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It is Time to Consider Regulating Antibiotic Prescription
On Friday 10th of October a report was issued which showed that, despite pressure to do otherwise, doctors have been prescribing antibiotics at an ever increasing rate. As the Ebola outbreak continues to dominate the news the long term existential threat from global pandemics is surprisingly ignored. Scientists have long warned that our high use of antibiotics threatens to produce resistant diseases and it is this that threatens the existence of humanity itself.
If claims of existential threats to humanity itself seem a little hyperbolic, then my next claim – that unrestrained capitalism is an existential threat – will seem absurdly extreme. However, in her recent book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, Naomi Klein argues that unrestrained capitalism threatens humanity because it produces and is unable to control climate change. The argument is made in favour of regulation of markets in order to see off the existential threat of climate change. Similar arguments must now be made regarding the use of antibiotics across capitalist societies, because at present they threaten to produce a global pandemic that would put all of humanity at risk.
The widespread use of antibiotics, not only on people, but enmass in factory farms, has lead many scientists to fear the development of diseases which would be resistant to antibiotics. If one of these were deadly the fear is that humanity would find the disease very difficult to combat. Though the chances of this result are low the existence of even a slight possibility of a resistant pandemic is intolerable because what we stand to lose is essentially everything.
Unrestrained capitalism does nothing to avoid the growth of resistant diseases. Whilst capitalism has provided huge advances in medicine – even if they are unevenly distributed globally – its drive towards progress also threatens to undermine that progress because the drive is primarily derived from capital and profit.
Of course 800 words is not the place to set out an entire argument as to how profit and capital are putting the globe at risk of pandemics, but the recent report on antibiotics provides a starting point to put forward a few considerations. There are lots of explanations for the increase in the prescription of antibiotics. I am going to focus on those related to over prescription to human, but won't even cover all of those . Chief amongst those not considered here is the very existence of 'Big Pharma' and the disproportionate amount of pharmaceutical research funding it commands. Instead of big issues like Big Pharma, I want to focus on two apparently smaller explanations for the over prescription of antibiotics. First lazy doctors, and second intransigent patients. Both these supposed explanations when read in relation to each other can show how the manicantations of capitalism are perpetuating the increase on antibiotic prescription.
As market forces take a firmer and firmer grip on society the relationship between doctors and patients is changing to become increasingly economic. Increasingly doctors are no longer there help sick patients recover as such – rather they are there to put the cogs back in the machine when they fall out. The NHS was brought into being as part of a grand scheme affecting all areas of life. It did not stand on its own. Disease was a giant to fell in its own right – that someone might not be able to work while sick was not central. However, as market forces have steadily eroded workers rights the perception of sickness and work has changed. Now being sick is a defect of you as a worker. It carries a penalty – sick pay is harder to get, for part-time and zero-hours workers in particular. Doctors provide a service – they are expected to get you back to work. The perception that doctors are lazy, providing antibiotics as a quick fix, is one way to do this. Patients are intransigent – as well they might be – for many a medical service is needed in order to work.
The increasing marketisation of society is spreading into the medical world itself. The more it does so the more medicine becomes a service like any other – whether it is private individuals or the state which pays for it. Rather than being a part of a holistic reform of society, as the NHS initially was – it is now a service tacked onto the side of the rest of the market place. It designed to service sick workers and return them to their stations in the main economic system. When marketisation takes complete control of the health service it simply becomes part of the market. Under such conditions the drive to return workers to work will come from both workers and employers, both of whom suffer direct financial penalty for illness. Quick fix cures like antibiotics will only continue to be prescribed on the back of drives to productivity and profit, despite the longer term risks.
Market considerations will not allow for a restriction of antibiotic prescription. Left to its own devices, capitalism threatens to end humanity in a terrible pandemic. Regulation is the very minimum that is required. The need to harness the good markets can produce must be tempered by the need to restrict their power, and antibiotic prescription is as good a place to start as any.


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A selection of opinions from around the country.
Month: March 2016
How Medicare Drug Plans Hope To Follow Private Sector Lead
Aetna and Cigna inked deals in early February with drugmaker Novartis that offer the insurers rebates tied to how well a pricey new heart failure drug works to cut hospitalizations and deaths. If the $4,500-a-year drug meets targets, the rebate goes down. Doesn't work so well? The insurers get a bigger payment.
In another approach, pharmacy benefit firm Express Scripts this year began paying drugmakers a special negotiated rate for some cancer drugs — to reward the use of the medicines for the specific cancers for which they have the most demonstrated effectiveness.
Those are examples of the kind of private sector efforts the Obama administration hopes to borrow as it tests a handful of payment strategies in Medicare. The results could lead to a profound shift in how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services spends $20 billion a year for drugs under Part B, which are those given in doctors' offices and hospital outpatient centers. Many cancer treatments are provided that way, as are some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, macular degeneration and other medical conditions.
Under a proposed rule, different methods would be tried in selected geographic areas over a five-year test period. Some of these experiments would begin this year, with others added in 2017. The proposal faces two months of public comment.
Dubbed "value-based pricing," such largely unproven ideas are the latest tactics being tried to slow growth in prescription drug spending amid rising public alarm about drug prices.
"The goal is to test whether alternative approaches will lead to better value," said Patrick Conway, chief medical officer for CMS, in announcing the proposal March 8.
"There is no perfect payment system, they all have upsides and downsides," said Dan Mendelson of consulting firm Avalere Health, who lauded Medicare for considering new ways to pay even as he cautioned that it must be done carefully. "What we don't want to do is create a world where doctors only prescribe the cheapest stuff even if not in the interest of the patient."
Here are four concepts the government is investigating:
1) Cut drug reimbursements for doctors and outpatient hospital centers.
Many drugs covered under Medicare Part B are first purchased by a physician office or outpatient center, then dispensed to patients. Once billed, Medicare pays the health care provider the average sales price plus 6 percent for costs associated with the purchase and storage of the medications. For example, a doctor or clinic would receive an add-on fee of $6 when a $100 drug is purchased, or $300 for a $5,000 treatment.
In the private sector, that practice — called "buy and bill" — is being reduced.
Instead, specialty pharmacies — often connected with pharmacy benefit management companies — purchase the drugs, then deliver them to doctors' offices. The management companies, paid by insurers for their services, negotiate prices with drugmakers.
But the buy-and-bill approach still dominates Medicare Part B.
Oncology specialists and other proponents say add-on fees are an important revenue source needed to keep such centers open. But critics fear they encourage use of higher-cost drugs when equally effective products could be had for less. They also say the fees reward larger practices and centers that buy drugs at advantageous prices.
To counter that possibility, CMS would change the current reimbursement formula, cutting the add-on portion to 2.5 percent of the average sales price.
Recent industry surveys show that larger practices have resisted moving away from buy and bill. Smaller ones with less bargaining clout favor them. Drugmakers and some physician specialty groups oppose this part of Medicare's proposal, but patient advocacy groups express mild support mixed with caution.
2) Level payments.
In the private sector, insurers sometimes set benchmarks, often called "reference prices," for services patients generally can shop around for, such as a hip or knee replacement or colonoscopies. The California Public Employees Retirement System insurance plans, for example, saw that the cost of joint replacements varied widely among hospitals, then set a cap of $30,000 for a joint replacement. If patients chose hospitals that charged more, they had to pay the difference. The move was credited with saving millions in its first two years, and most of it came from the more-expensive hospitals lowering prices.
Medicare plans to apply this model to its payments to doctors and outpatient centers for some medicines that are all in a similar class of drugs. For example, it might select one price for all injectable treatments for knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. That rate would be paid even when centers use higher-cost products.
But on what would the price be based? While asking for comments, Medicare suggested a variety of options, including the average price for drugs in a category, the price of the most clinically effective drug or a rate developed some other way.
Unlike the private sector, Medicare's proposal would apply to some prescription medications, but not procedures. And, unlike most private-sector models, Medicare patients who get drugs above a benchmark cost could not be billed for the difference. The goal is not to encourage patients to change drugs. Instead, Medicare said it will test whether grouping similar drugs into a single payment rate will give physicians incentives to use "products that provide the most value for the patient."
3) Tie payments to effectiveness.
Under Medicare's proposal, drugmakers would agree to offer rebates that link the final price of their products to results achieved by patients. Just what those results would be — improved health, fewer hospitalizations or some other measure — would be spelled out up front. There are more than 300 such "risk-sharing" agreements currently in place, according to a University of Washington School of Pharmacy database.
In a related test, Medicare would adopt an approach similar to that used by Express Scripts, varying the amount of payment based on the type of condition for which a drug is used. Drugs are often approved for more than one condition — say two different types of cancers — but may be more effective at treating one than the other. Under the proposal, Medicare would pay a physician less when drugs are used to treat cancers with lower rates of effectiveness.
Skeptics say the process can be complex — and savings might be eaten up by administrative costs or disagreements over whether drugs have met effectiveness targets. Moreover, these private sector efforts are so new that detailed results are not yet available.
Meanwhile, a report out March 15 from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review looked at similar efforts internationally. It found that such "indication-specific" pricing holds some promise but cautioned that administrative complexity and other challenges are significant.
4) Cut patients' out-of-pocket costs.
To get patients to take important medications, such as statins after a heart attack, some insurers, including Aetna, have reduced or eliminated patient copayments for specific treatments. Other insurers have experimented with similar incentives for other conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. They generally found that reduced payments made patients more likely to continue taking their medications.
In Medicare Part B, patients are responsible for 20 percent of the cost of their drugs — unless they have a supplemental insurance policy that covers such copayments. Medicare proposes to cut or eliminate those payments for certain drugs considered most effective or valuable.
Lower copayments for those drugs might affect what doctors prescribe and could encourage patients to stay on needed treatments. Medicare itself would make up the difference, picking up the tab for the reduced or eliminated patient payment.
Medicare is soliciting suggestions in its public comment phase as to which drugs might be the best candidates for the test.
An implant to prevent Alzheimer's
In a cutting-edge treatment for Alzheimer's disease, scientists have developed an implantable capsule that can turn the patient's immune system against the disease.
Viewpoints: Experiments In Reducing Medicare Drug Costs; Is Donald Trump's Rise A Response To Obamacare?
A selection of opinions from around the country.
Cheap, simple tests could improve Alzheimer's disease management at the bedside
Small, sensitive biosensors could help doctors deliver personalized care, even in developing countries. A portable biosensor that could show how disease is progressing in patients with Alzheimer's could greatly improve people's quality of life in the future, according to a new review.
Hybrid Long-Term Care Insurance Gaining Interest
The New York Times examines the increasing popularity of this type of insurance policy. Also, the Times looks at how much retirees should save for medical costs. And The Denver Post explores the importance of end-of-life discussions.
Does a 'Western diet' increase risk of Alzheimer's disease?
New research provides insight into the role of the western diet in Alzheimer's disease.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's been a very busy week for us, with listing our house for sale and taking a weekend trip — more updates on those things will certainly come! For now, a few reads from this week…
My Bible study group is going through Matthew's Gospel this year, and I was struck by the passage about worry and food in relation to the articles I posted about the GMO crop debate last week. I appreciated a post about people who can't afford "organic food," with the caveat that I don't even think the idea of organic is as admirable as the author. Plenty of things considered "organic" fertilizer/herbicide can be harmful for our bodies, too, and frankly, after living in a 3rd-world country as a child, obsession with this just seems like affluent narcissism. My motto? Eat delicious food that comes out of the ground before you eat food that comes out of a box when possible, and in the words of Jesus…
"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food?….Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" – Matthew 6:25-27
In preparation for listing the house, the past few weeks have included significant clutter purges and more deep-cleaning than I have done in the entire first four years we lived in the house. My favorite blog for encouragement on this topic is Small Notebook, and I owe a significant debt to whoever figured out Pledge furniture polish works better on Stainless Steel appliances and sinks than specialty cleaners. It really works, and I'm a fan. Most surfaces in our house are wood or stainless steel, so I'm like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding who loves Windex, only with a spray bottle of lemon-scented oily wonder.
(This is probably the first and only time anyone will get cleaning tips from me.)


