureaux, the two departments have endeavoured to investigate comprehensively the drinking water situation, implement measures for affected residents and follow up on the various recommendations of the Commission. Hence, I do not agree with the suggestion that “the accountability system for principal officials has existed in name only and has been reduced to a buck-passing system for high ranking officials”. (2) Under the political appointment system, the Chief Secretary for Administration plays an important role in terms of policy coordination. For the lead in drinking water incident at PRH estates, I convened the first high-level inter-departmental meeting in the morning of July 11 last year (i.e. the next day after HD confirmed and made public the first sample with excess lead) to co-ordinate the follow-up actions of relevant bureaux and departments. So far 20 meetings have been held and a number of measures have been taken promptly. Following the release of the Commission’s Report, I will continue to provide steer for the work of relevant bureaux and departments to ensure that the formulation and implementation of policies will be coordinated properly. (3) As regards the Commission’s recommendation that the Government should undertake to test the drinking water of all PRH estates again, WSD must first deal with the water sampling protocols. As the experts of the Commission also agreed, there was no universally accepted practice at the moment. The action levels for lead concentration in water tested also vary from place to place. Moreover, water testing is just a means to achieve our objective of ensuring the quality and safety of drinking water. As such, the issue and the follow-up work must be considered in a holistic manner in order to allay public concerns and minimise unnecessary nuisance caused to them. The Commission also supported our proposal to set up an international expert panel on water safety to provide expert advice to Hong Kong on matters related to water quality standards, regulatory and monitoring regime for water quality, water sampling protocols, etc. The international expert panel as set up by the Development Bureau will convene the first video conferencing meeting today, with a view to putting forward a proposal as soon as possible which is suitable for the actual situation in Hong Kong, and covers the water sampling protocols, appropriate lead content level, and the action levels for lead concentration in water tested. Based on the views of the international expert panel, WSD will follow up as appropriate, including the recommendation of the Commission that the Government should undertake to test the drinking water of all PRH estates again. As regards making public the results for water tests and blood tests, the Housing Authority (HA) and WSD conducted water sampling tests for all PRH estates concerned between July and November 2015. HA has disseminated to the public the test results for drinking water samples taken from the PRH estates through various channels, including press conferences, press releases and papers issued to LegCo and HA. The Government has also published the overall test results of the blood lead levels of residents in the affected PRH estates as well as the students/staff of the affected schools. The Department of Health and the Hospital Authority have also provided blood test reports and blood lead level data to individuals receiving these tests. As blood lead levels of individuals are personal data, it would not be appropriate to disclose them to the public. Thank you, Acting President. Parents unconvinced as Chinese authorities pledge investigations into soil blamed for students’ health problems, including cancer Apr 18th, 2016 by Editor. No comments yet Parents of students suffering health problems blamed on polluted soil near a school in Jiangsu are sceptical of investigations by state environmental and education authorities. Some do not even trust local hospitals to carry out health checks on their children, suspecting they may have been pressured by the city authorities. Many are questioning whether to continue sending their children to the school, which charges 8,500 yuan (HK$10,170) per ¬semester and is among the best in Changzhou. The ministries of environmental protection and education ordered investigations into the problems at Changzhou Foreign Language School, prompted by an expose by state broadcaster CCTV. The broadcaster said 493 pupils had developed health problems, including bronchitis, blood and thyroid abnormalities, and even lymphoma and leukaemia, after the school moved last September to a new campus adjacent to a site that had been contaminated by three chemical plants. The plants left in 2010 and when the school moved to the campus, a project to remedy the polluted soil was launched. However, the project was thought to have released some of the site’s toxins into the atmosphere. The city’s environmental authorities say the air and soil are now safe, after the project was suspended and the site covered with a layer of clay in February. But CCTV said the soil and groundwater still contained toxic compounds. It said the level of cancer-causing chlorobenzene in the groundwater was nearly 100,000 times the safety limit. “We are very scared and don’t know which side we should believe,” the mother of a 14-year-old boy said.“It’s horrific… the chemical pollution poses long-term [health] risks.” She took her son to a hospital in nearby Wuxi for a checkup, as parents suspect hospitals in Changzhou have been told by the government to give “special treatment” to pupils from the school. “I was told that all students from the school received the same result: that there is no problem with their health,” she said. The doctor in Wuxi found the boy to have a slight thyroid problem, but did not directly link the illness to the environment. A father surnamed Kang whose daughter is in grade eight hoped the school would relocate. “My daughter took a week off at the start of this semester [over pollution concerns]. But she wanted to go back to school so dearly. Every day I am in a dilemma over whether I should let her go to this school or not,” he said. He told his daughter not to drink the water at the school, and hired a maid to prepare and deliver lunch to her every day. On January 15, nearly 1,000 parents joined an overnight protest demanding the school relocate. Hundreds of police were deployed to scatter the crowds. They later visited protesters’ homes and said those who worked at government agencies or state-owned companies were risking their jobs. The mother said some students were reluctant to leave the school as they had grown emotionally attached to teachers and schoolmates. Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, said the scandal revealed “loopholes in almost every link of environmental supervision”. “The fact the [plants] were able to pump so many pollutants underground reflects a chronic lack of supervision,” he said. The soil remedy project had obviously failed to identify potential health concerns – and China still did not have a law to regulate such practices, Ma said. A lack of transparency over soil pollution and chemical pollutants in general made public supervision near impossible, he added. Simply covering the soil with a layer of clay would not solve the problem, as the health implications of polluted soil and groundwater could take decades to emerge, Ma said. Thousands dying in region from ozone pollution caused by warming, Chinese University study finds Oct 13th, 2015 by Editor. No comments yet Deadly ozone levels rising as emissions of fossil fuels increase, Chinese University study warns Regional warming in East Asia over the past 30 years has led to a rapid rise in surface ozone pollution that may have led to thousands of premature deaths a year, a Chinese University study found. The researchers warn the situation is likely to get worse as fossil fuel emissions increase. Ozone is formed by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reacting with nitrogen oxides (NOx) from sources such as vehicles. The pollutant can cause breathing problems and serious lung disease. The study found that summertime temperatures in mainland China and surrounding regions had risen by up to 3 degrees Celsius over the past three decades, intensifying ozone in the lower atmosphere by 2 to 10 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). This increase was associated with an estimated 5,600 extra premature respiratory deaths per year in East Asia – which includes mainland China and Hong Kong – between 1980 and 2010. But Professor Amos Tai Pui-kuen of the university’s earth system science programme said increases in human-induced emissions from fossil fuel burning had raised ozone levels to 25ppbv over this period, which may have caused an extra 65,000 ozone-related premature deaths per year. “Our results show that warming in China, indeed, might have exacerbated air pollution further over the past few decades and had a direct impact on human health,” said Tai. “If we include the health impact of more frequent heat extremes, such as heatstroke, the real costs of climate change might have been even higher.” The 18-month study analysed historical weather and satellite observations of land cover in computer modelling that simulated atmospheric chemistry and pollutant formation. Tai said warmer temperatures and carbon dioxide increased the growth of vegetation. Trees and plants emit VOCs naturally and these react with NOx emissions from vehicles and power plants, creating yet more ozone. “South China and Hong Kong will likely experience more serious ozone pollution due to the ‘double impact’ of climate change and enhanced vegetation growth in the future if background nitrogen oxides from industrial [sources] and vehicles remain high.” Tai urged regional governments to reduce NOx emissions, especially from vehicles, and to take into account future warming and land use changes in the greater Pearl River Delta region. Clean Air Network campaign manager Patrick Fung Kin-wai said the findings were in line with his own group’s research, which last year found that ozone pollution in Hong Kong had hit a historic high. VOC emissions in the delta region have long been a problem and even with the Chinese economy slowing, there were no signs of it coming down yet, he said. According to the Environmental Protection Department, ozone concentrations measured at the city’s air quality monitoring stations have increased by 25 per cent over the past five years. Hong Kong and other cities in the Pearl River Delta have pledged to reduce VOC emissions by 15 to 25 per cent by 2020 from 2010 levels. Shenzhen reservoir and river hit by sewage spill Apr 19th, 2015 by Editor. No comments yet Water bureau blames ink company for the pollution, according to newspaper report Sewage has been discharged into a reservoir, river and farmland in Shenzhen turning fields in the area a reddish brown. The water bureau in the Baoan district of the city said an ink mixing and cartridge company was responsible, the Shenzhen Jing Bao newspaper reported. People living near the Tiegang Reservoir said that water feeding into their farmland had turned “blood red”. “It’s very likely to be the result of an accident, like a spillage, or someone decided to dump the sewage instead of discarding it properly,” said Xiong Yang, an official at the Green River environmental NGO. “If the sewage seeps into the soil it’s very difficult to clean up, so it’s safe to say that the vegetables are now inedible.” The ink company Hamno Technology Co did not respond to calls asking for comment. The Baoan water bureau also did not answer calls. Xiong accused the city authorities of failing to regularly enforce environmental protection regulations. A spokesman for the Water Supplies Department in Hong Kong said imported water from the Shenzhen Reservoir was far from the Tiegang Reservoir site. No reports had been made to the department about the pollution at Tiegang, he said. The department monitored water quality at a pumping station near Lo Wu around the clock and have observed no abnormalities, he added. The Shenzhen authorities would report to them if there were any pollution issues concerning the Dong River, he said, which supplies Hong Kong. An investigative report by the Shenzhen Evening News last year claimed that 173 out of the 310 rivers and streams running through the city were polluted. A municipal environment commission also reported that water quality at 121 sampling stations, covering 85 per cent of the city, was “extremely poor”. Additional reporting by Thomas Chan ← Earlier Posts Latest Blog Posts Energy Ships One billion people will live in insufferable heat within 50 years Air pollution linked to far higher Covid-19 death rates Air pollution likely to increase coronavirus death rate, warn experts Covid-19 disease / SARS-COV2 virus – – Do not touch your face (involuntarily) Cement could be greener, but will it? Transition to 100 percent renewable energy is cost efficient Underage vaping spikes in the north of England The post Underage vaping spikes in the north of England appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog. [...] The post Tobacco giant faces criminal inquiry appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog. [...] […] The post Survey stresses role of vaping in tobacco control appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog. [...] BAT files patent suits against Philip Morris’ IQOS products The post BAT files patent suits against Philip Morris’ IQOS products appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog. [...] […] The post Streaming services flouting India’s regulations banning tobacco imagery in all media appeared first on Clear The Air News Tobacco Blog. [...]	45,683
