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Get the education you need to carry a concealed weapon legally and responsibly
Mass Firearms School is a proud USCCA Official Partner and we encourage every gun owner to take advantage of what the USCCA offers. Click the link below to get their FREE Concealed Carry Guide for more life-saving knowledge
Our Indoor Range is one of the best in the country.
Here's why:
Membership Benefits:
Non-members welcome
Our Education & Training Program is the largest in the state.
Mass Firearms Shop is the retail store division of Mass Firearms School. In addition to offering some of the lowest prices in the country MFS also gives you the ability to try a firearm before you buy it. Click here to visit our retail store web site or to learn more about our store location.
Even if you're not ready to apply for your license just yet, we still welcome gun enthusiasts from Boston, Worcester, Springfield and beyond to come practice shooting at our state-of-the-art indoor range. We like to think of ourselves as the "country club of shooting ranges", meaning our facility is top-notch, always clean and we'll provide you with the best equipment available. Frequent visitors to our indoor range, conveniently located near major cities like Lowell, can join as members, and not only receive unlimited access to our ranges, but also to our armory. We have over $100,000 worth of semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, rifles and shotguns available for guests to practice with. If you prefer not to train or practice alone, members are allowed to bring a friend with them at no additional charge.
Should you enjoy training at our indoor shooting range and want to purchase your own firearm, we can help you there too. Our retail store division offers some of the lowest prices in the country, and gives you the opportunity to try a firearm before you buy it. Our expert staff can help you find the perfect firearm to suit your needs.
Located at 100 Kuniholm Drive in Holliston, Mass Firearms is conveniently situated for Waltham, Newton, Natick and Marlborough residents looking to sharpen their shooting techniques. Visit our shooting sports center today, and see for yourself why we're the Bay State's choice firearms training and shooting center!


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LONE TREE, Colo. — Darcy Velasquez, 42, and her mother, Roberta Truax, were walking recently in the Park Meadows mall about 15 miles south of downtown Denver, looking for Christmas gifts for Velasquez's two children, when they spotted a store with a display of rhinestone-studded masks.
It's an immutable truth of fashion: Sparkles can go a long way with a 9-year-old.
The store is called COVID-19 Essentials. And it may well be the country's first retail chain dedicated solely to an infectious disease.
With many U.S. stores closing during the coronavirus pandemic, especially inside malls, the owners of this chain have seized on the empty space, as well as the world's growing acceptance that wearing masks is a reality that may last well into 2021, if not longer. Masks have evolved from a utilitarian, anything-you-can-find-that-works product into another way to express one's personality, political leanings or sports fandom.
And the owners of COVID-19 Essentials are betting that Americans are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Prices range from $19.99 for a simple children's mask to $130 for the top-of-the-line face covering, with an N95 filter and a battery-powered fan.
Almost all shops and many pop-up kiosks in the Park Meadows mall now sell masks. But COVID-19 Essentials also carries other accessories for the pandemic, in a space that has a more established feel than a holiday pop-up store; permanent signage above its glass doors includes a stylized image of a coronavirus particle. Nestled beside the UNTUCKit shirt store and across from a Tesla showroom, it has neither the brand recognition nor the track record of a J.C. Penney. But longevity doesn't seem to have helped that clothing chain or many others escape industry upheaval during the pandemic. According to analysts at S&P Global Market Intelligence, retail bankruptcies from January to mid-August reached a 10-year-high.
Not that the COVID-19 Essentials owners want their products to be in demand forever.
"I can't wait to go out of business eventually," said Nadav Benimetzky, a Miami retailer who founded COVID-19 Essentials, which now has eight locations around the country.
That seemed to be the attitude of most of the customers who walked into the store on a recent Friday afternoon. Most understood the need for masks — face coverings are required to even enter the mall — and thus they recognized the business case for a COVID-19 store. Still, they hoped masks would soon go the way of bell-bottoms or leg warmers. For the time being, they're making the best of the situation.
Nathan Chen, who owns the Lone Tree store with Benimetzky, previously ran a different store at the Denver airport, but as air travel declined, a COVID-focused business seemed a much better venture. The pandemic giveth and the pandemic taketh away.
Benimetzky opened the first COVID-19 Essentials store in the Aventura Mall in suburban Miami after seeing the demand for N95 masks early in the pandemic. "They're ugly and uncomfortable, and everybody hates them," he said. "I piggybacked off of that. If you're going to wear a mask, you might as well make it fashionable and pretty."
That could mean a sequin or satin mask for more formal occasions, or the toothy grin of a skull mask for casual affairs. Some masks have zippers to make eating easier, or a hole for a straw, with a Velcro closure for when the cup is sucked dry.
The chain has locations in New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Las Vegas, and is looking to open stores in California, where wildfires have only added to the demand for masks.
Initially, the owners really weren't sure the idea would fly. They opened the first store just as malls were reopening following the lockdowns.
"We really didn't grasp how big it would get," Benimetzky said. "We didn't go into it with the idea of opening many stores. But we got busy from the second we opened."
Nancy Caeti, 76, stopped in the Lone Tree store to buy masks for her grandchildren. She bought one with a clear panel for her granddaughter, whose sign language instructor needs to see her lips moving. She bought her daughter, a music teacher and Denver Broncos fan, a mask with the football team's logo.
"I lived through the polio epidemic," Caeti said, as her latex-gloved hand inserted her credit card into the card reader. "It reminds me of that, but that I don't think was as bad." She recalled how her mother had lined her and her siblings up to get the polio vaccine, and said she'd be first in line for a COVID shot.
That perhaps is the one essential the store does not carry. It hawks keylike devices for opening doors and pressing elevator buttons without touching them. Some have a built-in bottle opener. There are ultraviolet-light devices for disinfecting phones and upscale hand sanitizer that employees spray on customers as if it were a department store perfume sample.
But the masks are the biggest draw. The store can personalize them with rhinestone letters or the kind of iron-on patches that teens once wore on their jeans.
Upon entry, customers can check their temperature with a digital forehead scanner with audible directions: "Step closer. Step closer. Temperature normal. Temperature normal."
The store also has added a sink near the entrance so customers can wash their hands before handling the merchandise.
Some mallgoers walk by the store in bewilderment, stopping to take photos to post to social media with a you've-got-to-be-kidding message. One older white couple in matching masks noticed a mask emblazoned with the slogan "Black Lives Matter" in the storefront display, and walked away in disgust.
The store takes no political sides; there are three designs of President Donald Trump campaign masks, two for Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden. One woman, who declined to give her name, came in wearing a mask below her nose and wondered whether a Trump mask would fit her smallish face. The Trump masks are among the more popular sellers, Chen said, so he keeps them in a bigger cabinet to accommodate the extra stock. It's not clear if that will forecast the election results, as some have posited with Halloween mask sales.
Daniel Gurule, 31, stopped by the mall on his lunch hour to pick up an Apple Watch but ventured into the store for a new mask. He said that he normally wore a vented mask but that not all places allowed those. (They protect users but not the people around them.) He bought a $24.99 mask with the logo of the Denver Nuggets basketball team.
"It takes away a little bit of our personalities when everybody is walking around in disposable masks," Chen said. "It kind of looks like a hospital, like everybody is sick."
Most of the masks are sewn specifically for the chain, including many by hand. One of their suppliers is a family of Vietnamese immigrants who sew masks at their Los Angeles home, Benimetzky said. Chen said that it was hard to keep masks in stock, and that every day it seemed some other design became their best seller.
Dorothy Lovett, 80, paused outside the store, leaning on a cane with an animal print design.
"I had to back up and say, 'What the heck is this?'" she said. "I've never seen a mask store before."
She perused the display case, noting she needed to find a better option than the cloth version she was wearing.
"I can't breathe in this one," said Lovett, who is white, before deciding on her favorite. "I like the Black Lives Matter mask."

subset: commoncrawl


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House & Patio Plants
Houseplants add life, color, and texture to living spaces. They also clean the air by filtering out toxins and pollutants. Patio plants are potted plants that we keep outside at least part of the year. Some patio plants are moved in when temperatures dip too low for the plant. This is a great way to enjoy tropical plants in cooler areas where they cannot be planted in the ground.
More Information


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Another popular models imported to us
American cars are gaining more and more popularity. It is noteworthy that the most SUVs come to us from the west. Unfortunately, US car parts are really expensive and often ordinary citizens cannot afford them. Other popular models imported to us are Corvetta and Mustang. Usually in Poland we can find used cars. To directly buy a new car at a car dealership, we need a broker who will use o


