text:
Ballpoints, like all pens, write best when they're used. While rollerballs and fountain pens stop writing when they dry out, ballpoints often just write poorly. Sometimes simply using the pen will usually revive it, and within a few pages of writing it will be back to full potential. Other times that doesn't work, or the pen just doesn't write. If it's a cheap disposable you might be happy tossing it, but if it's a cartridge that cost a few bucks it's worth a little time to fix.
When I buy a new pen I often con myself into getting a spare refill (or two) when I buy it, and then they sit around for a few years before they get used. After that long, they tend to be sticky writers, and even the supposedly 100-year self life Fisher refills don't write very well when old. Not to mention the freebie pens that accumulate here and there that invariably get really stiff – especially the ones that have lived in a car for a few years. All can be improved.
Alcohol is the answer. First pour yourself a stiff drink. Actually, no, you don't need the drink. What you do need is alcohol – rubbing alcohol will do nicely. A quarter of an inch or so in a shot glass works well. Now dip the point of the pen in and let it sit for a few minutes. It usually doesn't take long, and you'll see a bit of ink dissolving in the water. Alcohol will dissolve ballpoint ink, and will loosen up any cruddy ink near the ball. Take the pen out and write a bit. It should be smoother and have more nicely flowing ink. If not, let it soak for a little longer and try again.
So why not revive some of those old pens that are lying around? You may be surprised at how well they can be made to write.

subset: commoncrawl


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Milford resident Katelyn Meadows recently traveled to Thailand to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care. Learn more about Katelyn in this week's Get to know the town feature.
Name: Katelyn Meadows
Age: 23-years- old
Hometown: Newport, but currently living in Milford
Educational background: Some college
Occupation: Pet store employee
Future goals: Currently looking to take veterinarian training with a specialization in large cats; hoping to also achieve a minor in agriculture.
Tell us about yourself?
"I take care of my eight kitties and new puppy whom I got from Thailand. I'm working towards buying a house so I can start my own small farm."
Why did you choose to work with animals?
"I chose to work with animals because they bring me such joy. Deep down, I have a connection with them that is undeniable. They need a voice and I will be their voice to bring peace to the way we coexist with the animals around us. We should live among them not rule over them."
You have pets of your own?
"I have 8 cats: Sabastian, Sabor, Anna Sophia, Bellfire, Cloude, Kiari, Koa, Luci; and a dog: Sapphira, previously known as Happy."
Why did you go to Thailand?
"I went to Thailand to receive education and hands- on experience that I could not have gotten here in the United States because of limitations. The program I was in is called 'Loop Abroad.' They have many programs that teach various subjects. Without it, I would not have gotten to experience Thailand like I did. Thank you, Loop! I went to take in the culture and learn how the people respond to animals around them. I loved Thailand and wish to revisit many more times. Such a beautiful world full of green; something I wish I saw everywhere I went."
What did you do while you were there?
" Vaccinations, blood draws, physical exams, assisted in multiple surgeries, completed dietary plans and cared for extensive wounds on small and large animals. I would not have had this opportunity here in the states without a degree. But in Thailand, if you will be the hands and feet, you learn so much and are able to be the hope."
Tell us about the dog shelter?
"The dog shelter was called ARK, this place was full of hope. Regardless of the animals' situation, they beamed all because of the people who showered them with love. Here, the medical treatment is not highend like we see at home. But it shows the depth of love the people have for all creatures as they improvise and scrounge to provide the medical assistance needed to help all the animals that come through. I had the opportunity to be submerged in this world and it showed me where I belong in God's large world. My purpose is to speak and stand up for the creatures our creator put here."
Tell us about the Elephant Nature Preserve?
"Speaking of dogs, at the Elephant Nature Park, I got to adopt a female puppy and bring her home. Her name was Happy, probably because she's such a happy girl, but I named her Sapphira. The ENP was the other place I had been which was in the middle of the Thai jungle. It rained at about 3 o'clock every day and the animals were free.
"It is a sanctuary for all the abused and taken advantage of elephants that my role model Lek had built with her own hands. Starting from nothing she made this place a refuge for elephant of all walks of life. Trekking, circus elephants, street begging elephants, logging elephants… any elephant that was being used for simply being. Starting very small, the ENP has become a home not only for the many elephant but also water buffalo and dogs. There is also a cat kingdom. It's like a sanctuary village where people live in peace with the world around them instead of reigning over like a God."
Why is the Elephant Nature Preserve still needed?
"Now, even though most things the elephants are used for are banned, it still lingers in the depths of Thailand for many. Some of these people only know how to provide for their families or find work this way. Or they don't have the knowledge we have about the issues the elephants are facing in these dire situations. So not only does Lek save, but she educates the people, provides the medical care needed and tries to give alternatives to using and abusing the elephants. Many do not know that elephants that are tame have been taken from their mothers before their even done nursing and locked into a wooden cage that literally crushes their body and spirit. To have control, they are starved, beaten and tied down for weeks so they fear the leader. I had the opportunity to see the evil and witness the trauma these beautiful creatures endure."
How did your visit compare to life in the United States?
"One of my favorite things about the atmosphere is that it was dirty and gritty. It was rough, hot and ugly but, through all of that, it was beautiful. Here in the U.S., they hide all the 'imperfections' and just show people what they want to see. But the truth lies behind that curtain. It lies deep in the suffering of the world around us and therefore brings you so much closer to the miracles you can be a part of. I'd much rather be in the middle of the jungle with no power and no running water giving all that I am to better the world around me than in a clean facility where we turn people away who may not have the means to pay for our services. We can learn a lot from the countries that surround us and take the hearts of the people and expand so much more instead of the little that we do. My favorite experience was to be in the middle of chaos and still see the beauty. I was not judged off of what I knew but schooled on what I could do."
What was your least favorite part?
"Honestly my least favorite was having to return home, back to a world where I have to prove to the people around me that I am worthy of being an advocate for the creatures we have instead of doing the work and learning, I waste my time proving to the people around me that I can do the work. This is an issue because it limits what we actually get done and it limits our ability to heal."
How has this experience impacted you?
"This experience was beyond words. I cherish every moment I had spent in Thailand. I want to be a large cat specialist overseas. I am going to finish my education with a masters in veterinarian studies and a minor in agriculture. I want to cherish the simple things because the Thai people showed me that those are the things that make the big picture so alive and so precious. I will be an advocate for the animals and especially cats because they are my special connection. I will speak because they cannot and I will protect them. I will open the eyes of the people around me and let them witness some of the things I have. We all deserve to live in peace because that is why God put us on this earth together: to live in a peaceful harmony. I pray to bring that back to the world. We should be living in unity, not trying to rule over the other beasts because we want to play God."
Where do you see yourself in five years?
"I am not sure where my dreams and endeavors will lead me in the next five years, but I know God has a plan for my heart and that my Thailand trip was just the tip of the iceberg."
Jennifer Antonik can be reached at email@example.com


text:
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text:
A Simplified Understanding of Naïve Bayes Algorithm
By ganpati | News Updates
Commonly used in Machine Learning, Naive Bayes is a collection of classification algorithms based on Bayes Theorem. It is not a single algorithm but a family of algorithms that all share a common principle, that every feature being classified is independent of any other feature. So for example, a vegetable may be considered to be a chili if it is red, tastes hot, and about 4″ in length. A Naive Bayes classifier considers each of these "features" (red, hotness , 4" in length) to contribute independently to the probability that the vegetable is a chili, regardless of any correlations between features. Features, however, aren't always independent which is often seen as a shortcoming of the Naive Bayes algorithm and this is why it's labeled "naive".
The Bayes' theorem
This theorem forms the core of the whole concept of naive Bayes classification. In order to understand how naive Bayes classifiers work, we have to briefly recapitulate the concept of Bayes' rule. The probability model that was formulated by Thomas Bayes (1701-1761) is quite simple yet powerful; it can be written down in simple words as follows:
In the context of a classification problem, it can be interpreted as: "What is the probability that a particular object belongs to class i given its observed feature values?"
To put it simply Naive Bayes works well with linear class boundaries as shown below:
For a detailed understanding you may check out this post on Naive Bayes
Why is the Naive Bayes algorithm fast?
Naive Bayes is fast because all it needs are the apriori and conditional probabilities that can be 'learnt' or rather determined with trivial operations like Counting and Dividing values that do not change and can be stored and reused.
Difference between Naïve Bayes and Logistic regression
Reference: Brendan O'Connor's answer in Quora
The difference between Naïve Bayes and Logistic regression is based on how you fit the weights from training data.
In NB, you set each feature's weight independently, based on how much it correlates with the label. (Weights come out to be the features' log-likelihood ratios for the different classes.)
In logistic regression, by contrast, you set all the weights together such that the linear decision function tends to be high for positive classes and low for negative classes. (Linear SVM's work the same, except for a technical tweak of what "tends to be high/low" means.)
The difference between NB and LogReg happens when features are correlated. Say you have two features which are useful predictors — they correlate with the labels — but they themselves are repetitive, having extra correlation with each other as well. NB will give both of them strong weights, so their influence is double-counted. But logistic regression will compensate by weighting them lower.
This is a way to view the probabilistic assumptions of the models; namely, Naive Bayes makes a conditional independence assumption, which is violated when you have correlated/repetitive features.
One nice thing about NB is that training has no optimization step. You just calculate a count table for each feature and you're done with it — it's single pass and trivially parallelizable every which way.
One nice thing about LR is that you can be sloppy with feature engineering. You can throw in multiple variations of a feature without hurting the overall model (provided you're regularizing appropriately); but in NB this can be problematic.
Reference: Naive Bayes and Text Classification- Introduction and Theory


