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June 6 - July 11, 2015
Rubbish & Reason
Richard Ibghy
Marilou Lemmens
John G. Hampton (Curator)
Opening reception: June 6, 8:00 p.m.
2nd Floor, 1856 Scarth Street.
All welcome!
Rubbish & Reason
Artists' Bio
Rubbish & Reason
Rubbish & Reason
Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens
Created specifically for Neutral Ground Contemporary Art Forum, Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens'
Rubbish & Reason
explores the significance of diagrams and other forms of economic modelling as agents of social, cultural and subjective change. Starting with the idea that economics does not describe an existing external reality but brings that reality into being, the artists examine the workings of a specific figure of thought and style of reasoning in economics.
In the economic sciences, the production of graphs gained momentum at the end of the 19th century when political economists began plotting large quantities of statistical data on a coordinate axis. As these graphical forms proved convenient for conducting mathematical operations and expressing complex ideas, they developed into a new language of human action, one that united statistical observation, mathematics, and geometry onto a single plane. Today, there are few tools so fundamental to our understanding of the economy as graphs. Yet the lines, curves and dots that make-up graphs do more than communicate ideas about the so-called laws of the market, they have come to frame the very way we think about the economy, and with it, how we behave as "economic subjects".
For their exhibition at Neutral Ground, Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens direct their attention to how economic abstractions translate complex ideas about human behaviour into systematised forms. They question what it means to move from a material world of entangled, interacting agents to a world of mathematical modelling and graphical abstraction. What transformations of knowledge and sensibilities take place? How are particulars (circumstances, forms of life, actions, desires, and energies) mapped and connected in abstract models? What happens when we bring abstractions back to the concrete? When we go from a formal schema to physical matter or embodied engagement?
The exhibition
Rubbish & Reason
revolves around processes through which the dual nature of diagrams—as both concept and thing—is materialised in artworks and engaged with in performed actions. Ibghy & Lemmens' work embraces economic models as forms that give shape to ways of thinking and feeling, then turns them inside out. Their diagrammatic skins hang from the walls and their remains are laid out on shelves and tables. The artistic language employed is self-conscious, sometimes displaying surgical precision, but often bewildering in its tendency to play fast and loose with the rules of economic syntax. Yet this is a language that addresses the body, with a preference for sensation over deconstruction, chance over risk calculation, poetry over analysis.
This exhibition is curated by John G. Hampton.
Support for this exhibition was graciously provided by the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Regina.


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Complex subject matter does not have to equal complex communication. Insurance is often written about in either very complex terms or very boring terms – or sometimes both. It doesn't have to be that way.
As a B2B copywriter specialising in working with insurance firms of all types, here are my tips for better communication:
1. Focus on the human angle
A major benefit of writing about insurance is that it is inherently human, in that it facilitates human endeavours. Whether someone wants to launch a fashion line, build an oil rig, develop a driverless car or launch a satellite, they cannot do it without insurance in place. This means that you should always focus on the 'story' – i.e. what you are helping someone to do. Leave the boring stuff for the policy wording.
2. Write like you speak
The key to sounding human is to write like you speak. As Elmore Leonard said: "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." When I teach people to write, I get them to read their writing out loud and think about whether they would actually say those words. Think about how would you describe what you're writing about to a friend.
3. No jargon. Ever
Readers should never trip over clunky, unnatural phrases that require translation. Business writing should be understandable by everybody – even those operating outside your sector. Lapsing into jargon alienates your wider audience and hints at a lack of confidence. Note how brilliant business leaders tend to speak in accessible, relaxed language.
4. Keep it short
Everybody is busy, so if you want to catch someone's attention – and keep it – you will need to be brief. And because your readers may not finish your document, put your most important messages up front.
5. Ask yourself: should we produce this?
Reading communications relating to insurance is unlikely to be at the top of anyone's wish list, so ask yourself whether you should be producing anything at all. Do you have something unique to say? Will it genuinely interest your clients, partners and peers? If not, perhaps you should channel your efforts elsewhere.

subset: commoncrawl


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Like most people, I've been on the lookout for pumpkin. In general, I don't go crazy over pumpkin. I don't really want pumpkin flavored oatmeal and I'd take a chocolate chip cookie over a pumpkin one any day. Pumpkin belongs in pie and those delicious pumpkin rolls. But other than that, I can take or leave pumpkin.
Except in these:
These are why I've been searching for pumpkin, and why I bought seven cans of it last week. Two ingredients, one awesome result.
Chocolate Pumpkin Cake Muffins
- 1 box devil's food cake mix
- 1 15oz. can pumpkin
Mix well, until cake mix is completely absorbed. Spoon into cupcake liners. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Makes 12.
I think this recipe is originally a Weight Watcher's one? My friend Richele gave it to me a few years back.
The muffins come out incredibly soft and delicious. And I think they're each about 180 calories? Not bad for cake!
What's your favorite use of pumpkin? I also like pumpkin for superfood muffins!
Note: If you type "pumpkin" too many times it starts to look completely wrong. I actually googled it just to doublecheck I was spelling it right!


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Welcome back to your daily Block Explorer crypto roundup. Today we'll dive into the upcoming bitcoin ETF decision. First, let's take a look at the market overview:
Bitcoin finally cracked $6,500 in a blistering overnight session on Wednesday. The total crypto market capitalization jumped $12 million in an hour with Bitcoin up more than 4%.
1. Bitcoin – $6,680 (+ 4%)
2. Ethereum – $285 (+ 1.1%)
The rise across the crypto market appears to coincide with BitMEX (a crypto trading platform) shutting down for maintenance.
Why did that impact the price? BitMEX allows traders to bet against crypto prices. When trading was halted, anyone betting against bitcoin (with a 'short position') had their trades liquidated, which forced the price up.
Biggest winner and loser in the top 20
Biggest winner – Vechain (+ 10%)
Biggest loser – NEM (- 0.83%)
Tomorrow's ETF decision: what do you need to know?
Despite last night's jump in prices, the crypto market has been in pause-mode lately. We're waiting for the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) to make a decision on another Bitcoin ETF.
What's an ETF?
An ETF is an 'exchange traded fund.' It tracks the underlying price of a commodity (like gold), an index (like the S&P 500) or a basket of stocks.
ETFs makes it much easier for the average investor to put money into the market.
A bunch of companies are now trying to introduce the first bitcoin ETF. First, the Winklevoss twins had their ETF rejected by the SEC in July.
Then, a second ETF proposal from VanEck and Solid X – which was considered more likely to get approval – was delayed until the end of September.
Price crash
In both cases, the SEC decisions triggered huge losses on the crypto market. A bitcoin ETF is widely seen as a catalyst for "institutional money" to flood into crypto, so a rejection is a set back.
Thursday's Bitcoin ETF decision
Tomorrow, the SEC will make a decision on the ProShares Bitcoin ETF and the ProShares Short Bitcoin ETF. This time the SEC cannot delay or push back the ruling. We'll see a decision, whether it's yes or no.
What will happen?
The most likely outcome is another rejection. The SEC continues to push back against bitcoin ETFs, citing volatility and lack of regulation.
It's also worth noting that the ProShares ETF is based on Bitcoin 'futures', whereas the more promising VanEck ETF is based on physical bitcoin.
It's a small but important distinction. Futures are contracts in which traders agree to buy or sell bitcoin on a certain date. The physical bitcoin ETF is rooted in bitcoin's live price.
Check back in 2019…
Most experts don't think we'll see a bitcoin ETF until 2019, but tomorrow's decision could still surprise us. A Bitcoin ETF is coming. It's just a case of when.
We'll update you with the outcome when we hear more. That's all for today's roundup. See you back here tomorrow.
Today's further reading: SEC Rejects Winklevoss Bitcoin ETF, Here's Why it Doesn't Matter.
Before you go… are you a trader or a HODLer?
We're working to bring you an all-new Block Explorer, and we'd like your help. Please take a few minutes to let us know how you use crypto and how we can make Block Explorer better.


