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No fooling--Nickelodeon's 19th Annual Kids' Choice Awards show is coming up on April 1. The annual awards show, where kids vote on their favorite movies, TV shows, singers, video games, and more, will be broadcast live on the East Coast and will be tape-delayed on the West Coast. Taking place at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, the awards will be hosted by King Kong star Jack Black.
The show is the Academy Awards of the kid and young teen world, and it draws a multitude of celebrities to the ceremony each year. This year features reality juggernaut American Idol going up against perennial kids' fave That's So Raven for favorite TV show, and hammy funnyman Ashton Kutcher facing off against Romeo!'s Romeo for favorite actor. Somewhere along the way, one of the lucky winners will get more than an award--they'll get a bucketful of Nickelodeon green slime dumped on their head.
Host Black promises to keep things crazy and wacky, saying, "I have a lot of secret plans for when I host the awards, but I can tell you I'm going to bring the super-duper, freaky-deaky, ultra-clowny super dance! But that's all I'll say."
Nickelodeon's 19th Annual Kids' Choice Awards airs Saturday, April 1, at 8 p.m. To vote, go to Nickelodeon's Website.
This year's TV-related nominees are:
Favorite Television Show
American Idol
Drake & Josh
Fear Factor
That's So Raven
Favorite Television Cartoon
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
The Fairly OddParents
The Simpsons
SpongeBob SquarePants
Favorite Television Actor
Drake Bell (Drake & Josh)
Ashton Kutcher (That '70s Show, Punk'd)
Bernie Mac (The Bernie Mac Show)
Lil' Romeo (Romeo!)
Favorite Television Actress
Eve (Eve)
Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer)
Jamie Lynn Spears (Zoey 101)
Raven Symone(That's So Raven)
To vote and to see a full list of nominees check out Nickelodeon's Website.


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Ages ago, at my first-year law school orientation, my classmates were told "If you only know the law, then you do not know the law at all." I took the words to heart as I made my way through law school, through law practice and, now, into law teaching. The Cosmopolitan Lawyer lists readings, many non-law, which are influencing my thinking about law. It is my effort to be, and to encourage others to be, more cosmopolitan--and, thus, less parochial--in thinking about law.
October 28, 2009
Christakis, Nicholas & James H, Fowler, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives (NewYork & London: Little, Brown, 2009) ("We see our society as a meritocracy that rewards sound choices and creates opportunities for the well prepared. The radical individualist perspective is that we are masters of our destiny, and that by making changes in everything from what we eat to how we brush our teeth, we can improve our survival chances, our mental stability, or our reproductive prospects." "But the picture is much more complicated. Our unavoidable embeddedness in social networks means that events occurring in other people—whether we know them or not—can ripple through the network and affect us. A key factor in determining our health is the health of others. We are affected not only by the health and behavior of our partners and friends but also by the health and behavior of hundreds or thousands of people in our extended social network." Id. at 129-130. "Embedded in social networks and influenced by others to whom we are tied, we necessarily lose some of our individuality. Focusing on network connections lessens the importance of individuals in understanding the behavior of groups. In addition, networks influence many behaviors and outcomes that have moral overtones. If showing kindness and using drugs are contagious, does this mean that we should reshape our own social networks in favor of the benevolent and the abstemious? If we unconsciously copy the good deeds of others to whom we are connected. do we deserve credit for those deeds? And if we adopt the bad habits or evil thoughts of others to whom we are closely or even loosely tied, do we deserve blame? Do they? If social networks place constraints on the information and opinions we have, how free are we to make choices?" Id. at 305. This is a very interesting book, Yet, somehow, for some reason, I shall always admire that rare individual who tries to be his (or her) own person; who can live with people but who can, just as well, live without them. That is, I shall always admire out-of-network individuals. Freedom, autonomy, and individuality (as well as the idea of being responsible for who you are, what you think, and what you do) may be illusion (or delusions) only, but they are important and useful illusions (delusions). Without them, we are just gloried laboratory rodents.).
Posted by Leonard Long at Wednesday, October 28, 2009

subset: commoncrawl


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Seventeen-year-old Dakota Harrison must wait 114 days to escape her life in Boresville. But when a surprising mental breakdown draws too much attention from a secret government group call the Order, Dakota discovers that her so-called boring life isn't so boring after all.
Regular price: $19.95
Ien Montgomery wants nothing more than to find love and compose music - something impossible under the weight of his family's expectations. When he meets a beautiful violin prodigy, Kiera McDougal, he is certain he has found his one true love. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents' control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart.
Regular price: $19.95


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Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale both played key roles in nursing at the Crimean War, yet Nightingale is the one remembered as the 'Lady with the Lamp' and Seacole is very hardly known. I believe that Seacole was the real 'Angel of the Crimea' as she had the personality most like an angel, whereas Nightingale was calculating and logical and didn't directly care for the troops.
Mary Seacole was the real angel as she didn't let anything stop her from caring for the troops. She was a Jamaican woman, which she beliecved was the cause of her help being refused at Scutari by Nightingale. Seacole, despite this setback, traveled to the Crimea to set up her own business: the British Hotel. This hotel not only funded essential medical equipment, but provided a place of comfort for the soldiers – her nickname, Mother Seacole, suggests that she had a caring aura…much like an angel. Extracts from her book 'Wonderful adventures of Mrs. Seacole in many lands' support this by revealing that she was incredibly hardworking; she woke up early in the morning to make sure that the breakfast was ready for the officers and tea was available for the troops. Seacole also had exceptional knowledge of herbal remedies (taught to her by her mother) and had much experience at treating Cholera – so not only did Seacole try hard, she clearly knew what she was doing. This is further supported by the fact that over 80,000 people attended a charity gala in her honour, and after Seacole returned to England – bankrupt – Queen Victoria supported a committee set up to help her in 1867. Moreover, Seacole was sometimes seen on the battlefield during battle; such a selfless act done to save the lives of the troops. Hence, Seacole was an angel as she did whatever she could to preserve the lives of as many troops as possible, despite the many problems she faced.
On the other hand, Nightingale doesn't deserve to be called an angel as her personality was quite cold; she was the administrator of Scutari, despite the popular idea that she was the one giving direct care to their patients; hence her nickname 'The Lady with the Lamp'. You could argue that it was easy for her to get this reputation, and her legacy has been exaggerated due to her social background. She was white and upper-class and her father simply gave her the money she needed; she also received funding from back home in excess of £30,000 during the war and £45,000 afterwards. Seacole never got this financial aid during the war. Despite all of this money, Scutari was still in short supply and death rates didn't drop. In February 1855 52% of patients died at this 'death camp.' If Nightingale was an angel, she would've used her funds more for the treatment of these troops and the cleanliness of the hospital, rather than focusing on Scutari's statistics and making sure her reputation stayed pristine. Nightingale was also never seen going to extra measures to save the troops, like Seacole did; Nightingale never went on the battlefield to treat wounded soldiers and she was so stubborn that she rejected help from good-willed nurses who could've helped save more lives, therefore she cannot be considered an angel.
However, Nightingale's hard work shouldn't be undermined and she was an angel in some regards. Nightingale had good intentions and it's indisputable that she wanted to save lives – she was a volunteer so she didn't have to undertake this role. It also wasn't expected of her go to war, as social conventions at the time didn't promote middle-class women entering these 'unattractive,unladylike' occupations. The rise of deaths can't solely be blamed on her: statistics show that deaths dramatically decreased after the Sanitary Commission intervened in March 1855. This late intervention was due to administrative incompetence, of which Nightingale had no control over. The death toll was also so high as there was still no understanding of germ theory, so eventhough Nightingale tried her best it's quite impossible to cure diseases when nobody has any understanding of the causes. Miasma (the belief that disease was spread by bad smells) was still a deeply rooted belief at the time, so it was unlikely that any new proposals would've been accepted. For example, the use of Anesthesia was very limited because it was new and many nurses didn't want to risk it. Nightingale's work didn't stop at Scutari: she did spend the £45,000 wisely in setting up the Nightingale Training School in London in 1860 – the first secular nursing school in the world! She also helped establish the Royal Commission in India, completed in 1863. Being a tough administrator was essential and her use of statistics showed that mortality rate did in-fact drop. So Nightingale was concerned about the death of the troops and was determined to improve conditions; however, I don't think that she's an angel as I think she saw troops as numbers on a chart, and was more interested in ways of reducing in these numbers than saving lives.
Mary Seacole may not have been an angel as it is argued that she only set up the British Hospital with the intentions of taking advantage of the troops; she saw a business opportunity in selling the troops the luxuries they missed back home, and cruelly took it. Then her business failed and she became bankrupt, suggesting that she was clueless and incapable of managing finance. She also had no official medical training and the only experience she had was in her herbal remedies; this could've endangered the troops she cared for as at times she may not have known completely what she was doing, due to lack of medical knowledge and concrete evidence on the safety of her methods. But I think that Seacole was an angel as she regarded each troop as an individual and showed compassion towards them, and she had good intentions at heart…much like an angel.
In conclusion, I believe that Mary Seacole was the true angel of the Crimea as, although Florence Nightingale achieved more on paper, Seacole was warm-hearted and showed more care towards the troops. She faced many barriers – such as lack of funding and social prejudices – but overcame them due to her desire to care for the troops. She worked extremely hard, risked her life by treating soldiers on the battlefield, and her nickname 'Mother Seacole' alone likens her to a caring angel. Her care was even recognised by Queen Victoria! Nightingale was not an angel; she was an effective administrator, creating the Nightingale Training School (the first in the world!) and the Royal Commission in India, and her hard work should be credited. But I think that her legacy has only been so strong, and her importance exaggerated, due to her social background. Presumably, she seemed more concerned in collecting statistics for the hospital and, unlike popular opinion, she didn't have much face-to-face time with the troops. I am under the impression that she saw the dying troops to be numbers on a chart; not a father, a brother or a son who has a family back home who cares for them. This lack of empathy means that I cannot see Nightingale as an angel, though I do appreciate all she has achieved. Therefore, I believe that Mary Seacole was the true 'Angel of the Crimea.'