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Tomorrow(15th April 2018) I will attempt to complete the Boston(Lincs.) Marathon. I have been struggling these last couple of weeks with a slight tendon issue on the right calf. This is by no means back to 100% but with the support of my sports injury therapist and lots of rest I am feeling that I will at least finish the distance.
There have been a lot of people who have supported me and who will be there tomorrow to offer support.
I am currently feeling a little anxious but excited, just need to run to feel and be sensible about what I do to ensure I get round then in due course I will book another Marathon and give it another go with, hopefully, full fitness to take me through the distance.
Will feedback after. To all those running Boston or anywhere, have fun.
P.S. if your in or around Lincoln and need a Sports Injury Therapist Look up Emma @ Lincsinjury amazing at what she does.


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One of the worst injuries, aside from death, that one can experience from a car accident is that of a spinal cord injury which has the potential to cause life lasting consequences. As many Connecticut residents understand, a spinal cord injury can debilitate someone for life, leaving her paralyzed, with substantial medical bills and the inability to work or work at full capacity. A recent incident in a western state caused a terrible spinal cord injury to one passenger. Somewhat shockingly, the alleged negligent party was an on-duty police officer.
Recovering from a spinal cord injury - an inspiring tale
In the wake of tragedy, a positive outlook on the future seems an impossible accomplishment. For two high school sweet hearts who lost touch and found each other again after each experienced life altering misfortune, the possibility that good can come from deep sadness is a reality. As Connecticut residents approach Valentine's Day, a story of love spurned from troubling experience may be appropriate.
Ferry crash results in spinal cord injuries
As Many Connecticut residents are likely aware, a ferry crash in New York that occurred this past Wednesday, January 9, resulted in injury to many on board. The Seastreak Wall Ferry crashed into the New York Pier in lower Manhattan. The boat essentially hit the dock as it was attempted to park. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the incident. The name of the captain has not yet been released.
Teen causes spinal cord injury to 53-year-old woman
There are serious dangers inherent when an auto-pedestrian accident occurs. Pedestrians are certainly more vulnerable road users than drivers. Pedestrians, without the steel protection of a vehicle, can sustain serious injury from the impact of a car. Some potential injuries include head injuries, spinal cord injuries and broken bones, among others. A head injury and spinal injury however have the propensity to be the most debilitating in many circumstances. As many Connecticut readers know, bad head injuries can cause brain injuries and spinal cord damage can result in paralysis.
Police officers commended for saving girl's life in Ledyard crash
The Town of Ledyard, Connecticut, recently awarded four police officers letters of commendation for their brave efforts in response to a car rollover. The accident happened on March 13 when a 17-year-old female driver on east Long Cove Road went around a bend. As she rounded the curve, she swerved to avoid another car. She then lost control of the car, crashed through a stone wall and rolled over numerous times. The girl sustained multiple injuries, including a spinal cord injury, in the crash. The police officers who responded to the scene are credited with saving her life.
Cell phone internet use causes fatality in Connecticut
Distracted driving has been increasingly at issue on Connecticut streets. The ever present smart phone, while providing a shocking amount of conveniences including instant directions and detailed information about our destinations, is a huge contributor to driver negligence on the road.
Connecticut teen suffers severe spinal cord injury
The Connecticut teen loved sports. He was a star on his traveling basketball team and loved nothing more than shooting hoops in his backyard. Now, the teen will never shoot another hoop because of a spinal cord injury he suffered when a car hit him in Aug. Doctors report the 17-year-old will be confined to a wheelchair for the entirety of his life as he will never be able to walk or use his hands ever again.


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AliceCream video.Free chat with AliceCream
Free chat with AliceCream
I'm just a sweet, sensual, girl next door with a naughty side. I'm also a bit goofy and down to earth. Sometimes I embarrassed myself with the crazy things I say. I've been caming for a little over a yr now and it's changed my life in


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Requesting New GME Events
We are currently seeking applications for potential Greek Member Experience Programs for the 2019 -2020 academic year from Vanderbilt student organizations and university departments.
We are looking for large-scale programs that provide meaningful opportunities for student learning and engagement. A limited number of additional events will be selected. Events must fulfill the following criteria to be considered:
- Open to undergraduate students for free or a limited cost
- Clearly outlined learning outcomes
- Capacity for 30+ students to participate (*A limited # of smaller programs may be selected based on the topic but most must accommodate a large number of students)
- Attendance diligently tracked in Anchor Link
- Request for submission must be completed at least 2 weeks prior to the event
If you would like to submit multiple events on different topics please complete this form for each separate event or instance. If you have a program or performance that includes the exact same content on multiple dates (ex. a performance or training), please complete this form only once and list all dates below.
Before you submit this form, the event must already be approved in anchor link. DO NOT FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW UNTIL YOUR EVENT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED!
Submit the anchor link form here: https://anchorlink.vanderbilt.edu/submitter/form/start/311551
*** Chapters do NOT create chapter specific (just for your chapter members) events this way. Use the event category tag when creating your event. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com with questions.


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around town today
6pm: ron enyard jazz quartet. om eco cafe. free. >>
7pm: open mic w/ brad myers & jacklyn chitwood. urban artifact. free. >>
7pm: jbm promotions & tsghr present kinky friedman: the loneliest man i ever met tour. southgate house revival. $30. >>
8pm: bluegrass jam session. $2 bulleit bourbon. molly malone's. free. >>
8pm: trivia. northside tavern. free. >>
8pm: ofir & josiah live. the littlefield. free. >>
9:30pm: northside jazz ensemble. northside tavern. free. >>
10pm: marburg collective presents. a monday night music series curated by the marburg collective. the comet. free. >>
10pm: mnatc presents: dawg yawp, butler::pons duo. the comet. free. >>
10pm: zig w/ chris comer space dub quartet. motr pub. free. >>


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Think Mobile with Magento App
Magento is the most popular e-Commerce platform trusted by many brands and small businesses alike. With its ability to handle multiple storefronts and its powerhouse repertoire of features, it offers a great customer experience like no other.
S-Mobi supports the Magento platform to offer spectacular native Mobile Apps for Magento. Using the power of the Magento platform, S-Mobi is an innovative solution to increase your brand value and your bottom-line results. Here are some of the many features of the S-Mobi Magento Mobile App.
Sync With Store
Do you already own a Magento website? Then building a mobile app for your business is an easy task with S-Mobi.
S-Mobi supports the popular Magento platform and helps in real-time syncing of your product catalog, customer information, users and other important details from your online store to your app. So, you needn't worry about the agony of manually adding every piece of information once again on your mobile application.
Gestures and Animations
How do you stand out from your competitors? By giving your customer a breathtaking user experience.
S-Mobi helps your mobile commerce store shine with interactive gestures and animations. This feature adds a fun element to the user experience and helps users connect with the application more. Also, with gestures and animations triggering the action buttons, you can use the maximum space for displaying your products.
Loyalty Points
Retain your customers and build loyalty with our integrated Loyalty Rewards system.
S-Mobi allows you to reward your customers for their purchases or any activities like social sharing, referrals and much more. With this exciting feature, you will succeed at increasing your brand reputation and pushing your sales higher.
Google Analytics
S-Mobi integrates Google's Mobile App Analytics into every application, ensuring your marketing strategies are sure-fire winners and not mere guesses.
Learn which part of your app drives more conversion, which areas of your app aren't working and who your users are. Through detailed mobile app analytics, you can develop a successful marketing strategy.
Give your Store the advantage of a Magento Mobile App
With S-Mobi, you can now transform your Magento online website into powerful mobile apps. Regardless of your business size and industry, from flower shops, gift to fashion stores, S-Mobi is the complete mobile application solution for your retail business.


