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Veiled Beauties: Origins and Styles of a Classic Wedding Look
Like something old and something new, veils are a traditional part of a bridal ensemble. Their origins can be traced to superstition—Ancient Greeks and Romans feared spirits and demons, and believed they would chase brides up to the altar to steal her from her betrothed. Veils were meant to conceal the bride from these evil forces, and the tradition of 'giving away the bride' was a means to prevent her from tripping and falling because the thick fabric obstructed her sight. Today, some say it's bad luck for a groom to see a bride until she reaches the altar; others believe a bride should stay hidden until the ceremony ends to seem pure or demure; and still others see the lifting of the veil as the bride's shining moment, where her beauty is finally revealed to her groom and guests. No matter the reason, embracing the veil tradition infuses elegance and allure to a bridal look.
Birdcage: These retro veils were at the height of popularity in the 1950s; they offer just enough mystery while also leaving the face visible to guests. Pair a birdcage veil with a feather fascinator or vintage brooch, or wear it by itself for a minimalist look.
Blusher: A blusher veil can be worn with or without a longer veil covering the hair. The blusher covers a bride's face and was originally more of a conservative choice. The father of the bride might pull the veil off his daughter's face before they walk down the aisle, or the groom will lift it before their first kiss.
Flyaway: Aptly named for their flowing shape, flyaway veils are multi-layered and fall behind the hair just past the shoulders. They are a more casual, understated choice.
Elbow: Also popular in the 1950s, elbow veils often have a fabric edging. They cover the shoulders and end just past the elbows.
Fingertip: This cape-style choice covers more hair than do other veils, and end around the wrist or fingertips. Kate Middleton brought this style back into fashion in 2011, when she wore an embroidered face-framing veil to her wedding.
Ballet / Waltz: This veil falls just above the knee or ankle, and is a lovely choice for brides who want the look of a long veil without choosing one that reaches the ground.
Chapel / Sweep / Full Length: A true classic, the chapel veil touches the floor and is often made of dreamy tulle. A chapel veil is an ethereal, dramatic choice for a traditional bride.
Cathedral: Cathedral veils are long, show-stopping, and romantic. They trail behind the bride, creating a never-ending silhouette, and are traditionally worn in a religious setting.
Juliet: This veil was all the rage in the 1920s and 30s, when brides were glamorous and demure. The veil fabric is shaped into a bonnet-style cap worn tightly over the head, with more veil fabric or lace cascading from the back edge.
Mantilla: These unconventional beauties are worn draped across the head, with no real shape or structure. They can also be a covering for a bun or updo, draped similarly but further back on the head.
Headwrap: A favorite among bohemian, modern brides, the headwrap style veil is effortless and easy to dress up or down.


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I am a director of photography and director who makes films for cinema, television and a wide variety of commercial and charitable organisations.
I started out as an architectural photographer in San Francisco before joining the BBC as a film editor. My first film won a BAFTA scholarship to study Documentary Direction at The National Film & Television School. My work since has taken me to challenging environments as far a field as Greenland, Siberia and Zimbabwe, collaborating with convicted murderers, tiger hunters and property tycoons.
Shooting for other directors has kept a roof over my head for 17 years, and allowed me to pursue personal projects of my own, crafting dramatic stories on the borders of documentary and fiction.
In 2006 I was nominated for an RTS AWARD in Documentary Lighting and Photography for the film 'Arctic Crime & Punishment'. My subsequent film, 'Conflict Tiger' (2006), won 17 international film festival prizes, which was followed by another environmental thriller, 'Hadwin's Judgement' (2015), a doc./drama hybrid which was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards, for Best Feature Documentary and Best Cinematography in a Documentary.
I am also Creative Director at SPARK FILMS which makes short films for marketing, branding, education and recruitment.

subset: commoncrawl


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Busy month for North Cork Radio Club/
North Cork Radio Group is gearing up for their August eventsincluding activations by NCRG. No less than 3 field days are planned, making these events no. 7, 8 and 9 for NCRG in 2012.
Wednesday 8-August: a UNIQUE activation; Spike Island on the Air - CASHOTA reference: EI019/C
Saturday 18-August: Blackrock Castle Observatory - CASHOTA reference: EI009/C
Sunday 19-August: Roches Point Lighthouse - ILLW reference: EI0010
Events are always free to attend, and we welcome all visitors at Blackrock Castle and Roches Point Lighthouse.


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For six years the PLL Summit has captivated and inspired attendees and this year promises to be no exception! The 2016 PLLIP Summit: Strategic Impact explores how legal information professionals can advance their services and contribute to organizational success in deliberate and critical ways. Last year's Innovation Imperative was all about the What – this year we will take the What and move forward to the How.
The Keynote for the 2016 Summit will address current realities in the legal industry as a whole, touching upon the interplay between strategic actions and success or failure. This sets the stage for an interactive session on strategic thinking and strategic planning that will merge theory and practice in engaging and practical ways. Breakout electives in the afternoon offer participants the opportunity to assess their current service levels and pinpoint next level opportunities, along with practical ways to identify and overcome barriers. As in Summits past, we will feature high-caliber and dynamic speakers well-acquainted with the legal marketplace and with strategy formulation. Please return to this page for updates as additional program details become available.
There will also be a fantastic networking opportunity at the opening reception on Friday evening before the Summit.
Separate registration is required for the Summit, and is found on the AALL Annual Meeting Registration form. Watch for more information about registration here.


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Miami-Dade County
Cutting back on grass cutting has Miami-Dade park-goers mad (and itchy)
Of all the ways to track Miami-Dade's budget woes, a yardstick offers the best measure at the county park in Biscayne Shores.
The grass there this week neared the two-foot mark, thanks to a rainy summer colliding with Miami-Dade's new austerity mowing program. Slated to shave about $2 million off the county's $6 billion budget, the strategy has parks, median strips and roadsides waiting up to eight weeks longer for visits by tax-funded mowing squads.
The result may be the most visible evidence yet of the county's current budget squeeze, with shaggy grass drawing complaints throughout Miami-Dade.
"Quite honestly, I'm embarrassed as a county commissioner in terms of the height of the grass,'' said Dennis Moss, who represents some of the most rural areas of Miami-Dade in his southern district. "We don't cut the grass and do the things that world-class communities do."
Facing a property-tax shortfall this spring, Miami-Dade pared down its mowing schedule for the county's 70 neighborhood parks from 12 times a year to nine. Parks with ball fields or recreational centers receive more attention, and their current mowing schedule of 16 visits a year was cut to 12. The parks department mows medians and roadsides, too, and some are only being cut five times a year under the new plan.
The new regimen went into effect in March, and park administrators say their complaint files show residents aren't happy.
"People don't like to walk through high grass. They feel like it itches them," said Kevin Kirwin, assistant director of operations for the county's parks system. "We are hearing it loud and clear."
Miami-Dade has cut back on cutting in the past to save money. In 2005, at the height of the real estate bubble, Miami-Dade mowed neighborhood parks 28 times a year. That dropped to 24 in 2008, as the recession began, and then dwindled down to 12 when the 2014 budget year began. The current regimen to nine mowings amounts to a nearly 70 percent reduction over 10 years — from grass being cut an average of once every 13 days to once every 41 days.
The thriving ground cover at the Biscayne Shores & Gardens park near the intersection of Northeast 14th Avenue and Northeast 116th Street may be one the most dramatic examples of overgrowth at the moment, since the lush stretch of shade trees and walking paths is slated to be mowed this week. It would be the first time since June, parks officials said. A recent visit with a yardstick showed the grass topping 22 inches — high enough that residents said they worried about what might be lurking underneath.
"My kids would be on the grass and running around" if the park was mowed, John La France, an unemployed retail worker, said as his 7-year-old girl and 5-year-old son hovered near a fence with a video game. "You don't know if a snake is going to be coming."
In Kendall, Julie Balzano wrote Mayor Carlos Gimenez and recounted how her teenage son and friends set out to play football one day at the nearby Kendale Park. "Unfortunately, they couldn't as the grass hasn't been mowed and its excessive length has made it impossible to play on," Balzano wrote in a July 28th email. "It was thigh high in some areas!!"
Miami-Dade's current budget squeeze stems in part from a 2011 property-tax cut, which is expected to cost Miami-Dade about $140 million in lost revenue for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. On top of that, union concessions also secured in 2011 are set to expire on Oct. 1, adding about $40 million in personnel expenses tied to property taxes.
Gimenez designed his proposed budget to absorb the costs by eliminating about 600 county positions and imposing other service cuts unless unions agree to extend the concessions. Last month, a majority of commissioners mostly backed Gimenez's plan to keep tax rates flat next year, but did approve a higher library tax to avoid the mayor's plan to dismiss dozens of librarians.
Given the countywide cuts in the mayor's budget, Gimenez aides say grass height can't be a priority.
"We're in very challenging budgetary times, and it's not just lawn mowing," said Mike Hernández, Gimenez's communications director. "Mayor Gimenez would like to have all services operating at maximum capacity. But until we actually resolve our budgetary issues, we're doing the best we can."
While the 2015 parks budget includes no new money for grass cutting, parks administrators say next summer shouldn't be as bad. The cutting cutbacks were imposed in March thanks to what the administration said was an unexpected loss of about $30 million in property-tax revenue tied to valuation appeals.
The parks department was under orders to cut about $1.7 million from its mowing budget this year, but only had six months left in the fiscal year. Administrators said they had no choice but to strip mowing cycles out of the summer schedule. For 2015, they still plan $1.7 million in savings over 2013 levels, but will cut back mowing during the winter months and then spend more during the rainy summer.
Parks "will still have higher grass," said Jack Kardys, Miami-Dade's parks director. "But it will be better than what we're seeing now."
Under the 2015 plan, neighborhood parks like Biscayne Shores would be mowed nine times a year, with only two mowings scheduled four a four-month stretch between February and May, and a single mowing slated for the eight weeks that make up August and September. Larger parks slated for 12 mowings would lose their twice-a-month visits in January, March, April and July.
Despite the service cuts, the county's $134 million parks budget is slated for a slight increase next year, to $138 million. Kardys said higher labor costs and other expenses left him needing to cut about $5 million from the budget, including reduced hours at the county-owned Zoo Miami and eliminating about 80 full-time positions.
This will be the first time in two years Miami-Dade hasn't used hotel taxes to significantly bolster the parks budget, saying there are no surplus dollars left for the department from that funding pool. Under its new management agreement at the county-owned AmericanAirlines Arena, the Miami Heat now contribute $1 million a year to the parks department, and the team recently turned over $2 million to Miami-Dade thanks to a provision requiring a double payment for 2014.
Kardys said the extra money wasn't enough to allow for more aggressive grass trimming.
"There are more needs," he said.