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Need a crash course on real estate terms? This glossary will get you started.
DTI, PMI, LTV … TBH, it can be hard to keep all this stuff straight. This lexicon of real estate terms and acronyms will help you speak the language like a pro.
Appraisal management company (AMC): An institution operated independently of a lender that, once notified by a lender, orders a home appraisal.
Appraisal: An informed, impartial and well-documented opinion of the value of a home, prepared by a licensed and certified appraiser and based on data about comparable homes in the area, as well as the appraiser's own walkthrough.
Approved for short sale: A term that indicates that a homeowner's bank has approved a reduced listing price on a home, and the home is ready for resale.
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI): A not-for-profit professional association that sets and promotes standards for property inspections and provides educational opportunities to its members. (i.e., Look for this accreditation or something similar when shopping for a home inspector.)
Attorney state: A state in which a real estate attorney is responsible for closing.
Back-end ratio: One of two debt-to-income ratios that a lender analyzes to determine a borrower's eligibility for a home loan. The ratio compares the borrower's monthly debt payments (proposed housing expenses, plus student loan, car payment, credit card debt, maintenance or child support and installment loans) to gross income.
Buyers market: Market conditions that exist when homes for sale outnumber buyers. Homes sit on the market a long time, and prices drop.
Cancellation of escrow: A situation in which a buyer backs out of a home purchase.
Capacity: The amount of money a home buyer can afford to borrow.
Cash-value policy: A homeowners insurance policy that pays the replacement cost of a home, minus depreciation, should damage occur.
Closing: A one- to two-hour meeting during which ownership of a home is transferred from seller to buyer. A closing is usually attended by the buyer, the seller, both real estate agents and the lender.
Closing costs: Fees associated with the purchase of a home that are due at the end of the sales transaction. Fees may include the appraisal, the home inspection, a title search, a pest inspection and more. Buyers should budget for an amount that is 1% to 3% of the home's purchase price.
Closing disclosure (CD): A five-page document sent to the buyer three days before closing. This document spells out all the terms of the loan: the amount, the interest rate, the monthly payment, mortgage insurance, the monthly escrow amount and all closing costs.
Closing escrow: The final and official transfer of property from seller to buyer and delivery of appropriate paperwork to each party. Closing of escrow is the responsibility of the escrow agent.
Comparative market analysis (CMA): An in-depth analysis, prepared by a real estate agent, that determines the estimated value of a home based on recently sold homes of similar condition, size, features and age that are located in the same area.
Compliance agreement: A document signed by the buyer at closing, in which they agree to cooperate if the lender needs to fix any mistakes in the loan documents.
Comps: Or comparable sales, are homes in a given area that have sold within the past six months that a real estate agent uses to determine a home's value.
Condo insurance: Homeowners insurance that covers personal property and the interior of a condo unit should damage occur.
Contingencies: Conditions written into a home purchase contract that protect the buyer should issues arise with financing, the home inspection, etc.
Conventional 97: A home loan that requires a down payment equivalent to 3% of the home's purchase price. Private mortgage insurance, which is required, can be canceled when the owner reaches 80% equity.
Conventional loan: A home loan not guaranteed by a government agency, such as the FHA or the VA.
Days on market (DOM): The number of days a property listing is considered active.
Depository institutions: Banks, savings and loans, and credit unions. These institutions underwrite as well as set home loan pricing in-house.
Down payment: A certain portion of the home's purchase price that a buyer must pay. A minimum requirement is often dictated by the loan type.
Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): A ratio that compares a home buyer's expenses to gross income.
Earnest money: A security deposit made by the buyer to assure the seller of his or her intent to purchase.
Equity: A percentage of the home's value owned by the homeowner.
Escrow account: An account required by a lender and funded by a buyer's mortgage payment to pay the buyer's homeowners insurance and property taxes.
Escrow agent: A neutral third-party officer who holds all paperwork and funding in trust until all parties in the transaction fulfill their obligations as part of the transfer of property ownership.
Escrow state: A state in which an escrow agent is responsible for closing.
Fannie Mae: A government-sponsored enterprise chartered in 1938 to help ensure a reliable and affordable supply of mortgage funds throughout the country.
Federal Reserve: The central bank of the United States, established in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible and more stable monetary and financial system.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA): A government agency created by the National Housing Act of 1934 that insures loans made by private lenders.
FHA 203(k): A rehabilitation loan backed by the federal government that permits home buyers to finance money into a mortgage to repair, improve or upgrade a home.
Foreclosure: A property repossessed by a bank when the owner fails to make mortgage payments.
Freddie Mac: A government agency chartered by Congress in 1970 to provide a constant source of mortgage funding for the nation's housing markets.
Funding fee: A fee that protects the lender from loss and also funds the loan program itself. Examples include the VA funding fee and the FHA funding fee.
Gentrification: The process of rehabilitation and renewal that occurs in an urban area as the demographic changes. Rents and property values increase, culture changes and lower-income residents are often displaced.
Guaranteed replacement coverage: Homeowners insurance that covers what it would cost to replace property based on today's prices, not original purchase price, should damage occur.
Homeowners association (HOA): The governing body of a housing development, condo or townhome complex that sets rules and regulations and charges dues and special assessments used to maintain common areas and cover unexpected expenses respectively.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC): A revolving line of credit with an adjustable interest rate. Like a credit card, this line of credit has a limit. There is a specified time during which money can be drawn. Payment in full is due at the end of the draw period.
Home equity loan: A lump-sum loan that allows the homeowner to use the equity in their home as collateral. The loan places a lien against the property and reduces home equity.
Home inspection: A nondestructive visual look at the systems in a building. Inspection occurs when the home is under contract or in escrow.
Homeowners insurance: A policy that protects the structure of the home, its contents, injury to others and living expenses should damage occur.
Housing ratio: One of two debt-to-income ratios that a lender analyzes to determine a borrower's eligibility for a home loan. The ratio compares total housing cost (principal, homeowners insurance, taxes and private mortgage insurance) to gross income.
In escrow: A period of time (30 days or longer) after a buyer has made an offer on a home and a seller has accepted. During this time, the home is inspected and appraised, and the title searched for liens, etc.
Jumbo loan: A loan amount that exceeds the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac limit, which is generally $425,100 in most parts of the U.S.
Listing price: The price of a home, as set by the seller.
Loan estimate: A three-page document sent to an applicant three days after they apply for a home loan. The document includes loan terms, monthly payment and closing costs.
Loan-to-value ratio (LTV): The amount of the loan divided by the price of the house. Lenders reward lower LTV ratios.
Market value coverage: Homeowners insurance that covers the amount the home would go for on the market, not the cost to repair, should damage occur.
Mechanic's lien: A hold against a property, filed in the county recorder's office by someone who's done work on a home and not been paid. If the homeowner refuses to pay, the lien allows a foreclosure action.
Mortgage broker: A licensed professional who works on behalf of the buyer to secure financing through a bank or other lending institution.
Mortgage companies: Lenders who underwrite loans in-house and fund loans from a line of credit before selling them off to a loan buyer.
Mortgage interest deduction: Mortgage interest paid in a year subtracted from annual gross salary.
Mortgage interest rate: The price of borrowing money. The base rate is set by the Federal Reserve and then customized per borrower, based on credit score, down payment, property type and points the buyer pays to lower the rate.
Multiple listing service (MLS): A database where real estate agents list properties for sale.
Origination fee: A fee, charged by a broker or lender, to initiate and complete the home loan application process.
Piggyback loan: A combination of loans bundled to avoid private mortgage Insurance. One loan covers 80% of the home's value, another loan covers 10% to 15% of the home's value, and the buyer contributes the remainder.
Principal, interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance (PITI): The components of a monthly mortgage payment.
Private mortgage insurance (PMI): A fee charged to borrowers who make a down payment that is less than 20% of the home's value. The fee, 0.3% to 1.5% of the yearly loan amount, can be canceled in certain circumstances when the borrower reaches 20% equity.
Points: Prepaid interest owed at closing, with one point representing 1% of the loan. Paying points, which are tax deductible, will lower the monthly mortgage payment.
Pre-approval: A thorough assessment of a borrower's income, assets and other data to determine a loan amount they would qualify for. A real estate agent will request a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter before showing a buyer a home.
Pre-qualification: A basic assessment of income, assets and credit score to determine what, if any, loan programs a borrower might qualify for. A real estate agent will request a pre-approval or pre-qualification letter before showing a buyer a home.
Property tax exemption: A reduction in taxes based on specific criteria, such as installation of a renewable energy system or rehabilitation of a historic home.
Round table closing: All parties (the buyer, the seller, the real estate agents and maybe the lender) meet at a specified time to sign paperwork, pay fees and finalize the transfer of homeownership.
Sellers market: Market conditions that exist when buyers outnumber homes for sale. Bidding wars are common.
Short sale: The sale of a home by an owner who owes more on the home than it's worth (i.e., "underwater" or "upside down"). The owner's bank must approve a lower listing price before the home can be sold.
Special assessment: A fee charged by a condo complex HOA when cash on reserve is not enough to cover unexpected expenses.
Tax lien: The government's legal claim against property when the homeowner neglects or fails to pay a tax debt.
Third-party review required: Verbiage included in a home listing to indicate that the lender has not yet approved the home for short sale. The seller must submit the buyer's offer to the lender for approval.
Title insurance: Insurance that protects the buyer and lender should an individual or entity step forward with a claim that was attached to the property before the seller transferred legal ownership of the property or "title" to the buyer.
Transfer stamps: The form in which transfer taxes are paid by the home buyer. Stamps can also serve as proof of transfer tax payment.
Transfer taxes: Fees imposed by the state, county or municipality on transfer of title.
Under contract: A period of time (30 days or longer) after a buyer has made an offer on a home and a seller has accepted. During this time, the home is inspected and appraised, and the title is searched for liens, etc.
Underwater or upside down: A situation in which a homeowner owes more for a property than it's worth.
Underwriting: A process a lender follows to assess a home loan applicant's income, assets and credit, and the risk involved in offering the applicant a mortgage.
VA home loan: A home loan partially guaranteed by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs and offered by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies.
VantageScore: A credit scoring model lenders use to make lending decisions. A borrower's score is based on bill-paying habits, debt balances, age, variety of credit accounts and number of inquiries on credit reports.
Walkthrough: A buyer's final inspection of a home before closing.
Water certificate: A document that certifies that a water account has been paid in full. The seller must produce this certificate at closing.


