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Add The Sacramento Theatre Company to your list of holiday activities this year: "A Christmas Carol," which runs through Dec. 24 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, captures the magic and joy of Christmas. The Dickens classic, adapted by Richard Hellesen, is the most consistently produced Christmas show that STC runs and has been a part of the holiday programs on and off for the last 24 years.
For more than150 years Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" has been a classically loved and widely acclaimed story of the evolution of a Ebenezer Scrooge from a selfish and sour man to a generous and hospitable fellow. This heart-warming tale of redemption is a Christmas production that has reminded audiences for over a century of the true meaning of life.
On Sunday, the theater was filled with families, students, and theater-goers of all ages. The actors captivated the audience with an outstanding performance, especially by Matt K. Miller, who played Scrooge. His performance captured the splendor of the classic tale of a man rediscovering his Christmas spirit.
The stage effects really transported the audience to a different time and place. Simulated fog poured into the theater to create the dark mystical feel of London and actors dressed in elaborate period costumes that included the Ghost of Jacob Marley in chains and rags and wealthy women in beautiful silk gowns.
The stage was simple with selective yet dramatic props. Many key elements rolled on and off stage throughout the show while an over sized clock remained center stage the entire show. Scrooge's four-post bed and fireplace, a desk in his office and other key elements diversify the space to show Scrooge as he travels through time.
Through music and dance this performance stands out among the many renditions of "A Christmas Carol." The uplifting songs in the first act juxtapose against the dark and sinister attitude of Scrooge and help reveal the extent of his rottenness to the audience.
Music director, Sam Schieber, and choreographer, Jerald Bolden are both new additions to this year's production team. Music that was adapted and arranged by David De Berry uses Christmas carols and songs from the 1800s to accompany the story of Scrooge rediscovering his Christmas spirit.
By the end of act two Scrooge's outlook on life is in alignment with the blissful songs that the characters sing and bring the story full circle as he joins in singing with the community.
Matt K. Miller makes a wildly captivating Scrooge. Everything from his facial expressions to his posture and tone of voice evolve as Scrooge realizes the true meaning of life by the visiting Christmas ghosts.
Miller does a wonderful job portraying an eerie gloom and distaste for Christmas in the opening scenes of the play. As Scrooge is taken by the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sydney Christoffersen and Bella Bagatelos who both play the part, the thick layers of his hardened heart seamlessly peel back when Miller starts snapping his fingers and bouncing to the songs of his youth and recognizing the faces of old friends.
Miller has performed in many productions at the Sacramento Theatre Company and this is his fourth time playing Scrooge for the company's production of "A Christmas Carol."
"Miller has always been excellent," said season-ticket-holder, Marion Silva. "He does a really great job playing Scrooge. He has really gotten into this character."
Jim Lane plays an especially creepy and tortured version of The Ghost of Jacob Marley. He is dressed in rags and covered in chains when he emerges from a dark and foggy clock in Scrooge's home. His voice echoes throughout the speakers of the theater, creating a haunting mood. Lane delivers a chilling performance.
Scrooge's nephew, Fred, played by Jerry Lee, brings a lightness to the dark and mystical nature of the opening scenes of the show. He portrays a jovial and lighthearted man who continuously looks for the good in Scrooge despite his unenlightened and stingy perspective of the world.
Barry Hubbard and Jackie Vanderbeck make a marvelous team playing Mr. and Mrs.Cratchit. Mr. Bob Cratchit is employed by Scrooge and always defends him, despite Scrooge's cruel attitude toward him. Vanderbeck portrays Mrs.Cratchit as a sound minded woman who looks out first and foremost for the well being of her family.
Hubbard and Vanderbeck evoke sympathy and compassion in the audience as Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit struggle to make ends meet in the midst of their youngest son suffering from medical problems, not having enough money to help him.
The redemption of Scrooge is climactic when he finally gives BobCratchit a raise in order to help save the life of his son, Tiny Tim, played by Zac Ballard.
Zac Ballard is adorable and lovable as Tiny Tim. He does an excellent job playing a crippled boy with leg braces by moving his legs with labor and looking to family members for help moving about the stage. He wins the audience over with his innocent and angelic attitude.
The props and set design are minimal but dramatic. A large grandfather clock is in the center of the stage throughout the play, symbolic of the looming presence of time slipping away from Scrooge. The clock is so oversized that it almost appears to be a looking down on Scrooge like a God. In addition to the clock, a large four-post bed rolls on and off stage to signify Scrooge leaving and returning to his sleeping quarters as he visits his past, present and future.
"The set seems true to London back then, covered in soot and fog. It looks musty and smelly and cold," said Carolyn Schilling, season ticket holder.
The use of heavy fog and varying lighting techniques create a dark mysterious world that Scrooge lives in.
The Ghost of Christmas Future is the most disturbing of all of the ghosts, dressed similarly to the grim reaper.
Rather than speaking, the ghost points his long bony fingers to direct Scrooge's attention to what his future will look like if he doesn't change. The Ghost of Christmas Future appears out of a trap door beneath the stage and slowly glides up to Scrooge's level while fog pours out around him and lights flash dramatically.
This is just one of the many effective design elements that lighting designer, Victor En Yu Tan, scenic designer, John Klonowski, and additional lighting design and effects by Jordan Burkholder create in the show.
Costume designers, B. Modern and Jessica Minnihan, created appropriate period costumes that range from rags to the gowns of the wealthy.
All of the elements of the production come together to make the Sacramento Theatre Company's "A Christmas Carol" a classic holiday thrill that reminds audiences of the true meaning of life while providing a marvelous show for all ages to enjoy.
This season The Sacramento Theatre Company is inviting local choirs to sing Christmas carols outside the theater before the show starts. Choirs that are interested in singing may contact the theater.
Show times are as follows:
Wednesday 7 p.m.
Thursday 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Friday 7 p.m.
Saturday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m.
Tickets prices are as follows:
General $40
Children (Age 4-12) $20
Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups.
To purchase tickets, visit the box office website here.
For more information about "A Christmas Carol" visit the Sacramento Theatre Company website here.
All Photos: Barry Wisdom
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Caton Leisure Club
Monday 4th December Caton Leisure Club held their Christmas Celebration. There was a bright, happy and hopeful atmosphere as the day started with a Christmas themed quiz. Everyone sorted themselves into teams of 3 or 4 and hoped they would be able to answer the 60 questions and have bragging rights as the winners. Even if we didn't know the answers we all came away having learnt something new. This was followed by a sumptuous buffet, the highlight of which was the fantastic Christmas cake provided by The Crazy Cake Company in Caton. Jolly good it was too. The raffle was drawn and the first prize a £20 beauty gift voucher from Bee at the Garden Retreat was won by Mrs Mavis Lancaster, who has lost no time in booking herself a massage. The second prize, a bottle of 'bubbly' was won by Mrs Gerda Scott.
Everyone left feeling very happy and full!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Giovanni Consort, conducted by Hugh Lydon
Throughout the history of choral music, many of the great composers wrote works that celebrated the purity of upper voices. For the third concert of the 2017 series, The Giovanni Consort will perform a program comprised entirely of music to be performed by women.
Starting with the music of Hildegard Von Bingen, we will present a chronological timeline of music written for upper voices, finishing with music composed in the 21st century. Pieces from each period of music will be sung, including Holst's Two Eastern Pictures and Pergolesi's masterpiece Stabat Mater.
The concert will be held in the majestic acoustics of St Joseph's Church, Subiaco. Hugh Lydon will conduct this performance, and will also give a pre-concert talk where he will outline the development of music for upper voices.
We hope to see you at this performance to join in our celebration of the female voice.
Tickets: $35 adult / $30 concession / $20 student,
available from bit.ly/Giovanni2017


text: Python is a popular general-purpose computer programming language, which is used for the creation of various applications, which include CGI scripts plus web software. The reason that makes it popular with programmers is that it contains really clear syntax and also it supports modules - pieces of program code that include some subroutines and perform specific tasks. Using modules can help you save a lot of time and effort because you'll be able to simply "call" some module inside your script, instead of writing all of the computer code for that attribute. Python is used for various apps such as online games, content management systems, database management systems, RSS readers, text and data processors and many others. Any kind of Python-based script could be included in a website that is created in a different programming language.


