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The road to becoming a Sea Gal
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There's an old saying coaches use to describe an NFL season: It's a marathon, not a sprint. The same could be said for becoming a Sea Gal. The members of the Seahawks dance team don't just show up on game days and strut their stuff. Far from it.
Before the finals, there are auditions. And before the auditions, there are workshops. The marathon process is about to begin, again, as Sea Gals director Sherri Thompson oversees a process that will begin March 24 and conclude with the finals on May 6.
"You have to be serious about it and do all the necessary things to prepare," said Sea Gal Laura, who has made the squad the past two years and is preparing to try out for a third time.
"I am really excited about auditions. It is nerve wracking being on the other side, now that I've been on the squad. Now, it's not, 'I hope I make it.' Although obviously I hope I make it. But it's more, 'Oh my goodness, I would hate to miss out on what an amazing opportunity this is to be with such great women.'
"It's so much more than just dancing on Sundays. Obviously, that's my favorite part. But I feel I've really grown as a person being on the squad."
As a returning member, Laura does not have to participate in the preliminary auditions – just the finals. But she is planning to take part in the workshops for the third consecutive year.
"In order to be confident throughout the audition process, if you can plan as much as you can that totally helps," said Laura, 23, who is from Renton, went to Kentridge High School and now works as an executive assistant at a wealth management firm in Kirkland.
"Going to all the workshops and getting a feel for the style of dance that Sea Gal use is definitely something that will help through the audition process. And being able to come up with choreography on your own is really helpful, especially for the preliminary round of auditions." Read
|The Road to becoming at Sea Gal
Want to be a member of the 2012 Sea Gals? It's a multi-stop destination:
Open Workshops: Saturday-Sunday, March 24-25, Gold's Gym in Issaquah, 3-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 1, Gold's Gym in Redmond, 3-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 15, Gold's Gym in Issaquah, 3-4:30 p.m.
Intensive workshops: Saturday, March 31, VMAC, noon-3 p.m.; Saturday, April 7, VMAC, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Audiiton schedule(all at CenturyLink Event Center): Sunday, April 22, 11 a.m.; Sunday, April 29, 1 p.m.; Friday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 6, 5 p.m.
For additional details: click here Read
And speaking of marathon efforts, the first year Laura decided to try out for the squad she was a senior at Washington State University and completing her degree in psychology.
"I was planning all year to audition, so when the dates posted for auditioning I made the necessary plans to come over," she said. "It was a lot of driving back and forth from Pullman. So if you ever need directions, I'm the girl."
But it was extra work – and miles – that were well worth the effort.
"The more workshops they do, the better it is for them," said Thompson, a former Sea Gal (1981-83) and choreographer (1984-86) who is now in his 26th year as the director.
Asked about the stress of the process, Laura offered, "I wouldn't say it's stressful, it's just really exciting. In talking to people who play other sports and things like that, you just really have to commit and you really have to be passionate about what you're doing.
"I've always been so passionate about dance and, having grown up in the Seattle area, I've always been passionate about the Seahawks. So if you have those two things, regardless of all of the other things that go into it, it almost makes it fun."
If there's an upside to all this effort put in by the participants, it's that Thompson has a pretty good feel for who will be on the squad by the time the finals roll around. Or so it would seem.
"Yes I do, but there are always a handful of surprises – people that I thought for sure would make it, and then it just didn't turn out in finals; and then all of a sudden there are those who bring it that night," Thompson said.
"It always sets me back a little bit. I always walk away that finals night going, 'Hmm. Thought I had it all figured out."
But one thing rarely changes: To the hardest workers usually go spots on the 24-32 member squad.
"All that training works," Thompson said. "But there are always surprises like that." Read
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Things to do in Cairns Exploring the best of both worlds…
Your first day you will be heading to the Outer Great Barrier Reef onboard our fast catamaran "Reef Experience".
Enjoying a more personalised, private and relaxed day as you begin your day in style in the exclusive Captains' Wheelhouse Top Deck Lounge" to our first pristine Outer Great Barrier Reef Location.
From the moment you board until you wave goodbye, you can relax in the knowledge that all of your needs are taken care of.
On day two you will explore the oldest living tropical rainforest in the world on your second tour from Cairns.
Visiting locations such as Mossman Gorge, the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, enjoying the view from spectacular look outs, spotting crocodiles on the Daintree River, and native wildlife throughout the day.
All aboard a luxury vehicle, in a small group with a friendly, very knowledgeable guide who will explain our unique flora and fauna.
(minimum 2 passengers per booking required)
Day 1 your Top Deck Reef Experience
Discover the Natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with your Personal Valet caring for you in and out of the water!
Reef Experience Top Deck Inclusions
- Your own Personal Valet assigned to you for the day
- Personalised snorkel guide
- Personalised guided introductory or certified Scuba Dive (subject to medical conditions)
- Access to the exclusive Captain's Wheelhouse Top Deck Lounge
- A-La-Carte breakfast served to your table
- Lunch (Special Menu)
- A glass of champagne, cheese and fruit plate on the return journey
- Plunger coffee, Tea and Juices
- Unlimited snorkelling at 2 sensational locations
- Up to 6 hours on the Great Barrier Reef
- Glass Bottom boat tour (combined with other passengers)
- Marine Biologist presentation (combined with other passengers)
- All snorkelling and diving equipment including wet suits
- Flotation devices
- Return inner city bus transfers to marina
- All Government Reef Levies and Taxes
Reef Experience Top Deck Itinerary
- 07:30 – Board Reef Experience vessel at the Cairns Marlin Jetty
- 08:00 – Depart Marlin Jetty for the Outer Great Barrier Reef
- 08:30 – à la carte breakfast served on the way out to the Outer Reef
- 09:30 – Arrive at our first spectacular reef site,
- 10:30 – Glass Bottom Boat tour
- 12:30 – à la carte lunch
- 13:00 – Cruise to our second location
- 15:00 – Depart the Great Barrier Reef
- 15:30 – Glass of Australian sparkling wine, tropical fruits, cheese & biscuits
- 16:30 – Arrive back in Cairns
Very Important - About Scuba Diving
Your trip onboard "Reef Experience" Includes either a Certified or Resort/Introductory Dive.
What is a Resort/Introductory Dive? Resort diving requires no previous scuba experience. Conducted in small group of 4 under the supervision of an experienced Dive Instructor, resort dives give beginners an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience without having to complete a full scuba diving course.
Can anyone try a resort dive? If you are able to swim and are in good physical health you can probably dive (See Medical Conditions). The Minimum age for resort diving is 12 years.
Queensland Dive Laws are the strictest in the World – with the safest dive record in the world.
Please be aware that Some Medical Conditions or Medications that are being taken could prevent you from participating in scuba activities.
To prevent disappointment on-the day, If you wish to partake in our Introductory/Resort Scuba dive, it is the passengers responsibility to ensure they are medically fit to dive.
Medical Conditions
If you have EVER suffered from any of the following conditions, you will require a dive medical to Australian standard 'AS.4005.1.'. Before being allowed to Scuba Dive.
- Asthma / Wheezing or use of an inhaler even for Sports endurance
- Brain, spinal cord or nervous disorder
- Chronic bronchitis or persistent chest complaint
- Chronic sinus condition
- Collapsed Lung (pneumothorax)
- Diabetes
- Chest Surgery
- Heart Disease of any kind
- Crones Disease
If you are CURRENTLY suffering from or have recently had any of the following conditions or procedures, you will require a dive medical to Australian standard AS. 4005.1. Before being allowed to Scuba Dive.
- Breathlessness
- Chronic ear discharge or infection
- High blood pressure
- Ear Surgery
- Epilepsy
- Fainting Seizures or blackouts
- Recurrent ear problems when flying
- Tuberculosis or any other long term disease
- Any illness or operation within the last month
- Perforated eardrum
Being pregnant will prohibit you from Scuba Diving
Please be aware that the above does not cover every medical condition there maybe other medical conditions that I not listed.
If you are taking any Medications for anything we can check if these are safe for diving with the local Dive doctor. This is necessary as some medications can become dangerous underwater. These checks are done on the day of travel and can be difficult for the dive doctor to approve without consultation with you.
We can only give them information submitted to us on your medical form so please understand that the dive Doctor may require a full dive medical to clear you to dive.
Please be aware If you have used or are using ventolin or an inhaler for Sports endurance/enhancement you will still need a Dive Medical before being allowed to Scuba dive.
It is not our company's decision regarding these laws – we are regulated by the Queensland Government.
Please contact our office, if you do require any further information regarding possible medical conditions.If you have existing or pre existing medical conditions, operations, taking medication, have used an inhaler then you will need permission from the Dive Doctor to Scuba Dive. If you have any doubts or queries regarding the above, please be proactive and contact our office to avoid disappointment on the day.
What to Bring
- Towel
- Swimming clothes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Certification card if you are a certified diver
- Cash or credit card for any extra purchases
Day 2 your Luxury Daintree Experience
Visit the oldest living Rainforest in the world that offers an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna.
Luxury Daintree Experience Inclusions
- Attractions as per Tour Highlights – Itinerary
- Daintree River Cable Ferry
- Morning tea at Thornton Beach
- A delicious lunch at the Daintree Tea House
- Exotic tropical fruit tasting
- Small group (max 13) offering unrivalled, friendly and personalised service
- Air Conditioned comfortable late model vehicles
- National Park Fees & Permits
- Water on board
- Umbrellas if required
Luxury Daintree Experience Itinerary
- Scenic drive along one of the nicest coastal drives in Australia
- Rex Lookout- Stunning Mountains and Ocean Views
- Spectacular Mossman Gorge
- Port Douglas- Flag Staff Hill lookout and town tour
- Morning Tea at Thornton Beach
- Daintree Tea House for lunch
- Exotic tropical fruit tasting
- Daintree River Cruise spotting crocodiles and other wildlife on one of the most diverse river systems in the world
- Alexandra Lookout – breathtaking views towards the Great Dividing Range, Daintree River mouth, Snapper Island & Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef
- Cape Tribulation – Kulki Lookout and Cape Tribulation beach "where rainforest meets reef"
- Guided Rainforest walks discovering the complex functions of a tropical mangrove, shaded by it's canopy of enormous fan palms.
- Daintree Ice Cream Company – optional and popular local stop (Own Expense)
- Cross Mighty Daintree River by cable ferry
- Experienced Local Naturalist/ Accredited Tour Guides
What to Bring
- Camera
- Comfortable clothing and footwear
- Water Bottle
- Insect Repellent & Sunscreen
- Swimmers
- Towel
*Please note seasonal weather conditions and operational requirements may cause a variation in the tour itinerary.
*Children's prices are for ages 4-11 years.
* please note the Cape Tribulation tour is not suitable for children under 4 years
Luxury Reef and Rainforest 2 Day Getaway
Daintree Rainforest Luxury Tour
Payment Policy
We accept Visa Card or MasterCard, E-Way and PayPal.
Please call to confirm your trip 48 hours in advance on +61 7 40372700
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation fees are as follows:
20% cancellation fee 30 days or more prior to departure
50% cancellation fee if within 30 days prior to departure
100% cancellation fee within 14 days prior to departure
There will be no refund of any part of your tour costs should you fail to arrive at a scheduled tour departure time. Tour departures may not be delayed due to passenger circumstances - including events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, weather etc.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation insurance, evacuation and medical cover. Please read the wording of your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities
Please refer to Trade Practices Act 1974
Terms And Conditions
This website acts as a booking agent only for the tours advertised herein.
Although we endeavour to provide accurate information we are not liable for inaccurate information concerning services.
It is recommended all bookings are confirmed 48 hours in advance of the tour departure by calling
+61 7 40372700.
We are not liable for changes to tours, pricing or itineraries; all of which are subject to change without notice.
Neither this site, nor any associated company or agent advertised through this site is responsible for costs or losses resulting from alterations, cancellations, loss of baggage, delay or personal injury.
We strongly recommend everyone has their own travel insurance, and scuba diving insurance where applicable.
We reserve the right to cancel or vary the service at any time without notice.
Top Deck Club Reef Day Cruise
Payment Policy
We accept Visa Card or Mastercard, E-Way and PayPal.
Please call to confirm your trip 48 hours in advance on +61 7
Reef Experience require 48 hours advance to make any changes to your booking.
Cancellation Policy
Refund & Cancellation fees are as follows:
• 20% cancellation fee 30 days or more prior to departure.
• 50% cancellation fee if within 30 days prior to departure.
• 100% cancellation fee within 14 days prior to departure.
Please note we must receive at least 48 hours' notice from you when rescheduling a reservation subject to availability.
There will be no refund of any part of your tour costs should you fail to load on your scheduled tour. Our vessel departures cannot be delayed because of your late arrival. This includes events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, inclement weather etc.
There is no refund or compensation given for any prepaid courses, equipment or guides if you are unable to complete the tour in its entirety.
Travel insurance is highly recommended.
Terms And Conditions
No alcohol may be consumed prior to in water activities
• Children's prices are from 4 – 11 years of age
• We require 48 hours' notice if you wish to re-schedule your booking
• Locations, vessels and itineraries are subject to change without notice due to unforeseen circumstances , but with full consideration of your enjoyment
• All Reef Levies and EMC charges are included in your booking price
• Please remember you need to allow 24 hours from your last dive before flying.
• If you are considering Scuba Diving you will be required to complete a medical questionnaire before participating in any scuba activities.
• Some medical conditions OR medications may prevent you from scuba diving unless a current Australian Standards 'AS4005.1' Medical Certificate can be shown to the Dive
Instructor. This medical certificate must be performed pursuant to the Australian standard AS.4005.1. (Queensland Dive Laws). If you are unsure of a particular medical condition or medication, please check with our office before booking any scuba dive activities.

