text:
In general terms a Special Interest Group (SIG) is
"a community within a larger organisation with a shared interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members cooperate to affect or to produce solutions within their particular field".
As such, the term Special Interest Group is the perfect description for the many teams of volunteers that are the engine room of the collaborative, campaigning community that is the Transparency Task Force.
Please note:
If you already know that you want to join one or more of our Special Interest Groups click on the button below; otherwise read on to help you decide if you want to be included.
Thank you!
Click here to email us to join one or more of our Special Interest Groups
You can scroll to the bottom of this page to:
How the Special Interest Groups started
The first Transparency Task Force meeting was held on 6th May 2015 at Senate House, London University. The meeting was about the need for the financial services industry to rebuild trust in the sector; and about the correlation between transparency, truthfulness and trustworthiness.
The message delivered was that those of us who truly care about the importance of the Financial Services sector and the people it serves can, and should, work together to help put things right.
We referred to the famous Margaret Mead quote:
Our call for right-minded people to "stand up, not stand by" landed well – people volunteered to get involved.
Since then, through word of mouth, through our Transparency Symposia, through our coverage in the press including the Financial Times and Radio 4, through publication of the Transparency Times and through many speaking slots in the UK and overseas, more and more people have heard about our aims and objectives and stepped forward to get involved.
The response to what the Transparency Task Force is all about has been profoundly positive because professionally-minded people align very naturally with what we call our 'North Star' question:
"What's best for the consumer?"
Volunteers have been organized and mobilized into our Special Interest Groups; with each one being made up people with subject-matter expertise and interest in a particular field.
We started off with a handful of teams but we now have 18.
In total our Special Interest Groups have over 500 people involved; mostly in the UK but across 16 countries altogether.
The Special Interest Group members are a 'coalition of the willing', working together to be 'part of the solution'. Each team is focused on at least one campaign objective.
Frequently asked questions:
Q: Is there a cost to join any of the Special Interest Groups?
A: No.
Q: Would I be obliged to do anything in particular?
A: No - you can be involved as much or as little as you want
Q: What is the guiding principle that the TTF and its Special Interest Groups abide by?
A: We are always seeking to build consensus around our North Star Question which is "What is best for the consumer?"
Q: Would I be obliged to think about issues in a particular way?
A: No - we welcome and want a wide range of views; you'll be free to "say it as you see it"
Q: How do the Special Interest Groups operate in practical terms?
A: We have quarterly conference calls that last half an hour, so it's not too onerous at all. Furthermore, there is no need for you to make every call, just those that happen to be convenient for you?
Q: Where can I find the details of the next quarterly conference calls?
A: See the table at the bottom of this web page where you will find full details about timings of each of the calls and also the dial-in details you need.
Q: What happens between the quarterly calls?
A: Each of the Special Interest Groups has one or more campaign objective. If you want to be involved in helping to drive that particular campaign forward you might want to pick up some of the actions and responsibilities necessary; it's a team effort but it is entirely up to you whether you pick up any actions
Q: Can I be in a Special Interest Group but basically just "sit on the side-lines"?
A: Yes you can. We would hope that as time went by you would want to participate in our activity but there is no compulsion for you to do so
Q: How do the Special Interest Groups get formed and how do they decide on their campaign objective(s)?
A: Generally speaking we follow these steps; always building consensus through frank and open discussion as we go and always seeking to work together in a civilised, cooperative and collaborative manner:
Step 2: We reach out to people with subject-matter expertise in that particular part of the market who might be keen to work collaboratively with others to help improve the way that part of the market functions
Step 3: We organise and mobilise the volunteers into a solution-orientated Special Interest Group
Step 4: We facilitate the development of the Special Interest Group's objectives and a pragmatic campaign strategy to achieve those objectives
Step 5: We liaise with relevent members of the press, regulators, parliamentarians, government officials, leading academics, thought leaders and so on to create supportive engagement, analysis and insight
Step 6: We implement the campaign strategy, which is normally a combination of activities such as research, producing White Papers, running Thought Leadership events, responding to consultations, holding meetings with key decision-makers and influencers, raising awareness through the press and so on
Step 7: We continue to facilitate the ongoing development of the Special Interest Group's work
Q: Can I join more than one Special Interest Groups?
A: Yes, please do! - we could do with as much involvement as we can possibly get
Q: Can I ask my friends, colleagues and acquaintances to consider getting involved?
A: Yes, please do! - the TTF has grown by word of mouth so we would appreciate you doing whatever you can to let people you know have a chance to get involved. Please forward them a link to this web page so they can read about what we are doing and decide for themselves if they want to be included.
Here's a very short overview to explain each of the Special Interest Groups:
GTI is for people that are involved in developing our Global Transparency Index. This will highlight pro-transparency best practice around the world. It will allow countries to benchmark themselves against others in terms of how transparent their financial services ecosystems are (particularly their pensions industries). The Global Transparency Index is designed to be an invaluable resource for Governments and Regulators. Our initial focus is the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands and the GTI will be a ground-breaking development that will accelerate the rate at which the Financial Services industry around the world moves to a more transparent state; and therefore a fairer and more efficient state, enabling better outcomes for millions of people globally.
Market Integrity
The Market Integrity SIG consists of over 50 senior executives from Financial Services Trade Bodies, Professional Associations, Standards Boards and similar; all working together to improve the overall effectiveness of the UK's Financial Services Codes of Conduct, with a view to positively impacting market behaviour. The ground-breaking work of this Team will help to improve outcomes for consumers and help restore confidence in the Sector by raising the bar in terms of the standards of ethics, professionalism, conduct and integrity. The team has been liaising with the Financial Conduct Authority, which has an inherent interest in the topic if market integrity.
Costs & Charges
Transparency on costs & charges is so important because it will encourage a more competitive and efficient market and thereby generate better net results to savers and investors, particularly pensions savers. The highlights so far was a very special meeting held at the House of Commons in September 2016 that was Co-Chaired by Tom Tugendhat MBE MP. The event was the first 'Transparency Strategy Summit' in the World, and dealt with the question: "What can we collectively do to help protect the UK's pension savers from hidden costs and charges?"
We presented our research on costs and charges; and it even got covered on the front page of the Financial Times. The Team continues to campaign for pro-consumer reform and has been highly engaged with the relevant UK Regulators and Government Departments, particularly the Financial Conduct Authority, the FCA's Institutional Disclosure Working Group, The Competition & Markets Authority, The Pensions Regulator, The Financial Reporting Council, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
Our efforts played an important part in the Work and Pensions Select Committee opening an enquiry into costs and transparency in pensions.
Foreign Exchange
The Foreign Exchange market is full of opacity that adversely affects consumers and even institutional investors. Our FX SIG published a constructive critique of the Global FX Code in July 2017, explaining why the Code doesn't go far enough to make costs in FX sufficiently transparent. The White Paper drew acknowledgement and response from the Competition & Markets Authority and the Economic Secretary at HM Treasury. The SIG continues to shine a light on the reforms needed to help create a fair, transparent, competitive and efficient FX market that delivers value for money to the individuals and institutions that use it.
EMEA is for people in Europe, the Middle East and Africa that want to work together to deal with opacity-related problems in their part of the world's financial ecosystem.
The Pensions SIG will be looking to shine a light on many issues that are relevant to driving good outcomes for pension savers.
The scope of the SIG will be very extensive - we will be looking into Auto Enrolment, DC Pensions, DB Pensions, CDC; accumulation and decumulation.
In general terms our focus will be on what reforms are needed to maximise the value for money that pension savers get. The SIG's specific campaign objectives will be decided by its members, as with all our groups, but here are some of the possibilities:
The first conference call will be in January - see the table at the bottom of this page for all the details but please also be sure to complete the short form on this page to join our Pensions SIG if you haven't already done so - the button to click onto is near the top of this page.
We can do with as many professionally-minded people joining the Pensions SIG as possible so please do get involved; apart from anything else it will be very beneficial from a networking point of view.
Financial Technology is a natural ally of transparency and all that the TTF is looking to achieve, because:
TTF's Fintech SIG is therefore for individuals representing organisations that have technologies available that positively align with the TTF's overall aims and objectives to help drive better outcomes for consumers
Transparency generates data that has the potential to be useful. Whether it is useful or not depends on how well the data is turned into clear and intelligible information; and that's the job of communications and communications professionals.
Our communications SIG is for individuals that like the idea of working collaboratively with like-minded people to help improve the standard of communications throughout financial services
Our Banking SIG has been campaigning for the Banks to treat their business and retail customers in a more transparent way; for example, by changing the way Banks describe their 'free if in credit' current accounts and how charges are applied. The highlight so far has been the publication of a well-received White Paper on our reform proposals, presented at special meeting held at the House of Commons in June 2017 and Chaired by Lord Cromwell. The event and White Paper was covered by The Times. Very good progress has been made on the opacity of costs and charges front; and the SIG is now looking at what more can be done for Banks to properly support those that have been scammed.
One of the SIG's leaders, Heather Buchanan, is Director of Policy & Strategy at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Stability; which the team actively supports.
Financial Planning
Financial Planning, when done well is hugely valuable but there is a great deal of variance in the levels of quality, transparency and professionalism in the sector. It is clear that whilst some financial planners operate to the very highest ethical standards (thereby embracing transparency as a force for good); others seem not to.
This new SIG is for those in the financial planning sector that want to drive greater professionalism into the sector.
Many scam victims have been battling for years to try to get the justice they deserve. In some cases they have lost everything; there have even been some that have paid the ultimate price for the criminal activities of monstrous individuals that have tricked them out of their life savings and pension funds.
This SIG is doing all it can to try to help scam victims by providing them with support.
We are also doing all we can to try to prevent scams from happening in the first place, particularly pension scams.
Please get involved if you need help or if you want to help; or both.
This SIG is about the world's capital markets becoming a 'force for good'. To explain the name of the SIG: the P is for Purpose; I is for Impact Investing; S is for Sustainability; C is for Climate Change; E is for Environment, Social and Governance; and S is for Socially Responsible Investing. There is tremendous scope for the way the financial services sector influences what happens in our world and this SIG's lead campaign is what we call "Mandatory Fact-Finding," an idea that financial advisers should establish whether their clients have any values-based preferences (for example, to not invest in a manner that worsens climate change) before recommending a suitable investment fund.
Asset Management
This SIG is about encouraging the world's Asset Managers to behave in a more progressive and pro-consumer way; to be more determined to put their clients' interests first, wherever possible.
The overall purpose is to facilitate collaboration between asset managers that have a more enlightened and progressive approach than most, to drive better outcomes for their clients.
The SIG was launched in response to the Financial Conduct Authority's Asset Management Market Study which was justifiably critical of the way some Asset Managers have been operating.
The leading campaign initiative has been to re-energise the idea that asset managers should work to a code of conduct, centred around looking after the interests of their clients as best as they can.
Financial Stability
The Financial Stability SIG was launched on 13th September 2017, at a Transparency Symposium held in London entitled "It must never happen again!". The event was all about the causes and consequences of the Global Financial Crisis and in particular the part that a lack of transparency played. The date of the event was chosen because it marked the 10-year anniversary, to the day, that Northern Rock collapsed.
The Financial Stability SIG has been working together to establish what more can be done by Governments and Regulators around the World to build greater resilience into the financial ecosystem. This is important work because the overall conclusion from our 13th September event is that despite the fact that we are '10 years on' from the Global Financial Crisis there are many risks that have still not been mitigated fully. We want to shine a light on that, in a collaborative, constructive and consensus-building way.
The SIG produced a White Paper entitled "Ideas to help reduce the chance of another Global Financial Crisis" which we presented at the House of Commons on 7th February 2018. The meeting went very well; so much so that it has initiated the creation of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Stability; we are very proud of that – over 15 Parliamentarians will be involved in developing fledgling policy initiatives for subsequent evaluation by organisations such as The Bank of England, The Financial Conduct Authority, The Financial Reporting Council and so on.
APAC is for people in Asia Pacific that want to work together to deal with opacity-related problems in their part of the world's financial ecosystem.
Americas is for people in The Americas, (North and South) that want to work together to deal with opacity-related problems in their part of the world's financial ecosystem. The Americas SIG is particularly focused on campaigning for the widespread adoption of the Fiduciary Standard, which is all about advisers putting the interests of their clients before themselves.
Investment Consulting & Fiduciary Management
This SIG has been created as a response to the Competition & Market Authority's investigation into the investment consulting and fiduciary management sector. The CMA are recommending significant changes to the sector to deal with issues that are thought to be preventing the best possible outcomes for investors; and it is thought that they might be bringing the sector within the regulatory perimeter.
The SIG is for individuals that like the idea of working collaboratively with like-minded people to help improve the way the sector operates; particularly in relation to the areas that the CMA have been critical of.
Compliance/Legal/Audit/Regulatory/Governance/Custodian/Risk Management/General Counsel
The financial services sector is profoundly important to the wellbeing of society. It is a sector that has to be trusted to function correctly yet it often behaves in a manner that leads to distrust. In fact, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer, financial services is the least trusted sector of all. That's a systemic problem to be solved, given the harsh reality that the financial services sector relies on being trusted.
Our Special Interest Group for Compliance, Legal, Audit, Regulatory, Governance, Custodian, Risk Management and General Counsel Professionals is for people that like the idea of working across an often siloed part of the market that is absolutely essential to keeping the financial services sector "on the straight and narrow."
We anticipate that by working collaboratively the SIG's members can become more inclusive, proactive and purposeful; thinking about the "bigger picture" more than they ordinarily would.
We will be looking to find ways to help pre-empt the kind of systemic market failings that prevent consumers getting good outcomes and cause extensive reputational damage for the sector.
This SIG should appeal to anybody whose professional purpose is to guard against malfeasance, misconduct and malpractice; and or deal with the outfall when it occurs.
Individuals that blow the whistle as a result of becoming aware of malpractice, malfeasance, miss-selling, misconduct or even outright criminal activity within the financial services sector provide a valuable service to society.
By reporting what is happening that should not be, they help to accelerate the rate at which the organisations, regulators and the judiciary can put things right and deal with offenders appropriately.
However, blowing the whistle can be challenging and fraught with all kinds of problems and risks. The sort of questions that might go through the mind of somebody that is considering whether to report something include:
It is widely accepted that being a whistle-blower brings challenges; and sometimes those challenges can be mountainous.
This Special Interest Group has many aims, which include:
If you have been or might decide to become a whistleblower please enquire about being included in this important Special Interest Group. We are especially keen to hear from those that have knowledge, insight and experience that might be useful to helping others; plus those who are thinking about becoming a whistleblower and what to know what support might be available.
Private Equity
Private equity investing is not known for consistent investor reporting standards across the market; we are confident that the Transparency Task Force "sunlight is the best disinfectant" approach can help to accelerate the rate at which this part of the market moves to a state of greater transparency and efficiency with standards and best practices.
Improved reporting for institutional investors, or limited partners (LPs), in private equity creates greater assurance and better data quality for LPs to rely upon for portfolio monitoring, analysis, and major decision-marking.
This additional transparency is healthy for the overall private equity space with, proper standardisation, improved benchmarking and data validation.
For pension schemes invested in private equity, the pension trustees, and those responsible for running the pension schemes are likely to be the main beneficiaries of this SIG's work.
Hedge Funds
Like private equity, Hedge Funds are not known for their transparency; and we are confident that the Transparency Task Force "sunlight is the best disinfectant" approach can help to accelerate the rate at which this part of the market moves to a state of true transparency.
Essentially, the problem with the Hedge Funds Market is that "there is no referee" and therefore it is very difficult to ensure the consumer is treated fairly.
Perhaps the members of this Special Interest Group can find ways to make a difference?
Payments (NEW SIG)
The Payments Sector is a remarkably important part of the financial ecosystem and it is in desperate need of reform to help ensure the consumer is being treated fairly.
This SIG will:
Our SIGs are not just 'talking-shops' or a 'whinge-fests' – they are pragmatically undertaking work that can, will and already has made a difference.
They are a consensus-building 'coalition of the willing', working together to be 'part of the solution'. We are proud of our collective efforts to make a difference; especially given how little resource we have to work with.
Each SIG has at least one campaign worthwhile project underway, designed to harness the transformational power of transparency to drive the much-needed change that the consumer deserves and the reputation of the Financial Services sector needs.
Given how much needs sorting in Financial Services we're obviously going to be busy for a long and we're always on the lookout for good people that want to get involved.
So if you would 'rather stand up than stand by' and would like to know more about how you can get included and do your bit please contact through firstname.lastname@example.com
HUGE THANKS to our SIG members and Ambassadors.
You can download the spreadsheet below to see who they are, and beneath that there is a table showing all the details you need for our next round of conference calls.
Please note that any government employees, officials or regulators included in the spreadsheet that can be downloaded below are involved in an observing-only capacity.
Vacant slot, ready for a new SIG
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
to 08:30 UK
6th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
10:00 to 10:30 UK
6th January
Foreign Exchange
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
12:00 to 12:30 UK
6th January
Financial Stability
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
14:00 to 14:30 UK time.
6th January
Market Integrity
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
16:00 to 16:30 UK time.
6th January
Vacant slot, ready for a new SIG
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
08:30 UK time.
7th January
Investment Consulting
& Fiduciary Management
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
10:00 to 10:30 UK
Tuesday 7th January
Asset Management
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
12:00 to 12:30 UK
Tuesday 7th January
Costs & Charges
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
14:00 to
7th January
Governance/Custodian/Risk Management/General Counsel
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
16:00 to 16:30 UK
7th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
08:00 to 08:30 UK
Wednesday 8th January
Fintech & Interoperability
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
10:00 to 10:30 UK
Wednesday 8th January
Financial Planning
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
12:00 to
Wednesday 8th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
14:00 to 14:30 UK
Wednesday 8th January
Private Equity
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
16:00 to 16:30 UK
Wednesday 8th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
08:00 to 08:30 UK
Thursday 9th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
10:00 to 10:30 UK
Thursday 9th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
12:00 to 12:30
Thursday 9th January
Hedge Funds
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
14:00 to 14:30
Thursday 9th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
16:00 to 16:30 UK
Thursday 9th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
06:00 to 06:30 UK
10th January
Vacant slot, ready for a new SIG
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
08:00 to 08:30 UK
10th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
10:00 to 10:30 UK
10th January
Vacant slot, ready for a new SIG
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
12:00 to 12:30 UK
10th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
14:00 to 14:30 UK
10th January
We'll be using Zoom; details to be provided.
16:00 to 16:30 UK
10th January
If you have any queries about the upcoming SIG Zoom calls, please contact Briony at firstname.lastname@example.com
The Great Divide
You can read the speech by Andrew G. Haldane, FAcSS (the Bank of England's Chief Economist and Executive Director of Monetary Analysis and Statistics) that he gave on 18th May 2016 at the New City Agenda Annual dinner.
The speech is entitled The Great Divide and it is a first class explanation of why the trust deficit really matters and why it makes sense to try to do something about it.
Please click on the green button to access it; if you're not convinced of its relevance to our initiative, here's part of it:
..."The most important and compelling message the Bank received at the Open Forum came in the first session. The Bank had conducted some polling of perceptions of the financial sector – for example, by asking people what one word best described the future of financial markets. Among the Bank's usual contacts, including those in the financial sector, the most used word was "regulated". Many of us will have heard that message from financial insiders concerned about the perils of over-zealous regulators.
For me, the more revealing responses came from the general public, from the customers, rather than the producers, of financial services. The word most used by them when describing financial markets was a rather different one: it was "corrupt". Not far behind were words like "manipulated", "self-serving", "destructive" and "greedy". I am sure many of you have heard those messages too. They are certainly ones I have encountered frequently on my visits around the country."...
Please click the green button below to access the full speech. If you need to read another piece first, here it is:
..."At least until recently many economists like me, when faced with this evidence, might have shrugged our shoulders. Social capital had no real role in our models of economic growth, unlike physical capital and human capital. Trust did not butter our parsnips and nor did it enter our production functions.
Recently, however, that orthodoxy has changed and the importance of trust has become clearer.
Evidence has emerged, both micro and macro, to suggest trust may play a crucial role in value creation. At the micro level, there is now ample evidence the degree of trust or social capital within a company contributes positively to its value creation capacity.
At the macro level, there is now a strong body of evidence, looking across a large range of countries and over long periods of time, that high levels of trust and co-operation are associated with higher economic growth.
Put differently, a lack of trust jeopardises one of finance's key societal functions – higher growth.
Those social capital effects appear to be particularly potent when it comes to financial decisions. Evidence suggests that a lack of trust leads people to retreat from the stock market and banks and to move towards cash holdings and informal sources of credit, such as payday lenders and loan sharks. That jeopardises the second key benefit of finance to society – improved risk-sharing by households and companies.
So a lack of trust in finance potentially hobbles both economic growth and financial stability.
That lack of trust is the mirror-image of the perception gap between the financial sector and wider society, the Great Divide.
The Great Divide matters because it signals a pronounced and protracted erosion of social capital. It puts finance on notice for losing its social licence. And, unaddressed, that jeopardises future wealth and well-being."...
Please click on the green button to access the full speech. If you're not yet convinced you should, here's a final snippet:
..." As a survey in 2013 of financial professionals found, rather remarkably, that over half believed their competitors engaged in illegal or unethical behaviour. A smaller, but still high, fraction of 24% believed their own company engaged in such practices. Similar percentages believed their industry did not fulfil its fiduciary function of putting clients' interests first.
The significance of these findings is not the precise percentages, as striking as these are.
More fundamentally, it is because of what they reveal about finance's perception of itself, the mirror it holds to the social identity of finance."...
Click onto the button below to access the full speech; you'll be glad you did, it's profoundly thought-provoking for anybody interested in the future of the financial services industry:
If you are not already on the right page and want to read about our major international project to help rebuild trustworthiness and confidence in financial services, click on the orange button below:


