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Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto.
— Eat well, laugh often, love much.
The Italians have one up on us when it comes to living the sweet life, or la dolce vita. There are countless Italian aphorisms expounding on the luxury of enjoying simple pleasures. That's what you do when you have time, money, and perhaps a summer home on the Italian Riviera.
Another part of enjoying life, which should be included amongst those Italian aphorisms, would be guidare veloce — or drive fast. And its's not hard to believe that when looking at all the famous Italian marques ingrained in the minds of car aficionados.
Of course one stands out on top — Ferrari (RACE). Its legendary owner, its racing heritage, and history of beautiful cars give fans and owners alike a deep affinity for the brand.
When I tested the GTC4Lusso earlier this year, I appreciated the car's design, V-12 power plant, and driver-centric focus of the car. It's a great car — different, special, unique — and I enjoyed it. But after spending a few days behind the wheel of the 488 Spider, the hardtop convertible version of the much lauded and loved 488 GTB, it was then that I really, truly felt I understood Ferrari's ethos.
With a crisp spring weekend upon us, we decided to make a pairing, if you will. A road trip to combine the sumptuous styling and raw power of the 488 Spider (draped in a rich, cream-white paint, dubbed avorio), with world-class food from some of the finest chefs in the world. And let's not forget the fact that we can lose the roof and open up the cabin to the rest of the world, with just one touch of a button.
Turbo-charged power
The true heart of this beast is its engine. Many were concerned when Ferrari went to turbo power for the 488 – would the feeling you get when mashing the throttle of a naturally aspirated Ferrari go the way of the dodo? Rest assured, the twin turbos powering the 3.9L V8 do not disappoint, pumping out a prodigious 661 hp with 561 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. Believe me when I tell you this engine in the back of this car can get truly scary.
Completing the setup is Ferrari's dual-clutch 7-speed automated manual gearbox. The powertrain shoots the 488 Spider to 0-62mph (or 100km/h) in 3 seconds flat. And believe it or not, this scary engine returns a rather decent 15 city / 22 highway mpg.
The drive, or living la dolce vita
We embarked on our journey to the town of Hamburg, New Jersey, to the Crystal Springs Resort for the New Jersey Wine & Food Festival. Laugh all you want at New Jersey, but in attendance for this culinary event were French chef and living legend Daniel Boulud, and one Thomas Keller of The French Laundry.
Entering the 488 cockpit awash in red leather, I slid into the carbon-fiber racing seat that fit like a glove, supportive in the right spots without feeling too stiff. Sitting in the driver's seat you know Ferrari spent plenty of time figuring out the perfect driving position. The driver sits low in the car, but not uncomfortably so, and can see plenty out the windshield, down to the front of the short hood. Nice.
The cabin felt roomy enough for a two-seater, but don't think you can plop all manner of tchotchkes and drinks in the seating area. This is a driver's car with minimal storage and a puny cupholder pushed way too forward ahead of the drive selector, right below the center stack.
The familiar Ferrari flat-bottomed steering wheel greets your hands, wrapped in leather and carbon fiber. And within perfect reach of your fingers are the start/stop button, signal indicators, paddles for shifting and the manettino dial for selecting drive mode.
Hitting the start button sets off a wondrous sound — the loud, distinctive growl of the Ferrari V8 coming to life. The car is awake and alive.
That being said, with the manettino set to 'sport,' its normal mode, you grab the paddle and shift into first, then second gear and as your pulling away, and you may as well be in a well-mannered, grand touring car. Selecting gears using the paddle shifters felt positive with gears changing immediately; the paddles had a smooth, precise, mechanical feel to them. No herky jerky start or violent upshifts here.
And I was a little surprised – this was was a Ferrari? I discovered the trick of this car is how utterly livable it is when you start driving it. We were weaving in and out of some traffic on the local roads up to the interstate, with no real problems at all.
Putting the manettino in 'race' mode when the interstate opened up, it was a different story: Prodigious power that I couldn't believe, and I wasn't even able to really mash the accelerator without running afoul of the posted speed limit. Power comes on like a rocket launch when you do unleash the Spider, and the g-force pushing you into the seat is formidable, almost neck snapping.
Your vision blurs slightly as everything rushes toward you, with that engine wailing right behind your head. Oh, and that button I mentioned earlier? Drop the top on the Spider and the world opens up, including that wailing banshee of an engine putting massive power down to the rear wheels.
Backing off a little bit and driving normally in sport mode on the interstate, the driver and occupant can just soak in open air motoring. You hear that engine still, but it's not growling or snarling at you, hungry for more. You smell the leather, the open air, some exhaust and maybe a little gas when the engine runs a little rich. The whole experience is visceral, in your face … and just right.
The drive up was so smooth and invigorating; we were pleasantly surprised at how refreshed we were upon arrival.
During the day we took in a champagne tasting, as well as a cooking demo featuring the pairing of Uruguayan wine with American beef from a farm in New Jersey. It was bellissima.
At night, we loaded up on some wonderful dishes from chefs across the country, including the Team USA chefs for the Bocuse d'Or competition, along with a few pairings of fine wine and champagne. We sat back and took in the magnificent views from the resort, with Mountain Creek's hills in the distance. What a wonderful day, and what a drive it was with the 488 Spider, one that we were excited to do again on the ride home the following day.
Taking a break outside on the resort's balcony behind the festival, I spoke to a gentleman from California who owned a vineyard and multiple Ferraris. I took him to the parking lot to show him the 488 Spider. He examined the car's sculpted lines and peered down into the sumptuous cabin.
Of course, he loved the car. It's a Ferrari, one that he could trace a lineage back to the some he had owned.
He told me a story about his friend Howard, a Porsche-phile, who was excited about a new 911 he just bought and was showing it off. Howard went on about the 911, and pointed out its various engineering feats and features. No doubt it's a great sports car, and the new owner was seeking his friend's approval.
Taking a beat here, the gentleman took a sip of his wine, savoring it, before telling me what he told his friend. "Why would you buy a Porsche … when you could own a piece of art?"
And with that he took one more look at the car, smiled admiringly, and sauntered back into the festival – no doubt to enjoy la dolce vita just a bit more.
The Ferrari 488 Spider starts at $280,000. Our model as tested with a multitude of options came in at $393,411.
Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.
Related stories:
Aprés ski in a Ferrari GTC4Lusso? Why not
Visiting spooky Salem in the devilish Aston Martin DB11
2017 McLaren 570GT review: practicality wrapped up in a supercar package


