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18 th MCES – Regional Health Council Report Pacific Islands Health Officers Association (PIHOA) The Secretariat for the MCES Health Council
Oct 29, 2012: RMI Declares National Emergency due to NCDs
April 11 – Oct 12 – Chief Executives in Palau, Chuuk, Kosrae, RMI issue formal declarations
Health policy is the biggest bang for the buck BY FAR Appropriate regulations on sale, use and/or importation of tobacco, alcohol, salt, sugar, saturated fats Fostering built environments that encourage exercise, good diet, healthy lifestyle Key strategy for cost containment; much cheaper than even primary care (pennies on the dollar on a per capita basis) Much, much cheaper than dialysis: Up to $600 per tx (3x per week x 52 weeks=$93,600/year per pt) Cant happen without alignment of executive, legislative, and traditional leadership.
MCES Resolution 17-01: Calling for a Health Care, Non- Communicable Disease Law and Policy Summit
MCES 17-01 Resolved 1.Endorses significant increase in effort to pass NCD- related laws & policies (Directs RHC to find TA resources to assist) 2.Directs PIHOA to convene a joint MCES/APIL/T&FB Leaders law and policy summit within reasonable timeframe (Directs RHC to seek resources for summit) 3.Directs RHC to develop packet of recommended law & policy interventions; best and promising practices prior to summit 4.Requests development partners (WHO, HHS, etc) to assist with economic analysis of NCD impact 5.Directs MCE members to mobilize cross-sectorial response through cabinet and community leadership.
June 12 – APIL responds to MCES by formally endorsing joint law and policy summit
Sample activities since MCES 17-01 $45,000 for Summit secured so far; staffing to support Summit planners. To be hired Dec 15 NCD surveillance framework developed by USAPI reps; TA for developing local NCD surveillance initiated (FSM completed) Indicator #1 of 14: When % of students grades 9 through 12 who are overweight or obese decline three years in a row. Law and policy recommendations: The Commitment drafted and in review by health sector coalition (12/15 deadline)
Impact of NCDs on: GDP All sector budgets Worker productivity Household Income & spending Health & other sector budgets Current & Projected (e.g. dialysis) indirect costs such as missed school days Sample activities since MCES 17-01 EconAid request being prepared; Palau and Yap first pilot sites. Assessing NCD economic impact as well as economic impact of interventions (e.g., law & policy)
(Draft) Goal of Summit Goal: Increase capacity and consensus among executive, legislative, traditional and faith-based leaders, to select, enact and enforce NCD-related policy interventions that reverse the NCD epidemic in their territory or nation.
(Draft) Objectives of Summit 1.Increase leadership understanding of the context and urgency of the NCD crisis, socially, culturally, economically. 2.Identify strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of (and evidence for) particular policy interventions, to facilitate decision-making among leaders. 3.Encourage alignment among executive, legislative, faith- based, and traditional leaders in each jurisdiction for particular policy interventions of their choosing. 4.Link leaders to technical and financial resources that can assist them with enacting and enforcing policy interventions of their choosing; provide communications tools for forging adequate consensus for enacting policy at the local level.
RHC Recommendations for 18th 1.Endorse convening a planning group, 1 to 2 reps each from MCES, APIL, T/F-B Leaders, PIHOA. 2.Endorse having group meet at 53 rd PIHOA Meeting in, by phone thereafter after (PIHOA has travel resources) 3.Set deadline by when Summit will occur (August 2013?)
RHC Recommendations for 18th 4.Commit MCES to review, comment on, and as feasible endorse The Commitment (Recommended NCD policy and law package) prior to Summit 5.Instruct RHC to developed companion toolkit: model laws, experts, promising practices in implementation, & enforcement of The Commitment
REMINDER: Whos problem is this anyway? Health is a Shared Responsibility (RMI MOH Theme) Only 25% depends on Health Sector. The rest: Agriculture: Food security; accessible and affordable nutrition Trade: Appropriate import controls; privileging local produce Transportation: Pedestrian / exercise friendly environments Labor: Healthy workplace policies Education: Health education for students; health professional education (Etc…).
The NCD Earthquake has hit. Without your leadership, the next generation will bring the Tsunami.
THANK YOU The MCES Regional Health Council & Secretariat – PIHOA
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text: The columns of the Temple of Saturn (between 497-42 B.C.), the Arch of Septimius Severus (203 A.D.) and the Santi Luca e Martina church (625 A.D.) are some of the most famous sights of the ruins of the Roman Forum. For centuries, the Forum was the center of Rome. Today, major excavations and restoration projects are ongoing as the history of the once-great marketplace continues to reveal itself.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monthly Archives: March 2016
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This Valentine's Day, consider showing your love for ag! Agricultural advocacy helps people without a background in farming better understand the food production process. By speaking up on social media or in conversation with friends and family, you can spread … Continue reading


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With the launch of NASA'S space probe...destination, the moon...this September is the perfect month for inviting friends round and having your own "Thriller" night! MJ loved the moon and we love our very own natural satellite too! Celebrate in celestial style with the best selling album of all time!
How important is the moon?
One result of the tidal effects of the Earth on the Moon is synchronous rotation. You may have noticed already that the Moon always keeps one face to us - that we never see the Dark Side of the Moon (that famous double-platinum rock album by Pink Floyd not withstanding).Time is a result of our lunar observations. Be careful in assuming the Moon does not rotate. On the contrary, rotation of the moon is the same period of orbit of the Moon - 29 and a half days. This time looks pretty familiar - 1 month on the "lunar" calendar. A standard month is based on one complete lifecycle of the Moon. There are variations: A Blue Moon A Harvest Moon Specifically, a Harvest Moon is the full Moon that occurs around September 23: This represents the autumnal equinox Also occurs in the Southern Hemisphere, but around March 21 Orbit of the Moon is lowest at this time so the full Moon appears to rise quicker Because of the low orbit, the full Moon appears to rise the same time for the next few successive days. A Blue Moon does not describe its color, but the rare event of two full moons occurring in one month - hence the phrase "once in a blue moon." A typical month is 30 to 31 days while a lunar month is about 29.5 days. One can see why this is a pretty rare event. Life is a result of the tidal forces of the Moon. Isaac Asimov wrote in his "Tragedy of the Moon" 1972, that life evolved in the sea did not want to move to land. There was no reason to, no movements to force the life forms to the surface.
Click here for more about the moon.


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am: 1:1 Wellbeing First
1:15 -3:30 Cookery
Thinkonauts <10
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11:30 -12:30
Think0nauts 10+
that encourages creative minds to generate, share and explore their ideas.
where they can put theory into practice to make real things,
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that delivers critical thinking, creative and executive skills training
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where children feel proud of what they do and where they celebrate one another
that has open arms to other educators and organisations to holistically and seamlessly meet learner's needs.
that functions as a collaborating community, with a non exec governance team, with a support group and positive relationships with local parents and school


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TALK OF THE TOWN By Orikinla is About Special People, Places, Events and Things Making News.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
"Rafiki": Samantha Mugatsia's first Movie Lands Her on the Red Carpet of Cannes!
Samantha Mugatsia, the young actress who played the leading role of "Kena" in Wanuri Kahiu's lesbian teen romantic drama, "Rafiki", the first Kenyan film to be selected for the annual Cannes Film Festival has never acted before on screen or stage. And she is now on the red carpet of the biggest and most prestigious international film festival in the world, not as a spectator or visitor, but as an international star! Wow!
As it is written in Ecclesiastes 9:11:
"I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all."
She has a whole page on her on
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Paper Trail (100,000 Cuts)
Paper Trail (100,000 Cuts) is over 5 m long and in three connected sections, one alluding to the areas history, one a contemporary depiction of the borough and the third suggesting possible futures. The initial objects for this work were cut out maps of the area from which shadow drawings were made onto the donated paper. The work is made by layering the paper behind each map that had been cut out by hand, and then projecting a light through them to enable Anya to draw the shadows they cast onto the paper collaged behind. This process was then repeated with the next layer included and so on. Anya kept a blog on the development of the work that describes and illustrates the process in more detail, this can be found at:http://a-n.co.uk/link/anyas-paperblog
The work was completed in March 2011 and it is now on permanent loan to artsdepot.
Mapping Muswell - An N10 Paper Project 2012
Anya went on to produce a second mapping project based on the area defined by the N10 postal district. This work is even larger at 7metres wide and involved a more in depth approach to involving the local community. Anya achieved this by conducting a series of residencies whilst the work was in progress and liasing with various community groups as well as producing a facebook page and keeping a blog which can be read on this website.The facebook page documents the progress of the project from the very beginning - please see http://www.facebook.com/MappingMuswellAnN10PaperProject
For more images and information on this work please see this websites menu bar.
This installation is also now on loan to Muswell Hill Library and may be viewed during normal Library opening hours.
Site Responsive paper installation for Trinity Buoy Wharf
Commissioned by the Board of the Trust for Trinity Buoy Wharf to produce an installation using scrap paper generated by the businesses and users of Trinity Buoy Wharf Anya has created a relief for one of their public foyers. She has also made a steel sculpture 'Trinity' that is installed in their Container City. For more images please see http://www.facebook.com/AnyaBeaumont2
The Muswell Column
Purchased by Wetherspoons for their new flagship venue The Mossy Well. Located in one of the downstairs bars this work can be seen with acompanying imges of the original architectural features that inspired the work. A further two Muswell Hill inspired pieces of work can be seen upstairs.
'The Spirit of Discovery' - Work for Saga Cruises New Ship
A series of 18 new pieces of work commissioned by Saga cruises will be installed in the corridors on their newest Ship - The Spirit of Discovery which is due to be launched in 2019. These new works are paper relief sculptures of clouds, made from new and vintage papers presented as 6 triptychs. The will form part of an extensive collection of specially commissioned art work by contemporary British artists.


