text:
Please note: You can reserve many accommodations within the next step.
If you wish to arrive today or have any questions, please contact us by phone on +31 (0)528 229444.
Online bookings can be made online until 2 PM on the day of arrival.
We live here with our jewels: our beautiful, characterful Friesian horses. You are welcome to come and enjoy the beauty of this place, and to have an authentic and truly unforgettable experience.
In 2003 we fell in love with this Cloister dating back to 707 located in the middle of nature.
We are really happy to welcome you, because ultimately we are all one big family who share this land as beautiful as it is!


text:
We are third party Apple Support for all the Apple, Apple Mac related problems. You need to just call to Apple Support Australia +61-1800-870-120 for best technical assistance.
Read more: - https://www.australiamacexperts.com/
Apple Customer Care Australia 1800-870-120
10, Aquatic Road, Manning Point, New South Wales, 2430, Australia
Are these business details incorrect?
Please contact us.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
US states of emergency
In corporate America, brands develop you
- Nikola/Hindenburg: gravitational spin
- Is GMO's Montier right on 'absurd' US stocks?
- 'Commerzbank has confirmed its top position in German equity research, sales and corporate access'
- Once again Kodak pivots, and the share price explodes
- Blockchain: it really is a tough sell
- Sterling has not become an emerging market currency
- Jeff Ubben/ESG: flip flop
- Is this the nuttiest risk factor of all time?
- The tech start-up that wants to "validate" the female orgasm
- It's a great time for conspiracy theories to thrive
- Let's call Trump out, but let's get our facts straight too
- Today, in efficient markets
- We can't blame all the indirect health damage on the lockdown
- Weirdly, blockchain can't help combat coronavirus
- Leading 'UK' start-ups want a handout too
- China's PMI print doesn't mean much
- Let's flatten the coronavirus confusion curve
- NMC Health: presented without comment
- When "commission-free trading" isn't (really) free
- Michael Milken: financial innovator
Puerto Rico — debtor, heal thyself
Mitu Gulati and Bob Rasmussen — members of the law faculties of Duke University and the University of Southern California, respectively — argue that Puerto Rico has another route to restructuring its debts… The federal courts have declared that Puerto Rico does not have the authority to enact an insolvency regime applicable to its public sector borrowers.
All of the questions (and answers!) from our New York #FTPubQuiz
We hosted our New York Pub Quiz on Wednesday night. Congrats to the winning team, Lower Expectations, who defended their title from last year's event by answering 53 out of 70 questions correctly, eking out a win over the team Paul Volcker Rules, William Miller Drools by just a single answer. We had a blast producing the event and were honoured to have been joined by former Fed chair Paul Volcker, who co-hosted the economics and history section of the quiz and even submitted a few questions of his own. For more on the night's activity, you can scroll down through the #FTPubQuiz hashtag on Twitter, and be sure to listen to the vox-pop segment of this week's Alphachat, in which producer Aimee Keane asked attendees for their views on the Fed and the likelihood of a China crash. First up are the questions alone (for those who want to test themselves), and halfway down begins the same set of questions with the answers provided. ROUND 1 NAME THAT FINANCE MINISTER
US monetary policy in GIFS! Where we are and how we got here
The FT has just published its big "When Rates Rise" package on the prospects of tighter US monetary policy. Of course, it remains far from certain that the Federal Reserve will act later this month – or even this year – but we thought a more visual guide would be appropriate. Back in the noughties, the global economy was growing at a healthy clip, and the finance industry was feeling great. Essentially, things were a bit like this.
Offshore repo, capital charges and petrodollars
Repo expert Scott Skyrm at Wedbush warned last week that August 24 could be a date to watch because it's a GSIB surcharge calculation day, along with July 31 and September 30. As he stressed: Taking that one step further, traders are even thinking about September 30 quarter‐end Repo rates. And here's another date to watch ‐ August 24th, which is the second G‐SIB capital surcharge calculation date (in addition to July 31 and September 30) We should expect some type of funding pressure and/or Repo market distortion on Monday. If there is no obvious change in GC rates, it could be that cash is permanently gone from the market through early October, or maybe even forever. With the GSE cash in the market this week and slight soft funding, it's a good time to finance long positions through month‐end and into September.
FirstFT (the new 6am Cut)
You can sign up to receive the email here. Don't expect that rate rise anytime soon. Minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting show policy makers have doubts about the strength of the US recovery. June was the expected timing for a rate rise but few of the Federal Open Market Committee think that would be the right time now first-quarter data has raised the prospect of a slowing economy. The central bank must weigh whether the slowdown was the result of the long, cold winter and a lengthy port strike, and whether the economy is in for a sharp rebound. (FT)
The changing geography of US employment
In a previous post we looked at which US states were the best for job growth in 2014. (North Dakota was best overall, followed closely by Utah, which has the advantage of not being reliant on energy extraction, as well as one of the highest median incomes in the US.) In this post we're going to take a longer view of how the distribution of employment has shifted across the most populous US metro areas since 1990, when the data begin. The first thing to note is that the share of Americans employed in one of the major metro areas in our sample* has stayed relatively constant since 1990, although there have been some interesting trends over the period:
Explaining the pain in Spain
The number of Spaniards with a job fell by more than 18 per cent between mid-2007 and the beginning of 2014. That is a staggering sum, and it helps explain why Podemos, the anti-establishment party, is expected to win a large share of the vote in Spain's elections later this year. The literalist explanation is that Spain's real GDP fell about 6 per cent lower at the same time as Spanish labour productivity rose around 12 per cent. You could blame the euro crisis, the overhang of private debt, fiscal austerity, an undercapitalised banking system, and the strictures of the single currency for the former, and perhaps attribute the latter to the Spanish government's reform programmes. While we don't want to dismiss the importance of policy errors and unsuitable exchange rate regimes, much of Spain's suffering in the bust can be explained by the structure of its economy in the long boom that preceded it. On the eve of the downturn, Spain had the misfortune of looking like a Mediterranean hybrid of Nevada and Michigan. Compared to those US states, which ostensibly benefit from their membership in a functional monetary union, Spain has actually done quite well.
Second Circuit still not Argentina's biggest fan
With Argentina in default, the pari passu saga has become a long, ludicrous, gruelling standoff — which plenty of financial institutions and Argentina's restructured bondholders have been trying to escape. And then running smack into the US court system. On Friday the Second Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal by Citibank to get local-law, US dollar-denominated restructured bonds (the ones with the ISIN confusion) out of the pari passu embargo:
All about the eurodollars
Whilst everyone was focused on the ECB on Thursday… … the Fed pulled this little snippet out of its bag: As part of the continuing program of operational testing of its policy tools, the Federal Reserve plans to conduct a series of eight consecutive seven-day term deposit operations through its Term Deposit Facility (TDF) beginning in October. Okay, the Fed has tested term deposits before, so it's not that mind blowing an announcement in and of itself. The significance, if any, is that it's subtle confirmation that both reverse repos and TDs will be used in the Fed's unwind process. The maximum award has also been increased to $20bn.
BIS says we should follow the money
On Wednesday we wrote about the growing consensus among scholars and policymakers that unencumbered financial flows are bad, focusing on some recent research from the Bank for International Settlements. Now we want to draw your attention to a detailed historical account of the interwar and pre-crisis financial systems by Claudio Borio, Harold James, and Hyun Song Shin. Their aim is to explain which "global imbalances" mattered and which did not.
Pari passu goes to the Peace Palace
That is, Argentina filed a case at the International Court of Justice in the Hague on Thursday — claiming that US court decisions in the pari passu saga have violated its sovereign immunity in public international law. Note that Argentina originally waived immunity within the New York law bonds owned by the holdouts.
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Asia-Pacific equities climbed to fresh six-year highs as investors continued to place geopolitical concerns on the back burner. The upward moves followed an overnight session that saw global equities rally, in part because sales of previously owned homes in the US rose to their highest since October. The S&P 500 touched a record intraday high but then pared gains, ending up 0.5 per cent at 1,983.5. Volatility, as measured by the CBOE Vix index, fell 6.8 per cent. Even Russia's Micex snapped a six-day run of losses, gaining 1.6 per cent. (FT's Global Markets Overview)
Exorbitant privilege, meet pari passu
With less than a fortnight until Argentina risks defaulting on its restructured debt, there will be another hearing in the pari passu saga later on Tuesday. After a look at Argentina's position, now for what Judge Griesa's hearing will focus on — restructured bondholders who argue that he has no jurisdiction over them… Notably, local-law restructured bondholders.
The 6am London Cut
Markets: "Asian stocks rose, joining a global rebound as better U.S. earnings offset the downing of a passenger jet in Ukraine and Israel's invasion of Gaza. Emerging-market currencies climbed while corn fell to the lowest since 2010. The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index advanced 0.3 percent as of 11:44 a.m. in Hong Kong, with three stocks rising for every two that fell. Futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (SPX) were little changed after the U.S. gauge climbed from its biggest loss in three months. Indonesia's currency added 0.4 percent versus the dollar before the result of presidential elections is announced. Corn slumped 1.3 percent on U.S. production. Natural gas slid 1.9 percent." (Bloomberg)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: The influential head of the US House Financial Services Committee has called on US Treasury secretary Jack Lew to investigate whether sweeping financial reform has impaired the $10tn market for US corporate debt and risks amplifying an interest rate shock for large companies.In a letter sent this week to Mr Lew, Congressman Jeb Hensarling argued that it was the responsibility of regulators to ensure that the Volcker rule, a core element of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms that bans banks from proprietary trading, does not harm US capital markets. (Financial Times) UK ministers, led by business secretary Vince Cable, have ordered a review into the sell-off of state assets, just days before MPs publish a report that is expected to criticise last year's privatisation of Royal Mail. Lord Myners, former City minister, will lead a panel of experts to examine alternatives to initial public offerings for privatising state assets, as well as whether the process of gauging what investors are willing to pay for shares can be improved. (Financial Times)
The 6am London Cut
Camp Alphaville reminder: Yes, the colour-code used to illustrate the full line-up of Camp AV speakers has relevance. No, I don't know what it is. (Details here) Markets: Asia-Pacific markets were given a boost as manufacturing readings for the region's two powerhouses, China and Japan, showed a return to growth this month. SBC's "flash" purchasing managers' index for China jumped from 49.4 in May to 50.8 in June, beating forecasts and ending a five-month streak of contraction. Markit's PMI for Japan rose from 49.9 in May to 51.1 in June, its highest since March. (FT's Global Markets Overview)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Asian markets were under pressure in the face of fresh tension in Ukraine and after the S&P 500 dropped to a two-month low on Friday. However, action was muted as investors waited for key Asian data later in the week, including China GDP figures on Wednesday. The US earnings season also ramps up, with about 10 per cent of S&P 500 companies set to report this week. (FT's Global Markets Overview)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Asian markets were in a near-frozen state ahead of the US jobs report due to be released later on Friday, which influences the Federal Reserve's thinking on monetary policy. A retreat from risk was apparent among some Asia tech stocks, however, which followed their US counterparts lower. Wall Street paused for breath after two successive record closing highs for the S&P 500. (FT's Global Markets Overview)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Asian markets wilted after Janet Yellen stumbled in her first meeting as chairwoman of the US Federal Reserve after sending signals that appear to point to earlier rises in interest rates. Following an overnight brief plunge in US markets when Ms Yellen implied rates could rise six months after the Fed stops buying assets, Asian currencies and equity markets opened lower. (Financial Times)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Asian equity markets pulled back in response to more signals that the US economy slowed down last month. US equities were held back from reclaiming record highs after a survey of US homebuilder confidence saw its biggest monthly drop on record, blamed on snowstorms that hit the eastern seaboard. A reading of New York state manufacturing conditions also disappointed. (FT's Global Markets Overview)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: US and European markets might have paused for breath, but Asian markets continued to climb ahead of Janet Yellen's first public appearance as US Federal Reserve chairwoman. Major indices in the region were positive, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading in its third climb in four sessions. (FT's Global Markets Overview)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Caution continued to reign across Asian equity markets after US stocks fell for a third straight session and as investors looked ahead to key events later in the week. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 average was 0.5 per cent lower following a 2.4 per cent fall in its first trading day of the year on Monday. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.4 per cent, a fourth straight decline that placed the index at a six-month low. (Financial Times Global Markets Overview)
Party like it's 1999
As we've noted before it's all feeling a little 1999 out there. Lombard Street 's Dario Perkins agrees. He's just released research entitled "Party like it's 1999″, in he notes:
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Asian markets were mixed, after strong US retail sales data and news that the House of Representatives passed the budget bill, increasing the likelihood of the Federal Reserve pulling back its stimulus programme. (Financial Times)
The 6am London Cut
Markets: Equity markets are weaker across the Asia-Pacific region. Investors are cautious ahead of interest rate decisions in the eurozone and the UK on Thursday plus a highly-anticipated monthly US jobs report on Friday. The broad losses follow a 0.1 per cent pullback in the S&P 500, after a strong private payrolls survey increased speculation that the Federal Reserve could soon trim back, or "taper", its stimulus measures known as quantitative easing. (Financial Times)