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#Mental Health Crisis--want help folks? GO PUBLIC---
Julie Ali ·
University of Alberta
If you are lucky you have a psychiatrist with hospital privileges who might be able to get you in.
If you are unlucky you just don't have much luck.
It's a matter of who has some way in and most of the folks don't know how to get help.
I can tell you how to get help.
Write publicly about the problem.
Go to media.
Ask for help everywhere.
And make sure that the politicians are getting the message.
The only way to get help is to become an "emerging issue" for the government of Alberta.
That is the only way folks.
Sad but true.
University of Alberta
If you are lucky you have a psychiatrist with hospital privileges who might be able to get you in.
If you are unlucky you just don't have much luck.
It's a matter of who has some way in and most of the folks don't know how to get help.
I can tell you how to get help.
Write publicly about the problem.
Go to media.
Ask for help everywhere.
And make sure that the politicians are getting the message.
The only way to get help is to become an "emerging issue" for the government of Alberta.
That is the only way folks.
Sad but true.
Yet another story on the patient centred care we do not have and the transformation of the system that is in chaos -especially the mental health system. But of course we still have to keep speaking out because silence is the reason this junk has gone on for far too long.
'Once you put on that blue hospital gown, you become a file': The pressing need to empower patients
Sydney Loney, Special to National Post | March 1, 2017 11:28 AM ET
Getty Images
Judith John was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour almost two decades ago. Before one of many MRI appointments, she was sitting in a room waiting for her name to be called — but it didn't happen.
Instead, a technician stepped through the door, looked down at her sheet and read out, "Brain tumour?"
It was an accumulation of experiences like this that transformed John into what she calls an "accidental patient advocate."
"That moment in the waiting room was a symptom of a system that doesn't look up and take you in," says John, who worked in communications at several Toronto hospitals before she got sick.
"Once you put on that blue hospital gown, you become a file, a bunch of symptoms. I just wanted to be treated like a person."
Patient empowerment is important, John says, because illness is universal and there isn't one person who won't be affected eventually, whether they find themselves needing to advocate for themselves, or for a family member.
Thanks to the advocates who came before her, many Canadian hospitals now have patient advisory committees — John is on one for the University Health Network in Toronto. She says the first step is acknowledging patients (when doctors ask what they can do, she recommends they start by making eye contact with the people in their care). After that comes asking patients what it is they want from the health-care system – and acting on it.
John says there is still a long way to go before patients are really in a position to make meaningful change. On hospital walls across the country are signs proclaiming the facilities' patient-centred approach, but she says no one really understands what that means. "Hospitals are dominated by process, so for them it's about getting as many people in and through as fast as possible, as opposed to giving people the confidence to ask questions and be involved in decision-making."
Fred Dufor / AFP / Getty ImagesA file picture taken on July 22, 2013 shows a nurse holding the hand of an elderly patient in a palliative care unit
Francesca Grosso, an expert in health policy and co-author of Navigating Canada's Health Care: A User Guide to Getting the Care You Need, says those patient-centred signs are little more than rhetoric. Still, she's optimistic. "So many movements start with rhetoric, so maybe someday they'll be replaced by reality."
The problem, she says, is that the health-care system was never designed around patients in the first place. Because they're given so little choice in the decisions made around their care, they don't see themselves as consumers, and they should. Grosso would like to see the government adopt a department of patient experience made up of people who understand policy and have no competing interests.
"We're living longer and we don't have a system that can provide complete support," she says. "The aging population has made advocacy a big deal – and it's essential because we're the ones who are the experts in our clinical journeys."
Over the past year, Dr. Granger Avery, president of the Canadian Medical Association, travelled across the country, listening to patient stories. "The societal voice is an essential piece in the design of our health-care system," he says. "It's owned by the people, which means they need to be recognized and have input on how it should best meet their needs."
The potential for digital health to not only help patients become empowered, but also to transform the health care system as a whole
Unfortunately, Avery says, advocacy has been fundamentally undervalued. "We talk about it being a patient-centred system, but it's far from that. Don't get me wrong, doctors and nurses are doing their best, but the issue is with the organization of the system itself and how things are done, or not done."
Part of the CMA's current focus is on supporting seniors and making improvements to home and palliative care, as well as providing support to informal caregivers (there is currently a proposal in place to reimburse them). But to address some of the biggest challenges facing Canada's health-care system – gaps in care that occur across the country and within hospitals themselves – Avery says the public needs to be involved in the design and management of the system overall. "Without that, we will continue to miss the mark."
Cathy Fooks, president of the Change Foundation and former executive director of the Health Council of Canada, says that until five years ago, not much was happening on the patient empowerment front – and there is still some reluctance to embrace it. "Organizations that aren't yet open to the idea are worried it will involve finger pointing," she says. "But people are motivated beyond that. They're engaged to make the experience better for others and they take a more constructive view."
Getty ImagesA file photo of an empty hospital bed
What progress has been made so far has occurred most notably in hospitals. In addition to advisory councils, patients are on hiring committees and becoming increasingly involved with staff training and orientation, Fooks says. "They're more embedded in the organizations themselves. Now we just need to drive that out into primary and community care – that's the next frontier."
Another issue is providing support – of any kind – to family caregivers. Fooks cared for both of her parents and was overwhelmed by the lack of communication and confusing array of services that didn't share information. "I thought, 'this is really chaotic. I've worked in healthcare for over 30 years and I speak English and I'm having a hard time – what on earth do other people do?'"
Fooks says it shouldn't be up to doctors and nurses to navigate outside services when patients are sent home, but it does need to be somebody's job. "Every situation needs to be looked at individually; so what will work for this patient in this situation as opposed to a blanket 'everybody gets x.' Not every parent wants their child helping them in and out of the bath."
In Ontario alone, 3.3 million people are unpaid caregivers. "These people are lost in a maze with no compass," says Lisa Levin, chair of the Ontario Caregiver Coalition. "There are so many agencies and services, no one knows who offers what. There should be clear 'doorway' to service where patients and caregivers can go to get questions answered."
If people aren't aware of the services available, whether it's supportive housing, volunteer visitors or community transportation, they may be forced to move out of their homes and into nursing homes, Levin says. The health-care system simply isn't equipped to provide round-the-clock care for all the people who need it. "Unpaid care givers are the invisible backbone of our health-care system – and they're burning out. They need more recognition and respite, as well as some financial support."
These people are lost in a maze with no compass
To make the entire process easier, Fooks says it helps to find out how things work while you're still healthy. "You should know what you're entitled to, as well as what to ask for when the time comes – people assume they'll be told and it doesn't always happen." It didn't happen for Annette McKinnon, who suffered joint damage after her rheumatoid arthritis went undiagnosed more than 30 years ago. When she had difficulty getting the help she needed, she felt betrayed by the system.
"Initially, I didn't think there was anything I could do to change things for the better," says the former market researcher from Toronto. But before long she became an advocate for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as better access to drugs. She was recently an ePatient Scholar at Stanford's MedicineX Conference and is on the patient advisory board for the Arthritis Research Center. "You have to sort of stretch yourself," she says. "You start out as a patient who isn't involved at all, then suddenly you're co-authoring research papers."
McKinnon says it's getting easier for patients to get involved, you just need to believe you can make a difference. Anybody can volunteer to be a member of a regulatory council, she says. Even more important is participating in research. "What patients and researchers think are important outcomes for studies is often completely different," she says. "Patients can help ensure the questions being asked are more relatable. We're the biggest stakeholders so we should have a voice when these decisions are made."
FotoliaAn operating room in a hospital
McKinnon is currently involved in a trial program that gives her online access to her medical records. "I can read my doctor's notes from home and see my latest test results – his own resident can't do that," she says.
Shelagh Maloney, vice president of consumer health, communications and evaluation services of Canada Health Infoway says giving patients access to digital tools to help them manage their health provides new models of care that are more affordable, especially in an antiquated system where fax machines are still the gold standard of communication between providers.
According to the 2016 Connecting Patients for Better Health survey commissioned by Infoway, 89 per cent of Canadians want access to digital health services such as e-booking, online prescription renewal, online access to medical records and e-visits with care providers, but only 20 per cent actually have it.
"What stands out for me is the extent to which engaged patients report how much better they're able to manage their health with digital solutions," Maloney says. More than 70 per cent felt online access improved their knowledge of their health and led to more informed discussions with their doctors. They also felt more confident in the care they received. "It just demonstrates the potential for digital health to not only help patients become empowered, but also to transform the health care system as a whole."
Family of suicide victim sues Alberta Hospital for $750,000 for alleged non-admittance
Published on: February 26, 2016 | Last Updated: February 26, 2016 3:52 PM MST
A nursing station inside Building 8 at Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. File photo. JOHN LUCAS / EDMONTON JOURNAL
A mentally ill Edmonton woman's family is claiming she jumped to her death from the seventh floor of the Chateau Lacombe after being turned away at Alberta Hospital.
And the family says in a recent $753,000 lawsuit against the province that it was the third time she was refused admittance at a psychiatric facility — despite her clear need for treatment — and sent away in a taxi.
In a statement of claim filed in court on Feb. 19, the daughter, parents and brother of Janette Peterson allege she was a diagnosed psychiatric patient who had been hospitalized for suicidal tendencies a number of times.
The family claims she took "definite and extreme steps" to attempt suicide in February 2014 — including renting a hotel room and hiring strangers to harm her — and say that and all of her treatment records were fully available on the net care system for medical professionals to review.
The family alleges that Peterson, who is diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder, had twice tried to commit herself to the Royal Alexandra Hospital's psychiatric unit for her own personal safety and she was denied admittance, provided with cab fare and told to go home.
According to the statement of claim, Peterson posed a clear and imminent threat to herself on Feb. 22, 2014, and her daughter and a friend took her to Alberta Hospital.
The family alleges Peterson clearly presented as suicidal and likely non-compliant with her medications and the admitting nurse assured them that she would be assessed.
However, instead of assessing or admitting Peterson, the family alleges that the hospital turned her away and called her a cab.
According to the statement of claim, Peterson checked herself in at the downtown Chateau Lacombe and jumped to her death from the seventh floor on Feb. 23, 2014.
The family alleges the death was the result of negligence by the doctors and staff at the two hospitals for failing to admit her, failing to properly monitor her and for failing to notify the family that she had been denied admission.
They claim the defendants, which include Alberta Health Services, Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, the admitting nurse and several doctors and staff members, have a duty to both Peterson and the general public to admit those who are suffering from mental disorders and are likely to cause harm to themselves or others.
The statement of claim also alleges that the defendants have a duty to ensure that "bed pressure" does not result in patients in demonstrable need being turned away.
Statements of defence have not yet been filed.Statements of claim and statements of defence contain allegations which have not been proven.