text:
Humble & Kind, by Tim McGraw
There is one little thing that nags me about this otherwise enjoyable book, and that is the fact that Tim McGraw is listed as the author. Now, my feelings on Tim McGraw as a singer are somewhat complicated [1], given the tone deaf nature of his early hit single "Indian Outlaw," his own political views (which have sometimes found their way into his music), and the fact that at the same time he had a country song ("Back When") that lamented the influence of hip hop on country he was in a popular duet with Nelly, a noted hip hop artist, a move which struck me as somewhat hypocritical. Here we have another sort of dishonesty in that the lyrics to the song "Humble & Kind" were written not by Tim McGraw but rather by Lori McKenna, who at least has the epilogue here but who should have been given credit for writing the book as a whole. Obviously, Tim McGraw is a much more famous person than Lori McKenna, but as McKenna wrote the song lyrics, she should get the credit for those song lyrics becoming a book that appears to be aimed at children or young people in general or people who like country songs turned into books.
The contents of the book are admittedly rather interesting. The introduction shows Tim McGraw musing on the time of transition his family was in with his oldest daughter going to college and starting to feel a bit of that empty nest with Faith Hill at the time when he came across this song and decided to record it. At the very least he can be given credit for not pretending to write it, merely taking credit for recognizing its wisdom and being "the conduit to deliver its message in this day and time." Most of the book consists of illustrated pages that show the lyrics of the song and an intriguing interpretation of what it should look like in pictorial form. The artwork appears to have been a collaborative effort as no individual artist is given, merely the firm that worked on its design, but the design is quite excellent and it certainly gives the lyrics a certain gravity and depth as poetry in an appealing way. After the text of the song the songwriter herself gets the chance to write an epilogue that discusses the context in which she wrote the song before there is a brief biography of Tim McGraw and a plug for a not-for-profit focuses on helping people in the need run by Tim McMcraw and Faith Hill.
This is a modest little book of poetry that manages to be both simple and straightforward as well as deep, depending on how you want to view it. The song lyrics themselves about being humble and kind and grateful for what one has been given and aware that there is a family who lives you even as you grow up and become an adult is certainly a worthwhile message for those who come from loving and intact families. That said, there are at least two layers to this book that offer greater depth for those who are willing to look for it. On the one hand, this book is clearly a work of corporate promotion, as the book's design was undertaken by a graphical design firm rather than an individual editor, although it is unclear what exactly the purpose of the promotion is given that the song, while award-winning, was not considered to be a work of particularly deep poetry. Likewise, as has been previously noted, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that Tim McGraw is counted as the writer of the book when he was merely the performer who sang someone else's song while still other people set the song with images and an artistic context.
[1] See, for example:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There is something seriously wrong with the water in Japan, it must be the water since it seems to affect each and every single person who lives there.
This must be the oddest video game advert ever flighted, and that is saying something after the disasters that we have seen from Sony and the absurdities we have already seen from Nintendo.
What this ad has to do with de Blob for the Nintendo Wii I don't think I will ever know but hell I'm just glad there is a video game angle here so that I can post it.
Last Updated: December 8, 2008


