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Cover By Byran Burk
Interview by Miguel Montgomery & Adam Warmerdam
Miguel Montgomery: On a little bit of a different note about your tattooing, I've seen some Japanese tattoos with American roses in the background. I haven't seen too much of that. Did something spark that made you want to do that? Or did you just take it upon yourself, like 'this snake needs a rose next to it'?
Bryan Burk: There were a few conversations I had when I was working with Bob about how we should try doing that stuff. And there were some kids that I had tattooed on, one was my friend Jeff, who'd gotten a bunch of tattoos and wanted to fill in all the space around them. So he was one of the first people that I filled in with roses and water around everything because it kind of fit in all these little spaces he had. On his it worked, and I think if you're gonna do blue water with roses and some American stuff, it works. As long as you kinda keep it pumped up on the American side of town; color clouds and blue water with black behind all of that, like Eddy Deutsche, like Eddy meets late Sailor Jerry-type Japanese compositions, it'll work. But I think if you're doing black Japanese background with grey water, for whatever reason, roses look weird…
It could be just to my eye that it does, like if you have a koi fish with black background and grey water and roses; I think it looks strange. I think it would look better with like a beefed up Scott Sylvia funky cherry blossom that's done with a huge line, that's not perfectly symmetrical that's kinda slammed in there and loose. It's like an American hand that's making a Japanese style tattoo; that somehow works better to me than doing a rose amongst this Japanese scene.
M: I remember first seeing one of your tattoos and thinking, "I can't believe this guy put this rose in the middle of this Japanese sleeve." I was like, "Wow." I never knew what would spark someone to do that, I feel like you always just see the standard cherry blossoms, you know…
B: I think if you read about what Sailor Jerry really wanted to do, and I think Ed Hardy took up the challenge, but I think what Jerry wanted to do was take all the Japanese forms and use them to beef up or improve American tattooing. But I think Japanese culture for foreigners is so fascinating that a lot of times you start by going to learn about it then you get stuck in it; stuck in the idea that you want to do that stuff right, because it's so easy to do it wrong. And because almost nobody does it right, really. Even the Americans who are best at it, very few of them do it properly. I'd say the best five non-Japanese people who do Japanese tattoos; none of them really do it the way they do it in Japan. And the people that do it exactly the way they do it in Japan, it's completely boring.
I think that what Sailor Jerry's idea was when he started messing with that stuff, was to take their background and use it to make American tattooing really badass. And I think that aside from Ed, and Bob to and extent, Eddy, Scott, Jason Brooks, and a few other people, no one's really done that, because most of them just get stuck (including myself) in trying to do the Japanese stuff right.
M: So you think some of those guys, by seeing that or reading about it, kind of pushed you towards doing that?
B: Kind of, I don't think I've done it either. I think what most of us end up doing is putting some American elements into our Japanese tattooing. I think we end up doing Japanese tattooing with an American touch; that is really cool in-and-of-itself but I don't think we've learned how to do American tattooing that has a Japanese touch to it. And that would be really awesome; it's hard… and also because the clientele are really fascinated by Japanese tattooing because it's mysterious to us. That's why so many people want a koi fish… what is it about this goofy fish that it's basically the world's most popular tattoo? (Laughs)
M: I feel like… with Ron [Bryan's customer, Ron Chavarria] the tattoos he has from you… I would never picture that on somebody. I was watching you; I think you were outlining the cigar box or something and I was like, "What the fuck are you doing right now?" I was surprised that all this background was going around it. You have to sit and draw all this stuff to make it work. I was blown away… it was that, doing American stuff with Japanese background.
B: Yeah, you're throwing the American things into that setting. It's basically a Japanese style tattoo that's got an American hand to it, and American images within it. That's what I mean, learning how to do American tattooing but beefing it up. Like when I do an eagle, there's no Japanese element in there and maybe there could be, maybe it would look cool to have an eagle with cherry blossoms… do you ever try to mix that stuff in? You're stuff is pretty straightforward but I see you do that to some extent because you put, say, Japanese style water into these American images.


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We offer you the most extensive choice of accommodation and services for "our" islands - add our local knowledge and expertise - and you get the holiday that you want - at the best price. Not just the widest choice - but also the wisest choice. We are the only company to be able to genuinely "tailor-make" your holiday. There is no substitute for personal experience and local knowledge.
We are the only UK travel specialist for the wonderful islands of
Bonaire * Curaçao * Aruba * St. Martin * Saba * Grenada
We tailor-make "holidays of a lifetime" to each of these wonderful islands.
We regularly visit the islands and all the accommodation we recommend. The information we give you is personally gathered, with what people want and need to know, firmly in mind. We have visited, selected and can personally recommend the accommodation we offer you. We do not offer any resort we cannot recommend - unlike other travel companies. We have direct contracts with airlines, hotels, resorts, vehicle hire companies, dive centres and a whole host of service providers on the islands. We are the preferred tour operator, with exclusive prices, for many resorts on these islands.
Click the island name above for more information on each island.
. . . . . . . if you don't know the islands. That's where our local knowledge comes in. We are able to advise you about the accommodation and services that match your preferences and wishes. Each holiday is individually planned and priced. You get the holiday that you want - at the best price. We are the only company to be able genuinely "tailor-make" your holiday. Other travel companies claim they "tailor" holidays but they offer very limited choice and no local knowledge. That is not "tailor-made" ! It is also impossible for booking websites to provide you with the quality of service and information that we offer.
We are a small specialist company and give our customers a high level of personal service and support. Our customers tell us this is very valuable to them and we hope it is the main advantage of booking with us - and the reason why so many people book with us again. You can see what some people say about us by selecting the testimonials link at the top of the page. However, we know price is important. We are happy to provide a detailed and definite price quotation for you. All we ask, when comparing prices, is that you compare "like with like".
We are confident we beat any "like for like" quote - even from a "lowest price guaranteed" booking website.
* we have exclusive rates from the resorts - our prices are lower than other UK companies.
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If you pay for a holiday, by card, directly to the Caribbean, the full price will not be known until you see your statement - much later - possibly as much as 10% more than expected.
These factors - when combined - make our prices around 10% less than booking "direct".
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Using our local expertise we prepare a quotation with a detailed holiday itinerary for you. A "typical" itinerary can include :
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We always find the best schedule and lowest fare for your holiday dates. No matter how or where you book your flight we have the best price and payment terms. We give you as much time as possible to make sure all the details of your holiday are exactly as you wish. We book inter island flights for "multi-island" holidays as part of your itinerary. There are flights most days so you can choose the number of nights you stay on each island and the number of islands you wish to visit. The itinerary is always your choice. See How We Work above for more information.
We use our local knowledge to select the best resort for you. This can only be done by someone who has actually visited the accommodation on offer. We send detailed information about the resort and the alternative accommodation types they have.
We are a diving holiday specialist. On each "island page" above, you will find detailed information about the diving on each island and our diving holidays. Our famous Diamond Diving Deals are discounted diving holiday packages. They can apply to non-divers - we just take the "air" out ! DDD packages are a fantastic deal and they give you an honest price for a diving holiday. They can be fine tuned to suit you. Beware of "dive holiday" prices that do not include diving. It's a nasty shock when it's added to the price later. Our DDD complete diving package price is often lower than our competitors' "flight + room only" price - for the same accommodation.
Vehicle Hire
We recommend hiring a vehicle and we can make sure you have a vehicle waiting for you when you arrive. With a vehicle, no matter which island you are lucky enough to be on, you can get "out-and-about" easily - explore all those secluded bays - enjoy shore diving and snorkelling - and do some sightseeing. Freedom to do what you want.
There are lots of other activities if you want to do more than relax or dive. Click the island pages above for more information. We are able to advise and book any extra activities or excursions you may want to enjoy. We send you a list our favourite sights to see and things to do.
We can add meals to your itinerary. We will also send you a list of the best restaurants. We can arrange for a grocery pack if you are renting a private house or villa. If you self-cater we have information on local supermarkets. Most resorts have a restaurant - if the desire to cook for yourself suddenly loses its appeal !
Many "information exchange" sites have now become advertising sites - having built their database. Our advice and information has a great deal of responsibility attached to it - both moral and legal. Our information has to be accurate - by law. We take our information from our own visits and we ask EVERY returning customer for their comments.
Our information is based on personal experience and a wide spread of real customer's opinions.
This page outlines what we do, but does not cover every aspect of our service. We are aware of our responsibilities to our clients and appreciate how important your holiday is to you. Our reputation for good customer service is our biggest asset. Whatever your preference, relaxing, enjoying the tranquillity and fantastic weather on a beach, or enjoying the outdoor sports available, we are very experienced in organising wonderful holidays in this special part of the world.