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Battambang – 30 June-01 July 2016, Department of Climate Change (DCC), General Secretariat of the National Council for Sustainable Development, with financial support of the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA), organized a "Learning Event on Sharing Experiences on the Design and Implementation of Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan (CCCSP)/Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) Actions" at Battambang Province with participation of about 100 climate change practitioners and representatives, including the 21 CCCA-funded projects, NGOs and development partners.
The main objective of this event is taking stock of the progress made in the implementation of the CCCSP. The workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect on how climate change action plans have helped sectors prioritize and focus their response, increase coordination and mobilize resources to generate greater impact on the ground, and how these plans can be leveraged to increase overall effectiveness of CC response.
In his opening remarks Mr. Sum Thy, DCC director, stressed that designing and implementing an effective climate change response is considered a difficult task because the exact timing, place and impacts of climate change are not yet identified with a reliable level of certainty. Experience-sharing is thus very important to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the climate change response.
Mr. Chhum Sovanny, representing UNDP, reflected on some of the early lessons learnt from the CCCA programme, including the need to reinforce synergies between sectors and projects to maximize impact. The experiences gained from the implementation of CCAP will be important for climate change policies.
The workshop was organized mostly around discussions, with a first set of discussions focusing on institutional arrangements for the implementation of CCCSP/CCAP in concerned sectors. The second session discussed progress made by 8 CCCA-funded projects, exploring key achievements and how the challenges could be tackled. Contribution of line ministries and grantees to the National CC M&E system and their role in strengthening the climate change knowledge management system, exploring the mechanisms used for capturing knowledge and lessons learnt from climate change interventions in a systematic manner were discussed on the second day.
Climate change practictioners discuss on climate change institutional arrangments and intervention measures
A market place exhibiting 11 project brief posters and publications for climate change awareness-raising was also included in the event to provide an opportunity for participants in discussing their respective approaches and learn from each other in a more informal manner.
Market place provides brief but precious information of climate change projects
Some of the elements identified for follow-up aiming at scaling up the implementation of CCCSP/CCAPs were:
1) improvement of the knowledge management system for climate change through increased access to basic information on climate change impacts and vulnerabilities in Cambodia and more effective sharing of available data among ministries and with non-government stakeholders;
2) engagement of planning departments in climate change sectoral working group discussions to ensure that climate related interventions are integrated into BSP and PIP;
3) improvement of coordination, implementation and reporting of CCAP implementation through strengthening sectoral institutional arrangements for climate change (including establishing clear TORs and broadening the membership base of climate change working groups);
4) establishment of reporting mechanism on CCAP implementation that ensures systematic reporting (including designing of a simplified reporting template);
5) development of climate change working groups capacity, focusing on optimizing their institutional arrangements and effective reporting and learning functions.
Plenary discussion during the event
Test your climate change knowledge - get a chance to win a prize
The CCCA is implemented by the National Council for Sustainable Development and support by these partners


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Blog Post by Rodney A. Wilson
Rodney Wilson is a regular guest post writer on Selma on Leadership. Rodney has been a marriage and family pastor/counselor for almost 20 years. Rodney and Selma have been married for 40 years and they have spoken and written on marriage and family issues for most of their married life.
Genesis 2:24 says a lot about transitioning into adulthood:
This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
Whether married or not, leaving parents is such an important part of the process of becoming an adult. Leaving means figuring out how to do things your own way. It means learning from failures and experiencing your own independent successes. It means entering adulthood.As a parent, you have the power to encourage your adult children and coach them to independence. Click To Tweet
As a parent, you have the power to encourage your adult children and coach them to independence. Equally, your words can foster insecurity, build resentment, or enable your kids to remain codependent. We want to be parents who cheer our adult children onto healthy independence while being a safe place for them to turn for wisdom and guidance.
Here are five things never to say to your adult children.
1. When I was your age … (in a condescending way). How you say something is critical. It's great to reminisce with your adult children but not with an I-know-better-than-you kind of attitude. That spirit can demoralize a young adult who is trying to make it in this new (for them) chapter of adulthood. Let your old war stories be positive and encouraging to your adult kids.
2. It cannot be done. As preposterous as your adult child's idea might sound to you, let them try. Saying it cannot happen is saying you do not believe in your son or daughter. You can point out what you think are the difficulties and ramifications if they carry out their idea, but don't kill their dream.
3. I forbid you … When your child enters adulthood, throw this phrase away. This is a 'never' with no exceptions. This doesn't mean you approve all their decisions. With adult children, you need to be out of the forbidding business. The final decision rests with them. As with #2, you can advise – strongly advise – against what they are considering. However it is no longer your place to forbid your child, who is now an adult, to do anything.With adult children, you need to be out of the forbidding business. Click To Tweet
4. You are not excelling as quickly as your sibling, are you? This plunges your children back into grade school vying for mommy and daddy's attention and approval. Sibling rivalry exists just as easily (and perhaps can be more complicated) in adulthood as childhood. Your children do not need you to perpetuate what they need to grow out of.
5. Whatever your problem, bring it to me and I will solve it for you. You are there for your children in their adulthood as a cheerleader and an advisor should they choose to seek your advice. But you are not a total problem solver. Part of growing up is learning to handle adversity. Working through tough issues develops character. By letting them handle their own issues, you are telling them you believe in them.
You play a significant role in your child's transition into adulthood. Love them, encourage them and be there if they need you. Give them space to do it their way. Remember, you have never entered adulthood in 2017. It's different now and will look a little differently than when you and I made our entrance. Seek God's guidance continually, model healthy choices for them, and keep your relationship open.


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Body temperature thermal imaging cameras are widely applied in large public areas such as airport, wharf, train& bus station and building. It is easy to operate, no training needed. In large scale population, it can scan quickly, detect continuously.
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Police-using thermal imaging telescopes enjoy the features of lightweight, easy operation, strong environmental adaptability, could realize 24 round hours surveillance in a variety of harsh environments, especially during the night of total darkness.
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High School Sports
Cross country star's essay wins $10,000 for local youth organization
Lexington Catholic senior Michaela Reinhart, who's won the last two Class 2A girls' cross country championships and is a two-time Gatorade Kentucky runner of the year recipient, had the opportunity to present a grant to a local running organization last week.
Reinhart surprised Girls on the Run Central Kentucky with one of 12 national Gatorade Play It Forward grants on April 20. The award is valued at $10,000 and will allow GOTR to sponsor five new teams in the coming year.
"Lots of girls will get to participate who wouldn't have normally," Reinhart said in a phone interview.
Reinhart previously was able to award a $1,000 grant to GOTR by virtue of winning the Gatorade state award in January. State winners had to submit essays for their selected organization to be considered for the $10,000 award.
LexCath Cross Country Coach Bernadette Madigan-Dugan — the kids call her "Coach Bernie" — helped found the Girls on the Run chapter in Lexington and suggested it to Reinhart.
"I thought that was a great idea," Reinhart said. " … I was very surprised when (my essay) was chosen, and very happy."
In her essay, Reinhart wrote about how girls and women around the world are expected to act or behave certain ways, and that running can liberate them from societal pressures.
"Running is very unique in that it can be a huge team sport where you pull each other along, but it can also be a very individualistic sport and kind of allows you to look into yourself and see yourself," Reinhart said. "I think running is very special in that it allows young girls, especially in the culture of today, to be themselves unapologetically."
Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps


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Teresa has been the company secretary for the Trust since 2013, ensuring the governing reporting structure is effective and timely to meet statutory legislation.
During this time the Trust has increased its teaching excellence, student numbers, financial strength, value for money and employee relations.
Teresa also has strong links with local businesses which gives her an insight into educational business management from a different perspective.
Finance, governance, school business management, and operations.
The strategic development and operational implementation of governance, compliance, and finance.
Experience: Karen has worked in a Luton school for the last 20 years, and was part of its journey from good to outstanding as a Middle, and then Senior Leader. Prior to becoming Deputy Head, she led the Chiltern Training Group SCITT, an outstanding provider of Initial Teacher Training, and was also the Training School Lead.
Strengths: Leading on teaching and learning, ensuring that professional development and staff appraisals support high-quality outcomes, creating systems and processes for effective leadership and management.
Areas of responsibility: Initial Teacher Training, professional development, teaching and learning, and school support.
Jean has extensive experience in management accounts and consolidation of year end statutory accounts as well as the changes and challenges of recruitment within schools and the requirements to look more creatively at staffing.
Experience: Julian has been teaching for 34 years, and most recently was Principal of the successful Robert Bloomfield Academy, and BEST Teaching School. He has helped deliver a number of its leadership courses over the last few years, and has carried out support work with schools focusing on curriculum and assessment.
Strengths: Leadership in a variety of roles, curriculum and assessment expertise, school improvement strategies.
Areas of responsibility: Maintaining high standards across the Trust, supporting schools with improvement planning, and leading a team of SLEs.
Experience: Sufian is a talented teacher with extensive management experience within the further education sector. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors and holds various roles with awarding bodies, specialising in quality assurance, examination and assessment. He is experienced in curriculum planning and design, standards and training.
Strengths:Quality assurance, staff development, project management, leadership.
Areas of responsibility: Teaching School, Continous Professional and Leadership Development, School to School Support and SLEs.
As Admissions Manager, Lydia managed a team of staff and the admission allocations for over 130 academies and schools in Central Bedfordshire and was responsible for consulting on and determining the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools and providing advice to academies and own admission authority schools on all admission related matters. In addition, Lydia was the lead person in preparing and presenting school admissions appeals for the community and voluntary controlled schools and those academies and schools who bought back the service.
Areas of responsibility
Julie joined Denbigh High School in 2010 as they became an Academy and has been instrumental in implementing new systems and working practices to ensure a smooth transition to the Chiltern Leaning Trust and a growing MAT.
Experience: Anna has worked in education for 18 years. She has been involved in leadership since 2005, working to transform standards in the schools she has worked in. Her last role was a Headteacher of a larger lower school. Anna is passionate about development and training needs and especially enjoys working with people to support them becoming the best they can be.
Strengths: Leadership in a range of areas, teaching and learning, development and improvement, people management.
Areas of responsibility: Leading and managing the primary ITT provision for CTG to include recruitment and selection, training and assessment as well as the management and quality assurance of our training programme.
Experience: Rachel initially joined the Chiltern Learning Trust as a Specialist Leader of Education, providing essential school to school support in science across Luton. Prior to that she has a proven track record of outstanding Teaching and Learning practice, working in schools within London and Hertfordshire, and has worked as a Lead Practitioner to raise academic performance in science and improve the quality and consistency of marking and assessment at whole-school level.
Strengths: Leading on teaching and learning development, coordinating and delivering CPD and individual support to staff, implementing curriculum and assessment models to raise academic standards, creating systems and processes for effective leadership and management.
Areas of responsibility: Leading and managing the secondary ITT provision for CTG to include recruitment and selection, training and assessment as well as the management and quality assurance of our training programme.
Experience: Claire has 20 years experience in teaching and leadership roles in Middle Schools in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. Including 4 years as Headteacher of one of the CLT schools.
Strengths: Experience in teaching and leadership across phase, knowledge of requirements for joining a Trust.
Areas of responsibility: Development and support of CTG systems, NQT Appropriate Body Lead, Delivery of Teaching School CPD, GDPR compliance responsible officer within CTG and CTSA
Strengths: Marketing, finance, economics, problem-solving and utilizing new technology.
Areas of responsibility: Setting up and maintaining the social media accounts for the schools within the Trust and assisting with the promotion of new job opportunities.
Experience: Rachael has spent most of her working years carrying out various administration roles coming to the Trust from a local nursery school.
Strengths: Administration and organisation skills.
Areas of responsibility: HR administration.
Experience: Helen has worked in Administrative roles for 20 years for a Financial Management company and a global manufacturer before joining the admin office at Challney High School for Girls in September 2017. In March 2018 Helen joined the Trust on a part-time basis splitting her time between the school and the trust.
Strengths: Organisation skills, diary management and being adaptable.
Areas of responsibility: Admin Support to the Director of School Operations and to the PA to the CEO.


