text:
Victorian bushfire disaster: Lives sacrificed to save money
By Shua Garfield
The official death toll from the Victorian bushfires was 210 by February 23. At least 7500 people have been left homeless by the fires, which began on February 7, after over 2000 houses were destroyed. At least 1500 farm buildings, 25,600 tonnes of stored fodder and grain, nearly 1000 hectares of standing crops, fruit trees and vines, and thousands of sheep, cattle and other livestock were destroyed.
Speaking to a February 22 memorial service in Melbourne, Victorian Premier John Brumby described the fires as "the worst natural disaster in Australia's history". However, while fires are a "natural" part of the Australian bush, it is either childishly naive or wilfully dishonest to blame the associated humanitarian disaster on nature. Society has the technical capacity to avoid the vast majority of the casualties caused by these events, but such measures are simply not a capitalist priority. The system prioritises private profits and government "fiscal responsibility" more than human lives. That is as much to blame for this disaster as it was for other disasters similarly blamed on nature, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
'Stay and defend'
Questions have been raised regarding official advice to households threatened with bushfires — the remarkably vague "stay and defend or leave early". According to this advice, people faced with an approaching bushfire should either leave their houses "early" (whenever that is) or, if they have a plan to defend their house, stay and implement that plan. Announcing a royal commission into the bushfires on February 9, Brumby admitted: "There is no question that there were people there who did everything right, put in place their fire plan and it wouldn't matter, their house was just incinerated".
The reasons for this are explained in a scathing criticism of proposals to introduce "stay and defend" in California by Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents 294,000 firefighters and paramedics in the US and Canada. In the January 23 Los Angeles Times, before the Victorian bushfire crisis, Schaitberger wrote that "stay and defend" involves "asking homeowners to pretend that a government education course on fire risk would provide them sufficient training to protect themselves and their property during a wildfire, thereby requiring fewer professional firefighters to be deployed.
"Hearing anyone suggest that homeowners should not get out of harm's way is appalling. Hearing a public safety professional make the suggestion is shameless. Stay-and-defend is clearly a half-baked idea from people who believe that saving money is more important than saving lives."
Schaitberger wrote: "Stay-and-defend has had limited success in the Australian bush, where the tactic has been used for some time. But it has also led to disaster …". The reason for "limited success" in Australia, according to Schaitberger, is the extremely sparse population in large parts of the outback, which "would not translate to a state as populous as California. It would thrust thousands of homeowners in the path of raging wildfires without proper equipment or training ..."
However, large semi-rural parts of Australia surrounding major cities are becoming more like the California that Schaitberger describes: "The state's population continues to grow … and more residents are staking their claim in rural areas, where wildfires are becoming more frequent and more dangerous". This expansion of the semi-rural population is largely driven by high property prices in urban centres — a result of property speculation and the failure of capitalist governments to invest in public housing and control housing prices. High prices have forced many working-class people to search for affordable housing on the outer fringes of cities or beyond. Property developers have been keen to cash in on this need, buying up relatively cheap semi-rural property and developing it in the poorly planned and poorly regulated manner typical of capitalist industry.
Climate change
Schaitberger's statement that in California "wildfires are becoming more frequent and more dangerous" will also increasingly apply to Australia because of climate change — a problem caused by capitalist industrial pollution, not by nature. Again, government policies designed to protect capitalist profits are exacerbating the problem. Peter Marshall, national secretary of the United Firefighters Union (UFU), highlights this in a February 12 open letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Brumby: "[W]e are gravely concerned that current Federal and State government policies seem destined to ensure a repeat of the recent tragic events.
"Consider the recent devastation in Victoria. Research by the CSIRO, Climate Institute and the Bushfire Council found that a 'low global warming scenario' will see catastrophic fire events happen in parts of regional Victoria every 5-7 years by 2020, and every 3-4 years by 2050, with up to 50% more extreme danger fire days. However, under a 'high global warming scenario', catastrophic events are predicted to occur every year in Mildura, and firefighters have been warned to expect an up to 230% increase in extreme danger fire days in Bendigo. And in Canberra, the site of devastating fires in 2003, we are being asked to prepare for up to a massive 221% increase in extreme fire days by 2050, with catastrophic events predicted once up to every 8 years. Given the Federal Government's [commitment to only] 5% greenhouse gas emissions cuts [by 2020], the science suggests we are well on the way to guaranteeing that somewhere in the country there will be an almost annual repeat of the recent disaster and more frequent extreme weather events.
"… Firefighters know that it is better to prevent an emergency than to have to rescue people from it, and we urge State and Federal governments to follow scientific advice and keep firefighters and the community safe by halving the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
"Unfortunately, however, the scientists are advising that no matter what we do, a 'low global warming' scenario is almost inevitable, and so we must be making fire plans accordingly … Our existing resources cannot be expected to cope with even the 'low global warming' scenario of a 25% increase in extreme fire days — and catastrophic fire events every 5 years — in major Victorian country locations in just under 12 years' time. Likewise, when the scientists tell us that under a 'low warming' scenario in 2020, Wagga faces 'very extreme' events every 2 years warning bells must surely be ringing."
Official neglect
Marshall notes one of the reasons "existing resources cannot be expected to cope with even the 'low global warming' scenario": "As cities expand into formerly rural areas and 'growth corridors', many volunteer brigades find their new members have full-time jobs in the city and all the pressures of urban life, and therefore less time to devote to firefighting".
In rural Victoria, firefighting is the responsibility of the Country Fire Authority — made up almost entirely of volunteers. While the self-sacrifice of volunteer firefighters reflects the best of human solidarity, it is scandalous that the capitalist state does not fund a much larger professional firefighting force outside the urban centres. Even in urban centres — where the capitalists' need to protect their expensive property and infrastructure means they are willing to fund a sizeable, permanent, professional firefighting force — the Victorian UFU has complained of failures to replace outdated equipment and firefighters waiting for up to five years for new protective clothing.
Failure to improve firefighting services is only part of a pattern of government neglect in the face of warnings of increased bushfire risk. The "warning bells" that Marshall refers to were ringing years ago. The CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology released joint reports in 2005 and 2007, both predicting increased fire danger due to climate change. Their 2008 joint report warned that what are now classified as exceptionally hot years would become the norm, making drought a permanent part of the Australian environment. Much of south-eastern Australia has already been affected by drought for the past seven years.
Despite these warnings and the recommendations arising from a federal inquiry into Canberra's 2003 bushfire disaster, little has been done. For example, development of an early-warning telephone alert system — recommended by the 2003 Canberra bushfire inquiry — has stalled. Despite an initial trial in 2005, slow government legislative action and uncertainty over who would pay the costs, estimated at $10-12 million, have prevented implementation.
There is little excuse for these failures. Socialist Alternative writer Andrew Cheeseman pointed out in a recent online article: "What Australia spends on the military in just one week (around $400 million) could easily fund one thousand full time firefighters for a year, plus many new fire brigades and fire trucks. And a mere 2 per cent of the $6.2 billion granted in handouts to the car industry could fund a national early warning system that would see aerial monitoring of fire danger areas during medium and high fire risk periods, and infrastructure built to set off alarms in rural towns when evacuations are recommended."
There is little excuse for the failure to prepare adequately for the emergency in the weeks leading up to it. Again, the "warning bells" were ringing. Much of Victoria had experienced little or no rain since early January. The record-breaking heat wave, which created the conditions for firestorms, started on January 28 — 10 days before the fires. As early as January 22, the Bureau of Meteorology was warning of serious bushfire risks. By February 5, it was warning that February 7 might see the worst bushfire weather in the history of fire danger ratings. But no preparations were made to evacuate residents or establish safe havens where threatened residents could take refuge.
An example of disaster management
More resources are needed for disaster prevention and management in Australia. However, successful mitigation of disasters is not simply a question of technical resources. Cuba — with around one-tenth the per capita GDP of Australia — has a uniquely efficient and successful program to deal with the increasingly frequent and severe hurricanes it faces. In Cuba, where capitalist power was abolished by the 1959 revolution, saving lives is prioritised over cost-cutting and profiteering. An education system and mass grassroots organisations that embody the values of human solidarity give Cuba the capacity to plan and coordinate large population movements far more effectively than capitalist societies, which condition people to think and act as atomised individuals.
In Cuba, the entire population is educated from an early age about the dangers of hurricanes, how to understand information from the Cuban Institute of Meteorology and how to react in case of an alert. Every year, risk assessments are made in each locality by the Committees in Defence of the Revolution and other mass organisations and evacuation plans are updated with grassroots involvement. Lists of people with limited mobility are compiled so that their evacuation can be planned. At the beginning of each hurricane season there are nationwide two-day training sessions in risk reduction, which include simulation exercises.
As soon as a hurricane alert is activated, the authorities organise evacuation, including public transport, to safe areas. Schools and hospitals are converted into shelters. Television and radio inform the public of any changes in the level of alert. All institutions are mobilised 48 hours before the hurricane is predicted to hit the island.
Because of this mass organisation, Cuba regularly weathers hurricanes that kill hundreds in neighbouring countries with few, if any, deaths. In 1998, the category 4 Hurricane Georges, which killed nearly 600 people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, killed only four people in Cuba. The 2004 category 3 Hurricane Charley again killed only four in Cuba while 29 perished in Florida.
Last year, Cuba was hit by two category 4 hurricanes within 10 days, Gustav and Ike. Over the course of the two storms, more than 3 million Cubans were evacuated to safety. Most stayed out of harm's way with relatives, while the rest were transported to well-stocked government shelters staffed by doctors, nurses, social workers and even veterinarians to care for pets.
Although half a million homes were destroyed or damaged by the two storms, not a single human life was lost in Cuba to Hurricane Gustav, and only seven deaths resulted from Ike. By contrast, an estimated 600 people were killed by the two hurricanes in neighbouring capitalist Haiti, where indiscriminate deforestation by poverty-stricken farmers led to catastrophic flooding. In the US, Hurricane Gustav killed 53 people (despite dropping from category 4 to category 2 between leaving Cuba and arriving at the US coastline) and Hurricane Ike killed 112 people.
A socially just and rapid recovery from the storms has been possible because Cuba's socialist state guarantees social welfare through public, democratic ownership of most of the country's wealth and resources. With the help of revolutionary Venezuela, the Cuban government is replacing lost houses with petrocasas — environmentally friendly, hurricane-resistant houses made from by-products of the oil-refining industry. Contrast this to Australia, where people have to wait for payouts from private insurance companies to rebuild their homes or buy new ones — if they have insurance at all (around 20% of those affected don't, according to a February 23 article in Asia Insurance Review).
Capitalist politicians have attempted to blame the bushfire tragedy on everyone from arsonists to environmentalists. The arsonist scare is being used to erode civil liberties, with police programs such as South Australia's "Operation Nomad" involving harassment of "suspected arsonists" — including people who have never been convicted. While arson is suspected in some of the fires, others are known to have been started by lightning strikes. Environmentalists are blamed for encouraging increased forest reserves — where fuel for fires may build up — avoiding the blame on the government for failing to organise systematic burnoffs to reduce fuel loads (as was reccomended 70 years ago by a royal commission into the 1939 Ash Wednesday fires). The function of this blame game is to deflect real blame from capitalism — the system that allows natural emergencies to become social disasters through neglect of social welfare and which exacerbates these disasters through climate-altering pollution and irresponsible development.


