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I've reached the end of my reviewing for this year, so now it's on to the far harder task of picking my favourites.....
A rough count shows I read just over 150 books this year so trying to choose a Top Ten out of them was going to be hard. First I made a longlist - which started out quite tidily but grew scrappier as I added more and more titles to it. Then I tried making a pile of books, to see if this would concentrate my thoughts - which worked fine till I remembered all those 'hidden' books on the kindle.... so back to the 'list' with a highlighter pen..... to pick out those I'd be most likely to thrust at folk and say "you MUST read this" ....
So at last I narrowed my list down to ten .....and a few more...
Weathering by Lucy Wood - a story of mothers and daughters, belonging and home, and wild, wet weather, it's written in almost stream-of-consciousness style, with beautiful prose that slips into poetry. Closely observed, minutely described, it captures mood and emotion, conjures the feel and touch of river and snow with writing that puts the reader so firmly THERE in the landscape that I expected to see snow banked outside my windows or river rushing over the lawn.
Spill, Simmer, Falter, Wither by Sara Baume - an amazing debut novel about two outsiders - a man, Ray, and One-Eye, the battered, violent dog he 'adopts'. From the moment Ray takes One-Eye home, he starts to talk to him; as One-Eye is introduced to the house where Ray has lived all his life, as they walk round the village or along the seafront, play football on a deserted beach, and as they drive away from the seaside through Ireland's countryside, Ray keeps up a rambling monologue, ostensibly aimed at One-Eye, describing all he sees, capturing the sights and sounds along the way, sharing secrets and gradually revealing the dark secret he hides. I started to feel that this was more about a dog giving a man a chance at redemption, than the other, more obvious, way round.
A Year of Marvellous Ways by Sarah Winman - At eighty nine, Marvellous Ways lives quietly, alone but not necessarily lonely, swims in the creek each day, and is still waiting for something, although she doesn't know what. Woven through with magic, with tales of mermaids and long-lost love, this is an absolutely, well, marvellous story. The setting is enchanting, and enchanted, the creek a place of peace and healing, the story-telling lyrical, the whole permeated by myth and magic.
A Slanting of the Sun by Donal Ryan - a collection of short stories from the author of the Spinning Heart and The Thing About December that will knock you sideways and leave you emotionally drained. The writing style is quiet and undramatic, the characters all people you'd pass on the street and never remark upon, but just listen to the stories they have to tell! If you want something fun and light, that will make you laugh out loud - go elsewhere. If you want a read that will move you, maybe shock you, make you stop and look twice at your neighbours and wonder what makes them 'tick', let you experience emotions that I hope would never befall you in real life, this is the one to choose.
Kauthar by Meike Ziervogel - how does a white, well-educated, British woman become an Islamic suicide bomber? The author draws a portrait of a woman struggling to fill an empty, gaping hole in her life - there never seems to be enough, or maybe the right sort of, love, to satisfy her need, and in desperation she twists her religion to fill that void. Ziervogel again tackles a subject that others might shy away from; only 144 pages long but it doesn't need more.
A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale - Harry Cane was living a quiet, gentlemanly, suburban life in Edwardian England till an indiscretion brought it to an abrupt end. Forced to leave his wife and child, and strike out on his own, he heads west to the frontier lands of Canada ... not quite in search of his fortune but certainly looking for a place to build a new life, to come to terms with himself and his newly awakened sexuality. A quiet, mostly undramatic but immensely moving book which I've now read THREE times and I still love it. It's definitely a keeper!
A God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson - another quiet, unassuming hero, this time Teddy Todd, a World War 2 bomber pilot. Scarred and numbed by his experiences, and feeling a need to atone for his actions, Teddy decides his life will now be one of kindness, his own slight reparation for the horror of war, but those dreadful years are not shrugged off so easily and his relationships with wife, daughter and grandchildren are all affected. Despite the excellent writing, I couldn't at first see what was SO special about this book - but there's a twist in the tale, and an ending which changes everything.
At Hawthorn Time by Melissa Harrison - We all have an idea, or ideal, of how the English countryside should be - sleepy villages where nothing has changed in hundreds of years, meadows with placidly grazing cows, ancient woodlands, life centred on the turning of the seasons. The reality of heavy farm machinery, migrant workers, the whole modern agricultural business or even cow-pat strewn roads doesn't quite fit that image we have. Into this gap between expectations and reality falls this story of people trying to 'find themselves'; a couple newly moved out of London in search of an idyllic country life; a youngster, born and bred in the village, but into a time when there's no future for him there; and a wanderer, a quiet, harmless man but seen by others as a vagrant, a threat to the established order.
The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett - somewhere between the movie Sliding Doors and Kate Atkinson's Life After Life, falls this tale of Eva and Jim and the different paths their lives could have taken after a chance meeting in Cambridge in 1958. From that initial meeting, three different futures pan out, each fully realised, like reading three different stories. The balance between them is perfect, none is allowed to dominate, but which of them leads to a happier life? At first it seems to be one version, then, as the years pass, another will seem the more appealing. It led me to wonder if I were Eva or Jim and could choose my life, knowing all the permutations, which would it be?
Well, that's my Top Ten, but a lot of them have already appeared on literary longlists for this prize or that, and I'm guessing a lot of readers will have heard of them, perhaps even read them already, so I'm going to include the best of my longlist - a wider-ranging list from literary to sci-fi to crime, and including some older books that I only discovered for the first time this year.
The Sea Between Us by Emylia Hall - This, Emylia Hall's third novel, is the nearest yet to a straight forward love story. The relationship between Robyn and Jago grows and changes over a seven year span, as instant attraction turns to something deeper, but fate seems determined to push them apart. Theirs is a story of missed chances, of so often being in the wrong place at the wrong time, of letters and messages going astray, of other relationships getting in the way - a little bit like Friends' Ross and Rachel, a little like Emma and Dexter from David Nicholls' One Day - but while it's a love story, there's so much more to it than that.
The Summer of Secrets by Sarah Jasmon - There's a certain sort of mid-teenage point in life when summer seems like it could last forever - a few years earlier you don't appreciate the spread of six weeks freedom ahead; a few years older, and autumn seems already visible at the end of July - and this is what Sarah Jasmon has captured so well - long, lazy, hot days of a summer that feels like it could never end, but with a friendship as intense as only a teenage friendship can be and a thread of hidden secrets.
The Truth According To Us by Annie Barrows - more hidden secrets, this time belonging to the Romeyn family of Macedonia, West Virginia. I'd say this was a gem of a book but at 500 plus pages, it's a large show-stopping gem! It's certainly one of those special books in which you can immerse yourself completely; the characters and setting feel as real as those around you, and when (if) you take a break you'll be shocked to find yourself back in real life.
The Rocks by Peter Nichols - a story of love and betrayal played out over three generations against a backdrop of sun, sea and, yes, sex in the Mallorcan village of Cala Marsopa. Told in an unusual way, it starts in the present and moves backwards to 1948. It's a story of misunderstandings, mishaps and failures in relationships, which doesn't sound like a good read - but it is!
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela - an amazing thought-provoking read, moving between the present day and the Crimean War, about the dilemma of being torn between conflicting cultures but never quite belonging totally to either, and how sometimes accepting defeat is braver than fighting on.
The Mountain Can Wait by Sarah Leipciger - a moving story exploring the relationship between Tom and Curtis, a father and his son, one intimately connected with nature, one completely rejecting it, and the choices that have to be made between freedom and responsibility. It's a book that will inspire you to get out there, head for your nearest mountain or hill top and soak in the beauty, even if it isn't as magnificent as the Rockies
Touch by Claire North - Imagine that by taking hold of someone's hand, you could become them, could jump from body to body as you wished, and stay there for as long as you liked, from seconds to years. This is what 'Kepler' and others like him can do. Now someone has decided that it's time to stop him - but its easier to evade an assassin if you've some idea of who sent them and why. So begins a game of cat and mouse as Kepler tries to track down the person behind it, while trying to avoid those pursuing him. The thriller aspect is fast-paced, action-packed, full of twists, turns and deviousness. It starts with the 'bang' of a murder and Kepler running for his life, and carries on at this breathless pace; as a game of hunter and hunted it's up there with the best of spy thrillers.
I haven't read a lot of Fantasy this year, but loved Naomi Novik's Uprooted Set somewhere vaguely in Eastern Europe, in places that sound very like Poland and Russia, it's a coming of age tale, a fight of good against evil, a love story, and one that encourages us to accept people no matter how different they are to ourselves. A fairytale with grit!
Three crime novels -
Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekback takes the whodunnit murder mystery and transports it to a time and place far removed from the modern urban landscape. In the early eighteenth century the far north of Sweden is remote and empty; a place where life itself is a struggle against the vagaries of the weather and the loss of a harvest can mean starvation. In the long, hard, dark winter, wolves howl at the doors, fear and loneliness build and the barriers between 'modern' logical beliefs and old pagan traditions break down.
A Killing Moon is another brilliantly tense thriller from Derby's very own crime writer Steven Dunne. This is the fifth in the DI Brook series and I think I'm getting used to having my home city's streets filled with murderers - at least, fictional ones! A Killing Moon isn't a simple 'guess the murderer' style crime novel. It's one of those books in which things start out quietly, and seemingly simply, but soon escalate, with extra threads weaving their way in, as Brook and Noble find themselves on the trail of a sinister conspiracy targeting young women away from home.
The Living and Dead in Winsford by Hakan Nesser - a stand-alone psychological thriller from the author of the long-running Van Veeteren series. This time the setting is Exmoor, but a British winter of fogs and rain proves as 'noir' as any Scandinavian setting; the main character a Swedish woman, Maria, hiding under a false name, running from something dreadful and fearing pursuit.
I've read a lot of brilliant teen/ya books this year but these two stood out.
Anything That Isn't This by Chris Priestley - a little bit dystopian, a little bit love story, with a bit of thriller thrown in for good measure, this is a story that captures the confusion of teenage feelings the world over, is about challenging the norm and searching for hope in a dull grey world.
The Door That Led To Where by Sally Gardner - a slippery, twisty sort of plot with time travel, a murder mystery, the clearing up of a forgery case, and the tiniest bit of romance - added together they make a brilliant, compelling read.
and, at long last, the oldies which you've probably already read!
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor - On a late summer's day the residents of a street in the north of England are going about their daily routines. Nothing special is happening - a man is painting his windows, two boys are playing cricket, a toddler rides his tricycle up and down the street, an elderly couple celebrate their anniversary - the sort of things that make up any average day...then something happens, a terrible thing which leaves its mark on all who witnessed it.
The Long Dry - This is Cynan Jones' first novel and is set in the landscape that's become familiar to me through his later work - Everything I Found On The Beach and The Dig. There's the same grit and grimness underlying the beauty of the landscape, the same feeling of inevitable anguish. It's not all doom and gloom - there's light relief from the teenage son, with his delight in driving the transit van, and the mass 'attack' of the ducks on the nearby seaside town - but moments of joy seem short-lived and over-shadowed by sorrow to come. Much more than a story about a farmer looking for a lost cow!
Diamond Star Halo by Tiffany Murray - set against a backdrop of rock-stars and recording studios hidden in the depths of the Welsh countryside, this is a story of 'crazy love' that breaks the rules, an exploration of the ties of family and home, a coming of age novel, a family epic ranging over three generations, there's a bit of all these in Diamond Star Halo, and I loved each of them.
An Experiment in Love by Hilary Mantel - in style and length reminiscent of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Françoise Sagan's Bonjour Tristesse, this is a bitter-sweet, first person narrative of the lives of young women on the cusp between child and adult, at a time of life so full of possibilities, but which could easily tip into tragedy.


