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NEW HAVEN, Conn.— After last weekend's successful scrimmage, the Yale women's golf team enters the Ivy League Championship on a high note. During the scrimmage they tied for first place with BU and placed higher than Brown and Dartmouth, two of their competitors this weekend. The three-day tournament will take place April 21-23 at the Orange Tree Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. The par 72 course stretches over 7,036 yards, challenging the golfers' staminas.
The Bulldogs have had great success at the tournament in recent years. Two years ago, the team finished in second place. Last year, the team took third and Jennifer Peng was the individual winner of the championship. This may be the year the Bulldogs reclaim the championship title.
Senior and captain Sandy Wongwaiwate has competed multiple times at the championship, which will help her keep her calm and enable her to encourage and lead her teammates, especially the rookies. Peng has had an incredible season thus far and seems to be a frontrunner for the individual champion title once again. Her incredible skill and composure on the course will be essential for an attempt to reclaim her title. Senior Elisabeth Bernabe is also no stranger to the pressure of the Ivy League Championship. During last year's championship, Bernabe, Wongwaiwate and Peng all scored within the top 20. This year, having three veteran players on the course will put the Bulldogs in a great position for taking a shot at the title and a chance to compete in the NCAA tournament.
Report filed by Amairani Santoyo '19, Yale Sports Publicity


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|Grecian Alice+Olivia
|Striped Tank Maxi
|Tibi Buttondown
|Embroidered Halter Neck
|Free People Bandana Dress
We're getting to that point in the weather where it's either super hot or a little chilly, causing us to pause when picking out an outfit. Enter: the maxi dress. Light enough to be comfortable in warmer weather, yet long enough to keep legs covered when it's a bit breezy. Here are a few I'm currently coveting!

subset: commoncrawl


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Ypos with Xpos, gives co-ordinates of the note relative to the centre of the Map view (in the same units as Width and Height). Ypos = 0 is the middle of the Y-axis of the map, with negative values moving up [sic], positive values moving down. Note the Y-axis value orientation is the reverse of normal Cartesian Y co-ordinates, but does makes sense in the context of a visual top-left-to-bottom-right visual layout.
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Top Three Honeymoon Destinations in USA, USA Honeymoon Destinations
October 5, 2011 by bestvacations
Filed under Honeymoon Vacations
Being married and thinking of a destination to go for the honeymoon is not a worry at all. In fact USA is the perfect place to go to as it has got plenty of fascinating and interesting places which can surely make a unforgettable honeymoon for a couple. That is a person can get involved in so many activities apart from relaxing in any of the destinations respectively. The top three honeymoon destinations in USA are mentioned below.
1. Hawaii
Hawaii has remained the number one honey moon destination for several years. Several people visit each year, not only for honeymoon but otherwise in different seasons too. The reason is that it is blessed with so many magnificent beaches, beautiful sceneries and that a person can indulge in various activities as well. A couple can really enjoy watching the different waterfalls which provides a amazing and breathtaking view. They can enjoy their time while lazing down on the beach in the after or even go for walking along the shore too. If a person is fond of playing golf, then he can visit any of the golf courses and play as much as he like.
Hawaii has got six islands and each of them provides a unique experience for the visitor. That is one can go for volcano hiking on the Big Island, do surfing in Oahu and watch whales in Maui respectively.
2. New York
New York is a vibrant and a sprawling city in the USA. Numerous couples spend their honeymoon here every year. The various areas within New York have got different shopping malls where a couple can do shopping and purchase anything of their liking at with all the deals and the bargains too. A couple can even ride through the central park on a carriage which is really good experience indeed. They can visit and explore many fascinating places like the Broadway, Times Square, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum and the Brooklyn Bridge respectively.
3. Florida
Florida is situated in the south-eastern part of USA and is referred to as the Sunshine State as well. It weather here is tropical to subtropical and perfect for those who like mild temperatures. Florida has got many beautiful and popular beaches and a person can get involved with activities while being there. That is he can take a hot air balloon ride or a jet boat ride, swim with the dolphins and do scuba diving as well.
Florida has the got the best honeymoon spot which is the Walt Disney World where the couple get the best vacation packages for their entire trip. They can even travel to Key West and Miami to enjoy the beauty and the other activities too. On the other side, there are several famous restaurants to enjoy the different cuisines and a notable one is the Ritz- Carlton located at Palm Beach respectively.
Therefore, USA is without doubt the preferred choice of many couples or newly weds from across the world. It is better that they make their reservation in advance and then enjoy their time at the various popular spots in the top three honeymoon destinations in USA.
Best Honeymoon Hotels in Canary Islands, Honeymoon in the Canary Islands
September 29, 2011 by bestvacations
Filed under Honeymoon Vacations
Best Honeymoon Hotels in Canary Islands, Honeymoon in the Canary Islands…
When it comes to choosing where to go on your honeymoon, the Canary Islands, with its warm year round climate and beautiful beaches have become a popular destination. Made up of a selection of different islands the Canaries have something to offer everyone, from the smaller islands with their natural beauty and amazing wildlife to the larger islands with their bustling resorts and action packed activities.
The Canary Islands have always been popular as a destination for both couples and families alike, with visitors mostly drawn by the wonderfully warm climate that remains all year round. Because of this the resorts found here seem to be lively at all times, offering a wealth of evening entertainment, beach activities and sports at any time of the year. The stunning coastline around the islands offer a variety of beaches, from the smaller more remote kind where you can sneak off to a quiet corner and be reasonably alone to the larger, more popular beaches where seeing and being seen is part of the fun.
For honeymooning couples the beaches are definitely a big draw, especially some of the resort beaches where you can treat yourself to a beach side cocktail while working on your tan. If you want to stay away from the big crowds then it might be worth choosing the island of Fuerteventura. Here you`ll find miles and miles of golden sand where you can relax and unwind together. And although you`re away from the bigger bustling cities, here you`ll still find great restaurants and bars to enjoy the local cuisine. Take advantage of the great water sports here and do some snorkeling or scuba diving to experience a vast and colourful underwater world.
If you are a couple who like to join in with the action, head to the popular resort of Playa de las Americas found in Tenerife. This busy resort attracts couples, families and groups, mainly because there is so much to see and do here. The resort is made up of 6 beautiful beaches with a host of water sports readily available. There are plenty of bars and nightclubs so you`re guaranteed a good night out, or the host of restaurants serve both traditional dishes like Paella and fresh lobster and seafood.
There are also some amazing hotels to choose from here, with resorts offering villas, apartments or spacious rooms with a balcony or terrace. For a luxury aparthotel try somewhere like the Marylanza Golf Resort and Spa, where you can take advantage of a variety of pools, sporting activities and a wellness centre for a relaxing massage. If you prefer a romantic room with a balcony overlooking the promenade try the Cleopatra Palace Hotel. The views from this hotel are gorgeous and the wide range of facilities means you will have plenty to do.
The local airport, only 15 minutes away by taxi, is served by flights from many UK airports, so getting here is relatively easy too.
Honeymoon in Costa Rica, Romantic Honeymoon Costa Rica
October 24, 2009 by bestvacations
Filed under Honeymoon Vacations
Have you ever thought why plenty of people prefer to spend their honeymoon vacation in a county of Central America called Costa Rica? We know that they have valid reasons for a honeymoon in this little country and we are here to present you those factors that lead people to fly overseas for just a week holiday.
Costa Rica literally means "Rich Coast" in English and the country exactly justifies why it is called so when you arrive there since there are lots of diversity in terms of species. Among the reasons for Costa Rica's being the first honeymoon vacation preference of most people, there are environmental facts, geographic possessions and variety of tourism activities such as surfing, hiking, swimming etc.
Costa Rica is ranked 5th in the Environmental Performance Index in the worldwide. It owes this success to its enormous efforts to protect the ecology. Likewise, this little country is the most caring country for the environment according to the Happy Planet Index, which ranked them 1st due to its citizens' happy life and the amount of resources of Earth Costa Rica consumes. In addition, the government is determined to make the country carbon neutral. For this purpose, they declared an ecologic strategy to attain this tough goal. These features clearly explain why they have such a motto called "Pura Vida!" meaning Pure Life.
Costa Rica's geographic beauties include islands, waterfalls, fluctuating hills and volcano craters that attract millions of people each year. Besides, they have some national parks and protected areas that contribute to ecotourism revenue. Therefore, you cannot get bored during your honeymoon vacation in Costa Rica.
It is also important to note that couples might have difficulty in deciding how to spend their vacation in Costa Rica due to great deal of options such as sunbathing in long sand beaches, marching in rainforests, climbing peak of astonishing mountains or even relaxing in luxurious spas of reputable hotels.
So, if you are a new bride and groom, you should definitely visit Costa Rica for your honeymoon vacation because it is where combination of romantic, passionate and exotic holidays takes place. Believe it or not but it will not be your last visit to this green country.
Romance in Newport Beach, Newport Beach Honeymoon Vacations
November 15, 2008 by bestvacations
Filed under Honeymoon Vacations
It is an important task to search for a place for your honeymoon or for your vacation with your love. While looking many alternatives for your vacation, you will see that Newport Beach is among the most romantic places in United States. If you plan your honeymoon or want to make a surprise to your sweetie, you will find everything about romance in Newport Beach. Each step you take in Newport Beach will show you that the environment is the right address for romance.
One of the best things you can do is walking around the Marine Avenue on Balboa Island and feeling the happiness of your love in your heart. In addition, you can go to Balboa Fun Zone and live entertaining moments there. Another romantic thing to do in Newport Harbour is taking a gondola ride. While wandering around by gondola, you can share the beauty of nature with your honey.
Trevi Fountain, Rome Vacations, The most Beautiful Fountain, Trevi Fountain Hotels, Europe Honeymoon Vacations
July 19, 2008 by bestvacations
Filed under Europe Vacations, Honeymoon Vacations, Rome Vacations
The Trevi Fountain in Rome dominates a small square in the heart of the city near the Spanish Steps. The fountain is the most famous and biggest baraque structure in Roma. The fountain is a true wonder, a jewel of water and stone that is nestled between the palaces of the historic centre of the city. The fountain was built by the architect Salvi in 1735.
The central statue is Neptun or Oceanus. The 2 tritons were created by Pietro Bracci; the left one trying to tame a fiery horse (it is symbolizing the rough sea), and the right one blowing a shell-horn (it is symbolizing the quiet sea). They symbolizes mood of the sea. Also, the water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea.
Young couples who just married comes to fountain for their loves will be forever in Italy. Firstly, they turn back to the fountain then throw away coin from right shoulder. In fountain everbody wish different requests. If visitors throw a coin, they wiil ensured to return Rome. Two coins will lead marriage soon. 3000 euro is thrown away to fountain everyday and picked up night. This money is used for meeting Rome's needs.
If you want to stay in a hotel in Rome near Trevi fountain, you don't have a long list of choices. Hotels in Rome near Trevi Fountain are; Hotel Bolivar, Hotel Hiberia, Hotel Magnifico, Hotel Cortina, Hotel Trevi, Hotel Pincio, Hotel Fontana… If you want to Trevi Fountain, you must know the best time to visit is in the dawn.
Most Scenic Honeymoon Spot, Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa, Ultimate Fantasy Suite
March 13, 2008 by bestvacations
Filed under Best Beach Resorts, Honeymoon Vacations
"This resort beautifully melds the region's French and Polynesian culture, creating an island paradise that is a work of art."
ELEGANT BRIDE MAGAZINE, USA. If Mother Nature has amply blessed the Polynesian islands, she has been particularly generous with their isle, Motu Toopua. It is here, in the middle of Bora Bora's majestic lagoon, that we have created the ultimate Polynesian destination. The Bora Bora Lagoon Resort offers bungalow accommodations just outside Vaitape, Bora Bora's main village. The hotel's amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness centre, personal training, massage treatments, water sports, canoes, a tennis court, beach volleyball, a tour/excursion desk, free airport transportation, babysitting, laundry services, currency exchange, and wake-up calls.
Highly popular Theme Night Buffets allow you to indulge in the exotic and romantic pleasure of dining under the stars. Most often accompanied by spectacular local entertainment, these occasions are not to be missed. The buffets and shows take place every Monday, Thursday and Saturday nights.
Marù Spa:
Discover the only treetop Spa in Polynesia, Marù Spa welcomes you to the lush environment of the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa. Located on a secluded motu in the middle of the most beautiful lagoon in the world, it is situated on the beachfront, surrounded with exotic basins, waterfalls and gorgeous lilies, in a peaceful and serene decor marked with Polynesian wisdom.
Hardwood floors, bamboo and stone décor, high up in the midst of two giant Banyan trees are our wooden cabins, containing hidden treatment rooms. Listen to the soft breeze of the wind passing through the leaves. A quartzite bath on the ground floor, welcomes you for a rich bath with coconut milk and fresh local flowers—a pure romantic relaxing moment. Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa's private independent suite offers a couple massage-rooms as well as a "rain shower," for a traditional massage, a natural scrub or a vegetal wrap.
Guests fly in to the only International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, Tahiti (Faa' a) , and then transfer to the domestic airline – Air Tahiti or Wan Air – for the 40-minute flight to Bora Bora. Once you arrive, you are greeted by a hostess from the hotel, given floral leis, and then you board their private launch for the 15-minute boat ride to Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa. On arrival at the resort, guests are given an ice-cold coconut juice as a welcome drink before being escorted to their bungalows.
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa Address:
Motu Toopua
BP 175 – 98730 Vaitape
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Toll free:+800 393 5485
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa Telephone: +689 60 40 00
Fax: +689 60 40 01
You can get detailed information at Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa's web site.