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Fleas, Pesky Little Creatures
Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home, Step by Step
Is your dog or cat is scratching a lot lately? Have you seen something small and black jump from the sofa onto your arm? Don't freak out, take charge of the situation.
Call the Veterinarian
Is your pet on a flea control program? If they are, read the instructions again. It's easy to miss a step. Ask your veterinarian what they recommend. You want a product that treats fleas at every stage — from egg to adult bug — and one that works well in your climate. Most flea treatments only take one regular monthly dose to keep fleas from making you and your pets itch. Just be sure to treat all of your animals so the fleas don't simply jump from one to the other.
Crank Up the Vacuum Cleaner
If you rarely vacuum, a flea invasion should inspire a change of heart. Regular vacuuming lowers the number of fleas and flea eggs from carpet, cracks in wood floors, and on curtains and upholstered furniture. It also catches them under furniture. Don't forget to vacuum the areas where your pet sleeps and eats. Empty and wash the vacuum cleaner canister or throw away bags in an outside garbage can right away so fleas don't sneak back inside.
Vacuum every day in the parts of your home where you and your pets hang out the most — like the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. Vacuum once a week everywhere else.
If you have a serious flea invasion, have your carpets steam-cleaned. The heat will kill the fleas, but it may not kill all the eggs. They may hatch later, and you may have to have your carpets cleaned again.
In really bad cases, you may want to consider treating your house with a flea "bomb" or calling in an exterminator. Just make sure you choose a product that is safe for you and your pets.
Wash Bedding in Hot, Soapy Water
Hot, soapy water kills fleas too, so wash your pet's bedding once a week. And if your pets sleep in your bed or with your kids, make sure to wash everyone's bedding, too.
It may seem old school, but a flea comb with tiny teeth does a good job of removing these pests. Do it outside, and concentrate on the neck area and the base of the tail. Keep a cup of soapy water beside you. Use it to dip the comb so you can drown the fleas. Once the house is vacuumed and the bedding is washed, give your dog a bath. Bathing your pet regularly will also help get rid of fleas in your home. Make sure that the soap you use is made for animals.
Thank you to WebMD Medical Reference for some of the content in this blog.


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Image: Tomory Dodge
Tonight, at the Company in Chinatown. 7:30 pm!
The GP's are Tomory Dodge (drums) Terry Chatkupt (guitar, vocals), Thomas Burkhardt (sax, flute), and Jay Stuckey (vocals, bass). Tonight's performance is a part of Perform Chinatown: "One Night, Over 40 Actions, Installations, Manifestations, and Interventions by performance artists from around the world."
See a free show or two, eat some Chinese food, have a Scorpion at Hop Louie's. See you there!


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- Lydia Breiseth, Director, Colorín Colorado
- Noel Gunther, Executive Director
- Christian Lindstrom, Director, Learning Media
- Tina Chovanec, Manager, Reading Rockets
- Kelly Deckert, Associate Manager, Online Media
- Dr. Karen Ford, Research Consultant
- Maria Salvadore, Children's Literature Editor
- Rachael Walker, Outreach Consultant
- Antonieta Romero-Follette, Translation Consultant
Lydia Breiseth is Director of Colorín Colorado, which is a part of the Learning Media Department of WETA. In this capacity, Ms. Breiseth manages content, web production, outreach, and partnerships on behalf of the project.
Prior to working at Colorín Colorado, Ms. Breiseth served as the Community Affairs Liaison at Telemundo Washington DC, managing outreach initiatives to the region's Hispanic community, and as a project coordinator for the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in Hyde Park, NY. Ms. Breiseth has extensive experience teaching English and Spanish as foreign languages, and spent a year in Ecuador teaching English to graduate students with the educational exchange program WorldTeach.
Ms. Breiseth received her Bachelor's Degree in English with a Minor in Latin American Studies from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. She resides in Arlington, Virginia.
Noel Gunther, executive director of Reading Rockets, has overseen the project since its inception. Gunther has broad experience in radio, television, print, and the Internet. He has co-written and co-produced award-winning documentaries for NPR and Public Radio International, including: Good Morning Vietnam with Adrian Cronauer (Gold Award, Best Culture/Arts Program, International Radio Festival of New York; Ohio State Award); American Voices: Norman Corwin with Charles Kuralt (Grand Award, Best Documentary Program, International Radio Festival of New York); Gray Matters: Depression with Mike Wallace (Gold Award, International Radio Festival of New York); and Drugs, Alcohol and the Brain (Gold Cindy Award, best documentary; Grand Award, Best Informational Program, International Radio Festival of New York).
For television, Gunther's work includes the PBS documentary A Tale of Two Schools, narrated by Morgan Freeman, and the five-part public TV series Exploring Your Brain. For the Internet, Gunther created and developed the LD OnLine web site, which since 1996 has been the leading web site in the field of learning disabilities. LD OnLine won a Clarion Award in 1998 as the best nonprofit web site in the country. Gunther is co-author of Beyond Boardwalk and Park Place (Bantam Books), which was named by the New York Public Library as one of the best young adult books of the year. He has also written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Village Voice, Washingtonian, American Journalism Review, and many other publications. He is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.
Christian Lindstrom is a producer for WETA Learning Media where her work includes developing television programs, Web sites, and print materials about reading, learning disabilities, mental health, and brain science. Her work on A Tale of Two Schools included directing, writing, and offline editing. She is currently producing additional episodes of the Launching Young Readers series.
Previously, Lindstrom worked as coordinating producer for Exploring Your Brain with Garrick Utley: The Brain-Body Connection, winner of the Gold International CINDY Award; and for Exploring Your Brain: Stress, Trauma, and the Brain, winner of a Time Inc. International Health and Medical Film Festival Award, a Silver CINDY Award, and the James and Sarah Brady Award for Public Service from the Brain Injury Association; and as associate producer for the three-part series Exploring Your Brain with Garrick Utley, winner of the 1998 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill's Outstanding Broadcast Media Award for Science.
Previously, she served as production coordinator for the television program Look What You've Done! with Dr. Robert Brooks, about learning disabilities and self-esteem, and for When the Chips Are Down… with Richard Lavoie, about learning disabilities and discipline. Lindstrom also played a significant role in developing LD OnLine, WETA's award-winning learning disabilities Web site.
Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets' consultant for children's literature and literacy. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland, reviewer for School Library Journal and Capitol Choices, and former member of the American Library Association's Notable Children's Book Committee. She was previously coordinator of children's services for the District of Columbia Public Library system and Cambridge (MA) Public Library. She currently works with PBS's Ready to Learn project, the Kennedy Center's education department, Reading Is Fundamental, and the Catholic Charities Parenting Program.
Maria has chaired or served on various book award committees including the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite and the Caldecott Committee. She is the co-author with Susan Hepler of Books Kids Will Talk About.


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Category Archives: #34
The Tea House At The Top Of The World
While visiting Banff National Park in Canada, we got to go on a one-of-a-kind adventure: we hiked up to the top of a mountain to have tea at the St. Agnes Tea House. Check it out! Continue reading
Pittsburgh Cocktail Week: A Disco Drink Donnybrook
Better late than never, eh? This is our recap of the 2nd annual Pittsburgh Cocktail Week from earlier in the fall. Check out the tasty concoctions as we take you from Downtown to Lawrenceville to Shadyside and beyond! Continue reading
The Elaborate Monthly: Salmon & Shrimp Scampi
I feel like the entire month of September has been a long string of elaborate meals, but I only documented one of them for the blog. You see, Michael has been trying to do a low-carb diet again, and I … Continue reading
The Elaborate Monthly: Pork Chop Sauté With Peaches
Funnily enough, we made our August meal waaaaaaay back in the beginning of August… and it took me until September to post about it. My bad! However, this August, I decided to make a homecooked meal not only for my … Continue reading
Filed under #34, #34-11, cooking, cooking light, dinner, dog treats, lucy, silly, summer
The Elaborate Monthly: Mahi-Mahi, Corn On The Cob, & Homemade Hush Puppies
Well, when you've got a stormy summer night preventing you from using the grill, what do you do? If you're me, you go, "Let's look in the freezer!" Yep, that's how this story starts. It was dismal all day, so … Continue reading
Filed under #34, #34-11, cooking, cooking light, food, seafood, wine
The Elaborate Monthly: Filet Mignon And Curried Potatoes
For our June dinner, we returned to the grill. We managed to snag a great deal on filet mignon at Kuhn's, and picked up a whole bunch of it for $7.99 a pound! Honestly, I wish we'd picked up even … Continue reading
The Elaborate Monthly: Barbecued Burgers & Salmon Skewers
Well, for our May elaborate meal, we got so elaborate that we added a new piece of equipment to our dinner repertoire: a grill! Yes, we somehow went almost two full years as homeowners without having a grill of our … Continue reading
The Elaborate Monthly: Chicken Tikka & Samosas
Well, this month, we decided to go all out and try something way too elaborate for our own good. This was inspired by the fact that I read in a recent issue of Cooking Light that there is, believe it … Continue reading
Filed under #34, #34-11, cooking, indian food
The Elaborate Monthly: Bacon-Wrapped Scallops & Breaded Zucchini
Tonight, I am going to tell you all a story. This is a story about a time in my life when the basic living necessity of BREAD was taken from me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I, like so many great … Continue reading