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Authored by Win Myo Htet
I have read some comment on SO about how they have learned a new language. One commenter said that a week is too short, yet, somehow the management expect that people learn a new language in a week. Some smart people chime in and said that how they have acquired a new language: "Java in 3 days", "C++ in one week" or "given a C++ book after the successful interview to start coding in it when the individual begins the work (the time difference between the interview date and starting date not given)", "(relevant or not about acquiring a new language) one was given some circuit board on interview". There even is a book "Seven Languages in Seven Weeks". I cannot learn seven language in seven weeks . Well, definitely I am not in a smart camp. I am an average one. There is a well developed theory and term for programmer like me, I think. Something like COTM or something.
It takes me over a month to learn Scala. I don't claim to know all now. I don't know if my lack of academic background in CS or my lack of exposure to functional programming has lengthen the time to learn Scala. Definitely, I can say that Scala is not hard. Then, it must be easy! Learning on my own (as norm in this industry), I stumbles here and there. For example, I should have at least browsed the Scala List API for available functions. There also is a balancing act between functional programming and OO paradigm. I think, that's where a lot of people stumble too. After all, the functional programming paradigm with its immutability make the imperative programmer felt being hand cuffed and they get obsessed with the restraint such that they fail to see how it is liberating them from corruption of data. Twitter has done a good job of balancing between the two. I have gone through some of their open source projects on github and analyze their usage.
Twitter usage is not very far off from imperative domain. They make use of Scala pattern matching a lot to its effect and not afraid to use mutability when it is needed. After all, Scala has given such elasticity. Talking about Scala elasticity, Lift framework, a popular Scala open source web framework, tips toward functional programming side. There is nothing wrong with both approaches. It depends upon how much one is familiar with the functional programming and how much one want to leverage the edge that functional programming give. I have also seen people writing imperative code in Scala and said "Why bother?". "Yeah, why bother?" Though I am looking toward for the day when I can use more functional programming stuff, my pragmatic side make me settled on the Twitter's approach of the mix paradigm. After all, the
If I can travel back over a month time to guide me, there won't be much to tell my old self except to skim through the Scala List API at least once and to have a balanced approached to functional programming and OO paradigm. Everything else I have been doing have been on a right track, like not using any IDE and taking advantage of Scala REPL, getting my hand dirty writing code with Scala, read some blog (definitely avoid the political ones!), write some blog (it forces you to have clarity of understanding on the thing you write.) and read some codes too.
Learning Scala makes me a better programmer by being exposed to a different paradigm and knowledge. There is nothing much else to say. I have to admit that I have to make some conscious effort to learn Scala since I am not omniscience.
Authored by Win Myo Htet