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A New Path: InVision and the Design Education Team
Product design has been the foundation of my career for the past 17 years, and although I have followed more of a winding, overgrown trail than a neat, linear path, design is the thread that runs through each step of my journey. I'm very excited to announce that this journey has led me to a new branch in the path: I have joined the company InVision as their Director of Design Education, where I will be supporting their mission of empowering the future of product design.
It is a good time to be a product designer. Whether you are designing physical or digital products, the technologies available for sketching, designing, prototyping, collaborating on, manufacturing, and distributing products offer a staggering range of options. Software is eating the world, and as designers we have a powerful role in the form and direction that software products take.
At the same time, this wealth of opportunity, and the ease with which we can get a product out in the world, can create its own set of problems: is the product I'm designing addressing a real human need? Does it provide unique value? Am I truly "making the world a better place?"
As my career arc led me from designing physical products to digital ones, I've always believed that my training in the Product Design program at Stanford, with David Kelley, the founder of IDEO and the d.school as my advisor, would help me get closer to these goals. But it wasn't until I started teaching in the program three years ago that I started to really understand the power of design thinking in action.
Product Design and the Design Thinking Process
The design thinking framework, as taught at Stanford's d.school
Implementation is the capstone class for undergraduate Product Designers at Stanford. I teach this class, along with Bill Burnett (director of the program) and Kathy Davies. Over the course of two quarters, students investigate a focus area, interview and observe potential users in context, prototype product ideas, get feedback, and iterate this cycle until they have a product that they can bring to market. In doing this, they are using the design thinking skills that they have accrued over their years in the program.
The projects that are the most successful use the design thinking process extensively: getting prototypes in front of real users, observing the prototypes in use, and iterating based on this information all help the students reframe the problem and improve the product in ways that never would have happened if they started at a whiteboard. A great recent example is Me, Myself & You, a game for young adults with autism: without the extensive user interviews and prototyping that the team did, they would not have been able to come up with the appropriate language and accommodations for sensory sensitivities, that made the game a success.
After observing the power of teaching students this methodology, I wanted a way to connect my teaching experience with the work I've done designing and building products for startups and larger companies. As much attention as design and design thinking have received recently, there are still many unexploited opportunities to help companies that don't have design in their DNA to create innovative products that address real human needs. When I learned that InVision had created a Design Education team, with the goal of helping companies put design best practices at the center of their strategy, I was intrigued.
InVision and Design Education
I have been a fan of InVision, the prototyping and collaboration platform, for many years; I have used it extensively in my own work, and at Stanford we highlight it as a resource in Implementation for the Prototype phase of the process. In my experience, it is rare that you can demo a product in front of class for 5 minutes and get such an enthusiastic reaction from students.
Aarron Walter, VP of Design Education at InVision, shares my background in design and education. Prior to joining the company, Aarron was the founder of the UX practice at MailChimp, another well-designed product that I love. During his work scaling design at MailChimp, and studying design in other companies, Aarron has identified the foundations of good design, best practices that companies which do design well embrace and are adept at.
Aarron likes to say that design thinking is the mortar that holds the bricks of good design practice together. My mission as Director of Design Education is to bring the foundational practices of design thinking to our team, to InVision, and to the companies that we serve. We'll do this in part by creating educational content that teaches the techniques of design thinking, and by highlighting case studies of companies that have used it to create innovative new products, or revolutionize existing ones.
I'm very excited to have joined InVision, and with my role supporting the Design Education team I've already had the opportunity to interview designers who are out in the wild using both the "bricks" of good design practice, and the "mortar" of the design thinking process, to create great products. Of course, using this process is never as linear as it might be in a classroom setting. We hope that by sharing the stories of designers who do the hard work of user research, prototyping, and testing, and the impact that this work has on their products, we can help companies that are struggling to establish good design practices within their organization.
If we are successful in our mission, my hope is that our team will help InVision enable the creation of products in diverse industries that embrace human-centered design, and address deep human needs. If software is truly eating the world, then as designers we have a responsibility to make products that have that kind of impact.

subset: commoncrawl


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LIMITED EDITION! Made from dark colored cymbals.
An homage to the hand hammered and unique material we use to create each piece: the drum cymbal. What was once played and a form of musical expression is now revived into a beautiful jewelry piece - truly coming full circle. Show your love for music with our full circle reclaimed cymbal necklace.
- 24" Length Chain - choose from black or antique bronze
- 2" Chain extender included for length options (24" - 26")
- Reclaimed from broken cymbals made from bronze, painted in black
- Polished exterior finish
- Due to the reclaimed nature of the cymbals we use, each product is different. You may receive a piece that slightly differs than what is pictured
- Made in Salt Lake City, Utah
- 30 day returns + 1 year warranty


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Bird in Flight Photo Contest 2020
- First Prize is 2,000 euros
- Samsung Readers' Choice Award – smartphone Galaxy S20 Ultra.
The concept of the Bird in Flight Prize is to support photographers who think outside the box of traditional artistic standards. Our contest is not about photoprojects that cater to the existing general demand. It's about discovering new ways to tell a story using the means and tools of photography. We encourage artistic freedom and diversity therefore we don't impose time constraints upon our participants. We do not limit them in their choices of subjects and creativity methods. We also allow image editing as well as the usage of other images [as long as the copyrights are being observed].
The winners will be announced on Oct 30 2020.
You can enter photoseries of 5-12 photographs only. Online submission of digital photographs via the website.
Image requirements: up to 5 megabytes in size, .jpg or .png24 format


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Our patients
Our physiotherapists treat all areas of the body, from head to toe, and see people of all ages from across the South East of England.
We aim to meet your treatment needs whether it is a work , home or sport related injury. We will help you to regain and improve your level of fitness to allow you to return to your chosen activities, be it every day and functional, or high level sport.
Our therapists have established close links with local GP's and orthopaedic specialist consultants who may refer you to us. You can however, refer yourself directly for treatment.
Whatever your age, whether wise or reckless, we can help you set and achieve your individual goals. Our experienced therapists will carry out a thorough assessment and advise on a tailored management and treatment programme to meet your specific needs.
If further investigation is needed we can direct you to an appropriate professional. We also advise on injury prevention whether work or hobby related, or for specific events such as marathon running or skiing.
For maximum flexibility we have early morning and evening appointments as well as Saturday treatment sessions to accommodate your work and personal life and we aim to see you within 24 hours of calling for an appointment.
You are unique and restoring your health is important to us.