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I went a little crazy with my mists on this one. I think I used a lot of smooch spritz here. This page is all me... pink, black, white and bling... This is my color palette :) I love to sparkle too...
Here is a closeup of the chandelier... I honestly can't remember what all I did to it, but it was a lot. It is misted with smooch spritz... it is painted with smooch paint... and it is stickled (I know this much for sure... lol!).
More Webster Pages :) This is my little Pepper dressed up as Tinker Bell for Halloween. This layout is all girly. Everything is adhered to black cardstock. Behind the Webster Pages I glued some lace to make it even more girly.
This is probably one of my simpler layouts. I love my Webster Pages :D This is from a cruise my dh and I took a couple years ago. St Maarten was absolutely gorgeous!
Close up of my altered Dusty Attic (Have I mentioned how much I love Dusty Attic?) There is just so much fun to be had with a piece of chipboard! For this one I used the Tim Holtz crackle paints in Broken China. I then added some distress ink to deepen the color a little and while that was still I little wet I brushed in some perfect pearls. Then I added the little pieces of bling.


text:
I was born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in London. After studying English at the University of Leeds, I worked at the Independent on Sunday for several years. I have an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths, where I won the Pat Kavanagh Award, and I've also been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
Flesh and Bone and Water is my first novel. I'm currently working on my second. My agent is Emma Paterson at Rogers, Coleridge & White.


text: It has taken some time for Aiden to be comfortable with the idea his cock is going to get sucked, he seems pretty open to ideas, but at the end of the day it's a different thing agreeing to something to actually doing it! He was a little cautious today, though his cock is soon lovely and hard and Aiden has one massive uncut cock, so when its aroused you can't miss it! Aiden has some fun, he is wanked off by Tyler and he wanks Tyler and the lads do some great mutual wanking and then Tyler sucks Aiden's great big uncut cock!