subset: commoncrawl


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Estudiar Cursos de Verano en el Extranjero - Israel 2018
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Since its beginning in 2006, many undergraduate and graduate students from over 20 different universities in Latin America and Spain have participated in the "Coexistence in the Holy Land" seminar .
Due to its success, the program has been awarded academic credit by some Universities and is now offered also in English.
You can learn more about this extraordinary experience through the testimonials and photos of past participants.


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Aromatherapists West Bend WI
Des Moines, IA
American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA)
Thiensville, WI
International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (IACT)
Certified "Crystal Light" Crystal Therapist
Membership Organizations
Menomonee Falls, WI
Hair Analysis, Herbology, Massage Therapy, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Wellness Centers
West Bend, WI
Hartford, WI
International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (IACT)
Menomonee Falls, WI
International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (IACT)
Mequon, WI
Harmony Acupuncture, LLC
Reiki Master, Herbalist, Acupuncturist
Specialties & Therapies
Specialties : Women's Health
Therapies : Acupressure, Acupuncture, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Cupping, Gua Sha, Herbal Medicine, Meridian Therapy, Moxibustion, Nutritional Counseling, Reiki, Nutrition Education, Medicinal Foods, Chinese Herbs, Pain Management
Professional Affiliations
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance, Wisconsin Society of Certified Acupuncturists
West Bend, WI
West Bend, WI
All stress-related conditions, including insomnia, respond well to aromatherapy.
How to use essential oils
For skin application the essential oil must be diluted in a vegetable carrier oil such as cold-pressed sunflower oil or sweet almond oil. Use 7 -10 drops of essential oil to 25ml (five teaspoons) of carrier oil for adults, 3-5 drops for children under seven and 1-3 drops for children under the age of three. Do not use essential oils on newborn babies.
Any oil can be used in the bath. Add 5-10 drops for adults, 3-5 drops for children over two, and only one drop of a very gentle oil such as chamomile or lavender for younger children.
A combination of essential oils may be used.
Essential Oils for Sleep
A relaxing bath with essential oils of Roman camomile and geranium will help a person to unwind before sleep. A glass of camomile tea will complete the process.
A relaxant effect may be provided by oils of camomile, lavender, neroli, rose, and marjoram. Add a few drops to your bathwater or sprinkle a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale.
The following essential oils may be useful for management of sleep.
Benzoin (Styrax benzoin)
Benzoin is sedative, warming, and relaxing.
It is useful for: Sleeplessness caused by worry, emotional exhaustion, tension, bronchitis, and coughs.
Caution: Some people may be sensitive to this oil.
German and Roman chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemele nobile)
Chamomile calms nerves and stomach, induces sleep, and is especially good for children.
Useful for: Insomnia, anxiety.
Caution: Can cause dermatitis in some people.
Jasmine (Jasminum officinalis)
Jasmine is relaxing and soothing, antidepressant, sedative, aphrodisiac, and expectorant. It is non-toxic, and non-irritant.
Useful for: Insomnia, depression, apathy, nervous exhaustion, stress, catarrh, breathing difficulties.
Lavender (Lavendula officinalis)
Lavender is calming, soothing to nerves and digestion, anti-depressant, pain-relieving, and lowers blood pressure. It is non-toxic, and non-irritant.
Lavender is useful for: Insomnia, tension, depression, headache, catarrh, stomach cramps, shock, earache.
Melissa (Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis)
Melissa is relaxing and uplifting, lowers blood pressure, and helps digestion, menstruation, and nervous system.
Melissa is useful for: Insomnia, nervous tension, depression, high blood pressure, indigestion, coughs, colds, shock, anxiety.
Caution: Use small amounts only as skin irritation is possible.
Neroli (Citrus aurantium amara)
Neroli is very relaxing, non-toxic, and non-irritant.
It is useful for: Insomnia caused by anxiety, depression, irritability, panic, shock....
Click here to read the rest of this article from Holisticonline.com