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Any interview situation can be nerve-racking. What if you freeze because a certain question takes you off guard? What's the right way to answer to increase your chances of getting the job you're interviewing for? And if you're the one doing the hiring, how do you know you're asking the right questions to find the best person for the job?
To take off some of the pressure, we've reached out to design leaders to give you exclusive insight into the questions they like asking in job interviews for designers. This is a list of questions you can expect to come up during interviews, what interviewers can learn by asking them, and how to prepare for them. If you're on the recruiting side, you might also discover a question or two you haven't considered asking prospective designers before.
Let's get started.
11 Design Interview Questions
1. "Can you tell me about your most significant achievement?"
According to user experience consultant Ian Fenn, who's currently writing a book about UX portfolio design, this is the crucial first question you'll be asked in an interview.
"It follows the performance-based hiring system developed by former recruiter Lou Adler," Ian explains. "This recruitment method is particularly well-suited to the hiring of designers as it focuses on identifying candidates that are interested in both taking on challenges and opportunities for growth—essential attributes of the best designers."
The key to answering this question is preparation, Ian advises. Have examples prepared of how you reduced bounce rate or increased conversions. One of the reasons he recommends designers maintain a web design portfolio of case studies is that it helps them get their stories straight for an interview.
Producing a portfolio makes questions like this a breeze, as you'll already have some well-rehearsed stories to choose from.
"Producing a portfolio makes questions like this a breeze, as you'll already have some well-rehearsed stories to choose from," he points out. "Referring to the case study for your chosen project, you'll be able to clearly and succinctly describe your employer or client, the problem that they asked you to solve, and who you worked with. You'll also be able to share the challenges you faced, how you (and your team) dealt with them, and the final project outcome, preferably referencing specific measurements where possible. Finally, you'll also be prepared to explain how you grew as a result of the project, and any lessons learned."
You might also like: How to Build a Great Design Portfolio — Shopify Designers Weigh In.
2. "Can you tell me about a project that didn't go as planned?"
Of course you should be prepared to talk about your successes, but user experience designer and consultant Sarah Doody stresses that you should also be prepared to discuss projects that were challenging.
"When you answer this question, show your maturity as a designer and professional by being reflective," she suggests. "For example, in hindsight what could have been done differently? If you'd had unlimited time and budget, what would have been the best way to approach the project?"
Sarah also advises to not just focus on what didn't go as planned, but also consider why it didn't, and how you and the team got into that situation.
"If part of the answer to this question has to do with decisions by stakeholders that were out of your control, then eloquently convey that," he recommends. "But don't slam colleagues, clients, or other contributors!"
And, for some guidance on how to avoid having a project come off the rails, check out our article on writing an effective design brief.
You might also like: Follow This 3-Step Process to Hire the Web Developer of Your Dreams.
3. "What has been your biggest f**k up? And what did you do about it?"
Jane Austin, Director of Product Design at digital healthcare startup Babylon Health, asks a similar question but goes one step further.
"I love asking this question," she explains. "It really takes people off guard, and their answer gives you an interesting insight into the kind of person they are. I might be ruining the element of surprise by telling you about it, but I'm looking to see if people can think on their feet and are honest, trustworthy, and accountable."
I might be ruining the element of surprise by telling you about it, but I'm looking to see if people can think on their feet and are honest, trustworthy, and accountable.
Jane gets the best answers when somebody tells her a story about taking a risk, failing, and learning something from it.
"It's good to take calculated risks," she points out. "It's how you grow as a designer, and it shows me you have the entrepreneurial mindset that helps you succeed in a fast-paced high growth start-up environment."
Other answers focus on occasions when people have simply messed up, such as CCing the wrong person, losing something, or accidentally deleting entire files.
"I'm not particularly bothered about what they have done (as long as it's not illegal) but I do care about how they have dealt with the fall-out," Jane clarifies. "Did they own up to the mistake? Did they try to cover it up, or did they face the problem head on? Did they panic, or did they come up with a solution?"
"People's behavior in these circumstances will give you a good insight into their personality and how they will be as a colleague. I'm looking for people that own their mistakes, keep a cool head in a crisis, and who have a bias to action and problem-solving rather than panicking and doing nothing. The final reason that I ask this question is that I get to hear some brilliantly funny stories!"
You might also like: How to Hire Employees: The Essential List of Resources for Agency Owners.
4. "What's the role of a product designer?" (or, "What does design mean to you?")
Product designer Artiom Dashinsky, author of Solving Product Design Exercises, argues that a lot of designers think the role of design is mostly around aesthetics, and that design schools, visual-centric design communities, and businesses hiring designers are responsible. While he acknowledges that visuals play a big part in design, he likes to ask this question because it positions design as a problem-solving tool and a way to achieve business goals.
"Even if this question doesn't come up, as a candidate you will want to clarify your opinion on it, because you don't want to work in a company which thinks about it significantly differently," he explains. "It's the same from the interviewer's perspective—this is probably the most important aspect both sides should agree on in order to work together successfully. If there's a misalignment on this topic, the rest of the interview might be irrelevant."
This is probably the most important aspect both sides should agree on in order to work together successfully. If there's a misalignment on this topic, the rest of the interview might be irrelevant.
Artiom says that the best designers in product companies know they have been hired to be part of teams that are responsible for business objectives, whether that's through marketing, operations, sales, or support. That's why he recommends framing your answer from a business perspective.
"I believe that a designer's role is to translate business objectives into solutions that help the company succeed. In order to do that, a designer provides the company's customers with solutions that solve their problems. To achieve that, a designer will apply design ethics and advocate for the user's needs."
Artiom also believes that designers should learn more about such an approach to build a successful career, as it wouldn't change your mindset if you just claimed it during an interview and didn't learn more about it. He suggests watching a great talk by Bobby Ghoshal on this topic, or reading his book on preparing for design interviews and practicing product thinking.
5. "What do you enjoy most about working in design?"
Jason Mesut, founder of consultancy Resonant Design and Innovation, points out that though there's no right answer to this question, he likes asking it because you get to see the candidate when they 'light up'.
"Too often interview questions seem designed to catch people out, but I always like to get people comfortable," he explains. "I want to see them at their best. I want to see where their passions lie."
The answers you could get range from the support of meetup events to specific parts of the design process or approach candidates use.
"This sort of question can help you see when someone is being sincere and where they really are most happy."
"You can then drill into the answers more and see work that they hopefully enjoyed doing," Jason advises. "Find out why they enjoyed it. This sort of question can help you see when someone is being sincere and where they really are most happy. It can also help you understand how they could connect to other people in the organization."
6. "Have you revisited your key success metrics since successful launches? How are they the same or different?"
Katrina Bautista, a Senior Product Designer on Shopify's Platform team, often gets brought on to do two types of design interviews. One is a design deep dive, which digs into a candidate's critical thinking and passion for design as well as their hobbies and curiosities. The other one is a portfolio review. During that type of interview, Kat often finds candidates focus on the outcomes and successes of the project.
"That's logical, since of course you want to show the happy endings and outcomes," Kat explains. "However, some of the best interview discussions I've had come from talking about the hardships and the 'not-so-happily-ever-afters', so I ask a few questions along those lines after a candidate shows me a deep dive into one of their portfolio projects."
Asking whether a candidate has revisited their key success metrics since the launch of a project offers a different way of discussing failure or coming short of goals.
"It avoids the premade traps of 'what's your greatest weakness?' sort of questions," Kat points out. "If a design candidate is able to show that they stayed connected to their work after launch, it shows maturity as well as a grasp of the reality—no work is ever really finished, and it's meaningful to keep measuring our launched work so we can improve. It also helps assess if the designer has a data-driven, outcome-critical mindset and cracks open any veneers of vanity metrics like 'we got one million visits at launch… but no return visits'."
You might also like: Finding Technical Talent: How to Start the Hiring Process.
7. "What is the invisible part of this work? Can you describe it to me?"
UX designers tend to have clean, minimal outputs, so Kat also likes to ask about the invisible work, such as research, tech debt, or organizational influence that the designer needed to flex.
"Candidates are often nervous during portfolio reviews," Kat explains. "Sometimes they may put on extra bravado to combat this, which might seem like ego. When I go into the 'invisible parts' question with candidates, often I am able to see if they're a generous team player and able to give credit to their teammates, while also owning their own work."
Sometimes the simplest or most mundane UI designs are the visual output of a well-executed program of stakeholder management, user research, and team coordination, Kat adds. These are assets in a designer that aren't always easily unearthed in a portfolio slideshow.
8. "Can you talk me through some project work that best illustrates your process and your favorite type of solution? They don't have to be the same project."
Jason Mesut also might ask about a favorite solution for a complex interaction or rich data challenge.
"Too often job descriptions and interview questions are generic," Jason admits. "In the more recent hiring roles I've had, I've been keen to find the specific points of difference and make sure I am expressing these in the interview. But more importantly, in a portfolio review, I want to ensure that I am hiring against those specific areas and asking to see work examples that map to those."
When Jason worked at strategic UX design and front-end technology agency RMA Consulting, for example, he was very interested in people who had experience in designing for complex applications with rich interaction.
"I was keen to see any examples of that type of work to drill into," he remembers. "If a candidate didn't have that, it was fine, as long as they didn't bullshit. I would just find something similar in their work to probe around."
9."Have you ever had to come to a compromise or make trade-offs with a team you were working with? How did you navigate that interaction, and what was the outcome?"
For Aaron Irizarry, head of Design Operations for Commercial Design at Capital One and co-author of Discussing Design: Improving Communication and Collaboration through Critique, it's also crucial to find out if a candidate is a team player.
As designers, we have to work with varying teams and partners in the product design process," he explains. "As a result, there are a number of opinions, needs, agendas, and politics that can come into play as we work to deliver products and experiences."
When he conducts interviews, Aaron looks to see how candidates navigate less than ideal scenarios or relationships while continuing to push the work as close to the ideal outcome as possible through compromise and trade-offs.
"I have found that if we aren't careful, it can be easy for idealism to override our commitment to our goals," he warns. "With this in mind, I think it's very important for designers to have realistic expectations about their work and partner relationships. Designers who can successfully navigate the compromises and trade-offs with partner teams stand to have a positive impact on the desired outcomes of the team or organization."
10. "What was your favorite day at work in the last few years and why?"
This is one of the questions Alastair Simpson, head of design at Atlassian Cloud, loves to ask at the end of interviews, as it often surprises people.
"I'm not looking to catch people out," he clarifies. "I like the question because it makes people think about the happy times in their existing job—and there are almost always happy times!—when they are actively interviewing for a different role. I also like the question as it can reveal a lot about how people think about their impact at a company, whether they frame it in terms of their own achievements, or how they impacted their team or customers."
The not-so-great responses to this question focus on the achievements of the individual, Alastair explains. They focus on their own ambition rather than the ambition and outcomes achieved by a team. The great answers to this question shine a light on how someone positively impacted those around them or customers of the company they worked at.
"Maybe they helped grow a graduate designer into a lead designer, coaching and mentoring them along the way and creating the right environment for that person to thrive and realize their own career potential," Alastair suggests. "They should rightly be proud of it. Or maybe they led a difficult project through ups and downs, reflecting on their own mistakes, focusing on the team's achievements and ultimately how the project impacted key customer metrics in a positive way. Again, this is something to be proud of."
Alastair also loves this question because when people answer it thoughtfully and with passion, it unearths the intrinsic motivation that drives people. This is key to understanding if they will be a real team player or just a lone genius that could disrupt your team.
You might also like: Tips and Tricks for Managing Remote Employees.
11. "Can you describe a day in this job three months from now?"
According to Claudio Guglieri, Group Creative Director at Huge, one of the biggest challenges when hiring is the expectations leveling required when talking to external designers.
"Over the years we have crafted a somewhat unrealistic representation of what it's like to work in this industry," he cautions. "Depending on how seasoned the folks you're talking to are, they might feel that the delta between expectations and reality is a bit extreme. It's important that potential hires see beyond the perks, podcasts, post-its, kombucha on tap, and high-end coffee, and understand the deep thinking, collaboration challenges, and to some extend the stress associated with that uncomfortable feeling of being out of your comfort zone."
Claudio therefore always loves hearing what people understand and hope their work will be like. He then gives them his understanding of what was realistic or not in their description. There is no real prep you can do for this question, other than having a mature understanding of the position you are applying for and the work the team does.
Come prepared
Of course, our list is by no means exhaustive. Everyone favors different interviewing techniques, and so it's impossible to know what exactly awaits you in the interview room. You may not encounter some of the questions we've covered above, but it's good to be aware of them and come prepared. Invest time in producing your portfolio, and be ready to talk about successes and challenging situations you've had to deal with alike. It might just give you the edge over the competition. And as an employer, these questions should spark some inspiration in what to ask during your next hiring cycle. Good luck!
What questions have you found particularly useful during interviews? Let us know in the comments below.