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Kate England is a luxurious lady with amazing breasts and appetitive ass. She sucks her lovers dick and get drilled in a missionary move.
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Roulette Black Jack - English Roulette "Fairoulette" - The Game!
US Players You are Welcome! List of Online Casinos that accept US Players!
English Roulette ► The Wheel ► The Croupier ► The Chips "Fiches" ► The Game ► Betting ► The Table
Rules - English Roulette "Fairoulette" - The Game
FAITES VOS JEUX - The game is open with this announcement by the croupier.
The same is repeated for urging the players to focus and not wait until the last moment, the player can choose to focus their tokens (mandatory for the outside bets) or deliver them to the croupier.
In this case they must be positioned on the table near the croupier (never give them in hand) and proclaim the combination chosen.
He will repeat aloud the combination you request while the placed on the table.
Make sure that he has understood the game and the tokens which they are positioned correctly.
Be very careful to respect the betting limits of the table if not delivered the chips the dealer.
The croupier clerk boule collects the ball the door on the edge of the cylinder and the lance in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the roulette wheel.
Players can still aim, and even in the hectic moments focus many bets of those who for reasons ward off evil, why play systems on the croupier or because they are in delay play at the last moment.
The announcement "Rien va plus" puts an end to the bets and freezes the situation on the table. The bets may no longer be modified, and the players not only have to wait until the end of the stroke of the ball.
Released the number the croupier places a placeholder (said dolly or marker) on the table at the number came out.
Any announcements winning accepted the latter is not placed, are positioned in the areas corresponding to then be paid.
The croupier collects with the hands all bets lose, and the leaves fall in a hole of the table where a coffee maker the collects and the reorder.
Payment is in order starting from basic combinations, followed by those double and then the multiple combinations of the poem until full.
The croupier pays with the same color as the winning coin and places it in front of the owner.
For the tokens of value rather than for the basic combinations and double, the payment is made by placing the payoff to the side of the wager, the player must ensure the proper payment and any "hands long" that they steal unduly from the winnings.
The payment of chance multiple takes place to call. The croupier announces the combination to ask the owner to identify themselves and proceed to the payment.
Finished the payment the croupier removes the placeholder and you can start a new bet.
Important: you cannot withdraw the winning bets from the table until the croupier has not removed the placeholder.
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...it was bonus time at work and I decided to reward myself with a little treat...okay a big treat! My poor old grill had seen its last days. I had kept it going with replacement parts for maybe 6 years, but it was Sweeps time and it had to go to the curb. I was absolutely ready to buy the exact same replacement grill for around $270 plus tax, but to my surprise, it had been discontinued, along with every other model that was close to it. Hmmmm.... Not sure why they had discontinued it as I really enjoyed the grill, but moving on. Did my research. First thing, I went and looked at the Green Egg. I had friends that had bought it and loved it so though it was worth looking into. Oh and Green Eggs and Ham was the first book I ever learned to read by myself :) ha ha!... Then I found the Nexgrill-6 burner, plus side searer, plus rear burner, plus rotisserie and fell in love! I had to have it! Check out the cool blue LED lights below!
Yes, it cost double what I originally planned to spend, but this is my happy place! I love to grill I cook more on the grill than I do on the stove. Funny story, but I actually had a second chance to think about whether or not I really wanted to pay the freight when my credit card flagged my initial purchase as a potential fraud or stolen card, so I had 24 hours to rethink. YEP I BOUGHT IT! I LOVE IT!
So, as most people know, when you get a new grill, you do have to get to know it. I was so excited to get that first steak and test out the searer so I go to my local butcher. "Hi! Just got brand new grill. What do you think I should break it in with."
He gives me that smile that a parent gives to a naive child. "Well, I wouldn't go expensive because you always have to get to know the grill so the chances that the first one you cook are going to come out exactly like you want it are slim. DAMN! He was sooo right.
So, now I take off on the amazing journey to grill the perfect steak! I will come back and post my notes each time I make a new steak with the critique and recipe of the version I made in case you want to take the journey with me!
Check back soon for the latest most awesome steak.
OKAY guys. I have made two versions now and have two great stories but I need to craft them so look back soon for posting and I will try version 3 journey toward the perfect steak!
All for now! Hopefully, your life is one iota easier now :)
p.s. If you enjoyed this post, please click the g+1 button below or reshare so that others may enjoy it too! Thanks!


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From Magic City Morning Star
J. Grant Swank
There are those times. What does the Christian then do?
First, she checks in with the moment. Is this moment given over to God? If not, make it so. If so, then thank God that you are still alive and sane in this moment.
Second, realize that the God who brought you to this Red Sea coastline is the same God who will part the waters in His time and His way.
Third, put on faith blinders. Do not try to figure out what is going on around you. Do not try to press human logic against circumstances. Do not attempt to move into the future for you simply cannot get there now.
Fourth, what enemies are there standing in your way? Do they come into your head in the middle of the night? Know that when they stand there in your mind, your actual enemies are at their homes not knowing that you are being bothered by them. Therefore, YOU are distressed in the moment, but they are not.
Therefore, surrender your enemies to God. As soon as you do that, pray for them. As soon as you pray for them, the power of the devil to taunt you is cut through.
When they come back into your head, surrender them again, pray for them again. Satanic powers cannot stand you doing that; therefore, you foil the imps who try do in your nerves when you submit those foes to God.
Fifth, refuse to listen to grousers. Do not give them any power over your head or heart. Instead, as soon as they start to gossip about somebody else, or complain or pout or deride, just say kindly: "I want to keep my faith line open to God; therefore, I don't want to think nor talk like that. Let's give praise to God that our lives are kept in His love."
Sixth, spread cheer. Love people, especially strangers at the store, bank, post office and service station. Smile at those you meet. Catch yourself laughing with somebody about an incident that can be shared for goodwill. Get out of your rut by getting with some children; romp with them, laugh with them, give them each a small gift.
Seventh, remind yourself to "forget those things that are past," as Paul wrote. That is, discount debris that is long gone. You cannot rearrange those past moments except to put them all under the precious blood of Jesus for cleansing. Do that; then move on.
Eighth, remind yourself that one hundred years from today you will not be here. Even those hurts of five years ago are blurred in your head. Those injustices of ten years ago involve persons whose names you can hardly recall. The same will occur within the gift of future time. So don't take present burdens that seriously.
Ninth, start talking things over with Jesus more often. Quit making fancy prayers; talk street language with Jesus so that you yourself start believing your own prayers. Then listen. Hear what He has to say back to you, then act on it and be blessed in knowing that you are not your own. You belong to Jesus; therefore, the greater Power is really in control of your dedicated destiny.
Tenth, cry, if you have to. Cry a lot. Then cry some more. Quit trying to be the giant nerves that think you have to be. Get alone with Jesus in the Gethsemane Garden and cry and cry and cry some more. Then let Jesus smile upon your tears, healing you from top to toe. He will do just that for Jesus loves you more than you will ever know.
J. Grant Swank Jr.
© Copyright 2002-2013 by Magic City Morning Star


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Scroll To Top
Pr. Ed Sheehan has accepted a part-time call with Lutheran SeniorLife as transitional interim pastor at Passavant Community. Prior to his retirement last year, Pr. Sheehan served on Lutheran SeniorLife's Board of Directors and was involved in several of our initiatives.
Pr. Ed Sheehan (right) with Pr. William Diehm of St. John Highland Church


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Sarah Palin has inked a deal with HarperCollins to write a book on Christmas.
The former Alaska governor's new book A Happy Holiday Is a Merry Christmas will combat what Palin sees as the decrease of religious observance during the festive season.
Palin described the project in a statement: "Amidst the fragility of this politically correct era, it is imperative that we stand up for our beliefs before the element of faith in a glorious and traditional holiday like Christmas is marginalised and ignored.
"This will be a fun, festive, thought provoking book, which will encourage all to see what is possible when we unite in defence of our faith and ignore the politically correct Scrooges who would rather take Christ out of Christmas."
A Happy Holiday Is a Merry Christmas will also provide readers with an inside look at the Palin family's holiday celebrations.
Palin has previously published two memoirs, with her 2009 release Going Rouge: An American Life becoming a bestseller.
Her new book will be her first major project since she cut ties with Fox News in late January.
A Happy Holiday Is a Merry Christmas is expected to be out in November.


