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Lucie Loves... Hair // How to keep DIY red hair looking vibrant! My professional auburn colour revamp at Steven Carey Hair London [REVIEW]
It was only this weekend just gone that I realised where my penchant for having long red hair stems from. Said realisation dawned on me as I rewatched a Disney film – for the first time in what feels like 20 years or more. The Little Mermaid*.
*I also think this film has a lot of other things to answer for in my life...
- My belief that you should never screw over another woman and always speak up when you feel strongly about something! Never lose your voice!
- My love of buff bearded Mermen (Ariel's dad is a babe!) and tall dark swarthy types – Yes, I'm looking at you, Prince Eric...
- My recurring habit of trying to save people... usually those who don't wish to be saved.
- My decision to fly the family nest to pursue my dreams and a life in London...
- And my preference for brushing my hair with a fork. Ok, so that one is a joke! But my mum did once use a fork to brush her hair, before a school photo when she was tiny... hahahaha!
Anyway, those of you who have made the decision to join the red side – or are thinking of dyeing your hair red/ginger/auburn or copper – will know (read as: should know) that having red hair is not a low maintenance option.
Why did I want to dye my hair red in the first place?
Well... I first attempted to dye my brunette hair red as a bit of a statement. I remember travelling back from Leicester to The North, on a train to visit family. I was feeling a bit sad and a bit neglected by my then boyfriend. He'd gone off to Barcelona with work and was being quite uncommunicative, and therefore, the Needy Carrie in me surfaced.
I spotted a girl on the train with really vibrant copper hair and decided that was it! I was going red too! She looked fierce.
I bought a box dye and took it to my Nan's house, for her to do the DIY job for me. However, it being the first time I was dyeing it this colour (and me putting a red dye over the brown) made my hair turn a weird, cheap-looking plum colour. I HATED IT!
Back to the drawing board...
We managed to rectify it by lightening it a little with some other dye (it was too long ago now to remember exactly which one) but after that it was fine, and I would then colour it myself every 4-weeks or so at home with a box dye - usually a 7.4 copper shade of some description.
Here's my hair colour journey over the years – think I might be missing some pics of me as a blonde, but I will try and dig them out!
What I hadn't realised, after doing it myself for so many years – and dyeing my whole head each time, not just my roots... was that I was destroying the lengths and ends of it with the amount of peroxide that was in the product. If I'd known that doing this would eventually turn the ends of my hair to stringy elastic, I would have thought twice about dyeing my hair myself. The other knock on effect of dyeing your whole head each time is that your hair ends up getting lighter and lighter with each new application, and the rich red hue that you had originally achieved, no longer has any staying real power.
And then... fast-forward to Summer 2018, I received an email from a PR about Steven Carey Hair – a hair design and colour specialist salon based in Mayfair, London. I was curious to see what would happen to my hair colour if I opted for a professional dye job over a home one.
And so, on a glorious Friday afternoon last week, I took myself by tube to Oxford Circus and walked the short 4-minute journey over to meet Steven & Veronica at the salon. They've got a great a team of first-class colourists and stylists, so I felt in safe hands!
Veronica took her time to talk me through the colour options for my hair. She started off by listening to my current hair dilemma – its too fast-fading and colour-damaged, over-dyed ends, and then enquired as to what my preference was between orange-toned reds and blue-toned reds.
I always lean towards the warmer shades of red, as they complement my skin tone and eye colour better. Veronica mixed up a few different shades to get something close to the 7.5 I usually go for, and then explained that following my hair colour application, once washed, she would then add an additional vegetable dye over the top (mixing two shades together) to give it more depth and shine.
t felt utterly wonderful to be pampered by the Steven Carey Hair team. I was in the salon for around 4 hours in total, and was very well looked after. When it was time to finally see the Wella colour result, I was really happy. It looked more natural and ginger-biscuity than I could get with a box dye, and felt soo shiny!
I've washed it twice now myself and haven't noticed an drastic fading yet. Usually, the colour fades after 2-3 washes, when I dye it myself. So here's hoping that a professional colour not only is less harmful to my hair, but also has more staying power too. Another thing I've noticed is that my hair feels much more conditioned than when I do it myself. I think that may be down to the vegetable dye treatment.
Disclaimer: My hair treatment was complimentary, for the purpose of this review but all appreciative words and thoughts are my own.
To book an appointment at Steven Carey Hair yourself, head to www.stevencareyhair.co.uk


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180 Degree Resorts
180 Degree Resorts is a hidden treasure, the untold story of nature's best painting. In this Pink Winter, Kantatal brings the warmth of a beautiful and charming place with orchards of apples, peaches, plums, pears, apricots and more, Kanatal is the fruit basket of the Garhwal. Famous for its Himalayan fruits, this besides being an important cash crop lends themselves to enhance scenic charm of the area with their blossom and fruit laden trees, rich in colour and fragrance.

subset: commoncrawl


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To Let in Sandyford for £81 PPPWArrange a Viewing
*** No Admin fees or damage deposit, water rates included*** Student property available August 2019 at £81pppw.Great location access to local amenities as well access to Osborne road in Jesmond and access on foot to Newcastle and Northumbria Uni for viewings call acorn properties today on 0191 212 2020 and speak to the lettings team. Photos are library pictures of a similar property with the same landlord.
An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.


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Fake driving licences are apparently all the rage these days.
But they're not big or clever – and they certainly won't get you out of trouble if you're pulled over.Two police officers 'deliberately rammed' by Mercedes during drug stop
A driver in Norfolk found that out the hard way when they handed police a licence registered to Del Boy.
The realistic fake licence includes a photo of actor David Jason, who played the iconic character in Only Fools and Horses, and says the holder can only drive three-wheelers – a problem as they were in fact behind the wheel of a Renault Megane.
Norfolk Constabulary, who stopped the driver on the A47 Terrington St Clement, seized the car and said the licence 'wasn't produced in an attempt to deceive'.
A police Twitter account said: '#BonnetDeDouche everybody, not even this #Plonkers fake driving licence could stop their car being seized.
'Driver reported (no licence and no insurance) #A47 Terrington. #PotPourri.'
Last week, a woman from Milton Keynes mistakenly thought that producing a fake Homer Simpson licence would somehow get her out of trouble.
But when she was stopped in Buckinghamshire, the licence didn't work and her car was also seized.