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The evidence is incontrovertible: women earn 60% of bachelor's and master's degrees, women in their 20s earn more than men, and in November's election, more women were elected to the Senate – 17 in total – than at any other point in history. To see just how far women have come in business, see the Motif Investing infographic, Women CEOs - Myths & Messages From The Top. But myths and misperceptions aside, how are companies run by women doing in terms of the ultimate yardstick of success: rising or falling stock prices?
Motif Investing has created a motif index called No Glass Ceilings that can help you track the effectiveness of women in the chief executive's suite. This motif was created by identifying U.S. listed stocks (and ADRs or American Depository Receipts) with women at the helm, and weeding out the ones where female CEOs have been in place less than a year. That's one reason you won't see Yahoo! (YHOO) in the motif index, because high profile chief executive, Marissa Mayer, just took the reins of the company this year.
But you will see Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)headed by Meg Whitman, one-time California gubernatorial candidate and former chief executive of EBay. Here the test is steep perhaps. Hewlett-Packard, a company that helped usher in the information economy, and put Silicon Valley on the map, may have lost its way in the eyes of many. After two years of sluggish top line growth and a decline in earnings, HPQ is, after nine months showing a net loss of close to $3.00 a share. Can Meg Whitman turn this behemoth around?
And it's not just technology companies where women-CEOs will be put to the test. Over at DuPont (DD), Ellen Kullman was appointed chief executive officer in January 2009, when the company's stock price stood at about $22, the same place it had been in 1991, and far lower than its $74 in 1998. In fact, the stock price was half of what it had been just a year before Kullman took the helm. Under her leadership, DD shares have more than doubled, but challenges remain, as the company's global foot print means it faces headwinds from a sluggish global economy.
And over at Pepsico, Indra Nooyi is tasked with leading one of the most brand-centric companies in the world. It's not just Pepsi under the company's banner, but a far flung portfolio of other brands that includes Cap'n Crunch, Doritos, Dr. Pepper, Fritos, Aunt Jemima and Rice-A-Roni, to name a few. Can women's widely perceived superior social and cultural skills give Ms Nooyi an edge in connecting these brands with consumers far better than say, Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, with brands like Blue Bonnet, Slim Jim and Del Monte? Time will tell with the definitive test: the top and bottom lines.
The conventional wisdom about the economic and political rise of women is that an information intensive economy prizes the cultural and neurological traits of women more than men. And a new theory, espoused in a book called The End of Men by Hanna Rosin, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a founder and editor at DoubleX, Slate's women's section, offers that women are similar to the kind immigrants who easily adapt to a new environment. She suggests that men are like immigrants too, except the kind that pine for the old country and who hold onto old patterns and old ways of doing things.
Whichever theory you think is right, with the No Glass Ceilings motif index, which returned 10.1% year to date, you get a litmus test for this tectonic sociological shift occurring in our society and economy through the progress of 19 companies currently headed by female chief executives.
All of this goes well beyond gender politics. In its' April 2011 report, Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the US Economy, white shoe consulting firm McKinsey & Company posited that, "The potential productivity contributions of women have not been fully realized." If that's the case, the U.S. model for total equality under the law, imperfect as it may be, but nonetheless progressing, could be the ultimate salvation of our economy.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice.
See also:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Regular Meeting of the School Board of Education
6:30 p.m., Monday, August 18, 2008
Media Center, Lester Prairie Public Schools
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of District 424, Lester Prairie, McLeod County, Minnesota was held on Monday, August 18, 2008, in the school media center.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Fred Blaser at 6:30 p.m. Roll call was taken by Chairman Blaser and administration present included: Greg East, Pam Lukens, and Scott Fitzsimonds. The school board included: Fred Blaser, Chester Hoernemann, Melissa Williams, Jeff Hecksel, Jim Jorgenson and Karla Heigl. The public included: Linda Scherer representing the Herald Journal, Greg Machemehl, Jill Fiecke, Christine Mattson, Judy Ide, and Kim DeBruyckere.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chester Hoernemann.
Chester Hoernemann made a motion to approve the consent agenda for this meeting as modified, and approve the 2008-2009 bills in the amount of $88,099.27. Jeff Hecksel seconded the motion, and it was approved with a 6-0 vote.
The good news section included information about LPHS representative at the County fair.
No one chose to speak for open dialogue.
The administration gave their reports. Mrs. Lukens gave the list for staff, changes on enrollment numbers, report on playground information, and a report on changes in the handbook.
Mr. Fitzsimonds also gave his report on changes in the handbook. He went over issues with the sports. He also expressed his concern about the motion from the July meeting without Mr. East included in it.
After discussion with the board Karla Heigl made a motion to amend the original motion made on July 21, 2008 with the following: It is the responsibility of the administration to make all decisions relating to the sports' programs including, but not limited to, uniforms, game locations, etc. And, in an effort to alleviate the inconsistencies of last year, the administration will make every effort to follow the Board's original motion and approval to play as Bulldogs, utilizing both facilities. Jim Jorgenson seconded the motion and it passed by a vote of 6-0.
Mr. Fitzsimonds shared concerns with our testing results and gave pro-active options for the next year to better our results. Some included: Math study skills class, reading support with Ms. Olson, and ESL as a full period. He finished with showing the school/city calendar that was produced and will be sent out to the public.
Mr. East went over testing results locally and statewide and showed comparisons. He also talked about the handbook. Mr. East shared that Joe Miller's retirement reception had a very good attendance. He discussed the storage building that RAM Builders would be building for the District.
Old business included: a motion made by Jim Jorgenson to approve the contract between the city of Lester Prairie and Lester Prairie School District. Jeff Hecksel seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
Chester Hoernemann made a motion to approve the purchase of a floor scrubber from Hillyard for $7,300. Karla Heigl seconded it, and the motion passed with a 6-0 vote.
In policy administration: Jeff Hecksel made a motion to approve the non-resident agreement. Chester Hoernemann seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
Mr. East went over AYP and finding patterns and looking how to change curriculum. He explained about data driven decisions and being pro-active with testing scores.
Melissa Williams made a motion to approve the revised Elementary and Secondary handbooks for the 2008-2009 school year. Fred Blaser seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
Mr. Fitzsimonds explained the coaching situation and apologized for the mistake he made in the hiring of the head basketball coach. He explained that there are more positions needing to be filled.
Jim Jorgenson made a motion to approve the coaching personnel contracts. Chester Hoernemann seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
School finances include: the school auditors were here on August 6, 2008, and they will be back on August 25 August 26, 2008, and roofing issues were discussed.
A motion was made by Jim Jorgenson to approve the additional expenses for the drains to be replaced in the area of the roof being repaired, the approximate cost to be $3,600. Melissa Williams seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
No school board reports given.
New business: the Tax Equalization Hearing is Monday December 8, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. The Continuation meeting will be held on December 15 at 6:30 p.m., with the regular school board meeting to follow.
Melissa Williams made a motion to change the regular school board meeting from September 15, 2008 to September 9, 2008 and to be held at 8:10 p.m. Chester Hoernemann seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
There was a discussion on having a school board retreat. Chester made a motion to have a board retreat on September 15, at 6:30 p.m., in the media center. Karla Heigl seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
Chester Hoernemann made a motion to approve the contract for a computer audit to be done by SW/WC for $800. Karla Heigl seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-0 vote.
Agenda items for the next board meeting include: follow up on the teacher workshops.
Meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
Melissa Williams, Clerk
Published in the Herald Journal Sept. 22, 2008.
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I hope you find great value in these Quotes by Townes Van Zandt from my large collection of motivational and inspirational quotes and sayings.
I don't think you can ever do your best.
Doing your best is a process of trying to do your best.
- Townes Van Zandt
What we think, we become.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make the world.
- The Buddha
To know yet to think that one does not know is best;
Not to know yet to think that one knows
will lead to difficulty.
- Lao Tzu
Life is as easy or as hard as you think it is.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
I don't think of all the misery
but of the beauty that still remains.
- Anne Frank
Every thought we think is creating our future.
- Louise L. Hay
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
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If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labor.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
Today I will be the master of my emotions.
- Og Mandino
It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are,
or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.
It is what you think about.
- Dale Carnegie
Tolerance is the first principle of community;
it is the spirit which conserves
the best that all men think.
- Helen Keller
People should think things out fresh
and not just accept conventional terms
and the conventional way of doing things.
- R. Buckminster Fuller
Truth is not defined by
how many people believe something.
Ask. Question. Think.
Decide - for yourself.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.
- Terry Goodkind
We should not pretend to understand the world
only by the intellect.
The judgment of the intellect
is only part of the truth.
- Carl Jung
The simplest questions are the most profound.
Where were you born?
Where is your home?
Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Think about these once in a while
and watch your answers change.
- Richard Bach
The problem with making assumptions
is that we believe they are the truth
- don Miguel Ruiz
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie,
deliberate, contrived and dishonest,
but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.
- John F. Kennedy
Excellence is the result of
caring more than others think wise,
risking more than other's think safe,
dreaming more than others think practical,
and expecting more than others think possible.
- Anonymous
The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.
- Publilius Syrus
The most incomprehensible thing about the world
is that it is comprehensible.
- Albert Einstein
If a million people say a foolish thing,
it is still a foolish thing.
- Anatole France
Men and women are not prisoners of fate,
but only prisoners of their own minds.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
The most important thing about Spaceship Earth -
an instruction book didn't come with it.
- R. Buckminster Fuller
When you keep getting the wrong answers,
try asking better questions.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
The most important things in life
are seldom the most obvious.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
People hardly ever make use of the freedom which they have,
for example, freedom of thought;
instead they demand freedom of speech as a compensation.
- Soren Kierkegaard
If a problem cannot be solved, enlarge it.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
To kill an error is as good a service as,
and sometimes even better than,
the establishing of a new truth or fact.
- Charles Darwin
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
- Albert Einstein
Sometimes I think we're alone.
Sometimes I think we're not.
In either case, the thought is staggering.
- R. Buckminster Fuller
Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day;
live life to the fullest;
make the most of what you have.
It is later than you think.
- Horace
Life does not consist mainly,
or even largely, of facts or happenings.
It consist mainly of the storm of thoughts
that is forever flowing through one's head.
- Mark Twain
Reality is what you believe it to be.
It's what you put your thought and energy into,
because your hands physically manifest thought.
So your world becomes what you feel and what you think.
- Jewel
What you think of me is none of my business.
- Terry Cole-Whittaker
Do not think that love,
in order to be genuine,
has to be extraordinary.
What we need is to love without getting tired.
- Mother Teresa
I think that somehow, we learn who we really are
and then live with that decision.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
If only the people who worry about their liabilities
would think about the riches they do possess,
they would stop worrying.
- Dale Carnegie
Don't marry the person you think you can live with;
marry only the individual you think you can't live without.
- James C. Dobson
You are braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.
- A. A. Milne (Winnie-The-Pooh)
Think for yourself and question authority.
- Timothy Leary
By not caring too much about what people think,
I'm able to think for myself
and propagate ideas which are very often unpopular.
And I succeed.
- Albert Ellis
I think therefore I am.
- Rene Descartes
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
- Anne Frank
You must do the thing that you think you cannot do.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Character is higher than intellect.
A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
The mind is everything.
What you think you become.
- The Buddha
I cannot teach anybody anything.
I can only make them think.
- Socrates
Small is the number of people who
see with their eyes
and think with their minds.
- Albert Einstein
Children are born innocent.
Before they are domesticated they live in the moment,
love without fear, and don't even think about the opinions of others.
- don Miguel Ruiz
I think we dream so we don't have to be apart for so long.
If we're in each other's dreams, we can be together all the time.
- A. A. Milne (Winnie-The-Pooh)
Words make you think a thought.
Music makes you feel a feeling.
A song makes you feel a thought.
- E. Y. Harburg
Some people care too much. I think it's called love.
- A. A. Milne (Winnie-The-Pooh)
Exercise free-will.
CHOOSE each and every action you make,
every thought you think,
and every emotion you feel.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Does anybody really think that they didn't get what they had
because they didn't have the talent
or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?
- Nelson Mandela
The world is more malleable than you think
and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape.
- Bono
Those who know how to think need no teachers.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi
How you think when you lose
determines how long it will be until you win.
- Gilbert (G. K.) Chesterton
Take time to laugh.
It is the music of the soul.
Take time to think.
It is the source of power.
Take time to play.
It is the source of perpetual youth.
Take time to read.
It is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to pray.
It is the greatest power on Earth.
Take time to love and be loved.
It is a God-given privilege.
Take time to be friendly.
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to give.
It is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to work.
It is the price of success.
- Anonymous
If you think you can,
or you think you can't,
you're probably right.
- Henry Ford
We must dare to think "unthinkable" thoughts.
- J. W. Fulbright
Nurture your mind with great thoughts,
for you will never go any higher than you think.
- Benjamin Disraeli
You become what you think about.
- Earl Nightingale
The biggest mistake we could ever make in our lives
is to think we work for anybody but ourselves.
- Brian Tracy
Life is fully as bad as you think it is,
so never think life is bad.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
You know that place between sleeping and awake,
that place where you can still remember dreaming?
That's where I'll always think of you.
- James M. Barrie
To change who you are,
change who you think you are.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
We are shaped by our thoughts;
we become what we think.
When the mind is pure, joy follows
like a shadow that never leaves.
- The Buddha
Whether you think you can,
or think you can't,
you're right.
- Henry Ford
The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly.
The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi
If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed;
if in terms of ten years, plant trees;
if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
- Confucius
Stand up to your obstacles
and do something about them.
You will find that they haven't
half the strength you think they have.
- Norman Vincent Peale
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text:
Eden Prairie's Eagle Creek Software expands onshoring 'Dakota Model'
Via News Release
"EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.– Eagle Creek Software Services, the largest United States-based systems integration company specializing in Oracle CRM, business intelligence and enterprise software development, announced the opening of a new project center in Valley City, N.D. to support new growth and further increase service levels to clients. The company offers a cost-effective alternative to offshoring.
The new facility is Eagle Creek's third U.S.-based project center and employs 100 staff members. Eagle Creek's decision to locate its new project center within the United States is based on its Dakota model of doing business, which places the company's facilities onshore but outside major, higher cost metropolitan areas."