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This is the February 2013 offering for our desktop calendar series – always free and available for iPad too!
Get your February 2013 Desktop Calendar Wallpaper! I took this photo of a water lily pond at the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay. We were on Lanai because Chris had been invited to participate in the island's inaugural New Media in Residence Program (it's now in its third year). It was my first time in Hawaii, Chris's fourth.
The hotel, which overlooks the ocean, has several gardens, each with a theme. When Chris was at her massage, I wandered around with my camera to get some shots (I'm a fan of flower photos). At the Kama'aina Garden, I noticed the lily pads and flowers. I crouched down to get a low angle, zoomed in to the flower and shot away.
Photo tip: If you are zooming in on a subject like this, make sure you position yourself low to the ground so the camera can be as steady as possible. Otherwise, use a tripod if you have one with you. I was able to take this photo by hand, but a tripod would have made it easier. Keep composition rules such as the Rule of Thirds in mind; as you can see, the flower in the shot is not directly in the middle but off to the side.
Choose the size that best fits your screen resolution.
1024×768 | 1280×800 | 1280×1024 | 1440×900 | 1600×1200
1680×1050 | 1920×1200 | iPad | iPhone
Next wallpaper coming February 28!
Like this photo? Friend us on Facebook for real-time photos, taken around the world!
Don Faust | Partner, Contributor and Photo Editor of the travel site www.caroundtheworld.com, winner of 2010 Lowell Thomas travel writing award.


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This 18-month, performance-driven program is an organizational investment – providing the forum, the guidance, the push and the opportunities for leaders to move their organizations to a higher level of effectiveness and long-term, sustainable success.
During the program, each participant tackles a performance challenge that is most critical to the future of their organization and the communities they serve. With the participant's organizational performance challenge as the focal point, participants attend three week-long sessions developed and delivered by Harvard Kennedy School faculty; receive 18 months of intensive executive coaching by a team of top-notch leadership consultants; and share learning and best practices in peer groups.
As a result, participants have created new lines of business, expanded their reach, re-engineered their organization's business approach, created innovative strategies, built beneficial partnerships and leveraged new financial resources.
AE provides significant returns on investment, with independent evaluations showing nearly all participants and more than 90 percent of staff and board members reporting lasting, profoundly positive impacts on organizational coherence and innovation; outcomes focus; organizational capacity; and community results.
An evaluation of just one program cohort demonstrated:
- An increase in total clients (146 percent).
- An increase in affordable housing units developed/managed (32 percent/22 percent).
- An increase in the number of successful homeowners (15 percent).
- An increase in the average total assets (23 percent); average increase attributed to AE was $6,860,507/organization with $96,047,109 cumulatively.


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Join us on Saturday, September 18, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 335 Locust Street, Johnstown to hear our guest speaker and celebrant, the Rev. Canon Scott Quinn, our diocese's Canon to the Ordinary.
Bring a copy of your favorite recipe for the ECW Cook Book, visit and participate in a program on the Labyrinth at St. Mark's, and most importantly, enjoy a day of food, fellowship and fun!
Donation: $15.00 for lunch. Proceeds benefit the ECW scholarship fund
RSVP: Julie Follansbee, President, St. Mark's ECW at email@example.com or call Joanne at St. Mark's, 814-535-6797.


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Kindergarten Countdown Camp Prepares Avon's Newest Learners for School Success
An IU Health West Hospital Release
— Again this summer, children in Avon are getting a jump start on kindergarten, thanks to a collaboration aimed at helping at-risk preschoolers transition successfully into school.
Indiana University Health West Hospital, together with the United Way of Central Indiana, has teamed up with the Avon Community School Corporation to offer "Kindergarten Countdown" for its third year. This free, four-week summer camp program helps equip children with the basic skills they need to succeed in school.
"Kindergarten is a fundamental stepping stone on the path toward education and literacy," says Matt Bailey, president and CEO of IU Health West Hospital. "We know that good education is critical to good health and quality of life, and that the stronger the start for our youngest Hoosiers the better."
The Kindergarten Countdown program offers campers initial exposure to classroom etiquette, such as raising a hand to talk and standing in line. It also provides an introduction to phonetic awareness, letter and number recognition, shapes, colors as well as other important social and behavioral skills. Camps are held in kindergarten classrooms at Maple Elementary and taught by experienced kindergarten teachers.
"Kindergarten readiness is very important. Reading to your child, practicing writing their name with a good pencil grip and coloring are many fun things that you can do with your child to help prepare them for kindergarten success," says Maple Elementary kindergarten teacher and camp teacher Janet Craig.
IU Health West recognizes the importance education plays in the future of its organization and the strength of the community. Studies show early intervention has the potential to affect standardized test scores and improve a student's chance at earning a college education. That's why IU Health West employees have pledged more than 80 volunteer hours as "classroom buddies" during the camp's four weeks. Classroom buddies help the camp teacher with basic classroom activities, such as reading and early literacy activities, art projects that help to develop fine-motor skills, and spending individual time with children who may need more assistance acclimating to the classroom.
Campers also receive age-appropriate books to add to their home library. IU Health West caregivers have donated new or gently used children's books to be used during the program.


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Most likely if you're reading this you either have the flu or know someone who does. If you've come down with a case of the flu you are not alone as roughly 200,000 people will be hospitalized due to flu complications this year. And the one question we get most this time of year is regarding the longevity of this terrible flu virus. So, So how long does the Flu last in children?
The quickest answer (and I know you don't want to hear this but it's true) is that 'it depends.' Everyone's body is different and there are simply some that are in better shape than others to fight a nasty virus like influenza. You could put an 80-year old man next to a 15-year old boy (both stricken with the Flu) and find that the virus will last different amounts of time for each one. So when I get a question like this my first reaction is always to answer a question with a question and say "So, how healthy are you?"
When it comes to normal healthy children I would say the range is between 4 and 10 days for the Flu to take it's course. It's very dependent on how nutritionally healthy the child's body is and whether they take medications prescribed by a doctor to help alleviate the symptoms or kill the virus. In most normal influenza cases, doctors will not prescribe any medication and will advise parents to give their child plenty of fluids and rest. In these cases I would say the child will be under the weather for about 5 to 7 day before they are noticeably better and able to resume normal activities. Now, this is also dependent on whether your child is very young (infants and toddlers) and whether they have been exposed to enough sicknesses to strengthen their immune systems. If they haven't you may find these younger children may be fighting the Flu for a few more days than others might.
In addition, if your child has received their annual Flu Vaccine shot you may find that the Flu will not last as long or may not be as severe. Most doctors will advise parents that the Flu Vaccine is not a 100% prevention method as you can still contract the virus, but the symptoms and length of time being sick will be very much diminished in most cases.
The bottom line is that if your child is healthy and maintains good nutrition then the Flu Virus may come and go in a shorter amount of time, but again everyone's body is different. Flu Viruses affect people in many different ways but the 'rule of thumb' is it will take about a good week before the symptoms are totally gone and the child feels better.
So how do you make sure the Flu doesn't last long next time with your child? Here are five important things to do to reduce the amount of days the Flu lasts:
1. Make sure children and parents obtain the Flu Shot each year. Each year's Flu Vaccine is different and designed to tackle the different strains that are most prevalent so it's very important to get a Flu Shot each and every year if possible.
2. Make sure kids maintain good nutrition. The best way to reduce the length of time your child is sick from the Flu is to eat well and stay away from junk food. The next time the kids don't want to eat their veggies, ask them if they would prefer to have the Flu for 2-weeks! It always works.
3. Take a multivitamin. All kids should be taking a multivitamin this time of year on a daily basis to make sure they have all the essential vitamins and minerals the body needs to stay healthy. A vitamin supplement is definitely not going to prevent the flu but it will help reduce it's duration.
4. Drink lots of water and maintain good hydration. Too many times children with the Flu do not drink enough water and they become dehydrated. This affects the body's ability to fight the virus and can increase the amount of time they remain sick. All children should be drinking as much water as possible to help the body rid itself of the virus and shorten the amount of time they are sick with the Flu.
5. Rest, Rest, Rest. Although your child may want to stay up and watch cartoons all day, the best thing for them is to sleep as much as possible. A child's body simply cannot fight off the Flu Virus if they're tired so make those naps mandatory. It's one of the most important things to do to shorten the time a child is sick.
So the next time you or your child comes down with the Flu and you need to know how long does Flu last, know that if you follow some simple rules the Flu will not last very long at all. Good luck to you and stay healthy!


