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Tara Pastuszek 91: Passion on the High Seas
By Gary Frank
As far as she's concerned, Tara Pastuszek has the perfect career.
"I have no problem getting up for the day knowing I have to cook," says Pastuszek, a marine chef on the research vessel Point Sur for Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in California. "It's something I absolutely love. It allows me to be creative, and I think sustenance is the key to everybody's life."
Pastuszek, who majored in communications, had her sights set on a career in broadcast media when she entered IC.
"After college, I realized I wanted to work and travel and not be tied down to an office, so I pursued a whole different life than television and radio," she says. "I loved what I learned in school; I just ended up applying it differently."
For most of the decade after she graduated Pastuszek worked in a variety of roles for Kinko's Inc. She realized she was tired of the business world so she left Kinko's on a self-imposed sabbatical. She cooked a lot and spent time traveling through the South while contemplating her next career move. Eventually, she decided to pursue her longtime dream of being a chef and spent over five years working in a variety of restaurants on the eastern shore of Delaware. Two years ago, she answered an ad for a relief cook aboard a vessel owned by the University of Delaware. That opportunity led to a full-time position on the vessel in California, owned by the National Science Foundation.
"Life should be well-spiced and peppered with passion," she writes on her website, The Well Spiced Life. "I am always thinking about what to create next. What flavor combination is next, what I can taste, feel, chop, smell, mince, roast, saute, marinate, bake, steam, slice, reduce, sear, and grill next for someone to experience. It sure beats the way I used to live."

subset: commoncrawl


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thank you for being such a great daddy. for being so fun and so funny. for making me laugh and for looking after me. thank you for going to work everyday and working hard, even though i know you don't really like it and you want to be at home with us or out and playing on slides and in ball pools too. thanks for always watching cartoons with me even though i know you don't like charlie or the numbers. but we like grampy rabbit because he talks loud like chinese people and everyone in hong kong and it makes us laugh.
thank you for being nice to me while we were in hong kong and mummy was being a mardybum. even though i know we were all hot and you were probably grumpy on the inside too. you were still nice and didn't let the grumpiness out like mummy did.
i love you lots. even though i like to claw at your face and poke your eyes. i do it out of love.


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Foreign Affairs urges Canadians to be vigilant in Europe
Published in The Toronto Star, October, 2010.
PARIS—Despite sober warnings advising Canadian and U.S. travellers to be vigilant against potential terror threats in Europe, the only visible difference at the French capital's most popular all-night cultural event were armed soldiers patrolling Parisian landmarks.
On Sunday, the Foreign Affairs Department in Ottawa said it was closely monitoring the security situation in Europe.
It wasn't just police and protesters who clashed at the G20 summit in late June.
Offices, lunch rooms, cafés and cyberspace have overheated with passionate debate as Torontonians engage in a G20 post-mortem.
And friends who have never talked politics are revealing their allegiances, causing rifts in relationships for some, and forging new friendships for others, as they discuss the weekend's protests and mass arrests.
Earth Day Celebrates 40 years of advocacy and education
Published in The Toronto Star, April, 2010.
Inside the hallowed halls of academia resides a potent mix of youthful idealism, unbridled energy, and a dash of willful defiance.
It's where young people begin to challenge the world they live in, ask questions, and, if unsatisfied with the answers, mobilize to voice their discontent.
For the late Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, the university campus was the natural setting from which to raise awareness and promote Earth Day's inaugural debut, on this day in 1970.
The Earth Day founder would tap into the youthful zeal of enlightened students who would fan out and relay the message of conservation and environmental education. More than 20 million Americans would take part, making the first Earth Day the largest, organized citizen demonstration in U.S. history. It would also be credited for launching the modern environmental movement we know today.
Today, student environmental activists have evolved into a more sophisticated and savvier lot than previous generations, firing on a different set of cylinders altogether.
Toronto Sun, Sun Media papers, April, 2009.
Canadian expat Tom Mulholland has stocked the pantry in his Mexico City home full of canned goods, pasta and jugs of water.
Surgical masks are in short supply but the engineer has half a case that should last his family and employees for a week.
Toronto-native and transplant John Gardner has canceled business luncheon meetings and shuttered his family in their Mexican home, shunning the beautiful weather and public gatherings. And Ottawa-native and teacher recruiter Guy Courchesne, meanwhile, is working in an empty building after the government closed all schools and universities until May 6.
Canadian doctor treating H1N1 in Mexico City
Toronto Sun, Sun Media papers, April, 2009
A Canadian doctor living at the heart of the influenza outbreak in Mexico has been working 14-hour days treating nervous patients, two of whom tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
For the past two weeks, Dr. Michael Haney, 34, of Montreal has been working alongside his doctor-wife at a private clinic in Mexico City from 7 a. m. to 9 p. m., mostly reassuring frightened parents with sniffling kids they'll be fine, he said.
McCain's tears of disappointment
Published in The Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers, Nov. 5, 2008.
Phoenix, Ariz – Americans gave Sen. John McCain the pink slip last night.
Much like the 760,000 Americans who lost their jobs this year in an economic fallout the likes of which this country hasn't seen since the Great Depression, Americans told the 72-year-old Arizona senator he and the GOP have become redundant.
In his speech on the lawn in of the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, McCain offered his congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama, and mentioned the passing of his grandmother as a tragedy at an historic time. He also conceded Obama's sound victory.
"We've come to the end of a long journey. And the
American people have spoken, and spoken clearly," McCain said, his face tired
and wan.
Canucks split on vote
McCain struggling to hold on to narrow lead in his traditionally Republican state
Published in The Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers, November, 2008.
Phoenix., Ariz – Paul Dziedzic is the envy of many Canadians.
Tomorrow, the dual U.S.-Canadian citizen will cast a vote in one of the most historic political events of our time, an opportunity coveted by his envious Canuck cousins and American election junkies all over the world.
Dziedzic is hoping his vote for Sen. John McCain will help bring him back from the brink of a projected defeat, in what's turned out to be a battle to the finish, even in the Arizona senator's home state.
"I'm a steadfast
Republican," Dziedzic said in his sprawling, southwestern home in Phoenix. "But
I don't hold out a lot of hope."
Unlikely Quebec Republican
Published in The Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers, November, 2008.
Phoenix – Hockey talk in Canada is rarely lost in translation, former Montreal Canadien Claude Lemieux said.
Oftentimes, he'll talk sports with his friends back in Canada and they'll both be on the same page, the current Phoenix resident and real estate developer said. But when it comes to politics, Lemieux is a bit of a "maverick" – if you will – compared to the Quebec sensibility. He's a hard and fast Republican.
"They'll say, 'how can we agree on everything else with hockey, but disagree on everything with politics?" Lemieux said. "I say I've always liked to be different from everyone else."
Published in the Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers, January, 2009
Danielle Lafond has what's called an "ethnically ambiguous" face.
Her features are inscrutable, defying any tidy categorization of race or ethnicity.
Her big chocolate-brown eyes are deep-set and the arch of her brow high. Her skin is a deep shade of olive, her hair black and straight, and her nose small and pert.
She's been mistaken for Mexican, aboriginal and Caucasian — depending on where she is or who's addressing her. Lafond, 30, is half Chinese and half French-Canadian but like U.S. president-elect Barack Obama, who is largely referred to as simply black by both media and himself, she identifies with her more visible half — her Asian heritage.
Published in The Toronto Star, September, 2009.
Lately, cyclist Janet Irvine has noticed drivers are more willing to give her the right-of-way.
Strangers are urging Jake Williams, a bike courier, to be careful on the streets.
And Nick Ganas, 16, has finally shaken off that adolescent armour of invincibility and is wearing his bike helmet.
Since Monday night's confrontation that led to the death of courier Darcy Allan Sheppard and the downfall of former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, it seems an atmosphere of détente has descended upon the mean streets of Toronto.
Published in the Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers May, 2009.
I was beaten, bloodied and bruised in the Toronto Sun newsroom yesterday.
As the lone commuter cyclist in a heated debate with a handful of reporters and editors, I dodged attacks on bad biking etiquette with some defensive verbal driving, and swerved around openly hostile attacks about my fellow two-wheeled kin.
The myth of water abundance in Canada
Published in The Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers, July, 2008.
Water is set to become this
century's oil.
World leaders have been bellicose about the spectre of water wars and global shortages. The UN says one-third of the world's population live in water-stressed countries now and, by 2025, that's expected to rise to two-thirds.
Underground pipelines are being built to move, not oil, but water. Canadians, meanwhile, are the second largest water user per capita after the U.S.
But we can afford it, we're water-rich. Or are we? As we celebrate Canada Day this week, Sun Media takes a look at a national heritage Canadians jealously guard, but don't fully understand.
Bottled water comes at a hefty price
Published in the Toronto Sun and Sun Media family, July, 2007
GUELPH, Ont. — Don Balanoff Sr.'s 86 years of life have been punctuated by water wars.
When he was in his late teens, Balanoff fought the enemy on treacherous seas during World War II. Water was indeed everywhere but, as the saying goes, not a drop was there to drink or spare.
Officers were told to use their ration of water — one gallon a day — sparingly, he said.
Lessons were learned the hard way. After storing his ration in his locker, he would return to find it empty.
Published in The Toronto Sun and Sun Media, July, 2008.
What's happening in the foothills of Alberta is symptomatic of a larger scenario playing out in the energy-rich capital of Canada: Alberta is oil rich, but becoming increasingly water poor.
To produce one barrel of oil from the oilsands, requires between two and 4.5barrels of water.
Duelling demands are beginning to emerge, and it appears water is losing, and fast.
Plugging Canada's drain
Published in The Toronto Sun, Sun Media papers, July, 2008.
In the middle of the Arizona desert, entrepreneurs are planning to build a gargantuan water park.
The specs are ambitious: Called Waveyard, the 45-hectare water park is expected to be completed by 2010 and will have the largest man-made, recirculating white water river in the world, a scuba lagoon, snorkelling, kayaking, and surf-sized, four-metre waves.
Meanwhile, the U.S. announced last year that 36 states face water shortages in the next four years.
It's this kind of immoderate squandering in the U.S. that makes them the largest per capita users of water in the world, water advocates say. And it's why Canada should close the door should the U.S. come knocking for our water, they add.
Published in Sun Media, July, 2008.
This year marks the facility's 40th anniversary of scientists working quietly in northern Ontario, four hours east
of Winnipeg, manipulating lakes to mimic the impacts of human activity. They have government permission to
add phosphates, mercury and acid into the 58 lakes in the area -- as long as it doesn't pose a threat to
human health -- in an effort to solve some of the country's greatest aquatic ailments, like algae blooms, fish
kills and the effects of acid rain.
Published in the Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers January, 2009.
President Barack Obama has the weight of the world on his shoulders -- literally.
After taking the oath of office this week to become the most powerful man in the free world, Obama faces the Herculean task of turning the planet around from its current trajectory and saving the world.
At least that's what scientists and environmentalists are hoping for after eight years of inaction and complacency by the Bush administration.
Food shortage and climate change
Toronto Sun, Sun Media papers, October, 2007.
The global food shortage that has sparked bloody riots around the world serves as another grim reminder of how international crises are intimately tied to the state of the planet.
Last year, this column devoted a
page to Darfur that explained how the humanitarian crisis that has killed
200,000 people and displaced another 2.2 million has its roots not in a web of
politics, but in an "ecological crisis" described by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Smartest city in Canada
Published in the Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers March, 2009.
KINGSTON, ONT. -- Folk here sure are clever.
Residents in this waterfront city outsmart the rest of Canada, with more PhD holders per capita than any other major Canadian city, according to Statistics Canada figures and some number crunching by Sun Media.
In a city of 152,360 people, 2,545 hold earned doctorates -- that means 1.67% of the population holds a PhD and the prefix Dr. to their name, triple the national average of 0.56%.
Toronto Sun, Sun Media papers, March, 2009.
LONDON, Ont. — Bill Corfield is among Canada's most caring Canadians and resides in one of the country's most caring cities.
He lives here where nearly one in two residents over the age of 15 volunteered in 2004.
Corfield, 88, was the recipient of the Governor General's Caring Canadians Award in 2000 for devoting 50 years of community service, which manifests itself in pockets of the city where he's left an indelible, yet anonymous, mark.
Published in the Toronto Sun and Sun Media papers March, 2009.
People living in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones, especially when the house is made entirely of empty embalming fluid bottles.
On the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake in Boswell, B.C., funeral director David H. Brown recycled 500,000 such vessels weighing 250 tonnes to build a 1,200 sq.-ft home.
When it's cold, they put the caps back on the bottles for insulation, his son Eldon Brown quips.