text:
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Visual Arts Courses
Studio Art
Courses in visual expression are offered in both 2D and 3D formats. Training is given in basic visual skills of design, drawing, painting, ceramics, etc. Problem solving, creativity, personal interpretation, and aesthetics are stressed in all courses.
Ceramics 1
One semester, one half credit. All grade levels.
This course introduces students to the basic hand-building techniques of pinch and to the potter's wheel. Craftsmanship and creativity are emphasized in each project, as students explore decorative and functional techniques.
Ceramics 2
One semester, one half credit. Prerequisite: Ceramics 1.
This course is for students who wish to further explore techniques and concepts in clay. Greater emphasis will be placed on problem solving, experimentation, and a personal approach. The body of work developed in this course will reflect a personal interest and the ability to work with a range of hand-building and wheel techniques. Portfolio preparation for college and entry into competitive exhibitions will be encouraged.
Digital Design
One semester, one half credit. All grade levels. Some drawing experience is desirable.
This course is an introduction to the Adobe programs—Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Students gain an understanding of design principles as they complete assignments that parallel problems solved by professional designers. The range of projects includes posters, book covers, illustrations, advertisements, logos, and original art and gives students opportunities to address elements of color, composition, typography, and visual communication.
Drawing 1
One semester, one half credit. All grade levels.
This course provides a foundation for mastering a variety of drawing techniques with an emphasis on exploration and expression. Craftsmanship and design skills are developed through assignments that focus on drawing from observation. We work in a range of media including charcoal, pencil, ink, scratchboard, and conté crayon.
Drawing 2
One semester, one half credit. Prerequisite: Drawing 1.
This course is for students who desire to do advanced work in drawing. Experimentation and problem solving are emphasized. The body of work developed in this semester course will reflect a concentration on a personal interest and the ability to work in a broad range of media. Portfolio preparation for college and entry into competitive exhibitions will be encouraged.
Graphic Novel
One semester, one half credit.
Students develop basic familiarity with graphic novel styles and artists, analyzing and discussing visual choices made by these artists. Students explore what constitutes a text, the functions of a story, audience identification, and the use of images and visual narrative. Students choose a pre-existing text (e.g. a psalm, piece of music, poem, story) to work with over the semester and illustrate approximately 10 pages of their own graphic novel.
One semester, one half credit. All grade levels.
Students are introduced to ink, watercolor, acrylic, and oilpainting techniques. Color theory, composition, and the expressive qualities of each medium are emphasized. Drawings and color sketches are used in the evolution of final works. The class will study examples from art history to inspire exploration.
One semester, one half credit. All grade levels.
Students create original 3D artworks by exploring additive, subtractive, assemblage, and casting methods. They work in clay, wire, plaster, and paper and with found objects. Elements of craftsmanship and design are addressed in each project. We will look to examples from nature and art history for inspiration.
Advanced Art Topics
One semester, one half credit. Open to juniors or seniors with a minimum of two previous visual art courses and teacher approval.
To progress as an artist, a student must become a risk-taker, careful observer, problem solver, and critical thinker. Students will begin with a written proposal detailing their interests and aims for the course and will be expected to meet individualized project goals during the semester. Work may be created in any medium, but must be completed with thoughtful craftsmanship. Through independent exploration, students will be encouraged and supported in refining their technical skills and discovering how best to express their artistic voice. Students will be expected to show serious involvement and initiative with their creative pursuit in a disciplined manner.
We will consider the work of contemporary artists and examples from art history as we deepen our understanding of the creative process and investigate the role of art in our culture. The fundamental elements of art and design will be considered throughout the course and shape the basis of regular group critiques. These elements include structure and composition; color and value; space and form; perspective and scale; gesture and motion. The semester will culminate in an exhibition of student work and a formal review of portfolios created during the course.
Offered fall and spring, for one half credit each semester.
InDesign experience a plus. Students learn the basics of designing a print publication. By putting together the school yearbook, The Blade, students learn to use relevant terms and concepts, such as style guides, that are useful in the professional world. Students gain experience writing articles, working collaboratively on shared server space, and using industry standard software for image preparation, graphic design, and page layout.
Media Studies
Media Studies 1—Video Production, Including Broadcast News and Journalism
One semester, one half credit. All grade levels.
In this introduction to broadcast technology, students learn media literacy through creating video projects. First, they master the basics of camera operation, editing software, and online media technology. Then they embark on the production of their own video news stories, learn interviewing techniques, journalism ethics, and television studio operations. Working in production teams, students learn how to collaborate to create media projects, using state-of-the-art equipment and online software. They also take a field trip to a local TV newsroom.
Media Studies 2—The Art of Video Storytelling
One semester, one half credit. Prerequisite: Media Studies 1
Students will learn the art of compelling and persuasive video creation. They will study advertising, public service announcements, and documentaries, and delve more deeply into video creation techniques. Students' learning experience will be further enhanced by creating their own video projects, giving them greater interest and ownership.
Media Studies 3—Film Studies
One semester, one half credit.
Students will gain an appreciation for that most collaborative of arts—filmmaking. They will research, watch, and review classic movies such as Charade and Citizen Kane, along with some of the newer greats, such as Dead Poets Society, The Adjustment Bureau, Taking Chance, and Moneyball. They will learn some of the history of film and techniques used by masters of the medium. Students will also create their own short films, following the same story structure of great filmmakers. A Hollywood producer is a regular guest instructor for this course.
Media Studies 4—Advanced Filmmaking
Prerequisite: Media Studies 1, 2, and 3
Students will create their own short film or documentary, using all of the techniques and skills learned in previous courses. They will also learn advanced software techniques to enhance the quality of their film. Working with a partner or a group, they will develop a story idea and learn scripting and storyboarding. All phases of film production will be practiced.