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Monday, 31 October 2016
Drip Cakes - Versions 1, 2 and 3
You guys, I am totally obsessed with drip cakes at the moment. One of my favourite things to do is avidly watch cake decorating videos on Instagram and I cannot get enough of watching drip cakes get put together.
If you haven't come across a drip cake just yet (they're getting more common but I think they're not everywhere just yet, except perhaps in Australia) then prepare to get gushing. In my opinion the best drip cakes are tall, flamboyant, have a drip in a contrast to the icing and are unashamedly OTT.
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Published on 12-28-2018 07:02 PM
It seems we are going to get the new Toyota Supra design piece by piece. These two images were posted by Toyota Germany before being pulled. The official Supra debut is supposed to take place next month but someone in Germany made a mistake. ...
3D printed engine internals the future of motor building? Metal printed pistons and hollow stem titanium valvesPublished on 12-21-2018 04:24 PM
At the 2018 PRI (Performance Racing Industry) show the Oerlikon Group had 3D metal printed pistons and hollow stem titanium valves on display. 3D metal printers are expensive tools that are becoming more and more popular and they can do a variety of things. ...Published on 12-19-2018 06:43 PM
This is amusing and kind of sad at the same time. Toyota is marketing the MKV Supra as having a historical link to their inline-6. That is fine except of course the motor is not Toyota's but BMW's. Calling the 3.0 liter 'legendary' when it is not even their own design is awkward at best. ...Published on 12-18-2018 07:11 PM
The second generation Acura NSX is a sales flop but perhaps tuners can make it a bit more exciting. With a 3.5 liter twin turbo V6 plus three electric motors this thing should be a rocket. Well, it isn't. ...Published on 12-18-2018 05:21 PM
It truly is incredible what tuners extract from the Evo platform. This Mitsubishi Evo 9 was built by AG Autosports and tuned by Crispeed Tuned. It is making power that will make the majority of guys on this network envious. ...Published on 12-18-2018 04:33 PM
Sport Auto is a German publication and a funny thing happens when German publications include a Porsche against world rivals. The Porsche tends to win. Which is interesting because their comparison test includes the Ferrari 488 Pista which is destroying everything in its path. ...Published on 12-14-2018 10:11 PM
Pure Turbos has an upgrade for almost every stock housing these days. Add the Kia Stinger 3.3 liter twin turbo V6 to that list. Pure upgrades the factory housings with their own billet spec compressor and turbine wheels. ...Published on 12-12-2018 05:25 PM
The Supra forums are going nuts because they have a photo of the front of the production version of the MKV Toyota Supra. The design looks exactly as expected. Is it really all that attractive? ...
The impact of switching from Pirelli P Zero Corsa to Toyo R888R tires has on a McLaren 720S 1/4 mile timePublished on 12-10-2018 07:10 PM
In a drag race, traction off the line is everything. If you want to improve your elapsed time you need to improve your 60 foot or short time. The rule of thumb is that every tenth the 60 foot is reduce results in a two tenth reduction in the 1/4 mile elapsed time. ...Published on 11-28-2018 01:44 AM
Automotive magazines are not what they used to be and today survive predominantly on their established relationships with automakers. Many of those automakers are not afraid to abuse those relationships as the magazines are dependent on exclusive content to stay relevant. ...Published on 11-14-2018 08:01 PM
Holy crap. What do you even say to this? A 7-second Mitsubishi Evo 8 from English Racing that runs 7.72 @ 190.04 in the 1/4 mile. This was not some glory pass either as they ran 7-second passes four times. ...Published on 11-13-2018 08:28 PM
You have to give HRE props here for doing something different as their new designs seemed to stagnate. The end result here is not the most aesthetically pleasing wheel as it looks like something out of a Lego Technic kit but it certainly is different and points toward future design methods. ...
Ferrari back? 488 Pista dominates Autocar 2018 Best Driver's car field including McLaren 600LT, Porsche 991.2 GT3 RS, F87 M2 Competition, Audi R8 RWS, etc.Published on 11-07-2018 06:13 PM
McLaren kicked dust in Ferrari's face since they launched the MP4-12C back in 2011. It was not even close between the two. Well, it appears the 488 Pista is Ferrari finally fighting back if Autocar's 2018 best driver's car results are to be believed. ...
Prometh Volute methanol injection able to get another 2-3 psi out of a compressor and increase efficiency?Published on 11-06-2018 03:12 PM
This is an interesting setup and drag racers have messed around with volute injection for a while now. Essentially, you are spraying water/methanol directly into the compressor housing. Prometh says this increases the efficiency of the compressor output. ...Published on 11-05-2018 04:23 PM
Everyone knows the advantages of carbon fiber and various modern composites. Light weight while having very high strength. Metal still rules the engine building world but consider carbon fiber connecting rods for a moment. ...


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We had sunshine today, the first for a few weeks.
Nice to feel the sun when out on the platform, but good things don't last as we then had a Tornado!
Now let me explain for those who think that the station zoomed up in the air as though it was in the Wizard of Oz Film.
Down at Sandy in Bedfordshire the locomotive Tornado hauling a tour decided to fail, at the time of writing this I have seen no definitive reasons being posted.
Anyway, it was towed slowly to Peterborough station then onto our railway so that inspection and possibly repairs could be carried out.
It arrived at Orton Mere behind a class 66 and was complete with support coach. The class 66 dropped off the loco and one of our own diesels, a class 14 hauled it down to the main Wansford station. It provided something for passers by to watch and something for the non-paying public to come and photograph.
Here are four images, two of the class 66, one of the class 14 and one of Tornado as it left for Wansford.
Click on the images for larger versions.
It was an interesting Saturday, let's see what tomorrow brings!!


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The 'era' of Punk was the extreme counter-culture of the day. The frustration, anxiety and resistance to the status-quo consolidated into the 'Punk' movement. And, at the center of that movement were the 'Sex Pistols'. Whose music was raw, brazen, brash, and as one reviewer wrote; "The lyrics are iconoclastic and yet resonate with relevance". The lead singer was none other than 'Johnny Rotten'.
Fast forward 40 years and we find a recent editorial video by Paul Joseph Watson making the observation and comparison of the current sociopolitical environment that "Populism is the new Punk". And, he's included a current video of Pierce Morgan interviewing 'Johnny Rotten' commenting on current events. Saying things like;
"Where do I stand on Brexit? Well here it goes, the workin class spoke and I'm one of them, and I'm with them"
(Re: The Donald) "As one journalist once said to me 'Is he the political Sex Pistol'? What I really dislike is the left-wing media in America trying to smear the bloke as a racist and that's completely not true. He terrifies politicians and this is Joy to behold"
Funny how the national populist movement is now considered "The New Punk" by Mainstream Everything. Looked down upon, and denigrated in the same manner that the Sex Pistols were some 40 years ago. Guess we must be on to something, YES!
To watch the full editorial video from Paul Joseph Watson (CLICK HERE)
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Zone overlay for senior housing opposed by neighbors
"Not in our 1-acre zone!"
So said neighbors near the corner of Settlers Trail and Locust Hill Road who don't want to see the former Knobel Brothers hardware store turned into multiple units of senior housing.
The Darien Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed amendment to its R-1 Residence Zone, which would create an overlay zone to allow multi-family age-restricted developments in some 1-acre-zoned locations throughout town.
Applicant Penelope Glassmeyer, who owns 40 Locust Hill Road, would like to see around seven units of affordable housing for seniors on her 3-acre property.
"Our objective here is to create an overlay zone for what you would call empty-nester folks," Robert Maslan, Glassmeyer's attorney, said. Residents would have to be age 62 or older to be eligible. "It gives them an opportunity to stay in Darien. They don't have to go elsewhere for the purpose of nice quality, downsized homes as they get in their later years."
Noting that Darien has a lower percentage of senior housing compared with the rest of the state, yet a need exists, Maslan said, "This is a nice way to deal with that particular market."
While several commissioners expressed their approval for the proposal, several neighbors were opposed.
"In our neighborhood we have a 1-acre restriction ...," Jennifer Pride said. "It's not supposed to be anything different than that, (but) it's being thrown out the window, which is very disconcerting to me."
Pride and others noted the area was a family neighborhood with many children, and not conducive to senior living. "It's sort of a strange place to design a place for empty nesters," she said.
"We are very loud," Shana Hurkala said. "It's not a senior citizen-type situation.
"I don't want to say not in my backyard," she said, "but there has to be some sort of opportunity as a neighborhood to say what is appropriate for our neighborhood."
In speaking favorably of the zone change, commissioner Richard DiDonna said, "The pre-existing use was a hardware store, so this would be an improvement."
Hurkala and others said they expected -- and in fact desired -- some form of development, including another hardware store.
"But what we do need to consider (is) why we need to max out the units in the space," said Hurkala, adding that even large house constructions -- "McMansions" -- at least conform to the regulations.
"But your basic objection is not to McMansions," DiDonna said. "It's to senior-citizen living."
"Yeah, I don't have an objection to McMansions," she said.
Several neighbors, including Eric Whitney, said the motivation for the proposal was financial and that the commission shouldn't implement the overlay simply to pad the pockets of developers.
"I don't think it's any coincidence that it's incredibly more profitable for a developer," Whitney said about allowing increasing the number of permitted units.
"I respectfully submit that it is not a limited adjustment to the R-1 zone," he said. "It represents a wholesale abandonment of the central premise of our zoning ... one home per 1-acre tract, single family. Both of those would be completely abandoned in the overlay."
Commissioner John Sini noted that the benefit of the zoning overlay spoke to the Town Plan of Conservation and Development, which encourages opportunities for various kinds of housing in Darien.
"It's somewhat tied to affordable housing," he said. "This project, if brought forward, would bring benefits ... outside of padding the pockets of a developer."
"As a commission, we're very sensitive to the need," he said, noting that the commission remains open to ideas that can help foster solutions.
"There has been a need expressed ..." he said. "How we do that is what we're struggling with as a commission."
He added, "I just want to make it very clear that this has nothing to do with enriching somebody."
After the public hearing, which was continued to July 10, Glassmeyer said money was not her motive.
"I'm really only doing this because I feel like I'm destined to do it," she said. "It's definitely not to make money."
P&Z Chairman Susan Cameron said, "I have to be honest with you, I commend Penny (Glassmeyer) for coming up with what I think is a very creative idea.
"I'm totally supportive of an overlay of some sort because I think we need this kind of housing."
Jarret Liotta is a freelance writer.


