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Don Lee
Law & Valuation
Professor Palmiter
Spring, 1999
There are two types of pension plans. The first is a defined contribution plan, which is an annuity funded by periodic contributions. This is valued by determining the current value of the employees contributions on the designated valuation date. The second type is a defined benefit plan. Valuation of this type is not so simple, as variables such as salary and length of service must be taken into consideration.ISSUE
How is a pension plan to be valued in the context of equitable distribution of marital property in North Carolina?
RULEFor a defined benefit plan there are two methods of valuation, the fixed percentage plan and the present value plan. The choice is up to the court which method to use.ANALYSIS
Two methods available in North Carolina for determining equitable distribution of marital property are the fixed percentage method and the present value method. For the fixed percentage method, the pension is not valued and the nonemployee spouse is awarded a fixed percentage of any future payments to be received by the employee spouse. This percentage is half of the amount of the pension that is marital property. A coverture fraction is used to determine this percentage, and is the time the employee spouse participated in the plan during the marriage divided by the total period of participation in the pension plan. Siefert v. Siefert used the fixed percentage method to determine the value of a pension for equitable distribution purposes. The court stated that the main advantage was the absence of expert testimony, but that the main disadvantage is a continued connection between the divorced couple.
The present value method can also be used to determine the value of a pension for equitable distribution, although it is more complicated. Evidence is used to determine the present value of the pension on the date of separation, discounted for interest in the future and taking into account the employee spouses life expectancy. Also the percentage attributable to the marriage period must also be determined. Bishop v. Bishop used this method and provided a uniform method for courts to follow when using this method in the future. The coverture fraction must be first determined. Any part of the pension which is not vested on the date of separation is classified as separate property. Then the amount of monthly pension payment to the employee must be determined, assuming that the employee spouse is retired on the date of separation. This assumption may lead to a present value less than what it actually is, because salary will increase the greater the length of service. However, this is offset by assuming the that employee spouse receives the pension payment beginning at either the earliest retirement date or the date of separation, whichever is later. Then the employee spouses life expectancy from the date of separation must be determined, using a specified mortality table, and used to determine the number of months that benefits will be received. Next, the present value of the pension at the date of separation or the earliest retirement date, using a discount rate, must be determined. The main problem is determining the best evaluation date, either the cutoff date for acquisition of marital property or the marriage dissolution date. This method has several advantages. One is that it eliminates risks to the nonemployee spouse, such that the employee spouse may die, or that the pension fund may become insolvent. Also, this method allows for complete separation of the two parties.
The present value method is criticized in that it may underestimate the value of the pension, thus hurting the nonemployee spouse. One way it may do this is that the courts to not take into consideration any increase in benefits paid out due to inflation, such as a cost of living adjustment. It has been argued that such increases take place after separation and therefore does not constitute marital property. However, this is not accurate, because such increases having nothing to do with the post-separation actions of the employee spouse. Another way that this method may lead to undervaluation is by assuming that the employee spouses salary at the date of separation is what it will be at the time of retirement. Such increases could be considered separate property in that they are due to post-separation actions of the employee spouse. However, it is argued that this is the same type of appreciation as that of inflation, and therefore should be taken into consideration. Courts argue that it all balances out, in that the employee spouse is paying the nonemployee spouse for rights that may never mature, and therefore it is equitable to have some factors in the favor of the employee spouse.
Thus, the two methods for valuing pension plans for equitable distribution after a marital dissolution both have their advantages and disadvantages, both perhaps leading to an undervaluation of the worth of the pension plan.
TextThe present value of a spouses pension, along with the family home, are typically the two most valuable assets that a couple owns. Unlike the home, determining the value of a pension plan upon divorce is fraught with uncertainties.[1] How a court determines the present value is dependent on what type of pension plan the spouse has. This paper will focus primarily on defined benefit plans; how North Carolina courts allow for distributive awards, how courts determine the present value of pensions and whether the courts current methods of determining present value result in an accurate valuation.
There are two types of pension plans. The first is a defined contribution plan. A defined contribution pension is essentially an annuity funded by periodic contributions. At retirement the funds purchase an annuity for the rest of the employees life or an actuarially reduced pension for the lives of the employee and spouse.[2] Valuation of a defined contribution plan is fairly simple. The dollar value is merely the current value of the employees contributions as of the designated valuation date.[3] In other words, determining the value of a defined contribution plan is much like determining the value of a persons stock portfolio. The court merely takes the number of shares bought by that person and multiply it by the dollar value of each share.
By contrast, defined benefit plans do not set aside funds specifically for an individuals pension benefits. Future benefits are usually based on formulas which include both salary and length of service as variables.[4]
North Carolina calls for equitable distribution of marital property. What that means is that marital property must be valued and divided. North Carolina includes vested pensions among marital property.[5]
HOW NORTH CAROLINA ALLOWS FOR DISTRIBUTIVE AWARDSUpon application of a party, the court shall determine what is the marital property and shall provide for an equitable distribution of the marital property and shall provide for an equitable distribution of the marital property between the parties.[6] The first method available to the courts under this statute is the present value method which will be discussed in more detail below. The other method available to the courts is the fixed percentage method.[7]The fixed percentage method requires no valuation of the pension. The court simply awards the nonemployee spouse a fixed percentage of any future payments the employee spouse receives under the plan, payable to the nonemployee spouse as, if and when the payments are received.[8] The percentage of future payments is equal to the amount of the pension that is marital property. That percentage is determined by a fraction, called a coverture fraction, of which, the numerator is the total period of time the employee spouse was a participant in the plan within the marriage (from date of marriage to date of separation) and the denominator is the total period of the employee spouses participation in the plan.[9]For example, assume a couple gets divorced before retirement. At the time of separation, that couple has been married for fifteen years. The wife has been employed at RJR while married and continues to work at RJR after the divorce. When she retires, she will have spent a total of twenty years at RJR and she would have been married to her ex-husband for fifteen of those years. Assuming she was always a participant in the pension plan, the coverture fraction is 15/20 or 75%. Assuming wifes monthly pension at retirement is $1000, $750 of it is marital property and $250 is separate property. The husbands share of the marital property is 50%, so he will receive $375 monthly from his wifes RJR pension.The Siefert court listed several advantages to the fixed percentage method. Chief among them is the fact that the use of complicated actuarial evidence and costly expert testimony that may not produce an accurate valuation are done away with.[10] The chief disadvantage is the fact that it does not make a clean brake of a potentially acrimonious relationship.[11]The court can also provide for the equitable distribution of a defined benefit pension by the present value method. There, the trial court calculates, using actuarial evidence, the present value of the vested pension, as of the date of separation, discounted for interest in the future and taking into account the employee spouses life expectancy. The trial court would further have to compute the percentage of present value attributable to the marriage period and the appropriate equitable share to which the nonemployee spouse is entitled.[12]
HOW NORTH CAROLINA COURTS DETERMINE PRESENT VALUEThe leading North Carolina case in how to determine the present value of a defined benefit pension is Bishop v. Bishop.[13] Bishop provided a uniform method for the district courts to follow. These courts were previously using a hodgepodge of valuation techniques for defined benefits pensions.[14]As with the fixed percentage method, the present value method first determines the coverture fraction. Also, a pension which is not vested on the date of separation is classified as the separate property of the employee-spouse and is not subject to equitable distribution.[15]The first step in the Bishop methodology is to calculate the amount of monthly pension payment the employee, assuming he retired on the date of separation, will be entitled to receive at the later of the earliest retirement age or the date of separation.[16] This is significant for two reasons. First, by assuming retirement on date of separation, the court may assign a present value to the pension less than what it actually is. Salary generally increases as length of service increases. Therefore, the present value of a pension is based on a salary that is probably lower than what it will be at retirement or separation from the company. That calculation could likely understate the present value of the nonworking spouses share of that pension. That understatement is offset somewhat by the fact that present value is calculated assuming the working spouse is entitled to receive the pension payment at the later of the earliest retirement date or the date of separation. The earlier a person is entitled to receive pension payments, the greater the present value of that entitlement. That is so for two reasons. First, the period of time over which any benefits must be discounted gets shorter. Second, as the total period of time over which benefits will be collected lengthens, the total amount collected will be larger.[17] It is true that some early retirement options have benefit penalties, but often there are no penalties, as many employers wish to encourage employee turnover among higher paid senior employees.[18]The second step, according to the Bishop court, is to determine the employee spouses life expectancy as of the date of separation and use this figure to ascertain the number of months the employee-spouse will receive benefits under the plan.