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I had never read a character like Christian Grey and I must say I really LOVED this trilogy. I know a lot of people don't, and that is ok. It isn't everybody's cup of tea. What I loved so much about this trilogy was how E.L. drew me into this world that was a tad frightening and a character that was quite frightening at first and had me wondering WT!!! a lot, in Fifty Shades of Grey book # 1. But, I kept reading and by the time I was half way through Fifty Shades Darker, I was getting to see what was making Christian tick and his fears. By the end of Fifty Shades Freed I thought E.L. James had written a character that was very powerful and who really got under my skin. * whispers* He made me cry.
All three books made my eyes boggle on more than one occasion, and for a newbie into this world, I was left thinking that I was rather a naive person, LOL!
The one thing I would like to say is if you start Fifty trilogy , you have to go all the way . Don't stop at book one as you aren't seeing what E.L James is trying to show us, the character Christian who is learning to love and be loved by Ana and his family.
Now I am not a prude, and I love Black Dagger Brotherhood and all those awesome Adult Urban Fantasy books that get the ol' heart fluttering, but, BDSM is a whole different thing for me to read.
What I liked about Fifty is, if you took out all the BDSM ( which at the time I thought was OMG and all things blush worthy....later I will tell you about Hostile Takeover, now that made Fifty Shades look like a walk in the park) there was a story about an abused little boy who was again abused later in his teens who had lost the ability to love or be loved, and this was how Christian coped. Not saying it was a good idea what he did. But, this is a fictional character people, and based on it being words in a book I really loved what E.L. James did.
I give the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy 50/10 Blush Worthy Rating.
Then , I decided to give Bared To You by Sylvia Day a read. Well, hello Mr Gideon Cross. I love Gideon. What I will say is I found Bared To You's story very , very similar to Fifty Shades Of Grey but a much less heavier version. We haven't gotten to the bottom of Gideon's story and he has a story of abuse at the hands of somebody. We don't yet know who. It hasn't gone into that side of it like Fifty did, but I am not sure if that is to come or not? Don't get me wrong.
Gideon is HOT!! HOT!! HOT!!
I give Bared To You 10/10 Blush Worthy Rating. It may have to do with the fact I read Fifty Shades first and that paved the way for less blushing.
Now next on my ' Blush Worthy Read Out of My Comfort Zone Journey' was a WHOLE different kettle of fish. Hostile Takeover by Joey W Hill is the fifth book in Knights of the Boardroom series.
OMG! I am going to repeat, this made Fifty Shades of Grey look like a walk in the park on a sunny afternoon with the flowers in full bloom and a girl singing a pretty song while dancing through the park.
Holy Mother of Pearl!
Now this was a challenge for me. If you thought there was BDSM in Fifty....think again.....well, there was....but.....this is more , much, much, much more. Oh and darker!!!!
I read this book through Netgalley. After more snooping I saw that you could read it as stand alone. I also understood the character Ben O'Callahan, was a Master Dom who was extreme.
There are five guys and they are all Master Doms and they each have a book. Ben's is apparently the most extreme due to his nature. I would like to read the other four books in order as you learn about Peter and Dana , she is blind and African, Lucas and Cass, Jon and Rachel, Matt and Savanah ( pregnant) .
I thought this book was written very , very well , but it took me so far out of my comfort zone. At times I was reading through my fingers. I don't think I could read anything more than what I read in these pages. I am really glad that I have taken myself out of my comfort zone as I have read several books now that I would never have read and never given myself the opportunity to appreciate the writing skills of these ladies. Joey writes very boldly and she sure as hell frightened me with where BDSM goes. I must admit I had a wee bit of trouble getting through the last couple of chapters as it went to another level . I rate this book 5 stars as it will bring all sorts of things out. It was a challenge in parts as basically I had no idea about this life people live. In saying that I also understand better how seriously this is taken and what it means to them. It's not for me. But that is ok. This is very consenting sex that is very extreme in my eyes and oh dear the pain of it, but who am I to judge.
Marcie is Cass's sister and she is on a mission to be Ben's sub. She has known Ben and the guys for a long time and Ben was like an older brother to her when she was going through her teenager years. He was there to talk to........but then Marcie grew up!
Marcie is fearless in her endeavours to be the one for Ben. The things that girl will do in this book. The things Ben and Marcie do. Ben is breathtaking, but I am no Marcie. This is a book that is written very intelligently and from the acknowledgments page I saw Joey had named the people who had helped her to get her facts right. It shows in the writing. To me, and I have no idea, but it felt like I had stepped into a real BDSM world. Not a half baked one. The things I read could have flayed the paint off a wall.
I can never hear Jeannie from 'I Dreamed of Jeannie', say 'Yes Master ' again without thinking of this book.
I give this book 100/10 Blush Worthy Rating .
I did really enjoy this book as the story will blow your mind, and in my case, in places frightened the pants off me. You have to remember I was very naive to all this so the impact was like a deer in headlights and then I was peeking out from under a pillow, lol!
My last Blush Worthy read was Double Time book # 3 in Sinners on Tour series by Olivia Cunning. I have not read the first two books. I just came in cold turkey and found it on Netgalley and dove in.
Trey is the guitarist for Sinners and he is bisexual. Yes I have read a bisexual book people. Who knew I had it in me? I loved Olivia's writing. She will convince you that love comes in all forms and to not hold prejudice. Not that I did anyway. She also taught me a thing or two about rock bands, and a thing or two about...errr....that whole world.
Trey is unashamedly bisexual and he can't even make it out of the hospital room where Brian's wife has just given birth before he is knocking about with a nurse in the Supply Closet.
Enter Reagan who has won the contest to be the next rhythm guitarist for Exodus End, Trey's brother Dare's, band.
Trey is infatuated by Reagan and tries to hide his bisexual side. Then he meets Ethan, Reagan's ex and room mate. To say this book is steamy is an understatement. To say I learnt Trey's favourite position that has now been replaced by another fave position, OMG!!
Man, I have been living under a rock. The first favourite position you needed a road map to get to, the second one , my eyes did a looney tunes boggle out of my head.
There was a great mystery thrown into the story that actually got me, which I really liked.
I am well and truly ready for Blay and Quinn in Lover At Last by J.R. Ward.
I give this book 60/10-70/10 Blush Worthy Rating.
I do recommend all these books as they all brought something different to the table and I am not so much the naive person anymore. I think Hostile Takeover was the most YOWZER! for me. I think I was flaming beetroot for a great majority of the book especially when it came to ... and the girls...!!!!
The Masked Blusher


text: This astonishing photography is presented in the "Locality" category, size is 1600 x 1200. You can find this photography by following tags: night, Asia. If you are looking for the other photos like this you can use the search on the site with the next queries: hong, Kong, hong Kong. Please find time for voting for the "Hong Kong" on the current page chosen from 1 to 5 stars rating. Besides, you are able to add this photo to the one or more social services. The quick buttons are situated in the bottom left. Here are available four popular services: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Stumblupon. In order to save this photography into your device (probably for the further use as a wallpaper) you need to click (right button of mouse) on the image and then choose "Save as". The image 'Hong Kong' is grabbed 3 votes. Now it rated with 4.4 score. You can change this rating or support the curent one.

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Posted on Monday 16 January 2017 by ub digital
Pictured are Jenna Mairs, Investment Manager at WhiteRock Capital Partners and Richard Gibson, Managing Director of Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers.
A north west shirt maker is creating four new jobs after bagging half a million pounds worth of funding.
Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers secured the funding from the Growth Loan Fund - backed by Invest NI and a private investor – and will use it to expand its sales overseas.
Richard Gibson, Managing Director of Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers, said it will look both east and west.
"This investment, combined with the continuing support from Invest NI and our equity partners, will allow us to implement our future growth strategy," he said. "This strategy will be concentrated on further developing our existing export markets of Canada and Germany, as well as supporting growth in our direct retail channels."
Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers is one of the last remaining traditional handmade shirtmakers across the UK and Ireland, employing 54 people at its Londonderry factory.
It supplies high street brands such as Selfridges and House of Fraser and has so far exported to Canada, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Mr Gibson said partnership with some of its retail customers is helping secure future growth.
"The recent development of a web concession with House of Fraser, is an example of the growth plan that will help deliver improved margins and more direct contact with the end consumer."
Whiterock Capital Partners are managing the £50m Growth Loan Fund and Investment Manager Jenna Mairs said the company has thrived in recent years.
"Export sales are a major contributor to the Northern Ireland Economy and Smyth & Gibson Shirtmakers has demonstrated potential for further growth. We have made an investment that will help support the future growth of the business worldwide and create jobs in the local area."
Smyth & Gibson were advised on the deal by Deloitte's Corporate Finance department.
Companies seeking funding from the Growth Loan Fund must be based in Northern Ireland, demonstrating growth and generally be in the manufacturing, engineering or tradable services sectors. Loans will be typically unsecured and personal guarantees will not be sought.
© 2020 Ulster Business


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As of January 2020 Patricia has relocated her practice to Campbell and Fairweather Psychology Group in Victoria BC.
Patricia welcomes you to contact her if you wish to have online or in person individual or couple counselling sessions or to arrange a Private Hold Me Tight® Couple Retreat at email@example.com
The problem
- Have you noticed a pattern in your relationship?
- You know, the one where the more one of you wants to talk out something, the more the other does not and you end up in a seemingly never ending dance of not getting core issues settled. The more you want to talk it out and the other does not, the more abandoned, hurt, angry and disconnected you both feel. This pattern, if continued, eventually leads to complete emotional disconnection and the ending of your relationship. It is well known that counselling is much less expensive than divorce, so how about taking a chance on reconnecting?
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is generally a short term (8 to 20 sessions) couples therapy approach. It has been found that 70 to 75% of couples effectively move from distress to recovery using EFT and approximately 90% of couples show significant improvement in their relationships. EFT has a basis in clear and explicit conceptualizations of adult love and marital/relational distress. EFT is a state of the art, evidence based and very effective couple counselling approach pioneered and researched by Dr. Sue Johnson, an internationally renowned Canadian psychologist and researcher from Ottawa. Originally developed for couples, EFT has found effectiveness for family members, romantic partners and individuals.
Sharing Experiences
Through the exploration of emotion, reactions, inter-relations and behaviors, couples can identify and study their individual roles and the effect each has on the dynamic of the relationship. Each partner is encouraged to express their experiences and emotions in a non-judgemental and secure environment. By witnessing the release of feelings and anxieties of one partner, the other is able to gain new insight and perception into the validity and emotional state that their own actions and experiences have on the relationship as a whole. The partners are permitted to voice their deepest concerns and conflicts in order to addres them and move beyond them to develop more productive and collaborative behaviors and to become more closely connected emotionally.
Hold Me Tight
The approach is revealed in a very readable and practical book entitled "Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love". Using this book as a guide, and encouraging you to read along and complete homework exercises designed to increase your understanding of your relationship patterns, Patricia Lavelle with advanced level training in EFT for Couples will collaborate with you to identify your particular version of the Demon Dialogues, the repetitive patterns that highjack your emotional connection in your relationship, and give you the tools to repair these and create new patterns of emotional intimacy.


