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India Debates Establishing Cyber Command
NEW DELHI — Top India military commanders meeting here have discussed establishing an independent Cyber Command. Addressing the Combined Commanders Nov. 22, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh highlighted the need for developing capacities to counter what he described as "global surveillance operation."
"While globalization has induced growing and complex inter-dependencies among states and multinationals on the economic and trade front, it has also nurtured intense competition and rivalries in the security domain. Managing this contradictory tenor, which has been highlighted by the global surveillance operation mounted by the US National Security Agency, is also a policy imperative for us.
"Naturally, our objective must be to acquire tangible national capacity, or what the lexicon now refers to as comprehensive national power. This is the amalgam of economic, technological and industrial prowess, buttressed by the appropriate military sinews," said Singh.
According to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, the NSA had allegedly collected information and intercepted communications in India.
Support is unanimous for establishing an independent Cyber Command to protect the nation's cyber security, said a Defence Ministry source. While the commanders want a separate command for the armed forces, MoD sources said, it is still not decided who would be in charge.
Last year, hackers from China broke into sensitive computer systems at Vishakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command where the indigenous nuclear submarine Arihant is undergoing sea trials.
"Cyber warfare is the new battlefield and India is not prepared for this battle," said Mahindra Singh, retired Indian Army major general and defense analyst.
India's Defense Procurement Bungles
Bureaucratic mismanagement is depriving Indian soldiers of much-needed weapons.
In February I wrote a piece for The Diplomat noting that India was, to use that old bromide, "at a crossroads" on its road to armed forces modernization.
I argued that, despite mind-numbing bureaucracy and a misfiring indigenous defense industry, India was buying its way towards establishing a well-supplied fighting force at land, air and sea.
Events since then have conspired to challenge that rosy assessment of military procurement on the subcontinent. A combination of corruption allegations and Ministry of Defence mismanagement are conspiring to foul up what should be relatively straightforward deals.
First up in this list of shame is the MoD's failure to sign off on a deal to buy 145 M777 lightweight howitzers from BAE Systems. The contract, which was routed through Washington's government-to-government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, should have been signed off years ago. Instead, the Indian MoD missed a October 15 deadline that BAE had imposed because the company could not afford to keep the gun's U.K. production line open while it waited for Delhi to sign on the dotted line.
The delays means that if the Indian Army wants the M777 – which by all accounts it does – then it'll have to pay at least an extra $50 million to reopen the line.
Next up is the omnishambles over the 12 AgustaWestland AW101 VVIP helicopters that India was supposed to be getting this year. Three had been delivered when a corruption scandal exploded around the contract, with two company executives arrested in Italy and a former Indian air chief marshal accused of taking bribes by Indian investigators. While all involved deny any wrongdoing, the MoD suspended payments with nine helicopters still to be delivered.
The case developed further this month when AgustaWestland filed for arbitration in an attempt to force the MoD to unblock its payments and get the contract back on track. This may have backfired, however, with MoD officials apparently incandescent at the company for filing the arbitration claim when the defense minister was in hospital and only days after the ministry's top air procurement official had died.
The fallout from the AgustaWestland case can also be seen in the services' procurement plans. In April the MoD delayed the army's plans to spend 150 billion rupee ($2.3 billion) on Rafael Spike non-line-of-sight anti-tank missiles because of sensitivities at sole-sourcing such a big contract.
It is also impeding recent attempts by the U.S. to kick start the military-industrial relationship with Delhi. The Pentagon – in the form of outgoing Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter – has promised to co-develop at least two systems with India: a successor to the Javelin anti-tank guided missile and the next-generation EMALS catapult for launching aircraft off carriers.
The chances of either of these joint developments getting off the ground are severely compromised by India's inability to sort out its basic procurement relationships with foreign vendors, as the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) noted in a September letter to the Pentagon that was provided to IHS Jane's.
The USIBC letter complained that India was imposing "unfeasible delays" on signing defense contracts and that foreign defense companies had little post-delivery liability protection. It pointed to the M777 deal as a key example of the problems being faced.
Meanwhile, the Indian MoD's largest ever foreign procurement – the MMRCA deal to buy 126 Dassault Rafale fighters – has been kicked into the long grass by alleged disagreements over the responsibility for quality control on license-built aircraft and the ongoing depreciation of the rupee, which has pushed the price up just as India's economy has slowed.
This chain of events may not elicit the most sympathetic response from the neutral observer. It's hard to get too upset at the sight of a U.S. business lobby complaining at foreign defense regulations, while the consequences of India's economic slowdown and currency issues are not just being felt by the defense industry.
But on a strategic level, India's almost masochistic ability to snarl up foreign defense procurement – alongside the institutional hurdles to successful indigenous production – could have more serious side effects than just obvious reputational damage.
The Indian Army's ambitious Field Artillery Rationalisation was established in 1999 and envisaged the $5-7 billion procurement of 3,000-3,200 assorted caliber howitzers by 2027. None of these acquisitions have been completed.
Major General Sheru Thapliyal (rtd), a former artillery officer, warned IHS Jane's in June that the army could face a situation where it has no effective long-range howitzers – unlike its neighbors. And even where it does have guns in service, such as the 105 mm Indian Field Gun and its derivatives, their 17 km range is well below the contact envelope of China and Pakistan's more modern guns.
"At several points along the Pakistani and Chinese frontiers the range achieved by these guns barely crosses India's borders, rendering them ineffectual," a three-star artillery officer told IHS Jane's.
In this light the significance of the M777 deal is thrown into sharp focus. The M777, which can be slung beneath the CH-47 Chinooks that India is also buying from the U.S., is supposed to equip two mountain divisions that are being stood up to counter China's strategic moves on the Line of Actual Control. With no artillery, these divisions are little more than paper units.
It isn't all doom and gloom for India's armed forces, and the army in particular. South African prime contractor Denel is set to be removed from a blacklist after an investigation into alleged bribery was closed without resolution, and a number of local private firms have established joint ventures with international companies to build some of the gun types that India desperately needs.
But given what's happened in the past, the ongoing possibility of corruption – and the ongoing possibility of anti-corruption investigations – will probably stop arms sales from being finalized. India's soldiers are still not getting the weapons they need. Without fundamental reform to the Indian MoD and how it buys arms, that is unlikely to change soon.
Pakistan violates LoC ceasefire again
After a fortnight's lull, Pakistani troops Friday violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir yet again, opening fire on Indian positions in Mendhar sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, defence officials said.
Defence sources told IANS that Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Balakote area of Mendhar sector in the evening.
"Pakistan Army fired at our positions without any provocation and the fire has been retaliated by us. The Pakistani troops are using automatics and small weapons, and our troops have responded with same calibre weapons. Firing exchanges are still continuing in the area," the source said.
Friday's violation of bilateral ceasefire by Pakistan has come after a fortnight-long lull.
Since the beginning of this year, Pakistan troops have over 260 times violated the ceasefire agreement signed by the two South Asian nuclear-powered neighbours in November 2003.
PM for upgrading capabilities of armed forces
ew Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday pressed the urgent need for putting in place "the right structures" for higher defence management and the appropriate civil-military balance in decision-making to meet "complex security" challenges facing the nation.
Addressing top commanders of Army, Air Force and Navy here, he cited the situation in the immediate neighbourhood and uncertainty due to the shift of eco-military balance to this region as the challenges posed to the country.
Also Read: Prime Minister addresses Combined Commanders' Conference: Full speech
In his address, he underlined the need for upgrading the capabilities of the armed forces for which he favoured involvement of the private sector.
The Prime Minister also appeared to be on an exercise to control damage caused by the tussle between the then Army Chief Gen V K Singh and the government last year as he asserted "clearly and unequivocally" that the political leadership of India has the highest faith in its military and its institutional rectitude within the democratic framework.
"In the weeks and months ahead, our security challenges will remain complex but our resolve too must remain steadfast. I am confident that our armed forces will discharge their collective responsibility towards flag and country with the zeal and passion that has become their byword," he said.
The Prime Minister said there is "urgent and tangible progress in establishing the right structures for higher defence management and the appropriate civil-military balance in decision making that our complex security demands.
"I encourage you to give this the highest professional consideration, harmonise existing differences among the individual services and evolve a blue-print for the future. I can assure you of the most careful consideration of your recommendations by the political leadership," he said.
Referring to the global environment, Singh said shifting of economic pendulum inexorably from west to east was being exemplified by the increasing contestation in the seas to our east and the related "pivot" or "rebalancing" by the US in the area.
"This, to my mind, is a development fraught with uncertainty. We don't yet know whether these economic and strategic transitions will be peaceful, but that is the challenge this audience must grapple with institutionally," the Prime Minister said.
Singh said globalisation has "nurtured intense competition and rivalries in the security domain and managing this contradictory tenor, which has been highlighted by the global surveillance operation mounted by the US National Security Agency, is also a policy imperative for us."
He said "our objective must be to acquire tangible national capacity, or what the lexicon now refers to as comprehensive national power. This is the amalgam of economic, technological and industrial prowess, buttressed by the appropriate military sinews."
On the situation in the neighbourhood, Singh said, "There is no doubt that we will continue to confront formidable challenges."
"Further afield, the continuing turmoil in West Asia could not only imperil our energy security and the livelihood and safety of seven million Indians, but also become a crucible for radicalism, terrorism, arms proliferation and sectarian conflict that could touch our shores too," he said.
He said the Asia Pacific region is critical for the country "because it is becoming the arena for shaping the behavior of major powers."
Urging the top defence brass to monitor these specific developments, the Prime Minister said, "Our strategic horizons should also include the need to protect our global seaborne trade in goods, energy and minerals, the well-being of Indian expatriate communities worldwide and the growing global footprint of Indian capital."
