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24th February 2017 My Child • Practitioners 5 years – 11 years • 11 years – 18 years • 18 years – 25 years
Ofsted has announced details of its new framework for inspecting children's social care settings which will come into effect on 1st April.
Last year, Ofsted published a consultation on the principles for children's social care inspections, with a new common inspection framework and proposals for a new approach to the inspection of local authority children's services. The online consultation received more than 200 responses, the vast majority of which supported the proposals. Ofsted also piloted the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) and held face-to-face meetings with many interested people and groups.
Three principles
From 1st April, the following three principles will link all Ofsted's inspections of children's social care providers:
- To focus on the things that matter most to children's lives.
- To be consistent in its expectations of providers.
- To prioritise its work where improvement is needed most.
At present, there are several variations in the inspection guidance for social care providers across the range of settings, and differences in the criteria used by Ofsted to make judgements on each type of service.
The experiences and progress of children are central to the new SCCIF. The framework will support inspectors to focus on the difference the provider makes to the lives of children and other service users.
Types of social care provider
The SCCIF does not mean a one-size-fits-all approach to inspection. The framework is tailored to reflect and address each distinct type of children's social care provider. These are:
- Children's homes, including secure children's homes.
- Independent fostering agencies.
- Voluntary adoption agencies.
- Residential family centres.
- Residential holiday schemes for disabled children.
- Boarding schools and residential special schools.
- The residential provision of further education colleges.
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said, 'Ofsted and social care professionals have a shared goal: to give all children the best possible chance in life. The intention of our three principles is exactly this. I am pleased that sector leaders and providers responded so positively to our consultation on the framework, and we will continue to engage with them as we implement and evaluate it.'
Eleanor Schooling, Ofsted National Director of Social Care, said, 'The SCCIF is an important step forward in Ofsted setting out clearly and consistently what we think matters most to children's lives wherever they live or receive help.
'For the first time, we are setting out the same expectations for all social care establishments and agencies while still recognising the unique work that they do. We think this not only makes it clearer and more consistent for providers but also sets out how our inspections will consistently focus on the difference providers are making to children's lives.'
Inspecting local authority children's services
Ofsted also sets out its future plans for the inspection of local authority children's services. These plans will be subject to piloting over the coming months, ready for implementation in January 2018. This will introduce proportionate inspections every three years, with a graded judgement, and focused visits between inspections to evaluate strengths and weaknesses and support local authorities to deliver good and better services.
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Invisalign - The Clear Alternative to Braces
Dr. Shanna Chirco has earned the distinction of being an Invisalign preferred provider. Invisalign is a patented system of custom, clear acrylic aligners that reposition teeth in less time than traditional braces. Call our office (562-430-7310) to get on the path to straight teeth right away!
The Benefits of Invisalign
In addition to their inconspicuous appearance, Invisalign aligners are removable. Patients simply take out their aligners to clean their teeth, eat a meal, or attend a special event. Unlike with traditional braces, Invisalign users need not restrict certain foods that commonly damage brackets and archwires. Patients can also clean their teeth more thoroughly, as they do not need to navigate a toothbrush and floss around fixed appliances.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Dr. Shanna Chirco uses specialized software to design and plan treatment. A certified Invisalign laboratory fabricates a set of aligners that will reposition teeth incrementally over a period of 9 to 18 months. The patient will wear each aligner for approximately two weeks and then move to the next in his or her set. For best results, patients should wear the Invisalign aligners for about 22 hours per day, taking them out only to eat, drink, or clean the teeth. Not wearing the aligners as instructed will result in longer treatment times.
To assess treatment progress, Dr. Chirco prefers to see Invisalign patients once every six weeks or so. No "adjustment" is required. The appointments involve simple checkups to evaluate whether treatment is moving along as planned.
No metal. No wires. No brackets. No bands. Clearly, Invisalign is perfect for busy adults who want to maintain a sophisticated image.
The before and after images below are from Invisaliign and demonstrate what is possible with Invisalign. We would love to help you achieve similar results!
Adolescents can also benefit from treatment with Invisalign. See the video below for further information about Invisalign teen or visit www.invisalign.com.
Call our office at (562) 430-7310 to schedule your FREE consultation today!

subset: commoncrawl


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Shops and services
Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland has two charity shops in Hinckley and one in Melton Mowbray. The Emporium on Stockwell Head in Hinckley is our main social enterprise with a large retail area and café. We also have our high street store, La Boutique, located on Hinckley's Castle Street. Our Melton Mowbray charity shop was opened in 2017, and sells a great selection of pre-loved furniture, bric-a-brac and clothing. Our shops are open every day except Sunday and you will find a great selection of items at great prices.


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I am an architect, homeschool mom of two teenagers (plus one graduate that is a sophomore in college), and a blogger.
For several years, I taught high school history and literature in a homeschool co-op. Most of my products were created so I could use them in the classroom.
You can read my homeschool posts at 730 Sage Street or my architecture posts at Sage Cottage Architects.
Yet to be added
Yet to be added
I have a degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois.
I love to read and talk about books. My usual question is, "What are you reading and is it good?" :)
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, Homeschool, Not Grade Specific
English Language Arts, Specialty, Social Studies - History, Ancient History, U.S. History, World History, Arts & Music, Art History, Visual Arts, Critical Thinking, For All Subject Areas, Literature, Problem Solving, For All Subjects


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Agnieszka Jakubowicz (Aga) is San Francisco Bay Area based photographer specializing in interiors and design. Her detail oriented approach to each project and excellent work ethics earned her trust of clients like Google, WeWork, and Stags Leap Winery.
Praised as "organized, professional and easy to work with", Agnieszka enjoys shaping the light and crafting her images to bring out the best features of each space she photographs.
Working with design professionals, she creates images that showcase her clients portfolio.


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Two years come February we lost an amazing young man, Kieran, my cousins son, to leukaemia. Kieran was an inspiration to everyone and for most of the time had a positive outlook. He had a passion for genetics believing that with the right research a kinder less invasive treatment could be found. Future fund is a fund purely set up for children. Kieran would of given his all to see this succeed therefore we are doing this abseil, one to keep his memory alive, two to help raise as much money as possible to keep the research going and three to help Matthew to over come his fear of heights. Or should.i say fear of the equipment haha x
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through Just Giving, is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.


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MILWAUKEE -- Freshman setter Sam Korn set a new Alverno College single-match record with 46 assists, but the host Inferno lost, 3-2, to Marian University Tuesday evening on Senior Night.
The Westby, Wisconsin native broke the former record -- set by Meranda Masse three seasons ago -- by two.
The Inferno won the opening set, 25-17, but then dropped the next two, 25-23 and 25-21, before rallying for a 25-22 fourth-set win.
Tied 5-5 in the fifth and final frame, the Sabres (6-19, 4-5 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference) scored seven straight points and went on to close out the match with a 15-12 score.
Alverno outhit Marian, had more digs and more aces, but the host team also committed more errors on the night -- 12 more service errors and eight more ball-handling errors -- the difference in the contest.
Two Inferno players registered double-doubles in the five-setter. Cailey Jeske posted a career-best 18 kills and 13 digs while Melissa Weyand had 13 kills and a team-high 20 digs. Jeske added a career-high six aces, and Weyand added three.
Jessica Wewers matched her season-high with 14 kills and had four blocks while Alyssa Reinke posted 14 digs.
Danielle Schilawski -- the lone senior on the squad who was honored in a pre-match ceremony -- recorded 19 digs and an ace. The service ace was the 100th of her career.
Alverno (3-23, 1-8 NACC) closes out the season this weekend with a pair of matches. Friday the team heads up to first-place Concordia University Wisconsin for the final road contest of 2016 before it ends the season against Dominican University inside Reiman Gymnasium Saturday.


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2010 by Francesca Simon
The Empire Gallery, Vyner Street; http://www.francescasimonstudio.com
Simon's work has always been preoccupied with surface, letting older paintings become visible through new ones, with much of her abstract work stemming from the observation of patterns of age on old stone walls in North Yorkshire. These stone inspired abstract works were subtle canvases of flat grey with the hones and cracks of time gently worked into the surface. This delicate concern with altered texture and markings is evident in her newer work, which uses this grey as a base. The background of the canvas is seeped with translucent layers of grey beige; the subtlety of the colour oozing naturalism, carried by the changing density of the surface. The background is by no means flat, and is covered in line-like shadows and highlights that criss-cross and play across the screen of the painting. Unlike her previous work, here Simon also introduces colour and shape, bringing further meaning to these subtle compositions. Colour is by no means harsh but is articulated is dull, and again translucent, tones. Shape is used in interlocking triangles, though even these fail to be harshly complete as their edges lie faint or indeed are unfinished altogether. This harmony of subtle and explorative pattern and shape gives these paintings an atmosphere of reflection, of calm and indeed an awareness of time. The black square, outlined in bright and luminous white, is the only dominating component of this painting, definite in both colour and density. Slightly ominous in this play of organic pattern and tone the square is clearly on the outer surface of this composition; the new perhaps floating above the old.