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Reasons Why Information Technology Is Essential For Education Sector
Education is one of the most essential needs in today's context. One cannot simply live a meaningful life without obtaining proper education. Almost every country work hard in order to make their education sector a better one. Presently, we can see that there are many institutions and other organizations that are in the education sector using Information Technology. Main reason as to why they do so is because they want to stay efficient. There are a few more reasons why Information technology is essential for the education sector.
Manage student information
Whether it is a school or any other institution, there will be various students who come to obtain education. It is important to keep records on their identity, the subjects that they take, grades and etc. Information Technology is with no doubt a great help in order to collect such information and store them properly so that they can be used or referred to if any need arises. There are business intelligence solution service providers who have developed different software solutions in order to help analyze marks and make decisions about students in addition to managing their information.
Many institutions in the education sector already use such systems in order to make their daily tasks easier. These are similar to banking business intelligence solutions in the banking sector.
Conduct exams
The traditional method of answering questions to an exam would be simply writing down the answers on a paper with the help of a pen. But, with certain advancements in the technology, student can now face their examinations online or access mock exams through the internet. This will not only save paper and reduce cost. It will also improve the quality of methodology and give more time to students. It will also be a better way since some students face unpleasant situations while trying to write fast.
Better learning
There are many sources such as e-books, journals and etc. that can be easily accessed through various websites. These days, people do not have to visit libraries and refer a dozen of books in order to find a small piece of information. Instead, they can simply search the internet to find the answers they desire without much of a hassle. This will not only save time but, also will save money spent on buying various expensive books and on library memberships.
Education is one of the most significant sectors in a country because it helps in shaping human minds and making people see the world in a better way. There are various tasks that are fulfilled with the use of Information Technology pertaining to this sector. However, it is important to notice that these methods should be used while considering other ways in giving practical experiences to students.


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Perak Cave (Perak Tong)
Founded in 1926 by a Buddhist priest, Perak Tong temple complex extends back into an impressive complex of caverns and grottoes with amazing murals on the interior walls, including some interesting juxtapositions of Theravada Buddhas from Southeast Asia and Chinese Buddhas and Buddhist saints.
Beyond the main altar, there is a passage which leads into the cave's interior. One will definitely be fascinated with the mystical mural paintings found on the cave's walls as well as the numerous statues. Be prepared to bring a tripod into the temple for pictures as the interiors are often very dark and only lighted by candles. Visitors can access the narrow staircase that leads to the upper part of the temple and the monks quareters. After a steep climb of 385 steps, the cave opens again to reveal a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside and a small garden and pavilion.


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Agency staff are particularly vulnerable to dry spells when it comes to being offered work. That's why we thought we'd share these 3 key tips to make sure you are making the most of the school holiday and getting yourself ready for when schools go back.
1 – Keep the work flowing
If you've had a busy half term going into schools and covering for days, weeks or even the whole term so far, then you may not be too worried about whether you'll continue to keep working once school goes back. However, supply work can be a fickle beast, and you should never become complacent about what you need to do in order to keep the phone ringing with offers of assignments. Some useful things you can do during half term are:
- Touch base with your consultant – make sure they are 100% clear on your availability in the coming weeks, and that this is reflected in your file and online supply diary.
- Check that no paperwork is outstanding. If an item of your compliance paperwork becomes out of date then the flow of work could stop abruptly – so double check with your agency that this will not hold you back, and action anything of importance while the schools are on down-time.
- Update your CV and references. This one is really important because you may have acquired key skills or knowledge during the last half term which are not currently reflected on your CV. Can you afford to under-sell yourself in a competitive job market? Or to miss out on the fantastic comments that your last school may make about you on your latest reference?
2 – Make sure your pay arrangements are up to date
Hopefully, you are organised and won't have any pay outstanding from the last half term. However, school holidays are a great time for checking through your work diary and comparing to your pay slips to check that you are not missing payment for any work completed. If you spot any errors, speak to your consultant or payroll company who should be able to assist you.
Now is also a good time to print off some timesheets and check that you are ready to face the new half term. There is nothing more annoying than getting to the end of the working day and realising that you have no timesheets in your bag to get your work signed off, so print some out and add them to your school bag. Fortunately, most Axcis schools use our online system, but it's still a good idea to carry some paper timesheets with you anyway.
3 – Update your resource kit
Supply staff sometimes have to rely quite heavily on their own resources. This could be because the usual class teacher has been called away for unforeseen reasons and work has yet to be set. Or it could be simply because you have some bright sparks in your group who have already completed the work which was left by the usual teacher. Whatever the reason, it is essential that supply teachers carry a range of worksheets and activities so that they are not caught out. Axcis has lots of useful SEND resources, so why not see what we've added in the last half term and bump up your kit for when you go back to school?
Already done these things? Then how about referring friends to us?
If you are super organised and already have all these things in hand, why not speak to your friends or put a shout out on Facebook to see if anyone you know is looking for SEND teaching or support work? Axcis runs a fantastic referral scheme which could help keep you quids-in when supply work goes quiet. Here's how it works:
- Send Axcis the name and contact information for any friends who are seeking work
- If they register and start work, once they complete 20 days, you will receive:
- £100 shopping vouchers for your first referral
- £150 shopping vouchers for your second referral
- £200 shopping vouchers for your third referral
- £250 shopping vouchers for your fourth and any further referrals*
That's £700 in shopping vouchers if you refer 4 friends to us!
*Term and conditions apply


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Applying for Financial Aid
HGST offers financial aid in the form of scholarships, veterans benefits and federal student loans. Each of these forms of financial aid is subject to different standards of eligibility and different means of application. For information about the eligibility and application for HGST scholarships, please refer to the scholarship page of the HGST website; or contact the Financial Aid Office. Students who have confirmed their eligibility for Veterans benefits through the Veterans Administration may contact the registrar's office for information concerning using those funds to obtain a degree at HGST. Nearly 60% of our student body receives aid in the form of federal student loans; unsubsidized (non-need based) loans through the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. Graduate Students are eligible for up to $20,500 in Stafford Loans per year. The Cost of Attendance determines how much a student may be eligible for during a given period. All student loans must be repaid.
Applying for Federal Student Aid
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our school code is G23202.
- Review the Student Aid Report (SAR) that will be emailed to you after you complete the FAFSA.
- Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling.
- Notify Linda Long, our financial aid officer, to schedule an appointment to complete the required paperwork.
- Read the Financial Aid Handbook.
- Complete the electronic Master Promissory Note.
- CashCourse click here
Maintaining Eligibility for Federal Student Loans
Determining financial aid eligibility is the joint responsibility of the federal government and the school. The Financial Aid administrator is responsible for adhering to and monitoring eligibility requirements.
Federally Determined Eligibility Criteria
The Federal government reviews a student's eligibility by checking citizenship, social security number, Selective Service registration and student loan history, as well as other key criteria.
- Students who do not meet specific citizenship requirements are not eligible for federal aid.
- Students who have defaulted on a previous loan are not eligible to receive new loans.
School Determined Eligibility Criteria
- Students must be enrolled in a degree program. Non-degree students are not eligible to receive aid.
- Students must fulfill the Loan Counseling requirement when entering the Direct Loan program by completing counseling online at www.studentloans.gov.
- Students must complete a Master Promissory Note
- Students must make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which means a student must maintain a cumulative GPA that is consistent with their degree graduation standards and must be progressingtowards that degree at a satisfactory pace.
- Students must complete the verification process if the government flags the student for verification.
Common Reasons Aid is Withheld
- Failure to complete Entrance Counseling or a Master Promissory Note.
- Failure to complete the verification process.
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text: Last of this season smalls... I think. This is painted with a new paint from Mark Carder. Geneva Paints. I enjoy these little things. So small that its hard to detail and show volume. It has been a great exercise. I'll get back to them soon enough but I have some largish painting that I've been itching to do for a while. I'm going to get back into watercolors and starting a Outdoor Painting group for the spring.