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Then, saying she was proud of being labeled a "redneck," she regaled them with a string of one-liners defining the term:
"You're a redneck if you've ever had dinner on a ping pong table."
"You're a redneck if you've ever had a custody fight over a hunting dog. Well, Todd and I haven't, but we've got friends who have!"
via Sarah Palin at National Rifle Association lobs laughing crowd with 'redneck' jokes.
Can I get a vote here? What's the consensus on politicians who use internet joke lists as speech material?
I'm actually sort of divided on this issue. Clearly, Sarah Palin doesn't have time to write new and original speeches for her myriad appearances. If I were as famous and as busy as Palin is, I could definitely see culling a few yukster lines from the net for speeches. But she ripped off like six or seven of these asinine "You know you're a redneck if!" lines in a row from sites like Aha! Jokes, and that seems like a few too many to me. Sometimes the number matters — just like I think the maximum number of cats a single adult can have is three before it gets weird, I don't think you can steal more than four or maybe five jokes before some kind of line is crossed, even when the venue is an NRA convention.
Palin by the way seems to have settled in on a new rhetorical strategy, which is basically to run out one or another version of her "pit bull" line over and over again and not say anything else at all. She's tuned in to the fact that her audiences literally can't get enough of having their lunatic self-images massaged ("I'm a violent, illiterate pig who eats with her mouth open just like all you outstanding Americans!") and aren't really interested in much else beyond that — issues are really secondary.
Sure, she'll talk about immigration, or health care, or gun rights, but all that boring stuff is really secondary to the more important business of reassuring her audiences that that it's okay to be a slob who does nothing but shoot cute animals and watch TV. Most of all, Americans — the same Americans who buy everything TV tells them to buy and vote for the same shysters year after year, swallowing one lie after another whole — love to be told how tough and fearsome and independent they are. She was massaging this spot in a speech to a coalition of women against abortion group in Washington the other day:
Palin, a potential 2012 presidential candidate, delivered calls to action to an audience dominated by women. "The mama grizzlies, they rise up," she said, to laughter. "You thought pit bulls are tough. You don't want to mess with the mama grizzlies. And I think there are a whole lot of those in this room."
The crowd went nuts at this. Palin has figured out that this is really all you have to do to win elections in this country — flatter middle Americans' moronic fantasies about themselves. The great thing about flattery is a) you can't overdo it as hard as you try, and b) it doesn't pin you down to messy political positions, controversies, things you can be harassed about by Chris Matthews and other press weasels.
It's basically a risk-free strategy. You get up on stage and you say, "I'm just like all you idiots. And you idiots rock!" People will fall for this stuff. The ingenious part in Sarah Palin's case is that she probably genuinely believes it.
She one-ups even George Bush in this respect. Bush was sincere in his respect for the citizen's right to craft important opinions about the world while drinking beer and watching baseball, and that came across in his speeches — it was a big reason for his success.
But Bush couldn't have spent more than ten minutes in a dirty trailer in Arkansas before signaling for the helicopter. The guy was just too used to being around rich people, nice houses, cigarette boats full of sheiks and oil executives, etc. Sarah Palin on the other hand really is the kind of person who you can picture eating egg salad off a ping-pong table. That and her utterly genuine stupidity and meanness can take her a long way — all by themselves, I think these things can win the White House for her — and it seems like she senses this on an animal/reptilian level. Hence the renewed emphasis on jacking off her audiences of late.
It'll be interesting to see if this works for her. Bear in mind there's no shortage of hokey-ass internet joke lists for her to mine. Someone should keep a count of how many of these bits she uses…


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Journalism Class Gets Insight on the Middle East
Distance was no obstacle on Friday, October 12th, when information flowed all the way from a café in Beirut to a classroom in Brooklyn.
Students in the school's journalism program had an opportunity to speak via Skype with Ms. Nancy Youssef, the Middle East Bureau Chief at McClatchy Newspapers, who currently covers stories from Morocco to the Iranian border.
The class was able to video chat with Youssef, while she sat in an internet café in Beirut, Lebanon.
The meeting was set up by the News Literacy Project, which has made more than 400 presentations in classrooms, conferences, and workshops throughout the country since 2009, educating students about being informed news consumers and journalists.
"The News Literacy Project is designed to spark interest in students in news," said Ms. Darragh Worland, the News Literacy Project's New York program manager. "Even if students don't have interest in being a journalist, it gets them engaged in current events."
Students were eager to hear Youssef's story about her many experiences and her current work, and they had the chance to ask plenty of questions.
"I liked the fact that Ms. Youssef treated us like journalists, not just like kids," said senior Eli Friedman. "I felt mutual respect on both ends."
The meeting also seems to show a trend in the use of technology to connect students to the news happening across the world, and to encourage them to care about current events.
"As you become a citizen, you get voting rights, and you start making decisions," Ms. Worland said. "Every day there are decisions you're making."
A large part of being informed, according to Ms. Worland, is understanding and caring about global news and what's happening across the world.
"We're constantly influencing and being influenced by the world," she said. "To not be informed is to not be a global citizen."
Some of what Youssef spoke of were the challenges that journalists face in general, such as the level of danger and the inability to become involved in the situations you cover.
"As a journalist, your job is to observe it. The hardest thing is seeing people suffering around you and not being able to stop it," said Youssef. "Whatever horrible thing you're experiencing, the people around you have it worse." Ms. Youssef also said that her reporting was at times dangerous.
Ms. Youssef said she has been in a car crash, shot at, and has had a gun to her head twice. She says that a difficult aspect of working as a journalist in the Middle East today is the changing nature of war and of danger itself. Whereas in the past, there were clear front lines that the danger was concentrated in and limited to in a war, Ms. Youssef said that today there are no clear ways to avoid danger and war.
"The wars are on everyday streets," said Ms. Youssef. "It's harder to protect yourself."
However, the journalist said she feels that the dangers that she faces are inevitable issues, and understands that they always will be.
"I accept that those risks are part of the job," Ms. Youssef said.


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November 19, 2011
New Haven, Conn.
If there's one positive byproduct of the NBA lockout from the player's perspective, it's more time with family. Like someone laid off and forced into a stay-at-home period of unknown length, athletes have the opportunity to catch up on the quality time that a typical season encumbers—even if the alternative of working is preferred.
Had the players and owners found a way to shake hands on a new collective bargaining agreement, Washington Wizards big man Andray Blatche might have been lacing up his shoes in an arena locker room Saturday night. Instead, he was in the stands at the National Prep Showcase in New Haven, cheering on his brother, Derrick, a member of the South Kent hoops team.
In this interview, Andray talks about the first time someone asked him for an autograph, the NBA player he looked up to most as a kid, and whose jerseys he hangs on his walls.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think of the interview.
If you're having trouble playing the video, click here to view it on YouTube.


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It feels great to be back blogging. I don't do my product reviews anymore because I didn't have the time to commit everyday for regular posting nor could I afford the amount of products I needed to review.
I've gone back to my personal blog. I didn't used to post on it too much but it feels awesome to be on it and posting regularly on it again.
At the moment you're reading about all these things I've just completed and accomplished. In 3 weeks time it's going to turn into a travelling blog. It's the point that I go to Portugal and hopefully stay in Europe (other than England) for a while. I can't wait. I can't wait to experience it all but I can't wait to write about it. I don't add photos to my posts but hopefully I'll be adding photos to accompany my stories and encounters.
BASICALLY I'm really happy to be back on WordPress and writing regularly again also with it being more positive than it used to be :)!
Really pointless post and sorry for wasting your time... I just had to share my joy :P
The blog I need help with is joelyroely.wordpress.com.


