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30 August 2013
Unity through the decades: Rev Molliston Madison Clark
As we celebrate Black History Month in October, Chine Mbubaegbu delves into the Alliance's history books to find an inspiring story..
There have been times over the past three years I've worked at the Evangelical Alliance when I've been overcome by the privilege of working for an organisation with such a deep, rich history of being good news to this nation and with such a passion for uniting the Church. There are times when we have been amazed by some of the things we find in the archives that tell the story of our 167-year history.
But for me, personally, the story of Rev Molliston Madison Clark – an African American – has been my favourite so far. Rev Clark, born in 1807, caused a great deal of excitement when he arrived at the Evangelical Alliance's first conference in1846. Having survived a shipwreck on his way from New York to the UK – and therefore having to return to the Big Apple before beginning his journey to London again, he arrived at the conference late.
Writing in The Evangelical Alliance, published in 1847, J W Massie wrote: "His life had been spared, and his desire had been filled, that he should meet with the assembled servants of God.
"Mollison Madison Clark excited a deep and powerful interest in the conference. His personal appearance was as impressive as were his circumstances and his history. A figure tall and erect; a complexion superficially almost sable, but in its substratum tinged with the hue of the red Indian; his hair a strong black, but not fleecy; a countenance bearing the outline of a noble profile; every feature deserving the epithet handsome."
The description of the colour of Rev Clark's skin in a report of an Alliance conference seems totally alien reading at a time when our Council is full of leaders from diverse backgrounds and I'm privileged to be part of the One People Commission, which celebrates diversity while promoting unity, bringing together key national leaders from diverse ethnic groups.
But things were different in 1846; and reading through the description of the meeting I am struck by the sense of excitement and the welcoming spirit of the Alliance at a time when it was uncommon for black and white to mix.
Rev Clark was a freeborn native of Delaware and was sent to Philadelphia as teenager because in theory at least, black children were offered the same opportunities as white children in the Philadelphia public school system.
He was sponsored by the Presbyterian Church to attend the college they founded– Jefferson College. He went on to teach in a school for black children in New York. He moved to Ohio and again worked in a school for black children and he was instrumental in establishing schools for black youngsters who were moving into the area from the southern states.
He campaigned against the Ohio Black Codes which restricted the movement and opportunities for black people, including the requirement for black people to have legal documentation to prove they were "free" before they could settle in Ohio.
In 1852, Rev Clark became the first editor of the Christian Recorder – which is the oldest existing black periodical in America. He pledged that the magazine would focus on religion, morality, science and literature. The Christian Recorder was a strong and vocal opponent to slavery and repeatedly addressed the biblical and moral issues of slavery and encouraged and nurtured black consciousness.
In front of a captivated audience, Rev Clark gave an address. Some of the words he spoke in 1846 still resonate with me and give me goosebumps as I read as a black person and a woman 167 later at the Alliance. In his words are the message of hope and unity and familial love that we as the Evangelical Alliance remain passionate about. I'll leave you with his words:
"Representing as I do, over seventeen thousand professing Christians in the United States of America, members of the African Methodist Episcopal Denomination – and more or less remotely three million of my race, I feel the sacred and high honour as well as the great responsibility.
"They are men possessing, in common with the rest of the human family, great interests both in heaven and upon earth; and, though they may for a time be deprived, by frail human policy, of some of the privileges of the latter, yet they have faith to believe, that, through the everlasting Atonement, they will for ever enjoy the glory and happiness of the former.
"The Church has this great work to accomplish, and that all she wants to effect it is, that her concentrated energies be brought to bear, with wisdom, prudence, and discretion, upon the enlightened consciences of the World; and, under the guidance of the Divine Hand, the work will steadily and safely go forward, till it shall be perfected.
"Feeling very thankful for that kind and Christian reception with which I have met, I subscribe myself. "Your fellow labourer in the vineyard of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." M. M Clark
Words by Chine Mbubaegbu, head of media. Research by Kim Walker, senior information officer, Evangelical Alliance
You might also be interested in
- 27 Oct 2017 idea: Building a generous foundation
- 24 Apr 2018 idea: Why not try?
- 27 Feb 2018 idea: The hopes of 1846 evangelicals for unity have been realised, 170 years on
- 21 Feb 2018 Billy Graham & the Alliance
- 22 Dec 2017 idea: Resurrection of hope
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I have known Marty for about 25 years and during this time played music with him in what was once a collective groupe of musicians called the Furnace Mountain Band. As the years rolled on, Marty went off to school at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, Arizona. When he returned, he was armed with the skills and tools of a Luthier and he has never looked back. Since then his shop and business have continued to grow and today Marty and Stuart are regularly turning out instruments with grace and beauty, not to mention great tone.
One of the first things that drew me to these instruments is Marty's command of the art of inlay. The intricate inlays that adorn the fretboards and headstocks of his instruments are flawless. Together Marty and Stu are building instruments of the highest standard and best quality as can be seen in the photos below. If you are in the market for a stringed instrument (or have one on need of repair as I often do) Fairbuilt Guitar Company should be your first stop.

subset: commoncrawl


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Emmy Magazine Article "In the Mix"
There is a shy teen who blossoms on stage as the star of the high school musical. There's the soccer jock who finds a greater bliss belting out numbers from Bye Bye Birdie than kicking goals into the net. Then there's the archetypal drama coach, inspiring her students to unleash their innermost thespians.
But these characters are no fictional, prime time casting. Most Valuable Players documents a real and endearing collection of drama students from eastern Pennsylvania as they feverishly (and sometimes awkwardly) put on their schools' an nual musicals. They then compete in the Freddy Awards, a yearly recognition of outstanding high school musical theater that culminates before sold-out crowds - and a live TV audience - in the grandiose State Theatre in Easton, Pennsyl vania, and rivals the Tony Awards for exuberance.
"I cried. I laughed," says Lisa Erspamer, ex ecutive vice-president, production and develop ment, at the Oprah Winfrey Network, who chose Most Valuable Players to air in September as part of the recently launched OWN Documentary Club.


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And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!
I Thessalonians 5. 12, 13 The Message
Dear Friends in Christ,
As early as the first century the Apostle Paul established Pastor Appreciation Month through his letter to the church at Thessalonica. It took 20th century American Christian radio and evangelical Protestant consumerism to turn it into a b-level commemoration practiced by few churches but appreciated by all who are the objects of this annual expression of thanks.
I want to express appreciation for my pastor; it's something I don't do often enough and that oversight won't be corrected or atoned for by the few lines that follow. Nevertheless, here is why I appreciate my pastor, Pastor Devlin:
Faithfully in Him,


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There's love in the air, especially for Lady Sprocket Mayhem and Darth Kitty!
These two found their forever home on Valentine's Day and we couldn't be happier. Yay, they were adopted together! You may remember both were recently brought back to The Southern Dog from a previous adopter. Everything does happen for a reason…a better reason than we ever know at the time. We hear Lady and Darth have met their new siblings and are already getting settled. Thank you to their new family for choosing adoption and for choosing to keep Lady and Darth together.
Live well sweet kitties, we will miss you!


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CNC Machining
Associated Fabrication offers contract CNC milling services in New York and nationally on our Thermwood CS45-510 3-axis mill. We can cut a panel size of 60 x 120 x 9 inches, and nearly any non-ferrous material, including hardwoods, plywoods, aluminum, acrylic, Corian and all densities of modelling foams. We specialize in two-sided machining and can accurately flip-mill as required by your job . Furthermore, we're proud to participate in the Thermwood eCabinet Systems production sharing program. Call or email us for a quote.
Thermoforming, or "the the process of heating a thermoplastic material and shaping it in a mold," is one of our specialties. We are capable of thermoforming Corian, 3Form Chroma and acyrlic as well as other solid surface materials. We work alongside our clients to help them optimize their designs for thermoforming to ensure seamles, beautiful finished products.


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Nausheen Din, MD is a physician specializing in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry. She is committed to assessing and treating children with complex psychiatric and behavioral disorders including depression, suicidality, bipolar disorder, OCD, generalized anxiety, social phobia, substance abuse, eating disorders, ADHD/ADD and autism. Treatment modalities offered include school consultation, risk assessment, psychotropic medication management, individual and group psychotherapy, psychological testing and rTMS therapy.
- TO CONFIDENTIALLY SHARE YOUR OPINION OR STORY ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL, please communicate privately with Dr. Din via email here: firstname.lastname@example.com
- PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT DR. DIN'S BOOK BY CLICKING THIS LINK. Doing so will ensure that you are included in the focus group, receive survey questions and updates, and attend think tanks about the book
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- INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, CHILDREN AND FAMILY TO CONFIDENTIALLY SHARE THEIR OPINION OR STORY ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL. They may communicate privately with Dr. Din via email here: email@example.com


text: The Humboldt County Fair is proud to announce our new ownership of the Humboldt Ice Rink! We are excited to provide a new indoor home for the rink in Belotti Hall at the Fairgrounds in Ferndale, California. We will continue to uphold the same tradition and values of the Humboldt Ice Rink's founders by partnering with local schools and giving back to local service groups who volunteer at the Ice Rink. We are grateful for this opportunity and we are thrilled to provide the public with a new space to enjoy this holiday season. Join us for ice skating, a winter wonderland with Santa, new theme nights, and a new space for birthday & corporate parties! Skating begins November 30th on Ferndale's Hospitality Night and ends January 6th.