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Slow Song
Lake Cuyamaca, California.
Christmas Eve, 2017
This photograph was made while shooting the sunset with great friends before enjoying our Christmas dinner. Spectacular view from Sunrise Highway!
Colors of Alabama Hills
The cottonwoods in Owens Valley were in their peak color while I was there, creating stunning scenery against the snow-covered Eastern Sierras towering over the valley floor to the west. When I first arrived in Alabama Hills this lone Fremont cottonwood tree standing in the rocks caught my attention. It was the first subject that I photographed when I arrived, and it was the last subject that I photographed when I left 3 days later. This photograph was taken early in the morning as I was leaving Lone Pine and heading toward Bishop. The soft, cool light illuminated the scene in pastel colors in the moments before sunrise.
Whitney Portal Road
I just returned from another trip to the Eastern Sierras. There is a lot to be said about traveling on an open road with scenic views such as this. Here is a typical view on a drive down Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California. Standing in the distance with its jagged peak tucked into the clouds is Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States at 14,505 ft.
Mt. Whitney
Mt. Whitney illuminated in early morning light.
Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California.
Mobius Arch is one of the most photographed features in Alabama Hills. I had avoided photographing this rock formation earlier in this evening during sunset simply because I struggled to find a unique composition that hasn't already been done by so many others. After dinner, when the remaining twilight had faded and the stars were shining bright, I decided to hike back out to the arch to photograph it at night. By this point, thin clouds had began to move back in, creating a soft glow to the stars behind them. You can also faintly see the Milkyway galaxy just behind the top of the arch. I used speedlights, gels, and the light of my cell photo to illuminate the scene with the intent of creating something new at a feature that has been photographed by many before me.
Sunrise Over Vernal and Nevada Falls
Yosemite National Park, California.
Half Dome
Beautiful early morning light on Yosemite Valley.
Rise and Shine
I recently completed another Sierra Nevada road trip with good friend and fellow landscape photographer, Frank Colosi. Unfortunately, our trip was plagued with flat, blank skies. Of course, that wasn't enough to stop us from shooting. Part of the art of landscape photography is the search itself. The search for a location, and the search for a composition within your chosen location. As a landscape photographer, one has to work with what is presented by nature. For this reason, we had mostly lost motivation for capturing the grand landscapes that we hoped for. Instead, we spent more time searching subjects that would either work as more detailed photographs (i.e. a stream flowing through an aspen grove), or finding features large enough to distract from the lacking sky. Still, we chased every sunset, and rose early for every dawn with the hopes that things would somehow change and give us the light we needed for the photographs we wanted to make. This photograph was made on the last morning of our trip. After only a short nap in the night, we were up and on our way to Glacier Point by 5:00 a.m. with one last hope that our luck would change. This time our efforts paid off and we were rewarded with an incredible display of light across the smoke-filled Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite on Fire
On the final night of another incredible Sierra road trip fellow photographer, Frank Colosi, and I came across this wildfire on the side of Glacier Point Rd. The smoke from these fires in Yosemite was visible for most of our trip. Initially, we hadn't planned to photograph the flames but as these trips go plans changed and we ended up right beside it. Driving this road in the middle of the night became quite difficult as the smoke was so thick that it was a challenge to see in some areas. Photographing this fire was an interesting experience. It was a very quiet night, with a slight chill in the air and not a sound other than the crackling of the burning forest. The moon was bright, casting great light on the smoke-filled valleys and mountains in the background, and the vibrant warm glow radiated from the fire, lighting the scene in front of us.
Moonlit Yosemite Valley
The bright, waning gibbous moon illuminates the smoke-filled Yosemite Valley. On close inspection you can see the headlamps of rock climbers making their way up the face of El Captitan.
Sierra Gold
Convict Lake, Mono County, CA.
Essence of Autumn
This photograph was taken at Convict Lake. I started the morning by photographing the lake from the eastern side, as many landscape photographers do. As the sun rose higher in the sky, I decided to hike around to the far edge of the lake into the Aspen grove. Walking through this forest was the first time that I really felt the presence of autumn. Sitting here, listening to the flowing stream, and breathing the cool crisp air put me into a tranquil state. I didn't take many photographs while I was in this location, but it didn't matter. I was content with just being. It's moments like these that I think about when I'm trying to drown out the city noise of busy San Diego.
Point of Concurrency
I spent this day hiking around Cuyamaca, getting some exercise, and enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. After finishing my hike I decided to take a drive and try to find a suitable location to photograph the sunset. Unfortunately, the sky was completely blank without a cloud in sight. This is one of the worst conditions to deal with as a landscape photographer trying to photograph the sunrise or sunset. However, I was still determined to find a composition. I couldn't resist stopping at this large mountain meadow to admire the bright golden sunlight shining between North Peak and Middle Peak, and the old barbed wire fence made an interesting subject for this photograph.
Calm Waters of Lake Cuyamaca
I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I've driven by this lake and never stopped to photograph it. It is a fairly popular destination for many local landscape photographers and maybe that's why I've often passed it over. This night, however, turned out to be an excellent time to photograph this location. The sky was clear and there was no wind, leaving the water of the lake glassy and highly reflective. The moon was still peaking out over the mountain top to the right of the frame, casting fantastic natural lighting on the dock. This was also a small group meet-up and a great chance to shoot with a few other excellent photographers. For a few of us, it was the first time we had met in person, even though we knew each other or at least seen each others' work through social media. Nothing to complain about on a night of shooting the stars and making new friends!
Shot during an Eastern Sierra road trip in July of 2017. We spent most of this day in Yosemite Valley scouting locations for sunset photographs. Unfortunately, the valley was packed full of tourists, making driving a pain, and each spot was way too crowded to get a clean landscape shot. On top of that, it was a clear day with blank skies... not something you want as a landscape photographer. So we decided to leave the park and head out via Tioga Pass with hope that we would find some kind of cloud activity. Sure enough, we started seeing some clouds forming when we drove through Tuolumne Meadows. Once we made it to the pass, the sky opened up and gave us exactly what we were looking for. We pulled over just outside the east gate of the park to shoot the sunset in Glacier Canyon at the south end of Tioga Lake. The flowers in this peaceful and empty meadow were in full bloom, the mountain streams were flowing, there was some residual snow pack on the hike down, and the air was clean and refreshing. It was a great way to end the day and a perfect location to make the photographs we wanted.
There were a lot of firsts for me on this road trip. First time seeing the Eastern side of Yosemite, first time in the White Mountains, first time at Mammoth, and First time visiting Mono Lake. I was impressed by the photographic opportunities at Mono Lake. It's a location from which I have seen many highly acclaimed photographers produce stunning work. The eerie landscape lends itself to the skilled photographer's eye. In every direction, there was potential for a great composition. So much so that it was almost overwhelming. The weather activity that surrounded the area also helped as there were storms all around us. I had been focusing most of my attention (and my lens, buh-dum-tssh) on the Pirate Ship formation during sunset because I really liked the colors that the sky was casting in that direction. However, once I made the photo that I wanted, I turned around to see this large tufa spire directly behind me with the clouds in the background leading straight into it. So, I recomposed and created this image, "Vertex." What an entertaining place to visit as a photographer!
Pirate Ship
"Pirate Ship"
Mono Lake, California
I had intended on photographing the tufa formations during dawn. It was a good thing we decided to catch the sunset, too, since the next morning was a bust due to clear skies. Can't complain about a sunset like this, though!
Standing for Millenia
"Standing for Millenia"
The second night of the road trip up the 395 brought us to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains. While many may not consider them a spectacle at first glance, the history behind them is incredible. These trees are among the oldest living things on the planet and can live for over 5,000 years. This particular tree is dead, but lived to be about 2,500 years old and has been standing for over 4,000 years. There are 3 distinct species of the bristlecone trees. All have the ability to grow in an environment that most plants would not survive. They thrive in rocky soil with very little water. The density of the wood allows the trees to stand for centuries, even after death. The wood slowly erodes in wind and rain much like stone, giving the trees a unique appearance. Getting the opportunity to photograph this tree under the night sky was quite the experience. I couldn't have asked for a better setting. Clouds had moved in and covered the Milky Way Galaxy for a few moments, and just before I decided to call it a night they begin to open up, revealing the starry sky behind them.
White Mountain Road
This photograph was made while hiking in the Ancient Bristilecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains. It shows White Mountain Road leading out beyond the ridge. In the background you can see the Sierra Nevada range towering over the western side of Owens Valley. We had hiked up this trail to photograph a couple of the trees during sunset but this view along the way kept catching my eye so I couldn't resist photographing it.
Roadside, 79
An obstructed view of an open meadow along Highway 79, just north of Cuyamaca, San Diego County, California.
Tangled Chaparral
San Diego County is the most biologically diverse county in the United States. Taking a drive from the coast to the Colorado Desert of Anza-Borrego State Park will take you through several geological and biological transitions. Chaparral, the most abundant biome of the region, can be seen in areas throughout the entire county. This habitat is made up of dense woody shrubs and hosts many endemic plant and animal species. My favorite time to see the chaparral is in the early morning because of the soft light and colors. This image was taken at dawn while backpacking on the Noble Canyon Trail.
Beers, Campfires, and the Milkyway
Sometimes all that's needed is a few brews, good people, a campfire, and a nice spot in the forest under the stars.
Beam Me Up!
Fellow landscape photographer, Frank Colosi, and I headed up to Mt. Laguna to photograph the Perseid meteor shower during its peak. Although no meteorites are visible in this image, this is still one of my favorite Milky Way shots from the trip.
Long Walk Down
Hiking back down from the Mt. San Antonio, a.k.a. "Mt. Baldy," summit after an overnight stay.
The Payoff
Reaping the reward after a challenging climb to the summit of Mt. Baldy.
Life Above the Clouds
Mt. Baldy (Mt. San Antonio), Angeles National Forest, California.
Forest Vista
Mt. Baldy, Angeles National Forest, California.
Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, California.
High Forest
Trees appearing as the clouds break on Mt. Baldy.
Foggy Forest Trek
Hiking through the clouds at Mt. Baldy (Mt. San Antonio) in the Angeles National Forest.
Baldy Descent
"Mt. Baldy," Angeles National Forest, California.
Mt. Baldy
Looking up at Mt. Baldy during a break while descending the mountain.
Frank Colosi photographing a sea of clouds
Fade Into Nothing
Santa Ysabel, California.
An Engelmann Oak tree, also known by the Kumeyaay as Neshaaw, stands alone on a foggy hilltop in Santa Ysabel, California
Cleveland National Forest, Mt. Laguna, CA.
Sunset in Cleveland National Forest, Mt. Laguna, CA.
Lone PineAlabama HillsMt. WhitneyEastern SierrasSierra NevadaMountainsDawnMorningLightSunriseColorCloudsCaliforniaRoad TripCamping