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This is the last day to request this month's free SSRS report, Package Home Page, so make sure to send an email to Info at Enhansoft.
Package Home Page is designed to mimic the Package Home Page within the Configuration Manager console with one key difference. Our report will show all packages including those within any folders, so you don't have to look any further for more details.


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Every few years, a doomsday scenario or prophecy comes along touting the end of the world as we know it. Religious leaders gather their devoted to far away compounds while pseudoscience types scare the world with their convictions that this thing or that points to the apocalypse. So far, they've all been wrong. Dates have come and gone. Nothing happens. Ever. Yet the devoted continue their devotion.
Of course, who's to say that next time it won't be true? Right? Can you ever be sure that one scenario or another is actually wrong? What if next time, the end of the world is predicted not by us but someone from the future, from a different dimension? What if the only way to save ourselves was to walk through a portal to an alien world that supposedly is much like our own. Or, so "they" say, they peeps on the other side. Consider by Kristy Acevedo, another Twitter Writing Challenge peer of mine, explores exactly that scenario.
The Story
Consider follows Alexandra, a teenager that's a little different than most. She easily becomes anxious about the smallest things and has to suppress her anxiety with medication just to function. When her train home one evening suddenly stops in the middle of nowhere and a strange portal appears out of thin air not far from them, her life is about to switch into overdrive in ways she can't possibly predict, even in her own anxiety-filled mind. Before long, reports start trickling in about something unexpected taking place around the world. Strange portals, just like the one by her train, have appeared and a hologram has delivered a message predicting that a comet will crash into Earth in six months time. It's the end of the world. The only for humanity to save themselves is to enter the portals in their respective regions and escape to the perfect world on the other side. Humanity needs to carefully consider their choice. Stay and face certain death or choose life by walking through the portal.
The scientists and governments of the world quickly refute the claim. No asteroids have been detected. Carry on with your lives and try to ignore the intrusion, they say. This is, of course, easier said than done. People carefully consider the alternatives and eventually, with the permission of the UN and governments around the world, go through the portals, hoping for a better life. Religious communities seem divided, with some of Alex's closest friends being caught between what their families and churches believes and what the rest of the world believes.
For Alex, all of this causes a great deal of anxiety. Not only are her friends of varying opinions about what to do but she's also torn between what those close to her feels and her loyalties to her immediate family. Her father in particular becomes more and more obsessed with preparing for the end, refusing to even consider that the portals and the alleged threat is real. The government of the United States is perfectly capable of taking care of them, he thinks.
Everything changes when NASA detects the asteroid, as predicted by the holograms. They confirm it is indeed on a collision course with earth and will strike on the date predicted. They set out to try to change destiny with a variety of solutions that, if successful, hopefully will save the earth. The dilemma: the result won't be known until its almost too late. Those that wait until the results are know may not be able to make it through a portal in time, should they want to at that point.
Once again, Alex finds herself in the middle of a sea of opinions, from those that want to leave immediately vs those that have faith in the government or other forces and those that just simply won't leave…yet. As the exodus through the portals continues, she finds herself more and more at odds with her own family and those around her, trying to figure out what to do next and what's even the right thing to do.
My Thoughts
I started reading Consider without really knowing anything about the book beyond that it's a sci-fi young adult book. I wasn't at all sure what to expect. However, once I started reading Consider it wasn't long before I was completely hooked. At first I was a little worried that the six months would drag out. It is, after all, quite a bit of time to talk about. Lots of things can happen and I could see a story going sideways with too much detail about what's going on.
Fortunately, Consider is nothing like that. It's faced paced, flying through the six months at an appropriate pace, giving the reader enough of what's going on to want to keep going but without getting bogged down in the minutia of the moment. In fact, each chapter introduces a new revelation by the holograms and usually some kind of twist or turn in the story, something that in itself kept my turning the page.
One other thing that really sticks out is Alex. From the very beginning, the reader is given a front row seat to her emotional struggles with her own mind and how it affects her and her relationship with those around her. We get to follow her through a lot of ups and downs and I can't help but feel that a younger audience will be able to identify with her relationships and her struggles on a variety of levels.
Alex is not the only character that we see a lot of. If her life is filled with anxiety and emotional roller coasters, we also get a view into the life of her dad, who is convinced that everyone just need to stick together. We find that her brother is hiding a secret that his family doesn't know about, a secret that many today also keep for fear of what others will think. We meet one of her closest friends from a religious family that fights her own battles between what her family and her religious community feels is right and the live she wants to lead. While the emotional state of Alex is what is closest to the reader, the struggles of all the other characters are also well developed and gives you sense of what they are going through as the six months draw to a close. Really, in general, the author I think does a great job exposing the characters of the story to a variety of social situations that I imagine many readers of Consider also find themselves in.
Although the story is clearly a bit speculative sci-fi, there's not an overload of scientific explanations, just enough to make sense of what's going on. Considering that it's geared towards the YA crowd, this makes sense. No need to overload on the science to make a good story. The sci-fi is more of the background setting while the relationships between the characters are displayed front and center.
Final Verdict
Ok, so here's the thing. For you, there's nothing to consider. You should definitely read this book. Why? Because when you read the last paragraph and the last sentence, you'll immediately be sending a DM or email to the author wondering why the sequel isn't out yet. It really is an enjoyable piece of fiction, especially if you're at all interested in the end of the world, the apocalypse and other alternative endings to humanity as we know it, sprinkled with a bit of human drama. Consider is well worth your time.
Consider can be purchased where books are sold as well as online through Google Play and Amazon.
The Holo Series
Juvenile Fiction
April 1, 2016
As if 17-year-old Alexandra Lucas' anxiety disorder isn't enough, mysterious holograms suddenly appear, heralding the end of the world. They bring an ultimatum: heed the warning and step through a portal-like vertex to safety, or stay and be destroyed by a comet that is on a collision course with Earth. How's that for senior year stress? The holograms, claiming to be humans from the future, bring the promise of safety. But without the ability to verify their story, Alex is forced to consider what is best for her friends, her family, and herself. To stay or to go. A decision must be made. With the deadline of the holograms' prophecy fast approaching, Alex feels as though she is living on a ticking time bomb, until she discovers it is much, much worse.