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Dear Obama: It's called fiscal responsibility. Learn to make some tough decisions.. You know things like:
– Increasing tax on the very wealthy
– Decreasing spending – especially aboard
– Increasing tax on large corporations – you know like gigantic oil companies that are seeing ridiculous profits
Please do something other than maintain the status quo – surprise us all. Because mommy and daddy might cut up your credit cards here soon =)


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Belkovskii Island
Bel'kovskii Island
located in the Novosibirsk archipelago in the Sea of Laptev. Bel'kovskii Island is part of Yakut ASSR. Area, approximately 500 sq km. It has a level surface, with elevations up to 120 m. The shores are smooth but craggy in places. Located on the rocks are large nesting places for birds, and on one of the spits of land there is a walrus rookery. This island was discovered by the trader Bel'kov in 1808.


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BACKGROUND IMAGE: iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
- FeatureNew versions of VMware and Hyper-V add storage features
- FeatureSix things that can wreck storage system performance
- FeatureHow big data and Hadoop will change storage management
- FeatureUsers bullish on virtualizing storage and software-defined storage
- ColumnData deluge could translate into an endless quest for capacity
- ColumnSDDC means agile, not bulletproof
- ColumnDisaster recovery as a service can turn DR hope into a plan
- ColumnInternet of Things data will boost storage
iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
Disaster recovery as a service can turn DR hope into a plan
DR as a service, or cloud-based DR, makes testing a DR plan too easy to overlook.
- Jason Buffington, Enterprise Strategy Group
Disaster recovery as a service, or cloud-based disaster recovery (DR), makes testing a DR plan too easy to overlook -- the opposite of traditional self-managed BC/DR facilities.
One of the primary deterrents to most business continuity/disaster recovery (BC/DR) plans is that recurring testing must occur to ensure preparedness for when calamity strikes as well as to prove compliance for organizations with regulatory mandates. Testing may not only be arduous due to the complexity of bringing replacement systems online, but doing so without proper preparation may affect the original servers that are actively serving users.
When asked about the frequency of DR testing, Enterprise Strategy Group research respondents using cloud-based disaster recovery services are four times more likely than those self-hosting their BC/DR solution (20% vs. 5%) to perform weekly recovery tests to determine if and how quickly they could recover from a major outage. The contrast in testing frequency between those using cloud-based disaster recovery services as opposed to organizations relying on internally supported processes almost certainly stems from a couple of key factors:
- Most service providers not only offer "pay only for what you use," but some even include discounts/waivers for DR tests. Either way, to pay only minimally for secondary storage resources and only incrementally more for the CPU resources consumed for a few hours or few days makes testing economically feasible -- instead of the more expensive processes related to traditional BC/DR service providers or self-managed BC/DR sites.
- Modern disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) solutions often include the ability to "sandbox" or partition virtual machines so testing can be done without impacting the still-functional production servers. While most DRaaS offerings consider this capability to be "table stakes" or an essential feature requirement, sandboxing is often much more difficult in typical on-premises solutions using traditional virtualization management tools.
Combining these factors, testing failover preparedness in most DRaaS solutions is quite frankly too easy not to do, which is exactly the opposite of what limits the testing of many traditional self-managed BC/DR facilities. On the other side of the argument, considering the ease of DRaaS testing or even including the mandate that every BC/DR solution must be tested, it's admittedly disheartening that 15% of DRaaS and 9% of self-hosted BC/DR solutions aren't tested even annually, according to that same ESG research.
That replication feature is not a BC/DR solution
Regardless of whether you prefer DRaaS or self-hosted BC/DR, it's important to note that the replication technology within your storage systems or backup software isn't a BC/DR solution. Replication is a data movement technology that provides BC/DR solutions with the IT resources they need. Real BC/DR products and features manage development of the BC/DR plan and/or orchestrate the testing and failover of the resources at the secondary site. BC/DR is much more about understanding the business impact of key system failures, documenting recovery procedures, and then affecting corporate culture for preparedness and testing. That being said, for most organizations, if you don't have your data and key systems replicated, then the rest of your BC/DR plan is moot.
Without testing, you have a BC/DR hope, not a BC/DR plan
If you're not testing the recoverability of each key system at least quarterly, please do or you'll almost assuredly discover that those systems aren't as resilient as you thought (and when you need them the most). For those who struggle to maintain a self-hosted BC/DR solution or to test it regularly, DRaaS may be your answer.
Whether self-hosted BC/DR or DRaaS, the most important thing to remember is that the best BC/DR test is the one that fails, even partially, because then you know what to improve. If your BC/DR tests consistently result in all green checkmarks, you either have one of the top BC/DR solutions in the market today, which is well deployed and well managed, or (more likely) you're not testing thoroughly enough.
If you don't regularly test your BC/DR solution, then you don't even have a BC/DR plan, you have a BC/DR hope. With virtualization making servers portable and DRaaS solutions providing a second site that is cost-effective and has the manageability to orchestrate service recoveries, BC/DR is no longer just a hope or a plan, but can actually be something achievable for organizations of all sizes.
About the author:
Jason Buffington is a senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. He focuses primarily on data protection, as well as Windows Server infrastructure, management and virtualization. He blogs at CentralizedBackup.com and tweets as @Jbuff.


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Courageous Priest
Priest Praying at a Planned Parenthood Clinic Calls for Prayerful Protest
Msgr. Charles Pope: I am prayerfully protesting the imminent opening of a Planned Parenthood mega Center not far from my parish in Washington DC. Please join me in prayer that this terrible facility will never in fact open; pray also that many thousands of children will be saved. Please Lord, not here, not anywhere! Last year Planned Parenthood reports having killed 327,653 children through abortion nationwide. It calls this slaughter "abortion services."
| from Courageous Priest.


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Personalised 40x60cm Adult Colouring Rectangle Canvas
Relieve stress and brighten up your walls with these stunning colouring canvasses. Each design is printed on high quality canvas, then stretched and wrapped around a 30mm wooden frame to ensure a comfortable surface for colouring.
You will receive instructions on how to complete your order by e-mail within 5 to 7 days of order placement. Please check your Spam/Junk folder, as this e-mail may be directed there. Due to the personalised nature of this product, refund is not an option. Please select and review your order carefully before making the purchase. This offer is valid until 31/12/2020
- Fabness personalised products
- Style: Adult Colouring Canvas
- Printed on high quality canvas
- 30mm wooden frame
- Ready to hang
- Choose between a range of designs!
- Materials: Canvas/wood
- Dimensions (approx. cm): 40 x 60 x 3 (H x W x D)
- This offer must be redeemed by 31/12/2020
- Country of origin: Australia
- 3 Month MANUFACTURER WARRANTY
Please note: This item can only be shipped to a postal address, NOT a P.O box. Please ensure your address details, complete with contact number, are updated in your account.


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Tripwire solutions extend seamlessly into the cloud and maintain unified security management across all your compute environments.
Leverage Existing Tools
Use the same Tripwire solutions to protect on-prem and in the cloud.
Secure Cloud Configurations
Ensure AWS, Azure & GCP cloud accounts and storage are correctly configured.
Add Security to DevOps
Integrate Tripwire into your DevOps toolchain to identify problems before they reach production.
Monitor Elastic Assets
Maintain consistent security controls even as assets are dynamically created and destroyed.
Unified Security Controls
Cloud Configuration Management
DevOps Security
Securing a Multinational Bank's Hybrid Cloud Enterprise
See how one multinational bank leverages Tripwire solutions to secure its hybrid cloud environment.
To serve its global customer base of over 20 million people and keep financial services at competitive rates, this major banking institution migrated many of its customer-facing services to the cloud. Due to the elasticity and short lifespan of servers, as well as the growing presence of containers, properly securing its cloud infrastructure proved to be a challenging task. Having kept its trust in Tripwire for the last 18 years, this multinational bank implemented Tripwire Enterprise and Tripwire IP360 for dependable risk assessment and configuration control across its hybrid enterprise. Tripwire enables the organization to remediate vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before reaching product environments – reducing its attack surface of cloud-hosted systems through the integration with DevOps teams and their orchestration tools.
Read Case Study
More Tripwire Cloud Solutions
Cloud Management Assessor
Download this datasheet to learn how to ensure the secure configuration of your cloud management accounts.
White Paper:
Cloud Migration Security
With more multi-cloud and SaaS expansion and less cybersecurity talent entering the job market, organizations can take a proactive approach to cloud cybersecurity and compliance with Tripwire Cloud Management Assessor.
Solution Brief:
Multi-Cloud Security Best Practice Guide
This best practice guide outlines the methods of deploying and using Tripwire® IP360™ in a multi-cloud environment with public cloud providers.
White Paper:
State of Container Security Report
This report explores the challenges faced by organizations actively using containers today, as well as the real consequences they experience.
Solution Brief:
Cloud Security Risks and Solutions
Learn how you can achieve effective cloud cybersecurity across IaaS, PaaS, and DevOps by deploying tools that seamlessly span multiple computing environments like these.
Need Help Moving to the Cloud?
Contact one of our product experts to find a solution that meets your cloud infrastructure needs. Whether you are moving to AWS, Azure, GCP or other cloud environments, Tripwire can help you maintain control in the cloud.


