text:
The Night Before Pay Day
T'was the night before pay day,
and all through the house
just one creature was stirring
with the click of a mouse.
Curled up on the couch,
laptop balanced with care,
with the screen lighting her face
and her eyes fixed in a stare.
All her family were nestled
all snug in their beds,
While visions of stilettos
danced in her head.
Her purse may be empty
but that will soon rectify,
as into her bank account
wages are due to arrive.
Her carts and wishlists were bulging,
She'd been logged on for days.
Saving and favouriting,
Falling for each latest craze.
Discount codes, free shipping,
Temptation was rife.
It's a marathon of sorts -
for which she has trained her whole life.
And now just one night of waiting
stands between her and her dreams
Of Louboutin, of Guicci,
Or some vintage McQueen.
'Course come the time to click "Buy"
she won't have quite as much,
Maybe not three pairs of jeans,
And she'll leave out that clutch.
But the night before pay day,
Is a night full of hope
for a speedy delivery
and that the bank account can cope ...


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Strive to Learn was recently ranked among the Best SAT and ACT Prep Centers in OC by CBS!
We recommend to spread out your SAT or ACT prep over several weeks. However, we also know how it goes. Two weeks before the test date you realize that you have to cram a lot more than you thought! Therefore we offer one-on-one boot camps tailored to the individual student's needs and schedule, helping you prepare as quickly and effectively as possible. However, if you have the time to study more continuously, a good way to become extremely familiar with the SAT or ACT is to purchase a package of one-on-one tutoring lessons. As part of our prep service, we provide the study materials for you.
Here is an example of a student's bootcamp schedule, which can be individualized however you like:
- two full-lenth practice tests per week
- two-three one-on-one lessons per week explaining different strategies for different sections
- two one-on-one hour tutoring sessions per week to go over mistakes made in the practice tests and work on individual weaknesses
Our approach to SAT and ACT Prep is unique in that we combine multiple educational approaches in order to create a well-rounded and deep learning experience that is tailored specifically to each student. Taking two practice tests per week gives the students the chance to become familiar with the types of questions and relax in the test setting. The one-on-one tutoring sessions are a great way for students to ask very focused questions and work on their specific weaknesses, as well as learn from the mistakes they might have made on the practice tests. We have seen that combining these three elements is the best way to tackle the SAT and ACT and raise your score significantly!
Please contact us with scheduling and pricing inquiries.

subset: commoncrawl


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August begins on a Monday this year. It's so 'school' feeling. 🙂
That's odd. We homeschool. It's not anything we don't ever do, totally. I'm getting a few super-lax weeks souped up today. I set it up as a plan last week, and this is the day.
New Era. I'm using my calendars (google, of course) to be the glue that holds this all together. It's not that I hadn't ever had calendars and planning and such, but I'm going from being relaxed about it, doing it that way. I'm trying to MAKE things happen before too much time goes on, MAKE life happen, then have things done instead of me having to say "Did you … yet?" to each person, and get the "nah, not yet" answers.
It still is summer though. We are in a hot southern state and summer isn't the same for us as many others. We are in A/C with some outdoor ability, but no pool or anything. We are more outdoor oriented in the Autumn and Winter. That goes over fine for me, being the sort of person I am, with husband not around most of the time, we just hang out together and wander the property looking at whatever there is to look at. Some running, mostly not for me, just the younger 2 children, and the Cedar Works structure we have just sits dormant, needing a new swing ladder probably. New swings too. It's a sad testament to what once was, and what should be, and speaks loudly of what will never be.
I hear you loud and clear climbing structure … all hope is gone. (I'm holding out hope though, for something to happen sooner than later!)


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What Are Acceptable Triglyceride Numbers?
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood and are an important measure of heart health. Eating more calories than you burn on a regular basis can lead to high triglycerides.
Blood Test
Triglycerides are checked as part of a routine blood test known as a lipid panel, which also checks your cholesterol levels. For most accurate results, you should fast for 9 to 12 hours before the test.
Acceptable Levels
Acceptable triglyceride levels are less than 150 mg/dL. Readings between 150 and 199 are considered borderline, while 200 to 499 mg/dL are considered high. Over 500 mg/dL is considered very high.
What High Levels Mean
High triglycerides are usually the result of low physical activity, being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or habitually eating a diet that is very high in carbohydrates. They can also be caused by genetics or underlying disease.
Levels over 150 mg/dL are considered a risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions which include low HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood sugar, high blood pressure and too much fat around the waist. Metabolic syndrome can lead to heart disease and other disorders, such as diabetes.
Lowering Triglyceride Levels
Making healthy lifestyle choices can lower triglycerides. Cut back on calories, eliminate trans fat and reduce excess pounds. It is important to stop smoking and exercise regularly. An omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as fish oil may help to lower your levels. If you are not able to bring high levels down, or if your levels are very high, your doctor may recommend medication.


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Dr. Stu travels to Kenya with volunteer organization Cure Cervical Cancer. Learn more: http://www.curecervicalcancer.org
Are you a medical school looking to inspire the next class of doctors? An organization or group wanting to find out what you can do to support home birth or a change in the way health care is practiced today? Dr. Stuart Fischbein is committed to changing the way we view and practice medicine. How do you do that? Through education.
Dr. Stu inspires and empowers his listeners on a variety of topics including birth, pregnancy, health care and women's informed consent. Blending his 34 years of experience with research and wisdom, Dr. Stu delivers engaging thought-provoking dialogue with his listeners. His lectures are tailored to each unique audience and will leave them with a solid foundation for seeking change in the way health care is practiced today.
If you would like information about how Dr. Stu can speak at your next event contact us today.


text: Fun Fun Fun Fest just made us even more excited to get our hands on the new Yeasayer, as they were one of the best sets of the entire weekend. Entitled Odd Blood, it'll be released February 2010 via Secretly Canadian. Having already heard the first track ("Ambling Alp"), now it gets the remix treatment from Memory Tapes. Taken a listen down below and keep an eye out for tour dates in the near future. (via)


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"Light knots" (weightless sculptures by Larry Bell and "Light Knots" short film by Oliver Bell) opening reception welcoming over 150 guests was a smashing success.
The more exciting part for me was that I was able to present an established artist alongside of an emerging artist, father and the son.
Another exciting observation was the number of heavy weight artists present at the exhibition such as Ed Moses, De Wain Valentine, Peter Shelton, and then Andy Moses, John Van Hamersveld and Tom Vinetz and others. Then the mix of the crowed as to age and where they were visiting from was interesting. Many young art enthusiasts showed up, which was a testament to how exciting Larry's new work is.
For those who don't know Larry Bell, he was born in 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, and is a contemporary American painter and sculptor. He lives and works in Taos, New Mexico and Venice, California.
He studied at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles and is a grant recipient from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation, among many, and his artworks are found in many major private collections and cultural institutions.
Bell started painting with abstract Expressionist tradition. Then he began incorporating fragments and shards of clear and mirrored glass into his compositions. At the same time, he began to produce angular geometric compositions in his painting that alluded to three-dimensional forms. Next were a series of "Shadow Boxes" or "ghost boxes", three-dimensional cases whose surfaces often featured shapes reminiscent of those in the preceding paintings.
Bell's art addresses the relationship between the artwork and its environment through the multi-dimensional and reflective properties. Bell is often associated with Light and Space Movement, a group of mostly West Coast artists whose work is primarily concerned with perceptual experience stemming from the viewer's interaction with their work. This group of artists includes, among others, James Turrell, John McCracken, Peter Alexander, Robert Irwin and Craig Kauffman.
Bell then began to make what is perhaps his most recognizable body of work, namely cube sculptures that rest on transparent pedestals in the early '60s.
Bell's "vapor drawings" and the more recent "mirage works", are the products of Bell's use of thin film deposition technology. The vapor drawings are created by using PET FILM to mask paper sheets, which are then coated.
The big mirage works became inspirational to his latest work "Light Knots", focusing on light and surface, which is the subject of ARTS Manhattan Exhibition curated by Homeira Goldstein, Chairman of Board of ARTS Manhattan, to be held at the Manhattan Beach Art Center, 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach – May 23, 2013 through June 29, 2013 – with the opening reception on Thursday, May 23, 2013 6:00-8:00 PM. The exhibition also features two short videos of Bell's Light Knots produced by his son, Oliver Bell, highlighting the mezmerization of the phenomenon of light and surface.
"Light Knots", seem to float in space and revel in ambient light. They are at once ghostly yet organic, substantial yet devoid of mass, tranquil yet dynamic.
Bell reflects: "they are so unpretentious; you don't have to walk around them, they present themselves to you. With nearly zero weight and mass, they revolve elegantly with the slightest air current and display infinite gradations of color, opacity and reflection as well as variations of form. The Light Knots reward patience, revealing themselves over time to a stationary viewer."
Light plays an essential role in Bell's artworks and his legacy. The material transmits, absorbs, and reflects light, depending on the combination of minerals with which the surface is plated.