Budget and Finance Committee head Paul Krekorian and the rest of Los Angeles City Council must act now through eminent domain to keep the families of Hillside Villa Apartments in their homes. May 5, 2022 Hillside Villa tenants come together to encourage City Council to acquire Hillside Villa Apartments via eminent domain. (Photo by Bryan Sih) With COVID-19 eviction protections always precariously on the brink of expiration, along with the eviction tsunami that’s sure to occur as a result, the time is now for the City to take our home, the Hillside Villa Apartments, from slumlord Tom Botz. We, the Hillside Villa Tenants Association, are a collective of Latinx, Asian, and African-American poor and working class tenants. We have been fighting to stay in our homes for more than three years after our 30-year affordable housing covenant expired in 2018, and Botz immediately increased our rent by over 200%. We are first-generation immigrants and refugees, disabled elders, and families who have called this building and Los Angeles Chinatown our homes for decades. On September 13, 2021, the LA City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee heard a motion to authorize a $46 million dollar loan from the City’s reserve fund to initiate the purchase of Hillside Villa from Botz. Authorizing this loan and using eminent domain to purchase our building is the most cost-efficient and effective way for the city to keep our housing affordable. Allies and supporters submitted 420 written public comments, and all verbal comments during the meeting were in support of passing the motion. Yet the Budget and Finance Committee, led by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, decided to delay voting. They requested a report from the Los Angeles Housing Department that was supposed to be completed within 30 days. Three months passed, and our anxieties about whether we would be able to stay in our homes grew. We tried multiple times to schedule a meeting with Krekorian after the City failed to complete the report within 30 days. We called, then we emailed, and finally we showed up to Krekorian’s house. Only then did Krekorian’s staff finally agree to meet with us. During our meeting with Krekorian’s office in December, we were shocked, infuriated, and disgusted by the demeaning words from his staff. Matt Hale, Krekorian’s deputy chief of staff, said he pushed back on authorizing the loan because, in his words, “I have to protect the taxpayers’ interests.” Are we not taxpayers who have the public’s interest in mind? Is stopping the mass eviction of 100+ families during a city-wide housing crisis not in the interest of this city? Are we not important people, too? As low-income and working class folks, we’ve contributed more to this city than wealthy landlords and developers ever have, with their loopholes and subsidies that allow them to pocket millions of taxpayer dollars. Politicians like Krekorian are eager to treat us like people and pay lip service when they’re trying to get our vote. Yet, the moment we hold elected officials accountable to using public dollars to benefit us instead of just profiting off of us, they dismiss our interests and disrespect us as people. On the other hand, wealthy developers and landlords, members of the Olympic Committee, and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers are always treated by politicians with respect. Officials give their organizations billions of dollars in public funding despite the insurmountable harm they have caused working class communities of color such as our own. Shortly after our December meeting with Krekorian’s team, we were heartbroken to learn 14-year-old Valentina Orellana Peralta and 24-year-old Daniel Elena Lopez, two Latinx constituents from Krekorian’s district, were murdered by LAPD Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr. Yet the city council continues to approve annual budgets of over $3 billion in public funds for a police department that kills LA residents, while they drag their feet on a $46 million loan that would allow 124 working class families to stay in their homes and keep their rent permanently affordable. We’re tired of our elected officials treating us like our lives are less important than maintaining the city’s murderous police force and supporting gentrification projects, such as SoFi stadium and the Dodger Stadium gondola, that only serve the elite. During the pandemic, many of us have lost our jobs as well as loved ones, including beloved members of our Tenants Association. Some of us have gotten sick with COVID-19 during the recent Omicron surge, adding additional stress to the constant worry we’ll lose our homes. It’s now been more than seven months since the Budget and Finance Committee meeting in September, and we can’t wait any longer. We call on hypocritical politicians like Krekorian, who sit comfortably in million-dollar homes bought with salaries funded by the public, to actually serve the public. We demand the City of Los Angeles stop subsidizing wealthy developers and landlords, cancel the Olympics, defund the LAPD, and use eminent domain for genuine public interest. They can start by voting YES to approve the loan to expropriate Hillside Villa. Eminent domain for the people! The time for eminent domain is now! Knock LA is a nonprofit community journalism project, originally conceived by Ground Game LA. We are dedicated to providing independent journalism and telling the real story of LA.	5,493