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At The Harley Street Hair Clinic, we're experts in FUE hair transplants, and we also know a thing or two about beards. We understand that in every man's life there comes a point where he decides that growing a beard would be a fantastic idea, and that he must get straight to it. In reality, a perfect beard doesn't just grow overnight. It takes time and hard work.
With the current beard trend constantly growing (see what we did there?) we're here to help those seeking the perfect beard. Firstly, you need to grow a beard, if you're struggling our beard growing guide will steer you in the right direction. Then we have five expert steps to help you maintain the perfect beard.
#1 Cleanse and detangle
If your beard is at the perfect length and just needs a little tidy up it's time to start looking after it. Once you've reached this length things can get a little messy. We recommend you use a good beard shampoo and conditioner in the shower, this will cleanse and soften the long hairs and detangle them.
#2 Brush through
Using a beard brush, brush through top to bottom daily to keep your beard neat and tidy. We recommend brushing the hairs outwards from the face, this will cause any longer strands of hair to be visible. Daily brushing will remove knots and leave the hair smooth.
#3 Keep the longer hairs trimmed
Once you have detangled your beard and brushed though, you will be able to see any longer hairs that need trimming. Using a comb you will be able to brush away from your face and hold the scissors flat against it to trim the longer hairs.
If you have any unruly neck hair, we recommend you hold your comb against the neck and slightly tip the top of the comb forward before you trim. This will graduate the hair allowing it to blend better with the hair on your chin. Finally, use a flannel to wipe any trimmed hair away.
#4 Keep moisturising
Moisturiser isn't just great for your skin; it will benefit your beard too. Rub a small amount of beard moisturiser into your palms and run it though your beard from top to bottom. This will smooth your beard into shape.
Moisturiser will reduce any itchiness and brittle hairs, as well as nourish the skin underneath the beard. If you have a longer beard it could be worth while trying beard oil rather than a moisturiser. This will soften and strengthen your beard.
#5 Finish and style
Lastly you need to comb, finish and style your beard to obtain your desired style. Start by combing your moustache hairs and using a moustache wax apply from the centre outwards and then comb though. Part in the middle and pinch the ends to insure it looks neat and tidy.
Apply some beard balm to your freshly brushed beard to maintain your desired shape.
(Image source:https://unsplash.com/photos/DiCfM619cRM)


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First-class dental care from our family to yours
When Dr. John M. (Jack) Nihill, our director, joined Dental Health of Wheaton in 1981, he did so on the premise that each patient deserves the same level of care that he would give his wife and children. That each patient would be treated like family.
Dr. Nihill, his associate, Dr. Gregory McBeth, and their caring professional staff comprise Dental Health of Wheaton's dental family. Drs. Nihill and McBeth are well-respected in the local dental community and have both been presidents of the Wheaton Dental Society. Together, they've enhanced and safeguarded the smiles of thousands of Wheaton families over the years. They are committed to giving their patients optimum-quality dentistry in a congenial, safe, fun-loving environment. They like taking good care of people, and it shows on the smiling faces of their patients.
Read on and discover more about Dental Health of Wheaton's commitment to practicing first-class dental care that treats you like family…
Welcome |
Our Practice |
Procedures |
Dental Videos |
Smile Gallery |
Patient Information |
Patient Reviews |
Appointment Request |


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On November 1, 2001, the Council had approved the Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing (PDIES) that established the MRC-IS to receive, enter into datasets, store and make accessible data and information for the MRC. In July 2002 at its 16th Meeting, the Joint Committee adopted the Guidelines on Custodianship and Management of the MRC-IS under the PDIES.
The PDIES sets out three objectives to operationalize the data and information exchange among the 4 member countries, make available basic data and information for public access as determined by the NMCs concerned, and promote understanding and cooperation among MRC member countries, according to specific principles of efficient, equitable, reciprocal, cost effective, relevant, timely and accurate, amongst others. Most importantly, the PDIES identifies the 12 major groups/types of data and information to be gathered and shared with the MRC-IS. In order to provide data and information services to the MRC, its member countries, and projects and programmes, the MRC-Information System (hereinafter referred to as the MRC-IS) is being established. The MRC-IS is a structured communication and management system for data and information. Its ultimate goal is to support the activities (planning, development, decision making, and monitoring) in the framework of the Mekong Agreement.
The 12 Major Groups/types of data and information required for implementation of the MRC program/activities and Mekong Agreement, inter alia:
© 2019 Mekong River Commission


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Teh sun wuz shinnin on teh C,
Shinnin wit awl hims myt:
Him can did hims veree bestest 2 mayk
Teh billos smoof n bryt–
N dis wuz odd, cos it b
Teh middl ov teh nitey-nites.
Teh moon wuz shinnin sulkily,
Cos her thot teh sun
Had got no bidnes 2 b dere
After teh dai wuz dun–
"Tis veree rood ov hims," her sed,
"2 com n spoyl teh fun!"
Teh C wuz wet as wet culd b,
Teh catsands wer drai as drai.
U culd nawt c a cloud, cos
No cloud wuz in teh sky:
No birdz wuz flyin ovrhed–
Dere wuz no birdz 2 fly.
Teh Lolrus n teh Karpintur
Wuz walkin clos at han;
Dey mounrzd lyk n-e-ting 2 c
Such quant…kwant…maneez catsand:
"If dis wuz onlee skoopd awai,"
Dey sed, "it wood b grand!"
"If 7 maids can has 7 skoopz
Skoopt it 4 haf a yeer.
Does u spose," teh Lolrus sed,
"Dat dey culd get it cleer?"
"Ai dowt it," sed teh Karpintur,
N hims cryeded a bitter tear.
"O Oysturs, come n walk wit us!"
Teh Lolrus did b'seech.
"A plesnt walkies, a plesnt tawlk,
Alowng teh brinee beech:
We can has no maor den 4?,
We can gibs hand 2 eech?"
Teh oldy Oystur lukd at him,
But nevr a wurd him sed:
Teh oldy Oystur winkd hims I,
N shuk hims hevee hed–
Meening 2 sai leeve the oystur bed – DO NOT WANT!
But 4 baybee Oysturs hurryd up,
Awl eagr 4 teh treetz:
Thems cotes wuz brushd, thems faces washd,
Dere shoos wuz cleen n neet–
N dis wuz odd, cos, u noes,
Dem has no feets.
4 ovver Oysturs fawlod dem,
N yet anudder 4;
N thick n fast dey caym at last,
N more, n more, n more–
Awl hoppin thru teh frothee wayvs,
N scramblin 2 teh shor.
Teh Lolrus n teh Karpintur
Can has walkies 4 a myl or so,
N den dey restd awn a rawk
Conven..Konveen…veree ez n lo:
N awl teh lil Oysturs stood
N waytd n a row.
"Teh tym has come," teh Lolrus sed,
"2 tawlk ov manee tings:
Ov shoos–n ships–n Ceilingcat-wax–
Ov cabbijus–n kings–
And why teh C is boiling hot–
N whevver pigs can has weengs."
"But wayt a bit," teh Oysturs cryd,
"B4 we can has our chat;
4 sum ov us is owt ov breth,
N awl ov us is teh fat!"
"No hurry!" sed teh Karpintur.
Dey kthxbai him much 4 dat.
"We can has bred?," teh Lolrus sed,
"dat's wut we cheeflee needs:
Pepr n vinagur besydz
B very gud indeed–
Nao if ur redee, Oysturs deer,
We can begin 2 nom-nom-nom."
"But nawt on us!" teh Oysturs cryded,
Turnin a lil bloo.
"Aftr such kindness, dat wuld b
A dismal ting 2 do!"
"Teh nyte is fyn," teh Lolrus sed.
"Do u admyr teh vyoo?
"It wuz so kynd ov u 2 come!
N u is veree nys!"
Teh Karpintur sed nuthin but
"I can has anover slys?
I wish u were nawt kwyt so def–
I've had 2 aks u twice!"
"It b a shaym," teh Lolrus sed,
"2 plai dem such a trik,
Aftr we've brot dem owt so far,
N maded dem trot so qwik!"
Teh Hoomin sed nuffin but
"Teh butterz spred 2 thik!"
"I weep 4 u," teh Lolrus sed:
"I deeplee symp…simp…unnerstenz."
Wit sobs n teers him sortd owt
Dose ov teh larjist syz,
Holdin hims tishoo
B4 hims streemin eyez.
"O Oysturs," sed teh Karpintur,
"U did has a pleasunt run!
Shal we b trottin hoam agin?'
But ansur caym dere none–
N dis wuz scarsly odd, cos
Dey'd nom-nom-nom-nommed ebbry1


