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This smart 3-star hotel is found in the heart of Birmingham, within easy walking distance of the Bullring Shopping Centre and Birmingham Snow Hill Station. Take in the city from the hotel's bar and enjoy traditional cuisine in the on-site restaurant. Each room in the hotel has free wifi access, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV and hairdryer.
Star Rating: ***
User Rating: 78 (from 1125 reviews)
Hotel ID: 2650615
Explore The Local Area:
- BPAS Birmingham Central (0.3 mi, 12 Navigation St, Birmingham B2 4BT)
- Birmingham Childrens Hospital Charities (0.4 mi, UK)
- Someway Natural Healing Centre (0.5 mi, 17 Thorp St, Birmingham B5 4AT)
- Bath Row Medical Practice (0.6 mi, Attwood Green Health Centre, 30 Bath Row, Birmingham B15 1LZ)
- Polmedics Polski Lekarz Birmingham (0.8 mi, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH)
- The Hair and Scalp Clinic (0.1 mi, Birmingham B1 1PU)
- NCS (0.4 mi, Birmingham B1 2AL)
- Dr Imran Waheed Consultant Psychiatrist (0.5 mi, 52 Blucher St, Birmingham B1 1QU)
- Dr B M Hyman (0.6 mi, 30 Bath Row, Birmingham B15 1LZ)
- Boots Opticians (0.9 mi, Birmingham B4 7TA)
Vetinary Cares:
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham (0.1 mi, Birmingham B1 1BT)
- Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre (0.2 mi, Birmingham B5 4EW)
- Comfort Inn (0.2 mi, Birmingham B5 4DY)
- Malmaison Birmingham (0.4 mi, 1 Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 2JR)
- Hotel ibis Birmingham Centre Irving Street (0.5 mi, Birmingham B1 1DH)
Hotel Facilities:
Cleaning Services
Daily housekeeping
Iron and ironing board
Trouser Press
Reception Services
Luggage room
Night Porter
Reception (24 hours)
Wake-up calls
High speed internet connection
Wi Fi
Food And Drink
Coffee/tea facilities
Lobby bar
Rooftop terrace and lounge
Media And Technology
Accessible Rooms
Disabled parking
Complimentary toiletries
Private bathroom with bath/shower
Business Equipment
Work desk with lamp


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The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant.It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951.
Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Alongside with its rival, the Miss Universe and Miss Earth contests, Miss World pageant is one of the three most publicised beauty contests in the world.
List of Miss World Winners since the Beginning
Facebook Comments

subset: commoncrawl


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Curb by text message allows users to book a taxi by sending a text message (SMS) from a mobile phone to GOCURB (462872). We will verify your address, send your order to the dispatch system of a taxi partner, and responds to you by text message to confirm your order.
To book a taxi via SMS, text your pick-up address to GOCURB (462872). To cancel a taxi, text NOTAXI to GOCURB (462872). We will send a text reply to confirm the cancellation. To stop receiving text messages from us, text STOP to GOCURB (462872). Messaging and data charges may apply.


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The Dead Sea Scrolls Were Analyzed Digitally and Could Reveal Noah's Ark Was a Pyramid
Posted on Aug 23, 2016
What exactly have scientists discovered about the legendary Dead Sea Scrolls through digital analysis? And why do they believe that the Noah's Ark was a pyramid? Can this unusual finding explain one of the most important biblical narratives?


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My poor blog. I have severely neglected it these past few months. Facebook has taken over my life and I just love it!. It is so hard to remember to eat or feed the dog with my fanny stuck to the chair all day. If I didn't have to go to work in the evening, I guess I would stay in my PJ's all day with a Diet Coke in front of me and Frazier reruns playing on the TV.
Our house still has not sold. We have changed realtors also and that has not helped. The first realtor had our house for almost four months and only showed it one time. Everyone told me, even my sweet Momma said it was time to change. She is a very nice woman and sells a lot of houses, but just not ours. I hated to do it, but it was a business decision. The realtor we have now has shown it many times, but still nothing. We lowered the price and she said it's priced to sell. The house is 100% show ready, but not sold. Why..why..why? Grrrrrrr.
September is almost here and school started back in our area this week. I sure do miss these days with my girls. Loved the "First Day of School" pictures. I am hoping my daughter remembers to take some of my Grands when they start school next week in Texas. My oldest will be in the 6th grade and the "little one" will attempt 4YO Preschool again. Ashley tried to get her in the same program in the Spring, but they required for Madison to take a nap. She refused, and told her Mom she was not going back after the third day. So we will see how things go this year. The little Stinker!
We had a great summer. My two daughters, two Grands, and me went to Orange Beach for a short beach trip. It was wonderful! We all love the hot sun, sand, and seafood. A month later my youngest daughter and I flew to New York to celebrate my Mom's 80th Birthday and then drove over to Michigan for a Close To My Heart Gathering for my baby sister. It was my first Gathering and I was pretty nervous worrying if something would come up that I could not take care of or get stuck while placing orders on the computer. But everything went great and Brenda had a really wonderful turnout. She qualified for so much free stuff that she had a blast making lists of what she wanted to order. I think she is hooked on our nice stamps and inks. The same two things that got me loving Close To My Heart products too!
Here are a few pictures of some projects I have been working on. I just love making cards and scrapbook pages. I also "might" be having one of my cards published in the Hobby Lobby quarterly magazine. I submitted two cards, they requested on of them. Not 100% sure it will be used, but from everything I have been told I think it is a go.
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Audio / eBook Help
Help with Overdrive
Helping you with the Next Generation of Digital Library: OverDrive
Kindle eReaders (pdf update) PRPL Older Kindles
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These guides were created before the recent changes to Overdrive.
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OverDrive's tutorial page has step by step videos on how to download digital content to your mobile device.
Still having a problem? Get help with OverDrive's Front Line Tech Support.


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For commercial and industrial businesses in and around Dallas, bird control provided by Texas Bird Services is a valuable part of improving the quality of life as well as the bottom line. Our experience with pest birds tells us that these pests can be extremely destructive.
In large numbers, birds are actively destructive to personal vehicles and other surfaces at businesses around Dallas. Bird control is necessary in these cases to prevent the presence of droppings from corroding equipment and vehicles and from spreading dangerous bacteria, diseases and parasites to domestic animals and even people.
Texas Bird Services knows all too well the damaging nature of pest birds, as well as the behaviors of specific species. This enables us to zero in on bird reduction and prevention methods that will offer each customer in Dallas bird control that is most effective for their particular needs.
Learn about:Bird NettingPigeon Removal
Businesses have counted on Texas Bird Services for years to assist in diminishing and preventing pest birds. However, in addition to Austin bird control, we have also made a name for ourselves for the expertise we provide in removing and controlling bat populations.
While bats are useful in certain numbers for keeping insects under control, too many bats in one area can be a costly nuisance. Bats create large volumes of droppings, or guano, which can build up and become unsightly. And, like bird droppings, guano can harbor dangerous bacteria and disease that can put children and pets at risk of health complications.
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More information:Texas Bird RemovalFort Worth Bird ControlBird Removal Services
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If you would like me to review a product, day out or service that you think would be of interest to me and my family then please feel free to get in touch at firstname.lastname@example.com. All opinions are my own and I'll write an honest review.
You can also use the same email address to contact me regarding any aspect of my blog.