Well.. Hello here we are again and after a lengthy absence I have decided to (re)set some goals for this year (2018). It has been four years since I had run a PB in any road running event distance upwards of a 5km. Last weekend after completing Wellington Round the Bays for the 5th time I reflected a little on my past performances at this event in the 21.1km distance. From 2011 to 2018 the progression is nothing spectacular however I have an attachment to this event and the distance as it was one of my ‘Big’ goals back when I re-started my running. Incidentally in 2016 and 2017 I volunteered and paced 1:45 and 1:50 groups. So why this history and nostalgia? To be honest I’d kind of given up on having goals in beating PBs and just got around to the simplicity of running because I liked it. There were a few moments where I saw that if I do focus that I could potentially get better even though I am now past a certain age where improvements are hard fought. The inevitable question or rather doubt in my mind was ‘could I really be bothered?’ Then I started looking at all my half marathon results. What stood out was that since 2014 I hadn’t really gone that far aback – OK I admit that 2014 was a great year where I set PBs from 5k (18:25) to my best Marathon (on a tough course at Rotorua) to my Half PB of 1:26 also on a rough wet day on a somewhat hilly course in Taupo. I also remember that I was quite diligent that year and everything clicked. Apart from that most my Half marathon times have been around the 90min mark or better. (Some runners work hard for that sub 90min mark I know) So what changed – in all honesty nothing much, I did spend most latter part of 2014 and all of 2015 overseas and through back to back winters but that on reflection wasn’t that much of a set back rather an adjustment. So what has changed now? – Last few months I started to enjoy the competitive nature of shorter distances. I started with aiming for a faster Mile by subscribing to an online coaching boot camp at Milermethod.com run by Olympian Nick Willis. I found that I enjoyed the shorter intense workouts. One huge boost from that was running a 1500m track race in the first week of February in a new PB for that distance. Nothing spectacular again but I did find that I really enjoyed it. Cogs started turning and I suddenly felt that I could probably set a few goals for the short term. Perhaps aim to run as close to a 18:25 5km again? A faster 1500m? This thinking has certainly made me excited. When I got a free entry to Wellington Round the Bays about 3 weeks from the event I decided OK – ‘I’ll have a go and see what happens’. The truth was I actually enjoyed the race and it was clear that with a bit of diligent planning I can indeed re-set my goals to match or even better 2014. Maybe it also has something to do with the fact I got beaten by someone who had put in the work. Time to settle the scores. Posted in General, Races, Running, Training \| Tagged competition, Half Marathon, motivation, Running, Training \| 1 Reply Posted on January 9, 2017 by 74Runner Hello Everyone, Thought I’d share something that I had written a few years ago leading upto the 2013 Round the Bays. If you are aiming to run a PB for the 21.1km (Half Marathon) you may find some useful information. I have done RTB half for a number of years and last year (2016) I volunteered as a Pacer for the 1:45 group. Pacing 1:45 Half Marathon Group at Cigna Round the Bays in 2016 The following series of posts are written geared towards those of you who want to target a specific goal time on your half marathon and I hope you find this helpful. As a Wellington based runner I am always happy to help others. 5 Weeks to Wellington Round the Bays Half Marathon > https://74running.com/2013/01/14/5-weeks-to-wellington-round-the-bays-half-marathon/ 4 Weeks to go > https://74running.com/2013/01/20/4-weeks-to-rtb-recap-of-last-week/ 3 Weeks to go > https://74running.com/2013/01/29/3-weeks-to-rtb-recap-of-week-2/ All the best and good luck with your training! Posted in General \| Tagged #stepitupnz, Half Marathon, Races, Running, Training \| 1 Reply Posted on September 14, 2014 by 74Runner Wow, seems like its ages since I wrote anything about anything here. And it’s exactly two weeks to the Berlin Marathon on the 28th September! Since the last update of the Tauhara Trail Half in Taupo I have also competed the two other halves on the 63.3 series. Here is a quick recap of the two races. Continue reading → Posted in Races, Running, Trail Running \| Tagged 2014, competition, Half Marathon, motivation, Trail Running \| 3 Replies Posted on June 30, 2014 by 74Runner If you are looking for an entertaining recap of this race STOP right now and head over here to see what my yellow fancy pants wearing friend has to say. If you want something boring then read on – I have warned you. Right – it’s been 7ish weeks since running the Rotorua Marathon. That was after a pretty good block of training and life circumstances. I was riding a wave of highs then. Also after Rotorua I dropped my mileage right back. Bought a mountain bike (did a total 3 grand rides) – probably not the best investment but nevertheless. Wellington Half was always on the plan but I was pretty much taking a break form high intensity and high mileage. Leading up to the event my base mileage had dropped to about 65kms per week average from a usual 85-100km average. So in fact I was well rested if anything. I had no expectations and mentally I was also at a low point probably because of the reduced mileage and some other life stuff that happened. Anyways I went into this race with no expectations and decided I might as well get among the crowd and see what happens. I got to the race start at WestPac stadium in Central Wellington about 45mins before the start. I don’t usually bother with too much warm up other than walking jogging to the loo or talking with others whom I bump into. Then maybe a couple of strides at a minimum. This time I did no warm up apart from the usual last minute business. A stiff southerly breeze was blowing that pretty much chilled you to the bone. Before the race I had a couple of Icebreaker tops on to keep me warm. Underneath I had my Wellington Scottish singlet on and arm warmers and running gloves. Just before race start at 9am I ditched the Icebreaker tops with a mate and made my way to the start line. There was a bit of a jam going into the start area through the stadium doors. Eventually I made my way to where the 1hrs 30min pacer Huw another club/running mate was doing pacing duties. Since this was also doubling up as the NZ Half Marathon Champs the leading men’s and women’s runners were right at the front. Then I spotted my yellow fancy pants wearing friend Amanda. Since I had no