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This is a guest editorial by former AEE employee Amber Kemmerly. To read Nick Fontenot's original op-ed piece, click here. To read the response from the editor of ultoday.com, click here, and from former writer Sam Stokes, click here.
The first online edition of The Vermilion, the University of Louisiana's official newspaper, was published recently. It was a giant leap forward in presenting everything good about the University to both students and alumni alike, and it has great potential in being used as an excellent marketing tool in promoting the University as it is completely public and no longer confined to the racks in the academic buildings. Unfortunately, the editor of our school newspaper, Nick Fontenot, made the decision to publish an opinion piece in this dawning of a new age for the paper.
And while Mr. Fontenot could have made the content of his op-ed pro-UL, and used the power he has been given to promote peace on UL's campus toward the flagship behemoth that is LSU, he chose to write a most unprofessional, childish, and offensive article.
In summation, Mr. Fontenot's article is about the treatment of LSU and other college fans on UL's campus. He wanted to make the point that Ragin' Cajuns can be Tiger fans, as well. He claims that UL students accost other students wearing LSU gear, while leaving students wearing other universities' clothing relatively untouched, and mentions lightly this rivalry UL has imagined that LSU could care less about. He also says that he "likes" UL but "loves" LSU, and that while he was accepted to LSU, he chose to go to UL because it was cheaper and closer to home.
I am not going to argue that Mr. Fontenot can't have his cake and eat it, too. A Louisiana school is a Louisiana school to me, and no matter what, I'll always root for the home state in sports. Anything good that a Louisiana program does around the country reflects on the state as a whole. I agree with him that you can be a fan of both schools.
What I do take offense to in this article is the above-mentioned like/love comments, his feelings regarding attending UL, and his language in expressing his distaste for hecklers on campus. His dismissal of a decades-old struggle for recognition as a university that could, if allowed by the legislature, be on par with LSU academically I'll not go into, because that red-and-black horse has been beaten so many times it is definitely dead, and no one hears the beatings anymore. I say academically because academia is our strong point, and LSU deserves to be the flagship being the oldest and largest public university, and it's in the capital. Huge selling points that UL, unfortunately, could not, and I think would not, compete with at this time.


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Incorporated in 2009, Pioneer Machines & Automation is an India based engineering solution company formed with a vision to provide innovative engineering automation solution to a wide array of industries. We specializes in the field of Robotic automation & special purpose machines for a wide range of applications. We are a group of experts from different hard core fields like mechanical, pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical, electronics & robotics.
Within a short span of time, we have sharpened our skills in the relevant domain. Leveraging on our extensive knowledge & experience in the field of Industrial Automation, we have come up with cost effective solutions. Further, our technical competence, superior products & dedication to ongoing improvement in offering solutions using their rich domain experience & networking with globally latest technological product suppliers makes us competent than our competitors.
We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver all our projects on time, within budget and with unrivalled build quality whilst ensuring we operate in a safe and environmentally conscious way.
Pioneer Machines and Automation (P) Ltd. is a machine manufacturer with experience of providing Welding automation, Assembly line solution, material handling and Inspection machines. The company utilizes the knowledge and experience obtained through years of involvement and puts it into research & development, innovation and design. Our commitment to continual development, improvement and consistently high quality gives our customers a competitive edge ensuring continued success.
various robot handling & welding solution including TIG, MIG, PLASMA, ULTRASONIC, LASER welding for various industries whether it is automobile or other.
Spectialized assembly line solution to increase productivity, ensure quality and reduce labour cost and risks.
Equipped with German made Six Axis KUKA KR6 Robot, PMA is presenting its new product, Robotic Learning Module (RLM) for engineering institutes & other research centers.


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If you want to bring some friends along, our dependance is just next door to the villa. It is a pretty detached, country-classic house for four.
It overlooks the Impruneta hills, woods and vineyards and has a small brick patio. Thanks to the big windows that surround the main living room, the apartment is always very bright too.
The dependance has:
- A spacious living room with big windows
- 1 double room + 1 room with two single beds
- 2 bathrooms with a tub and shower
- A kitchen with marble surfaces that is equipped with all electrical appliances


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Tremolos / Vibratos | Product code: V16-UNDULATOR | ID: 243190
This product is not being manufactured or is not part of our offer.
Looking for alternative?
Warm, rich, wide range tremolo effect. True stereo spectrum of sound with two amps. Works great in mono too! Sine, trapezoid and square wave modulation. Dual Output channels - stereo/mono. Speed/shape/depth controls. Excellent dynamic response. Simple, easy to use design. 100% Analog design with True Bypass circuitry. "Effects on" indicator light. Micro pedal package - very small and compact.
Speed/Shape/Depth controls
Analog Design
Connectors: ¼" Input jack, ¼" Output jack
Power: 9V DC, center (-)
46 mm (W) x 94 mm (D) x 50 mm (H)
1.8 in (W) x 3.7 in (D) x 2.0 in (H)
Compact, rugged metal housing
Parameters and specifications
UK/EU Power supply included
Made in
Overall score based on 0 user reviews:
Do you own XVive V16 Undulator or have you had a chance to try it?
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RockBoard Flat Patch Cable Black 10 cm
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The United Methodist Church
United Methodist Doctrine and Social Principles
For more information on the United Methodist Church, go to the umc.org website. It contains the history, doctrine, and social principles of the United Methodist Church which are reviewed and/or amended at the general conferences.
General Conference
The United Methodist Church's top legislative body will meet at the Minneapolis Convention Center on May 5-15, 2020. A special General Conference Session will be held February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information on this and other happenings in the United Methodist Church, visit the United Methodist News Service at firstname.lastname@example.com.
General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years.The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs.
The South Carolina Annual Conference will be held in Greenville, SC from June 2-6, 2019. This is the body of lay and clergy delegates that make decisions for the entire South Carolina conference.
Please be in prayer for both of these.


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Item sold on 2017-07-12 - Shipped on 2017-07-17
Shipper: UPS Store -James ((920) 729-6403)
Item# 24715
A solid oak chest with lid has original advertising signs for "Hart Seeds, Est. 1892." The original finish is very well preserved on this country antique from the early 1900's. Inside are removable trays for packets of garden seeds.
Corner joints are finger dovetailed, and size when closed is 33" wide, 18" deep and 7" tall.
Please view 14 photos at full screen size for best detail.
We are happy to request independent shipping quotes, please contact us with your zip code.
Copyright ©1998-2019 Harp Gallery Antique Furniture.
All rights reserved.


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Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: March 9I Wonder Wednesday Class
Later Event: March 11SA Meeting