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Dr. George Carlson, Director and Professor at McLaughlin Research Institute, has been named as the 2014 Montana BioScience Hall of Fame inductee.
"Dr. Carlson's underlying research focus has been the application of formal and molecular mouse genetics to advance the understanding of susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases."
For more information on Dr. Carlson's work, please click on the following link:


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One other fun way to share a small scare is with BOOutiful nails. I've found a super selection of Nail Wraps at Glossique. These self adhesive Nail wraps require no heat, last 2-4 weeks and are easy to remove. They are also great time savers.
They are also great time savers. Most manicures take at least an hour of your time, Glossique wraps can be applied in about 20 minutes. Then you'll be ready to grab you Trick or Treat bag and go!
If spooky is not your thing check some of these other faBOOlous styles.


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I name my bikes. The Dawes Discovery 301 is Silver; the burgundy Coventry Eagle tourer is Trigger. It's a bit girly, but they are the only two objects I have actually named. Silver is the real comfort bike: soft saddle, all-terrain tyres just wide enough to make Island roads bearable, but not as wide as mountain-bike tyres, which make for a slow ride. Trigger has the painful saddle, narrower tyres, drop handlebars, and a lighter frame, and is noticeably faster over the same regular journey to the post office.
Silver has been helping out with the hospital runs. October has thrown up some splendid days for cycling, and it's been a real pleasure to be out on a bike. But the main aim is to cut the buses from the travel equation on the journey between Freshwater and Southampton. A bike means I can get to a ferry on time, and in Southampton don't have to hang around for a bus after getting off the train. A journey that can take two and a half to three hours using public transport all the way has, at its best, been cut to 1 hour 55 minutes, front door to bedside.
Last Thursday, the ferry was spectacularly late and missed the connecting train at Lymington Pier. It was such a great day that, with 40 minutes spare for waiting for the next train and travelling to Brockenhurst, I decided to cycle instead. It's a journey of just over five miles, along one of the New Forest's busier roads, and it took just over 25 minutes – way off the pace I could set in my 30s, but perhaps understandable as it was gently uphill most of the way. I caught an earlier train to Southampton and avoided losing too much time to public transport.
And I won't be doing it again in a hurry: comfort bike or not. Long-forgotten muscles ached for two days afterwards. But I've no doubt that circumstances will necessitate this short adventure again.
Cycling also brings you into contact with other cyclists. And while I was contemplating the pain of cycling a pitiful five miles extra in one day, I met a cyclist who does Lymington to Basingstoke in about three and a half hours (it takes an hour by car along mainly motorways). I felt decidedly lightweight.


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Hyatt was established by Jay Pritzker in 1957 when he bought the Hyatt House motel nearby the Los Angeles International Airport. Over the next decade, Jay Pritzker and his sibling Donald Pritzker,
cooperating with other Pritzker privately-owned company interests, developed the organization into a North American administration and inn possession organization, which turned into an open organization in 1962.
In 1968, Hyatt International was shaped and in this manner turned into a different open organization. Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt International Corporation were taken private by the Pritzker privately-owned company interests in 1979 and 1982, individually.
Southern California is known for its rich assortment. On the off chance that you pine for delightful shorelines, Hyatt offers a few beach front lodgings close LA incorporating Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Thousand Oaks. Be that as it may, if it's the vivacious city lights of downtown Los Angeles or Beverly Hills that call, Hyatt has you secured from the earliest starting point to end, with a stay in our exquisite Hyatt Regency Century Plaza lodging at Beverly Hills. What's more, in the event that you are sufficiently challenging to relax in the focal point of everything, we're ready to place you amidst fame with our Andaz West Hollywood lodging. Regardless of what you're slanted to attempt, Hyatt will welcome you, West Coast style.
Found adjoining Darling Harbor in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD), our lodging is a safe house of unwinding for the business or recreation explorer. As Sydney's biggest upscale inn, Hyatt Regency Sydney—once a Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Darling Harbor—brags 892 guestrooms, eating encounters and 3,700 sq m of adaptable meeting and occasion space. We welcome you to appreciate an unparalleled Australian getaway.


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Xenia Wood
Published on May 3rd, 2017 | by admin0
Xenia Wood Busts Out Of Red Dress
More great news, the guys over at EwaSonnet have just released another photo/video shoot of Xenia wood. This time stretching a red dress to an inch of it's life. Hopefully Xenia will set those big puppies free soon so we can admire her in her topless glory.


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December 1, 2009
As of November 27, 2009, approximately 58,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed.
With the 20,000 H-1Bs for applicants with advanced US degrees already exhausted, there appears to be no more than 5,400 H-1Bs available (as of November 27th) for the current fiscal year. Because filings against the cap has picked up in pace, our latest estimate is that the cap may be reached approximately December 11, 2009.
Note: the estimate of 5,400 is based on unconfirmed report that USCIS will only set-aside 700 H-1Bs for Chileans and Singaporeans. By regulation, 6,800 H1Bs are to be set-aside, but because usage never comes close to the 6,800 limit, USCIS is reportedly only setting aside 700 instead of the full 6,800.


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Association study between SNP rs150689919 in the DNA demethylation gene, TET1, and Parkinson's disease in Chinese Han population
Association study between SNP rs150689919 in the DNA demethylation gene, TET1, and Parkinson's disease in Chinese Han population - Download this document for free, or read online. Document in PDF available to download.
BMC Neurology
, 13:196
Movement disorders
BackgroundRecent studies suggest that epigenetic factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease PD. In our previous work, we sequenced the exomes of sixteen patients from eight Chinese PD families using whole exome sequencing technology, consequently three patients from different pedigrees were found sharing the variant c.1460C > T rs150689919 in the coding region of the Tet methyl cytosine dioxygenase 1 TET1 gene.
MethodsIn order to evaluate the possible association between sporadic PD and the single nucleotide polymorphism SNP rs150689919 in TET1, a case–control cohort study was conducted in 514 sporadic PD patients and 529 normal controls. Genotyping was determined by PCR and direct sequencing. Statistical significance was analyzed by the Chi-squared test.
ResultsThere was no statistical significance in TET1 rs150689919 genotype or allele frequencies between the PD cases and healthy controls, even after being stratified by gender and age at onset.
ConclusionsOur findings suggest that rs150689919 in TET1 may not be associated with PD in Chinese population. However, due to the limited data in this study, replication studies in larger sample and other populations are required.
KeywordsTET1 Parkinson's disease Epigenetics Chinese AbbreviationsPDParkinson's disease
TET1Tet methyl cytosine dioxygenase 1 gene
SNCAAlpha-synuclein gene
PARK16Parkinson disease 16
EOPDEarly onset Parkinson's disease
LOPDLate Onset Parkinson's disease
PCRPolymerase chain reaction
dfdegree of freedom
OROdds ratio
GWASGenome-wide association studies.
Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article doi:10.1186-1471-2377-13-196 contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Download fulltext PDF
Author: Xin-xin Liao - Zi-xiong Zhan - Ying-ying Luo - Kai Li - Jun-ling Wang - Ji-feng Guo - Xin-xiang Yan - Kun Xia - Bei-sha T
Source: https://link.springer.com/


