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Monetary and fiscal policy: criteria and timing for the phasing out of crisis measures
Speech by Jürgen Stark, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB
80th Kieler Konjunkturgespräch,
Berlin, 15 September 2009
Ladies and gentlemen,
A year ago today the investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection. This dramatic event has had adverse effects on the world economy, including the euro area. It has led to the most severe and synchronised economic downturn since the 1930s. But recent information is encouraging. The massive response to the crisis on the part of governments and central banks seems to be bearing fruit. Available data suggest that the free fall in economic activity has come to a halt and the global recession is bottoming out. However, uncertainty remains high, with data on economic activity likely to remain volatile.
The key challenge in the period ahead will be to unwind in a timely manner the extraordinary and unprecedented measures taken in response to the crisis. The criteria and timing for the phasing out of the crisis measures will be the main topic of my speech today. But first, I will start by giving you a brief overview of the current economic outlook on the basis of the Governing Council's assessment. I will then describe the measures implemented by the ECB and fiscal authorities in more detail.
The economic outlook
Given recent developments, there are reasons for cautious optimism regarding the outlook for economic activity. Economic activity turned out better than expected in the second quarter of 2009.
As regards the future, the economic recovery is likely to be very gradual. The revival of global trade, the rebuilding of inventories and the positive impact of policy stimulus and liquidity support measures are expected to be the main drivers of economic activity, and we may see a positive quarter on quarter growth rate already in the third quarter this year. But the quarterly growth pattern might be very uneven, and the uncertainty surrounding this outlook remains unusually high, given that some of the factors supporting growth are temporary in nature.
This outlook is broadly in line with the September 2009 ECB staff macroeconomic projections for growth in the euro area, which have been revised upwards compared with the June 2009 Eurosystem staff projections. This is the first upward revision since March 2007.
In the view of the Governing Council, the risks to this outlook remain broadly balanced. On the upside, the positive impact of the policy measures implemented may be stronger than expected. Confidence may improve faster than assumed. On the downside, the financial sector is still strained, and we cannot rule out the possibility that a stronger or more protracted negative feedback loop between the real economy and the financial sector may develop. Concerns also relate to a renewed increase in international commodity prices, an intensification of protectionist pressures and a disorderly correction of global imbalances.
As regards prices, annual inflation rates turned negative this summer. However, this is a temporary phenomenon, which was largely driven by past developments in energy prices. Annual inflation rates are expected to turn positive again within the next few months, but to remain relatively subdued. This is confirmed by both our economic and monetary analysis.
This inflation outlook is consistent with the September 2009 ECB staff projections, which have been revised slightly upwards compared with the June projections, mainly owing to higher energy prices. The Governing Council considers the risks to this outlook to be broadly balanced. On the downside, the downward pressure on prices could be stronger than expected, due to the sharp contraction in economic activity over the past year and the modest scale of the recovery which is foreseen. On the upside, renewed increases in oil prices and stronger than expected increases in administered prices and indirect taxes in the wake of fiscal consolidation efforts cannot be ruled out.
The ECB's policy response
Let me briefly recall how the ECB has responded to the intensification of the crisis a year ago. First of all, with inflationary pressures receding rapidly since last autumn, we have reduced the rate at the main refinancing operations by 325 basis points to the lowest levels seen since the start of Monetary Union. The Governing Council regards the current rates as appropriate.
In addition, we have taken a number of non-standard measures in order to:
First, support the orderly functioning of the money market;
Second, ease funding conditions for banks and thereby enhance the flow of credit to the economy above and beyond what could be achieved through policy interest rate reductions alone.
Third, improve market liquidity in important segments of the private debt securities market.
These measures have come to be known as our "enhanced credit support approach". Its focus has been on banks, as they are the main source of funding in the euro area economy.
Overall, our approach comprises five main building blocks:
First, the full accommodation of banks' liquidity requests at a fixed rate.
Second, the expansion of the list of assets eligible as collateral.
Third, the lengthening of the maturities of long-term refinancing operations.
Fourth, the provision of liquidity in foreign currencies.
And finally, financial market support through outright purchases of covered bonds in order to stimulate a market that has traditionally been an important source of funding for banks.
This is the only decision we have taken which directly affects a market segment other than the money market, and the total sum allocated to the programme – €60 billion – may appear modest compared with asset purchases performed by some other central banks. Our planned purchases amount to about 5% of the eligible outstanding covered bonds.
Let me emphasise that we have very deliberately refrained from buying government bonds, so as to safeguard our independence from political influence. For the same reason, we have implemented our measures without any form of government guarantee.
The implementation of the non-standard measures has led to a significant increase in the size of the Eurosystem balance sheet. By the end of August 2009, the simplified balance sheet of the Eurosystem stood at around €1,500 billion – about 16% of euro area GDP. Compared with its size in July 2007, shortly before the outbreak of the financial turmoil, the balance sheet is currently about two-thirds larger.
It is difficult to assess the impact of our measures precisely, but we are satisfied that spreads in the money market have declined significantly since last autumn and are now back to the levels seen before the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. Together with the policy rate cuts, this has contributed to a substantial decline in lending rates to households and firms. For example, the interest rate offered by monetary financial institutions (MFIs) on loans to households for house purchase with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation of up to one year has about halved since October last year.
The subdued developments in lending have attracted some attention, particularly given that our measures were designed to support lending activity. However, if we consider how credit has developed during economic downturns in the past, the recent developments in credit appear to be broadly in line with the recent developments in economic activity and the current outlook. In particular, in the past loans to firms have tended to lag turning points in the business cycle. One explanation for this may be that firms tend to use their own funds first and only afterwards resort to external financing, which leads to low demand for credit around the turning point. Based on past experience, the current levelling-off of loans to households would normally be associated with a further contraction in loans to firms until at least early 2010. Having said this, we will of course continue to monitor the developments in credit very closely in the period ahead, especially with a view to assessing to what extent supply-side constraints have the potential to limit the availability of credit.
Fiscal policy response to the crisis
Let me now move on to the fiscal policy response to the crisis. Fiscal policies have played an important role in containing the adverse impact of the financial and economic crisis. Euro area governments have demonstrated their ability to take rapid and coordinated steps both to support the financial system and to stimulate economic activity.
Government support for the banking sector represents a key element in the stabilisation of the whole financial system and the prevention of a further detrimental impact on the real economy. The measures adopted in response to the financial crisis consist of various types of financial assistance, including government guarantees for interbank lending, recapitalisation of financial institutions, increased coverage of retail deposit insurance and asset relief schemes.
As well as addressing the sources of the crisis by supporting systemically important financial institutions, fiscal policies have provided extensive stimulus to aggregate demand. As a first line of defence, a significant fiscal impulse has been, and continues to be, delivered via automatic stabilisers, which are relatively strong in the euro area. At the same time, European governments have agreed to adopt expansionary fiscal measures in order to mitigate the effects of the economic downturn.
The past few decades have been characterised by a considerable degree of scepticism towards the effectiveness of fiscal policies that go beyond the operation of automatic stabilisers. In some respects, recent calls from academics and policy-makers alike for fiscal activism represent a shift in this paradigm. This has also led to a re-emergence of old disputes between academic macroeconomists.
It must be stressed, however, that the government measures adopted in response to the economic crisis carry considerable fiscal costs. The effectiveness of fiscal stimuli crucially depends on the expectations and reactions of economic agents. In this context, the perception of the measures as being temporary and trust in the sustainability of fiscal policies are crucial. So far, fiscal activism seems to have been reasonably well coordinated, timely and targeted. But the challenge of ensuring that the measures are temporary remains. The determination of euro area governments to avoid further fiscal stimuli is welcome. However, the current support measures cannot be sustained forever. Timely and credible exit strategies for withdrawing the existing fiscal stimuli must be developed and communicated as soon as possible.
To this end, central banks and fiscal authorities will have to be prepared to unwind their extraordinary support measures.
The phasing-out of crisis measures
Let me be clear: the fact that we are discussing exit strategies by no means implies that we are about to implement them. But for them to be effective, we need to be transparent. Otherwise, investors may become fearful of inflation and concerned about the sustainability of public finances. This would no doubt push up long-term interest rates. For the same reasons, households might expect higher taxes in the future and raise the share of their income that they would rather save than spend. All these effects would, of course, jeopardise the gradual recovery and undermine the effectiveness of the policy stimulus.
Monetary policy
As regards our area of responsibility, we are well prepared to phase out the measures we took in response to the crisis. The way these measures were implemented provides us with reasonable flexibility in unwinding them. For example, unless we decide otherwise, the maturity and size of our operations will automatically decrease, starting next year.
Consistent with our mandate to maintain price stability, we have applied certain criteria in implementing the credit support measures and interest rate decisions. In unwinding our support we will continue to apply those criteria. Not least thanks to our political independence and our credibility, we are well equipped to act in a timely manner when the need arises.
Two elements appear to be key. First, of course, we need to have a goal in mind. Second, we need to think about how to manage the transition from where we are now towards that goal.
As regards the decision parameters, the first area concerns the withdrawal of monetary policy stimulus in terms of the key ECB interest rates. The criterion for how and when to withdraw the stimulus will be our assessment of risks to price stability.
The second area relates to the phasing-out of the liquidity and credit support that we provide to banks. In this case the instrument is the size and maturity composition of our liquidity-providing operations. The criterion for phasing out these operations will be our assessment of the financial situation and, specifically, how funding risk evolves, without compromising our price stability mandate.
These two areas are interrelated. However, our interest rate decisions are guided exclusively by our assessment of risks to price stability. Our credit support measures have in addition been driven by the goal of alleviating funding risk and thereby forestalling a wider systemic crisis which would jeopardise our primary objective of price stability.
The interest rate instrument and the size and maturity composition of our liquidity-providing operations are instruments that can be used independently of each other, but only to a certain extent and not continually for different purposes. Specifically, concerns about funding support must not come to dominate monetary policy considerations.
The level of our key interest rates will, as always, be adjusted in response to changes in the outlook for price stability. But, because our non-standard measures were targeted at specific problems in the money market, our decisions about how and when to unwind them will also depend on how funding risk evolves. We would expect a gradual recovery in funding markets and further improvements in credit conditions for the non-financial sector to go hand in hand with the establishment of a sustained economic recovery. But it is impossible to forecast these developments with any certainty.
A scenario cannot be entirely ruled out where upside risks to price stability emerge while the problems in money markets persist. We might then have to maintain the structure and size of our balance sheet. But, at the same time, we would have to raise interest rates to counter upside risks to price stability. We would be confronted with the need to steer money market interest rates to higher levels while excess liquidity continued to prevail in money markets.
It is therefore crucial to monitor the sources of funding constraints for banks. We need to judge whether these funding constraints relate to individual banks rather than to the functioning of the money market and the banking system as a whole. Our operational framework is not designed to counter funding problems at the individual bank level. Rather, our funding support is designed to alleviate funding risk to the extent that it is systemic.
Therefore, we would seek to re-establish the key features of the operational framework that was in place before the crisis and to revert to a situation in which the one-week main refinancing operation is the main tool for steering short-term money market rates and we are "rate-takers" in the longer-term money market.
Based on our economic and monetary analyses, we will continue to monitor very closely all developments over the period ahead. We will ensure that the measures taken are unwound in a timely fashion and the liquidity provided is absorbed in order to counter effectively any threat to price stability.
To sum up the monetary policy considerations: the monetary policy measures and non-standard measures taken during the financial crisis have been effective in alleviating funding concerns of banks. But we need to be aware that, if the measures are maintained for too long, there can be negative side effects.
Both central bank and fiscal measures may contribute to weaken the incentives for banks to clear troubled assets from their balance sheets and to monitor their credit risk carefully. This, in turn, may reinforce the very problems that currently impair the functioning of the financial system. In a low interest rate environment this can foster lending to unprofitable business. That, in turn, would harm the growth potential of the economy and thereby prepare the ground for weak growth to persist.
Very low interest rates can also hamper the functioning of the money market: The lower money market interest rates are, the lower the incentive for banks to trade funds in the market rather than depositing them safely with the central bank. Market participants might change their behaviour and get accustomed to the non-standard measures, which would be detrimental to the recovery of money markets.
On our part, as soon as upside risks to price stability emerge, and with a view to avoid to contribute to the emergence of another asset price bubble, we would have to act accordingly.
For all these reasons, it is paramount to have a clear exit strategy in place.
Fiscal policy
The ECB's exit strategy follows naturally from our mandate and independence from political influence. The credibility we enjoy is illustrated by the fact that long-term inflation expectations have remained firmly anchored in line with the Governing Council's definition of price stability throughout the crisis.
Fiscal authorities are not in the same position. One indication of this is the widening of government bond spreads in the euro area vis-à-vis German ten-year bunds since last autumn, which signals market doubts about the fiscal authorities' resolve to bring fiscal policy back onto a sustainable path. Let me therefore briefly elaborate on why it is important that governments commit to clear exit strategies.
In principle, unsustainable fiscal policies represent an upside risk to price stability as the possibility cannot be ruled out that debt-burdened governments may resort to monetary financing. But let me be clear: this is not an option for governments in the euro area. However, high inflation in other countries would also make it more difficult to preserve price stability here.
Second, while governments bolstered private confidence via financial and economic support in the crisis phase, in the exit phase confidence must be preserved via the timely and credible withdrawal of the unsustainable stimulus measures. Exit strategies may reduce market concerns about fiscal sustainability, and they may help to limit Ricardian behaviour on the part of consumers, which could otherwise offset the impact of the fiscal stimulus.
Third, recent calls for a persistently greater role for government owing to failures in market systems must be rejected. Historical experience shows that the market principle remains by far the best basis for an economic system, although we know that markets need rules and that the existing regulatory and supervisory framework has to be enhanced. The role of government should be scaled down after the crisis. No matter how serious the current crisis is, governments should ultimately cease to perform non-government tasks and the private sector should step in again.
Fourth, fiscal positions in most euro area countries represents a challenge for the Stability and Growth Pact. Any weakening of the peer pressure mechanism on which the fiscal framework rests must be avoided. Full compliance with the Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact is necessary in order to preserve confidence in the whole framework and contribute to the credibility of fiscal exit strategies in individual countries.
