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It's been a long road, but we here at The Night's Cast, the official podcast of Watchers on the Wall, have arrived at our final Season 7 episode rewatch — and what an episode to go out on.
This week, Petra, Vanessa and Samantha are joined by special guest Kim Renfro of Insider to discuss the epic Season 7 finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf," and the result is an epic episode of our own, full of insightful analysis, laughs at our own expense and a very bad imitation of squeaky bedsprings.
Don't forget — The Night's Cast is going live for Season 8! From April 14th to May 19th, you can find us livestreaming every Sunday at 5 p.m. EST on the Watchers on the Wall YouTube channel.
The podcast is available on iTunes and SoundCloud, and you can follow us on Twitter as well. Happy listening!


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The problem is
"terrorist" like "criminal", is whatever people want it to mean.
And there's the rub.
And we have a long and glorious list of examples of powers being given to the state "for extreme instances" only to discover them being abused*. Take the councils who used RIPA to investigate that heinous crime of putting bins out on the wrong day.
*Why does a dog lick it's bollocks ? Because it can. Same logic with abusing powers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Content has two nearly unmanageable characteristics: velocity and growth. Once you release content, how fast it moves to intended consumers and from them to wherever is at speeds unknown to us just three years ago. And content's speed of movement also contributes to its proliferation. Content grows. Traditionally, this growth was directed and scripted from inception to publication; today, however, how content moves and what it yields requires more than instructional technology, especially if you as the producer want predictable outcomes.
Participants in this session will explore the elements of ingenuity and innovation contributing to the production of content meaningfulness and management, while distinguishing between what the elements contribute to content and what they mean to your content-creation efforts.
In this session, you will learn:
- How "content strategy" improves the ability to increase the value of learning
- About the concepts of "intelligent content" and "content engineering" for content intelligence
- Why "content curation" is the new instructional concern
- Why if content is king, context rules
Handouts are available for Learning Guild members. Please log in or join to download these files.Log In Join
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Filmmaker Alexander Jeffery didn't plan on returning to live in El Dorado, Ark., where the family had moved for his father's work when Alexander was in high school.
But after finishing film school at the University of Nebraska, and stints in Los Angeles and Sweden, the prolific producer/director of short films, Jeffery ended up back in southern Arkansas' City of Gold, making movies, running a film festival and helping launch a $100 million arts and entertainment district in El Dorado's town center. And he's a big fan of short films, for a lot of reasons.
"I think shorts, when they're done well, they're like poetry," Jeffery said. "You get this little glimmer of a story and you can be moved the same way you can be moved by a feature."
And making shorts is actually something even a low-, low-, low-budget filmmaker can actually do.
"The thing I like about (short films) is that it's a great way to practice your craft, and really have the opportunity to make something that has high production value," Jeffery said. "When you move into the feature-film world, even a low-budget film is considered (to have a budget) like $5 million, which just seems so unattainable for me at this moment. But you know I can scrounge together money and friends and equipment and make a short film that has at least feature-level production value, and really learn how to make a movie, how to tell a story. I think it's a great way to get your feet wet."
"Memoir" is one of Jeffery's projects. It's a science-fiction story about a scientist named Theodore Maine (played by the film's screenwriter, Paul T.O. Petersen), who has invented a device called the Memoir that he is using to try to go back in time to see his mother.
"He has a lot of deep-seated regrets about the last moments he spent with her, and a young sort-of warrior from the future shows up and rocks his world," Jeffery said.
It's a proof-of-concept film, a short that tells a self-contained story but also is designed to attract backers who will finance a feature-length exploration of the story. Carving a standalone short out of a feature-length project in a satisfying way for an audience is tricky, Jeffery said, but it's paid off with plenty of notice for the project, including a nomination for best Sci-Fi short film at the FilmQuest US festival.
"We wanted to have some sort of completion arc over the 15 minutes to make the audience feel at least somewhat satisfied," Jeffery said.
Another Jeffrey project, "The Bespoke Tailoring of Mr. Bellamy," has won a string of awards at various festivals, most notably the Louisiana Film Prize. Jeffery said he and his collaborators "hand-crafted" the project to compete in the $50,000 film prize, which is based in Shreveport less than two hours away.
The result is a story about a homeless man in the 1960s who sees a job posting, but realizes he doesn't have the right clothes for the job. In creating a suit to wear to the job interview, he discovers a love for sewing and creating clothing.
"We didn't want to be too heavy-handed or didactic but there is a racial undertone to the film and with everything that was going on in the world at the time, and is still going on in the world, we wanted to touch on that without being too preachy," Jeffery said. "We thought telling a story about this passionate and beautiful human being would be a nice way in, (and) let the audience decide for themselves what they thought."
Well into his career, Jeffery returned to El Dorado, a town of not quite 19,000 people that is the headquarters for Murphy Oil Company, initially to take part in a production of "Les Miserables," celebrating the 50th anniversary of the South Arkansas Art Center.
During the production, Jeffery met his girlfriend and ended up staying, in part to help in the development of a $100 million entertainment district in the town center, financed in part by Murphy oil money. That project's first phase opened recently with an epic, and epically diverse, music festival that featured Train, Migos, ZZ Top, Smokey Robinson, Ludacris, and Brad Paisley among other notables.
Jeffery is a co-founder of the El Dorado Film Festival - "We try to highlight shorts and we try to highlight Southern-made content," Jeffery said. "We really want to put an emphasis on the amazing films that are being shot in Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, all the surrounding areas. It really tries to put an emphasis on truly independent filmmakers, filmmakers that don't have the opportunities of studio backing or that kind of distribution."
Jeffery also draws inspiration from Linklater's beloved Austin, Texas, now home not just to his film production company but also director Robert Rodrigues and the sprawling South By Southwest music, tech and film festivals.
Jeffery said he "could not imagine" finding the money to make even a short film in Los Angeles (he spent $30,000 shooting "Memoir" in northern Louisiana). But the favors he could call in while filming in Shreveport, La., and "the way the community got behind us," allowed him to make "Memoir" for half or less the L.A. price. And for young filmmakers, economics like that can be decisive.
Less clear for Jeffery is whether, in an era of decentralized distribution platforms and inexpensive production tools, he needs to live in a production hub such as Los Angeles or even Austin to make more, or at least bigger, movies.
"It's a real interesting question and something I've been struggling with myself," he said. "But I do think living outside the big centers, the generosity of the people, and the excitement of the people around you about the art of filmmaking is pretty contagious. I think you can get away with so much more in a small town or a small community with a short film or even a feature film to burst out of the gate with."
You can see more of Jeffery's work on his channel at Vimeo, on ShortsTV, at his website BespokeWorksLLC.com and follow him on Twitter @AlexanderRJeff.
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About Lurq
Lurquer came into this world on December 24, 1970, and just like Gracie Allen, was so surprised he didn't speak for almost two years. It was a burst of enthusiasm from which he still hasn't quite recovered.
From the time he was old enough to hold a crayon, Lurq has been writing stories. His first penned work, written at the age of five, was a short fantasy story about a house he owned all by himself. His parents might have been impressed, but since he had chosen to write the story in their Wedding Guest Book, they were therefore somewhat chagrined.
In the number of years since, he has broadened his sights and has graduated to a computer, which he uses most of the time. He still enjoys, however, picking up the odd pencil or black fountain pen and jotting down character notes. He has briefly experimented with science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance, but has now recognized his true calling as a Mystery Writer and is still aspiring to achieve that goal. He also believes that he is the first person to recognize that "Aspiring" is just "Aspirin" with a "g".
Lurq believes that people should have a well-rounded education; in his first stint in University, he declared no less than five different majors – Latin & Greek (Classics), Theatre, Psychology, Sociology, and Studies In Justice and Law Enforcement. Despite this, he still managed to escape without a degree. This changed, however, when he was forced with the honour of being presented with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba in 2002, closely followed by a call to the Manitoba Bar in 2003.
Lurq's history of employment is wide and varied. He has been a barrister & solicitor, notary public, writer, editor, publisher, lecturer, human resource development officer, private investigator, bookkeeper, market research interviewer, tour guide, executive assistant, administrative assistant, promotional assistant, extras casting assistant, karaoke host, theatre hand, and consultant; he has travelled with a stage hypnotist, and also with a singer, where he even one day operated a spotlight.
Lurq believes that his official nickname, "Lurker@Heart", is the most brilliant nom-de-clavier ever created, and has decided to name his mystery novel after himself. "Lurker@Heart," the novel, is the story of a private detective and his quarry, a psychopathic stalker who embarks upon a murderous career after being scorned by members of an online Chat room.
While he does indeed plan to be famous and fly to New York for coffee at three o'clock in the morning for the fun of it, he also knows that it will be a long climb. He's fully willing to wait a whole year.


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- "After three-and-a-half years, Brexit will finally happen today"
Britain took three and a half years, plus bloomin' CNN.com gave them three bloody bonus hyphens — to use at a later date, wot?
Warning: Wrongly hyphenated terms will now be inspected at the border. Ten shillings per hyphen. Hyphenate at your own risk.


