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Throughout the year, the Office of Admissions receives
notices of scholarships that are offered through external
organizations. Information about the scholarship awards
that are currently available is listed below. Award
notices are listed in the order in which they were received.
You may also find information on other outside scholarship
awards on the Internet. The following sites are useful
for finding scholarship and financial aid information:
NEW! Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship Award
Application Deadline: March 5, 2005
The Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) provides scholarships of $2,000 to Latino students attending law school in the U.S. PRBA selects recipients based on financial need and academic promise. All applicants must be a first or second year student (third year evening students are also eligible) in a J.D. degree program at an ABA approved law school. Students working toward their LL.M. are not eligible for this award. Applications are available in the Office of Admissions. For additional information, visit www.prldef.org.
NEW! Kankakee
County Society of Women in Law Scholarship
Extended Application Deadline: March 15, 2005
The Society of Women in Law (SWIL) Scholarship Committee
will award scholarships to deserving women law students
of an accredited Illinois law school. This year, two $1,000
scholarships are available to help defray the cost of law
school. To qualify, applicants must be a resident of Illinois
and any county other than Cook. The Scholarship Committee
will consider financial need, and applicants must document
their financial need when requested to do so. Additional
information is available in the Office of Admissions, Suite
NEW! Nordic
Law Club Scholarship Award
Application Deadline: December 15, 2004
The Nordic Law Club will offer a scholarship of $1,000
to a Chicago-Kent student interested in international law
who is in his/her final year of law school in 2004-05. Applicants
must demonstrate academic merit and financial need. Students
interested in applying for this award must submit a letter
of application to Nicole Vilches, Assistant Dean of Admissions,
describing their interest in international law, their academic
achievement, their current level of financial need, and
any other relevant factors. The recipient will be invited
to attend one of the Nordic Law Club's events for special
The Nordic Law Club has been a professional and social
organization for lawyers for over seventy years. Originally
named The Horned Helmet Drinking Society, it began as a
social club for lawyers of Scandinavian heritage. It has
since relaxed the membership requirements to include anyone
whose homeland was the site of a Viking raid, who has attended
a Victor Borge concert, seen the movie "The Vikings"
at least once, or who is acquainted with an individual in
one of the above categories. The club holds three to four
events each year, including a Scandinavian Smorgasbord dinner,
a golf outing and Probate Night, which is a gala held to
honor the probate judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Students interested in becoming members of the Nordic Law
Club should contact Patricia Oakley at (708) 923-6760.
NEW! Jewish
Vocational Service, Gertrude and Harry G. Fins Scholarship
Application Deadline: March 1, 2005
The Jewish Vocational Service of Metropolitan Chicago will
award scholarships from the Gertrude and Harry G. Fins Scholarship
Fund for the 2005-06 academic year. Awards typically range
from $1,000 to $5,000. To be eligible, you must: be Jewish;
be enrolled full-time at Chicago-Kent or one of the other
designated law schools; be domiciled in the Chicago metropolitan
community; establish financial need; and demonstrate career
promise. All applicants must be available for a personal
interview at the JVS offices prior to May 1, 2004. Applications
are available on the Jewish Vocational Service website at
(click on "Scholarship Services"), or by contacting
the JVS at (312) 673-3400 or by e-mail at email@example.com.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Academic Scholarship
Application Deadline: March 1, 2005
Educational scholarship funds from the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Chicago are available for law students for
the 2004-05 academic year. Scholarships are available
for Jewish students legally domiciled in the greater Chicago
metropolitan area who are identified as having promise for
significant contributions in their chosen careers, and who
are in need of financial assistance for full-time academic
programs. Applicants must be born and raised in either
Cook County, the Chicago metropolitan area, or Northwest
Indiana OR prior to starting professional education, worked
full-time for at least 12 months in Cook County or the Chicago
metropolitan area. Applicants must also intend to remain
in the Chicago metropolitan area after completing school.
Applications are available online at www.jvschicago.org
by clicking on the link for "Scholarship Services."
For additional information or questions, please call the
JVS Scholarship Secretary at (312) 673-3457 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Rotary Foundation Scholarships
Application Deadline: varies per Rotary district
check with your local Rotary Club
The Ambassadorial Scholarships program seeks to further
international understanding and friendly relations among
people of different countries. The program sponsors several
types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students
as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational
studies. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of
goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations
about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups.
Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others
the experiences that led to greater understanding of their
host countries.
Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide
funding for one academic year of study in another country.
This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation,
tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational
supplies up to US$25,000 or its equivalent.
Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for
either two or three years of degree-oriented study in
another country. A flat grant of approximately US$12,500
or its equivalent is provided per year to be applied toward
the costs of a degree program.
Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either
three or six months of intensive language study and cultural
immersion in another country.
Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide
funding for one academic year of study in another country.
This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation,
tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational
supplies up to US$25,000 or its equivalent.
Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for
either two or three years of degree-oriented study in
another country. A flat grant of approximately US$12,500
or its equivalent is provided per year to be applied toward
the costs of a degree program.
Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either
three or six months of intensive language study and cultural
immersion in another country.
Individuals interested in applying for an Ambassadorial
Scholarship should contact their local Rotary Club for an
application and to inquire about scholarship availability.
Since scholarship availability is determined by Rotarian
contributions at the local level, not all Rotary clubs will
offer scholarships, nor will all types of scholarships necessarily
be available in a given year. Application deadlines
are set by individual clubs. Detailed information and applications
are available on the Rotary Foundation website at www.rotary.org.
For a complete list of the awards that have been posted
in the 2004-05 Record, click
here. Although the application deadlines for these awards
have already passed, this information can aid you in planning
for next year by assisting you in determining the time of
year that certain awards are typically offered. You
may also access a complete list of the 2003-04 scholarship
notices by clicking here.
If you have been awarded a Chicago-Kent scholarship for
the 2004-05 academic year, please refer to the Scholarship
Policies from the current Student Handbook for important
information concerning your award. Please direct any
questions about your scholarship to the Office
of Admissions, Suite 230.
Main Chicago-Kent event
Academic calendar
CLE calendar
Alumnae/i event calendar
Admissions calendar


text:
14 Essential Tips to Help You Avoid Family Drama on Your Wedding Day
My wedding could not have been more straight forward. The first for both of us. No kids. Parents who had stayed married and were previously believed to be nice. But then, in a flash, we went from Royal Wedding to A Nightmare on Elm Street, culminating in my otherwise lovely mother-in-law's snarling to my husband (about me), "Why don't you just put a ring through your nose and let her lead you around on it?"
There's a reason why Romeo and Juliet eloped and millions of couples have followed suit. Weddings can turn hairline fractures into full-blown family breaks, and no bride wants to perform triage in a long white gown between the first dance and the cake cutting. "There's nothing like a wedding to bring up unresolved tensions in a family," says Bonnie Maslin, Ph.D., a psychologist and marriage specialist. "Good moments can also make people recall their not-so-good ones."
There we are, declaring endless love—in public, no less—while dealing with logistical issues that make a military coup seem like a day at the spa. Lucky generals: They don't have to spend their time soothing the ego of a sibling who feels shafted, or running interference between a seething mother and a father's new 25-year-old girlfriend.
With so many personalities and grievances in the mix, it's impossible to please everyone, as my friend Rita* learned: "My parents are divorced, so I tried to involve both parents in the wedding planning equally," she says. "But my father insisted on paying for the entire wedding—and inserting himself into the decision-making process—and my stepmother wanted me to put her name on the invitation rather than my mother's. I put all three names on the invite, end of story, but I was constantly put in the middle, unable to focus on my fiancé and what was important to him."
Another friend with divorced parents, Suzanne, whose father had been absent throughout most of her childhood, chose to ask her mother to walk her down the aisle. Despite this gesture, her mother continued to complain angrily about her father's presence, while her father took every opportunity to make his own hurt feelings known. "Let's just say picture-taking was awkward," says Suzanne.
Even the closest bond between siblings can fray in the face of nuptial pressures. I attended a garden wedding where Donna, the bride's older, unmarried sister (and maid of honor) expressed her ambivalence by reaching over midway through the ceremony and clocking the bride on the arm. When asked about the incident later, she smiled and said, "Oh, I was just killing a mosquito." (There was definitely no mosquito.)
And yet, the happiest weddings I have attended are those that could easily have been the most complicated. What has made them joyful is that the involved parties have acted with grace and generosity. In other words, they acted like adults. The in-laws who felt slighted, the mother who dreaded seeing her ex-husband with his much younger wife, the fiancés who stressed about how to handle that same encounter—all of them leaned on their friends, rather than gossiping and sniping. They kept the focus where it belonged: on the couple.
Jennifer, whose parents divorced acrimoniously after 23 years, explained to both before the event how important it was to her that they get along. The result? When she had a meltdown about a detail gone wrong, both her mother and father huddled with her in support. "The photographer caught that very tender moment of both parents' communicating their love for me simply by being there. It's one of my favorite photos in the entire wedding album," she says. This family proved that even the deepest divides can be bridged, at least temporarily—and that is something worth celebrating.