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Spring vegetable frittata
- 300g (11 oz) new potatoes
- 100g (3½ oz) fresh peas, podded or frozen
- 100g (3½ oz) broad beans, podded and shelled or frozen
- 6 large free range eggs
- 3 tbsp mint, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 20g (¾ oz) unsalted butter
- 4 salad onions, thinly sliced
- 4 baby courgettes, sliced in half lengthways
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 100g (3½ oz) feta, crumbled
- Coarsely ground black pepper
- Cook the new potatoes in a pan of water for 12-15 minutes, until tender. Drain and, when cool, slice thinly.
- Cook the peas and broad beans in boiling water for 2 minutes (or 4-5 if from frozen) then drain and refresh under cold water.
- Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl with the mint, salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a 24cm non-stick frying pan. Add the courgettes cook for 1-2 minutes then add the potatoes, onions and garlic, cook for 3-4 minutes, until beginning brown. Stir in the peas and broad beans, keeping 10g of each for the salad.
- Preheat the grill. Pour the whisked egg over the vegetables and crumble over the feta, keeping 20g of feta for the salad. Cook over a gentle heat for 10-12 minutes until almost set. Transfer the pan to the grill and cook for 3-5 mins until the top is golden and cooked through.
- Place a plate or board over the top of the pan so that the frittata falls onto the plate. Slice into wedges and serve with the salad.
Time: 20 mins
Serves: 4-6
Nutrition: n/a
Serve with a side salad for a light meal, or cut into wedges and keep as a lunch alternative to sandwiches!
- Recipe courtesy of Jersey Royals
- For more great recipes see Yours Magazine, out every fortnight, on a Tuesday.


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Susan Squier received her education at Princeton University and Stanford University. She is Brill Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and English at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include: cultural studies of science and medicine; feminist theory; comics and medicine; disability studies and human-animal-object studies. Publications include: Babies in Bottles: Twentieth Century Visions of Reproductive Technology (1994); Playing Dolly: Technocultural Formations, Fantasies, and Fictions of Assisted Reproduction (1999); Communities of the Air: Radio Century, Radio Culture (Duke University Press, 2003), Liminal Lives: Imagining the Human at the Frontiers of Biomedicine (Duke University Press, 2004), Poultry Science, Chicken Culture: A Partial Alphabet (2011) and Graphic Medicine Manifesto.
With Dr. Ian Williams (UK) she co-edits the Penn State University Press book series, Graphic Medicine, which publishes scholarly studies of comics, as well as comics themselves, that enact and explore the experiences of health care, medicine, illness, and disability.
Squier has been Visiting Scholar at the Zentrum für Literatur- und Kulturforschung, Berlin, and at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (2014-15), scholar in residence at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Study and Conference Center (February-March 2001), Visiting Distinguished Fellow, LaTrobe University, Melbourne Australia (1992) and Fulbright Senior Research Scholar, Melbourne, Australia (1990-1991). In January 2014, Squier was Cecil and Ida Green Visiting Professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
REVIEWS and SHORT ARTICLES
Grants, Honors and Professional Activities
Editorial and Consulting Positions
In Press


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Organic Garlic Scapes
Organic Garlic Scapes
Garlic scapes are the edible flower stalks that emerge from hard-necked varieties of garlic. The scapes are fresh, tender and succulent delicacies that have a mild garlic flavor. Scapes can be eaten raw, grilled, pickled, roasted, or steamed. Cook them like you would asparagus. I like them sauteed with a little olive oil and salt. They are incredible—you'll love 'em!
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Album Spotlight: "Sex & Food" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
This week's Album Spotlight is brought to you by Unknown Mortal Orchestra. On April 6th UMO released their fourth record, Sex & Food; this album is a stellar development in the bands' staple psych-rock sound. Ruban Neilsen, front man and composer, toys with minimalist, bleak and altruistic sound and lyrics creates a refreshingly nuanced record. Neilsen definitely took some risks and boy does it pay off! Tune in on our live stream to catch a glimpse of of Sex & Food or click the link to check out "Hunnybee" just above!


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Just a quick reminder, please don't forget to attend the public meeting on Monday 23rd January, which will be held at Rushcroft Road School (behind the Stadium) …. Meeting will be from 7pm -9pm.
This will be your chance to object to the L&Q plans for Walthamstow Stadium and put your questions directly to the council and the planning officers.


