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by Lisa Mueller
I am seeking medical here in Chennai India but it's hard to find good care. I purchased a weeks old baby Alexandrian Indian parrot from someone who i suspect never properly cared for the babies. My little guy was gained some strength and weight since i got him but he has a very big swollen yellowish discolored stomach...i was afraid maybe he has parasites. Yesterday his sneezing started with clear discharge from the nasal area. His personality has changed over night so i know he is getting worse quickly. He is now completely quite and won't keep his eyes open at all...just wants to sleep all the time which is unlike him. His poop seems to be ok, no change. He is eating the baby formula i have him on when i spoon feed him.
Comments for baby parrot has Swollen yellow belly with sneezing and nasal discharge.
Click here to add your own comments


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8 Questions about Tax Exemption on HRA
Its time when you would be asked to submit proof of investment to your employer to save taxes. HRA (House Rent Allowance) has been one thing which confuses many people. so here answers to 8 frequently asked questions about HRA: When can you claim HRA? How to calculate tax exemption for HRA? What are proofs to […] Continue reading →

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, 12 August
10:30 am - 12:15 pm
Room 515A
Session Chair: Baining Guo, Microsoft Research Asia
Spherical Harmonic Gradients
Using spherical harmonic gradients for efficient extrapolation of incident radiance enables real-time close-range illumination using only a single sample for the incident lighting.
Thomas Annen
Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik
tannen (at) mpi-sb.mpg.de
Frédo Durand
Jan Kautz
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hans-Peter Seidel
Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik
Non-Linear Kernel-Based Precomputed Light Transport
A real-time method for rendering static objects from arbitrary views under distant all-frequency lighting. The method can render reflections, interreflections, and subsurface scattering using precomputed light transport.
Paul Green
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
green (at) csail.mit.edu
Frédo Durand
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Henrik Wann Jensen
University of California, San Diego
Jan Kautz
Wojciech Matusik
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bidirectional Importance Sampling for Illumination From Environment Maps
Introducing bidirectional importance sampling, a method for rendering that samples visibility according to an importance derived from the product of BRDF and environment-map illumination.
David Burke
The University of British Columbia
dburke (at) cs.ubc.ca
Abhijeet Ghosh
Wolfgang Heidrich
The University of British Columbia
Wrangling Lighting and Rendering Data at Disney Feature Animation
A user-friendly system for wrangling scene data and relationships, which serves as the foundation for Disney's internal lighting package, Lumiere, currently being used in production on "Chicken Little."
Mark A. McLaughlin
Walt Disney Feature Animation
mark.mclaughlin (at) disney.com
Joseph M. Lohmar
Ernest J. Petti
Chris Springfield
Lewis Wakeland
Walt Disney Feature Animation


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If you were to enter the house now you wouldn't hear silence, I have been sniffling and sporadically breaking into my ugly cry all morning. For better or worse, my life is defined by my kids. The night before my maternity leave was to end when we had Mitchell, I can remember curling into a fetal position beside his crib and calling Tim, who was away working at the time and hysterically crying. The woman I had picked to come babysit our baby just didn't seem good enough, I didn't want to leave my baby with her, and I was in a total panic. I don't remember exactly what Tim said, but I remember him just being soothing and saying that it was okay, we would work it out, I wouldn't go back to work. And for the majority of the last 17 years that's what we have done, I have stayed home with the kids to be here for them as much as possible. It doesn't work for everyone, and in those earlier years we really did without a lot of things and some years it felt like we barely made ends meet. But we did it.
After moving out here to Fort McMurray, I did take some full time jobs those first two years. First so we could get a mortgage and then because I loved working for the local newspaper. But when we decided that it wasn't a good fit for our family, I was surprised at how happy the boys were that I would be home again to get them off to school and greet them when they came in the door. And then we decided to adopt Shayleen. In some ways the last five years we may have paid more attention to her in some ways. It felt like we had to make her stronger for when she would go out into the world, and with all the kids we wanted them to never doubt how much they are loved.
So this morning, Mitchell and Nathanial kissed me good-bye and told me to not worry and to have some fun today. And then they got in the truck to drive themselves to school. Shortly after I buckled Shayleen into the car and drove her for her first day. On the way she reminded me that this was only temporary, as she wants to get on the bus. And then she hugged me and said, "See you after school mom." Tim and I always wanted them to grow up to be strong minded, and independent thinkers, but now that they are stepping away from us I just want to grab them and hold them close and keep them a little longer.
When I was pregnant with Mitchell I kept a calendar and I marked off the days until he was due. In the back I wrote down some notes about milestones in his life, like first birthday, first year of school, and I also marked down that in 2014-15 he would be graduating and leaving home. And here I am, starting that year. I have always been one that has never taken my kids for granted, nor the time that I have been able to spend with them. They are my pride and joy. And while I am pretty sad this morning, I am so proud of them and the young people they have become.
Tim, we did okay, it wasn't easy all the time, but I still thank you for always supporting my decision to stay home with our children. And thanks in advance for all the times you will have to listen to me weep this year as we prepare to watch Mitchell leave the nest and really go off to make his way in the world.
I am a bit more emotional this morning because I am also thinking of our dear friends, Mel and Rick. Their son Drew was in a terrible car accident on the weekend and they are in Edmonton with him. When Shayleen first came to us, we didn't know how long she would be with us, but we fell in love right away. And then she was very sick and in the hospital in Edmonton. Many asked how I could leave my "real kids" to be with her down there, and some said I was becoming too attached. Not Mel. I remember her calling me late one night and totally dismissing me when I started justifying why I was there instead of home with the boys. "You are right where you need to be, that little girl needs you Verna, and you love her, so you need to be there for her or you wouldn't forgive yourself." Mel always got me...we moved West from Nova Scotia in the same year and while our sons had brought us together through their friendship, it was our connection that has grown and stayed strong. She is one of those friends that no matter how much time goes by we can still pick up right where we left off. She was the only person who drove all the way to Edmonton when Shayleen was in the hospital, on my birthday to see us. She is the ultimate mom, and my heart is breaking that she, Drew, Rick and her daughter Ally are all suffering now. So this morning, I would ask for your prayers for her family. I can't stop thinking of them all, and can't wait to see Mel later this week. I would give anything if she could be sending her kids off to school this morning like I am lucky enough to do. So for Mel, I will not wallow this morning, I will do what she would want, and I will make the best of the day, and I am thinking of all my "mom" friends, and I hope that you all have a wonderful day too.


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The day ran smoothly and professionally, with Seniors arriving first, prior to their away game, followed by other club members from youth and women's rugby age groups 14- 35, along with some sporty siblings. This was all made possible by Debbie and Paul Cragg, whose son Matt was a Cobham player for many years and who unfortunately passed away in 2014. They wanted to use some of the Charity funds they and others have raised over the past few years for a good cause. Half of the money raised has been used for research, which CRY aIso engages in. I would like to thank them both on behalf of Cobham for allowing the screening event to happen.
Dino Adams


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Training & Coaching Center
The expectations of today's consumer are greater than ever. They want the most competent and skilled agent, market data, information fast and communication. In addition, you have to deliver marketing expertise, negotiation skills and home enhancement skills. As the expectation levels of the consumer continue to rise, the responsibility to continually grow in your skills and knowledge are critical. Are you committed to be the most competent and skilled agent that provides the highest quality experience for your clients? RE/MAX Ultimate we can assist in taking your career to the next level. We are committed to your growth as a REALTOR® and person. We want you to "achieve the ultimate" whether you are interested in an individual career or building a successful "Team" and show you how to conduct a rewarding and profitable business, not just sell real estate. All this enables you to focus your positive energy on what you do best - establish a market presence and represent more buyers and sellers in the most professional manner. We apply our knowledge of the real estate industry, digital technology and marketing to make increasing your business, our business. If you want to be the "best", you need to be with the best.
Let's take a look specifically at what we can do together to move your career forward.
For decades, The RE/MAX Ultimate Realty's associate development training programs have been a trademark of our company's success; admired and emulated by many brokerages. RE/MAX Ultimate Realty has on approach and caring for our business partners success has started or advanced their successful real estate careers.
With programs designed to lift our associates and with advanced programs for the seasoned pro, including Commercial real estate, RE/MAX Ultimate Realty associates can attend live professional trainings at either our formal training centers at branch locations or streamed online. We believe that the delivery of the information is as important as the material – each program is taught by our leadership team led by Gerald McGiverin, Mark Ianni, Rose Bertucci and the owner of the company Tim Syrianos.
Additionally, RE/MAX Ultimate Realty never hesitates to presents many of the Top national real estate trainers for company wide programs, further enhancing our internal training.
We will have then all the trainers courses on the are already on our web site
Ultimate Path to Success - For associates seeking to "get back to the basics" to build a solid foundation, or empower their business to achieve the next level, the RE/MAX Ultimate Path to Success Program offers ongoing classes throughout the entire year. "Ultimate Path to Success" immerses sales associates into the daily functions and responsibilities of a real estate professional. The high intensity classroom curriculum is combined with mentored field training and real life scenarios workshops. Accountability is the foundation of any successful mentoring program. Our Sales Training is "hands on" instead of a "lecture" or video using real life stories.
Part of our Ultimate Path to Success is our Success Coaching - the most important aspect of the RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Training Program. Less than 20% of real estate associates have a business plan. RE/MAX Ultimate Realty believes without a detailed business plan to answer key questions about your business and provide you with a platform for future growth, success in real estate becomes much more difficult. Our real estate coaching and business planning outlines and evaluates all aspects of your real estate business and establishes a specific roadmap and process on how you will achieve your goals. A good business plan starts with your "Wish List" i.e. how much you wish to earn, and then guides you through the process of examining the key aspects of generating positive income: Revenue, Expenses and Business Development. RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Real Estate Sales Associates who apply basic business planning principles to their real estate practice are almost always more successful.
Commercial Training - We are committed to the provide the absolute best tools and services for our fast growing Commercial Division. Our commercial training includes an array of special seminars for both the experienced commercial specialist and those wanting to enter the commercial real estate field.
If you have any questions or would like more information about anything please Contact Us today.
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We understand that your interest in exploring a career with RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Inc Brokerage should remain private and confidential. After submitting your information, you will be contacted by our Recruiting Associate who will answer any questions and coordinate a priority interview with you.
Read More...