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Two horses were among a crowd of animals that dropped in for breakfast at a North Devon pub on Sunday morning.
The Poltimore Inn in North Molton hosted a special pet-friendly big breakfast to raise money for North Devon Hospice – and invited locals to bring along their creatures, great and small.
Landlord Alan Boddington made the unusual decision after realising the event fell on St Francis of Assisi's Day, the patron saint of animals.
"We ended up with two horses and lots of dogs, of all shapes and sizes," said Alan.
"One of our guests bought five dogs with her. It was a lot of fun, though a bit of a squash when Jessie the horse decided to come into the bar.
"We had a brilliant morning, and served more than 120 breakfasts, twice the number we were expecting," he added.
"Our staff worked really hard and we raised at least £850 for North Devon Hospice, and we have more money still coming in.
"We want to thank everyone who supported us on Sunday and donated money so generously. We are also very grateful to local suppliers many of whom donated food for free for the event."
"North Devon Hospice is a very popular charity locally," added Alan. "My own family has benefitted from its wonderful facilities and ongoing support, as have many other friends and people in the village.
"We were delighted to be able to raise so much money."


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Making Faces for Food
"If you keep making that face it'll freeze that way!" Do you think beluga moms use that line on their kids? Probably not, because the moms are making faces, too! Belugas have very malleable mouths with a cleft upper lip. These traits are unusual among whales and dolphins, but give belugas their uniquely wide range of "facial expressions," the ability to pucker their lips, and squirt water with amazing accuracy.
While those skills may seem custom-made for the entertainment of oceanaria visitors, they actually have a very important function for survival in the wild. Many of the belugas' various prey items are bottom dwellers, and belugas use their flexible lips and mouths to create suction for feeding. It's a shame that the way belugas forage has been twisted by captivity into a stunt intended to amuse spectators.
This week, help us keep belugas wild and free by telling Turner Broadcasting (owners of TBS & CNN – where "Blackfish" has recently been seen by millions – among other networks) that you are not amused or entertained by captivity. We're going back to Facebook this week (TBS doesn't provide a general contact email) to tell them: "Turner Broadcasting, you say you've been environmentally responsible since your founding – importing wild Russian belugas is NOT environmentally responsible! Say NO to sponsoring the Georgia Aquarium."
Thanks for being part of another action alert – see you next week for your new beluga fun fact!


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Watching the reports by Fox News on the recent Dog and Pony Show starring President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron one would be forgiven for thinking that Cameron was the pinnacle of candour and honesty.
It is to be expected that Fox News will make political capital out of Cameron's use of words such as Islamic and terrorism in the same sentence in order to contrast their own President's steadfast refusal to do the same for reasons known only to him and his inner circle. Making political capital however should not be at the expense of the truth.
Fox News and the public at large are left to speculate as to why the President is unwilling to link the global atrocities that are carried out by Muslims in the name of Allah, as directed by their prophet, Mohammad, and as written in their holy book, the Koran, with Islam.
David Cameron is getting some very undeserved kudos for his apparent candour and his bold proposals to deal with Islamic terrorists when just a smidgen of research would expose him for the media created, machine politician that he so obviously is.
One only has to look back to last August when he was being praised by Fox News for cutting short his summer vacation after a British documented Muslim, known as Jihadi John, beheaded American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. This was in contrast to President Obama who made a perfunctory statement before moving on to the 19th hole.
The narrative at the time was that Cameron took decisive action by convening a meeting of COBRA, the governments emergency committee that details a response to any national crisis or events abroad that may have major implications for Great Britain.
Following this meeting Cameron gave the customary press conference where he outlined the tough action he proposed to take in order to deal with British jihadis and radical Islam.
He was praised to the heavens for taking tough actions such as confiscating the passports of jihadis fighting for ISIS thus preventing their return, preventing jihadis from travelling to Iraq, Syria or Somalia, taking the preachers of hate off the streets and closing down the centres of radicalisation such as certain mosques and madrassas.
It might come as a surprise to Fox News and its contributors, but not to the British people, that Cameron is not as tough as they make him out to be because none of these actions have been carried out.
After convening a meeting with COBRA, David Cameron made these same promises in May 2013 after the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby on a London Street in broad daylight by two radicalised British documented Muslims.
At least one of these killers was in contact with Great Britain's most notorious, and obnoxious, preacher of hate, Anjem 'Andy' Choudary.
Far from being removed from the streets Choudary is a walking, talking, radicalising, no-go zone, who has been given celebrity status. He is much in demand by the worlds media including Fox News.
No mosques or madrassas have been closed down. On the contrary, mosque building is continuing at the same or increasing rate.
No passports have been confiscated. Jihadis are still departing to the war zones and they are also legally returning ready to put their newly acquired skills to use in the name of Allah as they have so often promised to do.
The breeding grounds for radical Muslims and jihadis continues to flourish in Great Britain's mono-cultural, sharia controlled ghettos without hindrance from David Cameron's government or its agencies.
To put the record straight for benefit of the American people and Fox News in particular; with a general election due in May 2015, Cameron's spin doctor choreographed public performances are for home consumption where his hold on power has been threatened by the inexorable rise of the United Kingdom Independence Party, known as UKIP, who's spin free, politically incorrect message is resonating with the long suffering British people.
It is understandable that the American people, including Fox News and its contributors, can be seduced by Cameron's rhetoric which he delivers with clear diction and perfectly accented English but they must not let themselves be fooled entirely.
Despite his dulcet tones, he is the consummate media created machine politician who can deliver flawless choreographed, public performances as manufactured by his army of PR men, media managers and image consultants.
There is a bright spot to this story; it would appear that if Fox News was fooled by David Cameron's PR performance their Congressmen were not. One of the reasons for his visit to Washington was to lobby Congress on the President's behalf against imposing further sanctions on Iran. By all accounts they told him to p*ss off and rightly so.
A previous article on America's liking for Cameron here.


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This Product Is Refurbished (Used, Second Hand)
The Galaxy S10 takes the classic S series a giant leap further. It features a large curved-edge screen and puts vault-like security at your fingertips with our new Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner. Also being hybrid SIM enabled allows use of a 2nd SIM or a memory card. Comes with a screen protector pre-installed.
With a front camera, 3 rear cameras and the ultra-wide and ultra-zoom lens, the Galaxy S10 lets you shoot every scene just as your eyes see it. And when it's dark, it'll give you vibrant photos in even the dimmest light.
The Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner is the newest way to keep your phone and information secure. It reads every ridge and notch of your finger, and because it sits under the screen your finger won't accidentally smudge your rear camera ever again.
The Galaxy S10 introduces a stunning new Infinity-O Display. It's crafted from flawless glass which wraps perfectly from edge to edge. It even comes with a screen protector to safeguard it against life's little accidents.
PowerShare gives you the superpower to share your power. Bring your friend's phone back to life if it's drained. Stack your Galaxy Watch on top of your Galaxy S10 and charge them at the same time. Or top up your Galaxy Buds when you're on the move.
Model number: SM-G973FZWDBTU.
Why buy a Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S10 from Londonmagicstore?
- Available in a variety of conditions.
- Fully tested, fully functional and working.
- Refurbished to the highest of quality.
- Unlocked to all networks.
- 128GB & 512GB Storage Options.
- 12 Months Warranty Included.
- Available in Prism Black, Prism Blue, Prism Green & Prism White.
Video Source/Credit: Samsung
Grade A+ Pristine Condition
There will not be any marks or scratches at all. As good as brand new.
Grade A Excellent Condition
May show minor signs of handling or use with insignificant blemishes at the most.
Grade B Good Condition
The handset has some scuffs, marks or surface scratches only. Any scratches or scuffs are completely cosmetic and do not affect the functions of the phone.
Grade C Average Condition
Fully Tested & Working Condition with signs of obvious daily use. The screen may have some marks, but it does not affect the use of the phone or impair any vision on the screen.
Covers Naturally Occurring Faults Only
•Includes faults such as non-self-inflicted hardware part failures and non-self-inflicted software issues.
•Batteries are only covered under a warranty period of 3 months due to wear and tear. All batteries are professionally tested to ensure battery health is at a fully working standard before dispatch.
Faults/Scenarios NOT Covered Under 12 Months Warranty
•Battery related faults that occur after 3 months of warranty has surpassed.
•Self-inflicted damage such a damaged screens bent Frames/bezels.
•Returns lost in the post without proof of postage.
•Wear and Tear – (Battery after 3 Months), accessories.
•Postage Reimbursements
•Phones Returned With An Apple ID.
•Phones that have had repairs completed from an outside source without our authorisation.
Additional Warranty Information
•If a handset is returned to us with an Apple ID on the device, we will need cooperation from the customer in order to have this removed or the warranty will be voided and a refund will not be issued.
•Phones that have been returned to us for a fault covered under the warranty but arrives back to us with a self inflicted damaged screen or camera lens will void the warranty and will be sent back to the customer.
•Replacements will be arranged in a similar cosmetic condition to the returned handset.
•If a handset is returned for a repair but is deemed as uneconomical to repair, a replacement handset will be issued.
•We are not liable if a handset is deemed unrepairable and the phones data cannot be retreived.
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•Handsets returned in a lower cosmetic condition grade than purchased with will be replaced with handsets of a similar grade to the return.
•If your return does not fall into the 'Not Covered' category, your warranty will be accepted and a replacement or a repair will be organised within 0-2 days upon receiving the return back to our return address.
•To claim warranty, please send us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com and a customer service representative will be at your assistance between 0-2 working days.
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Due to the economic crisis in recent years, many businesses have gone through organisational change. Yet, the role of HR and reaction of employees have yet to be fully addressed. Continue reading "The Truth About Managing Organisational Change"
Companies have been experiencing redundancies and restructuring. This list for managing organisational change will cover the areas that need attention during such periods. Continue reading "Four Steps to Managing Organisational Change"