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After a series of recent wind farm rejections, columnist David Lintern gives his take on what's next for wind energy and Scotland's wild places.
Wind energy is a hugely contentious issue, and it would be a mistake to assume that readers of this article will agree one way or another. What I'd like to do here is to try and take the temperature of the situation – take a brief look at what's happened historically, what's changed recently and what it might mean for the future. Inevitably that will be a snapshot. I will be honest about my own position and say why I have it. I'll also say why I think there's cause for celebration as well as continued concern.
First though, a little background. Using the latest GIS data, at least 601 windfarms have been built, or are in the construction, application or scoping process. There's a Highland Council list dated 2015 showing well over 1400 turbines. Both these figures are ball park, but it's little wonder that the visual impact of wind energy (places in Scotland from where turbines can be seen) has more than doubled between 2008 and 2013, to over 45%. Whatever your view on windfarms, until recently the march of industrial development across Scotland seemed unstoppable.
Then in 2015, things seemed to change, and quite dramatically. In July the huge Allt Duine proposal in the Monadliath was rejected. The Rannoch Moor proposal at Talladh a Bheithe was ruled as 'not competent' in October. Significant proposals near Ben Wyvis, Culachy, Glencassley, Sallachy, Bheinn Mhor and Tom nan Clach were all rejected in the last few months. Developers also withdrew the largest ever Angus proposal at Macritch Hill, south of the Cairngorm National Park, in January 2016. And in December 2015 the controversial Stronelairg decision was overturned by the Scottish Courts. More about that one later…
Has the wind changed? Two things in particular seem to have shifted in the renewable energy landscape. The first is the acknowledgment by the Scottish Government of a 'Wild Land Areas' (WLAs) Map in June 2014, which highlights 42 areas (about 1/5th of Scotland's land mass) that are considered deserving of protection from 'inappropriate and large scale' onshore wind developments. This isn't legislation as such – rather an advisory document for planners. The government recognised that Scotland's wild places contribute to the health, well-being and economic vitality of the country, although implementing all this is complex in practise. At this point, it's worth contextualising references to tourism and national identity against the background of the 2014 referendum, and Scottish land reform. It's also worth saying that this acknowledgment of Scotland's natural environment has taken campaigners well over a decade of research and advocacy to achieve.
The second shift is the changing subsidy structure for renewable energy. Subsidies may have been originally designed to assist startups, and level the playing field between fossil fuels and renewables, but were arguably later exploited by large landowners and energy companies as moneymaking schemes in themselves. However, following the 2015 General Election, the UK government bowed to pressure in England and pledged to end the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) subsidy scheme. There's currently a question mark over a newer subsidy scheme known as the 'Contract for Difference' (CfD). These are allocated by reverse auction on a periodical basis and we are between rounds at the moment. Against this background, some developers have cited uncertainty around subsidies as a reason for either pulling out of plans, or deciding not to appeal court rejections. It's likely to have played a role in the Talladh a' Bheithe and Macritch Hill decisions, if not more.
So, we'd be forgiven for thinking that 'subsidy farming' was at an end, and that all future wind developments would be subject to strict planning controls? It's not that simple…
According to the Scottish Government document 'Energy in Scotland 2015', there is currently 7.1GW of renewable energy operational north of the border, and under 0.5GW under construction. However, an additional 8.2GW has planning consent and is awaiting construction. That's more than the same amount of turbines as we already have on the hill, waiting to be built.
But surely, that won't be economical for the energy companies, because of the change in subsidies? Well, reports of the demise of subsidies may have been grossly overstated. Wind developments that are built and exporting to the grid are covered under ROC for their lifetime. But so are those that have planning consent, land rights and the offer of a grid connection. The phase out of this subsidy type is supposed to begin this year, a year earlier than planned, but isn't actually ending completely until around 2037. I've also heard concerns expressed privately that ROC may be reintroduced in some form in the future. The newer, CfD subsidy is being considered carefully, with some government think tanks currently considering whether the wording can be changed to avoid calling these payouts 'subsidies' altogether. The John Muir Trust (JMT) believes there is a chance they may still be used to finance projects on Scotland's islands.
The ever-increasing scale of these installations is also a factor. Turbines are now regularly 135m high, and are being planned in higher densities than before. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is concerned that the change in the nature of subsidies won't mean an end to new proposals, but rather an increase in size, and their more aggressive positioning in windier, more mountainous areas in order to drive profit and make these developments less reliant on government payouts.
The JMT also points out that most new developments are not required to pay 'full system costs'. Transmission is often excluded from direct company costs, making it more likely they can run at a profit without subsidies, especially if they are high volume installations like Stronelairg. It also makes those island developments, with lots of wind, fewer people to object but incredibly high transmission costs (which won't need to be paid by the developers themselves!) seem like a better bet…
Some may ask; if there are fewer subsidies, wind farms are running at a profit, and generating electricity, what is the problem?
Tilting at windmills
In a small way, I've been involved in the campaign to protect wild places against developments like these for about 6 years – radio shows, blogs, letter writing, fundraising walks, and working for a conservation organisation for a few years. It began as an emotional and probably quite selfish response. I wanted to protect what I loved doing, which was walking and backpacking in remote, elemental places. But the more I understood, the more I was convinced these industrial developments were doing way more harm than good.
Wind turbines are built predominantly in upland areas rich in peat, which is an amazing resource. I don't have figures for Scotland alone, but I do have them for the UK. Peatland, formed of slowly decomposing vegetation, covers about 12% of the UK, and when left undisturbed and undrained for development locks in 3 billion tonnes of carbon, the equivalent of the our total output of greenhouse gases for the next 21 years. It also provides 70% of the UK's clean water supply. The UK as a whole has about 13% of the global total resource, making our particular version of the stuff a uniquely rare habitat – Scotland's contribution is around 7-8% of the 13%. It supports hare's tail and deer grass, bog bean, bog myrtle and bog asphodel, heath milkwort, devil's bit scabious, nearly a 1000 sphagnum moss species, insectivorous plants such as sundews, butterworts and liverworts, raptors including merlin, golden eagle, peregrine and barn owl, smaller migrants, waders and other winged foragers like the twite, dunlin, greenshank and sandpiper, globally significant populations of golden plover and red throated diver, invertebrates like the large heath butterfly, mire pill beetle and the hairy canary fly, larger mammals like the mountain hare and red deer, and endangered populations of otter and wildcat.
These places are our equivalent of the rainforest – no more, no less. Not as exotic as the Amazon, maybe, but every bit as important and unique. Peatland offers similar levels of carbon sequestration, habitat for increasingly rare wildlife, and a water life support system necessary for human survival. It offers a local, nature based solution to climate change. But under development, which dries out the soil and releases the carbon, it can't provide any of these 'ecosystem services'.
I still believe categorically that it's important to have places we can roam, free from industrial development for our enjoyment and well being, but… this is not just about keeping the scenery 'pretty' for us humans. Throw in the fact that electricity from wind turbines can't be generated on demand, or stored, the trail of environmental destruction in China where the raw materials for the turbines are extracted, and that the access roads and transmission infrastructure creates a vast amount of damage in addition to the turbines themselves, and windfarms start to look very unsustainable indeed. As an ex Greenpeace supporter, I really would love to say otherwise. But in all honesty, I can't.
Under the media microscope?
When I set out to write this initially, I wanted to write a success story – about how small charities with the help of outdoors activists (online and otherwise), had prevailed over giant nature trashing corporations and sent them packing. Romantic of me, I know… but was it also naïve? I asked a few organisations how important they felt the wider communities support was in making a difference. Alongside the JMT and MCofS, I also spoke to Keep Rannoch Wild, and all remarked positively that outdoor activists had helped raise the profile of cases by spreading the word on social media. However, online whinging wasn't enough – the key thing was a call to action; asking online readers and followers to respond to official consultations and write letters to ministers and the press. My subjective impression is that our community has got a lot better at this over the last few years. Then again, so have those who support wind energy.
Because of how modern media works, digital noise about a certain issue might also help leverage support amongst other conservation bodies in an anecdotal way – say by applying pressure via Twitter – although given how well networked most these organisations are with each other, it's hard to argue this case very strongly. Certainly then, social media only has real traction in conjunction with the legal knowhow and professional advocacy of these bodies. After all, they have the volume – leafleting campaigns, and organised memberships to draw on. It's a partnership, with the outdoor community providing a 'random factor' that makes concern about inappropriate development awkwardly public, and therefore more difficult for government officials to ignore.
What next for Wind energy?
There's no doubt that there have been some significant changes, and local planners and government seem to more accepting of the fact that Wild Land is a valuable economic, cultural and natural resource – most recently demonstrated by the Highland Council's rejection of the Caplich scheme in Sutherland. This would not have happened without the campaigning work of organisations and individuals working to increased effect over the last decade or more. It shows what can be done. We've come a long way, but the future is, as always, an unknown land.
While the MCofS are happy with the recent direction of travel, they are concerned that new applications are still being submitted. In January 2016, new schemes were proposed for 90 turbines 132m high near Newcastleton and 40 turbines 150m high at Glen Dye, both in areas currently without turbines. In the meantime, both the JMT and MCofS are still involved in planning casework over multiple locations extending over many years. Even if brand new proposals stopped today, subsidies roll on for the existing and planned installations for another 15-20 years.
In the case of Stronelairg, the Scottish Government and SSE have recently decided to appeal against the outcome of a judicial review. The review had dismissed their application to build 67 turbines, on an area of land that was suspiciously removed from the Wild Land Areas Map shortly before its publication. Subsequently, the case was taken to court at great cost to the JMT and it's membership. Now, working alongside a private company, the government have chosen to challenge a legitimate court decision with taxpayers money…
The Wild Land Areas Map is now a recognised tool, but it still only exists as 'guidance' to planners, who are now required to show that their plans don't 'significantly impact' on these areas. It's a grey area, which can be exploited in the hands of developers. The JMT would prefer to see the positive value of Wild Land Areas recognised as part of Scottish planning policy, so that they are protected for their social, economic and natural value regardless of the type of development. It's not just about windfarms – it could be roads, pylons, other energy or property speculation that will be an issue for the future. Ideally, WLA's would be categorised as 'successful, sustainable places' in the same way as National Parks are.
Finally, it would be a mistake to think any of this was about nimbyism, climate change denial or even renewables per se. With friends like Donald Trump, we don't need enemies! All those who oppose wind turbines in wild places do so on the basis that they are badly sited, and cause more damage to the environment than they mitigate. For me, energy conservation and localised, off grid production is a much more efficient tool for empowering all of those who live in a place – be they animal, vegetable or human. Questioning wind power is not about being anti renewable; it's about being pro-environment.


