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Optimal health is one of the primary goals for so many of us, but with the influx of contradicting diet advice, movement plans and wellness opinions it is no surprise that we are often left confused and directionless about how to achieve it.
As manufacturers of natural and organic products, a value we live by here at Organic Formulations is that less is more and, that simple is the answer, not just when it comes to skincare but also when it comes to our health and wellbeing.
To assist you on your journey to wellness, we have put together a short list of the simple steps you can take to go from exhausted to energised, sluggish to sexy and live as the best possible version of yourself, inside and out.
Nourish your body
There is nothing more fundamental that you can do for your health than just eating real food. It can be a simple as that. Food that is whole and natural has the perfect combination of nutrients created by the planet to support you on your health journey. Food doesn't need to be a mathematical equation and should not be something that was created in a lab. Simply put, avoid processed foods, ditch the diets and just eat from the earth.
Limit chemical exposure
Our bodies are fascinating and extraordinarily sophisticated beings that can evolve, grow and heal itself when necessary. However, all of the processes that make us thrive and survive can be dramatically affected by chemical exposure. These days, chemicals are in everything we have come to know and trust; our food, our skincare, our cleaning products even our mattresses. Living with optimal health means supporting your body by avoiding, where possible these harmful chemicals and the best way to do this is by deciding to consume only natural and organic products.
Move your Body (in a way that feels right)
A primary reason why so many of us are failing to move our bodies is that we are just not finding a way that feels right and natural to us. Inundated with messages to lift weights, CrossFit and run for miles and miles to lose weight we fail ourselves by forcing movement that feels unnatural. The simplest way to ensure your sufficiently moving your body for optimal health is finding a workout that feels good for you, Maybe it's yoga, or walking or stand up paddle boarding. Daily movement is a key to optimal health and having fun while doing it is key to sticking to it.
Heal your Gut
Our gut is the centre of optimal health, and unfortunately, many modern-day lifestyle factors interfere with the health of the internal bodily function. Along with avoiding chemicals and processed foods, to support a healthy gut function try adding high probiotic foods to your diets such as kombucha and sauerkraut. You can also supplement with a natural, high-quality daily probiotic.
Condition your mind
By now I am sure you have heard the quote our thoughts create our reality, well this is not just true for our perception of the world around us but also for our overall health. The study of psychoneuroimmunology looks at how our mind affects our biological well-being and immune system therefor by strengthening your emotional and mental health; you set yourself up for overall well-being. The most effective way to do this is through meditation. Daily meditation practice will help you to control your thoughts and deploy more mindfulness to your everyday decisions, this, in turn, not only helps strengthen your mental health but additionally makes all of the other points made in this article easier to stick to.
Hydrate every day
It is no surprise that water is on this list as it is indeed one of the essential elements of overall health. However, instead of just advising you to drink more water (which I am sure you have heard 1000 times before), I want to remind you to be mindful of the signals your body gives you when you are in need of hydration. Dull headaches, dry skin, fatigue, insatiable hunger are all signs that it's time for some H2o.
Manage your stress
Stress doesn't just affect our emotional and mental state but also our physical health. When we have stressed, our bodies produce the hormone cortisol which an increase of can leads to health complications. Aside from daily mediation, manage your stress by taking regular time to yourself to disconnect and recharge. Our favourite way to do this is with a natural massage!
Connect with Nature
Nature has a magical way of healing not only the mind and body but also the soul. Humans were designed to have a regular connection to mother earth and making time each day to get out into nature and breathing fresh air into your lungs can help you to achieve more mindfulness and balance leading to you feeling and looking fantastic. Fresh air equals health? We told you this list was simple.


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Arrive at Edinburgh's Waverley Station via Virgin Trains East Coast for a city break from Aberdeen, Inverness, London, York, Leeds, Newcastle or Durham (or more stations within easy reach of the (LNER East Coast rail links).
At Craigwell Cottage, which is just a short walk from Waverley Station, we offer short breaks from 3 nights minimum (7 nights at peak times). We sleep up to 4 people in one double room, and one twin-bedded room. No sofa beds here, although we do offer the possibility of a travel cot in lieu of one of the twin beds for our younger visitors.
Virgin Trains have some great ideas of how to save on travel costs when visiting Edinburgh, and with Craigwell Cottage being only a short stroll from the station, it's a great location from which you can wander to the city centre attractions, no matter what the weather.
Save on your bookings to Edinburgh Waverley with LNER Trains
- If there are 4 of you travelling together, take advantage of LNER small group deals
- Use your Nectar Card to collect points or spend on LNER East Coast tickets
- Book up to 3 months in advance for weekend bookings
- Book up to 24 weeks in advance for mid-week bookings
- Tweet from your seat – book direct with Virgin Trains East Coast and get free wi-fi from any seat
Ideas for things to do on a City Break in Edinburgh
- Take Rosemary's Edinburgh Walk – we've written a walking route especially for our friend
- Explore the great views nearby with our Salisbury Crags walk
- We've got a whole underground street in Edinburgh where it never rains!
- Or you could just wander from café to café.
- Edinburgh Zoo is open every day of the year unless it's really icy.
- Shop till you drop – with a view of Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street – where else would you get that?
Book City Centre Holiday Accommodation near Waverley Station Edinburgh
We're happy to answer any questions you might have about a short break in Edinburgh. Take a look inside the cottage if you wish, or if you're ready to book, just follow the link:
We look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our premium horoscope tells you about your astrological constellations in the next 12 months. So you are prepared for things to come.
Video with music. You can enlarge the video if you click on the right corner.
Written by Cornelia AngelArt
In the hot month of August, you can find your way to lakes and swimming pools to escape the heat. Or you can enjoy a siesta in the shade of a big tree. And how do the stars relate to the signs of the Zodiac in August? Will you have a lot of energy for us humans or will you also have a siesta?
Hot temper and lust for romance will feel the Taurus in August. You can enjoy August because Venus will turn with joy to those connoisseurs who were born under this Zodiac sign.
Also, Leo born people will have Venus on their side. They will be physically in full swing, despite the warm summer days. Venus will stand in Leo, and everything will be possible for Leos in love. Is there a new love waiting for the Leos out there? From the first meeting to the first wedding, everything could happen in August. Leos are allowed to open their hearts to love.
Gather happy moments in the beautiful sunny month of August!
Venus will also present Libra with a good portion of love energy. Until 21st August, as already mentioned, Venus will stand in Leo, and this will result for Libra in harmonious experiences and Libra born people will enjoy the fine arts, such as music, theater, and painting.
Love will be highlighted for the Virgo. The planets will favor the most precious love energies of the year. You will be spoiled by Venus for a whole month.
August will signify changes for the Aries. And there are good chances that many modifications will occur to Aries born people.
Also, the Capricorn will be looking for a change. Especially in the partnership, Capricorns could see positive results occur. They should really give much importance to loving communication.
Gemini will expect success and growth in August. The beneficial sextile of the Sun will result in health and a lot of energy.
Sensitive Cancers will join Gemini. Mars will display an energetic extile, and Mercury will support professional progress. Cancers will be provided with a competent fluency and a lot of energy for a successful period.
Relax and enjoy life!
Zodiac Aquarius and Scorpio should approach August with calm and thoughtfulness.
The Scorpio could always be confronted with disorders since the sun will be in a square position for this Zodiac sign. And the funny Aquarius will not get the desired energy from Sun and Mercury. Even if Mars sends a surplus of power, the energy of Mercury will be missing and the Sun in opposition to Aquarius, so some things will not run as planned. The Aquarians should not take any hasty decisions and will prefer to think about it completely alone.
We wish all the zodiac signs an excellent August! And remember: even if the stars do not like what you want, you can do a lot to make it a lovely month! Enjoy the warmth on your skin, fresh sea breezes and singing birds in the morning, sunsets and sunrises, many conversations among friends and family and celebrate all the festivals you can!
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In August, the planets indicate changes, Aries. Sun, Mars, and Mercury will literally have to deal with their own construction sites and will give way to many favorable changes. Arieses will get the necessary power from the planets. Now it's time to do something and accept the chances of change.
Taurus will experience precious love moments in August 2019. They will be particularly sensitive to the beauty of life. Art and enjoyment have always been important to Taurus. Thus, they will get their money's worth this month.
The Sun will favor Gemini until August 22nd, thanks to a beneficial extile. You will enjoy good health and will be able to count on success. Mars, the Planet of Energy, will also send a lot of energy since the extile will be active until August 18th. You will be able to progress in profession and activities, and you will achieve much. After that, Gemini can have a break and relax a bit.
From August 18th, Mars will change from an observer's perspective into extile rich in action. Under this constellation, Cancer born people could make career advances and even be honored professionally. Mercury also supports this professional high-altitude ascending, since it will be standing right in the sign Cancer. It will be interesting to see what Cancers will expect professionally in August.
Leo really has every reason to be happy, since, for the third month in a row, the sign will enjoy power and strength. The Sun will stand in the sign until August 22nd and will provide plenty of energy and vitality. The planet will support crucial decisions and will help Leo born people to reach the peak of physical wellness.
At the beginning of the month, it is still a bit quiet around Virgo, but then from August 22nd the Sun will move to its own Zodiac sign, and Virgo-born people will now be celebrating their birthday! Luck will be on your side, and the Sun will send a lot of strength and energy, giving way to a successful conclusion of the month! And Venus, the Goddess of Love, from August 21st, will send all love energy available to Virgo. It could really be the most precious time of the year for Virgo. The favorable effect of the power transmitted by Venus will be active all month long. So, just enjoy it!
In August, Scorpio will always have to reckon with disturbances, since the Sun will be in a square position to their sign. Thus, it is appropriate to focus on health and to do something good. Rest, and a healthy diet will support healing moments for body and soul when the stars are holding back with their energy. From August 22nd, the situation will get better, and the Sun will support Scorpio's health.
The Sun and Mars will be in a favorable and advantageous Trigon position to the Sagittarius. Thus, a positive vital force and intense energy will favor all Sagittarius born. With your help, the planets can accomplish great achievements. With this amount of power, Sagittarius people will be safe until August 18th and will take a good step forward. Venus is also available until August 21st forming an advantageous trigon and favoring beautiful moments with family, friends, and partners.
In August, thanks to the planets, Libra will face excellent opportunities for successful undertakings. Nevertheless, you will have to contribute to your initiative. The Planet of Luck, Jupiter will still have a very favorable effect on the Libra-born, so you should actively shape your future, and you will be able to control the energy of Sun and Mars. Especially precious moments, Libra will enjoy thanks to Venus. The planet of Love will be standing until August 21st in the Zodiac sign Leo, resulting in favorable times for partnership, friendship and harmonious family life.
In August, Capricorns can make changes in the love area. If there is something to clarify, the time will be right, since the goddess of love, Venus, will still linger in the Zodiac sign, Leo. If something does not feel right in the relationships of Capricorn born people, you will be able to make changes just talking gently.
In August, the Aquarians will have to do things more calmly. In the professional field, Mercury will not be precisely helpful, and the planet can even lead to mistakes and misunderstandings. The Sun will also form an opposition Aquarians. Important decisions might be postponed, even if Mars could seduce you with a surplus of energy. The month's saying is: In rest lies power.
The Pisces will move for changes until August 22nd, thanks to the vital energy from the Sun. Problems could occur in health, so it is advisable to start with healthy food or quiet walks in nature. Sunbathing will be easier for you. Mars will also support your path towards change until August 18th. After that, more self-discipline is needed to keep your balance. The planet of luck, Jupiter, will delight Pisces with small gifts, such as a beautiful blooming flower along the way, discovered during your daily walk.
Monthly horoscope January 2019
Monthly horoscope for all signs for January 2019. Here's what the s...
September 2019 Monthly horoscope
The sun is Virgo until the 23rd of September. Mercury and Venus als...