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"Get a picture of yourself ten years from now in your mind," I said to my eighteen-year old freshmen. "Your job, whether you'll be in a permanent relationship, whether you will have kids or have considered having them, where you'll be living, graduate school or not. The works." Most of them had smiles on their faces as they constructed their future selves in their imaginations. We were studying the Stoics, so I suspect they were wondering what this exercise had to do with the day's material. "Got the picture?" I asked—they all nodded. "None of it is going to happen, or at least not at all in the way you think." This appeared to be a surprise to some of them—at eighteen it is still easy to believe that much of your future is within your control.
We have all heard the related truisms: "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans," "If you want to give God a good laugh, tell her your plans" and so on. Anyone past a certain age—say thirty—nods bemusedly when hearing them because unlike many bumper sticker summaries of the complexities of human life, these sound bites are completely true. Sometimes the unexpected changes are welcome, other times we are surprised by events so challenging and disturbing that we doubt we'll survive them. But we do. The persons we are and will become have been and will be constructed out of what we never saw and won't see coming.
I'm fifty-eight, well established in a profession that I deeply love, happily in love with and married to my best friend, living in my favorite part of the country—Jeanne and I have carved out a life that seems comfortable, predictable, and stable. She observed positively upon returning from visiting her family and the latest drama in New York a couple of weeks ago that "we really live a peaceful life." Exactly as we want it. But on this New Year's Eve I am on the brink of a year of significant change and am reminded that even within the boundaries of apparent stability, things never stay the same for long.
I am entering my final semester of directing a large academic program on my campus, a task that has consumed and defined my life both on campus and off for the past four years. When July 1 of next year arrives and I hand the reins over to my successor, I will have spent eight of my last eleven professional years as both an administrator and teacher (four years as department chair, four years as program director). I did not go into the teaching profession to be an administrator; although it's part of the academic life to play administrator on occasion, I'm looking forward to finding out what it's like to be just a full-time teacher. And yet . . . in a strange way I'm going to miss being a program director. I've learned a lot about myself as I juggle scheduling, faculty herding and student management on a daily basis. There are many indications that the program has become better over the past few years—and I sort of like being in charge. But all things come to an end, including this.
The timing of my stepping down from directing this program is intentionally coordinated with the beginning of my next sabbatical next July 1. This will be my third sabbatical. I wrote a book during my first one, my life was changed during my second one, so who knows what this one will bring? It will be my first full-year sabbatical—I've told everyone that I wanted to have one full-year sabbatical during my career, and this is the time. By the time my next one comes around, I may be too decrepit and crotchety to appreciate it. I have a plan for what I want to do, but where it will happen and how is totally up in the air. Proposals have been sent, contacts have been made, feelers have been extended—and I won't know how things will be shaping up for at least two or three months.
Outside of work things are also in flux. Jeanne's job was eliminated a couple of months ago—who knows when or if someone will be smart enough to recognize what an asset she will be for them? Everything is moving on at the church we have attended and been involved with for the past four years. Our good friend Marsue, who is the reason why we started going to the church has retired (at least for a couple of weeks) and a new rector has been hired. Marsue used to turn the pulpit over to me about once every three or four months to give the sermon—I've probably given my last sermon at Trinity. A couple of months before Marsue's retirement a full-time music minister was hired, which means three years of frequent, interim organ playing—one of the loveliest surprises that has come my way in many years—are at an end. Everyone at Trinity knows we started attending because of Marsue—will we be staying? Jeanne and I have answered regularly that it depends on what Big Bird is doing. The wind blows where it will, and no one can tell where it's coming from or where it is going—so it is with all things Big Bird.
A couple of Sundays ago I was lector at church and read the Old Testament lesson from Second Samuel. After cementing his rise from shepherd to king through a series of struggles over many years against challenges both internal and external, David is ready to enjoy his middle-age years as monarch and to turn his attention toward God. He tells his prophet advisor and sidekick Nathan of his plans to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, a place for God to settle down and enjoy himself just as David plans to. Given that God's dwelling has been a tent or movable tabernacle for centuries, Nathan approves of David's plans. Until God sets Nathan straight in a dream, that is. When did I ever say I wanted a permanent place to live? God asks. Do I look like someone who want to settle down? I haven't stopped being a nomad since I delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt and don't plan to stop now. If you want to hang out with me, don't get too comfortable and be ready to move. Then this wonderful promise passed on to David through Nathan: "The Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house."
In other words, God already has a house—Us. You and me. That restless spirit of change that permeates everyone's life? That's God. As Christian Wiman writes in his wonderful My Bright Abyss,
To say that one must live in uncertainty doesn't begin to get at the tenuous, precarious nature of faith. The minute you begin to speak with certitude about God, he is gone. We praise people for having strong faith, but strength is only one part of that physical metaphor: one also needs flexibility.
This, Richard Rodriguez suggests, is what monotheists get for believing in a desert God.
The desert's uninhabitability convinces Jew and Christian and Muslim that we are meant for another place.
Which means that trying to confine this restless deity in buildings, dogma, or certainty is a mistake of cosmic proportions.
Desert is the fossil of water. Is dogma a fossil of the living God—the shell of God's passage—but God is otherwise or opposite?
For those not inclined toward religious belief, feel free to come up with your own explanation for the contingency and uncertainty of human existence. You don't need a pillar of fire to convince you that it's all about moving on.