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Kitty Spa And Feeding
The description of Kitty Spa And FeedingKitty Spa And Feeding is a Dress Up game on pfreegames.com. You can play Kitty Spa And Feeding in your browser for free. Its time for kitty to bath, have lunch and dress up. It needs your help. You will learn how to take care of kitty by the game. Firstly, help kitty have a bath. Then cook and feed her. Finally, choose a best outfit for her. Accessories will make kitty more cute. Enjoy the game called Kitty Spa And Feeding! Control: You need to use the mouse to play this game.
Game Play


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Big Toronto Weekend July 25-27!
I have a pop-up window show exhibit at Action Potential Lab, at 451 Christie Street (at the corner of Davenport). The show will feature some of my organs, brains, and a new work, Veins and Arteries. The exhibit runs from July 25-August 1.
In conjunction with Toronto's Maker Festival, I'll be teaching a family workshop (adults and children aged 6+) Sew Your Own Cell Creature on Saturday, July 25 from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Action Potential Lab. Spaces still available. More details and to Sign up at Action Potential or visit the Lab's Facebook page.
The Lymph Nymph will be presented at PROCESS space Sunday July 26. PROCESS is "a space to present work to an audience and have a conversation about it. It's an invitation try something new, experiment, assess or revisit something that has already been presented - it's an informal event that happens the last Sunday of each month". PROCESS takes place at Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street, Studio 103, from 7:30pm-11:30pm. Other performances that night by Julie Lassonde, Suzanne Liska & Mika Lillit Lior, Kayla Milmine & Brian Abbott. PWYC at the door.
Lymph Nymph at Stables Studio Doors Open, June 2015, screen shot from video


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Another week, another crucial moment in the euro crisis. Leaving aside the Groundhog Day resemblance, here's how to trade Greece's upcoming austerity vote.
You would think that after a certain number of these crucial events, investors would develop a thick skin about the play by play in the euro crisis. But that certainly wasn't the case on Friday, when the euro broke through $1.42 and "we started seeing liquidity in the currency markets drying up a bit," says Rebecca Patterson, J.P. Morgan Asset Management's chief markets strategist. "It's not a good thing."
Problem is, the drama and confusion are likely to continue, Patterson told CNBC's Scott Wapner. "At the end of the day, you've got 27 EU countries. You've got a central banker for each one, a finance minister for each one, a number of politicians who just like to talk to the press for each one, plus the European Central Bank, plus the EU, plus the European Council...of course you're going to get conflicting signals." Ordinary investors confronted with all this may well decide to just stay away, she says.
Andrew Busch, global currency and public policy strategist for BMO Capital, agrees. "We're getting into big time risk-off mode," he says.
Greece's vote Tuesday on new austerity measures won't help matters, Busch says. "If they pass the austerity measures, there are going to be riots in the streets. People are going to be burning things. If they don't pass it, the financial markets are burned. Either way, this is a lose lose, and I just don't like the euro at all."
He recommends selling the euro against the dollar at $1.42 with a stop at $1.4450. When it breaks below $1.4075, he recommends doubling up on the position and putting a stop on the entire trade at $1.4140, with a target price of $1.3750.
You can watch the whole discussion right here.


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All posts by this member
1 of 3 Tue 9th Oct 2012 11:36am
Member: Joined Oct 2012 Total posts:4
Hello! I'm new to this site and it's fascinating to read all the posts, my family is from Coventry so it's great to see all the stories. My grandfather used to work at Carbodies on the Holyhead Road, I'm not sure of the exact dates but think it was the 1940s & 1950s... does anyone have any information on this? Or do you know anyone who worked there? Or did you work there? I know it's a bit of a long shot but it would be so great to find someone who may have known my grandfather, as he unfortunately died before I was born.
|Carbodies, Holyhead Road
sheringham, norfolk
All posts by this member
2 of 3 Fri 10th Jan 2014 3:38pm
Member: Joined Jan 2014 Total posts:1
Hello Winnie, There is a history of the Carbodies Company, called 'Carbodies The Complete Story' published in 1996, the author was Bill Munro. It will tell all about the company but may not mention your grandfather. I am interested in the company during the 1950s as I am writing a book on the Daimler Roadster and New Drophead Coupe built by Carbodies 1953-7. It would be very useful to contact people working there at that time. Best Wishes, Dennis
Dennis Mynard
|Carbodies, Holyhead Road
All posts by this member
3 of 3 Fri 10th Jan 2014 5:28pm
Moderator: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:4206
Hello & welcome to you, Dennis (Salmons).
|Carbodies, Holyhead Road


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Many of us are lucky as we have grown up under the watchful eyes of our auntie. An auntie is your mom's or dad's sister who plays an important role in our lives. She is the one who knows how to handle a child. Whenever your mummy scolds you, you run towards her, and she hugs you and tries to make you happy. She is the lady who always remains on your side and does everything possible to help you. So whenever she is going to celebrate her birthday, you should do something special for her to say Happy Birthday Auntie and wish them with these quotes.
Send Beautiful Wishes To Your Auntie:
As we all know that aunties held a special place in our hearts. She is like a second mother who cares for us. She scolds us when needed but loves us too. In fact, she is the one who fills the space of a best friend. You can share your secrets with her being worried about anything. So the birthday should be the special day, and you should try to make it memorable for your auntie. Following are some of the birthday wishes you can send to your auntie to say Happy Birthday Auntie:
- Today is the day to celebrate…your birthday is the most special occasion for me, dear auntie…happy birthday and may you live long.
- I am lucky to have such a wonderful auntie…thank you for always supporting me…happy birthday!
- Thank you for all the life lessons you taught me…you are the one who played an important role in my success…happy birthday and thank you for always being there.
- Today is the best day to tell you that aunties like you are precious and few. Not everyone has an aunt like you…I am lucky enough to have you…happy birthday and may you many more.
- On your birthday I wish you every best thing…may you keep smiling always…happy birthday and get ready with the cake and candles. You know I love cakes.
- May this birthday bring you good luck, happiness, joy, health, wealth, success and everything you desire…happy birthday and many many happy returns of the day.
- You were with me in my most difficult times…you were there to share May happiness…you are not my sibling, you are not my mother, you are not my friend. You are my auntie, and I love you so much…happy birthday!
Everyone likes surprises, so the birthday of your auntie is the best day to give beautiful surprises to her. You should visit her on her birthday and spend time with her. If she likes movies, then you can plan a movie. If she is a book lover, then gift her membership of a local library. In fact, there are many things you can do to make her happy. Sometimes a little bouquet can win the hearts. So try to do everything to make her birthday the most memorable and happiest day of her life.


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The ideal customer experience is everything today, and it starts with a modern digital foundation. You canĺt give customers the timely and relevant experiences they expect with outdated solutions that are cobbled together. Read The Blueprint Redefined to see how a modern digital foundation can get you there.
© 2019 BenefitsPro. A Summit Business Media publication. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy


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Delinquent Grandmothers Living A Secret Life As Graffiti Artists… And It's EPIC.
What does your grandmother do in her spare time? Maybe she takes a water aerobics class. Maybe she knits. Maybe (hopefully) she sits around all day and figures out ways to constantly smell like lilacs and always have a baked good and tea ready for you.
Whatever your granny does, odds are, she doesn't do this.
This group of pioneering creative grandmothers in Lisbon, Portugal have formed a "graffiti gang." Their initiative offers graffiti workshops to senior citizens so they can express themselves and blow off some steam. Recently, a photographer followed these artistic grandmothers around the city, and the photos are pretty incredible.
The group is called LATA 65. Lata means "can" in Portuguese, and this group is focused on letting senior citizens know that there's nothing they can't do.
The group teaches street art to various groups of senior citizens around the country.
The art that these senior citizens create is interesting and contemporary.
The group makes their own stencils and creates their own tags, so people can recognize their work throughout the city.
The group has already introduced this part of youth culture to over 100 senior citizens throughout the city.
Of course, grandfathers are invited, too.
The group even passes out these cute buttons to spread awareness about their cause.
Page 1 of 2Next ›


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The Turkey, Redux
A couple years ago (and a couple blog posts ago) I made a big ol turkey dinner for Melisa and I and it turned out quite well. I've made some others since then, all in the same method, but over the Christmas to New Years break we had another turkey, and although I prepared and cooked it very similarly, I did do a couple of things differently, which turned out to be quite successful! I thought I'd outline them here for your enjoyment. :)Read More


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Photography project documenting man's natural environment.
I like to fly over places I know well. That's when I can clearly see changes that constitute my very favourite subject: is what I'm seeing nature settled by man, or is it perhaps an environment created by us to resemble nature. Has the forest that I am looking at always been here or have the trees been planted by man and are not much different from a potato plantation. I follow leads, I watch and I take photos.
I am interested in what is the line of contact between nature and civilisation. It is full of tension and ever-shifting and it gives a good picture of peoples' behaviour towards their surroundings, the side effects of our existence. I do not like to name my photographs, to explain what they represent. I want the viewer to feel what I feel when I am airborne – when I am sometimes myself uncertain of what it is I am looking at. The form itself is often delightful – no metter what the content is. And back on the ground I am yet again faced with the question: why what I am looking at brings forth all these emotions in me?
Scene one:
nature. Obvious subject. But are these idyllic patterns and symmetries work of nature or has man interfered?
Scene two:
Delicate drawings sketched with a plough and human feet, forest clearings and Sunday promenades – here the boundary between nature and man's presence becomes clearer and relatively harmonious.
Scene three:
Reticulated, partitioned, organized landscape. Railways, roads and quarries. The never-ending arduous work of dump trucks delivering sand for another highway construction, the levelling of the surface. Sport, entertainment, recreation. From high up I can see the beauty, but I feel anxiety.
Colour, texture and mystery. Abstracted detail. This beauty hides the truth about the cost of civilisation and nature's response to man's actions.