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There is much to like in the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of "The Bridges of Madison County," and best parts are provided by the eloquent, richly voiced Jennifer Ellis at center stage as the disenchanted Iowa housewife, Francesca.
Count me out of the fan club for Robert James Waller's 1992 mega-best selling book, "The Bridges of Madison County," although I swooned over Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood in the film that came later, if not so much at the musical version I caught in New York during its brief run on Broadway in 2014.
However, there is much to like in the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of "The Bridges of Madison County," running at the Boston Center for the Arts. The best parts are provided by the eloquent, richly voiced Jennifer Ellis at center stage as the disenchanted Iowa housewife, Francesca, seduced by – or does she seduce? – the hunky photographer, Robert, played by Boston University alumnus, Christiaan Smith. The pair have charisma and enough chemistry between them to make the love affair convincing, if not enough to carry the rest of the show. They head the cast of characters hovering at the edges of the love story to create a web of small town, nosy folks around them, including Francesca's clueless husband and two bratty teenage children who are conveniently away. However, the whole of the show depends on the two leading characters looking into each others eyes and wishing for what might have been.
What were book writer Marsha Norman and composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown thinking when they determined that a chick-lit novel without a plot beyond the passage of time consumed by Francesca and Robert's affair would make a dynamic musical? In fairness to Brown who is a master of soulful love songs, he has contributed a clutch of them including, "You're Never Alone," "Falling Into You," and "Before and After You/ A Million Miles." Despite mixed reviews and the abbreviated New York run, the show brought Brown a pair of Tony awards for score and orchestrations.
Wisely, director M. Bevin O'Gara and music director, Matthew Stern, who also conducts the seven piece, off-stage orchestra and plays the piano, cast the production with glorious voices. The one exception is the endearing, gravelly voiced yet comically expressive, Will McGarrahan. He plays the curmudgeon Charlie, husband to Francesca's best friend, Marge, portrayed by the cheery Kerry A. Dowling. Rachel Belleman as the State Fair singer brings a welcome change of pace to the production in the rousing square dance number, "State Road 21." The story centers around the Italian-born war bride, Francesca, who met a G.I. named Bud (the solid, salt-of-the-earth Christopher Chew, as foil to Robert) in Naples after the war and married him. The couple settled on a farm in Iowa, passing 18 years and raising two children with few adventures or trips any further than Des Moines. When Bud takes the teenage children, Carolyn (Katie Elinoff) and Michael (Nick Siccone) off to the 4-H Fair in nearby Indiana, Francesca stays home with the luxury of four days by herself.
Shortly after the family leaves, Robert arrives on her doorstep and asks for directions to a covered bridge he cannot find. On assignment from National Geographic, he is a loner who travels the world. She offers to show him the way to the bridge; he comes in for iced tea and stays for dinner after he brings her back home. The courtship begins, punctuated by frequent phone calls from Bud that jar her back to reality, but for a moment.
It's no surprise that Waller's novel has had multiple reincarnations. The premise of a mystery man walking up the driveway to carry off a woman into the life she was meant to lead is the dream of every middle-aged housewife stuck in a not-so-bad but unfulfilling marriage. But Francesca is not Ibsen's Nora, and the bittersweet ending comes with a weeper of an epilogue.
The show is set on a sparse stage with cut-outs of wooden bridges hanging above the actors, designed by Cameron Anderson, sensitively lighted by Annie Weigand, with dream-like projections by Garrett Herzig. Costume designer Mark Nagle has dressed Bud in full beard, overalls and an emotionless facial expression, as if pulled from the iconic Grant Wood painting. One wonders if that image is still true.
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Book by Marsha Norman. Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Based on the novel by Robert James Waller. Directed by M. Bevin O'Gara. Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company. At Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. through June 3. $25 and up, 617-933-8600, www.speakeasystage.com


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Top Cars
The Best Convertibles: A List of Our Favorites
If you're looking for a new car that you can use to enjoy the warm weather, you've come to the right place. We've listed today's best convertibles, all of which provide endless top-down driving pleasure.
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro combines retro styling with potent engines and a newly updated interior and exterior. Entry-level Camaro LT convertible models offer a 3.6-liter V6, hardly a muscular V8 but still plenty potent thanks to 323 horsepower and a standard 6-speed manual. The Camaro also boasts a reasonable starting price of around $32,000 with shipping, a figure that includes Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system, a backup camera, a remote starter and power front seats. But maybe the best part is that all Camaro convertibles come with a power top and room for four, meaning you can enjoy the sunshine with a few of your friends.
Chevrolet Corvette
The newly redesigned Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car enthusiast's dream. Not only does it come with a 455-hp 6.2-liter V8 mated to a standard 7-speed manual transmission, the Corvette convertible is also fairly affordable. Sure, its $59,000 base price may seem steep, but it's not so bad when you consider the rear-drive 2-seater's blistering performance and long list of standard equipment ranging from xenon headlights and a power top to Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment system, a backup camera and a Bose sound system. The 2015 Corvette also offers a new 8-speed automatic, replacing this year's 6-speed for improved performance and gas mileage.
Find a Chevrolet Corvette for sale
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is a modern-day muscle car with seating for four. Even if you don't get the V8-powered Mustang GT, the Mustang will still reward you with its retro styling, its sporty rear-wheel-drive setup and a surprisingly muscular V6 that makes 305 hp. The Mustang also starts at a reasonable base price of less than $29,000 with shipping, a figure that includes an enjoyable 6-speed manual that will really channel your inner muscle car fanatic.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
On paper, the Mazda MX-5 Miata might not seem like much, given its 4-cylinder engine and small size. But get out on the open road and you'll find that the MX-5 Miata is one of the best convertibles around. Not only is it fun to put down the small top and cruise around in the sun, the MX-5 Miata also boasts some of the best handling in existence. Best of all, it's available for a reasonable price: Base models start at just $25,000 with shipping. The only caveat is that the MX-5's 2-seat cabin means you'll only have room for one of your friends.
MINI Cooper
There are two different drop-top versions of the MINI Cooper, and we happen to like them both. For shoppers who need four seats, there's the traditional MINI Cooper Convertible, which is effectively a soft-top version of the brand's popular MINI Cooper Hardtop. For a slightly sportier flair, there's the MINI Cooper Roadster, which offers a lower roofline and two seats instead of four. Both models are reasonably priced, with a starting figure of around $26,000 with shipping, and both offer excellent gas mileage, a well-crafted interior and MINI's traditional razor-sharp handling.
Porsche Boxster
With a base price of around $52,000 with shipping, the Boxster isn't exactly the best value on the market, especially when you consider that it only comes with 265 hp and lacks standard features such as automatic climate control and heated seats. But spend a little time in the Boxster and you'll quickly discover that few cars offer the pure driving enjoyment of Porsche's mid-engined sports car. The Boxster is also surprisingly practical, and if you add just a few options, you'll quickly find yourself surrounded by all the luxury that you'd expect from a modern Porsche.
Find a Porsche Boxster for sale
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet is a recently updated convertible with four seats, a power soft-top and some of the most recognizable lines in the car industry. It's also surprisingly affordable, thanks to a base MSRP that starts around $26,000 with shipping. Fuel economy figures aren't far from an impressive 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Best of all, the drop-top Beetle boasts a surprisingly long list of standard equipment that includes heated front seats, Bluetooth, an 8-speaker sound system and alloy wheels.


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Non-Luddite Alternative To The Authors Guild Launching
from the good-to-see-some-competition dept
The Authors Guild has shown time and time again that its main interest is in trying to hold back the tide of progress, keep out competition, and basically hope against hope that maybe, just maybe, it can bring back those days when top authors didn't have to interact with fans, and didn't have to worry about successful authors going direct. Many, many authors with more progressive views of the internet have spoken out against the Authors Guild, as they recognize that it isn't representing the interests of most authors at all.
So it's good to see that an alternative, the Authors Alliance, is about to launch, put together by law professor Pamela Samuelson and sporting a rather impressive advisory board of folks, including Larry Lessig, Jonathan Lethem, Cory Doctorow, Robert Pinsky, Brewster Kahle, Lewis Hyde, Jonathan Zittrain, Kevin Kelly, Ed Felten and many other big authors and thinkers. I'm a little disappointed that the advisory board doesn't have a Barry Eisler or Joe Konrath on the list, as it does appear to be somewhat lacking in folks who have had tremendous success outside the traditional publishing system, but it's still an impressive start.