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Opinion: Tax cuts have nothing to do with relieving local poverty
Bob Schaffer's column, "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helps relieve local poverty" of Feb. 11, is an attempt by Mr. Schaffer to explain his support to the Republican Congress' recent slash of taxes on corporations and the wealthy. This act of the Republican Congress has nothing to do with relieving local poverty as Mr. Schaffer cleverly tries to suggest.
In addition, what he meant by "kind-hearted compassion of economic capitalism" is nothing more than pure rhetoric. Capitalism is a system of human behavior in which buyers and sellers behave in whatever manner they see fit. I have been in the corporate environment all of my working life until retirement, and compassion was never a consideration when the bottom line was a concern. So, I have to assume that Mr Schaffer must live in wonderland.
On the economic effect the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have on our national economy, Mr. Schaffer mentioned Republican Congressman Ken Buck, who said "tax reform will empower the economy in Northern Colorado." Well, let me remind both of these gentlemen that these tax cuts are based in what is known as "trickle down economics" whose proponent is Arthur Laffer, who Mr. Schaffer mentioned in his article.
It has been known that "trickle down economics" works in theory but not in fact. The notion that corporations will pass these cuts to employees in the form of wage and salary increases is an assumption that has been debunked. The beneficiaries have been stockholders in the form of dividends, not the workers.
In closing, I'd like to quote the economist John Kenneth Galbraith. He noted "trickle down" was tried before in 1869. It was known at the time as the Horse and Sparrow Theory, by which, "if one feeds the horse enough oats, some will pass to the road for the sparrows."
Orlando Ortiz, Fort Collins


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Will Bryzgalov fly north?
The Phoenix Coyotes elimination from the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs will not only ramp up speculation over the club's future, but also regarding what their lineup will look like next season.
Prior to the start of the Coyotes-Red Wings series there were suggestions claiming the potential deal with the City of Glendale to sell the franchise to businessman Matthew Hulsizer was all but dead, followed by reports the league was merely awaiting the end of the playoffs before announcing the team would be sold to True North Sports & Entertainment and moved back to Winnipeg.
League commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly have issued denials on nearly a daily basis, but the fact remains whatever happens with the club's ownership will have an impact on management's ability to maintain or improve its current roster.
The Arizona Republic reported a lack of money hampered Coyotes GM Don Maloney's attempt to bring in help at the trade deadline, forcing him to weaken his depth at forward in a trade with Columbus to bring in defenseman Rostislav Klesla as a short-term replacement for then-sidelined Ed Jovanovski.
The paper also noted management hasn't had an easy time of late re-signing key players and adding others, but suggested that would change once the ownership situation is resolved one way or the other.
One player up for a new contract is goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, whose stellar play in the regular season was a significant reason the Coyotes made the playoffs. His poor performance against Detroit could have an adverse impact on his value as an unrestricted free agent this summer, however.
Bryzgalov had a cap hit of $4.25 million per season on his current deal and could seek a multi-year deal worth well over $5 million per season, either with the Coyotes or another team if he opts to test the market.
Earlier in the season it was believed there was mutual interest between himself and Coyotes management to discuss a contract extension. It remains to be seen if his sub-par playoff performance will impact that possibility and what role a potential move north will have.
Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun reported the Russian netminder had a low opinion of Winnipeg after visiting there during his American League years, suggesting 'Cool Bryz' would prefer to return to Russia than follow the Coyotes back to the Manitoba capital.
Uncertainty over the future of the current collective bargaining agreement will also be a factor.
The Coyotes and other clubs may be leery about committing an expensive, multi-year contract to Bryzgalov, or others in this summer's pool of unrestricted free agents.
Other notable Coyotes free agents include UFAs Radim Vrbata, Ed Jovanovski, Vernon Fiddler, Eric Belanger and Jason LaBarbera and RFAs Keith Yandle, Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker.
Next to Bryzgalov, Yandle and Turris are considered Maloney's priorities to re-sign this summer.
Given the lack of quality depth in this summer's UFA market, Yandle will be a tempting target for an offer sheet from another club if he remains unsigned by July 1.
The Chicago Blackhawks can point to last summer's depth-gutting trades in order to become salary cap compliant as the prime reason they struggled to make the 2011 post-season and why they fell behind early in their opening round series against Vancouver.
The Hawks won't be subject to a similar purge this off-season, however, having around $51 million committed to next season's payroll and, apart from goalie Corey Crawford, few troublesome contracts to sort out this summer.
With the salary cap expected to increase to $62 million, Damien Cox of the Toronto Star believes Chicago GM Stan Bowman has sufficient cap space to bolster his lineup.
While it's true Bowman won't have to dump salary, he's not going to have enough room to be a significant player in this summer's free agent market.
Besides Crawford, Bowman must consider re-signing Tomas Kopecky, Viktor Stalberg, Troy Brouwer, Michael Frolik, and Chris Campoli.
Bowman will need to bring in a decent backup for Crawford as he's unlikely to re-sign Marty Turco. If the GM manages to re-sign all his key free agents he won't have enough left to dip into the UFA pool, unless he opts to once again make a salary-dumping deal or two.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch earlier this week reported Blues backup and unrestricted free agent Ty Conklin may not return. If he departs, management will have to consider either calling up one of their young netminders or signing an experienced backup capable of playing 20 games and pushing starter Jaroslav Halak.
Fortunately for Blues GM Doug Armstrong, this summer's free agent market is loaded with experienced backups, leaving him with plenty of options if he decides to go that route to replace Conklin.
Rumor Roundup appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only on thehockeynews.com. Lyle Richardson has been an NHL commentator since 1998 on his website, spectorshockey.net, and is a contributing writer for Foxsports.com and Eishockey Magazine.


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May 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 – Online - National Bike Challenge Join us for our second year as a team. Last year we did really well but they've wiped our history and put us back to square one. So let's rally as many cyclists for The Chainlink as we can! A few ru… Organized by The Chainlink | Type: national bike challenge, bike ride
September 24, 2017 at 2pm to October 29, 2017 at 2pm – The Recyclery Join us for our six-week Overhaul Class, taught by Froilan! We will be meeting every Sunday evening from 6-9 PM, September 24th to October 29th. You'll learn how to disassemble, reassemble, and adjus… Organized by The Recyclery | Type: class, bikewinter
September 29, 2017 from 6pm to 11pm – Daley Plaza Last Fridays, leaves after 6pm. THE monthly gathering of bicyclists making their presence known downtown since 1997. Slowly winds a dozen miles or more. Radically inclusive, thousands attend in good… Organized by | Type: free, bike, ride, parade, critical, mass
© 2008-2016 The Chainlink Community, L.L.C. Powered by


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CORANG RIVER, Morton National Park – 8 & 9 December 2018
The Legendary Louise suggested that we walk into the Corang River (one of her special places) and float around on pool rings drinking margaritas! It sounded like a good spring adventure so we put a trip together which morphed into a true MSS Decadence Walk.
Heather R, Trish N and two new friends Michelle S and Julie B joined us for the weekend and in true Decadence Walk fashion, we had it all … blow up pool toys (courtesy of Louise), 3l of Margaritas, guacamole and tortilla chips, olives, beetroot dip & crackers, dehydrated cheese and sugar snap peas, red wine (including glass bottle), and strawberries & mango soaked in Cointreau – life doesn't get much better than that!
What we didn't factor in was 30°C temperatures, really too hot to be bushwalking with a heavy pack, but perfect weather for floating around on the lagoon.
Usually, from the lagoon (where we camped), to get to the Cascades, people walk cross-country cutting off a big horseshoe section of river. We decided that it was too hot to walk cross-country so we'd paddle upstream exploring the horseshoe section of the river, hopefully getting to the Cascades, but if not at least checking out a sandy bank (for a possible alternate campsite for the future).
We had a bit of lunch and then headed back to camp to pick up our gear. It was still hot (although a breeze had come up), so we had a short dip in the lagoon, to cool down before the walk out. We left camp at 2.10pm and were back at the cars by 5.20pm – very hot and tired and not looking forward to the long drive home.
Thanks to Louise who had suggested this walk (and unerringly led us from a to b) and to Heather, Trish, Michelle and Julie who joined Louise and me, hope you all had a good time!


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Grant from Denkiphile: "More information on the Digimon game, a new Ace Attorney game, and the announcement of a new music rhythm game for Vocaloid fans."
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


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The walls of the castles and fortresses had to resist not only the mechanical actions but the attacks with projectiles and rams. For this reason, the walls had to be reinforced with wooden chains in their interior. This reinforcement also prevents the quick ruin in the case of the opening of a breach in the wall and facilitates the fast reconstruction. Depending of the building technique, the wooden reinforcing is different. In walls built with rammed earth or formworked masonry, the branches and beams are laid inside the earth or the lime and rubble. The walls built with stone masonry and ashlars or brick, the wooden beams functions reinforcing the internal filling. This polyorcetical and building technique has been referred by several ancient authors, as Vitruvius or Philo of Byzantium. They recommended the use of wooden beams inside the walls and their recommendations were learnt during Middle Age.
There are Spanish Medieval fortifications in where the wooden reinforcement is visible nowadays. The ruins of the castles show the building 'section' of the walls. Thus, the reinforcing system can be studied and traced. Usually, wood has rotted and only remains its negative in the mass of the wall. Notwithstanding this lose, in several cases, wood has been preserved or the design of the reinforcement can be drawn.


