text:
There was once a nun who pretended to be insane. She pretended also to be possessed by a demon. The other sisters in the monastery would not eat with her. She would wander around the kitchen doing all the dirty work that no one else wanted to do. She wore rags on her head even though the rest wore a nun's habit. None of the sisters ever saw here eating. She never sat at the table with them but would eat what was left over in the pots and pans, or whatever crumbs were left on the table or fell on the floor. She never fought back when they would yell at her and chase her away.
Now there was a monk living not far away, who was a famous hermit, and many people would come to this monk for advice. But an angel appeared to the holy monk and said to him, "why are you proud of yourself? Do you want to see a woman who is more religious than you? Go to the convent and you will find a woman wearing a crown on her head. She is better than you.
So he went to the convent, and asked if he could meet all the nuns so that the angel could show him which one was the great spiritual woman. But this nun did not come to meet the guest monk. And he knew even thought he had met hundreds of the nuns he had not met THE nun. So, he asked the abbess to bring him the one nun who was missing. And the abbess said, "well, yes, technically there is one more, but she is mentally ill, and you don't want to waste your time with her."
But he insisted that he wanted to meet her. So, they went to call her. And she didn't want to come at first because she understood what was happening by divine revelation. But at last they dragged her to the monk.
The monk saw the rag on her head, and he understood that this was her crown. And he fell down at her feet and asked her to bless him.
This is a priest asking a nun for a blessing.
She also fell down on the ground and asked him to bless her.
The nuns were scandalized. They told the monk, "father don't let her insult you, she's insane."
The monk said to them, "no, YOU are the ones who are insane, but she is the spiritual mother both of me and of you. I pray that I will be found worthy of her on the day of judgment."
Then the nuns started to fall down and weep in front of her. One confessed that she had once scraped off her plate onto the head of this nun when the nun was washing the floor. Another confessed that she had beaten the nun with her fist. Another had been playing cruel pranks on the nun. All the nuns confessed they had done things like this. So the monk prayed for them all and then left. And after a few days the nun who used to be the hated dog of the convent, ran away because she couldn't stand how much they respected and honoured her, and respected her, and apologized to her. She ran away and no one knows where she died.
Maybe the other nuns thought they were teaching her a lesson?
What would you think if you were trying to live a solemn spiritual life, and someone was wearing a rag on her head instead of a habit? Maybe they thought she was mocking them. Maybe they thought that they had no choice because she was so annoying to them?
I have to teach this person a lesson or else they won't learn.
My sinfulness hates other people's righteousness. My anger and hatred cannot abide the forgiveness that other people show. My cowardice and lack of clarity and my unwillingness to stand for something hates to see people who hold firm to their principles. My sin hates your virtue.
I am stuck in my sin, and I can't stop even if I want to. But you are doing what I cannot do, and I hate seeing it. It's like a starving man who watches the fat man eat at a feast. It's painful to watch.
It is painful to watch a humble and loving person do good, when I am trapped by my anger and my need to control. It is painful to watch someone do effortlessly what I cannot do even with all my effort. It is painful to watch someone act with innocence when I have lost my innocence.
What did we hear Jesus saying today? (Luke 6:31-36)
The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same."
Jesus knows that because we are sinners, we have a distorted perspective. Because we are sinners, we are likely to hate a righteous person because of their righteousness. And so, Jesus teaches us a different way:
But love your enemies
[that is, those whom you
PERCEIVE to be your enemies, the people you naturally want to hate, the ones
who make you so angry. This could be someone very close to you. People very
close to you can hurt you the most and make you the most angry. Jesus says we should
love the ones WE PERCEIVE to be worthy of our anger]
, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
When you deliberately cut yourself off from the avenues of exercising your anger and judgment, you stop fighting your perceived enemy, and you start to fight your real enemy which is your own sin.
When I lash out in anger at another person, I am not fighting my own sin. When I am so angry that I shun someone or give them the silent treatment I am not fighting my real enemy which is my sin. When I busy myself judging people for not being legalistic enough, when I complain because the rules were not followed exactly, "they should be doing this or that" then I am not fighting the real enemy.
If I find myself exasperated at how old-fashioned or out-of-date my church seems to be, then I am not allowing the wisdom of the church to chastise my lack of courage, and lack of faith. When I find myself resenting the church because of the tension between our Orthodox Christian faith and what my friends want me to believe, I am missing the opportunity to confront my own sins. I am loving those who love me and not those who hate me.
But proverbs says,
"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."
(Prov. 16:5)
Even grownups are victims of peer pressure. We are called, especially as parents, to be the ones who proclaim the gospel and am not ashamed of the gospel. And even though we might be tempted by other people's approval, true life does not come from judging but from repentance. True life comes from repentance not anger.
St. Peter writes, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." 1 Pet. 5:6.
This is the fight against our real enemy. Listen to the prophets who wrote during the time when Israel was being oppressed by enemies. The nation of Israel was being oppressed and attacked, and was suffering injustice, and yet their prophets wrote this:
"Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people." (Isaiah 64:8–9)
"'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God. After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'" (Jeremiah 31:18–19)
"But we did not obey Your voice … and you laid to waste the house called by Your name, as it is this day, because of the wickedness of the house of Israel … Even so, O Lord our God, You have dealt with us according to all Your goodness and great mercy. … But in the land of their exile, their hearts will turn back, and they will know that I am the Lord their God, and I will give them a heart and ears that obey; and they will praise Me in the land of their exile and will remember My name. They will turn from their stubbornness and their evil deeds; … For You are the Lord our God and You we will praise, O Lord. On account of this You granted in our hearts the fear of You, to call upon Your name, and we shall praise You in our exile, because we will turn away from our hearts all the iniquities of our fathers who sinned against You." (Baruch 2:24-3:7)
Jesus tells us in the gospel today, "do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High"
The term "Sons of the Most High," intrigued me, so I started looking at the word, "Most High" to find out what kind of connotation it could have. What does it mean when we call God the "Most High."
I found that this is terminology that is often used when people make sacrifices to God. That's what is usually happening when we hear God called the "Most High."
For example
"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
(Genesis 14:18–22)
Sir. 29:11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.
Sir. 31:19 The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.
Sir. 32:6 The offering of the righteous makes the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.
Sir. 32:10 Give unto the most High to the measure that he has enriched you; and as you have received, give with a cheerful eye.
I want to go back to the question anger. We experience anger and rage, and we don't always know whether it is justified or not. How do we know whether our response to anger is our own sinfulness lashing out, and how do we know if our response in anger is healthy? Sometimes we have to say no. How do we know?
To begin with, we can say to Jesus, "I am willing to do what you are calling me to do, even though it causes me pain in the short term."
We ask Jesus, "are you sending me into a kind of metaphorical exile? Am I experiencing anger and distress because I need to grow? Do I need to learn something about my own sinfulness from this infuriating situation? Do I need to change?"
And then ask yourself, "is standing on a principle going to be a sacrifice for me? If I stand for what is right, if I draw a line and say "no" and if I take the unpopular position, am I making a sacrifice for God by doing that? Or am I trying to be in control? Am I being stubborn?
Many times, we don't know which one is the case. We don't always understand our own motives. These are good questions to ask ourselves, but I would be lying if I told you that you will always know in your heart that you are making the right decision.
A good prayer to pray is, "God, let me serve you." Or, "let me repent of my own sins first." The priority is for me to repent of my own sins.
If you come to the conclusion that you really don't want to draw a boundary line; you don't want to say, "no," yet for the sake of the vulnerable, for the sake of those who might be hurt otherwise, you reluctantly have to say to the person who made you angry that you do not accept their behaviour, then pray that God will guide you. Pray that God will give you the strength to apologize later if you have to. Say, "God I am willing to admit I was wrong if I have to, but right now I feel that this is what I need to do." And then take your stand and say "no".
But if you are saying "no" in anger in order to punish someone, in order to control them. If the anger is so overwhelming that you feel you could not forgive even if you wanted to. If your anger is so intense that you have no remorse, no love for the person you are confronting, then there is a good chance that God is calling you to sacrifice your anger to him, and is not calling you to speak out.
You can sacrifice your anger to God by admitting, yes, that person seems wrong, but I am also wrong. So I am going to forego judging that person.
Yes, I am suffering, but I also cause other people to suffer. So this time I am going to bring my suffering to God, and ask for him to guide me in the midst of my suffering. And I am going to keep quiet and not judge. I am not going to hit back.
"Yes, the church sometimes seems to be slow to learn, but I am even more slow to learn, and I don't want to be guilty of distorting the gospel message, and so I am going to leave the truths and principles of the Orthodox Christian faith unchanged. Yes, I think some priests and bishops might be misguided, but I am even more misguided, and so I am going to allow the truth of the Body of Christ to be my truth, at least for the time being."
Some of you are mourning because someone you love does not love God. Someone you love is not following Jesus, and it eats away at you. We feel immense pain when we love Jesus and we watch someone we love walk away from Jesus. We almost want to shout at Jesus, "why are you allowing them to walk away?"
Maybe you just have more sorrow than anger. Maybe you just hurt for this person you love, and maybe you just long for them to return.
You too can make a sacrifice – on their behalf. That's what our time in church is for. In the divine liturgy we ask God to accept the sacrifices we are making for ourselves and for the ignorance of the people. We offer our sacrifices on behalf of others. In the Anaphora we pray, "Thine own of thine own we offer unto Thee in behalf of all and for all."
Each person will have to make up his or her own mind in the end. But we can fast on behalf of others. We can pray on behalf of others. We can give our work and our time and our love on behalf of others.
I encourage you if you see someone else losing faith, as a challenge and a calling to have faith on their behalf. And if you know of someone who is failing to repent, take up the challenge to make sure that you repent. Take other people's weakness as a calling for you to use the strength of Jesus to stand firm on their behalf.
And you might ask, "will it work?" If I sacrifice my anger and disappointment and my pain to God, what do I get back? Is that going to make my suffering go away?
The gift of God is that we are allowed to sacrifice to him. The proof of God's power and victory is that His Holy Spirit strengthens us enough that we choose to sacrifice to him. In the moment when we choose to sacrifice, Jesus is living within us.
Today we read the words of St. Paul who said,
Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
I want to address myself specifically to spouses and parents. I want to encourage you to give thanks to God for the context of the family as the place where you can work out your salvation. The family is the place where, as St. Paul says, we "carry in the body the death of Jesus."
This is the place we are most seriously confronted by our own sinfulness. This is the place we are most intensely challenged.
This, by the way, is the reason why the church is so insistent on the sanctity of marriage. It's not because God is irate when intimacy happens at the wrong time. God longs for us to take the opportunity to work out our own salvation in the context of commitment. God's beautiful gift to us in the family is that we can do the excruciating work of confronting our own selfishness. And so, a marriage needs to be from beginning to end an act of obedience to God, and act of trusting God to give us strength, and act of pouring out our lives as an offering to God. That's what a marriage is, when it is at its best. We are given our families is in order for the life of Jesus to become manifest in us. It is for our salvation.
Have a talk with God during the rest of this service. Tell God in your heart that you are going to bring a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The greatest sacrifice of thanksgiving we can ever make is to confess our sins. To admit our own faults, and to ask Jesus to cleanse us of our sins..
I am a sinner, but you, Jesus, can help me to serve you wherever I am.
Renew your commitment to forgive and to love, and to follow Christ in the context of your home and your family. And if you are single, renew your commitment to serve Christ in the context of this church, because this church is your family.
Tell Jesus that you do not know how to take the next step forward. Tell Jesus that you do not know what to do, that you are at your wits' end.
Tell Jesus you are willing to follow him wherever he leads you.
The good news is that you are still trying. The good news is that you have not given up yet. The good news is that there is still time and whatever you offer to Jesus in humility he will multiply a thousand-fold even, if you can't see it now.
And then come forward to the chalice and receive the body of Christ.