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Since Jeb Bush announced yesterday he'll begin actively exploring a 2016 presidential campaign, and Hillary Clinton is most likely running as well, what would a Bush versus Clinton race look like this time around?
This report from MSNBC has some answers:
In their respective party primaries, Bush and Clinton would run on parallel tracks – close to the middle while taking flack from the flanks – and in a general election, they might neutralize each others' biggest strengths and weaknesses, since they share so many.
The Bush and Clinton families have become close since either one occupied the White House. Bill Clinton has made a habit of visiting George H.W. Bush at his home in Maine every summer, while Jeb Bush literally presented Hillary Clinton with an award.
"Bill's father wasn't around," Barbara Bush told CSPAN of the man who pushed her husband out of office. "I think he thinks of George a little bit like the father he didn't have." She added: "I love Bill Clinton."
George W. Bush calls Bill Clinton his "brother from another mother" and Hillary Clinton his "sister-in-law," while he and his predecessor clearly enjoyed each others' presence at a joint appearance in September to launch a scholars program run jointly by their presidential libraries. [Emphasis added]
Jeb Bush chairs the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, which presented Hillary Clinton with an award in March. "Hillary and I come from different political parties, and we disagree about a few things, but we do agree on the wisdom of the American people — especially those in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina," Bush joked.
Basically once you spend a term or two in the White House, you're in the elite club of the few people on earth who have had that privilege. As a result, with the Clintons occupying the Oval Office eight years, and the Bush family occupying the same post a combined total of twelve years, it's no wonder the two political dynasties have become quite chummy over the decades. After all, every time they take a photo of all living Presidents, you're probably going to run into someone you know if your last name is Bush or Clinton.


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CommonPeople UncommonGoals
Meet The Team
Danish WadhwaFounder & CEO
Danish is an Internet Entrepreneur, carries Digital Marketing and Growth Hacking Skills and have founded handful startups.
Chehak WadhwaDesign Lead
Without and awesome Design and user friendly UI nothing works, and Chehak takes a lead for it.
Love SinghMotion Graphic Artist
Chander ShoorSr. Web Designer
Jaswinder SinghGraphic Designer
Jaswinder is hard core Designer and makes impossible possible with his experienced designing skills.
PriyaWordpress Developer
Priya loves coding and have been doing it for a while now, she makes us proud with her innovating approach.
Sukhninder SinghJr. Motion Graphic Artist
He is a pro in graphics who can turn a boring video into interesting graphics just in a cup of coffee. His exceptional ideas often make our clients mesmerized.
Tarun KapilSupport Executive
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A note from Danish, our CEO
Hey There!
Lot of people ask me, why we bother to build MSGWOW as there tons of SMS providers in the market.
It's a fair question, there are plenty of Providers who offer Bulk SMS Service.
But problem was that none of the options were right for me, because everyone focuses on selling SMS not Solutions.
I am doing Business from past 7 years, since I was in College. Started a Web Hosting Company and sold it in 2015. Being a techie managing servers and providing support to my customers was not a problem for me, but sooner or later I realised that hosting is a Competitive world to win. I badly got stuck with the marketing part of it and tried all the possible methods, tricks, techniques, ways to promote my business and get some handful customers.
I tried hell lot of things ranging from cold calls to customer visits and every thing in between like: Bulk SMS, Mass Mailing, SEO, Social Media Promotions etc. Found that there is one this among all marketing channels which is not organised and automated for small business? Yes! Messaging Services.
I tried all possible SMS solutions out there in the market before founding MSGWOW. Few of them have great features and integrations but are expensive and some of them have tons of features which are useless.
So we decided to pack Messaging solution with No clutter, No complexity, No extra features to confuse and overwhelm you.
I'm proud to say that MSGWOW is the product that I wish existed back when I was looking for the perfect SMS Marketing Solution. And I'm also proud that our 2,000+ customers agree!
Now Our Vision is to Integrate MSGWOW with all the possible applications in the market and bring drip automation feature in it, so that you can build your own messaging workflow on run time.
Give it a shot and email me if your brain is popping with some great idea!
MSGWOW – WoWing Messaging
Founder & CEO
PS: If you'd like to join 5000+ readers and learn more about promoting your Business through Messaging. — check out the MSGWOW Blog.
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Young gun Joe Ofahengaue set to be unloaded at Nines
BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett is set to unleash young bull Joe Ofahengaue in next month's Auckland Nines after being impressed by the teenage prop's pre-season progress.
Broncos insiders believe the cousin of rugby union's once feared Tongan Torpedo, Willie Ofahengaue, can push for an NRL debut next season under Bennett given his outstanding performances in last year's U20s competition.
The young gun chalked up 200m in Brisbane's two finals games, before they lost the season-decider 34-32 to the Warriors, storming back from being 30-0 down and having a try disallowed in the final minute.
At 112kg and 186cm, Ofahengaue is an intimidating sight for a 19-year-old, and is still growing and developing. Not only is he big, but he is also fast and mobile and getting stronger since doing a full pre-season with Brisbane's NRL side.
He can step at the line, chew up metres and off-load under pressure, all qualities Bennett will work on this season.
The master coach is understood to be very impressed with the teenager and believed to be considering rewarding him with a trip to New Zealand for the Auckland Nines (January 31-February 2).
The Broncos took some young players across the Tasman last year, including talented halfback Kody Nikorima who enjoyed a great tournament.
The club was also keen to give Ofahengaue a run, but he was deemed ineligible because of his age.
"We were keen on using him last year but couldn't give him a run because of the rules," Broncos chief executive Paul White said.
"The Nines is a wonderful concept and a chance for NRL clubs like ours to give emerging players a taste of first-grade football."
White said some players were naturally suited to Nines-style football.
"It's the quick, mobile, athletic blokes who are best suited to it," he said.
"The players love it, the fans love and it's fun and exciting. It's locked into New Zealand for a few more years but eventually it will be transportable and be shared around."
Meanwhile, Melbourne Storm has scored a coup, signing grand final-losing Bulldogs forward Dale Finucane to a three-year contract to help cover the retirement of Bryan Norrie at the end of 2015. Finucane, a former Junior Kangaroo, is only 23 but has played in two NRL grand finals and has almost 70 first-grade games under his belt.
"Dale is an ideal replacement and the type of player we like at the Storm. We actually spoke to him a few years ago about a potential move, so I'm glad he's finally made the decision to join us," coach Craig Bellamy said.


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Hot weather coming to Yosemite; The waterfalls will be ROCKIN'!!
(5/2/17) The high temperatures in Yosemite Valley on Wednesday and Thursday of this week will be up in the upper 70's. The high on Thursday in Fresno is predicted to be 99! This means intense sun on the high elevation snowpack and an accelerated melt, at least temporarily. If you want to see Yosemite waterfalls at their most awe-inspiring intensity, make the scene on Thursday. There will be flooding in the meadows and possibly on roads and campgrounds, but this is going to be something to witness. I'm going up to shoot waterfalls and to document the flooding.
A word of warning; DO NOT go up this weekend. The hoards of day-trippers will be there, making it impossible to get around. Then, in the afternoon, when you want to leave, the line on Northside Drive will be backed up to Curry Village. An L.A. freeway on Friday afternoon moves faster. And to add to the problem, construction on the roads in the east end of Yosemite Valley is causing several traffic-choking detours. Plus, a storm is coming in on Saturday, so the weekend might not be so good.
My Early Spring Waterfalls workshop is scheduled for next week, and those folks are in for the shooting opportunities of a lifetime. This is not an overstatement. Storms, epic runoff, flooding, raging moving water all over the place will give us endless motion-blur, clouds, mist, possibly rainbows, etc. FYI, we still have openings if you can get a hotel at this late date. Yosemite Photo Workshops
(9am, 5/2/17) Update: The Park Service just issued a flood warning! Water will be OVER Swinging Bridge and all meadows will be inundated.