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Bridgepoint Education Receives BEST Award from the Association for Talent Development
Award recognizes organizational commitment to developing talent
Oct 17, 2016, 08:00 ET
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI) is proud to announce that it has been named a recipient of the Association for Talent Development's (ATD) 2016 BEST Awards. The BEST Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success through talent development. Bridgepoint was among 36 organizations from six countries to receive a 2016 BEST Award. All winners are featured in a special section of the October 2016 issue of TD, ATD's monthly publication.
Dr. Molly Santillo, senior learning and development specialist at Bridgepoint, accepted the BEST Award on behalf of the company's learning and development team during the BEST Award ceremony held in Washington D.C. on October 5. As a winning organization, Bridgepoint was also invited by ATD to present at the organization's Learn from the BEST conference, held prior to the ceremony. Dr. Santillo delivered a session on "Developing the Millennial Generation" at the event.
"Bridgepoint Education is honored to receive this recognition and BEST Award from the Association for Talent Development," said Marc Brown, chief human resources officer at Bridgepoint Education. "It's exciting to see the positive impact of continuous investment in our people. We have seen first-hand how developing talent can help our organization and academic institutions, Ashford University and University of the Rockies, provide an outstanding experience for students."
The BEST Awards are the talent development industry's most rigorous and coveted recognition. "Creating innovative, vibrant learning cultures and developing talent in ways that clearly contribute to strategic business goals, are hallmarks of ATD BEST winners," said Tony Bingham, ATD president and chief executive officer. "They get it. Leaders in these organizations value the impact that talent development achieves, because they know that having a knowledgeable and skilled workforce drives success."
Bridgepoint competed against nearly 150 organizations from 13 countries. Every organization submitted quantitative and qualitative information to ATD about their talent development practices and programs. Applications were reviewed by members of the BEST Awards advisory committee, a selected group of experts in the field.
For more information on ATD and the BEST Awards, visit www.td.org.
About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) harnesses the latest technology to reimagine the modern student experience. Bridgepoint owns two academic institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies. Together, these programs, technologies, and resources represent a unique model for advancing education in the 21st century. Bridgepoint stands for greater access, social learning, and exposure to leading minds. For more information, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com, www.facebook.com/BridgepointEducation, or call Marianne Perez, Media Relations Manager, at 858.668.2586 x11636.
About ATD
The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the world's largest professional membership organization supporting those who develop the knowledge and skills of employees, improve performance, and help to achieve results for the organizations they serve. Originally established in 1943, the association was previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD). ATD's members come from more than 120 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD supports talent development professionals who gather locally in volunteer-led U.S. chapters and international member networks, and with international strategic partners. For more information, visit www.td.org.
Contact: Marianne Perez, Media Relations Manager
858.668.2586 x11636 · firstname.lastname@example.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161017/429511
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140912/145861
SOURCE Bridgepoint Education, Inc.


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Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Mendel
Mendel Guides
David Mendel
Photograph: Luc-Antoine Couturier
Also available in French under the title: La Cathédrale Holy Trinity
An historic monument of national significance, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity has served as an inspiring place of worship for more than two centuries. Constructed between 1800 and 1804, it was the first Anglican Cathedral to be built outside the British Isles. The Cathedral was designed by two British artillery officers who took their inspiration from the plans of a famous church on Trafalgar Square, in London, England: St Martin- in-the-Fields. With superb stained glass windows made by British craftsmen, magnificent Communion silver given by King George III, and monuments worthy of Westminster Abbey, it is a quintessentially English church in the heart of French-speaking Quebec. Among the treasures to be found in the Cathedral are a rare English chamber organ, made in London in 1790, and a set of eight English bells, made in London in 1830. With an interesting and accessible text, based on extensive research, this book is abundantly illustrated with historic images and superb photographs by Luc-Antoine Couturier. Based on the format of the larger books in the Mendel Guide Collection, this smaller publication, which is devoted to a specific historic site, displays the same tradition of excellence for which the Mendel Guides are known.
David Mendel
David Mendel, President of Mendel Tours, is an architectural historian and renowned speaker. He has often guided heads of state visiting Quebec City, and has organized tours and seminars for more than 25 years. A resident of Quebec's historic district since 1976, he is President of the Foundation of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity – the first Anglican Cathedral built outside the British Isles – and a member of the Consulting Committee for Religious Architecture of the City of Quebec.


text:
Possessing the correct data can be the essential to a successful home improvement project. Besides these, there are nonprofits, state governments, private organizations and nearby offices that may provide help with home improvement or repair wants and financially aid Veterans for an independent and much better regular of living.
As a result kitchen remodeling is as crucial as the home improvements, with numerous advantages attached to it. The ideal home improvement plans are the ones that assure you kitchen an appearing design produced from some of the very best good quality material and other essential components that will withstand years of put on and tear at the identical time supplying your household with a room that functions properly.
While putting home improvement job into play, if you are a property or a home owner, then you are forced to repaint residences each and every couple of years to hold up the new look which creates a lot of confusion when deciding on among the options accessible.
The part of Home Improvement that ideal exemplified gender stereotypes were the Tool Time" segments Tim's profession on Home Improvement revolved around his own home improvement television show named Tool Time" with its own tool girl" ( Pamela Anderson , followed by Debbe Dunning ) who usually wore skimpy outfits and were continually looked at as eye candy.
Whenever began to search for a professional property remodeling contractor at your neighborhood region or from your nearest region make certain you take care of above pointed out process it will support to avoid unnecessary stress and aggravation and it assists to hire a ideal licensed home improvement contractor.…


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Office Tour
Earlier this year we moved into our bungalow-style studio located near the beach in Encinitas, CA and it's where we work when we're in San Diego.
We keep the vibe relaxed and cozy, a typical day starts with lighting some candles, turning on the music and brewing a pot of coffee.
With it's natural light and ocean view our bungalow is the perfect space to work on projects and gather inspiration!


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Andy Murray felt the force of Scotland behind him as he defeated Tomas Berdych to reach a fifth grand slam tennis final at the US Open.
The New York weather was decidedly Scottish, with the match delayed by torrential rain and then played in a howling gale, which Murray coped with better than his opponent to win 5-7 6-2 6-1 7-6 (9/7). And the 25-year-old was explaining his feelings at one of the stranger victories of his career when two gatecrashers entered his press conference.
Sir Sean Connery and Sir Alex Ferguson popped in to congratulate Scotland's biggest sporting star, and Ferguson joked: "We've been telling everyone how Scotland invented the world. Today we invented the wind." When the press conference resumed, Murray said: "It's great. It's obviously nice to have their support. Hopefully they'll be back for the final as well."
Describing the conditions, which frequently caused play to be stopped while rubbish or even chairs blew across the court, Murray said: "It's probably the toughest I have played in. It was pretty much four hours, and it was brutal. There were a few games in the fourth set where it calmed down a little bit, but it was very, very tough conditions to play in."
Berdych admitted Murray had coped better than he had, with the Czech making 64 unforced errors compared to 20 for his opponent. It was a major disappointment for the sixth seed, who held a 4-2 head-to-head record over Murray before the match and had played one of the best matches of his career to beat Federer in the quarter-finals.
He argued there should be the option of postponing such a big match in those conditions, saying: "It's something which should be at least thought about.
"We are here in the States where they really love a show. But this is not about a show. This is just about somehow trying to deal with the conditions and then trying to put the ball over the net. Sometimes it was impossible, but that's how it is. He dealt with that much better than I did. The wind blew it away from me."
The weather has played havoc with the tournament in the last few years and the women's final, which had been scheduled for Saturday night, was postponed well in advance because of the poor forecast.
Murray felt the conditions were playable, however, saying: "I don't know if they stop in other sports for a lot of wind. When there is a tornado around then that's pretty serious. I think that's the right time to stop. There is a skill to playing in the wind. I have never played in it when it's been that bad but people like to watch professionals struggle when they're in tough conditions.
"[Coach] Ivan [Lendl] always says he likes watching the golfers when it's blowing really hard, because it makes them hit bad shots and makes people feel a lot better [about their own game]."


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Nutrition, Function, Side Effects
Vitamins and minerals have all the necessary nutrients that are essential for our body to remain healthy and fit. Vitamins, minerals and other supplements won't compensate for a poor diet, but they can help fill nutritional gaps in a good one," says Dr. Weil. Everybody needs E. This hard-working vitamin maintains a lot of your body's tissues, like the ones in your eyes, skin , and liver. Biotin and the Vitamin B complex can help strengthen your hair, condition your scalp and prevent excessive hair loss. Calcium, which is often taken along with vitamin D to protect bones, may actually increase the risk for heart disease.
A person who doesn't get as much vitamin B5 as he needs (vitamin B5 being, in actual fact, the pantothenic acid), would tend to experience an inexplicable case of acne. B vitamins play an important role thoughout the body contributing to heart, lung, brain, and cell functioning, DNA regulation, and fortifying the body. Arguably one of the most commonly recognized uses of the B vitamins is an energy booster. The Too Much of a Good Thing Trap: Vitamins in the proper doses are good for you. A second mistake is the idea that one can obtain adequate vitamin nutrition from the average American diet.
Keep in mind it is always best to get vitamin A from natural sources, like food, and not to overload on vitamin A supplements in hopes of preventing disease, as more is not necessarily better. Carrots are full of substances called carotenoids that your body converts into vitamin A, which helps prevent eye problems. Some studies suggest that deficiencies of vitamins B6, B12, and folate (folic acid) may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. You can find other foods that contain vitamin E as well, although nuts have the highest amounts. Men who consume foods that are rich in vitamin B are less likely to experience hair loss. But many vitamins are toxic in large quantities, so taking more than enough may be a bad idea. And here's a tip: If you eat iron-rich foods along with foods that provide plenty of vitamin C, your body can better absorb the iron. The fact that the vitamins in this group are known by both letter and number becomes confusing to many people.
The antioxidant vitamins help to prevent heart disease because LDL cholesterol must be oxidized before it can form plaques in your arteries. The fact is the earth's soil is rapidly being depleted of nutrients, and the rigors of food processing also leaves many foods deficient in vitamins and minerals. A little investigation will uncover several vitamins and minerals that serve to positively affect mood, especially through their role in the production of serotonin and dopamine, and the maintaining of chemical balance within the brain. It helps to heal damaged skin and, in some cases, reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
The B complex vitamins are extremely beneficial for a number of conditions and may be needed in additional quantities at certain times in a person's life. If you're on a macrobiotic diet, you may be deficient in vitamin B12 , iron, vitamin D and other nutrients. You can consult your doctor to make sure you get the right vitamins and minerals for yourself.


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About Denise White
I am an artist specializing in mixed media paintings and cloth dolls. My paintings start with acrylic paints, then I use a combination of oil pastels, watercolors, colored pencils, ink and/or papers and found objects. My cloth dolls usually start as plain muslin. After sewing and stuffing them, I use stains, paints, oil pastels, found objects and new and vintage fabrics. Most of my doll hair is sheep's wool that I've dyed in my studio. I open my studio to the public in October and December, or you can call or email to set up an appointment.