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2.8/5 (88 users)
My Rating
By Nilesh P. Khandare(01 Dec 2009)
PRINCEIt's Showtime...Nothing and No One Can Be Trusted...One of the savviest thieves in the world commits the biggest heist of his life. He wakes up next the morning to realize he has a gunshot wound on his arm that he doesn't remember getting.In his quest to find answers he discovers his name is Prince, he used to work for a man named Sarang and his girlfriend's name is Maya.He is being hunted by the secret service of India- I Grip, the CBI and the biggest white collared criminals in the world. He is the most wanted man in the country because only he knows the whereabouts of the heist, which contains a secret that is linked not only to his loss of memory but threatens the future of the Human Race.Prince can rely only on his razor sharp instincts to salvage himself. The web of deception spins and Prince gets even more entangled.Nothing and no one can be trusted.Every day he meets a new girl claiming to be Maya...Every cop and criminal in the country is out for his blood...He doesn't remember where he has hidden the Heist...He doesn't know which side of the law he is on...His life is at stake...The future of mankind is at stake...Prince has no one but himself to trust ...Failure is not an option...He has just 6 Days of his life...Time is running out will he survive...
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This web site is part of the Business Intelligence Division of Informa PLC
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
Drug Names(s): Capsid Assembly Inhibitor (Arbutus), Core Protein Inhibitor (Arbutus)
Description: Arbutus is developing a core protein inhibitor (also known as capsid assembly inhibitor).
Deal Structure:
Arbutus and Tekmira
In July 2015, Tekmira announced plans to change its corporate name to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (ABUS).
AB-423 News
Additional information available to subscribers only:
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Are you...
- Between the ages of 12-18
- A lover of books, ideas, and all things creative
- Ready to be a leading voice for teens and young adults in your community
- Interested in helping to plan events and activities for teens and youth at the library
- Looking for volunteer experience to include on college applications
...join the Youth Advisory Board!
The Youth Advisory Board meets bimonthly in the library's teen space.
Contact Roger Stremming for more details: 317-398-7121 ext. 244 or email@example.com


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Benefit: You can wield a one-handed melee weapon as though it was a light weapons. Light weapons, two-handed weapons, and oversized weapons are not affected by this feat.
Section 15: Copyright Notice
Remarkable Races: Compendium of Unusual PC Races, Pathway to Adventure Edition. Copyright 2009, Alluria Publishing; Author: J. Matthew Kubisz


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Madeline Albright wants you to know, there is no good or bad. That concept is fiction.
"It is sometimes convenient, for purposes of rhetorical effect, for national leaders to talk of a globe neatly divided into good and bad. It is quite another, however, to base the policies of the world's most powerful nation upon that fiction. "
Hey Madeline, buy a clue! No one is saying the world is "neatly divided" into anything. The President just happens to have the stones to point out when something is "evil". Too many shy away from such words and concepts. There is evil in the world and if your don't ackowledge it, how can you hope to defeat it?
Edmund Burke said it best:
"In order for evil to flourish, all that is required is for good men to do nothing".
We are Americans and we won't do "nothing". We may have our starts and stops. We may falter. But we try and that's worth everything.
This is her op-ed in the LA Times.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Madeline Albright meets John Lennon
Posted by BostonMaggie at 10:28:00 AM
2 comments:
- djk0212 said...
Consider this Maggie....The Prez can always adjust his actions, strategies and views based on current situations (which is what he does every day....he's a President that lets his leaders on the ground advise and give recommendations), Madeline Albright is UGLY and there ain't NOTHING she can do about that!
- 25 March, 2006 14:57
- jarhead john said...
She couldn't buy a clue if she was the richest woman in the world. She's too damned stupid (and perhaps nuts).
- 26 March, 2006 05:00
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text: Bulawayo - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai hailed on Saturday the decision by Kenya's top court to order a new presidential election as a "step towards democracy". Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has made three failed attempts at the presidency, losing all of them to long-ruling leader Robert Mugabe."This is an unprecedented decision in the whole of Africa and I think it's a good step towards democracy," Tsvangirai told thousands of supporters at a rally organised by an alliance of opposition parties."If it happened in Kenya it can as well happen in Zimbabwe," he said.In 2008, Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the first round of voting but failed to secure an outright majority, leading to a run-off. He later pulled out of the second round, due violence against his supporters.The MDC is now part of an opposition alliance formed ahead of the 2018 vote, in a bid to unseat the 93-year-old Mugabe. The Saturday rally in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, was the first gathering of the alliance since its formation last month.Tsvangirai told supporters that there should be "clear reforms" in place ahead of the next election to avoid disputes.Past elections in Zimbabwe have been marred by violence, intimidation and charges of electoral fraud.Kenya's Supreme Court nullified on Friday the results of last month's presidential election which handed victory President Uhuru Kenyatta, citing irregularities in the electronic transmission of vote results.The landmark ruling ordered fresh election be held within 60 days.


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Purchasing intranet software is both confusing and time-consuming. There are dozens of options, including purpose-built intranet software, broad platforms like Office 365, and collaboration apps like Slack or Facebook at Work.
My 10-step purchase plan helps you prioritize and focus on your business objectives. I help you evaluate vendors against criteria that matters. And I provide insider guidance on price negotiations that can more than cover my fee.
Contact me to chat about intranet software selection.
Who this service is for: Organizations with 250 to 10,000+ intranet users.
Why use Chris McGrath: I co-founded ThoughtFarmer, a leading intranet software vendor, and developed their sales process. I have an expert understanding of the intranet marketplace and I understand the nuances of software selection and purchase negotiation.
There are three distinct areas of intranet design.
Functional design. Functional design is about your intranet being useful. This is the most important kind of design: no one cares if the intranet is pretty if it's irrelevant. Excellent functional design requires a thorough understanding of users' goals, which my journey mapping service provides.
Interface design. Interface design is about your intranet being easy to use. People complain and time is wasted when an intranet is difficult to use. Through user testing, information design and wireframing, I can help make your intranet delightful.
Visual design. Good visual design instills confidence in users and reflects well on your organization's brand. While intranet design should have personality, it should also be simple enough so it doesn't cause problems when you upgrade your software.
Intranet design services I offer:
Contact me to chat about intranet design.
Who my design services are for: Organizations with 250 to 10,000+ intranet users.
Why use Chris McGrath: Long before intranets, I was a graphic designer. I morphed into web design and then user experience design with a speciality in usability analysis. I've designed many intranets and applications from scratch, including ThoughtFarmer, a leading intranet software solution.
The journey from intranet purchase to intranet launch takes some companies a year or more. It doesn't have to be that way. I helped eHarmony, IDEO and Continuum launch intranets in just 5 days!
My current process is fast, efficient and focuses on the tasks that matter most. We start with prioritized business objectives and rapidly move through navigation structure, page layout, branding, training and launch.
Who this service is for: Organizations with 250 to 10,000+ intranet users.
Why use Chris McGrath: I developed the implementation and launch process at ThoughtFarmer, a leading intranet software vendor. I've used that process to take intranets from installation to launch in just a few weeks, and I've been involved in the deployment of over 175 intranets.
You'll be pleased you chose to work with me. But don't just take my word for it — hear from some of my past clients and colleagues.
Let's have a chat. Let's explore how your intranet can deliver on business priorities while delighting employees.


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UO Home: Sofa Solutions
Furniture placement can be tough but don't worry, we've got you. Read on for our top five tips for arranging sofas in a small space. Hopefully we'll help get those creative juices flowing.Illustrations by Victoria Skovran
Pair a larger piece of furniture with two smaller pieces, or use a plant as a statement. Make sure the furniture is distributed across the room so that it compliments the space!
Shop the Chamberlin Leather sofa
When arranging your living room - think about how the space will be used. Allow for traffic flow and create paths between pieces.
Shop the Piper Petite Recycled Leather Sofa
Pair a sectional with a smaller chair to create a larger seating zone. Always make sure there is a surface to rest a beverage on!
Shop the Cecilia Velvet Sectional Sofa
Mirror two pieces of furniture to create a simple and easy layout. You can also experiment with the layout by mixing furniture that doesn't perfectly match!
Shop the Graham Velvet Sofa
Buddy System
A good rule of thumb- pair a larger piece of furniture with two arm chairs to create a more social layout. Don't forget to experiment, a small refresh can make for a big difference!
Shop the Chamberlin Velvet Sofa
Shop All Furniture


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Most of the time, changing batteries is one of the easier maintenance tasks to perform. Unbolt a couple cables, lift a heavy plastic box, put a different heavy plastic box back in, bolt the cables back on to the correct posts and you're off and running again.
Most of the time.
But I think that Vespa deliberately set out to make changing the battery in the GTS as difficult as they possibly could. The battery lives in this little compartment between the floorboards, and it's crammed in there pretty tightly. Just getting the battery cables off is a tedious chore, and that's assuming you have a stool to sit on as your turn the bolts bit by bit until they're finally free.
I didn't have a stool. Last Friday, as I was looking forward going home for a weekend full of new motorcycle chains and hoping for some pizza, I tried to start the Vespa and discovered the battery was dead.
What I should have done was pulled the battery then, to bring it home and test it. Sadly, I wasn't thinking clearly due to frustration, heat and hunger. Oh well.
Lady Luck gave me a lift home from work, and the next day I set about finding a new battery. That was a nightmare in and of itself. Eventually, we went to the Vespa dealer, who claimed to have two of the batteries I needed in stock. We bought the outrageously expensive battery ($70!), and went home to charge it.
After a few other errands, Saturday was over. So, on Sunday, we went to put the new battery in the Vespa. Piece of cake, right?
We were about halfway to my office when I realized I'd left my access badge at home. Whoops. And, of course, the freeway heading towards our house was clogged up from construction, so we had to take surface streets. By the time we got my badge, we were starving, so we stopped for lunch at Ted's Hot Dogs. Incidentally, if you're in the area, I recommend them.
Fed and badged, we tried again. We arrived at my parking garage and I set about pulling the old battery. After about fifteen minutes of fighting with the battery cables, I discovered that the guys at the parts counter had given me the wrong battery altogether. My bad for not noticing when I picked it up, but they are the parts guys. They've got a computer to look this stuff up in... Oh well.
I brought both batteries home, and stuck the old one on the charger. To my surprise, it seemed to take a charge just fine. So on Monday I brought the old battery back to work, mildly concerned about what had caused the battery to go dead.
Turns out the battery was bad.
So, Lady Luck and I went back to the Vespa dealer, exchanged the battery for the right one, and this morning I brought it in to the office with me. Again. Over lunch I went to the garage and set about the chore of putting the battery in again. It's about 103 degrees in the garage, and there's nothing like sweating over a dirty motorcycle in business clothes to put a fella in a great mood.
The good news is, the Vespa lives once more.