[19] There are a number of mortality tables to choose from, but the Bishop court demands that courts use the tables of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a division of the United States Department of Labor.[20]The third step is to determine the then-present value of the pension as of the later of the date of separation or the earliest retirement date using an acceptable discount rate. The Bishop court again says to use the interest tables of the PBGC to determine the discount rate.[21] That raises the question, left unanswered by the Bishop court, of what the appropriate evaluation date is. Some pension estimators believe that the correct evaluation date is the cutoff date for the acquisition of marital property, while others commonly use the marriage dissolution date. This is not a trivial issue, as the two dates may be widely separated in time, leading to a large difference in the potential discount rates.[22] Finally, if the earliest possible retirement date does not match the date of separation, then the date of separation present value of the pension must be determined.[23]Let us use a hypothetical to apply Bishop to a current divorcing couple. Marge (the nonworking spouse) and Homer (the working spouse) have been married for 12 years. At the time of separation, Homer has been working at the nuclear power plant for 20 years. Homer has been working at the power plant for the entire 12 years he has been married to Marge. At the time of separation, Homer is 40 years old. Homer could take his pension as early as age 50. If Homer retired on the date of separation he would be entitled to $1000 monthly. Homer is expected to live another 30 years.The first thing to do is determine the coverture fraction. The coverture fraction is 12 divided by 20, or 60%. That means that 60% of Homers pension is marital property. Marge is entitled to half of that marital property, or 30% of the present value of Homers pension.Next, the court must determine the monthly pension Homer is entitled to if he were to retire on the date of separation. As previously stated, that amount is $1000. Next the court must determine the probable number of months Homer will receive benefits under the plan assuming he is to receive benefits on the earliest possible date. The probable number of months Homer will receive benefits under the plan is 240 months. Homer will receive benefits at age 50 and will continue to receive them for another 20 years or 240 months, at which time the PBGC expects Homer to die. The next task for the court is to determine the present value of that stream of payments as of the earliest retirement date. Lets assume for the sake of simplicity that the PBGC discount rate is 12%, or 1% monthly. The present value of that stream of payments is
PV = Pymnt x[(1+i)<n>-1]/[(1+i)<n>xi)]
PV = the present valuePymnt = the payment made at the end of each of n periodsi = the discount rate for each period (12%/12, or 1%)n = the number of periods (20x12, or 240)
Applying the above formula to our hypothetical, the court will come up with a present value of $90,819.42. The next step is to determine the value of $90,819.42 to the date of separation. To make this determination we will again use the discount rate provided by PBGC. We will also need to make a further mortality discount to account for the possibility that Homer might not live to age 50, the earliest point at which he can begin to receive his pension benefits.Doing the interest discounting first, our formula is
PV = FV/(1+i)<n>where
PV = the present valueFV = future value at the end of n periodsi = the interest rate paid each periodn = the number of periods
Applying the above formula to our hypothetical, the court will determine the present value as of the date of separation to be $27,517.81. Lets also assume that according to the PBGC mortality tables, Homer has an 80% chance of living until 50. If we take the present value of $27,517.81 and multiply it by 80% we come up with $22,014.25, which represents the present value discounted to the date of separation. Next we take the coverture fraction, which is 60% and multiply it by $22,014.25 to come up with $13,208.55 which represents the present value portion of Homers pension that is marital property. Finally, Marge is entitled to half the marital property, so Marge is entitled to $6,604.28 of Homers pension.
This $6,604.28 is an immediate offset, so Homer must give Marge $6,604.28 in other property to compensate Marge for giving up her share in pension benefits.[24]
North Carolina courts have listed several advantages to the present value method. First, the nonemployee spouse avoids the risk that the pension fund may become insolvent, or the employee spouse might die before he is eligible to receive his pension. Second, the present value method terminates litigation sooner and lets the two parties go their separate ways. Finally, the present value method precludes the nonemployee spouse from sharing in post-separation increases in pay which may result in higher pensions.[25] One disadvantage to the present value method is that the employee spouse has to pay the nonemployee spouse for a benefit that may never mature.[26] The major criticism of the present value method is that it consistently underestimates the value of the pension, prejudicing the nonemployee spouse.[27]
As mentioned earlier, North Carolina courts use the amount of pension the employee spouse is entitled to at the time of separation as their baseline number in determining the present value of the pension. However, the courts neglect to figure in any increase in pension benefits paid out due to inflation. For example, pensions of most public employees include a cost of living adjustment (COLA) tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If a public employee were receiving a pension of $1000 monthly in 1999 and the CPI recorded inflation of 5% for that year, then the employees pension for the year 2000 will be $1050 monthly. Although most private employers do not explicitly grant a COLA, empirical data shows that inflation adjusted increases were roughly 40% of CPI for private defined benefit pensions.[28]
Given the common practice of employers to include COLAs in their defined benefit pension programs, the courts failure to take this into account causes the present value of the pension to be undervalued. The argument that such increases took place after separation and are not marital property is untenable. Unlike benefit increases due to an increase in salary, increases attributable to a COLA have nothing to do with post-separation actions of the employee spouse and are thus not separate property. An increase in the value of a pension due to a COLA increase is called passive appreciation.[29] Nothing in the North Carolina statutes prohibit a court from allowing the nonemployee spouse to capture this post-separation passive appreciation. To the contrary, such capture is expressly allowed.[30] Others argue that trying to determine an average annual COLA over the employee spouses retired life is an exercise in futility. Clearly, estimating an accurate COLA is a difficult task. However, the estimate the court does come up with is not likely to be any more inaccurate than the current practice of estimating a COLA of 0%. If courts continue to apply the present value method, equity demands courts account for COLAs.Another way courts undervalue defined benefit pensions is to assume for purposes of the valuation that the employee spouses salary at date of separation is equal to what the spouses salary will be at time of retirement. The justification for this is that any post-separation raises are the separate property of the employee spouse. However, there are two arguments against that justification. First, in many cases, raises are automatic with increased seniority. Therefore, like COLAs, such raises can be seen as passive appreciation. As mentioned before, the nonemployee spouse may capture this post-separation passive appreciation. Second, the employee spouse would not be in a position to enjoy his current post-separation salary were it not for the efforts of his former spouse. In that sense, the nonemployee spouse can be seen as laying the foundation for the employee spouses financial well-being. Equity demands that the nonemployee spouse be entitled to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Therefore, the salary that the present value of the pension is based on should be higher than what it is at time of separation.Courts will argue that the valuation biases in the favor of the employee spouse are justified. The argument goes that since the employee spouse has to pay the nonemployee spouse for rights that may never mature, it is equitable to utilize some valuation factors that are more favorable to the employee spouse. Remember that the employee spouse must be vested in his pension, otherwise the pension is considered the separate property of the employee spouse. Therefore, the only two things that could keep the employee spouse from retiring and collecting money off his pension are death and the risk of employer default. As to the possibility of pre-retirement death, that is expressly figured in discounting the present value of the pension at the time of the employees earliest possible retirement to the present value at the date of separation through the PBGC mortality tables.Courts also cite the possibility that the employer will default on the defined benefit pension plan.[31] Such concerns are unfounded because of the passage of the Employees Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Under ERISA guidelines, the PBGC guarantees payment of pension benefits in the event of default by the private employer.[32] For public employees, risk of default is almost nonexistent because of the governments ability to tax to pay for its liabilities. Therefore, once an employee spouse is vested under his employers pension plan, payment is a near certainty, whether payment is by the employer or the PBGC.Clearly, the courts current method of valuing defined benefit pensions nearly always results in a substantial underestimate of the present value of pensions. As a result, the nonemployee spouse is not receiving an equitable distribution of what is perhaps the most substantial asset the couple owns. Unless courts are willing to factor in COLAs and value the pension based on a figure higher than the employee spouses salary at the time of separation, courts should exclusively utilize the fixed percentage method as a matter of fairness to the nonemployee spouse.
[1] Bishop v. Bishop, 440 S.E.2d 591, 595 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994).[2] 2 Valuation & Distribution of Marital Property Section 23.02[1][b], (J. McCahey ed. 1985).[3] David L. Baumer & J.C. Poindexter, Women & Divorce: The Perils of Pension Division, 57 Ohio St. L..J. 203, 204 (1996).[4] Michael A. Stoller, Estimating the Present Value of Pensions: Why Different Estimators Get Varying Results, 2-DEC J. Legal Econ. 49, 50 (1992).[5] N.C. GEN. STAT. § 50-20(b)(1) (1998).[6] N.C. GEN. STAT. § 50-20(a) (1998).[7] See Siefert v. Siefert, 346 S.E.2d 504, 507-08 (N.C. Ct. App. 1986).[8] Id. at 508.[9] Id.[10]Seeid.[11]Seeid. at 507.[12]Seeid. at 506-07.[13]Bishop v. Bishop, 440 S.E.2d 591 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994).[14]Seeid. at 595.[15] N.C. GEN. STAT. § 50-20(b)(2) (1998).[16]SeeBishop, 440 S.E.2d at 595.[17]See Stoller, supra note 3, at 53.[18]Id. at 53.[19]SeeBishop, 440 S.E.2d at 596.[20]Seeid.[21]Seeid.[22]See Stoller, supra note 17, at 57.[23]Bishop, 440 S.E.2d at 596.[24]See Baumer & Poindexter, supra note 2, at 211.[25]SeeSiefert, 346 S.E.2d at 507.[26]Seeid.[27]See Baumer & Poindexter, supra note 3, at 204.[28]Seeid. at 212.
[29]Id. at 213.
[30] According to the North Carolina Equitable Distribution Statute, [t]he award shall include gains or losses on the prorated portion of the benefit vested at the date of separation. N.C. GEN. STAT. §50-20(b)(3)(d) (1995).
[31]SeeBishop, 440 S.E.2d at 595.