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Bloomfield Tile Contractor
Tile flooring has become the standard for the modern, contemporary home. Tile flooring effortlessly converts any entryway, kitchen or bathroom into an updated, sophisticated area. You can easily remodel your home and turn your space into an area of comfort for you and your family to enjoy. By simply upgrading your tile floor, kitchen backsplash or bathroom tile, your home can exude an entirely new feel. A kitchen backsplash provides a beautiful change to your home. Homeowners can choose between a variety of different designs from the Gallery sections that will reflect their taste and style
Furthermore, estimates show that by upgrading your kitchen backsplash and bathroom with marble tile or stone tile, you can increase your home value by a minimum of 10 percent. Modern Tile Creations is a Bloomfield tile contractor that can improve your home's appearance, durability, and value. Modern Tile Creations has been a leader in tile installation for over 15 years. Some of the most popular material used for tile installation is marble tile, limestone tile and sharp porcelain.
Bloomfield residents have used Modern Tile Creations countless times to remodel their homes. Homeowners can choose between a variety of different designs from the Gallery sections that will reflect their taste and style. As a Bloomfield tile contractor, we guarantee customer satisfaction through our attention to detail and quality tile installation, which will improve your lifestyle and quality of your home.
Modern Tile Creations has been working with Bloomfield residents for many years and has seen great success ensuring great quality tile installation and customer satisfaction. Today, many homeowners are proud owners of homes with newly installed kitchen backsplashes, bathrooms, tile floors and fireplaces. We are always ready to serve the residents of Bloomfield and its neighboring cities. Contact us for a free estimate.


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Good perspectives for 2015
Last October, Inkema held in Barcelona its annual convention for most of our national and international representatives and distributors. The convention consisted in both several working hours and leisure time for the attendees.
They were explained about the positive performance of the company during 2014. A growth thanks to the significant increase in exports in emerging countries, together with a stronger domestic demand.
The company's managers stressed the importance of continue investing in R&D to adapt to continuously changing times by developing new innovative and competitive products, meeting the high demands of our customers.
With these high expectations, in Inkema we face 2015 with hope and optimism to keep on working as ever, with responsibility and commitment to every single one of our customers.
All Inkema team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Tel +34 93 544 47 08 / Fax +34 93 572 30 11
firstname.lastname@example.com | firstname.lastname@example.com
© Inkema 2019
|One need
One solution


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Mission Statement
Global Summit on Diagnostic Alternatives
Our Mission: To develop, evaluate, advocate, and disseminate alternatives to current diagnostic systems.
Something new is happening in the world of mental health. In recent years, professionals from across the varied mental health disciplines—psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and others—have begun to ask questions about some of the basic assumptions that form the very foundation of our work. At the heart of these questions is a growing doubt about the official diagnostic systems for mental disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) are the two official diagnostic systems currently in use in the United States and abroad. Since the late 1970s, these parallel manuals have loosely followed the "neo-Kraepelinian" system, a categorical diagnostic paradigm containing criterion-based descriptions of mental disorders and their corresponding symptoms. The neo-Kraepelinian approach was expected to elevate psychiatric diagnosis to the standards of general medicine, and after its introduction, diagnosis became increasingly central to clinical research and practice. Today, researchers and practitioners across the globe use the DSM and ICD on a daily basis to understand and communicate about the mental distress reported by their patients, clients, and research participants. Over the past three decades, mental health practice has become virtually synonymous with the diagnosis of mental disorder.
Yet in recent years, clinicians and researchers have started to question the very diagnostic paradigm that once gave them so much hope. Mounting scientific evidence has indicated that DSM- and ICD- based categories do not reflect patterns of mental distress found in both clinical and general populations. The genetic and biological substrates of mental disorder appear to be multifactorial and nonspecific, with varied correlates appearing within and across multiple disorder categories. Further, reports from clinicians indicate that patients are often labeled with conditions they do not seem to have, simply for the purpose of securing treatment. Growing uncertainty about the validity of the DSM and ICD systems came to a fore in recent years, as psychiatric taxonomists sought to revise the manuals in line with current research. As the revisions are underway, heated debates about the current approach to diagnosis –and, by extension, the very nature of psychopathology — have appeared throughout the clinical and research literature.
Growing consensus now holds that, though the upcoming iterations of DSM (entering its fifth edition) and ICD (approaching its 11th edition) will not depart significantly from the familiar paradigm, future diagnostic models may require revolutionary change. Chair of the DSM-IV Task Force Allen Frances (2011) has suggested that "[t]oday's psychiatric labels will one day seem […] quaint" (para. 8). Similarly, DSM-5 architects have lamented that "The DSM-III categorical diagnoses with operational criteria were a major advance for our field, but they are now holding us back because the system has not kept up with current thinking" (Schatzberg, Scully, Kupfer, & Regier, 2009, para. 7). As a result of new and widespread disillusionment with the current system, contemporary discourse in psychiatry and related clinical disciplines is characterized by multiplicity, polyvocality, and frequent discord. Proposals to reconceptualize and redefine clinical diagnosis have emerged from all corners of the mental health world, including biogenetic and behavioral psychiatry (e.g., RDoC; NIMH, 2012), psychoanalysis (e.g., PDM Task Force, 2006), and personality psychology (e.g., Krueger & Eaton, 2010). Though psychopathologists have yet to establish the diagnostic paradigm of the future, most agree with the oft-cited prognostication that
we are at the epicycle stage of psychiatry where astronomy was before Copernicus and biology before Darwin. Our inelegant and complex current descriptive system will undoubtedly be replaced by explanatory knowledge that ties together the loose ends. Disparate observations will crystallise into simpler, more elegant models that will enable us not only to understand psychiatric illness more fully but also to alleviate the suffering of our patients more effectively. (Frances & Egger, 1999, p. 165)
The Global Summit on Diagnostic Alternatives (GSDA)
In recognition of the need for a new means of defining and classifying mental distress, the Diagnostic Summit Committee of the Society for Humanistic Psychology has established the Global Summit on Diagnostic Alternatives (GSDA), an internet-based platform for open discussion about alternatives to the current diagnostic paradigm. We are a multidisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners who are concerned with the future of mental health, but disappointed by the lack of free and open dialogue about the issues that matter most. GSDA is intended to function as a central hub for discourse on psychiatric diagnosis in all of its implications and forms: scientific, theoretical, clinical, practical, ethical, social, and political. Rather than starting from a specific theory about the "right" way to define and treat psychological suffering, GSDA is a virtual arena for the expression of diverse perspectives, a space to deliberate those questions that seem most challenging and, at times, insurmountable. Our ultimate goal is to generate a transdisciplinary, international, egalitarian conversation about the possibility, feasibility, and potential implications of new means for conceptualizing mental distress.
Among the questions we will discuss are:
- What is the basic nature and function of clinical diagnosis?
- Is diagnosis necessary for describing mental distress?
- To what extent should psychiatric diagnosis mirror diagnosis in general medicine, and why?
- What is the current status of diagnosis across the helping professions?
- Why have mental health professionals become disillusioned with the current diagnostic systems for research and practice?
- What function does diagnosis have for patients/clients?
- What are the iatrogenic risks of clinical diagnosis?
- How do diagnoses function in larger society and the public sphere?
- Is diagnosis a universal phenomenon? Can diagnostic practice be generalized across cultures?
- How can the major helping professions work together to address current issues in diagnosis?
- What do the various helping professions see as the most important dilemmas its practitioners face regarding diagnosis and what ideas do these professions have regarding directions for diagnosis in the future?
- What are possible alternatives to the DSM/ICD systems?
- Are these alternatives feasible/practical?
- What are the political/ethical implications?
- Should we prioritize validity over utility, or vice versa?
- Should interdisciplinary scholars (in the neighboring social sciences and humanities) be involved in the development of diagnostic alternatives?
GSDA will start with a series of invited blogs and expand, according to need, into a multimedia platform for texts, videos, and discussion forums. We will seek the participation of individual experts in the area of diagnosis as well as major mental health organizations from around the globe. Interdisciplinary academics from the broader social sciences, medical humanities, and natural sciences will also be invited to participate.
We recognize that there are multiple and often competing perspectives on diagnosis in the contemporary world of mental health. We believe that these differences are not a stumbling block, but rather a starting place for real dialogue about the possibility for change. With GSDA, we hope to open a new and centralized space for this dialogue by gathering all those invested in the future of diagnosis—scientists and practitioners, "lumpers" and "splitters," dreamers and skeptics—under one virtual roof.
Frances, A. (2011). Why psychiatrists should mind their language. Culture Lab. Retrieved 15 December, 2011 from http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/12/why-psychiatrists-should-mind-their-language.html
Frances, A. J., & Egger, H. L. (1999). Whither psychiatric diagnosis. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33(2), 161-165.
Krueger, R. F., & Eaton, N. R. (2010). Personality traits and the classification of mental disorders: Toward a more complete integration in DSM–5 and an empirical model of psychopathology. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1, 97-118.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2012). Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/rdoc/index.shtml
PDM Task Force. (2006). Psychodynamic diagnostic manual. Silver Spring, MD: Alliance of Psychoanalytic Organizations.
Schatzberg, A. F., Scully, J. H., Kupfer, D. J., & Regier, D. A. (2009). Setting the record straight: A response to Frances commentary on DSM-V. Psychiatric Times, 26. Retrieved from http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/dsm/content/article/10168/1425806