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Chapter 13
The boss is completely oblivious to everyone and everything. It's a good thing I'm on the case otherwise he'd probably drive into a tree or stroll across a freeway; I mean, the guy just isn't there. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's floating on a sea of happiness with this dumb-ass grin plastered across his GQ face. Fucking nauseating.
Yeah, yeah, I know: we've all been there. Too fucked up by a woman to think straight but I never thought I'd see Grey going all gooey-eyed. What is it about this Steele kid? She's beautiful and all, any fool can see that, but the boss has had a lot of beautiful women throw themselves at him. Frankly, the boss has had a lot of beautiful women, period. So what's special about this one? Maybe because she doesn't throw herself at him and she doesn't say 'how high' when he yells 'jump'. Whatever.
At any rate, he's too wound up to work, so I pull on my sweats and we head off around the nearest park and put in the miles. And let's face it, being stuck in Portland, he's not the only one who's feeling sexually frustrated.
By the time we get back the red Audi A3 that I ordered has arrived. He looks at it briefly and nods. Yeah, a brand new, 40,000 bucks worth of car, and it barely rates a second look.
All I want to do is have a beer and a burger; no more fancy hotel food. Fuck, I miss Gail's cooking. She knows how to please a man: in so many ways.
I have to take a rain-check on the beer because I'm officially still on duty and at this moment in time the boss's plans are changing from moment to moment. I doubt Miss Steele is aware of it, but she's seriously fucking up my social life.
Sure enough, just after 7.30pm, the boss phones to say I'm wanted; he's going over to her apartment. And he's carrying a bottle of chilled champagne that he's ordered from the hotel.
When we get in the little, red coupé I can see the valet smiling to himself. Fuck! Does this look like a date? I have to admit that it probably does. Hell, you'd think I'd be used to this by now.
We drive the six miles in silence. The boss is no Chatty Cathy, thank fuck.
When we get to Miss Steele's apartment I hand him the car key and then phone for a cab. I have to go back and pick up the SUV; so it doesn't look like he's planning on staying the night.
I watch from across the road as she opens the door for him; her shy smile would melt the hardest heart – the boss doesn't stand a chance. Yep, they look like a couple of kids on date-night, if kids could afford top dollar champagne and a spanking new Audi A3. Did I say 'spanking'? Just a slip of the tongue, so to speak.
The cab arrives and I pick up the SUV from the Heathman. I treat myself to that burger I've been craving for – eating it outside the car, of course. I wonder idly when was the last time the boss ate a good ole American greasy, salty burger. Not since I've known him, that's for sure.
Half an hour later, I'm back outside Miss Steele's.
Aw hell; I could be sitting outside for hours. I hope he's in the mood for a quick screw, but the champagne would suggest otherwise. Do you know how fucking uncomfortable it is trying to sleep upright in a car? Even the SUV? Yeah, cue the violins.
To pass the time, I call Gail.
"Hey, baby!"
And just the way she says my name…
"What are you doing, baby?"
"Not much. Just reading a book. You?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sitting outside a certain Miss Steele's apartment waiting for the boss to… well, just waiting for the boss."
There's a brief pause. "I see."
"You know, Gail, I'd say he's got it bad. You should have seen him today at her graduation ceremony: he couldn't keep his eyes off her. And every time another man went near her, I thought I was going to end up breaking up a fight. He's really into her, that's for sure. I've never seen him like this."
"Do you think… do you think this girl will be… different?" Gail uses the words tentatively, searchingly.
"Maybe. I mean, he's at her apartment now… oh, wait a minute, they're coming out… he's showing her the Audi. Wow, she looks really pissed!"
"Actually she looks really fucking angry."
"Oh, Jason! You know what this means, don't you?!" Gail splutters.
"She doesn't like Audis?"
"No, silly! She doesn't like expensive gifts; she doesn't want him for his money! Oh, this is wonderful!"
I'm not so sure. "Don't you like expensive gifts?" I'm thinking of the Victoria's Secret underwear I bought her that I really haven't had as much fun from as I hope to.
"Jason – I love having gifts from you; you also know I don't like you wasting your money on me… you're going all moody on me, I can tell! Just stop it!"
"I like buying you presents, Gail. What's wrong with that? It's my money to waste… although I don't see it as wasting it…"
She sighs. "What are they doing now?"
"Talking. Well, she's talking; he's looking kinda whipped… er, I mean… She still looks mad. Oh, hold on, she's kissing him on the cheek."
"Oh!" Gail sighs. "That's so sweet! Oh, I like this girl, Jason. She's different. What are they doing now?"
"Er… you really want a description? He looks like he's forgotten they're outside. Good thing there are no fucking reporters about. No, wait, it's ok; he's dragging her back into the apartment. I think I could be here a while."
"I'm sorry you have to wait outside. Have you had something to eat?"
"Yeah, I grabbed a burger."
"That's not very healthy!"
I roll my eyes. "Tasted good."
"Hmm! Are you trying to make me mad?"
"Is it working?"
"How mad are you, baby?"
"I'll show you when you get back."
I groan.
"Any idea when that will be?" she continues.
"Tomorrow, sometime. Will you show me how mad you are then?"
She laughs. "Goodnight, Jason!"
"Night, baby."
I lean back in the seat, a smile on my face.
A couple of hours I'm sleeping with my eyes open when I see the boss leaving the apartment. He leans down to kiss the girl and when he turns to face me he looks so fucking happy. Her expression is harder to read; she looks… well, I'm no expert, but I'd say she looks like she's going to cry. Oh fuck. What's he done to her? And for a moment I feel angry but I know it's none of my business. I'm paid for it to be none of my business.
He asks me to put on some music so we ride back to the Heathman listening to Satie's Gymnopédie. I didn't know jack-shit about classical music until I started working for Grey, but some of it's really good. I wouldn't admit that to my old platoon buddies, but I've got a bit of a thing for Puccini. Which reminds me, I have to pick up the tickets for me and Gail to go see Madame Butterfly. It's on at the Seattle Opera House – the boss has let us use his private box. The bastard can be generous. It wasn't like I even asked him; he came into my office one day and saw me looking at the program; next thing I know the fucking manager is phoning me up to ask which night is convenient for me and for Mrs Taylor. I really liked the sound of that! I guess it's the boss's little joke.
He just does stuff like that – never says a word. I know he's filthy rich, so it's not the money, it's the fact that he notices. Part of me wonders if it's not just to keep me sweet because he doesn't want to have to go look for another sucker to live in his weird twilight world. But the side of me that's being trained by Gail thinks it because he's good. That's the word she uses about him: good.
I'm feeling considerably less charitable when my fucking Blackberry is buzzing in my ear shortly after midnight waking me from a really good dream about Gail and a warehouse full of Victoria's Secret lingerie.
"I'm going out, Taylor. I'll take the R8 and I'll be gone all night. Just letting you know."
What the fuck?
"Yes, sir. You've scheduled a breakfast meeting in the conference suite at 8am."
"Yes, thank you, Taylor," he says irritably.
Just doing my job, boss.
The call ends and I can guess where he's going: back to Miss Steele's. Jeez! I wish one of them would make up their minds what's going on, because it's playing havoc with my sleep patterns let alone love life.
I throw the Blackberry on top of a heap of clothes on the floor and pass out again.
* * * *
At 7am there's still no sign of the boss. I've been ready, showered and shaved 45 minutes ago but he's a no-show. I check the GPS on my Blackberry; the R8 is still outside Miss Steele's. I think about calling him but figure I'd like to keep my job a bit longer. At 7.45am the suits start to arrive for the meeting. I show them into the conference room and make sure they've got coffee and Danish to keep them happy.
Where's Grey?
I check the GPS; he's on the move. At last! Cutting it fine, Mr Grey.
He strolls in five minutes late, still wearing his jeans and shirt from last night and is unshaved… with a huge fucking smile on his face.
Miss Steele certainly seems to be having a beneficial effect on him.
The suits aren't entirely sure what to make of this. They do the smart thing and ignore it.
I've brought his laptop to the conference suite knowing that he'll need it. Then I position myself behind him so I have a clear view of the door and prepare to be bored half to death. I also happen to have a clear view of his laptop and I can tell you – he's not as entirely engrossed in NASDAQ as it appears. In fact, if I didn't know better, which I don't, I'd say he spends the entire meeting sending emails to little Miss Steele. Mind on the job, boss! For fucks sake, at this rate he'll end up selling Grey Enterprises to Azerbaijan by accident.
By 9am he's bored again and winds up the meeting. Waving away the minions, he breezes off to have a shower, but not before informing me that my job description now includes selling Miss Steele's ancient Beetle. Oh, come on!
So at 5.45pm I knock on Miss Steele's door to collect her keys for the old metal monster.
"Miss Steele, I've come for your car."
She looks surprised and embarrassed.
"Oh, yes, of course. Come in, I'll grab the keys."
The apartment is small and bare, with packing boxes everywhere. She's moving? I guess that makes sense, now that she's graduated and all. I have a sudden epiphany: anyone want to bet me that she's not moving to Seattle? Yeah, right.
She hands me the keys and we walk to her car. I wonder what sort of shit she keeps in her glove box. I know what Gail keeps in hers: sunglasses, spare lipstick, hairbrush and roadmap. But all Miss Steele takes out is a flashlight. I find that oddly touching and I wonder if her stepfather gave it to her. He seems like the kind of guy who'd make sure she'd have a flashlight.
She strokes the car and looks at it sadly. Yeah, I felt like that about my first car, too. Gail was right; this kid really doesn't care about Grey's money. She prefers her Beetle to the shiny red Audi. Crazy as it might sound, given all the boss's weird shit, she sees through that and likes him for himself. Maybe there is hope for them.
Jeez! I'll be singing about fucking rainbows in a minute! Get a grip; you were a Marine!
"How long have you worked for Mr Grey?" she says softly.
"Four years, Miss Steele."
I can tell her that much.
She gets that look, as if she wants to ask me his life story. I have to cut her off, but I can tell her the truth, too; or one version of the truth.
"He's a good man, Miss Steele."
I climb in the Beetle, wrestle the heavy steering and drive away.
The boss has told me to take the car to the nearest scrap dealer but this car is a classic. I know a guy who knows a guy and he's offered me $5,000 cash. It's a good price.
Twenty minutes later with the bills stuffed in my wallet, I'm back at the Heathman. Room service have checked us out so all I have to do is watch as the valet loads the luggage into the SUV. The boss has gone ahead in the R8.
It's nearly eleven by the time I get back to Escala. I'm hungry and tired and eager to see my girl. But first I put the five grand in an envelope and hand it to the boss.
I can see him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, the laptop open in front of him. He's wearing his tux: oh right, another fundraiser.
"What?" he snarls when I knock on his study door.
His Miss Steele-high hasn't lasted: situation normal, it seems.
"The money for Miss Steele's vee-dub. The Beetle, sir. Five thousand."
He looks surprised.
"It was worth that much as scrap?"
"Not quite, sir. It's a classic. I sold it on to a collector."
"Someone paid money for that heap of shit?"
I stare back, expressionless. It's a look every recruit learns in their first week, but with Grey I can look him in the eye.
"Ok, Taylor. I won't need you again tonight."
Leaving his study, I hear his cell ring.
"Hi," he says softly.
I'm guessing by the dopey tone of his voice it's Miss Steele on the phone; she's doing a good job of taming the savage beast, by the sound of it, so I head to the staff quarters.
Gail is asleep on the couch; I guess she got tired waiting for me. God, she looks so beautiful, so peaceful. And that's what she makes me feel: peaceful deep inside. And also fucking horny.
I lean down and stroke her cheek. "Hey, baby."
Her eyes flutter open. "Oh, Jason! You're back! Are you hungry? I've got some…"
But I don't let her finish. My mouth is on hers, learning the shape of her lips again, remembering; breathing her breath. She sighs deeply and the sound cascades through me, heating every cell of my body.
I scoop her up into my arms and she laughs.
"Jason! Can we have a conversation first?!"
I don't think so: I plan doing all my talking with my body.
Kicking the bedroom door open, I throw her onto the bed. She's breathless, smiling up at me. "Talking later then?"
I throw my jacket on the floor, kick off my shoes and sink down next to her. She leans up on one elbow and pushes on my chest so I'm lying flat on the bed. Then she hitches up her skirt and throws one leg across so she's sitting on me.
"I think that tie should come off!"
With aching slowness she undoes my tie and unwinds it gently from my collar. Then she unbuttons my shirt and pulls it open. It feels so fucking good to have her hands on me; I've missed her touch.
She slides her hands across my chest, running her fingers through the hair and pulling, hard. Then she leans forward so her breasts are pushed against me and she skims her teeth up my neck. I run my hands around her waist and cup her delicious ass, pushing the skirt further up until it's bunched around her hips.
"You're wearing stockings."
"A welcome home present," she breathes into my neck.
"Can I unwrap it now?"
"Well, I'm not waiting until Christmas," she laughs gently.
She kneels up so I can pull her panties down. I grip her thighs and run my fingers up the inside of her legs, enjoying the sensation of flesh under silk. Then I roll suddenly and push her back against the quilt.
I pull her panties all the way down and toss them away. Somehow they catch on the door handle and hang there like the flag of a defeated army.
She grabs hold of my wrist and undoes first one cuff, then the other and pushes the shirt off my shoulders, running her nails down my back and all the way up again.
"Aaagh!" Fuck! That feels good!
She rubs her hands against my erection hard, making me gasp. "Fuck, Gail!"
She smiles but doesn't speak and now I want her very badly. I pull off my socks, because let's face it, what kind of low-life fucks with his socks on, and then she helps me drag off my trousers and boxers.
She pulls me towards her and runs her finger over my tip, swirling it round, pushing me down towards her.
I'm inside her with one swift, fierce movement and she cries out, her back arching off the bed. Oh hell! I wanted to do this slowly but now I can't help myself. I'm pounding into her and her hips rise to meet me, her nails clawing at my back, her mouth open, her eyes closed. I can feel the silk stockings as she locks her legs around my waist, grasping me tightly. I try to hold back to make it last longer but she's too soft, too sweet, too fucking wet, and I come quickly, my muscles rigid.
I collapse on top of her, my weight supported on my forearms and she pulls me tightly to her so I can feel the buttons of her shirt pushing into my bare chest.
I pull out of her gently and lie next to her.
"Can I take my skirt off now?" she says with a smile.
It's still bunched around her waist, her beautiful legs clad in silk. Hell, she's so fucking sexy!
"Keep it on," I mutter as I lean over to kiss her, my erection lengthening again, pushing against her hip.
"Already?" she says with a soft laugh.
"I've been away all week, Mrs Jones; that's a lot of lost time to make up for. I believe you owe me at least six more fucks."
"Are we keeping score, Mr Taylor?"
"Just keeping the staff happy, Mrs Jones."
She hits me playfully. "Well, you haven't done a bad job so far, Mr Taylor, but I'll give you your appraisal later."
"I'll take whatever you've got, baby. And we've got all night."
Then my mouth closes on hers and she bites my lip – hard.
* * * *
I really did want to talk to Jason but we seem to have got sidetracked. That happens a lot and right now he's a man on a mission. Seeing the hot desire in his eyes just turns me on in ways I can't explain. And boy, did I mention stamina? If Jason has been away for 24 hours or more I can expect a session that is Pilates, Yoga, Zumba and good old fashioned aerobics all rolled into one.
Last weekend Allison asked me at the dinner table how I've managed to keep my figure and what I do to work out. I nearly choked on my mashed potatoes! The answer isn't one I felt I could share.
I wish she liked Jason but after four years I don't think that's going to change. She says he's dangerous: that because of his job he's addicted to danger. I really hope that's not true but sometimes, just sometimes I think she might be right.
But at this moment in time, I push away all thoughts and concentrate on my man. Ok, one more thought, I'm going to have to send this skirt for dry cleaning – again!
His mouth closes on mine and I tug his lower lip with my teeth and bite down, hard. He groans and runs his hands up my legs, over my skirt and up to my shirt. He kneels up and opens the first two buttons and runs his tongue between my cleavage, nuzzling me, and I can feel the bristles on my skin. I'm going to be red from stubble rash after all this; one more reason for my uniform of shirt and skirt!
He undoes the rest of the buttons and pulls the shirt out of my waistband. Then he tugs me into a sitting position and slides it off, the material pooling on the floor with the rest of our clothes. He sits behind me and leans against the headboard, pulling me between his legs, then he starts to give me the most delicious massage, deep into my shoulder and neck muscles. His strong, supple fingers ease away all the remaining tension of the last week, then he runs his tongue up the back of my neck and his fingers reach round and find their way into the cups of my bra. He massages my breasts and I lean back against him and rest my head on his neck.
He unhooks my bra and slips it off.
"I'm really going to have to take this skirt off, Jason; it's getting in the way."
"Ok," he agrees reluctantly, "but leave the stockings on."
What is it with men and stockings? I smile to myself, but I don't mind. I stand up and drop the very wrinkled skirt to the floor. Then I look down at my man.
His skin is a light, golden brown that I know quickly darkens in the sun. He's beautifully toned with long, runners legs, muscled stomach and chest and strong arms that even Allison can't deny are really just fabulous.
His hair, as always shaved into a buzz-cut, is a pelt, a warm fur that I love to stroke and run my fingers through. His eyes are dark, often unreadable, but now warm and filled with humor and desire.
Yes, we can do the talking tomorrow, or next week or next year…
Oh, clever girl! Showing us CG & Ana's interaction through T&G's phone conversation was such a shrewd idea! And you weaved in a bonus into the chat as well 😉 Thanx!
Loved reading this chapter and revisiting all 'good, old friends / moments' of ELJ's FSoG from another viewpoint.
Loved to hear Gail's voice, too (so glad Allison is jealous of Gail's figure!).It was nice to read of T&G's sexy moments from her perspective.
Oh, and thanks for the visual of T&CG getting into the little, red coupé with a bottle of champagne… Not only the valet smiled to himself 😛
DW (Dorota)
Enjoying the reading very much:)