text:
Simon broke ground on the major Phipps Plaza expansion Oct. 18, joined by actor Robert De Niro and Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell.
De Niro is a co-owner of Nobu, the restaurant and hotel chain that is part of the expansion. The plans also include an office tower, fitness center, outdoor event venue and public green space.
Executives at Simon, which owns Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square malls, and District 7 City Councilmember Howard Shook were also present at the groundbreaking, according to a press release.
The officials used sledgehammers to smash a wall at the ceremony.
The expansion is expected to open in phases starting in 2021, according to the release.
"The Simon credential is highly respected throughout the national real estate industry and today's event perfectly illustrates its commitment to maintaining a first-class presence in Buckhead," Massell said in a press release about the groundbreaking.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sport 42: 2014
Airini Beautrais — from Dear Neil Roberts
Airini Beautrais
from Dear Neil Roberts
Finding this story
I have a friend I have known,
if I can put it this way, since we were bumps.
When I moved towns, we wrote to each other.
As years went, longer and longer.
We'd roam Karangahape Road in the school holidays,
buy plastic flowers, laugh at oversized knickers.
Our lives' object was to make things into art.
We loved the sheds of the elderly, and the inorganic collection.
At school, my friend was in awe
of a bunch of punks, hippies, and goths.
She deduced, from the patches on their jackets,
that they were anarchists. Too shy
at first to talk to them, she sat in the library
at lunchtime, set herself essays,
on topics such as 'Should anarchists vote?'
Yes, for the most fascist party,
whose government will be so awful
the revolution will come sooner.
Or: no, they shouldn't. They should, instead,
protest the system outside polling booths.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Conference
was held in Auckland; the city crawled
page 85 with protestors; cops with batons
and riot shields. My friend made a flag
from a bin liner and some red fabric.
Went with a buddy through the streets,
got batoned, got in with the cool kids.
Talked police brutality as the bruises slowly healed.
She sent me a poster: 'Guy Fawkes—The only person
to enter Parliament with honest intentions.'
She put stickers on her envelopes: 'Ban the filthy car'
and 'Peter Kropotkin for President'.
'We are having a picnic,' she wrote me,
'to commemorate Neil Roberts Day. He was the anarchist
who blew himself up outside the Whanganui Computer.
Have you heard of him?' I hadn't.
One night, in Auckland, my friend and I
went to a meeting of the Anarchist Federation of Aotearoa.
Her mother took us there
asking for directions at every intersection.
These are the memories that tell us
our mothers love us: that they will deliver us
to the addresses we give them, and believe us.
She was never on time. Her love drove us.
A man named Snake was climbing up a ladder.
'The meeting's cancelled,' he yelled.
'You don't have email, do you?' Against the backdrop
of changing communication
we went for coffee. Those were the years
of manicured beards, of scattered cushions,
the boom years of hospitality. I ordered espresso.
Short or long? I couldn't decide.
A nice night
What went through your head, Neil,
waiting at the Stratford bus stop, for three and a half hours?
Did your dog, Umbrella, sniff something gone awry,
nosing your steel-capped toes? Dogs know.
What went through your head,
putting Umbrella on the bus to Auckland,
seeing the Whanganui bus pull up?
Doors sighing apart. The future, opening up.
How did you feel, in your rabbitskin vest,
buying a battery, asking the cashier
to test it for you? 'I put a screwdriver
across the terminals,' he told the papers,
'and it sparked quite nicely. He seemed like a nice guy.
The last thing I said to him was "Have a nice night".'
You drank your last can of drink.
You went to the cinema, bought a ticket
to a movie half-over. Cradled your pack,
its unseen contents. Did you watch the action
on the screen, or just sit there, passing minutes?
You must have had a time in mind.
What went through your head, Neil, leaving the cinema,
moving through the back alleys of the Old Town?
There are lots of blank walls there, they echo well.
What went through your head taking out a spray can,
writing on the wall? The text strikes me
as having been written with a steady hand. Also,
it was a fitting choice of quote, then and now,
though written in 1809, in the Junta Tuitiva.
page 87 La Paz, peace, must have been in your mind,
when you added 'Anarchy: Peace Thinking.'
Some might contest the connection.
'One day,' writes my friend Sam, in a zine on anarchy,
'it may be unnecessary to begin
every piece of writing on the subject of anarchism
by pointing out that anarchism
is not about violence and chaos,
but about organisation and cooperation.
Somebody please give me a yell when this happens.'
What went through your head, Neil, crossing Bates Street?
Did you look at the building, or at your feet?
Were there lights on in the windows?
In Willie Keddell's short film 'The Maintenance of Silence'
we see an actor's legs, from the knees down,
walk the carpark, a pair of hands place a red knapsack.
I was struck by the similarities
between my imagined scene and the film,
except that in the film the footsteps ring ominous
and Keddell's bomber crouches side-on to the building,
while I imagine him facing the doors. What went through your head,
stooping there? Did you know about the men,
two of them, on the other side of the armoured glass?
There wasn't time to talk. Did you know about the six
sitting at terminals? What went through their heads,
working there? What I wouldn't do for a beer.
What I wouldn't do for a couple hours more sleep.
BANG! The explosion sears through your head,
molecules rearranging, structures unforming.
I have a dream in which I hear the sound
of body parts landing. They make a small noise: blick.
An ambulance arrives, but it is much, much too late.
Out the window
'I'm trying to moderate my radical thoughts,' says my friend Jonah,
as he boils a kettle on a hotplate, in a corner of his workshop.
The workshop, in a massive warehouse, features hanging tricycles,
miles of inner tubes, scores of every bike part imaginable
sorted into shelving. There is a smell of grease and rubber;
the toilet, Jonah stresses, when I ask if I can take my boy there,
is a men's workshop toilet. It's a bit like a mechanic's garage,
without the semi-naked women, or the awful music.
Jonah is eating a lunch of silverbeet and baked beans;
late, wolfed, non-gourmet. We are drinking a pleasant kind
of herbal tea. I am sinking into a chair, probably dumpstered.
We are talking about the past, and people we have known.
Here I am, with my blond-haired child,
with my rounded belly, in my hand a set of car keys—
the remote locking kind, which I never would have imagined.
It has been a while since I did anything subversive
with a can of spraypaint, with a billboard, with a naked human body,
with anything. But I've known Jonah since the days
when I did. I wonder out loud, what it would be like
if you kept living the same life you lived at twenty-one.
I know some people I'd like to turn out like,
and others I wouldn't. Jonah is thinking back to his rock days.
A lone creative type, lost in Masterton,
he met up with boys from Upper Hutt College,
played in a band with three of them. All went nuts, he reckons.
All the boys from that school, of that age.
One of them, Jonah tells me, 'basically, the voices told him
to go out the window.' And he listened.
page 89 'He said one of the most interesting things I've ever heard
anyone say,' Jonah adds. 'He said, all these people are waiting
for the apocalypse, but the thing is, it's already happened.
This is hell. We are living in hell.
I'd never thought of it like that.'
'Neither have I,' I say. But I can understand,
or remember, more like, what the world
can look like through those goggles.
Sure, it's frightening, from some angles, getting older;
but what a relief—touch wood, grip vinyl—
to be here, still, a pleasant pointlessness
we have allowed ourselves.
Lukas and I go for a walk up Durie Hill tower,
and look out over the city, the river and its steamboat,
Wairere House square and stolid on the bank
like an ugly pagoda.
All the way down, I carry them both; the one who can walk
and the unborn one. Under every concrete step
names are scrawled in pencil;
a hundred-odd years of self-commemoration.
We lie on the grass, the shellrock monument towers behind us;
memorial to the young, whose shells foreign soil absorbed.
In the warmth of the wall, I look at the embedded fossils
and think some more about the dead.