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A Stark County grand jury has indicted the following on criminal charges:
• Aaron Marlon White, 18, 2021 Holland Court S.W., Canton, burglary, breaking and entering, grand theft
• Brian Robert Dye, 33, 1603 34th St. N.E., Canton, illegal cultivation of marijuana, trafficking in marijuana, possession of marijuana
• Robert Joseph Dempsey, 36, 7727 Stuhldreher St. N.W., Jackson Township, possession of cocaine
• Jeremy Robert Wright, 28, 2652 Spade Road, Uniontown, failure to comply, operating a vehicle impaired, driving under an OVI suspension
• Jennifer Lynn Stutler, 31, 2505 Berkshire Drive S.W., Canton, possession of cocaine
• Gary Michael Knorzer, 52, 5730 Sherbourne Drive S.W., Canton, petty theft, two counts
• Reginald Walker Neill, 38, 120 Main St. W., Alliance, grand theft
• Louis Gregory Rainieri, 22, 544 Briarcliff, Alliance, petty theft
• Brad Royce Ladd, 28, 77 31st St., Barberton, burglary
• Jessie B. McKnight, 47, 1692 Bryden Road, Columbus, notice of change of address
• Deshon Lamar Pritchard, 18, 621 High Ave. S.W., Canton, robbery
• Robert Henry Marks, 50, 5870 Louisville St. N.E., Apt. 1, Canton, operating a vehicle impaired (with repeat OVI offender specification)
• Stephen Cephas Clayton, 34, 14 Central Court S.W., Massillon, assault
• Albert Raymond Burson, 31, 2021 16th St., Canton, trafficking in marijuana, illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana
• Daniel Lee Frame, 26, 210 Taff Circle, Louisville, domestic violence, two counts
• Justin Lee Perine, 22, 2520 Harrisburg Road N.E., Canton, kidnapping, endangering children (with two repeat violent offender specifications)
• Jessica Marie Jones, 19, 1402 Freed Court S.E., Canton, possession of cocaine
• Seirgio Lamar-Lewis Kindell, 20, 1441 Rachel St. N.W., No. 107, Canton, aggravated possession of drugs
• Orlando Maceba Pringle, 20, 210 Main St. W., Alliance, trafficking in marijuana, two counts
• Ivy Nakia-Marie Wilburn, 23, 1706 15th St. S.W., Canton, possession of cocaine
• Charlene Sue Shaw, 57, 14101 Murphy Valley Road, Newcomerstown, theft
A Stark County grand jury found insufficient evidence to indict the following:
• Denise Joy Reighard, 28, 1117 Park Ave. S.W., Canton, deception to obtain dangerous drugs
• Joanie Kay Hill, 49, 1117 Park Ave. S.W., Canton, deception to obtain dangerous drugs
• Caleb Robert Hrusch, 18, 656 Parks Ave. S.E., Paris, complicity to theft
• Sirverry Spencer Wright, 21, 800 Alan Page Drive, Canton, possession of drugs
• Bernard Jerome Robinson, 48, 421 Lucinda S.W., Canton, possession of cocaine
• James Ray Massey Sr., 53, 3115 30th St. N.E., Canton, felonious assault
• Fanniecia Marae Brewer, 18, 702 18th St. N.W., Canton, receiving stolen property
• Teraessa Renae Brenner, 25, 2215 40th St. N.W., Canton, aggravated possession of drugs, deception to obtain dangerous drugs
• Randy Lee Stamm, 44, 1005 Schneider Road N.E., Canton, domestic violence
• Staci Marie Smith, 24, 1706 15th St. S.W., Canton, permitting drug abuse
• Christopher James Terry, 20, 602 Raynolds Ave. S.W., Canton, failure to comply
• Antoine Travelle Jackson, 34, 1012 Ninth St. N.W., Canton, aggravated robbery, two counts, gross sexual imposition
• Candace Marie George, 21, 1435 Sara Ave., Akron, taking identity of another
Grand jury to decide possible charges in group home death
A Stark County grand jury has indicted the following on criminal charges:


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|Includes: Laptop Messenger Bag (City Map Print), International SMASH Journal (with three other SMASH items), a GoToob (a new way to travel with liquids, awesome!), $10 Starbucks gift card, Vera Bradley travel jewelry box, Wet Ones and Cottenelle Wipes (must have always!), first aid kit, Coleman soap sheets (so handy), a Schick Intuition razor, yummy 3-pack of spearmint gum, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 book, a waterproof bag (perfect for your electronics/camera while boating, camping or just walking in the rain), a cool journal, a year's subscription to Budget Travel magazine, Hendrick's Gin playing cards and drink recipe book (an ode to my favorite travel games and craft cocktails) and a year's subscription to the website Workaway.info.
- Comment on this post with your name and something you like about the blog or something you'd like to see more of in the future. (Yes, you can do both if you'd like.)
- Follow the blog with Google Friend Connect (to the right). This will earn you an additional entry in the drawing. (If you have a different username than your actual name [Example: Google user name = Boongal46, real name = Sally] , let me know that when you comment is so I can count it.)
- The drawing will be held on Sunday, September 25th, at 10pm (Central Time) so you don't have long!
- The winner will be announced on Monday, September 26th!


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During the last 10 to 15 years, one of the major foundational developments in game theory, decision theory, and economic theory has been modeling asymmetric unawareness. Decision makers may not just lack information in a standard sense but may also not conceive of some relevant aspects of decision problems. The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics is inviting contributions for publication in a special section on modeling unawareness and its applications to economics and finance. We anticipate a timely editorial process with highly competent reviewers.
Submission deadline: December 15, 2018
Electronic submission: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/dgbejte
Select "unawareness special issue" and mention the special issue in your submission letter.
Special section editor: Burkhard Schipper, University of California, Davis
The inaugural issue of the Journal of Mechanism and Institution Design has recently been published. The journal – based at the University of York and edited by a team of 52 leading experts from all over the world – is an open-access, independent, peer-reviewed, non-profit, English-language journal with the purpose of disseminating and sharing the latest knowledge and understanding of the subject widely. It aims to publish original articles that deal with the issues of designing, improving, analyzing and testing economic, financial, political, or social mechanisms and institutions. It is free of charge to the authors and the readers and open-access to everyone.
Please visit its website http://www.mechanism-design.org/ for further information.
Guest Editors:
Maurizio Falcone, Universita di Roma "La Sapienza", email@example.com
Herbert Dawid, Bielefeld University, email@example.com
Dynamic Games (DG) offer a natural paradigm to study numerous problems in different areas ranging from economics and management science to engineering and social sciences. Realistic models in these fields are in general analytically intractable, and their treatment requires the use of numerical methods to obtain reliable approximate optimal strategies for the players, which can be implemented in a reasonable amount of time.
In 2017 Dynamic Games and Applications will publish a special issue on the subject, focused in particular on the following topics:
- Analysis of approximation schemes for DG;
- Constructive approaches to Cooperative and Noncooperative DG;
- Open-loop and closed loop equilibria;
- DG with multiple stable steady-states;
- Fast and parallel methods for DG;
- Numerical methods for hybrid and multi-mode DG;
- Numerical methods for Mean Field Games;
- Numerical treatment of DG applications in different fields, e.g., economics, management science, finance, social dynamics (consensus, flocking, swarming, etc.), engineering, communication, electric power markets and networks.
The special issue welcomes submissions from theoreticians as well as applied researchers.
Submission Deadline: December 15th, 2015
Publication Date: March 2017 (issue 1 of Volume 7 of DGAA)
Earlier submission is encouraged, and papers will appear online following acceptance in advance of the production of the full special issue.
For submission instructions, please visit:
The International Journal of Game Theory (IJGT) encourages submissions of significant papers in Combinatorial Game Theory, and has invited Aviezri Fraenkel to its Editorial Board to deal with these submissions.
IJGT, founded in 1971, has a long tradition of publishing papers in game theory with significant mathematical content. Combinatorial Game Theory has developed into a field with advanced mathematical and computational complexity techniques and a number of challenging open questions, where new results will nicely fit with and complement the scope of IJGT.
Combinatorial games are typically two-player games with perfect information and "win", "lose", and "draw" or "tie" as possible outcomes, and an underlying mathematical structure. This is in contrast to games involving chance and lack of information such as Poker, which are central to "classical" game theory.
A basic combinatorial game is Nim, given by a number of heaps of chips where players alternately remove some chips from one of those heaps, and the last player to move wins. Over a century ago, it was shown how to play Nim optimally using the binary representation of the heap sizes. This method can be extended to "impartial" games where the available moves from any position do not depend on the player to move. An important algebraic structure is the "sum" of games where a player can move in one of several independent parts of the game. Such decompositions are important, for example, to improve algorithms for playing endgames of the board game Go where humans still highly outperform computers.
Recent progress in Combinatorial Game Theory concern difficult questions on partizan (not impartial) games such as chess, misère play (where the last player to move loses) and interactions of game tokens, both of which conflict with the "sum" of games, and computational hardness questions.
The classical book on combinatorial games is "Winning ways" by Berlekamp, Conway, and Guy from 1982, recently republished. More recently (2007) the reader-friendly enticing textbook "Lessons in Play" was produced by Albert, Nowakowski and Wolfe; and now (2013) also the authoritative graduate text "Combinatorial Game Theory" by Aaron Siegel. As shown by Conway, all two-player games can be constructed by a simple Dedekind-reminiscent cut, with a rich mathematical theory. All real numbers are a subset of the set of all games. Many challenging questions concern the computational complexity of optimal play, given a particular game specification.
Given the advanced development and mathematical depth of Combinatorial Game Theory, its significant papers will be a welcome contribution to IJGT. We hope that IJGT will be considered as the premier publication outlet by the Combinatorial Game Theory community.
1 July 2011
Shmuel Zamir, Editor, and
Bernhard von Stengel, Co-Editor of IJGT
For further information and questions, please contact Bernhard von Stengel at email@example.com
Guest Editors:
Martin Dufwenberg (University of Arizona) and
Amrish Patel (University of East Anglia)
Psychological Game Theory is a formal framework for studying strategic interaction when players have belief-dependent motivations. The framework was first introduced by Geanakoplos, Pearce and Stacchetti (1989, GEB) and further developed by Battigalli and Dufwenberg (2009, JET). It has proved useful in modelling intentions-based reciprocity (the pioneer application, due to Rabin 1993, AER), emotions (e.g. anger, guilt, regret, disappointment, anxiety) and concern with the opinion of others (e.g. social respect).
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization (JEBO) will publish a special issue which aims to gather frontier related research. Relevant topics include:
- basic theory,
- experimental tests,
- applied work, and
- reflections on the field.
Submission deadline: 31st January 2018.
For further details and submission instructions see the journal website.
The issue is expected to appear in the third quarter of 2018.