Fifth, the fiscal costs of crisis measures are expected to be considerable. Government support for the financial sector gives rise to government debt and extensive contingent liabilities owing to government guarantees. The effects of automatic stabilisers and discretionary fiscal stimuli lead to a sharp deterioration in fiscal balances. All these factors, together with the expected adverse fiscal impact of population ageing, pose considerable risks to fiscal sustainability. It appears unlikely that countries will be able to rely on strong GDP growth to reduce their debt burdens. In this respect, unwinding fiscal stimuli, while necessary, is clearly insufficient to restore sustainable public finances. The structural adjustment of fiscal policies to the new economic environment will be needed. Moreover, potential costs stemming from guarantees provided to the banking sector should be taken into account.
Finally, the phasing-out of most non-standard monetary policy measures is highly predictable and withdrawal will be communicated in due time. The same level of transparency should apply to fiscal policies. Governments should provide a clear and credible medium-term timetable for fiscal exit strategies in order to help maintain a predictable environment, both for economic agents and for the conduct of monetary policy.
General principles for fiscal exit strategies
Based on these considerations, governments should develop and communicate ambitious and realistic fiscal exit and consolidation strategies as soon as possible. Structural adjustment will have to be implemented in order to reduce high debt ratios and return public finances to a sustainable path. The timing, pace and sequence of the exit strategy is starting to be a major challenge. Let me summarise the main criteria for the fiscal exit strategy and the main principles on which they should be based.
First, as regards involvement in the financial sector, the primary criterion for the exit strategy is the condition of the banking sector. Given the vital role of the banking system, the timing and sequence of the withdrawal of the assistance provided to the financial sector is of the utmost importance and, in the short to medium run, even more challenging than the task of unwinding fiscal stimuli. A balance between the need to safeguard financial stability and the need to restore market principles must be maintained. The stability of the banking sector must not be put at risk. However, the over-long involvement of governments will change the behaviour of market participants and may have detrimental effects to competition in the banking sector and lead to an ineffective allocation of resources.
Second, as regards the exit from high government deficit and debt, governments should ensure that the withdrawal of fiscal measures starts no later than the economic recovery. Part of this job will be done automatically via fiscal stabilisers and some fiscal stimulus measures are designed to be temporary. Additional fiscal adjustment is, however, needed. The phasing-out of stimuli to support demand should be closely linked to the pick-up in economic activity. Given the current economic outlook and projected public deficit and debt developments, euro area governments have decided to refrain from additional expansionary measures. This decision is very welcome. However, they have not so far committed to clear fiscal exit strategies. Exit strategies should be set out in the context of current and forthcoming excessive deficit procedures and within the next round of stability programmes. Otherwise, persistent high deficits and debts would contribute to high risk premia on government bond interest rates. Higher sovereign real long-term interest rates may then be transmitted to the rest of the economy and crowd out private demand.
Third, the timing and pace of consolidation should take into account additional criteria such as growth prospects after the crisis, the size of government deficits and debts and the prospects for long-term sustainability. Given the substantial effort needed, structural adjustments should be significantly more ambitious than the benchmark of 0.5% of GDP per annum would suggest and should differ across countries. Debt simulations show that while a no-policy-change scenario implies an explosion of government debts, even a 0.5 percentage point structural adjustment would not be sufficient to bring debt ratios to the level of 60% of GDP over an acceptable time horizon. In particular, highly indebted countries and those with a sharp deterioration in their fiscal balances should therefore make a consolidation effort of at least 1 percentage point per annum.
Fourth, the consolidation strategies should be designed in line with the Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact, which constitute the appropriate and credible framework for fiscal policy coordination in the euro area. The Pact provides for a degree of flexibility that is sufficient for the current circumstances. Any loosening of the framework beyond that level is not warranted, as it may pose the risk of eroding the incentive mechanisms. Fiscal strategies should respect deadlines for the correction of excessive deficits set by the ECOFIN Council in line with the Stability and Growth Pact.
Fifth, in any case, fiscal consolidation cannot be limited to the correction of excessive deficits. The pace of consolidation needs to be maintained and stepped up in good times until the medium-term objectives are achieved.
The crisis has clearly demonstrated that countries that failed to build up safety margins during good times had little or no capacity to counter the economic downturn. In this respect, medium-term objectives must be sufficiently ambitious in order to create room for manoeuvre in fiscal terms before the next economic downturn and to prepare public finances for future expenditure associated with population ageing. All efforts should be made to ensure that the opportunity to consolidate public finances during the forthcoming good times are not missed again in some countries.
Before concluding, I would like to emphasise that the institutional framework of the euro area leaves no room for an coordination between the single monetary policy of the ECB and the national fiscal policies. The Treaty sets up a clear allocation of responsibilities between monetary policy and national fiscal policies, with a view to ensuring a smooth functioning of monetary union. The institutional framework grants to the Eurosystem full independence from political influence and interference and assigns to the ECB the primary objective of maintaining price stability. At the same time, fiscal authorities are responsible for safeguarding the sustainability of public finances.
This does not mean that there are no interactions. The Governing Council has always welcomed a constructive and open exchange of information on the current economic situation and structural reforms with other bodies and institutions at the European level. The outlook for fiscal policy plays a key role in our projections for economic activity and our assessment of risks to price stability. In the same way, because our policy decisions are exclusively based on our assessment of risks to price stability, our responses can be predicted by fiscal authorities. The channels for the exchange of information between fiscal and monetary authorities are also well developed. But there cannot and will not be any pre-commitment to a particular course of monetary policy action. This would undermine the ECB's independence and therefore violate our mandate.
From a fiscal policy point of view, it should be noted that although the exit from monetary measures will be uniform across the euro area, it is likely to have asymmetric fiscal impacts given the current substantial heterogeneity of fiscal positions. A potential increase in market interest rates will have a much stronger impact on highly indebted countries, in particular those with outstanding government bonds with short maturities. The need for fiscal flexibility under a single monetary policy places a clear premium on timely and credible fiscal consolidation in all euro area member countries.
To conclude, in response to the crisis, governments and central banks across the globe have taken immediate and unprecedented measures. Governments have implemented measures to rescue the banking sector and stimulate the economy. Central banks have lowered rates to very low levels in response to receding inflationary pressures and risks; and they have provided ample liquidity to the banking system, so as to support the transmission mechanism of monetary policy. The key questions are when and how to phase out these measures once the overall situation starts to return to normal.
This is the most challenging task for both governments and central banks. But I am confident that the ECB's broad-based monetary policy strategy, which has shown itself to be robust and forward-looking, will continue to serve us well in handling this challenge. The fact that our risk assessment is rooted in both economic and monetary analysis ensures that all relevant information is taken into account.
The crisis is not yet over. The time to exit has not yet come. But I can assure you that we will continue to monitor very closely all developments in the period ahead, in order to be in the best possible position to continue to deliver on our task of maintaining price stability over the medium term, and thereby support the purchasing power of euro area citizens.
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Well HELLO! Welcome back to Turn It Up Tuesday. We have a very special edition this week. Enjoy…
Welcome to the 86th week here at Turn It Up Tuesday! Hope all of the mothers out there had an amazing Mother's Day!!!
Last week, we had an awesome time on Turn It Up Tuesday with 361 links – another amazing week! We'd like to thank each and every one of you for making every week so amazing! Keep sharing your amazing posts with us here on Turn It Up Tuesday!
Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic…and having fun! Link up your favorite posts (old or new) and meet some awesome bloggers in return! Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, recipes, mommy moments — anything at all. We want to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, and have a good time!
Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!
Our sponsor for May is Dolled Up Spa Boutique.
We are 2 sisters who wanted to inspire and encourage all the beautiful young girls in our lives. We wanted to pamper them and give them confidence all while having fun. So we started doing Spa parties and events, everything from manicures, pedicures, facials, hair and make up. Then we started making accessories, spa products, tutus and now clothing.We started off by doing it for the girls we know, then we started going to our local street fair and then we decided to open up our very own boutique. We love what we do and we love to create unique one of a kind items, just like these precious little girls. After all playing dress up, putting on jewelry, doing your hair and make up never goes out of style. We say the fluffier the better, there is never too much sparkle and glitter you say….Yes please!! We hope that you like what we have created.
Are you looking to get your blog or website in front of numerous people per week? Do you enjoy Turn It Up Tuesdays? Interested in having your blog or website featured for an entire month?
Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month by clicking here!
Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!
(from the top – left to right)
Natasha from Epic Mommy Adventures | Stacey from This Momma's Ramblings | Cathy from A Peek Into My Paradise | Rhonda from Mother 2 Mother | Jillian from Baby Doodah | April from April Noelle | Tina from The Happy Creations | Melissa from The Coupon Chronicles | Cindy from Mom Maven | Tiffany from MrsTeeLoveLifeLaughter | Kelly from Making-More | Yolanda from That's Mashed Up | Tenns from Bliss & Faith | Silvie from My Silly Little Gang | Mari from Living in Mommywood | Rose from What Rose Knows | Kimberly from Keystrokes by Kimberly | Kimberly from Being a Wordsmith | Nancy from Afro-Chic Mompreneur | Kelly from Mum-bo-Jumbo | Zografia from Bisozozo | Elaine from Ramblings of a Bad Domestic Goddess | Latisha from Ask Latisha | Ginger from Does Your Sister Have Normal Hair
And welcome our awesome guest hosts for May!
(from the top – left to right)
Giselle from Red Lipstick & Champagne Dreams | Kori from Just Another Mom | Amy from Confessions of a Ninja Mom | Marina from Parental Journey | Rachel from Rae Loves | Free from Couponin Diva | Jody from Mom 'N Daughter Savings
Interested in being a guest host for the month or becoming a permanent co-host?
Complete the form here! Monthly guest hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis.
Here are the Featured posts from last week!
Lisa chose Homemade Strawberry Kiwi Spritzer Popsicle Recipe from The Jenny Evolution. "This is great! Homemade popsicles that aren't filled with sugar. Healthy and so many choices to make them other than strawberry-kiwi (though that is my favorite fruit combination)!"
Lisa chose How to make a Blog Editorial Calendar from illistyle. "To be honest, I had never even thought to use Google Calendar but after reading this post, I can't believe I haven't used it! It's just what I need not just for blogging but for my classes!"
Jillian also chose this post. "I chose this post because I feel like my editorial calendar is a constant struggle. I start one, then stop because I don't find it convenient enough. Having it online, with google Docs, would likely lead to more organization and consistency."
Cindy chose DIY Seed Bombs from Hello Nature. "I chose this post because I actually used some commercial seed bombs last week and I love knowing that I can make my own from now on. The process seems simple and it would also make a nice gift."
Cindy chose 8 Ways Pinterest Changed Parenting Forever from Unremarkable Files. "I am so glad my kids were grown when Pinterest came around. So far my daughter-in-law isn't interested in Pinterest so maybe I'll be the only Pinterest crazed one when the grandkids start coming."
Rachel chose DIY Moisturizing Hair Mask from Hairspray & High Heels. "My hair is typically dry and this moisturizer looks like something my hair strands would soak up! Having a homemade hair mask is a great idea because I can whip it up anytime I need it!"
Rachel chose Missing My Blue Bell Ice Cream from Pastries Pumps and Pi. "I miss Blue Bell too! If you've never tasted it, it's only one of the creamiest and softest ice creams around. But there has been a major recall and Tameka explains the precautions very well here. I too love when companies are proactive about the quality and safety of their products."
Amy chose Homemade Pedicure Kit from View from the Fridge. "What a great gift for Mother's Day or any other occasion. It just reminds me of how badly I need a spa day but nice to know that I can enjoy something like that in my own home."
Amy chose Dreams Can Change in Your 30's from Mommy In Sports. "Having recently celebrated my 33rd birthday, this post has made me reflect on all the wonderful experiences and surprises I've had in my life and how that has changed my definition of success."
Giselle chose Peach Mojito from Lipgloss and Crayons. "I love how simple the recipe was and it looks absolutely delicious. I'll have to give this a try!"
Giselle chose Makeup Habits To Break from The Organized Dream. "As a makeup artist and makeup junkie I love these tips. It's so easy for people to bypass them, but they are very important to follow."
Mari chose Shrimp Cobb Salad from Fitness Food Diva. "I loved Shannon's salad, it mixed two of my favs together Cobb Salad & Shrimp! Look firward to trying it out."
Mari chose 12 #BaltimoreRiots "Twitter" Reflections You Won't See in The Media from AfroChic Mompreneur. "My other fav was something I think every mom blogger should have been speaking about because it efforts the world our children are growing up in. We are all the same…thank you Nancy for sharing this eye opening peace. If we don't stand for something we end up standing for nothing."
Stacey chose Self Defence – Should We Be Teaching Our Girls? from Barbie Bieber and Beyond. "Such a great post! I think self-defense classes are great for kids in general, especially in today's society. I always wanted to take them growing up as a child in the 80's. Thank you so much for sharing!"
Zografia chose Vinyl Cross-Stitch Wall Art from The Scrap Shoppe Blog. "That's a lot of work, but it's worth it! Great idea!"
Zografia chose Not-Your-Usual Malta Destination Guide from Urban Naturale. "Malta is one of the places i want to visit! I'll keep these suggestions in mind!"
Jody chose 18 no bake sweet treats from Dreaming of Leaving. "I love this No Bake Sweets Pin. There's a bunch of them. They look so good and they're No Bake , which I think we all love!"
Jody chose How to Declutter: Conquering Decluttering Paralysis from Clean & Scentsible. "I love this next post and I think a lot of people will. Decluttering is hard for all of us, I guess. Now I'm going to use these tips."
Rebekah also chose this post. "I hope these were long enough explanations as to why I chose both of these links. There were so many great links but these two seem to inspire me the most."
Kimberly (Being a Wordsmith) chose Dear Mom who has recently miscarried from Gym. Craft. Laundry. "An open and honest letter to women who have miscarried. As someone who experienced this loss many years ago, I still have the same thoughts that she wrote about."
Kimberly (Being a Wordsmith) chose You Do WHAT for a Living? from Earning & Saving with Sarah Fuller. "This post made me think about all the odd looks I get from people when I tell them I am a blogger. Can you imagine what face they would make if I told them I was a snake milker or a roadkill collector? Check out this post to read about more unique occupations."
Tina chose Posterized Native American Washi Tape Art from illistyle. "What an amazing artwork,an ode to Gregg Deal. I absolutely love this washi tape art. Thanks so much for sharing."
Tina chose Flourless Mexican Brownies from Spoonful of Flavor. "Yummy no flour mexican brownies with frosting?Yes please,they look delicious.Thanks for sharing."
Ginger chose Cocktail: Strawberry Shortcake Moonshine from Pink Heels Pink Truck. "Everyone in my family loves strawberry's so I loved this recipe.It will be the perfect barbecue cocktail this summer."
Ginger chose Sweet & Spicy Baby Back Ribs {#PasstheCookbook} from Juggling Act Mama. "I am in full summer barbecue mode so this caught my eye. It sounds like a delicious recipe that I am excited to try this summer."
Jillian chose 10 Amazing Perks of Having an Only Child from MBA SAHM. "I chose this post because my husband and I currently have one child, and I've gone back and forth with having another and whether we should or not. My son is my world and I am so happy for that – this post reminds that having only 1 child is A-OK!"
Rebekah chose Save Money on Your Grocery Budget By Ordering Fresh Meat in Bulk from Practical Mommy. "I chose this second link because she explains in detail about how we can be psychologically paralyzed while trying to make decisions in decluttering our house. This is a problem so many of us have – we want a clean house but where do we start? We want the clutter to be gone but which part do we recycle?"
Stop by and show some love to our featured bloggers this week! I'm sure they'd all appreciate it!
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And the Best of the Best is…
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subset: commoncrawl