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Bus Accidents
Bus Accidents can cause physical injuries, emotional suffering and financial losses. These accidents can be caused by many different factors, may involve public or private buses, and they can cause widespread physical and financial damage. From driver negligence to faulty bus maintenance, there are many issues that can cause a Bus Accident. These different factors make Bus Accident Cases complex. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Tim O'Hare understand these complexities and the issues that often lead to Bus Accidents. Our goal is to help you recover funds for medical expenses, lost wages, and even the deterioration of your quality of life if you have been injured in a Bus Accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Bus Accident, contact the experienced attorneys at The Law Offices of Tim O'Hare. You need an experienced attorney to fight for your case, so find out how The Law Offices of Tim O'Hare can help you.


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While the whole editorial staff contributed to our 2012 awards, we wanted to allow everybody the opprotunity to publicly name their personal top 10 games of the year. While many did play the majority of releases in 2012, please remember that unlike our main awards, the editors are not naming the *best* games, but their personal favorites out of the selection they played.
10. Quantum Conundrum
(Multi-Platform, Airtight Games)
A year after the release of Portal 2 came this puzzle-centric gem. I thought there had to be at least one lesser-known game that deserved a spot with the big dogs — and Quantum Conundrum is that game. It was developed by Airtight Games and published by Square Enix. Instead of solving a little table puzzle or trying to warp through walls for some cake, players have to adjust an entire room to reach an exit. Manipulating objects can occur in a few ways and each one creates different effects. Quantum Conundrum is a unique experience that will keep fans of all levels completely entertained.
9. Halo 4
(Xbox 360, 343 Industries)
Beware: sequels ahead. Halo 4 was the highest-grossing installment of the series for a reason: with cinematic quality storytelling, it hit fans where it hurts. A mix of combat with sensitive scenes keep the game moving and players can relate more to this story than ever before. It will be immensely difficult to top Halo 4 in the future, but at least we'll be keeping busy with the amount of replay content.
8. Far Cry 3
(Multi-Platform, Ubisoft)
I was not too much a fan of Far Cry 2 (I know, I know). As it was mostly due to the aesthetics, this sequel changed everything. There is so much beauty in the landscapes to keep me entertained. Upgraded gadgets are fun to fiddle with and details in some of the simplest tasks are just outstanding. The open-world is full of wildlife, caves and structures — all of which full of danger. Enemies aren't too smart, but their leader Vaas is a madman — and a well-developed character with extremely detailed personalities. Making him bad makes it oh so good.
7. Sleeping Dogs
(Multi-Platform, United Front Games)
This game was by no means a sleeper. The mix of brutal action, parkour movements and slowed shooting scenes made Sleeping Dogs quite the success. I enjoyed just how many different ways there were for Wei Shen to dispose of criminals in an environment that holds many secrets. If you don't feel like going on a mission, taking a stroll around Hong Kong is full of game's worth of entertainment. I just hope there's a sequel in the future.
6. Borderlands 2
(Multi-Platform, Gearbox Software)
Since I am such a fan of the first game, it's only natural to enjoy the next. There is "more" of a lot of things in Borderlands 2: more guns, more violence and more badassery. The steadier storyline is a big plus — going after Handsome Jack instead of killing Skags keeps the game in line. I love wandering around looking for loot, but sticking to the main plot gives players satisfaction knowing Handsome Jack is going down. Even after beating the game, it's fun trying to complete every challenge and achievement.
5. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
(Multi-Platform, Firaxis Games)
I've chosen this game for its unique combination of strategy and action. It's like playing a board game without the "bored" factor. XCOM takes elements from RPGs, turn-based strategy games and shooters to form a well-balanced revamping of its predecessors. Choosing which soldiers to bring and stats to boost can be a gamble. Since the enemies are unknown, there's no telling what you'll encounter out there. XCOM does have a few kinks that could have been worked out, but overall it is fun to play and easy to learn and rewardingly hard to master.
4. The Walking Dead
(Multi-Platform, Telltale Games)
As a fan of the television series I had to check out Telltale's take on the series. This game is an emotional rollercoaster if I've ever seen one. Every time I become emotionally invested in a character, something bad always happens. Despite that, the game's style and choices had me hooked. I enjoyed each release that kept getting better with every episode. It really gave the game that suspenseful feeling, much like the show. Zombies have made quite the resurgence in recent times but nothing tops the popularity of The Walking Dead in all its forms.
3. Journey
(PlayStation 3, Thatgamecompany)
Journey brought the beauty of video games to a wider audience. It's easy to get lost in the detailed landscapes or become hypnotized by its magical gameplay. Journey recaptures the spirit of great adventure games from the past. With no dialogue, the only sounds you hear are music and the surroundings, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in this experience. The experience is incredible no matter how many times it's played, because it's not the destination that matters, it's the journey
2. Pokémon Black and White 2
(Nintendo DS, Game Freak)
You can't ask Jake to decide on top games without including Pokémon. I'm even playing it as I type this. Pokémon have been around for quite some time and a sequel is just what the series needed. Black and White 2 includes new locations, a revamped storyline and the inclusion of some older Pokémon. Because this game takes place a couple years after the first installment, it has given some characters and cities a chance to develop. Every Pokémon game is going to be fun; I've been playing for hundreds of hours over the years, but not many are as addictive as this.
1. Dishonored
(Multi-Platform, Arkane Studios)
A hybrid of various games, Dishonored stands on its own. The mixture of stealth, supernatural abilities and a steampunk future create a unique departure from the genre. With each decision made affecting the outcome of the story, the ending is kept mysterious which makes it all the more appealing. Do things your own way whether that means sneaking around the shadows or wreaking havoc in the open. Dishonored has taken top honors (last pun, I promise) in my book. With DLC coming, it will likely provide more excitement than games debuting in 2013.