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The Joy of Missing Out
Silver Linings in Dark Times, and Reclaiming Our Power in 2020
2020 certainly isn't the year we wanted… but is it what we needed? Is this the slower life we've been needing for decades?
For what felt like the entirety of the 2010s, my life was a blur — a train that started running at a fast pace, but accelerated even further as time went on. Faster, and faster, and faster... until I was thrown off that train completely. It was then I caught my break (a little earlier than those who did in 2020), and I got a glimpse — a perspective between the old hyperspeed life and the new decelerated one I've built. And I know I'm not the only one who's had this lightbulb epiphany.
The pace of our digitized, maximally optimized and "efficient" lives led millions into a mental health crisis, and that was before the mental health crisis brought on by a global pandemic and quarantine. We just couldn't slow down, we couldn't allow ourselves to take a break. Until, of course, we were brought to a screeching halt.
Yes, we miss our friends. Yes, we miss our routines. Yes, this all around actually sucks. Our friends and family members are sick and dying. The US has more cases of COVID-19 and more related deaths than any other country in the world. We're losing business and money, we're losing traction on our careers, and losing jobs outright. There's the pandemic, there's the new recession, there's the political civil war, there's the racial injustice…
The point of homing in on the silver lining is not to marginalize our pain. In the words of the great spiritual leader and yogi Seane Corn, "You have to get through the 'f*ck you' to get to the 'bless you.'" So don't bypass the pain you're feeling — really feel it — but then, as quickly as you're able, move yourself right on over to the gratitude stage. And that's where you'll find the silver lining. The JOMO.
JOMO is FOMO's more optimistic, more confident, less insecure sister. The joy of missing out allows us to relish in what we do have, rather than what we don't. Whereas FOMO instills in us a feeling of separateness, otherness, and lacking, JOMO allows us confident independence, self sufficiency, and gratitude for the beauty of the here and now.
Rather than pining for what could be, what was, or what isn't, we embrace what is — the present moment, the current situation, our state of being — and find all that is wonderful about it. As Eckhart Tolle put it, "As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love — even the most simple action."
So what present-moment awareness can JOMO bring us now?
We've been forced to pause. A pause that our bodies and brains have been literally begging us for (for years) has finally happened. And with that pause, comes many gifts.
More time to reflect. More time to care for ourselves. Time for long baths, journaling, gardening, learning. Time to meditate and stretch and vinyasa flow in our living rooms. Time to cook and meal plan and organize our kitchens and pantries. More stillness. More quiet. More calm.
Fewer distractions. Fewer obligations on the calendar. Less sitting in traffic. Less racing to get somewhere. Less time squished between strangers on the mobile sardine can known as public transportation.
Less running, more walking (metaphorically speaking).
And as for all that separateness that FOMO brings? There is only unity with the JOMO of 2020. Even in its pain, in its struggle, in its excruciating deconstruction of a life we once knew… there is unity. "We're all in this together," is no longer a cliché, rather a literal reality.
Again — this year is painful. To ignore that would be a mistake that would skip over a crucial step in our healing, rendering us stuck and wounded. Do not bypass it. You have to feel it in order to reach this level of healing in which you can embrace joy. A couple weeks ago, therapist Nina Westbrook told me "we have to find joy in chaos." And while JIC (joy in chaos) might not have the same Gen-Z zing as JOMO, the concepts are the same.
Embrace the gifts that "Missing Out" has given to you. Focus on the new, while releasing the old as best you can. These words are easily said (and typed), much less easily executed. Practice this daily, hourly. Remind yourself constantly. Write it down. Make it a mantra. Find power in JOMO.