text: Encountering a bear might seem like an adventure for a tourist, safe within the protective shell of a vehicle, but for anyone working outside in a remote area, it can be a terrifying matter of life and death. And for oil and gas workers in Alberta the chances of such an encounter are increasing. Read on to find out why that is, and what you can do to work safely in bear country.


text: Kakenya Ntaiya had a dream: to become a teacher. On the way to achieving it, she has had to overcome obstacles and make tough compromises. But, after becoming the first girl from her Maasai village to attend college, she has opened a path for other young girls achieve their dreams.


text:
French New Wave cinema legend François Truffaut's called the film director the engineer of the audiences' emotions. Since the 1930s moving image and sound have been synched to solicit emotions, create illusions and manipulate audiences. Its hard to imagine any marketer choosing to run his TV spot silently. Today, a vast majority of PCs have speakers. Multimedia applications are popular.
Yet millions of online businesses sell silently.
It isnt that the advertising industry didnt try. Virtual conversational characters, known as "avatars," got a bad rap in the late 90s. Several large ventures tried to launch virtual character products. They never delivered on the promise to create real value for businesses.
Miss Boo--of the notorious fashion site boo.com--burned through $115 million before her plug was officially pulled. Ananova, the virtual newswoman, is hard to find--even at her own website, Ananova.com.
More recently, however, technologies have surfaced that make the development of conversational characters easier, faster and more cost-effective. Now companies can deliver key marketing messages to help drive increased conversions and turn browsers into buyers without the technology and design challenges that characterized the past.
These new talking character technologies are catching on with businesses of all sizes. Let's look at one example. McAfee (www.shopmcafee.com), the developer of computer security solutions, now uses a talking salesperson to increase sales for one of its most popular products.
McAfee executives knew that they had to succinctly communicate key product messages in order to convert browsers into buyers. This is where the virtual salesperson took over.
To ensure that the technology would increase conversations and sales, McAfee first tested the avatar technology with top revenue generator ASaP Virus Scan. There was a control group and a test group. Half of the site visitors saw the conversational character and the other half got the same page without the character. This approach was designed to provide a return on investment (ROI) comparison.
The results speak for themselves. The average close ratio for customers that experienced the conversational character was 10 percent higher than those who were not exposed to the character. When analyzed against past sales data the increase in average daily sales went up by 10 percent during the time that the character was deployed on the ASaP Virus Scan product. McAfee now plans to extend the use of avatar technology to other portions of their site.
Today, over 3,00 businesses worldwide use avatar technology for sales, marketing, training and customer support. Imagine an employee who works 24/7, knows all the prices, speaks any language and remembers customers' names and--based on recent purchases--their taste. This is not science fiction. It is happening today. As this trend matures, virtual salespeople will be ever-more commonplace in rich media and ecommerce applications across the Internet.
Adi Sideman is the founder, President and CEO of Oddcast .


text:
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text:
"Miya Shoji is a high-end furniture store that follows a very straightforward aesthetic philosophy."
"Harney & Sons was founded on a commitment to deliver customers the finest quality tea possible. This promise, made 30 years ago, serves as the company's guiding principle."
"Rooted in Japanese tradition, PANATEA ventures to create a ritual for healthy, modern living—one moment at a time."
"Wabi and Now is the collaborative art works by seven young Japanese artists who are at the forefront in their respective fields in Japan."
"Its mission is to understand the essence of tea traditions and translate it into the contemporary world."


text:
A Candy Maker's Witness
A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas candy cane. He incorporated several symbol for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church and firmness of the promises of God.
The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which he reaches down into the world.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ.
Tagged: Candy Cane, Christmas, christmas story, Jesus, Lengends, Red, Stripes, Symbols, Traditions, White