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Offered for sale with a no vendor chain is this recently refurbished two double bedroomed semi-detached bungalow situated in the popular and sought after village of Tickhill within easy reach of local amenities and public transport links.
The property benefits from gas central heating and double glazing.
The accommodation comprises an entrance hallway and lounge which is fitted with a modern wall mounted log effect electric fire.
In the kitchen is a range of cream modern shaker style wall and base units plus a built-under Belling electric oven and ceramic five ring hob.
There are two double bedrooms, and a bathroom fitted with a white low level suite with Triton T80 electric shower over the bath with glazed shower screen. The front of the property has wrought iron gates which allow vehicular access to the semi-detached garage with electric roller door.
The front and rear gardens are predominantly laid to lawn and there is a cobbled stone patio area and a selection of mature trees, plus a tap and security lighting.
* Wong Lanek, Tickhill - £185,000, contact Dunstan Doncaster 01709 864414.


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An entertainer decided to find out what would happen if he posed as someone begging but tried to give money TO people instead of asking them for money. Here's the video that has already gathered millions of views and tens of thousands of comments.
Comments question whether putting people in a situation where they suspect something is wrong shows their true character, and reactions to how the last encounter was handled are mixed.
Regardless, the video does raise some questions about the culture of giving and the culture of expectation. Would you accept money from a stranger in a situation like this? Why or why not? Do you give money to strangers? Why or why not?
The practice of giving to people who ask for it on the street has prompted a lot of discussion. Some say that the financial support allows them to continue in an unhealthy lifestyle. Others say that giving is beneficial to both the giver and the receiver. Some people have rules about how and when they give. Others are more spontaneous, giving when they feel moved.
Here are some links to read more on the matter:
This piece in the Atlantic explains concerns about giving cash directly: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/03/should-you-give-money-to-homeless-people/72820/
This writer explains why he gives: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-i-give-money-to-homeless-people-2014-10
This blogger believes that your responsibility for what happens when you give money doesn't end when it leaves your possession: http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/2013/08/should-people-give-money-to-panhandlers.html
Christianity Today tackled the issue from a Christian perspective: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/january/18.60.html
This site suggests ways to help people who are homeless: https://www.justgive.org/donations/help-homeless.jsp


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So I have a new job.
No, I haven't stopped teaching.
In summer, Renée forwarded an email from a former BTL teacher to the current BTL teachers – she knew someone who needed some help with a few hours of admin work a week, and said it might suit a teacher that needed to make extra money. I sent in my resumé, but never heard anything.
Yesterday, I received the reply: an email from Amanda, asking me to call her.
Flash forward to today: I finished my one BTL class for the day at 11:15 and didn't have anything on until my private class at 3:00. So I decided to have a bath. I lathered on a green clay face mask while the water was running. I was about to hop in when my phone rang.
I ran to get it – it was Amanda. "Hull. . . ?" I answered, realising that my mask had stiffened and I could barely open my mouth.
"Hi Jolie? It's Amanda," she said as I frantically stretched my jaw to crack the clay.
"Hi," I replied, sounding semi-normal.
We chatted about her situation, my abilities and my availabilities (as of next week I have Mondays and Thursdays off). "So, do you have any time this afternoon, or do you want to start next week?"
"I have a class at three, but I could meet you before then," I said. We agreed to meet in an hour.
I took a marathon bath and jumped on the metro to Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre. Amanda ended up being a lovely American woman going through a divorce and needing help putting five years worth of bank statements into a spreadsheet.
Her apartment is beautiful – actually in the Palais Royal, the ceilings must have been at least twelve feet high. The rooms were large with moulded walls and hardwood floors and the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the enclosed gardens of the Palais (fact of the day– Philippe-Egalitié opened the garden to the public but forbade the police. It thus became a place of liberty where artists and intellectuals gathered). It may be the largest apartment I've ever seen in Paris – I didn't know that people actually lived in places like that!
The work was really simple, so I'm not sure if she really needs someone, but she seemed to be happy with the amount we got done. I'm not complaining – with this work and my private students, it looks like I'll do quite well this month after all.


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Although Windows Phone OS has existed in the market for quite a long time, people rarely choose WP phones. When they consider the quality and quantity of WP apps, they find the apps are nowhere near the quality of quantity of Android or iOS. As to Nokia, it has finally released smartphones that can compete with the leaders, but now has to play catchup and has had only marginal success so far.
Nokia's phone operating system, Symbian, has been discontinued and is not longer a factor in the marketplace. Instead of producing an Android phone, Nokia joined with Microsoft to produce Windows Phones. However, when Nokia while Nokia has dedicated itself to Windows Phone and produced the Numia 920, Microsoft is now rumored to be about to launch its own Surface smartphone.
Compared to Android and iOS, Windows Phone has been unable to get a significant share of the smartphone marketplace. Before the release of the Lumia 920 last year, Apple's iPhone and Android smartphones combined had 87% market share in the US while Windows Phone only took up a about 2%.
Will Microsoft Surface smartphone be a threat to Nokia? Many people think so. If MS releases its own Surface smartphone, most analysts believe it will be taking market share away from it's own partner, Nokia.
However, we can also view it from another angle. Compared to Android and iOS, the Windows Phone market is still new and a strong leader can influence the direction it goes. Instead of a rival, Microsoft is more like a new member in WP camp, which is able to make WP market bigger and better together with Nokia and other WP manufacturers. and other WP manufacturers.


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West Kendall
Kendall veteran gets stolen wallet back with treasured heirloom
A Vietnam veteran got his wallet back from the person who stole it a month ago.
On Oct. 5, David Shupe, 69, was shopping at a Publix in the Hammocks area of West Kendall when he misplaced his wallet in the produce section.
Surveillance video at the store showed a woman finding it and paying for her groceries with the wallet in hand.
The wallet contained $3,000, which Shupe withdrew from his bank account to wire to his pregnant daughter in North Carolina. He was not as concerned with the money as he was with a gift inside the wallet: his late grandmother's angel pin, which she gave to him before he left for the battlefield.
On Nov. 8, Shupe got his wallet back.
"Lo and behold, the lady showed up at my house this morning, 7:30, with the billfold," he said Saturday. "I immediately took out the angel and I was happy. I didn't look at the money or nothing else, I was just so happy to have the angel back in my hand, my heart was light."
Shupe said the woman told him she couldn't locate him to give it back and asked if he was going to press charges against her.
He said he does not plan to press charges, but will communicate with police Monday.
"I have my angel back, I'm happy," Shupe said.