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Sailor: I watched Marines kill Iraqi civilian CNN Sept 6th
CAMP PENDLETON, California (AP) -- A Navy corpsman testified Friday that Marines in his patrol seized an Iraqi civilian from his home, threw him into a hole and put at least 10 bullets in his head after growing frustrated in their search for an insurgent.
"I was shocked and I felt sick to my stomach," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos.
Bacos, a medic who had been on patrol with the squad, was charged along with seven Marines in the slaying of Hashim Ibrahim Awad last spring in the town of Hamdaniya. But Bacos struck a deal with prosecutors under which he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy and agreed to testify Friday at his court-martial about what he saw.
"I knew what we were doing was wrong," Bacos testified. "I knew we were doing something wrong and I tried to say something."
Bacos, 21, was the first of the servicemen to be court-martialed. The seven others could get up to life in prison.
Prosecutors have said that the servicemen killed Awad out of frustration and then planted an AK-47 assault rifle and a shovel by the body to make it look as if he had been caught digging a hole for a roadside bomb.
Bacos testified that the squad entered Hamdaniya on April 26 while searching for a known insurgent who had been captured three times, then released. Squad leader Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins was "just mad that we kept letting him go and he was a known terrorist," Bacos said.
The group approached a house where the insurgent was believed to be hiding, but when someone inside woke up, the Marines instead went to another home and grabbed Awad, according to the testimony.
Bacos said the squad had intended to get someone else if they did not capture the insurgent, then stage a firefight to make it appear they had found an Iraqi planting a roadside bomb.
Awad, 52, was taken from the home with his feet and hands bound, then placed in a hole, Bacos said. Bacos said he asked the Marines to let Awad go, but Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda told him in crude terms that he was being weak and should stop protesting.
Bacos said Hutchins fired three rounds into the man's head, then Cpl. Trent Thomas fired seven to 10 more rounds into his head.
Bacos said Hutchins called in to a command center and reported the squad had seen a man digging a hole and wanted permission to fire at him.
Bacos was recently transferred from Camp Pendleton, where the Marines have been held, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for his own safety.
Military prosecutors had charged Bacos under the theory that he did nothing to stop the alleged crime. In return for his testimony, murder charges and other counts against him were dropped. He was scheduled to be sentenced later Friday.
Along with Magincalda, Hutchins and Thomas, the other Marines charged are: Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Jackson, Pfc. John J. Jodka, Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr., and Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington.
David Brahms, Pennington's lawyer, said Bacos' account will be subjected to intense scrutiny. "This is just one guy who is going to tell the story as he sees it," Brahms said.
Former Army prosecutor Tom Umberg suggested that others might follow Bacos' lead and strike similar plea bargains.
"You don't want to be the last guy standing. The first guy gets the best deal," he said.
Friday, October 06, 2006
I am a bit confused, who is the terrorist
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Getting Ref of the View Object referenced by the current Iterator binding for One iterator page without knowing the name of the iterator ...
Today, while i was helping Dubai Police to go live with their new Oracle Forms10g application, we came across a problem when displaying Arab...
Gel3ad is an area to the north west of Amman close to Maeen. Two days ago, we were contracted by HP to Arabize their new iPAQ PDA (Personal...