text:
Twelfth-Step References, Techniques, Tips, & Sponsorship Tools in the Big Book
Compiled by Mike L. & Barefoot Bill L.
(All page number references refer to Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition)
There are 124 references to working with others throughout the first 6 chapters of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Chapter 7, 'Working with Others is entirely devoted to the subject of working with other alcoholic addicts. Obviously the Big Book authors are trying to tell us something here -- work with another alcoholic addict is vital to our recovery!
Here is a list of all Twelfth Step references in the 1st 89 pages of the original, unchanged text of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
From 'Forward to First Edition':
- Page xiii, Paragraph 1: "To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book."
- Page xiv, Paragraph 0: "We simply wish to be helpful to those who are afflicted."
- Page xiv, Paragraph 1: "We shall be interested to hear from those who are getting results from this book, particularly form those who have commenced work with other alcoholics. We should like to be helpful to such cases."
From 'Forward to Second Edition':
- Page xv, Paragraph 3: "The spark that was to flare into the first A.A. group was struck at Akron, Ohio in June 1935, during a talk between a New York stockbroker and an Akron physician."
- Page xv, Paragraph 3: "Six months earlier, the broker had been relieved of his drink obsession by a sudden spiritual experience, following a meeting with an alcoholic friend..."
- Page xvi, Paragraph 1: "Prior to his journey to Akron, the broker had worked hard with many alcoholics on the theory that only an alcoholic could help an alcoholic..."
- Page xvi, Paragraph 1: "He suddenly realized that in order to save himself he must carry his message to another alcoholic."
- Page xvi, Paragraph 2: "But when the broker gave him Dr. Silkworth's description of alcoholism and its hopelessness, the physician began to pursue the spiritual remedy for his malady with a willingness he had never before been able to muster."
- Page xvi, Paragraph 2: "This seemed to prove that one alcoholic could affect another as no nonalcoholic could."
- Page xvii, Paragraph 0: "It also indicated that strenuous work, one alcoholic with another, was vital to permanent recovery."
- Page xvii, Paragraph 1: "Hence the two men set to work almost frantically upon alcoholics arriving in the ward of the Akron City Hospital."
- Page xviii, Paragraph 0: "Businessmen, traveling out of existing groups, were referred to these prospective newcomers."
- Page xviii, Paragraph 0: "...A.A.'s message could be transmitted in the mail as well as by word of mouth."
From 'Forward to Third Edition':
- Page xxii, Paragraph 2: "...A.A. is reaching out, not only to more and more people, but to a wider and wider range."
- Page xxii, Paragraph 4: "Each day, somewhere in the world, recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope."
From 'The Doctor's Opinion':
- Page xxiii, Paragraph 4: "As part of his [Bill W.'s] rehabilitation he commenced to present his conceptions to other alcoholics, impressing upon them that they must do likewise with still others."
- Page xxiv, Paragraph 0: "These men may well have a remedy for thousands of such situations."
- Page xxiv, Paragraph 1: "You may rely absolutely on anything they say about themselves."
- Page xxiv, Paragraph 4: "Though we work out our solutions on the spiritual as well as an altruistic plane, we favor hospitalization for the alcoholic who is very jittery or befogged."
- Page xxiv, Paragraph 4: "More often than not, it is imperative that a man's brain be cleared before he is approached, as he has then a better chance of understanding and accepting what we have to offer."
- Page xxv, Paragraph 4: "We doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its application presented difficulties beyond our conception."
- Page xxv, Paragraph 5: "Many years ago one of the leading contributors to this book [Bill W.] came under our care in this hospital and while here he acquired some ideas which he put into practical application at once."
- Page xxv, Paragraph 6: "Later, he requested the privilege of being allowed to tell his story to other patients here [Towns Hospital]..."
- Page xxv, Paragraph 7: "Of course an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving for liquor, and this often requires a definite hospital procedure, before psychological measures can be of maximum benefit."
- Page xxvi, Paragraph 2: "The message which can interest and hold these alcoholic people must have depth and weight."
- Page xxix, Paragraph 2: "He accepted the plan outlined in this book."
- Page xxx, Paragraph 1: "...he did become "sold" on the ideas contained in this book. He has not had a drink for a great many years."
- Page xxx, Paragraph 2: "I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray."
From Chapter 1: 'Bill's Story':
- Page 8, Paragraph 4: "My musing was interrupted by the telephone. The cheery voice of an old school friend asked if he might come over. He was sober."
- Page 9, Paragraph 6: "But he did no ranting. In a matter of fact way he told how two men had appeared in court, persuading the judge to suspend his commitment."
- Page 9, Paragraph 6: "They had told of a simple religious idea and a practical program of action. That was two months ago and the result was self-evident. It worked!"
- Page 9, Paragraph 7: "He had come to pass his experience along to me-if I cared to have it. I was shocked, but interested. Certainly I was interested. I had to be, for I was hopeless."
- Page 10, Paragraph 1: "He talked for hours."
- Page 11, Paragraph 3: "But my friend sat before me, and he made the pointblank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself."
- Page 11, Paragraph 5: "...here sat a miracle directly across the kitchen table. He shouted great tidings."
- Page 11, Paragraph 6: "I saw that my friend was much more than inwardly reorganized. He was on different footing. His roots grasped a new soil."
- Page 12, Paragraph 2: "My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?"
- Page 12, Paragraph 4: "Upon a foundation of complete willingness I might build what I saw in my friend. Would I have it? Of course I would!"
- Page 13, Paragraph 3: "My schoolmate visited me, and I fully acquainted him with my problems and deficiencies."
- Page 13, Paragraph 3: "We made a list of people I had hurt or toward whom I felt resentment."
- Page 13, Paragraph 5: "My friend promised when these things were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems."
- Page 14, Paragraph 5: "While I lay in the hospital the thought came that there were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might be glad to have what had been so freely given me. Perhaps I could help some of them. They in turn might work with others."
- Page 14, Paragraph 6: "My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs."
- Page 14, Paragraph 6: "Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me."
- Page 14, Paragraph 6: "Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it is just like that."
- Page 15, Paragraph 1: "My wife and I abandoned ourselves with enthusiasm to the idea of helping other alcoholics to a solution of their problems."
- Page 15, Paragraph 1: "I was not too well at the time, and was plagued by waves of self-pity and resentment. This sometimes nearly drove me back to drink, but I soon found that when all other measure failed, work with another alcoholic would save the day."
- Page 15, Paragraph 1: "Many times I have gone to my old hospital in despair. On talking to a man there, I would be amazingly lifted up and set on my feet. It is a design for living that works in rough going."
- Page 15, Paragraph 2: "We commenced to make many fast friends and a fellowship has grown up among us of which it is a wonderful thing to feel a part. The joy of living we really have, even under pressure and difficulty."
- Page 15, Paragraph 2: "We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship hey seek. At these informal gatherings one may often see from 50 to 200 persons. We are growing in numbers and power."
- Page 16, Paragraph 3: "Most of us feel we need look no further for Utopia. We have it with us right here and now. Each day my friend's simple talk in our kitchen multiplies itself in a widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men."
From Chapter 2: 'There is a Solution':
- Page 17, Paragraph 3: "The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism."
- Page 18, Paragraph 4: "But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished."
- "...These are the conditions we have found most effective [for a Twelfth-Step Call]." (Taken from the last line of page 18, out of sequence.)
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "That the man who is making the approach has had the same difficulty..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...that he obviously knows what he is talking about..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...that his whole deportment shouts at the new prospect that he is a man with a real answer..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...that he has no attitude of Holier Than Thou..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...nothing whatever except the sincere desire to be helpful..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...that there are no fees to pay..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...no axes to grind..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...no people to please..."
- Page 18, Paragraph 5: "...no lectures to be endured - these are the conditions we have found most effective. After such an approach many take up their beds and walk again."
- Page 19, Paragraph 1: "None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did."
- Page 19, Paragraph 1: "All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. A few are fortunate enough to be so situated that they can give nearly all their time to the work."
- Page 19, Paragraph 3: "We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem."
- Page 20, Paragraph 0: "Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs."
- Page 20, Paragraph 2: [For the question of: "What do I have to do?"]: "It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done."
- Page 25, Paragraph 1: "When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at out feet."
- Page 25, Paragraph 3: "...we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help. This we did because we honestly wanted to, and were willing to make the effort."
- Page 28, Paragraph 2: "We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men."
- Page 28, Paragraph 3: "We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired."
- Page 29, Paragraph 1: "...clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered."
- Page 29, Paragraph 2: "Each individual, in the personal stories, describes in his own language and from his own point of view the way he established his relationship with God. These give a fair cross section of our membership and a clear-cut idea of what has actually happened in their lives."
From Chapter 3: 'More About Alcoholism':
- Page 31, Paragraph 1: "If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right-about-face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him. Heaven knows, we have tried hard enough and long enough to drink like other people!"
- Page 31, Paragraph 3: "We do not like to pronounce any individual as alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself, Step over to the nearest barroom and try some controlled drinking. Try to drink and stop abruptly. Try it more than once. It will not take long for you to decide, if you are honest with yourself about it. It may be worth a bad case of jitters if you get a full knowledge of your condition."
- Page 34, Paragraph 1: "If anyone questions whether he has entered this dangerous area, let him try leaving liquor alone for one year. If he is a real alcoholic and very far advanced, there is scant chance of success."
- Page 35, Paragraph 2 & 3: "On leaving the asylum he came into contact with us. We told him what we knew of alcoholism and the answer we had found."
- Page 35, Paragraph 3: "To his consternation, he found himself drunk half a dozen times in rapid succession. On each of these occasions we worked with him, reviewing carefully what had happened. He agreed he was a real alcoholic and in a serious condition."
- Page 36, Paragraph 1: "Yet he got drunk again. We asked him to tell us exactly how it happened."
- Page 39, Paragraph 2: "We first saw Fred about a year ago in a hospital where he had gone to recover from a bad case of jitters... We told him what we knew about alcoholism. He was interested and conceded that he had some of the symptoms, but he was a long way from admitting that he could do nothing about it himself."
- Page 40, Paragraph 1: "We heard no more of Fred for a while. One day we were told that he was back in the hospital. This time he was quite shaky. He soon indicated he was anxious to see us."
- Page 40, Paragraph 2: "I rather appreciated your ideas about the subtle insanity which precedes the first drink..."
- Page 41, Paragraph 2: "I now remembered what my alcoholic friends had told me, how they prophesied that if I had an alcoholic mind, the time and place would come-I would drink again. They had said that though I did raise a defense, it would one day give way before some trivial reason for having a drink."
- Page 42, Paragraph 1: "Two of the members of Alcoholics Anonymous came to see me. They grinned, which I didn't like so much, and then asked me if I thought myself alcoholic and if I were really licked this time. I had to concede both propositions."
- Page 42, Paragraph 1: "They piled on me heaps of evidence to the effect that an alcoholic mentality, such as I had exhibited in Washington, was hopeless condition."
- Page 42, Paragraph 1: "They cited cases out of their own experience by the dozen. This process snuffed out the last flicker of conviction that I could do the job myself."
- Page 42, Paragraph 2: "Then they outlined the spiritual answer and program of action which a hundred of them had followed successfully."
- Page 42, Paragraph 3: "Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems."
From Chapter 4: 'We Agnostics':
- Page 45, Paragraph 1 & 2: "But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, that's exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem."
- Page 45, Paragraph 2 & 3: "Many times we talk to a new man and watch his hope rise as we discuss his alcoholic problems and explain our fellowship. But his face falls when we speak of spiritual matters, especially when we mention God, for we have re-opened a subject which our man thought he had neatly evaded or entirely ignored. We know how he feels. We have shared his honest doubt and prejudice."
- Page 47, Paragraph 1: "When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book."
- Page 47, Paragraph 2: "As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way."
- Page 49, Paragraph 2: "We, who have traveled this dubious path, beg you to lay aside prejudice..."
- Page 50, Paragraph 2: "In our personal stories you will find a wide variation in the way each teller approaches and conceives of the Power which is greater than himself. Whether we agree with a particular approach or conception seems to make little difference. Experience has taught us that these are matters about which, for our purpose, we need not be worried. They are questions for each individual to settle for himself."
- Page 50, Paragraph 3: "On one proposition, however, these men and women are strikingly agreed. Every one of them has gained access to, and believes in, a Power greater than himself. This Power has in each case accomplished the miraculous, the humanly impossible."
- Page 50, Paragraph 4: "Once confused and baffled by the seeming futility of existence, they show the underlying reasons why they were making heavy going of life."
- Page 51, Paragraph 0: "Leaving aside the drink question, they tell why living was so unsatisfactory."
- Page 51, Paragraph 0: "They show how the change came over them."
- Page 51, Paragraph 0: "When many hundreds of people are able to say that the consciousness of the Presence of God is today the most important fact of their lives, they present a powerful reason why one should have faith."
- Page 55, Paragraph 4: "We can only clear the ground a bit. If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad Highway. With this attitude you cannot fail. the consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you."
- Page 56, Paragraph 2: "One night, when confined in a hospital, he was approached by an alcoholic who had known a spiritual experience."
From Chapter 5: 'How It Works':
- Page 58, Paragraph 2: "Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now."
- Page 58, Paragraph 2: "If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it-then you are ready to take certain steps." (See pages 76 & 79)
- Page 58, Paragraph 3: "At some of these we balked. thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely."
- Page 58, Paragraph 4: "Remember that we deal with alcohol-cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power-that One is God. May you find Him now!"
- Page 59, Paragraph 1: "Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. we asked His protection and care with complete abandon."
- Page 59, Paragraph 2: "Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery..."
- Page 60, Paragraph 1: "Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection."
- Page 60, Paragraph 2: "Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventure before and after make clear three pertinent ideas: (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would if He were sought.
- Page 63, Paragraph 1: "More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life."
- Page 63, Paragraph 3: "We found it very desirable to take this spiritual step [Step 3] with an understanding person, such as our wife, best friend, or spiritual adviser."
- Page 69, Paragraph 0: "We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone's sex conduct."
- Page 69, Paragraph 4: "Counsel with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge."
- Page 70, Paragraph 2: "If sex is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs and work for them. This takes us out of ourselves. It quiets the imperious urge, when to yield would mean heartache."
From Chapter 6: 'Into Action':
- Page 72, Paragraph 2: "Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain facts about their lives. Trying to avoid this humbling experience, they have turned to easier methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell. We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning. They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock. They only thought they had lost their egoism and fear; they only thought they had humbled themselves. But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone else all their life story."
- Page 74, Paragraph 4: "We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world. Rightly and naturally, we think well before we choose the person or persons with whom to take this intimate and confidential step."
- Page 74, Paragraph 2: "It is important that he be able to keep a confidence; that he fully understand and approve what we are driving at; that he will not try to change our plan."
- Page 75, Paragraph 1: "He should realize that we are engaged upon a life-and-death errand. Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence."
- Page 76, Paragraph 3: "Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol." (See pages 58 & 79)
- Page 77, Paragraph 0: "Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us."
- Page 79, Paragraph 1: "Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience..." (See pages 58 & 76)
- Page 82, Paragraph 3: "We feel a man is unthinking when he says that sobriety is enough."
- Page 85, Paragraph 1: "Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities."
- Page 88, Paragraph 3: "There is action and more action. "Faith without works is dead." The next chapter is entirely devoted to Step Twelve."