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Eric – when I read your entries – I hear the sounds, see the colors, smell the smells, and vicariously live through your words. Thank You.
Chop Wood, Manage Water
As you know, the so-called Frankenstorm lurched its way through the Northeast early this week. On Sunday night, I awoke to the sounds of wind swirling around my window casings, howling Dickens-esque about the ghosts of Christmas future – a.k.a. the weather on our planet in years to come.*
At dawn, we weatherproofed ourselves as best as possible and headed to soggy fields to harvest spinach. The work was slow, thanks to the frost damaged leaves that we had to sort from healthy ones while we played tug of war with a stiff wind intent on reuniting our harvest with the surrounding fields. By afternoon, we retreated to warmth and tea in the farmhouse for a tree ID lesson while the power switched off then on then back off again.
We were well-prepared for the storm. Cows and sheep were pastured near open barns, we filled pots of water in the event of an extended power outage. But in the end, Hurricane Sandy delivered her worst elsewhere, saving a special streak of cruelty for an unlucky Barred Rock hen that we found the next morning stuck upside down in a stack of milled lumber. She'd probably been tossed there by the wind and couldn't right herself for close to 24 hours. Once freed, she zig-zagged across the lawn before indignantly fluffing herself and glaring at the once-again normal world – I'm guessing not unlike many folks in New York.
Our fields of freshly planted garlic slept peacefully inside their dirt bunkers, none-the-wiser to the stormy conditions above. Luckily, the rain started out soft and steady, which primed the dirt like a damp sponge so it could handle the deluge that came later. After the storm, one of our growers, Tyson, unearthed a garlic clove to reveal impressive inch-long roots. Some marshy spots in our fields flooded, a tree fell on bunkhouse, but all in all, we weathered this one just fine.
* * * *
Our daily chores begin on the farm around 6 am. Some of us are assigned to cattle, others to sheep or pigs or preparing breakfast for the group. But the most coveted chore is milking. When I reach for an iconic image of farming, I see a weathered man hunched over on a stool next to his prized milking cow. And this relationship – man with milk beast – goes back eons.
According to one book I'm reading, people in the Sinai region of Egypt were using fences to confine, breed and milk antelope more than ten thousand years ago. In Spain, traditional houses were designed around and over the cow stalls to take advantage of their considerable body heat. And in early American history, small-town churches could only serve a radius wide enough to accommodate the parishioners' twice-daily milking schedule. All of this has changed of course, as we have traded in our agrarian lifestyles for the pursuit of a consumer-driven economy, but these roots can still be found at the epicenter of capitalism in this country. Cows are the original "stock" in the Stock Market. And in the middle of the concrete corral that is Manhattan, a golden bull presides over Wall Street as a symbol of America's economic strength – (all commentary on the sensibility of our economy withstanding.)
Happily for me, this was my week to cash in on our own $1500 piece of stock – a pretty little 5-year-old milking Jersey named Patience (and Dina's other True Love).
Before Farm School, I'd never spent any time at the business end of a cow, so fumbling around in between Patience's legs felt intimate and mildly inappropriate at first. On top of that, our initial milking 'dates' took place during the height of a howling storm that forced a dozen pushy, curious sheep inside to share our milking stall. During our first 36 hours together, Patience stood tensely in the stanchion with her ears pinned back and wouldn't touch her usually irresistible hay rations.
We were horribly slow milkers. At the start I dribbled about as much milk down my arms and as I actually got in the bucket. And none of us could figure out the mystery of her left-front teat, which never filled and never fully emptied. As a result we missed a fair share of breakfasts.
It did get better, though. By midweek, I could feel the moment when her milk would drop and eventually we settled into a rhythm, Patience chewing placidly, me with my forehead head pinned to her flank. I began to anticipate when she was going knock over the milk bucket or swipe a poop encrusted tail across my face. We learned that when she shifts back and forth, tapping the inside of her hooves together like a little girl, this is the signal to back up, cover our noses and find a shovel.
When my final morning of milking arrived, Patience walked over to the stanchion unprompted and obediently poked her head through the narrow bars. I locked her in and rested my hand on the broad spot between her trusting eyes and recognized my gratitude for being in sync with a thousand-pound animal. With the gentle sound of rain, the rhythmic chewing of hay and the alternating hiss, hiss streams of milk raising froth in the bottom of the bucket, I wondered if we both somehow appreciated the stillness of the blue predawn darkness.
For the rest of the week we belonged to Chainsaw Bill, a tree-cutting savant who nails the role of the 'classic New England logger'. He's broken his nose ten times. We suspect his real name is Chainsaw and since he never joined us for lunch, I half-jokingly think he must have been off trimming his rapidly growing beard.
We spent three days with him learning how to safely turn trees into logs. We also learned the myriad of ways one can kill and disfigure oneself with a single misstep (there are MANY). I made the mistake of passing some of Chainsaw Bill's horror stories onto Dina, who promptly declared any forest on our future farm would be managed as an old growth stand and that we would cut no tree taller than ten feet.
Now I'm heading back to the farm after a brief city visit, complete with sushi and soft beds and dinners at home. I'm looking forward to the week ahead: trying my hand at the art of timber framing and fighting with the new ram, 'Marbles,' (who knocked down three students last year). I'm not ready for earlier sunsets and for scant sleep.
But by weeks end we'll have traveled one-week closer to our someday farm.
More photos from the week can be found HERE.
*Thanks for the reference, professor Kate.
3 comments
Great story about milking your cow! Loved the progression from unknown territory to familiarity with her. Very tender and real. Also impressed with the garlic roots and spinach leaves and delighted to hear that the farm weathered Sandy without too much trauma with the exception of that very blessed chicken. You take care and know we are thinking of you and Dina all the time.
Love, Lynne
I look forward to your blog each week and following the rhythms and routines of farm life. Thanks for sharing your experiences.


text:
In this custom, I tease poor married Martin only to deny him. See, I have a homewrecking fetish. I enjoy ruining marriages. I love putting those vows to the test. Are you strong enough to hold on to that commitment or is it so easily destroyed with the temptation of a blowjob from your sexy new neighbor? A flick of my tongue on your cock and you're in heaven! I'm drooling on your cock, bad mouthing you wife, dirty talking you to make your cock even harder. You're on edge, about to explode in my warm wet mouth, when I DENY you. Fool! You think I wanted you? Smile for the camera! What I enjoy more than homewrecking Martin, is blackmail. From this point on, if you want to stay married to your wife, you'll need to keep me quiet. In order to do that you'll be paying my bills and buying me clothes this day forward. Poor sad, pathetic Martin.
Includes: Blackmail Fantasy, Blowjobs, Bra Fetish, Cock Tease, Dildo Sucking, Dirty Talk, Femdom POV, Financial Domination, Handjobs, Home Wrecker


text:
Series: Forbidden Vikings #2
Publication Date: 21st January 2014
Pages: 288
Book Source: Harlequin & NetGalley
Karen's Thoughts:
It was refreshing to read a story that was a little different to the usual arranged marriage storyline. Most of the historical romances involving arranged marriages that I've read, involve the married couple not wanting the arrangement but growing to love each other, where as it was the reverse in To Tempt a Viking.
Guest review by Karen


text:
"4 Ten Dollar banknotes" ltd edition screenprint by Richard Pendry
Seven colour screenprint by Richard Pendry with clear varnish overprint and metallic silver ink.
Group of four banknote designs for the fictional "International Bank of Popular Culture" series featuring Jimi Hendrix, Prince, James Brown and Nina Simone.
Limited edition of 50. Print measures 50x70cm. Numbered and signed by the artist.
Free shipping on UK orders. (This print is sold unframed)
4 in stock


text: Hi, > I see that statd and mountd start at random port. Is there any way to > force it to start at specific port each time. The '-p ' option would > work, but how do I configure it to start at specific port number each > time. I mean where do statd and mountd look for default configuration > options? Any clues? look into the init scripts /etc/init.d/nfs (for mountd) and /etc/init.d/nfslock (for statd). Both scripts source the file /etc/sysconfig/nfs. There you can set the variables MOUNTD_PORT and STATD_PORT (among others). Chris