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Sequin orchid purple table linen
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Archive for December 2012
Manet, Stevenson and 'Facture'
The following (incorporating some corrections and additional information supplied by Roger Swearingen since first posting) collects some ideas stimulated by a recent debate of our essays discussion group concerning a key term in Stevenson's essay 'A Note on Realism' (1883).
Manet, Woman with a Parrot (or: Young Woman in 1866)
"Again as I said by mere vivacity and variety of facture, the public may be cheated into admiration; Manet's cock and lady that I wanted to buy, is the game; or etching as a parallel for the best sort. That is the true way central to literature; and I believe it must be the true way in painting." (L4: 180-82, 9 October 1883; to Bob Stevenson).
When did RLS want to buy Manet's painting?
According to the Metropolitan Museum of New York online catalogue, the painting was in the artist's studio 1866-72; then at the dealer's Durand-Ruel, 1872–77; then owned by Ernest Hoschedé (department store magnate) 1877–78; then by artist Henri Hecht, Paris 1878-81. In 1881 the painting was sold to J. Alden Weir for Erwin Davis, New York, the owner 1881-1889.
After its exhibition at the Paris Salon in 1868, it was included in a London exhibition "Fifth Exhibition of the Society of French Artists", Winter 1872.
We do not know if RLS saw the painting in 1872: there is no evidence of his being in London during the 'winter season', and anyway he would not have been tempted to buy it as before his his twenty-third birthday in November 1873 he only had an allowance of £12 a year (Balfour I, 83). It is more probable that he saw the painting in Paris some time before 1881 (when the painting went to New York): possibly when RLS was with Bob, and when he could think of paying around 2000 Fr. This was the 1877 sale price, i.e. £80 at the time, according to the following information:
This calculation is confirmed by K. Baedeker, Le nord de la France (1884), 'Tableau des monnaies' (opposite title page): £1 = 25 Fr.
The period can be narrowed down to the period after July 1875 when, after being called to the Scottish bar, he received £1000 of his inheritance. As this windfall did not last long, a 'good fit' for the occasion when RLS saw and wanted to buy the painting would be at the dealer's, 1875-77, accompanied by Bob, during one of his various visits to Paris. This painting inspired by Velazquez, would have appealed to Bob, pupil of an admirer of Velazquez, Carolus-Durand, and himself an admirer and future author of a study of the painter, in which he several times links the names of Manet, Carolus-Durand and Velazquez. (If fellow atelier student Singer Sargent was with them, the group would have included another Velazquez admirer.)
Other mentions of Manet by RLS
Manet is also mentioned in The Hair Trunk (1877): the room of one of the bohemian students is full of jumbled works of art, good and bad, one of them is 'an original Manet in the last stage of impressionalism' (quote kindly supplied by Roger Swearingen); it is listed between an example of bad art and one of good: the latter, etchings by some good modern artists. ('Last' must mean 'latest', 'most recent'; RLS had used 'impressional' of landscape that looked like a painting in 'An Autumn Effect', written December 1874-January 1875, a few months after the first of use 'impressionniste' in French in a review of the 1874 Salon; the first use of 'Impressionist' in English is recorded by the OED as by Henry James in 1876.)
The American painter John Le Farge later reports a conversation with Stevenson in Samoa, when he said that he'd been among the first to recognise 'the value of Manet, the so-called impressionist, upon his first sight of a painting by him'. (La Farge, John. 1894. Stevenson's Life at Samoa. New York Times (30 December 1894): 4).
What does 'the game' mean?
This isn't well covered by the OED, but with the help of a Google N-grams search, I propose the following definitions:
1. 'the way to succeed', 'what you must aim for', 'the right way to do things' ('Simplicity is the game of the young, and the more experienced should play down to the capacity of their partners' (Westminster Papers: A Monthly Journal of Chess, Whist…, Vol. 11 (1879), p. 66). 2. 'the best game', 'the thing for me' ('War is the game, sir—life, honour, glory, are a grand stake', Noctes Ambrosianae 58 (Blackwood's Einburgh Magazine 30, 1831, p. 'The Game of War').
The first part of the sentence 'cheated into admiration' is followed by an ambiguous semicolon; what follows this can be an addition that follows in some way, even by being opposed ('I go; you stay'). In this case, and bearing in mind the loose structure of a letter, I would see the semicolon as followed by an implied 'but' — everything after this is what RLS approves of, in his search for a good example to explain his idea about the true method in art.
An alternative reading is that Manet's painting is a parallel for the worst sort of 'facture', etching of best. This would imply a reversal of his feelings towards the Manet painting between c. 1875 and 1883—possible, but since he is writing to an admirer of Manet, would he not have had to add a few words of explanation?
A third interpetation is that RLS admired the way Manet's technical skill won over the public: the facture seduced the public out of its prejudices, wooed it out of its reserve (i.e.. 'cheated' is not being used with negative connotations). Against this, we might say that the painting was not received well by the public (at least by newspaper reviewers: it was mentioned in only 28 (of 134) reviews of the salon, mostly unfavorably – Arden Reed, Manet, Flaubert, and the Emergence of Modernism, 2003), so there is no question here of 'people' and 'the public' being wooed/cheated by brilliant technique. In the letter to Bob 'as I said' clearly refers back to Gautier. The semicolon that follows 'Again as I said by mere vivacity and variety of facture, the public may be cheated into admiration;' can legitimately be taken to be followed by an elided 'but'–this helps us distinguish the condemned Gautier (see below 'What does "facture" mean?'), who cheated the public into admiration, and the following comments about a painting that he had been completely bowled over by to the point of thinking of using all the money he had in order to buy it.)
Why did RLS want to buy Manet's painting?
One attraction must have been its interesting debt to Japanese art, which RLS was fascinated by — the monochrome background and the few clear details (the small bunch of violets, the parrot, the peeled lemon and the long peignoir of a single colour) — so that the overall composition is simple and clear; the flat background reflecting wittily, as in Japanese prints, on the flat painted surface. In a similar way, the thick opaque colour ('impasto') tends towards the abstract and draws attention to the material quality of the paint: indeed, the brushstrokes are visible in the dress and parrot. These factors must have appealed to S's interest in revealing the hand of the artist and emphasizing pattern in his own art. Both Manet and Stevenson were focussed on radically rethinking their art and its techniques and this is clear in the works they produced.
Secondly, the portrait is enigmatic, full of possibly symbolic (and conventional) still-life elements (the violets etc.) and it is placed in an undefined space (like the subjects of many Japanese prints) yet is clearly the portrait of a real woman. Manet here, as elsewhere, blurs the boundaries between portrait and genre scenes (as in 'The Railway', 1873) and combines simplicity and immediacy with a fascinating suggested but elusive meaning (as in 'Déjeuner sur l'herbe', 1863). The uncertain balance of the real and ideal is also a feature of Stevenson's own art, if we remember Marcel Schwob's praise of his 'réalisme […] parfaitement irréel' (Spicilège, 1896), and his defence of the expressive force of conventional elements in his essay 'A Note on Realism' (1883). His own works often are of uncertain genre have an uncertain and enigmatic meaning: we need only think of The New Arabian Nights with its modern city setting and contemporary characters but completely elusive moral meaning, its almost surrreal atmosphere.
I think what attracted RLS to the painting was its clear exploration of technique, its enigmatic interaction with the viewer, and its combination of 'significance and charm' (key terms in 'A Note on Realism' and in another theory-of-art letter to Bob of just over a week before the one discussed here, L4: 168-71; ? 30 September 1883), i.e. its combination of the representational and abstraction, the symbolic and the aesthetically pleasing, the realistic and the ideal, that he also found in Japanese prints and that we can find in analogous forms in his own writings.
What is the parallel between etching and literature?
The unexplained parallel between etching and literature in Stevenson's letter to Bob recalls his 1880 draft 'On the Art of Literature' (JSS 7, p. 142): here, to a list of chapter titles has been added, inserted at an angle, an idea for a new chapter or section: 'style and etching'. Clearly S had ideas on the subject. What could they be?
Well, first of all, the etcher, drawing with his stylus, and the resultant black lines on paper have affinities with writing, but RLS is probably thinking more of the meticulous attention and the working and reworking required: the way the criss-cross hatchings (meaningless in themselves, with no equivalent in the real world) build up a pictures by working and shaping (by 'facture'). As in Stevenson's writing with its foregrounded stylistic effects, both the overall representation (like the story) can be observed and appreciated as well as skill at manipulating the individual marks (like word-choices and orderings). There is also perhaps an appreciation of complexity, as in his idea of the 'knot' in his 1885 essay on style.
What does 'facture' mean?
RLS uses the word to mean the process by which a work of art is produced (i.e. technique). This is clear from the first paragraph of 'A Note on Realism':
What to put in and what to leave out; whether some particular fact be organically necessary or purely ornamental; whether, if it be purely ornamental, it may not weaken or obscure the general design; and finally, whether, if we decide to use it, we should do so grossly and notably, or in some conventional disguise: are questions of plastic style continually rearising.
Instead of 'plastic style', S had put 'facture'. Henley questioned the word in proofs and in his reply Stevenson suggested an alternative: 'To substitute for facture = handling = plastic style; I can think of no others' (L4: 153). The previous sentence gives us another list of processes involved: 'the proportion of one part to another and to the whole, the elision of the useless, the accentuation of the important, and the preservation of a uniform character from end to end'. In paragraph 5 he associates with this stage all the decisions concerning 'the scale, the style, the spirit, and the particularity of execution'.
In other words, for S, 'facture' is not the creation of a merely attractive finish, but all the manipulative (plastic) working necessary to realize the work of art, involving many vital decisions (i.e. execution is not merely carrying out of an idea). (Incidentally, this is similar to the practice that Bob describes—in his Introduction to Walter Armstrong's Raeburn, 1901—for admired painters like Manet, Raeburn, Velzquez and Carolus-Durand: their method 'passed through one stage, gradually approaching completion by a moulding, a refining, a correcting of the first lay in'). (For further thoughts on 'facture', see the comments to this posting.)
When exhibited at the Salon, Manet's painting was mentioned by few reviewers, mostly unfavourable, but it found a staunch defendant in Emile Zola who proclaimed it, even before the Salon, as 'a new way of painting' ("Une nouvelle manière en peinture: Edouard Manet', 1867), for its multiple ambivalences of reality and representation, its overt paintedness, and because of the way it is 'vividly coloured and factured'.
In the letter to Bob, however, RLS refers to 'mere facture', by which he means the execution of a work of art to display ability of execution, guided by mere considerations of style, in order to obtain cheap admiration. The example of 'mere facture' he means is indicated by the opening phrase 'Again as I said', which points to the first sentence of the letter, which opens brusquely, carrying on a debate between the two cousins:
In my art, studies can be made to go down by one quality, facture: a person like Gautier — dam bad art — factures to such a point that people take simple unadulterated strings of facts from him.
So 'As I said' certainly refers to Gautier, who S never fails to denigrate (in 'On the Art of Literature', for example: 'verbal description of scenery for its own sake (Gautier)'; 'the defect of this deep human current […] leaves […] all of Gautier, low, cheap, and perishable').
Stevenson and painting
All this would be an interesting part of a study on 'Stevenson and painting'—but someone else will have to do that. Now, back to the essays.


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こうそく(校則) School Regulations
How well do you know your own school rules?
Draw up the following table, and in pairs, write your school rules that you know of in 2 minutes!
|Australia (Your School)
Now, watch the following video to find out the general school rules of Japanese high schools, and fill in the table.
Want more?