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Just across from Cardiff Bay, there sits a blue box. And behind that blue box, a much bigger blue box, which contains oodles upon oodles of Doctor Who goodness - as well as an adventure through time and space with The Doctor! I took a sojourn down to the Bay this weekend, Camera in hand, to find out a bit more...
Well, actually, the first bit was with Camera distinctly not in hand. As is the norm for Doctor Who under Steven Moffat, the actual 'experience' bit of The Doctor Who Experience is a strictly no-pictures adventure, for fear of spoilers - but that's not going to stop me from describing exactly what happened in the experience through the medium of text anyway. TAKE THAT, MOFFAT. Spoilers ahead of course, if you're looking to visit the experience soon!
Ushered into a small cinema-room by our 'Companion' - a lovely Cardiff-born lass named Lucy - you're first treated to a bit of a montage covering Matt Smith's era as The Doctor, up to but not including Series 7 (in order for Parents and non-fans dragged along to catch up with what the deal is). Then suddenly a crack in time and space, not at all dissimilar to Amy's, opens up in the middle of the screen with walls pulling away to reveal a new room, a museum of Earth History on Starship UK. With a droll service node (actually one of the props from Silence in the Library with an actress' face projected onto it) pointing out bits and bobs dotted around such as the Telescope from Torchwood House and the Calvierri throne from Venice, it's all a bit meta with an in-universe excuse to look at props from the show... until the room violently shudders as screens flicker on and off, revealing a message from the Eleventh Doctor himself!
Looking for Amy and Rory, The Doctor has somehow managed to get himself trapped in The Pandorica 2 (let it not be said that Steven Moffat, who penned the experience's 'story', is lacking in originality), but has instead found your tour group - or as he derogatorily describes you, 'shoppers' - to help him instead. With a wave of the sonic screwdriver, The Doctor locks his TARDIS onto your location, which reveals itself behind a wall on the other side of the room, before you're ushered into the now-old console room to help free him. The Experience originally made its début at the London Olympia in 2011, before making its way to Cardiff last year, so it's a little out of date now - however this is slightly rectified by a hastily slotted in bit of VO from Matt Smith. As you enter the TARDIS, he apologises for mentioning Amy and Rory instead of Clara, and describes his old console room as an 'archived shard' within the TARDIS's memory banks.
After a brief hop in the TARDIS (piloted by children in the tour group, who The Doctor insists are much better pilots than the adults), the group finds itself on a Dalek spaceship, captured by the Dalek Paradigm - at this point one of the younger girls in our group became paralysed with fear in the face of the Daleks trundling into the room, so companion-stroke-tour-guide Lucy sweetly offered her a little Sonic Screwdriver torch to battle them with. D'aaaw! - in what, for hardcore Who fans, was actually the most interesting bit of the Experience. The Dalek Supreme's attempt to exterminate you is rudely interrupted by the arrival of a fleet of Renegade Daleks lead by a black, RTD-style Dalek, declaring the Paradigm as outcasts in the 'true' Dalek empire before opening fire on the ship. Trust Steven Moffat to neatly brush the classic concept of Renegade and Imperial Daleks and a Dalek Civil War (an idea much debated by fans after the negative reaction to the Dalek Paradigm redesign) aside, in a novelty tour show! I wonder if it'll ever show up in the series itself...
The Doctor pops in with another message and urges you back into the TARDIS before the Daleks destroy each other, and with one last journey - including a slight detour in an honestly rather petrifying corridor-run through a forest of Weeping Angels - you're outside the Pandorica 2 itself. Now armed with pairs of 3D glasses from Lucy, The Doctor does some technobabbly nonsense to get rid of the array of bad guys outside the Pandorica - which is translated to the audience as a slightly naff 3D video of various Who monsters flailing about in the Time Vortex and doing all sorts of 'look it's 3D, my arm/claw/eye stalk is sticking out the screen!' bits. The Doctor free, the day saved, Matt Smith bids you one last goodbye as you're released into the real meat of the experience: the exhibition of props from the show. Free from the Moffat Anti-Spoiler Dome, here's a few of the pictures I snapped:
Matt Smith's actual hands! Well, hand prints. I imagine he's currently using his actual hands. That'd be a bit gruesome, otherwise.
Speaking of Gruesome though, this was the mannequin they had showing off The Doctor's togs from Series 7. Eurgh! Not entirely flattering to poor Matt. There were monster masks in the exhibition less petrifying than this.
The old 2005-2010 TARDIS, a bit scuffed but still a thing of beauty. And next to it...
... the old TARDIS console room - reportedly used for filming in the 50th Anniversary, when the crew shut the Experience down for an afternoon (Roath Lock, BBC Wales' purpose built studio complex and home of Doctor Who, is literally a 2 minute walk away from the experience) - looking a bit worse for wear. Not pictured: the video screen to the right showing Davey T's regeneration, which was surrounded by women of all ages cooing and in some cases, actually crying. The wound still cuts deep, 3 years later.
The First Doctor's TARDIS console, from the upcoming An Adventure in Space and Time. Pictures cannot do this thing of exquisite beauty justice!
I cannot wait to see this in action later this year.
Classic Ice Warrior! Not as furry as I remember them being, but still lovely none the lessssssssss.
Sontarans old and new. I knew the NuWho Sontarans were short, but I had no idea just how much shorter they were than the classics!
The Cyber-conversion unit from Closing Time. I have no idea why I took this picture, because all it did was remind me of the resolution of Closing Time, and was thus I was immediately infuriated.
A wall of Cyberheads!
I can't remember what episode this was from, but I loved it. Spooky Cyberface is spooky.
No idea why I took this picture...
Oh, that's why.
Clara didn't have much of a presence at the exhibition, except for this little section dedicated to Oswin Oswald in both human and Dalek form.
K-9 faithfully guards the entrance to the hall of Companion outfits.
MY BABY. I came this close to actual clothes worn by the actual Arthur Darvill! I was seriously tempted to touch them, despite there being several members of staff nearby and a ton of 'DON'T TOUCH' signs everywhere.
Don't Blink. Just... Don't.
Weeping Angel cherubs, just having a bit of fun. Not creepy, not creepy at all.
What do you call a group of Daleks? A Murder? A Collective? A Gathering? A... Paradigm?
Pew pew pew!
Poor Skaldak was all chained up to some missiles, just as he was in Cold War. Kind of a shame, because the Ice Warrior redesign is a gorgeous piece of costuming - I would've loved to have been able to snap a few pictures of the Marshal standing proud.
Oddly tucked away from the rest of the Cybermen was the new Gaibermen redesign from the otherwise ho-hum Nightmare in Silver. I love the Cybermen anyway, but this is far and away my second favourite Cybermen design in the show's history (sorry, nothing beats The Invasion). So... I went a bit overboard on the pictures.
Oh, you beautiful silver cyborg. You deserved better.
The mechanism behind the Ood prosthetic is actually a bit scarier than the look of the creature itself.
Time Lords, lookin' all Timey and Lordy and stuff.
The detailing on Eric Robert's costume from the TV movie was rather exquisite. You could say that he was... drezzed for the occasion.
Concept art! A lot of this comes from the wonderful Peter McKinstry, who was a Concept Artist on the show from Series 2 till Series 5. He's currently working on the fourth season of Game of Thrones.
Poor Neve McIntosh's head, nestled in a display on costuming in the show.
Tom Baker Scarf? Tom Baker scarf. Of course there's a Tom Baker scarf here!
Interesting little tidbit found in a display of scripts and signed promo pictures from BBC Wales - The Hungry Earth was originally going to be called Unearthed or The Ground Beneath Their Feet. Something to learn, even for diehard Who fans!
Despite the shortness of the actual 'experience' bit - it's about 20 minutes, and then around an hour or so to have a good poke round the exhibition - The Doctor Who Experience is a pretty fun trip out for a Who fan, if only just to see the gorgeous array of props and costumes in the exhibition itself. And at £13 for a standard Adult ticket, surprisingly cheap! If you're interested in taking the trip down to Cardiff Bay, you can book tickets here.
(Top Image Source: Doctor Who 24/7, the rest: Me!)


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father involvement
The proportion of South African children with absent fathers increased between 1996 and 2010 from 42% to 47%. This means almost half of all South African children are growing up without their fathers, although their fathers are alive.
This issue is often underpinned by men's failure to exercise the values of responsibility, selflessness, integrity and love with regard to their children. Given the fact that these and other social problems correlate more strongly with father absence than with any other factor, surpassing race, social class and poverty, father absence may well be the most critical social issue of our time
Our aim is to develop an intervention over the next 3-5 years that encourages men to be better fathers to their own children as well as to be father figures to other children.