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Museum days with David Cox | Installation scenes from our April 27, 2017 visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to see Memory Unearthed: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross. The travel exhibition originated from the Art Gallery of Ontario where this searing and important Holocaust photo collection is held and much of it digitized. You can explore more than 4000 negatives here: The Lodz Ghetto Photographs of Henryk Ross http://agolodzghetto.com/)
Henryk Ross (1910-1991) was one of less than 900 known survivors of 160,000 confined to the Lodz Ghetto by German Nazis.
photo caption: details from exhibition wall text
Before 1939, Ross was a photojournalist for the Polish press and heroically that didn't stop in the ghetto. He was forced to photograph identity cards for every captive, promotional material, and assignments, often gruesome, for the oppressors' "Department of Statistics". While photographing ostensibly for "work" he snapped away bearing witness, building evidence and leaving a record. His wife Stefa was imprisoned there as well, aiding and encouraging his activity. They were married in the ghetto. Ross's cover necessitated movement, access to equipment, developing, and film: His perilous "employee" theft went undetected. Henryk Ross was a brave front lines prisoner and artist surreptitiously documenting specific and deteriorating realities of the innocents for five years– building a body of persistent resistance. He was a war photographer and patriot I did not know before this exhibition and will not forget.
photo caption: selected photos on display at the MFA (click to enlarge and for more information) genocide day by day
Miraculously both survived, and some negatives. Ross's work was used as evidence in the 1961 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. They testified together. By then he hadn't photographed anything for years and wouldn't ever again. "I buried my negatives in the ground in order that there should be some record of our tragedy… I was anticipating the total destruction of Polish Jewry. I wanted to leave a historical record of our martyrdom." -Henryk Ross
I wonder if there is a memorial plaque on Jagielonska Street near where he hid them?
As this repository was such an exacting chronicle and similar camera format, I thought about curating a show of American FSA/OWI photographers, Ross's contemporaries, working with home front goals in the same time span as Ross. In 1942 Howard Lieberman and Gordon Parks official assignments included portraits in Gloucester, Massachusetts, of family members missing deployed husbands, brothers, sons and daughters, of a community honoring Memorial Day, of fishermen hard at work providing "Victory Food From American Waters". People helping. Brave souls. (FSA photograpers and FSA had earned clout pre-1937. Did they inspire Ross? Decades later, did these artists ever come to know each other's works?)
The exhibition included examples of the Lodz ghetto horrifying, gutting circulars. I used Google translate to transcribe a few of the letterpress announcements. I imagine that the Art Gallery of Ontario will crowd source volunteer transcription one day.
Keep Calm and Carry On pronouncements here, too
Aug 12, 1940 Announcement 104: Jews! Remain Calm!
The events of the last days were triggered by the responsible elements that we wanted to bring chaos into our cycle. These people are aimed at the only important benefits allowed to organize positive and appropriate help for the population. In a short period of time since the creation of the ghetto, after great hardships, it was possible to obtain work from the outside for parts of tailors, carpenters, shoemakers, lappers and seamstresses; soon I will get employment for other crafts, as well as for handicrafts.
The Municipal Budget is Overstated.
Supplying children and the elderly is still in the foreground. Pomino will be equipped with kitchens for all: old and young. Regardless of the (?) general kitchen for workers and the unemployed, which will be issued with 10,000 tanks per day and for various layers (also for religious Jews) – block committees will continue to be supplied. this is a positive plan that must be spotted. this is not an easy task. therefore I am appealing to you with an appeal: keep calm. Do not allow yourself to be misled with irresponsible elements that would hinder your previous work and fulfill your future intentions.
I will do everything that is possible and I will strive to ensure that my tasks are carried out with all due diligence – Ch. Rumkowski
March 22, 1942 Announcement No. 371 : Resettlement
Subject: Orders concerning the transfer of the ghetto.
Spatialization of the western ghetto part…From the Donnersiteg, the western part of the ghetto must be cleared of all residents and workers. the people living and working there must therefore be in the east…
I hereby announce that the resettlement continues to take place on the initiative of the authorities. I urge the persons concerned – who are destined for resettlement – to do so. upon receipt of the departure request, it is essential that you arrive punctually at the meeting time prescribed by you, otherwise you will have to leave the country without any additional packing.
litzmannstadt-ghetto the 22nd, marz 1942 Ch. Rumkowski* is the oldest of the Jews in Litzmannstadt
excerpt from the MFA museum label (photo below) concerning Administration and Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski: "…The Elder of the Jewish Council, Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski, believed the residents might survive if they became productive…Due to its remarkable productivity, Lodz was the last Polish ghetto to be liquidated. The Jewish Council played a problematic role in the history of the Lodz Ghetto. Its members were forced to implement Nazi policy, but were perceived as privileged in return. Rumkowski remains one of the Holocaust's most controversial figures."- MFA label
August 22, 1942 Announcement no. 428 Concerning the size of the ghetto
In addition to the previously no longer enter. Who does not follow this request and on Thursday d. 24 august 1944, after 7 o'clock early in these areas as well as in the already cleared still encountered, is struck, with death…
It is bounded by the area: in the west …
limited: in the east …
limited: to the south …
limited; in the East…
and slow to the south…
For special attention
Workers barracked in these areas in closed premises can remain in their workplace and be allowed to work in the same place.
Secret State Police
September 4, 1942 Announcement No. 391 General Curfew in Ghetto
Museum of Fine Arts display label (see photo above) "On September 4, 1942, Lodz Ghetto populace was told that elderly and sick residents and children under the age of 10 would be deported from the ghetto. This notice forbade the remaining residents from leaving their homes while deportees were collected. "From Saturday September 5 1942 from 5pm on a general curfew is in effect until revoked. Excepted are: firefighters, the Transportation Department, feces and garbage haulers, workers involved in the reception of goods at the Baluty Market Square and the Radogoszcz (station), doctors and pharmacy personnel."
from the digitized archives: click to enlarge and read description


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Uma Public School boasts of 2500 students with a sprawling campus set against an idyllic landscape of 12 acres, situated in Maincha, Greater Noida offers convenient accessibility to Central and East Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad.
The school is from Pre – Nursery to Class XII and the medium of instruction is English. Uma Public School was founded in 2002 by the great visionary Mr. Brahm Singh Bhati .
At present we have two branches of school under the management of the Uma Public School in Greater Noida, UP. One is near Police Chawki Surajpur Gr. Noida and another is behind Crown Plaza Maarakpur Gr.Noida. Uma Public School has consistently pursuing its goal of being a centre of excellence. It has certainly been fulfilling its promise.


text: Drones may be best known for their surveillance and military capabilities, but there's a growing movement to use them for humanitarian aid. Inventor Mark Jacobsen is building drones to deliver humanitarian aid to Syrians stuck inside their war-torn country. But as he's learning, bureaucracy — combined with public fears about the use of drones — has hamstrung efforts to get that aid anywhere near the Syrian border.


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Month: April, 2010
This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting this fabulous family! I drove up to Southern Pines to do their family session at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens. If you haven't been there, definitely check it out, it's beautiful!! I had a really great time with the W family. You guys are just great and the boys are just the cutest. I had a blast rolling around in the grass and chasing after little J! Hope you guys enjoy your sneak peek!
Aren't they a beautiful family?
I love daddies with their kids. Is there nothing better then that?
You can really tell he loves his big brother!
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of traveling up to Baltimore this past weekend to photograph this beauty. You might remember her from this maternity session. As I had said in my previous post, mom & I are really great friends and we each make the 6 hour drive one way a few times a year to see each other. Over the years, our families have become so close. I was so glad to meet their new little princess and she (as well as the rest of you) will always have a special place in my heart. I'm honored to be a part of your lives ♥
You may remember this maternity. She was born last week and I had the pleasure of doing her newborn photos. She is so so beautiful and she was so good for you! Congratulations to the A Family on your new bundle of joy! Enjoy her, she is so sweet ♥
I got a little smile from her (a few actually 🙂 )
Isn't this sweet? She grabbed her toe and I am so happy I caught it before she moved!
Got to go out to the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens the other day. Found a field of dandelions and a perfect pocket of light. Dandelion seeds are so magical to me, the way they just blow in the wind.
I recently purchased this wooden gallery mount as a sample. I absolutely love it!! It's so beautiful and sturdy! Perfect for storyboards. As I receive more samples, I will be adding them to the blog. If you want to see one in person, let me know and I'll be happy to bring it along to our session!
Close up of the edge. This is a 3/4″ beveled edge, giving a classy and modern look to your wooden gallery mount:
Each Wooden Gallery Mount comes with a keyhole opening, which makes it ready to hang as soon as you get it!
Isn't it beautiful?! I love it almost as much as my canvases! I think it's a beautiful and elegant way to show off the photos from your session!