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Open Letter to Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden, Regarding the Islamic Republic's Terrorism
Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt:
In January this year, Mr. Babak Shadidi, an Iranian-born Swedish citizen and a former member of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, revealed a plot to assassinate a number of the leaders of that party. The plot was planned in Sweden and was intended to be carried out in Germany. Babak Shadidi, who had planned to play a role in this plot, had a change of heart: he informed the party and the Swedish police, and disclosed the conspiracy. He has subsequently received numerous death threats.
Although a considerable amount of information and leads were provided to the police regarding this case, no serious attempt was made to apprehend the conspirators. It must be emphasized that one of the two agents of the Islamic Republic, who took Babak Shadidi blindfolded to a house on the outskirts of Stockholm to explain the details of the plot, has been identified.
While the Swedish police have passively neglected this case, on June 20th, Babak Shadidi was attacked by agents of the Islamic Republic while entering his home and was severely injured inside the house. He was then immediately flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment.
Mr. Prime Minister!
You are certainly aware of the Islamic Republic's terrorism. This regime's existence has its foundations in terror and thuggery. The terrorists reigning in Tehran have organized hundreds of assassinations of their opponents outside Iran. There are a number of leading figures in the regime who are sought by Interpol for direct involvement in organizing terrorist activities abroad. The plot to assassinate the leaders of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, which was conducted from Sweden, as well as the Köln kidnapping for 12 days of Dariush Shokouf, the director of "Iran, Prison" (a film about the rapes and torture of the political prisoners), are two links in this chain of assassinations and terror.
The people of Iran have shaken the foundations of the Islamic Republic regime, and the world is now aware of its criminal and dangerous nature. Today, even United Nations judges* are talking about the necessity of indicting the top figures of this regime on charges of genocide. The time of governments remaining silent and appeasing this murderous, terrorist regime has long passed.
Yet, the Islamic regime, out of desperation, continues its efforts in various ways to spread fear and silence the opposition outside of Iran.
Hence, we would like to draw your attention to this issue. We expect that you not allow Swedish soil become a safe haven for Islamic Republic's terrorism against its opposition. So far, different interests have led to silence in the face of the Islamic Republic's terrorist actions. We will continue to spread public awareness against this policy of silence and condemn it. We demand first of all that you not ignore these terrorist acts by the Islamic Republic with the excuse of "national interest" and "diplomacy." Secondly, we demand that this particular case be thoroughly investigated and the public informed of the findings.
Neither the Iranian people nor Swedish public opinion will accept that you allow Islamic terrorism do it pleases in Sweden. It is your obligation to protect the lives and safety of the Islamic Republic's opposition in Sweden. In closing, we would like to emphasize that Babak Shadidi continues to be victimized by the Islamic Republic of Iran and must be protected.
With regards,
Abdollah Asadi, Secretary General, Solidarity-Confederation of Iranian refugees
Kima Pazuki, Human rights activist
Mahin Alipur, Head of the Campaign to Defend Women's Rights in Iran
Karim Shah-Mohammadi, Head of the Children First Foundation, Sweden
Asad Nodinian, Responssible for Cmmunist combatant site
Afsane Wahdat, head of Ex-Muslim organization Sweden
Khalil Keyvan, secretary the Worker-communist Party of Iran, Abroad Organization
To respond to this letter, please contact: Afsane Vahdat
E-mail: email@example.com
Copy to: European Parliament
July 19, 2010
* Geoffrey Robertson's report on crimes committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran for among others genocide is here.