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The Page Sage
The Page Sage was started because I love reading and writing- it just seemed like the natural way to combine my two passions. It's where I discuss books I love and some I don't, as well as everything from book covers to feminist literature.
7:00 pm 12 July 2012
Beauty Queens
The Page SageLibba Bray was already one of my favorite authors, but now she is my role model. She's easily one of the most intelligent, hilarious, *awesome* people ever, and this coolness is evident in Beauty Queens.I expected a book full of tongue-and-cheek satire, which I got. In fact, Beauty Queens is absolutely hysterical. I'd run to find someone to share a particularly funny passage with every few pages. Not to mention, the general Libba-craziness that ensues which is just fantastic! (:What I didn't expect was the depth. Bray tackles nearly every big issue teen girls have to face and if you don't come out of this novel feeling empowered, you obviously weren't reading the same book. And little things in the book that seem funny, but not too important, actually come back later in the plot.The characters are fantastic. They're all so diverse and well fleshed-out. I think John Green would approve- one of the main themes in his books is that people are more than their appearances, that they all have their own problems and aspirations. The cast of Beauty Queens is a perfect example of this.Everybody *everybody* should read this book. It will give you so much to think about, not to mention inspire you.Find more reviews at The Page Sage
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Discussion in 'Humour and Debate' started by Casta_Diva, Jul 4, 2008.
Lovıng thıs thread btw. really shows why some people come on ısk.
I have always secretly fancied you *mwah*
I absolutely adore Rummy <3 she's so lovely =D
El_Nino = hottie. Lmao.
Jolene..I know my facebook says I'm dating Amy..but will you be my American girlfriend?
I thought you'd never ask <3 Of course I'll be your American girlfriend Natty =D
Chain of command kiddo. xD
Ooo Nat
Someones jealous that Nat loves my powa :biggrin:.
You know what, you can keep her :biggrin:
LMAO, just kidding but you know that.
You have a sense of humour like most people :biggrin:
Dont you worry Nat, I'mma kick his butt.
Did you hear Cilla Black's Blind Date is making a comeback, I'll book a date with her for you :razz:.
Well, I'm sure that is how many got married and must be regretting it now Nexus!
Be sure to know your lover before you make commitment :biggrin:
You forgot to add: Must be able to cook in the Kitchen.
haha, I didn't mean to add so many exclamations but I needed ten characters xD
Now I recently noticed some flirting going on with 2 special guys.
As this snap will show . .
But I must say Sparrow, do what Zach says cos he has become very excited at the thought of you in your g-strings, so iron his boxers!!
Warning,this picture may contain explicity so you'll be clicking at your own risk :!:
Hahaha since Zach became a queen, the little fella at the bottom has stopped moving, making him eminently more attractive
I'm starting to think Jas enjoys people watching .
ok., quick question, WHY is zac a queen?
Hhahaa Jen, earlier he had a pink crown as his avatar and we all simply deducted that he must be a queen
Separate names with a comma.