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New method to measure the redundancy of information
Understanding information as well as its redundancy, or duplication, has been crucial in the development of many of our everyday items such mobile phones, the internet, the compact disc as well as ensuring the success of many space missions. Using information geometry tools, researchers at the University of Hertfordshire, led by Dr Daniel Polani have developed a new mathematically precise method of measuring information redundancy, as published in Physical Review E.
Most of us are familiar with the notion of "redundancy", where there is a duplication of concepts – sometimes the duplication is for reasons of safety, but other times it is unintended. For example, critical machinery such as airplanes or satellites have "redundant" components built into systems to ensure continued operation in the event of some parts failing. Similarly, information or data can also be redundant. Sometimes, this redundancy is intentional, such as in the case of computer backups. However, on other occasions, the redundancy is an unintentional and unnecessary duplication, such as in saying "poodle dog" – we know that we are referring to a dog whether we say "poodle" or we say "dog". Such unnecessary duplication can impact on data compression, data storage or unnecessarily increase the effort required to administrate data.
Dr Daniel Polani, Reader in Artificial Life in the University of Hertfordshire's School of Computer Science, said: "We often infer information on one variable based on the observations of another linked variable. For example, observing a person entering a house with a wet umbrella allows one to infer that there is a good likelihood that it is raining outside. Traditionally, this approach, called 'Mutual Information', was a good way to measure the degree of redundancy with respect to each of the two linked variables."
However, this simple approach fails when extended to three variables since they can interact in a very complicated way. A new approach was needed to measure redundancy for a system with three variables.
The new method developed by Dr Polani's team measures redundancy in a system with three variables. This new measure captures many of the intuitive properties of redundancy, with the added bonus of a novel information-geometric interpretation, which has not been done before. It measures how much the information in one variable lies "in the same direction" with respect to the other variable that you want to know more about.
This novel method of measuring redundancy has applications for researchers in a variety of different fields. One immediate use is to track how information flows through a system which promises to be a very valuable tool in neuroscience and the study of networks, agents and other complex scenarios where it is essential to trace the origin and the effects of information flow.


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We are so excited about revving up episodes of our new webseries What's Up, City Kid?! Have you subscribed to our YouTube page so you don't miss a thing?? I hope so, because you're in for some fun!! In each episode, Tristin + Tyler take you around the coolest cities and give you the scoop on the best activities and media for kids!
In Episode 3, we head to Brooklyn to visit the offices of 9ate7 Productions, the creators of one of the coolest shows on PBS, Peg + Cat. It's all about making math exciting in this fun, elegantly musical, pre-school series which follows Peg and her adorable Cat named...well, Cat! -- as they solve problems in Mathtroplis using their math skills. Tristin + Tyler have the fun job of finding out how this creative series is made, and they're sharing it all with YOU! From the graph paper background to the hand painted illustrations, this award-winning show, and its awesome creative team, is oozing ingenuity and we can't wait to share the episode with you!
Stay tuned for the episode next week!! While you're waiting, check out some photos below and be sure to check out Peg + Cat, here!
xo, Tiffany


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Antique Atelier - The Victorian Sweet Pearl Ring
Handcrafted in rich 15ct Gold, The Victorian Sweet Pearl Ring was born in 1868 during the height of Queen Victoria's reign. Featuring two rows of captivating seed pearls held in an expertly carved multi-claw setting, the effortless elegance makes this ring a jewellery box essential!
The condition is excellent for it's age, with full hallmarks for 1868, one seed pearl replacement, and a robust shank with lots of years of wear left in it!
Item Details:
Era: Victorian (1868)
Metal: 15ct Gold
Pearls: 14x 2mm
Setting: 16mm x 5.2mm
Band Width: 2.2mm
Ring Size: UK: L 1/2 US: 6
The Victorian Sweet Pearl Ring will arrive beautifully packaged in an Ivy Nixon gift box!


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Last political post before the presidential election and then I'll shut up for another 4 years. I consider myself to be a holistically pro-life Christian. What that means to me is I believe we need to do a better job as a society in working together to find effective, practical and compassionate solutions to END war, abortion, the death penalty, lack of affordable and quality health care, inequity in education, inequity in wages, a discriminatory justice system, domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse, gun violence, street violence, bullying, denial of basic human rights based on race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, and appearance, and all other issues that degrade the dignity of the life we were given by our creator God. We were made to live in community with one another, NOT in individual silos where it's every man/woman for him/herself.
Yes, my Christian faith DOES affect my vote, as it should, because my faith affects my values! I firmly respect the right for ALL individuals to vote their conscience, but I will defend myself against any individual who claims to follow Christ but says I am not a "real Christian" because of the way I vote or live out my Christian values. My prayer is that people on both sides of the aisle can come together over some common values and find solutions, instead of continuing to demonize one another.
We have a choice between two people for president tomorrow, and I am voting for the person whose values I believe fall closest in line with mine.
I am voting for Barack Obama.
**From my facebook page. May be the last thing I post on this dormant blog before I start my new blog come January.


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Fees for sessions are $140 with payment at time of session.
- Adults: $140
- Students: $ 125
- Children (under 16): $ 5/5 min. segment
- Extended Session (90 min.): $ 195
- I give discounts for children, students, and families. I also give discounts for teachers, firefighters, those in public service and safety, and non-profit/volunteer work.
I wish to make this work available to anyone who desires it. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you have about payment.
Home Visits
Can be arranged if necessary. Talk to Scott about charge that usually includes time and travel fees.
Visa and MasterCard accepted. Insurance companies rarely cover this work in Virginia. Health Savings Accounts and Flex Accounts accepted.


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ana guerra perez, Anita Patricia Guerra PEREZ /familia GUERRA PEREZ
On this page I'll describe each member of my family. Here's an example of a format I might use.
Here I might describe my Mom, including such information as where and when she was born and where she went to school. I'll
also write about where she works and some of her interests.
Here I might describe my Dad, including such information as where and when he was born and where he went to school. I'll also
write about where he works and some of his interests.
My Children
Here I might write about my children. I will write when they were born and what grade they are currently in. I will also mention
some the teams and organizations they are involved with.
Other Relatives
Here I might talk about other people in my family, or include a picture of all of us together at some special event.
Ana Patricia Guerra Perez


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This trip has been the most amazing experience in many years.
The spoiled and care shown was incredibly special, not to mention the amazing food served & prepared by the chef. I will have …. memories of the islands visited and sailing experience.
Hope to be back soon! All the best going forward with your ventures!


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Uncertainty Training Therapy
Psychologically speaking, koans are a unique way to inoculate a human mind to the anxiety of uncertainty. When we encounter uncertainty, we are stumped. Uncertainty frustrates us with its enigmatic nonsense. Koans, in their unanswerable quality, effectively simulate such moments of uncertainty. Author Hee-Jin Kim explains: the koans are "realized, not solved" (1975, 101). Admittedly, this explanation is a bit of a puzzle itself. But here's how I make sense of it. A koan, once again, is an unanswerable puzzle. If we take it on, we begin banging our head against the wall of the unknown. At some point, we realize that there is no solution, and we settle into a don't-know mind. This realization, of course, comes up pretty early in the koan work. And it serves as the true beginning, not the end of the process. Knowing in advance that you are working with an unanswerable question, you accept your limitations. No longer trying to know the unknowable, you calmly remain with the question in a state of not knowing. Knowingly, you keep chasing the tail of not knowing in a process that, I believe, very much parallels the day-to-day mystery of life. Thus, the potential therapeutic value of koan work as a kind of one-question-therapy that can help soothe the perfectionistic thirst for answers.
Here are a few of the koans [from the Present Perfect book] that I developed to challenge perfectionistic thinking for my clients:
What color is approval?
What is your mind full of when you are a success?
What is your mind full of when you are a failure?
How much would you pay for a pound of certainty?
How do you add to what already is?
How perfect are you when you sleep?
When you think "I am not good enough," who thinks that?
When you think "I think that," who thinks that?
What word do you want to be?
What shall you do with these self-help koans? Here's some Buddhist guidance on answering questions:
"There are [...] four ways of answering questions. Which four? There are questions that should be answered categorically [straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are questions that should be answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or redefining the terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a counter-question. There are questions that should be put aside." (Buddha)
As a I see it, a koan is a kind of question that you mull over at length and then you put it aside.
I'll be sharing a few more of these koans in a follow-up post.
[Reference: Panha Sutta, as translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu]


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Help home
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Spiked Apple Cider
- Category: Holiday, Beverages
- Print Recipe
Inspired to put some apples to work in an (adult) beverage? Try some spiked apple cider!
- ¼ gallon apple cider
- ½ cup dark rum (preferably spiced) or 50 ml of apple brandy, for a twist
- ½ cup cinnamon schnapps
- 1 apple peeled, cut into large chunks
- 1 lemon, juiced
Mix together the cider, rum, schnapps etc. in large pitcher.
Add apple chunks to a small bowl and toss with lemon juice and then thread the chunks through skewers.
Pour into mason jars or chilled glassware and garnish each with the skewered apple chunks.
Leave a comment
More Holiday Recipes
With Coconut Whipped Cream