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Poet, novelist
Rainer Rilke
Ruth Rilke
Lettres a un jeune poete
4 December 1875 (age 51) Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (
Letters to a Young Poet, Duino Elegies, Rilke's book of hours, The Notebooks of Malte L, The Book of Hours
Similar People
Lou Andreas‑Salome, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Heinrich Heine, Charles Baudelaire, Friedrich Holderlin
29 December 1926 (aged 51) Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland
Awakenings - The Panther Poem - Rainer Maria Rilke
René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926)—better known as Rainer Maria Rilke ( [ˈʁaɪnɐ maˈʁiːa ˈʁɪlkə])—was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist, "widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets", writing in both verse and highly lyrical prose. Several critics have described Rilke's work as inherently "mystical". His writings include one novel, several collections of poetry, and several volumes of correspondence in which he invokes haunting images that focus on the difficulty of communion with the ineffable in an age of disbelief, solitude, and profound anxiety. These deeply existential themes tend to position him as a transitional figure between the traditional and the modernist writers.
- Awakenings The Panther Poem Rainer Maria Rilke
- Glimpses into existence lecture 5 poetry and solitude rainer maria rilke
- Early life 18751896
- Munich and Saint Petersburg
- Paris 19021910
- Duino and the First World War 19111919
- Switzerland and Muzot 19191926
- Death and burial
- The Book of Hours
- The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
- Duino Elegies
- Sonnets to Orpheus
- Letters to a Young Poet
- Rilkes literary style
- Legacy
- References
Rilke was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, travelled extensively throughout Europe, including Russia, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and in his later years settled in Switzerland—settings that were key to the genesis and inspiration for many of his poems. While Rilke is most known for his contributions to German literature, over 400 poems were originally written in French and dedicated to the canton of Valais in Switzerland. Among English-language readers, his best-known works include the poetry collections Duino Elegies (Duineser Elegien) and Sonnets to Orpheus (Die Sonette an Orpheus), the semi-autobiographical novel The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge), and a collection of ten letters that was published after his death under the title Letters to a Young Poet (Briefe an einen jungen Dichter). In the later 20th century, his work found new audiences through its use by New Age theologians and self-help authors, and through frequent quoting in television programs, books and motion pictures. In the United States, Rilke remains among the more popular, best-selling poets.
Glimpses into existence lecture 5 poetry and solitude rainer maria rilke
Early life (1875–1896)
He was born René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke in Prague, capital of Bohemia (then part of Austria-Hungary, now part of the Czech Republic). His childhood and youth in Prague were not especially happy. His father, Josef Rilke (1838–1906), became a railway official after an unsuccessful military career. His mother, Sophie ("Phia") Entz (1851–1931), came from a well-to-do Prague family, the Entz-Kinzelbergers, who lived in a house on the Herrengasse (Panská) 8, where René also spent many of his early years. The relationship between Phia and her only son was colored by her mourning for an earlier child, a daughter who had died only one week old. During Rilke's early years Phia acted as if she sought to recover the lost girl through the boy by dressing him in girl's clothing. His parents' marriage failed in 1884. His parents pressured the poetically and artistically talented youth into entering a military academy, which he attended from 1886 until 1891, when he left owing to illness. From 1892 to 1895 he was tutored for the university entrance exam, which he passed in 1895. Until 1896 he studied literature, art history, and philosophy in Prague and Munich.
Munich and Saint Petersburg
In 1897 in Munich, Rainer Maria Rilke met and fell in love with the widely travelled, intellectual woman of letters Lou Andreas-Salomé. Rilke changed his first name from "René" to "Rainer" at Lou's urging because she thought that name to be more masculine, forceful, and Germanic. His relationship with this married woman, with whom he undertook two extensive trips to Russia, lasted until 1900. But even after their separation, Lou continued to be Rilke's most important confidante until the end of his life. Having trained from 1912 to 1913 as a psychoanalyst with Sigmund Freud, she shared her knowledge of psychoanalysis with Rilke.
In 1898, Rilke undertook a journey lasting several weeks to Italy. In 1899, he travelled with Lou and her husband, Friedrich Andreas, to Moscow where he met the novelist Leo Tolstoy. Between May and August 1900, a second journey to Russia, accompanied only by Lou, again took him to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where he met the family of Boris Pasternak and Spiridon Drozhzhin, a peasant poet. Author Anna A. Tavis cites the cultures of Bohemia and Russia as the key influences on Rilke's poetry and consciousness.
In 1900, Rilke stayed at the artists' colony at Worpswede. (Later, his portrait would be painted by the proto-expressionist Paula Modersohn-Becker, whom he got to know at Worpswede.) It was here that he got to know the sculptor Clara Westhoff, whom he married the following year. Their daughter Ruth (1901–1972) was born in December 1901.
Paris (1902–1910)
In the summer of 1902, Rilke left home and travelled to Paris to write a monograph on the sculptor Auguste Rodin. Before long his wife left their daughter with her parents and joined Rilke there. The relationship between Rilke and Clara Westhoff continued for the rest of his life; a mutually agreed-upon effort at divorce was bureaucratically hindered by Rilke's "official" status as a Catholic, though a non-practising one.
At first, Rilke had a difficult time in Paris, an experience that he called on in the first part of his only novel, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. At the same time, his encounter with Modernism was very stimulating: Rilke became deeply involved in the sculpture of Rodin, and then with the work of Paul Cézanne. For a time, he acted as Rodin's secretary, also lecturing and writing a long essay on Rodin and his work. Rodin taught him the value of objective observation, and under this influence, Rilke dramatically transformed his poetic style from the subjective and sometimes incantatory language of his earlier work into something quite new in European literature. The result was the New Poems, famous for the "thing-poems" expressing Rilke's rejuvenated artistic vision. During these years, Paris increasingly became the writer's main residence.
The most important works of the Paris period were Neue Gedichte (New Poems) (1907), Der Neuen Gedichte Anderer Teil (Another Part of the New Poems) (1908), the two "Requiem" poems (1909), and the novel The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, started in 1904 and completed in January 1910.
During the later part of this decade, Rilke spent extended periods in Ronda, the famous bullfighting centre in southern Spain. There he kept from December 1912 to February 1913 a permanent room at the Hotel Reina Victoria (built in 1906) where his room remains to this day as he left it, a mini-museum of Rilkeana. The hotel was recently renovated and the poet's room is no longer even marked. The furniture and personal effects are now relegated to a glassed-in niche near the hotel spa, but out on the terrace Rilke is commemorated by a bronze statue.
Duino and the First World War (1911–1919)
Between October 1911 and May 1912, Rilke stayed at the Castle Duino, near Trieste, home of Princess Marie of Thurn und Taxis. There, in 1912, he began the poem cycle called the Duino Elegies, which would remain unfinished for a decade because of a long-lasting creativity crisis. Rilke had developed an admiration for El Greco as early as 1908, so he visited Toledo during the winter of 1912/13 to see Greco's paintings. It has been suggested that Greco's manner of depicting angels has influenced the conception of the angel in the Duino Elegies. The outbreak of World War I surprised Rilke during a stay in Germany. He was unable to return to Paris, where his property was confiscated and auctioned. He spent the greater part of the war in Munich. From 1914 to 1916 he had a turbulent affair with the painter Lou Albert-Lasard. Rilke was called up at the beginning of 1916, and he had to undertake basic training in Vienna. Influential friends interceded on his behalf, and he was transferred to the War Records Office and discharged from the military on 9 June 1916. He spent the subsequent time once again in Munich, interrupted by a stay on Hertha Koenig's Gut Bockel in Westphalia. The traumatic experience of military service, a reminder of the horrors of the military academy, almost completely silenced him as a poet.
Switzerland and Muzot (1919–1926)
On 11 June 1919, Rilke traveled from Munich to Switzerland. The outward motive was an invitation to lecture in Zurich, but the real reason was the wish to escape the post-war chaos and take up his work on the Duino Elegies once again. The search for a suitable and affordable place to live proved to be very difficult. Among other places, Rilke lived in Soglio, Locarno, and Berg am Irchel. Only in mid-1921 was he able to find a permanent residence in the Château de Muzot in the commune of Veyras, close to Sierre in Valais. In an intense creative period, Rilke completed the Duino Elegies in several weeks in February 1922. Before and after, Rilke rapidly wrote both parts of the poem cycle Sonnets to Orpheus containing 55 entire sonnets. Both works together have often been taken as constituting the high points of Rilke's work. In May 1922, Rilke's patron Werner Reinhart bought and renovated Muzot so that Rilke could live there rent-free.
During this time, Reinhart introduced Rilke to his protégée, the Australian violinist Alma Moodie. Rilke was so impressed with her playing that he wrote in a letter: "What a sound, what richness, what determination. That and the Sonnets to Orpheus, those were two strings of the same voice. And she plays mostly Bach! Muzot has received its musical christening..."
From 1923 on, Rilke increasingly had to struggle with health problems that necessitated many long stays at a sanatorium in Territet, near Montreux, on Lake Geneva. His long stay in Paris between January and August 1925 was an attempt to escape his illness through a change in location and living conditions. Despite this, numerous important individual poems appeared in the years 1923–1926 (including Gong and Mausoleum), as well as the abundant lyrical work in French.
In 1924 Erika Mitterer began writing poems to Rilke, who wrote back with approximately fifty poems of his own, and called her verse a "Herzlandschaft" (landscape of the heart). This was the only time Rilke had a productive poetic collaboration throughout all his work. Mitterer also visited Rilke. In 1950 her "Correspondence in Verse" with Rilke was published, and received much praise.
In January and February 1926 Rilke wrote three letters to the Mussolini-adversary Aurelia Gallarati Scotti, in which he praised Benito Mussolini and described fascism as a healing agent.
Death and burial
Shortly before his death Rilke's illness was diagnosed as leukemia. He suffered ulcerous sores in his mouth, pain troubled his stomach and intestines, and he struggled with increasingly low spirits. Open-eyed, he died in the arms of his doctor on December 29, 1926 in the Valmont Sanatorium in Switzerland. He was buried on 2 January 1927 in the Raron cemetery to the west of Visp.
Rilke had chosen as his own epitaph this poem:
A myth developed surrounding his death and roses. It was said: "To honour a visitor, the Egyptian beauty Nimet Eloui, Rilke gathered some roses from his garden. While doing so, he pricked his hand on a thorn. This small wound failed to heal, grew rapidly worse, soon his entire arm was swollen, and his other arm became affected as well", and so he died.
The Book of Hours
Rilke published the three complete cycles of poems that constitute The Book of Hours (Das Stunden-Buch) in April 1905. These poems explore the Christian search for God and the nature of Prayer, using symbolism from Saint Francis and Rilke's observation of Orthodox Christianity during his travels in Russia in the early years of the twentieth century.
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
Rilke wrote his only novel, Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge (translated as The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge), while living in Paris and completed the work in 1910. The novel is semi-autobiographical, and he adopts the style and technique that became associated with the Expressionism that entered European fiction and art in the early 20th century. Rilke was inspired by Sigbjørn Obstfelder's work A Priest's Diary and Jens Peter Jacobsen's second novel Niels Lyhne (1880) which traces the fate of an atheist in a merciless world. Rilke addresses existential themes, profoundly probing the quest for individuality, the significance of death, and reflection on the experience of time as death approaches. Rilke draws considerably on the writings of Nietzsche, whose work he came to know through Lou-Andreas Salome. His work also incorporates impressionistic techniques that were influenced by the painter Cézanne, and sculptor Rodin (whose secretary Rilke was 1905–1906). He combines these techniques and motifs to conjure images of mankind's anxiety and alienation in the face of an increasingly scientific, industrial, reified world.
Duino Elegies
Rilke began writing the elegies in 1912 while a guest of Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis (1855–1934) at Duino Castle, near Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. During this ten-year period, the elegies languished incomplete for long stretches of time as Rilke suffered frequently from severe depression—some of which was caused by the events of World War I and his conscripted military service. Aside from brief episodes of writing in 1913 and 1915, Rilke did not return to the work until a few years after the war ended. With a sudden, renewed inspiration—writing in a frantic pace he described as "a savage creative storm"—he completed the collection in February 1922 while staying at Château de Muzot in Veyras, in Switzerland's Rhone Valley. After their publication and his death shortly thereafter, the Duino Elegies were quickly recognized by critics and scholars as Rilke's most important work.
The Duino Elegies are intensely religious, mystical poems that weigh beauty and existential suffering. The poems employ a rich symbolism of angels and salvation but not in keeping with typical Christian interpretations. Rilke begins the first elegy in an invocation of philosophical despair, asking: "Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the hierarchies of angels?" (Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?) and later declares that "every angel is terrifying" (Jeder Engel ist schrecklich). While labelling of these poems as "elegies" would typically imply melancholy and lamentation, many passages are marked by their positive energy and "unrestrained enthusiasm." Together, the Duino Elegies are described as a metamorphosis of Rilke's "ontological torment" and an "impassioned monologue about coming to terms with human existence" discussing themes of "the limitations and insufficiency of the human condition and fractured human consciousness ... man's loneliness, the perfection of the angels, life and death, love and lovers, and the task of the poet."
Sonnets to Orpheus
With news of the death of his daughter's friend, Wera Knoop (1900–1919), Rilke was inspired to create and set to work on Sonnets to Orpheus. Within a few days, between 2 February and 5 February 1922, he had completed the first section of 26 sonnets. For the next few days, he focused on the Duino Elegies, completing them on the evening of 11 February. Immediately after, he returned to work on the Sonnets and completed the following section of 29 sonnets in less than two weeks. Throughout the Sonnets, Wera appears in frequent references to her both direct where he addresses her by name and indirect as allusions to a "dancer" or the mythical Eurydice. Although Rilke claimed that the entire cycle was inspired by Wera, she appears as a character in only one of the poems. He insisted, however, that "Wera's own figure [...] nevertheless governs and moves the course of the whole".
The content of the sonnets is, as is typical of Rilke, highly metaphorical. The character of Orpheus (whom Rilke refers to as the "god with the lyre") appears several times in the cycle, as do other mythical characters such as Daphne. There are also biblical allusions, including a reference to Esau. Other themes involve animals, peoples of different cultures, and time and death.
Letters to a Young Poet
In 1929, a minor writer, Franz Xaver Kappus (1883–1966), published a collection of ten letters that Rilke had written to him when he was a 19-year-old officer cadet studying at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. The young Kappus wrote to Rilke, who had also attended the academy, between 1902 and 1908 when he was uncertain about his future career as a military officer or as a poet. Initially, he sought Rilke's advice as to the quality of his poetry, and whether he ought to pursue writing as a career. While he declined to comment on Kappus's writings, Rilke advised Kappus on how a poet should feel, love, and seek truth in trying to understand and experience the world around him and engage the world of art. These letters offer insight into the ideas and themes that appear in Rilke's poetry and his working process. Further, these letters were written during a key period of Rilke's early artistic development after his reputation as a poet began to be established with the publication of parts of Das Stunden-Buch (The Book of Hours) and Das Buch der Bilder (The Book of Images).
Rilke's literary style
Figures from Greek mythology (e.g. Apollo, Hermes, Orpheus) recur as motifs in his poems and are depicted in original interpretations (e.g. in the poem Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes, Rilke's Eurydice, numbed and dazed by death, does not recognize her lover Orpheus, who descended to hell to recover her). Other recurring figures in Rilke's poems are angels, roses and a character of a poet and his creative work.
Rilke often worked with metaphors, metonymy and contradictions (e.g. in his epitaph, the rose is a symbol of sleep – rose petals are reminiscent of closed eyelids).
Rilke's little-known 1898 poem, "Visions of Christ" depicted Mary Magdalene as the mother to Jesus' child.
Quoting Susan Haskins: "It was Rilke's explicit belief that Christ was not divine, was entirely human, and deified only on Calvary, expressed in an unpublished poem of 1893, and referred to in other poems of the same period, which allowed him to portray Christ's love for Mary Magdalen, though remarkable, as entirely human."
In the United States, Rilke is one of the more popular, best-selling poets—along with 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi (1207–1273), and 20th-century Lebanese-American poet Khalil Gibran (1883–1931). In popular culture, Rilke is frequently quoted or referenced in television programs, motion pictures, music and other works when these works discuss the subject of love or angels. His work is often described as "mystical," and it has also been appropriated for use by the New Age community and in self-help books. Rilke has been reinterpreted "as a master who can lead us to a more fulfilled and less anxious life."
Rilke's work, and specifically, the Duino Elegies have been claimed as a deep influence by several poets and writers, including William H. Gass,Galway Kinnell, Sidney Keyes, Stephen Spender, Robert Bly, W. S. Merwin, John Ashbery, novelist Thomas Pynchon and philosophers Ludwig Wittgenstein and Hans-Georg Gadamer. British poet W. H. Auden (1907–1973) has been described as "Rilke's most influential English disciple" and he frequently "paid homage to him" or used the imagery of angels in his work.