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My pc says I have 16gb ram but when i monitor it, it never goes past 7gb. I have a ryzen 5 2600 so im thinking this is what is making my pc play games poorly. Any help would be appreciated. thank you.
only using 40% is good?Sounds good, my computer doesn't use more either. There's another issue if you have poor performance.
so with a game open this is what it reads, Hardware reserved - 53mbhow the ram is use. scroll to the bottom
so i wonder why my pc is doing so poorly, i just did a fresh install of windows, did all the drivers for gpu. i have a 1660ti and ryzen 5 2600 and i struggle to play games at medium and highUnless you are using programs that max it out which would actually drop performance as your PC would push stuff over to your much slower page file on your hard drive.
Normal PC gaming is usually going to use less than 8GB.
i bought them, they are the same kind gskill 8x2 gb 3000mhzThat may be caused by your memory being incompatible with each other. I suggest you list it, your memory, by a part number or a link to it.
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/21033707 here this is a userbenchmark too i think you should be able to see itMost games aren't going to fully saturate 16gb ram right now. In fact, you can get by with 8gb in some cases.
Please list full system specs!
my psu is a corsair cx450m, ram usage goes at about 40%, and im not sure about hdd/ssd. I just got a ssd like a couple of weeks ago its a samsung 860 evo 500gbfull system spec? include make and model of the psu
cpu/gpu temp and usage during the game?
ram/ssd/hdd usage?
malware scan?
i try to play at high and medium but my frames get down to 60.. and i listed my psu earlier in the threadPSU?
What settings are you running at?
well i have my motherboard disk put when i put it in nothing happens. so i think my disk drive is broke and idk what to do for it.Fresh install of Windows, gpu drivers and nothing for the motherboard.
I'd advise you goto the motherboard downloads website and install any/all chipset drivers. Make sure to read them first, some may require an older version installed first as the newest version is an upgrade not standalone. This will include audio, Lan, USB, Sata drivers etc, specific to your motherboard, not the windows generic drivers. What you did for the gpu, you have to do for the mobo too.


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Tags: cloud, drawing, photoshop, prismacolor, vellum
Posted in figurative | Comments Off on Dark Cloud
Tags: drawing. lolita, pencil, photoshop, smooth vellum
Posted in drawing, figurative | 1 Comment »
An attempt at drawing one of my all time favorite characters played by the wonderful quirky Helena Bonaham Carter. I didn't quite succeed but I will try again, just for the fun and the challenge of it.
Tags: Helena Bonham Carter, Mrs. Lovett, pencils, photoshop, portrait, prismacolor, sweeney Todd
Posted in drawing | Comments Off on Mrs. Lovett
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Confronting My Inner Demons: Here's What I Have Learnt Today…
I would like to begin this piece with a confession. I am not a bad person. There. That's it. This entire post is hopefully going to prove that but it will also see me admitting to one thing; I do have bad thoughts. Demons, if you will. I hope that, by being honest in my opening confession, you can find compassion in your heart and not judgement in your mind. I shall explain just what demons live within in this very post.
I like to think that, on the whole, I am a good person. I have never stolen anything, driven whilst under the influence or raised my hand to a woman; except when answering questions at school when asked to by the teacher (to be honest, I rarely did that anyway). Don't get me wrong; I'm not claiming to be perfect. I probably owe a parking fine from the early naughties and I once got out of a library fine by emailing them a made up story about having to visit an ill friend. I know, I know. Actually, I am tempted to confess that last one and send a cheque for the 80p I still owe them.
Today, however, inner demons rose within me that I haven't known before. Here's how it unfolded.
I stayed over at a friend's last night in my quaint hometown of Beverley where I was raised and where my parents still live close to. (5 miles away, to be exact.) Despite the wind blowing with much gusto, it was both warm and comforting so I decided to walk the 5 miles back from my friend's house to the house where my parents live. I like coming back to the place I grew up because it's in the middle of the countryside and I can go for walks to just get lost in my thoughts. It's escapism at its best, I think. Heading through the town, I made the spontaneous decision to get a coffee before walking down the country roads and back to see my Mum and Dad. I was unaware of the monumental impact this choice was to have on me both as a person and… no, actually just on me as a person. Before I share the events that were to shake my beliefs to their very foundations, let's enjoy a written coffee break, shall we?
I am going to digress a little in order to share something about Costa coffee which bemuses me. Nipping into Costa on my way through the town centre, I ordered a large cappuccino to take away and was asked if I'd like chocolate sprinkles on top. "Go on then; it is Sunday after all," I replied in a way that, even now as I type it out, makes me want to slap myself in the face with an over-sized Bourbon biscuit. So the barista, as he appeared to be called, filled my cup, reached for the metal stencil, sprinkled chocolate on top thus creating a pretty depiction of coffee beans, and put a lid on before presenting it to me. Just to reiterate: He drew a picture on my coffee, in chocolate, and covered it up immediately. That happened. Up until writing this, only that very barista and myself knew that there was a picture of coffee beans in chocolate atop my frothy cup of caffeinated goodness. I am not sure I like sharing a secret with a man whose name I don't know and who's job title is questionable in its very authenticity as an actual job title. Anyway, I feel a little easier having shared that with you. Thank you. By the way, this coffee is an integral part of the story. I shall continue…
Having left Costa with the dirty little secret clenched firmly within my grasp, I took the opportunity to begin listening to Richard Herring's "Talking Cock" podcast. (The podcast is available to download now on iTunes. I don't know why I'm advertising it as I won't get any commission. Nor will I for the shameless promotion of Costa coffee. I guess sometimes we just do things to be nice, don't we? Still, a free coffee would be good… from either source.) So, with the warm wind enveloping me in a comforting manner akin to how I have heard heroin addicts describe their choice of opiate do, I set off into the countryside with a coffee in my hand and an admired comedian in my ears. I was wholly looking forward to enjoying both with no thoughts in my head or distractions in my face.
Relaxed from a night of fun and laughter and looking forward to a satisfying productive week, my cares were free as the familiar sight of rolling hills and sprawling countryside welcomed me. I listened to the podcast, laughing openly and heartily with the hustle and bustle of town disappearing behind me. Unfortunately, this was the last time everything would be so easy.
I drained the last of the secretly decorated coffee from the cardboard cup and looked around for a bin. That's the thing with the countryside; lots of fields but no bins. Towns, on the other hand, are breeding grounds for bins. I have noticed bins littered throughout the town which is both helpful and ironic. The countryside though, with its lack of package selling outlets, doesn't have anywhere near as many bins. Or, in the case of the countryside where I grew up, the countryside doesn't have any bins at all. I had walked through 2 miles of bin strewn town with a full coffee cup and now, with no bins to be seen, I faced the task of walking 3 miles with an empty coffee cup. I suppose if the journey was longer and I didn't have the enjoyment of a comedian talking in my ears then this coffee cup could potentially become the Wilson to my Tom Hanks. I wasn't a Castaway though. I was a man with an empty coffee cup. This is when my character was tested. This is when I found out about the person I truly am. This is when I discovered I have a demon within me. That demon's name is Litter Bug.
I said at the start of this rambling (don't excuse the pun; I like it) that I am not a bad person. I would like to extend the list of examples that offer proof of this to include the fact that I am NOT a litter bug. I don't throw litter. I love the beautiful countryside and I detest people who ruin it in any way (apart from the people who build roads, obviously). I don't think fly tipping is fly at all. I think it's whatever the slang opposite of "fly" is. Dissy, perhaps? That said, I was really looking forward to my relaxing walk and getting lost in the words of Richard Herring; a fellow East Riding of Yorkshireman. I was now going to have to carry a cup that didn't contain anything. It was a soulless shell. I had become stuck in my own, distinctly less funny version of Weekend At Bernie's (although probably still more amusing that Weekend At Bernie's 2). I just wanted the simple pleasure of not having to carry rubbish for 3 miles.
I thought about it in a way that seemed justifiable. Cardboard is biodegradable, isn't it? If anything, casting aside an old cup into a country field would help the soil, somehow. Not casting aside the cardboard cup, that would be selfish. Crops need nutrients and as cardboard comes from the very trees that grow in the fields I was contemplating making the cup's new home, I was probably helping some starving people somewhere in the world. Maybe.
Of course, you only really justify something to yourself if it doesn't feel right, don't you? Still, I had done just that. I'd already spotted a tyre and several crisp packets; I'd even spotted a United biscuit wrapper and I didn't think they even made them anymore. I was going to do this. Just as soon as the car that was approaching had gone. And the one behind it. Then the one coming from the other direction. This was not going to be easy; maybe not even possible. Cars were certainly becoming the Big Brother of this scenario. How would I get the chance to… Ah. All of a sudden, when it looked like the window of opportunity had shut firmly in my minor criminally suggestive mind, fate opened it and invited me to toss a used cardboard cup through it.
I paused the podcast. Silence. No cars were to be heard or seen. If I was going to cast aside this weight from around my neck – by which I mean the coffee cup from my hand – this was when I was going to do it. I was going to join the fraternity of minor criminals. I'd probably get invited to Lord Archer's house where we'd discuss how we broke the law whilst sipping brandy with only a small feeling of remorse resting upon our slightly guilty shoulders. Littering the beautiful British countryside was undoubtedly selfish but, well, I wanted to enjoy the rest of my walk. I'd already missed out on a lot of what I was listening to as I'd been focused on plotting my daring yet cowardly move. I'd scoped out various places I could toss my used cup. There was a road sign I could rest it against; a tree stump I could lean it on; a bridge I could cast it off; and as many bushes as a grown man could dream of. It was silent. Nobody would witness me. I was going to do it. I was going to litter. I was going to do it now. I was.
I didn't. My conscience got the better of me. I had been presented with an opportunity to be the guy who smoked at the back of the bus at school or who had facial hair when they were only 14. I had been offered the chance to smell of leather jackets and bourbon and take a sultry gal into the distance on the back of a Harley Davidson. Here, in the silence of the Yorkshire countryside, I'd been one drop away from being James Dean, Frank Sinatra and any guy from any aftershave advert ever, all rolled into one. I could have been a contender. I could have been; I wasn't. Instead, I felt like I'd bottled it. Instead, I was the guy who went into the chemist for condoms and came out with a packet of throat sweets and a toothbrush. I wasn't a Rebel Without A Cause; I was a cold man with an empty coffee cup. To add insult to injury, I looked across the road and saw this mocking me. Whoever had thrown it there was probably having passionate love fun with the very girl who worked in the drive-thru he bought it from.
I walked home, my head mixed with feelings of both shame for not being more of a rebel and pride at being conscientious. I am glad, really. The countryside is beautiful and that shouldn't be ruined because of a devil-may-care attitude. I wouldn't throw an empty coffee cup in a beautiful girl's face or at a teacher asking me a question in a classroom. No. Actually, I had rebelled against the peer pressure of the rebels. I was cool. I was a rebel but a rebel with a cause; the cause to Keep Britain Tidy. Yeah. I am going to go to McDonald's tomorrow, I am going to go up to that drive-thru and I am going to tell the very girl who works there that I fully intend to dispose of my empty coffee cup in the agreed and respected manner. I'm not going to drop litter; I'm going to let her drop her clothes. On the floor. Or fold them and put them neatly on a chair in a bedroom. Or something vaguely sexy sounding that the guy who threw that roadside cup would say.
So, Here's What I Have Learnt Today… it's good to confront your demons. Then, and only then, will you find out whether or not they like the countryside as much as you do. Oh, and I also learnt that it is possible to listen to a podcast and still laugh heartily when you have an empty coffee cup in your hand.
"And what happened to that coffee cup?" I pretend I can hear you cry. Ah yes. The alluded to coffee cup. Well, when faced with his demons, sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.