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Saturday, September 30, 2006
Since Paris Fashion Week starts tomorrow I thought it was a good time to profile a Paris based designer whose elusive clothes I've been chasing for most of this year.
I've briefly swooned over Lovisa Burfitt's aesthetic here before. What makes her clothes all the more covetable is the difficulty in actually buying any of them. The Burfitt collection is only stocked at TwoSee here in London, and they never have more than one or two pieces which are of course never the ones I want. In June I had an appointment to view the whole Burfitt collection at her press office in Paris and - laziness strikes again, I thought I'll just go and have a look in the shops that stock her collection instead. I went to all of them - admittedly there's only a few, such as Olga, and the collection is only produced in small runs. Could I find even one T - shirt? As soon as the shops received the T-shirts featuring her trademark illustrations of Kate Moss, or any of her supercute sailor shorts, they were snapped up. The shorts are now available online at Creatures of Comfort for those of you lucky enough to have no thighs. And that's the thing. It's more the whole vibe that gets my heart racing. The styling and photographs by Julia Hetta on the Burfitt website and the distinctive Lovisa look of previous collections.
I could never pull off those sailor shorts, (probably couldn't even get them on, harhar) and although I love the little mask and headpiece things, they're more of an editorial fantasy item than something I'd actually wear. Burfitt isn't on the official Paris show schedule but I'm sure she'll be presenting her collection somehow, somewhere low key in Paris and I'm pretty sure it will be amazing.
I reckon Selfridges will eventually pick up on her in a year or two, like they did with Vanessa Bruno and Isabel Marant. But for now I'll content myself with imagining I'm the kind of girl who could rock super long stirrup leggings and a white canvas micro rompersuit with heels. Sigh.
all images Julia Hetta
p.s: Lovisa's illustration work ain't too shabby either...
Posted by Claire at Saturday, September 30, 2006 2 comments:
I've been so lazy lately. You know when you keep obsessively reading blogs, then you check your own, expecting it to have been updated? Then..doh!
So Prada and Marni caused quite a stir didn't they? I keep leaving comments on blogs all over the place that posted about them both, so I might as well cobble together my thoughts in one place since...(at this point I have re-written a sentence eight times re: my "unique perspective in the blogosphere" when it comes to both companies and then deleted it due to possibility of getting sued and/or sounding irritatingly coy and witholding. Like that last bit sounds. Gah.) Er, shaky ground. Moving swiftly on!
Even my dad mentioned the Prada show. What jumped out at me were the leather belts. And thank God, those tunics were supposed to be tops not dresses.
I loved the wide bands of brown leather and elastic at Marni worn over thin fabrics - swoon! It was the brown that really got my attention.
I'm not one to jump on every single trend but this one I adapted for myself immediately. Yesterday I wore vintage YSL navy sailor trousers (I still wear them D!) and a burgundy thin cotton APC painter tunic, with a brown second hand men's leather belt that wrapped nearly twice around my waist. It was definitely a nice step on from the wide belts in bright colours everyone's been cinching their waists with for ages.
And yep, I was too lazy to take a photo...
I really like the look of a floaty fabric tunic or dress with a bashed up, very masculine 'boyfriend' belt over the top.
Posted by Claire at Saturday, September 30, 2006 2 comments:
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Yesterday I toddled along to Christie's South Kensington to have a look at the 20th Century Fashion & Accessories Sale. Christie's was both much better and much worse than I'd imagined. Never having been to an auction house in my entire life before I'd imagined it as some sort of grand building with marble floors, something like the V&A museum nearby - everything in glass cases and an air of hushed reverence for the beautiful artefacts.
In reality Christie's South Ken resembles more of a storage warehouse, with tatty grey corporate carpeting throughout, and is in need of serious refurbishment (except for the auction room which is wood panelled and therefore fits my narrow criteria for what an auction room should look like). When I arrived I discovered that as well as the sale I'd come to view, there were also amongst others, a modern design sale and a film memorabilia sale. Oh my God. Three of my favourite things. There was also a Barbie sale but I could never relate to her - I was always more of a Sindy gal.
I found it really strange that everything from all the various sales was sort of mish mashed together. I had to hold myself back from rearranging a room full of Eames chairs and the like into more aesthetically pleasing arrangements than the way they'd been plonked haphazardly around the place. Some of the clothes from the sale I'd come to view were in the auction room where a Barbie auction was taking place. Every time I moved my arm to get a better look at something and heard the auctioneer say "to the lady in the back 300 pounds, bang", I panicked I'd inadvertently bought a 1984 Rollerdisco Barbie.
Now, something else I couldn't help noticing were the staff. I thought The Sloane Ranger was extinct. But no, a whole tribe of braying Sloanes are alive and well, and working as interns at Christie's. Yes, the Hugh Grant hair, the pink shirt and beige jumbo cords, the fnar fnar guffawing - if that does it for you, get down there and take your pick.
So any - way...now for the good bit. Are you ready? I met THE DRESS. The first thing I saw at Christie's which I was not prepared for was The Original Little Black Dress. Made by Hubert de Givenchy in satin for Audrey Hepburn and worn in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The very same one I've watched a million times on Audrey as she gets out of the yellow cab on 5th Avenue and eats her pretzel, (or is it a bagel?) and coffee whilst looking in the window of Tiffany's.
This one...
Guide price (auction in December) ahem, £50,000 - 80,000. It was just there, on a mannequin right in front of me. It was roped off but I could get close enough to touch it and see every little gather at the waist. I can confirm that Audrey was a teeny, perhaps less than size zero waif. Smaller even than you'd think. In her films they used to pad her waist and hips out because she was so slight.
After seeing that dress I started to think maybe the staff/decor thing wasn't remotely important. I walked ahead to a glass case full of vintage Hermes Kelly bags which - if you were in the market for a Kelly were quite a bargain I thought. I don't know how much they go for in the end but a vintage one was certainly cheaper than a brand new one. There was apparently a Birkin but I couldn't find it. Wouldn't you rather have a worn in battered Birkin than a brand new one? Christie's - my new favourite shop. Ha! Although I did start to think I would not be entirely bonkers if I bid on something.
For example there was a beautiful 70s Ossie Clark dress in black crepe with red and yellow panels (lot 436) with a guide price of £200 - £400. You would have it forever, pass it down to your children - hmm wasn't really considering having children but the old heirloom justification seems pretty solid doesn't it? Everything I picked out as "would bid on in imaginary life if had sugardaddy" was black. They were the pieces in the best condition but were also classic and wearable.
There was also a gorgeous in person Balenciaga skirt suit (lot 249) in thick black wool - the brown jacket I'd seen on the website and liked was practically falling apart, as were many of the lots. There was also a black Gucci trenchcoat with this amazing red printed lining - mint condition - sold! And the best bargain of all: the original design that inspired designers which then inspired the high street to make the rip offs everyone will be sporting this winter. A 1960s Pierre Cardin mini shift dress in thick black wool jersey (lot 379, sold with alligator shoes!) £150 - £250. Bargain!
Speaking of bargains and speaking of LBDs I was on a roll yesterday. If you happen to be near Marylebone High Street and are a British size 12, do pop down to the Cancer Research charity shop. Because they have a black satin Prada classic knee length shift dress with a wide neck and 3/4 length sleeves. And they are selling it for £90. (It was there at 6pm last night, you might want to phone them first to check they still have it.) Really, could I give you any more hot tips? Yes, in fact I can also tell you that round the corner from there at Jezebell in Blandford Street, if you go downstairs they have shoes by Lyell and Rupert Sanderson on sale for as little as £50! (R.S shoes usually cost closer to £400).
*Grrr, there was no point posting pics of the lots because the quality of them on the Christie's website is so bad. (click the links, then click enlarge) Their website is the clunkiest, most unresponsive pile of poo I have ever been reduced to tearing my hair out by. Excuse the haphazard linkage, the site just wouldn't play ball. So it's not just the staff and the carpet that's stuck in the 80s!
Posted by Claire at Wednesday, September 27, 2006 9 comments:
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The new issue of Bust Magazine featuring my guide to Paris is out today. (Pages 48-49) If you're in the U.K and don't know Bust, it is, to borrow a phrase from them, about women doing cool shit. I love that.
**Bust is a U.S publication. Here in the U.K it's stocked only at Borders as far as I know. I'll try and post a scan of my piece when I figure out how you do that!
**Bust is a U.S publication. Here in the U.K it's stocked only at Borders as far as I know. I'll try and post a scan of my piece when I figure out how you do that!
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9 comments:
Labels: Bust, me elsewhere, Paris
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Talk about airing your dirty laundry in public! I don't know who will eventually come off worse in this clash of the egos, but for today at least it provides a little insight into the kind of behaviour that passes for normal in the world of fashion PR.
Who said it stood for public relations?
via Almost Girl
Posted by Claire at Wednesday, September 20, 2006 6 comments:
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Otherwise yesterday's offerings from LFW prompted head in hands wailing of "No, no, no, wrong, so so wrong". I could appreciate what a kick arse cutter Todd Lynn is. The sharp rock and roll leather vibe is not my cup of tea, but compared to white bikinis that made even Lily Cole's thighs look a bit lumpy, polka dot bloomers and mono boob baring leopard print dresses it was a relief to see. There were O.K pieces in the collections I hated but the looks they sent out that no human would ever want to wear overshadowed any potential. Ack, I really was not expecting to have such a negative reaction, and slagging off people's work indiscriminately is not something I aim to do. It's just my personal opinion but I do find the kind of obvious, intended to be headline grabbing desperation of pulling those kind of stunts quite offensive.
One thing I really do like is off kilter preppy, and that's exactly what Peter Jensen's collection was.
I'd rather only mention the shows if I have something positive to say so the old er, commenting on LFW might be a bit less comprehensive than I thought.
image source
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 4 comments:
Monday, September 18, 2006
With all the excitement of New York fashion week from afar I found myself thinking "what am I gonna do now it's over?" I was all "Is Lam the new Lim?" And "Did you see how long and perfect all those editors' legs are?" And then I remembered, "Oh yeah, it's London fashion week, here, where I am." I have to lay my cards on the table a bit here and say that I, like many others had written LFW off over the past few years. I found it really hard to be interested, and made disparaging remarks along the lines of "what's the point?" on this blog, and in general.
That is really because of my personal history (ooooh) with LFW and of working in the British Fashion Industry. Ten years ago (I'm not as old as that makes me sound) I was down there at the tents, involved, excited - working my arse off for the latest Great Hope in exchange for bus fare and a couple of free dresses. But of the three Young British Designers I worked for at different times - all of whom were lauded as incredibly talented, winning New Generation awards and getting oodles of press coverage, two went bankrupt at the height of their success, and the other went stratospheric and is now one of the most successful designers in the world thanks in part to the backing of Gucci Group.
It's just so risky, heartbreaking and as one of my old bosses once said " one minute you've got a six page spread in Italian Vogue, the next you're being evicted from your studio because you can't pay the rent". And the reality of that happening is not at all glamorous or fun.
When I started styling I would go to the shows, but then I just...stopped. Completely jaded, I just couldn't muster the excitement of old. It was too small, too unprofessional, the clothes often badly executed. And you just knew that there wasn't much point remembering these names, because most of them wouldn't make it to the nest season.
I tentatively think things are changing, and I was surprised to find that for the first time in a long time there are a few shows I'm interested in. Today there's Noir and Richard Nicoll. Tomorrow Jonathan Saunders and the big ticket of the week, whose front row pictures will no doubt be splashed accross the newspapers the next day - Bella Freud for Biba. Wednesday there's Christopher Kane and the lovely Giles who I'm not scared to like because he seems to have solid backing and business sense. Not likely to drop off the edge of the world next week. And PPQ and Erdem on Friday. That's a big turnaround compared to last season when I looked at the schedule and groaned inwardly.
Obviously it's my attitude to it that's changed - or there's just enough going on to pique my interest. I'm just dipping my toe in again. I was going to wait until all the shows were over then do a little round up of my faves, (usually London wouldn't get a look in) but I might comment just a little bit on this week. We'll see. Honestly, I know I sound it, but I'm not 108 years old.
Posted by Claire at Monday, September 18, 2006 1 comment:
Thursday, September 14, 2006
I do believe this is the bestest thing ever.
p.s. Turn your speakers down if you're skiving at work!
via Amy Ruppel
And check out The Sartorialist's sterling snapping of fashion folk at N.Y fashion week over on Style.com.
p.s. Turn your speakers down if you're skiving at work!
via Amy Ruppel
And check out The Sartorialist's sterling snapping of fashion folk at N.Y fashion week over on Style.com.
Posted by Claire at Thursday, September 14, 2006 2 comments:
Oh mah sweet Lawd. I didn't think it could get any better than the Balenciaga exhibition I saw in Paris. I still haven't really got my head around the sheer amount of pristine condition, carefully archived pieces that were on display there. My favourite bit, apart from gossiping with E, was the video screens where they showed different eras of Balenciaga alongside each other. I was transfixed by the backstage footage - from the late 50's I think, where people were calmly sitting on actual chairs, models were wandering around sedately and Mr Balenciaga was taking his time over last minute adjustments. I half expected to see a butler come round with a tray of cucumber sandwiches and a pot of tea. I was born in the wrong era. So civilised!
But NOW Christie's is having a 20th Century Fashion and Accessories Sale here in London - which you can spend dreamy, starry eyed hours browsing here. There are 421 lots in all. I am quite taken with the Balenciaga mole fur lined jacket (Lot 243). It's so "Audrey relaxing during a break from filming when she was married to that Italian doctor bloke even though it's not by Givenchy".
There's quite a bit of (palpitating slightly now) impeccable 50's and 60's lots - mostly from bold face Parisian houses (The pics are terrible quality, you have to click on the thumbnails and enlarge to see any kind of detail). Although the actual auction is on the 28th September, it's open to the public between the 23rd and 27th September. Reserve prices are mostly between 300 and 500 British pounds which (ha!) makes it sound quite reasonable, but I wouldn't want to get into a bidding war with Cameron Silver and end up living on the street wearing a black gazar cocktail dress.
I can't wait to go and swoon, only I will have to wear a straightjacket so I can't do anything insane like register to bid.
Posted by Claire at Thursday, September 14, 2006 1 comment:
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
If you have Monica Geller tendencies (which I absolutely do) and gain joy and satisfaction from organising your underwear drawer, then THIS is for you.
It works! Oh the hours of fun I look forward to re-folding all my tops this way...
I found this through another blog but I can't remember which one, sorry for the lack of linkage!
Posted by Claire at Wednesday, September 13, 2006 6 comments:
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Yes, you Paris, you teaser. What a relief. I was a little apprehensive about this trip to Paris, after my last visit there a couple of months ago. I shouldn't have worried; I always have a completely different experience each time I go. I've experienced on various different visits the romantic Paris, fashion week Paris, tourist Paris, arty cultural Paris, literary Paris, student Paris, ex pat Paris etc etc - you get the picture. Last time I experienced 'cold shoulder' Paris.
But just before I left London this time I realised that I never allow myself to just relax there. Probably because I'm self employed and don't keep 'regular hours' I feel guilty so I always combine any trips with something work related, even though in my case something work related might be finding an interesting new designer or two and going shopping. I even feel guilty about the fact that that is part of my work! I'm starting to wonder who this person is that's judging me. Is it me, my conscience? Or what I think people will think? So even though I already feel guilty for work being something which sometimes gives me access to beautiful clothes and shopping on a huge scale, I kind of approach my Paris trips as if I'm prepping a styling job. I have my lists, and my information, I pound the pavements at such a pace to fit everything in, but I never just chillax, man. Once I worked that out and realised how ridiculous it was I decided to give myself a break. Literally. Even though I love shopping and clothes, for me it is also work. Did I just say the same thing in different ways about three times? Anyway. For me to relax I had to replace clothes with yum, food.