My late father was a psychiatrist who believed firmly in rites of passage. A wedding, he explained, is sacrosanct; we are making a promise in front of the people who may well be the ones who help keep the marriage together through hard times. It might be tempting to sneak off to the Maldives, where no snarky stepchild, overbearing mother-in-law, or divorced parents will attend with their entailed dramas. But if we're lucky, it is these people whom we will call when the going gets rough, who will remind us of anger's fleeting nature and steer us back on course.
Now, looking back, I can see that my mother-in-law's vitriol came less from anger than from hurt that decisions about the most important event in her son's life had been made without her, and that this was a portent of things to come. A wedding doesn't mark just the emergence of a new family of two, but also a dramatic rearrangement of the old. It's a change that is almost as profound for parents as it is for the bride and groom. But my mother-in-law and I loved each other before we started planning a wedding, and we have grown to love each other more with every passing year. She has come to see the strength of her son's and my union, and we have both discovered that our lives are far happier lived as allies than as competitors.
I learned that the most important skill a bride can have is mindfulness—not only of her family members' situations, but of the person to whom she is pledging lifelong devotion. "Standing together as a couple from the beginning," says Maslin, "is the key to making both a wedding and a marriage work—one that no mother or mother-in-law can tear apart."
14 Tips to Help Keep the Peace
You may not be able to eliminate the crazy, but there are ways to minimize it.
1. Unite In Prematrimony
"Don't have a single conversation with your family about wedding details in which you and your fiancé are not united," says Bonnie Maslin.
2. Outsource Make an appointment with your fiancé to see a neutral party (therapist, minister) to discuss potential issues and how to handle them together.
3. Tweak Tradition
Relatives angling, elbows out, for honors? Consider walking the aisle solo or nixing a bridal party.
4. Enlist an Emotional Ombudsman
Rely on a friend for counsel and deflection.
5. Get Creative
For instance: "If your mom is single, ask if she wants to bring a buddy for support," advises Maslin.
6. Be Generous
Consider putting all parents on the invitation, regardless of who's paying. If they feel invested, they're likely to behave better.
7. Allot Time to Talk
Announce to your family that you'll be free to discuss nonlogistical wedding issues for an hour a week at a specific time. Then stick to that.
8. Take Charge
You don't have to bow down reflexively to every person's needs. Make sure you and your fiancé feel comfortable with the decisions being made.
9. Lighten up
If you can hold onto your sense of humor when all those around you are losing theirs, you might just have the time of your life.
10. Practice Non-Avoidance
"People think talking about a situation will stir it up, but the opposite is true," says Bonnie Maslin. "A mother who is given the chance to say, It kills me that your father is going to be there with his new wife,' is the mother who is less likely to throw a glass of champagne in anger."
11. Channel Oprah
"Start conversations with questions," says Maslin. "Don't interrogate, which can create defensiveness. Instead, be open to discovery. If your dad has a potential issue, ask, Is this hard for you?' "
12. Respond, Don't React
"Responding means you've had an intervening thought, such as, This situation is complicated for this person," she says. "Don't act in kind but in kindness. You can't go wrong with empathy."
13. Take a Time-Out
You don't have to RSVP yes to every fight you're invited to. If your sister starts getting feisty, Maslin counsels, "say, This isn't going to be productive.' " Raise the topic again when tempers cool.
14. Strike the Right Tone
"Instead of saying to your fiancé, I hate your mother, so you need to talk to her,' try, This is a painful situation for me, and I need your help to get through it.' It's the difference between asking someone to have your back and demanding that they execute your need."
* All names have been changed to protect the brides.
This story originally appeared in a print issue of Glamour.
Need some women who are always gracious to help ground you? Here are three of our favorites:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Comprehensive DescriptionRead full entry
DescriptionThe ringed seal Phoca hispida is member of the 'true seal' family. Like all true seals, it has a tapering and pointed muzzle, small, clawed pectoral flippers, and small hind flippers that cannot rotate under the body. Like similar species, it has beaded whiskers on the muzzle. The ringed seal is quite a plump seal, with a small head and a short, thick neck. It can reach 1.6 m in length. It has a short muzzle and large conspicuous eyes. It is most easily recognised by the light rings it has all over its upper body. The background colour is variable but normally medium to dark grey above and light grey below.


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Kershaw County's insurance carrier will pay former Kershaw County Sheriff Steve McCaskill $75,000 to settle his defamation lawsuit against the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO). The lawsuit and four others were originally directed against current Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews as an individual over comments he made soon after taking office in 2011. However, Matthews has maintained he was speaking as a county official, so all the lawsuits were redirected against the KCSO.
Kershaw County School District (KCSD) personnel teamed up to create a brand new parenting class designed to show Kershaw County parents how to lead by example.
More than 70 adult students received their GEDs or high school diplomas from the Kershaw County School District (KCSD) Adult Education program this year.
The Kiwanis Club of Camden celebrated 75 years of community service in May by participating in an international effort to help eliminate maternal and neo-natal tetanus (MNT). The club celebrated its birthday at its regular May meeting. Members enjoyed cake and listened to Stuart Robinson, a member of the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division's bomb squad, talk about his experiences with everything from robots to the 2006 Elizabeth Shoaf kidnapping case.
The Kershaw County Board of School Trustees is set to approve its preliminary 2013-14 budget of around $69 million at its meeting Tuesday night. That is despite the fact that Kershaw County Council has yet to respond to the Kershaw County School District's (KCSD) millage request. In addition, as of Friday, South Carolina legislators had yet to pass the Fiscal Year 2014 state budget.
One of the neat things about being a reporter is all the inside scoops you get.
Mrs. Edna Saxton, 71, of 1123 Hwy 1 North, Camden, C, passed on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later date by Haile's Funeral Home.
The Camden Historic Landmarks Commission (CHLC) presented five awards to community members at Camden City Council's meeting Tuesday night.
Midway Elementary School (MES) students are already thinking about their future careers.
Students at Camden and Jackson elementary schools can take fewer trips to the library this summer since the S.C. Department of Education (DOE) gave students at both schools nine books each.
Two men posing as cable company employees robbed a home on Thorton Drive in Elgin at gunpoint May 22.
Kershaw County citizens have helped the Kershaw County School District (KCSD) get an idea of what it needs to present to voters in order to get a Phase II bond referendum passed. Phase II delineates projects remaining following new school construction and renovations funded by a 2006 Kershaw County Board of School Trustees-approved $102 million installment purchase plan, or IPP.
I'm planning my first trip to New York in June and I am so excited!
Kelly Services will provide contract substitute teachers to the Kershaw County School District (KCSD). However, the vote to do so was split, 5-4, among members of the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees at their meeting Tuesday.
A Camden woman who died Tuesday night after she hit a 1990 Ford Pickup truck on Brewer Spring Road, Camden may have been on her cell phone, according to Kershaw County Coroner Johnny Fellers.
Page 10 of 33
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CLEVELAND (AP) - February 18, 2012 --Damion Lee scored 18 points and Drexel used a strong first half to pull away for a 69-49 win over Cleveland State on Saturday.
Daryl McCoy had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Dragons (23-5), who won their 15th consecutive game in the Bracket Buster matchup. Sammie Givens had eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Drexel took a 19-3 lead on a layup by Chris Fouch. The Dragons went into halftime with a 16-point lead and claimed a 60-31 lead - their largest of the game - on Fouch's 3-pointer.
Fouch and Frantz Massenat each finished with 10 points for Drexel.
Trevon Harmon scored 23 points and was the only player to score in double figures for Cleveland State (20-8), which has lost four straight. The Vikings struggled from the field, shooting 27 percent (17 of 63) and made 7 of 28 shots from beyond the arc.


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By Marc Livitz at ringside in Las Vegas: "May Day", as the weekend's promotion was called proved to be a state of emergency for only one man in the ring tonight and it was not Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Jr. In front of a sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Floyd didn't look like a year of inactivity, a short stint in jail or thirty six years of age was any sort of factor. He practically steamrolled over Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero tonight in a showdown for welterweight supremacy. The Ring Magazine championship as well as Mayweather's WBC welterweight title was at stake.
The opening bell sounded. Each fighter came out jabbing at the other. Guerrero landed a small left hook during the first of many clinches in the first round. Floyd didn't seem to have lost much of his speed. He had Guerrero missing at times.
Mayweather connected with a quick fire right shortly thereafter. The sold out arena at the MGM went wild whenever Guerrero connected with a shot to Floyd. He landed a good overhand left right after Mayweather had dodged one. Floyd caught Robert flush with a right hand just as the bell sounded to end the second. He landed another solid right about ten seconds into round three. Guerrero was now on the chase.
Floyd knew to hold whenever Robert got too close. Floyd crouched at times and began to time Guerrero to his advantage. He tagged Guerrero multiple times with quick rights and moved around the ring with his signature velocity. Less than a minute into the fourth, Floyd popped Robert with a big right which caused Guerrero's head to snap back.
Robert was beginning to look frustrated. Floyd was connecting with his left jab as well. He followed up with a powerful left with about twenty seconds to go. About forty five seconds into round number five, Mayweather got in yet another thudding right to Guerrero's head. Robert did somewhat land a right/left combination on Mayweather, but that would be the best he would have to give.