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Have you got Chicago Blackhawks fever? If so, we've got the cure. We hit eBay looking for some goodies that us raving fans can showcase our pride with. And boy did we find some awesome stuff. See our top picks below – tell us which is your fave?
1. Corey Crawford Authentic 2015 Stanley Cup Reebok Jersey –
Corey Crawford is THE man. He has saved many of the Blackhawks games via some awesome blocking, and has played phenomenally throughout the series. So we wanted to feature him first and what better way to salute Corey than by wearing his beautiful jersey. This one comes from Reebok and is the Corey Crawford 2015 Stanley Cup authentic real deal jersey. See it below.
2. Chicago Blackhawks 2015 Stanley Cup Puck –
This one is a beauty. This is the official 2015 Stanley Cup puck, which features on the center the logos of the dueling teams; the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning. Comes in blue and makes for a great souvenir item.
3. We Kane, We Shaw, We Crawford T shirt (Mens) –
This is what it's all about – the fab three. And this t shirt captures it perfectly. The We Kane, We Shaw, We Crawford t shirt is great for watching the game at home or going out with the boys to the local pub and showing which three players you're all about. Ladies, we have one coming up just for you. See it below at #4.
4. We Kane, We Shaw, We Crawford T Shirt (Womens) –
This one is for the ladies and comes in tank top style with the same now famous phrase "We Kane, We Shaw, We Crawford" and in the color black. Great sports date night tank top.
5. Corey Crawford Bobblehead –
We obviously have a thing for the Blackhawks goalie as he has been so great in the games, so when we came across this cutie pie Corey Crawford 2015 Bobblehead – we knew we had to feature it in this post. 🙂 What do you think? Yay, Nay – what do you say. Tell us in the comment area please.
If you're reading this post, you're most likely a fan and if so, you're on the edge of your seat with this series; that has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride. We hope the Chicago Blackhawks take it all the way and win the 2015 Stanley Cup trophy. What are your thoughts? Are they gonna do it; are they. We say yes!
Wednesday is the next game – Go Blackhawks!!!!


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Today I had the honor of photographing a pet for the 2012 Humane Society calendar. Fergus, a lively golden retriever, has a wonderful personality and loves running around outdoors.
Using my new 70-200 IS II lens, I captured some great action photos of Fergus retrieving his red toy.
You can tell that this is one happy dog!
Then we went on a cross country road trip to visit with some kittens:
These four kittens were a lot of fun. They were still a bit freaked out by the grass, but they are starting to get inquisitive. By the way, if anyone wants a kitten, let me know!


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The Prince Consort - Other Love Songs - Somewhere Boy
Reading the thoughts of Susan Tomes on the subject of the Guardian's airbrushing of classical music a few days ago, I pondered the marginalisation of classical music, and in particular of new classical music. There has been a dichotomy between classical and popular music for centuries, of course, though by and large the best music has persisted while the dross has fallen by the wayside, as far as we can tell. Still, contemporary classical music is a minority interest now more than ever.
That is the case for several reasons: first of all, popular music has diversified in so many directions over the past century, especially since the age of recording, that it swamps the marketplace. Not just all of the different types of mainstream pop music, but also jazz and blues and big band and swing, gospel, world music (that horrible catch-all phrase), new age (fingers-down-throat time). The list is endless.
The divergent paths taken by classical composers in the last century are also pertinent. Atonality and serialism seem an inevitable resting place of classical music. They are a dead end. Much great music has been composed within these disciplines, and happily the view that dismisses the music of the Second Viennese School as valueless is now a dissenting one, but atonal music is a bridge with nothing on the other side. It is an extreme. Since Schoenberg et al. deconstructed the principles of tonality early in the last century, there has been no single thrust driving classical music towards something original. Every so often a genius like Stravinsky will come along to shake things up, but as a rule composers today either write tonal music (which may be dismissed as reactionary or derivative, all the avenues of tonality having been explored exhaustively over the course of the past several centuries) or atonal music (which practically nobody wants to listen to).
When Britten's Peter Grimes was premiered in June 1945, it almost automatically became a part of the operatic canon. Today, it is performed in many different productions throughout the world every year. It is difficult to imagine any piece of serious classical music having a similar impact today.
Now, some self-interrogation. How much classical music do I know well that was composed in, say, the last twenty years? A fair amount of the music of Thomas Adès, for one thing. He is a rare beast, a composer who has not abandoned tonality but writes with a distinct and individual voice, his music assimilating with conviction diverse forms of popular and older classical music. (In the interests of fairness, I should state that there are many composers around today with original things to say, it's just that Adès is the one who has got through to me most.) Also Nicholas Maw's beautiful, Brahmsian violin concerto, and, coming from a similar direction, a certain amount of the more recent music of Robin Holloway, who writes with the language of romanticism tinged with the modern. All in all, not a great deal compared to what I know of the composers of years gone by, and only a fraction of the volume of presumably fabulous music being written by living composers in Britain alone.
The thing is, Bach and Beethoven and Brahms can all be viewed with hindsight, and we can understand their work in the context of general musical trends. It's much more difficult to get a handle on people writing today, to work out where they come from and what they have to tell us, especially as the influences that inform their own music must inevitably be more diverse than those of their predecessors.
On the theme of getting to know new music, I will relate a recent happy discovery. A week ago I went to a piano recital by the mercurial Stephen Hough at the Wigmore Hall, where he played sonatas by Beethoven, Scriabin and Liszt, and premiered a new sonata by himself, which he talks about in conversation here. After the concert Hough was gently probed by Jessica Duchen, and those of us who had stayed behind were treated to another premiere, of Hough's song cycle Other Love Songs, written for the Prince Consort.
Other Love Songs was written to be programmed between Brahms' two sets of Liebeslieder-Walzer, some of the most frustrating music Brahms wrote, and some of the hardest to love, at any rate for me. Hough's cycle sets a catholic selection of texts, from Julian of Norwich and the Gospel of John, Harlem Renaissance poets Claude McKay and Langston Hughes, Laurence Hope (Adela Florence Nicolson) and A.E. Housman. They all treat love between people of the same sex, though not in all cases romantic love. In the spirit of otherness, the accompaniment is not for piano four hands like the Brahms, but for piano three hands (the upper pianist uses his right hand only).
One reason why this music appeals more than the Brahms is that Hough's textures are sparser. The Liebeslieder are part-songs for the potentially stodgy combination of vocal quartet and piano duet, while Hough's are generally solo songs, giving individual members of the vocal group their chance to star, with a couple of duets and two larger (but still sensitively scored) ensemble pieces at the end. This helps to create variety. The Brahms waltzes blur into one another, but Hough keeps you on your feet.
I find it very difficult to write about modern composers without referring to composers of the past. I'm sure that's indicative of the paucity of my descriptive abilities, but it may perhaps have a positive application in helping readers to imagine what the music sounds like. There are so many influences audible in Other Love Songs, from the ecstasy of Messiaen in the soprano/mezzo duet 'All Shall Be Well' to the inevitable echoes of the great twentieth-century British composers of art song. Finzi would surely have been proud to write a setting of Housman's 'Because I Liked You Better' as distinguished as Hough's, with its murky and twisty repeated chromatic figures. The delectable 'Kashmiri Song' uses the Indian Bhairav raga, and opens with the one-handed pianist strumming the scale on the strings of the piano.
For all of these multifarious influences, Other Love Songs feels remarkably unified, and when hints of other composers are communicated they never come across as mere pastiche. What may unite all eight songs is a joy in sensuality and, dare I say, camp? Hough confessed in his interview at the Wigmore that he instructed mezzo Jennifer Johnston, a Liverpudian herself, to bring something of Lily Savage to her characterisation of Langston Hughes' maid in 'Madam and Her Madam'. It works delightfully. And how delightful too to find myself humming bits of it all this week at work, especially the backstreet beating anthem 'The Colour of His Hair' (I've always thought this was one of Housman's best poems, and so brilliantly pithy - it laments the fate of Oscar Wilde and you can read it here; Hough's setting is vicious and violent).
I do recommend listening to the recording that has just been released by Linn. You can read all about it and listen to excerpts on their website.