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Research Paper Topics:
I am working on the topic of most effective methods for substance addiction rehabilitation because I want to find out which methods have been found the most effective and those that have been found the least effective, in order to help my reader better understand how challenging overcoming addiction can be and how much help people who are addicted to substances need to get through that. This topic is interesting to me because I want to work with people who need help overcoming substance abuse at some point in my life. This would be worthwhile for my community because if I was able to weed out any methods that didn't have evidence of its validity then I could share it with programs in hopes to improve their methods. The challenges with this topic could be lack of empirical data for different methods, lack of reliable data, or lack of statistically powerful data. Key Disciplines: Psychology, Health, Sociology, Biology.
I am working on the topic of how other countries handle drug abuse because I want to find out what other nations have done to improve addiction rates and drug-related crime rates in their countries, in order to help me reader better understand that the drug policies in the U.S. need to be improved to better the condition of people's health and lives. This would be worthwhile for my community because it might shed some light on different techniques or programs that have worked for other countries in their efforts to reduce drug use. Some challenges of this research would be that people might not agree with some of the policies that other countries have implemented so it is likely to not be accepted or considered. Key Disciplines: Psychology, Sociology.
I am working on the topic of widespread drug abuse in the U.S. because I want to find out it affects the people around us in order to help my reader better understand that drug use is a serious issue in our country and affects more than just the people using the drugs. This topic is relevant in our society today because so many people abuse drugs and there are so many unintended, negative side affects that come with drug abuse. Some challenges of this could be lack of data or studies done concerning this topic. Key Disciplines: Psychology, Biology, Sociology, Health.
I am working on the topic of substance abuse because I want to find out what factors contribute to the development of an addiction in order to help my reader better understand the seriousness of drug addiction and how it can affect anyone. This topic would be worthwhile in my community because so many people are affected with substance addiction and maybe it would shed light on how easy it is to get sucked into drug use and develop an addiction. Some challenges of this topic would be difficulty finding reliable information and sources or lack or scientifically backed data. Key Disciplines: Psychology, Sociology, Biology.
I am working on the topic of Antisocial Personality Disorder because I want to find out more about it in order to help my reader understand more about it as well and hopefully reduce stigmas surrounding all mental illnesses. This topic is relevant in our community because mental illnesses affect such a large amount of people and we often don't see it because it's not a physically observable disease like cancer or other chronic illnesses, but rather something that attacks a person's brain and psyche. Some challenges of researching this topic could also be a lack of empirical data or variability between people who have Antisocial Personality Disorder. Key Disciplines: Psychology, Biology, Neurology.
Applied Project Topics:
The first idea I have for my applied project is to volunteer or work at the State Hospital. This is interesting to me because I want to work with people who have mental illnesses, specifically in an inpatient setting. It's important to me because I want to be able to help people who feel trapped and be a person in these places that make them feel loved, safe, and comfortable, and provide an outlet to them in a very challenging time. Some issues with this could be a lack of qualification on my part to volunteer anywhere related to this. I may not reach volunteer requirements.
Another idea I had was to shadow an addiction specialist to see how their day to day is while their working and better understand what they do to help people. I want to see how involved they get to be with the people they work with and learn the techniques and programs they implement to help people who struggle with addiction. This is a worthwhile topic to explore because so many people are affected by drug addiction, so if I could glean any worthwhile information I could try to help those around me who don't have access to resources. Some challenges of this project could again be a lack of qualification that would keep me from being able to observe a lot of things or lack of addiction specialists in this area to observe.
I also was thinking of volunteering or working at a rehabilitation program or sober living community. I am very interested in this because I eventually want to run a sober living community when I'm older. This is important to me because I want people to change their views on people who struggle with substance abuse and understand that addiction is a mental illness and people do need help. I think it's a very relevant topic because drug use is an epidemic and I want to help in changing that. Some challenges may be that there aren't any places in this area that I could do my project at or they may not be willing to let me observe/volunteer due to a lack of experience.
Volunteering at the Becket House was another idea I had for my applied project. I think this would be a very interesting place to do my project. I think this would be worthwhile because I could learn about treatments that are used with different age groups or how much a person or child's upbringing can affect their current day to day life. Some challenges would be lack of experience or knowledge which could be a danger to the people I'm working with.
A final idea I had for my applied project is shadowing a clinical psychologist. This is interesting to me because I would get to observe people who are being treated for mental disorders that I studied in my classes. I would get to see different treatments being implemented and seeing how these treatments work on different individuals. Challenges of this project may be lack of psychologists in the area that would be willing to let me shadow them or volunteer in their office. As well as any lack of experience that could prohibit me from being there.


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Family Law Services
Our focus is exclusively on family law. We offer pre-separation legal advice and/or work with clients who are going through a separation and/or a divorce. We assist clients with family related issues including: custody and access, separation agreements, child and spousal support, division of family property, paternity disputes, and enforcement of court orders. We negotiate settlements for our clients, and if a fair and reasonable settlement cannot be achieved we prepare and argue motions and trials. For more information on the services we provide please call us at 866-647-6335.
Does your website have a contact page? I'm having trouble locating
it but, I'd like to send you an e-mail. I've got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing
it improve over time.June 4, 2014
Kelly #
So I'm sixteen and pregnant. My mom found out and kicked me out. She is still getting my child support check from my deceased father. Is there no way for me to get it? Can I switch my gaurdian or anything. For the last 16 years she has used all the money to supply her drugs. I will still go to school and everything whatever I got to do. I don't want my baby growing up like this. Please help meJune 23, 2014
My son who has an almost 2 yr. old daughter,we are in N.C. He signed his rights away as father who wanted dual rights, but, the lawyer said he probably would lose and see less of her as he does now,he is also, upset that his little girl is now calling her step father dad as well.Can that be stopped, I just know my son loves his daughter so much,My son pays for so many things,plus her day the toddler is fine,November 6, 2014
Leah #
thanks for this informationNovember 9, 2014


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Gosh kids are expensive! And I say that in love of course, but seriously!!! I'm aware many readers will have more than three kids but even you mummas with one, I'm sure you are getting me right now. I actually avoid taking all three of mine to the shops now because they either beg for a snack or treat or I need to use the good old donut or and/or milkshake as a bribe to be good. Goodbye $20 in my purse waiting for me to spend it with some quality 'me time' ... as if that happens.
What happened to getting 50c off your mum and going to the deli or corner store and picking a white paper bag of mixed lollies. I loved how they were 1 cent each and you could choose the ones you liked. Why aren't they around any more? six cents of milk bottles please!
Why am I suddenly paying $30 for a school excursion when my mum used to put $2 in an envelope for a school day out. Yep I get it, it's inflation, but these annoying expenses are burning holes in my pockets.
Anyway rant over and back to saving money. Cam and I recently sat down a created a budget. We split our monthly savings into payments I need to make and ones he does so we can be accountable to each other. So when I decide to splash out on a new jacket, there is no hiding it in the back of the wardrobe and bringing it out a few days later claiming this old thing ...No one else ever does that?
This new budget has literally turned me into a hunter for anything and everything that is a bargain and is saving me cash for renovations, holidays and shopping. I am no financial expert but there are couple of little tricks I have picked up and thought it would be wrong to keep them from you (unless you are way ahead of me) so any pennies you can save, can go towards a greatly deserved treat.
1. Sell your crap - old ugly presents, things that are stored away, clothes good enough to sell, old toys. Things that you never use that others spend hours searching for, sell it for a few dollars and watch your house declutter as you get paid to do it. Cha Ching!!!
2. Make a food plan - if you are chucking out too much food each week think about how much that is costing you. I know it takes a bit more time but if you flick through the supermarket catalogues to find what is on special and then write down what you are making each day for breaky, lunch and dinner, you will reduce your waste by loads. Stay tuned for a detailed blog on this coming up!
3. Take snacks to the shops so you aren't stuck buying them and if you aren't worried too much on healthy stuff as in, if you will end up buying donuts anyway, pack fun treats. Otherwise stop through Maccas drive through on the way home for a 50c ice cream instead of paying $4 each at an ice cream shop.
4. Each month put some money into different funds e.g. holiday, presents, Christmas, renovations. That way when it comes to paying for it, you aren't struggling with a large lump sum and you can also plan your holidays etc to what you have saved.
5. Buy the Bargains - Last week I walked past a toy shop and checked out the clearance shelves. I bought this awesome Mike the Knight Castle with figurines that is such great quality as well. It was $69.95 and I paid $19.95 for it, WHAT!!!! I am now giving a little boy or girl a present worth $70 that I didn't have to break the bank for. I grabbed some other barbie's and things that were going for $5 that I will save for upcoming birthdays and Christmas presents.
6. Plan to treat yourself - I hardly ever buy myself clothes or do anything for myself much because I am always getting the kids clothes and shoes etc I also like buying stuff for Cam. However I have started taking out some money each week and putting it in my purse that I will use to treat myself. Whether its just coffees out all week or a nice lunch, I feel like I'm not missing out because of trying to save for other more important things. If I see something I really want to buy then I will hold back on the coffees and lunch and use that to get it.
7. Free finds - School holidays are ridiculous for us until I started making a plan for it. We make a list of all the activities we want to do, we go through all the free ones first and then the kids can pick a special one like the movies at the end. We also, like I have said before, go to the cheap shops and pick out some crafty activities to do at home. Look up your local library and community pages and see what things they have on for kids. Shopping centres put on great shows and activities as well. If you don't have kids in school yet, take advantage of these events as well.
8. Social Gatherings - share the load when it comes to hosting a dinner party or BBQ. In our friendship group we each contribute a course so everyone spends around the same or the hosts buys it all and we split the bill. Sometimes you can spend $100 just on nibbles and haven't even got your main meal yet. Cheese platters can cost up to $50 if you are doing a selection and adding crackers and dips so go halves with someone else. I feel like going out for dinner sometimes really ends up being cheaper if you are the person that has to buy everything for the dinner party or adding a few extras to a meal during the week. Mind you, I love hosting and almost always put my hand up :)
9. Take out and Restaurants - there is nothing nicer than having someone else cook your meal for the day/night, especially when it tastes better than what you can make. But when it costs a limb sometimes it is just depressing to eat knowing that $40 takeaway could have gone towards something else. Especially if it's your second or third for the week! Budget for a once a week or once a fortnight take out or have take away once a month and then another night or day in the month go to a restaurant to eat. There's no cleaning up either!
10. Cooking for a family - yeah I am seeing a food pattern too but if you are like us, a lot of our social gatherings and budgeting involves food. I started to really focus on the meals I was cooking and found I could save so much money a week if I tweaked it a bit. I love the 30 minute Jamie Oliver meals but wasn't a fan of the expensive ingredients to then have them sit and rot in my cardboard because I don't usually cook with them. Again it would have been cheaper going out for dinner! Even things like fish can be really expensive and I even worked out that our fish shop where we have grilled fish, chips and a greek salad is $20 for our family of five and most of the time I spend that just on the fish, which I usually overcook in being paranoid it's undercooked and ruin it. I make two meals a week that I spread over two nights, whether I freeze one or we eat it the following night. These are usually from the slow cooker like a casserole or something like risotto, lasagne or shepherds pie. They aren't expensive to make either. One night we do burgers or hot dogs with nicer meat and then if I find roast meat or steaks, I will grab them for a meal. Eggs on toast generally makes it into our weekly or weekend meal or a mixed plate of veggies, fruit and sandwiches so we can go out for dinner or treat ourselves to Thai.
There are so many things you can do to cut down and you could probably google lists if you want to research more into cutting down on bills as well, but these 10 are some easy things that you can do that will make a big difference in your budget.
© The Realistic Mum
Follow me on Instagram, my Face Book Page or Twitter by using the links below. Please email with any questions you have or difficulties that I can help or encourage you with


