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I have been a widow now for twenty years. My son was only two years old when his dad died. He has never known what it's like to have a dad. My dear husband was only 32 years old when he died. He knew he was dying, he had contracted HIV and hepatitis C , he was in constant, excruciating pain and knew he was not going to see his little boy grow up. The last twenty years have been a constant
struggle for me.
Losing my husband Gary has affected my whole family.
My parents didn't only grieve for my husband when he died but also grieved for me, because they could feel and see the pain that I was suffering.
Because Gary was HIV positive, we couldn't get insurance when we bought our house. Therefore when he died, I had to sell it. I couldn't afford the mortgage. My son and myself had to go and live with my parents. I didn't just lose my husband; we lost our home with all of our shared memories in
Having seen how my husband had suffered, I was too terrified to be tested myself. Therefore I lived for years in constant fear of whether or not I too was infected. I became paranoid about not letting other people use plates or cutlery or towels etc. of mine just in case I was infected. I feared passing it on to my son or parents or anyone else. I was terrified that my son was going to be left an orphan. I was afraid of him being teased and being different when he started school, because he didn't have a dad.
I watched my husband fade from a 10 to 11 stone man to a skeletal seven to eight stone husk of a man. He could do very little for himself as he was so weak and in so much pain. His skin and the whites of his eyes were yellow. He was on AZT for HIV but in those early days the dose was far too
strong and they were in fact poisoning him, so he really didn't stand a chance. The hepatitis C caused him to develop cirrhosis of the liver and his liver was so swollen that he couldn't eat and could only bear liquids.
We were terrified to tell anybody of his condition for fear of the stigma that was attached to it. He was forced to give up work as he was physically unable. We lived in our own prison full of dread and fear. We were in a dark place, full of illness and pain and worried how we would pay bills and cope.
I have had to rely heavily on the help of my parents both emotionally and financially for twenty years. Although the government has provided help in some ways over the years, it still doesn't provide the independence and security that we deserve. We don't have the financial security that
we would have had. None of this was our fault. Terrible things have been covered up and swept under the carpet, things that could have been avoided. Decisions that were made that were wrong.


text:
This package is for PRODUCTS ONLY. NON-CLOTHING PRODUCTS TO BE EXACT. There's an additional $50 per person if you wish to be included in the pictures or use models.
And yes you are more than welcome to SHIP the products to me to shoot and ship back…
ONLINE BOUTIQUES PLEASE BOOK ONE OF MY LIFESTYLE SESSIONS, HERE. OR EMAIL ME email@example.com
*It's important to be on time as ALL of my shoots are NON- REFUNDABLE. If running more than 20mins late there's a $10 fee for every additional 10 minutes you are late. However, I understand that unforeseen events can happen, so you are welcome to push or re-schedule to ONE alternative date. *This covers any loss in the form of lost bookings. See FULL shooting Policy HERE.
*Prices subject to change…

subset: commoncrawl


text: My poor baby fell out of his crib and broke his collar bone. I feel awful, my baby is broken! We were at the Emergency room getting looked at for 6 hours until 1am. He has a little brace on his tiny little back to help hold his shoulders so that he won't move his arms too much and cause himself pain. This is the first broken bone among my kids and it had to be in my littlest baby, who is autistic and non-verbal and doesn't understand.


text:
She is eager to cum and moves her ass fast.
Not the pie masturbating scene, but it happened when my boyfriend went down on me.
Most of them still are, if I'm being honest.
And I don't know if I was just less intimidated, or less insecure, but I was able to just let go and relax when she went down on me and it was actually the first time I was able to reach orgasm with another person — which proves it really is all mental.
But I liked it.
Not the pie masturbating scene, but it happened when my boyfriend went down on me.
Grace from Tula Age:
What started out as a threesome turned into one girl and I exploring each other's erogenous zones.
I had never had an orgasm but I knew something was happening.
Nasty college babes handjob a class mate in turns and make enjoy his pleasure to cum in their hands College babes make the boys cum in their friends.
Took me a while to get it —but turns out, not everything in the movies is fake.
I had no idea what it was — I used to call it 'The Feeling.


text: chesilbeach Report post Posted November 22, 2013 SOMERSET Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore Synopsis:First published in 1869, Lorna Doone is the story of John Ridd, a farmer who finds love amid the religious and social turmoil of seventeenth-century England. He is just a boy when his father is slain by the Doones, a lawless clan inhabiting wild Exmoor on the border of Somerset and Devon. Seized by curiosity and a sense of adventure, he makes his way to the valley of the Doones, where he is discovered by the beautiful Lorna. In time their childish fantasies blossom into mature love—a bond that will inspire John to rescue his beloved from the ravages of a stormy winter, rekindling a conflict with his archrival, Carver Doone, that climaxes in heartrending violence. Beloved for its portrait of star-crossed lovers and its surpassing descriptions of the English countryside, Lorna Doone is R. D. Blackmore's enduring masterpiece. Other Somerset books:Persuasion by Jane AustenNorthanger Abbey by Jane AustenThe History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry FieldingFar Distant Oxus by Arthur Ransome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Monday, December 19, 2011
It's Pieced! Flurry Quilt Top
What a week! I have been finishing up my shopping and giving the house a super cleanings in preparation for holiday guests which will be arriving in a few days. We had friends over for a Christmas food party--everyone bringing their favorite snacks to accompany my husband's homemade pizza. In between I've been trying to finish up my projects and I'm pleased to say I completed the pieced top today!
I used Moda's Flurry charms (see previous post) using a disappearing nine patch pattern. Then I selected a border, the backing and red for the eventual binding.
Here's the full view.
A little closer view.
Cutting the nine patch in half both ways, turning opposite corners and sewing them together makes it seem like there is much more piecing than there really is. The only thing I can caution you on is to experiment with the direction you press the seams. Swiveling them and then arranging each new square can cause some pattern conflicts. You'll have to move them around until you find the proper placing, but that might mean the seams are pressed the same way. You can repress or just work through it. It's not bulky enough to worry about.
The baking is also Moda Flurry yardage. I thought it would be nice for the entire back since there was so much going on within the pattern.
I selected a nice red for the binding.
I had some help selecting the border. There is so many patterns that I wanted to pick up on the blue so it wouldn't limit it to only Christmas; but rather, winter.
I also got the binding on Mom's table runner which will match the kitchen gifts I purchased.
I still have to figure out something for my son who I just found out is flying in from Seattle but after Christmas due to a conflict with the kennel. It didn't leave me enough time to select and ship anything in advance. He's a guy and hates to check luggage so he will be bringing a carry on which means he won't be carrying anything back with him that's large. If worse comes to worse, I'm sure gift cards will fit!
(please disregard any overlooked strings. It's funny how you look something over and over but find out you missed something when the photo is enlarged!)
3 comments:
- 3rnigerians said...
I love how the Moda Flurry Charm quilt turned out. What a beautiful top! Have a Merry Christmas.
- December 20, 2011 at 12:33 PM
- Michelle said...
The pattern and colors look great. I haven,t even come close to finishing my mother-in-laws quilt. I had to send her a Christmas card with an IOU. She laughed and said that was the first time she ever got a IOU for Christmas. I told her there is a first time for everything.
- December 20, 2011 at 12:59 PM
- Candy C. said...
Wow, that turned out beautifully! What a great job!
- December 20, 2011 at 1:14 PM
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text:
Alastair Hamilton, CEO Invest NI speaking at Nimbus CS office opening.
You're Invited to our New Belfast Office Opening
RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com
A special invitation for our valued clients and service partners!
We are delighted to have moved into our new premises at Heron Wharf and to celebrate are hosting an open evening for our clients and local businesses in the area with guest speaker, Alastair Hamilton, CEO Invest NI.
As an existing client we would be delighted if you could come along to meet our team and other local businesses. Light refreshments will be provided on the evening and we hope to see you there!