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It's a deal that combines the best of both worlds.
The Jones Group Inc.'s $350 million cash buy of British shoe retailer Kurt Geiger last Thursday was lauded by industry insiders. Kurt Geiger was particularly attractive, they said, because of its wholesale/retail model, high-end mix and overseas prowess.
"This could be a real game-changer for Jones down the road," said Jennifer Black, president and CEO of retail research company Jennifer Black & Associates. "Think about the international opportunities with the Nine West portfolio of brands going into Europe in a much bigger way." And, she added, Kurt Geiger's brands will be new to the U.S., increasing the diversity of offerings in the higher-end market.
"Kurt Geiger is a great international brand and retailer," said Matt Rubel, chairman, CEO and president of Collective Brands Inc. "This will clearly give them the platform and backing to do more."
Christopher Suarez, managing director for Nicholas Kirkwood — a wholesale partner of Kurt Geiger's — said the deal is a win-win for both companies, not least because Jones' deep manufacturing capabilities will allow the Kurt Geiger fleet of labels to expand more quickly. "[Kurt Geiger] will now have the opportunity to become a serious player in the U.S. and other markets, such as Asia," he said. Meanwhile Jones, with one of the largest luxury retailers now in its stable, "will get access to European product firsthand. There's a lot of opportunity here."
Executives at Harrods, Kurt Geiger's largest retail partner, were also bullish.
"Kurt Geiger continues to gain global recognition, offering style connoisseurs an unparalleled choice in designer shoes, as well as its highly successful own brands [that] appeal to many of our customers," said Marigay McKee, the fashion and beauty director at Harrods. "We will continue to work closely with the management team and wish the Jones Group, whom we rate and value highly, every success with its exciting future plans."
Kurt Geiger and Jones have been partners since 2009, when Kurt Geiger began distributing Nine West in the U.K. and Irish markets — and that relationship paved the way for the new deal, execs said.
"I met [Kurt Geiger CEO] Neil Clifford when we partnered on Nine West and [started to understand] the scope of the business," Jones CEO Wesley Card told Footwear News. "We started a dialogue, and I knew [the company was] owned by private equity, so I said, let's see if we can get a deal done." Card noted that Jones' distribution and international presence will be greatly enhanced now that it has found a strong foothold in Europe.
For Clifford, who will continue to head the business, coming to the U.S. market was the big attraction.
"We wanted to find a long-term partner to take our brands to America and it had been in the too-difficult pile for too long," said Clifford. "Now we have the right partner that believes in our vision and will help us take our ambition globally."
Clifford added that Kurt Geiger wants to continue its expansion across France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, and up its current owned-store count to 70 from 50 in the next three years, with openings in the works for North America. It also will roll out a global e-commerce website in September.
"Our wholesale business is very profitable and frankly can be significantly larger," he said. "We are just about to enlarge our head office to ensure that we can triple the size of our wholesale showrooms to grow that significantly."
All told, owned brands make up 40 percent of total revenue, said Clifford. Women's shoes represent 79 percent of the business, while men's footwear, a new market for Jones, comprises 21 percent.
Kurt Geiger sells more than 200 luxury shoe brands through 156 department store doors in Europe, including Harrods and Selfridges in the U.K.; Printemps in France; and La Rinascente in Italy.
Card — who last year added Stuart Weitzman and B Brian Atwood to the company's roster — noted that many stateside department stores have already expressed interest in stocking Kurt Geiger's labels, which include Kurt Geiger, KG by Kurt Geiger, Miss KG, Carvela, Solea and Fashionistas.
For his part, Clifford said, "The shoe market in America is seven or eight times the size of the 5 billion-pound shoe market in the U.K."
Kurt Geiger has changed hands a few times in the past decade, having last been acquired in 2008 by Graphite Capital for 95 million pounds, or $155.4 million at current exchange. The move saw Graphite Capital take a 60 percent stake in the footwear retailer, while management took a 32 percent stake and Harrods retained its 3 percent share. Prior to that, Barclays Private Equity led a management buyout of the firm in 2005.
Kurt Geiger has seen both sales and profit grow at an annual rate of 20 percent for the past five years. It is expected to add between $215 million and $230 million to Jones' top line for fiscal 2011.
"It's a very high-quality business that's been very well run for the last five to 10 years," said George Wallace, retail strategy consultant at British firm MHE Retail. "It ticks all the boxes for being very well positioned in the upper-middle segment, which has been a fairly high-growth segment [in recent years]."
Designers said last Thursday they were excited to work with the new business entity going forward, especially as the rest of Clifford's team, including buying and creative director Rebecca Farrar-Hockley and finance director Dale Christilaw, will continue to lead the Kurt Geiger business.
"The Jones Group has become a key player in the industry and it is only natural to want to branch out into the European market. It will be business as usual and shouldn't change my relationship [with Kurt Geiger]," said New York-based designer Alejandro Ingelmo, whose label sells at Selfridges and Harrods.
Andrew Black, commercial director of Georgina Goodman, added, "I can only see having the backing of Jones as a plus for its business and all those it works with."


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BRUEGEL, Pieter the Elder
(b. ca. 1525, Brogel, d. 1569, Brussel)
The Triumph of Deathc. 1562
Oil on panel, 117 x 162 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid
An apocalyptic vision, the skeletons of death mowing down the living with scythes, en masse or individually: resistance is useless. Trees and grass are withered; the fires of Hell blaze behind the hills, and the Christian promise of resurrection and redemption is absent.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder returned to the pure tradition of the Netherlands. He observed the popular aspects of his own environment, with their animation and colour, and drew from them satirical and moralistic conclusions.


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What does Jennifer Lopez have that you don't have? If your answer was "skin to die for," then you're in for a real treat. Bringing out the natural radiance of your skin is surprisingly easy — when you add these top 10 tips to your daily grooming routine.
1. Check your exfoliater for these ingredients
Sure, you've heard that exfoliating your skin is important, but to achieve glowing skin, it is a must. Try exfoliators that contain alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid.
Try: Givenchy Peel Me Perfectly Tri-Performance Skin Polish ($45), a triple-action scrub that contains glycolic acid to promote natural exfoliation and clay extract to cleanse skin and tighten pores.
Note: At-home peels are another effective path to smoother, more even-toned skin and generally contain up to 30 percent glycolic acid. However, a dermatologist can use up to 70 percent concentrations for more dramatic results.
More: 7 Steps to the ultimate home facial for glowing skin
2. Detox your body
It is true: The outside of your body reflects what's going on inside of it. Skin conditions develop when the skin can't do its job of eliminating toxins efficiently, which happens because the other eliminative organs are overloaded as well. Talk to a natural health care professional to find a detox program that works for you, or take a load off your system and benefit your skin by doing the following:
- Drink warm lemon water each day to help flush toxins from the body.
- Cut out sugar and alcohol for a few days (at least five) to give your body and skin a break.
- Up your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to boost the amount of skin-saving nutrients you're getting.
- Limit salty snacks, which can cause swelling and water retention.
3. Apply topical nutrition
Two great antioxidant boosters are green tea and grape seed extract. "These powerful bioflavonoids play a unique role in protecting vitamin C from oxidation, thereby allowing your skin to reap more benefits from it," explains Amy Chalmers, CDT and USANA Health Sciences spokesperson. "They also play an additional role in helping skin look younger and brighter as they defend against elements such as sun, stress and pollution that can damage collagen and accelerate the visible signs of aging."
4. Try coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil has the ability to restore and rejuvenate damaged skin. It heals, repairs and leaves your skin radiant. Coconut oil has excellent antioxidant properties and helps to destroy free radicals. It also can even out your skin tone, giving it a more healthy-looking texture and a subtle glow.
More: Here's what happened when I shaved with coconut oil
5. Use radiance-boosting makeup
Try the celebrities' secret to glowing skin to get that "lit from within" look: Apply an illuminating cream under your makeup. Check out Nars Illuminator ($30) to easily take your skin from dull to bright and healthy. Bronzers are also excellent for creating a healthy glow. Choose an illuminating shade rather than a matte one and apply it everywhere the sun hits your face, including your forehead, nose and cheeks.
More: The super pale girl's makeup guide to glowing skin
6. Get your daily dose of vitamin C
Vitamins for skin are so important, particularly vitamin C, which is the key to achieving a bright, even complexion, notes Erin Ferrill, East Coast educator for HydroPeptide. "The brightening qualities of this well-known vitamin make it the perfect companion for anyone struggling with age spots, sun damage or those who just want a makeup-free pick me up," Ferrill says. It should also be noted that when vitamin C and vitamin E are taken together internally, they have been shown to increase the ability of the skin to protect itself from sun damage. It has even been hypothesized that this combination might give your skin a natural sun protection (SPF) of 2, she says. "While this is no excuse to ditch the sunscreen, it is a great way to give your skin a fighting chance against the damaging rays of the sun. Look for products that combine vitamin C with gentle exfoliants and natural skin brighteners like bearberry, licorice, mulberry and brightening peptides."
7. Suck on an ice cube
Did you know that sucking on an ice cube chills all of the millions of cells in your cheeks and lips, causing an increase in circulation, and resulting in plumper, more rosy-looking skin? Well, according to Annie Tevelin, founder of SkinOwl, it's true! "This is a great glow-fix mid-dinner or before taking a picture to restore fatigued skin to a more peaches and cream complexion."
8. Try juicing
We're sure you've heard that glowing skin begins with what you eat, but when you're a busy girl on the go (like us) how the heck are you supposed to get in all your fruits and veggies? Easy, try juicing! Jayna DiMartino, California Educator for HydroPeptide, says she fills her diet with nutrient rich superfoods, such as kale, broccoli, spinach, rainbow chard, celery, cucumber, ginger and beets, by juicing. "Traveling as much as I do, it's not always easy finding a Whole Foods or a juice bar so I make sure to take my green meal capsules with all the dark leafy greens and spirulina," she notes.
9. Remember: Vitamins B and D are key
Vitamin B not only increases blood flow to your cells, but it's also integral to skin generation and slowing the signs of aging, notes celebrity makeup artist Julia Papworth. "An increase in vitamin B in the system translates to a decrease in redness and irritation in the skin." Additionally, Jolie Martin, director and laser skincare expert at New York City's SKINNEY Medspa, suggests taking vitamin D. "If deficient in vitamin D, skin can appear sallow and more prone to congestion and breakouts," she says.
More: 5 Bad habits you need to break if you want clear skin
10. Get some beauty sleep
Sleep affects your physical and mental well being. "When you sleep, you're allowing your body to begin the proper healing process," Chalmers says. "Try a melatonin supplement to help regulate your natural sleep cycles and get your body back on track." This will, in turn, lead to glowing skin.
Tip: Jackie Burns Brisman, senior editor at spafinder.com, recommends the following vitamins for skin to enhance your complexion and give you that gorgeous glow:
- Omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, spinach and walnuts
- Vitamin C: citrus fruits, chili peppers, bell peppers, dark leafy greens, broccoli
- Vitamin E: almonds, squash and grape seed oil
- Zinc: Greek yogurt
- Vitamin A: yams and sweet potatoes
- Lycopene: a great antioxidant found in tomatoes
This article was updated by Bethany Ramos on 1/22/2016


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Team Photo Gallery…
Lori's Gallery of Our Teams!
There's no better place in Harrison Township for delicious ice cream than Lori's Lick 'Em Up Ice Cream! But don't just take our word for it . . . browse our photo gallery of Teams, below. Then come on in and enjoy a treat!
Click On Any Image to Enlarge


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Clean Up Your Garage Before You Sell Your Home
Posted by Ashley Whitworth on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 10:48:49 AM By Ashley Whitworth / October 15, 2014 Comment
If you were going on an important job interview, you'd dress to impress. You wouldn't dress up and wear your old tennis shoes. That's exactly what you want to do with your home, too–dress or, rather, stage to impress and sell! Selling your home in central Kentucky requires a keen eye to make it appeal to a wide audience. That means you need to take time to make sure that your home is dressed up and ready to be shown off.
Photo Source: KConnersEveryone is told about how much the curb appeal and interior staging is important to selling your home. The one thing that is often...