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A Philadelphia police officer was hospitalized with injuries to his face, head, hip, and spine following a single-vehicle crash on Thursday afternoon.
According to CBS News, 31-year-old Matthew Smyth was en route to a call when he crashed into a support beam.
Smyth's mother, Nancy, says he will not be paralyzed because of the accident.


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Hello to all new mouse owners, all who are thinking of getting a mouse and perhaps also more experienced mousers! Here's a little reading for the very first phases of mouse ownership: pondering not only whether a mouse is a good pet for you, but also whether you would be a good mouse owner; choosing between males and females; and where to actually get the mouse from.
Owning a pet brings along much joy and company, but also a responsibility lasting the life time of the pet. The decision of whether to actually get a pet should be considered thoroughly! We all probably know of cases when impulse purchase of a pet has lead to a happy ending. However, in the majority of cases this has brought heartache, sad endings and even animal abuse. This can happen even with people who mean well.
Responsible people who are considering getting a pet do find out early in advance the qualities (size when fully grown, temperament etc) and care requirements of the species they are thinking about. This way they are able to avoid many unwanted and unpleasant surprises (the pet and the owner just won't fit together and such), as well as mistreatment.
It is very easy to fall in love with mice. They are cute and charming little animals. However, before you go and get a mouse or mice of your own, you should always remember that in spite of being easy to care for, owning mice is a huge responsibility and will take your time. So, you need to consider the following points:
This is certainly something you need to find out beforehand. You don't want to end up in a situation where you are forced to find a new home for your mice for example because your parents will not tolerate your new hobby. Best situation for you and especially your (future) mice is that the whole of your family is excited and happy about your new pets.
This means: can you be certain that your mice will get good care if you are ill or away from home for a few days? If you are allowed to get mice on the condition that no other family member than you need to touch them or even think about them (it is you who will take care of them, by yourself), you will have to think beforehand. If none of your family is interested in the welfare of your mice, who will take care of them when you can't do it? You may think now that you are going to stay home enough to take good care of your pets, but can you be sure? You can get sick and be unable to even stand up, not to mention feed you mice, for many days. Your class might go out on a trip for a few days... Your friend may agree to take care of your mice when you can't, but you should be able to trust your family to be there for your pets.
It does pay to discuss early in advance on the question about who will take care of your mice when you are not able to do it yourself.
A mouse will not thrive in just any small box. Mouse is small, but it does need space. You will have to be prepared to get your mouse a home of adequate size. A home which is not only roomy, but safe for the mouse and easy to clean. Furthermore, you need equipment. Food bowl and water bottle are essential, but not the only things your pets need. Mice need nesting box (or other type of nest), a large and safe wheel to run in and other toys to play with.
Buying your mouse's home with all equipment can be fairly expensive, although you may find cheaper used stuff as well.
SP Muskotti
You will have to look after you mice every single day. Basic care consist of looking after that the mouse has food and fresh water. Food bowls should be washed daily with hot water (mice tend to pee in their food bowls) and water should be changed daily - rinsing the bottle carefully as well. In addition to this basic care you need to interact with your mice - they are pets, after all. By interacting with your mouse, you will get a perfectly tame and nice pet. Furthermore, due to the small size of a mouse you need to check its well being every day. Ailments can develop very fast and you have to know when your pet is not feeling well in order to get proper treatment (medical, taking the mouse to vet) as fast as possible.
Oh well, this may sound like a strange question on a mouse site - you being here shows you have some interest in mice!
Nevertheless, it is extremely important that you get all the information you need and to get the information before getting a mouse. Not knowing better is no excuse for bad treatment. Information is there, it can be found - it is up to you to be active and find it. No not rely on information given out by a pet shop, especially of the shop keeps its animals in crowled, dirty environment. Also, no not rely on only one source for information - this includes reading just this site.
First of all, think over if you would like a "purely" pet mouse, or possibly a mouse to attend shows with. As a pet and in pet classes it does not make any difference if the mouse is of Pet (American, Swedish.. the name varies)- or English type. In standard classes the mouse should be as close to the standard both when it comes to the coat, color, markings, type and size. Usually the required type is English.
The best way of obtaining a standard class show mouse is from a reputable mouse breeder. Mouse clubs usually list breeders and you can contact them for reference. With breeders you will get information on the mouse's background and family, many will provide you with a pedigree. In some countries a mouse has to be registered in order for you to show it and breeders will have the mice ready and registered. Good breeders are also able to help you with all kinds of questions regarding mouse keeping.
Many breeders have excellent and fun looking pet mice as well, as "pet mice" (as opposed to mice who can take part in standard classes!) are always being born in litters. Some breeders also will let you have a joint ownership or similar to offer. Sometimes even very good show mice, usually bucks, are rehomed for responsible mouse owners for free.
When you get a mouse from a good breeder, you will know the exact time of birth and you are able to avoid many unpleasant surprises which may happen with a pet shop. A breeder will tell you the mouse's sex for you, she will not sell you a male - female couple instead of two females, or a female that is already pregnant. To put it short: it pays to use the service of a breeder!
Last but not least: there are all kinds of breeders around. Some are responsible and have a good reputation. Others could be better classed as mouse millers. Ask around for references, especially clubs. If possible, go and visit the breeder and keep your eyes open!
You can get a perfectly nice mouse for yourself from a pet shop, especially if the shop is of good quality and run by knowledgeable people. If the conditions in the shop aren't very good - mice are housed in cramped and dirty cages and especially if you can spot males and females living together; be very careful.
Mice are ready for new homes at one month of age. You should not sell nor buy mice younger than this. Mice who are old enough to be sold already have the looks of a young adult. They don't look like babies with large heads and skinny legs. You should be able to determine the sex quite easily; buck will have their testicles showing, females do not. Females have a short distance between the anus and the urethra and you may be able to spot two rows of teats on both sides of the belly. Young males can lift their testicles back up so you can't see them, if they get scared, but you will still be able to determine a male from a female by the longer distance between the anus and the urethra.
When in a shop, it is best to ask when the babies were born. They should know this fact, at least roughly. Do not buy too young a mouse! If there were males and females housed in the same tank, be prepared for babies if you decide to get a females. Even though it is possible that a female mouse gets pregnant at one month of age, she is not ready for pregnancy until much older, 3-4 months old.
As has been pointed out earler, you can get a new pet either from a breeder -- directly from her home or at a show -- or from a pet shop. Unfortunately there are shops who couldn't care less about the well-being of animals sold there and you may end up getting a pet that was sold too young, that is already pregnant, is older than you're told, is sick or infested with parasites. Then there are, unfortunately, irresponsible breeders, although 'producer' would describe these people better.
Animals have good food and fresh water: They have either rat/mouse lab block or good seed mix (preferrably without green rabbit / cavy pellets). Water bottles are clean and there's water in them. Furthermore everyone in the cage/tank has to be able to reach the bottle.
Clean conditions: Beddings are clean and don't smell dirty.
Enough room for the animals: There shouldn't be too many animals in one cage / tank. There should be only few older animals in tank. There can be a little larger group of younger animals without it causing troubles, but this doesn't mean that there's should be a huge crowd! It is a good thing if there aren't animals of mixed ages in a tank, as older ones may bully youngsters, thus making it impossible for the young ones to get enough food. Even though a pet shop is only a temporary dwelling for the animals on their way to the future homes, the animals should have as stress-free environment as possible!
Number of animals: There shouldn't be an excessive amount of any species, because in this case the animals will probably not get handled, which leads to the future owner having difficulties with taming her new pet.
Selling age: Mouse has to be at least one month of age before it is sold, even though it has been weaned earlier, spiny mice and zebra mice are ready to go at six weeks. There should not be animals younger than that sold! Some pet stores have horribly wrong ideas about weaning and selling ages of different animals, for example that it's OK to sell a rabbit at 4 weeks. This is NOT the case! A baby that is ready to go to a new home already looks like a miniature adult - if the baby has out-of-proportion head and 'twiggy-style' legs, it isn't ready to even leave to mother. A baby that has been weaned too young may suffer the rest of its life from physical and mental damages, which could've been prevented by following rules on weaning ages.
Sexes are kept separate: This is important! Since the weaning age all small pet rodents should be kept in single sex groups. Females may get pregnant at a very young age while they are still kids themselves. If you can see males and females together in a tank or there are visibly pregnant females, the shop is an irresponsible one! When buying a female you can get a dozen or more little babies. If the shopkeeper tells that the animals are best kept in couples of a male and a female, do not believe it. This isn't true.