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THE #25 million scheme for a new ice rink in Birmingham today looked to be in deep freeze with council planners blocking the project.
Midland group Planet Ice, the company behind the Pershore Street plan, today blasted the council on the day it was set to reject the scheme outright.
In October planners said an initial application from the Lichfield firm to bring the famous former Silver Blades rink back from the dead had raised concerns about smell and noise nuisance from nearby market stalls.
The authority was attacked by bosses at Planet Ice, who say the #25 million project will create up to 100 jobs, new sporting facilities, shops, a health club and 230 city centre apartments.
But environmental officers have recommended that the latest application should be refused today due to "the effect of rotting meat and vegetables from the council's wholesale markets".
Former world champion speed skater Wilf O'Reilly, executive director of Planet Ice, said today: "Unfortunately, the prospects are looking bleak for the application.
"One would have thought that the council's announcement to relocate and redevelop the market site might have changed the situation.
"But bizarrely they seem to be suggesting that the market will have an impact on the scheme even though it is unlikely to be there in years to come. When you consider that the city has been without a permanent ice rink for over three years and the huge popularity of the temporary outdoor rink on Centenary Square, it is extremely frustrating."


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WALL Works: FRIENDSHIP QUILT
34" x 46.5" x 8.5"
Friendship quilts were most often created when someone was leaving the community. Each acquaintance/friend embroidered a square with her signature. The squares in this piece are from a 19th Century piecework and is a commentary about women's friendships. Gloves are outstretched and attached as though reaching out to make contact. Perhaps saying good-bye, perhaps welcoming to a new neighborhood


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Here i have just completed my 1st mystery fiction book which is y 2nd book and it is called "Lucas Whitney and the Inconspicuous Deaths" This book is about a enormous amount of murders that have been committed in 4 different towns of Holland in the year of 1897. The HIS (Holland Investigation Services) tried to solve the first two cases that had been committed after the police had called them to look into these murders, but with there not being any signs of immediate death even the HIS was having trouble and the Chief of the HIS decided to call Lucas Whitney and Dr. Jenkins his partner which is the best private investigator in all of Holland.
Amazon has got down to only one book left and had more book ordered from the publisher twice in December and once on New years day, although i'm not sure truly how many have been sold, I believe that people are still reading the book for with it being brand new there hasn't been any comments on the book as of yet.
I first wrote my 1st book Epilepsy and the Epileptic" Which was a non-fiction about Epilepsy and what people with epilepsy have to go through with having the disability, then after completing it i decided to write a mystery. With me always loving Sherlock Holmes I decided to create Lucas Whitney and his Partner Dr. Jenkins which live in Amsterdam of Holland and i started the series for the year of 1897. This is the 1st book of a series of Lucas Whitney books. I am now working on my 3rd book Which is called "Our Unsung Heroes" which is a War/comedy book kinda like the old TV show "Hogan's Heroes" based in WWII. Here is the Amazon Link to the book if anyone is interested, https://www.amazon.com/dp/1517709377/ref=rdr_ext_tmb


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Justin and I are just finishing our last 'working' shift together.
16 days have passed since I got on the plane from Newcastle.
44 hours working in San Francisco.
55 Hours working in Newcastle.
Countless more hours thinking about and trying to share what we are learning, experiencing and considering whilst we try to figure out where we go and how we can change things for the better from this point onwards.
Thousands of words to follow in blog posts.
Hundreds of pictures.
A wide selection of video blogs
The upcoming trailer for the Chronicles of EMS!
What a couple of weeks……
And you have been along with us from the start.
Both Justin and I feel a real sense of responsibility to you all. We have always said that the only way that this 'Project' was going to work was to be able to share it with as many people as possible.
We sincerely hope that already, we have inspired some of you to think more critically about how your service provides care and what improvements could possibly be made to improve the experience for you patients passing through your care.
We are still looking at what the realistic outcomes of this project may bring, both in the UK in the North East Ambulance Service and in the USA within the San Francisco Fire Department, but you can be sure that we will share each and every step with you all.
As this first 'Chronicle of EMS' draws towards its natural end, I look forward to the possibility of doing much more of this over the coming year or two. I sincerely hope that once the Trailer and eventually, the pilot episode is out, then the opportunity to get Ted and Chris over to the UK to film Justin coming back will become a real possibility.
Justin and I are working hard to get 2 – 3 video blogs up tonight (hopefully), so there should be some more footage for you to enjoy soon.
Speak again soon chaps.


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|October 23, 2014
October 22, 2014
I'm singing with Rima Fand and other singers on a barge that moves by underneath the audience watching from a bridge. We're signing a haunting Bulgarian song about a badly wounded rebel.
I'll also be performing in this on October 22nd, 31st and November 1st.
September 25, 2014
Black Sea Hotel is currently immersed in the production of their debut music video, "Zhenish Me Mamo", a potently haunting contemporarily-arranged folksong about dragons and fear. The video is directed by creative whirlwind, Josephine Decker, who's proven it possible not only to locate and acquire miniature modern-day dragons in NYC, but also to successfully choreograph them moving with grace across the faces and throughout the long hair of Black Sea Hotel member's Shelley, Sarah and Willa… near ocean waves, at dawn. Decker has crafted an other-worldly experience fear, sensuality, and strange-ity all in one. Video is scheduled for release early 2015.
To accompany the release of this music video is Black Sea Hotel's new studio recording of "Zhenish Me Mamo", engineered by James Frazee, mixed by Sarah Small, and mastered by Sarah Register, of The Lodge Mastering. This release is a recording debut for BSH's newest member, the vocally entrancing Shelley Thomas. "Zhenish Me Mamo" will be released Winter 2015, as a single EP with live bonus tracks from recent shows throughout late 2014.
September 02, 2014
We had such an enjoyable time with host Irene Trudel, on WFMU last Monday Aug 25th. If you'd like to hear us live in-studio, click red link to stream the show (we come on at time code 1:05:57). In addition, we have two radio segments tomorrow:
WNYC's 'Gig Alert' tomorrow at 7:50AM: if you tune in, you'll have the opportunity to download our featured song for free from their website. At 2pm sharp, we'll be live on John Schaefer's Soundcheck (also on WNYC.) On the dial, it's 93.9FM.
September 01, 2014
Black Sea Hotel was up in Hudson, NY, where we performed at the Basilica Hudson, headlining (with opening musicians, Patrick Higgins + Charlie Looker) for Basilica's closing party for BUMP: An Interactive Whale Exhibit by Frank & Dan Dendanto . Stunning acoustics and visuals. We sang under suspended whale bones. Enjoy a sample of the evening.
Live at Joe's Pub: Black Sea Hotel + Hydra (w/ Luminescent Orchestrii Trio + Main Squeeze Orchestra Sextet)August 28, 2014
If you plan to attend tomorrow and have not yet purchased your tickets for our Joe's Pub show (Wednesday Sept 3rd), we highly recommend you do this ahead of time. For those of you out of the country or unable to attend, we will also be live-streaming the Joe's Pub performance (click red link at 9:30pm tomorrow night, and our show will appear at the top of the "Uploads" Section). Black Sea Hotel is thrilled to be sharing the stage with Luminescent Orchestrii Trio, Main Squeeze Orchestra Sextet, and Hydra.
Joe's Pub: Wednesday, September 3rd
Doors 9:00pm, Concert 9:30pm sharp (arrive early for good seats)
Advance Tickets: $15, Door Tickets: $20
425 Lafayette Street, NYC 10003
August 05, 2014
Museum of Moving Image, Rual Route Film Festival (http://www.movingimage.us/films/2014/08/08/detail/rural-route-film-festival/): Sunday, August 10th
Hydra - Outdoor Performance - 4:15pm
"Butter on the Latch" Screening + Q+A - - 5pm
"Butter on the Latch" is the 2nd Film in a 'medium-format' double feature, starting at 5pm.
Post-screening, Small will be in attendance giving Q+A
Address: 36-01 35 Avenue (at 37 Street)
Astoria, NY 11106
July 09, 2014
Black Sea Hotel has returned from a gorgeous New Mexico retreat. Sarah and Shelley traveled back to New York this past week from Willa's hometown, where they'd joined her for a week of intensely focused Black Sea Hotel musical rehearsals, farming, green smoothie-drinking, production meetings, photo-shoots, and video-shoots. The trip culminated in a radio interview / live performance on KUNM's Free Form with Harry Norton, an acoustically gorgeous concert at GiG Performance Space in Santa Fe, and a BSH vocal workshop. We treated ourselves to a heavenly evening under the stars in hot and cold baths at the one-and-only 10,000 Waves.
We collected some stunning new media (thanks to all of our resident photographers + videographers: Jim Roberts, Ryan Roberts, and Bruce Dunlap.) We workshopped all our songs with tremendous love, focus, and precision, and feel very enlivened by this experience. We are grateful to Willa's father, Jim, for hosting us for the week on his beautiful rustic farm in Chimayo, NM.
Want to see Black Sea Hotel singing in a massive thunderstorm? For new photos and video, check out BlackSeaHotelusa.com and Facebook.
May 01, 2014
Muchmore's: Sunday, May 18th
Black Sea Hotel (in concert with BSH's newest member, Shelley Thomas)
(in performance w/ Woodhead + Parias):
Location: 2 Havemeyer St
(btw N 8th and N 9th street)
Williamsburg Brooklyn - 11211
April 15, 2014
*(Note from Sarah) Upcoming Black Sea Hotel Vocal Workshop
For those of you interested in learning Balkan a Cappella singing, Black Sea Hotel would love to share techniques and songs with you. We will be hosting this vocal workshop this coming weekend (Sunday, Sept 7th at 1PM.). The workshop will examine vocal placement, stylistic elements and ornamentation, strategies for blend, and rhythmic and harmonic structures. We will teach songs that exemplify all of these elements. The workshop is open to all levels; previous experience and sight-reading are not required. RSVP (Willa Roberts at "> ) to confirm your spot and receive directions to location.
April 02, 2014
Upcoming NYC Screening - Sunday April 6th: "Butter on the Latch" will be screening in the East Village on Sunday, April 6th. This is part of the Museum of the Moving Image's "First Time Fest", for first features by directors. The screening will be followed by a Q+A: Both Small and Director, Josephine Decker, will be in attendance.
AMC Village 7 (66 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003)
Like "Butter on the Latch" on Facebook
March 24, 2014
Black Sea Hotel, in new and unusual form, journeyed through the mid-Atlantic last month… We taught and laughed a lot, but mainly (as per usual), we sang our hearts out. As many of you know, Willa and I had our third member leave the group last year, so we decided to go on this tour in new and unusual form. Guess what!? This new form included a BOY in the mix (but don't worry, he sings in a girl's register most of the time, unless he's singing low with me in my boy register). Our guest singers on this tour, pictured here with Willa and I, are Shelley Thomas and Carl Linich.