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There are two ways of running Kounta on your Commonwealth Bank Albert device.
As such this guide is split into three sections. The top section contains general troubleshooting, the middle section 'Kounta On Albert' is for running the Kounta POS software directly on the Albert itself, the bottom section 'Kounta To Albert' is for sites where the Albert is being used exclusively as an integrated payment terminal rather than running Kounta directly.
Troubleshooting Options:
General Troubleshooting
- Kounta app is not fully loading or is showing a white screen
- Albert is not communicating with my site Registers or Printers
- How do I perform reconciliation takings with Albert
- There appears to be an issue with the Albert device or Commbank Software
Kounta On Albert (Running Kounta directly on Albert)
- When Checking-Out, The Commbank payment screen is not automatically popping up to allow integrated payments
Kounta To Albert (Running Kounta on seperate device, use Albert as payment method)
General Troubleshooting
For help with using your Albert in general, please consult your Albert User Guide found here.
Kounta app is not fully loading or is showing a white screen
Please try performing a repair of the Kounta app
To do this, with the Kounta app open do the following:
- Tap the screen with 3 fingers
- Select Repair
- Log back into Kounta
- Go to MySite (left)
- Select Devices (top)
- Find the existing Register you were using, select it.
- Select Recycle Device
- Click Go To POS (top right)
- Select the appropriate register from the register selection screen (Should be highlighted in blue).
The POS will download a fresh copy of your site from our cloud servers.
Albert is not communicating with my other registers or printers
There are two things to check here.
Ensure that your Commbank Albert is connected to the correct WiFi network.
The Commbank Albert requires connection to your local area network via WiFi to communicate with your Printers & Cash Drawer. The network must be the same one your Printers are physically connected to.
- On Albert, Tap the home button (on the back right of the unit)
- Tap "Settings" then go to "Albert Options" and enter your password.
- Tap 'Communications' then 'WiFi'.
- To turn WiFi on, slide the tab on the Status Bar from Off to On. Choose your WiFi network from the list. You can also Add network or Scan for a network using the tab on the Status Bar. To turn WiFi off, slide the tab on the Status Bar from On to Off
Assuming that WiFi is set up and working correctly, please ensure your site is using Epson Intelligent Printing and that his method is configured for your Albert Register in Kounta.
(Note: If you have any other registers, they would *all* not be working if this was the issue)
In Back Office:
- Select 'MySite' and then select 'Printers' on the top menu and ensure that Production Printing Method is set to use Intelligent Print Server. If it is not, and you are using an Intelligent Printer, you will need to have this set up. Please refer to this guide.
Note: If this is the first time you are setting up printers on your Albert, please ensure your printers are compatible.
Then, ensure that your Albert register is using Intelligent Printing for receipts
In Back Office:
- Select 'MySite' then select 'Devices' on the top menu and choose your Albert register.
- Once inside the settings for your Albert register, select 'Printers' and ensure that it is using the Intelligent Printer method, also ensure the Server URL for your Intelligent Printer is the IP address of your main Intelligent Printer (Not sure what it should be? Check here.)
How do I perform reconciliation takings with Albert?
The Albert will automatically provide your end of day takings during your end of day process, you do not need to enter any details for Albert takings. Albert takings do NOT need to be entered in the EFTPOS payments section of the reconciliation report as long as you are using the yellow and black logo when checking sales out.
For a general guide on end of day reconciliation, please see the guide here.
There appears to be an issue with the Albert device or Commbank Software
For help with Albert, App bank and CBA Apps please contact the CBA Commbank Albert team:
1800 230 177
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Kounta On Albert
For more information on setting up "Kounta On Albert" please see the Kounta On Albert guide here
When Checking-Out, The Commbank payment screen is not automatically popping up to allow integrated payments
You will need to enable (or perhaps re-enable) the Kounta On Albert integration.
This will enable the payment type which allows seamless integration at checkout to take payments directly on Albert.
- From Kounta Back Office, go to the Add-On Page.
- Select CBA Albert then Enable CBA Albert.
Kounta To Albert
For information on setting up Kounta To Albert please see this guide.
Kounta To Albert payment pushing is either delayed or not working at all
There are a few things to consider here. When using "Kounta To Albert" the payment is processed through Commonwealth Bank's servers.
Typically when there is a delay here, it is either from slow internet connection or an issue with Commonwealth Bank's payment gateway.
- If you are on WiFi, try turning WiFi off if your unit can use the Telstra 3G connection, particularly if your Albert is far away from your main router. On Albert, tap "Home" which is the button on the rear right hand side of the device go to "Settings" then under Albert Options enter your password then go to 'Communications' then 'WiFi'. To turn WiFi off, slide the tab on the Status Bar from On to Off.
- Similarly, if you are currently using the 3G connection and experiencing slowness, try enabling WiFi by following the directions above to see if there is any improvement
You can also try repairing the app (as directed here)


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Australian Parliament has given a go ahead to same sex marriages. Australia now joins a super league of 26 nations that have allowed same-sex marriages. An overwhelming majority of MP's voted to change the Marriage Act.
Today is a momentous day. #MarriageEquality has passed through Parliament, ensuring marriage equality for all.— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) December 7, 2017
We believe we can't be a city for all people unless all people are treated equally. We're glad everyone in our community is now free to marry the person they love. pic.twitter.com/WHlNYBVuBf
Out of 150 MP's, only 4 voted against the marriage equality bill. Loud cheer and clapping were heard in the lower House of Representatives after the passage of the bill.
It's time for more marriages. More commitment. More love. More respect. Marriage equality has passed! PM Malcolm Turnbull tweeted.
It's time for more marriages.— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) December 7, 2017
More commitment.
More love.
More respect.
Marriage equality has passed!
Not long now, let's get this done #MarriageEquality tweeted the opposition leader Bill Shorten few hours before the crucial vote. He even wore a pair of rainbow socks to the Parliament.
Can't wait to cast my final vote for #MarriageEquality. Thanks for the socks Rainbow Families pic.twitter.com/SigCSpG1PU— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) December 7, 2017
The bill was tabled in parliament by the conservative government after Australians last month endorsed the reforms in a controversial voluntary postal vote.
Nearly 80 per cent of eligible voters took part in the poll, and almost 62 per cent of the 12.7 million people who participated chose "yes" on their postal ballots.
August 18 , 2018
August 18 , 2018
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17:30 - 20:30
Our Pub Socials have become very popular events allowing members to meet new and old faces in an informal setting whilst having a couple of drinks.
Please do pop in for a quick drink or stay for the whole evening. The first drink will be on us, just leave your business card behind the bar in exchange.


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In yesterday's post on personality types I talked about Analyticals and Expressive.
Today I'll address Drivers and Amiables.
Drivers are goal-driven, independent, action-oriented, competitive, self-reliant, productive, strong-willed, industrious, controlling, firm, serious and like to take charge.
Jayne from Firefly would be considered a Driver.
Amiables are calm, nurturing, cooperative, respectful, non-demanding, thoughtful, patient, tolerant, loyal, sympathetic and like to be liked.
Inara is an Amiable. Although Jayne and Inara did not interact as often as Kaylee and Simon and were not romantically involved, when they did interact there was usually some friction between them.
Imagine a meeting for a bake sale. The Driver would immediately take charge, handing out assignments, setting a goal as to how much the bake sale should make and throwing herself into doing whatever needs to be done, her nose to the proverbial grind stone.
The Amiable would be just as enthusiastic about the bake sale, thinking of how happy it will make the school band members to have enough money to buy new instruments. She'll want to make sure that everyone is happy with their assignment, that the people who come to the bake sale enjoy themselves and, even if the bake sale doesn't meet its monetary goal, she'll have enjoyed spending time with so many people.
Now imagine these two in a room. The Driver is not happy the Amiable is spending so much time schmoozing with the other volunteers. She's supposed to be negotiating with the bakery as to how many cupcakes they need to order.
On the other hand, the Amiable is wondering why the Driver is so uptight. It's just a bake sale. If they don't make enough money this time around there's always next semester.
Conflict is the lifeblood of your story and the more the characters conflict, the more conflict there will be in your story.


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Formed in the 90's, Thokozani brothers is an acapella adult male choir group working to make a difference in the lives of the youth in Cape Towns township of Khayelitsha (source: cape chameleon).
To help support the youth development project, Thokozani brothers contribute 20% of their ticket sales towards the cause . Their mission is to change the mindset of the township's children and to provide the children with a positive environment so that they can be children (source: cape chameleon).
It was a pleasant surprise to watch the Thokozani brothers perform on the streets of Boulders Beach (famous for it's African penguin colony) in Simon's Town. Before visiting South Africa, I would dreamt of the chance to see LIVE performers, to feel the energy and vibrancy of their culture and arts.
I wasn't fortunate enough to visit the townships of Cape Town (due to time constraints), which I must admit have had a reputation for not being the safest places for tourists to visit on their own. But if you have a similar passion for exploring deep into cultures and local communities then don't miss out on your chance to tour Cape Town's townships safely using any of the following Tour Groups I have mentioned below. Also point to note: The township of Khayelitsha, (the home of Thokozani Brothers Choir) is the largest township in Western Cape and many tour companies do offer tours there.
Township Tour Operators:
Camissa Township & Gospel Tours


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Livin' On Lake Time - Canvas Print
Livin' On Lake Time
Don't you just want to drop what you're doing and go sit by the lake in this swing? I love the mesmerizing sunset and the fog coming off the lake.This print makes the perfect wall decor piece for a lake house, cabin, cottage or lodge.
Each print is:
- Made of high-quality canvas & fade-resistant inks
- Lovingly framed by hand in Minnesota
- Created with only US and Canadian materials
- Shipped in 1-2 days of your purchase.
I have many standard sizes listed, but if you would like a special size or edit, please contact me. I would be happy to work with you to design the canvas you have in mind.
I have made canvases for many occasions including:
- Housewarming and Hostess gifts
- Retirement gifts
- Anniversary gifts
- Wedding gifts
- Mother's Day gifts
- Father's Day gifts
- Valentine's Day gifts
- Baby gifts and baby showers
- Birthday gifts
- Christmas gifts
- Graduation gifts
- Christmas gifts
Canvas prints also make wonderful gifts for that hard-to-buy-for friend or the person who has everything.
I have many lake designs available on canvas. You can see them all here:
If you would like to customize this print with your own wording or photo, check out all the details here:
To see all of my collections, click on this link:
Jennifer Ditterich Designs Collections
Thank you for taking the time to look at my artwork. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have here:
I look forward to visiting with you!
And remember, for each canvas you purchase I will plant a tree. You can read more about this program here.
Photo by Jody Doll


