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He saved her life. Now it's her turn – to help him save his country. By marrying him.
Rafiq paid a sheikh's ransom to rescue Belle Winters. The ransom is a national treasure but also a traditional bridal gift to the sheikh's betrothed. Now his people expect a royal wedding.
Belle owes Rafiq so much. How can she deny him this sham marriage that will keep the peace in his fledgling island democracy? They're from different worlds. She's a dedicated archaeologist from an ordinary family. He's descended from a line of autocratic adventurers and buccaneers. Is their marriage simply a political necessity or a passionate destiny?
Linked to FOR THE SHEIKH'S PLEASURERead an Excerpt Behind the Book
"This is what a love story should be. Annie West has created a strong, combustible twosome." ~ 4.5 stars from Sandra Garcia-Myers of Romantic Times
"With Annie West's first foray into writing about sheikhs, she did one heck of a job. I could not put the book down and even had to read it a second time. Belle and Rafiq are two characters who learn to give each other what is needed without sacrificing anything. I have to say that this book tops my list of favorites in the Sheikhs category…as long as authors like Annie West write so wonderfully about Sheikhs, I will continue to read and dream." ~ 4 Blue Ribbons, Shayla, The Romance Junkies
"Ms. West tells a wonderful story … I became enthralled with Rafiq and Belle's story and could hardly wait to see if things would work out for them. Their beautiful story of compatibility and passion is off the charts!" ~ 4 cups from Krista, Coffee Time Romance
"an awesome page turner filled with sizzling sexual tension and edge of the seat intrigue. Annie West presents passionate lead characters, a strong yielding heroine and a powerfully tender hero, which readers will not soon forget. Escape into this exotic tale which takes place in a romantic Arabian palace and desert settings vividly described by Ms. West. I promise you will consume The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride by talented Annie West in one sitting." ~ 4.5 stars from Donna Zapf at Cataromance
"Sparks fly off of these two characters as they both fight their attraction to each other and along the way find their way into a romance you won't forget. A tale of East and West, two such different cultures and people who find a bond, mutual respect and love! This is Annie West's first "sheikh" book and I personally feel [it] was exceptional…" ~ Marilyn from Pink Heart Society
"Slow burning romance hitting on the hot spots at all the right times. Gorgeous Sheikh who rescues his heroine and wins her heart. Loved it. ~ Carrie B, Amazon UK
"A swashbuckling romantic story and I loved it! " ~ Baseballmom, Amazon
'You like our peacock?' asked a low, sultry voice from the shadows.
Belle didn't need to look across the courtyard to know who spoke. She'd recognise that voice anywhere. Already her pulse quickened in anticipation. Feminine awareness was a tight coil circling in her belly. So much for her reaction last night being due to exhaustion. She was in trouble when just the sound of his deep voice did this to her!
She kept her eyes on the mosaic. 'It's spectacular. I've never seen anything like it.'
'The art of mosaic-making is highly prized in Q'aroum. You'll find small mosaics in many homes.' Rafiq's voice came nearer as he walked along the colonnade towards her. She clenched her hands tight, willing herself not to retreat.
'But you're right,' he said. 'You won't see another like this.' He stopped at her side. She could tell by the way her skin prickled, by the heat that blossomed in her breast and rose up to flush her neck and face.
And still she couldn't look at him. Didn't dare.
'See the way the sun catches and reflects the colours as if they held an inner fire?'
She nodded. 'The background, is that gilt work?'
'Close,' he murmured, and she knew by the puff of his warm breath on her hair that he'd turned to watch her. 'It's not gilt. It's solid gold.'
'What?' She swung her face up to look at him, straight into his hard, handsome face. 'But there are square metres of the stuff!'
He shrugged. 'Ostentatious, I agree. But effective.' He looked down into her eyes and smiled and her heart tumbled over.
'What else could do justice to the rest of it?' he added. 'The peacock itself is made of semi precious stones. The purple is amethyst. The green is malachite and jade. There's amber and garnet, topaz and lapis lazuli.'
Belle stared, unable to wrench her gaze from that smile, from those fathoms-deep green eyes.
'It must have cost a fortune.'
His rich chuckle echoed across the marble walls and she bit her lip, feeling gauche. What did it matter if it cost a fortune? The Sheikhs of Q'aroum were fabled for their wealth.
'My ancestors had a taste for riches and loved to flaunt their possessions. This mosaic is several hundred years old, probably the result of a particularly successful season.'
'Season?' Belle asked, her brow knitting in bewilderment.
His smile widened into a grin that drew the stiffening out of her spine, leaving her weak, her knees like jelly.
'Buccaneering,' he explained, stepping closer so that she had to tilt her face up to watch him. 'For generations the Q'aroumis were pirates, extorting payment for safe passage through the Arabian Sea. And when it wasn't paid, plundering whatever they wanted.'
Belle sucked in a breath at the intensity of his raking gaze. The slanting rays of sunshine illuminated the hard angles of his face, highlighted the arrogant cast of his high cheekbones and aristocratic nose, caught the glitter of gold at his ear. A sizzle of primitive excitement trembled through her. Excitement and trepidation.
Once before she'd pictured him as a pirate, a man who'd reach out and grasp whatever he wanted, whatever the cost or the danger. Now she saw that determination, that drive to possess, right here before her eyes. She had no trouble picturing him at the helm of a swift-sailing tall ship, plundering the sea lanes of whatever took his fancy.
Perhaps his barbaric inheritance was latent, close to the surface even in this modern-day monarch, who ruled a progressive nation, funded by off-shore oil revenues.
Belle swallowed hard, mesmerised by the glitter in Rafiq's eyes, suddenly aware of the musky, enticing scent of his bronzed skin so close to hers.
'So, they grew rich on their plunder,' she said at last, her voice a mere whisper. She should have guessed, but she'd been so wrapped up in the ancient past she hadn't taken the time to learn the islands' more recent history. She'd known there'd been pirates in Q'aroum, but not that they'd been led by the royal family!
He nodded. 'And, as you can see, they enjoyed their wealth. The peacock is something of a family symbol.' He reached out and took her elbow in his hand, turning her to walk with him around the colonnade.
Belle concentrated on matching his steps, on keeping her breathing under control, not snatching desperate breaths in an effort to fill her suddenly empty lungs. Heat radiated out from his touch, searing her through the fabric of her shirt. Just like in last night's dreams, where their shared heat had been combustible.
'The bird is beautiful,' she said, desperate for conversation to cover her weakness. 'But it seems an unusual emblem.' Or more precisely, an unusual emblem for a family that produced men like Rafiq. There was nothing gaudy or soft about him. He was all desert heat and masculine strength. And sheer sensual power.
He paused and gestured for her to precede him and take a seat at a table set in the shade of the colonnade. She subsided gratefully onto a chair and looked away, out over the courtyard.
'It's one of two motifs you'll find throughout the palace,' he said, settling in a second chair. 'There's the falcon, prized for its speed and power, its prowess as a hunter. In less civilised times it was seen to represent all that was best in the men of my family. And then the peacock, symbol of the rich beauty of their wives. This part of the palace was designed as the harem, hence the mosaic as a compliment to the sheikh's women.'
Belle's eyes widened. A strange thrill skittered down her back at the knowledge she'd actually spent the night in a sheikh's harem. In his harem.
Damn, she had it bad.
Two maids arrived carrying pastries, a fruit platter and coffee. Rafiq nodded for them to put the food on the table, but his attention remained focussed on Belle.
She was a problem, and not only because of the political complications her presence created. She was at the centre of a conundrum that threatened the very future of his country. A conundrum to which he must find a solution. And yet it wasn't her significance in this constitutional minefield that had kept him awake and pondering long into the night. It was the woman herself: capable, feisty. Desirable.
'Please, help yourself,' he said, gesturing to the laden table between them.
She'd trembled when he took her arm just now, swayed as if unsteady on her feet, and her apparent weakness disturbed him. Especially since he'd experienced her personal brand of stoic endurance on that godforsaken island.
Perhaps he should send for a doctor.
He scrutinised her flushed face, noting the way her gaze slid away to the table, as if unwilling to meet his eyes. Her breasts rose with her rapid, shallow breathing, snagging his attention, distracting him.
Perhaps it wasn't a doctor she needed.
He remembered the way she'd looked at him last night, as if she'd seen only him and nothing at all of her luxurious surroundings. The way she'd jumped at his touch, her pulse quickening.
Something: satisfaction, stirred inside him.
Perhaps she wasn't ill at all.
He poured coffee, strong and aromatic, for them both then offered her milk, consciously tamping down on his urgent curiosity.
'Of course it wasn't just gold and gems that my ancestors took as their right,' he said as he leaned back in his chair, surveying her.
'It wasn't?' She darted a look at him then concentrated on the array of food before her.
'No,' he said slowly. 'They appropriated money of course, weapons and ships. But the Al Akhtars have always had a taste for the best in all things.'
Rafiq watched her choose a pastry. The sun lit her shoulder length honey-blonde hair with pure gold. Her eyes were as bright as any sapphire in the royal jewels. And those lips.
Suddenly, overwhelmingly, he wanted to feel those lips on him, cool and soft against his burning flesh.
'They had an eye for beauty, in all its forms,' he said, his voice deepening of its own accord as he watched her. 'And their taste in women was renowned.'
She swallowed hard, half choking on a mouthful of sweet pastry.
'They weren't averse to snatching a beautiful woman off a ship bound for another port. They saw it as their right.' He leaned towards her over the table, ostensibly to select some fruit for his plate. This close he read fascination mixed with outrage in her eyes. Fiery blue accusation blazed at him.
'Kidnapping, as well as piracy then! No wonder your family had a reputation for ruthlessness.'
He nodded. 'Of course, by today's standards it would be barbaric. But only a couple of generations ago it was another matter. And it wasn't always as dire as you think. My great grandmother had no wish to leave here after she'd been…liberated from a ship.'
Her eyes grew huge. 'Your own great grandmother?' She shook her head in amazement.
Rafiq sat back, watching the play of emotions across her face. 'She was more than happy to stay after she met my great grandfather. She'd been on her way from England to India to marry some military man she hardly knew. Family lore has it that she and my great grandfather made a love match of it.'
'But she couldn't have…'
'What?' He frowned. 'She couldn't have loved a man of my culture?' Pride sharpened his voice. Pride bred through hundreds of years of Al Akhtar blood. Of absolute rule and unquestioned authority.
'No, no, not that.' She shook her head and hair like spun gold flared round her. 'But how could she have accepted it? To become just one of many women in a harem?' There was genuine distress in her tight lips and her worried brow.
'Ah,' he sipped his coffee and sat back, strangely satisfied at her reaction. 'Your concern isn't for the cultural and racial divide between them. It is for her place in his affections. You are a romantic, Belle.'
She met his gaze steadily, her chin jutting in a gesture he recognised as characteristic. 'It seems hard that she should have no choice in the matter. That she should give up everything for him and he should give up nothing,' she said. 'Just take what he wanted.'
'What you say would be true, if she hadn't wanted him just as much.'
He watched her eyes widen, her lips part in surprise. She clearly hadn't considered the possibility that his ancestress had got exactly what she desired, however unorthodox her meeting with her future husband.
'Don't let it worry you, Belle.' He leaned forward and closed his hand over hers. Her hand was smaller than his, seemingly fragile, but strong and capable. Just like the woman herself.
'I told you it was a love match. They were faithful to each other. He was young when he stole her away and the harem was filled with his female relatives, not his wives.'
He slid his thumb over the sensitive skin of her palm and felt her shiver in response. It pleased him, intrigued him, that she reacted so readily to his touch. The pulse at the base of her neck was an agitated tattoo, revealing what she would no doubt rather hide. Her scent, fresh and inviting, rose to entice him.
'In fact,' he murmured, spurred on by some teasing, inner demon as he leaned closer, 'the pair of them started a family tradition. Since that time the Al Akhtar men have only ever taken one wife. And once they find their woman they never let her go.'
Her indrawn breath was loud in the silence. The instant tension between them so strong, so intimate, that he felt it in every taut muscle, saw it reflected in her stunned expression.
Abruptly he released her.
She slid her hands off the table, out of sight. But his fingers still felt the silken delicacy of her skin against his.
They itched to feel more.
She was a woman of contrasts. Determination and physical courage in such an alluring, feminine body. So brave, yet obviously scared by her response to him. He'd made himself as her protector, yet she intrigued him as no other woman had.
She was right to be nervous.
He took a strawberry and bit into its lush fullness, enjoying the fresh tartness overlying its sweetness. But his eyes were on Belle as he ate. Would she be sweet as summer berries? Ripe and rewarding and luscious?
She avoided his gaze as she reached for her coffee.
'But now we need to discuss the present,' he said, watching her take a sip of the hot brew.
She tilted her head in acknowledgement.
'You said last night that you want to return to your team's lodgings.'
'That's right.' She nodded so emphatically that her hair swirled around her shoulders. 'I've got lots to organise. There'll be a replacement for Duncan arriving some time, and then the rest of the group. And I want to visit the wreck again as soon as possible.'
'It will not be as simple as that.' He lifted his own cup and swallowed some of the strong coffee.
She put her cup down and squared her shoulders as if bracing for bad news. 'What's wrong? Is it the wreck? Has it been destroyed by the cyclone?'
He shook his head. In all the mopping up operations after the devastation wreaked on the outer islands, checking an ancient wreck had not been a priority. 'No one has been to investigate. Our problem has nothing to do with your marine survey. It has to do with the ransom that was paid to save you.'
Her brows pleated in confusion. 'But you rescued us. Why would a ransom be paid?'
Clearly she hadn't caught up with the news from her hospital bed. Which meant the staff there had been remarkably discreet.
'There was reason to suppose you would come to harm if the ransom wasn't paid. Serious harm.' He frowned, remembering his advisors arguing over what action to take in response to the kidnap. As if there could be any doubt once he'd realised the situation's gravity. 'Regrettably the deadline for payment of the ransom came before we could get news to the mainland that you'd been found.'
'So,' she said slowly, 'the ransom was paid anyway?'
'That's right.'
'How much do we owe you?'
Rafiq stared, not believing his ears.
'How much was the ransom?' she asked again, just as if she meant to find the money somehow to pay him back whatever the cost of her rescue.
'You misunderstand,' he said abruptly. His neck stiffened at the implication that he sought recompense for doing his duty and he clamped his jaw tight shut. He took a slow, calming breath. 'The ransom wasn't money, it was the Peacock's Eye.'
Her brows knit together. 'I've heard of that,' she said slowly. 'It's jewellery, isn't it?'
He nodded. The Eye was jewellery just as the Taj Mahal was a tombstone.
Belle Winters obviously wasn't like most visitors, who believed a trip to Q'aroum wasn't complete without a visit to see the royal gems. The Eye was the centrepiece of the collection: a dazzling necklace, ancient and heavy with the weight of solid gold and gems, designed to mimic the pattern on a peacock's tail feather. Its value was in its magnificent wealth: the huge emeralds alone were beyond price. But much more important was its historic and cultural significance to Q'aroum.
'It's jewellery,' Rafiq agreed wryly. 'But more than that, it's an heirloom that holds unique significance in our heritage. For generations it's been the traditional gift of the royal sheikh to his bride.'
Her jaw dropped.
'According to the custom of my people,' he continued, 'since I relinquished it in return for you, I've paid it as a bride price. Which means that as far as Q'aroum is concerned, Belle, you are my affianced bride.'
This book had such a long gestation period. It emerged from discussions with friend and fellow author, Anna Campbell, over months – no, years, about heroic archetypes and female fantasies of falling in love. Anna and I don't see each other as often as we'd like so when we do get together it's a talkfest. And one of the late night themes was why the sheikh? What is it about this sort of hero that appeals to so many women worldwide? Why do we look twice at books about Arabian princes emerging from a fantasy world to sweep some (lucky) woman off her feet?
I know sheikh heroes aren't everyone's cup of tea and I admit that years ago I might have said the same. But their appeal has grown on me. Maybe it's their larger than life aura. Maybe it's the echo of some exotic Arabian Nights fantasy. Or perhaps the fact that they wield such power in their own domain but are conquered by love.
The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride explores what happens when duty and passion collide. When two people from completely different worlds find themselves flung together in a situation that tests them to the limit. Belle and Rafiq rise to the challenge, and in the process discover just how far they'll go for the one they love.
The idea for this specific story came to me while I was at a Romance Writers' of Australia conference in Coogee, Sydney. I'm sure the excitement of being with so many other wonderful writers inspired me. I was getting ready for the official dinner when inspiration struck and I had to jot down a couple of ideas.
It was quite a while before I got a chance to start the book as I was writing something else at the time. Maybe that was a good thing. By the time I sat down to write The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride so much of the story was vivid in my mind – particularly Rafiq, one of my favourite heroes. The setting too was marvellous – a place I looked forward to visiting each time I sat at the computer. In fact I became so fond of Q'aroum that it was hard to leave and I set my next book there too!
I hope you enjoy Belle and Rafiq's story as much as I do