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HBR: Anxiety and Business Decisions/
Check out the Editors Pick of the Week November 7, 2013 (17:09 -12:15 minutes)
The first article in the Harvard Business Review, HBR podcast is about seeking advice when anxious. The article discusses how decisions can be influenced if we are anxious before we make a decision. What I found most interesting is that the psychologist used a technique of watching a video that makes the subject anxious before they have to make a decision on a different subject. What the psychologists understand is that the brain retains the emotional tone even if the context changes. Most important is that even we don't feel like we are anxious, even when our brain is actually making slightly different decisions.
The take-home for this business is when there are important decisions to be made, we should clear the decks and go do something that helps us get into a neutral state, such as playing a round of golf, sleeping on it, or doing another activity in which we have a great deal of confidence. By getting our brain in a neutral state, our mind is better able to make the decisions we need to make.


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Especially while tourists are here to leaf peep this fall, and even on many typical weekends, parking lots at malls and supermarkets are packed; increasing the possibility of a fender bender.
If you hit, scrape, or otherwise damage a parked car—or if you're the victim of such an accident—don't panic. Here are some simple steps you can take:
If you're the driver:
Don't drive away. If another customer or a surveillance camera spots you, you could be punished for a hit-and-run.
Track down the other car's owner. Head into the store and speak to someone at the customer service desk. Describe the car to the employee, and have him or her announce it over the store's loudspeaker.
Leave a note. If you're unable to find the other driver, jot down basic information—your name, phone number, and a brief explanation of the accident—and place it in a secure spot on the car. Write down the license plate number and take a photo of the damage if you have a camera or smartphone with you.
Call the police. Depending on how extensive the damage is, you may want to involve the police.
They'll document the accident and they can help you find the other car's owner.
If you're the victim:
Contact your agent. Let him or her know what happened as soon as possible. Your agent will help you determine the next steps.
Record evidence. Take pictures of the other driver's insurance ID card as well as damage to both vehicles with your phone or a camera, if you have one on hand.
Take thorough notes. If the other driver is still around, jot down his or her name, address, phone number, driver's license number, and insurance company. Gather as much information as possible.
Get backup. Ask others in the parking lot if they witnessed anything. Also head back into the store and find out if they have security camera footage you can check.
If you're the witness:
Provide assistance. If the offending driver is gone, help the other driver document the damage. Give the driver your contact information in case his or her insurance agent or the police need to contact you for further comment.


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Just Ask Leadership
When the book Just Ask Leadership by Gary Cohen, was first announced last year--I couldn't wait for it to come out. The thesis of the book is that the best leaders are those who ask informed questions. It was Peter Drucker who said, "The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask." I believe that. I had the opportunity to study the book with my Executive Pastors Coaching Network in December, and even had a chance to interview the author (video snippets coming soon). It would be impossible to write about every part of the book that I enjoyed, but here are some of my favorite quotes:
- Egos can vault you into a leadership position, but as a leader you now must set your ego aside and relinquish control.
- Cultures develop (within a company or organization), intentionally or unintentionally. So don't leave this matter to chance.
- David McLaughlin, former chairman of the Red Cross and past president of Dartmouth College, said that he always knew whether he was leading or managing. If he was handling issues that were one to five years out, he was leading. If the problems were closer to the present, he was managing. [I agree, though for me I know I'm leading when the issues are 3-12 months out. If they are closer, I am managing...which sometimes is required for a season.]
- Leaders may hesitate to fire ineffectual or untrustworthy coworkers out of fear of not being liked, or because of the work involved with hiring and covering gaps. The longer these employees are kept on, the better prospective employees look. The desire to fill the position quickly combined with the desire for a skilled, trustworthy employee can, however, result in leaders feeling "selector's remorse" six months later.
- In meetings, leaders have difficulty keeping quiet when they have an idea that's better than the ones currently being batted around. Revealing that idea, however, often spoils the learning and discovery process of their coworkers.
- If you think you're talking too much in a meeting, so does everyone else.
- Poet and organizational philosopher Dave Whyte calls leaders the "chief conversationalists." He believes leaders should think not of what they have to do but of what conversations need to take place.
- Centralized leadership doesn't work with the current generation. People want to work their way, not your way. They know what motivates them and how they best achieve results and obtain information, and they want to receive full credit for their efforts.
- The person best equipped to solve a problem is the one who lives with it every day. Don't make decisions for your coworkers. With questions, help them expand their consciousness so that they can see the world anew. Help them make their own decisions.
Thanks to Gary Cohen for a great book. Where do you see these thoughts intersection church leadership? Where do they fall short?


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News flash – Edinburgh Airport is closed
Edinburgh Airport has been evacuated due to a security alert. Police Scotland said the terminal and access road had been closed following the discovery of "a potentially suspicious bag" in the central search area of the airport. Passengers and staff were asked to leave the terminal building while an investigation takes place. Bomb disposal experts … Read moreNews flash – Edinburgh Airport is closed


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Au Revoir Taipei/
I just saw the greatest movie this weekend at the Asian American Film Festival in San Francisco. Written and directed by Arvin Chen, Au Revoir Taipei is a mash up of Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
I love this movie.
This is one of those movies where you come out of the theater thinking: Man! Why c.an't I think of something that good! The story is very simple:
- Boy's girlfriend studies abroad in France.
- Boy learns French in bookstore to communicate with girlfriend.
- Boy meets new girl in bookstore, but still in love with current girlfriend in France.
- Girlfriend in France dumps Boy over the phone.
- Boy is crushed and wants to go to France to talk to girlfriend.
- Boy borrows money from gangsters in order to pay for the flight.
- Gangsters tell Boy he must deliver a package when he gets to France.
- A mix up occurs involving the police, real estate agents, and convenience store employees.
- Cute, silly, endearing stuff happens to our main charters.
- Boy finds new love and learns something about himself and the audience leaves the theater happy.
- The End.
Although this movie sounds formulaic, the way Chen develops his characters adds new layers of originality to the film. He created his own universe, where characters are so unaware and naïve; it's like a live-action cartoon. This movie is so sweet; I just wanted to invite these characters back home for dinner. Read more about the movie here:
Or check out Arvin's Blog
Thank you everyone who came out to the Purple Onion last week. I got heckled by this drunk ass mofo. Here is the clip:


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On this page we'll include major events and
missionary related activitise going on in this country. If you have any feed back and sujections, feel free to get beck at
India: Anti-Christian Tensions MountThe
pace of harassment, intimidation and persecution of India's own missionaries seems to have quickened since the state of Tamil
Nadu passed its anti-conversion law last October. The law seems to have emboldened India's Hindus to greater audacity.
One Indian newspaper falsely said in December that
1500 Hindus were forcefully converted to Christianity, fanning hostilities even further. "It did not happen," said a Christian
leader in Bihar State. "It was published byanti-Christian groups to put the Christian community in trouble."In
Orissa State, radical Hindus fabricated false charges of forced conversions against a certain missionary, and acts of harassment
and intimidation have been going on for weeks. His very life might be in danger."Missionaries in Chattisgarh are facing
tough opposition," says a mission leader in Maharashtra State. Chattisgarh State was carved out of Madhya Pradesh State in
2000. One pastor could not even conduct a prayer and fasting meeting in his own church due to interference by Hindu radicals.
Last November, Hindus in Maharashtra attacked the home of a native missionary while he was away. They destroyed furnishings,
a signboard and frightened his wife and children who were home at the time. The family moved to another community for their
own safety.A film team in Madhya Pradesh was attacked with stones and clubs, putting one of the members into a coma.
Police were called and the team members were hospitalized. They since have been dismissed, but now must pay huge hospital bills.
In Andhra Pradesh, a children's home that last year moved into new facilities for 300 children was suddenly cut off
when a hostile neighboring Hindu landowner claimed the home's driveway was on his land and brought in heavy machinery to dig
a huge trench through it. The highly volatile matter is still unsettled.Recently, American Joseph Cooper was charged
with illegal religious activity in Kerala State, attacked with clubs and irons in the street, and then deportedafter he
was released from the hospital."And for every incident we hear about, there are probably 100 that we don't know about,"
said Christian Aid's senior news editor, John Lindner.Yet missionaries in India continue to proclaim the gospel despite
the danger.When Indian preachers recently conducted a three-day convention in Bastar, the third largest tribal district
in India located in Madhya Pradesh, Hindus forced some Christians to revert back to Hinduism. While that was going on, five
families came forward to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is of note that despite the enactment of
anti-conversion laws in four states and the rabid harangue of Hindus against alleged forced conversions byChristians,
not one case of forced conversions has ever been documented. The only documented forced conversions are those of Hindus forcing
Christians to revert back to Hinduism.Pray for missionaries and gospel preachers of India who wage a constant battle
against harassment, intimidation, often unresponsive police, and sometimes prejudicial courts.