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Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Singapore Namecard Printing and What You Should Do Today
How to Find Singapore Namecard Printing
Your selection has to be based on factors like experience and reputation as a way to reap benefits in the very long run. Quiz each other on the bigger concepts of the material that you'll be tested on. If you would like to assist you with the design, we're pleased to help you in all type of shape.
For that reason, it's important that professionals responsible for fulfilment solutions are knowledgeable and professional enough to keep the goods undamaged under all conditions. Companies providing Singapore namecard printing solutions can be broken up into several types. Our products are the identical great quality for each turnaround time we provide.
They are supposed to be the great discovery in modern science and technology plays a vital role to deal with duplication and piracy. In the event the card may be framed, remember to glue every piece well enough to ensure they will remain in place.
Even for those who have a test a day later, you would like to study in short amounts of time. If you're taking a multiple choice exam, attempt to learn how to recognize the right answer. It presents a quick and economical solution for penetrating new markets.
Our business offerings represent the most recent and the most dependable information indispensable for companies to sustain a competitive edge. There is an assortment of explanations for why organisations issue ID cards. Anyone can inform you, you need to have smart, professional-looking small business cards.
Business cards continue to be the most powerful and very affordable networking tools that money can purchase. Businesses can yield lots of benefits from online printing. Because of the web, new businesses may get popular almost overnight.
Just wanted to allow you to know that I got my singapore name card printing and they're perfect! They are not numbered. They are actually physical, and are stored in a temperature controlled facility.
You are able to share 1 design in an assortment of colours, or create entirely new graphics for each card. It needs to be able to supply an entire breakdown of business and your own personal profile with inspiring graphics and design. Adding your contact details is critical.
To most small small business entrepreneurs, marketing or promoting their goods or services via the Internet may be a daunting job. Our customer service representatives are devoted to assisting you with all your questions and concerns. For that reason, it will become important to pick an excellent company providing fulfilment services.
The language should be specific with a comprehensive portrayal of all duties. Calling someone by his name is deemed disrespectful unless you're really near the individual. There are lots of occasions when you must impress your client to keep up a very long term corporate relationship.…


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Between MRM and Facebook Tuesday is in the lead now. If you still wish for Thursday you have some catching up to do. At this point if we go for a Tuesday when can we make this work.. This Tuesday or next? What time is everyone thinking?
Please give your opinion on Facebook or MRM.. It's important we know where everyone stands, we want to try and do what works best for everyone!


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: : Safe
// W Stell
When I was living in Jordan, people back in the States frequently asked, "Is it safe over there?" My answer to their question was always "yes." As for the answer to mine, I do not know.
Just before I left to go "over there," I was at a retreat center in rural Pennsylvanian woods. It was a place and a time of preparation and enthusiasm, shared with 50 other soon-to-be international volunteers. We were from the United States, Canada, Germany, Bolivia, Egypt, and maybe half a dozen other countries. We were members of many different Christian traditions: mainline Protestant, Evangelical, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox. When we arrived at this retreat center, all of us were strangers to each other. Over the course of our week together in that serene and simple setting, however, we became family. This, we all knew, was a sacred time in a safe place.
It seemed that everyone listened well, gave and received support, conversed with remarkable cultural sensitivity, proclaimed a vision of justice with one heart and mind, managed to set aside their insecurities, and abided in a nearly palpable peace. Again and again, members of our group—including myself—sang the praises of this time and place: "I know it sounds sappy, or dramatic, or whatever, but it just feels like…like heaven here!" Every time, someone responded, "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean!"
On our last night together, before leaving to serve communities all over the world, we put on an uproarious talent show, followed by a spontaneous dance circle. The 50 of us are moving, clapping, chanting, cheering. My smile feels like it is made of concrete.
Until one young man grabs the arm of another young man and pulls him into the circle's center. There they start to hop around, in an intentionally awkward embrace, performing a fast-paced mock waltz. The group explodes in laughter.
Everyone here, it seems, finds the idea of two men dancing together inherently funny. Even here, it is something to point at, something to laugh at. Even here, it is nothing but a joke.
My smile cracks, then slowly crumbles under the mounting force of the pain hidden behind it. I step out of the circle in silence, unable to voice my question.
Is any place safe?


text: Commentary: Averaged or Stratified Measures of Risk Profile Discrimination: Horses for CoursesLindström, Sara; Kraft, PeterEpidemiology: November 2011 - Volume 22 - Issue 6 - p 813-814 doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3182320edc Methods Free Author InformationAuthors Article OutlineOutline Article MetricsMetrics From the Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Correspondence: Peter Kraft, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. ABOUT THE AUTHORS REFERENCES The list of biomarkers associated with disease risk is rapidly growing. Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of common genetic variants associated with common complex diseases. These associations give us clues about disease biology, but it may take years of painstaking basic research to fully understand the mechanisms behind them. In contrast, we can use these variants for personalized risk profiling right now. Similarly, it is unclear whether other novel "-omic" markers (proteomic, epigenomic, metagenomic, and so forth) are causal intermediates in the disease process or the consequences of latent disease, yet they could be used to predict disease risk. This raises the question: should we use these novel risk markers? Do the benefits outweigh the costs? What value do these new markers add? In this issue of Epidemiology, Kerr and Pepe1 discuss how to evaluate a new risk marker for disease, where a set of predictors already exists (c.f. the Gail model for breast cancer, or the Framingham risk score for cardiovascular disease). The authors focus on a particular measure of the discriminatory ability of a risk profile, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and show that the ROC curve for a profile that jointly models the new marker and other covariates is distinct from the ROC curve for the new marker within strata of the other covariates. They also show that the ROC curve for the new marker can differ across strata even in the absence of interaction on the log-odds scale. Kerr and Pepe's results highlight 3 important issues. First, because the joint and stratified ROC curves are different, investigators should consider which is most appropriate for their research question. If the purpose is to develop a risk assessment tool for the general population, the joint ROC curve may be more appropriate. If the goal is to determine the incremental value of a new marker in particular subgroups, the stratified ROC curve may be better. For example, the change in the ROC curve from adding genetic information may be small across the whole population but large among young people—who may be a small but clinically important fraction of the population. Second, investigators who are interested in the improvement in discrimination due to a new marker should examine how the ROC curve changes across strata, regardless of whether statistically significant interaction is found on the log-odds scale. For example, we have observed that genetic variants associated with breast cancer do not interact with age in a logistic regression model either individually or collectively, but nonetheless, a risk profile based on 17 SNPs has a higher area under the ROC curve for women under 62 years (0.64) than for women over 70 years (0.58).2 Similarly, although none of the known common breast cancer risk markers interacts with any of the risk factors in the Gail score,3–5 the area under the ROC curve for the genetic risk profile was higher among women in the lowest Gail score quartile (0.63) than among women in the highest quartile (0.57). Third, the paper raises the important but often overlooked point that case-control matching can greatly complicate the interpretation of the area under the ROC curve.6 This is particularly relevant when using epidemiologic studies originally designed to identify causal factors or to provide efficient estimates of relative risks, such as nested case-control studies. The important task of "evaluating the incremental value of a risk marker"—genetic or not—sounds deceptively simple, but requires great care. "Incremental value" can be defined in many ways.7 Kerr and Pepe show how complicated the interpretation of just one summary measure can be. Add to that the many different ways to summarize the discriminatory or predictive ability of a risk marker (Brier score, Net Reclassification Index, integrated loss, number of individuals screened to identify a case)—each of which has relative strengths and weaknesses in different contexts—and the complexities multiply. Moreover, a given question—for example, whether genetic information should be used to personalize screening recommendations—may be viewed differently from different perspectives (eg, patient, provider, payer). The particular perspective may affect whether the benefits of the additional information outweigh the costs. The costs are not only in dollars, but also in the effort required to educate physicians and patients to understand and make informed decisions regarding these tests, the potential social stigma of the tests, privacy concerns, et cetera. No single measure can capture the incremental value of a new marker in all contexts. Researchers should carefully choose a measure (or measures) of the marker's utility that is relevant to the marker's intended application (or applications)—they should choose the right horse for the course. Back to Top | Article Outline ABOUT THE AUTHORS SARA LINDSTRÖM is a Research Scientist in the Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health. She has published papers on gene-environment interactions as well as large-scale population-based case-control studies in breast and prostate cancer. PETER KRAFT is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Deputy Director of the Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has published papers on the utility of genetic risk prediction and statistical methods for the study of gene-environment interaction in population-based studies.Back to Top | Article Outline REFERENCES 1. Kerr K, Pepe M. Joint modeling, covariate adjustment, and interaction: contrasting notions in risk prediction models and risk prediction performance. Epidemiology. 2011;22:805–812. Cited Here... | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 2. Kraft P, Aschard H, Chen, JB. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions involving GWAS-identified loci unlikely to drastically improve breast cancer risk prediction. Genet Epidemiol. 2010;34:979. Meeting Abstract 223. Cited Here... 3. Campa D, Kaaks R, Le Marchand, et al. Interactions Between Genetic Variants and Breast Cancer Risk Factors in the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011;103:1252–1263. Cited Here... | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 4. Travis RC, Reeves GK, Green J, et al. Gene-environment interactions in 7610 women with breast cancer: prospective evidence from the Million Women Study. Lancet. 2010;375:2143–2151. Cited Here... | PubMed | CrossRef 5. Milne RL, Gaudet MM, Spurdle AB, et al. Assessing interactions between the associations of common genetic susceptibility variants, reproductive history and body mass index with breast cancer risk in the breast cancer association consortium: a combined case-control study. Breast Cancer Res. 2010;12:R110. Cited Here... | PubMed | CrossRef 6. Janes H, Pepe MS. Matching in studies of classification accuracy: implications for analysis, efficiency, and assessment of incremental value. Biometrics. 2008;64:1–9. Cited Here... | PubMed | CrossRef 7. Janssens AC, Ioannidis JP, van Duijn CM, Little J, Khoury MJ; GRIPS Group. Strengthening the reporting of genetic risk prediction studies: the GRIPS statement. Eur J Epidemiol. 2011;26:255–259. Cited Here... | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.