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If you listened to my podcast on Our Hen House a few weeks ago, you might have heard me utter these words: "I became vegan for myself. I remain vegan for the animals." Nothing could sum up more succinctly my evolution as a vegan: I originally explored the diet in order to heal my IBS and my relationship with food. Over time, and with the help of a few special farm animals at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, I came to admire and respect my animal neighbors, and learned to position myself against their exploitation. You can read the whole story here.
What does all that have to do with today's post? Well, there's a world of difference between a vegan diet and a vegan lifestyle; many people choose to eat 100% plant based diets, but don't necessarily avoid animal products in clothing or cosmetics, whereas a vegan lifestyle, by definition, excludes animal products in personal care and attire as well as food. In truth, I found it relatively easy to transition to a vegan diet, but building a vegan wardrobe took me a very, very long time, and was more of a struggle for me. I'm a work in progress when it comes to my vegan lifestyle—not nearly as consistent as I want to be, but trying every day to evolve.
Last year, I put quite a bit of time and effort into finding a vegan parka—most parkas, as you probably know, are made of down. This year, the main wardrobe focus for me was to find more vegan footwear.
A few years ago, my policy was to keep wearing all of my pre-vegan clothing and shoes, but to only purchase new items that were vegan. Nowadays, I've actively worked to donate my non-vegan items. This may not be a choice that all of you would want to make, but it feels right to me. Why? Because, when I get a compliment on a pair of shoes or a blouse, I can say, "thanks! They're faux leather from _________." I get to set an example with my vegan wardrobe, and perhaps persuade others to explore faux leather, along with alternatives to silk, wool, and down.
So, with great trepidation and a little sadness, I donated about four pairs of my boot collection this winter: not all of my old boots (I wish I could say I'd been courageous enough to do that; I'm still very attached to two pairs), but most of them. And I invested in two new pairs of vegan boots, one brown and one black. Today, I'd love to give you a few tips on how to shop for vegan footwear, based on what I learned!
As a consumer of vegan footwear, I face two major dilemmas: 1) sometimes vegan footwear isn't to my taste, and 2) a lot of the materials used in synthetic leather aren't as environmentally friendly as I'd like them to be. Let's address these two issues, one at a time.
If you've spent any time searching for vegan boots/shoes, you may have noticed that a lot of them look either like this:
Or like this
Both cute, but neither look is precisely my style. I don't tend to love round-toed or knit footwear, and I really don't love super high, pointy-heeled creations (I almost never wear high heels, and avoid them pretty much whenever I can!). The boots that tend to appeal to me are really in the "riding boot" style du jour: flat, sturdy, slightly tapered toe. Simple.
These aren't particularly easy to find in the vegan realm, at least not within my budget. But this year, I made two good finds. The first was this pair of vegan buckled boots from Target:
The second (not pictured on me) were these black boots from American Eagle:
Both totally faux leather, both totally "Gena." And both less than $59.00 retail, and even less used on eBay.
Yes, eBay! That's my solution to dilemma number two, which is the slight feeling of eco-guilt that comes from purchasing synthetic materials, and/or supporting a chain, instead of an independent vegan shoe maker. Some vegans feel that purchasing vintage/used leather is better than purchasing new synthetics for environmental reasons; I see both sides of the argument, but in my effort to call attention to vegan fashion, I prefer to purchased used synthetics on eBay or Etsy. If you search for "faux leather" or "vegan boot" on either site, you'll get a ton of hits, and can sort through them according to your own personal style. I highly recommend it!
One important lesson I've learned when it comes to vegan footwear is that you don't always have to search on vegan sites; many mass market clothing companies (Old Navy, American Eagle, Payless, Target) make cute, stylish faux leather shoes. I do not think that supporting these behemoths is superior to supporting small, vegan labels. But if you purchase them used, you can alleviate some of the guilt that comes from opting for mass market goods over independent ones. And you might find that the styles are a little more "mainstream"—and the prices quite a bit lower—than some of the vegan specialty brands. Again, I urge you to support vegan shoe makers, but if you're resisting vegan footwear because you don't love many of the expressly vegan styles, shopping mainstream may be the motivation you need. And you can, and should, purchase them secondhand!
Meanwhile, I guarantee you there are vegan labels you'll fall in love with. Check out Olsen Haus, Cri de Couer, Novacas, and Beyond Skin. Also check out some of my all time favorite vegan-specialized shopping sites, including Alternative Outfitters, Cosmo's, and Lulu's. All have fantastic, and increasingly fashion forward, options.
I resisted vegan clothing and shoes for a long time. This was, of course, absurd: I make every effort to avoid putting any animal products on my plate; how could I possibly justify wearing animal skin on my feet? The leather industry is enabled by the factory farming system, and drives it forward in a terrible cycle. If you're taking steps toward a vegan diet, I really urge you to think just as hard about your footwear and clothing. I know it's not easy—I've been there—but it's really rewarding.
When I look back, I realize that my resistance to vegan attire had to do with insecurity about how I'd be perceived. I don't like admitting this, because I pride myself on being a person who doesn't put unnecessary stock in other peoples' opinions, but that's what was going on. I didn't feel that vegan options were as fashionable or trendy as non-vegan ones. And I knew that I'd be stepping outside of the mainstream fashion dialog, as it were—the latest and hottest labels, the coolest brands—if I started shopping exclusively vegan. I'd never really had the money for fashionista status, but I did spend every spare penny on my wardrobe back when I worked in publishing. I've come to care much less about my wardrobe as I get older, but more importantly, I've learned not to care whether or not I'm perceived as being fashion forward, if that comes at the expense of my values. I'd so much rather be perceived as someone whose clothing and footwear choices are in keeping with my ideals.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with priding yourself on being fashion-conscious! Fashion is just like food: it can be art, it can be a form of personal expression, and it can (and should) be fun! Part of what held me back from vegan shopping was that I simply didn't know about the amazing world of cruelty-free fashion alternatives; now I do. And I also know that some of the unfortunate tradeoffs inherent to vegan shopping—such as less environmentally friendly materials—can be offset by secondhand shopping. Win, win. You do not have to sacrifice your fashion-savvy image to enjoy the peace of mind that comes from a vegan lifestyle; you just have to get a little creative.
In the coming months, I plan on doing posts like this one on wool alternatives, silk alternatives, and so on—provided you find them helpful. So, tell me, do you? Are you interested in hearing more about vegan fashion? What kinds of topics would you find helpful? Is there more to say about vegan footwear?
And of course, I'd also love to hear how you navigate conscious shopping in your own lives.
Before I go, I thought I would link to this very useful link on the Humane Society's Animal's & Politics blog. In about ten months, many of us will be voting; this "congress scorecard" is a handy way to see if your federal elected officials are voting to protect animals or not! Check it out if you have a moment.