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Brazilian beach babes
Beautiful Brazilian beach babes are a major reason us guys absolutely love this country. If you appreciate beautiful women there is no place on earth like Copacabana or Ipanema in Rio De Janeiro.
Beautiful girls on Copacabana
I could publish a whole post on these two beautiful girls, the most magnificent skin colour I have ever seen.
Her name is Carla
I first met beautiful Carla at Copacabana in November 2003 then again in 2005, a beautiful lady with a sparkling personality.
Happy faces at Copacabana
In Rio De Janeiro 20% of the people live in the favelas where there is no luxury and no room to play. So naturally they come to the beach and worship the sun.
For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.
Covered in coconut oil.
Most of the Beautiful Brazilian beach babes are Covered in coconut oil to accelerate their suntan. You will get no complaints from me. 😆
Busy day at Copacabana
Some days it is hard to find a free spot on the sand and the beach is 4 km long.
- On December 31, 1994, the New Year's Eve celebrations featured a Rod Stewart concert with an attendance of 3.5 million, making it the largest concert crowd ever. More recently, the beach has been a site for huge free concerts unrelated to the year-end festivities. On March 21, 2005, Lenny Kravitz performed there in front of 300,000 people, on a Monday night. On February 18, 2006, a Saturday, The Rolling Stones surpassed that mark by far, attracting over 1.5 million people to the beach.
Beautiful Mel from Nitoroi.
Mel is another beautiful girl I met on Copacabana, almost 6 feet tall with green eyes.
Another shot of Mel.
Six feet tall with green eyes, such a beautiful girl.
Orange may now be my favourite colour.
Such beautiful colour skin.
For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.
Hey! Are you taking our photo?
I was caught in the act of taking their photo, my reward was this wonderful smile. 😳
My good friend Simone
We originally met on the internet, then in person in 2000. In 2005 we traveled together to Praia Da Pipa & Recife in north east Brazil. Simone now works in a bank in Sao Paulo and we stay in touch through Facebook.
Simone in Ponte Negra in 2005.
The last time I saw Simone was in Rio in October 2009.
Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.
Look closely & you may see some fish.
Fish, what fish? I don't see any fish. 😆
Ipanema beach in Rio.
Ipanema is absolutely breathtaking.
Brazilian beach babes & Silicone city
A little silicone never hurt anybody.
Rio Orthon a perfect location.
For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK, book now & pay later, includes free cancellation.
Beautiful bodies everywhere
I wish I could shoot the other side.
Does my bum look big in this?
Are you kidding, it's perfect.
Strolling along Avenue Atlantica.
This is certainly one of the world's great streets.
Pretty face on Copacabana
Great smile on Copacabana.
Can I help you with that oil?
Preparing for a day in the sun.
No way Jose, & put that camera away.
The Beautiful Brazilian beach babes really do like to have there photo taken. 🙂
Do you know any good diets?
Is coconut milk good for losing weight? I am a couple of kilos overweight.
Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.
Blue bikini goes well with brown skin.
There is always something to see on Copacabana.
Look closely you may see a tattoo.
Tattoo, what tattoo? I don't see a tattoo.
Brazilian beach babes, Ah! Say no more.
Those orange bikinis are very popular indeed.
Lookout! here they come
More beautiful Brazilian beach babes.
1999 in Copacabana
This is the lovely beach babe in the posts header.
Copacabana at 2pm on New Years Eve.
The crowd is building up for NYE, tonight there will be 2 million people on the beach all wearing white.
A selfie at Balneario Camboriu
Belneario Camboriu is between Florianopolis and Curitiba.
A lonely nudist near Balneario Camboriu
Back to nature.
Tall & tanned & young & lovely at Florianopolis
Now that's a girl worth following. 🙂
Does my bum look big in this?
Most women have asked this question at some stage in their life. 😳
I would like to inspect the end of that tattoo.
This lovely lady worked on the beach at Barra da Lagoa in Florianopolis
Next generation beach babes.
As I pointed my camera without being asked they all struck this pose. For me it captured the essence of Rio Di Janeiro.
For a great hotel room rate in RIO just book through THIS LINK.
Brazilians don't need a visa to visit Thailand. Please check out my webcam.
Pattaya Beach live webcam
Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.
To receive my latest posts please follow me on Twitter Follow @David_Herd
Here are some more posts to check out
Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.
That's all folks
Here are some more posts to check out
Life 2015 Family history Life 1982
Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006
Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003
That's all folks
Here is a slide show with all the beautiful Brazilian beach babes.
Rio Orthon a perfect location.
For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK, book now & pay later, includes free cancellation.
Check out life on the other side of the world, just click here.
For a taste of the Italian Alps click here.
Lisbon is a great city for food and music.
Check out this Brazilian seaside city


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Is time flying by for you? Before we know it, it will be Thanksgiving with the holidays right behind it. Today I'm sharing a great gift idea that's under $10 that will take care of anyone on your list who likes to bake.
Mini Springform Pans!
Today some of my blogging friends and I are sharing gift ideas under $10. I recently stumbled across these cute mini springform pans in my local Walmart. They caught my eye because they are the smallest springform pans I've ever seen. They have a diameter of 4 1/2 inches which makes them great for individual size desserts or cheesecake for two.
Each pan cost only $3.77 which is a really good price for mini springform pans. The brand is Mainstays which is a Walmart brand. I didn't find these in the kitchen area of the store. They were located on the seasonal aisle in the grocery section along with other seasonal baking ingredients and candy.
A springform pan comes in two parts, a base and a collar, which are held together with a clamp. After baking, you unclip the collar from the base to easily remove the item from the pan.
Now the most important feature of a springform pan is that it doesn't leak. Right now I have 4 mini cheesecakes baking in the oven to test these babies.
These mini springform pans are the perfect size to make cheesecakes for two. I'm thinking that it would be great to make a batch to freeze for later.
While I am sharing, I wanted to show you these cute recipe gift tags that I found at my local Dollar General store. I'm working on a cheesecake recipe for these mini springform pans, and once I get it perfected, I'll post about it.
Just imagine how much Christmas Cheer you could spread if you gifted someone with 2 of these pans with cheesecakes baked inside with the recipe on the back of the gift tag!!!
It's the tenth of the month and that means that 10 of us bloggers are sharing our favorite ideas under $10.
Click on any of the links below to see more thrifty gift ideas from my blogging friends.
The Purple Hydrangea
Blue Sky at Home


text: Bon Ton is a large regional retail chain featuring apparel, furniture, accessories, jewelry, handbags, shoes and home goods. It's a your one-stop-shop for all of your needs! You can find brand names throughout the website for men, women, kids - girls and boys, and even juniors. They offer a great size range from big and tall to junior plus. Find watches, beauty products, fragrances, bed, bath, and much more. Use Bon-Ton coupons today on your next purchase.


text: mdj101 #1 Posted March 30, 2018 Hi All, I've completed all the online info for check in and clicked the button for the tickets but nothing happens. No download, no email, nothing. Also when I try and sign our daughter up for kids club it just pops up an error window saying check booking information but it's all there and all correct. I must admit the MSC website is an absolute shambles! So can anyone tell me how I'm supposed to get my e-tickets for my three cabins? 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Minneapolis, MN -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/05/2013 -- Accounting is the most important back office support that a company needs, and for many small companies, Quickbooks is the accounting program of choice. Its ease of use and multitude of features makes it possible for companies to keep their accounting in-house and provide constant feedback about the financial health of the company. Using a CRM interface, like SugarCRM, helps to streamline the process of customer acquisition and support, but with the new Sugar Outfitters Quickbooks integration, the CRM portal becomes even more powerful.
Customization of the Sugar interface has been one of the reasons why Sugar adoption is spreading so quickly throughout the world. Businesses can use sites like Sugar Outfitters to find the modules that they need to change the interface to use the programs and features that they rely on to provide the best customer experience possible. The modules are simple to install, and since Sugar is a cloud based service, users do not suffer downtime while they wait for an installer to visit their site.
The Sugar Outfitters Quickbooks integration offers two way integration between the Sugar portal and Quickbooks, allowing users to instantly sync customer data and payment information in a few simple clicks. With the Quickbooks module sales people have access to inventory numbers, as well as the invoice history for clients. Managers have greater control over quote approval and potential sales orders because they have all of the financial data that they need on one screen Because the contact and invoicing information are in one place with the Sugar Outfitters Quickbooks integration, getting payment for products and services is faster than ever before.
To see a video about how Quickbooks integration can help small businesses, please go to https://www.sugaroutfitters.com/addons/sugarcrm-quickbooks-integration . Here customers can read about the full features that Quickbooks integration provides, as well as purchase one of the most essential modules for small and medium sized businesses using Sugar.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://www.sugaroutfitters.com/ or contact them via Twitter @Sugaroutfitters.