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THE WEEK THAT WAS: Confidence, demonstrated
Some of the news is just in today so, you may not have seen all of the stories yet but, after a slight rattling of investors' cages by the recent stock market shenanig..., er, 'correction' in China, this week we have seen automotive investment confidence in three key markets. From Mazda, in Russia, Daimler, in alliance with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, in Mexico and, Nissan again, right here in the UK, for Europe.
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subset: commoncrawl


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And finally, the last of our "exterior exploration" before we move inside... and I've saved possibly my favorite parts of the outside of the house for last, the front door and the front porch!
There are of course obvious changes like color and material, but more subtle hints of change are the placement of the house numbers (although the original numbers, they are just aligned), the underside of the eaves are now exposed (as you've seen in earlier posts), fresh & lighter shade of ceiling paint, and a few additions... new doormat, new light fixture, new mailbox, new flag, new plantings in the flower boxes! We also painted the front door a bright red color, but it's hard to tell in this photo, mostly because the door is open! And that blue sky popped up, right on cue!
The biggest part of the porch renovation was the removal of the screen, and addition of handrails. A lot of people questioned this move (including me), but it's amazing how much it opened up the whole front of the house, quite literally! And [knock on wood] the bugs haven't been a problem yet, thanks to our citronella candle. You get a better idea of the ceiling paint color here, as well as the addition of a new light fixture, hanging plants, and bird feeder. The bird feeder may need to relocate because every time we fill it, the birds decide to swing it around, thus spilling the food ALL over the porch, hence the reason it is currently empty in this photo! The addition of comfy porch furniture and the removal of old shutters (that didn't fit the window) also helps the space.
And here we have a better view of the porch with and then without the screen. Amazing the difference. We hope that some of those tropical plants will soon grow back, since we cut most of them back for the duration of the construction, to prevent any damage to them. But now we want them back!
Oh, Canada + 6 Things to Do While You're There
9 months ago


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Recalled Beef Sold in Mass. Whole Foods
The US Department of Agriculture says that Fruitland American Meat, a Jackson, Mo. beef company, is recalling more than 4,000 pounds of beef due to a potential risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also referred to as mad cow disease.
Thursday morning the USDA announced that a Whole Foods distribution center in Connecticut that serves stores in New England received the potentially tainted beef.
Not all beef is at risk. The bone-in "Rain Crow Ranch Ribeye'' and quartered beef carcasses bearing establishment number EST. 2316 inside the USDA mark of inspection are currently being recalled.
Heather McCready, spokesperson for the North Atlantic Whole Foods, said in an email exchange Thursday afternoon that all stores in Massachusetts received the recalled product except for the newest Whole Foods location in Hyannis, Mass. The affected stores are located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Nationally, the recall applies to 34 out of 383 Whole Foods stores.
"We are closely monitoring this issue with one of our suppliers, to ensure full compliance with the USDA's regulations and our own high quality standards for beef,'' said McCready. "There have been no cases of reported BSE or any other illnesses associated with this product, and no products currently in our stores are affected.''
There was no indication that any of cattle displayed signs of BSE, according to the USDA.
The specific problem area of the beef is the dorsal root ganglia, which the USDA says may not have been completely removed. These are branches of the cow's central nervous system along the spine. If the cow was infected with BSE, this is the area where the infected tissues would be located. Regulations require that they be removed from cattle more than 30 months old. It appears that procedure was not followed for the beef in question.
The USDA has classified this recall as a low health risk, but a Class II recall: "This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product,'' reads the USDA website.
The bone-in ribeyes roasts, according to the USDA, were distributed to two restaurants: One in New York City and one in Kansas city, Mo.
How do you know to be wary of your beef?
Examine the USDA mark of inspection sticker.
USDA says to watch out for the following production dates, which will be printed on the box: 9/5/13, 9/10/13, 9/11/13, 9/26/13, 10/2/13, 10/3/2013, 11/8/13, 11/22/13, 12/17/13, 12/26/13, 12/27/13,1/16/14, 1/17/14, 1/23/14, 1/31/14, 2/13/14, 2/14/14, 2/21/14, 2/28/14, 3/8/14, 3/20/14, 4/4/14 or 4/25/14.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this article contained a typo and misstated the name of the ribeye being recalled. The recalled ribeye is Rain Crow Ranch Ribeye.


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Most of our customers use Phone.com to make business or personal calls, but New York animator and filmmaker Dustin Grella puts a creative spin on our service.
Grella runs the Dusty Studio Animation House and one of his projects is the Animation Hotline, a series of short animations that use crowd-sourced voicemail messages for their inspiration.
What does Phone.com have to do with the Animation Hotline? Callers leave short messages on Dustin's Phone.com number outlining the stories they want to tell. He uses those messages to create fantastic 2D chalk animations:
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To be a part of something this creative and hear people telling their own stories is very inspiring! Be sure to check out Dustin's animations and other award winning work.
Do you have a unique way of using Phone.com? If so, let us know!


text: DigitalCarol Cone Leaving Agency That Bears Her NameBy Joe Ciarallo|March 4, 2010ShareBy Joe Ciarallo|March 4, 2010ShareCarol Cone, founder of Omnicom-owned agency Cone Public Relations, is leaving her agency at the end of March.Cone said in a phone interview with PRNewser that she will keep busy with a number of projects. "There's no sitting on the sidelines for me," she said.Her agency was sold to Omnicom ten years ago, and is widely considered one of the preeminent cause marketing agencies in the country. Clients include the American Heart Association, Ben & Jerry's, eBay, Disney, and Time Warner Cable.Cone is working on a book, "Breakthrough Nonprofit Brands," that will be published next September. In addition to that, she will begin consulting, while also deciding whether to "create something new from scratch, go to a niche agency or go big," she said.In regards to the agency, she said, "My name is on the door. My colleagues are at the agency still. So I wish them so much success while I go into new ventures."Read Cone's full email to friends and staff after the jump. Effective March 31, I will be leaving Cone, LLC, the agency I founded August 1, 1980 to pursue new interests. Why?As many of you know, last fall I followed the Dalai Lama at a conference about the power of community. My focus was on compassion in business. Something happened there. His Holiness' aura. His message. Following his speech I met with him. When he held my hand, looked into my eyes and smiled, I realized I had more to do. Leaving Cone, although bittersweet, will give me the flexibility to pursue new ventures related to social issues, especially in content development and global public-private partnerships.When I founded Cone I had a dream to create a highly innovative company doing extraordinary work. Drafting my first client proposal, I had no idea of the journey or the eventual impact the agency would have. Almost 30 years later, I am deeply humbled by what has been created — the expansive programs and their impact, relationships with wonderful colleagues and clients, and thought leadership that has coalesced an industry. As the world resets to pressing economic and social realities, what began as a alternative means of linking companies and causes, called cause marketing in its early days, is now an expansive approach to global corporate citizenship. In today's thoroughly interconnected world, a new equation for brand reputation has emerged, where organizations are judged as much by how they engage socially, as what they make and sell. This is the new normal.I am so proud of the agency's work over the decades. I am often asked about my favorite initiatives. They include: Rockport and Walking; the Reebok Human Rights Awards; Avon's Breast Cancer Crusade; ConAgra Foods' Feeding Children Better (PRWEEK's 2001 Campaign of the Year); PNC Grow Up Great and Western Union's Our World. Our Family (back to back CECP Global Campaigns of the Year), the American Heart Association cause movements, especially Go Red for Women and Start! Proctor & Gamble Live, Learn and Thrive and ITT Watermark. While there were so many others, these are the ones I personally touched with my hands and heart. Overall, Cone's signature cause programs helped the firms' clients raise more than $1.2 billion for various social causes as they contributed to forming authentic social movements.Besides my love of brand building, Cone allowed the teacher in me to flourish. To move knowledge forward, ignite corporate support of this strategy, and guide effective collaborations, we commissioned more than two dozen research studies since 1993. The Cone/Roper Report, the industry's first comprehensive study of consumer attitudes towards companies and causes, was so widely adopted, that I often received a conference nametag saying: Carol Cone/Roper! I am thrilled our research empowered so many individuals and organizations to convince their senior leaders at for profit and nonprofits that 'doing good' was good for business and society, and when done well, creates distinct competitive advantage.In the months ahead, I will be focusing on a variety of projects. On the list is finishing my first book, Breakthrough Nonprofit Brands, along with co-authors, Jocelyne Daw, Kristian Darigan Merenda and Anne Erhard. Published by John Wiley and Sons, it is due this September. I will be developing social issues related programming for big and small screens, will counsel new clients, industry trade groups and organizations and continue speaking to audiences around the world.Over the past 29 years, my favorite achievements, beyond client work include: the hands on learning we created for more than 500 interns (I got my start as an intern); the Habitat for Humanity home I personally funded and built alongside my colleagues to recognize them upon Cone's sale to Omnicom; being selected as one of two US judges for the first PR Lions competition at Cannes; my speeches at Cannes to a wonderful and engaged, international audience, and Calgary, especially meeting the Dalai Lama; Making Change for Katrina, the agency's pro bono project helping victims of the devastating Gulf hurricanes; my election to the Arthur Page Society; being recognized in PRWEEK's first ranking of the top 25 industry leaders and my Board participation with Net Impact, the international nonprofit that inspires and educates, individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world.My deepest thanks to all who have been part of Cone, as colleagues, clients, partners, industry and personal friends. What a journey we had. My best wishes to all for continued success. And please stay in touch.I end with this question, as I do at all my speeches: What do you stand for? Please think about it. Then act. There is so much more for us to do. Sharehttp://adweek.it/2kiE3dH copy Adweek Adweek


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2nd workshop: Essential oils for Energy and Focus
04 February 2016 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Level 2, QV1 Conference Centre - Function Room 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Getting distracted at your desk? Learn how essential oils can support you to naturally bring your focus back to the task at hand, have more energy and feel sustained vitality throughout the day.
This workshop will be held on Thursday, 4 February and is the 2nd workshop of the Aromatherapy series for QV1 tenants. The workshop will be led by Querida Hutchinson.
Entry to this workshop is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to the Panti Asura Semara Putra Children's Orphanage in Bali.