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If the classic picture book structure is your favorite and you want to stick with it, make sure you hit all the important points when drafting your story. Here's an easy model to follow – apply it to your manuscript spread by spread, find what's missing or where your pace is disturbed, then modify, mold, and master!
[For a 32-page picture book, you'll have fourteen spreads in which to fit your story.]
1. Introduce your main character (MC) and show us something interesting or special about him/her: skills, quirks, relationships etc. This is also where you set the expectation of tone, type of story, and voice.
2. Establish the MC's normal world. What's the setting? Does the setting play a special role in your story?
3. Develop MC even further. What does he/she want? You might introduce a secondary character.
4. Inciting incident: something happens that disturbs the "normal" and prompts the MC to take action. The MC needs to do something about it, either to restore the balance or to take a step toward their goal/desire that they've had at the beginning.
5. First try: MC fails and the situation gets worse. This failure also brings a little change in him/her. It helps the MC learn more about the world or himself.
6. Second try: MC fails again. Tension escalates. MC has a bit of a different perspective. He learns something from this failure, too.
7. Third try: MC fails once again. This time it seems like all is lost and there's no way out of the mess.
8. MC reflects on the situation and contemplates his next move. MC gets past the defeat, finds hope, and the motivation to try again.
9. MC gathers his/her strength and skills learned from previous experience and makes a decision to solve his/her problem in a different way.
10. The preparation: does the MC need to gather supplies, resources or dig deeper to ensure success this time?
11. Final battle. The MC makes the biggest effort here, using all of his/her previous lessons learned and new resources.
12. MC wins! He/she solves the problem. You can use a twist, a surprise, or a clever solution here. The most important thing is that no one else solves the problem for your MC. It should not feel like a coincidence, either. The more original this part is, the more of the "golden factor" your book will have. Don't use the first idea that comes to mind. Search further and think outside-the-box.
13. A satisfying ending. MC might not get exactly what he/she wanted, but what they need. Tie it back to the beginning.
14. MC is changed as a result of his journey. Show the "new normal" for your MC with a hint of what the future might look like for them. Finish on a positive, hopeful or humorous note, depending on the tone and type of story. Make sure it matches what you've established for the story's world from the get-go.
That's it! There's some wiggle room here and there, but overall this model should give you some guidance on how to develop your classic structured picture book.
This is only the frame to get you started with your draft. As for the rest of the elements that make for a great picture book, like an original idea, vocabulary, voice, literary devices, imagery, page turns, illustration potential etc., those are subject to future posts.
Happy creating!
Leave a comment and share your biggest challenges, advice or thoughts on crafting your classic structured picture book.
Kaye Baillie
9/18/2017 06:16:34 pm
Thanks for this Rosie. Honestly, I've been writing and studying the craft of picture books for over a decade, but I find that the '3' attempts by the MC to overcome their problem is not a strong point for me. I tend to have the three attempts, but because they are interchangeable, I know I don't have it right. Your description has given me a better insight into how to make each attempt have a rightful place and therefore builds towards the resolution. Thanks for sharing this great list.
10/22/2017 07:01:52 pm
Kaye, it might take a little practice, but you'll get there. Just keep in mind that the three attempts can't be of the same difficultly -- the obstacles need to increase -- in order for the tension to escalate. Also, there's action and reaction, so every time your protagonist fails, things get worse and worse. Brainstorm and ask lots of questions :) Thanks for stopping by.
9/20/2017 06:53:30 pm
Thanks so much for this.
Rosie Pova
10/22/2017 07:03:34 pm
Glad it was helpful to you, Dea :)
10/22/2017 07:06:51 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Kristine, and good luck -- hope it works great for your story :)
Ingrid Boydston
10/22/2017 06:50:11 pm
You distilled information from about 3 seminars in one great post! So useful! Many thanks!
10/22/2017 07:08:35 pm
Thanks, Ingrid! I'm happy it was helpful :)
10/23/2017 08:57:03 pm
Excellent post, Rosie! This one is a keeper!
10/15/2019 04:20:53 pm
Thank you for this detailed classic picture book structure and definitions. I hope to use this as a guide.
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply.
About the Author
Rosie J. Pova is a prolific children's writer, a wife and a mother of three.
Ever since childhood, Rosie has had a passion for writing and has been fascinated with the power of words. She has written essays, short stories and poetry in Bulgarian and French as a young girl, but as a grown-up, her writing gave way to family, jobs and just life. Until 2004, when she revisited her love for story-making, a few years after becoming a mom.
Rosie is originally from Bulgaria now living in Texas with her husband and three kids. She writes primarily for children of all age groups, as well as poetry.
Rosie dreams of inviting many readers into her make-believe worlds and hopes to touch hearts with her words.
Rosie J. Pova is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
October 2018


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The jazz-rock supergroup return for the first time in nearly a decade
Steely Dan are coming back to the UK for their first live show in nearly ten years – they last played here with their 'Left Bank Holiday' tour in June 2009. The jazz-rock supergroup have confirmed a headline slot for London's Bluesfest on Sunday 29th October, including founder members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
The pair are reunited with their old friends – the multi Grammy-winning soul and R&B hitmakers The Doobie Brothers, who also appear as part of a double bill.
BluesFest itself will run from Friday October 27th – Sunday 29th and will once again utilise all areas of The O2 complex, including the 14000-capacity Arena and Indigo at The O2. Further announcements of more artists will be made over the coming weeks.
Tickets go on general sale on Friday May 12th at 10am (O2 pre-sale begins on Wednesday May 10th at 10am and the Live Nation pre-sale begins at 10am on Thursday May 11th). Tickets are available from www.livenation.co.uk.


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So this has nothing to do with nail polish, but I just wanted to say how much fun I am having working on this blog! I have found so many cool and interesting blogspots and free software to really make my blog my own. Now all I need are followers! :)
I am going to try a new polish design tonight...fingers crossed!


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ANU Study: Most Political Ads Are Crap & Most People Don't Remember Them
Have you been bored senseless this election campaign? Despite being inundated with party ads and slogans you can't recall any of it? Well, you're not alone says a new Australian study.
The boffins at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra have found that most political advertising is ineffective and is rarely remembered by the electorate anyway.
The academics discovered we have a particular disdain for ads with negative messages that merely slag off an opponent. It appears the more positive messages of the minor parties is a better approach and is what's winning them voters.
As an example, independent Bob Katter's ad for this year's election was slammed as the work of a "nut job".
The study looked at biometric changes in the body of people who were showed political ads by the different parties (although they weren't necessarily from this year's election.) It found the ads people did remember where the ones that they hated and irritated them. Oddly, the more someone liked the ad the less likely they were to remember the actual message.
Head of the study, Dr Andrew Hughes said: "Whilst attack adverts certainly bring up the emotions, they don't convince people to change their vote. If anything, negative advertising made people angry with the political process."
Dr Hughes added that the more positive vibe of the likes of the Greens or independent senator Nick Xenophon could see them do particularly well in this Saturday's vote despite being light on actual substance.


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The Onslow County board of commissioners approved unanimously an airport rental car contract facility charge that will take effect March 1 at the Albert J. Ellis Airport. The board approved the fee at its regular monthly meeting on Jan. 18, according to meeting documents and video.
The fee, at $3.50 per rental car contract day at a limit of 10 days, will go toward the airport's Capital Improvement Program for airport projects such as construction on "outdated" car rental facilities.
Other contract facility charges in the state range from $3.75 to $4.25, according to the board.
To see the video of the meeting, click on the URL: http://onslow.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=579