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A few years ago I did a limited edition block-of-the-month pattern titled Dixie Diary for my Moda Civil War reproduction collection Civil War Homefront. A few shops kitted it up in that line of fabric in 2010.
Sandi Brothers pieced it as a BOM for her Indiana shop A Quilt of Many Colors. I read that she and the members of her guild Sisters of the Cloth were invited to demonstrate quilting at last summer's Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington D.C. She brought the Dixie Diary sampler with her.
I thought I would rework this sampler in my current repro line Metropolitan Fair in pinks and browns---one of my favorite mid-19th-century color schemes.
Each block is an original combination of simple piecing and applique. The piecing is basic (One has Y seams---but even beginning quilters have to learn to do Y seams!) and each block has an optional appliqued star or heart in the center. You can opt out of the applique because it's stitched to a finished pieced block.
Each monthly block includes a story taken from one of the great Civil War documents---Sarah Morgan's Confederate Girl's Diary, first published 100 years ago in 1913.
Do check out the first block on January 5, 2013. It'll be right here at this blog address.
If you want to start thinking about fabric: I'm going to focus on pinks and browns so you can go through your Civil War reproduction stash and pull out the double pinks and the madder browns---
I'm going to do it in new Metropolitan Fair prints
Look for the first block on the first Saturday of January.