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Germany was hoping to win its third consecutive Women's World Cup and had home-pitch advantage to do so. Alas, Karina Maruyama of Japan's extra-time goal in the 108th minute relegated them to also-ran status. Japan advances to the World Cup semifinals, where they'll face the winner of tomorrow's Sweden/Australia match.
Women's World Cup - Huge shock as hosts Germany beaten [EuroSport]


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Quote:even get that feeling? persoanlly, I'm not sure why 'classes' are even required of 'Zendo'. why do you need formal training of something which occurs naturally?
Quote:I think some people just want to look cool.
Quote:we're all logical and rational beings.
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Samoa cyclone death toll rising
A cyclone which has killed at least four people in Samoa is intensifying as it heads towards Fiji.
About eight people are also missing in Samoa where tropical Cyclone Evan ripped through the country, damaging houses, knocking down power poles and trees, and causing flooding.
The cyclone is expected to pass just north of Fiji on Sunday with winds gusting up to 230km/h, the Fiji Meteorological Service says.
It is intensifying and may increase from a category four to a category five cyclone sometime between Saturday and Monday afternoon.
Despite the path of the cyclone shifting north, damaging waves are expected to batter the Fiji coastline, the service says.
People in Fiji need to heed warnings and act responsibly to avoid unnecessary loss of life or property, it says.
A state of disaster was declared in Samoa, where 200,000 people live, after Evan swept in from the Pacific and hit the capital Apia on the main island Upolu on Thursday.
At least two children are among the dead.
There are nation-wide power outages and it is expected to take two months to restore power to some areas.
A water treatment plant has also been destroyed.
Up to 3000 people were being housed in emergency shelters due to flooding on Saturday.
The New Zealand government has provided $50,000 aid to Samoa and a P3 Orion aeroplane to survey the area.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Nick Hurley, told AAP that Cyclone Evan was the worst to hit Samoa since the 1990s.
Residents in Tonga are being warned of flooding and damaging gale force winds as the cyclone passes on Saturday and Sunday.
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Record Number of Workforce Surveys Expected by EEOC
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today urged the employer community to send in the annual EEO-1 Report to meet the fast approaching Sept. 30 deadline, as required by federal law. EEOC anticipates receiving a record number of EEO-1 Reports from employers nationwide in 2006.
The EEO-1 Report – formally known as the "Employer Information Report" – is a government survey requiring many employers to provide a count of their employees by job category and then by ethnicity, race and gender. The EEO-1 Report must be filed by employers with federal government contracts of $50,000 or more and 50 or more employees; and employers who do not have a federal government contract but have 100 or more employees. The report must use employment numbers from any pay period in July through September of that year.
Employers who meet the criteria listed above and have not received the EEO-1 packet should immediately contact the EEO-1 Joint Reporting Committee Toll Free at (866) 286-6440, or by e-mail at email@example.com. General information about the EEO-1 Report can be found at the EEOC's web site at . After being processed, aggregate EEO-1 data are made available on the EEOC's web site, in addition to being compiled in an annual public report.
"The EEO-1 survey provides valuable employment data by race, ethnicity, gender and job categories," said Deidre Flippen, Director of the EEOC's Office of Research, Information and Planning. "In addition to helping the EEOC enforce Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the EEO-1 Report is utilized by researchers, private attorneys, and employer human resource staff. We encourage employers to do everything possible to meet the September 30 deadline for submission of the EEO-1 Report."
This year's mailing also includes information about the new 2007 EEO-1 form, instruction booklet, and job classification guide in order to familiarize employers with two new provisions in next year's survey: the addition of new racial categories, and the addition of two job groups for officials and managers. The information about the 2007 report contained in the mailing is for informational purposes only.
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing the nation's laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, gender (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, disability and retaliation. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.
This page was last modified on September 12, 2006.
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Another goodbye.
Update May 12:
Susan Lucci told The View that the last airdate of "All My Children" is September 23.
Originally posted April 14:
A recent ABC press release has confirmed what soap fans have been fearing for weeks now: "All My Children" has been cancelled. Along with One Life to Live, the ABC soaps will be replaced by new shows "The Chew," with the focus on food, and "The Revolution," about health and lifestyle transformations.
President of ABC Daytime, Brian Frons stated in the release, "While we are excited about our new shows and the shift in our business, I can't help but recognize how bittersweet the change is. We are taking this bold step to expand our business because viewers are looking for different types of programming these days. They are telling us there is room for informative, authentic and fun shows that are relatable, offer a wide variety of opinions and focus on 'real life' takeaways. A perfect example of this is 'The View,' and that factored into our decision. 'The Chew' and 'The Revolution' are in the same vein and will be great additions to the lineup, with 'The View' serving as an ideal foundation from which to launch these programs. They will also provide enormous opportunity for the creation of ancillary businesses and growth."
He continued, "'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live' are iconic pieces of television that have made an indelible mark on our culture's history. Each of the shows has touched millions and millions of viewers and informed the social consciousness. It has been a privilege to work with the extraordinary teams who brought the residents of Pine Valley and Llanview to life each day, and we thank the cast, crew, producers and most especially the fans for their commitment to the shows through their history."
"The Chew" will replace "All My Children" in September, while "The Revolution" will take over for "One Life to Live" in January 2012.
Soaps.com is sadden to lose two more soap operas. Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter below.


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Ridge Audubon Society will celebrate the traditional Irish holiday, St. Patrick's Day, with a fun-filled evening.
Join its "Fun"-raising party at 7 p.m. March 15 at the Babson Park Woman's Club, 1300 N. Scenic Highway.
"Sticky" Steve Morrison will call the round dancing and Linda VanDeman will teach line dancing.
The evening will include raffled prizes and beverages.
Tickets are $12.50 per person at the door and in advance.
For details, call 863-638-1355.
Mention the fictional character Serge Storms to certain readers and huge smiles break out, followed by favorite Serge stories. Serge Storms is the creation of Florida mystery writer Tim Dorsey. Serge's voracious appetite for Florida's history and his homicidal tendencies make him one of the most memorable fictional characters ever created.
Dorsey will return to the Lake Wales Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss his most recent book, "The Riptide Ultra Glide."
Dorsey returns to the Lake Wales Public Library with the release of each new book. He loves the town, the library and the audience that attends. His appearance Thursday continues a 14-year tradition.
For details, call the Lake Wales Public Library, 863-678-4004, email firstname.lastname@example.com or visit the library's website, www.cityoflakewales.com/library.
Due to severe structural damage to the Clay Cut Center, Haines City Community Theatre has canceled its scheduled production of "Cliffhanger."
The Haines City Community Theatre has operated at the Clay Cut Center for more than 25 years. The troupe is searching for a new location in hopes of performing its last production of the 2012-2013 season.
For details visit Haines City Community Theatre's website, www.hainescitytheatre.com or call 863-421-1893.
Once a determination is made on the status of the final show of the season, all season ticket-holders will be contacted.
Frostproof Art League and Gallery invites everyone on the Ridge to Art With a Twist, a fashion show of wearable art.
This unique fashion show begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at Frostproof's Ramon Theater, 15 E. Wall St.
Polk County Commission Chairwoman Melony Bell will serve as honorary guest emcee. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and door prizes will be included.
Tickets are $15 per person. For details or to reserve a ticket call 863-632-7271, 863-635-7222 or 863-412-7016.
The Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club held a ceremony to rename the Lake Wales Dog Park last week.
The park was renamed and dedicated as the John C. "Doc" Haromy Dog Park.
Haromy was the first veterinarian in Lake Wales. He served families and their pets for more than 55 years. He was known as an innovator in holistic and alternative veterinary medicine.
"Doc" was a longtime member of the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club. He lost his battle with cancer in 2012.
The John C. "Doc" Haromy Dog Park is located at the corner of Ninth Street and Grove Avenue. It opened in 2012 and was Ian Galloway's Eagle Scout project.
Lake Wales Little Theatre's next production is "Leaving Iowa," directed by Jeremy Henry.
"Leaving Iowa" begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday and continues Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. through March 24. The Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. The cast includes Robbie Rivera, Amanda Levasseur, Robert Moszenberg, Viktoria Hicks, Amy Fox and Will Greene.
Tickets can be reserved Monday through Friday at Cliff's True Value Hardware, 101 E. Park Ave., or by calling 863-676-7278. Adult tickets are $14 and tickets for individuals 18 and younger are $10.
For details visit www.lwlt.org or email firstname.lastname@example.com..
Bok Tower Gardens will host the Green Horizon Land Trust's Annual Dinner.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. March 10 and is sponsored by Progress Energy.
Nature photographer and illustrator Reinier Munguia is the evening's guest speaker.
Munguia is a commercial and nature photographer with a strong education and conservation vision. He serves as president of both the Lake Region Audubon Society and Polk County Camera Club. He sits on the advisory board of the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and is the volunteer coordinator for the LRAS Eagle Watch program.
The Blazing Star Award will be presented during the evening. This award honors those who have made significant contributions to the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands or environmental education. The 2013 recipients are Buck and Linda Cooper.
The Coopers were resident naturalists at the Audubon/Street Nature Center in Winter Haven for 13 years. They received the Florida Audubon's distinguished Allan Cruickshank Memorial Award for their conservation work in Florida and were recognized by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission for their contribution to wildlife preservation.
A silent auction and musical entertainment are included in the evening.
Dinner is $25 per person and includes a beer and wine reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and program at 6:30 p.m.
Green Horizon Land Trust was created in 1991 to preserve environmentally valuable or sensitive lands and open space areas in and around the Central Florida Ridge and to educate the public as to the importance of such lands.
For details or reservations call 863-678-1237 or email firstname.lastname@example.com no later than Tuesday.
Send community news and photos to email@example.com.
Tina's Ridge: Ridge Audubon to Host St. Patrick's Day Event
Ridge Audubon Society will celebrate the traditional Irish holiday, St. Patrick's Day, with a fun-filled evening.