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500ml Stainless Steel Dazzle Cup With Straw
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The bottle is made of high quality 18/8 Stainless Steel and it is also environmentally friendly. It is BPA free and non-toxic. The bottle is sturdy, tough and durable for long term use and activity.


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Directory of top online nursing schools offering accredited nursing degree programs for LPN courses, Paramedic to RN bridge programs, RN to BSN completion, BSN, RN – MSN, MSN and Nurse Practitioner programs. Advance your nursing career by earning your nursing degree online. - [Read more]
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Courtney Thorne are a leading UK-based supplier of nurse call systems who are focused on improving safety within care homes. - [Read more]
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Articles found into the Nursing category
Nurse Practitioner Programs
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How to impress an Employer in Interview by adding value to his business
What employers look for in a candidate
Most employers want a candidate who can not only do the job as per the job description but who will go above and beyond the call of duty and put in 110% effort at all times. This may mean arriving slightly earlier than scheduled, leaving slightly later and putting in extra effort to secure a sale or contract etc. Whether you choose to go that extra mile for your employer is up to you, but generally those people who work that bit harder than the rest, are the ones who get the promotions. Add value to your company and you will be noticed!
So how do you let the employer know that you are an employee who will add value to their business and deliver 110%?
Points for adding value to your Cv
- Professional clear presentation
- Concise- well written, not typo's or grammatical errors
- Include references you have already obtained as well as details for referees
- Cover letter and CV include details specific to that job you are applying for
- Extra curricular activities listed to demonstrate wide range of ability/skills
- Reasons in cover letter for wanting to work specifically for that employer
- Include details of how you added value to past organizations, list your contributions that exceed requirements of the job description. Such as increasing their profits, raising their public profile, customer service award etc.
- Emphasize not what you want the company to do for you but what you can do for them.
- Highlight any higher qualifications/awards so that they stand out.
- At the beginning of your employment sections write a brief paragraph describing what you did in that role, and then add a subheading identifying 'Contributions.'
All the above helps the employer to decide whether they want to shortlist YOU for an Interview. Add value to your CV and you increase your chances of getting through to the next round!
Key point to add value at the interview
- Arrive slightly early for the interview, turned out immaculately.
- Prepare to the maximum with research on the company.
- Bring a copy of your CV with you.
- Make sure you have some examples of scenarios where you added value in previous jobs or at school/college etc.
Even if this is your first jobhttp://www.cvtips.com/tips_starting_new_job.html'>first job, you can reflect back on other areas where you 'added value'. Captain of a sports team, member of the school council, volunteer etc. Consider what your contribution was to those roles and be prepared to discuss them at the interview. Discuss them in terms that will appeal to the employer, such as:
- I stayed late to tidy up afterwards and left the place better than we found it
- I volunteered to clean the local park and cleared more rubbish per hour than any other park clearer.
- I was a member of the school council and had a new idea for xyz, which proved very popular.
- I increased my last employers profits by 15% - by implementing these strategies
- I reduced company expenditure by reducing paper waste - introducing xyz measures
The task mentioned does not need to be complex and can be fairly simple but it is how you performed the task that counts and that is what you need to express to the prospective employer. Detail how you went above and beyond the call of duty and gave 110%. If you can impress the employer with your 110% effort you will fair better than the other job search candidates.
How to impress your employer once hired
Adding value to your job once hired can be done in many ways.
The main points to focus on are looking at ways to:
- Maximize profits
- Build the client list
- Improve client relations
- Improve the public image of the company
- Improve time management for self and others
- Streamline processes by introducing new time effective systems
- Reduce costs by identifying and eliminating unnecessary expenditure
- Reduce waste by identifying areas where waste occurs and implement measures to reduce it.
- Increase productivity of staff if you are in a supervisory or management role etc.
- Improve employee morale
- Contribute to any suggestion box with helpful ideas re any of the above
- Arrive to work slightly earlier and leave slightly later than scheduled.
- Ensure your customer service skills are second to none and that no customer ever has a justifiable reason to complain about you
- Never let problems from home effect your performance at work
- Ask for extra responsibilities and demonstrate that you are ready for more.
- Don't take too much time off for being sick
- Don't hang around gossiping to colleagues during work hours
- Compete quietly with others (and yourself!) when in sales/performance environment
- Keep your desk area tidy and free of clutter
- Don't make personal phone calls during work hours using the company phone
Some of the things listed above sound pretty obvious, such as don't arrive late, don't take too many sickles or make personal phone calls. You'd be surprised how many employees behave like this on a regular basis. They are the ones who will be overlooked when a promotion is due. By performing 110% all the time and valuing yourself and your employer you will be better positioned when a promotion is up for grabs!
Add value by being indispensable.