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eBay Selling Manager is eBay's online sales management tool for medium to high volume sellers. Track and manage all your sales, right from My eBay! No download required. |
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Show which post-sales activities you've completed, and what you still have to do. Email and Feedback Templates: Customised email templates and stored feedback help you manage customers more efficiently. Bulk Relist: Relist multiple sold and unsold listings at once. Invoices and Postage Labels: Print labels and invoices directly from sales records. Download Sales History: Export your sales records to keep files on your computer. Bulk UPI File, track and manage multiple unpaid items. Bulk Feedback: Send feedback to multiple buyers at once. Selling Manager Pricing


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"I love all men and women. I am a lover of humanity, not a hater," Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson told a Bible study group Sunday in his first public comments following his suspension from the A&E reality show because of things he said to GQ magazine about homosexuality.
The U.K.'s Mail Online, which says one of its correspondents was given "exclusive access" to the West Monroe, La., Bible study group's meeting, adds that Robertson also said he "will not give or back off from my path."
A&E suspended Robertson from the highly rated show after comments from him such as these appeared in the GQ profile:
-- "It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man's anus. That's just me. I'm just thinking: There's more there! She's got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I'm saying? But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man. It's just not logical."
-- "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."
He also told GQ that when he was growing up in Louisiana in the days before the Civil Rights movement, "I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. ... Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues."
While organizations that advocate for gay rights have praised A&E's suspension of Robertson, many conservatives have come to his defense. And the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, which had said it would take Duck Dynasty merchandise off its shelves, has reversed that decision after receiving complaints from customers.
"When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers," Cracker Barrel said Sunday on its Facebook page. "Our intent was to avoid offending, but that's just what we've done. You told us we made a mistake. And, you weren't shy about it. You wrote, you called and you took to social media to express your thoughts and feelings. You flat out told us we were wrong. We listened. Today, we are putting all our Duck Dynasty products back in our stores. And, we apologize for offending you. We respect all individuals right to express their beliefs. We certainly did not mean to have anyone think different."
Related post on Monkey See: 'Duck' And Cover: What, Exactly, Is The Point?
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Rebecca Black Works To Overcome 'Friday' Infamy
"I'm definitely not some normal 13-year-old girl that barely anyone knows around school anymore," she proclaims.
"Well, you used to be," her mother, Georgina Kelly, gently reminds her.
The self-described "musical theater geek" from Anaheim, Calif., abandoned normalcy a month ago when her independent music video "Friday" became the one of the most popular – and parodied – songs on the Internet. The cheesy video and cheerful tune, anchored by Rebecca's nasally flat voice, was created for her by for-hire pop music producers Ark Music Factory.
While "Friday" has its fans, it has overwhelmingly more critics, and has been endlessly lampooned for its searing mediocrity. Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone wrote that the fascination "mainly comes down to its subpar production values, grating hooks and extraordinarily stupid lyrics," but noted that there's something "uniquely compelling" about it.
That's likely why "Friday" has garnered over 118 million YouTube views and sits at No. 64 on iTunes' single chart.
"People think I sound like a robot, and in that video, I do sound like a robot," Rebecca acknowledges while perched on a chair next to her mother in Pettus' backyard. "I don't want to be known as the 'Friday' girl. Hopefully, I can be known as Rebecca Black and not the 'Friday' girl. I want to be a performing artist. That's what I've always wanted to do."
Rebecca contends that being picked on in school prepared her for her role as YouTube court jester and that she only shed tears once over the massive critical onslaught. ("That was the only hour of tears," she insists.) If anything, she's more motivated than ever to prove the millions of naysayers wrong by turning her virtual infamy into an actual music career.
"I was bullied all the time in school," Rebecca says. "I don't know what was so different about me that made people want to pick on me. I thank those people because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here right now. I would probably still be sitting at home crying. I've dealt with that my whole life. I've learned to have a thick skin. I laugh at them now."
Rebecca's mother likens the $4,000 that she paid Ark to produce the song and video to what soccer moms spend on uniforms and shinguards. She never imagined that it would be anything more than a fun learning experience for her budding actress-singer daughter. No other ditty crafted by Ark for potential pop princesses has come close to the success of "Friday."
Unlike a record label, which backs signed artists, Ark is a one-stop shop for wannabe Mileys and Selenas. The Los Angeles-based music manufacturer, founded last year by producers Clarence Jey and Patrice Wilson, churn out a song, music video and access to their social network for a price.
When the YouTube views for "Friday" spiraled to 80,000 in one night, Rebecca's mother knew that her daughter's life as an average Orange County teenager had changed forever. She is clearly not the product of Disney or Nickelodeon, nor is she the daughter of a musician (both her parents are veterinarians). Kelly says she was totally unprepared for the attention.
"Once I realized that my daughter was going to be a celebrity, I knew this was going to be a time when I really needed to focus on completely being there for her 100 percent of the time," says Kelly, emanating only a slight hint of stage-motherness. "I have read and seen the unfortunate stories of so many children in the spotlight who have gone sideways."
Kelly is keen on keeping Rebecca in public school and scheduling her recording sessions and appearances around classes and homework. She's also still making her pick up her laundry off the floor. Rebecca says she wants to splurge on an iPhone once the money starts rolling in from "Friday" sales. Her old phone quit working after she was inundated with messages.
Rebecca's mother insists that her $4,000 entitled her daughter to total ownership of the song and video, and lawyers for both sides are now haggling over who owns the rights to everything associated with "Friday." In the meantime, Rebecca is moving on from "Friday" collaborator Ark with an entirely new entourage that includes a publicist, lawyer and manager.
"I want to see everyone's opinion of my actual voice," says Rebecca, who comes across in person as a cross between Lea Michele's character from "Glee" and Miley Cyrus. "I don't care if they love it. I don't care if they hate it." She pauses for a moment before continuing. "Well, I'd like it if they loved it, but I just want to hear their opinion."
After enlisting music manager Debra Baum to extend her 15 minutes of fame, Rebecca was paired with Pettus to produce a five-song album that will consist of a ballad, a mid-tempo song and three up-tempo tracks. Such a gamble for someone so viscously humiliated isn't completely unprecedented. "American Idol" reject William Hung had a record deal, after all.
The first step of Baum's plan for Rebecca is to unleash another catchy video and song, one relying less on Auto-Tune to prove that Rebecca can actually croon. One thing is certain: It won't be called "Saturday."
"People will be very surprised to hear her vocal capability," Baum says of the new song. "I think it speaks to her life. I think it will be a timeless piece of music, but it will certainly have a date stamp."
The ultimate goal is for Rebecca to secure a record deal. Baum says several labels have shown interest in working with the 13-year-old singer, but her team wants to take their time and find "the right scenario." Erik Bradley, music director for Chicago pop music station WBBM-FM, believes Rebecca can transcend her syrupy stigma if she has the right material.
"It's going to be monumentally challenging to overcome that, but I would not rule it out because crazier things have happened," Bradley says. "She's been lucky enough to have quite the springboard with 'Friday' but the vocals and production values of her new material need to be much better to actually be competitive with today's contemporary hits."
Baum, who has worked as a music supervisor on the teenage comedy films "A Cinderella Story" and "What a Girl Wants," says she's received hundreds of requests for Rebecca to perform "Friday" at bar mitzvahs, proms, graduations and other assorted events. However, Rebecca's focus is strictly on creating new music before she goes on summer break from school.
"There's no question in my mind that she will be successful," Baum attests. "I think she has a lot of passion and commitment for a young girl. Both of her parents have kept her grounded. It seems, from spending so much time with her over the past month, that she appreciates the attention, but she's unfazed by it. It's an interesting thing to watch."