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25 Mar / Easy Kaya (Coconut Egg Jam) à la Martha Stewart
I've been thinking about kaya a lot lately—that creamy, unctuous coconut egg jam that was the foundation of many a childhood breakfast. I ate kaya at home between toasted sandwich slices (Gardenia, of course). I ate the holy trinity of Singapore breakfasts–kaya toast, soft-boiled egg, and iced Milo–at the neighborhood kopitiam (coffee shop). And I ate kaya swirled into soft loaves of bread that my mom bought from the local bakery.
I was definitely craving kaya. Unfortunately, the store-bought specimens looked like jam only ET could love but maybe even he would be put off by the fluorescent yellow or green hue. And not surprisingly, it tasted bad too.
So I did a little research to see what it would take to make kaya at home. After skimming a few recipes that required freshly-squeezed coconut milk, 10 eggs, and/or hours of stirring over a hot water bath, I all but gave up.
Then it hit me. Kaya's ingredients and texture are similar to a curd! So I looked up the recipe for lemon curd in Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook and realized it would be so easy to tweak to make kaya. The ingredients are surprisingly similar. The biggest difference was that instead of whole eggs, only the yolks are used. And it takes only about 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish!
To be honest, I was a little skeptical. But the recipe was easy to follow and the curd/custard turned out perfect in taste and texture the very first time!
Thank you, Martha!
Easy Kaya (Coconut Egg Jam) à la Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart didn't really come up with a kaya recipe but her lemon curd recipe was the inspiration for my version. Instead of palm sugar, you can also use brown sugar—light or dark, it doesn't matter–and/or use a mix of white granulated and brown. And feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste. If you can't find pandan leaves, don't fret, just leave them out. Or you might want to try vanilla. Personally, I don't find vanilla to be an adequate substitute for the complex flavor and aroma of pandan leaves. But, if you didn't grow up with it, you probably won't care. Just sayin'.
Makes: 1 cup
Time: 15 minutes
¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk (not light coconut milk please!)
4 egg yolks
3-1/2 ounces palm sugar (2 discs), crushed, or 1/2 cup sugar
2 to 3 pandan leaves, tied into a knot
Combine the coconut milk, egg yolks, and sugar in a medium heavy-bottom saucepan and whisk until smooth. Add the pandan leaves and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, 8 to 10 minutes. To be doubly sure the custard is cooked, it should register 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Don't forget to scrape down the sides!
Remove the saucepan from the heat and discard the pandan leaves. Strain through a fine sieve into a small glass bowl or jar with a lid. Leave uncovered until completely cool. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Kaya Toast
The authentic way to make kaya toast is to grill your sandwich slices—white bread is best, Gardenia or WonderBread is even better–is over coals. Since this is not always possible, just toast it. Slather a thick layer of butter (at least ½-inch according to some sources), followed by a hefty layer of kaya. This is not meant to be diet food!! Remove the crusts, halve, and serve with coffee, tea, or Milo!
For something a little different, sandwich kaya and butter between two Jacob's Cream Crackers.


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Dual Sport 3 Women's is a high-performance hybrid bike with upgraded components that stand up to long rides on a variety of surfaces, from city streets to gravel trails. The lightweight frame with best-in-class standover height is easy to accessorize for your style of riding with racks, fenders, a fitness tracker, lights, and more. Plus, touchpoints designed specifically for women, front suspension, Tubeless Ready rims, and puncture-resistant tires give you the confidence to take on bigger adventures.
It's right for you if...
You want to up the adventure level on your recreational rides, and want a fast and rugged hybrid bike with quality parts that will withstand daily commutes, fitness rides on light trails, rail trail tours, and more.
The tech you get
A lightweight Alpha Gold Aluminum frame with internal cable routing and a sloping top tube for easy mounting and dismounting, an SR Suntour NEX fork with a lockout feature, an upgraded 2x9 Shimano drivetrain with a wide range of gearing, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for all-weather stopping power, Tubeless Ready rims, puncture-resistant Bontrager GR1 Expert Hard-Case Lite tires, a Bontrager H1 Women's saddle, rack and fender mounts, ergonomic grips, DuoTrap S compatibility, and a Blendr stem for easy accessory integration.
The final word
Dual Sport 3 Women's is fast and efficient on pavement and confident and capable on dirt trails. It has upgrades on the parts that make the biggest difference in performance, like the higher-quality 2x9 Shimano drivetrain, Women's Specific Design touchpoints, Tubeless Ready rims, and puncture-resistant tires.
Why you'll love it
- The fork's hydraulic lockout feature ensures you're always riding efficiently: close it for smooth pavement, open it up on rougher trails
- A wide range of gearing means you never have to pedal too hard or too soft, even on the biggest hills
- It's easy to accessorize with racks, a kickstand, fenders, lights, and fitness devices to track your ride data when you add DuoTrap S
- Internal cable routing extends the life of your cables and adds to the bike's sleek look
- Why choose between the road and trail? Dual Sport is a versatile hybrid that excels on a variety of terrain
Frame | Alpha Gold Aluminum, DuoTrap S compatible, internal cable routing, rack & fender mounts, post mount disc, kickstand mount |
Fork | SR Suntour NEX, coil spring, preload, hydraulic lockout, 63mm travel |
Headset | 1-1/8'' threadless, sealed cartridge bearings |
Axles | Quick Release |
Rims/Wheels | Bontrager Tubeless Ready Disc, 32-hole, presta valve |
Hubs |
Front: Formula DC-20, alloy, 6-bolt, 5x100mm QR Rear: Formula DC-22, alloy, 6-bolt, Shimano 8/9/10 freehub, 135x5mm QR |
Spokes | 14g, stainless |
Tires | Bontrager GR1 Expert, Hard-Case Lite, wire bead, 60 tpi, 700 x 40c |
Crankset | Shimano MT210, chainguard, 170mm length |
Chainrings | 46/30T |
Chain | KMC X9, 9 speed |
Front Derailleur | Shimano T3000, 34.9mm clamp, top swing, dual pull |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Acera M3000, Shadow design, long cage |
Cassette/Rear Cogs | Shimano HG200, 11-36, 9 speed |
Shifters | Shimano Acera M3000, 9 speed |
Handlebars | Bontrager Comp Lowriser, alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 600mm width |
Tape/Grips | Bontrager XR Endurance Elite, lock-on, ergonomic |
Stem | Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree |
Brakes | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc, post mount, 160mm rotor |
Pedals | Wellgo M141, resin body, alloy cage |
Saddle | Bontrager H1 Women's |
Seat Post | Bontrager alloy, 27.2mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length |
* Subject to change without notice.
Part Numbers
Option | UPC | MPN | Store SKU |
Purple Flip / Small | 601842131367 | 587082 | DUA24525075P |


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Birthday Girl with Gifts clip art
Clip art of a birthday girl holding a stack of beautiful gifts.
This image is free to use in your web site or project subject to our terms of service. Click the image to download a larger free version in JPG format. Or, you can download the hi-res version for $4 which provides the image in hi-resolution, in JPG, GIF, Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator formats.


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"Goal Oriented" - A boy rises early to pursue his life goals to be great.
Limited Edition size of 250
––––– Print Options –––––
Limited Edition Giclee Print: This beautiful print of Craig's original painting reveals his brush strokes on a stretched thick gallery-wrapped canvas that can be hung without a frame. This piece of art will be signed and numbered meaning you will have one of limited specific in number. All limited edition pieces also come a certificate of authenticity. Limited Edition pieces are a wonderful investment since they rise in value because once all are sold in the edition, there are no more that will ever be printed in that edition size.
Limited Edition Hand Embellished: Craig's giclee prints show his work in amazing detail. We offer an optional premium service to embellish (add hand-painted texture to) your art, giving it the look and feel of the original painting! With this option, your giclee will be printed and then hand-painted on top to add texture and depth. Select "Embellished Giclee" to make your art one-of-a-kind!
For Giclee prints please allow up to 2 weeks for your order to be printed before shipped.
★★★★★Add customer reviews and testimonials to showcase your store's happy customers.Author's nameLos Angeles, CA
Add customer reviews and testimonials to showcase your store's happy customers.


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Authentic Batik Textile Art Lotus Goddess 40" x 38" Multi Color
Batik Art Wall Hang ~ "Lotus Goddess", artist signed by Shakina. Gorgeous batik textile art on 100% quality rayon. It measures 38 inches wide by 40 inches tall. There is a rod pocket across the top that will accommodate up to a 1.5 inch rod. Each piece is individually hand done so there may be slight variations complimentary to a unique piece. Batik is an age old method developed by the Indonesians. It is the art of creating design using the application of wax and dyes. It is a time-consuming process that can only be created by hand. After the batik process is completed the artist hand jewels each piece adding a lovely three dimensional appeal. The colors are vibrant and rich and will bring good energy to the room. We guarantee you will be absolutely delighted with your new batik art wall hanging.
~Batik is always unique ~:-)