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Intermediate Partnerships On-Demand Webinar
This is the second of a three-part webinar about the taxation of business partnerships. In this session, we will review the two types of tax bases concerning partnerships (inside and outside), the treatment of contributions and distributions such as property or cash, as well as the treatment of vehicles used in the partnership, whether it was used for business or personal journeys. You'll end the webinar by completing a more complex partnership return that will confirm you know how to report gains, losses, deductions, etc., from the operation of a partnership.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
This webinar includes the presentation slides, exam questions, live webinar recording with review questions, and Attendee Top Questions. CPE is issued after exam is successfully completed.
To receive credit for this on-demand webinar, you must make at least one attempt to answer each of the review questions included with the webinar video. You also must successfully pass the course exam with a score of 70% or better.
The course and exam will expire one year from the date of purchase.
Because this is an online education offering, it is nonrefundable.


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DOVER — On a poor shooting night, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys basketball team still fought hard against a hard-nosed Bishop Brady squad, and nearly pulled out a victory in overtime.
Unfortunately for the Saints the Green Giants (7-4) edged them, 48-44, in Division II play on Monday.
"I don't think we got awful shots; I think we took bad shots during stretches," St. Thomas coach Pat Quinn said. "We're young and we're trying to figure how to win every night, and this was a night where we didn't shoot the ball well."
After missing two free throws at the end of regulation that would have won the game, Bishop Brady's senior captain, Matt Yvars, came out strong in overtime, scoring five of his team's nine points, including the dagger 3-pointer that put the Green Giants up 46-41 with 40 seconds to play.
The Saints (4-5) did not quit, and on the next possession senior co-captain Lucas Gabriel, who was in foul trouble all night, hit a corner three to cut the lead to 46-44. St. Thomas gave a foul and junior Stephen Desmarais made both free throws to finally put a wild game on ice.
After the game, Yvars was excited about pulling out the win.
"I was not missing that shot, not after missing those two free throws," Yvars said. "My teammates said just keep your head up, and my teammates picked me up."
The Saints had given up a lead early in the game and had to fight and claw their way back into it for all of the second quarter, and trailed 25-22 at halftime.
St. Thomas did not take its first lead in the second half until junior Jon Nartiff anticipated a pass from Brady's standout freshman guard, Jourdain Bell, who had 16 points to lead the Green Giants, and went coast to coast, was fouled on his layup and converted a three-point play.
The game was tied after three quarters at 33 apiece and the fourth quarter saw both sides lock down defensively. A 3-pointer from Stephen Desmarais, who also had 16 points in the game, gave Brady the lead at 36-33, and was the quarter's first score after more than two minutes without a basket from either team.
After a free throw put the Giants ahead by four with five minutes to play, Saints senior co-captain Chris Haaser grabbed his own miss not once but twice, and put it back in to cut the deficit to two. Two minutes later Nartiff, who led St. Thomas with 17 points, dropped a floater in the lane to tie the game 37-37.
"We were happy with the looks we got; we just got to make them," Nartiff said.
With 2:40 to play, Bell made two free throws to put the Green Giants back up by two. On the next possession Kahr, who struggled to find his shot all night, drove to the hoop and was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game once again at 39.
St. Thomas had the ball in a tie game with 11 seconds remaining, but Nartiff's jump shot would not fall. Brady had one more possession when Yvars was fouled and missed both free throws, sending the game to overtime.
"We good solid defense. We gave up some contested threes," Bishop Brady coach Mark Yeaton said. "They're a good shooting team and they didn't shoot well tonight."
St. Thomas is back in action tonight when it heads to Wolfeboro to take on Kingswood.
St. Thomas boys fall to Bishop Brady in OT
DOVER — On a poor shooting night, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys basketball team still fought hard against a hard-nosed Bishop Brady squad, and nearly pulled out a victory in overtime.


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Illustration: Sophie Brampton
Armpit hair is all the rage—seriously. In the last year, alone, almost 25% of millennial women have decided to stop shaving their pits. Of course, the au naturale look has always been in for feminists. But is that why chicks are no longer shaving? I've written a lot about the commodification of feminism, particularly in the fashion industry. But we've also seen an authentic streak of female empowerment surge through high fashion with photographers like Petra Collins and Harley Weir booking top dollar gigs, photographing body positive models from Barbie Nox to Alexandra Marzella. It's no doubt that seeing underarm hair in fashion magazines and on Instagram has encouraged other girls to stop using Nair (or whatever). There's also the fact that Donald Trump is our President, and being a woman becomes scarier and scarier everyday. So, if not shaving your armpits feels like a way to reclaim your space, body or voice in a misogynistic regime, then, why the fuck not? Both of those ideas are powerful, and show the sudden growth (get it?) of armpit hair on twenty-something women as dissident and rebellious. And though I love to think of my fellow sisters as subversive anti-patriarchy soldiers, I can't help but be a little hesitant. I mean, I don't want to be a perpetual pessimist, but what if girls have just finally gotten sick of razor burn?
I know I've always hated shaving everything, especially my pits. I avoid it at all costs, even during the summer, and one of the only long-term benefits of being in a long-term relationship, is the ability to completely ignore what I thought were previously vital hygiene routines, but were really just forced notions of what I thought would make me attractive to the opposite sex (i.e. shaving your legs and armpits). I don't even think I own a razor right now. And sure, I definitely hate Trump and consider myself a serious feminist. But you know what I hate more? Brands using feminism to try to sell me shit. Razor companies have always been the worst, but especially in the last few years—since Beyoncé embraced feminism and giant retail companies realized they could capitalize on women's desperation to 1. fight back, and 2. fit in. Bottom line: feminism isn't feminism if it reinforces the capitalist agenda. And it's definitely not feminism if it does so while reinforcing pointless and archaic beauty standards like, you're only pretty if you have hairless pits. Still, I'm not sure having hairy ones is.
Don't get me wrong—I love the fact that women are no longer acquiescing to these stupid standards. But is it really some sort of feminist statement? Or is it because we hate shaving, and never wanted to do it to begin with? Now that feminism is trending (even more than armpit hair), it feels like the easy excuse. Especially when, in reality, women never would've started shaving had we not been overtly or inadvertently forced. When I got my first hot pink razor at the ripe old age of 13, I had long accepted shaving as a part of what would become my foray into womanhood. But I never really understood it. And even more than that, I never really cared. I just always had a deep understanding that everyone else did. So, when my cousin told me she shaved, I started—even though I only had two blonde hairs. And as quickly as I leapt into what I thought was womanhood, I was over it—and went back to just stuffing my bra.
But that's the thing—I wasn't doing it as some sort of bold political act. I did it, because I didn't want to shave. And I can't logically think of one woman who really, truly does. I mean, who would? It sucks, it's annoying, and then it can hurt. Though, that's beside the point. The only reason women do it, is because we've been trained to think we should, and even then, most only do it when they're going to be naked or in a tank top.
So, what does it mean that a bunch of us have stopped? That there are more feminists now than there were three years ago? Probably, but I don't think that's the answer. I'm sure Trump helps, as does the fact that hairy pits have been showcased in Vogue. More than anything, though, I think women are finally brave enough to do what they want. And maybe that's more feminist than hairy arms.


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A rat is an elder brother of a mouse and one of the most ancient neighbours of a man. Norway and black rat and ancestors of decorative pets are widespread in various parts of the world. Coat pattern varies depending on rat`s breed. Albino rats possess homogeneous coat pattern. Rats can be black, blue, chocolate and other colours.
Decorative variations of rats have been developed for keeping in a flat. Enthusiastic breeders are passionate about linebreed and constantly increase a diversity of rats` coat patterns. Thanks to unpretentiousness and adaptability a rat can be easily kept as a pet whereas mental abilities of rats are able to surprise you as these animals are quite clever, perfectly orient themselves in space and take well to training. Besides, they quickly get used to a master and become domestic as cats.
It`s better to keep rats in spacious mesh cages consisting of several floors and having climbing frames and various game accessories. Stoneware jug, box made of durable cardboard or special house bought in a shop can serve as a house for sleeping which should be necessarily placed in a cage. Considering that rats are actively interested in the outside world, quite cheerful and playful it`s advisable to provide hammocks, ropes, cloths and wheels of all kinds. When keeping only one rat you have to pay it considerable attention. For that reason if you have lack of time it will be more fun if you acquire two rats.
An automatic drinking cup for gnawing animals, a steady feeder or hanging water troughs and a litter box are certainly should be present in a cage. As a litter it`s recommended to use wood chips, compressed sawdust or clean paper. Nowadays pet shops offer a wide range of litter. Rat`s dwelling should be placed away from draught and sources of heat as overheat is death-defying for rats. Put a special bath in a cage as many rats love water. A pet will splash there with pleasure. Don`t forget that rats are nocturnal animals. If you place a cage in a bedroom noise caused by playing of rats will disturb you.
Rats have not so diverse coat pattern as mice but thanks to persistence of breeders their variety is constantly increased. Many names of coat pattern and colouring are common for all decorative gnawing animals. Considering type of fur there are distinguished standard rats, rex with wavy fur and moustache, satin rats possessing glossy fur and sphinx.


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Indian BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) is an ambitious programme of the Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as a part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's 'Digital India' plan. The programme aims at making available job opportunities to youths in semi-urban areas.
"We are getting necessary approvals from various agencies and also internally to rollout the tender later this month," the official told ET.
The DeitY also needs approval from the Election Commission as elections have been announced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry.
The government had sought 'expressions of interest' (EoI) last year for the Rs 493-crore scheme and as many as 78 companies have shown interest in setting up BPO operations at 190 locations across the country, contributing to 125,000 seats. This compares with the 48,300 seats on offer spread across all states, with employees working three shifts, directly employing some 144,900 individuals in tier-III and IV cities.
The official, however, declined to name the firms but said that the 78 companies also include non-BPO service providers as they can also go for a captive unit as per the prescribed norms. Companies such as Wipro, Genpact, Infosys, Aegis, First Source, WNS, EXL Services, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies, Hinduja Global Solutions and Aditya Birla Minacs are top BPO operators in India.
The bidder, according to rules, should have achieved a minimum average annual turnover of Rs 5 crore during last three fiscal years and must be a registered entity in India under the Companies Act of 1956 or the 2013 amended Act.
The government has allocated seats in each state as per 2011 census ratio. Uttar Pradesh will have a maximum number of job openings with 8,800 BPO seats, followed by Bihar with 4,600 seats.
The scheme will cover a capital cost for networking equipment, computing devices, servers with OS, software and hardware licensing and data storage systems for companies operating in the $143-billion strong Indian IT-BPO industry.
US-based contact centre technology provider Avaya has also shown interest in partnering with the government in the rural BPO scheme and is willing to offer cost-effective cloud-based solutions for call centres in tier- III and IV locations.