The middle rounds easily followed the same pattern. Throughout rounds six through eight and quite frankly onward, Mayweather, Jr. would easily slip away from the path of anything Guerrero threw at him. He would land right after right on a consistent basis. The seventh round was particularly slow, but Floyd continued to connect with the right and had Robert swinging into the night air. Mayweather was still simply too fast.
Floyd got in a strong left in the eighth. He connected with another powerful right to close the round and some fans in attendance were booing the action. Robert's left eye showed considerable damage when the ninth round began. Floyd seemed to be having fun and was using his trademark shoulder roll defense to sheer perfection. He got in a quick two punch combination and was popping Guerrero straight on.
Mayweather deflected shots from Guerrero when his Gilroy, California opponent chased him into a corner in round ten. He got in some body shots as well. By this time, some fans were headed for the exits. Floyd tagged Robert with a straight right from a crouched position in round eleven. He landed left/right combinations almost at will. As the two combatants walked to the center of the ring to began the twelfth and final round, each man showed the other true appreciation after weeks of consistent banter between the two camps.
Floyd moved, dodged, ducked and slipped all night long and the last round of the evening was no exception. He connected with a few more strong rights and as was the case the entire contest, Robert Guerrero just could not hit him. The bell sounded and there was never any confusion of the decisive victor. Judges Duane Ford, Julie Lederman and Jerry Roth all submitted identical scorecards of 117-111. Lederman had Guerrero winning the first, seventh and twelfth rounds. Roth gave Guerrero the same. Duane Ford gave the second, seventh and final round to Robert.
The stats told the story. Of 581 punches thrown by Guerrero, he landed only 113 for 19%. By contrast, Mayweather threw out 476 and connected on 195 of them for 41%. The most staggering figure however was in the power punch category. Floyd was 153 for 254 for an astonishing 60%
This was another Mayweather masterclass. He indicated that he may be in the hunt for a September bout, although he would not commit to a speculative date for a showdown with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Mexican Independence Day weekend. He remains perfect at (44(26)-0), while Guerrero was dealt a defeat for the second time in his career and now hold a record of (31(18)-2-1).
Other results
vacant NABF middleweight title J'Leon Love w pts 10 Gabriel Rosado vacant USBA super bantamweight title Leo Santa Cruz w tko 5 Alexander Munoz light heavyweight Badou Jack w tko 3 Michael Gbenga super middleweight Luis Arias w pts 6 DonYil Livingston super middleweight Ronald Gavril w tko 3 Roberto Yong super middleweight Lanell Bellows w tko 4 Matt Garretson
© 2000 - 2011 Knockout Entertainment Ltd & SecondsOut.com


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Let me first say that I like Service Broker. I think it's a great addition to SQL Server.
I've explained a bit about it here.
But if you're not carefull you can get weird things happening to you without apparent reason.
So what happened?
Well first i've changed my receiver stored procedure a bit. This resulted in an error when i tried sending new messages.
And from then on all hell broke loose. My error table grew by the second with new rows all containing the same error message:
The service queue "TargetQueue" is currently disabled
CPU was peaking at 100% , I/O was going crazy and I had no idea what to do.
After a few minutes of thinking i simply deleted the service and the madness stopped.
But why this helped??
Well it helped because there was no more service but that was a brute force fix.
The answer to what was going on was pretty simple (isn't it always? :)) in the end: Message poisoning.
If your RECEIVE statement can't process and thus rolls back the transaction returning the message to the queue 5 messages in a row,
the queue gets turned off and you get what is known as message poisoning. Also when this happens Service Broker generates
a Broker:Queue Disabled event.
There is no automatic way to handle Message Poisoning after the queue gets turned off so you have to handle this yourself.
You can have a counter of concurrent failed messages and when it reaches say 4 you do some action.
Another way is to either remove the failed item from the queue in your Catch block or simply end the conversation like this:
END CONVERSATION '12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-56789abcdef1'
WITH ERROR = 127 DESCRIPTION = N'Unable to process message.' ;
Where the guid is your conversation handle.
The moral of the story?
Print | posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 8:46 PM |
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Adam Bolonsky submits-
Mitchell Hsing and Isabel Brachmann, grad students at MIT (who said only nerds go to MIT?) recently swam the perimeter of Straitsmouth Island from Gap Head in less than 25 minutes. Their coach Bill Steele and I escorted them in kayaks.
Fish tacos afterwards at Cape Ann Brewing Company!
Here's a video clip. You can clearly see Twin Lights at Thachers and Straitsmouth Island light in the background:
Joe "The Animal" Barboza was flown to Thachers Island each night by helicopter in the late 60's while testifying against the New England mob. When Barboza's cover at Thachers was blown, federal marshals moved him to a house on Eastern Point.
Barboza was gunned down a few years later in Southern California.
This was back in the day when the Coast Guard radio station at Gap Head was still in operation.


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(* thought it was five but realised I'd not put one in my diary)
But all that pales into insignificance when you're trying to get a novel started. As I am. Desperately, because it would have been so great to have the first chapter written before August came and then it could mull away in my brain and I'd be ready to leap back in in September. But it's not working. The voice isn't coming. Why? Because I'm simply not ready. I haven't had enough time (or the right sort of time) to let the characters, particularly the main one whose voice it will mostly be, grow inside me and begin to talk.
Thing is - and here's my learning point for this post - you should never write until your characters are clamouring to get out of your head, till they're pestering you day and night, rattling their cage, till they start to force your hands to move over the keyboards, till, in short, they absolutely demand that their voices are heard.
In fact, Howard Nemerov said that writing was like the relationship with your bowels (stay with me): "First you can, then you can't, finally you must: only then should you reach for the paper ..."
I've talked about voice before - see here. Voice is not something you can order about. Voice has to come somewhat mysteriously, at least partially of its own accord. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. But you have to get it right and you have to nurture it very, very subtly, in a hands-off kind of way - though with utter ruthless control, too. If you don't get it right, your fabulous plot is stuffed. To be honest, in my case I don't have a fabulous plot either, but that's because for me voice comes first, plot follows; because the plot depends on the characters' actions and the characters' actions depend on their voice and the book's voice. I know, you'd think it was the other way round - but think about it, play with it, and see what happens to your relationship with your book when you do. Does it become more real?
So, what's this got to do with getting out more? In the words of my favourite film**, a lot.
I've noticed for a long time that different environments make me more or less creative. You've probably noticed the same. It's not surprising or rocket science. But there is some science behind it. This article in Sciam Mind is pretty eye-opening: it suggests that we are more creative in rooms with higher ceilings, for example. The article mentions research in which two groups of people were given a task. One group was in a room with an 8-foot ceiling and the other was in a room with a 10-foot ceiling. The second group came up with more abstract, imaginative and creative ideas.
In terms of ceilings, what greater ceiling can you have than the sky? I know that when my writing is stuck the only answer is to go for a walk, not to stay at my desk. "Environmental psychology" now explains it. And there's even a word for the tendency of people to work better when they can at least see a natural scene instead of a brick wall - biophilia. Love it! I am a biophiliac, not a drifter who keeps going outside instead of "working".
So, since I'm throughly blocked, writing-wise, I'm going to take Nemerov's advice and not reach for the paper yet. I'm going to get out, outside, out of my study, out of myself, into the biggest ceiling I know. I know from experience, and therefore have to trust, that this will work - ideas will come when I give them space. I'm going to stop trying to force this character to speak before she's ready; she must grow slowly, and one day, soon probably, she'll hit me between the eyes with her power and reality; she'll start yelling to be heard.
I just hope I'm not in the middle of doing an event when she does it. Pretty high ceilings those book festival tents have ...
Meanwhile, here's a picture of my husband (the one on the left) "standing and staring" beside a statue. The plaque in front of them is the first verse of that fab poem by William Henry Davies, titled Leisure. Obviously, I can't print it all here, or I'd be breaking the laws of copyright (by one year ...) but I think that "fair use" allows me to quote the first two lines:
What is this life if, full of care,Of course, if I were to be imprisoned for not doing jury service, I may have quite a lot of time to stand and stare. Mind you, I could get a great novel written.
We have no time to stand and stare?
** Pay attention at the back: Life of Brian. Could it be any other?
And while you're still with me, and talking about getting out more, I thought I'd show you this photo of the results of my minor gardening escapade during which I created an "alittlement" some weeks ago. These are the beans growing in two pots. Jack, where are you?
And finally, after writing this blog post, I decided I would practise what I was preaching and get out. So I did, and all the way up to my favourite hill in Edinburgh I walked. Considering I live in the middle of a city and it only took me twenty minutes to walk here, I think it's pretty inspirational for a writer to have that on her doorstep. No excuses for crappy writing, I'd say. The shot at the end is Edinburgh Castle - which you need me to tell you, as you'd never guess. I suggest you play it with your sound off - it's damned windy today (which is why I am wobbling a lot).


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The Star Wars Clone Wars Thread
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Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
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by Zechs » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:11 pmNever saw the movie that came out in August due to saving cash. But caught this tonight. It was pretty good.