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Why appreciation matters21th July 2019
When interested in sustainable and qualitative management of your building, remember to "appreciate" actively. Yes, we're talking about "likes", "stars" or simply saying "thank you".
Home Owner Association Meeting13th May 2019
Let's face it, HOA meetings are frustrating. Endless discussions, little gets reviewed properly and even less gets done. Find out how to make your HOA meetings more efficient.
Futureproof property management8th February 2019
Frequent changes in Property Management, in the hope that the next one will be better, are a perfect example of Einstein's (presumed) quotation on insanity.
E‑mail or WhatsApp?14th August 2018
Data privacy has been a hot topic recently. Find out how you can easily set up communication in your building to the highest safety standards.
Elevators14th July 2018
Elevators are amongst the most frequently used common infrastructure in apartment buildings. A little background knowledge helps to assure safe operations.
Barbecue Season22nd June 2018
Whether a steak or crunchy vegetables, having a barbecue is always a highlight. A bit of consideration and a glance in the house rules can avoid trouble with the neighbours.
GDPR – Data privacy1st May 2018
HomeBeat.Live is GDPR compliant. From the very start, HomeBeat.Live has been built keeping the protection of your data and privacy in focus.
Water damage3rd April 2018
Broken water pipes are the most frequent form of water damage and often comes with considerable financial consequence. Five tips to keep impact at bay.
House rules20th March 2018
Without a certain set of basic rules, living in apartment buildings is simply impossible. Learn how house rules can be more effective and avoid conflict in your building.
Emergency plan22nd February 2018
We all know that fires, major water leaks, and other emergencies do happen. It's just that we never really consider them happening to ourselves.


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1 of 3
Transmission (TX):
TX Confirmed:
The information contained herein is embargoed from press use, commercial and non-commercial reproduction and sharing - in the public domain - until Tuesday 2 July 2013.
Series overview:
"It's not enough just to be passionate about animals and to love them. You've actually got to almost look inside their head. Anyone can dominate an animal through a cage but getting an animal to co-operate is extremely rewarding." - ZSL London Zoo senior keeper Tony Cholerton.
This three-part factual series for ITV give viewers exclusive and compelling behind-the-scenes access to the lives of the animals and staff at ZSL London Zoo. Produced by Wild Pictures, the series offers a privileged and unique insight into the at times emotionally intense stories of keepers and their 20,000 charges at one of the world's oldest zoos at its base in Regent's Park and country estate at Whipsnade.
In this third series, the zoo unveils its new £4 million tiger exhibit in London, and the pressure is on for keepers to get its endangered inhabitants, Sumatran tigers Jae Jae and Melati, to mate as well as to settle them in ahead of the Royal opening by the Duke of Edinburgh.
The arrival of a new testosterone-filled male gorilla provides a challenge for mammal keeper Daniel Simmonds, who gave up a well-paid job in the city to work with the animals he loves. Seven-foot silverback Kumbuka has been brought in to breed with the three females at the zoo. A tender relationship between Kumbuka and female Mujuku soon develops.
"It's a massive privilege to sit and watch a bond like this occurring," says Dan.
"Hopefully we should have babies."
At Whipsnade, elephant keeper Stefan Groeneveld has a supreme passion for elephants - he's dreamed of working with them since he was a boy, and says: "I'm very lucky because this is more like a hobby than actually a job. And we get paid for it!"
Bird keeper Jamie Graham reveals the reality of looking after penguins: "People think they're cute and cuddly but they can be quite evil and they fight a lot."
Meanwhile, two cardiologists are brought in to perform ground-breaking surgery on some of the zoo's most dangerous animals - the chimpanzees. As spring arrives the thoughts of keepers turn to the important business of mating amongst their animals – which is particularly crucial when involving the endangered species kept at the zoo. But sometimes it's no easy task, says mammal keeper Dan, of the gorillas: "Kumbuka's actually a virgin. Until 3 weeks ago he'd never seen a female gorilla, so he's got a lot to learn."
Episode one:
In the first episode, there are tense moments as the zoo's new young critically-endangered Sumatran tigers - male Jae Jae and female Melati - are introduced to each other for the first time. The zoo's staff hope their first meeting will go well, and that it will eventually lead to cubs. But sometimes during introductions tigers can kill each other, says big cat keeper Paul Kybett: "Part of me is excited about what might happen but most of me is very nervous of what might happen. The thing with cats is you can't just step in and stop them fighting if it gets too bad. There's no reason it should be a bloodbath or anything like that but you're always nervous that that could happen."
There's a Royal visit when Prince Philip opens the zoo's new £4 million Tiger Territory enclosure. But behind the scenes, staff are forced to act fast when the tigers start fighting, and keeper Daniel Simmonds explains how they have to separate them before the assembled press and dignitaries witness a potential attack by Jae Jae: "Word got out in tiger language that the Royals are in so he thought, 'I know, I'll be naughty.' He's fine, but basically Jae hasn't been with Melati for a little bit, so he's a little bit overexcited, but she's not up for his kind of silly games."
Keeper Tony Cholerton, whose good relationship with Jae Jae is described as a 'new bro-mance' by Dan, has high hopes for the pitter-patter of tiny tiger paws: "We haven't had a tiger cub here since I was a summer temp 17 years ago. It's been a long, long time so we're really looking forward to these two giving a couple of tiger cubs."
At Whipsnade, veterinary nurse Jo Dodds is training Nicky, an adult male chimpanzee, ahead of a major medical operation. She's teaching him to present different parts of his body on cue in return for rewards, and as a result she's hoping he'll receive his anaesthetic by injection rather than the more stressful option of having to dart him. Two human heart specialists are brought in to insert a monitor into Nicky's back, so Jo can download information on his heart rate. But she explains the operation is not without a degree of risk: "We're knocking out an animal that is very well loved by the keepers so it carries a degree of anticipation and nervousness because it's a big procedure and they're very dangerous animals."
Meanwhile, head of birds Adrian Walls greets eight new Humboldt penguins, who are endangered in the wild. He hopes they might find a mate at the zoo's Penguin Beach - which allows him to reflect on his recent marriage: "It is quite nice to say wife - it means something special. You know relating it back to birds; they get bonded pairs with each other and they rely on when they've gone to get their fish they're going to come back and their partner is going to be sat on the nest looking after the chicks, and going to be able to defend the nest along with them. So it's very important to have that family bond, to have someone to return to."
Also featured in the first episode are vet Tai Strike dealing with a Burmese python with a blocked nose; feeding time for sleepy sloths Marilyn and Leander; a veterinary visit for a young slender loris monkey; a contraceptive implant for Amy the armadillo; walkabout time for Perry the llama and a pair of stubborn camels; a white fly invasion at Butterfly Paradise; an ultrasound scan with good news for giant Galapagos tortoise Dolly and maintenance to the squirrel monkey enclosure - where the notoriously light fingered primates have a reputation for relieving visitors of their possessions, says keeper Kate Sanders: "Phones are probably more the culprit these days - they are not that strong these guys, they are very small. So small things are easy for them to carry off. We haven't got any reports back of expensive international calls being made from them."
Press contact:
Picture contact:
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Production company:


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Sarah June Fox
Before Christmas, I vividly recall sitting on the steps of a shop in Drury Street talking to an incredible person about being a woman, the worlds of graphic design, fashion, music and the challenges of being a Canadian living in Ireland.
Since then, Sarah has gained citizenship and is quickly becoming one of the most incredible graphic designers Dublin has to offer – an unbelievable feat having spent the first half of her life touring the country as JJ72's bass player.
This week's Extraordinary Women interviewee is Sarah June Fox; an amazingly talented individual who will have you wanting to achieve and learn just as much as she does.
How would you describe yourself both personally and professionally?
Gosh, that's so hard.
Even on a business card, what would your write about yourself?
Hmm. Well, my Twitter line – which you can only have a few characters in – says Sarah June Fox, designer, print-maker, dislodged Canuck and noise-maker.
From making noise to designing, your career seems to have been quite diverse. Where did it all begin?
Since I was four, I played music and that was all I did until I was about thirty. Back in Canada, I trained as a musician in a very specific music high-school, it was an arts school of sorts. I then pursued music in University and then played music for approximately ten years as my career. I didn't know anything else, I didn't do anything else and when that didn't work out, it was devastating. In retrospect though, it was amazing – I went back to college when I was 31 or 32.
What was that like?
Scary! Being a student is grand when you're 21 or 22 but being a broke student when you're in your thirties is a different kind of thing. I took to it really well, though. Being in college as a mature student was amazing though, I really wanted to be there and it didn't feel like a chore. I think when you move straight from secondary to school to college, it's your first bit of freedom and perhaps you don't go to class as much as you should. I was like that in my first degree, I scraped through – I loved it but I needed a little break after high school.
When I was in college, we had several mature students in our year. Some of them had families and studying primary school teaching, that was both an advantage and a disadvantage to them. Instantaneously, they knew what children would enjoy or appreciate but they also had a much bigger personal workload than any of us younger students. How did you find working with students of different ages, when you returned to college?
It's an interesting balance. The course that I did was hugely demanding and if you didn't work hard, you failed – regardless of your age. However, people brought such different experiences to the table and that was a real pleasure to see and work with. Graphic design is a technical skill but it's also hugely creative and imaginative, you get to bring a lot of your personality and personal interests to your work and specific projects. I do think though, that both I and the other mature students really benefited from having a wider range of experience.
What made you choose graphic design after music?
My boyfriend at the time was doing design and it's kind of as simple as that. I saw what he was doing and I think I had known about design for quite some time but didn't really know what it was called and didn't think of it as a 'thing'. So, when I finally saw that this was something you could pursue and making posters wasn't just for fun, I began to see it as a career for myself.
Sometimes, the creative individuals are often looked at as having this innate skillset. Beginning a career in graphic design in your thirties, was it something you took to easily or was it an initial challenge for you?
There were a lot of things that I had done previously that were similar to design but I just hadn't tagged them as that because I really didn't know what design was. Playing in bands my whole life, I always designed the posters but I didn't know that I was designing – I was just making a poster for my band. I had an interest in layouts and I had quite good visual awareness but at the same time I was making prints and mono-prints which is similar to design but…
You hadn't really linked them all to the career of design.
Yes, exactly. I almost fell upon this career that encompassed all of my interests.
You currently work in Atelier David Smith, did you gain that position straight after college?
From college, yes.
What was the job application process like?
In college, Dave was my tutor so it was great that I knew him already. I knew how to work with him and it still feels like a learning experience working with him because he's so…
Ridiculously talented.
Ridiculously talented! In a way, it still feels like an extension of college but overall, 'real-world design' is very different to that of college. Now, I have clients, time-constraints…
Managing relationships is a huge part of your work too, I guess.
Yes, exactly and that was one of the great things about my course – we were constantly presenting our work, which at the time was terrible because I'm quite bad at public speaking and I'm quite shy but it really prepared me for talking about my work and explaining my creative processes – which is amazing.
I imagine that every day for you is different, but what would your average schedule look like?
At the minute, I'm essentially working two different jobs: I'm based in Atelier, three days a week and I work freelance four days a week. I'm often trying to juggle both of them. A day in Atelier, we will often have several projects on, some of them will be coming to a close and you're dealing with printers and then other jobs are just beginning and they may require research or mock-ups.
How does that compare to working freelance?
I really enjoy the balance of the two. Atelier is amazing and I would definitely work there full-time if I could but the portfolio of work that I do for freelance is very different. However, I do think that I would find permanently working freelance extremely difficult.
Because of the constant demand to pitch ideas to new clients?
Yes, that and also because I'm not a very good time-manager – Work wise, I'm good at scheduling that but I find it very difficult to tell myself to stop working or knowing how much work to take on, that's one of the things that I'm currently working on.
Whereas when you're working in an office, when the lights are turned off – it's a sign for you to go home.
Yes, it's nice to go to a place of work and come home from work. When I'm freelancing, I could be replying to emails in bed when I wake up and before I go asleep – I find it difficult to just 'turn off'.
Which is problematic for your mental health, almost?
You really need a different space for working, otherwise you just can't decipher between work and home. Today, between email and mobiles phones, we're all available twenty four hours a day, people expect you to be available at all-hours and it takes a really strong person to 'turn off'.
Particularly with social media, we're only every 140 characters away from a reply.
It's a little scary.
You've worked on some incredible design projects but what ones are you particularly proud of?
One that I particularly love is the Lennon Courtney project, which are a client of Atelier but it's my favourite website that I've worked on. They're amazing clients and they always look for a beautiful aesthetic – it's a dream job! You get to work with amazing clothes and images and our ambition is just to accent that. It was also our first time to work with e-commerce and 'Shopify' and that was hugely interesting as I got to learn a new form of code – that's the nerd in me!
Professionally, you've accomplished an incredible amount. First, you had a hugely successful music career with JJ72 and now you're dominating the domain of graphic design but what remains on your bucket-list for the next ten years?
I'm really not sure. I mean, I'm working my dream job at the minute so I'm happy career-wise but I want to learn more and that's why I keep taking on new and interesting projects. For example, I'm currently working on a programme for TV3 at the moment and I've never worked in the medium of television before and whilst there are huge similarities with other projects, I'm really enjoying the challenge of it and the opportunity to learn from it. My aim for the next decade is really to continue to educate myself and to upgrade my skillset.
That's really inspiring and something, as a teacher, I would be a huge advocate of. At 'Offset' a couple of months ago, I was quite surprised to see how many women were involved and hugely successful in the domain of graphic design. My assumption was that it was a dominantly-male career. Was it that way when you were training?
In colleges across the country, the number of females studying graphic design greatly trumps the number of male students and whether or not they continue on to careers in graphic design is different but in terms of the workplace, I've never met any misogyny or nobody has ever discriminated against me, in getting a job, because I am a woman. The only thing that I have ever seen is that clients are sometimes surprised that I'm interested in coding and the technology side of the career but it's nice to surprise people sometimes!
When I was scribing a list of people who inspire me for this interview series – it was quite long, to say the least but who are the people who impact upon you?
Oran Day in Atelier is a brilliant designer and the way that he thinks and talks about his love for design is extraordinary. When I watch him interact with clients or other professionals, I always learn something new and I'm regularly inspired to do better in my own work.
Finally, earlier this year you took part in The Science Gallery's 'Fail Better' exhibition, what was that experience like?
It was really nerve-wracking. We had to talk for five minutes about failure and when I said that I would do it, I explained my transition from music to graphic design and then I felt a bit like a chancer – I mean, I had quite an enviable music career, on paper but I wasn't making any money from it and it just didn't work out but I played some amazing shows and met some incredible people. Was it a failure because it wasn't profitable? It was an amazing experience and the reaction from it was really lovely – I bared my soul and some may find that embarrassing but I'm really glad that I did it.
Thank you so much to Sarah for participating in the Extraordinary Women series. Following Sarah on Twitter is something I would wholly recommend – tell her I sent you!
Interview originally published June 13, 2014


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Grapho Publications is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan a city well known as home to the University of Michigan. The Grapho logo uses the Cuneiform script for the word "to write". The Cuneiform writing system is one of the earliest systems of writing and was invented by the Sumerians and is distinguished by its use of wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets created by the use of a blunt reed as the stylus (Wikipedia).
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Mailing Address:Grapho Publications
3000 Green Road #131281
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105 U.S.A.
Phone: 734-221-0126


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A recently published study from the Journal of Labor Economics looked at performance incentives for teachers in the NYC school system. The results should cause corporate reformers to pause
Providing financial incentives for teachers to increase student performance is an increasingly popular education policy around the world. This paper describes a school-based randomized trial in over two-hundred New York City public schools designed to better understand the impact of teacher incentives on student achievement. I find no evidence that teacher incentives increase student performance, attendance, or graduation, nor do I find any evidence that the incentives change student or teacher behavior. If anything, teacher incentives may decrease student achievement, especially in larger schools. The paper concludes with a speculative discussion of theories that may explain these stark results.
As Margarita Pivovarova, Assistant Professor of Economics at Arizona State University notes
The estimates from the experiment imply that if a student attended a middle school with an incentive in place for three years, his/her math test scores would decline by 0.138 of a standard deviation and his/her reading score would drop by 0.09 of a standard deviation.
Not only that, but the incentive program had no effect on teachers' absenteeism, retention in school or district, nor did it affect the teachers' perception of the learning environment in a school. Literally, the estimated 75 million dollars invested and spent brought zero return!


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India on Thursday successfully test fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur in Balasore district, around 230 km from Bhubaneshwar.
The 350-km range missile blasted off from the launch complex No III at the ITR. "The test was successful," ITR director M V K V Prasad told the media.
The launch was carried out by the Indian armed forces as part of user trial, and monitored by the scientists of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
Prithvi is India's first indigenously built ballistic missile. It is one of the five missiles being developed under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
The medium-range missile, with flight duration of 483 seconds and reaching a peak altitude of 43.5 km, has the capability to carry a 500-kg warhead.
Prithvi uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring capabilities and comes within metres of its target. The missile has been successfully flight tested in the past on a number of times as part of the training exercise.


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Texas-based photographer. Will travel.
Contact me here.
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So very glad you have decided to stop by.
I really love the process of developing a relationship with my clients, and I would be honored to be a part of your special life-event.
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Written and produced by El Perro Del Mar & Jacob Haage, the 10 original songs of 'KoKoro' are her most ambitious and musically adventurous to date, yet no less emotionally direct, covering themes that speak to both big and small matters of the heart. With the state of the planet - musically, politically, environmentally - on her mind since the birth of her son, Assbring sees 'KoKoro' as not only an album but also as an aesthetic and political movement of sorts. She explains: "'KoKoro' is about the vulnerability and the strength of the heart. What the heart is exposed to, both internally and externally. The heart cannot be protected. Not from pain, not from happiness. Not from love, not from corruption. I've been thinking a lot about issues such as 'who am I if the social norms, expectations and pressures I carry were to be stripped away? Hard? Soft? Or maybe both? In a time that seems to go backwards humanistically and morally, seeking to put up walls rather than tearing them down, I realized I wanted to make a borderless album that belongs nowhere but has a universal voice and a universal heart."
With soundscapes that echo of Thailand, Sumatra, India, Ethiopia, and China, the orchestration of 'KoKoro' is unlike any of El Perro Del Mar's previous releases, a direction only hinted briefly on the 'Pale Fire' LP highlight "I Was A Boy." It features the Chinese string instrument Guzheng, the Japanese Shakuhachi flute, various other Asian flutes, Arabic strings, Dulcimer, and rhythms influenced by Ethiopian music. Never one to stagnate musically or artistically, Assbring explained, "One of my absolute clearest aims was to distance myself from the kind of common Western sound of today" in an effort to "find a new way to write relevant pop music with references and influences that feel organic and fresh." The album was recorded with multi-instrumentalist Andreas Söderström, jazz bassist Johan Berthling, drummer Mattias Bergqvist, who has collaborated with First Aid Kit, and wind multi-instrumentalist Per "Ruskträsk" Johansson, who has collaborated with Robyn, José González, among many others.
The first single "Breadandbutter" is about finding a means to communicate and find solidarity among people, while other songs on 'KoKoro' implore for self-reflection and self-improvement across friendships, relationships, and life at large in an effort to reach enlightenment. Capitalism's arguably toxic effect on the human spirit is addressed on "Ding Sum," where El Perro Del Mar sings, "Pics of girls and ads of boys / Hit you, hit you as you go / There's a notice for your heart / To want a bit of what they got (Gimme it, gimme all!) / Listen, you got robbed / But it's not your fault."
Last year, El Perro Del Mar reissued her self-titled, critically acclaimed debut album in celebration of its 10 year anniversary, earning praise from Pitchfork for "the way it stripped girl-group pop songs down to their barest essentials and used them to express immense inner sadness." HBO's 'Girls' featured its single "God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get)" in the closing credits of an episode in Season 4. More recently, El Perro Del Mar released covers of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Breaking The Girl," which was recorded for her 2012 album 'Pale Fire' but not included, and Prince's "I Would Die 4 U" in honor of what would have been the late legend's 58th birthday. For the former, she partnered with Fred Armisen to direct its music video, who praised her "romantic and dreamy music" in an interview with Rolling Stone.