And I had a lovely, lovely time. I strolled about - sometimes looking at window displays, occasionally browsing in a couple of shops. It felt so good not to buy anything (whichever God judges me for buying bags at Vanessa Bruno was very proud) - I seem to have (temporarily I'm sure) cured myself of consumerism after throwing out so much stuff recently. I don't want more stuff. So I meandered and pottered, slowly taking everything in. I sat in cafes and thought about what I'd like to eat or drink next. I bought a couple of little things - a Charlotte Gainsbourg CD and some olive oil, but not some expensive investment piece of clothing like I usually always do. I suppose that's what NORMAL people do when they go on breaks. However I was tempted to buy the most decadent thing I have ever seen. GOLD PLATED PAPER CLIPS from purveyor of haute stationery Calligrane. They were beautiful round swirly ones that don't look like paper clips at all. In the end I bought the brass ones in the same shape because I couldn't stop thinking about all the other uses they could have except as paperclips. I should have kept schtum about that, now when I have my new chain necklace/belt/rings on people will snigger and say "Oh my God, she's wearing paperclips! And they're not even gold."
Pa-ris in fall...isn't that a song? There was no way I could think of to segue smoothly from paperclips...
I really did have a lovely time. Did I mention that? I went to the Balenciaga exhibition with the lovely Elisabeth and was also most honoured to meet the King himself, Negrito of Gritoland, and Mr. PrixdeFlore. At La Perle which has now become more mainstream popular since I first went there over a year ago (cos you know I'm so avantgarde) - still plenty of white jazz shoes but at the weekend lots of 'out of towners' and visitors who've heard about it.
I kept meeting Italian people everywhere which was great because I could actually speak to them in their language and not feel so bad about my hideous French. (At this point any Italians who know me will be thinking, "Lei non capische un cazzo d'Italiano" or something) But actually if someone addresses me in Italian, say at eight in the morning at the Red Kids market when I'm not awake enough for my brain to cut in and go "huh, but this is Paris, oh God am I using the right tense,and shit now all the French and Italian is mixed up, oh God they're gonna know". Then, I can speak Italian. And when I'm drunk of course.
There were also some other very important people I had to visit.
If you ever find yourself on the Quai de la Megisserie, with all the flowers, plants and pet shops please go and say hello to the kittens at Vilmorin. I have to visit them and you know, the staff, they just love me there. Oh how they chuckle indulgently when I play with the little ones through the gaps in the glass even though the entire place is plastered with 'Ne pas toucher, merci' signs. Not. Well what are you supposed to do when they stick their little paws out and want to play? I feel so sorry for them with their 1000 euro price tags, cooped up right next to puppies, yes puppies - how stressful! I used to worry about what, you know, happened to the pedigree kittens because I can't get my head around anyone wanting to actually BUY a cat in the first place. When rescue homes are bursting at the seams with cats that need a home, I really can't imagine that many people have 1000 euro's or more to spare on a kitten. But the man who works there and once, when it was quiet, let me take a little persian kitty out of the cage and hold him, told me they all go to good homes and I kind of really wanted to believe him. Oops I just wrote more about the kittens than anything else in Paris. You may have realised by now that mostly I prefer cats to humans, so there's no point trying to hide it.
I found a new (to me) favourite breakfast place as well. I usually go to Le Pain Quotidien which I love but it seems a bit silly because we have it in London and er, it's Belgian. So I was happy to discover that Heurtier bakery has a little cafe upstairs and they do breakfast. It's on Rue de la Verrerie and overlooks the little square at the end of rue du Bourg-Tibourg just before rue de Rivoli. The cafe has big plate glass windows overlooking the bustling square, and these cute pink and beige boucle tub chairs. The croissants are big and buttery, the tables are just right for notebook scribbling in peace and I was happy to be somewhere where all the other customers were French.
I have so much more to say but I think that's enough for now. So yay, I love Paris again, autumn may just be my favourite season there. I can't think of many things more beautiful than the Place des Vosges on a sunny day when the leaves are turning or the Place Dauphine, below....
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, September 12, 2006 6 comments:
......perfect breakfast, perfect lunch, mirabelles, mousse au chocolat
Certains l'aiment (chocolat) chaud at Angelina - fun to play with the little pot of cream, making swirly shapes before slurping its divinity. I can't believe I got high on hot chocolate, then I had to lie down.
In the important matter of the macaroon challenge I had a clear, hands down favourite. I went to both Laduree and Pierre Herme in rue Bonaparte and purchased ten macaroons from each, all different flavours. (No, I didn't eat them ALL at once!) Then I sat in the Jardins du Luxembourg under a tree and commenced my testing. It's a hard life. The first Laduree macaroon tasted pretty nice I thought. But as soon as I tasted my first Pierre Herme the jig was up. After the yummy smoothness of P.H and the subtle, balanced flavours - Americano Pamplemousse (Campari and Grapefruit) Huile d'Olive and Vanille - sounds weird, tastes divine, I didn't even want the Ladurees anymore. They tasted too crumbly, a bit gritty and the flavours too strong. And although I was trying not to judge on anything other than flavour, I must admit I preferred the experience of the Pierre Herme shop with its quiet professional atmosphere, to queueing up with a coachload of Japanese tourists in Laduree. It felt a bit 'Disney'. I hate that feeling, but maybe that's just me. So now I know I'm a Pierre Herme gal - how useful this information will be in daily life has yet to be asserted. Not that you know, I'd turn down a Laduree, or any kind of macaroon if you offered me one. Just in case you were going to.
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9 comments:
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
I am so glad I have a cold. (Although I feel sympathy for whoever has to sit next to me on the Eurostar tomorrow surrounded by my snotty tissues.) Because when I have a cold I have a BIG appetite. And what better city to eat your way through than Paris? Mmm creme brulee, oh fromage. Artichoke soup at Le Fumoir that is nothing more than a bowl of artichoke infused cream.
Let's face it, as everyone and Karl Lagerfeld knows, fashion and food are somewhat uneasy bedfellows. For God's sake I actually know people who think picking at a punnet of raspberries before pushing them away is "so filling" at lunchtime. Usually in Paris I allow myself a few little treats, but this time I don't care. I'm going for it. It's all about food. I'm going to have a croissant for breakfast every day, perhaps two.
Don't be alarmed, but due to my recent purging of clothes (see below) I don't really feel like shopping. Well, maybe just a leeetle bit then. But no compulsively going on a mission to all three Vanessa Bruno stores and both Isabel Marant stores just in case they have different stock. Ditto the other usual suspects. That wastes valuable Tarte aux Poires (which I find really hard to pronounce) time. I will swap my allegiance to these temples of style for other, tastier temples. Those of Laduree and Pierre Herme. I am determined to settle once and for all, based solely on flavour, all snobbery aside, which one makes the best macaroons. It is, I think you'll agree a tough challenge, but I will valiantly do my best to return with an answer.
I can't wait to go to Monoprix and buy my very favourite vanilla brebis yoghurts in the little glass jars with the stamped foil lids, and to the bakery to buy the good bread. Also somewhat un French I can't wait to go to the lovely Swedish Cultural Centre cafe where it's all light and bright and full of smiley blond people. Cinnamon buns they are a calling me.
And of course I can't wait to finally try the chocolat chaud at Angelina. This will be the equivalent of my visiting the Louvre for the first time on my 18th visit to Paris, though I'm sure it will be far, far less boring. Thank you so much for your recs, I have them all written down in my trusty notebook. Talking of which, I won't be taking my laptop - I'm only away for a few days so I will rely on that quaint old fashioned practice of scribbling in my notebook with a pen and taking beaucoup photos. I'll be waddling back on Sunday to tell you all about it...
A bientot!
Posted by Claire at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 11 comments:
Friday, September 01, 2006
What would happen if you found a room where all the clothes you'd ever worn resided? Freak out maybe just a teeny bit? Searching my parents' loft for a box of various jeans I knew I'd stored there years ago I stumbled on pretty much that. At some point - maybe 12 - 15 years ago I had filled multiple bin liners and boxes with clothes and shoes to be taken to the local charity shop. Instead, they'd somehow found their way to the loft where they languished, before jumping out at me like ghosts. I didn't know any of it was there but now it sort of makes sense. I had felt the weight of too much stuff. I already had too much stuff I didn't need without this.
As I opened more and more boxes the only thing I felt was nausea, and surprise at my not very discerning quality control. I was also amazed at how tiny I was. I'm a U.K size 10 now but when I held up a pair of trousers or a skirt (bottle green lycra jodphurs?! White PVC A line miniskirt?!) the waistband was about half the size of my waist. One particular box had been sealed up - obviously to keep for a moment in the future - this moment when I would open it up and be glad I'd kept the carefully selected garments that had meant so much to my teenage self. (Funny actually because lately my teenage years have come back to haunt me once again. You think you're done with it all and then they go and bring back Lisa Bonet pants.)
But my teenage self had no problem with synthetic fabrics. Everything I pulled out made me want to vomit - save for some things I'd made myself at college or bought second hand in the first place. A bin liner contained 25 pairs of shoes which really only summed up about a year of my shoe wearing life. I didn't want to keep a single pair. Oh, feeling sick. Feeling guilty, knowing that since then I've had regular clear outs and got rid of stuff I liked more than this crap.
I learned something though. Vintage is the only thing that stands the test of time, probably because it already has. Keeping jeans (maybe ONE pair you absolutely love) is pointless. They will always be the slightly wrong cut/wash when you put them on again. Just get rid of them! I have to admit I did keep back a pair of Gaultier jeans with (arrgghh) Andy Warhol-ish FACES of famous folk like Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe woven into the denim. These were the coolest thing ever when I was 18, and I'll keep them for comedy value.
I suppose until now I've used my parents' place as a decompression chamber for clothing. I find it really hard to part with shoes and can always think of scenarios when I might want them again, pointy toed shoes will always come back round again etc etc. So I'll sneak them into my old wardrobe for a few years until I can safely say they have to go. I knew I had a lot of clothes, but after the lot from the loft got boxed up and sent off to Sense I made a start on the rest of the cupboards. I've been putting this off even though my father has said when he moves house soon he won't have space for anything of mine. I was thinking of hiring storage space, moving to a bigger flat even. Now I realise I don't need ANY of this stuff. I am going to be overwhelming charity shops and solidly ebaying for the foreseeable future.
My reaction to these blasts from the past was not one of nostalgia, it was very, very strange. I even took my last day at school covered in writing shirt outside and burnt it. I'd been keeping it all this time and suddenly realised I hated school, I can't even remember who most of the people who signed it are, why would I want to hang on to a piece of it? Because that's what everyone does and you're supposed to? Burning it was a strong reaction to have I admit, but that baby went up a treat (polyester...eugh).
But the guilt at the amount of STUFF I have bought over the years is still there. I came home and started putting things I never wear into bags, again for charity and ebay. Offloading all this stuff at the charity shop may make me feel better, and someone will want it, but the waste, oooohhhh the waste. It's not even about the money (although I winced at remembering how much some of these items cost - I was never a High St gal) it's the feeling that with all my recycling of household waste and interest in sustainability, I had completely overlooked the huge impact I was generating with my clothes shopping habits. I have always loved clothes and thought of them as my 'collection' the way people have stamp collections (that was my excuse anyway). I don't shop the way I used to - I rarely buy anything throwaway trendy these days, it has to last.
This year I've really enjoyed reading craft blogs where people make things by reusing vintage fabrics. And this chick certainly has the right idea. I'll be in Paris next week and what was on my agenda? Checking out the Cheap Monday jeans shop in rue de Sevigne and a bit of A.P.C. jeans action. I need new jeans you see 'cos I threw all the others away! What would be better? This is a new path for me, but for the sake of my conscience my next pair of jeans are going to be super stylish but somehow sustainable (but not second hand). Edun? Any ideas?
Posted by Claire at Friday, September 01, 2006 8 comments:
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What a year. 2017 began with the introduction of Progress Tests, Team Based Learning, and all sorts of other little changes. It is fair to say that some aspects have been tough, for both staff and students; but all in all, we have taken the changes in our stride. From an FMSS point of view, we have certainly noticed a culture shift within medicine – which is to be expected when you shift from a cram-style once-a-block-exam assessment to weekly quizzes and progress testing. As we all (including the College) get used to Programmatic Assessment for Learning, we hope that as a cohort we learn how to enjoy the little things along the way, rather than getting swept up in the current of progressive assessment.
It has been through the continued efforts of the exec team and year level reps that FMSS has built on our strong relationship with the college to try and influence decisions where possible. We can all agree that there is a lot of work before all the teething issues are worked out, so thank you all for your ongoing support and willingness to communicate through FMSS.
Taking a moment to reflect on the year, it has been a fantastic year for FMSS and the MD cohort.
Social: We began the year with the largest Med Camp in FMSS history, which combined with the spectacularly organised O-Week made for an excellent introduction to Medicine for 2017's MD1s. Social also held the first cost neutral Med Ball in decades, meaning a more sustainable social budget without compromising on amazing food, music and vibes!
Engagement: Launched a new merch fashion line, with postage, regular pickup times, and all bought in bulk to save students money. It has been a priority of ours this year to strengthen our relationship with the other Med Socs at Flinders, we believe that working together we can achieve a lot more than if we compete – so far we have only seen good things.
Education: Continuation of MD1 peer teaching in the light of PAL, as well as the introduction of MD2 peer teaching.
Community: New benchmarks set with money raised for the Leukaemia Foundation going just over $9000 and $1800 for Daffodil Day. They built on last year's amazing work with Teddy Bear Hospital, running a total of three sessions to cater for the demand, as well as introducing new competitions for Vampire Cup to capitalise on that competitive med student nature for a good cause!
Women's Portfolio: Continued on the epic build-up of the last two years, particularly with the Yarrow Place workshop, and successfully brought Female Genital Mutilation awareness into the MD curriculum.
Wellbeing: As mentioned above, this year and all its changes have been tough on the cohort, so the HW&AD portfolio has been working hard behind the scenes. This is not to mention the massive Mental Health in Medicine night that sparked a lot of interest from the College. We hope that this interest translates into better resources available for Medical Students going through a difficult time.
Additionally, FMSS has reinvented our Grants programme, introducing Financial Hardship Grants and Emergency Vouchers that are available all year long (or at least until we run out of money!)
We would like to say a big thank you to marketing and I.T. as a lot of what they do goes unnoticed, but without them, we wouldn't have the beautiful posters, a website on which to sell our merch, nor even a design for this magazine.
We are both looking forward to seeing what the clinical years hold and would like to thank the FMSS committee for being such an incredible team with which to work. We also want to say a massive thank you to our phenomenal President, Anna, who has been a part of FMSS for five years now, all while blitzing med and raising two beautiful kids. It is time for her to say goodbye to the FMSS and Flinders Med family now, and we'll miss her dearly. We hope that all our MD4s have a great life as interns next year and know that the Grad Week team have an excellent send-off planned.
Happy holidays, everybody, and no doubt we'll see you in 2018!
<3 Julie & Harrison