text:
I understand what you are saying but why would you have your own images build around circumstances that happen outside your own free will? In other words why let other people influence your work as it is your work!
I mean isn't it the photographer who is the artist and follows his feeling and evolves around himself trying to find his own way, rather than letting other people have an effect on your work?
Let me explain myself, my mother is a painter and has been all her life she is actually pretty famous in her area of expertise, watercolour. When I was a kid she painted winter landscapes and this sold like it was for free they were hot, and people loved them all around. I told my mom to start painting more winter landscapes this was what people wanted to see... She said I don't want to paint what people want to see I want to follow my own road to wherever it leads because it is my road to travel.
I want to do what I like to do it is my passion not anyone else's! I think that's when I realised my mom was an artist.
As an artist you have to create and mould yourself like a statue that isn't a statue straight away but it is a peace of art the artist starts to work on it. If not you will become a copy of someone else like there are so many, trying to copy Newton or Bourdin. They will never get there and even if for arguments sake lets assume that you can accomplish just that, than it still isn't your work it's a copy! Sure whatever happens in your life makes you, and in a way has an effect on your work but I don't believe for a minute you have to change your work in order to get into a magazine or get more hits or likes of people on the internet.
A good friend of mine who is also a well known photographer once said on a workshop, you have to do what you like doing and stick with that let it evolve into something that you know today isn't there yet, but it will! Keep following the road you want to lead and try to be better at it all the time don't let anyone else influence you in any way but take in consideration what they say and use it in your own way... There are a lot of people standing behind a camera, make up artist, assistant, etc. but only the photographer decides what the spectator gets to see.
You make it happen, no magazine or very important person, who might be very important for other reasons. I am a teacher and never try to influence any student but rather try to motivate them trough there own creative possibility of thinking and let them find there own solutions as we all see the world in a different way!
Or is this just too many words...?
Patrick, I understand your concerns wholeheartedly. On one hand there is the art. On the other hand you have the validation.
You've defined art very clearly above so I am not going to repeat what you've said. Needless to say I agree with you 100%.
What is validation? Since no one lives in a complete vacuum (not even me and my cave) we must often define our work with a framework that considers others. Basically it is still important how others feel about your work.
But you ask, "Why? I thought photography was art?" Well, being a "professional" means I derive my main source of income from my craft. Simply put, without revenue I can not survive. So part of my craft requires that there is demand for my products/services or else I can not continue my pursuit. That is validation. Validation via revenue.
It's also validation via a full stomach.
The other thing about my craft is that fashion is very exclusive and very closed community. To break into fashion requires getting a fair amount of validation from people "in power". It is no mistake when I say that Anna Wintour can make anyone famous in the fashion industry by sheer mention of their name. That is validation. Validation via recognition.
Because the structure of the fashion industry is very "tall", meaning there are very few players at the top and they are all difficult to get to, becoming validated is not unlike climbing the corporate ladder. Politics is very important and playing that game properly is critical. Make enemies with the wrong people and you might end your career. Conversely being validated by key individuals could launch your career.
Yes I wrote this article about not caring about what others think about your work. But it depends on what your goals are. Most of the photographers that come to my workshops are trying to succeed in fashion photography. So to a certain extent there are "rules" we must abide by. Until of course you are so powerful that people want to brand your body odor as a fragrance.
l'eau du BO.
But I digress. My points are twofold. The first is very simply that even artists must to a certain degree care what others think. At the very least to attain "commercial success" so that they don't starve to death. My second point (that I was trying to make with the previous posts) is that too often photographers want the recognition and validation without playing politics, without taking shitty jobs, without getting yelled at, without mopping the studio floors, etc. That would be like wanting to be the middleweight MMA champion of the world without having been kicked in the nuts. Possible, but highly unlikely. The analogy holds true in many ways. After taking enough fights you know which opponents match to your strengths and which opponents match to your weaknesses. You know how to strike but you also know how NOT to get arm-barred. You learn win a decision victory even if you can't submit or knock your opponent out. You also learn how to make your fights exciting so that you can earn more per fight.
But you ask "Why? I thought it was all about winning?" Well, see there's winning and there's WINNING. If you're the best fighter (photographer) that one one has ever heard of, the world won't give two shits about you. You can't be the champion without taking out the best contenders. And you can't be a successful photographer without taking a few shots in the nuts. Metaphorically of course.
And that's the difference between you and me. I wear a cup even when I go to the supermarket. You've been going commando because you haven't been kicked in the nuts... yet.


text:
Norway is bracing itself for a verdict in the case of the man who admitted to killing 77 people – most of them teenagers - in two separate attacks last July.
Prosecutors want Anders Breivik to be declared insane so he can be committed to a mental institution. He arrived relaxed and smiling with lawyers to hear the prosecution's plea in the packed out courtroom today - the penultimate day of his trial.
During the weeks of this case, as Breivik recounted the attacks he carried out last July, he seemed calm and collected. He bombed a government building in Oslo killing 8 people and then shot at kids at a summer camp on Utoya island, killing another 69. But psychiatric reports committed to the trial conflicted: a pre-trial report said he was insane, so another was ordered and that one said he was sane.
Trond Blattmann, Leader of the July 22 Support Group said: "The most important thing is that he won't be let out in Norwegian society any more. He will be locked up in prison or in a psychiatric ward. Actually, for the support group, that is not important. The most important thing is that we don't see him anymore."
In a poll by public broadcaster : 3 out of 4 Norwegians think he's sane enough to go jail. If the court decides that is the case, then Breivik faces 21 years in prison - which the judge could enhance if he's considered dangerous.