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MTEX to offer visitors a 'snapshot' of its total turnkey direct-to-textile print solutions at Sign & Digital UK.
MTEX Technologies intends to create a 'UK first' at Sign & Digital UK 2015, where it will be showing the newly launched MTEX Vision with direct disperse inks and the MTEX PAD coating machine together as a 'snapshot' of its total turnkey solutions.
Stewart Bell, Managing Director of MTEX Technologies said: "We're very excited about the upcoming exhibition, and the chance to showcase two of the key elements in our direct-to-textile print solutions.
"A recent Infotrends report showed that the worldwide value of digital textile print was $5.8bn in 2013 with a forecast annual growth of 39% to 2018, making it a fast-growing and profitable market.
"Our turnkey solutions allow innovative and entrepreneurial businesses to enter this exciting market from a standing start, whichever element they want to focus on from fashion, apparel, industrial or decor.
"We're the only company worldwide that delivers every element of the equipment required for textile production including the site survey, site plans and installation, rather than just one or two pieces in a jigsaw puzzle of different suppliers."
The brand new 1.85m wide MTEX Vision is designed to offer an alternative production method to transfer printing, and offers direct printing onto four-way stretch fabrics with vibrant colours, and deep dense blacks.
There's no paper involved, with print and fix as one process. It's powered by Mimaki and the Ricoh print heads print up to 1200 dpi. The Vision is available now with direct disperse inks for polyester, reactive and acid inks for cotton and silk, and it will soon have a pigment ink option for poly cotton and natural fibre fabrics.
The MTEX PAD is designed to pre-treat and coat textiles with production speeds of between 30 and 140 linear metres per hour. There are two coating options of immersion or a surface coating, and the infrared drying system delivers fully dried fabrics.
It can be used as a standalone machine or in-line with the MTEX 500, MTEX Vision and MTEX Turbo 1.8m wide printers, effectively allowing users to coat their own medias prior to printing.
"MTEX make the cost of entry into the market achievable with a total solution and significant return on investment, offering exciting new business opportunities for anyone investing in this new technology," continued Bell.
"We can now offer printing onto any kind of textile from polyamides for swimwear to high quality silks, and we hope that visitors interested in all areas of textile print – from soft signage and display graphics to home textiles and fashion – will come along to our stand to have a drink and a chat about the opportunities that an investment in MTEX will bring them.
"We can also talk to people who might be interested in one of our other printers, as we can set up a personal visit to our centrally located showroom in Leicestershire for a demonstration of the MTEX 1800 or our 3.2m 5032Pro model."
The MTEX Steamer and the MTEX W&D washing and drying machine complete the MTEX direct-to-textile family.
The MTEX Steamer is a roll-to-roll steamer that can be used for acid and reactive ink setting at widths up to 1.8m. Steam and temperature are regulated using touch panel controls, and it can reach up to 185oC.
The MTEX W&D has been developed specifically to emulate traditional methods of finishing fabrics – but designed with the digital textile printer in mind. It has four washing tanks and a water treatment and re-use system installed as well as a dual drying system via vacuum and cylinders which can reach drying temperatures of up to 200oC.
For a film on the Turn key solution by MTEX go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OOmNv0o7sI
For to find out more about the turnkey solution from MTEX visit Stand B10 or go to www.mtex.eu.
You can Tweet, Like us on Facebook, Share, Google+, Pinit, print and email from the top of this article.


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This may not be Libya, but you'd never know the difference when you compare the election rigging under Moammar Gadhafi to that of the Langara Students' Union, said one student last week.
Emma Leigha Munro has been disqualified from three out of four previous LSU elections, despite receiving the most votes each time ballots were cast.
Unexplained alleged irregularities mar elections
Recently she was elected environmental issues coordinator in October and held the seat for two weeks before being told by election committee staff member Donna Rainford-Cayenne she was disqualified.
The LSU website says, "Due to irregularities, the LSU board and elections committee have decided to host a by-election for the position of environmental issues coordinator."
But no by-election has been announced and the semester is almost over. Furthermore, under proposed new bylaws, which are being voted on by students this week, all LSU elections will be cancelled until fall 2013.
As for the irregularities in the recent election, Adam Giesbrecht, LSU spokesman, released a written statement: "Emma did not abide by election policy regarding campaigning online. She was disqualified for that reason." When asked to elaborate, Giesbrecht declined.
Punished for another's article
An article in 24 Hours profiling Munro was released online during the voting period. According to election policy, candidates are restricted from campaigning online. The article featured Munro with the tagline "The Politician" in the 24 Under 24 series.
"I have no control whether a journalist wants to post an article, positive or negative, about me," said Munro, who said she otherwise abided by the policy.
Long road to gain seat
Munro is a fourth-year bachelor of business student who is also in the design formation program. She is current president of the Langara Business Association. Munro first ran for the LSU in winter 2010, received the most votes, but was disqualified because one of her campaign handbills was found posted during election week. She said that any student could have posted it there who was unaware of election policy prohibiting posters during voting.
She ran again in summer 2010, but the LSU had just passed a motion barring anyone from running in the current election who was disqualified from the previous one. "They passed it during the election, so the entire election was cancelled, which sounds so democratic," said Munro. "This was the time where Gadhafi was doing the same thing," she added.
"I thought, 'They're never gonna let me into their union. So I'm going to run for the college position, and I get an honorary position on their board and there's nothing they can do about it.' So I ran and I won."
Students elected to Langara's education council, known as "college positions," are sent as representatives to LSU board meetings. Munro said she went to every meeting and joined multiple internal committees.
"I was one of the people in there asking more questions than most people. Basically, I was whistle blowing, I guess," she continued. "And for that I paid the price."
When asked whether the LSU thinks the repeated disqualification of a candidate appears suspicious, Giesbrecht said, "I have no idea what the LSU thinks."
Reported by Jana Minor
In this audio clip, Emma Leigha Munro talks about why she thinks she was disqualified multiple times from various LSU elections.


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As you may have noticed, I have not selected an author to feature for this week, due in part to the physical demands of Ramadan, lack of sleep and general malaise. I have also resolved to spend a little more time writing on a couple of projects I started on a while ago and put on hold when I started the blog. But that doesn't mean the Storytellers Web is going to come to a standstill. Next week we will be featuring one of Britain's best-selling authors, Terry Pratchett. He has been such a dedicated writer that he has habitually churned out a book every year since he left his regular job (too many moons ago to mention politely). Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago, and although he is doing as well as can be expected, our thoughts are with him and his family.
Terry Pratchett has millions of fans around the world, many of whom simply cannot imagine a world where there are no new Pratchett books coming into the bookshops. If you are a Pratchett fan, drop me a line - tell me which books and characters are your favourite and when you were introduced to the Discworld - I look forward to hearing from you!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
So many books, so little time...
Labels: featured author, Terry Pratchett
2 comments:
The LibrarianReplyDelete
out of boredom i tentatively tried Mort which my brother had left lying around. and since 2001 i've been hooked to the discworld series.
I love most of the books. Recently I really liked the Tiffany Aching books with the nac mac feegle, but I also really liked the stand alone book, Monstrous Regiment. I think my favorite character is Death.ReplyDelete
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11/18 Photo of the Day: Hold Steady takes over First Avenue
We missed the show, but heard it was a pretty good time. Missing The Hold Steady when they play Minneapolis should make us feel like bad Twin Cities music fans, but we're over it. More drunken shows to come, we're sure.


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Heat Pad Win Streak – NBA Roundup For March 11th
UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James scored a season-low 13 points on Sunday, but that didn't stop the Miami Heat from extending their team-record winning streak to 18 games.
Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers and Dwyane (dwayn) Wade combined for 73 points on 68 percent shooting as the Heat whipped Indiana 105-91. Chalmers led the way with 26 points, Bosh had 24 and Wade added 23 as the Heat tied the seventh-longest winning streak in NBA history. Chalmers shot 5-for-6 from three-point range and was perfect on seven free throws.
James finished with seven assists and six rebounds for the Heat, who held a 27-15 edge in points off turnovers and finished the game shooting 56 percent compared with 41 percent by Indiana.
Also in the NBA, Oklahoma City picked up its fifth straight win by holding Boston to 25 percent shooting in the second half of a 91-79 victory over the Celtics. Kevin Durant scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while helping put an end to Boston's five-game winning streak.
Blake Griffin scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds in just 21 minute as the Los Angeles Clippers ripped Detroit 129-97. Chris Paul contributed 20 points and 14 assists to the Clippers' 10th win in 13 games.
The upwardly-mobile Lakers have moved into the eighth and final playoff berth in the West. Los Angeles is a-half game ahead of slumping Utah following a 90-81 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls. Kobe Bryant scored a team-high 19 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds while teammate Dwight Howard contributed 16 points and 21 rebounds to L.A.'s third straight win. The Lakers climb two games over .500 for the first time this season.
Dallas has a three-game winning streak after Vince Carter's 22 points and nine rebounds led the Mavericks to a 100-77 rout of Minnesota. Dirk Nowitzki finished with 16 points and Brandan Wright added 13 and seven rebounds in the victory.
Milwaukee pulled out a 115-113 win at Sacramento behind 29 points and nine assists from Monta (MAHN'-tay) Ellis. Mike Dunleavy made four 3-pointers and scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half of the Bucks' sixth victory in seven games.
Orlando had dropped seven straight at home until Jameer Nelson scored 24 points and had 10 assists in the Magic's 99-91 win over Philadelphia. Nik Vucevic chipped in 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Magic.
Ryan Anderson hit a layup with 1.8 seconds left to give New Orleans a 98-96 triumph over Portland. Anderson and Greivis Vasquez each finished with 20 points as the Hornets ended a three-game skid.
Amir Johnson scored 17 points and matched his career high with 16 rebounds in Toronto's 100-96 win against Cleveland. Alan Anderson scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter while the Cavaliers played without Kyrie Irving because of an apparent shoulder injury.