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Watch the Audition That Won Elvis Presley His First Big Movie Role
Elvis Presley is best known as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll," but the man with the gyrating hips that gave teenage girls and television censors fits was also a pretty good actor. Presley starred in a number of films before his untimely passing, but back when he was first starting out, the King had to audition just like everyone else.
Website Dangerous Minds dug up one of the singer's first auditions, which finds Presley doing what he does best — belting out a rousing rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes." This screen test (his third) won over the naysayers at Paramount and earned Elvis a three-film deal on the spot, with the option to make three more. The test was a sign of good things to come for the singer — it led not only to his role in Love Me Tender, but it also came just two weeks before "Heartbreak Hotel" rose to the top of the charts.
Here's the trailer for Love Me Tender
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2020 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Continuing West Coast Conference play, Santa Clara softball split with LMU with both games finishing 1-0 on Friday afternoon.
Game 2
McCall James (1-3) shutdown LMU (15-26, 1-4 WCC) and tossed her first shutout of the season and fourth of her career. After allowing a two-out single in the first, James retired the next 12 straight before a walk ended the streak. She would allow just two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
"McCall was awesome for us today," Santa Clara head coach Lisa Mize said. "She threw strikes and kept LMU off balance the entire game. The defense behind her was clean and made plays when they needed to."
Santa Clara (11-27, 3-2 WCC) picked up just five hits but made the most of them with three coming in a row to lead to the only run of the game in the bottom of the first. Base hits by Taylor Burns and Morgan Modesto set up Kimberly Goulart who poked one to right field for an RBI single.
"We didn't have a big offensive day but we made sure our hits count," Mize said. "I'm always happy to see us rally with two outs and that's how we got our run. Kimba [Goulart] came up with the clutch hit that we needed."
Andrea Wellins (4-9) pitched well also but took the hard-luck complete game loss. She allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts.
Game 1
LMU (15-25, 1-3 WCC) threatened in each of the first three innings but couldn't break through until the fourth. With two down, Lindsey Matoi came through with an RBI single to center to bring in Brooke Christensen who had walked.
Micaela Vierra (5-9) lasted 4 innings in the start and allowed one run on three hits but walked four.
Santa Clara (10-27, 2-2 WCC) threatened in both the third and fifth innings but was unable to come through with the big hit.
In the third, the Broncos got a rally for free to start the third when the first two batters here hit by pitches. A groundout moved them up with one down but the Broncos couldn't take advantage.
In the fifth, back-to-back two-out infield singles and a walk loaded the bases but Rachael Farrington again escaped the jam.
Farrington (6-12) went to the distance to pick up the win. She allowed four hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
No player on either team had more than one hit.
The Broncos and Lions conclude their series tomorrow at noon.
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Softball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
August 22, 2017 Softball Completes Coaching Staff
June 27, 2017 Dodd Named Head Softball Coach
May 25, 2017 Head Softball Coach Resigns
May 16, 2017 Softball Lands Three on All-WCC Teams
May 11, 2017 Seven Softball Players Honored for Academic Success
May 6, 2017 Softball Falls on Senior Day to No. 20 BYU
May 3, 2017 Softball Finishes Season with No. 20 BYU
April 30, 2017 Softball Can't Avoid Sweep in Series Finale
April 29, 2017 Softball Swept by Pacific in Saturday Doubleheader
April 27, 2017 Softball Returns Home to Face Pacifc
April 24, 2017 Softball Adds Two to 2018 Roster
April 22, 2017 Softball Loses Two Close Games at San Diego
April 20, 2017 Softball Concludes Road Slate at San Diego
April 18, 2017 Softball Downed by Stanford Comeback
April 17, 2017 Softball Travels to Stanford Tuesday
April 15, 2017 Softball Beaten by LMU in Series Finale
April 14, 2017 James' Gem Earns Softball Split
April 13, 2017 Softball Welcomes LMU for First Home WCC Series
April 13, 2017 Softball Topped by Fresno State Thursday Night
April 12, 2017 Softball Drops Midweek Contest at Cal
April 10, 2017 Fisher Named WCC Player of the Week
April 10, 2017 Softball Plays Two Midweek Games
April 6, 2017 West Coast Conference Play Begins for Softball
April 3, 2017 Softball Hosts Sacramento State Tuesday in Midweek Game
March 25, 2017 Softball Drops Two to Seattle, UC Santa Barbara
March 23, 2017 Tournament Play Concludes for Softball at Gaucho Classic II
March 19, 2017 Softball Falls Twice on Final day of Santa Clara Round Robin
March 18, 2017 Softball Drops Close Game in Finale, Falls Twice Saturday
March 15, 2017 Softball Hosts Five-Team Santa Clara Round Robin
March 12, 2017 Softball Closes Lobo Classic with Split
March 11, 2017 Softball Splits on Day Two of Lobo Classic
March 10, 2017 Softball Falls to New Mexico on Day One of Lobo Classic
March 8, 2017 Softball Plays in Lobo Classic Starting Friday
March 4, 2017 Four Run First Propels Softball Past Weber State
February 28, 2017 Softball Heads to Boise for SpringHill Suites Classic
February 26, 2017 Softball Falls to Weber State in Santa Clara Invitational Finale
February 25, 2017 Game Two Win Over UIC Gives Softball Split
February 24, 2017 Softball Drops Two on First Day of Santa Clara Invitational
February 22, 2017 Santa Clara Invitational Up Next for Softball
February 19, 2017 Softball Earns Split with Exciting Win in Finale of Bronco Classic
February 18, 2017 Bats Come Alive to Lift Softball to Split in Bronco Classic
February 17, 2017 Day One of Softball's Bronco Classic Postponed Due to Weather
February 15, 2017 Softball Hosts Bronco Classic This Weekend
February 11, 2017 Softball Swept in Opening Day Doubleheader by UC Davis
February 9, 2017 Softball Opens Season Saturday with Doubleheader vs. UC Davis
January 10, 2017 Softball Season and Single Game Tickets on Sale Now
January 3, 2017 Softball's Seventh Annual Crab Feed Set for Jan. 28
December 6, 2016 Softball Releases 2017 Schedule
December 5, 2016 Softball Adds Four to 2018 Roster
September 30, 2016 Softball Takes Part in Out of Darkness Walk
September 27, 2016 Softball Hosts Alumni Game Oct. 8


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- Print brokers/commercial brokers
- Architects and Real Estate Development Firms
- Churches, Schools, Hospitals and Universities
- Cities, Museums, Airports, Governments
- Fleet operators
- Franchise Systems
- Sign Companies
We partner with many well-known Businesses and Organizations such as: Toyota, Staples, Yum! Brands, Inc, HCL America, OMNILIFE, Starkey Mortgage, Southern Glazers, Blue Star Sports, Instinct Marketing, Westrup, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Frisco Fastpacs, Five Star Ford, Coyote Drive-in, Elevate Life Church, Custer Road United Methodist, St. Marks of Plano, Legacy Church, In Touch Credit Union, Shimano and many, many more!
Our Owner and President, Tom Frye, has over 27 years of business experience working mostly in the Plano and Frisco area. Tom served as an executive at JCPenney for over 20 years, working primarily in the Internet and Catalog business. When he left JCPenney, Tom was the Vice President of Marketing Operations with responsibilities for printing all JCPenney catalogs, store pre-prints, and direct mail. Other responsibilities included directing Outlet Stores, Call Centers, and Corporate Customer Care.
Tom left JCPenney in 2010 to become COO for a vertical vitamin and supplement company. After helping with the successful sale of the vitamin company, Tom saw an opportunity to leverage his marketing, print, and operations expertise through the purchase of SpeedPro, located in Plano and Frisco. When you partner with SpeedPro you are getting Tom's experience and project management skills dedicated to your project daily from start to finish.
Earlier in 2016, Tom hired Beau Stovall as Senior Designer and Production Manager. Beau is an excellent designer with extensive experience designing Grand & Large Format Graphics, as well as dozens of Websites. Over the past year, he has become an expert on our printers and plotters, as well as our production processes and techniques. Beau has the skill to quickly create effective graphics that support and enhance your marketing strategy. He will also oversee the production of your graphics.