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Boston Car Accident Lawyers
The Boston car accident lawyers at Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Glassman understand the significant challenges injured victims often face in obtaining compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Our attorneys will travel to you throughout the Commonwealth.
A car accident can ruin your whole life. More than just damage to your vehicle, a crash can leave you with serious, debilitating injuries, strip you of the ability to work or enjoy the things you once did. It can even cost the life of someone you love.Experienced Car Accident Law Firm for Serious Injury
Our car accident lawyers have successfully handled thousands of injury cases. We have recovered millions for those who have suffered serious injuries and lives have been affected by another driver's carelessness.
When we take on your case, you can be confident of your attorney's skill and our law firm's resources in the proper handling of every aspect of your case – from dealing with insurance adjusters to settlement negotiations to mediation to preparation for a jury trial.The types of car accident cases we handle may include:
- Car vs. Motorcycle Accidents
- Construction Site Car Accidents
- Car vs. Bicycle Accidents
- Head-On Collisions
- Chain Reaction Accidents
- Accidents Caused by Driver Impairment
- Rear-end Collisions
- Car Accidents While Using UBER
- Sideswipe Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Car Accidents Caused by Excessive Speeding
- Fatal Car Accidents
- Hit-and-Run Crashes
- Weather-Related Crashes
- Distracted Driving Car Accidents
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Earning Potential
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish/ Emotional Suffering
- Loss of Consortium (claims brought by spouses or children)
- Property Damage
In each case, our experienced car accident attorneys carefully consider the facts to identify every possible defendant and the full extent of damages. This allows us to pursue claims in a manner that maximizes recovery.Massachusetts Crash Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates there are roughly 6.3 million police-reported car accidents nationally each year. Within this, about 35,000 people die and nearly 2.5 million are injured.
That means nearly 100 people are dying in traffic collisions in America every day. This has a national economic cost of $242 billion, which includes lost productivity, workplaces losses, medical expenses, legal and court costs, property damage, emergency medical services, and insurance administration costs. When we factor in the quality of life valuations - the intangible value that results particularly from serious injuries or wrongful deaths – that federal figure rises to nearly $840 billion.Massachusetts is not Immune
Over a recent 10-year time span, the NHTSA counted nearly 3,700 traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth. A notable percentage of those included motorcyclists and pedestrians.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security reports the state has an annual average of:
- 111,000 total crashes.
- 4,700 serious injuries.
- 360 deaths.
Auto accidents are a leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 23.
As for injuries, violent car accidents have been associated with:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Permanent scarring/disfigurement
- Amputation;
- Internal organ damage;
- Paralysis
- Muscle strains/whiplash
These kinds of injuries can be life-altering. While you focus on physical recovery, our focus will be on helping you recover financially.Causes of Boston Car Accidents
Most traffic deaths are caused by the negligence of one or more individuals, companies or government agencies. When it comes to driver negligence, the NHTSA reports:
- Nearly one-third of fatal crashes involve a Drunk Driver.
- Speeding kills an average of 9,300 people a year.
- Distracted Driving kills about 3,200 people annually.
- Approximately 850 people die a year due to Drowsy Driving.
Each of these actions is the result of a conscious choice. Even a driver never intends to hurt anyone, the choices to speed, drive impaired or avert attention from the road has serious and sometimes deadly consequences for which they must be held accountable.
In these cases, you may have the option of seeking compensation from that individual's insurer and potentially others whose negligence may have also contributed to the injuries or losses in question.
Compensation from corporations may arise when:
- The at-fault driver was on-the-job at the time of the crash.
- An active and poorly-configured construction zone contributed to the crash.
- A defective vehicle/ vehicle part contributed to causing the crash or exacerbating the resulting injuries.
Meanwhile, we may seek to hold government agencies accountable when:
- A government employee or contractor was negligently operating a vehicle.
- A highway or roadway was defectively designed/ poorly maintained.
- A dangerous condition on the roadway persisted despite the agency's actual or constructive knowledge of it.
The takeaway here is that most accidents are preventable. Our Boston car accident attorneys are always vigilant in our efforts to help our clients receive the full compensation to which they are entitled.Massachusetts No-Fault Rules
There are two basic ways car accidents are handled in this country: Fault vs. No Fault.
In "Fault" states, drivers can take one another to court for compensation regardless of the severity of their losses. In "No Fault" states, those involved in crashes can't pursue injury claims in court until certain criteria are met.
Massachusetts is a "No Fault" state, per Mass. Ann Laws ch. 90, Section 34M. This provision deals specifically with "personal injury protection," also known as "PIP." What this means is drivers are required to maintain a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage in anticipation of a crash. Then if a collision does occur, a person must first file a claim with his or her own auto insurance company for personal injury protection and other benefits.
If a crash victim wants to file a lawsuit against a driver outside of this no-fault system, he or she will need to prove they incurred:
- At least $2,000 in medical bills and,
- Accident-related injuries that include broken bones, substantial loss of hearing or vision or some serious degree of disfigurement.
If your case meets this threshold, there are several types of claims we may pursue, including:
- Personal injury ;
- Wrongful death
- Product liability ;
- Insurance bad faith ;
Your lawyer will be able to help you ascertain early on which potential causes may be applicable in your case.
It's worth noting that if you share some of the blame for the crash, you are not prevented from suing. Per Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 231, section 85, Massachusetts follows a system of "modified comparative negligence." What this means is crash victims can claim damages against another so long as his or her share of the fault doesn't exceed 51 percent. However, if the court does find the plaintiff (the person who filed the claim) was comparatively negligent, his or her share of financial damages will be lowered by that share.Minimum Auto Insurance Required
Massachusetts law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of insurance – and it should be noted the rates in the Commonwealth fall below the national average.
- PIP (personal injury protection): $8,000 per person, per crash
- Bodily injury to others: $20,000 per person/ $40,000 per crash
- Property damage: $5,000 per crash
- Bodily injury caused by uninsured vehicle: $20,000 per person/ $40,000 per crash
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM), per M.G.L. ch. 175, section 113L, protects you when you are injured by another driver who either doesn't have insurance or who are not identified (i.e., hit-and-run).
The law does NOT require underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), but it's an excellent idea to have it. Underinsured motorist coverage will compensate if your losses exceed the amount of the at-fault driver's insurance. Considering that most drivers only carry the minimum amount of coverage and many serious crashes can result in extensive losses, having good UM/ UIM coverage is important, as it gives your car accident attorney another viable avenue of compensation on your behalf.
Our Boston car accident lawyers understand how a car accident can affect your life. Our law firm is committed to helping you obtain the financial compensation necessary to get on with your life.
Contact the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Glassman today for a free and confidential consultation.
- Cell Phone
- Texting While Driving
- Drunk Driving Victims
- Teens
- Elderly Drivers
- Rear-end Collisions
- Head-on Collisions
- Failure-to-Yield Accidents
- Hit & Run Accidents
- Side Impact Car Accidents
- Rollover
- Backover
- Car v. Bicycle Accidents
- Car v. Pedestrian
- Car Accident Injuries
- Underinsured Motorist
- Uninsured Motorist
- Massachusetts Car Accident Lawsuits 101
- Motor Vehicle Accident FAQs
- Localities
- Car-Bus Collision
- Car-Motorcycle Collisions
- Car-Truck Collisions
- Chain Reaction Car Accidents
- Car Accidents Caused by Manufacturing Defects
- Negligent Driving Car Accidents
- Impaired Driving Accidents
- Vehicle Maintenance Car Accidents
- Car-Animal Collision in Massachusetts
- Aggressive Driving Accidents in Massachusetts
- Car Accident Liability
- Car Accidents, Injuries, and Safety in Massachusetts
- Joint and Several Liability in Massachusetts Crashes In the Boston suburb of Brockton, a civil lawsuit over a school bus-teen car accident injury liability and damages is underway, with potentially
- Identifying Fault and Liability after Massachusetts Traffic Accidents A series of fatal car accidents in Boston illustrate the many common issues victims face in seeking compensation for damages. CBS Boston reported a
- Hit-and-run Injury Claims in Massachusetts Hit-and-run collisions are back in the news after Boston police found a women dead in the street late Thursday afternoon. The 57-year old victim was