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As many as 295 coal-based power plants have got more time of two to four years to meet strict new environment norms which were to be implemented by December 2017.
As many as 295 coal-based power plants have got more time of two to four years to meet strict new environment norms which were to be implemented by December 2017. In November, the environment ministry brought in tougher norms relating to consumption of water, particulate matter, SO2, NOx and mercury for coal-based thermal power plants."The Central Electricity Authority has put in public domain the implementation plan for FDG installation to meet some of these norms with deadline ranging from 2020 to 2024. Therefore, about 295 coal-based thermal plants with 122.67 GW of capacity would meet the new environment regulation by 2024," a source said. However, the source said that the environment ministry has not amended its regulation for giving more time to these coal fired thermal power plants to meet new stricter regulation. The FGD or Flue-gas desulfurisation is a set of technologies used to remove sulphur dioxide from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants, and from the emissions of other sulphur oxide emitting processes. Earlier this year, Power Minister Piyush Goyal had clearly indicated that the environment ministry was on board to consider extension of December 2017 deadline for coal-based thermal power plants to meet stricter emission norms. He was of the view that consumer would ultimately bear the high cost of imported equipment if the power plants meet December 2017 deadline.
"The discussions are on to increase the deadline. I think it should be extended (beyond December 2017) because it should be done in a way so that the poor should not be affected," the minister had said.The environment ministry brought new norms for coal-based power stations to cut down emissions of particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and improve the ambient air quality around power plants. The ministry had for the first time fixed SOx and NOx norms for power stations and mandated that plants adhere to these guidelines by 2017.
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According to industry estimates, the cost for technical changes at these plants could be up to Rs 1.5 crore per megawatt. Besides, the domestic capacity to manufacture power equipment for the upgrade is not more than 15 GW a year, compared to demand of around 40 GW per annum for meeting SOx norms alone.
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Invata Intralogistics Expands Its Technical Leadership with Industry Veteran Steve Lankford
Conshohocken, PA (PRWEB) October 13, 2014
Invata Intralogistics[1] Inc., an innovative authority in the design, implementation, and life cycle support of automated warehouse systems, today announced it has hired industry veteran Steve Lankford as Vice President of Realization responsible for transforming invata design concepts into fully functioning, seamlessly integrated automation systems.
Steve's duties include overseeing the implementation and launch of Invata's warehouse automation[2] systems. As a key member of the Invata management team, he will work closely with Invata's integration engineering group, software development group, and commissioning team providing technical leadership.
Steve joins Invata with 27 years of experience in the automated materials handling industry. He most recently led the software, controls, project engineering, and project management departments of a major systems integrator and has been responsible for the implementation of complex material handling projects for the food, beverage, retail, automotive, and manufacturing industries.
His specialty is warehouse software design and development as it relates to integrated systems, and he has worked extensively with most warehouse automation systems, including automated storage and retrieval systems[3] (unit load AS/RS[4], mini load AS/RS crane, carousel with inserter/extractor), conveyor systems[5] (pallet conveyor, parcel conveyor), sortation systems, AGVs, palletizers, depalletizers, pick-to-light, put-to-light, and voice systems, as well as WCS and WMS software systems.
"We welcome Steve and look forward to putting his extensive expertise to immediate use," says Ryan Sheehan, Chief Executive Officer of Invata Intralogistics. "We are current in development on a project that when completed will put us in a very select group of companies that are capable of taking on such an integration effort. Steve's input will be a huge asset for us on this and future projects in the pipeline."
"Steve has a track record of technical leadership the likes of which few in our industry can boast," said Lee Kuhn, Invata's Chief Operations Officer. "Over the last twenty-plus years he has been involved in the design and implementation of some of the most sophisticated systems our industry has seen. He is going to be a major contributor to our success."
"I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running on a number of highly complex integration efforts currently in the works at Invata," said Steve Lankford. "I'm pleased to become part of such a talented and disciplined team."
About Invata Intralogistics
Invata Intralogistics, Inc. is an authority in the design, implementation, and life cycle support of automated fulfillment and distribution center operations with demonstrable expertise in both software and systems engineering and development.
Specializing in the symbiotic integration of the flow of information with the flow of material goods, Invata offers complete solutions that begin with in-depth operational analysis and end with purpose-built, turnkey intralogistics systems that optimize processes and resource utilization, while maximizing operational efficiency.
The result is a seamless synthesis of process and technology that engenders leaner, more productive, more adaptable, and more profitable fulfillment and distribution enterprises.
- ^Invata Intralogistics (www.prweb.net)
- ^warehouse automation (www.prweb.net)
- ^automated storage and retrieval systems (www.prweb.net)
- ^Unit Load AS/RS (www.prweb.net)
- ^conveyor systems (www.prweb.net)
Source http://www.prweb.com/releases/invata-intralogistics/hiring-news/prweb12229902.htm


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It's taken me nearly ten weeks. Yes, that is a while. I have had disasters with my home sewing machine (which I now hate, hate, hate!!) and I did have a few weeks off in between as well. But it is done, now, thankfully!
Close fitting, shirt dress with inset waist, slightly dropped and curved waistline and neckline yoke.
Multisized 0-18. I cut the 14 but suspect I should probably have cut out the 12.
Did it look like the Pattern Envelope?
V intage 1940's fabric I bought off Ebay about a year ago, cotton mix?
Were the instructions easy to follow?
All of Colette patterns come in a handy instruction booklet and they are a dream to follow!
Any alterations?
- Thankfully because I was short on fabric I had to cut quite a bit off on the sides of the dress, there was far too much volume/width for my liking – but that's personal preference and I'm not particularly 'hippy'.
- I took it up quite a bit at the hem so that the dress was knee length/just above knee length.
- I added about 1.5cm to the bodice front and took off the same from the midriff front to adjust for my chest, then did the same for the yoke back and midriff back so the seams would all match.
- The neverending task of putting in bias binding to finish the seams as the fabric frays pretty easily – 13 Metres + and still counting…
- The fabric that I chose was quite a thin cotton blend and tended to stretch and slip quite easily.
Would I make it again?
NO! – The thought of doing more buttonholes and buttons on any garment is making me break out into a cold sweat…
Colette Ceylon from the back:
My final choice of buttons (after buying about three different sorts!):
My Buttonholes – probably not the neatest but the way my machine has been behaving, a miracle that it got done!!


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"Be undisturbed in the times of adversity; cling to God and forsake him not…he will help you." -Book of Sirach
When a family member passes away, we who are left behind can be overwhelmed by the number of tasks to perform. The Consolation Ministry at St. Ignatius provides guidance in preparing for the Vigil, the Funeral Mass, and Committal – the rites that the Church offers. The family of a deceased parishioner is given the opportunity to choose the scripture readings, to choose appropriate music, and to participate in the liturgies as lectors, bringing forth the gifts, and sharing a family remembrance. Periodically, the Consolation Ministry holds a Service of Remembrance – a time of prayer and honoring the memory of those who have gone before us.
Consolation Minister:
Terrie McGraw
Q. What do I do first?
A. Call the parish office (916 482-9666) to begin the process of planning a funeral service. Initial information and scheduling is done at this time. If possible, we will set up a time for you to meet with the priest and the Consolation Minister to go over the details.
Q. How is the funeral home involved?
A. We work closely with funeral homes to ensure that all things run smoothly. They are often the first to contact the Church and offer additional help in planning the service and burial.
Q. Is cremation allowed in the Catholic Church?
A. Yes. The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. (Order of Christian Funerals, #417.)
Q. How am I involved in the planning?
A. The funeral rites of the Catholic Church involve many pieces where the family may participate. Together with the priest and consolation minister, we will guide you through the process. It is important to hear from you about the life of your loved-one. The family often has input regarding the readings and music within the recommended guidelines. Together, we will ensure that the service is appropriate and beautiful.
Q. Do you provide music for the service?
A. Yes, we have several musicians at St. Ignatius who are available to help. We are happy to make the contact for you. Musicians are normally paid by the family of the deceased.