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Thursday, July 03, 2008
What Sucks…Quick Hits: Wii Fit, The Economy, Angelina Jolie, Gas Prices, A-Rod and Madonna
…The Wii Fit
Should a video game console be this widely praised? Promoting exercise, getting families to play together- what's the next Wii gonna be? A Book? If I wanted to exercise this much I wouldn't be playing video games!
…The Economy
I don't want to say the economy sucks but the only growth sector in jobs is guys who change gas price signs!
...The Angelina Jolie Birth Watch
Can we leave this alone please? She's giving birth, who cares? What is this, "Children of Men"? I've said it before, this entire thing is so that you can see her brand new mommy-boobs!
…Gas Prices
How far out of hand are we going to let this get? I saw a guy the other day get turned down for buying some "Super" because he didn't have a co-signer.
…A-Rod and Madonna
I only found out about this possible couple today because I googled the words "old", "overrated", and "doesn't hit in the playoffs". By the way, who would you rather have, Lenny Kravitz at 42 or Madonna at 100? A-Rod loses again!
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Delicious Bliss Balls
Well hello and a huge welcome back to everyone after the mammoth summer holidays – which in Singapore just seem to go forever. With the variation in school calendars, it can easily be two months before everyone is back in town. If you missed my last post (there has only been one over the past two months so quite honestly you haven't missed much) we went to Ibiza and lived it up (whoop whoop) and pretended that we were younger and hipper than we actually are (think zooming around in a manual car introducing the kids to the world of Space and Ministry of Sound via the car stereo…'come on kids…hands in the air'). I got carried away with the Ibiza vibe and fell in love with floaty boho clothes which now seem glaringly unwearable in Singapore* and fun was had by all.
So with summer holidays over and the kids starting back at school I thought it might be a good time to whip up some super yummy easy to make balls of bliss. Some people call them protein balls, but honestly, in some of these recipes I'm not entirely sure how much protein is in them – but I do know this – they are a hit with the kids and are on the healthy side of the snacking spectrum and most importantly, they go well with a cup of coffee in the morning for me.
I've given you four of my favourite recipes but my top pick has to go to the carrot ones. Super moist and delicious. I generally make half the recipe and make more than one flavour so that we have a few to choose from but the recipes are for the full amount.
Carrot Bliss Balls
1 medium sized carrot (roughly chopped)
10 medjool dates (seeds removed)
1 cup cashews (make sure they are not salted)
1 cup desiccated coconut
Place the cashews and dates in the food processor and blitz until they are fine crumbs. Add the coconut and carrot and blitz until the mixture comes together. At first it looks like it will be very dry but give it a couple of minutes and the moisture from the carrots will work it's magic and you'll have a pliable dough to shape into balls. Roll the mixture into balls and dust with extra desiccated coconut if you wish.
The Original Bliss Balls
1 cup dates
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 tbsp tahini
2 tsp cocoa
sesame seeds or desiccated coconut for rolling in
Put everything in the food processor and blitz until the mixture is moist and comes together. Roll into balls and coat in sesame seeds or coconut to finish.
Choc Nut Bliss Balls
1 cup raw almonds
10 medjool dates (seeds removed)
2 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp cocoa (unsweetened)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
Blitz the almonds and dates until they are a medium course texture. Add the other ingredients and blitz until the mixture comes together. Shape into balls.
Peanut Butter Honey Bliss Balls
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup of peanut butter (you can use crunchy or smooth)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup honey
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla
I like the oats to be a little fine so roughly chop them with a knife until they have a finer texture. If you like your oats as they are, skip this step. Put everything into a bowl and mix with a spoon until the mixture comes together. Roll into balls.


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That Lebron ad
Nike just released a black and white spot titled Together, starring Lebron James. Many people forwarded it to me, and it was posted a lot in my Facebook and Twitter streams, to almost universal adoration. In it, thousands of citizens of Cleveland join Lebron and his teammates in the pre-game huddle, infusing their team's upcoming season with an almost spiritual civic calling.
Maybe I'm a cold-hearted cynic, but it struck me as simply the slickest of propaganda, a bit like the recent Derek Jeter Gatorade ad. The Jeter ad was also grandiose, black and whtie footage showing him mixing with the people of New York on his way to the stadium, but at least it was a retrospective, and Yankees fans mythologize him in a way that probably makes it feel as if he's a man of the people, someone who belongs to them, even if he isn't, not any more than most celebrity stars (the most honest part of the ad was when some bar owner says to Jeter "We've been waiting for you to come into here since 98 at least" and Jeter retorts, "You never invited me.").
It's understandable, Nike and Lebron have been trying to couch his entire return to Cleveland as motivated purely by his loyalty to his home city. It began with the letter he wrote announcing his resigning with the Cavaliers (emphasis mine):
Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It's where I walked. It's where I ran. It's where I cried. It's where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I'm their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn't realize that four years ago. I do now.
When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn't had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what's most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.
I always believed that I'd return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn't know when. After the season, free agency wasn't even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn't going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.
But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead, in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I'm from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there's no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.
Really? Lebron always knew he was going to go back to Cleveland? He wants to lift up the local economy?
Would Lebron have gone back to Cleveland if they didn't have Kyrie Irving and back-to-back first overall draft picks in Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, who they parlayed into Kevin Love? Let's look back at the two previous times Lebron has been on rosters in decline and see what he did. He left both times.
I'm sure going back home was one checkmark in the plus column for him, and given fans were burning his jersey the last time he left, I don't blame Nike and Lebron for trying to flip the narrative on his return to try to win back the Cleveland fans. I didn't watch his first home game last night against the Knicks, but I saw a highlight of him in the tunnel with his teammates, gathering them in a huddle, telling them this was one of the most important games in history.
Why would it be one of the most important games in history? There's only one reason, because he was playing back in Cleveland. Either he buys into this vision of him as an economic messiah for Ohio, or he's playing the part as scripted in the Nike ad, but either way it's a comical level of self-importance.
No argument here, he's been the best player in the NBA for several years, he's one of the all-time greats. I also don't think players owe their teams a lifetime commitment of employment, especially since they don't have much choice in who drafts them. I don't hold it against players when they sign where they can get the most money, it's the same thing most people in any profession would do. Frankly, a player like Lebron is grossly underpaid, as are star young athletes in most sports given artificial salary restrictions in the years after they're drafted up until they become free agents.
This is also Nike's brand, they're famous for trying to transform a mundane pair of sneakers into a golden ticket into the community of elite go-getters. Growing up in Chicago a Bulls fan, I can recall many of Michael Jordan's Nike ads by heart. But almost all of them were centered around his mastery of the craft of basketball, and the transference of that skill to his shoes in the typical halo of excellence that all brands dream of for their products. They didn't show Jordan hanging out with people on the streets of Chicago, they didn't pretend he was accessible or normal in any way. From all accounts, he's a competitive sociopath, and the greatest basketball player of all time, and lots of people idolized him. His Nike spots never tried to deny that, they worked with it.
An honest reading of Lebron's return to Cleveland is that it ended up meshing with his own self-interest in being with a roster on the upswing, with two young All-Star talents and room to maneuver at the trade deadline. That wouldn't make for a great commercial, though, and so we post his new spot to social media with captions like "Chills!" I can't even blame the fans of Cleveland if they've bought into this new narrative. It's more fun than holding a grudge.
And hey, cool kicks.


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A two-day biotechnology conference in Sheridan wrapped up Friday afternoon. Discussion ranged from University of Wyoming Molecular Biologist Randy Lewis talking about using spider silk to produce steel-strength fiber, to broader discussions about fostering a biotech-friendly environment in Wyoming.
The Sheridan City Council convened for a special session Friday afternoon for Constitution Day as Sheridan Mayor Dave Kinskey proclaimed September, 17th through the 23rd as National Constitution Week. At 3 o'clock the bell in front of Sheridan City Hall rang three times to commemorate the exact time the United States Constitution was enacted 223 years ago.