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13 Super Secret Stair Storage Ideas
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Underneath the stairs lies a great abyss known as unused space in most homes. Check out this list of 13 inspirational ideas to kick-start how to use your stairs, steps, and angles to your best small space advantage!
In no particular order, here are our favorite 13 ways to efficiently use your staircase space:
- Stair Drawers: When you think about it, directly underneath your steps are layers of unused space. So why not add functionality to those common rectangles by transforming them into drawers? Perfect for shoes, out of season clothes, and sports equipment that needs to be out of sight, but still accessible.
- Mudroom shelves: Perfect for spaces that abut doors in and out of the house, these shelves and drawers can keep your indoor/outdoor clothes organized. This is also a great storage idea for closets that are next to stairwells.
- Vertical Stairs: Attics, crawl spaces, and lofts can be hard to reach, and awkward to make space for stairs. These vertical units pull out to become stairs, while still serving as great storage boxes.
- Alternating Step Shelves :These fun step shelves make the stairs add taller shelving for big books, or larger items, while still making the stairs comfortable to climb. And check out how funky they look!
- Stairway of Cube Variations: Great for storing a lot of different sized items, these deep cubed shelves are sturdy and sleek. The bottom row is perfect for shoes and the other cubbies for whatever comes your way.
- Wine Rack Cove: Smaller spaces beneath the stairs call for small items to be stored. This built-in wine-rack fits perfectly in the petite cove beneath the stairwell.
- Appliances, Big and Small: Sometimes the best place to put bulky appliances is in the wall. From fridges and dishwashers to washers and dryers, storing them underneath the steps can give you a great deal more space, without losing your amenities.
- Linen Closet: For sheets, towels, and other items that fit nicely into drawers, storing them beneath the stairs is a convenient and out of the way location. Quick to access, but not taking up noticeable space is a perfect place for these items.
- Serious Storage: Now for those with serious storage needs, this customizable series of drawers and shelves are perfect. Out of sight, out of mind, and everything in its place with this system.
- Pull Out Shelves: Keep sports equipment and other miscellaneous items organized and out of sight with these pull-out shelves beneath the steps.
- Free floating shelves: If you are looking for more places to display your style and knick knacks, then installing free-floating shelves underneath the stairs helps tie in that part of the room and make it feel warm and purposeful.
- Television Center :Although I love those picture frames that turn out to be TVs, I now also adore this idea of hiding it underneath the steps. Taking the TV out of the center of the room and putting it behind closed and non-obvious doors keeps it from being a focal point.
- Library Staircase: This unique piece hosts an entire library in the enclosed stairwell. With variations in the step lengths, entire volumes can be organized in these steps!
What are your favorites?
(Images: As linked)


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The Museums & Historic Structures directory contains contact information for thousands of history museums, historic house museums, living history museums, and museums that specialize in a particular subject such as presidential history, maritime history and native american history.
In addition we maintain a comprehensive directory of historic theaters operating in the United States (Canada coming soon). Be sure to also view our historic theaters photo gallery in the "Historic Photo Gallery" section.
Please click on a category below to view history museums and other historic structures:
For our full directory of preservation-related books, please visit our Preservation Bookstore by clicking here.


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"The plan which I suggest is a great London University," wrote the Scottish-born poet Thomas Campbell to The Times on 9 February 1825, in a letter specifically addressed to Henry Brougham (Rector of Glasgow University, and the future Lord Chancellor). What he envisaged was an institution "for effectively and multifariously teaching, examining, exercising, and rewarding with honours in the liberal arts and sciences the youth of our middling rich people between the ages of 15 or 16 and 20 or later." Days after the letter appeared, Campbell was met by Brougham, James Mill (Bentham's protégé) and others, and shares began to be issued for a new university. With the backing of Dissenters, Jews and Utilitarians alike, what would become University College, London, was founded early in 1826. The first stone of its imposing Bloomsbury building was laid in 1827, "with great solemnity and amid much popular sympathy." These are the words of Harriet Grote, the (then) young wife of George Grote, the youngest man on the founding council. "This event may truly be said to have formed an epoch in our domestic history," she continues. "Much sensation was occasioned by it, not only in England but on the Continent.... The fact was, that the Dissenting body were now becoming powerful enough to insist upon having a superior education for their sons; the exclusion of whom from the English Universities [i.e., Oxford and Cambridge] had long been felt as a serious grievance" (55-56).
Two Views of University College, London. Left: The Wilkins Portico. Right: Looking towards the Slade School of Fine Art in the North Wing. [Click on thumbnails for larger images and additional information.]
The very fact that the new establishment was to be secular, and yet obstinately laid claim to university status, drew down the wrath of the establishment. Another contemporary describes "the general disapprobation with which it was regarded by both Tories and Churchmen, on account of its secular and unsectarian principles," saying that "the storms of opposition which raged around it threatened to crush every spark of vital energy which remained" (MacIlworth 32). But the sparks were not so easily crushed. The Rev. Dr. George D'Oyly, rector of Lambeth, who took particular exception to what was going on in Bloomsbury, therefore published an open letter proposing another establishment in the capital — one in which Christian principles would be instilled, and "the services of religion ... performed as directed in our National Church" (qtd. in Hearnshaw 38). Under the patronage of King George IV, and with the active support of his then Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, plans for a rival Anglican institution were duly launched in the summer of 1828. Wellington's support was so active that he accepted the Earl of Winchilsea's challenge to a pistol duel over it (the Earl was also enraged by Wellington's support of the Roman Catholic Relief Act). This duly took place on 21 March 1829, Luckily, only a token shot was fired, followed by an apology, and the project for King's College, London, proceeded as planned.
University College London v. King's College London. [Click on thumbnail for a larger image.]
An amusing cartoon of the time shows the supporters of each college on a seesawing plank, laying into each other with gusto. Brougham, to the fore of the Dissenters, wields a broomstick, while the very elderly Jeremy Bentham, his dressing gown flying, dispatches a hail of books at the enemy from the rear. On the other side, the Archbishop of Canterbury brandishes his crosier, the Rev. Dr. George d'Oyly hangs on tight, and one of the plump bishops behind him yells, "KINGS COL FOR EVER HUZZA" (qtd. in Hearnshaw 42). The slender ballast of Sense and Science on Brougham's side is quite outweighed by the fat sack of Money and Interest on the other side, at which the Devil himself leers gleefully. At any moment the already hefty prelates might dip into the fires of hell below them, in which case, ironically enough, their skinny "godless" rivals would be catapulted up into heaven (though one man has already fallen off). Feelings ran high in those first years.
At any rate, both foundations went ahead. Although only the central part of its building was complete, the "godless" place in Bloomsbury, which persisted in calling itself London University, opened its doors in 1828. It is unfair to suggest, as Peter Ackroyd has done, that its aim was solely to "train engineers and doctors": for example, philosophy was on the agenda from the start, as were modern foreign languages and English language and literature — "especially notable innovations" at the time (Harte and North 58). There was even a chair of Hindustani. It is true, though, that its founders had no interest in producing "scholars and divines" after the Oxbridge model (Ackroyd 512), and that was its great attraction. King's, with its chapel ostentatiously at its very heart, was also only half-finished at the time of its opening ceremony on a gloomy October day in 1831. Here too there was a clause in the prospectus which "enabled nonconformists of all sorts to enter the college freely" (Hearnshaw 80), and here too a new range of subjects was on offer, including chemistry, English literature, the principles of commerce, and so on. In other words, there was not quite such a big difference between the two as might have been expected.
Three Views of King's College, London. Left: The Old Gateway. Middle: The College Building in 1833. Right: The Chapel. Click on images to enlarge them.
With both institutions admitting students now, some sort of equilibrium was achieved. This was helped by the fact that Brougham, chairman of the governing body of the Bloomsbury establishment, had automatically become a governor of King's as well on taking up his appointment as Lord Chancellor in 1830. He then diplomatically professed to having had warm feelings towards it from the start. The two colleges were also drawn into uneasy alliance by the problem of granting degrees, a particularly acute problem for the medical students who wished to practice. Even King's, which had received its Royal Charter promptly in 1829, had no power in this respect, while "London University," as it persisted in calling itself, still did not even have a Charter. The two colleges now had to eat humble pie, and accept that no government was likely to approve of two separate degree-awarding establishments in London. The outcome of negotiations was that in 1836 "London University" accepted a lowlier designation, becoming known from thenceforth as University College, and William IV granted a separate examining body the right to confer degrees on the students of both University College and King's-and those of any other approved colleges and institutions as well. This was the new, true University of London. The way was open for the huge academic organisation, global as well as federal, which was to come. Nevertheless, it was not until the University of London Act of 1898 that this degree-granting body was also accepted as a "Teaching University," with both internal and external examinees.
The complicated evolution of this as well as other universities like Durham, Nottingham and Manchester has led to a lively controversy over which university is really the third oldest in England after Oxford and Cambridge. King's probably has the strongest claim of all, since Durham only got its Royal Charter in 1837, and the others also lose out on technicalities. But it has to be remembered that in those early years King's sent its students on to Oxford and Cambridge to take their degrees — while, despite its claim to be a university, the rival establishment in Bloomsbury could only award certificates.
As for the University of London as a whole, whether it can be traced back to the founding of its first constituent college in 1827, or, perhaps more fairly, to its establishment as an examination board in 1836, or only to its full recognition as a teaching institution in 1898, about one point there can be no disagreement. Overtaking Oxford and Cambridge in sheer number of students, by 1908 it was the largest university in Britain.
Ackroyd, Peter. London, The Biography. London: Vintage, 2000.
Campbell, Thomas. "Propòsal Of A Metropolitan University, In A Letter To Henry Brougham, Esq." Times. 9 February 1825: 4. Times Digital Archive. Web. 5 February 2018.
Grote, Harriet. The Personal Life of George Grote: compiled from family documents, private memoranda, and original letters to and from various friends. London: Murray, 1873.
Harte, Negley. The University of London, 1836-1986: An Illustrated History (London: The Athlone Press, 1986) .
Harte, Negley, and John North. The World of University College, 1828-1990. 3rd ed. London: University College, 2004.
Hearnshaw, FJC. The Centenary History of King's College, London, 1828-1928. London: Harrap, 1929.
Lobban, Michael. "Brougham, Henry Peter." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online edition. Web. 7 February 2007.
MacIlwraith, W. The Life and Writings of George Grote: An Essay. Wolverhampton: Barford & Newitt, 1884.
Third Oldest University in England Debate. Web. 6 January 2007.
University of London website. Web. 5 January 2007.
Last modified 5 February 2007