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We've been on about this for ages now, smart appliances are not good and we've got lots of reasons to be skeptical about them, we've just been given another. Robotic vacuum cleaners might be spying on you in effect.
The story has unfolded in the USA where Reuters have reported that connected Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners have been collecting data and mapping owner's homes.
No big deal owe hear many people cry, what's the problem?
The problem is if that data about your home is sold to online shopping giants like Amazon, Google and so on to sell you more stuff and, they know the size of your home, how many rooms you have and so on.
iRobot who make the Roomba's don't seem to fussed about sharing this data either with Colin Angle the CEO of iRobot, saying "There's an entire ecosystem of things and services that the smart home can deliver once you have a rich map of the home that the user has allowed to be shared."
Now it's important to point out here that the data has to be "allowed" although there's no detail on whether that is shared by default or not.
But at any rate, we're pretty confident that owners of smart products really don't want all this intimate data "out there" being shared by huge corporations or, ending up in the hands of criminals. After all, if a map of the inside of your house can be that easily obtained, what else can?


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Designs that communicate
Yes, we are one among those few hundred web design companies but our designs are not.
Web Design engineers at D'Neers will make sure that the message of your company would be communicated to your target audience in the best possible way. It is all about striking a balance between textual content and visual representation and at D'Neers we do our R&D for every design we build based on the business requirement. Remember your website is viewed by your prospective so your website design should appeal to your target audience.
Web Design that interact
A best web design is just not about having a good looking web page, it is about building an interactive design. A design should interact with visitors who seek information from it. DNeers specialists in building websites that are highly interactive and responsive. Our designs are not just about creativity in using colors and style, it is about what the audience look for and getting the audience engage with the site to achieve the goal of the website. As a web design company we understand it is the users preferences that we should be beyond anybody else.
Designs that convert
After all websites are tools that should improve the business prospects and the brand image of a product, service or an organisation. Most website today convey a lot of message however they fail to convince the reader to convert into a prospect for the business. D'Neers designers are not just creative web design experts but they understand this marketing/sales concept of converting a visitor into a customer. Every design done at Digital Engineers design laboratory is built to convey and convert your prospects into leads.
Web Design Approach from DNeers
DNeers over the years of its global web design and development experience has built an unique approach using which we build websites that comply with industry best practices and at the same time they are futuristic. Our designs are unique and we do not replicate from our previous work, everything we build is a custom design. Our professional web design approach will help small businesses to leverage the best out of our cost effective solutions.
We gather our clients requirement through multiple interactions during and after our sales process. This knowledge is documented and thoroughly understood by our designers before we start building a design.
Our designers are well trained to research and understand a specific web design requirement. The dynamics of a design of a website will vary for every industry and even company. Our design experts take this into consideration while they start their design and development process.
Using robust tools and highly SEO compatible practices our designs are light weight yet has rich look and features. Take a look at our portfolio to understand our designs or call us.