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Essential oils have amazing properties and benefits that can be used throughout the day. For example, you can diffuse Wild Orange oil to uplift mood and freshen the air. You can use Lemon oil in a spray bottle of water to clean tables and other surfaces. And you can apply Lavender oil to your feet at night to help you unwind at bedtime.
We know individual essential oils are powerful and potent. However, when you combine two or more essential oils, the characteristics and benefits of the oils increase as they work together to promote wellness. This is called "synergy." For example:
- Lavender essential oil by itself is soothing, but when combined with other calming essential oils, such as Cedarwood and Roman Chamomile in doTERRA's Serenity® Blend, the soothing properties of Lavender are increased and enhanced.
- Lemon essential oil by itself is very uplifting and energizing when diffused. Blend Lemon oil with other citrus oils like Grapefruit, Lime, or Bergamot can enhance the effect and help improve mood.
Essential oil blends are created to build upon the qualities of individual essential oils and make them even better. It's like a team working together to accomplish a specific goal.
Essential Oil Blends
Scientists do a lot of research when creating essential oil blends. Some factors they consider include:
- The desired effect of the essential oil blend.
- How the essential oil blend will be used.
- The chemistry of different essential oils.
- The aromatic profile of each oil.
By keeping all of this in mind, scientists are able to make essential oil blends that benefit us all.
Creating Your Essential Oil Blend
It's easy to create your own blend. To get started, download this worksheet for detailed steps in creating your own essential oil blend.
There are some things to consider before starting. The first, and most basic question to ask when creating an essential oil blend, is what do you want the blend to do? If you don't know the purpose of the oil blend, you won't know which essential oils to include. You may want to create a person essential oil blend that helps you focus. It could be a blend to help keep you energized at work. Maybe you want a blend to help you relax after a busy day. It could even be an oil blend that just smells good and is uplifting. Whatever you decide, once you've defined what the blend should do, you can start selecting the oils you want to use.
Using Your Essential Oil Blend
Next, how do you want to use the blend? Aromatically with a diffuser, or a blend to apply topically? If you want a blend to apply topically, you may want to avoid citrus oils because they can cause photosensitivity. If you want a blend to use aromatically, you probably don't want to include Fractionated Coconut Oil because it isn't designed to be diffused.
You will also want to ask yourself who you want using your oil blend. If you're making an oil blend for children, you'll want to use gentler oils because children's skin can be more sensitive. If you're making an oil blend as a scent for men, woody oils would be more appropriate to use.
Essential Oil Blend Chemistry
Once you've determined how you want to use your oil blend, you next need to consider the chemistry of the oils you should use. The chemistry of an essential oil tells us which molecules an essential oil contains. Molecules are tiny particles found in essential oils that give the oil its characteristics.
Molecules have been researched and tested by scientists to determine what they do and how they act in the body. Knowing what molecules an oil contains and the effects those molecules have helps you develop a blend that accomplishes what you want it to. For example, Lavender contains esters, a type of molecule that is known to be calming, making Lavender the perfect addition to a relaxing blend.
Essential Oil Chemistry Wheel
For ideas of what molecules an essential oil contains and the characteristics they provide, download the doTERRA® Oil Chemistry Wheel. The oils on the Chemistry Wheel are grouped according to shared key properties. These key properties provide a starting point for understanding how to use the oils in general as well as blending.
There are actually two wheels, each with two sides. The first wheel gives information on oils high in monoterpenes (oils that have a 10-carbon backbone). One side of the monoterpene wheel describes oils with lifting properties, and the other side presents oils with leveling properties.
The second Oil Chemistry Wheel contains information about oils high in sesquiterpenes (oils that have a 15-carbon backbone) on one side, with a legend on the opposite side. In each of the chemistry wheels, the oils are further organized by functional group, with the top one or two chemical constituents listed under each oil.
Essential Oil Blend Aroma Profile
Now that you know which essential oils will help you accomplish the purpose of your blend, you can start blending essential oils. As you combine different essential oils, keep in mind the aroma or scent of the blend you're creating. The first consideration should be the aroma of the blend. It should have a pleasant smell. Most people don't want to use something that smells "funny."
Next, make sure that the smell is balanced. When you make a blend, you want to make sure that you can't smell too much of one oil. Instead, the oils should work together and complement each other when creating a new scent.
Your Own Essential Oil Blend
Creating an essential oil blend is a carefully planned out process that involves multiple steps. Scientists thoroughly consider what the blend is meant to do, how it is supposed to be used, the chemistry of each oil used, and the overall aroma of the blend.
With each of these factors in mind, scientists are able to develop essential oil blends that build on the individual essential oils they contain. This enhances the unique characteristics of each essential oil in order to make a uniquely beneficial blend that promotes wellness in a new way.
Download the PDFs mentioned in this blog here:

subset: commoncrawl


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Watching "Cultural Rhythms" was a bit like stepping back into Kindergarten: I, the short, klutzy spectator, was suddenly filled with the uplifting desire to drop my books and become a dancer. During Expressions Dance Company's performance in the dimmed and lively Sanders Theater on Saturday, I found myself inadvertently tapping my pen to the beat. Nevermind the fact that I lack the graceful swanlike legs of a dancer, can't count a beat, and have enormous, boat-like feet. "Cultural Rhythms" just does that to you; it makes you want to sing along, to get up and dance, to join the beat.
"Cultural Rhythms," an annual showcase of talent from Harvard's diverse student groups, featured 28 different performances this Saturday. Every year, the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, which sponsors the event, chooses an Artist of the Year to honor, as well. The 2008 recipient—celebrated jazz musician Herbie Hancock—took to the stage with a large smile on his face at the show's start and hosted the night with ease.
In the spirit of welcoming the jazz giant to Harvard, the show opened with Marcus Miller '08 and his band, whose soulful jazz tunes mingled with the blue lighting and filtered into every crevice of Sanders Theater. Hancock showered high praised on the group's performance, claiming that he wanted to "steal Marcus from Marcus."
The next set of performers, the Irish American Society Dancers, displayed a lively and impressive form of Irish stepdancing. Their bright, flavorful costumes were the first of many beautiful traditional outfits, from the colorful dresses of the Harvard Ballet Folklorico de Aztlan to the bright orange and white worn by Harvard Bhangra.
When Mariachi Veritas de Harvard, a traditional Mexican Mariachi band, took to the stage, I couldn't help but share in the excitement of a fellow bench mate, who inadvertently registered amazement as the male soloist began singing in a surprisingly bass voice. Although the songs were in a foreign language, the emotion in the soloists' voices enveloped the audience in the universality of music.
A similar contagion spread during the performance of the Kuumba Singers, a large-scale choir that explores the musical tradition of African folk songs, spirituals, and gospel. Their performance featured three distinct vocal groups, whose juxtaposed parts harmonized perfectly.
Throughout the evening, Hancock shared a diverse array of personal anecdotes about everything from his wife, whom he met in Asia, to his Irish American roots, "where," the musician joked, "I got my rhythm from." Hancock also tried his hand at salsa dancing, Asian fan dancing, and African drumming.
The range of ethnic dance and song was further illustrated by Harvard Wushu, whose modern rendition of kung fu became a dance, graceful and delicate despite the members' giant swords and other weaponry. This play fighting popped up again in the Harvard Breakers performance, whose place in the show reminded us that culture is not simply limited to ethnic groups. The Breakers celebrated hip-hop culture and dance by featuring a combination of three different musical styles, united by a careful choreography of break dancing, popping, and locking.
The best part of "Cultural Rhythms," however, was not a single act by one performance group, but rather the finale, when all the groups came together to share their talent with not only the audience, but each other. Bhangra dancers learned the steps to Mexican traditional folk dances; African and pow-wow dancing occurred side-by-side; and all the groups learned a little bit about popping and locking from the Breakers. Such a finale put a lasting emphasis on the message of the night, "that the real spirit of America is the spirit of the world," according to Hancock.
I am glad that after seeing "Cultural Rhythms," I can refute my old high school math teacher's claim that Harvard is an old boys' club, with little to no diversity and a lack of appreciation for the arts. Leaving the theater, I felt like a part of a greater whole, a collective community whose spirit came together not to celebrate our differences, but rather how much we have
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From My XO Laptop
Well, almost... I prepared this entry from my XO Laptop. I even took the picture with the Record application. It looked like it was going to work, until Blogger's image upload completion page failed to display the annoyingly critical "Done" button. So after typing all the text on the XO, I transferred the picture via a USB drive, and finished the task on my Mac... A little bit disappointing, and I would tend to blame it on Web 2.0, but that's for another post.
Today's stair number: 1
Today's stair number: 1


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Everyone who has been waiting for the Generation 2 Pokemon to be introduced into Pokemon Go since the launch in January. The game itself has taken quite a bit of a strange path, going through different changes to try to stay relevant, all without actually doing many changes.
Pokemon Go picked up in popularity again thanks to its Halloween frenzy, but it has been a couple of weeks and people are starting to fall off again. Stil, there is another event planned for after Thanksgiving and another for December.
There have been rumors that there will be a massive update in December, but it looks like this won't be happening anymore, according to iTech Post.
The hype for Gen 2 Pokemon came when someone said that over 100 new Pokemon will arrive soon thanks to a leak in the patch code, but it looks like those chances are pretty slim.
Pokemon Go will probably release the trading feature before they add new Pokemon, and that has been embedded into the code for months. The trading feature is a must-have to continue the success of the game and will probably make people start playing it again.
The Player v. Player battle is also supposed to come into the game soon. This will be a significant change that Niantic will use to bring people back to the game. Add that to the fact that the Gen 1 Pokemon haven't even been completely released yet, and you likely won't see the Gen 2 ones.


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I Instaled Eiffel studio. But for compiling it properly I need to have GTK+2.4 or above. I checked in Yast, that I have 2.14 version installed, but when I try to compile I got
comand pkg-config --modversion gtk+-2.0 givesCode:Preparing C compilation nice: make: No such file or directory GTK version 2.4 or later does not seem to be installed Precompilation of EiffelVision skipped.
So need help with that.Code:Package gtk+-2.0 was not found in the pkg-config search path. Perhaps you should add the directory containing `gtk+-2.0.pc' to the PKG_CONFIG_PATH environment variable No package 'gtk+-2.0' found


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Feb 15, 2017
496 days. 496 days? That's how long we've been gone, but back with episode 88!
We talk all things noob yoga, marriage, and Mexico City to catch everyone up with what's gone on with us in the last year plus. "Is It -or- Is It?" tests everyone's knowledge of elves and prescription drugs!