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South West Forum
This new section of the Angling Trust website gives you an overview of how The Angling Trust works in the South West Region.
For documents and presentations from previous forums, see below.
Contact: Angling Trust Eastwood House, 6 Rainbow Street, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8DQ
Tel: 0343 5077006 (For Membership enquiries select Option 1) |
Calls to our 0343 number are charged at the same rate as normal landline numbers.
Office hours are Mon - Thu 9.00-5.00 and Fri 4.30. Please leave a message if you call outside these hours or email us.
Email: email@example.com
Angling Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, company number 05320350


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This winter is hitting hard. While the coastal areas are pounded by blizzards, Vermont has been locked in a deep freeze. Between January 2 and January 26, the temperature never reached the freezing point. In fact, last weekend, the temperature plunged well below zero, with most areas reaching -20F and even the thermometer near my relatively warm window reaching -15F! On January 26, the temperature in much of the Champlain Valley rose to 33 F for around an hour, then dipped below freezing again. It isn't likely to break the freezing point again any time soon, either.
This cold weather, following a period of substantial snow, is perfect icicle weather. Icicles on roofs usually form when snow is melted when the air temperature is below freezing, due to sunlight and/or heat leaking through from inside of a building. As slow water in the most literal sense, icicles very visually illustrate where water flows from the tiny watersheds of roofs.
After seeing some road ice along a Pennsylvania interstate that someone had somehow colored, I decided to try something similar with icicles! I've started a project where I drip biodegradable food coloring on icicles. This serves two purposes: to make people notice and think about the water in icicles, and to let me see how and where it is flowing through these ice formations.
The first thing that I noticed was that water travels through ice faster than expected. I put food coloring on the icicles above each morning as I walked by them on the way to campus. By the next day, when temperatures were at least in the 20s, most or all of the color was gone! (During the times of subzero temperatures, the icicles did not grow or lose color but instead shrank, probably due to sublimation).
I also found an ice formation that was forming right on a window. This allowed me to watch water moving in cross-section. I was amazed by the winding, treelike paths the water followed as it was propelled along the ice formation via gravity and surface tension.
I'm hoping to try this on more icicles in different situations. If you see a colorful icicle in Burlington or Middlebury, perhaps I put food coloring on it! Or, try the experiment yourself. It is cheap, and easy, and adds a bit of color to the darkest days of winter.
***Disclaimer: Icicles can fall during thaws or when they become too heavy. If you have icicles hanging over walkways, cars, or anything else you don't want to see pummeled by falling ice, please knock them down (if safe to do so) and try this in a safer area instead!***
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Icicle Experiment: Color in the Dead of Winter
Posted by Unknown at 8:13 PM
4 comments:
What a neat idea! I really like how it serves both a scientific and an aesthetic purpose.ReplyDelete
Thanks! This may be the funnest thing I've done for this blog so far.ReplyDelete
It isn't that applicable in San Francisco, I'm afraid, but the food coloring works in urban runoff too. Maybe you could document some fog drip flow :)
- AnonymousFebruary 11, 2015 at 7:02 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
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Spinach & Pickled Shallot Chickpea Spread
Yes, I found yet another use for my new favorite combo of spinach and pickled shallots! They add such a nice fresh and tangy taste to so many recipes I just can't get enough. Pickled shallots are now a refrigerator staple in our kitchen. To make your own, place thinly slice shallots in a shallow dish and cover with white balsamic vinegar. Leave at room temp for 30 minutes for the quick method to use with this recipe. Cover and refrigerate the rest for up to a month.
Spinach & Pickled Shallot Chickpea Spread
By Inspired by the Seasons
- 1/2 c packed fresh spinach
- 1/2 c cooked chickpeas or rinsed and drained from a can
- 1 T pickled shallots
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp olive oil
Combine ingredients in a food processor and process until it resembles a coarse chop. In the pictured version, I topped with feta cheese and sliced almonds.


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1. Who can apply?
We're looking for technology-focused startups (India or globally based) with an MVP along with a growing customer base currently innovating in any of the following sectors- Smart City, Clean Energy, Agritech, Life Sciences, Edutech
2. Can I apply if I am not in India?
Yes, but the program requires on-site interventions in Mumbai spread out over 3 weeks during the cohort period. So, you will need to be able to travel as necessary. Your startup should also have paying customers.
3. Can I apply if I'm already funded by any other organization?
Yes, all startups with an MVP along with a growing customer base are encouraged to apply. YES SCALE Accelerator program provides an opportunity for startups to scale-up with speed in different aspects such as Strategy, Business Plan, Design, Operations, Marketing, Technology and Sales.
4. Does my startup need to have a website to apply?
No. However, it does help in the evaluation of your company
5. Do I need to submit a business plan?
No. Just fill in the fields in the Application Form
6. How does the Application process work?
a) Startups can fill in the Application Form online where you can let us know about your team, product and the market currently operating in. All the questions are targeted towards understanding your startup in totality
b) Shortlisted startups will be invited for in-person presentations in Mumbai
c) Post this, final selection of startups for the cohort is announced
7. What is the overall program timeline?
Please visit our Key Dates section to know more details on the timelines
8. When can I expect a response after filling the application?
Should you be shortlisted, we will reach out to you. Please visit our Program Timelines for important dates
9. What is the evaluation criteria to compare my startup vis-a-vis others?
YES SCALE Accelerator program is looking for startups that possess –
a) Innovative product/technology solution in any of these sectors- Smart Cities, Clean Energy, Agritech, Life Sciences, Edutech
b) A Scalable product with a sustainable design/architecture
c) Long-term viability of the product
d) Team's technical & business expertise
e) Passionate team: Background of Founders & their vision for the startup
10. Can I apply to more than 1 accelerator?
If you think your solution is sector agnostic, you can apply to more than 1 accelerator program.
11. Can I apply to two sectors with one solution?
Basis Problem Statements identified on the website, if you solutions fits more than one sector, please fill separate application forms as highlighted on respective sectoral pages. YES SCALE team will ensure your solutions to be evaluated accordingly.
1. Why did YES BANK launch YES SCALE Accelerator?
Building on its model of collaborative innovations with startups and technology leaders in YES FINTECH, YES BANK has launched YES SCALE – a platform accelerator to scale innovations through technology, mentorship, funding and commercialization support for startups in key impact sectors of the economy – Smart City, Clean and earth tech, Agri tech , Life sciences and Healthcare, education.
The YES SCALE platform comprises of 5 distinct focused accelerator programs – YES Agritech, Smart City tech, Clean tech, Life Sciences Tech and Edu tech – which will bring together industry leaders, experts, corporates, Govt bodies, investors and global ecosystems to provide technology startups the bridge from idea to implementation.
2. What is the USP of YES SCALE Accelerator?
YES SCALE combines YES BANK's deep expertise in the key sections of the economy with technology knowledge to achieve the dual objective of creating a startup growth ecosystem and providing industry partners solutions to accelerate their digitization initiatives.
3. What is the duration and structure of YES SCALE?
YES SCALE Accelerator program will be launched on June 7, 2018 and the cohort is expected to run for 15 weeks. The Accelerator is a non-residential program with 3 onsite intervention weeks in Mumbai. During these onsite sessions, you'll be surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurs, and will be frequented by industry partners, mentors, investors, YES BANK's senior management and technical experts. This will give you an excellent opportunity to build strong working relationships, learn from others' experiences and share your own.
4. Is there an equity component or cash grant involved?
No equity or cash grant is involved for you to participate in the Accelerator program. Should your business require equity funding, YES BANK will facilitate the same through a grant of upto 20 lakhs*.
5. What are the unique aspects of YES SCALE program?
- Test and Validate- Validate your solutions in a Sandbox environment – accessing 200+ YES BANK APIs & partner APIs
- Tech support- Technology support worth USD 1 mn + in cloud credits, cloud telephony, SaaS billing, legal counsel
- Grant- Access to grant of upto INR 20 lakhs with zero equity commitment
- Commercialization- Commercialize your solutions in just 15 weeks through Industry partners
- Funding- Support of upto USD 1 mn per startup* from Funding partners
- Focused mentorship- Mentorship by 100+ sectoral experts and ecosystem partners
- Global market access- Access to 20+ geographies through ecosystem partners
- Policy guidance- Guidance on regulations and policies through Strategic Government Partners
6. Is YES SCALE one Accelerator?
YES SCALE consist of Five different accelerators including YES SCALE | Smart City, YES SCALE | Cleantech , YES SCALE| Agritech, |YES SCALE|Lifesciences Tech | YES SCALE|Edutech. The Cohorts for above will run individually. Please check respective Sector Page to learn about Timelines
1. Do startups need to sign any contract with YES BANK?
Startups selected for the cohort will enter into a mutually agreed contract with YES BANK.
2. Do I need to share IP?
We suggest you only share non-confidential information. You will retain ownership of all protected IP included in your application. We want to evaluate how your idea will mutually benefit our interests.