text:
Tooth decay is a common, yet preventable childhood problem. Left untreated, cavities in primary (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth become painful and negatively impact the esthetics and functionality of the teeth.
Some children are particularly susceptible to tooth decay, even after receiving regular dental examinations and oral care at home. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has recently recognized the benefits of a substance called Xylitol for reducing childhood tooth decay.
What is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a natural substance that can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some of the most common Xylitol- rich foods include: berries, mushrooms, corns, and lettuces. Study results indicate that 4-20 grams of Xylitol each day, divided into three or more helpings, can reduce tooth decay and cavities by as much as 70%. As a point of reference, a single cup of berries contains a little less than one gram of Xylitol.
It can be difficult to encourage children (especially toddlers) to consistently eat four or more cups of fruit or vegetables each day. For this reason, Xylitol is also available as a sugar substitute, a gum, and as a concentrate in numerous health foods. No other sugar substitute has been shown to benefit young teeth in the same way.
It should be noted that excessive Xylitol consumption does not provide "more" tooth protection. Sticking to the recommended daily amount is enough to enhance other cavity-reduction efforts, and the effects will last well into the future.
How does Xylitol work?
The combination of many factors increases susceptibility to childhood tooth decay and cavities. These factors include: oral care habits, diet, carbohydrate consumption, sucrose consumption, salivary flow rate, and tooth resistance to plaque.
More specifically, harmful oral bacteria feed on sugars and carbohydrates, producing acids. When sugary foods are consumed, these acids attack and destroy vulnerable tooth enamel. Xylitol works to neutralize the acids, reducing enamel destruction, and minimizing the threat of cavities in the process. Xylitol also stimulates saliva production, meaning that food particles, plaque and bacteria are continually removed from the teeth. When used in combination with fluoride, Xylitol works to remineralize teeth, protecting tooth enamel and minimizing new cavity formation.
When should my child start using Xylitol?
Although Xylitol gum is not suitable for very young children, infants actually benefit from maternal chewing! Mothers of children between three months and two years old who used Xylitol gum several times each day, protected their child from tooth decay until the age of five years old. In this case, Xylitol reduced the amount of microorganisms transmitted from mother to child.
Once the child reaches toddlerhood, Xylitol can be consumed as a sugar substitute, or as a natural byproduct of eating fruit and vegetables. Older children can reduce the threat of new cavities by chewing Xylitol gum.
If you have questions or concerns about Xylitol or tooth decay, please contact our practice.
Dr. Nichol is an excellent dentist. He's got a great office staff; very good hygienists and he always explains exactly what and why he will be doing. Tom is also very personable and understands his patient's needs.
Been going to this Dentist for almost 10 years now, and Dr. Nichol and the assistance and staff have always been professional, courteous, generous and have a great sense of humor too! They really know their stuff!


text:
Poems by Vijayalakshmy
1. Dedication/Samarpanam (2007)
To write about you?
I would need
The ink of the full moon light
And this Universe.
Lightning, thunder storms, rain, sunshine-
These are my emotions about you.
Is your throne the deep blue sky?
In the ocean, your name resounds.
Every step I take in this earth-
An embrace of your love's alphabets.
In the sunset, your inner fire;
The mid night galaxy, your benign heart beat.
Your message in the air around.
In the water, life giving sweet melodies.
Dear one, having offered myself before thee-
I stand quietly apart.
Will you not accept the dedication?
2.Yours/Swantham (2007)
A flag from which the moon has
Faded, a brooding dark fort where,
The wind is sentinel.
The freezing silence of icy earth,
And a dream
Where a reluctant sun rises slowly,
That's mine.
To share equally, the burden
Of an ancient journey-
The memory of my sweet
Finger tips,
My disappearance,
A tantalizing Pala tree
Flowering in the distance.
Beyond touch, serene, yours.


text:
Jan 24, 2020
Vulture wrote up Chasing Cosby as one of "the noteworthy and the exceptional" true-crime podcasts.
Dec 6, 2019
Promax chooses the opening title sequence for our CNN Series The Movies, as their favorite main title of 2019!
Nov 22, 2019
Congratulations to the Herzog & Company Design team on their 2019 Clio Award-winning entry Evolution of the Stormtrooper
Sep 9, 2019
ESPN College Football 150 Premieres The American Game and The Greatest Docuseries
Aug 15, 2019
WSJ Cola Wars' Review: History's production looks at the Coke vs. Pepsi battle for your tastebuds.
Jul 2, 2019
CNN Launches The Movies, A Cinephile's Dream Look At Film And Its Impact Over The Decades.
Jul 2, 2019
The Movies, reviewed at Forbes: CNN Brings Modern Film History To Television.
Jun 10, 2019
Wolf Blitzer and Jake Tapper Recreate Famous Big Piano Scene for New CNN Series The Movies.
Jun 10, 2019
CNN Takes Viewers to "The Movies" on Sunday, July 7.
May 7, 2019
Excited to be continuing our partnership with Oxygen on Truth & Justice: The West Memphis Three. More news to come…
Mar 25, 2019
HCO is honored to be counted among Realscreen's Global 100, their "annual snapshot of the best production companies working in the non-fiction and unscripted visual content industry."
Mar 21, 2019
Buzzfeed has put HCO's The Nineties at #3 on their list of binge-worthy shows.
Mar 15, 2019
Six years and counting… here's to a great partnership with CNN!
Dec 13, 2018
Dirty John, The Dirty Truth premieres January 14 on Oxygen.
Nov 15, 2018
Oxygen preps "Dirty John" documentary from Herzog & Company and the LA Times
Oct 31, 2018
Real Screen shares that Herzog & Co. has added Andie Beckerman to our ranks as SVP of Original Programming and Development.
Oct 23, 2018
HCO, ESPN Set for Two Weekly Docuseries in 2019 — The American Game and The Greatest — as Pillars of Network's College Football 150 Initiative.
Sep 17, 2018
Dirty John Teaser: Chilling first look at Eric Bana as John Meehan in Bravo True Crime Anthology.
Aug 28, 2018
Featuring both The 2000s and The History of Comedy: Season Two, CNN had its second-best August ratings ever among total viewers.
Jul 18, 2018
HCO produced video, research, design, and copywriting for 50 interactive exhibits designed to tell the story of comedy, at the new National Comedy Center.
Jul 16, 2018
Season Two of CNN Original Series The History of Comedy premieres at #1 in cable news, ages 25–54 and 18–34.
Jul 11, 2018
Bravo's Dirty John adds Julia Garner and Juno Temple to its cast.
Jul 9, 2018
CNN Original Series The 2000s premieres at #1 in cable news, ages 25–54 and 18–34.
Jun 28, 2018
Game of Thrones EP and former HBO President Carolyn Strauss and Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan (among others) spoke at a PaleyLive panel celebrating CNN Original Series The 2000s.
Jun 18, 2018
CNN's The History of Comedy returns for Season Two on Sunday, July 15.
Jun 14, 2018
Jean Smart joins the cast of Dirty John.
Jun 14, 2018
CNN Original Series, The 2000s, Premieres Sunday, July 8.
Apr 19, 2018
1968, a Four-Part CNN Original Series Event, debuts Sunday, May 27, at 9 P.M. ET.
Apr 5, 2018
Herzog makes Realscreen's Global 100 List for top non-fiction production companies of 2018.
Apr 3, 2018
Eric Bana joins the cast of Dirty John.


text:
Tan Texture Backdrop for Photography
Deploy a tan texture backdrop to create the perfect scene. A great background to use with studio photography, high school portraits, and home studio photographs.
- Printed in rich shades of color
- Wonderful with dark and light colored attire
- Use while in a studio environment or while traveling
- Can be purchased in wrinkle free Freedom Cloth, canvas, and portable Twist Flex
- Created at the Denny Mfg. production facility in the USA
Featured Products


text:
What is the goal of the game?
Habit is repetitive automatic behavior. Formation of habit requires many repetitions over a certain period of time. By playing Food Game for a few weeks we have to make thousands of decisions to choose healthy food or to refrain from junk food. Our brains are constantly busy with very important matters, while our conscious motivations, goals, and actions are not considered significant. Brains need to understand that what we consciously do is really important. It seems it can be done only through repetitions. At one point brains will notice them and accept those actions as important and try to automate the process in order to spend less energy.
We will be able to notice that automation when we find ourselves that we finished the game while having no recollection of our actions. This is a sign of newly forming habits. We are the choices we make thousands of times every day. This game helps us to choose the desired food for us.
My food preferences have really changed!
It is the goal of the game and it is normal. We heard stories when people suddenly start to want to eat cucumbers or cabbage, which they had never before desired. We will talk more about that later. Write to us with your story of changed preferences to [email protected].
How long do I need to play to see some results?
In our 2015 study, we recommended playing 15 minutes a day for a month. Those who could do that lost excessive weight and some of their food preferences had changed. Other studies have shown that even 5 minutes a day once a week can bring some results.
I react to the green frame, and hardly ever see the picture. Is this ok?
It's fine. The frame is exactly for the purpose to help you to choose correctly. Don't worry you still see the content of the picture.
What are the points and how to earn them?
Points reflect your progress. They are calculated with a special formula. It takes into account the speed of response to Yes-food and the number of errors. There are two types of errors: not reacting to Yes-food and touching No-food. You also get points for playing faster, often and consistently.
Why can't I go to the next level?
To go to the next level you need to get a certain number of points. On average you need to score 40 to 50 points. Try to touch Yes-food as fast as possible and make fewer mistakes.
Why the game uses points?
Points reflect your activity and effectiveness of training. According to our calculations to achieve visible short-term results you should get around 4K-5K points. To achieve long-term results you may need to get 15K points during 3 months of play.
What if there is a break in my training?
Short breaks in training do not reduce the overall effect. Long breaks can do, though. To create a habit we need to make new skill automatic. Until this happens, long breaks can prevent the creation of habits.
Is this really working?
All games are based on techniques of experimental social and cognitive psychology. In recent years, several studies conducted in different countries confirm that this approach is working. More about this here.
I have a question or a suggestion.
Please write us at [email protected].