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By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD
Healthnotes Newswire (January 14, 2010)In the United States, the population of people 65 and older has increased by about 16% since 1990, while the oldest old, those 85 and up, has increased by an incredible 42%. About 10% of people 65 and older are affected by Alzheimers disease and up to half of those 85 and up have the disease.
The intersection of these trends means that many millions of people will struggle with thinking (cognitive) decline in the coming years. Anything that can be done to lessen this burden of disease is welcome news. It turns out exercise may be just the ticket.
Women benefit greatly
To study the effects of exercise on cognitive function, researchers randomly selected 33 senior men and women (average age 70) to complete a six-month exercise program. Study subjects participated in four supervised weekly sessions of either high-intensity aerobic activity or a stretching program.
Blood samples were collected and analyzed for various markers of health, such as insulin, the stress hormone cortisol, and blood sugar (glucose) levels. Aspects of cognitive and higher brain (executive) function, such as memory, verbal fluency, and the ability to learn a list were measured.
After six months, the researchers found that:
Men and women in the aerobic exercise group had similar gains in cardiovascular and respiratory (cardiorespiratory) fitness and body fat reduction.
Women in the aerobic exercise group improved performance on multiple tests of executive function, improved their bodys ability to manage glucose, and reduced blood levels of insulin, cortisol, and another measure of decline in cognitive function (brain-derived neurotrophic factor).
Men in the aerobic exercise group did not show improvement in most blood markers or on all but one of the tests of cognitive function.
The researchers noted that the aerobic exercise benefits were greatest for women in the preclinical stages of Alzheimers disease, when cognitive impairment is mild.
Putting it into practice
We all need to exercise regularly for optimum health, but physical activity may be particularly beneficial for the aging female brain. To stay sharp, keep the following points in mind:
Participants in this study exercised at 75% to 85% of heart rate reserve for 45 to 60 minutes, four times per week.
Heart rate reserve is the difference between your maximum heart rate and your resting heart rate.
To calculate your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220. Your resting heart rate is your pulse (heart beats per minute), taken when you are at rest.
To get 75% to 85% of your heart rate reserve, multiple your heart rate reserve by 0.75 and by 0.85. The resulting two numbers give you a range for how many beats per minute your heart should be beating during exercise.
If math is not your thing, ask your doctor to help you figure out an appropriate exercise level for you. You can ask about this when you are checking in with your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to begin an exercise program.
(Arch Neurol 2010; 67:719; The 65 Years and Over Population. Available at: www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-10.pdf)
Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD, an author, speaker, and internationally recognized expert in chronic disease prevention, epidemiology, and nutrition, has taught medical, nursing, public health, and alternative medicine coursework. She has delivered over 150 invited lectures to health professionals and consumers and is the creator of a nutrition website acclaimed by The New York Times and Time magazine. Suzanne received her training in epidemiology and nutrition at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health at Ann Arbor.
Copyright © 2010 Aisle7. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Aisle7 content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Aisle7. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Aisle7 shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Aisle7 and the Aisle7 logo are registered trademarks of Aisle7.


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Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) July 26, 2014
Surprise. Jimmy Buffett was born on Christmas Day. Perhaps that's why the surf-soaked singer-songwriter has such a sunny disposition; and why he's like the gift that keeps on giving for millions of loyal `parrot-heads' around the globe, as he's toured literally every year since 1976.
Buffett, now 67, has indeed come a long way since he began in Nashville as a country artist and recorded his first album, the folk-rock Down to Earth in 1970. During this time, Buffett could frequently be found busking or street-performing for tourists in New Orleans as well.
Then, country music singer Jerry Jeff Walker took him to Key West on a busking expedition in 1971 and Buffett was hooked. He moved to the Key and bought into the laid-back beach-bum persona he's known for today; and he began mixing country, folk and pop music with coastal and tropical themes into his now hot "gulf and western" sound.
This year's tour, the tropical troubadour's 38th consecutive effort, began in April in Tampa and surfed into Raleigh, Charlotte, West Palm Beach, Virginia Beach, Atlanta, Spring, Austin, Cuyahoga Falls, Bethel, Mansfield, Cincinnati and Burgettstown.
After appearing with John Fogerty tonight at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, the tour sails on to the Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia on August 16; Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey on Aug 18 and the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York on August 21, 2014.
"Final dates for the tour have been recently added, including concerts at the Alpine Valley Music Center in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on August 23; a gig with Alan Jackson at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Penn. on August 30; two dates at the MGM Grande Garden Arena on October 18 and 25, and a gig at the Moda Center in Portland on October 21st."
"That's why we're proud to be able to offer fans the most complete selection of discount concert tickets online, with a Worry-Free Guarantee to protect their purchase," said Ault.
"To access the continuously updated selection of cheap Jimmy Buffett tickets, as well as all of the seating options available in each venue, fans can go to BuyAnySeat.com and search for Jimmy Buffett – then select their tickets."
Born on December 25, 1946, (otherwise known as Christmas Day), James William "Jimmy" Buffett is an American singer–songwriter, author and businessman. The blithe balladeer, who began performing in 1965, is known for his music, which often portrays the lush lifestyle of a sun- and alcohol-soaked beach bum with a wandering eye and weakness for decadent, drunken, self-destructive and devil-may-care behavior.
Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett has recorded several hit songs, most notably "Margaritaville" and "Come Monday." His loyal fans are known as "Parrot-heads."
In addition to his music career, Buffett is also a best-selling writer and successful businessman. He is involved in two restaurant chains named after two of his best-known songs, "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and "Margaritaville." The singer is also very active in charity and disaster relief efforts. (Source: wikipedia.org)
To shop for discount Jimmy Buffett tickets, visit BuyAnySeat.com. To save even more, enter coupon code "BAS2014" at check-out.
About BuyAnySeat.com: An online discount ticket marketplace, BuyAnySeat.com connects sports, theater and other live entertainment enthusiasts to an extensive network of ticket sellers worldwide. The site's simplified listings and navigational tools enable fans to easily locate, compare and purchase inexpensive, discounted or lower-priced tickets to virtually all advertised sports and entertainment events around the globe.
The site, which is PCI-compliant and Norton Secured, also provides customers with a complete Worry-Free Guarantee on all ticket purchases. Based in Denver, Colorado, BuyAnySeat.com is a subsidiary of Denver Media Holdings. For more information, please visit http://buyanyseat.com.


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London Trip – Part One – Park Plaza Westminster Hotel
A few days before Christmas I went on a short trip North of the Cornish border and up to the Big Smoke (London). This was to soak up the Christmas atmosphere, do some sightseeing and a little bit of last minute present shopping. I'll start at the beginning: The Journey To London The first part of the Journey I did solo and travelled up from Cornwall to Newton Abbot on the train. It was the Saturday before Christmas and…View Post