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This Week at Physics
This Week at Physics
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Event Number 4223
Thursday, August 25th, 2016
- NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
- High-energy astrophysical neutrinos: testing ground for new physics
- Time: 2:30 pm
- Place: 5280 Chamberlin hall
- Speaker: Mauricio Bustamante, Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics (CCAPP), The Ohio State University
- Abstract: High-energy astrophysical neutrinos, recently discovered by IceCube, are fertile ground to test for the presence of new physics. We can look for it at previously unexplored energies -- from tens of TeV to a few PeV, far beyond the reach of laboratory experiments. Due to cosmological-scale baselines -- Mpc to Gpc -- tiny new-physics effects, otherwise unobservable, could, by accumulation, become detectable. These include neutrino decay, violation of fundamental symmetries, and novel neutrino-neutrino interactions. I will show that the spectral features and flavor composition of neutrinos can reveal the presence and type of new physics. I will give special attention to neutrino decay. Present-day data are already sensitive to some models. More statistics, improvements in detection techniques, and detector upgrades will only enhance the sensitivity.
- Host: Carlos Arguelles
- Add this event to your calendar
- High-energy astrophysical neutrinos: testing ground for new physics


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Editorials from around New England
Editorials from around New England:
Layoff notice law in need of an upgrade
The Connecticut Post
Sept. 5
When a trio of Friendly's restaurants vanished from the Connecticut landscape in the spring, it was easier to notice than when most companies vanish or downsize.
Chances are, you hadn't been to Friendly's in a while (don't blame yourself for the company's woes). Had the chain followed the 1988 federal WARN Act to give workers a 60-day warning, you could have stopped in for one last Fribble.
Instead, unknowing staff apparently turned up for work that day to shuttered doors. It escaped exactly no one's notice that this was not friendly.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., provided a pretty good reason more companies should be less dismissive of the Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
Schumer ratted out Friendly's to U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta.
"I urge your agency to query the Friendly's Corporation and investigate the manner by which service workers were notified of layoffs. A request like this is a bare minimum appeal for workers who were shocked to arrive at their jobs and abruptly told to close up shop. Workers are expected to provide employers with an industry standard 'two-week notice' upon quitting. These same workers should trust that their employers adhere to the same kind of agreement. It's only fair," Schumer wrote.
Though Friendly's closed restaurants in Danbury, Southbury and Waterbury, we don't know what motivated Connecticut lawmakers to express interest in the WARN Act in recent weeks.
The Connecticut General Assembly's Office of Legislative Research issued a review of the status of the WARN Act in Connecticut. This is often an early step in the path to crafting legislation.
Connecticut lawmakers have little influence over the WARN Act, as it is federally regulated. As a result, companies sometimes ignore it completely.
Some companies � Bridgewater, for example � have followed the rules of late. Others, such as Toys R Us, do not play along.
There can be other consequences for companies that dodge the law. Greenwich-based Round Hill Investments reached a deal last year to purchase the manufacturer of Sky Bar and Clark candy bars and Necco wafers. Factory workers responded with a lawsuit seeking back pay covering the 60-day notice.
The law itself has more loopholes than most gun legislation. Some of this is reasonable. Firms fear vendors panicking upon learning of pending layoffs, for example.
But the act has a few motivations. One of course, is money. The Department of Labor would prefer to save on benefits by getting a head start on finding new jobs for employees.
Other reasons � which should guide the discussion � are anchored by the morality of treating people with dignity. Sending workers to jobs that no longer exist is no way to treat employees. It's no way to treat anyone.
So we encourage Schumer to work with colleagues to give the act more sting. Connecticut lawmakers should see what they can contribute as well. Here's a head start: Call it the Friendly's Law.
Online: https://bit.ly/2kucunR
Apprentices key part of the answer to Maine's workforce problems
Portland Press Herald
Sept. 4
With Maine facing a workforce shortage that is only going to get worse, employers can't afford to sit back and wait for good employees to come their way - they have to help produce them.
Many companies have already gotten the word. Roughly 115 employers are now taking part in the state Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Program, an increase of 40 percent in two years, the Portland Press Herald reported last week. Another 60 have applied and are awaiting approval.
Under the program, businesses having trouble finding qualified applicants recruit and hire apprentices, who work full time while also attending classroom sessions, often through a community college.
The state partially subsidizes training and education for the apprentices, who in return get on-the-job training and a nationally recognized certificate. They also get a foot in the door at a company that needs workers - state officials say 95 percent of apprentices end up working with the company that sponsored them.
The program in the past has been used mostly to train workers in blue-collar jobs such as construction, shipbuilding, plumbing and electrical work. But in a sign of just how widespread Maine's workforce shortage has become, more white-collar professions are using apprenticeships, including the health care and information technology sectors.
In one case, in a for-profit venture spun off the state program, apprentices make up the staff of a public relations agency, building the number of workers in that field. A similar initiative also is planned for the hospitality industry.
Some companies are already heavily invested in employee training. Cianbro Corp., for instance, has had its own training institute for over a decade.
And Bath Iron Works, which has been a participant in the state apprenticeship program, operates a training academy that has trained 700 workers since the beginning of the year; they plan to hire 1,000 more workers in 2020. Gardiner-based Everett J. Prescott Inc., which has 300 employees, has trained 50 workers through its apprenticeship program in the last 12 years.
But it is difficult for Maine's many small businesses to mimic those kinds of initiatives by themselves. That's where the state program comes in - officials say an apprenticeship program can be set up through the state for nearly any profession.
But the state program is so popular that the maximum reimbursement to employers has been cut by more than half; it needs more funding, as do training programs in general. (Gov. Mills originally proposed a $19 million workforce development bond be put before Maine voters; a pared-down version to fund career and technical centers was rejected - at least for the time being - by Republicans last week.)
Apprenticeships and other training programs aren't the only answer to Maine's workforce problems. For employers struggling to find workers amid strict competition, increasing wages must be on the table.
And Maine absolutely has to attract more working-age people. If not, there simply won't be enough workers to fill open positions, even if every native-born Mainer stays here to work.
But when employers commit to training their own workers, it can pull new people into the workforce, and it can allow others to move up to better-paying jobs.
It can reshape Maine's workforce, little by little, for the better.
Online: https://bit.ly/2m2TGN7
Raiding military for wall sets a terrible precedent
Sept. 5
President Donald Trump is going to get his wall on our nation's border with Mexico -- or at least some sections of replacement fencing -- even if he has to stick it to the U.S. military to secure the funds for his vanity project.
On Wednesday, the day after the Pentagon began to inform members of Congress about previously approved military projects that would be put on hold, perhaps indefinitely, the White House released a list of the efforts that would see funding diverted to the wall. You know, the one that Trump had long said Mexico would pay to construct. As it turns out, proposed military projects in 23 states, three U.S. territories and in 20 countries will actually be raided to build that wall.
Though one might be quick to point out that such a move is an obvious unconstitutional usurpation of Congress' power of the purse, the current Supreme Court, with five of the nine justices having been appointed by Republican presidents, has already shown that it probably wouldn't see things that way. Sadly.
So Trump will be able to campaign for re-election touting his big, beautiful wall while our nation's military suffers as a consequence. Seems an awfully strange definition of making America great, doesn't it?
Because our president is unable ever to admit that he may be wrong, about anything under the sun, and is consequently unable to change course, even when doing so would make the most sense, Trump, still fixated on the need for a wall, declared an emergency at the border early this year. It's that declaration, and the Supreme Court's acquiescence with a previous maneuver to divert military funds to wall construction, that has paved the way for the newest move. But just because the high court may well deem the move constitutional does not mean that it's right. This court, as currently constituted, is made up of a majority of right-wing ideologues, with Chief Justice John Roberts, no one's idea of a centrist, the de facto swing vote on the Republican-leaning court. When the rubber meets the road, it's politics, not jurisprudence, that too often takes precedence.
Trump's use of emergency powers sets a terrible standard. Imagine, some years down the line, that there's a Democrat in the White House and that the Supreme Court has a majority of Democratic-appointed justices. What would stop that president from declaring climate change a national emergency and diverting funds that had been otherwise appropriated to remediate the danger from carbon and methane emissions? Or suppose the president decided that income inequality was an emergency and moved to act on that score?
In our government, which is a system of divided powers, Congress, not our nation's chief executive, decides how taxpayer money is spent. But in the mind of would-be King Donald, such constitutional niceties just get in the way and keep him from winning. Or something like that.
Even if the military loses as a result.
Online: https://bit.ly/2m0VBBF
A reckoning is coming for PBMs
Concord Monitor
Sept. 1
Earlier this month, a Medicare recipient with drug coverage filled a prescription at a Concord branch of a major pharmacy chain. The pharmacist, one of many with heart, soul and concern for customers, ran the numbers and pointed out that it would be $80 cheaper if the patient paid for the drug out-of-pocket instead of using her insurance co-pay.
Until recently, pharmacists were banned from alerting customers to such savings by contracts with pharmacy benefit management companies. Untold millions were secretly siphoned away from unwitting patients by the legal, but deceitful, tactic.
A bill passed by Congress last year freed pharmacies from PBM gag orders.
"Multiple reports have exposed how this egregious practice has harmed consumers, such as one customer who used his insurance to pay $129 for a drug when he could have paid $18 out of pocket," Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a sponsor of the bill, told colleagues.
Now several states, including Ohio, have gone to court to recover money needlessly paid to PBMs, who kept the bulk of the money spent by customers its contracts kept in the dark. A study of 9.5 million prescription drug claims by researchers at the University of Southern California found that "2.2 million - or 23 percent - overpaid for their prescription because their co-pay was more than the cost of the drug."
"Clawbacks" earned by overcharging patients are just one of the sins of an industry that evolved in the 1990s as middlemen between pharmaceutical manufacturers, insurers, employers and plan beneficiaries. They have become, it seems, akin to lampreys, the parasitic eel-like fish with rasping mouths that attach to their piscine victims and suck their blood, weakening but not killing them.
It's long past time for pharmacy management companies like CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx to justify their existence. A significant percentage of the health care industry say they offer no benefit at all to patients or health care providers. We agree and believe that if light is shed on the financial machinations of the industry it will become clear that PBMs add no value to the world's most expensive health care system.
At the national level, and in state after state, a reckoning is coming.
In New Hampshire, the effort has taken the form of the PBM Accountability Project. The bipartisan group includes Concord Mayor Jim Bouley, Franklin Mayor Tony Giunta, representatives of the state's unions, health care advocacy organizations, municipal governments, think tanks, taxpayer groups and employers.
One of the project's first tasks is to determine whether, like New Jersey, New Hampshire should adopt a reverse-auction model for contracts with pharmacy management firms. Under that model, states, or presumably smaller entities that provide benefits, not insurers or PBMs, create a drug formulary that must be covered, and PBM management companies bid to administer the drug plan. Presumably, competition will result in lower prices, though with only three major players we aren't optimistic.
Spokespeople for New Hampshire's accountability project claim the change could save the state $10 million per year under its contract with the PBM ExpressScripts.
We support the PBM Project's quest for transparency and all efforts to end profiteering and price gouging by every component of America's needlessly expensive health care system.
Online: https://bit.ly/2kgRJw0
Governor should be more forthcoming
Providence Journal
Sept. 4
IGT, the multinational producer of slot machines, says it has about 1,000 jobs in Rhode Island paying an average of $100,000 a year. The state would be insane to let those jobs go if it had an affordable way to keep them here.
Gov. Gina Raimondo says a new no-bid, $1-billion, 20-year deal with IGT will protect those jobs. Even so, her pact � soon to be the subject of General Assembly hearings � requires a thorough vetting.
It is incumbent on the governor to provide as much information as possible to demonstrate why the Assembly should override the state's bidding law, which was established to protect the taxpayers from unfair insider deals. Since she is the one who wants to break the rules, she should be forthcoming about the provenance and details of her pact.
This is especially true given her unusually close political ties to IGT. Donald Sweitzer, the company's former chairman, and now its $7,500-per-month State House lobbyist, is one of her most important political allies, a nationally renowned Democratic fundraiser and insider who could make her future in national politics. Late last year, after she was named chair of the Democratic Governor's Association � a position widely regarded as a stepping stone to a presidential run � Ms. Raimondo made Mr. Sweitzer her right-hand man in the organization.
That relationship is now the subject of a Rhode Island Ethics Commission probe.
In light of all this, openness will be essential to secure the public's trust.
But as Katherine Gregg reported in her Political Scene column on Sept. 2 ("Off-limits state records shield Raimondo's IGT decision-making"), the administration has not been very responsive to The Providence Journal's open-records request for documents.
On July 15, The Journal requested "all communications to and from IGT and the governor's staff, Department of Revenue and Lottery staff � and their consultants � since January 1, 2019 ... that relate to the proposed extension of the IGT contract."
The governor waited until the very last day permitted to respond to the request. Then, what she provided was extremely limited and cast little light on the issue. (It included an already widely covered press release.) She decided to withhold a whopping 95 documents relating to the deal, "as they are not deemed public," according to Kim Ahern, the governor's deputy legal counsel.
There was no itemization of the withheld documents, which would have at least provided the public with the names, dates and, in some cases, subject lines on withheld documents and emails. The administration said that the material constituted "internal communications" protected from public scrutiny.
This is not a new approach for an administration that covers its tracks on deals. In May, The Journal was compelled to file a formal complaint with Attorney General Peter Neronha after the governor, on similar grounds, withheld documents related to her decision to extend the contract of Deloitte Consulting. Deloitte, you might remember, supplied Rhode Island with the notoriously problem-plagued UHIP public-assistance computer system, projected to cost state and federal taxpayers $656 million over 10 years. The public is still waiting for Mr. Neronha to act.
It's the people's government. It's the people's money. Since openness is essential to a properly functioning system of self-government, Governor Raimondo would be wise to be more forthcoming about the details of her extraordinarily costly deals.
Online: https://bit.ly/2k1nCs6