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Organized for The Art Hall, Fringe is a group exhibition of fourteen women artists, all of whom are members of Fringe Women Artists of Oklahoma. "Fringe, Women Artists of Oklahoma is a collective of professional women artists actively working in our state to bring awareness to female artists. We are an alliance of contemporary artists providing various fine art mediums and provocative concepts to our communities. As a group, we work together to nurture and empower one another, gain visibility and create opportunities, all while evolving individually as artists." The Art Hall is excited to host Fringe's first show of 2018!
Click on an artist's name below to see her work for sale.


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Capitol Alert
'There's a political earthquake happening here,' but it may not shake Republicans in 2018
See, hear lively audience at Tom McClintock town hall meeting in Jackson
Regina Bateson was one of 750 people who at an April town hall listened to Republican Congressman Tom McClintock voice support for efforts by leaders of his party to scrap Obamacare, question the science behind climate change and dismiss the need for an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
It was a pivotal moment for her. Soon after, she launched her campaign for California's 4th Congressional District, a deep-red Republican stronghold encompassing the heart of the Sierras that McClintock has represented since 2009.
"Tom McClintock does not reflect the values of the 4th District. He does not act in the best interests of the district," said Bateson, 35, a former U.S. State Department foreign service officer who recently returned with her family to her hometown of Roseville. "What we need to do is grow jobs. We need sound bipartisan land management to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. We need clean air and water. We need affordable health care."
Bateson, a Democrat and political newcomer, is one of more than 40 Democrats challenging Republican incumbents next year in 11 of the 14 House seats California Republicans hold in Congress. Between April and the end of June, the first quarter she filed, Bateson raised almost $100,000 – more than any Democrat running in the district has raised in a first quarter.
"There's a political earthquake happening here," Bateson said. "It's not about red and it's not about blue. It doesn't matter if you're Republican or Democrat – people here are fed up and they have realized that Tom McClintock does not speak for them. They're more energized and motivated than they've ever been before."
Still, Bateson faces daunting odds. Republicans have dominated the sprawling, rural district for three decades. Last year was no different. McClintock easily defeated his Democratic challenger, winning nearly 63 percent of the vote in a district that also went 54 percent for Donald Trump. Voters there twice chose Republicans for president over Barack Obama, with Mitt Romney in 2012 and John McCain in 2008.
"This is one of the safest Republican seats in California, and Tom McClintock, I would argue, is probably the most popular Republican member of Congress from California," said Mike Madrid, a Sacramento-based Republican political consultant and partner at GrassrootsLab, which studies political trends.
Democratic strategists say there's a good chance of flipping red seats blue, especially the more competitive Orange County districts. McClintock's district could be a long-shot, but it's possible, said Bill Burton, a California-based Democratic consultant with the firm SKDKnickerbocker.
"I think people will be surprised. Democrats are energized, they're raising money and putting up really credible candidates in all sorts of districts – not just the ones that seem like they have the best chance on paper," Burton said. "The other thing to consider in California is there is going to be a very spirited race for governor, so Democrats are going to be coming out in much larger numbers than in other parts of the country.
"In districts where there's lots of energy and good Democratic candidates raising money, there's a chance to pull some upsets," Burton said
Democrats need to win 24 seats next November to regain control of the House, and operatives are looking to California as a key battleground in the national fight. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting nine Republican seats concentrated in Orange County and the Central Valley. Seven of those red districts are seen as more competitive because their voters backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump last year.
Democrats also see Republicans as vulnerable because of their vote in support of the GOP health care proposal, which would leave tens of millions without health coverage and increase medical costs for patients, according to nonpartisan budget analysts. All of California's Republican congressional delegation, including the 9 members on the Democratic-target list, voted in favor of House Republicans' health care bill.
"The cuts would be absolutely devastating to constituents in these Republican districts. That's one of the reasons we're seeing so many people being recruited and stepping up," said Drew Godinich, a DCCC spokesman.
Godinich said California is "crucial" for Democrats to regain control of the House.
"For the very first time ever, the DCCC made a decision to open a western office in California, right in the heart of the Orange County districts that Hillary Clinton won," Godinich said. "That illustrates how seriously we're taking California. The House is definitely in play."
McClintock's district is not on Democrats' national target list, but even in ruby red districts like his, challengers have a shot, Godinich said.
"We have a chance in places seen as unwinnable because of demographic shifts in California, and also the national political landscape," he said. "There's an opportunity to challenge these Republicans who have never really faced a real challenge before."
Jack Pandol, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, argued it's Democrats who could be hurt by the health care debate.
"At the end of the day, Republicans are working to fix the problems with Obamacare," Pandol said. "Insurers are pulling out of the market, premiums are skyrocketing. Democrats are going to be reminded of that in 2018."
McClintock declined a telephone interview, but in an email confirmed he's running for re-election in 2018.
"I take every race seriously," he said. "Clearly Democrats are energized, but as the recent special elections have shown, just chanting 'resist' isn't working for them."
McClintock defended his vote to repeal and replace Obamacare, and said even without a clear replacement, he supports full repeal.
"Republicans were elected to revive the economy, rescue the health care system and secure the borders. We've made progress on these mandates, but we have a very long way to go. If we fail to deliver, it will be a very difficult year for Republicans and rightly so," he said. "As long as Republicans stay focused on the economy, health care reform and border security and the Democrats continue to obsess on Russian conspiracy theories and socialist economic programs, I think the Republican congressional majorities will hold."
Republicans have a few other things working in their favor next year. Incumbents generally have an easier time coasting to re-election in off election years, and voter turnout in California is higher among Republicans.
"Mid-term elections disproportionately assist Republicans because of their turnout advantage ... Republican voters will crawl through glass and heavy gunfire to vote – they show up," Madrid said. "The key to winning every one of these seats is two factors: You have to be losing Republican voters or you have to compel voters to stay home. There's nothing to suggest that either of those two things is happening.
"The Republican base is secure," he said. "In California, they may not like Donald Trump, but they're still voting for Republicans down ticket."
Madrid's point was underscored by an analysis out this month from the California Target Book, which tracks political trends.
"Barring another one of this country's periodic political tidal waves," Target Book publisher Darry Sragow wrote, "the Democrats will be doing well to emerge with, at most, one or two pickups."
So are Democrats kidding themselves if they think they can win in a ruby red district like McClintock's?
"Yes," Madrid said. "Something extraordinary would have to happen."
Remarkable political upsets have happened, and some say 2018 could deal a major blow to Republicans.
Burton worked for the DCCC in 2006 during the presidency of George W. Bush, when Democrats picked up 31 seats in the House, defeating 22 Republican incumbents and winning eight open seats previously held by Republicans. It was the same year Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, was elected to Congress.
"Nobody thought it was possible for Democrats to take control of the House until Labor Day of that year," Burton said. "The thing that's similar between then and now is there's an unpopular president, there's a large number of credible candidates in districts across the country, and there's an incredibly energized Democratic base."
He said California will play a key role in the national battle.
"In wave years, you have some opposing party break-through, even in places you don't necessarily expect because the member of Congress in that district gets tied to whatever is negative in what's happening in the broader national environment," Burton said.
Key to that, however, is identifying a strong, positive message, Burton and others said.
"Democrats are going to have to go beyond an anti-Trump resistance message," said Juan Rodriguez, a partner at SCN Strategies, who ran Sen. Kamala Harris' campaign last year. "They have to ignite their base and have a very clear message that fundamentally addresses their electorate by identifying what I would classify as a new contract for the disappearing middle class that feels like they've been left behind."
Brad Hill, of Rocklin, voted Republican until last year. He said he's ready for a change.
"I used to identify as a Republican, but I changed my registration last year. I couldn't identify with the party anymore," said Hill, 32, active with the group Indivisible. "As far as McClintock goes, one of the things that concerns me is he's a climate change denier ... then there's all this stuff on health care. I have a family member with serious medical issues who the Affordable Care Act has really helped."
Bateson, who voted for Clinton last election, is hoping to draw a share of her support from Republican voters.
"This is not about partisanship, it's about representation," she said. "My focus is really on local issues – jobs, health care, the environment. The people of our district are being left behind because we do not have a voice in Congress."
Angela Hart: 916-326-5528, @ahartreports
At a glance
Democratic target list for California's House Republicans:
- Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista
- Rep. Steve Knight, R-Lancaster
- Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock
- David Valadao, R-Hanford
- Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton
- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa
- Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Laguna Niguel
- Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare
- Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine