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Delicious butternut leek soup, ideal for winter.
Serves: 6-8
Total Time: 1 hr
1 butternut squash
3 leeks, sliced thin (use white and light green parts only)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 Tbsp Butter
4 Cups Chicken Stock
Optional Garnishes: Bacon bits, scallion and heavy cream
1. Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees F.
2. Slice the squash in half and turn upside down on a greased baking sheet, bake for 45 minutes or until flesh is tender.
3. In a large stockpot, sauté the leek and garlic in the butter until soft.
4. Add the cooked squash, chicken stock, and puree with an immersion blender.
5. Garnish as desired and enjoy!


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New Year's Eve is one of the most anticipated parties of the year. This is because everyone is in bright spirits and celebrating the end of one year as well as the beginning of a new one.
As a result, there is a lot of pressure to plan and execute the perfect New Year's Eve party and ensure that all your guests have a good time.
Planning such a party might seem like an uphill task, but with the right steps, you can close out one year and begin another on a high note.
Here are a few steps to plan the perfect New Year's Eve party.
- Decide on a theme: All parties need a theme and a New Year's Eve party is no exception.
You need to consider the people you intend to invite and plan a theme that will suit them. If you have small children or elderly people in attendance, an upbeat party with lots of alcohol might not be the best idea.
Decide on whether you want an intimate dinner with friends and family or a wild and fun affair.
Whatever you decide on will help guide your choice in decorations, food, and so on.
- Decide on a location: The number of guests you will have for your party needs to be taken into consideration before choosing a party venue.
You need a venue with enough space and seating for the number of people attending. You also need to pick a venue that is convenient to get to. Keep in mind that people will be returning from the party to their homes very early in the morning.
If it is a New Year's Eve party of your office, a conference venue might be more appropriate than a conventional party venue.
Visit a site like venuefinder to find Liverpool conference venues, Liverpool party halls or any other venue that will be suitable for your party.
- Entertainment: The choice of entertainment at a party helps to set the mood and can be the difference between a fun party and a boring one.
Choose traditional New Year's Eve songs to play as well as music that is suitable for the theme of the party.
As it nears midnight, gather all attendees together for the countdown. It would also help if you have fireworks going on when you enter the New Year.
Keep a wide selection of food on ground for the celebration, keeping dietary restrictions of certain guests in mind. This goes for drinks as well.
While a fine selection of champagne should be kept on hand, some non-alcoholic drinks should be kept for those who do not drink alcohol.
If the party in question is a more intimate one, a good idea would be to gather round and share pictures, videos, and memories from the past year to make the event even more special.
Planning a New Year's Eve party doesn't have to leave you stressed out ahead of the new year. Follow the above steps to plan and execute a fabulous New Year's Eve party.


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Danish right-wingers recruit controversial candidates, as country gets ready for elections
The rise of the right-wing in Europe may be a tired cliche at this point. However, a new Danish party has courted fresh controversy for hiring some distinctly un-PC candidates, as the country goes to the polls next month.
Stram Kurs (Hard Line) will run for election for the first time in June. The party pushes a combined message of small-government libertarianism and "ethnonationalist utilitarianism." The latter translates as a ban on Islam, an immediate withdrawal from refugee conventions, and the deportation of all asylum seekers and any "non-western persons."
The party also favors a crackdown on Danes who "help alien enemies undermine Denmark," presumably charities and NGOs. Hungary's Viktor Orban spearheaded a similar crackdown with his 'Stop Soros Act' last year.


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The fire hose technical committee held a conference call on April 2 to discuss upcoming document revisions and ongoing fire hose research. Slides from the Fire Protection Research Foundation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are included in the meeting minutes.
NFPA 1961 is currently open for Public Input until July 6.


text:
Huge product rangeOver 140,000 books & equipment products
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Exceptional customer serviceGet specialist help and advice
This unique volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date examination of all aspects of the biology of the Old World monkey genus, Theropithecus, which evolved alongside our human ancestors. The authors explore the fossil history and evolution of the genus, its biogeography, comparative evolutionary biology and anatomy, and the behaviour and socioecology of the living and extinct representatives of the genus. The parallels between the evolution of Theropithecus and early hominids are discussed. There are also two chapters of particular significance which describe how an innovative and exciting approach to the modelling of the causes of species extinction can be used with great success. This highly multidisciplinary approach provides a rare and insightful account of the evolutionary biology of this fascinating and once highly successful group of primates. Theropithecus will be of interest to researchers in the fields of primatology, anthropology, palaeontology, and mammalian behaviour, physiology and anatomy.


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State & National News
Fund-raising for kids. The Foundation Helping Children in La Paz (FANLAP) is raising funds for school supplies for children in one of the poorest areas of La Paz. FANLAP is a long-established non-profit that operates largely from private donations. They provide middle and high school students with tuition, uniforms, backpacks, and transportation. A little bit helps so much and what a good way to give back to wonderful Baja! To learn more about the organization look up: yourcaring.com and then enter Fanlap in the search box.
Baja Ferries does Cuba. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a license to Miami-based Baja Ferries, the same folks who bring you our ferry service between La Paz and the Mexican mainland.
"If all goes smoothly we could have things up and running by September," said Joseph Hinson, vice president of Baja Ferries USA. He added the company still needed to get approval from Cuba, as well as Florida port officials. "This is a further step in bringing Cuba and the United States closer together," said Robert Muse, a Washington-based lawyer who represented Baja Ferries and specializes in Cuba sanctions. The ferries would only be able to carry licensed travelers to Cuba, including Cuban Americans visiting relatives and Americans traveling for educational and cultural tours. Approved trade and private sector business activities would also be allowed. Baja Ferries plans to offer services three to four days a week, using ships carrying about 1,000 passengers and cargo, on an overnight service with sleeping cabins and dining facilities. Well, OK, so long as they don't take our ferries away to ply the 10 hour trip between Miami and Cuba....
So how're we doin? Not so well. An analysis revealed by El Financiero, a well regarded national newspaper, there are several "red alerts" in our state's economy. The worse is job creation, which reveals that only 4,498 annual new jobs of the 9,600 needed between 2011 and 2014.
Productivity, measured by the amount in pesos produced each hour, dropped from 750 to 628. Exports decreased from 2 to 1.9 percent as a percentage of the state's gross internal product. Car thefts decreased from 174 to 160 for each 100,000 inhabitants, but it is considered high compared to other areas of Mexico.
We have also not improved in personal income, where the percentage of people who cannot buy basic food staples grew from 17.4 to 20.4 percent. The public debt increased from 1.7 to 1.9 percent as a percentage of the gross domestic product. The time the study covers coincides with the time Governor Marcos Covarrubias has been in power. The state will hold elections for governor, five mayors, state congress and national lawmakers Sunday, June 7.
Hi Ole' Silver, awaaaay!. For the fifth year in a row, Mexico dominated world silver production, blowing the doors off second place Peru. The Silver Institute's world silver survey put Mexico's output last year at 193 million ounces, an increase of 6 million ounces over 2013. Trailing Peru were China, Australia and Chile. One of the report's authors, Reuters analyst Andrew Leyland, said the main producers continue to expand their capacity as their production costs decline, which dropped 16% on average last year. Production was up despite a decline in silver prices, from $23.70 an ounce in 2013 to $19.10 last year. Mexico has the largest proven silver reserves in the world,
More Mexico facts. At the World Economic Forum held at the Riviera Maya last week, my country bragged about:
Mexico has a $1.26 trillion economy, making it the 15th largest economy in the world, and the 11th taking into account power purchasing parity. This makes Mexico a so-called "middle power": falling just short of being a G7 economy, it is nevertheless an economic power to be reckoned with.
With its 122 million citizens, the GDP per capita currently stands at about $10,000, placing it firmly in the "upper middle income" countries. Adjusted for purchasing power, the GDP per capita is about 60% higher, at roughly $16,000. That puts it in the same league with countries like Turkey, Romania, and Brazil, but still far below countries like the U.S. ($55,000) or Switzerland ($58,000).
Economic growth is forecast to rebound to 3.5% in 2015.
Mexico is the OECD country with the second highest economic disparity between the rich and the poor, behind only Chile. The bottom 10% on the income rung disposes of 1.36% of the country's resources, whereas the upper 10% dispose of almost 36%. 26% of GDP comes from those working under the table, which has almost 60% of the workforce.
Mexico Might get big telescope. Mexico is one of two countries on a short list for the construction of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), a project that will be the world's largest and most sensitive, ground-based gamma-ray observatory in the world. Mexico is already the site of the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory (HAWC) situated on a mountain in Puebla, east of Mexico City. It went into full operation last month.
The two locations under consideration are La Palma, one of Spain's Canary Islands, and San Pedro Mártir in Baja California, already the site of the National Astronomical Observatory, operated by UNAM.
New drone regulations. Mexico's Communications and Transportation Secretariat, (SCT), announced regulations governing drones, including a ban on flying at night or within six miles of a controlled airport. (Does anyone prefer out of control airports?) They can't carry anything dangerous or illegal, (do baggies of drugs count?) and pilots must be responsible for any damage caused by an accident. Further regulations regarding altitude and speed are applicable depending on the drone's weight. However, a different set of rules will probably apply to another drone that may soon be flying in Mexican skies. Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary specializing in drone development and manufacturing, has been in talks with representatives of the Mexican government interested in complementing their equipment with drones, specifically autonomous ones.
"We've held conversations with all the government agencies, and each has shown different levels of interest," said Dexon Guzmán, Insitu's director of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance business development. The company was approached by several agencies during last week's aerospace fair.
Guzmán explained that drones are used in surveillance, intelligence tasks as well as reconnaissance. The Army, Navy and other departments have shown interest in the vehicles which, instead of being remotely operated, are fully autonomous for up to 24 hours, time that can be dedicated to data collection or surveillance.
Insitu's units are not small. The ScanEagle, one of the most popular models, has a wingspan of 3 yards, a length of up to 2 yards , and beat through the skies at 80 mph. It is a model used by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Mexico already has at least nine drones in use, but none of them is autonomous, which means the aircraft is controlled by an onboard computer system. Several consumer models are proving popular, particularly for aerial photography. Most of us have seen them around here, as they are popular with real estate agents.
No more bribes! They can't stop police officers — male officers, that is — from going after mordidas in the state of México over on the mainland, so the state has declared a three month moratorium on such fines while new transit officers — women only — are trained. The new officers will all be women as part of ongoing efforts to curb corruption. Women officers, it is believed, tend to be more honest than their male counterparts.
That is also a perception on the part of the public. Citizens have greater confidence in uniformed women, said Government Secretary José Manzur Quiroga. ". . . we are looking to stop corruption in the state of México and we believe there is much greater respect towards a woman police officer than a man."
Well, not in Cabo, women aren't so squeaky clean. There is a woman cop who camps out at the entrance to Cabo extorting money out of anyone driving a foreign plated car. She even waves around the same fake ticket to scare the people. She recycles it because the foreigners stupidly fork over money to her. More stupidly, officials won't do anything about it. This paper contacted our state tourism director, and he wouldn't even respond to our pleas. Sigh. Seems our precious foreigners are on their own in this state.