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Rick Santorum probably won't win the GOP nomination. But he's important for two reasons: He won a lot of states last time; and he is actively courting blue-collar voters. WSJ Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Seib explains. Photo: AP
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... so the Republican presidential field a little more crowded on Wednesday when Rick Santorum former Senator from Pennsylvania former presidential candidate in twenty twelve announce he's once again running ... for the Republican nomination not a surprise everybody saw this coming but there is a tendency to commit dismiss this because ... Rick Santorum looks is if he's one of those many guys in the so the second or third tier of Republican presidential candidates ... I think that's a bit of a mistake ... no is not a favored to win the nomination he probably won't win the nomination ... but he's really import for two reasons one is people forget that he won eleven states' primaries and caucuses in twenty twelve so he has a bit of a base out there ... he can make a difference even if he doesn't win the nomination ... he can shake up the alignment in a whole series of states that will be important in the search for the nomination in twenty sixteen ... and secondly he works in some of the states because of a particular kind of republicanism he brings to the table ... it's kind of the populace blue collar republicanism and people also forget ... that Kinder Republican is a growing part of the base of this Republican party ... it's it's it's in a working class called truly conservative party that's what Rick Santorum speaks to ... um and it's a particular kind of economics that speaks to the popular space one in which you have Republicans for an increase in the minimum wage ... and Augusta free trade agreement with Pacific nations so there's not a popular street that both Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum are going to be speaking to ... Rick Santorum has a history of actually speaking to that they successfully as this might have to be ... together they're gonna make a difference ... even if it's only a selected number of states ... they do matter in Rixon terms worth paying attention to for those reasons ...


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Canon vs Nikon: which DSLR should you buy?
The most common question people ask when buying their first DSLR is whether to side with Canon or Nikon. Indeed, even more experienced photographers tied to one system often think about what they would gain by switching sides.
The fact is that both companies make excellent DSLRs. Nevertheless, at any given point they each have slightly different offerings on the market, and so it follows that some models will be better suited to your specific needs than others.
To that end, we've rounded up the main DSLRs currently available from the two (bar the most senior models designed for professionals) and compared them with their rivals in the same price bracket.
Whether you're a photographic novice looking for your first camera, an enthusiast keen on exploring a range of options or a more advanced user looking for a full-frame powerhouse, read on to get the best idea of what your money gets you.
Canon vs Nikon: Entry-level DSLRs
If you've got up to £450/$500 or so to spend on your first DSLR, you're very much spoilt for choice. Not only do you have a raft of brand new models to consider, but there are also many older ones that manufacturers typically subject to discounts and cashback offers to hook you into their system.
Currently, the cheapest options are the Canon EOS 1300D (known as the EOS Rebel T6 in the US) and Canon EOS 100D (known as the EOS Rebel SL1 in the US), as well as the Nikon D3300 and the newer Nikon D3400. There's also the new EOS Rebel SL2 / EOS 200D, that replaces the ageing SL1/100D, but we're still waiting to test that. It does mean you might be able to track down a good deal on the older model though!
Current cashback offers on the first two Canon DSLRs price them very aggressively against Nikon's offerings, although Nikon's two models do have a slight edge with their spec sheets.
Canon EOS 1300D / Rebel T6
Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1
For example, both the D3300 and D3400 have 24MP sensors and can shoot at 5fps, and each is furnished with an 11-point AF system. By contrast, the EOS 1300D and EOS 100D have 18MP sensors and can only shoot at 3fps and 4fps respectively, with a 9-point AF system apiece. Not huge differences, and potentially not too important for those just wanting to get started, but something to consider nonetheless.
The EOS 100D's main draw is that it's painfully small, so it may make you more inclined to use it more often than the others, although the newer EOS 1300D has a more refined features set.
Nikon D3300
Nikon D3400
Nikon's D3400 isn't a significant upgrade over the D3300, and the fact that it doesn't offer automatic, built-in sensor cleaning places it at a disadvantage to the others. Being quite new also means that it doesn't offer quite the same value as its competitors either, but the price has dropped quite a bit since its launch last year.
While our review of the D3300 noted that some may prefer a broader range of physical controls, that camera is perhaps the strongest model out of the quartet. If, however, you're on a tighter budget the EOS 1300D might just be a better option for you.


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LOS ANGELES — Immoral Live has announced this week's live cam shows, all of which will be broadcast exclusively on Streamate. All times are announced in Pacific Standard Time.
Selena Santana will perform for the Squirtamania series today from 2-3:30 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m. And this Wed., May 18, Emma Hix will perform Squirtamania shows from 2-3:30 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.
This Fri. night, May 20, Adriana Chechik and Blair Williams will perform shows for the Cock Sucking Challenge series from 8-9:30 p.m. and 9:30-10:30 p.m.
This Sun., May 22, Marley Brinx will perform Sunday Funday Squirtamania shows from 10-11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
For more information on Immoral Live, visit their official website or follow them on Twitter.


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(general disclaimer! my blog is WAY behind! I will be backlogging this down-season to catch up! But please enjoy this recent post!)
I am very fortunate to have wonderful friends and clients who are willing to let me inspire their portrait sessions!!! This session was supposed to take place at the amazing Urquharts Tree Farm but due to unforeseen circumstances we had to make due with this beautiful setting at a neighborhood park in Dexter.
I was able to use a beautiful handmade family quilt, my husband's old Detroit News Red Ryder wagon and some beautiful products from Etsy and some Pintrest Inspiration. Super thankful the weather was magnificent and my models were willing and ready!!! Soph loved playing in our fake snow since I couldn't make the snow cooperate (though we much preferred the sun over chilly cloudiness!) but fell casualty to some glitter in the eye. Thankfully she is a trooper and a little love from mom, dad, grandma and grandpa (and Tio Nick!) helped to remedy the situation! Make sure to check out all of the images to see Baby Eli! He napped for the first part of the session and Grandma played with Soph to allow for some great pictures of just Mom and Dad! (Lucky ducks!) But Eli did wake up for a few fun family shots! 🙂
Thanks for hanging out with me and for allowing me to plan a creative shoot!! Love you guys!
If you are interested in some last minute holiday shoots, I have a few slots open this coming weekend December 7 and 8 in Ann Arbor, let me know if you're interested! ❤
Make sure if you are looking for some fresh cut trees, check out Urquharts Tree Farm!
For decorations check out Amanda's boutique on Etsy!
And for fun crafts toddlers enjoy check out this page! (Lalo helped make my star!)


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- Home
- What is ESD?
- Review Process
- Take Action
- Funding
- Professional Development
- A project of
Resources for extending the learning
In the process of forming opinions, clarifying values and taking an informed position, the learner considers different ways of looking at issues and reaching solutions. This approach includes consideration of complimentary and competing strategies, experiences and world views.


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Highlights of this video:
- Singer and model Jyoti Magar is plump when compared to other models.
- Jyoti Magar believes that being fat is a blessing to her.
- That is what has made her attractive to the viewers.
- What does Jyoti Magar like to eat?
- What is the favourite drinks of Jyoti Magar?
- What are sleeping and waking habits of Jyoti Magar?
- Will Jyoti Magar slim down?
Watch the full video


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Ever wish you to send message on facebook automaticlly on specific time or schedule your message then..Read More
How to update facebook without using facebook want to know this trick then ..Read More
Facebook makes the the simple act of downloading photos annoyingly complicated. There is no download option; you have to view each photo in turn, right-click it..Read More
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Do you access your Facebook or Twitter account while you are on a public network like your college's or office's unsecured wifi.Then this is the time that you s..Read More
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A new browser extension called Timeline Remove may seem like a dream come true for the legions of Facebook users who are unhappy with the new timeline profile, ..Read More
How can you tell if a Facebook account is fake? Barracuda Labs is on the case. Barracuda Labs analyzed 2,884 active Facebook accounts to determine the differen..Read More


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Collecting Highlight (54) - Questar magazine with Crystal Singer story adaptation
View Single Post
Apr 17 2010, 04:20 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LaFollette, TN
Gender: F
Fan of: Crystal Singer Series
Now Reading: Solar Queen Series
Re: Collecting Highlight (54) - Questar magazine with Crystal Singer story adaptation
Hi, Hans.
Are there more than four issues in the Starstream series, because I have issues 1-4 of Starstream. "Crystal Singer" is the last story in issue #3. I have had these in my collectibles since the late 1970s, when my youngest brother bought them from a friend of his. I admired them and he gave them to me. They have been in my collections ever since. They are in good, although not 'mint', condition. If anyone wishes to view them, they can be found on my blog:
I have all four covers posted there as well as the contents page from issue #3 which I (very carefully) scanned onto my computer. I would like to know what they are worth, even though I have no plans to part with them. I am just curious. Thanks, Anna
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Main Campus MapA detailed look of main campus, situated on the western side of the University of Utah. Main campus is where the majority of the academic buildings are located, as well as non-health sciences services.
Download Main Campus Map
Fort Douglas MapFort Douglas is east of main campus and is the home to most of the residential living facilities, the Heritage Center (the central hub for students living on campus) and various offices.
Download Fort Douglas Map
Health Sciences MapThe Health Sciences' academic buildings, such as the School of Medicine and College of Nursing, are located here. University Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Moran Eye Center are also on this quadrant of campus .
Download Health Sciences Map
Full Campus MapThis map is a complete view of the University of Utah campus, which spans nearly 1,800 acres.
Download Full Campus Map