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We learn from Ben Smith that conservatives were on James von Brunn's hit list. I guess that we are now going to hear about how right-wingers are irresponsibly allowing right-wing terrorism to target . . . other right-wingers. Anything to score partisan points off of a shocking and despicable act, eh?
Of course, assuming that the Marshalls and Kleimans of the world continue to try to keep up their shtik, we have the following excerpt from Smith to set them straight:
The suggestion that the Standard may have been a target complicates any view of the racist shooter in contemporary left-right terms. Von Brunn's white supremacist roots put him under the rubric of a "right-wing extremist," but the substance of his views — which included everything from believing that President Bush may have been in on the September 11 attacks to denying that President Obama is an American citizen — are too far on the fringe to fit into conventional political classification.
Reality appears to be too complicated for the "reality-based community." I may not go as far as Jeff Goldstein does in some of his comments, but he is dead-on accurate when he states that "the current progressive left and the fringe right have much in common, from their stance on trade and the war to their distaste for Israel." Something the Marshalls and Kleimans of the world should have kept in mind in the first place, before concluding that this attack had an easily classifiable ideology behind it.
An extra thing to note, per an observation from my colleague, Ben Domenech: The offices of the American Enterprise Institute are in the Weekly Standard building. Something else that demolishes the story that we have pure right-wing terrorism at work in the Holocaust shootings.
On a related matter: Link. Seems that Leon Wolf's comments have survived the unfolding of events better than the comments of the Marshalls and Kleimans of the world have.


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Purpose: Core Animation & Audio for iPhone, iPad and Mac is designed to introduce the student to the biggest part of the iPhone, iPad and Mac systems - animation and sound. Anyone who has played with a Mac, iPhone or iPad finds out quickly how big a role animation and sound plays on these systems. This course covers the key areas of Core Animation and Sound and how they can be incorporated into any program and especially games.
Suggested Prerequisites: xcelMe iPhone and iPad programming courses or equivalent iphone and iPad development experience
Topics covered:
|Live Start Dates
|Start NOW-OnDemand 24x7 (?)
|Gary Bennett & Mitch Fisher


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MURFREESBORO -- Drew Maddux will tell you up front that he's superstitious.
The Christ Presbyterian Academy coach broke out with a smile when asked if he changed things around from three years ago when his team suffered a heart-breaking, one-point quarterfinal loss to Dyer County in the state tournament. After haunting memories of that game, he totally changed his team's itinerary this week.
"We took a completely different route [to MTSU for its quarterfinal game] than we did three years ago,'' he said. "We ate at a different restaurant and our practice schedule was different."
The result was decidedly different. The Lions drilled Spring Hill 82-62 Wednesday afternoon in the Class AA quarterfinals on the same MTSU court.
Turning to his players on press row, he asked, "Am I superstitious, guys?'' and all nodded in agreement.
One can't argue with the results.
The top-ranked Lions (35-2) took apart No. 3 Spring Hill, jumping to early 7-0 and 15-3 leads and coasting to victory.
They next play Stone Memorial in Friday's semifinals.
Behind a balanced attack, CPA won its 23rd game in a row. Its last loss was in December.
Guard Vic Wharton led all scorers with 23 points, many coming on slashing drives to the basket. He had plenty of help.
Jalen Lindsey scored 20, including three slam dunks, guard Craig Bradshaw, the only senior starter, poured in 17, and sophomore sharpshooter Jake Allsmiller added 14, including four 3-pointers.
"It all begins with guys screening and freeing me up [for the slams],'' Lindsey said. "I think the high-profile tournaments we played in earlier helped us preparing for this. We came out ready."
Allsmiller, who has already been offered by Vanderbilt, hit a 3 just 23 seconds into the game and he had three of them by halftime.
"It's great ball movement by my teammates, just making the extra pass and finding me,'' Allsmiller said. "We have so many weapons on this team, it just makes my job easier.''
Spring Hill (30-2) was again led by its top two scorers Keilan Blanks (20 points) and Montrae Williams (16 points), but the Raiders were hurt by 12 first-half turnovers and saw their 30-game winning streak come to an end.
"They're an excellent ball club,'' veteran Spring Hill coach Jimmy Young said of CPA. "We gave it all we had. We made too many careless passes, made too many mistakes.''
Said Maddux: "In big games, a lot of times it's who throws the first punch, who dictates the game, and that was us."
Ranked No. 1 since December, Maddux knows CPA has been a target for some time.
"We've had that bullseye on our back for quite awhile,'' he said. "But our players have embraced it. They love each other and you can see it by the way they play.''
Stone Memorial (26-10) trounced Livingston 80-65 in its quarterfinal matchup.
The semifinal will bring together all three of the Class AA Mr. Basketball finalists -- Bradshaw and Lindsey of CPA and Brandon Cole of Stone.
"Mike [Buck, the Stone Memorial coach] does a terrific job, it will be a tough matchup for us, especially facing their Mr. Basketball finalist [Cole],'' Maddux said of the semifinal matchup.
CPA is two wins away from its first boys title and joining the Lion girls in the throne room after they captured the crown last week.
"They definitely set the bar high,'' Maddux added, laughing.
He likely will keep the same itinerary as Wednesday.


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Complexity Made Simple . . . at a Small Price
By Mark Dwortzan
Cassandras Delivers Distinguished Scholar Lecture
For 30 years, Professor Christos Cassandras(ECE, SE) has solved countless complex problems by translating them into simpler terms and then applying optimization, computer simulation and other tools of the systems engineering trade. A pioneer in the field of discrete event dynamic systems analysis, used extensively in the development and operation of manufacturing, transportation, communications and other complex systems, he has laid the mathematical groundwork for everything from swarms of surveillance robots to hassle-free Smart Cities.
On March 19, Cassandras shared some of the most powerful techniques in his problem-solving toolkit in the 2014 College of Engineering Distinguished Scholar Lecture, "Complexity Made Simple* (*at a Small Price)." Speaking from the podium at the Boston University Photonics Center Auditorium, he addressed students, faculty and researchers from throughout the BU academic community and beyond.
Complexity Made Simple
Focusing his remarks on the optimal design, control and management of complex dynamic systems, Cassandras highlighted methods he's developed to solve difficult problems by exploiting their specific structure and asking the "right" questions. He demonstrated how these methods outshine conventional engineering approaches, resulting in time and cost savings, enhanced security and other benefits.
Cassandras first challenged the effectiveness of "brute force" trial-and-error techniques, which are often used to systematically learn and predict the behavior of a complex system, but are invariably slow, inefficient and intrusive. He showed how this learning could be achieved far more quickly through simple "thought experiments" constructed at a "small price." For example, rather than expend hundreds of years of manpower manually testing different alternative configurations of a manufacturing transfer line to improve its efficiency, he explained, one could model the system's performance with algorithms that evaluate multiple scenarios in less than an hour in a single, low-cost run.
Cassandras next explored two methods to reduce the complexity of a system to make it easier to model: decomposition, or breaking down a complex system into simpler components, and abstraction, or zooming out to a far less detailed representation of the system. Decomposition can provide fast, accurate solutions to difficult problems; abstraction can dramatically simplify such problems at the "small price" of some loss of accuracy.
"Can the abstraction model be used to predict the real system's behavior? Bad question," said Cassandras. "Can the abstraction model be used to control or optimize the real system's behavior? Good question."
Finally, he challenged conventional time-driven methods for sampling, control and communication in wireless, networked systems. Noting how communication actions dictated solely by clock time drain precious battery power, exacerbate security risks and are often unnecessary, he argued that these actions could instead be triggered by specific events at the "small price" of identifying suitable action-triggering events. To illustrate the point, he showed how communication among a team of cooperating robots patrolling a defined space could be minimized to achieve a specified goal while saving energy and enhancing security.
Cassandras concluded the lecture by highlighting his ongoing efforts to design Smart Cities that collect data, process information, make decisions and control and optimize actions aimed at making urban life easier, safer and more efficient. He also announced a new endeavor to model the progression of cancer as a discrete event system.
"My hope is to turn this into a new direction of research where discrete event systems analysis can be applied to see how treatment and therapies can be used by simulating how cancer progresses with real data, and play what-if games with drugs," he said.
Three Decades of Taking on Complexity
A member of the BU faculty since 1996, head of the College's Division of Systems Engineering and cofounder of BU's Center for Information and Systems Engineering (CISE), Cassandras has published five books and more than 300 refereed papers. He was editor-in-chief of the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control from 1998 through 2009, and the 2012 president of the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS). He has chaired several technical conferences and served as plenary speaker at various international conferences, including the American Control Conference in 2001 and the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control in 2002, and Distinguished Lecturer for the CSS.
Cassandras's numerous awards include a 2012 Kern Fellowship, a 2011 prize for the IBM/IEEE Smarter Planet Challenge competition, the 2011 IEEE Control Systems Technology Award, the Distinguished Member Award of the IEEE Control Systems Society (2006), the 1999 Harold Chestnut Prize (International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) Best Control Engineering Textbook) for Discrete Event Systems: Modeling and Performance Analysis, and a 1991 Lilly Fellowship. He is also a Fellow of the IEEE and IFAC.
Initiated in 2008, the annual Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series honors a senior faculty member engaged in outstanding, high-impact research at the College of Engineering. The previous five recipients are Professors Thomas Bifano (ME, MSE), H. Steven Colburn (BME), Theodore Moustakas (ECE, MSE), Irving Bigio (BME) and John Baillieul (ME, SE), and Professor Emeritus Malvin Teich (ECE, BME).