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Arizona Basketball Scandal
By: Tyler Madsen
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller being caught by FBI wiretaps is one of the latest scandals rocking the college basketball world. Wiretap evidence show's Miller discussed a payment of $100,000 to secure top recruit, and current player, DeAndre Ayton. The money offer was accepted by Ayton and his family, he then signed with the Wildcats. As we all know college athletes are not to be paid on top of their scholarships, so Sean Miller and the whole Arizona athletic department are facing major sanctions from the NCAA and potential criminal charges from the FBI. Arizona has already lost a key commitment in Shareef O'Neal, son of Shaquille O'Neal, his de-commitment was announced on February 25th.
With Miller's departure ahead within the next few days or weeks, the school has to deal with the assumed death penalty to the program that will be handed to them by the NCAA. The death penalty is when the team is not allowed to compete in the sport for the year and is the harshest penalty a school can receive. Now Arizona's athletic department must put their crisis management procedures in order to help repair their image.
Source: https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2018/02/25/sean-miller-deandre-ayton-arizona-ncaa-fbi-investigation
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May 2019


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Ohio Construction Law Bloghttp://ohioconstructionlaw.keglerbrown.com/
Recent Blog Posts
- Subcontractors + Suppliers Score a Mechanic's Lien Rights Victory in Ohio Appellate Court On August 14, 2019, the Court of Appeals, Ninth Judicial District (Summit County) handed Ohio subcontractors and suppliers a victory on mechanic's lien rights by reversing and remanding a trial court decision where the lower court had held that a subcontractor's notice of furnishing was invalid because it was served before the sub had performed any labor or […]... More
- Design-Assist vs. Design-Build The terms, Design-Assist and Design-Build, are frequently used by the construction industry in recent years. While they sound similar, they could not mean more different things. Design Assist Under Design-Assist, the construction team, often including key subcontractors, is engaged by the owner to collaborate with the design professional during the design phase to improve constructability […]... More
- ConsensusDocs Adopts Master Subcontract + Project Work Order Forms Contractors and Subcontractors who regularly work together frequently favor a Master Subcontract Agreement that sets forth the basic legal terms of the relationship regardless of Project, and an individual Project Work Order setting forth the scope and price on every discrete job. This saves time and hassle wrangling about subcontract language on a project-by-project basis. […]... More
- Relief from Old Construction Defect Claims: Statute of Repose Applies To Tort and Contract Claims There are two ways in Ohio that a claim for building defects is barred by time: the statute of limitations and the statute of repose. The statute of limitations is the period of time for a party suffering harm to file a lawsuit. In Ohio the contract statute of limitations on construction claims was 15 […]... More
- Do I Need a Bond on My Next Project? Many owner-developers choose to forego requiring a Performance and Payment Bond from their contractors in the hope of shaving another 1%-2% from the project cost. However, current market conditions suggest that owners rethink that decision. The current industry environment consists of busy contractors competing for a limited labor pool, and struggling to meet ambitious project […]... More


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A few miles down the road from Oxford, Mississippi is the village of Taylor. Taylor occupies 4.1 miles and boasts a population of less than 500. To call it a village is a bit of an overstatement, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in charm.
It's the kind of place where dogs sit in the back of pickup trucks while their owners eat dinner at Taylor Grocery, the local catfish joint. Dogs, rusty pick up trucks and tin roofs are the norm here. The pace is slow. The line in front of the restaurant is out the door, so everyone drinks their beverage of choice in the parking lot while they wait. On certain nights, a local band serenades patrons while they eat dinner off red and white checked tablecloths. The grilled catfish is delicious, the hushpuppies are decadent and the only thing missing from the entire experience is sweet tea served in Mason jars. When the rest of the world thinks of the South, they think of a place like Taylor. Taylor doesn't disappoint.
And just to further prove that we're crazy about dogs in the South, here are a few photos of our dog Porter playing with his new lab cousin Easton.
Neither one would sit in the back of a truck to wait for us to finish dinner.
City dogs...


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Most of the world's volcanic eruptions occur around the Pacific rim - a horseshoe shape of nearly continuous series of volcanic arcs. Here over 75% of the world's volcanoes occur hence the name 'The Ring of Fire' or as it is technically referred to the circum-Pacific seismic belt. It is around the Pacific Rim, often on the slopes of volcanoes where important conifer habitats occur. Frequently these contain small populations of narrow endemics. Although active volcanoes contribute to a very small percentage of the total forest habitat loss, it can be significant if the volcano is in a protected area (as is often the case) and this sanctuary represents a significant part of the distribution of a conifer species. When humans put pressure on species and ecosystems, the effects of natural events such as volcanoes can be more detrimental than they would otherwise be and should be considered real threats in some situations.
Endemic to the Caribbean in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and St Lucia where threats include logging, fire and urbanisation Read full species entry >
Endemic to one mountain in St Lucia where only about 50 mature individuals survive and are threatened by wild-fires Read full species entry >
Endemic to the West Indes where it occurs in the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica. Here it is threatened by fire, cutting and invasive pathogens. Read full species entry >
Endemic to Bermuda where historically it underwent a catastrophic decline of almost 95% due to scale insects, recent recovery is hampered by invasive plant species. Read full species entry >
Native to the Dominican Republic and Haiti where firewood collection, forest clearance and man-made fires have reduced the population to less than 1,000 mature individuals Read full species entry >
Restricted to two localities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti where the few remaining trees are still threatened by cutting and firewood collection. Read full species entry >
Occurs in the Dominican Republic and Haiti where there are less than 250 mature individuals; main threats include fire and overgrazing by livestock. Read full species entry >
Endemic to a single mountain in eastern Cuba where fire and human disturbance has reduced the population to just 53 mature individuals. Read full species entry >


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The Martin Agency's print campaign for Morgan Stanley was one of the most eye-catching campaigns for a bank in recent years. We explore the ad's creative paradoxes and talk to Creative Director Alon Shoval.
Shot by Nadav Kander, with portraits of Morgan Stanley employees "embodying" the solid virtues of the company, its message, and the campaign as a whole is a noteworthy moment in Business/Banking communications.
The interest is not wholly in the fact the portraits contain images of solid, durable, monuments such as The Golden Gate bridge ,whose longevity and social usefulness stand as a judgement against the kinds of speculative financial 'products' which lead to the credit crunch. Investment banks have often visualized what they do in terms of 'building' things, this 1970s ad for Manufacturers Hanover highlighting the mobility of a new system allowing them to transfer money around the world with an image suggesting to clients that the "sky is the limit", but it's also "grounded" in something very tangible – the steelworker.
On the other hand as our feature All Change: The New Business Imagery suggested, some things really have changed. Employees don't look like they used to.
This 1968 Wells Fargo ad, with it's bank of suited men no doubt felt like a wealth of expertise you could tap into – now it looks just a little scary. The employees in the current campaign are a mix of gender and ethnicity that feels reassuring. And there is a visual metaphor in the way the portraits are inhabited by the spirit of something substantial and purposeful.
And most of all there is the title of the campaign that says something about where the public see banks and bankers – "What If?" With questions such as "What if there was someone you could trust with your legacy?" What if there was someone who guided you with integrity?" Before the credit crunch these weren't issues that were top of mind in dealing with banks. At the top level, the blended images, express "transparency", a significant concept in banking communications since the crunch.
Nadav Kander's portraits are oddly touching. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper in London about his show Bodies: 6 Women, 1 Man he says, "I like to show the truth. I like to show things that are paradoxical." And these commercial images do the same thing – they are both human and ghostly. Some even feel "cyberpunk" in the meshing of flesh, machines and steel. And the biggest paradox of all, which makes these images so interesting is that these images express concepts of both "durability" and "change" – the solid structures aligned against the fluid water (tradition and change is an ongoing theme in Kander's work, see Yangtze – The Long River).
And one more paradox. As Creative Director Alon Shoval remarks below, these are ads which question capitalism – a remarkable thought for a series of images promoting a bank's skill at Wealth Management. And yet that is why they ring true in 2013.
Since the crash, banks don't win many popularity contests. How much of a factor was this in shaping your strategy?
Alon Shoval: Morgan Stanley has always been a company built on doing "first-class business in a first class way." We wanted to remind the world that Morgan Stanley has always stood for responsible capitalism and has a long history of helping investors through every crisis, including the most recent one.
Generally, what kinds of ideas have currency at the moment when communicating 'big business' or 'finance?
Alon Shoval: Investors don't want empty promises and clichéd visuals of wealth anymore, they want someone they can trust. That is what we tried to convey in our Morgan Stanley "What If? campaign.
What did Morgan Stanley want to focus on? For example, a sense of history, 'time' and 'making' seem central to the imagery?
Alon Shoval: We wanted to question capitalism, allowing Morgan Stanley to emerge as the leader in helping the system work in the real world.
How did you choose your range of models, and what did they think of the final 'portraits'?
Alon Shoval:The models were chosen and shot to reveal their true character. They are aspirational, but also are substantive and authentic.
At what point in the conceptual process did you decide you needed Nadav Kander for this? What did you think he would bring to the campaign?
Alon Shoval: Nadav was the ideal artist to execute this idea. His portraiture, whether of the famous or the ordinary, uses the outside to reveal what is within. His eye is unique and the subject never evades his penetrating lens.
What is the work process like when working with Nadav Kander? These images look like they are painstakingly constructed?
Alon Shoval: Nadav has the same relentless pursuit of crafted aesthetics as we do at The Martin Agency. We do not stop until the work belongs in a museum and neither does he. The Art Director, D'Arcy O'Neil, and the copywriter, Neel Williams, worked tirelessly on the marriage of the portraits and the location scenes, creating these magical images graced with equally striking words.
The images feel like a blend of different genres ghostly, graphic full of detail. They really stretch the idea of portraiture, not at all conventional, where was the work shown and what was the response?
Alon Shoval: The work was launched externally as double-page spreads in The Wall Street Journal and internally as huge images lining the halls of Morgan Stanley. The response was unanimously positive. It's rare that you find a financial client that wants to create communications on this level— but Morgan Stanley has always been a rare breed in the world of finance.