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Ellen Corbett is an East Bay native who grew up in our Regional Parks. She knows what our park system means to the community's health and quality of life.
Ellen M. Corbett
Mis 3 prioridades principales
- Ensure that the Park District is fiscally sound and stable so sufficient resources are available to maintain the parklands and trails, and protect threatened and endangered species and habitat.
- Balance recreational use of parklands with habitat preservation.
- Preserve open space and improve accessibility to the Park System.
¿Quién apoya a este candidato?
Featured Endorsements
- California Democratic Party
- Alameda County Democratic Party
- Sierra Club
Organizaciónes (5)
- East Bay Women's Political Caucus
- Alameda Firefighters
- Alameda County Central Labor Council
- John George Democratic Club
- Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County
Funcionarios electos (5)
- California State Senator Loni Hancock
- California State Senator Bob Wieckowski
- California Assemblymember Rob Bonta
- California Assemblymember Bill Quirk
- Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley
Individuos (4)
- The Entire East Bay Regional Park District Board
- Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
- Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday
- San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter
Creencias poliza
Filosofía política
As a child Ellen Corbett was influenced by her visits to the Regional Parks. Those visits changed her view of the world and political philosophy, making her the environmental advocate she is today.
Ellen wants to make sure all children in the East Bay have similar opportunities, to experience nature firsthand, and to learn the importance of protecting our environment, so that they can become future stewards of our parks and open spaces.


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Rare roast beef served with Yorkshire pudding, a traditional English dish, perfect for a Saturday or Sunday lunch with the family.
Serves 4
- 1.5kg prime rib roast, on the bone
- olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 carrots, roughly chopped
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 leek, roughly chopped
- a few sprigs thyme
- 1 tbsp (15ml) flour
- ¼ cup (60ml) white wine
- 1 cup (250ml) beef stock
For the Yorkshire pudding
- 1 cup (250ml) flour
- pinch of salt
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup (250ml) milk
- sunflower oil
Method For the roast
- Preheat oven to 190°C.
- Rub beef with a little olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Heat a pan until hot and sear beef until well browned.
- Place carrots, onion, leek and thyme in the bottom of a roasting tray and place seared beef on top.
- Transfer to oven and roast for half an hour per kilo for rare, adding another 15 minutes for medium rare.
- Remove beef from oven, transfer onto a board and cover with foil. Allow to rest for 20 minutes, before carving.
To make gravy
- Tilt the roasting tray slightly and spoon away most of the fat that has risen to surface.
- Place tray with the cooked vegetables directly onto the stove top and add flour, stirring while scraping up all sediment that has gathered on the bottom.
- Deglaze with wine and add stock, stirring until you achieve a good gravy consistency. (You may need to add more stock or water if gravy is too thick).
- Season with salt and pepper and strain gravy through a sieve, discarding the mashed vegetables.
For the Yorkshire pudding
- Place flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in centre.
- Whisk together the eggs and milk and pour into the well, beating until you have a smooth and runny batter.
- Increase oven temperature to 240°C.
- Pour 1 tbsp of sunflower oil into the base of each muffin mould and place in oven for 10 minutes until smoking hot.
- Remove from oven, pour in batter (2/3 full) and return to oven for about 15 minutes or until risen, golden brown and crispy.
Serve rare roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, peas and gravy.


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Grayson Fertility Clinics - Louisiana
Finding a Fertility Clinic in Grayson, LA is easy on In Vitro Centers. Simply select a state, then a city and you will be presented with an extensive list of Fertility Clinics. From there, you can choose to contact a Fertility Clinic directly by phone or email.
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Business Interruption(redirected from Business Interruptions)
Business Interruption
An event that causes a business to relocate or temporarily close. For example, an office may flood and becomes unusable, or a natural disaster may make commerce unfeasible in an entire area. A company may purchase business interruption insurance to guard against losses resulting from this.


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- Loading
Fishing gear
Number of people
It's free with no obligation to hire
Introduction: I stand-out because I take people fishing like I take myself and my friends fishing. I don't follow charter boat protocols. I change plans if something isn't working. I also am honest about conditions, regulations and what would be the best thing to do to maximize catch/fun! I'm not just in this for the money! I love to watch people catch fish on my boat! I will try to talk people out of a type of fishing that isn't panning-out at the time and try to get them into something I have had success with recently. Other captains will take your money and take you to do something knowing they aren't biting at the time! Not me! Once again - I want you to come back! I'm always on the water, I get to watch people fight fish all day and I don't have a boss, meetings, reports, or an office, and i don't have to sing happy birthday to anyone unless i want to!
Hired 1 time
3 employees
12 years in business
Business hours
(Your Time Zone)
12:00 a.m. to midnight
Photos and Videos
14 photos
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?Trips on the boat are $120 an hour. Beach sharking trips are $650. Wading trips vary in cost and I prefer to do them in late summer and the fall!
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?Yeah, I go fishing and drive a boat almost everyday!
- How did you get started doing this type of work?I have been taking friends and family fishing for many years. Often, after catching something big or a mess of fish - they would say, "man, you should take people fishing for a living". So I finally cashed-in my 401k, bought a boat and, well..... here we are!


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Setting up a micro-fund as an alternative way to provide guarantees or loans for small, local organisations.
Projects & Practice
Total results: 3.
An advisory programme on reducing nutrient pollution, implemented at county level, helps minimise the impact of agriculture on the environment.
Establishing a totally new and innovative crowd-sourcing concept combined with a local financial intermediary.