particular interest in racing my guts out today I just though hmm I’ll just take it easy and hang with her. After the usual pre-race announcements, the gun/hooter can’t remember which exactly went, everyone surged off. The elites bolted. Me and Amanda got into an easy rhythm to stick to about 4.15mins/km. In actual fact we were a tad faster but pretty well in control and just taking it easy. It was easy running with not much effort. Pretty soon we were just ticking away the Kms as we passed familiar surroundings around the Wellington Bays. Fast and Yellow.. – Photo by Ange We also strategically shielded ourselves from the wind by using others as wind blockers and also did our own part by putting on a few surges just to keep a group going. Eventually we settled with another guy who seemed to be happy to stick with us. Just before we went through the half way point we saw all the 70min (fast) runners already heading back. We hit the half way point and started to up the tempo a little bit. We were hitting 4min K’s quite easily and kept on a good steady rhythm. The last 5km for me was a pretty good effort in hitting sub 4min kms to the finish (Felt great and didn’t blow up). Amanda did an amazing time – go read her race report. My net time was 1:27:37 which is a PB by about 3 mins with the least amount of build up I’ve had. Unexpected and pretty happy in the end. Till later.. keep running. Posted in General, Races, Running \| Tagged Endurance, group runs, Half Marathon, motivation, Races, Scottish, Wellington \| 4 Replies Posted on March 4, 2014 by 74Runner This is somewhat of a delayed post about my last half marathon I ran on 23rd of February. Last year I ran the same half marathon in 1:33:55. Since then I had also run a PB time of 1:32 in September 2013. Since this was my first major race for 2014 I had a goal of running under 1:30. Most of my training leading up to the event has been on preparation on one of my goal marathons in May the Rotorua marathon. So this race was a good time to do a ‘time trial’ of how my training was progressing. At the same time I was not prepared to go all out and then lose time recovering for two or more weeks as I have only about 8 weeks left to the Rotorua marathon in May. The day was pretty good weather wise, apart from a slight northwesterly wind it was a great summer day for an 8am start. However the race was delayed till 8:15am because the organisers were clearing some vehicles that had ventured into the closed part of the course. At the start with Brendon and Yulia My race plan was to run pretty even splits of 4:15min per Km pace so I will end up around 1:29 and getting under the 1:30 mark There were pace groups for 1:25, 1:30 and 1:45. So I was just slightly ahead of the 1:30 pacer and the plan was to hold pace with him from around the after the first 5km marker. In hindsight I should have held back a little bit. This year the race also introduced a 10k race and the start area was a bit hectic with 10k and half marathon runners all starting at the same time. I think that a staggered start would have been much better for all runners involved. This created bit of a rush and some confusion amongst a few inexperienced runners. Anyways we started off and as usual there was a rush of the ‘mad dashers’ who usually end up paying the price around halfway. The first 7k splits were pretty good but a wee bit faster in some ways. Splits from start to 7k point were 4:14, 4:11, 4:06, 4:14, 4:06, 4:16, 4:15. At around the 7km point was the turn back for 10km runners and this became bit of a choke point for faster 10k runners coming back into the mass of the runners who were heading past the turn point. The next 7kms had a bit of head wind. I shadowed behind a few runners including the 1:30 pace group. Splits to the 14km mark were 4:23, 4:30, 4:14, 4:19, 4:11, 4:10, 4:11. I was still feeling pretty fresh around 14km marker and I broke a another PB of distance run in 1hrs at the 14km marker. So my pacing was spot on. This is where things got interesting. So what had happened was that the turning point was a bit off than what it should have been and thus making the actual distance about 600-700m longer. I knew straight away that this was the case as I had done the course before. So at this point I had two choices go out a bit harder and try and make up the time/ground to still officially break my 1:30 goal or maintain the same pace (which was feeling pretty good) and not push too hard. I did some quick calculations in my head and decided to stick with the same even pace. My rationale was that I had proven that I am able to comfortably maintain the pace and am actually running faster than I have run before. It was a sign that my marathon training was indeed working. The next final 7km splits were as follows: 4:13, 4:35 (slowed down at a drink station than I anticipated), 4:16, 4:19, 4:20, 4:08, 4:12) and then the added bonus of an almost an extra 1km in 4:22. The total distance actually came to 22kms instead of the standard 21.1km of a half marathon. The organisers officially acknowledged that the course was measured correctly but the volunteers who were sent to the turning point made an error in judgement and placed the turning point too far in that what was marked. There was no adjustments made to results. Officially my time was recorded as 1:33 (which was the same as last year). I actually crossed the 21.1km distance according to my garmin watch in 1:29:50 thus unofficially getting a PB. In any case I was pretty happy with the net result knowing that I am in fact running faster and more economically than before and on track to a good marathon in 8 weeks time in May! Thanks for reading. Posted in Races, Running \| Tagged 2014, competition, Half Marathon, meetup, Round the Bays, RTB, Wellington \| 2 Replies ← Older posts Recent Posts Running by the numbers and setting goals Speaking at RunFest in Wellington @katie_pai If only there was good public transport infrastructure available for everyday citizens to get from A to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 month ago RT @BStulberg: So many “influencers” and “optimizers” and “wellness” and “happiness” gurus don’t have partners or kids. Yes, strive to be h… 1 month ago	13,948