text:
Earlier this year, I wrote about three things I wish everyone knew about funeral professionals. Shortly afterward, the coronavirus pandemic arrived in the United States, disrupting nearly every aspect of everyday life – including funeral service. Watching dedicated funeral professionals respond to this crisis with creativity and compassion has inspired me to write a follow-up piece celebrating the hard work they continue to do to support families in their communities.
In my experience, most funeral professionals are, by nature, private and humble individuals. They are careful to never overshadow a funeral or memorial service. After all, a funeral is designed to honor the deceased and bring support and healing to the bereaved. But, as a psychologist who works with funeral professionals across the country, I feel compelled to share what I wish the public knew about funeral service during the pandemic.
1. This is breaking funeral professionals' hearts.
Unfortunately, I have discovered the fastest way to break a funeral director's heart and crush their spirit is to tell them they cannot provide funeral services, visitations, wakes and other events with many people present. Funeral professionals have seen firsthand the power of sharing hugs, telling stories, singing timeless songs and gathering together. Healing begins when caring people pull together. Funeral professionals know that health and safety must be a priority, but it's heartbreaking for them to be unable to provide grieving families with the shared environment and healing rituals that make up funeral service.
2. They face risks as part of their work.
Every person who dies with the coronavirus in their body is handled by a funeral professional. This may include moving the deceased individual from their home, from a retirement or skilled-care facility or from a hospital. Even if the deceased individual was not diagnosed with the disease, funeral professionals still must practice precautionary measures. Like medical professionals, funeral professionals are also at risk of infection and are concerned about passing the virus along to their coworkers and loved ones.
3. Funeral professionals are trained for this – but they need protective equipment, too.
Licensed funeral directors complete coursework and practical training in human anatomy and infectious disease. They're prepared to handle deceased individuals who have died from a wide range of causes. However, this training and expertise is only useful when combined with appropriate protective gear, and funeral professionals need access to this equipment to keep themselves safe. Like many healthcare workers, funeral professionals struggle to get access to the personal protective equipment they need to keep themselves and others safe.
4. They're navigating changes to their businesses.
In addition to the other concerns that funeral professionals face, they are also adapting to significant changes in how they manage and operate their businesses. When gatherings are limited in size (or not allowed at all) in some areas, funeral professionals are not able to provide the same range of services that families normally request. This means they've had to react quickly to provide alternative ways for families to honor their loved ones while also handling the hard work of operating a business during this time.
5. Funeral professionals aren't stopping.
Funeral professionals feel called to help their communities by caring for the deceased and the bereaved. A virus isn't going to stop them. They may need to adjust their practices for a while and funerals may look different. But they will continue to serve their communities as they have for generations. For them, this is very personal business.
I don't claim to speak for every funeral professional. I can only pass along what I have heard from many funeral professionals around the country. It's important to me to see that they are acknowledged along with other essential workers, and this is one way I could share my deep respect and appreciation for the vital work they do.
What about you? How have you seen others in the funeral profession creatively serve families during this crisis? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Dr. Jason Troyer is a psychology professor, former counselor, grief researcher and consultant for businesses that want to better serve grieving families. He has written numerous aftercare materials, including the Finding Hope booklet series, and is a frequent presenter at funeral service professional events.
Work Cited
Troyer, Dr. Jason. "What I Wish Everyone Knew About Funeral Professionals During the Coronavirus Pandemic." Homesteaders Life, Homesteaders Life Company, 21 May 2020, www.homesteaderslife.com/blog/what-i-wish-everyone-knew-about-funeral-professionals-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic?utm_campaign=Blog Subscribe&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=88376713&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9x3Z1JL7Fqd1nTxhHYMQT1oC6CDlNZIQJk_rkRLV37jkGqueHGplodip3ICbFRn51FDF37rI356cT05-qQSqU0JHuAe45cDoewE4s0zhnkzhvQWvA&utm_content=88376713&utm_source=hs_email.


text:
Hi everyone! I will review Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush in Fresh Coral. These blushes are good when some is on a search for an affordable matte blush. This blush is available in three shades in India like peachy sweetie, Fresh Coral and cinnamon. This is the last shade to be reviewed on my blog.
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View on Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush Fresh Coral
These Maybelline blushes are packed in cutesy looking round pans and the blushes appear more like baked blushes. This blush has a matte texture with very fine silver shimmer which is very fine and can be said as negligible, which makes this blush fall under the category of matte blushes only.
Fresh coral unlike the name is more like a medium pink. I wish it should have been slightly deeper though cinnamon looks more corally than this. This looks quite similar as that of the Peachy sweetie and since I have both of them, when I checked, they both looked similar in the pans. Once applied on the cheeks that whatsoever minor difference too wasn't there.
Anyways, still the blush color is pretty and would suit most of the skin tones. On duskier complexions, it will appear pinkier. I think for duskier complexions, cinnamon will look the best.
Pigmentation is not much but for the price it is okay-ish. The good thing is that the blush has pigmentation that is buildable. Considering that they are powdery blushes, they may not last as long as their counterpart cream bushes. I find powder blushes better than the cream ones for my skin type though if you wish your powder blush should have more intensity and should also last a lot longer then there is a little trick that I learnt which actually makes this quite possible. You need to apply a tiny drop of light moisturiser on the cheeks and blend it like the way you blend the blush over the cheeks. Let the moisturiser gets absorbed fully and then layer the blush on your cheeks. The blush will be intense and would stick a lot longer.
Comparatively this Maybelline blush is low on staying span as compared with other powder blushes like Inglot, sleek etc. I like to use this blush when I wish to add a natural color without being over the top with my blush. It's soft and subtle color is good for every day wear.
Pros of Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush
Blend easily
Okayish pigmentation though build-able
Cons of Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush
Staying span
Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Take: Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush in fresh coral is a pretty mid tone pink, everyday wear blush that adds a natural color on the face without looking too much. It's matte blush with an easy to blend satiny formula. Pigmentation is okay with low staying span which could have been better. Packaging is cute. Overall, price is reasonable. These blushes are perfect for beginners who are building their makeup kits or someone who needs affordable yet quality product. I will recommend it.