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Suggested Grades: 3-12 MTA: Allyson Comstock – Antarctica: Micro: A Disappearing Continent
Join AEIVA on a 30-minute tour featuring AEIVA Exhibitions customized to your group and followed by a hands-on activity with a teaching artist. Each tour can feature interactive...
Suggested Grades: 3-12 MTA: Eclipse of the Hudson River School - Selections from the Koleszar Collection
Join AEIVA on a 30-minute tour featuring AEIVA Exhibitions customized to your group and followed by a hands-on activity with a teaching artist. Each tour can feature interactive...
UAB Institute for Arts in Medicine and Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater Present Raising Our Voices
Artistic Co-Directors: Suzanne Costello and Stuart Pimsler Stories of breast cancer told through movement, music and voice. Living with cancer can prove isolating for patients, caregivers, and loved...
MTA: Eric Essix and Friends
Birmingham's own Eric Essix is not only a jazz legend but a historian. His music tells a story and teaches us about the lives of those that came...
Panel Discussion Communicating Climate Change: Art, Action, and Antarctica
Please join us for a panel discussion on climate change featuring Dr. James B. McClintock, Endowed University Professor of Polar and Marine Biology, UAB; Dr. Julie G. Price, Assistant...
Aeolians of Oakwood University
In honor of Black History Month, the ASC welcomes the Aeolians of Oakwood University. The Aeolians of Oakwood University were originally organized in 1946 by the late...
Lunch and Learn The Chieftains
Bring your lunch and spend the hour learning from local Celtic musicians about the history and tradition of Celtic music in the South.
ArtPlay Presents President's Day Mini-Camp
Schools Out! So spend the day creating and exploring all corners of the arts! With STEAM projects, poetry, clay creations, and inspections through song—this one day Mini-Camp has...
UAB Department of Music UAB Choirs and Guests
A celebration of spirituals and gospel choral arrangements featuring the works of Stacey V. Gibbs and others.
ArtPlay Presents Irish Dance Night
UAB Hill Student Center Performance Lounge Light refreshments provided FREE + OPEN TO THE PUBLIC St. Patrick's Day is upon us and what better way to charm...
UAB Department Of Theatre The Glass Menagerie
Amanda Wingfield, a faded remnant of Southern gentility, now lives in a dingy St. Louis apartment with her son, Tom, and her daughter, Laura, who has a physical...
Suggested Grades: 6-12 MTA: Broadway's Leading Ladies
Mama Rose, Eva Peron, Galinda and Elphaba are all musical theatre characters who were played by some of theatre's most iconic women. Join Theatre UAB as we explore the...
FREE EVENT Family Day: Garden Party
Celebrate Spring with ArtPlay! Children will explore the changing seasons through the arts. Learn more about the wonders of spring through nature-based activities, games and music. No...
UAB Institute for Arts in Medicine Stuart Pimsler Dance Theatre
Living with cancer can prove isolating for patients, caregivers, and loved ones. Join the artists of Arts in Medicine (AIM), critically-acclaimed Stuart Pimsler Dance Theater (SPDT), and participants...
FREE EVENT MUSE Conference
muse1 /myo͞oz/ a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. synonyms: inspiration, creative influence, stimulus, stimulation The MUSE Conference is...
Me'shell NdegéOcello
10-time GRAMMY nominee, Meshell Ndegeocello's music twists and turns through so many genres — R&B, pop, jazz, hip-hop — that it's hard to put a finger on just...
ArtPlay Parlor Series featuring Young Concert Artists Maxim Lando
American pianist Maxim Lando received national attention in 2017 at the age of 14 when he appeared on the piano bench alongside pianist Lang Lang, performing the parts...
Suggested Grades: 8-12 MTA: Maxim Lando
Maxim is a 16-year-old pianist whose passion for classical music has already set him on an exciting path. Dedicated to making classical music accessible to his own generation,
Jazz Cafe Series Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez
Painted in the broadest of strokes, the stories of Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez may seem similar: Both started life in Havana, discovered their gifts and passions for...
UAB Department Of Theatre The Secret Garden
Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. Mary adapts to her new life...
2020 VIVA HEALTH Gala Chicago
Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era," the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago,
Host of Netflix Series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat & Cookbook Author Samin Nosrat
As an undergraduate studying English at UC Berkeley, Samin Nosrat took a detour into the kitchen at Chez Panisse restaurant that happily determined the course of her life...


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You will be creating a flip book of an object moving from point A to point B with an "event" during the movement from point A to B.
- Draw your flipbook in pencil first. You can always outline in pen later. Just remember that you cannot erase pen.
- Think of your design before you start.
- Remember that by starting at the bottom, you get a better idea of where to draw your pictures.
- You can start at the top if you wish, but will may be harder.
- A way to preserve your flipbook (and drive yourself absolutely insane) is to photograph each page in such a way that allows you to put them more or less, similar to a stop motion.
- Use a Felt-tip pen, they won't leave an impression in the paper. (Pencils may smudge.) Make sure the ink doesn't bleed through the paper. You can fix mistakes with a white correction pen. (Yes, they still sell these, but you'll need to be over 18 to purchase them. Sniffing hazard, according to the store clerk.)
Due Tuesday, Feb 11


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I had to share this…
When I see Barack Obama speak it makes me a warm all over, of course anyone who knows me know the things that turn me on most are confidence and intelligence.
If only I had one of these while I watched the inauguration!
Notice the lapel pin?
xxoo mia


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Part of the aftermath of any serious personal injury that needs to be considered and accounted for when determining what level of compensation is appropriate is scarring and disfigurement. Serious injuries often leave visible evidence of having occurred.
Scarring and disfigurement can have a major impact on a person's life. While the original injury may have healed, scarring and disfigurement can create a number of other issues such as:
- Deterioration of physical health — Burn injuries, for example, can leave people with thin, inflexible skin that may be prone to tearing.
- Emotional health — The impact of having to live with scarring or disfigurement can take an emotional toll.
When Scarring And Disfigurement Happen To A Child
When scarring or disfigurement happens to a child, the emotional impact can be extremely powerful. A child being forced to grow up with serious scarring or disfigurement may develop self esteem issues that can shape his or her life going forward. Those issues need to be dealt with and accounted for.
AV Preeminent* Rated Representation For Those Suffering From Scarring And Disfigurement
At Trapp & Geller, we are committed to helping individuals who have been scarred or disfigured. We know how important it is for people to have access to the medical care and financial support that they need to be able to overcome these issues. For 30 years, our firm has been providing the exceptional personal injury representation people need after being seriously injured in an accident. We work with plastic surgeons to help our clients secure assessments of what options will work best. Let us help you find your path to recovering from your injuries.
Contact The Chicago Scarring And Disfigurement Lawyers Of Trapp & Geller
Are you suffering after a serious scarring and disfigurement accident? We are here to help you secure the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free initial consultation with one of our Chicago scarring and disfigurement attorneys, call 312-818-2591 or contact us online.
We bill on a contingent fee basis. We only get paid if we secure compensation for you. There is no risk and no cost to you.


text: 10-14-2009 October 14, 2009 The one-handed interception. Like this:Like Loading... « October 13, 2009October 15, 2009 » no comments email a friend Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked * Name * Email * Website Comment Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Back to top|Contact me


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Pictures Photo: Georg Jensen DamaskPhoto: Georg Jensen Damask
Georg Jensen Damask celebrates the 40-year anniversary of the immortal Easter collection created by one of Denmark's most well-known weavers and textile designers, Bodil Bødtker-Næss.
In the anniversary version, a new contemporary shade has been added, which Georg Jensen Damask refers to as Lemon Curd, and the tone features a warm and neutral yellow.
The Danish textile company invites all Easter guests to mark the anniversary at a most welcoming yet simple Easter table counting a table cloth, napkins, a runner and placemats in the new shade enlivening the dining room with subtle yellow tones providing a burst of energy.
The collection is made from 100% Egyptian cotton and weaved according to proud damask weaving traditions. The Easter collection also offers a Lemon Curd version of an Easter tea towel, woven in a cotton/linen blend, for efficiently absorbing and releasing all liquids in the kitchen when preparing the festive Easter meals.
The pattern of the Easter collection features a modern abstract feather pattern with a sweet Easter chicken decoration. Geometrical patterns and nature were great sources of inspiration for Bodil Bødtker-Næss, something that made her Easter tablecloth immortal.
"Tablescape" Inspiration
The home décor landscape in Denmark is bountiful, and Danes go to great length to deck the halls during festive periods of the year. Danes love inviting people to their homes and put together a creative "tablescape".
During Easter, they will sprinkle eggs across their Easter tables, often with a seasonal garden-inspired centerpiece as its star. A source list for a Danish Easter table setting could include eggs, ferns, twigs, moss and other natural ornamentation.