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Roy's Cares
Roy's Cares
Roy's Cares is our community charity initiative. Starting in 2013, we have donated to over 44 different charities in the Western New York area through our lawn sign program. At every call, our technicians ask if we can put up a lawn sign, and for every lawn sign, we donate $5 to a charity chosen by our staff. It's our way of saying thank you to our community- the same community that has helped to build and shape our business into what it is.
This past June we decided to take Roy's Cares to the next level by participating as a sponsor at the 2017 Ride for Roswell. Including our sponsorship, we were able to contribute close to $5500. Roy's Cares has been a newer part of our company, and we are excited for this upcoming year as we continue to give back. We are a family run company in operation for over 30 years and we want you to feel part of our family too. We plan to do even more events in and around our community going forward- hopefully, we will see you at one of them!
If you ever have an idea for a charity or cause that you think could use our help, please contact us at our main line or send us an e-mail!
Charities We've Contributed To
- Roswell Park Cancer Foundation
- Down Syndrome
- Amanda Hansen Foundation
- Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Kids Escaping Drugs
- Boy Scouts of America
- Lupus Alliance of America
- Juvenile Diabetes of WNY
- American Red Cross
- Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo
- Wings Flights of Hope
- Special Space Buffalo
- Toys for Tots
- Mercy Flight
- Ronald McDonald House
- Summit Educational Resources
- Homespace Corp
- Miracle League of Gi and WNY
- Community Missions of Niagara
- Allie Bielewski Fund
- Wounded Warrior Project
- Susan G Komen
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNY
- Twin Cities Community Outreach
- Hope Lodge
- Boys and Girls Club
- Carly's Club
- Homeless Veterans
- Food Bank of WNY
- Friends of Night People
- Read to Succeed
- Special Olympics
- Hunter's Hope
- Baker Victory Angel Tree Program
- Buffalo City Mission
- Hospice of Buffalo
- Child and Family Services
- Variety Club Telethon
- Susan G Komen
- NICU at Women and Children's Hospital
- Girl Scouts of America
- ALS Upstate NY Chapter


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The Fake News Is Coming From Inside The (White) House!
The Fake News is beside themselves that McCabe was caught, called out and fired. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars was given to wife's campaign by Crooked H friend, Terry M, who was also under investigation? How many lies? How many leaks? Comey knew it all, and much more!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
So Comey is a liar, and McCabe, a witness as to what Comey did, is a liar, and Trump is the only person we can trust? Trump and his Cabinet of grifters. And Comey and McCabe have to be fired because we can't trust them, but we can trust Trump?
Yeah, sure. Besides, I thought Nixon talking to the pictures was bad:
Wow, watch Comey lie under oath to Senator G when asked "have you ever been an anonymous source...or known someone else to be an anonymous source...?" He said strongly "never, no." He lied as shown clearly on @foxandfriends.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2018
Spent very little time with Andrew McCabe, but he never took notes when he was with me. I don't believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2018
Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans? Another Dem recently added...does anyone think this is fair? And yet, there is NO COLLUSION!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2018


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Open with Silver Close with Gold
When asked what the best piece of advice she ever received was, comedian Margaret Cho shares a classic inside comedy trope she's heard through the years.
LENA WAITHE: The best advice I've ever gotten is just to be great. Gina Bythewood said that if anybody ever has questions of like how to be in the business, how to make it in the business, how to succeed, how to do well, is to be great. So, if you're really focusing on always being great, and not as a mantra necessarily, but really just giving everything your all and being super focused, it's hard to fail when you're always striving for greatness.


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The Protectors of the Wood Adventure Novel Series follows the story of a group of misfit teenagers who save the world from climate change. Book 1, Phoebe Comes Home, begins as Phoebe arrives back in Middletown after a year away at college. She discovers shocking changes taking place in her family's childhood home. An immense corporation already owns many local businesses and is buying up property at an alarming rate. The local minister preaches a sermon about climate change and an angry crowd walks out in protest. And a valuable gem called Dreamstone is the focus of intense interest and unanswered questions. Phoebe sets out to make new friends and save the world she knew and loved as a child.
The Series include songs and music as well as the story and illustrations.


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Thai dishes, whether prepared in a normal or vegetarian manner, should taste the same and look the same. This is our goal when teaching you how to cook Thai dishes. Authentic means authentic in both flavor and appearance.
Study with us in our professional culinary school for 5 intensive days, Monday-Friday, and learn the basics of Thai vegetarian cooking. This is an intensive course. Learn how to prepare 32 of the most popular dishes, 3 curry pastes, 8 dips and sauces, along with how to make tofu and soy milk. Come prepared to cook, cook, and cook. Available for both vegetarians, vegans, and those chefs/cooks working in restaurants with vegetarian customers.
Professional Vegetarian Thai Cooking Course Learn 32 Dishes, 3 Curry Pastes, 8 Dips & Sauces, Tofu, Soy Milk.
Note: All Dishes Can Be Prepared Either Vegetarian Or Vegan.
Besides these dishes, you'll;
Learn To Make:
Make Curry Pastes:
If you are interested in Cooking Class with Market Tour please click here
Meet at the cooking school
You will receive the confirmation of your booking's availability within 24 hours. Once confirmed, please present your booking reference number at the cooking school.
Full refund will be issued for cancellation made at least 48 hours prior to the activity


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Sicam 2014 is coming!
Come find us and our Suppliers on 14-17th of October at one of the most prestigious international fairs in the furniture fittings field.
Citterio Giulio, Gruppo Pozzi - System Holz, Atim, Sea & Symphony, Forma e Funzione, Villes, Omge, Pessotto are just a few of the names that would make you willing to come in Pordenone.
So, what are you waiting for? Let us know if you're coming, we would be really happy to see you!