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Blue Ball Solutions Helps Organizations in the UK and Beyond Achieve Business Transformation Goals with Changepoint's Project and Portfolio Management and Enterprise Architecture Applications
LONDON, 14 April, 2017 – Changepoint, a leading provider of project and portfolio management (PPM), enterprise architecture (EA) and professional services automation applications (PSA), today announced that Blue Ball Solutions has become Changepoint's first partner to achieve Platinum status.
As Changepoint's first dedicated European partner, Blue Ball has worked with numerous global enterprise clients to achieve technology-led business transformation goals, including Extra Energy, Arco, Schlumberger and Ziggo.
"Working with Changepoint partners means clients benefit from decades of experience and expertise in the full range of Changepoint solutions," said Mike Spacone, vice president, partner strategy at Changepoint. "Blue Ball Solutions is an outstanding partner in our channel landscape, and their Platinum status is testament to their dedication, focus and ongoing success in delivering cutting-edge Changepoint technology projects."
Since joining Changepoint's global partner program, Blue Ball clients have benefitted from Changepoint's solutions including Changepoint PSA, Daptiv PPM and barometerIT. Changepoint is consistently recognized by top industry analysts for delivering leading project and portfolio management and enterprise architecture solutions.
"Real-time insight into the status of projects is even more essential for business today," said Matt Lowman, managing director at Blue Ball Solutions. "Bringing order to chaos requires a firm grip on an organization's portfolios, programs and projects. Changepoint's local presence, global user community and cloud-based solutions best fit our clients' needs for solutions that transform how they do business."
Daptiv PPM is a highly-configurable SaaS project portfolio application that provides top-down and bottom-up visibility for resourced-based project management. Its designed for organizations that need a structured approach to managing their projects, programs, and portfolio. Daptiv PPM automates project data capture to reduce errors and provide enterprise-wide visibility.
barometerIT is a cloud-based data management application that provides a real-time enterprise asset map. Data is inventoried from people-driven crowdsourcing and from third-party system integration that barometerIT leverages to illustrate the relational data using graph technology and rich visualizations. Real-time, authentic data about the state of the enterprise enables organizations to make smarter, more informed decisions.
About Blue Ball Solutions
Blue Ball Solutions Limited was formed in 2003 to provide software reselling and implementation services for the industry-leading Changepoint PSA and PPM solutions. We were the first dedicated Changepoint partner in Europe and today have multi-lingual operations throughout Europe, the broader EMEA region and Asia Pacific. In 2015, we added Changepoint's barometerIT cloud-based data management application to our solutions portfolio. For more information, visit http://www.blueballsolutions.com/.
About Changepoint
Changepoint is a leading provider of project and portfolio management, enterprise architecture and professional services management applications. We help companies connect their strategic objectives with the execution of their business initiatives and technology projects. Our software applications enable organizations to think about their technology investments, shape the way those investments are made and do high-impact projects in a well-managed way. Enterprise and mid-size companies rely on Changepoint's applications to improve execution of their business initiatives and technology projects. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Changepoint's global team serves more than 1,000 global customers. For more information, visit: www.changepoint.com.
Media Contact:
Leah Motz


text: 48 Hours In… Amsterdam There's something special about Amsterdam in the autumn. As the trees lining the ancient canals turn rich shades of red and gold and the sprawling Vondelpark transforms into a spectacular sea of colours, the city takes on the new season in style. DAY ONE MORNING WALKING TOUR Step into the heart of the autumnal action with a crisp walking tour of the city. Free guided tours start from 10am at the National Monument in Dam Square. Along the crunchy, leaf-laden route, you'll pass the Anne Frank House, the smallest house in Amsterdam, the world's first Stock Exchange, the Royal Palace, the Red Light District, and many more of the city's landmarks. Book your tour here. BRUNCH WITH A VIEW When you've worked up an appetite, head to rooftop restaurant Blue Amsterdam on the third floor of the Kalvertoren shopping centre for a scrumptious brunch and fantastic 360-views of the city. Check out the menu here. After brunch pay a visit to the incredible Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam's famous flower market, just across the canal. Gallery of Honour at Rijksmuseum. Photo: Erik Smits MUST-VISIT MUSEUMS Amsterdam is an art lover's nirvana. Spend the afternoon at the Museumplein in the Old South neighbourhood, home to three of the city's most impressive museums. Dazzling Dutch masterpieces like Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's The Milkmaid await in the Rijksmuseum's four floors of galleries. Avoid the queues and pre-book tickets here. Across the square you'll find the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam's leading contemporary art museum. There you'll find works by Picasso, Matisse, Warhol and more of the world's leading modern artists. Book your tickets in advance here. Van Gogh Museum The Van Gogh Museum is an essential stop on any visit to Amsterdam. If you've only got time for one museum, this is the one to choose. Cleverly laid-out to tell the story of Van Gogh's life, his influences and tragic demise, the museum is a celebration the city's most beloved modern artist. You'll be treated to an explosion of colourful canvasses, calm scenes of nature, and, of course, self-portraits like no other. Get your ticket here. Broewerij 't IJ Brewery and Windmill A WINDMILL AND A BREWERY Admiring all that artwork is thirsty work. Escape the city centre for an evening visit to Broewerij 't IJ, one of Amsterdam's leading microbreweries. Hop on tram 10 and get off at the windmill, or an Uber should get you there for approximately €12. Formerly an eighteenth-century bathhouse, the brewery sits at the base of Holland's largest wooden windmill. Take a short tour, then grab a table and sample the seasonal brews and tasty local delicacies against the backdrop of an iconic Dutch landmark. It doesn't get much better than that. Find out more here. DAY TWO BEST FOR BREAKFAST Stop in at Greenwoods Singel for top-class eggs Benedict, homemade cakes, pies and great coffee. The pretty canal-side tea room serves breakfast all day – ask for the window seat so you can watch the world cycle by. CANAL CRUISE No trip to Amsterdam is complete without a boat tour of city's intricate maze of Golden Age canals. There are dozens of cruise options to choose from, so pick the one that works best for you. Festival of Lights Planning a visit in December? The Amsterdam Light Festival, a festival of light, art and water will see more than 40 artworks by artists from all over the world, including renowned artist Ai Wewei, illuminate the canals. For the best views of the unique installations, take the special Water Colour Route cruise by Amsterdam Canal Cruises, where a live guide will tell you about the art and the artist behind them. Book here. HIDDEN GEMS IN OUD-WEST See a different side of the city in the Oud-West (Old West) neighbourhood. Don't miss out on the bustling international food hall, Foodhallen. Highlights include Meneer Temaki for Japanese street food, Jabugo for Iberian ham and the G&T bar for gin fans. When you've completed your tour of the Foodhallen, get a fix of the best caffeine in the city in the nearby espresso bar Lot Sixty One. Nine Little Streets EXPERIENCE GEZELLIG Autumn is the best time of year to experience gezellig, the Dutch take on the Danish 'hygge' concept of 'feeling cosy.' Amsterdam's brown cafés, the traditional Dutch pubs, are the best places to get a taste of gezellig. Round off your city break with a cosy evening in one the local watering holes and enjoy a key part of Amsterdam's culture. Café Hoppe at Spui, Café de Dokter in the Nine Streets neighbourhood and Café Chris in the Jordaan neighbourhood are three of the best. HOW TO GET THERE: Choose from a range daily flights from Dublin or Cork to Amsterdam. Facebook Twitter


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The 2015 Tony Award®-winner for Best Musical Revival, THE KING AND I, will soon be "getting to know you," Tucson. The Rodgers & Hammerstein classic, directed by Bartlet Sher, is set in 1860's Bangkok. It tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and the British schoolteacher he brought in to teach his many wives and children.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: March 15The King and I (Tucson)
Later Event: March 17The King and I (Tucson)


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David Broder: A Reporter For The Ages
One thing you immediately noticed about David Broder, the long-time Washington Post political reporter and columnist who died Wednesday at age 81, was just how kind and gentle a spirit he was.
He was the antithesis of the stereotypically crusty political reporter.
I didn't know Broder though I had met him in 2004 while I was covering, for the Chicago Tribune, a presidential campaign speech by Democratic Sen. John Kerry presidential at New York's Cooper Union.
As I frantically looked for a technician who could help me connect my laptop to the wireless network set up for media use, Broder pointed me in the right direction.
Then after we both finished filing our stories, Broder said to me: "So, how did you get into this crazy business?" meaning covering politics.
I didn't tell him this, but certainly reading his reporting over the years must've played a role, including a 1972 book of his I was assigned to read in college — "The Party's Over: The Failure of Politics In America." That title obviously still has resonance.
Among Broder's contributions to journalism was the message he sent by staying in the game as long as he did, well into his 70s, walking up to voters in New Hampshire or Iowa, hearing their sentiments firsthand.
Some have said that energetic reporting is a young person's game. Broder continually proved that wrong.
The last time I saw him a few years back, he was walking, albeit slowly, back to the Post from a breakfast meeting between some Washington newsmaker and political reporters, notepad in hand.
It was Broder being Broder, the reporter's reporter. He was a reporter for the ages.