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Adrianna Shy
Hampton University / Chemistry
Hosted by Xu's Lab
Reconstruction of beta-sheet peptides and an analysis of their self-assembling abilities
Adrianna Shy*, Jie Li, Bing Xu
Abstract: The chemical interactions in a protein is key to understanding its secondary structure. Hydrogen interactions between amino acids in adjacent chains form beta-pleated sheets. 1-pyrenebutyric acid promotes the self-assembly of these small molecules. In this study, focus is placed on the interactions between small peptide chains isolated from the hormone, irisin. We hypothesize that the morphology of a peptide mixture will yield more interactions than a single peptide alone. We also explored recreating the β-sheet structure displayed by irisin. Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis was used to synthesize the peptides: IQEVN and RMLRF alone, as well as RMLRF, IQEVN and VIGFA with 1-pyrenebutyric acid (Py) attached. Hydrogels were formed, and various techniques such as NMR, TEM, and circular dichroism were used to confirm self-assembly and analyze their β-sheet structure. Results reveal that Py-IQEVN and Py-RMLRF self-assemble on their own. A mixture of these two also show that a β-sheet-like structure was created. The hydrophobicity of Py-VIGFA does not allow hydrogelation, therefore it was not analyzed. However, MTT assays show Py-VIGFA along with Py-RMLRF and Py-IQEVN are toxic to cancer cells at high concentrations. Overall, more interactions happen between RMLRF and IQEVN when 1-pyrenebutyric acid is attached, while single peptides without this molecule show no type of self-assembly. In the future, the morphology of D-peptide molecules will be explored to mimic the L-peptide interactions.
Support: MRSEC REU


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Barclay Damon Receives NYS Bar Association Award for Pro Bono Service
February 1, 2017—Barclay Damon was named an Empire State Counsel Honoree by the New York State Bar Association for exemplary pro bono work performed in 2016. The award was presented to Barclay Damon Partner Sheila A. Gaddis at the Bar Association's Annual Justice for All Luncheon, held in New York City. Gaddis serves as the longstanding Diversity Partner of the firm.
Barclay Damon was selected for the award based on the number of the firm's attorneys who each performed 50 or more hours of pro bono service in 2016. The 22 attorneys who achieved this high mark completed 1,788 hours of service in total. They are:
- Albany: Naresh K. Kannan, Caitlin J. Monjeau, Joseph A. Murphy, and Bella S. Satra
- Boston: Joseph L. Stanganelli
- Buffalo: Karim A. Abdulla, Lydia H. Beebe Safulko, Kimberly A. Colaiacovo, Jennifer G. Flannery, Claire H. Fortin, Eric T. Glynn, and Mengyi Xu
- Clarence: Corey A. Auerbach
- Elmira: Jeremy J. Hourihan
- Rochester: Gabriel L. Bouvet-Boisclair, Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, and Danielle E. Mettler-LaFeir
- Syracuse: Kayla A. Arias, M. Eric Galvez, Ross M. Greenky, Sang Eun Lee, and Kathleen S. Weber
Heather L. Sunser, the firm's Pro Bono Partner, said, "Barclay Damon has a long history of giving back to the communities we serve through our commitment to pro bono work. We are honored to receive this prestigious award, especially as it comes so soon after achieving first place on Buffalo Law Journal's list of law firms ranked by the amount of pro bono legal services provided in Western New York and also reaching 100 percent pro bono participation among our associate attorneys."
The free legal services Barclay Damon provides each year to those in need are valued in the range of $600,000 to $1 million.
Listed as a "Top 250 Firm" by The National Law Journal, Barclay Damon is a full-service law firm that provides comprehensive legal and business counsel to a diverse client base in 33 practice areas. For more information on the firm, visit barclaydamon.com.
- Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave Law: Employer Notification Obligations
- Sweeping Amendments Impact Medicaid Fraud Control Units After 40 Years
- NYS Appellate Court Holds That Whether Provision in Construction Contract Required Additional Insured Coverage Presented Question of Fact
- The 2019-2020 NYS Budget Requires Financial Reporting for Electric Generators


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Food and Drink Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria
Baluchi. It is a fusion of Iranian, Pakistani and Afghani dishes – basically Baluchi food. The name 'Baluchi' derives from Baluchistan, a region that comprises three neighbouring countries sharing one border.
A group of Baluch people, also known as Muslim immigrants, first arrived in Perth, Australia as cameleer in mid 1850s, making a significant impact in Australian culture and heritage for the past 100 years and considered to be one of the pioneers of the region's transportation line.
Baluchi is the first restaurant representing this historic culture and cuisine, having a legacy of Australian heritage as cameleers.
Afghan Alfresco/Outdoor Dining Between $20 and $30 Dinner Disabled access available Entertainment Food & Wine Halal Indian International Customer Service Standard Licensed, BYO Wine Middle Eastern Non Smoking Private Dining Area Suitable for Functions Takeaway Available Vegan Vegetarian


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Believe it or not, I have been named one of the "Top Hayekian Public Intellectuals in America" by Greg Ransom. This was for promoting the free-market economic ideas of Nobel Prize winner Friedrich Hayek, not Hollywood hottie Salma Hayek.
Looking over Greg's list, there's no argument that Thomas Sowell deserves his No. 1 ranking. Ever since this blog started, Sowell's The Vision of the Anointed has been on the sidebar as the single best volume for those who want to understand modern liberalism. It's possible to view The Vision of the Anointed as an expansion on the theme developed by Hayek in The Mirage of Social Justice. What I've always admired about Sowell is the admirable clarity of his writing. He has an excellent knack for boiling things down to an understandable essence.
John Stossel at No. 2, George Mason University's Walter Williams at No. 3 — both excellent choices. It is possible to argue that Williams's influence at GMU, where he teaches the school's Ph.D. candidates in economics, makes him the single most influential free-market educator in America. GMU is also home to the Mercatus Center, which helps nurture free-market ideas.
If I could quibble with Greg's list, I'd suggest he take another look and consider adding Michelle Malkin. Since 9/11, Michelle has been pigeonholed as a "neocon" hawk, but she has a strong free-market background — she was a Brookes Fellow at CEI — and has been perhaps the blogosphere's most prominent opponent of the Keynesian stimulus/bailout approach to the economic crisis.


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Many Highlights, But Room for Improvement in Abu Dhabi
"'They call it the lungs of Abu Dhabi because of the large green areas here. They have created a really nice landscape,' he says. 'The vegetation is fantastic!'"
"The coastline along the Corniche was extended by developers less than a decade ago, and considering the fact the entire area was originally comprised of sand dunes, the amount of green here is spectacular."
"The shore side of the Corniche is lined with white tents, under which, Albuhlaiga says, more restaurants, cafes and vendors should be moving soon. The bike lane that extends the length of the road is another attraction, albeit a weather-permitting one."
"Connectivity, Albuhlaiga says, is what makes the Corniche so important."
"'It connects the fish market, the harbour, kids' playgrounds, places to eat, shop, walk and sit. We can say the Corniche is a successful public space because it is a destination in itself, not just a way to get from A to B.'"
"That may be so, but he quickly adds that the road that cuts the shore side from the park side is a hazardous one, contributing to air pollution and noise pollution. It's also the site and cause of many accidents. The benches that frame the bike path are placed between tall trees – though they have only few leaves and provide no shade. And while the Corniche is one of the few places in Abu Dhabi where outdoor spaces have been designed specifically with people in mind, Albuhlaiga says the underground crossings to get from one side of the road to the other are symbolic of the city's enduring priority of vehicles over pedestrians."
"But he is confident the Corniche is a success: 'If Dubai is for shopping, Abu Dhabi is for relaxing.'"
"'It's worth changing Abu Dhabi to a pedestrian city. It would make it a better place to live.'"