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I spent $129 on the Season Pass just after COD was released. I wanted the whole game and ALL the options.
I ONLY want to run and gun with TDM 90% or more of the time.
NOW, in this latest crap, you are FORCED to play Kill Confirmed because the two have "Merged" into a Moshpit.
What BULL*****.
Ya Seriously??? I know you hate HC TDM by always waiting to let us have the new maps, but FFS, give us back the freedom to choose our game modes!!!!
Agreed, they're detroying our *****ing experience to focus on blackout. WTF guys, your battle royale is everyones least favorite, stop *****ting on us for your own *****ing failures FFS Treyarch. I thought this was the last good place for a multiplayer game -- I was wrong, the future of gaming is *****ed
Seriously! Im so pissed. WTF treyarch. It's not even mentioned in the patch notes. F this. Never doing business with this company again. Not what i paid for.
I think it's a good thing to do. There are a lot less players on PC which is a shame but this allows for easier matchmaking. Having too many options makes everyone scattered out everywhere and impossible to matchmake for other gamemodes.
Yeah, it is super effing annoying. I couldnt believe it. Sometimes I am ok with it since people cannot camp as much and win, but at the same time, I hate the forcing of the gamemode. Not sure why they thought it was a good idea...
Same here i want to play only hardcore domination, i am 10th with only playing domination, now i have to be forced to play search too? i hate search!! its bull*****....
© 2019 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE, CALL OF DUTY MODERN WARFARE, CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS, CALL OF DUTY GHOSTS, CALL OF DUTY ADVANCED WARFARE, CALL OF DUTY INFINITE WARFARE, and the CALL OF DUTY WORLD LEAGUE Logo are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are property of their respective owners.


text:
April 23 (Reuters) - Two Cuban actors starring in a film
about defecting to the United States have gone missing while en
route to a New York festival where they were due to appear at
the movie's U.S. premiere last week, a spokeswoman for the event
said on Monday.
Actress Anailin de la Rua de la Torre and actor Javier Nunez
Florian, cast members of "Una Noche" ("One Night"), failed to
appear at the Tribeca Film Festival debut on Thursday, prompting
reports that the two may have defected -- a case of real life
imitating art.
"Only Dariel Arrechada attended the Tribeca Film Festival
premiere screening of Una Noche on Thursday, April 19. We have
not had any contact with Anailin de la Rua de la Torre or with
Javier Nunez Florian," a spokeswoman for the New York City event
said in a statement.
"Una Noche," directed by New York University film school
graduate Lucy Mulloy, follows the journey of three Cuban
teenagers trying to escape the poverty of their homeland to
start a new life in Miami.
Havana-based producer Sandy Perez Aguila told the Los
Angeles Times on Monday that he last saw the pair of missing
actors at Miami's airport during a layover as they were all
traveling to New York.
He told Miami police they were missing, but police said he
would have to wait 24 hours to file a report. Upon reaching New
York, Aguila opened the pair's suitcases and they were empty.
"It was very strange," Aguila told the Los Angeles Times.
"We had no conversation [about defection] on the plane from
Havana or at any other time. They were just excited to come to
New York for the premiere."
There is a long history of Cuban athletes and artists
defecting to pursue a careers outside their home country.
In 2005, Cuban ballet dancer Rolando Sarabia snuck across
the border into the U.S. and in 2008, seven members of Cuba's
Olympic soccer team defected in Florida after a game with the
United States.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)


text:
|Greensboro, NC
|High School:
|Dudley HS
|Previous College:
|Surry Community College
2012 • JUNIOR SEASON: Travis was one of the best lead-off hitters in the nation last year after he was moved into that position half way through the season…….in 44 games played, Travis batted .367 with 62 hits, 43 R, 16 RBI, 7 2B, 2 3B, and led the team in stolen bases (13-15)……..also had 8 games with 3 or more hits……..during the final 8 games of the season Travis hit .500 that included the CIAA Championship, two games against nationally ranked Peach Belt Conference members (USC-Aiken, Francis Marion), and the DII NCAA Atlantic Regional……..he hit .467 in the NCAA Regional playing his best baseball when it meant the most……..Travis spent time in left field and designated hitter for the Rams in 2012 and earned First Team All CIAA conference and All CIAA tournament team honors as a designated hitter. 2012 HIGHLIGHTS: Was 2-3 with a SB, BB, and 3 runs scored against nationally ranked Armstrong Atlantic State on 2/4/12……..collected a hit, scored a run and had 2 SB in the Rams first ever victory against a Top-10 nationally ranked opponent in Millersville University on 2/11/12……..went 3-4 with a BB and 2 runs scored in a big non-conference victory over Brevard on 2/14/12……..in his first game back in the lead-off spot against Benedict on 3/29/12, Travis went 4-6 with a double, triple, walk, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored and Travis did not come out of the lead-off spot the rest of the year……..on 4/1/12, he went 4-7 with a triple, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI……..was 3-5 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, a walk, double, and a stolen base against Shaw on 4/8/12……..in a double header against Lenoir Rhyne on 4/10/12, Travis went 4-8 with 3 runs scored……..was 2-4 with a double and a run scored against St. Augustines in the CIAA tournament opening game on 4/19/12……..went 3-4 with a double, run scored and 2 stolen bases against Chowan in the CIAA tournament semi-final game……..was 4-5 with a run scored and an RBI against 12th nationally ranked USC-Aiken on 5/4/12……..was 2-4 against 6th nationally ranked Francis Marion on 5/5/12……..went 2-5 with a run scored against Seton Hill, the #1 regional seed in the DII NCAA Atlantic Regional on 5/17/12……..went 2-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases in the Rams first ever NCAA regional playoff win in a victory over Shepherd on 5/18/12……..went 3-5 with a double, a walk, and a run scored in an elimination NCAA regional elimination game against Kuztown on 5/19/12
2007 • SOPHOMORE SEASON (Surry Community College): hit .370 and drove in 23 runs collecting 57 hits, 9 doubles and 1 triple in 53 games for SCC…..
2006 • SOPHOMORE SEASON (Surry Community College): hit .410 and drove in 21 runs collecting 55 hits, 8 doubles and 3 triples…..stole 40 bases…..
HIGH SCHOOL: participated in wrestling and baseball in high school……..lettered in baseball for 4 years under head coach Larry Farrer………was a 3-time All-Conference and 2-time All-Area performer on the baseball diamond……..also earned All-Conference in wrestling…….played for the legendary Enad Haddad of the Greensboro Reds
PERSONAL: Rehabilitation Studies major…..born 9/4/86……parents are Joseph and Angela Moore…..career goal after college is to get a good job with his degree…..lists "enjoyable practices" as his favorite thing about the WSSU baseball program…..
COACH RITSCHE ON MOORE: "Travis is projected to hit in the top of our order as he has ridiculous speed and has the right approach to near at the top of the lineup. My coaching staff has been working hard to amend his linear hitting mechanics to a rotational hitting approach. He's a very strong kid that has potential to drive the ball gap to gap and can easily turn doubles into triples. He's already proven to be a major threat on the base paths and has the ability to be a "game-changer. I predict a huge season out of Travis in 2013."