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Bringing clarity and community to systems leaders.
We work with partners who are trying to change professions, institutions and industries (systems) in service of people and planet.
We do this to build the field of systems change practice. At this moment in history when so many systems are being called upon to change, systems practice can move people from total overwhelm towards 'we can do this, let's get on with it'.
Based in San Francisco, we work internationally.
Working with us always feels thoughtful, focused and fun.
We do three things:
Peer learning communities for systems leaders
Workshop design & facilitation
Systems Change 101
"That was the single most joyful one hour meetings of my entire career!"
Meg Waterhouse, Head of Finance at IFAC


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5 years ago
CRIMEWATCH UKPosted at 05:31
"Kindly blow into this bag sorr." PC Boyle, the stockier of the two policemen demanded in a broad Glaswegian accent.
I could hardly believe it. It was only just three hours into the New Year, and having had my fill of all the revelling around me, I had finally decided to make my way home back to my pit. Staggering through the streets full of scantily clad twenty-something year old female partygoers, hugging and kissing everything within their paths, although slow, my progress was still somewhat entertaining to say the least.
Edging ever nearer the outer boundaries of the bustling city centre, things were getting much quieter now and my progress was steadily increasing. All I had to do was arrive at my friend Simon's house and collect my bicycle from his back garden. After that I would be only minutes from the comfort of my own place and the safety of my trusty mattress.
Within only seconds of mounting my charge, and wobbling my way through the seemingly endless side streets to my destination, I was accosted by the police.
"Good morning sir," said the taller of the two officers, "we have reason to believe you may be over the legal limit for being in charge of that machine."
"You must be joking? It's only a bike!" I slurred in reply. "I was going to be a policeman," I added in a vague attempt of invoking some degree of sympathy.
"Really Sorr? And what stopped you?"
So early in the proceedings, and knowing my plan was already floundering, I answered somewhat disheartened, "my parents got married."
"Very good sorr, now about this breathalyser …" reiterated an unimpressed PC Boyle. I instantly refused it.
"Are you sure about that sorr? Another refusal will force us to take you down to the station..."
"This is preposterous. It's only a bike!"
"Let's go then," I replied, "do your worst."
"Let's go then," I replied, "do your worst."
Back at the station, I was taken into the custody room.
"Sorr, you are here because you have refused to take a breathalyser test. You have been arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge, and are now requested to give a urine sample. By law we have to have a doctor present and while we are awaiting his arrival we will read you your rights and process you for our records" said my newfound Scottish 'friend'.
The custody sergeant, a man who seemed far too nice for his chosen profession, took down my vitals. Name, address, age, gender, telephone number, colour of underwear etc. Mug shots were taken along with DNA swabs.
"Now Mr. Wilson," said the custody sergeant, "all we need next is your Monika here, here, here and here. If we are successful in charging you, these details will be held on file for ten years. If not, then you will be free to go and all this will be returned to you for your own disposal. Good luck when the doctor gets here, but in the mean time, I hope your stay in cell three is a comfortable one. My shoe laces and belt were removed and I was escorted into my cell.
"Oh and just one more thing…" he passed me a small plastic container with a screw on lid, "should the need take you." He smiled.
Contemplating my navel, life, the universe and everything, I was laid on the bed in my new, bijou but compact police housing unit, juggling my new prize canister between both hands. The cell door opened and in walked Doctor Gartside.
Contemplating my navel, life, the universe and everything, I was laid on the bed in my new, bijou but compact police housing unit, juggling my new prize canister between both hands. The cell door opened and in walked Doctor Gartside.
"You must be Mr. Wilson?" he said staring down through his tortoise shell, half rimmed glasses.
"That'll be me." I replied.
"Well Mr. Wilson, I'm here to supervise your sample, so to speak," he said. "To see that nothing untoward is included if you get my drift. So, if we may proceed…"
"Wh…hat? I have to do this now?… In front of you?… Just like that?… Here and now?" I protested.
"Afraid so lad, no time like the present." the doctor replied non-committed. "Don't be shy lad, I've seen it all before."
After a few false starts, it was eventually a case of mission accomplished. I passed my golden chalice over to the doctor for his appraisal.
"There lad, wasn't too traumatic was it?" he quipped as he took the pot away and labelled it. After sealing it up he placed it on the worktop opposite the bed. "Right, that's me. Just wait here and someone will be along presently." And with that, he left the room.
"There lad, wasn't too traumatic was it?" he quipped as he took the pot away and labelled it. After sealing it up he placed it on the worktop opposite the bed. "Right, that's me. Just wait here and someone will be along presently." And with that, he left the room.
A couple of minutes into my wait, alarm bells began ringing out all around the police station and coppers were running here there and everywhere. A major incident had gone down and it was all hands on deck. Not really knowing what was going on and believing I was in more than enough trouble already, I decided it was best that I stayed put. Slowly getting more and more bored in my cell I waited as the time dragged by.
One hour, two hours, three hours went by and nobody came to see me. Something obviously more important was going down and I was never going to be a part of it. Silently, the clock over the custody sergeant's desk was screaming at me how insignificant I was in the new grand scheme of things so I decided it was time for me to consider leaving.
Just like that, I picked up my sample, slowly pushed the unlocked cell door open and crept off into the night pocketing my prize. Nobody saw me and my escape from the police station was unhindered. I rushed my way home taking the quickest route known to mankind and once behind the safety of my own front door I went into hiding, spending the rest of the night in darkness, pretending I wasn't there at all. Two days I lived like this as I waited for my fears to subside. That's how long it took to get back to the mendacity of everyday living.
Three weeks later and back squarely in the realms of normality, I was sitting at home watching some television when there was a brusque knock at the door. Switching the volume down on the television, I got up to welcome my new guests.
"Hello Sorr, I've come to arrest you sorr." it was my old friend PC Boyle.
"And what is the charge?" I enquired as my heart sank.
"Taking the piss!" he grinned as he slapped me in cuffs.
1 Comment:
- godders said...11 January 2012 at 09:14LOL...too funny!
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She slid up close next to David, careful not to tear her silk skirt on the old park bench. It was a cold night and she knew that what she ...
I've been quite busy recently... I think I mentioned my ever increasing to do lists, and that they have taken up a lot of time. And as a ...
Inspired by a sign I have just read at the local hospital A and E department, I had to rush home (after my treatment of course) and write ...
The day was ordinarily dull and grey, but into the grim world there came a new shining light... Yes it was my bald head. It...
Back in the day when I was a fully fledged, cards in wage slave, I was actually sacked from my first job. And if the mentor in my new job ...
I went to a funfair quite recently, and noticed that at most of the stalls there, it was quite difficult to win anything. The 'games of sk...
"Hello, good evening and bollocks." Many hundreds of years ago, when dinosaurs wandered the Earth and I was in my youth, I would...


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Fig Porcelain Candle
The sensuous sweetness and velvety texture are recalled in this warm and deep fragrance.
Our scented candle wax is 100% natural. Developed by our expert blenders, the True Grace
formulation contains only Non GM european rapeseed, beeswax and our own secret ingredient.
This entirely natural blend, together with a pure cotton wick, ensures our candles burn
cleanly and perfume beautifully.
Burn time approximately 45 hours
H 7.8 x Dia 7.8cm
e200G 7.1OZ
The first time you burn your True
Grace candle, allow it to burn for
at least 2 hours and no more than
4 hours, until the whole top is liquid
with wax. This will help your candle
burn more evenly the next time.
Tin: burn time 40 hours
Dining candle: burn time 12 hours
candle, trim the wick to 0.5cm.
After lighting keep wick trimmed
to 0.5cm.


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Hamburg, DE 26.9.2018.
Student Project Form
Deadlines are each Sep 5 and Jan 5 for the fall and spring semesters.
Please enter the name of the EXECUTIVE research that you are interested in, and we will send you the pdf file.
Please enter the name of the ACADEMIC research that you are interested in, and we will send you the pdf file.
Please click on link to download pdf files.
To request files from Selected Speaking, please submit your code or upload other evidence of attendance.
Request onsite Executive Education(all fields required)
DR. EDWARD ANDERSON Professor of Operations Management at the University of Texas
Dr. Edward Anderson is Wright Centennial Professor for the Management of Innovation Technology at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He is past President of the Production & Operations Management Society and author of two books: The Innovation Butterfly, on managing decentralized innovation, and Operations Management for Dummies, a field guide to operations management best practices. He has PhD in Management Science from MIT and a BA in Electrical Engineering and History from Stanford. Ed holds six patents and has worked extensively with major corporations such as Dell, Ford, Frito-Lay, and SAP.
Request a speech from Geoff and/or Marshall
C-Level executive advisor
Sangeet Paul Choudary is a C-level executive advisor, co-author of Platform Revolution, and the author of Platform Scale. He has been selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and is ranked among the top 30 emerging thinkers of Indian origin globally in 2016 by Thinkers50 Radar. His co-authored article on platforms has been selected by Harvard Business Review as a "must read" for the year 2016-17.
Principal in the Innovation & Enterprise Solutions group
Peter Evans is a Principal in the Innovation & Enterprise Solutions group at KPMG. He leads the strategy group devoted to identifying, framing, assessing, and communicating high-priority marketplace trends and disruptions to senior firm leadership for business planning and investment prioritization. Prior to joining KPMG, Dr. Evans was Vice President at the Center for Global Enterprise a nonprofit organization established by Sam Palmisano, former Chairman and CEO of IBM. Dr. Evans also held key strategy and market intelligence roles at General Electric..