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Ask Sujeiry: My Friends with Benefits Wants to Date Me
What do you do when your friends with benefits wants to date you?! Sujeiry dishes dating advice.
Dear Sujeiry,
I have been on a friends with benefits relationship with someone for a year and six months. At first it was just for fun. Then we started to trust each other more. Recently I told him that I had feelings for him and that I wanted for us to become a couple. He always said that he cared about me, his reasoning was that if he didn't care he wouldn't continue to sleep with me. I mean he's driven over an hour just to see me before. But he doesn't want a relationship. What should I do about this?
Friends with Benefits But Want More
Dear Friends with Benefits But Want More,
It's been a year and six months and he's still not committing to you. Sure, he's still in your life and drives hours to see you, but (I repeat) he's still not committing to you. If a commitment is what you want and he says he's not ready, then, it's not going to happen.
I'm not saying he doesn't care about you. You can ask any guy if they've driven over an hour only to have sex with a girl they have no connection with and most would say no. But he is also your friend, so maybe he makes the trip to see you because he enjoys your company, not because he wants to be with you seriously. It's just an added bonus that he's going to get some sexual healing as well.
So what should you do? Be honest about what you want. If not, you will remain friends with benefits for another year and a half. if he sticks with his story and says he doesn't want a relationship but cares about you, then you have to decide whether sleeping with him is enough. He may change his mind and want to commit to you down the line, or he may not. All we can do is live and make decisions in the now. The present is the only guarantee.
So what are you going to do? Hope for the best or choose to take a stand and cut the benefits from this friendship? The choice is yours.
Love strongly and wisely,
Sujeiry[contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]


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Remembering Eleanor McKay: Gasparilla Queen
Born and raised in Tampa, the three McKay sisters could not have been more different from one another. Mary Irene, the eldest, was strong-willed. Charlotte "Totty," the youngest, was always the life of the party. And the middles sister, Eleanor, was the peacemaker. Nevertheless, the sisters were close to one another from both a logistical and personal standpoint. With her diplomatic personality trait, it will come as no surprise that Eleanor would become a member of the royal court as the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Queen in 1937 as well as the inaugural Queen of Cypress Gardens.
The Life and Times of a Gasparilla Queen
Recently, the Gasparilla Queen's daughter and grand-daughter sat down to share stories about the life and times of the family's matriarch, who died at the age of 104.
"During World War II, while my father served the country, my mother kept busy serving on the Children's Home Auxiliary and volunteering with numerous other efforts," shared Eleanor "Ann" Olmstead. "And every day she mailed a different joke to my father to keep his spirits up."
Eleanor's husband, John C. "Jack" Peters, was ultimately stationed in England but helped plan hthe infamous "Doolittle Raid," named after Lt. Col. James Doolittle. During the April 18, 1942 war skirmish, B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet in order to strike targets around Tokyo. It became one of the most celebrated victories during the war and was even featured in the 1944 award-winning movie titled "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."
After the war ended, Lt. Col. Doolittle and General Allard periodically came to the Peters' house for a visit and dinner. "I distinctly remember General Allard's visits as he was so tall," added Ann.
Married life was blissful for the Peters until the mid to late 1950s. "My father survived the war only to contract atypical tuberculosis, which led him to be quarantined in the TB hospital in Tampa. At the time, it was located where the campus of Hillsborough Community College is now."
Times were difficult for Eleanor as she worried about the health of her husband, ran a household and took care of her mother who had moved into her home due to failing health. Thankfully, Jack recovered and family life returned to normal.
Over the years, Eleanor and Jack were quite involved in the Tampa community from a philanthropic perspective. They were primary donors and orchestrated the fundraising efforts for the stadium lights for the soon to be constructed Robinson High School stadium. Although the school was open, the stadium was not. So Robinson played their "home" games at Plant High School on dates of Plant's away games. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, while heading to the concession stand at a Robinson vs. Lakeland football game at Plant, Jack had a massive heart attack and died. Sadly, Eleanor was sitting in the stands at the time. The Robinson High School stadium currently remains named "Jack Peters Field" in his honor.
"After the death of my grandfather, my grandmother basically became a single parent and went to work. She was able to keep the family company afloat with some help," Michele Craig went on to say.
Later in Life
Despite the bad things that happened to her, Eleanor was always able to focus on the here and now — enjoying life to the fullest. She remarried two other times: William "Bill" Maurer and Harry Morris when she was in her 70s.
"My grandmother or GG, as she was affectionately known to the younger members of the family and friends, inspired so many with her inviting presence, impeccable grace, humor and kindness," continued Michele.
Both Ann and Michele related a story that was quintessential Eleanor. "After her last surviving sister died, my mother decided it was time to purchase a burial plot and create her headstone. She was about 82 at the time. After meeting with the stonemason, my mother had the man make her tombstone. She included the following quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson: 'I am a part of all I have met.' My mother wanted to list all the names of her husbands, but also made it perfectly clear that her spouses had all died … she never divorced," said Ann.
Michele continued with a giggle, "On the headstone, my grandmother demanded that a space be left underneath Harry Morris … just in case, she married a fourth time."
Hospice Care in the End
For the most part, Eleanor remained healthy until she became a centenarian and the side effects of the aging process caught up with her.
"In the end, we wanted my mother to be as comfortable as possible with what time she had left in this world. Thankfully, she was admitted to the inpatient unit at Tampa General Hospital, where the staff helped in ways that I could not," confessed Ann.
"Honestly, I was worried about how my mother would be able to care for my grandmother. The hospice staff members are the experts in guiding people at the end of life. My grandmother had the peaceful end to her life that she deserved," added Michele.
Room 12 at the LifePath Hospice inpatient unit at Tampa General Hospital will always be fondly remembered as Eleanor's Room, Gasparilla Queen.
At Chapters Health System, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to email@example.com.
About Phoebe Ochman
Phoebe Ochman, Director of Corporate Communications for Chapters Health System, manages all content and communications for the not-for-profit organization.
History of Tampa's Pirate Invasion
Across the United States, there are parades that traditionally take place at various times throughout the year: New York City is known for its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and skyscraper-high balloons, Pasadena for the Rose Parade and its floral floats and lastly Tampa for Gasparilla and its pirate invasion.
Outsiders and newcomers to the area often wonder about the origins of the annual event. The tradition of Gasparilla can be traced back to the 18th century when a rogue by the name of José Gaspar wreaked havoc in Tampa Bay by seizing and robbing ships with his merry band of pirates. Their escapades continued until the pirates decided to retire from thievery. The last heist perpetrated by Gaspar and his crew was laying siege to an incognito U.S. Navy ship, which needless to say did not end well for the pirates.
Over the years, the legend of José Gaspar grew. In 1904, the Tampa civic community made the decision to create a celebratory event to commemorate the naval victory over the pirates. In the beginning, meetings were held in secret in order to create a pirate crew of masked marauders who would be responsible for surprising the residents of the city on horseback. These night riders birthed the first Gasprilla krewe, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.
Today there are more than 50 krewes that participate in the pirate invasion of Tampa Bay. Gasparilla festivities include a reenactment of the Tampa Bay invasion by the scallywag, José Gaspar, sailing into the bay on his fully-outfitted pirate ship. The mayor is forced to relinquish the keys to the city, the pirates take over and all sorts of shenanigans ensue.
Additionally, Gasparilla is not limited to one parade and one day. The week before the invasion and main parade there is the Gasparilla Children's Parade. Two weeks after the weekend of Gasparilla, there is the night parade — also known as the Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade taking place in Ybor City. And lastly, throughout the first couple of months of the year the Gasparilla Distance Classic, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Gasparilla Music Festival and the Gasparilla International Film Festival take place.