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Day 365- Tacky Teacher Friends
Day 365... wow, is that right? It can't be! I'll get into a bunch of the sappy stuff tomorrow. For now, it's time for one more day of gratitude. :)
Less than six months ago, these people were complete and total strangers to me.
Less than six months ago, these people were complete and total strangers to me.
They are now my coworkers, my community, my MO family, and my support system.
I am so incredibly blessed to also call these people my friends. From the day I was hired, they welcomed me into their family, and they have been amazingly kind to me ever since. They inspire me. They accept me for who I am. They allow me to vent. They constantly keep me laughing, and they laugh at my jokes. They know when to give advice and when to listen. They are fantastic teachers and even better people.
They also know how to celebrate tacky holiday sweater day in style. The kids may have forgotten after our snow day yesterday, but we sure had a g with an o, o with a d, t with an i and an m and an e. I look forward to many more good times to come...
Thank you, tacky teacher friends, you made my day.


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Bean recipe research in Mozambique
Posted: April 26, 2017
Small-holder farmers in Mozambique, prepare to participate in pilot promotional campaign for Tasty! Mozambique. The women cooked favorite recipes with common bean and soybean additions. Photo by Allison Smythe
Maria da Luz, Nina Furstenau, and Allison Smythe just returned from field visits in Central Mozambique where they gathered information on modern bean recipes used by women in rural villages and took photographs of the process. The photographs will play an integral part in the visual instructions on how to prepare a variety of common bean recipes. This is part of the "Tasty! Mozambique" effort that helps to increase diverse use of common beans in Mozambique.
Above: An example of six steps of a low literacy bean stew recipe panel.
Sarudzai Nasson, left, talks with Nina Furstenau and Maria DaLuz in the kitchen house during an interview for Tasty! Mozambique
Shucking corn in Rotanda to prepare sadsza. Photo by Allison Smythe


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A new year begins and with it, a long list of promises and resolutions. For us geeks, that means promising that we'll finally get ourselves to watch that show. We've prepared for you a list of the 5 shows that you should definitely check out this year.
1. The Flash
The hype was well deserved. The long-anticipated DC series and Arrow spin-off was one of the biggest revelations of TV during the fall of 2014. Perhaps the biggest. The Flash broke a CW record by becoming the most watched TV show in its premiere. The series is right in the middle of its first season and it's coming back on Jan 20th. Enough time to catch up and see what all the fuzz is about!
2. Gotham
Yet another show based in the DC universe. This time, the show is based in the Batman franchise. Like The Flash, Gotham is right now in the middle of its first season and will come back on air on Jan 5th. What are you waiting for?
3. In The Flesh
In The Flesh has one of the best fandoms I've seen lately. In the fleshdom's hard work and dedication to the show and to saving it from cancellation really got to me. I actually hadn't seen anything like did since The Tomorrow People campaigns. This show is amazing and offers an interesting and original POV to a zombie apocalypse (completely different to The Walking Dead). And if you need any more reasons to start watching it, check out our article on why you should.
4. How to Get Away With Murder
Another big revelation coming from the second half of 2014. A series dedicated to studying Law and murder by ABC. Intriguing, interesting and exciting. Also, gay characters, POC female lead and Dean Thomas. Just like the first two choices, the show is in the middle of its first season and it comes back on Jan 29th.
5. The Librarians
The Librarians has been quite the revelation these last few weeks. Even though the first two episodes didn't promise much, the show is earning a place in all geek's list due to its mythology, geeky references and Scooby-Doo style. You can easily catch up and start watching it asap on TNT.


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Greetings! Auditions for The Baron's Men's spring 2013 production of The Merchant of Venice will be held on Saturday, November 10 from 9 am-2pm and Sunday, November 11 from 9am-5pm at the Curtain Theater. If you are interested in auditioning, please send an e-mail to: email@example.com .
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Reminder: Auditions for The Merchant of Venice, Baron's Men, November 10 - 11
Labels: audition, Austin, Austin Live Theatre, Curtain Theatre, Texas, The Baron's Men, The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare
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Jasvinder Sanghera still remembers leaving her dad the note 35 years ago. He worked nights, and while he was asleep one day she wrote to him, saying: "I love you, but I'm not the daughter you want me to be. I can't marry a stranger." And then she ran away.
She waited for her best friend's brother outside the factory where he worked, and when he came out, she says, "I told him 'I need to run away, you have to help me.' And he filled his Ford Escort up with petrol and got out the map. I hid in the footwell all the way from Derby to Newcastle because I was so scared we would be intercepted."
For the next few nights they slept in the car and on park benches. "My parents reported us missing to the police, and they traced us. I begged the police officer not to make me go back, and he said he wouldn't, but I had to phone home. So I called up my mum from a phone box; I thought she'd say, 'Come home now, you've made your point.' Instead, she said: 'If you don't marry this man, you're dead in my eyes.'"
What Jasvinder didn't realise, on that day in 1981, was how serious that threat was; and also, that although time would make it easier, it would never entirely erase the pain.
"Losing my family was a bereavement; for many years, I grieved, I was bereft. In many ways it would have been easier if they'd died, because at least that is final.
"But I did it because I knew I was entitled to choose my own partner. But I also did it because I knew if I didn't, my children would one day have to go through arranged marriages. Someone had to opt out, however hard it was; and that someone was me."
Her parents are now dead, and her sister Robina killed herself after she was told that leaving her husband would be too shameful; but five sisters and a brother still live in the UK – and none of them, or any of her nieces and nephews, are in touch with her.
And while today Jasvinder, 51, fights for the rights of Asian women who, like her, refuse forced marriages, and although she's told her story many times, the reality of losing those fundamental ties still hits hard.
"Being Asian is all about family: our traditions, our culture, everything is rooted in family life. So to walk out on your family is a very, very tough thing to do – and if I'm honest I probably didn't realise all those years ago how hard it would be. But I survived – I'm living proof that you can survive."
Jasvinder was 14 when her mother first sat her down at the family home in Derby and showed her a photograph of a man in his 20s who, she was told, she had been promised to when she was just eight. "My mother said, 'You're going to marry him. You don't have a choice. I had to do it at your age, and you're going to have to do it now.' She said this is our tradition: it's what we do in our culture."
Jasvinder was horrified – but she wasn't surprised. Her three elder sisters had already been married to men chosen for them by their parents. "It was always the same rigmarole," she says. "You got to 14, and a picture would come out; the picture of the man it had been decided you would marry. My sister Robina had been married two years before me. I knew my turn was coming."
Her turn – but she was determined not to take it. "I said no. My parents took me out of school and locked me in my bedroom. I tried to escape through the bedroom window but I couldn't – and school didn't follow my absence up, missing girls happened all the time in Asian families."
Jasvinder knew she couldn't go through with the marriage. Eventually she and Jassey, the friend who rescued her and became her boyfriend, got a house together and when Jasvinder was 19 she had a baby daughter, Natasha.
"His family didn't disown him. They were wonderfully supportive to us. But when we were with them I would miss my family terribly. Sometimes, I'd get him to drive me all the way to Derby in the middle of the night just so I could look at our house; we'd sit there outside and watch my nieces and nephews playing in the morning. It was heartbreaking."
Robina came to visit when Natasha was born, and managed to persuade their mother to go, too. "I was in bed with the baby and Robina was like, look, she's so beautiful. But my mum hurt me so much – she barely looked at the baby." Today, says Jasvinder, there are many other young women who are where she was when she was a teenager, wondering whether they have the strength to opt out of a forced marriage, and whether they can survive being cut off from their families. In September alone, 783 people called the helpline Jasvinder's charity Karma Nirvana runs, and 58% were victims seeking support.
"So many people call us and say, this is happening to me but I know I've got to do it, I know I can't live a life without my family. And sometimes people make the break, but later they go back because they do find it too hard. What I tell them is: you never get over it, but you can keep going."
Today, Jasvinder, who was awarded a CBE in 2013 for her work helping victims of forced marriage and abuse, lives in Leeds, in a house that couldn't be more family-focused. It's full of toys, and two-year-old Narayan, Natasha's son, is running around having fun. After Natasha, who is now 31, Jasvinder went on to have Anna, 22, and Jordan, 19, with a different partner; they're a close-knit family and, says Jasvinder, everyone is looking forward to Anna's forthcoming wedding.
But there's a sliver of worry in Jasvinder's mind about how she's going to cope, just as she had before Natasha's 2012 wedding to her husband, Anup. "Anna is getting married in a British ceremony, so that's going to be easier in a way. But Natasha and Anup had a big fat Asian wedding, with 500 guests in a Sikh temple. That terrified me, because in Indian tradition there was a role for my family at the wedding, and no one to play those parts. My friends filled in, but everyone knew my relatives weren't there."
She is sad, too, that her children haven't had the relationships they should have had, with maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.
"There are some things you learn from the wider family, and my children didn't have that. Everyone wants their children to have what they had and more, and yet I wasn't able to give mine so many things that I had. Even to this day, I'm sometimes in tears at Divali … I think of how we celebrated it when I was a child, and how my children have never been able to celebrate it. There were so many events and occasions I couldn't be part of, and my children could never know."
But all the same, as Anna walks down the aisle next year, Jasvinder will know in her heart why things had to be as they did. "The decision I took when I was at 16 has enabled my children not to inherit the legacy of abuse. I broke the chain: I'm proud of that, even if the consequences have been even harder than I'd anticipated."
• For more information see karmanirvana.org.uk. The Karma Nirvana helpline is on 0800-599 9247