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Washington DC, USA; Saturday 25 March 2006 -(ReUterus & Associated Mess) - Despite a feverish guessing game in the international media, the White House is reportedly "keeping mum" today on the hot topic of whether First Lady Laura Bush is pregnant again.
All week, intense speculation has focused on whether the President would home in on today's Feast of the Annunciation to announce to the world that after many years of trying and gruelling months of secret fertility treatment, he is to be a father again.
This would tie in with the Vatican's most up-to-date prediction interpretations concerning the Last Secrets of Fatima which state that a miracle may occur on Planet Earth around the time of the 2006 Aries solar eclipse - an astrological event expected around next Wednesday 29 March.
Recent tell-tale medical reports that "Laura is sick to the pit of her stomach every waking day" may, inadvertantly, have also started a tumor in the corridor of power that she is indeed suffering from a form of morning sickness ahead of a long awaited blessed event in the not too distant future.
"Laura is throwing up every minute of every day", said a spokesperson this morning, "and we have had cause to interpret this as a joyful sign rather than any indication of latent or even psychosomatic criticism on the First Lady's behalf.
"The White House medical team recently decided to call in a number of additional specialist consultants, but we are not authorised to reveal whether these are indeed fertility experts, gastro-intestinal medics advising Mrs Bush or shrinks treating the President..... Although we all know what the smart money is on, he-he-he-he!
"Rumours that the First Lady may turn out to be another Holy Madonna, producing a 21st century miraculous immaculate misconception are just that - tumors.
"As far as the Fatima predictions are concerned, these are well known to the White House but any suggestion that the Reverend Jerry Falwell may be directly involved in Mrs Bush's current state of personal joy are purely speculative.
"Further, it must be stated in the strongest possible terms that neither the President nor the First Lady has ever imbibed on any miraculous, healing, exotic liquids currently filtering through the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London's Hype Park, despite suggestions to the contrary emanating from the foreign gutter press.
"The White House has absolutely no opinion whatsoever on any putative claims of miraculous powers regarding this Fountain and remains firmly of the opinion that only unnatural acts of heterosexual coupling can lead to human gestation and eventual childbirth."
Laura Bush is 69.


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For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers
March 3, 2009 at 6pm to May 5, 2009 at 7pm – Greater London (UK) and San Francisco Bay Area For details, visit "Mitzi Szereto's Weblog" at: http://mitziszereto.com/blog Organized by Mitzi Szereto | Type: competition
April 7, 2009 at 8pm to January 31, 2010 at 8pm – Online (worldwide) This fun competition really helps to motivate chilren with their writing. It started in Feb'09 and will run every month. There is a different challenge each month and entries get reviewed and commen… Organized by KidsStoriesOnline.com | Type: writing, competition, with, a, difference!
April 30, 2009 at 6pm to May 16, 2009 at 7pm – Massachusetts TheNextBigWriter's "Strongest Start Novel Competition" is for writers who want to put their first three chapters to the test! If you've been working on a novel, or have one written already, be sure t… Organized by The Next Big Writer | Type: writing, competition
March 9, 2010 from 6pm to 7pm – Tempe, AZ A unique writing and publishing fellowship: To Think-To Write-To Publish--A program for "next generation" writers of any genre with an interest in science and technology. Learn creative nonfiction te… Organized by Science Writer, CSPO.ORG | Type: writer, fellowship/grant, competition, for, conference
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Puppy Classes
The first five months of your puppy's life is critical to their development. Let us help you make a positive impact!Learn More
Board and Train
For dogs with behavioral issues and extreme concerns, this new program will give your dog the help that they need.
C.O.O.L. Course
This is not your ordinary dog training class. This is an entire LIFESTYLE for you and your dog. We will teach you how to incorporate dog training into your everyday life.Learn More
Calgary Dog Training
Winter 2022 COVID-19 update:
We are keeping our seminars online for the foreseeable future, because honestly we LOVE them and have had rave reviews from current and former clients. Being able to learn at home without a distracting puppy or dog has made it so much easier for our clients to learn and has made our hands on classes much more successful. Other than that, it is business as usual!
You want a well behaved dog, that's why you're here. You want to be THAT person that can take a leisurely stroll through East Village or go for a fun hike in Kananaskis with your pooch. You don't want to have to stress out about how your dog might act in public. You deserve to have a phenomenal relationship with your canine! Let us help you get there.
Cultured Canines is an outdoor, treat-free Calgary dog training company that is unlike any other. Classes cover far more than basic commands, this is an entire lifestyle for you and your dog! Training is fun, exciting, and engaging.
Instead of using dog treats to bribe your dog, Cultured Canines will teach you how to be your dog's reward, and to your dog, nothing else could be better. Instead of using tricks and gimmicks to have obedient dogs, we address the underlying issues. Problem behaviors are not ignored, they are dealt with. You will learn how to teach your own dog in a way that is natural to them!
The majority of dog training classes in Calgary are taught indoors, which is an artificial, distraction free environment.
Cultured Canines' training is for REAL life. Dogs need to be able to listen outdoors, so that's where our classes are taught. Your dog will learn to listen to you regardless of where they are, and what distractions there are.
Safety is the number one priority in training. Cultured Canines' classes takes you and your dog on adventures throughout Calgary. From the C-train to inner city hikes, this is the class your dog WANTS to attend!
All photos on our website are of our staff and client's dogs!
Our Philosophy
This is a lifestyle, not just a class.
Dog training isn't something you set aside time to do, and it isn't a one time endeavor. Dog training needs to be a lifestyle. Being your dog's leader and guardian is essential to their life long good behavior. These dog training classes are more than teaching the dogs simple commands. We go above and beyond typical training classes with activities such as urban hikes, river swims, c-train adventures, coyote safety, and so much more. Cultured Canines will show you how to make dog training fun and an easy part of your lifestyle!
As a dog owner, it is important to understand how to properly communicate with your dog. A dog's first language isn't english. Dog's communicate first and foremost through body language. We will teach you how to read and understand your dog's body language! Communication between owner and dog becomes much easier when dogs are taught in a way that they actually understand.
We here at Cultured Canines believe that food and treats are not the best motivators for your dog. We use physical and verbal praise to reward your dog. This makes you your dog's treat, so your dog will always listen. You don't have to remember to bring a bag of treats with you! There is no bribery or negotiation when you take dog treats out of the equation.
Behaviour training vs obedience training
We go beyond teaching your dog simple commands. This isn't just obedience training, this is behaviour training. Just teaching your dog to sit, stay, and come isn't enough. This class will mentally and physically challenge your dog. We address the underlying reasons why your dog may be exhibiting undesirable behaviours. We will show you how to create a calm, happy, and well rounded dog!
Every Dog is Welcome
All dogs, regardless of age, breed, behavior, or size, all are welcome to attend both private and group classes. We do not discriminate based on breed or size. Everything from Teacup Yorkies to Irish Wolfhounds and puppies to seniors are welcome to join in on the fun! Every dog is unique, and we tailor lessons to meet every need.
Urban Agility
Cultured Canines has innovated a way for you to have fun with your dog no matter where you are! No more standing in line waiting your turn. Urban Agility can be done anywhere, anytime. We use what our amazing city has provided for us to get our dogs moving and thinking. Urban Agility builds confidence in your dog, and it strengthens your already existing bond with your dog. Urban agility is incorporated into every course we teach.
We teach all of our classes outdoors as we believe that dogs need to be taught in environments that their owner's need them to listen in. We don't walk our dogs indoors, so why would you take a training class indoors? By exposing your dog to new environments, and maintaining your training expectations in each location, your dog will be able to confidently step into new situations without issue. Your dog will learn to listen to you no matter where they are!
We don't train your dog, we train YOU!
Dogs are easy to train, it's you that needs all the work! The key to a well behaved dog is a mutual bond based on trust and respect with their owners. We teach our clients how to see things from their dogs perspective, and how to understand canine body signals. You'll learn how to respond appropriately in situations and help your dog be the best they can be!
Training is never done!
We don't believe that when you are done our classes, you are done training your dog. Dogs change and will go through different stages as they age. Problem behaviours can arise for many reasons and we are here to help you through them. After completing our C.O.O.L. Course, participants get 10 free drop-in lessons, so they can build, maintain and further their dog's learning. Additional drop-in lessons are only five dollars per class. We make it affordable and easy to continue training your pooch!
Our Testimonials
Thank you to Beth, Malori and the other trainers who take the time and care about each dog and their persons unique problems. It's been an incredible journey, and I've only had her for 3 months!!!Larissa (Theia)
So far what Beth and Jake have taught us in 2 classes has improved Charlie's behaviour significantly. We still need her and will be going to private classes and group classes for a long time to come. Charlie loves going to go to class and see his friends and never is bothered. Even just try a drop in to see what you think, she is great!Terra (Charlie)
After going to a few other horrible trainers, Beth was such a breath of fresh air. She is outgoing, bubbly and her love of dogs is more than evident. My dog has come leaps and bounds (literally and figuratively) since we started training!Matthew (Truffles) via Yelp
I knew there had to be some resolution to the problem of him chasing anything and everything. We enrolled in private lessons and then Beth's first group class. It was a fantastic experience and I wouldn't of changed anything.Aimee (Ratchet) via Yelp