The first episode with Yoda was the best of the two with him and four troopers taking on an entire droid division with limited weapons.
The second one it was good, and damn the animation with the ships is just beautitful. About the only negative would be they gave the Battle Droids wise cracking personalities. Though surprised their showing death on a kids tv show (some clone troopers get killed alien style with the Sepratists cracking their escape pods) and a dead body left hanging in another.
I think I'll tune in for more espically if they bring in Durge (given they love using Ventress where's the love for the other character introduced in said original?).
However, dear God in heaven.. they're going to have a Jar Jar centric episode. May God save us all for those who watch it.
by Strict31 » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:35 pmI don't like how stiff and jerky the animation of the characters is. The art style is not particularly to my tastes, but I see no problem with it.
Anakin's padawan seems a bit young to be wearing so little clothing.
Something doesn't track. Anakin shouldn't yet be a master, and the explanation given for why he's been given a padawan doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Maybe they explained this shit better in the movie, which, as I understand it was just three episodes of the show bound together. Her voice actress is kind of annoying.
I was however, greatly pleased to see clones dying horribly. This gives me a warm feeling. I hope to see other examples of death in this show. Fuck the kids, this shit comes on at 9. The previews seem to suggest an upcoming large space battle, so I'm looking forward to that.
Not looking forward to Jar-Jar. It's almost like Lucas and his staff know how much fanboys hate that cocksucker and they keep putting him into Star Wars to fuck with us.
The silliness of the battle droids should be kept to a minimum. And by "minimum" I really mean "zero."
The ships are very well rendered. Perhaps the best thing about the entire show.
by Zechs » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:48 pm
Eh Anakin's Padawan wasn't too annoying to me compared to the droids. As for him being given a padawan.. like Yoda said once in first cartoon Clone Wars (and hinted at in AoTC) that they where losing experienced Jedi left and right thus Anakin got promoted to Jedi Knight. And with all these corps of Padawans and the lack of Jedi Masters, Anakin got stuck with a padawan.
Plus you saw that previews that Grievous fights some Clone Troopers and appears to hand them their asses until the Padawan shows up. So I'm expecting death in that too.
From the previews they had last week, I can't wait to see the Grievous centric episode where we see his castle which looks like something out of an old Universal Frankenstein movie.
And it looks like their keeping the silliness of the Battle Droids just to the regular ones not the heavy armed ones with that debuted in AoTCs, thank God.
by Zechs » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:52 pmMost of the animation style does borrow from Gendy's Clone Wars. Such as the Yoda, Palpatine, and Obi-Wan styles. Ventress though got more detailed.. can't wait to see again Durge.
by Strict31 » Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:56 pm
The explanation is that by having a Padawan, it would teach Anakin to let go of his sense of attachment.
It's like teaching someone to love puppies by ramming puppies up their ass until they spit fur. Either no one put much thought into that, or they put too much thought into it.
by Zechs » Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:07 pm
Well that padawan does have the puppy eyes sooo..
Still they better have Grevious as a bad ass. I notice they didn't go for the coughing fit keeping up with Gendy's Clone Wars.
by ****** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:34 pmI liked the movie and both episodes tonight. I agree that the explanation for why Anakin has a padawan is completely forced, but I like the dynamic between the two and it's gone a long way towards making Anakin not so much of a whiny bitch. I like his character infinitely more in this series than I ever did in the live action stuff.
I don't think the animation tonight was as refined as it was in the movie, but I think it worked well enough.
by Zechs » Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:35 pm
Well there's not much for him to whine about in this. He's got all he's ever wanted. The power to lead troopers and is now been given a padawan. Make's me wonder if he considers the stuff in Gendy's 2nd half of Clone Wars and then RoTS a downgrade.
by Royal Nonesuch » Sat Oct 04, 2008 12:08 amSo where exactly does this series take place in relation to Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars? Or is this a reboot?
by Zechs » Sat Oct 04, 2008 12:15 am
It takes place shortly after the middle of Season 2 episode 1 after Mundi, Shaak Ti, and that other female Jedi are saved by the Arc Troopers from Grievous. The Jedi Council learn of Grievous and the fact he's killing Jedi and then make Anakin a Jedi Knight given the lack of Masters they have. It take's place during that montage of actions Anakin does during that.
So right after Anakin looses the ponytail and gets R2 from Padme.
by avengingtitan » Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:21 amI really liked the first episode but that second one was painful.
by Zechs » Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:33 am
I dunno the Battle Droids merrily hymming as they broke a escape pod was sick and twisted.
by DeadFett » Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:32 amI have both episodes recorded on my DVR. I can't wait to watch them.
by HNutz » Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:46 am
How did Asaji survive?
I think this scene loses a LOT if she survives the fall and everything.... not to mention the fact that Yoda's and Qui-Jon's outrage doesn't make sense.
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This past holiday weekend I really cut loose and and smoked two good cigars. I had my eye on the Ashton VSG Robusto that had been sitting in my humidor for a week or two, and just couldn't wait any longer. The Diamond Crown Maximus was an unplanned follow up base on the recommendation of the local respected tobacconist.
Since I did enjoy both, I thought it might make for an interesting review to compare my experience with the two. I've never written a cigar review before, and I'm still learning the appropriate terminology to describe the flavors I enjoy. But I have been reading reviews for a while, and I've really been enjoying the video reviews on the Stogie Review website. (At first I didn't know how video would add anything, but I'm impressed at how much more comprehensive a video review actually is.)
Without further ado, here's my notes:
|Ashton VSG
|Diamond Crown Maximus
|The Burn
|Good burn, a bit faster than I would have liked, but it burned evenly.
|I had a heck of a time keeping this cigar burning evenly. I was continually touching it up.
|The Flavor
|A good rich, nutty flavor.
|The first 3rd of it was enjoyably earthy. The flavor diminished afterward.
|The Draw
|A great, satisfying volumne of smoke, very little effort required.
|This always appeared visually to have a good quanitity of smoke, but I had to really work on it to get a comparable amount of smoke. I resorted to recutting and pinching the end to try to loosen the draw, but it didn't work.
|The Environment
|A warmer, but drafty location indoors. (May increased the burn rate.)
|A colder location outdoors. (May have led to the perception of less smoke.)
|The Winner
|Clearly Superior
|I think this cigar may had some structural trouble that essentially ruined 2/3 of the smoke. I actually may get another one of these to give it a chance to improve its ranking.
|Favorite Part
|I love the first half of this cigar. After about the first half, it got a bit stronger, and my head got a bit lighter. UPDATE: I tried the Torpedo size during my week off with a young tawny port wine. This really helped with both the light-headedness, and some of the roughness on the back of the throat.
|The first 3rd of this cigar was really enjoyable, before the burn and draw trouble. My reason for wanting to try this cigar again is based on this experience.
I encourage you to leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Did you like this cigar vs. cigar approach to reviewing? I've never seen it done before, but it seemed like it might be fun to do as well as read.
Oh yeah, and don't take it personally if I don't respond to your comments right away. I'll be on vacation for about a week. But rest assured, I will read them, and I'll try to check in a couple of times during my trip.
UPDATE: I've noticed that one of the Cigar related blogs I've been reading put up a 2007 Battle of Cigars based on reader votes. I'd like to think I inspired the cigar vs. cigar battle (it did come 4 days after I put this post up). 🙂 Regardless of the source, I like the idea, and encourage you to try the cigar pairings listed and vote.
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Taking the first step can be overwhelming. At MacCloskeyKesler our goal is to help you with any need you have. We would be happy to set up an appointment for a free consultation to discuss your case.
We're here to help any way we can and make the process a little easier for you. Email us with your questions or concerns regarding your case and we'd be happy to discuss them with you.
Sometimes clients don't know what to do next after an injury or death, or know if they even have a case. Here are some frequently asked questions to help get you started.


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Mont Saint Michel
Earth : Europe : France : Northern France : Normandy : Lower Normandy : Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint Michel [1] (often written Mont St Michel, with other variations) is a small UNESCO World Heritage site located on an island just off the coast of the northern French region of Normandie. The island is best known as the site of the spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town.
Mont Saint Michel was officially inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Mont-Saint-Michel was used in the 6th and 7th centuries as an Armorican stronghold of Romano-Breton culture and power, until it was ransacked by the Franks, thus ending the trans-channel culture that had stood since the departure of the Romans in AD 460.
Before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century, the island was called "monte tombe". According to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. Aubert repeatedly ignored the angel's instruction, until Michael burned a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger.
The mount gained strategic significance in 933 when William "Long Sword", William I, Duke of Normandy, annexed the Cotentin Peninsula, definitively placing the mount in Normandy. It is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry which commemorates the 1066 Norman conquest of England. Harold, Earl of Wessex is pictured on the tapestry rescuing two Norman knights from the quicksand in the tidal flats during a battle with Conan II, Duke of Brittany. Norman Ducal patronage financed the spectacular Norman architecture of the abbey in subsequent centuries.
In 1067, the monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel gave its support to duke William of Normandy in his claim to the throne of England. It was rewarded with properties and grounds on the English side of the Channel, including a small island located to the west of Cornwall, which was modeled after the Mount, and became a Norman priory named St Michael's Mount of Penzance.