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Quick, healthy and able to lay flat on the counter
With the new, third edition, Quick and Healthy Recipes and Ideas (for people who say they don't have time to cook) is another 'spike it in the endzone victory dance' for people who don't think they have time to cook, and who follow a moderate-carb, low-fat weight loss regimen.
Award-winning author and registered dietitian, Brenda J. Ponichtera's latest incarnation of easy-to-use tips and tricks are sure to delight busy folks everywhere.
From the back cover:
Designed for anyone who wants to eat healthier but doesn't have lots of time, this third edition offers a wealth of nutrition and time-saving tips; delicious, quick-to -prepare, low-fat recipes; and 20 weeks of easy menus–each with a grocery list! Perfect for anyone trying to control their weight, as well as anyone with heart disease or diabetes. This is one cookbook dietitians and physicians are recommending to all their patients.
Features of this book that are deliciously appealing extend beyond the hundreds of practical, healthy recipes. She also provides 20 weeks of easy dinner menus, each with a grocery list, a listing of recipes and what to add as a complement, ideas for quick meals that don't even require a recipe, weight loss and exercise tips, time-saving ideas and products worth trying, tips for reducing fat, cholestrol and sodium, a staples grocery list, listings of recipes nutritionally by carbohydrates, and a detailed nutitional exchange for each recipe.
On top of this, consider some of these meals: Salmon cakes (6 net carbs per serving), Pizza meat loaf (1 net carb per serving), Roasted Eggplant Medley (4 net carbs per serving) are just a few of the favorites you will find in this book.
The spine lays flat of ease of use in the kitchen, and the information inside is a fantastic resource for people following a moderate-carbohydrate, low-fat weight loss plan.
Number of pages: 334
Size: 8 X 8, comb binding
Publisher: Small Steps Press, Virginia
Publication Date: 2008
Size: 8 X 8, comb binding
Publisher: Small Steps Press, Virginia
Publication Date: 2008
To order: Diabetes.org
Or call: Call: 1-800-232-6733
Or call: Call: 1-800-232-6733
This book can also be found at Amazon.com, Borders books, and Barnes and Noble.


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EDGEWATER— AOK Flatbread Panini shop is now open at 1051 W. Granville and is serving fresh-made panini, pastries made daily, Lavazza coffee and various-flavored smoothies. [Edgeville Buzz]
WICKER PARK—Because Division Street needs another bar, The Anthem (1725 W. Division) opened and is serving a menu featuring "things" (waffle fries, pork belly sliders, fish sticks), sandwiches, salads, sweets and Hungry Man nightly specials for $16. [Grub Street]
GOLD COAST—Looking to possibly overhaul the deep dish-leaning Edwardo's Natural Pizza, the company recently opened Eduardos Enoteca (1212 N. Division). The 30-seat spot now has Neapolitan pizza, cheese, charcuterie, handmade pastas and more. [Dish]
GOLD COAST—The Bar at FOODease is officially open serving a number of beers and wines on tap, including Chilean sauvignon blanc, California cab and prosecco from Italy. [EaterWire]


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Fundraising Success: Role of the Board in P2P Fundraising
When you are invested in an organization with your time, talents and treasures, you are fully invested. Board members should be passionate enough about their organization's mission to be joyfully engaged in its fundraising.
"Board engagement is second only to a strong case in fundraising importance," Clark D. Baker, former CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston, said. "Board engagement allows you to give credibility to the fundraising process without the board lending their names and financial support. It is just a nice cause."
In addition to a passion for your mission, board members have a very serious responsibility—by law they must act in accordance with the fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and obedience. A fiduciary is responsible for the administration, investments, monitoring and distribution of assets, from tangible assets to a nonprofits reputation. This responsibility includes ensuring that there is sufficient income to meet commitments.
Impact of Giving and Engagement
Board members should be leadership donors, which means different things for a grassroots organization than for a major university foundation. And the definition of leadership giving changes as an organization evolves. You can find members to fill the various board roles you need and who are happy to make a leadership gift. This may take time, but with a plan and focus, you can get there.
"The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Volunteerism and Charitable Giving in 2009 Executive Summary" found those who have volunteered in the last 12 months donated 10 times more money to charities than non-volunteers. The study also showed that two-thirds of those who volunteered in the last 12 months say they donated to the same charities for which they volunteer. If your organization needs to raise funds, what powerful evidence of the importance of board (and other meaningful volunteers) engagement do you need? Board giving also is a strong anchor and inspiration to other donors for an established nonprofit.
"Board involvement in fundraising is very important, because if people are entrusting large sums of money to a nonprofit, they want to know who is responsible and who is managing the assets," Pamela Barden, DBA, CFRE, author of the fourth edition of "The Complete Guide to Fundraising Management, said."
Maximizing Fundraising Effectiveness
Peer-to-peer fundraising is where board members appropriately and effectively leverage relationships, as well as the respect they enjoy in their community and other spheres of influence.
Ten years ago, I believed each board member must ask for a gift. I have moderated that to believe each board member must be an ambassador, make connections, be a joyful leadership giver and, if comfortable, ask for a gift.
Too often, we fall short in truly engaging and cultivating donors. We become caught up in the ask when, if we have done our job and developed sincere relationships, so many of our best friends will, in fact, ask how they can help.
Recently, a foundation had a goal for a special fund. There were many generous donors. However, as the deadline neared, they were short of the goal. Leaders rallied. One donor emailed to ask what was needed to achieve the goal. and the next day. they received notice of a generous gift from this donor, allowing them to surpass the goal.
You have a development plan, and your staff executes the fundraising strategy, so don't allow board members to become focused on tactics, such as your direct mail and social media programs. Make it clear they are responsible for major gift relationships.
Ensuring Success
"We have an obligation to find a fundraising role that each member feels comfortable and can be successful in," Barden said. "A lot of nonprofits go wrong in setting no expectations for board members. Sometimes we change the game plan on that board member when we really didn't tell them what was expected of them."
We prefer to minimize what we ask of board members and campaign volunteers. It is more beneficial to have board members nurture two relationships they are comfortable with than task them with many relationships and asks that are intimidating for them. You can always add another relationship or two once they find success.
Ongoing coaching and educating of board members is essential in all their roles—especially fundraising. Breakdown cultivation. Make it easy. Provide methods each month, so they can use them to connect and share about your organization and thank donors. A board member thanking a donor means a lot to a donor and helps a board member build fundraising confidence.
We know that face-to-face interactions are the most effective. A board member's role might include hosting friends on awareness tours, connecting staff leaders to prospective major donors or hosting cultivation gatherings or other events. However, events are wasted efforts without the plan and ability to follow up.
Personal visits are best, because you can engage in conversation specific to that prospective donor and gauge his or her interest. It also gives you the opportunity to demonstrate best practices to a board member. Have a formal system for tracking these activities, follow-up with board members on their next steps with the relationships they are cultivating and continually ask them to identify additional prospective donors.
"When we only bring board members together for meetings and focus on report, we are not being good advocates," Barden said. "We need to be sure to provide coaching so that, if nothing else, they can introduce the organization to people and they have the elevator speech and stories to share."
Most nonprofits of moderate size have a CEO or development professional who is comfortable and passionate about asking for a gift. Combining the skills of these professionals with the connections and credibility a board member brings is powerful.
"If you find board members who have a passion for the project or institution, then it's our job to teach them the art of fundraising. It is getting them comfortable on a call," Baker said.
"Once you have built trust between you and the board member, they feel more comfortable in fundraising," Baker added. "Sometimes you have to say the number, but if they get you in the room with the potential donor and can talk about the importance of this effort and how they have supported it themselves, it can be transformational."
Editor's Note: This article was a feature published in the September 2017 issue of NonProfit PRO. Click here to read the full issue.
Looking for Jeff? You'll find him either on the lake, laughing with good friends, or helping nonprofits develop to their full potential.
Jeff believes that successful fundraising is built on a bedrock of relevant, consistent messaging; sound practices; the nurturing of relationships; and impeccable stewardship. And that organizations that adhere to those standards serve as beacons to others that aspire to them. The Bedrocks & Beacons blog will provide strategic information to help nonprofits be both.
Jeff has more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience and is a member of the NonProfit PRO Editorial Advisory Board.