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Software & Services
The USU Group consists of the parent company USU Software AG and 6 German and foreign subsidiaries, including Aspera GmbH, LeuTek GmbH, Omega Software GmbH, USU GmbH, USU SAS as well as USU s.r.o. (Czech Republic). The Product Business segment includes products and services for areas such as license management, IT management and knowledge management & social media. The Service Business segment is involved in IT consulting services. The company was founded in 1977 as 'Udo Strehl Unternehmensberatung' (USU) and is headquartered in Möglingen, Germany. After the IPO on the Frankfurt "Neuer Markt" in 2000, the company merged with Openshop Holding AG in 2002.


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Post Views: 342 The management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Wednesday morning, took to its official Twitter handle (@cenbank) to deny repo...
The management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Wednesday morning, took to its official Twitter handle (@cenbank) to deny reports that it had systematically devalued the Naira.
Without being explicit, the apex bank tweeted: "There has been NO change in Nigeria's exchange rate structure."
In a report titled: "Nigeria's Central Bank Signals Weaker Official Naira," Bloomberg noted the bank's plan to allow the naira "weaken past its official rate as it gradually unwinds its regime of multiple exchange rates, data on its website shows."
The report noted, for example, that the CBN stopped publishing the fixed naira exchange rate on its website, which was N305/$, to allow the rate become "market-determined," used to ensure that some traders including, fuel importers, got cheap dollars.
The central bank, the report continued, is in talks with other agencies to move to a single rate for the nation's currency, quoting Yewande Sadiku, the head of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, as saying last month.
"Putting that on the website means the central bank is gradually moving towards a single exchange-rate window. It is making the exchange rate more liquid to attract more inflows," Kunle Ezun, a currency analyst at Ecobank Transnational Inc in Lagos, told the reporter by telephone.
The report also noted the Nigerian Customs Service as telling importers on Monday to pay for duties at a weaker rate of N326/$ from N306/$, citing a directive from CBN, according to Jonathan Nicol, President of Shippers Association of Lagos State.


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Race Results
Sprints is one race where getting involved in the spirit of the competition is far more important
than the end result, and will certainly be more memorable in years to come. Costumes are
expected, bribes are encouraged, and we all hope to make it to end in one piece!
Mens Novice First VIII (NM1)
Beat Sidney MNB
The time invested in costume making for Emma Sprints was frankly substandard (the guys need to make up for this at Cardinals in Lent Term!) but fortunately the rowing was better: NM1 won their first race!
Beaten by Emmanuel NM1
Sadly beaten by a pretty serious Emma crew in the second heat.
Womens Novice VIII
Beaten by Clare Hall NW1
The second race, with a more conservative line and an equally excellent start as before lead to a half-length lead until a prevailing meadow-side wind lead to a collision. The marshalls called a restart from half-way down the course, and for the third time THBC NW1 pulled a powerful start out of the bag. The race was close all down the course, but they were just beaten by the Clare Hall crew.
Juliet Griffin
Ellen Heddle
Henrietta Kelly
Daisy Haywood
Mallika Leuzinger
Alice Archer
Alex Zolyniak
Genna McDermott
Manon Brouillet
Beaten by Newnham NW1
Having pulled out all the stops at Queens Ergs, the next step for THBC NW1 was the first regatta – with the added bonus of fancy dress. With last-minute whiskers applied at marshalling, the crew were ready to race the 500m course against their first opponents, Newnham NW1.
With an excellent start the two crews were neck and neck, but a rather aggressive racing line from THBC led to a disqualification from the race. Not to be deterred, we rowed to the marshalling point and got ready for the second race, against Clare Hall NW1.


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We absolutely love simple little dresses like this, there is plenty of room to play with a style like this. Our fashion blog brings world latest fashionable gowns and dresses just a click away. Bridesmaid dresses in an amazing range of styles, colors + sizes.


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McKnight's Senior Living Senior Editor Lois A. Bowers picked up awards for editorial writing and headline writing Friday in the 2017 All Ohio Excellence in Journalism competition.
The contest, organized by the Press Club of Cleveland, was open to all professional journalists working in or publishing in the Buckeye State via daily and other newspapers; consumer, trade, professional and business publications; radio; television; and websites.
Bowers won second place in the Trade Publications – Departments or Columns category for the editor's column that appears in the print edition of McKnight's Senior Living. The judges said that the columns offered a "nice look behind the curtain in an industry most don't know well."
She also won third place in a Headline Writing category open to magazines, Sunday magazines, alternative publications, trade and professional publications and business publications. Her winning headline was Felines, Fidos, feces freeze Florida facility's functions, from a Feb. 29, 2016, online article.
This year's Excellence in Journalism competition drew more than 900 entries, a record, according to the Press Club of Cleveland. Entries were judged by members of press clubs in Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
So far this year, in addition to these awards, McKnight's Senior Living has been named as having the best healthcare website by the American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors and has been recognized with four regional and two national awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors as well as two awards from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.


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Email Mum in Whaddon
About Whaddon
The ancient small village of Whaddon is situated close to the A1198 and its larger neighbour, Bassingbourn. Its church's square-turreted steeple, dating back to the late 14th Century, can be seen for some way across the flat fields that surround Whaddon's homes.
Though there is no country pub here, the village does have a golf range with pitch and putt course, which has its own club bar. There is also a village hall on the site of a nicely-sized recreational ground and children's play area.
Email Mum in Whaddon
Email Mum are proud to be able to offer a range of domestic services to the people of Whaddon. We have been providing our services, from housekeeping and home cleaning to deep cleans for the apartment, house and flat, in the area for over 5 years.
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Housekeeping and home cleaning service – Our exclusive housekeeping and home cleaning service is the ideal solution to help maintain a clean and tidy home. It's a flexible service that is tailor-made to your individual requirements and is suitable for apartment, house and flat. With Email Mum, you always get your own personal housekeeper.


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As a non-profit organization the American Liver Foundation® relies on the support of volunteers to keep moving forward in the fight against liver disease. The Liver Life Walk® has a variety of volunteer options available.
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Research of the Process of Shaping Folded Filler of Sandwich Panels from Cardboard
Il'dus Zakirov, Alexandr Nikitin, Alexandr Naumov and Nargiz Faizullina
DOI : 10.3844/ajassp.2015.938.944
American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 12, Issue 12
Pages 938-944
Sandwich panels with the corrugated filler made of composite cardboard are used in building constructions, road sound dampening screens, etc. Taking into account that in industries applying sandwich panels, the demand for such filler is relatively high, the competitiveness of the product must be at a high level. This requires developing a high-performance industrial technology to produce it. These production processes include rotary shaping. The well-known technology for manufacturing corrugated cardboard from thin paper does not allow making very high products. The article considers the possibility of producing relatively high corrugated filler by creasing and folding. The important point here is to make a flat pad, as one of the elements of the corrugation, at the point of its contact with the skins of the panel. We studied two schemes of folding a preliminarily creased cardboard web and evaluated the advantages of these schemes. We suggested the creaser shape and structure, which allow making high-quality connect pads on the corrugated cardboard within a wide range of sizes.
© 2015 Il'dus Zakirov, Alexandr Nikitin, Alexandr Naumov and Nargiz Faizullina. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


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Medburn Street Apartments
These comfortable serviced apartments in Regents Park have been modernised to include all the amenities you require for a relaxing stay in the city. Efforts have been made to retain the buildings period features, giving these apartments a real homely feel.
Medburn Street Apartments are ideally situated for access to London Zoo as well as popular sightseeing attractions, such as Westminster. This combination of location and value for money makes them a great choice for accommodation in London, for your city break. Please Note: Check in for this property is at the apartment's office located at 4 Greenland Place, Camden, NW1 0AP. Arrivals after 21:00 are subject to a late check in fee. Mornington Cresent, on the Northern Line is the nearest underground station to Medburn Street Apartments and gives easy access to the heart of the city. Euston station is also within easy reach for links to national mainline services. These London serviced apartments are situated in a great location for access to the Royal Parks and Camden, famed for its eclectic markets are within easy reach.There are a host of restaurants in the vicinity, to suit any tastes. General Facilities
- Internet Access
- Linen Change
- Maid Service/Housekeeping
- Baby Cots Available+
- Bath and Separate Shower
- Bathroom Products
- Dining Table and Chairs
- Double Glazing
- DVD Player
- Electric Fans on Request
- Hairdryer
- High Chairs Available+
- Internet Access
- Ironing Facilities
- Kitchenette
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Washing Machine
- Wooden Flooring
- Work Desks
- Internet Access: Wireless
- Linen Change: Weekly
- Maid Service/Housekeeping: Weekly
- Wooden Flooring: Not throughout