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Global commodities trader Glencore has hired Standard Chartered to sell its stake in the Port Kembla coal terminal and its Tahmoor coking coalmine near Wollongong, the Australian reported on May 19, citing the company.
It comes as prospective suitors start lining up for Rio Tinto's $2 billion worth of coking coalmines, with Whitehaven Coal said to be gunning hard for the assets.
Glencore is offering its Tahmoor underground mine in NSW, which produces 2 million tonnes of coking coal annually.
Glencore is also selling its stake in the Port Kembla coal terminal, 72km south of Sydney, which services two of the nation's richest coal reserves, the southern and western coalfields of NSW, exporting coal globally.
The terminal is equally owned by six miners, including Glencore, South32, Centennial Coal, Wollongong Coal, Tahmoor Coal and Peabody Energy, while South32 manages the terminal on behalf of the consortium.
Some analysts expect the Port of Kembla and Tahmoor assets to sell for hundreds of millions of dollars.
Glencore's mining portfolio in Australia has grown steadily following its acquisition of Xstrata in 2013. It has $US129 billion worth of assets globally.
But while the Swiss trader has typically been considered an acquirer of assets, it has experienced its fair share of pain in recent years linked to the decline of the mining boom and in 2016 sold its Hunter Valley rail assets to Genesee and Wyoming for just over $1 billion.
The rebound in the coal price in recent months could relieve pressure on Glencore to sell assets in the immediate term and place it back on the acquisition trail.
Meanwhile, it appears investment banking advisers are now pushing to secure an advisory role with a bidder for Rio Tinto's coalmining sale.
Rio is selling its Kestrel mine, 40km northeast of Emerald in central Queensland, and its Hail Creek Mine, 120km southwest of Mackay in central Queensland.
Among those expected to line up for a Kestrel and Hail Creek acquisition are private equity firm Apollo, Xcoal, BHP with its joint venture partner Mitsubishi, Glencore and Coronado Coal.
(Writing by Becky Du Editing by Harry Huo)
For any questions, please contact us by email@example.com or +86-351-7219322.


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Mr. Donald Trump, who as a presidential candidate rejected unifying and uplifting language and opted instead to run an extremely divisive and hurtful campaign that maligned many groups, hasn't been president-elect for a whole 48 hours and yet already well-intentioned citizens, like U.S. President Barack Obama, chorused upon deaf ears a call for unity. Sure, Americans at some point should unify for the good of the country's present and future, but that unity shouldn't be rushed – grief and trauma among the shocked and scared must first be acknowledged – and it likely, though not hopefully, will be preceded by bloodshed.
A civil war, following the election of Mr. Trump to the presidency, isn't far-fetched rather it's a logical conclusion, albeit not the only one, to the story-line involving an always divided country – one that never abandoned let alone atoned for its anti-black and anti-brown racism –which just furthered splintered along ideological, racial and cultural lines.
Examples of both micro and macro aggressions have begun playing out: Reported today out of Chicago, a group of anti-Trump black youth brutally assaulted a white man who they believed was a supporter of the president-elect; in Philadelphia, the morning after election night, an abandoned building was defaced with swastikas and pro-Trump symbolism; in Durham, North Carolina, someone this week spray-painted on a wall the message: Black Lives Don't Matter and Neither Do Your Votes; on Wednesday morning, graffiti expressing anti-black racism – Fuck niggers and "Whites only" were among the messages displayed – in a Minnesota school was discovered; and the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan announced today that a victory rally in North Carolina for Mr. Trump will be held on Dec. 3rd.
Here's the truth: a large part of America is unwilling, not unable, to unify. A sizable amount of votes cast for Mr. Trump were not in the interest of unification as much as they were in favor of white nationalism and anti-blackness – many Black people are in no rush to unify with the alt-right, and understandably so.
The reality is that Mr. Trump disavowed unity when he kept to his pledge to never meet with Black Lives Matter activists, and when he didn't accept the invitations to convene with neither the NAACP nor the NABJ during his campaign.
Unity doesn't manifest in a vacuum, thus it has to be cultivated and pursued by all. True unity was neither a theme nor a pursuit by the Trump campaign, so the calls for it in the aftermath of his victory appear perplexing.
Furthermore, while Mr. Trump won fair and square, it's hard for many Americans to be lectured on respecting the process when it was clear that the victorious candidate didn't do so; and had he not won Tuesday night, resistant he would be, too.
America today is fractured; its core institutions have been exposed as corrupt and are mistrusted by people of all races; its political discourse is almost completely absent of common sense and civility; and many of its people are at odds. The polarization of this country didn't happen overnight, and neither will its unification, no matter how earnestly the plea.
Unity in America should, without question, be the goal, but unity is worked towards by all, not simply spoken of by a few. Unity is the result of truth, reconciliation, atonement, sacrifice, transparency, empathy and love, not lies, repudiation, disenfranchisement, greed, elitism, disregard and hate.
For America to unify behind a Trump presidency, the president-elect must first apologize for his transgressions against the aggrieved, allow for emotions to be expressed unfiltered, and make atonements. Without the aforementioned, unity will simply be a buzzword that falls, again and again, on many deaf ears.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I'm Flood the Drummer® & I'm Drumming for JUSTICE!™
The role of men is changing in the 21st century. Want to keep up? Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.
Photo courtesy of the author.


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A Woman of Substance (Thorndike Press Large Print Paperback Series)
From New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford comes a triumphant novel of an unforgettable woman
Determined to rise above all that she has ever known, a young and impoverished Emma Harte embarks on a journey first of survival, then of unimaginable achievement. Driven to succeed, the iron-willed Emma parlays a small shop into the world's greatest department store and an international business empire: Harte Enterprises.
Unhappily married twice, loving only the one man she can never marry, personal happiness eludes her. Harte Enterprises, the realization of her grand dreams, is her all: her heart, her soul, her life. When those closest to her threaten to destroy her empire through their greed and envy, Emma brilliantly outwits her enemies. She wreaks her devastating revenge on those who would betray her in a way only she knows how.
Drawing us into the mesmerizing life of a remarkable woman who dared to seize a dream and was willing to pay any price to make it come true, Barbara Taylor Bradford's deeply involving novel is a celebration of an indomitable spirit.
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UK pubcaster BBC2 is cooking up a new culinary competition format from London-based producer Voltage TV.
The Big Family Cooking Challenge (working title; 12 x 60 minutes) will feature inter-generational family teams of amateur chefs vying to become Britain's best home cook. The series is currently in pre-production and is slated to air in summer 2017.
Judges will visit each family home to whittle down the teams, who are attempting to transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary cuisine, through a series of challenges based on the realities of everyday meals.
Voltage chief executive Sanjay Singhal and Kathleen Larkin serve as exec producers on the series alongside the BBC's commissioning exec Catherine Catton. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, BBC2 channel editor, and Donna Clark, acting head of formats and features.
The commission comes one month after the UK pubcaster confirmed that the forthcoming season of culinary competition series The Great British Bake Off (pictured), produced by Love Productions, would be the last to broadcast on its airwaves before moving to Channel 4 for a three-year run. It will debut in 2017 with a celebrity spin-off in aid of Stand Up to Cancer.
"A passion for food starts in the family kitchen and this format will take us into homes up and down the country where we'll meet Britain's most passionate and exciting families of cooks," said Clark in a statement.
"Our ambition is to create a feel good show full of character and warmth with authentic home cooking at its heart," added Singhal.