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Tania Grubbs Quintet Live at Maureen's Jazz Cellar
Tania Grubbs Vocalist
CD Download
This amazing performance was recorded live on May 24th, 2019 at Maureen's Jazz Cellar in Nyack, NY and marks the premiere of the "Live at Maureen's" recording series. This recording is not to be missed!
The venue itself was named in honor of pianist David Budway's late sister Maureen Budway who was an enormously talented vocalist and a close personal friend of Tania Grubbs. When Tania, an exceptional jazz singer, was approached by the club's owners David Budway and his wife Brianne Higgins about making a live recording there, she naturally jumped at the chance. You will hear the wonderful acoustics and amazing spirit of this room.
This recording has many wonderful facets. The album opens with a lively version of Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing" followed by an energetic yet lilting rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on A Wire". Other highlights are Horace Silver's "Peace" featuring a tasteful intro and solo by guitarist Ron Affif, a haunting version of "The Peacocks" by Jimmy Rowles, an original composition by Tania set to the famous Emily Dickinson poem "Hope is a Thing with Feathers" and Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" with a very interesting rhythmic underpinning.
Joining Tania are world-class jazz musicians David Budway on piano, Ron Affif on guitar, James Johnson III on drums and Jeff Grubbs on bass.
0:00 / 5:51
Bird On A Wire 6:240:00 / 6:24
Love 5:490:00 / 5:49
Peace 4:470:00 / 4:47
0:00 / 5:05
Ornithology 5:080:00 / 5:08
0:00 / 6:32
Autumn 5:140:00 / 5:14
Harvest Moon 7:070:00 / 7:07
I Remember 4:410:00 / 4:41
Wichita Lineman 5:200:00 / 5:20
0:00 / 6:42


text: No, that's neither a misprint nor an oxymoron. This is an accurate description of a few models developed by TsKIB (Central R&D Bureau for Sporting Guns, Tula, Russia) for the sake of professional fur hunters. The idea was that trappers needed a combination gun, but a combination gun is by definition two single shots in one stock. What do you do if you want a quick follow-up shot with the same caliber? A pack of young designers were let loose on the problem, and here are some of the solutions they came up with: Continue reading


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versatile blooms at WholeBlossoms.pdf
Text preview
2. Mokara Orchids
Mokara Orchids are hybrids that come in a wide range of colors and shapes favored for their unique
effects when used in floral arrangements. With most varieties available year round, they are offered in
shades of yellow, red, burgundy, coral, pink, orange, and purple. Some breeds are characterized by
their fashionable dotted petals while others maintain reservation with their solid, opaque shades.
When submerged, they are popular for weddings and a a favored choice due to their dye-free nature.
Each stem generally produces 8-11 blooms with lengths ranging from 18-24 inches.


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Product Description
The luxurious cushioning of the Milton extends into the arms and corner rests, so you can sink into its soft embrace.
With a high back, supportive headrest and optional recliner chair, you can indulge in total relaxation.
Please come in store to see the different pieces available within this range.
Call to order
Call us now for the best price on 01366 382213.
Call to order from Ely
Call us now for the best price on 01353 669754.


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GOP has a Terrible Niche It Must Scratch
Related Articles
- In denial on heath reform. FINNEY, KAREN // Hill;11/27/2012, Vol. 19 Issue 131, p19
In this article the author discusses the U.S. Republican Party trying to repeal the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
- Time for the GOP to listen. MOULITSAS, MARKOS // Hill;10/2/2013, Vol. 20 Issue 111, p25
The article reflects on the effort of the Republican Party to delay the U.S. healthcare reform law ObamaCare and its contribution to the government shutdown.
- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force responds to Congressional inaction and government shutdown. Carey, Rea // Bay Windows;10/3/2013, Vol. 31 Issue 43, p6
The article presents the author's comments on the stand taken by the U.S. Republican Party on the Obamacare health reform and government shutdown in the U.S.
- Republicans Should Abandon Their Obsession With Obamacare. Cardona, Maria // La Prensa San Diego;11/22/2013, Vol. 37 Issue 47, p7
The article discusses the attitudes of the U.S. Republican party towards the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as of November 2013.
- GOPcare (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon). PETERS, MIKE // Moderate Voice;11/19/2013, p6
A cartoon is presented about the Obamacare, the U.S. Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, and the health care reform proposed by the Republican Party.
- Demography Is Not Destiny. BOUIE, JAMELLE // Democracy: A Journal of Ideas;Winter2013/2014, Issue 31, p77
A review of the article "The New Politics of Evasion" by William A. Galston and Elaine C. Kamarck, which appeared in issue #30 of the periodical "Democracy: A Journal of Ideas," is presented.
- WWRDH: What would Republicans do on healthcare? Curry, George E. // Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder;12/5/2013, Vol. 80 Issue 19, p4
In this article, the author focuses on a report of the newspaper "The Tampa Bay Times" that addressed the Republican Party's approaches of insurance affordability in the U.S. Affordable Care Act as of 2013 including healthcare tax deductions, refundable tax credits, and health savings account.
- GOP counts votes on tying debt hike to healthcare law. Berman, Russell; Becker, Bernie; Wasson, Erik // Hill;2/5/2014, Vol. 21 Issue 15, p4
The article reports on the House Republican leaders' canvassing of votes for passing an increase in the debt ceiling linked to ObamaCare.
- What Is the GOP's Message? Burgher, Ballard // Moderate Voice;5/20/2014, p11
The author contends that the Republican Party's election theme is a negative message based on the notion that the Affordable Care Act failed .


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Ruta Degutis, President, gave a history of the Lithuanian Club in Cleveland. It was started in 1920 at East 67th and Superior where their church, St George, was founded. It has moved a few times and now is on East 185th Street in Cleveland.
Ruta spoke at the ClevelandPeople.Com Passport Adventure to Lithuania at the Cleveland Lithuanian Club. The Passport Adventurers visit traditional ethnic restaurants and showcases the food, culture, history of the country - in this case Lithuania.