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This extended reach hedge trimmer features a short shaft, lightweight design, low-emission engine and ECOSPEED throttle control.
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Double-Sided Blades
The dual-ground blade system provides a clean cut and is ideal for cutting through stronger, thicker branches.
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The Life of Buddha, by A. Ferdinand Herold, tr. by Paul C Blum [1922], at sacred-texts.com
p. 206
NEAR the city of Vaisali, there was an immense wood that had been presented to the Master, and there he was living when the news came to him that his father, King Suddhodana, had fallen sick. The king was an old man; the illness was serious; it was feared that he was dying. The Master decided to visit him, and flying through the air he came to Kapilavastu.
The king lay mournfully on his couch. He was gasping for breath. Death was very near. Yet he smiled when he saw his son. And the Master spoke these words:
"Long is the road you have travelled, O king, and always did you strive to do good. You knew nothing of evil desires; your heart was innocent of hatred, and anger never blinded your mind. Happy is he who is given to doing good! Happy is he who looks into a limpid pool and sees his unsullied countenance, but far happier is he who examines his mind and knows the purity thereof! Your mind is pure, O king, and your death as calm as the close of a lovely day."
p. 207
"Blessed One," said the king, "I understand now the inconstancy of the worlds. I am free of all desire; I am free of the chains of life."
Once again, he paid homage to the Buddha. Then he turned to the servants, assembled in the hall.
"Friends," said he, "I must have wronged you many times, yet never once did you show me that you bore malice. You were kind and good. But before I die, I must have your forgiveness. The wrongs I did you were unintentional; forgive me, Friends."
The servants were weeping. They murmured: "No, you have never wronged us, lord!" Suddhodana continued:
"And you, Mahaprajapati, you who were my pious consort, you whom I see in tears, calm your grief. My death is a happy death. Think of the glory of this child you brought up; gaze at him in all his splendor, and rejoice."
He died. The sun was setting.
The Master said:
"Behold my father's body. He is no longer what he was. No one has ever conquered death. He who is born must die. Show your zeal for good works; walk in the path that leads to wisdom. Make a lamp of wisdom, and darkness will vanish of its own accord. Do not follow evil laws; do not plant poisonous roots; do not add to the evil in the world.
p. 208
[paragraph continues] Like the charioteer who, having left the highroad for a rough path, weeps at the sight of a broken axle, even so does the fool, who has strayed from the law, weep when he falls into the jaws of death. The wise man is the torch that gives light to the ignorant; he guides mankind, for he has eyes, and the others are sightless."
The body was carried to a great funeral pile. The Master set fire to it, and while his father's body was being consumed by the flames, while the people of Kapilavastu wept and lamented, he repeated these sacred truths:
"Suffering is birth, suffering is old age, suffering is sickness, suffering is death. O thirst to be led from birth to birth! Thirst for power, thirst for pleasure, thirst for being, thirsts that are the source of all suffering! O evil thirsts, the saint knows you not, the saint who extinguishes his desires, the saint who knows the noble eight-fold path."


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Does EHR Choice Matter for ACO's?
John Lynn is the Founder of the HealthcareScene.com blog network which currently consists of 10 blogs containing over 8000 articles with John having written over 4000 of the articles himself. These EMR and Healthcare IT related articles have been viewed over 16 million times. John also manages Healthcare IT Central and Healthcare IT Today, the leading career Health IT job board and blog. John is co-founder of InfluentialNetworks.com and Physia.com. John is highly involved in social media, and in addition to his blogs can also be found on Twitter: @techguy and @ehrandhit and LinkedIn.
There's a really interesting article on Nextgov that talks about a CSC report that looks at the role of health IT and EHR software in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The most valuable part of the article is this list of items that an EHR must enable or allow to support an ACO:
- Clinical information and point-of-care automation, with integrated ambulatory and inpatient records and a central repository for clinical data.
- Enterprise master data management and integration, with a population management repository, a master person index and a master provider index.
- Tools to enable participation in a health information exchange.
- Patient engagement tools, including secure messaging, e-visits and tele-visits, social media, patient portals and mobile health applications.
- Care management and coordination tools, including referral and request tracking, provider-to-provider communication, medication reconciliation and case- and disease-management applications.
- Performance management tools, including integrated business and clinical intelligence and analytics.
To be honest, as I look through this list of EHR items, I can't say that any of them really stick out to me as impossible for any EHR to achieve. In fact, I'd say that they're quite achievable by almost all EHR software vendors.
The only partial fear I have reading through the list is that some of the points depend on an EHR vendor working with other EHR software vendors. In most of the cases, these are large hospital EHR vendors that have often worked in very closed environments.
The reason this is a cause for concern is that even the best EHR software in the world won't be an effective ACO and won't meet the above requirements if the large EHR software vendors don't work with them to connect their system.
Maybe this isn't something we should be too concerned about since the hospital client will be motivated to get their EHR vendor to work with the other even small EHR vendors in order to make the ACO happen and get access to the extra reimbursement. However, my gut tells me that this won't be the case and there will be stories where EHR software is basically shut out of the ACO based on the large EHR vendors decision to not work with them.


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A jarring email sent from a Georgia Tech fraternity brother is attracting lots of attention online -- and it's not a good kind of attention. In fact, critics are calling the letter " disgusting," " asinine," " insane," and all sorts of other colorful adjectives unfit to print here.
Here are a few quotes from the message, sent by a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. It is titled "Luring your rapebait," and intends to advise other brothers on how to effectively interact with members of the opposite sex. The writer tells his readers how to initiate conversation with women at parties: "IF THEY ARE HAMMERED AT ANY POINT BEFORE MIDNIGHT, JUST SKIP THE CHIT CHAT AND GO DANCE," adding, "ALWAYS START WITH THE MAKING OUT!!!! NO RAPING." At the end of the evening the writer advises brothers to "Expunge (send them out of your room and on their way out when you are finished)."
Finally, a coda to the above pieces of advice: "IF ANYTHING EVER FAILS, GO GET MORE ALCOHOL."
While the content of the e-mail speaks for itself, online voices from all areas of interest expressed their shock. The Sports Bank called the e-mail a " sexual assault 'how-to' guide," and the Daily Dot labeled it as blatantly "pro-rape."
"Besides the blatant disregard for the women potentially involved here, and the fact that they're labeled 'rapebait,' this reads like it was written by someone completely unfamiliar with women and sex, yet has narcissism and entitlement down pat," writes the Daily Dot's Audra Schroeder.
HLN has confirmed the email is indeed legitimate. Both Georgia Tech and the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity national office have released statements, and they, like so many readers, are not happy about the incident and are conducting their own investigations:
"Georgia Tech is aware of this incident, and its Office of Student Integrity is currently engaged in an investigation to determine the facts," reads a statement issued by a Georgia Tech communications representative. "Phi Kappa Tau's national office, as well as Tech's student-led Interfraternity Council, are also reviewing the matter to determine whether to take any independent action. The Institute does not condone this type of behavior and continues to provide resources and education designed to create a supportive campus environment for all students, even those who exercise extremely poor judgment."
Phi Kappa Tau has also stated they are conducting an investigation, and have suspended from the fraternity both the writer of the email and the entire Georgia Tech chapter pending further information. A statement from the national chapter of the fraternity calls the email "extremely inappropriate" and "disturbing."
"The Fraternity takes any activity seriously where its members or chapters are not in line with its commitment to learning, leading and serving. The written expression of this thinking by a member is disturbing to everyone associated with Alpha Rho chapter and the Fraternity."