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Apple's iPhone 5 became the best-selling smartphone in the world shortly after its launch last fall, and hype surrounding the upcoming iPhone 5S is starting to build. Rivals are preparing new flagship smartphones of their own to combat the new iPhone, however, which is expected to launch late in the third quarter. According to unnamed industry sources speaking with Digitimes, we can expect new flagship Android phones to launch around the same time as the iPhone 5S from several of Apple's top competitors, including Samsung, LG and HTC.
[More from BGR: This is the back of a $640 phone]
The report claims that Samsung's sequel to the popular Galaxy Note II phablet will launch sometime in the second half of the year. The Galaxy Note III will apparently feature a 5.99-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080p full HD resolution and an eight-core Samsung Eynos 5 Octa processor.
[More from BGR: Samsung Galaxy S4: Jack of all trades, still master of just one]
HTC is also prepping a new high-end Android phone that will launch as a sequel to the Butterfly, or DROID DNA as it was branded in the U.S. The Butterfly 2 will sport a full HD display as well as an UltraPixel camera and BoomSound speakers similar to the ones found on the HTC One.
Finally, LG's Optimus G2 will launch sometime in the second half of 2013, according to the report. The G2 will reportedly include a 5-inch full HD display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset.
As the full HD screens grow larger and specs are packed tighter into these new flagship phones, Apple is expected to launch an iterative update this year that features the same 4-inch Retina display as the iPhone 5 with an upgraded processor and a new rear camera module.
This article was originally published on BGR.com


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(MCT) -- When Hyundai unleashed the 2009 Genesis, its first upscale sedan in the United States, it possessed a typical Hyundai trait: a bargain price when compared to the competition.
That this rear-wheel-drive midsize sedan didn't quite measure up to its competitors in terms of performance or fit and finish didn't matter. The first-gen Genesis was close enough. And its bland styling made it a safe, if unexciting, choice. It was like buying a fake Louis Vuitton wallet on the streets of New York for $10. Who would know the difference?
Since then, Hyundai's lineup has clawed its way out of the bargain bin and into the breach of style leader, thanks to its 'Fluidic Sculpture' design language that banished the brand's bland self and put the marque squarely in the mainstream with such products as the Sonata and Santa Fe.
So it's little surprise that for 2015, it's the dawn of a new Genesis, and the resulting sedan is quite possibly the best vehicle that Hyundai currently offers.
Perhaps the biggest reason for this is its styling. In era when even subcompacts can be fitted with heated leather seats, a luxury sedan must possess more than a laundry list of upscale features. This the Genesis does. Its look is particularly impressive, with sober, flowing lines that possess a grace lacking in previous large Hyundais.
That said, Hyundai has never been shy about borrowing designs from other high-end automakers, and so it goes with this new Genesis, which borrows its most distinctive styling element, its massive hexagonal grille, from Audi. It seems that old habits die hard. You can understand why when you consider that when left to their own devices, Hyundai designers tend to go for a more generic look. This explains the car's unremarkable rear view. Still, whatever raspberries you can toss at it, the Genesis has a substantial presence that the previous model lacked.
This newfound seriousness continues in the cabin, with handsome design and upgraded materials, key among them, matte-finish open-pore wood, the latest rage in car interior accents. But you'll appreciate other things that aren't as apparent, such as comfortable, supportive 12-way power heated front seats with optional ventilation. Heated rear seats are also available. Taller drivers will appreciate the driver's seat cushion extension.
A 9.2-inch high-definition display, a 64GB Solid State Drive for multimedia, and a premium 17-speaker, 900-watt Lexicon audio system anchors the instrument panel.
More importantly, Hyundai has incorporated some high-tech features that you'll appreciate. Its second-generation Blue Link system allows Google Glass users to access Blue Link's various features. Elsewhere, the Genesis's infotainment system incorporates Apple's Siri-powered Eyes-Free to power various features. There's even a CO2 sensor.
The test vehicle supplied by Hyundai was opulently equipped thanks to three packages. The first was a $4,000 Signature Package which included a panoramic sunroof, memory seats, front seat ventilation, auto dimming mirrors, rear sunshades, and, most importantly, blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert. The second package was a $3,500 Tech Package, which added lane departure warning and lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, emergency brake assist, electronic parking brake, parking assist and an electronic instrument cluster. The final package was the $3,500 Ultimate Package, which includes matte wood and aluminum trim, head-up display, power trunk lid, and the afore-mentioned 9.2-inch high-def display and Lexicon audio system. In other words, the amount of luxury you get on your Genesis depends on how many options you choose.
So, while most of the luxury on this Hyundai is optional, one thing is not: a high-end driving experience.
For 2015, Hyundai redesigned its rear-wheel-drive platform to accommodate a new all-wheel-drive system. The new platform was developed with the help of Lotus Engineering, and it shows in the Genesis's performance.
Buyers can choose between a 420-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 or a 311-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. Both engines feature double overhead cams, variable valve timing and are mated to a Hyundai-developed eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available with the V6.
The test vehicle was the V6, all-wheel-drive model and while not the fastest luxury sedan ever driven, it was remarkably better than any other Hyundai I have sampled. It is remarkably refined, with little of the crash and bang dynamics that are a hallmark of Korean suspensions, the ride was absorbent and comfortable without undue body motions over our deteriorating arteries. This Genesis has the poise and self-assurance one would expect. The eight-speed automatic makes the most of the available power; so most drivers will forego the V8 and pocket the saving at the pump. Best of all, the cabin is blessedly quiet.
This is the clincher.
Styling, features and build quality aside, it's what makes this car a standout for Hyundai, and what will ultimately seal the deal for those buyers who can look past this brand's low-price past. The Genesis is an amazingly assured premium sedan that will comfortably deliver what buyers in this class expect.
Powertrain: 311-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive
Wheelbase: 118.5 inches
Length: 196.5 inches
Cargo space: 15.3 cubic feet
Weight: 4,295 pounds
EPA rating (city/highway): 16/25 mpg
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
Base price, base model: $38,000
Base price, test model: $40,500
As tested: $52,450
Larry Printz is automotive editor at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. He can be reached at email@example.com.
(c)2014 The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.)
Visit The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) at pilotonline.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services


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This Teen Mom is so desperate for cash that she is doing what she does best.
She has been hooking up with her ex while living with another guy.
Her ex is loaded and her current boyfriend, not so much.
Maci Bookout
Current: Taylor McKinney
Ex: Ryan Edwards
Source: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net


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Food2Fork makes it easy to find great recipes.
Search by name or ingredients. View Top Socially Ranked Recipes.
Mussel and Potato Stew
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 pound broccoli rabe, thick stems peeled
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 4 anchovy filets, rinsed and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 pounds mussels, cleaned and debearded
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup water
- salt to taste
Directions:View on All Recipes
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|Nutrition Facts
|Serving Size 1/10 of a recipe
|Amount Per Serving
|Calories 199
|Total Fat 11.3g
|Saturated Fat 1.6g
|Cholesterol 10mg
|Sodium 121mg
|Total Carbohydrate 18.5g
|Dietary Fiber 2.1g
|Sugars 0.6g
|Protein 6.6g
|* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.
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Below are images about Living room ideas uk and the related keywords that much people search in internet. like : interior design ideas living room, living room decorating ideas uk, living room design ideas, living rooms designs, stylish living room ideas. Find Out the most recent ideas of Living room
from Delicious http://ift.tt/NVSHHN
via IFTTT


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1) Create a separate LJ account for your stories
2) Make the account friends only, and be sure to only post friends only posts.
3) Join and receive a membership for posting access to Realmsurreal.
4) Post that you've joined and other members will friend you so you can read eachother's fictions
5) When you make a post on your journal, post a link of it to this page. People whom you haven't friended won't be able to access it. Therefore, only friend those you trust because only they will read your stories. :D
After the link, leave a small description or summary about what you have written.
I will give an example on my first post
6) How to make a link. Use a "<" and a ">" instead of a "[" and "]". For example purposes, I have to switch them.
[a href="http://livejournal.com/users/shardsofice"] My cool new story [/a]
Of course, "my cool new story" can be substituted by whatever other link you would like to change it to.


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August Highly Anticipated YA Reads!
Here all the books that we can't wait to see hit shelves this month!
A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir
August 30th, 2016 by Razorbill
The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, #3) by Mary E. Pearson
August 2nd, 2016 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
August 30th, 2016 by Dutton Books for Young Readers
The Thousandth Floor (The Thousandth Floor #1) by Katherine McGee
August 30th, 2016 by HarperCollins
The Telling by Alexandra Sirowy
August 2nd, 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Tell Me Something Real by Calla Devlin
August 30th, 2016 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
These are the books we are excited about this August! Cant't wait for all of these to come out (or to read the ones that are out already). Keep your eyes peeled for these beautfiul covers, and we hope you enjoy these reads!


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Yesterday, I was still running my new 555BE unlocked to B55 in stress test using vcore as low as 1.25V and 2hrs with prime95 without errors.
But after overclocking to 200×17=3400 without adding voltage, the system turns to become hang under stress test. Of course, 200×17=3400 can't run with vcore 1.25V, and I've added to 1.3V step by step, but it still not working well, prime95 having rounding error problem. So, I've give up overclocking because stock cooler can't go further more, the temperature is too high, max 62 degree is recommended. However, it is strange because when I run LinX, there are already errors in the first test (default 20 times testing for problem size 10000). So, I've change back using prime95 for stress test. Then, all cores face rounding error problem and I wonder why! A few moment later, I realized that it should be errors is memory and I run memtest immediately. It's ture that the memory under 1600 @1.65V or 1066/1333 @1.48V, they still have errors in red. I can't believe it, then I pull out all the ocz obsidian memory. After a while, I put one back to the ram slot, and run memtest for a moment, it results in no errors. After that, I change another ram for testing, same results. Finally, both ram inserted running dual channel, results in no errors for memtest. I think it should be application problem which written errors to the memory, but after power off memory erased and no errors again.
So, memory errors problem has been solved. Back to the B55 stress test in 3200 @1.25V. Rounding error still occurs, what are the problems?? Previously, it can run at that voltage very stable, but now =.=" Help me!!