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Price volatility is a concern that never goes away for energy marketers. Risk looks different in 2016 with oil prices recently dropping to 13-year lows and strong indications that inventory overhang will keep prices depressed in 2016. Another ever-present risk is weather, and that is front-of-mind after a very disappointing winter fueled by a record El Niño. World oil supply appears secure for the moment, but U.S. production is trending downwards, and the Middle East is wracked by violence. Prices took an unforeseen tumble in recent years, and no one knows which factors will emerge to reshape the markets in the months ahead – or where prices will be in six months.
Oil & Energy recently reached out to hedging providers who support the heating oil market for their thoughts about the current marketplace and the prospects for 2016. We'd like to thank the companies that took the time to participate: Global Companies, Hedge Solutions, Sprague Operating Resources, Angus Energy, Aletheia Consulting Group, Irving and Powerhouse.
Oil & Energy: Please evaluate the level of uncertainty in oil pricing for the balance of 2016.
Global: Oil, being a commodity, will always have volatility and uncertainty. That's the nature of the beast. Even at these lower levels, dealers should maintain a manageable hedge against any forward volumes they intend to purchase for their business. Whether heating oil is $3 per gallon or $1 per gallon, risk is always present.
Hedge Solutions: Volatility will be the norm as always. There are simply too many variables that can impact oil prices. That said, barring any major geopolitical issues, prices should remain in the $50 and lower echelon.
Irving: In recent weeks and months we have seen just how uncertain the oil pricing can be. Fundamentally, the world's supply of oil is ample. Current production levels are still higher than demand, and there have not been any serious expectations for that to change for the balance of 2016. The market is able to get in a rally mode with hedge funds and large speculative buyers entering the market. The buying can then snowball and technical traders get signals to buy, which in turn triggers additional automated buying. The result is what we have seen this year – a market that can climb on what might happen in the future, while at the same time quickly falling again on the fundamentals. Market uncertainty is today's new normal. Every morning when you first look at what the market is doing you are simply looking at a point in time that can be totally different by the time you get into your office. I know many of us live this every day. As far as the balance of 2016 goes, the uncertainty grows with each day. As supply and demand start to get closer to being in balance, the uncertainty of what happens will still be with us. To give you an idea of the uncertainty for this year, you can look at the latest EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (March) which shows just how uncertain the future of prices are. June is only three months away as I am writing this, and the forecast for WTI crude oil in June is $35. However, the range to be 95 percent certain of where the price will be in 3 months is from $24 to $58 – a range of $34. That points to a very uncertain price.
Powerhouse: Uncertainty has been the driving feature of oil pricing in recent years. The high level of price volatility reflected serious geopolitical challenges in the Mideast, Eastern Europe and Asia. Ironically, these challenges remain in place, but the availability of U.S. crude oil has materially lessened the bullish price impact of events overseas.
Low prices have been expected to reduce the availability of North American crude oil, but at the time of writing, this has not happened. In part this reflects improved technology that has made production much less expensive. It has become more accessible and can, if prices rise, be brought into production quickly, creating some resistance to higher prices.
Some analysts are calling for the overhang of crude oil inventories to clear by the end of 2016. Perhaps, but there is a problem on the demand side as well, especially in distillate fuel oils.
Sprague: Given the many variables (world supply/demand dynamics, political unrest, global economies, weather, etc.), it is difficult to imagine oil pricing without some level of price uncertainty. However, from a strictly fundamental perspective, it feels as though we are entering a period of relative price stability. U.S. inventories are at record levels, China's demand has weakened, and OPEC countries seem intent on maintaining world market share at almost any price. Barring a significant geopolitical event, it seems unlikely that the price of WTI would exceed $55/bbl in the near term. Thus, we'll likely see a $30 to $55/bbl range overall for 2016 – readers can decide whether or not that range constitutes price uncertainty.
Aletheia: With refiners going into maintenance and supply more prevalent than demand, it looks like pricing will be sideways to lower. If production can be substantially reduced then perhaps we will see some stabilization in the price (that is a big if, because Iranian, Iraqi, Russian and Saudi barrels will be competing for market share). Since there is plenty of supply domestically in the U.S., any production coming out of the Middle East is going to try to find buyers in Asia. Keep an eye on how well the Asian economy is doing, as this will be a key factor in determining as to whether or not prices will start to move up.
Angus: If you want to measure uncertainty by assessing the activity of the professionals who trade in the oil markets, the answer would be "very high". The "volatility" of prices, though not a directional predictor, is not currently showing any signs that prices are going to simply fall into a small trading range.
Oil & Energy: What do you see as the most significant risk factors for heating oil prices for 2016?
Hedge Solutions: Assuming we're talking about factors that could spike prices (since lower prices are favorable for this industry), the usual culprits apply: geopolitical dynamics (Middle East and West Africa politics, Latin America economics), and weather (think Hurricane Season). U.S. shale production will be monitored and remain a headliner for the near future as traders look to predict output trends. All of these will have an influence on price.
Irving: I see the most significant risk factors for heating oil prices this year are:
- The price of crude oil is almost always the biggest factor, as higher crude oil prices mean higher heating oil prices.
- Another top factor is investors' perceptions of what the supply and demand situation will be in the future. The prices often climb more on perception than on the reality of supply. The fear of what could happen keeps the buyers in the market and many speculative investors tend to buy oil futures, not sell them, when they invest.
- The world's economic situation: Is demand for oil going to increase, and will countries add more stimulus money that will drive higher demand or increase the perception that demand is going to increase?
- OPEC – the same question that has been around for the past few years – will they do anything to curtail production levels? Every time OPEC mentions the possibility of affecting production levels the hedge funds and large speculative buyers drive prices higher. At the same time, if OPEC talks about increasing production they can have everyone selling, driving prices lower.
- Something we have avoided the last few years is any significant disruption to delivery of supply. The U.S. is currently well supplied but there is always a risk that supply is not able to be delivered where and when it is needed. If supply gets short in an area – the prices tend to climb rapidly.
Powerhouse: There are risks on both sides of the ledger. A slowdown in the economy could impact demand bearishly. Weather, of course, will impact prices either way. The El Niño winter is over, but effects of changing climate are unclear. This is why the dealer needs to secure customers with fixed or capped prices supported by hedging.
Sprague: As we saw during the 2015-16 heating season, the answer is as it has always been – weather. Underlying market prices will rise and fall on a number of factors, but the true price risk for home heating oil is ultimately determined by weather. Let's look at the 2015/2016 season as an example. We all witnessed the overall energy price collapse. In the span of about 18 months, WTI fell from the $100/bbl level to sub-$30/bbl. Everyone enjoyed watching gasoline pump prices fall. Obviously, home heating oil prices fell as well. But looking even a bit closer at physical heating oil prices, we can see that despite the dramatic drop in overall energy prices, the record warm winter has kept physical home heating oil prices at a discount all season long. Even in spring when you might normally expect physical home heating oil prices to trade at a premium to the market price, it is currently still trading at a significant discount. Why? Because the heating oil piece of the distillate pool is now strictly limited to space heating use. Without cold weather it has nowhere else to go. Diesel demand on the other hand, is driven by a wider variety of factors like the overall health of the economy and agricultural demand. So, while energy prices were cheap overall, heating oil prices were even cheaper, a direct result of the weather.
Aletheia: One of the most significant risks is volatility. The knee-jerk reaction in the market creates many problems when trying to purchase oil short term as well as long term. It is vital not to become complacent when locking in online barrels. Just because the market is down doesn't necessarily mean it is a good time to buy. The old eBay mentality has to be restrained. If not properly hedged you can lose significant margin by hitting the buy button too frequently. Another risk factor would be complacency. Prices might not stay this low for long, so you need to set pricing levels that if breached you will execute a trade or purchase physical supply.
Angus: Uncertainty of what the true drivers are in the marketplace. One day it is the Saudis, the next day it is the Frackers. Then, it is the Chinese economy and the next it is ISIS. The biggest risk (to prices rising – which is bad for our retail marketplace) is likely more in the long-term impact of shutting in producing wells in the U.S., coupled with the growing global economic uncertainty.
Global: Over-purchasing gallons with no hedge for next season. Dealers will be tempted, with prices this low, to buy more forward contracts than they actually need, trying to hit a home run and make additional money. This could end up being business suicide if the market moves lower and dealers are stuck with higher priced forwards unhedged.
Oil & Energy: Today's heating oil prices appear extremely low. Is there still a need for dealers and/or customers to maintain downside protection in this pricing environment?
Irving: The answer is not always a straight across the board answer for all. Each dealer has their own unique customer base with different needs. The price is low compared to recent years, but I want to point out that many thought it was pretty low last year at the start of the buying for this season. In fact one of last year's hedging questions started – Can dealers leverage current low pricing…? At that time the market was trading around 70 cents higher than it is today. Of course it came down later in the year, and this winter the prices have been much lower than most anticipated. When deciding about downside protection, dealers have to consider at what price level they are selling and how far does the market have to drop before it will significantly put their business in danger. The volume of business is also a significant factor in determining the risk of loss if the market does drop lower. I see the market prices low enough that if a forward book is handled correctly, there would not really be a good value in purchasing downside protection. There again, it is also a dealer's risk tolerance that helps to dictate the need for protection. Customers should also think twice about spending money for downside protection at current levels as the probability that prices will be much lower is very small. The current price of heating oil does not leave room for it to realistically drop $1 like it can when oil is trading over $2.
Powerhouse: There is no limit to the level to which oil prices could go. Poor demand or excess supply could easily move prices lower. (In Edmonton, Canada this winter, propane actually posted negative prices.) Dealers that do not hedge are at risk.
Sprague: There is always a need to match what you're buying with what you're selling. If retailers are selling downside protection to homeowners, they should be covering themselves accordingly. Anything short of that is introducing an unnecessary element of risk. That said, it would be inaccurate to say there isn't less "downside risk" than there was 18 months or even a year ago. Energy prices won't go to zero, so there is a downside limit. There is no upside limit.
Aletheia: In 1999, a year after I got my start in the wholesale business, the price of heating oil reached .2952. Although prices look as if they have bottomed out, history has shown us otherwise. If the cost of the hedge is covered by the fee, then it would be wise to purchase downside protection. The good news is that since the underlying price is so low, compared to what we have been accustomed to in recent memory, the cost to hedge is less expensive.
Angus: It depends. Who determined that they "appear" extremely low? They are much lower than they were in the last few years, but the same thing could have been said for $2.50 per gallon, $2.00 per gallon, and $1.50 per gallon. Zero is too low. Anything above that has risk. While assuming risk – in the form of not hedging, a/k/a speculating – is certainly one route that someone may choose to take, the real question needs to be asked as to whether you (the dealer) are using the markets to help manage your profit margins, or as a speculative tool.
Global: True, the price of oil has dropped significantly over the past 18 months, but it still has the potential to drop even further. You wouldn't want to lock in gallons at current levels without some sort of hedge in case values fall further. A drop of another 30 cents isn't impossible, and if you buy in with no hedge, that 30 cents will erode your margins.
Hedge Solutions: Yes, absolutely.
Oil & Energy: Weather was a huge problem in the winter of 2015-16. What sort of strategies provided the best protection?
Powerhouse: Holders of degree-day insurance were happy for the payout, especially during December. Buyers of contingent options that needed both higher price and warmer weather did not get cooperation from the market. There will inevitably be more interest in weather hedging this year because it would have worked last year. But keep in mind, there is a low correlation between weather and price.
Sprague: It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. In retrospect, the best strategy for the 2015-16 heating season would arguably have been to have had no commitments and kept good relations with all supply sources. Let's face it: Even retailers that covered their programs responsibly were probably left with more contract oil than they needed as a result of the warm weather. The reality is that there are no strategies that protect against every possible scenario, and certainly not any that wouldn't be cost-prohibitive. It's easier to hit a home run if you know what pitch is coming. But we never do. Prepare accordingly.
Aletheia: Weather hedging was helpful protection for the 2015-2016 season. The only problem was if you delayed putting on the hedge before the El Niño forecast, then you saw your option premium go up substantially.
Angus: Less so "strategy" than simply hedging the risk. There are several weather hedges/trades that could have provided protection against the extreme warm season. As with any type of hedge, the "benefit" is generally in providing certainty. The flip side is that there is a cost to place that hedge. Had it been warm, all of those who "hedged" against the warm winter would have "lost" on that hedge. However – and from the hedging perspective this is the key – hedging is not meant to yield speculative profits. It is meant to shift risk elsewhere. Put options on the weather (HDD's, specified by a local weather station) would have done the job this year. However, it should be noted that they would have done the job last (cold) year, as well! They wouldn't have paid out, but the dealer would not have needed the payout.
Global: Weather was a huge problem in last year's winter (2014-15) also. After a warm November and December, we got slammed with an extremely cold January and February, which wreaked havoc with logistics for dealers right up to and including wholesalers and majors. The point here is, in our business, weather is always going to be a problem. Best strategies for protecting margins are once again hedging correctly and not over-buying, tempting as that is. And purchasing supply from a reliable company with their own storage tanks such as Global Partners.
Hedge Solutions: It was a warm winter for sure. Basis (the delta between the rack and the Nymex price) narrowed considerably due to the availability of product and lack of demand. And of course the price came down considerably, so making sure you had the right blend of wet barrel commitments without overcommitting was critical to emerging from the heating season with your margins intact. We are always coaching clients about the importance of having the right "hedging equation" in place for any type of season, warm or cold, and the extremes of both.