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Thanks so much to Jamie Ridler for creating Wishcasting Wednesday–it has been one of the most healing experiences of the last year for me. If you're looking for a place to do some soul searching and have a wonderfully supportive group of creative and loving people behind you, check it out!!
This week's prompt…
What hunger do you wish to feed?
When I first looked at this question, I had to kind of laugh because I'm actually going through a medical situation where I am hungry but can't feed it…
It seems that's all I'm talking about. I had a gallbladder attack last week and have had to seriously curtail the type of eating I have been doing–no fats, sugar, processed foods, dairy, white flour, etc. All of the types of foods I have been eating in my unconscious lifestyle. So, I've been eating lots of fruits and vegetables, rice, oatmeal, etc. The attack is mostly over, near as I can tell, the pain in my stomach, back, and shoulder is gone and I can move around without pain.
And, I'm very, very grateful for my body for letting me know just how unhappy and unhealthy it has been. I'm sure it was telling me in so many subtle and not so subtle ways and finally had to resort to something big to finally get through to me. "you need to take care of me!"
I have been hungry for and have cravings/desires for the junk but I know I cannot do that to my body, mind, and soul any longer–one of the reasons being that if I do, I'll have to have my gallbladder out and I do believe we're created with organs for a purpose and I don't want to have anything removed that doesn't HAVE to be.
Since I've been eating so many clean foods I actually am feeling better, have more energy, feel lighter, mentally clear, and am sleeping better (even without my CPAP machine). Amazing how we can be so conscious and unconscious at the same time…
Okay, so on to Jamie's question, the hunger I really, REALLY want to feed is to create my best life…I have been doing a lot of work towards that but I am definitely a work in progress. But I am finally starting to set my life up to succeed. This week, I finally decided to pull the plug on my cable TV (as of this coming Friday). I've said it before, I spend waaaaaayyyyy too much time in front of the TV mindlessly watching life happen on the TV and not participating in mine. I wish and hope that my stopping sitting in front of the TV screen will provide me with the energy and desire to do things such as:
Going for walks with my sweet, beautiful dog–Ruby (picture below)–she loves to walk so much and is such a great dog she deserves to have the best life too and she deserves more involved attention too.
Just move my body more, period.
Spend more time reading so many of the books I have purchased over the years–the knowledge has not come to my through osmosis so must read them ;o)
Do more creative work–I have so many started projects that are not completed. They weigh on my mind.
Explore my creativity more.
Have space/time for my mind to be creative about my future–make plans/have goals.
Stop procrastinating about the things that need to be done around the house.
Spend time with friends–what a novel idea, getting out in public.
So the hunger I wish to feed is to be a participant in life–my life and the life around me.
If you do not take care of your body, where will you live? – Unknown
A high quality/authentic life has more to do with what you take out of your life than what you add to it. – Cheryl Richardson
(isn't she the cutest???)
To all Wishcasters: As you wish for yourself, I truly wish for you as well!!


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Motorola Droid Razr Maxx has sleek dimensions of 4.3 inch display with super AMOLED Advanced capacitive touchscreen and strengthened with a capacity of 3300 mAh battery. Read more
Motorola has officially introduced the Motorola Wilder aka EX130. Wilder brings the touch screen with the phone body is designed dust-proof and waterproof. This phone is a phone for the low... Read more
Wow google is amazing in these last months, not long ago he published a google mobile phone Nexus S based Gingerbread and now google showing off a new tablet. This time google holding motor... Read more


text: so far i really love my m3 real. im using it with a sandisk 6 GB high capacity and firmware 2.9 (or whatere the newest is) now i run into the first problem ever.... no online play for metroid hunterss? the game keeps giving me error code 61070 anyone else having this?? any advice?


text: First of all, as many of you noticed, I have bad grammar and am bad with punctuations. I've completed academic (University) level grade 12 English in Ontario with an 81. However, I know I still need help for further achievements in University. I was wondering, does anyone know a good essay writing study guide of some sort? (For adults and what not.)


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We have 3500 members across Greater Glasgow - and counting!
GDA supports members to speak out about disability issues every chance we get! Our Purple Poncho Players take it to the next level, using music, comedy and drama to depict their own real life experiences on stage, for audiences of policy makers, service managers, and government officials.
Their sketches show powerful personal stories of the barriers disabled people face - they show disabled people's experiences of welfare reform, isolation, hate crime and prejudice, as well as the difference it can make having the right support, social connections, choice and control in our lives.
One of GDA's 7 founder members, Tressa has been our CEO since 2006, steering GDA from its fledgling vision of supporting disabled people's voices, confidence, choice and control in 2001, to the multi-award-winning community of 3500+ we are today.
Passionate about equality and human rights, Tressa has dedicated her working life to supporting community voices and participation. She led a specialist Independent Living service within Glasgow Social Services – paving the way for self-directed support - then was manager of Gorbals Community Forum.
Tressa co-Chairs Glasgow Independent Living Strategy Board and represents GDA on Glasgow and Scotland wide working groups.
As depute CEO, Marianne's role involves strategic, policy and partnership work as well as direct delivery of programmes. She leads on our work with young disabled people and has particular expertise in training and accessible information.
Marianne has worked in the disability sector for over 25 years, and was a founder member of GDA before coming to work here in 2010. She is also on the board of Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL).
Marianne is passionate about social history and is currently researching the history of her street and local area. She loves Doc Martens, going to music gigs, Sci-fi and confesses to being a bit of an IT geek!
Linda has been keeping GDA's cogs turning since we first received funding in 2008. She has worked in the Third Sector for over 20 years: from a Recycling Project in Castlemilk to being a Manager of a Community Resource Centre with 17 staff. She first worked with Tressa Burke at the Gorbals Community Forum for 5 years before finally working at GDA.
Linda is a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 7 and loves Holidaying in Las Vegas, reading, knitting and dancing. She much prefers numbers to words - despite this she is currently learning to speak Italian!
Brian is GDA's resident expert on employability: he has worked in this area in both the public and third sectors for over 30 years! He is passionate about offering training and coaching to support disabled people to achieve their goals of accessing employment, training and volunteering.
Working with GDA partners on a range of issues - from adult protection, poverty and hate crime - Brian supports GDA members to make sure the views and voices of disabled people inform policy and practice.
Brian loves spending time with his daughters and grandchildren but also likes to escape to the great outdoors for cycling and fishing.
Sandra joined team GDA in 2013, with around 30 years' experience in the fields of social care, disability and mental health. She feels very much at home at GDA, with our focus on justice and equality using human rights based approaches.
Sandra leads on our work with older disabled people and those with long term conditions. She also works with many partner networks, making sure GDA members' voices are heard by decision makers at local and national levels, on key areas such as Human Rights, Self Directed Support, and the Equalities Act. In her spare time, Sandra likes running and going to Bootcamp, in all weathers, but especially when it snows!
Alison joined GDA in 2011 having previously worked as Office Manager for an insurance broker and as school secretary for around 9 years. She became GDA's Office Manager in 2015, overseeing all admin duties. And with disabled people needing access and support to take part in programmes, there's a lot to be organised!
Alison particularly enjoys the challenge of working in such a diverse and ever changing environment. Outside of work, Alison really enjoys travelling, the further the better! She loves learning about new places, people, cultures, and foods.
Ruth joined the GDA team in 2015 as Marianne's PA and team admin officer. After a 4 month adventure away in Berlin, Ruth is now back with GDA as Community Development Coordinator - working with Isla to support our Drivers for Change network.
Ruth previously worked in France teaching English in secondary schools, and is involved with a number of grassroots campaigns fighting to make Scotland a fairer society.
Outside of work Ruth loves travelling, watching films, cooking incredibly spicy food, and building up her collections of battered second hand books and vintage dresses.
Sylvia started with GDA in 2014, supporting learners on our first 'Activate' Community Development course. As Development Officer Sylvia now works mainly with older people, supporting them to set up and run their own community groups, to break down barriers and tackle social isolation.
A full-time mum of 7 for many years, Sylvia joined an Activate course herself in 2010 and before long she had an HNC from college and completed her BA Degree in Community Development at Glasgow University just before turning 50. While studying she worked as a Youth Worker, and helped to set up a local food bank. Sylvia loves traveling, reading, films and music. Above all she cares about people and firmly believes in equality and social justice for all.
Joining the GDA team in July 2015, Isla supports our Drivers for Change network. She organises training and opportunities for GDA members to share their experiences, meet with powerholders like the Government or Council, and speak out to help tackle the barriers disabled people face. Isla's strategic focus is bringing lived experience into policy making and planning.
Isla previously worked for a disabled people-led organisation in England, and researched disability and human rights while studying for an MA in Community Development.
Isla is passionate about sports and creativity, and how these help with mental health and wellbeing.
Noreen joined GDA in 2014 as a Personal Assistant and tutor - Now she coordinates the Future Visions Project, giving one to one support and encouraging participants to build their confidence to achieve their hopes and aspirations.
Noreen previously lectured at the Nautical College working with ESOL students and learners with addictions. She also ran the Oatlands Community Resource Centre for five years, coordinating their Community Activities and Welfare Rights work.
Noreen enjoys travelling and spending quality time with family and friends. Noreen believes that everyone has the right to be supported to pursue their goals and dreams.