text:
Leandre Waldo, Director of Media Relations
Email: email@example.com
Phone: (802) 923-6195
Champlain College has become the first institution in Vermont to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program. Two Robert P. Stiller School of Business programs, the Business Administration (BSBA) major with a finance minor and the Accounting major with a finance minor, have been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice within the program. These programs position students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world.
Fritz Burkhardt, Ph.D., CFA, assistant professor of Finance for the Robert P. Stiller School of Business, stated "We are honored to be recognized by the CFA Institute as our curriculum is designed to provide practical, relevant business education prized by managers and employers."
Entry into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that Champlain College's curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations. Through participation in this program, Champlain College is eligible to receive five student scholarships for the CFA Program each year.
"Students in these programs study the Candidate Body of Knowledge, which include knowledge, skills, and abilities that investment experts worldwide have identified as essential best practice," said Stephen Horan, Ph.D., CFA, CIPM, head of University Relations and Private Wealth for the CFA Institute. "By mastering the fundamentals of the CFA Program as well as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, these future investment professionals join us in our mission to promote the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society."
Burkhardt added, "Our mission in the Robert P. Stiller School of Business is to prepare innovative business professionals who will use their integrity, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to create positive change in the world. Being recognized by the CFA institute is a wonderful achievement for our institution and further reflects our teaching excellence, quality academic programs, and salient finance education at Champlain College."
Champlain College's Robert P. Stiller School of Business offers outstanding degree programs in many of the country's hottest and most profitable arenas of business, including accounting, business administration, international business, management of creative media, management and innovation and marketing. Its job placement rate for the graduating class of 2011 was 94 percent with 87 percent employed in a position directly tied to their career goals and their Champlain business education.
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors' interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 110,000 members in 139 countries and territories, including 100,000 CFA charter holders. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.
The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession's most rigorous credentialing program. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the program successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the "gold standard" for investment professionals.
Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and over 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlain's distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition. For the fourth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's 2019 "America's Best Colleges," and a "Best Value School" and is ranked in the top 100 "Regional Universities of the North" and in the top 25 for "Best Undergraduate Teaching." Champlain is also featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges for 2019 as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada and Great Britain and is a 2019 College of Distinction. For more information, visit champlain.edu.


text:
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Jan 20 (ANI): Cooling operations are underway at Bengaluru's Bellandur Lake on Saturday.
The biggest water body of the city had caught fire yesterday, which was later doused by the fire officials.
According to media reports, residents living on the Yemlur side of Bellandur spotted smoke in the lake known to be full of sewage, chemical effluents and construction debris around noon on Friday. Shortly thereafter, flames started rising.
The Bellandur Lake according to the Karnataka Lake Development Authority is the largest of the 262 lakes and tanks in Bengaluru and accumulates about forty percent of the city's sewage.
Fire department officials are reportedly making concerted efforts to bring the fire under control under the supervision of Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) officials.
The cause of the fire is being attributed to locals burning the grassy land near the lake to get a fresh crop to feed their cattle.
Some areas located away from the waterbody are still burning. (ANI)


text:
Chinese New Year may have ended but don't be too sad. With all the photos taken by your smart phone or camera, you can now print them out in photobooks or prints to relive the memories! I've been a fan of photobook since 3 years ago when I started compiling all my travel photos and arranging them in photobooks rather than printing out in individual pieces (OR just putting it up on FB albums). But putting up a photobook from scratch is no easy fret. It takes hours (AND HOURS) to sit in front of the computer to figure which photo goes where, and get a nice book overall, which photo to be in a bigger size, smaller size, which pages, templates etc etc to figure out. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this, up to the extend where sometimes I'm taking photos (especially scenery) when travelling, I know exactly how to take them so I can fit or arrange them in the photobook.
So, anyway. Since I already have some photobooks at home, my relatives and friends would ask me how to make it, or how to print this type of book. Usually, getting the book printed or sorting out photos in proper folders don't take alot of time. The most time consuming is actually doing the design of the photobook itself. Sometimes I take just a mere 2 hours, sometimes I take up to 5 hours (for 60 pages), if I'm super pressed for time, ok maybe 1 hour. I bet moms with toddlers, or those who are not savvy with the computer, do not have tht much of time or patience to do so.
If you fit in the category mentioned above (busy, do not have time, not computer savvy, no creative juices, not sure how to start at all, completely blur) you may consider getting a "designer" to do it for you for free! I was recently approaced by FotoZZoom with their photobook designing services where you can save hours of designing to just minutes. Yup! You can literally make your book in just 15 minutes.
Here's how.
1. Go to http://www.fotozzoom.com/
2. Choose photo book design that you like and click "Make a Book"
3. Just a tip, browse some templates and choose which template you want to use.
4. Fill in the details and upload your photos (minimum 60 photos, up to 100 photos)
5. Key in the voucher code.
6. Click Order Now and you're good to go! Now wait for your photobook to arrive (and the surprise)
I made this photobook for my aunt who recently went to Europe with me and since she is not computer savvy at all and I really don't have time to stay put at a place to do another photobook, I decided to make this for her as I have all the photos anyway. The photobook arrived in a bout a week or so and just mind you, it's a complete surprise on how the photos are arranged inside. For someone who actually planned how to take certain photos even before making a photobook, not knowing how a book would look like is quite… scary hahaha. But that's me. My aunt liked the book as she said the printing was beautiful and the paper was thick, albeit too glossy. You can't really compare what you get in 15 minutes and 5 hours, just saying.
So if you're pressed for time to whip up a photobook, you know where to go to 😉 You can now create your own unique photobook in #justminutes. Just submit your pictures, choose a theme and FotoZZoom will help you to design it. Once it is ready, it will send it over to your doorstep.
Best thing now is if you use my referral code : 5AAEUNJYJXJSXYJ to get 65% off from the photobook (an additional 10% off regular offers on the website)