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Lost two homes & a grandma, then gained a castle.
Where did I leave off?
We spent days cleaning up my grandma's old house and moving things in there, trying to get it ready to be livable. It was completely Grandma's idea, of course.
It still had some piles of stuff, but it wasn't too bad. It was clean enough that we could stay there and be ok!
My grandma had been helping, she was in charge since they were her things. She kept telling us how happy she was that we were going to be staying there so it wouldn't be empty, and how it felt good to get some of her things consolidated so that she didn't just have stuff everywhere in a house she was no longer staying in.(She lives in the city near my parents now to be closer to family and doctors. They moved there after my grandpa got sick about five years ago. He died in October 2012.)
We were hoping to be ready to move into her house this past week. Driving down to the cabin to take care of the animals twice a day has been really time consuming since it's an hour one way, not to mention the gas it uses! And my poor animals, they miss human contact. The dogs are tired of being crated.
Suddenly one afternoon early this past week my grandma called me. She calls me often, so I answered happily. To my great shock she started screaming at me in a shrill voice! She has never, ever said an unkind word to me before in my entire life.
I barely spoke two words. She was saying terrible things–that I am a bad parent, selfish and spoiled, that it's my fault for getting my family into this mess since I chose to live at that cabin, basically screaming at me every insecurity I have ever had. She told me that I don't deserve to live in her house and that I have "not one scrap, not one shred of paper" claiming it's mine. She accused me of trying to erase every trace of her from the house.
The screaming went on for fifteen minutes before I just hung up because I was sobbing.
Then she called me back multiple times.
I didn't answer. I was scared to.
Finally she left a voicemail, which I made my mom listen to later. All it said was, "Amy I do not appreciate you hanging up on me! Good-bye."
What just happened!?
My cousins went over to her house here in the city a couple hours later to see if she was alright. She was happy to see them, she acted like nothing was wrong.
About fifteen minutes after they left my dad also stopped by her house. He asked her if they had visited and she said no, no one had been over. He asked her about the tire marks and foot prints in the snow. She said she had no idea, it was probably just some people driving by and walking around outside her door. (???)
My grandma seemed happy and didn't mention anything about screaming at me. My dad told her maybe it wouldn't be such a great idea for us to live in her other house since it was a lot of work to get it ready, and she agreed maybe that was true.
I think she has some dementia going on. She called me again a couple times after my dad left, but I was still afraid to answer.
We have spent a lot of time with my grandma, visiting at least once a week, talking on the phone several times a week, and I take her grocery shopping every two weeks. I don't know what to do now. Even if she doesn't remember saying those awful things to me, how can I look her in the eye ever again? Surely she must have been thinking some of this stuff somewhere inside for it to spew out so hatefully? I just have no idea.
My other grandmother, my mom's mother, died from Alzheimer's. I've been down this road before. Except she was never agitated and paranoid like my dad's mom seems to be. Unfortunately she seems to be angry and suspicious, which is very difficult and scary. It's also sad.
What if it wasn't dementia and she actually meant those things? What if she was just being stubborn and not telling my dad she had guests? What if nothing is actually wrong with her and she just hates me now? I don't even know what to think. Surely not, but…
Well all of that left us totally without a home.
What to do, what to do? We just spent several weeks planning and organizing over there only to have to undo all of that. Cancel the internet we set up, cancel the fencing company, cancel the P.O. Box we got. Take all of my kitchen stuff back out of the kitchen, take out our bed and couches and put it all back in storage. I don't have time for this!
Then a frantic rental home search began.
And ended.
We're starting a new chapter. This week The Cabin Days will be over, and The Castle House Times shall begin!
The Castle House is a 111 year old Victorian mansion.
I'm not joking.
It's utterly perfect.
It's 3,439 sq. ft. brick house with a hexagonal turret room. Rosie and Ada think it's a castle and they are thrilled to live in it.
Pictures are stolen from the realty website.
The place is brokered by a real estate company, and they handle all the repairs. It's a large well known company, so we should not get screwed over this time. I feel safe renting it this way. A specific realtor manages the property and we call him with any issues.
The house is amazing. It's so quirky and fun! It does have a very outdated kitchen, and I'm not a big fan of the outdated bathrooms, but the rest of it is awesome. It has gorgeous light from huge windows. It has four fireplaces. There is a fully floored attic and also a basement, neither of which are included in the square footage.
It has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a dining room, large kitchen, and a bunch of other rooms. There are even servant stairs.
I just keep thinking: DOWNTON ABBEY! Same time period, maybe a bit earlier actually.
It looks different without all of this furniture in it. Just bright, huge, open rooms.
The downside is that it's downtown near the Toyota factory where Tyler works, which is in a small town I very much dislike.
I have to give away all of my chickens and ducks. This town is so ridiculous that they passed an ordinance against poultry. The birds are going to a good friend. I'm extremely sad, but I've accepted that for whatever reasons I can't see at the moment circumstances have led us here.
The rest of our pets are coming with us, including the giant bunnies.
I can have a garden here though. There's already one long raised bed.
It's funny how we found this place. I spent days searching for the perfect farm property. Then my 20 year old sister came over to my parents' house, where we're staying, and sat down looking at her phone. She said, "Hey look at this place, how cool!"
Then I looked. And that was that. I immediately called the realtor's phone number.
We went to see it this afternoon.
We're signing the lease tomorrow! They approved our application today.
I have no idea what I will do with that much space, but…we'll find out. I have enough furniture for 1,000 square feet. Laughable.
The kids will have so much fun exploring all the details of this home. I can't wait to play hide and seek in it.
I also can't wait to photograph all of the tiny gorgeous and quirky details to share with you.
I'm looking forward to setting up a homeschool room. That's my #1 priority since we have had so much happening with a new baby, moving, Igor's visit…we are getting behind. I'm very excited to have a dedicated room with a pleasant atmosphere where we can sit down and read and learn.
The only problem is I don't exactly have spare cash to buy furniture or anything. First world problems at their finest.
I don't have enough things to go in my large home!
Surely there is a meme for that. There has to be.
I'm ready for the stresses of moving to be in the past. We've got a ton of work to do over the next few weeks.
My dad asked me why I can't just live in a normal house.
Well…I don't know. I just can't. It might be boring. Maybe I will when I grow up and get old, but that's not today. And maybe I'm a tiny bit crazy. But that's ok.
Castle House, here we come!!


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- usa
Before posting, please read how to report bug or request support effectively.
Bug reports without an attached log file are usually useless.
[]. So WinSCP behaves as designed.
put command documentation:
The Windows wildcard supports
?only. If you want to use a full syntax of file masks, use a
put -delete \\myshare\fullpath1\*[.]* /fullpath2/
uploads nothing, but should upload "test.txt" only.
So, how do I upload files only?