"As our capabilities grow, we will increasingly be called upon to help in natural disasters or zones of conflict and instability," he said.
1962 martyrs to be honoured during Sarhad ko Swaranjali programme
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam (North Lakhimpur, Tezpur and Guwahati) have confirmed their participation in Sarhad ko Swaranjali programme, according to organizing committee chairman Kipa Babu.
Special focus would however be on Leela Devi (96), mother of martyr Jaswant Sing Rawat, his relatives, and Lt. Gen. (Rtd) V M Patil, a captain posted in Tawang sector then.
Moreover, the families of Tagam Taki from Beging village in East Siang District, who served as SSB constable and died on March 30, 2002 during an attack on Raghunath Mandir Temple in Jammu, Kirti Chakra awardee Lance Naik Tape Yajo from Aalo and Jawan Pate Tasuk from Kurung Kumey (both died in action along the J-K border) would be honoured on the occasion.
This would not only turn a new page in Indian history, but project the patriotic people of Arunachal Pradesh, who serve as sentinels of the eastern most frontier of India, in the right perspective, said Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who cancelled his prior engagements to be part of the event along with Governor Nirbhay Sharma.
If records are any indication, India fought three wars - in 1962 with China (that claimed 3, 079 men - 1,383 killed and 1,696 missing), in 1971 with Pakistan (2000 martyrs) and in 1999 with Pakistan at Kargil (530 martyrs). The India Army might have felicitated the martyrs and survivors, but never before has such a platform been created involving civil society (entire NE region) to pay respect to the martyrs of 1962 war that suffered the highest loss of army personnel.
Though the 1962 war took place 51 years ago, regrettably the Indian government officially recognised the martyrs and survivors after 50 years on October 20, 2012 when Defence Minister A K Antony, who along with Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh and three service chiefs paid homage to the 1962 war heroes and laid wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti at New Delhi.
Asked why it took 50 years for New Delhi to honour the soldiers and martyrs of 1962 war, Antony said: "Nothing changed. This is the 50th year and we thought this is the time the whole nation must pay our homage to the officers and jawans who had lost lives to protect our border."
Asked about criticism that the military leadership was not involved in 1962 and the lessons learnt from it, Antony had said, "The major lesson is that we have to strengthen our armed forces to protect our borders. That we are doing and now we are in a position to involve armed forces, intelligence agencies and all those involved in the protection of national security. That process is much stronger."
But, even after a year after Antony's tall claim, hardly anything has improved along the Sino-India border as was witnessed while proceeding to Bumla pass in Tawang district on October 20 last.
The vehicles were finding it difficult to move even at zero km speed at few patches without any sign of road while it was learnt at Bumla that the Chinese soldiers travel in Land Cruisers at 60 km per hour speed on the other side.
What an irony! Is it the cost of democracy the defence personnel have been paying while guarding the frontier which records 10 to 15 feet snowfall during the winter and temperature goes below upto -23oC?
That is the conclusive reason that tomorrow's event would be a land mark one for the country where civilians would salute the martyrs while boosting the morals of the jawans protecting the border.
'Ay mere vatan ke logon, the monumental song of Lata Mangeshkar and 'Kata juwanor mrutyu hol' (grieving over the death of soldiers in 1962) by Bhupen Hazarika would rend the air while Mukesh Khanna of Shaktiman fame through his stereophonic voice would try to create the feeling of what could possibly have been the last words of martyr Jaswant.
Meanwhile, councillors of Itanagar Municipal Council (IMC) led by chief councillor Aruni Higio have declared Leela Devi as IMC guest. By Pradeep Kumar (ANI)
Air chief to attend parade on Nov 30
PUNE: A total of 296 cadets, including five from Tazikistan and one from Kazakhastan, will pass out from the 125th course at the passing out parade (PoP) for the autumn term at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla on November 30.
Commandant of NDA Air Marshal K S Gill said, "A majority of these cadets (197) will join the Indian army after completing their additional one-year training at the officers' academy while another 39 and 54 cadets will join the navy and the air force on completion of their year-long training at the respective officers' academy."
He said, "Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne will be the reviewing officer at the PoP."
On November 28, the cadets of the 125th course will be awarded their academic degrees at the convocation ceremony where deputy chairman of planning commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia will be the chief guest. The degrees in science, computer science and arts are awarded by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Gill said, "The upcoming PoP, for the first time, will witness the fly past of the Indian Air Force's latest induction Pilatus or PC-7 MkII, which is a turbo prop basic trainer aircraft." In fact, the cadets who will join the Air Force Academy at Dundigal in Hyderabad will now fly this trainer aircraft as part of their training activity.
Apart from the Pilatus, the Sukhoi 30s MKII, the Super Dimonas and the Sarang helicopter team will also participate in the fly past, he said.
The JNU has ratified the new defence application course as part of the academic studies at the NDA.
Gill said, "The level of academic performance by the cadets has been on the rise especially when it comes to scoring higher cummulative grade points average (CGPA) that eventually determine their place in the order of merit. For the first time this year, we have had 105 cadets who reached a level of 7.75 and above CGPA."
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) too has completed the recruitment of 34 new teachers who have now joined the academy, which has made a big difference to the academic activities at the NDA, he said.
"We have also initiated several measures to see that the injury level has gone down by 38% from what it was last year and we now have fitter cadets," he added.
Shutting his ears to change
In July 2011, the government of India set up a task force to examine the processes and procedures related to national security in India and come up with recommendations to fix the problems and plug any gaps that emerged. Chaired by former Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra, the task force's aim was to deepen the reforms in the national security system begun by the group of ministers (GOM) in 2001.
In May 2012, the committee submitted its report to prime minister Manmohan Singh who turned it over to the National Security Council Secretariat for processing its recommendations and presenting them to the Cabinet Committee on Security. This writer was a member of the task force, but has had little or no official information on its status since then. But the bureaucratic grapevine suggests that the report is on its way to meet the fate of other similar endeavours: get shelved.
The reason for this is plain: The Ministry of Defence thinks there is no need for change, leave alone, horror of horrors, an overhaul. At first sight this may appear to be counter-intuitive, after all the sorry state of our defence modernisation is an open secret. Last year, the serving Chief of Army Staff wrote a letter to the Prime Minister pointing to shortages of vital equipment. The Air Force chief regularly bemoans the declining numbers of his combat force and the delays in the Navy's submarine and shipbuilding programmes are no secret.
The goal of the civilian part of the ministry appears to be singularly focused on how to retain its power and privileges. For this reason, the only public information of the Chandra Committee recommendations came through a leak of a portion of the report by the MoD itself. Their grouse, according to the media leaks, was apparent - they did not want changes in the way the system is run. Inefficient, incompetent, and wasteful, yes, but the command ought to rest firmly in the inexpert hands of the IAS fraternity. The Chandra Committee, on the other hand, was suggesting reforms - first of the manner in which the armed forces were run, and secondly, of how the ministry itself was functioning. In the case of the armed forces, following the GOM report of 2001, the committee suggested a chief of defence staff (CDS) like figure, a permanent chairman to the chiefs of staff committee, to promote integrated planning and organisations in the armed forces, as well as an expert defence bureaucracy to staff the MoD by cross-posting military officers to key bureaucratic positions.
These were minimalist suggestions, but vital. Most armed forces in the world operate on an integrated principle where planning an execution of combat operations is done through joint planning and command. That is why the GOM of 2001 recommended the beginnings of tri-service organisations and a CDS to head them.
The need for joint planning is crucial given the exponential rise in the cost of weapons systems. Currently, each service puts up its own demands and the Ministry of Defence has little or no expertise to prioritise them. The Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) or five year defence plans have little integrity.
Take for example the case of the Mountain Strike Corps which has been approved by the government recently. It will require capital expenditure of Rs.90,000 crore (plus another Rs.30,000 crore for ancillary units), yet it does not figure in the 2012-2027 LTIPP which was approved with great fanfare last year. To get a perspective on this, consider that in the period 2009-10 to 2013-14, which includes the period of high economic growth the country spent something like Rs.300,000 crore in capital acquisitions.
The Army, of course, is not the only claimant here. The really capital intensive services are the Air Force and the Navy whose need for modernisation is dire. India needs new combat jets, submarines, ships, transport aircraft, artillery guns, helicopters and a host of other equipment in the next ten years. But what should be the priority? At present, there is simply no machinery to do this since each service feels its needs are the most important and the MoD lacks any expertise to pronounce on the issue.
But the MoD does not want another senior military figure because they think that the Defence Secretary and his IAS colleagues will be somehow diminished. Well, considering the current state of India's defence setup, they ought to have already been indicted for gross incompetence.
In view of this, the National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon had pushed for the setting up of the Naresh Chandra Committee. Another group headed by Ravindra Gupta, was simultaneously asked to to look at the issue of defence manufacturing and indigenisation. But after the committees, comprised mostly of former government and military officials, had done their work they find that there are no takers within the government for their advice.
But that should not surprise. Bureaucratic resistance to reform is a given whenever there is talk of reform. What does surprise, however, is the spinelessness of the UPA II ministers who tamely allowed their bureaucrats to manipulate them into a paralysis. As long as P Chidambaram was there, the Home Ministry was supportive of reform, but with Sushilkumar Shinde at the helm, the donothing school prevails.
As for the Defence Ministry, the less said the better. AK Antony is happiest when he does not have to take any decisions whatsoever. This clearly suits his bureaucrats who have so far successfully blocked the passage of the Naresh Chandra Committee report to the Cabinet Committee on Security. Whether the CCS itself has the political gumption to tell the babus where to get off or not, remains to be seen if and when the report reaches them. But going by the record of the UPA II, there is not much hope. As for the PM, he has now given up on his political colleagues and is totally dependent on bureaucratic advice. It is not too difficult to guess what that advice is: Do nothing, there's nothing broke and there is nothing that needs fixing.
The problem is that not that the national security system is not broke, but that it is rapidly hollowing out from within.