text:
Discussions on mental health issues, treatments, and other related information. Also, opinions and stories.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Christmas Spirit...
What is the Christmas Spirit? Does the United States still have it? It seems that the word Christ or God in general have been deleted from even Christ's birthday due to the fear that it is discriminatory to those that don't believe in Christ as the Savior of the world. Santa Claus, who is the Father of Christmas is nothing more than a symbolic representation of Christ, bringing gifts and joy to the world. Separation has already happened with the school system, such as banning the Pledge of Allegiance. I remember growing up and holding my hand over my heart proudly reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the US. Now, kids don't know it. Next, I wouldn't be surprised to see Christmas songs/hymns such as "Joy To The World," "Silent Night," and other common songs to be considered disciminatory. Here's the funny thing about the U.S. It is supposed to cater to the majority. The majority is Christian who believe in God and a Savior of the world which brings hope, joy, and peace. The minority have other beliefs that are also hopeful, but may not believe in Christ. The Christmas spirit is just that...hope, joy, and peace. It's the same thing that clients seek when they're in my office...hope, happiness, and peace with themselves and the world. It seems only logical that the Christmas season's purpose could bring that if implemented correctly. Remember, that the point of Christmas is "peace on earth, good will toward men" which comes through hopeful beliefs, whatever they may be. Obviously, I have displayed my values as a Christian believer and that it is a celebration of Christ, the Savior's birth. Therefore, for me it is a time of joy and celebration. Whether you believe it or not does not matter to me, but should matter only to you (the reader). Worship how you wish and in what manner that you don't, be you atheist, Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Pagan, etc. And let all others worship as they may. That will bring peace on earth and good mental health.
Merry Christmas to all...
Posted by Lawdawg at 10:59 AM 1 comment:
Monday, August 27, 2007
Reductionism and Foundation
Reductionism and Foundation
I had an interesting session recently that brought up some thoughts. I was talking with a particular
client who had been in a violent relationship. The name will obviously be omitted, however, the
gender will be included for the sake of the situation and the ease of writing. She had been with a
boyfriend for nearly a year when he attacked her. The situation resulted in her contacting the
police and his incarceration (though not for the crime, but rather for probation violation). She
ended out dismissing the charges, but he was still sentenced to a year in jail. She admitted that she
was the kind of person that goes back to their abuser due to insecurities. As we began talking she
opened up and admitted that much of the foundation upon which she built her self-worth had to
do with her looks and social skills (which were not lacking especially in high school years she
said). However, due to an unforeseen health malady she was robbed of those physical
endowments for several years. During said time she experienced a deep depression and a loss of
confidence and who she was. After that time of trial her health returned and she was able to lose
the weight she gained and was feeling "more confident" again. It was soon after, however, that
she met her boyfriend (now incarcerated) and began dating him, though she promised herself to
never date that type of a guy. She still plans on staying with him, though she knows that he will
not help her attain the future she desires. So, I asked her "what happened? What happened for
you to compromise your own standards and values?" She didn't know. Now, that is where we'll
begin this discussion on foundation--a personal foundation of values, character, traits, standards,
beliefs, etc. She didn't have one other than her physical traits. I asked her if it was a firm
foundation and she agreed that it was not. I asked her what it could be built upon--something
unshakeable and firm. She didn't know. I then suggested to her that she think about her purpose
for living as it is a place to start. She said she wasn't sure, but that it must be to learn and to
experience. I asked her why that would be important. She didn't know. After our conversation I
began thinking ab out reducing purpose and meaning to life down to its simplest form, which is
explained as reductionism. This paper is not going to necessarily focus on reductionism as a
principle, but I will describe it for explanation sake. The online Merriam-Webster's dictionary
describes reductionism as follows: 1 : explanation of complex life-science processes and
phenomena in terms of the laws of physics and chemistry; also : a theory or doctrine that complete
reductionism is possible. 2 : a procedure or theory that reduces complex data and phenomena to
simple terms. Simply put, it's the idea that all things can be broken down into a simpler form. Not
only does it work with the scientific model, but with psychological problems as well–so I
discovered. I began with this client with one of her current problems and we broke it down to a
main problem that could be resolved. With her self-worth being based on looks and beauty we
used reductionism principles to get down to the core problem. It was simple as one only has to
ask "why" for everything until they can't any longer. For example, if they have anxiety about a
certain subject, they can break it down as follows:
Q: What are you so anxious about?
A: I'm anxious about failing.
Q: What is it about failing that makes you anxious?
A: If I fail, then that would be bad?
Q: Why would it be bad?
A: It would mean that I didn't know what I was doing?
Q: What's wrong with that?
A: If I don't know what I'm doing, then I fail.
Q: How do you know you fail?
A: I fail when I don't do something completely right or I make a mistake.
Q: Again, how do you know you fail?
A: I just do.
Q: What does failure truly mean? Let's look it up in the dictionary.
You then look it up in the dictionary and discuss the meanings of failure. Then ask,
Q: Do you fit the criteria of failure?
A: Well, no, not really.
Q: Then, who originally made the description of failure that you held to for so long, that caused
so much unnecessary anxiety?
Then, discuss the source of the description and why it is so important to them. Why they place so
much value on a description that is not complete. At times the client will even base it on a belief,
standard, or value that is shaky, incomplete, and not firm. I then talk to them about their values,
standards, beliefs, and the foundation upon which they place everything they feel is true (including
their definition of failure). We break it down to a foundation, usually, that is based on principles
that are untrue. As a definition, principles must be true which means that they are complete and
are not missing any important aspects. Principles are beliefs and standards that hold unshakeable
value to the individual. Meaning, it does not matter what kind of emotional upheaval or time of
prosperity the client endures, the foundation with true principles remains constant and
unchanging. Too often do many of my clients not have a foundation, therefore, they wander
without direction, purpose, or goals and thus become victims to their misery, helplessness, and
pity. Using reductionism one can arrive at their very foundation principles to address and modify
them as needed.
Many of my clients have a foundation based on religiosity or spirituality. They seem to recover
more quickly. In fact, some research indicates that individuals with strong active religious beliefs
and activities are more resilient to life's difficulties and stressors. Though, as a counselor I cannot
recommend or pass those values on to one who is atheistic, similar principles can be found if one
digs deep enough through reductionism. Helping a client find their foundation and core values
helps them have something to fall back on during times of emotional upheaval or anxiety.
Posted by Lawdawg at 6:35 PM 1 comment:
Labels: insecurity
Monday, August 13, 2007
A Few Points Regarding Trauma and Free Will
It is important to observe how such a characteristic can be developed even when trauma has been present. Several clients come into our offices talking about their individual traumas and how they have made things difficult for them. They also talk about how it has affected their relationship with the perpetrator(s), other close people, the community, and God. Many of them have guilt and blame themselves and/or hold severe grudges and harbor anger and hate towards the perpetrators. At times they question why life has been more difficult for them than for others and how they were dealt such a poor hand. The following is going to be more of an explanation based on psychology and spirituality in hopes to answer some of the above questions.
Traumatized clients' relationships change and function on a level that deviates from the norm. Much of that is due to the trust that has been broken time and time again. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, their level of safety, love, and esteem have not been established or maintained. Therefore, their ability to self-actualize (Maslow's hierarchy) is not possible. The only level that is actually, at times, maintained is their physiological needs (i.e. food, water, shelter, etc.), though that is questionable with neglected children/childhood as well. On the level of safety, an individual must feel comfortable and secure in their environment with minimal attack on their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self. If attacked, their capacity for moving to the higher hierarchical needs is diminished. They may struggle with giving and receiving love or having esteem for themselves and others. Thus, can be a large factor with esteem. When a client has been traumatized time and time again they begin to lose trust with initially the perpetrator, and then it can spread to others who are close to them, the community, and to God (depending on their beliefs). Recently, a client (whose name we'll call Matthew) disclosed horrific traumas from his childhood. Much of it involved abuse and neglect from his family and a large part involved a neighbor who befriended then molested him time and time again. He did not trust his family for help so endured the continued abuse. He described other economic difficulties, physical health problems, and general loneliness. He asked why it is that he was given a difficult life. He felt that it must have been something he did to deserve the pain and suffering without much respite. To try to escape the pain he had attempted suicide many times, though without success. When asking why he had to suffer I explained something to him, that I hope will help others. First and foremost, everyone has the right to act (free will). Anyone can do what they want. Whether they are conscious of the results depends on each individual. Some people, however, have made the choices to act against others in a way that is harmful, degrading, and usually self-serving. Such acts can be considered abusive, because it is in an attempt to remove or negate another's free will and control them or change their acts. Such self-serving acts do not serve the victim (the receiver of the self-serving acts) in any positive ways. It can change the victim's life perspective (specifically on relationships) and attacks their general need for safety (Maslow's hierarchy). Therefore, the abuser (the one who acts self-servingly) is responsible for their acts and how it affected the victim. Responsibility lies solely with them and none other, especially the victim. Therefore, the victim is not the guilty party. The guilty party in the technical sense is only the abuser. Guilty signifies "1 : justly chargeable with or responsible for a usually grave breach of conduct or a crime. 2 obsolete : justly liable to or deserving of a penalty" according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Therefore, it is not possible for the victim to be guilty for the self-serving act when they were the individual being acted upon rather than acting. Matthew blamed himself as that was the only logical reason he could come up with. Why else would it happen if there wasn't something so terribly wrong with him or his character–something innate that called to abusers "Here I am! Hurt me! That's what I'm here for!" The truth of the matter is that each person can act in whichever way that they please, selflessly or selfishly.
That brings us to the next point that Matthew brought up, which is also a point other clients have made regarding God. If God was a merciful and a just God, how is it that he could let such terrible things happen to undeserving people and let the abusers go unpunished? At that point one can revert back to free will. If free will is truly something that exists, an ability given to all to act; and God is God–all powerful and all knowing with the ability to do what He wants, would he not allow the individual to exercise their free will "according to the dictates of their own conscience?" Any other way would be tyrannical, dictatorial and contraindicative of what free will is.
The power of free will is that many can exercise it in a way achieve Maslow's highest achievement which is self-actualization. In spite of the difficulties one has faced, or the traumas caused, one can utilize and strengthen their ability to act to achieve safety and overcome the trauma–thus developing resiliency.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
I received a few responses on my teenager problem/question. All of them were from separate people, and none of them knew about the others. The irony is that the responses were nearly the same. One indicated that it is a maturity thing--their brain has not yet developed to the point where egocentric thought is no longer present. Another said that it is an agency issue--they have to choose it. They have to want the change to occur. That makes perfect sense. Therefore, the only logical choice to helping teenagers means to be doing activities or interventions at their level--to kill boredom. Activities that are thought and emotion provoking. Experiential and recreation therapies do such that. Our clinic needs to add that to the therapeutic repertoire. It is a style that is not yet used. I'll work on it.
Posted by Lawdawg at 12:30 PM 1 comment:
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Treatment For The Homeless
Dr. Rob Bagley from the Trauma Awareness and Treatment Center (where I work) was interviewed by KSL Channel 5 last night and the story of the treatment we do with the homeless was aired on the 10 o'clock news. Here is a link for the story...
Posted by Lawdawg at 12:27 PM 2 comments:
Thursday, March 29, 2007
More on teenage boredom...
I haven't received any responses from my many readers. Here is a great link on teenage boredom.
Posted by Lawdawg at 3:29 PM No comments:
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
A question for anybody who cares...
What drives a teenager to seek only activities that bring immediate gratification rather than activities that require delayed gratification??? This is bothering me a lot with some kids. Let's see how many people read this thing.
Posted by Lawdawg at 5:13 PM 4 comments:
Monday, March 19, 2007
Piaget and Erickson were on to something...
I had a "well-duh!" moment today while working. I received permission from this individual to use their ideas in my blog. We were discussing childhood development and the stages that were developed by such professionals as Piaget and Erickson. I personally am more apt to pay attention to Erickson's explanation of human development. If you are interested in reviewing it, Wikipedia has a helpful overview at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson's_stages_of_psychosocial_development
Check it out and it might help understand my psychobabble. The first stage occurs during the first year of a child's life and is "trust vs. mistrust." For anyone who has read my earlier blogs on safety, trust vs. mistrust is highly correlated with a sense of personal safety. A child must have the ability to feel safe in their environment which is created and maintained by their caretaker. If the caretaker provides for the basic emotional, mental, physical, and developmental needs the child will develop trust and move on to the next stages of development. While softly touching upon this stage, this individual indicated that she realized that a child usually knows where to go for comfort. If the child gets hurt he/she can run to their caregiver in pain and have the pain resolved and feel safe and peaceful once again. They learn how to develop the capacity to release the emotional or even physical burdens through trust and care by their parent/caregiver. If a child's caregiver does not give that reassurance, nurturing or love, the child's development will be stunted. For example, if the child runs to their parent/caregiver in tears complaining of an "owie" and the caregiver says something to the effect of, "stop bawling, or I'll give you a real reason to cry..." they are taught to suppress the pain and are put on a heightened state of alarm or fear when it comes to experiencing personal pain due to the negative reinforcement by their caretaker. Not only is this abuse, but it is also neglect. Abuse, to me is a type of negative reinforcer that is forced upon an individual against their will causing damage. Neglect is similar, however, it involves withholding a reinforcer that is necessary for the developmental survival of the individual. It is something that didn't happen that should have. Now, some cognitive behavioral theorists may say, "well, every individual has the ability to choose how to feel by thinking differently and addressing their cognitive distortions, changing their irrational belief system, or modifying their cognitive schema...then, the negative feelings will change." I agree with them, but it seems that there is a piece missing. If a client does not have the capacity to "reprocess" the abuse or neglect (the actual pain it caused) how can thinking about it differently cause it to go away? If in a situation where trust is required the client who has been trained in cognitive therapy can certainly think their way through the situation...but, what about the correlation that the current situation has with past abuse or neglect situations? What about the pain that is still present and surfaces during a trigger moment that doesn't seem to dissipate even when trying to rationalize through it? I am not supposing that cognitive behavioral therapies are not effective. There is sufficient research evidence that supports its efficacy. However, they are not effective alone in these types of situations (which are the situations in which I work every day). Other interventions are necessary that are non-traditional and focus on pain resolution, developmental restructuring, augmented by cognitive approaches. Not one approach, but all that are necessary to meet each client's specific needs.
Posted by Lawdawg at 10:48 AM No comments:
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Thoughts on Social Development...
Here's something to stew over in your mind. I was reading again in "A Psychology of Human Strengths" edited by Aspinwall and Staudinger. On page 39-41 roughly it begins talking about the importance of relationships to human beings and how evidence suggests that attachment with children begin in the last half of their first year of life. Also, that the relationships that adults seek romantically or with others function in ways that are common to that which they had with their caregivers. My question is this...what happens if a child is not given the opportunity to create that attachment and relationship? What will it do to their development and ability to create a bond. Part of my question was quickly answered. I will quote their quote of Siegel (1999) who "argued that infant's early social relationships 'have a direct effect on the development of the domains of mental functioning that serve as our conceptual anchor points: memory, narrative, emotion, representations, and states of mind' (p. 63 of Siegel); (p. 40 of Aspinwall and Staudinger). The editors go on to state that research shows that even slight deprivations in social relationships and contacts "results in abnormal neuroanatomical structures and impaired endocrinological sensitivity associated with stress" (p. 40). They also indicated one study that supported the same findings.
Now, the question is posed. If human beings must have social contact in order to create the positive neurological and endocrinological structures, what happens to a person who did not have those opportunities or was denied them in one way or another? The studies say that their actual brain structure and chemistry does not make the neurological connections that are necessary. Would such a person be able to meet others' needs if their needs were never met? What if they had children? Would they try to meet their own neglected needs through their children, thus continuing the cycle? My guess is...NO! Simply, because I have seen it go either way through personal and professional experience. Much of the differences had to do, I believe, with the individual's exercise of will and desire, as well as their willingness to look at possible deficits that they may have. What do you think?
Posted by Lawdawg at 1:24 PM 1 comment:
Monday, February 26, 2007
On the weekend getaway....
Returning to past trauma definitions...I wonder if trauma could be considered sleeping in in a three man tent with a friend next to me that is comfortably snoring the night away while my extremities continue to lose any sensation due to the ever increasing freezing sensation and the steady drop in temperature. If it is trauma, then I'm a survivor.
I went camping over the weekend with my neighbor in the Oquirrh mountains in Ophir Canyon. Ophir is a quaint town, remnant of a past mining boom in the late 1800's. It's a beautiful canyon with a population of...well, I'm not sure it's been established.
We got there late on Friday night. While I pitched the tent on the snow my neighbor built a warm fire. We enjoyed tinfoil dinners as we huddled over the dying embers. Upon retiring to our tent, he was snoring within 15 minutes. I made the grave mistake in bringing a cot, thinking I might be comfortable. To my dismay, it was my undoing. The cold air circulated underneath me all night. I slept maybe an hour. Upon reaching the hour of 5:20 a.m. I finally woke up my slumbering friend and told him of my predicament. His first comment, to my utter surprise was, "Dude, we're not spooning." We then got into his Tahoe and stayed there for the next two hours warming up with the car heater and seat heaters (a must for a car I think). After getting another hour of sleep or so we made breakfast, broke camp, and took off for a hiking adventure. We hiked a little under two miles, yet climbed 600-700 feet in elevation. The sights were breathtaking, and so was the exercise. All in all, it was a good weekend getaway. For pictures and more comments of the excursion, click on this link. It will take you to Jason Hall's blog. http://halls.lug-nut.com/gallery/jayce/Camping/Oquirrh-2-07/
Posted by Lawdawg at 3:35 PM No comments:
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Secondary Trauma
As many have noticed from the news, there was a severe tragedy occurred yesterday at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, UT. An armed gunman opened fire killing five people and injuring more. I heard on the radio that four or five that were injured were in stable condition, although they were watching them heavily in the ICU. Our hearts go out to them and their families and friends. Our hearts also go out to those that witnessed the atrocity, or were involved in any way. It is possible that they will suffer from secondary trauma. Primary trauma occurs when an individual is the actual victim or experiences personally the trauma. Secondary trauma occurs to a witness. Let's review what trauma means. Webster's online dictionary states: 1 a : an injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent b : a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury c : an emotional upset.
Obviously the first definition is primary. The second and third can be either primary or secondary. the unfortunate aspect of secondary trauma is that it can have the same or similar psychological effects as the primary victims. Flashbacks, paranoia symptoms, fear, nightmares, high anxiety, avoidance behaviors, etc. It can happen with any trauma, but doesn't necessarily mean that it will.
Obviously the first definition is primary. The second and third can be either primary or secondary. the unfortunate aspect of secondary trauma is that it can have the same or similar psychological effects as the primary victims. Flashbacks, paranoia symptoms, fear, nightmares, high anxiety, avoidance behaviors, etc. It can happen with any trauma, but doesn't necessarily mean that it will.
Posted by Lawdawg at 10:22 AM No comments:
Monday, February 12, 2007
Back In Action
After having taken a break from writing for a time I'm back in the saddle and ready to ride. Still working hard with many clients and even more paperwork. I have several clients who are beginning to improve and some that continue to struggle. The situations that bother me the most are those that are avoidant or resistant. They come in all ages and from all kinds of circumstances. The common characteristics is their resistance to change, or avoidance of addressing the core problems. These clients are simply not ready to be in counseling for themselves. Many times they are being forced by the courts, an upset parent/caregiver, or a loved-one to be in counseling. It goes against their free-will to be here, thus canceling the single greatest power for change--CHOICE. Some parents bring their children in who are acting out behaviorally and say "FIX THEM!" Usually, the problem is not one that can be fixed on an individual basis, but rather a family basis. It is usually the parents with the problem and the children are the symptom. At times it is the parents that are resistant to change, thus the children don't get any better. Or, due to behavioral modeling the children begin to follow in mom and dad's footsteps--forging a path of deviant behaviors. Deviant, meaning that it deviates from the norm and is self-destructive. I'm perplexed at how to address this population, because there are so many. I know that it is not possible to force my will on to them and make them change and see the light, so to speak. How can the avoidant and resistant clients change? With time, hopefully.
Posted by Lawdawg at 3:39 PM 2 comments:
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08 April 2014
Twinsie Tuesday: Fave Glitter Topper
This is such an autumn gradient to be wearing in spring, but these were the colours my eyeballs demanded to see under the golden glitter--from the China Glaze On Safari Collection, I used Kalahari Kiss, Desert Sun, and Exotic Encounters. You can definitely see the warm, golden tint the glitter adds, and this is just one coat of it too. Like Fairy Dust, China Glaze Golden Enchantment has great glitter density and spread. Also like Fairy Dust, its teeny little particles have a holographic sparkle that is fully insane.
In the end I think Fairy Dust might be just a little bit more versatile, and being a silver fan, it's always going to be my favourite. I'm so glad I found about Golden Enchantment, though! I've only used it once before, and both times it has put me in a full-on glitter trance. It's easily making its way up the list of my very favourite glitters!
Alaina at The Little Canvas
Amanda at Amandalandish
Amber at Nails Like Lace
Anna at Going to the Showing
Anne at Grape Fizz Nails
Casey at Casey Lane Loves Polish
Chelsea at Nailed Blog
ChiChi at I'm Just Me...ChiChi
Elizabeth at Did My Nails
Erin at Paint Those Piggies
Heather at Peace, Love and Polish
Kelly at Tuxarina
Lakeisha at Refined & Polished
Maribeth at Obsessive Cosmetic Hoarders Unite
Marisa at Polish Obsession
Rachel at Top Coat It
Róisín at Cuti-CLUE-les
Stephanie at A Little Polish
Tiffany at Polished to Precision
Traci at DrinkCitra
16 comments:
I hadn't heard of Golden enchantment before. I really like it! I love gold and being holographic makes it so much better!ReplyDelete
I've never seen this polish! It's like how INM has Northern Lights (Fairy Dust dupe) and a gold version! Gorgeous manicure!ReplyDelete
I agree - both are very pretty - and I love them both!ReplyDelete
The colors do remind me of autumn, but boy does it look good!ReplyDelete
What?!? I've never seen this gorgeousness!ReplyDelete
very pretty <3ReplyDelete
I've been torn about getting Golden Enchantment. Over the warm tones here, it's stunning and clearly looks gold, but is that because of the base? Or will Fairy Dust do the same?ReplyDelete
What a unique look; i love it!ReplyDelete
I've decided to add Golden Enchantment to my list - the way you describe a polish really makes me want it!ReplyDelete
This is beautiful! I had no idea a gold Fairy Dust existed!!!!ReplyDelete
Wow this is absolutely amazing! I can't believe I hadn't hear of Golden Enchantment...ReplyDelete
Both beautiful! :-)ReplyDelete
I love fairy dust sooo much!!! I almost used up my whole bottle! I can't believe I've never heard of this gold version before... I'll have to get some it's beautiful! :)ReplyDelete
What a pretty gold glitter! I love this gradient!ReplyDelete
Love the colour combo that you used!ReplyDelete
I am a huge fan of Fairy Dust, but having a gold equivalent would certainly come in handy! Gorgeous!ReplyDelete
I am so grateful for your comments--thank you very much for visiting DMN!
(Please be aware that link-dropping is not an effective way to promote your blog. It is considered spamming, and such comments will be deleted.)