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Food Without Borders
Sourcing and Sahadi's with Christine Sahadi Whelan
This week on Food Without Borders, Sari sits down with Christine Sahadi Whelan, the owner of James Beard Foundation-winning gourmet Middle Eastern grocery in Brooklyn. Christine and Sari discuss the often precarious logistics of sourcing products from conflict regions in The Middle East and how both policy and war can disrupt supply chains.
Food Without Borders is powered by Simplecast


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Advanced IP Control Panel 8-32 Zones ATS1000A-IP-MM
ATS1000A-IP-MM - Advanced IP Control Panel, EN grade 2, 8 - 32 zones, 4 areas, medium metal housing UTC Fire & Security
The Advisor Advanced product line is the latest offspring from the Advisor CD and Advisor Master product lines. Its heritage consists of well established functions and features of the Advisor series, but it also has been designed to meet the challenges posed by future trends.
Communication standards are currently changing. Communications are moving away from PSTN networks towards wireless and IP networks. So, importantly, this product line can accommodate different communication options thereby offering long-term flexibility, reliability and availability. The Advisor Advanced products can be configured locally through an on-board USB port.
- 8 on-board zone inputs
- Max 32 zones: wired, wireless or mixed
- Economic input and output plug-in expansion
- Up to 16 shock sensor inputs
- 4 areas
- Up to 50 users
- EN50131 Security grade 2 / Environmental class 2
- USB port for local configuration
- On-board PSTN dialler for reporting or configuration
- Multilingual: each user his own language
- Integrated 10/100Mb Ethernet connection
- IP Alarm reporting to OH-NETREC receiver - Optional GPRS
- U/D over IP / GPRS
- IP Diagnostics
- Dynamic/Static IP & DNS support
- Auto Arming - Schedules - Times Outputs


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May 18, 2017
The first glimpse into the Fed's plan for balance sheet normalization came in the March 2017 FOMC minutes. Nothing official has been released, but we believe the Fed is attempting to set expectations that an announcement regarding the tapering of reinvestments will be delivered later this year. In fact, our Macroeconomic and Investment Research team believes this announcement could come with the September meeting. Investors are concerned about the impact this might have on Agency MBS spreads, but our view is that a full unwind of the Fed's MBS portfolio would push Agency MBS spreads higher by 20–25 basis points from current levels over a prolonged period of time. This upward pressure is likely to be lessened by the declining incentive for borrowers to prepay their mortgages via refinancing activity (referred to as optionality). With only 10 percent of Agency MBS paying a weighted average coupon of more than 5 percent, a large share of mortgages in the Agency MBS market are not in the money to refinance. As this prepayment risk declines with rates going higher, the declining optionality should diminish the net impact from Fed balance sheet normalization.
Volatile refinance-directed prepayments are very low, and as rates rise, the spread compensation for this risk will decrease even further. In this low refinancing environment, prepayment activity will primarily be guided by more stable home price appreciation.
Source: Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Federal Housing Administration, Mizuho, Guggenheim Investments. Data as of 4.4.2017.
The Agency MBS-U.S. Treasury basis has remained fairly stable as the market wrestles with shifting rate expectations. Agency MBS bonds posted a positive return of 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Yields ended the quarter at 2.9 percent, roughly unchanged from the end of 2016.
Our long-term view on the sector is that history has shown Agency MBS can deliver good risk-adjusted returns from a Sharpe and information ratio perspective. For those looking to Agency MBS for duration management, we prefer a combination of seasoned and cash flow story pass-through pools. In the near term, we believe there may be opportunities to pick up bonds at substantially wider spreads as the market adjusts to altering technical dynamics driven by Fed balance sheet expectations. In the event of continued rate increases, short-duration collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) will increasingly fill demand due to decreased production of traditional refinancing products such as 10- and 15-year pass-through pools. This will leave opportunities to pick up relative value in the remaining longer-end CMO structures.
Over the past 20 years, there have been two complete cycles where the Fed raised rates. During both of these environments, the Agency MBS sector was a top performer from both a Sharpe and information ratio perspective.
Source: Barclays, Guggenheim Investments. Data as of 4.26.2017. The Sharpe ratio and the information ratio are standard calculations used in performance assessments: The Sharpe Ratio measures excess return per unit of standard deviation of returns, while the information ratio measures excess return versus a relevant benchmark index.
—Jeffrey Traister, CFA, Managing Director; Aditya Agrawal, CFA, Director
This article is distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investing advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. It contains opinions of the authors but not necessarily those of Guggenheim Partners or its subsidiaries. The authors' opinions are subject to change without notice. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but are not assured as to accuracy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Investing involves risk. In general, the value of fixed-income securities fall when interest rates rise. High-yield securities present more liquidity and credit risk than investment grade bonds and may be subject to greater volatility. Asset-backed securities, including mortgage-backed securities, may have structures that make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, making their prices volatile and they are subject to liquidity risk. Investments in floating rate senior secured syndicated bank loans and other floating rate securities involve special types of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited and Guggenheim Partners India Management. ©2017, Guggenheim Partners, LLC. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of Guggenheim Partners, LLC.
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Lovers of the classic, silver Rolls Royce were shocked to death (and so were we) when they spotted this garish, electric blue version of the Ghost customized by Swiss company Mansory at Geneva. However, Mansory claims that the blue exterior with gold paint job 'accentuates Ghost's bold lines.' Well, bold it is, but with utter bad taste. Moving on to its functionality, we can't complain, as Mansory replaced the 6.6-liter V12's twin turbochargers with bigger units, which produces a massive 720hp and 752-pound feet of torque. With a sprint of zero to 62mph in 4.4 seconds (4 seconds faster than the original Ghost) and a weight of 5450 lbs, this sedan should be one hell of a ride. The interiors are upholstered with leather hides, smooth ultra suede, exquisitely patterned carbon fiber, and bamboo trim on request. The Sun has quoted the price of this wild ride as £200,000 (US$303,000).
Rolls Royce Ghost blinged up by Mansory into an electric blue Ghost
Tags from the storyMansory, Rolls-Royce


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(888) 427-2183
A glueless floating floor consists of locked-together flooring panels resting on an underlay- that's about it. Since the floor panels either engage properly (usually with a click) or not, there is very little subjectivity involved. In contrast, with glue-down flooring installation the installer must consider the spread rate of the glue, the set-up time for the glue ( how long you wait for the glue to get tacky ) and the notch shape and size of the trowel. Glue failure, not enough glued used, too much glue used, too little set-up time and too much set-up time may all contribute to an inadequate installation. With nail-down floors, the nails or cleats are driven into the flooring at an angle with a pneumatic nailer - this takes some experience and practice. Bottom line, for a DIY installation, the glueless floating method is preferred because it is less complicated, has fewer components and results in reduced chance of failure.
Another benefit of the glueless floating floors at OnFlooring is no glue cleanup. With glued products the bead of adhesive squeezes out between the tongue and groove during the installation process. Depending on the brand this bead is either wiped with a wet cloth, allowed to dry and scraped off or some combination thereof. We estimate that the process of applying the glue and cleaning up the "squeeze out" adds 15%-30% to the total installation time.
You can immediately live on your new OnFlooring floor! With glue-down floors, depending on the manufacturer, you must not walk on it or rest furniture on top of it for 18-36 hours after installation.
Depending on the brand, the floor can be taken apart, moved into another room or another location and reassembled.
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Finger Foods | Deli Platter & Compliments | Italian Feast | Formal Dinners
Finger Foods (pick & choose your favorites)
Homemade potato wedges with assorted dips/sauces, chicken strips with sauces, meatballs in sweet n sour sauce and / or Swedish-style sauce, veggie platters with Good Earth dipping sauce, fresh fruit salads, Italian lasagna bites, Good Earth roll-ups bites, Good Earth bagel chips with Good Earth hummus and other dipping choices, crackers and cheese, egg rolls with sauces, pizza bites with sauce, Norwegian smoked salmon fillet with dill sauce and crackers, assorted munchies-mints, nuts, chocolates, etc.
Deli Platter & Compliments
Sandwich platters made with our fresh sliced meats & cheeses on our Good Earth breads, bagels and / or wraps. Served with 2 4 cold salads (pastas, potato salad, bean salad, baked beans, cole slaw, etc.) Our you can add our delicious garden salad or Caesar salad or fresh fruit salad. Accompanied by Good Earth bagel chips, kettle chips and crispy dill pickle spears.
Italian Feast (your choice of two entrees)
All these selections come with Good Earth garden or Caesar salads and assorted Good Earth breads.
Formal Dinners
All dinners come with Good Earth tossed salads with your choice of dressings, assorted fresh breads, your choice of potato, fresh vegetables and entr
Our specialty entrees:
Desserts (available with all selections)
Good Earth fresh baked cookies, Good Earth Ooey, Gooey Brownies, Good Earth homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Good Earth Brownie sundaes (sinfully delious!), cheese cakes or you can bring in a cake for special occasions and we will serve it for you.
Catering Details
If you have any questions regarding menu or availability, we would enjoy answering them for you either by phone or in person at 616-396-3061 and ask for Cheryl. For in person meetings, please make an appointment.