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Brewista Artisan 1000ml Gooseneck Variable Temperature Kettle - Matte Black
Sale price
Dhs. 580.00
Regular price
- Ergonomic, comfort-grip handle
- Gooseneck spout for an easier, more controlled pour
- Electronic temperature control LCD panel
- Flash boil and keep warm settings
- 1.0 Liter capacity.
Mastering your morning coffee ritual starts with the Artisan Kettle. Brewista's intelligent, in-house design allows for to-the-degree temperature control for a perfectly brewed bean. Crafted with quality and precision, the Artisan is coveted by expert baristas across the globe and by coffee lovers craving a more elevated coffee experience.
Comfort and Style
The unique balanced handle design created by the Brewista's in-house design team gives you a full range of flow control and superior balance for a more precise brewing experience.
Control and Elegance
Designed to be functional and eye-catching, the Gooseneck Spout delivers a spill-free water flow control so you can perfectly unlock the flavor of your beans with slower or faster pours.
Simplicity and Accuracy
Complete control over your heat, for total control of your coffee. Our LCD console controls water temperature by increments of even 1 degree celcius to bring the best out of different roasts, grind sizes and even steeped teas.


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Recreational vehicles do more than just carry you from one place to another; they transport you with an eye toward maximum fun and/or comfort along the way. Just because some of these vehicles are associated with playtime, that doesn't mean they don't need the same insurance protection as any other piece of expensive property you own. In fact, they may need more insurance since they also create a potential for liabilities.
Liability Insurance for Recreational Vehicles
Your recreational vehicle is, just like an automobile, a moving vehicle that can cause bodily injury and property damage to others. In order to help pay for any damage you inadvertently inflict, you should secure liability insurance. This policy can also help cover the cost of environmental cleanup after an accident that causes the spillage of a toxic chemical or other pollutant.
Liability coverage will have limits that work on both a per-incident and per-policy basis. They may also have a deductible that requires an out-of-pocket contribution for each incident or year.
Property Coverage
After you've considered the potential liabilities you are exposed to while operating a recreational vehicle, it's time to secure coverage for the value of the vehicle itself. Recreational vehicle coverage can include financial compensation in the event of physical damage, vandalism, theft and collision. In addition, your policy may allow for reimbursement of personal effects stored on a vehicle such as an RV, boat or snowmobile.
In some cases, you may want to consider adding specialized coverage for additional risks including the loss or damage of awnings and custom equipment. If you have an RV that you live in part or full time, you may need extended protection so be sure to discuss that with your agent.
Home Get A Quote Speak with an Expert Customer Service Forms Make a Payment Frequently Asked Questions Refer a Friend
2002 Del Prado Blvd S, Suite 200 Cape Coral, FL 33990 PH: (239) 549-0221
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn
Stay up-to-date with the latest industry, community and agency news through our newscenter. We also provide handy hints on how to save on your insurance. Visit Our Newscenter


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06 May 2012
Gmail Lab features "Automatic Message Translation" and "Smart Mute" Graduated
Google has graduated (they are now part of Gmail) three lab features.
- Automatic Message Translation
- Title Tweaks
- Smart Mute
I like the "Automatic Message Translation" most :)
Other lab feature were less successful and have been retired:
- Old Snakey
- Mail Goggles
- Mouse Gestures
- Hide Unread Counts
- Move Icon Column
- Inbox Preview
- Custom Date Format
- SMS in Chat gadget (SMS is still working, but the lab feature has been removed).
Read the full story here.