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Now what?
The pirate party is a set of scripts to be conducted with only the disembodied left arm of the paschal lamb. The kingdom of heaven and the extreme inner circles of the system, on extreme rare occasion, have a similar script for the right arm. The right arm is not used for casual every-four-year pirate parties or other special event pirate parties because the blood of the covenant, for all of the regimented edible material on the planet, is drawn from the right hand and forearm.
The passover and mummification processes, at one time, did not allow for the removal of body parts or for the puncturing of the outer covering of the body; the temple was considered to be more sacred at that time and such measures were not necessary to train the human to lay still. Pharaoh's not dead, he's trained to lay still like that. The very first morticians, removing excess thread from bodies before they were claimed by the phairies, were skilled at encouraging humans to lay very still with almost no contact at all and hardly even a word. That was a long time ago. Eventually penetration of the navel was necessary, removal of the legs, full cataloging of all internal parts and organs, and, while the cataloging process was being completed, the dog began pulling on the arm. Now the subject is a one-arm bandit.
Stupid dog. Give me that arm! I'll show you what to do with it. Temple priests, especially those working on paschal lambs, were often very frustrated and upset individuals, themselves.
The practice of chicken gloving the arm became essential to the process of making a mummy; the arm, and especially Zechariah's section of the hand, would simply not quit moving.
The end of the third age of the world brings up the social class of the rainbowtards. Those could be considered as the kingdoms and minions underneath the lineages of Adam which were already sent out of the temple monasteries to become chicken brokers. Over time the liaison between the general population and the temple is known as Zechariah, the guardsman and gatekeeper for the temple. Those people which arrived begging at the gates of the temple were known to sorely whine for "Anything, anything at all, just give us what's left!" The temple really didn't have much more food either, and for the monks dedicatedly attempting to factor themselves into bricks and not go to hell, "what's left" had nothing to do with food but sounded like any parts of the paschal lamb which had not been properly beaten into motionless submission. The evolving social strata of rainbowtards was born as the beggars were counseled as to the proper usage of "what's left", the disembodied arm. There's an entire playbook of scripts to go with it.
The disembodied arm begins as asparagus with the upper arm hanging off to the side like a pirate's head-bandana. There is a social stratification in the rainbowtards depending upon which layer of the pirate party the individual participated in, what their assigned role was, and what costume the disembodied arm was wearing at the time. After much play and theatre there is a race of several saber wielding rainbowtards to catch the fleeing arm (walking on the hand, cloud nine or "thing") and hack the asparagus top off. That's "stumpy". There are other things to be done with stumpy.
Now the disembodied arm is known as "Hi-knee". After much play and theatre there is a race of several saber wielding rainbowtards to catch Hi-knee and hack off the elbow. The "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a good approximation of the set which results from scripts involving Hi-knee (there's a Rocky Horror box cover art which shows a blow up doll, unable to find it at the moment, that's exactly Hi-knee). There are scripts to make use of "ring", the top of the elbow, after it has been hacked off. Hi-knee also gets to play in a band when the temple participates in the pirate party: Hi-knee on lead vocals, the paschal lamb's hips on the tamas, and the lower legs as guitarists.
Now the disembodied arm is known as "Lo-knee". Lo-knee is also known as the man on stilts, the tall man, riding around on cloud nine "thing". After much play and theatre there is a race of several saber wielding rainbowtards to take the legs out from under Lo-knee.
Now the disembodied arm is a the "little riblet runaway", the man on stilts without the cloud nine vehicle. The largest portion of the rainbowtard population is included in the scripts to play around with the little riblet runaway. Surprisingly, if allowed, the riblet runaway will actually manage to pick itself up and run around like a pair of chopsticks. After much play and theatre the riblet runaway is caught, the chopstick riblet twisted around and around until the jerky is too tight to twist any further, and then the riblet is placed back into the shipping vessel until the pirate party is completely finished and the parts may be returned to the temple and the paschal lamb reassembled.
Thing is exercised on a drill press for a while before the first finger is removed. That's Joshua. There are scripts to play with Joshua until the fingertip is hacked off. That's Zerubbabel, or bloody-f*cking-murder. There are scripts to play with murder.
There is an enormous amount of technology in the kingdom of heaven and many of the scenes of the book of Revelations were put together as observers recorded the happenings of the pirate party. At all stages below Hi-knee the technology is available to fit the disembodied arm with an electronic vocorder. Six wires are pounded into the bone marrow of the forearm, three on each side at regularly spaced intervals. The wires are connected to a piezoelectric midrange tweeter and, if all is properly executed and assembled, words are discernable. In modern day the MRI cannon is able to assist greatly with conversation between players and the arm. A small popcorn pellet of the paschal lamb's brain is placed on top of the exposed bone marrow from the saber chopping and the brain pellet area encased in a glass dome. The "Robot" from the American television series "Lost in Space" is exactly Loknee riding on cloud nine thing, and the "Danger, Will Robinson" audio clip is exactly taken from Loknee when Loknee is being chased around by pirate party attendees. Another important clip from the Loknee section of the pirate party is Loknee telling the entire set, in no questionable manner,"You had better learn how to walk and count like this because I am going to come back and send all of you to hell!" Walking and counting as a reference to picking up the heels, lengthening the toes, and counting in base twelve. The rainbowtards haven't taken Loknee seriously since they day they began working on their part.
There are scenes to give Loknee a drink, give Loknee a quaalude, and get Loknee completely drunk. The cantina band with Hiknee is the most popular set but, if the temple is not participating with the hips and legs, the lone dinner club singer Loknee is a heartbreaker.
The paschal lamb itself is intricately detailed and divided to register and segregate financial kingdoms according to the map and plan of the temple administration. The rainbowtards, a significant financial controlling faction of the operation of the world outside of the temple structure, are not given access to the the actual temples map of finances and priveleges. The financial structure which the rainbowtards operate on is purely their own design as they dole out portions and priveleges based upon performance and play within the pirate party scripts. All is sandboxed under the temple, sandboxed under heaven, sandboxed under hell. Privelege markers (for festival card exemptions) from the pirate party are used in the same ming vase pinata art auction system as privelege markers from the temple; all is resolved when entire pools of privelege markers are collected and redeemed.
The core event for the pirate party is that each participating member must sexually interact with the disembodied arm, in the sight of other rainbowtards and the review board, in their prescribed or assigned role. Other side events and parties of sexual debauchery are part of their secret vacation getaways to attend the pirate party.


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You have the concept and you need to find the right creative assets to bring it to life.
As a freelance picture researcher based in the UK, I have breadth of experience in picture and footage research and can bring you powerful images and footage to match your ideas - using the best selection from a wide range of sources from around the World; including user-generated content (social media), boutique picture and commercial libraries, photographer's archives (digital and analogue) and VR/360 immersive content.
Working with Susi is always rewarding, whether supporting the pitch stages of a project or in the fine details of putting images in the public domain. I have always been able to trust Susi to find the best / most original / quality / bizarre / perfect images and get the back-end sorted without fuss. Susi is fun and professional - I always like working with Susi and would recommend her to any agency looking for a picture researcher that goes the extra mile.
David Chiverton
Susi is always there for us at the drop of a hat. She's one our go-to people for image searching. She's able to work within a succinct brief as well expanding out when she receives more open briefs that require more creative exploration. She's also great at working within tight timing constraints which is really helpful given the nature of our business.
Luq Adejumo
Head of Integrated Project Management


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I've been dreaming of starting my own company ever since I was 17, maybe even before that time. There have been numerous attempts to execute on the great ideas that pop into my head while I'm lying in bed at night or staring at the television in the evening. The one common theme is that all these ideas ended up fading away, some in as little as 15 minutes and some took weeks before they left. In some cases, I would actually register a domain name and start working on a prototype and try to write up a brief business plan. Looking back, one of the reasons that I didn't pursue these ideas wasn't that they were bad ideas or they didn't have a market, but what I feel were due to a lack of a co-founder. We all need someone to talk to when the going gets tough, which it definitely will, someone to bounce ideas off of, and someone to help carry the burden of creating and running a company.
While I had known my co-founder, Ibrahim, for a while, we never really thought of starting a company together. Like me, he had a lot of ideas that he was trying to bring to life. We would sit together every once in a while and discuss ideas and talk about how we each individually wanted to create something for ourselves. It wasn't until one evening that we were sitting down together that he said he had this idea and asked if I was interested in joining. He had the name and the idea, but still hadn't really started execution. He had validated the idea with a few people and saw this as a pain that we can address. As we began to talk about the idea, we both saw amazing possibilities. We both agreed that we'll work on this together, and that's how the partnership was born.
In my view, having a co-founder is a must. Many investors won't, or are at least hesitant, to invest in a startup with only one founder. Having more than four is usually a bit too much as well. Even the big names that we think of like Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple, Google and Facebook all had more than founder.
If I had to look for a co-founder all over again, here's a quick checklist that I would use:
Not a "Yes man", someone to challenge you
The last thing anyone needs when starting a company is people around them agreeing to everything they say. It's crucial that someone plays the role of devil's advocate and brings up all the what-if situations. Remember, that if the co-founders themselves aren't 100% convinced of what they're building, it will be extremely difficult to convince customers. Having someone to challenge you can cause serious headaches, but will also result in a much better product.
We have had many discussions where the whole team wanted to pull their hair out. I think that's normal as long as people know how to resolve their differences and not be sensitive if someone critiques their ideas.
Someone you can get along with
As co-founders, the two (or more) of you, are going to spend a lot of time together, and when the real work begins, such as incorporating the company and getting an investment, a split-up is a nasty thing that could destroy many things, including the company. Having someone that you can get along with is crucial. If you can't stand the person while you're still starting the company, chances are you'll hate them even more in the coming weeks or months. Save yourselves from the agony and headache and think of other people you could partner with.
Someone who you can rely on
Building a company is hard enough as it is. Having to hold someone's hand along the way will most likely cripple the company you're trying to start. A clear telltale sign that the co-founder isn't right for you is if you have to tell them what they need to do and assign tasks to them. If your co-founder treats the startup as a job, chances are they'll leave you the moment things take a turn for the worst, or when they get a better offer somewhere else. You need to be able to trust that your co-founder will take care of their part and help you carry the company in the same direction that you both agreed to.
In our case, we decided to divide our roles. My focus would be outside the company and Ibrahim would focus more on the internal operations. I'm more involved in sales and marketing, talking with customers and the finances, while Ibrahim is taking more responsibility over product development, working with the team and making sure the inner house is in order. This doesn't mean that I don't know what's happening with the team or Ibrahim doesn't know where we are terms of finances or doesn't help out with marketing. Quite the contrary, we're both aware of and involved in all aspects of the company, however each person has a different list of tasks that they need to complete. It's very important that, as co-founders, we're each aware of what's happening in the company.
Someone with experience who can complement your skillset
If you're a developer, finding another developer as a co-founder will probably help you create a well-structured application, but you'll have a hard time building something customers will buy and you'll probably find it difficult to sell to customers that don't understand how great your product is. If you're a marketing expert, finding another marketing person as a co-founder can help you sell like crazy, but you probably won't have anything to sell. It's very important that you find someone with skills that compliment your skills, and you're each able to focus on different areas.
One of the problems that we ran into was that we would do everything together. When we were meeting with potential customers, we would both work on the presentation, then we would realize that we needed to work on the platform, so we would both run off to development for the next couple of weeks. If we were talking with a potential investor, we would both leave everything and spending the next week or more preparing answers and spreadsheets for the investor. We quickly realized that when we start to work on one thing, everything else gets left behind. That's when we decided to split the work, agree on tasks and have each one of us focus most of their time on specific areas.