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Perceptual Positions
Seeing Other Points of View
You may have heard the expression, "Before you criticize others, walk a mile in their shoes."
This is good advice, but how can you actually do that? How do you learn to see things from someone else's point of view so that you can better understand that person's thoughts and actions?
Well, the good news is that you don't literally have to walk a mile in anyone's shoes. Thanks to a technique called Perceptual Positions, you can learn to experience a situation through someone else's eyes, while you stay in your own office, in your own shoes!
In this article, we describe Perceptual Positions, review the benefits of using it, and show you the steps you need to use it for yourself.
What Are Perceptual Positions?
The Perceptual Positions exercise is taken from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Its goal is to show you, in a structured way, how to see other people's points of view. It's a straightforward exercise that you can do in just a few minutes.
Here's a situation that would benefit from a perceptual positions exercise: imagine you're having trouble with your boss. She's asked you to finish a report by the end of the day, so you get it done. However, when you hand the report to her, she's angry that you didn't finish another task she also gave you an hour later.
Situations like this can be frustrating. However, like most things in life, there are usually two sides to the story. A technique like perceptual positions can help you understand your boss's perspective, so that you can both communicate with each other more constructively, and work out a resolution.
The Perceptual Positions Exercise
The Perceptual Positions exercise allows you to look at a situation from three different viewpoints: your own, the other person's, and that of an objective outsider. Follow these steps to take yourself through the technique.
Step 1: Identify the Situation
Start by identifying a specific situation for which you need more clarity. We'll continue to use the example of the angry boss.
Step 2: Set up Your Space
Using this technique, you move to an entirely different place in the room every time you "change positions" (become someone else). This doesn't have to be a major change – for example, you could simply switch chairs in your office. However, it's important to set up three separate locations – called "spatial anchors" – before you begin.
The reason why it's useful to change spaces is that this allows you to take a break from each viewpoint you'll be experiencing. Think of it like wiping the slate clean and readying yourself to write something new. Practitioners call this "breaking state," and physically changing positions for each viewpoint is important to the success of this exercise.
Make sure you know which space you'll use for each viewpoint. For example, when you're being yourself, you'll sit behind your desk. When you take your boss's position, you'll sit in the chair across from your desk. And when you're the objective outsider, you'll sit in the chair across the room.
Step 3: Get to Know Each Position (Person)
Before you start dealing with a specific issue, familiarize yourself with the different positions you'll experience.
This is similar to trying on new clothes. Simply imagine what it's like to be "inside" each different person. Think of it as role-playing. Don't focus on your specific situation yet.
It's important to imagine as much detail as possible. For instance, if you're taking your boss's position, think about her hand gestures, her mannerisms, and her viewpoints. Hear her voice as she talks, and try to imagine how she feels in different situations. Really put yourself into the role, much like an actor would. For just a minute or two, try to "become" her.
In perceptual positions, there are three commonly used positions. Practice each position for just a minute:
- First position – This is you.
- Second position – This is the other person involved in the situation (in this case, your boss).
- Third position – This is an objective outsider, someone who has no connection with, or involvement in, the situation.
Every time you switch positions, take a quick break, and do something entirely different to free your mind of that role. You could drink some water or read a paragraph from a book. This will help your mind "leave" one role so you can easily change to the next.
Step 4: Explore Each Position
Now you're ready to start imagining your specific situation.
First position – Go to your first spatial anchor point, the physical space you chose for your first position (in our example, the chair behind your desk). Close your eyes, and review the specific situation in your mind. Picture it exactly as it happened, seeing it through your own eyes. Remember exactly what each person said, and how you felt.
The more specific you are, the better the exercise will work.
Second position – After you replay the situation clearly from your viewpoint, take a break. Get up and do something else for 15 seconds. Then, move to your second position's spatial anchor point (in our example, the chair across from your desk).
Imagine the situation from the other person's point of view. Imagine stepping into your boss's body, and look at yourself through her eyes. Replay again what you both said – but this time, try to imagine her perspective. What pressures is she under? How does she see you and your actions?
Third position – Once you've completely replayed the situation, take another quick break. Then step into the position of the objective outsider, moving to the third spatial anchor point (in our example, the chair across the room).
For this last position, it's helpful to picture yourself looking down on the scene from above, or looking through a window into the room. You could also imagine yourself as a counselor, listening objectively to both sides of the story.
Ask yourself these questions: How are these two people acting? Are they being fair to each other? Is one being dominant, while the other is submissive? What advice would you give these two people to help them work out their differences?
Step 5: Analyze What You've Learned
Take a few minutes to write down what you learned from the exercise. What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the other person? How do you want to move forward from here?
Key Points
The perceptual positions technique allows you to see things from someone else's perspective. By replaying a scene from the viewpoints of yourself, the other person, and an objective outsider, you may get a clearer picture of what actually happened – and how the other person sees the situation. This technique may take some practice, but the more you do it, the easier it will become.


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13 seconds before launch, SpaceX have scrubbed the flight for 24 hours as they put safety first after not achieving a consensus on key vector system.
SpaceX fans will be slightly disappointed to know that the historic launch from pad 39A has been scrubbed for 24 hours. The launch was due for takeoff shortly after 10:00 a.m. EST from the historic and iconic Kennedy Space Center. The pad in question is 39A, which has been used in the past for several important and groundbreaking missions.
The launch was scrubbed 13 seconds before takeoff because the team did not have a consensus on the second stage vector control system. Range has approved the time for tomorrows attempted launch at 09:38:59.
The launch would have marked a new dawn for the Kennedy Space Center as SpaceX would have become the first private company to launch from Launch Complex 39A. Everyone involved in both NASA and SpaceX hope that, eventually, astronauts will be taking off from 39A in SpaceX vehicles.
The signs were positive all day and the weather allowed for the countdown to continue, despite some doubts in the safety systems on board. Weather forecast is good for tomorrow and the team are confident.
The historic pad used to launch the SpaceX Falcon 9 is 39A, the very same launch pad that was once used to send the crew of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.
"I'm a little partial to this pad, as all four of my shuttle flights lifted off from here. So, it means a lot to see it in use and not wasting away in the salt air." Bob Cabana – Former NASA astronaut and current director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The Dragon Spacecraft is now waiting to get on its way to the International Space Station with 2500kg of equipment, supplies and scientific study work. Also included in the manifest is a group of live mice who are undoubtedly going to be a little confused as to what exactly is going on right now. The mice will be involved in experiments to study how healing is affected by gravity.
Range has approved the time for tomorrows attempted launch at 09:38:59


text: Hi, I'm getting my Wii modded with my wiikey which arrived yesterday. I'm meeting the person that's modding it tomorrow but I don't know him (got his name and all from craigslist). I know there are a lot of clones floating around and i don't want to risk getting one installed in my wii so I was wondering if theres any place on the wiikey that i would maybe be able to leave a mark on just in case? thanks