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WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- President Obama presented the Gershwin Prize to a singer-songwriter he called "the one and only Carole King" at a Washington ceremony Wednesday night.
King became the first woman to win the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The prize was created by the Library of Congress in 2007 to honor George and Ira Gershwin.
The president compared King to the brothers.
"Like the Gershwins, it's not just that Carole lives the music," Obama said. "It's that music lives in her."
Billy Joel, Gloria Estefan, Emeli Sande, James Taylor, Jesse McCartney and Trisha Yearwood performed King's songs at the White House concert, USA Today reported.
"I want to start by thanking all the incredible artists who have joined us to pay tribute to the one and only Carole King," Obama said as he welcomed performers and guests.


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REAL VIRTUAL SHOW EPISODE 71: Immersive Journalism
This week we talk with Zahra Rasool, Editorial Lead for Al Jazeera's Contrast VR
We talk with Zahra Rasool (@RXahra) all about Al Jazeera's newly-announced immersive media studio, @ContrastVR. She gives us insight into how she's thinking about immersive journalism plus a window into Al Jazeera's two-pronged approach: producing a series of cinematic-quality 360 documentaries while building out the 360 production capabilities of their local brands around the world. Zahra tells us about the 360 doc series currently in production, and we also address how she's thinking about distribution/subject matter differently depending on where the project falls on the spectrum of varying production quality - http://contrastvr.com
Show Notes
- Zahra Rasool, Editorial Lead for Al Jazeera's Contrast VR | Facebook - YouTube
- RYOT | We're creating a movement that people want to be a part of by building a community around protecting the beauty in our world.
- Al Jazeera: Live News | Bold Perspectives | Exclusive Films
- Nokia OZO: The world's best 360 virtual reality camera
- The Gear 360 | is made to catch the action all around you
- GoPro - Omni™ - Rig Only - Synchronized 6-camera array
- A Voyage to Antartica
- The Assassination of Malcolm X - The New York Times
- Within: Storytelling for Virtual Reality
- The Possible: A Balloon Ride To Space
- The Fight For Falluja - The New York Times
- I Struggle Where You Vacation | RYOT
- Visit Hamilton Island in 360˚ Virtual Reality with Qantas - YouTube
The Real Virtual Show is a talk show focused on all things mixed reality: we have epic conversations with leaders in the exciting virtual reality and augmented reality industry.
#RealVirtual - where real people talk about virtual