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Opponents to wind up protests against Trans hill www.cheapesttitleloans.com pipeline expansion in B.C. Oil rates flat; OPEC+ mulls supply cut as virus hits demand U.S. Moves ahead on development plans for Utah monuments Trump shrank Credit debt is high priced and ways that are finding pay it back quickly benefits both you and your future. Listed below are 3 suggestions to ensure it is simpler for you to achieve your aims. Q: i’ve no trouble stuff that is charging my charge cards, but spending them straight down, never mind down, we appear to be going nowhere fast. I’m like I’m lacking one thing, some inside scoop no body ever said. My boyfriend offers me personally a very hard time about it. He keeps track that is careful of he charges and will pay his charge card down on a monthly basis. I enjoy this guy and he’s stated two things that produce me wonder if our relationship can last if We don’t get my financial obligation and, i suppose, my spending, in order. 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Don’t invest another looking back on what you wish you had done sooner year. Being with debt prevents you against getting ahead; the mental, psychological and monetary fat drags you down. Through the years, countless consumers have mentioned the way they feel just like a fat happens to be lifted down their arms after they have plan that is solid how to proceed about their cash and financial obligation issues. Ask for assistance for you and your family if you don’t know where to start, and do what works. Involve some persistence with yourself and quickly you’ll see your work that is hard pay.	8,307
On the forex market there is a consolidation. USD/JPY on Tuesday remains inside a narrow price range near the level of 146.70. Today the Bank of Japan has released the so-called Summary of Opinions - a survey among high-ranking officials of the regulator on the prospects for various areas of the economy. Almost all respondents noted a positive trend. This suggests that the Bank of Japan is unlikely to change the course of monetary policy and will keep rates in the negative range. In the U.S., the midterm election votes will be counted today. Most political analysts are predicting a victory for the Republicans. Tomorrow the inflation report will be released in the United States. On the eve of such two important events the activity in the market is low. The technical indicators are still declining, but the Alligator averages are beginning to cross and the awesome oscillator histogram may change from positive to negative soon. Read more: History and functions of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) Should the pair consolidate above 148.25 we return to buying with Take Profit at 151.00. Stop loss is set at 147.00. If the price goes below support at 145.00, we form short positions with a target at 141.50. In this case, the stop-loss is set at 147.00. Other analytics by this trader USDJPY: fall in the pair will continueOn the eve USD/JPY reached its minimum since August, testing support at 137.50. Investors are moving into safe-haven assets, avoiding buying the dollar as they wait for a slowdown in the pace of monetary tightening from the Fed.The dollar index has renewed its multi-month lows again, reflecting the release of the minutes of the latest FOMC meeting, which suggested a more modest rate hike than previously planned. After that, the probability of a 50 basis point monetary policy tightening in December has risen to 80%.Yen buyers are also supported by the deteriorating covid situation in China and the related mass protests of the population dissatisfied with the zero-tolerance COVID policy.Moreover, today it became known that according to Reuters poll 24 of 26 economists expect the Bank of Japan to switch to a tighter monetary policy. If this scenario comes true, the divergence between the rates of the two regulators will decrease, which will be a negative factor for the dollar.Based on the fundamental news, indicator readings and chart patterns we believe that the downward movement in USD/JPY will continue and we recommend placing a sell order.Sell-limit 138.70 take-profit 136.00 stop-loss 139.70Read more: USD/JPY: chart, forecast for today, currency pair overviewNZDUSD: The pair is approaching the upper boundary of the descending channelNZDUSD is developing an uptrend and is trading near the level of 0.6200.The New Zealand dollar was supported by the Statistical Office of New Zealand employment report, although it did not show a strong improvement in the labor market. Construction permits data will be released tomorrow. The figure rose 3.8% last month.The DXY U.S. Dollar Index is trading just above support at 106,000. Yesterday traders reacted to statements made by some FOMC members who noted the need for further Fed rate hikes until 2024. On these comments the NZD/USD locally decreased.The Alligator moving average fan is correctly open upwards, the awesome oscillator is in a positive range, but it is building bearish bars.After the price fixes above 0.6265, we open a long position with Take Profit at 0.6467. Stop-loss is recommended to be set at 0.6200.If the price fixes below support level 0.6100, this may be a signal to buy. The nearest target for the "bears" is 0.5878. Placement of a stop-loss at 0.6200. Nov 29, 2022 USD/CAD rate analysis from November 29, 2022In trading on Tuesday, USDCAD is developing a downward movement, correcting yesterday's strong growth.Trading in the Canadian dollar and the currency in general on the forex shows the uncertainty caused by the reaction of traders to the comments of the monetary authorities. In particular, the previous day Christine Lagarde confirmed that ECB plans to tighten its monetary policy. Moreover, the regulator is not only planning to raise deposit rates, but also to use other methods to fight inflation.Almost at the same time as Christine Lagarde, FOMC members also spoke about the need to continue raising rates in 2023.There is not much significant news on the market today. On Wednesday a big block of important statistics will be released, so more volatility is expected on the forex market. The main news for the USD/CAD is expected on Friday, when the labor market reports will be published in both the US and Canada.Read more: What is the FOMC?Technical analysis of the USDCADCandlestick patterns, chart patterns and technical indicators do not provide unambiguous buy or sell signals. Bollinger Bands are rebalancing horizontally. The MACD indicator is approaching the zero line from below and may move into the positive area. Oscillator stochastic is rising, approaching the level of 80%.In case the pair is fixed below the level of 1.3440, we get a signal to enter into the sale with Take Profit at 