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Under the Taxation Administration Act (1953), NAB is required to ask customers about their tax details. NAB will ask you questions about your local and overseas tax obligations.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is legislation aimed at preventing tax evasion by U.S. persons (individuals and entities. All non - U.S. Financial Institutions (FFIs) are required to identify and report financial accounts held by U.S. citizens or U.S. residents to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Many countries, including Australia, have entered into inter-governmental agreements (IGA) with the U.S., to enable FFIs in these jurisdictions to comply with FATCA under their local legislation, thus leveraging and improving existing tax information sharing arrangements between the IRS and the relevant local tax authorities. The obligation on NAB to adhere to FATCA in Australia is driven by the Australia- U.S. IGA, and the supporting Australian legislation.
Common Reporting Standard
The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) is an international initiative involving over 100 countries to the exchange of information on accounts held by non-resident individuals and entities with the tax authorities in their respective countries of tax residency.
To comply with CRS, banks and other financial institutions are required to collect foreign tax residency information from their customers. The aim of this legislation is to promote a reduction in offshore tax evasion. All participating countries, which includes Australia, are required to identify and report foreign account holding information to their local tax authority which will be disclosed to the relevant foreign tax authorities.
All NAB customers (individuals, business, trust, etc.) are subject to this legislation.
What is the difference between the information NAB collects for FATCA and CRS?
FATCA requires NAB to ask you if you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. tax resident. CRS requires NAB to ask you about your foreign tax residency.
What is tax residency?
Foreign tax residency is determined by the rules of each participating country's taxation laws. It is important that your tax residency information is correct, complete and not misleading.
This includes, ensuring you advise NAB within 30 days of any change in circumstances that affects your tax residency status and to provide NAB with an updated self certification within 30 days of such change in circumstances.
Under local legislation, severe penalties may apply for providing false or misleading information.
For more information, we suggest you contact your tax adviser or refer to the ATO website (link below).
What are the key requirements of NAB?
- All new customers will be required to provide information about their tax residence when applying to open an account.
- Existing NAB customers may be required to provide information about their tax residence when requested by us.
Who does NAB report foreign tax details to?
Customers who are foreign tax residents may be reported to ATO on an annual basis.
Collection and sharing of foreign tax information will be done in accordance with our Privacy Policy and we will only share information required to meet our statutory obligations.
Where can you find more information about CRS?
More information on CRS can be found on the below sites:
- OECD Website
- Search for "Common Reporting Standard" on ATO Website
- Overview of Tax Residency Rules (PDF, 58KB)
- Quick Reference Guide to Tax Identification Numbers Top 20 Countries (PDF, 56KB)
Please contact our dedicated CRS team on 1300 103 191 or +61 3 9601 7459 (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm AEST) or email us at email@example.com.


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What is the Regulation E Overdraft Fee regulatory change?
The Federal Reserve issued final rules revising Regulation E concerning overdraft fees that financial institutions may charge their consumer checking account customers. The new rule was published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2009 and has a mandatory compliance date of July 1, 2010. The new rule prohibits financial institutions from charging consumer checking account customers overdraft fees on ATM and one-time debit card transactions unless a consumer consents, or opts in, to the overdraft service for those types of transactions. The final rule does NOT require credit unions to pay overdrafts on checks or to authorize and pay any overdrafts on ATM or one-time debit card transactions; however, it does permit credit unions to offer consumers a choice regarding overdraft services for checks.
What type of account is affected by the new rule?
The new rule applies to only consumer checking accounts.
What types of transactions are affected by the new rule?
The new rule applies to only ATM and one-time debit card transactions on consumer checking accounts.
What is a one-time debit card transaction and a recurring debit card transaction?
A one-time debit card transaction is a transaction where the consumer uses a debit card at a point-of-sale (for example, at a merchant or a store), in an online transaction, or in a telephone transaction. A recurring debit card transaction is a transaction in which the cardholder provides his/her debit card or debit card number to a merchant for payment of services that are provided on a regular basis. Examples of this include using a debit card to pay for your utilities, cell phone, gym membership, and other types of regularly recurring services provided by the merchant.
What is standard overdraft practice?
A service under which the credit union assesses a fee or charge on a consumer's account for paying a transaction (including a check or other item) when the consumer has insufficient or unavailable funds in the account. We pay overdrafts at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any type of transaction. If you do not have a sufficient memo-ledger balance in your consumer checking account or if you attempt a transaction that exceeds the ATM/debit card withdrawal limitations, we will decline ATM and/or debit card transactions.
What are overdraft protection plans?
Alternative overdraft services that protect consumers from overdrafts such as, an automatic transfer from another deposit account held or an automatic draw against a line of credit to bring the overdrawn account back to a zero balance or a pre-established minimum balance. The consumer is required to apply, enroll, or authorize such services. The credit union must approve a line of credit and it is subject to loan underwriting criteria.
When do debit card transactions post to my account?
Bridge Credit Union does not post debit card transactions to your account until the merchant submits the transaction to us for payment. The timing can vary for debit card transactions from the very same day to several days later. In rare circumstances – such as using your debit card online to buy an item that is back-ordered – the merchant could submit the transaction several weeks later.
How can an ATM or every day (one-time) debit card transaction result in an overdraft on my checking account?
Due to the timing variation described above, you may have sufficient funds in your checking account at the time the ATM or one-time debit card transaction is authorized but may not have sufficient funds in your account by the time the transaction is finally submitted by the merchant for posting to your account due to posting of intervening transactions. In addition, merchants such as gas stations and hotels that request a debit card pre-authorization request the authorization for less than the actual transaction and may place a "hold" for more than the actual transaction to try to ensure they get paid for their product/service which may affect your checking account balance. You should ask for a merchant's pre-authorization policy prior to transaction authorization.
What balance is used to authorize ATM and debit card transactions?
Bridge Credit Union authorizes ATM and debit card transactions using the available balance of your checking account. The available balance is the balance at the end of the prior day plus any ACH transactions being posted the current day.
What can I do to avoid overdrafts or declined debit card transactions?
- Enroll in Online Banking to keep track of your checking account. Online banking, our mobile app and mobile banking help you keep track of how much money you have in your checking account as well as the transactions that have been presented and that have been posted to your account. Online banking also allows you to transfer money between your accounts without having to visit the credit union.
- Bookmark our mobile banking site on your phone for quick and easy access on the go.
- eAlerts alert you by e-mail or text message to your mobile phone when your balance falls below a minimum threshold set by you or when checks/automatic deposits/withdrawals post to your account.
- eStatements are electronic images of your credit union statements that are electronically delivered to you sooner than paper statements via snail mail and allow you to track the transactions posted to your checking account.
- Call, email, or visit to find out more about our eServices or overdraft protection plans.


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From community projects such as food co-operatives to people campaigning against the cuts, there are a lot of ideas taking root in Cardiff as people organise to make positive changes in the city and further afield.
Take Root is a central place where people can connect with others interested in grassroots change in Cardiff.
If you want to write something for the blog contact Amy Hall on amy[dot]hall[at]live[dot]co[dot]uk


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Building and submerging fish attractors for black and white crappie can improve your creel limits out on the water. These sporty panfish seek out attractors for two reasons: to find food and to avoid becoming food. Crappie are in the middle of the freshwater food chain because they are both predator and prey. Attractors lure baitfish and swimming insects, while providing cover for crappies to hide from predators.
How to Build Crappie Fish Attractors
Place the trunk of a dead holiday tree in one of the holes in a cinder block.
Pour quick-set cement into the hole and let harden. Repeat for as many fish attractors as desired.
Transport the fish attractors to a lake or body of fresh water where you have permission to submerge them.
Look for shaded areas near shore, such as a tree-lined bank, where the water reaches a depth of 10 to 15 feet within 15 feet of the shore. Focus on areas with a steep dropoff from the shoreline, but also locations where it will be comfortable to fish.
Toss the cinder block with attached tree into the lake about 10 to 15 feet from the bank, or use a boat and row to the desired spot.
Submerge the fish attractor so that the cinder block touches the lake bottom and the tree remains upright, as though still planted in the ground. Submerge several fish attractors about 5 feet apart, or scatter them at favorite spots around the lake.
Tie brush piles or tree branches with heavy monofilament line and submerge them in shallow water to make effective fish attractors for spring, when crappie move into shallow water to spawn.
- When using a rowboat to place fish attractors in deeper water, do not exceed the weight limit of the boat. Make several trips if necessary.
- Dead Christmas trees are effective crappie attractors because they can flee into the branch structures to escape large predatory fish like muskie, northern pike and largemouth bass.
Photo Credits
- www.Crappiefishingusa.com


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Neoprene boots with a fierce appeal. Classic leopard print in pink. Black neoprene lining and black rubber background. Easy to clean and care for. Perfect for the independent daughter and easily paired with any outfit.
- Waterproof rubber upper
- Neoprene lining
- -20 degrees cold rating
- Treaded rubber outsole
Item Number: 492022


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Izoa Rouge earrings rose gold. These amazing statement earrings have double the detail and are made from Austrian stones for that extra sparkle affect. Statement earrings are a red carpet trend this season .
18K Rose Gold with Austrian peach crystals
Lead and nickel free
Butterfly clasp for pierced ears
W: 5.3cm
L: 8.0cm