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MOCA Acquires Eleanor Antin's "100 Boots"
Oct. 31, 2015
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has acquired Eleanor Antin's 100 Boots, an original set of fifty-one vintage halftone postcards. An important work of Conceptual art, Antin's 100 Boots is a mailwork consisting of photographs of 100 black rubber boots in special, often dramatic or enigmatic situations. This is the first work by Eleanor Antin to enter the museum's permanent collection.
Antin conceived of 100 Boots as a means of circumventing some of the spatial and temporal limits imposed on an artist whose work is shown in a gallery situation. Each postcard includes a photograph of the boots, a title for the particular adventure (e.g. "100 Boots On The Way to Church"), and the date, time, and place at which the picture was taken. While most of the boots' adventures have taken place in southern California, where the artist lives, the series concludes in New York City. Executed over a two-and-a-half year period between 1971-1973, Antin mailed the postcards at irregular intervals, ranging from 3 days to 5 weeks, to people and institutions around the world.
Eleanor Antin (USA, b. 1935) lives and works in San Diego, California, where she is an emeritus professor at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). This year, she was included in "America Is Hard To See," at The Whitney Museum of American Art (May - Sept, 2015). Her solo show, "Passengers", was at Diane Rosenstein in April, 2014.

subset: commoncrawl


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Three generations of the Ferguson family have committed in providing quality sustainable Australian seafood direct from the ocean to you.
Ferguson Australia is a South Australian seafood business which owns and operates fishing vessels and processing facilities in South Australia. Ferguson's wild-caught frozen fish range can be found in independent supermarkets across the state. The fish is locally sourced from Kangaroo Island, Coorong, Eyre Peninsula, Great Australian Bight and Tasmania. Please check our website for where to buy.


text: Funeral service for the late Laura Maude MacLean, 94, New Glasgow, was held February 5 in Second United Baptist Church, New Glasgow, with Reverend Dr. Moses B. Adekola and Reverend Matthew G. Lucas officiating. A private burial will take place at a later date. Mrs. MacLean died January 29, 2019, in Glen Haven Manor. Born February 14, 1924, in Sunnyville, Guysborough County, she was a daughter of the late John Gordon and Lillian Ann (Dorrington) Skinner. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting and gardening. She had a great sense of humour and zest for life. She was an active member of Second United Baptist Church. She was a member of the senior choir, the ladies auxiliary, finance committee, trustee committee and the social committee for many years. She was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 34, New Glasgow. She is survived by seven daughters, Gloria, Halifax; Dianne (Leo), New Glasgow; Marva, Toronto; Lois (Wendell), Dartmouth; Glenda (Eugene), New Glasgow; Rhonda (Larry), Amherstburg, Ontario; Janice, Maryland, USA; six sons, Alvin (Gardy), Truro; Gary, Saint John; Reginald (Cathy), Westville; Randolph, Toronto; Sherman, Dartmouth; Kevin (Kelli), Bedford; three step-daughters, June, Sally, both of Windsor, Ont.; Patsy, St. Croix, Virgin Islands; many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; three sisters, Elizabeth, Halifax; Pearl, New York; Rita, Antigonish; brother, Tom, Sunnyville. She was predeceased by her husband, Alvin; daughter, Norma; three sisters, Hattie, Dorothy, Ella; eight brothers, Wilfred, Earle, Norman, Chester, John, George, Henry, in infancy; Lloyd; stepdaughter, Betty. Memorial donations may be made to Second United Baptist Church, PO Box 51, New Glasgow, NS, B2H 5E1 or to Diabetes Canada.


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The Golden Globes were last night and it's always a night of extreme glamour. I was headed to the afterparties, so I teamed up with my day 1 favorite makeup artist, Chloe, to bring you a tutorial of my look.
Chloe and I normally do a heavier smoky eye + pink/nude lip, but this time I wanted to stay true to the Hollywood theme.
Old Hollywood glamour never goes out of style and can go with so many different types of clothing.
We made it super simple and easy for you to do this at home! All you have to do is follow the steps and BAM! Your very own DIY red carpet look.
Chloe and I both have IG stories of the process in case you need more to reference. Head over to our Instagram story highlights.
Click here for my IG. || Click here for Chloe's IG.
The Hair:
First prep your damp hair with Rene Furterer Volumizing Foam in your roots. Blow dry smooth and clip in your hair extensions, if you have them.
Spray Chi's Iron Guard Thermal Protecting Spray all over your hair before curling.
Section your hair and curl hair facing one direction (toward your face). Pin up with a bobby pin like in the above pic.
Do this to every section until you've done your entire head.
Leave your hair in pin curls while you do your makeup to ensure that the curls set properly. If you have hair that has difficulty holding curls, I would leave the pins in for longer than 30 minutes to an hour to ensure your hair holds better.
The Makeup:
The skin prep –
Elcie Cosmetics The Glow Enhancer | Ole Henrikson Banana Bright Eye Cream | Glossier balm dotcom lip balm in mint
Eyes –
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette | Dose of Colors Friendcation Palette | Colourpop All Star Foundation Primer | Kiss lashes #11
First, use the Anastasia Contour Palette in light/medium. Put shade "banana" all over the lid to the brow bone then contour the crease with shade "fawn" on a blending brush. Yes, you can totally use a contour palette on your eyes! Make use of those makeup sets.
Next, use the Dose Of Colors Friendcation Palette to create a subtle cut crease with a deep brown shade. Then use "just a kiss" from that palette. Chloe used her finger and patted it onto the lids to give my eyes a pop. She also placed the dark brown color under the lash line & the "just a kiss" shade in the inner corner.
For your wing eyeliner –
The wing is the hardest part to get right. Line your lid first – from the inner eye corner to the outer eye corner.
Chloe's tip: open your eyes and keep them open when you're creating the wing. This allows you to do a cleaner & more cohesive line across the board. You want to be able to see where the wing is going when your eye is open – not be surprised once you open your eye and see a crooked wing.
Glue on Kiss Lashes #11.
Option: line your inner waterline with a brown liner.
I kept my Nic Mora for Beauty Kitchen Eye Gels on while Chloe did my eyes for maximum under eye perfection.
For your face –
Elcie Micro Silque Foundation | Elcie Complete Remedy Silique Concealer
Blend your foundation the way you normally would! I love Elcie because it's lightweight and you can layer it on for more coverage.
Use the Elcie concealer under your eyes and down to your cheeks, on your chin and between your eyebrows. Blend well.
After you've blended in your concealer, set it with Glossier's Wowder.
Contour with KKW Beauty Creme Contour Stick.
We decided to go with creams because it's way easier to achieve the desired look than with powders. Also, creams are more hydrating on your skin, which is perfect for the winter time.
For bronzer, we used Nudestix in Bondi Bae. I loved the creaminess of this bronzer!
Next add your blush. Smile and dab along the apples of your cheeks. We used Nudestix In The Nude.
Highlight me up! When you're taking pictures all night, your highlighter should be on fleek so that your cheekbones pop. For this look, we used Benefit's Watt's Up! Cream Highlighter.
Almost done! Line your lips first. We used Colourpop's Bitchette. I like mine a little over-lined for an extra umph for full lips. We filled in my lips with the liner as well. Again, more umph! Top off with Dose Of Colors liquid lipstick in Merlot.
Last steps –
Now that your makeup is done, it's time to take out the pin curls. After you release each pin, pull on the curl.
Once you've taken out all the pins, take your brush, spray it with hairspray and comb through.
Use a flat iron lightly through your hair if you want looser curls. We like it a little looser than the traditional Hollywood vibe.
FIN! I paired this look with a yellow jewel tone dress and with a classic black dress to show you two different ways to wear it. The yellow dress gave me major 1950s Cry Baby vibes, which is the look I wanted for last night. The black dress look is perfect for anything! You can really do so much with this makeup look and still keep it looking fresh.
Special shoutout to my favorite beauty guru, Chloe, who is always down to try new looks with me! No one makes me feel prettier and most like myself like Chloe does. Can you believe I've been working with her for 2 and a half years now?!
Let us know what makeup looks you'd like to see here.
xo NM
Cover photo credit: Bustle