text:
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The thing I wished for didn't really make me happy. Now I kind of feel bad for the kid
I've written before about my disdain for Caillou, the sickly looking character on PBS Kids. Junior loves him; I feel nauseous whenever I see him. The life depicted on the TV show is sickeningly sweet. Yes, it's a kid's show but do people really giggle incessantly over nothing? Does the family ever have a bad day?
Apparently, yes. Caillou and his family do have crappy days—in their print lives. "Caillou Hurry Up!" features a leaner and meaner Mommy and Daddy. In fact a more apt title for "Caillou Hurry Up!" might be "Mommy and Daddy Resent You, Caillou, Because We are Tired and Overworked."
Without boring you, a quick synopsis: Mommy and Daddy oversleep. Mom tells Caillou to eat breakfast. The damn cat knocks over a plant. Dad yells at Caillou to get dressed then shoves the cat outside.
On the way to get dressed, Mom screams at Caillou for not eating breakfast. Then, tragedy strikes: younger sister Rosie is sick. Mom has to drag her to grandma's so she can go to work. Caillou tries to liberate the cat. Daddy loses his shit on Caillou for not eating or getting dressed and—horrors—wanting to go to grandma's too.
Caillou cries. Daddy apologizes and says he's tired, blah, blah, blah. Mom pours her Screwdriver into her travel mug and whisks Caillou off to daycare. The end.
With each page turn, I grew more depressed. Where were the giggles and hearts I so despised but Junior so craved?
Save the whales!
I felt I needed to give Junior a post-story recap.
"Look," I told him, "it's not Caillou's fault his parents woke up in pissy moods because they can't properly set their alarm clock. And it's perfectly reasonable he'd want to protect the poor cat and go to his grandmother's. He's four. Everything about his behavior is normal for a child. The morning's derailment is Caillou's parents' fault, not Caillou's."
Junior said he understood, but when he wasn't looking I hid the book under the couch cushion.
I tried to understand why I was so bothered. Why did I care so much about a creepy, hairless kid? Then it hit me. The story reminds me of what I hear in grocery store parking lots and on playgrounds and at daycare and pre-school drop-offs every day, which is: WE ARE IN A HURRY. MOVE IT. COME ON! GET IN THE CAR. GET OUT OF THE CAR. HURRY UP. I SAID NOW.
Just yesterday I watched a mother slap her son for shouting good-bye to his friend from his carseat because "We have to get going, Bradley!" This morning, as Junior and I walked into pre-school, a mother threatened to leave her crying daughter in the parking lot because "I'm going to be late for work, Cassandra! HURRY UP."
This hurry-up-or-else mentality is kind of horrible, and it's kind of prevalent.
I can't help but wonder what would happen if we slowed down for a minute and really looked at what our children are asking of us while we're doing all this yelling. That little boy in the carseat was excited to say good-bye to his friend. That little girl just wanted to spend more time with her mother. Stupid Caillou just wanted to save his fugly cat.
Now I don't know, maybe Bradley yells from his carseat 24-7, and his mom has had it. Or maybe Cassandra cries and dawdles in the parking lot every morning, and her mother has had it. I've certainly lost my patience because Junior is taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R to walk to the car. And I'm certainly not suggesting we put life on hold to meet our children's every whim...
...But it seems that there are a lot of people who are perpetually pissed off at their kids because they're a hindrance to their busy schedules, and the bottom line is that it's not the kid's fault.
(Did I mention I really hated "Caillou Hurry Up!"?)
I'm making a conscious effort to hurry Junior less. I really am. If you'd hurry up and comment, DAMMIT, I'd know how you feel, too. I MEAN NOW. YOU'RE MAKING US LATE.
20 comments:
- Getrealmommy said...
I love and hate this post. Love it because it is funny and you make a very good point. Hate it because I think you are talking about me. I find myself in this situation too often, getting frusterated with slow poke kids because I'm on a grown-up schedule.... bummer.
- October 7, 2010 at 9:53 PM
- VandyJ said...
I say hurry up all the time. But I get reminded to stop and look at all kinds of things I don't normally look at because they are new to Bruiser.
- October 7, 2010 at 10:10 PM
I was one of the few moms I knew who loved Barney. Why? Because at the end of that god-forsaken program, my toddler son would throw himself at me for an I-love-you-you-love-me cuddle.
Maybe now you won't hate Caillou as much as before?
- October 7, 2010 at 11:01 PM
- rachel... said...
I bet it WAS Caillou's fault. I bet he was screwing around with Mommy's clock radio and f@#%ed up the alarm setting.
That's how it works in my house, at least.
- October 7, 2010 at 11:59 PM
- Frogs in my formula said...
It probably was the kid's fault. Lol.
- October 8, 2010 at 7:18 AM
- Lindy said...
Dude - I call bullshit.
It is BECAUSE of my kids that I am always in a hurry. Between high school sports practice, middle school sports practice, Volleyball lessons and Girl Scouts - if I am not in a perpetual state of "go" - I am crashing on the couch and won't be able to get back up.
I don't know *where* they got their "want to be involved" attitudes from. It's freakin killing me!
- October 8, 2010 at 8:22 AM
- heather said...
I hate hearing parents yell at their kids in the store. Why did they have them if they make them so miserable?
- October 8, 2010 at 8:43 AM
- Frogs in my formula said...
Yah, but being busy with kid activities is different than being pissed off at your kids all the time because you need to get to work* or squeeze in grocery shopping or you have zero patience.
*As a working mom I am in no way saying working parents are bigger offenders. I've seen it go down both ways.
- October 8, 2010 at 8:49 AM
- The Mother said...
We moms just aren't perfect, damn it.
If we don't hurry the little ones, the older ones don't get to school on time, and then they get in trouble for something they didn't do.
Or we don't get to work on time, and we have to take our lumps from the boss. Maybe lose our jobs.
It would be so grand if we could live life at the pace of a toddler. Alas, the world doesn't work that way. We have to say "hurry up," and fairly regularly.
Or, we can just put them in the car naked, throw their clothes in after them, and head to school. Trust me, it works.
- October 8, 2010 at 9:07 AM
You know ... is your last 15 minutes of sleep that precious? Just think ... if you (you being universal, not anyone here in particular) just woke up 15 minutes earlier, you'd be far less hurried.
When you're calm and in control, your children feel calm and in control. And think how many squirrels you could feed in 15 minutes. (My kid always wants to feed the squirrels. I generally let her because I don't have anywhere to be that's more important than letting a squirrel starve. lol.)
Of course, even though I work, I don't have to take my kid to daycare. I'm sure that makes a difference. I can't imagine having to wake her up every morning and hurry her to get dressed and eat and all that stuff. :(
And I don't know where this mentality of, "if our kids want to do 14 activities every week, we have to let them do EVERY ONE even if it means we aren't home a single night." Whatever happened to saying, "No, you can't do that. I'm the parent and I'm not going to raise my family amidst chaos and I'm not going to spend my whole life tired because I spend all night every night driving."
- October 8, 2010 at 9:50 AM
- Mama Badger said...
It's a fine balance between having enough time, but not too much time to do things, at our house. When we're rushed because I didn't make enough time, I get pissed at myself. Clearly, my two year old isn't setting the schedule. When we have too much time, and he realizes that he can dawdle, or play a little, then that makes us late, then I get cranky. On perfect days (read: almost never) we have just enough time to get it all in without anyone melting down.
- October 8, 2010 at 10:38 AM
- Keely said...
@marytb: I've tried that 15 minutes. Half an hour, even. My kid STILL manages to dawdle the time away and we end up late.
I think about this a lot. I try really hard not to get irritable - it's not like I'm super invested in my job, after all - but sometimes it's ridiculous the time he can waste. I try to strike a balance. He's a person, after all, but so am I, we just have to work out a compromising agenda.
- October 8, 2010 at 3:05 PM
@ Keely. lol. Yes, I suppose my system has a flaw when dealing with uncooperative people. lol.
- October 8, 2010 at 4:06 PM
- Texan Mama @ Who Put Me In Charge said...
You're so freakin funny.
- October 8, 2010 at 4:29 PM
- Frogs in my formula said...
I'm certainly not suggesting we strive for perfection, nor am I saying we live life at the pace of a toddler. We'd never get anywhere. What I am saying is that if you're constantly barking at your kids to hurry the fuck up, maybe you can make some minor adjustments so you're not pissed off at your kids all the time.
- October 8, 2010 at 7:07 PM
- A Mom on Spin said...
Great post!
And there's even something to be learned from a much-older me who still resents the time my college-aged children take from me. . .
- October 8, 2010 at 7:29 PM
- Nanc Twop said...
Maybe those dawdling toddlers just needed a bit more professional encouragement...
- October 8, 2010 at 11:25 PM
- Kerry said...
This post made me laugh (thanks!) and also really sad (sarcastic: thanks!). I have the same feelings about Caillou. Not a fan. I also hate how his name doesn't looked like it is pronounced. Unless you are French. I am not.
Anyways...the book sounds awful. And those parents! The real ones, not the book ones. I always feel sad too when I hear those things. Like I just want to borrow the kid and give em a big hug. I can not ever imagine talking to my daughter like that no matter how late we are. "Time spent with your kids is never wasted time" right?
- October 9, 2010 at 12:12 AM
- Sparkling said...
Hmm, you hate the TV version of Caillou because it's too rosy and fake but you hate the book because it's too real. Interesting.
- October 9, 2010 at 2:18 PM
- Jenni said...
Look, Caillou is an asshole and we all know it. He's such a frickin whiner.
That aside, I'm totally guilty of rushing Oscar, but I don't even know why.
- October 9, 2010 at 5:21 PM
From night lights to Fortnite: I need like 10,000 more tissues please
I swear, watching your kids grow up is so fucking hard. I thought it would be easier because Chuck and I are cool and hip, despite the...
Yes, I'd like your "nice" haircut please...
I want to write a post about how hard it is to be a parent, but I don't want anyone to think this is a woe-is-me post or a we-parents-ha...
I left work early yesterday. I was walking around like a hunchback because of terrible stomach pains. Then came the fever and chills. I wa...