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Summer is by far the most difficult time of year to apply oneself to indoor work! There are so many other things drawing you away from your studio art space… But I have finally managed to complete my first commission … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Artist
New Painting – My View
Finally! A new painting to share. Actually I've been struggling with the health stuff again in the past couple of months and have only recently recovered enough to begin to start painting. I was able to keep up with drawing as I could do that in bed or on the couch but being up to paint was a bit to hard. I have to say that I'm super excited to be well enough to start again and though I'm a little out of practice I managed to pull this small piece together. It's really just a concoction of my imagination and apparently my imagination is fairly colourful. ;P
This is Sure To Brighten Your Monday! New Painting!
I've been working on this commission for a few weeks and finally managed to pull it together today! This scene is inspired by Chania, Crete. The couple who commissioned this piece vacationed here on their honeymoon and this painting is an anniversary celebration.
I've always struggled with buildings… Typically I prefer painting nature because nothing is entirely straight. 😉 In nature everything is forgiving in form and organically flexible. When I attempt buildings I panic over their rigidity. This is only the second time I've ever painted buildings and my first attempt was a very similar scene right out of the same country.
Here's hoping you enjoy seeing the progress of this one – Happy Monday friends!
Painting Break – Illustration Binge!
Been taking a little break from painting the past couple weeks – I think I burned myself out a little finishing up the install. 😉 But never fear – the desire to paint will return – it always does! In the meantime I've been focused on illustration – if you'd like to see what I've been up to – join me on my other Instagram account–> @whimsicalillustration !!
Painting Sunflowers – Acrylic on Canvas
Sunflowers always pop up in my art – I can't seem to help myself… Let's be honest though, who doesn't find them cheerful?! And at this time of year they are an especially sweet reminder of summertime. This painting is inspired from a photo I took in my back yard this past summer and the painting will be another addition a to the series I'm creating for the cafe 'Break in Time'.I did a sketch first – which I like to try to do as much as possible. Always seems to make thing flow smoother once I paint.I am happy with it in the end I feel like the sunflower pops right out at the viewer. I hope you enjoyed stopping by here.
Recent Drawings and Sketches
Wow – sometimes life can be a whirlwind eh?! My fault though; I had kids and I love projects. I'm so project oriented that it's crazy how I can't stop my brain from always wanting to do something new… I'm a getter-done-girl though so they all get finished (in time). 😉 I am still working through my new painting series but I'm also trying hard to be mindful of the benefits of frequent drawing. Sometimes I love what I sketch and other times I cringe… In the end though my art improves when I draw more. Attached here are few of my recent sketches and drawings. The sunflower pictured above is slowly being brought to life in my current painting. I'm not totally thrilled with this bicycle drawing – it was one of my first attempts at tablet drawing but I thought I'd share with you anyway. It's inspired by the photo below which I took years ago on a Sunday drive. Now this scooter drawing was purely for fun – it's something I have been wanting to do for ages. I'd love, when time permits, to create a series of illustrations inspired by modern scenes. Not sure when I'll ever get to the next one but the idea is burning a hole in my brain while it waits! This drawing was actually a recent commission ordered for a gift. It's inspired from the engagement photo below. It was super fun to create – I mean who wouldn't want to chance to draw a couple in love out front of Cinderella's castle – come on! So sweet!That's all for now folks – I realize I have been neglecting my blog in all life's busyness but here's hoping I can get on a regular posting track again soon. (I know I'm probably dreaming… 😉 ) Happy Wednesday friends!
A Special Graduation Gift
I've never painted a horse before… I've illustrated horses before but never painted any.
I had no idea how this one would turn out… Eep!
This was gift for a special high school graduate – a portrait of the greatest love in her life, her horse, Black Jack. Her Mom was awesome – she provided me with a ton of photos and careful descriptions of the horse and his physical details. I'd also had the privilege of photographing this horse and rider myself in the past so I had a lot of resources.
The challenge was painting a recognizable portrait of a horse in my style while still featuring the graduate's favourite colours, red & black. Phew… Thankfully the horse is mostly black (that helped – apparently he lightens up in the summertime with copper highlights but in the winter he's almost solid black). Then red in the background – I added other highlight colours to keep it from looking gothic and tried hard to fill it with movement.
This was an interesting endeavour. In the end she loved it, her Mom loved it and I'm so GLAD!
For some reason I took the first progress photo with this one and then forgot to do anymore – HA! Sorry…
Finally! New Painting!
Hey friends!!! I can finally share this commission with you! I've been waiting awhile… I told ya I've been painting… 😉 Yet another beautiful Canadian scene – always speaks to my heart!
This is the study sketch I did first. It was inspired from a photograph my client sent me. And the I photographed the rest of my progress – I hope you enjoy!
Painting People
I should probably just stick to landscapes… I can't help myself though… I. MUST. TRY. NEW. THINGS.
The funny thing is that I have drawn a LOT of people in the past, especially in illustrations but have never really painted very many people. It's a whole NEW ball game! As they say, the only way to learn is to practice, practice, practice, right? My hope is that even if they turn out blah at the beginning maybe they'll evolve and bloom as I go??? Maybe…?
Anyways… I once again creeped different friends' profile pics on Facebook (I promise I asked their permission before I used them 😉 ) and came up with these two beautiful friends as my inspiration –>
The black and white photo was my first attempt and then the colour picture next. Painting people is really HARD! Maybe I feel more confident with landscapes because I can manipulate and stylize them more. People still need to kinda look like people (ha!) and once they are stylized they take on a very illustrative quality – which isn't quite what I wanted these to feel like. I admit that these didn't turn out exactly as I had planned in my head – paintings rarely do it seems but I do like parts of them… (We're always our own worst critics). As I said above – practice, practice, practice! Maybe one day I'll feel satisfied with my people paintings and the good thing is that they are a challenge – challenges grow us!
I do hope all you Canadians out there had a lovely Canada day celebration on the 1st and that the 4th of July brings equal amounts of fun to our Southern neighbours!
Sunshine and summer warmth to you all!
True Love II – New Painting
A few months ago I was commissioned to do a painting inspired by the poem called 'The True Love' written by David Whyte. If you haven't already seen and read about the first 'True Love' painting I did – you gotta check it out – its such a touching story —> TRUE LOVE I.
I had originally created two sketches for my client at that time and she chose the sketch with the boat. However, I knew I wanted to make the other sketch into a painting one day as well and so awhile ago I started working on it. Then other projects came up, things got in the way and it wasn't until today that I picked the piece up again and finished it off.
The poem includes references to the Scottish Hebrides and so this new painting is inspired from various photographs I've seen of those lovely coastlines.


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Sierra Club's mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
In order to achieve our mission, the Hawaiʻi Chapter has developed policy statements on the issues below. These statements instruct the lobbying and conservation efforts of the club.
Hawaiʻi Chapter Policy Statements:
- Agricultural Policy
- Alien Plant Control Policy
- Energy Policy
- Feral Pigs in Hawaiʻi
- General Conservations Policies
- Geothermal Energy Policy
- Golf Course Policy
- Harmful Chemicals Policy
- Koa Forest Policy
- Marina Policy
- Mauna Kea
- Natural Resources Stewardship Policy
- Sewage Sludge Policy
- Transportation Systems Policy
- Undersea Electrical Transmission Cable Policy
- Water Policy


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About Release Physical Therapy
Owned and operated by Dr. Cari Simon, DPT, Release is a boutique physical therapy practice that provides the best in comprehensive, evidence-based treatments and personalized care. Utilizing hands-on techniques, we strive to relieve pain, improve function, and enhance overall health and wellness for our patients. Our clinic is conveniently located in downtown Washington, DC within Sports Club/LA – DC. Learn more about our location.
Physical Therapy for Health and Wellness
Whether you're an athlete that plays hard on the field, or a weekend warrior that plays hard in life, committing to a physical therapy program can help to keep you moving forward. We'll help you get back to work, back in the game, and back to doing the activities you love. Learn more about our services.


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This is a crucial question that most decorators and interior designers have to ask their clients. Problem is, not everyone knows how to define his or her home style.
That's why I love answering online style quizzes. Okay, okay, it's a little simplistic—particularly those Buzzfeed ones—but even just looking at your own Pinterest boards will give you a glimpse of the kind of styles you go for. Knowing your home style limits your choices when it comes to decorating your home, and makes the task of beautifying your home less overwhelming, more doable.
Here's one style quiz I enjoyed taking. It's from an online interior design company called Home Polish that's based in New York. I've actually been thinking about offering an online interior design service, as I know a lot of people—homeowners, renters—are looking online for home inspiration. Still figuring out how that service will work, and if it's a viable option for the local market. What do you think?
Anyway going back to the style quiz. It was pretty easy and straightforward, and didn't require much reading. You just basically pick your favorite image from among the options, and voila! Your home style explained in a quick, easy-to-understand paragraph.
Here's my result:
I quite agree with its summary of my home style, and if you look at the pictures I've been pinning on my Home board, my comfortably chic home style kind of shows through. Don't you think so?
Want to take more home style quizzes? Here are ten more quizzes to choose from.
Cover photo from Dining and Living Room.
What's your home style?
This is a crucial question that most decorators and interior designers have to ask their clients. Problem is, not everyone knows how to define his or her home style.


text: thatporchdawg 0 Posted May 24, 2005 Both of these were taken by my girlfriend on an MX-10 (yeah, i know its not digital and its not a SLR, but.....) in Bonaire, March 2004. Aquatic: Doing the "Chicken Dance" on a safety stop off Klein Bonaire! Sometimes I leave the camera topside so I can practice being a buddy. Terrestrial: If anyone is having problems finding the Andrea I site in Bonaire, now you know why. I do have to say the marker was a pain to pack and and even more difficult to explain to the customs folks back in Atlanta. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Today's guest post is written by one of my BBF (Bento Bloggers and Friends) friends.
She's a lovely lady called Grace and she's also from the UK! Yay UK bento makers!!
Take it away Grace 🙂
Hi, I'm Grace from Eats Amazing, and I'm delighted to feature as a guest poster on the Oh! Bento Blog today! I'm going to share a tutorial for one of my favourite edible decorations in this post; a carrot butterfly, which can be used as a cute little embellishment for a bento, or any other food. Be warned, this isn't quite as easy as it looks, and may take several attempts to get right; I'm happy to admit that the first one I made took me 5 attempts!
All you need for this is a decent sized carrot and a sharp knife.
Start by cleaning and peeling the carrot, then trim one side so that it is flat. Cut a triangular groove into the carrot opposite the flat side, as shown below.
Lay the flat side of the carrot on the chopping board, then cut into the carrot as if you are cutting a thin slice, but do not go all the way through.
Make another cut next to it to slice the whole thing off. You should be left with a double slice which is joined at the bottom.
Make two cuts all the way through your piece of carrot as shown below.
Cut a small triangle from the other side as shown.
Now comes the tricky part! Open out the butterfly 'wings' and bend up the the bottom of the antennae section until you can pop it between the wings. This should hold them open. This step is where it usually went wrong for me, so good luck!
If you aren't going to use the butterfly straight away, put it gently into a glass of cold water and pop it in the fridge. This will keep it fresh and also help to stiffen it up a little. When using my butterfly, I mounted it on a piece of cucumber to hold it more securely. You can do this by cutting a slit into the cucumber and gently pushing the bottom of the butterfly into it
Here is the finished butterfly before it went into the lunchbox. You can use this in any way you can think of; it doesn't have to be put in cucumber. You could also try using radish instead of carrot for the butterfly.
I'd love Keith to give this a go, so here's a little challenge for you Keith; upon your return I want to see a bento featuring a carrot or radish butterfly!
Thanks for letting me take over the blog for the day, I've loved being here!
Well I've got to say I love a challenge!! I'll make sure to practise when I get back!! Hope I don't let you down!!
Did you know there is a valley in Turkey called Butterfly Valley!
Don't forget to check out Grace's amazing blog by clicking the button below!