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QM Higher Ed Members Share Quality Assurance Priorities for 2017-18 Academic Year
With the growth of online education has come a commitment to deliver a quality learning experience for all learners. As institutions prepare for the upcoming school year, they do so with this commitment in mind. But what quality assurance initiatives are at the top of their priority list? And how will they deliver on those initiatives? Here's what's on the mind of a few QM Members with whom we spoke:
Student success
Not surprisingly, helping students succeed is the number one priority for all the institutions with whom we spoke. But while the goal may be the same, the approach varies. Some schools are focusing on increasing the level of interactivity and active student engagement in online courses as a pathway to student success. While others are focused on professional development for faculty.
"Our primary focus this year is building capacity and contributing to the University's culture of quality student engagement through professional development. Improving the student experience with online learning starts with providing Faculty and Instructional Designers access to tools, research, and training in the field of online education."— David Brodosi, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
If your organization is looking to build capacity for quality assurance in online learning, take a page from the University of South Florida's book by exploring the tools in MyQM, utilizing the QM Research Library and exploring professional development related to student engagement.
Making courses accessible for all learners is another primary area of focus for many institutions. As Brenda Watkins from Hillsborough Community College (HCC) reports, HCC is "continuing to move towards universal design and full accessibility for all online and hybrid courses." The focus is also on accessibility at the University of West Florida:
"Another very important initiative underway to maximize UWF's potential to achieve its legal, moral and ethical commitments in the digital environment, the University has recently established an Accessibility Task Force. The task force is charged with developing strategies to effectively manage all aspects of digital accessibility, including additional accessibility resources, support, training, communication and outreach."— Cindy Mersereau, University of West Florida
To learn more about accessibility and how you can make courses accessible for all learners, participate in one of several QM professional development opportunities related to accessibility including Addressing Accessibility & Usability (Standard 8). For information on creating an accessibility policy, review the QM Accessibility Creation Guidelines.
Course Reviews
Getting courses reviewed either internally or officially remains an important area of focus for all institutions with whom we spoke. Several institutions plan to put 15 or more courses through the official review process in the coming school year. Others are building internal capacity to complete internal reviews prior to going through the official review process.
"It has been incredibly helpful to have an internal review process that mirrors the official Quality Matters Peer Review process within our institution. We have found this significantly decreases (if not eliminates) a number of revisions needed upon external peer review and helps administration feel more at ease about the financial investment involved in the external reviews."— Karla Morris, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
These are the top three quality assurance priorities among QM Members for the coming school year, but we know there are many more. So, let us know what your organization is focusing on for the coming academic year.


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GREENWOOD , IN - The 10th annual D3football.com 2009 Preseason All-American team was announced this morning, with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology junior TE Reed Eason (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) being named to the first team. Franklin College junior C Chad Schenkel (Carmel , Ind. /H.S.) earned a spot on the second team offensive unit.
Eason, who was also named a second-team preseason All-American by Lindy's Football Magazine earlier this summer, has recorded 84 pass receptions for 968 yards and 10 touchdowns in his two years as a Fightin' Engineer.
Last season, Eason caught 37 passes for 433 yards and five touchdowns. He earned first-team all-league honors as a tight end and was the second-team punter after averaging 38.4 yards per kick and landing 15 boots inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Schenkel earned a spot on the second team after anchoring the Grizzlies' offensive line last season. The junior center was a first-team All-HCAC center last season.
Eason and Schenkel were the only student-athletes from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference selected to the preseason team.


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Are there updates to curriculum from 2018 to 2019 *Part 1
Hi all,
Just wondering if it was ok to use old material to study for the FRM Part 1 from 2018 to 2019. Not sure where I can find curriculum changes for it. Thanks all.
Big Dreams Require Big Sacrifices - VWJETTY
Probably there are changes. Try look on Bionic Turtle. I think I saw such thread. I suggest you to open account there.
play it again, Sam
Excellent. Thanks Flashback.
Big Dreams Require Big Sacrifices - VWJETTY
The nov exam will be the same as the May exam. GARP adds changes at beginning of the year or maybe around now for 2019 changes. Bionic turtle has a more active forum and usually this gets answered then.
Cool yeah I have an account over there and have started reading around. Thanks.
Big Dreams Require Big Sacrifices - VWJETTY
Study together. Pass together.
Join the world's largest online community of CFA, CAIA and FRM candidates.


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Contact Us
25th January 1958 Born today: Gary Brian Tibbs, London, rock bassist (Adam and The Ants, Roxy Music)
25th January 1919 Born today: Patricia Louise Dalton, chair (Sherlock Holmes Society of London)
25th January 1882 Born today: Virginia [Adeline] Woolf, London, author (Jacob's Room, To Lighthouse)
25th January 1540 Born today: Edmund Campion, London, saint/Jesuit martyr (Decem Rationes)
Black Cat & Greater London House
This amazing art deco building was the Black Cat Tobacco Factory
Location: Hampstead Road London
Description: Don Jose Carreras Ferrer, a Spanish nobleman moved to London in the early 1820's and started trading in cigars with members of Victorian society, including the 3rd Earl of Craven. In 1866 Carreras received a Royal Warrant from the Price of Wales, HRH King of Spain and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
The Carreras Company logo was a Black Cat, while the Black Cat cigarette was introduced in 1904.
Construction on their new factory here started in 1926, that became known as The Black Cat Factory opened in November 1928.
The discovery of Tutankhamens tomb in the 1920 and the temple of Bubastis (the cat-headed goddess) inspired the unusual design. It had two 7ft high bronze cats that guarded the main entrance, and ten black cats molded into facade and Egyptian style pillars.
Carreras sold the factory to developers due to a fall in profits in 1959, and it underwent major reconstruction and re-opened in 1963 as the Greater London House with many of the decorative features removed. It was restored in 1999, to its former art deco grandeur and reinstated it as an architectural icon and enigma to 1930's design.
Ranking This Month: 1737/2814
Pages Hit This Month: 49
Link to This Page: http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location/1338
This amazing art deco building was the Black Cat Tobacco Factory
The Shady Old Lady points out that you can drag this map using mouse. Or visit our full massive map.


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How to Make It
To make the dressing, combine the oil and lemon juice in a small jar and shake vigorously. Mix in the capers and parsley; set aside.
Heat a large pot of lightly salted water to boiling. Drop in the green beans and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain, then rinse immediately with cold water. Cut the Feta into 4 slices and set aside to drain on paper towels. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the tomato slices with the thyme, salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Place the tomato slices in the skillet and cook until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Flip and brown the other side. Arrange the arugula on 4 salad plates. Place a few tomato slices on each plate along with some of the green beans. Coat the Feta in the bread crumbs. Add the oil to the skillet and brown the cheese on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Add to the salad plates. Drizzle the dressing over the salads.


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So Vince Camuto branched out from making shoes and launched a clothing and accessory line. I'm super excited and I will def be creating a post about it soon. 🙂 have a glamorous day loves
Posted in July 2011 …
fashioncitizen: 10 Crosby Derek Lam Resort 2012
Downtown Seattle at 5:51 am
Amy Winehouse found dead in North London apartment via ITN news. I love Amy Winhouse's music and was very sad to hear that she passed. May god be with her family. (Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Relive the best of three seasons of `Runway` past! Tune in for marathons of Seasons 6, 7 and 8 on Lifetime: Season 8 Thursday, 7/21…. Don`t Miss the Season 6, 7 and 8 Marathons!
Foley + Corinna Small Disco City leopard print leather tote. Click the picture for all purchasing information.
Leopard top one shoulder jumper from Torrid. Click the picture for all purchasing information.
Replay Vintage Sunglasses. These sunglasses are super hot and super affordable. Click the picture for all purchasing information.
FUBU BACK LMAO (Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Blue and Fuchsia beaded wrist band from Torrid


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What is it?
Dark circles under the eyes can be a common problem that people of both genders experience. Excess pressure aroundthe blood vessels under the eye can cause the vessels to be forced to the surface of the skin which results in the darker appearance of the areas under the eye.
Multiple factors contribute to the appearance of these dark circles such as sleep deprivation, genetics, excessive sun exposure, stress, chronic rubbing of the eyes, age and people prone to hyperpigmentation. Skin thickness tends to decrease the older a person gets which naturally results in the blood vessels appearing closer to the surface of your skin and showing the "bags" under the eyes more easily.
The professionals at Glo Laser & Beauty recommend the following products to use at home to help successfully treat and prevent acne:
Nimue Therapeutic Facial
this deep cleanse treatment will help with relieving the appearance of the dark circles with an added on cooling eye treatment, which will help assist with your dark circles and the swelling around your eyes.
The Cleopatra Glo
this is a complete facial rejuvenation micro needling treatment done by The Alma Beauty Reboost. This treatment is for people who have deeper scars such as Ice Pick, Box Car and Rolling scars which need more intense treatments to help resurface the skin and stimulate collagen and elastin production to give the skin a healthier and smoother appearance. This treatment uses a combination of a pixel pen, micro needling as well as ultrasound to get the best penetration of active ingredients.
Eye Serum
This serum will improve any puffiness, bags, wrinkles as well as dark circles around the eyes. It is safe to use this serum in the morning as well as just before you go to bed.
Vitamin C Moisture Mist
This product should just be used in the mornings in order to help your skin with hydration, protection, refreshing and as an antioxidant. This will help reduce puffiness around your eyes and as an added bonus, it brightens your skin from dull to healthy as well as waking you up with a refreshing smell.
Nourish Revitalize Eye
This is a quality anti-ageing eye care that also reduces eye puffiness and congestion. This product firms and contours the eye skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and enhancing the brightness of the eyes.
Little Eskimo Rejuvenating Eye Mask
This mask improves blood circulation and soothes any irritations that can be caused by allergies, hay fever or medication etc.


text: Filter News By category (Coventry) All Press Releases Fundraising News By date (March 2017) All January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2013 News - March 2017 - Coventry One pensioner, One bike, One Tour d'Italia! 31/03/2017 What are your plans this weekend? A spot of shopping? A walk in the park? A pub lunch? For most Grandads that would be a standard weekend, but not for Mick Ives! As he approaches the age of 78, Mick will be spending his days cycling; but this is no ordinary cycling, as Mick is preparing to ride the exact route of... Read more Meet Rich, our Challenge Events Super Hero! 24/03/2017 We are so lucky here at Zoë's Place Baby Hospice with so many supporters taking on crazy challenges to fundraise for us. We have people who take on running events, Tandem Skydives, Treks, Cycle challenges, Mud Runs and all manner of wild events! However, some people just take it to another level and we are looking to feature... Read more