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Writer - D. David Hayes
It had weighed on Mister Smeegler's mind for some time. The idea that he could be president. It was just the sort of job to keep him out of trouble but also allow him to utilize some of his strengths: indecision, compromise, lust for power, and other such things. So, naturally, Smeegler was incredibly honored by the suggestion that he should run for president and accepted the nomination graciously and without hesitation. It made no difference to him that he would never appear on a ballot, or engage in a televised political debate, or even have his campaign covered by the press. What mattered to Smeegler was that this was something he would be able to tell his grandchildren about when he was 75. He would be able to talk about the election in such-and-such year as an insider, an intimate, one with knowledge of the inner workings of the electoral process.
But it all came crashing down when the mistress came forward with her claims of an affair. Though Smeegler did not know, in the biblical sense, the woman making the claims, he decided it was best for him to set aside his ambitions and withdraw from the race for president of his local bowling club. Many felt sorry for Smeegler, and, yes, I did too.


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Wishing everyone the Best of the Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Archive for December 25, 2014
Wishing Everyone the Bestest of the Holidays
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge 291 – 25th of December – Anything Goes
The the latest challenge of 2014, the CRAFT Challenge is Anything Goes! I decided to forego the Holiday Season and make a birthday card. I used a sentiment from Sassy Studio Designs called SentiMints – Birthday Cake and a penguin from Bugaboo Stamps called Birthday Penguin – Cake. Please be sure to check out other great stamps from our sponsors!
For my card, I started with:
Printed the sentiment and image
Cut and layered the sentiment
Coloured the penguin with Copic markers, then fussy cut him out
Embossed the background using Spellbinder – Numbers and Letters
Assembled A2 card
Added 3 gems to finish it off.
This challenges run from December 25th – December 31st. Hope you will join us!
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge – Sketch #87
I am so excited to make a non Christmas card today. I am getting a little low on Birthday cards so I designed my birthday bears card on Sketch 87 from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. I used a wonderful little trio stamps called Posy Trio from Lili of the Valley Stamps. They are located in the UK but the shipping costs were reasonable and I got my stamps within a week. I coloured the bears with Copics. For the background, I used a Happy Birthday embossing folder from Crafter's Companion. The tag and stamp are from SSS.
Splitcoast Stampers "Featured Stamper of the Week"
I just found out I am this week's featured stamper of the week at Splitcoast Stampers. They highlighted my gallery and base a weekly challenge inspired by my cards. I am so honoured! For more information check their blog at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/featured-stamper-f132/fs411-12-21-2014-how-sweet-t595106.html
Christmas Baking Part 2 – Kraft vs White
I decided to try to make this card in a pencil coloured, kraft card stock version vs a Copic coloured white card stock one. Both cards are similar yet have a completely different feel. I used 2 stamps from Whimsey Doodle – Ginger and Cup, and Cocoa with Friends. The sentiment is from SSS. I used a snowflake embossing folder, twine and plaid paper for the background.
Words 2 Scrap By Challenge #12: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
Creative Moments – Challenge 58 Anything Goes/Non Traditional Christmas Colours
Crafts 4 Eternity R#207 Hot Chocolate
Jingle Belles Rock – Anything Goes
Just Add Ink #245 Inspiration (Kraft and subdued colours)
If you give a Crafter a Cookie - gingerbread
UPDATE: I won at If you give a Crafter a Cookie - gingerbread
and Top 3 at Crafts 4 Eternity R#207 Hot Chocolate


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Dudley MP Ian Austin has backed a campaign to get more young people to register as bone marrow donors.
The Anthony Nolan charity is offering to pay the government to package information on registering as a donor with the National Insurance card sent to everyone just before their 16th birthday.
Younger people are most likely to be chosen by doctors to donate bone marrow to someone with blood cancer, but just four per cent of registered donors are currently aged between 16 and 20.
Austin is working with local campaigners to raise the issue in Parliament has written to the Chief Executive of the HMRC urging her to support Anthony Nolan's proposals.
Ian Austin said:
"This is a simple step the government can take to boost the number of young people signed up as life-saving bone marrow donors.
"There's no reason why bureaucracy should get in the way of this plan when charities are willing to cover any extra costs, so I've written to the government urging them to take part."


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The Fastest Way to Looking Great On Your Wedding Day"
Sign up NOW to get a free copy of my book... Fabulously Hot Body
Get your body feeling and looking its best on your wedding day, inside and out, quickly and easily.
You'll also receive weekly wedding and weight loss tips that'll help you arrive at your ceremony ready, ravishing and stress free.
We respect your email privacy
It doesn't matter if you slipped up on your weight loss program and sadly didn't meet your desired goal in time for your ceremony. Here are a few bridal wedding gowns that can fix a nonflattering figure in… no time with the slimming wedding dress that's perfect for you.
Thick waist? Opt for a long, flowing skirt with a runching asymmetrical bodice. This type of dress also easily hides panty hose lines.
Boy shaped? No problem. The ball gown is a perfect way to create the illusion of a shapely hourglass figure when yours is non-existent.
Need extra coverage? Try a slimming wedding dress with a classic style with a gathered bodice and a scoop neckline to accentuate your neckline.
Too short? There's no need for lengthening exercises like Pilates when there are dresses that feature natural vertical seams that help to elongate your body.
Want a real slimming look? The dropped waistline is a marvelous creation that's uses a tulle skirt to offer the full skirt link without the bulk.
Apple Shape? Try a bridal wedding dress that whittles in the waist. But, stay far away from empire waists that end up making your tummy protrude.
Busty? Surprisingly, strapless gowns can be most flattering if you have a full upper body. Just make sure it's well-boned throughout the torso and has a high back, which should also define your waist.
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Gillibrand makes a last-minute push for Colbert Busch
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sent another round of emails this morning, trying to drum up dollars and support for Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the Democratic candidate in South Carolina who is running in a special election against former governor Mark Sanford.
Gillibrand's email calls Sanford " an ultra-radical, unethical tax-dollar-waster" and alludes to the scandal that tarnished his tenure as governor, when he claimed to be hiking on the Appalachian Trail but was actually in Argentina visiting a mistress.
Story Continued Below
"Sanford can't run on his shameful record, so he's smearing Elizabeth," Gillibrand writes, claiming Sanford is spending $100,000 on negative ads against Colbert Busch.
Gillibrand was one of the headliners for a fundraiser for Colbert Busch in Washington D.C. two weeks ago, which also included the candidate's brother, Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert.
The race took a wild turn last week, with revelations that Sanford's ex-wife had formally accused him of trespassing. Sanford, in response, claimed he had just stuck around to watch the second half of the Super Bowl with one of his sons.
But the incident was sufficiently embarrassing that the National Republican Campaign Committee pulled its support for Sanford, and recent polls showed Colbert Busch running slightly ahead in the heavily Republican district.
Gillibrand cites a poll that put Colbert Busch up 47 to 45, but a new poll from Public Policy Polling (a left-leaning pollster) puts her lead at 9 points, with a 51-35 advantage among independents.
Gillibrand's email was sent by way of her Off The Sidelines PAC, and encourages small donations "so she can fight the smears and turn out her voters."
It then adds: "Your gift will go directly to Elizabeth's campaign," which is partly true. In keeping with her usual practice, the link gives the option of splitting any donation between Colbert Busch's campaign and the Off The Sidelines PAC.
The special election is scheduled for May 7.


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Check out this video of Lisa Livesay (current ensemble, u/s Glinda – 2NT) performing "A Change in Me" at Redlands bowl. Credit to YouTube user oymua for the video, which is embedded below for your convenience.
This entry was posted in Video Footage and tagged Lisa Livesay. Bookmark the permalink.


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Voices United House Concert in Elkins Park, PA
Catie Curtis with Special Guest Lisa Bouchelle
Singer/songwriters Catie Curtis and Lisa Bouchelle perform a house concert to raise awareness and funds for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. (www.au.org)
Catie Curtis is a veteran on the singer/songwriter folk scene, crisscrossing the US for 20 years and counting performing shows, recording and releasing 13 CDs, with devoted fans following her every move. Shes performed at the White House several times, at two Presidential Inaugural Balls, with Lilith Fair, and at Carnegie Hall. The winner of more than her share of Boston Music Awards, she also took the Grand Prize in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries). Catie recorded a duet with Kris Kristofferson for his CD "The Austin Sessions and theres a good chance youve heard a song of hers in a movie or on a TV show. The New Yorker called Catie a "folk-rock goddess."
Lisa Bouchelle is one of those rare artists that can bring you to tears one moment, such as on Where You Are, a heartfelt tribute to her mother, whom she lost to alcoholism at a young age, and then have you laughing out loud, with songs such as Only The Tequila Talkin, a playful duet with John Popper. Her style has been compared to Jason Mraz, Sheryl Crow, and Jewel, but what sets her music apart is an edge reminiscent of classic artists such as Neil Young and Tom Petty.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, located in Washington, DC, is dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans. Their outreach and legal teams advocate for LGBT marriage equality, protecting womens reproductive rights, keeping religion out of public schools and fighting faith-based discrimination.
Seating is limited to 40 people, buy your tickets today at http://bit.ly/CatieVoicesPA
$35 General/$70 Patron
Email firstname.lastname@example.com for details.