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ReleasesBack to
Sam Jones
This set from pianist Bud Powell (which has been reissued on CD in a "complete" four-CD set) is most notable for having the debut versions of seven of Powell's compositions; most memorable are "Time Waits," "Monopoly" and especially "John's Abbey." With bassist Sam Jones and drummer Philly Joe Jones completing the trio, Powell is in surprisingly fine form throughout the enjoyable session, creating music that is far superior to his later Verve recordings. ~ Scott Yanow


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A New 3D Room Design Tool Based on Photos of Your Actual Room
Shopping for furniture is nothing like shopping for clothes. Once you get that pair of shoes home and discover that they don't work with that dress in exactly the way you imagined, returning them is as easy as plopping them in the mail or swinging by the store. But when the sectional that looked great in the store turns out to be a behemoth when it lands in your living room, returning it can be a lot more time consuming and complicated.
While classic overhead room planning tools, such as the one Janel played with recently, are great, it can sometimes be difficult to get a good sense of what a room will really feel like from a tool that only gives you a bird's eye view. If you're planning to buy a piece from Crate & Barrel (or even if you have your eye on a piece with similar dimensions), check out their new 3D Room Design tool, which allows you to "try on" a piece of furniture in your room before buying it. I had the fun of experimenting with it the other day.
The way it works is this: email a photo of your room (which, like my original photo, should be a good shot that shows the room with its floor, two walls and ceiling) along with dimensions of the room (length, width and ceiling height). The photo is uploaded into the program and "scrubbed clean" of the furniture you're considering replacing. Choose a piece from their online catalog, place it in the room, and the program magically gets the perspective right. (Those of you who work with AutoCad every day may be yawning at the simplicity of this, but those of you who don't will enjoy it as much as I did.)
Since I'd always been curious to see how a sectional would work in my space, I picked the "Downtown" sofa in oatmeal and, for laughs and giggles, added other items — a lamp, a credenza, a chair, a coffee table and a starburst mirror (to sub in for where I'm planning to hang the tv). A few clicks of the mouse later and I was looking at how the pieces fit in my living room.
It was an eye-opening experience. Though I play with floor plans all the time, this took it to a whole new level, and it gave me a real and very satisfying sense of how the pieces would visually play off of each other and the architectural features of the room. I was astonished, in fact, to discover that the large sofa, instead of dominating the room and making it feel smaller, actually opened it up, reorienting the space towards the kitchen and dining room/office so that the three rooms actually join in "conversation". While I'm not ready to redecorate, it did give me a few ideas to play with; I feel pretty certain I'll be moving around the furniture in my living room this weekend. (And you can bet that I have sectional on the brain).
By mid-fall, Crate & Barrel hopes to have tweaked the program so that you'll be able to perform disappearing acts on your rooms right from your home computer without the assistance of a sales associate. They're also hoping to integrate items from the CB2 catalog as well. Even if you don't have any immediate plans to purchase an item from Crate & Barrel, consider checking out this program. It will save you time, money and heartbreak. Oh c'mon, what am I saying? It's fun!
For more info: 3D Room Designer
• Design Within Reach Launches DWR 3D Room Planner
• How To Make A Digital Floorplan With SketchUp
• 10 Ways to Furnish & Layout 100 Square Feet
(Image 2: Abigail Stone; Images 5&6: Crate & Barrel. Other images created in collaboration with Crate & Barrel)


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Ricoh is committed to solving social problems through our technology, products, services and human resources in order to contribute to the development of a sustainable society. As a global company, we are eager to make contributions toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations and to supporting community development efforts in developing countries. In addition, the future is in the hands of our children and young adults, and we aim to help realize a "sustainable society". Society at large needs to work collectively to resolve various problems around the world that the next generation will face, and this means that companies must play a role as well.
In India, which has the largest population of young people in the world, a large number of children either cannot attend school at all or finish primary education. This problem is attributable to multiple factors, including a lack of awareness of the importance of education, low-quality educational services and lack of necessary infrastructure and supplies. In order to help improve this situation, Ricoh is making contributions to education with our products and services in cooperation with Save the Children with a view to helping the country achieve further development.
We provide our products and services to schools and prepare systems that allow recipient schools to effectively use the donations in teaching and information-sharing. We will also support capacity-building of children, teachers, local communities and governmental agencies, as well as establish an educational network involving them, thereby raising the quality of education in the country.
Through this program, we aim to enable more children to continuously attend school and to realize independent and sustainable efforts by local residents in the community to enhance the educational environment.


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Some people are pretty good at being stuck in traffic. They gab on the phone, listen to music, chalk up the inconvenience as inevitable.
Not I.
Generally speaking, I sweat, curse and think miserable thoughts. And I'm on the road a lot, which has been known to sour my disposition.
Once, I hired a day laborer to travel with me so I could use the carpool lanes and ease my burden. I still think there ought to be day laborer stations along the highway, because everybody wins, but for some reason the idea hasn't caught on.
Last week, I went with a different option. I bought a FasTrak transponder, which means I can now use the 110 Freeway Express Lanes over an 11-mile stretch between Adams Boulevard and the 91 Freeway. Early next year, the 14-mile stretch of the 10 Freeway, between downtown and the 605, will also have Express Lanes in the one-year trial program.


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Entryway Essential: Landing Strip Hooks
Have you ever let the door slam behind you only to realize that your keys are still inside? D'oh! Been there. Hanging a hook for keys by the door may help prevent a lock out. Or, at least, you'll always know where your keys are hanging — remembering to grab them before you leave is all on you.
• Rustic Wooden Key Rack from Rain Collection $35
• Hop Wall Hook from CB2 $6.95
• BÄSTIS Hook from IKEA $2.99
• Key Hook Rack from Anthropologie $24
• Modular Spice Shelf with Hooks from Pottery Barn $19.50
• Donkey Kong Key Hanger from Deeply Dapper $15
• Areaware C'Mere Hand Hook from Rypen $75
• Wooden Trook Hook from Notonthehighstreet $15.39
• Red Bridle Hook from Museum of Useful Things $6
• Birdie Wall Hooks from Utility Design £20
• Easy DIY: Turn Your Lightswitch Into a Key Magnet!
• Budget Basics: Colorful Entryway Essentials
• Smart Space-Saving Solution: Wall-Mounted Organizers
(Images: As credited above.)


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Changes have arrived on defense.
Brian Rolle said he has been elevated to first team weak side linebacker and Nate Allen will be starting at safety in place of Kurt Coleman. Linebacker and safety have been glaring weaknesses early in the season.
Rolle, a sixth round pick, has looked more instinctive and aggressive than Casey Matthews, the fourth round selection he'll replace in the starting line up. He is short, however, generously five-foot-10.
Rolle said he will continue to play in some nickel packages as well. Coming in as a sixth round pick who began with limited playing time, Rolle said his goal was to make sure that when he did get on the field, his name was called out.
"Every time you see me on the field you hear my name," Rolle said he told his father this week. "My coaches must have seen that light and felt that I need to be on the field more."
Rolle, a speedy but short linebacker, said he believes he is actually better against the run than he is against the pass. But he said he hopes he gets a chance to take on tight end Vernon Davis this weekend.
"It's going to be a lot of fun get out there, play in space and hopefully get matched up with Vernon Davis," Rolle said. "Everybody has their weakness. You can be fast, but being fast isn't everything, it's all about technique in this league as well."
Rolle has worked at weakside linbacker since training camp, unlike Matthews, who was in the middle until last Wednesday, and showed Sunday he still has learning to do.
Rolle said he wasn't concerned about being a sixth round pick or starting low on the Eagles depth chart.
"I just thought about working hard and letting that pay off and it has," he said.
Allen replaced Coleman Sunday after Coleman missed a tackle, leading to a 74-yard touchdown. He entered training camp as a starter, but was hampered in his recovery from a torn patellar tendon and lost his job to Jarrad Page.
More soon.


text: Hi all.I was accepted to Cornell today, and they sent me an email about applying for financial aid. The thing is, I already sent in my parents tax forms, the Cornell aid app, NeedAccess, and FAFSA. I did all of that so I wouldn't miss the financial aid app deadline.So, my question is, was the email telling me to apply for financial aid just a form email they send to all admits? I sent an email to their financial aid office, but any help ppl with experience in the matter could give me is appreciated. Maybe they send out their financial aid offers with the physical acceptance letter? Thanks all.


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QUINCY, Mass. – MIT scored early and often this afternoon as the Engineers put up season-high totals of 16 runs and 20 hits, including tying the school record for home runs in a game with five, in defeating Eastern Nazarene College by a final of 16-0. Freshman Hayden Cornwell (Newport Beach, Calif.) banged out a pair of round trippers in his first two trips to the plate on his way to a 3-for-6 day, driving in three, to lead the MIT offense.
MIT (5-5) wasted little time getting on the board, scoring five times in the first inning when it plated all of its runs with two outs. Sophomore Creed Mangrum (Sandy, Utah) started the scoring with an RBI single that scored junior James McKinney (Wakefield, R.I.). Junior Ricardo Perez (Vienna, Va.) then started the MIT home run parade, swatting one out to right to make it 3-0. Cornwell followed with his first shot before freshman Phil Reiser (Alpharetta, Ga.) singled and then came around on a double from sophomore Sean Karson (Winter Park, Fla.).
Eastern Nazarene (1-11) threatened in its half of the first, getting back-to-back, one-out hits from seniors Steve Doyle (Weymouth, Mass.) and Danny Rodriquez (Bronx, N.Y.). MIT starter, senior Chris Hendrix (Richardson, Texas) came back to get the next two hitters on a ground out and a strike out to end the threat. Hendrix (2-0) went on to blank the Lions on four hits over five innings, striking out five to pick up the win.
MIT put the game away early, putting eight across in the top of the third. Cornwell started the fireworks with his second blast of the day, a two-run shot that made it 7-0. All but one of the runs in the third came via the long ball as Mangrum lofted a three-run blast and Mangrum a two-run shot for the Engineers. Freshman Pay Yee (Lynnfield, Mass.) came on for the Lions and put out the fire, getting the final two outs of the inning. He finished by going 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out three and working around a pair of hits and five walks.
Eastern Nazarene could not solve the MIT bullpen the rest of the way as freshman K.J. Parent (Knoxville, Tenn.), sophomore Tim Wilson (Nacogdoches, Texas) and sophomore Brandon Lowe (Brier, Wash.) shut down the Lions the remainder of the game. Eastern Nazarene put two on in the ninth twice in an attempt to mount a scoring threat, but the Engineers turned a double play before Lowe retired the final hitter on a pop-up to second.
MIT will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference action on Friday, hosting Babson College in the first of a three-game series at Briggs Filed starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Nazarene will play a doubleheader at Wentworth Institute of Technology on Friday, beginning at 2:00 p.m.