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I just wanted to write and thank all of our wonderful patients and supporters over this past year. I am so proud of the clinic and the fantastic reputation it has. My main focus has always been putting patients needs first and making sure they get the best treatment possible.
Here are the Christmas opening hours as I realise pain doesn't stop for Christmas.
Here's a funny video to wish you Merry Christmas!
I am excited to announce the launch of my book on Low back pain is happening this Thursday at 7pm-8pm in the Buntingford Library.
My book has been written to try and cover all aspects of back pain from common causes to different aspects that need to be looked at from the physical side, mental health and social side to back pain.
Luckily most episodes of back pain are short lasting but for the unlucky few it can cause pain for a lot longer and so it is important to have lots of coping strategies.
At the book launch I will be giving a short talk with the opportunity to ask questions along with drinks and nibbles. Everyone is welcome to attend.
There will be the chance to buy my book at the discounted rate of just £9.99.
It would be wonderful to see you there. For more information call 01763 87 80 87 or visit www.low-back-pain.co.uk.
Best Business Women Awards 2018 Finalists announced.
The Best Business Women Awards have announced their finalists today for 2018. The business world is full of talented and dedicated female entrepreneurs who not only run successful businesses but in many cases also juggle the needs of their families. The Best Business Women Awards are designed to recognise the achievement of those women across a wide range of business categories and is open to any female business owner UK wide.
Local businesswoman Louise Hampton from Attend2Health has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Health and Wellness and Customer service categories. Louise stated 'I am so excited to be shortlisted in two categories this year. Not only is the clinic up for the award of Best Health and Wellness Clinic but also for the Best Customer Service. We really try our best to provide the greatest experience for our patients and it is so nice when this is recognised.'
Debbie Gilbert, organiser of The Best Business Women Awards said 'Now in our 4th year we have seen the number of entries triple since we launched. The standard of our finalists is exceptionally high. We are delighted to receive entries from female entrepreneurs from throughout the UK, from women who are real trailblazers in their industry. This is a tough competition judged by business experts. To be a finalist is a major achievement. Finalists have been selected for their business acumen, determination, creativity and tenacity. Almost 90% of start-ups fail in the first 3 years and all our finalists are all shining examples of being successful entrepreneurs who have proved their success to our judges.'
The gala final of The Best Business Women Awards will be held on 11th October 2018 at Tewin Bury Farm, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, the winners will be announced at the final.
Pain is a symptom we are still trying to understand. At a cellular level nerve cells called neurons transmit impulses down a nerve. The inside of the cell is usually negatively charged however, when an impulse is sent from a cell body, sodium ions flood into the cell and the impulse is transmitted down the nerve through a series of action potentials. Usually neurons do not fire an action potential unless stimulated to do so.
When a nerve is injured however, it can repeatedly fire and become hypersensitive. Or it can sit just under the threshold, so that the slightest thing makes the neuron fire, such as a small movement, extra stress or heat.
Many things play a part in the pain process. You may have pain in your leg one hour but not the next. Or sometimes you can be tickled and sometimes not. There are so many things that can affect the outcome.
Pain can be seen as a circular model, where the pain can start anywhere along the circle and can be changed by the different inputs and feedback. The following figure shows how so many things impact pain.
Due to the circular nature this is how chronic pain can ensue long after a tissue injury. Not only do you need to look at healing the physical injury, stress and your mental health can also have an affect on pain. Things like doing meditation or mindfulness can really help pain levels as well as addressing any tension in muscles such as trigger points. Massage or using a massager can really help to reduce these.
To book a free chat or for more information call 01763 878087.
Sciatica is usually the name given when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed in some way, causing pain down the back of the leg where the sciatic nerve runs. There are lots of different causes of sciatica but the main ones are either a disc pressing on one of the nerve roots or piriformis syndrome where the piriformis muscle presses on the sciatic nerve.
Here is a picture showing where the sciatic nerve runs and why pain, tingling or numbness can be felt all the way down to the foot.
A disc would affect a nerve as it leaves the spine and depending on how much the disc is bulging effects how far down the leg the pain is felt. Discs can also cause weakness in the muscles and the loss of reflexes. If you ever experience pain down both legs with problems going to the toilet you must seek medical attention as soon as possible as it could be something called cauda equina.
This next diagram shows where the piriformis is and how close it lies to the sciatic nerve. Therefore if this muscle is in spasm it is more likely to affect the sciatic nerve.
If you suffer from pain in the back or leg why not give us a call and see if we can help. We can do some orthopaedic tests to help us work out where your pain is coming from and the bast way to treat it. You will then know how to manage your pain and how to prevent it coming back with advice on the best exercises to do along with treatment such as massage if a muscle like the piriformis is involved or treatment to reduce the inflammation in the spine.
To book your free chat call 01763 878087.
At attend2health the main thing we are concerned about is helping people get better. We want to provide the best service possible and strive to do this everyday. We hold group training sessions to learn from each other and discuss any tricky cases with the patients permission. By working so closely together we feel we can provide the best service for our patients.
We have questionnaires for patients to fill in to make sure we are doing all we can to help and love it when we also get testimonials from patients saying how well they are doing. Currently there are 54 reviews on google which can be seen here.
We also have 51 reviews on Facebook and 20 on Whatclinic.com
A couple of patients have given us a video testimonial which is great for other people to hear their experiences. One can be seen here.
If you experience any aches or pains don't wait for them to get worse call us today on 01763 87 80 87 and see how we can help. We are open 7 days a week to make it easier to get an appointment around work.
Ever wondered what we do at Attend2Health or how we can help – here are just 10 of the ways we can help… For more information or to book a free chat call us on 01763 878087.
By taking a case history and finding out from you where you are getting any pain or things you do that might aggravate your back, this is our first step in finding out what the problem is.
We then conduct a thorough examination which can include taking blood pressure and neurological testing such as testing the reflexes to work out where the pain is coming from and what it is affecting. From this we can come to a diagnosis and work out if we can treat what's wrong or whether you need further testing or to see the GP instead.
If your problem involves the muscles and joints we have a number of different treatment options which can help. One of those options is massage to help relax any muscles which are tight and in spasm.
Ultrasound is a tool we can use to help relax muscles and help decrease inflammation.
Gentle mobilisation or manipulation of the spine is an effective way to help loosen stiff or locked joints in the spine relieving tension on the nerves and reducing pain.
Other tools we can use to help include an activator which is very gentle and used to help the spine move better and a Thumper which is a type of massage machine which helps to relax tight muscles without being too painful.
By using tape this can help support muscles and help for example to keep your shoulders back or give a little extra support to you low back if you have pulled a muscle there. It just gives the muscles a chance to recover if they are always working. Tape can also help treatment last longer as you usually wear it for a few days.
Acupuncture is another great way to reduce pain and muscle tension.
Exercises are a great way to help strengthen your back to help prevent the pain coming back again.
We can go through exercises in the clinic to make sure they are bring done correctly.
We will also give you exercises to do at home to help your back pain. Exercises are an important part of your recovery from any injury or pain as an area typically weakens when it is in pain.
I hope you have found all this information helpful but if you do have any questions or want to know more please get in touch as we would be happy to help.
Just call us on 01763 87087. I look forward to hearing from you.
Winter hibernation is coming to an end and many will be starting to think about Spring gardening jobs. It's great to get outdoors and blow the cobwebs away but take care of your back with our great advice.
– Don't wear clothes that are tight or could constrict your movement.
Warm Up
– Gardening is like any other exercise; you need to warm up first. Don't go straight into the heavy work; start off with lighter jobs as this will lessen the chance of muscle strain.
Take a break
– Vary your activity by spending no more than 20-30 minutes on any one thing and make sure you take regular breaks.
Clever spring pruning
– Get as close as possible to the things you are pruning and avoid overstretching to reach the area you are dealing with.
– Invest in some long handled secateurs to reach plants and bushes that are beyond normal reach.
– If you are planning a trip to the local garden centre store to buy heavy items such as compost, buy smaller bags rather than one big bag as they are easier and safer to carry. Better still, have it delivered direct to your home.
– Don't lift with your arms straight out, keep the elbows bent and to your side to minimise the stress on your back.
– If having items delivered, have them unloaded as close to where you need them as possible; this will save the effort of moving them again.
– A specialist garden trolley might be worth investing in to move these sorts of materials around, especially if you have lots of patio pots to move around as well.
If you do start to suffer from back pain – book a free 15 minute chat with one of our practitioners and they can let you know if it is just an ache which will go after a day or two or whether any treatment maybe needed to help it. Don't suffer in pain call 01763 87 80 87.
As with all supplements the research supporting them varies but it is always worth trying them for around 3 months and see if they help
This has been getting a lot of press lately and it seems from the research that it is very good to help reduce inflammation and for spinal cord injuries. One study was published in the journal Neurology Research International was called The potential of Curcumin ( the Indian spice Turmeric) in treatment of spinal cord injury and is worth a read.
Combined medical and surgical treatment after acute spinal cord injury: results of a prospective pilot study to assess the merits of aggressive medical resuscitation and blood pressure management. Fernando L. Vale, M.D., Jennifer Burns, M.D., Amie B. Jackson, M.D., and Mark N. Hadley, M.D.
Division of Neurosurgery and Department of Rehabilitative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
Glucosamine has had mixed research reviews but it is worth trying this supplement if you suffer from arthritis in the joints. Glucosamine has been shown to help rebuild the cartilage in joints and decrease inflammation. 1500mg should be taken a day but this supplement should be avoided if you are diabetic, pregnant or allergic to shellfish.
Derfoul A, Miyoshi AD, Freeman DE, Tuan RS. Glucosamine promotes chondrogenic phenotype in both chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells and inhibits MMP-13 expression and matrix degradation. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2007;15(6):646–655. [PubMed]
Dodge GR, Jimenez SA. Glucosamine sulfate modulates the levels of aggrecan and matrix metalloproteinase-3 synthesized by cultured human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2003;11(6):424–432. [PubMed]
Omega-3 fish oil are made up of essential fatty acids which are known as EPA and DHA. Omega 3 is an excellent supplement to help rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is also good for the heart. This meta-analysis below showed reduced consumption of painkillers when taking 2.7g of Omega-3 a day for people with RA.
AMR – Omega-3 PUFA and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Lee YH1, Bae SC, Song GG. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis. Arch Med Res. 2012 Jul;43(5):356-62
I hope you have found this information helpful. All these supplements are for sale at the clinic. Ask your practitioner to see if any would be suitable for you to take and see how you get on. They don't suit everyone but some people have seen enormous benefit from them.
For a free 15 minute chat to see how we can help call the clinic on 01763 878087.
Are you feeling a bit low this winter time? Fed up of being in pain and struggling to do the things you love? It doesn't have to be this way. At Attend2Health we are trained to diagnose your pain or refer you for further investigation.
No one should have to suffer from muscle or joint pain without finding out whats wrong. At Attend2Health we can come up with a personalised treatment plan which would include hands on treatment such as mobilisation, massage or manipulation as well as exercises to do at home. I have found most people can get benefit from chiropractic treatment and even if the pain doesn't completely go they feel so much better and understand how they can manage and listen to their body. Its such a great feeling when you are able to make such a difference to peoples lives. We offer a free 15 minute chat so why not book one today and see how you can get your life back.
By coming to Attend2Health we treat the cause not just the symptoms. We can set some realistic goals so you will have more energy to play with the grandchildren, be able to get out in the garden this spring and not need so many painkillers. Here's what some of our patients say:


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Free Cheat Sheet Reveals…
Get your hands on my cheat sheet for setting up training programs that took a 132lbs. skinny
weakling from not being able to bench the bar to deadlifting 3x his own body weight and
winning silver at the nationals.
Powerlifting For Endurance Athletes
"Why should I do any cardio? I only need enough conditioning for five reps." "Lift weights? Are you freaking kidding me? I'm a runner, I'm not going to touch weights." "There's no way I can go for a run. My knees would explode within the first minute." "Squatting and...read more
3 Weaknesses That Ruin Your Strength Gains
3 Weaknesses That Ruin Your Strength Gains This scenario happens all too often. Your lifts have been going smoothly for a few weeks and then all of a sudden the bar feels heavier than it should. Your squat is crumbling, bench feels slow, and your deadlift is glued to...read more
How To Cut Fat And Maintain Strength
Whether you let your diet get away from you during your last strength cycle, you need to cut weight for a meet, or you just want to be shredded and strong, inevitably there will come a time in your strength training career where you'll want to lose body fat. But...read more
Deciphering Milo, His Bull, And Strength Plateaus
Allow me to introduce you to Milo of Croton. Milo was a 6th century wrestler who, legend has it, once proudly burst a band around his head by simply inflating the veins of his temples. Slightly weird, but impressive nonetheless. What Milo was most famous for though,...read more
The Bench Press Builder You've Been Missing
In the world of designer barbells, bench press purists, and PR blowhards, the solution to your niggling shoulder pain, "tennis elbow," and underwhelming amount of weight on the bar can be solved by adding one often overlooked exercise into your program. I love...read more
Cardio for Powerlifting: The Why And How For More Strength And Muscle
What's the first thing coming to mind when you think of the word cardio? Especially cardio for powerlifting. I bet it brings to your thoughts the image of an emaciated guy running the Boston Marathon. As a strength athlete, the thought of running until you begin...read more
Help – I'm Stuck and My Lifts Won't Go Up! 5 Questions to Ask When Your Progress Stalls
You put in the work, day in and day out, diligently following your training program. This is easy enough to do on the good days when you feel boss and the bar moves like a hot knife through butter, but we all know that's not the whole story. You also lift on the days...read more
Here's Exactly What To Do When One Of Your Lifts Sucks
It's Monday. While the rest of the world is hit with a mild case of depression due to the end of the weekend, you spring out of bed with excitement. Why? Monday means you're deadlifting. The deadlift strength you possess is uncanny. Every one of your reps feels fast....read more
How To Build A Bulletproof Lower Back (and Watch Your Deadlift Skyrocket)
During my first year of acting school, I had a professor who had a bad back. He was legendarily fat and hobbled about, despite being just over 50. As an alum of the program he now was a tenured part of, his headshot and photos of his glory days were easily found with...read more
6 Ways to Keep Progressing When You're No Longer a Training Novice
What's the only thing more frustrating than the protein scoop being at the bottom of the tub? What seems to happen to every lifter the moment they seem to really get addicted to lifting? What seems like a myth until it happens to you? Yep, you guessed it, the...read more
Get your hands on my cheat sheet for setting up training programs that took a 132lbs. skinny weakling from not being able to bench the bar to deadlifting 3x his own body weight and winning silver at the nationals.


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Boris has suggested in a recent article that we should think of the positives of brexit. Well okay, for starters he's not going to be PM, his two Bullingdon buddies Cameron & Osborne will also be joining him in the job's centre soon enough, Farage has gone, oh and Osborne appears to have finally thrown his toys out of the pram and declared that the policy of austerity is over. Given the uncertain political waters the UK is now entering into both he and the likely new PM (Teresa May) have accepted that they cannot met the planned fiscal targets (of course we've known that for sometime) so he's going to give up even trying to cut the deficit.
Of course the reality is that the Tory policy of austerity was always smoke and mirrors. The reality is that the chancellor's policy flies in the face of Keynesian economics. While the labour government did run up a large deficit immediately after the financial crisis, most years they ran a much smaller deficit than Osborne and indeed even ran a surplus for several years. Overall Osborne has borrowed far more in 6 years than Gordon Brown did in 13 years.
To draw an analogy, with a stalling economy Osborne wants the UK economic plane to climb, so he's been pulling back on the controls in an effort to get the nose up (I want to cut the deficit so I cut spending). However, a stall usually means insufficient lift and raising the nose will just reduce airspeed further (cutting public spending just worsens a recession and slows down the economy further), as well as changing the angle of attack on the wings, which also reduces lift, i.e. it makes a bad situation worse not better. It also raises the risk of the plane entering into a deep stall (which means loss of all vertical control) which makes recovery from the stall nearly impossible (that would be the Greek economy). In effect the Keynesian argument is that, much like a plane the counter-intuitive response to a stall is you push the controls forward, put the plane into a shallow dive (i.e. increase public spend as tax revenue is falling in recession), pick up speed and restore lift. Then you level off and resume the flight.
The real reason for austerity was that the Tories wanted the excuse to cut public services that do not benefit their social class, while cutting taxes for the wealthy. The fact that its plunged many in Britain into dire poverty does not register. And given how many of the poor also voted for Brexit (so desperate is their plight) it just highlights the heavy price the country has been paying for austerity. As a consequence I'm doubting that the Tories are now about to embrace Keynesian economics.
Keynesian economics says the role of government is to effectively act as a damper in the economy. Increasing public spending when the economy is in a downturn, ensuring the welfare state stops people falling into a poverty trap, protecting public services (vital to any recovery). Then when the economy does recover the state will of course need to raise taxes to pay off the debts its run up. Instead what we're likely to see is much public spending targeted to benefit Tory voters and specific special interests.
For example take the troubled Hinkley C project. The project was in crisis even before Brexit, now some argue the case for the plant has been fatally undermined. The consequences of it being cancelled would be disastrous for the UK's credibility. Not only would it be mean no new nuclear plants in the country, but a host of other large projects from HS2 to Heathrow expansion would all be unlikely to proceed. So I can all but guarantee that the necessary cash will be found by the UK to help fund this, even though the country is already giving an effective subsidy of 68% of the cost of every watt Hinkley C will generate.
Similarly the slow down in the construction industry will likely have a knock on effect for UK manufacturers. Let's say JCB, whose boss very publicly backed brexit, was to get in trouble. Would it be acceptable, while they are trying to sell the concept of brexit to the doubters (a situation made worse if a leave backer like Gove is in charge), if a load of workers who were told by their boss to vote leave started losing their jobs. I can just see the protest banners now, we voted leave and all we got was a pink slip. So I'm guessing that if this happened, the government would be very quick to open the cheque book.
And similarly the spiv's and speculators can make all the risky bets they want from now on. Its all but guaranteed that if any bank gets in trouble, over the next few years, they will be bailed out, regardless of the cost. The economy is in too fragile a state for another banking crisis. brexit has effectively given the city a blank cheque to be as irresponsible as they want.
Of course, a key feature of Keynesian economics is that, while there is nothing wrong with a government borrowing in hard economic times. But! it must be prepared to cut spending (i.e. on large infrastructure projects, not welfare) and raise taxes in good economic times to pay off its debts. Osborne has steadfastly refused to do this. He has had several periods of moderate growth where he could have raised taxes, yet he chose not to. Indeed he's now talking about lowering corporation tax as a result of the expected brexit slow down.
While the working class have taken a hammering from austerity he's not made cuts in areas that benefits older voters or wealthier voters (presumably because they tend to vote Tory). And of course he's pressing ahead with a Trident renewal, the costs of which are spiralling out of control (latest estimate? A jaw dropping £167 billion once you factor in running costs and decommissioning).
In short the economic policy of the next few years is likely to be continued austerity and squeezed incomes for many, but with Norman Lamont style deficits run up paying for Tory pet projects and bailouts to those in their circle of friends. And needless to say, its likely the UK's public debt will soar. The party that won two elections on a ticket of deficit reductions will leave the UK with a level of debt unseen since the 1940's. If you hear a creaking sound that will be John Maynard Keynes rolling in his grave.