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Is the American Adult Vanishing?
It's hard not to get caught up in bashing earlier generations. Complaining about "kids these days" is standard practice for people, perhaps it is hard wired into the human genome. The young are the most inexperienced at "life," which leads them to make mistakes that older generations (in their own mind) would never have made. Such complaining is a generational rite of passage.
At the same time, as Ben Sasse points out, the unprecedented, wide-spread material prosperity that is unique to this post-industrial era is having consequences. When you add the lingering effects of the Great Recession on the lower and middle classes to the rapid and ongoing upheaval in technology to our reliance on an educational system that reflects dated methods and structures and you've got a recipe for a generational crisis.
The data does show, in fact, that we are having a generational crisis. It's not just cranky old people. There are huge number of young people worldwide who are experiencing a failure to launch. They graduate high school, go to college, and return home to live in their parent's basement for an extended period of time. It's not like they are working on the family farm, instead they are dragging out the experience of adolescence—a recently invented period where basically physically mature humans have diminished responsibilities.
The seemingly permanent delay of adulthood is having and will have significant societal implications for the coming years. Sasse's book talks about that problem while presenting thoughtful solutions that are worth considering.
Part One of the volume lays out the problem. He surveys the sociological data, which is abundant, noting that traditional, adult responsibilities are getting pushed later and later in life. A significant contributor to this, he argues, is that society has worked hard to protect children from real citizenship responsibilities, contribution through meaningful work, and prevention of scar tissue. Much of this is well-intentioned, but it has the negative effect of forming people less likely to engage culture. Closing out this section of the book, Sasse grabs onto one of the third-rails of politics: a discussion of education. He challenges the notion that more school is the answer to our growing problem. In part, the problem with the "more school" approach is that it is built on Dewey's flawed foundation that he intended to replace the nuclear family structure with community schooling. Dewey's approach, Sasse argues, is exacerbating the problems we are having today.
If Sasse had stopped with his first three chapters, the book would have been interesting, but simply another "you kids get off my lawn book." Instead, however, Sasse offers some possible solutions for parents and communities in Part Two. First, the Senator from Nebraska recommends generational integration. One of the contributors to the "failure to launch" has been our penchant for keeping people in different decades away from one another. Seeing old people be old and still human helps build compassion, it also helps memory transfer from one generation to another. Sasse also recommends finding ways for kids to work. That is increasingly difficult in our day, which due to some warranted safety concerns and sometimes exaggerated concerns about extending childhood can become a source of political and social tension. He outlines how his family sent his daughter to a ranch to experience hard work and what his daughter learned from it.
The book also recommends toughening ourselves and our kids by simply consuming less. Here Sasse commends teaching kids to value production and not simply consumption. He's offered it as a solution to prolonged adolescence, but it also serves to benefit people's financial stability and environmental impact. For those that are able, Sasse recommends traveling far and light with the intention of experiencing other cultures, not just seeing the famous landmarks. In the next chapter, Sasse's penchant for classical learning comes out as he talks about building a personal library of significant books. He makes some recommendations and discusses his method for building his own list of books. It is worth noting that he intentionally includes volumes that he significantly disagrees with because they challenge and shape his thinking. Finally, the book recommends returning to the idea of America, which was imperfectly implemented, but which has a great deal of power. Mutual respect across ideologies, community built across socioeconomic lines, fervent optimism in the pursuit of happiness are more significant parts of the American dream than a big bank account. We need to remember that.
Analysis and Conclusion
I found Sasse's book to be refreshing. I've got kids that sometimes reflect the malaise of the contemporary culture, despite my best attempts to toughen them. I also see young people around me that don't have the experiential resources to get out of the nest. Much of Sasse's book helps deal with that and offers meaningful recommendations.
One criticism of Sasse's book that has been floated in another review is that it is too work-centric and glorifies the individual excessively. Sasse does talk about work a lot. In part, this is because meaningful work is a key to satisfaction with life. He doesn't believe in the projections of a workless future, though he believes that workforce disruption is coming and will remain. Helping people become resilient is part of his resistance to that growing problem. Sasse talks about work because our culture thinks improperly about work.
Sasse also talks about individuals becoming more self-reliant. I don't believe Sasse is arguing for an atomistic individualism, which is an unfortunate ideal in many libertarian circles. The individualism Sasse is arguing for is a communitarian individualism that recognizes the necessity of individuals contributing to society and doesn't expect the impersonal mass of "community" or "government" to solve problems. In order to have community, there have to be distinct individuals contributing to the common good and not simply living in dependence on someone else to solve the problem. In other words, there have to be people who are willing to jump in to solve the problem and take individual initiative to become part of the community solution.
It is easy to talk about community and interdependence when you are a student living in a largely age-segregated oasis removed from the mass of society. When community consists of playing board games or eating together with few friends who have basically the same needs and concerns you do, it is easy to pontificate against "rugged individualism." When needs are diverse and resources limited, however, an individualism that consists of someone deciding they will not let the initiative fail or someone in their community starve is necessary. It's the latter form of individualism—personal determination to make a contribution to the common good—that I believe Sasse is describing. I also think we would benefit from less atomism and more determination to contribute in our American individualism. Sasse could have been more explicit in his definition on this point, but I think his point remains.
This is a book is worth reading. It makes a contribution to the contemporary conversation that is neither shrill nor pat in its complaints and recommendations. This is also a volume that can suffer from being placed in a position of exaggerated significance. The Vanishing American Adult is a piece of the conversation, it is not an epoch defining volume. Like most books, it has a limited purpose. Sasse's argument is not made to carry the weight of the world and will collapse if people expect it to solve all of America's problems. It is worth reading and engaging. I think it has explanatory power and some good suggestions. It is, however, simply a tool to point us toward the necessary, deeper conversations we desperately need to have.
NOTE: I received a gratis copy of this volume from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.


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If you aren't familiar with the book, listen to it here.
We prepared for the activity by purchasing gold star stickers at the dollar store and my partner cut out black dots about the size of a quarter (any size would do). You don't even have to do that, regular stickers would do just fine.
We sat the girls in a circle and I began reading the book. Many of them were familiar with it but paid attention just fine. While I was reading my partner went around the circle sticking the stickers and dots (with tape) on the girls. The more stickers the better! Once we got to the part of the book about Lucia, she started removing the dots.
We also discussed that sometimes we are told something so much, good or bad, that we begin to believe it. To close this part of the activity we talked about people at school that may need a friend because they might be feeling like a Wemmick with a lot of gray dots. I asked the girls is they could think of someone who may feel this way and they all said yes. We then challenged them to reach out to them and lift them up.
This part of the activity only took about 20 minutes so we filled the rest of the time with a little improv. I filled two bags with a few random items like plastic fruit, potato masher, fairy wand, sunglasses, toy cash register, etc. The girls were split into two teams and given a bag. They were given 2 minutes to come up with a skit using every item in the bag. I could not believe their creativity! They about had us rolling on the floor laughing. It was so fun we did about 4 rounds of it and they all asked if we could do it next time. You have got to try it!


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I've heard this said plenty of times from atheists or agnostics that, "The reason why you are a Christian is because you need a crutch to get through life. I don't."
It's usually said in a way to show that 'having a crutch in life' is wrong, that there is something wrong with you for needing a crutch, or that you're a loser (if we are going to be honest about it) for needing one.
My answer to this is: "YES! Right on! Jesus is actually more than a crutch! He is EVERYTHING I need!!"
To be honest, I actually find it arrogant when someone insists they don't 'need a crutch' and the only person they need to believe in is 'themselves'. I know that people say this and aren't being deliberately arrogant, but if they think about it for a second it certainly sounds arrogant. At heart, it is saying, "I don't need nobody and certainly no god! However, look at you, you must be a loser because you do!"
The statement is 100 percent true. I DO need a crutch to get through life. It's not my fault that I'm just being realistic about life. Good luck to you in finding abundant joy throughout your life without God, but I believe you won't find it and history proves me right.
Heck, I need more than a crutch, I need living water, everlasting life and joy in never ending abundance. And all this I've found in Jesus. Nothing to be embarrassed about.


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Relax at Reef Residences which captures the magic of the Caribbean with a quaint intimacy.
All suites are equipped with designer outdoor furniture and the interiors are elegantly appointed with a harmonious blend of fine furniture and artwork depicting the fish and flora of the Turks & Caicos Islands by well-known local artist Anna Borne.
All suites have fully equipped kitchens with stainless steel appliances. Bedrooms have king size beds and living rooms have queen-size sofa bed. Included features are air conditioning, ceiling fans, safe, telephone, wireless internet access, cable television, hair dryers, and magnifying mirrors.
- Free-form swimming pool
- Spa and fitness center featuring state-of-the-art health club equipment
- Owners and Guests are welcome to dine at JoJos Cafe, Dune or Veranda Coffee Bar at the Windsong Resort, adjacent to Reef Residences.
- Lavish Landscaping of tropical flowers and palms
Building Specifications
- 3 Two-Level Bermuda-style Residences
- 8 Suites per Building
- Concrete block with reinforced concrete
- Reinforced concrete slabs
- Ceramic tile floors
- Roof is timber with asphalt shingles
- Exterior finish is cement render painted
- Interior finish is drywall and cement render
- Ceilings are drywall and cement render
- Windows are single hung aluminum
- Plumbing Kohler
- Air Conditioning is split system


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- Forums
- imutual
- Questions and feedback
- Does anyone remember the date?
William Joesph - this is the opportunity you've been waiting for to put that file to good use.kevinchess1 wrote:I'm sure William does, he keeps a file on you
I signed up to paper statements.kevinchess1 wrote:Can't you check online?
I'll check my paperwork thank you.blythburgh wrote:Why would we remember the date if underfog does not?
I would guess the thread went when Richard cleaned things up. And if he needs the date he opened the account then it must be in his paperwork either in print or on the net.
Unfortunately, the thread in question has been deleted.Chadwick wrote:Have you tried the forum search function?
If that doesn't find it, then it isn't on the forum any more.
Those who know kevinchess1 will know he loves a good laugh.kevinchess1 wrote:I'm sure William does, he keeps a file on you
Failing that, check out the Report section
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