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Meet the team!
Owen Raszkiewicz is the Founder of Rask Finance and Rask Invest.
Prior to founding The Rask Group, Owen was an investment analyst at the highly regarded managed funds research business Zenith Investment Partners and a Writer/Analyst for The Motley Fool Australia.
Owen has been invited on BBC Asia and appeared on The Project TV. In addition, his financial education videos have been viewed for more than 3,000 hours.
Owen holds a Master's of Applied Finance, Master's of Financial Planning, Bachelor of Technology and Advanced Diploma of Financial Services. He has also completed Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) program.
In addition to starting The Rask Group, which includes Rask Finance and Rask Invest; Owen launched Rask Media -- a free financial news platform which reaches tens of thousands of people.
Owen has taken the Banking + Finance Oath.
"Success = 2 x your rate of failure" - Thomas Watson, former CEO of IBM
Owen's Portfolio
If you would like to know which investments Owen holds subscribe to Rask Invest.
Sophie is the creative genius behind Rask Finance and Rask Invest, designing everything before your eyes.
She is a graduate of a double degree; Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication Design)/Bachelor of Business (Marketing) at Swinburne University of Technology. Sophie is passionate about design and all things creative - she is in the business of making things look good and work good.
"I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares." - Saul Bass
Check out Sophie's portfolio here!
Cathryn Goh is a Rask Investment Analyst responsible for covering Australian and global shares and ETFs.
Cathryn is currently completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree from Melbourne University, with studies in Accounting and Finance.
When she is not studying or researching, Cathryn would likely be found watching AFL (especially St Kilda).
Cathryn's Portfolio
If you would like to know which investments Cathryn holds please subscribe to Rask Invest.
Sally Hoban is Rask's Content Creator and audio/visual producer slash expert.
Sally recently completed her Bachelor of Creative Arts (Film and TV) at Deakin University. She is keen to use her knowledge to help bring Rask's podcasts and videos to the next level.
In her spare time, Sally enjoys binge-watching entire tv series, making short films with her friends, and playing with her puppies. What's Sally's favourite TV show? Skins.


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Men's :: Zip Hoody :: Celtic V
An original design by Lisa Van Eyck. LOW ON STOCK - Please Enquire of availability!
LOW ON STOCK - Please Enquire of availability!
An Original design adapted by Lisa O'Connor. Small image is on the FRONT Large image on BACK .Men's zip - hooded sweatshirt, 80% cotton with fleece lining. Double stitched pouch pocket, neck and arm holes. double lined spacious hood.
There are yet no reviews for this product.


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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The Texas Attorney General's Office will assist Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson in her ongoing investigation into allegations of widespread voter fraud in Dallas County precincts.
At a news conference at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, Attorney General Paxton told reporters that District Attorney Johnson requested help from the attorney general's office as she expands the scope of her investigation into voter fraud allegations.
During the news conference, Attorney General Paxton emphasized the importance of making sure election results accurately reflect the will of Texas voters.
"Nothing is more sacred to our democracy than the integrity of our voting process," Attorney General Paxton said. "Recently, there have been too many questions raised about elections in Dallas County. I am honored today that District Attorney Johnson has invited my office to assist in their investigation, and we will do everything within our resources and abilities to solidify trust in every election here and around the state."
District Attorney Johnson said assistance from the attorney general's office will enable her office to broaden and deepen their voter fraud investigation.
"I am very proud of the dedication and in-depth work my prosecutors here at the Dallas County DA's office have and will continue to do as we conduct this investigation on voter fraud in Dallas County," Johnson said. "I want every voter to believe in the system, and I want them to know that their vote actually counts. We are committed safeguard the voters and safeguard their vote here in Dallas County. I want to thank Attorney General Paxton for lending his staff. We had an opportunity to sit down and I am so excited that he is willing to come and assist us as we continue to do the work we are doing here in Dallas County as it relates to what we consider corruption in this area of voter fraud. I am confident that he and his investigative and prosecutorial units are committed to assisting us, committed to helping us deal with this issue. And get to the bottom of what's happening here in Dallas County as they have done so in other areas in Texas." Judge Johnson said, adding, "We believe as they assist us, that we will be able to restore faith in our electoral process, here in Dallas County."
Neither Johnson nor Paxton took questions from reporters at the news conference.


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Boasting one of the best addresses in Macquarie fields, this well kept home and studio which sits on a block of approximately 816sqm, is soon to benefit from proposed rezoning under the Glenfield to Macarthur Growth Corridor plans released by planning NSW.
- Future development potential up to six storeys as per the Glenfield to Macarthur Growth Corridor released by planning NSW.
- 816 sqm block with 15.24m frontage
- Combined rental income of $680 per week
- Updated bathroom with bath, plus second toilet in laundry
- Open plan kitchen and dining with breakfast bar.
- Large covered entertainment area and huge backyard.
- Timber floorboards throughout
- Split system air conditioner and ceiling fans
Situated a short walk from Macquarie Fields Station, Glenquarie Shopping Centre, local Shops and Macquarie Fields Leisure Centre, this home is a great opportunity for developers and investors to secure a large block in this tightly held pocket. Call today to arrange an inspection


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Two dead in Paris knife attackEurope 2018-05-13, Comments Off 15
PARIS: One person has been killed and five wounded in a knife attack in Paris, French police say.
They say the attacker – who has not been identified – was shot dead by police. Two of the injured are in a serious condition.
The incident happened in the Opéra district of central Paris.
Witnesses spoke of panic, as people tried to hide in restaurants and cafes. The motive for the attack late on Saturday was not immediately known.
The witnesses say police officers first tried to taser the attacker – but then fired two shots after this failed to stop the assailant, France24 reports.
French Interior Minister Gérard Colomb praised police for their "cool response". He said his first thoughts were "with the victims of this heinous act".
French police warned the public not to spread rumours.
"Please only share information coming from a trusted source," the police tweeted.
The Opera district is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, attracting tourists from around the world.
France has been on high alert following a series of attacks over the past three years. Some have been claimed or inspired by so-called Islamic State (IS).__BBC