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Stay Safe Ambassadors
On Thursday 8th February, Year 6 were visited by the Stay Safe Ambassadors, from De Montfort University. They showed us essential first aid and safety skills, and we all had a go at bandaging, wrapping burns, and found out about the recovery position. It was quite good fun too!
Newarke Houses Museum
On Thursday 1st February, we visited the wonderful Newarke Houses Museum in Leicester, as part of our World War II Topic. As you can see from the pictures, we all had a great time, and found out so much about the two World Wars, as well as the part played by the people of Leicester in these crucial events. We also learned about many aspects of the history of Leicester...and some of us really enjoyed trying on some "interesting" outfits!
CGP SATs Practice Books
Lots of the Y6 pupils have already bought the CGP SATs Practice books, and so far they have really enjoyed the work...even thought there is a lot of it! We have found in previous years that these books to help the children to develop some of the essential skills in the build up to the SATs tests in May. If you would like to by a set of the books, please contact the school office.
Spring Term Homework!!
Our new Homework grid was sent out on Friday 19th January. We would like the children to complete one piece of homework per fortnight, and hand their books in by Wednesday 21st March. Last term's homeworks were super...and the children have earned themselves a lot of smileys. Keep up the great work this term!
Historical Art work!
In Year 6 we have been working on designs for some very fancy new suits of armour for King Henry VIII...
Year 6 Homework
This year, our homework arrangements have changed. We still expect everyone to read at home, and of course practise your times tables. There will also be spellings to learn and practise every week, and there will be spelling tests to check that we are developing this important skill.
As well as this, we now have a "Homework Menu", which has been stuck in the front of everybody's Homework Book. We would like children to complete at least one piece of work from the menu every two weeks, though you can complete more if you want to. Remember, homework should always be completed to the highest possible standard - you really must take care over the presentation of your homework...KEEP IT NEAT PLEASE!!!
Click on the link below to see the Year 6 Homework menu for this term...
Welcome to Class 6T!!!
A few reminders...


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Reliable Scaffold Engineering Services
For you to achieve your business goals, you must have reliable products that offer you the possibilities and solutions you deserve. At Upright Aluminum Scaffolds, we understand that there isn't a cookie-cutter solution to every issue our industry faces today. This is why we offer a comprehensive range of systems and solutions so that you can take on unique and complex tasks with ease.
It All Starts With Our Scaffold Engineering
We bring an extensive level of experience and industry wisdom to each potential problem you need to have solved through modern scaffold engineering. It's more than a promise or a "vision" at Upright Aluminum Scaffolds. Our team has a commitment to make sure that every design offered to safe, effective, and productive for your specific needs.
Every time you use one of our products, our team wants you to be able to see this commitment through the quality of the product, the intelligence of its design, and the versatility it brings to your organization. At the end of the day, we both have the same goal in mind: to make sure every job gets done safely and with the highest levels of quality that are possible.
Experience the Difference of Specialized Solutions
Every scaffold engineering project has some level of specialization and complexity which must be addressed. At Upright Aluminum Scaffolds, our services include the wisdom that only a team of engineers, technicians, and erection specialists can provide. Whether you need a completely customized solution with extensive engineering or a more basic scaffolding solution can meet your needs, we'll make sure your final purchase can meet the biggest challenges you may face.
Our team is ready right now to determine what your needs may be. Instead of identifying issues and then using that as a way to build up the cost of services, we'll analyze the situation with you and work to resolve whatever challenges may be in place. No matter what your industry might be, our team can walk with you to make sure your journey leads to the insights, planning, and implementation your job requires.
What Happens When You Need More Services?
For some organizations, having access to the scaffolds required is good enough. For other businesses, the need is more comprehensive. That's why Upright Aluminum Scaffolds also offers erection and dismantling services. Our competent teams are able to erect scaffolding that meets or exceeds current government safety requirements so that you can focus on putting your people where they will be most effective.
Then, when the job is completed, our team can help to dismantle your scaffolding as well. This way you benefit from reduced liability while improving access and safety with one simple investment today. The quality and safety of our work is guaranteed.
If you'd like to find out more about the services Upright Aluminum Scaffolds can provide your team, then we encourage you to contact us at your convenience. You will find that our experience can be one of the greatest assets you can use for your next project.


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Carbo-Load with Chicken Pasta to Honor the NYC Marathon
Chicken Dance spotlights a fantastic Food & Wine chicken recipe every day.
© Melanie Acevedo
Pasta Shells with Chicken
This Sunday, thousands of ambitious athletes will participate in the NYC Marathon. The days before running what will be a chilly 26.2 miles, marathoners often prepare by carbo-loading with a hearty pasta meal that provides muscles with energy stores of glycogen. For endurance runners this weekend, this fast, one-dish recipe for Pasta Shells with Chicken and Brussels Sprouts offers carbs and protein, a combination that will also appeal to sympathy-hungry supporters.
- Related:Joe Bastianich's Energizing Italian Recipes
- F&W's Tips and Recipes for Pasta
- More Fast and Tasty Pasta Recipes
- 10 Best-Ever Chicken Pasta Recipes


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I was six that year. My parents, three brothers, three of us sisters lived at Dheri, 5 km from Rawalpindi where we had brick kilns, farmland. On March 7, '47 a mob of 20 came from neighbouring villages to warn us they were going to attack the village. First our house. Then the rest.
A Muslim friend offered shelter to all 21 of us: grandma, five girls, six boys, my parents, Dad's two brothers with their wives. Also my elder uncle's doctor son who'd come visiting with his wife and three-year-old son from Rawalpindi. Our Muslim host barricaded the door of the room with grainbags. The mob returned next morning--500 people from 15 villages. They leered, yelled that if we came out, ate halal meat, converted to Islam, we'd be spared. Father refused, yelling back we'd prefer to die.
Suddenly a section of our room's kuccha roof caved in. Someone was trying to break in. Someone else fired a shot in the air. Father handed each of us kirpans explaining carefully that if the mob broke the door we should stab ourselves on the left side. My mother, nursing my three-month-old brother, threw herself at father's feet saying, "Save this child. Agree to convert". Father ignored her. When she repeated her entreaty my elder uncle got up, slashed her neck with a kirpan yelling, "Yeh kehna haraam hai" (This is blasphemy). She died instantly. Father put her blood-soaked dupatta on the tip of his sword, rushed out the door half-crazed. People waiting on either side literally skewered him with knives and swords. My eldest uncle who rushed out after him was similarly cut down. The doctor cousin got up to fight next. His wife stopped him, demanding he kill her, all the girls, before he went out. He stabbed her, killed his three-year-old son, stabbed each one of us, I still carry that kirpan scar on my scalp; and rushed out as we collapsed around him. He refused to stab his mother saying, "No dharma tells me to do this". He was lynched in seconds. Last to go out was my octogenarian daadi. She tottered out, frail but resolute, saying, "kaisi ladai ladney aaye ho? Mujhe apne bacchon ko ek boar dekhna hai." (What kind of war is this? Let me at least see my children once.) They ripped out earrings, bangles, gold chain. And as she stood there bleeding, stoned her to death. Before they left they slaughtered the Muslim bhai.
My lone surviving uncle cremated the entire family in the bride kin. Then we walked to Chakri, six miles away, from where we went to Jalandhar to another uncle who raised us, married us off. That three-month-old brother we left behind in a Lahore hospital we found seven long months later. Unrecognisable, like a walking corpse. We recognised him only because of his curly hair, his response to his name "Jeeti".
Do I feel any rage? No. Maahaul bura tha. Log bure nahin the. Woh waqt hi bure the . (The atmosphere was bad. People weren't evil. The times were.) It nearly happened again in '84 after Indira Gandhi died. Bloodthirsty mobs came then too. Neighbours drove them away. My sister Amrit wasn't so lucky. The mob, which included neighbours, burnt her house. One neighbour didn't move a finger while they were being fired at. The other neighbour hid the family in his house till the worst was over. Both were non-Sikhs. Like I always say: good people, like bad people, are the same everywhere.
"Amrit Behn naal 84 vich oi hoya jo saade naal 47 vich hoya. Saanu te laga dooja partition hoya hai. (What happened to Amrit Behn in 1984 happened to us in 1947. We felt it was another Partition.)"