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Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
For complete, up-to-date East Bay theater listings, look under Billboard on the home page for the "Select Category" pulldown, then select "Theater & Performing Arts."
Finn in the Underworld -- Jordan Harrison is too young to remember the fallout shelters of the '50s. But somehow he still captures the paranoia in his crepuscular Finn in the Underworld, now premiering at the Berkeley Rep. Sisters Gwen and Rhoda haven't seen each other in a long time, and their reunion to pack up their dead father's house starts out tense. Things don't get any easier when Gwen's son Finn show up to help; there is too much unspoken between mother and son, who is already something of a ghost in his own life. Meanwhile the deceased patriarch, who made his fortune in fallout shelters, becomes more of a malign presence with every tick of the grandfather clock the women are trying to decide whether to sell. Harrison keeps the dialogue funny and arch near the beginning, but menace hangs heavy over the proceedings from the start. There's a lot this family is loath to talk about, and that's what drives Harrison's story. The things they don't want to discuss will make this play uncomfortable for many. As the ushers have obviously been carefully coached to point out, there is "mature subject matter" and the work is scary and creepy on top of that. But there's nothing gratuitous in the plotting. Disturbing as it is, Finn is a well-made thing, daring and remorseless. -- L.D. (Through Nov. 6 at the Berkeley Rep; BerkeleyRep.org or 510-647-2949.)
The Full Monty -- Will they or won't they? 1997's The Full Monty teased movie audiences with six unemployed British steelworkers debating whether to "get their kit off" in front of screaming strangers. The quirky tale did so well that the film's producer made the story into a Broadway musical. In terms of storyline, it's a faithful translation of Simon Beaufoy's screenplay, down to the last red breakaway thong. The film's core themes are intact. Men are forced to think about how they look at and treat women and each other. There's a lot to work with, and the musical garnered ten Tony nominations, ran for two solid years, and spun off a tour. So it's a crowd-pleaser, and CCMT's production is fun, but don't expect the sly charm of the original. -- L.D. (At the Dean Lesher Center through November 5; CCMT.org or 925-943-7469.)
Macbeth -- If you've always thought someone should do a Macbeth in which Green Lantern kills Superman and Batman, then your moment has come. With the entire cast in homemade-looking trick-or-treat costumes by Melissa Paterson, director Kevin T. Morales' Halloween-themed production is fun and diverting, though it often feels as if it's diverting from the drama of the story itself. With giggling teen witches, some impressive fight choreography by Bruce Cole, and familiar tunes by Green Day and the Police sung between scenes, there are plenty of amusements to help sell one of Shakespeare's plays that really doesn't need much help in the first place. -- S.H. (Through November 12 at Town Hall Theatre; THTC.org or 925-283-1557.)
My Fair Lady -- A revival of this 1956 musical is always a cause for celebration. The charming tale of an arrogant professor who teaches elocution to a raggedy flower seller benefits from the wordplay of English dramatist George Bernard Shaw, on whose play the musical is based. At the opening night performance at the Pleasanton Playhouse, there were a few snags: the chorus wandered into some dubious harmonies, and the pit orchestra occasionally had to beat its way out of the sonic thicket with violin bows flailing. But the leads carried off the evening admirably. Anna Cook's warm and "loverly" voice made Eliza Doolittle's songs a treat, and Paul Plain made a delightfully pompous Henry Higgins. The chemistry between the two easily kept the momentum going throughout the performance. -- E.S. (Through November 6 at the Amador Theater; PleasantonPlayhouse.com or 925-484-4486.)
Red Hot and Cole -- This Cole Porter musical revue also serves as a biographical sketch, and that's not the good news. Told in flat "I remember" monologues and a few flippant scenes, the show's strength is the stellar songbook it has to draw from, though it also serves as a reminder that Porter wrote some clunkers along with his classics, which are often given short shrift as tiny snippets within sprawling medleys. This production by Danville's Role Players Ensemble Theatre is uncomplicated community entertainment with no bones about it, with variable vocal talent and labored gaiety in the dance numbers all part of the package. Shari Lynn Oret makes a credible Ethel Merman, and Alan Cameron plays a charmingly sardonic Cole (by way of Jack Benny) and sings his songs with impish aplomb. -- S.H. (Through November 5 at the Village Theatre; VillageTheatreShows.com or 925-314-3463.)
Six Degrees of Separation -- Often funny if stilted and never naturalistic, John Guare's rumination on class and identity gives little room for misinterpretation but ample food for thought. Inspired by a true story that caused the playwright some grief and somehow did not directly involve Kevin Bacon, the action begins on the level of droll anecdote by a married couple of well-heeled art dealers who get an unexpected visit from a mysterious, eloquent young stranger who claims to be the son of Sidney Poitier. Actors Ensemble gives it a lively workout in this bare-bones production directed by Mike Ward with a surprisingly large cast considering how few are onstage at any one time. Lance Gardner brings an engaging mixture of erudite unction and near-beatific enthusiasm to the purported Poitier, and Susan Jackson and Leo Lawhorn are charmingly smarmy when entertaining guests, though at loose ends when left alone together to tell the tale in slackly timed interruptions. -- S.H. (Through November 19 at Live Oak Theatre; AEofBerkeley.org or 510-649-5999.)
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teaching ELT and Evernote: A Match Made in HeavenHi everyone, The other day I published a post on my ELT blog about how Evernote can help ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers. I'm actually quite surprised by how many hits I've gotten since yesterday! There are lots of useful tips on how you can increase your productivity as an ESL teacher and save on time (no more skimming through all those elt books), paper (you don't need to print, copy and scan endless worksheets) and, eventually, your nerves (no need to elaborate on that one if you're a teacher). Here's just one of the tips: Please let me know what you think! Thanks! L.


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The body behind a new quality mark for FE providers will get taxpayer funding of up to £350k this financial year having received £201,193 last year, according to details released under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Institution for Further Education (IFE), a not-for-profit limited company, spent just over half of its £400k budget from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in 2013-14 as it developed plans for Chartered Status.
It can call on BIS, which released the information, for up to £350,000 this financial year "to operate and exist" — but no government funding has been put forward beyond that.
However, the "position will be reviewed in light of progress made in 2014-15".
A BIS spokesperson said: "The funding that BIS provided to the IFE to establish Chartered Status is considered appropriate."
An IFE spokesperson told FE Week: "On money, the intention is that the institution will be self-financing from membership fees as soon as possible.
"The availability of any future grant funding beyond 2014-15 is a matter for BIS."
The IFE was launched last July and given responsibility by BIS for developing and launching Chartered Status.
Lord Lingfield (pictured), chair of the IFE, told FE Week in March that the organisation had "prepared business plans and received seed corn funding and recently acquired the lease of premises in Victoria Street, in Westminster".
The Tory peer added he had consulted earlier this year with 80 large and small providers on plans developed by the IFE for the quality mark.
It is understood issues covered included the potential cost of the quality mark.
He said a "small group" had been chosen from providers who responded to the consultation to "develop and refine" the proposals.
The group held what is understood to have been its first formal meeting on June 4, but IFE would not say who attended or what was discussed.
Its spokesperson said: "There was indeed a monitoring meeting on June 4, which involved a selection of colleges and training providers.
"The meeting was one of many meetings and contacts with interested parties. The work of consulting and listening is still going on."
He added IFE was still waiting for royal permission before it could start granting Chartered Status.


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Hey lovelies
NOTE: Weigh your eggs and then weigh the caster sugar, margarine and flour to the same quantity, e.g our eggs weighed 135g so we used 135g of sugar, marg and flour.
|Before the magic happened
|Magic happened!! Fresh out the oven
|Muffin selfie #melfie
We also filmed the whole thing for those of you who prefer to watch a video than read a blog! You can watch the magic happen here...
8 comments
amazing blog post had a great read :DReplyDelete
love your blog
new post --> http://myroutinesjade.blogspot.co.uk/ would love to see a comment
have a nice day
Thanks Jade! I'll check out your blog now xxDelete
These look so delicious and I really like the video you made. Great post.ReplyDelete
Thanks so much!Delete
Wow, it looks really good! Great job!ReplyDelete
Would you mind check out our blog? windowtowonderland.blogspot.ptReplies
Cheers! Yeah of course :)Delete
Stumbled across your blog from your comment on Louise's latest post and I'm really glad I decided to head on over here. I have only read a couple of your posts now but I can already tell I'm going to love it since there's an air of positivity, which I'm all for.ReplyDelete
I've recently become obsessed with making banana pancakes so making these muffins is next on my to do list when I get the time (starting year eleven soon, eek!). Anywhoo those look delicious. And thanks to you I'm craving muffins at 10:44pm when I should be asleep. ;3 xReplies
Hello! Aw I'm so glad you like them, I'm definitely into the whole positive thinking thing and try to make my blog radiate that! It's something I've always needed so if I can provide that for other people then I feel as if I'm making a difference, even if it's just to one person on one day.Delete
Mmm banana pancakes sound delicious! I hope you get some time to make the muffins because they're soooo good. Good luck with starting year 11, I really hope it goes well :)
Thanks so much for flicking through my blog and leaving such a lovely comment x


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Posted by Shelly Eweka.
By focusing on what you can change, you can be more serene about the things you can't.
I recently started school after a 20-year gap. Even though I knew the class would be challenging and I studied more than I studied for any of my undergraduate courses, I still performed poorly on the midterm. Realizing that it would cause me to receive less than an A in the course, frustration took over and I started off thinking of ways to blame the professor—as if that would solve anything.
Of course, it was a misguided attempt to wrest control from a situation that left me feeling totally powerless. A more serene approach would have served me better. These musings call to mind that now cliché quote, about accepting what you cannot change, and having the courage to change what is within your control. The trick being, you need to have attained a certain level of wisdom to know the difference between the two.
Particularly in times of economic uncertainty, focusing on the things you can control will energize you into positive action, and help prevent you from sinking into negativity.
Some examples of things ordained by fate:
- Inflation
- Interest rates
- Taxation
Amid such powerful economic forces, one can easily give way to despair and paralysis.
But don't lose sight of your autonomy and freedom to act within those constraints:
- Inflation: Seeing the price of goods going up can motivate you to look at your cash flow and cut down on extravagances. You also have the power to ask your boss for a raise, if annual inflationary raises are not a given.
- Interest rates: Hikes are good for lenders and bad for borrowers: A sign, maybe, that you should borrow less or even cut your credit card in half?
- Taxation: If property taxes are higher in the neighborhood you're in, suck it up and focus on what you can control, like your budget. Buying something less expensive, to offset that increased expense, lies entirely in your hands.
Accepting your own limitations is part of your journey towards serenity and wisdom. I recently embarked on a graduate program, and let me tell you, learning a new subject from scratch, mid-career, has been humbling. I have to remind myself that if I'm doing the best I can, that's enough. Being kind to yourself is a prerequisite for self-acceptance.
So whether you're stuck in a traffic jam or a high-interest environment, the sooner you learn to accept your lack of control, the better. What you do have complete control over are your emotions and how you react to those forces—and therein lies immense power.