text:
(Aviation Short Stories by Robert Novell)
I don't recall if Mateo was third or fourth generation but I do remember him telling me that his family had immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s and that his father owned, and operated, a few apartment buildings as well as a small neighborhood store. He was a true New Yorker who loved his city and had a passion for the science of language and its development in different cultures. Mateo spoke English, Italian, German, and French; he could get by, when necessary, speaking Spanish and Portuguese. So, how does a talented linguist, or polyglot, like Mateo suddenly abandon his first love to pursue aviation?
It started when he was offered the chance to become a Marine Aviator just prior to graduating from NYU. He wasn't quite sure why he chose aviation but I think it had something to do with the gold wings and the Dress Blues—-not completely sure about this but I can confirm that he was a slave to fashion and perhaps the gold wings on a set of Dress Blues would have been an attractive addition to his wardrobe.
Mateo finished NYU, and then he was off to Officer's Candidate School at Quantico, VA, followed by primary flight training in Pensacola, Florida and then he ended up being assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in NC to fly the A-4 Skyhawk. It wasn't long before Mateo opted for the comfort of the C-130 Hercules cockpit after a friend from flight school, who was also at Cherry Point flying with the Hercules squadron, managed to help him get a transfer to his squadron. Funny how fate would have him in the Hercules, instead of the A-4 Skyhawk or the A-6 Intruder, because it is the Hercules that would control his future after the Marine Corp—an interesting twist of fate.
I first met Mateo when I was working in South Florida flying the Lear series aircraft. It was a Friday evening at an oyster bar on Miami Beach that I first ran in to Mateo. When I arrived, and sat down at the bar, it just so happened that Mateo was sitting five stools down from my chosen seat telling the bartender a joke which must have been pretty good because the bartender was still laughing when he walked down to take my order. I asked for a cold draft beer and also asked the bartender to share the joke with me once he recovered. The bartender then turned to Mateo and said, "Tell this guy that joke you just told me because no one can tell a joke like you." Mateo smiled, got up from his stool, walked down to the barstool beside me and had a seat. Mateo told me the joke he had just shared with his friend the bartender and while the joke was funny, Mateo's mannerisms when telling the joke were priceless. Now I know why the bartender wanted Mateo to tell the joke. Mateo laughed, I laughed, and the bartender started laughing again when he heard us laughing. OK, I would share the joke with you but I have always had a problem remembering jokes regardless of how good or bad they were. That having been said, Mateo and I began a conversation, and as luck would have it, airplanes were mentioned and suddenly a two-minute joke turned in to a two-hour conversation.
Mateo and I talked about our past jobs in aviation, the type of aircraft we had flown, where we wanted to be in five years and — the most interesting part of the conversation for me — Mateo's current employment. He was working for a small company in St Lucia, an island in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, flying the Hercules. Since my interests in aviation were moving toward long range transport aircraft so that I could expand my horizons beyond the continental US, I began to interrogate Mateo about the possibility of employment.
Mateo then revealed to me that he was ready to jump ship and move to a new company because of issues with the owner over a change in his crew base and pay. He was originally hired with the understanding that he could live anywhere he wanted, which of course for him was Miami Beach, but that had changed. He was being told to move out to the island, which is an expensive place to live, and was not being offered an increase in his base pay.
Mateo had an apartment overlooking Miami Beach so he was not too keen on the idea of moving but when he was told about his base pay not increasing, he knew it was time to go.
The conversation then turned to his future employer, Southern Air Charter, and what he would be doing. It turns out that he was being hired by a third party to work for Southern Air and would continue to live in Miami Beach but be on call to perform on-demand charters in to Central and South America. Not a bad deal considering he was getting five-thousand a month base pay for a fifty hour guarantee and one-hundred dollars an hour for every hour he flew over fifty.
He was told to expect 50 to 100 hours a month flight time but there would be some months where he would just sit. I then asked if he had to bid his position with the other crewmembers and he advised that he, and three others, were exempt from that requirement.
Pilots are always looking for another job with better pay on bigger airplanes and I have heard a lot of different stories about people's employers; however, this one was a bit far-fetched. Mateo saw that I was not buying off on his story and said, "I am not sure but I think there is a three-letter government agency sponsoring this program because their requirements were specific in that you had to be a prior military Aviator on the Hercules, have a Top Secret clearance, and be available on short notice 24/7. I met the requirements and they especially liked that I was single with no ties to slow me down." OK, and then I asked, "Are you sure that what you are being asked to do is legal?" He then simply remarked that he didn't believe a FAA-Certified Air Carrier would allow their airplanes to be used in a way that would jeopardize their position with governmental agencies. I responded with, "Let me know how it turns out and remember if you have a contact at Southern Air I would like to get an interview especially considering they are going to get rid of the DC-8s and start operating the Boeing 707." Never hurts to ask, right? Mateo and I finished a few more drinks, decided to call it a night and promised to stay in touch.
It was maybe six months later that our paths crossed again. Same oyster bar, I think the exact same bar stools, and the same conversation about airplanes and future expectations. It wasn't until we had finished our first beer that I asked the question of the day: "How goes the new job?" Mateo paused for a moment, had a sip of his beer, and said, "I was hoping you had forgotten about that conversation." I could tell he was uncomfortable so I simply asked how much beach time he was getting. "OK, let's get this out of the way," he said. He then proceeded to tell me that the money was good, the people involved were difficult to deal with, he didn't particularly care for the type of flying he was being asked to do, and the customer for the cargo was too demanding. He went on, "Now, if you ask me anything else I will simply give you the same response so let's talk about the job interview I have next month with Tower Air."
Wow, must not be his cup of tea I thought. OK, "Tell me about Tower Air and can you get me an interview too?" Mateo laughed and said, "I think I better get hired first before I start asking for favors from the Chief Pilot."
"Fair enough," I said, "But tell me about Tower Air."
Tower Air is a New York based carrier that primarily competed with EL AL, the Israeli airline, on routes in to Europe and Israel. They had their own terminal at JFK and they were expanding service to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Juan Puerto Rico. I think Mateo told me that they only operated the 747 — I could be wrong — but I knew for sure there had to be a New York connection in there somewhere. So, I asked Mateo to share with me the connection that got him the interview. "I can't tell you that but what I will do is introduce you to the guy over in the corner and later I may share a little more with you about Tower Air. "OK," I said, "But remember that I need your Southern Air connection because I would like to have an opportunity to fly the 707 and for sure I would like to be part of a 747 operation if you think Tower Air would consider hiring an unattached Lear pilot from South Florida who wants to continue to live in South Florida."
As we moved from the bar to the table where Mateo's friend was sitting, I noticed that this gentleman was on the phone. I asked Mateo if we should wait and he said, "He is always on the phone; no problem." So, Mateo took a seat, signaled me to take a seat, and then said, "Bonzo this is Bob and he wants to know your life story."
"Like hell he does," Bonzo responded as he looked me over— "How goes it Mateo and how is flying in Central America?" Mateo shrugged his shoulders and responded by saying, "What's up with you old timer?" Bonzo looked at me, extended his hand, and said, "Who are you?" I replied, "I am just a lonely Lear pilot looking for a better job, flying a bigger airplane for more money." Bonzo stared at me for a minute and then said, "Have you ever flown a C-123?" "No," I answered. Bonzo immediately shifted his focus back to Mateo and asked him the same question and received the same answer.
Bonzo then shared with us that he had to pick up an airplane, I assume it was a C-123, in Arizona and take it south. However, he had told his contact that he had in fact flown this type of aircraft but the reality was that he had never even been inside one. Bonzo then paused for a moment and said, "JJ— I am going to call JJ and get him to go with me. If he can get the engines started, and I suspect he can considering he is one of the best damn Flight Engineers to ever retire from the Air Force, I can fly it. OK, I am going to call JJ so you guys need to give me a little privacy."
That was obviously Mateo's cue to get me and leave. We did….. I left maybe 15 minutes later, and I never saw Bonzo again. I would ask Mateo, from time to time, if his friend Bonzo was still making deals to fly airplanes he had never flown before and he would always shrug his shoulders and say, "I don't know and I don't want to know. Next question please."
Mateo went to fly with Tower, continued to live on Miami Beach, and we continued to run in to one another from time to time. Mateo did in fact pull some strings and got me an interview with Southern Air but I ended up working for a company in the panhandle of Florida before Southern called me with a class date for initial training. Now you would think that this would be the end of my story, but it is not. The next time I saw Mateo, about a year or so after moving to the panhandle of Florida, I was in Brussels, Belgium at the Sheraton and guess who was checking in at the same time I was checking in?
Mateo and I had dinner that night and he brought me up to date on his life. Turns out Mateo had stayed with Tower for a year or so, upgraded to Captain, and then started shopping around for something better. Tower had been a good experience for him, he had flown a lot, and built up a lot of time in the 747 as well, but Tower was not an up and coming airline and he wasn't going to wait for the doors to close before he started shopping for his next job.
Mateo had become good friends with a German pilot at St. Lucia who was now flying for Cargolux. His friend had married a young lady from Luxembourg, received his citizenship, and a family friend of his wife got him the job at Cargolux. Now he was ready to pull Mateo across and Mateo was ready for a change.
In Luxembourg they speak German, French, English, and Luxembougish. Mateo was at home speaking all of the languages except Luxembourgish, which he was studying, had the necessary experience in the 747, and was ready to leave his Miami Beach apartment behind which meant there must have been a considerable pay increase involved.
Mateo had already had the first interview and was returning for the final review of his qualifications, to meet the President and a few other required officials, and get the hand shake. I wished him well, even though I knew it was a done deal, and told him to let me know how things turn out.
It was about six months later, when I was in Miami on vacation, that I ran across a mutual friend of ours in my favorite Oyster Bar. He advised that Mateo was living in Luxembourg, flying as a first officer on the Boeing-747-400 for Cargolux, and loving life in the cold country. I tried to contact him by email but I never received a response. I assume that he has found a new home and he is not going to get me an interview.
My best to you Mateo, and hopefully one day when you revisit your old stomping grounds around Miami Beach you will stop by and buy me a beer. By the way, I am working on my French and my Spanish is getting pretty good so if you have connections in France, Spain, or South America let me know.
Remember—If you are looking for a better job, flying bigger airplanes, and making more money, and If you are ready for a change, then strike up a conversation at your local watering hole with the person a few stools down. You may be surprised where it takes you.
Robert Novell