text:
Rose Vase
4 comments:
I am convinced I could hole myself up in my home for 1 week and not leave my computer and go on blogs and Etsy all day long and discover way too many great things, do you know I haven't really gone to Etsy yet but keep hearing SOOOO much about it..guess I am scared to, it might unleash an uncontrollable shopping urge (yea right, who am I kidding like I don't have that already!)ReplyDelete
Great post and it looks gorgeous!
The vase is beautiful! Your flowers look so good in it.ReplyDelete
Love your piece of furniture and your artwork. Great little vignette!ReplyDelete
I bought something off of Etsy last week and it came with the sweetest note. I just love Etsy and try to support it as often and possible!
I also love the etsy round ups that Kirsten does! I haven't bought on etsy yet, but plan to soon! I love using a bunch of shops for my design boards! It's such an affordable way to have beautiful things in your home! (And I love your new blog design!) :)ReplyDelete


text:
Talk and Tour, Thu 9 May, 1pm – 2pm
Booking Details
Booking not necessary, free
V&A Meeting Point
Cromwell Road Entrance, Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
Join V&A resident artists Bridget Harvey and Sam Bakewell for this dynamic tour of ceramics across the V&A's collections. The tour looks at the interplay between creativity and intersecting factors such as repair, autobiographical influences and mental health. Guests can also visit Bridget and Sam's V&A artist studios following the tour and on Saturday 11 May.
Maker in Residence Bridget Harvey is using her residency to examine the relationship between repair and the museum. Bridget explains various ceramic repair processes and their motivations, focusing on objects collected and borrowed by the museum which display this craft. In contrast, Ceramic Artist in Residence Sam Bakewell is using the V&A's collections to question the links between mental health and creativity. Sam talks through the objects he curated as part of the residency display case, and gives context to the makers' lives behind them.
You also have the chance to visit Bridget and Sam's V&A artist studios directly following the tour and on Saturday 11 May.
Photo credit:Ian Skelton


text:
The soft white of a
reflection is, at last, what
allowed me to see.
The soft white of a
The soft white of a
reflection is, at last, what
allowed me to see.
Wooden pencils scratch
over Tuesday night
word problems
to Django Rienhardt's
Gypsy guitar,
while outside,
the mountains
turn ripe pollen orange
like this mason jar
dripping with stargazer lilies,
long past open. This is
one of the illuminated
moments, when you notice
that everything matters,
that perhaps
you have landed
in the quiet center
of your own wild
and beautiful garden,
and the children,
half sprouted,
are rooted
and blooming
like flowers.
Like the Cheshire moon,
so beautiful to smile when
reflecting such light.
From the porch, a moon
so commanding, my thoughts are
humbled by orange.
Such quiet beauty
in great bodies circling each
other for so long.
Astronomers and
lovers, making names for the
sweet unnamable.
It is the February night
wrapped in a thousand
blankets, it is new snow
falling and wine in a ball jar,
a room ripe with music,
a bathtub full of reflection. It is
the way fire rises up
and up to become
the air. It is the weight
of a body. It is an answer
without a question,
a reason with no
reason, it is tears
falling into still water.
pane of glass
and on the other side,
black night crackling,
the kind of cold
that will stop
your heart,
or fill it,
when reflecting
on the ways
to get warm.


text:
Look up the word Menopause on Google or in any dictionary (if you still have one) and the definition is shown as:
The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop; it is also called the "change of life."
Menopause is defined as the time when there have been no menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months and no other biological or physiological cause can be identified. It is the end of fertility, the end of the childbearing years.
There you have it, THE END, your life is OVER, there is no further use for you… or is it?
In our society today, there are many myths, mysteries and fears that surround the very word- menopause -, and there is much confusion even amongst us women as to what will, does or could happen in these midlife years. The subject itself is taboo and even though EVERY woman goes through this phase, most women continue to suffer very much alone and in silence.
The number one truth that every woman needs to understand first, is that each of us has our own unique journey through this phase of our lives.
Unfortunately, in this age of youth culture many women fear they are becoming invisible; that they'll join the ranks of the old or 'past it' brigade, they will become 'less than' who they are now, and they will have to suffer with 'something or other' for the rest of their natural lives.
We need to change the message that current thinking has around Menopause as I for one am tired of menopause being treated as a disability or seen as a woman's decline; rather than a rite of passage to the next exciting gateway of our lives. But this unfortunately is the message we are currently receiving, and yet, many post-menopausal women are having the best time of their lives – me included!
Menopause is a phase in our lives, and like the seasons we enjoy in this world, we should learn and understand the value that this phase reveals to us. The seasons work together, Spring into Summer, through into Autumn and then Winter with each balancing the other out and we know in each turn of season that nothing is ever 'good' or 'bad' – it just IS.
If we think of Menopause as the season of Autumn, the season of completion. It may seem as though it is an ending as the leaves fall and the plants and flowers lose their bloom, but we know this is not truly the end and it doesn't last forever! Winter comes, we naturally become quieter, we hibernate as daylight seems shorter and darkness longer, but then a new year is heralded, and we celebrate the coming of Spring.
This is the POWER of the PAUSE!
As you gradually move through into Menopause, take time to listen and learn about YOU again.
Like Autumn, 'the change' is asking a part of you to draw into your roots, to pause and to rest. The value this phase brings us is that we do indeed need to turn our attention in, towards ourselves, to re-evaluate our priorities, to learn about our true selves. To review and reflect upon our life journey so far and cast out what isn't working for us anymore.
What do you feel you've been missing? What dreams have you put on hold over the years? What is your body telling you it needs right now? What about your heart and mind? Where do they wish you would spend more of your time? What do you KNOW, now? What is it that is set to emerge?
It's time to totally nourish yourself, to catch up with parts of you that have been waiting to be discovered. There is so much opportunity here, and when we can really truly and deeply honour ourselves for everything we have been through; trust that it's ok to use this time to rest, you can then trust that the best years of your life are yet to arrive.
So much of our journey through this life, is dependent on what we focus on. It depends on perspective: and what we believe is possible. If we assume, we are declining, and focus our attention towards that, we'll be met with so much disappointment and diminished opportunities.
So, I ask you; are you prepared to allow yourself to be defined as being 'past it' when you reach menopause, because the perception is, we have now ceased to be 'useful'?
I think not!


text:
Where do the funds we raise actually go?
In 2017 Kiss Goodbye to MS have already raised $730,000 for research into MS and we are on track to reach our target of $1.25 million. We are confident that by the end of this year, with your support, we will have raised a total of $5 million since the campaign began, and all for research into MS.
We like to think that we are punching well above our weight.
Our campaign is managed by just one full-time staff member, that's me, Richelle King. For the last two years we have brought in a Campaign Assistant for a six month contract to assist with the campaign's peak period (we have grown so much that there is just too much work for one person)! Our Campaign Assistant this year is Kate Simpson, and she helps our fundraisers with anything and everything, as well as keeping the merchandise in check. We are also grateful to have the assistance of an unpaid intern, Willa, who comes in every week. Kiss Goodbye to MS is run by MS Research Australia, meaning that the small MS Research Australia team also occasionally lend a helping hand.
There is no single way to measure the impact that a not-for-profit is having; most industry experts suggest that you look at a range of factors. Whilst the Cost of Fundraising and use of third-party platforms are just two components of what is a complex story, they are two very important elements. So let me break down how these factors apply to Kiss Goodbye to MS.
In the 2015 calendar year our Cost of Fundraising ratio saw 22.2% spent on fundraising costs, meaning 77.8% was allocated directly to MS research. In 2016 our ratio was 25.2%, which is well below the industry average ratio for fundraising campaigns or events. These costs include everything that is associated with running Kiss Goodbye to MS (salaries, marketing costs, merchandise, website, etc.) We work hard to keep our fundraising costs low, maximising net profit.
The reason we are able to run our campaign with a very lean budget is due to 2 main factors:
- We don't use 'traditional' fundraising approaches, such as hosting our own public events (e.g. charity owned fun runs) which can be incredibly costly. We prefer to support and assist our fundraisers in organising their own events, like balls and gala dinners.
- We don't use call centres or distribute costly direct mail-outs
- We work with a number of pro bono partners. As an organisation, our pro bono partnerships have the value of over $1 million each year and range from PR support, couriers, graphic design, advertising and many others.
As the Campaign Manager I am proud of our lean budget and approach to fundraising. Let me assure you that every dollar that is donated to Kiss Goodbye to MS goes directly to MS Research Australia. We do not use third party fundraising companies that place people on the streets or in shopping centres. We never have and we never will. If you donate $100 to Kiss Goodbye to MS we receive that full donation. The only exception to this is if you choose to fundraise via a third party digital platform, like Everyday Hero, who absorb a small commission (between 5-10%).
But what we do, and do well, is leverage the advantages of digital technology. We advertise online (with the support of a pro bono media buying agency), we leverage the power of social media, and we rely on our committed fundraisers who are our biggest champions.
I am proud to run Kiss Goodbye to MS, I am proud of our low expenditure, high pro bono engagement and the Aussie MS researchers we fund. But more than that, I am proud of our incredible tribe of supporters. It is because of you that MS Research Australia is able to make the huge impacts that we are making.
By Richelle King
Kiss Goodbye to MS Campaign Manager