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There are a few things you can do to reduce what you need to pay via the self-assessment tax procees - even at this late stage (the deadline for forms to be filed is tonight).
One that many people fail to take advantage of is the tax breaks on charitable giving. When we donate via Gift Aid, basic rate tax you have paid is claimed back by the charity. You can yourself claim back an additional amount if you are a higher–rate or top–rate taxpayer.
This can even include membership of charities, such as the National Trust and RSPB.
Gary Heynes, head of private client tax at Baker Tilly, says that on a £80 donation, higher–rate taxpayers will receive £20 back, while those who paid last year's 50pc income tax, now 45pc, would get £30 back on a donation made that year.
He also said you don't necessarily need to have a personal record of the donation, as long as you filled in a Gift Aid form. The charity should have the paperwork.
Another popular way to reduce tax bills is to pay more into your pension. This one needs a bit more long-term planning. Money you pay into a pension before April will be declared on next Janaury's tax form.
Payments into a work pension normally escape tax by being taken before tax is deducted, but if you put money into a personal pension then you can claim back the tax owed.
So if you pay £8,000 into a Sipp (self–invested personal pension), your account will be credited with a £2,000 payment from HMRC, giving you £10,000 to invest. But as a higher–rate, 40pc taxpayer, you will be entitled to a further £2,000 rebate from the taxman. If you put this on your tax form (confusingly, you must declare the amount including HMRC's contribution; so £10,000 in this example) you will reduce your tax bill by £2,000, or you could be paid it as a rebate if you owe nothing else.
If you have a buy–to–let property you must declare any income from it, but you can reduce the bill by declaring interest paid on the mortgage, letting fees, insurance and other outgoings.
Offsetting these other elements, such as pension and donations, could even be enough to reduce your taxable income so that you can keep the child benefit.
One other, far more radical way to keep child benefit is to structure your income differently. A popular route for some parts of the workforce, especially within the IT sector, has been to establish yourself as a company and thereby treating your employer as a client. The company you work for pays your firm and you pay yourself a small salary from it.
The most high–profile examples of people having such as arrangement have been a handful of BBC presenters. It means you will have a far lower tax bill, and although you'll need to employ an expensive accountant, you can keep those child benefit payments if the salary you pay yourself is kept below £50,000.
Baker Tilly's Mr Heynes said: "We haven't heard of people doing this to keep child benefit. It's not normally worth doing something that extreme."
- Got a tax question? Put it to our experts firstname.lastname@example.com


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Best Parks in America (BPA), a national network of 65 premium RV parks and campgrounds, announced the appointment of four people to its board.
According to a news release, the four new directors, whose terms officially begin July 1 and continue for three years, are: Michael Gurevich, owner of Cherry Hill Park, College Park, Md.; Tripp Keber, COO of Bella Terra Realty Holdings, developers of Bella Terra RV Resort, Foley, Ala.; Vern Mangels, owner of Anaheim Resort RV Park, Anaheim, Calif.; and Randy Packard, owner of Pine Acres Family Camping Resort, Oakham, Mass.
Best Parks President and CEO David Gorin and Vice President Deb Kohls also serve as board members.
During 2011, Best Parks was restructured into a non-shareholder corporation and now operates as an association of member parks. The board will be meeting quarterly with the next meeting scheduled to take place on June 6.
"These four new BPA board members represent the diversity of the park industry – the board is geographically diverse, their parks serve varying demographic segments, and the board members represent destination vacation resorts, destination tourist or travel parks and the ownership park business model," said Gorin. " This is a highly experienced group of sharp businesspeople and there's no doubt that all the Best Parks affiliates will be very well served by this outstanding group of industry experts."


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Fujitsu has also established an Enterprise Platform Services (EPS) Academy, helping to ensure future expertise and career opportunities for mainframe and data center technologies. This aims to maintain and develop essential skills, passing on expertise to a new generation of experts who will be able to keep mainframe systems up and running long into the future.
Many organizations depend on mainframes to run mission-critical applications including government, finance and insurance systems. As the dependable hardware that hosts many virtual and distributed applications, mainframes represent the backbone of Hybrid IT.
Addressing growing customer concern at the future shortage of qualified technical staff that have the know-how and certification to keep mainframes up and running, the new portfolio of Mainframe Managed Services also covers third-party mainframe systems such as IBM z Systems. With these new services, Fujitsu aims to assist customers in reducing the ongoing operating costs associated with mainframe software and hardware.
Fujitsu Mainframe Managed Services include:
• Core Services designed to offer customers a stable operational service, reducing risk and addressing demographic concerns such as a skills shortage. Fujitsu's network of Global Delivery Centers (GDCs) gives customers follow-the-sun access to high skilled support, wherever they are located and whenever needed.
• Elective Services are increasing mainframe system efficiency. Fujitsu offers a high level total cost of ownership assessment to help identify the most appropriate elective services.
Fujitsu offers flexible contract options that help avoid price lock-in agreements for CPU MIPS, in addition to a focus on reducing CPU usage, and the consequent high costs from software and hardware charges. Additionally, customers can select from a range of Application Modernization and Transformation Services. These start with an environment analysis to identify applications in need of modernization, as well as determining which applications are best suited to mainframes, and those that may benefit from re-platforming.


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It's been a year and 2 days since my last post. Where has time gone?
This will be quick since I'm posting from my phone and swipe typing pisses me off.
Rhett Calhoun is 21 months old and doing awesome.
And on July 13, 2016, we welcomed or second son, Sutton Whitfield.
Two baby boys is a dream come true.
But there was another dream. The whole reason I started this blog. I wanted to stay at home and raise babies. Well, here I am. At home, raising babies!
I am so lucky. Get ready for adventures!


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Soil Science Editing is pleased to provide a full range of manuscript support services. This consultancy can include detailed commentary and assessment of your manuscript, journal selection, formatting and reference checking, cover letter writing, abstract and manuscript shortening, editing and checking of point-by-point response letters and poster/conference abstract development. Note that Dr. Boon does not provide peer review or advice on scientific methods, statistical presentation, data science or graphical presentation. Dr. Boon is concerned with optimising the scientific content already present within the manuscript and will work with you to ensure your content is well-structured, clear, concise and understandable for readers and reviewers.
Editing for researchers that struggle with English
- Dr. Boon understands that English is difficult for some researchers and wants to make sure that your ideas are presented as fluently as possible
- A manuscript with very poor English will be edited in detail to make sure that every possible meaning of a sentence is explored
- This consultancy option entitles you to several edits, Dr. Boon will work with you to make sure your intended meaning is clear
- Soil Science Editing is not interested in the bare minimum of English. Each sentence needs to do more than just "make sense in English", it needs to effectively communicate your argument. Dr. Boon will ensure that your manuscript effectively presents the science to readers and reviewers
- In extreme cases, Dr. Boon will not waste your money and will recommend that you engage the services of a professional translator in your native language
Detailed scientific editing
- Intended for authors that want to get the very best out of their research, researchers new to publishing papers (PhD or early-career researchers) or those targeting high-impact journals
- Full assessment of your manuscript including structure, readability, logic and flow, presentation of results, novelty and impact etc.
- Working with you on your manuscript from first draft through to final publication
- Detailed comments on your manuscript including identifying areas of weakness, poor explanations, missing citations, irrelevant information etc.
- Responses to your comments on the manuscript and email dialogue as needed
- Continued editing and support as you develop your manuscript
Journal selection
- Selection of 3–5 appropriate journals for your manuscript
- Evaluation of your manuscript's suitability for each journal
- Consideration of your needs (open access, indexing, impact factor etc.)
Formatting and reference-checking services
- Full formatting of your paper to suit the guidelines of your target journal and checking all requirements are met
- Formatting of references
- Full reference check (including checking the validity of the reference in full and ensuring consistency between the references list and the main text)
Response letters
- Checking of author responses for English language and clarity of response
- Ensuring that all reviewer comments have been addressed correctly within the letter and the revised manuscript
- Advice on crafting responses to reviewers following peer-review
Dealing with rejection
- Unfortunately, rejection can happen. Soil Science Editing will support you through a rejection, helping you to select a new target journal and move forward with the new submission
- Advice in incorporating any advice from a rejection to create an improved manuscript
- Reformatting and restructuring of the manuscript to meet new journal guidelines
- Revisions to meet new journal word counts or other restrictions
Writing services
- Cover letter writing
- Writing of highlights, core summaries or impact statements
- Shortening of abstracts or manuscripts to meet journal restrictions
- Abstract creation from a manuscript
- Creation of text for a poster or conference abstract
All consultancy services are charged at the same price of £60/hour. As all consultancy jobs are different, this is the easiest way to standardise pricing and ensure you get the best quality service.
For full manuscript support, a deposit is paid at the standard editing rate (£35/1000 words) based on the manuscript word count once the job is agreed. This covers Dr. Boon's time when working on the first stage of the edit. The consultancy work is then invoiced at the first submission stage and again at any submission stages thereafter. The deposit amount will be removed from the first consultancy invoice.
For partial consultancy services (no manuscript edit), a quote will be generated for you based on the expected time taken to conduct the job and billed on completion. The following gives an approximate indication of the amount of time needed for some services. However, these are guideline suggestions only and may change depending on the complexity of the work. Partial hours are not calculated (time spent is always calculated to the next full hour).
Detailed scientific editing of a moderate quality 5,000-word article: 5–7 hours (£300–420)
Detailed scientific editing of a poor-English-quality 5,000-word article: 7–10 hours (£420–600)
Journal selection: 2–3 hours (£120–180)
Response letters (length dependent): 2–5 hours (£120–300)
Writing tasks (with manuscript editing): 1–2 hours (£60–120)
Writing tasks (without manuscript editing): 2–3 hours (£120–180)
Contact Soil Science Editing
Dr. Boon provides a wide range of scientific consultancy services that can be negotiated as add-on to standard copy-editing. Please get in touch to discuss your needs. A more precise quote for the number of hours needed can be provided once Dr. Boon assesses your manuscript.
Privacy and Confidentiality Guaranteed
Soil Science Editing is committed to diligence regarding the security of your content. All records will be removed once you are satisfied and no information from your content will be shared. In all cases the copyright of the content remains with the original authors.