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A quote from Barry Goldwater (1909-1998), patron saint of US political conservatives....
There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly.
The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both.
I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.'


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- grinded racing steel rails (30mm wide and 5mm thick) for very good cornering stability even in tight bends
- ergonomic seat shape due to round bars
- deep, adjustable upholstered seat
- flexible construction: Due to weight shift, pressure and pulling on the steel steering cable very light and precise steerable (rubber-bonded)
- Length: approx 105 cm
- Gauge: approx 38 cm
- Height: 21 cm
- Seat size: 30 x 32 cm
- Weight: approx 6 kg
- Skid tilt: 25°
Care & tuningmehr
Racing sizes
Made in Tyrol
Safe, ergonomic and with the best running and steering characteristics: for more than 130 years our family business has been producing sleds of the highest quality. This makes us one of the oldest toboggan and sledge builders in Austria.
Nature is close to our hearts - that's why our ash wood sledges comes from sustainable, Austrian forestry and is exclusively treated with natural varnishes.
> more
Repair service
Even the best tobogganing will sooner or later take its toll on the ravages of time. In our repair shop we will get your old or broken Kathrein sled in shape again.


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A soft and fluffy loosely spun pure wool yarn. We use a wool with a very long fiber length to make the yarn as durable as possible.
Naturgarn is the perfect opportunity for bringing out the really large needles - or hook. The yarn is perfect for chunky sweaters, scarfs and hats..
Naturgarn comes in 23 colours.


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Qty | |||
See our delivery and returns policy.
5 Litre - 24cm diam / 11cm high
8 Litre - 28cm diam / 13cm high
12.9 Litre - 32cm diam / 16cm high
22 Litre - 36cm diam / 22cm high
31 Litre - 40cm diam / 25cm high
GenWare Stainless Steel Cookware includes a superb range of high quality pots and pans suitable for induction, gas and electric cooking. It features sturdy riveted stay cool handles guaranteeing safe transportation, and is manufactured from high quality 18/4 stainless steel for immense durability making it ideal for any commercial kitchen and has a 10 year guarantee for total peace of mind. |
• Stainless Steel Cookware Suitable For Induction, Gas And Electric Cooking |
• 5mm Fully Encapsulated Aluminium Base |
• Strong Riveted Handles For Ultimate Security |
• High Quality 18/4 Stainless Steel Construction Provides Good Resistance To Staining And Maintains An Excellent Finish |
• Lids Sold Separately |
• Available In Additional Sizes |


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AIA AAJ Justice Facilities Call for Entries
WASHINGTON — The AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) invites all registered architects to submit projects that represent the state of the art in justice facility design including courts, detention/corrections, law enforcement, emergency operations and communication centers.
The Justice Facilities Review is a showcase of jury-selected projects viewed by administrators, architects, representatives of state and local jurisdictions, and others involved in the justice system. A jury of architects and justice facilities administrators will screen entries.
This year, a new category has been added entitled "Thought Leadership." Through this category, the AAJ hopes to elicit submissions for strategic or system-wide master plans, research studies, and prototype design proposals that further the profession in development of the most effective and innovative approaches to justice practice.
The AIA encourages architects to submit their design work for consideration. Award recipients will be recognized, and winning projects displayed, at the AIA 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition in Washington, D.C.
Submission Deadline: 4:59 p.m. EST, March 12, 2012
All entries and supporting materials must be submitted online. For full eligibility rules, judging criteria, and submission requirements or to submit project materials, visit:


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Miracle System 5.0 Icy + Miracle Mask
This bundle contains our Permanent Colour 5.0, Icy Blonde Shade Shot, Miracle Shot & the Miracle Mask.
The Miracle System: Discover 3 simple steps to reduce damage and minimise breakage in hair, whilst colouring with the ultimate home hair colour experience. Clinically proven to deliver stronger, shinier, healthier hair with 100% grey coverage. Rich in Vitamins B3 and B5 plus Omega 3 & 6, never compromise on condition again, with gentle ammonia-free permanent hair colour that cares.
The Miracle Mask: The Miracle Mask is packed with natural ingredients for your healthiest hair yet. The hair mask locks in hair colour, prevents fade, and maintains condition and shine for all shades and textures.
- 38% less colour fade
- 2.7 times stronger
- 62% less breakage
Pairs Well With
Josh Talks Miracle System
'I wanted to create a unique system that will transform your home hair colouring ritual and give you AMAZING results. My groundbreaking new technology delivers an in-hair conditioning treatment deep into the shaft of the hair, meaning for the first time, the more you colour your hair, the more you improve its condition.'


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top of page
Fri, Nov 30
|Village Inn Pizza Parlor
In The Blue Jazz Friday Night Jam
Come enjoy live jazz and a drink with In The Blue!
Registration is Closed
See other eventsTime & Location
Nov 30, 2018, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Village Inn Pizza Parlor, 2215 44th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508, USA
About the event
In The Blue set runs from 8-9pm.
Come chat with the band if you would like to sit in with us (this is not an open mic night), jazz musicians are welcome!
Jam session runs from 9:30-11pm.
Since 2016, In The Blue Jazz Ensemble has been building a reputation as a great local talent. Starting out creating music and playing gigs in the Detroit and Grand Rapids areas, In The Blue Jazz Ensemble provides exciting live music including everything from Jazz standards to Motown, Rock, and Funk.
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Welcome to A Trifle Small. I specialise in smaller scale dolls house miniatures for collectors. My online shop has a large selection of 1/24th scale and 1/48th scale miniatures, also known as half scale and quarter scale respectively. Start with the dolls house, decorate with wallpaper or tiles. Add lighting, and choose from many items of furniture and then add accessories for that finishing touch. Kits, ready made, hand made, luxury and economy for all tastes and budgets. I have recently introduced and hoping to expand on some 1/144th scale. If you're confused over the different scales? Take a look at my Which Scale? page for help and more information.
This website is Copyright © A Trifle Small 2018. All Rights Reserved.
Create An Online Store at ShopWired