text: Parts & Supplies view other parts Mop Pad - Flat Surface Tool for Powerfresh Steam Mop | 1606704 $6.99 Add to cart Notify me when this item is in stock! This item is currently unavailable. Enter your email address and we'll notify you when it's available for purchase. submit Change Whoops! Something went wrong while saving your changes. Please try again later! Incorrect email format. Please make sure that there are no blank spaces at the beginning or end of your email address, and that you haven't included any invalid characters such as +. Part #: 1606704 Description: Soft, White Mop Pad that fits on the Flat Surface Attachment for your Powerfresh Lift-Off Steam Mop Cleaner - Series 1544. This part works with: View Products This part works with the following products: PowerFresh® Slim Heavy Duty Steam Mop | 2075A Model Shown: 2075A Similar Models: 2075, 2075H, 2075Q PowerFresh® Slim Steam Mop | 2181 Model Shown: 2181 PowerFresh® Pet Lift-Off® Steam Mop | 15441 Model Shown: 15441 Similar Models: 1544, 15443, 15446, 15448, 1544A, 1544B Rewards Points: what's this? What is the Rewards Program? Collect rewards points to earn discounts and free shipping on future purchases. Learn more Read rules and regulations 7 Video And Image Gallery


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27 Dresses2 Stars
- Director
- Anne Fletcher
- Cast
- Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Edward Burns, Malin Åkerman
- Rated
- Runtime
- 110 min.
- Release Date
- 01/18/2008
Weddings. They're either the most beautiful moment of a couple's life or a fervent obsession representing the end-all-be-all of a woman's happiness. That's the cliché, anyway, one 27 Dresses is happy to support. Having also produced the similarly themed The Wedding Planner, director Anne Fletcher imbibes her movie with a vulgar amount of rom-com formula and wedding zaniness. The plot surrounds Jane (Katherine Heigl), who is always a bridesmaid but never a bride, literally. Be it cake, location, flowers—Jane is the go-to gal of wedding planning. She loves what she does, perhaps too much: she fanatically cuts out articles from her favorite Weddings column written by what she assumes to be a dreamy male journalist; her numerous bridesmaid dresses are kept in her closet like a shrine, and her own wedding is already planned down to the last detail. If only she wasn't single.
When the movie begins, Jane juggles bridesmaid duties for two weddings. Nevermind that she must be friends with both brides, who must, in some form, know of each other, thus would avoid planning their weddings on the same night. It makes for bland, chuckle-worthy physical comedy to have Heigl running out of one reception, into a cab where she changes, driving across New York City, into the second reception, back into the cab where she changes again, in and out, back and forth, all night long. Please don't look for logic. It's a romantic comedy.
Heigl struck gold with last year's Knocked Up, which she later spurned to Vanity Fair magazine, saying "It's a little sexist. It paints the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight and it paints the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys. It was hard for me to love the movie." Heigl, who recalls some Parmigianino-Mannerist figure with her elongated features and pastel air, doesn't place herself in a masterpiece of feminist filmmaking here. Women are painted as marriage-obsessed and man-hungry, falling into a number of romantic-comedy traps normally reserved one-per-film.
Jane harbors an unspoken love for her boss, George (Edward Burns, now healed from his knife-in-face wound in One Missed Call). But of course George falls for Tess (Malin Akerman), Jane's self-centered sister. And then there's Kevin (James Marsden), who makes a pass at Jane during a wedding, except his anti-marriage stance and straightforwardness offends her—something she might be more upset about, if he wasn't so darn cute. Little does Jane know that Kevin works under a pen name when writing her favorite Weddings column. Jane's predicament gets worse after learning of George and Tess' engagement. She winds up the bridesmaid and planning the wedding for her sister's marriage to the man she loves. I think The J. Geils Band said it best: "Love stinks."
Ever-building is the film's meet-cute device, a filmic apparatus where two people who hate each other end up in love. I'm referring specifically to Jane and Kevin. One hilarious scene finds them stranded in a backwoods bar, drinking shots and unintelligibly singing the already incomprehensible lyrics to "Benny and the Jets". Their onscreen charisma is immediate and believable, whereas Burns flies this one on autopilot, and Akerman manages to be only slightly less annoying than she was in last year's The Heartbreak Kid. 27 Dresses is jealously made for wedding-obsessed women, ostracizing everyone else in the theater. If you're not married, you're stricken with enough subliminal brainwashing that after viewing you must find a spouse. Audiences are made to feel ashamed for being unmarried. I feel sorry for any first-daters attending this movie, as unsuspecting men will suddenly see a much-too-soon glint in their sweetheart's eyes. Beware.
If inconvenienced by the WGA strike, you can catch your favorite television stars in theaters over the next few months. Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey can be seen in Enchanted right now and Made of Honor due later this year. Lost's Matthew Fox has Vantage Point due in February and Speed Racer due in May. And while Heigl, also of Grey's Anatomy fame, attempts to enter herself as a pseudo-Meg Ryan figurehead of romantic-comedy, she only just gets the job done. I can see Heigl making a name for herself in the genre, but with material not so remarkably mediocre and familiar. Despite that familiarity, I laughed when I was supposed to and was occasionally caught up in the romance. But I'm a romantic, occasionally willing to tolerate a thick slice of cheese for a happy ending.