During the Hundred Years' War, the English made repeated assaults on the island, but were unable to seize it due to the abbey's improved fortifications. Les Michelettes – two wrought-iron bombards left by the English in their failed 1423–24 siege of Mont-Saint-Michel – are still displayed near the outer defense wall.
When Louis XI of France founded the Order of Saint Michael in 1469, he intended that the abbey church of Mont Saint-Michel be the chapel for the Order, but because of its great distance from Paris, his intention could never be realized.
The wealth and influence of the abbey extended to many daughter foundations, including St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. However, its popularity and prestige as a centre of pilgrimage waned with the Reformation, and by the time of the French Revolution there were scarcely any monks in residence. The abbey was closed and converted into a prison, initially to hold clerical opponents of the republican régime. High-profile political prisoners followed, but by 1836, influential figures – including Victor Hugo – had launched a campaign to restore what was seen as a national architectural treasure. The prison was finally closed in 1863, and the mount was declared a historic monument in 1874. The Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979, and it was listed with criteria such as cultural, historical, and architectural significance, as well as human-created and natural beauty. [2]
Get in
By car
Driving is by far and away the most efficient way of visiting Mont Saint Michel. Within the region of Normandy, drive from Caen along the A84 south-west to Pontorson, then continue a few more kilometres to Avranches. Merge with the D43, following the signs to its Mont-St-Michel at its end. Parking costs €6.
From Paris the total driving time is about 4.5 hours.
By train + bus
There are no direct train services between Paris and Mont St Michel, but rail travel to the island is nonetheless feasible. The best option is the TGV from Gare Montparnasse to Rennes, where a bus run by "Keolis Emeraude (ex Courriers Bretons)"(tel. 02-99-19-70-70, http://www.destination-montstmichel.com;) provides a 90 minute transfer to the island (there are 4 departures from Rennes per day, most departures are timed to match to the arrival of the TGV in Rennes). The bus station is immediately outside the Rennes train station, at a bus terminal building on your right, after leaving the station by the north exit. The bus costs €11.40 , with a reduction to €8.60 for people under 25 or older than 60, a it's free for children under 12. Bus tickets are sold by the driver when boarding the bus, and in advance at the bus terminal.
Another option is to take a TGV train to the Pontorson-Mont St Michel train station (up to 4 a day), with a stopover in Rennes. The Pontorson train station is no more than 15 minutes from Mont St. Michel. Buses are available several times a day. You can get a schedule from the Pontorson train station.
There are also two buses daily from Saint-Malo to Pontorson (line 17, 1 hour, 3.20 € single trip), which are timed to connect to buses to Mont St Michel (2.20 € single trip)..
By bike
Free parking and beautiful views, takes about 20mins from Pontorson along the causeway.
Get around
The only way around Mont St Michel is on foot, and there are two gates into the walled city. The Porte de l'Avancée, the main gate at the end of the causeway, leads straight to the Grande Rue, which is packed chock-a-block with souvenir shops and tourists. Escape right up the stairs to the ramparts, which are a little less packed and offer great views of the mudflats. The lesser-used Porte Eschaugette, to the left of the main gate, is the quietest route up. All three routes converge at the Abbey on top of the island.
The Carolingian church named Chapelle Notre-Dame-sous-Terre (Our Lady underground) was built around 966 by the first Benedictine monks at the very place of the oratory erected by Saint-Aubert in the early VIIIth century.
On the Mont
The culinary specialities of Mont Saint Michel are omelettes, whipped until frothy and light, and saltmarsh lamb (agneau de Pré Salé) dishes from the sheep that wander around the coast. However, none of the eateries on the island are particularly good (but they are all vastly overpriced), so if you are planning on staying on the Mont itself be aware that you might prefer eating in a town in the surrounding countryside.
The old town at the base of the abbey hosts a wide selection of restaurants, cafés, fast food outlets and other food venues. Note that Mont Saint Michel is more than slightly a tourist trap with regard to refreshments and travellers' needs - check a number of places for the best deal before ordering. Even then, do not rely on good service.
On the mainland
On the approach road to the mont is a small area of shops, restaurants and supermarkets, although not cheap, they are less un-reasonably priced than getting food on the island. There is also (limited) car parking there.
Mont Saint Michel has a number of small hotels located within the island township. A selection of much larger hotels are available on the mainland opposite the island and in the nearby town of Pontorson, but many visitors choose to daytrip from Rennes or Saint-Malo instead as the island can be uncomfortably covered in a few hours. The carpark allows motorhomes to stay overnight as part of their standard parking fee.
E-mail : [email protected]
Tel.: 02 33 60 26 03
Chateau de l'Isle-Marie, Isle-Marie 50360 Picauville, http://www.islemarie.com/ ☎ 0233213725, [1]. Luxury Chateau B&B near Mont Saint Michel recommended by Travel & Leisure and the Michelin Guide, a unique experience in Normandy
Due to the tourist nature of the Mont it can get very busy, especially in high summer. Because of the steep steps up to the abbey, people can sometimes feel unwell, and may want to rest in the numerous gardens throughout the mont with plenty of seats. Please though, no matter how pretty the view is, don't just stop to look when others are behind you, it can infuriate people
The local Office de Tourisme is located in the Corps de Garde des Bourgeois (the Old Guard Room of the Bourgeois), at the left of the town gates (tel 02-33-60-14-30). Open daily all year except for Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Stay safe
Note that the tidal flats surrounding the island are believed to harbour quicksand: visitors to the island are advised not to attempt crossing the flats by foot. Better safe with a group than sorry exploring on your own. However, if you decide to trek through the tidal flats, be prepared to take off your shoes and clean up your feet after since the flats are quite muddy. The tide here is one of the fastest in europe. You should never attempt any walks on the sands without checking the tide tables. It is advised only to attempt any kind of crossing using a qualified guide.
Walking on the Mont Saint Michel, you should be very careful, and if you have children, watch them closely.


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A Different Life
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This three minute animation explores the symptoms of Bipolar
disorder, and what help you can get if you think you might be
Bipolar. The film was produced by the RCPsych Public Engagement
Committee in conjunction with Damn Fine Media.
This leaflet is for anyone who wants to know
more about bipolar disorder (sometimes called bipolar affective
disorder or manic depression). It is especially helpful for anyone
who has bipolar disorder, their friends and relatives. Many
patients prefer the term 'bipolar' rather than 'bipolar disorder'
as they have an illness not a disorder.
This leaflet describes:
Bipolar disorder used to be called 'manic
depression'. As the older name suggests, someone with bipolar
disorder will have severe mood swings. These usually last several
weeks or months and are far beyond what most of us experience. They
About 1 in every 100 adults has bipolar
disorder at some point in their life. It usually starts between the
ages of 15 to 19 - and it rarely starts after the age of 40.
Men and women are affected equally.
Bipolar I
Bipolar II
Rapid cycling
We don't understand this well, but research
suggests that:
This depends on which way your mood has swung.
The feeling of depression is something we all
experience from time to time. It can even help us to recognise and
deal with problems in our lives. In clinical depression or
bipolar disorder, the feeling of depression is much worse. It goes
on for longer and makes it difficult or impossible to deal with the
normal things of life. If you become depressed, you will notice
some of these changes:
You have an intense sense of well-being,
energy and optimism. It can be so strong that it affects your
thinking and judgement. You may believe strange things about
yourself, make bad decisions, and behave in embarrassing, harmful
and - occasionally - dangerous ways.
Like depression, it can make it difficult or
impossible to deal with day-to-day life. Mania can
badly affect both your relationships and your work. When it
isn't so extreme, it is called 'hypomania'.
If you become manic, you may notice that you
If you are in the middle of a manic episode
for the first time, you may not realise that there is anything
wrong – although your friends, family or colleagues will. You may
even feel annoyed if someone tries to point this out to you.
You increasingly lose touch with day-to-day issues – and with other
people's feelings.
If an episode of mania or depression becomes very severe, you
may develop psychotic symptoms.
As well as these unusual beliefs, you might experience
hallucinations - when you hear, smell, feel or see something, but
there isn't anything (or anybody) there to account for
Some people can get back to normal in between their mood swings.
But this is not so for many people with bipolar disorder. You may
continue to experience mild depressive symptoms and problems in
thinking, even when you seem to be better.
Bipolar disorder may result in you having to stop driving for a
while. Visit the DVLA
website for further information.
There are some things you can try to control
mood swings so that they stop short of becoming full-blown episodes
of mania or depression. These are mentioned below, but medication
is still often needed to:
There are several mood stabilisers, some of
which are also used to treat epilepsy or schizophrenia. Your
psychiatrist may need to use more than one medication to control
mood swings effectively.
Lithium has been used as a mood stabiliser for 50 years – but
how it works is still not clear. It can be used to treat both manic
and depressive episodes.
Treatment with Lithium should be started by a psychiatrist. The
difficulty is getting the level of Lithium in the body right – too
low and it won't work, too high and it becomes toxic. So, you will
need regular blood tests in the first few weeks to make sure that
you are getting the right dose. Once the dose is stable, your GP
can prescribe your Lithium and arrange the regular blood tests.