1.3300. Stop loss will be set at the level of 1.3500.Upon breakdown of resistance level 1.3599, we take long positions towards 1.3600. We will place a protective stop-loss at 1.3440. Nov 29, 2022 Forex analysis and forecast for GBPUSD for today, November 29, 2022 On Tuesday the pair GBPUSD does not demonstrate any clear directional movement and remains near the important level of 1.2000. The day before the pound was falling actively reacting to the hawkish statements of the FOMC members. In particular, the head of FRB of St. Louis James Bullard noted the need to continue to raise rates throughout 2023.At the same time, the pound is pressed by the negative outlook for the British economy. The statistics confirms the evident economic recession. Moreover the impact of energy crisis is felt in the country. The UK government is forced to allocate £1.0 billion to improve insulation of houses and infrastructure.Today the UK will publish the report on consumer credit dynamics.GBPUSD Technical AnalysisOn the daily chart the Bollinger Band indicator remains in steady growth while the MACD histogram is declining in the positive range. Stochastic oscillator is out of the overbought zone and is developing a downward trend.Price fixation below the level of 1.1939 will be a signal to enter short positions (sell) with a target at 1.1700. I recommend placing a stop loss at 1.2050.In case of a breakdown of the resistance level at 1.2027, we will start a buy with Take Profit at 1.2236. Stop-loss is set at the level of 1.1939. Nov 29, 2022 EUR/USD: The Fed does not like the market sentiment Fundamental analysis of FOREX on November 29, 2022The central banks of the countries are interested in the strengthening of the national currencies and decrease of the dollar rate at least in order to reduce the cost of oil and gas. Christine Lagarde's active comments helped EUR/USD to test the 1.05 level, however the euro did not have enough strength for further growth.The head of ECB doubted the slowdown of inflation in Europe and said that the policy of the European regulator is not consistent, so in addition to raising rates the Governing Council is considering other mechanisms of tightening monetary policy in order not to stimulate demand.Investors are back to discussing the ECB rate hike of 75 basis points in December, and the currency risk has risen sharply, especially as the Fed is expected to slow the pace of monetary policy restrictions.Large investment managers and funds also believe that the dollar has passed its peak, and forex trading on volume shows that funds continue to ramp up dollar sales.However, the worsening of the dollar's position should hardly please the Fed, which has been working on tightening the financial conditions during the year. Already yesterday the head of the New York Fed said that efforts to fight inflation will continue until 2024. His counterpart at the St. Louis Fed, James Bullard, threatened that markets are clearly underestimating the Fed's capabilities.I believe that soon Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will make a hawkish statement, which will be the beginning of a new wave of decline in the EUR/USD pair. If the buyers will not be able to catch at 1.0385, we will open the sales at the breakdown of the level of 1.033.Read more: What does the Fed rate affect? Nov 29, 2022 Forex. EURUSD: The situation in China has cooled the ardor of euro buyers FOREX Fundamental analysis for EUR/USD on November 28, 2022One of the components of EUR success is the dynamics of the Chinese economy. If the Celestial Empire develops well, the euro gets an additional trump, if it does not, the "bulls" will study other influencing factors and think twice before buying EURUSD.Now, with the epidemiological situation in China getting worse by the hour and more and more strikers coming out on the streets demanding Xi Jinping's resignation, traders understand that it is not the best time for the European currency in forex trading. Despite the fact that the ECB is likely to raise the rate by 75 basis points in December, EUR/USD has failed to consolidate above 1.04.Among the big investors surveyed by MLIV Pulse, 50% believe the global economy is stagnant, combining high prices and sluggish growth. In 2022 this factor contributed to the strengthening of the dollar, but now 70% of respondents for some reason expect the greenback to fall in a month. Just a month ago 62% of the respondents believed in the strengthening of the US dollar.Such changeability of opinions proves that in a while the Euro purchasers will easily move to the sellers' camp again. As noted in previous reviews, EUR/USD is in for a bumpy ride.Yes, stock indices are rising now, and through the correlation of currencies, risky assets are rising along with them. But don't let traders be embarrassed by the strengthening of the S&P500. The results of corporate reporting show that 97% of the companies whose stocks are in the index rose only 2% in earnings. That's the lowest since the third quarter of last year. Add to that the forecast of a slowdown in US GDP and continued Fed rate hikes, there is little or no fundamental reason to buy the risk.Recently the Chinese authorities strengthened monetary stimulus mechanisms, which, however, did not lead to an increase in demand for borrowed funds. Now, given the latest news from the Celestial Empire, investors are unlikely to be interested in the pluses of the Chinese economy, preferring safe-haven assets, primarily the dollar.The situation in the Governing Council of the ECB is not as unambiguous as markets forecast. Not all of its members are in favor of toughening policy. According to Philip Lane, chief economist of the Central Bank, there are few arguments to raise the rate by 75 basis points. Most likely, the "hawks" and "doves" will judge the report on inflation in the Eurozone. According to the Bloomberg's forecast the figure will slow down from 10.6% to 10.4% which will support the EUR/USD sellers. Moreover, judging by the producer prices dynamics, the global inflation has also gone down.It is quite logical that in the near future the buyers of the dollar will take over the initiative. We are waiting for a breakthrough support at 1.033. Nov 28, 2022 Forex. EUR/USD: the euro has lost its brakes FOREX fundamental analysis for EUR/USD on November 25, 2022While the European Central Bank was considering the need to tighten its monetary policy, the Fed was actively pursuing a hawkish course. Now the Fed, which has run the fastest and