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Element Six: InsideSingularity Computers
Three years ago I set out to create the most unique and the most high end case ever built. Every aspect of it had to be taken to its absolute extreme. I wanted to build the 'Iron Man Suit' of cases. This case is an exercise of how far we could go if we did our absolute best with every aspect. Most importantly there is a purpose behind how radical and unique it is. I knew it would be an immense challenge. How can a three person team create something so advanced when there are case manufacturers with millions of dollars at their disposal, huge design teams, engineers and factories all over the world, who wont take on such challenges.


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TouchResrvation integrates directly with TouchPoint tills, all you need is a website and broadband. It will eliminate the need for an expensive third party software to manage table resrevations. TouchResrevation is smart and will allow diners to make reservations online. For a top class experience even before your customer enters your restaurant and for a truly competitive package, choose TouchResrvation.
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Cuts down on the chance of double booking a table. If it isn't available, it won't be allocated.


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Information For
College of Communication > Academics > Health Communication > About
The Master of Arts in Health Communication prepares students to apply knowledge through theory, research and practice in the areas of organizational, multicultural and interpersonal communication in health care settings.
As a health communication student in DePaul's College of Communication, you're part of a group of dedicated scholars and professionals. Learn about where our graduates work and the types of positions they hold.
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2001-2018 DePaul University | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Emergency Plan | Consumer Information | Privacy Statement Editor Login


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January 2018 Chapter Meeting
The Cleveland IIBA Chapter will host a meeting in January that will also serve as elections for VP of Education and Secretary.
Host Company: Progressive Insurance
5:30 Registration & Networking - refreshments will be served
6:00 Meeting Start
6:15 Welcome & Featured Presentation
8:00 Meeting Close
Featured Topic: Better Together: Quality Assurance & Business Analysis - Your New Best Friend
Format and Speakers: Eric Montgomery
Cost: Free for IIBA members and for employees of our Host (Progressive Insurance). $5 for Guests. Based on RSVPs, IIBA Members will be given first priority and the number of attendees may be limited to a pre-defined attendance capacity.
RSVP: E-mail the Cleveland Chapter and provide your Name, IIBA Membership number and email address. The deadline for RSVP's is TBD. If we are at capacity, you will be notified as soon as possible. Outside capacity issues, an official confirmation/invitation will be emailed to you after the RSVP deadline. For questions, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. Please be considerate of others and do not RSVP if you cannot attend the meeting. If you find you're not able to attend after having sent your RSVP, please e-mail and we will make your seat available for someone else.


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Club Direct (Uk) Limited
Club Direct (Uk) Limited: address, phone, fax, email, web site, schedule
Club Direct (Uk) Limited
Locality: London
Address: CUTLERS EXCHANGE 123 HOUNDSDITCH London EC3A 7BU
Phone: +44-1438 9305114
Fax: +44-1438 9305114
Web site:
Director / owner / responsible person Club Direct (Uk) Limited: n\a
Find error in description or want add more information on you company? - Contact me!
Club Direct (Uk) Limited credits: register number, status, company type, incorporation date
Register number: 04573579
Company type: Private Limited Company
Status: Active
Incorporation date: 25-10-2002
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Club Direct (Uk) Limited is a Private Limited Company. Company number assigned by Companies House is 04573579. The company was incorporated on Friday 25th October 2002, so the company age is 13 years 7 months 27 days. The company registration status is Active. The company Standard Industrial Classification is 66220, so Club Direct (Uk) Limited is engaged in Activities of insurance agents and brokers. Club Direct (Uk) Limited register address is CUTLERS EXCHANGE, 123 HOUNDSDITCH, London (area code: EC3A 7BU). The company changed its name 2 times. On Friday 8th November 2002 the name changed to Castlodge Limited.


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Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Welcome to my current wish-list. I swear one day I will be rich enough to buy every item of clothing in the world; and I will do so purely for confirmation that I am no longer too poor to own the clothes I would like to. But for now here's a small selection of things I am lovvvvving right now...*sob*
2 comments:
- MadeOfTears said...
Great inspirations!
Check out my new post! :) Let's follow each other =]
- 14 November 2012 at 11:20
- Josie said...
I'm putting that playsuit on my wishlist later this week as well, I think it's so, so cute!xxx
- 15 November 2012 at 14:37
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The best teams march to the same values!


text: About Me Cara Schaaff writes lesbian stories seasoned with comedy, romance and drama. Writing journals ever since she was a teen, she channeled her hardships struggled with her being adopted, her weight, as well as acceptance of her sexuality. Her colorful writing took her to Full Sail University, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing for Entertainment. During school she began infusing horror twists into her work and plans on fabricating some of her ideas in the future. She published her first short story Falling Apart in 2012 and just recently published her second story Shut-It Out in 2014. She is in the process of completing her screenplay The Closure, due for completion Fall 2014. Cara interned for Hexane Productions in 2014, a production company based out of New York that creates a variety of food television shows for PBS. She currently began forming her own production company with some fellow film makers. They are currently working on a comedy "Gay Vampire" (if you would like to check out the script it is in her portfolio works under "screenplays") skit that is in the works to be released in 2016. She is currently writing a short comedy series that will also appear in 2016. Cara's involvement in production has inspired her to return to Full Sail University for her Masters in Entertainment Business. It is her intention to expand on her production company and express her creativity through her brand.