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Last year, we reported that Australia had proposed significant insolvency reforms that, in our view, are long overdue ("A Major Leap Forward for Australian Insolvency Laws"). Earlier this year, we reported here that the Australian government had released a revised draft of its insolvency legislation providing a safe harbor from director insolvent trading liability and limitations on the enforceability of ipso facto clauses upon the occurrence of certain insolvency-related events. But it was still "just a bill." At long last, we are pleased to announce that the Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Enterprise Incentives No. 2) Bill 2017 passed through the Senate (with minor last-minute amendments) and received Royal Assent on September 18, 2017, so that the safe harbor provisions are finally effective and the new ipso facto provisions will become effective July 1, 2018.
The new safe harbor provision shields directors from personal liability for debts incurred while the company is insolvent, if the company incurs such debts in connection with a course of action that is reasonably likely to lead to a better outcome for the company. As of July 1, 2018, a the new legislation will impose a stay on the enforcement of "ipso facto" clauses against a company under administration or a company that has announced, or actually applied to enter into, a scheme of arrangement to avoid being wound up in insolvency.
Adding a safe harbor provision and restricting ipso facto clause enforcement will benefit US investors by reducing barriers to successful restructurings and thereby preserving the going concern value of distressed Australian borrowers. Now, directors have greater leeway to consider and implement a range of restructuring options, even if the company is already insolvent. And the coming ipso facto protections will provide additional stability to maintain its business relationships during such implementation. We applaud our Aussie friends for creating an environment that favors value-preserving solutions and making Australian companies more attractive borrowers.


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What Phones Fit the Peepsnake Window Pocket
We have clear pockets to fit all sizes and types of smartphones. Peepsnake is compatible with both iPhone® and Android.
Here is a breakdown to find your fit:
"Standard" - iPhone 5, 6, 7, 8 and Android similar in size. Most Peepsnakes fall into this size unless otherwise stated. See below about cases around phones.
"Plus" or "XL" - iPhone 6 Plus, 7 Plus, 8 Plus and Android similar in size. Tip about the XL Plus window– Because of the larger phone glass, the vinyl will naturally 'stick' during touchscreen use; To remove phone from pocket, unzip and run fingers in-between vinyl and phone glass to separate, and then slide out.
Touch ID - To activate your phone without access to the fingerprint scanner, turn on phone with physical power button on the side; then drag from the left-hand side of the phone to access the recently used apps.
With Cases - Sizes above are taking into account a small to standard size case. If you have a particularly large case, such as an OtterBox, on a standard phone, you should select the XL window pocket size. If you have a Plus phone with a large case, sorry but we do not have a Peepsnake to fit your phone. Please consider taking case off to fit in pocket because Peepsnake will protect your phone from dirt, scratches and drops so you won't need the heavy duty case.


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Libertarian Hall of Fame Nominees
The Libertarian Futurist Society has announced the short list for this year's Hall of Fame nominees. Voting for both the Hall of Fame will take place in July. The award will be presented at Loncon 3.
- "As Easy as A.B.C.," a short story by Rudyard Kipling (1912)
- "Sam Hall," a short story by Ben Bova (1953)
- "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," a short story by Harlan Ellison (1965)
- Falling Free, a novel by Lois McMaster Bujold (1988)
- Courtship Rite, a novel by Donald M. Kingsbury (1982)
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
*Holiday Gift Guide 2015*
You have heard of many subscription services that I love over the years, but I have a new one to introduce to you today. Adult coloring seems to be the latest trend and one I have been enjoying a lot lately. Who knew that coloring can relax your mind? I did not start to get into the whole coloring thing until recently when I saw all the coloring books in the store. I always enjoyed coloring with my kids, but so glad we now have more intricate detailed books for adults and teens.Time to put Candy Crush aside, break out the colored pencils and immerse yourself into the world of being a kid again.
Art Therapy subscription service is one that I love. Whoever thought of a subscription service of coloring books is pure genius! Coloring is relaxing and I enjoy it most when I am feeling stressed or when my kids have settled in for the night. Sometimes I just want to sit in a quiet room and not have to think about anything and just color my heart out. With these coloring magazines, you will find coloring techniques, relaxation tips, and 4 beautiful detailed designed fun filled pages.
Each page is suitable for using markers, watercolors, crayons, colored pencils, gel pens and more without bleeding through the back. In addition, on the back of every page has a spot where you can write name and title. If you want to give them as gifts it would be a nice way to personalize your artwork. Every magazine is different and no 2 pages are the same.
In each issue, you will find a page where you can color a design and then use to make cards with. Homemade cards are my favorite and makes them special.
Need a few minutes to de-stress and do not have time to color a bigger design? You will find a page where you can doodle until your hearts content and then use these designs to make cards, decorations, holiday gift tags and more.
Remember those days when we were kids and we asked our parents to buy us paint-by-number or color-by-number books? I certainly can. I loved being able to color it and then finding out what the picture is. Well, now you can go back to your childhood years as hey also include a color-by-number! At the bottom of the page, it will show you the shades to use for each number. I match it the best to my colored pencils and markers. Of course, if you do not have that color there is no right and wrong way to color.
For a low introductory price, you can get your first shipment for only $4.95. When you subscribe you will get 7 awesome gifts free! Art Therapy subscription would make the perfect gift for the holiday season. Learn more at Art Therapy Collection.
Connect with Art Therapy Shop|Facebook


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Provost Lecture Series - Dr. Xiaodan Zhang
Dept. of Social Sciences, School of Health & Behavioral Sciences
- https://www.york.cuny.edu/academics/academic-affairs/provost-lecture-series/provost-lecture-series-dr-xiaodan-zhang
- Provost Lecture Series - Dr. Xiaodan Zhang
- Dept. of Social Sciences, School of Health & Behavioral Sciences
- What student featured plasmas employee featured Provost Lecture Series homepage featured Student Development Academic Affairs
- When Nov 12, 2013 from 08:00 PM to 10:00 PM (UTC / UTC0)
- Where Faculty Dining Room AC-2D01
- Add event to calendar iCal
"Reproduction of Paternalism: Power Relations in Domestic Private Enterprises in China,"
While some argue that the world is flat today, others depict globalization as a dialectic process of convergence and divergence. This talk, using shopfloor stories in Chinese factories, illustrates how an ideological tradition is reproduced under the influence of other seemingly contradictory ideas from the West.


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Hi All Tennis Players,
As some of you may be aware the courts where we currently are will be getting bulldozed by the Canning Council & The Department of Housing to build 1500 houses on our current site. This will be happening late June 2014 (end of Term 2 tennis). ALL TENNIS WILL CONTINUE AS NORMAL UNTIL THEN!
There was some talk I would be taking my business (All in Tennis) over to South Perth and work there with the Head Coach @ South Perth, but by doing that I would of had to dissolve my coaching business and work for him. Obviously it is better for me to continue to have my own business and to try to keep it in an area that was still local to try to continue to work with all those whom I have been coaching over the past 8 years!
An opportunity has come up that I feel was too good to pass up!
So as of Term 3 - July 21st 2014, All in Tennis will be based at BELMONT TENNIS CLUB.
Belmont TC is less than 10 minutes from our current location - this will be closer for some people and further away for others. It is surrounded by LEACH HWY, ABERNETHY RD, KEANE ST and ROBINSON AVE. I haven't attached the map as it will make this email too large for some....but let me know if you want me to send you it..... Belmont TC has 6 hardcourts (with lights) and 12 grass courts with a large clubhouse.
Until then ALL COACHING WILL CONTINUE @ CANNING TENNIS CLUB as per usual.
I am hoping that most of you will continue to come to the All in Tennis Coaching Team so that we can keep the improvement in your game going and achieve the standard you want to achieve and help you become the be best person & player you can be.
Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Hope to see you all on the court soon!
Lisa (and Callum, Shaun, Brittany, Geoff, John, James, Marisa, Jessica, Bryce, Alyce)
Announcements >


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VIDEO: Second Harvest invites Toronto's corporations to become heroes for food rescue
Jul 14, 2015, 08:32 ET
Companies can boost employee engagement and make a real difference in hunger relief and food waste through the Second Harvest Hero campaign
TORONTO, July 14, 2015 /CNW/ - Second Harvest invites Toronto's corporations to help reduce food waste and provide hunger relief in the community as part of the Second Harvest Hero workplace campaign. Corporate partners can help boost employee engagement, bring staff together and make a real difference for those experiencing hunger in Toronto. Funds raised and time donated by Second Harvest Heroes will be used to rescue excess food and distribute it to over 200 of Toronto's community agencies.
"At Second Harvest we greatly appreciate and rely on the support of our corporate partners to help us provide 20,000 meals a day, every day," said Debra Lawson, Executive Director, Second Harvest. "Through the Hero campaign, Second Harvest Heroes raise funds to rescue food that would otherwise go to waste and allocate it to those who need healthy, nutritious meals. Working with Second Harvest, corporations can help those in need, make a real difference and boost employee engagement with Second Harvest Hero Day events."
"CIBC Mellon has been involved with Second Harvest for more than 10 years, and we have watched hundreds of employees join together and volunteer their time to raise money for food rescue," said Jerry Beniuk, Head of Global Fund Services, CIBC Mellon. "Our involvement with the Second Harvest Hero campaign has been a lot of fun for our employees and a great chance to come together – I strongly encourage other corporations to join Second Harvest as Heroes and become leaders in community investment."
To learn more about launching a Second Harvest Hero campaign at your workplace, visit www.secondharvesthero.ca
About Second Harvest:
Established in 1985, Second Harvest is the largest food rescue charity in Canada. Second Harvest rescues excess, fresh food that would otherwise go to waste, and delivers that food to more than 200 social service agencies in Toronto, feeding people experiencing hunger. Since 1985 Second Harvest has rescued and delivered almost 100 million pounds of good food, thus preventing almost 50 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Second Harvest's vision: No Waste. No Hunger.
SOURCE Second Harvest
Video with caption: "Video: Second Harvest Hero Campaign featuring Jessie's and CIBC Mellon". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20150714_C6591_VIDEO_EN_444340.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20150714_C6591_PHOTO_EN_444340.jpg&order=1&jdd=20150714&cnum=C6591
Image with caption: "The Second Harvest Hero workplace fundraiser is a great way for your workplace to raise money to support people in need in your community. (CNW Group/Second Harvest)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150714_C6591_PHOTO_EN_444305.jpg
Image with caption: "Since 1985, Second Harvest has been picking up donated, surplus food, which would otherwise go to waste, and delivering that food to over 200 community agencies in Toronto. (CNW Group/Second Harvest)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150714_C6591_PHOTO_EN_444307.jpg
For further information: For interviews or additional information about Second Harvest: Tonia Krauser, Director of Communications, Second Harvest, [email protected], 416.625.6774; To launch a Second Harvest Hero campaign at your workplace: Joelle Efford-Gibbons, Development and Programs Administrator, Second Harvest, [email protected], 416.408.2594 x 298.