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If you're struggling to hear the voice of the writer's muse, check out this "Q & A" with author and writing teacher Mark David Gerson. He wrote The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write – and here, he shares a few writing tips.
Before his tips, a quip:
"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end." – Ursula K. Le Guin
Click The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write for more info; it's for writers at all levels. And, read on to learn about hearing the voice of the writer's muse…
Hearing the Voice of the Muse: Interview With Author Mark David Gerson
What would surprise people to know about your writing process or habits?
When I'm writing fiction, I'm clueless about the story. It unfolds for me as surprisingly and in-the-moment as it does for the reader.
Is there anything that you have published that you wish you could take back or re-do?
Not really. Nothing is ever perfect when it goes to press and, frankly, nothing is ever perfectible…other than that it's the perfect expression of the writer in the moment of its completion. It's important to release for me to recognize that, to do my best with each work and to then release the finished (imperfect) work into the world so I can move on to whatever's next.
Having said that, I do wish I had included something in The Voice of the Muse about how important it is for writers to be reading – anything in any genre, as long as it's good writing.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Recognize that writing is an art not a science. There are no hard-and-fast rules that work every day for every project. Be flexible. Listen to the voice of your Muse. Listen to the story. Trust the story. Trust your story. The story is smarter than you are. The story always knows best. (When I speak of "story," by the way, I'm referring to pretty much any kind of writing – poetry or prose, fiction or nonfiction.)
What prior writing experience did you have, before getting published for the first time?
Fifteen years of freelance writing (and editing), most of it full-time.
Have you taken writing courses or attended workshops? Were they helpful?
Quite a few years back, before I was writing fiction or teaching, I took a continuing education class on writing and creativity at the University of Toronto. It was powerfully transformative, opening me up to my creative self. It was the catalyst for many things in my life, including the kind of writing I do now and the way I teach. I don't often attend classes or workshops anymore as I learn so much from the ones I teach!
Are you a member of a writers' group?
Not any kind of critiquing or support group or writers' circle. But I do attend meetings of (and have spoken at) Albuquerque's Southwest Writers.
Do you keep a journal?
Not at this time. I have kept personal journals, dream journals and writing journals at various times in the past – and they've all been helpful. Sometimes, though, as I discovered during a hiatus from writing The MoonQuest, they can soak up all my writing energy. I found, at that time, that I needed to stop journaling cold turkey (ouch!) and channel all my dreams, emotional upheavals, life challenges and writing time into The MoonQuest and its characters.
Did you always want to be a writer?
Not at all! All through school I hated (read: feared) writing and anything related to creativity, gravitating instead toward math, where there was always only one right answer. Quite unconsciously, I slowly found myself easing into a writing life – first by working in public relations, later by working as a freelance writer and editor. It was that University of Toronto class I mentioned earlier that changed everything. Now, I can't imagine not writing!
How has your writing style changed during your writing career?
When you consider that my earliest writing consisted of press releases, journalistic articles and institutional writing, I've traveled galaxies from those days to today, where my work is more lyrical and inspirational…not to mention fictional!
What personality traits make you a successful writer?
- The same qualities, I suppose, that I encourage my readers and workshop participants to adopt: humility, surrender, courage, trust and faith.
- Humility before the superior knowledge of the story and its characters and imperative. Surrender to that knowledge
Courage in the face of all that emerges through the writing that makes me uncomfortable about myself.
- Trust that one word will lead to the next and, ultimately, to the end of the story.
- Faith in myself that I can do it.
What are some of the best things about writing as a career? What's the downside?
- Pros: Freedom, ability to create new worlds at will, what writing teaches me about myself
- Cons: Insecurity, others' judgments, the need to abandon all control to let the story birth through me!
Do you have a particular writing routine?
It can vary from day to day and project to project. I prefer to write first thing in the day, which insures that I get to it. Having said that, though, first thing isn't always my most creative time. I try to be flexible where possible.
When do you get your best ideas?
When I'm quiet, open and undistracted, when I'm doing something meditative: walking in nature, soaking in the bath, driving long distances on the highway, meditating in silence or by listening to one of the tracks of The Voice of the Muse Companion.
Do you write entirely on computer?
I wrote the first two drafts of The MoonQuest longhand (and the second draft was a massive rewrite) – largely because sitting at a desk in front of a typewriter or computer brought up all the deadline pressures of my freelance life. The Voice of the Muse was written partly longhand, partly on the computer. Now, I prefer to write on the computer but will go back to pen and paper if I'm feeling stuck.
Do you experience writers' block?
You'll have to read the section of The Voice of the Muse titled "The Myth of Writer's Block"! Yes, I get stuck. But I also believe that no one ever needs to be blocked, including me. I have various things I do and look at to get a clearer idea of why I'm feeling stuck and to see what, if anything, is appropriate to get me unstuck.
Do you consider yourself primarily a writer or do you have another career?
I lead writing/creativity workshops, coach writers and guide authors through the self-publishing process and give talks about writing and creativity. I also coach non-writers as a life/spiritual coach and do inspirational/motivational/spiritual speaking. As I wrote earlier, all these various tracks have a single goal: to help people awaken, acknowledge and express their highest potential, however that shows up for them. In addition to all that, I do some art on the side and, am pleased to say, have sold prints of many of my drawings over the years.
How do the skills you've developed in one field (eg, your current career, or a former job, or volunteer work, etc) help in your writing career?
I would say the reverse, that what I've learned about writing (humility, surrender, courage, trust and faith) have helped me in every other part of my life.
What is your educational background? Work experience?
I have no formal writing (or artistic) training. In fact, little that I've been successful at over the years is credentialed in any way! I have an undergraduate business degree from Concordia University in Montreal and have worked, as I said, in public relations and as a freelance publicist, writer and editor. Over the years, I've also driven a taxi on Maui, done food demos at Costco, worked in time share, sold art, fossils, minerals and crystals in a gallery and been an energy healer doing vocal sound healing (which I still occasionally do).
Do you want write for a living? Join the Writers Work Community and get professional career training, writing tools, an online portfolio, and more. Need encouragement? Sign up for my weekly "Echoes of Joy" email - it's free, short, and energizing. Like me!
To learn more about Gerson, go to his blog about writing.


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Hazard Hints At Chelsea Exit, Has 'Preferred Destination' In Mind
Following Antonio Conte's departure as Chelsea head coach, the club's most valuable player may soon also leave, and he seems to already have a 'preferred destination' in mind.
Hazard, who made some alarmingly eye-opening comments following Belgium's 2-0 victory over England in the 2018 World Cup third-place game on Saturday — leaves Stamford Bridge in the coming days or weeks, a whole host of other key players could very well follow suit — quotes form Sky Sports:
"After six wonderful years at Chelsea it might be time to discover something different. Certainly after this World Cup. I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will make the final decision, if they want to let me go. You know my preferred destination."
Considering Real Madrid has been the club most commonly linked with a mega-money move for Hazard in recent weeks — and doubly so following Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Juventus — many have chosen to infer Los Blancos as Hazard's "preferred destination."


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The GoDaddy ad slated to run during the Super Bowl created so much outrage when it was previewed online Tuesday, the company decided hours later that it would not air.
GoDaddy, the Internet domain registrar known for its outrageous Super Bowl commercials, was set to air a 30-second spot called "Journey Home," which follows the arduous travels of a puppy that makes its way home after being separated from its owners.
TIMELINE: The best Super Bowl commercials
At the end of the ad, the puppy arrives, and its owners are joyous -- not because they loved and missed their pet but rather because they had just sold the animal online and could now deliver it.
Animal lovers and animal rescue organizations blasted the ad, saying it evoked puppy mills.
Hours after the commercial was released online, GoDaddy Chief Executive Blake Irving announced it would not air during the Super Bowl after all.
"Thank you @animalrescuers for the candid feedback," Irving said on Twitter. "What should have been a fun and funny ad clearly missed the mark and we will not air it."
In a longer statement, Irving said the company did not expect the ad to strike that kind of chord with so many people.
"We underestimated the emotional response. And we heard that loud and clear," Irving said.
Advertisers pay millions of dollars for 30 seconds of air time during the Super Bowl.
Will GoDaddy run a different commercial in the place of the one it pulled? Irving's statement seemed to indicate that it would: "You'll still see us in the Big Game this year, and we hope it makes you laugh."


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As Christians, we acknowledge God is good, all-powerful and all-loving. If this is the case, why does God permit the pain and suffering we see all around us? A good god would not allow the kind of suffering we see in our world, would He? Those of us who have …Read More »
How Can We Answer the Challenge of Pain and Suffering?
The economy is in tough shape. The culture seems to be more and more hostile to Christianity. Many regions of the world appear to be on the brink of war with growing turmoil in North Korea, Syria and Iran. Some of our friends are ill or suffering loss. How are …Read More »


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You may be surprised to learn that as many as 45 percent of all men experience varicose veins at some point in their lives. The number one cause of varicose veins in men, as in women, is family history. Lifestyle plays a significant role as well for men. If his job requires him to stand for long periods, such as factory work, retail sales, or a medical profession, he is more likely to get varicose veins. If he travels and spends long hours on a plane or driving or if he sits at a desk for several hours at a time, he is at greater risk as well. Varicose veins affect men of all ages but the risk increases with age. Generally men have the same symptoms as women: pain, leg heaviness, tiredness, muscle cramps and swelling. More men seem to experience restless legs at night, which can be a sign of varicose veins. Varicose veins will progress without treatment. Because varicose veins are often painful, it is important to treat them in order to maintain an active and enjoyable lifestyle.
Treatments such as medical grade compression stockings and changes in work habits can improve the symptoms but will not address the underlying cause. The treatments available for men are the same as for women, ultrasound guided endovenous laser ablation , or EVLA, involves inserting a small laser fiber through the skin into the damaged vein. Laser energy causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. Once that vein is closed, the blood reroutes to other healthy veins.
Some men may need other treatments, such as sclerotherapy, following EVLA. Most men typically return to work immediately after treatment and resume their normal activities. Call now to get your legs evaluated by The VEIN Specialists, LLC at 309-862-4000 or visit their website at ILVEINS.com with locations in Bloomington, Eureka, Streator and Peru.


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Enjoy an Italian getaway where you'll sip, dine, and explore at the world's best vineyards. This trip has it all: private food and boat tours, a helicopter ride through Tuscany, and a tour of the Sistine Chapel.
• Round-trip coach airfare for two
• 3 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Veneto, and 2 nights in Rome
• Includes a VIP Tuscany Wine Tour via helicopter
Reward value is inclusive of all fees and fulfillment.
Certain blackout dates apply.
Valid passport required.


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Complexities of volunteering
If you are interested in volunteering, you must be aware of the relevant regulations so you and the organization for which you are volunteering do not violate any laws for unauthorized employment. F-1 and J-1 students that are working off-campus must be authorized do so. Without proper work authorization, off-campus employment would be considered a violation of your F-1 or J-1 requirements. The consequences may include loss of valid immigration status in the USA—making it difficult to reacquire lawful status in the future.
According to USA immigration regulations, 8 Code of Federal Regulations 214.1(e): "Any unauthorized employment by a nonimmigrant constitutes a failure to maintain status…"


text: Let's get the rectory move-in ready for the Daniel family! All hands on deck on Sunday, May 20, at 1pm. No expertise required! May 9, 2018Events FacebookshareTwittertweet Sermon 5-13-18Youth Sunday Sermon – Isabel Welch Related postsVacation Bible School RegistrationJuly 23, 2018Rev. Hannah's Last Service and ReceptionMay 29, 2018Youth Sunday – May 6, 2018April 23, 2018Bishop's Visit, Confirmation & BaptismApril 4, 2018Ash Wednesday ServicesFebruary 5, 2018Chili Cook-Off – February 13thJanuary 23, 2018