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Blundering politicians caught with 'foot in mouth'
Rudyard Spencer
Jamaican politicians, like their counterparts in other jurisdictions, are known to make serious verbal and in some cases, non-verbal gaffes.
Such blunders often prove to be embarrassing not just to the persons who made the offending remarks, but to the political parties to which they belong.
Below, Loop News has compiled a short list of some more recent blundering Jamaican politicians, who, having spoken or gestured, no doubt wished they could have taken back their remarks or actions.
In most instances, an apology was offered, but generally, only after public condemnation of the offending remarks or actions, and really, after the 'damage' was done.
The politicians on our list who had a bout or two of 'foot in mouth disease', noticeably displayed elements of some among the traits of arrogance, tribalism, offensiveness, juvenile behaviour, and in instances, reflected plain and simple stupidity.
Here are some examples of the scenario outlined above:
Then governing People's National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament (MP) for North West St Ann, Dr Dayton Campbell, scored zero with what many considered at the time, his offensive and immature remarks that were directed at a beauty pageant contestant.
In July 2013, Dr Dayton Campbell was forced to apologise to one of the finalists in the Miss Jamaica World Pageant following public backlash over a comment he posted on his Twitter page.
Shortly after Jenaae Jackson was announced as the contestant with the 'best shape' in the pageant, the MP took to the social media website tweeting: "'bout best shape; she shape like the Jamaican economy".
The comment triggered widespread condemnation from Twitter users, who regarded the post as irresponsible and inappropriate.
Dr Campbell would later remove the post, stating that he was sorry for his comment. He said: "To whom much is given, much is expected, I should know better. Sorry madam. Apologies also to people in Twitter land."
'Shapely' Jenaae went on to be placed first runner-up to the 2013 Miss Jamaica World, Gina Hargitay.
Some political commentators have privately said it was mind-boggling how State Minister Rudyard Spencer, the MP for South East Clarendon, came to make remarks on a political platform for which he had to apologise in early April. This was the view of many, since when Spencer started telling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters at a party meeting in Bellefield, Manchester in late March, that they and other members of the governing party were now in a better position to get help from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), he was cautioned by some in attendance that members of the media were present.
Spencer would continue fulsomely with the remarks.
His decision to proceed despite the caution, landed Spencer in the midst of a firestorm of criticism for telling Labourites that with a member of the JLP chairing the RADA board, whatever issues they had faced with receiving assistance from the agency which provides agricultural extension services, were of the past.
"We have a system where we will now have our own chairman of RADA, and things have been happening and things can happen at RADA. But naturally, you will meet some bottlenecks, because we have just taken over the system and we are trying to find our way around the system. Where you never have a parish manager for RADA, you now have a Labourite being the chairman of RADA, so whatever problems you used to have… I believe now most of those problems would have gone away, because you have your own manager to assist in the management of RADA… So, therefore, you can't say that you are getting no attention; you can't say nothing is happening, because in fairness, you have your own manager to report whatever problems you have, and expect him to solve those problems," Spencer dished out as more than a mouthful at the meeting.
Following the backlash and a meeting with the Political Ombudsman, Donna Parchment, plus a directive from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Spencer apologised profusely, almost from media house by media house.
According to a letter sent to Spencer from the Office of the Political Ombudsman, and copied to the media, Spencer "voluntarily extends a complete and unreserved apology to the people of Jamaica, the Opposition and the Jamaica Labour Party" for the statement.
He also condemned political tribalism in "all its forms", and indicated that the statement from him did not reflect his values and beliefs or those of his party leader and the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness.
Additionally, Spencer committed to upholding the values of Jamaica's democracy, and to serve all the people of Jamaica equally, the ombudsman stated.
Former State Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Clarendon, Michael Stern, who lost his seat in the 2011 General Elections, was appointed RADA Chairman in August 2017.
Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Phillips, was recently forced to apologise not for something he said, but what he did.
Dr Phillips 'flipped the bird' not once, but twice in the House of Representatives, during a heated and contentious debate on the myriad problems facing the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.
The gesture last month has been described as 'juvenile', although it has largely been accepted that Dr Phillips meant no ill will toward anyone.
However, following what some thought were 'tongue in cheek' calls for him to resign, Dr Phillips offered the required apology. He did so during a press conference at the PNP's headquarters at Old Hope Road, St Andrew. He had been faced with mounting criticism, including from the youth arm of the governing JLP, for the gesture, during which he gesture with both of his middle fingers.
Phillips told journalists two days after the incident that during the debate, he sought to get a two-minute extension for Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr Dayton Campbell, to allow him more time to highlight "the deepening crisis at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, and the failure of the Government to address this crisis with the urgency it deserves."
He said, "In seeking this two-minute extension, I used a gesture which has become the subject of controversy, and (has been) interpreted as (being) offensive. As the records of the Parliament will show, at no time was any offence meant and none was taken either by the Speaker, who is the presiding officer of the Parliament, nor by any member of the Parliament on either side of the aisle," Phillips stated.
He added that, "in light of the misinterpretation, and in some instances misrepresentation, I regret using this gesture in what was a lighthearted moment of banter in the House, in fact, intended to diffuse any tensions which were arising."
The Opposition Leader makes the list twice, as in August 2017 he was forced to apologise for comments which were deemed to be extremely insensitive.
Dr Phillips made the comments while addressing a PNP rally in St Ann.
During the meeting, he said the Government's one-seat majority (at the time) in the House of Representatives could swing due to a number of reasons, and the PNP should get ready to take control of Government.
Among the reasons he cited for the likely swing was illness (within the ranks of the JLP parliamentary representatives).
Like many political watchers, JLP Councillor, Duane Smith, a son of Derrick Smith, the then MP for North West St Andrew, took immediate offence to Dr Phillips' comment. Mr Smith said it was public knowledge that his father was ill with diabetes-related challenges, and undergoing treatment at the time.
In responding, Dr Phillips said it was never his intention to make light of the illness being experienced by Derrick Smith.
He said his statement at the rally was rather "to highlight the uncertainties of the political environment and the need to prepare for any eventuality."
Then came the apology.
"If unintentionally I have caused offence to Minister Smith or his family, I apologise unreservedly," Dr. Phillips said.
Derrick Smith retired from representational politics in January after nearly 30 years as MP. Dr Nigel Clarke contested for the JLP and won in Smith's old stomping ground in a by-election in March.
Opposition MP for Eastern St Catherine, Denise Daley, was in April forced to apologise for statements she made at a PNP meeting in West Rural St Andrew, which many labelled as both tribal and divisive.
At that meeting to introduce the party's caretaker/candidate for the St Andrew constituency for the next general elections, Daley described her opponents as "green" people, and declared that they were not welcomed in her constituency.
Green is the colour of the JLP, while orange is the favoured colour of the PNP.
Forced to issue a statement under intense criticism, Daley said her remarks from the political platform were not intended to offend. She said based on all of the subsequent commentaries surrounding the statement, she now understands that the statement was not appropriate, and regretted making such remarks.
Daley said whereas she had no intention of removing anyone from her constituency based on their political affiliation, it did not change the interpretation and the fact that the remarks could generate unease among residents in sections of her constituency.
She emphasised that throughout her 31 years as a representative at the local and national levels, she has enjoyed warm relations with political opponents, and was therefore offering no excuses for her statement.
The PNP said Daley offered a full apology to her constituents, the political ombudsman, the party, and the people of Jamaica for the remarks made, and assured that she will conduct herself in a manner consistent with peace and goodwill, and the lowering of political tension and tribalism.
One of the country's most popular and hardworking Cabinet ministers is Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett. The affable member of the Andrew Holness-led Cabinet is well loved for his disarming smile and warm personality.
However, all that did not stop the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) from directing a 'scud missile'-like statement at Bartlett last week for statements he reportedly made in response to complaints that Spanish hoteliers on the island are not engaging local manufacturers in their business dealings.
The JMA cited a Business Day news report on Wednesday, stating that "Minister Edmund Bartlett, in response to complaints that Spanish hoteliers are not engaging local manufacturers in business, said that that's an issue manufacturers will have to try and fix on their own. Bartlett reportedly added that he cannot tell investors who to do business with. (He said) manufacturers should instead focus on improving the quality of their products and their ability to supply the tourism market with what is needed."
Based on their response, the local manufacturers are of the view that the minister was displaying a serious degree of both arrogance and ignorance.
Responding on Thursday, the JMA said the statements from Bartlett represent "a blatant disregard for the industrial sector and the resilience of our manufacturers and other entrepreneurs who continue to robustly innovate, invest and produce at world-class standards, despite existing challenges."
The JMA said it would not support the minister's dismissal of an industry that "continues to be the backbone of this country, contributing 8.6 per cent to GDP, $55 billion in taxes (second only to the banking sector), and 80,000 in employment."
The association said the economic benefits of tourism are unquestionable, "but it's extremely low impact on our national growth is undeniable".
Further pressing home its position, the JMA said national economic sustainability entails building linkages and keeping the majority of the proceeds local. In that regard, the association said "Not only should Jamaicans be involved in tourism, but we should also share in the financial benefits derived from it."
In respect of the minister himself, the JMA said "Minister Bartlett's utterances reflect the very ignorance the JMA is committed to dispelling. We need to emancipate ourselves and recognise that Jamaica produces a wide range of products that are unique, superior and better priced than many imports. It is up to each and every one of us as consumers, businesses and Government to take the stance to support our local manufacturers and not be held captive by the erroneous perceptions that Jamaican-made is inferior, and that local producers are unable to adequately supply the tourism market.
According to the JMA, "if our Government and our ministers do not have faith in our own entrepreneurs, who will? Growth begins with leadership."
Despite the rantings of the JMA, Bartlett, unlike the other politicians mentioned, is not known to have yet offered an apology or clarification on the matter. However, the JMA President, Metry Seaga, has indicated that a meeting is being scheduled between the two, to discuss the statements.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness may not have exactly put his foot in his mouth, so to speak, on the matter of the short-lived 'acting' appointment of Chief Justice, Bryan Sykes (the PM said it was strategy, which, to his credit, the jury will always be out on), but from the public distraction that the move became, and the widespread criticism that it drew, it certainly warrants even a light mention among the foot in mouth political developments.
For breaking news, download our app at http://bit.ly/GetALoopJM for Android; and at http://bit.ly/GetiLoopJM for IoS.