Origins of the animals: The shop keeper should be able to tell you where the animals came from; were they born in the shop, do they come from a breeder (and who!), animal wholesaler or have they been imported.
Handling: Without a doubt, the shopkeeper must be able to handle the animals he's selling and to handle them in a proper way. This means no lifting spiny mice, zebra mice, gerbils, rats etc from the tail or rabbits by the ears!! The animals shouldn't be overtly shy either.
Instructions on care: It is a good sign that the shopkeeper is interested in the home he's selling the animal to. He must tell you on the specific needs of the pet and know what kind of housing suits best for its needs and what it should be fed with. He shouldn't try and sell the smallest possible cage/tank available.
Pets only: This means NO selling live animals to be reptile food. Reptiles do not need to be fed live and the shopkeepers have to know this. In some countries live feeding is illegal.
The above is true when it comes to breeders as well, only that it is OK for them to have pregnant females every now and then and male-female couples. However, may be a bad sign that you can see female with a litter and the father together, as this means the female has got pregnant immediately after giving birth to the first litter. If you see something like this, do ask the breeder for a reason. For example this is a common practice with gerbils, where first-time mother may not know how to take care of babies causing the first litter to die, while the second will do well. Two litters after each others isn't that bad with mice - more than that falls into the category of animal abuse.
Openness: A good breeder lets you see your future pet's family and tells you about them. Not only show results, but about their temperaments. She also tells you if there have been some kind of troubles with health or otherwise. She will be honest with the possible show career of your pet; if the breeder thinks your pet will have good possibilities on the show bench, she will often ask you to attend at least one show. If the breeder thinks your pet doesn't meet the requirements of standard class shows, she should mention about this and tell you about pet classes. You should definitely get instructions on how to take care of your pet, preferably by giving written instructions. She should also tell you about clubs to join in, gatherings, shows and other activities available for you and your pet.
Male and female mice are both perfectly suitable for keeping as pets. There are certain differences between the two sexes, which you should consider before actually getting a mouse. Otherwise the decision is totally up to you. Mice are very social animals, so if you do get a single mouse, you should interact with it a lot. This means each and every day.
Most males are aggressive towards other male mice, especially after they reach maturity. This is why males are usually kept singly. When you spend a time with a single male daily, you will have a very tame and nice pet who is eager to play on you.
Rapunzel's Orison
The males, also called bucks, do have a distinct smell. However, the smell really isn't all that bad, especially if you have only one buck. You do get used to it after a while. Regular cleaning of the cage will keep the odor at bay. If you clean too often, you will only make the smell worse with bucks, as the little fellow will hurry up and mark his territory with his wonderful smells again.
It is possible to get a male mouse castrated, which makes it able to live with females or other castrated males. Neutered males smell much less than intact ones and they can be even calmer. However, bear in mind that all kinds of operations are risky for such a small animal as a mouse. If you do have a good vet, who will use gas anesthesia and you can afford the operation and can take a day off to see everything goes fine after the operation, neutering is one option you have. Neutered males cannot be entered in standard classes in shows - pet classes are open for them.
Female mice prefer living in a group of a few females, so they can keep each others company. The easiest way to establish a group is to get young females of similar ages.
A harmonous group of five does
There may be difficulties with introducing a new mouse in an established group of females, as the older ones tend to defend their territory. This can be rather aggressive even. Let the mice to meet each others on a neutral ground, a larger show box (plastic tank) will do fine. In the mean time clean the group's cage / tank thoroughly, including all the toys, nests, food bowls and water bottle. Change used cardboard boxes and tubes for new ones. Mice recognize their own territories by the smell, so they won't be as eager to chase the newcomer out if the cage does not smell familiar. It is also a good idea to give the mice something very tasty to eat, so they won't necessarily bother fighting each other with all the goodies around. There can be some quarrel when the group reestablishes their "pecking order", but usually everything goes fine.
Always remember to check the condition of the mouse you are buying. Healthy mice are lively, their coats have a healthy shine, their eyes are bright and there is no discharge coming from the nose. The mouse should be clean under the tail and it has to be able to move about with ease. Healthy, level headed mouse does not act aggressively towards you. It also pays to take a peek in the mouse's coat and see if there are any unwanted tenants there - ectoparasites or their eggs.
Please, be a responsible mouse owner!! Do not breed your mice, if you are not certain that you can find good homes for each and every baby you produce. Dumping the babies to a pet shop does NOT qualify as finding good homes! It is highly irresponsible to get a male and female couple to live in the same tank. The result will be large flow of babies, as mice can have over ten babies every three weeks. Continuous pregnancies are a huge strain on a poor female mouse. You don't want to be called a mouse miller or baby factory and despised by all responsible mouse owners, do you???
It is very easy to avoid unwanted litters of mice. Just keep the males and the females apart. If there is any possibility that someone in your house hold could let the sexes mingle together, get only mice of one sex.
Remember that the mouse or mice have only you to provide them with everything. They are your pets and don't care what you look like or if you are in perfect health. It is your responsibility to love your mice what they are as well. Do not dump a mouse in favor of a "better looking one". Get help - and that does mean contact a vet - if there is something wrong with the mouse. Mice are such small creatures that you do need to act quickly. "I'll just see what happens for a few days before I decide on contacting a vet" -attitude literally costs lives.
Well, that's about it! I'll just say:


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After a lengthy hiatus from the KL nightlife scene, KL-based Beatmilitia Re:Launches this Saturday 5 MAY 2018 at Drop KL at TREC.
and independent platform founded in 2013. This movement is a collaboration tool designed for all aspiring talented DJs and producers. Extraordinary militants of musical maestros infused with passion and desire to educate the masses, delivering only quality music and offering not just a regular night out but with a total package combining concept, themes and music.
DJ Line up for the night include Adam, Joey G, Gray, Shaheed Naz and Adib.
: Head Artist of Beatmilitia, a former partner of the duo C2K and also part of Bitrates Asia Collective. DJ and producer, this multi-talented Borneo born has been in the industry since he debuted in early 2010. Known for his inclination towards deep house, progressive and techno, he has shared the decks with local and international acts such as Nick Warren, Hito, Jeremy Olander, Darin Epsilon, Budakid, My Digital Enemy, Teenage Mutant, Kaiser Souzai to name a few.
Joey G: Whether as a solo DJ of two decades standing renowned for his expertise in house, tech house and techno or as TV Presenter, Joey brings his natural charm and charisma from the cameras to the console, always leaving audiences hungry for more. His four-year tenure as one of Channel V's most popular VJs definitely increased his visibility as a TV personality, but at his core, Joey is a DJ dedicated to taking the culture which nurtured him to new exciting heights.
He has played opening sets for some of the world's greatest DJs in those two decades such as Carl Cox, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Roger Sanchez, Tall Paul, James Zabelia, Marco V, Benny Benasi and many more, and has collaborated with Cuurley (fka Mr Fluff) as electronica duo CosmicSpaceMunkys.
On the airwaves "Turn it Up" with Joey G over on Aforadio is your gateway to an intimate mix of the latest upfront dance music from across the globe. For each show, he offers a weekly glimpse into the world of underground house music, its sub genres and its makers.
Shaheed Naz: One half of electronica nu disco/synthwave duo along with Robotron 5000 who have recently released new single "free". A self-taught DJ, Shaheed Naz has made a name for himself in the music scene. Since 2002, he has featured in countless clubs including Zouk KL, Nouvo, BarClub, Chill Bar, Rendezvous Sarawak, Barcode and Bar One Six, spinning a wide variety of digital music, sometimes incorporating live instrumentation into his sets. He was once part of indie outfit They Came From Mars! and former synth/sampler for the punk rock band Oh Chen-taku.
Grey: started off as a bedroom producer back in 2007, He discovered that the love for music led him to discover the underground music scene in KL. He has shared the stage with names like Postiljonen, M83 and has performed countless events and festival in Malaysia. Currently an active member of electronica band (founded in 2012) comprising himself and Iqwan Ridzuwan.
: A young talent emerging amongst the best of Malaysian talents, Adib shows no mercy when it comes to getting things done. A self-taught DJ, sharpening his skills with his peers has landed him gig after gig around the local club circuit. His technique behind the decks has proved him as one of the best entertainers for dance music revellers. Be it a crowd of 50 in a bar or 5,000 outdoors, his sound sends beats to the ground and shakes the dance floor for a euphoric sensation from house to techno to progressive house.
DROP KL: The Terraces TREC, 438, Jalan Tun Razak, KL: Admission: (with one drink): RM30. Dinner/table reservations: email@example.com or call 03 2110 4343 or visit www.dropkl.com. Log on to https://www.beatmilitia.com/, sign up and get your exclusive pass for the night.