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A career in classical music
Classical singer Lizzie Byrne's career has seen her performing with small opera companies and contemporary music groups. She also works on teaching and vocal training.
Lizzie also founded Salon Entertainment, which combines lavish period drama with the passion of live opera.
Working in music education
Lizzie's educational work is divided between Cambridge and Royal Holloway, where she teaches students on classical music degrees who have chosen to study Performance.
"I love influencing how young singers progress, broadening their knowledge of and interest in the repertoire."
She also undertakes training for singers who work in musical theatre and the West End, a wholly different discipline.
"I like to have that variation and work in the two very divergent styles. It's one of the few positive aspects of being self-employed: it's allowed me to do what I like.
"I don't want to do five days a week in one place, so I do one day here and two days there. I have a studio that I teach privately in one day a week, I also teach at home.
"So there's a huge element of flexibility in any given week. It means that, if some other project comes up, I can rearrange my teaching around it."
Starting out as a singer
Lizzie studied as an undergraduate on the highly-regarded music course at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. "I knew I wanted to sing, but I didn't have much idea of what would be available to me at the time.
"Soon after I graduated, I got an opportunity to work with a contemporary group. I also started singing freelance with small chamber choirs, as well as the odd bit here and there of solo work."
It is important to become part of the classical network as a young singer. "If you audition, say, for one of the church choirs in London, you get on to the circuit. There is a central list of names and addresses that choirs will use when they need people.
"From that, you will meet what are known as 'fixers', whose job is to fix up, in the sense of constructing, other choirs to fill particular requirements."
"You must have excellent sight-reading, and a fair knowledge of the repertoire that you're singing.
"It's a world in which one needs to be braced for a daunting amount of rejection, which in turn requires correspondingly tireless efforts at self-promotion.
"Possibly the reason I haven't continued to sing as much as I might have liked is that you've got to be constantly on it: phoning agents, phoning casting directors, auditioning, pushing yourself. It's a hugely competitive business.
"You can go and audition for one role and find there are hundreds of sopranos going after it. A DVD showreel with extracts from your performances, or at least video clips on your website, have turned out to be invaluable advertising tools for today's aspirants."
Choosing a career in music
Despite the competitiveness of singing, Lizzie feels that standards of musicianship are generally not as high as in her own formative days. She sees a tendency in higher education for a disproportionately greater intake of singers than of instrumentalists.
"You've got to be constantly on it: phoning agents, casting directors, auditioning, pushing yourself. It's a hugely competitive business."
"It's good that singing is still very popular, but I worry that many students have an unrealistic expectation of what they can achieve with their resources, in terms of the standard you have to achieve and the amount of work you have to do.
"Even then, it isn't wholly about your innate ability. It's also about your personality, how much drive and pushiness and confidence you have."
A singer's career is greatly helped by being aware of the various communities into which the classical world divides.
"Choral music, early music, contemporary music, opera, session work, extra chorus work – all have their own networks. You have to find a way into knowing what's going on, if only because auditions are relatively rarely advertised."
Coaching other signers
Teaching was something Byrne began in her late twenties, to fill a sudden gap that arose when she had just finished a major tour.
No particular qualification for one-to-one tuition is mandatory, although having a music degree or diploma (and grades in piano and singing) are indispensable. Taking classwork in education does require a PGCE.
Not many singers like to teach, but Lizzie finds it deeply rewarding. "I love being instrumental in influencing how young singers progress, broadening their knowledge of and interest in the repertoire.
"It's great to see them wake up to what they can do, dealing with the changes in their voices, developing a particular style, even though not that many will get the chance to go on to be soloists.
"You have to remember that when people turn up for a lesson, they're naturally quite vulnerable. They're baring themselves to a stranger, in a way, and so they need to be able to trust you."


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Why does the thought of eating beefburgers adulterated with horse meat cause one's mouth to wrinkle in disgust? Because it does wrinkle, and not just because the equine DNA entered the product inadvertently. It remains wrinkled, too, no matter how many professional gourmets tell us about the divine horse meat they enjoyed on an off-the-beaten-track Andalusian hiking tour.
For most of us, the reaction to being offered horse is the same as that of the old Glasgow friend who visited me in northern Italy in the 1990s. We went out for dinner to Cocquio-Trevisago's finest (more or less its only) osteria. He pointed at the item asino on the menu: "What's that?" The padrona explained by showing her teeth and braying: "Ee-aw! Ee-aw!" The donkey meat remained untroubled by our dinner order. We're British, and we'd no more eat a horse or a donkey than we'd tuck into a dog or a cat.
Which isn't jingoism ("Oh those ghastly horse-eating Continentals!"), but is a very good example of the Tory view of culture, which is that it's local (to a nation) and not morally relative (against that of other nations). My cat and your dog are not available for human consumption because she is my cat and he is your dog; through centuries of living and working with cats, dogs and horses, we have gently anthropomorphised them, to the extent that it becomes irrelevant to say: "Other strains of human mammal have different national cultures where these animals are eaten." We don't. I don't think my Italian friends are inferior to me, but neither are they (culturally) better. They're Italian, so they eat donkey. I'm British, so I don't. That in extremis this arbitrary protection breaks down is neither here nor there: so does the taboo over human flesh.
I'm ignoring the other correct response to the adulterated burgers: angry shock, that very cheap food is filled with mechanically reconstituted rubbish. Perhaps some good will come from that shock; maybe more people will eat proper meat, or stop eating it altogether.
I won't hold my breath. I'm vegetarian, which I recognise is almost as against the grain of British culinary culture as the consumption of horse. You're not all about to throw away your beefburgers, no matter how grotty their content, and join me in the cruelty-free smug-fest glory of soya and quinoa.
In any case, the shock about the nutritionally poor content of cheap food is just part of the class narrative of the country: middle-class people can't understand why the poor would prefer to pay a pound for a tray of plastic-wrapped meaty rubbish than the same amount of money for a bowl of fruit or vegetables from their local street market. The poverty in question is that of time, and hope. What's the point of spending an hour making dinner, if your life is grim and its prospects restricted? Two nations.
But we become one nation in our collective gut reaction to the adulterated burgers, at the idea of eating Dobbin. This explains two other animal-related stories in the news; one small, gentle and sad, the other large and angry.
The small, gentle story was the death of Alan, a dog who lived at Tatler magazine HQ. He was killed by a revolving door (demonstrating that the fear I have on approaching those devices is not entirely irrational. A curse on all of you who think it funny to push as hard as you can, in the hope of unbalancing he who follows behind). We all worry endlessly about the animals in our care, and saw those fears realised in Alan's demise. It no more diminishes that sadness to say, "There are some countries where they eat dogs, you know," than it would help Tesco make a similar point about their unexpectedly horsey burgers: Alan exemplifies the point that culture is local.
The angry, large story concerns the RSPCA's prosecution of fox hunts, and – I think – the confusion the unpopularity of this is causing the charity's politicised leadership. We're a nation of animal lovers. Why are we so angry with the RSPCA?
It's no accident that the RSPCA is led by a Liberal Democrat supporter. Liberals are fixated on the relationship between the individual and the state, to the extent that they're blind to the medium in which both individuals and their government exist and operate: national culture. The RSPCA's mistake is to suppose that the animal-loving nature which funds the charity's existence translates to a willingness to turn our backs on the culture that is the crucible for that love of animals in the first place.
If British society were a building – something magnificent, like a cathedral – then its culture would be represented in that cathedral's stained glass windows. Those windows would have images of the horse, both pulling a plough and in pursuit of the fox; the dog, guarding the front door; the cat, symbol of domestic peace. They would not show a family sitting down to a hearty meal of horse carcass.


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How to throw the best Halloween party ever
Halloween is coming, the shops are full of costumes and there's a creepy atmosphere around.
At this time of year, if you listen carefully you might hear a Halloween spirit whispering 'Spooky spook come out to play, on the thirty-first, Halloween day.'
OK, maybe you feel a bit too old for Halloween songs or trick-or-treating around the neighborhood but you are never too old to party! And what you should bear in mind is that on-campus Halloween celebrations can be funnier and more exciting than any other. Take it from us we know. At Sprintax we're a big fan of throwing parties and Halloween is an awesome excuse!
If you haven't done it already, get into the Halloween mood, gather some friends to help you with the preparations and start planning the most amazing Halloween campus party ever. Below we've put together the essentials on how to make your party great, unforgettable and 100% full of the Halloween spirit.
It's all about the decorations
One of the earliest and most popular Halloween decorations are Jack-o-Lanterns or carved pumpkins. So, what's the Halloween story behind this beloved tradition? According to ancient Celtic beliefs Jack-o-lanterns scare away the evil spirits wandering the streets on All Hallow's Eve. They look pretty cool too. We like having pumpkin carving sessions the day before the party as it helps to get in the mood for Halloween. Over the years, carved pumpkins have become a must-have decoration for any Halloween party. Of course, having some carved pumpkins is not enough to create a truly frightening "haunted-house" atmosphere. That's why you can add a pinch of creativity with some fake cobwebs and spiders, skeletons, origami bats and even hanging ghosts. The good news about Halloween decor is that even if you are on a tight party budget, you can easily make your own Halloween crafts with stuff you have in hand or if you have a small budget, discount stores normally have a great selection. Stick to an orange and black theme and you can't go wrong!
What's a party without food?
There are plenty of Halloween recipes on the internet for frightful but at the same time delicious Halloween-themed desserts. Spider cupcakes, spooky witch's finger biscuits and hot-dog mummies are easy-to make and despite their terrifying look, everyone will love them. Just because you're not treat-or-tricking, it does not mean that you should not serve the traditional Halloween candy. Of course you should – piles of candy everywhere are essential for a great party.
Dress up for a Halloween costume contest!
What Halloween party would be complete without having all your guests in Halloween outfits? Make it clear in the invitations that no one has an excuse to show up without a costume. The only rule that should be followed while choosing one is "Be creative". Dress up as a scary movie or fairytale character, sew your own costume or rent one. No matter what you choose – it's great fun dressing up and the scarier the costume the better.
In order to make your party more interesting for your guests, provide a prize for the best costume. It adds a bit of fun getting people to vote for the most frightening, unique or funniest costume.