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About Us
First of all, Congratulations to all Brides and Mothers of the Bride/Groom during this special time!
We are proud to have been serving the Memphis area for more than 20 years. Gloria's has been a preferred place to shop for Mother of the Brides over the years. Our customer referrals have contributed immensely to the growth of our business, and we cannot be anymore grateful for that. In fulfilling our dream of opening a bridal shop, we have been blessed to recently expand our little shop into now offering bridal and social occasions wear.
We carry a beautiful selection of Bridal gowns, Mother of the Bride/Groom, Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, Prom, Cotillion,
Quinceanera, and other Social Occasion dresses. We also carry accessories including: veils, headpieces, jewelry, purses, and shoes.
Along with selling dresses, we also offer in-store alterations within the time frame you need.
We truly hope for the opportunity to assist you with your selection and sharing in your memories.
Now let's find you that perfect dress for the special day!


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Posted on :
23 Feb, 2011
23 Feb, 2011
Acuity Consultants are looking for a Junior Data Analyst to start immediately in the financial sector. You will be SQL and Excel proficient and be adept at analysing data content by gathering information from different locations. An accounting experience or an understanding of an accounting environment would be beneficial.
Please note the following which is mandatory:
Excel proficiency
Experience of data modelling
High verbal and written aptitude
BSc or Bcom
Please note: This is a Contract position.
If you qualify for this position, please email your CV directly to:
Lindsay Cowan
[email protected]
021 8015001
***Acuity Consultants is a fastgrowing financial and IT Recruitment Agency. We specialise in supplying high calibercandidates to leading companies in the technology and financial servicessectors. For more information and additional jobs please visit our website www.acuityconsultants.co.za ***


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Top Tips to Sell Your House Fast for Cash
There are some things that you can do that will allow you to sell your house in more ways than one. Usually, you can start selling your own house by putting it up for sale through advertising methods such as the internet and your local papers. Another common method of selling your house will be seeking the services of a real estate agent. No matter how tempting or easy both of these methods must be, you need to understand that it becomes more challenging on your part if your goal is to get quick cash by selling your house. Making deals with cash home investors is the best thing that you can do if you intend to sell your home fast without making a lot of effort and time on your part. No matter where you live, surely, there are a number of cash home buyers that will be more than willing to put a price on the home that you are selling. And what is even great about these cash home investors is that no matter what value your house has upon assessment, they will see to it that they will really pay you with cash. This is no doubt of good use among home owners who are in great need of getting some cash for whatever purpose they have intended for it. Despite the fact that you can get great deals with these cash home investors for your home, there are still some things that you need to do before calling them. Below are some of the things that are being refered here.
If you intend to get your house sold to the right cash home investors, you have to first take care of all the legal papers, documents, ownership, and title of your house and property before giving these cash home investors a call. If you fail to take care of this matter for your house, then you will have increased chances of not getting a good price for your property for sale.
Due to the fact that there will be certain criteria that cash home buyers will look at in assessing the value of your home, it is your job as the home seller and home owner to do what you can to make your home as valuable as it can be.
What you can do with your home is to make sure that it is clean in every corner and kept well arranged. Get rid of things in your home that will just make it look more untidy. Once all of these things are done, you are giving the cash home buyers a better impression about what your house has to offer to them in terms of value. That is the only thing that you will most likely think about because when you call cash home investors, you will be offered cash for your home in whatever condition it is even if it has not undergone any recent major repairs or fixes. To get more facts about these investors, visit their cash for houses websites.


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Directions: Remove a saturated pad from the jar and wipe the textured pad over the desired area to be cleansed. Use 2-3 times per week. May cause peeling.
- Ultra-pure crystalline
- Glycolic acid
- Witch Hazel, a proven tonic
- Enhanced with stable liposome encapsulated Vitamins A, C, E, Green Tea Extract and CoQ10
- pH of 4
- Convenient easy-to-use pads
- Gluten, Paraben, Alcohol, Oil and Fragrance-free
- Gently exfoliates dead and dull skin cells resulting in smoother texture and more evenly toned, brighter skin
- Helps reduce surface oil and refine pore size
- Nourish the skin while providing antioxidant protection from free-radicals
Special Ingredient: Glycolic Acid
What is Glycolic Acid?
Glycolic Acid is part of the (AHA) family of natural ingredients. It is derived from sugar cane and is essentially a fruit acid.
-The smallest molecular size of all AHAs and therefore is believed to penetrate the skin more easily
-The penetration allows for better results at lower concentrations and it provides results with a lower incidence of irritation and side effects
-Studies support the fact that Glycolic Acid formulations provide the highest degree of benefits when compared to other cosmetically used AHAs
How Does Glycolic Acid Work?
-Helps gently slough or exfoliate the skin's dead cells layer
–Supports cellular renewal when the dead cell layers of the stratum corneum (the skins outer most layer) are removed
–Moisturizes by bringing water molecules from the environment into the skin, and by pulling water molecules from the lower levels of the skin to the dryer, upper layers of the skin


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The game ELASTOVITA version 1.4.51
Ascension in the boil era - reach the first!
The world of the Elastovita is similar to a layer-cake. In the bottom layer of biosphere are born and evolve one-armed elasts. In the top layer inhabit «enlightened» two-armed individuals. Between them there is an impassable border barrier that separates these species.
During the so-called era of boiling, when the Elastovita passes pericenter of its orbit around the red star from a powerful stellar exposure boils barrier layer. Many one-armed elasts break forbidden border to rise to the upper world. To do this they need to go through the transformation of the body under the influence of radiation.
Elasts overcome the boiling layer in the bubble, which protects them from aggressive environments. The bubble blocks any activity within, so that you can only be freed with the help of external factors - collision with an obstacle or a reduction in pressure at altitude.
Some game features:
- independent AI system to opponents and guards.
- simple intuitive mouse controls.
- scalable window for different resolution screens.


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28-31 October 2014
Tickets: £9/ £7 – Available from Arts Club box office 12pm-8pm daily – 0844 847 2472
Tell Tale Theatre make a welcomed return to the dramatic world of George Orwell for their next production.
In 2010, Tell Tale's very first show was a visceral performance of Orwell's 1984. They have come a long way since then. Tell Tale Theatre recently received funding from the BBC Performing Arts Fund which will support the production and will enable Animal Farm to tour to local secondary schools.
The Tell Tale team have worked alongside award-winning writer Laurence Wilson to create their own theatrical adaptation of this world famous book, set on a timeless farm yard. Laurence Wilson's credits include Blackberry Trout Face (20 Stories High) and Tiny Volcanoes (Everyman). This exciting collaboration and experimental writing process has led to a new theatrical adaptation of Orwell's political fairy tale.
It is through the use of a powerful, physical ensemble approach that Tell Tale will realise Wilson's darkly humorous, quick paced and biting script. The action will be underscored by original live music from local musicians Dave Owen and Benet Corkill. The two have been involved in the rehearsal process from the beginning and will perform during the show. Leanne Jones, Producer, explains "It's wonderful to have talented musicians on hand who can respond spontaneously to direction and have added their own musical soundtrack to the drama. We are surrounded by talent, everyone volunteering, striving to make exceptional theatre. We are also very excited about the collaboration of emerging designers and students from LIPA, as well as our Tell Tale set builders John Gossage and John Bradley, who have worked together over the last couple of months to create beautiful scenery. John is a semi-retired engineer, contributing his expertise and skills. This is what Tell Tale is all about!"
Just as Orwell's book has since its release in the 1940's, this production will savagely remind you of the very real consequences of misplaced power allowed to thrive by ill-informed loyalty, and leave you reeling as the story reaches its terrible climax.
Director: Emma Whitley / Writer: Laurence Wilson / Producer & Assistant Director: Leanne Jones
<iframe width="560″ height="315″ src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UaXgh_RgzMk" frameborder="0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
Arts Club, 90 Seel Street, Liverpool