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COUP ALERT: EGYPT MILITARY Slaps Travel Ban on President Morsi and Top Islamists (VIDEO) …Update: Muslim Brotherhood Members Arrested – Tanks on the Move!
Egyptian security forces slapped a travel ban on Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammad Morsi and top Islamists.
The Egyptian military also released amazing footage of the people's protest in Cairo.
MILLIONS of democracy supporters are calling for President Morsi's resignation.
More: Egyptian Military Takes Over State Television Station
Al-Ahram reported:
Egyptian security forces on Wednesday imposed a travel ban on President Mohamed Morsi and several top Islamist allies over their involvement in a prison escape in 2011, security officials said.
Airport officials confirmed to AFP that they had received orders to prevent the leaders — including Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohammed Badie and his deputy Khairat al-Shater — from travelling abroad.
UPDATE: FOX News just reported – Muslim Brotherhood officials say their members are being arrested.
UPDATE: Arab leaders called on President Morsi to step down today.
UPDATE: Egyptian troops on Charles de Gaulle street just past Gamaa Bridge near Cairo Uni.
Feels like the coup has arrived.
UPDATE: An adviser to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said Wednesday that a military coup was underway, that tanks were on the move outside Cairo and that communication with the president had been cut off.
Tanks at Cairo University (Twitter)
More... Troops mass on Giza bridge.
The Egyptian Army deployed on Gam3a Bridge in Giza, via Cairo.
UPDATE: Military vehicles roll into Alexandria.
More… Tanks in Giza.
UPDATE: Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Muhammad Badie's six guards have been detained, according to Turkish Anadolu Agency.
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Photojournalists Demand Encrypted Cameras
Posted by Greg Scoblete on Wednesday December 14, 2016 | Camera, Photojournalism
Posted by Greg Scoblete on Wednesday December 14, 2016 | Camera, Photojournalism
Hacking is much in the news of late, but the Freedom of the Press Foundation is concerned about a less visible, yet no-less-vital, aspect of information security: the security of digital cameras.
Or, more accurately, the lack thereof.
The Foundation has published a letter from over 150 documentary filmmakers and photographers that calls on the major camera companies to build encyrption into their devices.
"Documentary filmmakers and photojournalists work in some of the most dangerous parts of the world, often risking their lives to get footage of newsworthy events to the public," wrote the Foundation's Executive Director Trevor Timm in a post announcing the letter. "They face a variety of threats from border security guards, local police, intelligence agents, terrorists, and criminals when attempting to safely return their footage so that it can be edited and published. These threats are particularly heightened any time a bad actor can seize or steal their camera, and they are left unprotected by the lack of security features that would shield their footage from prying eyes."
Timm added that, "the magnitude of this problem is hard to overstate: Filmmakers and photojournalists have their cameras and footage seized at a rate that is literally too high to count."
Encryption is standard on iPhones and many Android devices alongside a slew of digital communication tools like WhatsApp and Signal. Whether it will come to digital cameras remains to be seen.
The text of the letter, which was sent to Nikon, Sony, Canon, Olympus and Fuji, among others, is below. It follows an advisory from the Committee to Protect Journalists warning journalists crossing the border into the U.S. to secure digital devices against possible search.
Dear Canon,
We, the undersigned documentary filmmakers and photojournalists, are writing to urge your company to build encryption features into your still photo and video camera products. These features, which are currently missing from all commercial cameras on the market, are needed to protect our safety and security, as well as that of our sources and subjects worldwide.
Without encryption capabilities, photographs and footage that we take can be examined and searched by the police, military, and border agents in countries where we operate and travel, and the consequences can be dire.
We work in some of the most dangerous parts of the world, often attempting to uncover wrongdoing in the interests of justice. On countless occasions, filmmakers and photojournalists have seen their footage seized by authoritarian governments or criminals all over the world. Because the contents of their cameras are not and cannot be encrypted, there is no way to protect any of the footage once it has been taken. This puts ourselves, our sources, and our work at risk.
Many technology companies have in recent years embraced encryption technology, often including it in their products and enabling it by default. Indeed, encryption has, in some sectors, become an industry-best practice. Apple's iPhones encrypt all data stored on them by default, as do many phones running Google's Android operating system; text messages and voice calls made with WhatsApp, iMessage, FaceTime, and Signal are all protected using end-to-end encryption technology; and laptops and desktop computers running modern versions of Microsoft Windows and macOS encrypt all data stored by default too.
However, we face a critical gap between the moment we shoot our footage and the first opportunity to get that footage onto more secure devices.
As filmmakers and photojournalists who value our own safety and the safety of our sources and subjects, we would seek out and buy cameras that come with built-in encryption. Adding these data security features to your product line would give your company a significant competitive advantage over other camera manufacturers, none of whom currently offer this feature.
Beyond the commercial motivation for adding encryption features, we know your company has commendably committed to corporate social responsibility. Building encryption into your products is not just about helping the filmmakers and photojournalists who buy them, but about making the world a better place. As filmmakers and photojournalists, we use our lenses to hold powerful people to account — and ultimately to change society for the better. Encryption features will allow us to continue to tell the most important stories, from some of the most dangerous places in the world.
You can help us reach that goal by starting to work towards building encryption into your camera products.
Thank you for your consideration.
Over 150 Filmmakers, Photographers, and Media Workers Around the World
Abbas, Photographer, Magnum Photos
Lynsey Addario, Photojournalist, Freelance
Avi S. Adelman, Photojournalist/Editor, TheRightToPhotographInPublic.com
Cecilia Aldarondo, Assistant Professor of Film, Skidmore College
Chase Alexander, Filmmaker, Freelance
Ra'anan Alexandrowicz, Filmmaker, Independent
Alejandro Álvarez Cadilla, Director/Cinematographer, Independent
Anthony Arnove, Producer, Independent
Craig Atkinson, Documentary Filmmaker / Director, Vanish Films
Barbara Attie, Documentary Filmmaker, Attie & Goldwater Productions
Julia Bacha, Creative Director, Just Vision
Joslyn Barnes, Filmmaker, Louverture Films
Amy Benson, Filmmaker, Independent, Nonfiction Media
Amy Berg, Filmmaker, Independent
Pietra Brettkelly, Documentary Director/Producer, Independent
Emad Burnat, Filmmaker/Director/Producer, Independent
Bruni Burres, Senior Consultant/DFP, Sundance
Rebecca Cammisa, Director, Documentress Films
Gloria Carrión Fonseca, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Peggy Case, Producer, Independent
Carlos Cazalis, Documentary Photographer, Freelance
Leyland Cecco, Photojournalist/Filmmaker, Independent
Jessica Chermayeff, Producer/Director, Independent
Michael Christopher Brown, Photographer, Magnum Photos
Brenda Coughlin, Producer, Praxis Films
Eric Daniel Metzgar, Filmmaker, Independent
Amlan Datta, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Guy Davidi, Filmmaker/Director/Producer, Independent
Jessica Devaney, Producer, Independent
Romona S. Diaz, Documentary Filmmaker, CineDiaz, Inc.
Peter Dicamp, Photographer/Co-founder, Everyday Africa and The Everyday Projects
Anita Doron, Filmmaker/TED Fellow, Independent
Sara Dosa, Producer/Director, Signpost Pictures
Andrew Droz Palermo, Director/Cinematographer, Independent
Sandi DuBowski, Director, Films That Change The World
Negin Farsad, Filmmaker/Comedian, Independent
Kristen Feeley, Labs and Artist Support Director , Sundance DFP
David Felix Sutcliffe, Nonfiction Filmmaker, Independent
Field of Vision
Clayton Filipowicz, Videographer, Independent
Patrick Forbes, Director of Documentaries, Oxford Film
Jošt Franko, Photographer, Freelance
Morgan J. Freeman, Filmmaker/Founder, 11th Street Productions
Pedro G. García, Documentary Editor, Independent
Christy Garland, Director, MurmurMedia
Megan Gelstein, Senior Program Director, Catapult Film Fund
Howard Gertler, Producer, Independent
Alex Gibney, Filmmaker, Jigsaw Productions
Jim Goldberg, Photographer, Magnum Photos
Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Director and Producer, Directors Guild of America
Fred Grace, Producer, Fat Rat Films
Christopher Gregory, Photographer, Freelance
Mark Grieco, Documentary Filmmaker/Director/Photographer, Independent
David Gross, Photojournalist, ZUMA Press, Freelance
Katey Grusovin, Producer/Director/Writer, Independent
Irene Gutiérrez, Executive Producer/Director/Filmmaker, Independent
Dean Hamer, Director, Qwaves Films
Johanna Hamilton, Filmmaker, Maximum Pictures
Kiana Hayeri, Photojournalist, Freelance
NC Heikin, Director, Independent
Matthew Heineman, Filmmaker/Director/Producer, Independent
Seth Herald, Photojournalist, ZUMA Press
Tom Hurwitz, Director/Producer, American Society of Cinematographers
Cristina Ibarra, Filmmaker, Independent
International Documentary Association
Alina Ioana Vasillu, Journalist, Constanţa noastră (Romania)
Mai Iskander, Director/Cinematographer, Iskander Films
Niam Itani, Producer, Placeless Films
Tabitha Jackson, Director, Sundance DFP
Kirsten Johnson, Filmmaker/Cinematographer, Independent
Judy Karp, Sound Recordist, Independent
Deborah Kaufman, Filmmaker, Snitow-Kaufman Productions
Mark Kendall, Follow Your Nose Films
Sonia Kennebeck, Filmmaker, Independent
Gelareh Kiazand, Videographer/Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Simon Kilmurry, Executive Director, International Documentary Association
Geoff King, Photojournalist, Independent
Alison Klayman, Filmmaker, Independent
Vivian Kleiman, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Brian Knappenberger, Writer/Director, Luminant Media
Matthew Lawrence, Photographer, Independent
Adi Lavy, Documentary & New Media Director, Israeli Documentary Filmmakers Forum
Rob Lemkin, Filmmaker, Old Street Films
Elisa Levine, Director, Out of Frame Films
James Longley, Filmmaker, Daylight Factory
Avram Ludwig, Producer
Asa Mader, Filmmaker
Anne Makepeace, Director/Producer, Makepeace Productions
Jeff Malmberg, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Margarita L Martinez, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Eric Matthies, Documentary Producer and Director, Independent
Daniel McCabe, Director/Cinematographer/Photographer, Independent
Susan Meiselas, Photographer, Magnum Photos
Arturo Mendicuti Barroeta, Filmmaker, Caribou Films
Flannery Miller, Producer/Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Gabriel Miller, Director/DP, Kindred Media
Ioana Moldoveanu, Editor-in-Chief, VICE Romania
Jake Naughton, Photojournalist, Independent
Khaliah Neal, Producer, Independent
Minette Nelson, Co-founder, The Filmmaker Fund
Bao Nguyen, Director/Cinematographer, Independent
Mona Nicoara, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Orwa Nyrabia, filmmaker, No Nation Films
Ed Ou, Photojournalist, Getty Images
Trevor Paglen, Photojournalist, Independent
Heloísa Passos, Cinematographer/Filmmaker, Independent
Sierra Pettengill, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Esther Podemski, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Laura Poitras, Filmmaker, Field of Vision
PJ Raval, Filmmaker/Cinematographer, Independent
Jeff Reichert, Director/Producer, Independent
Geoffrey Richman, Documentary Film Editor
Jed Riffe, Producer/Director/Writer/Transmedia Storyteller, Jed Riffe Films + Electronic Media
Marcia Rock, Director, News & Documentary, NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute
Richard Rowley, Executive Producer, Divided Films
Bernardo Ruiz, Documentary Filmmaker, Quiet Pictures
Ashley Sabin, Filmmaker, Carnivalesque Films
Holen Sabrina Kahn, Filmmaker, Independent
David Sampliner, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Carlos Sandoval, Filmmaker, Camino Bluff Productions, Inc.
Garret Savage, Filmmaker, Independent
Justin Schein, Producer/Director/DP, Shadowbox Films Inc.
Andréa Schmidt, Journalist / Filmmaker, Independent
Nancy Schwartzman, Documentary Filmmaker App-Founder, Independent
Martha Shane, Director and Producer, Independent
Chuck Shultz, Documentarian, BluePrint Productions
Marc Silver, Director / DP / Creative Director, Independent
Douglas Sloan, Director, Icontent Films
Kathryn Smith Pyle, Filmmaker, Independent
Alan Snitow, Filmmaker, Snitow-Kaufman Productions
James Spione, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Scott Squire, Filmmaker, Independent, Nonfiction Media
Christopher St. John, Producer, Charlotte Street Films
Brett Story, Director and Filmmaker, Independent
Aiden J. Sullivan, Founder and CEO, Verbatim Photo Agency
Jon-Michael Sullivan, Photojournalist, Independent
Johnny Symons, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent/Persistent Visions
Saeed Taji Farouky, Documentary Filmmaker, Independent
Rahdi Taylor, Film Fund Director, Sundance
Jennifer Taylor, Producer and Director, Specific Pictures
Mircea Toma, President, ActiveWatch
Joel Van Haren, Director of Photography, Freelance
Rosadel Varela, Producer, Independent
John Vink, Photographer, Magnum Photos
Sweta Vohra, Television Producer, Al Jazeera International
Orlando von Einsiedel, Director, Grain Media
Anat Vovnoboy, Documentary Director, Independent
Matthew Weigand, Photojournalist, Independent
Ryan White, Filmmaker, Tripod Media
Alex Winter, Director, Independent
Pamela Yates, Creative Director, Skylight
Amy Ziering, Documentary Filmmaker, Chain Camera Pictures
Malika Zouhali-Worral, Director and Editor, Independent
Posted by Greg Scoblete on Monday October 30, 2017 | Camera, Photo Gear
With smarter cameras comes new ways to tell stories. Are photographers ready? More ›
Posted by Greg Scoblete on Thursday June 1, 2017 | Camera, Photo Gear
Researchers have made a big breakthrough in developing curved image sensors. More ›
Posted by Greg Scoblete on Wednesday May 17, 2017 | Camera
Spoiler alert: not well. Smartphone image quality has improved rapidly over the past few years, creating a fun sub-genre of YouTube videos pitting smartphones against vastly more expensive cameras. (Watch, for instance, how the iPhone 7 compares to a Red Weapon.) In this video, via Potato Jet, we have what may be the toughest comparison... More ›