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In New York, thousands make their living providing sexual release in its various forms, and more than a few of these people are Goths. The Gothic/Industrial disdain for inhibitions, desire for transgression, and general love of all things kinky and naughty, combined with New York's eternal bull market in sin, make Goth and the various forms of sex work go together like bacon and eggs, eyeliner and fishnet, and Leopold and Loeb.
Rather like being on IRC, except that you get paid for listening to men talk dirty while masturbating. Several phone sex lines call New York home, and regularly place Help Wanted ads in the Village Voice and elsewhere. Goths with a good reading voice, a decent imagination, and a strong stomach can make it in this field; openings exist for both men and women. (Although men will find themselves working gay phone lines; for some reason, women don't seem particularly interested in 900 sex numbers). Expect to earn between $7 and $10 an hour.
The rise of video streaming technologies has opened up opportunities for Internet Sex. CUN-TV, one popular service, offers jobs for women, transsexuals, and lesbian couples. You'll need about the same level of looks to get hired here as at a strip club. While the pay is less (around $15 an hour plus tips), Internet stripping offers a degree of security and anonymity which is not available to strippers outside cyberspace.
For the woman looking for quick money, stripping offers several advantages. Strip clubs typically have abundant security; gropers or more dangerous types will quickly find themselves out on the sidewalk and possibly spread out across same. In the sex trade, only call girls typically make more money than dancers; a good dancer can easily make $200 to $500 (cash) in a single evening. While strip clubs tend to favor the blonde bimbo with implants look, an attractive Goth woman will have little trouble finding steady, profitable work at any of the dozens of nude or topless clubs throughout the city.
For men, stripping opportunities exist, but are far more limited. Both straight and gay clubs tend to prefer their male strippers with the bronzed and buffed look... not exactly a popular style among Goth men. A Goth with a Glenn Danzig physique might be able to land a spot at some New Jersey Ladies Night or at one of the city's gay clubs. Another alternative may be one of the various strip-o-gram services; while somewhat less lucrative than working in a club, work is sometimes available.
Those considering stripping should be forewarned; long hours of gyrating naked before drooling, screaming Neanderthals can take an insiduous psychological toll. Despite our claims of and attempts at sexual liberation, we are still products of a society which views strippers and other sex workers as "whores" and "sluts". Internalized self-hatred can become a huge problem for strippers, and may well account for the endemic drug and alcohol abuse among many nude dancers.
BDSM's meteoric rise in popularity has created a whole new branch of the world's oldest profession; professional domanitrices. All across America, the rich and powerful (and the poor and meek, whenever they can afford it) are paying $150 to $250 an hour in exchange for abuse, humiliation and fantasy role play. The Gothic flair for imagination, pagentry and spectacle can be put to good use by those interested in working in the field.
At an average Dungeon, a Dom can expect to get between 40% and 60% of any fee, plus tips. Straight sex is neither expected nor, in most dungeons, allowed, but other than that just about everything is negotiable. Common fantasies involve nurse-patient scenarios (often involving enemas and sometimes play piercings), schoolteacher-student games (typically climaxing in OTK or spanking), forced crossdressing and anal penetration, and bondage.
Other aspiring domanitrices have gone into business for themselves. This cuts out the middleman, but adds a whole new host of problems. Dungeon equipment (chains, whips, racks, restraints, dildos, etc.) can be very expensive; similarly, commercial space in Manhattan is hard to find and pricy when you find it. New sex businesses frequently face harassment from landlords, fellow tenants, and Mayor Giuliani. Vice squads have been known to target domanitrices; working for an established business helps to cut back on spurious busts and prostitution charges. Working on an outcall basis may alleviate some of these expenses, but at a cost in security. Dealing with a potentially dangerous client is far more difficult in his hotel room (or house) than in a safer dungeon setting.
While prostitution is still technically illegal, in practice houses are usually left alone. (Police initiatives against prostitution are typically aimed at streetwalkers ... the women and otherwise who decorated Times Square in the pre-Disney days). For the most part, house clientele is pre-screened and largely consists of regulars. After sharing their cut with the house and including tips, workers usually make between $70 and $150 a client, with sessions generally lasting an hour or less. Call Girls who work for escort services earn even more; there are call girls earning six-figure incomes. Houses and escort services regularly advertise in the Village Voice's Adult Help Wanted section and Al Goldstein's Screw magazine, among other places. Interested women (and pre-op transsexuals; she-males are in high demand among the Sex-for-Cash crowd) should have no problem finding suitable employment.
Commentary by Kevin Filan, Thursday, June 4, 1998.


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Springfield, NJ Telinta, a leading provider of cloud-based white label Switching and Billing solutions for VoIP service providers, today announced that it has added WebRTC calling capabilities to its TeliClick™ Click-to-Call solution.
VoIP service providers can easily offer Click-to-Call services to their business customers, where website visitors can initiate a voice call to a live agent by clicking an online icon. This service can help any business to transform website visitors into satisfied customers by talking with an agent to ask questions, seek support or open a new account — all without leaving the web page.
By adding WebRTC capabilities to TeliClick, Telinta customers can now offer two convenient Click-to-Call options:
1. WebRTC:
Website visitors can be directly connected with an agent via a WebRTC call using their web browser, without needing a mobile or fixed line phone. When a TeliClick icon is clicked by website visitors, they are immediately connected to the sales or service agents, without leaving the webpage.
2. Callback:
When a TeliClick icon is clicked by a website visitor, a small window appears where they enter their phone number. As soon as the phone number is submitted, Telinta's cloud-based softswitch platform places a call to the website visitor's phone number, then places a second call to the agent, connecting the two calls together.
"Since 2002, Telinta has provided a steady stream of innovation to VoIP service providers and their resellers," explained Alex Ferdman, CEO of Telinta. "The integration of TeliClick and WebRTC offers attractive options for any business looking to use cutting-edge VoIP technology to better communicate with customers."
TeliClick includes an easy-to-use Set-Up Wizard to embed a Click-to-Call icon into the customer's website. This highly secure solution offers Anti-Bot security, call limits by IP address and destination, call logging, comprehensive reporting, and more. Telinta's WebRTC solution can also be offered separately, on a prepaid or postpaid basis for both inbound and outbound calls.
TeliClick and WebRTC are part of a robust portfolio of VoIP solutions available via Telinta's award-winning TeliCore™ softswitch and billing platform. TeliCore enables Telinta customers and their resellers to build a profitable VoIP business, without owning any hardware or software.
About Telinta
Founded in 2002, Telinta, Inc. offers secure and reliable cloud-based Switching and Billing solutions for VoIP service providers around the globe. Telinta's full portfolio of white label carrier-grade solutions is highly customizable for VoIP service providers and their resellers. This includes WebRTC, Click-to-Call, Hosted PBX, Calling Card, Pinless, Mobile solutions, Wholesale VoIP, Audio-Conferencing, Business and Residential VoIP, and other solutions. Please visit us at www.telinta.com for more information.
# # #
Media Contact:
Anthony Stiso
Vice President of Marketing and Sales
tel: +1 305.993.1199


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These swivel chairs also have a gentle rocking action so you can relax on your porch or patio in comfort. Costco has the Pacific Casual Regency 3-Piece Cushion Cafe Set priced at $349.99. While supplies last.
• Rust-proof aluminum
• Durable, powder-coated finish
• Sling bucket-seat support
• Sunbrella fabric water repellent cushions
• Easy-to-clean fabric is resistant to stains, mildew, chlorine and fading (clean using mild liquid soap and water)
• Some assembly required with included hardware and tools
• Fabric color – Sunbrella Cast Shale (#40432-0000)
• Seat cushion thickness: 5.5 in. (14 cm)
What's Included:
(2) Swivel, rocking chairs with cushions
(1) Round slat-top occasional table
Dimensions (D x W x H):
Rocking chair (each): 31.6″ x 27.3″ x 35.8″ (80.3 x 69.3 x 90.9 cm)
Occasional table: 21.8″ x 21.8″ x 19.8″ (55.4 x 55.4 x 50.3 cm )
Rocking Chair: 12 kg (26.5 lb.)
Table: 3.6 kg (8 lb.)
Manufacturer Info:
Pacific Casual
[email protected]
Check out Amazon below for more options:
Item #1031560. Model: 176-172-3SSV3. This product was spotted at the Covington, WA location. Price and participation may vary so it may not be available at your local Costco or it may not be on sale at your local Costco or it may be a different price at your local Costco. Prices & sales dates may change at any time without notice. Photos may not be a perfect representation of the product.
This is just a posting of a deal and not an endorsement or recommendation of any product or of Costco. Please do your own research before making any purchase.
Thanks for supporting my blog!