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Product locator
Product locator
A powerful search engine helping the end-users, customers, distributors and manufacturers locate the right product for the right market
The EPTDA Product Locator is a powerful online product search engine helping the end-users, customers, distributors and manufacturers find the right product for the right market, while having the confidence of quality and best ethical practices in the industry.
As in any e-procurement site, customers can search the products as per country or product category or brand name. The EPTDA Product Locator currently features more than 15 product categories.
EPTDA brings together more than 250 companies - distributors, manufacturers and associates - on one common platform.
Overall, the EPTDA distributor and manufacturer members represent more than 23 billion euro annual sales volume of PT/MC products. These companies have employ over 290,000 staff worldwide, including Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. They are based or have representation offices in close to 35 countries, with the majority (top five) located in Europe (Germany, Italy, UK and The Netherlands) and the US.
EPTDA is a PT/MC platform giving access to 250+ quality-driven distributors and manufacturers as recognised by customers
EPTDA distributors and manufacturers have locations in nearly 30 countries across Europe, North America, Middle-East and Africa
EPTDA's portfolio currently includes 15+ main product categories in power transmission and motion control
The Voice of the Manufacturer
EPTDA 2019 – Production Line Intelligence, Material Handling
PLI 4: Material Handling
PLI 3: Automotive Industry
PLI 2: Confectionery Industry
PLI 1: Soft Drinks Industry
- EPTDA APPOINTS 2020 REGIONAL LEADERS - Read more +
3 October 2019 - EPTDA REPORTS ON 2019 ANNUAL CONVENTION IN TENERIFE - Read more +


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I've watched a succession of good films lately, so perhaps it is due to the law of averages that I've just encountered a couple of duds.
Radioland Murders seemed quite promising in theory, a comedy with a background in 30s radio, but it turned out to be dire. At least, the first few minutes were; I couldn't cope with any more. I can only hope it improved later on.
The Reaping is a more recent film, with two excellent stars in the ultra-watchable Hilary Swank, and Stephen Rea. It's a religious-themed horror flick, with a focus on the ten plagues of Egypt. Unfortunately, the script failed to match the quality of the cast. There were endless flashy effects, and some genuinely unpleasant scenes; not even a rather good final twist redeemed the movie as far as I was concerned.
It is instructive to compare this film's exploration of a Satanic cult with that splendid sixties movie based on a brilliant Ira Levin best-seller, Rosemary's Baby. Roman Polanski's classic film didn't rely on gory visual imagery or a ludicrous switch-back plot; cool, clear and under-stated, it achieved its object of frightening the audience by the simple expedient of telling a clever and deeply unsettling story. A real lesson in effective film-making for over-the-top gore-merchants.
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Two disappointments
I've watched a succession of good films lately, so perhaps it is due to the law of averages that I've just encountered a couple of duds.
2 comments:
With respect to "Radioland Murders": I can't explain why, but this film is one of my guilty pleasures. Truly, the "plot" (so-called) is completely incoherent; the murders are there mainly to push the actors into ever greater fits of activity, and the development and denouement are definitely NOT fair play. That said, however, I like it not for the diaphanous "mystery" plot but for its energy; it out-French farces French farces. The pacing is high-octane and never lets up; some people find that wearisome. But by far the BEST aspect of "Radioland" is the musical soundtrack; for nostalgia buffs like me it's hard to resist. (In the closing credits, there are at least three different versions of Ziggy Elman and Johnny Mercer's 1939 standard "And the Angels Sing"; one of them is done in the style that made Spike Jones famous.) Nevertheless, a lot of people hate this film.
I must also admit to a fondness for most of the Three Stooges, an opinion not shared by large segments of the human race.
Best regards,
Mike Tooney
- 28 June 2008 at 20:15
- Martin Edwards said...
Thanks, Mike. Maybe I was too hasty, maybe it just wasn't what I was expecting. Incidentally, I'm a real admirer of Mercer.
- 28 June 2008 at 23:50