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VIENNA (AP) — Top negotiators in renewed talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal indicated Sunday that they are optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement to impose limits on Tehran's uranium enrichment.
"We stand 5 minutes or 5 seconds from the finish line," Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov told reporters outside Vienna's Palais Coburg, four days into the talks. He said there are "3 or 4 issues" left to be resolved.
"They are sensitive, especially for Iranians and Americans," Ulyanov said. "I cannot guarantee, but the impression is that we are moving in the right direction."
Enrique Mora, the European Union's top negotiator, also said he is "absolutely" optimistic about the talks' progress so far.
"We are advancing, and I expect we will close the negotiations soon," he told Iranian media.
Negotiators from Iran, the U.S. and the European Union resumed indirect talks over Tehran's tattered nuclear deal Thursday after a months-long standstill in negotiations.
Since the deal's de facto collapse, Iran has been running advanced centrifuges and rapidly growing its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Iran struck the nuclear deal in 2015 with the U.S., France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China. The deal saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium under the watch of U.N. inspectors in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Then U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the accord in 2018, saying he would negotiate a stronger deal, but that didn't happen. Iran began breaking the deal's terms a year later.


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by Jadie Jones
Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can't be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.
When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn't.
But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?
"Virginia's trees look like they're burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they'd give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they're dying."
And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you'll love this novel!
~Author Julie Ford
The first anniversary of my father's death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn't know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I'd never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn't tried to get out of the way. She had just missed.
I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there's nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn't say a word.
Author Jadie Jones
Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.
She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she's not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.
Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash


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Summer Pesto Swap
Sort of boring but always seasonally amazing the first batch of basil is ready for pesto. Gonna switch it up and swap the pine nuts for a different nut. Hazelnuts? Almonds? Thoughts? Discuss! And if you're looking for another switch to your pesto recipe, here's one that swaps the basil for spinach from Mad Hungry…. View Article


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Welcome to Verna's
Verna's Coffee & Donut Shop is a North Cambridge morning institution! The donuts are cooked fresh every morning and the coffee flows piping hot.
2344 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge MA 02140
On Tuesday December 9, Verna's celebrated the birthday of one North Cambridge's finest, Thomas "Tip" O'Neil. In honor of "Tip", Verna's Honey Dip Donut has been renamed the Honey "Tip" Donut.


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Conservation Innovation Grants to help improve technologies and approaches for natural resource conservation on private lands
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of 33 Conservation Innovation Grants awarded to entities across the nation to develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate private lands conservation. Grant recipients will demonstrate innovative approaches to improve soil health, conserve energy, manage nutrients and enhance wildlife habitat in balance with productive agricultural systems. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service administers this competitive grants program.
"Conservation Innovation Grants activate creativity and problem-solving to benefit conservation-minded farmers and ranchers," Vilsack said. "These grants are critical for developing and demonstrating new ideas for conservation on America's private lands and strengthening rural communities. Everyone relies on our nation's natural resources for food, fiber, and clean water and will benefit from these grants."
"The Conservation Innovation Grant program brings together the strength and innovation of the private and non-profit sectors, academia, producers, and others to develop and test cutting-edge conservation tools and technologies and work side-by-side with producers to demonstrate how solutions work on the land," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said.
As climate changes, extreme weather events are becoming more common, these partnership grants drive cutting-edge conservation techniques that can make our nation's landscape more resilient to these changes.
The awards total $13.3 million. Six of the approved grants support conservation technologies and approaches to help farmers and ranchers who historically have not had equal access to agricultural programs because of race or ethnicity, or who have limited resources, or who are beginning farmers and ranchers.
The 33 grants announced today include:
- U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities: A grant of $700,000 to demonstrate sustainable forestry technologies and create a support system and market access for historically underserved landowners in South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama;
- Wes-Mon-Ty Resource Conservation and Development Council: A grant of $49,000 to demonstrate the use of low-cost technology on a demonstration farm to expand cover crop adoption by historically underserved, small-scale specialty crop producers in West Virginia;
- Pheasants Forever: A grant of $631,218 to explore and demonstrate ways to integrate pollinator habitat into bioenergy crop production systems;
- University of Tennessee: A grant of $634,107 to quantify and demonstrate the long-term impacts of cover crops, crop rotations and no-till farming systems on soil health and crop productivity;
- Conservation Technology Information Center: A grant of $482,000 to work with farmers in the Midwest to examine and share the economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of cover crops; and,
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: A grant of $821,324 to demonstrate and expand the use of manure injection technology in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which can significantly reduce nutrient losses from animal agriculture production systems.
A full list of recipients is available here.
The grants are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Grantees must work with producers and forestland owners to develop and demonstrate the new technologies and approaches.
At least 50 percent of the total cost of CIG projects must come from non-federal matching funds, including cash and in-kind contributions provided by the grant recipient.
NRCS has offered this grant program since 2004, investing in ways to demonstrate and transfer efficient and environmentally friendly farming and ranching. In the past nine years, the grants have helped develop trading markets for water quality and have shown how farmers and ranchers may use fertilizer, water and energy more efficiently.
Secretary Vilsack said today's announcement is another reminder of the importance of USDA programs to rural America. A comprehensive five-year Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy, Vilsack added, saying that is just one reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Bill done as soon as possible.
For more on this grant program, visit USDA's Conservation Innovation Grants webpage or contact your local NRCS office.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).


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Main Services IT Asset Management Phases of a SAM project?
We can pick up inventory tools with due regard to your business requirements or involve the tools you already own, for instance System Center.
We analyze software at user PCs, servers and interconnection between them. Following the results of the research we provide the report.
We compare purchased and used licenses, fully analyze the legal risks basing on contract documents, discover details and find hidden rocks.
It is not enough to sort out your software only once. To keep it in order after the project we are studying the lifecycle of the software in the organization and offer regulations allowing to meet license requirements and show the opportunities for cost saving.
The customer can get a documentary evidence: certificates ISO 19770-1, BSA vendor association certificates or individual vendor certificates.


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When Around The League spoke with Bill Lazor on Monday, the Dolphins play-caller hinted that Miami's reimagined offense would employ a feverish tempo come September.
Dolphins defenders are confirming as much.
"I've never seen anything this fast," cornerback Cortland Finnegan told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "It's great. It's going to be great for us as an offense and defense. To go against one another, compete at this level and do it with this many bullets flying and people running around. So I'm enjoying it."
By all accounts, the Dolphins have waved farewell to the sleep-inducing attack that former coordinator Mike Sherman lorded over the past two seasons.
Lazor has come to Miami straight from the Philadelphia Eagles, for which he coached the quarterbacks and spent hundreds of hours with Chip Kelly, who successfully used tempo to tear through defenses.
The big winner here? Dolphins fans, who finally have something to look forward to on offense.
"I hope no one ever calls us sluggish," Lazor said Monday. "There are a lot of different ways to play, and we want to play fast, there's no doubt about it."
The end to the latest "Around The League Podcast" is full of shock and awe.