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TOP> About IRIDeS > Greeting from the Director
The second stage of the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University
IMAMURA Fumihiko
Director, IRIDeS
The Tohoku earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean at JST 14:46 on March 11th, 2011, and the following tsunami left the region devastated. Some twenty thousand people became victims. Not only houses/buildings and infrastructure were heavily damaged, but also the coastal environment/ecosystem and landscape were widely impacted and severely changed. Furthermore, due to the explosion of the nuclear reactors at Fukushima Dai'ichi, many people from a large area around the reactors have been forced to evacuate from their homes. This is the multi-phase-disaster after the 2011 earthquake, which had never been experienced before.
Immediately after the disaster, Tohoku University established the institute for disaster reconstruction and re-generation research in April 2011, with the aim to lead the revitalization of Japan. One of the major projects was to initiate and enhance international research of Disaster Science. As a result, on April 1st, 2012, a new research institute named the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) was founded to study the mechanism which caused this earthquake and tsunami to enable more reliable evaluation of hazards and damage. Scholars from thirty-eight fields who shared high ideals and a strong sense of urgency, came together in 7 divisions from both the humanities and the natural sciences, to participate in a multi-disciplinary and multi-layered approach to lead the studies of disaster science. IRIDeS brought together the expertise of Tohoku University to contribute to the reconstruction and rebuilding of disaster-affected areas.
We have also worked to provide relief aid within the disaster area, and to gather accurate information about the damage caused. We initiated a Digital archive project in collaboration with several partners in order to compile date, information, and records related to the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami.
Moreover, we have cooperated with research institutions both within Japan and overseas to actively promote the most advanced research in the world in several fields of natural disasters; the digital archive with the Reischauer Institute of Japanese studies at Harvard University, the disciplinary science of disaster with the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and disaster risk reduction with IRDR of University College London, and remote sensing for disaster management with DLR (Deutsches Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt). Furthermore, the international program hub, APRU-IRIDeS multi-hazard program, was initiated to harness the collective capabilities of APRU (The Association of Pacific Rim Universities) for cutting-edge research on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and recovery, share strategies to cope with campus disaster risk, and contribute to international policy making processes on DRR.
We contribute to share what we have learned with the world at large, and together, we work to build a world that is disaster resilient. We cannot achieve this alone. I ask you for your support and cooperation in this endeavor.
Fumihiko Imamura, Prof. and Director of IRIDeS. April 1st, 2014.


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Transgender issues are a major topic, both in popular culture and in the realm of public policy. Once treated as the modern equivalent of sideshow freaks, transgender people are coming into the mainstream and demanding the right to take their place in the public square. For conservative religious bodies like the Catholic church, who have yet to reconcile themselves with the existence of cis-gender lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and asexuals, this "transgender moment" must be particularly baffling. To my knowledge, there have been no "official" statements from Rome about how "orthodox" Catholics should make sense of transgender people (The Catechism of the Catholic Church doesn't mention transgenderism, at least not the edition I have), but this passage from a December 2012 speech by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI seems to be as authoritative as anything else on the matter:
The Chief Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, has shown in a very detailed and profoundly moving study that the attack we are currently experiencing on the true structure of the family, made up of father, mother, and child, goes much deeper. While up to now we regarded a false understanding of the nature of human freedom as one cause of the crisis of the family, it is now becoming clear that the very notion of being – of what being human really means – is being called into question. He quotes the famous saying of Simone de Beauvoir: "one is not born a woman, one becomes so" (on ne naît pas femme, on le devient). These words lay the foundation for what is put forward today under the term "gender" as a new philosophy of sexuality. According to this philosophy, sex is no longer a given element of nature, that man has to accept and personally make sense of: it is a social role that we choose for ourselves, while in the past it was chosen for us by society. The profound falsehood of this theory and of the anthropological revolution contained within it is obvious. People dispute the idea that they have a nature, given by their bodily identity, that serves as a defining element of the human being. They deny their nature and decide that it is not something previously given to them, but that they make it for themselves. According to the biblical creation account, being created by God as male and female pertains to the essence of the human creature. This duality is an essential aspect of what being human is all about, as ordained by God. This very duality as something previously given is what is now disputed. The words of the creation account: "male and female he created them" (Gen 1:27) no longer apply. No, what applies now is this: it was not God who created them male and female – hitherto society did this, now we decide for ourselves. Man and woman as created realities, as the nature of the human being, no longer exist. Man calls his nature into question. From now on he is merely spirit and will. The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man's fundamental choice where he himself is concerned. From now on there is only the abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his nature is to be. Man and woman in their created state as complementary versions of what it means to be human are disputed. But if there is no pre-ordained duality of man and woman in creation, then neither is the family any longer a reality established by creation. Likewise, the child has lost the place he had occupied hitherto and the dignity pertaining to him. Bernheim shows that now, perforce, from being a subject of rights, the child has become an object to which people have a right and which they have a right to obtain. When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied and ultimately man too is stripped of his dignity as a creature of God, as the image of God at the core of his being. The defence of the family is about man himself. And it becomes clear that when God is denied, human dignity also disappears. Whoever defends God is defending man.
(full speech here: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2012/december/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20121221_auguri-curia_en.html)
Here Benedict links the desire for transgender people to change their sex to the breakdown of the "traditional family," blurred gender roles, the denial of God, and all of the usual ills conservatives attribute to the rise of LGBT rights. To Benedict, being male or female takes on an almost transcendental meaning, so that any attempts to alter gender roles, much less our external genitalia, is mocking God's intentions to place each of us in a specific body for a specific reason. Humans are either male or female, men and women, end of story.
So what then, are we to make of the castrati?
For reader unfamiliar with this term, the castrati were male singers who had been castrated in childhood for musical purposes. The New Testament's prohibition of women speaking in churches was interpreted by the Catholic mean that women couldn't sing in church either, meaning that the soprano and alto parts in Gregorian chant and polyphony needed to be sung by young boys. Since boys have a nasty habit of growing up, which in turn changes the tenor of their voices, castration ensured that the voice of a pre-adolescent boy be preserved into adulthood:
Although the castrati were the stars of the secular opera world during the Baroque and Classical period, changing musical tastes (as well as the gradual inclusion of women on the dramatic and musical stage) meant that they had fallen out of favor by the 18th century. In Revolutionary France, for example, the castrati were considered a symbol of ancien regime excess and degeneracy. This meant that by the late 18th and 19th centuries, the Catholic church was the only source of demand for the services of the castrati.
The castrati appear to have had a peculiar "in-between" status, in that they were not women, but weren't considered "full men" either. Canon law forbade them from getting married (though many did anyway), thus preventing them from enjoying normal family life. They were mocked because of their peculiar appearances (e.g., long limbs, feminine features, hairless bodies), and subject to accusations that they led men into homosexuality with their sexual ambiguity. I suspect that most castrati were only able to find true community with each other, since the outside world found them to be so bizarre.
With all of this historical information as a backdrop, my question is, why is it okay to alter your genitals to sing in the Sistine Chapel choir, but not okay to alter your genitals because you're transgender? Were the castrati mocking God when they took advantage of their artificially high voices to sing Allegri's Miserere Mei during Easter? What about the thousands of people who profited from the castrati, ranging from the back-alley surgeons who performed the operations right up to the popes who employed them, most of whom probably considered themselves to be good, even orthodox Catholics? And let's not forget that many boys who were castrated didn't survive the operation, dying from blood loss, infections, or accidental poisoning from the crude anesthesia (usually opium) they received. Many other castrati were unable to make it as singers, and ended up in a state of penury and isolation. All of this just to get around the prohibition of women speaking/singing in church.
This thread from the "Catholic Answers Forum" shows "orthodox" Catholics trying to struggle with the castrati problem:
The consensus the posters reach is that the secular culture was to blame for creating a demand for the castrati, but as I mentioned earlier, by the late 18th century most Europeans had already bored of them, while the church was still eagerly looking for fresh applicants for its various musical outlets. As with many of the Catholic church's more dubious actions, the phenomenon of the castrati lasted for hundreds of years, so it's not like it can be blamed on a few bad apples. The castrati were still going strong in the Papal States when it was absorbed into the Republic of Italy. In fact, the only thing that finally ended the castrati was the Republic of Italy outlawing the practice of castration for musical purposes. Although Leo XIII began phasing out the castrati from the Sistine Chapel Choir in 1878, I suspect it was probably more because he realized that the new laws meant that it would be harder to obtain replacements, not because he thought that castrating children to sing in church was inherently wrong.
I think the castrati issue needs to be brought up more as a reminder that in the not so distant past, the Catholic church didn't have a problem with certain people modifying their body in ways that it would consider to be "against nature." At least modern transgender people are deciding of their own volition as to whether they want to change their gender, rather than being forced into it by their parents, poverty, or the church, as was the case with the castrati. The church was able to control the castrati, whereas modern transgender people are taking matters into their own hands, which is why I think that trans issues can't be so easily assimilated into Catholic thought.