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Moldavia rivals Transylvania when it comes to rich folklore, natural beauty and astonishing history. Over the past 500 years, history, culture and religious life have molded Iasi, the cultural capital of Moldavia. Iasi boasts an impressive number of Orthodox churches, almost 100, most of them located in the Golden Plateau, representing the nucleus of the city, around which the city developed over the centuries. One of the most famous monuments in the city is the stunning Church of the Three Hierarchs, built in 1639. Another major landmark in Iasi is the neo-gothic Palace of Culture, built between 1900-1926, currently housing the Ethnographic Museum, the Art Museum, and the History Museum of Moldavia. (Iasi Museums)
Nestled in the rolling hills of northern Moldavia is the region of Bucovina, home to one of the world's greatest art treasures: the UNESCO World heritage sites of the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries and featuring colorful exterior frescoes depicting dramatic religious scenes, these richly decorated houses of worships are unique in the world.
The most famous of these, often called "the Sistine Chapel of the East" is Voronet Monastery. Erected in 1438 by Stefan the Great, Voronet's most stunning feature is a Last Judgment fresco painted – as at all the churches – on the exterior façade. The blue paint that has miraculously never faded is known throughout the world as 'Voronet blue'. The artists here worked in isolation, guarding their trade secrets and to this day, the composition of the paint remains a mystery.
Other painted churches not to be missed include Sucevita, with its distinctive greens, and Humor, where the frescoes are predominantly red. Also nearby are,Arbore, Dragomirna, Moldovita and Putna monasteries.
The Painted Monasteries Highlights
Among the most picturesque treasures of Romania are the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (in northeastern Romania). Their painted exterior walls are decorated with elaborate 15th and 16th century frescoes featuring portraits of saints and prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons, and heaven and hell.
Deemed masterpieces of Byzantine Art, these churches are one-of-a-kind architectural sites in Europe. Far from being merely wall decorations, the murals represent complete cycles of religious murals. The purpose of the frescoes was to make the story of The Bible and the lives of the most important Orthodox saints known to villagers by the use of images. Their outstanding composition, elegant outline and harmonious colors blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape.
Visitors to the Painted Monasteries will often witness a nun or a monk beating a long beam with a mallet, tapping out a call to prayer. The tradition started during the siege of Moldavia by the Ottoman Empire when the Turks forbade the ringing of bells. The striking of wooden or metal bars, known as "toaca", replaced the ringing of bells and thus, became a tradition, reinforced by the fact that in times of war, bells were often melted down to make cannons.
Whether you are interested in religion, history, art or architecture, you will be intrigued by the construction and decor — exterior and interior — of these edifices.
The best-preserved are the monasteries in Humor, Moldovita, Patrauti, Probota, Suceava, Sucevita, and Voronet. Another, a small church, is located in the village of Arbore. Seven of the churches were placed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1993. The eighth, Sucevita, is awaiting sanction to be added on the list.
Humor Monastery
Location: Bucovina – Northeastern RomaniaNearby large town: Suceava (25 miles east)Access: car, bus (from Suceva), trainNearest train stations: Gura Humorului
Founded in 1530, Humor (Hoo mor) is rather small physically, but looms large among Bucovina's treasures with a variety of frescoes dating from 1535, including one illustrating the "Return of the Prodigal Son" and one with a "humorous" depiction of the devil as a woman.
The church, topped by a cross-shaped shingled roof, is without a steeple, indicating that it was built by a court official rather than a prince. The predominant hues of the frescoes are reddish brown with some rich blues and green infusions. An extremely valuable collection of icons from the 16th century is displayed in the monastery.
Moldovita Monastery
Location: Bucovina – Northeastern RomaniaNearby large town: Suceava (55 miles southeast)Access: car, train (from Suceava to Vama, 1¼ hours, and from Vama to Vatra Moldovitei, 35 min.)Nearest train station: Vatra Moldovitei hc
The Monastery of Moldovita (Mol do vee" tsa), located in the village of Vatra Moldovitei, was built by Petru Rares in 1532."The Siege of Constantinople" frescoes were inspired by a poem dedicated to the Virgin Mary in thanksgiving for her intervention in saving the city of Constantinople from a Persian attack in A.D. 626. In a wonderful political spin, considering the Ottoman threat to Moldavia in the 1500s, the Siege on the walls of Moldovita Monastery depicts the enemy as turbaned Turks rather than Persians.The predominantly gold and deep blue paintings on the exterior walls were completed in 1537. The large and vivid "Siege of Constantinople" highlights the frescoes.
Another stunning representation depicts the "Tree of Jesse", representing Christ's genealogy, a wide-spread iconographical theme in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Sucevita Monastery
Location: Bucovina – Northeastern RomaniaNearby large town: Suceava (31 miles southeast)Access: car, bus (from Radauti)Nearest train stations: Radauti, Vatra Moldovitei hc
High walls and heavily buttressed defensive towers surround the great monastic complex of Sucevita, giving it the appearance of a fortress. Founded in 1581 by Gheorghe Movila, Bishop of Radauti, it was later expanded by his brother, Ieremia, ruling prince of Moldavia, who added massive ramparts and turrets.
An elegant steeple resting on a star-shaped base tops the church. Massive eaves protect the outside frescoes, painted by local artists in 1602-1604.
Sucevita was the last of the 22 painted churches of Bucovina and has the largest number of painted images.The western exterior wall of the church is not painted. Legend has it that work stopped after one of the painters fell from the scaffolding and died.
Sucevita boasts a magnificent depiction of the "Ladder to Paradise". Red-winged angels in orderly rows attend the righteous on a slanting ladder to the heavens, each rung inscribed with one of the monastic virtues. Sinners fall through the rungs and are driven by grinning devils to the chaos of hell. On the south side, foliage entwines the rows of figures in the "Tree of Jesse". Following it is the "Hymn to the Virgin".
Sucevita was a princely residence as well as a fortified monastery. Today, the thick walls shelter a museum presenting an outstanding collection of historical and art objects. The tomb covers of Ieremia and Simion Movila – rich portraits embroidered in silver thread – together with ecclesiastical silverware, books and illuminated manuscripts, offer eloquent testimony to Sucevita"s importance first as a manuscript workshop, then as a printing center.
Voronet Monastery
Location: Bucovina – Northeastern RomaniaNearby large town: Suceava (20 miles east)Access: car, bus (from Gura Humorului), 3 ½-mile walk from Gura HumoruluiNearest train stations: Gura Humorului
Perhaps the most famous and stunning of the painted monasteries is Voronet (Vo ro nets), founded in 1487 by Stephen the Great to celebrate a victory over the Turks. Widely known throughout Europe as "the Sistine Chapel of the East" due to its interior and exterior wall paintings, this monastery offers an abundance of frescoes featuring an intense shade of blue commonly known as 'Voronet blue.' The composition of the paint continues to remain a mystery even now, more than 500 years after the church was built.
Voronet Monastery was founded by Stephen the Great, ruling prince of Moldavia, to fulfill a pledge to Daniil, a hermit who had encouraged him to chase the Turks from Wallachia. After defeating the Turks, Stephen erected Voronet in less than four months.
Portraits of ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato, are featured in the "Tree of Jesse" fresco.
Added in 1547, the frescoes of this church illustrate biblical scenes, prayers, episodes of sacred hymns and themes such as "The Last Judgment" and "The Ladder of St. John", featuring colorful and detail-rich imagery of apostles, evangelists, philosophers, martyrs, angels and demons.
Monastic life at Voronet was interrupted in 1785 under Habsburg rule. It returned only in 1991 with the arrival of a community of nuns which strives to harmoniously combine a religious life of prayer with housekeeping and farm work. The nuns run a painting workshop and provide guided tours of the monastery for visitors.
Original Fresco-Making Tehniques
Scripture Alfresco
Smithsonian Magazine, June 2007Excerpts of an article by Andrew Curry. Mr. Curry is a Berlin-based journalist and former editor at the Smithsonian.
Creating the frescoes took a sure, quick hand. Teams of four or five painters would first even out the church's rough stone walls with a thick layer of mortar, then smooth on a thin, fine-grained layer of lime plaster mixed with natural fibers such as finely chopped straw. Once the last layer was applied, the artists had only a few hours to work before the plaster dried. Apprentice painters would apply background color and decorations, while faces and hands were reserved for master painters.
A portrait of the donor and his family presenting a miniature version of the church usually appears to the right of the door in the nave of the churches. These painted models are important historical records of the original appearance of the monument.There are no chairs or pews in Orthodox churches, only occasional choir stalls in the nave.
Artists had to be chemists as well, mixing pigments from rare clays, semiprecious stones and common minerals. Azurite and malachite created vivid blues and greens. Ochre from clay was heated to produce reds, yellows and browns. As the plaster dried, it reacted with the mineral pigments, fixing the colors. The technique, which involved no organic materials unlike frescoes that use egg whites as binder, made the colors unusually durable.
Food & Wine
Traditional food
Bean soup, stewed sauerkraut, "parjoale" (the local version of meatballs) or "iahnie" (a dish made of beans), are some of Moldavians' favorite dishes. Standing out among the soups and broths is "ciorba de potroace", made with chicken entrails boiled with carrots, onions, parsley, a spoonful or two of rice and flavored with "bors".
The Moldavian "sarmale" (meat rolls in sauerkraut leaves) are not only very popular in Romania but are also a famous dish served in romanian restaurants around the world. These meatballs, rolled in cabbage or vine leaves, are made from minced pork mixed with rice, salt, pepper, chopped dill and parsley as well as chopped onion; small portions of this mixture are then rolled in cabbage or vine leaves and boiled. The "sarmale" are always accompanied by "polenta", a finely ground yellow cornmeal.
Local deserts include "papanasi" – cottage cheese dumplings (boiled or fried) and "Poale in Brau"(sweet cheese pie).
Other local specialties:Poale-n brau – small pies made from dough, eggs and cheese and fried in oilPasca – a sweet cheesecake
For centuries, Moldavia has been renowned for its vineyards and wines. One third of the wine growing surface of Romania is to be found in this part of the country.
Located in the small village of Cotnari, the Cotnari vineyards are famous for their delicious sweet white wines made of grapes rich in sugar and harvested in late autumn following the first frost. The quality of these wines relies on a combination of rich soil, the late harvest and the presence of a special mold(Botritis cinerea). The vineyards have a long history, spanning over seven centuries, dating from the time of Stephan the Great (1457 – 1504).
The winery's most popular wines include Francusa (dry), Feteasca Alba (semi-sweet) – highly appreciated for preserving the flavor and freshness of the grape; and the sweet, golden Grasa and Tamaioasa dessert wines.
Grasa de Cotnari – A naturally sweet wine with a delicate fragrance and a smooth interplay of fruitiness and acidity.
Tamaioasa Romaneasca – A naturally sweet or semi-sweet white wine with subtle honey and basil aromas, an exquisite amber color and a persistent rich taste. Its sweet taste may also suggest a blend of rose petals and wild berries.


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Frontrunners, beware! This year, overdue stars like Steve Carell ("The Office") and Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") are expected to finally take home Emmys for their efforts. However, these top TV kudos have a history of shocking upsets. James Spader won three Best Drama Actor awards (2004, 2005, 2007) for playing legal eagle Alan Shore on "The Practice" and "Boston Legal" defeating such notable nominees as James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos") and Martin Sheen ("The West Wing"). Last year, "Top Chef" ended the seven-year winning streak of "The Amazing Race" for Best Reality-Competition Series. And in 2007, Katherine Heigl ("Grey's Anatomy") won Best Supporting Drama Actress over a strong field including Lorraine Bracco from "The Sopranos" and her two "Grey's" costars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson.
Emmy Award winners are decided by panels who view sample episodes. Last year, Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") prevailed as Best Drama Actress over Globe and SAG champ Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife") because she submitted a more powerful episode. The real Emmy shockers are when someone wins in spite of a substandard submission. In recent years, the Best Supporting Drama Actress Emmy has gone to a string of women whom pundits had counted out after watching their sample reels, including Archie Panjabi ("The Good Wife"), Cherry Jones ("24") and Dianne Wiest ("In Treatment").
Take a look at the twenty most shocking upsets in the history of the Emmy Awards. VIEW GALLERY
20 most shocking Emmy upsets ever
Slugfest: Video of our editors duking it out over who'll win Best Guest Drama Actor
Slugfest: Video of our editors duking it out over who'll win Best Guest Drama Actress
Let's start to call the Oscars: Give us YOUR PREDICTIONS
Who Do You Predict Will Win the Emmys?


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Washington, D. C., November 8, 1942
Dept. of State Bulletin, November 14, 1941.
In response to questions by the newspaper correspondents at a press conference held on November 8, the Secretary of State said that the people who have been concerned about the Vichy policy of the United States will now be able to see clearly and fully its entire content. He added that liberation of French Morocco by American military forces carries forward the various purposes and objectives of this Government in pursuing its policy toward Vichy. This policy, he said, has been directed toward the ultimate liberation of France from her German captors. The American, British, and Canadian Governments have whole-heartedly favored and supported this policy, he added.
The more important of those purposes, Secretary Hull pointed out, have been: (1) opportunity for the Government of the United States to get from week to week highly important information virtually from the inside of German-controlled territory and from North Africa regarding Axis subversive activities and other important phases of the international situation; (2) the maintenance of close relations with the French people and encouragement of leadership in opposition to Hitlerism wherever it exists; (3) the keeping alive of the basic concepts of freedom of the French people, looking toward ultimate restoration of free institutions for France as they existed before the German occupation; (4) the retention of the closest personal touch on the ground with all phases of the French and German situation under the armistice prevailing between Germany and France; resistance to increased German pressure on France to go beyond the armistice provisions and to collaborate with Germany; constant effort to prevent delivery of the French fleet or any part of it into German military hands or to give military support to German arms; that also includes French bases all along the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast; and (5) last, but most important, paving the way and preparing the background, in the most effective manner possible, for the planning and sending of the military expedition into the western Mediterranean area, and assisting the movements supporting present British operations farther east.