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Breaking Boundaries: Net Impact Conference
By Cristina Bernardo – emzingo
Bringing together more than 5,000 students, business professionals, social entrepreneurs, and NGOS, the Net Impact Conference aims to connect the private and the public sectors to create innovative solutions to the world's largest social challenges; environment, poverty, joblessness and inequality amongst others.
This year's theme centered around breaking boundaries, both within the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Net Impact CEO, Liz Maw, led the conference encouraging and reminding us "change takes courage," and those of us who feel so passionate about social issues must be prepared to fight.
Many amazing discussions ensued around clean energy, social startups, access to capital, and water sanitation, yet two particularly interesting themes emerged across sectors: 1) learning to make NGOs and social enterprises more sustainable and 2) recognizing the role privilege plays within the social enterprise space.
Dan Pallotta, author of Uncharitable, led the conference with his enthusiastic debate around the suffocating, ad-hoc limits placed upon the nonprofit sector.
He stressed that low salaries, a disdain for overhead costs, and miniscule marketing budgets are severely weakening the ability of nonprofits to achieve their missions, centering his argument around the poignant fact that "most people have a visceral reaction to making money helping people, but do not have a visceral reaction to making money NOT HELPING people."
Making money in the nonprofit world is essentially viewed as a "sin," he commented. Very few will argue that Judge Judy makes $45 million a year, but if the head of Red Cross makes $500,000+ a year, all red flags go off. This in spite of the fact that the highest paying for-profit CEOs make on average 41 times as much as the their counterparts in the nonprofit sector.
Pallotta also stressed that "overhead" has become a dirty word in the sector, arguing that though most people do not see overhead charges as part of an NGO's mission, these costs are essential to the growth and reach of any organization's mission. Yet, most grants are awarded directly to a cause and cannot be used to pay for such important investments as staff, training, advertising, and strategic planning. In 2006, only 19% of U.S. grants were directed for general use, with 81% going directly to a social cause or program.
If we were to allow NGOs to offer competitive salaries, launch marketing campaigns, and invest in strategic planning, he argues, then positive impact could be dramatically increased. Citing one such example from his own experience, he explained how he used $350K in seed investment to launch a 3-day Breast Cancer Walk that raised $194,000,000 in net revenue for the cause.
We can no longer afford to pay people in the nonprofit sector "holy-points", and built a new organization, the Charity Defense Council, to support the charitable sector in its fight for higher wages, marketing budgets, and more space to breathe… and grow.
Another greatly exciting discussion that emerged during the Net Impact Conference was the role of privilege in the social enterprise space. Kevin Lynch, of the Social Enterprise Alliance, led a very challenging and heart-felt discussion on the impact of privilege on his life and the social impact space. He introduced himself as a man who had won the jackpot of privilege – a white, straight, well-educated, and well-fed middle-class male. He discussed that though he did not choose the privilege that he has, he still carries this privilege with him everyday. It is this privilege economy that largely defines where we are today. The harm however, he commented, is that the myth of privilege economy rewards only hard work and dedication, with the end result being that the financial economy rests disproportionately in the hands of the privileged.
Gregg Keesling of RecycleForce, also stressed the need to recognize and put a face on privilege. His social enterprise employs formerly incarcerated individuals in a very profitable recycling business. He argued that many people of privilege are scared of individuals who come out of the prison system and do not offer them the opportunities or chances that they deserve. Such discrimination can be so great, he argued, that he has seen two major wars in his lifetime "the war on poverty and the war on drugs. And both have failed miserably." Powerful words, spoken from a man who lost his son in the Iraq war, to demonstrate just how important combatting privilege can be to achieving social goals.
Lynch also stressed the fact that privilege affects both those who benefit from the work of social enterprises, but also those who start them, alluding to the fact that most of the people who were at the conference, were also those who have benefited from privilege.
"We need to talk about the elephant in the room," he said, "which is the roll privilege plays in getting into the village of social enterprise itself." A very valid, and thought-provoking observation that left many, including myself, to contemplate and rethink for hours thereafter.


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BURKE COUNTY, N.C. - State Road 18-64 north of Morganton is closed at the double bridges from Piedmont Road to Sandford Drive due to road collapse and water main break.
It will be closed until further notice.
Read more top trending stories on WSOCTV.com:
Family asks for prayers after child nearly hanged on makeshift swing
Heat returns this weekend as storm chances diminish
Friends of slain teacher want killer to come forward
Deputies searching for 'armed and dangerous' man
Police: Former sheriff damaged neighbor's home with slingshot


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The following speech by Esther Wrightman, the truly courageous young rural resident who is being sued by Wind Developer Nextera for "voicing her opinion" speaks volumes about exactly what is going on inside the once Democratic Province of Ontario.
I'll let the words speak for themselves:
Premier Wynne: Stop screwing rural Ontario!
Speech from 402 Rally – Esther Wrightman
(Slightly edited from version read at the rally)
Let us be clear about why we are here today. This is a demonstration of "We, The People" versus "We, The Corporations"! (I have of course borrowed the phrase from the American Declaration of Independence.)
This is an in-your-face demonstration of "We, The People" versus the wind energy companies that are strangling rural Ontario — strangling us with the approval and encouragement of our government. I want to say "Thank you, rural Ontario — you good people who are the backbone of this distinguished province." I want to say "Thank you" for having the backbone and guts to declare "We're not going to take it anymore!"
All of us are struggling, in every way short of breaking the law, to save our way of life, our homes, our health, our communities, our wildlife — all this. We have been trying for years. Not days, not weeks — but years. Our lives are now devoted to saving . . . our lives!
The wind developers and the government were flat wrong. They sneered and whispered to each other, "Don't worry, they'll get used to it. They'll toe the line. They'll bend the knee and suffer for the greater good of Toronto."
But we have not and we will not! They mis-read us. These are our lives, our homes, our children, our children's schools you are messing with, Premier Wynne! Ours! One thing you will find out about rural Ontarians, Ms. Wynne, is: We are a tough crowd to deal with when we are vexed (aka pissed off).
With this rally, we put you on notice, Premier Wynne: We are officially and formally pissed off!
If you were to come out here, Madam Premier, you would discover that we invite anyoneinto our homes. To feed them, talk with them, respect them, even give them shelter. But, dammit, we expect the same courtesies in return. This government has come into our communities to demolish us!
Wind turbines are not a courtesy; they are an assault. Let's call it for what it truly is; government-subsidized corporate terrorism. (The NextTerror, indeed!)
This government has flung us off our land, turned a deaf ear to people who are suffering, sacrificed wildlife to wind turbines — while maintaining the fiction, the hoax of "democracy."
Premier Wynne, we will not be taken for suckers anymore. We will not be bullied and terrorized anymore. And if we don't see action — and I mean STOP THE WIND TURBINES action — then we will re-double our efforts to get your attention, until it becomes impossible to ignore the outraged roar of rural Ontario!
There are good laws and bad laws. The Green Energy Act is a bad law. We call on the Premier and legislature to strike it down. Until that happens, we do have the right and obligation to see that it is broken — violated. We refuse to live under its jack boot!
Rural Ontario — this rally, this protest, is the beginning of something bigger. Take this spirit home to your community, to Toronto — everywhere. Be creative, be determined — and let us all stand together and put an end to the terrorism of wind turbines in rural Ontario.
Get mad! Stay mad! Make history!