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Five Reasons to Stay Invested Despite Heightened Uncertainty
Key Points
If markets hate uncertainty, the current combination of political and interest rate uncertainty should be upsetting to markets.
Five reasons to stay invested include: low chance of recession, improving growth, positive economic surprises, recovering earnings estimates, and a return of investor buying.
The fear of uncertainty reflects the potential threat posed by policy risks to future growth, but economic and profit growth continue to improve in the near-term and support stocks.
It is often said that markets hate uncertainty. If that is always the case, markets should be upset with the dramatic changes taking place in the political and interest rate environment.
- In our view, global policy uncertainty is the highest it's been in almost 40 years. It isn't just the U.S. that is grappling with new political leadership. The upcoming G7 summit in May, where the leaders of the world's top developed countries get together to discuss policy, will feature new leaders in four of the seven countries. Change in the leaders of most of the countries attending the summit only happened one other time, back in 1981.
- The global trend in interest rates and inflation appears to have ended a 35 year trend. Rates have started to head higher after decades of declines. The last time they changed direction was in the early 1980s, when they began to fall. It's been a long time since rates were rising and the impact bears watching.
The world is different now than it was in the early 1980s, but the uncertainty back then didn't stop stocks from soon embarking on one of the longest bull markets in history. Why? Because investors' love of growth trumps their hate of uncertainty.
Here are five reasons to stay invested despite the heightened uncertainty:
1. Low chance of recession in 2017
Prolonged bear markets are almost always associated with recessions. Historically, the difference, or spread, between short and long-term interest rates has acted as a reliable indication of a recession in the coming year for economies around the world. Usually, as the gap between short-term and long-term interest rates narrows, the higher the probability of entering a recession within the next year, as illustrated in the table below. Among many of the world's largest economies, the chance of a recession in 2017 is currently indicated by the yield curves to be fairly low and has actually been declining for most countries over the past quarter—even as uncertainty has risen.
Yields suggest a low risk of recession in 2017
Historical time period begins: U.S. 1967, Eurozone 1970, Germany 1970, UK 1970, Sweden 1970, Mexico 2000
All yield spreads calculated as 10 year less 3 month except Mexico (5 year less 3 month).
Source: Charles Schwab, Macrobond data as of 1/11/2017
2. Global economic growth is improving
Global growth not only is unlikely to slip into recession in 2017, it is actually accelerating, led primarily by the United States and emerging markets. This week we will get the first reading on fourth quarter GDP for the United States and United Kingdom, next week will provide the GDP reports from Europe. The U.S. result may offer some further support for the rising trajectory of interest rates while U.K. GDP growth will likely offer more evidence that the economy is holding up better than expected since the vote for Brexit. China reported GDP last week at a better-than-expected 6.8% pace.
3. Stocks are tracking economic surprises
The economic data from around the world continues to exceed economists' estimates. The Citigroup Economic Surprise Index for the world's major developed countries, which rises when data is better than expected and falls when it is worse, has been moving higher along with the stock market. More than just an election-driven rally, stocks have been mirroring the trend in data versus expectations for the past year, rather than reacting to policy uncertainty.
Stocks have tracked better than expected economic data
Source: Charles Schwab, Bloomberg data as of 1/22/2017.
4. Earnings revisions are up
In response to improving global economic data, analysts have been raising their earnings per share expectations for global companies. While still below prior peaks, earnings estimates have been improving and helping to lift stocks.
Earnings prospects are brightening
For companies in MSCI AC World Index.
Source: Charles Schwab, Factset data as of 1/22/2017.
5. Investors are buying again
Without the aid of advice, investors often tend to chase returns. It appears that the rolling five-year return has most closely mirrored investors' buying and selling of equity mutual funds and ETFs, as you can see in the chart below. The five-year rolling return for the global stock market has started to improve after weakening in recent years (mostly due to the drop off of 2009-10 from the five-year period), measured by the MSCI AC World Index. The return of buying by investors in recent months may be similar to the last two times the investor selling turned around, in March 2009 and May 2012, when stocks delivered strong double-digit gains over the next 6-18 months.
Chasing returns: Investors buying and selling tends to track with five-year returns
Source: Charles Schwab, Bloomberg, Investment Company Institute, data as of 1/5/2017.
Global stock market measured by MSCI AC World index.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Bouts of fear may ebb and flow in the early days of the administrations of many of the world's major countries. Should growth falter or policies that threaten near-term growth develop, markets may pullback. The fear of uncertainty reflects the potential threat posed by policy risks to future growth, but economic and profit growth continue to improve in the near-term and support stocks.
Next Steps
- Follow Jeffrey Kleintop on Twitter: @jeffreykleintop
- Explore the investment help and guidance Schwab offers.
- Stay connected with the latest investing insights from Schwab.
- Talk to us about the services that are right for you. Call our investment professionals at 800-435-4000.
Important Disclosures
The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.
All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market or economic conditions. Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the opinions presented cannot be viewed as an indicator of future performance.
International investments involve additional risks, which include differences in financial accounting standards, currency fluctuations, geopolitical risk, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. Investing in emerging markets may accentuate these risks.
The MSCI ACWI captures large and mid cap representation across 23 Developed Markets and 23 Emerging Markets countries. With 2,486 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the global investable equity opportunity set.


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Friday, November 7, 2014
Feel Good Friday
Posted by Farrah at 9:46 PM
Labels: Feel Good Friday
4 comments:
My dog to a "T"! She knows immediately when she is caught that she is not supposed to do whatever she did (and she has done many of the things these dogs did), but she can't help herself! I loved that last dog who was sneaking away! So cute, thanks for the laugh!ReplyDeleteReplies
Lol Phyllis, I know, dogs are so smart ;) I'm glad you enjoyed this video! xoDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2014 at 4:30 PM
I have a cat, but my sister used to have a dog, some things are very recognizable :-). Have a great Sunday! xxReplyDelete
You too, Night Owl ;) xoReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Protein Packed Pasta Salad!/
Pasta salad is definitely one of my favorite side dishes! You are able to make so much of it and eat it all week long. I always use the freshest veggies I can find and the healthiest pasta on the market! I use one cup of Italian Dressing, add whatever veggies I can find, and mix everything together.


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Lately I've become hooked on Fiber-Castell Gelatos. They look like little lipsticks and you rub on the color like it's a crayon and then add water, with your fingers or a brush:
After building up the colors with a variety of blues, white, and a purple, I added more color with distress inks and stencils before stamping all my vines in jet black archival:
I cut and stamped flowers, then made a paste with a bit of gelato + water by cutting a tiny bit off the stick and saturating it in water. You can use that as paint and go as light or dark as you like, depending on how much pigment you use:
I used it to color my flowers, adding variety in the intensity of each. I attached some flat to the page and some raised up on glue dots for dimesion, adding some interest to the centers of most. The letters are Tim's Sizzix alpha Carnivale die.
Thanks so much for the visit!


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Leather Strap Shelf with Hardwood
Leather Strap Shelf with Hardwood
*Cherry is currently on backorder, please contact us at email@example.com for an estimated ship date.
The 1.61 Leather Strap Shelf combines simple design with great functionality and beautiful materials. Both leather and wood will age beautifully together, making a beautiful, minimal piece that would look great in any home.
Made out of natural leather straps, solid hardwood boards, and copper rivets. Installation is simple, just screw/hook two straps on to the wall and nest the boards in between straps.
-2 leather straps with solid copper rivets (26" long when it is hang)
-2 solid hardwood boards (7.25 x 36 x .75) Walnut, Cherry, or Maple.
-Black grommets on each leather strap ends for screw holes (Can be changed to Gold, or Silver)
-100% made from start to finish in our Downtown LA workshop
*All products are made to order. Production time varies. Please allow 2 weeks lead time.
*Due to the weight, extra shipping charge applies to this item


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Theme of the week is: Self Esteem
We spend an average of 40 years working. Imagine what it must be like to spend that time wishing that you were doing something different. That is why having support, information and advice about college courses, university and employment is so important in helping our students make appropriate and well-informed choices about their future.
At FCC we are committed to using a variety of learning experiences to help young people manage the key decision points in their lives. Students receive careers education throughout their time at school which is sound preparation towards making informed choices about the next learning or employment stage.
We hold an annual careers fair where both education providers and employers come along to raise awareness of the opportunities that are available.
In Year 10 all students have the opportunity to go out on two weeks' work experience.
Year 11 also receive individual support in making their post-16 decisions on study or employment, including visits to further education colleges visits and to local businesses.
Our Year 12 students take part in post-18 workshops where they will explore the world of work including CV writing, interview practice and job seeking techniques and will also be able to take part in a further week of work experience.
Our Year 13 students receive personalised support from their tutors in writing their personal statements for university and those that decide to enter employment continue to take part in activities to help them identify the right career for them.
We have a well stocked careers library and careers software programmes to help with research into future career and study pathways. We also hold information about local colleges and apprenticeships.
Your careers advisor at FCC is Tina Belcher and I am always happy to talk to either students or their parents about careers and work experience. If any local employers would like to know more about offering work experience or apprenticeships then please get in touch with me.
The school measures and assesses the impact of the school careers programme by regular evaluations from the students and by tracking the students both post 16 and post 18 to confirm destinations and offer further support if needed.
FCC is proud to hold the Investor in Careers Award in recognition of the high standard of careers education offered to our students.
Tina Belcher
Careers Adviser
Tel: 01367 240375
Going to University
Careers and Progression Coordinator Tina Belcher
Careers Lead Joe Winter
Careers Link Governor Paul Ray