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Here's some info from questions we've got so far. Let us know what you want to know email@example.com
Who are you?
We're just some peeps from the Pacific Northwest who have an interest in design and biz. Corvus Fittings is our brand for our first product line of bamboo eyewear but we've got timepieces coming together shortly and loads of ideas for what comes next. We'd also like to hear what you think though tell us what you want/need/dream.
What's the Warranty Policy?
Our policy is that we want you to be happy. We've had things break in shipping so if the first two weeks of receiving your product there's an issue not related to you squashing them let us know and we'll sort it out.
See the section on 'wear and care' for how to best make your frames last. Number one is remembering they are made of natural fibres and more prone to crack or break than plastics.
If you do happen to have an accident and end up cracking or breaking the frames, it can be rather depressing. I know when my vintage Vaurnet's cracked on a cold day it was like my dog died. These things happen.
We want to help you be happy. If you feel it was some sort of manufacturing defect please let us know. Send us an email of what went down, some pics and we'll figure out what we can do. Repairing them is always an option and we can help with that. Rest assured we'll do what ever it takes to keep you a loyal customer and we'll even replace them at cost.
Wear and Care?
These are made of natural fibres, so wear them and show you care for the earth enough to move to more sustainable materials. Do remember they are going be to a little more fragile than traditional eyewear materials. Number one is doing your best not to squash them. We strongly encourage you put them in a case when you're not wearing them.
Although we are proud that they float, we don't encourage leaving them in water. For gosh sakes, if you drop in the ocean, pick them up, dry them off, and put back on your face.
Oh, for those in extreme temperatures, these are natural products so they relax and constrict with heat and cold. Unless you're walking off the streets of Miami into the deep freeze this won't be an issue but we wanted to mention it. If you are putting them in your jacket pocket while snowboarding at Whistler, well, know that they will be cold and therefore more brittle. Again, we suggest a case.
Otherwise, wear them, look good, see good and show you care for the earth a little more than using plastic for everything.
Where are you located?
We're in Vancouver BC Canada. We've got an office at 116 West Hastings but our mailing address is : 5 East 10th Ave, Van BC V5T 1Y9.
If you're in town drop us a note!
Are these Canadian made?
We're proudly Cascadian and Canadian. All the design and operations are based here in Vancouver. We're working hard to move our production here too but for the time being we're stuck using the manufacturing plant of the world, China. Thankfully we've got an amazing manufacturing partner so that makes for a great working relationship for all of our team members. We are happy that they are a responsible manufacturer and employer; while we don't love having to ship things across the Pacific, we are closer than most regions in the world.
We've got plans to get these certified 'made in Canada' in the future for our premium line and hopefully for all price points too. For now we appreciate the support and we hope that you appreciate the value we pass on to you.
What about the lenses?
They lenses are stellar. Optical grade CR39 Polycarbonate makes everything easy on the eyes. We've got tapered edges for improved pure optic clarity without distortion just like the big guys.
Tints for now are Brown, Faded Brown and the Smoke Polarized. For those that don't know about polarized lenses they are the ones that eliminate glare (there's a lot more science behind how that is done, something about certain waves of light being filtered). They are ideal for all conditions from blue bird day on the glacier to the grey day on coast. Oh, and if you fish, they are the ones that let you see through the surface of the water. Regardless of the application, polarized lenses are stellar and worth the little bit of extra money they cost.
Can you swap lenses or remove/replace with Rx?
Alas no. Unlike plastics, bamboo doesn't have that same ability to stretch to accommodate removing of the lenses to swap or replace with prescription. We're working on a way to do custom orders that would include Rx lenses but for now it's just the lenses we have.
Based on this great input we're planning future models with sets of interchangeable lenses.
Who are the "Founders"?
The Founders are the people that got on board early. We did a crowdfund to get us started out and these people got on board with financial support to make this venture a reality! Huge Thanks to all Founders. There will be other benefits coming once we get this biz rolling!
- Hilary Dunn (special thanks sister!)
- Matt Klompstra (big thanks brother!)
- Dawn Ursuliak
- Leanne Fulton
- Holly Arthur
- Fred Ghatala
- Peter Atkinson
- Levi Cooperman
- Campbell MacDonald
- Jesse Puddicombe
- Adrian Liem
- Geoffrey Wherrett
- Matt Deane
- Meredith Powell
- Melissa Kirby
- Thomas Lancaster
- David Ritchie
- Jeremie Kuypers
- Martin Wrigglesworth
- Duncan MacDonald
- Raefel Immerman
- Colleen Dickson
- Will Ranson
- Linda Gibbs
Do you ship Internationally?
Yes we do! Or more accurately we will as the occasion arises so let us know what you need (hey (at) corvusfittings.com )
Our online store is sort of limited so we're going to add 'International Shipping' as a different product until we figure out how to better organize this.