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Spicy Mixed Nuts
Makes 2 cups
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 envelope dry golden onion recipe soup mix
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 8 oz. unsalted dry roasted mixed nuts
- Blend dry soup mix with sugar and cumin. In a large skillet, melt the butter and stir in the dry soup mixture.
- Add nuts and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes or until nuts are coated with the mixture and have browned lightly.
- Spread out on a baking sheet to cool slightly before serving. May be stored in an airtight container for 1 to 2 weeks.
Gooseberries Fresh Food Market


text: Oooooohh man what an episode! Sooo much to talk about. I'm not even going to ramble on about it. We cover relationship issues, inner conflicts, right moves, wrong moves and consequences to come. Never mind I rambled on a little. We are very excited about this episode. Just listen to it. The episode is called Not Tomorrow Yet and our guest host was Justin.


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In the first few months of life, you're baby needs your help to calm down when they're crying because they literally don't know how to self calm yet. Their brains haven't developed enough for them to regulate their own emotions and self-settle.
Cuddles, sucking, shh-ing and gentle rhythmic movements often help babies become calm.
What if they don't stop?
If you baby doesn't stop crying even though you're trying everything to help, you can easily become anxious and feel helpless.
This is totally natural. You're not failing or letting your baby down if you can't calm them. Rather, it's a time to make mature and responsible decisions, stay as calm as possible and take your baby for a drive, or put on some music you like, maybe unpack that baby sling and sway back and forth. Maybe have a bath with your baby or just offer some skin contact. The most important thing is that you don't panic - keep trying to help your baby calm.
Work with your partner
This is an ideal time to co-parent as well, so you can work together as a soothing team.
Frustration and anxiety can often affect communication between parents, leading to the inevitable snappy conversation. Once your baby is settled, quiet calm discussions about what 'we can do next time' will be incredibly helpful to promote co-parenting.
It's all part of finding ways to work through parenting together.
If the unconstructive conversations and arguments begin to happen too often, there are many support options out there. The reason there are so many resources is because tension and strain on your relationship is quite normal in the early days. Parents can sometimes need direction to prevent the stress leading to an unproductive way of parenting.
If you'd like help or advice on baby crying, parenting with your partner, or if you'd simply like to chat with one of our experts and ask some questions, book a phone consultation or get in touch online.
Author: Helen Stevens. RN. RM. MCHN. Manager of Clinical Services, Education and Research. Parent Infant Consultants. 0411880720.


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Our private tuition coordinator, Lyn DeGuglielmo, is always happy to organise tuition for a wide variety of subjects.
Book now or call Lyn on 0408 084 990 for all private tuition queries.
We focus on three key areas:
- development of student understanding of the subject
- development of student confidence
- development of student study skills.
Our tutors are approved by a strict screening process, to ensure that we choose only qualified professionals. We then match tutors within the area you live, as private tuition generally takes place in the student's home but can also be organised at a school or public library.
Lyn will contact you within 48 hours after receiving your registration form, but during busy periods it may take up to five business days to find a tutor who matches your specifications.
To find out more about how our Private Tuition service works, please click here.
book now or call Lyn on 0408 084 990 for all private tuition queries.
If you are a representative of a government agency and wish to register a student, please click here.
If you wish to register as a tutor, please click here.


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No More Excuses - Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Now
Letter to the Editor of The Boston Globe: On Veteran's Day, I asked myself what I wanted to celebrate. As a former Marine, I was glad to see so many reflecting on the sacrifices of service members past and present. I was also glad to see reports on the results of the Pentagon's Don't Ask, Don't Tell working group. 70 percent of respondents to a survey sent to active-duty and reserve troops said the effect of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy would be positive, mixed or nonexistent. The leaked report concludes what I already knew as a proud Marine: our country has the finest professional military in the world, one that won't be harmed by all our sisters and brothers serving openly and honestly. As an ally and supporter of equality, I would hope that our Senators would also celebrate the results of this report and make this "Lame Duck" session of congress less lame: Repeal DADT Now!


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Bishop Brungardt shares message with thousands at Mexico City basilica
Editor's Note: The following is Part I of a two-part series. The second part, to be printed Nov. 23, will include interviews with local participants, as well as several photos printed in full color.
The Most Rev. John B. Brungardt was the main celebrant at an Oct. 24 Mass held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which houses the original tilma holding the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Thirty local Kansans accompanied Bishop Brungardt on the pilgrimage to Mexico City, and more than a few expressed that they felt a surge of pride when the bishop announced to as many as 50,000 people, "I am Bishop John Brungardt of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City, in the state of Kansas, in the country to the North."
Here is the bishop's homily, in its entirety:
Greetings to all! I am Bishop John Brungardt of the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City, in the state of Kansas, in the country to the North. We are 30 pilgrims who have journeyed to the site of the most blessed miracle, our Virgin's loving meetings with Saint Juan Diego. She filled him with hope in her Son Jesus. Our Mother Mary taught Saint Juan a deepening faith in the saving gift of Jesus our Lord.
We celebrate today the feast of Saint Raphael Guízar y Valencia, bishop of Veracruz, Mexico (1878-1938). He was canonized October 15, 2006 in St. Peter's square by Pope Benedict XVI. St. Raphael Guízar taught and lived the virtues as a good shepherd to the people in Mexico, especially to the least of our brothers and sisters.
Saint Paul teaches the theological virtues to the Ephesians in our first reading today: "… bearing with one another through love, … as you were also called to one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism …" We remember the second reading last Sunday, also from Saint Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians: "… unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ …"
The three theological virtues, virtues about God, are the foundation of living our Catholic Church. Faith is that deep belief in God and His ways. Hope is trust in God and His plan for our lives. Love is unconditional, sacrificial, and a giving of ourselves to God and neighbor.
Our Blessed Mother teaches us well about these virtues of faith, hope, and love:
Faith: At Nazareth, the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus, the mother of God. Full of wonder, Our Lady responded with a profound faith: "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Hope: In the difficult journey to Bethlehem with Joseph and unborn baby Jesus, in great poverty and hardship, the Holy Family had great hope that God was with them. The Heavenly Father would not abandon them. And: "She gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).
Love: At the foot of the Cross, Mary's love for her Son was overflowing, with intense grief at the death of Jesus. And Jesus cared for her with love beyond measure, telling the Apostle John: "Here is your mother" (John 19:27). Jesus brought salvation to Mary, and to us.
What do we do? How do we live the virtues of faith, hope, and love? Why are we here at this holy place? We ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for us, that we may deepen our relationship with her Son Jesus. We pray that we grow in a profound faith, a lively hope, and a sacrificial love for God and for all.
Let us grow in faith by reading the Bible as a family every day. Let us grow in hope by receiving the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Confession/Reconciliation and the Most Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus. Let us grow in a sacrificial love with our spouse, children, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and all, especially the least of our brothers and sisters.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the holy role model we wish to imitate.
Thank you, Morenita. Thank you, Saint Raphael Guízar y Valencia. Thank you, Jesus. Jesus and Mary love us more than we can ask or imagine!
Bishop Brungardt shares message with thousands at Mexico City basilica


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Okay, so lots of updates! I've partnered with The Wild Detectives for a new monthly reading series called Inner Moonlight. Our launch event featured Gayle Reaves-King and Dan Collins. It was a fantastic show! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to highlight more incredible poets. Check out this photo from the show:
Our next show is May 2 at 7:30PM, featuring Lauren Brazeal and Stevie Edwards! Can't wait to see you there.
Also, I've got my Craft and Confession workshop coming up this Sunday, April 8th at 1PM at the Writer's Garret. It's going to be super fun!
I'll be featuring for Spiderweb Salon at their Very Rare! Show in Dallas on April 14th! Drop them a line if you want a formal invitation with more details.
In other news, I've got a little zine in the White Rock Zine Machine right now, located at Deep Vellum Books in Dallas. This set of zines is in collaboration with the Fort Worth Art & Words Show.
I had a poem, "Pareidolia," come up over at Mad Swirl.
The Winter 2018 issue of Voicemail Poems is out, and the podcast episode will come up soon. Our Spring issue is coming soon!
Stay tuned for more good news. Y'all be good out there!