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You can now add the Peach Mango IsaLean™ Shake to the 30 day system!
This cleansing and fat burning "starter pak" is ideal for individuals who want to lose weight using a long-term, flexible program. The system is a groundbreaking path to healthy weight loss and is also designed to help support the body's natural detoxification systems.*
The 30-Day System utilizes the Isagenix meal replacement, IsaLean® Shake, to help support your efforts to burn and lose unwanted fat. The system also includes Cleanse for Life® to help nourish your body's natural detoxification systems.*
High-quality protein consumed as part of this system satisfies cravings and helps you stay full longer.
The 30-Day System now comes in a dairy-free option for those with dairy sensitivities or allergies or those looking for more plant-based protein in their diets.
Because of her newfound energy and passion for running, Annette entered a half marathon and then decided to take it up a level and run a full marathon.
Josh used food as a coping mechanism to fill the void. As an adult, he got to a point where his weight reached over 300 pounds.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Transparency and accuracy are a top priority at Isagenix. We constantly strive to ensure that product information is complete, accurate, and current. However, at times, products may be unavailable or have different labels or attributes than those listed here.


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The make up of the University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team is different from last year.
Built on the arms of Michael Heesch and Adam Miller, and a lineup that hit a collective .300, last year's squad was primed for a playoff run. One year and 16 graduated seniors later, the Sand Sharks are finding that wins are harder to come by in 2013.
"Really the main thing is getting guys game experience, you know, seeing it," head coach Bryan Lewallyn said. "We can work on stuff all day in practice, but it takes actually going through the fire to get a good feel for it."
Although inexperienced, the Sand Sharks are loaded with potential from the top down.
After splitting a four-game series with Shawnee State to open the season, the Sand Sharks dropped two of three to Webber International and fell victim to a three-game sweep at the hands of conference rival Embry-Riddle.
Fueled by the debut of USC-Salkehatchie transfer Ryan Walker, USCB (5-7, 1-5 Sun Conference) swept a two-game series Wednesday against Brewton-Parker.
"That's a big boost for us," Lewallyn. "Any time you've got a guy who can come in there and hit in the middle of your lineup, it automatically makes you better."
Walker went 2 for 5 in the series with three RBIs, including a walk-off single in game one.
The emergence of Walker brings the Sand Sharks closer to full strength as they look to restore their lineup from injuries. With the exception of a pair of appendectomies to pitchers Alex Graham and Ben Sauls, the team is as healthy as it has been all season.
So far this season, Englehart has posted a solid 3.79 earned-run average in four appearances.
The junior transfer from Hartford dons the same jersey number as former Sand Shark and current Boise Hawk Michael Heesch, and also is 6 feet, 5 inches.
The comparisons don't stop there, as Englehart has struck out 14 batters in 19 innings. Heesch, the all-time strikeout leader at USCB, fanned 22 batters through 18 innings in 2012.
For USCB, the key to the season will be gaining experience.
"We're just a young, inexperienced team," Lewallyn said. "We'll continue to get better and we'll be fine, but we have to do that each day."
What: Fisher at USCB
When: Noon today
Where: Richard Gray Sports Complex


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Breaking down Cuomo's budget plan
A look at the major elements of the executive budget proposal:
• Major elements: Cuomo's plan to freeze local property taxes for two years would make homeowners' second rebate check conditional on their local governments taking steps to consolidate services. For the first time Tuesday, Cuomo defined the required extent of that cooperation: In the first year, governments and school districts will need to work together to find savings equivalent to 1 percent of their tax levies, rising to 2 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the third. Local governments would be required to apply those savings to tax relief, and could face forfeiting state aid if they don't stick to their plans.
The budget maintains $715 million in Aid and Incentives for Municipalities funding. All four of the largest cities in the Capital Region would receive the same amount of AIM funding in the next fiscal year: Albany, $12.6 million; Schenectady, $11.2 million; Troy, $12.3 million; Saratoga Springs, $1.6 million.
• Reaction: "In three short years, Gov. Cuomo broke through Albany's decades of gridlock and is continuing to build on that success in 2014. I applaud the governor's proposal," said Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia.
• Major elements: Total education spending would rise to $21.9 billion, an increase of $807 million (3.8 percent) — including $682 million in additional formula-based school aid.
The plan offers $100 million to begin offering universal pre-K statewide — the first installment of a five-year, $1.5 billion effort. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio would like to see universal pre-K paid for through a tax increase on the wealthy — an idea that has gotten a cool response from Cuomo.
A new $20 million "Teacher Excellence Fund" would provide performance bonuses of up to $20,000 per year to teachers rated as "highly effective."
The amount allocated for grant funding through the State Council on the Arts remains flat at $36 million.
Cuomo also is proposing a $2 billion bond act — to be considered by voters in November — that would be used to improve technology in classrooms and fund school infrastructure improvements, including facilities for universal pre-K.
The governor announced he and the Legislature would convene a panel to examine the controversial implementation of the Common Core standards.
• Reaction: In a joint statement, Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch and state Education Commissioner John King praised Cuomo's commitment to pre-K funding and said the Common Core panel and its own similar body "can be useful vehicles to continue to strengthen ... implementation."
Progressive education advocates were less enamored: Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, said Cuomo's pre-K proposal "just does not add up. ... After five years we will be lucky if it covers even 20 percent of the state's 225,000 4-year-olds."
• Major elements: Medicaid funding rises 4.6 percent or $2.6 billion; non-Medicaid spending at the Department of Health would drop $519 million, a cut of 11.2 percent.
The proposal sets aside $65 million to pay for the linking of the state's regional medical records databases, and the creation of an interface that will allow state residents to access their own records. The state investment is expected to be augmented by $30 million in federal dollars.
Cuomo is proposing a new $1.2 billion program to help fund infrastructure improvements for health care providers, including nursing homes, hospitals and clinics.
The state Office of the Medicaid Inspector General will see its budget cut by $6 million, a reduction of 9.5 percent.
• Reaction: Ken Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, praised the capital program as "essential to the long-term viability of New York's health care delivery system."
• Major elements: Cuomo proposes changes a brownfield cleanup program to reduce hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits that the state has been paying developers to build on polluted sites. Credits will remain for cleanups, but will be limited for rebuilding at sites that have been vacant for at least a decade, are worth less than cleanup costs or are a state "priority" development. The program also will be extended from 2015 to 2025.
The plan would increase the Environmental Protection Fund from $153 million to $157 million ($14 million for solid waste programs, $58 million for parks and recreation, $85 million for open space programs).
• Reaction: Pete Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates, praised the brownfields program reforms but said "the fund's overall budget remains roughly half what it once was ... and should receive $200 million in funding this year."
• Major elements: State support for the SUNY system remains flat at $3.3 billion.
A new scholarship program would pay for a SUNY or CUNY education for students in the top 10 percent of their high school class if they enter science, technology, engineering or math fields and agree to stay in New York for five years.
Cuomo sets aside $15 million to begin development of a new SUNY College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.
• Reaction: SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher called the plan "a thoughtful stewardship of state funds for initiatives and reforms that address the diverse needs of nearly all New Yorkers."
• Major elements: Businesses would see a range of tax breaks, including a corporate income tax rate for upstate manufacturers of zero (costing $24 million).
Businesses would also reap a tax benefit from the speeded-up phaseout of the 18-A assessment on utility bills, which is slated to cost the state $200 million.
• Reaction: "I'm pleased to see the governor is looking to reduce the corporate tax rate to help make New York more competitive," said Mark Eagan, president and CEO of the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce. "We're No. 1 on most lists of the most expensive states in which to do business. Last year, START-UP NY was geared to attract new business to the state. This year, existing businesses will be pleased to see some relief."
Progressive advocates object to what Michael Kink of the Strong Economy for All Coalition call "unfair and unneeded tax breaks will make inequality worse."
• Major elements: Cuomo proposed creating a system that would use public funds to match small-donor political contributions up to $175 to political candidates who opt in, but he didn't assign a cost to it. The system, which is opposed by Senate Republicans, would go into effect for legislators in 2016 and all candidates for state office in 2018.
Cuomo sets aside $5.3 million to hire additional enforcement staff for the Board of Elections, and proposes the creation of an Independent Division of Election Law Enforcement within the board — but overseen by a chief enforcement officer appointed by the governor.
While not a budgetary concern, the plan would limit contributions to party "housekeeping" accounts and close the LLC loophole that allows wealthy donors to multiply their giving.
Similarly, the budget includes a host of changes to laws covering the prosecution of bribery and other acts of public corruption; increases disclosure requirements for lawmakers who work for firms that have clients with business before the state.
• Reaction: The League of Women Voters said the proposal "demonstrates a vital commitment to addressing the culture of corruption that has plagued the Capitol for too many years."
State Sen. Kathy Marchione, R-Halfmoon, said she remains opposed to "spending millions on welfare for politicians in the form of taxpayer-financed political campaigns."
• Major elements: Cuomo seeks to use $15 million in federal funds for Superstorm Sandy recovery to support the initial work on a state-of-the-art weather detection system that would increase the number of monitoring stations from 27 to more than 100. Only five other states have such networks in place.
It also includes another $75 million to help counties create communication networks to allow disparate agencies to more seamlessly talk to each other.
Cuomo proposes investing $10 million in the New York State Protection Cloud — technology that will allow state and local law enforcement agencies more quickly share crime-fighting information.
The governor also proposes $15.2 million for Gun-Involved Violence Elimination, a program targeted at high-crime upstate communities already receiving funding through Operation IMPACT.
As in past years, the budge proposes $24 million in capital funding for economic development grants to communities affected by four planned prison closures.
— Compiled by Casey Seiler, Brian Nearing, Eric Anderson and Jordan Carleo-Evangelist