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Home Burglaries
More than three million burglaries committed in the United States in 1996 accounts for 24 percent of the reported serious crime. About 66 percent of all burglaries, or approximately two million, are committed in houses and apartments. About 69 percent of all burglaries required forcing a door or window to gain entry. Most houses and apartments are protected by simple and ineffective door and window locks. Modern hardware is available for door and window locks which will stop the amateur and slow up the experienced burglar.
There are generally three types of burglars: the professional, the semi-professional and the amateur. Although the average home owner will probably not have to face a professional thieves who focus on extremely valuable items, you need to be aware of the semi-professional and amateur burglars.
Residential burglars are often male teenagers who live near your home. They are opportunists who look for easy targets. If the risk of detection is too high, the average burglar will not attempt to enter your home.
How to Protect Your Home
Overgrown or extremely large trees or shrubs can hide burglary activity, especially around your home entry points. For security sake, have them trimmed or moved.
Fences can be as effective part of your security, but they may be a liability in hiding a burglar's privacy. Tall chain linked, fences provide security without sacrificing visibility.
Dogs can also be a valuable asset to home owners. Any dog that bark at strangers brings unwanted attention to a thief. Larger dogs can even discourage an intruder from entering your yard or home.
Street lights are another important crime deterrent for your neighborhood, but personal residence should be well lighted. Porch lights and motion-sensitive lighting are recommended for most homes.
You do not want to help a burglar break into your home, so watch what you leave in your yard. Be sure to put tools away after you are done. Your own ladders, screwdriver, hammers, or pliers can be used against you.
The average burglar has only two options for entering your residence: doors and windows. For external door frames, opt for solid wood or steel. Hinges should be positioned on the inside of the door so that a thief with screwdriver will be unable to remove the entire door. Dead bolt looks are a necessary investment. Sliding glass doors are a common entry point. For maximum security, use vertical bolts. Also, place a solid wood rod on the inside track to hold the door closed.
Garage doors are another frequent entry point. The door that connects your garage to your home should have solid wood or solid core construction. Secure it with a deadbolt lock. Don't rely on the electric garage door opener as your security measure. When you are leaving, take a few seconds to watch the door close completely.
Back doors are a popular target because they are offer concealment from the street and owners leave them unlocked. It's important to keep your door well lighted and install a deadbolt. These doors should have a solid core as well.
All ground windows should have key-operated sash locks. Keep your windows closed and locked when you are away. Screen and storm windows should be securely fastened to the structure.
Upper windows should be secured and locked. Keep your second floor secured by trimming tree branches away from the house to prevent climbing, and do not store ladders where burglars can use them.
When you move into a new house, apartment or condominium, change all of the locks immediately. Because keys have a tendency to multiply, you don't know who will have access to your home.
Talk to your neighbors about your concern about burglary. Ask them to report any suspicious persons or activities around your home to your law enforcement agency. Alarms on doors and windows are the surest way to detect a burglar, but watchful neighbors alert to unusual activity who will notify law enforcement authorities are an effective means of detection.
Vacationers provide burglars with plenty of time to enter your home, remove large items and search leisurely for hidden valuables. If you are planning a vacation, take precautions to protect your home. The key is to create an illusion of everyday activity. Ask the police to check your home and patrol your neighborhood while you are away. Stop the mail and newspaper deliveries, or have your neighbor collect them while you are away. Secure all doors and windows, pet entrances and garage doors. Transfer all valuables to a safety deposit's box. Place a timer on indoor and outdoor lamps to illuminate your home at night, and make sure that no blobs are burned out. Have a trusted friend or neighbor check your home each day. Never indicate on your phone answering machine that you are on vacation.
If you want advice or assistance for your home or your neighborhood, contact the Lafayette City Police Department. You don't have to be one of the more than 2 million residential burglary victims and neither do your neighbors. Remember. Crime prevention begins at home.
Drug Use and Gang Activity
NEED ANSWERS? Below you will find information on Signs of Drug Use and Gang Activity
Signs of Drug Use
Methamphetamines: "Wired," sleeplessness for days and weeks at a time, total loss of appetite, extreme weight loss, dilated pupils, excited, talkative, deluded sense of power, paranoia, depression, loss of control, nervousness, unusual sweating, shaking, anxiety, hallucinations, aggression, violence, dizziness, mood changes, blurred vision, mental confusion, agitation.
Cocaine: Impaired thinking, confused, anxious, depressed, short tempered, panic attacks, suspiciousness, dilated pupils, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, decreased sexual drive, restlessness, irritability, very talkative, scratching, hallucinations, paranoia.
LSD (Acid): Dilated pupils, skin discoloration, loss of coordination, false sense of power, euphoria, distortion of time and space, hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, nausea, vomiting, loss of control, anxiety, panic, helplessness, and self destructive behavior.
PCP: Sometimes violent or bizarre behavior, suicide has often occurred, paranoia, fearfulness, anxiety, aggressive or withdrawn, skin flushing, sweating, dizziness, total numbness, and impaired perceptions.
Inhalants: Short-lasting euphoria, giggling, silliness, dizziness. Then come the headaches and full-blown "faintings" or going unconscious. Longterm Use: Short-term memory loss, emotional instability, impairment of reasoning, slurred speech, clumsy staggering gait, eye flutter, tremors, hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and escalating stages of brain atrophy. Sometimes these serious longterm effects are reversible with body detoxification and nutritional therapy; sometimes the brain damage is irreversible or only partially reversible.
Heroin: Chemically enforced euphoria. "Nodding," which is a dreamlike state, near sleep, drifting off for minutes or hours. For long time abusers heroin may act like a stimulant and they can do a normal daily routine; however, for others, it leaves them completely powerless to do anything.
Marijuana: Compulsive eating, bloodshot red eyes that are squinty (they may have trouble keeping them open), dry mouth, excessive and uncontrollable laughter, forgetfulness, short term memory loss, extreme lethargy, delayed motor skills, occasional paranoia, hallucinations, laziness, lack of motivation, stupidity, sickly sweet smell on body, hair, and clothes, and strong mood changes and behaviors when the person is "high".
Depressants (Tranquilizers and Barbituates): Decreased inhibition, slowed motor coordination, lethargy, relaxed muscles, staggering gait, poor judgement, slow, uncertain reflexes, disorientation, and slurred speech.
What is a Gang?
A gang is defined as an organization, association or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, which has a common name and/or common identifying signs or symbols, whose members individually and/or collectively engage in criminal activity.
Why Do Kids Join Gangs?
How Do Gangs Recruit Members?
Gangs influence youths into joining by using the following methods:
What Are The Consequences of Gang Involvement?
Short Term Consequences
Long Term Consequences
What Are Signs of a Gang in My Neighborhood?
Youths hanging out
Increase in crime- Gang-related acts such as burglary, vandalism and assaults.
How Can Neighbors Help?
You and your neighbors can work to eliminate gangs and drugs from your community and neighborhoods. They key is organization:
1) Get to know the neighbors on your block.
2) Contact your local law enforcement agency for advice and assistance for organization tips.
3) Contact Crime Stoppers
What Are Signs of Gang Involvement?
Changes in attitude or behavior
Openly admits gang affiliation
Showing colors (bandanas, t-shirts, jackets, shoes, ball caps)
Association with known gang members
Unwillingness to discuss their activities
Loss of family interest
Reluctance to be seen with other family members
Unexplained injuries (cuts and bruises)
Trouble with law enforcement or at school
Has unexplained cash or goods (clothing, jewelry, electronics)
New Friends
Tattoos or graffiti-style writing on clothing or books
Disregard for persons or property
Exhibiting signs of alcohol and drug use
How Can Parents Intervene?


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Syria Rebels Seize Government Town Near Aleppo
A Free Syrian Army fighter aims his weapon as he takes a defensive position in Deir al-Zor July 23, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi |
(Reuters) – Syrian rebels seized the northern town of Khan al-Assal on Monday, activists said, one of the last towns in the western part of Aleppo province that was held by President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
An army build-up around the province in order to retake Aleppo city has been dogged by rebel counter-attacks, although a string of government victories elsewhere in Syria has shifted the battlefield tide in Assad's favor after more than two years of bloodshed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad monitoring group, said army officers surrendered the town on Monday morning after rebels surrounded a southern district.
Video footage posted on the Internet by rebel groups showed army tanks withdrawing from the town. Another video showed a dead commander who rebels said led the government resistance in the town, which has been besieged for weeks.
Aleppo is part of a crescent of regions in northern Syria that have become a stronghold for rebels fighting to end four decades of rule by the Assad family.
Insurgents have been blockading government-held areas in Aleppo city, Syria's largest urban center and once its commercial hub. Aleppo has been mired in a bloody stalemate since rebels launched an offensive in the province last year.
Assad's forces have responded to the rebel advance on Khan al-Assal with a string of air raids in the area.
The Observatory says more than 100,000 people have been killed in Syria's insurgency, which grew out of street protests in the southern town of Deraa in March 2011. Millions of people have been displaced and ancient buildings and artefacts have been destroyed across the major Arab state.
(Reporting by Oliver Holmes and Reuters TV in Beirut; Editing by Alison Williams)


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A hospital in Paradise, California, evacuated its patients as the Camp Fire, which was sparked early Thursday, got uncomfortably close.
"Given the Butte County fire is within close proximity, as a precaution Adventist Health Feather River Medical Center is evacuating all patients. All patients are being transported to surrounding area hospitals," a statement said.
The Camp Fire began about 6:33 a.m. and within three hours had burned about 5,000 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Multiple roads are closed as a result of the blaze.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office issued evacuation orders and warnings for numerous fire zones in the area.
A red flag warning is in effect in the area, meaning Thursday will bring strong winds and low humidity that threaten to spread the wildfire.
Paradise is located about 85 miles north of Sacramento, just west of the Plumas National Forest.
The chamber of commerce in nearby Chico said The Neighborhood Church was being set up as an evacuation center.
Dangerous fire weather conditions will continue on Day 2/Friday across southern CA. Some improvement across northern CA where #CampFire is currently burning, as wind speeds diminish, but dryness continues. See https://t.co/QMmU4tBZDt for more details. pic.twitter.com/ltHci9zZGj
— NWS SPC (@NWSSPC) November 8, 2018