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It's been 2 weeks since the season finale of Preacher aired, so it's high time to talk about Preacher and its theology. If you haven't seen the first season of Preacher, on AMC, stop before you click the cut, go find it, watch it and then come back. I'll wait. Go on.
Spoilers for all episodes, including the season finale, behind the jump:
Bit of a rough post today, but one that I hope will be helpful. This is gathered together from the tips at this fantastic post on Ravishly, "What you can do right now about Police Brutality" (and my hat is off to Lora for sharing the Ravishly post today.)
The City's page for Complaints and Concerns about the Brantford Police Service states that "The Brantford Police Service views the complaint process as a means of maintaining public accountability, correcting police misconduct, and improving police services to the community." Complaints must be made within six months of the incident, so there is a time limit. You can choose to speak with someone in person (the informal complaint process) at the BPS office, on 344 Elgin St., Brantford, ON, or
file a complaint online through the Office of the Independent Police Review Director – this is considered the formal complaint process, although there are alternative modes of resolution offered, including mediation. The IPRD is a civilian lawyer who formerly served on the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and Executive Director of Legal Aid Manitoba. The website includes an online form, accessible PDFs of both the form, and the pamphlet on how to make a complaint. However, it is noted on the investigations page: "If, during the course of the investigation, the Director discovers evidence that an officer may have committed a crime, the matter will be referred to the police for further investigation." Kind of a problem, no?
In Ontario, there are also the Special Investigations Unit, and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission that offer independent, civilian investigative bodies for police conduct. The entire text of the BPS complaints by-law is online, but highlights the gaps wherein all decisions tend to be made first by the Police Board, including the decision to bring a complaint to the OCPC. The Brantford Police are represented by the Brantford Police Association in contract negotiations. (Unfortunately, the link wasn't working today, so I can't confirm the information found there on their roles in conduct review processes.)
There are some definite gaps and ambiguities in this process that should be clarified and detailed, with civilian input and oversight.
The Brantford Police Services Board appears to meet monthly outside of the summer season, and you can find details, including times and locations on the City Calendar. Unfortunately for those working day jobs, they are all in the afternoons on weekdays. Worse, the link to Agendas and Minutes from previous meetings is dead, which I've emailed them to correct, and you can find the archived minutes searching the BPS website. City Council meets on a biweekly basis and is another place to bring up issues of police oversight in the city. The aforementioned site includes contact information for the City Council clerk if you wish to submit agenda items. There's also an RSS Feed Link that lets you subscribe to any of the public committee meetings.
The Brantford City Mayor is Chris Friel, and you can find out who your ward councillors are on the City's website. This map will show you what ward you live in, if you're not sure. Oluo states in the Ravishly essay, "Don't just ask once. Ask and follow up regularly." Ask what you can do to contribute to the processes that shape community services, outreach and policing.
"Make police reform a requirement for your vote." Elections are held on a four-year cycle in our city. The last city elections were in 2014. This gives us two years to make this issue important to people running for elected offices. Judges are not elected at the municipal level, and the next provincial election is not until 2018, so in the meantime, we should probably focus on the government we have and putting pressure on them to adapt.
Our MP for Brantford is Phil McColeman (CON). You can write him at:
Email: email@example.com
Constituency Office
Summer Hours – July & August -Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm Friday 8:30am-1:00pm
108 St. George Street, Suite #3
Brantford, ON N3R 1V6
t: 519-754-4300
f: 519-751-8177
Ottawa Office
The Valour Building, Rm 850
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
t: 613-992-3118
f: 613-992-6382
Our MPP is Dave Levac, and you can contact him at:
Queen's Park
Room 180, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A2
Tel 416-325-6261
Fax 416-325-6358
Suite 101
96 Nelson Street
Brantford, Ontario N3T 2N1
Tel 519-759-0361
Fax 519-759-6439
Despite filming police encounters being entirely legal (and brutality being captured on film doesn't appear to affect sentencing of cops who murder), it may be that an officer will try to confiscate your recording device. There are a number of apps available now that allow users to film discreetly, or uploads to the cloud as it records, preventing someone from erasing the data. Copblock has a huge list of these kinds of apps; while some are US-related specifically, like PocketJustice, many are region-free.
I've mentioned this on Facebook, because #BLMTO not wanting to sell their shirts to allies has been kind of a "thing", but don't ask what you think they want you to do – ask them what they need. As allies, it's important our desire to do good (and be seen doing it) doesn't do more harm than anything else. The community knows what it needs – they even had a list of demands ready to present at Pride. Follow them on Twitter, or Facebook and see what kinds of requests for aid they're making – and do that!
There's also Disarm Toronto Police, and "Affected Families of Police Homicide" (no known website, but affiliated with #BLMTO) for semi-local activist movements. Many students at Laurier Brantford's campus are motivated, passionate people with a desire for social justice and change, and there are always groups needing support there during the school year. First Nations peoples are particularly vulnerable to police abuses, as the #MMIW movement has revealed the complicity of federal, provincial and municipal forces in the death and assault of aboriginal men and women. Both Turtle Island News and the Two-Row Times are good places to keep your eyes and ears peeled for news of activist groups, or people in need of legal defense funds.
This post barely scratches the surface of what we, as allies, can do. But it's a start – and I hope with some of the research legwork done laid out in one spot, people will be encouraged to get out, agitate for reform and ask for strong statements from our city leaders and police services that condemn racist police actions, and express their committment to ending police brutality and abuses. Things have to change. We can't let our brothers and sisters live like this any longer. They've made their demands clear. Will we stand with them?
Unlike most who played Stardew Valley right from launch day, I hadn't been following it's progression over the past four years at all. It came up in my Steam queue as a suggested title, and I bought it on a whim. Looks cute, has farming, supports indie development? Sure, why not.
200 hours later:
what is sleep? what is food?
There's a few reasons why SDV sucked me, and so many others (it's currently 3rd on the Steam top seller list) in. One major one for me is I don't know when to quit sometimes and SDV capitalizes on that – not in a malicious way, but the mechanics of saving are tied directly to going to bed at the end of the day. You fall into your little pixel bed at the end of a long day, get a progress update on your farm's productivity, and the game saves. Before logging out, however, the cheery 6AM music entices you to just check your mail. Maybe see if that chicken hatched? All of the sudden it's 10PM in-game, and another hour of your life is gone.
The simple tasks – farming, brewing, raising livestock, mining for ore and treasures, fishing – are compelling enough to keep players on their own. But it wasn't until I started investing in the community that the game really got its hooks into my tender heart.
I promise this post is not actually about Game of Thrones. But I can't lie, and tell you the season 6 promo trailer wasn't the final straw for this post. In the season 6 promo, we're treated to the usual array of quick cut scenes, including one of two unidentifiable women kissing. One of them looks a lot like Sansa (some on Westeros dot org speculating one of the women is Asha/Yara); of course shortly after this realization, I remembered all the awful brothel scenes from earlier seasons, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume it's something from there. Vomiting forever if both those speculations are correct at the same time. The main thrust is, for a brief moment, I was excited. Sansa! Alive! Maybe her happily ever after with Margery isn't outside of the realm of possibility. But look at tv this year. It's a trick.
(The rest of the post contains spoilers for all 3 seasons of the 100, and season 1 of the Shannara Chronicles)
Laurier Brantford professor Scott Nicholson wants to help his students change the world — one game at a time.
Nicholson is leading the university's innovative Game Design and Development program, unique to the province, which debuted this year at the campus.
Friday marked the official opening of new Brantford Games Network Lab, known as the BGNlab, located on the main floor of the university's Grand River Hall on Colborne Street.
The former credit union building has been transformed into a gamers' paradise.
Students wearing white lab coats welcomed dozens of guests into the lab outfitted with computers, white boards, screens, game tables and a huge collection of board games. It's here that students will work on their gaming projects.
A lounge area, equipped with plug-and-play screens, will be used by students to test games. In an area called the Zone, students will mostly have fun with various gaming consoles and high-end PCs.
The goal of the lab, said Nicholson, is to spark engagement and collaboration between Laurier students, community organizations and local game enthusiasts to develop "made-in-Brantford" solutions to improve lives through games and play.
Read the whole article at the Expositor here.
As you can surmise, the past four months has been something of a blur with starting a new program, full-time work, raising a puppy (yes, he's still here. More on that later!), house work and frivolous stuff like sleeping and eating. It also occurred to me at the Friday launch event that as a part-time student, I'll be part of four or five different cohorts of students, which is a shame because I really like the ones I'm with now. I know I'm in the right place though, because half of my insomnia lately has been on account of having Too Many Ideas, which is a good problem for a creative type person to have. It was the same when I was starting Paucity, and we all know how well that's been going. That's not even sarcasm, it's been going pretty well!
I also want to re-iterate again what a friendly program GDD is to mature students; because it's not solely about programming, or AAA games, I genuinely feel anyone, of any age, with an interest in games and social change, would do very well here. Hint, hint, pretty much all of my twitter friends.
I don't write very many book reviews, for someone who reads so much. My kindle is littered with dozens of samples, and even more samples-that-became-purchases in the last year alone. In the past twelve months, I estimate I read about 20 new books, and probably re-read a dozen more. And yet my last book reviewed was (it's embarrassing how long it took me to search this out): World of Shell and Bone, in 2013.
I've read some really great books in the past year, like Uprooted by Naomi Novik, of Temeraire fame. Seraphina and its sequel by Rachel Hartman. Some really clever fairy tale retellings by T.K. Kingfisher. I've read some books I wasn't enthralled by, despite expecting to love it, like Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. And I've read some truly mediocre stuff, like Virgina Boecker's The Witch Hunter. I didn't review any of them beyond perhaps a star rating, primarily because I was prompted to by Mother Amazon at the end of reading.
When I reviewed WOSAB in 2013, I did it because I was possessed with the need to dissect the failings of a post-apocalyptic/dystopian YA novel – probably borne out of a desire to avoid making any of those same mistakes in my own writing. Or to warn people that a pretty cover can hide a multitude of sins. I want to make explicit that is not the case here. The Fifth Season was a good read, with solid characters and world-building. Given my lukewarm reactions to both the Inheritance trilogy and the Dreamblood duology, I was far more invested in this book.
No explicit spoilers past the cut, but some minor ones.
Every dog is different and nowhere have I seen this more than in trying to keep the puppy we're fostering (NSD Edge) happy and engaged. While it's true that training a service dog means he spends very little time home alone during the work day, in order for me to accomplish … well, anything, he needs to be relatively quiet and occupied.
Labs love chewing. Fortunately, there are a ton of items out there made to keep dogs who love to chew occupied! Unfortunately, whether they will work for your puppy seems to vary wildly according to the dog.
Through a great deal of trial and error, I've gradually found a small niche of toys that seem to be a good combination of durable and interesting enough to keep Edge's attention for longer than .5 seconds. (Note: I'd love to have the amazon links in this post go to a shelter's affiliate program – if you know of one, please send me a note, or leave a comment!)
I was skeptical of the hard plastic, but this ball has withstood daily play for over a month now. The holes are big enough that his snout can't get stuck, but too small for him to get a good grip on the interior ball and puncture it. This has been great for tossing around in the snow for exercise! (I've heard pretty good things about their original toy too, but haven't tried it myself.
Since Edge is being trained as a future service dog, we're limited to the types of toys we can use with him. Anything resembling potential distractions (balls, frisbees, sticks) are out. Bionic balls have been highly recommended by a lot of sides, but we've gotten a lot of use out of this one. You can use kibble or small treats in the toy, or cram a piece of jerky or similar treat in the slot end, which can take some time to wiggle out. After nearly six months, Edge has finally managed to chew one end off but the integrity of the toy overall remains durable enough for some supervised playtime and treat dispensing.
3. Kong Classic
Naturally! We used a smaller puppy grade one till he outgrew it, and now use a regular red classic kong. It's a great way to keep him busy but the prep time and washing can be kind of a pain. I started freezing wet dog food/canned pumpkin mixed with kibble to help with his teething, and it takes him much longer (and is less messy) than not freezing it, but if I forget to put everything together in the morning before work, it's too wide open to last long with just dry kibble in it. I have found some success with pushing bully sticks through the tiny hole, and breaking them off so they end just before the big opening, so he has to spend some time working it out. There's a million sites out there for Kong stuffing ideas and training tricks. And neither the puppy kong nor this one have suffered any serious damage against his powerful jaws, so they are a great value.
I bought this one recently after remembering how taken Edge was with my sister's dog's bone. Unfortunately, one of the knobs was not long for this world – but Kong's reputation isn't just from the indestructible nature of most of their toys, but also because of how they come apart when they do get chewed up. The end came apart in two or three big chunks that were easily taken away, and the rest of the toy is intact. Since most of his toys are meant to keep him busy at my feet while I work, it's easy to stuff this with a little wet dog food or soft treat, and supervise his playtime. I wouldn't recommend this for crate playtime, however.
This is a weird one. The first one we got when Edge was a baby and it lasted forever. You could replace the water bottles inside when they became too crushed, it had a squeaker cap you could move to the new bottle and the velcro was very sturdy when closed.
In fact, the only reason Pengu didn't make it was because I foolishly put a treat he valued more than the toy into the bottle inside.
But the second bottle buddy I bought was destroyed within 48 hours, and had no squeaker cap, and crappy velcro. Caveat emptor, is what I'm saying. Get this one in store rather than online.
6. Bumi
Awesome toy for fetch and tug. Not really a chew toy, but it definitely holds up being carried, tossed, and yanked on. I'd be willing to try other things by this designer – they have some treat dispensing toys that look like they have potential.
Like everything on this list, Crinkits will vary in their indestructibility. Our first one died prematurely when an Irish Water Spaniel did the impossible (so I thought) and bit a chunk out of one end. It took a few months after that, but eventually Edge was able to take more pieces off. Like the kong, it comes apart in big, easy to spot chunks, so there was little danger of him swallowing any. I bought a second one immediately. It feels neat (kind of squishy, which I didn't expect for its durability), has a nice vanilla smell, has a space for a water bottle like the bottle buddy, floats. It does everything! It's great for fetch or tug, but holds up awesome to just hunkering down and gnawing on it. This is just an awesome toy for the money you spend.
There are a few other we use around the house for various purposes (Dog Tornado, Tricky Treat Ball and Tug-A-Jug to keep him from scarfing his meals, for example, or Himalayan chews and elk antlers), with varying success. Soft toys are mostly a wash – every so often I'll get him one at the dollar store, let him tear it's belly open and toss it without too much guilt.
Another way I've found to mitigate the cost while finding durable brands or toys is a Bark Box subscription. For a set monthly price, you get a box of goodies delivered right to your home, and the contents typically exceed the subscription fee from anywhere between 5-20 bucks. Their customer service is also spectacular – when a rawhide treat was one of the items in the box, and I emailed explaining I couldn't give my dog rawhide, they sent me a $10 dollar gift card the same day to purchase something Edge could eat, and asked me to donate the rawhide to a shelter or other dog. Their items are all high quality treats and toys (even if some of them don't last, or they're not Edge's favourite). They also have an online shop where you can purchase items from the boxes, sorted by themes. (For ex: you can see a lot of my faves here, though only the football was one I got from a Barkbox. Still, they know their audience!) Plus, just straight up adorable items that I wouldn't have thought to buy come in from time to time, like Edge's super snazzy ugly christmas sweater:
All this to say, if you want tips on how to keep a puppy from completely destroying your life while interacting with it personally as little as possible, I'm your gal.
(I'm only mostly kidding on the last part.)(Really!)
Gamergate* is dead. Indeed, it's been dead in the water since it began. I'm not going to cover the genesis, or the long arc of harassment and continued misunderstandings about what words like "ethics", "games" or "journalism" mean. That, as you can see, has already been extensively covered.
But like a rapidly transmitted virus – say, the flu – the reach of Gamergate went far beyond the borders of the nation of ManCavelandia to find coverage in the mainstream media from the likes of NPR, PBS or the New York Post. In no particular order, the death of Gamergate:
1) Actually…
No one actually buys the ethics in games journalism defence. It was a slapdash bandaid applied to a bitter ex's angry blog rant about a claim of collusion that is provably false. More than a few minutes spent in any of the forums for pro-GG posters show that a) they're primarily concerned with punishing women who critique the game industry status quo and b) they have no fucking idea what ethics in journalism actually means, since they feel like games coverage shouldn't be critical or negative of a product when that company also advertises with you. No, really.
The smokescreen of ethics probably makes the next point so infuriating.
2) Mainstream media coverage:
In a setting where "fair and balanced" coverage means giving both sides of the story equal play, even if one side is completely ridiculous (looking at you, climate change "debates"), the MSM has been unequivocally critical of Gamergate. New York Times coverage focuses on GG as a movement devoted to silencing feminist critics of games, Forbes ran an article criticizing Intel's decision in pulling advertising based on the campaign, and big name stations like CNN and the BBC covered the Utah State massacre threats because, well, obviously.
In fact, the only thing GG appears to have been remotely successful at with regards to mainstream media is getting Anita Sarkeesian interviewed on everything, including the Colbert report:
(In a cute piece of irony Alanis would love, most GGers seem to believe this is a coop for the movement because Stephen Colbert argues for boobies in video games.)
3) Everyone knows it's about hating women.
Chris Kluwe took basically an enormous verbal dump on Gamergate hydra-like head, and nothing happened. (He made a few people cry, maybe.) Nerd idols like Joss Whedon, Wil Wheaton and Greg Rucka have all spoken against the toxic nature of the movement. And yet, it's Anita Sarkeesian, Felicia Day, Zoe Quinn, Brianna Wu – all relative small potatoes, until they got national attention for being targets, anyway – were the ones threatened. Those threats were widely reported on, which led to a number of reporters looking into men who have criticized GG, and why they weren't threatened. Considering this is the media that was hesitant to talk about the Isla Vista shooter's misogyny, don't you think that's a little telling?
4) Games are changing.
Anita covers it a bit in her talk, but the truth is that interdisciplinary programs are gaining ground in universities and colleges, and many media labs and incubators have computer scientists who are artists as well, visual artists who can code, writers who can market. This isn't just meant to double-dip and save money, but rather reflect the flexibility and diversity of the world in the people who make games, so that games can grow beyond the linear narrative structures and kill-to-win models that dominate a lot of major game studios' portfolios. Sandbox games like Animal Crossing, Tomodachi Life, the Sims, and Fantasy Life are immensely popular, entertaining and fun. You can't beat them them. The only way to win is the satisfaction of enjoying the game while playing it.
What's more, you get games like Fold it, where the satisfaction and enjoyment from the game can also be derived from the sense of purpose that succeeding has applicable, real-life benefits. Check out the latest puzzle, for example, where players need to find a way to bypass a cap on the ebola virus that prevents a cure from binding before the virus can bind to a human host. Terrified of ebola? Be the actual change here.
Gamification has gotten a bad rap because it's used so poorly in most cases. rewards based systems only work so long as the reward is high enough value for you to press through doing your homework, or chores, or job. But gamification done well broadens the scope and arena of gaming to be pretty much limitless, which is terrifying for Gamergate. How can it be a special club if everyone enjoys it?
*not to be confused with gamergates, or reproductively viable worker ants.