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An Interview with Joseph Finder
Right from the opening pages THE FIXER is a real page-turner. After investigative reporter Rick Hoffman loses his job, fiancée, and apartment, his only option is to move back into his childhood home. The house has been neglected for years when his father had to move into a nursing home after suffering a stroke. Rick starts to make renovations and finds $3.4 million hidden in the walls. Trying to find out where the money originated and how it was placed there Rick finds out that his father had deep dark secrets and a life he knew nothing about.
Elise Cooper: The house is almost like a supporting character. What gave you the idea for the story?
Joseph Finder: We were making renovations in the house we have. I was talking to the workers and they told me about finding all kinds of interesting stuff like money. I thought what would it be like for a guy totally broke to come upon a chunk of cash in a house. The book starts off with a classic "what if."
EC: So you think the main female character, Andrea, is Rick's moral compass?
JF: After graduating high school she was a Goldman Sachs investment banker. She took a detour from that life to get in touch with her pure moral values. She is Rick's indicator, especially since he has lost sight of his values. Rick has hit rock bottom. Joseph Campbell can best summarize Rick's story with the great line: "It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life." Rick reflects on his life and realizes it is not too late to make another move, basically recovering from a detour.
EC: Would you ever bring Rick back?
JF: I could. As an investigative journalist he could uncover some mystery or conspiracy. He has a lot of potential. Maybe Andrea will also come back since she can use her financial background skills to help solve other conspiracies. I could make the exception, something I have not done with the other characters in my stand-alone books.
EC: Why the title, THE FIXER?
JF: The house is a fixer upper. Rick is determined to fix his own life. The father and those he worked with are "fixers" who have helped pay off contractors.
JF: There is something like the arithmetic project. I actually hated math in school and it was not my strength. I thought it might be an interesting way for Andrea to do some good. Since math is a struggle for most people, including me, I decided to have her as someone who knows and loves math and pass that on to underprivileged children. Andrea loved math in high school, takes a detour, and ends up coming full circle to work with math.
EC: What did you mean by this quote, "You never end up where you thought you would"?
JF: I found it in my own life, thinking I would be a spy for the CIA and ended up writing suspense fiction. It is not something I would have predicted. Things happen to you that you don't expect to happen.
EC: What gave you the idea for Rick to change jobs?
JF: He had a similar attitude to my daughter who is graduating college. She is willing to try different things and says, "I know what I want to do now, but it might not be what I will do five years from now."
EC: What would you like to do five years from now?
JF: I want to write a book a year, getting higher and higher up the bestseller list. Maybe write a movie or TV show. Since I do not play well with others I know I have to write.
EC: Did you have a relationship with your dad like Rick had with his?
JF: Rick called his dad by his first name, Lenny. I called my parents' dad and mom. Isn't it interesting that there is this whole different world that you are not privy too, a past of your parents that could have secrets. My own dad died while I was writing this book so it became a book about fathers and sons. You never really know your parents, only a slice. I made Rick's dad have a stroke because of my dad. That is why I had Rick unable to talk with his father since Lenny could not communicate.
EC: What did you want the readers to get out of this story?
JF: I want the readers to be entertained. I hope they realize the main character had a journey from where he was and where he ended up, finding his moral compass. The new world of technology has enabled me to write more realistic stories and has given me a lot more plot ideas.