text:
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Romantic Novelists' Association
53 comments:
The RNA is brilliant!!!ReplyDelete
If I still lived in UK, I would have loved to join. Mind, if I still lived in the UK, I would be on 12hr night shifts, writing patient notes and not writing novels!ReplyDelete
Not in the UK :(( You have a great long weekend too!ReplyDelete
Nothing like that here, but it sounds great.ReplyDelete
Did you see the RNA blog today? Shortlist for the Joan Hessayon Award... and I'm on it! woo! http://bit.ly/aXn6lReplyDelete
Liz, it is indeed!ReplyDelete
Glynis, there's always a trade-off, isn't there?
Li - actually, I think non-UK people can join, too...
Siv - it is great.
Sally - I SAW!!!! Congrats! So will I meet you at the Summer Party, then? Can't wait!
I echo everything you said. The RNA is fantastic!!ReplyDelete
See you at the Summer Party and the Conference.
Have a lovely weekend.
Liz X
Cheers for the heads-up, Talli. I don't write romance myself but it's a genre I would love to write in the future :) And it's always nice to see an association the Irish can join, we're ineligible for everything!ReplyDelete
Happy Easter Talli!ReplyDelete
Totally agree -the RNA is an excellent organisation. I wouldn't have so many wonderful friends without it.ReplyDelete
I've just joined the RNA as a full member,Talli, so see you at the party!!!ReplyDelete
I didn't know such an assocciation existed, but as I don't write stories/novels that's probably the reason.ReplyDelete
Thanks for letting all who do write seriously know.
Have a good day.
"London Chapter Meetings" - sounds like a hell's angel meet with roses and chocolate!!!ReplyDelete
But seriously!!! Yay for the RNA!!! Yay for you being a member!! Yay for the 4 day weekend - yay!!! :-)
take care
I don't live in the UK. Or write romance. But I'd join because I bet there's lots of women!ReplyDelete
Sounds like the USA's Romance Writers of America, and they do a lot for their members.ReplyDelete
Too bad I don't live in the UK, I would love to join!ReplyDelete
Happy Holidays to you! Enjoy your weekend.
Ohhh I must look into this for when I am home. Enjoy the Bank Holiday.ReplyDelete
Oh I will definitely join up! I thought it was for published authors only, thanks for the heads up Talli! And have a fab Easter break. ;-)ReplyDelete
Talli, have a wonderful holiday.ReplyDelete
That sounds like a wonderful organization.ReplyDelete
BTW, love what you've done to your blog! Very pretty.
- Anonymous21 April 2011 at 14:55
Haven't heard of the RNA. Sounds like a great organization--It's so important to have a supportive network.ReplyDelete
Have a great weekend!!! (I'm jealous you get three days, LOL!)
I guess it's almost Easter where you are. Have a great week-end.ReplyDelete
Congrats on being a full fledged member of the RNA! Those kinds of organizations are very helpful + you get to meet all kinds of fun people!ReplyDelete
Yay for the RNA! HAPPY EASTER Talli :O)ReplyDelete
I don't write Romance, but I went to a local RWA (Romance Writers of American, I believe) and found everyone there to be amazingly helpful and nice. Must run in the blood of Romance writers worldwide!ReplyDelete
awe, that's great! What a great associate to be a part of!ReplyDelete
I like the way you stated 'collective level of expertise.' Just like the blogosphere itself, the whole is greater, cooler, smarter and better than the sum of its parts. :)ReplyDelete
Hi Talli .. good to know about the RNA .. and the fun times, as well as the professional feedback etc ..ReplyDelete
Enjoy the weekend .. cheers Hilary
Sounds like a place to be and SO much fun! Thanks for sharing the wealth! <3ReplyDelete
That sounds delightful!ReplyDelete
It sounds like an excellent organization! Congrats on joining. By the way I love the new look of your site!ReplyDelete
Have a good easter!ReplyDelete
The RNA sounds like a wonderful organization. Have a fabulous holiday! JulieReplyDelete
Happy Easter Talli! Have a great long weekend. Thank you; it would be very interesting to see what the RNA will be up to.ReplyDelete
Sounds like a cool group/community. I'm pretty sure I don't qualify.ReplyDelete
Sounds like a wonderful group! Have a great weekend! :)ReplyDelete
That's really cool. It sounds so helpful.ReplyDelete
How wonderful; sounds like an amazing group!ReplyDelete
Thought RNA would be more about science, and was relieved to see it's not. How great you found an organization where you feel welcome.ReplyDelete
This is the perfect "R" for you! Yay! :-)ReplyDelete
Just wanted to let you know that your book is available on Amazon.de
Here's the link:
Same to you Talli! IT's WINE o'clock all weekend!ReplyDelete
I'm going to have to take a closer look at the RNA - always thought that you had to be a published writer for it to be applicable. Have a lovely weekend TalliReplyDelete
The RNA sounds good. I am working on my first book right now, a historical novel, but I would like to maybe work on a romantic novel next.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous21 April 2011 at 21:57
Couldn't agree more - what a lovely bunch of people. Yay indeed for RNA xxxReplyDelete
Happy long Easter weekend!ReplyDelete
You have a great time at the RNA Talli. It sounds wonderful.ReplyDelete
Awesome to find a good support group-- the synergy is fantastic for the muse.ReplyDelete
Have a great weekend! (=
The blog is very good!ReplyDelete
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, Talli!ReplyDelete
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, Talli!ReplyDelete
Yay for RNA! But I don't live in London or Ireland, nor do I write romance.ReplyDelete
Congratulations Talli.ReplyDelete


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Here we go again. Thanks to everyone who showed their appreciation for my first series. I am pleased to present my second UMA series for your enjoyment. This one is for the artists out there.
Now you know how to create UMAs and get them running around in-game, it's time to kit them out in fashionable attire. As the series progresses, I will be walking you through the rather tricky workflow to get your models to play nice with UMA. By the end you should be creating outfits like a pro.
If you've ever tried making clothing for UMA before and managed to stop yourself before you threw your monitor across the room then this series is for you. I've dug into all the problems, found the quirks and found ways around them in order to make the process as painless as possible for you.
If that all sounds like the way you want to spend your evenings, then head over to the course listing and dive in…


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Max Factor Pan Cake FoundationReviewing: Max Factor Foundation | Rating:
Once thought of as a thick makeup only suited for theatrical and movie use (the original intention of this product) Max Factor Pan-Cake foundation can give you a sheer, natural look that is perfect for today's current "less is more" makeup fad. You will feel as if you're not even wearing makeup! The trick is in the application. Using a natural sponge and water, dampen the sponge and rub it across the solid cake of foundation until you've saturated it with the product, then blend, blend, blend! This is the key to a streak-free application. The foundation dries into a beautiful matte finish. It's so incredibly versatile - if by chance you do want more coverage, it's simple. Just use a bit more product and blend. This was used by Hollywood makeup artists for a reason - your skin will look smooth and flawless, perfect for photographs or just for looking good every day. Cons - there are not too many colors to choose from, and the colors do look much darker in the package than they do once they're on your face. But, this is easily solved with a little experimentation. Practice does make perfect with this foundation!


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MLA Advising
It is time to think about advising for your next semester! All graduate LARC students are required to review their MLA Program of Study. This will help keep track of your requirements for graduation and document decisions you have made since the last time you were advised.
Here are the basic steps:
If you are working on your thesis, please visit our Thesis Procedures page.
General Forms
If you fill out a form this may require the signature of the MLA Program Chair. Please include (cc in the email) Dr. Vikki Chanse, MLA Program Chair, and firstname.lastname@example.com, when submitting these forms to the Graduate School.
Regulation Waiver, Leave of Absence, Time Extension, Transfer or Inclusion of Credit, and other forms are available here.
Useful Links: Graduate School's FAQs | Graduate School Catalog
Other Resources
Job Shadow: Job Shadow is an excellent experience for students and it's a great way for the professional community to meet and inspire the next generation of Landscape Architects.