The amount of Lithium in your blood is very sensitive to how
much, or how little, water there is in your body. If you become
dehydrated, the level of Lithium in your blood will rise, and you
will be more likely to get side-effects, or even toxic effects. So,
it's important to:
It can take three months or longer for Lithium to work properly.
It's best to carry on taking the tablets, even if your mood swings
continue during this time.
These can start in the first few weeks after starting Lithium
treatment. They can be irritating and unpleasant, but often
disappear or get better with time.
They include:
Less common side-effects are:
These can usually be improved by lowering the
dose of Lithium.
The following signs suggest that your Lithium
level is too high. Contact your doctor immediately if you
Blood tests
At first you will need blood tests every few
weeks to make sure that you have the right level of Lithium in your
blood. You will need these tests for as long as you take Lithium,
but less often after the first few months.
Long-term use of Lithium can affect the
kidneys or the thyroid gland. It is wise to have blood tests every
few months to make sure that they are working properly. If there is
a problem, you may need to stop Lithium and consider an
There are other medications, apart from Lithium, that can
be used to help.
medications/anticonvulsants: it is possible that Sodium
Valproate, an anti-convulsant, works just as well Lithium, but we
don't yet have enough evidence to be sure. It should not be
prescribed to women of child-bearing age.
Carbamazepine and
Lamotrigine are also effective for some people.
Antipsychotic medications:
Olanzapine or Quetiapine.
You need to discuss this with your doctor, but
some general principles are:
Much depends on how well you get on with a
particular medication. What suits one person may not suit another,
but it makes sense to first try the medications for which there is
better evidence.
Lithium reduces your chance of relapse by
30–40%, but the more manic episodes you've had, the more likely you
are to have another one.
Number of previous manic episodes
Chance of having another episode in
the next year
Not taking Lithium
Taking Lithium
10% (10 in 100)
6-7% (6-7 in 100)
20% (20 in 100)
12% (12 in 100)
40% (40 in 100)
26% (26 in 100)
As you get older, the risk of getting further
episodes stays much the same. Even if you have been well for a long
time, you still run the risk of having another episode.
After just one episode, it's difficult to
predict how likely you are to have another. You may not want to
start medication at this stage – unless your episode was very
severe and disruptive.
If you have a second episode, there is a
strong chance of further episodes – so most psychiatrists would
usually recommend a mood stabiliser at this point.
For at least two years after one episode of
bipolar disorder, and for up to five years if there have been:
If you continue to have troublesome mood
swings, you may need to continue medication for longer.
More information about other mood stabilisers
can be found in our online leaflet Medications for Bipolar Disorder.
In between episodes of mania or depression,
psychological treatments can be helpful. Treatment usually
involves around 16 one-hour sessions over a period of 6 to 9
Psychological treatment should include:
(More information about CBT can be found in
our leaflet Cognitive Behavioural
You should discuss any pregnancy plans with
your psychiatrist. Together, you can arrange how to manage your
mood during the pregnancy and for the first few months after the
baby arrives.
If you are pregnant, it's best to discuss with
your psychiatrist whether or not to stop Lithium. Although Lithium
is safer in pregnancy than the other mood stabilisers, the risk to
the baby needs to be weighed against the risk of you becoming
depressed or manic. The risk is greatest during the first three
months of pregnancy. Lithium is safe after the 26th week of
pregnancy, although you should not breastfeed your baby if you are
taking Lithium.
During pregnancy, everyone involved - the
obstetrician, midwives, health visitors, GP, psychiatrist, and
community psychiatric nurse – need to stay in close touch with each
Any antidepressant should be stopped. Lithium,
Sodium Valproate, Olanzapine, Quetiapine or Risperidone are most
often used to treat a manic episode.
Once the treatment has started, symptoms
usually improve within a few days, but it may take several weeks
for a full recovery. You should check with your doctor if you
want to drive while taking this sort of medication.
Other help: If you run
into trouble from, say, spending too much when you are high, your
mental health team will help you to negotiate with your bank or
people you owe money to. If this has happened, it may be worth
thinking about giving power of attorney over your affairs to a
carer or relative whom you trust.
Learn how to recognise the signs that your
mood is swinging out of control so you can get help early. You may
be able to avoid both full-blown episodes and hospital admissions.
Keeping a mood diary can help to identify the things in your life
that help you – and those that don't.
Find out as much as you can about your illness
- and what help there is. There are sources of further information
at the end of this leaflet. See support groups and caring
Try to avoid particularly stressful situations
- these can trigger off a manic or depressive episode. It's
impossible to avoid all stress, so it may be helpful to learn ways
of handling it better. You can do relaxation training with CDs or
DVDs, join a relaxation group, or seek advice from a clinical
Try to balance your life and work, leisure,
and relationships with your family and friends. If you get too busy
you may bring on a manic episode.
Make sure that you have enough time to relax
and unwind. If you are unemployed, think about taking a course, or
doing some volunteer work that has nothing to do with mental
Reasonably intense exercise for 20 minutes or
so, three times a week, seems to improve mood.
Make sure you regularly do things that you
enjoy and that give your life meaning.
Continue with medication
You may want to stop your medication before
your doctor thinks it is safe – unfortunately this often leads to
another mood swing. Talk it over with your doctor and your family
when you are well.
If you have been admitted to hospital for bipolar disorder, you
may want to write an 'advance directive' with your doctor and
family to say how you want to be treated if you become ill
If you are taking Lithium or any other
medication for your bipolar disorder, your GP is now expected to
give you an annual physical health check. This will check your:
If you are taking Lithium, you will need a
Lithium level check every 3-6 months, and a blood test for thyroid
and kidney function at least every 15 months.
Mania or depression can be distressing – and
exhausting - for family and friends.
It can be difficult to know what to say to
someone who is very depressed. They see everything in a negative
light and may not be able to say what they want you to do. They can
be withdrawn and irritable, but at the same time need your help and
support. They may be worried, but unwilling or unable to accept
advice. Try to be as patient and understanding as
At the start of a manic mood swing, the person
will appear to be happy, energetic and outward-going - the 'life
and soul' of any party or heated discussion. However, the
excitement of such situations will tend to push their mood even
higher. So try to steer them away from such situations. You can try
to persuade them to get help, or get them information about the
illness and self-help.
Practical help is very important – and much
appreciated. Make sure that your relative or friend is able to look
after themselves properly.
In between mood episodes, find out more about
bipolar disorder. It may be helpful to go with your friend or loved
one to any appointments with the GP or psychiatrist.
Give yourself space and time to recharge your
batteries. Make sure that you have some time on your own, or with
trusted friends who will give you the support you need. If your
relative or friend has to go into hospital, share the visiting with
someone else. You can support your friend or relative better if you
are not too tired.
If you find that they are:
Get medical help
Keep the name of a trusted professional (and
their telephone number) for any such emergency. A short admission
to hospital may sometimes be needed.
If you become manic or depressed, you may
temporarily not be able to look after your children properly. Your
partner, or another family member, will need to organise the
children's care while you are unwell. It can be helpful to make
plans for this in advance when you are well.
You may find that your child may feel anxious
and confused when you are not well. If they cannot express their
distress in words, toddlers can become difficult or clingy, and
older children will show it in other ways.
Children will find it helpful if the adults
around them are sensitive, understanding, and can respond to their
difficulties in a calm, consistent and supportive way. Adults can
help them to understand why their parent is behaving differently.
Questions will need to be answered calmly, factually and in
language they can understand. They will feel better if they can
keep to their usual daily routine.
Older children may worry that they have caused
the illness – that it is their fault. They need to be reassured
that they are not to blame, but also to be shown what they can do
to help. When an older child takes responsibility for caring for a
sick parent, they will need particular understanding and practical
More information about helping children cope
with a sick parent is provided in our factsheet 'Parental mental illness - the problems for
Bipolar UK
Support line: 0333 323
Website: www.bipolaruk.org
Provides support, advice and information for
people with bipolar disorder, their friends and carers.
Bipolar Fellowship
Tel: 0141 560 2050. Provides information,
support and advice for people affected by bipolar disorder and all
who care for them. Promotes self-help throughout Scotland, and
informs and educates about the illness and the organisation.
Tel: 0845 123 23 20; email: email@example.com.
Information, support and understanding for people who suffer with
depression, and for relatives who want to help. Self-help groups,
information, and raising awareness for depression.
Tel: 029 2069 2891; email:email@example.com
Welsh organisation which supports people affected by
Tel: 08457 90 90 90 (ROI 1850 60 90 90);
email: email@example.com.
Confidential, non-judgmental support 24 hours a day by telephone
and email for anyone who is worried, upset, or suicidal.
Goodwin, G.M. (2009) Evidence-based guidelines for treating
Bipolar disorder: revised second edition - recommendations from The
British Association for Psychopharmacology. Journal of
Psychopharmacology, 23(4); 346-388.
Geddes, J. (2003) Bipolar disorder. Evidence Based
Mental Health, 6 (4): 101-2.