Irving: In the heating oil business weather is always an issue. The past couple of years were colder than expected and this year much warmer than most dealers had planned for. One method a dealer can use to prepare for varying temperatures is to buy a percentage of what they are selling at fixed prices (maybe 80 percent to 90 percent) and then use options (out of the money for a lower cost) for the rest of their volume (10 percent to 20 percent). The cost of the options can be spread over all the fixed forward gallons sold. You will then be protected on what you sold for fixed forward gallons while at the same time not having extra gallons that you have to move if the heating degree days are lower than expected as they were this past winter. Dealers also need to be sure their customers understand that they are only able to get the number of gallons they fixed at the pre-buy price and that once those gallons are gone they are purchasing at the then-current market prices. Another tool that dealers can use to aid with the varying temperatures is weather derivatives that can pay you if the temperatures are either warmer or colder than what they are planning on.
Oil & Energy: Basis blowouts were a big story in recent winters. How significant is basis risk in 2016, and how can marketers prepare?
Sprague: Looking at the supply and market structure picture today, it would certainly appear as though the near-term heating oil basis risk is less than it has been in the past. However, we need to be cautious about using the term "basis" too generally. Most people equate "basis blowout" with a physical price premium in a given broad-market region, like New York Harbor. While that certainly can happen, it is important to remember that basis blowouts can occur on a locational level as well. For example, if NYH supply and cash prices are relatively stable but prices spike in a particular market due to supply or logistical issues specific to that market, is the retailer in the market any less impacted? Of course not. A price spike is a price spike regardless of where it occurs in the supply chain – terminals sometimes run out, barges can get delayed, harbors freeze. Any of these situations can result in a locational basis blowout that increases costs to the retailer. Overall, though, a certain level of basis protection in the form of guaranteed differentials is a strategy that on average carries more potential benefit than it does risk.
Aletheia: My experience over 17 years has shown me that basis can be a great talking point for suppliers and consultants, but in reality it can be a lot of unnecessary fear. Why would I want to lock in basis in such a well-supplied market? To take it a step further, when the heating oil spec moves to 15 PPM in every state, basis risk will be reduced even more. Energy companies have come to rely on fixed wet barrels without counting the cost and relying too heavily in some instances. The great fear of being stuck without oil is certainly of concern, but also remember that wholesale suppliers have a Force Majeure clause written in all supply contracts. This past year is a prime example that during the winter, basis at the racks was actually at a discount to the Nymex. This meant that the 10 to 13 cents over the Nymex you paid to lock in your basis was costing you substantial lost margin.
Angus: Basis risk is not a new phenomenon, nor was this year anything overly extreme. The basic risks that exist for a dealer (other than the operational efficiencies that are sometimes overlooked) are "flat price" (the price of oil in the marketplace), weather (how many gallons you will sell), and basis – the spread between the "index" (Merc, Harbor, Platt's, Argus) and the local purchase point (generally the rack). With different products (Heating oil, ULSD) in the marketplace, there are a few choices to deal with basis risk – including doing nothing about it. Our perspective is that since the risk is rarely unique to a particular dealer, you need to educate yourself about this specific risk, and determine whether you wish to look to manage it.
Global: A program of fixed price contracts and/or basis contracts lock-in deals along with a responsible hedge is the best way for a marketer to reduce risk.
Hedge Solutions: Basis risk cuts both ways. You can over-hedge basis and end up paying too much. Under-hedge the basis and even a short-lived "blow-out" can wreak havoc on your P&L. Forecasting is important, but it's important to adopt a strategy that covers you in both cases.
Irving: Basis blowouts (spot cash prices much higher than Nymex futures) have been kept to a minimum in recent years. With the mild temperatures this winter and lack of any hurricanes affecting supply this past hurricane season, basis has been able to remain fairly low. I wouldn't say basis is stable, as it can and has moved all over the place from day to day. However, it has not skyrocketed to the upside like it has at times in the past. Going forward ,for this year I do not see the basis risk as being significant. Of course we have had several years without major weather disruption to supplies, but that can change at any time. (We are due for a more active hurricane season one of these years.) When dealers buy fixed-price forward gallons they are at no risk for a basis blowout since their cost is already set. Some dealers also lock in diffs to the Nymex futures for forward months, which protect them if the basis does blow out. Dealers should realize, as with all kinds of insurance or risk management, that there is an imbedded cost. If the future basis is much lower when the gallons are purchased/priced, they may be paying more than a current basis level. However, if the basis does blow out, they can buy at much lower than the then-current price levels. In my experience, protecting basis by buying forward diffs does not pay off the majority of the time. Actually owning product in storage or buying the forward gallon from a supplier is the best protection.
Powerhouse: Basis reflects differences between New York Harbor and the local price, Most of the basis difference reflects transportation. In addition, basis can reflect the local supply situation. A "blowout" occurs when local supply is unusually affected adversely by weather-related demand or problems at local terminals.
It is because weather and terminal problems are unpredictable that one cannot evaluate how significant a risk to price exists from local conditions. There is a Nymex basis contract that can help the dealer hedge against a blowout in the New York Harbor spot market. One benefit of the paper hedge is that it can be liquidated at the buyer's discretion. Dealers who bought fixed barrels in anticipation of a blowout this year were stuck with physical barrels in a warm winter.
Oil & Energy: What are your expectations regarding customer demand for price protection programs in 2016?
Aletheia: Companies spend millions of dollars to predict customer behavior. The truth is we just don't know exactly what the flavor of choice will be this year. Many factors play a role in a consumer's decision to participate or not in a price protection program. The advice I give to my clients is to cover all the bases. This way you shield yourself from customer attrition. Offer prebuy fixed and budget caps, and all your bases are covered.
Angus: I expect that there will be a mass migration from fixed-price programs (knee-jerk reactions) towards price caps. Likely total programs will increase, as there may well be an increase in customer attrition, as dealers fight for new customers with (generally) their weapon of choice – a lowball offer. Although this past winter is one that screams of the benefits of weather derivatives and cap offers, the customers should – unless they fixed their prices – be happy. Signing them up for capping might keep them that way.
Global: As we've all seen, retail pricing programs have been diminishing since the last huge collapse in the 2008-09 season. Layering in your purchases for pricing programs is your best protection. Buy a piece, price it, and if you sell out of it, reload with another piece, adjusting the price if necessary. This approach will not eliminate all the risk, but it will diminish a good piece of it.
Hedge Solutions: It's difficult to say. One can make a strong argument for signing up at these levels. Particularly for a budget cap. You can lock your customers into a budget payment significantly lower than last year. Pure mathematics reveal the obvious: Prices have a lot more room to move higher vs. lower.
Irving: Expectations are for a fairly strong demand this year. Current price levels are low compared to recent years, and that means customers can lock in lower this year. If the prices remain low as we get into the main buying season for next winter, the demand should be there. Commercial customers are already locking in budgets. They can't really lose, because they are guaranteed to beat their budgets no matter where prices are in the future. There are always those who won't want to lock in because they feel they got burned again this past winter since street prices were lower than what they may have locked in. Most customers did not use all of their prepaid gallons because of the extremely warm weather this year. Those customers could very well be encouraged to move the money into gallons for next season at a lower cost. I would think that the cap programs would not look quite as attractive this year, but those that made out well with them in the past two seasons could very well continue the strategy even with the low prices that are likely to be offered this year.
Powerhouse: Low prices are an opportunity for marketers. Some marketers are offering two-year programs. We see the biggest resistance to the programs coming from retailers refusing to offer them. This is a mistake. There is a great story to tell this year: "Prices are the lowest in many years, and as your supplier, I am here to help you keep your fuel bill low into next winter (or beyond)."
Sprague: There is no reason to expect that retailers that have traditionally offered price protection programs won't continue to do so. As with last year at this time, retailers are looking at an opportunity to offer programs for less than they did the year before. That offers consumers a great opportunity to secure low-cost energy for next season. Given the continual threat of natural gas conversions, retailers should be prepared to extend that price opportunity to their customers.
Oil & Energy: Does this pricing environment create opportunities for petroleum marketers? How can marketers capitalize on today's low prices?
Angus: The "opportunities" that low prices bring, can be a two-edged sword. On one hand, the cost of doing business – filling your truck, financing receivables, staying in compliance with supplier and bank credit lines, etc. – is much easier with oil at $1.25 than it is at $3.25. The flip side is that the marketplace has an ability to weed out the "weaker sisters" when prices are higher. Now (this is an exaggeration), anyone with an oil truck and a few thousand dollars, can start to poach your customers.
The industry's main challenges are not price-related, but industry-related. As long as dealers view price as the only differentiator, the "churn" will continue, margins will drop, and the ability to service customers will wane. Looking at the (lack of) efficiencies in your operations, and into diversifying from simply believing that if you have a truck and a local address you will succeed, is what is needed to "capitalize"
Global: Well, it certainly does help marketers compete with other energy sources, especially natural gas. Lately, heating oil has been getting a bad rap due to the higher costs over natural gas. The current lower heating oil prices help level the playing field with natty gas and helps dealers retain more of their customer base as well as increase margins.
Hedge Solutions: I am a big proponent of price protection, specifically a cap and more specifically a budget cap. Budget accounts use more oil, stay longer (so they are more loyal), the margins are better, and they typically don't shop the price. They're great for cash-flow and also add the most value to your customer list. Adding another layer to certainty is price protection. If you think about the advantages, they're significant; you won't be forced to raise their budget payment if prices spike, and if prices go down, they experience the windfall. I believe this value proposition keeps them firmly on board with the oil company vs. shopping around for a better deal. A recent industry survey reveals that one of the major factors that makes the consumer restless is price volatility. The budget cap provides level payments and avoids any negative surprises.
Irving: Lower oil prices are good for petroleum marketers, as they allow for better competition against other forms of energy, such as the recent struggles against natural gas conversions in many areas. The low prices are good for the largest marketers right on down to the smallest of dealers. When product prices are low, dealers tend to make better margins, while at the same time customers are still happy. It is a win-win for the seller and the buyer. However, wholesale margins do not have an increase like retail margins do, because of the lower oil prices. Lower prices can create opportunities for growth. The lower prices usually mean a lower credit limit is required to run a business, lower inventory costs, and lower total receivables. The result leaves more cash available for investment in equipment or expansion of the business. Diversification of offers is a good idea to keep a business running, because one item may do well while another may not. We have seen in recent years that many oil dealers have added propane to their oil business or even wood pellet stoves in some areas. Oil, of course, is a good product today because of the lower cost, but marketers have to be prepared for what may happen in the future. The marketers that have storage can take advantage of today's low prices and contango market (futures prices higher in outer months than the prompt screen) to make additional margin. The oil can be bought at today's low cost, sold to customers at future prices and then delivered in the future. The gain is locked in. The current low prices make marketing new oil heating equipment to customers easier. Advertising can point out how efficient, cost friendly, and environmentally friendly new lower sulfur heating oils can be.
Powerhouse: Yes! Low prices should be attractive to customers. It is up to the dealer to make the customer aware of the opportunity to purchase at historically low levels.
Sprague: This pricing environment certainly does create opportunities for marketers. What retailer wouldn't enjoy the opportunity to offer their customers lower energy prices than they did the year before if they can maintain their margin objectives? The current price environment offers that opportunity. Low and stable energy prices can and should be leveraged to protect or even grow market share. A customer lost to natural gas doesn't ever come back. Today's retailer has access to a wide variety of supply and price certainty programs that can be extended to their customer base. With programs like Sprague's Small Volume HeatCurve, a retailer can offer even a single homeowner price protection if that's what the customer really wants. Why not take advantage of that rather than risk losing the customer to natural gas or a competitor?
Aletheia: In this current market petroleum marketers can take advantage of storage. The current carry in the market allows companies to put cheaper oil into storage and sell into the screen at a much higher level, thus locking in a profit.
Sprague Disclaimer: These responses are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as advice on any transaction nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Sprague makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents of such information, including, without limitation, its accuracy and completeness, and Sprague shall not be responsible for the consequence of reliance upon any opinions, statements, projections and analyses presented herein or for any omission or error in fact.
Hedge Solutions Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is general market commentary provided solely for educational and informational purposes. The information was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy. No statement within the update should be construed as a recommendation, solicitation or offer to buy or sell any futures or options on futures or to otherwise provide investment advice. Any use of the information provided in this update is at your own risk.
The Participants
Aletheia Consulting Group
Mark Skaparas
Phone: 508-721-7604
Fax: 508-721-7605
Angus Energy
Philip Baratz
Phone: 954-564-7500
Toll free: 800-440-0472
Fax: 954-564-7045
Bill Braunig
Direct: 781-398-4318
Mobile: 508-769-6049
Twitter: @BillBraunig
Global Partners LP
800 South St., Waltham, MA 02454
Hedge Solutions
www.hedgesolutions.com Adam Larkin
Phone: 800-709-2949
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cell phone: 603-785-2321
Fax: 1-603-644-7883
NavDesk Team
Phone: 1-877-942-3600
Email: email@example.com Fax: (603) 559-8793
Alan Levine, Chairman
Elaine Levin, President
David Thompson, CMT Executive Vice President
Phone: 203-333-5380
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.powerhouseTL.com
David P. Daoust
Sprague Operating Resources LLC
185 International Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Toll free: 888-440-4944
Direct: 603-766-7437
Email: email@example.com
Yahoo IM: dpdaoust