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Bush: Retirement age should be phased in to '68 or 70'
Jeb Bush wants to push back the retirement age for Social Security by as many as five years.
Instead of allowing Americans to collect full benefits at age 65, the former Florida governor and likely GOP presidential candidate suggested on Sunday that it should be pushed back to 68 or 70.
{mosads}"I think it needs to be phased in over an extended period of time," he said on CBS's "Face the Nation."
"We need to look over the horizon and begin to phase in, over an extended period of time, going from 65 to 68 or 70," he added. "And that, by itself, will help sustain the retirement system for anybody under the age of 40."
At the same time, Bush said that he would be open to cutting back benefits for wealthy people and their beneficiaries, a reform proposal known as means testing.
"I think it ought to be considered, for sure," Bush said.
Social Security has often been blamed for contributing to the nation's deficit, and has been considered unsustainable, especially by Republicans.
GOP lawmakers have repeatedly talked about trying to raise the retirement age and restructure the benefit program in order to make the program more sustainable. So far, however, grand entitlement reform has remained elusive.


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Teach your child to eat well to avoid the extra pounds
It is quite tempting, when you get home after a day of work, to give to your child to eat only what he wants. However, for a long term, you're not doing him a favor. A child certainly doesn't know what is good for him and one day you may find out that your child eats, for example, only cereal with milk or french-fries. Unfortunately, most children do not choose to eat healthy foods like vegetables; they tend to choose food or dishes that are very high in calories and nutritional unbalanced. In time, this thing can lead to obesity.
It is not necessary to become obsessed with your child's weight or to put him on a weight loss diet, but if you notice that his weight seems to get out of control, you need to take some measures. Remember that, in the last decade, the rate of obesity has risen alarmingly among children.
To make sure that your kid does not accumulate any pounds in excess, it is recommended to weigh and measure him regularly. Thus you will be able to compare his weight curve with normal limits. The weight is not the only evaluation criteria- the body mass index should be analyzed, too. Body mass index is defined as the individual's body mass divided by the square of their height. This index should be evaluated according to the age of the child and to some other medical criteria. During the first months of life, body mass index is very high and reaches its maximal values around the age of 1 year. Once your baby begins to walk, this curve slowly falls down, until the age of 6 years.
At the age of 3, there might be some significant ups in your child's weight. To keep them under control, but also to teach him some good eating habits, you must follow a few rules:
- Prepare for your child four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
- Meals should consist of small portions of food and you should not give your child another portion, if he has not asked for it.
- Allow the child to eat in his own rhythm. Don't try to rush him. Most children eat too slowly, so be patient with them. Tame him only if he eats too quickly, without chewing the food sufficiently.
- Teach him to appreciate fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid foods which are too fatty or too sweet.
- Limit the consumption of sugary soft drinks. Save them for special occasions, such as birthdays or family parties.
- Clear all the special sweet surprises out of cupboards. In time, these surprises become habits which are really hard to fight.
- Encourage your child to do physical exercises. Any kind of physical movement, whether it is an organized sport or a simple walk in the park, it is important for the health of your child.
- Limit the time spent in front of the TV or computer. Movies and computer games mean inactivity and snacking.
LAROUSSE- Copilul tău de la naștere la 6 ani, ed. Rao, 2007


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Julia from Julia Antoinette, a fashion and travel blogger has travelled the Philippines and Asia. Julia would be on the hot seat this week on Wednesday Interview.
Julia, What type of traveller would you say you are?
I'm the type which loves to plan my trips. I don't like being lost so I make sure to at least research my itinerary. I'm also the type to take my time to take photos and take hundreds of them.
Do you remember the first trip that you had?
The first trip I remember would be a family outing to Baguio. I was pretty young then, maybe 5 or 6, but I vividly remember taking a photo with the big lion statue there. It's iconic and a real tourist spot.
What is the one thing that you always carry inside your backpack?
My camera. I love taking photos of everything and everywhere. My camera is heavy and bulky, but I don't mind. I think the pretty photos and the visual reminder of the memory are super worth it.
Do you prefer to travel alone or with someone? Why?
I've actually never travelled alone for leisure before. Aside from the awesome company I always have, it's super nice that I have someone to share my expenses with. Halving the accommodation costs is almost too much to give up on!
What is the one place that you would highly recommend others to travel outside of the Philippines?
Cambodia. In terms of climate, its similar to what we are used to. It's sort of familiar but exotic at the same time. The food is AMAZING and the ruins are wonderful.
What's the worst and the best place you stayed in?
I don't remember the name of the worst place I stayed in, but it was only for a night (thank goodness). The photo in their website is super far from what is the reality. We actually slept early so we can get out of that hole of a place earlier.
The best place I stayed in at would be at Two Seasons Island Resort in Palawan. It's a luxury resort and the only reason I got to stay there was because of work. The place is super amazing. The room is huge and unbelievably comfortable, the staff super friendly, and the beach. Oh, the beach. Aside from the clean white sand, 10 metres from the shore is already the one of the best snorkelling spots I've ever been to. I can't rave about this place enough.
Do you have any challenging and bad experience while travelling?
I think that bad experiences are part of travelling and you have to take it as it is. It can be in a form of a bad accommodation or getting really lost, but consider it as part of the adventure. It's the bitterness that complements the sweet times you go out and experience the world.
One of the biggest challenges I've had would be the language barrier. Sometimes even in the Philippines, since the locals speak a different dialect, it's pretty difficult communicating.
If you were not travelling what would you be doing instead?
Working to get money to travel! Even the most budget trips need moolah and it doesn't grow on trees.
Are you planning a new trip or do you already have a new trip in mind?
I'm set to go to Japan and Hong Kong this May. I'll just be going around Tokyo and Fuji, but I'm super excited! I might go to Malaysia this year, but it isn't set in stone yet.
Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring travellers?
Research is your friend! I do recommend that you make an itinerary for an easier time. I even made a post about how to make your own itinerary: Make a custom tour itinerary Don't travel for the sake of travelling. Travel because you want to and you enjoy it!
JuliaAntoinette started late last year in 2015, to share her experience and opinion. It is a lifestyle blog dedicated to art, food, fashion, lifestyle, geekery, and of course TRAVEL!
Do follow Julia at Julia Antoinette, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest.
Check out last week's interview, Steven from Travel to Blank, Steven is 23 years old and currently getting his Masters in Visual and Digital Media in Madrid, Spain. He currently travels the world with his beautiful wife during his free time.
Next week on Wednesday Interview, we would be travelling with Luca from Luca Travels Around.


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What do you think of when you think of online video? YouTube...Hulu...Maybe Netflix, right? Or some reasonable facsimile thereof, like TeacherTube, Google Video, or Ustream. However, what do you do when you're the USC Film School and have countless hours of B-reel? Or if you're like most universities and produce lots of lecture videos but lack a unified platform for making them accessible and usable for students? You look at a technology like that used by ReelSurfer.
I had a chance to speak last month with Neil Joglekar, one of the co-founders of ReelSurfer, about the product, designed to take long video (e.g., a college lecture) and break it into useful, usable, searchable chunks. Which makes perfect sense, given that a recorded college lecture is potentially a great study or reference tool, but of limited utility as such if you have to watch the whole thing just to find a minute of the lecture that you want to review. According to Neil,
ReelSurfer technology can process long video to be consumed in its most usable form: short, relevant segments.ReelSurfer aims to increase the value of video online by allowing users to find the 30 second segment they really want to watch, and use ReelSurfer plug-ins to lets students and faculty create clips, annotate and share.
Not surprisingly, Neil and the other co-founder, Christian Yang, were both undergrads at Stanford when they founded ReelSurfer. What I wouldn't have given for ReelSurfer when I was an undergrad, trying to figure out just what my notes said about organic chemistry (that class, and my utter inability to see blood, were my reasons for switching from pre-med to information systems).
Read on to find out what is surprising about ReelSurfer
What is surprising is that, just over 2 years since ReelSurfer was founded, the company is cash-positive without any venture funding and an impressive advisory board that counts Bill Fay and Carl Rosendahl among its members. The companies first customer was the USC Film School and they are now working with the San Bernardino Community College District, the Visual Effects Society, and the Brave New Foundation.
All of which are important for the company, but the technology and the ideas behind ReelSurfer are what really made me sit up and take notice. While most video sites rely on some sort of tagging or metadata to even find the correct video, ReelSurfer helps students and researchers find the correct content within a given video, making growing archives of video suddenly useful. Because really, without meaningful search capabilities, all that video is no more useful than the microfiche we used to endure.
Currently, the video requires a transcript that the ReelSurfer technology syncs with the content for indexing. However, in most university settings, the presence of a transcript is relatively common. Technology limitations aside, ReelSurfer's technologies are a crucial next step toward fully embracing video as an educational medium.
Check out Neil's awesome guest blog on the current state of video here.


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Normalizing Masculinity: Explaining Processes, Factors, and Contexts That Influence How Rural Male Farmers Seek Health Information in Southwest Ontario
Doctor of Philosophy
Health Information Science
Leipert, Beverly
2nd Supervisor
Regan, Sandra
Disproportionately high mortality and morbidity rates experienced by rural men are often related to the high prevalence of rural male farmers (RMFs) who are consistently exposed to chemicals, animal waste, and dust, or injured or killed while working. This dissertation aimed to explain processes by which RMFs seek health information (HI), and how these processes are influenced by rural social, cultural, political, and geographical factors.
Three studies were conducted as part of this dissertation. The first study was a literature review that explored the relationship between rural men's health, health information seeking (HIS) theory, and masculinity theory. The second study was a retrospective analysis of Ontario health policy and planning documents published since 2006 to establish the health policy context within which RMFs in Ontario seek HI. The third study integrated constructivist grounded theory and photovoice to identify and explain processes by which RMFs in southwest Ontario seek HI and factors that affect those processes.
Findings of the literature review suggest that rural hegemonic masculinity – a socially desirable gender identity that values men's toughness – may influence rural men to avoid HIS. Health policy and planning document analysis identified 13 documents published since 2006 that included RMFs' health or health needs. Analysis indicated that health policy and planning document authors addressed RMFs as both: 1) token symbols of rural communities, and 2) key stakeholders to engage with to "mend fences" and improve strained relationships between healthcare providers and rural communities. Sixteen RMFs in southwest Ontario participated in the constructivist grounded theory-photovoice study. Participants revealed that their HIS was guided by an identity-related core process entitled 'normalizing self as an RMF throughout HIS', and that 'normalizing' was affected by rural social, cultural, geographical, and political factors.
These studies have implications for how rural communities, agricultural interest groups, health and non-health policy makers, and rural healthcare planners and providers can influence how RMFs seek HI. Future research is needed to understand how RMFs seek HI in different rural contexts, how rural communities can effectively support RMFs to engage in HIS, and how future health and non-health policy can promote RMFs' health and HIS.
Recommended Citation
Hiebert, Bradley C., "Normalizing Masculinity: Explaining Processes, Factors, and Contexts That Influence How Rural Male Farmers Seek Health Information in Southwest Ontario" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5886.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.