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Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Georgia and Armenia were two ancient independent Christian kingdoms, always under pressure from the Moslem Turks and Iranians. Early in the 19th century both became part of the Russian Empire, along with the Moslem territory of Azerbaijan to the east of them. The last Tsar, Nicholas II, thus boasted, amongst his many other titles, those of "Tsar of Georgia, Lord of the Provinces of Armenia, Sovereign of the Circassian Princes and the Mountain Princes", all of which refer to the Caucasus and the lands beyond; the last title specifically referring to the Chechens amongst others. The trouble, from the Tsar's point of view, was that Georgia and Armenia were separated from the rest of his empire by the Caucasus, a vast mountain range inhabited by a confusing patchwork of different peoples: Ossetians, Ingush, Chechens, Avars and many others; some Moslem and some Christian; many of them ferocious warriors and regarded by the Russian government as little better than lawless bandits. (The only British parallel, though on a much smaller scale, would be the Scottish highland clans before 1745). Resistance to the Russians was led by Shamyl, a Moslem chieftain from Daghestan who saw himself as fighting a holy war against the infidel invaders. the war continued for decades and it was only in 1856 that ferocious scorched-earth tactics forced Shamyl to surrender. He was permitted to go to Arabia to die.
During these decades of struggle in the early 19th century, the Caucasus was a "wild south" for Russia, much as the Wild West was to Americans soon afterwards. Russian intellectuals were fascinated by mountain warriors, with their strange codes of honour, and by the beautiful, untameable women. Pushkin went there during his exile from St Petersburg. Lermontov used the region as the setting for the first great Russian novel, "A Hero of our Time". Tolstoy served there in his army days, and used his experiences in two early stories, "The Cossacks" and "The Raid", which describe the Cossack forces holding the line of the River Terek against the mountain clans. He reverted to the theme at the end of his writing career. One of his last stories was "Hadji Murat", which is based on an actual historical character: a Chechen chieftain and ally of Shamyl who attempted to defect to the Russians but was trusted by neither side and was eventually killed.
The Russians built the Georgian Military Highway through the mountains. They buuilt cities like Vladikavkaz (the name meaning "Hero of the Caucasus"), and, to intimidate the Chechens, Grozny, whose name actually means "fear" or "terror" (The Tsar known in Britain as Ivan the Terrible is, in Russian, Ivan Grozny). Eventually a bandit from the mountains took over the Russian state, in the person of the Georgian Joseph Djugashvili, better known as Stalin (though some maintained he was not a true Georgian, but actually half Ossetian!).
One of the surprising achievements of the Soviet government was to cause the continuation of almost all the old Tsarist empire, with its great patchwork of minority races. It is safe to presume that many of the mountain peoples resented Russian rule as much as they do now, but to the Soviets, those who resisted the rule of Moscow were branded "petty-bourgeois nationalists", an epithet improbably applied retrospectively even to Shamyl. (How a bandit clan chief could ever be described with a straight face as "bourgeois" tells us something about Soviet propaganda). Near the end of the Second World War, Stalin imposed his own solution to the problem, and a very typical one it was too: the Chechens, the Ingush and various other races were accused of having collaborated with the Nazi invaders, rounded up down to the last woman and child (even soldiers serving in the Red Army were included!) and shipped off to the wilds of central Asia or Siberia, where over the next few years about a third of them died. Eventually Khrushchev permitted most of them to return to their homelands: a development which the present Russian government presumably regrets.
When Communism collapsed and the USSR was dissolved in 1991, the constituent "republics" overnight became fully independent states, with the frontiers decreed for them by Stalin in his constitution of 1936. Having been part of the Russian empire and then the Soviet Union for almost 200 years, it could hardly be expected that these political frontiers of the new Trans-Caucasian states bore much relation to ethnic ones, and wars have continued there, on and off, ever since. The homeland of the Ossetians ended up being half in Russia and half in Georgia, which led to the recent war there. But most of the North Caucasus was legally part of Russia, whether the people there wanted it or not, and the attempts by the Chechens to gain independence have resulted in two brutal wars and terrorist retaliation. Grozny, built by the Russians, has been destroyed by Russian bombs; an event which the western powers have viewed with remarkable indifference. Just imagine the howls of condemnation that would have come from Washington if it had been a Communist government doing the bombing!
I have been interested in this region after visiting it back in 1984 (see an earlier blog entry under the heading of "Travel"). I have attempted to express my feelings about the Caucasus in the Blog entry that follows -
7 comments:
Russia did exactly the same thing in Chechnya as, for example, Great Britain and Spain in America, massacring most of its indigenous population. On the other hand, local tribes weren't peaceful cuties -- they scalped people, among other things. The same goes for the Chechens -- I've met (non-Russian) people from the region who described them as a tribe of mostly agressive bloodthirsty mountain savages governed by extremely patriarchal and sexist traditions. It was the Russians who introduced the Chechens to the little culture they have.ReplyDelete
There's no justification whatsoever for either invasion, nor is there for any kind of terrorism, since it always targets innocent people. But that's the way this world works -- might is right.
Chieftains who fight for independence usually have their place at the trough at heart, rather than their subjects' well-being.
Understandably, no western power is stupid enough to mess with Russia because of Chechnya (after all, they've got the nuke).
I have noticed that in post-Soviet Russian novels, Chechens often appear as gangsters and gunmen. If all Chechens are incorrigible bandits, a rational policy might be to let Chechnya break free and then deport all Chechens from Russian soil. But it seems the Russian government, alone amongst the old European imperialist powers, is determined to hold onto its old multiracial empire, or even try to regain the lost territories.ReplyDelete
I don't believe any ethnic or regional groups are bandits by nature (something in their genes, maybe?). But I do believe they may be bandits by culture and upbringing: something I was trying to explain in my poem, "Pagan Philosophy", and in some old Blog entries on "Early Ideas". This has always been a strong tendency amongst peoples living in remote poverty-stricken rural areas, especially in mountain territory. Societies there tend to be divided into clans, constantly raiding and feuding, and are extremely difficult for central government to control. Examples might be the Scottish Highlands before 1745, much of the Balkans, Italy south of Naples (especially Sicily) and Corsica. Outsiders regard the actions of such peoples as simply criminal, but the clans do not see it in that light: it is just their way of life, and always had been.
With luck, such habits may succumb to the lure of civilization (as was the case with the Scottish clans), but there can always be a reversion, especially in times of disorder and violence. The treatment of the Chechens by Stalin, and more recently by the Russians, would be a case in point. I would also cite the case of Yugoslavia. I read recently Rebecca West's "Grey Eagle and Black Falcon", about her tour of Yugoslavia in the 1930s: where what emerged very strongly was the intense hatred between Croats and Serbs, Bosnians and Montenegrans, with violence lurking close to the surface. This was exacerbated during the war, when the Nazis encouraged the Croats to murder Serbs and Jews, and Himmler even recruited an SS brigade of Bosnian Moslems for the same purpose. For 40 years afterwards, Tito kept a lid on things, but once his iron hand was removed, the old hatreds resurfaced in new orgies of killing. (The west, of course, encouraged independence for the different racial groups in Yugoslavia, but not for those in the North Caucasus).
To return to my original point; I do not think the Chechens need any input from Al-Qaida to make them hate Russia. The accusation, "Your people murdered my father", when delivered not against foreigners, but against fellow-citizens of the same state, is a potent enough cause for violent outrages in any society; and fortunately one that we in the west are generally spared.
Every nation has its idiosyncrasies and inclinations (the same goes for persons), however that doesn't mean that all Chechens are criminals, all Irish people are terrorists, or all Georgians look like Stalin ;-).ReplyDelete
They say it's all in our genes, and therefore cultures are mainly conditioned by different genetic makeups, that could be in turn moulded by the environment, at least to some extent.
Probably, Russia still holds onto Caucasus because of oil and gas pipelines, and the danger of the growing Islamic influence in the region.
Remote mountain tribes (there's quite a bunch of them in Caucasus, less known in the west, and very similar in their ways and customs to the Chechens, but please don't put southern Italy on the same list -- the cultures are simply incomparable) are indeed more prone to poverty-triggered feuds, while here in the west wars are usually fuelled by greed, which empires with enough power temporarily solved through invasions of foreign countries.
Any criminal considers their activities a way of life, Irish or Basque nationalists believe they fight for freedom (or make believe they do), England, Spain and the rest of the world see them as terrorists.
Anyway, I suggest you travel to Chechnya, preferably not as a tourist -- countries are best figured out from the inside, but make sure you don't rub them up the wrong way ;-)
I did intend to travel through the Caucasus on my 1984 trip. The itinery was supposed to involve a drive south through the mountains along the Georgian Military Highway, but we were taken by air instead: naturally, no reasons were given for the change. Of course it wouldn't be possible to travel there now.
I fully accept that there are different cultures in different countries. What I was trying to point out was that there are certain common features to be found prevailing in remote mountain areas. These include weak control by central government, a clan-based social structure, and a way of life involving (from the point of view of an outsider) lawlessness and banditry. There is a strong overlap between this and resistance to the central government.
You will find this covered by many writers. For the Scottish Highlands before 1745 see John Prebble, "Glencoe" and "Culloden", for the difficulties faced by the Italian government in establishing control over the south see, as an introduction, Christopher Duggan, "The Force of Destiny", for the Balkans see Rebecca West, "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon" (I apologise for remembering the title wrongly on my earier entry!). I would also recommend a novel, Nikos Kazantzakis, "Freedom and Death", about 19th century Crete, which illustates very well the overlap between banditry and resistance to an occupying power (when you think about it, bandits and other violent criminals are always likely to be more effective resistance fighters than ordinary civilians!). Above all, I would recommend Eric Hobsbaum, "Bandits", a brilliant little historical survey.
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
I actually lived in different cultures, visited some mountain communities and even personally met some bandits (not as a simple tourist). Many outlaws seek to disguise their activities as a fight against the oppression, which gains them followers in nationalist environments. Besides, such banditry, denominated as terrorism, has a higher status and gets more lenient treatment from the state and international community, providing the latter with better political leverage, when it claims to be battling for some political or patriotic cause.ReplyDelete
In my experience, the official picture of these regions differs significantly from the truth.
There's always a gap between what local people tell foreign tourists to their face and what they say once they turn away.
History books are a kind of fiction too, let alone novels, since there are lots of things no writer would dare publish. Instead we are offered sweetened pills. I tend to believe only what agrees with my own common sense.
All societies have common features to certain extent, but to my eye, that doesn't make them comparable. One way or another we all are ruled by clans, just look at the politicians, diplomats etc -- they all come from the same circles, not to mention royal families and aristocracy in general.
Governments usually manage to establish control when they really want to, (Brigate Rosse in Italy, for example), whoever goes against the state, loses. Mafia in the south of Italy has never been controlled because it has long since permeates the north and is inside the government itself (that's what most insiders say). Just like it has never been eradicated in the US, Colombia, Al Qaeda is still at large or so they say, and the list goes on.
Joseph Bonnano was quoted as saying in response to the proposal by the members of his gang to kill a district attorney, 'How long do you think we'll last if we start killing politicians and public prosecutors?'
In the 'Lord of War' Nicolas Cage explained some of the reasons why mafia, bandits or terrorists are allowed to exist pretty well.
Even revolutions simply reshuffle the countries without changing the core -- e.g. there has never been true democracy in Russia, despite all revolutions, coups or rebellions. One tsar just replaces another.
The form may eventually become milder, but essentially, it's more of the same.
For the deportation of the Chechens and other racial minorities, see Robert Conquest: "The Nation Killers", and Simon Sebag Montefiore: "Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar". Of course, if one doesn't trust any historians to tell the truth, there is no point in reading anything, and it is questionable whether we can have any accurate information about the past, or indeed about anything else. What certain people effectively tend to say however,is, "I know the truth, and all the professional historians/economists/scientists are idiots/liars/in a conspiracy together". Ultimately our only guarantee against academic dishonesty is a free press and the free exchange of ideas. Then, if Professor Smith is indeed spouting a load of dishonest drivel, his rival Professor Brown will take great pleasure in bringing it to the attention of the public!ReplyDelete