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Children in the Isle will be able to attend a newly created holiday club in Epworth when the half-term holidays start in a couple of weeks' time.
The Skools Out holiday club has been created as an extension of the Skools Out after school club by childminders Tiddleypeeps and Mrs Doubtfires to fill a gap in the local facilities.
The club will operate during every holiday and half-term except for Christmas and will give children a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities aimed at being both constructive and fun.
Skools Out operates from the Children's Centre off Birchfield Road, Epworth and will take children of primary school age from anywhere in the Isle. The club will operate in half-term week from October 26 – 30 running on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5.30pm each day.
Ofsted registered Skools Out will provide the children with hot and cold food three times a day and lots to keep them occupied in the excellent facilities at the centre which includes use of the school field.
Among things already planned are Mini Kicks offering football training and games as well as a visit by Sam's Safari with many different animals from around the world.
Places at the club must be booked in advance and are already filling fast. Full details and registration form are available at the club's website Skools Out


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Florida Legislature intervenes to boost conservative school board members
Through both policy and taxpayer funding during the 2016 session, the Republican-led Legislature subtly gave a leg up to politically conservative school board members in Florida who want greater influence on statewide education policy.
The Legislature's actions show how partisan politics continue to influence education in the Sunshine State, but party ideology is not supposed to infiltrate local school boards.
The Constitution requires school boards to be nonpartisan, so critics are especially concerned by Republican leaders' eagerness to intervene — and to diminish the influence of those with viewpoints contrary to their own.
This session, Republican lawmakers first sought to retaliate — through a proposed law — against the Florida School Boards Association because it previously challenged a Legislature-approved, voucher-like program in court.
Republicans backed off that in the face of criticism in the final days of session, but they still passed — as part of the massive "school choice" bill — a provision that will let the 356 individual school board members in the state direct their dues to a new advocacy organization that seeks to rival the FSBA.
The conservative-leaning Florida Coalition of School Board Members was founded last year, as an alternative to the Florida School Boards Association.
While offering more freedom and flexibility to school board members, the measure could potentially de-fund the well-established FSBA in favor of boosting revenue for the 15-month-old Florida Coalition of School Board Members, which champions conservative values in line with legislative leaders' priorities.
Not signed yet
Republican Gov. Rick Scott has yet to sign the school choice bill — he has until April 14 — but in the interim, the coalition will definitely receive an influx of $200,000 in state funding, starting July 1, thanks to a line-item secured in the 2016-17 budget. The money will help the coalition set up virtual training for school board members, a version of which the FSBA already offers but wants to expand.
Critics question the appropriateness of the Legislature's actions.
"The school boards are independent, locally elected political bodies and they deserve — like other local governments — respect and deference from the Legislature," said Rep. Joseph Geller, D-Aventura, the ranking Democrat on the House's K-12 policy committee.
Republican lawmakers and members of the coalition deny partisan undertones. However, many of the coalition's leaders are active in GOP political circles or are running for higher office as Republicans.
Among them: Rebecca Negron — a Martin County School Board member, a Republican candidate for Florida's 18th Congressional District and the wife of incoming Florida Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart. Rebecca Negron was a founding member of the coalition and elevated to its board of directors in February.
"I don't agree there's a partisan aspect to it. I think there are certainly two sides of education policy," said Erika Donalds, another founding member of the coalition, its current president and a Collier County School Board member. "One of our core values is making solution-oriented partnerships, and that means being more of a help on the side of the Legislature and the direction that the Legislature is going."
Like Republican legislative leaders, the coalition supports school choice policies that Democratic lawmakers and the FSBA have scrutinized.
Long history
The non-profit FSBA has been around for more than 80 years, providing training and assistance to school board members and districts and representing school boards' policy goals in Tallahassee. According to its 2014 tax return, the association employed 31 people and oversaw a budget of $1.9 million. Almost $1 million of that was revenue from membership dues that county school boards pay with taxpayer dollars.
Of the state's 67 county school boards, the FSBA represents 65; Indian River County withdrew a couple years ago and Nassau County hasn't participated for many years.
"We represent all boards in a non-partisan way — all boards, not just a select group of people who believe one thing," executive director Andrea Messina said.
Meanwhile, the non-profit coalition was founded in January 2015, a few months after several conservative-minded individuals won seats on school boards, such as in Indian River County.
There's always going to be a minority, and you can't advocate for the minority if you are a large organization.
Erika Donalds, president of the Florida Coalition of School Board Members
They met at one of FSBA's biannual conferences and opted to form their own organization because they didn't feel the FSBA represented their shared values, Donalds said.
"There's always going to be a minority, and you can't advocate for the minority if you are a large organization," she said.
The impetus was the FSBA's previous participation in a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship — a voucher-like program that helps poor children attend private school by giving tax breaks to businesses.
The FSBA joined in the lawsuit in summer 2014 but later withdrew in 2015, when it decided not to appeal a judge's ruling. (The Florida Education Association is still pursuing the lawsuit, which goes before a state appeals court in May.)
Absent its own revenue base, Donalds said the coalition has gotten off the ground thanks to donations from its founding members, who paid for initial costs as well as $1,950 each for dues.
They sought the Legislature's intervention because school board members were unsuccessful in individually withdrawing from the FSBA and in redirecting their taxpayer-funded association dues to the coalition, Donalds said.
Represents boards, not individuals
The FSBA represents county school boards — not school board members —which is why its dues structure and membership aren't based on individual people. County school boards vote on whether to join the FSBA, and majority rules.
But coalition members, with support from Republican lawmakers, argued they should have the choice of what professional association represents them. Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, took up the coalition's cause this session, sponsoring a bill that would let school board members direct their dues to whatever organization they wished.
The bill also targeted the FSBA for participating in the tax-credit scholarship lawsuit. It would have barred the FSBA from using taxpayer dollars — i.e. the dues its members pay — from suing the state in the future.
We represent all boards in a non-partisan way — all boards, not just a select group of people who believe one thing.
Andrea Messina, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association
The standalone legislation stalled amid opposition in the final days of session. Instead, the provision giving flexibility with membership dues was tacked on to the final school choice bill, while Stargel dropped the aspect dictating how the FSBA can spend its money.
"There are a number of dangerous precedents that are being set with this little, tiny piece of language in a mammoth bill," Messina said. "We believe that it's overstep on the part of the Legislature to target a single, non-profit corporation."
Stargel said she "wasn't specifically targeting school boards," but she told her fellow lawmakers more than once during session that her proposal would affect only the FSBA.
"There's been a lot of movement across the state to change the direction of the school boards," she said. "What we've done in this bill should allow them to have more power."
Separately from the pending policy change, the $200,000 in funding to craft a training curriculum should also boost the coalition's reach.
Although FSBA offers its own training, Donalds said the coalition's programming will be unique. She said coalition members — of which the coalition says there are more than 50 — will get the training for free. FSBA charges for some of its webinars to cover costs, Messina said.
Miami Republican Rep. Erik Fresen, the House education budget chairman, requested the appropriation on behalf of the coalition in early February.
During conference talks, the House initially recommended $50,000 for the coalition before simultaneously scrubbing that request and swapping it out for the full $200,000 on a list of special projects that surfaced after closed-door negotiations on the last night. Florida Tax Watch said that lack of scrutiny should have merited a line-item veto from Scott.
The FSBA represents 65 of Florida's 67 counties, which include 346 individual school board members statewide
Geller, the Aventura Democrat, briefly questioned the appropriation during budget debate on the House floor — which was the only public discussion lawmakers gave it.
"Has the group been vetted? Do we know its track record? I certainly don't know the answers," Geller told the Herald/Times last month. "$200,000 is a lot of money. It could do some real good to things that I know need more funds."
Fresen called it a "one-time, non-recurring source of money for upstart [professional development] for this group." He did not answer questions sent via text message about the transparency of the request, the need for the state to provide the funding or why the state was funding an organization with little history.
Donalds said that while the organization itself is new, its founding members have credentials worth trusting.
Meanwhile, the FSBA is exploring the ramifications of potentially losing revenue from membership dues, should Scott sign the school choice bill. Messina said it could affect how the FSBA offers outreach services to school districts and board members in the future.
Regardless of the legislative actions, though, the FSBA is making bylaw changes in response to the frustrations of conservative school board members to ensure they have more input in decisions, she said.
And, Messina said, the FSBA's withdrawal from the tax-credit scholarship lawsuit last summer shows the impact members have had and proves they are being heard.
"I would argue that that shows we're definitely listening to individual members," she said.
Kristen M. Clark: 850-222-3095, email@example.com, @ByKristenMClark


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Movie Review: The Counselor
A version of this review originally appeared here. If each of the film's conversations were climactic set pieces in another film, where the point was pontification, shock value, proclamatory delivery, really absolutely anything but chemistry, The Counselor could provide apexes for at least a dozen films. Instead, the film lines up several fantastic dramatic actors … Continue reading