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No. No, it isn't. In the United States black isn't just a race. And your meme is stupid.
Attention white people. I'm gonna' address some things here, and I really hope I manage to be coherent. Because this shit's important. I think it's no less important a subject of discussion for anyone of any race, but I really want anyone who has ever said anything to the effect of "Why is it OK for someone to say they've got black/Muslim/Mexican/etc. pride, but it's wrong for me to be proud of being white?" to pay extra close attention. Much of what I'll be writing about will be simplified, and some readers may think it's overly so. That's fair. I'm also going to be using the term racist colloquially to denote prejudice against an individual based on their race.
If you're someone who'd be classified as white in America, chances are your family immigrated here. While there were plenty of examples of people (mostly, but not exclusively, Catholic Irish and Scots) who were forcibly relocated to the Americas, it was a comparatively short-lived practice. These people weren't really a good choice for use as forced labor in hot climates where cotton, tobacco, and sugar were being harvested. The heat killed them. So, European colonial powers went a little further afield and started buying people in Africa. Higher up-front cost, but a better long term investment.
Even if your European ancestors were forcibly moved, they maintained their culture. They remembered where they came from and could largely maintain their lineage. Think about it, theoretical white reader. When someone asks your background I'll bet you answer that you're German, Irish, Polish, Italian, or identify some other country on the other side of an ocean. Your family kept their traditions and history. They didn't lose that identity. You'll find organizations all over the country devoted to these cultures; the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Order Sons of Italy in America, the Polish American Congress. There are festivals for these cultures daily celebrating food, art, dress, and history.
I personally identify as Scottish. My ancestry is primarily Scots, with some Irish and, like everybody that comes from the British Isles or western shores of Europe, no small amount of Norse. I don't really think of myself as white, unless I'm checking off a form for a government agency. There's probably less in common between Scots and Ukrainians, historically, than there would be between a Roman Italian and a Turk. But, me and and that Ukrainian are both checking the same box on that form. White.
Black Americans, and pretty much anyone of African ancestry on this side of the Atlantic, don't have that ethnic background. It was taken from them. Black isn't just a box on a form for them. It's their cultural identity, not just race. Their ancestors didn't come here by choice. They were intentionally separated from family and clan to be grouped with people from disparate backgrounds, often without a language in common. These people created a new culture that was a mishmash of different African traditions and those of the people in power over them. Before they got here and were told they were black they weren't a single people, and they had the same history of fighting, making alliances, and carrying prejudices toward each other that people of any European nation did against their neighbors. This should all go without saying. Yet, here I am saying it.
Here's another one for the white folks. Black Americans, Caribbean Islanders, and South Americans are culturally distinct from one another. They're even MORE different than Africans! You'll hear black Americans say "he/she's not black" when someone talks about Idris Elba or Lupita Nyong'o. They're of African ancestry, so they may be of the black race, but one is English and the other is half-Kenyan. They aren't part of the black culture in America. Individuals from different African nations are as different as those from different countries in Europe. And, even if they're from a place with the same name on a map, they might not identify with their own countrymen. The closest equivalent I can think of might be Italy, where you'll find some pretty deep enmity between Italians; say Sicilians and pretty much the rest of the country, for example. One day a coworker at a former job made a comment to a Kenyan woman in our department about her having warrior Zulu blood. You'd have thought someone called a Paddy a limey!
The only times that Europeans have grouped together and referred to themselves as white people has been when they were separating themselves from another group. Usually so they could kill or oppress those people. It's' never been a term of inclusion, but of division from people of other races. It's not an ethnicity and carries no identity with it. Other than a fondness for mayonnaise and an inability to dance, I guess. Umm… we get sunburned easily?
When someone says they're black it can refer to two different things. Race or culture (also both). And what that culture actually is can be a hot topic. One that I'm not even going to weigh in on, because I'm not quite that masochistic. A 30-something white guy talking about what it means to be black? I somehow feel less qualified to do that than all the other things that I will expound upon despite my ignorance. That's saying something.
The next time you hear about a black pride event, don't immediately think "why is a white pride event racist?". Think about the "Proud to be Irish" pin you wore on St. Patrick's day or the "Full Blooded Italian" t-shirt your buddy wore last weekend. There's your analog.
Now I'm gonna' address all you theoretical black readers for a minute. First, let me say that I appreciate you not hating me. Now, I want to make sure you get something I touched on above. Most of your white friends don't think of themselves as white, first and foremost. They generally think of themselves as whatever their national ancestry is primarily. Unfortunately, US history is fucked up (thanks white people!) and whenever anyone says "it's a black thing, you wouldn't understand" they first think of it in relation to a "white thing" as opposed to an "Italian thing". Not all white folks are alike. This is related to why you always find it so hard to insult us! Generic insults for white people don't really bug anybody. Get specific! Mick, wop, sheepfucker, kraut, polak! These are the terms you want to go for. Honky is just silly.
When your cracker friends tell you that Black History month is racist, don't tell them every other month is white history month. That sort of frustrated reaction might be understandable, but doesn't really help. Compare it to a festival for a nationality. St. Patrick's Day, or Bastille Day, or Cinco de Mayo. Whatever. Doesn't matter. If they look doubtful, or continue to give you shit about it being an entire month, tell them it's because there are 28 countries on the continent of Africa, and considering the loss of national identity of Americans of African ancestry the decision was made to use the entire month of February. One country for each day of the month. This is bullshit, of course. Africa is made up of about 55 nations. But, don't worry. White people won't know that.


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Media: Print, TV and Podcast's
Our media work is an important part of our overall advocacy for women's health and positive body image. Both Fiona and Sarah are prolific writers and are very comfortable with all forms of media.
We are regularly sought after for expert opinion in the areas of Body Image, Eating Disorders, Food and Eating, Mindfulness and Yoga.
We both have experience on Commercial Radio, TV (Channels 7, 9, 10, ABC and SBS) and all forms of print media and podcasts!
As written by, featured or quoted in (just some of it!)
Print Media
Fat Activism and the O Epidemic (2018)
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Sunday Life Magazine – Self Compassion (2018)
ABC Men and Kids Body Image ( 2018)
Channel Nine News Kids and Body Image (2018)
The Sydney Morning Herald (April 2017)
SBS Health – Mindful Eating & faith (Jan 2017)
Sydney Morning Herald – Diets in dusguise (Jan 2017)
SBS Online – Mindful Eating, health & cravings (Jan 2017)
Nine MSN (October 2016)
Body and Soul (Body Positive Tips October 2016)
NineMSN – Men and Body Image (August 2016)
Channel 9 News – Body Image Research
Yahoo7Health Fat Yoga (June 2016)
Mamamia – Fat Yoga (May 2016)
The Herald Sun – Body Shaming (May 2016)
The Sunday Telegraph (May 2016)
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald (January 2016)
The Herald Sun (November 2015)
Marie Claire Magazine (October 2015)
Good Health Magazine (August 2015)
The Australian Women's Weekly (July 2014)
SBS Fat Acceptance (May 2014)
Australian Yoga Journal (July 2014)
The New Daily – How to talk to your kids about food
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald
The New Daily
The New Daily
The Weekly Review
SBS Online – Be Kind to Yourself & You'll Eat Better (Dec 2014)
PODCASTS where you can hear us:
The Flow Artists (Sarah 2018)
Life. Unrestricted (Fiona – Feb 2017)
Life Unrestricted (Sarah 2017)


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About Us
Established in 1996 as an additional division to the Kinetic Group of Companies, Kinetic Nursing Services have a long and proven history of supplying Temporary & Permanent Healthcare personnel into a wide range of clinical settings.
Being led by a highly experienced nurse with a passion to deliver high quality care, we have that unique edge that many other companies simply cannot offer.
Over the years the business has grown dramatically, starting out with just Care Homes and Industry we now offer a wide portfolio of personalised services including Palliative Care. We are always looking to expand and get involved with new and exciting opportunities.
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We have a written privacy notice that explains how we collect, process, transfer and store your personal information. This forms part of our accountability and transparency to you under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018
Our privacy notice can be found in full by clicking the link below.
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Birding North India
The five thousand plus sq. km river stretches across three states before submerging at Prachnanada in Uttar Pradesh. The origin of the river is in Madhya Pradesh at Mhow Township near Indore City. The river intersects Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The sanctuary lies in between the three states and encapsulates an area of 960 sq. km. The sanctuary is a hub of biodiversity and conserves the rare and endangered Gharial a reptile earlier found in the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra River systems in India and Nepal. This area is also the habitat for Ganges river dolphin and marsh crocodile. A number of fresh water turtle species make this river their habitat besides innumerable number of fish species.
Devoid of pollution, rampant industrialization on its shores and high population density, it is the cleanest river in North India. The river is also well known for its sandy dunes which earlier offered shelter to a number of dacoits.
Another constituent of this amazing bio-diversity are the avian species. Tourists arrive here on birding tours and also enjoy the sighting of the dolphin, marsh crocodile, smooth coated otters and the gharial. A boat ride on the river offers sighting of wetland and shore species in impressive numbers. The most coveted species is the skimmer, which also breed on the sandy dunes amidst the flowing river. Bird watching expeditions cover the shores on foot as well as the river while boating. This offers the best chance to see the magnificent winged creature while enjoying the landscape and the reptiles.
Some of the species seen here are the laggar falcon, Bonelli's eagle, chestnut bellied sandgrouse, black bellied tern, Pallas's Gull, sarus crane, sand lark, wooly necked stork, Indian eagle owl, brown fish owl, bar, headed geese, ruddy shelduck, Osprey, Northern pintail, shoveler, knob duck and many more. On shore birding is exciting too and one can see coucal, red headed bunting, black headed bunting, orange headed thrush, brown crake, long legged buzzard, brown hawk owl, plain prinia, jungle prinia, tailorbird, Brook's leaf warbler, Hume's warbler and many more.
The best place to proceed for Chambal river boating area is through Bah a township in UP at a distance of seventy km from Agra. There is a lodge for night stay and it organizes boat trips on the river. Another good location is a Dholepur fifty km from Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. The boat trip is organized by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and is considerably cheaper. A days visit is enough for this exciting bird tour but one can stay overnight at the lodge and rest.
Uday conducts bird tours in North India hence the article He organizes and conducts the expeditions as a guide and tour leader. He is affiliated to Indiafootprints Company.