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Heat's Dion Waiters talks about his social media interests.
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Heat guard Dion Waiters reflects on the season.
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The Heat kick off a homestand against the Pelicans.
Dion Waiters says Heat weren't their usual selves in the first half
Heat guard Dion Waiters discusses the loss to the Pacers.
Heat ready to take on new-look Raptors
The Heat discuss the new-look Raptors before their game.
Heat treating every game like a playoff game
The Heat describe their focus down the stretch.
Dion Waiters says the win came down to who wanted it more
Heat guard Dion Waiters on Wednesday's victory.
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Heat guard Dion Waiters on being aggressive Monday.
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October is the third rainiest month in Blackpool. The seaside resort in North West England experiences a rainy autumn season at this time of year, which is only matched by the late winter in terms of downpour. Rain gauges record an average of 21mm coming down during the month, with 20 days affected by this weather. That means that only a third of the month will be dry, so be very careful to pay attention to the weather forecast and always make sure to take an umbrella when going out.
This month also sees temperatures drop as the winter season draws closer. There is an average temperature of 11°C, with an average high temperature of 14°C and an average low temperature of 8°C. This certainly is not as cold as December, but it does represent a big drop from September and the summer months.
The sea temperatures also begin to drop at this time of year. The average sea temperature is around 14°C, which might just be comfortable enough for a brief swim. Make sure that you check the weather forecast first and avoid any time when a storm might be on the horizon, and try to stay in areas which are covered by a lifeguard just in case. There are still plenty of activities to enjoy on the beach whether it is cold or not, and you can avoid the worst of the rain by taking shelter whenever it hits.
The autumn season in the United Kingdom is certainly not usually warm, and although there may be a few fleeting days where the temperature rises, generally it is chilly at this time of year. Leaves are falling from trees, having changed colour, to pile up in the streets. Pack a coat when you travel and plan to wear a jumper for most of your stay as well.
Where to Stay
For October, staying by the beach is not as important as it is in the summer, but staying comfortable is. The Beauchief can help out in that regard: it is a small guest house with a 3-star rating, close to the Queens Promenade. It also boasts a bar lounge, and serves evening meals for those who stay in the premises.
For a more traditional option, try The Imperial Hotel. It is to be found on the North Promenade, and has a 4-star rating. Their facilities include a health club with a swimming pool, a playroom for children, free Wi-Fi for guests, beauty rooms, and 180 different guest rooms to choose from. It is also not far from the train station for easy access.
You could also try the Ibis Styles Blackpool. This is in the same kind of area as the Imperial, but offers a different kind of stay. Pets are allowed, and it is fully wheelchair accessible, but there is no free parking on site. There is a restaurant and bar within the property so that you can get all of the refreshments that you need.
Restaurants and Nightlife
If you want to try some fish and chips but would rather eat in a restaurant than while strolling along the sand, head for The Sea Fish & Chips. There is ample seating here, and the food is well-priced, with special offers for children and seniors. The dishes are all prepared fresh from local suppliers, and they have vegetarian options available if you would rather skip the fish.
Rowley's is a British-inspired restaurant with traditional cuisine options as well as more extravagant touches. Run by Chef Paul Rowley, it has won multiple awards and you can read his food column in the Blackpool Gazette for a little taste of what he serves. There is an a la carte menu available, as well as lunchtime servings and children's portions.
If you want Italian food, head to Casa Franco. Their offerings include a barbecue grill, and they often have special offers like a free glass of wine during happy hour. Beyond that, look forward to traditional Italian dishes of pizza and pasta, all served in a cosy environment. Eat outdoors if the weather is pleasant enough!
Things to Do
If you have children with you, then take advantage of a sunny October day to go and visit Penny Farm. Run by the World Horse Welfare charity, it is open all year round and is home to around 65 horses that have been rescued by the centre. You can also go for a ride yourself, as well as exploring the farm and the animals that live there.
The Blackpool Tower has to be one of the highlights of any trip to this area. It stands out, illuminated in lights. It also contains a lot of entertainment of its own, with 5 different attractions contained within the structure.
If you can only visit one of them, then the Blackpool Tower Ballroom has to be a good shout. It dates back to 1894 and is truly extravagant, with beautiful architecture and a sprung dance floor which is popular with dancers and tourists alike. The Wurlitzer organ is standing by ready to allow you to dance, and you can enjoy afternoon tea here as well.


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While most Mets fans will spend the offseason wondering when Matt Harvey's elbow will finally give and dreaming of a competent outfield, the fate of Daniel Murphy may end up being one of the most important developments of the coming winter. Arguably the only player in the Mets' lineup that can be called above average whose last name isn't Wright, Murphy is due for a non-trivial pay rise as he heads into his second year of arbitration eligibility.
Spending a few million extra on Murphy's contract may seem like a relatively minor issue to the team going forward, but the Mets will need every penny possible to invest in free agent roster additions for 2014. The lineup going into next season has more question marks than ever, and the injury to Harvey has left the team with significant uncertainty surrounding the rotation as well.
It's indisputable that Murphy will receive a raise of some sort, but it is unclear how large it will be. This year has been the best of his career by fWAR, and his consistent play would make an extension a rather safe bet for both parties. But it doesn't appear as though it is in the works with Wilmer Flores looming as a potential replacement and Murphy's name starting to pop up in trade rumors.
It's unlikely that the two sides would ever reach arbitration, but if they do, the cases that both the Mets and ACES, Murphy's agents, have to offer could be quite compelling. There happen to be very strong comparables for Murphy's career to date that could make for some creative arguments.
This is speculative, of course, but here's how I imagine the process unfolding:
The Mets
The Mets will propose a reasonable but thrifty number to retain Daniel Murphy, something in the ballpark of $4.9 million, a $2 million pay rise from 2013. The team will try to anchor the arbitrator on the path of Howie Kendrick, who received a pay rise of about $1.5 million by avoiding arbitration in his second year of eligibility during the 2011 offseason.
Kendrick's 2010 was remarkably similar to Daniel Murphy's 2013, especially in his traditional statistics. He played in a career high 158 games as the Angels' primary second baseman, logging a few starts at first and an emergency outfield appearance. During this time, Howie posted a .279 average with 10 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 41 doubles. The Angels and Kendrick agreed on a $3.3 million salary for 2011.
Murphy hit for a similar average at .285, and while he hit three more home runs and stole a few more bases, he fell short of Kendrick in doubles by a bit. Nevertheless, their overall lines are staggeringly similar. The extra half-million dollars in the Mets' proposal seems a bit generous when framed from this light to an arbitrator. The proposed total of $4.9 million for Murphy even tops Kendrick's 2012 salary by $400,000, which came after the best season of his career.
Murphy's Agents
ACES will likely do its best to anchor an arbitrator to a much higher number by first comparing Murphy to free agents, but their true number isn't likely to be too far off from the Mets'. After 2012, they managed to garner a $2.4 million raise from the Mets in Murphy's first year of arbitration, and there is no reason for them not to ask for substantially more after a season that can be defined—at least by traditional measures—as a career year. The proposed salary from Murphy's end will likely be about $6.1 million, or a $3 million raise.
The first statistic that ACES will turn the arbitrator's attention to is Murphy's 187 hits this season, a mark that falls within five hits of both Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen, the only other two players to amass more than 180 hits and steal 20 or more bases this season. In fact, not even David Wright has managed to eclipse 180 hits in a season since 2008.
Another name ACES may want to float is Michael Young's, who is currently making $16 million annually. While it is obviously ridiculous to compare the two outright, Murphy's ability to play multiple positions and hit for a similar average to Young's over the past two seasons is worth a mention at the very least.
Regarding a comparison to a player who was in a similar stage of his career, Murphy's camp will likely emphasize the similarities of their client to Asdrubal Cabrera before his second year of arbitration. Cabrera managed to receive a $2.5 million raise for his 2011 contract after a year in which he played just 97 games and batted .276 with only three home runs and 16 doubles, both very low numbers even for limited playing time.
Considering that his arbitration-relevant (i.e., old-school) statistics can be compared to those of Trout and McCutchen, and that Cabrera received a $2.5 million raise after one of the worst years of his career, a $3 million raise may seem like a bargain to the arbitrator, and could make it a slam dunk for the ACES camp.
Murphy's season was the best of his career by many measures, but his arbitration-relevant (i.e., baseball card) statistics could artificially inflate his value by inviting some ridiculous player comparisons. In terms of fWAR, he was worth a strong-but-not-outlandish three wins, and his performance at the plate is relatively weak compared to his 2011 season. In the most likely outcome, Murphy and the Mets will avoid arbitration by settling on a salary between the two proposed numbers, but if this becomes one of the few cases to reach arbitration, the Mets could find themselves on the hook for a hefty pay raise if their arbitrator favors hits and batting average to on-base percentage and power numbers.