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When disconnecting a USB device from our PC or Notebook, we always think about it once in a while. Let's explore some aspects to answer this question.
Disconnecting a USB
Mac system provides a couple of ways to safely remove your USB device, but it doesn't recommend suddenly ejecting of your hardware.
Windows suggests a different approach towards this issue; it offers a setting that would save you from the extra efforts of using the 'Safely Remove Hardware' option. But this feature does not give us the answer to our question except that Windows believe in saving your time and in safely removing USB drive.
What Happens When You Disconnect USB Without 'Safely Remove Hardware' Option?
There are certain aspects that we should consider while suddenly ejecting the USB drive.
Corruption – During the transfer of files from your Windows or Mac to USB or USB to your Computer, there is a good chance your file would become corrupt. This happens only if there is a file transfer involved. This will also affect the performance and data transfer rate of your USB drive. And it's quite difficult for us to recover deleted images, videos and other important files from corrupt memory card. So making sure the file device is not being used before unplugging it would be a wise choice.
Performance Degradation – This will not be visible all of a sudden, but removing your USB without taking precautions will degrade the performance of your Drive. This is visible with time. This problem arises due to cache memory creation in USB. This is by default in all the systems that with a connection, the system creates a cache of USB and operates with the same unless there is any file transfer involved. The USB drive needs a constant power supply to processing all the operations and data transfers, so sudden disconnection may incur a loss in USB drives performance.
Here Is What Windows Offer;
It optimizes the USB for quick removal i.e. provides the USB to be removed without any efforts from the user; this function is default in Windows.
This option can be accessed using Device Manager;
Go to > Start menu > Device manager > Disc and Drives
The disc and drives can be expanded using the drop-down icon just above it, this will display all the available drives connected to your computer.
Select your USB and right click on it and go to 'Properties'. This will open the properties of your USB drive.
You can view two options that say – "Quick Removal" and "Better Performance" you can select from the two options and use your USB drive to read/ write data on your computer. If you use "quick Removal" you will never have to use the "safely Remove Hardware" option.
However, we recommend you do not go with Quick Removal option as it would involve disabling writing cache. This may give your USB drive some extra load and cause some problems. Also, there is a certain processing time, before which if you eject the drive, it might cause in malfunctioning of the files in it.
Safely Remove USB on Mac
The threats of ejecting a USB drive remains the same, Mac also uses data caching in order to operate a USB drive connected to it. The data in Mac computers can also be lost, deleted or corrupted due to improper ejecting of USB drives.
If you are using a Mac system, your system uses write caching to deliver a better performance. If the USB is improperly handled, it may lead to disappointment and waste of time in retrieving your data. Here is a simple process to safely remove USB in Mac;
1 – Drag the flash drive icon in trash.
2 – Click the eject icon just beside the drive in finder pane.
There is a good chance of data corruption or other threats as listed above while using USB on your Mac. Using USB to perform a backup or retrieving memory card on Mac, can prove to be very sensitive. So if you want to avoid loss of information and safety of your data transfer, avoid ejecting USB directly from your computer.
Although, it seems to be a matter of seconds whether or not to use Safely Eject option. This question would look insignificant, but if we think about the data, its value rises unimaginably. A wise choice, in that case, would be to keep the operation under safety standards and always try to stop the USB drive before pulling it out. Also, some of the drives are provided with flickering LEDs or another source of light that will guide you if the drive is properly turned off and safe to remove.
Customer Evangelist @remosoftware. Trying to perfect the art of writing while running a business. Fan of exceptional customer service.


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Joe Shoots Food
Award winning food photography for print, web and packaging
Joe Shoots People
Powerful Portraiture for Advertising.
Joe Shoots Product
"I like shiny objects!"
Have Joe shoot you a quote
Joe Greene
P.O. Box 148
Boston, MA 02134
Call or text 617.875.3188
Joe Greene 535 Albany St Boston, MA 02218
All content on joegreenephoto.com is copyrighted, so please don't use it without my permission ( you understand ).


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Roasted Afghani Chicken Steak
Afghani cuisine has mastered the art of creating perfectly balanced, mildly-spiced and wonderfully flavourful food. This unique quality comes alive in our Afghani-inspired roast chicken meal.
A succulent leg of chicken is doused in two different spicy and zesty marinades and roasted to a golden crisp. The meaty treasure rests on an aromatic, mildly spiced egg-cauliflower rice, while a creamy mushroom sauce with paprika accompanies this Afghani wonder.
New is exciting! Feast on something new everyday only on FreshMenu.com!
Freshmenu Blog


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Project!Posted: 12/26/2011 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Christmas, craft, Design Sponge, mom, project, vintage 4 Comments
#nowplaying Silver Jews Pandora Radio
Day after Christmas: Marked in my youth by immense sadness that another 12/25 was 364 days away- marked today by great joy that I have the day off work and can recoup alone post-travel/time change/lack of solid sleep. I started the day as I do seemingly every Dec. 26th with "Brick" by Ben Folds stuck in my head ["6 am, day after Christmas, I throw some clothes on in the dark.."]. Surely I'm not the only person that happens to, right? However you find yourself on this day, I hope that you and yours had a very merry whatever you celebrate/are still celebrating.
I took a bit of an Interwebz hiatus as indicated by my lack of posts. I have December off from NN commitments and it has been nice, but also… odd. I miss it and am curious to learn what changes await from them in 2012. I've struggled to put a name on the identity we create for ourselves on the world wide web (e-dentity? web-self? robot?) but whatever you want to call the online persona constructed to represent yourself – the tweets that come via your smartphone, the blog you update sporadically, the Instagram photos you edit & upload [guilty] – can become quite overwhelming for me in tough times. Strangely, it is this detached, often embellished representation of myself that I most immediately want to pull away from when I am feeling down. But "hide mode" is no good long-term and I'm feeling better so, without further #whitegirlproblems, a project!
Gratitude Box: Crafty project 2K11 [yes, there was only one…]
There are many reasons why I don't consider myself to be "crafty. Mainly, not wanting to spend the money on such endeavors is usually reason number one. But I'm learning from all my friends on my Google Reeder that this is a silly excuse and that many projects detailed by impossibly adorable bloggettes use found objects or items that can be bought on the cheap at second-hand &/or antique stores. Lack of space was another big hindrance for me whilst living with roommates and in a studio apartment. I hated the feeling of immediately having to clean up a project even if I wasn't finished; now that I have more space to spread out, this is also a lousy excuse. So for those keeping count, I'm 0-2 in valid reasons against my desire to be crafty. Enough!
I found this project via one of the aforementioned adorable blogs, Design*Sponge and you can view the entire DIY post here, titled "Vintage Postcard Calendar Journal." It was suggested as a gift idea for the holidays and I sent it to my mom expressing my delight at the simple yet stylish way of recording events of the day. Since I journal so gosh darn much anyway, I thought if I in fact followed through on attempting this project, I'd make the purpose very specific. Thus, the idea of a Gratitude Box where each day I'd write a word, phrase, or short sentence expressing thanks. Each card has multiple lines, so the idea is to keep the box for years, making reflecting on life's joys easy and organized.
A few snaps of our assemblage from antique store to counter top:
I hope the simplicity and ease of this project is enough to encourage me to try more, as I really enjoyed putting everything together and doing it alongside an enthusiastic pal [hi, mom!]. So many projects are adaptable to your needs and desires; make this as a gift, keep it for yourself, write down whatever you want to on the lines, it's totally up to you!
PoseCrafty xo.
4 Comments on "Project!"
Such a fantastic project! A little extra daily gratitude reminder would do the world at large great good… xo
I LOVE this idea! I am already obsessed with postcards and I think this is a great alternative journal idea. Maybe I will have to whip one up before the new year starts 🙂 Thanks for the idea, happy you are gettin' crafty.