text:
Hello All!
It's been awhile since I
have posted. Too tell the truth,
I've just been enjoying the summer too much.
But here's an image that I printed yesterday for
an art fair I will be in tomorrow . And I want
to share its infinite joy…
Sunnyside Up
to see more in series go to Splash
"In the midst of winter, I finally learned that
there was in me an invincible summer."
Albert Camus
here I wait
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Satisfied II
When I originally posted Satisfied,
I felt that the series of three images spoke
for itself. Yet when Tarek of Cairo penned these
words oceans away, they expressed the pleasure so well
that a second edition was warranted.
Thank you Tarek!
find it
pick it
drooling juice
wanting heart
snatch it
squash it
making today
peachy tart
before you pick me
strip me bare
take notice
be aware
of the bounty
of what's there
Two days ago my children and I tried
to go peach picking. All excited, we found our
way to the farm. When we arrived, we approached
a young man working at the stand stocked with baskets
of peaches and nectarines for sale. "We'd like to go picking," I said.
"No picking today," he replied with a blank stare. Scanning the rows and rows
of peach trees surrounding us, I said "what do you mean?"
"Too much picking last weekend," he replied,
"no more until Friday."
Dejected, I grabbed my grandson's hand and lead him over to a tree
filled with fruit where I took this picture. "But Grammy, why
can't we pick them?" he asked over and over.
""We just have to wait." I said.
"All we can do it look."
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
one step
then two
like man
on moon
surfing soon
Sometimes it feels like we are stuck in the sand, frozen in time.
We see where we want to go, hear it, can even smell it.
But we can't move. We're paralyzed by the thought
that we might make the wrong move. This
alligator reminds me that there is
no such thing. One step, the
slightest movement is
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
rivers appear
there's no fear
we glide on glass
there's no past
dreams come true
you glide with me
I with you
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
there's you
way up there
apple green
taking your time
on the scene
there's me
way down there
already red
about to fall
on my head
This summer I planted my first
real vegetable garden, mostly of
tomatoes. It's been so exciting to
watch the plants thrive to the point
where I had to erect a trellis to
support the long vines laden with
As I start to pick the first batch,
I notice that those lower on
the vine are ripening much earlier.
It prompted me to reflect on how
we all grow at our own pace.
Some of us are early bloomers,
willing to take risks, to step out
and make mistakes, learn from experience.
Others take longer to mature, are more
cautious, not so willing to try new things.
In relationships, it can be challenging when
we learn and grow at a different rate than
our loved ones. In recovery, it can be
lonely while we are waiting for others to
catch on and frightening to think that
perhaps, it will never happen. That
they will never join us on our journey.
I wish I had some wisdom to share on
this dilemma….but I'm at a loss here.
If anyone out there does, I'd love to
hear from you…
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
How many of us are waiting for our "train" to come in?
How long have we been holding onto something hoping it will
materialize. How patient have we been with ourselves and the Universe?
These are questions I ask myself these days as I work things through,
Usually I come up with the same answer. Be patient, keep waiting.
But patience is so hard for me, I whine like a child.
When I'm done whining, I re-evaluate what it is
I'm waiting for. Is it here already and I don't
even see it? Am I asking for the right
thing? Finally, I ask myself
How important is it?
And that's where I
seem to find my
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
first sight
swath of green
nothing more
in between
time turns
emotions fly
windows close
walls arise
divided still
peeping thru
fencing now
Setting boundaries is vital to recovery.
For me, it was a revolutionary idea and one of the most difficult
skills to learn. And once I finally did, it was even harder to maintain them,
to keep them sturdy and solid. It seems that when we adopt new behavior we go from one
extreme to the other. So initially, those boundaries were walls with no windows, no way to
look outside. As I've become more comfortable setting limits in old relationships as well as new,
I notice that my walls have become more like beach fencing, shielding me
yet providing lots of openings so I can see others
and others can still see me.
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
Love IX
I blend in
yet ask you
to see me
I chime in
yet ask you
to hear me
I stay in
yet ask you
to save me
I leap out
yet ask you
to love me
We all have our contradictions.
Aspects of our personality that are at odds with one another.
It's often difficult to reconcile those parts of ourselves that don't seem to get along;
that don't make sense to us or those around us, especially our loved ones. That's where
we often get in trouble. It's difficult to accept that some things are simply just as they are,
regardless of what we think is logical. The sooner we can let go of what
we think "should be", the sooner we can love ourselves
and others, warts and all.
visit Love to see all in this series
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
stretching high
fans of green
I'm aquatic
stand out
don't be
I'm not Lily
nor of
the West
take a guess
rather giggle
than scream
I jest
Through recovery, I've learned how important it is
to have fun even when stressed. In the past, I became so fixated on solving a problem
that I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, certainly couldn't imagine enjoying anything until the problem was solved.
It was just another way that I was paralyzed by fear. Recently, I heard this saying: "move a muscle, change a thought."
If I could find a way to replace my negative thoughts with positive energy
like gazing at this image and writing this little ditty, perhaps I could change my course.
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission
how lavender skies
stretch across
your dreams
how sadness
is soothed
by grape and
raspberry streams
how beach plums
turn white
just before
talk to me
whisper clear
your visions
your hopes
let me hear
©Meryl Spiegel 2012–All rights reserved–No reproduction without permission