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Modern and Stylish only begin to describe our Helsinki Dining Chairs. Our Helsinki Dining Chairs bring a sense of Scandinavian design to any home or office while being comfortable and durable.
- Commercial Grade Quality
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- 80cm (H) x 45cm (W) x 52cm (D)
- Seat Height: 46cm
- Also available in White colour
- Colour : Grey Seat and timber legs as advertised.
Shipping & Warranty
Need a shipping quote? You can do this online! Simply enter the desired quantity and delivery postcode and then press 'Get A Quote' and you will receive an estimated shipping cost direct to your door. Our online shipping calculator generates the best available courier rate which is a kerb side or front door delivery and can be easily tracked with their online tracking service.
In cases of larger / oversize items or more delicate pieces, we believe these purchases deserve a more specialised degree of handling and care and therefore we will request to deliver these with a professional Furniture Removalist service. As this is a more personalised service that takes additional care throughout the delivery process to you it may result in a higher shipping cost.
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Delivery dates for pre-ordered items are estimates only and can be delayed due to changes in shipping schedules, dock strikes, container x-rays, carrier delays and overseas suppliers changing dates. We apologise in advance for any delays that may be experienced.
If you have any questions regarding your order please feel free to contact us at [email protected]


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Packaging Insert Ideas For Online Shop Owners
Isn't it fun getting a package in the mail? It's like a present to yourself that you were either anxiously waiting for, or had forgotten about. Either way, it's such a nice little treat. What's even better than getting a package in the mail is opening that package and finding more than just the item you ordered. Special little surprises like a handwritten note or pretty gift wrapping take the order from just being what's expected to being completely delightful.
I attribute a lot of my initial success on Etsy to my use of packaging inserts. In the beginning, I took the time to actually hand write each customer's name on their insert. As my shop grew, I came up with solutions that were a little more efficient, but I made sure to keep the personal aspect that had become so important to me and my customers.
If you are not including packaging inserts in your orders, I highly recommend it, especially if you're a new seller.
Why are packaging inserts so important?
1. They're cheap! Of all of the marketing efforts available, the cost of printing little cards to put in your orders is minimal. They can even be business card-sized or you can print them yourself in the beginning to keep the cost really low.
2. They make the customer feel special. As I mentioned above, we all know the value of that extra-special-something in an online order.
3. They increase customer loyalty. You can utilize the space on your packaging inserts to motivate people to come back (more info below) and to share their story.
4. Target marketing! Since you can already see what the person bought, you can tailor your packaging inserts for that specific type of customer, if need be.
Some packaging insert ideas:
1. Coupon Codes
This is a great way to turn a customer into a repeat customer, which is huge for your business. Some ideas: free shipping on your next order, 15% off for you and a friend (2 coupon codes), $10 towards your next order.
2. Personal Note
As I mentioned above, I really attribute a lot of my early success to my use of a handwritten note. If you have the time, it definitely makes customers feel special and it adds that personal touch that so many businesses do not have. It doesn't cost you anything extra except your time!
3. Social Media Share Request
Encourage customers to share a photo of their product on Instagram with a certain hashtag, and let them know that you post your favorites! It's a win-win because Instagram users who are trying to grow their accounts get their name out to a bigger audience, and you get your product out to a bigger audience. Not only that, but when people see an item being posted on social media, it builds social proof, which is super important in the online shopping world.
4. A Little Somethin' Extra
Depending on what you sell, there may be an opportunity to include a low-cost item in the package along with their order. This introduces them to something else from your shop that they may not have seen otherwise.
5. Personalize It!
Take the opportunity to include a personal aspect of your shop. Maybe a photo of you, a photo of your studio, info about your geographic location (especially if you live in an interesting place or a place that adds to your brand story), or your signature.


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Norman C. Davis, 85, of Fort Smith, passed away Sunday, June 18, 2017.
He was born on Dec. 7, 1931 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean conflict.
He was an Electrical Estimator. He was an ordained Deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church and a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church. He served for 12 years as secretary of Belle Point Masonic Lodge #20 F&AM where he was a Past Master. He belonged to Liberty Chapter #402 OES, was a Past Patron and served as secretary, he also served as Chaplain of Fidelity Chapter #86 OES.
As a member of Amrita Grotto, he was a Past Monarch, had served as secretary, was in the motorcycle patrol, and in the clown unit making kids happy with his balloons.
Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at Fort Smith National Cemetery with Military Honors.
He is survived by his wife Doris Davis, daughter Debera Thompson of Fort Smith, son Richard Davis and wife Dalia of Conway, brothers Hobart Paul Davis, Carl Davis and Gilbert Davis all of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, three grandchildren Codey Davis, Zechariah Thompson and Amie Thompson and one great grandchild Tripp Starr.
Pallbearers will be Codey Davis, Zechariah Thompson, David Edwards, David Arnold, Leo (Buddy) Cole, Jr., and Joe Hill.
The family will visit with friends Tuesday evening from 6-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials to the Northwest Arkansas/River Valley of the American Diabetes Association , 1732 Moberly Lane, Suite B, Bentonville 72712,


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"Do, or do not. There is no try."
Leaders make big promises … but how often does the organization actually deliver on those promises? It's all about accountability, action and results – people doing what they are supposed to do.
A Leadership Culture is a culture of execution – with a specific set of behaviors and techniques that are taught and mastered in order to gain and sustain a competitive advantage.
More than a tactic, execution is a discipline and a system. It is built into a company's strategy, goals, and culture, with the leaders of the organization deeply engaged.
In a 10-year study of winning companies, professors William Joyce and Nitin Nohria found four primary management practices that directly correlate with superior corporate performance, as measured by total return to shareholders: execution, strategy, culture, and structure (What Really Works, 2003).
However, more often than not, these core processes stand apart from one another like silos. What is needed is:
Are you and your teams trying to step up and execute effectively on your strategy? Or are you just doing it? Why or why not?
Do or do not. There is no try.


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Review: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
It isn't often a book grabs me so fully that I have to read it right to the end without pause. Brandon Sanderson's Elantris is one of those though. It is curious More »
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – A few months on.
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Literature Discussion: Will Self's Dorian, an imitation
Dorian by Will Self is a charming walk in a cesspit of debauchery. It is a strange, re-invention of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, and offers the same lack of redemption. Will Self More »
Literature discussion: Oscar Wilde's, The Picture of Dorian Gray
For many years, I have wanted to read Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. It has intrigued me mostly because I cannot remember when I learnt of its story. I knew I More »
Book Review: Going Out by Scarlett Thomas.
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After A Memory of Light: The end of The Wheel of Time
Twelve years ago, on a dusty shelf in the back of a library I found a novel called The Eye of the world. It was a lofty volume but I thought i More »
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The Age of the Five Trilogy by Trudi Canavan is the second series written by the Australian fantasy author. While set as a trilogy of three volumes; Priestess Of The White, Last More »
Woods in Darkness
Here's a poem I wrote about a year ago…
Lost, dark,
Tree's sentinels,
Light going,
Lost here. The
Owl screeches.
The leaves fall.
Where am i?
A shadow seen,
A person Not?
A shadow seen
A person gone.
The waning sun.
The shafts of light. The shadows lost.
The dark of night.
The clock ticks
The face hides,
But in truth,


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The L in Chicago is pretty easy to figure out particularly if you fly into Midway, it's a quick 30 minutes and then you're only a short walk to well...everything.
I previously went to Chicago in May for a quick few days and saw the usual: Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue, etc.
This time I figured I should do something educational so I went to The Field Museum across from Soldier Field and not too far from Buckingham Fountain.
They had a pretty cool chocolate exhibit...that allowed no cameras. So I took pics in the gift shop.