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Review: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Xbox 360)/
XCOM. Sadly, it isn't a commonly known name nowadays, but this franchise is considered one of the best strategy games of all time. When I heard Firaxis took the challenge of recreating the 1994 cult classic for modern-day platforms, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. When release day came, I bought it without hesitation, and after countless campaigns and finally finishing the game on classic Ironman difficulty, I can easily say this one of 2012's best. This reboot not only retains the core concept of the original, it will also satisfy both hardcore fans of the old title as well as players new to the game. Firaxis has struck gold with this one.
Gameplay can be fun and stressful at the same time
The setting is simple. Earth gets invaded by extra-terrestrials and you are the commander of the XCOM project, a group organized to be the last form of defense against them. The game is turn-based strategy with gameplay having two parts – Base management and Squad management. Let's focus on managing your squad first.
During missions, you prepare and send out 4-6 units to respond to alien abductions, alien crash sites, and alien craft landings. Compared to the original, how you manage your squad in the field feels more simplified. You don't need a big tutorial to prep you for combat with this one. A simple tutorial mission covers all you need to take on the alien menace head on, but don't take the game too lightly. Strategy is greatly required since positioning is everything in this game. The angle of cover for your unit determines how protected you are from enemy fire, and getting hit is no joke (especially early on). It mostly leads to certain death when a hit connects. Since every shot is based on a certain percentage, it can be a bit frustrating, but at the same time rewarding, especially with those 20% hit rate shots that turn the tide of the mission. This game requires patience, and really tests you on that front.
As units rack up the kills, they earn experience and eventually get promoted. Rookies that get the promotion randomly turn into one of the four classes in the game; Sniper, Support, Heavy, Assault. Each class has its own skill tree, with skills that give them an edge in battle. As they rise up in the ranks, you are allowed to pick either one of the two skills in that promotion. Each side of the tree provides a different take in class. For example – Some skills on the left of the sniper tree make the soldier more effective with a pistol. While it does look simple at first glance, you are still left thinking hard on what would benefit your squad as a whole.
When units die, they are gone for good, along with all that experience the soldier earned. It can be heartbreaking to see your assault class shottie with 30 kills die in front of you. Since death is permanent, you tend to tread carefully. You grow attached to some of the units as you go from mission to mission, and your performance when losing one experienced unit makes a big impact, especially later in the game. Units dying can sometimes also affect nearby units in a hilarious way. Units with little willpower can panic after seeing a squadmate die, which makes him randomly do stupid stuff on his next turn like shoot another squaddie, or even walk out of cover to get taken out by an alien on overwatch.
Missions can either go really smoothly, or out of control really fast. That's thanks to the amazing AI. Depending on the situation they are in, you see aliens fleeing from their cover if it's dangerous to stick around, or use their abilities in key moments that make you really think about your next move. They can even flank you and wait for you to be impatient.
Before any mission, you are given the chance to sort out your unit's loadout and appearance. Again, it's simplified compared to the original game. You get to customize the unit's primary weapon, secondary weapon, armour, and a utility slot, which lets the unit carry one grenade or one med kit. At first, I was bothered that I wasn't able to carry more grenades like the old game, but this change provided challenging decisions during missions. Should I throw a grenade at the Sectoid applying mind flay, or save it for when I see a group of them bunched up? It made those items so valuable in missions that you sometimes regret using them when you need it the most.
When you start a mission, all the aliens are hidden, so you need find them while simultaneously strategically positioning yourself. When you find a group, they are given free time to get into cover, which mostly eliminates the chance for an ambush. That was one of my biggest gripes on the combat. No matter what, they get a chance to get into cover. For us? We don't get that luxury. Get ready to be flanked. Most missions task you with killing all the aliens in the map, but every once in a while you are given different objectives like escort missions, bomb defusal, and terror missions where you need to rescue civilians. The amount of tasks to keep the missions fresh is enough, but the number of maps is lacking. You will do tons of missions, and you will quickly notice maps used over and over again with the same starting point.
But the maps are well-developed. Building walls, cover, and almost anything else on the map can be damaged or completely destroyed, which opens up new opportunities for attacks and strategies. The hit chance of that alien too low? Throw a grenade and watch his cover crumble. The environment can also be affected by missed shots. I've experienced awkward situations such as ending up with no cover at all for one of my units, thanks to a missed shot by my sniper. The game always surprises you with moments like those, especially when you miss a rocket shot, which doesn't make sense when it happens.
The pressure of being an XCOM commander
Now to base management. This is where everything happens when you're not on a mission. After a successfully mission, all the damaged alien equipment, parts, and corpses are brought along with your squad as they head home. These items are required so that your research team can develop new equipment and technology. Then, with the help of the engineering bay and a few credits, you will have the new gear ready for use. Since the base is located underground, it's presented in an antfarm-like overview which is quite nice, but hardly appreciated. There's so much to be done when in the base. It's quite easy to manage and understand what needs to be done, but things can go spiralling out of control if you don't pay attention. Everything is up to you on what you consider the highest priority since only one research or construction can be done at a time. It usually takes days for upgrades and research to finish, so while waiting, you can scan with XCOM's geoscape for alien activity, which is pretty much where you find missions to do.
Another aspect to manage is your interceptors and satellites. Satellites are used to scan for alien activity in that country and earn extra funds per month, while interceptors protect satellites and shoot down alien UFOs. During the early stages, shooting down UFOs is easy stuff, but just like everything else in the game, it gets harder later on, so upgrading your planes is another thing to consider. A small mini-game occurs when dispatching planes to take down a UFO craft, and when you successfully take it down, it's time to send your squad.
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the XCOM project is being funded by leading countries around the world. If you have 7 countries that cut their funding, it's game over. Yes, you can lose the fight against the aliens if you don't get enough support. So you become a babysitter to these countries. But missions like the abductions happen in multiple countries all at once, so it's not an easy task to keep them all happy. Not assist a country enough and you will see them cut their funding in the next XCOM monthly report. You will lose countries, but you are left in a position to decide what's best as you move forward. The base management is as strategic as ever, which shows that Firaxis was definitely the perfect choice for a game like this. Sadly, the reboot only has one base to manage, whereas in the original you were allowed to make multiple bases.
Playing the game will lead to different outcomes every time. Each campaign turns out different thanks to the many decisions that shape your game, which gives a strong replay value. If you want the perfect XCOM experience, Firaxis included Ironman mode, which disables your ability to save the game. The game pretty much saves the game for you in one file, and you are forced to live with whatever has happened in your campaign. No more loading to save a squad member. To really appreciate the game, turning on Ironman mode is the way to go, but not everybody would be keen about the idea, so it's good to see it as just an option.
It isn't the smoothest game though. Playing it on the Xbox 360, I've experienced many bugs. Most of the bugs I've encountered are during missions. One example is after taking a shot, the game locks up and doesn't go to the next unit, forcing me to exit the game or reset (happened three times).
The character models and animations are nothing to brag about, but the tone of the environment and soundtrack is spot on. The feeling as if something, or someone is out there is greatly captured on each map in the game. Aliens hidden can still be heard when moving around the map, and the sounds they make are quite distinctive for each alien type.
I played XCOM: Enemy Unknown on the Xbox 360. It's clear that the PC version is the ideal platform, but I chose a console version since this is the first time XCOM will be hitting consoles. I needed to see the difference in controls. To my surprise, playing XCOM with a controller is as easy as playing it with a keyboard and mouse. It's quite user-friendly and I had no problems with it at all when playing it. Firaxis did a good job at making this strategy game very friendly to console controllers. Everything is smooth and easy to access, even when you are maintaining your base. If you are planning to get the game on a console, the controls won't be an issue.
Multiplayer mode, who needs it?
XCOM: Enemy Unknown actually comes with multiplayer, but don't get all excited. It's quite simple really. You fight against another player, and the first guy to lose all their units loses. There's no base building or anything. It's just a mission against another player. You are given a point budget, where you can spend in order to create your squad for the match. Each unit costs a certain amount depending on how strong they are. The multiplayer is quite disappointing really if you compare it against what the single player brings. The only good thing about playing multiplayer is that you get to control the alien units as well and make interesting strategies with human squad soldiers and aliens to win. But the online is quite laggy and very unbalanced. You might get a kick out of it after a few matches, but it will grow old pretty fast.
Firaxis has done it. A game that has stayed true to its roots, and at the same time revived a franchise that's still loved by many players around the world. Fans of the old game might not appreciate some of the changes to the game, but most of what made the game so appealing is still intact. At the same time, the game is simple enough that any player unfamiliar with the series can pick it up with ease. XCOM: Enemy Unknown lets you make hard choices that have painful consequences at times, but the feeling when you succeed after all of that makes it even more satisfying. A successful reboot that I find myself coming back to every now and then, just like I did with the original.
Score: 90/100
- A great reboot of the 1994 XCOM classic
- Addicting gameplay
- The difficulty of the game is welcomed
- Ironman mode
- Can be quite buggy during missions
- Not enough maps in the game, maps get reused a lot
- Story is easily forgettable