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McQueen's Controversial Life – The Trailer Is HERE!
He was a genius and a profound influencer of the entire fashion world; he lived in a both tortured and mystic world; he surrounded himself by beauty and he received four times the British Fashion Awards – "British Designer of the Year"; he was controversial and his edgy couture expressed that very well; he was a superstar in fashion and his evocative shows gave him that title. And because he was ALL that, a much-anticipated movie regarding his life, before committing suicide […]
Categories: fashion, news, people • Tags: 2018, Alexander McQueen, ian bonhote, movie, trailer


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...or berthday, since i will be spending the day being carried around by a team of midgets while i throw fist fulls of glitter to the sounds of rush's "tom sawyer" (as is the custom in canada).
also here, finally, is the art for the special giveaway poster/print that we're putting together for people who order the MYSTERIUS THE UNFATHOMABLE tpb through dcbs.
it's getting type and logos and will be signed and numbered by both jeff and me. it will be available for free for the first 250 people to order through dcbs, along with 10 randomly inserted original drawings by me (i'll post those, along with the finished version of the above, a bit closer to the day).
i'd say that was a pretty good deal... wouldn't you?
ps... if you like podcasts where people say awesome things about ME! (...and jeff and mysterius and a couple of other things, i guess...) swing over to the truly awesometastic evie and aaron's awesomed by comics year end awards show.
thanks guys.


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Independence Day with our family is about as cliché as cliché gets! It's family, food and fireworks.
In typical Texas fashion, the weather will be scorching hot. We will head over to my in-law's home and the older kids will immediately run into the backyard and jump in the swimming pool. The toddlers will beg for attention from the grandparents. The women will congregate in the kitchen where we will talk about Pinterest and the kids. The men will stand around the grill, watching the older kids swim and taking turns flipping the hot dogs and hamburgers. As night falls and the sun-drenched children begin to tire, we will head out to see fireworks. Our family will jump in the SUV with pillows and blankets in tote and head to our favorite fireworks watching spot. After the fireworks show, we will drive the sleepy kids home, tuck them into bed and call it a night. What a day!
All of this fun… that's what the day is about, right? Well not exactly. I'm pretty sure there is a significant reason for the holiday and it's not BBQ!
Like other holidays, the significance of the day can be over-shadowed by fun activities. That's why it is important to talk to your kids about holidays and help them understand their importance.
Conveying the Importance of Independence Day
Before we have our family fun time, we will sit the kids down and explain the significance of the day. Here is what we will be telling our kids:
Independence day is the day we celebrate our country's freedom. While today we will have lots of fun, it's important to know why we are so thankful that we are free.
We are blessed to live in a free country where we have the right to choose our religion, worship God how we want, and vote. That is a freedom that not all countries have.
There are many men and women – including Uncle Jay – who work very hard to keep our country free. We must always remember to be grateful for those who serve our country.
For the little kids, you should keep it short and sweet, but drive home the things about Independence Day that mean the most to your family. If your children are younger, use words that they will understand, including things that they know and people to whom they can relate. These small talks help shape your family's values and inform a child's understanding of why holidays are so special.
One great activity you can do with your younger kids is have them write letters to our U.S. Military Men and Women, past and present, for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country. If you have a relative or neighbor who has served in the Armed Forces and they are home, today would be a great day to hand deliver a note of thanks! (For inspiration, check out this adorable gift book Dear Soldier: I'm Praying for You Every Day. This collection of letters from across the United States are written in each child's own hand–you'll laugh, you'll smile, and you'll cry reading through these sweet notes of thanks by young children.)
If your children are older, you might read to them from the Declaration of Independence or a book like In God We Still Trust: A 365-Day Devotional. And we're excited to let you know that there are some free patriotic devotions that you can read to your kids here on FaithGateway this week, such as "Declaring Independence, a devotional" and "Freedom: Remember His Marvelous Works" by Richard Lee.
Whatever you do, enjoy your Independence Day and God bless the U.S.A.!
Your Turn
How will you talk to your child about Independence Day? Leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you today!
Photo by: LucieHolloway (Photos.com)
CELEBRATE AMERICA SALE! Save 30% off Patriotic Products now through 7/10/13 at the FaithGateway Store!


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In last evening's service, Sally Sebo shared about caring for the orphans at the House of Hope in Romania. If you've ever been privileged to hear Sally, you know what an infectious love she has for the children of Romania.
Listening to the stories of how the children came to Hope House and the abuse they have endured, shared heart space with a book I have been reading. Sunday's Child is written by Anne Lyken-Garner, and it tears at my heart with such force that, at times, I feel my heart will break in pieces.
Those of us who were raised with loving parents with the benefits of a free, affluent country find it hard to totally understand what childhood must be like for the less fortunate. Sunday's Child is set in the 1980's Guyana, a time of political unrest and poverty. So while poverty impacted young Anne's life, even more impactful is the abuse she experienced at the hands of her grandmother. Indescribable. Inhumane.
Anne has written her story truthfully and succinctly. The torture and abuse are in sharp contrast to the humor that seeps in from time to time. I finished Anne's book last night and know her story will continue to live in my heart.
The beauty of Anne's story is that, instead of allowing childhood horrors to define who she is, she has taken her pain and is using it to reach out to others. Sunday's Child is a story we all need to read and share.
Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. The National Childhood Statistics tell us that a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. More than five children die every day from child abuse.
This isn't a feel-good subject. It's raw and ugly. It left disturbing mind pictures that will stay with me a long time. I'll hug my grandbabies close and make sure they know how much I love them. I'll help support ministries like Sally's House of Hope. And I'll seek to shelter with prayer those who work with God's precious "little ones."


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We're sure you are aware, it's a tough real estate market. In our Central Texas market we have a 9 month supply of homes! With higher inventory and fewer qualified buyers, it's critical to make a substantial difference by simply out-marketing similar priced, competing properties. Over 80% of all buyers start their search on the internet.
Below are a few FREE Marketing Techniques to get more exposure for your real estate For Sale By Owner property
Post your property on our Facebook page and SHARE! What you post on our Facebook page, automatically posts to our Twitter account and our Click Your Mouse Blog too and FOLLOWED! Bring extra social media value to your property listing with a "CLICK"!
Post Your Property's URL Link from the Click Your Mouse Sell Your House website here: Facebook.com/ClickYourMouse
Create a VIDEO with no special equipment, just use your digital camera. Visit ANIMOTO to create a video or photo slideshow, its easy and free. Houses with photos get more attention and sell faster.
Advertise your property with online classified advertising sites such as Craigslist and Backpage.
When you create an account and add your property to ClickYourMouseSellYourHouse.com, your account information automatically creates HTML for you to use to market your property.
You simply log into your account on ClickYourMouseSellYourHouse.com and in the MY TOOLS section Click the 'HTML Classified Creator' link. Copy the HTML and paste into an ad in your Craigslist or Backpage account. This drives visitors that see your ad on the online classified sites straight to the landing page for your property on our website with your direct contact phone number and email you entered into your account!
Create FLYERS in minutes using your Click Your Mouse account.
In the MY TOOLS section of your account, Click 'Create Flyer' link. Select your layout and preview your property Flyer. Each property has it's own QR Code for Smartphone users to instantly get more information about your property!
Your direct contact information is automatically added to your Flyers.
Visit our Click Your Mouse Sell Your House Online Reference Store on Amazon.com for books and other types of media to help you sell your house yourself!
Now that you have created your free For Sale By Owner account on ClickYourMouseSellYourHouse.com, and have added your pictures and video, not only can you post using free classified advertising sites and social media like Facebook and Twitter, but you can take it one step further by advertising your home on YouTube. YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine in the US! Get your home seen and sold!


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Rafizah is a Registered Psychologist with the Singapore Psychological Society and is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). She has worked in institutional, community and school settings in Singapore since 2008.
She has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with developmental challenges including Autism, Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Difficulties and associated socioemotional and behavioural problems. She designed and facilitated seminars for both, parents and other professionals on various topics, including behaviour management, communication, social skills and school readiness.
Rafizah loves working with children and adolescents. She specialises in cognitive (IQ) and diagnostic assessments; and runs a positive behavioural management clinic. She helps families with behaviour challenges such as toilet training, school refusal, sleeping problems, picky eating, anger management, aggression, self-stimulatory behaviour and socialization issues. These interventions are individualized to build on the child's interests, promote self-esteem and offer the child and family a predictable schedule. She invites parents, caregivers and teachers as part of the treatment process. Rafizah also provides counselling and expert support for families seeking or dealing with diagnosis of a developmental disorder. She is able to conduct therapy sessions in English, Malay and Bahasa Indonesia.
Rafizah is an advocate for inclusivity and believes that with the right guidance and opportunities, all children can develop as individuals who will make meaningful contributions and connections in the society.