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Men of R&B tour with Lloyd, Eric Bellinger, RL, J Holiday and Jarid Williams.Read More
Sold out show last night with Stormzy and Manu Crooks. Crazy night!Read More
A few photos from the last few shows with YG. I've shot a few of his shows over the years and theres always 3 things guaranteed at a YG show- Fights, topless girls and a crazy party. Without fail, its always an awesome show.Read More
Made a quick stop by sound check for Body Count, Ice-T and A.B. Original, to shoot a few portraits.Read More
Gatorade G Active
Spent a few days shooting for Gatorade a few weeks ago! Gatorade has collaborated with TBWA Sydney and Eleven on the launch of its new sugar free electrolyte water - G Active - to inspire Aussies to get active.
To kick things off, an exclusive fitness hotspot was launched. Located on the stunning Sydney Harbour, the G Active HydroGym was a pop-up floating fitness destination, completely surrounded by water and set against the iconic backdrop of the Harbour.
Over two days, the G Active HydroGym offered attendees yoga classes with former Australian pole vaulter and exercise physiologist Amanda Bisk, high-intensity interval training classes with elite functional trainer Daniel Conn and nutrition workshops with nutritional therapy practitioner Luke Hines. Attendees also had the chance to be the first to trial the new G Active electrolyte-water during their workout, ahead of its national release.
Fashion Week 2017
Have been doing Sydney fashion week alongside Sonny Vandevelde for about 7 years now and this year was no different. I was booked on a big Pepsi Max job just before the start of Fashion Week so I didn't get to spend the entire week like I usually do, but I spent a day or two taking a few backstage shots.Read More
QVB Make It Memorable
I was lucky enough to recently shoot some shots for Sydney's iconic Queen Victoria Building and its latest campaign 'Make It Memorable' via agency partner The Royals.
In a world where expectations and inspirations are rising, shopping experiences are no longer defined by the act of purchase but the journey towards acquiring something new. The new campaign embraces this and is bringing 'Make It Memorable' to life showcasing how shopping, dining and experiencing the QVB is in itself an occasion.
Creative Direction and Production: The Royals
Styling: Meg Gray
Poo Bear
Was lucky enough to spend some time shooting at the brand new CoHouse studio with Poo Bear and the creators of his new documentary, Macario De Souza and Kyle Bulock. Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd is the man responsible for writing some of pop music's biggest hits for a few people like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jill Scott, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Lupe Fiasco, Drake, DJ Khaled, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Kelis, Eve, Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, Kelly Rowland, Pink, Usher, Ludacris, Sia and Frank Ocean. He's also responsible for writing Justin Biebers smash hit ' What do you mean' and has writing credits on 9/13 tracks on Bieber's latest album, 'Purpose'.
The documentary is really well put together by the master Macario De Souza from Hype Republic and is a really good watch! You can catch the trailer below and the whole Documentary over here.Read More
New Zealand
Wanted to be on a mountain for my Birthday so my awesome girlfriend flew me overseas to one of my favourite places in the world, New Zealand. Spent one week driving around and exploring and saw some amazing sights. Was also lucky enough to capture some slight glimpses of the Southern Lights and Milky Way. Amazing!Read More
Weekend Adventures
A quick spontaneous weekend adventure while the sun was out, so I decided to make the most of it. Took a few happy snaps along the way. The best part was getting caught out by a set of rogue waves and getting soaked haha.Read More
Some new portraits I did for the cool kids at their awesome new agency, DIJGTAL. Good to see these come alive after Chinatown meetings over wonton soup, trying to work out the creative direction and what they wanted to convey with the photos. They wanted something to represent their modern, new form of Agency that does things in their own unique way.
I've included a few BTS shots so you can see the set up. We set up a make shift studio in their back room area so they could continue working during their flat out schedule and have minimal interruptions to the teams day. Was abit tricky with the low roof but we spent extra time in set up to make sure the lighting was as close as to what I envisioned.
You can check out their website and their awesome work over here. Highly recommend these guys if you are looking to build your business and transform your brandRead More
Post Malone
Crazy show put on by Post Malone and BBE last week. Completely sold out and the energy was crazy. Highlight was Post drinking beer from a shoe doing 'shoeys' all night haha.Read More
Fern Collection
Stopped by Malaysia to see some friends and visited my friend Fern who designs amazing luxury clothing, fusing Batik with contemporary and modern designs. Batik is a really interesting ancient art form is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique. Batik is made either by drawing dots and lines of the resist with a spouted tool called a canting , or by printing the resist with a copper stamp called a cap. The applied wax resists dyes and therefore allows the artisan to colour selectively by soaking the cloth in one colour, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if multiple colours are desired. You can check out the amazing collection here.Read More
Stopped by Asia for a few weeks and took a few random snaps along the way :-)Read More
B Wise
First cover for the year is for Hype DC and Acclaim Mag with B Wise for their Limit'd magazine.Read More
Top 100 of 2016
Some of my favourites from 2016. You can check out my favourites from other years here:
2015: https://www.facebook.com/pg/tristanstefanedouard/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10153225402410667
2014: https://www.facebook.com/pg/tristanstefanedouard/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10152461140915667
2013: https://www.facebook.com/pg/tristanstefanedouard/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10151756526950667
U.S.A x MEXICO
A few favourite photos from a recent holiday to the U.S.A and Mexico :-)Read More
DJ Snake
Instead of flying with DJ Snake to Vegas, we decided to make a road trip out of it and take some snaps alogn the way. Maybe not the best idea to leave L.A on a Friday afternoon, we didn't get to Vegas until Midnight. Fun times though.Read More
G Eazy
A few selected snaps from on the road with G-Eazy.Read More
Listen Out Festival
A few snaps from Listen Out Festival last night with Tchami, Jauz, ASAP Ferg and Travis Scott.Read More


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- ✔ Detachable&Breathable: Dog Carrier Backpack designed with mesh surface, stopping pet from escaping and keeps them breathable and safety. Easily to change the mesh surface to transparent bubble(Please see detail pictures)
- ✔ Safety: Built-In security leash can stop them from escaping and keeps them safety. With special Semi-sphere design, you can keep an eye on your pet at any time. Best choice for adventure activities.
- ✔ Features: With mesh panels and 6 ventilation holes on the carrier, the dog carrier backpack is air permeable. Soft washable pad and adjustable widen padded shoulder straps distribute weight evenly over back. All makes you and your pet comfortable.
- ✔ Convenient: Airline Approved Pet Backpack Carrier allows you travelling, walking,camping and hiking with your pets together. ♥Transparent Bubble and Mesh Windows make dog and cat enjoy the scenery and interact with the outside world.
- ✔ Dimensions: Size 32x29x42CM . Bubble Pet Backpack provide a stable space for your pet to ensure its safety and secure. ♥Fits for small pets under 5kg (11LB).
WSNH888 Pet Dog Bubble Carrier Backpack Detachable Breathable Airline Approved Carrier Mobile Bed For Cats And Dogs B07H56K1C2
WSNH888 Pet Dog Bubble Carrier Backpack Detachable Breathable Airline Approved Carrier Mobile Bed For Cats And Dogs B07H56K1C2
- Product Code: B07H56K1C2 am-US8PYz
- Availability: In Stock
- £117.98


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Who is Grant Shapps? Transport Secretary and Conservative MP
Shapps is the Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield and was first elected in 2005
TORY MP Grant Shapps has been appointed as the Transport Secretary in Boris Johnson's Cabinet.
Here's the lowdown on the MP and his experiences.
Who is Grant Shapps?
Shapps is the Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield and was educated at Watford Grammar and Cassio College Watford.
He studied business and finance at Manchester Metropolitan University in the late 1980s and founded his own printing company when he was 21.
He has a wife called Belinda, who he married in 1997, and they have three children; a boy called Hadley and twins Tabytha and Noa.
Shapps publicly backed former PM David Cameron's bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party and Shapps was appointed vice chairman of the Conservative Party when Cameron took the reins.
In 1999 Shapps was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The treatment was successful and the politician finished his final round of chemotherapy the year after.
After failing to win a seat in the 2001 election, Shapps was elected in 2005 and retained the seat in 2010.
He was opposed to Brexit.
He was appointed as the Transport Secretary on July 24.
How old is Grant Shapps?
Shapps was born on September 14, 1968 and is 50 years old.
He was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, to a Jewish family and has a brother called Andre, a musician.
Where was he on the day of the Westminster terror attack?
The Welwyn Hatfield MP was just yards away as a murderous terrorist was shot by police outside Parliament in March last year.
He heard the commotion in Parliament Square, which he dismissed as a common occurrence on any given day.
However, moments later he saw police race past him armed with machine guns, and remembers shots being fired.
He quickly obeyed an armed police officer's instruction to "drop", and sheltered behind a pillar.
He crawled on hands and knees back to a passage that allowed him to reach the chamber of the House of Commons.
With rumours spreading of another terrorist on the premises, Shapps was very alarmed when men wearing balaclavas burst through the doors - however, they were specialist counter-terrorist police.
Shapps and his colleagues were kept for their safety inside the House of Commons, and were restricted to the chamber and the lobbies for five hours.
most read in uk news
What has he previously said about Theresa May being ousted?
Shapps said May's leadership should be challenged in the wake of her poorly-received conference speech and the disastrous snap election in June.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think she should call a leadership election."
After May's bungled election, her failure to unite the cabinet and a poor party conference, "the writing is on the wall," he said.
Shapps, who chaired the party between 2012 and 2015, said up to 30 Conservative lawmakers backed the bid to tell May to go, including five former cabinet ministers. He said it was unclear if there would be enough support to topple May and that the plot had been hatched before the party conference.
To trigger a formal leadership challenge, 48 Conservative lawmakers need to write to the chairman of the party's so-called 1922 Committee.
Shapps said those seeking to topple May had no single candidate they wished to replace her but that the group included both supporters and opponents of Brexit.