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Germany's Taliban Trail: From Murat Kurnaz to Cüneyt Ciftci
When it emerged in mid-March that the perpetrator of a deadly suicide attack on American troops in Afghanistan had come from Germany, the American media showed little interest. A closer look at the bomber's itinerary reveals that it bears a remarkable resemblance to that of none other than Murat Kurnaz: the supposed "innocent man" who America is accused of having held without cause at Guantánamo for five years.
For the details, see my new article on World Politics Review here.
- May 14th, 2008
- Tags: Cüneyt Ciftci, Murat Kurnaz


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What is the Wrapsody Stretch-Hybrid?
- The Wrapsody Stretch-Hybrid is a cotton knit baby wrap
- Sizing is easy: One size fits all.
- It used to be called our "stretch" wrap, but educators and babywearing geeks quickly dubbed it a "hybrid" because of its incredibly supportive design and one way stretch. They felt it was important to distinguish it in name from other stretch wraps, as ours can be safely used for back carrying and to comfortably carry large children, so we adopted the name.
- Most stretch wraps are made from knit fabrics. Knit fabrics are made by knitting the yarn into loops much like you'd knit a miniature sweater. The knitting adds a certain flexibility and inherent stretch to the fibres.
What are the benefits of the Wrapsody Stretch-Hybrid?
- Lightweight and cooler than most commercial stretch wraps
- Feels like a soft T-shirt when worn
- Offers the support of a woven with the comfort of stretch.
- Hand-dyed by Indonesian artisans
- Variety of modern and fashionable colors
- Tapered ends eliminate bulky knots.
- Forgiving on the shoulders for beginning wrappers.
What sets the Stretch-Hybrid apart from other stretchy wraps?
Educators agree that most stretchy wraps are only useful until a baby reaches 15 -20 pounds (about 6 months). The Stretch-Hybrid is different – it continues to support children well into the preschool years, including functioning beautifully as a back carrier due to its specialized design.
Stretch-hybrid wraps are more expensive in large part because they are wider than other stretchy wraps on the market – 30" wide where others are about 20". This means we can get only two carriers out of the fabric width – we choose not to cut costs here because the extra width is a major part of the functionality of our carriers. Customers are paying more for a truly artisan baby wrap that will last for many years rather than 6 months.


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Today's guest: Sarah Pekkanen Why we love her: Her books fit women like the perfect little black dress.
Her latest book: These Girls (Out tomorrow: April 10th!)
The scoop: Cate has just been named the features editor of Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. It's a professional coup, but her new job comes with more complications than Cate ever anticipated.
Cate's roommate Renee will do anything to nab the plum job of beauty editor at Gloss. But snide comments about Renee's weight send her into an emotional tailspin. Soon she is taking black market diet pills—despite the racing heartbeat and trembling hands that signal she's heading for real danger.
Then there's Abby, whom they take in as a third roommate. Once a joyful graduate student working as a nanny part time, she abruptly fled a seemingly happy life in the D.C. suburbs. No one knows what shattered Abby—or why she left everything she once loved behind.
Our thoughts: As BFF's for 25 years, to say we relate to the novel's central theme of friendship is an understatement. Hands down, this is Sarah's best book yet. Our question: How does she keep topping herself?
Fun fact: She was the first author we hosted on Chick Lit is Not Dead over three years ago.
Giveaway: 5 copies! Just leave a comment to be entered to win. We'll randomly select the winners on Sunday, April 15 after 6pm PST.
1. You're not as dorky as you suspect you are. Stand up straighter and smile and talk to some of the people milling past you in the hallway. I promise they're not all laughing at you behind your back. In fact, many of them are every bit as insecure as you. Even the mean girls. Especially the mean girls! Okay, so don't talk to them, but your high school is bursting with interesting, smart, funny, quirky people. One of them, a blonde girl who also loves to write, will become your best friend two decades after you graduate. Go over and say hi to her - you can do it! (I'm nudging my teen self in the shoulder now).
2. That spiral perm you're saving up for? Oh, dear God, no - back away from the hair salon, slowly, and your 9th grade pictures won't make you cringe forever. I know you think fun, bouncy curls will make a zippy change from your stick-staright hair. But you're going to end up with a head full of frizz, a look that will not be improved upon when your hair begins to grow out and the top half is stick-straight and the bottom half is a mass of frizz. For the next few months, people will come up to you and say, "Oh... you got a perm." And then there will be a long, painful silence as they desperately try to come up with something positive to say about your new 'do. They will be unsuccessful in their attempts. If you really want a change, put more lemon juice in your hair and sit out by the pool. Yes, I realize that doesn't work, but I'm trying to distract you from the perm horror that awaits you.
3. Keep doing sports. You're on the track team and the field hockey team, and there's no better way for a teenage girl to spend her time. You're checking out the bruises on your shins (admit it, you're proud of them) instead of the size of your ass in the mirror, and that's pretty wonderful. You're learning about teamwork, and commitments, and losing when you want to win more than anything in the world, and giving it your all until you're about to collapse. Those lessons that will serve you well throughout the rest of your life.
4. The local Saks Fifth Avenue that hired you as a teen model? Um, one of the first jobs they're going to call you for will involved you putting on a giant, fuzzy, Winnie-the-Pooh costume. You're not really going to understand why, but they're paying you, so it's all good. Except for the fact that you invited a guy to come see you model, and he will instead witness you lurching around Saks dressed as a bear named Pooh. This may not help your reputation.
5. Stay open, stay hopeful, stay positive. And always follow your heart, kiddo. Like everyone else, you're going to have your share of heartache and sadness. But your'e also going to have a really good life.
Thanks, Sarah! xoxo,
Liz & Lisa
To find out more about the lovely and talented Sarah Pekkanen, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.


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Know Your Hubber: Sarah Orton
As part of a new monthly series, we will be chatting with various members of OpenGov Hub (or as we like to call them, Hubbers) so that you can get to know some of the amazing people that make up our community.
Sarah Orton
Job Title and Organization
Senior Engagement and Partnerships Associate at Development Gateway
Tell us what problems your organization is trying to solve and how they are doing that.
There are a lot of information management tools that collect and manage data. What's missing in that sentence? Oh yea...USE that data. At DG, we work to develop tools and programs that help people use data better. That means meeting people where they are, understanding the problems they face in their job, and knowing how data can make decision-making easier.
How do you help in doing this?
I manage our proposal development and I support our strategic engagement and partnerships. I get to talk to people about what DG is and how we can make people's jobs easier.
What are some new exciting projects your organization is working on?
Our Results Data Initiative and Open Contracting programs are really exciting, innovative projects.
With RDI, we'll be working alongside country governments and development partners to find new ways to promote results data use, and especially to connect resource allocation to results. We're working to provide real examples for how the "Data Revolution" can improve development policy and practice.
DG is one of the leading implementers of open contracting. Over the past few months, we've been working to assess procurement efficiency and competition, as well as identify red flagging and corruption risk methodology using the Open Contracting Data Standard.
Remember what I said about data use? We're really serious about that - we want to ensure that investments in technology and policy can be used to their greatest potential to effect change.
What do you like most about being a part of the Hub community?
I'm less than a half mile from the White House, but I'm surrounded by people from all over the world every day. For someone from a small town in suburban USA, that's pretty cool.
Where is the most exotic place you've traveled?
It's a tie. I went to the eastern coast of Sri Lanka last year for the Results Data Initiative. I also traveled to northern Wisconsin in January. Similarly exotic, very different.
What keeps you motivated?
Injustice, inequality, and inefficiency. I see problems that I want to chip away at. When the drive to make change diminishes, Beyoncé and coffee.
What is the one book or article that inspires you?
Feminist Fight Club by Jessica Bennett
If you could have another career—sky's the limit—what would it be and why?
It may surprise you that:
I'm getting married in March.
I'm a huge ice hockey fan and even have a Boston Bruins yoga mat bag.
I'm DG's resident millennial translator. Please don't say on fleek.
I can't live without:
Early morning yoga


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The Nvidia GeForce driver for the Surface Book with d-GPUs has been updated, in addition to Intel's Precise Touch and the Surface UEFI Firmware.
Update: Microsoft has posted the full changelog, which we are reposting below
Surface Book Nov 17 Changes
- Intel Corporation driver update for Intel (R) Precise touch devices - Intel (R) Precise touch devices v22.214.171.124 reduce false touch events when the device is closed.
- NVIDIA driver update for the NVIDIA GeForce GPU - NVIDIA GeForce GPU v184.108.40.20661 improves system stability.
- Microsoft driver update for Surface UEFI - Surface UEFI v90.1380.768.0 improves system stability.
For those with the new Surface Book with Performance Base there is also a driver update for the GTX 965M as well as the UEFI Firmware.
As always, open the Start Menu, and type "Check for Updates" to instantly access Windows Update to see if these new drivers are available. You will be asked to perform a restart when they have finished installing.
While this is little more than a Seems Faster™ update, it's always encouraging to see driver updates hitting Microsoft's Surface line. If you notice any significant changes as a result of these new drivers, let us know in the comments.
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