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Client Love
"It's a pleasure working with Stella! She helped me dig deep into my internal dialogue to expose key insights I never knew I needed to confront. For instance, one of my biggest insecurities was making decisions that disappointed my parents. Stella helped me realize that my anxiety over disappointing others stemmed from a lack of trust in myself! She helped me connect the dots between self-trust and fear and judgment, which really changed the way I approached decision-making now. It was easy to talk to her. Stella is very patient and really listens to each word. Even when I couldn't articulate an answer, she helped nudge me in the right direction without imposing her own opinions onto me so that I am able to unearth these insights organically. Finally, she helped me discover the next action steps I can take so that I can start transforming immediately. I feel more in control & free with my decision-making now."
– Lucy Liang, Co-Founder of Coachviva.com, Seattle, WA
"Before speaking with Stella Autumn, I wasn't optimistic that speaking with a mindset empowerment coach could benefit me. Throughout the coaching session, Stella was always encouraging me to have an open mind and helped me to dig deep to figure out what I needed in order to help me with overcoming anxiety when having difficult conversations or confrontations. I never felt like I was being judged or told what I had to do. She asked probing questions that helped me bring out my truth of what I needed to do in order to overcome this obstacle. Stella and I came up with a few strategies of how to prepare myself for these difficult conversations and over the last few months I have been applying them to real life situations and I actually feel that I have built up my confidence. Now I feel as though I have the tools to approach a difficult conversation that can lead to a positive outcome."
– Ariel Federico, Executive Assistant, Connecticut
Praise for Queen Rising: 8 Secret Skills of Successful Women:
"I loved reading your 8 Secret Skills. I've been trying to get up the courage to set up a home studio so I can start doing voiceover work. I'm scared of spending the money. It's not a huge amount, but I'm worried about making a bad investment. Your book reminded me that it's an investment in myself and my future, and even if it doesn't work out it'll be OK and I'll still learn something from the experience. Stalling is the worst option right now. I need to just get started."– Steph P., from the UK
SoulFire Tribe offers several pathways,
so you can choose the one most aligned with you!
Learn more on working with me to jumpstart your transformation into loving yourself and discovering the confidence within to lead a happy, balanced, and successful life defined by your own terms!
Ready to Make Magic Together?


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Both Navy and Louisiana Tech carry two-game losing streaks – including setbacks in their respective conference title games – into the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Midshipmen, who fell to Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship before losing to Army for the first time in 15 years, have won three straight bowl games – including this one in 2013. The Bulldogs have won two bowl games in a row and are seeking their third consecutive nine-win season.
Navy has not been the same team since losing senior quarterback Will Worth – the nation's leader with 25 rushing touchdowns – early in the loss to Temple on Dec. 3. Sophomore Zach Abey has run for three scores since taking over but has thrown four interceptions in the two games. Abey and his crew will need to get some early points in order to prevent a situation where they need to play catch up through the air opposite Louisiana Tech's relentless passing attack.
Bulldogs quarterback Ryan Higgins was named Conference USA MVP after throwing for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs against eight interceptions for the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense (44 points per game) and third-ranked passing unit (359.8 yards). Navy's rushing game is fourth in the country at 310.9 yards, making for an intriguing clash of styles. "It certainly has some interesting dynamics when you look at the two teams and where both of our strengths are and both of our weaknesses are," Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz – who is 4-3 in bowl games – told reporters.
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE HISTORY: Louisiana Tech opened as 3.5-point favorites and that number wasn't high enough for bettors and has been climbing settling at 6.5. The total hit the board at 66 and has risen to two full points to 68. View the complete line history here.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We opened Navy as a 1 point favorite this bowl game, but took early action on Louisianna Tech (over 70%) The action has been so overwhelming on Louisiana Tech that the line has moved all the way to Tech -6.5 with over 85% of the action on Tech to cover." – Michael Stewart at CarbonSports.ag
WEATHER REPORT: The forecast for Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth Texas is looking wet, with cloudy skies and showers expected at kickoff. Temperatures in the mid-50's and slight wind to the north, make for a less than ideal day for football.
Louisiana Tech – LB Dalton Santos (questionable, academics), LB Jordan Harris (questionable, academics), S Secdrick Cooper (questionable, neck)
Navy – LB Ryan Harris (out, lower body), LB Josiah Powell (out, leg), WR Tyler Carmona (doubtful, foot), LB Mike Kelly (questionable, shoulder), WR Craig Scott (questionable, ankle), S Jerry Thompson (questionable, ankle), SB Darryl Bonner (questionable, head), S Kyle Battle (questionable, knee), SB Joshua Walker (questionable, shoulder), SB Josh Brown (questionable, foot), CB Elijah Merchant (questionable, concussion), G Marcus Edwards (questionable, personal), LB Hudson Sullivan (questionable, knee)
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (8-5 SU, 8-5 ATS, 10-3 OU): Higgins has one of the nation's top targets in senior Trent Taylor, who is second in the country in receptions (124), third in yards (1,570) and among 31 players with at least 10 receiving TDs, although he has only two in his last eight games. Junior Carlos Henderson had 52 fewer grabs but nearly the same number of yards (1,406) and ranks tied for second among FBS players with 17 receiving scores. Junior running back Jarred Craft had a total of 31 yards on the ground over the last two games but gained 1,350 total yards this season and 13 TDs, nine of which came on the ground.
ABOUT NAVY (9-4 SU, 7-5-1 ATS, 8-5 OU): The Midshipmen will be challenged early and often by Higgins after allowing 25 TDs through the air and ranking 122nd in the country in passing efficiency defense. It'll be up to Abey and a fleet of backs – led by junior Chris High (500 rushing yards, five TDs) – to maintain possession and burn the clock. Senior fullback Shawn White had 310 of his 443 yards over the final five games, as well as four of his seven scores, while senior wideout Jamir Tillman has team highs of 38 catches and 615 receiving yards.
* Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Bowl games.
* Midshipmen are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 7-1 in Bulldogs last 8 games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Midshipmen last 4 Friday games.
COVERS CONSENSUS: The Covers public is backing Louisiana Tech with 55 percent of the wagers on the Bulldogs. The Over is getting 54 percent of the total action. View full consensus date here.
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I mentioned earlier that I got the idea to do MLP embroidery designs during the Cutie Mark Chronicles episode when Princess Celestia raised the Sun. The outline of Celestia over the sun in 3 colors looked awesome, but I wasn't able to do it until now.
There are 2 different designs available. The first, non-overlapped one, does not have much overlap in the thread colors. This will work fine on 99% of fabric, and save some thread. I also made an overlapped design, where the white for the sun is a complete circle without a cutout under Celestia's tail or body. I think it looks slightly better overlapped when on a low thread count fabric such as a bar towel. Here's a pic of the the non-overlapped one during a test run on a bar towel. You can see the gap where Celestia will end up going in on the next thread color.
We can't just stop there with Trollestia. I haven't done a Luna design yet, and this seemed like the perfect time for it. So here's a design of Luna raising the Moon in the same style based upon this drawling. Both are for a 100 by 100mm hoop.
The Luna embroidery design is here. Here's both on a pair of bar towels. Awesome overload.
Also, thanks for linking to this blog Equestria Daily. Hopefully lots of ponys will be able to use the designs I put up here to put MLP on everything in their house. I can probably make a few for people who ask, but I can't do a ton. If you want something embroidered with a design I have up here, just let me know and I'll help.


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More at New York Post: "A publicist for Howie Mandel says he's out of the hospital and plans to return to work Wednesday.
Mandel was in Toronto taping his new show "Howie Do It!" when he was taken to the hospital for an irregular heartbeat Monday, said Lewis Kay, publicist for the 53-year-old comedian and game show host.
Mandel was conscious and breathing when police officers responded to a report of a man with a medical condition at a downtown hotel Monday evening. Family members went with him to St. Michael's Hospital, police said."
Woman killed in Cleveland house fire – fox8.com
11 hours ago


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Commercial Umbrella insurance supplements your General Liability by providing Liability coverage over and above your underlying policy. This will come in handy when you get those high jury awards for negligence that has put many of companies out of business. This is not a very expensive policy when compared to the piece of mind it provides knowing that no matter what happens, your business will survive.
Business Umbrella coverage is a must to eliminate the possibility of a business killer that could put you out of business and destroy everything you have worked for,
Why not call us today and let our experts advise you on how to tailor make your condo policy just for you. Call 239-939-1010


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I have a Gateway ZX6971 All In One Touch Screen computer. It only beeps when I start it up...One long and 2 shorter beeps. I have power to my dvd drive and can open and close it...what is the deal. Gateway said they could fix it quickly for $150. Please help
message edited by Dabeaner
One long and two short indicates a problem with your video. Have you installed a video card or are you using on-board video? Have you changed any hardware recently?
If you're using a video card, with the power cord removed, remove the card and reinsert it to make sure it's got a good connection.
Everything is factory and never been opened. Should I open it and remove/reinstall the video card? Thanks for the response....Gateway said they could get me fixed right up for $150.....hate them guys...
If it's still under warranty (which I guess it's not) it's probably best to let them fix it.
I'm not familiar with that model but it doesn't seem to be a typical desktop that's relatively easy to open up. The video must be on-board meaning a new motherboard would be the likely fix. Maybe that's what Gateway expects and that's why they could quote you a price.
Someone may post in having more experience with that model but from what I'm seeing, getting it fixed for $150 may be the best you can do.
There is no video card, the graphics are built into the Core i3-2120 CPU.
It isn't clear to me if you are getting video after you hear the beeps or not. Please clarify.
Here is what happens...
I turn on the power and hear the initial beep to start up....then approximately 2-3 seconds later it starts a long beep with 2 short afterwards. The screen NEVER lights up in any capacity and I can open/close the CD/DVD drive at will....initially if you listen when you first start it up you can start to hear it read the hard drive but immediately defaults to the beeping
Did the computer work before and then one day started what you describe in #6?
Did you mess around with any settings just prior to this happening?
The computer started running very slowly and some things would stop responding. I went to the msconfig to see if somehow something was running causing me issues..there were none so I canceled my way out. It ended up hanging up and had to unplug to get to respond. Couldn't hard boot or anything. Would not respond to any command. I even tried F8 to enter bios prior to start up but nothing. Thanks for the help


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The Role of the Chairperson
The role of chairperson is one that is very important in running a successful owners corporation. The chairperson will administer the wishes of the committee and work closely with an owners corporation manager in order to fulfil these wishes.
The Owners Corporation Act 2006 states that;
If an owners corporation does not have a committee, the lot owners must elect a member to be the chairperson of the owners corporation.
If an owners corporation has a committee, the chairperson of the committee is also the chairperson of the owners corporation.
A chairperson elected by the lot owners of an owners corporation under subsection (1) may be removed by resolution at a general meeting.