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> I'm thinking of removing the datatype "filename", which is a fixed-size > array of 256 characters with no support functions other than input and > output converters. Apparently it was once used in the system tables, > but it is so no longer AFAICT. Since it's fixed-length, it cannot be > made TOASTable, which makes it substantially inferior to type "text" > for any purpose that I can think of. > > Anyone using this type? I vote for removal. -- Bruce Momjian | http://candle.pha.pa.us pgman(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us | (610) 853-3000 + If your life is a hard drive, | 830 Blythe Avenue + Christ can be your backup. | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026
Next: From: Philip Warner Date: 2000-08-01 01:54:23 Subject: Re: pg_dump + function/table hierarchy Previous: From: Bruce Momjian Date: 2000-08-01 01:48:41 Subject: Re: pg_dump & performance degradation


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UF louvre van
|These vans were converted from UB vans retaining their UB numbers in the early 60's. The conversion consisted of being fitted with high speed bogies. For many years VR ran what were called "Paper Trains" these trains left Melbourne in the early am hours and carried The Sun and The Age newspapers as well as green star parcels and departmental correspondence. The UF's were built for this service. Some UF's had an "F" stencil on the top corners indicating 60 MPH
UF 17, corrugated roof, wide doors, F stencil, Bendigo 1978
UF 55, plain roof, narrow (original) doors, lack of F stencil but note the "News Express Goods, Melbourne to Bendigo" stencil.
Melb yard, 1978
Page last updated


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As a final reminder, project briefing proposals for the CNI Spring 2013 Membership Meeting are due NEXT THURS. Feb. 21. Proposals may be submitted by email to joan, or via the online form:
If you have any questions about submitting a proposal, please feel free to contact Joan Lippincott (joan) or me (diane).
The meeting will be held April 4-5, 2013 in San Antonio, TX. The Twitter hashtag for this meeting is #cni13s.


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Values Define the Culture, Tell the StoryTuesday, November 29th, 2011
Ranked for several years as one of Fortune's "Top 100 Companies to Work For" globally, NETAPP is a company that understands the importance of creating a corporate culture. As reported recently in Singapore's Business Times recently, the company says its culture centers on a positive work environment with opportunities for growth for everyone who works there, including the leadership.
The five values that differentiate NETAPP from other organizations are:
- attitude is contagious, i.e., a positive outlook generates good energy
- candor is encouraged so that honesty is maintained
- a positive approach attracts followers, e.g. recognizing individual successes within the company is more important than focusing on competitors
- leaders should appreciate employees' work and inspire them rather than simply manage operations
- openness to change is essential in today's ever-changing, innovative world
What are the core values of your organization? Is everyone familiar with them? And especially: Is everyone aware of the importance of conducting business accordingly?


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Regional Reviews: St. Louis
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Also see Richard's review of Sex with Strangers
Film director Billy Wilder once quoted another director, Ernst Lubitsch, as saying "give (the audience) two and two and let them add it up. They're going to do it for you. And they're going to have fun with it."
So it is with the outstanding Stray Dog Theatre production of Sweeney Todd, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's grand, gothic, and ghastly musical (from 1979), already said to be nearly sold-out for its entire run. Director Justin Been gradually ferries us to the final, climactic minutes, where everything just naturally fits together, in the most horrifying way imaginable, but still, "naturally"if, by "naturally" you mean that a man wrongly accused ends up destroying everything around him, in an impossible-to-turn-away-from, Wagnerian spectacle.
At the performance I attended, the whole audience was as frozen and mesmerized as any I've ever seen, making the characters on stage seem more real than any of us by comparison, in that final fateful scene. We no longer had to be told what the stakes were, we had put it all together ourselves, to our everlasting dread and torment. And we love director Been for letting it happen just that way.
Everyone brings their "A" game, all the way down the line. Local actors who have grown accustomed to filling secondary or character roles magically turn in leading man/leading lady-quality work at every moment under this director. Powerful, visually dominating Jonathan Hey can afford to be a looming, brooding and iconic figure in the title role, surrounded (as he is) by a long list of memorable madmen and monsters (and sometimes both in the same person).
Lavonne Byers is Mrs. Lovett, who inspires the process of Sweeney Todd's revenge. Ms. Byers has had so many leading lady roles of her own over the last 35 years, that her Lovett can easily navigate here between antic disposition and desperate plotting and music hall love-song, as her meat pie shop goes from dismal failure to horrifying success.
Real life husband and wife Gerry and Kay Love are Judge Turpin and the Beggar Woman: he, strangely naturalistic and tormented and self-deluded, as a hanging judge who hopes to marry his own lovely ward; and she, unexpectedly artful (like Ms. Byers) alternating between the character's street job and the frantic madness of the song "City On Fire."
Mike Wells gives a breakout performance as Beadle Bamford, graciously tugging his forelock for Judge Turpin, bullying the young hero of the story, and singing beautifully as he threatens to ruin Sweeney's final attempt at his own kind of justice. He is a delightful annoyance in a world that has forgotten how to be teased. And Tyler Cheatem is fabulous as a competing barber, Pirelli, challenging the dangerous Sweeney in a genuinely exciting competition, and later trying to extort Sweeney's earnings in a bloody barbershop.
Joanna, the youthful ward here (the damsel in distress, in London of 1843), is played by lovely Eileen Engel, whose glass-shattering high notes add sparkle to the big frantic crowd numbers, and Cole Gutmann is perfect as the young hero Anthony, searching the city streets for her after a breathtaking plot-twist right before intermission. Connor Johnson is likewise excellent as Tobias, the street urchin who goes from Mr. Pirelli to the custody of Mrs. Lovett.
It really is a penny dreadful, as 19th century stories go, but thanks to Stephen Sondheim and librettist Hugh Wheeler (from an adaptation by Christopher Bond), and now thanks to director Been, it all just grabs you by the throat and won't let go. And this is very nearly a perfect production. But if you must insist on a dash of negative criticism to leaven the loaf, I'll mention that Mr. Johnson and Ms. Byers must each briefly straddle awkwardly, in their earliest scenes, between their upper registers and falsetto voices, because of the music and their own God-given voices. But they right themselves very quickly, backed-up by a flawless group of musicians under the direction of bandleader Chris Petersen.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street through April 22, 2017, at the Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave. For more information visit www.straydogtheatre.org.
The Band


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Hi all,
Just thought I'd let everyone know about a website we're using to advertise our show. It's free and (according to the editor of the website) we're the only Free Fringer to sign up. Anyway, it's www.festivalpreviews.com and you can upload images, video, audio and information. It's basically a virtual flier. Who knows what impact it'll have but I thought some might find it useful.


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Kymberly Williams-Evans, MA
Shirley Temple was onto something in the movie, Little Miss Broadway when she sang: "Be Optimistic, Don't you Be a Mourner, Brighten Up That Corner and Smile; Smile and Be Happy!" Ok, the part about just smiling is a little trite and too simplistic. However, studies do support the notion that optimism confers better levels of health and happiness.
If you want to know HOW to be more of an optimist, then click this link to see 8 ways to increase your happiness and optimistic outlook. Eeyores can become more like Tiggers with practice. (And with movement, imagine that!?)
Optimists are also less likely to smoke, more likely to live with a spouse, and more likely to follow medical advice than pessimists. (Question to self: what if my hubster is smokin' cute and takes my advice? Will he live forever or will I? Things to ponder).
Feeling unhappy? You might be too young. Wait a few years, because people in their 60s report higher levels of happiness than those in their 30s and 40s. Surprised? I was.
Turns out that pessimists are correct: life is harder for them. Those with a low sense of well-being (associated with pessimism) are more than three times as likely to experience problems in performing daily activities. Pessimists over 50 also tend to die younger than others their same age who enjoy life more.
If you tend more to the pessimistic side of life, don't get down on yourself. Blame your parents! Have them blame their parents. Yes, genes predispose some people to optimism. Some of us are simply born sunnier side up. Even if you were born with hard boiled tendencies, you can move to the optimistic camp. If you need a boost of optimism and happiness, maybe buy a plane ticket. (And read our post on ways to shift to the O perspective). Apparently travel holds the top spot for enhancing happiness among women up to age 59 and second place for those in their 60s. Guess what women over 60 rated as the number one method for feeling happier? Spending time with friends.
That sounds good to me! In fact, traveling with friends sounds really enticing. I am off to sing the rest of the Shirley Temple song: Be Optimistic: Don't You Be a Grumpy; When the Road Gets Bumpy, Just Smile, Smile and Be Happy!"
We are optimistic that you will find value and nirvana when you:
1) Follow us on Google +Alexandra and +Kymberly, on Twitter: AlexandraFunFit and KymberlyFunFit and Instagram: AlexandraFunFit and KymberlyFunFit.
2) Pick up the phone or email us to book us to speak at your next meeting or conference. Call (805) 403-4338 or email email@example.com.
Photos Credits: taken by me, Kymberly.