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An Evening With Bryan Adams
Sep 28 , 2015 Doors: 7:30pm Show: 11:00PM
In a career that has spanned more than four decades, GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Bryan Adams has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide, garnered 21 Top 10 hits, earned nominations for three Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, received 18 Juno Awards, among numerous other awards and accolades. Adams' live performances have established him as one of the world's best rock vocalists of our time, performing over 120 concerts a year for audiences around the globe. And through his namesake foundation he has helped build schools and supported organizations that have helped disadvantaged people around the world. Now, with more than three decades of albums under his belt, Adams is set to release his 13th studio album, Get Up. Produced by famed ELO frontman Jeff Lynne and co-written with his longtime collaborator Jim Vallance, the album is a solid collection of well-crafted rock songs, from up-tempo tracks such as lead single "Brand New Day," "You Belong To Me" and "Thunderbolt," to gentler songs such as "Don't Even Try" and "We Did It All," plus the alternative Adams-produced acoustic versions, highlighting his unique voice and depth. The GRAMMY Museum welcomes Adams to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate performance and discussion surrounding his career and his new album, hosted by GRAMMY Foundation Vice President Scott Goldman.
Event Schedule
- Monday, September 28, 2015 at 11:00pm Add to Calendar


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How have I come to be a hero/shero? It seems to me just yesterday that I thought I would never be able to answer the "what do I want to do when I grow up" question. My father tells me I never really did discuss any major goals. I was always told to do my best. So that is what I did, sometimes. Other times, I was simply involved in the growing pains of the time and relating with friends. I worked at what interested me. And if things did not interest me, I didn't work very hard at them. It just happens that the two subjects that interested me the most were dance and genetics. I pursued my interest in both at the Bronx High School of Science, and I think that they are inseparable as to how I view science: Movement is a key player in any molecular genetic process that I think about.
So why did I become a biologist? Sometimes I think this happened while I was not looking. Clearly I had an interest in genetics in high school. I just didn't think it would become my career. Being "a biologist" means that you have decided to spend many years as an academic and perhaps your whole life.
To be honest, I still do not think I ever "decided" to become a biologist. I simply found myself hooked on generating data and answering questions that had not been answered before. The decision that research would become my life occurred after I received a Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Cancer Fellowship. I now consider myself a scientist who knows a lot about a few key areas that concern the molecular biology of cell growth. In short, I am a molecular biologis
In college, I changed my major twice, first from biology to dance and then back to biology again. When I began college, I was not a dance major. Because of this, the question I was frequently asked was "are you a DEO student?" DEO stood for Division of Educational Opportunity. It was the affirmative-action program at the State University of New York, Purchase, and most people of color who were not in an arts program were assumed to be in this program. No one knew that I had gone to two of the most prestigious public schools in New York City (Hunter Elementary and Bronx Science). No one assumed I was bright and interested in science. They assumed that someone was trying to help me along, and therefore I was allowed to be there.
After I became a dance major, I danced with a Harlem-based dance company called Diane McIntyre's, Sounds in Motion. Because I had joined a dance company, I was told that I had to leave the dance program at Purchase. So I changed my major back to biology and graduated with honors from that program.
In the end, I decided to go to graduate school because I was not happy with my day job as a laboratory technician, and dancing was not satisfying all of my intellectual needs. Being a Black woman in science means that you are in a significant minority in your workplace. During graduate school, I did not have a Black woman "biologist" role model to talk with. But, I did always remember that there was one Black woman biology teacher at Bronx Science (although she never taught me). This helped me to see the career possibility.
My advisor/mentor during graduate school was very supportive and taught me the keys to critical thinking at the bench. My co-workers at that time were mostly postdoctoral fellows, plus the laboratory technician, and they were always respectful of my ideas and abilities. The clean-up staff was mostly Black people whose comments like "why do you want to be a part of the white world?" made me uncomfortable. And the occasional distinguished scientific visitor, who would mistake me for the clean-up staff, also caused me to question my choice. Also, although I enjoyed working at the bench, at parties when asked what I did I would say I was a dancer. That answer never stopped the conversation flat and besides, I did still dance.
After earning my Ph.D. from New York University with a thesis on control of DNA replication, I went on to postdoctoral training at Columbia University to study how the protein p53 was able to behave as a tumor suppressor. This was the time when I began to call myself a scientist. I developed a passion for my project that I had never before had for my scientific work. It became a creative academic topic for me. Enthusiastically, I wrote a grant proposal that I submitted to a number of different funding sources.
It was then that the subtle racism that I had encountered since college hit me like a ton of bricks. People began telling me that the grant I would receive would be the one targeted toward minorities. They assumed that this was the least competitive. On the other hand, the Damon Runyon Fellowship was open to all, and was known to be highly competitive so I would probably not get that one. Well I got it! But, I did not get the highly competitive award targeted toward minorities because there were others in that group who were more worthy than myself. I did get an honorable mention for the targeted minority award, so at least they thought of me. At that point I knew that I had to stay in the business of science! I was talented and I had to help to get rid of the stereotype of the affirmative-action handout. I am still working to help people rise above this bias.
I choose to work at the City University of New York (CUNY). In part I made this choice because Hunter College of CUNY is a Minority Institution and the biological sciences department is part of the Research Centers in Minority Institutions program of the National Institutes of Health. There is comfort in being able to serve as a role model to students of color as well as comfort in working with other minority faculty members. The scientific infrastructure here is strong. I also wanted a hard money salary because I have a family and need to know that there will be a paycheck even if I do not obtain grant funding. I have two sons and a husband. I want to maintain a personal life. Other career choices might have made this more difficult.
I have been fortunate to continue to maintain a funded laboratory that remains productive. The future is tomorrow and I hope to continue to learn and grow while helping others do the same.
Biosketch: Professor Jill Bargonetti-Chavarria is an associate professor with the Graduate Center at CUNY and the Hunter College biology department. She has received numerous awards and honors including the Association for Women in Science Outstanding Women Scientists Award (2001), NYC Mayor's Award (2001), and the Presidential Early Career Award (1997). For further information, please send e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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It sure feels like we are approaching the peak as some houses have not received any offers this week and are "lingering" on beyond the usual 14 days on the market. That said I have been writing offers every week for clients and have come in 2nd one too many times. Just this week I wrote an offer $400,000 over asking price and came in yet again 2nd…. It is really disheartening for clients to keep writing offers and be rejected even when they write that much over the list price. Is the list price way too low? Yes in some cases but the market is such that buyers expect to overbid 10%-20%. If a seller decides to price high there will be hardly if any overbids. My colleague wrote an offer on a home listed within 5% of value and even though they wrote $200,000 over asking price the sellers rejected their offer..
Have you seen the new trend of "transparent" prices? It is popping up everywhere. Sellers list a home at the price they expect to receive or agree to sell their home for. Those "transparent" prices are quite high but maybe that is the way to be fair and more honest to the buyers too. What do you think? As a seller or a potential buyer would you prefer to deal with transparent prices from now on or keep the status quo?
Best regards,


text: Dermatologically tested and approved, the Sorbet MAN skincare and body range is refreshingly bold and, most importantly, effective and targeted in addressing the specific needs of male skin. The range, scientifically formulated specifically for men, focuses on the areas of hydration and protection, and boasts a new moisturising complex, which provides high-levels of hydration and moisturisation. Via dual technology, our product ingredients not only help improve the inherent skin barrier function, but they also helps to protect against the drying effects of soaps and detergents.


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Home > For Physicians > Newsletter > PAST ISSUES > 2016 > Jan/Feb 2016 > New Treatments Available For HCV
New, effective, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments are now available to treat Hepatitis C (HCV). HCV is a silent disease affecting people who may have contracted the virus through contaminated blood and/or who were born between 1945-1965, the baby boomer generation. PCPs are the first line of defense and should consider HCV testing when treating the high-risk population.
"I've been interested in the disease for years because it's part of my generation," says Joseph Eisenach, MD, a gastroenterologist with Consultants in Gastroenterology, P.C. "There was a period of time when it was spreading rapidly and we didn't have a test for it. It's been only in the last 12-18 months that effective drug treatments have become available." An estimated 4-6 million people in the U.S. have HCV, but most don't know it because they may have had brief flu-like symptoms, but they can be asymptomatic for 20 years or more.
The first non-interferon treatment was introduced in the fall of 2014, and more are on the way to the market. The four most recent DAA treatment options are SFO + Simeprevir, Harvoni, Viekira PAK and Daklinza.
"These new drugs are a game changer. They are well tolerated, last for a short duration and are effective in over 95% of the cases," Dr. Eisenach said. "That's in major contrast to the early days of treatment, which were onerous and had a success rate of only 20%."
Most people at risk haven't been tested, and less than a quarter of those who have HCV are being treated. "When patients come into the PCP's office and are overweight and have an elevated liver test, it's common to assume it's the result of fatty liver disease," Dr. Eisenach explained.
"But everyone in that age population should be tested for HCV and the HCV antibody," he recommends. That's especially true, he says, for patients who led high-risk lifestyles that included IV drug use, needle sharing, getting tattoos and sexual promiscuity. Boomers exposed to Hepatitis C-contaminated blood in healthcare settings also should be tested.
In 1998, the CDC recommended HCV testing for people at risk for Hepatitis C infection. However, in 2012, the CDC amended testing recommendations to include a one-time HCV test for all people born during 1945–1965 regardless of other risk factors.
An easy viral load test is now available to screen for HCV. If it's positive, the diagnosis should be confirmed with the HCV RNA test. "HCV-infected patients need to be treated and should be referred if possible," Dr. Eisenach said.
"With today's treatment options there is no reason not to receive treatment; however, treatment cost continues to be an issue," Dr. Eisenach cautions. Most private insurance does cover the cost.
Patients respond differently to HCV depending on their immune systems. "Since the course is variable and unpredictable, the infection often remains subclinical and the patient is asymptomatic," Dr. Eisenach said. Cirrhosis doesn't usually present until 17 - 25 years after infection.
Suspicion and testing are important to catching cases early, when treatment is more effective. "If you halt the progression of HCV- induced fibrosis, there will be some liver improvement and the damage is partially reversible," he explained.
"In the last decade, we have discovered with treatment, there can be regression of liver fibrosis and even improvement in cirrhosis, "Dr. Eisenach says. "They key is to identify and treat Hep C before cirrhosis develops, and the patient is at risk for cancer. If a diagnosis comes too late, treatment will be ineffective, and the liver will fail."
Fortunately, younger generations face less risk of contracting HCV because:
Dr. Eisenach received his medical degree from and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He also completed a fellowship in gastroenterology-hepatology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.