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Grain's range of custom size dining tables.
Showing all 2 results
Our beloved Highbeach dining table has been designed for simplicity, and to have the timeless feel of a classic piece of furniture. Always made from sustainably sourced solid oak, we use subtle shaping and angles to add a touch of class. It's a true representation of the solidity of its source material, ready for everything life has to throw at it, and will never look out of place. A simple choice of light natural oak, or dark and sumptuous rich oak finishes are available. Always your choice of length and width, with an enduringly standard height of 75cm.
Elegant and sleek, our Brenin range has been designed to fit any well-considered space. Choose from a selection of beautiful Linoleum coloured tops, made from pressed linseed oil with colourfully pigmented wood powder, or go for the classic look of oak veneer. All our choices are very hardwearing and stainproof, as well as being warm to the touch, and can be easily maintained. We make our dining table at the widespread standard height of 75cm.


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Vitamins and Minerals
Natural Chitosan acts like a sponge to absorb fat from food, preventing it being digested by the body and keeping you slim and healthy.
Chitosan derived from natural shellfish skeletons has been found to absorb twelve times its weight of dietary fat. Taken before meals, it traps the fat and discharges it from the body safely without side effects. It is recommended as part of your healthy diet and exercise regime.
However, it is not suitable for people with an allergy to shellfish.
Warnings: Take before meals. For allergies to crustaceans. Please follow the product label instructions or doctor 's advice
Suggested administration: Take 1 before three meals a day
General Terms
1. Items sold are non-refundable.
2. The products are supplied by Vita Green Health Products Co. Ltd.
3. If in case of any dispute,Vita Green Health Products Co. Ltd. and ESD Services Ltd. reserve the right of final decision.
1. Free local delivery service will be provided upon transaction amount of Doctor's Choice products of HK$400. For spending less than HKD$400, HKD$70 delivery fee will be charged.
2. We will arrange the shipment within 3-4 working days after the order is confirmed.
3. Please note that the delivery time will be affected by statutory holidays, natural disasters, traffic or the weather.
4. All order confirmations are subject to stock availability. In the event of the unavailability of the requested products, ESD Services Ltd. has the right to reject the order and notify customers by phone or email before delivery for rearrangements.
1. The quality assurance for products should have at least 6 months validity from the date of receipt by the customer.
Exchange Policy
1. Customers are responsible to check the condition of goods received at the time of delivery. Once confirmed, no replacement is accepted.
2. Products shall be kept in the original package with good conditions for return or exchange. Products that has been worn, used, or altered will not be accepted for return or exchange.
3. If any other defective or missing item is found, customers are required to keep the original receipt and contact ESDlife Customer Service Department via the below channels within 3 days from the date of delivery.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com / ESDlife customer service hotline: (852) 3151-2288


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MyMaster and MyPhD
Application is now open for qualified Malaysians to apply for financial assistance to pursue their further study leading to PhD and Master Degree (MyPhD and MyMaster) in local institutions of higher learning (public universities and GLC-status private universities).
MyMaster and MyPhD programmes were created under the 10th Malaysia Plan via the MyBrain15 program for the sponsorship of postgraduate study at the Masters and PhD levels.
Further details please click to these links:


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Find your nearest Park & ride in our Travel planner.
- Travel planning
- /
- Park & ride
Park & ride
At our Park & ride sites, you can park your car for free and then take the train or bus the rest of the way. Great for those who live outside the city but work in the centre.


text: 19 man squad named for York On Field September 15, 2017 Newcastle Thunder have named a predominantly settled squad for this weekend's trip to face York City Knights at Bootham Crescent on Sunday (KO 3pm) Thunder head to the Minster city involved in a three way tussle over the fifth and final Kingstone Press League 1 playoff spot, with Jason Payne keeping faith with the pool of players from which the team that took a 24-28 over Doncaster last weekend was drawn. In order to seal their place in the push for promotion to the Kingstone Press Championship, Thunder must win against York on Sunday and hope Doncaster fall to defeat away to Toronto Wolfpack and the Keighley Cougars do not win away to Barrow. A victory for the Cougars and Thunder would see the two teams level on points, but the Yorkshire side qualify by virtue of a superior points difference. Newcastle Thunder Squad v York City Knights – Sunday 17th September KO 3pm FROM Harry Aldous, Jack Aldous, Matty Barron, Ali Blair, Joe Brown, Callum Bustin, Rhys Clarke, Tyler Craig Benn Hardcastle, Sam Luckley, Liam McAvoy, Derrell Olpherts, Dan Parker, Vincent Rennie, Tom Shaw, Evan Simons, Steve Snitch, Aaron Teroi, Lewis Young


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This spectacular waterfront venue is located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline. Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf allows Guests to take in the unobstructed views of the city skyline from the private deck area ideal for mingling during pre and post events.
The warehouse space is ideal for corporate events, weddings and parties. Jones Bay Wharf is one of Doltone House's largest venues, accommodating up to 700-seated guests and 1,000 guests for cocktail styled events, and is within walking distance to The Star casino and the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC).
With the ability to divide into two sections, the Heritage Wharf event space allows for versatility, as it can easily transition into multiple, smaller rooms, perfect for all events, with the south accommodating for 350 guests seated and 500 standing, while our North accommodates up to 250 seated and 400 standing.
With a diversity of cuisines and international tastes, an Executive Chef and culinary team bring a world of talent and pride to the plate, delivering memorable feasts which are seasonally driven.
Hyde Park, Doltone House have perfected the art of fine food catering with a genuine love of all things food. They can dish up anything from canapés and cocktails to even a degustation. The menus are carefully crafted for every client and occasion. Cuisine is a passion and their reputation is reflected at the highest level. The knowledgeable event and catering team are professional, experienced and committed to excellence to ensure your next event is as smoothly run as possible.
See below the contact form for our venue's capacities


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What's on your bucket list? What are those places you dream of traveling to and exploring? My bucket list is rather extensive, and a good portion of the list is made up of cruise destinations I hope to visit one day. (I don't think this is a surprise to anyone!) In this series, I will be exploring those destinations. Let's see what they have to offer. Our first stop: an Alaskan cruise!
An Alaskan Cruise: The Last Frontier
Alaska is known as The Last Frontier. It is a land of adventure, abundant wildlife, beautiful natural scenery, and cold. I can do without the cold, but everything else would make it worth the trip!
When I see photos online and read of other people's Alaskan cruise adventures, I can't help but be in awe of the entire experience. Instead of drinking a banana daiquiri under the Caribbean sun, guests on a cruise to Alaska enjoy hot cocoa as their ship traverses icy waters. Forget a beach day; in Alaska you might explore a glacier! You won't be swimming with dolphins in Alaska either; instead, you'll go whale watching. As you can see, everything about a cruise to Alaska is so different than the typical Caribbean cruises I've been on. This is why Alaska is #1 on my bucket list!
The Cost of Getting to Alaska
Cost is the biggest reason I won't be traveling to Alaska any time soon. Whenever I entertain the idea of an Alaska cruise, I find the cost of a 7-day Alaskan cruise is usually double the cost of a Caribbean cruise. Factor in cross-country airfare and my Alaskan dream quickly falls out of reach!
Cruise-tours are popular additions to Alaskan cruises. These are land-based extensions of your cruise vacation. When I finally get to go to Alaska, I would love to do a cruise-tour to get a more in-depth look at The Last Frontier. As you can imagine, this will only add to the cost of an already-expensive vacation! This is completely optional, but if I'm heading up North I want to make the most of my time there!
Shore Excursions
Speaking of cost, you can't go to Alaska without taking some (pricey) excursions! (Well you can, but that's no fun!) There are so many things to see and do in Alaska, but not nearly enough time to do it all on one cruise. On my dream Alaska cruise, here are some excursions I'd love to do:
- Hiking a glacier – Without a doubt, this is at the top of my Alaskan shore excursion list. Of all the things you can do in Alaska, this is probably the most unique. It's not cheap, and it's not easy. But from the photos I have seen, hiking a glacier is totally worth the cost and effort. It's a great way to burn those cruise calories too!
- Whale watching – The quintessential Alaskan tour! This is on the opposite end of the effort spectrum from glacier hiking. You sit on a boat and watch the surrounding waters to catch a glimpse of a whale breaching the water. There is no guarantee you'll see any whales, but when you do it must be quite a sight!
- Rain forest hike – I have hiked the rain forests of central America and the not-so-rainy forests of the northeastern US. So it only makes sense I hike through the rain forests of Alaska. This would be an awesome way to get an up-close and intimate look at the pristine nature and wildlife of Alaska.
- Train adventures – Sometimes the easiest way to take in all the beauty a place like Alaska has to offer is to just sit back and take it in from a distance. I close my eyes and envision the beautiful, postcard landscapes visible from the railways. The glaciers, rain forests, and pristine waters. Talk about hitting the Instagram jackpot!
Other Sights to See
Excursions are fun, but you can still experience a lot of what Alaska has to offer at no additional cost! Most Alaskan cruises will take special routes so everyone on board the ship can catch some truly special sights. Whether you're cruising Tracy Arm Fjord or sailing through Glacier Bay, some of Alaska's most stunning vistas are on display right from the comfort of your ship.
When I visit Alaska, I also look forward to exploring the port cities. Ketchikan, Skagway, and other ports-of-call up North seem so charming. Visitors always mention how friendly the locals are too. What better way to learn about life in Alaska than to walk the streets and chat with the residents?
I hope to make it to Alaska one day soon. And when I do make it there, I hope I can write a more extensive review that will inspire others to make the trek to Alaska! For now, I ask everyone who has visited Alaska: What are your recommendations for me and anyone else who has put Alaska on their bucket list? What are your dos and don'ts, and what's on your must-see list?