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Free eBook: Microsoft Azure Essentials – Fundamentals of Azure
The launch of this book earlier this month, free in digital format, brings good tidings in the series of books about Microsoft Azure: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2015/02/03/free-ebook-microsoft-azure-essentials-fundamentals-of-azure.aspx
Separated into 7 chapters of technical content of Azure, discusses how to create web sites, VMs, manage, arrays, virtual networks, databases, Active Directory. Taking into account that the book intended to fundamentals discusses how start using with PaaS (web sites) and IaaS (infrastructure and VM).
Chapter 8 deals with PowerShell and chapter 9 brings some examples of implementations that can be made.
Is a simple book, but with content that can be used as references for those using the Azure occasionally or with the help of assistants.
Remembering that the entire collection of free books available by Microsoft can be found at http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/ebooks


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Paris and Los Angeles have worked out a neat deal to host the summer Olympics games one after the other. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also says it is happy with the arrangement – but in reality the governing body of the world's biggest sporting event was backed into a corner.
The French capital will host the summer games in 2024, a hundred years after it last staged the Olympics, it was announced at an IOC meeting in Switzerland yesterday (31 July).
The Californian city will take up the reins four years later in 2028. It has hosted the games twice before, in 1932 and 1984.
Both cities had wanted to stage the games in 2024, but Paris was adamant it was not interested in anything other than a centenary games.
However, a deal became possible as cities such as Boston, Hamburg, Rome and Budapest all withdrew their bids across the two games, fearful of the costs associated with staging the event and a lack of public support.
Los Angeles shifted to 2028, with the IOC pledging to contribute $1.8bn (£1.4bn) to the city's organising committee.
The funds will include money to pay for the extended planning period and to support youth sports programmes leading up to the games. Los Angeles estimates if it can keep to budget the games will cost it $5bn.
IOC president Thomas Bach welcomed LA's decision, describing the bid as "strong and enthusiastic".
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said: "Paris and Los Angeles are two amazing global cities that are united in their support of the Olympic cause and we stand together now to help the Games thrive in 2024 and 2028."
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said "we're bringing the games back" in 2028, adding that "this deal was too good to pass up".
However, the fact is that cities are looking to slash the budget of the games, which have become bloated in recent years.
Runaway costs
For the first time in its 100-year-plus history the IOC is seeing cities walk away if costs cannot be pared down.
The event has ballooned in size since the first modern games were held in Athens, driven by the founder of the modern Olympic movement Baron De Coubertin in 1896.
The first modern games in Greece hosted just 251 athletes from 13 countries playing nine sports. It cost around $10m in today's terms.
By contrast Rio de Janeiro last year welcomed over 10,000 competitors from 207 countries playing 28 sports — not to mention over 5,000 coaches and officials at a cost of around £20bn.
Ever since the demise of World's Fairs and Imperial Exhibitions the games have become an important way for a state to project soft power, or an emerging nation to leave its calling card.
Soft power
Beijing set a new record for its 2008 games as it spent $40bn to declare China a modern power. But this was trumped by the 2014 Sochi winter games, which saw Russia spend $55bn, to convince the world it was still among the top rank of nations.
But fewer countries, after the world financial crisis, have the wherewithal to spend such sums.
The London games in 2012 set a new template for countries with a history of staging the games to set a less grandiose vision, with its games coming in at around $16bn.
It looks as if the IOC has entered a new period where instead of bidders competing for the games, the global body now has to strike bargains to encourage cities to come forward.


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I feel like a lot of the film I've been developing lately has been excessively grainy. I have a few theories as to why that is. Most likely the cause is the fact that I have rolls and rolls and rolls of film that often take me over a year if not longer to get around to developing. They sit around in a box through cold days, warm days, wet days, and dry days until I randomly pull one out and run it through a series of chemistry.
Second, I think I've started to become a bit lazy when it comes to temperature control during the development process. It used to be that I would monitor the temperature of my water at every stage of the way, keeping things even throughout development, stop, and fix. Lately though, not so much knowing full well I'm going to get a bit more "texture" out of my results.
I'm sure at some point I'll go back to taking more care not to let my work go down the grainy dark-side, but for now I'm sort of embracing the look and the style for what it is. It's liberating and beautiful in its own way.


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Upcoming Residencies, Exhibitions and Artist Talks
Solo exhibition at Atelier Presse Papier, November 12th to December 14th.
In Between, Exhibition at the Women's Studio Workshop, October 8th to December 13th.
NEON Exhibition
Gowanus Open Studio
The Weekly Weekly Podcast.
Artist talk - The Monthly Weekly, April 25th, 6:30-9:30pm, at Brooklyn Research.
Canadian Council for the Arts Grant Holder 2018, Explore and Create Program
Exhibition: Decoherence at Spaceworks Gallery, March 2018, .
Guttenberg Arts STAR Program Fellow, Summer 2018.
Gowanus Open Studios at Spaceworks, Decoherence series, October 20-21, 12-6pm.
New Prints 2017/Winter, Decoherence #1, January 19th - April 1st, IPCNY, NY.
New York Textile Month, Feature Exhibition, September, Manhattan, NY.
WIP Residency, September and October, Textile Arts Center, Manhattan, NY.
Solo Show, Women's Studio Workshop, June 4-29th, Rosendale, NY.
Alt Break Art Fair, Armory Week, March 3-8th.
Spaceworks Gowanus Studio Program Grantee, 2016-onwards.
Women's Studio Workshop Legacy Artist Residency, April-May.
OPEN (C)ALL: Up for Debate
BRIC Gallery, Brooklyn (NY), February 5-28.
TAC Artist in Residency Exhibition at The Sky Gallery, October.
AIR Cycle 6 Catalogue available here.
The Two Slopes of the Mountain exhibited at the Garner Arts Festival, May.
Awarded a Quebec Council for the Arts Research and Creation Grant.
Studio open for visit during Gowanus Open studios 2014, October 18-19th 2014, 10am-6pm.
Studio open for visit during Open House New York 2014, October 11th, 10am-6pm.
Awarded a Canada Council for the Arts travel grant for my participation to the eTextile Summer Camp.
Origami Fabric - World of Threads Festival, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, November.
Cycle 6 Artist is Residency Program at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, New York. Recipient of the Ruth Schireson Levin Award. Starting in September.
Etextile Summer Camp, a week-long event that brings together expert practitioners from the fields of eTextiles and Soft Circuitry, Poncé sur le Loir, France, July.