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Guiding Principles
The principles that guide the actions of Pacific Center's board, staff, volunteers and programs are:
- Welcoming inclusiveness and commitment to diversity
- Transparency in decision-making
- Accountability to the community and stakeholders
- Fiscal responsibility
- Measurable outcome-oriented programming
- Continual quality evaluation and improvement
- Services delivered in the spirit of compassion
Non-Discrimination Policy
Pacific Center for Human Growth is committed to be inclusive and representative of the diversity found in the greater northern California community. Honoring, promoting and celebrating our community's diversity is a central organizing principle for Pacific Center.
Every staff member, board member and volunteer is committed to helping create an environment where each individual can feel respected, welcomed and understood. Pacific Center for Human Growth provides services and employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity or expression, age, physical abilities, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic characteristics, political believes of activity, status as a veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal state and local laws.
Pacific Center is a non-smoking, drug and alcohol-free, scent aware, sex-positive and sex-free space.
Smoking Guidelines
Smoking is prohibited inside the building, on Pacific Center property, or within 25 feet of doorways, windows, or vents (City of Berkeley BMC 12.70).
Drug & Alcohol-free Space
Pacific Center is a drug and alcohol-free space. Anyone who is intoxicated may not be on the premises and will be asked to leave. Pacific Center will provide referrals on an as needed basis.
Scent-aware Policy
Pacific Center is a scent-aware space and we ask that members of our community take this into consideration when visiting our building. Pacific Center's complete Scent-aware Policy and Resource Guide is available at the front desk.
The Pacific Center is a sex-positive environment. In order to provide a safe space for all, we ask that everyone refrain from sexual activity while on site, including verbal and body language, sexually explicit printed materials and internet sites. Any sex related materials are to be used for informational and educational purposes only.


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Laura & Jon's Registry
Together along with Laura and Jon, we have created this truly unique custom designed set of dinnerware that we couldn't be more excited about!
Thank you to everyone who has visited the registry. Currently there are no longer any items left, but you can get a glimpse at the different sets that Laura and Jon will be receiving below.


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Financial goal setting can prove to be a challenging task for many. It is, however, essential nowadays to set a specific financial goal. Without an accurate or specific financial goal, it will become impossible for you to manage your finances and your earnings through different phases of your life. It should definitely be done considering in min the different individual requirements. It is also essential to create your specific plan, keeping into account what you really want to reach of achieve financially.
Well, this can be your first step to creating wealth. Aside from that, you should also envision yourself five, ten and twenty years into the future. This may include your lifestyle, your kid's education, savings, and your retirement age. These are considered as the most basic goals that are present in almost all people. Planning your retirement is a very critical stage indeed.
Wealth creation and retirement planning are important aspects of an individual's life. There are actually lots of resources that you can benefit from, resources and tools that can cater to your unique needs when it comes to setting and achieving your specific financial goal.
Set goals that are specific and measurable. Instead of saying you want to have enough money to retire comfortably, establish how much money you'll need. Maybe your specific goal will be to save $600,000 by the time you're 65. Other specific financial goals, could pay off your credit cards within the next twelve months or save $10,000 for an emergency fund within the next two years.
Another important step is to establish your short term goal. What is it that you want to be or do two to five years from now. This may include buying a car, a home, long vacation trip, or paying off your loans, and many more.
In addition to that, being specific in setting your goal is to determine what you can do on a regular or monthly basis. This is considered accomplished if you're able to effectively save enough money from your earnings or your salary. But you should not be too overwhelmed by bigger pictures.
Here are some questions that will help you in developing your financial goal:
- When do you want to achieve each goal?
- How much money will it take to achieve each goal?
- What choices will help you enjoy a better quality of life today? In the future?
Having a specific goal instead of a general one will definitely prove to be very beneficial and rewarding. This applies to both short term and long term goals. By being specific, you are setting the right path to achieve that specific financial goal. Be smart in creating your goals to help you be prepared and confident enough to be able to achieve whatever it is that you want to achieve. Once you truly know what you intend to have in life in financial terms, then you are on your way to becoming financially stable.


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Stephen Bruce Porter guilty of eight charges, including burglary and deprivation of liberty, as well as three counts of rape.
Porter was arrested in February last year after a 19-year-old student was repeatedly raped in her home at Wooloowin by a man who stole bedsheets and cash when he left.
The prosecution is seeking a sentence of 16 to 18 years.
Porter's defence counsel told the court he was a member of the Stolen Generations who was taken from his own family when he was very young, passed between foster homes and eventually sent to boys' homes, juvenile detention and jail.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Stephen Bruce Porter
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