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CMS football camp scheduled
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Cassville Middle School football camp will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 16 through Thursday, July 19. The camp is for students who will be in seventh or eighth grade during the 2012-13 school year.
Middle school football practice will begin the first day of school. In order to participate in practice a completed physical, with insurance information, must be on file at the middle school office. A completed concussion form must also be turned into the middle school office before practice begins.
Heritage Medical Clinic is providing discounted physicals throughout the month of June. Heritage is a walk-in clinic. The price for each physical is $15.


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Harmony Suite Hotel expresses all the concept and mood of the hospitality we offer.
The name is intended to evoke the Harmony with Nature intrinsic to the hotel and its surrounding landscape.
You have 7 good reasons for choosing a holiday at the HARMONY SUITE HOTEL:
Italy /
Lombardy /
Livigno /
Panorama of Livigno – LivignoGo.com
Italy /
Lombardy /
Livigno /
Livigno webcam – view on Livigno Ski School area – LivignoGO


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1 Treatment topenlarge
Apply arch bars in the mandible and maxilla.
Reduce the bony deformity as far as possible in a closed manner prior to putting the patient into occlusion. Apply intermaxillary ligatures to maintain the occlusal position.
The patient has to be maintained in MMF for at least 6-8 weeks.
Pearl: individual laboratory designed arch bars
After taking impressions individual arch bars can be fabricated on plaster of paris casts. Prior to the arch bar fabrication these casts are sawed and the fracture is reduced (see blue zone on the cast).
Thus, the arch bar helps in the reduction. Furthermore, individual arch bars prevent damage of the periodontal soft tissues and are less invasive.
2 Case example topenlarge
Patient presents left mandibular body comminuted fracture.
Acceptable preoperative occlusion despite complex fracture.
OPG depicts the extent of bone comminution.
Axial CT views
Coronal CT sections.
3-D CT view of the same fractures.
The patient underwent MMF with arch bars and wires. Photograph shows the postoperative occlusion.
OPG shows fracture after treatment.
Stable occlusal result 7 weeks after treatment.
Mouth opening 7 weeks after treatment.
OPG shows consolidation in process 8 weeks after treatment.


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I bookmarked this Chola paniyaram recipe from Sangee's space. But i usually prefer to have a instant paniyaram and dosa ,So i modified the recipe according to me.Its very soft and tasty.
Corn Meal 1/2 cup
Wheat flour 1/2 cup
Yogurt 1/2 cup
Egg 1 no
Onion 1 No (Medium)
Green chilli 2 Nos
Salt to taste
In a mixing bowl all above ingredient with some water.The batter should be in pouring consistency.
Heat paniyaram pan , drop oil on each hole. Spoon the batter to each hole and cook for 2 minute.
Flip the ball and cook other sides. Once done transfer to the plate and serve it along with chutney of your choice.


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Panoramic photography creates fascinating images. Very wide angle images are closer to the human field of view than conventional pictures. If seen through a panoramic viewer they let you experience a location as if you were there.
Panoramic image stitching can create panoramas from pictures taken one after another. Unfortunately, acquiring the images takes a lot of time and moving objects may cause ghosting. It is also difficult to obtain a full spherical panorama, because the downward picture cannot be captured while the camera is mounted on the tripod.
A throwable panoramic camera solves these problems. The camera is thrown into the air and captures an image at the highest point of flight -- when it is hardly moving. The camera takes full spherical panoramas, requires no preparation and images are taken instantaneously. It can capture scenes with many moving objects without producing ghosting artifacts and creates unique images.
At SIGGRAPH Asia
The camera uses 36 fixed-focus 2 megapixel mobile phone camera modules. The camera modules are mounted in a robust, 3D-printed, ball-shaped enclosure padded with foam and handles just like a ball. The team's camera contains an accelerometer used to measure launch acceleration. Integration allows the rise time to the highest point to be predicted, when the exposure is triggered. After catching the ball camera, pictures are downloaded in seconds using USB and automatically shown in a spherical panoramic viewer. This lets users interactively explore a full representation of the captured environment.
For hardware, the ball relies on an ATtiny24, an AVR UC3B, STM VS6724 and other parts. The software was developed using in (and using) C, C++, QT and OpenCV.
The TU Berlin team used the camera to capture full spherical panoramas at scenic spots, in a crowded city square and in the middle of a group of people taking turns in throwing the camera. Above all it was found a very enjoyable, playful way to take pictures. Check out the video the team made!
Patent pending for this product.
Source: Jonas Pfeil


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I could eat shrimp every day. I know I'm being redundant, but it's so true. We try and stock up at the end of the season from the Shrimp Lady up the street who sells the best fresh shrimp on the planet for a song. This year we bought 30lbs before she closed and I've decided it wasn't enough. Next year we will buy more.
This recipe is my cousin's. She made it for us a couple of months ago and it was immediately the best Shrimp & Grits I've ever had. She literally nailed it – cheesy, creamy, buttery, savory, with BACON. Enough said.
Begin with stone ground grits (I like yellow) and cook them according to the package directions. Once the water has absorbed, add in salt & pepper, 3tbl of butter and 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar. Set aside.
Chop 6 slices of good bacon and cook in a large skillet until it begins to brown. Remove bacon bits with tongs and place on a paper towel lined plate. Add 1-1.5lbs peeled and deveined shrimp to bacon grease and cook through. Add back in the cooked bacon, 1 cup chopped scallions, 2tbl chopped fresh parsley, 1tsp minced garlic, and 4tsp lemon juice. Combine with grits and serve with a mixed green salad and fresh, crusty bread. Enjoy!


text: 09.01.13 Casio launches digital signage business DIGITAL SIGNAGE Casio has announced plans to launch a new digital signage business, Casio Signage, which will focus on the store front signage segment. The first offering from Casio Signage will be a figure shaped screen designed to capture the attention of shoppers. The character's appearance and voice will be fully customisable to allow stores to tailor it to suit their target audience.The devices will also feature NFC technology and be connected to the cloud for content management and updating. DIGITAL SIGNAGE