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The information below is provided by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Since we are great walkers and love the opportunity to get around on 2 feet we include here a selection of short walks which will stretch out your legs if you are in the area. Take a look at our New Zealand self drive tour "Essential Middle Earth" to find out how you can include these walks on a self drive tour of New Zealand.
Please check with the Department of Conservation information centre for weather conditions, track suitability and conditions first.
Whakapapa Nature Walk Time: 15 min loop track
Beginning 250 m above Whakapapa Visitor Centre, this sealed loop track provides wheelchair access for a glimpse of the unique flora of Tongariro National Park. A series of on-site information panels explain the various zones of vegetation in the park.
Mounds Walk Time: 20 min one way
Begins 5 km below Whakapapa Visitor Centre on SH 48. Debris avalanches during Ruapehu's periods of volcanic activity are believed to have formed these mounds thousands of years ago. Follow this interpretive walk and learn more about the mounds. The top of the track offers good views of the park's volcanoes and surrounding area.
Tawhai Falls Time: 20 min one way
Begins 4 km below Whakapapa Visitor Centre on SH 48. The falls, which tumble over the edge of an ancient lava flow, are reached after a short stroll through mountain toatoa and beech forest.
Ridge Track Time: 30 – 40 min return
Begins 150 metres above Whakapapa Visitor Centre. After a short climb through low beech forest, the track emerges into alpine shrublands with panoramic views of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and the surrounding landscape. Return via same track.
Taranaki Falls Time: 2 hr loop track
Begins 100 metres below Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place.Tumbling 20 metres over the edge of a large lava flow, which erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago, Taranaki Falls plunge into a boulder-ringed pool. From below the falls there are spectacular views into the water-worn gorges of the Wairere Stream.
Whakapapanui Walk Time: 2 hr
Begins 250 metres above Whakapapa Visitor Centre.Take care not to confuse the Whakapapanui and Whakapapaiti track signs. About 10-15 minutes along the track, the Whakapapanui walk branches to the right and heads down stream. Water-logged clearings are passed as the track follows the Whakapapanui Stream. Here, beech forest affected by die-back and storm damage is slowly regenerating. 6 km return via same track or Bruce Road.
Silica Rapids Time: 2.5 hr
Begins 250 metres above Whakapapa Visitor Centre. Through mountain beech forest, the track travels alongside a cascading stream, arriving at the creamy-white terraces of Silica Rapids. Subalpine plants, amid a mixture of swamp and tussock country, feature around the track as it returns to the Bruce Road 2.5 km above the starting point. This highly varied walk reveals a range of vegetation types and also has spectacular views of Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe on a clear day. 7 km return via Bruce Road.
Tama Lakes Time: 5 – 6 hr
Begin 100 metres below Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place – an extension of the Taranaki Falls track. After leaving the Taranaki Falls Walk, the track crosses undulating tussock country and alpine herbfields. Further on, the track branches to the left to Tama Lakes, while the main track continues on to Waihohonu Hut. There is an overview of the lower lake (1200 metres), and then the track climbs steeply to the upper lake (1314 metres). Tama Lakes occupy several old explosion craters on the Tama Saddle between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. There are no formed tracks and the descent to both lakes is via steep gullies. Tama Saddle acts as a funnel for prevailing westerly winds. Windproof clothing is recommended in this area. 17 km, return via same track.
Ohinetonga Track Time: 2 – 3 hr loop track
35 km from Whakapapa village. Turn right onto SH 4 at National Park. Turn right at Owhango. The track winds through forest containing a variety of attractive scenery, the Ohinetonga Lagoon and some excellent examples of native trees. There are picnic areas and good places to swim along the river.
Taurewa Track Time: 2 – 3 hr loop track
17 km from Whakapapa village. Take SH 47 north and turn left at John McDonald Road. Turn right at the intersection with Pukehinau Road, look for the Taurewa Track sign. The track starts on the edge of Tongariro Forest and follows old milling trails through the bush. The area is home to a wide variety of bird life.
Okupata Caves (25 km from Whakapapa village.)
Turn off SH 47 onto John McDonald Road. Turn left at the intersection with Pukehinau Road, continue to caves. A natural and unmarked network of underground passages in Tongariro Forest. Only enter the caves with people who know them well as it is easy to get lost. Heavy rainfall may result in rising water levels in the caves, which may cause them to flood.
Tupapakurua Falls Track Time: 4 – 5 hr return to Tupapakurua Falls Lookout
Tupapakurua Falls plummet to the valley floor in splendid isolation, amidst a forest of regenerating podocarps. From the start of Fishers Road walk approximately 30 minutes to the entrance to Tupapakurua Falls track (on the left hand side of Fishers Road). This old Forest Service track has been recently upgraded by the local community in partnership with DOC. It begins with an easy 20 minute walk to the Taranaki Lookout with a view towards Mt Taranaki. From this point the track becomes a back country adventure track and is suitable for experienced trampers only. The track follows a ridge and then descends steeply down to a stream. There is a wonderful diversity of plant and tree species with good stands of tawa, mature rimu, miro and totara. Ascending from the stream, the track winds its way around bluffs with beautiful forest views and good lookout points to the Falls. Return via the same track.
Remember to take enough water, waterproofs, sunhat and sun factor. There's nothing worse than having your hike hurried or stressed because of lack of preparation.