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As Ms Aniston says, how dare they!
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Jennifer Aniston's response to the Iwo Jima gay flag stunt suggests Hollywood isn't entirely composed of traitorous airheads
As Ms Aniston says, how dare they!
2 comments:
This merely bears out what Paul Johnson said [Daily Telegraph, 18/9/2010] about Peter Tatchell: " His life's work is to reduce all human history to the question of gay sex."ReplyDelete
Given the power of the homosexual lobby in the US entertainments industry this is a courageous stand by Jennifer Aniston. Some actors and performers have been made to grovel for less.
6,800 American Marines were killed on Iwo Jima in 1945 and their famous image of raising the flag on Mount Suribachi should obviously be left untarnished by some screeching minority group. At least the new image did not feature "The Village People" with the legend " Fags plant Flag." Or an excerpt from their rousing song:
"Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the mother land
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)"
Haven't the homosexuals achieved their objectives in the Western Hemisphere [ i.e. acceptance]. Why can't they just give us all a break for a while and STFU! [Yes, you as well, Stephen Fry].Replies
Accepting homosexuality evidently isn't sufficient - we must celebrate it wildly and enthusiastically at every opportunity in order to prove how fabulously tolerant we all are now. Of course, the need for tolerance doesn't apply to homosexuals, who banned UKIP supporters from attending the recent Gay Pride march in London. Given the way cultural Marxists operate, within a few years all UKIP supporters will probably be required by law to attend the parade, either dressed as one of the Village People or wearing pink tutus, smothered in make-up and carrying poodles or chihuahas. I'm torn between the motorbike cop or the cowboy, as it were.Delete


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Community Litter Pick
Litterbugs Warkworth will be hosting a litter pick on 11 May 2019 at 2pm. Meeting at the Town Square, Amble. All welcome.Read full article »
Paddlers Park New Play Equipment
The new play equipment for Paddlers Park has been installed today. The Council are aware that the location of one of the items is prone…Read full article »
Town Clock
The Council are aware that the Town Clock is out of time. The clock is fitted with an automated timer which did not work on…Read full article »
28th March 2019 Amenities minutes
Amenities Minutes 28 March 2019 PublicRead full article »
West Cemetery Weedkilling
We agreed with our contractors that as few graves in the older sections of the cemetery were visited that the grave spaces could be weed…Read full article »


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Web Design
What is Web Design ?
Do you need a well defined, mind blowing web presence ? Or change your exsiting site into an exciting multimedia experience ? Web designers can do just that for you. Designing for the web means designing in sync with the way people actually use the web. Web Designing is, a cocktail of creative skills and technical prowess. The basics consist of the aesthetic and professional appearance of the web pages. Web designers create graphic images first and then arrange them onto the web page.
A website should be genuinely useful to your target audience, meeting their needs and expectations without being too hard to use. Due to the rapid development of the Internet, new aspects are continually being added.
What do I have to do ?
Web designers create the graphics for websites. At the designing stage the website acquires its look and feel, as the page grid, page design, and overall graphic design standards are created and approved. The illustrations, photography, and other graphic or audiovisual content...
Please register yourself and buy our Website Membership to view full content for lifetime.
What is it Multimedia ?
Have you seen "Jaadu" display his jaadu in the recent hit film Koi Mil Gaya ? Or the strange characters in Lord of the Rings ? Or the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park ? Films such as these have made use of vivid imagery to have the desired impact on the audience.
Multimedia is an integration of Information Technology, Design, Visuals and Communication. It is a tool which gives various communications media their cutting edge making possible the creation of graphics, animations, text, sound and other special effects. Thus the content we see, in the forms of films, commercials, radio and television programmes becomes much more colourful and effective.
You should have a flair for expressing your ideas through sound, colour and animation. Multimedia can offer an exciting and rewarding career and its related industries have grown exponentially. Market estimates suggest that though the Indian export market of animation in the past two years was worth $ 5 million, it could touch $ 50 million this year itself. Its application across business, education, entertainment...
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Graphic Design
hat is Graphic Design ?
"Attractive hoardings, colourful banners, striking posters, creative mailers etc. really appealed to me from the very beginning. It was only after getting into theArtsCollegethat I got to know the true meaning of Aesthetics. Art and Aesthetics go hand in hand. It is a lovely feeling to express one's hidden talents through graphic designs, and I have been quite successful at expressing myself till date. After stepping into the market I realized the vastness of this field. So, if you are creative, and have an urge of expressing yourself through graphic designs, welcome to this fascinating world !" says a Graphic Designer, who on completing her degree in Commercial Art, joined an advertising agency.
Graphic design primarily aims at communicating information through the medium of print, drawings, patterns, photography or a combination of these on a flat surface (i.e. two dimensional). It covers a broad spectrum of specialisation. An important one is Typography which is an essential aspect of all fields of graphic design. It consists of meaningful applications of printing and non printing surfaces...
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Game Development
What is Game Development ?
Do you possess an absolute passion for digital games? Do you want to be the first to play these games before they are released in the shops? Do you enjoy the challenge of mastering your scores each time ? Do the more interactive and complex games excite you ? A love of games is an advantage in an industry whose stock and trade is fun and fantasy.
There are games for every taste: sports, action, adventure, strategy, and education. Games are made for personal computers, consoles, arcades, and the Internet and add excitement to some websites and electronic organizers.
Video, computer and mobile games are among the most complex forms of interactive media. Games simulate many elements of traditional media, such as plot, characters, sound and music, lighting and theatre. However, games are digital artifacts played through graphic interfaces and controllers. As interactive experiences, games are a host of player challenges ranging from more deliberate decision-making and problem solving strategies, to the immediate charge of reflex action. Games, thus, draw upon a unique mix of player resources and...


text: Spring Natural Phenomena to Enjoy Posted on June 3, 2019 by Mountain House Comments Everybody has their own favorite season, of course, but in North America, the hallmarks of Spring are very nearly universally appealing. It's hard to resist, after all, the perfumed scent of blooming wildflowers on the breeze, the happy trickle of meltwater streams, the symphonies of birdsong in the marshes and meadows, and other signs of vernal reawakening on the heels of winter chill and quiet. As we all take advantage of the longer days and warmer temperatures for hiking, camping, paddling, and other outdoor fun, let's take a moment to spotlight just a few of the classic natural phenomena that … Continue reading →


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MUST BE NICE: New Nashville Tenant AMAZON Paid ZERO % In Taxes
The same week that we saw New York rise up behind Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez against $3 Billion in corporate giveaways to Amazon, forcing Amazon to change its mind about setting up shop there, we now have a report from the Institute of Tax and Economic Policy which tells us that despite doubling their profits to $11 Billion last year, Amazon will still pay an incredible 0% in Federal taxes this year.]
Must be nice! Whereas many of us are scrambling for how to file a tax extension with accountants like http://daveburton.nyc/irs-file-tax-extension, Amazon has gotten away tax-free.
This is the 2nd year in a row the Trillion-Dollar company will pay 0%. Here's a good thread on what Amazon was getting and why the backlash happened.
The report goes on to say this about the Republican "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", which made the claim that despite cutting the corporate tax rate almost in half from 35% to 21%, it would somehow incentivize corporate citizenship and investment:
"The tax law failed to broaden the tax base or close a slew of loopholes that allow profitable companies to routinely avoid paying federal and state income taxes on almost half of their profits… included lavish new giveaways… a huge revenue loser."
Meanwhile the federal debt, which Republicans claim to be very concerned about despite the fact that their new tax law exploded the deficit, has just crossed the $22 Trillion mark, and many Americans are reporting that they're feeling it in their tax refunds.
All while inequality is at levels not seen since the days leading up the The Great Depression, CEO pay has skyrocketed, and corporate stock buybacks – not investment and wages – are at all-time highs.
If you're wondering why things like the Green New Deal are being proposed, look no further.
Instead of mocking ideas that seek to fix these problems, maybe those people should focus on the fact that most economic incentives are given to the biggest corporations while monopolization and the centralization of wealth are killing the everyday American, especially in rural America.
And let's not forget about Wisconsin's disastrous FoxConn boondoggle, where Koch brother favorite GOP Governor Scott Walker gave away billions to a company that has now had a change of heart, leaving Wisconsin taxpayers holding the bag.
This is something to keep an eye on as Amazon comes to Nashville, causing prices to spike for the people who are already there. The Republicans like to say we have low unemployment in Tennessee, which we do, but we're also toward the bottom in how well our jobs pay.
$7.25 simply isn't enough to live on, and Tennessee Republicans are the ones who refuse to raise the wage to a living one.
As Rep. Jason Hodges talked about in our interview with him, incentives may be necessary sometimes, but if companies want our support, they should have to pay our people a living wage.
Holler at the mayor and the governor to let them know we have our eye on the situation.


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Today was, um, a little different.
Today, DH got up to take HIS run, and Little Sister got up before J. She crawled in bed with me, and we had a fun little game of peekaboo for a while until DH got back. He got back just as J was getting up, and J came in the room and crawled in, trying to get between Little Sister and me. Little Sister squawked and said, "You swishin' me!" (translation: You're squishing me, you big stupid brother) and started to kick J.