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As a Registered Social Worker you must have a current Annual Practising Certificate to work as a social worker. The SWRB's practising year runs from 1 July through to 30 June of each year. Your Annual Practising Certificate therefore expires on 30 June of each year. It is your responsibility to renew your practising certificate. Make sure you give yourself enough time to update any details and pay the renewal fee.
All Registered Social Workers engaged in social work decision-making at any level must have an Annual Practising Certificate. Click on the Do I need an APC? button on the right to find out if you need one.
You can renew your Annual Practising Certificate online below
Go to your account
This process will allow you to pay using your credit card or internet banking, or you can request an invoice for you or your employer. Before requesting an invoice for your employer you should confirm that your employer has agreed to pay your APC fee.
Points to Note if you wish to renew your Annual Practising Certificate (APC):
- Renewal of your APC is dependent upon you holding a valid competence certificate including having successfully completed relevant CPD (Continuing Professional Development) activities. (Further information on the competence Recertification Programme is available on our website)
- If there are conditions on your current APC then you must fulfil or comply with the conditions included on your new APC.
- If your APC application is received after 1 July 2017 it will still have an expiry date of either 30 June 2018 or the date at which your competence certificate expires. APCs cannot be dated beyond 30 June 2018.
- There are no pro rata payments for APCs. Part time social workers do not qualify for a reduction in fees.
- You will not be issued an APC if you have any outstanding fines, costs or expenses with the Social Workers Disciplinary Tribunal or the Social Workers Registration Board.
What you'll need
- Your registration number
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- Your credit card (if this is how you want to pay)
- Your internet banking login and password (if this is how you want to pay)
Email us at email@example.com if you did not receive the information we sent you in May on how to renew online.
When you log in for the first time, you will activate your account and enter a password. We will send an email telling you how to do this after you have click on the Renew now button and started the process.
If you don't get your Annual Practising Certificate and APC ID card within two weeks of completing this online form, please call us on 0508 797 269 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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I have always heard that God created two amazing creatures - Man and Woman! And he also put a marvellous plan in place i.e., to create more of the same species, these creatures have to come together. The trouble is – to get them together… into a bond!
If Adam and Eve are our ancestors then I might be my husband's or boy friend's n-th generation sister!!! But then who cares? Even if you swear that you don't need a guy to live on, your parents, siblings, relatives, neighbours, colleagues, and sometimes even friends (phew!!!) are desperate to get you laid! I think more than the parents it's the aunts and cousins who have this itch that –'Hey why is this one roaming free, when we all are screwed?! Let's get her to kiss her happiness and freedom good-bye'. And these pile of 'well-wishers' stream into your house under the pretext of sympathy and rub a kilo of salt on your parents' cuts, wounds, bruises, scratch, and any damn opening in their body. If they find that these people are not wincing, then goes all the masala and tadka. Yikes!!!!
And the heat begins. Frantically your parents start searching guys for you as if there is going to be a great flood and all the male specie will be extinct after that. And in front of the society, it's only their daughter who is roaming alone and virgin (so they think!), while all her friends, their friends' daughters and the neighbours' daughter are married with a bloated tummy! Lord! What a curse! So the main motive is to get rid of that curse. It begins with – a decent looking guy, with a decent background, good job and family. After a long search when the patience begins to lick the door of cold grave, the search pattern turns to - what the heck! Anyone is fine, as long as the doctor has certified that this creature is a man (!).
Now starts the grind. Matrimonial sites, greedy brokers, pestering aunts, concerned neighbours, nonsensical astrologers, blah blah blah, all compete with each other to make your life miserable. Every night you will crawl into bed after a battle with yourself, your sanity and insane parents who by now are convinced that either something is wrong with you or with your stars (poor souls, why cant people allow them to roam peacefully in their orbit?!!!). Funny as it may seem, for, when you see any guy's profile your intuition says – uh oh… not this guy baby. You are wasting time pursuing this – But try putting this across to anyone, even the walls turn deaf! Your crying, cajoling, emotional blackmailing will all be attributed to the cursed time you are going through. All of a sudden the Gods take vacation, stars have a ball and your astrological chart turns astro-illogical. Every animal that you would have seen in zoo and in your fifth grade science text book attains holy position in your house. Each and every tree, stone, grass, mountains, and every shrine become your parents' favourite hangout. And there wouldn't be a part left in your body which will not be carrying a holy thread or amulet.
You are dragged into a new phase, where you meet guys, which you despise. But for the sake of peace you succumb. You are hardly given a chance to say no, even to the ugliest pig on the block, and you are expected to gracefully swallow the insult of 'checking and trashing' that every 'eligible' guy you meet will do. The best thing? Yeah, your relatives mumbling under their breath – 'how will anyone like her? Have you seen how she behaves? She is an arrogant useless woman! She doesn't have any wife-like quality in her! And to top it she has high hopes! She should learn to compromise (which they will never allow their kid to do, even if he/she wants to).' Tell them that you don't want to stand in front of any guy 'like a maal' they would say 'but beta that's how it is. You know Meera aunty's daughter met 20 guys before she got married. But now what? She is married to a good guy. He works in London.' And you think, with your jaws touching the ground in your mind, WTF!
After fifth meeting your self respect starts waning. And your family's discomfort will be on rise. To add fuel to this fire we all have a lion's share of aunts and neighbours. So the hunt goes on, in full swing. And the rejection points keep adding to your list of 'to-be-improved' (and you complain why nobody likes you!) –
• 'Oh, the girl is good, beautiful, but she will not be compatible with our son.' And you have half the mind to say – 'do you think that bugger even deserves me?!'
• 'Oh the girl is short'- you think – 'then marry Sushmita sen!'
• 'Hmmm… She is good. But a bit on the heavier side' – you think – 'your son is no Salman. He will give complex to Adnan Sami or Walter Hudson'
• My favourite has and will always be 'She is perfect to be my bride. But… she doesn't know how to walk and sit' – You think- 'You want to marry or get me to walk on ramp!'
You fail to understand what your parents want. And especially the guys! Many a time I have heard my friends telling - men are from Mars and women are from Venus. If so, who the hell is from earth? Dinosaurs and eunuchs? May be. The former being the prospective in-law and latter, the guy you meet.
Your parents are confused and you are disillusioned. They go to every astrologer in sight, like an aids patient, who is fully aware that there is no cure for his/ her disease. This great man would be living in rags but predicts of your riches. One look at your parents' faces and he knows – good, these people have a useless daughter who could not hook a guy till now- He closes his eyes, opens and runs them through your astrological chart, scratches his head because in front of a prospective client he cant scratch elsewhere and in a grave voice he will say – Her planets are dating the wrong planets in the wrong orbit. And their laying position is completely wrong (huh? - you think- will the 'congress of the crow' do?)! This is all because of her previous birth!' Your previous birth history will be dug out from the grave, where your old body will be tossing and turning impatiently because of this nonsense. You will be made to feel sorry for something that you are not even sure if that existed. And even if it did, funniest part is, your parents of this birth will be paying price for what your parents in last birth did.
Well the fun continues. Every guy on the street now becomes your parents' prospective son-in-law. Given a chance they will hang a board outside their house 'Marry our daughter and avail a beautiful surprise offer. Hurry offer valid till our daughter lasts'. They start talking philosophy while you are losing your psychology. They ask you to bring someone but are scared what if you actually do. All possible doors are knocked, windows yanked, peep hole looked through, to find you a perfect match.
Finally the day comes. The guy meets the girl, the girl meets the guys, both like each other; the guy likes the girl and her family. Her family likes him too. The girl likes the guy and his family and his family too reciprocates. But the families fail to like each other!
Now begins another battle!
I think... God must have really been crazy when he created his two most wonderful creations...
Monday, June 14, 2010
1 comment:
- Ramya Korappath said...
hey very nice yaar..especially liked the bit where you wrote, "why cant people allow them to peacefully roam in their orbits"..that was hilarious and well in line with the whole theme..
good article..and very easy to relate to..
- June 15, 2010 at 12:26 AM
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
the end of the world after party
7 comments:
Wish I could take you up on your office.ReplyDelete
Okay, rough day. :-) I'll try again. Wish I could take you up on your offer. (This is actually try #3.)ReplyDelete
Having our own party on the "left" coast!! But I'd like to take you up on that lunch offer sometime!!ReplyDelete
I'm making big plans for May 22-Oct 21. If I'm still here, then I'm going to hell. If so, I might as well "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we will die..." Where do these people come from?ReplyDelete
While I do not think things will change much tomorrow, I do believe we are in the season of His return, so I would not be surprised.ReplyDelete
I Thess 5:4 "But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief."
If I recall correctly, a good friend of mine is a scholar of Paul and even wrote a commentary on Thessalonians. ;)
Jeff, to apply 1 Thess 5:4 to this wacko and tomorrow: a thief does not take billboards up across the country to announce when he will break in. Because I take 1 Thess 5:4 seriously, I will be VERY surprised if Jesus chooses tomorrow...ReplyDelete
The minute Harold opened his mouth and exposed God's big secret plan, the end of the world was off.ReplyDelete
And God said: Dude, what you doin'? Now I have to change the date! Sorry guys, no party.


text:
As I received another payment from DonkeyMails this month, I noticed that the site had just launched a huge contest with over $10,000 to be won by the site members.
A system of tickets awarding insures anyone at least a chance at the grand prize. A ticket draw will decide of the winners. There are daily prizes to be won and a final drawing at the end of the contest.
Another reason to join today!
One of the most popular PTC site out there!
(paid me 11 TIMES for $14.10 total) Paypal/Liberty Reserve


text:
Main → Afghanistan → Velayat Balkh → Akhtah Khanah
Map of Akhtah Khanah Velayat Balkh, Afghanistan
Other Names: Akhta Khana,Akhta Khaneh,Akhta Khāna,Akhta Khāneh,Akhtah Khanah,Akhtah Khānah,Akhteh Khaneh,Akhteh Khāneh,اخته خانه, Akhtah Khānah
Akhtah Khanah
Welcome to the Akhtah Khanah google satellite map! This hill is situated in Velayat Balkh, Afghanistan. Original name (with diacritics) of the place is Akhtah Khānah. See Akhtah Khanah photos and images from satellite below, explore the aerial photographs of Akhtah Khānah area. This placemark was added 2010-10-08.
Map of Akhtah Khanah
- Country: Afghanistan
- Province: Velayat Balkh
- Category: hill
- Altitude: 1475 m
- Population: 0
Asia/Kabul +4.5
- Local Time: 01:39
- Sunrise: 05:12
- Sunset: 18:42
Wiki articles near Akhtah Khanah
Places near Akhtah Khanah
Online Dating
Akhtah Khanah Singles. Date and find singles is the best online singles dating directory of local dating sites and personals for meeting and dating singles in your area.
Akhtah Khanah, Afghanistan, From cheap hotel rooms to luxury hotel deals, discount 5 star hotels. Read reviews & descriptions, see maps & quality photos. Make a booking today. Find hotels in Akhtah Khanah, Afghanistan


text:
It's been a week full of bunnies, tomatoes, friends, and all kinds of other things. Some bad, some good. Mostly good.
We tried this Five Minute Bread and it's outstanding. I'm sold.
Babies! They're two weeks old now. Sixteen plump little bunnies out of the original 17 (two litters born on the same day. We need to learn to stagger the breedings so we don't get so inundated). We're all getting better at this, mamas and human caretakers both. Fewer casualties every time.
This was a few days ago- they're already so much bigger. Princess's brood were out of their nest box for a few minutes here; we had to pull it out to remove a sibling that had died during our heat wave. You can see the naked spots where Princess pulled out her fur to line the nest before they were born.
Safely back in a new clean nest.
We're still drowning in cherry tomatoes, and I've been eating a couple peaches a day; always my favorite type of fruit. There is a fruit stand a couple blocks away that has some really incredible ones.
We bought a whole box and canned 13 quarts on Sunday. It was the first time Matt had canned anything, I'm glad I got to teach him. I had a couple metal canning lids that were still fresh. The rest are the BPA-free Tattler lids and rings, and we also used two of the Weck jars that Matt gave me for Christmas (on the right).
We're heading out of town for the weekend, so in an effort to use up all the ripe tomatoes before we leave, I whipped up a batch of pasta sauce for freezing.
Our friends Provo and Jeremy brought us a big crookneck squash yesterday so I added a bunch of that too. I piled everything into a pan, covered it in herbs, garlic, and olive oil, and baked for an hour at 400F.
Tomato skins pulled off, everything pureed in the food processor, and now four meals' worth of sauce put away in the freezer. That's a nice feeling.
We're off to the woods of the Olympic Peninsula for the weekend, to see some good friends get hitched. See you next week!