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Wednesday's PSL Wrap: SuperSport lose at Polokwane City, Cape Town City suffer defeat at home
In Polokwane, both Polokwane City and Matsatsantsa were looking to move further away from the relegation zone following Ajax Cape Town's defeat to AmaZulu on Tuesday night.
Kaitano Tembo's side went into the clash sitting on 27 points and in 14th position on the PSL log.
They needed to collect all the three points to make improve their position on the standings, but they were stunned by Rodney Ramagalela, who struck on the 40th minute to seal the win for the Limpopo-based side.
Editors' Picks
This was Ramagalela's 11th strike of the campaign, sending a strong message to the likes of Percy Tau about his intention to win the Lesley Manyathela award.
The result left SuperSport in 14th position, and in danger of dropping to 15th on the log with five league games to go before the end of the current season.
In Cape Town, City's chances of winning the league were extinguished as they went down 1-0 to Golden Arrows.
Lerato Lamola scored the only goal of the game to help Abafana Bes'thende move to 30 points in 11th position on the standings.
City on the other hand, dropped to sixth on the log, and on 34 points after 25 league games.
Lastly, Platinum Stars moved to within six points of 15th-placed Ajax following their goalless home draw against Baroka FC in Rustenburg.
Dikwena created plenty of goalscoring chances, but failed to convert while Baroka used their passing game to often keep the home side guessing.
Fortunately for MacDonald Makhubedu's side, they remained seventh on the log and still in the hunt for a top a finish as Bloemfontein Celtic lost to Orlando Pirates in Soweto on the same night.
Roger de Sa's charges need a miracle to beat the drop, but with 15 points still to play for, they are certainly in with a chance, as teams in front of them continue to drop crucial points.


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Portal Home > Knowledgebase > Getting Started with your VPS > Installing from ISO
Step 1
Log in to your X-1 VPS control panel https://www.x-1.net/portal/clientarea.php
Step 2
Click the 'Services menu -> Services'
Next click 'View Details'
Now click 'Reinstall' in your VPS control panel
Step 3
Next select an ISO image to install and set the boot order as shown, if you would like to install an ISO
image not listed please contact email@example.com and provide a download link.
Step 4
Return to the VPS control panel and click 'Console', this will launch a java app and connect to your VPS's
Console screen and you can begin your new install.
Add to Favourites Print this Article


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Regional Events
The Orientalist Express
Regional Events
blog archive
September 2019
What's Next For The Future of Afghanistan?
August 2019
The China-America Trade War Explained
The Brexit Crisis Explained
July 2019
Did NATO Expansion Cause Russian Resurgence?
How Oman Can Save The Iran Nuclear Deal
June 2019
Panel Discussion: What Would A War Against Iran Look Like?
What is Going on in Hong Kong?
Book Review: The Great Delusion
May 2019
Panel Discussion: European Collective Security
The Case For Foreign Aid
April 2019
Three Views on the Future of the US Grand Strategy
Why The Golan Heights' Status Matters
March 2019
The Russia Investigation Was Never Just About The President
How Security Clearance Works
February 2019
When ISIS Fighters Return
What's So Important About The INF Treaty?
January 2019
Is ISIS Defeated?
Venezuela's Presidential Crisis
What is America's "Interest" in the Middle East?
December 2018
Huawei and China's Technology Warfare
The Foreign Policy of George H.W. Bush
November 2018
A Very International Thanksgiving Dinner
North Korea's Nuclear Summit Revisited
American Diplomacy after the Midterm Elections
October 2018
How Jamal Khashoggi Is Shaping Foreign Policy
Toms Rātfelders on the Latvian Elections
Global Policy and Climate Change
September 2018
How Foreign Lobbying Works And Why It Matters
What is America's Grand National Strategy?
August 2018
Cyber State Competition
The Truth About "Fake News"
July 2018
Why Interference and Collusion Matter
Response To "On the Liberal International Order"
On the Liberal International Order
June 2018
Book Review: Political Tribes
May 2018
Exiting the JCPOA
The Balance of National Interests
April 2018
The Problem With Sanctions
Who Controls Who In The Digital Age?
March 2018
Is North Korea Serious About De-Nuclearization?
Panel Discussion: NATO Protection of the Baltics
The Return of the Emperor
February 2018
Book Review: The Battle For Syria
Between Two Allies In Syria
January 2018
Panel Discussion: The Liberal International Order
A President's Words Matter
The Rejection of Westernization in Russia
December 2017
Who Is Michael Flynn?
Why Jerusalem's Status Matters
November 2017
Egypt's ISIS Problem
Is Lebanon Next?
Who Is Paul Manafort?
October 2017
Let's Talk About Terrorism
The Sanders Foreign Policy Speech
September 2017
The Kurdish Independence Referendum
The Rohingya Crisis Explained
The Decline of American Global Hegemony
August 2017
Seventy Years Of India-Pakistan Partition
The Case for In-Country Refugee Support
The Russia Edition
July 2017
Looking Back on Turkey's Failed Coup
The Harsh Reality About North Korean Nuclear Weapons
June 2017
Yemen's Cholera Crisis
The NATO Alliance Marches On
The End Of The GCC As We Know It?
May 2017
The Impending Succession Crisis In Oman
The Strategy of Unpredictability
April 2017
Why Turkey Voted Away Its Own Rights
Three Ways Assad's Chemical Weapons Attacks Are Working
Why We Need Political Safe Spaces
March 2017
In Defense of Smart Power
February 2017
The Problems With A One-State Solution
The Travel Ban Explained
Why An American Embassy In Jerusalem Matters
January 2017
What is the Liberal International Order?
What's So Important About the South China Sea?
December 2016
Review: George F. Kennan: An American Life
Iran and the Next President
November 2016
Nov 30, 2016
Saudi Arabia and the Next President
Nov 30, 2016
Nov 30, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
American Middle East Policy and the Next President
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
Nov 10, 2016
How Racism Defeated The Democratic Party (But Not In The Way You Think)
Nov 10, 2016
Nov 10, 2016
October 2016
Oct 26, 2016
How to Survive this Election Cycle in Three Easy Steps!
Oct 26, 2016
Oct 26, 2016
Oct 24, 2016
Too Late To Intervene?
Oct 24, 2016
Oct 24, 2016
Oct 18, 2016
Why Is Syria Still At War?
Oct 18, 2016
Oct 18, 2016
Oct 5, 2016
Month in Review: September 2016
Oct 5, 2016
Oct 5, 2016
September 2016
Sep 29, 2016
The First Debate
Sep 29, 2016
Sep 29, 2016
Sep 26, 2016
A Reaction To "Is Islam Compatible With Democracy?"
Sep 26, 2016
Sep 26, 2016
Sep 20, 2016
Is Islam Compatible With Democracy?
Sep 20, 2016
Sep 20, 2016
Sep 14, 2016
Just The Facts On Nuclear Security
Sep 14, 2016
Sep 14, 2016
August 2016
Why People Defend Islam
Who Really Founded ISIS?
An Immodest Proposal For Preventing Terror Attacks
Remembering America's Muslim Warriors
July 2016
A History Of Coups In Turkey
Yet Another Open Letter On Privilege & Unintended Discrimination
The Month In Review: June 2016
June 2016
Why Some Muslims Don't Speak Up
Compassion Versus Hate in the Time of Terror
The Five Major Barriers To Middle East Peace
May 2016
The Month In Review: May 2016
100 Years of Sykes-Picot: Three Hard Truths
Evaluating The "Trump Doctrine"
April 2016
Four Ways The U.S.-Saudi Relationship Is Falling Apart
Three Reasons The Panama Papers Change Nothing In The Middle East
What Is The Threat From Nuclear Terrorism?
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
Is Turkey Doing Anything To Improve The Middle East?
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
Three Likely Outcomes Of Syria's "Ceasefire"
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
Two Takeaways From The Iranian Elections
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
March 2016
February 2016
Explaining The Rise Of Donald Trump
The Four Problems With Closing Guantanamo Bay
January 2016
Five Fundamental Facts About The Middle East & Oil
What Is America's Strategy In Iran?
The Saudi-Iranian Rivalry In Context
December 2015
Is Iraq Winning The War Against ISIS?
One Small Step For (Wo)man In Saudi Arabia
What Is Sharia Law? ...And Why Is It Always Creeping?
November 2015
Why Are We So Quick To Want To Go To War?
The Grand Delusions Of Sykes-Picot
Don't Panic.
America's Constantly Shifting Strategy In The Middle East
October 2015
Setting The Record Straight On Israel and Palestine
Tragedy In Kunduz: The Myth of International Law
The Jewish High Holidays: New Year, Old Problems
September 2015
With Great Hajj Comes Great Responsibility
They Don't Have To Live Like Refugees
My Brief Visit To The "Orient"
August 2015
The Unmaking of Iraq, Part 3: The Best Intentions
The Unmaking of Iraq, Part 2: All The Wrong Choices
The Unmaking Of Iraq, Part 1: The March To War
Are There Benefits To America's Perpetual War Machine?
July 2015
What Is The Link Between Mental Illness And Radicalization?
The Great Sunni-Shia Divide In Yemen
What Are The Alternatives To An Iranian Nuclear Deal?
What Is Russia Trying To Do In Eastern Europe?
June 2015
Tactics and Tragedy in Last Summer's Gaza War
The Winners And Losers Of Turkey's Parliamentary Election
Hijabis Need Not Apply
May 2015
Why Is The 2022 World Cup So Controversial?
Syria's Refugees, Where Are They Now?
How Charlie Hebdo Got Satire All Wrong
April 2015
Dying For A Better Life In Europe
Chechnya and the Boston Marathon Connection
Saudi Arabia and the Impending War in Yemen
March 2015
Surviving in the "Graveyard of Empires"
Understanding The 2015 Israeli Elections: The more things change, the more they stay the same.
What You Need To Know About Boko Haram And The Alliance With ISIS
The (Not So) Special U.S.-Israeli Relationship
February 2015
People Do Good Things In The Name Of Islam Too
Why People Join ISIS...And How To Stop Them
Please Sirs, Can I Have Some War?
Jordan, America's Underrated Ally in the Middle East
Why American Sniper Is So Controversial (When It Didn't Have To Be)
January 2015
Much Ado About Niqab
Why (Almost) Everyone in the U.S. Government Visited Saudi Arabia this Week
Fishing for a President in the Yemen
Negotiating the Best Course of Action in Iran
Should Muslims Apologize?
What's So Bad About A Picture of Muhammad?
Oil in Saudi Arabia and Royal Succession
December 2014
The Tunisian Election and the Arab Spring Post-Mortem
The Strategies of Terrorism in Peshawar
[Redacted]: The Effectiveness of Enhanced Interrogation
A Call To Action: Syria's Lost Generation
My Inaugural Post: Starting Out