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Game Categories
Random Games
Little Ninja
Your fierce ninja is on the job to annihilate every bad ninja on sight! Use your weapons or teleport anywhere in order to smash them all!
How to Play Little NinjaMouse - Aim / Throw. 1-3 - Abilities.
Similar Games on Kizi Games | Kizi Juegos


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Companion: One That Accompanies Another
"God created man and, finding him not sufficiently alone, gave him a companion to make him feel his solitude more keenly." -Paul Valery
Imagine your existence without your family, friends and anyone who looks upon you with kindness. You are deprived of the fundamental human need for love and companionship; completely isolated from society. This reality lacks some of the most crucial experiences that have been valued from beginning of creation.
How does this connect to a novel filled with unearthly creations and a new revelation in science? Good question, after finishing Frankenstein the classic novel by Mary Shelley, it is evident that desire for companions play a critical role in the acclaimed Gothic story. I was fascinated by the profound representation of companionship within Shelley's writing. Above the themes of invention and nature I was intrigued by everyone's desire to have companionship. The entirety of the story revolves around this concept and Shelley conveys it throughout all elements of the novel. The most effective component was her use of an epistolary format, throughout each perspective every narrator expressed a similar yearning for companionship and love. I found Shelley's story telling to be ingenious as she seamlessly introduced the identical desire within her characters. The creature reasons with Victor to create another like him saying "you must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being"( Shelley 156). These arguments reflect Victor's personal aspiration for his own companionship and he is temporarily persuaded to the creatures ambitions. Shelly only further conveys this theme, by Walton communicating his needs of a companion to his sister during the letters of Victors story. For me this aspect of the story brought the theme full circle and made a preponderant impact as opposed to a singular narration.
I personally appreciated the incorporation of the theme companionship, as I felt that it provided a needed contrast against the harsh personalities of the characters. Prior to reading the creatures perspective I was not aware of how the neglect he faced would impact his longing to experience companionship. I previously accepted that the creature was the monster Victor presumed him to be, so the concept that he wanted a companion humanized him. This development in his characterization establishes a empathetic relationship between the reader and the creature. We as people can glimpse our own need to feel connected to another through the eyes of something viewed as foreign from us. I found this theme to be captivating as it is still predominant in most works to this day. To summarize, the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley utilizes the theme of companions to intricately weave together a tale of monsters, science and innovation.
Work Cited
Paul Valery Quotes.BrainyQuote,Xplore,www.brainyquote.com/authors/paul_valery.Shelley,
Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2013.
University, Cambridge. Cambridge Dictonary. 2018.


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Doctor insights on:
Atropine (Overview)
Atropine is a rhythm control agent which is a kind of cardiovascular drug.
Does lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) contain opium?
No: The molecule of Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) is similar to a molecule of other opioids. It sits on the same receptor, but does not activate it fully. ...Read more
Atropine (Overview)
Atropine is a rhythm control agent which is a kind of cardiovascular drug.
What is the treatment for atropine overdose?
Physostigmine: If the overdose is systemic this can be life threatening. You should go to an er. ...Read more
Does lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) treat diarrhea?
Yes: The shape of the Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) molecule is similar to opioid molecules, and thus sits on the same receptors. All opiods slow bowels, and thus treat diarrhea. ...Read more
What are the side effects of atropine if taken an overdose?
Anticholinergic: Atropine overdose leads to anticholinergic symptoms, like dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, decreased bowel sounds, flushing or reddening of the skin, fever and disorientation. ...Read more
Can lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) treat diarrhea?
Yes: The shape of the Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) molecule is similar to opioid molecules, and thus sits on the same receptors. All opiods slow bowels, and thus treat diarrhea. ...Read more
Could atropine dilate the pupils?
Atropine: Yes, leading to blurred visionGet a more detailed answer ›
How much can donnatal (phenobarbital atropine hyoscyamine and scopolamine) effect gastric emptying?
Quite a bit: Actually. The meds in it acts to slow down your intestinal motility, so it is supposed to do this. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Does donnatal (phenobarbital atropine hyoscyamine and scopolamine) work for ibs?
Helps spasms: Smooth muscle relaxant and Phenobarbital (barbiturate/sedative). Can be usefulas part of the overall rx picture. Not the only muscle relaxant available. Won't improve constipation, may slow down bowel. ...Read more
Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) - any side effects?
Yes: Diarrhea is a mechanism for body to remove toxins out of the body. Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) keeps toxins & infection inside so prolongs illness. ...Read more
How long do dilated pupils from atropine sulfate ophthalmic last?
4-7 days: Atropine is a strong and persistent dilator of the pupil. It will last 3-7 days in most depending upon the biochemistry of the pupil and the color of the iris (darker is less long and blue eyes last the longest). ...Read more
What is the treatment for lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) overdose?
Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) overdose: Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) is a weak opiate which could, in a worse case scenario. Kill you in an overdose. The patient should go immediately to an emergency room via ambulance where they have airway management and resuscitation capability to be evaluated. ...Read more
Dr. Prescribed several eye drops including atropine for pain caused by increased eye pressure but i've heard atropine is not good for glaucoma.
Different type: Glaucoma of the classic type (open angle) requires medication and sometimes surgery. Glaucoma termed "acute" is due to an anatomical issue in the eye which can be precipitated by pupillary dilators such as atropine. Your eye doctor has no doubt ruled this out as a possibility so that Atropine in your case would be safe to use. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Lomotil vs imodium (loperamide)?
Both work the same: Both Lomotil and Imodium (loperamide) contain opiod (narcotic) agonists which act to decrease muscle contraction in the small intestine and colon. ...Read more
How long can pupil dilatation lasts in patients who have used the atropine eye drops?
Up to 2 weeks: Atropine can cause pupillary dilation for up to 2 weeks. Eye drops typically used during examination have a shorter duration of effect lasting for a few to several hours depending on the exact drug and concentration used and individual responses to the drug ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Why did they recall the drug donnatal (phenobarbital atropine hyoscyamine and scopolamine)?
Donnatal (phenobarbital atropine hyoscyamine and scopolamine): The brand medication is still available, don't know if the generic medication is still made. ...Read more
What are the uses of lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine)?
Diarrhea: Lomotil (diphenoxylat and atropine) is used to treat diarrhea. It is usually a very effective medication. ...Read more
What medications contain phentolamine, tolazoline, pilocarpine, physostigmine, or acetazolamide?
For the full list: would see your pharmacist.Get a more detailed answer ›
How does atropine work on your eyes?
Dilates & relaxes it: Atropine is a long-acting drop that temporarily both dilates the pupil and paralyzes the focusing muscle. Its effect can last a week or more. It is used in inflammatory conditions of the eye, like uveitis, to increase comfort and promote healing. With great care it is also used to assist in determining the need for glasses in children. Children with crossed eyes are often examined after using it. ...Read more
Will transderm scop (scopolamine) cause pupils to dilate?
Yes: This is a common effect.Get a more detailed answer ›
What are these drugs used for? Narcan, (naloxone) atropine, valium, epinephrine, and lidocaine?
Reverse: narcotic respiratory depression, reverse severe bradycardia, sedation, cardiac arrest or asthma, local anesthesia ...Read more