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3 Programs with Robert Hamparyan
Mr. Hamparyan is now one of Southern California's most successful and active lawyers today. He has even been awarded Trial Lawyer of the Year because of his willingness to take a personal injury case to trial and truly fight for his clients. From the years 2009-2016, Robert has been awarded with the San Diego County Top Attorney Award. Robert was also named Super Lawyer for those same years, which is an honor that he takes seriously. Another impressive accolade Robert has received is the 2008 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. Because of the recognition Robert and his law firm have received over the years, he makes sure that he and his team members do their very best to live up to their clients' expectations. Robert is also a member of ABOTA, and is an inductee to the American College of Trial Lawyers, or ACTL. Robert feels confident in his abilities, because he began his career as an attorney working for insurance companies where he learned how they operate inside and out. He now uses this knowledge to his clients' benefit in the courtroom, giving injured victims the best chance of getting the money they deserve. He received his J.D. from Western State University College in Irvine, California and a Bachelor's degree from University of Southern California.
2017 - Best of Civil Bundle
Published by San Diego County Bar Association
This bundle includes the following programs:
Civil Trial Advocacy Part 1 (6.5 General Participatory Credits)
Published by San Diego County Bar Association
Credit: CA
Civil Trial Advocacy Webinar Bundle
Published by San Diego County Bar Association
This bundle includes the following programs:


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Spherical Globe Lighting for Any Room
While there's a time and place for nearly any form of lighting, we've been seeing one shape showing up more and more frequently in interiors of all kinds of styles. The versatile and lovely sphere is a shape we love seeing gain in popularity again.
Organic, curved, soft and subtle, spherical lights are a great addition to a space because they really bring in a fun look to a room. They have a playfulness to them, but can also appear quite sophisticated. You can install a single hanging sphere, or shake things up with several in a bundle. And — there are tons of options available to you if you are in the market for a sphere-shaped, hanging light fixture, with a great variety of materials to choose from.
Top Row:
1) West Elm Globe Pendant, $99 – $279
2) Stig Hansen Turbo Light, $916 – $1,694
3) Circa Lighting Large Hicks Pendant, $441
4) YLighting Sola Pendant, $3,460
5) B.Lux Globe Pendant Lamp, $1,097
Bottom Row:
6) Niche Modern Binary Modern Pendant Light, $475
7) West Elm Woven Abaca Pendant, $79
8) YLighting BPL Pendant Light, $1,116
9) Circa Lighting Round School House Pendant, $420
10) Louis Poulsen Wohlert Pendant, $826 – $958
What do you look for first when looking for a lighting fixture — shape, style, price, color or size? How big of a deal is the shape of a fixture to you? Are you feeling the sphere trend? Let us know!


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FIGHTING between rebels and Syrian regime troops has raged in and around the capital Damascus, with opposition fighters pushing their way closer to the seat of President Bashar Assad's power base.
The rebels have notched a series of tactical victories in recent weeks, overrunning two air bases near Damascus and capturing a hydroelectric dam in the north.
Gunmen shot dead a journalist for a pro-government newspaper near Damascus on Tuesday, Syria's official news agency said.
With the Syrian regime feeling squeezed, US officials said intelligence reports show Assad may be readying his chemical and biological weapons and may be desperate enough to use them.
Any use by the Syrian regime of chemical weapons against its own people would spark an immediate reaction by the international community, NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned on Tuesday.
"The possible use of chemical weapons would be completely unacceptable to the whole international community and I would expect an immediate reaction from the international community," Rasmussen said.
Speaking at the opening of a NATO meeting expected to approve Turkey's request for Patriot batteries to counter any Syrian threat, Rasmussen said Damascus' chemical weapons stockpiles were "a matter of great concern".
The heavy fighting around the capital - the heaviest since July - prompted the United Nations on Monday to announce it was withdrawing most of its international staff from Syria due to deteriorating security in the country.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday's clashes between rebels and troops loyal to Assad were taking place in Beit Saham, Akraba and Yalda suburbs, as well as near the capital's international airport. The Observatory relies on reports from activists on the ground.
The Damascus suburbs, which have been opposition strongholds since the uprising against Assad began in March 2011, have been the scene of heavy fighting since last week following the start of an army offensive to regain lost territory around the capital.
Assad's forces have so far repelled major rebel advances on the capital, though their hold may be slipping.
Syria's official SANA news agency said a journalist for the state-run Tishrin newspaper was killed near his home in al-Tadhamon suburb of Damascus. Naji Assaad was "assassinated by an armed terrorist group" on his way to work, SANA said. The regime refers to rebels fighting to topple Assad as terrorists.
Syria is believed to have several hundred ballistic surface-to-surface missiles capable of carrying chemical warheads, and a US defence official said American and allied intelligence officials have detected activity around more than one of Syria's chemical weapons sites in the last week.
Syria's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Syria "will not use chemical weapons - if there are any - against its own people under any circumstances".
The comments from the ministry came just hours after Lebanese security officials said Jihad Makdissi, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, flew from Beirut to London.
It was not clear Tuesday whether Makdissi had defected. He is known for defending the regime's crackdown on dissent in fluent English.
Originally published as Rebels, troops clash near Syria capital


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Truong Son Muntjac
Key Facts
Common Names
Annamite muntjac, Annam black muntjac, Annamite dark muntjac, pygmy muntjac, Truongson muntjac, Truong Son muntjac
Scientific Name
Muntiacus truongsonensis
Data deficient
Geographic Location
Physical Description
Unlike the common muntjac, the black Truong Son muntjac's antlers are extremely short (about a thumbnail's length), and it lacks the second spike or brow tine. Its pedicles are also short. It is about half the size of the common muntjac and weighs around 15kg.
The new muntjac lives at altitudes ranging from 400-1000 metres, in forests with a dense undergrowth. Its small size allows it to move freely through dense vegetation.
Range States
Lao PDR, Vietnam
What are the main threats?
The main threat to this species is hunting for local meat consumption and the bushmeat trade. Habitat loss is also a factor which will impact negatively on the Truong Son muntjac, in particular the large-scale replacement of natural forests with rubber plantations to supply the burgeoning Chinese market.
What is WWF doing?
- Transboundary project (1995-1999) fostered cooperation between Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia to conserve the forest of Truong Son mountain range.
- The Song Thanh Nature Reserve (on-going) home of Truong Son muntjac is being supported in its initial stages as a nature reserve.
- WWF is also working to protect habitat through its Vietnam Green Corridor project.


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The Project
On the occasion of the 2009 International Week of Design in Milan, Italy ID Magazine and Moleskine present: A Week in your Life - 13 Book d'Autore.
April 18 - 27, 2009
la Feltrinelli | libri e musica - piazza Piemonte, 2 - Milan
Opening Event: April 20, 2009
On display for the first time in Milan the Book of: Yves Béhar, Michael Graves, Seth Godin, Linda Tischler, Alfredo Häberli, Claesson Koivisto Rune, James Biber, Han Feng, Marian Bantjes, Jessica Helfand, Giuseppe Amato, Ayse Birsel, Louise Campbell.
In celebration of the launch of the new Folio Collection Moleskine has partnered with renowned international design publication I.D. Magazine to create "A Week In Your Life", a project dedicated to the creativity and expression of 13 carefully curated artists, thinkers, and designers. To demonstrate the versatility of the Folio format, I.D. Magazine sent notebooks to the selected artists and asked them to document a week in their lives. The result was a collection of 13 individual, beautiful works of art, from sketches to collage, which illustrate the diversity of the artists' experiences and methods of expressing their creativity. In addition to being featured in the May issue of I.D. Magazine, the notebooks have been photographed and their contents filmed to create an archive of exquisite content to be displayed in exhibitions, both on- and off-line.
All contributions have been donated to the archive of lettera27 a non-profit organization that supports and defends literacy programs worldwide.