text:
This week we visit the studio of Hermione Carline to find out her inspirations, techniques and experiences as an artist.
How would you describe yourself?
I consider myself to have been an artist all my life. For as long as I can remember I have drawn and painted; even in my pram I had crayons. I come from a very artistic background as both my parents were artists and my aunt married Stanley Spencer. There has been a history of art in my family for generations and I was immersed in it, but at the same time always wanted to have my own voice. My parents were quite traditional painters and worked figuratively at a time when abstraction was all the rage.
My father was a great influence on me. I remember him talking to me about the importance of design in painting. That is very true to how I work now; to have a strong idea leading my work, rather than just splashing paint around. I feel like I have to have a very clear direction when I begin.
Can you expand on that?
I'll give you an example – these paintings I am working on now. This one is very much divided into two and I have a rule not to have anything at the centre of the picture. There is a pink and a green side and I am finding a balance between the two.
Did you study at art school?
Yes, I went to Camberwell and studied fine art with textiles as a subsidiary and then I went on to the Royal College and did textile design. After graduating I worked as a textile designer for a company called The Collection. We sold to really top designers – Christian Dior and Christian Lacroix, and we travelled all over the world selling, mainly in Japan and the United States. When I finally made the decision to leave the textiles industry I had gained quite a lot of experience. Rather than just trying to change completely, I feel there is a lot in my work that is inspired by that time in my life.
What made you decide to become an artist?
I had three daughters and when the second one was very young I decided that I didn't really want to continue textile designing, so I started teaching and set up my own mini art school. When my eldest was seven someone approached me and asked could I teach their daughter art and I thought "yeah I can do that." I started doing classes on a Saturday morning and over the years I introduced more classes and they were very, very popular. They were after school and I was teaching a wide range of different techniques and themes. It was all very exciting and I still don't repeat any of the same projects; I want each one to be new and different, so it remains exciting for me as a teacher.
Even the best ones?
They always have to have a new twist! Every time you do something new it's edgy and exciting; you never know how it is going to work out. We have children that start aged about eight or nine and they often go on until they are in sixth form.
This bridged the gap between my career in textiles and my new direction as a fine artist. In about 2005/6 I thought, "I'm going to attend a few evening classes in painting and drawing," which led to the thought "Why am I waiting? I really need to do this now."
I went to Putney college of art and came across an absolutely fantastic teacher there, who made me feel that anything was possible. And whereas before I thought "oh, I'll just be doing some painting in my spare time," I never dreamt that I would be doing what I am doing now. Since then I have been building up the range of ways in which I work and finding out what I am all about.
We met you at an art fair. Do you think art fairs are a good way to present your work? Do you work with galleries? How do you get your work out there?
Doing art fairs is a really good thing to do; you are suddenly showing your work in front of wide number of people, you get a lot of footfall. I've met some great people, made great friends, and have worked on some exciting projects that have arisen out of them. I've been doing the Other Art Fair on and off since 2013. I have worked with a gallery called the Elena Shchukina gallery in Mayfair. I've had exhibitions with her that are very good, she is very supportive. I have had work in other shows as well.
I suppose having your own freedom is a good thing. Some galleries can be restrictive and expect you to churn out work, use certain styles, scales and colour ways that they prefer.
Tell us about your techniques.
My camera is my notebook. I'm not too worried whether the photographs I take are fantastic quality, as long as they capture what I want. I take thousands of pictures and I draw as well.
I like to use stencils and cut pieces in all my work. I've always been interested in using scissors and scalpels rather like a pencil. I like the hardness of the edge, the crisp shape they create and also the softness within that shape. When I paint onto wood I use plastic stencils, they restrict where the paint goes. I paint using thin and dry paint with only a tiny bit of liquid to make the paint lighter. I use lots of layers and typically each work has ten or eleven layers with each drying for two days.
On my recent trip to China I saw so much that was really, really exciting. But mainly it was when I saw the mountains in Yangshuo in the region of Guanxi in south west China, where the mountains literally just rise out of the water. Four million years ago the whole area was under the sea, the mountains are made of limestone and they are just so incredible because they are so surprising, they are like nothing I have ever seen before. There I did quick drawings, because I was on a river cruise, so the mountains were coming and going and the landscape constantly changing. When I came back I looked through everything I had captured. So it may have been one sketch which inspired me, and I started creating mono-prints based directly from them. They were a starting point.
Does it make sense for you to be working on many pieces at once?
Yes, but it's quite tricky. You might think that I can just go from one to the other, but I'm not working just in colour ways, I'm trying to get into a mood. It takes me a little while to think what am I trying to achieve in each picture.
So your sketches and photos inform the first prints, which inform stencils, which then go on to inform the paintings. You use lots of source material!
Yes, I need to have lots; I can't work straight from my head.
It's interesting that you work from multiple imagery sources and sometimes those can be previous artworks; it's almost as though one work evolves from the last.
Yes, very often I'll revisit something I did twenty years ago and bring it back into something I'm working on now. Nothing is wasted, the only problem is I have so much reference stuff that sometimes I don't know what to do with it all. Ideally I'd have a big space with all of it hanging around, just to look at.
Have you always had your home studio?
I did have a spell working in a nice big studio space with other people, but the problem with that studio was that we had to put everything away at the end of each day and I couldn't work like that. I like to just leave everything out and to be able to walk in and think "oh, that's what that picture needs." I'll know I need to do more on something and I'll leave it for a while and the idea will grow on me in the background until I know what to do.
Hermione will be exhibiting her latest paintings in our Winter Exhibition this December 11 - 15th at the Menier Gallery, London Bridge.
Click here to RSVP to the private view on Tuesday 11th December.