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Canada's Fall (Autumn) Foliage
DURATION:11 Days/ 10 NightsREGION:North AmericaSHIP:Victory I & II
Join a memorable 11 day Canadian Maritimes cruise of discovery between Toronto and Portland, Maine. Travelling in the Autumn, you will enjoy the rustic colours of Canada's famed 'fall foliage'. You will also have ample time to experience some of Canada's most interesting cities; from bustling Toronto to French-speaking
Montréal, Québec City and historic Halifax. More highlights include a full day cruise on Lake Ontario and travelling the length of the mighty Saint Lawrence River, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Cruise aboard the stylishly appointed coastal cruiser Victory I, enjoying convivial company and sumptuous dining experiences.
We have multiple departure dates for this cruise. Select a year and month to view itineraries for alternative departure dates.
Victory I & II
Operated by: Victory Cruise Lines
The indisputable joy of coastal cruising is brought to life on the identical sister-ships M/V Victory I & II. These agile and intimate small ships can easily navigates canals and locks, tranquil bays, and hidden ports where larger ships dare not go. Both ships feature fresh, modern design that tips its hat to America's maritime past as spacious, open-air lounges, inviting dining venues, and generous windows ensure you never miss a chance to savour the spectacular view.
With a crew of 84, pampering no more than 202 guests, you'll feel very at home on the M/V Victory ships from the moment you step on board. And, you will often travel in the company of engaging specialists focusing on areas where the journey takes you. They share their expertise freely in presentations and impromptu discussions throughout your journey. In port, included shore excursions with knowledgeable local guides provide meaningful opportunities to uncover the rich history, unique wildlife, and fascinating cultures of the destinations you will visit.
Key Facts
Note: Victory Cruise Lines assigns port charges of USD $449 per person to this cruise. These charges are not included in the published fare and will be added to your invoice.
Your cruise price includes:
- 10 nights accommodation aboard the Victory I
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily
- Morning and afternoon teas
- High Tea service
- Pre-dinner cocktail events each evening
- House wine, beer, soft drinks and non-premium alcohol
- Featured shore excursions in each port (as per itinerary)
- Lecture programmes with local experts
- Use of ship's WiFi
Your cruise price does not include:
- Flights and pre- and post- cruise accommodation
- Transfers to / from the ship
- Travel Insurance (highly recommended - SAVE 20% when purchased with your expedition)
- Gratuities - cruise line suggests $15 per per person per day
- Premium alcoholic beverages
- Spa treatments
- Items of a personal nature (laundry and communications expenses)
- Port fees of USD $449 per person
Book your next cruise
Please note: This cruise is sold in USD
Note: Victory Cruise Lines assigns port charges of USD $449 per person to this cruise. These charges are not included in the published fare and will be added to your invoice.
This itinerary is an indication of the destinations visited and activities on offer. While every effort will be made to follow this itinerary the Captain reserves the right to vary this itinerary to make allowances for weather, tidal conditions and any other event that may affect the operation of the vessel.
By completing this booking request you acknowledge that you have read and accept Expedition Cruise Specialists' and Victory Cruise Line's terms and conditions.
Single travellers are accommodated in their own room upon payment of a 60% surcharge.


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The fast changing lifestyle is making it difficult for people to move from one store to another shopping for goods or seeking for essential services. The only time that we have at our hands will be used to relax at home and just free our minds Even going for the most essential services like beauty therapy has become a task that many would love to avoid. The good news is that beauty industry has also undergone lots of transformation and. Just like other services which can be rendered at the comfort of your living room, you can now enjoy beauty therapy at the comfort of your living room thanks to mobile beauty services.
If you are always busy that getting some minutes off to visit a spa is hard, then mobile beauty services is just what you need to get all your beauty issues sorted. Instead of getting out of your comfort zone to seek for the services, the therapists come to you and render the same services that you would have obtained at a beauty parlour. While at your home you can choose the most appropriate location in your house where you will relax comfortably and enjoy beauty treatment. After everything is set and you are mentally prepared for the treatment, the only thing that is required of you is to call contact the therapists.
Mobile beauty therapists conduct their businesses in a very professional way so as to satisfy the trust of their clients.They deliver high quality treatments which you would expect to receive while visiting them.Since they deliver their services while at the client's home, building trust is one thing that therapists consider in providing the beauty services.It is acceptable for you to fear welcoming a stranger at your home but believe it or not, you will free to welcome a mobile beauty therapist at your home. They have received the necessary training and have experience that will make them have an easy interaction with the host.
Mobile beauty therapists do not have limits when it comes to the type of services that need to be provided. They are fully capable of providing whichever kind of service that you may need. You can have your facial and pedicure done while relaxing at your cozy bed. You can have the therapist come to your special events such as weddings and have your beauty treatments done. Ensure that a mobile therapist who comes at your home is qualified, insured and has all the certifications of professionalism.


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ERC offers extensive training on your customized POS system. Each dedicated session provides you with the maximum amount of knowledge and hands-on experience needed to meet your operational and business needs. All of our training sessions are done using a Focus database built with your menu and specifications. By doing this, we can effectively integrate Focus into your everyday life and create a streamlined operation for you and your staff. With ERC, you will be able to increase your sales almost immediately by creating an environment with faster order processing, better Drive Thru operations and shorter lines. Your well-trained management staff will also be able to create an easy to learn in environment that reduces new hire training time.
Front-of-house -- We begin our POS training with your front-of-house staff, explaining the system's functionality and workflow from the perspective of the everyday user. Staff will be guided through entering items, collecting payments, voiding and everything in between. By utilizing your database, created for you by ERC. Your staff will better under stand the usage and benefits of the POS system. After this session, you can be assured your staff will have all the tools needed to operate smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
Back-of-house -- After a thorough front-of-house session, we will move into back-of-house training directed towards managers and owners. In this session we walk you through menu maintenance, reporting, discounts, employee maintenance, editing time cards and all other functionality associated with your system.
Modules -- We can provide additional POS training for Focus modules that you may have added to your system such as customer, delivery, gift cards and loyalty. We will go in detail about each module for both your front-of-house and back-of-house staff. These sessions can be incorporated into the existing session or broken out separately. We want to make sure your team can effectively and reliably use these features in their daily workflow.
Ongoing -- Ongoing training for you and your staff can be provided through additional session either online, on-site at your location, or at the ERC home office. Our extensive manager's handbook, web training videos and quick guides give your team resources at their fingertips to be able to problem solve at the store level. We are dedicated to your success and part of that success is a well-educated team. ERC also offers refresher courses for you and your staff to come brush up on your Focus know-how when needed.
ERC strives to help you understand the full functionality and understand the potential of the hardware and software you are using to help manage your business. During these POS training sessions we encourage you to ask as many questions necessary. We want you to be able to effectively manage your business with the help of ERC and Focus.
"We have great results in maximizing profits as a result of the Focus back office software. The entire system is very user friendly and training on the system can be accomplished is just a few hours of your day." - Roy Lemelle President, CNR Foods , 10 Popeyes in Nashville TN Area