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If I'm buying a property abroad, should I raise the finance from my UK property, or by taking out an overseas mortgage?
If you have sufficient equity in your UK property, you can certainly choose to take out an additional or new mortgage to buy your overseas property. But you should still seek legal advice and ensure that independent checks are carried out on the property.
Taking out an overseas mortgage is becoming increasingly popular, especially as the market has become more developed and competitive. It can potentially also be more tax-efficient than paying with cash. For example, if you take a mortgage out on a property in France or Spain, it may reduce your inheritance tax liability as there is a debt on the property.
The mortgage process can be relatively straightforward, especially if you use a specialist broker. It will have great knowledge of the overseas markets and can source the best possible deal for you. It can also ensure that you're put in touch with specialists in your chosen country, to enable then to comply fully with planning and legal conditions and assist with currency exchange.
One of the biggest advantages of taking out an overseas mortgage is that the lender will do its own checks on the property, ensuring that a proper legal title exists, that the property is registered in your name and that a valuation of the property takes place.
At what stage should I apply for a mortgage - before or after I've found the property I want?
It's sensible to get the mortgage process started as early as possible, even if you've not begun to look at properties. You need to give yourself time to research the mortgage market, so that you can find the best possible deals and decide on things like whether a foreign currency or sterling mortgage will be most suitable for you.
In particular, you need to establish how much you can afford. An 'Approval in Principle' will tell you exactly how much you can borrow and what price range you can realistically consider when conducting your property search. It will also prove that you're a serious buyer, could make you better placed to negotiate price with the vendor, and could make the whole process quicker once you've settled on a property. Even better, it costs nothing.
How is an overseas mortgage different to taking out a UK mortgage?
Many people assume that taking out an overseas mortgage will be the same as taking out one in the UK. This is not so. Each country presents a myriad of national and local laws, customs, foreign exchange requirements and language barriers. And while much of the front-end administration can be similar, this is only the start of what can be a long and complicated process if it's not managed properly.
In the wake of the global downturn, overseas lenders are no longer using set criteria for their decision-making. It's much more down to your individual case, including the type of property you want to buy, as well as its location. They'll require more details about your income and outgoings, so it's important to have your accounts in good order
A key calculation used in the application is the debt-to-income ratio, which establishes whether your can afford to maintain the mortgage repayments. Your existing liabilities, including your UK mortgage or rental payments, loans, credit card payments and maintenance are taken into account, together with the proposed overseas mortgage payments.
How long does it take?
This really depends on your personal circumstances and the country where you are buying. Generally speaking, the application process for an overseas mortgage takes an average of six to eight weeks, at which stage you should have received an offer. But, occasionally, it can take several months and this is a good reason to start the ball rolling as early as possible, so that you're not hindered by any potential delays further down the line. It takes time to get all the necessary documents together, and you must be prepared for some strict deadlines attached to the process.
Should I not just go directly to a bank to get an overseas mortgage?
Options for borrowing from a UK-based bank are limited. You can go directly to a lender in your country of choice, but each lender has different criteria, and you may not necessarily be offered the most suitable loan, or the best deal available. You may also encounter difficulties with language barriers.
A specialist broker will have great knowledge of the overseas markets and are able to source the best possible deal for you. They'll also know of any restrictions and administration requirements, which will save you a lot of time, cost and hassle. Visit A Place in the Sun Currency for more information here.
What if I'm a cash buyer?
This may help to secure the overseas property more quickly, but it can also pose some risks, so it's essential that you take professional advice. You should, for example, seek independent legal advice from a reputable English-speaking lawyer. In particular, they should ensure that an independent valuation of the property is carried out, which should point out any problems with the property. They should also check that you're buying a property with the correct title, and that you're being registered as the official owner.
Should I take out a foreign currency or sterling-denominated mortgage?
In some countries at the moment, sterling-denominated mortgages are limited. But in many cases, foreign currency mortgages can be more suitable and better value. It really depends on what you intend to do with the property itself. For example, if you're buying a property in France and are going to rent it out, the rental income will be in euros. It therefore makes sense to take out a euro mortgage, as the rent received can be held in a French bank account to service the monthly mortgage payments, thus avoiding the fluctuation in currency (and associated cost) when transferring euros to the UK each month.
Even small changes in exchange rates can make a big difference to the purchase price of your overseas property, your monthly mortgage payments or future rental income. Generally speaking, it makes sense that an overseas mortgage and the income used to service the mortgage repayments are in the same currency, thus avoiding exchange rate issues.
What do I need?
You'll be asked to provide a number of documents to the overseas lender. Most likely to be required are the following:
- Passport
- Proof of address (at least two documents, e.g. utility bill, council tax bill)
- Last three to six months' bank statements
- Last three months' pay slips for proof of income and outgoings
- Last P60
- If self-employed, the last two/three years' accounts and tax returns
In order to improve your chances of being accepted for an overseas mortgage, you must provide evidence of savings, as assets are considered important.
What if I'm self-employed/a pensioner/have had credit issues?
If you are self-employed, you can still apply for an overseas mortgage as long as you can supply at least the last two/three years' audited accounts and tax returns, and your last three to six months' personal bank statements. You may also need an Accountant's reference.
If you are retired and on a pension, you can still apply for an overseas mortgage, but it's important to check any upper age limits associated with the mortgages on offer. You should seek advice from a specialist broker who will try to source a mortgage to suit your individual profile.
If you've had credit issues in the past, it may well be more difficult to obtain an overseas mortgage as lenders like to see proof of a sound financial history. However, it depends on your individual situation so you should seek advice.
How much does it generally cost?
This depends on how much you are borrowing and the lender you are borrowing from, but a broker can source the best deal with the lowest fees based on your individual requirements and circumstances. The costs will be made clear at the outset, so you can make an informed decision before signing on the dotted line.
Generally speaking, you should also allow for at least 10 per cent on top of the purchase price to cover additional costs such as legal fees, local or government purchase taxes, arrangement fees, surveyors costs, and title searches.
click here to get mortgage advice