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The Right to Privacy – The 9th Amendment – Gay Marriage
Our Founding Fathers were masters of compromise. Some wanted specific rights established in the form of a Bill of Rights. Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom from search and seizure, Freedom to bear arms, Freedom of speech, we become redundant – suffice it to say that some rights were considered so important that the Constitutional framers insisted on their inclusion. Others argued that by inserting specific rights it would logically follow that any rights not mentioned would be in the domain of the Federal Government. Their compromise – the 9th Amendment to the Constitution. But the reality is that almost all of the Amendments speak to the right to Privacy. This has been affirmed many times by a variety of Supreme Court rulings.
Hold on a minute reader – we will get to gay marriage in a moment – first a little background.
Supreme Court Background:
Ninth Amendment – Unenumerated Rights- From FindLaw
Amendment Text | Annotations
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Essentially they said that just because we do not specifically mention certain rights of individuals does not mean that they do not have those rights.
The right to privacy was articulated again by the Supreme Court in 1965. Connecticut had a state law against contraceptives – even between husband and wife. The Supreme Court ruled against the state. Cited in the defendants arguments were the 14th Amendment, the 1st Amendment, the 4th Amendment, the 5th Amendment, and the 9th Amendment. Each of these amendments have been used in a variety of cases to affirm the right of privacy to individuals.
In the case of contraceptives the Supreme Court noted the very idea of the government entering into a bedroom to search for devices was a repulsive idea. This writer agrees. The Court was more specific and more elloquent:
[ Footnote * ] The Court said in full about this right of privacy:
"The principles laid down in this opinion [by Lord Camden in Entick v. Carrington, 19 How. St. Tr. 1029] affect the very essence of constitutional liberty and security. They reach farther than the concrete form of the case then before the court, with its adventitious circumstances; they apply to all invasions on the part of the government and its employes of the sanctity of a man's home and the privacies of life. It is not the breaking of his doors, and the rummaging of his drawers, that constitutes the essence of the offence; but it is the invasion of his indefeasible right of personal security, personal liberty and private property, where that right has never been forfeited by his conviction of some public offence, – it is the invasion of this sacred right which underlies and constitutes the essence of [381 U.S. 479, 485] Lord Camden's judgment. Breaking into a house and opening boxes and drawers are circumstances of aggravation; but any forcible and compulsory extortion of a man's own testimony or of his private papers to be used as evidence to convict him of crime or to forfeit his goods, is within the condemnation of that judgment. In this regard the Fourth and Fifth Amendments run almost into each other." 116 U.S., at 630 .
The court used great words – like liberty and security . . . invasions on the part of the government . . . the sanctity of a man's home and the privacies of life . . . the invasion of his indefeasible right of personal security, personal liberty and personal property. . .
The government clearly has no right to invade our personal lives.
Privacy and Gay Marriage:
On November 4, 2008, the voters in California passed Proposition 8 – a ban on Gay Marriage. Much is being made of this vote – with people on both sides of the issue ready to take up arms. This writer believes that the right to marry whomever one wants is implied in the United States Constitution – which we believe takes precidence over any State initiative.
We in America are slow to embrace change. The country was aroun a hundred years before the ban on slavery, 150 years before women could vote, and nearly 2000 years before total civil rights were granted. Sadly, the process took a while longer to recognize the rights of inter-racial marriage.
The Gay Marriage issue is a bit more complicated than women's rights to vote, or inter-racial marriage. Those two issues were of mere prejudice and bigotry and it took a while for a change in the cultural paradigm. Gay Marriage is different because of religion. There are many folks who believe themselves to be Christian – and they believe the Christian faith is opposed to homosexual behavior. That is their right. Changing religious paradigms are much more complex.
The hard-nosed take favors the right to gay marriage – because this country is ruled by law – law that must adhere to the provisions of the Constitution. While we respect the right of people to worship whatever faith they choose – we do not respect the imposition of religious values on society as a whole. And we believe that was the intent of the framers of the Constiitution.
There may be practical, if not wholly just, temporary compromises. We acknowledge these compromises in the interest of moving forward before a complete cultural paradigm shift is in place.
One compromise offered is the idea of a Civil Union. This concept eliminates some of the discrimination against homosexuals. For instance, joint ownership of property, visitation in hospitals, and rights of inheritance might be covered in a civil union. But the Civil Union does not completely eliminate the prejudice. One striking injustice is in the Federal Tax Code.
The Federal Tax Code is often used to promote certain behaviors deemed healthy for society. Marriage tax deduction is an example. Energy credits for home insulation is another. So a Civil Union will not address all of the issues of discrimination. Our suggestion would be an overhaul of the Federal tax code to recognize civil unions equally with religious sanctioned marriages.
There are other means of loosening the cultural grip on people who are different than us without complete submission. The term marriage has particular meanings to many people – and we should respect the cultural diversity of these folks. Being fair sometimes means that we have to give people time to adjust to new paradigms.
Sometimes we have to be practical – that is all we are saying. We are not advocating gay marriage, but neither do we deny the same rights to gay couples as are enjoyed by heterosexual couples. We believe there are practical political solutions.
And we believe our country should continue to move forward in eliminating discriminatory prejudice.