furthest, decides to take a breather while the European regulator is considering a deposit rate hike of 75 basis points at once in December. This shift in central bank positioning is supporting the European currency.ECB Governing Council member Isabelle Schnabel believes that now is not the time to slow down the pace of monetary restriction. In her view, fiscal stimulus from the government helps accelerate inflation, and a weak rate hike in this environment, will lead to an even greater decline in European bond yields and weaken financial conditions.This week investors were pleasantly surprised by the indices of consumer confidence, business activity and business climate in the Eurozone. Coupled with the drop in gas prices, we can say that the recession in the Eurobloc economy will not be as deep and prolonged as previously thought. Euro zone economy will soon start to recover and ECB has to decide on the course of monetary policy in order not to kill the weak shoots of economic growth.After the release of good statistics on the Eurozone, European stock indices started to recover. Moreover, their dynamics over the last week outperformed those of the S&P 500, which contributes to the overflow of capital from the New World to the Old World.Nevertheless, both the Fed and the ECB are addressing the same problem. They are fighting rising inflation, the behavior of which is little predictable. On the one hand, falling energy and commodity costs are driving consumer prices down. On the other hand, the new plowing of COVID-19 in China may again disrupt the logistics of supply, which will lead to a new round of price increases.For now we can only say that the EUR/USD path will be very tortuous. The forex trading strategy "buy and hold" is unlikely to be profitable for investors. With such asset dynamics, market participants will have to enter, exit and roll over quickly. We believe that fixation of EUR/USD below 1.038 will be a signal for the formation of short positions. Nov 25, 2022 DXY: Does the dollar still have a chance to strengthen? Trading idea for the dollar index (DXY) from November 24, 2022In Thursday's Asian session, the dollar index is now trading near 105.80. The day before, the DXY got caught in a wave of sell-offs and rolled back to local lows. The volatility of currency pairs is low, as the USA is celebrating Thanksgiving today.The reason for the dollar index decline was the yesterday's publication of the FOMC meeting minutes, from which investors found out that the overwhelming majority of the FOMC members find it necessary to slow down the monetary restriction rate. On this news, 10-year bond yields fell below 3.7%.According to CME Group FedWatch Tool, there is a 76% chance of a 50 basis point rate hike in December, although inflation remains at 7.7%, well above the 2% target.Despite unanimity on the issue of slowing the pace of monetary tightening, FOMC members are undecided on a rate hike ceiling. According to the head of Fed of San Francisco Mary Daly, the rate should be raised to 4.75%-5.25%. Experts think that the markets are overly optimistic about the imminent end of the tightening period of the monetary policy. In any case, there is no fundamental reason for this. As soon as investors realize the reality of what is happening, the dollar will return to strengthening According to Goldman Sachs, DXY expects another wave of growth.Some support for the DXY was provided by yesterday's US statistics - the report on durable goods orders and the data on new home sales.We suppose that the US Dollar index keeps the potential for growth and we place the sell orderBuy-stop 106.00 take-profit 108.00 stop-loss 105.40 Nov 24, 2022 Forex analysis and forecast for USD/JPY for today, November 24, 2022 On Thursday USD/JPY is developing a downward movement, formed on Tuesday from the local highs of November 11. Yesterday's publication of the FOMC meeting minutes from which investors learned that the majority of the Committee on Open Market supported the slowing down of monetary restriction, fearing the consequences of a tough monetary policy for the United States economy, strengthened "bearish" dynamics of the pair.There is an 80% probability that the Fed will raise rates by 50 basis points in December. Nevertheless, this will be the seventh consecutive hike.Yesterday a report on durable goods orders in the US came out and showed positive dynamics, which, however, could not support the dollar. The volume rose 1.0% in October compared to the forecast of 0.4%.USD/JPY Technical analysis: Bollinger Band & MACDBollinger Band indicator is steadily declining as dailyThe MACD indicator has also returned to decline in the negative zone and has formed a new sell signal.The stochastic oscillator is showing an active downward trend.After breakdown below 138.50, let's open short positions with Take Profit at 136.50. Stop loss is at 139.50.Upon breakdown of resistance at 139.90, switch to buying with a target at 142.54. Stop-loss is set at 138.90.Read more: Using the MACD indicator in forex trading Nov 24, 2022 View more Please enable cookies in order to work more efficiently with the site in order to provide you with more options and convenience.	17,174
Jason Arday is Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Glasgow. He is one of the youngest Black Professors in British higher education. Jason is also as Adjunct Professor at Nelson Mandela University in the Centre for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation, South Africa. Within his role he teaches about Physical Education, Inclusion, Gender and Sexuality and Race in Education. Having been involved with and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for over 70 charities nationwide over a 10 year period, Jason also has experience working for charity organisations in a consultancy and directive capacity with regards to fundraising ideas and initiatives. His voluntary and relief work and fundraising endeavours have seen him gain recognition nationally for his charity work. For his charity work and fundraising, Jason was selected to be an Olympic Torchbearer in July 2012. cookie policy careers Get in touch We’d love to hear from you. Depending on the nature of your enquiry, you will be directed to the relevant member of the Runnymede team. Your donations of all sizes allow us to continue pushing forward for a more equal Britain. Help us fund our esteemed research, our incredible team, and our movement building.	1,339

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