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Elspeth Bobbs's Interview
Cindy Kelly: I am Cindy Kelly, Atomic Heritage Foundation. It is October 12, 2017, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am with Elspeth Bobbs, who has some very interesting stories. But first, I want Elspeth to say her name and spell it.
Elspeth Bobbs: Elspeth. It's Scottish. E-L-S-P-E-T-H.
Kelly: Your married name, last name, Bobbs?


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Need to catch up? Check out last week's Outlander post mortem here.
Cram in one last croissant and pack up your petit fours, because the Frasers are putting Paris in their rearview in this week's Outlander. Claire and Jamie return to Scotland hoping for a respite from the tiresome-yet-terrifying politics that have plagued them in the City of Lights… and instead run directly into new tiresome-yet-terrifying politics — only this time, in plaid!
Jamie and Claire's efforts to stop the Jacobite Uprising haven't worked so far, and when everyone's favorite royal pulls a really lame move early in the hour, the Frasers are basically forced to join in the fight they'd worked so hard to prevent. And if that weren't bad enough, they then have to contend with Jamie's old codger of a grandfather and the resurgence of Laoghaire?
Read on for the highlights of "The Fox's Lair."
HOME AGAIN | The episode opens at Lallybroch, where Jamie and Claire look rested, happy and very relieved to be gone from a country where they might be called upon to watch a king take a poo. Claire, in particular, seems very content to be back in her homespun and arm warmers, jostling among Jenny and Ian's brood — which has grown by one more baby girl since they've been gone. And the potatoes Claire told Jenny to plant have grown nicely, meaning that the family and Jamie's tenants won't starve anytime soon.
The Frasers seem to have healed any lingering rift between them, if the way they're holding each other close while surveying the harvest is any indication. Geez, these two can make even a discussion about boiled potatoes sound like Red Shoe Diaries-level erotica. Get ye a room!
When the mail arrives, it's cause for celebration — books! A letter from Aunt Jocasta! (aww, hi Jocasta!) — and cursing on Jamie's part: Prince Charles forged Big Red's name on a document of Highlanders pledging support to the Jacobite cause, and that document has since been widely circulated. Jenny sums it up succinctly, though with great alarm: "The names on this are traitors to the Crown," meaning Jamie will be hanged if he's caught.
Claire floats the idea of escaping to Ireland or the colonies, but Jamie says he couldn't leave his sister, her family and the other tenants behind. So he rather quickly changes tack, arguing that if he and Claire work to help the Jacobites rather than hinder them, perhaps they can change history on that end. And just like that, the Frasers have a new plan.
WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY? | So Jamie begins tallying up his men, figuring out who can join him and Claire in the battles to come. He assigns Murtagh some prepatory duties and plans to rendezvous with him and Fergus in two weeks' time. Meanwhile, Claire and Jamie will try to drum up support from the highland clans, starting with Jamie's ornery grandfather: Lord Lovat, who's a big jerk, has a yen for getting control of Lallybroch, goes by the nickname "the Old Fox" and has used nefarious means to secure himself brides in the past. Lovely.
Just before bed that night, Jamie sadly admits to Claire that his father was one of Lord Lovat's acknowledged bastards, and that Jamie was too much of a "coward" to tell her before they wed. Claire doesn't care, but it's clear that Jamie does. So she's like, "Shh, let me sex you into not caring about this so much." And she later wakes up to find him downstairs by the fire, speaking soft Gaelic to his new niece. Claire tears up — and so do I, because my god, Faith! — as Jenny quietly approaches and explains that Jamie couldn't sleep, so he took the baby so she could rest and he could unburden his worried heart. The way he's talking to the bairn is "the way we talk to them before they're born," Jenny says, looking at her sister-in-law with a knowing, loving eye. "Ye'll know."
GRANDFATHERED! | The next morning, Claire and Jamie leave for Lovat's Beaufort Castle (I loved Ian and Claire's "Take care of your Fraser" exchange), where they encounter two surprises: Colum is there (!), and so is Laoghaire(!!).
Spoilers from the books ahead, so if you want to stay oblivious, skip to the next paragraph. In Diana Gabaldon's books, Laoghaire doesn't show up again until Voyager — the third novel in the series — and when she does, it's years after the events that take place in this week's episode and she's known as Mrs. James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. (Just in case you haven't read the books but kept plugging through this paragraph anyway: YEAH. I KNOW.) Anyway, to get more on Nell Hudson's return to the series — and to find out whether she'll be back this season — make sure to read our post mortem after you're done with this recap.
OK, Newlanders, it's safe to return! While Jamie, Colum and Lord Lovat talk war, Laoghaire seeks out Claire. "I need to tell ye: I am changed, and I am sorry, beyond measure, for the horrible wrong I've done to you," the girl says, all pious-like. Stone Cold Claire Austin makes Laoghaire cry as she says she pities her: "The dark places you must have inhabited in hopes of getting something that you'll never have." I hope Mistress Fraser has some aloe in her bag, Laoghaire, because that was a harsh burn.
WHO WANTS WHAT? | There's a lot of diplomatic talk that goes on while the Frasers are at Beaufort Castle, so let's distill it like a fine single malt, aye? Colum wants Lovat to remain neutral — like Clan MacKenzie — and thinks that the rebellion will fizzle out before it even starts. But Lovat refuses, mainly because he wants Lallybroch and is still really mad that Jamie's dad, Brian, chose to renounce the old man even after Jamie's mom's death.
And so Lovat first tries to trade his support for Jamie's family home, then threatens to rape Claire if Jamie doesn't offer his loyalty. "Go ahead," Jamie says with a smirk, playing the La Dame Blanche card pretty hard. I get the "My Chick Bad" swagger, JAMMF, but seeing as Claire has been nearly "ravaged" twice in the short time she's known you, maybe we lay off a little?
Meanwhile, Claire grudingly enlists Laoghaire's help in bucking up Lord Lovat's weakling son, Simon, whose support for the Jacobites may just help his dad decide to come to the same conclusion. One problem: Mistress MacKenzie isn't that bright, and her subtle wooing — which is supposed to help young Simon feel like more of a man or something — goes sideways when he's spooked by her offer of a "keek" down her dress. Oh Laoghaire, once again: Put those things away!
INFAMOUS LAST WORDS | Long story slightly shorter: Nothing works, and Jamie is about to sign over Lallybroch to his pill of a grandsire when Claire fakes a vision in front of everyone in the castle's great hall. Repeating what she heard from Lovat's own "seer," she claims to have seen the old man standing before an executioner's blade, surrounded by white roses — the symbol of the Jacobite movement. And when the freaked-out Lord Lovat comes at her with a knife, his son steps up to save Claire and to state that he's joining Jamie in the fight to come. But his dad doesn't take the bait, and instead signs a neutrality agreement with Colum.
Again, non-book-readers, skip to the next paragraph. Book readers: Can we discuss Colum not being [spoiler] by this point in the narrative? I'd really like to talk about this. To the situation room! (And by that, I mean let's tweet about it this week.)
The next morning, Simon rides away from Beaufort Castle with Jamie and Claire… only to run into his father's men, all suited up for battle. Guess what? The Old Fox is having it both ways! Officially, he's neutral. But in practice, he's serving the Jacobite cause. Sneaky!
Oh, and right before Claire and Jamie take off, the Sassenach prods her man into thanking Laoghaire — though he makes it very clear that he doesn't know why and doesn't care to. She says she hopes someday she can earn his forgiveness… and then as Jamie is walking his red-headed fineness away from her, she adds, "and your love." Claire, now might be a good time to look under your horse for an ill wish, mmmkay?
Now it's your turn. Did you notice that the theme song reverted to English? If you have any, what are your thoughts on the Colum matter? Sound off in the comments!


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In September of 2011, I underwent a Laminectomy for a herniated disc at L5/S1. The operation was performed by a Neurosurgeon who advised decompression to alleviate a large herniated disc applying pressure to a nerve root. He also performed another procedure unrelated to the L5/S1 disc issue which I won't discuss at the moment. The entire procedure lasted approximately 5 hours and I stayed one night at the hospital.
Recovery took several months and involved a few weeks rest then a long period of physiotherapy. There was inflammation around the incision and I was constantly looking for pain relief from the burning sensation. I later found out through an MRI that scar tissue had formed around a nerve root which was most likely the cause of the burning.
It's taken several years for the pain to settle down from the Laminectomy and follow up imaging shows that there is less pressure on the nerve root from the protruding disc at L5/S1. Overall, I'm pleased with the results even though it's taken years to get relief.
It's recently been reported that a new, minimally invasive procedure has been pioneered by Dr. Rad Payman at the Advanced Spine Institute. "A microlaminectomy will remove a smaller amount of bone than is commonly removed in the standard procedures. This approach will relieve pressure on the spinal cord and lumbar nerves but will help maintain the maximum possible spine stability and strength".