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The Importance of a Strong Protagonist by Lynn Seresin
Does a successful protagonist need to be strong? That's a no-brainer. If the protagonist isn't strong, the reader won't want to read about him or her. Period. But that doesn't tell us what makes a protagonist strong, does it? Is a strong protagonist likeable, brave, nice? Maybe, but does he or she have to be so for us to be drawn into their story?
Let's explore the idea of a "strong" protagonist. First and foremost, a strong protagonist is someone who grabs your interest. Often, she (I'm going to assume our protagonist is female only because most protagonists in YA novels are girls, but the same would apply to a male main character) is particularly brave or skillful (think Katniss in The Hunger Games), or she might be someone totally ordinary (think Bella in Twilight). Either way, there's something about these two characters (and countless others) that compels us to want to hear their story. In both these instances, their particular "voice" pulls us in. Both have a way of connecting with the reader so that we feel as though we are inside their heads, hearing their thoughts, seeing the world through their eyes. I thought long and hard about how I wanted Alice, the protagonist in THIN AIR and FRIENDLY FIRE, to express herself. Since she was an ageless air spirit, I wanted her voice to reflect this. I deliberately crafted a slightly antiquated, whimsical, "fairytale" voice with which she could tell her story. If she sounded too modern (even though she is an 18-year-old girl), it would be difficult for the reader to buy into the problems she encountered trying to fit in with the human world. She needed to be a bit out of step, but not so much so that a reader couldn't connect with her.
This brings us to the idea of connecting with the protagonist. A strong protagonist is one that the reader can identify with. This doesn't mean that the reader has to admire every aspect of the protagonist's personality. It also doesn't mean that all of the protagonist's experiences must have a direct connection to the reader's life. A strong main character does, however, need to touch the emotional core of the reader. Alice, the protagonist in my novels, isn't even human at the start of the story—she's an air spirit—but the embarrassment and anxiety she experiences whenever she fails to conform to human society's expectations is probably something we all can relate to. Haven't you been in a social situation where you don't know the rules?
Lastly, a strong protagonist must show growth, or change, as a result of the circumstances she is forced to confront. The main characters with the most impact are the ones that surprise us with their hidden resources and ability to meet every obstacle head-on. This doesn't mean they don't feel fear in the face of danger; far from it. Readers embrace protagonists that are able to set aside their fears and deal with the problems at hand. A truly strong protagonist doesn't have to demonstrate strength 24/7. Rather, she must show that each of us, however ordinary, has a wellspring of fortitude from which to draw upon when confronted with our own challenges. It is in this way that strong, well-developed protagonists inspire us to reach farther and dig deeper when adversity strikes.
Book Synopsis:
Though their love remains strong, the pressure of constant danger has taken its toll on Alice and Daniel's relationship. Paralda's assassins continue their murder spree in New York City, targeting girls who resemble Alice in an effort to fulfill the air king's deadly directive. As if life wasn't complicated enough, the couple must also fiercely guard the secret of Alice's emergent powers and true identity from everyone--including their closest friends--to protect her safety.
Enter Ash and Terrance: two former elementals, each with their own set of reasons for transmuting to the human plane. For Ash, the material realm represents freedom and the possibility of fulfilling a forbidden wish. Terrance has only one aim in the mortal world: to win Alice's heart. And it seems he'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
You get to win ones of the wonderful necklaces above. Read on for more info:
Open for US/Canada ONLY (:( - I can't join the giveaway either)
Enter by commenting on this post and mention that you want to enter the giveaway
The winner will be selected via random.org and announced on thesepaperworldsbt.blogspot.com
Good Luck!


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- Home >
- Knowledge & Resources >
- Publications >
- Reports >
The Hidden Housing Crisis: Worst Case Housing Needs Among Adults with Disabilities
This report outlines a study that used data about households with severe rent burdens from the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS) to develop more accurate estimates of 'worst case' housing needs among households containing non-elderly adult renters with disabilities. Worst case needs, a concept intended to measure renters with acute needs for housing assistance, are unassisted renters with incomes below half of their area's median income who pay more than half of their income for housing or live in severely substandard housing. The study found that an estimated 2.1 - 2.4 million of the 6 million households in the U.S. with worst case housing needs are non-elderly disabled households. (2008)


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A Hillsborough woman has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to children after providing fostering respite and foster care for the last 12 years to over 50 children.
Margaret Lecky and her husband John have been child minders for the last 29 years before deciding 12 years ago to provide foster respite and care.
They have been recognised in Northern Ireland and they will both head off to Buckingham Palace to formally attend a garden party.
What is more remarkable is that Margaret and John are 66 and 67 years respectively and still to this day provide love, care and support for foster kids.
Margaret doesn't mind sharing her story of how their life of caring came to be and is keen to highlight that her husband John has been instrumental in the way they help others.
The reality for Margaret and John many years ago was that they couldn't have children.
She said: "I had a hysterectomy. Whilst it was difficult I knew I wanted to help children and have them in our life, never expecting to go this far.
"Thirtyyears ago our close friends asked if I would be interested in helping them by doing some child minding.
"I jumped at the chance and really loved it. I enjoyed the fact that I was helping the kids and our friends equally.
"Over time we both felt we could do more and make a difference.
"One thing led to another and we then, after a smooth process of application, started doing some fostering respite and we loved it."
Whilst many parents will play a significant part in their child's development, Margaret and John have done it for over 50 children and to this very day they are still provide loving care, especially to babies.
Margaret continued: "Sometimes we might have a number of babies in the house at one time and we would obviously have to keep them close by for feeding.
"It is not unusual for one child to be in a cot on John's side of the room and one on my side so that we share the responsibility and ability to keep around the clock care.
"This medal is really for the two of us, without John's support I could never have done this."
The reality of life and foster care means that not all of the children Margaret and John care for will remember them once they are older but in receiving this public recognition their love, time and caring will be recorded forever.


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Latest WFMU show
D:O RadioTune into D:O Radio every Monday 12-3pm EST, on one of WFMU's internet streams, Give the Drummer Radio. New, live shows every week. OUR SHOWS ARE ARCHIVED OVER HERE. Have a listen!
What?An mp-free jazz blog focusing on rare or out-of-print music. We generally publish once a week. Songs will be available for a limited time, and are for evaluation purposes only. Attend concerts. Buy music.
Who?Chilly Jay Chill (aka Jeff Jackson) and Prof. Drew LeDrew (aka Jeff Golick). Requests, rants, and rights issues to: destination.out [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com.
How?Just be yourself.
- Jean Michel Van Schouwburg said hello i saw a copy of Funk Dumpling in a Brussels...
- Emiliano said I had the pleasure to be in Verona on 1987 at 17 &...
- Eigil said Congratulations, Peter F.!
- pof said Much Love to FMP!
- marten512 said Its all gone very quiet . . . too quiet . . .
Recent Posts
Tag Archives: Bill Lowe
GUEST POST: Taylor Ho Bynum on Bill Lowe
We are honored and overjoyed to be able to present this truly amazing, seriously generous guest post from Taylor Ho Bynum, in which he introduces one of the key figures behind his musical education and development, as well as a… Continue reading
Category Bill Lowe, guest posts, Taylor Ho Bynum Tags Bill Lowe, Taylor Ho Bynum, WNYC


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In a feeble attempt to combat my constant homesickness, I compile tales of New York City rock & roll landmarks, most of 'em long gone. Moronic musings on various other enthusiasms are also thrown in for good measure.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Fandom worlds collide, IN THE MEDIA
Irene Trudel had a Left Banke special on her WFMU program this past Monday--an interview with Tom Finn and producer/Banke associate Ralph Affoumado, along with a mini-set of live tracks that were recorded in-studio by the band over the weekend. [They're playing at Littlefield in Brooklyn tonight.] Crucial listening under any circumstances, but pay special attention around the 90 minute mark. Yes, Mr. Finn not only exposes my dual obsessions with the Left Banke and Tony Hicks for all the world to hear, he also makes an incredibly flattering plug for this blog! And there's a great Steve Paul's The Scene/Hendrix anecdote in there as well, as if the moment weren't streetsyoucrossed-relevant enough.
Besides online interviews, also check out the current issue of The Big Takeover for a nice LB feature, and look for the next issue of Shindig in late August for a cover story penned by the freakishly multitalented LB vocalist (and frequent Shindig contributor...and my longtime Bomp-buddy) Mike Fornatale.
Posted by Signed D.C. at 10:37 AM
Labels: Hollies, Left Banke, Steve Paul's Scene, WFMU
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Deliver exacting customer requirements like never before.
The IndySoft Commercial Lab Management package offers businesses of any size the flexibility to manage both their internal quality needs and external customer demands, all the while keeping tabs on the day-to-day financial aspects of their operation. With support for leading enterprise platforms Commercial Lab Management is perfect for deployment on both growing and large-scale corporate systems. Through an exclusive process modeling engine, companies can configure their own event-driven system with checkpoints, rule sets and documentation at every point along the equipment path, ensuring assets are handled according to existing quality procedures.
We're ready to hear more about your business and challenges. Contact our professional sales representatives today!
Version: 12.0.34
Released: 05/06/2019
Feel free to browse the image gallery to get a feel for the application and rich features then reach out for a personal one-on-one or team-based demonstration of IndySoft in action.
IndySoft offers a range of deployment methods with our software to meet any budget. You can start with something as simple as a personal laptop edition or go for a full turnkey Enterprise system. With limited exceptions, all IndySoft products are compatible with each other and can expand in terms of licensing or additional functionality at any time.
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View Full Pricing Guide
Go even further by extending the product with the following additional software packages from IndySoft.
The IndySoft Web Tier server allows HTML5 browser access direct to the application over the internet. Leveraging the power of modern browsers, the system permits a single installation of the product to be used globally, bypassing client installations completely. When local functionality is required, the included Web Tier Tools from IndySoft bridge your local folders, drives, printers, etc for a near seamless interaction between the web and desktop.
Per 25 session server license.
The HTTP/S Application Server is an SQL broker that streams data from Single Users and Network Editions under the HTTP/S protocol providing a much faster response time for data reconciliation. The server layer also shares the same HTTP.SYS layer from Windows that IIS uses, opening the door for easier deployment and HTTPS connectivity with stronger encryption of data over the Internet.
Free for synchronization with multi-user systems.
The IndySoft Fluke MET/CAL Import Utility offers a near seamless import of your Fluke MET/CAL results into IndySoft Calibration Management or Lab Management software. This solution allows a lab to retain usage of Fluke MET/CAL procedures while upgrading to a more robust and scalable asset management system. The utility is not a replacement for Fluke MET/CAL, but rather a bridge to optimize the use of both products.
Price reflects per-user license.
The Pipette Extension allows for assets to contain pipette data collection parameters which then feed into your calibration event. Within the calibration event a series of windows become available allowing you to connect to common RS-232 scales and perform pipette data collection per common industry accepted procedures all the while automatically performing the calculations and generating your final results.
Price reflects per-user license.
|Special Storage
|up to 10
|I5/AMD equivalent
|1 @ 2GHz
|10 to 24
|I5/AMD equivalent
|1 @ 2GHz
|25 to 49
|Xeon,I7/AMD equivalent
|1 @ 2.5GHz
|50 and above
|I5/AMD equivalent
|2 @ 2.5GHz
|SSD Disk dedicated to the system
Over 50 concurrent sessions, use of server farm is recommended. Each server (physical or virtual) handling up to 50 concurrent users.
The type of hardware required will mostly depend on what kind of resources the applications you publish consume the most (CPU/memory/Disk). A server with SSD drives will greatly enhance the performance of IndySoft SQL based applications.
Your hardware must use one of the operating systems below:
32 and 64 bit are supported.
If you install on a Windows 2008 to 2016 make sure the RDS or Terminal Services roles as well as the RDS Terminal Services licensing role are not installed before installation.
For any Windows Home edition, remote access requires creation of local administrators users accounts.
The server instance must have a fixed IP address
Remote access (from Wide Area Network - WAN)
A DSL connection is recommended as well as a public fixed address. Without a fixed IP address, usage of a dynamic DNS service like http://DynDNS.org, Google domains, or others will allow connectivity to machines with changing public IP addresses.
The TCP RDP port (by default 3389) must be opened both ways on your firewall.