text:
513228 Flash Animation needed (Banner)
Bütçe N/A
I need to animate the metal object on the image which is attached.
It should spin around itself that you can see it from each side in a smooth and endless animation.
I have about 10 very good quality images from this object all from a new angle. So it should be possible to produce a smooth turn.
But I want the text to be real text, as this "banner" will be on a website, where I have to translate the text into several languages depending on the page language session var.
(Alternatively the flash has to grab the translation from a language file searching for a token and returns the translated string. But I think there are other ways...)
As discussed in PMB.


text:
Vorgedanken (solo piano)
by Felix Werder (2002)
Score SampleView a sample of the score of this work
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Vorgedanken : piano solo / Felix Werder.
Library shelf no. Q 786.2/WER 2 [Available for loan]
Work Details
Year: 2002
Instrumentation: Piano.
Duration: 6 min.
Difficulty: Advanced — Professional.
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Reece's Page
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Last year the Smalley's went to Seneca lake. We rented a BIG cabin.This was wen we had our jet skies. We rode them like every day!!!!! Here, we r at a park right down from our cabin! But my FAVORITE part there was that there was a hot tube on our PORCH!!It was SOOOOOOOO nice. P.S. Sorry for not being on here that much!
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The beat into rid is currently trading at a rate of $1.307 against the US dollar
With no shortest economic data to refer to yet, traders have instead been target on the ongoing Brexit talks in Brussels.
Last week the pound was upgraded by the Government's acceptance of the fact that it will need to pay an EU exit neb.
Statements published so far this week, however, have been slightly teeny-weeny positive.
For example, a report published by three UK universities has argued that the boondocks could face food insecurity after Brexit. Composed by wizards in food policy, the report argues that the UK could face heinous prices and less import consistency after Brexit.
One of the report's framers, Tim Lang, has stated that the government is not giving food supplies adequately consideration during negotiations:
The current rate is down slight from its recent ten-month high of $1.311
"With the Brexit deadline in 20 months, this is a not joking policy failure on an unprecedented scale".
Another author of the report, Professor Erik Millstone, has emphasised the deficit of attention given to food:
"We are surprised at the failure of the government to address a gigantic set of issues related to food and agriculture. They give the impression of unwell of sleepwalking into this".
In essence, the report predicts that the UK may suffer from minimized food standards and a shortage of agricultural workers to collect produce after Brexit.
Dispatches reduced the odds of the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates for a third someday in 2017
On a more positive note, Brexit Secretary David Davis is resulting to Brussels for the second round of talks.
Laying out his intentions, Davis has circumstanced that he wishes to 'lift the uncertainty' for EU citizens in the UK and vice versa.
This is a strongly contentious issue for EU negotiators, so if a breakthrough is made then the rest of Brexit talks could go much more smoothly.
The drill into could advance against the US dollar on Tuesday when UK inflation counts are published. The stats are predicted to show a 2.9 per cent level of inflation on the year in June but a slowdown from 0.3 per cent to 0.2 per cent on the month.
The purge could advance against the US dollar on Tuesday when UK inflation sketches are published
Exchange rate: How to get the best deal on your feast money.
1 of 8
If inflation does hit 2.9 per cent, the pulp may appreciate as it would keep the pressure on the Bank of England (BofE) to ladies man UK interest rates.
Last Friday saw US retail sales and consumer self-assurance fall, as well as a slowdown in annual inflation.
These reports curtailed the odds of the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates for a third without delay in 2017, driving the US dollar lower in the process.
Today's most mighty US news will be the New York manufacturing index. The 'Empire State' is expected to discharge a slowdown in activity, which could help keep GBP/USD elevated.


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The Breathalyzer Guy Cometh
Hi All!
I just had my first visit from Breathalyzer Guy. He's been gone for awhile now, but I am still almost hyperventilating! Had an O'Doul's last night (all right, spare the lectures AA guys) and really had nothing to worry about, but I had a major anxiety attack seeing him pull into the driveway and emerging with his apparatus.
Blew a clean zero.
Feel like laying down for awhile.


text:
We had a great Infant Mental Health Meeting launching the 4th edition of The Baby as Subject Clinical Studies in Infant Parent Psychotherapy.
|Anne Morgan, Joanna Murray SMith
As well as my entries there are some newer entries and we had some readings from the book including brilliant Melbourne playwright Joanna Murray-Smith's, brilliant The Spare Room; A father confront his fatherhood.
|The Actor who performed the Monologue
To my embarrassment I can't remember his name!!
Teresa Russo is our current President and a parent of a past student of Celia's. As we sat there I was greeted by a vaguely familiar face and when told her name placed her as another parent! who is also the sister of a woman that Wendy and I met when we were in Istanbul.
So I took a photo and then 2 more arrived !! So I sent some pics to Celia and they all said Hi Celia!
Anne Morgan was there. Looking as elegant as an 80+ yr old great woman can, what a role model!
Campbell chaired the session, and altogether a great success
We were in the Gryphon gallery at the 1888 Building at University of Melbourne, that Maddy had said was where she went to Teachers College
|188 building on Grattan Street
|The Gryphon gallery. War memorial window
|Looking down stairs to the front door