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All-Area Girls Soccer MVP: Staples' Garcia leads Wreckers back to top
WESTPORT -- Lauren Garcia had one goal before she played her final game for the Staples girls soccer team.
That goal was to help the Wreckers go on an extended postseason run that included playing for an FCIAC championship, something the program hadn't done in 19 years.
With a roster full of talent and a new head coach in Barry Beattie, Staples opened people's eyes in the league in no small part to the performance of Garcia.
"In the preseason, I could tell we were going to have a really good year because everybody's attitude was dedicated and everybody was working hard," she said. "I knew everybody wanted to get to the top this year, compared to last year so I was really pleased. I've been saying it before but the belief that we could do it this year, with the confidence we had, was the reason why we were so successful."
Garcia, an All-State Class LL and All-FCIAC player, sparked Staples' turnaround with 16 goals, good for second on the team, and an area-leading 18 assists to help lift the Wreckers to a 14-3-5 overall record.
And in the biggest game of her high school career, the FCIAC championship against Fairfield Warde, she shined brightest with the game-tying goal to give the Wreckers a share of the conference crown for the first time since 1995 while earning MVP honors.
That's not her only MVP award because Garcia has been named the All-Area Girls Soccer MVP for 2014.
"Lauren has had a huge season in terms of her development and confidence," said Beattie, who took over as head coach this year after serving as an assistant coach at Staples for two seasons. "She has grown into a player who can consistently produce no matter the opposition, and is a constant threat in the final third."
Garcia said playing for Beattie was a pleasure and he shifted her to attacking midfielder this season from forward/midfield with tremendous results.
"He allowed us to be more creative on the field, which was a little bit different than last year," she said. "Playing attacking midfielder put me in better places to score and set up plays."
She said the position allowed her more freedom on the ball with support from solid midfield play.
Having the ability to make plays for herself and teammates led to a 6-0-1 start for the team with 34 goals scored. The Wreckers would lose their next two games, to Ridgefield and Fairfield Warde, and things didn't look good when they trailed defending FCIAC champion St. Joseph 2-0.
But thanks to the play of Garcia, who had a goal and two assists, Staples rallied to forge a 3-3 tie with the Cadets, in what turned out to be a defining moment in the team's season.
"That was the point where we felt we could compete with anybody in the state and in our league," she said.
Following the tie, the Wreckers never lost a game the rest of the regular season and wrapped up the No. 4 seed for the FCIAC playoffs. They defeated Wilton, 2-0, and New Canaan, 4-0, to reach the championship game where they would encounter Warde again.
The Mustangs would go ahead 1-0 in the second half but with under five minutes left in regulation, Garcia's shot from 35 yards out found its way into the top right corner.
Garcia said scoring that goal was like a dream coming true.
"I couldn't wait to play for Staples growing up," she admitted. "Our team worked extremely hard for 76 minutes and scoring that goal and bringing back an FCIAC crown made me feel proud to be a Staples Wrecker."
When all was said and done, the teams tied after two overtimes for the championship, which was fine with Garcia.
"Warde's a very good team so it was nice to share that with them because they really worked hard as well as we did," she said.
The championship bolstered Staples as it went into the Class LL state tournament as the No. 8 seed and captured its first two games, the latter a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FCIAC rival Wilton in double overtime, to reach the quarterfinals where the Wreckers had to face top-seeded Glastonbury.
Garcia said the team fought hard and gave the Tomahawks a test but it wasn't enough as Glastonbury won 2-1 and eventually went on to win the state championship over runner-up Warde.
That marked the end of her high school playing career and the beginning of another career as Garcia plans to play Division I soccer at Seton Hall University.
"I'm a little nervous but excited," she said. "Hopefully I can help the team with scoring because they play in a tough conference."
Beattie said with the skills Garcia possesses now, she'll make the transition to the college game.
"Her passing, shooting, and crossing is as good as you will see at her age and it will serve her very well playing D-I at Seton Hall," he said. "I am delighted to have coached a player of her caliber and wish her all the very best going forward."
To have her goal be realized while leaving with an FCIAC championship, no matter if it's a co-championship, was very gratifying to Garcia and she knows the program is now in a better place.
"The seven seniors on the team had never even been to FCIACs so that's what we were looking forward to this year," she said. "I'm most proud of how far we got."


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Reviving the Nondelegation Doctrine
The Gresham's Law of Law
The Rise of Delegation
We now live in a world of delegation. It is often said that most of the rules that are enforced at the federal level have not been enacted by Congress, but by administrative agencies. It was not always that way. The binding rules in the United States used to be enacted or recognized by other entities. The statutory rules would be enacted by Congress and they would be interpreted by the courts. Common law rules would be recognized by the federal courts. And, of course, more areas were addressed solely at the state level. It is true that agencies sometimes exercised delegated authority, but it was a much more limited affair.
This transformation to a world of delegation – to the Administrative State – has been quite astounding. It is worthwhile pausing to consider some of the ways it happened. There are two principal types of delegation that have occasioned this transformation: delegation of policymaking and delegation of legal interpretation.
The delegation of policymaking involves a congressional decision to authorize an agency to exercise policymaking discretion. For example, many statutes that authorize agencies to take actions that are in the public interest are best interpreted as delegating such discretion to the agency. The responsibility for this delegation largely lies with Congress, which decided to pass the statute. The lead in this type of delegation has been taken by the Democrats – during the New Deal, the Great Society, and the Obama Administration – but the Republicans have certainly employed this tactic as well. Additional responsibility for this type of delegation must lie with the Supreme Court, which after striking down a few delegations in 1935, has not struck down any, with the one possible exception of the Line Item Veto Act – the one delegation that would reduce the size of government.
Constraining the White House Staff
We live in a world where an increasing number of things that are supposed to be done by the Congress are done by the executive. Treaties are supposed to be approved by the President with the ratification of two thirds of the Senate, but the President makes many agreements on his authority based on a variety of claims. Legislation is supposed to be passed by Congress but agencies do most of the legislating through rulemaking. And wrongdoing by executive officials is generally reviewed by executive officials rather than by congressional impeachment. Some of these actions may be constitutional under the original meaning, but some are not.
Another way that the executive takes action that is supposed to be shared with Congress is through appointments. The Constitution provides that appointments are to be made by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, but the President often makes appointments on his own. Sometimes this was done through a broad understanding of the Recess Appointments Clause (which a majority fo the Supreme Court accepted, but see here for what I regard as the better view).
At other times, the President makes unilateral appointments of the White House staff on the ground that these staff members – however important their positions seem to be – do not constitute officers of the United States under the Appointments Clause. The reason is that these staff members are said merely to give advice, to engage in nonbinding conversations with officials, or to convey messages from the president to officials – actions that would not involve the exercise of substantial authority and therefore would not implicate the Appointments Clause under the Supreme Court case of Buckley v. Valeo. The public policy problem is that the number of these White House staff members is growing and therefore the power of the federal government is increasingly exercised by people who have not secured the consent of the Senate. Again, some of these actions concerning appointments may be constitutional under the original meaning and some may be unconstitutional.
Delegation, Unilateral Executive Authority and the Decline of Democracy
In a recent post, I discussed how Cass Sunstein argued, with the aid of the Star Wars saga, that delegation to the executive could be dangerous to democracy. While Posner and Vermeule contend that democracy favors delegation, because the democratic legislature has chosen to delegate, Sunstein notes that delegation can lead to the end of democracy, as it allows the executive to permanently displace the legislature. This was the case with Emperor Palpatine and with Adolph Hitler, both of whom received delegations of authority that they used to rule and never allowed the legislature to take back the authority.
Sunstein notes that George Lucas, the principal author of Star Wars, had analyzed the declines of democracies. According to Lucas, "You sort of see these recurring themes where a democracy turns itself into a dictatorship, and it always seems to happen kind of in the same way, with the same kind of issues, and threats from the outside, needing more control. A democratic body, a senate, not being able to function properly because everybody's squabbling, there's corruption."
Using Delegation to Promote Deregulation
I recently published an essay in Regulation magazine proposing a reform that would promote deregulation. The idea is to establish an administrative agency with the power to deregulate – to identify undesirable regulations passed by other agencies and to repeal those regulations.
Here is the intro:
For those who favor strong limits on regulation, the last 100 years in the United States have been disappointing. During this period, regulation grew almost continually. One of the reasons for that growth is the delegation of legislative power to administrative agencies, which allows those agencies to who write regulations with little oversight from elected lawmakers. To rein in regulation, advocates of limited regulation argue that Congress's delegation of its legislative authority must be restrained.
Unfortunately, reforms that attempt to eliminate or limit delegation are unlikely to be enacted. The practice of delegation has become a basic aspect of our political system. Its prevalence in the modern world is no accident. It occurs because delegation is popular with so many of the prevailing powers, including Congress, the president, the agencies, and those who favor regulation.
But proponents of limited regulation need not despair. While delegation certainly promotes regulation, it can also be used to promote deregulation. Congress could create an administrative agency that is given the power to pass deregulations – rules that either eliminate regulations or move the country back to a system of property and markets. By employing delegation in an effort to reduce regulation, proponents of limited regulation will not be fighting against one of the fundamental forces of our modern political system, but instead be employing that force for a beneficial purpose.
Delegation and Polarization
In a recent post, I wrote about how allowing the President to initiate war-making did not merely promote more wars, but also caused the Congress to become infantilized, not having an incentive to take responsibility for decisions about war. This problem results from not following the Constitution's original meaning in the separation of powers area.
A distinct, but similar problem occurs in the area of Congress's delegation of legislative authority to the executive branch – where once again departures from the original meaning concerning the separation of powers have problematic consequences. Here Congress actually takes the action of delegating legislative authority to the executive, in large part because this allows Congress to avoid political responsibility for the regulatory decisions that the agencies take. These delegations, however, violate the Constitution's requirement that the Congress make the basic policy decisions.


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Conducting important research
A $2.8m grant to Professor Paul Ching-Wu Chu, founding director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, could lead to the development of truly high-temperature superconductors. Chu has everything to try for as no experimental or theoretical evidence exists to suggest that superconductivity at temperatures above room temperatures are not achievable. Superconductivity without the need for significant cooling could lead to near resistance-free electrical generation and transmission.


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Loyal followers of this website–this is it! Grab your chance to own the novel for FREE! Tell a friend or family member. "Like," share, pin, forward, tweet, and re-post. Even if you already own a copy, grab another one! (Use your "Manage my Kindle" link to delete your old copy–then you can download a new one. Why? It will boost the book's rankings, and make it more visible to readers who haven't discovered it yet.)
Then, when you can find the free time–a bit trickier–ENJOY!
And don't forget, you do NOT NEED A KINDLE! See instructions here, under #2: https://clothosloom.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/problems-buying-or-reading-clothos-loom-we-got-answers-tech-support-2/