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Just Walk to Jerusalem/
One of St Brides' congregation, Lynn McAllister, took part in Amos Trust's Just Walk to Jerusalem this year, in which a group of people walked from London to Jerusalem to apologise for the consequences of the Balfour Declaration for the Palestinians. You can view a short video of the last stages of this journey using the link below:
If you would like to hear more about Lynn's experiences, please contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com. She would be happy to give a presentation
Lynn did the walk in two stages and the following is the talk Lynn gave at St Brides on 15th October.
1. Why the Pilgrimage
For me, the desire to do a pilgrimage went back a few years, the appeal being to step out of the general busyness of life, clear a space, and through that, deepen my awareness of God. Then towards the end of last year I came across Amos Trust's idea of Just Walk to Jerusalem, which had as its basis 3 principles:
Solidarity: Walk as an act of solidarity with Palestinians who do not have freedom of movement.
This was made clear at the launch event when a Palestinian speaker from Gaza was moved by what we were doing but also very saddened by the fact that he couldn't join us, because he wouldn't be allowed into parts of his homeland.
Peace: Walk with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists on the long road to peace and justice.
I feel like I was doing that symbolically, but when I go back on Friday, I will be actually doing it.
And Penance: Walk as an act of penance for Britain's 100 year-long failure to ensure Palestinian rights.
So, for me, having been involved with Palestinian solidarity for a number of years, it was an ideal opportunity, combining cause with personal.
Even so two days before I was due to go I wrote in my journal: 'I am beginning to feel nervous about the trip, getting lots of tummy butterflies. Thinking why did I get myself into this? Why am I leaving my safe, secure, comfort zone?'
But of course that is the very point. To quote a fellow companion.
"To be a pilgrim is to be on a path of adventure, to move out of our old comfort zones of certainty and to learn to be comfortable with uncertainty, with surprises and with the unpredictable"
2. Starting Out
It wasn't an easy start. I got the train down to London on the Saturday, attended the launch event & then at 5pm did an 18 ½ mile walk to our first destination. That was gruelling. For the first few days my mind felt scattered, I emptied & repacked my whole backpack at each accommodation, trying to think which bit of my backpack have I put this in, where did I put that, what's the best way to arrange my belongings? On the third morning I discovered I had lost 2 pairs of trousers and to this day do not know how that happened, but I was really agitated about it, I'd packed carefully for the journey & now I hadn't got what I needed, and on top of that 1 of the pairs of trousers were what Linda had kindly lent me, but Linda was very gracious about it.
But after a few days I got into a routine and got it so what I needed was accessible and then just unpacked the top layer. Our days also began to follow a regular pattern which was turn up for breakfast, pack day pack, large backpack on the van, say the morning liturgy, walk, have a picnic lunch, walk, check in to the accommodation, sign into wi-fi, rest, shower, wash clothes for the next day, go for an evening meal, sleep. So in many ways pilgrimage is quite mundane.
But each morning began with the liturgy, and also one of the group would do a short reflection. One of these reflections included a quote from RS Thomas's poem 'Somewhere', which said 'the point of travelling is not to arrive, but to return home laden with pollen you shall work up into the honey the mind feeds on'.
And looking back over the over the 12 weeks of walking, I did collect a lot of pollen. There was so much I experienced, learnt, encountered, too much to talk about today, and it's been difficult choosing what to include, but hopefully this morning I can give you a flavour of what was very much my personal experience of pilgrimage.
3. Silence and Companionship
As well as the daily morning liturgy, probably on average once a week, we would have a silent hour of walking, normally after lunch. We would repeat the liturgy, but just leave the last 2 lines to break the silence at the end. I loved the silent hours. I normally find in prolonged periods of silence or meditation that my body gets all twitchy and it's just hard to do. But in having the body taken care of through the rhythmic movement of walking this helped me focus and still the mind and become more aware of my walking, my surroundings, the smells and the sounds. And the fact that the whole group was intentionally silent, even though we were still walking alongside each other was very powerful.
But it wasn't only the silent moments that were precious. Talking to people was also. And there was the time to really listen to people without time constraints, hours every day to hear other people's stories, thoughts, insights, ramblings even. There was no rush so it was easy to be patient with people, no need to be thinking 'will you just get to the point' and I felt able and privileged to just be in the present moment.
It felt like being given the gift of time, not something to be under-estimated.
4. Refreshing Places of Worship
Places of worship whether in SE England, France or Italy played a significant part on the pilgrimage. Nearly all the churches we passed were open and often it was just us there. On one of these occasions Naomi spontaneously started singing quietly Ubi Caritas and slowly we all joined in, that was a special moment.
There were occasions when we had cathedrals to ourselves, like when our small group said the liturgy in Reims cathedral one early morning, it was awe-inspiring.
Churches, big and small, were a real time of refreshment, both physically and spiritually. Places to stop and be silent, but we also appreciated the coolness of the buildings as they provided such respite from the heat and also they were places where we could just sit down, take off our walking shoes and give the feet a rest.
I copied down the following words from 1 of these churches in Lentilles in France
If you come from here or elsewhere,
Whatever the country you come from,
Welcome in this church!
This church could be a place to rest, discover, meditate, or gather yourself!
This church could also simply be a step in your pilgrimage, where you can relieve joys and pains
This place is yours!
I thought what a great invitation.
One Sunday we were walking through a largish town in Italy (Bellgioioso) and a mass was taking place. The church was in the busy, main square where there were lots of people sat in cafes but the doors of the church were open (possibly because of the heat), and it felt like the church was part of and not separate from. The sounds of the congregation chanting Alleluias wafted into the busyness, it was really moving.
5. Hospitality
Over and over again I, and the rest of the group, were on the receiving end of generous hospitality, people going out of their way to bring us some comfort, whether it was to open up their garden, set up tables for us to eat off, provide shelter, bring us drinks or food. Which is why I chose the reading I did – though to me they were the angels. One abiding thing I will bring home is the many, many occasions of the unsolicited and unexpected kindnesses of people along the way.
Some were quite amusing, like the lady in a small village who must have seen us walking down the road towards her house, at 7am one Sunday morning, and she came out in her nightie and asked if we wanted her to unlock the church to look around. So out she came, still in her nightie and opened up.
Then there was the man in his towelling dressing gown who called to us from his first floor balcony – we were sitting on the edge of a fountain eating lunch. He asked if we wanted use the toilet and when 2 of us said yes we would, he pointed to a building so we thought ok that's nice of him to point it out, it wasn't an obvious toilet, but then he reappeared on the balcony with a key and threw it down because you needed a key to get into the public toilet. It might not sound like much, but things that catered to our basic needs were very important and much appreciated.
One afternoon, on one of the particularly hot days most of us were almost out of water, and what we did have was very warm. We'd passed a number of cafes that were closed. We were walking on a ridge at the back of the village when we passed a small lodging. A man leaned out of the window and asked if I wanted a tea or a coffee. Unfortunately we couldn't stop at this point, so I said No thanks, but I'd love some water – he filled my plastic bottle with freezing cold water from his fridge, it was unbelievably refreshing. The rest of the group followed and he filled up everyone's bottle. It felt like the cafes we'd seen from a distance, but were then closed were like mirages and the man was like our oasis in the desert.
Another time we'd just arrived in Bologna and were resting on the steps of San Paulo church and out of the blue a man appeared with a tray of 11 beakers of cold cola. There were 11 of us so he'd clearly counted us, come from the café just over the road and then offered the tray round without saying anything. Again, as well as being physically refreshed, I was moved by this simple, thoughtful, heart-warming act of care.
6. Closing Thoughts
It's timely that I've been able to share today because I am going back this Friday to rejoin the walkers and the plan is to be in Jerusalem, in St George's cathedral, on 2nd November. These last two weeks will be very different, as we walk with local peace activists in the West Bank. I believe a visit to Banksie's Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem is also planned.
But back to the walking I've already done, I think though the following words (which aren't mine) capture my own experience of pilgrimage:
The path that a pilgrim treads has a history and a spirit. Along its way, there are points…. a church, a town square, a hilltop, a beautiful point…… and there are moments…. a person looking up and smiling, a salute from a complete stranger, a chance encounter, a moment of serendipity or synchronicity, or a moment of hospitality, kindness, or generosity. The path joins these points, and moments, giving opportunities to pray, and think, and immerse oneself in the spirituality of the place…. or the moment…. or of the progression from one place to another.