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Consultation opens on major mine proposal
Published Thursday, 06 September, 2018 at 09:58 AM
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick
Central Queensland residents are invited to have their say on Queensland's latest coal mine proposal - the $1 billion Olive Downs mine near Moranbah – with the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public comment.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, said the proposed project would create an average of 500 jobs a year during construction and be an economic driver for local communities.
"Pembroke Olive Downs Pty Ltd proposes to develop an open cut metallurgical coal mine in the Bowen Basin," Mr Dick said.
"When the open cut mine is up and running, it could maintain an average of 1000 operational jobs and produce up to 15 million tonnes of coal per year.
"Importantly, Pembroke Resources will encourage workers to live in local towns like Moranbah, Nebo, Dysart and Middlemount and provide the necessary accommodation for them there, which is exactly what our government's Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act is all about.
"Metallurgical or coking coal is used to make steel, a critical component of many aspects of the modern economy used widely in the automotive, construction and manufacturing sectors and in everyday items like motor vehicles, toasters, fridges and bridges.
"The resources sector is fundamental to jobs and business opportunities, particularly in our regional communities, and rigorous but also timely environmental assessment processes are important to keeping this vital industry sustainable."
Fully developed, the complex 40 kilometres south east of Moranbah will be one of the largest metallurgical coal mines in the world.
The project proposal includes:
- coal handling and crushing facilities at the mine's Olive Downs South and Willunga precincts
- a rail link to transport coal to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal
- a water pipeline and power transmission line.
Mr Dick said the Coordinator-General's environmental assessment process provides an integrated and rigorous assessment of major projects.
"As the name suggests, all feedback and comments from agencies and the public are coordinated and considered in one overall assessment of the project's impacts and benefits," he said.
"The Palaszczuk Government is intent on creating more jobs in the regions, but also at the forefront of our mind is protecting the environment.
"The independent Coordinator-General has reviewed the draft EIS and has determined that it is satisfactory to release for comment.
"The public are now invited to make a submission on the draft EIS."
Isaac region Mayor Anne Baker said the mineral resources were helping to support local communities in her region.
"The Isaac region is responsible for producing more than half of the State's saleable coal and we are currently experiencing a resurgence in the sector, with strong demand for our world-class coal," Cr Barker said.
"The coking coal to be produced from the Olive Downs Complex will be a crucial component in global steel production in the decades to come. Our region is feeding, powering and building communities.
"Isaac Regional Council continues to be supportive of responsible mining developments which deliver positive benefits for our local communities and residents."
The proposed mine would be midway between Moranbah and Dysart and includes an 18 kilometre rail spur to the Norwich Park Branch railway, a water pipeline connecting to the existing Eungella Pipeline, an electricity transmission line and access roads. The project was declared a coordinated project in February 2017.
The draft EIS is available online and in local libraries for public comment until 10 October 2018.
To make a submission on the project visit: https://haveyoursay.dsd.qld.gov.au
or email email@example.com
For more information on the project visit: http://dsdmip.qld.gov.au/olivedowns
Media contact: Catherine Palmer 0424 823 424


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The Top 5 Android Piano Applications
With the best Android piano applications available on the Android Market, mastering scales, octaves and notes has now become quite easy. You can run your fingers over the virtual piano keys, save your own samples using the integrated sampler, and learn notes and scales on your device. With additional instruments, integrated recorder, sampler and multi-touch support, piano apps gives the same classic piano experience right on your portable Android cell phone. Here's a rundown of the best and free piano apps for your Android device:
This Android app is loaded with excellent features, including 12 additional sound effects and 2 sample songs to learn the basics of piano notes. The sound effects range from "telephone bell" to "bird tweet" sounds. These are meant for fun, which I think will be of little interest to users who are looking for some good Android piano apps.
The default piano instrument has 4 octaves but the sound output depends on your phone's hardware. You can record your own piano samples and your voice using its integrated recorder and sampler. The piano app is free and is not ad-supported. Sadly, you won't find any additional updates for this free app as the developer has reserved this for the paid version. Nonetheless, xPiano is a good app for beginners and music enthusiasts.
My Piano
This is one of the best and the most comprehensive Android piano software programs for your device. The one impressive feature is the studio quality sound, which most users are desperately looking for while searching for any piano app for their phone. The app supports multi-touch, thus ensuring smooth play and has 2 octaves. You can also record and save your samples or import other piano samples.
My Piano also has an integrated recorder that allows users to record their own voice using other instruments in the app. Other features include MIDI over Wi-Fi, MIDI volume control, note after touch and velocity. All features will be cherished by both beginners and advanced users.
My Piano Assistant
While there are many Android piano apps, an interactive piano reference book is what most piano enthusiasts would like to install on their device. This application gives you information about piano chords and scales. For the selected root, this free piano reference app provides the right notes and shows their position on the virtual piano keyboard. What's more, it also allows users to play the selected piano chord.
Compared to other Android piano reference software programs, My Piano Assistant makes learning simple. This useful app is perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics of piano notes, scales and chords. Users will find great help to write their own songs. The piano app is updated regularly, which is an excellent feature as it allows users to learn more about notes, chords and scales.
Download My Piano Assistant from the Android Market
Little Piano
There are many basic Android piano applications for kids, each with excellent features. Little Piano is one of them. With 13 keys and one octave, this fun little app is suitable for kids who just want to run their fingers over keys and get to know simple notes and chords.
The piano app supports multi-touch and has an excellent sound output. Kids can also learn simple melodies on nursery rhymes with the nifty "Follow me" interactive guide. The app is constantly updated with new melodies. If you are looking for a nice piano app for your kids, then My Little Piano is a great app to learn basic piano notes.
Piano Instructor Lite
Everyone loves to play their favorite songs on the piano. Thankfully, there's a free Android Piano app that teaches you how to play any song on the piano without a music sheet. Piano Instructor Lite has light-up keys to guide you, just load any .kar or .mid song file and play your favorite songs. The multi-touch light-up synthesizer keyboard is easy to play and provides a step by step guide to play and practice notes.
The app has up to 128 instruments, including violin, flute and saxophone besides the Piano and Organ instruments. The interface is simple and the light-up keys provide an easy way to learn and play any song. You can also play music in the background and run your fingers over the keyboard to play along. The app also lets users view the notes of any MIDI file and displays lyrics of uploaded karaoke files. The scrollable lyrics let you sing along while playing the virtual synthesizer. You can also tweak tempo and position controls and practice specific sections.
Piano Instructor Lite is a great app for beginners. The paid version has additional features that may suit advanced users. Overall, Piano Instructor is the only good app amongst other Android piano apps for your device.
Android Market, https://market.android.com/
Image Credit - Each image is the property of the respective app developer.


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Summer Series: New York, New York
This summer, I had the opportunity to travel to New York City and participate in NYU Tisch's Dramatic Writing summer program. Though many college programs aimed at anxious high school students have sprung up in recent years, Tisch's is relatively unique in that you earn six college credits, and get to live in the center of Manhattan for a month with little supervision.
I was reminded several times that this wasn't "camp," and almost all of us agreed that the workload was more intense than anything we'd experienced in high school. Traditional sleep away camp tropes appeared – kids were homesick, curfews were enforced somewhat strictly, and one girl got food poisoning from the often lackluster dining hall.
But more often than not, we were treated as adults. I'll spare you the intricacies of my schedule, but on most week nights, I had a good five hours where I was free to roam the city as I pleased. That might not seem like a lot, but I learned pretty quickly that five hours in New York City with an unlimited Metro card is a very long time. And on the weekends, we had the whole day to wander, as long as we were back in the dorms by 12.
In Weinstein Hall, we were housed with kids from the four other Tisch programs (Film, Photography, Recorded Music, and monolithic Drama). Our schedules varied wildly, but after curfew, the dorms would dissolve into an anarchic fervor of creativity. It was probably the most creative place I've ever been in my life, as well as the craziest (I walked in my room late one night to find 10 film students passed out on my floor for no apparent reason). I averaged about five hours of sleep a night, and loved every second of it.
Through my program and the dorms, we got free tickets to a lot of shows. I saw ten Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off Off Broadway shows this summer – including Hamilton, which is worth whatever price tickets are currently selling for and more. I turned down a few others to take advantage of the benefits of having an NYU ID, which included free admission to almost every museum in the city. Cheap tickets to comedy shows at the Upright Citizen's Brigade, indie concerts in Brooklyn, and experimental theatre in Harlem filled any gaps in entertainment.
Some of my favorite nights were spent wandering Greenwich Village with the kids from my program. There's a really weird bond that forms when you spend eighteen hours a day with someone for a month, and it's even weirder to leave them behind at the end of the month with the understanding that you may never see each other again. I don't know what crazy person came up with the idea of letting almost two hundred high school juniors loose in the city, but I would like to thank them, because while I'm sure it's a logistical nightmare for the staff and RAs, it was absolutely the best month of my life.
Did you have an interesting experience over the summer that you want to share with the larger MCDS community? Contact Mrs. Gallup or Francess Dunbar to contribute to our Summer Series.


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Pad Kee Mao
Drunken chicken
450 gr minced chicken
16 cloves garlic
5 red rawits (chili peppers)
4 coriander roots
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsp nam pla (fish sauce)
1 tsp cane sugar
4 tbsp chicken stock
12 thai basil leaves
1 red lombok (spanish pepper)
Cut the lombok in thin strips. Pound the rawits, the garlic and the coriander roots into a paste. Heat in a wok the oil and add the paste and fry it for 2 minutes. Add the meat and fry it until its done. Then add the oyster sauce, the sugar, the fish sauce and the chicken stock. When its hot add the basil leaves and the lombok. Serve.