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Introduction: Concrete Path Mold
Building your own concrete path is a very rewarding and good project to make. Not only you know it was build properly, you are building something that will last for a very long time.
When I realized that I need a path for my back yard, I knew that it'll be from concrete and that i'll build it myself. Looking around the web for ideas I stumbled upon these concrete plastic molds. Not happy with the shape and flimsy look of them, I decided to build a better, stronger one myself.
This instructable involves 2 skills: welding and concrete pouring. No need to master these 2 but you do need to have some basic skills in knowing how to mix concrete and how to weld to accomplish this project.
Step 1: List of Materials
- 2400 mm X 40 mm X 2 mm flat steel bar cut into 600 mm strips
- 2000~2500 mm of 10 mm X 10 mm square steel profile
- Welder
- Concrete mix (concrete, sand, fine gravel, water)
- Wheelbarrow
- Level
- Some string
- Metal peg
- Trowel
- The usual assortment of tools
Step 2: Making the Mold
To prepare the mold i welded 4 pieces of 600mm X 40mm to make a square. Made sure it was squared perfectly. I welded it from the outside to make sure that when i set the concrete i will have perfect corners.
The pattern (10X10mm square profile) was something i drew off my head and then I transferred it to the frame. Here you can just let your imagination run and make really nice patterns.
The pattern was welded from the top by a strong tack weld. (Anything else will warp the whole pattern and make a hole that you can't recover from... besides, this doesn't need to support a bridge...)
To aide me in squaring and holding the pieces while welding I used a 90 degree cast iron clamp. It'll be extremely hard to do it any other way (unless you have a special welders prep table)...
Step 3: Preparing the Ground
This part is the most important since it will determine the outcome of this whole project.
The ground has to be fairly leveled, make sure you mark with a string the intended path to make sure you are aligned and not drifting like it happened to me. I ended up tearing up the first 3 slabs i made because i wasn't aligned.
Check and check again. make sure you're aligned perfectly. Level the string, check it every time you pour a new slab.
Step 4: Pouring the Slabs
Placing the mold for the first pour is very important. level it and check it several times. I used small pebbles to fine tune my alignment of the mold. After i made sure that the mold is leveled and stable I started mixing the concrete.
For my mold i used 5kg concrete, 15kg sand, 5~10kg fine gravel. The amount of concrete that you'll get\need for one slab varies on your mold size. Experiment...
You'll notice that i haven't used plastic or polypropylene on the ground before pouring. Instead, I sprayed it with water so the poured concrete will not dry too fast.
I didn't take pictures of the pouring itself but it's basically the same as any other pouring process in which you flatten the the slab and then tap all around the mold to make sure there are no air pockets. After a few minutes i slowly take out the mold. This is the place to mention that the concrete mix has to have the right consistency so it does not sag or goes splat all over the place, think of a thick porridge consistency for the concrete.
Step 5: Finished Results
Since this was my first time laying a concrete path, I did some mistakes and had to do 3 slab all over again... but, i learnt how to do it right and fast.
You'll need to water the new path with water for a whole week to make sure the concrete hardens properly.
This path is 10 meter long. it took me some time to make but that was due to unforeseen holdups...
If I would have done it with no interruptions, i'd finish it in 2~3 days.
Thanks for taking the time reading this instructable. This is a bit more advanced from my other ones but someone with 2 good hands and straight thinking (wait, isn't that all makers? :-) would probably breeze through this...
P.S.: Please vote for me in the Concrete & Casting Contest. Thanks!
Participated in the
Concrete and Casting Contest


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Center for American Progress
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A report by Marshall Fitz outlines a 21st century immigration system that will stimulate innovation, enhance competitiveness, and cultivate a high-skilled U.S. workforce.
Vice President, Communications
Director, Federal Affairs
Senior Manager, State and Local Government Affairs
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Download the executive summary (pdf)
Immigrants who come to the United States to study at our best universities and then go to work at our nation's leading companies contribute directly and immediately to our nation's global economic competitiveness. High-skilled immigrants who have started their own high-tech companies have created hundreds of thousands of new jobs and achieved company sales in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Yet despite the critical importance of such immigrants to the nation's economic success in a global economy, our current high-skilled immigration system is a two-fold failure: arbitrary restrictions prevent companies from effectively tapping the full potential of this talent pool, while inadequate safeguards fail to prevent against wage depression and worker mistreatment. The reforms outlined in this paper will help establish a 21st century immigration system that serves the nation's economic interests and upholds our responsibilities in a global economy.
Of course, our current immigration policies have failed the country on many fronts beyond the high-skilled policy arena. And the urgent need for comprehensive, systemic reforms is beyond question. The national debate has understandably focused up to this point on the most visible and most highly charged issue—ending illegal immigration. Solving that riddle and ending illegal immigration is indisputably a national imperative and must be at the heart of a comprehensive overhaul of our system.
But reforms to our high-skilled immigration system are an important component of that broader reform and integral to a progressive growth strategy. Science, technology, and innovation have been—and will continue to be—keys to U.S. economic growth. The United States must remain on the cutting edge of technological innovation if we are to continue driving the most dynamic economic engine in the world, and U.S. companies must be able to recruit international talent to effectively compete in the international innovation arena.
To be certain, educating and training a 21st century U.S. workforce is a paramount national priority and the cornerstone of progressive growth. Improving access to topflight education for everyone in this country will be the foundation for our continued global leadership and prosperity. But it is shortsighted in a globalized economy to expect that we can fill all of our labor needs with a homegrown workforce. In fact, our current educational demographics point to growing shortfalls in some of the skills needed in today's economy. And as global economic integration deepens, the source points for skill sets will spread—such as green engineering in Holland or nanotechnology in Israel—the breadth of skills needed to drive innovation will expand, and global labor pools must become more mobile.
Reforming our high-skilled immigration system will stimulate innovation, enhance competitiveness, and help cultivate a flexible, highly-skilled U.S. workforce while protecting U.S. workers from globalization's destabilizing effects. Our economy has benefitted enormously from being able to tap the international pool of human capital. Arbitrary limitations on our ability to continue doing so are ultimately self-defeating: Companies will lose out to their competitors making them less profitable, less productive, and less able to grow; or they will move their operations abroad with all the attendant negative economic consequences. And the federal treasury loses tens of billions of dollars in tax revenues by restricting the opportunities for high-skilled foreign workers to remain in the United States.
Access to high-skilled foreign workers is critical to our economic competitiveness and growth, but facilitating such access triggers equally critical flip-side considerations, in particular the potential for employers to directly or indirectly leverage foreign workers' interests against the native workforce. Current enforcement mechanisms are too weak to adequately prevent fraud and gaming of the system. And current regulations tie foreign workers too tightly to a single employer, which empowers employers with disproportionate control over one class of workers. That control enables unscrupulous employers to deliberately pit one group of workers against another to depress wage growth. Even when there is no malicious employer intent or worker mistreatment, the restriction of labor mobility inherently affects the labor market by preventing workers from pursuing income maximizing opportunities.
The end goal must be a system that inherently preferences the hiring of U.S. workers, but streamlines access to needed foreign workers and treats all workers employed in the United States on a level plane. Reforms that enhance legal immigration channels for high-skilled immigrants must be complemented with reforms to ensure that a worker's immigration status cannot be used to manipulate wages and working conditions. This paper digs deeper into the structural deficiencies and enforcement shortcomings in our high-skilled immigration system and offers a number of legislative solutions designed to:
The recommendations detailed in this report will enhance labor market mobility and promote economic growth while advancing workforce stability through enforceable labor standards and protections.
The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.
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