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Monthly Archives: July 2014
Walworth Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship Celebrates Silver Jubilee
The Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship at Walworth Methodist Church in Camberwell held its silver jubilee thanksgiving service on Sunday 13th July 2014. Formed in 1986 but inaugurated in 1989 to support one another, the fellowship has grown from strength to strength. Stalwarts of the fellowship include late Mr Francis Djan-Krofa, Mr John Badu, the late Ms Beatrice Donkoh, Reginald Gyasi, Doris Ofori-Mensah, and Lydia Donkor.
The fellowship has made significant contributions to the church and many organisations. In 2010 the fellowship spent thousands of pounds on hospital equipments for the children hospital in Ghana. It also made cash contribution to the building of the music department of the Methodist University College, Ghana. It was the success story at Walworth which led to the formation of Ghanaian Methodist Fellowship-UK Chaplaincy, umbrella fellowship of all Ghanaian Methodists in UK & Ireland.
Preaching the sermon on the theme- Ebenezer, "Thus far the Lord has brought us", Rev Emmanuel Aggrey Ogoe, said 25 years is great but urged the fellowship not to be complacent; for there is more work to be done. He said the fellowship was not only formed to help members in times of need but also to help integrate new members into the fellowship and the church, and wondered what score the fellowship will get on that role. He told the congregation that it's about time our conduct did the talking instead of the cliché the Bible says this or that.
Rev Eric Mustapha, Minister of Walworth Methodist Church was full of praise to the Ghanaian Fellowship for its continued support to the church, and for a member to have given birth to a first medical doctor from the church.
The service was attended by representatives from the Ghana High Commission UK, Ghana Union, deputy major of Southwark and many local Ghanaian Methodist Fellowships.
A section of members at the service
Sixteen new executives were sworn into office to help steer the affairs of the fellowship.
Interview with Sis Ama Brehene-Ankah
We continue with our leadership monthly interview. In the month of July the person to be interviewed is Sis Ama Brehene- Ankra. Sister Ama has been a staunch member of GMF-UK Chaplaincy. She has held many positions. She chaired the 10th Anniversary Planning Committee. This interview is regarding her role as GMF lay representative to the Ghana Christian Council UK & Ireland. (GCCUK)
Question: Sis Ama, not many people would know about Ghana Christian Council UK & Ireland (GCCUK). Share with us the main role of the GCCUK
Answer: May I express my honour and appreciation to you and your team in granting this interview. It really is an opportunity for our congregation to gain some in-sight into the work of the GCCUK & Ireland. The GCCUK & Ireland is the official body endorsed by the Ghana High Commission in collaboration with the Ghana Union UK, charged with the task of working to unite Ghanaians to serve God and Country.
As an Ecumenical body the role of the Council is numerous, but I'll mention a few.
- Foster and build a constructive relationship by welcoming all Ghanaian Faiths Communities.
- Ensure inclusion, offer of Pastoral Care, support in areas of Legal, Health, Finance,
Inter-personal relationships, Family, Housing, Safe-guarding of children including other areas with
social challenges. Such support hopefully to be undertaken through experts' advice.
- Foster knowledge and understanding amongst all.
- Promote Ghana's Christian Faith and Religious Culture in the Diaspora (UK)
- Co-ordinate, organise and execute national celebrations, church services and other key events which show-case Ghana both in good and challenging times to the Diaspora (UK)
Question: You have been representing the GMF at GCCUK. What has that entailed?
Answer: First and foremost, it has been a humbling experience. I see the representation as a servant's role and an opportunity to serve my Lord as well as GMF-UK Chaplaincy albeit, on a different forum. My role includes the following;
- Ensuring GMF-UK Chaplaincy's good relations with the Council, part-taking of the Council's activities, welfare and the promotion of its fortunes are my primary responsibilities.
- Attend meetings, usually at the High Commission sometimes at pretty short notices.
- Pre-visits to hosting churches to familiarise one's self with the venue and their facilities.
- Attend weddings, funerals and other social events as part of GCCUK & GU delegation.
- Feed back our Chaplain Revd. William Davis on matters that affect GMF Chaplaincy or any issue/s needing his attention
- Briefly I was the custodian of the Committee's funds during the Treasurer's travels.
- Holds a Welfare Officer's role on the committee which comes with its own commitments.
Question: In your interaction with other GCCUK members have you come across something you would want to recommend to the GMF?
Answer: Working with Ministers and other Lay Reps. from different churches, organisations and fellowships bring a rich variety of knowledge, skills and talents. I witness selfless commitment of proud Ghanaians in various churches as the GCC worship or attend different churches for events. Men, women and children of God, who genuinely give their time, skills and talents with passion to move heavens for their churches and organisations to bring success to whatever occasion they host. The respect congregations behold of their leaders. Such commitment and dedication is what I would recommend to the GMF.
Question: I am sure you've come across many Ghanaian Methodists in UK worshipping with other denominations. Should the GMF try to encourage them back to the Methodist or we should be happy that they go to church?
Answer: Sure, I have come across many who wish they had stayed Methodists, particularly on hearing Methodist Hymns and Canticles during ecumenical services. Some confide in me that, they attend Methodist churches during Ghana visits. For the dithering sisters and brothers, prayer support to enable their decision making may be right thing to do on their behalf. We must also be happy for those who are settled wherever they find peace. Being in God's house in faith in my opinion is fine, for we serve a one God, moreover, are we not Ecumenical?
Question: What has been your proudest moment in your involvement with the GCCUK?
Answer: Oh dear, how I wish this question had been my proudest moment with GMF-UK Chaplaincy? Nonetheless, the proudest moment to mind was the outcome of the memorial service to Late President Prof J.E.A. Mills-a task charged to the GCCUK & Ghana Union. The pride of H.E. and his staff amongst his peers of High Commissioners, Ambassadors, other Dignitaries and the GCCUK leadership was clear for all to see. May I, take this opportunity to further express the GMF's and my personal appreciation to Revd. Martin Turner, Superintendent Minister-Methodist Central Hall, Westminster who availed the MCH to GCCUK and went on to light the pipe organ lights to the Ghana National colours. Appreciation also goes to Revd. William Davis, for doing underground work on behalf of the High Commission and the GCC. It was such a proud and patriotic feeling. Shame it was under the circumstances of the passing of our leader.
Question:You have been involved in different roles for the GMF. Is there anything left you would want to do?
Answer: On reflection, yes, I have undertaken different roles within GMF since the days of Revd. Hayford Adu- Darkwah, Founder of GMF-UK. The roles seem to find me, as I have never lobbied, chosen or asked for a role. I humbly accepted whatever I felt I could do, felt privileged to be asked and prayed about them, each single one of them. Truly, my God who strengthens me saw me through them all successfully. Of course, mistakes and challenges came but with Him in the boat, all becomes plain sailing in the end and learning process. I cannot think of anything presently I would like to do, however, allow me to borrow a line from SUWMA's Pledge- "I will answer the call of GMF-UK Chaplaincy at any time to serve God and in whatever situations pleasing to Him". For I trust, He will strengthen, guide, guard, give wisdom and open and close doors as and when He see fit to His glory.
Question: What are your highs and lows for being so active with the GMF?
Answer: My Highs: During visits of the Methodist Church, Ghana hierarchy, confirming their pride on what Ghanaian Methodists in UK have embarked on, hosting the Ghana@50 in 2007 with President J.A. Kufuor in attendance, during inauguration of various organisations within GMF, the day the Junior church sang in Akan during an independence anniversary service in the presence of a Ghana High Commissioner who proudly commented on it, Susanna Wesley-UK's restoration and re-dedication of mother Susanna's Memorial at Wesley's Chapel, last but not least GMF-UK's year-long celebration of its 10th Inaugural Anniversary which will not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of you Bro. Felix and many others. My heartfelt appreciation to you all and God bless you. My Lows: I don't have any within GMF-UK, seriously. Rather, I have sadness. Sadness because, when as one people, and as Christians with one destiny with a common Methodist heritage exhibit unholy, non-spiritual behaviours, utter blatant fabricated negative stories about others in the house of God. I am saddened when people exhibit total disrespect to authority. The Bible talk of showing respect to authority and it does not mean being literally fearful of anyone. It just saddens me and I suspect every descent Christian and human being gets saddened in situations such as I have described above.
Question: What lessons has your different roles in GMF taught you?
Answer: A book I read some years back on Christian Church Leadership, suggested that, all good and evil can be found in the church environment. Lessons learnt in the different roles confirm that. There will always be some people who will try to demoralise you with some negative attitudes. I've also learnt to take inspiration from others knowledge, skills, talents to build upon them together with whatever good I possess and to impart to others.
Colossians Chapter 3 verse 23 reads: "Whatever, you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for human beings". Finally, I express my appreciation to Revd. Davis, and Chaplaincy Management Committee of GMF-UK for believing in me to be entrusted with such responsibility.
Sister Ama Brehene-Ankah is the GMF-UK Chaplaincy Lay representative to the Ghana Christian Council UK & Ireland (GCCUK). She's the immediate past senior steward of GMF-UK.


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