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Jaanu dress
Hello everybody!
You haven't heard from me for ages, I know. Well, I am back, safe and sound and ready to blog again. I've been quite busy recently with the kids, our new home and other... not publishing any more posts... however, I was sewing a bit, of course. Sewing and crocheting as well. Yes, crocheting! Some time ago I said I could never crochet, I didn't have patience for that. Well, maybe patience is growing with age... who knows? ;-)
Today I will show you the spring dress I made for my princess. It's made in heavy fabric, so it can be worn in winter, as well, with a pair of boots and a nice coat.
It can be worn on a tee, a turtleneck jumper or a blouse.
It has a long zipper on the back.
And there are 6 box pleats on the skirt...
... and an inseam pocket on each side.
I got that fabric from my mother who´s been storing it for many years. When I was about the age of my daughter, she made a dress for me in this fabric and the rest of it had been waiting in her stash for years until she decided not to sew any more and passed it to me. Immediately, I knew I would sew a dress for my daughter that would remind me of the dress my mother made for me :-)
How I love to see her happy and cheerful!
Well, I hope to see you soon, if my daughter is still willing to pose and the weather stays nice...
Happy sewing!


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|17th Century woodcut
"F. . . .s dancing in a Ring"
the Sun sees - doorway `under hill' - multi-anima fungi - dancing ring - anima tree
(RG.UP p 119)
|David Williams of Penrhyndeudraeth
(west coast of Wales) was following his mistress home but was amazed to find he arrived at the house three hours later than her.
His account: he saw a brilliant meteoric light come down, followed by a "hoop of light" within which appeared a small man and woman "richly dressed" who jumped from the `hoop' when it touched earth. They proceeded to make a circle on the ground in which a "large number of small men and women appeared and, to the sweetest music that was ever heard, commenced dancing round and around the circle".
Williams stopped a few moments - or so he thought - to observe the dance.
"By and by, the meteor appeared again" and when its fiery hoop reached the ground where the dancers were, the original couple jumped into it and took off as they had descended,
whereupon the small dancers disappeared `in a flash', leaving Williams alone in the darkness to continue his journey
- and arrive home three hours late.
From Elias Owen's "Welsh Folk-lore" (1888)
RG.UP p130
|In the Vale of Neath (South Wales),
two farmhands named Rhys and Llewellyn were driving horses back to their home farm.
On the way Rhys thought he heard music so he told Llewellyn to walk on
- he would catch up `after he'd had a dance'.
By morning he'd not returned and suddenly Llewellyn was suspected of being a murderer.
Luckily a local farmer persuaded Llewellyn (and the narrator - one David) to return to the area where Rhys had disappeared.
Once there Llewellyn heard the music. His foot was on a `..... ring'.
He bade David to place one foot on his, as did the others, whereupon they all heard the music and saw `a crowd of little figures dancing in the ring' with Rhys among them.
Llewellyn dragged him out of the ring and Rhys thought he'd only danced for five minutes or so.
But Rhys was left melancholy, so depressed that he died soon after.
From T. Crofton Croker's `Fairy Legends' (1825)
"Dragged from the "F. . . .s Ring"
RG.UP p 133
"The Little People of the Cherokee are a race of Spirits who live
in rock caves on the mountain side. They are little ... reaching
almost to your knees. They are well shaped and handsome,
and their hair so long it almost touches the ground."
|"Tam O'Shanter" by Rabbie Burns
Passing by Kirk Alloway, the drunken Tam sees
`warlocks & witches in a dance'
presided over by "Auld Nick in shape o' beast""
RG.UP p 128
"In the Middle Ages whole villages caught
a dancing hysteria and danced themselves
to exhaustion and death, especially,
it seemed, if they wore red shoes"
p. 164
Late August 1965 - Seattle, Washington - A woman woke in the early hours when a `football sized' machine floated in through the window of her room, settling - with an extruded tripod of landing legs - onto her bedroom carpet.
Six `tiny people in tight-fitting clothing' rushed down a ramp, began working on the machine, completed whatever tasks were necessary and, piling back into the `football', immediately took off - through the open window.
Whereupon the woman found herself free of the paralysis which had frozen her throughout this brief `pit stop' of `little people'.
Investigated by J Russell Jenkins
pp 86, 87
Typical Entities - from the '50's and '60's
"Tiny tricksters about 3 feet tall - sometimes described as `children'
- in tightly fitting `ski-suits' or uniforms." `Seemingly obsessed with the concept of time.'
Other entities from the 1950's and 1960's - assorted dwarfs, gnome-like creatures and goblins. Some described as being hairy, with red glowing eyes and pointed ears
p. 356
Malaysia 1969 - 1985
A long-running series of visits and contacts with tiny people.
The beings were typically 3" or sometimes 6" tall, and some of these visitors were seen to land in a similarly very small UFO.
|"On 13 August 1967 48 year old Inacio de Souza and his wife Luiza were returning from the local village Pilar de Goaias (240 km from Brasilia - capital of Brazil) to the ranch where they lived and worked.
Approaching the ranch they saw threee child-like "beings" `playing' (dancing?) on the ranch's landing strip.
The beings noticed the de Souzas and began to approach them and just then "an unknown craft appeared on the scene" - looking like an "up-turned basin" hovering above the end of the landing strip.
"De Souza reached for his .44 carbine and fired at one of the figures", whereupon the craft emitted a beam of green light which knocked him to the ground.
As Louiza went to her husband's aid, the beings entered the hovering "basin" - which immediately took off at high speed.
In next few days and weeks de Souza fell sick and was diagnosed with burns in 6 inch circles on head and upper body. Finally it was clear that he was in last stages of leukaemia and he died on 11 Oct 1967, about 3 months after the confrontation.
paraphrased - p. 91
04 July, 1969, Anolaima, Columbia
Arcesio Bermudez, with some friends spotted a `shining sphere' hovering near his home. He shone his flashlight, as a greeting maybe.
Within few days he became seriously ill and was taken to Bogota Hospital - where he was attended by Dr. Luis Borda & Dr. Cesar Esmeral.
Arcesio worsened, and on July 12 he died, with symptoms ` like gamma-ray poisoning'.
paraphrased - p. 98
|"The old (Irish) histories tell of a battle between the invading Milesians and a magically skilled native race, the Tuatha de Danaan, for possession of the country
The Milesians won
"It was split between them, the victorious Milesians taking the upper half and banishing the older race to the country below the surface"
RG.UP p163
T.C. Kermode, member of the Isle of Man parliament, when younger was walking through the countryside at evening with a friend who suddenly pointed across a river saying "Oh look, there are the f . . . . es. Did you ever see them?"
Kermode looked and saw `a circle of supernatural light' in which, arriving in twos and threes, appeared a `great crowd of little beings - dressed in red' - "They moved back and forth amid the circle of light"
When his friend shouted the "folk" disappeared.
W.E. Thorner, serving in the Orkneys during WWII, came across a party of small-statured "wild men" on the high cliffs of Hoy one stormy winter's day. They had sallow complexions and long dark hair, and `unkindly expressions on their faces' - They were all dancing
RG.UP pp 117, 118
"FAIRIES: Real Encounters with Little People"
by Janet Bord
|engraving detail "The Universe" Pouchet 1870
Deep underground, kobolds (`little people') excavating a fossil dinosaur.
RG.UP p 166
|A carved chalcedony gem - 1st century BCE
EARLY CONCEPT of SPACE EMISSARIES
RG.UP p 222
|Alien Evidence