text:
I have good news and bad news for you, with regard to this question.
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November 2, 2012
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT,v.LUIS MUNOZ-CHAIREZ, A/K/A LUIS MUNOZ, LUIS CHAIREZ, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Bergen County, Indictment No. 10-02-00302.
Per curiam.
Submitted April 18, 2012
Before Judges Sapp-Peterson and Ostrer.
After the court denied his motion to suppress evidence seized from a warrantless search of the vehicle in which he was traveling, defendant Luis Munoz-Chairez entered a conditional guilty plea to first degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and -5b(10)(a).
Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi sentenced defendant in accord with his plea agreement to a term of fifteen years, with a five-year period of parole ineligibility. Defendant now appeals from the denial of his suppression motion. We affirm.
We discern ample support in the record for Judge DeAvilaSilebi's fact-findings. See State v. Elders, 192 N.J. 224, 243 (2007) (appellate court must uphold trial court's fact findings on motion to suppress "so long as those findings are supported by sufficient credible evidence in the record") (quotation and citation omitted).
The court principally relied on the testimony of the sole witness at the hearing, Ft. Lee Police Officer Ricky Mirkovic, who initiated the motor vehicle stop and led the subsequent investigation. The court also relied on the on-board video recordings played in court, and the officer's written report. Officer Mirkovic had been a patrol officer for over seven years, and briefly served in a specialized narcotics unit until it was disbanded. He had made hundreds of drug stops, including five to ten involving a large quantity, such as over a pound of marijuana.
While observing traffic from a stationary position on Bergen Boulevard at around 10:10 p.m. on December 3, 2009, Officer Mirkovic observed a maroon Pontiac drive by in the left lane at around sixty mph, in a forty-five mph zone. The car had heavily tinted windows. The car's brake lights were illuminated and the car coasted into the right lane, then swerved back into the left lane. The officer began to follow. He observed the car had Arizona license plates. As he approached, it quickly moved into the right lane again and slowed by ten mph. Based on his experience, the officer perceived this to be an effort by the driver to let the officer pass, but the officer continued to follow, he in the left lane and the Pontiac in the right.
The Pontiac accelerated to the speed limit, the officer kept pace, and then the Pontiac illuminated its brake lights for four seconds. The Pontiac proceeded to a ramp leading to the entrance to the lower level of the George Washington Bridge. The officer activated his overhead lights to initiate a stop. The Pontiac and the officer stopped in a small triangular area, just beyond an overpass, with traffic passing on both sides. Although the officer stopped the Pontiac because of careless driving, failure to keep right, and tinted windows, his suspicions were aroused by the other circumstances, including the driver's erratic operation of the vehicle, his apparent desire to have the officer pass, the tinted windows that obscured the car's interior, and the out-of-state plates. He described the area as a high crime area, used for the transportation of illegal contraband.
The officer approached the driver's side to speak to the driver, Enrique Avila, Jr., and to request his driving credentials. Avila's hand was trembling as he handed the documents to the officer. Defendant was seated in the front passenger seat.
The officer smelled and observed one air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror, and three hanging from the left side of the steering wheel. This further aroused suspicions, because, based on his experience and training, multiple air fresheners were commonly used to mask the odor of illegal narcotics. The car was also strewn with food and food containers, indicating to the officer that Avila and defendant had taken a long trip. While traffic passed behind him, the officer asked Avila to exit the vehicle and walk to the rear of the Pontiac, where the officer could continue his questioning without the risk of getting sideswiped.
As evident from the video recording, the officer conducted his inquiry in a calm, conversational, and non-intimidating manner. He inquired about where Avila had come from and where he was going, who owned the Pontiac, how long they had traveled, and how many stops they made along the way. Avila said that defendant and he were on their way from Phoenix to Boston to visit Avila's grandmother and defendant's grandmother; the vehicle belonged to defendant's father; and they stopped twice on the two-day journey from Arizona. The officer was mindful that Phoenix, given its proximity to the Mexican border, was considered a "source city" for narcotics distribution.
The officer perceived Avila to be nervous; he avoided eye contact. During the officer's questioning, Avila repeatedly put his hands in his pockets, despite the officer's request that he not do so. Although it was early December, and Avila's hands might just have been cold, the officer expressed concern that Avila might be reaching for something. The officer patted Avila's pockets; felt a bulge; and detected Avila's ...
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Kate Spade Snowflake Gift Tags
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kate spade new york's favorite gifting essential? this shimmering set of wine tags (adorned with "to" and "from" on the back) that will instantly turn any bottle of bubbly into the toast of the town.
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In a feature I call "Your Turn," in which you, the readers, get to answer the question, I'm presenting the following letter without commentary from me:
In a feature I call "Your Turn," in which you, the readers, get to answer the question, I'm presenting the following letter without commentary from me:
May 28, 2012, 11:21 am
Stay calm and be polite. I was in this same spot about 4 years ago – my husband and I flew across the country for a family wedding (his family). We'd been dating about 2 years at that point without me ever meeting them, and because it was a wedding everyone who'd ever been vaguely associated with them showed up. And I met them all!
My advice is just relax; don't get your expectations too high. Get your girlfriend to tell you a little about each person (not "Uncle Henry drinks", more like "Uncle Henry really likes classic cars"). This will give you a good script to use: "Hi, Henry, nice to meet you! Girlfriend was telling me you're really into classic cars. Do you have one of your own?" Replace names and interests as necessary. If there's a conversation you don't quite understand (maybe a family in-joke), feel free to ask about it. Often there's a funny story there, and it's a good way to break into a conversation that might not otherwise include you.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself, and have a good time!
May 28, 2012, 1:00 pm
Avoid arguments on contentious political/social/religious topics. Treat your gf very well and without being hands all over her in public, make it clear how much you love and respect her. Her family and friends will be thinking foremost of whether or not you will make your gf happy and allow her room to grow. If they think you're good for her, they will warm to you. If gf is always catering to you and her personality disappears around you and family, then they will assume that is how you and she are alone. The success of the visit really depends as much upon her behavior as yours.
May 28, 2012, 1:02 pm
It would be great to know what type of family she has. Are they like mine and all up in your shit in or are they more reserved 'lets not talk about politics or religion' type (there are other types obviously, just mentioning some contrasting ones) . You say your family is wonderful but what does that mean to you? Keep in mind that definition will be different for different people. Also keep in mine your gf has gradually had time with your family so don't feel bad if you don't feel instantly connected or are turned off by one or two people. concentrate on the relationships that matter. If her dad and you don't get along that needs to be addressed or at least thought about but if its you and racist great aunt tilly then I would not sweat it.
May 28, 2012, 4:48 pm
1. I second the 'obey the house rules' motion. Regardless of how old-fashioned, restrictive, or bizarre those rules seem, going along with them as if they're obvious and easy to follow goes such a long way in establishing trust with her family. And don't complain about them to your girlfriend, even if she would agree that they're no fun. I had a boyfriend who constantly put me in that situation–he would go along with the rules, then tell me how unreasonable they were. I felt sleeping in separate rooms was silly, but at my parent's house, and me as an adult, it's about respect, and it really made me second-guess my relationship when my boyfriend criticized my family to me. Same goes for any other awkwardness, etc. If your girlfriend complains about her own family, listen, but don't join in. In your words and actions demonstrate graciousness and open-mindedness and respect.
2. When your girlfriend preps you on the types of awkward situations or differences of opinion that might come up, brainstorm how you might negotiate those moments. If a religious family member asks you if you're religious and you aren't, better to have a diplomatic evasion ready than to derail into an argument or sit there stammering and feel cornered.
–"I have so much respect for people who live by their beliefs—I'm still exploring my own feelings about what I believe."
–"Oh, no worries. I slept on a couch my whole last year at college, so I'll feel right at home."
–"Many of my friends are Democrats, but my favorite professor in college was a libertarian, and he gave me a lot to think about".
Etc. It seems very robotic and weird, but polite, slightly non-communicative phrases like these can diffuse potentially tense situations and show the family that you are committed to getting along and finding common ground. This first meeting is not the time for them to learn the depths and complexities of your soul, or to accept you despite your unconventional philosophies, etc. It's the ice-breaker, the time to demonstrate that you are a decent, gracious, appreciative person, someone they would like a chance to continue the conversation with at another time.
*before bringing food or alcohol gifts, double check with girlfriend about any allergies/diet restrictions/dry household precautions you should take.
May 29, 2012, 6:27 pm
"This first meeting is not the time for them to learn the depths and complexities of your soul, or to accept you despite your unconventional philosophies, etc."
So true. You have to first be accepted before people start to care about who you "really" are. Work on getting accepted first, then worry about being yourself.
It's sad, but people judge, especially the person their daughter/granddaughter/etc is bringing home. Hopefully you'll be walking into an accepting group of people, but it's always possible you won't be, so make sure you're prepared.
May 28, 2012, 4:58 pm
To clarify, I'm not advocating lying or not being yourself. If someone says something truly, deeply, horrifyingly offensive, of course you can tactfully stand up for yourself or others. You don't have to pretend you support the re-institution of Jim Crow laws, for instance, just to make a nice impression.
Be yourself, but be a smoothed over version that prioritizes the overall harmony of the visit over asserting your own personality.
Even as a feminist non-believing social progressive, I've known preachers I wholeheartedly admire, have bought the books of the great white male writers, etc. It's like 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon. No matter what bizarre thing someone believes, you can find a way to redirect the moment in a positive way.
Great Aunt: "I am scared of anyone who isn't white!"
You: "I see. Well, race is still such a complicated issue in America. I'm just going to see if they need help in the kitchen. Would you like me to grab you some more prune juice while I'm in there?"
Dad: "I collect guns. I collect all the guns I can. The government is gonna kick down our doors and take our money. I need guns, for when that happens."
You: "Wow. I have to say, I've never even fired a gun, maybe because I grew up in the suburbs. I really wish I'd had a great big yard like this one though. Where did you grow up?"
May 28, 2012, 6:47 pm
1. Always compliment the cooking. Always say thank you, for everything, no matter how small.
2. do little chores, spontaneously. help with the cleaning up after meals (no, not a half-hearted "need any help?" from the sofa)
3. avoid all arguments
4. NEVER criticize her (even in humor). Treat her like a princess, because they think she's one too.
5. Always defend her. Always take her side.
6. …. unless it's her parents, in which case sometimes it can really work in your favor to (gently) take their side over her.
7. be nice to everyone. Be, at minimum, cordial to people who she doesn't get along with; you haven't earned the right to be an ass to anyone. This is a common rookie mistake.
8. Always compliment the cooking; (yes, I know I already said this one)
9. With any luck, these people are your new best friends and your new family. Treat them accordingly.
May 28, 2012, 11:08 pm
Value everyone you meet for themselves. Try, as best you can, you take a genuine interest in the people who are important to your girlfriend.
Giving the impression that you are just being nice to them because of your girlfriend is the KISS OF DEATH. If you manage to give the impression that you'd be just as interested in them if your girlfriend wasn't around, they'll lap it up.
May 29, 2012, 1:54 am
Ignore them and say nothing.
If you must speak, memorize a few lines from the movie 300 and recite them with INTENSITY.
mom: would you like some more cabbage roll?
you : I WILL TAKE FROM YOU EVERYTHING AND GIVE YOU NOTHING!!
This will establish the appropriate distance in your relationship with her family, now and in the future.
May 29, 2012, 8:25 am
Since you're going to be there for so long, carve out a day or an afternoon for just the two of you to do something. You're going to need a few minutes to get away from all of the family time and decrompress.
And as all the posts above said- clean up after yourself, offer to help out, sleep at similar times as everyone else, mind your manors, and avoid sensitive subjects. And breathe.
May 29, 2012, 10:51 am
My dad still talks about this guy I dated in college who helped my stepmother carry in the groceries when she got home from the store at the same time he came over. Always help, LW, always help. Carry things, clear the table, do the dishes. It always works on my dad.


text:
Biting News of The Day – July 30th, 2005
Another ice lake was found in The Red Planet as a result of scientists struggle to search partners for mankind to share the world.
Still recovering from Tsunami, India has been hit by Monsoon rain that has taken up to 800 souls.
Foreign students are to be banned from moslem schools in Pakistan. Guess they have it enough being highlighted everytime someone blews up some caucasians, eh?
Commander of Discovery shuttle seems to have been disappointed because of the "debris incident" and said the crew was "surprised". Wonder what will happen to the morale level of the crew anyway? Anyway, they have prepared some spacewalk.
Two refinery and an offshore rigs fire were enough to drive oil price upward. I have been thinking if those accidents were caused by terrorism act under command of Dick Cheney?
Shall we welcome the latest of family member of our Solar System? Scientists are taking measurements whether we shall or not.
US oil firm returned to Libya after 19 years.
At least 14 people are injured in a crash between two rollercoaster cars at a Disney theme park in California.
Saddam was Aattacked.
I thought market domination through patenting public owned technology is microsoft's stuff, but it seems Google has tried to do the trick : trying to patent web syndication.
Bush is less and less popular. 44% approved him. The majority didn't.
Do you know that Mario is approahing the age of 20? Nintendo is preparing a surprise!!
Latest bombing in Iraq. Wonder if Dubya hear this tally daily?
tag: news