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Artist's description:
"Sweet and Sour" is an effort at masculine still life subject subject matter. This painting would be appropriate for a den or man cave. Still life can take on a multitude of genres, from Impressionistic to Tonalistic, from photo-realistic to tromp L'oeil. My works seems to fall into a class between realism and tromp L'oeil. As a youngster in my teens, my idol was the tromp L'oeil Master of the time, Michael William Harnett. A close second to Harnett was John Peto, one of Harnett's contemporaries. .Harnett was known for his attempts to "fool the eye" with his work while Peto's work was more in the realm of a moderate to loose realism. They each had merits, one over the other. Hopefully both of these artists show up in areas of my artwork. You can be the judge.
Materials used:
Oil with gloss finish
Sweet and Sour (2016)
Oil painting by Jim Gola
- Oil painting on Canvas
- One of a kind artwork
- Size: 20.5 x 17.5 x 1.5 in (framed) / 14 x 11 x 0.5 in (unframed) / 14 x 11 in (actual image size)
- Framed and ready to hang
- Signed on the front
- Style: Photorealistic
- Subject: Still life
This artwork is sold by Jim Gola from United States


text: At our first meeting of the month we made ingenious cards each using three circles, folded, stuck together and fanned out to make a very attractive card. There were fewer of us at the next session but a lovely time was had by all, doing our own thing (with cards, of course )! We were given a super surprise at this meeting as one of our members had made a 'cake' for us to celebrate her birthday – and what a 'cake' it was! It was circular, divided up into card segment-shaped gift boxes, with contents. Thank you Jill. Vivian Hammond & Carolyn Youdan.


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Tel: (506) 8849 - 8569
|Golf in Costa Rica Travel Guide
Travel Guide - Costa Rica
Golf in Costa Rica
Courses surrounded by lush rainforests, a passing macaw or monkeys watching you swing away is what makes golf in Costa Rica special. Explore the spectacular mountain views of the course in the San Jose area or enjoy the ocean views of Guanacaste and mid Pacific courses.
These are the courses that you can enjoy in Costa Rica. We have separated them into three distinct areas:
Guanacaste Area
Reserva Conchal
This Robert Trent Jones course is located in Brasilito/Playa Conchal area. The Reserva Conchal golf course was the first Audubon-certified course in Costa Rica and it's layout will test your golf skills.
Hacienda Pinilla
Inside the Hacienda Pinilla resort near the town of Tamarindo, this course has beautiful ocean views and was designed to conform to the slopes and contours of the natural landscape of Hacienda Pinilla. This 7,300-yard, par 72 masterpiece golf course is the creation of Mike Young, who is responsible for some of the finest courses in the southern United States.
Four Seasons
This 6,788 yard Arnold Palmer championship course sits in the Papagayo Peninsula just minutes from Liberia International Airport. More than half of the holes offer spectacular views of the ocean.
Mid Pacific Area
Marriott Los Suenos
Located inside the Marriott resort in Herradura/Jaco area, this Ted Robinson course was landscaped to include exotic native plants, banana trees and orchids, more than 150 species of birds as well as monkeys and other wildlife that have been identified on the grounds. This challenging course blends into the mesmerizing scenery.
Los Delfines
Located in Tambor at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, this 6,264 yard course consists of nine intriguing holes that have an unbelievable setting, Costa Rica's tropical scenery.
San Jose Area
Valle del Sol
Located in the Santa Ana area, this 7,011 yard championship course offers ample and waved fairways surrounded by majestic trees and 15 large lakes which attract diversified and lively wild life, where more than 20 different bird species can be observed. Each hole offers an average of 4 to 5 tees for different levels of the game, which makes the course a great challenge for professionals, without leaving pleasure and friendliness behind for those with less experience.
Located in Cuidad Cariari community between the airport and San Jose, this 6.590 yard George Fazio championship course hosts many international tournaments and is a local favorite due it's challenging tight fairways, wooded rough and guarded greens, as well as beautiful mountain views.
Los Reyes
Located in La Guacima, this 5,834 yard Robertson Ward course has well maintained and attractive fairways, as well as well tended greens.
Located in the east side of San Jose, this 2,243 yard Douglas Beach par 3 course offers city views and a course that will test your mid to short game.
Costa Rica Country Club
Located in the Escazu area, this 6,031 yard Charles Donovan course offers tight fairways with rolling hills and excellent mountain views. Opened in 1940, this country club course is full of tradition.


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... to promote the meme of Dr. Escalate Embuggerance and Dr. Holistic Feisty.
That link's from Language Log, and I'm quoting the commenter called Mertseger. How this accident happened is explained here.
I don't know why, but I feel that Holistic is a female name, like "Holly", and Escalate is probably, but not necessarily, male. It could be one of those crossover names, like "Evelyn".
Monday, 23 November 2009
I, too, shall now make every effort ...
... to promote the meme of Dr. Escalate Embuggerance and Dr. Holistic Feisty.
Posted by msHedgehog at 21:37
Labels: observations
1 comment:
- Tangocommuter said...
Please do! Maybe Google's metadata software has got mixed up with their word verification software. I'm always intrigued by the verbal curios it comes up with, and wonder about a novel that begins: 'Numat wored in my amette, quilo grasped between indumens and feeling ingly, I nooly squiess a mentsbe to Dencona...' 'Quilo' is wonderful: a quill/biro.
- 23 November 2009 at 22:46