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Slash Coleman is a storyteller who hosts the show Slash Wednesday He is author of the "The Bohemian Love Diaries" and has a blog with the same title on http://www.psychologytoday.com/ . Here is a link to his website:
Q: How did you become a professional storyteller?
A: I began as a musician (a pianist and keyboardist) in middle school. First in rock bands, then in alternative bands and finally in jazz bands. In all the bands, I was always the one nominated to introduce the songs. What started with introductions that included unusual facts turned into long fictitious stories and me wearing costumes. Finally, in college my bandmates were like "You need to get your own show dude."
Eventually, I began to perform and tour with my own solo shows and began making my living on stage telling stories long before I knew what storytelling was. Eventually, I got recruited to perform at the National Storytelling Festival and my career path found a place to call home.
Q: Every time I go to a gathering of writers I feel like I'm a kid at temple again. Why is writing so important to Jewish people?
A: I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer any questions for the Jewish people. In terms of my Jewish work most people think I'm a dude version of Sarah Silverman. With that in mind, I think Jewish people (at least the tribal members that I know) are, as a whole, super cerebral and writing and reading are good outlets for cerebral people.
Jewish audiences are often my least favorite to perform in front of. I'll often look out to a sea of blank, unemotional faces. For a storyteller who feeds off that essential and reciprocal interaction that typically goes on between the listener and the teller, it's been the kiss of death. I'm like "Wow guys, why did you come out tonight? You could have stayed at home and had more fun caulking your bathtub."
Q: .What are the key ingredients to a good spoken word story?
A: On the edge of comedy there is often tragedy. A good story goes to a deep, true place that embraces the dark places while still honoring the light. It's a delicate balance. Go too deep, too fast and despite the truth it comes off as therapy where the listener feels victimized. Stay too shallow and it comes off as a wispy anecdote.
Q: Why do you think blogging is so popular?
A: Storytelling is experiencing a rebirth which is reflected in our cultural obsession with personal true, unscripted stories. Reality television, The Moth events that consist of regular everyday people telling personal stories on stage, and blogging are all versions of this unscripted "writing-reality" phenomena.
When I was a kid I had a little green journal that had a lock on it. I wouldn't have dreamed of showing anyone what I'd written. Today, we're all hungry to see what's inside that journal.
After living for so long in an industrialized, modern and materialistic culture, we now want things that are real. Fiction just won't do anymore. Blogging is like opening up that locked journal for all the world to see.
Q: What made you interested in blogging for Psychology Today?
A; My blog is called "The Bohemian Love Diaries," which is also the name of my book (a memoir) which is being published in June 2013 by Lyons Press. As a personal perspectives blogger, I felt Psychology Today would give the most appropriate platform to tell my stories about love and relationships (which are often way left of center) and develop an audience. It's really cool when I create a post and see that within hours 3,000 people have read it.
Q: Why do you think romantic love written about and discussed so much more then other types of love?
A: Because Hallmark has cornered the market on it… and because sex sells. Really. My upcoming book deals with romantic love, but also other types of love including: the love between a father and a son and love between male friends. My award-winning solo show "The Neon Man and Me," which became a PBS Special concentrated specifically on the platonic love between two guys after one of them dies. It's not something our culture is used to acknowledging, but I think an awareness around it is long overdue.
Q: What is your strangest performance story?
Most people would say I'm a little strange and so all my stories are a little strange. Two things come to mind though. First, hecklers have made some of my performances a little strange. I'll get a full blown heckler about once every 30 shows, the kind that requires a police escort out.
But I suppose it's been the stalkers that have made my life more than a little strange. I've had three since I started. The strangest was a thirteen year old boy from Appalachia who started stalking me after I performed at his school. He started writing me letters posing as the pastor of his own church and then started sending me really strange text messages at all hours – things like "I'm in my Batman underwear," and "I wish you was my Daddy." I got pretty creeped out because I kept thinking about what happened to John Lennon and I didn't want to send the kid over the edge, but I also felt like I needed to protect myself. The police were finally called and everything finally stopped.
Q: Who are some of your favorite storytellers?
A: My Dad and my Uncle are my two favorite storytellers. Although they'd never consider getting paid to tell stories, they are the absolute best storytellers I know. They both have the ability to keep the attention of everyone in a room, no matter what their age, for hours with their stories.
Whether it's around the dinner table, which is where I often heard them tell their stories, or in line at the grocery store, while pumping gas, during a wedding toast or officially speaking at a family event, both of them have the uncanny ability to captivate others with their energy in profound ways.
Q: You've been featured on NPR and PBS, what would you like to say to Mitt Romney about public broadcasting?
A: Mitt, you come from a big family. Any single Romney's you'd care to set me up with?
Q: . What experience in your life has influenced your stories the most?
A: My love life. As a free spirit and a romantic I take a lot of risks when it comes to love. I tend to chase shooting stars that burn out too fast or wild broncos that can't be tamed. These sorts of mistakes have provided me with the material for my best stories.
Slash's photo was taken by Chris Moore
Please note; Eliza's interviews are done by email. All answers are unedited and come right from the lovely fingertips of her subjects:)


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I am still trying to find a way to fit everything I want to do into my life.
getting my photography business off the ground,
acting as Ombudsman for my husband's command,
being in a multi-lingual Primary presidency where I also frequently act as a teacher, singing time leader, and pianist,
training for the marathon (did I forget to mention that?...Rome March 23, 2014),
planning & prepping for my month long vacation (am I seeing you? why not?!)
keeping the house together, cleaned, and stocked with food,
making time for hubby,
teaching Miles everything he needs to learn,
staying spiritually fit...
And also keeping in touch with friends and family...via FB & instagram
The list goes on and on. And I am tired. I feel like most days the time gets away from me just doing the routine stuff. I know I am not the only one who feels this way, I have many friends (all of you) who are also busy...some busier than me. How do you do it?


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It's almost the Fourth of July, and don't get me started about fireworks. Imagine suddenly hearing loud explosions and having no idea what they are. Now add flashes of light that seem much like lightning and the occasional screams as they go off. It must be so scary to animals!
Even though fireworks are illegal in many places, there are invariably plenty of neighborhood patriots still lighting them off at all hours for the days before and after the Fourth. Naturally, these random sounds make even the most secure critter to run for cover ... myself included.
Given that canine hearing is far more sensitive than humans, exposure to fireworks is more than unpleasant -- it may even be painful to pooches. A dog's ears are shaped in such a way that they amplify sound. They also hear noise over a greater distance and at a wider frequency range than humans do. Statistics reveal that more dogs go missing on the Fourth of July than any other U.S. holiday. Spooked dogs also tend do run farther as the noise continues than they might otherwise, which lowers the odds of their safe return. This is tragic, but it's also preventable.
Such risks can be greatly reduced with some simple preparation. As their parents, we must keep our "fur kids" safe and secure before and during the holiday. Here's how:
1. I can not overstate the importance of keeping updated tags on all companion animals. Microchipping is also important, but a current, readable tag is critical. Providing a Good Samaritan or local shelter with a simple way to reunite you with your loved one is the safest way to get your pet back. Without a tag, the journey home is far more complicated -- and therefore less likely. Our nation's shelters are filled with lost family pets that no one anticipated would ever get lost.
*For cats in particular, it is important that a tag be on a 'quick-release' type collar for safety. Most pet-supply stores will know what you are asking for if you request this. Even though my cats are indoors only, I still keep a tag on each of them that has my cell phone number and the words, "If I am out, I am lost."
2. Many people travel over the holidays, leaving furry family members with a neighbor, pet sitter, or friend. This scenario is often unfamiliar, and times like these are when animals tend to escape or get lost. While it's critical that pets always have current tags, you might also consider getting a tag that includes your pet sitter's name and number if you are going to be unreachable while you're away.
3. Random fireworks can be heard everywhere on and around July 4th. It is essential that even the most obedient animals be secured in an area (preferably indoors) that does not allow them to escape. Special precautions should be taken to avoid leaving a companion animal unattended in a yard. It is also best they not be taken anywhere without a secure leash.
4. Close shades and curtains to both muffle sounds and conceal flashes of light. Play relaxing music (there is some made specifically for companion animals), and it can't hurt to add calming scents like lavender –– but be sure they are out of reach so nervous critters don't ingest them.
5. Try to engage your animal's attention with toys, games, or perhaps one of those hard rubber chew toys you can fill with peanut butter –– I like to call this "mission peanut butter," as it clearly becomes their mission to get every last lick out of that pesky toy!
6. If possible, stay home with your companion animals during any local fireworks events –– and ideally over the entire holiday weekend.
7. Special compression shirts made to reduce canine stress during thunderstorms can be a great help as well. I use one with our biggest fur baby and it seems to be very effective.
While a holiday weekend may be festive for humans, it is always important to stop and consider how our companion animals perceive such events. Sudden and unfamiliar sounds shake their sense of security and elicit territorial reactions that might otherwise be uncommon for that particular animal to exhibit. Our furry friends are naturally protective, and it's up to us to shield them from any added stressors that might put them in danger.
Have a happy and safe Fourth!