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The main spending bill in a $32 billion bipartisan budget package is past the Pennsylvania Legislature on the state fiscal year's final day, although lawmakers don't know how it'll all be funded.
The House voted 173-27 on Friday, hours after the Senate voted 43-7. The package was unveiled a day earlier, after being negotiated in secret. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf supports it, but has yet to say whether he'll sign it if lawmakers can't figure out a spending plan. (Click here for his statement.)
Both chambers recessed until at least Wednesday, and lawmakers say they'll try next week to find $2 billion-plus to cover the shortfall.
The governor's office says spending is virtually flat under the package. Counting the amounts above the last approved budget of $31.5 billion, the increase is nearly 3 percent. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to universities is awaiting passage until lawmakers pass a revenue plan.
Lehigh Valley lawmakers voiced support for the package.
"I voted for this budget bill (House Bill 218) because it makes key investments in education and successful economic development programs and will make our State government run more effectively and efficiently," state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton, said in a statement. "Even though financial resources are limited, I was pleased that this bipartisan spending plan increases education funding by $175 million. ...
"Like all budgets, there was a great deal of give-and-take negotiation. However, I am satisfied by this frugal and targeted approach to appropriating limited state funds."
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, stated: "I'm particularly pleased to see $100 million added for basic education and $25 million more for special education as originally requested by the governor. That means an additional $2.8 million in basic education and $434,427 in special education for the Allentown School District. It also includes a $30 million increase for Pre-K Counts and Head Start, which are important early childhood education initiatives with proven success."
Here are some highlights of the bipartisan spending plan for Pennsylvania state government's 2017-18 budget year that starts Saturday:
It increases spending through the state's main bank account to almost $32 billion. The governor's office counts the spending increase in the new fiscal year as $54 million, or 0.2 percent, using a baseline of more than $31.9 billion. That means that spending in the just-ending fiscal year rose 6 percent.
Using the state's last enacted budget figure of just over $31.5 billion as a baseline for both fiscal years, the budget package approves an extra $870 million more in spending, or almost 3 percent. That includes approximately $410 million more going on the just-ending fiscal year's books and $460 million more on the new fiscal year's books. Wolf had initially proposed a budget of about $32.3 billion in February, including $1 billion in new spending when counting approximately $230 million being requested for the just-ending fiscal year.
The package lacks legislation to fully fund it. It requires more than $2 billion in yet-to-be-identified cash to balance, according to lawmakers. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to universities is awaiting passage until lawmakers pass a revenue plan.
-- Plans to merge the Department of Corrections and Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole into a new Department of Criminal Justice.
-- Plans to merge the Human Services and Health departments, but keep the Aging and Drug and Alcohol Programs departments separate.
-- Increases aid for public school operations and instruction by $100 million, an increase of nearly 2 percent to $6 billion.
-- Increases early-childhood education funding by $30 million, an increase of 15 percent to $226 million.
-- Increases special education funding by $25 million, an increase of 2 percent to above $1.1 billion.
-- Increases state-owned university aid by $9 million, an increase of 2 percent to $453 million; otherwise holds higher education funding flat at $1.6 billion.
-- EDUCATION: Grows 3.5 percent to $12.2 billion.
-- HUMAN SERVICES: Cut 2 percent to $12.1 billion.
-- PENSIONS: Grows 6 percent to approximately $4.3 billion
-- PRISONS AND PAROLE: Cut by less than 1 percent to $2.5 billion.
--STATE POLICE: Grows almost 7 percent to more than $1.3 billion.
-- COURTS: Held flat at $355.5 million.
-- GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Grows 5 percent to $325 million.
-- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Cut by less than 1 percent to $148 million.
-- ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE: Held flat at $96 million.
-- OPIOID AND HEROIN RESPONSE: Grows 19 percent to almost $76 million.
The governor issued the following statement on the budget:
"Over the past two years, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to make progress for the people of Pennsylvania.
"After decades of failure, we passed pension reform that will put Pennsylvania on the path to a sustainable fiscal future, save taxpayers billions, and reduce payments to Wall Street fund managers. This budget fully funds our pension obligations. We passed the most significant liquor reform since prohibition. We set our differences aside, and made real changes for customers and taxpayers.
"After years of devastating education cuts, we have restored more than $800 million in education funding. I am going to keep fighting to fix our schools, but this budget represents one of the most significant investments in schools in our lifetime. And we passed a fair funding formula, taking Pennsylvania off a shameful list of states without a way to fairly fund their schools. This budget keeps investing in schools.
"Together, we've fought the heroin and opioid crisis that continues to plague our communities. We have developed treatment options and provided lifesaving medicine, but we know the crisis has not abated so we're continuing to fight by making drug courts available to low level offenders so those who are struggling can get treatment.
"Today, we finalized a general appropriations bill. It's a start, and it's not everything I wanted or everything Republicans wanted, but unlike D.C., we can compromise and get things done just like when we passed bipartisan pension reform and bipartisan liquor reform.
"This budget includes much of the savings, efficiencies, and cuts I proposed in February in my budget address. But we avoided deep, indiscriminate cuts that would have endangered our ability to deliver services to the people of Pennsylvania.
"This budget invests over $175 million more in our schools. Over the past two years, we've restored more than $800 million in cuts to schools.
"This budget helps those in Pennsylvania who need help the most. It reduces the waiting list for those with intellectual disabilities; this budget makes additional investments in our efforts to fight the opioid epidemic; this budget invests in key programs to create manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania, and allows the commonwealth to team up with businesses and institutions of higher learning to create jobs and a strong workforce.
"And it builds on our efforts to make government more efficient and responsive. We consolidated IT and HR functions, and through an internal team focused on finding efficiencies and making government more effective, we have saved over $150 million and improved customer service at places like DMVs. I have rolled up my sleeves and worked with employees throughout the commonwealth to deliver change and efficiencies, and I am heartened that the legislature has joined my efforts.
"But there is still work to do: We need a sustainable revenue package that gets Pennsylvania on track. For too many years, Pennsylvania has lurched from crisis to crisis. We began to address it with pension reform, and by fully funding our pension obligation, we have taken another important step. But Pennsylvania cannot get ahead if we do not take our responsibility for long term financial stability seriously. Let's redouble our efforts, and continue to show people the progress we can make by working together."


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I took a walk against the winter wind. I saw some of the most beautiful images among the dull nakedness of the season. But none so beautiful as the seed pod waiting to bloom on a bare branch.
Stripped of its many faces of color, the tree stands bare…waiting for the awakening. No winter lasts forever. It's only for a season.
Copyright 2018~The View From My Window
All Rights Reserved


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Southmont Schools have partnered with SafeVisitor Solutions to provide visitor management services beginning May 7, 2018. SafeVisitor is a cloud-based visitor management software and is currently being utilized in 165+ school districts and corporations in the states of Indiana, Washington, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Texas. For our schools, the software will be used to manage school visitors. "The safety of our students, staff and community has been, is and always will be the highest priority for our schools, " says Dr. Shawn Greiner, Superintendent of the district.
Temporary visitors that enter Southmont Schools will be required to scan a government issued ID (Driver's License or State-issued ID) upon their arrival. SafeVisitor software will run the visitor's information against a National Sex Offender Registry and any Exclusion List the school possesses. A specially designed, temporary ID badge will then be provided to the visitor for use while on our property.
This system will not only provide an easier way to manage visitors, but, more importantly, will assist in providing a safer and more secure environment for all students and staff at each of our schools.


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Advice For Anyone Looking To Be More Spiritual
Whatever your religion or spirituality, most of us can agree there is some sort of unseen force in the world around us. Universal power, synchronicity, star signs, soul mates—there are so many facets of this force that we can explore. If you have already begun the shift from surface to purpose, you know that, like all changes in life, this isn't easy. In order to live a more conscious, awakened life, carry some of these tips forward for the curvy road ahead:
1. Be open to learning and leaving.
As you try to hone your spiritual side, not everything you learn about will resonate. Stay open to what is meant to come and what is meant to go, remembering that you'll probably need to release old beliefs and habits along the way. Remind yourself that "spirituality" isn't some elusive destination. It's a journey of self-growth.
2. Remember that it's not a competition.
Don't mistake the beginning of a spiritual journey for the starting blocks on a track. This is not a race, and you don't need to compare yourself to others along the way. Stay focused on your experiences, your emotions, your learning, and your expansion. Focus on what's inside.
3. Digest the lessons without resistance.
Slaying demons isn't the work of spiritualists. It is easy to want to block or bury feelings of anger, but the real spiritual development comes when you learn how to sit with them. Dissect and digest your experiences, notice how you respond, and keep track of what triggers you. Then, what soothes you when you are triggered. Study yourself. Really explore everything you experience, and remind yourself that you are allowed to have any range of emotions. Welcome them.
4. Don't fear change.
The whole point of self-development and spiritual expansion is to evolve as a person. This means that along the way, you are allowed to change: Change your opinion, your beliefs, the way you spend your time and energy. In the end, such change is evidence of growth, so make peace with it.
5. Stay open to your tribe.
Like-minded souls will begin to show up. You'll discover people who read the same books, try out the same classes, or follow the same teachers that you do. Talk to them. Spend time with them. Teach each other. Support each other. Acknowledge them when your spiritual paths cross. Be grateful for all your teachers, the gurus, the counsel, the bully, the muse. They all have something to offer you.
6. Always search for the lesson in everything.
At the end of the day, spirituality is simply about developing a deep understanding of yourself. With this deeper understanding comes great compassion, joy, kindness, and gratitude. When you see the lesson in every experience, the story in every emotion you feel, you begin to become aware of the lessons hiding in our everyday experience. You become responsible for being the best version of you.
So, here you are at the start. You've shown up to the school of life, open-minded, ready to learn, and set to explore everything that you are as a human being. Ditch the judgment, part ways with competitiveness, and simply focus on your path, your experiences, and your emotions.
Find out what one M.D. has to say about the power of spiritual practices here.


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Published October 24, 2018; updated December 13, 2018 What Is Revealed by the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey? By James M. Rockefeller with Jeff…Leave a Comment
Month: October 2018
July 7, 2009 It's now well known that Israelis and pro-Israelis "fixed" the intelligence that induced the US invasion of Iraq. What's not yet widely…Leave a Comment
May 25th, 2010 Why is no one reporting that "Faisal the Fizzler" is tied to Israeli-American Leon Black and Israel-dominated organized crime syndicates dating back…Leave a Comment
Note: the addressee is a Jewish woman in the U.K. who claimed that, due to anti-Semitism, she wished to relocate herself and her daughter…Leave a Comment


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Today we have two posts on different aspects of sleep. I love sleep. I love when my baby sleeps. And I know I will love when these new babies sleep.
Shea from The Moses Home is blogging about the importance of the first nap in the day. I know I had a hard time with this with Ben for a bit. Since we went to work every day, he kind of got a mini nap in the car, but not quite a full one. It was important that I spend some time really working to give him a chance to get the sleep he needs. I'll be re-reading this one as the twins get closer to arriving. With two babies and a toddler, I will be on a sleep mission!
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Childish Gambino and MORE!
added: September 23rd, 2018 - ∞
Hey guys, finally a new update after a busy summer. New stuff for Childish Gambino, The War On Drugs, Def Leppard, Sloss Fest, Chris Stapleton, J. Cole and more!
My Childish Gambino in Dallas, regular AND variant will drop Monday Sept. 24 at Noon CST. More to come, stay tuned!