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The Beauty Of Motherhood
December 17, 2015
I don't think I've ever looked at my body the way I did six months after I had my first-born, Sebastian.
And as time has passed, I am still fascinated by what my body has been able to do.
Scarred For Life
Even with a c-section, I felt beautiful. I know some women don't feel that way after being cut open and left with a scar. I actually forgot about the my incision once I had my son in my arms. Although I'd apply scar cream every day to help reduce its appearance, it never fully went away. And I'm okay with that.
With the scar from my first birth experience, I learned to appreciate my body for what it's meant to do. I've even wore a bikini here and there since moving to Florida. Not that I didn't wear bikinis prior to becoming a mom, but for the first time in my life, I wasn't self-conscious of how I looked in it.
I felt beautiful regardless of the extra pounds I was carrying around. That boost of confidence came from watching my family and playing with them.
Having gone through a c-section — one of the scariest procedures in my life — I felt empowered with my VBAC. My c-section section had been the first time I had ever gone under the knife, and the VBAC was, at least in my mind, the only way I could take back control of my body.
The Bond
I have special bonds with my sons based on their birth experience. With Sebastian, I feared losing him during the surgery. As for Christian, I thought about what would happen to my family if I didn't survive the procedure.
But I overcame those fears with the gift of life. Each birth has been a reminder of how strong I am.
Overcoming these fears has only brought us closer. With each experience, a wiser version of myself makes her way into the world. And I'm happy to introduce her to everyone I know.
How has your birthing experience impacted your life?
Fatima Torres
Former B2B editor and marketing manager turned Family & Lifestyle blogger. Fatima is passionate about life and being social. When she isn't running around with her husband, three kids, and two pups, Fatima helps other bloggers and local businesses with their online marketing strategy. If you have any questions or would like to connect, feel free to reach out via email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Little, Julie-Anne, Woodhouse, J Margaret, Lauritzen, Jan S and Saunders, Kathryn (2009) Vernier acuity in Down syndrome. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 50 (2). pp. 567-72. [Journal article]
Full text not available from this repository.
URL: http://www.iovs.org/
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.08-2250
PURPOSE: Down syndrome (DS) is associated with reduced visual performance. Although poor optical quality has been implicated, no previous data are available regarding the contribution of cortical visual processes. The present study investigated Vernier performance for the first time in children with DS to evaluate the integrity of higher visual processing in this condition. METHODS: Participants were 29 children aged 9 to 16 years who had DS and 68 age-matched developmentally normal children acting as controls. All wore best refractive correction, and none had clinically significant ocular abnormalities. An out-of-phase test-pedestal Vernier stimulus was used to facilitate short test distances and optimize compliance with testing. RESULTS: Testing was successfully completed by 86% (n=25) of the DS group and 96% (n=65) of the control group. Vernier thresholds were invariant with age in both groups. Mean Vernier acuities were 39.8 arc seconds (SD+/-13.3) and 14.6 arc seconds (SD+/-4.7) in DS and control groups, respectively. When compared with control data, mean Vernier acuity was reduced by a factor of 2.7 in DS. CONCLUSIONS: Vernier thresholds were successfully measured in children with DS and were found to be reduced, indicating that cortical visual function is compromised. Impairment in cortical function in DS may be implicit, relating to histologic reports of differences in the DS brain, or they may result from abnormal experience during visual development. The magnitude of the cortical deficit demonstrated in DS in the present study is significant and should be considered along with previously reported poor optical quality.
|Item Type:
|Journal article
|Faculties and Schools:
|Faculty of Life and Health Sciences
Faculty of Life and Health Sciences > School of Biomedical Sciences
|Research Institutes and Groups:
|Biomedical Sciences Research Institute
Biomedical Sciences Research Institute > Optometry and Vision Science
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Professor Kathryn Saunders
|Deposited On:
|25 Nov 2009 16:48
|Last Modified:
|14 Mar 2013 11:46
Repository Staff Only: item control page


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Volunteers are a critical part of our organization. We are always looking for help setting up events, activities and behind the scenes assembling of materials and packaging, even sewing and stuffing! Some of our volunteers help once a year and some help all year long, any time we need them.
Companies LOVE us! We have held hundreds of mass volunteer sessions at the largest of companies. Perfect way to bond with your coworkers in doing good.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at email@example.com and share what area you would like to volunteer, along with a brief description of why you would like to be involved.
Intern with us in an area that you are studying in school or have expertise in! These can include (but are not limited to): writing blogs, event planning, photography, public relations, marketing.
Become a Sponsor
A $25 donation covers the cost of materials, cleaning and shipping for one MSTERIO gift. After making your donation, we will send you a MSTERIO number so you can track and see where your sponsored gift travels. Read More.


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Paisley Bandannas
Showing all 4 results
Open Center
This unique paisley is great for imprinting.
- 22×22
- Rolled-Hem edges
Split Paisleys
Get two great colors in 1 traditional paisley bandanna. Perfect those who just can't decide.
- 22″ x 22″
- Trademark paisley design
- Rolled-Hem edges
- 50/50 poly-cotton
We took the classic paisley bandanna and stonewashed it. This antique faded look is a hit and the ultra-soft hand is an additional bonus.
- 22″ x 22″
- Soft hand
- Fashion oriented
- 100% Cotton
- Made in India
Traditional Paisleys
The paisley fashion trend has been around for well over a century. When you consider the life-span of most trends, the longevity of the paisley is truly significant.
- 22″ x 22″
- Trademark paisley design
- Rolled-hem edges
- True two-sided print
- 100% Cotton


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EventsRheumatology Clinic
Rheumatology Clinic
The Community First Medical Center Rheumatology Clinic provides specialty diagnosis, treatment and management of rheumatic diseases that are impairing a patient's quality of life. Board certified rheumatologists provide expert care that aims to reduce patient discomfort and restore as much mobility as possible.
All patients with a rheumatic condition receive long-term, coordinated care that is tailored to their specific needs, physical ability and medication regimen. Patients being treated receive care from a team of specialized medical professionals.
In addition to treating rheumatic diseases, our clinicians help patients afflicted with musculoskeletal disorders including bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia and tendinitis.
Inflammation in any organ or part of the body can cause immense discomfort and pain. The medical team at the Rheumatology Clinic works to improve the lives of patients suffering from these medical conditions.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 773-527-5071.
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Inflammatory muscle disease
- Lupus
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis


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Body talks: What your body language says about you
Regardless of experience or confidence, a job interview can be a nerve wracking experience for any jobseeker – whether it's the sleepless nights before going for that all important role or clammy palms once you're in the hot seat (yes we've all enjoyed a wet handshake…).
Whilst naturally all eyes are on the candidate during a job interview, your body language during an interview can play an important role in putting the candidate at ease. After all, in order to get the best out of a candidate in an interview, you want to see the true person, not a bag of nerves. You have questions that need answering and you need to ensure the candidate is in the best position to answer them – not so nervous their speech turns to waffle!
Last month, internationally renowned body language expert India Ford helped to prepare the star of our #MillionPoundJamie campaign for his interviews, offering some great tips and advice (you can read it here). But we thought it would only be fair for recruiters to gain the expert body language advice and tips too. Since 55% of our communication is delivered through body language, India has shared her top five ways in which a recruiter can harness the power of their body language to help smooth the interview process and get the best out of each and every candidate.
Top tip 1: The smile
Who isn't put more at ease instantly when greeted with a smile? It might sound obvious, but start the interview on the right foot by offering a smile as you meet your potential employee. A smile is a powerful non-verbal signal that says 'welcome,' helping to settle nerves and begin the rapport-building process. This doesn't have to mean a cheesy all-teeth-on-show grin, but a gentle, natural smile will help to break the ice and immediately put the candidate at ease as you approach and introduce yourself.
Top tip 2: Open up by breaking down physical barriers
Be mindful of your approach as you are walking towards the candidate. It's important to project open and approachable body language, so ensure you are not unconsciously creating barriers in front of your body by folding your arms or placing papers or files in front of you. As you meet the candidate, it's best if the front of your body is clear of any 'clutter' and your arms, files or any other objects are placed at the side of your body.
Once you start sending an 'open' message to potential employees, they will naturally begin to feel calmer and in turn, open up to you and be more receptive.
Top tip 3: Personal disclosure
Putting someone under unnecessary pressure right at the beginning of the interview process will do you no favours. It's always good to begin by asking some fairly light and brief questions to help put them at ease – these could be as simple as 'Would you like a drink?' 'Have you come far?' 'How did you hear about this vacancy?' All too often these simple steps are missed as it can feel unnecessarily mundane, but they are crucial to help you build rapport and settle nerves.
Top tip 4: The default expression
When listening to the candidate's responses, it's good for the interviewer to be conscious of how they 'hold' their face while they listen. When listening intently, most people start to frown and unconsciously display a very stern and negative facial expression. This can create an uneasy environment and be very off putting to the candidate as it can give the impression the interviewer is not happy with what they're hearing. Perhaps ask a friend or a trusted colleague if your facial expression has a tendency to fall into that angry, stern looking 'resting face'.
Top tip 5: Eye contact
Making effective eye contact while the candidate is talking is crucial for projecting respect. So as you ask the questions, listen with respect by making effective eye contact and not multitasking by shuffling papers and avoiding the gaze of your applicant. You don't want to look as if you're just going through the motions and are disinterested – the candidate has spent time, money and resources to sit in front of you – so try to offer them the attention they deserve, especially in those all-important first few minutes where you should be building a rapport.
It can help if your full attention is projected towards the candidate when they are speaking. Engaging your eyes and your ears will not only say a lot about you but will also speak volumes about the culture of your company.
Developing good non-verbal behaviours will really help to break down the barriers and create an environment of trust and ease – ultimately creating a win-win situation by improving your chances of selecting the very best candidate.
India Ford is an internationally renowned body language expert. For more information visit
For more advice and inspiration to prepare you for hiring the best talent during the job interview process visit www.totaljobs.com and read our blog post on The Power of Preparation.