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Halloween is just a few days away! We put together a roundup of 10 of our favorite Pinterest DIY Halloween Home Décor ideas for you all, plus we're giving away $20 to Silver Mine Subs when you send us your DIY Halloween Home Décor. See below for more details.
Category Archives: Contest
Decorating your Apartment for the Holidays, Plus a Chance to WIN!
Just because you live in an apartment, or have a small space, doesn't mean that you can't make your space look great during the holidays. We've hit up Pinterest to give you the best holiday decorating ideas for your apartment or small space.
Let's start with the tree…
Christmas Tree:
Do you like real trees or faux trees? If you love real Christmas trees, check with your landlord first to make sure they are allowed in your building. Faux Christmas trees are a great alternative and although they may be a bit pricey at first, you can use them year after year, so you get your money's worth. They even make pine scented ornaments now that will make your apartment smell like you have a real tree. Make sure you pick the right size tree to fit in your space. If you have a small space and don't have much room for a tree, try a tabletop tree, or a half tree as shown below. You can still decorate them just like any other tree, but they don't take up as much space as a regular sized tree. Don't have space at all for a tree? There are several alternatives to choose from instead of a tree. Take advantage of your wall space and use lights to create your own tree. Use chalk on a dark wall or create a tree shape with wood pieces or branches on the wall as shown below. We also love the idea of using your books to create a tree against your wall. You could do this on the floor, on a shelf or even on a table.
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25 Years of Making Renting Fun! (Plus – Contest Winners!)
Madison Property Management is excited to announce the winners of our Zen Master of Apartment Efficiency Contest! Angelina, Amber, Charlotte, and Alyssa/Maja racked up the votes for their well organized and decorated apartments. They will each receive a cash prize of $500 for their efforts. Contests and giveaways are just one thing that we like to do to put fun back into leasing. Continue reading


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Reinventing print media
Print media such as newspapers, consumer magazines, and business-to-business trade publications saw a dramatic decrease in print advertising - and in 2009, that trend is continuing.
Two major forces are contributing:
- There is an ongoing shift in where marketers are spending. More is going into their own web sites, word-of-mouth campaigns, and other "below the line" marketing programs.
- The rise of digital media has hit print profitability hardest, since print ad pages are more expensive than other types of advertising, and they don't offer the sound and movement that other forms do.
Print media companies have tried a couple approaches to expand their share of marketing budgets, including:
- Charging for online content
- Moving content entirely online and counting on online advertising to make up for the loss in print publication revenue
According to an article at www.strategy-business.com, "A growing body of research — tracking media companies that are succeeding in the new marketing environment and leading marketers who have successfully pursued innovative new digital strategies — suggests that at least four strategies are available for the media company of the future."
They are:
- Build Deeper Relationships
- Tap New Revenue Streams
- Reinvent the Content Model
- Innovate with New Products and Pricing
"The goal in all four success strategies is to build stronger relationships with audiences around their most passionate interest areas. Through bolder innovation, media companies can build communities around these interests, serving up the right combination of content and applications to provide real utility to consumers."
Read the article here.
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Contribute to the DigitalNow blog. Suggest a blog topic, or reference an article or other item you think would be of interest to the DigitalNow community. Drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.com


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A sketch is a rapidly executed free hand drawing that is not usually intended as finished work. A sketch may serve as a number of purposes. It might record something that the artist sees, it might record or develop an idea for later use, or it might be used as a quick way of graphically demonstrating an image, idea or principle. Sketches can be made in any drawing medium. The term is most often applied to graphic work such as Silverpoint , Graphite, pencil, charcoal, or pastel. It may also apply to drawings executed in pen &ink, digital input such as a digital pen, ballpoint pen, marker pen water colour and oil paint. The latter two are generally referred to as water colour sketches and oil sketches. A sculptor might model three dimensional sketches in clay, plasticine or wax. At Raghuvansham School of Modern art "IMAGINATION is more important than KNOWLEDGE" ART is not just a word but, an experience. Our students comes from all age groups, from school-college going to older ones To motivate our students we provide the best of everything, be it the infrastructure or the Art education. With a space of 400 sq. yards, 10 talented and experienced artists as a faculty . We don't believe in spoon feeding, instead we inspire them to explore on their-self, though a certain guidance is given in order to motivate