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The Harris County District Attorney's Office has charged a 21-year-old man with making the terroristic threat that shut down the campus for two days earlier this week.
Luis Antonio Rivera allegedly said on Facebook that he would attack everyone on the Central campus in Midtown on Monday May 7, according to prosecutors.
He was charged with the third-degree felony following an investigation by HCC Police. Rivera faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Using the name Elijah Eli Saltibanez, he allegedly posted the following on Facebook:
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"I will attack and shoot everyone and kill everyone in hcc Central campus in May 7 2018 I will kill everyone including students and teachers are gonna die and also I will kill the hcc police department."
Rivera also allegedly posted threats against President Trump and students in local school districts.
Finals that were scheduled to be taken Monday were rescheduled until Friday of this week.
"We take threats to public safety seriously," First Assistant Tom Berg said in a press release. "If the elements are met, you will be charged and prosecuted."


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A bit of a dramatic title for this post perhaps but it's a great word, don't you think?
I would say I'm in a funk but it's sort of lifted this morning. So far so good anyway. I can only blame the rain and cold for these feelings, though I love them both dearly for allowing me to wear layers and be cosy indoors. Also, feel less guilt for hibernating with a book most evenings.
Things in general just seem so exhausting lately. News from the weekend has rendered me speechless. I mean, I can't begin to imagine the feeling of loss in Orlando right now, of the family and loved ones of all those lost in such a senseless act of hatred. Nor how it would feel to find yourself in that situation.
Nothing I can say is new, I can only say how sorry I am that this has happened to the gay community. The positive side as with most tragedies is the strength the community across the world has shown in standing against hate and paying tribute to the victims beautifully.
Add the EU Referendum and the US Election into the mix and social media is awash with so many opinions (rightly so) that I just feel like I need a break for a second. Step away from Facebook, Christa.
I know that's not the answer, that the only way to fight the malaise, battle the homophobia and racism (that's totally not racism) (for now) is to go to the pub with like-minded individuals, jump in puddles, eat cake, buy expensive bubble bath, sleep, read and pet strange dogs.
God, if only it really were that easy.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. FCX, +3.95% said Wednesday first-quarter net income fell sharply to $43 million, or 11 cents a share, from $1.1 billion, or $2.64 a share in the year-ago period. The mining giant said revenue dropped by 54% to $2.6 billion as copper prices fell to $1.76 a pound from $3.78 a pound. Analysts expected earnings of 16 cents a share on revenue of $2.58 billion, according to a survey by FactSet Research. The Phoenix-based company said sales from mines rose to one billion pounds of copper from 911 million pounds of copper. "Our first-quarter results reflect successful execution of our revised operating plans to reduce costs and capital spending," the company said. "We are very pleased with our team's response to challenging and volatile market conditions."
Freeport-McMoran net income falls 96%
Quote References
+0.46 +3.95%


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Back in January, Jurassic World was the first movie confirmed to air new footage during Super Bowl XLIX. In case you aren't watching the big game, or watch to watch it again, we have the TV spot right here from director Colin Trevorrow's highly-anticipated summer adventure. Chris Pratt leads an all-star cast alongside Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio,Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Irrfan Khan, Omar Sy, Jake Johnson, Judy Greer and original Jurassic Park star B.D. Wong, reprising his role as Henry Wu.
Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly. After the first trailer debuted in November, fans have been clamoring for more footage, which you can finally feast your eyes on blow.
What do you think abut the new footage? Were you expecting more, or were you left wanting more? We still have five more months until Jurassic World hits theaters on July 12, so stay tuned for new scenes from this highly-anticipated summer blockbuster.


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You may have noticed the changes, or not. I removed nearly all of the ads, so I can be choosier about them later (IF I add more at all). I kept the content, minus the Followers widget, which I really wanted to keep but it wasn't showing up at all. I'll check it occasionally and if it starts showing up again, I'll add it back!
I want the focus of my blog to be about the content and not feature a slew of ads. It's my goal to be more active (as time allows) in providing better posts than rants about how busy I've been these last few months. I assume you're all as tired of it as I am by now.
I decided it was time to perform some maintenence on myself also. My biopsy came back fine, but now they want to see what else could be causing my symptoms, so I'm going back for an ultrasound Thanksgiving week. From there, it's possible more tests or even surgery will be in order...bleh!
I'm convinced that the chronic abdominal pain and lethargy is from not properly taking care of myself (only 1-2 small 'convenience food' meals and 10+ hours on the computer daily, lack of exercise, yada yada). Even now, I'm lucky to work in 5-min. stretch/cardio combos once or twice a week, which sometimes wears me out. Sad when you consider all the dancing, walking and 2-hour workouts from my past!
To make a change in the right direction, I started a 7-day detox system to clean out the toxins I'm sure have gotten stuck in my system over the last year...I'm on Day 3 and I'm already noticing the change in my moods, energy level, pain and mental focus! I chose one with dandelion in it to help my liver do it's thing. I've also decreased my caffine intake in favor of more tea/juice and switched to organic convenience foods (yes, I read the labels beforehand) till I find the time for a thorough meal plan.
Working in more exercise is slower going but on the horizon (cut me some slack-I hit a 20 minute stint last week!). A great side effect is that my boyfriend says he'll try it if it works for me (minus the diet change and exercise, though). I'm hoping to ease him into the meal plan I create or sneak in healthier foods and get him at least stretching.
Who knows, maybe now I'll find the energy to use my new sewing machine and revamp that closet full of 'skinny' clothes into a new wardrobe I can fit into!...or maybe some cloth toys and throw pillows?
Memorable Places to Visit in the US
2 hours ago


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By MICHAEL WHITNEY
Published September 6, 2017
Snohomish Pie Co. donates thousands to hurricane relief
Michael Whitney photo
Thousands of people came to the Snohomish Pie Co. on Thursday, Aug. 31.
SNOHOMISH — People
lined First Street Thursday, Aug. 31 to provide a slice of a large-scale donation headed to Hurricane Harvey victims.
The Snohomish Pie Co. donated 100 percent of its proceeds that
day to a church in Rosenberg, Texas outside of Houston that acts as a distribution hub for Harvey
victims, shop owner Jenny Brien said.
The Snohomish shop sold out of 50 whole pies within its first two hours that morning. The company's Mountlake Terrace shop was not far behind, and the company's booth at the Evergreen State Fair also was selling well.
At noon, the combined effort had raised more than $5,500. By the end of the day, the grand total was $11,827.36 in sales and donations.
Bickford Motors let them borrow a
box truck for material donations such as water bottles, cleaning supplies and baby supplies.
All of it will be collected together for a donation drive with the nonprofit Provide Hope and with the Rock Church in Monroe, which are sending a semi-truck down to Texas. Part of the money raised will help fuel the truck.
The drive was a spur-of-the-moment idea which she said she thought of the night before which spread quickly. More than 65,000 people saw a Facebook post about the fundraiser. A Navy sailor out at sea, for example, donated $100, Brien said.
"I'm standing here and almost tearing up," customer Sue Baxter said, impressed by the turnout. "This is why I love Snohomish — it's such a cool town, period."
Brien said that morning
she was hoping the one-day driver raises $6,000 to $7,000. The effort raised almost double.
"When I saw (Hurricane Harvey's devastation), as a business owner there's
no way I could sit back and not help," Brien said.
She sees giving back as reciprocal.
The community came together to help her family when both of her parents died in a plane crash 17 years ago while Brien was a 16-year-old in high school. The community's love left a lasting impression.
People from across the
region came to the pie shop.
Brien was breathless
over the public response to Thursday's drive.
"It's really cool — it's such a small community,
I'm proud," Brien said. "It's really rad."
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Mr Saratiere Chitenhe was born on 00 Month Year. He attended his Ordinary Level at XXXXX and his Advanced level at XXXX. He is a holder of Bachelor of Accountancy Honours Degree from the University of Zimbabwe. He is a holder of some professional courses and a member of these boards;
- lCPAZ( Institute Of Certified Public Accountants Zimbabwe )
- IMFO( Institute Of Municipal Finance Officers )
- Certified Bookkeepers
- Rpacc (Registered Public Accountant)
Mr Chitenhe worked for Victoria Falls Municipality as the Town Treasurer and UDICORP as an auditor.
- Financial Management
The finance department objectives are
- To improve cash-flow management from 51% to 55%.
- To increase collection efficiency
- Procurement of goods and services
- To have improves stock requirements
- To provide for critical stock items.
- Budget Preparation
- To have an approved budget at the beginning of each year.
- To do budget consultations and engage stakeholders.
- Financial Statements preparation
- To have audited financial statements each year.
- To produce financial reports to management each month.
ICT Section
The Information Communication Technology is housed under the finance department. The section ensures connectivity to all the departments of the organisation. Among other duties the section also ensures that:
- IT policy adherence
- Maintains the database system and ensures data integrity, protection and performance of the systems.
- Develops procedures to maintain security and protect system from unauthorised use. Analyses system log –in order to identify potential issues with the computer systems (unauthorised users)
- Introduces and integrates new technologies into existing data centre technologies
- Performs routine audits of the system and software
- Develops, maintains and monitors procedures for all server backups
- Monitors, plans and coordinates the distribution of client server software and service
servers, network equipment and network applications
- Trains all departments on the PROMUN accounting package and other packages.
Trains users on various computer packages e.g. MS word, excel etc.


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Come celebrate the release of my new album "Northeast Southwest" on Thursday April 11th at Club Lambi (4465 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) in Montreal. I'll be reunited with my bandmates Nic, Alex, Leah and Matt (who's coming into town from Detroit!) plus a mini orchestra of talented string and horn players.
Doors open at 8:30pm and show starts at 9:30pm with Chesley Walsh (Bent By Elephants). Get your tickets now at http://indiemontreal.ca/corinna-rose-album-launch-w-chesley-walsh/. 10$ in advance/12$ at the door.
Presented by IndieMontreal with Media Partner Midnight Poutine