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Hundreds of people demonstrated in Zurich calling for safe routes for refugees, decriminalisation of sea rescues, and the establishment of solidarity citiesexternal link in Switzerland.
The Saturday rally was spearheaded by "Seebrücke,"external link a movement critical of the European policy shift towards stricter border controls which it says amounts to "letting people drown in the Mediterranean."
The event's co-organiser, Anna Schmid, said at least 3,000 people took to the streets of Zurich, Switzerland's largest city.
She urged Swiss politicians to take a stand and no longer tolerate people dying in silence.
Switzerland, she added in remarks published by the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA, should be taking people in rather than deporting as many refugees as possible to Italy.
Thomas Nuding, captain of the non-profit ship Sea-Eye, said sea rescue of refugees is not a crime but a humanitarian duty and that "unlawfully blocked NGO ships" should be allowed to resume their work.
Nuding said cooperation with the so-called coastguard of Libya, a major departure point for migrants headed to Europe, should be stopped immediately.
Lina Rasheed of FIZ Advocacy and Support for Migrant Women and Victims of Traffickingexternal link, warned women in particular are exposed to sexual violence during their escape through the Sahara and Libya.
There is an urgent need for safe escape routes, Rasheed said.
The International Organisation for Migration reports 84,645 arrivals to Europe in 2018. More than 1,500 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean since January, according to the same source.


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Beauty Sales, Steals and Deals for August 29, 2010./
Happy Sunday!
Ready for some more sweet beauty deals this week? I am! Well, when aren't I? Ha! Check out the latest I found by way of beauty sales for the week.
Shop online at CVS.com, where you can get the following:
- 25% off all beauty August 30 – September 5
Shop in-store, where ExtraCare cardholders will receive money back when they spend a certain amount on select beauty products from popular national brands like Maybelline, Nivea, Dove and Acne Free. They'll also have access to excellent BOGO savings. SOme September examples:
- Maybelline Lip and Eye – Spend $10 Get $3 Extra Care Bucks
- Nivea and Eucerin – Spend $15 Get $5 Extra Care Bucks
- Acne Free and Wrinkle Free – Spend $20 Get $10 Extra Care Bucks
LORAC Cosmetics
Celebrity Makeup Artist, Carol Shaw, hand picked the products for this limited-edition set called Rock the Red Carpet Colllection. Separately, these would sell for over $100, but it is on sale for only $25! You get these seven beauties all tucked into a chic makeup bag.
- 5 Mini Couture Shine Liquid Lipsticks in Haute, Couture, Glam, Sheer Luxe and Lavish
- Mini TANtalizer Baked Bronzer
- Bronzed Bombshell Eye Shadow Trio in Sand, Serenity and Bronze
- Purple Croc Makeup Bag
Benefit Cosmetics
- Get a free velvet eyeshadow in rich beach with any $50 order. Enter code EYECOLOR at checkout.
- Free US Standard Shipping on any $50 purchase. Enter promo code PRETTY50 at checkout.
- Get a free travel size Blow Out non-stick hair spray with your $25 purchase of Blow products.
- Buy two Frederic Fekkai Advanced products and receive a free 1 oz. travel size Glossing Cream.
- Buy $20 of LORAC products and receive a free deluxe sample of Liquid Lipstick in Glam!
- $10 off $60 purchase.
- New customers save 10% off all orders over $50. Checkout code: NEWTEN
- Receive a FREE sample of Youthtopia™ Age-correcting serum with Rhodiola with any Origins.com.


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Mura Masa
By Drew Orlick
On Thursday, August 30, InSight Presents welcomes Mura Masa to the WOW Hall.
Alex Crossan, known better as Mura Masa, is a two time Grammy nominated DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Born and raised on the Island of Guernsey, an English territory off the coast of France, he grew up a lifelong artist playing and singing in punk, hardcore and gospel bands. Upon discovering electronic music and production software at age 15, he began to incorporate his musical inclinations into beatmaking. A self taught bedroom producer, most of Mura Masa's discography has been made by him, his laptop, his headphones and little else. Beyond convenience, this gives his sound a tinge of loneliness and a strongly controlled artistic direction.
Two years later Alex released his first project, Soundtrack to a Death, and gained fame rapidly from exposure on Soundcloud and from the song Lotus Eater being included in several BBC radio DJ mixes. He received praise for the experimental nature of many songs, introducing several unique instruments to the electronic soundscape, such as steel drums and harps to name a few of his favorites. These unexpected elements come from his level of commitment to researching and understanding the subgenres and cultures of sounds he looks to incorporate into his own music, assisted by his new hometown of London and his old mentor, the world wide web. In any other life and era, who knows where his insatiable curiosity would lead him. Midway through his first year of studying English Literature and Philosophy, he chose music over everything as professional opportunities began to emerge.
On his next full project, Someday Somewhere, his internet age global sound continued to evolve. Featuring lush synthesizers, unorthodox percussion patterns and single instrument melodies, his sound became even more distinguished. His multi genre upbringing of influence and creation have brought Mura Masa to the point of existing in between the spaces of pop, grime, hip-hop and R&B to pioneer what he describes as "wonky".
Signing a deal to Interscope and Polydor records has allowed him to create his own imprint label, Anchor Point, which released his self titled debut album Mura Masa. The deal allows him to operate Anchor Point independently, and to manage a few of his frequent collaborators. Anchor Point also allows Crossan to serve as creative director, a role for which he received one of his Grammy nominations. Sonically it was his collaboration with Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky, Love$ick, that brought his name to the mainstream by charting internationally. The song reworks his own 2015 track, Lovesick F^ck, and features A$AP Rocky tagging on a freestyled verse to the topically influenced beat. The album as a whole encompasses many of the unique qualities of Mura Masa's music, exploring global sounds and curating the sonic environment for featured artists of all backgrounds to stand out and shine.
Recently featured in a collaboration with Niles Rodgers and Chic, Mura Masa plans to periodically release stand alone singles and collaborations in the lead up to his next full length project.
Tickets are $25 in advance. Doors open and show begins at 9:00 pm.
Listen to Mura Masa's track with Jadu Heart 'U Never Call Me': https://anchorpoint.lnk.to/unevercallme
Follow Mura Masa:
Website - http://www.muramasa.me/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MuramasaMusic/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/mura_masa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mura_masa/
Spotify - http://spoti.fi/muramasa_spotify
YouTube - http://bit.ly/muramasa_youtube
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/muramasamusic