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CW 697 Special Topics: Exploratory Digital Practices for Poetics & Writing
Spring 2018 W: 7-9:45pm
***Subject to change!***
Course Description
Goals & Objectives
This course aims to introduce students (with no prior knowledge necessary) to the literary applications of programming, code, and diy/makerspace possibilities. The goal is to demystify the technologies in such a way that it is clear how they can be used and applied to literature or literary inquiry, while providing introductory level tutorials such that anyone be able to use them and achieve similar results. Another objective is to get students using the technologies to explore their own literary questions be they analytical or creative.
Format for Meetings
The class meets 7pm-9:45pm(give or take) on Wednesday nights. As of this writing it's being held in the TEAL room in University Hall, but it might switch to the digital studio in Wheatley Hall. You must bring a laptop to each class session and it must be properly set up for the class.
It's a late class and this means that around 9pm, people (including myself) are tired. This is when code can become inscrutable and frustrating! Let's try and not let this get us down. Bring whatever you need to be comfortable for a late-night long haul (coffee, snacks, music, headphones).
When we discuss one another's work, we will be holding informal "critique" sessions. No, not the cutthroat critiques that terrify the art student, but empathetic critiques. That is, "a search to discover what has happened/is happening in the work." Empathetic critique assumes that everyone has tried their best; it is based in curiosity (not judgement). Students will briefly demonstrate their work along with some introductory comments, and the others will ask questions, give suggestions, reflect on what is being presented, and suggest revisions or ways to advance and/or enhance the work. The maker of the work gets credit for the potential value of outcomes, even if accidental; the maker is made to feel empowered through self-awareness.
Technical Requirements
You do need a laptop (not a tablet), for the class. MAC or Windows doesn't matter. You should, however, make sure your operating system is up-to-date. You should also bring the textbook and readings to each class session when relevant. You will need to have access to the internet and should always keep your codes handy in case you want to refer back to them. Make sure to bring your laptop charger to class with you!
If you've had class with me, you know I love to use Slack. I am going to ask that you download Slack for your computer so that you can run it as a desktop app. If you already have it, great. If you're not familiar with Slack, Slack is a team-based messaging app that allows members to communicate with one another in real-time. It's also available as an Iphone and Android App. I use Slack because it offers real-time q&a, collaboration, and information exchange. While you won't be working together on any specific project in this class, everyone will, indeed, be working together. Some of you may have programming experience and some of you may not. Regardless, everyone benefits from shared information, especially in a coding environment. Fun fact: programming in the real world is often done in teams and team-based practices like SCRUM are often taught.
For example, say you get stuck on one of the exercises in the textbook, and you can't figure out why your code isn't working. Slack allows for the easy input of chunks of code into a message window. You could message your code to the group asking for help and in turn, get suggestions or references from everyone else in the class. If you are struggling with a particular exercise or problem, chances are someone else is too! While all the programs are generally cross-platform, there are some differences between how things appear on Mac and PC. I use a PC and run Windows 10, so I'm not much use when it comes to designating file pathways in OSX. But someone else running on a Mac might be able to help. Bottom line is that Slack connects all of us together so that we can share resources, strategies, and ask questions!
Before the First Class
1. Install Anaconda for Python 2.7
We will be using something called a Jupyter Notebook (formerly called iPython Notebook) installed with the current version of Python 2. Python 3 exists but is slightly different than Python 2 and the main textbook uses Python 2. Python 2 is the standard version that comes with most Linux distributions and Mac OSX. To get everything you need up and running, download and install Anaconda for your operating system, being certain to choose Python 2.7. For those who already have a version of Python already installed, you will get another one in addition to that when you install Anaconda, and this shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure your Jupyter Notebook is set up to create notebooks for Python 2. (We won't go into it here, but you can install the Python 3 kernel and run both types of notebooks in Jupyter.)
2. Install/Have Ready a Text Editor
You will need to install a true text editor, not a word processor. There are many options for text editors according to one's operating system.
· On any OS you can use a free, cross-platform editor that is made to be a GUI (graphical user interface) application, such as Atom. There are others, like Geany. I have used Geany before but I currently use SublimeText and prefer it. I also have Notepad++.
· If you're running GNU/Linux you likely have gedit, emacs, vim, bash, or one of many other free-software editors installed. If so, you should already be comfortable using one of these.
· On Windows, the built-in Notepad is a plain text editor, but Notepad++ is more robust and it's a free download.
· On Mac OS X, many people like TextWrangler and Sublime, but they are not free software. (But Sublime is free). I believe Sublime works on PC and Mac. A program called "TextEdit" is included with OS X but this is not a plain-text editor, it's more of a lightweight word processor. Don't use it or any word processor.
3. Install TextBlob
In addition to the libraries that come with Anaconda, we need TextBlob, a Python library for manipulating text. We'll use it later, but we'll be sure to have it installed and working by the end of the first class. Installation is done using the program pip on the command line as indicated on the main TextBlob page.
4. Note on "Free Software"
When I mention "free software" I am talking about it in the sense that the Free Software Foundation does. I don't mean simply that it is priced at zero dollars, but that it comes with certain freedoms, to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. For these reasons, as we'll discuss further during the course, the concept of free software is connected to exploratory programming.
Most of points 1-4 come directly from Nick Montfort's syllabus for his spring 2018 exploratory programming course. Thanks Nick!
80% of the course grade is based on the in-class and take-home assignments that include textbook exercises, free projects, and projects from our tutorial sessions. Assessment for these grades is based on completion, quality, and working code. What do I mean by "quality"? If an exercise or project asks for a "significant" or "meaningful" modification, don't just change a word or two and call it a day. Some will offer more possibilities for modification than others. All the code for the exercises and projects should work. Anyone should be able to take the codes and plug them into a notebook or python/JS environment and produce the same result. You'll still get credit if, for some reason, you just couldn't get your code to work and you came close—just not as much credit. If code doesn't work, then there's an opportunity in the critique sessions for us to troubleshoot it as a group, or you can ask for help along the way via Slack.
20% of the course grade is presence and participation, in-class and via Slack. You must come to class, participate, comment on student work, and do the in-class assignments. Students can miss one class session without penalty for involuntary reasons (sick, car trouble, etc.) However, there is the option of possibly being Skyped in or Blackboarded in if the problem is just that you can't get to campus for some reason. Try and let me know in advance if that's possible. Aside from that, missed classes are a 5% deduction off the final grade. If you have to miss class for voluntary reasons (pub crawl, just not feeling it, you have a paper due for another class), that's not an excused absence. Extenuating circumstances? Talk to me as soon as you think something is going to hinder your success in the class. I can be pretty forgiving but only if I know what's going on.
Required Books
Exploratory Programming for the Arts and Humanities—Nick Montfort (Do not get the e-book. It's much easier to follow along and use the hardback. Likely available at the MIT Press Bookstore.)
Prehistoric Digital Poetry—Christopher Funkhouser
Virtual Muse—Charles O. Hartman
#!—Nick Montfort (Likely available at the MIT Press Bookstore in Cambridge)
Adafruit NeoTrellis Kit and data-capable USB A to Micro B cable and optional USB powered speakers OR Adabox 10 plus optional USB powered speakers. (You can always use your own USB speakers or speaker output if you have one.) [Note: Adafruit offers a discount code every Wednesday through their live show, so you need to watch the show.]
Suggested Books
Code—Charles Petzold
Python Crash Course—Eric Matthes
Python for Kids—Jason R. Briggs
JavaScript for Kids—Nick Morgan
Digital Poetics: The Making of E-Poetries—Loss Pequeno Glazier
New Media Poetics—Morris Et Al.
If Hemingway Wrote Javascript—Angus Croll
Articulations—Allison Parrish (Likely available at the MIT Press Bookstore in Cambridge)
Suggested Important Websites
Wed Jan. 30: Getting Started
· Make sure everyone has the tech up and running
· JS text generation modification (New Year Haiku)
· Getting started with Jupyter and Python
· The command line, installing TextBlob, -pip
· Useful information repositories (GitHub, StackOverflow, ReadTheDocs, W3 Schools)
Assignment for next week: Read Chapters 1-3 in Exploratory (Introduction, Calculating, Double Double). Type in all the code examples and try to get them working. If you get stymied, ping the group on Slack. Turn in the "Free Project: Modifying a Simple Text Machine" and "Free Project: A Modified 'Double Double'".
Feb 6: More Python fundamentals: random number generator, dice roll program
· Quick recap of Chapters 1-3 in Exploratory, discussion of free projects, troubleshooting.
· Introduction to import and libraries: **We did this last class!
· Generating random numbers:**We also did this last class!
· Dice roll program:**And we also did this!
So, what shall we do??
Revisit the dice throw remixes (choice of text?)
Recap Chapters 1-3, focusing on key takeaways and impressions:
Codeshare/troubleshoot "DoubleDouble"
Empathetic 'critique' of and discussion of modified text engine aka 'how'd you do that??' (choice of text)
Introduction, if time, to Trinket.IO tutorial
Assignment for next week: Read Chapters 4-6 in Exploratory (Programming Fundamentals, Standard Starting Points, Text I). Type in all the code examples and try to get them working. Turn in 3 of 5 exercises from the following: Same Last Character, Counting Spaces, Counting Nonspaces, Determining Initials, Removing Vowels. Bonus Project!: Follow along with the Trinket.IO tutorial to use Python to generate text or modify one of Nick's html-to-Python conversions.
Feb 13:
· Quick recap of chapters 4-6 in Exploratory, discussion of exercises, troubleshooting.
· Reading in text
· Manipulating read-in text
· Exploring some internet-based poetry generators, in-class assignment
Assignment for next week: Read chapters 7 and 10 (Text II and Text III) in Exploratory. (Don't worry if you can't get regular expressions to perform exactly.) Turn in 1 of 2 free projects: Creative Conflation, Your Very Own Classifier. Also read Virtual Muse.
Feb 20:
· Quick recap of chapters 7 and 10 in Exploratory, and Virtual Muse.
· Discussion of projects, troubleshooting.
· Revisit dice roll
· Sample text generator/manipulator
Assignment for next week: To turn in, use Python to create a text generator/manipulator that involves reading in text from a .txt document. The program should work and also display examples. It doesn't have to be complicated. It could be as simple as randomizing lines from your own work. Or, it could replace the verbs in your written text randomly chosen verbs from another text. It could significantly modify a code like that from "A House of Dust" using, instead, adjectives or nouns that have been tagged and sorted from another text using TextBlob. It could significantly expand on what is essentially a template in "A House of Dust" and make the template more complex. It could use a template from your own sentences that you've written, and randomly populate the fields for parts of speech with lists you've developed.
Also read up to chapter 3 in Prehistoric Digital Poetry. Use the companion websites to visit or revisit the programs Funkhouser references.
Feb. 27
Discussion of Virtual Muse and intro-through-chapter 2 of Prehistoric Digital Poetry; look at some early examples.
More text generator work (in-class)
Assignment for next week: Finish Python text-generator. Use the comments in the code to discuss your intention and what you hope the code to do. Include an example of the output. You are encouraged to use your own text and writing as the inputs.
Read chapters 3-5 and the appendices in Prehistorical Digital Poetry. Also read #! by Nick Montfort.
March 6
Critique of Python text generators
Assignment for week after next: ?
March 13 (No Class, Spring Break)
March 20
Discussion and critique of text generators!
March 26
Class on TUESDAY at 4pm! Location either room 47/6th floor or the Digital Studio
Introduce some JS and Ali Rachel Pearl's "Street Ghosts"
Assignment for next week:
April 3
Skype visit and Street Ghosts tutorial by Ali Pearl
Assignment for next week: Modify and remix Street Ghosts code. Turn in the html file.
April 10
Discussion and critique of modified Street Ghosts projects.
April 17
Visit from Anne Marie Rooney (poet) and Sam Sheffield (game designer)
Introduction to Tracery and tutorial
April 24
· Discussion and critique of StreetGhosts! (Maybe Tracery?…)
· Prep for Trope Tank visit
May 1: Visit the Trope Tank!
May 8:
NeoTrellis assembly and tutorial
May 15:
NeoTrellis discussion and presentation


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Harry Reid: Chinese President Hu Jintao is a "Dictator"
In a televised interview on Tuesday night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Chinese President Hu Jintao a "dictator" - despite the fact that Reid is planning to join President Obama in receiving the Chinese leader at a state dinner tonight.
When questioned on congressional Democrats' end-of-year compromise with Republicans that gave tax cuts to America's highest earners, Reid spoke about the need for Democrats to work within the system as it exists - a system, he said, that is very different than that of China.
"I am going to go back to Washington tomorrow and meet with the President of China," Reid told the Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston on the program "Face to Face." "He is a dictator. He can do a lot of things through the form of government they have."
Reid backtracked on his comments almost immediately: "Maybe I shouldn't have said dictator, but they have a different type of government then we have, and that is an understatement," he said. "So we have to work in the system we have - the best system ever devised to rule the affairs of man and woman. And one of the way we get things done - and in fact important way we get things done - is through compromise."
Compromise, he added, is "not a bad word."
Reid also used the word "dictator" when discussing the importance of renewable energy in the Nevada economy, arguing that "we cannot continue to be beholden to these foreign dictators who are giving us 70 percent of our oil."
Mr. Obama will host Chinese President Hu at a state dinner this evening designed to help the two find common ground. Reid is expected to attend the event.


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The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)
Press Service
12 Neglinnaya Street, Moscow, 107016 Russia;
On results of provisional administration-conducted financial assessment of Commercial Bank EUROSTANDART LLC
The provisional administration to manage the credit institution Commercial Bank EUROSTANDART LLC, further referred to as the Bank, appointed by Bank of Russia Order No. OD-3387, dated 04.12.2017, following banking licence revocation, in the course of its inspection of banknotes, coins and other valuables, revealed a shortage of over 160 million rubles in cash desks of the credit institution's internal structural divisions.
Also, in the course of its examination of the bank's financial standing, the provisional administration revealed the theft of $5 million, committed by unidentified persons from the Bank's vault.
The provisional administration-conducted probe into the bank's financial standing further established the Bank's assets total under 1,200 million rubles, vs over 1,440 million of its liabilities to creditors.
Given these circumstances, on 5 May 2018, the Arbitration Court of the City of Moscow recognised Commercial Bank EUROSTANDART LLC as bankrupt. The State Corporation Deposit Insurance Agency was appointed as a receiver.
The information on financial transactions bearing the evidence of the criminal offence conducted by the former management and officers of Commercial Bank EUROSTANDART LLC was submitted to the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in December 2017 and May 2018 for consideration and procedural decision making.
19 June 2018
The reference to the Press Service is mandatory if you intend to use this material.