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Ninety-fourth Session
Rome, 8 - 12 May 2000
Progress Report on Implementation of the External Auditor's Recommendations
Attached for the information of Finance Committee Members is the Progress Report on the Implementation of the External Auditor's Recommendations.
|External Auditor's Recommendation
|Action taken
|Auditor's Comments
Financial Position of the Organisation
Tax Equalisation Fund
I recommend that the necessary arrangements be made with the Member Nations concerned with a view to reducing their credits from the tax equalisation fund by the amount of tax reimbursement to their nationals.
|Introduction of the new financial systems and related procedures has
brought about a significant improvement in the control and follow-up of amounts reimbursed
to FAO staff obliged to pay national taxation on their FAO derived income.
The Accounts Receivable Unit is now responsible for accounting for tax payment amounts to be reimbursed to staff and for management of contributions due from Member States, including any amounts to be offset against their Tax Equalisation Fund credit.
In order to take action in those cases where staff members have been requried to pay tax liabilities to their national governments, FAO is dependent upon the staff members in question or their supervisors informing AFF of this fact. Once informed of the details of such cases, the Accounts Receivable Unit contacts LEG for guidance and, depending on the case in question, to request that LEG follow-up the matter with the government in question.
The Accounts Receivable Unit then raises a receivable against the government in question as part of the RP contributions call process and monitors recovery as part of normal receivables management procedures.
|As noted in the previous Progress Report our review of the 1998 interim
financial statements disclosed that some TEF outstanding balances remained to be cleared.
In reply to observations made on this issue, we have been informed that measures have been taken to try and clear the outstanding balances through invoice and contacts with the relevant Governments.
We will review the results of these actions during our final audit mission for the 1998-99 biennium, as well as the implementation of the new system, which is described in column 2.
|Unliquidated Obligations
I wish to reiterate my previous recommendation to carry out closer checking of ULO at the end of the biennium. I understand that this is a complex and time consuming exercise with a variety of criteria to be applied across objects of expenditure. In this connection, I would recommend that, for the future, the Organisation might consider simplified criteria which could be incorporated into the accounting systems for recognising the validity of undisbursed commitments at the end of a biennium.
|Introduction of the new financial systems and related procedures has
brought about significant change in how FAO prepares its accruals (unliquidated
obligations) at the period end.
The most significant change results from the fact that, in Oracle, only approved Purchase Orders in place at the period end are automatically accrued. The Oracle applications implemented by FAO have no equivalent to non-Purchase Order related commitments.
With regard to transactions which are not processed through Oracle Purchasing, (e.g. travel and field transactions), the accruals procedure has been simplified to include only those transactions which can be demonstrated to relate to the year being closed.
In particular:
· in the case of travel related transactions, the period end accrual is based upon travel advances processed at 31 December 1999;
· in the case of country office and project transactions, the accrual is based upon information provided to AFF by imprest account holders and checked by OCD (country office accruals) and Project Accounting Unit (project accruals).
|The review that we will conduct in our final audit mission (April/May 2000) on samples of recorded ULOs as at 31/12/1999 should allow us to assess the situation resulting from the introduction of the new financial systems and related procedures.
|Cash and Investments
Control of Bank Accounts
The number of bank accounts derives, at least in part, from their dedication to specific groups or transactions (e.g. Regular Programme, Trust Funds, etc.). In my previous report I had recommended that such complex arrangements be abandoned and cash managed centrally at the Organisation level, while maintaining the identification of transactions necessary for reporting purposes. While consideration was given to this recommendation in the context of the implementation of the new financial management and accounting software, the situation had not changed yet at the end of 1997.
|For operational reasons, FAO has a requirement to maintain a number of
bank accounts. In particular:
· accounts require to be maintained in many countries to support the requirements of field offices and projects located in those countries
· the terms of the Organisation's Telefood initiative require that specific accounts be maintained for recording Telefood receipts
· for reasons of transparency in Trust Fund donor operations (donor covenants and related reporting) and the fact that Trust Fund donor monies are provided on trust as set out in donor agreements, complete pooling of the cash resources of the Regular Programme and Trust Funds is not possible either legally or politically.
Nevertheless, FAO continues to make progress in streamlining banking arrangements. With the assistance of IFAD, the Organization is considering utilisation of the SWIFT network for payments and receipts using existing IFAD arrangements.
In addition to the above, AFF is discussing with existing bankers a plan covering steps to bring about general and specific improvements in FAO's cash management and banking relations. The main areas covered by this plan include:
· Reduction of the number of banks with which FAO has accounts and the use of primary banks as the focus of all major bank transactions
· Improvement of the level of automation in relation to transmission of data between FAO and banks
· Making greater use of more economic disbursement methods
· Improvement of returns on surplus cash
· Reduction in costs of foreign exchange transactions
|No comments can be made at that stage as concrete action still has to be taken.
|Cash and Investments
Cash Management
I wish to recommend formally that the Organisation call for international bids for the provision of corporate banking services.
My staff noted that a consultant had recommended to "externalise" the management of cash to achieve higher returns at reduced risks and free up treasury unit resources for other tasks. I recommend that such proposals be carefully considered by the Organisation. If they were to be implemented, the FAO should call for bids from several international cash managers and start revamping and upgrading the treasury unit to allow it to become a professional counterpart to the selected cash manager.
|A tender was issued for the Organisation's Banking Services on 26 March
1999. The Evaluation Panel appointed to evaluate the bids recommended the preferred bank
but also suggested that the service provision capability be further substantiated at a
detailed level.
FAO has since been involved in detailed discussions on service standards with the preferred bank. The bank has confirmed that it will require some time to implement changes to its systems and procedures to meet FAO's requirements.
In the meantime, FAO is continuing to take steps to improve conditions and working relationships with its current bankers.
With respect to investments , we have proceeded to implement the recommendations of the ACI as approved by the Director-General during 1999. More specifically:
· following outsourcing of the management of short-term investments in January 1999, we have now, on the basis of advice from ACI and with the assistance of IFAD and WFP, completed a tender process for the management of these funds and selected two firms specialised in short term portfolio management to substitute the single previous fund manager
· with regard to long term investments we have , again on the basis of advice from ACI and with the assistance of IFAD and WFP, completed a tender process for the management of the fixed income portion of our long-term investment portfolio and selected two firms specialised in long term portfolio management .
We are now in the process of implementing these decisions
With regard to the strengthening of the Treasury function, FAO has hired, on a temporary basis, the ex-Director of the IBRD Investment Department to help implement changes. FAO is also actively involved in negotiating with IFAD a joint Treasury advisory function.
|In the previous Progress report we noted that in line with our
recommendation, the Organization had called for a competitive tendering process for the
provision of corporate banking services.
As we indicated last September we have started reviewing the tender process and its outcome. Questionaires were issued in October 1999, to which we have not received all replies at the time of writing this progress report, with respect to the way the competitive tendering process was conducted.
As mentioned in column 2, the contract for the provision of corporate banking services had not been finalised at the time of writing the present Progress Report .
With respect to the management of cash and short-term assets we note that our recommendation to select the managers through a competitive tendering process has now been taken into consideration. We will examine the conduct and the outcome of this tender and assess the performance of the commingled funds with the Northern Trust Company previously in charge of the short-term investments.
With regard to the management of long-term investments our audit work will be pursued on the same lines to review selection procedures and evaluate results and performance.
|Long-term Investments
Closer monitoring of the fund manager(s) performance including visits to the manager's office, is necessary and will require revamping and upgrading of the Treasury.
|Again, with the advice of the ACI and our investment advisor, (Cambridge Associates), we are reviewing diversification of our long-term equity portfolio between a growth manager and a value manager. This review will be completed during the first half of 2000.
|Measures taken by the Organisation will be reviewed and assessed once they have been fully implemented.
|Support Costs
In view of the current proliferation of support costs of various types which obscure the purpose and the measurability of the policy, I recommend that the Secretariat be requested to prepare a comprehensive but much simplified framework for support cost arrangements. In my opinion there are two possible approaches to this question:
a) either tailor support costs to the requirements of individual projects and clearly identify support costs in project budgets;
b) or limit support cost to broad but well defined activities and charge such support
costs to projects by applying a pre-agreed recovery percentages to expenditure.
|FC 93/4 was presented to the Finance Committee in September 1999. The Committee welcomed the review and acknowledged the conceptual framework. At the Committee's request, further papers will be provided to its meeting in May covering the characteristics of the field programme, the methodologies used in the determination of costs, the existing support reimbursement structure and, if available, comparative cost data with other agencies. This will lead to a paper on principles of reimbursement rates including attention to harmonisation and other matters arising out of this broad review.
|No comment at this stage
|Audit of Field Transactions
In order for local audits of field expenditure to support a decentralised accounting structure at a reasonable cost, I recommend that the periodicity of reporting be lengthened (one or two reports a year), the number of contracting auditors reduced and the auditors required to provide audit assurance that imprest reports convey a true and fair view of field transactions.
|In accordance with the External Auditor's recommendation, 1999 audits are
now being performed on a six-monthly basis. This approach has led to a reduction in the
cost of local audits.
With regard to the reduction in the number of contracting auditors, our plan is still to identify a suitable firm in each Region with correspondents in countries where FAO has Representations. Efforts to complete this process have, however, been delayed as a result of resources being diverted to introduction of the Field Offices Accounting System which requires priority.
|Although we are well aware of the priority given to dealing with FAS problems we would like to emphasize the need to reduce the number of contracting auditors and improve the quality of their work.
|Payable and Receivable Accounts
I recommend that, in the context of the installation of the new financial and accounting software being implemented in FAO, the accounting and organisational procedures for posting transactions to receivable and payable accounts be reviewed with a view to making them easier to identify, monitor and clear throughout the biennium.
|This recommendation has been implemented. Reorganisation within AFF has
now clarified responsibility for all balance sheet accounts, including payables and
receivables balances. In addition to the establishment of the Accounts Payable and
Accounts Receivable Units, the new financial systems include Accounts Payable and Accounts
Receivable sub-ledger applications managed by the respective units.
Procedures relating to travel advances and LRIs have also been changed. All staff related transactions are now accounted for in the same way: through an account opened for each staff member within the sub-ledger, managed by the Accounts Receivable Unit.
Functionality includes ageing of balances and the responsibilities of the Accounts Payable and Receivable Units include ensuring that the ageing of balances are at acceptable levels.
|The impact of the reorganisation will be assessed when reviewing the biennial accounts.
I recommend that the Organisation finalise and formalise the delegation of authority to the regional representatives.
|A new Circular on Responsibilities and Relationships (FAO Headquarters and decentralised offices) has been issued in final form. In addition, various Manual Sections have been revised and new manuals have been issued for the Finance function. These steps will result in improved operations between Headquarters and field locations.
|The relationship between Decentralised Offices and Headquarters will be assessed during our planned Field Audit Missions in the first quarter of 2000.
|Replacement of Personnel and financial Management systems
|The review of the development and implementation of the new financial system, Oracle, is closely linked to our audit of the biennial accounts. The first assessment of it will be provided in our Long Form report on the 1998/99 Financial Statements.