text:
León did not impress. Perhaps it was just the indifferent receptionist at our hotel, a mediocre dinner after pigeons dive bombed us while we were trying to have a drink, or just the fact we didn't take the time to look around. But for me, León looked like just another city.
Perhaps the most interesting sight was walking by a "Jacotrans" minivan. Jacotrans is the company that moves my backpack each day and they seem well organized.
A good part of the morning was spent walking through towns on the outskirts of León.
At s bar we stopped at for late breakfast/early lunch, we ran into two German gals we had met our first night on pilgrimage at Ortison (don't know their names). They seemed delighted to discover we were still on the Camino.
I discovered afterwards from John their "delight" was probably caused by their surprise I was still making a go of it. A significant (not sure of the exact number) percentage of people who start in St. Jean end up dropping out for various reasons, and apparently that first night at Orrison I was at the top of most people's Least Likely to Succeed list.
One thing I haven't mentioned before are the various statues and other small tributes to Camino pilgrims you find along the way as you walk. So I took a picture of one.
Around noon we got back out into the country.
We took our time, partially because John sensed a little stiffness in his lower left leg. Some of the places we stopped were beautiful and we enjoyed just being.
Around 4:00 we arrived at the town we would be staying in, Villar de Mazarife. We are in a small private room at an Albergue, which is the name given to places that rent bunk beds for the night. This means we will be joining a bunch of other pilgrims for both dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow. I am looking forward to the experience.
Blessings to all. Thanks for the prayers. I feel great.