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In today's Sunday Spotlight, Vincent Ralph takes a look at the man who scored two hat-tricks, in two weeks, for two different clubs.
It will be a pub quiz question one day. Who scored hat-tricks on consecutive weekends for two different clubs?
The answer is Diego Lopez, who scored three on loan at Barnet and three more on his return to Stevenage just a week later.
The 27-year-old Spaniard, signed in the summer from Numancia, was making his first start for the League One side, after his time at the Bees and a previous loan spell at Aldershot saw him score nine goals in 17 appearances.
The former Atletico Madrid youth player's treble against Sheffield United maintained that impressive scoring streak, and begged the question: why has it taken him this long to start for the club who signed him on a free on the last day of the summer transfer window?
As well as helping Stevenage to three points last weekend, his keen eye for goal dented the Blades' chances of automatic promotion; although ultimately it didn't save manager Gary Smith, who was sacked on Wednesday after a 2-0 loss to Bury.
Lopez failed to find the net on that occasion, but all eyes will be on him again today as he leads the line against Tranmere Rovers, themselves looking to break into the closest promotion push in England.
While it may be too late for Stevenage to achieve anything more than mid-table security this season, in Lopez they have a player who has rediscovered the scoring touch that saw him net 22 goals for Getafe B, and a further 19 for Las Rozas the following year.
Those successes came in Spain's fourth division. He has already proved he can do similar in both the fourth and the third tier of English football.
Given a full season next year, there is no reason why he couldn't repeat those statistics.
Young enough to improve and old enough to know a thing or two, the striker may just be using the end of this season as a cameo for next year's star turn.
How good a signing will Diego Lopez prove to be for Stevenage? And will other clubs already be taking note of his goal-scoring form?
image: © eepaul
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Franchise of the Day: This Franchise Fills Our Taco Needs All Day Long
Grow Your Business, Not Your Inbox
Got a craving for tacos on the go? Del Taco's got the goods.
The first Del Taco opened in 1964 by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Yermo, Calif. The menu consisted of tacos, tostada, fries and cheeseburgers for just cents on the dollar. In its first day of business, it made $169 in sales, the equivalent of 900 tacos.
By 1970, the restaurant became a franchise and later merged with Naugles restaurant chain. In 1988 Del Taco adopted the 24/7 restaurant format.Today, it has more than 550 restaurants in 16 states and is ranked as No. 482 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list.


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H is for Heygate Tenants GuideAs well as six 13 amp plugs and the keys to a brand new luxury flat, the earliest residents of the newly completed Heygate Estate were presented with the Tenants Handbook.
This booklet was an 'idiot's guide' to operating the lifts and the central heating; cleaning windows; connecting the television aerial and obtaining a garage. It also contained a section on using the incinerators dotted around the estate. The charge for hot water was included in the rent and tenants were requested to use it economically. Originally each household was issued with a single refuse sack that was expected to last them a whole week! Each collection day the dustmen provided a new sack for the next seven days. The section in the guide on 'Care of Baths' is interesting: "It is advisable to always run some cold water before turning on the hot tap, as hot water suddenly hitting the bath may damage the enamel. Bath salts, if desired, should be added while the bath is filling, and may be thoroughly dissolved by stirring. The bath should always be cleaned immediately after use with hot soapy water, and the bath wiped dry while the water is running out and the bath still warm." All rather patronising …until you consider that many of the folks moving into these modern homes had never had a bathroom before.


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In early February, months-long tensions between the White House and the Pentagon over how to address North Korea spilled out into the public scene. As officials revealed to the New York Times, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster had demanded that the Pentagon provide a menu of detailed military plans, including a "bloody nose" strike against North Korean nuclear facilities, in order to bring credibility to President Donald Trump's threats. But the Pentagon, these officials noted, appeared reluctant to deliver on the request, seemingly worried that the White House lacked an appreciation of how quickly a military strike could escalate.
The reality is more nuanced. The Pentagon's apparent refusal to deliver the White House's desired military plans most likely derived from a number of factors unrelated to the Department of Defense's feelings about the president or his foreign policy. In this case, the parameters likely set by the White House—low risk to U.S. forces, low risk to South Korea, low risk in provoking a North Korean response, but high damage to Pyongyang's nuclear program or broader conventional force—may have simply been untenable. There is, after all, no effective surgical strike option for North Korea, no "bloody nose" that could reliably inflict determinative damage on military facilities without prompting devastating retaliation. The Pentagon always works more slowly than desired in the development of military plans, but ultimately cannot deliver on an impossible request—and is likely disinclined to offer less robust options.
Such friction between the National Security Council (NSC) and the Pentagon, however, particularly when it comes to military planning, is not unique to this administration. In fact, past administrations have routinely found themselves at similar odds with the Defense Department when their lofty goals met with Pentagon practicality and perfectionism. Both agencies have distinct roles to play in the development of military options, but neither plays their part exactly as the other might wish. Each has been known to overstep the boundaries
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For more than 60 years, scientists have struggled for answers regarding the formation of some of the most precious elements on the periodic table such as silver, gold and platinum. All of that has changed though as recently published findings have shown that the origins could be traced to a distant small galaxy.
The heavy elements, collectively known as the "r-process" are valued in virtually all spheres of life from fashion to gaming. Casinos for example use gold and/or silver plated bars as chips. Online casinos such as those listed here, newcasinosonline.org depict valuables in gold. Even in web design, it is common to find gold buttons used to depict value or guarantee.
Where is the r-process from?
The production of the heavy elements requires so much energy and it has therefore been very difficult to replicate them experimentally. Scientists have therefore had to use the stars and objects in the cosmos as the testing ground.
The first inroads into the formation was made in the early 1950s when nuclear physicists worked out that extreme conditions in the cosmos featuring subatomic particles known as neutrons are the forges for r-process elements and neutron stars were the most plausible sources of the neutrons. However, there was no observational evidence to back this up.
The recently published research has now addressed this gap. An analysis of the starlight from some of the brightest stars in the Reticulum II galaxy, which is located over 100,000 light years from Earth, confirmed that the stars had massive amounts of r-process elements.
Alexander Ji discovered the Reticulum II stars while using the Magellan telescopes in the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. He first published his findings in a report published in the March 31st edition of the journal Nature.
The study was hailed as the definitive confirmation that exotic neutron star mergers happened very early in the history of the dwarf galaxy Reticulum II and by extension, other small galaxies. It finally confirmed the fact therefore that star mergers are without doubts responsible for most of the elements that are so precious to us all across the universe.
What next for the r-process research?
The next frontier in the research is to determine how star mergers happened and to get more insight into the subatomic particles that made up the forge. Closer analysis of the Reticulum II should yield more answers on this front within the nearest future.


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Tornado just finished off the leftover bowl of jicama yesterday. He couldn't get enough of it. Dash and Sissy ate it okay, nothing special to them. I'm trying to go a little more "green" with my parties. As a lover of all things balloon-y and decorative, it's a challenge for me. However, I made steps this time by not getting paper plates and napkins and decorating with items like potted flowers and pineapples and bananas. (and reusing what I already own) I don't know - do bananas work for "Mexican"? I think so. I was thinking of the song we always sang in elementary - "Mama Paquita," but I just looked it up, and apparently it's Brazilian.
It may look like I photoshopped in those moustaches, but they were really wearing them. And that's also Ryan's real chest hair, heehee. :) These two had a little too much fun posing for me.
Mi senorita bonita even insisted on wearing a moustache, but she took if off to down her pineapple margarita. (I used Santa Cruz pineapple coconut juice mixed with frozen pineapple, and it was one of the best smoothies we've had in awhile.)
I think the moustache was having a sobering effect on Tornado because Ryan took about five pictures of us, and he couldn't quite get a good one.
yummy nachos
For dessert, I veganized this recipe for banana quesadillas. (And I added chopped bananas inside because it seemed to make it healthier.) It was good; everyone polished theirs off - especially Dash, in record speed. I wished I would have waited to serve them until they were cool because I think they tasted better after they had sat for awhile. That's what I would do next time.