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Branding yourself!
Happy Hump DAY friends! (you have to say it like the camel on the commercial..)
Lets get right to it. So I now have a great idea and some great resources to boost my confidence. I joined the 4 week course at the azsbdc.net that explores the inns and outs of starting a business (Rocket business launch workshop series). They pointed out that at some point you will need to create a brand, protecting your ideas, yourself and your assets. After this course I was a little embarrassed I was meeting so many people who could potentially contribute to my success and I didn't have any proper contact info to hand out. I needed to brand myself, although a little preemptive, a lot of these things go hand in hand. While you can do one or none of these things (depending on your business) I wanted a joined branding front that would all reflect the same information and conformity across the board.
Take what I'm saying next with a grain of salt. You can easily pay someone to do these things for you, but I did a little extra work and research to save a HUGE amount of money. Do your research and see what works for you. An expensive business card doesn't mean you'll be successful, however, you do want people to know that your serious and not just working on a hobby.
Before ordering cards I had I had to think of a bigger picture, sure I could order cards with just my name and contact info, but why would someone want to contact me? This created urgency to address the following: 1) a name 2) a logo 3) a professional email 4) some form of professional social media 5) a website and... wait for it....5) business cards!!
Getting a name: First I made sure nobody else had my business name by checking with the corporate commissions office. Then registering and published an L.L.C is all laid out in a step by step process by the commissions office. The L.L.C. cost $85 and then I paid $40 to the Arizona Business Republic to publish and legitimize my name. An L.L.C is the most readily available way to protect your personal assets should you business go south. As for tax purposes you can always file later as an S-Corp that I don't fully understand but know is more of a tax break.
Getting a logo: This was SO fun for me. Having a logo (to me) legitimizes my business idea!! Again not that it means I'll be successful but DAMN does it feels good handing out cards. Ok-now I have rights to this name! One of the girls in my class recommended a place called 10alogo, where you can literally get a logo for $10!! I ended up spending $15 because it included text and an image. Their site is super easy to use. They ask you some questions about what you want (you can also upload images or sketches) then they send you a proof. I asked that they change one thing, then I had my logo! I've used my logo so much since then! Best $15 I've ever spent!
Getting an email: I feel like this is obvious but I'm saying it anyways. No your cute girly high school email is not appropriate. I once had an email that was kissesofaneskimo, cute right?!? Not for starting a business. You want your email to read email@example.com. To do so you have to first purchase a domain name. This is purchasing the ability to have your email tied to your business. Worst case scenario if you can't get the email you want, a generic firstname.lastname@example.com will work. So I went to register my domain name (tons of places like GoDaddy and Google offer this, I paid $12) and found that even though nobody had a business registered as "Salad Dash" there was a website with that domain name! I was so mad because it wasn't even a used website, it just said "under construction" so I had to make my domain name @saladdashAZ. I just found from a different class that there is a way I can get the other domain as well where GoDaddy in my case will walk me through it. Anyways, I got a professional email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Social media: Maybe your a millennial like me but I had NEVER used Twitter before. I found another class at the SBDC "growing your business using Twitter" and learned how not to look like an idiot but also how to efficiently create a targeted following. Once I got comfortable with Twitter I created an Instagram for my business and I just actually created a LinkedIn account (don't look at it I'm not done yet!). Again I'm creating uniformity and branding. I don't have a brick and mortar but I do have a few followers who are like minded and aware of me.
Building a website: With that domain name that I purchased I can now have a website, I just needed to find a host. I was referred to a website building class hosted by Weebly. This class did what I expected and walked us through starting a basic website. They offer free DIY sites that you can alter and publish again any time. I already had my domain name that I (painstakingly) had to re-rout to Weebly, from GoDaddy, but you can purchase a domain name directly from them. I actually pay a little more ($40) to get a few more features. I haven't used other site editors (i'm sure this is common) but I love that I can see exactly how many people are looking at my page everyday and where they're coming from. This helps me to see how effective my tweets and posts are. There was one day that I posted a picture of my beloved business cards and my site views tripled!
Ordering business cards!! Yes I am again geeking out on having cards. My favorite quote right now is the infamous "fake it till you make it". I may or may not have a running business yet but if I meet someone important that I need to keep a connection with, you bet your ass I will professionally present myself and hand him/her my beautiful card. They don't need to know that I'm in the planning stage and sometimes stress cry to my husband when I overwork myself. When the time comes they will remember the girl with red lipstick, long dark hair and my great (SUPER CHEAP) logo. I ordered my cards through overnight prints after some research on different places. They're not the cheapest but you can design your cards online yourself which I really like. You can play with thickness, matte, shiny, round edges, colors, full picture ect. and it keeps a tally of your order total as you go. I paid $34 for 100 matte white cards with round corners, my logo on the front and my name and contact info on the back.
TADA! Now I have 5 solid ways for people to get a hold of me or just keep an eye on me! It's easy to get out of control on cost ordering all of the cool new things and features but keep in mind your goal. I knew going in that my business cards will evolve eventually, so I just ordered 100 for now. I can easily order a new logo and design a whole new set of cards.
Please feel free to leave me comments, for some reason the text is going in white on white (I have a support ticket in) but I will still be able to see it. I would love to hear of what you're working on, did any of my tips help you?
See you next week!
Leave a Reply.
I'm 26 years old and have always been a goal driven person. Growing up my parents always fought about money and struggled financially in general. I told myself at a young age that I would't let that happen. I believe strongly in working hard for what you want and have made myself very proud doing so.
August 2016


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GraduateX GRE Review
Updated December 18, 2018
GraduateX GRE Prep is an ideal option for test takers who are looking to gain acceptance into the graduate school of their choice. With a plethora of great options offered at an affordable price, you're going to struggle to find a better value than this course.
With a unique path to success structure, this prep tool is designed to get you on the right track right away. A community aspect for this course really makes you feel like part of a larger group, which could be a great addition for people who like working with their peers.
1. Mobility
Many people who are preparing for the GRE aren't able to attend classes in person. One step further, they often aren't even able to use their laptops or desktops, as they are on the move. If you are one of these people, then the GraduateX platform is for you—the amazing mobile suite is one of the best in the industry.
If you're taking the train to work or class and want to get in some quick studying, just open the mobile app and get going. While other courses may offer some sort of mobility and have basic smartphone applications, this option has a full offering of tools for studying on the run.
2. Collaboration
There are some people who prepare best for tests by working with other students and learning tricks and strategies through collaboration. Enter into an online classroom setting whenever you want to enjoy the best of what group study has to offer.
The community part of the test prep features a ton of user-generated questions that are answered by GraduateX experts. So, instead of waiting for hours or days for responses, which may happen with other courses, you'll see queries answered quite quickly. Alliteration aside, this is a great feature for students who like the feel of a classroom.
3. Value
There aren't too many expensive GRE classes, but this one really is a great value. You get a lot of functionality and tools with this course and you're not going to be paying an arm and leg to access these benefits.
You can take this course at this own pace, wherever you need to, and you'll have access for a year. It's a small investment given the outstanding tools that will be at your disposal.
4. Pathway to Success
Students often like seeing their progress mapped out as they complete certain elements of a course. The GraduateX review prep is designed in a manner that takes you down a path that has different steps and progressions indicating how far along you are.
You have access to all steps at once, so you can plan out the different sections. Each individual part has a great video that comes with several explanations, as well as discussion questions from other members of your group. Visually speaking, having all of these videos compartmentalized in steps is a great way to track progress and make mental goalposts.
5. Video Content
Speaking of video content, This course has some top-notch lectures available to you for repeat watching and extensive note taking. The lectures are delivered in a manner akin to what you would see in a classroom, which is perfect for people who are in student mode.
A friendly voice delivers the lessons with great visual descriptions and everything is written out in a concise and deliberate way that is quite memorable for test takers. You can follow along easily because of the pace of the direction, as it's designed to be as palatable as possible. Throughout the videos, you can post a discussion question to be address by your group/classmates.
6. Aesthetics
The visuals for this course are great, as it has a simple layout and nothing is too taxing on these eyes—this is very important, given the amount of time you're going to be spending on the site. Everything is arranged with simplicity in mind, which helps you organize your thoughts and studying.
While some courses have extremely busy dashboards and front pages, GraduateX designed its prep tool to get you right to the action.
1. Simplicity
While some users may love the simplicity of the GraduateX site, others may want a little more out of their prep tool. There's not a crazy amount of features available in this course, but that's a plus for some people; it really depends what you want to get out of your studying.
2. No Tutoring
The group classrooms are great for people who enjoy the concept of studying in a group or in a manner that's akin to being in school. If you're the type who wants to get personalized direction and struggles with group settings, this isn't the best option for you in terms of GRE studying.
Ideal User
There's not really an ideal user for this course. It's pretty flexible and its content allows students of all types to learn and receive the help that they need. If you're fine with video content, this prep tool has some of the best of what's available in this regard. The community aspect is great for other students who may want the feel of the classroom or a collaborative experience. And, the mobile content makes it great for people who are on the run and need a companion tool for times when they aren't near a laptop or desktop.
The GraduateX review course isn't going to wow you with any of its offerings, but it's a solid overall choice that is perfect for many different types of students. It offers flexibility, great value, and a number of features that accommodate the wide range of people who take the GRE.
There are a lot of courses out there for future GRE test takers and although GraduateX has many things to like, it has a tough time differentiating itself from the competition. There are plenty of standard features and a few unique components, making it an overall decent value. It's not going to set you back financially and it's going to prepare you for success on the exam.
With a great mobile option and a unique studying path, it's got some of the best modern design tools incorporated into the overall course. Take a look at how other test prep courses stack up before making a final decision.
Summary of Course Features
- Mobile Application
- 1,500+ Practice Questions
- 146 Videos
- 188 Steps
- Study Path
- Apps for Android and iOS
- Year-Long Access Plans
- Community Features
- Expert Strategies
GraduateX GRE Course
Price: $289
Includes: 1,500+ test prep questions, unique mobile applications, community course aspects, video instruction, expert strategies and test-taking tools, aesthetically pleasing design, more than 140 videos, user generated questions, and progress mapping.
GraduateX GRE Review Course Information
|GraduateX GRE Review
|Progress Path
|Video Content


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Marine Biology BSc (Hons) 2020 entry
The BSc in Marine Biology will teach you about the diversity of marine life from the deep sea to estuaries. You will gain a thorough understanding of the biology of marine organisms from tiny cells to large marine mammals. You will study at an advanced, research-led level and your topics will cover a broad range from marine molecular ecology, genomics, marine microbiology, the ecology and development of marine life from invertebrates to marine mammals, as well as the ecology of coasts and estuaries.
St Andrews' location on the shores of the North Sea makes it the ideal place to study marine wildlife in its natural habitat. Teaching takes advantage of this and you will have the opportunity to learn not only in the lab but also out in the field. The School of Biology has the world-renowned Scottish Oceans Institute, which incorporates the world-class Sea Mammal Research Unit which you can access in order to facilitate your study.
Students interested in this course may also be interested in the Marine Biology Integrated Masters course, which allows you to graduate with a Master in Marine Biology.Apply now