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Dear Reader, "My life was up and down, when I wake up I would feel a negative presence around me followed with a day of rejection. Bad luck and weird things will be happening. I suffered for 14 years until the day I saw Bishop Climate on TV and came for Deliverance. He anointed my face and I was instantly ...Read More »
Tag Archives: negative elements
This Weekend at The Kingdom Church
Dear Reader , Miracles are real and to those who believe will always happen, This is a Powerful weekend, Great things are going to take place , Especially I have a great Friend of Mine From Great Rift Valley His name is Bishop Pallaygo. I what you to Experience the power of God in Every Area of your life. I ...Read More »
Today's Prophetic Word Concerning your health and Finances
[youtube=http://youtu.be/bEVSvBcSTZ0] To get your Free Miracle Prayer Card Click here and sow your seed or visit our bookstore at www.bishopclimate.bizRead More »
Stepping on Higher Ground From Bishop Climate
Hi Child of God, I feel honored to write to you. I wish I could email you daily, my heart is full of Joy and humility as there are many things that I want to share with you. First I would love to thank God for the heart of Humility that God has given you. Many people miss the greatest ...Read More »
News From The Healing & Deliverance School About Bishop Climate
Dear Reader , VICTORY OVER EVERY EVIL WISH For the first time Bishop Climate according to the word of God in Ezekiel 11:19 God used him to remove the heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. A heart of stone is created through reacting and adjusting to life's negative experiences such as abuse, struggling and poverty. ...Read More »


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No Place Nowadays for Eric Holder's 'Nation of Cowards' Rant
"Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about things racial."
-- Eric Holder
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones ..."
She is a woman of impressive personal dignity, down to earth and friendly, yet unmistakably one of those natural aristocrats who expects to be respected. The daughter of a prominent businessman in her north Georgia hometown, she went to college in Atlanta where she met her husband. He became a lawyer and an influential political leader -- he is now a superior court judge -- and she remains active in civic organizations in her retirement.
For the organizers of the Atlanta Olympic Committee, Marilyn Arrington was clearly a woman whose assistance should be solicited. And when her Olympic duties brought her back to her hometown in 1996, my editor at the Rome (Ga.) News-Tribune sent me out to interview the lady. The assignment was an honor, and I was eager to accomplish it well, given both the importance of the subject and the fact that our publisher was keeping a keen eye on our Olympic coverage.
So I interviewed her, and soon discovered that this eminent lady had been one of the foot soldiers of the civil rights revolution. Her father had been the local agent for Atlanta Life Insurance, which made him a de facto leader of Rome's black business community. And when, as a Clark College undergraduate, she joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and began participating in sit-in protests against segregation in Atlanta -- well, this caused some consternation with her father.
Mrs. Arrington's father was part of an informal group of civic leaders who met regularly in Rome. These men, black and white, were part of a community effort to ensure that whatever the outcome of the struggle then underway, no damage would be done to the peace and prosperity of their town. In an era of extreme tension, this was a difficult task -- history books now are studded with the names of towns where such efforts failed, or were never undertaken -- and the young Clark student's activism made her father's labors all the more difficult.
How would it look, after all, if she were arrested among the protesters at the all-white lunch counters in Atlanta? His daughter, a "troublemaker"? This would be a disastrous revelation, considering the prevailing mood in her north Georgia hometown. And so an agreement was reached between father and daughter: When the police showed up, she would leave when asked, leaving others to be arrested in the ritual of civil disobedience. This was acceptable to her SNCC comrades, who assigned her to what she described more than three decades later as the "go squad." By design, sit-in demonstrators would be divided into two groups -- most on the "go squad," who would obey the police order to leave, and a relative few on the "stay squad," pledged to leave only in handcuffs.
This go/stay division was part of the careful orchestration of the sit-in protests that I'd never heard described before, and it occurred to me -- as Mrs. Arrington told her story with my tape recorder rolling -- that her position with the Olympic committee was far from being her greatest claim to historic distinction. Memories of that 1996 interview came to mind Wednesday, after Attorney General Eric Holder denounced America as "a nation of cowards," afraid to talk about race.
With so many problems afflicting America today, especially with the economy in crisis, what purpose was served by Holder's remarks? Trillions of dollars in asset value were wiped out by the collapse of the housing "bubble" and the ripple effects of that collapse have shaken financial institutions worldwide to their very foundations. It hardly seems a convenient moment for an angry racial harangue from the nation's chief law enforcement official.
Particularly odd was that Holder chose to deliver his lecture in the middle of Black History Month, when America's school children are annually immersed in the subject of race. Originally conceived by pioneering scholar Carter G. Woodson as a means of inspiring black youth by celebrating the accomplishments of overlooked achievers, in recent decades Black History Month has been hijacked by those who view the story of African-Americans not as one of hard-earned progress, but of perpetual victimhood and permanent grievance.


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Racked directly to barrel after whole-bunch pressing, this wine is the purest expression of TarraWarra Chardonnay. Made without yeast or acid addition, the fruit batches from each block are kept entirely separate in barrel over the 10 months in oak. It is crossflow filtered without fining before bottling at the Estate.
A wine of very fine complexity it displays fig and white peach aromas. It has the length that is the hallmark of our Chardonnay. A wine to drink and enjoy now or cellar for 10 or more years.
Vine age & features: The fruit is all selected from our original vineyard planted in 1983.
Site selection: The heritage blocks of B and C have a north-west aspect and represent a perfect site for Chardonnay. The two blocks have deep soils and a cool micro-climate.
Vintage notes: 2014 was one of the warmer years in the Yarra Valley, although cool nights during ripening allowed for retention of acid and fine flavor development. Yields were much lower than normal, with these older vines yielding 4.5 tonnes per hectare. Precise canopy management resulted in fruit in perfect condition at harvest.
REGAN DREW, Vino Notebook, 20 Jul 2016
Peach stone fruit and kernel, ripe figs, cashew butter, lemon cream pie and smoky sulfides to pique the interest. Fullness through the mouth feel, whilst just creamy peach slices ride the lemon/grapefruit crystal acidity. The quality of the wine-making from the vintage showing in texture over alcohol content. Potential for a few years ageing.


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The CMS Readmissions Reduction Program
According to CMS, approximately 20% of recently admitted Medicare patients return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. Many factors impact the rate of readmissions. However, as CMS continues its drive towards value based care, the impact of readmissions is having a negative financial impact on a majority of facilities. Indeed, roughly 3 out of every 4 hospitals were penalized as part of CMS's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).
The CMS formula for calculating penalties is complicated and based in part on the hospital's readmission rate during the 3 years prior to the penalty effective date. CMS recognizes that there are mitigating factors contributing to hospitalizations. However, not included are other key factors such as the sociodemographic characteristics of the local patient population and community resources – factors largely beyond the control of hospitals and health systems.
FTI's Convergence Solutions team consists of deep and experienced professionals who can assist you in minimizing, if not eliminating, potential penalties under the CMS HRRP. We work closely with you to asses and understand the potential areas of opportunity. Although we tailor our work efforts to your specific needs, our standard approach is as follows:
- Assess the health system's readiness to effectively manage the defined population of Medicare patients to prevent avoidable readmissions
- Determine the degree of alignment between the health system and the medical staff
- Apply advanced analytic tools to determine:
- Combination of patient attributes (i.e. demographics, prior healthcare utilization patterns)
- Patterns of care that drive readmissions (i.e., sociodemographic factors, prior pharmacy adherence
- Maximize deployment of care management services using geo-spatial maps in relation to:
- Primary admission site
- Attributed provider
- Access to Urgent Care
- Readmission facility location


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Do you have what it takes to be a global leader?
A recent survey of 1,000 human resource professionals in eight countries found that one-third of global companies are struggling to find senior leaders with nearly half stating that leadership was "the skill hardest to find in employees".
One of the reasons cited was the retirement at a rate of 4 million per year worldwide amongst the baby boomer generation. Another reason cited was the lack of leadership development programs for younger employees.
How can you take advantage of this gap and develop skills to turn you into a successful global leader?
Here are five skills to start developing today:
Communication skills. An ability to speak clearly, write clearly and to listen intently will be the key to your success. If English is the official language of your business, remember to slow down and be much more clear in your use of language than you would normally be to ensure all of your colleagues understand your message.
Critical thinking. An ability to analyze different scenarios, data and research as well as patterns in behaviors or systems is vital. You will constantly be assessing projects, goals and expectations across many countries; an ability to identify trends or outliers will enable you to be more efficient.
Cultural dexterity. This one takes practice and it is what I call "leaving your country behind on the tarmac". You must be able to step outside of cultural constructs. A great tip for doing so is by telling yourself – constantly if needed – that you may be the only Canadian, Singaporean, South African that your colleagues and/or clients ever work with, so leave them with a positive experience.
Global mindset. Being open to new ways of working and seeing the world is essential as well as being able to view challenges and opportunities through a global lens. It will also make your day-to-day interactions with your colleagues more pleasant; however, do not expect to be a pro at this from the outset. That comes with practice.
Team leadership. Having a team mindset and experience leading teams is a must. Your management style may need to adjust depending on the business culture. Mastering an ability to be patient – observe and listen when in meetings and in your daily interactions with your team – will help you decipher expectations, cultural understandings and ways of working.


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Nightly Moisturizing Cream
Your nightly moisturizer is full of luscious joy for your skin to sleep in. You will be pleasantly surprised when you awake to a soft and supple face! Your friends will soon be asking, "Your skin looks so healthy! What is your secret?"
Nourishing vitamins works in the skin's outer layers to help the body's own natural Collagen. Once absorbed, it will continue working to smooth and soften your skin. The appearance of wrinkles will dramtically decrease.
Directions: Apply to clean skin. Massage in gently. Sweet dreams.
Ingredients: mineral water, mineral oil, vitamin E, isopropyl, myristate, decyl oleate, glyceryl, stearate, cetyl esters, sorbitol, propylene glycol, lecithin, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E ester), propylparben, diazolidinyl urea, triethanolamine, methylparaben.
This product was not tested on animals.
If any redness, irritation, or rash occurs, stop use immediately.