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Vegetable and Herb Planters
Born out of the Cape Town drought, the GroPro system is extremely water-efficient. With 25 pockets and planting space on top, the GroPro utilizes anywhere between 3-5 liters of water for 28 plants per watering. This is extremely dif
Small Water-wise Planter (0.9 x 0.4 x 0.4m) Medium Water-wise planter (1.4 x 0.6 x 0.4m) Option 1: In kit form with quality potting soil, organic soil conditioners and a mix of seasonal vegetable seedlings. Option 2: Planted up and ready-to-


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50 to 1
Cast & Credits:
Release Date: March 21, 2014 (limited)
Studio: Not Available
Director: Jim Wilson
Screenwriter: Faith Conroy, Jim Wilson
Starring: Christian Kane, Skeet Ulrich, William Devane, Madelyn Deutch, Todd Lowe, Eloy Casados
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Budget: $10,000,000 (estimated)
Rated: PG-13 (for some suggestive material and a bar brawl)
Official Website: http://50to1themovie.com
"50 to 1" is about a misfit group of New Mexico cowboys who find themselves on the journey of a lifetime when their crooked-footed racehorse qualifies for the Kentucky Derby. The cowboys face a series of mishaps on their way to Churchill Downs, becoming the ultimate underdogs in a final showdown with the world's racing elite.
Did You Know?
"50 to 1" is a biopic of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Winner, Mine that Bird, best known for the stunning upset at 50 to 1 odds. Filming began on this long awaited project in September 2012 in the deserts of New Mexico. Mine that Bird was an American thoroughbred race horse with a career in both the US and Canada. While competing and winning or placing in many races, it's the journey to the Kentucky Derby and it's win that caught the world's attention. An owner of Mine that Bird, Mark Allen, will be portrayed by actor - singer Christian Kane (Leverage, Hide, Her Minor Thing), while Skeet Ulrich (Jerico, Law and Order L.A., Into the West) has been cast as the horse's trainer, Chip Woolley.


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Well, essentially I wanted my blog to represent a number of things:
- Be a conduit for debates on contemporary issues.
- A means of connecting with fellow creatives
- A library of all my shorts stories, film reviews and think pieces etc.
- Finally, and most importantly, a form of self-expression. My mind is constantly overflowing with thoughts and ideas, and I felt that creating a blog was the best way of getting them all out before I exploded.


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v:Hotelling, to hotel, to play, to lose oneself
curated by David Pledger
produced by Bleached Arts
Surfers Paradise has lots of hotels, around 150 of them depending on where you set your boundaries. Heading north from southern Gold Coast you meet them as a façade, a front, a barricade. They are arranged as if to defend the indefensible, the appropriation of land for the recreation of humans. Development and hospitality, the primary drivers of life in paradise.
As a visitor, I see the hotels as a strength of the local culture, an opportunity to re-imagine the whole idea of culture through the prism they offer. So I wanted to write a new story in which a Surfers Paradise hotel was the major character.
The protagonist of our first chapter is QT Hotel, a highly theatrical establishment. Its identity is 'designer-detail' but highly inclusive because of its emphasis on play. In fact, you could say the sensibility of the hotel is that of a 'play ground'.
You can see and feel it in the way its spaces interact, in the designer benches that greet you on every floor, in the uniforms (costumes) worn by staff that cast them as 'characters' in the QT play. It's very Gold Coast, showy, colourful. But it's also very stylish and sensual.
So the artistic canvas – the daily life of the hotel - is already a highly theatrical event occurring and changing on a daily basis in a site that in architectural terms is highly performative. The opportunities to embed artists, art-making and, ultimately, art in the hotel are irresistible and infinite.
Like any protagonist, the hotel needs a three-dimensional rendering for it to connect with its audience. I call it Hotelling, a 24 hours-and-a-bit on a fast-finishing, eclectic rollercoaster of an arts happening in all the corners of the hotel, top-to-bottom, left-to-right, inside-out. Hotelling is a new sport, a game for an adult audience, an alchemy of contemporary art and cultural hospitality.
Check in.
4-5 November 2016 | QT Hotel Gold Coast
Hotelling returns in 2017 at a hotel near you.


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Believe it or not, one of the most valuable assets you have may not even be adequately protected — your ability to work and earn an income.
This is especially important if you have dependents, for example, if you're the breadwinner in your family. Your employer may offer disability coverage, but it may only pay about 60% of your salary. Figure in unexpected medical costs on top of your mortgage, utility or other bills, and you're underwater in just a matter of months.
Disability Income Insurance protects your earned income. Depending on the amount and the kind you have, it may cover anything from paid sick leave, to long-term disability benefits.
Most companies provide their full-time employees with some form of Disability Income Insurance. However, if you are self-employed or not covered by your employer, it clearly makes sense to consider purchasing an individual plan or supplement.
Futurity First can help match you with a disability insurance or supplemental policy from one of our industry-leading insurance carriers, to make sure your income is well protected, no matter what.
How much disability income insurance coverage should you have? Use our calculator to determine how much you will need in the event you become disabled and are unable to earn your current level of income. And read more about disability income insurance here.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 156,000 new jobs were created in December. This continued a trend of lower job gains since June 2016 and was a bit below expectations. Additionally, this followed the ADP payroll report in which we see private employers added 153,000 jobs in December, below expectations of about 168,000 and a notably lower than the 215,000 new jobs added in November. Should investors treat this as a sign that the economy might be slowing? Maybe not. Particularly as it may coincide with the country being closer to full employment, creating a situation where qualified workers are harder to find. That could drive up wage gains for companies vying to attract talent, sending inflation higher and the Fed into quicker action.
One hint that employers might be having trouble filling jobs comes from data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the form of the Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report, as it is commonly known. Typically, there are more new hires than published job openings because companies may fill jobs with people they already know, rather than inviting complete strangers to interview with them.
However, since the end of the recession, job openings have risen at a much faster pace than actual hires, suggesting that employers may be having difficulty filling those open positions. And for the first time since the records began in 2001, job openings have exceeded hires.
Some have purported there is a "skills gap," where would-be workers aren't qualified to fill openings. We can see this in other data, such as from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which publishes a monthly survey of its small business members.
In it, we learn that 31% of all small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, up 3 points and the highest reading in this recovery, according to the organization. Sixteen percent of companies surveyed ranked the inability to find qualified workers as their top concern, not surprising given that 52% of the companies surveyed reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.
One takeaway is that, eventually, payroll gains may slow as fewer qualified workers are found. At some point, this may lead to a greater competition for labor, prompting a faster pace of wage gains. In turn, that might lead to stronger consumer spending and that can mean a virtuous circle of economic growth. It can also potentially lead to more inflation, encouraging a faster pace of rate hikes by the Fed.
We are already seeing a rise in real (inflation adjusted) wages, as seen in the nearby graph. While some have lamented that wages are growing slowly, when one nets out the effect of low inflation, wage gains have actually been stronger now than in earlier parts of the millennium.
If sustained, we may be in what might be termed a "reflationary" environment, benefiting companies that can profit from higher prices received relative to the costs they pay (and that would include labor costs). Other relative beneficiaries may be those that might be less interest rate sensitive. Some companies, such as certain financials, may even benefit from a bit higher interest rates, as long as they can earn more of a profit from lending at higher (usually longer term) rates and borrowing (such as from depositors) at lower short term rates. This net interest margin has decreased in recent years, as seen in the nearby graph, and an uptick in this difference between lending rates and borrowing costs may be welcomed by banks.
Thus, a slowdown in employment gains may not be a concern at this point in the business cycle. We might even welcome the fact that a tight labor market can lead to higher wages and, as such, more consumer spending. Since consumer spending growth has been softer in this expansion than in earlier decades, anything that can propel the economy forward would be welcome.
Of course, that may mean higher borrowing costs, which can take some of the luster off the economy's shine. And these factors may be complicated all the more by an unfamiliar new administration.
And that leads to a final caveat: uncertainty may continue to prevail, and that can prevent the economy from roaring ahead. And just as it led Fed Chair Janet Yellen to observe in the press conference following the most recent Fed meeting, "We're operating under a cloud of uncertainty at the moment," companies may similarly hold off on filling those open positions, or investing in new equipment, until that cloud is lifted.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal, and investors should carefully consider their own investment objectives and never rely on any single chart, graph or marketing piece to make decisions. The information contained in this piece is intended for information only, is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities, and should not be considered investment advice. Please contact your financial adviser with questions about your specific needs and circumstances. The information and opinions expressed herein are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. All data are driven from publicly available information and has not been independently verified by United Capital. Opinions expressed are current as of the date of this publication and are subject to change. Certain statements contained within are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, predictions or indications of future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Indices are unmanaged, do not consider the effect of transaction costs or fees, do not represent an actual account and cannot be invested to directly. International investing entails special risk considerations, including currency fluctuations, lower liquidity, economic and political risks, and different accounting methodologies.
© 2016 United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC. All Rights Reserved
United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC ("United Capital"), is an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and subsidiaries of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and financial services organization. Investing involves risk and clients should carefully consider their own investment objectives and never rely on any single chart, graph or marketing piece to make decisions.
The information contained in this blog is intended for information only, is not a recommendation, and should not be considered investment advice. Please contact your financial adviser with questions about your specific needs and circumstances. This blog is a sponsored blog created or supported by United Capital and its employees, organization or group of organizations. This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. Certain authors of our blog posts may be influenced by their background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience. It is important to note that the views and opinions expressed on this blog are that of the owner, and not necessarily United Capital Financial Advisers. As a Registered Investment Adviser, United Capital does not allow any testimonials on their blog, and any comments deemed as such United Capital will remove.
United Capital does not offer tax, legal, or accounting advice; therefore all articles should not be taken as such. Readers should obtain their own independent legal, tax or accounting advice based on their particular circumstances. All referenced entities in this site are separate and unrelated to United Capital. Any references to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by United Capital.