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The Game Plan
How some people are saving for retirement—and what financial advisers think of those strategies
The Game Plan takes a look at how individuals and families are saving for retirement—and then asks financial advisers to comment on those strategies. You're invited to share your own retirement-savings plans by sending an email to email@example.com.
Juggling Several Retirement Plans
Phil Thompson and Catherine Riordan have always put a premium on saving for retirement. But after switching jobs multiple times, they have a lot of different retirement plans and little current savings.
"We'll have a number of sources" for retirement, says Mr. Thompson, assistant professor of economics at Western Washington University. "One of the things we need to look at is consolidating some of these things and simplifying our financial lives."
Mr. Thompson and his wife, who is provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Washington, earn healthy incomes from their university posts. He gets $70,000 for a nine-month year, while she earns $200,000 annually. But recent expenses, including a new house and their daughters' schooling, have taken a toll on short-term cash flow.
Mr. Thompson, 56, and Ms. Riordan, 58, moved to Bellingham, Wash., in 2009 from Central Michigan University. After renting for a year, they bought a home in May. To avoid taking on a "jumbo" mortgage with a high interest rate, they used $50,000 in savings to make a larger down payment. They now have about $8,000 in cash savings.
The couple expects to replenish that within the year, at which point they will start contributing to the university's voluntary 403(b) plan. In the meantime, they're each socking away 10% of their gross income toward a university retirement plan, with matching contributions by the school. They currently have a combined $67,000 saved in the plan.
Mr. Thompson and Ms. Riordan also have $330,000 in defined contribution, 403(b) and 457(b) plans from Central Michigan, as well as defined benefit plans expected to pay out $30,000 to $35,000 annually, and $178,000 invested via 403(b)s from the University of Missouri, where they taught previously. Additionally, Mr. Thompson has an $8,000-per-year defined benefit plan and $44,000 in a 403(b) from working for the state of Missouri, and Ms. Riordan has a few thousand dollars in an IRA.
The couple met with a financial planner in fall 2008, right before the market tumbled, about how to invest their assets. They also sought advice on paying for their two daughters' private college educations, which were more expensive than anticipated. Mr. Thompson and Ms. Riordan opened college savings accounts when the girls were born but saved at a pace appropriate for state-school tuitions.
The girls, one a senior at Oberlin College and the other a sophomore at Lewis & Clark College, received partial scholarships. Cutting back on some spending, Mr. Thompson and Ms. Riordan are covering the rest of tuition, room and board. The girls are responsible for their own pocket money.
Ms. Riordan says her retirement outlook has clouded as she sees more 20-somethings return home. She fears her own children will need to do the same. She would like to stop working full time within the decade, while her husband doesn't see himself retiring for at least 10 years.
Though they had agreed only to cover undergraduate expenses, Ms. Riordan says her girls' future is a concern. Retirement is "a moving target," she says. "it's a lot less predictable than I hoped it would be at this point in our lives."
ADVICE FROM THE PRO: Bill Morrissey, a fee-only financial planner and president of Sound Financial Planning Inc. in Mount Vernon, Wash., says Ms. Riordan and her husband should focus on rebuilding their savings.
Mr. Morrissey recommends they keep four to six months of cash in case of an emergency. While neither is in poor health or facing imminent layoff, he says it's a good idea to keep some assets liquid in case things change.
At the same time, the couple should begin contributing to their current university's voluntary 403(b) plan as soon as possible in order to continue building for retirement. He says it's important for them to focus on their own financial security; their daughters can always take out low-interest federal loans for graduate school.
Mr. Morrissey recommends the couple roll over their old 403(b) plans into two IRAs to simplify their administration. Once they have a snapshot of what's where, he says it also would help to annually reassess their asset allocation, insurance coverage and cash-flow projections.
"You can't just develop a financial plan and let it collect dust," Mr. Morrissey says. "If you're not doing it annually, you're not able to monitor how you're doing, whether you're on track."
Because Mr. Thompson and Ms. Riordan don't expect to retire immediately, they can still take on some risk. Still, Mr. Morrissey suggests they keep a relatively conservative portfolio because they won't have much time to rebuild wealth if the market slides.
He recommends they put at least 40% of their holdings into conservative bond funds; 15% in large-cap domestic value stocks; and 10% to 15% in international stocks. The rest should be split into real-estate funds, mid-cap and small-cap value funds, managed futures and commodities and tactical allocation funds for hedging, Mr. Morrissey says.
He also recommends the couple work with a fee-only certified financial planner, "unless they feel they are sophisticated enough to try to do this on their own."
—Melissa Korn
Getting Married
When Valerie Alerte and Edward Kavanagh got engaged in September, they committed themselves to a strict wedding budget: $40,000, cash.
"We made a vow that we won't cause ourselves financial anxiety," says Ms. Alerte. She and her fiancé are socking $3,000 to $3,500 a month into an online savings account for that purpose, and plan to continue doing so until the big day arrives next November.
In the meantime, they are limiting credit-card purchases, downsizing vacations and buying items such as clothes on sale. "It's all about buying more for less when you can," says Ms. Alerte, a law firm account manager.
The couple, both 32, are living with the bride-to-be's parents in East Northport, N.Y., an arrangement that began over the summer, she says, after her landlord decided to sell the Jersey City, N.J., house she was living in. Ms. Alerte's parents, empty-nesters at the time, encouraged the young couple to move in to help them save for their own home.
"It's a great time to hoard your nuts, my dad said," says Ms. Alerte.
Still, returning home was a bit of a culture shock for Ms. Alerte, who was used to being financially independent. To contribute something to her parents' household, she spent about $10,000 converting their sun room into a year-round space.
Meanwhile, she contributes to her employer's 401(k) plan, receiving her company's match of up to 5% of her gross income. She also maxes out her Roth IRA contributions every year and has purchased long-term life insurance.
The couple shells out more then $550 a month in combined commuting expenses. Ms. Alerte also owes about $40,000 in federal loans from her M.B.A. studies that she plans to pay off in five to eight years.
Mr. Kavanagh, a sales account executive who originally hails from London, owes about $10,000 in school loans. He also owns an apartment in London from which he receives rental income that he uses to pay off his debt.
In addition to saving for their wedding, the couple contributes monthly to an online savings account for a "dream home." They hope to have about $75,000 to $100,000 in that account in about three years.
Looking ahead, Ms. Alerte and Mr. Kavanagh also wish eventually to buy investment properties in New York and France to provide income both in their working years and in retirement. They plan to save a "significant" sum for their future children, too.
"It's important for us to leave a legacy," she says.
ADVICE FROM THE PRO: Joseph Montanaro, a San Antonio-based fee-only certified financial planner with USAA Financial Planning Services, says the couple seems very "well-grounded."
"If the financial path they chart during marriage is characterized by the same discipline and focus they've demonstrated as they prepare for their life together, they should be in great shape," says Mr. Montanaro.
He says the couple is smart to plan for a great wedding but to start their life together with no wedding debt. He adds the systematic saving the couple is doing to plan for their dream home is "superb."
In the meantime, Mr. Montanaro says the couple should consider other investments besides savings accounts to accumulate for their longer-term goals such as a balanced mutual fund for goals beyond five years.
The couple should also spend some time talking about how they will bring together their finances, Mr. Montanaro says. How many checking and credit-card accounts they will have, for example, and what their aggregate asset allocation looks like.
He says they should commit to a monthly or quarterly "money date" to assess how they are doing in relation to their financial goals.
—Veronica Dagher
Thinking About Kids
Victoria and Lita Dunn will proudly tell you that their house is in order—at least in a literal sense. Their financial house needs some work.
The two wed in Washington, D.C., earlier this year after the district legalized same-sex marriages. They live in a rowhouse in the city's Petworth neighborhood.
They bought the property in 2008 for $237,500—with 5% down and a 30-year mortgage at 5% to cover the rest—and have since completed more than $20,000 in improvements, including a new kitchen.
Eventually, the couple hopes to have children. "We are open to a very bright, family-filled future," says Lita, 37, who works for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools as an online advocate.
But the Dunns, with a combined income of $125,000, have relatively little savings—for retirement or even a household emergency. "We had an emergency fund, but we used it on our kitchen," says Victoria, 31, the director of alumni relations for a D.C. public charter school.
Victoria has about $10,000 in a 403(b) retirement plan from a previous job and saves 2% of her salary in a new 403(b). The company matches up to the first 5%, which means she isn't taking full advantage of the program.
As for Lita, she frankly admits: "I got nothing." She hasn't saved in the past and isn't saving currently, even though her company also has a 403(b) program with a match.
Beyond that, Victoria and Lita have about $7,500 combined in their joint and individual checking and savings accounts. But they're still paying off student loans—Lita owes a balance of $25,000 and Victoria $6,000. Plus, they are planning more improvements for the house—a new bathroom (at least a $10,000 expense) and new windows ($3,000).
The Dunns say they've become more careful with their spending. Fancy dinners around town are a thing of the past. "Now we spend 40 bucks" on an occasional meal at a neighborhood restaurant, says Victoria.
The couple also generally limits vacations to short hops in the region. And while they do have a car—Victoria needs it to commute to her job—they went with a used Toyota Prius, which they purchased for $15,000, and still make payments on it.
The Dunns both have "great medical plans" through work, says Lita. They also have a small bit of life insurance for each other through their jobs.
Finally, charity plays a role in their financial lives. Victoria contributes about $500 a year to various causes, while Lita often helps the homeless. "If I have cash in my pockets, I like to give it to them," she says, adding that such spontaneous contributions add up to $150 monthly.
Lita concedes the couple could use a little cash of their own right now. Meanwhile, Victoria worries about the future. "I just don't think we have enough saved for the long term," she says.
ADVICE FROM THE PRO: Cassandra Toroian, a fee-only financial adviser and founder of Bell Rock Capital in Rehoboth Beach, Del., says the Dunns "have to prepare for some of the hard realities" in life. Until they do, she says, "the dream of having children is a nice one, but it's substantially unviable."
First and foremost, she suggests the Dunns both maximize their contributions to their company-sponsored retirement plans so that they're getting the full matches available to them. Putting money into such accounts is a form of "forced savings" that the couple needs to adopt, Ms. Toroian says.
Beyond that, she says, a monthly savings plan is a must so that the couple can learn to "live responsibly within their means" and start to bank six months of living expenses.
While the Dunns believe their house has increased about $50,000 in value, tapping home equity is no substitute for savings, Ms. Toroian warns. "It's not as easy anymore to get loans," she says.
Regarding charity, Ms. Toroian cautions against giving directly to homeless people. Instead, she suggests donating to a social-service agency that works with the homeless—not only because the Dunns are losing out on a tax deduction, but also because an agency is "trained to help."
—Charles Passy
Ms. Korn and Ms. Dagher are reporters for Dow Jones Newswires in New York. They can be reached at email@example.com and email@example.com. Mr. Passy is a writer for SmartMoney magazine in New York. He can be reached at email@example.com.
Copyright ©2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
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Lazeez | Mughal Restaurant at Koramangala, Bangalore
Contact No. : 080 41217034
Timings : 11.00AM to 11.00PM
Cost : Rs. 600 for two
Cuisine : Mughal
Know About other Lazeez Outlets:
Calcutta Kati Rolls
Tandoor Ke Kebab
Handi Curry
Sabji Mandi
Rice & Biryani
This restaurant has its origin from Kolkata. You can also find a board in here saying "From Kolkata". Its a nice and good Mughal restaurant. Their ambiance is average. as you enter you can see a counter making rolls. You can find much people taking away food on their way back.
The Food they serve is good and has a real touch of mughlai taste unlike other nearby restaurants serving Biryani. From Tandoor, you can try almost anything, all tastes yumm and rich. Tandoori Murgh is a favorite. They items from tandoor look so attractive you would love to gulp. Their curry items are nice with spicy gravy. Rezala, Lahori Murgh were too good.And about biryani, they are a bit oily but good in taste.
The prices are apt. Their quatity of food is ample. Their service is a bit slow. At times you may find many stuffs, like biryani to be finished.
Read More here:


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The Terrible 2's
So, it's been two years since the humble beginnings of Pickled Rose. We started with 4 or 5 regular readers, and in the intervening years, our readership has doubled. At least. If you're one of those few people, thank you. I really do mean that.
So, what are we doing for this blog's second birthday? Well, befitting anybody's second birthday, there's alcohol involved. For the parents, of course. Websites can't drink. Don't be ridiculous.
Anyway, we decided to come up with a cocktail. This drink requires only one specialized ingredient, and it's one that you can make yourself with two simple ingredients: pepper and vodka.
This cocktail combines the classic flavors of citrus and bourbon with the spice and earthiness of pepper vodka and fresh sage. Pepper vodka is quite easy to make - it involves combining whole peppercorns with vodka, letting it steep for several days, and then straining it.
Pepper Vodka
- 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 750 ML vodka
In an airtight container, combine the pepper and the vodka. Place in a cool, dark place and allow to steep for 3-4 days. Taste a small amount (just a few drops) every day or so, until the pepper flavor is very pronounced. When the flavor reaches the desired intensity, run the vodka through a fine strainer, and discard the peppercorns. Store the pepper vodka in an airtight container, away from heat and light.
Terrible 2's
- 3 oz. bourbon
- 2 oz. of orange/lemon juice mixture: juice of 3 blood oranges and 1/2 of a Meyer lemon, combined.
- 1/2 oz. pepper vodka
- 3 fresh sage leaves
- Ice cubes
In a small bowl, mix the orange and lemon juice.
In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, 2 ounces of the blood orange/lemon juice mixture, the pepper vodka, the sage leaves, and a few ice cubes. Shake until the cocktail is chilled and mixed, about 30 seconds.
Pour into a chilled glass, and garnish with a sage leaf, if desired.
Enjoy. Here's to two more years.