Morriss, R. (2004). The early warning symptom intervention
for patients with bipolar affective disorder. Advances in
Psychiatric Treatment, 10: 18 - 26.
Bipolar Disorder: the assessment and management of bipolar
disorder in adults, children and adolescents, in primary and
secondary care (2014)
This leaflet was produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists'
Public Engagement Editorial Board.
Series Editor: Dr Philip Timms
Review: Dr Nozomi Akanuma
User and carer input: Members of
the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Service User Forum,
Bipolar UK and Bipolar Scotland
Illustration by Lo Cole: www.locole.co.uk
This leaflet reflects the best available evidence available at
the time of writing.
© Royal College of Psychiatrists. April 2015. Due for
review: April 2018. This leaflet may be downloaded,
printed out, photocopied and distributed free of charge as long as
the Royal College of Psychiatrists is properly credited and no
profit is gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in any
other way must be obtained from firstname.lastname@example.com.
The College does not allow reposting of its leaflets on other
sites, but allows them to be linked to directly.
A range of materials for carers of people with mental health
problems has also been produced by the Partners in Care campaign.
These can be downloaded from www.partnersincare.co.uk
a catalogue of public education materials or copies of our leaflets
contact: Leaflets
Department, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 21
Prescot Street, London E1 8BB. Telephone: 020
7235 2351 x 2552
Was this information useful? We'd love your feedback
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Australian households could save up to $250-a-year on their power bills if Prime Minister Julia Gillard can convince the states to support her proposed changes to the electricity sector.
Ms Gillard on Sunday announced she'd be pitching a range of measures to the premiers at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Canberra on Friday.
The states will be asked to bolster competition in their electricity markets and consider introducing smart meters and cost-reflective pricing so consumers can better manage their energy usage.
But Ms Gillard said asset sell-offs won't be on the agenda as the plan tackles the way Australia's energy system works, not who owns it.
"We can make a difference," Ms Gillard told Network Ten on Sunday.
"I will be taking (to COAG) ... a plan to make sure that families pay $250 less per year for electricity than they would if we just let the current system run."
The coalition was quick to condemn the announcement as a "stunt" that ignored the impact of the carbon tax on power prices.
But consumer groups, some of which claim power prices have jumped by 50 per cent in just four years, welcomed some elements of the proposals.
Ms Gillard said the plan would tackle the drivers of high energy prices such as over-investment in poles and wires - or "gold plating" - of the electricity network.
A new "consumer challenge panel", modelled on a UK system, would see independent experts scrutinising new proposals for spending on electricity works by energy companies.
The states would also have to meet new national guidelines to avoid gold plating in their assets, while a consumer advocacy centre would help to campaign for protecting customers' interests.
To ensure compliance, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is to be given more muscle through $23 million in additional funding over four years.
Ms Gillard will call on state energy ministers to introduce cost-reflective pricing and smart meters so consumers can avoid the occasional peak times that cause a staggering 25 per cent of electricity bill costs.
Price signalling and smart meters were flagged in the federal government's energy white paper, released last month, as options for helping to change consumer energy usage.
The Productivity Commission claims that allowing households to switch off during peak times could save consumers between $100 and $250 a year.
Under Ms Gillard's plan, power-hungry businesses that moderate their energy usage during these peak periods would also be rewarded.
Consumer advocacy group One Big Switch said the plan was a "valuable start" to making the energy market work in the interests of consumers, but warned it might be a while before savings are made.
National welfare agency Brotherhood of St Laurence welcomed efforts to ease cost pressures on poorer households, while energy advisory group Smart Grid Australia urged state leaders to back the measures.
Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt branded the plan a "stunt", adding that the carbon tax was "overwhelmingly" responsible for causing Australia's biggest energy price rise in history.
Opposition energy spokesman Ian Macfarlane criticised Ms Gillard's decision to announce the plan ahead of the COAG meeting.
"Instead of waiting to sit down with them and discuss in full detail the path to energy market reform that will lower electricity prices, Julia Gillard again prefers to let political games triumph," Mr Macfarlane said in a statement.


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Susan Boyle Finally Delivers a Good Live Performance
[There was a video here]
The last time we checked in with Susan Boyle, she was completely choking on The View. But on tonight's America's Got Talent, SuBo returned with a vengeance to debut "You Have To Be There," the first single off her upcoming album—and she was pretty good! Video of the performance is above.


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Fat and Happy: Big Wheels Keep Mountain Bikers Pedaling, Even in the Snow
Text by Evan Johnson, Photos by Herb Swanson
With the arrival of lasting snow and midwinter conditions, people are returning to their favorite wintertime outdoor playgrounds for Nordic skiing, Alpine and backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and, increasingly, mountain biking.
Yes, that's correct; mountain biking in January. This winter, while kicking or skating merrily on skis, or marching along in your snowshoes, expect to catch sight of bundled-up cyclists cruising the woods, trails, and even closed beaches on beefy tires.
These oversize mountain bikes—or fatbikes, as they've come to be known—are the latest trend in wintertime outdoor recreation and they're rapidly taking to the trails. The tires measure from 3.5 to 5 inches wide, and some riders opt for low tire pressure and use studded tires.
Ryan Thibault is the owner and head operator of Mountain Bike Vermont, an event promotions organization and resource for all things-riding related in the Green Mountain State. As an avid mountain biker who rides hard for much of the year, he says he won't let a change in seasons dictate his ability to pedal.
"There's such a high level of fanaticism in mountain biking in the summer that it's really hard to put it aside for an entire season," he says. Before fatbiking, in the event of a midseason thaw, he and his friends would take their mountain bikes and try to ride on the snow.
"We were ill equipped, but we had fun doing it," he says. "Now, (with the fatbikes) it's one more option to get out and play."
At first glance, most fatbikes resemble traditional mountain bikes from the '90s. Fatbikes are hardtails and lack front suspension, using the tires to absorb any bumps. Unlike agile and lightweight singletrack bikes, fatbikes are typically heavier and slightly less wieldy, trundling along over terrain. The concept is simple—a hardtail bicycle with a very upright stature designed for cross-country riding.
Justin Carter, a technician at the Old Spokes Home in Burlington, says in the past three years, the popularity of the fat-wheel has increased as evidenced by the trends in major producers.
"It's like the buzzword in the industry," he says. "We've seen a lot of evolution in a short amount of time."
Bike manufacturer Surly produced the first bike suited for conditions most would find intolerable for two wheels. Titled "Pugsly," the bike had several technical specifications to accommodate the massive tires. Surly later released a second model, the Moonlander.
The increased interest in this new form of biking gave rise to a number of boutique bike manufacturers, some of which produce exclusively fatbikes or fatbike components. Many of which are produced in states with dramatic winter weather: Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, and Minnesota are all home to small manufacturers—Alaska as two, but none, so far, in Vermont.
Greg Matyas, owner of Speedway Bike Shop in Anchorage, Alaska, first began producing "Fatback" bikes after getting tired of riding the widest tires available on 29-inch Snowcat rims. Matyas said the motivation behind designing the bike was "performance-oriented geometry" and a more symmetrical frame.
Alaska-based bike company 9:ZERO:7 has been making fatbikes in a region intimately familiar with snow. The idea for the company was born in February 2004 when founders Bill Fleming and Jamey Stull competed in the Sustina 100 Winter Endurance Race across the frozen arctic. The company designs solely fatbikes and has since made headway in making the massive bikes lighter. Their latest aluminum frame—composed of super-lightweight 7005 aluminum—is due to be released next September.
The secret to the success of these big-wheeled machines is in the tires. As bikes developed over the past decade, riders became more aware of the advantages of a wider tire. In years past, the widest mountain bike tires were 3.8 inches wide. Today, fatbike riders sport tires 4.8 inches wide on the widest rims to absorb bumps, float on top of snow, and power through soft sand. While the bottom bracket on most mountain bikes is 68 or 73 millimeters wide, the bottom bracket for new fatbikes are 100 millimeters wide. Fatbikes also run on lower air pressure—using as little as eight to 10 pounds of air pressure where conventional mountain bikes sport 30.
But the fatbike craze hit the mainstream when major bike manufacturer Trek introduced its own fatbike model, a slick looking machine called the "Farley." Illustrating the popularity in the trend, the entire inventory was purchased before anything was rolled off the factory floor. Other manufactures such as Kona, Specialized, KHS, and Norco have all produced fatbike models. More companies have begun to design their own models and are slated for sales floors soon.
Trail access and festivals
Ryan Thibault at MTBVT describes fatbikers as a sub-group of a broader biking community in Vermont.
"Mountain biking has always been a subculture," he says. "It's a subculture that people have always been proud to be involved in. We've always felt we were of the same ilk."
As mountain biking has grown in popularity, more people have come to Vermont to explore some of the best singletrack and cross-country riding in the Northeast. The community of riders has expanded dramatically, but a core group of riders, Thibault says, now rides on fatter tires.
"Right now, the fatbiking community has a very solid core and so you can go out on any given day and look at the tire tracks on the ground and probably discern which one of your buddies is out there on the trail."