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Title: Sweethearts
Author: Gemma Gilmore
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: January 29, 2018
Heat Level: 2 - Fade to Black Sex
Pairing: Female/Female
Length: 62600
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, YA, high school, friends to lovers, alcohol use, visual arts, coming out, teen pregnancy, coming of age, slow burn
When seventeen-year-old Ingrid Harper realizes she may not have the talent to pursue a scholarship for the most prestigious art school in Australia, she turns to pink hair dye as a distraction.
Her new hair captures the attention of a fellow art student, Kat, who introduces Ingrid to the LGBT clubbing scene, and although Ingrid enjoys partying with her new friend, she becomes caught up in confusion about her sexuality. Her fear is overwhelming—she can't think about anything else.
Until her best friend, Summer, reveals that she is pregnant.
As her best friend faces the realities of being pregnant at seventeen, Ingrid is shown the true definition of courage. It motivates her to come out about her sexuality—she likes girls. Only girls. Now she just has to work out what that means for the other areas of her life.
Gemma Gilmore © 2018
All Rights Reserved
Chapter One
I am desperately trying not to attract attention.
My arms are folded across my chest. My chin is tucked into my neck. I am leaning against the brick wall as I watch her sing. It takes every ounce of strength I have to keep my face still, hiding any expression that bubbles to the surface. Any reaction I have to her lilting voice is shoved down, adding to the pit in my stomach.
The younger students are sitting respectfully in their seats. They are still too naive to question the teachers when they are told they must be present. I know better than to think that this school performance is anything special to Amber Freeman. She's been singing since before she could walk, and although I am always the first viewer, her YouTube videos are gaining more and more popularity with every upload. This is just practice to her. A warm-up.
The spotlights are trained on her, and she throws her hands up whilst the climax of the song cascades from her talented lips. I let my eyes flicker shut and Amber's voice surrounds me, caressing my ears as she sings deeply. Her voice is crashing through me, tingling across the skin on my arms and seeping through my body, calming me.
My head has fallen back against the wall, and I remain frozen there as I listen to her sing. In this moment, nothing else matters. With my eyes closed, she's right next to me. Singing softly, untying the knot that's sunken deep into that pit in the bottom of my stomach.
"Ingrid? What the hell are you doing?" The voice that hisses right next to my ear jerks me out of my daydream.
I jump with shock and wrench my eyes open, tearing myself away from the peaceful moment. In front of me, my best friend Summer stands, her arms folded across her chest and her eyes wide in that you are busted expression.
"Jesus," I mutter. "I thought you had better things to do than sneak up on people. Way to give me a heart attack."
"I thought you had better things to do than stand here creepily at the back of the gym listening to Amber sing," Summer challenges me, an amused smile dancing across her full lips.
"You snuck up on me and you're calling me the creep?" I snort. "Come on, let's get out of here."
The quicker I can get Summer outside of this gym, the quicker I can shove away the fact that she caught me watching Amber's performance. We duck behind the last row of seating and out of the door in the corner of the room, swiftly ignoring the Emergency Exit Only sign. We've done this so many times now that it's like second nature.
Outside, the rain lashes against the building. The wind howls so loudly that I'm surprised no one noticed our little escape from the gymnasium—then again, they never do. For Summer, there's more to life than just sitting in a desk at school. Any chance my best friend has to escape the mundane restrictions of life is an opportunity she must take. She's never been the kind of girl to follow the traditional paths.
Then again, neither have I.
My thoughts still spin as we duck through the car park and head out to the tin shed at the back of the school. Summer knew exactly where to find me during Amber's performance. She knows that I watch Amber. While everyone else in our grade snuck off to make out in abandoned classrooms or smoke cigarettes behind the main building, I followed the crowd into the gymnasium with one intention.
Why did I need to watch her?
"I had a headache and the gym was dark." I shrug off Summer's curious stare as we take shelter under the tin roof. The rain really lashes down now, bouncing off the pavement and whipping through the trees. "It was better than watching you make out with Jackson for an hour straight."
My snide comment is low but, right now, I'll do anything to take the attention away from me.
"You had a headache, so you decided to listen to Amber sing?" Summer rolls her eyes at me. "Makes sense."
She fidgets with her oversized tartan scarf, staring out into the rain. Maybe I'm not the only one who is trying to avoid things today.
"You were in there too," I argue half-heartedly. "What's your obsession with her?"
This time, Summer does turn to me. "I'm obsessed?" She snorts. "Ingrid, honey, if I'm obsessed, then you're deranged."
"Then I'm deranged."
Summer rolls her eyes, signalling the end of that particular conversation. "Whatever. Your deeply disturbing issues are the least of my problems right now. Look, Ingrid, I think I'm going to have to take a test."
Red splotches gleam against Summer's pale cheeks, and I watch her carefully. She tugs on that scarf like it's strangling her.
"Like an STD test?"
"Are you stupid?" I know her voice is harsher than intended, and I brush it off with a blunt laugh. "A pregnancy test."
"Oh, for god's sake, here we go again. You and Jackson really need to invest in some efficient birth control because this I'm pregnant freak-out that you have every month is getting boring."
"Trust me, I know." Her tone is suddenly tense, and she blinks back emotion. "But right now, I'm pretty sure I have the devil's spawn growing inside of me, so I'm allowed to freak out. I'm two weeks late."
I raise my eyebrows. She's never been this late before. "Jackson is not the devil's spawn. You know he loves you. But I highly doubt you're pregnant. It's all the stress from thinking you're pregnant every month starting to get to you."
"Yeah, okay, whatever." She says, throwing her hands up in defeat. "I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I don't know what you're moping about—we got a free class and you got to watch Amber singing. It's a damn good day for Ingrid Harper right now."
"Listen, I really did just have a headache. I don't care about Amber's singing. And you and Jackson were quite obviously distracted. You didn't seem to have pregnancy on your mind during that public make-out session. Or maybe you did. Either way, I think it's a damn good day for both of us, don't you think?"
I know what Summer is doing. She is the ultimate denier of reality. More than that, she is aware that I will follow along with every topic change she throws at me. I get distracted easily, apparently.
Summer laughs, but the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. Distraction is inevitable right now, for both of us. These are not issues we should be faced with at seventeen years old. Summer's mother is getting married soon, so that's just one more thing to top off what I'm coining Summer's Distressing Summer.
We stand silently as the rain pours over the sides of the flimsy tin roof. Muddy water pools right to the edges of the door. It's mid-December. While politicians are throwing around the term climate change like it's currency, I stare at the pools of water near this emergency exit, wondering if our town has sufficient flood safety plans.
"Come over tonight," she murmurs. "Please, Ingrid."
"You're buying me McDonald's." I sigh in return. The truth is, I have my own things to worry about, whether Summer is pregnant or not. She's been with Jackson for three years—that's three years they have successfully been together and prevented pregnancy. It's not a possibility. It just isn't.
Summer is wild, just like her name. Her light-brown hair is constantly tangled, but her dominating blue eyes seem to distract everyone.
But today, she stares out at the grey sky and nervously chews at her lip, clutching that damn scarf so tightly that I know she's already certain about this pregnancy. More so than I've ever seen before. Her blue eyes don't seem so bright today.
"I heard Jackson was thinking about transferring to the art school. I didn't think that boy had an artistic bone in his body." I smirk, desperately trying to relax Summer. I don't know what to say when she's so shut off like this. My lie is smooth, slipping off my lips easily.
"Yeah, he does comics. I don't know, I guess they're funny."
"It's our last year of high school. Surely he's left it a bit late?" I frown in earnest now.
What Summer doesn't know is that I've known Jackson a lot longer than she has. I know that he's been wanting to do art since he started high school, but his military-driven father would never allow it—he's all about physical education, mathematics, and science. He used to drill that into Jackson every time I was around; none of this fairy fluff nonsense, he would say pointedly.
"Look, Ingrid, I don't really want to talk about Jackson right now," Summer snaps, finally releasing the titan grip on her checked scarf and running a frustrated hand through her frizzy hair.
"Do you even want me to stay tonight then?" I throw back. "I can't deal with you when you're being like this. Either let me in or let me go. I've got shit to do."
To my complete surprise, Summer snorts as she turns to face me. "Just shut up and come and sleep over at my house. I need your brutal honesty, but I also need you to do literally everything I say right now. You know I'd do the same for you."
I don't bother telling her that to be in her position, I'd actually have to get closer than two feet to a guy, but I think she already knows that.
"Look, I don't like that you called Jackson the devil before. I don't care if he's annoying sometimes, if you are…pregnant…it's definitely not the devil's spawn that could be growing inside of you. And that's all I'm going to say about that," I huff.
"Okay, I didn't know you were Jackson's number-one cheerleader, but whatever."
"Yeah, whatever."
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