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Lona is the Founder and Director of Princeton Center for DBT and Counseling and a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™. She has extensive training and clinical experience in providing DBT therapy as well as other cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness-based psychotherapies. She is intensively trained in DBT and has participated on DBT treatment teams since 2006, and as a DBT Team Leader since 2010. In addition, she has completed advanced training in EMDR and works with individuals with developmental trauma and PTSD; and has completed Level 2 training in the Gottman method for Marriage and Couples Therapy. A graduate of Rutgers University School of Social Work, Lona has been counseling individuals, couples, and families since 2006 and has extensive experience as a group facilitator. Lona is also a NJ State Board of Social Work Examiners approved clinical social work supervisor. Her second love is teaching and training and she has done so in a variety of settings including in clinical practice, as a workshop presenter at professional conferences, as a university guest lecturer, and by providing on-site trainings to various agencies, hospital-based, and continuing education programs. Prior to clinical practice Lona worked for 10 years as a consultant to health and human services organizations developing, implementing, and monitoring social service programs for government and non-profit organizations.
Heather has completed the Foundational Training for DBT, as well as other trainings in the model through Behavioral Tech. She is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Social Work and has practiced clinically since 2005 with multiple populations throughout Mercer County (NJ). Heather has worked with individuals who suffer from depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, personality disorders, substance abuse, and relationship problems in ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse settings. Through her work in various non-profit organizations, Heather provided family and individual counseling and case management services. She also has training in end-of-life care and the facilitation of bereavement groups, which is augmented by her experience working in hospice care where she aided clients from all walks of life. Heather is trained as a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor and is certified as a School Social Worker.
Jennifer has completed foundational DBT training with Treatment Implementation Collaborative. She is a graduate of the Counseling Program at Montclair State University. Her experience includes counseling children, teens, adults, couples, and families dealing with a wide range of social and emotional challenges. Jennifer works with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, self-harm, gender/sexuality issues, and life transitions. She offers clients a person-centered perspective that is grounded in accessible behavioral techniques. Her educational background includes a PhD in English. As a former professor she incorporates her expertise in teaching skills and concepts into her work as a DBT Therapist and Skills Trainer.
Siobhan has completed DBT Training through Behavioral Tech. She is a graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the College of New Jersey. She has a passion for working with adults and adolescents transitioning into various life stages. Siobhan has extensive experience working in the Princeton University Office of Disability Services helping students and their parents navigate college life as they struggled with various challenges. She is familiar with the complexity of these transitions and the strain they place on students and their families particularly when there are challenges of mental health, learning and cultural assimilation. Siobhan has also worked in outpatient substance abuse programs with adults of all ages. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and a Board Certified member of the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Lona Stranieri, LCSW
Lona is a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™
609-921-0020 or 609-468-1712
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
213 Commons Way, Princeton NJ 08540
2018 All Rights Reserved DBT Center of Princeton


text:
Yo, was geht ab!?!?
Max here,
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Because I am coming to you today with a BRAND NEW VID to arm you with an arsenal of tactics to charm, influence and dominate her peer group so that they are actively pushing her into your arms.
In this 20-minute value blast I will go DEEP into the underlying dynamics of the female friend group and give you my mastery-level insights on:
- Approaching the girl vs. the group
- The DEFAULT frame you are put in and how to PROVE the group WRONG
- Acknowledging the friends and keeping them engaged
- Creating a "bubble phase"
- How to make her feel like she is WINNING and NOT feel like a slut
So, watch the vid NOW and prepare for the next time you have to duke-it-out with unhappy Susan to get the girl you are after!
Remember this, tattoo it in your mind for the rest of your days…
Who decides if you and your girl get to go home together? HER FRIENDS DO.
It is YOUR responsibility to make them understand you are a cool guy, and once they do, the game becomes EASY.
– Max
P.S. Want to get mentored by me and my team PERSONALLY over the next 8 WEEKS?
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text:
Neill Blomkamp's CHAPPiE
Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald
CHAPPIE could have veered its recognizable elements in the direction of a more conventional film like the recent Robocop remake, or it could have gone down the path of dystopian gravitas like Automata. Instead it combines these elements (lone inventor, industrial corruption, dystopian crime infested future, sentient machines, explosive combat sequences) into a rather bizarre and somewhat foreign exploration of what happens when a machine falls into the wrong hands and is "raised" to be part of an unlikely criminal "family."
About half way through I thought that what I was seeing, despite all the fantastic CGI and references to current and near-future technology, was a 1940s era pulp science fiction novel about robots gone awry. Fortunately Chappie veers off in some interesting directions that place it outside the mainstream of overly sentimentalized Hollywood films. It ends up daring to combine all-too-familiar themes with a raft of human characters that consistently make stupid decisions and do stupid things.
This is certainly not the film I saw advertised when it was first released. Back then I thought that the movie was going to be an overly sentimentalized film about a young robot being taught — in an almost cute fashion — to be "human." Instead, that story (and that story is in there somewhere) is portrayed in the context of a South African crime-infested urban nightmare more on a par with Dredd than more conventional SF fare.
It's not perfect and it does in many aspects lack originality. But the total package is different and occasionally weird enough to warrant attention.
Review copyright (c) 2016 by Dennis D. McDonald


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