The interest exists along with available space. Vermont is home to the statewide Vermont Association of Ski Travelers trail network, one of the largest interconnected groomed trail networks in North America, and as long as cyclists obtain permission from the landowners, they can use the network to access even more terrain.
As biking becomes a year-round activity, trail centers around Vermont are moving to include newer "fatbikes" on trail systems. The Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston and Kingdom Trails in East Burke have officially opened their terrain to riders. Rental bikes from The Old Spokes Home have arrived for rental at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston and in the Northeast Kingdom, Kingdom Trails now features a separate fully maintained trail system for winter bikes and snowshoeing at their Darling Hill center in Lyndonville.
The Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton rents small fleet of fatbikes from bike manufacturer Origin8 for the season. Director Mike Hussey said, before a major snowstorm opened more terrain in early January, the Nordic center had been skiing on three to four kilometers of skiing [Judy1] since mid-November on a loop served by snowmaking, but simultaneously they were able to offer 50 kilometers for biking.
The hardpacked snow, he says, makes for great riding and the softer powder is easy as well.
"It's pretty cool," Hussey says. "It's like riding a monster truck in relationship to regular mountain bikes. There's no suspension but because you have about four pounds of pressure in the tires, you float along over the snow."
In Stowe, The Trapp Family Lodge hosts Überwintern, one of a series of fatbike events in the Northeast. Briggs Pierce at the Nordic Center says the bikes are an opportunity for possible expansion of programs.
The Millstone Trails Association near Barre has also opened their trails to fatbikes this winter.
Eric Bowker, executive director at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center, says including fatbikes in the array of wintertime activities offered at the Center was a logical next step for winter recreation. He sold gift certificates for fatbike riding even before the bikes arrived.
"Fatbiking is a natural progression," he says. "We already have a network of existing trails already popular with bikers and cross country skiers and runners. Winter as we know it is changing and biking is going to be able to fill that void when the snow isn't what we'd like it to be."
Tim Tierney, president of Kingdom Trails in East Burke says interest in Kingdom Trails as a fatbike destination began simply with a group of bike owners who used the trails in the wintertime when the snow was too poor for skiing.
"People want to pedal year round," he says. "We have a hard enough time keeping people off for the one month we're closed in November [due to hunting season]."
The goal, he says, is to provide both skiers and riders with their own areas that each can enjoy without impeding the other's trail conditions. Tierney says the result so far has been positive.
"I think it's a great way of keeping your trails alive in certain areas. If you're expanding your market, people are going to preserve those ski trails."
Growing the sport, he insists, is more important at this point than turning a profit.
"It's obviously not a fringe thing," says Carter of the Old Spokes Home. "The major players in bike manufacturing are fully involved and the more people we can bring into the sport at this point, the better. It's a way to build the sport rather than making money off of rentals."
Bowker agrees. At this point, both are focused on growing interest in the sport, but Bowker says he remains optimistic in the sport's potential. In 1999, he started and has since run a cyclocross series for the past 14 years. Participation in the race has since grown from 20 to over 100 and he thinks interest in fatbiking's future could hold something similar.
"I don't see this becoming popular on a racing level, but on a participation level," he says. "You have to start somewhere."


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Hey X2 Owners, what do you think?
So I am wondering what all the X2 owners think. I am looking at one myself and I am really interested in what the owners of this model think.
How do you like it? What are the pros and cons?
What do you use it for? Wakeboard, surfing, tubing?
Does anyone have a 2012 or 13 and if so tell me about your garage situation. I have a standard 7 foot garage with a flat driveway and it sounds like it could be be a close one.
Thanks everyone!! Looking forward to hearing from you.
I have an '06 X2 and I is perfect for me and my family. A '12 or '13 will have the same hull with updated top deck that has a walk through sun pad and more pronounced cut outs for reverse seating in the bow. The newer ones will also have a center trim tab and maybe surf tabs as well. Mine has no tabs, but performs fine for me without them. It throws enough of a wakeboard wake stock that I don't even need to fill any ballast, but I am a novice rider if there ever was one. My kids are 9 and 7 so we will see over time if we ever need any more wake than what we have.
It makes a great surf wave on the starboard side with a 450 lb sac in the corner and my 250 lbs driving. My wife can surf all day rope less and is working on getting her spins down. We had the boat full of people last weekend and the wave was huge! I surf the port side with the extra 450 sac, and I struggle to stay in the pocket. I know this is rider error, though, and I am practicing my control of the board.
My garage door opening is only about 6' 8" and mine will not fit under the door. I have read many threads where others' boats do fit in a 7' door, though so my advice is to bring it home and try it at your house to make sure before you buy.
The X2 is the perfect boat for us. Plenty of wake, great size and more interior room and storage than any other 20 footer I have seen.
I have the ZFT2 tower on my 2012, which doesn't exist anymore. It will not fit in a 7' door: http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/...ad.php?t=44089
I don't know about the replacement ZFT4, but by the looks of it, it will only be worse. I have the single axle trailer. The tandem trailer gets you more clearance. Latin Flyer got one to fit in his garage: http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/...ad.php?t=45830. This thread also has some pictures of my custom hitch that I use to get mine into the garage. I jack the tongue up to drop the tower down, back it in, and then lower the tongue back down.
2012 added the autolaunch to the attitude plate. If you're going to load the boat up, it's a nice feature. 13's have it also. 2012's had a lot of software issues. They've updated software, and it's a lot better, but mine still acts up a little. As a 2012 owner, I'd recommend you go with a 2013 if possible.
I surf, wakeboard, and ski a little. I mainly wakeboard and added the flyhigh ballast kit. The surf wave has a lot more push than my old 02 X Star, but I've never been on any of the boats known for surf waves, nor do I care that much. Its not a world class surf wave, but it's a pretty good wave for a 20' boat.
Ski wake is pretty good for a 3500 pound V drive - if you have the attitude plate down around 75%. There's still a bigger than DD table for a wake, but it's definitely skiable, and some people even take it through the course. I have lots of friends with DD's, so I usually use their boats.
Wakeboard wake is plenty for me. With the standard ballast, it has a nice ramp to it. With the fly high kit, it gets a lot more height added to it. I've actually been only filling factory mostly this year to work on new tricks. It still has plenty of wake. The biggest issue is speed. If you start adding over factory, you really need to increase the speed to keep the wake from curling. With fly high bags filled, I'm running 23.6 mph to ride at 70' rope length.
It's a great boat if you're garage limited. I only have the 5.7L Ilmor, and with autolaunch, it works for me even with the fly high bags filled. The dealer just gave me an Acme 15x14.25 4 blade prop, and it gets out of the hole even better without losing on the top end.
Thanks for the information. I am really torn. I think I can get it in but it will be very close and I may need to do some of the "tricks" mentioned in several of the threads.
When my buddy bought his new Axis A20, the deal was contigent upon the dealer bringing it over and fitting it into his garage. He said the dealer obliged, but gave him a funny look. Then he showed the dealer his picture of me jacking my boat trailer tongue up to get in.
Before you buy, if you decide to, make the dealer bring the boat out and fit it in.
I previously owned 2011 and 2012 Malibus, but made the switch to the 2013 X2. I love the X2. Great wake, best fit and finish of any boat I have owned, and has a great amount of storage. It doesn't handle as well as the Malibu, but it has a better ride on the water. The bimini is much easier to use. The zero off GPS cruise is now standard and it is rock solid. I love the cruise! The hard side igloo cooler under the seat is sweet. I have the base ZFT0 tower which they say doesn't fold, but it does. you have to loosen the bolts at the bottom of the tower and the whole tower folds backwards. When if folds backwards, you will need 8.5 feet height (single axle trailer).
Just FYI - for 2013, there wasn't just a software update - they completely dropped the medallion system like Malibu and Tige uses and went with the Murphy system like Nautique and Supra has. The murphy system is much better IMO.
Btw...we love our X-2!!
Last edited by park190; 08-06-2013 at 11:15 AM. Reason: added information that replies to original topic
2007 X2, Indmar 350 MCX (Sold)
OJ 522 14.75 x 15.5
Tugger: 2014 Ram 1500 Crew, EcoDiesel
We love our x2! Perfect size to fit in a regular sized double car garage. I can fit the boat and my wife's Yukon in ours -- with room for our junk on the sides ! The swim deck obviously has to come off and w/ the foldable tongue, there is literally only inches from the back wall and the garage door.
Overall, its a great size boat and has PLENTY of room for a small family. The wake, even without ballast, is enough to have fun.
I have a '08 and love it. I had a DD before, and for some strange reason the boat didn't grow with my famy! Reluctantly had to get a bigger boat and chose the X-2. We use it for skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. The wake for us is great for wakeboarding without ballasts, but fill 'me up and wow, a good pop. Keep in mind we are novices. I'm more of a skier, and the wake is not bad at all. Hard to compare the wakes of a DD and V-drive but the x-2's is really good. As for tubing, well tubing is tubing. Not a fan of tubers, as they tend to mess up good skiing water, but my youngest two like it, so I haul it around grudgingly.
Can't help you much on the garage issue. I have 16 foot doors on my shop, so no problems with storage. Good luck.
|2012, garage, mc x2, surfing, wakeboard
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