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Our 10 Favorite Labor Day Recipes
September 2, 2015
Whether you choose to host a festive barbecue or a low-key gathering this Labor Day, this is the perfect opportunity to put good food at the center of your celebration.
Here is a list of our 10 favorite Labor Day recipes that will satisfy everyone from the simplest of chefs to the most adventurous of guests.
Need some extra help in the kitchen?
Appetizers, Salads and Sides
Mini BLT Crostini
This bite-sized twist on an American favorite is great to put out as pre-meal finger food. Who doesn't love a BLT?
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
One of the folks on our team loves cooking for his family whenever they come to visit. This recipe is one of his favorites during football season, but it's perfect for any holiday that calls for your grill.
Tomato and Bread Salad with Italian Sausage
Our salad is a variation on the classic panzanella but is made heartier with the addition of grilled sweet Italian sausages and corn. You can serve this as a side dish or the main course.
Ham Mini Roll-Ups
Saveur helps take care of your overflowing garden zucchini with a toothpick in this recipe. Don't have prosciutto? Try our Jambon Ham instead.
Grilled Cabbage Wedges
This recipe from The Kitchn is easy – take a cabbage, slice it into four-quarters, then drizzle on the spicy lime dressing.
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Rachael Ray is famous for her quick and easy recipes. This one comes together in less than 15-minutes!
Main Course
Uncle Rich's Thick-Cut Pork Chops
This guide to cooking the perfect bone-in pork chop can be used on the grill or in the kitchen.
The Pork Burger
We have our own pork burger recipe we've already shared a few times this summer. Here's another one to add to the list, this time from Tasting Table.
Grilled Hamburger Salad
This main course is great for anyone who's gluten-free. You still get the joy of grilling a burger, but without the bun!
Grilled Marinated Flank Steak
This recipe is from Mark Bittman's award-winning cookbook, How to Cook Everything. All you need to do is marinate the steak, grill for 10-minutes, then slice it thin before serving.
Pimento-Jalapeño Cheeseburger
We've never seen anything quite like this. Thank you, Serious Eats, for the recipe!


text: With South Africa in its 22nd year of democracy, many if not all South Africans can attest that "Freedom "was anything but free. Join Signature Africa Network as we embark on a journey to hear from people from all walks of life as they share with what Freedom is to them. The series, will explore various aspects of the concept of Freedom as well as gaining insights from various fighters of freedom.


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Welcome to the world of IVARI Finance
Ivari an international network
Since the opening of the first IVARI center in 1969, many great names and decision makers have laid their trust in Edward IVARI, who, thanks to his elitist clientele has created a powerful relations network.
In so doing the IVARI centers have become places where exceptional contacts have been made and where important commercial projects on an international scale have been negotiated before coming to fruition.
Thanks to the strength of a world-wide network and of qualified experts in each field who act rapidly, your projects have the means to succeed.
Your project needs substantial investment?
You need finance to realize a personal or professional project ?


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Laser-crisp illustrations and a handful of gussied-up interactions aren't enough to overcome this app's significant design flaws, squeaky-voiced, vapid dialogue, and paper-thin storyline.
This app has major functionality issues from the beginning. Readers can supposedly switch narration on or off from the home page, but even when it's set to "off," the narrator dramatically reads text on the opening screen. Readers will likely find it highly confusing if not maddening to navigate from there, as the accessibility of the text, the dialogue and the directions are inconsistent and confusing in narrator-off mode. The story itself is weak and fragmented. Pandora, aka "Pan," is the panda daughter of elders who disappeared while trying to explore ancient winds gone awry. Eventually, she learns about her parents and resolves to help find them, but none of the narrative detours before that realization serve that plot at all. The app ends as Pan runs away to find her parents, which of course necessitates waiting for Book 2 (countdown included) to see if she finds them. Though the Beribolts are supposedly an exotic, cloud-dwelling tribe, Pandora and her friends sound like a cross between gangsters and spoiled reality show divas.
Though there are a few showy boomerang games, exploding fireworks and dancing night bugs, this story is nothing more than literary cotton candy. (iPad storybook app. 3-7)


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byFaruq Oyekan
A selection of the Shanghai International Film Festival, Marcus Sun's Swordsman is a heart wrenching tale of love and honor. This daring tale tells the story of Miyamoto Musashi a swordsman who is at risk of losing all he has, and is forced to decide between pursuing love or immortality as one of the greatest warriors amongst his peers. Inspired by a real-life Samurai, Swordsman's story is one that translates across all language barriers and one that is able to entertain with both its action and romance. Audiences will be left speechless at the sight of the film's flawless cinematographic framing and pleased by its colorful use of lighting.
"The character of Miyamoto Musashi. A real-life Samurai who lived during the tail end of the Japanese Sengoku-Jidai. I first heard of him when I read a few pages of his (fictional) biography in my High School's library. Something about his singular dedication to a craft to the cost of everything else struck a chord within me. Here is a man who, in order to perfect his swordsmanship skills, never married, never had children, and never stayed in one place for more than a month in his life. As a fellow artist, I don't think I could ever hope to reach his level of dedication and sacrifice. But I could, and in my opinion we all could, do with a little more of Musashi's spirit in us."
- Marcus Sun
The film is a period piece that takes place in the early feudal Japan. Fully immersive, right down to the details, the sets and the costume design in this short film is an achievement all its own. While watching this short, you will be amazed at the level of attention that has been put into this shorts production, and how well it pays off when it comes to the cultural basis of its plot.
Swordsman is a film that draws heavily from older film of similar subject matter, its framing mirrors that of filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa and Masaki Kobayashi. While its style and production design embodies classics such as Ran and Samurai Rebellion. The resulting production is one that is riveting and new to those unfamiliar of its influences, and a comforting throwback to those who view those films in high praise.
This film makes great use of its time, in a mere 18 minutes, the film manages to present a world that is commonly reserved for longer features. Swordsman is a romance film at heart, Marcus Sun does a fabulous job of presenting the romance of the film's lead Musashi in a way that leaves audiences compelled and invested in the fate of the relationship.
The acting and choreography in the film is amazing. Never do performances feel out of place or unnatural for the film's subject matter. The cast feels right at home on screen and feed off each other in order to create on screen performances that are breathtaking.
Swordsman will leave you impressed and wanting more from writer director Marcus Sun. check out the short today on YouTube and experiences an ageless tale of manhood and love. Fans of Samurai movies and even fans of Romance movies alike can share excitement in this riveting tale.
INTERVIEW with Marcus Sun (Director/Writer)
First, what's your story? How did you become a filmmaker?
When I was very young, my family moved from my birthplace of Jiangsu, China to Guangzhou (or Canton as it was previously known) in the South. Due to allergies and various other environmental changes, I often couldn't sleep. To help me sleep, my Grandmother, a brilliant old lady, held me in her lap and told me stories. Imaginative, gripping, moving stories. Dozens of them that she made up on the spot and never a repeating idea! I never did get to sleep very well, but those stories planted a seed in my brain that refused to let me go. From those days on, every hobby I took on, everything that I did, was to service the desire within me to tell stories. Imaginative, gripping, moving stories that would stir within others the same sense of wonder that my Grandmother's stories stirred within me.
Any interesting production stories?
Oh, horror stories you mean? Plenty. There are wonderful stories too. I suppose if I had to warn anyone off of anything based on the experience of filming "Swordsman", it's to stay the hell off the beach. We shot the entire short with Los Angeles standing in for Japan, so Malibu had to stand in for both the shore of Honshu and Ganryu Island. Not only was the descent down to the beach very difficult for the actors in their very authentic but very elaborate kimonos, the wind and waves wreaked havoc without equipment. We had to move camp twice because of rapidly rising tides. The wind caked our lens with sand and sea salt, even tore up both our tents and sent them spinning down the length of the beach like over-sized metal-and-canvas tumbleweeds. It also whipped up the waves near shore so high that there was no way we could get our tiny boat out on the water, so all of the shot of Musashi in the boat were done on the beach, with the camera pointed at the horizon to get some distant water, and two PAs rocking the boat back and forth just out of frame. Then, when we finally managed to push the boat out and steal a shot while the lifeguard wasn't looking, we managed to get all of ten seconds of footage before a seven-foot wave came along and smacked the boat. The thing turned into a ballistic object headed straight for the shore and then capsized with the retreating surf. We had to run in and lift it off of our stunt double before he drowned. The costume was drenched, his sword props were gone, and the boat was half-totaled. The ten seconds of footage in the short was all the footage we ever got. I could probably go on...
What is it like film making now after having made this film? Has your approach changed?
It's definitely helped me prioritize. Firstly, what's in front of the camera is infinitely more important than what is within it. Shoot on a cheap camera if you have to, but don't skimp on actors and production design. Secondly, sound is important. Specifically, get a sound designer and composer involved in preproduction. They'll help you come up with unique solutions to complement your story rather than tack something on as an afterthought. Thirdly, remember, remember, remember what the purpose of each scene is. It'll be hard when the light's going and the wind is blowing sand into your lens, but that's the only reason you're there. If it's supposed to be heartbreaking, you better be damn sure you make it heartbreaking. Get that close-up or that reaction shot, because you won't ever have the chance to get it again. Even if you stay there an hour longer than you want to.
Do you have any projects lined up for the future?
Plenty. I'm currently working on my very first feature, but that's another story for another day.
Any advice to filmmakers?
Remember your basics. Those are the most difficult things to master. Conflicts. Goals. Beginning, Middle, and End. It's easy to forget those things with all the technical dribble-drabble that inundates most filmmaking social platforms nowadays, but without the Basics, your sexy MoVI-driven long take means absolutely nothing.


text: Heavy Duty Rubber Feet X 4 (17 ratings) For extra grip and stability £6.00 Colour: [Choose]BlackGrey Quantity: at £6.00 each Add To Basket Set of 4 heavy duty rubber feet for he Original Raised Pet Bed. Give extra grip and stability on uneven floors, ground sheets, or with heavier dogs. Gives greater protection to frame if you are intending to keep your bed outside.