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Save your journeys, with our helpful Favourites tool
dayLink is a new smartcard from Translink which provides unlimited Metro day travel for adults and children.
You can load your dayLink card with 1, 5 or 10 days and use your travel whenever you want. You don't have to travel on consecutive days and dayLink smartcards can be topped-up with more travel when you need it. You can top-up with another 1 day's travel on the bus or with 1, 5 or 10 day's travel at our Translink top-up and sales outlets.
You can choose to buy all day travel which means you can travel any day, anytime on the Metro network, or you can buy off-peak day travel on the bus which means you can travel after 9.30am on the Metro network.
dayLink cards can be used on all Metro and any Ulsterbus service scheduled to pick up passengers within the Metro operating area plus you can top-up with the driver on board the bus with 1 day's travel.
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dayLink Fares
The prices for dayLink card top-ups for adults and children are:
*Available to buy after 9.30am everyday
*All fares are subject to alteration.
Buying & Topping-up dayLinkYou can buy your dayLink card and first top-up of travel online: Buy Online>>
You can top-up dayLink cards with 1 day's travel with the driver on board a Metro bus and you can also top-up on board any Ulsterbus service scheduled to pick-up passengers in the Metro operating area.
When you top-up on the bus with one day's travel your one day of travel starts to expire from the time you load it onto your card.
Top-ups of 5 or 10 days travel are not available on buses.
You can top-up 1, 5 or 10 day's travel at:
You can top-up your dayLink card with 1, 5 or 10 days travel, or in varying periods of validity e.g. 1 day followed by 10 days followed by 5 days.
You don't have to use the day travel loaded on your dayLink card on consecutive days. You can travel whenever you want as any unused day travel remains stored on your card until you decide to use it on a day of your choice. For example you can use a dayLink card topped-up with 5 days travel on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of one week andWednesday of the following week.
When you top-up with 1 day's travel on board a bus the fare you pay will depend on the time of day or day of week:
Top-ups at PayPoint, Smartlink and Translink Sales Outlets are always issued at a set standard top-up fare.
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Wayne Terwilliger's autobiography Terwilliger Bunts One is just out. It's full of stories from his 5 major league teams (Cubs, Dodgers, Senators, Giants, KC Athletics) to coaching with the Twins in two World Series to managing the Ft. Worth Cats to a league championship in 2005. A whole chapter on Ted Williams and lots of random stuff—the House of David, 17-hour bus trips, still being active past age 80.
I'm posting it here because I helped him with it, so I didn't think I should put it in "book talk." We're getting positive feedback. If you read it, I'd love to know what you think.


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Demonrats move to ban the nonexistent,
Dems move to ban plastic guns
Listen to the logic:Congressional Democrats are proposing to ban plastic guns, following reports of major security lapses at the nation's airports
Plastic guns can be even more dangerous than traditional firearms because they're harder to detect, says Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.).
The Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act, backed by Israel and several other Democrats, would prohibit the manufacture of entirely plastic guns. The legislation would require a major component of every gun to contain enough traces of metal to be detected.
OK. The TSA gropers can't find conventional weapons that easily trip metal detectors and show up clearly on X-ray. So, let's pass a law banning the nonexistent so when it shows up in someone's carry-on, they won't be able to see it anyway, and criminals will ignore the law and print out one-shot handguns any time they want, as criminals do not obey laws, stupid or otherwise."If detectable weapons can make it through security checkpoints, how can we expect to catch wrongdoers carrying undetectable plastic firearms?" Israel told The Hill. "What could be worse than a gun that can be used on an airplane, but cannot be detected on the security line because it's plastic?"
"It's time to modernize our airport security so the American people can count on it," he added.
Representative Israel should try living in the real world, where criminals ignore laws they find inconvenient and realize that the cat is out of the bag re: firearms and solid printers.
Since "undetectable" guns are, in fact, undetectable, the only way to ensure they don't get on airplanes is to make every passenger strip naked, submit to a thorough cavity search and MRI (lest they have an implanted WMD), and wait while all their carry-on luggage - and every checked luggage item - is opened and searched by at least three independent teams - with all activities recorded to prevent theft and other fraud. The passengers will have to board naked, and be placed in straitjackets, belted into their seats, which will have to be transparent so any surreptitious Houdinis can be identified before they escape their bonds.
Only then will air travel be safe from passengers who intend mayhem.
I expect one of our solons like Rep Israel or Nancy Pee-Lousy to propose such a bill right after the Demonrats win the 2016 Presidential race. It sure won't fly under a sane President.


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Production places
Mikskaar AS has several production places for the raw material as well as for later processing of peat. the main factory is located in Kolga-Jaani. The production facility there has the best production options – we can mix several types and structures of peat, add many different fertilisers, mineral ingredients, microbiological additives, wetting agents. This factory also has the widest range of different bag and bale sizes, a total of 11 different packages may be produced in this factory.


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Overwhelmed by the number of museums in London? Here are ten museums to visit straight away and top museum exhibitions and events they have to offer.
The best of Paris Fashion Week
Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Lanvin and more: the best behind the scenes photos from Paris Fashion Week, by Vogue.
Best places to seek silence
Sometimes you need to stop, switch off your smartphone and enjoy a little peace and quiet in order to recharge. Here some suggested travel destinations to spend your time total in silence.


text: Holiday Celebrations The Queensbury office decorated with a beautiful tree! An Ugly Christmas Sweater contest was in full swing at the Menands office. Check out some of winners! Igor is the "tackiest" sweater award winner. Congratulations, I think. Lisa, second from left, won the "most outrageous" award. Hmmm…. Dean won "fan favorite." Very festive! In Johnstown, nothing says Christmas quite like chocolate! Is that Santa? Spreading cheer in Johnstown!


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Over the last two years Fortnum & Mason has delivered significant growth figures, in part due to new store openings such as Heathrow Terminal 5 and St Pancras, but also through its online performance. In 1998 the luxury department store was one of the first retailers in the UK to launch a transactional website and now, in line with its continuing digital success, and perhaps Google's new algorithm, Fortnum & Mason has launched a new and, fully responsive eCommerce site.
The new site is one of the few truly responsive eCommerce sites currently live. As well as being a visual interpretation of the brand, it will be able to handle complex orders and delivery across more than 130 countries, and deliver the same experience across multiple devices.
Since its rollout, mobile visits have improved 77% YOY, and mobile conversion has increased 57% YOY. Developed to deliver an improvement in conversion rate, new customers are currently converting 15% more than on the previous site. In addition, the business has seen an 18% reduction in calls to the customer service centre.
The new website has been built under the stewardship of Fortnum's Customer Experience Director and Board member, Zia Zareem-Slade.
Red Badger, the software development studio behind the site, engaged Fortnum's customers to help drive the direction of the design and development by allowing them to provide feedback directly to the team. Throughout the project, Red Badger ran guerrilla testing in Fortnum's flagship store in Piccadilly to get customer feedback on the look and feel of the site.
Commenting on the new website, Zareem-Slade said: "Collectively, we've achieved something very special. The site reinforces the brand experience that our customers expect and since the site went fully live we have seen incredible results in increased revenues, increased conversion rates, but most importantly, amazingly positive customer feedback."


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At Comerit, we recognize that an effective Big Data strategy needs to extend well beyond just the proper capturing and storing of the vast data available in today's environment. An organization's ability to quickly and consistently locate and extract the information it needs from this data and gain valuable insights is what differentiates a good company from a great one.
Businesses are finding value in understanding the "where" factor of the data within their Business Intelligence (BI) solution. The ability to perform location-based queries on data within their BI solution opens new insights in areas such as mobile advertising, social media marketing, and business planning
Working with Pitney Bowes, Comerit has extended the SAP DesignStudio and WebI solutions with the rich mapping capabilities of Spectrum Spatial for Business Intelligence from Pitney Bowes, providing for advanced location-based analytics.
A map allows users to see spatial patterns and trends, and view relative performance data that are often impossible to see using only reports, charts, and graphs.
Spectrum Spatial for BI offers deeper analysis by providing the ability to pass data from a report to a map and from the map back to the report.
Geographic filtering enables users to incorporate a spatial dimension to analyze and modify a report to show spatial relationships and clustering trends.


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The right soundtrack is a powerful thing.
It's the ass-shaking energy of a sassy new car, the spine-tingling tension that sets hairs on end and the indefinable joy of a gorilla playing the drums. Get it right and your project can become something pretty special - and with a giddying variety of copyrights across Imagem's extensive catalogues to choose from: why wouldn't you?


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Comprehensive chromosome screening of polar bodies and blastocysts from couples experiencing repeated implantation failure.
Fragouli E., Katz-Jaffe M., Alfarawati S., Stevens J., Colls P., Goodall N-N., Tormasi S., Gutierrez-Mateo C., Prates R., Schoolcraft WB., Munne S., Wells D.
OBJECTIVE: To identify and transfer cytogenetically normal embryos after screening all chromosomes of first and second polar bodies (PBs) or trophectoderm samples with the use of comparative genomic hybridization. DESIGN: Clinical research study. SETTING: In vitro fertilization clinic referring samples to a specialist preimplantation genetic diagnosis laboratory. PATIENT(S): Thirty-two couples with repeated implantation failure. INTERVENTION(S): Zygotes from patients with repeated implantation failure and poor response to ovarian stimulation underwent PB biopsy. Patients with repeated implantation failure who were candidates for blastocyst transfer received trophectoderm biopsy. Zygotes or blastocysts were vitrified while chromosome analysis took place. Euploid embryos were transferred during a subsequent cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cytogenetic status and implantation and pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): The oocyte and blastocyst aneuploidy rates were 65.5% and 45.2%, respectively. Abnormalities affecting all chromosomes were detected. Implantation and pregnancy rates for the patients with PB biopsy were 11.5% and 21.4%, respectively, whereas for patients receiving blastocyst analysis they were 58.3% and 69.2%. CONCLUSION(S): Initial results for patients of advanced maternal age (39.8 years) with repeated implantation failure and poor ovarian response were encouraging. However, further study is required to confirm whether or not screening is beneficial. Blastocyst analysis was associated with high pregnancy rates, suggesting that comprehensive chromosome screening may assist patients with repeated implantation failure capable of producing blastocysts in achieving pregnancies.